13.1 Fort Lauderdale Recap

A Runner's Ramblings: Volume 6; 40th Edition 
591.4 miles raced, 7480 meters swam and 202.3 miles biked in 2011
Race: 13.1 Fort Lauderdale
Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Miles from home:  2512 miles
Weather: 70s; sunny; windy

As I continue to try to get back into even reasonable shape I can say with absolute honestly that the thought never once crossed my mind to drop from the full marathon to the 13.1 distance this past weekend in Fort Lauderdale.  Of course, the vast majority of that decision was based on the fact that the 13.1 series celebrates the “half” marathon and there is no 26.2 mile counterpart. Details, details.

I was excited to be competing in not only my 40th race of the year but my 50th lifetime half-marathon in Fort Lauderdale.  I have come to expect to not necessarily run well on races that mark milestones as milestones alone do not make up for a lack of training. Nor do they instantly heal soreness or partial injuries.  However, simply being here made me extremely happy.

This was my first trip to South Florida since this March and was one I was very much looking forward to. On top of the wonderful events which would be taking place I would also get to see my friend Stephanie for the first time since she had been in a horrific accident while riding her bicycle on a training ride. Undergoing numerous brain surgeries, there was great uncertainty as to whether she would ever be even close to the same person again when and if she recovered. Fortunately, while she is still recovering, it seems like she may be the same quick-witted, kind soul with the brain that put her in Stanford in the first place. Spending time seeing her first-hand was simply fantastic.

Another wonderful addition to this trip was how I partnered with Dave Scott, the RD of not only this race but the Miami Marathon on a trip to a variety of middle schools.  As part of the Run For Something Better program, Dave, his crew and I went to 4 schools where we spoke to over 1700 students about making the right choices in education, exercise and healthy eating habits.  The questions I received after I gave my talk were stupendous.  Some wanted to know where I got my Julbo sunglasses, others were curious if I preferred grain-fed or grass-fed (actually grass-finished) beef and some were curious simply what was the worst weather I have ever run in. Regardless of their questions, I came away from these school speeches with a great idea that I plan to implementing as soon as possible to get to the grass roots of making our nation more fit.

Working with the Florida Beef Council for this event I was able, as I have all year meet people with varying opinions (some extremely ill-informed) on nutrition.  Also ran into a nice couple who I had previously met at a few previous races who were curious why I was on the “beef bandwagon”.  I asked why the negative connotation and as I have found in so many ways and in so many places, people often do not think of the connotations of what may happen if the person who they might have a problem with is not a shrinking violet.  I never have been and never will be politically correct and I assuredly have no problem questioning people when they question me.  When I was told that they had enjoyed reading my blog until I became the Spokes Runner for Beef and now no longer read me, I said that is unfortunate as I an informative and funny as hell. They laughed at this but I wonder if they will read again. If they don’t well, that is their own loss. Simply ignoring the other side of an issue most assuredly does not make you more informed, nor does it kill the truth that lies in the other side.

Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon Recap

A Runner's Ramblings: Volume 6; 39th Edition 
580.3 miles raced, 7480 meters swam and 202.3 miles biked in 2011
Race: Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon 
Place: Indianapolis, IN
Miles from home:  1520 miles
Weather: 30s; sunny

2009's running.

Two years ago I had the distinct pleasure to take part in the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon. Just like I find it hard to believe that it is already the beginning of November, I find it hard to believe that race was two years ago. However, I was glad to be back in town. As logic and the lack of a working DeLorean time machine would reveal, if you run one race on a day, that makes it impossible to run another somewhere else on that day.  As such, given the vast amount of races in the nation, I try hard not to repeat too many races as it keeps me from experiencing the rest of the races out there.  So while I was back in Indy for this race on this weekend, I was changing it up a little by running the 13.1 mile distance instead of the 26.2.

I had made the decision to do this even prior to having recently experienced some trouble with both an achy left foot and an equally whiny right Achilles tendon. Therefore, I felt no pangs of remorse about needing to shuffle my plans around race-wise. Instead, I got to enjoy the weekend as I worked with the Indiana Beef Council to talk about healthy living through eating lean beef.

In a recent post on Facebook, someone who espoused themselves as vegan took offense to a rather innocuous and obvious tongue-in-cheek statement I made about the tragedy of thousands of vegetables die every day. Later on, with niceties off (I find it takes about two similarly innocuous comments to make most people drop their false pretenses of wishing to have an intelligent discussion about any topic) I was told when I speak about eating beef publicly on Facebook or twitter or anyone that chances are I am offending some of my readers. My response was that with 3500 Facebook friends, if I worried too much about writing anything that may offend someone, I wouldn’t write anything at all. However, what I found quite telling was that I was in no way try to push any beef “agenda” on anyone. In fact, I was simply stating that like many things, eating preferences are a personal choice and my choice, based on science, health-care professionals and my own personal experiences, has led me to find that eating lean beef works very well for me. What I have been finding is that the same holds true for many other very fit, very competitive, very compassionate athletes. I add the last adjectives because the implication that those who eat meat do not care about the well-being of animals is false, misleading and in my specific case, without any evidence whatsoever.

Have enjoyed a steak with Bill on many occasions.

It is quite obvious that in order to eat an animal it must die. What I find smirk-worthy is how so many people who refuse to eat beef based on animal rights beliefs have zero problem eating fish. Really?  Is it perfectly acceptable to catch fish by the thousands, let them drown in air on the deck of the ship, flopping around in a net with their gills desperately hoping to pass water through them while decrying the cattle industry? This is ridiculous hypocrisy. I have seen with my own two eyes the humane way in which cattle are raised, cared for and the eventually, yes killed, in order to become part of my meal. I honestly think it is far more humane than anything the fishing industry does and, to be clear, I am not putting down the fishing industry.

So, if it is off-putting to you to read that I am the first official SpokesRunner for the National Cattleman’s Beef Association, I am afraid you will be off-put. I am not deliberately trying to upset anyone but it is something I am proud of.  I honestly believe that beef is one of the reasons why I have been able to do what I have done in the past, continue to do in the present and will be doing in the future- pushing my own limits.

If you are OK with Lance Armstrong touting Michelob Ultra, given the end result of what consuming alcohol can do, then you should be more than OK with me enjoying a nice t-bone. If you are not, well, that is unfortunate for you.

Be a Better Traveler

When 2011 comes to a close, I will have flown over 100,000 miles, all entirely in the United States (meaning no long flights to overseas lands which would pad my mileage stats.) As such, it is quite easy to say I have spent a great deal of time in airports, airplanes and the whole shebang. Throw in the fact that, by nature, I am an observer of human behavior and often make note of how humans behave in large groups and I feel I am quite suited to embark on this missive of how you can avoid being an excruciatingly horrible traveler.

For the most part, this entire article could contain three words: “Use Common Courtesy”. However, there is an adjective in there which is about as misplaced as it possibly could be. So rare is courtesy in large groups of people that the short and simple directive above would be completely useless by itself as, for the most part, it would be ignored.  No, further we must delve and with all do succinctness must that plunge be in order to avoid hitting the rocky cliffs of rudeness. (I like this overwrought description.  Deal with it). Do not fret, however, if you find you are guilty of any of the following, as chances are we all have done one if not all of them. Just realize that the time is not too late to not do it again. Without further ado, onward we go.

1.    Don’t stand on the escalator/moving sidewalk.  

 

Or if you must, move to the right taking your bag with you. There are still plenty of people in this world who do not see the escalator as a free amusement park ride provided by the airlines.  It is understandable that you may be weary, heavily-laden with luggage, or possibly frail. Obviously I am not so callous as to suggest the less than spry need to hustle up the moving steps. But,without a doubt, realize others may be in a hurry and you are squarely in the way.

2.    Do not dry hump the luggage carousel.

I understand that you want to get your bag and go home. We all do. But when you straddle the metal bag giver, you make it infinitely more difficult for everyone else to see their luggage.  Even worse, when and if they do, they not only have to go through you to grab it, they then have to go through you again to swing it onto the floor. If everyone simply stood three feet back, when the luggage popped out magically of the gaping maw of the carousel, you could step forward, grab it, swing it onto the floor and retreat to whence you came without a care in the world. When that siren blares and the red light starts flashing, the stampede of people ambling forward pavlovingly until their toes touch the metal circle always reminds me how much more like sheep we are then we realize.

Run Town Half Marathon Recap

A Runner's Ramblings: Volume 6; 38th Edition 
567 miles raced, 7480 meters swam and 202.3 miles biked in 2011
Race: Run Town Half Marathon 
Place: Greenville, SC
Miles from home:  1971 miles
Weather: 50s; cloudy


I had no idea what to expect for this race. With virtually two weeks off from running with really just one nice tempo run on the Wednesday before the race (with some super speedy new friends in Charlotte) I was out of shape and very worried. My achilles is not injured per se but it is definitely telling me it was getting close. Hence the forced rest.

The course for the Run Town Half Marathon, part of the Spinx Run Fest in Greenville, SC, looked to be, while not super challenging, definitely hilly. Normally hills are where I make my hay but I knew that would definitely not be the case on this day.

However, the previous day I had spent some time talking with Jeff Galloway, who has either mastered the art of faking being one of the genuinely nice people all-around or really is a self-effacing, humble and giving person. I vote for the latter. At the expo, with our book signings right next to each other I was able to ask for some advice on how to solve achilles pain. Given the expo was outside in the gorgeous Fluor Field concourse of the minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, we did not expect that we would have much time to talk. But when a ridiculously cold wind blew in on the day of the exp, the previous day's 85 degree high turned into a bitter cold low 40s during the next day. As such, most people blew right pass both of us in an attempt to get their packet and get back to their car. As such, I was able to talk more with Jeff than I normally would.  Hearing I was doing most of what he suggest already, I was enthused about the next day's run.

I spent the expo speaking at length with the South Carolina Cattlemen's Association and enjoyed sharing grilling stories with many of residents of the Palmetto State who were not quite ready to give up grilling season.

Before long we could see the crowds had thinned and we both knew it was time to grab some dinner.  Even though I had a delicious burger for lunch, I knew it was off to the steak house for me for my pre-race dinner.


Afterward, because of a super-slow connection at my hotel, I was up way too late doing work. Part of that is because I am night owl and part of it was because with this being a half-marathon and me not exactly racing it, I did not feel the pressure to go to sleep. The third part was because I was looking at the clock on my computer which was still on mountain time. When I finally wised up it was 2 AM. That 6:30 AM wake-up call was, as always, going to be unpleasant. In fact, I am sure I could sleep for ten hours and as 6:30 AM wake up call would make me grumble.

What was enjoyable about this half was that it started 30 minutes after the full. This allowed me to get just a little more sleep, still get downtown and watch the marathoners take off.  Marathons have not gotten boring for me but I will readily admit there is something wonderful about doing the 13.1 distance, especially when your physical fitness has taken a hit.


After being asked to share a few words with the crowd, I gave the mic back to running legend Jeff Galloway and joined the rest of the riff-raff ready to take on the half-marathon.  I was eager and nervous, not knowing exactly how my legs were going to handle the race. But the only way to find out was by going and running.  When Ed Hughes, the RD, gave the command, we were off.

Niagara Falls Marathon Recap - Sort of

For those who have run a 5k or a 10k and have ventured into running a half-marathon, the question becomes one of whether they can run a marathon and how hard it can be to do so.  The answer, as with everything in running, depends.  But I can tell you what is harder than running a marathon – not running one you really want to do.

As I sat at the Niagara Falls Marathon expo, next to running legends Kathrine Switzer and Roger Robinson, the intelligent side of me which said that because of my aching Achilles tendon, not running was the wisest thing I could do began to get pushed out by the side of me that sorely ached to run. My plan for this fall was to have two attempts at setting a new personal best, one at the St. George Marathon and if that did not go well, to try here in Niagara.  When I saw St. George was not going well in the first 1/3 of the race, I pulled back and eased into the finish. Then the weekend before Niagara, while running two marathons in one weekend, my Achilles reared its ugly head and put the kibosh not only on the plans for that weekend but for this one in Niagara as well.

I am often asked if I have had a running injury.  Again, the answer to that question is “It depends.”  I am pretty certain I could run a half-marathon right now.  I might be able to slog through the full 26.2 miles as well.  But if I were to do so, it would undoubtedly be far slower than I would like it to be.  So, is that an injury?  What I do know is that if I pushed through the pain and did not heed the intelligent side of things, I am more than positive I would have an injury that none would have to bicker about the definition of.

So, on the 5-year anniversary of the first time I ever ran a sub-3 hour marathon, I decided I would be doing no racing. This decision was made with a considerable heavy heart. This race has always been one of my top three favorite races and for good reason.  When I was running the 52 Marathons in 52 consecutive weekends back in 2006, there were a great deal of factors that made it so special. Had someone run a certified weekend every year for one calendar year before? I am sure they have but the number would be very small.  That has to do a great deal with the fact that there were not as many marathons to fit the calendar say 20 years ago.  In order to fill the year there would be a lot of 26.2 mile “runs” to fill the gaps. But, and what is most important, *I* had never done it before.  That is really all that matters. 

The fact that I was working full-time, was not sponsored and had just a handful of marathons under my belt when I took on the task is why the task was impressive. I was not a runner with All-American status and past accolades checking off a run every weekend knowing that I could run much faster. I was giving about as much as my talent and experience level could handle, week in and week out.

Which is why the Niagara Falls Marathon was so special to me.

Hartford and Amica Marathon recaps

A Runner's Ramblings: Volume 6; 36th Edition 
527.7 miles raced, 7480 meters swam and 202.3 miles biked in 2011
Race: Hartford Marathon
Place: Hartford, CT 
Miles from home:  2270 miles
Weather: 60s; bright sunshine

A Runner's Ramblings: Volume 6; 37th Edition 
553.9 miles raced, 7480 meters swam and 202.3 miles biked in 2011
Race: Amica Marathon
Place: Newport, RI 
Miles from home:  2339 miles
Weather: 60s; bright sunshine; wind

I am writing these two recaps as one as they really do belong together.  When I began mapping out this year in 2010, I planned this as my attempt to try and do a sub-3 hour race on back-to-back weekends.  I also planned for St. George Marathon to be a PR attempt and a variety of other things to happen, if at all possible.  At the Fox Valley Final Fall 20 a few weeks ago I spoke with an older runner who said he never really plans to have a good day or bad day, he just goes out on race day and gives it what he has.  I admire that quality and when you are only doing a few races a year that is something which can be done more easily.  If you are not going to try for a PR in this race, well, chances are it will be one of the other two or so you are doing.  I am not, however, afforded that luxury.  In addition, as I think it smacks of both dishonesty and cowardice to not state your goals ahead of time and instead simply say that whatever the result was your intention, I know I have to let others know what I want to do- even if there is little shot for it.

That was indeed the case here in this double weekend. While I have had a great year of racing with new personal bests in shorter distances races, all distances of triathlon and sundry other events, the past few months have been quite exhausting. No need to get into it all but things completely outside of running (and for the most part no one else's business) have drained me. So while I can be realistic with myself in knowing what may or may not happen, I still like to stick with my stated goals. Which brought me to the starting line of the Hartford Marathon.

I had tried one back-to-back weekend before at the Mississippi Blues and First Light Marathons in January of last year. In preparation for my upcoming 202 mile running of the American Odyssey Relay in April of 2010 I had, on New Year's Eve, ran for 6 hours straight around the 1.5 mile loop in Liberty Park across the street from my home in Salt Lake City. Then one week later I proceeded to run a 2:59/3:17 at this back to backer in 16 degree weather and only the second and third times I can ever recall wearing tights in a race. It was darn cold.  I had no business running those speeds but it happened, proving my theory that one simply has to get to the starting line to see what the day will hold for you.

The second day's 3:17 has been even harder than it sounded because I was trying to run exactly a 3:17.  Even when I had the urge to run a tad faster, I had to keep it in check.  I am pretty sure I had a sub 3:10 on that day but definitely not a sub-3.  So on days which seemed to be much better weather-wise forecasted for this weekend, I was hoping to get it done here in New England.

However, when things went sour at the St. George Marathon two weeks ago, instead of being macho and pushing through in a futile attempt to salvage a still-fast-but-not-PR time, I tried to focus instead on a quick recovery for this double. I knew it would be hard  to get sub-3 on consecutive days but if the outcome was known, what would the point be. Running a time that is easy for me and then declaring it to be something special is insipid. That is one reason why I been more impressed by those who are giving as much of their effort as possible, regardless of what the time is on the clock. So after a couple of wonderful days at the Hartford Marathon expo I was ready to take on race number one.

Reviews of Three Running Books

One of the good things about criss-crossing the country is that time in the plane or in the airport allows for tons of time to read. I came across a review I had written about three separate running boks while searching for an answer to a question a friend had posted.  As such, I thought now would be the prefect time to repost these reviews as many are flying themselves to marathons all over the country this fall. Enjoy!

Recently I had three books all which were in the middle of being read. Why would I start and not finish them? Well, mostly because they were located in different parts of this vast country and I forgot to bring some of them with me when I started others!

But in my quest to read a book a week this year (and to report on the sports related ones to my readers here), I present you with these 3 gems.

First is Pam Reed's autobiography The Extra Mile: One Woman's Personal Journey to Ultra-Running Greatness.

When I first started getting involved with ultramarathons, I knew two names pretty well: Dean Karnazes and Pam Reed. The two have become intertwined in recent ultrarunning history. Dean I met and became friends with a few years ago. I have not had the same pleasure yet with Pam. And I say pleasure because I think knowing her would be a wonderful thing. (Dane note: since I wrote this, I have met Pam on several occasions, had the chance to speak at the marathon in Tucson she was the director for and had a lengthy discussion with her on how both of us love to eat beef the night before the race. Getting harder to discount the benefits of lean beef when one of the greatest ultrarunners of all-time feels it fuels her or the finish.)

St. George Marathon Recap

A Runner's Ramblings: Volume 6; 35th Edition 
501.5 miles raced, 7480 meters swam and 202.3 miles biked in 2011
Race: St. George Marathon
Place: St. George, UT  
Miles from home:  300 miles
Weather: 60-80s; bright sunshine

Sometimes when you go for broke, you break.


Fortunately, nothing on me actually broke at the St. George Marathon on Saturday. But my desire to break my marathon PR was definitely far ahead of where it should have been, logically-speaking. I knew deep down I was not trained properly enough, not rested enough and wouldn't be running in weather cool enough to try to run fast but thought I could will myself to a new PR nonetheless. That said, I won't be the first to bite off a little more than I can chew in a marathon attempt and I damn sure won't be the last.

However, while the attempt itself needed to be forfeited during the race, I was extremely pleased that I was smart enough to realize the day did not have to be one where I limped across the finish under some false pretense of bravado. I did not need to leave my entire effort out on the course. Why? The goal was not to just run semi-fast or break three hours or try to tick off some little-known box on a checklist I invented for myself after the fact.  The goal was to break the PR I had set in Ogden in 2009 with this being my first attempt to even do so in two years. When it became painfully obvious that was not going to happen, pulling back and focusing on the remainders of the goals I have for this years (which may include another shot at a marathon PR) made far more sense.

When I had the desire a few months ago to make St. George my PR attempt, I definitely thought I would be spending more time at my home resting and training prior to the race. Unfortunately, circumstances and life get in the way of even our grandest plans. To begin with, a few trips were necessary in the past few months to my hometown to help take care of personal matters which definitely did not help my training at all, either physically or mentally.  However, as I stood on the starting line of the St. George Marathon, a thought came to mind that I once told a friend. We cannot get to the finish line if we do not make it to the starting line.  Here I was on the starting line. I might not get the PR, but I was going to give it a try.


First 7 miles:

Any jackwagon who thinks that the St. George Marathon is an all-down course has obviously never run it. Then again the ability of people to parrot information they hear with no actual proof is a hallmark of the human race. Without a doubt, the first 6 miles of this race have an excellent net downhill, where, if you run it correctly, can give you quite an advantage over the rest of the course. I had consulted a few friends who had run the race and using a spreadsheet that factors in the coefficient of the uphill and downhill portions, had worked out what I wanted to run for every mile of this course. Not trusting my memory, I printed out the piece of paper, taped it up and pinned it on my singlet for reference throughout the race.

The first 7 miles of the course present about 700 feet of elevation loss total.  There are, however, three small rises in these first first 7 miles that are surprising if a runner goes in feeling it is an escalator ride to the bottom.  The times I wanted to hit for these first 7 miles, with my actual time in parentheses, were as follows:

6:31 (6:27)
6:23 (6:28)
6:08 (6:11)
6:01 (6:13)
6:16 (6:25)
6:16 (6:02)
6:16 (6:11)

My goal was, at the bottom of the infamous Veyo Hill starting after the 7th mile, was to be comfortable and at a time of 43:51. When I hit that 7th mile, I was only 9 seconds off of that and feeling great.


To mile 11:

This next section of the race presents basically the most uphill and most challenging mental portion of the race.  After having the benefit of some delicious downhill for 7 miles, this is what runners face in less than one mile.

For me, I did not care if I was supposed to slow down to a 7:01 or not, I was going to slow as much as I wanted to in order to get up this hill and feel good.  In fact, at one point, I decided to walk for ten seconds just to catch my breath and gather my senses.  I felt vindicated in doing so when I lost all of about 15 feet on the people in front of me who were still running up this beast.

When I hit the 9th mile, which is still up hill, I had only lost 30 seconds off my desired pace from both my walk break and the hills I had been running.  The sun was beginning to crest over the mountains to our left. I remembered thinking I just wanted to get to mile 10 before it started to bake me fully.  I was quite pleased that it was not nearly as hot as forecasted but it was definitely warm.  In fact, it was only a few miles later when I poured a glass of water over my heavy and rivulets of salt went into my mouth did I realize how hot it was and how dehydrated I had been.  But right now I felt great. Delusion is good sometimes.

As I passed a runner wearing a St. George Running Center singlet, I could see she was in serious pain.  I told her to keep her chin up and she responded "Thanks, Dane! I love your book." When I whipped my head around to say thank you, I could see she was already in tears.  She was obviously not just tired. I asked her if she was OK and she could not get out a coherent sentence she was so distraught.  I wheeled around and ran back to her.

Amber was her name and she inquired whether I had some ibuprofen. I told her I unfortunately did not but that there was a medical unit right up the road. I could tell that she was a trooper but there was obviously something wrong with the way she was dragging her one leg.  It looked like her hip was killing her. We talked for a few seconds and I tried to console her and let her know that sometimes the best run we do is the one we don't. Think about the long term benefits of the short term decisions we make. I then left her, hoping she would make the right decision. (At the end of the race I saw Amber again. She had indeed made a very wise decision and pulled out at mile 15. I reaffirmed that she made an excellent decision based on how badly her race was going and she seemed perfectly fine with her choice. I am sure it burned at the time and will burn still more until she races again, but she knew she was right in living to run another day.)

Addendum: Amber has since go on to win St. George and ran a 2:40!

As I came up to the final portion of the uphill, I had lost a few more seconds from my retracing of steps and the continual upward jaunt but was ready to pour it on. The sun was now fully over the mountains and the shade was gone.


To mile 15:

These next four miles sealed my fate for the St. George Marathon. Even with the beginning of some of the best downhill of course, I simply could not get my legs to turn over. The next four miles had me realizing that not only was my goal of 2:45 gone but so was any PR at all.  I hit the halfway point at 1:27 and it was all downhill in the bad way from there.

I do remember at mile 15, as we turned the corner, seeing an absolute beautiful view of the vista below me. Without a a doubt if I had been in full race mode, I would have not seen this. I would have seen the road in front of me and nothing else. But as each mile slipped by and I could tell I was completely robbed of energy needed to run what I wanted (run a 7:05 when I needed to run a 6:08, for example) this was the reality of this race. It was now just me needing to run 11 more miles to get to the finish and start planning the next event.


To the finish:


The rest of the race was more of the same.  Me surprised I could not effectively run downhill, something which has always been my strong point, while more and more people streamed passed me. I became a cheerleader for the runners as those I did not know, and a few I did, pushing them forward to what was hopefully a good day for them. I know, however, for many it was not. With the leaders being quoted as saying that they were dumping water on their heads at mile 2 to stave off the heat and times across the board being slower for elites, average joes and back of the packers, this was a tough day for many.


For me it was tough because I knew I had so many friends rooting for me. I know, like so many others, that those who care about you will support you even on your bad days, but you never want to let them down. However, I knew I could be happy with my race in the long run because I lived by one of my principles of running. I'm aware I am never going to be the fastest person out there but if I can, I will always be one of the smartest. It is hard to run with your head and not your heart but  it is something I have to do sometimes.

Chalking up this race to experience only, barely halfway through was very difficult to do.  But it was the intelligent thing to do. A month ago, with my foot killing me after the Mesa Falls Marathon, I did not even think I would be running St. George at all.  However, in the next few weeks, as it seemed to heal enough to allow me just an inkling of hope to shoot for a PR, I figured I would go with it as far as I could.


On this day, my best was not enough to accomplish what I hoped for.  But I know someday soon it will be.

Runners and Volunteers

This past weekend, when the St. George Marathon ended up being nothing but a long hike for me when thoughts of a personal best blew up around mile 11, I began thinking a great deal about the relationship between runners and volunteers.  It is a symbiotic relationship.  Without volunteers, races cannot be run and without runners, there is no need for volunteers.  However, more often than not, the two only meet for brief periods of time and usually it is not when either is at their best. Runners are tired, blunt, sweaty and abrupt with an unusual demanding nature.  Volunteers are frazzled, overwhelmed and well, tired, blunt and sweaty.  The best way for both to understand each other is to actually be the other.

Runners need to take time to volunteer at races. Besides the fact that races cannot be held without a much larger number of volunteers than most people can fathom and doing so helps maintain the sport we as runners love so much, volunteering gives runners a perspective from the other side of the outstretched-hand holding a cup of water. You can see how it is not always easy to have the aid station on the inside of the curve.  You can realize that the information given to the volunteers is often limited to the scope of their job, and that alone. You can grasp that a little nod of thank you, a second of eye contact and a smile will make them feel like standing out in the freezing cold or blazing heat was worth it to help just one runner on their way to the finish.

Volunteers need to put down the orange safety vest and pick up a pen to sign up for race (Sure, I know virtually no one actually “fills out” an entry form anymore but bear with me.) The more people running in this world, the better the world will be. Now, as a runner, you will see how important it is to not fill the cup all the way to the top as a volunteer.  You will appreciate that even if you know a volunteer may not have an answer, they are probably better equipped than you are to at least be able to find the person who does know the answer.  Finally, you will realize that it is not a slight when you don’t remember to say “thank you” to a volunteer during the middle of a race; sometimes you simply don’t have the mental capacity of physical ability to raise that hand.

I have been fortunate enough to see the race from these aspects, as well as from the role of a race director and course designer.  It seems simplistic to say that once you have walked (or run) a mile in another’s shoes, you understand them better, but that is without a doubt the case here.  I get why a course may have been directed one way rather than another. I know that it is only the extraordinarily rare soul who doesn’t actually wish to make the race an enjoyable experience for all.

So, in your next race, runners, look a volunteer directly in the eye and say: “Thank you for being out here.”  And in your next effort, volunteers, I want you to reply: “My pleasure. Hope it is you putting the medal around my neck next time.”

Interview with Michael Wardian - ultrarunner extraordinaire

I first met Michael Wardian when I was a fledgling marathoner in Washington, DC.  By then, Mike had already begun to lay the groundwork for what would soon become a stellar running career that seems to still be far from its crest. We have run together on numerous occasions if by “together” you accept the definition of “on the same course”. But I don’t feel too bad about being spanked by Wardian as few can keep up with him. He won the 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 US 50 km championships.

Me in white socks. Mike in greensleeves. He lapped me often.

The United States Track and Field Association named Wardian the 2008, 2009, 2010 Ultra Runner of the year for these and many other efforts and he was named 2010 Ultra Runner of the year by the International Association of Ultra Runners (IAU).

He has also finished the highest of any American in history in the grueling Marathon des Sables, a 250 kilometer stage race in the Sahara desert and just recently qualified for the Olympic Trials in the marathon yet again with a 2:17 at Grandma’s Marathon. He is one of a select handful of runners who are helping to bring running, and more specifically, ultrarunning, to the masses. A quick google search will show you what he has been able to achieve in just a few short years.

I had the chance to sit down with my former running club mate and ask him a few questions.

Dane: As you have undoubtedly been told to race less frequently and  focus on one race to attempt to run faster, does your huge Personal Record Grandma's Marathon this past June while continuing to do things your way, vindicate your desires?
MRW: I don't feel vindicated, just happy and really excited.  I feel like I am running and training the way that works for me and until I no longer get the results that I want and expect I will keep doing things as I have but to see results and tangible substantial gains is really inspiring and just pushes me to work that much harder.

Dane: How did you figure out that you were able to be such a prolific running machine?
MRW:  I don't really consider myself a running machine.  I just like to train, run and race. That means in order to do all the things I hope to accomplish I have to bounce back fast.  I think that my desire to be out there and exploring my limits really helps me achieve the goals I set out for myself.

Dane: Your humble attitude is why so many people enjoy being around you, but whether you consider yourself a running machine or not, you are doing something, few if any could ever do. Without a doubt you are working very hard to do what you do but were there any signs of this talent (e.g., family members who are fantastic runners) prior to embarking on your own journey?
 MRW: Thank you again for the kind words, I guess I should have known I had some talent as I always be one of the first guys done with our runs for lacrosse (At Michigan State)  but never thought I would run a marathon or ultra marathon. Then I went to my buddy, Vince Voisin's house and his Mom, Vicki showed me some pictures of her doing the Boston Marathon. I had always been into "Wide World of Sports" and that stuff but never thought I would do those things until that day.  I decided that I wanted to run the Boston Marathon and Vicki gave me a packet to set me on my way. I then trained for and ran the Marine Corps Marathon and was able to qualify in about 3:08 or so.  After, qualifying I went to Boston and I was hooked and decided to see just how good I could get. I guess I am still trying to see just how fast, strong and far I can go.