High Country

image courtesy of the Wolpertinger

A far-too-brief glimpse at the forthcoming film from the remarkable Joel Wolpert featuring the running exploits of Anton Krupicka and the breathtaking (sometime quite literally) landscapes of Colorado. A teaser indeed! This clip is one hundred thirty two seconds of pure motivation! Engaging and artistic running films are hard to find, so it is with great anticipation that I look forward to the full release of In the High Country this summer.

J. Wolpert - any chance I can obtain an early release for review? Digital or DVD formats are both fine. I'll write a thorough and insightful review and [provided that the full-length film warrants it] I'll hold promotional events and arranged theatrical showings.

Boston Bound!

After an über long and tiring day of work, it was a more-than-welcome surprise to find a postcard from the Boston Athletic Association waiting in the mailbox! Now it's official, in April I'm heading north to celebrate my first Patriots' Day in Boston!

Food and Running - Thoughts from Cookie Monster

A video featuring Scott Jurek and Cookie Monster! What's not to like? But wait, it gets better...they're talking about the relationship between food and running! Inspiring presenters discussing a fascinating topic. It's like Health and Wellness Sesame Street for adults (and kids too). Take seven and a half minutes out of your day to watch this video. Then head outside for a run, ride, or some variety of exercise. If Cookie Monster can do it, you can too!

Race Day in Stockholm

I'm about to pin on bib number 851 and head ou the door to (hopefully) run a sub three hour marathon. Unfortunately the rain is still here (not sure about the wind, I've not dared to step outside yet - never mind, a huge gust just rattled the window!) and the temperature are holding steady at 41 degrees Fahrenheit. After being jolted awake by a ridiculously painful cramp in my left calf, the rest of the morning has nicely followed my pre-race plans. Caffeinated by Löfbergs Lila, fueled by Justin's Maple Almond Butter, lingonberry jam, bakery bread, a pink lady apple, Renée Voltaire Fruity & Nutty Müsli, and Arla Ekologisk Mild Lättyoghurt, socked by CEP, and shod in Brooks, I am ready to take on the day and zip through a very important 42.195km!

Here are the details: The first wave of the 2012 ASICS Stockholm Marathon begins today at noon. Approximately 21,000 runners from all over the world have entered. Although predominantly Swedes, the field is still rather international. A total of 83 countries are represented in the race with 7,918 runners from countries other than Sweden. As expected, most of the international runners come from nearby European neighbors -- Finland (4,858), Germany (580), Norway (366), Denmark (330), Great Britain (324), Italy (a surprisingly high 235 entrants), France (213), and then USA with 173 runners.

A huge thanks to each of the 3,165 volunteers who make this race day possible!

Can't make it to Stockholm? Keep tabs and cheer me on digitally - live results here.

Post-race details coming later...

Hej from Stockholm

After spending the bulk of the day trekking around Stockholm in a less-than-pleasant cold rain with frequent gusts of bone-chilling wind (people were actually throwing away their umbrellas in defeat - see above for photo documentation), I am now settling in and taking care of final preparations for tomorrow's race. Since the most recent news item on the marathon website warns:

The weather forecast says that the temperature will be 8 degrees Celsius during Saturday, and this is a very chilly weather for the season. The coldest Stockholm Marathon ever is the 1987 race when it was 7 degrees. The warmest year was 1982 with 32 degrees.

much of today was focused on finding appropriate clothing for such unexpected weather. Having packed for Stockholm's awesome 60-70 degree weather from two weeks ago (for those who don't know, I've been in Europe since 18 May facilitating a graduate student study abroad trip), I'm rather ill prepared for the expected race time conditions. The combination of inhospitable weather, running shorts (of the really short variety), and singlet should make for an interesting race. Quite nervous about tomorrow's race, I'm still not entirely sure what to wear for a forecasted high of 48 degrees, wind, and rain. Although a rather miserable forecast, I don't want to over insulate (this would be ok for training, but for a full-exertion racing situation, where the race bib must beware on the outside, it is critical to get things right and get them right from the start). As I discovered in Bozeman this past November, even in cold conditions, too many layers can make for a truly exhausting race. After much searching. I settled on a pair of CEP compression socks and a long sleeve Nike top made of a polyester and merino wool blend with a 1/4 zip and thumb loops/fold over hand mitts (thanks Löplabbet for having both items in stock and providing great customer service). So much for keeping things consistent ahead of a major event!

If you are interested in keep track of my race progress (bib number 851), the ASICS Stockholm Marathon website will provide intermediate splits for each runner. Additionally, in the USA, Universal Sports Network will air multiplatform coverage of the 2012 ASICS Stockholm Marathon on Saturday, 2 June. Television coverage will air from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET with expert commentary and analysis from longtime running commentator Toni Reavis and elite distance runner Josh Cox. In addition, UniversalSports.com will provide live online coverage of the race $4.99. Review the marathon website for ore details about viewing options around the world.

Although my spring training was sporadic (longest run since Chicago was 15 miles) and I'm still struggling with a pulled hamstring, I remain optimistic about the possibility of finishing under three hours. That said, even if I am unable to break the three hour mark, I am thrilled to have this opportunity to run in Stockholm!

Since race day is rapidly approaching, I am going to keep this brief and rely upon images and a few well placed words to summarize the past 24 hours in Stockholm.

After landing at Arlanda Airport, I zoomed into the city centre aboard the convenient and rather swanky (it conveys a sort of James Bond feel) Arlanda Express train.

After navigating the T-Bana, I found my way to the Gärdet district in central Stockholm. Part of the world’s first national city park, Gärdet features expansive fields with fantastic areas for running (or post-marathon recovery walks). Strolling through a lovely wooded park, I eventually emerged to find my clean, inviting, and snug little hostel.

After a relaxing evening, this morning I set out for the marathon registration expo. Along the way I was greeted by a number of encouraging visuals.

Eventually I made my way to Stockholm Stadion (home of the 1912 Olympics)

After completing the official registration process, I enjoyed a complimentary pasta lunch and listened to some American rock n roll classics as belted out by a Swedish band. All things considered, a pretty awesome (albeit darn cold and damp) lunch!

The weather might not be great, but it will be amazing to complete 42.195km on the official Olympic track.

The rest of the day involved an afternoon coffee break and lots of leisurely strolling around Stockholms Stad. Stockholm is an absolutely beautiful city (I'm excited to have some more time on Sunday and Monday to explore more the city with more breadth). However, I am surprised to find the city terrain rather hilly. Hopefully the gorgeousness of the cityscape will distract me from the undulating terrain during tomorrow's marathon.

Now that I've had some dinner, prepared my gear for the morning, and completed a light workout, it is time to let go of my nervous energy and get some rest.

The Power of Sport

A quick glimpse at the disparities in the wide world of sport. However, beneath all complexities, a message of hope and inspiration. After watching the video, be sure to read the full article (the first in a three-part series) for a more nuanced look at Amantle Montsho's background and her quest to become the first Batswana to win an Olympic medal.  

Stockholm Marathon - A Somewhat Hasty Decision

Well, the decision has been made! Just moments ago, I signed up to run the 2012 Asics Stockholm Marathon! During a moment of caffeinated enthusiasm (mixed with a smidge of procrastination) at Sola Cafe, I committed to traversing 42.195 Swedish kilometers as swiftly and smoothly as possible on the first Saturday of June.

Although I've been searching for a spring marathon for quite some time, I was not sure that Stockholm was even a possibility until yesterday afternoon. Having missed the December registration deadline, I added my name to the waiting list in early January. Cautiously hopeful that a spot might open, I also acknowledged the strong probability that I would not be racing in Sweden this year. A luck would have it, my name was placed nar the top of the waiting list. After receiving an email offering late registration via waiting list, I raced (digitally) to ensure I could coordinate travel plans, create an affordable budget, and adequately train for the 2 June race. With only a few days provided to accept the offer, I was eager to jump at the opportunity, but was a bit worried about establishing a sufficiently preparatory three month training timeline (hanning struggled with post-Chile illness and some Achilles tenderness/tendinitis my late winter/early spring training has been quite sporadic). All my concerns aside, I could not find a reason to bypass an opportunity to race in Stockholm. Thus, with just an hour remaining until the expiration of my registration offer, I pulled out my credit card and clicked on the registration hyperlink. Unfortunately, a defunct link dampened my enthusiasm. Since this problem occurred during the wee hours of the Swedish morning, there was no chance for a quick fix before the deadline. hoping for some leniency, I promptly emailed the race organizers in Stockholm explaining the problem and seeking late registration for the event. Thankfully, the race officials were incredibly understanding and more than happy accommodate my URL issues. Immediately upon receiving their positive response, I paused my academic endeavors and attended to the more pressing marathon registration.

Why Stockholm? Well, I happen to be fortunate enough to hold a fellowship with Dr. Karen DePauw, Dean and Vice President for Graduate Education at Virginia Tech, which provides me to travel to Europe in May. Since I'll already be in Europe, why not schedule a race at the end of the program (hopefully, I'm not too exhausted from the whirlwind itinerary)? One component of my fellowship involves duties as assistant facilitator for the Global Perspectives Program. As such, I will find myself leading a group of graduate students through a tour of universities in Switzerland, France, and, Italy during May. Aimed at fostering a global perspective on higher education, this study abroad experience develops a comparative understanding of how culture and context influences the establishment and evolution of higher education systems. By the conclusion of the trip, I hope that each participant will have a more complete (and comparative) understanding of US and European university systems, meet new international colleagues, establish research collaborations and cultural exchanges, and appreciate the people, culture, cuisine, and geography of Switzerland, France, and Italy.

According to the rather robust marathon website:

It is basically a two-lap course through the central parts of Stockholm. The surroundings vary from the woods of the Royal park "Djurgården" to the streets of a big city. The course passes buildings such as the Royal Palace, the City Hall, the Royal Opera and the Houses of Parliament. The course is one of the most scenic in the world. Much of the race is run along beautiful waterways.When passing the "Västerbron" bridge, the runners will enjoy a fantastic view over a city with buildings ranging in age from the medieval times to the present day. The difference in altitude between the highest and the lowest point of the course is 29 meters.Start just outside the Olympic Stadium and finish inside the beautiful arena. The first lap is 16.6 kilometres, the second lap 25.6 kilometres.

The elevation profile reveals an undulating course through historical, urban, and natural areas of stokckholm. The periodic peaks represent the many brief, yet steep, bridges that connect the various islands that compromise the Stockholm metropolitan area. Although not as consistently flat as the Chicago course, I still hope that Stockholm will enable a swift marrathoning time. At the very least, the newness (and what I expect to be general fabulousness) of the cityscape should make for an amazing running experience.

So, if you happened to be in (or near) Stocholm in early June, please try to save some energy for early afternoon (the race begins at 12:00pm, so you can enjoy a leisurely morning and still have time for fika in the afternoon) cheering along what is certain to be an architecturally, historically, and all-around outstanding marathon corse.

 

Race Day!

Race bib properly pinned and ready to run. Tip of the day: before pinning the bib to your singlet, crinkle it into a ball to make it more pliable and less noisy.

Instead of the usual pacing wristband, the Chicago Marathon and Nike created these easy to read and non-interfering temporary tattoos. Since this was my first full marathon, 3 hours 10minutes seemed like a feasible accomplishment. By the end of the course, I would be rather pleased by my somewhat faster time. Does the first time racing a particular distance count as a PR?

During the wee hours of the morning I gathered with my energetic race support team. T-shirts on, the team is ready to zip around Chicago (by foot and even by taxi -- just to make sure they'd be able to cheer often and loudly) and encourage me through all 26.2 miles. Fantastic job!

While walking to the start line we spy some last minute race prep. each drink area featured one block of gatorade followed by one block of water -- tables, cups, and volunteers lined both sides of the street. thanks so much to the entire Chicago Marathon volunteer team -- it wouldn't have been possible without you!

Still waiting for the sunrise, I am more than adequately hyped up on adrenaline, nervous energy, and just general excitement. After a leisurely walk to Grant Park and the race coral area, it's time to say goodbye for a few hours. One last hug and quick photo before heading into the racers' only area.

An artistic photo (courtesy of my outstanding and never-tiring race support team) of the sun rising over the lake and illuminating the urban architecture along East Randolph Street.

And they're off! The elite marathoners (including eventual winners Moses Mosop (2:05:37) and Liliya Shobukhova (2:18:20)) head north on Columbus Drive, away from the start line toward the tunnel under East Randolph St. At this point I'm still nervously waiting to be released. Somewhere near the back of the A coral, I'm ebbing and flowing as the crowd attempts to surge forward, only to be restrained and slightly bottlenecked in the staging area.

Meanwhile...

Reggie, Alyfia, Jon, and Carmen make a quick breakfast stop at Dunkin' Donuts. 

After fueling up for a long day of zipping around the city, they're hot-footing to another spot along the course.

Here come the elite runners (see Ryan Hall stealthily drafting near the back of the pack), so the rest of the marathoners can't be too far behind...

Somewhat blurry, here I emerge from under the El tracks shortly after the elites (seconds? minutes? I'm not really sure, like the photo, the specifics of time during the race are somewhat blurry).

Oh, to be an elite marathoner. If you've ever run in a large event, you know how chaotic (not to mention treacherously slick) the hydration stations become. No matter the density of the pack that you are running with, the mad dash for fluids and fuel gives rise to a near riotous atmosphere. If you've never participated in a large event (it doesn't need to be anywhere near the size of the Chicago Marathon, get more than a few hundred runners on the same course and things get a bit hectic), glance up the screen to the pre-dawn picture of the Gatorade table. Now superimpose an image of pandemonium from Tale of Two Cities or perhaps Les Misérables and you'll have a fairly accurate understanding of la terreur of taking on fluid (I jest of course, a bit hyperbole and [hopeful] humor). Now, contrast the hydration of mere running mortals with the personalized fluid and fuel tables provided for the running elites. Pretty cool! Each runner has a specific fluid mixtures (differing ratios of carbohydrates, proteins, and fluids depending upon time/distance/weight) are skillfully placed atop the table by the volunteers trying to shrink themselves under the collapsible surfaces and stay well out the way as elites comes zipping through.

Eager with anticipating and noisemakers on the ready, my supporters swiftly repositioned themselves throughout the race course. Their unwavering enthusiasm was a welcome boost throughout the 26.2 miles. Although I never knew when I might hear and see them again, the mystery of it all kept me galloping through the streets.

Nearing the end and growing a bit tired, I am still loving every minute of the race. As you can see, the weather was outstanding (albeit a bit warmer than desired).

Not a cloud in the sky and the upper 70s makes for a wonderful October weekend. Much of the course featured beautiful treelined (and consequently pleasantly shaded) streets, but some portions were somewhat more of an industrial urban landscape (such as  above -- South Michigan avenue, just north of 33rd Street if I recall correctly) and a bit on the warm side.

And, now on the finishing straightway, a final surge of energy to blast toward the line (the next three photos are courtesy of MarathonFoto, thank you.)...

Realizing that I've rounded the final corner and that I actually have some energy remaining (arguably it may not have been "real" and "remaining" energy, but more accurately a boost of adrenaline), I kick up the speed a bit. The time on my watch indicates that I've qualified for the 2013 Boston Marathon, but I really want to finish under the three hour mark.

The facial expression should effectively translate the effort. With all bodily energy, I was trying desperately to break the three hour mark...

Well, that wasn't so bad. Look at that smile. One of relief? In all seriousness, it was a wonderful race and an outstanding first marathon experience. Although I just missed the three hour mark, I am well satisfied with a finishing time of 3:00:42 (757 overall, 659 male finisher, and 150 in my division (male 30-34)). While there is some much needed rest and recovery upcoming, I am already looking forward to my next marathon. Now having run a full marathon, I have a better sense of what to expect from my body over the entire 26.2 miles and believe the next race I will be in a position to [hopefully] improve upon my time.

Chicago Marathon Course Tour

Shifting mediums a bit, today's installment provides a captivating A/V experience. Courtesy of Runner's World, I proudly present a quick video preview of the 2011 Chicago Marathon.


Although the content comes from earlier editions of the Windy City's marathon, Carey Pinkowski offers a great overview of the neighborhoods and unique qualities that make this one of the world's best marathoning experiences.

More videos will (likely) be available later -- as soon as I can decipher the Runner's World embedding code (which is currently a bit wonky and therefore not working properly). In the meantime, enjoy the race preview and think about how incredible it would be to receive payment and sponsorship for hard work and swift running.

Miles, Neighborhoods, and Motivation

Here's a great series of motivational photos from Nike Running. Also a nice photographic tour of the marathon course. For residents (and many tourists as well), the iconic sites (and associated sounds -- right now I can hear the clack that marks the beginning of the bridge, followed by a few seconds of  zzzzzz-ing as vehicles hum over the bridge, and a final clack as they exit the metal and return to the concrete roadway -- and scents -- a mixture of exhaust, river water, and cool steel) provide a great reminder of just how important the diversity (architectural, economic, ethnic, landscape, etc., etc.) of the cityscape is to Chicago's history and future. Whether you'll be in the Windy City to watch the race or tracking its progress online, these images should help your orient and visual the course and runners' progress.

Let the tour begin...

Welcome to Marathon Week

Training is more or less complete (although, I certainly could benefit from more time -- isn't that always the case though?). With a mere seven days to go, I'm as prepared as possible for this attempt at 26.2. To commemorate the countdown to the 2011 Chicago Marathon, I've decided to keep the prose to a minimum and allow images and videos to convey the whole body adrenaline-surges and subsequent lightness of being that I am already experiencing. Just thinking about Sunday's race creates a floating feeling -- traversing the fine line between anxiety and excitement.

Thus it begins...

Runner's World "Rave Run" Chicago, March 2009
Download in various sizes here

If you're interesting in following the raceday events in realtime, Runners World is providing live coverage throughout the day. You can even subscribe to an email reminder system to ensure that you'll be connected for the 7:30am start.

Running with Ryan

Ryan Hall cresting Boston's Heartbreak Hill.
Check out that form and pace. Amazing!

Or at least behind him. Probably well behind him. With a personal marathon record of 2:04:58 (2011 Boston Marathon**) and having just placed fourth at the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon (4 September 2011) in Virginia Beach, VA, in 1:03:01, the only glimpse I'll have of Hall will likely come in the start corral. Even then, he'll be seeking pre-race serenity at the head of the Elite Corral while I jockey for breathing room in the commoners' B Corral. Still though, the field of elite runners competing at Chicago should provide for amazing spectating. If you're planning to drive, run, or ride to the marathon, don't forget to glance at the helpful info in the 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Spectator Guide and website. Regardless if you're attending the marathon, there is loads of interesting  information available at the Runner's World site dedicated to the Chicago Marathon. 

An exciting development in the world of health and wellness.
Learn more about the recent Westin -- New Balance
health and fitness partnership here, here, or here.

In other exciting running and general health & fitness news, Westin Hotels & Resorts has partnered with New Balance (a great company that I think we all [no matter or running shoe preferences -- mine  conveniently happens to be NB] can get behind) to provide guests with complimentary athletic shoes and apparel during their stay. As the press release explains,

During their stay, guests can borrow running shoes with brand new, disposable insoles for each use, as well as a variety of men’s and women’s apparel including shorts, shirts and socks for men and shorts, capri pants, shirts, sports bras and socks for women. 

While there are some less-than-stellar aspects of this program (largely involving the disposal nature of some of the products -- but then again, there are some health concerns [e.g. MRSA, etc.] that probably make full-scale reusability a bit unrealistic), the overall concept is simply outstanding. The creation of a program that encourages more people to become more active must be applauded. Sure, there are some issues of accessibility (i.e. if you can afford to lodge at a Westin, you probably don't have any trouble affording fitness gear), this could very well initiate a wider hotel fitness trend. Although the Westin website states "Westin has recently partnered with New Balance to provide athletic shoes and apparel during your stay, for a fee,"the exact price of the program is not published anywhere. In fact, there is some discrepancy about the existence of the fee at all. Reports and press releases seem to indicate that the program will be available to Westin guests free of charge. In his WSJ overview and analysis of the hoteling trend "to beef up fitness offerings" Kevin Helliker stresses the no-charge aspect of the program, but the proceeds to question its appeal,

Westin Hotels & Resorts is launching a free program to loan guests New Balance-brand fitness shoes and apparel. But will road-warriors really want to wear communal running socks? 

Under the new "gear-lending" program, to be launched Tuesday, women will receive Capri pants, a sports bra, shirt, socks and shoes. Men will get a shirt, shorts, socks and shoes. Between uses, Westin says the clothes will undergo the same intense hot-water laundry process used on hotel sheets and towels. Also, the exterior of shoes will be cleaned and the inner soles will be replaced between guests.

Communal running socks? Come on Helliker. All of the official sites and releases emphatically state, "Shoes come with socks that are brand new and apparel is provided fresh and clean." Either the uproar over wearing laundered socks caused a re-evaluation of the program or Helliker's reporting was questionable. Suppose it doesn't really matter in the grad scheme of things. But, it seems important to make the program appealing and don't allow inaccurate reporting to discourage guests from taking advantage of an opportunity to improve their quality of life and health via exercise. Some food for thought if you ever find yourself at a Westin and in need of running gear.

And finally, my moment of marathon zen...

A bit of Obama inspired motivation after Barcelona's astonishing 2009 season (Josep "Pep" Guardiola is the current Barcelona manager [and former player]). During this dream of a season, Barcelona not only became the first club in Spain to win the treble (La Liga, Copa del Rey, & Champions League), but also became the first football club ever to win six out of six competitions in a single year -- or the never-thought-plausible sextuple (the aforementioned treble & the Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup). I'm hoping that if I recite this mantra (in addition to whatever song happens to imbed itself in my subconscious) during the race, a bit of Pep magic will help propel my legs and fill my lungs. We'll see. Superstitions are encouraging and motivational, right?

**Boston Marathon, 18 April 2011 -- Hall ran the fastest marathon ever by an American, finished fourth, but not an American record because the Boston course is not eligible for records owing to its point-to-point layout and its elevation drop of greater than 1 meter per kilometer. A kind (i.e. very strong) net tailwind (15-20 miles/hour) contributed to the runners' remarkable 2011 times (Kenya's Geoffrey Mutai ran 57 seconds under the recognized world record in winning in 2:03:02, but again, not a new official world record).

101%

For better image resolution and/or to download a pdf copy
of the official course map, please direct your browser here.

Well, we've done it! With two weeks until raceday, I've met my minimum fundraising goal! In fact, my current tally is a whopping $1,005 or 101% of the minimum fundraising requirement. Amazing!

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who donated. Your support (both emotionally and financially) has been absolutely tremendous throughout the entire training and fundraising cycle. This truly could not have been without your generous support. In some sense, I am a running version of your local PBS or NPR affiliate -- viewer supported programming. Everyone chips in a bit, whatever amount they are able, and we all benefit. Too much of a stretch maybe? Perhaps not the most lucid connection (it makes sense in my head though, listen closely during the next fund drive and maybe you'll understand my mental networking). Regardless of my metaphorical success, your kind words and generous giving are simply outstanding. Thanks so very much for making my marathon fundraising goals a reality. I and the youngster of Chicagoland appreciate your donations.

Haven't donated yet? Don't worry -- If you're still interested, there's still plenty of time to contribute to the Chicago Fire Foundation. Just visit my fundraising website and after a few easy steps you'll have made a tax-deductible contribution that will directly improve the lives of youngsters throughout Chicagoland.

Planning to travel to Chicago to watch the race? Take a look at the official 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon Spectator Guide for all sorts of helpful hints (e.g. CTA, times, special viewing sections, etc.). If the PDF is your cup of tea, the marathon website is full of helpful spectator information and race specifics.

At the time of press, 12 days, 10 hours, 30 minutes, and 27 seconds remain until the 7:30am start of the race on Sunday, 9 October 2011. Holy smokes! Hope to see many of you at the start (and more importantly at the finish) line!

Davidson Run for Green Half Marathon

Earlier today I had my biggest running result ever!

Wanting to test my fitness ahead of next month's Chicago Marathon I decided (last week) to enter the Davidson Run for Green half marathon. In planning it seemed like a great opportunity -- not only would the Run for Green half provide a raceday effort for me, but it would also raised money for the Davidson Land Conservancy. Having taught for the Duke Talent Identification Program at Davidson College for two summers, I have fond memories of the numerous miles I logged on the area's roads and trails. Needless to say, I was eager to get back to Davidson for some running. Confident in my fitness and injury-free, I was optimistic going into the race. With two previous half marathons on my running resumé (Baltimore 2010 - 1:29:08 and Outer Banks 2010 - 1:27:45) and a string of 4th place division (male and age category) finishes, I thought it might be possible to break 1:25 and finish in the top 3 of my division (in this case, 30-34 male). Little did I know how well things would go.

When I stopped at Fleet Feet in Huntersville (if your ever in need of running gear and/or local running knowledge, please stop by Birkdale Village and visit them) to purchase some Clif Shot Bloks, the friendly and knowledgeable staff informed me that the race would feature some rather fast runners (i.e. previous and current NCAA runners and olympic hopefuls. There was explicit mention of Kalib Wilkinson, a local superstar high school runner now at Liberty University and sponsored by Brooks). Now, this didn't really put a damper on my race expectations (I never expected to complete at that level -- winning was never on the pre-race radar), but was certainly humbling (and simultaneously motivating). The conversation did cause me to more seriously consider my pre-race preparation. Since the pace was likely to be quick right from the start, I wanted to be near the front to begin, hopefully I would be able to situate myself with a few other runners who were moving at fast, but manageable pace (i.e. one that I could maintain for 13.1 miles).

Well, things definitely started fast. Nearly immediately, Wilkinson pulled away from everyone. He opened a multiple second gap after the first mile. It was impressive. Meanwhile, I managed to mix in with some members of the local running club and a young lady with knee-high compression socks. The pace was quick, but not outlandish. By mile 4 or so, the lead group (save for Wilkinson who was in the lone leader by far) dwindled and I found myself alone with one man from the local club and the aforementioned long socked woman -- it turns out she is Molly Nunn (former Wake Forest distance runner and current olympic hopeful).

Everyone did a their fair share of leading (thus supplying a bit of draft for the other two). As we hit the halfway point and started heading back (my only critique of the race is the rather tight turnaround -- see the map above) toward the start/finish area, the group of three became a group of two as Molly and I increased the pace for a quicker second half.

Without any discussion or plan, Molly and I ended working together to keep the pace up and draft off one another. By sheer happenstance, we ended up running together, each runner silently motivating the other. Strategy was minimal -- work together, talk about specifics as needed, run fast. A generally rolling course, the final few miles did present a few leg burning climbs (short, but steep inclines that required quick bursts of energy to maintain the pace). With longer legs and gait, I opened a small gap on the one of the final climbs.

Nearing the finishing area (which also included a climb), I heard shouts of encouragement coming from behind. Glancing back I could see two things. 1) Molly exclaiming for me to pick up the pace and surge toward the finish and 2) another male runner, who seemingly appeared out of the ether, rapidly closing on me. At this point, all I could think was "move legs, move! you've worked so hard for the entire race, there's no way you can get passed now!" Somewhere from the reserve tank, I harnessed a few remaining atoms of energy (thanks Clif Bar). Through the magic of bodily fission, I split those atoms and released a vast, immeasurable quantify of energy and flat out (or at least what resembled a flat out sprint after 13 miles) sprinted to the finish line. As luck and legs would have it, I finished in 1:22:29, good enough for second place overall! One second faster than Travis Tarbet (Greer, SC) and a humbling twelve minutes slower than Kalib Wilkinson. After our cooperative pacing, Molly crossed the line just a few seconds behind me (1:22:40) and won the women's overall by nearly six minutes.

After the race, Molly and I chatted briefly -- offered congratulations and thank the other for working together throughout the race. At the prize ceremony (oh, yes, I also collected $50 for my effort -- which, I believe is the first time I've ever collected any sort of compensation for running), I spoke with Kalib for a few moments. Super friendly guy (not to mention blazingly fast). It turns out that he is running Chicago and was using today's half as a test of fitness. Small world, huh? After congratulations and wishing each luck in Chicago, it was time to get on with the day (and check out the Davidson Farmers Market).

I've said it before, but the collegiality of runners never fails to impress me. Whether a top-flight athlete, newbie, or anywhere in-between, runners always seem to be the friendliest, most helpful, and consistently encouraging bunch of people. Competitive? Sure, of course. But nary a hint of pretension anywhere.  

Want to know more? Read a pre-race forecast and full post-race report from DavidsonNews.net.

The look of pure excitement and total satisfaction.
A second place finisher's self portrait.

Nike and MJ

MJ Fox that is.

Since 1989, fashion forward (and generally forward-thinking) folks have been eagerly awaiting the production of Nike's self-lacing hightops worn by Marty McFly in Back to the Future II. Well sneakerheads, now's your chance to get the kicks and affect social change at the same time. In an effort to support the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Nike is auctioning off 1,500 pairs of the cinematically famous Nike MAG.

Wittily dubbed Back 4 the Future, Nike's ingenious charity marketing campaign involves a great video (that has more or less gone viral, but it's embedded below nonetheless  -- sorry, I'm a bit slow in getting it up on the blog) starring Kevin Durant, Bill Hader, Christopher Lloyd, among others. To bid on the 2011 Nike MAG shoes, go to nikemag.ebay.com (at time of publication, bids on my size 12.0 were between $2075.00 and $3305.55).

Great Scott! It gets better -- Google co-founder Sergey Brin and his wife Anne Wojcicki, co-founder of 23andMe (sorry, I didn't hyperlink to a description of or corporate website for Google; I assume everyone is at least generally familiar with the company, product, and verb), have agreed to match all donations to the Michael J. Fox Foundation - up to $50 million.

Perhaps more importantly, here is a message from Fantastic Mr. Fox himself...

And a brief clip of Fox's appearance on Letterman...

Here's a tip of my digital hat to the folks at Nike. They certainly know how to put together (what appears to be) a widely successful charity campaign. If you have some spare time and money, I encourage you to think about bidding on a pair of Nike MAGs, donating to the Michael J. Fox Foundation directly, or if you're feeling particularly generous, perhaps a donating to my own charitable fundraising efforts on behalf of the Chicago Fire Foundation (25 days and $395.00 to go).