Lincoln Marathon

In what may prove to be my last full marathon, the Lincoln Track Club in Nebraska put on a great finale. From beginning to end, this race was top notch.

Sue, Ringo and I headed out on the 3-hour journey Saturday afternoon, May 2. We checked into the Days Inn near the airport and then headed down to packet pick up. The expo was typical, vendors hawking fancy antioxidant concoctions, chiropractors that will straighten your spine and loads of clearance running gear. Packet pick up was smooth and soon, we were on our way to the race sponsored "Pastathon."

In the neat little Stadium Club, across from the University of Nebraska's football stadium, the Pastathon was available to anyone who walked up and wanted to eat. No need to show that you were entered in the race; they welcomed everybody. The meal was nothing fancy; salad, pasta with meat sauce or marinara sauce, bread and fudgesicles for dessert. I loaded up a heaping plateful and settled down at one of the outdoor tables, since the dog was with us. One of the volunteers commented that this was the first time in many years that we didn't have to worry about rain, wind or cold. Today, the weather was perfect! The meal was quite good considering it's simplicity. After dinner, we walked around campus a bit and found a track meet in progress. We hung around awhile and watched some of the pole vaulters and long jumpers.

Race morning came early, I always seen to wake before the alarm; 4;30 am to be specific. It looks to be another beautiful day, around 50 to start with the sun warming us nicely through the mix of clouds. The race begins in the center of campus and the football stadium, along with the Coliseum, is open for bathrooms or just a place to keep warm. There were no pace groups, so I lined up at the 10-minute mile pace marker. The goal today would be to finish in 4:20 or at least beat my best time of 4:24.

The course itself was decent, a mix of campus, neighborhoods, bike trails, and park areas. It's not the most interesting course, but there are almost no hills. The first half is a loop and the second half is an out-and-back. I would say it's a fast course, but for a mid to back of the pack runner, the first half is crowded with all the half-marathoners, especially along the narrow bike trails where it's hard to keep a pace, weaving between walkers and slower runners. The course is great for spectators, as Sue was able to easily find me numerous times throughout the race. There seemed to be plenty of cheering fans---OK, it's not Chicago---but they were everywhere and enthusiastic. The aid stations were THE best I've ever seen in a race. Gatorade and water were clearly distinguishable by the type/color of the cup and half of the cups would have lids and straws, so it was easy to keep running through the station if you wished. They also had numerous stops with orange slices, Vaseline and a couple of GU stops in the second half.

My day started well, I felt good through the first half, but lost a few minutes to my pace and a few more for a bathroom stop. At the halfway point, I was 4 minutes behind, so I began to pick up my pace a bit to try and get back a few of the minutes. This worked fine for miles 13-16; I got back to only 2 minutes behind goal, but the strategy would prove faulty. In miles 17-22 I had to pay back exponentially for the extra burst used earlier and thus came to the realization that I would not meet my goal today. I began to employ some walking in the mix, but pain in my right knee became overbearing. It hurt so much to try and start running again after the walks, that I abandoned the walk and just kept running at a snail's pace. Once the finish line was in view, like any proud marathoner that's feeling defeated, I forced my legs to sprint the last quarter mile and finish on a strong note.

Final time: 4:49:47

Friends and fellow bloggers Kim and Doug also run the race

After the race, the Coliseum was open for massages and showers. What a great touch! This was the first time I've ever had a massage after a run and believe me, this felt wonderful. There were loads of masseurs and masseuses (wow, I had to look up how to spell those words!) with empty tables waiting. A shower before the long ride home I'm sure was appreciated by Sue.

While I was disappointed today in my results, this race was one of the best overall experiences I've had.





Early on, still looking fresh
Later around mile 22, not so much!

Blue Springs 50/50

The Blue Springs 50/50 is one of the smallest marathons in the country. The race also includes a 50K and a 50 miler. This actually a trail race, but the trail itself is exceptionally smooth, fine crushed gravel; an excellent surface upon which to run. It was a little strange, when asked by other runners what race I'm in, having to reply, "Oh, just the marathon." While the aid was adequate, this is a race where you need to be self sufficient. B.Y.O.W.

My today race consisted of 4 stages.

The Serenity Stage - Miles 1-6

The quiet and calm of an early Sunday morning before daylight, leads the mind to ponder thoughts about the virtues of running. I'm reminded of what a wonderful life I lead; from the family support I receive to the amazing physical and mental benefits that running a marathon provides. Smooth jazz songs flow through my headphones in time with the gently rushing waters of the Little Blue River along the trail. The sun slowly rises above the horizon and promises to take the chill off my body. At the moment, there's no place I'd rather be.

The Delusional Stage - Miles 7-13

I'm warmed up and now into the race. Things are going well, my pace is good and thoughts of a personal best dance in my head. The magic number to me is 4:20 or averaging a 10 minute mile pace. There's no mile markers on the course and I wear a Bulova Accutron, not a Garmin, so I'll have to rely on feel for my pace. I'm most certainly running below 10:00. And I feel great! I begin thinking about how close to a BQ I would be if I keep this up. The adrenaline is pumping as my mind is racing as fast as my legs. Yeah, this could be the day I put it all together.

The Faded Glory Stage - Miles 14-20

Somewhere around mile 14, reality begins to set in. My shadow looks up at me and laughs, "I told you to take it easy, you didn't even train that hard and you expect to set a PR?" I'm still hanging tough and begin to try and think of a Mantra so I don't have to listen to my shadow. "I've got inner strength, that will keep me going." I try to keep reciting, but along comes a new pain I've never felt before. Soon, this pain in my left foot hobbles me enough to where I need to walk. Walking provides little relief and the pain intensifies. It feels as if my shoe lace is too tight, so I loosen up the bow, but to no avail. After walking a half mile or so, I give running another attempt. The pain hasn't completely gone, but at least feels bearable for now. The aid station around mile 16 is approaching and this is located at the start area, so I am considering calling it a day. I reach the aid station and miraculously, the foot feels OK now. I grab a couple of Aleve and continue on. The Aleve works wonderfully, at least for a couple miles. Here I am, nearing the 20 mile mark and the pain has returned with a vengeance.

The Hallucinatory Stage - Miles 21-26

My mind now has to deal with the constant pain in my foot as well as the tightening hamstrings and a mental state that can't focus on anything positive. I'm past the point of no return so I have to finish. My pace has slowed dramatically as I watch Survivor Man pass by. Wow, a celebrity, what's he doin' out here? After a quick blink of the eyes, he's gone. Damn, I had some questions. I bit later I notice a 5 piece band playing in the adjacent meadow. Journey to the Center of the Mind? Is this a 1960's experiment? Wow, I need water. I need to lay down. Or is it lie down, I don't know, I'm confused. Eventually, the gates opened and I entered the 26.2 zone.

I have no idea how I made it through the last 5 miles!

Finish Time 4:44:01

Patriot's Run

The Patriot's Run here in my hometown of Olathe, Kansas, is an event that is truly unique.

The race itself is held on 9-11 to commemorate the events of 9-11 and pay tribute to those who lost there lives and those service men and women who help protect our country today.

Today I write almost with a tear in my eye, I'm so choked up over the entire experience. I'm proud of my hometown for putting on this event, proud of my own personal accomplishment, and most of all, proud to be an American.

The event itself begins at Noon on 9-11 and ends promptly at 9:11 pm. The course is a 3/4 mile track around a small park in the city. The idea is to run as many laps as you please. Come and run 5 laps; fine. Want to do a marathon? Fine, complete the 36+ laps. Want to start at 3pm rather than noon? Fine. Want to run for 9 hours 11 minutes? Fine. It is literally, a create your own event. Each lap is timed and recorded. My goal today was to try and get in the marathon distance.

• The morning began with the Pledge of Allegiance, the National Anthem and then all the runners made their way from the picnic shelter, through a human tunnel of servicemen and out to the starting line. We are all led by Jose Nebrida who will be carrying the 'Flag of Honor', an American flag which is embroidered with all the names of the 9-11 victims in its stripes. Jose is a proud American who immigrated here from the Philippines when he was 19 and a veteran of 160 some marathons. If you don't feel inspired by all this, you'd better check your heart. Seriously folks, I'm choking up just writing about it.

This time of year in Kansas we could have easily had temperatures near 90, but today we were spared. Race time temps were around 70 and stayed there all day. We had an off and on light rain throughout the day which was really a blessing. The wet conditions did not dampen the spirit of the runners or the volunteers.

Jay (Olathe Running Club President) proudly waves the Flag of Honor

I started out running with my friend Joe, a fellow Olathe Running Club member. His goals were similar to mine, as he is hoping to finish his first ever official marathon today. We started out a bit ambitious; running the first 5 or 6 miles under a 10 minute pace, but I knew I would need to slow down. I really haven't even done much training lately, with only 1 long run (the half marathon in Chicago) since my last marathon in July. Also, somewhere in the back of my mind lay these thoughts about doing an Ultra today. So, I reign myself back some and get more into a 10:30 pace for the next 10 or so miles.

One of my fears about this course would be the boredom of running the same loop over and over and over. Somehow, I never really felt that bored; it was always encouraging to pass by the aid/timing station where your bib was scanned to record each lap. The volunteers were so friendly and supportive and it was exciting to see the lap count continue to increase. So far, I'm feeling decent and somewhere around 15-20 miles or so I think I made the decision to do more than the marathon. With that in mind, I begin to start mixing in some walking with my running.

During lap 36, which is the final lap to complete the marathon, I had the honor of taking the Flag of Honor from Jose and running with it as I completed goal #1. This gave me just a remarkable sense of joy. Now my thoughts are on completing my first ever Ultra. I figure about 8 more laps will give me the approx distance of a 50K, so that becomes the next goal. I'm now running about 3 laps to each one I walk, but I'm certainly not worried about time. I just want to finish. Off and on I meet back up with Joe and he has completed his marathon and has also decided to continue on.

After another hour or so of running, I've lost track of my lap count, but am quite sure I've done what I need for a 50K. I've been really inspired all day and still don't feel like quitting. I've got to be honest here, folks. I've led a pretty charmed life in comparison to what the 9-11 victims and their families went through. I've never had to serve my country in the armed forces. The least I can do is honor these people by enduring only a fraction of their pain by completing this entire run. So then was the decision made to keep going for the entire 9 hours and 11 minutes.

The last couple hours were very difficult. I was now doing the run/walk mixture at about 50%. It was dark and few people were left out on the track. But, somehow, I was able to make it all the way to 9:11.

Final count:

• 55 Laps


• 40.04 miles


• 10th place overall for total number of laps

The smile on my face covered up any of the pain that was felt in my legs, my feet, my back, well, just about every part of my body. But with the help and motivation from people I've never known, I am now one Proud American.

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Photos courtesy of Dick Ross at SeeKCRun.com

Chicago Distance Classic

Let me first off say, "I LOVE CHICAGO!"

I ran this race for 2 reasons;

1. My daughter, Alison, just moved to Chicago and I wanted to run a race with her
2. I waited too long and the Chicago Marathon was already filled

I'm not going to spend a lot of time with this post; instead, I'll just add lots of pictures. It's a typical big city race, crowded, but well organized. The course runs from downtown along Lakeshore Dr, then turns back and runs up the bike/jogging trail right along the lake. Nice, but I'd actually prefer to run through the unique neighborhoods.

We were running well, hoping to finish around 2 hours. One of us, of whom I shall not refer to by name, had a battle going on between the stomach and breakfast, which consisted of the 'Vegan Take-a-Hike Scone,' from the local organic bakery. The scone and it's fibrous content won the battle, costing us a good 5 minute bathroom stop. Perhaps the concoction might be more aptly named the 'Take-a-Sh.....oh, never mind!

By the way, I am not a vegetarian.

Final time, 2:10:58. Respectable.

Alison's new apartment, the lower floor of this 4-story home in the Lakeview/Wrigleyville area

My favorite tavern, O'Donovans, right on the corner of her street. Great food!

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I think they belive this year

Alison, myself and Ringo

If I were to be a Chicago sports fan, I'd definitely be a Cubs fan.

What a great atmosphere around the whole area!

Sue and Alison in the Chicago Skyline

Look, there I am, sporting my Trail Nerds bandana

as we head near the finish line.

We pose in Grant Park for a picture



Now, who could resist this? Not me



Nothing like a fresh Stiegls Marzen after a long hard run.

This lager has a pale yellow-gold hue. Toasty and bready aromas
follow through on a medium-bodied palate with soft malty
flavors and a hint of spicy and bitter hops on the finish. Delicious.

University of Okoboji Marathon

I’ll admit I wasn’t expecting much from this event, just another long run; a ‘training run’ so to speak in the quest to try an Ultra.

I had read and heard many unflattering comments about Okoboji; very little aid, safety concerns running along busy highways, course markings were off, the medal is a piece of crap and so on. Some of that was very accurate, but sometimes it’s good to experience and form your own opinion. Here is mine.

The University of Okoboji Marathon takes place in the far northwest corner of Iowa. One might be a bit surprised when visiting this part of the country. Okoboji and the surrounding communities are a recreational oasis in the middle of farm country. Here, the logo of Sea Ray on 40 foot speed boats out-numbers the famous green of John Deere tractors. If you’re a water sports enthusiast, you’re going to love Okoboji.

If you’re looking for the university’s campus, look no further than the ‘Great Lakes of Iowa’. “What,” you say? OK, let me explain. The curriculum for this university includes swimming, water-skiing, boating, diving, shopping, partying and so on. Here, you don’t really graduate, you celebrate. The university is mythical except in the minds of the student body. You get my drift, right?

Sue and I made the drive from KC and set up camp (yes, I mean camp literally) at Gull Point State Park. The campground is scattered with majestic oak trees and the beach is only a short walk away. Since I chose a site with electric, our tent was tucked neatly between two RV’s. That’s the price you pay for being a runner and needing electricity for important things, like having a fully charged iPod! With a fully inflated air mattress, I slip off to dreamland early, as the race begins at 6am.

Early the next day, we make our way to Pikes Point State Park on the opposite side of the lake, where the marathon and triathlon start. The marathon consists of about 100 runners, so there is little congestion and no problem at all with parking at the start. A full moon and the rising sun work in harmony to provide plenty of light on a beautiful 65 degree morning. Right on time, the gun goes off.

The early parts of the course wind through the residential areas of the eastern shore of West Lake Okoboji. The area reminds me of my old stomping ground, Houghton Lake, Michigan, where Trunk lifters out-number permanent residents by a substantial amount. The weekenders are affectionately known as ‘Trunk lifters’ (or not so affectionately by some) since we all make the trek up from the big city, open our trunks and unpack Friday night, then open the trunk again Sunday and prepare for the trip back home. The lake homes vary from cute little cottages, to huge mansions with spectacular views. I would be perfectly content in owning any one of them!

By the 5th mile, we swing into the town of Arnold Park and run for awhile along the main highway through town. It’s mostly a 2 lane road lined with restaurants, gift shops and resorts. I spot a night club advertising Karaoke tonight; if I finish the race OK, I’ll be back there later! As we turn across the southern end of the lake, I spot a water-skier slicing through the calm waters. I was a pretty decent water-skier myself when I was younger. The numerous flashbacks keep my mind occupied and the first 10 miles breeze by effortlessly.

Around the 10th mile, we begin to see the bikers from the triathlon pass us. This section of the race is along a major 2-lane state road, so it is a bit unsettling to have a bike whiz by at 20 some MPH as they are crammed between the big SUV on their left and the runner on the right. OK, safety is a bit of a concern through this section, but it’s only a few miles. The gravel shoulder is groomed quite well and provides a more comforting zone in which to run. It’s not a horribly busy road, and I’ll bet the majority of the traffic was vehicles dropping off runners at the half-marathon start, which is just up the road. Surely those drivers understand how to be cautious?

As we turn off the main road and back toward the western shoreline, a quick look to the western skies reveal very ominous dark clouds. It’s beginning to rain now, but it looks like heavy stuff isn’t far behind. I’ve met up with another runner, Joshua, a young pre-med student from Iowa State who is running his first marathon. We seem to be going the same pace and will end up running the rest of the race together. He seems to be thriving off the ‘old man’s experience’ and I am using his youthful enthusiasm to help me. As we run by the entrance to the state park where we’re camping, I spot my wife waiting with gels and Gatorade. I take a minute to pull off my iPod and give it to her, as there is nowhere to hide it once the rains come. This turns out to be a good decision; the downpour arrives shortly after.

As we pass the halfway point, I’m right on my desired split time of 2:10. By now, we’re soaking wet as the rain continues at a steady, moderate pace. Other than having heavier shoes from the moisture, the rain actually feels good and it doesn’t really bother either of us. The miles through the teens alternate between a paved trail following the highway, with some turn-offs into the western shore residential area. Luckily, the bikes stay out on the main highway, so we won’t have to contend with them any longer.

As with my last race, the miles between 18 and 22 seem to be the toughest. I haven’t checked my pace in awhile and am disappointed to see that I’ve fallen 5 minutes or so behind my goal. I never felt like I slowed down, and I don’t own a Garmin to confirm. As it is, I probably won’t be coming in with a PR today, but it’s still a pretty respectable time for me. We pass the start line again and the last 5-6 miles are the same course again, so we know the terrain and what to expect. Unfortunately, this is probably the hilliest part of the course and we have to run it a second time. Now, don’t be fooled, there may be a few hills in this section, but they are generally short and not too steep.

Finally, I can see the tracks of the roller coaster at Arnolds Park Amusement Park, which means the finish line is close. Joshua and I have stuck together since we met up around mile 10 and now we both kick it into high gear for the final stretch. Simultaneously, we cross the mats for a time of 4:27:53. A look at the website’s official times show that Joshua was one second behind me; surely he held up just slightly as we crossed, respectfully allowing his elder to beat him. I’m sure he could have blown me away if he wanted – what a fine young gentleman.

After the race, I could be found sitting around the campsite with a Leinenkugel Creamy Dark in one hand and an Arturo Fuentes Hemingway cigar in the other. I have a deeply satisfied feeling after the race and even though my time was a bit more than my goal, I think I enjoyed the entire experience of this race more than any other.

Later that afternoon, we went for dinner at The Wharf, located right on the channel between the east and west arms of the lake. We took a seat on the patio and watched the parade of boats pass by. Unbeknownst to us, this weekend was Homecoming. Logically, there would be a Homecoming Parade and of course, at this university, the parade would be on the water. Each boat was decorated in a unique theme, from Santa's Vacation to the Toga Party.

So far, I feel like I’ve breezed through my first few classes at the ‘U’, but there are a few more credit hours I need to complete before leaving. Yes, Karaoke 101 is being taught at the local night club, a place simply called ‘Cocktails’. The place is packed full of people from all walks of life; young and old alike and farmers whooping it up with doctors. There are also folks from Willie Nelson’s crew (who just finished playing an outdoor concert down the street), but Willie himself did not make an appearance. Being one of the few brave souls, I was able to sing multiple times. Here’s the list of songs I sang or should I say butchered:

Wherever You Will Go – The Calling
Down in the Boondocks – Billy Joe Royal
Semi-Charmed Life – Third Eye Blind
I Think I Love you – The Partridge Family
Mustang Sally – Buddy Guy

A perfect ending to a perfect weekend

Now, let’s look at the race itself and hear my thoughts on the issues I’ve read about.

* Very little aid – There were aid stations at least every 2 miles (except the first one which was about 3 miles) with both water and Powerade at most. No GU, no fruit or other foods, but I found it to be adequate. It would be smart to run with a running belt if you don’t have any of your own personal support on the course.

* Safety concerns on course – Yes, this is somewhat true through the highway 86 section, but I really didn’t feel in danger at all. I eventually moved to the gravel shoulder allowing a larger buffer zone. The entire course is open to traffic, but the majority is run on uncrowded residential streets.

* Course markings are off – I found the course to be marked very well, all directions are painted on the road, so you need to pay attention. The directions are not at all confusing. It seemed that the mile markers were accurate, at least through the first half where I was watching my time. I did not watch as closely the last 10 miles. There are no clocks on the course at all.

* The medal is a piece of crap – Quite true, by far. Most of my 5K medals are nicer! Oh well, who runs a race for the medal anyway?

Psycho Psummer

Within miles of the urban setting of Kansas City, lies a hidden paradise for trail runners. Wyandotte County Lake Park is the setting for a number of different trail events in the area; this race featuring a 50K, and a 15 miler. One might be described as 'Psycho' should they consider running one of these tests on hilly, rocky, muddy trails in the mid-summer heat of the Heartland. Myself and hundreds of others aren't as crazy as you think.

If you ever considered doing a trail race, you may want to choose a race put on by the Trail Nerds of KC. Ben Holmes and his gang do a first class job with these events.

• There is more food than any marathon I've run - how 'bout a freshly grilled burger after the race! Or a vegan burger should you so desire
• The friendliest volunteers - seriously, they genuinely make you feel as if you're the most important person on the course
• The best looking shirts you can actually be proud to wear
• A Trail Nerds bandanna - soaked in ice cold water and personally draped across the back of your neck by Ben himself after you finish
• Free photos by Dick Ross, who shoots for many of the local races
  
  
  

It was a near picture perfect morning in KC for a run in July, and at 8am we were given last minute instructions from Ben. "The ticks have been bad this year", he warned, "so be sure to address them properly, they prefer to be called Arachnid Americans!!" After a good laugh, we're off.

I met up with one of my running buddies from the Olathe Running Club, Margaret, and we started off together. After the first big downhill, my fat old body couldn't fight the gravity and I sped out in front of Margaret and never did get back with her. I felt really bad, I wanted to be there to encourage her if she needed, but she's an outgoing, energetic young lady that would have no problem finding support.

My strategy for this type of run will be to walk the steep uphills and run the rest. I was doing quite well for most of the first half, but began walking some of the easier hills after the midway point. The course is predominately single track, with many rocks and roots and uneven footing. There is a few sections of paved road and a small section of gravel road. The terrain is certainly varied enough to make it interesting. There are plenty of great views, but don't look up too long, or you'll risk planting your face on a rock!

The women of the Trail Nerds are fondly referred to as 'Mud Babes' and of course, the trail delivers the goods. Somewhere in the last 1/4 of the course, the serious mud is lurking. I try unsuccessfully to dodge the mud, but to no avail. At one point, my shoe is sucked right off my foot! Later, I came across a beautiful clean stream, stop and wade through the deepest part (which is only ankle deep) and clean off my shoes. There, that will make things easier now.........well, that didn't last long, but remember; MUD IS FUN!

With the extra mud in tow, I finally leave the trail and begin the last leg across the open green pasture leading to the finish line. I'm feeling good about my time, but sad that the run is almost over. This is such an enjoyable and challenging course. The timer shows that I finished in 3:14:11, which would be the best pace I've run on this course yet.

Maybe next year I'll attempt the 50K.

Topeka Tinman

This month, I decided to try a new experience, something that would challenge me mentally and physically. I've done marathons and while that will still remain my primary focus, the lure of the triathlon was calling. I admit, I didn't put in a lot of training on the bike or in the pool, I was counting on my running experience to carry most of the load.

The race is held in Lake Shawnee Park in Topeka. There is a 400 acre lake, campground, marina, golf course, beach and miles of beautiful trails; a little slice of country, right in the city.

Being a rookie, I arrived early on race day, not knowing what to expect.

Step 1 - get my body markings done. Apparently, they need to write your race number in permanent marker on different body parts; probably so they can easily identify the body should I drown.

Step 2 - park my bike in the transition area. They have some special racks for mountain bikes with wider grooves for the larger tires. These racks are all the way in the back of the transition area. I guess it's not enough of a disadvantage that I'm riding a slow 'comfort bike', they need to make me go all the way to the back to make the transition to run!

Step 3 - well, there is nothing else to do, I'll just go get a look at the swim area.

We make our way down to the beach and watch some of the other athletes warming up in the lake. Me, I prefer to save my energy; I'll just watch. Guys are coming out of the water and commenting that the temperature isn't too bad. Being a bit of a wimp when it comes to cold, I'm vary of what's "not too bad." Then I look and see other guys in wetsuits and become even more alarmed. I don't even dare go feel the water, I might be inclined to panic. Actually, the water temp is somewhere in the mid 70's, but in my mind, that sounds cold.

After a stroll around the area, it's time to head to the start. I make my way to the very back of the pack. There are 3 different heats and I'm in the second, but I figure who cares, I just want to be in the back and not in any ones way. A couple of ladies tell me that I should be in one of the heats in front of them. How would they know, I must look like an experienced tri-athlete! I'm politely told, "Uh sir, all the women are in the last heat."

In the words of Homer Simpson, "Doh"

So, to the back of the second heat I go, not to worry though, there's a minute or so of time between each heat. I can still lag to the back of my group and keep my flailing arms from injuring anyone.

The moment of truth has come and into the water we go. Wow, first thought, the water's not bad! What the heck was I worried about? In no time, I get into a groove and the swim starts off very well. Within the first 100 yards, I've already changed my normal breathing pattern. I've worked on this over and over in the pool, always taking a breathe every three strokes. I don't know if it's because I'm racing, but I feel the need to breathe every two strokes now. Doesn't seem to make much difference, I'm still breathing comfortably. With the exception of going a bit off course now and then, the swimming goes off without a hitch. The shore is near, the water is now only waist deep, so I stand up proud with my arms extended to the sky as if I won the lottery. My biggest fear is now behind me.

After throwing on a fresh shirt, socks and shoes, I'm ready to take the bike ride. I know my bike is not designed for road racing, but it's all I have and I'm not going to spend hundreds of dollars, OK, probably thousands, on a new race bike unless I find the desire to continue doing these races. I'll have to work harder than most just to keep an average speed. A few miles into the bike course, I come across a sign that reads Turn Ahead. It's the race organization's familiar logo, but when I come to the next crossroad, no volunteers, no police guards, nothing. "Wow, do I turn or not", I wondered to myself. Off in the distance straight ahead I see another biker, so I must keep going. It seems too soon to turn anyway, based on what I remember seeing on the course map.

After another mile or so, I see more signs, this time though, there are volunteers and police all making sure you make the turn. Ah, I did the right thing, now feeling much more at ease. However, apparently not everyone made the same decision at the first sign. I later find out that 20 people were disqualified. I assume they had all cut the course and made that turn, which actually was the turn for the shorter race that was running simultaneously. Very unfortunate. Somehow I feel the race committee messed up on this one.

Somewhere about halfway through the bike course, a van pulls up beside me with the windows down and the man inside tells me he is with the medical staff and that I was one of the last riders, so he would be following behind me; don't be alarmed. Gee, that sure was a boost to my ego! How demoralizing.

My legs hold together and I finish the bike portion in what felt like good time, relatively speaking. As was the case last year when I tried my first Duathlon, I did not pass one single soul on the bike. I really didn't expect to anyway. Now comes what I'm best at; running. I'll make up some ground here. Well, so I thought.

It's around 9:30 am now and the sun is beginning to heat up. The humidity this time of year is also pretty high, so the final leg will not be easy. My legs at this point feel like rubber and my shoes feel like lead. Sweat is pouring from body like a leaky faucet. I'll have to go slow and easy if I want to finish this race. Fortunately, there are aid stations every mile on the run course and each one them has GU. I think I stopped at every single station and by the third, was drinking one cup and pouring another over my head.

The run portion of the course is one loop around the entire lake. It is a very pretty setting and the natural beauty keeps me from focusing too much on how tired I am. After .6 mile swimming, 20 miles biking and 7 miles running, I'm beat. I see the finish line ahead, pick up my pace as much as my body allows and cross the finish line with a hidden joy packed somewhere behind my grimacing face. The running today has been tougher than I imagined; where I thought I'd do my best, I struggled the most. OK, some of that is just because the running is the last event, but I still expected to do better.

So, on this day I became a Tri-athlete. Will I ever do another? I'm not sure yet, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, but I don't exactly feel the need to do it again. I think my next focus may become an Ultra marathon, as I am eyeing a 50K this fall.

Next up; the Okoboji Marathon in July.

Country Music Marathon

What is the make-up of a great race?

Is it the course, the scenery, the spectators? Maybe the organization is most important, the food, the post race spread? Should it be a destination, a reason to travel, the weather? Maybe Nashville has a little bit of everything.

Saturday, April 26th 2008 began with a rude awakening. Mother Nature provided overnight storms and a look out the window from my 5th story room at the Loews Vanderbilt 5-Star Hotel (5-star prices with 3-star amenities), reveals a steady rain. Not exactly my idea of perfect conditions!

OK, just a quick review of the hotel:
Great location; just a few short blocks from the start line
For just an extra $19 a night, parking
A bag full of goodies for my dog, this actually was filled with very nice items
No pool, no hot tub
No runners breakfast, they did have a few choices in their little café, so $4.50 got me a bagel and a banana
A very pleasant staff and a nice, clean roomy room.
They handed out garbage bags for all the runners to wear as we walked in the rain to the start line, really, a nice touch

At 6:30 am, my daughter, Alison, and I begin the walk down West End Avenue in the light, annoying rain. This race has approximately 30,000 entrants, so the streets are crowded. Because of the large numbers of runners, they use a corral start. Each corral will be released about a minute or so after the first. Based on my blazing slow speed, I’ve been assigned corral 10.

As if there were some type of divine intervention, the rain stops at precisely 6:59 and corral #1, aka the Kenyans, is released one short minute later. It was only a short 20-minute glimpse into the life of cattle before our corral was herded up to the start line and we were set free to run the streets of Nashville.

The race begins very smoothly even with the masses of runners. Already, the streets are lined with screaming fans and you get a sense that this race is going to be fun. We lined up behind the 4:15 pace group but never was able to weave through all the people to get close. The first couple miles went as planned and we were running just a few seconds behind our desired pace of 10 minute miles.

The early miles find us running along Music Row, a unique section of town where many of the old row homes have been converted into recording studios and the like. You wonder if stars like George Strait or Loretta Lynn made their first recordings here. Miles 5-7 find us wandering through some of the areas neighborhoods, with a mix of modest and elegant homes, then its back up through Music Row again and heading toward downtown.

The half marathon split is near mile 11 and Alison and I are making excellent time. We continue to cut 20 seconds or so off our goal for each mile and we both feel quite comfortable, but Alison is only running the half, so I’m now on my own. I hit the halfway point at about 2:06 and I’m feeling strong and confident.

Shortly after splitting off with Alison, I come across a large church or maybe a seminary, but there is a group of nuns in full habit lined up on the side of the road, cheering like they’re in high school. As I ran by, I got a high five from each one of them. My daughter is a devoted Catholic who has often stated how much see loves nuns, too bad she missed this part of the race. Just past the nuns was an aid station with a large sign at the first table: Holy Water!

Around mile 14, I finally have sighted the 4:15 pacer ahead of me. I’ve been working hard at trying to keep this pace, but I hadn’t seen the pacer in my view since the first mile. This really gives me a mental boost. The next few miles I continue to try and close the gap between us, but never get closer than a couple hundred feet.

Somewhere in this stretch, props to the guy on the side of the road in the KC Royals hat and a T-shirt with big letters that reads “Yankees Suck”.

As I head into mile 18, I’m starting to show signs of wear. My pace is beginning to slow and my mind is having trouble redirecting focus from the tiring muscles. Physically, I’m doing OK, there is only minor pain in the muscles below my left calf and some soreness in the shins, but nothing too serious. I’m now looking forward to each water stop just so I can walk for a few seconds. My cathexis (that word should be worth extra points if Nitmos is reading) now needs to be on finishing this race with at least a PR.

I get a big surprise at mile 21, where I spot my wife and daughter along the street. I didn’t expect to see her again until the finish. Alison, who had finished her half in 2:04, decided to jump in and run some more with me. At the time, it was exactly what I needed. Alison has a way about her, always upbeat and ALWAYS talking. Technically, I call it annoying me, but she probably won’t even read this, so I can make fun of her!

So talk she does. She is rambling on about school, her boyfriend, the city, just on and on. She asks me if I want to hear about her thesis (she is receiving her Masters in a couple weeks.) “Of course I do”, I said not really understanding exactly what she asked. Big mistake! I don’t think I heard a single word after “it’s about a French author…” ZZZZ

Well, maybe the quick little power nap was good for me. I grabbed a few pretzels at mile 24 and all of a sudden felt energized. After 6 miles with a declining pace, I was able to get back to the pace I had in the first half. Once I get to this point in a race, I seem to gain some motivation, just by being close to the end. I’m back to picking out people in front of me and playing my own little game, just beat that guy or don’t let anyone pass me now.

The final mile goes well and I cross the finish line in 4:24:37. My goals for the race were:
Ultimate Goal – 4:15 – missed by 9 minutes
Secondary Goal – avg. a 10-minute mile pace – pace was 10.06, consider it close enough
Basic Goal – set a PR – WooHoo, beat my last race by 4 minutes.

Overall, I’m quite satisfied. After a 2-½ mile walk back to the hotel, I surprisingly felt pretty decent, much, much better than my first marathon, one year ago today. It’s off now to indulge in a meal fit for a king and the best beer on the menu.

Here’s a quick recap of the race itself.

• A fun race, plenty of bands, cheerleaders


• Spectators were loud and abundant


• Aid stations were well organized and consistent


• Power gels, fruit and salt available at a couple stops


• The first half of the course seemed to have most of the hills (maybe because I was zoned out for much of the second half and didn’t notice) regardless, the hills weren’t too steep or too difficult


• The course is a nice mix of neighborhood, parks, downtown, a stretch along the river, but seemed to miss the major attractions of the city (namely, the original Grand Ole Opry building and Printers Alley)


• A good amount of food and drink available at the finish line (fruit, bagels, cookies, muffins and the like)


• I heard my name announced as I approached the finish line

Go ahead, do Nashville, you’re guaranteed to have a good time.

Brew to Brew Relay

One of my favorite runs in the area is the annual Brew to Brew 43 mile Relay. It is traditionally a fun race where costumes are popular and encouraged. But here's the real hook, the race begins near downtown Kansas City at the Boulevard Brewing Co, the best local brewery in town. 43 miles later, you finish in downtown Lawrence, KS, home of the National Champion Kansas Jayhawks, and the Free State Brewery, hence the name 'Brew to Brew.'

Our team will consist of five runners, all from the local running club where I belong. The race may be run solo or with up to 5 total team runners. Each of us will run between 8 and 10 miles. We all arrive at the Boulevard Brewery at 7:30 am and prepare for our 8 am start. Yes, preparation for this race includes, you guessed it, BEER! The Brewery is open and they're pouring cold ones for the runners. I grab my glass of Boulevard Bully Porter and begin the carb-loading. Soon, I hop on the bus and take the short ride to the start as I will be the lead-off man. My legs will be approximately 8 miles.

My goal on this morning will be to run my legs of the relay as fast as I can, no holding back. I'm curious as to what pace I can do if I push myself hard. The first two legs of the race are along top the levees of the Kansas River. The conditions are nice, a flat, crushed gravel trail that winds through the city's industrial area. However, I've already made a big mistake.

Yes, the problem is now the unforgiving result of coffee, water and beer. Should I stop to go? There's no port-a-poties along the way, I would be forced to run down the steep embankment of the levee to find cover. I think to myself, "Suck it up, you wanted beer at 8 am, now live with the consequences!"

Soon, I've forgotten about stopping and I'm into a groove. As usual, I pick out a person in front of me doing a pace that is challenging and try to keep up. I don't own a Garmin (hint, hint to any family member that may read this) so I don't know my exact pace, but I feel I'm hitting my goal. The goal was to average under 9.00 minute/miles, something I have never done for more than 4 miles. The course had been changed slightly, so when I reached the end of my legs some 12 minutes earlier than expected, I was unsure of the overall pace. However, once I got home and mapped it on Google, the totals came back and I finished with a new personal record for any length run, a whopping 8.22 pace. Woohoo!!!

I've been extremely busy lately (major events for both my kids in the works) so I don't have much time right now. I'll update more and add some pics at a later date. Thanks for reading.

What is success?

I believe it was Albert Einstein that once said, “If A equals success, then the formula is A equals X plus Y and Z, with X being work, Y play, and Z keeping your mouth shut.” Well, I'm buying into the work and play part, but now I've gone and challenged the 'keep your mouth shut' part.

While out on my Saturday morning run with my local club, it's a nice day, the sunrise is a beautiful ball of orange and there's a cool, crispness in the air that has somehow stimulated me to talk more than normal. Our conversations often center around running and sure enough, I've opened my mouth and mentioned that I think I want to try a Triathlon. Geez, that's like making a commitment right there, I should have just kept my mouth shut. Well, I guess we'll see if A can still equal success without Z.

OK, so let's get this crazy thought sorted out. I do a lot of running, no problem there. As for the biking, I do have my cheap little hybrid, a cross between a street and a mountain bike. It's the one that they sell to the consumer who doesn't know what he wants, just something to get a little exercise on the weekend. I ride it once or twice a year, so that could be a bit of a problem. And then there's the swimming. I swam across a half mile wide lake once at summer camp when I was 14 or 15. I remember how much fun it was, it wasn't horribly difficult, but wait, that was 40 years ago. Conclusion: I could drown. They can resuscitate me if I'm found within like 15 minutes of going under, right?

So, I'm not really talking about an Ironman here, rather a starter type race, you know, the 5-K of the triathlon world. I've selected a race called the Topeka Tinman

http://www.topekatinman.com/

I love the name of the race, the Tinman. Sure, tin isn't quite as tough as iron, but it does have it's place in the world of metals. I mean, tin does show it's strength as it is unassumingly used for important and dynamic things like soup or tuna. Tin is even used to coat iron, protecting it from corrosion. So, using the "paper covers rock" theory, tin would actually beat out iron. If the name is any indication, this will be one tough race.
1100 yard swim
19.71 miles bike
7 miles run

Now that I've made the commitment to the entire world of bloggers, I need help. I have burning questions about how this all works.

What kind of swimsuits do athletes wear, do I have to make a trip to the local sports store for specialized gear?

What do you do after swimming, change into biker shorts, where would you change, would you just wear generic shorts that can be used for all events?

Where do you keep your shoes, your bike, your other clothes?

How do you keep certain areas of your torso from becoming numb when you're on a bike that long?

I'm serious, I really don't know how some of this works, so please, feel free to comment. Anyway, if I get through this, I guess we'll have to modify the formula for success to A=X+Y+C where C=commitment

Running down south

I have to take a little time and tell you about a friend of mine who had the race experience of a lifetime. I've never met the man, but we've played fantasy sports together for years and we have spoke on the phone occasionally. It's funny, you feel like you get to know some of the people you meet online, many feel like good friends, even though there never was, or never will be any personal contact. This blog is in honor of Winston, who traveled many miles to pursue something very few men or women would ever consider.

Winston's trip began in late February as he headed south. Ah, nice warm weather in which to run after a long cold winter, but his plane didn't stop in Florida, nor Texas, nor Arizona. It kept going on to the next continent, South America, and all the way to the southernmost tip of Argentina. The plane stopped here, but Winston did not. Another 24 hours on a Russian ship crossing the Drake Passage with it's 50 foot waves, and finally he had arrived in, yes, Antarctica. So much for warm southern hospitality. The Antarctica Marathon was about to be run. http://www.marathontour.com/antarctica/

The weather was rough during the marathon. The temperature was 35 degrees with 20+ mph winds which made for bone chilling cold. It even rained a few hours after the start. The course had more hills, streaming crossings and shoe-sucking mud than the runners anticipated. There was a climb up a glacier around mile 4, where the slick ice took a couple of victims. One gentleman had fractured his hip during a fall and still walked on in pain to finish one loop, 13.1 miles. The toughness and dedication it takes to be one of these runners in simply amazing.

I'd like to take this time to congratulate all of the men and women who participated in this grueling event, and to you Winston, I hope to cross paths someday and get a chance to run along with you somewhere. I truly am envious.