Tag Archives: Average Guy Running

Soldier Field 10 Mile

It has been a while, and I suppose I have some catching up to do. I will start with the Soldier Field 10 Mile in Chicago. We signed up for this one relatively last minute. We decided to make it a weekend trip to Chicago for our anniversary over Memorial Day Weekend. Running a 10 miler gave us a reason to feel a little less guilty about the food we would eat that weekend.

There was an option to have race-morning packet pick-up (for some extra $), which really helped us out-of-towners. We arrived in town late the night before the race, checked into our hotel, which was near the start, and got some rest. The next morning we woke up bright and early for the run. It was a beautiful morning, and it was nice to be able to walk to the start line just outside Solider Field. The day would get a bit warmer, but the morning gave us some great running weather.

Swag Bags stacked as far as you could see! (Kind of)

There were 18 Corrals or so, and we started in Corral 9, which gave us a good view of the start line, based on how they arranged the corrals on two different streets. The race, as you may expect, was centered on honoring those who gave all serving our country, and those who continue to serve (Soldier Field and Memorial Day go well together, obviously). The ceremonies at the start were very moving, and about 20 minutes after the first corral went off, it was our turn.

On The Way To Our Corrals – Also the site of the post-race party.

Off we go!

The course was an out and back along Lake Michigan and part of it utilized Lake Shore Drive until the turn-around point. We turned around at about mile 5 and returned via a path along the Lake. All along the way there were pockets of supporters and folks cheering, in addition to a couple of bands which livened things up a bit.

As you might expect, with such a sunny day, the views of Lake Michigan were gorgeous, and the route after the turn-around gave us some great views of the Chicago Skyline.

The only little drawback I noticed was that being able to see Soldier Field from so far away was a bit of a tease, as the finish never really seemed to get closer. We had not really trained specifically for this race, so the last couple of miles were a bit of a struggle.

The finish line seems so close!

One of the main selling points of the run is that you get to finish on the 50 yard line of Soldier Field (“It’s All About Where You Finish”). The route to get to the 50 took us past the field and through a service entrance. After a quick jaunt through the bowels of Soldier Field (which my Garmin did not like), we entered through a tunnel onto the field. It was a really great way to finish the run.

Our time wasn’t great, but this run was more about enjoying the day and kicking off our anniversary weekend by burning some calories that we would make up for later. It was also really great to be handed our medals by active service members, which is another unique touch to this race.

Overall, this was a great race. It was extremely well organized, pre-race emails were answered very quickly, and the post race amenities and party were great (free stretching, beer, concert, exhibitors, etc.). The weather really helped as well. I would certainly recommend it for anyone looking to a good way to run in Chicago.

Papa John’s 10 Miler

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It has certainly been a while. It seems like forever since we were finishing the Walt Disney World Marathon. After taking some time off to recover, rejuvenate, getting back into the swing of training has been tough. With weather and work, finding time to make those training runs has been a chore. We were successful in getting in our long runs, albeit on a delayed schedule. For our last long run before before America’s prettiest half marathon, Run The Bluegrass, we decided to join 6000 or so others for the Papa John’s 10 Miler. This was our first try at the 10 Miler, which is the third leg of Louisville’s Triple Crown of Running, which earlier featured a 5k and 10k.

We registered the day before, and headed out at about 7:15 for the 8:00 start. We parked a bit farther away than we had expected, so we were cutting it close to get to the start with time for a pit stop beforehand. It was a perfect morning for a run, with temperatures in the mid 40s and a slight cloud cover. We got to the start line after the National Anthem, and really never stopped moving prior to the time we got to the start line.

The Start Line

The course was new to us, which was nice. We weren’t sure what to expect, and I did not have time to really study it much before the race. All I knew is it was 3 miles of flat, 3 miles of hills, and 3 miles back. We wanted to try this race to help us prepare a bit for the hills of Run The Bluegrass.

On To Iroquois Park!

The highlight of this race was the “threat” of violence toward Joyce, my wife. Joyce had it goin’ on for this race, if I might say. She had on a very well-coordinated outfit accentuated with a pink SparkleAthletic skirt, pink Lulu top, and a pink daisy Sweatyband. Around mile 2 we heard a group of ladies exclaim, “you cannot be that cute! Look at that pretty skirt, and top and bouncy pony tail. I am gonna take her out at the finish for that skirt!” It was all in jest, and it was a fun start to the race. Needless to say, no one fawned over my sweaty shirt.

The offending outfit. . .(creeper pic)

A little after mile 3, we entered Iroquois park. This is where the hills started. We did pretty well through this section, passing a lot of people. We ran up each hill, taking our walk breaks at the top or bottom. After about the third hill, we hurt, but it wasn’t too bad, especially knowing there was a major downhill exiting the park at mile 6.

Entering the park

Up the first hill

Almost to the top

We do what we want. . .

Another. . .

Downhill from here!

The park was really nice, and added a bit of natural beauty to the course. However, the run out and back was through a residential parkway, and it was nice to have folks cheering us on from the front of their homes.

As we exited the park, we had about 4 miles left. The finish was at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, home of University of Louisville football. This would be the first football stadium we got to run through, after having previously run through minor and major league baseball stadiums.

We made really good time (for us) through the park, and I was letting Joyce run her pace, without a goal or pace in mind. On this day, her pace was pretty quick, and some of our quickest miles were in the park. Out of the park, we made our way back to the stadium. The finish line was at the 50 yard line.

Out of the park

Almost done. . .

As we neared the stadium, I noticed we were on pace to finish around 1:45. I know we didn’t have a pace in mind, but now that we were in the last half mile, I thought, oh what the heck, let’s see if we can make it in 1:45. We were well on our way to that time, and I picked up the pace to make sure we made it, much to Joyce’s chagrin. I didn’t tell her what I was doing, but she figured I had some time in mind. I thought it would be no problem until we entered the stadium. Instead on only having 50 yards to go, we had to run AROUND the field to the opposite side to the 50 Yard Line finish. We really had to kick it in now to make that time. Joyce kept up, and we made it in 1:45.

You mean we have to run AROUND the field?

There was no medal or other bling for this race. Just the satisfaction of knowing this was a 10 mile PR for us. They had Papa John’s pizza after the race (naturally), but we didn’t really feel like pizza that early, so we grabbed a G2 and made our way home.

Overall, the race was a great experience. We had to do a lot of weaving to get around the 4-5 wide walkers or slower runners, but the course thinned out a bit as we moved along. The volunteers were great, and the water stops were ample, staffed by firefighters.

We may make this an annual thing, who knows? Now it is on the Run the Bluegrass. This 10 miler had two miles of hills. RTB has 13, with the first big one before mile .5 and a max incline of 9%. It should be interesting. . .

My First Solo Half Marathon

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The Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon was supposed to be the 12th Half Marathon Joyce and I had run together. In fact, neither of us had run a solo half marathon. Two weeks earlier, we had run the Big Hit Half Marathon, adding in a few miles to fit in 15 miles on our training for the Walt Disney World Marathon. Our plan was to add in 4 miles before the LSC Half Marathon to get 17 miles in for our long run. However, nothing went as planned.

The night before, our oldest started having serious stomach pains. That ended with a trip to the ER later that evening. We were hoping it was a quick fix. Not so much. He was up most of the night, and Joyce and (to a lesser extent) I got very little sleep. Late into the night, we were both determined to make the race the next day. We had arrangements for our sitter to arrive at around 6:30 so we could leave early to get in the extra 4 miles. However, the oldest was still having spasms well into the early morning. We couldn’t leave the sitter with him like that. So Joyce decided she would stay home with him. However, by the time we decided that, it was too late to call the sitter, and she was greeted at our door with $20 for her trouble, and she got to go back to bed.

Now, what to do about the race? Well, I am a horrible father. At almost the last minute, I decided I would still run the race. I am still not sure exactly why. Regardless, I got dressed and headed over to Louisville for the start of the race outside the KFC Yum! Center.

Start Outside the YUM! Center

I got there just in time to get in line near the very end of the runners. There was no reason to be in the middle of all the folks, as I had no plan for this run at all. There was a nice crowd for this race, and it was a perfect day for a run.

Before I knew it, we were off. I settled into a comfortable pace, determined to keep it consistent. The course heads out of downtown Louisville toward Cherokee Park. The park portion of the course is gorgeous in the fall. It is rather hilly, but is my favorite part of the course. There was some pretty good crowd support and bands along the course as well.

Entering Cherokee Park

The first of the hills

The views in the park were gorgeous with the fall colors and vistas at the top of the hills. The best part about the hilly park portion is that there is a nice long downhill section coming out of the park. A highlight of the course was a new section that was added this year that took the runners through Cave Hill Cemetery just past the halfway point. This part of the course was definitely a great addition, and added to the beauty of the run.

1 Entering Cave Hill Cemetery

The colors were just past peak

I exited the cemetery just before mile 8. Just outside the cemetery exit, a group was dancing to “Thriller” in full character.

“Thriller” zombies

Baxter Ave is never traffic-free

At this point, my pace was well ahead of my personal best, and I was feeling pretty good. I was getting my hopes up that I could smash that PR. However, since I was running a bit behind arriving for the start, I had neglected to use the restroom. Holding it was no longer a comfortable option. Luckily, by mile 8, the restroom lines are relatively non-existent. Mile 8 was a bit slow as a result, but I knew I would be much more at ease heading to the finish. At this point, the course heads back toward downtown Louisville for the finish. Last year, it started to rain/sleet rather heavily at this part of the course. This year treated the runners with perfect weather.

4th Street Live! (Louisville likes exclamation points)

They tweaked the course this year, adding an out-and-back portion between the 11.5 and 12.5 mile points. I think that was the longest mile I have run in a long time. As usual, I was still feeling pretty good at mile 10, and was well ahead of PR pace. However, as usual, at about mile 11, that good feeling began to fade. To top that off, an out-and-back at this point in a run is a bit depressing. You get to see all those people ahead of you that are heading to the finish, and you keep wondering where the hell that turnaround is.

I hit the turnaround, still ahead of PR pace, but I was certainly beginning to struggle. My legs were rebelling. However, from that point, I could see the finish area, and once you get past the turnaround, you are on the positive side of the out-and-back, seeing all the people behind you. Being that I started shotgun on the field, it was nice to see all the people I was able to pass in the race. That did not help my legs much though. The last couple of miles were well off my pace for the rest of the run. I had to take a couple of extra walk breaks between miles 12 and 13, which I never like to do. Usually, we skip the break during that mile.

After one last short break, I powered toward the finish. The time was not what I had been hoping for, but I was still able to beat my previous PR by over two minutes.

It was probably the most disappointing PR ever. Not because I could have gone faster (I think I could have), but because it was MY PR. Up to this point, it was OUR PR. I was without my running partner for this one, and it was certainly not the same. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I enjoy my alone time like few others, but the PR Joyce and I achieved last fall felt better than this one. Running is our thing. It is that thing we get to do together. I enjoyed this run, but I would have liked it a lot better if (1) our son wasn’t sick and (2) we had run it together.

In the end, it was nothing serious with our son, but I suppose I am still a horrible father. I told Joyce she should go with the girls to run the Princess Half in Disney World. Does that make it better? Probably not, but it is worth a shot.

Next up, a possible 5 mile race on Thanksgiving morning, and the Santa Hustle Half Marathon in mid-December leading up to the Walt Disney World Half Marathon in January. I am looking forward to having my running partner back.

Mill Race Half Marathon

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This year marked the inaugural Mill Race Marathon, Half Marathon, and 5k, which took place in Columbus, IN. We ran the half marathon as part of our training for the Walt Disney World Marathon coming up in January. I must say, for a first year event, it was stellar. Even the governor of Indiana, who is from Columbus, participated in the 5k. The event included a two day expo prior to the Saturday races, as well as an after party in downtown Columbus. That after party included rock climbing, activities for kids and adults, and even a zip line through downtown Columbus. We had to leave right after the race, so we did not get to experience that firsthand though.

As for the race, I must say I was a bit worried as the weekend approached. The weather man was calling for high temps in the mid-80s, and I was having flashbacks of the heat of the Dumbo Double Dare. However, the morning started out in the upper 50s, and we could not have asked for better weather for the first part of the race. The race started in downtown Columbus, just outside the Cummins Corporate Headquarters. (Cummins is the world’s foremost manufacturer of diesel engines – which explains the medal you will see later).

Quiet Starting Line

Not So Quiet Starting Line

The race then wound through its namesake, Mill Race Park. The park was beautiful at that time in the morning, with sunlight streaming through the trees, and fog rising from the ponds. It was really a great start to the race. There was a rather narrow stretch right after the start, but it was nothing compared to some of the Disney races we have been in.

Entering Mill Race Park

Gorgeous Morning For A Run!

After exiting Mill Race Park, entered the streets of Columbus. The city is known for its architecture, and the race course took us by several interesting sights. All in all, it was a great course: Flat, with plenty of great sights and shade. The crowds were awesome all along the course, the volunteers were very enthusiastic, and the bands on the course were great. It seems the community really embraced this event. Below are some of the views from the course.

We were really impressed by this race. The course, again, was great, and we saw some wonderful sights along the way, including one particularly touching running group.

“Today, I’m Running A Marathon With My Hero: My Dad.”

Since this was a training run on the way to the WDW Marathon, and with the questions about the weather, we were not really gunning for a PR. However, for the first 11 miles, we ran a pace that was faster than our prior best. In the end, we missed it by about 2 minutes, but it was good to know we could get close, especially after the beating it felt like the summer gave us.

The crowd for the finish was great, and we got a very unique medal out of the effort, which paid homage to Cummins. After this inaugural event, I cannot wait to do it again next year.

Great crowd lining the finish.

Medal with a Cummins Engine on it!

Now its off to the Southernmost Half Marathon. No doubt that one will be a hot one, but it is Key West, so I am not complaining! There is no shortage of icy drinks to cool you off. . .

Fall Race Season – Run ALL The Races!

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Well, it is almost that time of the year: Fall race season. (NEVER thought I would be saying that a couple of years ago). I am currently training for my second Walt Disney World Marathon in January. Luckily, many of the half marathons through the end of the year coincide with long training runs. I know, the long runs are supposed to be long and slow. However, it is much easier to get pumped for a long run when it is a half marathon with a couple thousand other folks and all the excitement that goes along with it.

At our first couple of half marathons, we thought all those folks running long warm ups of a mile or more were crazy. Well, now we are those people, except we will be running 2-5 miles extra before a couple of our races to meet our long run distance goal. And yes, we will run that before the race, because who wants to keep running once you get to the finish line? I just hope the weather cooperates.

So, we will be running at least 5, count ’em 5, half marathons by the end of the year. I look back at how daunting the thought of that first one was. I thought there was no way I could do it. Now, if all goes as planned, we will have run a marathon, a 10 miler, two 10Ks, and 7 half marathons this year. That is crazy stuff. Crazy fun stuff!

This summer marks our second year of running. It is amazing how far we have come and how we have been able to stick to it. We are not fast and hang out mid-pack, but we sure have fun. It serves as a reminder that if we put our mind to it, there really is nothing that is out of reach. If a larger-than-most guy like me can run a dozen half marathons, anything is possible. If an anti-runner like me can be convinced to run, and eventually be converted to a runner, anything is possible. If I can successfully complete that WDW Marathon in a respectable time in January, anything is possible.

So here’s to the fall race season. Hopefully it is filled with new adventures, new goals, and a lot of fun.

Running – R.U.T.S.

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I am not currently in a running rut. I enjoy it as much as always. I am as motivated as always. I look forward to getting out for that run as much as ever. I have 5 races* on the training calendar. I suffering from what I call R.U.T.S. however. Running Under Time Stresses. Most every runner suffers from this condition, the chief presenting symptoms of which are difficulty fitting in that run for the day and the need to rearrange training schedules.

I see it as a good thing that I am having this problem. For me, it means two things: (1) Work is busy, which in my line of work is a good thing, and (2) I actually am anxious that I am having trouble finding the time to run. If I was not anxious, I would be worried. It would mean that I don’t have the motivation to continue to get out there and run. Luckily, that is not a problem at this point, especially with those 5 races down the road.

When suffering from RUTS, the picture above explains the cure perfectly. When you don’t have time to run, make time. Most everyone has at least an extra 30 minutes a day. For me, that generally includes taking my luch time to get a run in, or a late night treadmill run for my wife, or a mid-afternoon work break for a couple of my co-workers. On weekends, finding the time for those long runs can be more difficult. This weekend, it involves arriving at an out of town meeting a few hours early and finding a local running route for an 8 miler. Finding creative ways to fit in that next run is part of the fun of it. Just like life, it wouldn’t be nearly as interesting if everything fit neatly into a predetermined schedule. Easier? Sure. More fun? Probably not.

For that reason, I try not to complain too much when I am having trouble fitting in that run. If that is the worst problem of my day, then I can call it a good day. However, that Dumbo Double Dare is less than 60 days away, so making that time is becoming more important.

*5 Races: Dumble Double Dare (Disneyland), Mill Race Half Marathon(Columbus, IN), Southernmost Half Marathon (Key West, FL), Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon (Louisville, KY), Walt Disney World 10K+Marathon.

I Race Because I Am Lazy. . .

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I am lazy. No ifs, ands or buts about it. I know this about myself. This is precisely why I run half marathons. Having that set date on the calendar when I have to be able to run 13.1 or more miles keeps me running. That race date is the carrot on the end of that stick of training runs. That race date interferes with the lingering urge to skip a long run or take a week off here and there.

This is why the summer is not such a great time for my running. Most of the races are early in the spring and in the fall. If I am not working toward a race, it is so much easier to procrastinate and rationalize my way out of a 3 miler. It is very easy to get into a rut and fall out of a groove. “I can just get back into the groove when the training schedule for the next race begins,” I tell myself. It is so easy to skip a run when those summer temps hit the 80s and the humidity is stifling. As I write this, I am dangerously close to a rut, but alas, there is an 8 miler scheduled for this weekend, thanks to the Dumbo Challenge. Thanks to summertime, there are also some lovely 90 degree temperatures scheduled for this weekend.

I am not sure what to make of the lack of motivation currently. When I first started running, 8 miles seemed like a huge deal. Now, not so much. That is progress, I suppose. I never imagined I would think 8 miles was routine. I have certainly come a long way. Yet, even though I have been running going on two years, and I still find that I require the motivation of an upcoming race to keep me going. I do not want to crash during a race (again), and that is my motivation. I have yet to make running a habit, although I do get a bit antsy if I don’t run for a few days. I know that without the “threat” of an upcoming race, that edginess is easily overcome by laziness.

The real victory will come when it can’t be. When I can finally call running a habit. When I can finally say I run simply for the fun of it, for the health benefits. Until then, I’ll take what I can get. If it takes 5 or 6 half marathons a year to keep me running, so be it. The races are a blast, and I have a great running partner along for the ride.

My Inner Ninja

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Nothing about my running is stealthy. Dangerous? Maybe. But, I will never be mentioned in the same sentence as “agile,” or “ninja-like” unless it is an exercise in antonyms. That doesn’t stop me from dreaming. . .

Running has helped me find out a lot about myself. I have an inner strength that I was never really sure was there, and that I never fully challenged. I never thought of what to call it. I discovered a song recently that gave it a name: My Inner Ninja. The song, appropriately titled “My Inner Ninja,” is tops on my playlist right now. It has a great tempo to run to, but it also has motivating lyrics that apply to life and running. Bad habits? Drop ’em. Problems? Deal with ’em. Back against the wall? Fight your way out. “Never dwell in the dark, ’cause the sun always rises.” Once you find your inner ninja there is no stopping you. A bit cheesy? Sure it is. But it is motivating knowing that you have that strength inside you to conquer anything. You just have to find it, and use it. That’s the hard part. Running has helped me push away my inner sloth, and has uncovered at least part of that inner ninja. I am looking forward to continuing on that journey to full ninja-hood.

The quote below feels particularly applicable to my running. As I head into the Dumbo Double Dare in less than 100 days, I am sure this one will pass through the Ipod dozens of times. Each time it does, my pace will pick up, if only for those three minutes. . .

It’s a feeling that you get in your lungs when you run
Like you’re runnin’ outta air and your breath won’t come
And you (uh) wheezin’, gotta keep it movin’
Find that extra (uhn) and push your way through it

I’ve had bad habits but I dropped em
I’ve had opponents but I knocked them out
I climbed the highest mountains
I Swum the coldest seas
There ain’t a thing I’ve faced that’s been too much for me

Nobody’s gonna see me comin’
Nobody’s gonna hear a sound
No matter how hard they tryin’
Nobody’s gonna bring me down

Nobody’s gonna see me comin’
Nobody’s gonna hear a sound
No matter how hard they tryin’
No stoppin’ me since I’ve found
My inner ninja. . .

Fun Run – KY Derby Festival Mini Marathon Recap

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I was really looking forward to the Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon. It would be our 7th Half-Marathon, it was our first repeat half, and we had some cool costumes to run in. Also, it was our first time to get together with a lot of other runners since the tragedy in Boston. I was not sure how it would go, since I had not trained very well since the Run The Bluegrass half at the end of March, and my wife’s sporadic hip issue reared its ugly head in our last long run.

To add to the uncertainty, the morning of the race started off on a bad note. I had returned from a business trip to Chicago the night before, and was not as organized as I would have liked. As a result, I forgot my Garmin. I felt like I was flying blind. We use the run/walk method by distance, not time. Luckily I had my Ipod, so I decided to just wing it and use the time on that to estimate our walk breaks. It turned out OK though, we ran nearly identical splits each mile. I still felt a little naked though.

We made it to the start line a few minutes before the start. My wife and her friend went whole hog on their outfits, while I was not nearly as put together for this one. We were taking our Bay To Breakers outfits for a trial run. We had decided a couple of months ago to go with the super hero theme. I, of course, was Super Man, my wife was Wonder Woman (naturally), and her friend was Bat Girl.

Ladies love the abs. . .

Dynamic Duo!

Folks immediately asked for pictures with Wonder Woman and Bat Girl. Superman was the photographer of course.

Great Pre-Race Atmosphere! And plenty of port-a-pots!

The race started right on time, with great weather and an awesome, boisterous crowd cheering the runners. The first six miles flew by as we took in the sights. The first couple of miles runs through downtown Louisville with lots of interesting sights, incuding the world’s largest Louisville Slugger bat, and this:

Yup – it is all there. . .

After leaving downtown, we headed out towards Churchill Downs, following tree-lined streets filled with cheering fans. Some offered high fives, others offered their rears for runners to smack. Whatever floats your boat, I suppose. We got a lot of great comments on our outfits, though I realize most of them were for the ladies. . .

I think lots of folks were jealous of Super Man.

At mile 8, we entered Churchill Downs. We hit the infield as some Derby hopefuls were getting their final works in on the track. I remember last year at this point, I was really feeling it. This year I felt much better. Wonder Woman took her turn at the camera, and I also got a blurry picture of one of the horses on the track. It was really a treat to get to run through the track while the horses were working and Derby preparations were underway.

Famous Twin Spires, and abs of steel. . .

More Great Athletes @ Work

At mile 9 we exited Churchill Downs, and headed back down the tree-lines streets toward the finish. The last 4 mile stretch is mostly a straight shot to the finish, slightly downhill. Once again, these last few miles felt better than they seemed last year. Wonder Woman’s hip twinged a bit, but we powered on toward the finish. Baseball picture day and a soccer game later in the morning wouldn’t wait for a little hip issue.

Tree-lined streets

Keeping our steady pace, we rounded the corner by the Yum! Center and headed to the finish line at Slugger Field. The crowd lining the street was great, and you could hear the roar at the finish. At about mile 12 we saw some folks from the Reeve Foundation taking on the last mile of the race. They were truly inspiring. Also, thoughts of Boston came to mind at this point and gave that extra boost to the finish. We powered to the finish, and completed #7. 6 minutes faster than last year, but not a PR. But hey, we got to meet Elvis at the finish.

Elvis!

Once again, the folks at the Derby Festival put on a great race. It was fun, well organized, and had awesome crowd support. Oh, and there was this to finish off our race day:

Spanx, thong, and a dollar. . .Bay To Breakers, here we come! Love the looks of the passersby!

The next day, the organizers put on their first Kids’ Races, with distances from 50-800 meters. The little guy grumpily completed the 50m, while big brother flew through the 400m. They got their own finisher medals, and were proud little guys. It was a good way to finish off the race weekend. I look forward to the 2014 version. Hopefully it will be #12 or so.

Just like daddy!

Flying to the finish!

More Bling!!

Proud To Be A Runner

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I have said on here many times that I am not a fast runner. I am not an experienced runner. On my best day, I am an average runner. But, in the aftermath of the horrific events in Boston, I am proud to be able to say I am a runner.

The immediate, passionate outpouring of support the running community has shown for the victims in Boston has been inspiring. From running 4.09 miles in support of those in Boston, to wearing race shirts and Boston Marathon colors, to organizing runs in honor and memory of the victims, the running community had stepped forward in inspiring ways. I am proud to be a part of such a close knit community. Most never knew any of the victims at the Boston marathon, and yet, they treat them as one of thier own: members of the running family. I am proud to be a runner.

Now, I know it is easy to show support like this. It is easy to do something you do 3 or more times a week anyway, and say it is in honor of someone else. It is easy to step up in times like this. Yet, the earnest expressions of support seem to be more than that. What I have seen does not appear to be borne out of convenience. It seems to be coming from the heart. I am proud to be a runner.

The running community was attacked. Not just the runners, but the entire community, including the spectators (an integral part of the running community), friends, and families. Rather than shrinking away, the reaction I have seen is one of defiance. I have seen a re-dedication to run more races to show that we cannot be deterred. There are countless efforts to raise money and awareness for the victims. I am proud to be a runner.

I plan to keep running. But as it was with my short training run today, running from now on will be filled with thoughts of those who can no longer run due to the cowardly acts in Boston. Rather than thinking of the pain I am going through, I hope my thoughts continue to turn to being thankful for the blessing to keep doing this. Thankful for the ability to get out and run, to feel that pain. I hope I can keep remembering that I am part of a larger community: One that seems filled with respect and admiration for other members of that community, no matter their role.

I am slow. I am average. But I am a runner. I am proud to be a runner.

Run Todd Run!

Random thoughts from an average guy trying to run . . .

Tag Archives: Average Guy Running

Soldier Field 10 Mile

Papa John’s 10 Miler

My First Solo Half Marathon

Mill Race Half Marathon

Fall Race Season – Run ALL The Races!

Running – R.U.T.S.

I Race Because I Am Lazy. . .

My Inner Ninja

Fun Run – KY Derby Festival Mini Marathon Recap

Proud To Be A Runner

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