It was a hard five miles. Not my best time, my training runs over the summer were minutes better. But, I have now done the trifecta, 5k, 5 miler, 1/2 marathon.

76th out of 127 in my division. Clydesdale B, that is for men over 225#. I barely made this division. Placed 2254th out of 2829 male runners. Final time was 59:03, an average pace of 11:49 per mile. I call it a victory because I didn’t walk or hurt anyone.

Since this was the 30th anniversary of this race, we all got medals for finishing.

It is really amazing how many people you see that you know when you run this race. For the last 3 years I have watched from the warmth of my car with coffee and the kids. Actually joining the 6000 other folks is kinda fun.

Last week I formally applied to the city seeking the appointment to fill her unexpired term. If any of you, those that pray, should find time to do so, please pray on this one. This is something that I have pursued continually since summer of 2005. Remember, for those of you in Rio Linda, I ran for this very seat.  I lost in a 6 way race, for two seats, coming in 3rd place by less than 2% of the vote.

I will keep you updated. For those of you that have written letters and offered support, thank you.

Everyone always seems to want to know what’s on the iPod of an Olympic athlete. I’d say running the 1/2 marathon qualifies you. So, what do you say? What are you listening too as you run? What’s on your iPod?

Well Joe, a lot of time and attention goes into the details of the preparation of an endurance athlete like myself. I am laughing on the inside following the end of that sentence. So, my iPod. A very eclectic, diverse, genre spanning, 3 decade covering sampling of the music that makes me tick. I have to admit, almost every song takes my mind somewhere else.  College, High school, friends, vacations, beaches, mountains, long hikes, days in solitude and days of celebration. I couldnt possibly explain it all. Trust me. This list worked. Wifey and I both carry the small iPod shuffle, so these play in no particular order.

I have listed the list below the fold.

I bet you have never seen these 42 songs together, 2.8 hours, (A buffer just in case, gives me the ability to skip songs and have plenty to go the distance.)

The marathon started with little fanfare. I was about 1 block and half from the start and looked for folks who might be running at my pace. By the time I found the 1/2 marathon sign for my pace, all the runners were gone. Only a lone volunteer stood with the sign. I said to him “are you going to run with that sign”. “No” he replied, “the folks already started”. “Are you going to run the 1/2″? “I think so” I returned.

With that I took off walking the start. Oakley’s in place, iPod on, right shoe laced up three times, and a toss of my coffee cup, I jogged over the starting line. I gotta admit, at that moment, 7:37 a.m. in the 19th, I felt like a runner. Under Armour on, sunglasses fighting the early morning sun rise, New Balance kicks on the feet, and new running shorts, I was one of them. One of the 11,500 runners, joggers, walkers and wheeled athletes. This was it.

The first mile was great, I hit the first mile marker on time. 11:27. That was the 5 hour marathon pace. I was sporting my 17 year old Timex Ironman and a pace bracelet compliments of the Cliff Bar folks. 1 down. 12.1 to go. This was good. I was not one of the dozens of folks in line for the bathroom. I looked for Melissa, she was behind me to start for sure and that Camo Running skirt is hard to miss.

Miles two through five I hit on target. Was drinking Gatorade and Water mixed at mile 2 and 4. I was getting passed up and passing some joggers and walkers up. It was cold. I was thankful for the long sleeved under armour. Sporting a knit Nike hat I fought off the 40 degree temps.

At the five mile mark I found the 5 hour pace team. I felt relieved. I was running with a group. No chit chat at this point, just enjoying the Bexley area of Columbus. I ran with the 5 hour pace team for three miles. Then I began to slow down. Running eight miles was more than I ever could have imagined. It hit me as I approached 9 miles, under 1:45 that I was doing pretty good. Who woulda thought that I would jog nine miles non-stop like it was nothing?

Finishing 9 miles was tough. I had never run farther than 9. I skipped my 10 mile training run and was hoping for adrenaline and the crowd to carry me. That worked until the 10th mile. Around the 10.5 mark I began to cramp in my left calf. That hurt. I didn’t know what to do. I tried a modified stride, turning my foot our to the left and landing flat on my foot to alleviate stress on my achilles and hammy. It didnt work. I ran through it and was able to keep close to my time. The 10 mile went around 12:00 flat. I had been 11:40 or better through 9.

Mile 11 and 12 had intermittent uphills. Those uphills killed me. They were slight but the cramps were back in both legs. I was scared and not sure what to do. Stop running? Rub them out? Keep moving and hope for the best? I chose the latter. The cramps disappearing for the level areas, more Gatorade and a prayer for some strength. 2:30 was still doable at this point. I was counting on the excitement of the finish to pick up a minute or two on the final two miles.
On mile 12 I met Jermaine. He was about 5′10″ and at least 275. I had been seeing him on an off. He was walking, then jogging, then walking. He and I ran for a 1/2 mile together. Encouraging one another. At 12.5 the hill began to go up and I lost more time with my modified hobble, skip step, jog stride. Keeping both feet moving and not walking was the goal. By the time I got to the top of the hill at the end of 13, I was barely able to jog. The legs were cramping and the emotions were too great to focus on my stride.

Jogging, with all I had in me, I crossed the finish line standing. 2:36:30. Just 6:30 over my goal. Next time. 2:30 or better.

Didn’t walk. Ran/Jogged the entire race.

Next year I am doing this race: The Bourbon Chase. Wanna join me?

Big thanks to Ebear and the family for cheering us on at the finish. Very cool to have you guys there.

Wifey finished the entire marathon in 3:37 and qualifies for entry to the Boston Marathon. She is fast!

maybe a bit nervous. but am actually looking forward to it. the 2.5 hours alone, in a crowd, running, cool shoes and my iPod. perhaps i like this running thing now.

that has to be the litmus test right? looking forward to a 13.1 mile race. that has to be the threshold for liking distance running.

you can follow my progress and pace times here:

http://www.onlineraceresults.com/event/view_event.php?event_id=2918

I am bib number 4432

I am ready. I will carb load saturday and friday. Everything else feels good. May make changes to the wardrobe..I want new shorts..hard to tell.

Will report back after the event on Sunday.

Not Sunday. No sirree. I ran out of the hole. A 3 mile uphill morale buster. But I did it. I never was so happy to see the top of a hill in all my life. Then I did my 4 miles of kettering on flat land then headed back down the hill to home.

I have posted the altitude change here for your viewing.

Need I say more?

So I took them to Endurance Guy. He took one look at the shoes and said something about the leaning tower of Pisa. He pointed out that the Avias had no inside support. That was causing the blistering on the insides of my feet and the sore knees. Wow. SO he had me walk barefoot. Then run with my old Saucony’s. Funny side story, I tried the exact model and size of my old Saucony’s and they fidnt dit! Strange. I thought.

Back to the Endurance Guy, I ran for him in my old shoes so he could judge my stride. Short. Slow. Enough said. He brought out some shoes and I tried two or three different ones. Each time trying them out on his world famous testing track. In the end I got a pair of these bad puppies.

With these I immediately felt relief. The feet are happy. The knees are happy. Endurance Guy set me up with a size 10 Double E. He says an extra 1/2 inch is mandatory in the toe and I am a double EE wide if he has ever seen one.

The world is now a better place. I still sport some blue retro, vintage, old school basket ball shorts to run in, under armor sleeveless t and wicking sleeveless t over the UA. Its all good.

Apparently if the feet are happy, the calves, knees and quads are happy. We’ll test that with an uphill battle this weekend.