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!

To Run With The Young Again

I took for granted my early days of running. I was 15 and a member of the cross country team in San Juan PR and simply ran for a varsity letter. Sad that my aim was merely on "R" for Robinson High on my jacket which made no sense since there isn't much use for coats on a tropical island! I resumed my second childhood of running at 43 and am knocking on 50s door. Rolling out of bed for a pain-free run is a rare gift granted when the planets and stars align. Running fast and free occurs less frequently and yet I am more fulfilled as a runner than ever. Amid training for marathons & halfs & 5ks I have found a greater joy- helping others enjoy running. This past Sunday afternoon I ran alongside Caitlyn, a 9 year who has caught the running bug from her mom and dad. She was courageous enough to sign up for her first 5k race though apprehensive. When she needed a running partner for the race I volunteered to help her. Her face lit up when "Pastor Mark" offered to guide her through. It was obvious that the jitters were in full force when I caught up with her and her mother before the race. I tried my best to help her stay calm but it wasn't easy. I have known those feelings of nervous energy as your strength and will are about to be tested. When we took off I knew that she had never run 3 straight miles at one time and that we may need to slow to a walk along the way. We eased are way onto the course keeping expectations light. When we approached the first mile we spotted a carved pumpkin with a #1 on it. I glanced at my watch and was stunned to see we were at a 10:30 pace. She wanted to know how we were doing and I said "Awesome." She smiled and joked into her second mile which clipped at 10:09 because we were playing a game of passing people for points. Amazingly she was hanging tough and still managed a big smile. With coaxing we were going into the most challenging stretch of the unknown third mile. I kept telling her she was doing awesome and that she was almost done. To this point she had not stopped to walk. I helped her up hills and kept encouraging her about how good it would be that we could rest at the finish line. Her smiles were less frequent but her determination was strong. Although we approached the final 1.1 miles in 14 minutes Caitlyn finished strong. I felt such pride and joy at seeing her do what she doubted possible. I fear that maybe I pushed a little too hard but in the end she was very happy with her first 5k race in just over 34 minutes. I was totally impressed with what she achieved in her very first race. I truly feel that if her passion for running grows, Caitlyn will become an exceptional runner for years to come. Her mother commented that she wants to run faster than Richie from church. He won the Cleveland Marathon in 2003. I guess she is setting her sights higher. I commented that maybe one day, Richie will wish he could run as fast Caitlyn. These are the moments that make running a priceless gift. I am blessed to share the road with others both older and younger.