Year in Review

2023 was a comeback year of sorts for me.  I turned 50 this year and was determined to return to a high level of fitness and competition.  

I ran 4 half marathons, one 6 hour race, one marathon, one 50K, and, of course, one 50 miler.

My running year really started in December 2022 with the Hitchcock Experience Half Marathon in Honey Creek, Iowa.  It was a very challenging trail run.  I finished in 2:52.  I knew this would be the unofficial start of nearly a year of training for the Hawk 50 miler in September.

My next race was the Lincoln Half Marathon in May.  I had a goal of 2:10 and came in under that at 2:04. I felt stronger and faster than I had in a long time.

Shortly after the Lincoln Half I injured my calf.  With a little bit of rest, cross training, bracing, yoga, and PT I was healed enough to do the Dizzy Goat 6 hour trail run in Omaha.  I ran 24 miles in 6 hours.  I wasn't 100% but this race was an important mental and physical hurdle to clear.

The next event was the Gravel Worlds in Lincoln. I ran the 50K on Friday, finishing in under 7 hours as temperatures soared near 100 degrees.  I followed that up with a 50K gravel bike ride Saturday morning.

On September 9, two days before my 50th birthday, I ran the Hawk 50 mile trail race in Lawrence, KS.  It took me 17 hours to finish, and although I was a little disappointed in my time, I was tremendously proud of my accomplishment.

A few weeks later I ran another trail half marathon in Colorado, finishing in 2:37.

In October, I ran the Chicago Marathon, the site of my first marathon 25 years ago.  I was still pretty worn out from the Hawk, honestly, but finished a respectable 4:53.

I capped off the year running the Good Life Half, clocking 1:53.

All told, I ran well over 1,000 miles this year, training and racing.

Chicago Marathon

 

Chicago Marathon 2023-The End of My "Eras Tour"

October 8, 2023.  4:53:47

Today I ran the Chicago Marathon, my 57th marathon overall but my first since 2016.  It felt a little anti-climactic after my 50 mile race last month, but it was still a special day.  The 1998 Chicago Marathon marked the beginning of a 25 year journey.  I've run at least one marathon in every state and the District of Columbia.  I've run two international marathons, in Stockholm and Berlin.  It's been quite a tour.

Although I try not to spend too much time looking back, I was nostalgic this weekend. A lot has changed over 25 years.  In 1998, iPhones and social media didn't exist.   Headphones and ear pods were illegal at most races in 1998.  Nobody would have imagined ride sharing services 25 years ago.  Even the biggest races had little to no security.  

I took a cab from the airport to the expo yesterday and listened to the cab driver complain how Uber has nearly put taxis out of business.  Entry to the expo was electronic.  The most popular areas at the expo were backgrounds where you could take and post selfies.  This morning I rode a Lyft scooter from my hotel to the start line, where a long security line, now normal and necessary after the Boston Marathon bombing, awaited. 

One thing that hasn't changed is the excitement of joining tens of thousands of people from all over the world at the start of a major marathon.  The energy is palpable.  As one of the slower runners, I started in the 3rd and final wave of the race, in corral K.  I began the race at 8:35 AM.  My playlist, a far cry from the mix tapes that I used to make, got me going and featured the number one song from each year from 1998 to present.  Many of them I was hearing for the first time.  I've never been much of a pop guy.

I thought I might be able to match my pace from my first marathon from 25 years ago, and for the first 10k I did.  However, it didn't take long for my 50 year old body to remind me that I am not 25 years old anymore.  Nevertheless, I settled into a comfortable pace, holding pretty steady at a 10:45 pace. I walked through most of the aid stations, being sure to thank the volunteers who make a race like this possible. The crowds at Chicago were great.  I don't think I've seen better, including the New York City Marathon, which I've run twice.  

Another thing that hasn't changed in the 25 years I've been running marathons are the signs spectators hold.  Some are classic, like "Worst Parade Ever," "Touch Here for Power," and "I Like Your Stamina, Call Me."  Many are related to current pop culture.  I saw a lot of Ted Lasso "Believe" signs.  Nobody is more popular now than Taylor Swift, who was 9 years old when I ran my first marathon as a single medical student. Not surprisingly,  I saw a lot of Taylor Swift inspired signs today.  One of them said "This is Your Running Era." As the father of a 10 year old daughter and an honorary Swiftie, I recognized this as a reference to Swift's blockbuster Eras Tour.  

As the miles went by and I neared the finish, I was overcome by a flood of emotions.  I have been very lucky to remain healthy enough to do this for 25 years.  I am lucky enough to have a beautiful, supportive, and understanding wife and 3 amazing kids, who I hope I've inspired to make and reach big goals.

Although I hope my running era will never end, today did mark the end of my Marathon Era.  It's been quite a ride, but my message to marathons is this, with apologies to Taylor Swift: We are never, ever, getting back together.

CHICAGO MARATHON

Tomorrow I leave for the 2023 Chicago Marathon.  The weather looks perfect.  I am excited to celebrate the 25th anniversary of my first marathon, the 1998 Chicago Marathon.  This year I am raising money for the American Diabetes Association.

Read about it here.  Thank you to all those who have donated!  

https://donations.diabetes.org/site/TR?px=16895424&pg=personal&fr_id=13655

REPOST: CHICAGO MARATHON 1998

The Chicago Marathon is this weekend!  As I've detailed before, the 1998 Chicago Marathon was my first marathon, and still one of the best.  I dusted off this post to re-live the memory.  I never would have imaged I would still be running marathons 25 years later!

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October 11, 1998.  4:23:59

My first marathon (& last without body glide!)  I had only been running for a year and a half.  I had done a few local 5Ks and the Bolder Boulder 10K up to this point, but I knew next to nothing about distance running.  I was amazed that people actually could run 26.2 miles.  It seemed almost super human to me at the time.  I researched marathons some more and discovered that if you were in reasonably good shape and had a "base mileage" of 15-20 miles/week, the marathon was within your grasp.  With enough time and training (4 months on average) you can go from running 3-5 miles per day to completing the marathon.

I've always enjoyed testing myself and this seemed like the ultimate test.  I was a second year medical student at the time.  I would often have to run at 5 in the morning or 11 at night, but I don't think I missed a single training run.  The marathon consumed me.  In my limited free time, I read everything I could about running.  I've mentioned Hal Higdon's programs before.  His weekly novice program became my bible.  

Chicago was a great choice for a first marathon.  It's truly one of the great cities of the world, and was cheap and easy for a med student with limited time and money to get to.  I stayed with a friend from college who couldn't understand why the guy who used to go to Leavenworth Cafe every night after the bars closed was now running marathons.

Marathon day was perfect.  Mid 50's, sunny.  Chicago is a flat, fast, well organized and supported race.  My running had always been hampered by IT Band Syndrome, and this race was no different.  I held back for the first half of the race, running very cautiously.  If you've suffered from IT band syndrome, you know that the pain can come on very suddenly, and can bring your run to a screeching halt.  By mile 11, however, the endorphins started to kick in, my pace quickened, and my knee pain melted with the miles.

My time was slow, 4:23:59, but I finished.  That was my only goal.  I was sure I would never run another marathon. 

Rocky Mountain High

Today I ran the Snow Mountain Ranch 1/2 marathon, a trail race at the YMCA of the Rockies in Granby, CO. I ran the race last year, finishing in over 3 hours. It was a cupless race and I neglected to bring a hydration pack or bottle. Needless to say, that was a huge mistake for any race over 10k, but really stupid for a race at altitude. I learned my lesson and was much better prepared this year. I dropped 30 minutes off my time from last year, finishing in the middle 1/3 of the pack. I definitely felt the altitude, but I love this course.  This was my last long run before tapering for the Chicago marathon in 2weeks!

The Hawk

Last weekend I finished the Hawk 50 mile trail race in Lawrence, KS.  This race has been a goal of mine for 7 years.  I signed up to do it in 2016 but a knee injury threw my training off.  I dropped down to the marathon distance instead.  It was just as well, because days of rain forced the race director to alter the course and instead of a trail run, the race was relegated to the parking lots and asphalt roads in and around Clinton State Park.  That wasn't the race I wanted to do.  Still, I always regretted not having done the 50 mile distance.

The Hawk marathon in 2016 was my last marathon.  Although I never stopped running, my training lacked discipline and focus.  Frankly, much of my life lacked discipline and focus.  I gained a bunch of weight and before I knew it, I was technically obese and had become pre-diabetic.  On top of that, I was anemic.  Last April, I took back control of my health.  With the help of my doctors and family, I changed my diet, figured out my anemia, and got my blood sugars under control.  The pounds began to fall and my energy level sky rocketed.  I felt better than I had in years and since I would soon be turning 50, I figured it was time to settle some unfinished business in Kansas.  I signed up for the Hawk 50 mile trail run in January.  Being in good shape and with nine months to train, I was confident and determined.

My training was consistent.  Since January, I have run 3-5 days a week and swim or bike to cross train.  I do body weight strength training 2 or 3 days a week and I do yoga when I can.  My training peaked with a 50km gravel road race 2 weeks ago.  As the 50 mile race day approached, the nerves definitely began to settle in.  I know I've prepared and trained, but can you ever really be ready for a 50 mile race?

My family accompanied me to the race.  We rented a small cabin at the park.  My wife and I woke up early to go to the start.  I was one of 37 who started the 50 mile race at 7 AM.  I settled into the middle to the back of the pack.  The morning was cool enough, but the day was going to get hot, with temps approaching 90 degrees.  Fortunately, most of the trail is covered by trees and in the shade.  The first 5 or 6 miles were pretty easy, highlighted by a stocked aid station around mile 5.  From there, the course became quite a bit more rocky.  After the next aid station at mile 10.5, the run became more of a cross country course before coming back to the same aid station at mile 13.5.  I reached this point at around 2 hrs and 45 minutes, and after seeing my family at the aid station, I told them I'd finish the first 25 mile loop and meet them at the start/finish line, where I would begin the second loop.  

The next 12 miles were considerably harder than the first, and my pace slowed significantly.  Although the course was well marked, I somehow managed to take a wrong turn and came into the aid station the wrong way.  I finished the first loop in under 7 hours, but had a little over a mile to make up because my wrong turn cut the course.  I spoke with the race director, and we decided I would make the mileage up before starting the second lap.  Thus, I walked 1.4 miles with my wife around race headquarters.

I spent quite a bit of time hydrating, eating, and talking with my family at the start/finish before heading out for the second loop.  I felt good, but the weather was heating up and I was a little behind on my hydration.  At mile 33, I was really struggling.  I had never run more than 50 km (31 miles) and this was uncharted territory for me.  Every part of my body was hurting.  I made it to the next aid station, where my family was waiting.  They really energized me and I felt strong at about mile 38.  The next several miles were some of my fastest of the day.  However, as dusk approached and the course became steeper and the terrain more rocky, my pace slowed and I was basically walking at this point.  I tried to "run" as much as I could, but hiking was a safer and steadier option at this point.  My watch died at about mile 40.  I am kind of glad it did, because it kept me from constantly looking at it.

The Hawk has a very generous cut off time for the 50 mile and marathon distance, so I knew I would finish if I just kept going.  As darkness fell, I was basically alone on the course.  I had only seen two other runners during the last 12 miles.  I was tired and sore and just wanted to finish.  My mantra became "relentless forward progress" no matter how slow.

I had no idea how late it was, but as I approached the finish line as the 32nd of 33 finishers, I was greeted by my family, who cheered wildly as I crossed the finish line after midnight, arms raised, spirit high, and extremely proud.