Walt Whitman Poem

The Runner

ON a flat road runs the well-train’d runner;
He is lean and sinewy, with muscular legs;
He is thinly clothed—he leans forward as he runs,
With lightly closed fists, and arms partially rais’d.

Walt Whitman. Leaves of Grass. 1900.

Sounds like Mr. Whitman was writing about many of us running on the roads and paths around town.

Half-Ironman Training

My anxiety level flew off the charts yesterday and I wasn't sure why until realizing that the official fourteen week training plan for the Tupper Lake, NY Tinman Triathlon began. This week's schedule includes the Spring Forward 15k road race on Sunday April 1, so it is a bit light. Three days of biking 20-25 miles, three days swimming 1500-2000 meters and four days of running 4-6 miles.

Twenty miles of biking seemed short, when I have already completed indoor rides up to 56 miles, so yesterday I rode 36. Jan, of course, had to do more than me, so she rode 38. But I ran three miles after biking so I could get used to the Uglies feeling.

Uglies are how your legs feel coming off the bike. There is a noticeable tendency to want to walk, or better yet, lay down on the ground and forget running at all. I managed to complete three miles, including two decent hills (which Tupper provides in the first few miles), at the amazing pace of 9:45! Well, it felt like running to me. There won't be any twelve mile runs the day before Tinman, so hopefully my legs won't feel quite so bad?  I even thought about having a quick turnover and concentrated on being light on my feet, like Coach Troy teaches, but at 9:45 that must not have been happening anyplace but in my mind.

Lessons Learned at Johnny's Running of the Green

1. The lead men and women not only post fast times, but really look fast when you watch them go by.
2. Some winners are also nice people, like the men's winner from Saturday who stood near me and cheered on runners for at least fifteen minutes before going off for a cooldown run.
3. People take "Running of the Green" seriously, wearing green shirts, painted faces, green striped stockings and one lady in a multi-green body-length leotard.
4. My bagel cost $20. That is what I paid to preregister. This is the third race this year that I haven't gotten to the starting line.
5. Pete, I believe, was the only racer to take minimalism to it's lowest level, by running barefoot. Running shoe stores may soon kidnap him so this trend doesn't grab hold.
6. When 2,000+ people are in a race and it begins on a four lane highway, use all four lanes, don't squeeze everyone into two lanes because you set up the starting line early. Especiallly when directions aren't given to runners letting them know this is an issue. Amazing people didn't go down at the start.
7. Some parents force their kids, or encourage them, to run too far at too early an age. There is no reason for a child under 12 to be running five miles, unless that is the only method for them to get to school, like in many African countries. In the U.S. though, busses pick up high school kids 400 yards from the school.
8. I heard on the news last night we are an unhealthy city, yet every road race/triathlon/duathlon in this area is getting record numbers of registrants. Special programs at Medved and Fleet Feet Sports are booming with participants. Something good is going on.
9. Is $20 preregistered, $25 day of, too much for a road race in the city? I guess not since a record number of runners turned out. There are many behind the scenes costs associated with this race, possibly police coverage (though that may be included with the parade), rental of the Blue Cross Arena (one of the two best places to hold a race, Frontier Field the other), certification of the course, prizes, timing fees, staff, "food" (a bagel and water, that's it).
10. 6:50-7:20 pace for 5 miles will make me competitive in my new age group. I think that's doable if I stay healthy.

Johnny's Running of the Green

Results are in and Sal's runners performed well in the first real road race of the season. Frank led the way with a 35:12, good for 3rd in the 55-59 age group. Close behind, so close, was Kenny Katz in 35:14. Our intrepid hero MW came in 8/79 in the same group with a 36:55 time.
Lou K took off with the young pups for 2 miles, then held back and paced Joanne to an 8 minute pr for the 5 mile distance! (47:38, 29/82 in age group). The barefoot, ageless runner of our group, Pete, ran a 40:09 and also came in 8th place in the 65-69 age group (notice a theme?).
Eileen W ran a 41:58, good for...yes, 8th place in the age group (8/43). A nice comeback race. Jan also ran well, finishing in 43:08, for 12/82 in her age group.

Nice races by everyone on a beautiful day for running and a record turnout for the race with 2,296 official finishers.

St. Patrick's Day

Thirty-five million people in the United States claim Irish ancestry, that's seven times the current population of Ireland! I guess the Irish in America are quick breeders.  Patrick was born in Britain, circa 387, kidnapped at age 16 and sent to Ireland. Escaping six years later he found religion, returned freely to Ireland at age 45 and converted thousands to Christianity. St. Patrick's Day is supposed to be a religious holiday, but often, throughout the world, is an excuse for parades, feasting, drinking and general merriment.

It's also not a bad day for a road race! 5 miles, start and finish near the Blue Cross Arena. Races are held across the U.S. in a variety of distances, usually with a parade following the run.

Top Ten Great Things About St. Patrick's Day:

1. Great excuse to drink Jameson's Irish Whiskey

2. Or maybe a Guinness Beer?

3. The first real race day of the season, time to see what speed you do or don't have from months of winter training.

4. In Rochester, the first Runner of the Year race, where I am in a new age group, the only good thing about getting older.

5. Green is the color of choice, and both welcomes in spring and the Irish.

6. MW will begin his new spring diet. This is a different diet than the one he was on after Christmas when he put on ten pounds.

7. Bicycles can be brought up from trainers in the basement or rec room and actually ridden outside.
8. Rumor has it someone in our group of runners from Spencerport will dress up like The Great Gazoo, could it be Lou?

100 points if you can answer who the voice of The Great Gazoo was?

9. Food. Who doesn't love corned beef on rye?

10. Irish Jokes. A true Irishman considers anyone who won't come around to his point of view to be hopelessly stubborn.

Marine Corps Marathon

On-line registration begins Wednesday, March 7, at 3:00pm eastern time for the Marine Corps Marathon! Last year the race sold out in 28 hours. At least five of the Sal's Running Club will be running the full marathon and two more in the 10k.
I blocked off my calendar at work from 2:30-4:00 so I can be waiting to spend my money. Our hotel is booked. Soon it will just be the training part.
Marine Corps Marathon Runner's Club members (like Jan), who have completed 5 or more MCM's, get a special invitation to register on March 14. Jan won't have to worry about registering with normal people. If I finish the 2012 race it will be my fifth MCM.