Greater Evansville Runners/Walkers Club Newsletter

Electronic Newsletter - January 2009

Table of Contents
Select an Item to Read the Following Articles

President's Message	Roman's Race Tactics	2008 Thank You
Announcement	2009 GERWC Banquet	My First Marathon
Medical Corner	Things I Think I Think	BellBodies Corner
Hiking in the Smokies	Personal Best	Answer Person
.	Jerry's Journals	.

President's Message
by Chris Thomas

Dear Runners and Walkers!

BOOM!!! BOOM!!! BOOM!!! BOOM!!!

     2009 is here!!! What does the club have planed for this new year?   2009 is the beginning of a NEW day for the Club. We will have 5 Club races, and more activities for club members. I would like to take a second and state for the record “That all decisions I make are in the best interest of the Club or Club members.” So, with that said, let 2009 BEGIN!!!!!

     The big change for 2009 is that we have added 2 more Club races. March 28th will be the date for one of these new races. Details are to be worked out in January. Otters 5k, Starbucks 5k, Ray Rayl 5k, and The New Years Eve Run, are the other 4 events. The big change is each race will have a WALK first followed by the Run. So, if the walk starts at 9:00 am the run will start at 10:00 am. This will give walkers plenty of time to walk and if they want to walk more they can do the run. It should be noted that in 2008, the club had only 2 races (Otters and New Year Eve) that the funds went into the clubs checkbook to help cover the costs of new equipment and other expenses.

     Having these 4 races gives club members more club races to compete in, helps with memberships, gives walkers more events to participate in; and, each race will have food at it. Also, the Otters race will be a straight-up 5k this year, meaning NO handicap. We looked back at the results over last 4 years and each year had about the same 115 runners. So, armed with this info we decided to change back to a regular 5k race.

     The Grand Prix for 2009 will be the 5 club races and a few other ones. Look for more info coming in January. Also, we will be having Pub Runs but at a variety of locations. Big Daddy’s, over on the Henderson riverfront, was a great event that was hosted by Danny Wooten.

     As usual Jerry Seddon, our newsletter editor, is looking for contributions from the membership. Please send along your stories and photos of any events that you feel would be of interest to your fellow members. For example, check out the articles in this issue penned by John Devine and Bob Head.

In a nutshell, 2009 is going to be GREAT!!!    Great races with food, more activities, Runners Forum and other surprises!!!

animal

Thank you,

Your President, Chris Thomas

Remember “It takes a little more to be a FREAK”

Roman's Race Tactics
by Tim Roman - VP/GERWC

Running and Timing a Race

Oct 10, 2008

These two tasks take two very different skill sets. And, to do both in the same race you have to perform well in both. My plan is as long as I finish in the top 10 I will not get behind by much, because during the race you are just waiting for the first thirty finishers till you do something.

Timing a 5k Road Race

Let me fill you in on timing first. First I must give a big hand to the A team. The A-team is comprised of the people working the finish line and such. These people are Bob Head (finish line manager), Jim Effinger (Finish line timing), Ray Pritchett (finish line timing), Sue Henderson and her daughter (Stringer and Runner), Larry Samples (Caller or Recorder), Shane Thread (Course Management), Jack Wingo (Course Management), Sorority Girls from UE (Course Control), Andrea Klotz (Data Entry), Chris Thomas (Race Assistant), Bob Lauderdale (Race Assistant), and anyone I forgot I am truly sorry for your efforts are greatly appreciated. They all were out there in the freezing cold for an hour or two and did not complain. Timing a race is definitely not easy and it takes a lot of practice to get it right. I have been assisting at various races this year to be able to do this job well. Before the race you have to enter all of the race day entry’s in a little spreadsheet and double check them for typos. Next you must feed this data into the race program ‘RunScore’. Then, as I said before, you just wait for the first thirty people to finish. You next scan all of their tags in order and check the recorder sheet to make sure it is all done correctly. You do this process about 5-10 times in a row; basically, every time 30 people cross the line you have to get to work. During this period, it is best to be in a quiet room with the door closed so no one can bother you asking for the results early, which is usually not possible. The finish order and the times you run the race in come to the timer separately so until the last person finishes and we get both pieces of information we can’t help you much. However, if you are nice we will tell you your finish place.

Jingle Bell 5K – December 6^th

Saturday morning was a very cold and very windy. I have now been training for a week. I decided to take a week off from running for a break and I was working a lot, but that brief respite turned into two weeks when I got sick the week after my planned break, so today’s run was to see how much fitness I have maintained after one week of training and two weeks of rest. This year there was a new race director, Vicky Eichmiller, taking care of the race and she did a great job, increasing the race finishers by 101, which is rather surprising on a cold and windy day like this. So, I do a warm up to check out this new course and find it was nice and flat but the wind hit you in the face around every corner making you want to turn around but I braved my warm-up for about 11 minutes. Then I got to work on entering some late entries into the computer. Next, Santa was at the front of the race to start the race and that was pretty cool. The gun goes off and a pack of college/high school kids jump to the front so I stay where I should be and plan on catching a few of them in the latter stages of the race. We come to the first turn and the wind is blowing so hard it is as if I am going backwards. Because of this, the lead pack tries to stick together to block the wind and to keep warm. The next turn, a U-turn, goes a little better and I am gaining on the front pack. I hit the first mile in around 5:30 so I am not too far off from my normal pace. I try to catch this front pack, by just going after one runner at a time, knowing I will be close to the front by the end of the race. This new course begins on Vine St., continues onto Riverside Dr. and goes back onto Vine St. to finish just about where you started. The course is basically a big T.

After the second U-turn at Waterworks Road I find myself in 4^th place. In the next block I catch the third place runner and start going after second, I could not even see first place so it is definitely out of reach for me. On the last turn back on Vine St. four blocks of the race remain and the next runner is one block ahead of me; if I am going to catch him now is the time. So, I surge into a full sprint, or what I have of one at this stage of the race, into the wind and cold. I position myself directly behind him and when he hears me he goes into his sprint and is now matching my speed. Consequently, I cannot catch him and I finish in third. This was a good race knowing I did the best I could based on my one week of training and having been sick for a week.

Tactics Noted

1. Always have a great assistant to help you with the results process (namely Andrea Klotz), Thanks for all her hard work before and after the race.

2. Always be prepared for the cold, wind and whatever else a new course can throw at you.

3. After training for just one week and then being sick for the next week, running in 15 degree temperatures does not help in getting you back into shape, or back up to your peak level.

2008 Thank You

***THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU***

Thank You

It’s that time of the year when I happily extend my gratitude to all those who have contributed to the 2008 newsletter; thus making my job so much easier and infinitely more enjoyable.

Chris Thomas, our prez, submitted a bi-monthly ‘Presidents Message’ and my feeling is, if you read only one item in the newsletter it should be the “State of the Club” article from Chris.

This is relevant information pertinent to the on-going activities of your club.

Tim Roman, our vp, submits his “Tips and Tactics” for every issue. How he finds the time, I’ll never know.

Becky Kiesel, our Membership Chairperson, reported on the status of our membership.

Bill Hussmann, our scholarship chairperson, kept us abreast of the scholarship awards and the banquet information as well as submitting witty, insightful and informative articles under his running pseudonym “xxx xxxxxx”.

Bob Head, our Finish Line Manager, contributed an article on “Race Timing”. Bob’s good for at least one article per year.

I have been using articles penned by Lisa Bell for years now, and it is my hope to work closer with Lisa in selecting more ‘time-sensitive’ articles in the future.

As usual, I have depended on Gordon Benfield since I became a member of the board. Gordon writes for us; and, he sends along articles by others that he believes will be both useful and informative to our members.

Both Al Langen and Jane Hemmer sent in very well received articles. The newsletter would be a much better product if these 2 wrote more often.

Now Janet Gries is an altogether different story. I suspect she feels guilty being responsible for having gotten me into this mess (editor). So, Janet has taken on the role of “Writer-at-Large”, and to quote Jim Effinger, “I enjoyed Janet’s ‘Personal Best’ article more than all the other articles in the newsletter.

Lastly, it would be a crime on my part to not extend my gratitude to Chad Hartmann. Chad took my words and breathed life into them. At times, he made it appear as though I knew what I was doing.

It is incumbent for me to thank both “Runners’ World” and “Trail Runners Magazine” from whom I’ve stolen so much, so often.

I apologize to anyone who was inadvertently omitted from this list. Each of our readers needs to thank all of these folks for helping to make our newsletter both informative and entertaining. No one is more appreciative than I for the extra distance these members have gone in participating in their clubs’ activities.

Ps: If your name is absent from this list, you might wish to rectify that in 2009.

Submit something, anything!

2009 GERWC Banquet

It's Banquet Time!

Announcing the 2009 GERWC Annual Banquet

Saturday, February 7,2009

6:30 p.m. Social time—7:00 p.m. Dinner

SWIRCA Banquet Room

16 W. Virginia Street

Evansville

The club will honor our local high school runners, and present awards to those who have done well in the "GERWC Grand Prix" in 2008

Dinner will be $15.00/person

(Remember we subsidize our high school runners)

Seating may be limited so reservations are required!

Reservations can be made by:

Calling Bill Hussmann at

(812) 867-6974

E-mailing him at

jmhussmann@insightbb.com

Mailing him at

44 Oak Meadow, Evansville, In 47725

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Deadline for reservations is January 23, 2009

You may pay at the door, but advanced payment would be appreciated. It's a good time to pay 2009 dues, too!

(Annual Dues are $10/individual or $15/family)

My First Marathon
by John Devine

Dear Fellow Walkers and Runners,

On November 1st, at 47 years of age, I completed my first marathon and Chris asked me to write about my experience. First of all, here's a bit of background to provide perspective. During high-school and college I was athletic but I did not run competitively. As I approached my 20s and 30s, I gradually added some pounds, lost endurance and became the classic American couch potato. Sometime in my early 40s, I realized that I was following a path of poor health and I started running/jogging to help delay the onset of heart disease/diabetes and also to set a better example for my two kids. For the past five years, my main focus during the year was participating in the Team 13 training for the Evansville Half Marathon, with little running over the winter. But last year, I continued training following the Evansville race and into the spring running season. In 2008, I had PR's in the Toyota race and the YMCA 10K and decided at that point that a marathon could be in my future. Based on my travel schedule, the inaugural Monumental Marathon in Indy on November 1st appeared to be my best option, even though it was only 3 weeks after the Evansville half. And, while most experienced marathoners advised me to give myself more preparation time, I decided to strike while I was feeling great and gave myself less than two months of training. But keep in mind that I was not starting at square one as I was actively training for the half marathon in October.

Last Mile of the Evansville Half

To augment my training, I added mileage to our Team 13 long runs on Saturday and was offered encouragement from some of our group's seasoned marathoners (Martha Klueh, Dale Jennings, and Jennifer Wagner). This resulted in a 15 mile, 20 mile, 8 mile, 13 mile (Evansville Half), 20 mile, and an 8 mile taper the week prior to the marathon (Saturday runs). I was also running 5 or 6 miles twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays). My time in the half was 2:06 (PR) and I held back somewhat to conserve for the marathon, so my conservative goal for the full marathon was under 5 hours.

At the Nine mile marker of the Inaugural Monumental Marathon

Following a rather sleepless night in Indy, race day was finally here. The weather was in the low 60s, perfect for running, and as with all races, the excitement in the air was palpable. Of all the advice that was offered during my training, I recall the mantra, "Don't go out too fast" and I was thinking of this as I started. I started with the 4:30 pacer and felt as though he was walking, but I continued to hold the reigns as we reeled off the miles. At about the 9 mile mark, the marathoners and the half marathoners separated, which is somewhat disconcerting, but they are soon forgotten. My family did a great job of staying in front of me and cheered me on at 4 or 5 different locations, which was very helpful to me. At mile 13, I continued to run easy and had a time of 2:15, still with a goal of under 5 hours, but secretly thinking a 4:30 might be closer (Yes, I am an optimist, why do you ask?) By mile 21, the temp now approached the low 70s and the running was not so easy. I watched as the 4:30 pacer and accompanying group slowly pulled away and I realized my hopes for a 4:30 marathon were unrealistic. At mile 22, my family was waiting and I was unsure if I would finish. I tried to calculate my projected time, but we all know how difficult "simple math" becomes when your brain is starved for nutrients and oxygen. I continued on even though my body was not in agreement and my son (JP, 13) met me at mile 25 to run in the last leg. The finish is vague, but I do remember receiving a medal and a handshake and noting the time was under 5 hours (4:54), but I didn't feel the euphoria that I experienced when I completed my first half marathon. Back at the hotel, I sat in the hot tub for a while and we all went to St. Elmos for a steak later that night, so I felt that I recovered fairly quickly, but a marathon certainly delivers a great stress to your system. All in all, it was a great experience and I am proud that I am now among an elite group of 0.01% of the population (marathon finishers). I would encourage all members who have not yet attempted a marathon to pick out a race and begin your training. And my advice, as an experienced marathoner would be "Don't go out too fast".

Start of the Inaugural Monumental Marathon

John Devine

Announcement

Come One Come All

If you are looking for a little extra motivation

to help you get in your long runs,

you are welcomed to join in a ‘group run’ at the 4H-Center on Saturdays at 8:00 am.

The number of runners varies every weekend, as does the distance.

Just contact Gordon Benfield

812-459-5930 or MSURUNNER@SBCGLOBAL.NET

He will put you on his list and notify

you (everyone) about the next training run.

Medical Corner

Plantar Fasciitis

submitted by Gordon Benfield

When the bottom of my right foot developed a burning sensation that didn’t go away, I was annoyed. I could lie in bed and stretch my toes back toward my body and relieve the discomfort. But each day when I stood up, the pain came right back. I thought of all the middle-aged women I had known who were immobilized due to foot problems. “Will this sideline me too?” I wondered anxiously.

My family doctor immediately sent me to podiatrist Dr. Brandt Dodson, who evaluated my foot structure and biomechanics. He diagnosed the problem as plantar fasciitis (PF), an over stretching and inflammation of the long band of connective tissue that runs from the heel to the ball of the foot. According to Dodson, it is the number one foot problem in women over 40.

Dodson explains that in the late 1960’s the incidence of PF increased markedly due to a change in the way shoes were constructed. Manufacturers stopped putting a steel plate in the sole of the shoe, removing a key support structure.

I wondered if my years of impact activities had caused the problem. With regular walking the foot must absorb a force that is one and a half times body weight with each step. But by running, jumping, and other high impact activities, the force can grow to several times body weight. The plantar fascia may be stretched every time the foot hits the ground.

Dodson thought both my high arch and repetitive running played a part. He taped my foot for a period of time, put me in temporary orthotics, and then cast a permanent pair for my tennis shoes. The goal was to structurally support my arch and prevent over stretching in the future.

As part of my treatment plan, Dodson emphasized the importance of warming up and stretching before and after impact activities, something I had done inconsistently. Since muscle imbalances are often involved in PF, they can be improved by regularly stretching tight tissue---mostly calves, hamstrings, and plantar fascia.

Chiropractic physician Reed Kress offered additional insights into the cause of PF by explaining that core muscles decondition during the aging process. To compensate for lack of balance and stability people grip more forcefully with their feet and toes. This puts extra strain on the delicate plantar fascia.

In addition, cumulative trauma and overuse can create adhesive tissues that are laid down in the plantar fascia and other supporting structures. Kress recommends a system called Active Release Technique (ART) to manually correct these problems.

My biggest concern was that I would never be able to run again. Dodson assured me that I would. He reminded me that 90% of people who seek immediate treatment respond to nonsurgical care.

In my case, he was correct. Although I still feel a mild strain at times, running 30 minutes a few days a week does not bother my feet. Now I am incorporating Dr. Kress’s advice by adding Pilates exercise several days a week to strengthen my core. This is actually harder for me than running.

The PF experience has shown me that even though I love to move, my body is vulnerable to ground forces and overuse. If I ignore the pain to preserve the ritual, I can immobilize myself permanently. But if I allow myself to incorporate new body-strengthening activities, even outside of the comfort zone, pain and limitation can be a positive thing.

Preventing Plantar Fasciitis:

Wear well made stiff-soled shoes during activity
Warm-up and stretch lower legs and feet before and after activity
Engage in regular core strengthening activities
Maintain an ideal body weight
Avoid running on hard or uneven surfaces

Treating Plantar Fasciitis:

Seek immediate treatment from health care professional to determine cause
Stretch calves and plantar fascia for 30 to 60 seconds several times each day

Calf: With toes on top of step, slowly lower heel down and hold

Plantar fascia: Sit down, extend one leg in front of you, wrap towel around toes and pull toward you

Wear appropriate shoes and orthotics
Use rest, ice, compression, and elevate for acute pain
Lose excess weight
Check www.activerelease.com for ART local providers

For more information:

www.apma.org (American Podiatric Medical Association)

www.foot.com

Things I Think I Think

Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the
things you did do. So throw away the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor.
Catch the trade winds in your sail.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

Mark Twain

BellBodies Corner

Bell Bodies Corner
Reprinted with the permission of Lisa Bell

What Were You Thankful For This Holiday Season?

by Lisa Bell

As you gathered around the table this holiday season, how many gave thanks for your ability to use your legs, to stand up, to sit down, and to move?

Most of us are grateful for health, freedom, homes, and families in a generic sense. But, are we really thankful for these blessings until they are gone?

As a former intensive care nurse, I have always appreciated being healthy enough to remain outside of the hospital. Witnessing sickness, suffering, and death from end-stage conditions has made a permanent impression on me, and has given urgency to a focus on illness prevention through physical fitness. However, until I met Karen, I never had a full appreciation for simply being able to get out of bed.

Karen was an extremely talented lady. She had two master’s degrees, had enjoyed an exemplary career as a pianist, vocalist, and teacher, and was a much-beloved pastor’s wife. However, 15 years of multiple sclerosis had completely ravaged her petite body. By the age of 49, she was flat on her back in bed with the level of function of a quadriplegic.

The pride and joy of Karen’s life were her two boys, one in high school and the other in college. Unable to fix them meals, launder their clothes, or even wrap her arms around them, she simply asked to be placed in a position that enabled her to see them and talk to them. It broke my heart to see this beautiful concert pianist unable to use her hands. Debilitating muscular tremors prevented her from even being able to feed herself. She longed for the ability to perform basic functions such as turn over in bed, put on her makeup, or simply scratch her nose. What she would have given to be able to stand up, walk down the street, or drive her son to school. I was reminded of this each time I walked out of her house.

Karen knew what many of us forget-- that health is a tremendous gift. Yet this gift is so fragile that once broken, it is extremely difficult to repair.

Just as Karen’s hands were designed for piano concertos, your body was designed to move. A cruel and debilitating disease robbed Karen’s hands of their ability to play, and ultimately took her life. But what is it that prevents you from using your body to achieve health through exercise? Is it a busy schedule? Are you a procrastinator? Or, is it just too daunting for you to begin?

I believe that those of us who still can move have an obligation to engage in the minimal amount of activity for health benefits. We grow stronger and more capable of withstanding daily stress based on the consistency and intensity of our body’s activity. Just 20 or 30 minutes of movement interspersed throughout the day can be just as important as a cholesterol-lowering medication or an antidepressant.

Be thankful for your health, and set aside a few minutes to engage in intentional activity. Hit the gym, take the stairs, or walk your dog. It has more to do with health than with appearance. Enjoy your loved ones, and recognize how fortunate you are to be able to wrap your arms around them. Then get down on your knees and thank God you are on your feet.

Hiking in the Smokies
by Bob Head

Most people who live in this area are familiar with the Smoky Mountains. The Great Smoky Mountain National Park in the most visited National Park in the US with about 10 million visitors each year. Almost every visitor to the park enjoys some kind of hike whether it’s a quiet stroll along one of the overlooks or a strenuous hike to the top of one of the many peaks. There are 900 miles of trails in the park and if you hike all of them you become a member of the 900 Club. I don’t think I will ever be a member of that club but I have set some goals for myself. One of my goals is to hike across the Appalachian Trail through the park. This would be a 70 mile hike that would take about 5 days to complete. The Appalachian Trail (AT) starts in Maine, ends in Georgia, and travels across the Smoky Mountain National Park.

Most recently I spent 4 days hiking on trails in the park that I had not been on before. The first day I hiked to Mount Cammerer Lookout. This trail was over 5 miles to the lookout and gained 2600 feet of elevation. The trailhead was located at Cosby campground and followed the Lower Gap trail to the AT and then to Mount Cammerer. The view to the north from this peak was spectacular.



The second day was a much shorter hike of just 6 miles and little elevation gain in the Elkmont camping area. I did the small loop of the Little River trail and the Cucumber Gap trail. I also took time to go to Clingmans Dome, the tallest peak in the Smokies. Day three took me up the Anthony Creek trail and Bote Mtn trail to the AT and over to Rocky Top. There really is a Rocky Top Tennessee. This day turned out to be cold and snowy for the 13 mile hike. The temperature was 10 degrees and a wind chill was 0. Just off to the east of Rocky Top was Thunderhead Mountain, a popular spot for hikers in both the spring and the fall.



Day four was the most rewarding of the four days. I hiked up the Rainbow Falls trail to Mt. Le Conte and back down the Bullhead trail to the parking area. This was a 14 mile round trip and most of the hike was in a foot or more of snow. Mt Le Conte is the most popular hiking area and is the second tallest point in the National Park. There are five trails to Mt Le Conte and I have now hiked four of them. In the four days

I spent in the mountains, I hiked over 46 miles with over 11,000 feet of elevation gain.

Personal Best
By Janet Gries

Did you hear the one about the woman who was running on a forest trail, and was attached by a fox?

This story was brought to my attention a few weeks ago by a co-worker, who’d seen the story online and thought of me. Apparently the fact that the woman continued to run with a fox attached to her arm reminded him of me.

I’m not sure what to think about that.

For those of you who didn’t catch the story, a lady in Arizona was enjoying a leisurely run along a wooded trail when she was accosted by the four-legged predator who, apparently, took issue with his trail being invaded by an uninvited visitor. Initially the fox went easy on her – in a fox sort of way – by nipping at the runner’s foot. His scare tactic backfired, however, as the woman defensively reached for him to swat him away.

Well, that made him REALLY mad.

So the fox ups the ante and, with an angry growl, sinks his snarly teeth into the woman’s arm. Despite her best efforts, the persistent critter simply wouldn’t turn loose. Devoid of any assistance in the immediate vicinity, the woman gamely decides to run with the animal attached to her arm, until she reaches her car. Which is one mile away. There, she is able to jar the beast loose and into the trunk of her vehicle, and seek medical assistance. Questioned afterward about her harrowing experience, Rambo Runner says that she was concerned for the animal (which was later determined to be rabid) and wanted to get help for it. Oh, yes, and help for herself, too.

So all this got me to thinking: What would I do if faced with such a situation? And why would my co-workers (plural now -- more eventually joined in the merriment) rib me about such a prospect? Do I exude such a die-hard runner mentality that they think I would act similarly?

In a word . . . YES.

I confess that I have done some rather, shall we say, less-than-advisable things in order to get my run in for the day. (For those of you who fancy yourself sane, please do not try these things at home!) Perhaps I’d have made a good mail carrier, as neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow keeps me from my appointed rounds. Nor do wind advisories (a 20-miler that day), icy conditions (step carefully), lack of sleep (you know about sleep walking – try sleep running), pregnancy (oh, the looks you get), a tight schedule (run faster!), or angry dogs (I’ve outrun all but 2, which bit me).

There’s just not much that keeps me from running, if I’ve a mind to. I’m inclined to think, then, that having a mad fox attached to my arm probably isn’t going to slow me down much. Nor would concern for the animal’s welfare be the reason I would continue running a mile until he could be deposited in my trunk.

I’d keep running because that’s what was on my agenda when I left the house. If some wayward animal attempts to detour me, he’s coming along for the ride.

At least that’s what I think I’d do. I believe I’ll stay away from the trails, just in case.

Answer Person

What’s your opinion about footwear for trails?

Stumped in Sturgis

When you go to the beach, you wear sandals.

When you run on the roads, you wear running shoes.

So, do yourself a favor, when you go for a trail run,

leave your sandals and your running shoes at home.

There are many, many reasons why they developed trail shoes!!!!

ANSWERPERSON

Jerry's Journals

The Ultimatexc Race

Moab, Utah

November 15, 2008

This little town was dubbed “Moab” by the Mormon settlers in the 1800’s.

It’s a biblical name meaning ‘land just short of the Promised Land’.

Moab

After spending 2 days driving 1400 miles and 2 nights luxuriating in the van, I am now heading south on highway 191 into Moab, and the adrenaline is already building up within me. After a relaxing meal, I check into the hotel, scout out the location of the start line, find a pharmacy where I purchase some ‘tecnu’ to treat my poison ivy, and then head over to the pre-race meeting, which is held outdoors at 7:00 pm!!!

I’m up early, as is my wont on race-day. It’s 29 degrees according to the weather channel, so I opted to go with my tights. However, as I sit in my room downing my breakfast and forcing fluids, I’m faced with the realization that I’m going to be out there for a long time today and I really won’t need to be so covered up once morning turns into afternoon, so I switch into my shorts and head for the van.

There’s an 8:15 am, mandatory, pre-race informational meeting where they are providing us with the ‘rules’, as well as with words to live by, such as “there are a few places on this course where if you make a mistake, you will die!” Hmmm. Maybe signing that release was not such a good idea.

Muster Area

Muster Area-Me

We next walk down the road en masse to the start point, and launch ourselves into another adventure. The 10-milers, the 20-milers and the 30-milers all start together, which makes for a somewhat crowded trail, so I try to stay out of everyones way and still achieve a modicum of forward progress. The first thing that becomes apparent to me is the ‘sand’. This trail system is mostly sand, ala the beach. Yes, it’s that deep! In short shift, the ‘good’ runners have left me in their dust (literally) and now my only concern is to find more solid purchase (ha) in this fluff-like sand.

Early Going 1

Early Going 2

When not plowing through the sand, one is relegated to negotiating the boulders: large, steeply slopping boulders that test ones mettle. Fortunately, trail shoes do have soles with much better traction than do running shoes; but still, it’s asking a lot to trust your life, or at the very least, your health to your shoes. After dealing with a few ‘ups and downs’, I’m now face to face with the first major climb of this race.

Going Up 1

Going Up 2

What Hill

It’s probably a mile long and I can barely step up from one boulder to the next. At times I must resort to pulling myself upward with the use of my hands. Still, I must confess this is a beautiful place. The walls, the canyons, the cliffs, the colors and the sounds are all breathtaking. Hoping to share this moment with a fellow runner I begin talking to the young lady climbing next to me. But wait, she can’t hear me. She’s wearing headphones. (Pet peeve #1) This woman, while participating in an adventure, has chosen to block out as much as possible by cutting off one of her senses!!!!! My attitude is, you can always listen to music in the comfort of your living room while rocking in a chair and wrapped in a shawl. Why on earth would someone block out an experience such as this? I believe you should open yourself to all that this type of undertaking has to offer: the good, as well as the bad! Oh well, enough of my ranting.

Race Course 1

Race Course 2

Race Course 3

Thankfully, after all that climbing, I am met with quite a bit of gentle downs, albeit in the ever-present sand. The next thing I notice is how hard I’m panting while slowly jogging downhill. This is what altitude will do to you. The climbing and the running in sand has fatigued my legs: consequently, I’ve been kicking the heck out of the oh so many rocks strewn along this course. It’s a good thing for me that trail shoes have heavy-duty toe guards on them, else, I would surely be limping by now.

At long last I pull into the first aid station at 5.5 miles in 1-½ hours. (16:20m/m). Man, I know that’s slow but I swear to you that I’ve been pushing it the entire time; no holding anything in reserves for later in the race. After thanking all the volunteers for their time and their efforts, I head back out for more fun. I feel I am doing okay while jogging most of these trails (yeah, even in the sand) when things turn dangerous. The trail here is basically the edge of the cliff and if you spit, it will fall, and fall, and fall to the canyon floor below. Because I have been having trouble lifting my feet high enough to clear even the lowest of hurdles, I am adopting an attitude (slow down) that will ensure that I stay alive! Make a mistake anywhere along the edge of this cliff and 6 of your best friends will be carrying you by the handles, if they ever find the body.

Don't Trip Here

Even as I make my way down the cliff walls, things remain quite dangerous. There are places where I must sit on my butt and use my hands for balance. Because I cannot reach the pointed rock below, I must drop down onto it with my left foot and immediately bounce over to another boulder on my right foot. Here’s another example of the advantages of trail shoes. The bottom of trail shoes have a much sturdier base plate than do normal running shoes, so runners endure less trauma to the soles of their feet (plantar fasciitis) than they would otherwise. Finally I am off the cliffs but the trail has adopted a new persona. The sand has given way to rocks and one is forced to run along the tops of these round and/or pointed, baseball to grapefruit sized foot massagers. Zounds! Hey, there’s the second aid station at the 8.8 mile mark but my time is a ghastly 2:34:00. Dang, this means that for the 3.3 miles of coming down the cliffs I averaged 19:24m/m. Anyhow, my 8.8 mile average is 17:30m/m. I hope I will make up some time on this next stretch which is ¾-miles of jeep-road (go figure).

I’ve managed the road nicely and have now arrived at a ‘water only’ station. Here, we 30-milers must run up a side canyon and locate a ‘punch’. We must punch our bibs to prove we traveled as far up the canyon as the course demands. In good spirits, I take off up the canyon (more sand!), but in no time at all things head south on me. The first 9 miles of the course were very well marked, but the deeper I go into this canyon, the markings get fewer and farther between and I often find myself off course. Fortunately for me, the runners coming back out of the canyon alert me to the ‘error of my ways’. (One gentleman) “Hey, you should be on this side on the stream: I did the same thing as you on my way in.” (Two ladies and a gentleman) “You’re on the wrong side of the canyon. We made the same mistake.” Eventually, there are no more runners making their way out of the canyon. Translation: I’m the last of the 30-mile runners and this means I will pay dearly for any more navigational errors. It seems as though it’s been a long, long time since I last saw a marker, but I’m following ‘runner/trail’ shoe prints in the sand. Still hoping there are others nearby, I keep calling out but no reply comes back to me. I stop. This can’t be right. I’m turning back! I’ve retraced my steps for quite some time when I espy the ‘punch’. Originally, as I made my way into this canyon, the punch was located down in a gully, behind a huge boulder, completely hidden from view. Why? Why? Why?

I’ve wasted so much time in this darn canyon that I am now in serious trouble of missing the cutoffs! I’m so angry that I’m cursing out loud, wasting valuable energy. I’m now struggling to find markers on the way out of this darn place: or is it more that I have lost my focus? After 1-½ hours, the water station reveals itself to me and I remind myself to not vent at the volunteers who are patiently awaiting the arrival this last, lonely runner. Oh heck, there’s the race director and I know what’s coming. “Sorry Jerry, I’m going to have to pull you from the race” laments Dan.

As you might imagine, there are a lot of emotions that I’m experiencing at this moment, and none of them are good. But, I can honestly say I can’t think of a better way spend 4 hours. To say this place is stunning is like saying Mt. Everest is a hill. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of the pallet of colors that God used to create this place. And, I firmly believe I can ‘sense’ the hardness of the sheer, stony walls He used to build these canyons. For one day, I got to play here.

Just another adventure!

The Thunder Road Run

www.RunCharlotte.com

Charlotte, N.C.

December 13, 2008

If you know me, then you know how I feel about running in overcrowded cities on asphalt and concrete; but; there are only 10 states remaining on my ‘list’ and the pickin’s are mighty slim in the winter months, so I’m off to Charlotte, North Carolina.

700,000 Charotteans reside here, thus making it the 19^th largest city

in the U.S. and the largest city in the state of North Carolina.

I have been running for 30 years, and for 30 of those years I have been guilty of overdressing in the harsh weather. In general, I overcome this failing when running in longer races, but when I awoke to 27 deg temps, I knew I’d be running in tights todays.

The morning begins with a short ride over to the train station. This is untested waters for me but in spite of the darkness of the hour, I find my way without incident. While boarding the train, I sneak a quick glance over my shoulder down into the parking lot where I espy one lonely vehicle, that being mine. In a short 20 minutes, I am delivered to the Charlotte Convention Center, which is serving as the staging area for all of today’s events. (Marathon , Marathon-Relay, ½-mara and 5K)

The gun fires, setting me off on a 2 minute walk to the start line as these narrow streets are bulging at the seams. (There were just under 5,000 finishers in the 4 races held today.)

It will take some time for this crowd to thin out. By my watch (chip time) I’m maintaining an 11M/M pace for the first 5 miles and this is a little better than I had expected.

Looking back at the 5-mile mark.

It seems to me that at all of these types of events one always finds ‘good fellowship’ and a ‘considerate attitude’ amongst the competitors. At least I’ve found that to be true here, at the back of the pack and today is no exception. It’s nice to converse with others, and listen in on all the discussions that fill the long, demanding hours of a marathon.

One can’t help but notice the long lines that have formed at all the porta-johns; so, I have been bidding my time for quite some time now, we shall see how this decision plays out. Ten has come and gone and I’m still maintaining my pace. So far, I have not taken off my gloves, nor my hat: and I harbor no regrets for wearing my running tights. (Who knew tights could run???)

Somewhere after 11, the ½-marathoners peel off in another direction, thus thinning the herd considerably. At 12, I’m face to face with the most difficult climb up to this point in the race and it negatively impacts my already-ambulatory pace. Hey look, someone has placed a porta-john just where my need is the greatest, and it’s vacant. See you later.

Course Elevation

I’ve passed 13 (or was it 13.1) in 2:22:22 but I’m laboring way too much for this early in the run. Can’t help but believe this is a horrible harbinger of things to come. Now, I have managed to dip below 11M/M at 15 and I’m telling you I don’t normally feel this poorly until 20 – yeeech! The sun is out, but if you are covered in shade, or if there is even the slightest of breezes, it is cold. This area has been under ‘flash flood’ warnings, so the air always feels dank.

I must comment on the outstanding support at this race. Kudos especially to the many, many police officers who are stationed at every intersection, and at every turn on this course. Often times they thank me for visiting their town. The race director has certainly earned a ‘job well done’. Wow, my old body feels bruised and battered and here at 18, I find myself running on CONCRETE. Not good.

I have lied, cheated and employed every trick in my arsenal to get this ragged body of mine to the 20-mile mark, and it’s now time to pay the piper. Normally, at this point in a marathon, I call to mind my #1 Mantra, “Anyone can run 20 miles, it’s these last 6 miles that transforms a runner into a marathoner”. However, today there will be no such bravado. Already, I must discard my ‘run/walk schedule’ and will take what the course gives me. Each of the next 6 mile markers is cause for celebration (if only I could) and still I play the mind games that are ever so commonplace in the closing stages of a marathon. At 23, I recite my #2 Mantra, “Anyone can run a 5K”; so encouraged, I plod onward.

24, 25, 26, and there it is, the finish banner (4:55:08). I collect my finisher’s medal, turn in my chip and head for the convention center to pick up my drop bag. Nothing more remains but for me to walk over to the train station. Gee, I hope my van is still in the parking lot!

Just another adventure!