Running 4 Your Life

Throughout my running life, I’ve had the good fortune to run (and walk) with so many different people. There have been days when I was the one who had to do all the talking so that the others could focus on breathing. Other times, I was the one who needed to concentrate on breathing.

Over the past 13 years, running has brought me so many great friends - I can’t even begin to name them all. Some of us have moved to different places, but the friendships that we forged have withstood the distance. One thing is certain: We meet as strangers, but we become friends as we run and walk together.

I treasure my running partners - there is a mutual sharing of who we really are as we’re out there on the road together.  No cell phones. No emails to check. No distractions. No pretenses. No judgment. Just time spent with a friend on the road. What could be better?

So, what is it that bonds people together as they run or walk long miles?  Is it common interests? Common goals? Common challenges? Common pain?

If you have made good friends through your running or walking, I’m sure you understand this concept. I’d love to hear your thoughts and/or stories.

In the past several races, I’ve seen some runners and walkers with shirts that say “Marathon Maniacs.” There is actually an organization called “Marathon Maniacs,” and on their website is a list of questions that determines whether or not you are indeed a maniac.

Though many people would consider ANYBODY who runs a marathon a maniac, we don’t all qualify as a “marathon maniac” according to their criteria…See how many of these questions you answer with a “YES”:

• Do your thoughts switch to the next scheduled race immediately after finishing a marathon?
• Are you signed up for more than one race right now?
• Do you know specifics about many of the marathons? Dates, courses, years run, etc.?
• Do you know the story of how the marathon got started? Also why the course is 26.2 miles?
• Do you read magazines on marathons like Marathon and Beyond?
• Is www.marathonguide.com book marked on your computer? Do you look at the race schedule more than once a week?
• Do you start to feel down when you haven’t run a marathon in a while?
• Are your closets and dressers filled with marathon t-shirts?
• Do you have so many marathon medals that you’ve run out of room on the hook they hang from?
• When asked about your racing from non-running people, do you find yourself talking with great passion to the point that the person who asked the question regrets ever asking?
• Have you run marathons on back to back weekends? Or better yet back to back days?
• Have you run a marathon as a training run? Or just to pace a friend?
• When asked by loved ones what your plans are for the weekend, you feel guilty telling them you’re running another marathon so you tell them “it’s only a half this weekend”?
• Do you plan all your vacations around a marathon race?

If you answered “yes” to ANY of these questions, you just may be a Marathon Maniac!!!

I have to admit - I actually answered “NO” to one question…

For more information about the Marathon Maniacs, go to http://www.marathonmaniacs.com

See you on the path!

Running experts generally agree that we have two “fast” or “target” marathons in us per year. That usually translates into a spring marathon and a fall marathon. We train roughly 4 months for a marathon, run it, then have a few months of recovery and maintenance before we start training for the next one. This holds true if we are shooting for a time goal or trying to qualify for Boston.

So, we pick a specific marathon and gear all our training towards that race. But, as “they” say, anything can happen on race day…or “on any given Sunday…” It could rain, snow, or be burning-up hot. You could get sick the week before the race (which is not all that uncommon). Maybe you peaked too soon in your training. Maybe you left your best “race” on the running path. So much goes into training for a marathon and having a good run come race day. Many many factors can contribute to less-than-perfect race day conditions.

For those of us who are not genetically gifted to be able to go out a qualify for Boston every time we run a marathon, we put all our “eggs in two baskets” - that is,  two target marathons per year. And, when we don’t run the race we think we should have run, we can be a bit hard on ourselves. This has happened to me more than a few times.

After a number of races in which I have been disappointed, I have learned that it’s not always about the time - it’s about the experience. That’s not to say that I cheerfully exclaim, “Oh well, I didn’t make my time; that’s ok, maybe next time.” No, it’s hard to go through 4-6 months of intense training only to miss a time goal. Most of us can’t just go out and run another hard marathon next month.

But what we can do is ask ourselves, “What is the opportunity in this?” How can I continue to use this training, this high level of fitness, to help me reach my goal?

First we must acknowledge our achievement. We just ran another marathon - 26.2 miles is a long way. And, it is not an achievement of the weak of body or spirit. Then, we must let go of the disappointment of not achieving our time goal. Let it go and move on.

• We must press on.
• We must maintain our fitness.
• We must hold on to our positive attitude.
• We must set new goals and make new training plans.
• We must pursue our goals with tenacity and courage.
• And, We must KNOW that we WILL succeed.

October 2003 - Dublin Marathon (Dublin, Ireland)

October 2008 -  Royal Victoria Marathon (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada)

Five years ago, my husband Mark walked the Dublin Marathon (his 7th marathon) in a back brace (recovering from a herniated disk) with his 68-year-old mom (her first marathon).

Last Sunday - just 2 days ago - Mark completed the Royal Victoria Marathon (8th marathon) - 5 years later.

When he got home from Dublin in 2003, he decided to leave his job and start his own company. Stinson Brand Innovation, Inc. was “born,” and the demands of starting and building a successful business took precedence over exercise and marathon training. And, along the way, he had pretty much decided that he would probably NOT do another marathon. He did, however, have time to fully recover from his back injury.

All that changed last year when he decided that it was time to do another marathon. His training started off strong, and he chose the Royal Victoria Marathon to be his “comeback” race. Again, the demands of work kept him from getting in all his workouts, but he persisted and focused on at least getting in his long mileage on the weekend. He did 2 half marathons and one very challenging 10-mile race over the summer and was ready to take on Royal Victoria.

Sunday’s race was a huge success, both physically and mentally. The marathon has a way of reminding us that a race of that distance requires lots of physical training, and often on race day, we find ourselves saying, “I probably should have gotten in another workout during the week.” Admittedly, Mark was reminded of that fact on Sunday. Nevertheless, he persisted and had a great day!

The challenge of a marathon is hard enough on the body, but without the mental fortitude, it is almost impossible. Mark may not have had “optimal” training for the past 6 months, but he had the tenacity to finish strong.

I am so proud of Mark for finishing his 8th marathon (8th in ‘08) and for getting back on the “running path.”

Even better though…I heard him say only a few hours after the race as he was doctoring a couple of really nice blisters, “Next year when I do another marathon…”

Check out Mark’s view of his marathon experience in the Oct 12 blog post at http://brandinnovator.blogspot.com/

Last Sunday’s City of Trees Marathon could never have happened without the help of the many volunteers along the course. And, most volunteers are folks who are either athletes themselves or a family member of an athlete. Most likely, they have been in a race and on the receiving end of the service the volunteers provide.

Being a volunteer is also great way to watch a race. You get to see the dedication and determination of all the athletes - from the beginning to the end. Although all athletes appreciate the volunteers, it’s often those athletes at the back of the pack who need and appreciate the volunteers more than ever.

In my experience as a volunteer/supporter, I feel like the athletes give me more than I give to them. They inspire and motivate me, and I continue to be awed by their accomplishments.

My friends at Boise RunWalk had an aid station around mile 20 - generally a pretty tough point in the marathon. And, I can say with certainty that their cheerful encouragement helped many athletes push through this rough patch. Cheers to the mile 20 Boise RunWalk volunteers! You are the best!

George Sheehan said, “Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be.”

I saw that courage and determination two days ago as hundreds of athletes gathered to run the Boise City of Trees Marathon and Half Marathon. I had the good fortune to be a spectator this year for this monumental task.

Two of my friends from Chicago came to Boise to participate in the events, and many of my friends here in Boise ran as well. We couldn’t have had a more perfect day for running. I managed to make it to several spots along the course to cheer them on and even get a few photos through the window of my car.

Whether you are running 13.1 or 26.2 miles, it is a long way to run. And, completing a long distance event takes months of discipline and practice. Making it to the starting line is an accomplishment in itself, and I applaud everyone out there.

Special congratulations to Ann for completing your first marathon! And, to Joan and Roz: Thank you for coming from Chicago to visit me in Boise to run in this event. Congratulations to both of you on running a great race.

Courage, determination, will…George Sheehan uses these words to describe success. Add to those discipline, persistence, encouragement, mental and physical toughness - and you are describing Joan, Roz, Ann, Kit, Matt … and so many others. Congratulations to all the City of Trees athletes!!!

On September 13, three of my friends - Matt, Amber, and Chele - ran a marathon. Matt ran the Salmon Marathon (Salmon, Idaho); Amber and Chele ran the Timberline Trail Marathon (Mount Hood). For all of them, it was their 2nd marathon.

By all standards, these three runners would be considered novices - as is the case with any sport in which you have been competing for only a few years. But, the great thing about running - anywhere - is that we are part of a community of runners where it doesn’t matter if you have run 1 marathon or 41 marathons…if you run a 2:48 or a 5:48…you are a special and equal member of that community. And, runners everywhere support each other - fast or slow, old or young, novice or veteran.

Amber said, “It’s awesome how a group of runners can jump into conversations with each other so easily.” Chele said of running with Amber, “…to share it with a friend made it all the sweeter.” Matt met runners at the pre-race pasta party and ran with them the next day in the marathon. I talked with Matt the afternoon of the race, and he was on “Cloud 9.” Four days later, when I talked to him again, he was on the same cloud.

Runners often have an instant connection with each other. I’ve run races in which I was “with” the same runners for almost all of the 26.2 miles. You share a certain kinship with them - maybe because you know it’s as hard for them as it is for you - and you find yourself helping them get to the finish line because in a strange way, their success is also yours.

Running is technically a solitary sport. But it is the supportive running community that keeps us running. I’m so happy for Matt, Amber, and Chele that they had such wonderfully inspiring experiences. Running a marathon is hard, and it’s a monumental achievement. I am even more inspired every time one of my friends runs another marathon.

Matt, Amber, and Chele: Thanks for the inspiration!

Coach Joe Henderson said of Dick’s camp, “We come as strangers, and we leave as family.”

Pat Loebach, a friend of mine whom I met at the inaugural camp in 2003, said, “I came to came to be a better runner; I left a better person.”

This is what Dick’s camp is about. It is a running camp, but it’s not just about running. Sure, we practiced strides, ran hills, learned about lactate thresholds, and some even set PRs in Dick’s 1/2 marathon on Saturday. But we also made new friends and invited them to stay at our homes to run races in our cities. And, unlike offers that people often make when they say, “You’re welcome to come stay at my house,” we actually take each other up on their offers to visit.

It’s always good to go home after being gone for a week, but it’s also hard to leave camp. What makes it easier is that I know I will be talking to my new friends through email, phone calls, and meeting up with them again at races all over the world.

At camp this year, I gave a talk on “Running & Friendship,” and I enumerated the dozens of friends that I have made just through connections at Dick’s camp. I met Jan Seeley - without whom there would not be a Dick Beardsley Marathon Camp - at the Napa Valley Marathon expo in 1998.

So, to Jan, I say “Thank You” for making all these friendships happen. And now that we have completed yet another camp, I am so fortunate to add many new friends to my “list” of running friends.

One of the speakers this morning at Dick’s Marathon Running Camp was Coach Roy Herron. His talk was entitled, “Mental Marathoning: Using Your Head to Get the Most Out of Your Feet.” If you’ve ever run a marathon - or any kind of challenging event for that matter - you know that the mental component of it is as important, or even more important, than the physical part.

In our earlier roundtable discussion about how to deal with bad patches in a race, Coach Bill Wenmark said that your race is often determined by your attitude at the starting line. This tied in well with Roy’s talk.

Roy shared with us his own mental tricks, magic words, and mental marathoning stories, then invited us to share ours. One of the great things about camp is that we learn so much from everyone here. Just at this camp alone with coaches and campers combined, we have run over 700 marathons. That’s 700 opportunities to learn something. We may never fully realize the impact that one of our experiences may have on another nor theirs on us.

Every September, a group of about 30 campers and 8 coaches get together for a week long running camp. Most people ask in wonder, “A running camp? You go on vacation for a week to run?” I usually answer, “It’s not just to run - we have seminars, roundtable discussions, some group runs, and a ton of fun. Ok, so we do run a 1/2 marathon at the end of the week.” That usually confirms to them that there are some really crazy folks out there.

In 2003, I went to Dick’s inaugural camp as a camper. After that, I started going as a coach. When you hear “marathon camp,” you might think that everyone there is an elite runner. Not the case. We have runners, walkers, people who have never run a marathon but want to, and people who have run 100s of marathons. We are all ages, all sizes, all abilities, all speeds, all walks of life. But the one thing we have in common is that we all love to run and to be around others who love to run.

We generally have about 30 campers, some of whom have been to camp before. Every year, we make new friends - real friends who meet in other places throughout the year to run races together, who open their houses to each other, and who truly “stay in touch.” Some of the returning campers come back for the primary reason of reuniting with their friends once a year.

Joe Henderson, one of the coaches at camp, said, “We come as strangers, and we leave as family.” So, you see, we do go to Dick’s camp to run, but it is much more than just a running camp…