I've Lost 2 Minutes per Mile and Don't Know Where to Find Them

Before it was one minute a mile. Now two. Where did they go?

TRACK!!!!!!!!!!

The thought occurred to me as I hit it the other day. It was my first time on the track for many months. In my (much) younger days, when doing track workouts, we would yell 'TRACK!' at anyone moving slower than us that were in our way. Do track runners still do this?

I love the track. I love speedwork. But with injuries and all, speedwork doesn't love me.

Nowadays, if I can do my mile intervals in under eight minutes, I'm a happy man. In the olde days, six minutes was good. I could whine some more, but I will spare you.

The good news is that, in spite of the non-cessation of the Achilles pain, I'm running more, and even slightly better. I should. I've got marathons to train for.

Free the Hinckley Nine!

This is another one that required an explanation. I will get to that.

The usual gang, Debbie, Theresa, Frank, Dennis and I, complete our 9-mile circuit. There are other runners, some of whom I know, hanging around in the parking lot. We chat a bit. Suddenly dozens of others come running into the lot; they had just gone around the lake. Presently, more running for everyone but a few of us, would ensue.

My thinking, such as it is, is this: wow - lots of runners. Cool!

Why do I think that a lot of runners, as opposed to just a few, is such a cool thing? I have no idea. I'm actually happy to run with anyone, be that a few or a lot. I've been posting these Hinckley runs as Facebook events lately, but it's nearly always the same usual suspects that make it each week. I'm okay with that, since this bunch I go with are fine people. But bigger crowds are fun as well.

Tomorrow's run should involve a bigger crowd. It's the monthly Medina Half-Marathon training run, and the weather is looking fantastic. In fact it was today as well. One of today's runner's said, "it doesn't get any better than this," and I agree wholeheartedly.

The Hinckley Nine? Well, that's the name of our usual road loop. But it also sounded to me like some kind of notorious group of people. Maybe outlaws or terrorists. Or maybe people who are more innocent, but are being unjustly persecuted. In the event that you can think about the name in terms of people instead of miles, freeing them would seem like a good idea.

The Old Bull and the Young Bull

When you have to announce that a joke is completed, that’s a sign that either it’s not funny, or you didn’t tell it right. I think it was the latter this morning, as my running-rattled brain wasn’t firing on all cylinders. Theresa Stephens Wright, Debbie Scheel, Dennis (don’t know his last name) and Frank Dwyer had actually asked for a story. Here it is, (told perhaps a little better).

An old bull and a young bull were in a pasture, looking down at a lower pasture filled with comely heifers. The young bull says, ‘Hey old bull, the farmer left the gate between the pastures open! Let’s run down to those cows and smooch a couple of them!’ The old bull says, ‘Nope. Let’s saunter on down there slowly, and smooch the whole lot of them.’ Author’s note: verbs other than ‘smooch’ may be substituted here.

Running friends from a couple generations ago used to have some fun with that one. I'm thinking of old bull Brian Peacock, and young bull Geoff Chase. Being between those two in age, I'm not sure what role I took on. Maybe one of the heifers?

I would also like to say that my Achilles pain is subsiding a little, and that has enabled me to pick up the pace and mileage ever so slightly. I would also like to say that I am very rich and famous, and that I get younger each year.

The pain had actually been a little more manageable, and I really have been running a little faster and farther... until today's sixteen-miler. Now it's back to normal. And that's not so good. You would think that I ought to ease up a little. You know: take it easy.

But no. I am committed. Or need to be. At the Medina County Road Runners Club Banquet a couple weeks ago, I won a free entry to the Medina Half Marathon, and registered immediately. Last week I learned that a friend wanted to sell her entry to the Canton Hall of Fame Marathon - for only $20! I jumped at it and got myself registered for that one as well. Then, with all that money I saved, I splurged and paid a high price ($105 plus fee) to register for the fortieth Cleveland Marathon. Yeah, fortieth. I had run the first, in 1978.

So I guess I can't stop now. You would think an old bull would know better.

One a Day

It's been three weeks now, and I still shudder. So much fear and trepidation. It went something like this.

We got back last Friday, and it's now Tuesday morning. That's getting back from 17 days on that cruise ship. 17 days of gourmet cuisine, fixed the way you like it, for breakfast, lunch and dinner, not to mention snacks, every day. For 17 days. Okay, okay. I guess I said that already. And don't even get me started about the unlimited wine with meals package that we had. Debbie and I joked about how we were putting on a pound a day. Yeah, I managed to run a little on the ship, but nearly enough to compensate for those 17 days.

Now it's time. I don't want to do it, but I really can't put it off any longer. As I step on the scale I think about how I've been pretty good. It's been fairly normal eating over the weekend, followed by my usual partial-fast yesterday. Furthermore, I got some running done over the weekend. It was tough to go out against the cold, but I managed, with the help of some friends. Sure, I can still tell that I'm a couple pounds north of where I ought to be, but surely not too much awfully so.

It is too much awfully so, The scale nearly busts, and then tells me that I weigh 172 pounds. That's around 12 more than three and a half weeks ago. Not quite one a day... but then I think that at some point over the weekend or previous week, I likely did tip the scale at 177. I can hardly believe my eyes. I don't think I've weighed this much since my high school football days.

Nowadays, I'm only beginning to get over this. One may have hoped that if one can put on a pound a day, one could also take off a pound a day, right? No, it doesn't appear to work that way. Oh, the weight is coming down. But only gradually. Very gradually.

Here's the silver lining. I've been running okay (once again, friends help), and my AT pain doesn't seem so bad these days.

Thus it's not all gloom and doom. There are some bright spots on the horizon. Heck, we even have a brand-new, shiny president. What could go wrong?

Running and Cruise Ships Don't Mix

You have exactly three options:
1) Go ashore and run
2) Run on one of the Fitness Center's treadmills
3) Run around the perimeter of the ship

Numero uno is the preferred choice. But it's also the most problematic. It usually involves taking a tender boat or bus from the ship to a place that's runnable. And with only a matter of hours at most ports, it isn't possible most of the time because we're usually going somewhere or doing something for that brief time. This leaves only the ports that we visit overnight (so I can get out and back early). And the boat / bus thing is undesirable as well.

Treadmills generally fill me with dread. But they do provide a good workout. The biggest problem - and it truly is a big one - is that the fitness center doesn't open until 6:00 AM. Don't they know that the day is half-way gone by then?

And then there's the gerbil thing. Ten laps per mile. Round and round. Last time we were on this ship (it's the Oceana Marina), I did a couple ten-milers. That's 100 laps if you're keeping count. And yes, count them I did.

...

This particular Marina cruise is traveling around the southern part of South America. We start in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and finish in Valparaiso, Chile. Buenos Aires is a huge and wonderful city, but the port area where we're parked is awful. It's all big-time stacks of shipping containers being loaded, unloaded and moved around. It's impossible to simply get off the boat and run; one must take a bus about a mile through the maze of shipping stuff, over to the terminal.

I am quite alone as I wait on the bus for it to leave at 5:30 AM. I wait for what seems like a long time, but eventually I make it to the terminal, and head out for my run.

It's not entirely pleasant. Bad sidewalks, gobs of traffic, and eventually - as I get to the bus station - tons and tons of people. I only scoot around for a few not-so-great miles, before going back to the terminal, bus and ship. At least I got out. That won't happen very much, if at all, for the next couple weeks.

...

A couple days later, we're moving towards port. The sun is just rising, and yet it's still early. The it occurs to me: it's summer solstice. Since we are moving, I try to run a ten-lap mile with the GPS going. I learn that I ran a 3:30 mile! I run a few more miles before getting booted off. The winds are too strong, I'm told as they close the entire area.

I just give a dumb, disbelieving look. Yeah, the winds are strong, but they always are when the ship is moving. Luckily the fitness center has just now opened. I do a couple more on the mill.

...

A few days after that - Christmas Day - I am once again flummoxed. The closing of the upper ten-laps-per-mile jogging track due to strong winds seems random to me. Yes, sometimes they close it when the winds are indeed strong, but other times they close it when they are relatively calm. One day it was open, and I actually, really and truly, totally on my own, determined that it was unsafe to run up there, and terminated the run myself. Debbie was proud of me.

This day doesn't seem bad at all however, and yet the track is closed. How in the world am I going to get today's planned double-digit run in? Wait two hours until the Fitness Center opened at 6? That is not going to happen.

I run one deck lower, in the central part of the ship, above but around the pool. I figure that this course is 14 laps per mile. Yes, that's a lot. But sure enough, I do manage to count out 140 slow laps. By the time I am done, the Fitness Center is open, so I even run a few more miles on the mill.

...

More days pass, and I get an unexpected gift from heaven: we arrive in Ushuaia, Argentina at 3:00 AM, and this means I have time to run onshore before today's planned hike. Yes onshore. As in, on land, off the ship!

Trail Running in Ushuaia, Argentina

It's 5:00 AM, and I decide to head toward Glacier Martial. It's supposed to be up in the hills above town. Town, actually the southernmost city on the planet, is on the island of Tierra del Fuego, and at the base of the mountains. Finding a glacier, or at least the route up to one (I knew it was a ways) shouldn't be all that difficult.

So of course it is. I am chased by wild dogs several times, go up and back down roads that head up the foothills, but peter out. Finally, four miles and about an hour of running and hiking and being mixed up later, I do manage to find the park-like area with trails leading to Glacier Martial.

I run a little bit on the trails, but now it's too late to keep going to see the glacier. I had better return to the ship. I do manage to admire the mountain scenery and view of the city and the bay. And I even manage to take a few photos, since I am carrying my pocket camera.

Getting back is much easier, since I now know where I'm at in relation to the ship. And down is often easier than up. I'm back in no time. Except now there's a hike to be done.

...

Days pass. I run more on the mill, and a little more on ship's jogging path. My Achilles Tendonitis is really hurting - probably the combination of extremely high weight being applied to an already injured body part. So I decide to try acupuncture.  For the first time.

This is a new experience for me. I am open-minded about it. And it is somewhat painful, as needles go into my opposite wrist, but also in a couple spots on the foot where the pain was (notice the past tense, since there is now new pain).

Unfortunately, it does absolutely no good, whatsoever. Except that it helped me forget the AT pain for a while - since the needle pain was there to replace it.

...

It's the 17th day of the trip, and we are due to disembark in a few hours. I am sure I've gained at least 17 pounds, in spite of a decent amount of running. Most has probably been on the mill, but today I run on the jogging track. I'd hoped to be able to run on land here in Valparaiso, but since it's necessary to get bussed to the cruise terminal to get out, there isn't time.

So around and around I go - 30 more times, just for fun.

Now that that's done, it will be homeward bound.

Ten Laps on the ship's "jogging track". It's funny
how Google maps doesn't understand that there's a ship there.

Lost, looking for the glacier in Ushuaia, Argentina. The lost part is the upper-right. Finally got
on the right track (left side of pic), but by then it was too late.

For more about this trip, see the Travel Blog Post.

2441.51

Every January I typically post my mileage for the previous year. Here it is. Gotta work on that speed! Incidentally, the one statistic that didn't get caught was the number of steps. I like the number, so here it is: 3,989,922.

Wintry Mix

It's not even winter yet, and already things are becoming challenging. Here are a few random short stories about winter running of late.

Didn't Get Far
Before the car's wheels make it from the driveway to the street, the mist is freezing on the windshield. This doesn't bode well for the entire drive down to Medina. I am going to meet Debbie Scheel and Michelle Wolff for our Saturday morning run. I drive (carefully!) up 303 to just before 42, and then turn around. Although it doesn't seem impossibly slippery, the freezing on the windshield continues. I love running with friends, but it just doesn't make sense to risk one's life in order to do so. Running alone is not so preferable... except when it's safer.

When We Did Make it
A weekend ago, I do manage to meet up with Michelle and Debbie for a run. Although we don't get real far - we each have our own little injury/illness/being out of shape crosses to bear - it's wonderful to get together again. Been a while.

Milling Around
One of the most major hazards of winter running is ... wait for it ... having to do it on the mill. Why a hazard, you ask? Because if you're me, you push yourself way beyond the point of ridiculous. And that's what I do Thursday, for the second time this week. This time I try a tempo run; Tuesday it was 3/4 mile intervals. This run - 3 miles at 7:30 or better pace, sandwiched by warmup and cooldown miles - actually goes okay. But afterwards, I certainly do feel the effects.

The Letter 'C' Part 1
I generally don't like running in the hood. You can't get real far, and the streets are concrete, rather than asphalt. But those two problems are less important when the weather's bad. You don't want to get to far from home anyway. And if there's snow and ice, who cares about the hard concrete? When a couple two inches fall all of a sudden, I decide to stay close to home. I used to consider it a 'U' but (sideways) 'C' is better because it's earlier in the alphabet. If I go around the outside of the 'C', and then return on the inside of it, I've gone about 1.1 miles. Three loops this way, and two shorter ones that avoid the inside part half-circle part of the loop, make five miles. I do this in that inch and a half of new-fallen snow, and it's a beautiful thing; almost what you'd call magical. I enjoy this run more than any solo sauntering I've done in a long time.

The Letter 'C' Part 2
When I run a course multiple times, I get to enter it into the list of courses available for Garmin selection and association. Since this is my fourth time on the course this week (I ran it once earlier as well), I'll have to elevate this one. Yes, fourth of the week, and second of the day. It's getting tougher to get double-digit mile runs in lately, but this second five of the day will do it. There's snow and a little ice in the roads as I circle around. This is my solo run after not making the entire trip to Medina. My leg muscles are feeling the strain of those slight slips that go along with each footfall/step. But, all in all, it goes okay. Slow, and fairly exhausting, but okay.

Sweet Potatoes: Not just Not for Breakfast anymore
A good after-run breakfast... Cook some oatmeal in a separate bowl (I just microwave it with water and a little salt). While that's cooking, take a leftover baked sweet potato, some Vega protein powder, some almond milk, a little splenda and about a pound of cinnamon and blend together. Mix this with the oats, and you get... Sweet Potato Oatmeal Delight!

Battle of Wounded Knee: Guess Who Lost?

The very last thing I expected was a large hunk of metal laying completely across the sidewalk. I was running along in the dark, minding my own business, when I suddenly find myself falling hard onto the ground. Sure was nice of someone to put that thing there. It appears that I don't even need trails to fall; I can do it on sidewalks too.

Bandaids and antibiotic cream have been applied. I think I'll be okay.

BW50K - 2016 Edition

It's necessary to mention the year, since I've done this one before. Actually, I've completed all six previous ones. Going into today's Buckeye Woods 50K, with my injury, lack of training, etc., etc., I knew that this one would be more of a challenge than most of the others.

About those others, here are the previous results:

2010: 4:46
2011: 4:50
2012: 4:57
2013: 4:45
2014: 5:59
2015: 5:17
2016: ?:??

The weather was absolutely wonderful for running. The temperature ranged from about 37F at the start, to around 47F by the time I finished. It was partly sunny, and there were light breezes. Just about perfect. So much so, that I nearly recommended cancelling the event. We sure have had a variety of weather for this run.

Finishing the first 5-mile segment with Keith Johnston    John McCarroll photo

Race Director Suzanne Sharp did her usual great job, and our club volunteers was wonderful as always. This year Alyssa Osborne also created hand-made, unique awards.

Oh, yes: my race. I done ok. I figured that a steady pace would be nice. Finishing under my previous Personal Worst on this course of 5:59 would be nice. But mostly, I just wanted to finish, period.

After running the first loop with my friend Keith Johnston, I mostly ran alone. I only saw others coming and going, and of course at the shelter after each 5-mile loop. It's always so nice to see all my friends out there having as much fun as I am. The injury didn't slow me much. The lack of training due to the injury did. The Achilles only really hurt bad for the last mile or so. After all that solo running, which happened to get slower as I went on, I was happy to finish in 5:49. My splits and other stats:

Later in the race. I changed because it got warmer    John McCarroll photo

For the numerically inclined, here are my splits. Notice the positive trend.

Also for the numerically inclined, here are some overall stats.

The usual fast folks beat me, but a bunch - there were actually a whole lot of starters - dropped down to 25K. I finished fourth overall; the third of my gender. And now I'm hobbling around as expected after a race like this.

Unique finisher award, handmade by Alyssa Osborne

It's About Time

Only recently, as in the past week or so, have I finally been feeling a little better. Just a little, mind you. This, after six months of painful running. In case you needed reminding, those six months began at mile 45 (out of 50) at the Rock the Ridge race this last spring. I'm not sure what good any fore-knowledge might have done for me at the time. Perhaps I would have started to walk at mile 44 out of thoughts of prevention, rather than at mile 45 out of necessity.

Yes, six months of pain and suffering, in which I believe I only managed to do one other race of any significance, NC24. And after that one, it's really been downhill. Several weeks of only four to eight miles, along with some swimming, followed by a very gradual re-build of my mileage base; a mileage base that is still roughly half of what it had been earlier in the year.

Even though said pain hasn't completely subsided, progress continues, albeit in fits and starts. Some examples include 15 miles at Buckeye Woods a week and a half ago, a 20 this past weekend, a relatively fast treadmill run yesterday and an unexpectedly high-mileage 13 today at Hinckley with friends.

Thanksgiving is a good time to reflect and remind myself to be thankful for the ability to run at all. Okay, I'm reminded. But further, I'm happy to say that the pain isn't quite so awful in these recent days. Therefore, you know what time it is, don't you?

It's Time for Dan to do Something Really Stupid.

What would that be you ask (and you're asking an awful lot of questions today)? That would be this coming Sunday's Buckeye Woods 50K.

Why BW50K, you ask (and there you go again)? Because I've done all previous six BW50Ks. Because I started it all those years ago. Because it's a great event put on by our club. Because it's trails, yet, other than the distance, not un-doable (an issue for me). Because it's free. Because it's there.

See you on the other side of stupid.

No Better; Know Better

My Achilles is no better. But I'm running more again. And hurting more again. Yes, I should know better.


But I'm in a quandary. The Buckeye Woods 50K is looming: it's the Sunday after Thanksgiving. And I need to decide, a) Whether to try for 50K, b) Whether to try for 25K, or c) Whether to chuck the whole dang thing.


Here are the ... wait for it ... FACTORS TO CONSIDER ...


Factor 1 -> I started BW50K. I no longer direct it, but I still feel that to some extent, it's kinda/sorta my race. And it's fun.
Factor 2 -> I've run the 50K all six previous times. It's getting to be kinda/sorta what you'd call a streak.
Factor 3 -> During Sunday's course training run, whilst attempting to complete three 5-mile loops, I could only manage 2 1/2. This was due partially to my woefully undertrained status, and partially due to the Achilles pain. Achilles pain that permeates every waking moment activity, but gets worse as runs go on
Factor 4 -> I could just do 25K. That is, actually, a valid option. And I think I can run that far
Factor 5 -> Since my month long hiatus from running didn't appear to work, maybe I need to do it again, until I get it right?
Factor 6 -> That's enough Factors. The Decision 2016 Results will be posted here.

Ouch Again

The days spent running have become fewer and farther between lately. Following doctor's orders, I cross-trained (swimming) for about a month, and then started to run (very gradually and gingerly) again. The pain had subsided, although I know I wasn't completely cured. I did some four-milers, and I don't think I re-injured myself. Re-injury is something that I had managed to do a lot of when I was training harder, not so long ago.


I gradually increased the mileage of my runs, getting up to seven, then ten miles. Even then, I was generally not running on consecutive days. But this past weekend I ran about ten one day, and nine the next. Guess what happened? If you said, Dan, I bet you re-injured yourself, then ding, ding, ding -> you get the prize!


If only I knew how to run without pain. Maybe some day I will learn.

Toe to Tow Marathon, October, 1996

Twenty years ago, I drove from Michigan to Ohio, stayed with family, and toed the line at the 1996 Toe to Tow Marathon, now known  as the Towpath Marathon. I remember it well.

The course was not unlike the one they've had at various times. We took the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad from Boston to Howe Meadow, then ran south a couple miles before turning north on the towpath. I think the other turnaround was around Pleasant Valley Road. We finished back at Boston Mills.

At the time, I was active on the Dead Runners Society and Michigan Runners lists. Here is my relatively brief description of the race:
......................


Subject: Toe to Tow Marathon

  There are several races which are well known for their spectacular
  scenery. The Toe to Tow should definitely be one of them. With autumn
  colors at their peak, this was one of the most beautiful runs I've
  ever done. The setting is the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation
  Area, and the race is held on a canal towpath. The entire valley was
  aflame with bright reds, oranges, golds and yellows. I could go on
  and on....

  Oh yes. The race. After parking at a ski resort, we hopped on the
  Cuyahoga Scenic Railroad for a slow but (you guessed it) scenic ride
  to the start. Kind of unique. The first two miles were on a road to
  accommodate the 700 runners. About 350 of them were running the entire
  marathon, the rest were doing the relay.

  Once we got on the towpath, we stayed on it for the rest of the race.
  Although there are lots of little twists and a few tiny hills, the
  towpath makes for a great running surface. Most of it is hard packed
  dirt, with some tiny gravel. A few paved areas and wooden bridges.

  I ran a steady pace, completing the first half in a bit over 89 minutes.
  At the 18 mile turnaround I counted 20 runners ahead of me. Although
  I did slow a bit, I was able to pass 12 of them to finish 9th (I
  think). 2:59:32. 1st in the 40-44 age group. Not a bad day all around.

......................


Not a bad day indeed. I remember how much I enjoyed the scenery in our wonderful national park. And I also remember how relatively easy it seemed for me to break three hours in a marathon. This was the seventh time I'd done it, and it was even the second time that year. After trying and failing from 1978 until 1989, when I finally succeeded, going sub-three now appeared pretty-darn doable.

After this race, I repeatedly tried and failed to break three hours some more. I came close a few times, but never got there. Maybe it wasn't so easy after all. The 1996 Toe to Tow marathon wound up as my final run in 2:xx:xx territory.

Only in Dan-Land

Only here in Dan-Land would this happen: a swimming injury. Can you believe it?

Been cross-training, mostly swimming and some weights. Almost no running since NC24. Trying hard to heal this heel. And it may be working; I'm feeling better. Of coiurse I'm sure re-injury is just a long or a hard run away, however. I'll try not to. I'm really working hard to be smart about this for a change.

But injured from swimming? It should be impossible to hurt myself swimming, right? Only an idiot... okay, I'll stop. I won't even finish that thought...

Don't worry, it's not serious - just a stiff neck. It's exacerbated when I do turn my head to breathe in the water, but I'll live.

Issues (No Running Content)

This is a recent Facebook post. I don't generally get political there, or here, but the environment is important to me. I may take this stuff seriously enough to begin a separate blog - something like don'tpoopinthepool. If that happens, this will be the first post, and I'll remove it from this mostly running related blog. But for now....

Which issue do you think is the most important one facing our country? The collective answer will surely help to decide the presidential election. Many would probably say the economy and jobs, or terrorism and safety. Race relations, gun control, health care and abortion would certainly be on the list as well. Although these and other problems are certainly important to all of us, in my mind, the single most important issue facing our nation, as well as the entire world, is the environment.

If we don’t take steps to care for the planet we live on, how can we possibly take care of one another? On the other hand, if we do look after Planet Earth; if we do clean up our act, we will surely then look after the people on it as well. By putting Planet Earth first, our lives, and those of our children and grandchildren, will undoubtedly reap great rewards. It’s that simple, and it explains why I see all other issues as pale in comparison.

Environmental matters include concerns over the oceans, overall water and air pollution, but especially climate change. The related science is backed up by systematic study after study, with conclusions that are indisputable.

News of the environment is nearly always bad. Most notably, climate change has resulted in unprecedented global temperatures for every single month since last autumn. The warming of the Pacific Ocean has been a partial cause, but this El Nino year is far worse than any other in human history.

Most importantly, there is something we can do about it. We can reduce, re-use and recycle. We can turn our thermostats down in the winter and up in the summer. We can drive less and walk more. Mostly, use common sense in order to have a smaller footprint. Helpful though they are though, these are small things. There is a much more effective way to influence the environment in a truly positive way, and it doesn’t hurt a bit: Vote for the right people, especially in the Presidential race.

One candidate is on the record as saying, "Well, I think the climate change is just a very, very expensive form of tax. A lot of people are making a lot of money. I know much about climate change. I'd be — received environmental awards. And I often joke that this is done for the benefit of China. Obviously, I joke. But this is done for the benefit of China, because China does not do anything to help climate change. They burn everything you could burn; they couldn't care less. They have very — you know, their standards are nothing. But they — in the meantime, they can undercut us on price. So it's very hard on our business." Another time, this person used the term, “hoax” in relation to global warming three times in one sentence: "Obama's talking about all of this with the global warming and … a lot of it's a hoax. It's a hoax. I mean, it's a money-making industry, okay? It's a hoax, a lot of it."

Although this person’s personality, mannerisms and speech are abhorrent to some, other people feel that he, and the party that he represents, is right to deny climate change and science in general. If climate change is a hoax, then surely all of science should also be in question, and we may as well exploit, squander and pollute Earth’s resources to our collective hearts’ content.

The other political party does not have an unblemished record in regards to environmental matters. They’ve made blunders, bowed to political pressure in some cases, and most importantly, dragged their feet on much needed environmental legislation. But at least they acknowledge that the science is legitimate.

And they do try. Our president angered many when he issued executiveorders to bypass Congress in order to meet agreements he made with the Paris climate accord and with China’s President. I feel that if there was ever a justifiable need to bypass non-existent congressional approval, this was it. It was right to give us a fighting chance, a baby step, in fighting climate change.  This party’s 2016 candidate also acknowledges science. I am confident that she will continue the course of caring for the earth.

I understand that there is nothing I can say here to change anyone’s mind that’s already made up. But for those who haven’t decided, for those who may not bother to vote, please consider: the choice is stark. One candidate believes in science and will most likely at least try to care for the environment, and therefore our heritage. The other will deny science and exploit earth’s resources for extremely short term gain for a few, and long term disaster for all.

NC24

This is it. No more discussion about what a great event we inaugurated and put on every year. Enough talk about how I got to this point. Now I am here with about 200 of my best friends, about to start running the 2016 NorthCoast 24-Hour Endurance Run, also known as NC24.

Early on       Pat Dooley photo

They truly are among my best friends. I see many of them only one long day a year: this event. Others are more frequently familiar because they live closer by. Regardless of proximity, I love them all dearly. I've said this before and I'll say it again now: ultrarunners are the best people, period. Too bad we are not in charge of the planet. It would be a better place.

The horn sounds, and I begin running in the morning rain with Frank Dwyer, Ladd Clifford and Phil Apel. They have high hopes of big numbers, and they're smart enough to be patient about it. Me, not so much. I only want to go as far as I can before the Achilles Tendonitis (AT) Pain begins to take hold. I know from experience that once it does start, it only gets worse as time, and miles, go by. This pain point usually commences between an hour and an hour and a half (6-10 miles) into a run. If today's run is to follow such a pattern, I may not get very far at all. I figure that even under the very best of circumstances, 50 kilometers will be today's upper limit. Regardless of how I manage today, my plan is to then go home, get some food and rest, and then return in the morning to possibly walk a few more 0.90075 mile laps. Those will be tough no matter what.

The rain stops, and it gets warm and very humid. Although the humidity will be tough for everyone, I'm not too worried. I will be leaving at some point, so it will affect me less than the others. Speaking of others, I continue to talk with many old and new friends along the way. Sometimes this requires me to slow down or speed up a bit. But that's okay. I'm feeling fine.

It's great to see this event coming together under the new leadership of Brian Polen. From my perspective - now that of a runner/participant - everything is just fine. I talk with Brian now and then. I also talk with Michelle Wolff, who's manning the aid station. As with all ultras, the organization team and especially the volunteers are wonderful.

The AT pain begins at about mile 20. At least that's where I first notice it. This is really great. It's the most consecutive pain-free miles I've managed in months. But now I have to slow down and accept that it's going to get worse, mile by mile.

And of course it does. It also doesn't help that I'm woefully under-trained. That's due to the AT as well.

I had been running at a decent pace. Although the AT doesn't allow me to run very fast, it doesn't appear to help when I run super-slow or walk either. Most of my miles have been in the 9:30 to 10:00 minute per mile range - about what I train at. But now that I'm slowing down, everything is getting tougher. The marathon distance is achieved at about 4:27, and then I slow down even more. Michelle runs a lap with me as she's finishing her shift. She mentions that I look very much like I'm in pain. Others, like Blondie Hinton, say the same thing. I guess it hurts just to look at me. Funny how that works.

Now that I've only got a couple to go before my wild 50K dream is achieved, I stop to ask the medical folks for an ibuprofen tablet. I know they don't like to dispense them because they're somewhat dangerous for ultrarunners, but they do give me just the one.

And that does get me through it. I'd begun to walk, but now I can run, albeit slowly, my last one or two laps. I get to 50K at about 5:45 or so. It's hard to say exactly because I run an extra half-mile to finish the entire lap. I am absolutely euphoric about getting this far.

I go into the medical tent, and they stretch me out and we discuss my AT. heading to the car, the pain is still there, but things are definitely better than they would have been had I not stopped.

I drive home, shower, then along with Debbie, travel to the Winking Lizard to meet some friends for dinner. They have a special clam bake dinner for a couple weekends, and boy is it (and the beer) good! Maybe food tastes better after you've run, and eaten only junk all day. Afterwards we convene at our place a while longer. We laugh about how I am in the middle of a run.

Sleep does not go well. It always surprises me that I don't sleep like a log after a hard running effort; quite the opposite. I'm not sure why; it seems to defy logic. I wake up between 1:30 and 2:00, and that's it; I'm up for good. After some coffee and other preparation, I'm on my way back to Edgewater.

At 3:30 AM, I'm back to running around in circles. I go extremely slow at first, but then a funny thing happens. I begin to feel better, and I pick up the pace. The second (or third?) ibuprofen in the last 24 hours probably helps as well; I'm not in too very much pain.

My stomach doesn't feel so great, however. Maybe it was all that food. Or beer. Or the pizza, toasted cheese, and other junk that I sample here. Most likely, it was the ibu. Although three or so in this extended length of time really isn't all that awful, I virtually never take this much. And as mentioned, it's best to do none at all.

I continue to talk with friends that I see. There aren't so many out during these wee hours, and some are like zombies. But others are happy to talk. I also see Brian, and he is highly positive, encouraging me and everyone else to keep going. As these new miles begin to take their terrible toll, I begin to think about what the heck I'm trying to accomplish here. Maybe I can get up to about 20 miles for this day, giving me a grand total of 50+ for the event. I've got plenty of time.

Although the AT pain continues to be manageable, everything else is beginning to hurt, and I'm starting to feel just plain exhausted. After 10 or 11 miles I take some breaks, and also begin walking. This is just as others are waking up and getting going. It's just starting to get light.

The humidity never ceased. In fact, it's probably worse now than ever. I'm having some chafing issues, but I'll spare the details.

After running with some more friends along the way, I make it to 50, and even a mile or two more. It took me about as long to do this 20 as it did to do 31 yesterday. I quit just a little before the final horn. I've now greatly exceeded all my mileage goals. I should be extremely happy at this point, but mostly I'm just tired.

I am in awe of some of these other folks, elites and local friends alike. How in the world can they do two and three times the miles that I did? My 52 nearly killed me.

And now it's time for a break. A long one.

One of my final laps                                Larry Orwin photo

The Courage to Start

There is a book and a website called, The Courage to Start, by John "The Penguin" Bingham. A tag line is,
"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." Bingham
also wrote a popular running related blog and Runners World column, both entitled, The Penguin Chronicles. Now retired, the Penguin is famous for encouraging new runners to begin and to run more. His stories celebrated his own and other new(er) runners' experiences.


I never paid a whole lot of attention. I figured that although I wasn't the fastest runner around, I certainly also wasn't the slowest. Celebrating "newbieness", much less sluggishness, was not what I was interested in. Regarding that tag line, I also wasn't impressed. I nearly always started, and finished, whatever I wanted. What did any of it have to do with courage, anyway?


Fast forward to 2016. I've been battling an Achilles injury for three years now. Although the pain has subsided at times, even allowing me to get back to running a few marathons and ultras, it has never gone away completely. And it's been at its worst for the past few months. I hobble through the training miles, but speed and distance are both very painful prospects.


After organizing the NorthCoast 24-Hour Endurance Run in 2009 because I wanted to run the thing, I will finally get that chance in a couple days. But with this constant pain, I really ought not even try to think about any long distances. At NC24, however, there's no such thing as a Did Not Finish (DNF) status. Anyone who shows up and runs at least one 0.9 mile loop can claim a finisher's medal. Even so, I have often wondered if I'd have the courage to start.


Now I think I will have that courage. And I'll even finish. It just won't be with a sizeable mileage total.

NC24 - Thanks

Frank Dwyer and Larry Orwin presenting the award to me

A year ago, prior to the NorthCoast 24-Hour Endurance Run start, I was presented with this award telling (accusing?) me that I was the 'Best Race Director Ever'. I was duly impressed and flattered. I said thanks and everything, but there was no time to reflect or linger; it was time to get the race started. Beginning this year, I've managed to pass the RD duties and overall race organization on. I wish Brian Polen and his new team all the best for this and future years. I have every confidence that they will do well.

 

It occurs to me that I haven't thanked our previous team enough. Yes, I have thanked them, but it can never be enough. I don't think I've ever dedicated an entire blog post to what I consider the 'Best Race Organization Team Ever'. I am therefore herewith going to do this now.

 

Here are most of the members of the NC24 Race Organization Team. These folks made the race the great success that it has become. They dedicated themselves to excellence, and they achieved it beyond our collective wildest dreams. In absolutely no particular order:

 

• Shannon Fisher put on the most and the best food ever available at any race ever conceived. Because of her and her team, NC24 was a veritable smorgasbord... that also had a race. 
• Scott Stuetzer arranged for awards and did almost all the back-breaking labor for set-up and take-down.
• Roy Heger rented the truck (and even put up with some damage to it one year), the power generation, and some of the awards. Roy also drove the truck, even when sleep-deprived after running the race every year.
• Frank Dwyer, our financial wizard and registration guru, was a right-hand man to just about everything. When I say I couldn't manage NC24 without these guys, I'm thinking mostly of Frank. He also ran the race every single year.
• Jan Roe helped Shannon with the food, check-in and the volunteer coordination. She would have also won the nicest person of the bunch award, had there been one.
• Charles Elkins purchased and developed our timing system after there had been problems in previous years. He did this entirely on his own, and the new system is the best in the business. Charles also arranged for drinking water (no small task), porta-potties and dumpsters.
• Felicia Fago helped with the food and the volunteer coordination.
• Crystal Friend also helped with the food and the volunteer coordination.
• Barb Clutter was abandoned as the only volunteer at the aid station  in the middle of the night one year. After that she became the lead volunteer coordinator and we never had another problem.
• Larry Orwin arranged the dinner for out of town guests.
• Debbie Horvath coordinated the post-run breakfasts, corralling a Boy Scout Troop for this in recent years. She also put up with the RD for 364 days a year.

 

Others have come and gone. Some of them have also done a whole lot of good stuff. And I haven't even mentioned the dozens of fantastic volunteers who have helped at various times over the years. They were/are the best of the best.

 

I always hesitate to publish a list such as this for fear of missing someone. If you served on the race committee, and I didn't mention your name, please consider that I'm an old man and I just can't remember everything anymore. It's definitely not that you weren't appreciated.

 

Thanks to all. And now let's all enjoy the new incarnation of NC24.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Only in Chicago

Only in Chicago can you go out of your hotel, located on Higgins Road, near O'Hare Airport at 5:30 on a Sunday morning, and be met with traffic galore; cars were speeding by as if it were the Indy 500. My sleep-deprived and slightly under-caffeinated brain was having a great deal of difficulty comprehending the situation as I began my run by trying to get across the street without becoming roadkill.


Slowly, it 'dawned' on me (yes, it was early, so this pun is intended) that there must be some kind of problem on adjacent Interstate 90, causing all these cars to be re-routed here onto Higgins. I ran along the road, facing all this zooming traffic, until I could see for myself what was wrong.


I90 had been reduced to one lane, and traffic was very much backed up trying to merge together for what appeared to be miles. A great many of those cars were exiting right in front of me. Mystery solved. Except for two related, but minor questions that would linger, probably forever: why the lane closures (construction?) and why was there so much traffic on a Sunday morning anyway?


Curiosity satiated, I could get more serious about my run. Too bad I was already 'running' out of time; I had to get back for breakfast and getting packed to go. I would wind up with only four sluggish miles this day.


I'd run out of time the previous day as well. But that day I'd at least managed 11.5 miles, close to my distance goal. And I was able to explore some parks and school grounds.


We were in town along with Veronica and Barry and the kids, to visit Valerie and to see the sights. And oh, the sights we saw. It was a good weekend. Except for the running part.

TM Speech: Born to Run (Yes, there's some running content)

Dearest Readers,

I have recently given some speeches in connection with my Toastmasters International membership. Some are related to running, and some are not. When possible, I will publish the speeches. This is one of them.

Born to Run

I sat straight up in bed, laughing uncontrollably. My wife was startled, and asked what the heck was going on. This was unusual behavior for me. I had been reading “Born to Run” by Christopher McDougall, and I’d come to the part about the scientists trying to chase down an antelope in order to prove a theory. The theory was that humans had evolved to run by chasing down prey.  The scientists were also runners, and that certainly helped, but the experiment didn’t work; the antelopes being singled out and separated for hunting kept circling back to the herd in order to become lost in the crowd. I found this so amusing because the dumb animals kept outsmarting those brainy humans. 

I want to tell you some more about this theory, about some of my own running experiences, and most importantly, why I want you to run.

The book became a best seller when it was published in 2009. There are several themes and stories, including a case for the use of minimalist running shoes, background about the Tarahumara tribe of runners in Mexico’s Copper Canyon, and quirky American untrarunners. The story culminates with a secret race between the top American ultramarathoners and the best Tarahumara runners.

I want to focus on the theory put forth about human beings evolving to run in order to chase down their meals. Persistence hunting theories abound. They postulate that early humans, who have so few natural predation features – no protective fur, no claws, no sharp teeth – began to use our superior endurance to run an animal to exhaustion. 

Nearly every animal anywhere near our size can run faster than we can. No creature – not even a horse, can run as long as we can. We have big butts, forward facing eyes, heads that remain steady on our shoulders and a cardiovascular and respiratory system second to none.  We’re built to run long distances. And we truly are capable of running an animal down until it drops. Our scientists were not overly deterred by their initial failure. They were eventually able to discover a primitive tribe in Africa’s Kalahari Desert that continues to hunt this way.

Not all anthropologists agree with the theory, but none can dispute the fact that our physical characteristics do make us efficient long distance runners.

We are all runners. Some of us do it daily, some not so much anymore. Nearly all of us did it when we were kids. Here are some reasons why I think I was born to run.

I eat like a horse. People that know me say, he’ll run it off. They’re partially correct about that. They also say that that’s the reason I run – so I can eat. But they’re wrong about that.

My BP is 105 over 60. My resting heart rate is in the 50s. My cholesterol numbers are good, especially the good cholesterol which is excellent. My blood glucose levels are also fine. The health benefits of running are huge, and they’re well proven. But that’s not why I run.

I am able to claim some pretty good accomplishments – running 100 miles, completing over 100 marathons, qualifying for and running Boston 10 times. But as proud I am of these things, and as much as I like to brag, that’s not why I run.

Why do I run, you wonder? I’m glad you asked!

Challenge

I’m competitive by nature – mostly with myself. I like to constantly challenge myself with new and difficult goals. Sometimes things work out, sometimes they don’t. I also enjoy competing with others (sometimes by age group), but I recognize that I can only control (to a point) what I can do, not what others can do. And I prefer to remain friends with those I race against, as much as I also want to beat them. Regardless of any accomplishments I may be able to claim later, one of the reasons I run is the challenge – to defy what others may consider limits. I run to push boundaries.

Camraderie

These competitors, and others that I simply like to meet and run with, have managed to become some of my best friends. In fact, family notwithstanding, runners are some of the best people I know. I run for friendship and camaraderie. 

I’ve been very fortunate to have been able to run in wonderful locations all over the world. I’ve run in dozens of States, I’ve run on every inhabited continent, and I’ve run in hundreds of places in between. Some of the locations have been incredibly scenic, others merely serene. When I ruminate on this, it’s the quiet serenity that I appreciate most. I run for serenity.

Serenity

I’ve told you about myself. I’ve managed these accomplishments, made many lifetime, lasting friends, and enjoyed the experience of running in all these wonderful places. Yes, I’ve been fortunate, but yet I’m about as ordinary as you can get. I could go on about how average and commonplace I am, but I’ll spare you. I mention this, because you may think that you could never do some of these types of things. But you can!

You were born to run. If I can inspire even one of you who haven’t been getting out to get outside and do it, or possibly get one of you who does run to get out more and enjoy it more, I’ll consider this speech an enormous success.

You can do this!

There are many ways to get started.

Try an app, like couch to 5k. These work for a lot of people.

Join a club, or otherwise meet up with like-minded folks. Nothing is as effective in getting yourself out the door than having to meet someone at a specified time and place.

Sometimes we can lose our focus and motivation. Don’t overthink it. Just pick a direction – hopefully a safe, and maybe a scenic one – and go!

Once you do begin, you can start to challenge yourself. Set personal goals – one at a time if necessary. It’s like sex. The more you do it, the better you get. And the better you get, the more you enjoy it. By all means, be patient; you’ve got your whole life to do this, and again, like sex, it’s best not to rush it.

There is no goal is too lofty. You can accomplish anything you set your mind to, and I’m living proof. After all, you were born to run.