Don't worry. This will be brief.
It's been a pretty decent year, so far. I'm getting the miles in: 1,613 for these first six months. I'm also doing some racing, some of which isn't so bad (two marathons, a couple halfs.
The best part is that I've managed to have some new and unique running experiences, which I'll relate and review in my end-of-year report. I like those and I aim to keep them coming. Stay tuned.
I need a long run. You know, like the one that didn't happen yesterday.The one that I was choosing to blame on the awful air quality. I had been wishfully thinking that today's AQI would be better and that I'd be able to get that eighteen-plus miler in.
My first action upon getting out of bed is to check the current AQI. Dang: it is still in the red ('Unhealthy') zone. My second action is to begin gulping my coffee. And just like that, a plan begins to form in my brain. I will get a few treadmill miles in, but then still show up to run with my friends on the Lester Rail Trail. That way, at least I'll have some non-outdoor miles, and yet I won't miss this run with my peeps. I post a comment that I'll still be there but with curtailed pace and distance plans/goals.
I step on the mill at 3:45 A.M. It should have been earlier. I'm only able to get five miles in before I have to get myself changed (I'm dripping with sweat) and into the car for my drive over to LRT.
As I arrive at five, everyone is ready to go. I, alone, wear a mask, an N95. Running with a mask is a first for me. I don't mind it a whole lot. Until I do. That comes at around four miles into the run. It's getting really tough to breathe, and that's partially because I'm getting pooped, but also partially because the pace has quickened up. You see, I was no longer able to get up in front in order to slow everyone else down. Six was enough for the masked and the unmasked runners today. Tomorrow will be another day.
As I drive back home, I begin to reconsider whether or not to call the day's run done. I decide that it's not. I get back on the mill and run another seven miles, to get up and over eighteen total for the day. It's a long run of the poor but done variety.
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| Dan Horvath, Harold Dravenstott, Shannon Barnes |
I believe that quote, "Air? You want air? I'll give you air." came from the movie, Public Enemy, but I originally thought it was White Heat. Of course, I knew for sure that the words were spoken by James Cagney. This post will be about air, not James Cagney or his movies. Except for one thing: I'll let you know about the next thing that happens. The next thing that happens is, according to Alec Baldwin (who was imitating Cagney at the time), "Boom-boom-boom - he shoots him (the guy who had originally asked for air because he was locked in a trunk) right through the trunk of the car." It's such an iconic scene, yet I can't find it on Youtube.
Back to air. I am also having trouble finding air.
Northeast Ohio had some of the poorest quality air on the planet yesterday according to airnow. The smoke from Canadian wildfires seemed to roll in just after the usual morning run. The run itself seemed hazy though fine, but during the ride home, I noticed the anemic sun trying, mostly unsuccessfully, to rise amid the haze, fog, and smoke. I believe that the Air Quality Index (AQI) in parts of our very own Medina County reached above 300, considered the Hazardous zone. That's nearly as bad as air can get, according to airnow. I stayed indoors for most of the rest of the day.
This morning the AQI was merely in the Unhealthy Zone. To me, it's still awful enough to cancel my role in today's planned group run at Mugrage County Park. I'm not sure whether anyone else managed to run outdoors. Me? I hit the mill.
The movie du jour was From Here to Eternity, yet another oldie but goodie. The mill run went okay. Until it didn't. After thirteen-plus miles, I got tired. So, in true Forest Gump fashion, I stopped running. It's too bad. I had been starting to have thoughts of making it a long run.
To paraphrase another quote, "There will be days when you are able to do a long run. Today is not that day."
In a flurry of registration-related activity, I registered for two marathons and a half. A couple of factors played their part:
1) For several events, there will be a price increase soon.
2) I prefer smaller races (not so much the big-city variety), yet races that aren't overly arduous.
3) I had to work around our late summer and early fall travel plans.
The result?
Hofbrauhaus Half Marathon in Cleveland August 6
Drake Well Marathon in Titusville, PA August 20
InFirst Bank Veterans Marathon in Saylors Park, PA November 5
I suppose I should start training.
Yes, it's time for my annual bug post. This time it's mostly good news.
During the past week, our early morning group runs took us to Lake Medina, Mugrage County Park, and the Lester Rail Trail. Since we just had our Summer Solstice, the days have been long, and it's been quite light, even early in the runs. But, I've learned, if you start early enough - like before 5:00 A.M., you can still find some darkness.
Why look for darkness, you ask? To see the fireflies, of course. This week, they were the best at Lake Medina, where they lit the way for us, especially on the lower level, close to the woods. Seeing them makes the run what I would call enchanting.
And we can all use a little enchantment now and then.
"Columbus wouldn't allow us to call the race, 'Running Loose,' so we had to change it to just, 'Run.'" That's what it says on the T-shirts: Run. The emails, website, and social media had originally called it Running Loose, but the latest email I received from them referred to the event as the GCI Half-Marathon. GCI stands for Grafton Correctional Institution, and this may give you a clue as to why the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction didn't want the word, loose, in the title.
Regardless of the name, running inside a prison (actually, just being inside it) was a unique, profound, inspiring, and deeply moving experience for me, and I don’t say that kind of thing often. I am extremely grateful to Keith Johnston of Running2BWell, Warden Keith Foley, and all of the incarcerated people who helped make the race such a wonderful experience. I'll do my best to recount the events of this morning's little jog.
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| This photo is from the race website, not from race day itself. But I ran with several of these folks |
I will start with the pre-race instructions from Keith J., who has been working with the inmates to help them prepare for the race.
"I've enjoyed spending time with them and I'm sure you will as well. They are working hard to improve their physical and mental health and we all have a great opportunity to support them so that when they come home, they'll be healthier on all levels. That being said, they are incarcerated for good reasons so be wise about your interactions.
Bring a photo ID
You cannot bring in any electronics or phones; watches are ok.
Don't wear tank tops or singlets.
Don't bring in water, drinks, energy gels, etc. You can bring a hand-carry empty bottle (like TSA) and then fill it with water once you get there. There will be snacks available after your race.
Hats are OK. They'll likely be searched.
You'll be going through a metal detector.
Don't bring in your car keys, they can be secured in lockers at the front gate
We'll do our best to accommodate your shirt size but please be understanding if we can't. The prison has to order apparel from only state-approved vendors and we may not be able to match everyone. We'll do our best.
The course is a roughly 0.8-mile loop within the yard. So you'll pass the water stop every lap. It's a mixture of sidewalk and paved path with a small hill and a few sharp turns. The 5k will consist of 4 loops and the Half will be 16 loops (12.8 miles). We may be able to add a little to get closer to 13.1 but no promises."
Thank goodness I had talked my running partner, Chadwick Sunday, into joining me. It was good to have a friend with whom to share this unique experience. Another old friend, Roy Heger, participated as well. Altogether, there were about 15 runners from the "outside," and we all cleared security and entered GCI together as a group.
As we made our way to the starting area, we passed the huge vegetable garden, the service dog training area, and the extensive gym. Keith J. gave some further information about the institution and the event, and we were introduced to Warden Keith Foley. Keith F. seemed very nice, and we were interested to learn that he would be participating as a runner along with the rest of us. We also learned that there would be about 90 participants in all, so I guess that about 75 of them were incarcerated. I don't know how many would be doing the 5K versus the Half. Chadwick and I began to meet and chat with some of the other runners. Many were running their first race of any kind, but several said they had trained for this event.
Just before the start, one of the inmates sang the National Anthem. It was as beautiful a rendition as I've ever heard. As the race began, we continued to chat with the other runners between huffs and puffs. The 3/4-mile course was slightly confusing at first, but it quickly became familiar. I found it interesting that we seemed to go through gates that took us through different areas of the prison. The razor wire of the surrounding outside fence was never far away though. We ran by several different buildings as well as the garden and dog training areas.
The best part, by far, was the enthusiastic support of the incarcerated spectators. A lot of them were outside doing various activities or just cheering on this day. They enthusiastically cheered us on for each and every lap. The guys at the three water stations took their jobs seriously as they also cheered as they made sure we were hydrated. There was music as well. I think several different bands took turns, and everything sounded great.
Chadwick and I continued chatting with each other, as well as with our fellow runners. Hearing that some of the incarcerated runners were doing their first Half-Marathon was inspiring. We gave as much encouragement as we could. They were welcoming to us in a big way as well. Eventually, the two of us became separated, but we continued to see each other as well as everyone else on the course, especially as the 5K runners finished up. Keith F. appeared to love and be loved by everyone at GCI. He gave high-fives to all of the other runners and got them from the spectators. What a great guy!
I managed to pick up my pace a little in the second half. It was beginning to get warm, but I was able to finish my 16 laps fairly well; my finish time was 1:46:25. That would be a very good time for me - my best in years - except for one little unfortunate detail: this Half-Marathon was, according to my Garmin, 11.92 miles long. Darn. I still averaged 8:56 per mile and this is nearly exactly the same as my pace at the recent Medina Half Marathon. So I'll take it. I jogged a couple of miles after the race, including some with Chadwick and Roy. As far as I knew, only one guy passed me and stayed ahead. I thought it possible that I may have been second overall. But I never quite figured out my place because the folks with the results sometimes included the 5K runners who finished earlier, and also sometimes placed the inmates ahead of the visitors regardless of the true times. It would have been nice to know for sure but I'm okay with all that.
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| 16 laps. What do you get? Another day older and deeper in ... (that's from a song called 16 tons) |
After the race and the cooldown, Keith F. treated Chadwick and me to a tour of more of the facility. We got to see an actual cell block and met the inmate who inhabits it. He was only too happy to show us around, along with Warden Keith. Keith told us that he feels blessed and that he loves his job. What a great guy! We also met and talked with several other inmates, and all were gracious hosts. We wished them all the best.
Did you know that when you finish a race inside a prison, you can't just get in your car and go home? It was a little bit confusing (and very slightly nerve-racking to me), when Chadwick and I had to search for someone to escort us to the exit. It wasn't any more straightforward than getting in.
And that's about it. I won't forget this one for a very long time.
Find what you're you're really bad at; the thing you hate to do because you're so bad at it. That is what you need to do more of.
For me, there are plenty of things that qualify. But one of them, arguably near the top of the list, is the 5K race distance. I have never, ever, even once, run a 5K where I felt that I ran to my potential, or even what I'd call halfway decent. So naturally, I am fully aware that I need to more of them, Lots more.
The Hornet Dash is a good place to get started. It's a fun local race put on by my friend, Theresa Wright with help from my other friend, Julie Boggs. Both ladies had their families join the fun, and that made it all that much better. I also talked with Renee Harden and other friends before and after the race.
The race is a little cross-country, some parking lots, woods, loops around soccer fields, and a track stadium start and finish. I thought it was all fairly fine, interesting, and unique. But I can't say I ran well. Not so well at all.
25:27. First in my ancient age group, and no, I wasn't the only competitor.
Now, of course, I need to do more 5Ks.
The fast folk surprised us. We knew they took a longer route around Lake Medina, whereas we mortals went straight up Foote Road and then turned onto 18 to head back to the Square. We were all stumbling around and through the extensive construction zone when the Express came through from behind.
The funny thing that happened is that one of us (yours truly) stayed with them and then ran a few more with them for good measure. This made for a tempo run of a couple of miles at a fairly fast pace. This was especially good considering yesterday's eighteen miler that was also at a good pace. It's good to run with friends. Especially fast ones.
We're visiting the Falls with the Grandsons for a couple of days. The running here is pretty good, and it's a bonus that it's nearly impossible to get lost with the River and the Falls always finable.
This is not to say that I ran well. On that first morning, I did about seven in the time I'd given myself to run ten. There was just too much to see and explore. After running by the Falls, I found a nice park with some ponds not far from the River.
During my second run, I ran North, well past the Whirlpool area. That is a very nice place to run.
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| Me and my morning run |
The phrase, Fast friends is usually taken to mean good, close friends. But it can also mean - and this probably will not surprise you - friends, who happen to be fast. My running friends are good friends, but - and this probably won't shock you either - they're also faster-than-me runners. Do they all have to be this way? Yeah, I guess so. Maybe it's just me who's the slower friend these days. My companions don't appear too concerned, however.
It's long-run time for Dan, and he has some companions for most of the way. That's a good thing. The fact that Dan is struggling to keep up with these fast folk (in spite of the good conversation) is probably a good thing as well; it's good to stretch one's capabilities. But when the rest of them are done and Dan has six to go, he figures that this is where it really gets to be a struggle.
From the start / finish area also known as the Medina Square, Dan runs over to the Claggett Middle School track. Once there, he can concentrate on his pace so as not to slow down too very much. And guess what? He does indeed manage to not slow down too very much.
It turns out to be a pretty darn good eighteen-miler. Maybe Dan is still on the upswing.
