Who is the boss!

Running is all about learning to deal with pain. Pushing through mental barriers.  Not listening to your body when it tries to tell you it's tired and wants to quit.  Usually the pain is associated with tired legs, muscle cramps, blisters, the wall, etc.  But sometimes pain comes in other forms.

The story for this race really starts Friday evening, when I felt the start of another fun evening with my friend, "Diverticulosis."  Whenever "Di" drops by, its always a fun several days until the symptoms pass.    This time "Di" didn't hang around quite as long as usual, but I was still concerned.  Friday night was tough.  And Saturday was no picnic either.  After entertaining her I just didn't know how I would do running the Tobacco Road Marathon Sunday . . . or even if I would be able to.  Let's just say that after two days of "Di's" visit, I was bloated . . . and it wasn't just the feeling of being bloated!

But no worries . . . by Sunday morning I felt at least 90% normal.  No real pain at least.  But I was still full!

But by about the fifth mile the pressures started building! And folks, when the intestines decide that it's time . . . well . . . it's time.  They don't listen to all that psychological mumbo-jumbo.  They refuse your tricks about "mind over matter."  They don't care about your goals, what you have planned.  Quite frankly, the bowels are the "boss of the body" and if you ever doubt that, just test them!

By mile 6, the boss started insisting I listen to him!  I wanted to hurry . . . but hurrying just made it worse.  But I HAD to hurry! . . . and luckily . . . there in the distance I saw porta-potties!  Yyyyyeeeeeesssssss!  When I got there, just to keep the fun going I was #3 in line!  My blood pressure climbed to alarming levels, and it felt like I had  quickly developed a fever of 102 at least.  But thank God, the line moved fairly fast! I made it just in time!

And coming out . . . I was a force to be reckoned with!  Don't know when I ever felt so good . . . and light!

Soon after, I saw Ashley Bass fly by running his first marathon I believe (He finished sub 3 hours and finished 16th or 17th!












I really liked the Tobacco Road course . . . flat as any!  Plus there were several chances to see runners ahead with two out-and-back sections.  I love that!  Makes for a FUN race!

Saw Brian Langford, Dave Lavely, Michael Forrester, Tyler Peek, Scott Wingfield, Gerry Felton, Kevin Boudreau, Joey Anderson, Tracy Proctor to name a few!  I love that!  Got pictures of some . . . hate I didn't get everyone's!  Also saw Jonathon Savage leading a pace group of runners.  He had quite a following!

Hit the first turn-around feeling strong and light . . . and no more intestinal issues!  One thing about this Tobacco Road trail . . . it all looks the same!  That's not bad!  It was pretty!  But I really couldn't figure out where I was, and how far to the next key point!  Didn't seem too long until I came to the second out-and back section, and quickly saw Dave Lavely screaming by!  All the others followed . . . except I didn't see Brian Langford and Michael Forrester.  (Turns out they had already made the turn!).

Especially enjoy seeing Scott savora beer provided by the local Hash House Harriers!  Yes . . . I got mine on the way back!  Thanks Hash!















I refused to look at my watch during the race and I purposefully didn't bring my Garmin.  But I knew I was running good and still felt strong at 16.  It was around here where I looked ahead and saw my friend Laura MacLean . . . out in the trail taking pictures!!  Odd not to see her running, but she has the Umstead 100 next weekend . . . so she gets a hall pass.  Laura ran with me for a short way and promised the be there to take my picture on my return.



By the next turn-around I was starting to feel it!  But I managed to keep my intervals fairly consistent . . . though I did walk some of the uphills (they were really just slow rises . . . but close enough for me to walk!).

I love the back-of-the-packers!  No one is moving all that fast and everyone has an encouraging word.  Runners are great!  I'm sure the front-runners are too, but they are so focused and running so fast they really don't socialize much.  But us "back-of-the-packers" just have a virtual party!

Soon I saw Laura again and she ran with me for awhile . . . really lifted my spirits!  Thanks Laura!  You're the best! Really!

Seemed like no time until I made the turn and had 3+ miles to go.  I struggled the last three, but still managed to keep my planned intervals.  I did a pretty good job of pushing through the pain.  Ended with a 5:26.  Not great by most standards, but I was thrilled!  Believe this was my "fastest" marathon in two years at least!  No way I'll ever beat my 3:58 PR . . . that was years ago. 

Here are a few more pictures

A cold day in Charlotte . . .

I wonder if Charlotte always has cold weather? In 2008 the temperatures started in the 20s and never got warmer then the mid-40 (best case!) and no wind. Ditto 2009!

Joining me were Eric Pate, Steve Cooper, Ron Fleming and Dave Lavely. Well, actually Dave was there and ran the race, but we never saw him as he and his kids were spending time with his sister and her family. Eric and Ron were fired up to run hard. Steve Cooper was coming off a nagging calf problem and really should not have run the race . . . but he wasn't going to miss it! So he decided to hang back with me and just have a good time. Unfortunately, I forgot to charge the battery in my camera, so I didn't get many pictures :-(

Steve and I did have fun! We took it very easy and just enjoyed the run.

The first half of the Thunder Road Marathon is gorgeous! We wind through a series of beautiful old, stately neighborhood. Really beautiful! And plenty of hills! Once the half-marathoners break off, the course loses the beautiful neighborhoods! By mile 18 or so, the fun always begins!

As we got to about mile 20 we heard someone coming up behind us fast! Real fast! As he passed up I recognized it was Jonathan Savage! Jonathan had paced the 4:00 group and had decided to run another 10 miles or so! Amazing!

Even near the end of the day, the neighborhoods were supportive and loud! Really nice! Last year I went to Charlotte expecting very little and was VERY pleasantly surprised! The first half of the course was beautiful, loved the NASCAR theme, complete with several race cars parked along the course. Nice medal, nice shirt, great volunteers and a very welcoming city!

In this year's Thunder Road Marathon a few things were better then last year and and two that definitely were not!

On the positive side:

• Most folks like the technical shirts better and Charlotte changed to a very nice tech shirt,
  
• As a surprise they passed out a second technical shirt at the finish line. Very nice!

But there were disappointments!

• Other then the name (Thunder Road Marathon) there was NO support from NASCAR. Not a single car parked on the course. No cars at the finish! No NSACAR drivers. Nothing! Why not just call this the Charlotte Marathon? I was disappointed.
• The finishers medal was not dated! Just a plain medal with the words "Thunder Road Marathon." No year, no date!

But still, it was a fun day! Eric AND Ron both set a PR and this hilly course! Dave cruised to another sub-4 hour. Steve and I finished . . . still smiling!

Is bigger always better?

Okay . . . this isn't some x-rated blog . . . this is about running you perverted fools!

Runners . . . read on!

Well . . . with some things the answer is definitely YES! A bigger hamburger is always better! Same with a beer.

(You runners are with me, but you x-rated perverted fools are confused! Beer and hamburgers are key to most runners . . . even those runners who have turned away from good, greasy foods and gone "vegetarian" still understand those of us carnivores that remain! And beer is almost universal!)

But when it comes to marathons the answer is not so simple for me.

Just finished the Marine Corp Marathon with over 20,000 of my closest friends.

• And it was fun!
  
• And it was very cool to take a running tour of Washington, DC.
  
• And I loved the opportunity to thank so many Marines . . . (but I did feel bad since they were there making OUR day better when WE runners should be making their days better . . . we owe our service men and women so much!)
• And the crowd support was fantastic! I've never run the New York Marathon and I hear the crowd is unbelievable . . . but Washington must be a close second place! People we just about everywhere and that is neat.
• And I loved getting my finisher metal from an Marine officer, who made it a point to ceremoniously present me with my medal. I made it a point to ceremoniously tell him what an honor it was for me to get the medal from him and all the Marines who supported this run.

But for this country boy, it was all almost too much. I believe I like a small marathon . . .

• where most of the time I'm either alone or with only a few people,
  
• where I get to know the few people I see on the course,
• where I can park within 500 yards of both the start and the finish,
• where there is real food at the finish, not just pretzels, bagels, bananas and raisins.
  

I do think everyone needs to do a bigger marathon . . . it's quite the experience. But I hope you also try a small race or a trail marathon. Then you decide.

Pictures from the Marine Corp Marathon:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/triple_f/sets/72157622662990478/

God's Country Marathon - Done!

This one was a real bugger! Probably not the hardest race I've ever run, but it was sure up there.

Basically the race starts in Galeton, PA, circles the town and then heads up a mountain . . . about 12 miles of constant, steady uphill. Then, it gets really steep uphill for about another 3 miles (here is a picture of part of that stretch.)


You crest the Denton Mountain just after mile 18 and then it is pretty much downhill for the last 8 miles to the finish in downtown Coudersport.

Ron Fleming and I met in Roanoke Rapids at 6:30 Friday morning and headed up to Pennsylvania. Would have been more fun if it hadn't rained the whole way! But we were still excited. Got to Coudersport at around 4:30, checked in at our motel and went directly to the fire hall for packet pickup and the pasta dinner!

And there I had my first big surprise . . . they didn't have my registration! Luckily there was still space in the race, but could you imagine driving over 500 miles and then NOT being able to race! I learned a valuable lesson . . . verify before you travel!

Up at 5:00 am and to the finish area to catch the shuttle bus at 5:45 am. Got to the Galeton High School and encountered my second surprise . . . they had NO porta'poties. The high school had one bathroom open with two stalls! Even this would not have been that much of a problem if the race had been "chip timed" . . . but it wasn't! So the line was REALLY long and I just made it out to hear the start of the race!

My third surprise was a good one! I managed to properly pace myself and handled the hill really well! I shortened my intervals to 2 minutes running and 1 minute walking. I did this until mile 15 when the hill got really steep. Then, I tried running some, but I pretty much walked the next three miles.

As I neared the top I actually saw a bear! And even got a picture with it!


Once over the top, I ran in high gear (for me!!) for the next 3 miles. Then, back to intervals to the finish.

A few Highs and Lows from this race

• High - This race had aid stations each mile! What a great idea! Seemed to make the miles go faster!
  
• High - A challenging course that many would avoid because it's hard. And it was a beautiful run!
  
• High - A nice cotton t-shirt. I still prefer marathon t-shirts to be cotton. I can buy tech shirts to run in.
• High - A fun trip with a good guy!
  
• Low - Super cheap, cheesy medal. Come on folks, you can do MUCH better then this!

More pictures

Umstead Trail Marathon 2009

It is so much more fun to be at races with friends!!! Dave Lavely, Scott Wingfield, Michael Forrester and Cam Kelly all ran (see above picture)! Got to spend a bunch of time together before the race! Friends just makes it better!

Talk about tough . . . this marathon was a tough one! Two factors: 1) hills and 2) temperature.

Umstead is a great place to run and it has it all! Single track trails, fine gravel roads, flat areas and, of course, hills . . . lots of hills. The first half of the race seemed to be a tad flatter then the second half. But it maybe I just got tired for the second half.

The hills were hard but really not that bad, I've run much harder hills.

About half way, we went through a section called Turkey Creek North. Three tough hills in a row, hit a flat section for maybe 1/2 mile, then turn around and go back the way we had come. Really hard given the temperature . . . by this time the temperatures had climbed into the low 80s. For the last three weeks, we have had temperature daily highs in the 20s, 30s and low 40s. Snow the previous weekend. Just no time to get use to higher temperatures!

When I finally got back to the RMEC (Rocky Mount Endurance Club) manned aid station a little past mile 19 , the race official told me I had missed the cut-off by seconds. I talked him in to letting me try to make the next cut-off point. Not sure how far it was . . . maybe 1-1/2 miles. But I gave it all I had (which really wasn't all that much!) but I can't remember when a ran that hard! And I made it! So, from that point on - no more cut-offs! All I had to do was finish. Got to admit I really struggled and was spent at the finish. But I finished . . . the last official finisher!

A special thanks to the RMEC members who gave up a beautiful Saturday, drive from Rocky Mount to Raleigh and man the aid station! Ryan Bullard, Steve Cooper, Larry McKeel . . . I remember seeing all you! Believe Ursula Forrester was there too, but I don't remember seeing her.

And another special "thank you" to the Godiva Track Club and all the incredible volunteer out! Aid stations were great! Smiling and encouraging folks at every stop! Especially liked the "South of the Border" stop on Turkey Creek trail . . . they cracked me up and picked up my spirits! All through the race, but especially after mile 16 or so, volunteers on bikes were constantly coming up and asking if I was okay and if I needed water, gels or electrolytes (I'm sure they were worried when they saw me . . . I probably looked like hell and was moving at a snail's pace!) I've done a number of marathons on warm days, but I've never been to a race that was so supportive to the runners! THANK YOU ALL!


Here are some more pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/triple_f/sets/72157614892534807/

Okay . . . let's start! Slowly!

I'm a runner. Most of my friends would agree . . . if the term "runner" is used loosely. I'm definitely not a fast runner. My recent marathon times center around 5 hours 15 minutes or so . . . slower if its either hilly or hot . . . a little faster if its cool and flat. Hence, my blog name.

In my past, I used to run faster. Not fast, but at least faster. (PRs: 20 minute 5k; 4 hour marathon). But about three years ago I discovered if I slowed down, carried a camera, stop and take pictures, walk when I want . . . well I had more fun and I was fine to run the next day . . . almost no soreness. So, that's what I started doing!

My goal this year is to run a marathon or more every month. So far so good. But today I was reading a blog a guy I know (Doug "Boogieman" Dawkins) has started, to chronicle his cross-USA run. That's right, cross-USA! (http://dougsrun.wordpress.com/) Guess I need to work on my goals!

If by chance, anyone happens to find this blog of mine, check out Doug's blog . . . and if you happen to live near his route, why don't you offer to help him in his adventure!