Thoughts From The List

I subscribe to a listserv (a discussion group on the internet). The group is the Dead Runners Society and while to topics vary, they almost always revolve around running. Here follows my reflections on three recent threads.

Two of the runners reflected on how the enthusiasm has gone out of their running. I responded with:


Among saints there are mystics who had ecstatic
experiences. It is said that they get a glimpse of
the divine and hence of heaven, but frequently these
same saints experience a dark night of the soul - a
"lengthy and profound absence of light and hope. In
the dark night you feel profoundly alone." The dark
night comes on for no readily explicable reason but
seems to be a necessary part of that experience.

It doesn't seem unlikely that highly competative runners
experience a similar phenomenon in their running
lives. The mystics are of course more likely to be
subject to the dark night because they have come so
close to the light. Plodders like me while not immune
are less likely - our peaks are lower but our valleys
are less deep.

I have almost always been mid pack and I run not for
the expectation of great results but for fear of what
will happen if I dare stop.

Good luck guys - hang in there. The great saints did
and were often rewarded with even deeper experiences.

Music and listening to it frequently comes up in list discussions. So favor it and some abhor it. This thread got started when someone asked about Ipods and skipping:

I have always favored listening to music while running
and often became impatient when Runners World would
lecture about not using headphones and their
insistentance on the dangers of headphones. That said
recently I have forgone music as often as I have
use it and ironically I have no mp3 player but
continue to use an old Panasonic cassette player. It
has taken quite a beating and keeps working - it uses
one double A battery that last for hours.

There are two programs I enjoy and will sometimes
schedule a run around:

A local stationhas a program on Sunday mornings that plays Elvis for
three hours. The disc jockey is a lot of fun and is full
of trivia about the King and his music. Makes a three
hour run fly.

On Saturdays Temple University's radio station plays
From the Top.
This is a show that spotlights young classical musicians.
It's only an hour but it is followed by opera from the Met.
I probably wouldn't sit and listen to either of these
shows so running allows me to enjoy some great music.
(For reasons beyond my comprehension Philadelphia has
no full time classical radio station - a few years
back when the WFLN the classical station went off air
Temple WRTI picked up classical music part time much
to the consternation of jazz fans who lost jazz air
time.)

The next thread began when someone posted about the animals one might see while on the run. My contribution follows:

I have written in the past about my fascination with
seeing wild animals on my runs. Admittedly, my life
list is quite a bit tamer then Sally's but I have
enjoyed my glimpses of deer, rabbits, groundhogs,
foxes, chipmunks, egrets, hawks, and vultures. Even
close to home, I have seen in early mornings raccoons
scurry into the sewer and possums sauntering along
barely aware of my presence. I have gotten to run thru
a zoo but I guess those sightings don't count. But
running on the beach I have seen all the various shore
birds, crabs and jellyfish, and even pods of dolphins
off in the surf. I have seen paths covered with wooly
caterpillers and fields full of wonderful butterflies.
I have seen hundreds of robins gathered together and
came home one morning to see my house surrounded by
mourning doves. All winter my wood has been populated
by bright red cardinals and in a couple of weeks will
fill with many other birds back from their winter
holidays. All this for a city boy like myself is
quite wonderful.

A Different Path This Weekend

Last week I was in Central Park with all the congestion and crowds of New York.

But this week I ran much more solitary routes.

I had two distinctive runs – both a little over two hours. Saturday’s run was on the Greenway in Brandywine Creek State Park in northern Delaware. The portion of land thru which the trail runs is part of the Woodlawn Trust donation. I tried to find more about this organization on line but found little. But the land was a donation to the state to preserve this open space. The trail is part of the northern Greenway.

One path I took included a very steep climb which I thought would be good prep for the Ultra. This was a challenging run because snow and ice covered much of the route. Much of the trail was well trodden but I did find a trail that had not been broken. In fact at one point I thought I had lost the trail altogether but was shortly able to make out a slight depression that indicated the trail direction. It was a pleasure to have a brand new experience on these trails.

On Sunday I did a great 15 mile loop using familiar streets close to home. This is a route I have used for long runs as marathon preparation. The last time I did this route it was in brutal heat; Sunday I contended with cold temps and wind. I preferred the cold. The run was tiring but not the exhausting kind of run that summer heat creates.

I finished both runs tired but satisfied that my conditioning is on target.

The Gates


The Gates 

On Saturday I went up to New York to see Christo’s The Gates. This is the much discussed installation of 7500 steel structures with saffron fabric hanging from the horizontal beam.

Some of the reaction has been hostile.

But I found that I liked the installation a great deal. It is probably not a coincidence that the Christo’s gates remind me of Japanese torii.

I had visited Inari shrine in Kyoto, Japan where a thousand torii wind through the countryside. An experience that at the time I was quite taken with. That probably explains my affinity for the gates.

I left home early and got to New York without too much problem. Through the Lincoln Tunnel, up 8th which becomes Central Park West. There I got my first glimpse of the gates. Left on 86th street and across the park to 5th Avenue and down to the Metropolitan Museums parking lot. I had read that the Metro’s roof top garden had a good top view of the gates. I had about an hour to kill, so I strolled through the Park entering at Miners Gate. It was great to be there early for although there were already quite a few people about I did have some areas to myself. I discovered an unmentioned aspect of the gates. You can hear them. As the fabric rustles in the wind there is a unique sound probably reminiscent of a sail.


In The Wind 

Just before 9:30 I returned to the museum where to my surprise a large crowd had gathered. I was afraid it would take awhile to get in but after a short delay the doors open and the crowd was handled quite well. I wandered about a bit and then realized I better get to roof before it got any more crowded. The line for the elevator was already quite long so I asked about stairs. They had a stairwell that went right to the rooftop. A guide warned it was five flights but one of the advantages of fitness is that the stairs were no problem. The view was interesting but disappointing – you really couldn’t see all that much of the gates. On the other hand the view from Belvedere Castle had been much more interesting.


From The Roof 

I spent a couple of hours in the museum than went back to my car to change into running gear and headed out to the park. I retraced my steps over to the west side of the park and turned north. As much a possible I tried to stay on the path under the gates. I particular liked when the gates were on steps and when they went right up to a tunnel only to continue on the other side.


Through The Bridge 

I circled Great Hill then up to Central Park North where I turned east until I circled Harlem Meer. These were my favorite vistas - both looking toward Nutter’s Battery and the view from NB. A short run thru East Meadow back to the museum where I stopped to admire the Obelisk.


oblelisk 

I recrossed the park at 72nd and admired the view to Bethesda fountain. Then down West Drive toward Columbus Circle. Any one who has run the NY marathon knows this as the Marathon Finish. The gates are particularly thick here and at one place a series runs side by side. I ran past the Heckscher building where there was another great view. then past the Wellman Rink where I turned north and back eventually to the museum. I think I got to see almost all the gates and ran under many of them.

That’s the tour – is this art and/or is it a success. I can’t say. If some of what I saw in the museum is considered art than the gates certainly are. I can only say they gave me a good feeling, enhanced I must say by knowing they are so transient. The huge crowds I think contributed to the experience. Somehow all us observers became part of the work. I heard one man tell another that normally the park would almost be empty on a cold February Saturday. And now there were thousands of people sharing one experience.

Quick Update

Since 11 February I have had great runs includind a 20 miler alont the Perkiomen Trail and Schulyhill Velley Trail. The Perkiomen Trail was made easier and was fun because a friend ran with me. Thanks Mukand.

Then another trail run Friday - reversed part of the course and challenged some good size hills. Some the trails I hadn't run in awhile. Good winter run.

But Saturday was the real fun...

February Trail Run

February is that in between month. By mid February you are tired of winter, and February teases. This week we had three warm days, but yesterday the temps dropped again and this morning is cold and windy. It's not the bone chilling weather of a couple weeks ago, but following the warmer temps you notice the cold. The days have gotten longer so I start with light.


Morning Woods
Posted by Hello

I run along the white trail, than orange, and finally a small unmarked path that leads to a creek crossing. The photo below doesn't clearly show the creek but this view looks downstream.


Creek Bed
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After crossing the stream I head toward Ridley Creek Park. This path briefly enters the park and then loops back to the Arboretum. Here the blue and white trails merge for a short time.


The Trail Bends
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I run into the dawn


Toward Dawn
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Shortly I will turn back north and return through the woods. It is a empty wood, this late winter wood, but still quite beautiful.

Lichen
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Friday's Run

Last week the snow seemed to deep for a trail run so I stayed close to home. This week I didn't want to lose the opportunity to be in the park so I chose to run on the multi purpose path in Ridley Park. The path is a 5 mile loop - a two mile uphill and two mile downhill. Just after you enter the park you pass this waterfall. Despite the warmer temps this week you can see the ice hanging down.



waterfall
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After a two mile climb the path straightens out - I stopped and looked back getting this photo:


looking back
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I then turned and got this photo - just ahead is the border with Tyler Arboretum and the turn that will lead to the two mile downhill.


toward tyler
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A little further on I snapped this sign which explains the deer fence and what happens when too many deer browse the vegetation. I wanted to add photos of the deer but the two I saw disappeared too quickly for a photo.


about deer
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I enjoyed this run a great deal and only regret I didn't get on the trail.

After The Snow

Last weeks light snowfall was followed by 12 inches last Saturday and another inch or so on Sunday. Nothing compared to some places, but enough to make a mess of roads. I decided against a trail run. Despite the cold temps all week I thought it likely that I would find myself slogging through the snow without much traction. Reluctantly, I just made my normal morning loop.

Today I did my other regular run by Merion Golf Course. Except for the scary bit when you have to negotiate busy Ardmore Avenue it was a pleasant run. Mid level clouds, altocumulus, hinted at tomorrow's possible snow. It amazing how quickly we acclimate. Today's 27F felt quick comfortable. In fact I was almost too warm.

probably not enough miles but a good Saturday run.

Snow Run

First snow has fallen. Not much. (It came Wednesday during rush hour causing huge delays.) The first big storm is scheduled for tomorrow. But for today there is a nice thin layer of white in woods. As I took to the trail it was 15F with a wind chill of -1. I felt comfortable in my layers and found the going easier then I expected.

On some of the trails I was the first human but tracks of others were common. Some entered and crossed or followed only a short distance. But some went straight ahead for some distance. Rabbit and deer tracks are fairly easy to pick out but others I’m not so sure of – some are probably predators mostly likely foxes. On one stretch there were myriad tiny tracks bunched closed together near the center of the track as if a tribe of creatures had gone on a pilgrimage for they all seem to go in one direction with no return trip. The only animals I saw today were deer. They seemed strangely bold, allowing me to get quite close and stopping to watch my progress before disappearing into the distance. Perhaps hooded and mittened, bent forward to be sure of my footing I don’t look quite human and they are puzzling out what this intruder could be. The woods themselves are all winter beauty, dark trees against white – everything at once soften yet clarified. I made a great loop around until finally entering the return leg where I followed my own tracks back out into the world.

Icicle Ten Miler

This race takes place in Wilmington, Delaware. Its ten miles covers much of the course of the more popular Caesar Rodney Half Marathon. Yesterday there were 400 runners - one of the best turnouts in recent years. For the past couple of years the weather has been poor (check the photos for 2004) for the run but for a change conditions were good. About 30F and dry roads.

The host of the race is the YMCA. One of the nice things about this run and Caesar Rodney is that you get to use the Y’s facilities and have a hot shower before you head home. I went out for a warm up run along the Brandywine:



The road used by the race is to the left. To the right is a flowway that parallels the Brandywine. The high bridge in the background is I95.

The race organizers got a bit of an interruption of the race sign in when the fire alarm sounded. They cleared the building and had the fire department check. Nothing more that a smoky microwave.



This is a race for hill lovers. I would estimate that 80% of the race is up or down. After a loop through downtown Wilmington you enter Brandywine Park. You then run on Kentmere Parkway designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead specifically to tie the two parks together. You pass the Delaware Art Museum (currently under renovation) and enter Rockford Park. You have a mile and half on Route 52 which includes the turnaround. The out is mostly uphill so you get downhills almost to the end – with one last hill to get to Delaware Avenue and the run to the finish at the Y.



Bottom of the Hill


Top of the Hill
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Looking down from the top of the hill

I ran much better than last year – but so did everyone. Finished in the middle of the pack and in the middle of my age group. Finish time was 1:25:53. Not bad on a hilly course early in the season. I had done a leisurely couple of miles before the race and repeated that afterwards and so was satisfied with my mileage count.

I like winter runs. By the way I wore mittens which I found much warmer than gloves - definitely better than gloves.

Natural Running


I realize that one of the side benefits of running is that I am much more aware of and in tune with the “natural” world. (I use quotes because I don’t think that urban living is unnatural – but “natural” has come to mean the things in the world less touched by and controlled by humans). For example, like most every runner, I am attuned to the weather, topography, the changing seasons, the changes of light and dark in ways that most are not.

I also notice the other creatures that share my neighborhood. Some are common like crows and squirrels. Others more rarely sighted like foxes. Sometimes it happens just outside my own door. A while back I wrote about coming home to find the house surrounded by mourning doves. And last week as I was leaving the house I noticed that the ornamental pear tree just in front of the house was filled with scores and scores of robins. I have seen congregations of robins before (I think I wrote before about such a congregation) but this was outside my own front door and in such numbers. I moved slowly not wishing to disturb them but even my slight movements spooked them into scattering. But that moment. . .

So Saturday I was out for a run. It had rain most of the morning and I put off my run to early afternoon hoping for a dry spell. I took the route that leads me past Merion Country Club. As I went up Golf View Road – Merion golf course to my right – there are large homes on a couple of acres (the McMansions of the 1920’s) to my left. I noticed a flock of deer standing stark still like lawn ornaments.

I expected them to run and indeed they did, but toward me. They covered the ground between us almost instantly and then we were running side by side separated by a small privet hedge. Then, suddenly, a buck jumped the hedge almost directly in front of me and raced for the golf course. The others found a small gap in the hedge and raced through. For a second I was tempted to race after them but instead I watched them disappear into the golf course.

I looked around hoping someone else had seen this magical moment but I was all alone. No traffic, no walkers, no one in sight. What prompted this behavior is a mystery. Why did they run toward me? Did the buck just want to show off?

It felt strangely satisfying as if the deer made me part of their running group.

Upper Main Line YMCA New Year 5K

Well it's not actually run on New Year's Day but on the morning of the 31st. I would like to do a New Year run but there are none that are convenient. There is a 4 mile run in Central Park that sounds like fun but it is hardly practical for me.

So I wrapped up my year with this mornings 5K through the neighborhood near the Y. It is a very hilly course. One of those when you are only briefly on level ground.

I haven't run this course for a couple of years. In past years it has been very cold but today very mild.

Didn't set any PRs but ran well considering how full of Christmas coookies and chocolate I am.

Tomorrow brings a new year and a new training regime. I have three months to prepare for my Ultra-Marathon. Here we go.

Posted by Hello

Christmas Running


I almost always run in the morning. Only Tuesdays, when I have faithfully run speed work first on Kelly Drive and then, when that commute became too daunting,
Haverford College with the Bryn Mawr Running Club, has broken this pattern. But this time of year for a couple of weeks I make time to run in the evening to enjoy the
Christmas lights. I try over the space of several evenings to run as many of the streets within two miles as I can.

I am nearing the end of my marathon recovery still limiting both the days and miles I am running, but these are relaxing runs and fit into the recovery

Some random thoughts and reactions to what I see: too many white lights; lots of people seem to have white lights only on their interion trees; (I am somewhat of a Christmas nut and put up two large trees as well as two small trees - my Santa tree (on which all the ornaments are Santas) does have white lights but my downstairs tree has multicolor lights - my other two trees (small ones) have no lights); what's
with cartoon characters - spongebob squarepants makes me laugh but what does he have to do with Christmas; ran past a house with all blue lights didn't seem very
Christmassy (pretty sure they weren't celebrating Hanukkah); a little further all green as I got closer the lights spelled go eagles, cut but... Some people
have gone back to the old C5 lights, nice but wow they must burn electric.

The big canvas snowman, santas, trees (and yes spongbobs) are interesting but the are noisy since a fan runs to keep them infalted. In the day most people let them deflate leaving a pile of canvas on the lawn and that seems a little sad.

I like lights that twinkle but never had much luck keeping twinkling lights lit. My wife bought me a novelty item a flasher bulb in a small box with the
legend "break in case of emergency".

So I run past the tasteful, the garish, the simple,the overtop and all of it great fun. A great custom,Christmas lights, tying us both to our pagan and Christian roots,helping us celebrate light come into the world.


There are more streets to explore and probably more surprises.

Merry Christmas

P.S. In the interest of full disclosure: for the first time I have put lights outside my own house - I lighted two artificial trees with non-twinkle white lights to light a Santa I purchased this year.

Prediction Run and Reindeer Romp


Bryn Mawr Running Club sponsors through the year a series of predictionruns. This is a run where speed doesn't necessarily win but pacing does. Runners get to pick from three courses 5, 7, 10. (Although these
are approximations - the five mile course is actually 5.4). These courses are the ones used by the Club for their Wednesday night runs during the summer. Each participant picks their expected finished time. No watches are allowed. For the Christmas prediction run the entry fee is an unwrapped toy that is giving to a local charity. They also collect running shoes and accept donations for socks for the homeless. Very sociable event since most everyone is running at a relaxed pace. I have never even been close to my predicted time although this year doing the five mile course I was within a minute. I wasn't able to hang around after the race so I don't know who won but in the past the winner is usually within 10 seconds or less. I saw a friend later in the day who told me he was within 30 seconds and knew he hadn't won. The course after you get off Montgomery Avenue is pleasant but I was disappointed by the paucity of Christmas decorations. I guess it is déclassé among the rich to have too much Christmas.

Sunday was the Reindeer Romp to benefit the American Cancer Society.
CBS's Sunday Morning had done a segment on cancer survival that morning.
I love this race since it's a four minute run from my house to the start. This race runs a course I had laid out several years ago. The first couple of years it was very informal - it was "almost a 5K". But a couple of years ago a local runner and entrepreneur Kevin Nolan took it under his wing. He worked on sponsorship and got the course professionally measured. The first year he did it, despite his best effort, a course marshal sent everyone down the wrong street. But this year the markings were excellent and unlike last year when the weather was terrible, the weather was decent (mostly cloudy, low 40's). It has a wonderfully civilized starting time - 3PM. I've been running the course a couple of times of week with very slow times, so I only went out expecting to break 24 minutes. The course utilizes a roadway owned by the regional transportation provider (SEPTA). This "busway" is closed to all traffic except buses and since there is no service Sunday afternoons it makes a great runway. The first ¾ mile is downhill. You run to Haverford Road and loop back up the busway and after a ¼ mile you go out onto a parallel roadway and through residential streets until you loop back to the busway. Mile two is mostly uphill and then you come down a long slope, a short quarter mile flat then the hill back to the start. A challenging course. This year one of the police officers I had worked with and whom I had encouraged to run for fitness ran his first 5K. I warned him about going out too fast on the initial downhill, but it is just too irresistible. I passed him about the first mile mark - he had burned out on the first mile (and I must confess it felt good to show that the old man still had it.)

I felt I ran well and finished 23:15 - not bad since I've been running lightly since the marathon and really only expected 8 minute miles. I was getting ready to leave when Dick Fitch who times a lot of local races told me that I had placed first in my age group (bless five year age groups - the 50 year old had run 20:xx something). There were 350 runners and another 150 walkers so a nice turnout for a nice cause. My only regret is that I didn't bring a camera so I could have had a photo of Santa giving me my medal.

Posted by Hello

Winter officially begins on or about 21 December. But for me the official first day of winter was Friday, 3 December. I ran the trails that day in what for me was the first winter run. Two weeks ago there was still color in the woods as the trees held some foliage. But heavy rain and winds stripped all the color away. As I step out of the jeep the temp was 29 Farenheit. Frost covered the ground. My tracks stood out as dark spots in the white. The winds had brought down trees. One large tree completely blocked by path. This tree had taken several smaller trees down and looked like a giant's game of pick up sticks.

The woods look very different with the foliage gone. You get a greater sense of the topography. (And you also realize just how high you must climb.) Whereas the other three seasons are about color, winter is about shapes. You see how the skeleton trees and how they stand individually. And not only the trees; the shape of the creek is much more apparent.

This will be a short run since I am still in marathon recovery. It was good to see the wood in winter mode. I plan on many long runs here especially if I do decide to try a 50K trail run.

Happy Thanksgiving

In today’s paper there’s an article by someone from the Ayn Rand institute who says we all got it all wrong the Thanksgiving is all about gratitude for productivity. Well maybe. But on my morning run (the first after the marathon. Don’t you love those first runs. Never sure if every thing will work, but restless after three days off – running is addictive.) I found myself grateful just for all the things around me.

So just on this run and not even beginning to count all my other blessings I am grateful for clouds – black, gray and white all roiling across the sky. I am grateful for the patches of brilliant blue and a sun the makes the edges of clouds fiery white. The ornamental pears planted by the town a few years ago hung on to their green leaves after the maples had changed and dropped. But this week they had a committee meeting and decided all together to switch on the red and yellows. I am grateful for green fields and leaves, red, orange and yellow. I am grateful for other runners and shouts of good morning and Happy Thanksgiving. I am grateful for barking dogs, for leaf litter and muddy paths, for honking geese and squirrel houses high in the trees.

And that't just this morning. This year I have enjoyed many great runs through fields and woods, on the beach with ocean waves, in Canadian towns and Mt. Desert Island. For all I am grateful.

Throughout today I will reflect on friends and family and all that means and all the blessings I have been given and how very much I have to be grateful for.

PHILADELPHIA MARATHON 2004


Goal sub 4 hours. Results 4:05:04

Let me get the disappointment part over first. If I hadn’t run the first 20 so well I wouldn’t be so disappointed by the 4:05:04. But there it is. Almost a classic case of the clichés of running: hitting the wall – the race has two halves the first 20 and the last 6.2 – you have to run the whole race not part, etc., etc.

I didn’t feel bad during the last six. My left arm cramped briefly but mercifully my legs didn’t. I just didn’t have energy and turnover. I’m annoyed at myself because I finished with a caffinated clif shot in my pocket. Kind of a waste to carry it 26 miles and not use it. More on that later. Let’s start at the beginning and the good things.

A couple of days before the race a young fellow I had run with a few times emailed and said he was doing Philadelphia as his first marathon. He had read my blog and knew my time from last year and wanted to do about that pace. I warned him I was a terrible pace setter but that I would enjoy running with him so we made arrangements to meet up. (As it turned out Mukand using the pod on his shoe kept us on pace). I did debate whether you are better off running within yourself or making it a social experience. Undoubtedly if I was going, for example a Boston Qualifier, I would probably want to run undistracted but on this day I’m a mid pack runner just interested in a good time and if I get a good race time that’s icing on the cake. As I told Mukand if you run by yourself you just obsess over all your aches and pains.

Philly’s expo this year was on Eakins Oval just in front of the Art Museum. I was skeptical but the large tents they set up worked well. I found the number/chip/shirt pick up easy and the expo easy to navigate. They used the same tents for the post race refreshments so it was an efficient use of resources. I went over to the kids’ races to find Mukand since he had mentioned his kids would be running. Always fun to see the little guys run. Hope they always run.

Didn’t hang around long; I wasn’t sure I parked legally and didn’t want to come back to find a ticket or worse towed. And I had a pasta dinner to get ready for.

Sunday morning I did the easy ride to Mantua (love hometown running) and parked easily, walked over the Schuylkill Expressway and River to Eakins Oval. I had unwisely chosen to wear old socks thinking of “nothing new” and comfort but they were too stretchy - a mistake I won’t repeat. I fussed with them but knew it was to no avail.

Used the stick, vasolined all over, made sure I had my gels and Succeed. Baggage check was easy. A courteous young volunteer asked are you doing the marathon, do you have everything you need. Have a great race. Very nice.

I met Mukand at the 8 minute mile mark (my stated goal was 8:45 but I knew it helps to be seeded a little ahead of goal). Introduced two other friends who had shared a wonderful pasta dinner with me the night before. They were planning on running a little faster (they would finish 3:50).

The early miles of a marathon always seem so easy. We ran comfortably enjoying the city and the other runners. A runner saw my dead singlet and introduced himself as a dead runner. Unfortunately, I don’t remember his name (he was from Ohio and I looked at Ohio runners hoping it would jog my memory but it didn’t work – I hope he jumps into the list with his impressions).

We progressed thru the city down Race, Columbus Blvd, South Street, Chestnut, up 34th, pass the Zoo, which hadn’t take my suggestion and put some animals on display, and into Fairmount Park. In the city, at various points on Chestnut, there had actually been some spectators. Just after crossing Girard Avenue you drop down and then face the longest, steepest hill of the race. A homemade sign at the top declares, “Last Hill”. Liars!

I like the loop thru the Civil War Memorial, past Memorial Hall (for any Jack Finney fans out there – Philly has many Time and Again places but Memorial Hall is at the top of that list) and into the horticultural center which takes to a steep drop down to West River Drive. I warn Mukand not to overstride and then proceeded to fly down – do as I say not as I do.

Still we are on West River Drive and running well. I notice a lot of people are very wet (once again – why does anyone wear cotton). And I predict there will be a lot of cramping later.

Not long after we past the half marathon point, a young fellow says you seem to know the course. (As is my wont I have been talking non-stop). It turns out Damon is running his first marathon on his 26th birthday. Cool. His goal sub four (he finished 3:55 chip). He lives in NJ but this is his first visit to Philly. Where’s the Rocky statue? South Philadelphia at the Spectrum. Will we past the steps Rocky ran up? Mukand tells him yes and that in fact he had run up them that morning. I explain that shortly, just after the next water stop, we will past those steps. (Steps my grandfather help lay btw). We run past the museum – it’s crowded here as they squeeze you into a shute to separate you from the finish. The crowd is large and noisy (seemed to be more spectators this year then any I remember). We are around the museum and on West River Drive approaching Boat House Row. Damon is on my shoulder and asked “Where are those steps?” He had missed them – don’t worry we assure him you’ll see them at the finish line. On down West River Drive. I try to remember something about the sculptures we are facing. I can never remember the Viking at the end of Boat House Road. He’s not, as people think, Eric or Lief but
Thorfinn Karlsefni. (How's that for a household name!!!)

There is a water stop about 15.5 – General Grant . I lost contact with Mukand at this point. Later he would email and say his arch hurt and that he slowed. I was still running well – in fact I covered this section 16 to 18 miles as well as I ever had. Damon was still with me and introduced me to his sister who was also running (and would finish at 4:00 hrs chip) as his new best friend.

Now I don’t know why but I hate miles 18 thru 20. They seem interminable. You pass from Kelly Drive onto Ridge Avenue then Main Street in Manayunk. I think I made some tactical errors here. I should have walked thru the water stop just past the Falls Bridge and made sure I took my Clif Shot and got both water and gator aid. As it was I only got water. The next water stop is just before the turnaround (20 miles) in Manayunk. It was not a long stop and I was on the wrong side and missed it. You get another chance after making the turnaround but this side only seemed to have water. I am still trying to figure out why I didn’t use my gel (even if I had to stop). Mental fatigue I suppose. I had gotten it into my head I was not going to walk at all during this race. And I never did but I wonder if my stubbornness didn’t cost me a sub 4. I saw my friend Joe Gallagher walking and he finished in 3:57. Walking thru the water stops may have been a better strategy.

Well it got ugly here: the mile times dropped and dropped. At mile 23 I tried to psyche myself that if I picked it up to 9 minutes miles I could still make 4, but I knew it was 1) impossible and 2) I was lying. Still even though I was being passed left and right I felt pretty good. The race was no disaster. I was enjoying the stragglers still coming toward Manayunk (thinking how do they do it – they will be two more hours on the course). There were lots of cramping runners now. It had started in Manayunk but now it’s common. They are over to the side trying to stretch or doing that funny stiff leg waddle you do when cramped. I was churning along slow but steady – no cramps but I was afraid to test my legs by changing stride too much. When you’re a long time runner on the drives you say to yourself – hey I done this – it’s that easy jog back to Lloyd Hall- I’ve done it a thousand times.

The finish is anticlimactic – but a very nice volunteer helps with chip removal. I think these kids should be commended for getting out there. I posed for a finish photo – it’s highly unlikely I will buy it but I am curious of how I looked after 26. Longish wait for food but enjoyed chatting with the people around me. One woman missed a Boston qualifier by five minutes. Now that must hurt – yet she was in good spirits. Chicken broth felt good. Baggage pickup and another great, polite, courteous kid. There is hope for the world. (And by the way no problem dropping off – no problem picking up – got my bag in 30 seconds – the Army should take lessons from this bag check.)

But here’s my treasure --- Mukand wrote me:

“What a fabulous experience that was!

Thanks for teaming up and for the "running tour of Philadelphia".
If the Philly marathon is 26 miles and 385 yards of history,
then you are the best tour guide for it.”

Now that was nice to hear.

Can an experience be at once disappointing yet very positive and entertaining – I think so. Thanks Philadelphia.

Long Run - Valley Forge and the Perkiomen Trail


Don’t you love fall. After many dreary days, Sunday was just beautiful. Temps in the 70’s may have been a little warm but it was breezy enough to compensate. I needed a long run so I headed out to Valley Forge. I had planned on starting at Conshohocken and running to Valley Forge but the first few miles out of Conshohocken are pretty much industrial wasteland and I didn’t want that today. There is a section of the Schuylkill River Trail where the trees form a canopy that is quite lovely so I began my run running from VF toward Philadelphia. The recent rains had knocked a lot of leaves off but there was still plenty of cover. The old Betzwood Studios have been rehab as the Lubin Office Complex which is nice, but what wasn’t so nice is the huge apartment complex they have built adjoining the trail. It’s obvious trees have been cut down even along the trail. I hope the architect and engineers have a good flood water management system because this area is flood prone and when Floyd went thru the area was under a couple of feet of water. This was a brownfield and I suppose the developer O'Neill Properties deserves some credit but I can't help thinking all that impervious surface is going cause trouble downstream.

After three miles I turn back reentering the park and picking up the Perkiomen Trail. This is a rail to trail project which runs twelve miles north out of Valley Forge National Park. A couple of miles parrell Rt. 422; not my favorite section but, I suppose because this part is treeless and the path warms, there were scores of grasshoppers and wooly caterpillars. The grasshoppers seemed lethargic and you could almost step on them before they would jump; the caterpillars just bustled along on some mysterious mission. I hope not too many were bicycle road kill. You then cross the Perkiomen Creek, take a sharp S curve down and run along this large stream. This section is really quite beautiful. At one point the trail hugs a rocky cliff with great vistas of the Perkiomen and the surrounding countryside. The colors are all the rich reds, oranges and yellows of fall. The wet summer has given this bonanza of color. This is definitely a trail I will revisit. About five miles into the run the trail skirts some private property. Someone had place two bikes along the trail with a sign that said “Free Bikes”. I must say I was quite tempted to take one and see if it was in working order. I ran a little more than an hour and reluctantly turned back for the return trip to VF. I thought the return trip would drag but the miles seemed to fly by. When I got to the edge of Valley Forge Park I took a trail that led to the Schuylkill River and completed my run on this lovely path.

I wasn’t conscious of sweating or water loss but I was salt crusted and was glad I had taken my camel pack despite the weight.

Even the ride home was nice. The Schuylkill Expressway itself glowed and the exit for Gulph Mills was stunning in the parade of color presented as you wound down to what will become Montgomery Avenue.

Did I tell you – I love fall.

October Running

Since I didn't blog much in October I thought I would use this post to reflect on this month’s running which included trails, boardwalk and beach. I celebrated wrapping up another Haverford Township Day with a long, leisurely run through the neighborhood. The next Friday (the 8th) I had a very pleasant trail run – woods still green in that getting ready for fall mode. Early Saturday I headed down the shore. Once in Ventnor and after letting my dog Max have a run on the beach I ran south on the beach from Ventnor to Longport. It was two quite different runs - wooded trail and beach sand. But they have in common that they connect me to nature in way my street runs can’t. Perhaps because they are changes from my normal routine, perhaps I just find them more relaxing, but these runs just seem to fly by. There are only a few people about and many of the homes are already boarded up for winter. The last mile I take off my shoes and run thru the surf. The water feels good and before leaving I venture out and let the waves crash over me – I’ll be chilled going back to the house but it will be worth it.

The next morning I am out for a long run (three hours). I trot to the end of the boardwalk turn and head north toward Atlantic City. I kinda like the boardwalk. Not too crowded on this October morning. You get to look out at the Ocean at least until Atlantic City. AC is as downtrodden and bedraggled as I found it last year with the added bonus that the striking casino workers are picketing. Not sure why since there seems to be almost no one on the boardwalk. The boardwalk continues past the casinos. A portion is closed too rickety even for foot traffic. There are dozens of people fishing and it seems a chummy community. They are the first people to greet me with hellos. The boardwalk ends and I venture only a little farther into the marina area before turning back. The advantage of the boardwalk is that there are some public restrooms and water fountains. The strikers are a little more organized on my way back and are chanting and drumming as I pass. One striker even calls out some encouragement to me. (Later I was to read a judge issued an injunction limiting the noise they make – who exactly were they bothering, the seagulls). I get back to Ventnor sooner than I expected so I make my way down to the beach. Although I am very tired the last miles are a delight and though it is cloudy and cool I can’t resist another dip – probably the last of the season.

Today I did my Friday Trail Run. Yesterday had been beautiful – the trees seem to be at their peak. I forgot that this close to the clock change how dark it would be early morning. Fortunately, I know the trail well enough that running in the dark woods is not a problem (but you Ultras that run trails at night – wow!). I’m a little nervous at the first creek crossing but I get over without falling in. The woods are extremely quiet. Instead of the chorus of birds you hear in spring there is only an occasional cry. Twice I hear deer but I only catch of glimpse of white tail. There is a stump on the trail. It’s about eight feet high, jagged and knurled – it broke in some storm years ago. I have passed it dozens of times. But in this morning’s gloom as I round the curve and encounter it, it seems like some wood troll out of time past and, momentarily, I hesitate to run toward him as a cold chill runs up my spine. Yo I was born in the 2oth and will die the 21st there are no trolls. No trolls. No trolls. I murmur my chant as I run past. I am almost 45 minutes into the run before this cloudy morning gives some color to the trees. But what color. I am surrounded by reds, oranges, yellows, golds of all shades and varieties. Perhaps some evolutionary psychologist could tell me why the colors are so pleasing. Don’t they harbinger death? Yet they are splendid. I look carefully for my turn – the trail I’ve chosen is narrow and hidden – easy to miss even in full light. But find it I do and carefully over another stream I make my way up to Ridley and then back down along the stream. The return trip will include a long uphill climb. From the ridge I look across a valley to a gorgeous tableau of trees in full color even in the cloudy light. The fresh leaf litter is pleasant to run thru and I get to see what I missed on my way in. Tall tulips trees their trunks almost black are headed with crowns of gold. I feel I should round up people and say take the day off go see the trees.

October has been cool and cloudy but I have had some great runs. Hope you have too.

Army Ten Miler

It's been a month without a posting. I did some nice runs in October but no racing, but Sunday, October 24th, I did the Army Ten Miler.

First my whines:

It is never fair to compare one race to another but I can’t help comparing this race with the Marine Corps Marathon.

I hate to admit it but the Marines simply do a better job. The Ten Miler is in its twentieth year - shouldn’t it be bettered organized?

For a race with 20,000 runners the Expo was disappointing. There were less vendors than at Broad Street a smaller race.

My biggest gripe? What was with the baggage check? It has to be the worst setup I have ever encountered. They don’t want to check regular bags – fair enough. I understand there are special security concerns in this race. But then why not give us the clear plastic bags at the number pick up – use that bag to give you the number, etc.

The baggage check was impossible to find. I know it wasn’t just me because I encountered other frustrated runners. A little signage would have gone a long way.
Telling me to go to E street was useless. Why the baggage check wasn’t in the secure area where runners finish the race was a complete mystery. Instead you have skip the food/water or stand around wet, shivering. I grabbed a water and went to the baggage area where there was complete chaos. Instead of an orderly line, people were standing around like the floor of the stock exchange holding up their number and yelling. Then bags were tossed out. One problem is that the numbers are based on approximate finished times. So all the runners in a particular number range hit their section at the same time. So everyone is at the green section and no one is at the blue.

And someone told me it was worst last year!

Metro: The trains were on a Sunday Schedule. (They delayed the start because don’t cha know the trains are running late – dud). The Pentagon stop was closed. Again security. Unfortunately, no one told our operator. Everyone got off at the Pentagon. Then realized it was closed. The operator did wait until everyone reloaded but another unnecessary annoyance. Post race, coming back – there is one turnstile open. Hundreds streaming down into the station. How difficult would it have been to say this isn’t like other Sundays and open additional turnstiles?

Waited almost twenty minutes for a train (had just missed one because of the crush getting in). Of course it was packed (which did lead to a funny moment – some one said make like it’s Tokyo – only in a military crowd and priceless for someone like myself who lived in Tokyo.)

And as long as I’m being picky and whining. They gave a medal – fine I didn’t expect anything for a ten miler (although it was a twentieth anniversary) but if your going to do a medal put it on a ribbon for crying out loud – and why the heck was it made in China. No one in America makes medals?

OK - finish whining now a race report:

Seems I have run an awful lot of races in the rain this year. I got up at 5:30 and the ground was dry, but when I left the hotel at six a steady drizzle was falling. It would rain off and on all morning.

Your bib color seeds you at the start. Green put me near the front about two minutes from the start line. I was afraid I was too far forward and stood at the tail end of the greed section. I probably should have started a little further forward since in a big race my pace tends to be set by those around me. As it turned out the crowd made it hard to get a smooth pace especially since there seemed to be a lot of slow runners in front of me. A cannon shot started the race and several vollies followed. One of my images is a dog handler trying to calm her large German Shephard spooked by the cannon shots. The first mile took about 8:15 which turned out close to my net average (8:14). Disappointing because I had planned on eight minute miles. I felt comfortable (in hindsight probably too comfortable). Didn’t seem to be passed a lot and passed a lot of people in the first couple of miles so I think I thought I was going faster then I was. The course goes over Memorial Bridge, and in back of the Lincoln Memorial. There is construction work here that appears related to preventing vehicles from getting near the Memorial. This section of Washington is Foggy Bottom and the couse passes theWatergate complex where you circle back, running along side the Potomac. I chose the inner path which took me underneath the overhang of Kennedy Center.

I had a very slow mile four – no reason that I can think of (it is a hill but not particular steep) but I think that 9 minute mile just ripped any chance for an 80 minute run.

The course then wines toward Independence Avenue. The Washington Monument is prominent - at first it seems to be on your right but you actually pass on the left. Mostly park here. On Indepence you past the backs of the various Smithsonian Buildings.


You really don’t get to see much – circling the Watergate complex is blah and the river views behind the Kennedy center while nice are nothing special. On Independence Avenue you are really seeing the backs of the Smithsonian Buildings. And the boring façade of Dept. of Agriculture (how darn big is that agency and what do all those bureaucrats do?).

You see the runners ahead of you coming up Independence and well on their way to the finish. Later, you get to see the thousands of runners still well behind you as you enter those last two miles.

I remembered the 14th Street Bridge well from Marine Corps. It’s a point in the marathon where runners are really struggling; many are walking and trying to stretch out. I passed a road marking that noted "35K Marine Corps". In the marathon you still have more than four miles to go. But today less than a mile left. Almost everyone is ratcheting it up a notch. I have a great last half mile. I didn’t expect the finish line to be so close when you make that final turn but enjoyed the final sprint.

It’s been on my to do list for awhile but now that it’s crossed off I don’t think I would do it again.

Stats: Place 3258 Males 2697 Age Group 52 of 338 Clock 1:24:45 Chip: 1:22:21

First Fall Trail Run

Dew point 63/Humidity 84%.

It was wet this morning as I set out on the trail. I have to cross a grassy field to enter the woods so my feet are quickly soaking wet. It is light but the sun is still hidden. A mist hangs low which always gives a primeval feel to the woods. It is warm this morning but fall changes have begun. Some trees have yellowed and the trail already has a coating of freshly fallen leaves. I make the great loop this morning and briefly leave the Arboretum and enter Ridley Creek Park. On the trail there I encounter a hiker. It's rare that I ever see another human on the trails. Our brief exchange of good mornings is interrupted by a deer crashing across the trail. The mere sound of our voices must have disturbed her.

Back in the Arboretum the trail I choose leads to a large meadow and here fall is more evident as much of the vegetation has begun to die back. The sunlight just striking the trees to my right makes the yellows particularly brilliant. As I re-entry the woods the dappled sunlight is another reminder of fall. In high summer the canopy is dense enough to keep out direct sunlight but now patches of sunshine are everywhere. I skirt one more meadow and then enter the woods for the last leg out to Middletown Road. I've been out here for more than hour but it seems like only minutes have gone by - it was that kind of run.

Bar Harbor Half Marathon

I ran this race on Saturday, 18 September 2004 but am only now getting to publish a report since we were visiting and exploring Maine and Canada.

This is a very low key race (especially compared to the race I might have been doing that weekend - the Philadelphia Distance Run). There were about four hundred runners. Pick your number and shirt up at the YMCA. Paper bag with the race shirt and number. That's it. No expo. No freebies.

Race day greeted us with the a driving rain. It rained about 80% of the race (I joked thatit was my longest swim ever).

The course begins on Bar Harbor's Main Street. I love resort towns. Kind of nice to think that whole towns exist just so we can go and spend money. I don't mean this in a sarcastic way. It just seems great that as a society we can create that much leisure.

Despite the fact that the summer season is over the place is still quite busy, but this rainy Saturday morning all is quiet as we thunder down Main Street past tourist shops and eateries. Down to the harbor and then a hard left on the road out of town.

Second mile is up a long black top where you eventually enter the park. Acadia National Park is just magical. Hard to believe it belonged to one family. The paths thru the park are a packed gravel of some sort(crushed granite I believe). The trick is to stay off the cinders and still cut the tangents as much of possible since the paths curve quite a bit.

There seemed to be long gradual uphills and then dramatic downhills. Mile six is almost entirely uphill but seven is almost entirely downhill so I guess it evens out. I may have been too conservative on the downhills. A woman running near me would open these huge leads on the downhills and then I would reel her in on the level and uphills. I was afraid going too hard on the downhills would result in poor performance later.

The vistas even in the misty rain are spectacular and when there are man made objects like the stone bridges they seem to fit quite naturally.

About mile eight I hear someone say "Didn't I wait on you last night?" It's my waitress from dinner. It must be tough running after serving all night. we
chat only briefly because I am moving quite well and want to keep it up. The next couple of miles seem to fly by.

Mile 11 is a shock as you leave the park and come out onto a highway. You must run on the shoulder as it is not closed to traffic. I tried hitching
a ride but no one stopped. There is one last hill not long but steep and then a mile plus of almost all downhill. In fact one drop seems almost too precipitous and I wonder how fast should I go for.

One giant puddle (is this a steeplechase)swin jokes a volunteer and then a couple hundred years in the park. It seemed easy.

My goal 1:50; my finish 1:50:15.

I saw the clock but just couldn't get 1:49. If I had known how close I was I would have pushed some of those downhills just a little.

Great race despite the rain which does ruin afterward more then the race itself. The Y does allow you to shower which is nice since you can go home clean, dry
and warm.

I enjoy the half marathon distance. A hard run but not a destroyer like a marathon.

The next day I returned to Bar Harbor to take a ferry. The CAT to Nova Scotia. The seas were choppy but I survived the three hour trip without getting seasick. (Fortifide by some Dramamine.)

We enjoyed a two hour guided tour of Yarmouth and then explore the town. It's a hardscrabble kind of place. Tourism helps but fishing and some industry are probably more important since the tourism season is short.

Sunday morning I ran for about an hour and saw the town from one end to the other. They have recently improved the waterfront and the town does have a number of victorian houses but it is really the vistas out to sea that grab you.

The ride back on the Ferry provided an unexpected highlight - whales. About an hour out we entered an area where we seemed to be surrounded by dozens of whales. Mostly you just saw their spouts. But a couple of times some were close enough to boat that you could glimpse their fins and bodies. Quick a stroke of luck especially since according to the local paper whale sightings have been rare this year.

Chad Brooks

Main Line Dollars For Scholars

A 5K run with two loops on Lancaster Avenue in Wayne, Pennsylvania. It always surprises runners even those who traverse Lancaster frequently by car how hilly it is. But these are gentle hills and it is relatively easy to keep pace; it also helped that I warmed up by running a major portion of the course. This race has an elaborate, detailed certification map – one of the best I have seen and yet as far as I can determine no results on line. In fact I never did see the results board. I know they were disappointed in the turnout – beautiful morning, well advertised race, not a lot of competition, good prize money and still only about 100 runners. It was my best 5K time in a while: 22:30 and I was pleased with that. I couldn’t id anyone I had raced with before (which also surprised me since this is close to home) so was pretty much on my own with pacing. My first mile was about 7:30+ which means for once I picked up (very slightly) the pace as the race proceeded. Partly this was due to two nice downhills in the last mile. I love a race that finishes on a downhill which this did. I know that I ran the last mile well because for a change I was reeling runners in instead of being past left and right. I once again used another runner to draft but only shortly because I realized that although he had passed me just past two he was really slowing by 2.5 (must have miscalculated a surge) and I knew I had plenty of energy left. I can’t be certain but I don’t think anyone passed me in that last half mile. Nice event. It’s always good to run better then you expected.

Yesterday, I did a longish run – a little over two hours. Not sure that was wise since I am doing a Half-Marathon on Saturday. But I will taper the rest of the week and it was such a pleasant morning. I started out in the dark just after six and enjoyed seeing the gradual brightening day come. Merion golf course was a hive of activity as I went past; the grounds keepers already hard at work greeted me as another early bird. There is a water fountain just off Ardmore Avenue so I took advantage of it and just a little further along on Golf View I secreted a drink that I could pick up on my return circuit. While not crowded there were more people on Haverford’s nature trail then I expected early Sunday morning. Ironically, I nearly got a chance to test dog abatement procedures when I encountered a yellow lab on an isolated road. He seemed determine to block my path but when I showed no interest in his driveway he lost interest in me and allowed me to past, but not without some admonishments so everyone would know he did his job and chased the intruder away. Got home just in time for the Sunday puzzle on NPR (phrases where both words are silent e). Felt quite energized and ready for a good half.

Stone Harbor 10K

This was an interesting race for me. Last September I ran the Ocean Drive Marathon and part of the course was thru Stone Harbor. The road markings (16 miles and 17 miles) were still on the road. So late in the race I could console myself that the finish was so close instead of so far. This race nicely book ended the season since I ran the Ventnor 10K to start summer.

Being a Jersey Shore race it was very flat although the weather was hot and humid. (I had driven thru thick fog to get to the race.) Nice wide streets completely closed to traffic with an out and back that lets you see all the runners. Although beautiful to watch it is also disconcerting to realize the three Kenyans in the lead are going twice as fast as you are.

I used this race to gauge my fitness and felt strong thru the race (I was quite surprised to learn I was only a few seconds faster that the Ventnor race where I had felt I was struggling). I had a great first three miles but lost some ground in the final three but not bad: 50:35 for an 8:09 pace. Would have liked a sub 8 pace but I let my mind wander a bit too much over the final miles. Despite the heat and humidity but I did manage to pass runners which I found heartening. (There were Kenyan runners in the race and one of the women was being treated by the paramedics when I came in.)

I don’t know if it was an official water stop on just a kindly neighbor but the last water stop on the race gave out tiny bathroom cups with ice. Very strange.

Toward the end of the race (with about a mile to go) I was passed by a runner who appeared to be about my age (turned out he was exactly my age 57). Now I knew I wasn’t in the running for any medals but inspired by the Olympics I decided I would contest my finish with him. Initially I ran beside him but then strategize - the talking heads on the Olympic coverage had discussed the advantage of following a runner. so I tucked in behind him. When we were two blocks from the finished I poured it on; I didn’t know if he would challenge since he seemed to be running comfortably but I easily passed him and beat him by four seconds. I was only hampered by three runners just in front of me who slowed down and blocked the finish. I know sometimes I slow down before the finish but really run thru and keep moving thru the chute. There were very nice finisher medals so I got to have my own Olympic fantasy despite my mid-pack finish.

The race ends on First Street just off the beach so before heading home I went down the beach and into the ocean for a quick swim – wonderful way to end a race.

As I heard people discussing how very hot it was I couldn’t help thinking that in a couple of hours half way around the world the marathon would start under very similar conditions (although as it turned out much better conditions then the women had to contend with). I was very impressed with the times run on that difficult course. I shudder to think what my time would be with hills and humidity. I knew exactly what Baldini was going thru as he laid on the track his quads in perfect definition. And Dan Brown – that stiff leg walk as he tried to stretch and massage just before entering the stadium (I am sure he wanted to run the last lap even if slowly). As for De Lima, my heart broke for him. I think fellow marathoners know how at mile 23 every physical and mental resource is stretched to its limit – how devastating that shove must have been. Not just the time lost but simply the mental concentration and rhythm lost. He may indeed have slowed down and been passed w/o the incident but how hard to live with the “what if”. What courage and grace he showed in defeat.

One commentator has talked about the how difficult the marathon is on participants – these athletes can really only be competitive in one or two races a year. The Olympics falling as it does in late summer is especially challenging for runners not just because of summer heat but because timing conditioning and race readiness is so difficult. It may explain why Olympic marathon winners are rarely the pre race favorites.

Friday Trail Run

Late summer now. In a few weeks there will be dramatic changes but now is deep green lush wood of summer. The air is humid and the ground wet. But it is pleasant to be on the trail. Struck out on a portion of the white trail I had never done. The trail seemed to disapper at one point and I had to make a great loop around to pick it up again but for most of the run it was well marked and easy to follow. I was pleased to find that when the trail rejoined the portion of trail I regularly run I recognized it. Imagine a city boy like me and I knew one wooded path from another. Amazing. Lots of deer sightings with one close encounter. One of my longer runs, very satisfied with pace and the deep peace of the woods.

Half Wit Half Marathon

Don’t know why I have such a problem with this run.

First, the weather (yes I know it is August but there are nice days in August). The first year I ran it was very hot. Last year was only a little better. This year – well we could have had anything: first forecast was for a nice day. Then Charley came along. For awhile it looked like the race might occur during a driving rain and high winds, but Charley’s track took it off shore and what rain fell was gone by race time. But while relatively cool it was extremely humid.

I felt organized and ready, but somehow I had a series of mishaps. First I forgot to pick up the trail shoes (left right by the front door) I planned to run in. Fortunately, I had another pair in my Jeep. These were heavier than I would have liked for a race, but I had little choice since I was an hour from home. Then a rather serious misstep: I forgot to put my Succeed tablets in my race ready pocket. I had them ready to go and can’t understand the oversight.

The race itself (as usual) began about 20 minutes late. The race director has a good time making fun of the course, Reading, and the runners. If you have seen his race application you will get a flavor of his sense of humor.

I knew I wanted to run slow and steady and lined up toward the back. The disadvantage of this is that in the first mile there a number of choke points - so you find yourself running and then stopping. Early on there was a stream crossing and despite some care I got wet – yuck first mile and my foot is wet. Every year this first part is slightly different.

The first part of the race loops back to the pavilion where the registration takes place. You actually run thru the pavilion. Then into the woods. This race has a number of steep inclines. I suppose the faster runners run up them all (something I would like to see someday). But I walked the steepest inclines. The problem with this course is that many of the down hills are so precipitous that we can’t speed down but must cautiously careen down grabbing tress sweat stained from previous runners (again I would like to see how the fast runners handle these hills).

Miles three thru six are wooded over rolling landscape and so far I was running well. About mile six you come down a steep incline onto a ball field. There is a water station there. You circle the infield and are confronted with the 128 steps from hell. I have no idea why or where this comes from but it is a very steep incline up a series of granite blocks. Who or why they were placed is an unsolved mystery. This stretch includes negotiating a large tree that most choose to crawl under. Notable on the course this year was the number of downed trees. After the steps there is a return three mile trip thru the woods until you get back to road. I was struggling a bit walking more than I wanted and bitterly regretted not having my Succeed tablets since I could feel my legs cramping up. I made sure I got two cups of water and ran fairly well on a short stretch of asphalt but just after reentering the woods my legs (quadriceps) really seized up. The pain was intense I couldn’t even stretch I managed to sit down and tried to massage my legs. By drawing them up it felt better. Several runners went by asking how I was. (My experience in this race is that runners really watch out for each other and always check on lagging runners). The irony was that I felt fine unlike two years ago when I felt faint and completely unfocused. I just couldn’t get uncramped. After a few minutes I began to walk and felt better – I had decided to drop out at 9.1 miles. But after another minute of so I felt like running and did. Another four miles was going to be tough but I decided to go for it. I went into the final loop. Here you get to see faster runners who have finished the loop and are headed to the finish. The first part of the loop contains the longest downhill where you can actually run and I did pretty well but it also has the steepest uphill and just when you think you are finished with up there is one last climb. The first time I did this portion I actually sat down completely exhausted and very nearly passed out. This time I felt fine and even the cramping held off – I was just very, very slow. Finally we were back to a straight away (but very rocky and slippery) unfortunately the cramps came back in spades. Not only couldn’t I run but I could barely walk. I chose not to stop but just walk slowly. Finally I came out to the last road and path and found I could run a little and I did run – in fact I felt great in the last quarter mile (probably because I knew it was over).

All in all it was a frustrating and yet strangely satisfying experience. My performance was miserable but I willed thru the pain and setbacks. I think it will make me a better runner. I can’t imagine any race daunting me after Sunday. (Of course I have no intention of testing this theory or myself in a 50K trail run.)

Seasons

Have other early morning runners noticed? It's dark out there - a sure sign summer is slipping away. Monday I tried to kid myself that it was just cloudy but, no, there was a crescent moon and Venus to show it was darkness not clouds. This morning it was cloudy which made it even gloomier. Sigh. Still it's running that puts me in touch with the seasons.

I have a run that I do most Thursdays. It is on the quiet back roads near home. I can expand or contract it easily and these days run it without a watch. There is a regular cast of early morning people I see, although forthe most part it is solitary. But if this routine run had no surprises there was a surprise at the end. Birds. Mourning Doves. Dozens lined up along the roof of my house, and more lined up along the fence bordering my property and on the utility line that runs through the back of the property. And just my property. A few years ago I had to stop feeding birds because I began to attract hundreds of pigeons. Since then I hadn't seen such a congregation of birds. (There is a large flock of starlings that fly over in the evening on their way tonight time roost, but they fly on to a large tree in the cemetery.) Though I knew mourning doves flocked, I had mostly seen them in pairs and never in such a concentration. I suppose they were on their way somewhere and just stopped for a morning chat because when I came down from my shower they were all gone. Still I wondered why my house? Will they be there tomorrow?

If I hadn't been up in the grey dawn I would have missed them. Running really does open other worlds. Life in all its variety is wonderful and wonderous.

A quick update

I asked at the end of my last post about a sky phenomenon I saw on Sunday 8 August 2004 on the beach at Ventnor.

A reader has contacted me to tell me that what I saw was a "sun dog". I googled sun dog and found a number of sites but none contained a photograph that was as striking or beautiful as what I saw Sunday.

However, this link comes closest and gives some idea and a definition.

I feel very lucky to have seen such a beautiful phenomenon.

Weekend Musings

I had the good fortune this summer to spend a couple of weekends “downtheshore” (a local regionalism used as one word meaning to go to the beach). So Friday after helping at Bryn Mawr’s Zoom Mile (strong wind slowed the mile – winning time was a “slow” 4:05) we headed out to Ventnor. Early Saturday I jogged down to the beach, put my shoes and socks under the boardwalk and ran south to the end of Absecon Island. (Absecon Island contains Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate, and Longport – every July there is a swim around the Island, 22.5 miles, now that’s a marathon.) I am always surprised by how few people are on the beach early. It’s my favorite time of day. Running barefoot is fun although crushed shells can be painful. It’s neat to arrive at the end of the Island and realize you have run out of land. Back north I see my own footprints and have graphic demo of why the long toe on my right foot causes problems. The print in the sand shows clearly that that toe digs deeper then any of the others on either foot. Interesting. Going south you clearly see the high rises (mainly casinos) that line the Atlantic City boardwalk; a few dog walkers (strictly against the rules), but mostly I and the sea birds have the beach to ourselves. The next morning, Sunday, I tried something different. I drove over the Longport bridge and parked about a mile from the toll bridge that goes to Ocean City. I ran south and cross the bridge, my vertigo flickers but remains under control; then through the streets to the boardwalk – I run the length of the boardwalk (about three miles) and back again. The boardwalk is crowded with walkers and bikers. On my way back I break stride a couple of times to take in the art exhibited along the boardwalk. (On admiring one set of prints the artist amiably says “come back with money”). I must say I equally enjoyed both runs – the solitude of the beach and the crowded boardwalk - both have things to offer. At the end of the Sunday’s run I finished at a small beach where dog owners had congregated to allow their dogs to run in the surf. I spent some time cooling down and watching the dogs, joyously released from their leases, splashing through the water. My favorite – a young Great Dane bounding at remarkable speed and agility making great leaps for its toy. (BTW I saw something on the beach Sunday afternoon – a cloud was lit with the colors of the rainbow. It was quite striking and lasted several minutes. Is this a common phenomenon on the shore? What causes it?)

What a beautiful morning. Clear and 60. I had always thought of Delaware County has a good place to avoid the extremes of climate. A four season place with hot humid summers and cold winters but nothing extreme. But in the last couple of years I think the whole county has up and moved to somewhere in the mid-west. It started with Floyd a tired old hurricane that was mostly tropical storm when it got here but then decided to hang around and around. Worst flooding we ever saw. The next summer was a drought. The next summer the most days over 90 ever. Then a winter when we had more and deeper snow then Maine. Then last fall the wind storm (don’t know if they ever decided it was a tornado) that knock down trees, took off roofs. Then this Sunday it was water again. Six inches of rain in less than two hours. Some of the areas flooded were in a flood plain and were use to high water but other places had never seen water like this. Streams that were normally a trickle raged carrying off cars, bridges, and roads. (Sometime this morning we will officially become a federal disaster area.)

What does that have to do with running – nothing other than it was a great morning to be out in woods this time to benefit from one of those extremes (calling for record lows tonight!). While some of my humid weather runs have been all effort, today was the opposite. The miles flew by and even more than usual I found myself reluctant to leave the woods and so did another loop. For the past couple of weeks I have been going further into the woods taking paths I never used before. Sometimes I easily rejoin a known trail and sometimes I get lost and must retrace my steps but it has been great fun. Today on my detour I encountered a stag with a large rack. He came crashing out of the underbrush just in front of me and raced down the path with me just behind him. Shortly he turned off the path and just feet off the path turned and watched to see if I would follow. We stood facing each other only a couple of feet apart until he bolted deeper into the brush. Earlier a rabbit had played a similar game. He would race ahead, wait for me to catch up, then race ahead. He did this five or six times before tiring of the game and disappearing into the undergrowth. (Now I know it is silly to anthropomorphize this natural behavior but I can’t help thinking there is some sport for them in this – silly human we are the real athletes.)

Next week I will do the Half-Wit Marathon (If you want to read a fun race application click on the link). After reading about 50Ks and longer and 6 hour runs I hate to admit I am somewhat intimidated by that course. It is the toughest run I have ever done, far more than any of my twelve marathons. I can only wish that the weather is like today and not the 90s it has been the last two years.

Tonight I will volunteer at Bryn Mawr Running Company’s Shut Up and Run 5K. New this year is the Zoom Mile. The elite category should be a great race to watch especially with the cool weather and slight downhill, no turns there should be some very fast times.

Running Notes

Cool, rainy Saturday morning. It was nice to get out in the weather. Might seem crazy to some to run in the rain, but there were golfers on the golf course. sNot that’s crazy – at least I’m in a t shirt and shorts. I have been having some hamstring problems lately but today felt great. I developed soreness in my left leg a few weeks back. It seemed to be hamstring related but the discomfort shifted from time to time – sometimes it seemed more in the piriformis, sometimes in the hip flexor area. Around the time I that developed it, I discovered I had a planter wart (kept feeling I was walking on a pebble.) Even though I didn’t feel any pain when in my running shoes I wondered if it had made me changed stride. I did see my family physician about it but he believed it was only because my hamstring was tight (especially since the soreness lessened as I ran and only returned 24 hours later and it was obvious my range of motion for the left leg was poor). I have been faithfully stretching and using the stick (which I highly recommend - works great) and have already seen an improvement and this morning’s run convinces me I’m on the right track. Doc said he could burn the planter wart but then I couldn’t run for a week and he knew I wouldn’t like that (he gets it bless his soul). He recommended I simply use an otc treatment. It seems to be working.

Because I had been feeling sore I had cut back quite a bit on my running. It turns out that if you go from 20 mile weekends to 8 mile weekends and don’t change caloric intake to results are weight increase (dud). I was 189 in doc’s office – highest in several years. When people try to lose they are told go slow, don’t expect to lose rapidly, etc. Why the hell does it gone on so fast! Actually it’s been creeping up since Christmas but the last six weeks were especially dramatic. It’s back to no treats, no seconds, low fats. It’s a rotten spiral – run less, weight increases, makes running harder and more injury prone, run less. My wife wanted me to give up beer but I kept the beer and gave up the peanuts, pretzels, chips that accompany the beer.

Last Sunday I did a 10K in Ventnor NJ (and no I shouldn’t have been racing at that point but I went nice and slow and actually felt better after the run). This was the flattest, straightest 10K I have ever run. It must be difficult to train in such an environment and probably explains why I saw runners going over the Ocean City Bridge since that would be one of the only ways to get in hill workouts. The race had a strange synchronicity moment – after the race when I checked the results I noticed that the runner following me was Mary Brooks. I was vaguely aware that there was a young lady behind me but never spoke to her. I wish I had a chance to speak to her to see if there was any connection.

I realized Sunday that I really don’t prefer out and back courses. I know there’s probably some benefit to knowing the return course but I much prefer loop courses. I now realize that is why I prefer my northerly trail course over my south course. The north course allows me to make a wide loop and only repeat the last half mile while the south course which I did yesterday is an out and back. I am curious if any one else has a preference for one over the other and if so why.

There is a beach replenishment project underway in Ventnor. Lot of people don’t like it because it has created sand dunes that block the beach for beach front house. I think it is pretty cool. Fascinating to see the sand slurry coming out of the huge pipe and the bulldozers moving the results up the beach. They worked 24 hours straight thru the holiday weekend must be anxious to get it done before the season really gets going. Costing millions and will probably all be gone in the first big coastal storm.

Late Spring Trail Run

The morning was damp, closed in. A misty rain had been falling but stopped just as I stepped out onto the trail. The woods are a deep, vibrant green now. The new growth overwhelms the path in spots. The morning is loud with bird calls. I have the trail mostly to myself with just a few rabbits – I will see only one deer further into the run on the edge of a meadow. Perhaps the vegetation makes them harder to see or perhaps the lusher growth allows them to stay further in the woods.

I believe that current evolutionary thinking posits that the path to humanity as we know it began when our ancestors left the forest for the plains. In fact I remember reading somewhere that all over the world humans replicate the look and feel of that African veldt.

But I feel quite comfortable in these woods and when the trail opens into a meadow I am glad to reenter the forest. I especially like the spots where ferns predominate and the forest could be a million years old. (Of course if it was filled with critters anxious to make me their next meal I would undoubtedly feel quite different. And there are stretches of less used paths where the brambles say imagine if no one had come before you. And you don’t mind being wet and chilly when you know a hot shower is minutes away.)

I stayed on a circuit I know well enjoying the calmness of this world apart. I need hardly to think about where to go – when I first ran these paths I would occasionally get lost but now the paths are familiar and I coast on automatic pilot just enjoying this wet morning.

Wet, tired my hour used up I head toward that hot shower.

Tuesday night I was at Haverford College for some track work with the Bryn Mawr Running Club. The track was in use so we moved to a nearby field to run the perimeter. A little later a group of youngsters came to use the field for soccer practice. I heard one of the young fellows tell his coach, "We can't play on the field those men are playing on it."

We forget sometimes that running lets us play.

Later when I ran home my neighbor was unloading her kids and her daughter asked her mom, "Why is he running?" For exercise said mom, but I liked the earlier assessment better, for play.

I run for the play.

Broad Street 10 Miler


The race started out with just the kind of synchronicity I love. I got down a little earlier than usual because there had been warnings about parking. The combinations of events at the Wachovia (Flyers game) and a Phillies game meant limited parking. It turned out for me at least to be no problem (although my parking choice latter caused me problems when I tried to get to the post race parties).

Part of the fun of Broad Street is crowding on the train with all the other runners for the ride up Broad. But I had beaten the crowd and the car I got on was mostly empty. No one to trade quips and war stories with. But at the Walnut Street stop a number of runners got on and the car filled. A runner sat down and we began to chat. Learned he was from Boston and came down for Broad Street, didn't run marathons anymore, but liked to return to Philly for the Distance Run. As we got near Broad and Olney I wished him luck; he noticed my dear runners singlet for the first time (I had a jacket on) and said are you a dead runner? He was too. We exchanged names. Paul Flynn meet Chad Brooks. Paul said I read your post last night in the hotel. Ok small world, but come on, I didn't even see half the people I know among the 10,000 runners let alone have a dead runner get on that particular train, choose my car and sit down beside me. Be careful of any theory based on coincidence because coincidence happens all the time (and yes it's oxymoronic and true).

Along with cloudy and breezy there was near 100% humidity. A short warm up run left me sweating so I knew this could be a tough run. The start was delayed by a fire in the subway at Broad and Cherry and the officials didn't want to start until they were assured the fire engines had cleared Broad. Understandably but it threw off my dehydradration schedule. So although I hated to do so I had to stop before mid way and lost about 40 seconds.

Other then that it was a good run. Goal was 80 minutes and I finished in 1:20:56 clock time and 1:19:39 chip time so given the delay I ran mostly sub eights. Those miles felt hard but not terrible and I kept a good steady pace.

A run through Broad is always run through my own personal history: I went to college at LaSalle a couple of blocks from the start. The aunt I currently care for had a store in the Logan area the first subway stop after the race begins. A distant relative lived in one of the grand houses that once lined Broad Street and I remember as a child visiting the old lady in the drabby old mansion soon to be cut into apartments and eventual decline into ruin. I was inducted into the army at 401 N. Broad Street. Well on and on but you get the idea.

I use to die after City Hall but because I finally (at least in this race) did a better job at pacing I ran mostly comfortable through the entire distance. I never much enjoyed mile seven and perhaps that's why I lost a little focus in mile seven which was too slow but I picked it up and had two good final miles. Terrance Mahon who finished fourth in this race told me that everyone has one of those miles and usually it is the segment just past mid-way – for example the third quarter in a mile run.

Very impressed overall with the organization of this race - especially impressed with the volunteers who seemed particularly enthusiastic and gracious. When I handed my gear over to the kids at the baggage bus I said I'm going to recommend your boss gives you a raise - the young lady said, very seriously, we do this for free. I just laughed and said good for you when I was your age there's no way I'd be out here early on Sunday morning. The woman behind me said you got that right.

We runners take an awful lot for granted and exspect a lot for an entrance fee. If you are a runner always be sure to be nice to the volunteers and thank them a thousand times.