Spring Fling Planned!

This past year, I ran three marathons during the spring over 6 weeks - Antarctica, LA and an ultra in Seattle.  I had so much fun that I decided to do that again.

So, on March 18, 2012, I'll be running the LA Marathon for the 4th time overall and 3rd time on the Stadium to the Sea course.  The course winds from Dodger Stadium, east to downtown and then west through Echo Park, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Century City, Westwood, The VA Center, Brentwood and Santa Monica finishing above the Pacific Ocean.  I cannot recommend this course more highly; I would even say traveling to LA to run it makes sense.  I plan to run it every year, and I'm happy that I like my hometown race.

A discount code (HLAM2012) saves $20 off the normal price between now and until noon this Thursday, July 21.  Head to www.lamarathon.com for more details.  Once again, I'll be co-chairing the efforts of The Alliance of Children's Rights to raise money as an official local charity of the event.  Please consider running this or the 5K the day before if you are local here in LA or even planning a spring break trip to the Coast.  (I'm running both races of course.)

Then, 5 weeks later, you can find me slamming through grand ole London, England in the 2012 Virgin London Marathon.  So, April 22, I'll take off on a 26.2 mile adventure across a city I lived near for a year and happen to still enjoy visiting.  Thanks to meeting the head of the organization on a plane last year, I'll be supporting Rays of Sunshine which is like Make-a-Wish.  I have specific fund raising goals and my British friends should be putting my email on their spam list to avoid my pestering pleas for donations.  The 2012 Summer Olympic Games will be in London, and this event promises to be special.  In fact, the official 26.2 mile distance of all marathons was established at the 1908 Olympic Games.  Previously, the distance ranged from 24 to 28 miles.


And 2 weeks further on, I return to Fort Collins, Colorado to run in their racing event on May 6, 2012.  After 3 half-marathons in the past 5 years, I'm taking on the full marathon this time.  Registration is open for this too at the 5k, 10k half and full distances.  My cousins live in Fort Collins, and the amazing course winds out of Poudre Canyon before finishing in Old Town, Fort Collins.

I can't wait!

(Oh yeah, I am running at least two marathons this fall, so I better keep training.)

Light Traffic Equals a Nice Long Run

Well Carmaggedon appears to be over and done. You may read about the closure of the 405 in Los Angeles all over the net. For those not exposed to our freeway craziness, you would therefore not know that CalTrans has embarked on a multiyear plan to widen 10 miles of very busy interstate. The ultimate goals include a carpool lane and better on and off ramps. A bridge in the Sepulveda Pass needed to be demolished (well half of it), and for safety, the workers shut a huge stretch connecting West LA and the San Fernando Valley. As I stated, google the whole thing for more info.

With warnings of mass traffic snarls from the 500k drivers who would be diverted this weekend, superstars and politicians urged Angelenos to stay at home. And golly, most everyone did. But they said nothing about runners, so how could I pass up a chance to see the 405 completely empty? Here are my images from this morning's run. (And traffic was so light that I decided to run from the 405 to the beach along famed hilly and twisty Sunset Blvd. Overall, 20.7 miles today. Way fun!)

Looking North - Not a car in sight

Yep, empty to the South too

Looking north from the Sunset Blvd. overpass. One car is heading south (the ramps were open part of the way south) and some crew cars (stopped) on the north side).

A biker was taking pictures too, and he snapped this one of me, again looking north from Sunset Blvd.

Next week, I'll run back to the same spots and post some normal traffic photos.

Run 1. Sleep 0. I Win.

July 14th, I spent the day in the charming city of Quebec Canada. No, this had nothing to do with Bastille Day nor an attempt to practice my lingua Française [sic]. Bastille Day happens in France, not French Canada, and while I did try some phrases in French, most people responded to me in English.

Quebec at night - phone by Djof

Work required my visit to the only walled city in the Americas north of Mexico. Situated on the western bank of the St. Laurence River, Quebec features an old quarter high on a hill at the edge of the Plains of Abraham and guarding Cap-Diamant (Cape Diamond). The city holds the honor of the first permanent settlement in the non-Spanish Americas having been founded with the purpose of long term occupation as compared to the more short term goals of older towns like Jamestown. This strategic location effectively protected French and British Canada from attack. (The city traded hands a number of times.) Quebec saw a number of battles in the Seven Years War and later Colonial American troops tried to take the city from the British during the American War of Independence. The British won that battle, and Canada remained loyal to London. (Additionally, circumnavigator James Cook made a name for himself mapping the various rivers around the city.) The town survived all of these trials, and in 2008, it celebrated its 400th anniversary. Then as now, work brought me to the city during the celebrations which were quite impressive.

During that 2008 visit, our local development studio head, Dominique, and I ran a half-marathon from the eastern shore of the river (Levis), over the Quebec Bridge and then back down the Quebec riverside into the main part of the city. For Dee, it was his first race at this distance; for me it was the first when I ran with a friend. We both really enjoyed the experience. Dee competed again in 2009 and significantly improved his time.

I remembered how much I liked running along the river, so I packed my Asics for this trip and planned to hit the pavement to run part of the race's course.

But I nearly missed out on a glorious morning and fantastic jaunt. For those of you out there that might think about skipping a run, please know that this occurs more often with me than my reputation might suggest.

Arriving late Wednesday night, I accidentally messed up setting my alarm; I had left it on Taipei time - exactly 12 hours later than Eastern Daylight Time. Oops. At 8:30 AM, plans called for breakfast with my team before we visited our developer. So, to be safe, I really wanted to arise by 5:30 AM. (2:30 AM in California. Yikes.) Even without the alarm, I awoke at 5:50. Not bad for no auditory summons. Still plenty of time to run 13 miles.

But I felt dead tired.

"I can run in California on Friday," I told myself. "I really need my sleep," I intoned in my head. The runner in me countered, "But you laid out your running stuff and schlepped your shoes all the way across the continent. And your GPS watch; don't forget you brought that too and made sure to charge it overnight." So, I did what any sane person would do to shut up this pre-caffeine debate. I negotiated. With myself.

The deal? I got to go back to sleep, but if after 10 minutes snoozing eluded me, then out of bed I would bound. I set my alarm (correctly) for 7:30 so that I wouldn't miss breakfast and closed my eyes.

Ten minutes later, still conscious, I stumbled off the mattress.

Ten minutes after that, and my shoes seemingly laced themselves. (I'm not even sure how I got ready so quickly.)

Ten minutes more and I was bounding down Rue St. Joseph. I already knew I wanted to run along the river, and I recalled that a bike path adorned the road near the Cap-Diamant area. Spotting a bike route near my hotel, I figured that it would lead me in the right direction. I've been to Quebec six times, so I do vaguely know its geography. My hunch proved correct, and I picked up the path I sought along the St. Laurence.

The Quebec Flag

Given my normal weekly plan only involves running three days per week, I want each run of a decent length and quality. Thursday's goal held 13 miles for me - basically a half. I intended to run outbound 6.5 miles and then reverse my steps in returning to the hotel. Probably I could have planned more of a circuit, but that would have taken me away from the river. Yet at the same time, I also recalled that I might have to run some of the course on either a narrow sidewalk or actually abandon my route as I didn't think the bike pavement stretched the entire distance. The key to this workout clearly involved staying flexible.

My runs vary in how much I enjoy them. Mostly, I have fun, but some earn the title of "a slug." At other times, I know early on that the run is a winner. Today, within two miles, my ten minute insomnia deal proved the correct call.

As I came around the Cap, I spied a hot air balloon rising out of the old city. I slammed on the brakes and grabbed my iPhone to snap a picture. What a real treat! And consider the randomness of the event. What if my tired fingers had manipulated my iPod alarm clock correctly? I would have passed the spot I saw the balloon 30 minutes too early. Plus, if I had slept to 7:30, then the magical sight would only have been spotted by the dock workers who I noticed watching while I snapped the image.

Morning over Quebec

Just a scosh further, I passed a berthed Canadian Coast Guard ship. The name was Amundsen, the famous polar explorer who graced some of my Antarctica entries from February. Happy serendipity.

Click for a larger image to read the boat's name

The last bit of good fortune concerned the bike path. I found it now extended all the way along Boulevard Champlain - the major road next to the river and named for the city's founder Samuel de Champlain.

So, I had a smooth trail beneath my feet as I passed through a number of charming river side parks. The 55 (14 Celsius) degree weather mixed with the beautiful blue sky and river inspired me to a 1:50 time for 13.5 miles. (I was so enjoying myself that I turned around later than expected.) I clocked the 2nd half 10 seconds per minute faster than the first half. Not bad for a sleepy body which I learned needed to run more than to sleep.

Will Rogers 10K results

Happy 4th of July everyone!

For the 6th straight year, I participated in the Pacific Palisades local event: The Will Rogers 5k/10K. This was the 34th running of the event, and I selected the 10k. About 1000 people competed in the event, and I came in 90th overall and 9th in my age group. This is pretty much on track for me.

One interesting stat is what is called Age Grade. Basically, they look at the world record time for the distance and then factor in your age. I performed at 64% which is good. The highest I've been in any event is about 70% and usually I'm more around 60%.

Two aspects of the race that pleased me. The course features 600 feet of elevation climb. I attacked the hills employing a very fast turn over of my feet in short steps. That kept my pace around 7:30 - 8:00 on the step parts. Overall, I clocked in at 7:14.

Here's a link to my results. I ran a minute faster in 2007 and 3 minutes slower last year. (The other 3 times I ran in the Palisades, I ran the 5k.) This year, I also ran 5.8 miles prior to the race as I wanted to go 12 today in total.

And because it is a community event, I ran into a couple of friends after I finished which was nice.

All in all, this was a great start to a wonder July 4 here in 90272.

Running Nowhere

Running in Circles

Recently, I've written about destination runs both near and far. Today's entry comes around full circle literally.

My wife just had a successful medical procedure. However, the recovery timing stretches in the months range. During the first few weeks of healing, leaving her without help in the house is not what the doctor has ordered. Fortunately, we have some great people helping her and me during this period of being house-bound.

Yet what is a serial runner like me to do when it comes to my various long distance training runs? Of course, Rebecca's safety and support takes priority, and I would not run if that was what I had to do. Yet, I decided to find a solution that works for both of us.

Normally on a weekend, I will disappear from 2-4 hours on long jaunts. I do huge loops around Santa Monica, Brentwood, Venice and the Marina. Sometimes I go into the Santa Monica mountains onto the fire roads. Regardless of the destination, my goals are about miles covered, the fresh air and a complete change from my normal computer-based life style. All of these paths take me miles - sometimes up to 13 miles - away from home.

So, I've come up with a variety of routes right in my neighborhood. Fortunately, we live in an area that has a lot of smaller sections attached to one another as the homes weave around the bluffs of Pacific Palisades. I have a 5 mile route that basically is a figure-8 with our house at the center. This course never leads me more than 1.5 miles from my front door. As I have a nice belt clip case for my iPhone, I can be summoned and am always within 12 minutes of getting home - and on average less than 8 minutes. I can run to my hearts content and not shirk my responsibilities at home. I don't get anywhere but at least I'm still running.




Here are some tips and tricks I've developed:

5 miles can easily be repeated. The course is long enough to not get too boring. Sometimes I'll go out clockwise and then go counterclockwise on the next loop. Or I can go one way on the lower half of the figure-8 loop and the other on the upper half. What if I want to put in 12 miles? Well, that's 2 full rotations and then just one portion of the figure-8. Because I pass home 3 times, many combinations exist for variety. My course has about 150 feet of elevation change, so I can also do hill repeats mid-way through. The key is to find a nice few mile circuit and loop it back and forth around your front door.

If you live near a running track, that is another great way to get in good runs without venturing too far. (If you do use a high school track, be sure to check their hours for public use. Also, most tracks prefer you to run on the outer lanes to preserve the inner (faster) lane surfaces. Some tracks alternate directions of running on various days as well. Again, check local signs and websites or ask the usually present security staff.)

But what if you need to stay even closer - you don't feel that 12 minutes is an acceptable response time? Even a couple long blocks can form a nice circuit. You could be home in a walk in less than 5 minutes. I would try to map out at least a quarter mile circle; anything shorter will quickly wear thin. This highly repetitive course sometimes require one to listen to music, podcasts (I recommend the IndyCast since I contribute to that) or audiobooks to break up the boredom. Since you have your phone with you (so you can get called in an emergency), you can use that as a player and still hear the phone ring. And again, switching directions can spice the cycle a bit.

Back in April, I prepared for an Ultra by running 28 miles over about a four mile course in Santa Monica. That day I didn't need to be close to home, but it rained all day and I wanted to practice on grass and dirt. So, between the grass median on San Vincente and the dirt Palisades Park path, I found my solution. Without the rain, I probably would have gone in the Santa Monica mountains.

Take advantage of continually passing your home base. You can stash water and snacks for those long runs, and of course a toilet is easy to get to.

Lastly, work on your stride and form. The home circuit will get tiring as you know the scenery already. So, use the run for other parts of your training. Runnersworld.com has a lot of running exercises you can try. You could even add in push ups and sit ups every lap.

Oh yeah, don't worry about those odd stares from your neighbors. They already know you are crazy. Running in circles will just add another confirmation data point.

Origin Story

Five years ago this month, I decided to run my first race. That idea leapt into my head in Boston. Let me set the scene by relating my latest run.

On Friday, I took to the pavement of Cambridge and Boston on one of my favorite runs. Lining both sides of the Charles River basins, bike and running paths link the various bridges spanning the river boundary between the two cities. The paths wind past MIT, Harvard, Boston University and the famous Boston Half-Shell (where the Pops play on Independence Day each year). Depending on which portion you run, you might also pass by the Boston Science Museum, Harvard Stadium and even some awesome old common areas. Back in 2009, I ran about 22 miles (11 out and 11 back) which gives you an idea of how far you c

an venture.

Today's run measured a more bite sized 8.5. Departing from my hotel in Kendall Square, I headed west next to Memorial Drive. I passed the Mass Ave bridge, waved hello to my college dormitory, swept past the old Polaroid headquarters and continued on to Harvard. There, I turned left onto and over the Harvard St. Bridge, and then another left to head back east. This side borders Storrow Dr. I past through BU and then around the Half-Shell. I took the bridge back towards Kendall Square, the Red Line T trains rattling past as I crested the incline up and over the river. I rejoined the Memorial Drive bike path back to Mass Ave, turning right and finishing at 77 Mass Ave, MIT's front door. I then walked down the Infinite Corridor as my post-run cool down and a chance to enjoy being on campus.

Yet I made one stop during those 76 minutes. You see, the birth of my running races occurred almost exactly five years ago on the Boston side of this same track. That seemed like a worthwhile event to commemorate with a few photos. So many of my ways of thinking developed in my years at MIT that I find the notion refreshing that my racing career started here too.

Let me wind the clock back and tell you exactly what happened (well as best as my mind can remember). I started running in February 2006. My nutritionist told me I needed to get more (ahem "any") cardiovascular exercise. While

a change in diet had proved successful in shedding some pounds, only an addition of exercise would fully help me maintain good cholesterol levels and long term health. My genetics do not bode well with heart disease, so my defense requires multiple preventative treatments. A friend in HR suggested I try running, and despite my misgivings that my knees could not take it, I laced up and tried it. I barely could go half a mile. Yet, I persisted and built up over the next few months to a couple of miles each time out the door.

Up to this point, the notion of running for anything more than exercise did not occur to me. I knew things like marathons existed; I had even been an actor in film school in a farce shot in and around the 6th LA Marathon. While at MIT, I spent a night in Hoptinkton MA and saw the start of the Boston Marathon. As a kid, I marveled while watching ABC's Wide W

orld of Sports at the multitudes crossing the Verrazano Narrows Bridge to start the New York City Marathon. Yet, I did not connect those events and myself.

One reason I could even start running in February 2006 related to my stepson Justin who factors into this month's anniversary as well. Justin developed a passion for outdoor activities like rock climbing and hiking. His high school offered a chance to spend a semester at a program high in the Rocky Mountains in Leadville, CO. Elevation: 10,000 feet above sea level. With Justin out of town starting in late January, I no longer needed to take him to school before I went to work. And I knew when he got home that he would obtain his driver's license. So, my morning carpool days ended for good when Justin departed.

Now flash forward to June of that year. Justin, fresh from conquering the passes at 14,000 above Leadville, has met me in Boston. We commence a 5 day North East and Southern college tour. Wanting to run around the Charles, I announce I am going out to do so on our first morning. When not hiking around those peaks, the school in Colorado required the kids to run for physical fitness. So, Justin and I both started running at the same time - but he did so in thinner air and with a 16-year old

body. Justin asks if he can go with me on the , and of course I eagerly agree.

We run down Mass Ave and turn right at the bike path. Our goal that day consisted of just a lap to BU and back. Heading west, we cross over the BU bridge to Boston. Another left and Storrow Drive slides under our feet. At about the half-way mark, all of sudden something happens.

Justin asks - can we walk a bit? Of course, I agree to, and we drop to a fast stroll. I had no sense of besting Justin - happily we are not competitive

with each other in that way. In fact, I would say we both have a much stronger desire to collaborate and share. Yet all of a sudden, I start wondering about my running abilities. Had we even run 1.5 miles? How could a nearly 40 year old be in better shape than a mid-teen with more miles under his belt - and miles in very thin air up in the mountains? Could I actually be good at running?

That little piece of pavement in Boston changed my thinking about my running. I gained confidence immediately in my abilities. And I don't know why, but I wondered if I could run a 5k. I knew the Palisades Will Rogers race was that upcoming weekend on July 4. I did not know if they would take a registration that late (but I found out with a quick web search that they did). That short run and then walk changed my view of myself and inspired me to try something new. 14 marathons later, I am still appreciative of this new found passion.

And to be fair to Justin, we did resume running shortly after we stopped and made it all the way back to the hotel.

Would I have tried racing eventually? I am fairly sure I would have. But regardless of perhaps an eventuality, the origin of my racing story all began on a warm June morning along the backs of the Charles River. Five years ago this month.

Destination Running

Destination Running.

Destination Running? What exactly do I mean by that?

Well, I find two forms exist. Both have merit and often the local variant is a subset of the larger version.

Let me start with the larger version which a search of the internet will return

various articles and blog entry search results. Destination Running quite simply involves traveling some place to run. In my case, these trips tend to include actual races - primarily marathons. Like a destination wedding, an event defines the reason for traveling. This year I went to Antarctica on a cruise designed around the notion of running a marathon on the Southern Continent.

However, I have certainly taken advantage of traveling to run races. Last year, I had meetings in Chicago, IL on a Friday and in Albany, NY on a Monday with our CCO and Studio EVP. Not relishing 10 hours and three flights from the Windy City to LA to upstate New York, I instead made a loop through South Dakota and Minnesota to run a half marathon and a 10k. Total flying time was about 5 hours (still three flights), and I ran my personal best in the half marathon (1:29:45). That time allowed me to qualify automatically for this year's New York City Marathon. One destination apparently leads to another.

Destination Running in many ways throws challenges at the runner. He must contend with a foreign (sometimes literally) environment, a strange bed, different food and time zone adjustments. Running at peak form requires everything to be aligned, so other than for pampered elite competitors, we mass runners need to absorb these changes on our own and in stride (again sometimes literally).

Yet the rewards, at least for me, outweigh the downsides. Seeing a new place can be magical. In fact, with the right race or even fun run, you can find hidden nooks and crannies the locals cannot fathom exist. Because the speed of even the fastest runner allows for some pretty nice sightseeing, this form of exploring beats most others. Cars and bikes - way too fast. Walking - too little distance per hour. Running is a Goldilocks middle ground.

This brings me to the minor form of destination running. The beauty of the lowercase cousin involves no planes or intricate plans. A map may be involved and possibly a short car ride. Yet the benefits exceed the minimal planning because so little planning is needed.

What I am talking about is a local destination run. Have you ever run to your best friend's house? If not, lace up and do so. Your best friend will likely let you shower and give you a ride home (if you don't want to make the round trip on foot). Too close? Have your best friend drive you 10 miles away and run back to her house? Or maybe run to a park you played in as a kid? Or find some neat path an hour outside of your city and run that. Any town, large or small, will have interesting places to run and see.

One destination run I often do is called the "Home Run." The course starts at my current home and winds itself east through Santa Monica, Brentwood, West LA, Cheviot Hills and back through Ocean Park. On the course, I pass a house we rented briefly in 2004, the apartment where my parents lived when I was born in 1967, the first house we owned and my current office. It's 23.5 miles and a perfect tune up for a marathon. I even get 1000 feet of up and down elevation. Yum.

Whether your ambitions are short or long, for sure, don't be a slave to the running. Stop and take pictures or just enjoy the view. Smell the roses if they don't turn away after smelling you. Smile. Say hi to people. Look for paths that may be hard - hilly or narrow. Be safe though.

Some tips

Take a cell phone that has mapping and stash enough money to get a cab back if you get lost. On hot days, take a few bottles of water. With a minimal of planning, you can make your own destination running adventure to reinvigorate your runs, take your mind off those 22 milers or just find a new hidden gem around the corner.

5k Race Report

I believe any race that starts within 3/10ths of a mile of your house requires you to run it. How much more convenient can that be?

So, to stay true to my philosophy, today I ran the Dr. Susan Love Annual Love Walk/Run 5k. In it's 4th year of existence, the event circles the Huntington area of Pacific Palisades. Dr. Love added the run to the previous walk only event. Starting at 10 AM feels late to most people who run, but the event ends with a number of lunch trucks serving free food. If I thought eating a hot dog at 10:30 AM seems strange, I cannot imagine one at 8:30 AM. (Actually, I did not partake of the lunch trucks at all.)

So, how did I do? Well, if they keep the field small enough (as this was), I can win my age group (40-49), which I did. Even better, I finished third overall with a time of 20:30. Not my fastest 5k, but since I had no chance to catch the 1 and 2 guys who lazy ran in 17 minutes, I sort of coasted the back half.

Sadly, Dr. Love mispronounced my name at the ribbon ceremony, but for a race I didn't know about until 10 days ago and ran sort of on a last minute basis, not bad at all. And all for a good cause promoting Breast Cancer research locally in the Palisades and Santa Monica. (Dr. Love resides down the street from the race's start.)

And we're back

Well, after two weeks of no running (but lots of cycling, swimming and CrossFitting), I hit the road Tuesday and Today to resume my weekly routine.

Tuesday's run was a short 4 miles that I did as part of the Japan Day Run for Hope. This event is a combination run in NYC and a virtual run. The virtual run means that participants can bang out the required 4 miles anytime between May 1 and May 22. The NY Road Runners Association set up the event. This is the group that runs the NYC Marathon everyone November.

So, on a very rainy (what else is new - see the post on March 20 about the LA Marathon) Tuesday morning, I took part here in the Palisades. So far, about 700 people have completed their virtual runs. I think I'm the only one from the LA area although I did some two women from Mammoth Lakes. There is a guy from Limerick Ireland. And I saw one from Cold Spring Harbor which made me think of Billy Joel. Most everyone hails from New York or New Jersey.

The rain really didn't bother me, and I was happy to get back to running. Today was sunny and I did 7.1 miles. This weekend I will cover 11-12 or so.

How do I feel? Certainly, I feel fine. I kind of wonder if the two weeks off produced any change. At times, my pace was quick both days, and I found keeping in the 7:30 range to be easy when I wanted. That's good since my next real race is the Palisades 5K on July 4 with hopes of coming under 19 minutes. I have to believe the time off can only be a benefit. Let's see how I feel after the long run in a few days.

Two Weeks Off

On Sunday, May 1, I completed what I have entitled my spring 2011 season. 2 marathons, 1 ultra and 1 half spread evenly over 63 days - one event every 21 days on days 1, 21, 42 and 63.

The half run in Fort Collins on Sunday concluded the series in a sort of denouement closing statement. Instead of just building to the 50K ultra and then falling off like a stone, the series gracefully concluded with a shorter run than most of my "long" weekend runs. I'm glad I tacked this on not only because it took me to my cousins' in Colorado but also because I felt a better sense of closure. However, doing such a "short" distance left me sort of scratching my head why I didn't just runt he full. Probably next year I will.

As part of this spring season, I planned in two weeks of no running. So, after a short 3 mile run this past tuesday in Central Park (sort of a recovery run from the half) , the shoes get a break from the street pounding. More importantly, my feet and legs take that time off too.

Why? Well, prudence plays into the idea. I have just done the most intense running of my 5 year career. While I do not feel that bad - some nicks and tight spots - I do not want to find out if I am close to breaking down. The two weeks should give me sore muscles time to relax and recover. I will still be exercising (cycling, CrossFit and swimming), but I will not lace up until Tuesday, May 17. And when I do, my focus is going to be on the July 4 5K I have coming up. I will probably do another 5k and maybe a 10K before returning to the Marathon in the fall.

Another aspect of this time off is to also get me a bit starved to run. Honestly, I have no fatigue of running. I do not feel burned out or bored. However, I think I will enjoy anticipating coming back to it as well. Maybe this is my version of abstinence for lent? Wrong time of the year and wrong religion, but what do I know anyway? And anyway, I read a book on a guy who ran across the country at the age of 57, so it's not like I am taking time off thinking about running.

More about the book in a future post.

Fort Collins Colorado Half-Marathon Results

1:37:22 official time. (My 6th fastest half and fastest Fort Collins which is at 5000 feet elevation.)

From the official email:

Congratulations LAIRD MALAMED!

Here are your results for the 2011 Colorado Marathon:

Your final time is 01:37:22 at a 00:07:26 pace.

You finished 61 out of 1241 in the HALF MARATHON.

You finished 6 out of 67 in your class M40-44.

My cousin Jen took this awesome photo just before I crossed the finish line.

It's official. I am a (Marathon) Maniac

Should I feel worried that being part of an online club confirms what many of you already know?

Many of my friends and co-workers continually point out that my sanity cannot be confirmed due to the number of marathons I run. The past 2 months which found me doing three in six weeks certainly convinced people to evaluate admitting me to a medical clinic. And now, thanks to the power of the internet, my confirmation has arrived.

Marathon Maniacs is a site run out of Washington that is a club of sorts for people who run a lot of marathons - particularly in great volume. My 3 marathons in 42 days scraped me into the lowest level - Bronze. (2 Marathons within a 16 day time frame OR 3 Marathons within a 90 day time frame.) In fact, we have 10 levels with Gold being third (4 Marathons within 37 days OR 12 - 18 Marathons within 365 days OR 4 Marathons in 4 different US states, Countries or Canadian Provinces in 51 days) and Titanium being tenth (52 Marathons OR more within 365 days OR 30 Marathons in 30 US states, Countries, or Canadian Provinces within 365 days OR 20 Countries within 365 days). The complete list of qualifications can be found here.

Besides the cool bragging rights, why would anyone start such a club or even join one. Well, for one, the site contains a list of upcoming races. Members can lodge their planned events as a way to connect with others; people who run a lot of marathons tend to travel and knowing people at a race is much more fun than being completely solo. Second, by creating criteria for various running accomplishments, a standard of marathon achievement can be followed. Besides running 3 marathons in 42 days, I also did that in three different locales (2 US states and Antarctica - three areas). Is that nuts? Yes, but not Maniac nuts. (If I had run a 4th marathon in a different state or country within 51 days, I would have made it to Gold level. Maybe next year.) Third, one thing that runners like to do is to talk about races they have run. I would say this is more than just bragging. Runners talk about the bad races as much as the good ones. So, I think the community aspect of having a forum to post in is another lure.

Of course, all good clubs have dues. Mine were $35 to join and I am on the hook for $10 per year. Show me a psychiatric ward that provides better rates!

Here's My Maniac page: http://www.marathonmaniacsdb.com/Maniacs/MyProfile.asp?maniac=3714

I aM haPPily InSanE!