Running from Forests to Spuds

No Southwest? It has been a long while since we did a race that wasn’t at the end of a Southwest flight, but such was the case the weekend of the 22^nd of August when the Toyota took its place. The race was the Mesa Falls Marathon and Half-Marathon. The location: Ashton Idaho. We picked this as one of several good options in Idaho and it turned out to be a nice trip. The course itself didn’t prove to be quite as scenic as billed, because only the marathon started high enough on the mesa to go by the very impressive falls, but it was still nice. We started in evergreen forests well above the surrounding plains, ran some single track trails for several miles on the way off the mesa, then crossed the river…and were in for a surprise! We knew the elevation was a bit higher than we normally run, but not until the day before the race when I looked at the elevation profile did I see there was LOTS of uphill in the course! After we crossed the river we started a grade that lasted nearly three miles and got us on the high plains with potato fields on both sides...and lots of rolling hills...and lots of sun...and much warmer than normal temperatures...and no shade…and not quite as many water stops as might have been nice. Consequently, it was definitely not a fast race, but we successfully completed it and enjoyed the small town atmosphere – definitely a change from our previous race in downtown Chicago.

While in the area we enjoyed a nice trip to Bear World and some huckleberry milkshakes. Rachel got a kick out of driving through the animal preserve and enjoyed the bears, the elk, the deer...and, of course, the rides that were there for kids.


We also planned on enjoying the scenic route along the Tetons on the way home – to include a hike up onto Table Mountain, but the weather didn’t cooperate very well, so we had limited views of the mountains and lots of rain most of the way home. We did manage one short hike at the summit between Bear Lake and Logan, but that was it.

My thoughts DURING this race were focused on making it up the hills and noting I was running much slower than I had anticipated. However, afterwards it occurred to me how nice a small-town race can be, too. We might be inclined to discount the small towns and communities, but they can have a charm all their own.


We went to the pasta dinner the night before the race at the elementary school and it was quaint – but also impressive to find so many people from far-flung places who had come to Ashton, Idaho to run a race. Ashton even had a runner’s breakfast for us before the race – and that was just about a first. Oh….and by the way, did I mention I took second place in my age group?!? One of the other benefits of a smaller race!

All in all, another good race and another State checked off - #34.

Running a PR in the Big City

Several years ago, someone made the now-famous (or infamous, depending on your point of view) statement: "It takes a village." Perhaps there is also truth to it when converted (and modified slightly) to a running outcome: "It takes a city." Such was the case last week when, after several months of coming up just short, I reset my (Karen-era) PR (Personal Record) for the Half with a 1:43:12 in the Rock 'n Roll Chicago Half-Marathon. Let's hear it for the Windy City! (By the way - this nickname has nothing to do with Chicago's winds off Lake Michigan - which are well-known - but rather with the politicians who have been inextricably linked to the city for probably close to a century.)
After running 33 half-marathons with Karen - many of which were on some truly scenic landscapes - I wouldn't necessarily have expected Chicago to rank right up there. However, I must give credit where credit is due. In its own right, it was a very scenic course. It started before 6 a.m. on race morning from our (unexpectedly) deserted parking space on a spit of land extending into Lake Michigan to the Planetarium. The views back across the lake into the city in the early light were truly impressive. The course itself ran through several miles of skyscrapers, across the Chicago River a couple of times, then south out of the city center until it intersected the lake shore, after which it returned north into the city along Lake Michigan. It was flat. The weather stayed reasonably comfortable. The elevation was negligible. The crowds and music were pretty good. And my wheels stayed on! My pace averaged just under 7:53/mile and my time shaved almost 30 seconds off my previous best in Nashville last year. Both were huge races (Nashville nearly 30,000 and Chicago half of that) and both had decent crowds and music. Who knows - maybe there are factors we don't give much credence to; or maybe we just run well for unexplainable reasons. After all, it WAS Chicago - Karen's city - maybe that was also a factor. She, too, had a good race - though not a PR. In any event, I was happy with the race and reassured that I can still turn in a pretty good time. And if I find a small enough race - maybe I can even place, so Karen wouldn't be the only one with trophies! (In Chicago, I was 16 of 211 in my age division, so felt pretty good about that, as well.)
Okay - enough beating my own drum. It was also a good visit. We stayed with Karen's Mom and had some great afternoons and evenings of food and games. The family really enjoys card games and, of course, Karen and I are willing participants. Between the two of us, Karen's siblings and her Mom, spouses and kids, we played many rounds of Pinochle, Injun Joe, and Cribbage. We also watched Karen's nephew play a few games in a regional baseball tournament (which they eventually won) and we enjoyed an afternoon reunion with a group of Karen's friends from her college days. There really wasn't much sightseeing with this trip, but a good one, nonetheless. Karen and Rachel stayed a few extra days after they sent me home to work, with some swimming, more visiting, more eating and general relaxation.

The race also offered up some wisdom in its running. Often - when we set out to accomplish a challenging goal or project - we have a very definite plan. We work hard, we train and when it is time to perform, we rely on that plan and our ability to execute it exactly as we envisioned. However, I'm sure we have also recognized in our efforts that Murphy is alive and well. When something doesn't go according to plan, it is easy to get rattled, lose confidence and before long find ourselves coming up short. Such was the case with this race. I had a plan and knew exactly how I wanted to run the early miles of the race. I also knew I would be relying on my Garmin to keep me on the desired pace and keep me from running too fast too early. What I didn't bargain for were several long tunnels (e.g. a quarter-mile under the Convention Center) or underpasses in the first 3-4 miles of the race. If the Garmin can't acquire satellites, its utility is severely impacted. By mile 3, the anxiety of not really knowing my pace (I also didn't see timer boards or mileage markers until then) was taking its toll. It was then that I had the insight that had escaped me so often in the past. If the tunnels were behind me, I could still find and keep a pace the rest of the way and, ultimately, all I REALLY could do was run,...run hard,....and keep running. Within another two miles I had figured out how to use the Garmin with the timer boards and mileage markers that were now prominently located along the route. And when I got to those tough miles, 9-11, and realized no one was passing me - my indicator that I was running the race I wanted to run - I knew I had a good shot at the PR. The message? Stay flexible with your plan. They are great tools, but don't let the fact that a deviation occurs take you off course. More than likely your plan doesn't represent the only way to achieve the desired outcome. Hang in there, stay confident and tweak the plan on the run.
It took a big city. Chicago rocks! Thirty-three states checked off.

Running the Green Mountains

Not every State’s nickname will immediately lead you to a correct picture of what you might expect to see there.

I mean, really – what might you expect to see in the “Natural” State of Arkansas? Or what “Old Line” are you supposed to see in Maryland? And how many of us have really seen that many Beehives in Utah? But there are some VERY aptly named exceptions – one of those being the site of our last run – the Green Mountain State of Vermont. Indeed, the State was covered with mountains – even REAL Mountains (from an eastern perspective) and all of them were green. It was a beautiful State, a very nice trip, a good race – and a place we know we need to get back to in the fall.




If you think of the postcard that is Vermont – you are not far off. We saw quaint villages with their white churches on the town common/green (to wit, St. Johnsbury). We saw the mountains, lakes and forests which, by the way, seem to cover the entire state.
We saw covered bridges, beautiful streams and waterfalls. We saw Vanderbilt estates (Shelburne Farms) above Lake Champlain and New York across the lake from a morning cruise. We even saw the alpine lodge established by the Von Trapps (after Sound of Music, of course), the corporate home and ice cream plant of Ben & Jerry’s, an Ivy League campus (Dartmouth) and Joseph Smith’s birthplace near Sharon. Yes – it’s a small state – but it packs a pretty good punch per square mile.




As for the race (Covered Bridges Half-Marathon, June 7th), it was the most highly-hyped run we have done. The 2000+ field of runners was full just over 30 minutes after registration opened six months ago. Needless to say, expectations were high. Almost too high. Don’t get me wrong; it was a pretty course in a very pretty area. It started at a small ski area near Pomfret and ran along the valley’s river through a covered bridge to the very picturesque town of Woodstock and then to the Quechee Gorge. There were a couple of hills along the route, but nothing overly serious. Both Karen and I had good times, with mine being about 20 seconds slower than my “Karen-era” PR, which I tied in May in Michigan.
So why “almost too high” you may be asking? Perhaps because of the scenery experienced in the days leading up to the race and because we didn’t get to run through half a dozen covered bridges. Not to mention the fact that there wasn’t a finisher’s medal presented (which certainly wasn’t because the registration fee was low), nor were the post-race victuals very good. Okay – perhaps I’m getting a bit greedy – but expectations are what they are. It certainly was a good trip – one which we thoroughly enjoyed with Karen’s Mom as our traveling companion and dedicated Rachel nanny.





As for the deep, philosophical thoughts (should that be your expectation) – would you settle for a couple of minor ones – worth thinking about the next time you shave? If so, I would just say that expectations are powerful. They color our experience and can influence our perspective – both positively and negatively. Be careful as they form in order to enjoy, appreciate and learn from every experience to the maximum extent possible.


Also – and tied to expectations – be careful how fast you start. You’ll seldom, if ever, see the winner fading at the end. Know thyself. Pace thyself. Don’t run out of gas before the course is finished.

Running Between Great Lakes

For someone who prides himself on having been a lot of places and seen a lot of things – with all 50 States checked off – it’s nice to take a trip and break considerable new ground! Such was the case over the Memorial Day weekend with our trip to Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula (UP). The race (Bayshore Marathon and Half-Marathon on May 23^rd) was actually in Traverse City, which lies at the base of the Grand Traverse Bay off Lake Michigan and about 75% of the way north in the “lower” part of the state. Although it was apparent the whole area has been very hard hit by the recession (read: Michigan and the US car industry), it was a very pretty area.



The race itself was along the coastline of a very narrow peninsula separating the East and West Arms of the bay and ranks as one of the more scenic courses we have run. It was also relatively flat and offered great running weather, with mild temperatures, good humidity and generally overcast skies. The result: it was an excellent race for me. I broke the 8-minute mile barrier again (7:57) and tied my second best time (Springfield, MO, in November 2007) since restarting races with Karen.

As for the new ground, I don’t recall ever being in northern Michigan, on the UP (the surprisingly large part of the state between Lakes Michigan and Superior), or in northern Wisconsin. I also don’t think I’ve ever seen Lakes Superior or Huron, or the Mackinac Bridge connecting the UP to the rest of the state. All were well worth seeing.


We flew into Chicago and had Karen’s brother, Tom (who ran the marathon), and her Mother with us for the trip, which took us up the east coast of Lake Michigan to Traverse City – with the most scenic part being the northern part, to include Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and some pretty hamlets on the lake. The bridge is a spectacular suspension bridge – with one of the largest spans in the world. As for the UP, it was wildly scenic, but reminded me of Alaska – very few people, spread out over a raw and unforgiving place – that sort of gives the impression these people are on their own (or getting away from something!)


Lake Superior was also impressive, esp. the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. From there, we drove down the western shore of Lake Michigan through Wisconsin with, unfortunately, less time than we would have liked to really enjoy it.

Now to those morsels of truth and wisdom. Hmmmm……have you noticed how time takes its toll on the clear recollection of events and facts? And have you perhaps noticed how age compounds this phenomenon?? Although this race was only six weeks ago, I would (likely) be inaccurate to now recite special remembrances, insights or wisdom learned.


That would tend to imply there weren’t any that were particularly profound – or that the impacts of age and time may be worse than I am willing to accept. We’ll go with the former. HOWEVER, that might be profound, in and of itself: don’t neglect to journal and record the events of your life! And don’t procrastinate doing it!! You will only live those events – with their associated thoughts and emotions once. There is no better time to record them. Someone will be grateful that you did.