Derby Marathon Louisville 4-28-12

I am two days removed from my third marathon and as I type, I am beginning to feel human once again. It took about 48 hours to be able to sufficiently disguise my limp as not to invoke pity or head shaking smirks that say, "You're an IDIOT for running when you don't have to. LOL Of the three races in my life (Akron & Chicago are the other) this one is the sweetest of the three. The most obvious reason I place this at the top of my list is because I attain a personal best of 3:56.49 which surpassed my next best by more than a minute per mile pace. Only a few close friends and family knew that secretly I was hoping to break the 4 hour mark. It was private because I have not had the greatest confidence as a runner over the past few years. But this year, it all came together. Adding weight lifting, steadfastness to the training schedule and a more intentional diet all paid off this time around. The bittersweet of the moment was the reality that Andy and I would be unable to enter together due to a significant leg injury. Still, I was inspired by the knowledge that he would be there at the finish to greet me instead of being thousands of miles away in a war zone in Afghanistan. I definitely ran as one whose inspiration cup runneth over. I am not a good sleeper the night before a race and yet I've learned, that Adrenalin is the runners caffeine that overcomes such inconveniences. Wide awake, we were on the road by 5:45 am. to beat the traffic. About 20 runners were there at that point with about 18,000 more in route. I don't mind getting there before the crowd as it helps me drink deeper in the experience I paid good money for. The winds were light and the 50 degree temps were perfect to start out the big day ahead of us. Sardiened in starting corral D, I waiting anxiously for the start of the race. Beside me were a lady who was running her first half marathon and a Marine who wore a "Marathon Maniacs" shirt which shouted hard core Marine corp! We talked of his 4 deployments and I talked proud of my two sons in service. I asked a guy who stood about 6'6" to help look around for a guy holding an Ascics Pace sign for those who wanted to break 4 hours. He spotted them and I drifted to the sign guy whose hopes I pinned on breaking 4 hours. Finally the gun went off and we shuffled as cattle off to the slaughter house of sorts. It took 5 minutes from my point to cross the start line and soon we were off. I tucked in close to the pace guide like a shy kid tucked behind his momma. I knew that if I stayed close and felt good, I had an outside shot. I was checking my times as I followed mother goose. I know the benefit of a pace guy is not starting out too fast, caught in the excitement of the crowds and noise. For most of this early stage, I played smooth jazz on my I-pod. This is a good way to stay calm and cool when you need to stay settled. At the first quarter of my marathon my time was 59:21. The highlight of the first 6.5 was getting scolded by some guy who came up beside me and told me to watch my forearm as I hit him pretty hard. I didn't realize that I did that and apologized. I thought to myself, man, this weight lifting must be making me one mean dude, you know? Well I was much more conscious of my arms from that point on, of course. The second quarter was run at a 58:08 clip and was the most amazing stretch of the race. One minute I was running through residential streets and at the next moment, on our right stood the magnificent home of the Kentucky Derby. Churchill Downs infield was part of the plotted course for all runners and they way through was a tunnel that burrowed under the track. In moments thousands of runners emerged in awe of the splendor, knowing full well that throngs we tune into next week to watch the first of three crowns of the very best horses in the world. Many of us could not help but slow a bit in awe of the sight of swift thoroughbreds gliding at blazing speeds down the back stretch. The moment was both majestic and the stuff of dreams! For a moment, I felt a deep connection to my late grandfather "Abuelo," who had such fondness for the sport and art of horse racing. For a few minutes of this race, he was center stage in my heart. Though inspired by the special mile on the marathon route, I must confess a bit of distraction. I had to find a portajohn so I could become more focused on this goal. When one became available I jumped in happy to know that I could be more laser like in my focus the rest of the way. I lost about 90 seconds but erased it quickly as I caught up with the pace guy once again. At about 10.5 miles the route takes runners through Iroquois Park, which would involve many climbs and descent over the next 3 miles. Feeling strong at this point, I opted to veer ahead of the pacer a little, feeling confident in my own pace and in what my body was saying. All the climbs and drops in the park were welcomed by my once apprehensive mind. The reason it did not make me feel timid was because of the significant hill training I did back home that adequately prepared me for the 3 mile run through this park. I have learned to love hills and not loathe them which provided a more positive mindset for this first set of hills on the course. As I approached the halfway point of my journey, everything was sound and I felt strong. I was starting to think that my goal was attainable barring unforeseen problems ahead. The third quarter was the best of the four with a time of 57:53. By now I had started to get separation form the pace runner. When I reached mile 16 I was beginning to think of how the distance ahead was now measured by miles in the single digits. There are many ways runners think through the mental barriers ahead. For me it was "just 3 5ks left." The thing that surprised me about this race was the fact that at no time did my mind struggle to stay focused. Where doing mental math had been rough in the last two races, this one did not seem to drain my head of thinking faculties. In this part of the races, the mile signs seemed to pop up with good frequency and I found that I could do a few conservative surges at times on this flat part of the course. I was not really feeling the fatigue over miles 13-20. Now I was not just hoping to beat the goal but started believing it was about to happen. When I got to the final quarter of the race which covered 1:00.02, I knew if there was any threat to the dream it would be found on this stretch. I had rounded mile 21 and spotted Kelly & Andy cheering and taking pictures. I told them, I was going to make it now, that I felt great and I threw out a thumbs up. AS I said that, a little fear kicked in but what if something happens now. Did I mess up declaring it openly? Sure enough as I turned the corner beyond them I was greeted by two miles of climb ahead. Though your mind and cardio may feel strong at this point there is a threat that lurks in legs that have been taxed for over 3 hours, the dreaded muscle cramps. I felt a familiar tinge hinting of trouble ahead, just as I started at the base of the elevation. I knew that I'd have to approach this climb with shortened stride and slow steady cadence. At mile 22 it flared for a moment but then eased off. I felt like a tight rope walker at this point. If I tipped too much my leg would convulse uncontrollably. I had reached the summit, or so I thought, when I took a sharp left to see one more hill just hoping to steal my dream. My tender climb had brought me this far and so I convinced myself that I had just one more climb over thin ice and I'd be home. And so it was on mile 23 that my leg rebelled against the rest of me, just as it did in Akron and in Chicago. There was a man standing there on the side of the road, as if sadistically positioned there to watch the suffering climbers who were trying to will their legs to do what they refused to do. I looked at him and shouted, "This happens every time at mile 23!" I hated losing control but I stopped a second to rub it down, beat on it and stomp it to do what it didn't want to do. The previous two races, it refused to go away until the finish but today, was different. By mile 24 I began my last descent into the city and the cramps subsided. I caught up with 2 other runners and we talked of the joy of soon reaching our goals. We were 3 euphoric kids who had come to believe the battle was behind us as we heard the cheering crowds down the streets accompanied by the sounds of a marching band. Those final two miles were both covered with sub nine minute mile pace and the end was in sight. I have always tried to finish strong and today, I wanted to try to do this again. I was looking for motivation when I spotted a runner ahead playing it up to the crowd, while looking behind to see if anyone was coming. I knew right away if pressed, he was just as competitive as me for the finish. Though our placings in the race were not remarkable, spectators were still eager to see a race to the finish, so we joined in the theatrics of the last 0.2 miles of the race in an all out sprint to the finish. And yest with 100 yards left, I made my pass and shouted with joy of breaking 4 hours at the finish. When we crossed the line we shared a laugh and congratulated each other and shared in the greater victory of finishing another marathon. I cried at the last two marathons but this time I didn't, maybe because I started talking with this guy in the footrace. But as I staggered ahead to the finisher's medal, I felt contented that all the hard work paid off. I learned that even as I start this new decade of my life, the best is still to come!

Two Marathons In 2012

It looks like I will be doubling the total marathons run by the end of the year. This month I will be entering the Derby Marathon in Louisville Ky and then I will return to the Chicago Marathon in October. It is part of my commitment to make my new decade (the 50s) my healthiest & fittest years. I am pleased with the way the training plan has gone for my first race. I have added cross training with weights and can tell it is paying off in getting prepared. Today I ran 20 miles at a steady pace all the way to the end and this included at least 5 substantial hills. I am thankful to remain injury-free so far. I plan to stay tightly on the plan, eat smart and rest well. I am hopeful that I am about to score my best time ever. If everything continues as planned I hope that I can knock on the door of my sub 4 hour goal. I know I will have to push a bit hard but am optimistic that I have a chance. In 3 Saturdays I will toe up to the start. We will see how things turn out.

Last Race of 2011 The Ashland Half Marathon

Today I wrapped up the racing season by returning to the scene where I began my rebound from foot injuries that hampered me for 2 years. The Ashland Half was where I tested the foot that gave me trouble. In 2010 it was a test to see if I could climb the constant elevations of this street course. That day was blustery, cold and gloomy and my running time of 2:24 was not a big concern as I just wanted to prove to my body I was not done. Though depleted and sore, I came away unscathed and determined to proceed with plans to run my second marathon. The racing season was conservative as I entered limited races in 2011: Columbus Half Marathon - May Shoals Indiana Catfish 5 k- July Chicago Marathon - October Trunk or Treat 5k- October Ashland Half Marathon- December So this morning I went back to where it started. The temps hovered around the freezing point but the sun seemed determined to chase away all traces that reminded us of the season we were facing. Coming to the race, I had much higher expectation than to finish a long distance race. I was feeling good and in probably the best shape I have felt in three years. I knew I had trained hard for this race because I was determined to empty my tank. Most of the last weeks involved significant training on hills. Living on the edge of the country afforded me many opportunities to get ready for the hills I would encounter in this race. About 300 half marathoners toed up to the start and soon we were on my way. Running on a moderate downward slope forced me to a more up-tempo pace than I normally apply when starting a long race. At the half mile mark the hills start dominating the landscape. Here was the place that I started testing out if my hill work was going to pay off. I was pleasantly surprised by the surging I experienced on the hills. Though I tried to warm up before the race the cold and terrain was causing my shins to tighten and reduce motion for the first 2.5 miles. There was a time that would have worried me but I knew the race was long and my legs would catch up in time. At the 3 mile mark I hit 25 minutes for an 8:20 pace. I toss Kelly my gloves as I was convinced they were no longer necessary. Happy to have full range in my feet again, I simply focused on running a healthy pace, unconcerned with those around me. I preached to myself to run my own race no matter what.

At mile 4 I took my first and final drink of the race. This is not normally what I do nor recommend but on this day it worked for me. I remembered how much time I lost hitting all those water stations in Chicago and probably over corrected today. When my legs were finally fully back under me I was able to climb and descend hills with steady confidence. I was feeling strong as I clipped past miles 5, 6 and 7. When I hit that 7th mile and saw that I hit the 60 minute mark at that point I was very encouraged to know I was running an average of 7 m.p.h. even with all these hills. On the hills I found I fatigued very little and gained ground on other runners at key points on the course. For the first time in awhile I was actually thinking as a competitive runner. There are many games played among experienced runners and I was actually getting to employ a few tactics along the way that surprisingly worked. It also indicated that my mind was staying alert as I pressed up and down slopes of this college town. I knew that at around 9.5 miles would be the biggest hill on the course that ran west of Ashland University. This was the place that really tested and drained me last year. What would it be like after all this training under my belt this time? I'm not going to say it was unchallenging but it did not seem nearly as menacing as it was last year! When you get to the top you know you have conquered your biggest nemesis of the race and what I had forgotten was that it lulls you into the false sense of security that hills are behind you. Turning west one last time you are greeted by roller coaster hills, and while not nearly as steep, they are strategically positioned to add some misery on your way to the final 5k of the race. Here is where determination, focus and steadiness are essential. It was evident that those last climbs were taking their toll on many as I was able to sweep past a half dozen runners on the descent back toward the main intersection of town which marked the beginning of the end. Nearing the 12 mile I spotted a tall runner tapering off a bit. Noticing that the back of his jacket touted some 100 mile race he had run, I thought it would be great to finish ahead of an ultrarunner. When I passed him I felt good but it was short lived as he retook the lead about a quarter mile later. I trailed him as we made the final turn toward the stadium that marked the end of this 13.1 journey. The final half mile there was uphill and it was obvious that the cluster of runners near me seemed discouraged to find one more climb before making the left turn to the stadium track. Last year's run was kind of a depressing ending. Dark and cold, most of the onlookers had packed up and left. By the time I crossed that line, only 6 other runners were still on the course. But this morning was different. There was energy and the crowd was cheering all runners as they looped their last .25 miles on the track. I have always felt that finishing strong was more than a phrase but it is my mantra as a runner. I had 7 or 8 runners between me and the finish who were also tired, as I was but something happens to me when I near a finish line. I saw an opportunity to pass a big cluster if I had it in me to sprint to the finish. As I rounded the final bend I noticed a runner look over his should to see who was behind him. It was as if that was my signal to run as fast as I could to the end. As I sprinted, it came so easily as if I couldn't even feel my legs underneath my hips. I poured out everything I had left and crossed the finish line with a 1:57 time, nearly a half hour quicker than last year! The best part was I bested my time from the Columbus half in the spring by almost 3 minutes, which had far fewer hills than I just encountered. I wrap up the racing season deeply gratified for God's help in overcoming adversity, injury and mental barriers that held me back. I am eager to greet 2012 and it's fun to begin thinking about the possibilities of running in a new decade of my life. I glance at the calendar and it's still December though. There are yet 27 days left in the year and I am not done! No big races to finish the year now. Instead I am chasing one last audacious goal as a runner- reaching the 3000 mile mark of my career. After today's run, there are just 126 miles standing between me and a new milestone. If the weather keeps giving me breaks, I hope to reach it. No matter what 2011 will be remembered as the year I got back in the game.

Thrill of the Hills

My least favorite part of training is what I seem to be doing more of lately. I'm talking about what most runners seem least enthusiastic about, hill work. I never enjoyed this element of my training because it slows us down while demanding the most of our energies, leaving us often breathless. One of the earliest running routes I had in Shoals Indiana was the Catfish 5k loop that involved a series of steep inclines through a cemetery. It's not that odd that the hills zigzag through a grave yard because I feel closer to death when I run up long steep grades. I exempted myself from hill work for about 2 and half years due to some injuries that would aggravate them whenever a took a shot at Mt. Misery. Now healed though, I can not excuse myself from places that make my heart want to bail out of my chest as my legs burn slowly. While there is an obvious case for not loving this training phase, I am having a change of heart these days. So here are the reasons why I am starting to kinda like hill running: 1) More Routes- Overcoming my reluctance with the hills has opened up new surrounding routes and sights to see. It is nice to truly go cross country because I live on the edge of it anyway. Mixing up the routes not only allows me to see fresh places but keeps me from getting bored by the same streets and mailboxes I've passed for the last 3 years. 2) Mental Sharpness- You don't have to think nearly as much about running when you gliding along a relatively flat terrain but when you are leaning into a mountain, you can't help but thinking about the obvious. On the hill there are times when a little voice says "STOP & REST." The hills are where you have to shout back "NO, I CAN REST WHEN I GET HOME." You are forced to focus on breathing and form and getting to the top. When I conquer a big hill I notice the little hills that raised anxiety in the past only become laughable and this is when you realize the muscles of your mind are more developed. 3) Uptempo Running Benefits- Another nice take away from the hill comes after you get to the top. I have discovered it is a lot easier to pick up the pace on the flats because the exertion of moving faster is nothing compared to the effort of a 5% grade. 4) Better Lungs- One of the things a hill will do is test your condition level. When I first ran hills, I felt like a fire breathing dragon that wheezed like I had pneumonia. It seemed to take just as long to get back to normal breathing as the time it took to scale the summit. What I find these days as that while it still demands a lot of wind to get to the top that it takes less time regain my breath. This fact takes away some of the dread I once felt for hills. I would still prefer the flat course of Chicago's marathon over Akron's but at least it's good to know while the hills may never become my favorite part of running, I can see its benefits more clearly now.

Late Autumn Night Run

I have been to three straight Tuesday night runs with the Mansfield Y-Club and the weather has been extraordinary each time out. To run this late in the fall under the stars in 50-60 degree weather is a God-sent gift that I wouldn't want to waste. I know these warm rare nights will soon fade and be greatly missed but for now it feels like summer in overtime! I wasn't sure how many would come out when the time change took away our daylight but surprisingly the participation is great. I'm really enjoying meeting new runners along the route. It's nice to come home feeling so revived after a 4 miler... especially when a big bowl of homemade soup is waiting for me when I arrive! Here's hoping for another pleasant Tuesday night under a star-lit sky!

1st Long Distance Runner

Mr. Teed was the first long distance runner I ever saw take to the roads. That was almost 40 years ago, in the high hills not far from the Susquehanna River known as the southern tier in Vestal New York. At the time I was living with my aunt & uncle on Underwood Road. One of his sons was my class mates and so my guess is Mr. Teed was probably 35-40 at the time. I was blown away by this man who ran up our steep road quite religiously, with what seemed little effort. As a nine year old kid, I was amused that an older man would run long distances when he didn't have too. I was impressed by his toughness and self-discipline. He was obviously very fit and as he ran by he'd smile and wave and so I was taken back by the fact that he seemed to enjoy it even. This spectacle unfolded long before long distance running was popular and before marathons could be found nearly every weekend of the year. It was a time when seeing a runner on the roadways was an anomaly. So today I went for a long distance run out in the country. I ran some roads that made me think of Mr. Teed. I sure didn't understand the pleasure he derived from taking on steep roads when I was 9 years old. Today, I think I have a better understanding of his passion for running far in remote places of Broome County. I wonder if he still runs and I wish I could ask him why he started it in the first place. In all likelihood I will probably never know, but I think back on the sight of a silhouette slowly rising up over a quiet country road. It's strange the thoughts that pop in a runners head when he's running on the edge to nowhere.

Just 2 Months of Running Left

I stepped out onto the road pleasantly surprised that I was able to run painlessly for 6.3 glorious miles. I think mid summer was the last time I felt so free to run like I did this afternoon. Runners have a constant stream of thoughts when they take to the streets and today my mind centered on the year that has unfolded and great expectations for 2012. It's interesting how my passions have shifted away from my need to reach personal bests in time and distances over the first 3-4 years to other things that are not so intangible. It's not that I don't care how well I perform or if I reach new milestones, I still want to improve and grow stronger as a long distance runner but it just isn't enough to satisfy my running thirst. I am finding that my cup is filled when I put other things in it these days. Today I put in the satisfaction of breathing in my surroundings. When I catch a scent of fresh cut grass, honeysuckle, cascading maple leaves or burning cherry logs in the twilight, I am more alive. When I feel a soft summer breeze as I loop around a dark isolated track or the mist of a gentle rain drop or that first snowflake that sticks to my eyelash, I am energized. So running allows me to spontaneously experience the unfolding seasons. These God-sent gifts would go unnoticed had I not felt the tug to lace up and head out for another run. But more than anything that fills my cup is the company of those who share this passion at many different levels. I have changed because I decided to become a runner. But I am more awestruck when I see the changes running has made in the lives of my good running company. To share in the incremental victories as well as the pain and frustration that none is exempt from are the ingredients from life-changing relationships. To share goals and ever growing dreams of what we one day will achieve, is a discussion that never wearies us. One of my favorite moments was to run a 5k not for my best time but so that I could share the euphoria that comes with cross that first finish line with a novice, who will run circles around me one day. Well, that's what I love most. I have learned much from my running in 2011 that I never intentionally set out to discover... That my body, though stubborn and slow to heal, can come back to reach dreams that seems hard to attain... That I do better when I relax and take off the pressure instead of pressing because the training program insists I get another 10 miles in- it will be ok.... That there would be new motivations that would call me run with a smile on my face. I have one final half marathon in 2011 and my thoughts and goals will center on another running season in 2012. Now that's for another post!