RUN – Page 4 – an amazing run

Singing (And Walking) In The Rain

Today, the forecast called for rain and I was really hoping to go for a walk. I’ve been enjoying walking lately, as it has allowed me to keep building my mileage while recovering from an injury. I pulled up my weather app on my phone and saw that the rain was already happening on the radar and would be heavier later. But a peek outside showed that it was barely drizzling. The weather app always seems to over-emphasize the rain, so I put on some swim trunks (I’ve been walking in swim trunks so I can jump in the pool afterward), grabbed a plastic rain jacket, and hit the start button on my watch.

Ten to twelve miles of walking was the plan, and I could barely tell that it was raining. When I got to the trail I could see that I wasn’t alone in thinking the rain was nothing, lots of others out on the trail. The sprinkles started getting stronger about three miles into the walk, so I grabbed the rain jacket and slipped it on. I would keep it on for the rest of the walk.

Walking has been a savior for this injured runner. Running injuries can be minor, a big deal, or something in between. I have “runner’s knee” which has become the most serious and longest running injury that I have had to deal with. Taping the knee with kinesio-type tape help with the knee pain, but I stopped trying to tape it in order to run on it when I realized one of the major issues was the soreness of my quad muscles, especially the one known as VMO. And that was caused by running, which was also causing the knee pain, I suspect. Taping wasn’t going to help the muscles. It’s never easy for a runner to stop running, but I committed to getting the knee better. However, when you have three races coming up in the fall, not running for a month is going to put a dent in those plans.

I recently re-evaluated the races I had signed up for. My “A” race was going to be Broken Anvil in September, a last-runner standing/backyard ultra that I really enjoyed doing last year. The second race was Mines of Spain in Dubuque, Iowa. I don’t know what I was thinking when I signed up for this one – that area is really hilly and the race photos from previous years showed people wading through thigh-high water. I decided that I better pass on that one, requesting a (partial) refund, and letting someone from the waitlist take my spot. I had also signed up for Tunnel Hill 100 in Vienna, Illinois in November as a back-up, in case I failed at getting my 100 at Mines of Spain. Now it looks like Broken Anvil might be a tune-up for Tunnel Hill. And walking just might be what gets me there.

Stopping running was necessary to get the knee back in good condition, but I felt the pressure of the race calendar, and I also felt like I would be losing a lot of conditioning to at least not do something. Riding a bike was good for cardio, but it wasn’t good for the knee. Any standing and pedaling caused the knee to ache, so that was stopped. But walking seemed to fit the bill. I could walk without my knee hurting, and eventually, the muscle soreness diminished. I kept doing the stretching regimen that the physical therapist told me to do, and I added a 15-20 minute session of muscle massaging using my Theragun Mini massager.

I may not have been able to run, but I was still getting the miles in. Walking has become really enjoyable for me. I look forward to them, maybe more so than a planned run. I haven’t been doing the really long-distance stuff that the ultra running plan has in it (runs of 20 miles or more) on a Saturday, but I was averaging about 5.5 miles of walking per day, almost 38 miles per week! That was a surprise, and an especially good one when I realized I was keeping the miles going without getting sore or aggravating the runner’s knee. I’ve walked 150 miles since July 9th. I’m very happy with that.

I got six miles into my walk and contemplated doing another mile before turning around, but thought better of it. One thing that this past month has taught me is patience, and I’m not about to push it too hard.

Saw a group of wild turkeys cross my path on the Old Plank Road Trail.

The rain picked up in its intensity, but I wasn’t worried about it at all. I was maintaining less than 17 minutes per mile, which is pretty good for me. I had some good tunes playing in my ear (Rush, of course!), and I was really enjoying the walk. The best part about it was that I didn’t bail on it just because it was raining. It may rain in the race I do, just like last year when it poured at Broken Anvil.

I ended with 12 total miles, done in three hours and twenty-three minutes (16:55 minutes/mile pace). And the best part is that I am not sore or beat up like I would have been if it had been a run. I think that I will wait one more week before adding some running back into the mix. I’ll start with some one-minute slow-paced intervals just to make sure I don’t overdo it. Thanks to walking, I just might be able to get to the start line next month in Iowa. Fingers crossed.

Finding some enjoyment in walking in the rain.

A Glimmer of Hope

For a little more than a month now, I have dealt with some knee pain that has prevented me from running. I’ve had aches and pains over the years as a runner and for the most part rest and easing back into running was sufficient. But not this time. This injury seemed to be lingering and not getting better with rest.

I tend to self-diagnose, and I came to the conclusion that my knee pain was most consistent with “runner’s knee,” aka – patellofemoral pain syndrome. But just knowing that alone, along with rest wasn’t cutting it for me, so I swallowed my pride and went to see my doctor.

I was able to quickly get an appointment to see my doctor’s physician assistant and she advised me to take a prescription anti-inflammatory and try some physical therapy. So with the referral in hand, I went to get some “physio” as the hip kids say.

The first trip didn’t do much for me, she evaluated me, told me that I had no flexibility, and rubbed some cream on my leg and used some sort of ultrasound gizmo on my knee that made me roll my eyes. But she advised me to come back on Tuesday and see another therapist to have my knee taped.

On Tuesday I was prepared for another “you’re not very flexible” lecture, but I could tell right away that this lady was going to get me on the right track. I told her that I have pain with stairs and we tested that out. Just stepping down a single step slowly was very painful. I was ordered up onto the bench and the tape came out. Of course, I was skeptical (I’m the biggest pessimist in the world), but she wrapped the knee up and explained the whole process to me. After taping we tried the step-down test again and there was no discomfort. IT WAS GONE! I was surprised, but also kind of excited. Although we were out of time for our session, she wanted me to go for a run and see how it felt. That was all I needed to hear.

I drove from their office straight to the nature preserve and hit the trail. I ran a hilly 3-miler at a pushed effort, and although the taping felt a little weird, there wasn’t any knee pain. The muscles around the knee felt a little sore, but I haven’t run in several weeks, so that was expected.

The next day the air quality was so bad thanks to the Canadian wildfire smoke drifting down into the Chicago area, so I opted for a walk instead. But two days after getting my knee taped, I went for another run/walk (2min run/2min walk) at an easy pace and it felt great. I only planned for five miles, but when I got to four miles, I detoured my route to extend it and had no discomfort at all. The taped knee was doing great! I ended up doing 7.75 miles and have no lingering knee pain.

So, I will need to continue improving my flexibility through stretching, and foam rolling, and hopefully strengthen the appropriate quad muscles so that my knee actually moves in the spot it is supposed to move and then maybe I won’t need the taped knee.

My ultrarunning goals for the year may have been saved thanks to a knowledgeable physical therapist and some athletic tape!

A Serial Pooper In Our Midst

If you have been a runner for any length of time you probably have experienced the dreaded “runner’s trots.” It happens to all of us, and fortunately for me, I run on trails and areas around town where there are plenty of toilets on my route. But eventually, you might have to find a place to go – like immediately. Been there, done that. You would think most people would be discreet about having to drop a load outdoors, but in the last few weeks, I have come across three very indiscreet piles of excrement – human excrement! WE HAVE A SERIAL POOPER ON THE LOOSE! And I’m on the case.

I encountered the first pile as I crossed a small dirt path that leads to the nature preserve trail. It was right in the middle of the trail, covered with a light blue running shirt. At first, I thought that maybe someone accidentally dropped their shirt, but when I saw the flies buzzing around it I quickly figured out what had gone down. I guess I shook my head and had some empathy for the pooper, but then I was a little miffed that this person dropped their load right in the middle of the trail. Couldn’t you have moved off the path to do that?! Also, this person seemed to care enough to cover the pile with a shirt that he/she obviously used to wipe their ass with. If you cared enough to do that, wouldn’t you also take a few more steps off the trail so people wouldn’t have to step around it? Seems whacky to me.

The next day I found the shirt-covered poop still there and decided to use a stick (a really long one) to move the shirt and push the pile off the trail. It was disgusting, but it had to be done. About a week later I was on a walk and took a separate little access trail and to my surprise, I found another pile of crap in the middle of the trail again! WTF?! This time it was covered with napkins. So now I’m thinking this isn’t someone out for a run with a sour stomach, this is starting to look like a weirdo is on the loose.

My third and most recent encounter happened last weekend while on the main path in our area, just off of the trail, once again covered in napkins. Now this person is getting bold by pooping right next to a heavily traveled trail.

This isn’t the first time a serial pooper has terrorized a community, (see below for links) but it’s a first for my area. The reasons for doing this type of thing are puzzling to me. Are they just looking for the thrill? Are they being vindictive? Do they have health issues? Whatever the reason, I hope it stops soon. Until then, I’m on the lookout for more malicious activity!

Police catch ‘serial pooper’ after wrong woman gets a bum rap in Indiana

https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/mad-pooper-colorado-jogger-apologizes-for-pooping-on-familys-lawn

https://www.nj.com/monmouth/2018/05/superintendent_out_out_for_job_relieved_himself_un.html

The Activity Dictates The Attitude

I’ve been doing a lot of walking lately, sort of forced into it thanks to overall muscle soreness and some pain in my knee area from overtraining. I’m trying to keep my mileage up by walking in lieu of running and it seems to be going well. I hope to be back to running soon. As a long-time runner, my attitude about walking was that having to walk was failing, and a cop-out of sorts. Training for and running ultra marathons has taught me differently, as walking is almost a necessity to getting through the numerous miles. I was always about never having to walk to now building walk breaks into my pacing plan. But as I have put in some miles, I’m starting to see how walking can benefit me. And some things have changed – my running clothes have been swapped for comfortable clothes and a floppy hat instead of a visor. I have been listening to music too (mostly 60s Gold on SiriusXM) which I would never do while running. I haven’t needed a vest full of water and gels to get through the miles. It’s been kind of nice.

Since becoming a triathlete and doing swimming and biking in addition to running, it’s interesting how my attitude about the different disciplines has adapted. I always thought triathletes were a little weird, with their tight outfits and crazy-looking helmets and bikes. Then I became one and fully embraced that lifestyle. As a runner on the local path, I hated it when a biker rode by me at a high speed with little warning. But as a biker, I became that guy whizzing past others at high speed. It eventually dawned on me that I was being the athlete I was hating when I was doing that activity. I learned to slow down and give plenty of warning to those I was about to pass. And the culture of biking can be interesting. Road cyclists tend to wear flashy kits, a road-only helmet, and gear, and look down on the others. Mountain bikers have their own set of characteristics. They are the ones who think that everyone should yield to them when on the trail. And they all dislike triathletes for some reason. I try my best to fit in whenever I can.

Swimming has its own craziness to it. Believe me, when I first appeared at the local pool with my dad bod squeezed into some tight swim jammers, it was something I had to learn to be comfortable with. But soon modesty went out the window when you realize most everyone else didn’t have Michael Phelps’ physique either. Swimming at a public pool can be interesting. Swimmers seem to want isolation and to be left alone. Open swimming meant that others guarded the lane they were in and made it clear they weren’t interested in sharing. I didn’t like the idea of sharing a lane either but I was appreciative when someone offered to share the lane they were occupying. And during races, that swim cap and goggles must make you feel like you can be a jerk without being identified. People grab, hit, scratch, and all sorts of things while swimming in a triathlon. I hate having my concentration broken by someone swimming so close that they are constantly touching my feet. I don’t like that so I go out of my way to not do that to others. You’ll find me swimming way wide of the pack.

Swimming, biking, running, walking, and combinations of these sports sure do have their unique idiosyncrasies, but when you find yourself doing all of them it can change your attitude about what you perceive about them. I certainly have.

My Dumb Running Injury

Doctor, it hurts when I do this! Then don’t do that. – Henny Youngman

I’ve been running a long time, consistently since the late 1980s. Over the course of those 30+ years I have had mostly pain-free miles, but I think I have had just about every type of common running injury there is – iliotibial band issues, plantar fasciitis, piriformis, bruised toenails, and Achilles tendonitis just to name a few. Sometimes they seem serious and take a while to heal, while others I just train through them. Now I think I might be experiencing the dreaded Runner’s Knee. I say “I think” because I tend to self-diagnose, and I don’t really know for sure. Plus, the term “Runner’s Knee” doesn’t seem to be specific to one condition. So here’s what I found out about the condition.

Runner’s Knee is probably something that I have had in the past, but it wasn’t enough of an issue that I remember it specifically. There are a handful of causes but I think my issue is due to overdoing it for the past three years as I have stepped up my mileage training for ultras, being an older runner, and lack of flexibility in my leg muscles. Basically, I’m wearing out my already worn-out legs and I don’t stretch. Running injuries really all stem from overtraining or overexertion.

There are two types of injuries that are sometimes called Runner’s Knee, Chondromalacia Patella (CMP), and Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS). Both deal with knee pain, with Chondromalacia Patella dealing more with pain in the knee cap and degradation of the knee cap cartilage. Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome is more generalized to the muscles and area around the knee. Symptoms of Runner’s Knee that I am experiencing include pain while sitting with my leg bent, especially in the evening, knee pain while using the stairs, and pain while bending the knee. I do not have any grinding or unusual sensations while bending my knee, so therefore, I think my type of Runner’s Knee is more in line with the broader PFPS condition.

Either way, both conditions tend to respond to rest, OTC pain meds, stretching, and physical therapy if needed. There are plentiful videos online in which physical therapists describe stretches and exercises for the condition, so I think I’ll skip the hassle of seeing my doctor for a referral for PT. So far, I have found some relief just from the quadriceps, hamstrings, iliotibial band, and Achilles tendon stretches that I have done. This may be one of those short layoffs from running and I can get back to the long and slow training that is needed to prepare for the three ultras I have in the fall.

‘Tis but a scratch. Just a flesh wound. – The Black Knight

Have you ever dealt with Runner’s Knee? How did you handle it? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

2023 WausaUltra Backyard Ultra Race Report

When: Friday, April 28, 2023

Where: Sylvan Hill Park, Wausau, Wisconsin

Race Format: Backyard Ultra, 4.167-mile loops/yards every hour

Results: Officially a DNF – 6 loops/yards, 25 miles – 48th out of 58 starters

Website Link: https://www.wausaultra.com/backyard

2023 WausaUltra Backyard Race Report

It’s hard not to like this race. The course is trail and is varied and is a ton of fun. The race directors are top-notch. I had looked forward to it for months. And then I ran it and it beat me up, not like last year by falling on the fifth loop, but physically wore me out by the time I finished the first loop. But I enjoyed every minute of it.

Fortunately, I had my crew chief/wife Kari with me to help me with all the junk I brought and to make sure that I wouldn’t end up like last year. We opted to stay at a nearby hotel for the night to avoid the hour-long drive in the morning. We had plenty of time to get up, have a great breakfast, and then head to the race to set up our tent.

Ringing the Did Not Finish bell of shame.

Time to sit and watch the others come in.

DNF’d loop 7 is way better than not starting it.

The course was very much like the year before. A little bit of sloppy and muddy conditions, but nothing a trail runner hasn’t ever dealt with. By the end of loop 1, I felt pretty beat up and I was already calculating how many loops I might be able to complete. The goal was to do 8-12 loops, but the course forced me to reconsider that. I was now hoping to do as well as I did the year before and get at least 5 loops finished.

I had some great conversations with some of the other runners. Cody, Ashley, and Robert were great to run with, as well as many of the others. Everyone was having a great time.

The weather was pretty good this year as well. Last year was a little colder, but we were all in shorts this year.

After finishing the sixth loop in 57 minutes, I didn’t leave myself much time to get some food and I had decided that I would start the next loop but probably wouldn’t finish it. I made my way back into the corral with a fresh water bottle and started walking when the seventh loop began. As the others pulled away, I gave a half-hearted effort to keep up, but it just wasn’t happening for me. I was done. I decided to walk up the hill and back down the next which would put me near camp. Kari met me at the bottom of the hill and I told her that I was taking a victory cool-down lap. We decided to walk up the next hill and around more of the loop and ended back at the camp, with an additional but unofficial extra 1.5 miles. I walked up and told the race directors that number 159 was dropping from loop 7. I rang the bell and thanked everyone for the well wishes and congratulations. Then Kari and I began packing up.

I could make a dozen excuses why I dropped out when I did, but it all really boiled down to being uncomfortable running across the highly technical rocky terrain on tired legs. It lead to me falling last year, and I just didn’t want to repeat that. So, I’ll take my 25 total miles, my awesome WausaUltra race swag, and my finisher medal, and live for another race. Time to heal up and begin training in the summer for the fall races I have signed up for.

Jogger Judgement

I was running on Tuesday and encountered a young kid (25 or so) who looked like he was out for a walk through the woods on a cool and very windy day. I turned around and found myself catching him and passing him, but it wasn’t long until I heard someone running behind me. I turned to look and it was the sweater-clad kid. I stopped and asked him if he was trying to mess with me because I was trying to figure out why he was now running right behind me when he was just walking beforehand. I think he quickly saw my concern and advised that he was just trying to see if he could keep up with me. He apologized for freaking me out, and I chuckled and said let’s go. I dropped the hammer down and was quickly running 5K race pace. He kept up for a bit, but when we got to the uphills I ended up dropping him. By a mile later I couldn’t see him behind me any longer. I guess he learned if he could keep up with me.

I was lucky enough to have a weekday off from work today (Good Friday) and decided to join in on a group run that I usually miss out on. I don’t often join group runs because they always tend to fracture and then I end up running solo anyway. Plus, I have a part-time job and miss the morning run stuff. But four of us showed up today and it wasn’t long before I found myself thinking about who had assembled here for this run.

Just like the kid earlier in the week, it’s pretty common for me to judge other runners when I’m out running. I’m sure I’m wrong about them, and if I take some time to actually converse with someone I see regularly, I’m often impressed. And what do they think of me? I crossed paths with a teenage girl once and she looked at me and said “Oh man, you go sir!” like I was some old-timer huffing and puffing my way through a couple miles. If she only knew.

Today’s running group – Jodi, me, Dan, and April. Picture credit: Jodi – stolen from Facebook without permission.

So here is a picture of the group today. If you were judging this group of runners what would you conclude? Old and slow? Out for a mile or two and then have coffee? Three Boomers and a Gen Xer trying to stay healthy? Let’s run it down:

Jodi is a multi-time marathoner, and multi-time ultramarathon finisher, including numerous 100-mile finishes to her credit. I don’t know a lot about Dan’s resume, but I do know this: he’s an experienced adventure racer, multi-time marathoner and ultramarathoner, and an accomplished triathlete who is competing at the Multisport World Championships in a month. I’m sure there is much more to his resume. And April just added her sixth World Marathon Majors star in Tokyo this year. To put that in perspective, I have two of the six stars and it took me a long time to get that second one! I toot my own horn on this page enough for you to know that I have accomplished some stuff – marathons, Ironmans, and a handful of ultra finishes, with that elusive 100-mile finish still being actively pursued.

That’s a pretty amazing group of locals out for a run if I do say so myself. So if you see someone out running and start wondering what their deal is, don’t be surprised if you are actually seeing some pretty accomplished people. And feel free to join in! Catch us if you can!

Paleozoic Trail Runs – Devonian Spring II – 25K Race Report

Paleozoic Trail Runs – Devonian Spring II 25K Race Report

When: March 18, 2023

Where: Willow Springs, Illinois

Finish Time: 2:44:53

Finish Place: 20th overall, 4th in Age Group M50-59

Results Link: RunRace Devonian Spring II 2023 Results

I ran this race last year in rainy and muddy conditions and it didn’t deter me from signing up for it this year for some reason. This year has to be better, right? Nope. 11 degrees F. at the start with a feels-like temperature of -2. That’s because it was super windy too! Fun times. At least it wasn’t muddy. Nice and firm frozen ground, which I would become very acquainted with later on.

I got there early enough to see my crazy ultrarunning friend Jodi start the 50K race an hour before my race started. I picked up my race packet and sat in the warm car for an hour. I had brought lots of clothing options and I really thought that I was going to have to run in my coat. But after seeing what some others were opting for, I also went a more minimal route – three long-sleeved shirts, the race shirt over that, two layers of gloves, a balaclava with a visor and another hat on top of it, and a new windbreaker jacket I bought last week. I also wore my warmest running pants which might not have been necessary, and to add to that, the elastic wasn’t as strong as it used to be. I slowed several times to pull them up, but eventually stopped and tied the drawstring in a knot. Anyway, I was pretty comfortable and maybe a little too warm.

I walked over to the start about 5 minutes before and took a look around at the competition. The race director gave us some last-minute info and the countdown was on, but no one was anywhere near the start gate. As he declared go, I was the first to bolt through it and off to the races!

I wasn’t kidding that no one was willing to take the lead! Here I am bolting through the start gate! Photo credit Bill & Michelle Thom/RunRace.com used with permission.

I’m in first place! I had a smart pre-race plan of pacing slowly and not starting out too fast. Race day adrenaline took over and it wasn’t long before my labored breathing was forcing me to slow down. Being in first place in any race is kinda fun, but I would much rather pass people (encouraging!) than be passed (discouraging!). By a quarter-mile into it, a young lady joined me and we paced together until about a mile into it, when we got to a hill and I slowed and she didn’t. She would finish in 2nd overall. I had no business pacing with her. Another guy passed and I was now in third.

I kept up the count every time someone passed me, and I would tell them “you are now in 4th! or 5th or 6th, etc. I quit telling them after I dropped out of the top 10, which was about 4-5 miles into the race.

I was starting to sense that something was wrong with the way I was feeling. I felt like I was running on fumes and might be in for a slog. Thankfully, I brought along some gels to help get me through some rough spots.

I got to the turn-around of this out-and-back race and was feeling pretty happy about my time at that point. My split was an hour and twelve minutes for 7.75 miles and I was turning for home. But right about a half-mile later I came to a dead stop, tripping on some damn root or stone and falling to the ground with a thud. Since I have started running trails I have been falling, and I was super cognizant of that today, but it didn’t matter. The bill of my visor struck the ground causing my glasses to be forced into my nose causing a cut. I had the wind knocked out of me, yet that didn’t stop me from unleashing a string of curse words that had the forest creatures running. I was also seeing some stars after getting to my feet. That’s a new one. A few kind runners took time to stop and take stock of my dumb ass and offer assistance. One asked if I wanted her to walk me back to the turn-around for help and I initially said yes. Then I said no. I could walk, nothing seemed broken, and I felt like I could probably press on. And press on I did, albeit much, much, slower.

The rest of the way was a combination of running the flat sections and walking up and down hills and just moving forward. I was starting to get foot cramps and I was starting to think I was very dehydrated. I had water and I was drinking it, but I don’t think it was enough. I didn’t feel like I had been sweating all that much, but my wife Kari said my clothes were soaked when I got home.

I got to the finish and was glad it was over. One volunteer asked if I was okay, and I said no. I was mad at myself, but it was nice of him to ask. The race director asked how old I was and then said I had just missed the age group award. I kind of figured that out. It was actually a relief because it meant I didn’t have to hang around for any awards.

I walked back to the car and sent Kari this picture:

I sent “I’m all done with my 25K!”

Kari replied “Why are you bleeding!!”

Me: “The ground might have had something to do with it.”

Her: “I can’t let you out of the house!!”

I was a little concerned that my calves would cramp up on the 20-minute drive home, so I got out and walked around a little bit. I went into the toilet and peed some pretty dark urine, which was all the indication I needed that I was pretty dehydrated. I grabbed a nearly frozen Coke from the finish line and started drinking it. It turned me around pretty quickly and I drove home with no issues.

So there you have it, falling at trail races seems to be a thing for me. It’s a good thing that I only have three more on the calendar this year.

Top 5 Best Running Days Ever!

I was reading a race report in which the blogger talked about a race being in her top-five favorites of all time, and it got me thinking about what my top-five races would be. I call my blog “an amazing run” because most of my runs are pretty amazing, but if I could choose my favorites (oh boy, this will be difficult!) here they are:

NUMBER 5 – WINNING MY FIRST-EVER TROPHY

I grew up in an era that didn’t give out participation trophies, you had to earn them. Now, I’m not against participation awards, medals, or trophies, especially when it comes to running and triathlon. I’ve got dozens of them proudly hanging on my wall. I appreciate them for what they represent to me – a reminder and reward for the effort I gave to be handed one. Those that say that anyone can have one are simply mistaken. You have to at least get off your butt and complete the task. But when I was a kid, I never earned a trophy. But on July 4, 1993, I ran a 5K in a local race and decided to hang around for the post-race award ceremony. I don’t remember much about the race other than it was hot, and my wife and in-laws were there. But my name was called as the 2nd place winner in the Male, 25-30 age group category. I was 29 years old when I earned my first-ever trophy.

NUMBER 4 – THE DAY I RAN 5 MILES

I had toyed with running for a few years, but it was hit or miss for me. Like everyone else who tries running for the first time, it can suck, and I was no different. I just never stuck with it. After graduating college and finding a job, I relocated about 75 minutes north of my hometown and found myself living in an apartment bored out of my mind. My friends were back home or away at college, and I was too broke to afford golf or bowling. I bought a pair of cheap Macgregor running shoes at Kmart (remember, I was broke) and decided to try running again. The first few efforts were around the apartment complex. I was a fair-weather runner and my runs were typically after work and not any longer than a mile or two. But one lap turned into two and I also was getting a little faster. One day I decided to branch out into the neighboring subdivision and meander around. I felt great and I knew that I was going farther than I had before. When I got back, I jumped in my car and retraced my route, and I was excited to see that I had gone 5 miles! But the most exciting feeling was not just covering 5 miles, it was knowing that I could have run farther. I look back at this day as the day I became a true runner.

NUMBER 3 – WINNING A 5K RACE

You really never know what can happen unless you show up and give it your best. The Lindenhurst Police and Park District 5K was being held for the first time in Lindenhurst, Illinois, the town in which my new bride Kari and I had bought our first home, and was being held along with a little fall festival the town was having. I found this race listed in the local weekly newspaper, as the internet hadn’t really taken the world over yet. Most local racing was listed in the local papers. Since it was being held in our town, I figured why not run it?

When I got to the start line I could sense that not many people had seen the race listing in the paper, with only about a dozen runners nervously pacing around. I started to wonder if I had any competition. The girl in her twenties looked pretty fast, and so did the guy in his thirties. There were a few others, but I keyed on these two for some reason. We toed the line and off we sped, following the police chief in a police car. A weightlifter-type dude shot out to the lead like a rocket, which was somewhat surprising, as I had written him off prerace. But by a quarter-mile into the race, the girl, the guy, and I had reeled him in. My plan was to pace with them for a little while and it wasn’t long before I realized the pace was too slow. I hit the gas around mile one and took off. As I ran I actually overtook the chief in the pace car and I got a little nervous because I had no idea where the course was heading. No worries though, as he quickly got ahead and stayed there. There was a left turn about a quarter-mile from the finish and I took one quick glance back and saw no one within a distance that could catch me. I glided downhill, turned right, and broke my first finish line tape in first place overall. Show up and race all-comers, you might find that you are the best of the field that day.

NUMBER 2 – QUALIFYING FOR BOSTON

Early in my running days, I knew what a marathon was but it was never on my radar. I was happy to get around the block a few times. Marathons seemed impossible. But I finally got the urge and ran my first marathon in 1991. The Lake County Races Marathon ran from Zion to Highland Park, Illinois and it was very local for me, seeing that I worked and lived in Highland Park at the time. When I finished that first one, my reaction wasn’t the euphoria that I had anticipated, I can clearly remember thinking “That’s it? Where’s the fanfare?” I was handed a medal, which I have since misplaced (I’ve looked everywhere!), and ended up in the medical tent getting an IV.

The finish didn’t kill my enthusiasm for marathons, and I ran many more. But there was one that I wanted to do but figured I would never be able to, and that was Boston. Boston has a qualifying time requirement, and I was more than a half-hour away from it in my 30s. It seemed unreachable. But I got older, faster, and wiser, all of which would lead to me getting within striking distance of getting that elusive Boston Marathon qualifying time.

In 2015, I qualified by just a few minutes, but it wasn’t enough. When I crossed the finish line I was elated and deflated at the same time, because even though I had just run a personal best of 3:28, I knew that my cushion time might not make the cut. I missed it by 28 seconds. You can read about it here: 28 Seconds…

The following year I was much better prepared and had an awesome weather day. I cruised to a 3:25:08 finish and felt pretty good about my performance. Now the wait began.

After applying the following year, I got notice that I was in! That’s when the run became special. It took a while to get it validated.

You might ask why isn’t running Boston the high point? The 2018 Boston Marathon was miserable – I was overtrained, and it was a day of constant rain, wind, and cold temperatures. All of that makes for a great memory, but what I cherish most was accomplishing the hard part – qualifying.

Enjoying the latter miles of the race, kind of knowing I was doing well.

NUMBER 1 – CHRIS HEDGES – YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!

I had watched the network coverage of Ironman for many years and was always in awe. I couldn’t even imagine what it took to do what they did. My experience taught me that marathons were hard, how do you do that after swimming 2.4 miles and biking 112 miles?! Fortunately for me, I have friends who pushed me into it. It’s easy to say that you can’t do it when you have never even tried. So I tried. Swimming was hard, but I eventually got it down. Biking had its own struggles, but I became a better rider. And running just had to be adjusted to make sure I didn’t push too hard.

I had no idea what crossing that Ironman finish line would do to me. It was empowering. Ironman’s motto is “Anything Is Possible” and that is a sentence not lost on me. After finishing an Ironman you do feel like anything is possible.

Each of my five Ironman finishes are special, but I will always remember that first Ironman in Madison, Wisconsin in 2013. It sent me on a path of new adventures and gave me a feeling that I could do anything.

The Pavlonian Runner

My running routes are mostly paved trails near my home. My main route takes me through a nearby nature preserve that is always enjoyable. And fortunately for me as an aging runner, there are a few toilet facilities located along the route. And today, without fail, I came upon the first one at roughly 2.5 miles and had to pee. It wasn’t a pressing need beforehand, but I stopped and went in once I got to it. It’s almost like I have become conditioned to stop and pee when I get to places in which I see a port-o-let. And it doesn’t have to be a toilet there for this to happen. Occasionally, I have stopped at some more “private” areas of the route because of a pressing need, and even though I could have been running along just fine, once I see the spot, the urge takes over.

Further up the route, I came upon a port-o-potty at a house being built. There was nobody around, so I used it. This is a mile and a half past the first one! At this point, I recognized the pattern and thought I would fight it the next time I got the urge. There’s a group of trees off the road next to the sidewalk I was running on and I have stopped there plenty of times before. This time I skipped it. But as I pressed on I found that I once again had to go, but now I was in a very open area and had to hold it. I made it back to the next spot along the trail that I typically utilize, looked around to make sure nobody was around, and relieved myself by a tree. I guess I am hydrating well.

Stopping to pee when I see a toilet isn’t the only Pavlovian response that I have when I’m out for a run. If there is a runner ahead of me, my pace picks up and the chase is on. I can’t have someone running ahead of me without trying to catch them! Maybe that is due to my running race tactics. I’ve always tried to settle into a comfortably hard race pace and then start trying to catch others. But it definitely happens out on a simple training run as well. And if I get passed by someone, well that just means that person will have a shadow for a while until I realize how dumb I’m being, or I can no longer keep up their pace.

I tend to run in the middle of the day, skipping lunch for the run. There will be a point later in the run when something triggers me to think about what I will eat when I get back. Maybe my stomach is telling my brain “Dude, c’mon! Let’s eat!” or something, but there will be a brief moment in which I’m planning my post-run meal. Maybe it’s just giving me the motivation to get back home quicker.

Do you have any weird running habits or responses to things while out on a run? I’d love to hear them.