I'm looking down now that it's over
Reflecting on all of my mistakes
I thought I found the road to somewhere
Somewhere in His grace
I cried out heaven save me
But I'm down to one last breath
And with it let me say
Let me say
For the last 13 years I have made it a point to run on the last day of the year and race on the first day of the year.
The last day of the year is a day of reflection so it has to be a slightly longer run. If you can reflect on your year in a 3 mile run, then you need to pack a little more into your year. I ran 11 miles at a moderate pace. The way I felt during the run was much the same of how I felt during the year in running. I had some decent races but poor marathon performances. Mostly my running has been a bit of a struggle physically. The mind is still there but sometimes the mind is a bit overzealous in its thoughts. I do know what I need to do to get better or back to where I was in 2004 which brings me to tomorrow, or the first day of the year. I have run the Hamilton Hangover 5 miler (and various other distances due to weather)on New Year's Day for the last 13 years. This is the race that starts the year in the right direction. What better way to begin a year than with a race? This is where I get to look forward, to feel the hard effort, to think about what I want to accomplish and to think about the adjustments I need to make to achieve.
You cannot rest on your running laurels from years past. Running is humbling and just when you think you have it figured out, it taps you on the shoulder and says, "not so fast! (hah, literally)" Running is truly one of the greatest gifts because you must only use your mind, heart, soul and body. The adjustments must come from one of these. You can't buy a bigger driver, a swifter bike, nor a bat made of space age material. Running is you and the road (or trail) and whatever needs changed, they must come from within.
As I came down to one last breath in 2005, light snow falling onto the decaying leaves of winter, thousands of birds chirping, drowning out the air filling up and escaping from my lungs, I realized that the real reflection was truly looking at myself, what I need to change and what I have learned.
Happy New Year with a healthy and prosperous 2006!
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Monday, December 12, 2005
How Bad Do you Want It? - St. Jude Memphis Marathon
When I'm here on this highway
Breathing diesel smoke
Running hard for hours
Trying to make that Memphis show
People always ask me
"Son what does it take
To reach out and touch your dreams?"
To them I always say
Are you hungry?
Are you thirsty?
Is it a fire that burns you up inside?
How bad do you want it?
How bad do you need it?
Are you eating, sleeping, dreaming
With that one thing on your mind?
How bad do you want it?
How bad do you need it?
Cause if you want it all
You've got to lay it all out on the line 143
Making the Memphis Show - The Memphis show was not seeing the Rolling Stones. Yes, they were in Memphis this past weekend and staying in the very same hotel where I stayed - the famous Peabody with the Peabody ducks. I even saw Mick, Keith and Charlie arrive and walk through the lobby. It still wasn't the show. Elvis lived in Memphis, birthplace of rock 'n roll, and as the locals say he still LIVES in Memphis but he wasn't the show either. Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis (funny how you don't have to use his last name) all recorded at Sun Records in Memphis but the show wasn't at Sun either. The show started on Beale street, home to some of the greatest blues musicians ever - but they weren't the show either on this day. The show was the St. Jude Memphis Marathon - my 16th marathon and the 10th state where I have completed a marathon. The marathon, any marathon is the show.
I picked the Memphis marathon because I truly love the south, love the blues, love Barbecue and love beer. It also has a great tradition of giving to St. Jude's Children's hospital. The weekend was truly excellent and so what I had to run 26.2 miles. I arrived just as the Peabody ducks were making their way to the fountain for their workday - honestly, I don't get the duck thing but people love it and for many people there that was the show. I headed off to the expo on the Trolley. The expo was pretty small but manageable. I did get a nice Nike dri-fit hat for registering early. The shirts were long sleeve and had a great colored collage of scenes from Beale Street. I bought a plain gray shirt with Marathon Freak across the front. I figured that since I just joined Marathon Maniacs that marathon freak applied also. I walked back and noticed how dead the city was on a Friday afternoon. I actually wondered if it was a holiday. I stopped at BB Kings and had a barbecue and a doggie style from Flying Dog Brewery - carbs and water, right? The rest of the day and evening I just hung out and waited for the show to begin – anticipation – pin the number, tie the chip, synch the GPS, lay out the clothes.
The Show
If you read my Baltimore Marathon report you know it was not a pretty scene and this marathon was just 7 weeks after Baltimore (I know Maniacs, 7 weeks doesn’t even qualify me as a maniac – maybe a freak!) I felt that I managed the 7 weeks pretty well getting in two more 20 milers and some decent tempo runs.
The starter sounded like Larry the Cable Guy and I loved it – much better than hearing NJ accents! The weather was questionable, 50% chance of rain and potential thunderstorms but decent temperatures in the high 40’s and low 50’s. The rain never came and it remained cool and overcast yet a little windy. To me, the day was nearly perfect weather-wise.
The course was considered “rolling hills” but I much prefer this kind of course. The first half was very fast allowing your muscles to work, rest, recover and work again. I felt that I managed the first half quite well. My goal as always was to break 4 hours but I felt like I needed to manage the pace better and to run between 43-45 minutes for each 5 miles. At 5 miles I was at 43:36 and 10 miles at 1:27 – perfect. The best part is that I didn’t feel like I ran 10 miles at all – where did those 10 miles go? – this is a good sign. At the half-marathon mark we split from the half marathon runners who finished in Autozone Park. Our half-marathon split was back on famous Beale Street. I felt as if someone was running with me – I know Elvis lives but I don’t think it was him. The song referenced in this entry played on my Shuffle and I started singing it out loud – “how bad do you want it?” – the ultimate conversational pace. Beale Street was lined with spectators as if all the great blues players were there for a homecoming concert. I hit the half at 1:53 and was still feeling good – good energy, good pace. I did know that mile 14 started a climb for 4-5 miles similarly to the Baltimore course. The climb was gradual but it seemed to last forever. I still hit mile 15 in 2:11. My next goal was to get to mile 20 under 3 hours. The stretches were very long and straight at this point and I started to feel the toll of the climb, albeit gradual, was taking on my legs and time. I always feel like if I get to mile 20 under 3 hours, I give myself a chance. I get to mile 20 in 2:58 which is still under my goal but slower over those last 5 miles. Once I got to 20 miles, my quads were fried from the earlier down hills and the lactic acid had taken over. I always liken the pain in my quads to someone taking a steal pipe and beating them raw with each step. It is actually a bit more piercing than that but in a strange way it makes you feel alive. I tried to hang in the best I could but I got slower and slower – my mid-section hurt, my quads were fried, and also had some dizziness probably from low blood sugar although I had done Gu and sports drink. At this point it was survival and getting to the finish which I did in 4:19 - an awful 10K but I finished my 10th state and had improved from the debacle of Baltimore. I also got to 20 miles under 3 hours. I always try to find the positives in a marathon! However, all I could think of was the quote, “Anyone can run 20 miles, it is the next 6.2 that count!” The finish was as if I was playing center field for the Memphis Redbirds. We entered the stadium in center field and ran around the warning path to the 3rd base dugout. The warning path was so soft and there were spectators cheering from the stands. I would love to see the Baltimore marathon finish in Camden yards or down the center of the Ravens’ stadium. I heard my name and town called with a southern draw over the loudspeaker as I was entering the final stretch. There is always someone to greet you at the end of a marathon, someone waiting to share your accomplishments. Memphis was no different. Another show was over.
Breathing diesel smoke
Running hard for hours
Trying to make that Memphis show
People always ask me
"Son what does it take
To reach out and touch your dreams?"
To them I always say
Are you hungry?
Are you thirsty?
Is it a fire that burns you up inside?
How bad do you want it?
How bad do you need it?
Are you eating, sleeping, dreaming
With that one thing on your mind?
How bad do you want it?
How bad do you need it?
Cause if you want it all
You've got to lay it all out on the line 143
Making the Memphis Show - The Memphis show was not seeing the Rolling Stones. Yes, they were in Memphis this past weekend and staying in the very same hotel where I stayed - the famous Peabody with the Peabody ducks. I even saw Mick, Keith and Charlie arrive and walk through the lobby. It still wasn't the show. Elvis lived in Memphis, birthplace of rock 'n roll, and as the locals say he still LIVES in Memphis but he wasn't the show either. Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis (funny how you don't have to use his last name) all recorded at Sun Records in Memphis but the show wasn't at Sun either. The show started on Beale street, home to some of the greatest blues musicians ever - but they weren't the show either on this day. The show was the St. Jude Memphis Marathon - my 16th marathon and the 10th state where I have completed a marathon. The marathon, any marathon is the show.
I picked the Memphis marathon because I truly love the south, love the blues, love Barbecue and love beer. It also has a great tradition of giving to St. Jude's Children's hospital. The weekend was truly excellent and so what I had to run 26.2 miles. I arrived just as the Peabody ducks were making their way to the fountain for their workday - honestly, I don't get the duck thing but people love it and for many people there that was the show. I headed off to the expo on the Trolley. The expo was pretty small but manageable. I did get a nice Nike dri-fit hat for registering early. The shirts were long sleeve and had a great colored collage of scenes from Beale Street. I bought a plain gray shirt with Marathon Freak across the front. I figured that since I just joined Marathon Maniacs that marathon freak applied also. I walked back and noticed how dead the city was on a Friday afternoon. I actually wondered if it was a holiday. I stopped at BB Kings and had a barbecue and a doggie style from Flying Dog Brewery - carbs and water, right? The rest of the day and evening I just hung out and waited for the show to begin – anticipation – pin the number, tie the chip, synch the GPS, lay out the clothes.
The Show
If you read my Baltimore Marathon report you know it was not a pretty scene and this marathon was just 7 weeks after Baltimore (I know Maniacs, 7 weeks doesn’t even qualify me as a maniac – maybe a freak!) I felt that I managed the 7 weeks pretty well getting in two more 20 milers and some decent tempo runs.
The starter sounded like Larry the Cable Guy and I loved it – much better than hearing NJ accents! The weather was questionable, 50% chance of rain and potential thunderstorms but decent temperatures in the high 40’s and low 50’s. The rain never came and it remained cool and overcast yet a little windy. To me, the day was nearly perfect weather-wise.
The course was considered “rolling hills” but I much prefer this kind of course. The first half was very fast allowing your muscles to work, rest, recover and work again. I felt that I managed the first half quite well. My goal as always was to break 4 hours but I felt like I needed to manage the pace better and to run between 43-45 minutes for each 5 miles. At 5 miles I was at 43:36 and 10 miles at 1:27 – perfect. The best part is that I didn’t feel like I ran 10 miles at all – where did those 10 miles go? – this is a good sign. At the half-marathon mark we split from the half marathon runners who finished in Autozone Park. Our half-marathon split was back on famous Beale Street. I felt as if someone was running with me – I know Elvis lives but I don’t think it was him. The song referenced in this entry played on my Shuffle and I started singing it out loud – “how bad do you want it?” – the ultimate conversational pace. Beale Street was lined with spectators as if all the great blues players were there for a homecoming concert. I hit the half at 1:53 and was still feeling good – good energy, good pace. I did know that mile 14 started a climb for 4-5 miles similarly to the Baltimore course. The climb was gradual but it seemed to last forever. I still hit mile 15 in 2:11. My next goal was to get to mile 20 under 3 hours. The stretches were very long and straight at this point and I started to feel the toll of the climb, albeit gradual, was taking on my legs and time. I always feel like if I get to mile 20 under 3 hours, I give myself a chance. I get to mile 20 in 2:58 which is still under my goal but slower over those last 5 miles. Once I got to 20 miles, my quads were fried from the earlier down hills and the lactic acid had taken over. I always liken the pain in my quads to someone taking a steal pipe and beating them raw with each step. It is actually a bit more piercing than that but in a strange way it makes you feel alive. I tried to hang in the best I could but I got slower and slower – my mid-section hurt, my quads were fried, and also had some dizziness probably from low blood sugar although I had done Gu and sports drink. At this point it was survival and getting to the finish which I did in 4:19 - an awful 10K but I finished my 10th state and had improved from the debacle of Baltimore. I also got to 20 miles under 3 hours. I always try to find the positives in a marathon! However, all I could think of was the quote, “Anyone can run 20 miles, it is the next 6.2 that count!” The finish was as if I was playing center field for the Memphis Redbirds. We entered the stadium in center field and ran around the warning path to the 3rd base dugout. The warning path was so soft and there were spectators cheering from the stands. I would love to see the Baltimore marathon finish in Camden yards or down the center of the Ravens’ stadium. I heard my name and town called with a southern draw over the loudspeaker as I was entering the final stretch. There is always someone to greet you at the end of a marathon, someone waiting to share your accomplishments. Memphis was no different. Another show was over.
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