Are We There Yet

Are We There Yet? This was a movie title several years ago that dealt with attempting to transport children to a destination by a boyfriend of the single mom of the children.

This title came to me as I was our on my Saturday run. Most of you are aware of how meaningful my runs are beyond the physical health gains. This morning was no different.

 My heart was saddened and heavy with the recent massacre of innocent children in CT. I wasn’t actually thinking about the movie title in the original context of transporting children but in the context of how our nation has been on a self destructive journey that seems to have no end.

 I want to mention here that I am not in favor of assault weapons. They have their place with the military and law enforcement, not on the street of the general public. I also want to state how disgusted I am with the news media. I was in disbelief when I saw reporters sticking a microphone and camera in the face of children less than 12 hours after the incident occurred. The CEO’s and Producers have no conscience or integrity when they decide the advertising dollars during such broadcast are more important that the tragedy that had occurred. I will have to say however that our desire to know the details about the shooting outweigh our desire to be on our knees in prayer for the families. The news media started the practice of making news about 40 years ago. They discovered that making news sells more add time than reporting news.

It occurred to me that we have purposefully been on a mission that I believe has been a determining factor with the recent tragedies’ of the last several years like the one in CT.  I am firmly convinced because of our effort to remove the one True God from any and all aspects from our education system or government property, we have effectively removed the one thing that provides a moral and right compass to guide and protect us all. I understand that the parents have the main responsibility to instruct and guide their children in respect to an orderly society. I would challenge you to look at the timeline of the recent events and consider the age of the parents of the attackers. Would it have made a difference in the parents’ life if the Ten Commandants would have still been posted in a lobby at their school?  Would they have gleaned information that would have made them a better parent? Would it have made any difference if the attackers had been provided the opportunity to hear about the Lord that could sustain them when their parents or no one else the in the world will?

Let me be clear. It is not about following the letter of the law but about the heart and soul issues. Resources like the Ten Commandments are simply ways to understand where our hearts should live. It is what is in a persons heart that causes their real life actions or in this case, pull a trigger multiple times.

We can change laws or maybe even think about enforcing the ones we already have but that is not the issue. There is a war going on that most people will not accept or acknowledge. It is not a war about oil or land. It is a war for the souls of men. For those of you reading this that think I am a Jesus wacko. I simply say, thank you. For I am not ashamed of the gospel. For those of you that understand what I am stating, when are we going to stand up and say we have arrived at the bottom with allowing people to demand God has to stay out of the way so that no ones feelings are hurt.

I know this blog is supposed to be mainly about running but my post today is about a different kind of running. We need to stop running to embrace a dead end that only leaves us with more heartache. Are we there yet?

Is running bad for you?

If you we a runner like me, you tend to follow the research in regards to its health benefits. if so, you may find a recent editorils in the jurnal Heart a bit alarming (http://heart.bmj.com/content/early/2012/11/21/heartjnl-2012-302886.extract). The authors assert that not only is running more than 50 minutes per day not helpful, but potentially harmful!


However, Alex Hutchinson with Runner's World does a great job of dissecting the logic behind this editorial and why it is, frankly, incorrect (http://www.runnersworld.com/health/too-much-running-myth-rises-again).

The bottom line, as of it, is that there is a decreasing benefit to additional exercise beyond 50 minutes or so, but little to no evidence that the protective health benefits are null. So, for now, keep running--it really is good for you.

Bits of Peace

Post-work, leaving the computer behind, no more writing…reading…

Friday afternoon, running along the river’s side is a welcome refreshment.

The sun begins to go abroad and the runners & walkers downtown are able to gain a bit of peace out of (but technically still in) the city. Nature supplies the scenery as you make your way into a little 5-mile run. While running I come upon a juvenile hawk who is chillin by the river’s side. We share a few short minutes before he takes flight across the river. Then back to the run…but with a bit more peace than when I left work. This is another reason I run. 

Colonial 70 Live Blog & Summary

As you can read from Steve's race report below, we recently ran a 77.1 mile relay in Virginia.  I think he summarized our experience fairly well!

I have compiled below our live blog from the day, as well as some additional photos, videos, and commentary.  I think we are all officially hooked (somehow we forget how painful that last leg really is), and will probably keep doing these.  We are considering the Palmetto 200 for April, so we may be recruiting some of you!




Prologue
After driving for 6 hours without incident, we are sitting in traffic outside of Richmond, about 20 miles from where we are staying. We are about 10 hours from the start, and most of us have been preparing by carefully what we eat. Except Alan, who has eaten a rueben combo with fries from Arby's and an enormous sub with jalepenos from Subway. I think we are all afraid of what will happen tomorrow!


3:40 am:  7-11

And so it begins, here at a 7-11 at 3:30 in the morning. I am not really sure why we even bothered to go to bed at all!

4:18 am:  Kevin is not awake.



4:45 am:  At the start



4:50 am:  ....and we're off!

Steve starts us off with a 7.75 mile leg, that he hopes to finish by 6 am. Next up--Alan!




During Steve's first leg:

5:52 am:  Alan at the start of his 5.3 mile leg!



6:34 am:  Sam getting ready to run his first leg-still dark!




7:59 am:  Time for Kevin's 10.5 mile leg. All good so far!!


10:09 am:  Update: four legs done!
We have each finished our first leg, and are 31 miles in. With a total time of 4:40 so far, we are right on our projected pace of 9:00 miles. Time will tell if we can keep this pace up!


10:38 am: Steve finishing up strong!

10:39 am: Exchange at the halfway point!



12:11 am:  Steve finishing up his final leg. 45 miles down, 32 to go!

1:25 pm: Sam's feeling tired after his leg

2:17 pm: Almost there!
We are down to our last three legs-17 miles to go. As Alan so eloquently put it, "this sucks!" Actually, it is the most fun you can have tormenting yourself...



2:43 pm: Exchange between Kevin & Alan--Legs 9 and 10



3:00-4:45 pm:  The Final two legs

Sam had leg 11 ("the longest 8 mile run in my life") followed by Kevin bringing up the rear for leg 12.  by this point, we were all somewhat delirious, and could taste the Moe's tacos at the finish line.  Thus, photos and blog posts seems to die away in our daze...

4:33 pm:  Bringing it home
Kevin trying to stay upright in the home stretch--much harder than it looks!

5:00 pm:  Final Update & Results
Well, we finally finished our slog through Virginia -- 77.1 miles from Hanover to Jamestown.  Our cumulative time was 11:48; we started at 4:45 am and finished at 4:30 pm.  We did manage to finish standing up, no one had to be wheeled off the course, and we were able to actually get out of bed this morning.

We did win two awards for our efforts: First place overall in the male division, and most accurate estimate of our pace.  Our prize was a total of 12 visors that we then had to distribute amongst the four of us.

We'll post more pics soon, and have a wrap up post about the race itself later this week.

Now, all we have left to do is drive 7 hours home!

   

Colonial 70 Report

The Colonial 70 was another great relay. Even if it was actually 77.1 miles. I guess we had to pay our debt for the miles being a little short on the Palmetto 70 relay.

 You always learn something at an event. I realized about 3:00am on race day that the 7 hour drive to VA. on Friday afternoon was not really a great idea. I should have considered that factor and arrived more than 9 hours before my start time of 4:45am. We were blessed to to have a place to crash on Friday night. An old friend of mine actually lives about 15 minutes from the start line. Doug and I became friends while working on several mission projects in Belize several years ago. Thanks Doug for your hospitality and friendship over the years!
This is the first event in my 8 years of running experience that I was not ready at the gun. Something about that bagel and coffee at three in the morning just didn't seem to be logical. Who eats at that time of the morning or should I say the middle of the night? I really think that if this had been just an event that I had signed up for that didn't involved my three teammates, I would have bailed out. I really felt that crappy. All runners are aware of that inner drive that pushes us out the door or to the start line. I do not believe there is anything or a sport that can compare with that unexplainable passion for running. This morning however was not about how anyone felt. I would guess that my three teammate probably felt just as I did. Somewhere between awful and I can't believe I am doing this. In reality however, we all knew it was about our passion as a team and our sport.
I headed out on the first leg of  a 7.75 and started to feel a little better at about mile 5. I guess my body had finally given up that it would convince me to return to the couch at Doug's house and find the sleep that had deserted me the night before. After some fluids and another bagel and a couple of hours it was time for leg two. A 7.4 miler that was actually not so bad. It was daylight for this leg and I enjoyed winding through the Virginia country side. The route was scenic and peppered with farming landscapes and barns. I did however have one hill that appeared to be much stepper than the elevation map seemed to have indicated. It was about 5 miles in and was somewhat like climbing the Cooper River Bridge. I am sure it probably wasn't as long but after the early morning start it was a close second for sure. I only had a short break before my third and final leg. A 4.3 miler that had only one real elevation climb. This leg was also enjoyable from the perspective of enjoying the view along the way. More farmland and barns.I have to say that the sight of Sam at the exchange end of my leg was what I was really looking for. I had seen enough of the countryside on foot for one day.
I also came away from this event with the reminder about team camaraderie and how important it is to keep your focus as a team. We had a team of four and we were all very aware of how critical it was for each of us to complete our assigned legs. It would have only taken one of us to make a mistake to create a disastrous situation for the other members. I wish I could explain how it feels to accomplish a relay with your team but you will just have to experience one for yourself to understand. Words cannot describe the level of support and accountability that you have for each other during and after the event.

I also have to comment on the event organizers  They did a great job with the logistics and operations on race day. Thanks guys for all the planning. Now if we can just get the VA folks to understand the need for certain beverages at the end of this event.

Why Do U Keep Going?

To keep moving when it is so easy to end the pain seems counter-intuitive. Why would someone continue to run the 14th of 20+ miles (of a 77.1 mile relay) when faced with cramps & fatigue or continue to keep their best pace in a weekend 5K? When running a relay, the team is dependent on your success. If you quit, the team suffers & this is simply not an option in reasonable situations (can’t say I’d run with a broken leg like the Olympic runner, but anyway). Aside from that is the sometimes greater pain in self-defeat. The pain that is associated with finishing the race is short-lived. Thus, to arrive at the finish line (whether in a race or another personal run) is worth the effort. The arrival of the finish whether with teammates or competitors (extensions of the team in many ways) provides a sense of peace that is seldom found in many day-to-day situations. These are a few of the things that keep me going…

C70: Final Update & Results

Well, we finally finished our slog through Virginia -- 77.1 miles from Hanover to Jamestown.  Our cumulative time was 11:48; we started at 4:45 am and finished at 4:30 pm.  We did manage to finish standing up, no one had to be wheeled off the course, and we were able to actually get out of bed this morning.

We did win two awards for our efforts: First place overall in the male division, and most accurate estimate of our pace.  Our prize was a total of 12 visors that we then had to distribute amongst the four of us.

We'll post more pics soon, and have a wrap up post about the race itself later this week.

Now, all we have left to do is drive 7 hours home!

C70: Exchange between Kevin & Alan

C70: almost there!

We are down to our last three legs-17 miles to go. As Alan so eloquently put it, "this sucks!" Actually, it is the most fun you can have tortoring youself...

C70: Steve finishing up his final leg. 45 miles down, 32 to go!

C70: exchange at the halfway point!

C70: Steve finishing up strong!

C70 update: four legs done!

We have each finished our first leg, and are 31 miles in. With a total time of 4:40 so far, we are right on our projected pace of 9:00 miles. Time will tell if we can keep this pace up!

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C70: Time for Kevin's 10.5 mile leg. All good so far!!

C70: Sam getting ready to run his first leg-still dark!

C70 live blog: Alan at the start of his 5.3 mile leg!

C70: and we're off!

Steve starts us off with a 7.75 mile leg, that he hopes to finish by 6 am. Next up--Alan!

C70: at the start

C70: Kevin is not awake.

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C70 Live Blog 1

And so it begins, here at a 7-11 at 3:30 in the morning. I am not really sure why we even bothered to go to bed at all!

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C70 Live Blog: Prologue

After driving for 6 hours without incident, we are sitting in traffic outside of Richmond, about 20 miles from where we are staying. We are about 10 hours from the start, and most of us have been preparing by carefully what we eat. Except Alan, who has eaten a rueben combo with fries from Arby's and an enormous sub with jalepenos from Subway. I think we are all afraid of what will happen tomorrow!

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Option 3??

I was completing my prep for the Colonial 70 this morning with a slow 2 miler. Something to just get a little extra blood flowing through the old muscles. Something to give myself one last pep talk. One last discussion about not sprinting out of the gate on my first leg. I always struggle with being patient within 24 hrs of a start. This always happens to me the day before a race event. I start the first leg at 4:45 am in the morning. This will be the earliest start that I have ever made. It will be a new experience. How do you get a cup of coffee and bagel down at 3:30 in the morning? We will get to find out.

I purchased a new MP3 player and decided to expand my variety of tunes. I have Michael W Smith, Chris Rice, The Eagles, Foo Foo Fighters and even a little Vince Gill. I think I may have even slipped a few Charlotte Church numbers on there. Anyway, as I was running and thinking about the race I reminded myself about this event was not just about me. I had three other guys that was counting on me to carry my responsibility. It was then that I thought about 3 options that would play for this event.
Option One: Finish the race, complete all three of my legs.
Option Two: Be removed from the course in an ambulance. (boooo)
Option Three: Be hauled off in a hearse. My plan is to hope for option one. I hear there will be Moe’s burrito’s and free beer at the finish! I love free beer. Option two is a real bummer; no runner wants to be strapped to a gurney before the finish line. Option two really stinks.
Now Option Three may be a fearful end for some of you but that really depends on who and where you are in your life. As I considered option Three I decided that it would actually be a better than option two, at least for me. That is not a death wish but it does indicate that I know where I am going. Do you?

Remember I mentioned that I had a little Vince Gill on the MP3? It was a serendipity moment after I was just thinking about option three when what should pop up on my player but Vince. Want to take a guess as to what song began playing? Go Rest High.
I had to smile as I raised my head heavenward. Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humor,,,,,, or maybe a hint. Hmmmm.
Lace em up and get out there....Steve

Colonial 70 Relay this Saturday!

Hey everyone;

Check out the blog this weekend; we will be doing a 77 mile relay from Hanover to Williamsburg, VA (with a goal of less than 8 hours to complete it).  We will try to live blog our day with our progress--I am sure you will set your alarm clocks to check in at 4:45 as we race across the starting line!

You can also check our FaceBook page for updates:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/WhydoUrunorg/346619492036415

kb

Colonial 70

It's been a while since I last posted--with school starting, scouts gearing up, and other general mayhem, it gets away from me far too quickly.

I did want to post about our upcoming relay, the Colonial 70, that four of us are doing at the end of the month.  It is actually a 77 mile relay, so we will each do 18-20 miles over three separate legs.  The race goes from Hanover to Williamsburg VA, and should take us about 8 hours to complete.  We are looking forward to the run, the camaraderie, the scenery, and the cooler weather as well.

Check back to the blog on Saturday the 29th; we hope to have some sort of live blog going that day to  chronicle our weekend.

Training is Fun ??

 I am sure this is not what I would always think or even how I would feel after every training run but it was certainly true last week. It was just one of those days where everything was clicking smoothly and I was thoughtful about why I like this sport so much. I was running with Kevin and Sam, two of my three teammates on our next relay race, and we had decided to run the forest trails this morning and then run again on our own this afternoon. We are attempting to simulate our race day strategy that we will face next month in the Virginia event. Trail running always presents a higher percentage of potential injuries but provides an elevated cardio and core strengthening work out. Our theory is the trail runs will make us better runners on the pavement. That is actually a theory that has been tested and proven to be true.

 I usually make it my intention to run alone. Some of you that know me or at least keep up with our blog understand that my running time is always used for reflection and discernment. This morning was different in that I was running with two of my teammates for the Colonial 70. It was an enjoyable run as we interjected some conversation among jumping roots and rocks along the way. It occurred to me while running the trails that this training run was also a reflection of the race day camaraderie. We all had the same purpose and goal to achieve with today’s run. I also notice that we were checking up on each other during the run. I remember hearing on several occasions someone stating, everyone OK? We were conscience of keeping up with the well being of each other. This run also caused me to think about why race relay events have become my new favorite. You get to do something that you enjoy so much and you get to do it with other folks that have the same appreciation for your sport. So,,,, lace em up and go run with someone.

Need?

I go through phases when running, alternating between listening to music, podcasts, radio, or nothing at all.  Lately, I have been casting about trying to figure out what works best; some days the radio works, while others nothing at all has been the best option.

On my run the other day, though, i had my mp3 player on shuffle, and this older song from a band called Grammatrain came up, called need (click here to listen).  I have heard this song hundreds of times before, but it really struck me this time.

It reminded me that there are many things I think I "need" to get by; I need my morning coffee, my music at work, and that long run to clear my head.  I "need" to check my email, my twitter feed, or texts.  I "need" to do what I think I want to do.

In fact, as this song reminded me:

"If I see myself for what I am / It only shows me that I need you."

and also:

"But if I was what I should be / wouldn't I be on my knees."

So, what do you think you need?  What can you not live without?  Do you really see yourself, for who you are, and recognize what you truly need?  Perhaps a long run will help you answer those questions a bit, as this last one did for me.

Wake UP !!

Today’s blog is more for info and something to pass along to friends and relatives that may not really understand the dangers they pose of the roadways with their vehicles. OR,,, Sometimes it is good/fun just to rant about something.

Wake up ! It never ceases to amaze me ( sometimes that doesn’t take so much) how people driving a multiple thousand pound vehicle appear to be paying attention to everything and anything except,,, where they are aiming their missile! That’s right, this rant is for all of the folks out there that think their computers that keep the car engine running, will also with a bit of hocus pocus, will point and aim that dang thing. Here is a news flash. Your vehicle does not have a brain in reference to avoiding killing someone, even if it has the capacity to parallel park itself when you let go of the wheel and hit a magic button. You folks who are runners or cyclist know what I am ranting about. It never fails to be on the road and have an approaching vehicle that comes at you like it has a multi million dollar government tracking devise that the driver has set to a auto kill staging format for any and all pedestrians while on my way to work or for that matter their next Big Mac. It is somewhat a little relief when you see the drivers eyes widen about the width of the road when they notice you at the last moment and jerk the wheel violently so much so, that they clearly have attended the Richard Petty driving school. Otherwise they would have their vehicle sideways in a real Nascar fashion. At least we have to consider the premise that these folks are not intentionally attempting to kill us but just plain slackers when it comes to their driving skills.

While I am on my box about careless drivers, I am about fed up with folks to that seem to believe their tires can’t dare touch the yellow center lines of the road to allow a little sliver of space for us. Really? Lets see; no oncoming traffic, no vehicles parked in the roadway of the oncoming lanes, so what is the deal? I usually find this scenario with elderly folks. Yes I can say that because I am almost one myself. These drivers seem to think that the Po-Po is just around the corner and heaven forbid if he saw their tires touch that holy yellow line. They would surely be pulled over, cuffed and stuffed for one of Americas most heinous crimes, touching a yellow line with your tire while moving. How about this? Get the heck over before you kill someone! The lawman really will cut you some slack for avoiding the possibility of killing a pedestrian. But what if there is oncoming traffic? How about you slow down enough to wait until you can provide enough of a space for the pedestrian?

I realize that this crazy idea would cause you to loose a whopping 10 seconds but my experience is that most elderly are going no where and have all day to get there. ( See prior note about my age) For any of those that may be much younger, I leave you with this, I think you can spare 10 seconds a lot easier than 10 years in the slammer. Think about it.

 Lace em up and be careful out there. The crazies are always on the roadway and you are in the crosshair.

You Are How OLD??

I made it out this morning for a 7.5 miler but late as usual. The heat and humidity was typical Columbia torture, hot and painful.  I was at about mile 3 when I spotted a runner headed my way on the opposite side of the road. He was still a good distance away but I could tell he was moving at a fairly slow pace. His steps were labored. It takes one to know one,, huh? Anyway, as he approached I noticed he had begun to slow to a fast walk. I didn’t have to guess what the problem may have been. It was certainly the heat had beaten this guy to relent to a conservative smart pace. I always admire runners that have the gift or lack of in reference to being so hard headed. I usually want to deny how hot it is or the spots I am seeing in my vision are just some pesky knats and surely I am not so dizzy that I can’t continue on to complete my pre planned run. Right.

 Anyway, I decided to cross over to the other side just to see if he was OK and determine if I knew this guy. As I approached him, I recognized him from a prior encounter about 3 years ago while I was about in the same location while training for a marathon. He was an older gentleman but still out there on the pavement,,, in the heat. We discussed the heat and humidity along with our latest race events and outcomes. I was actually thankful that I had taken the time to grab a quick break and catch up with this guy named Sas. Yep Sas is his nickname that he uses. He still has an accent from somewhere and I don’t mean from around SC or the USA. He is a very interesting fellow. He then decided to ask me how old I thought he was. I always hate being in that position with that sort of question but instantly knew I would give him the benefit of the doubt and shoot for a little lower number than what I really thought he was in his years. I am always concerned that I will tell someone they look much older than they are. I had guessed around 68 while I was actually thinking he may be closer to 70. He laughed and then informed me he was 83. Yes, 83 and running in the Columbia heat in the mid 80’s. I was inspired and told him so. It was actually a great moment of encouragement for me. I have stated on numerous occasions that I desire to continue running until they pick me up one day in a 6 ft box on the side of the road or trail. Yes, I am really OK if I am out running when God takes me to my permanent home.

 I would also mention that this guy had suffered a heart attack some years back but refused to let that put him out of our sport. He also stated that his last race had been on a trail at a State Forest. He did stumble over a stump and fall but still managed to finish. Do you understand why I was encouraged so much on this mornings run? I told him that my goal was to follow his lead. I wanted to run until the end. I wished him well and thanked him for his encouragement by example. I think both of us were grateful for the short visit. So what is the point about this morning run? I am not one who seeks to find people to talk to. I value my time alone on the pavement. No interruptions from anyone or anything is what I desire. I actually attempt to avoid anyone that I do not know as a good friend. It is strange for me to stop someone running and start discussing anything. It was just one of those serendipity moments that life sometimes brought our way. The problem is that I usually miss them. So I guess you could say that the heat was a good thing today. It caused me to stop and check on another runner. It caused me to be encouraged that I may have another 15 to 20years to run. SO, lace em up and don’t forget to take your time to discover that taking a break in the heat can do more than provide a chance to catch your breath. It may allow you to be encouraged by the person you stopped to help.

But I don't Want To Run

If you are honest with yourself, this thought has crossed your mind a few times within the last week. With the temperature hitting upwards of a regular 103 degrees it takes a certain level of determination to hit the road. I mean, just dealing with the melting rubber off of the sole of your running shoes is enough of a distraction. Never mind the thoughts in reference to your last will and testament being up to date. After the first few miles you quickly realize that the chances of you returning home without having a heat stroke  or dying occur to be  seemingly feasible. I think that is why it is so important to not just run smart but to run extremely smart. I mean that a mistake in this heat could be really lethal. Even if we run with some regard to the heat we could still find ourselves in a dangerous situation that may not be fatal but may cause us to have to suspend our running or even worse yet, retire from running altogether. That second one for some of us would be almost as bad as dying in the heat. I have no idea what I would do if I couldn't run. It continues to be my physical life support to relieve stress and think through life's questions. So, I am thinking I need to ad to my statement. It is not that I don't want to run, it is, I do not want to run without being very careful to make certain and run smart. Remember, Run to Run another day. Besides that, I have another 70 mile relay in September to run. I would really be upset if I was the cause that prevented me from participating with my other 3 team mates. So, lace um up and be careful out there. You really should not be worried about that last will and testament being up to date you know.

A Father’s Day Run

I had a great Fathers day the other Sunday. I started out with breakfast in bed that was delivered by my bride of 38 years. It included a delightful good morning smile and kiss. I could stop here because being married to me for 38 years and still having a wonderful wife that has loved me through a many of a trial, is enough of a good story in and of itself. Since I am however long winded I will continue with the reporting of my morning activities.

 Next up was a 10 miler under a clear sky and only a moderate humidity. The old legs felt pretty good and for the first time in quite a while I didn’t feel like I was nursing an ongoing injury. I knew the day was full of potential to be a special one. How bad can your day be when you have already had breakfast in bed? It was fabulous, but not for the reasons you may be thinking. Oh, I had a great run. I finished up with a good pace, no pains, no snakes, (see prior blog) and energy left over to burn. It was a great morning because of the insights I discovered while on my run. Imagine that.

 I started to ponder about Fathers day and what that actually meant. A special day set aside once a year to make a dad feel important. I wondered how many dads were spending their special day away from their children; alone. Maybe because of work, maybe an ugly divorce, maybe a broken relationship with their child that had caused the separation. These thoughts caused me to question all of my own past fathers days. How many of them had I blown through without realizing how important that relationship was with my three daughters. I can remember on numerous occasions receiving wisdom from older parents to take the time to enjoy my girls, “They will grow up very fast”. I can tell you that you do not really get a do over with your children when you make mistakes. I wish I had taken their advice more seriously. My daughters are all grown now. I even have two grandsons. I think I had some great days with my daughters. We made trips to see Mickey, the circus, the lake, the beach etc. The thought that occurred to me however was, I could have, should have done more.  Our time here really is short when compared to eternity but our time here is still important. I have made the statement many times to others that I am just passing through here. That is usually my thinking when the trials of life weigh heavy on my heart or soul. But we should remember that it is still what you make of that time, which matters, especially to your children. I had made improvements I think over the last couple of years to attempt to be more available to my daughters but it occurred to me on this father’s day, you don’t get a do over even when your children are older. I sensed a need to want to do more or be a better dad even if my girls were all grown up. I don’t have an exact answer for how I am going to achieve what was laid on my heart that morning. I just don’t want to be having the same conversation with myself next fathers’ day. You see now that it was a great day because of the insights received while on the road. Something to hopefully make me a better person, a better dad and realize fathers’ day was important because of what I learned. I would recommend you not delay enjoying your children while they are young. Take advantage of being a dad. So, lace them up, get out there, and think about it. The clock is moving.

Two Old Guys and a Red Cooler

Sometimes it is the very smallest glimpse of something that causes us to pause and ponder. While running the other day I notice two old guys unloading a red cooler from the back of a pick up truck. They were on each side of the cooler with a firm grip on the side handles. I couldn’t help but to wonder and guess what treasures may be in that red cooler. It was obvious that it was heavy since it required two men to carry the weight of its contents.  Could it be a cooler full of fish? Maybe the two guys had spent the morning down on the river and were returning with their prized reward. Maybe they had spent the morning in a shared garden and the cooler was stuffed with fresh squash or cucumbers. As I continued to think about the bounty within that cooler something very significant occurred to me. Maybe the cooler really wasn’t that heavy. Maybe it was only half full of what ever that inside treasure was. Maybe it wasn’t about the weight of the cooler that caused each gentleman to latch on to what they considered their side of the responsibility. Maybe it was just a continuation of what ever they had shared that morning as two good friends. I begin to think about the possible history between these two. How long had they known each other? How many joys, fears or tears had they shared or experienced?

I didn’t have any answers in reference to these two old guys and that red cooler. For all I know they may have never meet before that day. I would guess however that they had a relationship as true friends for many years. There was just something about their stride as they moseyed in step with each other with that cooler in tow. I just don’t think this was the first time this ritual had occurred.

 It then occurred to me that in this techno age we currently live in, long lasting friendships are rare. We are too occupied with our next work assignments, deadlines to meet, projects to complete and image to compete. We are a generation of making impressions, getting it done and out running the sun. Why have we lost what these two old guys probably understood to be an important part of their life?

Had the years in their rear view mirror taught them the importance of one of life’s rewards?  Why does it take so long to remember to look at our past and understand who

has been in the trench’s with us? Making the time to keep a friendship seemingly takes more work than we are willing to allow out of our busy schedules. So, the next time you lace them up and are ready to hit the road, think about making that call. Run with a friend. Make a memory. Put in the effort. Don’t let the world dictate to you to rush through everything you do. After all, one side of that cooler will always be lighter than both sides, regardless of what is inside. Share it with a friend.

Running With Snakes

Running With Snakes??

I know what you may be thinking; I have started to hang out with politicians. I can see how you would come to that conclusion after reading my title but I assure you that smoozing with politicians is somewhere on my list of things I want to do in conjunction with shopping at a mall. Or any store for that mater unless it is a sports store with lots of man stuff. That being said, I was out on the pavement today around mile 5 when I noticed a big stick in the road,,, on my side of the road. I didn’t know 5 foot long sticks could move without the assistance of a 3 to 5 year old boy but there it was, slowing crossing the road. Now this may freak some folks out but I grew up catching black rat snakes and for a brief moment thought about the prospects of catching this beauty and taking it home. Black snakes are good to have around ones home if you live in the country. They help keep the mice down and the occasional Copperhead away from the premises. I was still about 4 miles from home and somehow the weight of a 5 footer hanging off of my arm just didn’t seem like a good idea. As I approached the snake I heard a pickup truck coming up behind me. I started to wave my arms like I was having a heart attack to attempt to slow the driver down. After all, if I couldn’t take her home I could at least help her get out of the road. The driver slowed down and saw what all the arm waving was about. It was just a snake and a runner. I think I saw a slight sneer as he passed and determined he was probably thinking about a turn around and running over both of us. Most people already think people out running are a little weird but, someone running in the heat and attempting to help one of mans hated creatures was a bit to much. I am sure I made great strides today in terms of helping our sport of running. I am just hoping this guy doesn’t see me at another time on the road and attempts to find revenge for making him slow down for a snake and a runner. A double insult for him I would figure. Anyway; I found a stick, a real one this time and proceeded to help the big ole lady slide on across the road. So what does this really have to do with running other than now you know for sure that I am a little off, especially when running in the heat? It caused me to think about my Dad. He passed away 9 years ago this month. I started to think about how he taught me a lot of things about life. He taught me how to tell the difference between a good snake(see non poisonous here) and a bad snake.(yep, poisonous) He taught me how to carefully capture a snake without getting hurt and not hurting the snake. I remembered about the one time I chased a King snake up and tree and out on a limb just so I could take him home and show my dad. Most people wouldn’t use a snake to remember their dad but then again I am not like most people. The point is, when you are out running there is always possibilities to not only learn new things about our sport, endurance, goals and failures but, to take time to remember some of the good times that you were blessed with to share a special moment with someone or something. Running is more than the sweat. Sometimes it’s the memories. By the way, if I had been within a mile of the house, that snake would be in my yard keeping away the varmints. Keep m laced up!

Running In The Heat

That may not sound like something most people would get over concerned with but most people don’t have to put up with the Columbia SC tortures of heat and humidity. I really like where I live for most of the year but Columbia is well known for being an unfriendly environment That is especially true for a few months in the summer season. I remembered that again as I went out for an 8 miler and made the mistake once again, (sigh) to drag around the house and let 10:00 am arrive before I headed out. I know that none of you have ever made that mistake. Anyway, I was about a ½ mile out when it occurred to me my pace was really slow. Yes, I know some of you think my pace is slow when I am in top form and running all out but that is for another blog time. I was at first a little anxious but then remembered that it was warm and humid. It was Columbia. I was not supposed to be attempting to set a new training run PR. Why not just enjoy the run and be thankful that the last injury had finally healed and the pavement was flowing smoothly before me. As runners we sometimes forget to just chill and enjoy the gift of running. Even though I had made the mistake of getting out late, I was out. Fortunately, I had remembered before the first mile marker that you have to run smart even when it is just a simple run. I was actually proud of myself for not allowing 4 or 5 miles to get past me and then remember the heat, humidity and the reason I was out there on the road to start with. It was all good.

   I passed a neighbor of mine at mile one and noticed he was hoeing in his garden. This was particularly strange because this man has some age on him and he usually is not seen after the early morning hours out puttering in his yard or garden. It appeared he had made the same mistake as me. He started late and was paying the price under the high sun. Or was he? It occurred to me as I passed by with a hand wave that his movements with the hoe while determined to accomplish his task, were slow and smooth. No violent hacking with the head of the hoe but just easy, low, steady strokes. I also notice he had his wide brim hat to protect his head from the sun. He was minding his pace in reference to the heat. I do not think I have ever thought about gardening and running at the same time before but today there seem to be a parallel. Both activities required some forethought and planning. Both activities could be dangerous if the good ole Columbia heat was not respected. Both were being enjoyed by the participants. Both had specific goals to accomplish.

 I started to think about other things in our lives and how we allow pressure from work or friends to push us to our limits. I realized that we sometimes allow junk to be pushed upon us without even vaguely thinking through the consequences that we may have to deal with later on and just to please someone else or their agenda. So what does this have to do with running? Life is like running in the heat sometimes. You head out late on a hot morning, you don’t have enough fluids with you, you don’t think about keeping the dangers of the heat in front of your thinking and boom! You start to see spots, you become dizzy, your head starts to ache and it occurs to you that you are now in trouble. Why? You didn’t plan, you didn’t think before starting and you just wanted to complete the task or mileage before you.

 I have a mantra that I have been using for several years now. Run to run another day. That means that when I do make mistakes and realize that my body is in trouble due to the heat, I pull up and find some shade, find some fluids and remember this is not my last run. I really do want to run again. We should treat life that way. We should plan and think about what we are doing each day. We should ask ourselves how much of life are we missing because we allow the world to tell us who we are and how much we are worth. Do you feel like you are running through life in the heat? Do you see spots or feel the pain of attempting to just push through life’s junk? Is it time to remember tomorrow is another day? Is it time to pull over in the shade of life for a while? You may want to find that wide brim hat and slow down a little with that hoe.

Shinrin-Yoku

I just ran across a concept that originated in Japan called shinrin-yoku (no, do not ask me how to pronounce that). This roughly translates into 'forest-bathing,' or taking a walk outside, in the woods, to benefit from the 'natural aromatherapy.'

 What I find fascinating about this is that it is not just a cultural activity, but has also been studied in a somewhat methodological way. See, for example, this study titled "Trends in research related to "Shinrin-yoku" in Japan.". The paper is quite extensive, citing several different measures (objective and subjective) in several different forests in Japan.

Another article, currently in press, links this shinrin-yoku concept with an improvement in depressive symptoms. A well written summary of the findings from that article are described here by a fairly well known exercise and fitness writer, Alex Hutchinson.

 What struck me about this article is the explanation (beyond the supposed intake of essential oils, which seems dubious) of the difference between voluntary and involuntary attention. The author states that voluntary attention, i.e. those things we have to focus on to get through the day, such as work, driving, and other distractions can be mentally, if not physically, exhausting. By contrast, going out into the woods (or some other quiet, natural area) allows their involuntary focus to take control; in other words, your mind is allowed to wander, and your brain gets a mental respite of sorts.

 This is fascinating for me on many levels, mostly because I seem to experience this phenomenon whenever I am able to get out into the woods for either a run, hike, or anything else. My mind does seem to switch gears, and I am able to sort out my thoughts, understand what I am feeling or thinking, and often experience moments of clarity about difficult issues or decisions I have to make. Without fail, I feel more relaxed, in a better mood, and better able to face whatever is being thrown at me afterwards. I often find that I do not get these same benefits if I run on the road/sidewalk; perhaps my involuntary attention never quite wins out over the voluntary attention in those settings.

These are also the times I get a much more clear sense of God, and what he is trying to get me to hear. It is far too easy to be dsitracted by music, people, TV, the internet, or any other stimuli that often surround us. Just simply leaving that ll behind, and getting out into the peace and quite of a natural setting can not only remove those distractions, but switch our focus entirely.

If you do not do so already, I would encourage you to take your next run in a natural setting; it could be a trail, park, or anything like that (and without your Ipod!). You may find your mind wander into areas that it has not been in a while. Perhaps you may finally hear God's voice in a way you have not in a while, either.

Old dogs, children and watermelon wine??. 

This song came to my mind recently on a run in Central Park. We had traveled to NYC to visit our children and celebrate our grandson’s 3^rd birthday. I always attempt to get in a few runs in the park when we visit NYC. The birthday party was a huge success. The party had about 14- 2 to 4 year olds and their parent entourage. The apartment where the party was held was great but claustrophobia had started to set in for me and I required some open space to breath and  run.

 This was a country song of the mid 70’s by Tom T Hall.   It was about a guy sitting in a bar in Miami pouring blended whiskey down when an old black gentleman was cleaning up the lounge. He sat down uninvited, and opened up his mind. About old dogs and children and watermelon wine. The song is about true friends and trust.

The guy cleaning up the lounge saw this guy attempting to drown his life with a bottle and realized that he could use some advice about life. I have always liked this song. Not because I like watermelon wine but the words have a great deal of truth to them. You see, old dogs are always faithful and stand beside you even when you don’t always treat them as you should. They always return to sit by your side or lick your hand. They are not capable of holding a grudge because you forgot to feed them or let the water bowl run dry. They just lay their head on your hand and look at you with their loving eyes like you could never do any wrong by them. They are your friend to the end. The song then explains about the heart of little children. The line says,, God bless little children when they are to young to hate. It is true. Little children are very forgiving and they will jump right back into your lap. Their innocence is unexplainable when they are still young. It is sad when they become older and learn how to hate.

And then there is the watermelon wine. The old gentleman explains how the wine can sooth the soul and will help you to get through life. I have to say that I drank some wine in my earlier years. I think it was even watermelon wine at that. Boones Farm was the brand if I remember correctly. All I remember about the three dollar wine with the screw off cap was it left my soul with a bad headache the next morning. I do not even remember it being much fun while I was drinking it.

OK, I agree with the first two points of wisdom from this old guy but I will have to disagree about the wine. What does this have to do with running?

 I think I would like to change this song to old dogs, children and a good 5 mile run. There is just something about being out on the road or trail that helps to open up our mind and refresh our soul. Many runners know exactly what I am talking about. I have never returned from a run that I didn’t see or hear something that helps me with life. Sometimes  very trivial, and sometimes something life changing. Sometimes just to ease the stress of what ever has been a heavy burden on my back. So,,,I wonder if Tom T is still alive and would consider a revised edition?

What is your burden today? Maybe you need to just lace them up and go sooth your soul.

I KNOW WHERE I AM RUNNING

It is interesting to wake up one day and discover you are almost 59 years old. It is not that 59 has any significance but is does make one ponder what happen to the first 58 and how many more days are still on God’s calendar for your earthly existence. I guess the one good thing about reaching the 59 mark is you realize that all the hype about life and grabbing all the gusto is exactly as king Solomon aptly described, Vanity of vanity, all is vanity and striving after the wind. I cannot really tell the number of times I have fallen into a false belief that every thing is running pretty smoothly and my troubles have finally provided me a break. I guess some of that is true except the break never seems to last long enough. I am however thankful that the short breaks allowed me to catch a breath and start swinging again. It is at this point of almost 59 that I realize I am tired of getting back up to proceed with the fight and swinging again. I guess I could actually say some of this thinking began about 7 years ago when I started running. I discovered a wonderful thing while pounding the pavement with dreams of returning to my driveway without a major M.I. When I was out running I could sense a real closeness with my thoughts and the quite whispers of my Almighty. I could think much more clearly. I could not hear a cell phone ring or someone asking me a question or wonder why the person in front of me is driving 35 mph in a 45mph zone. I could hear my thoughts, I could hear my answers and if I was really listening carefully, I could hear God’s answers. I also came to understand that worship is not what happens within a church. Maybe this is true for some folks, but not for me. My best times of worship always come when I am truly alone with God and the pavement. Maybe it is just me but I find organized religion more of a distraction from God instead of drawing one to God. It is for this reason that after being involved in many different aspects of ministry of 36 years, I have decided to set aside religion and be still. It sounds funny to talk about being still when I understand that really means more road time and intense discussions. The modern church has really made the main thing for people to invest in is their religion. It is and will always be about relationship. Relationship with the Lord. So off I go to deepen that relationship with the One, not some one or something to hold on to. I understand and know where I am running. Do you?

Introverted running

I ran across this blog post the other day, from a blog called the Introverted Church:
http://www.introvertedchurch.com/2012/05/introvert-saturday-top-5-things.html

Being rather introverted myself, especially in larger social situations, this really struck home to me.  I cannot count the number of times I have either snuck out of the service right before the meet and greet phase, or busied myself with something vitally important at my seat.  Similar situations arise at work; if I am in a meeting, there is an expectation that I actually participate.  This is not a big deal if it is a smaller group of colleagues I work with on a regular basis.  However, the pressure is higher if it is a larger group--i feel a need to contribute and to say something smart.  Conferences are the worst--hundreds of people I do not know and feel a need to impress with my impressive PowerPoint skills and knowledge is daunting and simply exhausting.

This is where running saves me, at least psychologically.  Whether it is by myself (which it usually is) or with others, there is no pressure to be something I am not comfortable being.  It is hard to pass yourself off as smarter than you are (or, in this case, faster than you are) when you are sweating, panting, and wearing running shorts.  It's also hard not to get to know folks when running; at least for me, it is a much more natural way of getting to know someone than going up to them in the middle of a Sunday service.  Maybe next time we do a meet and greet during the service, I will ask the person I've just met if they would like to go for a run...

Rest?

One basic tenet in running, and running well, is knowing when to push yourself, and when to take a break and give your body some rest.  I am not good at resting; I like to be active, moving, and most of all, running. Sometimes, this gets me into trouble with excessive fatigue, poor performance, or even an injury.  Even then, I am reluctant to take it easy and give my body a break.

Now, though, I am forced to take a two week break due to a recent sinus surgery.  There is nothing like the treat of a gushing nose that will force one to stop, take a step back, and take a break from running for a bit.  While I was a bit annoyed that I cannot run for so long, I am actually now looking forward to the respite.  I hope that a couple nagging injuries can clear up (I'm talking to you, right ankle and left Achilles) during this time.  I am also looking forward to a bit more free time to get things done--running 4-6 times per week is a bit of a time sink.

But more than that, I am looking forward to a newer appreciation of running, when I do return.  Hopefully this surgery will allow me to not only sleep better, but run better as well.  This, combined with a renewed perception of running itself, will keep me going for years to come.

Dying To Run

 Yea, I know that is a weird title but it is one that crossed my mind while running the 70 this past weekend. A couple of us had even mentioned that if it was our time to be with the Lord, well,,,what a way  to go. Seems like a better option than dying a slow death with a horrendous disease or being hit by a Mack truck. Heck, it certainly beats collapsing over the front of your laptop while tying to get just one more job assignment completed.

I hadn't actually planned on a new post this quickly but the comments I read on the AOL web site in reference to the Boston was just more than I could stomach. It seems most of the comments were racist in reference to the Kenyan's winning again. A couple of folks just railed about how stupid runners were in general. I would just be guessing but I would take the bet that most of these folks were probably smoking and eating Twinkies while blasting our sport as a death wish. I do not want to make to many comments about the folks that posted but it sadden me to think about young folks that may have read the post and decided running would never be for them.

So, once again today I decided to take a short run just to see if the old legs were ready for a spin. I was surprised that they actually moved without discomfort. It wasn't a long run but long enough to think about this past weekend again. My runs always provide me the opportunity to search my soul, solve some problems and just dump some of that stress I obtained at the ole laptop. Today was a little different. I started thinking about Mica True. He was a Ultra runner my age. Fifty eight. He was known for his love to run. I thought about the resemblance I had with him. No,  not the ultra trail runner but  our age and the love to run. He went out for a 12 miler and never returned. They later found his body beside a creek on the trail. No signs of trauma, just laying there with his water bottle beside him. I have no idea if Mica knew the Lord so I can't comment as to what happen at the end of that run and his life that day. But I can bet he was doing what he loved and was Ok with dying to run.

I think I am too.

We Finished the Palmetto 70!!!

Well,,,we made it to the finish of the Palmetto 70. All 4 of us!!! This was a new race event for me and I have to say a milestone for what I hope to be the first of many. Runners understand the camaraderie that occurs after a race when you are hanging out and discussing how the race went and what you learned. Or, how fresh or stale the bagels are, how you meet your expectations, and of course how cold or warm the beer is. This race was something like that except you got to talk about how each leg of the race progressed. It was a great time of discussing strategy, new or old injuries, but mainly about encouraging each other for their next leg. It was sort of like experiencing the finish line and camaraderie 12 times. ( We had 12 legs that comprised our 70 mile route). Your team mates are standing there and cheering for you at each exchange point. We had said that we would not worry about where we placed but it was interesting that we were very aware of what the other teams were doing and who we had or hadn't passed on the previous leg. I realized that where we finished did matter to me shortly after the start. Speaking of the start,,,,

 We drove towards Monks Corner on Friday night after hooking up with a friend of a friend of Kevin's that allowed us to crash at his house. This put us about 35 minutes from the start line. We arose at 4:00 am for final prep, drive and then a 5:30 am start. We started on time and I had the first leg of 8.9 miles. The temp was 43 degrees with no wind and clear skies. It could not have been more perfect. I had my 2 headlamps, 2 red flashers and reflective vest on ready for the command to go. This is the first race that I have started in the dark. I have run a few training runs about 15 to 20 minutes before dawn with just a hint of day light creeping in, but never in the pitch black of a tree lined narrow, in need of some repairs roadway. The race directors did an excellent job keeping us safe. They had arranged for the Berkeley Sheriff dept to provide an escort for us until well after daylight. The traffic was minimal on this two lane country road but all of the traffic slowed when they saw the flashing blue lights lighting up the pre dawn sky. I had to laugh as the motorist passed by and realized it was just some dumb runners out on the roadway in the middle of the night.

I started out a little to fast. I was still not 100% after a recent hip injury. I managed to stay with the guys in front of me for the first couple of miles. I then remembered that this was just my first leg and I had 3 other guys that were counting on me to complete all 3 of my legs. I backed down to a semi comfortable pace but really hated to see the red flashing lights on the back of the guys in front of me drifting smaller and smaller with each passing mile. I completed the first leg with a 9:15 pace. I was pleased with that since I wanted to be around a 9:45 pace. I felt pretty good but could tell my hip was not too pleased with the pace. I wrapped an ice pack on the hip; re fueled and was surprised how quickly I wanted my next leg to begin.

My next leg was a 3.67 that started on Hwy 17 just outside of Mt Pleasant. Alan had been assigned the prior leg and he was on 17 for several miles.

Running on a 4 lane busy highway was not much fun. Thankfully I only had about .06 of a mile on 17 before I made a left turn thru a Subdivision. I started out a little fast ( same old story) but was anxious to get away from the highway. I knew my pace was a little fast but I had a target that I decided I wanted to pass. You just can’t let go of the competition when you believe you can pass someone. The leg was fairly easy as far as an elevation rise. It was almost flat. I realized around mile 2 that I had already ran an 8.9 mile leg that morning and my legs were starting to feel crampy.

I had managed to stay loose between my runs but maybe that .06 sprint down the highway was more than my body was willing to allow. I pushed on knowing that once again, thee other team members were counting on me. I finished my second leg with a 8:54 pace. No wonder my legs were cramping.

I managed to botch the hand off of the bracelet to Kevin for the  2nd leg. You wouldn’t think that would be a big deal but we found out in the end it was. Sorry guys.

 My final leg was only a 3.1 that ended under the Cooper River Bridge. I finished around a 9:12 pace. This was for sure the hardest leg even though it was the shortest. It was about 80 degrees and my tank was on empty. I had refueled again with a bagel, gel and fluids but the old body just wasn’t processing them fast enough.  I wanted so bad to jog or even walk the last mile. I was running on emotions and fumes. I then remembered just as I had on the prior two legs that I was not alone in this event. Three other guys were counting on me to finish and finish strong. I didn’t slow down but pressed on knowing each step was closer to finding the last one. I passed the bracelet off again to Kevin. Believe it or not, I botched it again. I dropped the bracelet on his arm as I ran by the finish. I would think that this would not be a big deal with an event that last somewhere around 8-9 hours. Well,,,, the 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th place team finished timing had a spread of less than one minute between us. Dropping the bracelet twice may have cost us 2 spots.  Our average pace was 8:54 per mile. The 4^th and 5^th pace,,,,,,,8:53 and change. Can you believe that 3 teams were running that close over a 70 mile event? You always learn something in a race. I will be practicing that bracelet exchange technique before my next relay.

The post race was great. Bar B Que, tortilla chips, salsa and beer. A nice medal and one of the organizers personally thanked the teams for participating at the finish. These folks put on a great event and are well organized. I am already counting on doing this again. I think I have a new addiction. This event will test your determination and mettle but it is worth every step,,, especially when you can experience it with some great running buddies. Thanks again guys.

The waiting game

I had a weird sitcom dad moment tonight putting the boys to bed. We spent the day at an amusement park, which as it turns out, is not a good place to go over spring break. Needless to say, the lines were long, with some being and hour or more (even for the kid rides). Since we broke down and got the season passes, we were not too stressed about it, knowing we would be able and come back soon. The boys enjoyed themselves anyway, and we actually had a day free of the usual amusement park meltdown that is known to occur among kids and parents alike.

Tonight, though, Cody asked me how long we waited in line, in total. I guessed it was probably around six hours (which is depressing if you think about it). He then asked how long we were on rides, in total. I guessed it was less than thirty minutes (which may have been a high estimate). Sudden inspiration hit, though, so I asked him if it was worth it, to which he replied with an emphatic 'Yes!'

Here is the classic sitcom moment: I then compared waiting in line for a roller coaster to life. No, I really did. And it totally got through to him, despite the cheese factor. It actually led to a rich discussion on how sometimes the boring things of life (waiting in line, going to school, doing chores) can lead to a very rewarding payoff. The key is to make that investment on the front end, and the payoff will follow.

Why Do U Run-

I have a love and slight hate relationship with the Cooper River Bridge Run. I love the Pre and Post race expo. The race organizers do a fantastic job with lining up some great sponsors. By great sponsors I mean the level of energy and how the runners are appreciated. (See the Johnsonville Brawest trailer here as example) The level of free goodies far exceeds any other race event that I have attended. That includes the New York ING Marathon. That is a great race for sure but it could learn a lot from the folks in Charleston. Maybe it is just part of the southern hospitality that comes into play. My semi hate part actually has to do with some of the runners. Don’t misunderstand what I am saying. My hat is off to all of the participants that lace up and head out there. The problem arises when such a large number of runners have absolutely no clue about race etiquette. I see the problem growing each year and this past Saturday was no exception. It seems thousands of runners indicate they will finish the race in less than 60 minutes on their race event application. They actually have no idea about a real time or just lie to place themselves in a front corral. They just do not care about how their real pace will affect thousands of their running friends. My point in case relates to the number of folks that are already walking by mile one. Yes, I said mile one. No kidding. I had to bob and weave like a NFL running back to maneuver the walking crowds. These are not people that signed up to walk. These are people that signed up to run this event in less than an hour. I actually saw a large number of runners that were walking by mile two that had bib colors/numbers indicating they had signed up as sub 49 minute runners. REALLY!!! I saw one couple strolling along hand in hand like they were the only two love birds on the bridge. These two yahoos had to have noted a sub 49 time on their application in reference to their bib colors. All that being said, it is a great race and putting up with morons is just a part of the CRBR ritual. Myself,

  I did OK considering the very limited training and a nagging hip injury. The race started almost an hour late due to transport issues with the buses that chauffer the runners from Charleston to the Mt Pleasant start line. Something about blah, blah,blah or at least that is all I and 36 thousands other runners heard. So, it was about 80 degrees and 83% humidity by 9 am when we finally got the gun. This is a first for the CRBR for a delay start since one episode in the eighties due to fog. Pretty good track record I would say.

Standing in a corral that has no room to stretch or stay loose for an hour and a half is a real bummer. All of your planning with food, fluid and bathroom issues just runs out the window. Pun intended. I have already complained about the thoughtless runners but, the second reason for the bottle neck of runners was due to the hour of delay issues in and of itself. More confusion even for the seasoned runners. The start of an event usually begins close to the projected time. It seems some of the runners figured they could out run the clock delay. I saw people sprinting at a Kenyan pace,,,, for about a 100 yards. They hit they wall like a blind drunk Nascar driver at Bristol. It was almost funny and yet sad to think about they still had over 5 miles to go and no reserves to get them there.

 I had planned on running around a 10 minute pace due to my hip issues and 3 other people counting on me in two weeks as part of a 70 miler relay team. My plan was to take it easy and enjoy the sites from the Ravenel bridge to the cheering crowds along Meeting and

King St

.

I thought I was running a little fast the first mile but figured I would be okay. I determined  my 2nd mile up the bridge would force me to slow down. I have to admit that I too was feeling like the hour delay had to be recaptured, somehow. I also wanted to move through the slow crowds to be certain I beat them to the Bratwurst truck. I checked my watch at mile one and saw 8:48. Good grief, what are you doing moron, trying to run like this is your first race? Was the pot calling the kettle black? Maybe a little. That was actually a little slow for my first mile under normal 10K standards but I was supposed to be keeping it around 10 +- and protecting my hip. Well, the bridge sort of solved my problem. I backed down to a 9:45 and was on pace to come in around a 59. I had to continue to bob and weave thru the other runners. The casualty count continued to rise as runners had sprinted to the base of the bridge and then discovered an incline such as this bridge is very stingy with allowing runners to get over it with out some serious payment being extracted. Mile 3 couldn’t come too soon. The heat was rising and the down hill side of this bridge is always a welcoming site. I was sitting at 29 and change at the 3.1 split. Just where I needed to be. I also saw and knew that the continued slowing crowds in front of me was going to take some extra work to pass. I will have to say that this race has usually opened up by this point and the crowds are manageable. Not today. People were spent and lined the middle and both sides of

Meeting street

like a slow moving Christmas parade. I have never seen so many people that succumbed to walking this race. Maybe it was the delay and increased heat. Maybe it was folks that had no business starting in a front corral. I continued on the same way I started this event. bob and weave, bob and weave. I hit the finish line at 58:22. That was 5 minutes above what I should have done without any injuries but I was thrilled that my hip was slightly sore but no real pain at all. I headed straight to the medical tent for a bag of ice and literally sat on it for about an hour. My rear end was completely numb but felt really good. I had just finished a 10K with a 9:24 pace and began to believe a decent time is on the horizon for the Palmetto 70 relay. By the way, I did get that Bratwurst and other goodies that pretty much loaded me up with all the calories I had just burned. It was worth every one of them. So,, Why do I run, sometime it is about the mental challenge, sometime it is about learning how you handle situations when some of the folks around you are pretty thoughtless and sometime it is just the thought of how good that Expo food really is in Charleston. Yep, I will be back at this one next year. It is a race like no other. It is why I run, or least one of them. How about you?

I survived, I think.

It has taken me a bit more than a week to take stock and figure out if I really survived the Columbia Marathon or not. I think the consensus is that I did, though not without some scars. First off, I ran ok-the weather was great, but my inexperience resulted in a few tactical errors that caused problems in the last hour. I think I ate too much gel in the early stages, because I was too nauseous in the last 6 miles to eat anyone else-this, obviously, did not work out so well. Plus, the course was quite hilly, and I think the lack of calorie intake plus my over-exuberance on previous hills caused me to have to walk the last few hills of the day. All said and told, I finished and would consider doing another one, given some time away from this one. The question remains if I actually learned anything from this process. I think I figured out a few things: --Running for four hours is a long time --If you do run that long, make sure your headphones will stay in --I apparently sweat a lot, even if it is not that hot --If you don't stick to your plan and experience, you will get into trouble Most of all, though, I think I learned that you can tackle those tasks that appear to be very difficult. Running a marathon is a very difficult thing to do, but it is made much easier if you create a training plan and stick to it; all the steps along the way are vital to the final outcome. When we veer from the plan, cut a run or two short, or eat that whole pizza, the effects are not always immediately apparent; but in mile 21 of the run is when you look back and wish you had not cut those corners. So now, after taking a week off, I am back to the grind to prepare for the Palmetto 70, a 70 mile relay that ends at Folly Beach. Tis time, though, I am not doing it alone!

Running in the Moment

I have run a variety of races over the years.  I started with the short sprints in high school, where my longest race was a grueling 500 meters.  Since then, I have done a variety of events and distances, such as 5ks, sprint triathlons, half marathons, and century bike rides.  This Saturday, I will be attempting my first marathon; my primary goal for this event is simply to finish.  If I somehow manage to run it in 4 hours or less, that would simply be icing on the cake.

I have been reading a lot this week about pacing for this event; some articles say you should closely monitor your split times to make sure you do not wear yourself out.  Others say to keep an eye on the clock, but monitor how you feel, above all else.  In other words, be aware of how you are feeling, how fast you are running, and how much you think you have left to finish the run.  To me, it means being aware of where you are, at all times, to ensure a good race.  Since this is my first marathon, and I really do not know what my ideal pace should be, this will be the approach I use; I have a target split time, but I will strive to be in the moment, all 4 hours of them, to not only run a good race, but to enjoy the journey as well.

This also applies to my everyday life.  A phrase that has been in my head recently is "be present." With my wife, kids, job, etc, a large key to success and building intimate relationships is simply to be there, and to be engaged.  This means shutting off the radio, TV, computer, iPad, or whatever may distract me from truly being present, and to focus and pay attention to the people I am around.  In other words, do not get so lost in running the race that you forget to enjoy all the moments that compose it; be present, enjoy it, and you may just be surprised how it turns out.

--kb

Tips from Steve

First I will state a disclaimer that any tips I post are related to myself. All runners are different and what works for one runner may not be a benefit for another. That being said, it is also possible that running tips may help provide that little edge that you needed to improve your training. We are all aware of the importance of staying hydrated during our runs. This is especially true on the long runs. I use a combination on my long runs of a sports drink and gels. The problem with winter running is that your stomach can handle only so much fluids since you are not sweating as much as you do during a summer workout. This leaves the problem of getting in enough of the electrolytes without excess fluids. I have been experimenting with my own mix of sport drink powders. I am using enough of the powder for 8oz of water ratio mix but only using 2oz of water. That means I am getting the same amount of the electrolytes/carbs in 2oz as I would in 8oz.. I use the 2oz bottles that the 5 hour energy drink normally comes in. They are light weight, reusable and easy to carry with you. This also helps with the cost and amount of gels you would have to use during winter runs.You have to really experiment with this because it is a fairly strong recipe. It could cause some stomach distress pretty quickly. We all know about stomach issues on a run when we are no where near any facilities. That can really create a bad training run not to mention poison ivy issues in areas that we don't want to even think about. I hope this tip helps you with thinking outside the box to achieve your training and race performance.

--Steve