Blue Ridge Relay: Racing, re-defined....

When someone would ask me what I was training for, and I told them I was gonna run a 208 mile relay with 6 guys that would each run 6 legs of differing distance and it would take us about 24 hours (no stopping), with each guy running between 29 and 43 miles and it would be.... "fun"......I got some interesting looks.  How could something so seemingly grueling, be "fun"?  Well.....now that I'm done, I've showered and I've slept, I can honestly say that it wasn't fun, it was incredible.  One of, if not THE BEST, racing experience I've ever had. 

As we made the turn up the four mile hill to the entrance of Highland Grayson State Park in VA we saw our first set of runners coming down leg 1 and it became very real that the day had finally come.  We pulled in and parked next to the Chick Maggots, a female ultra team from Asheville made up of many of our running friends.  Together, we "dec'd" ourselves out.  Our team gelling up our Mohawks (those that had hair) and them adding glitter to their arms.  The masters ultra team from Asheville, "Norms Maggots" also showed up soon after so it was good to have some Asheville love before we all took off.  It was a beautiful day for a run.  We did our final prep, taking pics, and organizing our van, which would be our home, recovery room, and transportation for the next 24 hours. Not sure why we bothered organizing things, within two legs of the race it was a disaster anyway, but it's the thought that counts. 

Our lineup for the day would be as follows: Joel, Craig, Kaj, Me, Ryan, and Ning.  We were arranged by our strengths and the leg summaries (distance and elevation).  Craig had the best base of training and distance so we gave him the longest stuff. Joel had run his legs in prior races before so he knew how to run those legs, same with Kaj, and Kaj was probably slowest, so gave him the fewest miles. I had a better base than Ryan and like the hills, so I took the longer leg with more gain. Ning was our fastest and loves downhills so that's what he got.  He also got "the glory leg", the last leg, 6.8 miles of downhill to the finish. 

We knew we had 2 other teams to compete with today, Kickin' Up Asphalt, from Charlotte; and Runnin' on E, from Virginia.  It would be a battle all day, but we felt good about things.  We really wanted to win.

The Ultra Chick Maggots took off at 11 and then our team lined up to take off at 11:30.  Teams were started by estimated pace, with faster teams starting later in the day so teams would be more bunched together during the night for safety reasons.  We were part of the last group of ultras to go off, which meant we were seeded with the two other teams as the fastest. 

Joel got lined up and took off down leg one.  The journey began now!  He knew this first 4 mile  leg was a quad killer that most people can hurt themselves on early as its a steep downhill grade the whole way. If they aren't smart, they can fly down it, sacrificing their legs for later in the day.  He played it smart and came in just behind Charlotte's team but ahead of Virginia and handed off to Craig.  It was exciting to see him come in, but also weired since we knew this same excitement would be taking place 35 more times!

Craig had 7.5 miles with a lot of downhill as well.  As we passed him in the van 400m in, he was already passing Charlotte!  We were in the lead, but we had to keep ourselves realistic that it's a 208 mile race and ANYTHING could happen throughout the day/night.  Even though, it was a thrill to see us out in front. 

Craig came in and handed off to Kaj and we were still in the lead.  Kaj had 5.2 miles that had about a 1 mile hill in the front half, but was then downhill to the end.  It had a lot of dirt road and it was dusty due to the vans going by, but he ran strong and when he came in to the exchange with me, we were still in the lead. 

Taking the bracelet (what was used like a baton for each team) really got me pumped.  Usually you think of taking a baton like an Olympic track event, taking off like hell and sprinting after the exchange, not taking off for one of six separate races of ~6-8 miles each.  No matter, it was my turn now and I had a 6.9 hard leg.  Short hill in the beginning, then at mile 2, a sizable hill until mile 5.5, then a down/up to the end.  I wasn't thrilled with my pace, but seeing it was my first leg, I chalked it up to my legs getting acclimated and wasn't too concerned.  After all, we were still leading.  As I came in, I just glad to get the anxiety of leg one over with as I handed off to Ryan.

As we passed Ryan, he looked like a beast.  Back straight, arms pumping; we joked that he looked as if he would drop and start doing push ups at any moment just to make it harder.  It was a good sight, but again, long day ahead.  Poor Ryan had to run through a small town with about what seemed like 100 different directions, but he navigated his way through the twists, turns and traffic and came in seemingly un-phased.

When he handed off to Ning we started timing our gap ahead of the next team.  We wanted to have some idea of where we were at, just as a guiding light for the day.  I'm pretty sure we were a couple minutes up when we made the exchange.  The sun was starting to really heat up and most of the next legs were in direct sun.  It was just one of the many different elements we'd have to battle for the next 20 hours.

Light-NING!  I wish we could have come up with that nickname earlier in the day! 

Ning had a tough 4.9 miles with some nice downhill, but a gnarly uphill that was both steep and long.  When we passed him, we were all impressed with his form and how light he looked on is feet.  None of us but Kaj had run with him prior to today, we just knew he was fast, but seeing it in person helped.  After Ning came in and we started round 2, we were about 4-5 Minutes ahead of Charlotte.

The view at one of the exchanges before it got dark out.

 

 

Joel getting warmed up at one of the earlier exchanges.

 

The next round of legs were tough for all of us due to the heat and probably just getting used to the idea of running, resting and then running again less than 3 hours later.  When I started my second leg, it was 80+ and I had a monster hill in the beginning, a lot of dirt road, and it was 8.4 miles; my longest leg.  It hurt.  The good news was, after our first first two rotation of runners, we were starting to get a good feel of our match ups against Virginia, who had taken over Charlotte.  Charlotte looked to be falling back quickly. By the end of our second round, we were up a good 8-10 minutes.  Joel and Craig seemed to be pretty even with their guys, Kaj and I were losing some ground against ours, but Ryan and Ning were killing their guys.  If we could just keep things going, we were in a good spot. 

 

Joel and Ryan discussing strategy the way any good team does.....with a sweet 'stache and a Mohawk.  Craig creepily looking up towards the exchange.....or looking for a port-o-potty.

The night runs were starting, which we were all happy about.  The cooler temps made for better times.  It also made for some interesting running experiences. We were required to wear reflective vests, blinkers and headlamps.  Each exchange zone looked like something out of a sci-fi movie.  Hundreds of runners, bouncing around, will all the blinkers flashing, the decorated vans, and the hootin' and hollerin'.  Plus, at one point, we were on top of a mountain with a clear view full of stars.  I was worried we could be abducted at any moment.  A shooting star whizzed by, and got the whole crowd fired up.....I wished for a win!

The timing of the start times had started to work out so at the exchange zones we were around a lot of the other Asheville teams by now.  It was great to see them, share stories and strategy and offer up encouragement to each other.  Asheville was well represented today.  At one point, I think 4-5 teams were all at the same exchange, it was like our weekly track workout, I knew Norm would be proud. 

Each of us would have 3 runs at night.  The strategy here was basically "stay sane" which was harder than it might sound.  You're running in the pitch black, along mostly two lane roads in no-where's-ville Virginia with nothing around you but the sound of your breathing and footsteps.  I think Joel summed it up best by saying "at one point I'm just wondering what if some crazy redneck sees me running by his property with all these blinking lights on me and shoots me. No one would find me!" 

Granted weren't always totally alone.  We had blinkies to chase!  Other runners ahead of us, all you could see were these blinking lights, and you tried to slowly chase them down.  It was a game to keep us mentally in check.  We'd get in the van and brag about how many "kills" we had, or as I liked to think of it, it was like playing "Pac-Man" and each blinking runner was one of the big dots which gave you strength.  This was all that kept me going at one point. My 5th leg had a super steep up hill towards the end, which somehow I was able to power up at a good pace.  When I got in, I heard we were up about 13 minutes on Virginia.  Hell yeah!! After two crappy runs, I had a great confidence booster to get my head back in the game. 

I think one memory to insert here that sums up the night running experience is this: I'm sitting shotgun in the van at the next exchange, waiting for Kaj to hand off to me.  I'm eating a cliff-bar, and sipping on a Gatorade by cell phone light while Joel sleeps in the driver seat, legs somehow draped over the steering wheel, and Ning, Ryan, and Craig each sleep in a fetal position in the remaining van seats.  A few other dark vans full of sleeping runners nearby. There's no "warming up" at this point.  Your legs are already pretty trashed and tired, you just loosen up a little before hand and do the rest of your warming up on the go.  I was just happy that our guys were getting some rest as we were gonna need them coming into the daylight runs.

Lil' Ning, sleeping away in the van....still wearing his singlet

During my last night run, a 7.4 miler, I was alone 90% of the time, in the middle of no where, with a slow up hill grade that ground my legs to seizing with cramps at the exchange.  I fell instantly after handing off and needed salt tabs, Gatorade, and a massage stick to get me up and mobile again before moving on to the next exchange.  I felt good knowing we were still up 15 minutes or more, we weren't waiting until they handed off anymore, just waited until 15 min or so and took off.  I was a little worried about cramping up later on, but I only had 4.4 miles left and I wasn't gonna let anything stop me now. 

I've never been so gross in my life.  I packed like I'd be changing clothes at each exchange and here I was, 5:44am and laying down on a sweat soaked van seat, using a duffel bag as a pillow, a sweaty towel to pad it with, and another sweaty towel as a blanket.  And I couldn't be happier....I was laying down.  It didn't matter to me that I was still in the same shorts, socks, singlet, and reflective vest as the last 10 hours....my shoes were off only because my feet were cramping with them on.  All I cared about now was rest and trying to take solace knowing I had one leg left and we had a healthy lead. 

I did care about food though, and there was a pancake breakfast at the exchange before leg 31.  A local church hosted breakfast for the runners.  I can't tell you the last time I'd been so excited for pancakes, processed sausage, and mediocre coffee.  Carbs + Sugar = Strong legs, right?  A few of scarfed down our meals and as we were leaving we saw the Virginia team.  We were a meal ahead of them now. 

The last rotation is where things got really interesting.  We went in with about an 18-20 minute lead on Virginia and our team strategy was "don't do anything stupid, don't blow yourself up, run smart". We never spoke it verbally, but I'm sure we were all thinking we had things pretty wrapped up.  We were hurting, but surely they were too. 

Joel starting things off with a 6.5 leg called "The Mountain Goat" which was 6.5 miles long that climbs 1200 feet!!  It switched back and forth forever and as we drove it, we felt so bad for him, but he looked good as we were going by, and the guy from VA looked like he was struggling from the start.  The fact that I just had hot pancakes were part of the guilt, not gonna lie.  

I can't figure out how to rotate this, but this is the elevation profile and map of Joels last leg.  Imagine it rotated 90 degrees to counterclockwise.  Notice all the red?  That's a big ass hill.  See the zig-zag on the map?  That hurts! We lived and died by our binder of leg summaries.  Studying them like a text book during the day.  Not surprisingly I wanted to burn it like a finished college text book after the day was done.

When Joel came up, he handed off to Craig and immediately fell into a folding chair, expressed his desire to die, and put his head in his hands.  Someone handed him a Gatorade and he pounded it in one gulp, and as he spoke he was spitting/drooling.  He was a broken man.  While we were happy with his time, he told us he puked twice coming up the hill, which made us quite proud.  He left everything, including his chili covered baked potato, on the course for his last leg!!  This is how a Mohawks rolls! And he got to immediately change into his U of M football jersey.......real clothes.....what a reward!

We didn't stay to time our lead, we wanted to get to the bottom of Craigs 9.5 mile, 2,000ft decent so we could chill for a bit.  We assumed we were still way out in front.....which might have been a mistake. 

We got to the bottom and within a few minutes, the Virginia van pulled in.  That was weird; for the last several legs they were almost pulling in as we were getting ready to leave.  Could they have really gained on us that much?  I tried to ask one of their runners how things were going without seeming worried and he said "we're doing all right, I think we're 8 min back".  I nearly shit a chicken.  That meant they gained almost 10 minutes on the last leg.  We're they exaggerating to get us worried?  We're they cheating?  How could a guy, that seemed to be hurting when we passed at mile 1, have gained 10 minutes on Joel?  All questions we contemplated while waiting for Craig.  It was OK though, we still had a 8+ min lead, with 4 runners to go.  2 would probably lose time, 2 would probably gain time.  We're still in good shape, but we didn't think we'd have to be contemplating our own demise this late in the race. 

Craig came into view and we were stoked!  He handed off to Kaj and we started the clock.....and then we stopped it.  The Virginia runner was only 1 minute or so behind him!!!!!  What? How? No!!  They gained 16 minutes or so on us in 16 miles?  We couldn't show our "pissed-off-ness" we just speed walked to the van and took off.  W.....T......F?

As we got into the van, we were on the brink of devastation.  We had been in the lead for 185+ miles, and 20+ hours.  How could this happen?  We worked so hard, and even though we weren't expecting a win at the beginning, we had all but allow ourselves to accept it as a reality until this point.  What do we do now?  It was a very quiet ride to the next exchange. 

We had 5.2 miles to figure it out.  Kaj was out on "the nipple" for his last leg and had no idea what situation we were in.  This was a leg with one monster hill in the middle that was 1 mile up at a 13% grade, then down a mile at the same grade.  Brutal for any runner, let alone someone that was on their last leg of a 20+ mile relay, no sleep, and now had the pressure of keeping the lead we'd had all day!!   We passed him and decided not to tell him the guy from Virginia was within a few hundred yards of him.  We just cheered him on.  Let him run his race, and decide how to handle things if he sees the guy gaining. 

We fully expected Kaj to lose ground to this guy and then it'd be up to me to do SOMETHING and we'd rely on Ryan and Ning to get us back into contention.  Quite the opposite. As I'm warming up (standing around rubbing gallons of Bio-Freeze on my legs so I can't feel any pain) I see KAJ, not the Virginia guy, come into view first!  I was relieved, but also scared to death.  Kaj had given us the gift of a lead still kept, and I better not lose it.  We handed off and I took off down the hill.  I had 2.5 miles down a hill, then 2 up a hill.  My strategy was to run at a good clip down, but leave enough to beast up the last hills.  I was holding low 6 min/miles when a fellow Avl team van told me I was 2 min up on VA so that was helpful to know.  I stayed the plan.  I looked back a few times, saw no one.  I kept going down, every foot down was a foot I wasn't going up, so that was motivating.  I almost got hit by two cars, surprised I didn't roll an ankle jumping out of the way!!  Just as I was ready to start dipping into my last gear on the uphill stretch, I felt it.......my right quad cramp was back.  I was terrified.  All I could think about was my Charlevoix marathon when a cramp stopped me and I could barely walk.  That would kill us right now.  I made a tough decision to just keep my pace where it was, which was not fast, and was probably losing time, but I couldn't risk pushing too far and locking up, but I also couldn't slow down, changing my stride and potentially inducing things that way either.  Just focus I told myself. 

 

Me trying like hell to power up the last hill to my final exchange

I toughed it out for two miles and was relieved as I came into the exchange and handed off to Ryan.  I kept us in the lead, but 30 seconds later, there was Virginia, so I lost us ~1min.  Not a good spot to be in, but with Ryan and Ning there, we were alive. 

Ryans last leg started with a 1.8 mile hill that would put most runners to a walk, but not him, not now.  We waited for him at the top, and he had already put another 30 seconds on Virginia, and the last 3 miles were a gradual downhill.  We hoped for the best and raced to the bottom to the exchange.  When we got there, Virginia's team was there as well.  To be honest, at this point, it was a moment of acceptance at either result to the day.  We came here to race, and after 202 miles, with one leg left, this is what we were gonna get.  A race to the finish line, on our home turf.  We were living our own ESPN documentary, but how would it end?

Ryan came down like a bat out of hell.  I'm shocked his legs were even attached he was moving so fast.  Virginia admitted they were afraid of Ning, and they should have been, he'd been a freak all day and showed no signs this leg would be any different. 

 

See, I told you, a bat out of hell.  He's so fast, he's blurry!!!! 

We were 90 seconds in the lead when we left, and we let Ning know it as we passed.  The Virginia runner looked beaten, but we weren't gonna let that fool us again.  That's how the guy looked earlier and gained on us later. 

We got downtown and parked near the finish....and waited...and waited.....our better halves were all there, friends too.  They were such a relief to see but we could hardly enjoy them given the circumstances.  We didn't know if our next view would be of Ning, the other guy, or BOTH sprinting to the end.  The anxiety of the unknown was almost too much to take, especially considering our physical and mental condition. 

"THERE HE IS!!" Ning was coming into view and about 400yds away.  We were ecstatic but held our breath for a moment just to see if we could see the runner from Virginia.  We couldn't.  The lead at this point was nothing they could overcome.  We did it.  We cheered him on as loud as we could.  At 200yds from the finish line we ran out to the street to greet him and together we ran with him across the finish line as a team.  Nothing can describe that feeling of crossing as a true TEAM and hearing "Our first place ultra team from Asheville, the Ultra Mohawks!!"  (Insert crowd cheering here)

We had started this journey 208 miles and 24 hours ago.  We'd built a monster lead, gave it all back and somehow found it within ourselves to grind out a victory.  It didn't get any sweeter than this.  We crossed in 24hrs and 3min.  We took some victory pics, bro-hugged, and finally shared a stress-free embrace from our friends and loved ones. Our smiles below say it all. After we gathered ourselves, we walked down to the corner and waited for the Virginia runner, John, who was about 5 min back.  Everyone that finished this race deserved to be celebrated, especially ones that made us fight like we did.  I don't know what it would have felt like to win without the drama, but damn it at the time I would have given anything to not have had to worry like we were those last few miles.......

 

Beers and stories were abundant at the finish line.  We'd heard the Avl Masters Team had taken 2nd, the 12 person Open team had taken 3rd, and the Ultra Chick Maggots were headed towards a new course record.  Actually, all the Asheville teams did awesome!  What a day to be an Asheville Runner!!!  It was truly an amazing experience and was shared with some fantastic people.  Some known prior to the day, others now friends because of the day.  All I wanted at the beginning was a good time, and at the end I got an experience and some friends that will last a life time. 

This is the face of a man that just ran 36 miles in 4hours and 18minutes (7:10 pace) on zero sleep.  Still updating Facebook though :)

Us vs. Them!

It's less than 3 weeks until the Blue Ridge Relay; a 208 mile relay race from Virginia to Asheville.  It's 36 legs in total, ranging from 2-9 miles in length and elevation gains and drops up to 1400-1600 feet during any given leg.  Teams can be up to 6, and be considered an "ultra" team, or between 7-12 and be an "open" team.  I'm running with the "Ultra Mohawks" a team that's done this the last two years, and is built to win.....myself, with a few others are new to the squad. 

Team Breakdown:
Kaj: An Asheville runner turned Brooklyn-ite, and "whippet", this is his 3rd year on the team and is the team coordinator along with Joel.  He thinks he'll be the slowest of the group, which has him working really hard.  Currently a 40min 10K guy. 

Joel: Another Mohawk in his 3rd year, I met Joel via the "Maggots" running group and through my friend Doug.  Joel and I have trained together a lot over the last couple years.  We're both around a 38min 10K. 

Ning: Friend of Kaj, and another "whippet", we know very little about him other than he's short and fast.  Runs ~37min 10K, although recent times state he could easily be closer to 36min.

Ryan: A friend of friends that I knew to be a natural freak runner.  Routinely runs 37min 10K's with little formal running training.  A bit of a wild card going into things, but recent runs with him have shown he's still the freak I remember.   

Craig:  Our workhorse.  Runs a good bit of miles each week as well as rides and swims.  Always one of the fastest at the track or our Wedge Runs.  No idea what his 10K times are, but he's by far our fastest guy. 

Ando-Mo-F'in-Nesia: Me. I ran some great races earlier in the year and was only running 3 times/wk or less.  Wedding/honeymoon slowed my training in July but recently have been killing my track work and cross training.  10K time ~38min, always neck and neck with Joel during our workouts. 

The Training:
Trying to get to a point where I can essentially run 6 10K's in 20 hours in a competitive fashion is not easy.  Especially in ~5wks.  I had a decent base until July, but formal workouts were few and far between while balancing a wedding/honeymoon/bachelor party schedule.  It's a tough life :). 

The last few weeks have looked like this:
Monday: Athletic conditioning @ Lunch, 6 moderate miles, or spin class after work
Tuesday: 5.5 easy miles @ lunch, 8-8.5 mile track workout with the Maggots after work
Wednesday: Basketball in the morning and/or a few easy miles + strength work at Lunch
Thursday: 5.5 easy miles @ lunch, 8.5 mile tempo run with "Wedge Run" group after work
Friday: Basketball in the morning
Saturday: Long run on the parkway, moderate pace, ramping up to 20mi the week before the race. 

It's been tough, but the main thing is to push myself hard, while keeping injury free.  An injury at this point not only hurts me, but hurts the entire team.  It's a delicate balancing act, but I've been making sure to take time every day to stretch, use the hot tub, ice, etc.  It seems to be working.  Last week I had amazing track workouts, my fastest Wedge Run to date, and a strong 14 miler on Saturday.  We'll see what this week brings.  I've become pretty good at listening to my body and abiding by the idea that "the program must follow the athlete, not the athlete follow the program". 

The Competition:
Unlike most races, where I'm racing only myself, trying for a PR, or some other self created goal, this one is all about winning.  About BEATING the competition.  What makes this race unique is that you know of your competition before the race.  A race of this nature uses a staggered start, using estimated 10K times for each time to figure out when each team should start, so teams are all finishing around the same time.  Faster teams start later in the day on Friday, slower teams start earlier.  They publish the start times on the website along with each teams 10K time.  We listed our time @ 6:15, which might be conservative.  That being said, we're scheduled to start at 11:30am, along with 2 other Ultra teams; one from Charlotte, one from Arlington, VA.  We're the first 3 Ultra teams to start, with the next ones ~30min later.  It's looking like it will be a 3 team race for the win!! 

It's been great training with this in mind.  Our team has been emailing our training accomplishments and health status almost every other day, pumping each other up and offering advice.  Each workout has a "work harder than THEM" feel to it.  Anytime I'm not feeling particularly up to a workout I tell myself "do you think THEY are slacking off?" or "Do you want it more than THEM?" and that's all it takes to get me back on track. There's also a good deal of other Asheville runners running.  There's a women's team, a masters team, and an open team; the Asheville Running Collective, which is made up of 12 beastly runners from the area.  They set a BRR record in 2011 with an overall pace of 5:54!  It's been great to share training runs with these teams, and I'm really looking forward to representing Asheville in such a bad ass race.  So far this has been a great training experience, unlike anything I've done so far.  Just hoping we're all gonna stay healthy and we can compete for running supremacy!

Cradle to Grave 30K Re-Cap

"God I hope that's the wind" I thought to myself as my alarm went off at 5:15 on Saturday morning.  Then a car went by and the sound of wet roads solidified things....rain.  Not just rain, a complete downpour.  It almost seemed fitting that my first trail race would have me battling the elements before I even got out of bed.  I guess the challenge starts now. 

My gear was laid out meticulously in steps to allow me to streamline my morning and allow for optimum sleep time.  Shorts and running pants close to the bed for a quick transition from PJ's to run-wear.  Then downstairs to put on socks, then compression sleeves, then shoes.  Pin on my "cancer badge" on the back of my singlet and put on my long sleeve.  The longer the run, the more important the prep, and this was my longest race since my marathon.  And getting ready at home, not a hotel, was a little weird.  So many options available vs a preset packed bag.  Luckily I made  list (obviously) and could keep focused.  Despite the rain, the temp was still around 60 so I stuck with my original plan and after a quick protein shake, Maura and I were out the door. 

Maura and I had planned to make a weekend of this race, with camping after the race at Davidson River with some friends after the race.  However that plan was quickly in jeopardy after determining that we'd maxed out the windshield wiper setting a few miles down the road.

Once we arrived and checked in we met up with Dan and Amanda inside and waited for the race to start and hopefully for the rain to stop.....or slow at this point.  It didn't slow, in fact, it started to pick up.  We also saw Carlos and Scott from work and it was their first ever 5K, which was great to be a part of.  The race was close to starting and the rain was actually becoming a great distraction from the 18.6 miles of off road terrain and one really large hill that the race official was not candy-coating during the pre-race announcements. 

The group quickly gathered outside in the rain and before we knew it the gun (literally a gun, which startled the crap out of me) went off.  We started down and around the forestry center, and were soon on to some muddy single track.  I was with a pack of 5-6 ppl, a few I knew, a few I didn't.  The trail was narrow and the puddles abundant.  At first, instinct was to avoid the water, but realizing we were all already soaked, it wasn't long before we were all 5 years old splashing through puddles without a care.  One off the girls around me said she called these "Fuck-It-Puddles" because that's the mindset you need to get through them.  Made sense to me. 

Having never run a trail race, this was all new to me, and I was loving it.  We were muddy and wet, running over roots and trees and running through streams that were now shin/knee deep due to the rain.  It was so fun.  The group was slightly more spaced out due to the terrain and all I could hear was the river, the rain, and my breathing and footsteps.  I remember feeling like this is what our ancestors must have felt like, running through the woods chasing dinner, it was spiritual in a way.  Must have been the runners high. 

I was running with Mikey, a guy from track workouts, for a while but he stopped to tie his shoe and never caught back up.  Around mile 6 an older local caught up to me and we chatted for a while.  Always nice to make a new friend during a race.  We ran together for a couple miles, until we hit "The Hill".   I had no idea what to expect so I just plodded along behind my new friend on the single track terrain, trying to keep a conversation whilst navigating the roots and battling fatigue.  Soon...we were walking.  It was a calculated decision.  The pace of running straight up wasn't much faster than a strong walk and it was less intense.  I walked, then I'd run, then I'd walk, then I'd run.  I decided I could pass my friend so I did.  I was a alone again and now getting high enough that I actually felt my ears pop and I was getting into a low hanging cloud.  The trail was narrow, in some spots I was ducking while I ran and brushing leaves out of my way.  All I could think was "Gorillas in the mist, if I came up on Dan right now, he'd look like a gorilla in the mist".  I almost laughed out loud and then noticed a flash of a white shirt up ahead.  It was the girl that had passed me around mile 3.  I could catch her.....maybe.  I kept my run/walk thing going on and didn't realize that a younger cross country kid was between us. I came up on him while he was walking and I walked with him for a few and chatted before passing on.  Always feels good to pass someone that's younger and seemingly more fit than you :) 

The hill seemed to last forever, but I knew I had to be getting close.  Soon, the uphills turned to downhills and there was enough downhill in a row to give me confidence the death march was over.  Another good sign, I had finally caught the girl in front of me.  The downhill section was treacherous.  Trying to keep a solid pace while jumping between rocks and roots was tough on my quads but it was also very fun and I was again making a new friend so I was very content with my situation.  We made it out of the forest and back on to the fire roads.  We were 6 miles from the finish and we'd heard we were in the top 10.  There were people still going out, most walking. We exchanged "great job, looking good" and kept moving.  I have a lot of respect for those that walk a race like this.  They look at us and say "wow, that's fast" and we look at them and say "wow, they're gonna be out here for a while, good for them".  It's a mutual respect for each others position and skill that I love about a race like this.

When we turned to get back on the single track with 3 miles left I started to pull away from Alycia.  I knew at this point that staying healthy was the only important factor.  I couldn't see anyone in front of me and I was far enough ahead of Alycia that I didn't think she'd catch me.  The route back was slightly different than the way out, and not for the better.  I felt like I was running tire drills for the last 1.5 miles.  So many roots and rocks.  My legs were getting more and more wobbly with each step and at one point my ankle rolled just enough to freak me out, but no damage done.  Just make it back safely.  The stream crossings I thought I'd be jumping over like a badass on the way back I was now gingerly stepping through.  Oh, what a difference 12 miles makes :)
Soon I was seeing a parking lot and other runners.  "30K Finish =>" never looked so good!  I nearly made a wrong turn but was quickly guided back to the right trail and I could see the finish line.  I picked up pace a little, not much, my legs were far to unstable for much of a boost.  I highfived a volunteer as I crossed and pumped my fist victoriously.  I saw Maura and Kali there and my heart was full.  I felt great.  I just completed my first trail race, and my second longest race ever.  Alycia crossed soon after and we exchanged congratulations.  I was 10th overall, and 3rd in my age group (30-39).  A solid finish, one I'm very proud of. 

We hung out for a bit despite a cranky dog and some rain.  Carlos and Scott both placed in their age groups which I thought was awesome. They tried to play it off as nothing but I think they still enjoyed things.  I even heard Scott say "yeah, just gotta keep at it, and keep improving" which almost made me tear up.  You hear about people "getting the bug" about running but not too many to get be around someone as they get it.....and they might not even know it yet, but you see it.  Pretty good stuff.  We waited for Dan and Amanda as well, both finished strong with great stories of their day.  This was their longest run ever, a big deal for any runner and I'm glad we got to share that with them as well. 

The rain was still around so we bailed on our camping plans and headed home. Maybe not the plans we made, but we made the best of it.  A good life lesson I guess, you can't control everything so it's best to just say "Fuck it" and jump right in and get muddy. 

2013 Ramble Run Re-Cap

It was a tough race morning.  Usually "tough" means waking up with a belly full of Bells Oberon and Papas and Beer and trying to run.  Today was much more of an emotional stress.  Part of my morning race routine was pinning on a small tribute to three great people all of which are battling cancer.  The closest to me being Megan Szczpanik, a former college roommate and friend for many years.  She's been battling brain cancer for the last two years and has been a major inspiration to me and many others.  She passed away earlier in the week and this was my first race with thoughts of her being in the past tence.  The reality of things hit harder with each pin securing the sign on my singlet.  Every race has its times when the pain becomes too much and you want to give up, but then I'd always think of Megan and remind myself that if she can fight, so can I.  I'm not battling cancer, I'm running up a steep hill, suck it up :) I feel like I owe her so much for what her battle has shown me about life and what's important.  I always be greatful for getting to spend some time with her last year.  I know she'll always be with me on race days. 

I picked up my packet, pinned on my race bib and took off for a couple warmup miles.  My hammies were still tight from the weeks workouts, I hoped I could loosen them before the race. 

The 5K started before the 12K and just as they were starting I saw a dear friend, Edwin, running up to me, goofy headband and tall socks, arms out with a huge smile.  We hugged and I told him I loved him and I was proud of him.  Edwin and I have been friends 10 years now and have shared many ups and downs, and this was his very first race ever.  For someone that's not a "runner" this is a huge deal and I was so thankful that I got to see him and be a small part of his experience today. 

Us 12K'ers lined up and got ready.  I knew many around me from the various workouts and running groups I take part in.  It's always nice to see the familiar faces, but at the same time, I know they are all much faster than me so it's somewhat intimidating.  We took off and made our way out and down the first big downhill.  I'd never run this course before but I'd seen the course profile and admittedly I was nervous.  I only run twice a week right now, none of which has any elevation to it.  My strategy, as always, was to simply run my race, listen to my body and make sure to save some for the last few hills.  My hamstrings and calves were already burning before the end of the first mile.  The 5K'ers were on their way back and it's always fun to cheer them on as you head out.  This race brings out a lot of people that aren't neccessarily "runners" and that's always inspiring.  I hoped I'd get to see Edwin on his way back but we passed their turn around before I could see him. 

Around mile 3.5 I had slowly started to pull away from a gentlemen that I had been running close to for most of the race.  The middle section was less intense than I thought, but the next runner was over 100yds ahead of me, with Lincoln and a couple others 100 more in front of him.  I was gaining a little ground on the up hills, but losing it on the downhill sections so I figured this would be my place for the rest of the race.  As we came out of the greenway and back onto the road, I noticed that I was now within 50 yds of my next competitor, and there was another just in front of him.  Lincoln and the other were also now only 100yds out.  My pace had been steady, slightly increasing, so I figured that maybe the hills were starting to take their toll on people.  Around 5.5 I caught and passed my next victem.  We shared a few words in passing and I thought about whether or not to stay close or keep pulling away.  He looked like he was in my age group and I didn't think there would be any benefit to pulling too far away from him with a few big hills left but I felt he was slowing and I didn't want to do that so I kept pulling away.  With 1.5 miles left I was in full strategic race mode.  Seeing that I was closing in on another racer, big up hill, big down hill, big up hill, then flat to finish.  Constantly running my bodies diagnostics and calculating how best to draw up a strong finish without a blow up.  As we crested a big hill coming out of the neighborhood I was now within striking distance of being able to pass but just as I thought about that, he was pulling away on the downhill.  Damn it!!  I really need to train on downhills more.  I feel so out of control running fast on downhills and the last thing I want is an injury so I let him go, confident that he'd struggle on the last up hill and I could get him. 

I was right.  By the time we approached the bottom of the last hill, I was back within 30yds and gaining with every short step I could get.  I downshifted and passed him, now realizing that Lincoln and another guy were also struggling and only 60-70yds ahead of me.  I didn't know if they had much left, I knew I did.  I just hoped I had more than them.  As we reached the top of the hill I was now only 30yds back.  I yelled ahead "Lincoln, you better not let me beat you, I know you're faster than this".  I hoped this would push him, I wanted to see him do well, but it was also motivating to me to challenge myself to catch him.  I caught and passed the guy that was now trailing Lincoln by a bit and as the course got flatter, I went into full on Beast Mode for the final 200yds.  I passed Lincoln and rounded the corner towards the finish.  I took a second to try and pump up the crowd as I raced down the last stretch.  I loved hearing the increase in cheers when I do that.   I could hear a race volunteer yell to me "Top 10 finisher" which made my day.  I pumped my fist as I crossed, so proud of my final push and overall race strategy.  I tried to catch my breath as others finished and we all congratulated each other and shook hands.  I love the respect runners pay to each other.  We're out there grinding it out, some have better days than others, but in the end we're all proud of each other.  Maura was there too, which was great to see, and she had coffee....and beer in the car.....bonus!! So glad she got to see my finish :)

Lincoln and I chatted it up after the race, he was very complimentary of my race and my finishing strength.  He and I had a similar experience during the
Shamrock 10K, but in that race, I couldn't catch him. 

Its fun to have someone like that in a race to push you and you hope you push them too.  In the end, I finished in 51:47, 10th of 300, and 2nd in my age group.  It's a race I'm very proud of.  It's probably a little unfair to the other racers though......I had the strength of a new angel with me.  Thank you Megan, you'll alway be with me on race day. 

My heart hurts for Boston.....

Today, at the 4hr 9min mark of the Boston Marathon, two bombs went off, killing two and injuring over 100 more.  For so many, Boston is the most coveted race a runner can achieve.  For too many, it will now be a day filled with agony.  My first thought was that it could have been me and my family and friends there.  Had I raced like I wanted to last year, I would have been there this year and with so many of Maura's friends and family in CT, I'm sure we would have had a decent crowd there.  I'd like to think that I would have been safe, finishing well before the blast, but you never know how a race will go as my experiences have shown.  God works in mysterous ways. 

My first thoughts were obvously with the families and participants, but then it quickly went to thinking "what does this mean for big races?"  I've always loved races because of the positive environment they provide, will that change?  Will we now have security at every corner, limits on bags and liquids?  Will going to a race be as frustrating as going to the airport?  God, I hope not.  All I can do at this point is take solace that the running community is strong.  Stronger than most I'd like to think.  We deal with challenges all the time, and are trained in dealing with mental strain and having to fight off bad feelings.  We're taught to use emotion in positive ways which is exactly what we'll do. 

It was extremely comforting to see all the FB posts on the Asheville Runner site.  Everyone was checking on the runners we knew were there and if someone knew something they posted it, and luckily everyone that went from our area is safe and accounted for. It's just another one of the many reasons I love running and the sense of community this sport seems to have.  So many people at work stopped by to ask how I was doing, I got many calls and messages from those who thought I was running today.  I felt loved and supported.  Everyone knows how much running means to me and wanted to show support. 

I don't really know where to go from here in writing about this.  Too many emotions, and thoughts racing through my head and for the first time in a while I'm unable to really put good wording to any of this.  That being said, I heard a great quote on ESPN radio today that I think frames this the best.  I'll end with this though.  I can't wait to run tonight, to train, to show that I'm not gonna let anyone take away the feeling of crossing a finish line.  I will run wiht my head held high, not looking over my shoulder.  I am a runner.......

Marathons, more than any other event I've covered in 20 years' worth of international sports experience, are a celebration of a range of achievement, not just the top percentile. The amateurs run in the footsteps of the elite. The pride is palpable from the front ranks all the way to the back. The massed color and movement at the start are an impressionist painting of accomplishment. Because -- honestly -- most normal folks would tell you that getting there is achievement enough. The training they invest and the self-belief they develop in the process are worth it, no matter how long it takes them to finish.
Beyond that, the Boston Marathon is a collective civic experience, a holiday with more than a century of history. Planting lethal bombs at any point on the course would have been a horrible, criminal act. The symbolism of planting them at the finish line, where so many have lifted their arms in exultation, is unbearable
- Bonnie Ford

2013 Shamrock 10K - Re-Cap

"What the hell was I thinking?" is the question I asked myself at 6am this morning when I awoke dehydrated and sluggish at 6am.  Shamrock 10K is in a couple hours and just 12 hours ago I was drinking Budweiser like THAT was the race I was preparing for! (Damn Michigan game)

I got up and dragged my ass to the bathroom to shave off what little facial hair I can grow.  This is a priority this morning, how else am I going to get my mustache to stick!

Packed the rest of my costume, made a protein shake and headed out.  Maura wasn't joining, she had a run of her own with a friend.  I was going after this pot o' gold on my own!

It's always kind of weird running a race alone.  Usually I'm with Maura or at least a few other people I know from running, but today it seemed I was alone.  I love this race because I have two pretigious goals in mind: 1) Run a good race 2) Win the costume contest.  Doing well in both to me is the greatest honor any runner can achieve.  You're a running mullet.....both busines and party.....nothing sacraficed.  Today I felt like I could probably do well in the "party" but due last nights decisions I was skeptical on my business practices. 

This race is heavily school weighted so there's a "fun run" along with the 5k/10k.  The fun run is about a quarter mile and is mostly kids between 5-8? (have no idea how to guess a kids age)   Either way, it was the most adorable thing ever.  A heard of 2-3ft tall kids sprinting as fast as they can, oversized race shirts flapping behind them.  Each one with a smile and arms doing whatever they want.  Pretty sure there weren't as many smile on the way back.  I don't think I've ever really paid attention to a race like this, but it's kind of refreshing.  Seeing so many kids that are pushing themselves, they haven't been introduced to "pacing"....they're just running.  Natural, free, it was cool to watch them.  It reminded me that this is the feeling that I need to keep in mind when I run.  Keep it fun. 

I guess I was keeping it as fun as I could.  I was dressed in green suspenders, a green mustache, neon sunglasses, a necktie and a green/white striped "cat in the hat".....hat. 

The first mile was fairly down hill but I could already tell it was gonna be a tough day.  I had cotton mouth from being dehydrated (I assume) and I didn't feel that comfortable.  I reminded myself that today's goal was simply "Have fun, run solid, don't kill yourself" So that's what I did.  I got passed by a couple guys on the downhill, but I wasn't concerned about it.  I was surprised at how far out Lincoln was from me, but I didn't sweat it too much.  I wasn't supposed to care anyway :)  Once the 5k'ers turned the uphill section began.  And it felt like it lasted for ever.  The good news was, I am stronger on the uphills, but the downs, not so much.  I dropped two of the guys that passed me earlier and I was making good progress.  I was in a bit of pain in my shin area from the pace but I just ignored it best I could until it went away, which I trusted it would.  I suddenly noticed that Lincoln, who seemed FOREVER away earlier, was suddenly only 50 yds away.  We were still climbing and I was making up ground.  I wanted to tease and yell out to him, but I was worried he'd step it up.  I wanted to be a running ninja of sorts. I got within 40 yds, when on one of the switch backs I saw him turn back and see me. Damn! The downhill section was just ahead and he started to pull away.  I hate downhills. Hate them. And it was killing my legs.  After about .5 miles of steep/painful running and Lincoln now 100yds ahead, I decided to just relax and bring it in.  I joked with some of the crowd I was tring to be "first mustache" and catch him.  He had a real 'stache so it seemed like a good goal at the time, but out of reach.

I powered up hill for the last 100yds and finished in 42.10.  A pretty good time.  Watched showed 6.03mi, so I have to take that into consideration.  I found Lincoln after and we joked about the race.  I congratulated a few of the other guys I had seen around me while running.  I always like this part of the race environment.  You might say just a few words within a few miles with someone while running... maybe nothing, you just know they are there, and after the race it's like you've known each other for a while.  Talking openly and joking around.  It's good stuff and gets better the more runners I get to know and the more races I run. 

In the end I was 4th out of ~150, only 13 seconds from Lincoln and a 3rd place finish, something I've never had in a race over 100.  Last nights beers might have cost me, maybe not.  Either way I had a good time, I finished 1st in my age group, and my mustache was still on......today I am a MULLETT!

What's next?

Immediately following Jacksonville, I've been getting a lot of "so, what's next?" from lots of my friends both runner/non-runner.  My immediate response is "my god I just qualified for Boston, let me rest" but I think they also know me well enough to know I'm already thinking about my next race....or better yet "what do I want out of my training plan?"

Answer: Flexability, fun.  Un-like last year at this time where I was chasing Boston by running 6 days/week only to crash in Va. Beach, get back up, push myself even harder for the next 11wks only to crash again in CVX, I'm now in a position where I can be more flexible in my training and still keep the base milesage in a range where if I see a race I wanna truly compete in, I can jump into a program without coming off a long lay off.  My hope is that my plan over the summer will combine not just running but more basketball, and YMCA Athletic Conditioning, and spin classes so I'm still running some but not soo much that I burn out. 

So for the foreseeable future, my plan is going to look a lot like this:
Sundays: pickup basketball at Christ School (1.5 hours usually)
Mondays: Ath. Cond. at lunch, Abs and Spin after work
Tuesdays: Heavy lift Chest/Tri's at lunch, UNCA Track Workout after work
Wednesdays: Ath. Cond. at lunch, Basketball or 6miles easy after work (maybe both)
Thursdays: Heavy lift Back/Bi/Shoulders at lunch, 8.6mi Wedge Run (tempo+beers/pizza)
Fridays: Pickup basketball before work, Ath. Cond. at lunch
Saturdays: REST (Boating, golf, etc)

It's only 3 days of running per week but 2 of those days are speed work, and with some of the fastest guys in town.  The basketball and spin classes are giving me some good cardio while Ath. Cond. not only has a cardio element but is also acting as my fine strength training for all my stabilizing muscles that help with good running form. 

Two additions I'm quite happy about going forward:

Asheville Running Facebook Page: Got added to this and it's great because people are always posting about runs and looking for people to run with.  A nice option to help motivate with lots of options. 

Wedge Runs: Thursdays were always suppose to be "Tempo" runs for me anyway but they were always the ones I liked the least due to mostly being alone for them.  Heard about this on Facebook and have been doing it for the last couple weeks now and it's great.  Basically its just a group that goes out on a 8-10mi tempo run and starts and ends at the Wedge brewery where pizza and beer is available.  Most of the guys there are super fast (2:30 marathons) so their pace really pushes me and just talking running after is motivating for me.  I hope to continue this as much as I can and hope their quickness rubs off a little. 

So that's the plan for now and the best part is I'm confident enough to change it if it's not working without panic.  I have my first 10k, post marathon, coming up this weekend so we'll see how things are going.....

Kicking Breast Cancers Ass!!

The hotel phone rang loudly and startled Maura and I out of our anxiety ridden sleep at 4am.  It was early, too early, for that.  But, it was necessary if we wanted to make sure the morning went smoothly from here on.  We started fueling and getting dressed; clothes, race fuel and watches all laid out meticulously as to allow for every ounce of thinking to be spared until later on. 

A new starting line location meant taking a shuttle to the start.  This would prove to be our first mental stress of the day.  What should have been a 15 minute drive turned into over an hour in traffic, with an upset stomach and having to pee badly.  The long ride allowed for avoidance of the sub-freezing temps but the anxiety of the delay was hardly worth it.  Finally we pulled in and I was able to quickly find a restroom, allowing to finally focus on the race at hand. 

Maura and I found a place to warm up and while wearing trash bags to keep warm we broke out into a small dance party to warm up.  A local newsman waved us over and we got to be a part of the local news that morning, showing off our sweet dance moves.  Maura even got to do a short interview! 

From here it was time to get serious.  We made our way over to the start and towards our corrals.  It’s always hard parting ways before a race.  We hugged and kissed, telling each other how proud we were of each other and reminded ourselves that we were here for something greater than ourselves, and today was to be enjoyed no matter what. 

My corral was the first one.  Here I was, similar to 2011, standing near the start line, surrounded by the best of the best.  I wasn’t nervous; there was a quiet confidence this time.  I knew I was ready, but I wouldn’t let myself acknowledge it.  I had put in the work, time to execute.  The cops lined up, with their lights flashing as the national anthem was sang.  It was very emotional, but I was keeping it bottled up.  I was in the zone, all emotion needed to be compartmentalized until needed later in the race.

The gun fired, the confetti fell and we were off.  10,000 people all moving together, stride for stride, like a heard through the plains of Africa.  It was surreal.  This is why I run without music.  Cowbells rang, and a crowd of pink cheering on both sides as we made our way out of the starting area and out into town.

Within a couple miles I found myself running with a man named Dan, a Jax local, and my new friend for the next 13 miles.  The wind was tough, gusting up to 25mph out of the north when we approached the beach.  We tried to find some people the draft with but no one was running our pace.  Out of nowhere, another local, someone Dan knew, appeared in front of us.  He was “cooling down” and was all about blocking for us for the next two miles!  We ran in formation the next two miles, angled off our new blocker, trying to save energy for later.  We picked up an “elite” female, Lydia, along the way as well.  She was a Jax local also.  Once we made the turn off the beach, our blocker left and Dan and I took turns taking the lead as we continued north.  5 min I would lead, then he would lead.  I felt like a real runner, executing a strategy on the fly.  This is stuff I’ve read about and seen in movies, but never experienced. I felt like I belonged!  We passed through beach communities, people with coffee, signs, banners across the roads in between the houses, music playing, it was great.  Dan and I talked about how you don’t get this in any other race.  The support needs to be experienced.     

Around mile 13.1, I was dead on pace, 1hr 30min, a 6:54 pace, and the mile markers were in sync with my watch.  I felt like I was running effortlessly but was losing Dan and Lydia.  I made the decision to keep going my pace and within a mile I met a new friend, Drew, another local and frequent Ironman athlete.  Drew and I ran together, joked and chatted for the next 7 miles.  I took this opportunity to ask him questions about Ironman training, which kept me from thinking about my tightening hamstrings and filling bladder.  This section was mostly small neighborhoods.  Families out in the driveway with coffee and their kids handing out oranges and pretzels, sometimes nothing more than a little old lady smiling and waving.   I tried to say “Good morning” or “thank you” to everyone I could see.  Sometimes a full on tailgate going on with music would be going on, either way, the support was better than any fuel or Gatorade I could consume at that point.  They didn’t have to come out, it was cold, it was windy, but they respected what we were doing and the overall cause, so they took on their role today with pride.

All of the sudden, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lydia, she had caught up to us.  The three of us ran together, starting to get back into the sections of town with tons of fans and support.   Bands, cheer teams, tons of people.  I felt good as we approached mile 21, but I was starting to feel “it”.  Drew eventually dropped back and together Lydia and I took on downtowns boardwalk.  I kept telling myself “if you can’t tough it out for 5 more miles, you don’t deserve to be up here”. 

I knew the hardest stretch was still to come, but I couldn’t remember much about it.  My average was still sitting around 6:55/mile, so I just needed to keep steady.  Then, the bridge happened.

The last 6 miles are tough enough as is, then combine that with all the half marathon people that are walking and it’s chaos, which someone in my situation did not need added to my day.  Lydia opened up a 40 ft lead on me as we ran up the exit ramp and onto the expressway.  I didn’t care, let her go, I needed to keep pace.  Mile 23…….up in the air of the expressway…..100% exposed to the 20mph head wind, and fighting through walkers…..not good.  I checked my watch constantly, I was now at 6:56 and my last mile was 7:09.  My mental state was slipping and I was staring ahead at a long, tough, bridge.  All I had to do was get to the top and I was downhill to the end.  Mile 25 was 7:29, pace was now 6:57, I was losing ground.  The wind was so tough it felt like I was running with a sail on.  I considered a short walk but knew I’d never forgive myself if I did so I convinced myself to keep moving.  Just get to the top.  I did math in my head incessantly. “ok, I’ve got 1.37 miles and enough time to do it, but you can’t slip” I kept telling myself.  I was afraid if I knew I had time, I’d use it, and in my carb-depleted state, a math slip could cost me everything.  Just run.  I got to the top, the crowd was enormous, Journey “don’t stop believin’” was blaring and I had .6 miles to go and time to do it.  I felt like a snowball slowly picking up speed as I picked up speed going down the bridge, yelling “RUNNER, PLEASE MOVE”……I barely had enough energy to go forward, let alone dodge walkers.  I did appreciate constantly hearing “wow, he’s really moving” as I passed, that was good motivation.  Down and around the exit ramp and there it was….the finish line.  Lined with people on both sides cheering, a sea of pink awaited.  I knew now was my time, and I gave it all I had left.  I saw the clock ahead and with every step it became more clear to read…….I was gonna do it!!  I held off all emotion for 26 miles, and now, with nothing able to stop me and knowing I was going to break 3:05 easily, I took a moment to look around and take in my surroundings and finally let it in.  As I crossed the finish line, arms up and a smile on my face, I couldn’t help but yell “I did it!

 

I finally did it” as I crouched down and started crying.  It was like I had been holding up a wall all day, letting emotion and pain pile up against it, and I finally backed away and let it all out at once.  I looked around and embraced the moment, complete strangers clapping and congratulating me.  It was amazing.  I found Lydia and as soon as she saw me she smiled and gave me a big hug, saying “Thank you so much, I couldn’t have done it without you” which made me feel really good.  I turned around and there was Drew, and we shared a fist bump and congratulations.  Never did see Dan, but I saw he finished at about 10 min back.  Wish I could have seen him to shake his hand too.  I think the one thing that always keeps me coming back is the people.  I’ve run 4 marathons now, and with every one of them I’ve met new people, and sharing the pain and glory of running 26.2 miles with a complete stranger is something amazing.  You don’t know them, but you do.  You know their pain, you know their dedication, you know their fire to compete.  It’s not crazy, its sports J  And that’s why I keep coming back and why after a couple weeks of  “I’m never doing that again” I always find myself in front of a computer sculpting my next training plan and finding the next race to compete in. 

Maura didn’t fare as well, a bad hammy and the late onset of a chest cold had her struggling most of the day.  Oh, and a “Stage 5 clinger” that ran off her hip, jabbering away for most of the race didn’t help.  She finished though, and even though it wasn’t in the time she wanted, she was happy.  That’s all that mattered today and so, to me, she ran a perfect race.  And sharing that with her made my day even better than could be expected.  I can’t wait to share all these experiences with her, forever and ever.  We’re each other’s biggest fans, and that’s pretty awesome if you ask me.