Runners Like Us

I take off time to time
With those crazy friends of mine
Head out on the road
With legs we run

We burn up the road in any marathon
Blend in with the masses
Just us friends
And we roll

Runners like us sure do have fun
Racin' the wind, chasin' the sun
Take the long way 'round back to square one
Today we're just outlaws out on the run
There'll be no regrets, no worries and such
For runners like us

I have friends in marathons that I don't know I have. I am a friend to runners in marathons that they don't know they have. It is the beauty of the sport especially for those of us that run marathons regularly. The bastardized words above to Cowboys Like Us show this sense of belonging and fellowship. We are all crazy to some degree - running marathons on consecutive days, consecutive weeks, a few times a month interspersed with a 50 or 100 mile fun run. We'll run any marathon, not just the check-it-off-life's-list, rock 'n' roller. We run marathons that are smaller than 5Ks, without pacers and without fans. We have each other. We pace together, we chat, learn a few things about one another and move on - and we roll.

We always have fun - what wind? Rain? It's just water, put me on your ass, I don't care, water doesn't care. There is always sun on marathon day - a day of brilliant rays of hope and friendship, the passion of the run. Sometimes, they take us out 26 miles and drop us off - "run back", they say. Other times, we run in a circle - 26.2 miles resulting in net-0 miles gained. Other times they tease us. Let's take them close to the finish line at mile 8, 13 and 18 and then torture them with, "you're almost there!" Hills must be strategically placed - "you think you got this? think again!" All along, your friends are there. We are just marathon outlaws out on a run, renegades, pirates and gypsies, a band on the run. Our only regret is not being able to run "that" marathon because I want to run "this" marathon. Our worries are gone for those brief few hours. We are with our friends, those who pull us along, encourage us, laugh with us, many of whom we do not know but will afterwards. Running is my friend. The marathon is my friend. Both are always there for me - kick my butt when I need it, give me exuberant joy when I least expect it. Fellow runners, thanks for being my friend also.

Theory of a Dead Runner

My heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the 23 year old runner who died yesterday in the Baltimore Marathon. WBAL TV said that he collapsed around the 23 mile mark. A resident tried to help him until the medical crew got there. He later died at the hospital with a core body temperature of 107.

Some of the greatest runners in the world have died while running - Jim Fixx and more recently Ryan Shay in the Olympic Marathon Trials. I am sure there have been many others of all abilities. In essence, I am sure I have a better chance dying in an accident on the New Jersey Turnpike than while running. I don't mean for this to be a morbid entry but more about life. The energy and life around a running festival with 20,000 runners and 200,000 spectators abounds and reverberates throughout the entire city. With so much life why does one have to die? One can theorize and contemplate this forever.

One who believes in God knows that God has a plan; He is in control of life and death. He also puts life into perspective. Today, as I was walking on a serene, peaceful trail enjoying the fall weather, breaking up the lactic acid in my legs and working out the slight soreness, He also reminded me of my mortality. I thought about the runner who died yesterday. I theorize that he went into the marathon well-trained, happy with a full, bright life in front of him, looking to celebrate his accomplishment with family and friends. He never crossed the finish line but his journey in both running and life may have been memorable up to that fateful moment. Although we all want to get to the finish, we need to make sure that we make the most of the journey. At any time the journey can end. It is cliché but live life to the fullest with those people who allow you to do so and by doing those things that make you smile, have a positive energy, and give you life.

The life of this runner will be carried on by his friends and family. I suspect that they will run again in his memory and honor potentially helping others in the process. In many regards, I believe this is God's way to expand the life of one in death. Again, my thoughts and prayers are with them.

God's plan will determine life and death. When I die, I hope that it is while running. But God, I do ask that if I die while running, that I do so after crossing the finish line of a marathon. I have never had a DNF in a marathon and I would hate for my first one to be because I died.

Observations From the Trail

When running for a few hours on a 5 mile loop trail (15 miles) you get to observe a lot especially when you pass the same people and sites multiple times. I have written about the Mecca a few times before - you know, the one where the Osprey nests are. In a way it reminds me of when I used to run in Central Park, NYC every morning. the faces and paces became familiar. Although Central Park just didn't seem as friendly or was it me that wasn't as friendly?


The heat and humidity broke slightly today and even the slightest change made for a better run. I wasn't any dryer in the end but it was a solid run. So, as I made my way around the lake perimeter multiple times, I made a few observations and asked a few questions:

• Who scoops the horse poop from the wooden bridge and why does the horse go in the same spot on the same bridge? For some reason I find trails (like Assimpink) that allow horses.


• Pony tails have a cadence to them (not that I would know from my own.) Even in marathons, you can become hypnotized by the bouncing or swinging of pony tails. Maybe my previous blog entry should have been called Asses, pony tails and elbows! BTW, this is a unisex observation.

• Youngins run faster than oldins. It appears that one of the college or high school cross country or track teams workout on the trail. Both boys and girls fly! But I wondered, will they run 50 marathons by the time they are 50? Longevity matters!


• Do dogs like to run? I am thinking some do and some don't because some are being dragged by their owners and some owners are being dragged by their dogs. What kills me are the dogs about the size of rats that have to take a thousand steps for one stride by their owners. I saw a guy with a miniature Dachshund today and the dogs legs were like the pistons in an 800 HP NASCAR engine.


• Mecca is a place for everyone: runners (fast and slow), walkers, bike riders, hikers, boaters, fisherman, weight-challenged, food-challenged, mentally-challenged (that would be all of us), half-naked and fully-clothed; the greyhound club, boy scouts, old and young. People are friendly - hardly anyone passes without a hello, good morning, How ya doin' (OK it is NJ.)


• Its a familiar place - kind of like Cheers - without Norm sitting at the end of the bar. I'm starting to know faces although not names since you pass them in a split second. I suspect, someday, I will know some names too.


• Groups and solos - Runners have preferences as to whether they run in a group or run solo. Personally, I like the peace and pace of running by myself. Although, I will pace off of others if I can keep up with them. The groups of runners have conversations going. I prefer a conversation with myself. I have enough conversation with others during the week.


• Going back to the horse poop - I never see dog poop. I guess that is good and people pick up the poop in those little plastic bags. Can you image doing that for a horse? You would need those giant plastic grocery bags. Can you imagine taking a cat on a run like a dog? First, the cat would stop dead in its tracks and stare for no good reason. Then, on a trail run, they would want to climb the trees. And finally, they would scare the daylights out of all the dogs!
  

Well, that is enough of observations for now. I am sure I will have more random thoughts over time.

Asses and Elbows

...as we were watching Sugarland perfrom on Saturday night in Philadelphia...the song Down to Mississippi included the lyrics:

Hammer down,
here we go Runnin' for the riverboat
All you're gonna see are asses and elbows

...but isn't this all we see as runners in races? ... asses and elbows... and actually, it's not that bad of a sight...

I just hammered down 10 miles at the Manasquan Mecca and although I say "hammered" in jest of the lyrics, I really did pick it up the last 5 miles and hammered! I rode my bike to Mecca all of about 2.2 miles, ran 10 miles and rode back. The people who go to this Mecca seem to be the nicest people in New Jersey. Nearly every runner, walker and rider says hi or acknowledges your existence in some way even if it is "on your left..." The views of the reservoir can be stared at for hours with the calmness and peace of an early morning dew just sitting on the foliage waiting for the Sun to adopt the droplets back into their home. The Osprey nests are still perched high in the naked trees that are protected by the still water of the reservoir. What a great view these sea birds have.

Anyway, what started with asses and elbows ends with calmness and silence. The next time you run a race, think of these lyrics!

Badlands

I believe in the faith that could save me.
I believe in the hope and I pray that some day it
Will raise me above these
Badlands...

It is ironic that the Badlands in South Dakota are called Badlands when they are so beautiful - genuinely bizarre, enticing to the imagination, and awe inspiring with creativity. Luckily the marathon didn't traverse the jagged edges of the volcanic remnants of Earth's formation millions of years ago. Instead the marathoners got to experience the contrasting pastoral and dark greens of the Black Hills National Forrest on a Rails to Trails converted path meandering around mountains, babbling brooks, and horse and cattle pastures. We started in Rochford, a dilapidated little town where the town Church's bathroom facilities was an outhouse. It was quaint and somewhat perfectly simple in this world of complexities. People ask why I would go to South Dakota to run 26.2 miles. There is no better way to experience an area than by running through it feeling the changing earth under your feet, meeting locals who come up to cheer and volunteer to hand you a cup of water during the brief second of visitation, and exploring an area where you might never be otherwise. Visiting South Dakota was a pleasant surprise being able to see the majesty of Mt. Rushmore, the Black Hills, Badlands, Wall Drug, Minuteman Missile National Site, Chapel in the Hills, the famous (and infamous) western town of Deadwood home to the marathon, Wild Bill Hiccok and Calamity Jane. I stayed in Sturgis, destination of the famous Motorcycle Rally being held for the 69th time this August. Oh yes, I did run the marathon on the George S. Michelson Trail. What I didn't realize and never even thought to consider was that the marathon is run at about 6000 feet of altitude with the first 13 miles uphill cresting at mile 13 and then dropping 1500 feet to Deadwood. The first 5 miles were a real struggle but later acclimated and ran the second half slightly faster than the first. I was happy with 4:08 bearing in mind the slight altitude and stopping to take pictures. So, the Badlands really turned out to be the Goodlands. Maybe there is a lesson to be learned that the Badlands are necessary to find the Goodlands.

The Pack - three weeks prior to the Deadwood Marathon, I ran in Green Bay. Although I seemed to really never find Green Bay, I found what I was looking for in the home to the oldest NFL football stadium in the country and to one of the original professional football teams in the country - the Green Bay Packers. The great Vince Lombardi haunts the venue to make you feel like your best is not good enough meaning you can always go beyond your best and make it something special. For me, the marathon in Green Bay was special. It was my 7th fastest marathon and maybe the most comfortable in years. I ran 3:50 with an even split pacing with the 3:50 pace group (mostly because I forgot my watch.) I toured Lambeau field and visited the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame the day before. The history and greatness of the the franchise, players and coaches just make you want to put forth your greatest effort, especially the last quarter mile when lapping the interior of Lambeau field to the cheers of fans. For me, I can't figure out any other reason to go to Green Bay and I noticed that the dairy cows in Wisconsin are quite lazy.

It has been 6 months and 9 marathons in 9 different states. I have also reached 30 different states in my quest to run a marathon in each U.S. state. My next marathon/ultra will be my 50th and I plan/hope to get to my 50th marathon in New Orleans on my 50th Birthday in February. I need to run 6 more between now and then. It is a wonderful way to see different parts of the country - the Badlands as a good example.

21 Days, 2 Marathons and a Half-Marathon

These are the races I ran since I last wrote the night before the Kentucky Derby marathon. The three events could not have been any different from one another.

The running of the roses turned into the wilting of the roses. It just so happened that the east experienced summer-like temperatures and humidity the weekend of the Kentucky Derby Marathon. If there is one prominent enemy of the marathoner, it is temperature and humidly. When I boarded the bus to the start at 5:15 AM, the temperature was already 71 degrees and by the time the Kentucky Derby bugler bugled, it was in the high 70s. Most of the race was run with temperatures between 80 and 85. It was miserable. I have never seen so many people walk in a marathon but they would have put themselves at risk if they tried any harder. Over 30 runners were taken to the hospital and another 120 treated along the course. Water was plentiful but being in plastic bottles did little to quench thirst or cool the runner. I ended up walking much of the last 5 or so miles just to get to the finish. My time suffered from my previous 3 sub-4 hour marathons to a dismal 4:45. However, the highlights happened the day before while touring the Louisville Slugger Museum, Churchill Downs and visiting the Kentucky Derby Hall of Fame.

One week later Shawn and I ventured to Frederick Maryland to run the first half of the Maryland Double, the Frederick half-marathon. Shawn had been training hard and this was one of his first events after a lay-off. The temperatures were good although rain was expected. We ran a great race with each other, pacing each other to the finish with a negative split done in thirds to a finish time of 1:51:56. It felt great and we were both excited at the finish.

Now, here I sit in Milwaukee the day after the Green Bay Marathon, my 28th state. Although there are some very good marathons in Wisconsin, Green bay was chosen due to the venue. Everything was held at Lambeau field, home to the Green Bay Packers and the oldest NFL stadium in the league. Upon Arriving I went to the expo which was held in the Lambeau field Atrium. Once I secured all my “running stuff” I signed up for the Lambeau field tour and Packers Hall of Fame. Just like in Kentucky, these were going to be the highlights of the trip. Both were fantastic and I learned a lot about the history of Lambeau and the Packers. On marathon morning I awoke to a perfect day with temperatures in the 40s and brilliant sunshine (of course, there is no sunshine when I awake most days.) The temperature was 30 degrees different from Louisville and perfect marathon temperatures. The start and finish lines were at Lambeau with one lap around the field inside Lambeau at mile 26. What a spectacular feeling with all of the history there. As I was walking to the start, I realized that I had forgotton my watch. OK, I thought, I will just run by feel, not a big deal. The race started with a prayer from the local bishop, a nice touch prior to the start. As the race director yelled “start”, the entire field of half-marathoners, marathoners and relay runners started their journey. I felt a little fast at the start and knew I needed to drop back a bit. I hooked up with the 3:50 pace group and decided to hang with them as long as I could. At the very least, one of them will have a watch. It turns out that I ran with them nearly the whole marathon, pacing with Craig and another 10 runners most of the way. My right calf froze at around mile 24 but a short stretch helped. Entering Lambeau just gave me the chills passing over some of the same original stone that Vince Lombardi, Bart Starr, Bret Favre and countless others passed over. Running the lap and looking to the bowl of bleachers (all seats in Lambeau are bleachers which reminded me of Notre dame’s stadium.) and what it would feel like on game day. Around the final end zone, spectators were cheering and high-fiving as we ran down the sideline back through the Packer tunnel to the finish. My net time of 3:50:36 was my 7th best marathon and best since the same weekend in 2007. Physically, I felt great after finishing, like I was just out for a Sunday “drive” something I had always liked to do with my parents as a kid. Although my Sunday “drives” are now about the same distance, they are done on foot but have that same relaxing feeling to them. I am off to South Dakota in three weeks – to the Badlands.

Post script: I ran nearly a perfect marathon in Green Bay, 7th best overall and best in two years running 3:50:36. I will write more about this soon.

Run For the Roses

When most people hear “run for the roses”, they think of one thing, the Kentucky Derby, the greatest horse race in the world. I’m heading to this same venue, Louisville, in the air as I write, to also run for the roses in the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon. The marathon is the week before the real Kentucky Derby but the same day when racing starts at Churchill Downs, home to the famous race. Sure, they could have us drink mint juleps before the marathon and make us trek 26.2 miles in the deep dirt and sand around the famed track but they have spared us this challenge. But, at mile 9, we do enter Churchill Downs for a lap around the infield to soak in all the history of the great event, to envision and imagine the charm of the southern gals displaying their spring attire and fanciful hats along with the gentleman whose timepieces fall to their sides, tucked in their vest pockets anxiously awaiting post time. It is high stakes racing and the beginning of the elusive Triple Crown – the opportunity for the horse, jockey, owner and trainer to go down in history or to live in infamy as a one-race wonder.

On May 2nd the Kentucky Derby will be run and when watching it, I will know that I also gave it my best around the historical track. There will be no red roses at the end or mint juleps at the beginning (maybe afterwards) but there will be the feeling that I experienced a hundred thrty-fve years of history in a few minutes of running. Marathons are not only about running but to experience the destination. It doesn’t have to be something as grand as the Kentucky Derby. It can be just as interesting and rewarding visiting small venues like Gilsum, NH, Piney Point, MD or Schroon Lake, NY. Small town charm and big city energy both play handsomely in American culture.

While in Louisville, I plan to visit Louisville Slugger factory and museum just as I toured CNN and the aquarium in Atlanta four weeks earlier during the ING Georgia Marathon. The Atlanta race had unrelenting hills which I never complain about but they were a challenge in colder windy conditions. The start, with 13,000 half-marathoners was extremely crowded, almost claustrophobic and I was happy to see them depart at mile 7. I very rarely chat for prolonged periods of time during a run but at mile 7, I hooked up with a guy training for an ironman and we ran together and chatted for the next 13 miles. At mile 20, which is where the race begins, I knew that I was really close to making the finish in less than 4 hours. I picked up the pace a bit but the hills continued to take their toll and I cramped at mile 24. The home stretch was tough but toughness is what the marathon is about. I finished in 3:59:25 just barely making it but happy to do so.

We are on our descent. I need to look for Big Brown, the giant Louisville Slugger bat and Churchill Downs and get ready to run for the roses.