Monday, October 28, 2013

More MCM

Read what the Washington Post had to say about the 38th running of the Marine Corp Marathon, "The People's Marathon."

Best Sign at MCM

"Does Obamacare cover blisters?"

Runners-up:
"You are running better than congress."
"Run fast--Government shut down at noon."

Pictures from Marine Corp Marathon





Sunday, October 27, 2013

#46 in the books

Finish at the Marine Corp Marathon.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

MCM Packet Pick Up

Packet pick up opens in 5 minutes! Oorah!

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Weekend Forecast

Looks like perfect weather for marathon Sunday.


Marine Corp Marathon

With the government shutdown over, the Marine Corp Marathon this weekend is officially on.

Here is a map of the course I will run on Sunday.




Sunday, October 20, 2013

The Best Time of the Year

When I returned from my double last weekend, it seemed like fall came quickly to Nebraska. This is definitely my favorite time of year to run. After taking last week off to recover, I ran three easy miles yesterday and six this morning, enjoying the cool fall weather and the change of colors. Next weekend, I end the 2013 marathon season with the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Travel Map

According to Google Maps, I traveled 2,834 miles for my double this weekend, 
NOT counting the 52.4 miles that I ran!

#45--Atlantic City Marathon

Atlantic City, NJ
October 13, 2013
4:42:50

After checking out of my hotel in Baltimore, I got on I-95 and headed for Atlantic City.  I ate Lara and Power Bars in the car to refuel.  It took about 3 hours to get to AC.  I checked into the host hotel, Bally's, and walked to the expo at Caesar's.  This is the second marathon I've done where the host hotel is a casino (Baton Rouge being the other one).  It is a little weird walking through a smoke filled casino floor to pick up a marathon bib, but that's what I did.  Once I picked up my packet, I went back to my room and ordered room service, as I wasn't feeling up to venturing out to find dinner.

The race started at 8 AM, on the boardwalk right in front of Bally's.  The half and full marathons started together, but it didn't feel too congested.  The sky was overcast and it was very windy, but cool and dry.  After a brief jaunt on the boardwalk, the course turned into downtown Atlantic City.  There were a few hills early in the race, which taxed my already aching quads.  I settled into a comfortable pace after a while.  The course soon returned to the boardwalk and the half marathoners finished where we had started.  Runners doing the full continued along the Jersey shore and ran in some of the residential areas of the city, before once again returning to the boardwalk.  The last several miles were into a very stiff wind, which made the finish tough, physically and mentally.  One half mile before the finish, Rosalita by Bruce Springsteen started playing on my iPod, a happy coincidence and fitting end to my New Jersey marathon.

At the finish line I chatted with a couple runners who had also run Baltimore the day before.  We talked about the races, training strategies, and other marathons we had run.  We said good bye and I went back to the hotel to pick up my luggage, which I had to leave with the Bell man before the race, because the hotel did not offer a late check out.  I improvised as best as I could to get cleaned up and refreshed in the hotel lobby bathroom, before getting in my car and driving to Philadelphia, where I would return the rental car and board a flight back to Omaha.  I was satisfied with my time and proud to have completed my third "double-marathon" weekend.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

#44--Baltimore Marathon

Baltimore, MD
October 12, 2013
4:33:35

I have wanted to visit Baltimore for a long time, so this was naturally going to be my Maryland race. The weekend started with a 3:30 AM alarm Friday in order to make my 5:50 flight out of Omaha.  After connecting in Chicago I rented a car and drove to the host hotel in downtown Baltimore.  After checking in and dropping off my luggage, I headed to the expo.  The expo offered the usual check in procedures and running related booths.

I would have liked to tour the city a bit, but I was really tired and with 52.4 miles of running ahead of me, I walked to the Lexington Market and devoured a lump crab cake, one of the city's signature dishes, at Faidley's Seafood.  Later that night I took a taxi to the Little Italy section of town and loaded up on pasta for the weekend ahead.  There were several runners also there and we compared notes and shared stories of other marathons.

The race started at 8, which I don't like because I am always up way before that and I usually need extra time after the race to get checked out of the hotel, make a flight, etc.  The hotel offered a 1PM checkout, which would be cutting it close.  I also had to make it to Atlantic City by 6PM to pick up my packet.  It shouldn't be a problem, but I was unfamiliar with what traffic on I-95 would be like.

Although the forecast called for rain, the start was dry with temperatures in the mid 60s.  With the humidity, it felt much warmer than that though.  In a departure from other races, the marathon and marathon relay started at 8 AM in one place, with the half marathon runners starting roughly 90 minutes later at a point near the half way mark.  This made for a less congested start, which was nice.  One noticeable change from previous marathons was an obviously enhanced police presence.  Security measures were tighter and the fact that bomb sniffing dogs patrolled the start reminded all of the Boston Marathon tragedy.

The race is considered to be pretty hilly, and that was certainly the case.  There were also TONS of pot holes in the roads, so you really had to watch your step.  The course was a good glimpse of the city.  Lots of miles along the harbor, through the many parks highlighted by various monuments and sculptures, and a good deal of time witnessing the poverty in the housing projects just outside of downtown.

I ran an easy pace, but not as easy as I would like.  I had to be done in time to get back to the hotel, shower, and drive to New Jersey.  I finished in just over 4 1/2 hours. The half marathoners who joined the race finished at about the same time.  Although the start was not congested, the finish was.  There were long lines for food that I didn't have time to wait in.   I grabbed by medal and a bottle of water at the finish, and ran about another half mile to the hotel.  I took a fast shower, grabbed by luggage, and checked out right at 1PM.  I got in my rented Hyundai and headed for Atlantic City, NJ.


Sunday, October 13, 2013

Baltimore Marathon Finisher Badge

Pictures from Atlantic City


The start and finish for the Atlantic City Marathon, 
in front of Bally's Casino, 
on the famous Atlantic City Boardwalk.

Picture I took of the Jersey shoreline from the boardwalk, 
around mile 12 and 22 of the marathon.

The hotel lobby bathroom where I "showered" after the Atlantic City Marathon. 
 I made a huge mess and made quite a few guests very uncomfortable, I think.  Oh well, should have given me a late check out!


#44 and #45 in the books

This weekend I completed my third double marathon weekend, running in Baltimore on Saturday and Atlantic City on Sunday.  My combined time was the "fastest" of any of the doubles I've done.  I use the word fast, VERY loosely there.  I'll have full reports on each race.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Ankle Replacement

I am being asked a lot about a TV segment the other night about ankle replacement surgery.  Bryan/LGH is advertising a podiatrist who claims to be the only one doing the procedure in Lincoln.  The segment was misleading at best. 

Ankle replacement surgery is a procedure I perform and offer to patients whom I believe are good candidates for the procedure.

To find out more about ankle replacement surgery, visit: http://www.staranklereplacement.com/