Georgia Half-Marathon Recap

A Runner's Ramblings: Volume 5; 11th Edition
279.8 miles raced in 2010
Race: Georgia Half-Marathon
Place: Atlanta, GA
Miles from home: 1882 miles 
Weather: 50s; overcast with slight rain

This past week was all about healing.  With my third consecutive half marathon approaching, I had originally planned to be doing tons of miles of running during the week as I did not have to endure marathons on the weekends.  However, lingering pains in my calf had all but sidelined me.  But look at it this way - it made me forget about the lingering pains in my Achilles tendon (and with the pains on different legs, I can now wobble evenly! I am all about positive spin.)


At the race expo (I realized I usually call it the "marathon expo" even though I am fully aware there are races of varying distances and therefore have to stop being so narrow-sighted) I realized that there was wireless internet to be had by all. So on the second day I decided to use this internet connection to document as many of the people who I encountered as I could without neglecting actually speaking to the rest.  I setup my Twitter account and chatted away, noting both the nice people and the jackasses.  (Someone mentioned I might have lost a potential book sale because I refused to play along with one of the latter and to be honest, it may make my marketing director cringe, but I don't give one hoot about losing one book sale if it means I have to be the me I always am.  Like me or hate me, at least I know you are doing so based on who I really am.)

It was a fun experiment and really allowed me to share with whomever decided to read some of the wonderful people I meet who cannot always make it into my recaps.  And I also get to meet crazy-haired little blondies who are just so friggin cute that they must be documented.

Day 6 and counting...

With a 100 miler in one week, a 204 miler in one month and an aching left calf muscle, I have decided that right now is the time not to run. 

Yep, I am now on my 6th consecutive day of not running.  I haven't gone that long without putting on running shoes for a run since I was hit by a car while cycling in August and had a forced lay-off. However, after winning the iron Horse 50 Mile Race a month ago, I have been experiencing a trigger point in my calf muscle that has just left me quite unhappy. 

I downgraded to the half-marathon this weekend at the ING GA Marathon ((which was probably a good idea anyway with the 100 next week).  I have massaged the heck out of my calf.  I have basically lived in my Zensah compression socks and sleeves.  But I am going nucking futs.

Drake Well Marathon 2010- Date Announced!

I have been fielding questions with regard to the Drake Well Marathon and when it will be run in 2010 since, well, just about the ending of the Drake Well Marathon in 2009!  

As such, I am happy to announce that the Drake Well Marathon and Half-Marathon will take place on Sunday, August 22nd, 2010 at 7 AM. While I will not be acting as the Race Director this year, I will be an Official Race Ambassador and will be present at the race to help with all of the festivities (and may even run one of the races!)

 

Continued Inspiration

Traveling every weekend to race and speak can be quite tiring indeed.  I often mention all the inspiring stories I hear and wonderful people I meet but it would take me hours to recount them all.  However, their kind words and thoughts make all the exhausting work well worth it.  In fact, I received this email the other day and wanted to share it because it warmed my heart.
 
Dane – Here are some pictures from the Cowtown Marathon in Ft. Worth .  I am so proud of my family and have to give you much of the credit for getting us out there.  My husband and I met you at the Long Beach Marathon last fall where we were both doing our first half marathon.  We bought your book, read it, loved it, sent it to one of our sons – he read it, loved it and talked us into doing the Cowtown Marathon!  

Of course, he was going to do the full marathon but due to a training injury was only able to do the half.  My husband and I did the full…our first!!  We were so inspired by what you have accomplished that we decided to try to inspire our family as well – and it worked!!  All in all we ended up with two of us finishing the full marathon, two of our sons did the half marathon, four participants in the 10k, three in the 5k and all four of our grandchildren did the kids 5k (the youngest is only 4).  

We all had a terrific weekend and everybody wants to do it again next year!  We already have several more family members and friends who want to join in for the next one.  So we thank you for what you do, and for being an inspiration to us all!

-Jeannie & Paul Bier

And to Jeannie, Paul and their family, I say no.  Thank you for being so wonderful.

Sarasota Half-Marathon Recap

A Runner's Ramblings: Volume 5; 10th Edition
266.7 miles raced in 2010
Race: Sarasota Half-Marathon
Place: Sarasota, FL
Miles from home: 2387 miles 
Weather: 60s; sunny and slightly muggy

We often mention how we never know what the outcome of a race will be until we show up and do it.  Obviously this is a microcosm of life.  Life is mostly about showing up.  It surprises us with the rest.


At the Sarasota Half Marathon, I was able to get in touch with some old Penn State rugby teammates, one who just happened to be running the race.  I haven't seen anyone from this team in 12 years but it is amazing how small the world can be.

I spent the first portion of this week in Miami working on a few things before a quick flight took me over to the Tampa area where I was able to see my brother and my niece and nephews.   It had been far too long since I had made it down here so I enjoyed my time with them as much as possible.  With all three children having birthdays in quick succession, Uncle Dane got a chance to bring some presents to town.

One week from today - North Face Presentation

I will be heading back to the greater Atlanta area a week from today to take part in the ING Marathon and Half Marathon weekend.  I have lowered my race distance for the weekend from the marathon to the half for a few reasons.

* First, I am nursing a very sore calf and shin and am trying to find out the cause of the problem.  Whatever the cause may be, a little less running is assured to help it in some way.

* Second, I have a 100 mile race one week later and I think I can allow myself a little downtime here and there.

However, there will be no downtime from speeches and book signings as I am happy to announce I will be giving both a presentation and a book signing at The North Face in Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta on March 18th from 6 PM-8 PM.

This will be a great kick off to my weekend in Atlanta where I will be presenting at the ING Runner's Nation booth and also have my own booth to meet and greet as many runners as possible. 

Hope to see you at one of these many events!

Raven Run and lululemon

Back in January, when I was in Miami for the ING Marathon I had hoped to take part in the iconic Raven Run in Miami Beach.  However, the marathon taking a little too much out of me, and logistics kept me from from getting to the beach for a jaunt with Robert Kraft, aka the Raven.


Fortunately, my trip allowed me to run this time as his route was on my way to the lululemon store in Aventura, Florida to lead a fun run and do a book signing .

13.1 Miami Beach Recap

A Runner's Ramblings: Volume 5; 9th Edition
253.6 miles raced in 2010
Race: 13.1 Miami Beach
Place: Miami Beach, FL
Miles from home: 2535 miles 
Weather: 50-60s; cool; sunny

I forgot how fun these are!

When I spoke to many people about running a half marathon in the past few days, they almost had an unanimous statement: "Oh, that is nothing for you."  Sure, 13.1 miles is decidedly on the low side of mileage when you compare it to my planned 204 miler in April, my 100 miler in a few weeks or even my 50 mile win at Iron Horse last month.  but the thing about running a shorter distance is that, well, you should run it faster.  And when you haven't been training to run "fast", it has the potential to hurt. Fortunately, it won't hurt as long though!

Another statement I hear from friends alike when they hear of all the exotic places I get to travel is how they are jealous.  I try to tell them that from the inside of an expo booth in a convention center, Honolulu in December might as well be Milwaukee.  Well, for once, I will admit they can be jealous as the 13.1 Miami Beach had me doing a book signing, outside, in Lummus Park on Miami Beach.

A run through Matheson Hammock Park

In my travels, I usually happen across a unique or unusual place to run.  Like Teddy Bear Park in Stillwater, MN.  Or Antelope island in the Great Salt Lake. Or South Mountain in Phoenix, just to name a few.

Lately with my schedule of speaking and doing book signings at expos, I rarely have time to venture out of whatever convention center I am at and if I do, I don't go too far as I have either just finished, or am about to run, another marathon or ultra.  It doesn't matter how many marathons you run, 26.2 miles is never "easy" (at least to me.)

However, as I am venturing on some short distances half-marathons the next few weeks, I can be a little more adventurous with my running.  And as luck would have it, I happened across a wonderful little run today here in South Miami.

Half is Not Less

For quite some time I have spoken to scores of runners at races.  I often ask which race they will be taking part of and far more than I would like to hear, I get the response: "Oh, just the half."  I ask them to do me a favor and strike the word "just" from their vocabulary.  Unfortunately, the half-marathon exists solely as a race that is part of the granddaddy of all races - the marathon.  It doesn't even have its own name but merely "half" of something else. Never mind that the race is 2.1 times larger than the 10k or 1.4 times the length of a 15k.  It has been relegated to "half" status.

Fortunately, there is a new race series out there which is trying to rid this wonderful distance of that stigma.  It is called the 13.1 Series.  With 8 races, this inaugural series of themed half marathons "will be serving some of America's top running communities with a stand-alone half marathon for locals to embrace and visitors to experience."

 Obviously, there is little doubt that I love marathons.  I have run 114 of the suckers, after all.  However, while I have run far, far less of the race with "only" 13.1 miles to its credit, it has always been a race I have admired for its ability to still test one's endurance while also allowing you to not walk like this the next day. (Stick around for the nipples.)



Which is why I am honored and fortunate to have been asked to be the featured speaker at the 13.1 Miami Beach race this weekend in sunny Florida.  With a course that starts on beautiful Miami Beach, gives runners a little taste of a hill to use different leg muscles, doubles back on itself so runners of all speeds will get to exchange greetings and then ends on the beachway promenade, I am having a difficult time finding a flaw!

There are still spots available for either the 13.1 one race or the new 5k.  Click on the logo below to register. 

 

Also, stay tuned here for even more information with my participation at this series as the races continue to grow!