People who are good at anything generally have passion for it, whatever it may be. Sometimes people who aren’t all that ‘good’ still have tremendous passion for what they do. In my opinion, we runners rank right up there when it comes to passion for our ‘thing’.

So, what is this ‘Passion with Perspective’?

Not for one second am I going to suggest that you can excel without the passion that lets you dig down for what you need. Let? Maybe, MAKES you dig down for what you need.  Does anybody but me hate it when people tell you: “now just take it easy and don’t hurt yourself out there”? Right – that’s what I thought.

So that isn’t what I’m talking about when I say ‘perspective’. I suppose this could be written for any runner who has come to a sudden stop in his or her running career, including elites who suffer a catastrophic injury or health problem. However, I believe it more applies to athletes who are aging and slowing and all that stuff for which they made age grading systems to give comfort. (That would be me, of course.)

In this case, what I am talking about when I use the term ‘perspective’ is how we manage the inevitable. I am privileged to get up close to a lot of excellent athletes and observe their passions for the sport and see them live it. Many more are just people who take their running very seriously  (it could really be anything else, but this blog is about running and runners). Performance in absolute terms has little to do with it in the general sense, but I imagine that the better an individual is, the more acute the situation.

I have seen a fair number of individuals who seem to define themselves by their running and running performance. There are really two levels here: running as such and running well. The issue comes down to: who would you be if you could not run? For most, the answer is probably ‘someone who used to love running and now runs no more’. The same could be said for those who once ran well and can now only run recreationally or for general health benefits. I have seen some runners who have lost their passion or at least deny it, once they are no longer able to perform at peak levels. I have seen others who have turned that passion in a different direction, while still celebrating it and using it to drive something different such as coaching or promoting involvement in our sport.

I have faced this abrupt change once when my mediocre, but personally satisfying running was brought to a sudden halt by a ruptured disk in my back. I had not run while I was a young adult, only beginning (as is the case with many) as I hit 40. From that point, and for the next 3-4 years, my performances got steadily better. All my PB’s come from the 12-15 months just prior to my back problem. The trend was to better and better times, so had the back thing not happened, I’m not sure where my PB’s might have wound up, or for that matter, what I would be doing today in terms of running. But, it DID happen and I had to deal with it.

After I was repaired, I did run again but my times were never quite what they once were, and my body was no longer as it once was. The post surgery times actually weren’t all that bad or so much slower, but it was clear that I had seen my best running days, at least in absolute terms. In my best running days I got down to a sub-20 minute 5K and a marathon under 3:25 (no chips then so I have to estimate just a little) and all the relatively similar times for distances between. Maybe that was actually the best I was ever going to do anyway, but we will never know. It is what it is (or was).

That was the first time I had to put some perspective into my passion. I could have said I would never be as good as I was, so I might as well quit and feel sorry for myself. Instead, I accepted that loving running was bigger than running to any particular standard.  Frankly, the only real standard I have set for myself, was and is, running my best. More importantly, I guess the ultimate standard I have set for myself is that I must enjoy running. I can honestly say that I do love running for its own sake and as hard as a race experience may be I still love the competition part too.  I was never really good enough to make goals to beat anyone in particular or win races. The odd time there was a podium place, but that was never really what drove my passion. Loved it when it happened, but was always a bonus. I’m sure I’m hardly unique in that regard.

[As an aside, I should say that this article has taken some time to write as it is not particularly time-sensitive and I did want to be particularly thoughtful about it. I have let it stew a bit and had various thoughts along the way.

As I was out running yesterday, I was thinking about whether my running has EVER impressed anyone but me. I suddenly realized that it has, if not 'impressed' then definitely impacted quite a number of people. The interesting part is not that anyone has ever been that impressed with my blinding speed (cough, choke) but rather that the older I get and slower I go there are more and more impressed with the very fact that I do keep going as the weeks, months and years add up! It is gratifying to me that people openly show that recognition and pleasing to me that perhaps my exploits do encourage others.]

OK, back to the original story line. In my own case, other stuff got in the way of steady competition after I was healed and healthy, and while my first marathon was in 1988 and my second in 2000, there were other shorter distances that happened through summer of 1989 and picked up again in 1991-92 and then sputtered to life again in 1998, it was 12 years between my first and second marathon. Even without the back problem, twelve years is a LONG time between events you want to compare. Again, yay for age grading. Age, is the operative word. That is something that hits us all, Ed Whitlock notwithstanding, and when you get right down to it, Ed too. The question is really one of how we accept the inevitable, or experience ‘Passion with Perspective’.

I have known people who set some arbitrary time in their heads for a particular distance and consider running over that time to be failure. Failure of such import that it defines them, at least in their own minds. I had a small dose of that in a recent marathon in Eugene when I ran 4:55. I did achieve something that was part of a decision point, and that was going under 5 hours. However, once I got home and could play a rousing game of ‘fun with numbers’ it came out that using age grading for long-term comparison, that was my 7th best performance out of 17. When you take into account the calendar, that time was relatively better than some much quicker absolute times done at a more tender age.  Could I have gone faster? Well, in this instance, yes I think I could. I can easily explain away about 1.5 minutes from the finish time, and know that with better race management, maybe another 5-10 minutes could have been foregone. That said, it is a far cry from my 3:25 done in 1988.  Aaah, but you see, there is the point.  The 3:25 happened 25 years ago (almost to the day). So here is my second application of perspective to my passion for running. As I already said, this is one we will all face in relative terms.  Some may see themselves failed if they can’t do a 3:00, or 4:00 hour marathon (or 16 minute 5K).  Right now, 5 hours is kind of my magic number but then I realize I never achieved less than three hours and have no idea if I ever had the potential to go sub-three. I have documented proof that I could go sub-four, but even that is now a thing of the past. I feel just as passionate about running. I love it and I love competition. As long as I feel like it is a good thing for me, I will continue.  When I don’t feel competitive running is healthy, I hope I will still be able to just run for pleasure. Passion with perspective.

I am trying to set out some ideas without stooping to saying that we all just have to suck it up and face reality and stop whinging about what we can do now and letting that somehow define us.  I’m trying.  In truth there are some far worse things than not being able to run as fast as we once could.  Everyone has his/her own view. I wrote this because I have known a few who appear to me to be taking an ‘all or nothing’ approach. In my opinion that is an inevitable path to failure and serious personal difficulty.  Hopefully, in the end it all turns out in the “well, that was fun while it lasted, and I was pretty awesome even if I do say so myself” category.

My current ‘passion’ seems to have become trying out this whole ‘Marathon Maniac’ approach for the next while. Running a marathon and a 50K ultra in a period of 13 days certainly seems to qualify. I have another marathon scheduled for early June, but then life gets in the way for a bit, so may have to look at the Fall and plan a series of races that work on several levels. I’ll let you know how that works out. In the meantime, I hope this post has given readers something to ponder.

Running in the Zone: A Handbook for Seasoned Athletes is now available in e-Book format from Trafford Publishing.

New Ultra Marathon Runner

That is pretty easy. You just run something you’ve never run before!

So, I did.

Now, that isn’t quite as easy as I might have made it sound. I’ve been running for a long time and over the years have run almost every common distance from the mile to the marathon. I’ve even done some uncommon ones like 6K and 7K, a 19K and a couple of similar ones where the object of the exercise was to get from a particular Point A to an equally particular Point B, that just happened to be 19km or some similar but unusual distance apart. Among the fairly common distances I’ve run are the street mile, 5K, 5 mile aka 8K, 10K, 15K, 10 mile, 20K, Half Marathon and the Marathon. All of those were done for PB’s more than 20 years ago.

What’s a body to do? Well, I’d never run an Ultra! Until this past Saturday, that is.

I consulted on the matter with my amazing ultra-marathoning friend, Ellie Greenwood. Without going into the same story again, due to a back problem/operation some 23 years ago I have some residual nerve damage and when I get tired my left leg drags. That is not good on steep downhills with rocks and roots and stuff. So, I asked Ellie if she could recommend a relatively flat and uncluttered 50K Ultra. She could. She did. The Elk-Beaver Ultras on Vancouver Island, near Victoria, BC. There are some up-slopes and down-slopes but not a single hill and hardly a root or rock to speak of. Thanks Ellie!

Naturally, the 42.2km marathon being the longest distance I’ve run, racing or training, I was going for the first distance accepted as an ultra-marathon – 50K. Someone described it as a ‘gate-way’ ultra. Not sure I like the sound of that.

Anyway, THAT is how you score a PB at my rapidly increasing age. I’m not even going to tell you the time because it was slow and doesn’t actually matter. It was not embarrassing though and unlike a couple of recent trail runs I was not last. I finished ahead of two other finishers and three DNF’s, making me 21/26.  For me the whole point was the doing of it. The official race report can be found in this link and if you really insist on seeing results, they are at the bottom of the event page.

Just to make it a wee bit more interesting and in keeping with my recent ascendency to Marathon Maniac status, I ran the Elk-Beaver 50K just 13 days after the Eugene Marathon, which would be a major new ‘first’ for me (two long events so close together). For those who don’t know the Marathon Maniac qualifying standards, I had actually achieved the bottom rung, one star or bronze level, back in 2008 by running three full marathons in less than 90 days (85 to be precise). That said, there is another way to meet the base qualifier and that  is to run two marathons (or ultras) in 16 days. I did the original three more or less by accident, just running races I wanted to do and only found out later that those three gave me the qualification I need to join up with the Maniacs. Not that there is any need for it, but this time I was very aware that I would be doing the first level standard again. Although it all remains to be seen, I wanted to try out the technique (intentionally this time) of keeping the races close enough to use the last marathon as the ‘long run’ in training for the next one. So far, so good. I do have another race in mind which is four weeks away. I won’t sign up until I know I’m fully recovered from the 50K, but just a couple of days after Elk-Beaver, I am feeling good.

Now, about the actual first time ultra! I have to admit that having run a marathon as hard as I could go, just two weeks earlier, my goal at Elk-Beaver was just to finish and enjoy it.  The last statement, of course, proves without any doubt that I am a Maniac or at least a little crazy. I wasn’t sure about the format of running 10K loops around the two lakes, but at least up to the point of doing 5 laps, I found it comforting. I’m not sure how doing it 10 times (like the 100K folk) would feel – and I never will. Never having run that trail, the first lap was all new. Happily, I found Ellie was right on with her description. I trust Ellie, but knowing the sorts of races she does both in terms of distance and terrain, I had to see for myself what she thinks ‘flat and easy’ actually means. After finishing the first circuit, the running was fairly steady. By the last lap, I was thrilled I was on a loop course, because I knew at every step just where I was and what was coming. With about a mile to go, I think I felt a bit euphoric even. OK, well maybe I was just getting dizzy.

The 50K had the great advantage that it is really only a bit longer than a marathon. As my gps device confirmed that I was passing the marathon distance shortly after starting lap 5, I had the reassuring feeling that I was less than 8K from home – 5 miles. I won’t tell you it was a lark, or pretty. I had lots of issues, including nagging allergy symptoms which actually made lap four the worst of all of them. I was not running fast by any stretch of the imagination, but I was still going and there were lots of people being supportive, both fellow competitors and local runners/walkers/joggers and equestrians. (Oh yes, I did ask a couple of the latter if I could borrow the horsey for just bit. None were ready to accommodate and now I’m glad.)

At one point I was running with a fellow competitor from Alberta. He was a great guy and fun to talk to, but was insisting on running 10 and 1′s. I have nothing against that method, but I just don’t do it. Well, I did this time – once and a bit. That was about all I could manage. When we got into the second cycle I was not feeling like I was running my own race, so I bade him go ahead and took my own walk break. When I am running long distances and find myself needing to walk, right or wrong, I tend to take shorter breaks and try to do them when there is a hill or challenging section where I will expend even greater energy if I try to run, and where walking likely isn’t going to slow me down all that much anyway. It turned out to be a good idea because we did a couple of backs and forths over lap four and then in lap five, I passed him for good and actually finished some 12 minutes ahead. I doubt he walked more than I did, but I was able to better manage my energy, running faster when I did run. With a set 10/1 schedule you can sometimes wind up walking down a nice easy hill and then running on the up-slope. Elk-Beaver has no hills but it does have lots of slopes.

While we were still running together, a local runner/jogger fell in with us. He was a fairly big fellow running for fitness and wasn’t with us for a long time. Seeing our bibs he asked what we were doing and we told him, also about the other 50 mile and 100K events that were going on simultaneously. He looked at us for a bit, kind of sideways, and said something like: “So you just got up this morning and thought – gee I’ve got nothing else to do, I guess I’ll go run a 50K race.” We looked at each other and said, “Yeah, that’s about it.” I think it was at that point where he veered off on a side-trail and we carried on.

It was great to have a lot of people ask what we were doing and to hear their supportive cheers as I told them (on the fly) of our race. OK, ‘fly’ might not be just the word I’m searching for, but I didn’t stop.

I think the final points to make involve the race and its organizers, Carlos “the Jackal” Castillo (race director) and Carlos “C2″ Castillo (assistant RD, and the Jackal’s son). They work very hard to make this a great and welcoming event. As a race director myself of events large and small, I was most impressed with how hard they work to give everyone a great experience. Carlos the Jackal actually ran the 50K backwards – in reverse direction, that is – to make sure everyone was doing OK. Every time he passed me (and everyone else, I’m sure) he had an encouraging word. It probably sounds like there would have been at least hundreds running with the four events (there was also a ‘my first marathon’ component), but in fact I believe the sum total was 68 starters. The largest field was the 50K.

Apart from it being my first try at any ‘ultra’ distance, it seems I was the oldest competitor. Interestingly, this was not a first. It is happening more often now. Not in the big events like the Eugene Marathon where there were 19 just in my M65-69 category. Maybe my plan to hang in until I start bringing home the hardware is on the verge of paying off! Oh, and while writing this piece and listing all the distances where I established insurmountable PB’s many years ago, I realized that one distance I have not done is 30K. That is not a common distance, but there is one race that happens not very far from here, each Spring – the Birch Bay 30K. That one is already finished for 2013, but I think I may just see another PB looming in 2014!

Bart Yasso, Lynn Kanuka and Dan Cumming - BMO Vancouver Marathon

Wow! Could things be looking much better for a great race weekend. Some 17,000 runners will hit the pavement in the four events scheduled for Sunday May 5th, and if the weather lives up to the prediction there are going to be some amazed people out there.

I was pleased to be able to attend the BMO Vancouver Marathon VIP/Media luncheon and meet up with key players in the Full and Half Marathon events. It is going to be a stellar field to say the least. More on that later.

I do have to point out that much of my interest is in covering things related to ‘seasoned athletes’ so was pleased to see a number of our Canadian Olympians recognized, mostly seasoned ones. Dylan Wykes (Canada’s top active marathoner) doesn’t really fit the description I suppose, but Lynn Kanuka (Elite Athlete Coordinator), Carey Nelson, Doug and Diane Clement and Miki Gorman certainly do. I hadn’t realized that was happening when I sat down at our table, so was a little surprised when, Dylan and Carey rose on either side of me to accept the congratulations of the room. It sort of left me feeling like I was part of a real-life episode of ‘Wayne’s World’ – I’m not worthy, I’m not worthy!

The other exciting thing was having four contributors to Running in the Zone: A Handbook for Seasoned Athletes in the room at the same time. The photo above includes Bart Yasso (Runners’ World), Lynn Kanuka (BMO Vancouver Marathon) and yours truly. Unfortunately, when that photo-op came Steve King was elsewhere. Sorry Steve!  Maybe Sunday. Unless, of course, Steve is too busy doing what he does so well, announcing the arrival and victory of all those who have worked so hard to reach that magic finish line – some for the first time, and others once again.

In addition to all these folk, Tom Howard was there, a former winner of the Vancouver Marathon as far back as 1972 when, as he said “some 50 or 52 ran around Stanley Park five times”.  Tom is still going and plans to run the Half Marathon come Sunday.

An interesting part of the media session was a Q&A with the elites and stage personalities.  It seems that everyone has role models and our Kenyan and Ethiopian elite visitors are no different. Not surprisingly the names Paul Tergat and Kip Keino popped right up. Natasha Fraser gave a very nice nod to Lynn Kanuka as her personal role model for excellence. One of the people named is never thought of in terms of elite running, but has moved so many around the world, and that was Terry Fox mentioned by one of the Kenyan contingent.

Both the Full and Half Marathon events promise to provide some exciting racing with both defending champions returning to contest the marathon. A new (well, new to the current format) 8K is going to give participants a spectacular run through Stanley Park, borrowing the last 8K of the Half Marathon course for their run.

As to the field we will see on Sunday, we have returning champions in both the Marathon – Gezahgn Eshetu and Ellie Greenwood, and Half Marathon – Natasha Fraser and Kip Kangogo. These fine athletes are NOT going to be left alone to reclaim their first place status, at least not if a significant list of men and women from Canada, Kenya and Ethiopia have anything to say in the matter, with the likes of Omwenga, Kimigul, Kiptoo and Pedereski toeing the various lines.

During the media briefing section of the gathering, one of the major bits of advice coming from the elites seemed to ring true for any runner at any level. Kip Kangogo was the first to say it, but others including Thomas Omwenga quickly backed him up. In essence, the message was ‘trust your training’. It gives you confidence to actually run your race. When asked how a runner can get through the always hard last few kilometers, Dylan Wykes offered that you have to embrace what you feel and use it. I think he was talking about the pain! Benard Onsare said something that every runner can definitely use – ‘don’t think tired’.  How many times do we all seem to get to that stage in a long race, where everything is telling you it is just too much?  Apparently almost every runner, at whatever level deals with that. Our paces differ widely, but maybe what is happening to our bodies and in our heads is not so very different.  What just might be different is how deep our elites, and here I refer to all the top runners right up through the age groupings, seem to be able to go into that store of confidence and inner will, in order to get the job done.

All the best to every runner who will do any of the events at whatever pace it is going to take to do the job. For my part, while I will surely be taking note of everything, I will be concentrating on one runner in particular – our daughter Janna, who is running her first marathon since Boston – 2009. I was there to watch that one and will be closely following her tomorrow.

Go Janna!  Go Runners!

Running in the Zone: A Handbook for Seasoned Athletes is now available from Trafford Publishing in e-book format.

Vancouver Marathon - May 5

Eugene Marathon - April 28

Two big events in just a week, the Eugene Marathon (which your intrepid blogger ran) and the BMO Vancouver Marathon, which said same intrepid blogger will be attending, watching and commenting upon in due course.

Speaking of courses, these two events rival each other for attractiveness, that is if you like green trees and grass, blossoms and water views. So far, I have not had the experience of running the new Vancouver Marathon route. I did do the Half Marathon in 2012, but these are almost two totally separate courses (the Full and the Half). The start and finish  are in the same places but the two courses separate within a few hundred metres of the start and only come together again with a couple of K’s to go.  That said, being from Vancouver and having participated in a training clinic specifically geared to the BMO Vancouver events, I have run most of the route at one point or another, just not all at once and in a race.

The weather in Eugene was almost perfect for running a marathon and with the organization and the attraction of Hayward Field and the whole “running in the footsteps of legends” thing it would be hard to beat. But, Vancouver is promising spectacular weather for May 5th and with clear skies and sunshine, views from that course are going to be unrivaled. Participants better dig out the high potency sun-block, hats and sun-glasses! Usually we Vancouverites are looking for water-proofing compounds, but not this weekend!

I was personally thrilled to have made my third appearance at the Eugene Marathon and to have a lot of running friends there too, including my very own wife, Judi, who has not been a runner in a good many years, but is an avid walker. She decided a year or two ago that if she has to hang around waiting for me to finish my race, she might as well be doing something productive, so where the logistics work out she is now officially walking the half marathon events. In Eugene, she found out the meaning of ‘flat and fast’, setting more than a 10 minute PB on previous half marathon walks. One of our happy group and a contributor to this blog, Rod Waterlow, again won his age category (M75-120). Rod is at the low end of that pretty extended age spectrum!

Eugene has a personal pull for me, starting with the ‘running in the footsteps of legends’, plus my first trip there was, in terms of my modest running abilities and achievements, a spectacular success back in 2010. It was also the scene of a spectacular failure in 2011 when I foolishly ran injured, then didn’t have the sense to quit at either of the easy opportunities to basically step off the course and call it a day. Eugene 2013 was sort of the rubber match and I had several goals, not the least of which was to use it as a decision point for my continued running. This time I started well trained and un-injured. The run itself had its ups and downs, mostly ‘ups’ (and I don’t mean the elevation kind), yet my time tells me that one decision point is clear. Unless something totally unexpected happens in the next year or two, this blogger will only be attending Boston as a spectator – surprisingly, that feels OK. My time was not exactly pleasing relative to what I had hoped to do, but thank goodness for age grading, it actually turned out to be my seventh best out of 17.  Quite a few marathons run faster, but at younger ages, wound up behind this one. So, in a best two out of three series, I guess it is Dan – 2, Eugene – 1. There might be more on this, in a general way, at some later date.  For now, let’s just say it is all good.

I should add, by way of recognizing Eugene legends, our little travel group took a moment on Sunday afternoon to make a runner’s pilgrimage

"Pre's Rock" - Eugene, OR

to ”Pre’s Rock”. It was sad in one way to be at the actual physical place where the spirit and brilliance of Steve Prefontaine came to a sudden end. It was also very inspiring. And, in truth, I guess it was only the physical being and brilliant career that ended so tragically that night, since his spirit has lived on to inspire countless others.

That brings us back to the present though and a look ahead at the BMO Vancouver Marathon. I have run Vancouver (the marathon) four times, but never on the new course. I did the new Half Marathon course in 2012 and we had much the same weather. As already noted, the route is very different from that of the Full. It was so amazing that I encountered a few visitors who were having trouble concentrating on their running in the face of the beauty of that course.  As I write this, I am still debating whether my recovery is good enough to let my newly minted Marathon Maniac self take over and see if I can sign up for a very slow (camera in hand) run at the marathon.  Stay tuned.

Things kick off on Friday with a media lunch to introduce the contenders and some key-note speakers, including our very own (Running in the Zone: A Handbook for Seasoned Athletes) Bart Yasso and defending women’s champ from 2012, Ellie Greenwood. What I will be on the watch for is masters and better runners. I believe that the ever amazing BJ McHugh will be taking on the Half Marathon and likely setting yet another world record for her age.  I am always interested to see how the Masters runners will make out trying to take the event record from another contributor, Roger Robinson. Roger’s mark at 2:18:42 has stood for over 30 years.  It was good enough for Third OA back when he did it and would likely be at least that good even now.  The new course looks like it should be fast, but it has some testing bits that if not run strategically, can easily jump up and get an unsuspecting runner.  We will see what we will see. At this moment, I do not know exactly who among the remarkable (Masters) locals will be running and then there are the out of towners that may show up.  Guess you will need to stay tuned on this one too.

What I do know is that our daughter will be running and I will be very interested to see how she does, even if she hasn’t yet reached the ’masters’ age level. While she has done a few marathons, including New York and Boston, this will be her first time for Vancouver. Like me, she trained with the Forerunners marathon clinic and has seen almost all the parts of the course, just not all at once or in race mode.

So, I guess that is the preview.  I expect to have more to say, maybe after the media luncheon, but certainly once the whole thing is officially in the record books. For the quicker runners, the weather could be ideal. It should be in the range of 12-18C, with not but a breeze of wind, and as already noted, sunshine and blue skies from start to finish.

Here’s to great running for everyone involved, from the newly introduced 8K to the Full Marathon!

Eugene Marathon Logo in Boston Colours

Well OK, the next big thing for me, and a few thousand of my friends.

With the horror, disbelief, sadness and emotional turmoil resulting from the Boston Marathon bombing, it seems like almost everyone has been side-tracked the last few days – to put it mildly. And, rightly so. However, and without forgetting any of that, it is time to move on with things. In fact, to some extent, that ‘moving on’ is actually inspired by Boston and not in spite of it.

It is Spring. It is marathon time. The list of large, middling and small marathons through April and May is extensive. My choice for this Spring has been the Eugene Marathon. (And I should point out that the logo to the left has been altered by Eugene organizers to respect and honour the Boston Marathon.)  It is just 10 days away now. In the Forerunners clinic in which I run and lead a pace group we had people go to Boston, a couple or three on their way right now to London and (most) getting ready for the BMO Vancouver Marathon and Half Marathon. Add to that about a dozen of us who will be heading for Track Town USA (aka Eugene). All I’m covering here are events involving our clinic. There are more, many more!

On Monday my personal energy was just sapped by the events. I spent the morning having nothing but fun watching the live stream of the elite runners at Boston (congratulations to Rob Watson who ran bravely and finished 11th) and then turned to tracking friends who weren’t quite up to being covered in the elite races. As we all know, that fun suddenly changed to something quite different. I’ve already talked about that. If you need to know more, just check my previous post. By Tuesday, like many others I donned a race shirt and went for a run to remember those injured and to offer some kind of virtual support along with many others doing the same. Having never run the big show, thus not having a Boston Marathon shirt, I wore my Boston 5k souvenir shirt (inaugural running in 2009). As had also been suggested, I spent the rest of the day in a running shirt. It seemed fitting that it be my brand new, never race-worn, Marathon Maniac shirt.

Today I got back to some of the things I normally do, making permit applications for a run this summer, the 4th Annual Run For Change 5K Fun Run/Walk, and starting to do some hard planning for Eugene.

I can fairly say that at no time did the events in Boston make me feel I didn’t want to bother with another marathon (or any other race distance). Almost from the beginning it did quite the opposite. I vowed that if it is in my capacity to do, I WILL qualify for and run Boston. Eugene is the first step. I have felt that my present BQ is out of reach, but that may not be so. I can’t start trying for the next age group qualifier until the Fall. I don’t think I’m trained to do my present BQ time, but I’m not 100% sure. It isn’t that I can’t run fast enough, more that I don’t truly run smart enough. I can’t count the number of times I’ve started too fast and then faded.  OK, that isn’t really true; I can count the times.  I’ve done 16 marathons to date. About fifteen times I’ve gone out too fast. Some more than others, but except my very first marathon I have gone anywhere from a little too fast to way too fast.

Eugene Marathon 2010

I love the Eugene Marathon for so many reasons. I’ve done well there, coming third in category in 2010 (and yes there were more than three runners – there were 16 of us). I have also done terribly as a result of foolishly running injured. As I already stated in an earlier post I have set a goal to achieve a time and performance that will indicate my potential to achieve the M70-74 BQ sometime after Sept 22. I am inspired to a better performance, but know that despite being well trained and healthy, I did not train to achieve a time fast enough for my current BQ. That said, if I run well and manage my pace carefully, I may be able to do better than expected.

Oh, oh, that sounds like trouble!

Hopefully not. What I have decided to do is run at a ‘slow’ and even pace more in tune with the original plan. At some point, assuming all is going well, I would pick up the pace. What? Are we talking about the mythical “negative split”? Possibly. I almost did it in my last half marathon!  I know how. It is the doing that is the challenge. But, if it is going to become a reality, Eugene is definitely the place to give it a go. The result will set up the racing that will follow. That was discussed a few weeks back. No need to return to that topic.

The main thing is that as a result of the happenings of this week in Boston I am just that much more determined to try first to qualify for and then to actually run the Boston Marathon. Seems like I’m not the only one. If the bombs actually had anything to do with the marathon per se, as anything other than an opportunity to strike, the purpose was not achieved. I can’t tell you how many people I have heard/seen, saying that while they had been and done Boston before, they now feel that they MUST return to show that the spirit of the marathoner will not bow to terror. I particularly liked the statement I saw that said: “If you are trying to defeat the human spirit, marathoners are the wrong group to target!”

It has been an interesting few days for me personally. I was not in Boston and do not pretend to have been impacted by those events in the same way as the people who ran or attended as supporters. I am not just talking about those injured or killed, or who were relatively close, but lucky to escape without physical harm. I think many of those people may still wake up some morning sooner or later and be hit with the immensity of it all. I am not one of those people. I know that. Much is yet to be determined regarding who did it and why, and to bring the person or persons to justice. In the meantime, most people are returning to normal lives and activities, in some cases a new normal, perhaps.

My new normal is something I am feeling quite tangibly as I count down the days to April 28, look at routes and drive time and check weather forecasts in order to plan wardrobe and even hydration strategy. I sure don’t intend to repeat my Winthrop Marathon brain cramp when I just let that totally get away from me! This is a feeling of determination that I have not felt in some years. And yet, I also have a sense of calm in my resolve to do better and perform to a higher standard. Again, I think I’m not the only person feeling this. I hear people setting goals of higher achievement as a way to honour this Boston 2013 tragedy.   What will actually happen with me in Eugene is, as with all marathons, going to be a function of the day and circumstances, but I do know that with regard to whatever may be within my control, I am prepared to run and pumped to exceed my expectations!

May all of us do the same.

Running in the Zone: A Handbook For Seasoned Athletes is now available in e-Book format from Trafford Publishing.

APRIL 16, 2013 – Updated comment.

I decided to update rather than create a new post following the horrible event yesterday at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The sentiments expressed in the original piece mesh closely with what I believe will be the perspective of many, most of whom weren’t even in Boston this time.

I spent most of the morning of April 15 watching the elites on streaming video and then following friends on the athlete tracker. Once I was fairly sure most of those I knew had finished, I set off to do some domestic chores. It was only then that news started coming of the horror unfolding in downtown Boston. Much of the rest of the day was spent trying to learn what had actually happened and in a kind of profound sadness.

Many are stunned, angered, saddened by what has been done to the spirit of this iconic event. Many such people, like me, weren’t even there physically, but are always there in our hearts. As the ’fog’ lifted this morning I began to process things a bit more clearly, at least for myself. The first reaction tended to be related to the race, the Boston Marathon and naturally the people running. There is no doubt harm was done to some runners and the event itself is now permanently marred. Those physically harmed by this cowardly act deserve every thought, prayer and sympathy being sent their way, along with their families. What I feel is less obvious is the harm done to all those who should have had a wonderful triumphant experience and fabulous life-lasting memories of a great day in Boston. I heard one fellow comment on how his medal no longer represented that ‘victory’ but now something rather different and awful. But then, this is what terrorist acts are about regardless of the perpetrator(s).

Then, I got thinking about who most of the victims really were. They are our loved ones who so often stand in less than perfect conditions to cheer us runners on in our personal pursuit of excellence. The partners, parents, children, relatives and friends that are there to make our ‘victories’ special and important. Those were the people targeted by the cowards who perpetrated this act of terror. It seems (and like most everyone else, I am only going by what has been reported) the bombs were placed to harm spectators first and for the most part. Not that any such thing can make sense but for me, this just makes it all the more offensive.

Late yesterday I had heard through one form of communication or another that everyone I knew personally who was in Boston, was physically unharmed. I say physically, because it was also clear that everyone had been impacted. Some friends had actually been quite near in time and space when the bombs exploded. Some of those were family/spectators who had accompanied loved ones to cheer and celebrate.

I was personally moved by the number of people who know how much I love running and how much I WANT to do Boston, that contacted me to see a) if I was in Boston and b) if I was OK. One of those was literally on the other side of the world, in Perth, Australia! Pretty sure I’m not unique. The same thing was happening everywhere. That is one of the positives, if there can be such a thing – we have suddenly and sharply learned how many care about us and how much we care for others.

This morning social media is starting show people moving to the next phase. From sadness, attitudes seem to be moving to strength and defiance. People are not prepared to be intimidated. There is a global movement to wear a run shirt today, to do some kind of run in a virtual event. Of course we are all still thinking about and praying for those directly impacted. Some had their lives ended and a good many had them altered forever. Nobody has moved on to forget any of them, but the spirit of determination and resilience in the global running community is strong and will prevail.

My own personal determination to qualify for Boston (part of the reason for making this an update rather than a new piece) is well documented and undiminished. If anything, it is perhaps stronger now than before. I am inspired by the spirit of all those in Boston who selflessly rushed to help and by those who have picked themselves up already. I am inspired by global actions of solidarity. And, if that wasn’t enough for me on a personal basis, my friend who texted me from Perth as soon as he heard what had happened, has said if I qualify to run – he will come to Boston to cheer! My response: “Start saving your money, old chap!”

It is this sort of thing that will make this cowardly act futile in the greater scheme of things and that will ultimately raise all our spirits.

Run On!

Cheer On!

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Begin original post.

Well, OK, for regular readers that title is hardly breaking news. So, what’s the point?

Firstly, I am not alone. Secondly, this is the time of year when those of us still holding the unfulfilled aspiration are reminded repeatedly that a) the Boston Marathon is happening just days from now, and b) that we are NOT qualified. Non-runner friends generally have a somewhat quizzical look on their faces when I share this thought, to the point that I mostly do not share this thought with non-running friends. Marathon’s a marathon, right? You’ve done a bunch, right?  Uuh, yeah, yeah, OK.

This being a blog for ‘seasoned athletes’, many of whom are marathoners, I will skip the explanations I usually give to the uninitiated. But, when you get right down to it, why do we want to run Boston?

While I’ve never run Boston, I have been there to cheer on our daughter. If I didn’t already aspire to qualify and run, I surely would have after that. I know all kinds of people who have run this legendary event. That adds to it, too. Once again, there are a bunch of friends who will run in 2013 and I will be avidly following their progress.

I guess one of the reasons so many want to run Boston is the same reason people want to climb big mountains like Everest. Because it is there. If you are a runner and marathoner, particularly from North America, Boston is just something you must do (if you can). And, there is another of the big reasons – the ‘if you can part’. If I ever do qualify and can actually gain an entry under the new registration system, I will go and run if it is in any way possible. That said, almost as important as the doing is the qualifying. It is a standard of relative excellence that brings certain bragging rights. In a way it is like running your first marathon. Once you cross the finish line, you ARE a marathoner. If you never run another one, you will still be a marathoner for ever and ever. More than bragging rights though (because that is really for others to appreciate), there is the personal satisfaction and affirmation. I figure being ‘Boston Qualified’ is a high and worthy standard for any serious marathoner.

Going back to the 2009 experience of accompanying my daughter, the atmosphere and energy of Boston is like no other. I have done small events with only about 100 participants and I have done the New York City Marathon. I’ve done marathons near to home and as far away as Jamaica and Hawaii. They are all wonderful and have a marathon vibe that keeps me wanting to do marathons as long as my rapidly aging body will allow. While in Boston for the 2009 edition, I could (sadly) stand back and just observe. In my opinion, the difference seemed to be that while there are veterans and first-timers, they all had to meet a standard to be picking up a bib and chip. I love the feel of any marathon because it is a relatively momentous thing for any runner, but particularly the Boston newbies. Boston Marathoners are not running their first marathon, maybe first Boston, but not their first ever. They have run at least one just to qualify. The energy each is bringing to this event is different. Expectations are different. While many are there to do a kind of victory lap of celebration, most openly or secretly want to do well – probably as well as they did to qualify.

The thing is, everyone also knows that Boston itself is NOT an event you would choose to attempt a qualifying time for this very same event. Some will tell you that the route itself is reasonably favourable to a good run, the Boston Marathon is not. It is a hard race to run, especially the first time. Too many people are just too excited. Too many people are too eager to do well. The first almost half of the race is downhill. Wait, how can that last part be a problem? Well, combined with the first two, it seduces many into starting just waaaaay too fast, for which one almost inevitably pays the price later.

The Newton Hills, and particularly the infamous ‘Heartbreak Hill’, are still ahead after you pass the half-way point. In and of themselves, while not to be diminished, the Newton Hills are not insurmountable. They are to be respected, no doubt. However, if a person has run too aggressively in the beginning, he/she will learn just why Heartbreak Hill is so famous in running lore. Since this is about why someone would be so eager to run Boston, I guess it is fair to say that among other things we maybe all secretly want to prove that Heartbreak Hill will not break our hearts.

Inaugural Boston 5K - 2009

When I was in Boston in 2009 I got to run the inaugural 5K race held the day previous to the main event. They kindly let us borrow the marathon finish on Boyleston. Even though I was pretty aware of what was really happening, just for maybe an instant I had the epic feel of passing over that permanent finish strip painted onto the street. That, in addition to the whole feel of the event, was another reason I just have a drive to try to get back with a qualified time and do it for real.

I suppose everyone has personal perspectives and reasons for wanting to ‘do Boston’. I don’t claim to speak for everyone, but hope maybe I am hitting on some of the magic of the thing.

There are other ways to get to the start line and I do not denigrate those people (well, other than the ‘pirates’ or as we call them around here, ‘turkeys’), but most serious runners just need to qualify in order to feel right and then claim that personal victory.

I know some have been upset with the change to the qualifying standards and then the registration process that makes it even harder to actually get into the race. I was probably hit harder than most since my old standard was still out of reach and now the new one is essentially 6 minutes faster. When you add in the ‘fastest first’ registration policy my goal is that much more testing.  After consideration, I am OK with that. It is the same for everyone. If I qualify but don’t get in, I will surely be disappointed, but as I said earlier, the first level of achievement is meeting the standard. Should I do it, nobody can take that away. I see this as a major part of the charm and magic. Getting there is my first goal. Doing so in light of my personal challenges (already well documented on this blog) would already be a big personal victory. Earlier I described the BQ time as a “standard of relative excellence”. What the heck does that mean? Well, it means that there isn’t just one standard, but rather a whole bunch based on age and gender.  That said, each and every one of those individual qualifying times is just about as hard for everyone trying to achieve them. In other words the BQ is demanding, but doable if you are a decent and dedicated runner. You will never get it as an attendance prize!

I do not presume to speak for anyone but myself. However, having talked to a lot of people who aspire to, and who have achieved first the BQ time and then run the big event, I think this covers some of the key points. For sure, some make it a life goal, or the now popular ‘bucket list’ goal, but except for the difficulty of actually getting to that start line, I’m not sure it rises above other similar ‘life’ type personal achievements. While I cannot realistically hope to achieve my current BQ, within a few months I may have hope of hitting the time for my next age grouping. In the next couple of weeks, courtesy of the Eugene Marathon, I will test my ability to realistically aspire to meeting my Qualifying time later this year. I have already talked about that so won’t go there again right now.

For the moment, I will just close this post with a heartfelt wish that all those heading, as I write, for Boston and the Grandaddy of all marathons will realize their every hope, dream and expectation. Just two things: if it is sunny, don’t forget the sun-block and take it easy on that start!

Running in the Zone: A Handbook for Seasoned Athletes is now available as an e-Book at Trafford Publishing.

?????????????????

Here I sit looking down the road of 2013 with just two races scheduled. Well, one of those is kind of three races in one, but most people will just say you should count it as one. That event is the Hood to Coast Relay. The other one is the Eugene Marathon. Other than those two events, I got nothin’.

I decided to write this because I seem to have encountered quite a few fellow runners saying something similar about their as yet unclarified 2013 competition plan. OR, maybe it is really just like when you buy a new car that you feel is a bit unique and then realize it seems every second car you see on the road is the same – because I am feeling like this, I am sensitive to others feeling the same way.  Anyway, here is my story.

I will happily admit that I would maybe like to go back to  Negril, Jamaica in December for the Reggae Marathon, Half Marathon & 10K and finish the challenge there (there are three events and I have done the 10K and Half Marathon) but it has been five years since I did a full marathon in a tropical climate. I’m not sure.

While many of my friends are well launched into a busy 2013 racing year with lots of plans for more, as I already said, I know several who are like me with a couple of specific races scheduled, but otherwise a pretty blank dance card. While most of my blog subjects are relatively personal, I do try to present things that have a broader appeal as well.  Although the following is obviously pretty specific and personal, it does have a broader context for anyone thinking about the same sorts of things.

In looking at my personal situation I think the issue is that I feel like I may be at a cross-roads. That happens to everbody sooner or later and in many cases, more than just once. Let me tell you why I can’t pull the trigger on my race plan for 2013. Maybe you will help me figure it all out just by indulging me in the writing and reading of this piece.  I will be very glad to hear comments from anyone who has something to say on the subject.

Hood to Coast has actually been on the schedule since well before I realized I had little in the way of a plan for 2013. I mean, when you have to apply for entry back in October of the year before, that’s how it has to be.  And, don’t get me wrong, I am thrilled to be organizing another team for “The Mother of All Relays“. This will be number eight for me.

The one race that amounts to a conscious decision to do something specific in  2013 (Eugene Marathon) has become a bit of a pivot point it seems.  My last two marathons have been relative disasters. I feel that I really need one decent one to let me quit, if I must, feeling good about the end of my marathon career.  I have done 16, spanning 25 years. That SHOULD tell me I AM a marathoner. It also presented several examples of which I should be pretty proud – the first and best marathon (Vancouver – 1988 – 3:25), the first after coming back from a ruptured disc and 12 years of almost no racing (Victoria – 2000) and among others, my recent PB, third best raw and second best age-graded (Eugene – 2010). After that, why would anybody NEED to do another marathon? OK, if you had to ask that you should probably just stop reading now. This isn’t really about logic.

The problem is, in 2011 I signed up for Eugene with an original plan to pursue a BQ. At the time, I was only about eleven minutes off the soon to change standard, but 11 minutes is no small undertaking and with the change looming, it seemed like it was ‘now or never’. Well, anyone who reads this blog regularly has to know that I injured my left knee while training, limped to the start line and then had a pretty awful run, electing to finish rather than quit (which I should have done) and then being injured or in recovery for the rest of 2011.

In 2012, I carefully built myself up and went off to the Winthrop Marathon where I figured to record a decent time and get myself back on track. I wasn’t looking for the BQ as they had just moved the goal-posts 6 minutes farther away, but I was hoping to get myself a reasonable time in anticipation of something to come in the future.  Again, it is not a new story on these pages, but in a nutshell I really blew my hydration and wound up cramped up badly and with a very slow time. Even though it was my legs that cramped, that was a problem with my head more than any other body part. Just BAD planning and management – no injury and no long-term impact. The rest of 2012 went pretty well and as the year went along I recorded some times at shorter distances, of which I was rather pleased. I raced in some 14 events over the year. As the year drew to a close, my age-graded % Performance values had returned to the same levels as those I was recording in 2010 – a good year for me.

So here I am with a registration for the 2013 Eugene Marathon, a hotel registration in Eugene, and well into a great training program. The goal is to record a reasonable time that is expected to tell me what happens next. The last two marathons have gone over 5 hours. Those times were a function of both physical and mental issues. I know that in both cases once I passed a certain point, I only cared about getting to the finish. Could I have done either/both faster? Probably.  The times would still have been well off my personal standard. The first goal at Eugene will be to run a well managed marathon and bring home a time that is significantly under 5 hours. I had a good time for the Goodlife Fitness Victoria Half Marathon in 2012, but was more thrilled with how I managed a very even and steady pace from start to finish. That is what I am looking for in Eugene.

The next goal, which can only be fully determined once our training clinic is done and race day arrives, is to maybe achieve a time that says I CAN hope to set a BQ goal for when I am 70. The way it works with the Boston rules and my date of birth, I can start trying for the Qualifier this Fall. On the right day with good training, Eugene is a great place to test my readiness.  Before I run on April 28th, I will have a final quiet word with myself and put some numbers on my actual goal for the day. At the moment, I think the magic time is 4:30 – 4:35. The BQ is 4:25.  It does me no good to shoot for that in April because in April my Boston time is still 4:10!  Nope, this is a ‘systems test’. They tell me the good runners often do that sort of thing while preparing for a key race.

The rest of the year and maybe my remaining running career, OK racing career, could depend on that outcome.  I am pretty sure that I can go sub-5:00 and get that off my back. The question is, all things being equal, can I get near the future BQ? If I can, then I must start looking at opportunities coming after September 22, 2013.  Who knows, should Eugene go super well and I accidently go under 4:25 in April, well then it gets kind of obvious where I’ll be come April 2014! Otherwise, I have to start searching for good candidates for the qualifier race I need. All suggestions are happily accepted!

If I don’t get close to that 4:30-4:35 range with no good reason why (waaay hot or cold or whatever), then the next question is whether to quit marathons completely or take a different direction. I really do love the whole feel of the marathon, especially a destination event. I learned not so long ago that I already (just barely) qualify as a Marathon Maniac. I decided to apply for recognition/acceptance because ‘official’ or not I AM a Marathon Maniac according to their standards.  And, assuming that nothing nasty has happened in Eugene, I actually have several nearly immediate options to do what most Maniacs do – let your last race be the long training run for your next one.  Using that approach, I could ‘easily’ (logistically speaking, that is) hit 20 marathons pretty smartly. I have to admit that unless there is some kind of running disaster in Oregon in April, twenty seems like a nice round number to achieve as a career goal.

Oh yes, and over the last few years many of my running friends have launched into ultras, mostly on the trails. I’ve never done an ultra, but hey, 50km isn’t all that much more than 42.2km!  It would give me a brand new PB!  Didn’t say it would be fast, but if you’ve never done the distance before, then it would have to be a PB. I mean, I’ve done pretty much every distance from the mile to the marathon. I’ve run trails, which always seem to involve loping over mountains (and falling down). I’ve even raced naked – you’ve got nothing on me Bart Yasso! New challenges are getting more and more difficult to find, so why not something that qualifies as an ultra? (Now, can someone suggest a road 50K or even a ‘flat’ trail race without too many rocks or roots?)

So you see, everything kind of hinges on what happens in about 4 weeks. Most of my running is taken up with the training plan set out by coach Carey Nelson in the Forerunners clinic. I am being pretty faithful to the plan and intend to continue to do so until Eugene. That precludes me running several races in the Lower Mainland Road Race Series, even if I am Chair of the Series Committee.  Sorry guys.  Back soon, unless I’m off in some far off exotic land running a destination race. I know I can pop in any number of relatively local races from 5K to Half Marathon over the rest of the year. There is a very slim possibility that I will never run another marathon after April 28.  That just opens the possibility of various half marathons and shorter runs I will have to get after. Notwithstanding anything I said previously, my schedule will be filled out sooner or later, the question is ‘with what’.  I should add that above all, whether I race or not, I do want to continue to run just because it is such a fine and pleasurable thing to do.

I love the destination event and despite the fact that I have run in over 20 countries, to my own amazement, I’ve only officially raced in four. A lot of the destination foreign races are based on the marathon, but now have at least a half marathon on offer. That seems like a fun goal for someone who likes to travel and run.

I am relatively pleased that I am taking my time with all of this, notwithstanding that I am also just the teensiest bit antsy to get things going. I am sure that I am not the only person ever to face this decision point. Obviously, not the exact same one I am specifically considering, but some kind of important fork in the road (or trail).  It could be similar to mine: aging and seeing personal standards no longer achievable (possibly). It could be someone at a much younger age deciding to retire from serious elite running, including elite regional or local fields.  There comes a time for everyone when no matter how hard you run, you just aren’t fast enough to take home the hardware from your chosen events. Then, you must decide what you want from the sport.  I am a very positive person, but one who likes challenges and goals. When I must, I will change those goals to something challenging but potentially achievable. And, I will be happy. So, there is where I sit today. Big decisions coming, especially if I want to keep enjoying my running, and I DO want to keep enjoying it. This turned out to be pretty personal on one level, but hopefully it hit a familiar tone with a few readers who are maybe going through their own decision process. Maybe if one or two are going through a similar thought process, this might have helped with the thinking – a decidedly personal matter. May we all find an answer that keeps the fun in the run.

I mean, when you get right down to it, it is the thrill of the chase that counts!

Running In The Zone: A Handbook for Seasoned Athletes is now available as an e-book.

Roger Robinson

One of the greatest supporters of this blog is Roger Robinson, an original contributor to Running in the Zone: A Handbook for Seasoned Athletes. The following is a rather recent article published in Running Times, and reproduced here with permission. Roger is both a scholar and runner. Now retired, he enjoyed a career in academia combining his love of literature and history. To our great fortune, Roger found a way to combine his not insignificant skills at running (he still holds the Masters Record for the Vancouver Marathon at 2:18:42) with his obvious abilities to write. The result has been a good many columns like the one reproduced here as well as his landmark “Heroes and Sparrows – A Celebration of Running” and “26.2 Marathon Stories” co-written with his wife and epic contributor to the world of modern running, Kathrine Switzer.

New Research on Older Runners

What? Where?  No worries, it’s just me, Marathon Maniac #6837.

Actually, I qualified to be a One Star Maniac almost five years ago, but based on some of the Maniacs I know personally, was just a bit reluctant (I think the proper term is intimidated) to consider myself worthy of their exalted company. One in particular and a contributor to the Running in the Zone book, Bob Dolphin, has hundreds of marathons and ultras under his shoes. When I did my qualifying string of three in under 90 days, the last of the three was just #10 of my career. Definitely seemed unworthy.

BUT, there are all kinds of Marathon Maniacs and sheer volume is not the only qualification. You can technically be a Bronze Level or One Star Maniac with your first two marathons as long as you run them within 16 days, or your first three if you do them in no more than 90 days. Run those first two back to back on the same weekend and you are instanly qualified at the Four Star or Iridium Level. Some newer friends and (now) fellow Maniacs have lately been prodding me to apply/join, so this week I did. I am now at 16 marathons, soon to be 17 after I run the Eugene Marathon on April 28. I guess that is more than the “average bear”, to quote the greatest bear of all, Yogi.

I’m not sure my busted up body can stand the strain of doing what it would take to advance from the base level, but I did that fair and square in 2008, so why not proudly yet humbly step up and take my place with this group? I am looking forward to my first race as a certified Maniac. Won’t have to wait long. Once you are a member, you can access certain members only parts of the Marathon Maniac web site. That has allowed me to learn that I will be far from alone when I hit the streets of Eugene on April 28.

Maui Sept 2008

I must admit I am kind of thinking of trying a ‘trick’ used by most of the Maniacs when they want to string together a series of marathons, namely using the last race as the ‘long run’ of your training for the next event. Done right, it seems you can probably set out a nicely spaced pattern that would let you run a marathon at least once a month, at least for a period of time. In truth, it is more or less what I did back in 2008 when I actually qualified for the base level.  Specifically, that time I ran the Maui Marathon in September as the first event. I knew it would be hot and probably humid (turned out hotter and ‘humider’ even than expected), so intended to just enjoy the experience with low expectation for time.

Victoria Marathon Oct 2008

That worked fairly well, so about one month later I ran the Royal Victoria Marathon with a touch more purpose. Unfortunately, that was also when I first tried marathoning as a contact sport. Huh? OK, in a nutshell, just after passing half way in what was a very satisfying time/pace I got knocked flat on my butt by an overenthusiastic water station volunteer. At first I wasn’t even sure I could get up let alone run on. But, run on I did although I quickly started to seize up and feel the impact. I finished and the time was so-so to OK.

CIM Finish Area Dec 2008

My real goal that year was to go to Sacramento for the California International Marathon and a shot at the Boston Qualifier I have been chasing forever. Now technically, CIM was a bit more than the four weeks or month of my theory. Whatever, although I did not achieve the BQ, it turned out to be one of the best times I had done in years.

I’ve been thinking of trying that kind of sequence again, Marathon Maniacs notwithstanding, and was talking to our Forerunners Clinic coach, Carey Nelson about it. Carey is a Canadian Olympian (5,000m and marathon), still runs and apparently loves the strategy and theory of running as much as the doing. He was all over the idea and suggested a plan where you would do just such a string of three or four marathons, but that you would set it up so you would intentionally run the first some 20 minutes or so slower than your anticipated optimum target time. The next would be 10 minutes slower and then the third (or fourth) would be intended to be at your target pace and time. It seemed like a swell idea until I started trying to find a suitable sequence of races that would meet both my general plan and budget.  Let’s just say it is still a work in progress, and because I have some other ideas in mind around Eugene, have no intention of purposely running it twenty minutes slower than I think I can. I have identified a potential series of runs starting in September. Stay tuned for more on that. We shall see what we shall see.

In the meantime, I intend to enjoy my early days as a Marathon Maniac. I will be proud to wear my Maniac shirt once it arrives and even to withstand the clever yet scurilous comments of my (envious) friends who just wish they were Marathon Maniacs!  Hey, maybe some of them are and just don’t know it!  If YOU aren’t sure, check out the Marathon Maniacs Criteria.

 Running In The Zone: A Handbook For Seasoned Athletes is now available in e-book format.

As most readers know, this blog sprang from the book: Running in the Zone: A Handbook for Seasoned Athletes. Most readers also know that down to the right of the blog page is a link to Trafford Publishing, where it is possible to go purchase one of those old-fashioned hold it in your hand, turn the pages things called A BOOK. Some of you have even done that! We thank you.

More and more often though, I have been asked, “But can’t I get Running in the Zone as an E-Book?”. Well, until just a short while ago, the answer was “No”. I am pleased to say the answer has just become “YES”, and I must add, at quite a bargain, especially when you have to include the various shipping and handling charges for the paper version – and then wait for it to arrive.

So, if you had thought about buying a copy of this book with its 26 outstanding contributors including well known writers and runners such as Bart Yasso, Joe Henderson, Lynn Kanuka,  Roger Robinson, Don Kardong, Rich Benyo, Diane Palmason, Steve King and so, so many more, now is your chance. We covered topics from the how-to of it (Bart), through the long-term magic (Diane) and even the history, both ancient and recent (Roger). Once at the Trafford Publishing site, you can ‘wander around’ through some bits and pieces of preview material before you have to pull your digital trigger on a purchase. Almost like going into a book store and thumbing through a few pages of the paper model. And, if you are the kind of person who just doesn’t think it is a book unless it has paper, and covers and pages, well that option is available at the very same place. The choice is yours.

We are excited to see this option available and hope some of you will be too. One of the great things about the RITZ book is that it is really 26 relatively short and readable pieces by 26 different and authoritative contributors. Everyone was asked to stay to around 2500 to 3000 words, which is kind of what guides most of my blog posts. I’ve tried to stay true to the book format. So, if you like the idea of something with a bit more meat on its bones than the average modern blog piece and yet very consumable in a short time, please do go see what the e-version of Running in the Zone: A Handbook for Seasoned Athletes, looks like. We’ll be glad you did!