Rock 'N' Roll - Phoenix, AZ

Race Day :
1/14/2007

Weather:
It was unseasonably cold for Phoenix on race day. A brisk 34 degrees at the start gave us out-of-towners a distinct advantage. Although its hard to be happy about that when you flew across the country to avoid the cold.

Course:
One word ... flat. All in all I'd have to say it was a good course if you're going for speed, up hills were gradual and rare. However, the scenery left a little something to be desired. The vast majority of the run was through the suburbs and was only salvaged by the bands, which although not terribly great ... did give you something to look forward to every mile or so.

Medal:
Would have seriously preferred 2006's version, but its still one more marathon medal than most people have.

Personal Experience:
After nearly bonking and seriously considering a DNF at mile 3 due to a bad cramp in my left shit muscle (that didn't actually dissipate until mile 9) ... I managed to completely turn my race around and set a PR. Thirty minutes faster than my previous best, I'd have to say I'm satisfied with the way I ran my 2nd marathon.

Conclusion: I wouldn't rate this a "must run", but if your goal is getting the Rock Star Medal or if you're an aspiring 50 Stater ... this race isn't exactly a disappointment either.

Final Grade: B+

Pikes Peak Marathon

Being true to who we are, Mark and I have once again set ourselves on a path of self destruction in what I know to be a classic display of unbridled stupidity. To you non-marathoners that wonder how we could possibly be any dumber, I say ... "How about running one up a mountain??"

The 2007 Pikes Peak Marathon (www.pikespeakmarathon.org) will be an event to remember. With a 7,815' vertical gain and standing 14,410' above sea level, it describes itself as "America's Ultimate Challenge." Trees can't survive above 12,000' on Pike's Peak, on August 19, 2007, Mark and I will find out if we can!

Why do we do it? For the shiny medal of course...

Who?

This post is the first in a series of posts that I hope to complete on running philosophy. It is my humble attempt (as a rookie) to explain the 5 Ws of long distance running.

WHO??
Mankind is the greatest hunter in the long history of our planet. We dominated civilization far before the invention of the sniper rifle and the days of sitting lazily in a tree for an unexpecting deer to wander into our sights. In fact, millions of years of evolution have blessed us with bodies ideal for going the distance. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4021811.stm)

In the days of our spear chucking ancestors, distance running was a survival skill. Today, true distance running is a rarity. Marathonguide.com lists more than 397,000 finishing times in the USA in 2006. If we make the assumption that there were no repeats and nobody ran multiple marathons during that year (highly unlikely, seeing as how I will have run 4 over the couse of 6 months) ... it is still a weak turn out of 0.13% of the population. (http://www.marathonguide.com/features/Articles/2006RecapOverview.cfm#TotalFinishers)

If evolution has created a body that is fully capable, why then do so few people reach their potential? Or worse yet, why do so few people even try? I contend that it is not a lack of desire, nor laziness .., but another epidemic that has plagued humanity for many years. It is the philosophy of "I CAN'T!" and it is destroying us as a society. As a marathoner, I hear it all the time and am ashamed to admit that I am reformed member of the Cult of I Can't.

Who then are these marathoners that dare to say, "I can ... and I will!"? Our bodies are no different than anyone else's. We are simply those that have over come the brainwashing that has swept across the rest of the world. We believe in the limitless potential of the human spirit and dare to tap into it. We challenge ourselves to run, not to win, but to honor the gifts we have been given. Marathoners live to break down the preconceived notions of what is possible on the road and in life. You too can be a marathoner ... it just starts with the simple task of believing that YOU CAN. Understanding that, "to give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift. (Prefontaine)"