the Gauntlet

I would say, "I made my decision on a Fall marathon", but that would only be partially true. 

Chicago did not want me. New York City as well. That ended up leaving a few options of which I previously mentioned:

Minneapolis. Indianapolis. Columbus. Philadelphia. Detroit. Marine Corps (DC). 

All promising, but each with challenges. 

Minneapolis is first week in October. That would be a challenge to run with with losing at least three weeks of needed training. Indy conflicts with a wedding which we are attending. Columbus I'd love to do again, but not just yet. Philly is late late, but it conflicts with a half-marathon relay to which I've agreed, Detroit was sold out. 

That left MCM. 

But I fucked around on committing and lo and behold, it sold out too. 

It's one of those things - you weren't sure you wanted it until it was gone. So for both Detroit and MCM, I trolled FB for people wanting to transfer bibs. And lord, people are nuts. Well, not nuts........but nasty and devious. 

Most big marathons have an official bib transfer process (assuming they allow it at all). All warn against scammers. And I had more than a few try to get me.  

As I am smarter than your average bear, I caught on early, and often, to their jive. Each one joining the marathon FB page that same day. You can see how many other people they messaged. And the second you had any credibility in what you were talking about, they ghosted you. 

I did my share of reporting to the site administrator. One poor woman messaged me saying she saw Ms X messaged me and not to deal with her. She had lost $200 in a venmo-like transfer, only to find out there was no bib. Never was. 

But another woman responded to a very specific post of mine, which said, if you're not willing to give me the registrant name and email address to verify with the MCM folks, don't bother me. That kept the scum away. 

Though this nice woman really wanted to swap. I got her 4-1-1 verified at the site. She set forth in motion to start the transfer and kept me up to date. She didn't even consider that I would not just pay the reg fee, but also the transfer fee. It took two days for MCM to do their part, and bing bang boom, I was a few hundred dollars poorer and now registered to run 26.2 with / for the marines. 

FUCK. 

That was my immediate reaction after registering and paying her. Now I have to actually run the 50th Marine Corp Marathon.

710 says it is good for me to have goals, and he is not wrong. It will not be easy, but I know I can finish. If I can finish with a personal record, who knows. 

I have two goals now - three, I guess.  

1. Do the training. Which is going to consist of some 16, 18 and 20 mile runs.   

2. Finish the marathon.   

3. ....and most importantly:  don't get injured between #1 and #2. 

hehehehehe........number 2. 

This will be my largest event yet. 40,000 runners. All doing the marathon. There is no half. So there is no lessening of the crowd after 13.1.  This could be good in terms of camaraderie, as usually you're running by yourself after the half-marathoners peel off. 

It's a bit humbling to know even if I'm in the top half (which has yet to be determined), that I'd still be like the 19,873rd runner to finish. 

As far as I know, I'll know (or know of) three other people doing this race. 40k folks, so I don't know I'll connect with them while there, but maybe we can make a concerted effort for a pic before or after.

This is military driven, which isn't a huge draw for me in best of times, less so now. Lots of flags and shit, and me feeling extremely unpatriotic.  Getting my Gatorade from a 19 year old in Marine camo at Mile 17 isn't the porn origin story I really want.  

.....now, if it was their dad............

Come late October, I expect to hear "OORAH" more than I ever have, and more than I ever want. 

(those in DC, perhaps I'll see you as spectators????)  

Song by: Dropkick Murphys

26

Against my better judgement - and assuming I had any in the first place - Fall marathon training started yesterday evening. 

Yes, I said marathon. Not half. 

I have the right to change my mind, of course, but I'm feeling the urge to try the full marathon again. 

Right now it's been 14 months since my last full. 

The stress fracture of the hip really threw me out of sorts. Actually, the Cleveland Marathon did a mental number on me too. 

I think I'm past all that. 

I think. 

As I think I said during my two half marathons so far this year, I was very happy when I saw the full folks split off knowing I wasn't going with them. Something has changed in me in the last week or so. 

Oh, and I also swore I would never run another Spring marathon again. Right now I'm sticking to that. But training in the summer if no picnic (see pic above). 

My Fall options are somewhat limited: Detroit / Canada; Marine Corp and Philadelphia. 

I mean, I know there are others, but Indy, Columbus and Cape Cod just aren't on my list now. 

Detroit has been sold out for weeks. The full. Both halves. The 10k AND the 5k. Only the disability portion is open - and while my running my qualify me as 'disabled', I'm guessing I won't gain entry that way. 

However, Detroit has a very active bib transfer system going on now - this far ahead. If I want in, I'm sure I can snag someone's bib who has already paid and changed their mind. 

DC is good too, though the Marine Corp might sell out soon. And it's their 50th, so that would be something. And while I love DC, ugh, the inhabitants at both ends of Constitution Ave just make me not want to do it. 

Philly is good too - it's just LATE. Like same week at Thanksgiving late. 

I might just let 710 decide where he wants to go. 

Yesterday's run was horrible. 85F to start. And I went out WAY too hard. An 8:14 first mile. INSANE. It kicked off my asthma which fucked up the rest of the run. Yet afterwards, everyone kept commenting on how strong I looked. I think they need their eyes checked. 

Yesterday was a two shower day. But it was also a two run day, as I still did my morning run as well.

At this moment, I think I'm doing a full marathon this autumn. As soon as I plunk down $$$, I'll let you know. 

Song by: Caamp

Thanks But No Thanks

Maybe third time will be a charm. 

Maybe. 

I did not get into the NYC Marathon for 2025. Again. 

This year I did the lottery, which was submitted last month. And last year, I applied for the 2024 Virtual NYC marathon that gives you admission to the actual one in 2025 - and I got dinged from that as well. 

Actually, if you look at the image I got dinged twice: once for lottery or for the NY Road Runners club - of which I'm not even a member. But they threw that salt into the wounds just for fun, I suspect. 

I don't really have other options. 

I do, but they are pricey. Raise like $3500 for charity - which I'm not willing to do. I won't ask others for $$$, and I cannot see me paying $3500 to enter a race. Hell, I don't even want to pay the $330 it would have cost me (not including travel, lodging, food, swag).

I really avoided my phone and email most of yesterday as I knew it was decision day. I was afraid I wouldn't get in and equally worried that I would. It's all very confusing.

Oddly. as my hopes had been dashed in the past, I wasn't wildly optimistic about my chances. Something like 4% of the NYC runners get in via the lottery. Or maybe it is out of state runners. Either or, the number is low. And the applicant pool keeps getting larger.  Yet somewhere there was this slight thread of 'maybe', which now just seems silly. 

There are seven major marathons, and honestly, I'd be delighted to get to any one of them - though Tokyo seems low on my list.  

If I could only do one major, it would want it to be New York. I have a history and love for the city, so it is the one I care about most. The only other major for which I have applied has been Chicago. Twice.  Dinged: twice.

This leaves my Fall half or full marathon schedule wide open. Right now Philly is leading the pack, but I will hold off signing up for anything until my Spring runs are completed. 

Ok. I'm gonna go sulk now. 

Song by: Sparks

Strike

Thanks. 

But no thanks. 

The email actually had a title: "Thanks for Applying."

Blobby got dinged by New York...........again. 

For those who might remember, I did not have success in the lottery for the 2024 NYC Marathon. You might also remember that I didn't have my hopes up for gaining access, like I did for the Chicago one. 

Strike Two. 

Still there are other ways to gain access. One was to run a virtual marathon this October, so one could run in the 2025 (!) NYC Marathon. 

So, you have to go through another lottery to be able to run the virtual race, so you could get a guaranteed entry (assuming you actually get accepted and actually run it) to the November 2025 mararthon. 

While during my run in Cleveland a month ago, I told myself I had no right to be even thinking of running in the New York marathon. 

Flash forward three weeks and here I was - hopeful. 

Yes, part of me hoped I wouldn't get in, so I wouldn't have to face it, but deep down, I really wanted it. And worse, I let myself believe that few people would want to run a marathon on their own.

In my head, I was already planning my route. As there'd be no hydration stations or extra rest areas, this was kind of vital, even if it was 4 months away. Where would 710 meet me for some of those provisions, etc.?   I got confident - like I had for Chicago. 

The first line of the email was short - not so sweet:  "You weren't selected."  They even fucking used a contraction as to not utilize unnecessary letters.

Then came the additional way I could get into the virtual marathon: fund raising. 

For a mere $1,310 dollars, raised and submitted 12 days prior to the virtual race, I could run - and if I finish -and would get guaranteed entry slot for 2025. 

But like Chicago, my views of hitting people up for money have not changed. It makes me very uncomfortable.  

Someone in my training group said to ask people IN the training group, who have gladly donated for these kinds of things. But as you know, I have conflicted feelings about the group and how long it took me even to be recognized. 

Adding injury to insult - on top of that $1,310, I'd have to pay a $175 registration fee for a virtual marathon.  And while I'm selecting the route, running on my own, supplying my own nutrition,  timing device and such - that $175 isn't coming to me for operational costs. It seems like a semi-money grab.I don't even think I get a t-shirt or a medal. And I'd have to buy my own banana. 

None of these costs cover the registration fee for the actual marathon either. It all adds up quickly. Then you can put travel, lodging, food, swag into that mix. 

I'm not really complaining about the cost - well, except maybe the $175. 

Since I psyched myself up for the virtual, the rejection stung. I was, and am, massively bummed. 

710 says to just write a check for the $1,310, but I'm not sure I'm willing to do that. 

No rash decisions. At least as of yet. I'd say I'd sleep on it, but that hasn't been coming easily lately. Ironically, I have to get up and run this morning.  

Song by: Todd Rundgren

Green Yellow and Red

The second marathon is in the books. More like a pamphlet really. 

I have very mixed emotions on Sunday's run, and I'll get to those in a bit. 

If weather were to be believed, it could have been a nice day. I mean, it was a gorgeous day.......if you were going to the beach. 

You might not think starting a run at 60°F would be a bad thing. But for a race - let alone a long long one - I'd prefer 10 degrees cooler.  15 would have been even better. You dress for 10 degrees warmer, and even by that, it would end being 10 degrees off the mark from what it would be. 

Race conditions are rated in Low (Green), Moderate (Yellow), High (Red),  Extreme (Black). 

We started off with Green. 

Like my first, I was a bundle of nerves once I got to the site. I'd done my pre-race fueling and the bathroom stops. Yes, multiple. But I was anxious. I suppose most people are. Last year, I ran with a new friend, and while he was running this year, he was pacing slower than I. I knew a lot of folks between the two running groups, yet I ran alone. 

The first quarter went swimmingly. Time-wise and joint-wise. I made the first hill with little problem. The second elevation was a little tougher - and the weather was heating up. Also my gut was not feeling good. Part of me thought I would puke....part thought I needed a port-a-pot. I ended up at the latter at mile 10. Oddly, in my two years of running, I've never had to stop - at races or in training. This was going to slow down my time. Oddly enough, it turns out I didn't even need to go - but as they say: "never trust a fart". 

As I neared the split, I won't lie, I was wondering if I could run in with the half-marathoners and just collect that medal instead. But I went left, over the bridge into the west side. 

At mile 15-ish, 710 and Shep were there. I stopped for a minute because, I was cracking. Shep was EXTREMELY excited to see me. I told 710 I wasn't sure how I was going to make it. He handed me a bottle of water and off I went. 

The last six miles were just brutal. There wasn't a lick of shade in that last six, not there was much in the first 20. But five of the last six were on the shoreway. They closed down six lanes of highway. And the last three were all hills. Motherfuckers. 

At mile 21, I noticed the race conditions were upped to Red. If they ever did Yellow, I never saw it, or maybe it just jumped a level. Mile 21 was also the point my hip really started hurting. My knees?  Hell, they held up nicely. But running was painful due to the hip. 

Mile 22 had me encounter an ambulance. They were strapping some guy on the gurney and moving him to the vehicle. I won't lie: I was slightly envious of him. 

Mile 24 had a cheer group from training crowd. Better yet, a guy named Bruce ran out to me, offering a bottle water or Gatorade. I took the latter and kept moving. But I can't tell you how important their presence was at that juncture. 

The last 200 yards should have been uplifting, but they were hard. I passed a guy who clearly had heat stroke (or a stroke stroke).  I stopped and asked if he needed assistance. Someone else asked if he wanted water. He declined both. I kept going, but I shouldn't have - though it would turn out the medical folks were only a dozen yards away if needed. 

Allegedly, the race conditions were upped to Black, and rumour had it that they were pulling some people off the course. When I was running east on the shoreway, I saw people still heading west, which meant I was 5 miles ahead of them. In theory, I could have said, "I'm not doing poorly", but what I really felt was sorry for them. 

At a few water stops people had hoses. I could not tell how they were hooked-up, or to what. Usually they'd make an arc for people got a mist.  Me?  I walked right into them and on the last three (or four), I said:  just hose me down, top to bottom, then back to front.  They loved it, but not more than I. 

I made it in. 710 was waiting. While he was behind a barrier, I reached over and hugged him and almost cried. Not tears of joy though. Maybe relief?  Mental breakdow?

Usually in those situations, I get my medal and kind of do a grab for all the snacks and doo-dads that might be there. Not so much this time. I was in very much a daze. A woman shoved a bottle of water in my hand, but then I saw the chocolate milk guy. I took TWO bottles and stood there and told him that I loved him. 

Anyone, and everyone, else probably took pics of themselves with their medals. Not I.  710 snapped one and sent it to Morty, who shared it with the group. That is the one picture I have from the day that came from our cameras. I was going to take a pic in front of the 'finished' sign / bell, but there was a line, which in theory would go quickly - but poses.  Everyone woman - yes, sorry, only the women - were doing multiple poses, with husbands, then children, then everyone, then mothers-in-law.  Take your fucking picture and move. It's hotter than fuck and there is a line. I left without getting the pic. 

By the time I was finished with the race, it was 82°F.  Again, add 10 for the runners.  So yeah - I finished, as I just mentioned, but it was anything but pretty. 

So, the mixed emotions thing - and I'm glad I waited a day to draft this, so I could hopefully gain perspective:

I'm sure due to the heat, I did not enjoy this race. At all. I hope it was due to the heat because on the back half of the course I was saying I was happy I didn't get into Chicago or New York and that I had no business running marathons and this would be my last one. 

Maybe it will be. Maybe not. Today (yesterday), my thoughts have softened. 

My training had me having the probability of a five and one-half hour time.  In my head I really wanted something under five hours - even if it was only by a second. My actual time was somewhere between the two. So, in an overwhelming certain way, I felt I failed as I didn't get my want-to goal. 

 My chip time was 00:02:59 longer than my first marathon. This course was undeniably harder; the conditions much harsher. .....and I had the bathroom break. 

In reality - I should be very happy with that time. Still, I thought I progressed in my abilities since last October. At least more so than the clock shows.  710 and Morty say I should be proud of my accomplishment, and I'm hoping that kicks in, because I still feel like I failed to a degree. 

Morty so aptly stated on our Sunday call: I didn't train for this marathon. I trained in snow, ice, cold and rain. No one was training for an 80+ degree marathon. 

Fall marathons (or halves) might be the way to go. The chances of them being cooler are greater. And climate change isn't helping matters. 

I'm glad I did it. Sunday afternoon I would not have said that.  I literally have the medal and a banana. And sunburn. Two of those will disappear eventually. 

My recovery has been quick. My toes were a little ouchy, but not so bad now. My hip is tender. My sunburn is too. But the legs and knees are good. I get around with no issues, so for that I'm thankful. 

Where do I go from here? I'm not sure. I have smaller races during the summer, but for a few moments on Sunday I was wondering if I'd run again.  This morning, I will be doing three miles.  I took one day off. I'll be back at it. 

Song by: Rosanne Cash

Stick Season

We are a little over a week away from the Cleveland Marathon. 

I don't know what to think. Or overthink, in my case. 

Theoretically, I know the pitfalls of the mental part of my taper and yet I'm still falling prey to them. 

Unlike the last marathon, my setbacks were all mental. This time I have physical added. 

My ortho doc (well, a training Fellow) loaded me up with one cortisone injection to my left hip. He was the 19th medical professional to tell me how tight my IT bands were. That said, he said something no one else ever had:  "some people are just built this way and there is little to no loosening some of these".  It oddly made me feel better 

Let's hope the shot does too. I wanted a second one in my right hip as well, as that is now being somewhat affected. Everyone (myself included) believes it's due to overcompensation due to pain on my left side. It's mechanics. Period. 

My last few runs have felt horrible. Timing is fine, but the body hasn't liked it. The 90% and up in humidity has not been helpful. Or the temps in the upper 70s. Tough tackling 5-6 miles, or even the 12 I did last Saturday. Not sure how I'll conquer 26.  The temps need to drop. Or I'll need strategically placed people throwing ice water on me as I pass them. 

Good news:  my ortho guy will be on the course manning the mile 14.9 aid station. My chiropractor will be at the expo the day before. I should be good. 

Deep down I think I will be anyway. But I also know the last three miles of the route are all uphill. Well, maybe not the last third of a mile. That's brutal. 

Hopefully the injected steroid kicks in before my last long run (tomorrow). That is all hills too. My final week will be easy runs for me. I will save my energy - physical and mental - for the "race". 

I still need another hour or two in my playlist to build. And to pick out what I'll run in. The shorts are easy. The shirt - well, it will be somewhat weather dependent. 

Blah.  I'm just venting here more than writing. This is for my own psyche. 

Song by: Noah Kahan

New York

Yesterday was decision day - for the 2024 New York City Marathon lottery. 

Just like MegaMillions, Powerball and the Chicago Marathon, I got a big fat zero. 

After my continual - yet unfounded - positive vibes I had to get into Chicago, I was much more reserved for NYC. The pool is bigger, the competition is harder - several categories such as Out of Country, Out of City, Out of State. I don't know if they choose x% from certain categories or not, but my number did not come up. 

I really tried not to look at my phone all day. But at 16:00 I finally logged into the marathon site, and it was to be a 22 minute wait to get in, due to high web traffic. While I was waiting, I finally got the email. 

So this now leaves my autumn race totally open, should I still try to do a marathon this Fall. 

While I truly enjoyed everything about Columbus, and I will run it again, I don't think it will be this year. 

This now realistically (?) leaves:

• Philadelphia
• Detroit
• Minneapolis
• Marine Corp in DC
• Indianapolis

I have friends in Philly, Minneapolis and DC, so it makes those cities more appealing. Detroit is international, as you run into Canada (and back). 

I really love DC, as you all pretty much know, so right now it's DC, then Detroit as my selections. Probably. I'm trying not to jump just yet. I'm attempting to act, not react, which is my go-to. 

I'm in no danger of cut-off for Detroit. The Marine Corp?  While I somewhat looked at their website, it doesn't seem lottery driven, so I might still be able to sign up for that. But oy, it will be a week before the 2024 election. 

Yes, I'm bummed about NYC, but there is a path forward for 2025 there (assuming this body holds up), so I'm not broken-hearted. 

Right now, I'll keep the focus on Cleveland. It's less than two months away. Later, I'll worry about later. 

Song by: St. Vincent

Half as Much

For those following along........and with an ability to follow clues or at least have a good guessing gene, you probably figured out that with my running, and running group, I was training for something and not just running like Mr. Gump. 

Morty, whom you all know and love from here, and I had been discussing my running really since before my 5k last November.  The next logical step would have been a 10k. But in my training for that, I was running a few 10ks on a weekly basis so I started going longer, harder and faster (that's what she said!). On a weekly (or so) basis, I'd send Mort my status. He deftly texted, "this doesn't seem like you're looking at a 10k anymore."

He was not wrong. 

When I bought new shoes ("I-I-I-I can't wait") in November, the store had a Cleveland Marathon card and I picked one up. I pinned it to my bulletin board in my office above my computer. I knew I could not do a marathon, but at this point I was running 8.5 miles at a time and I thought......."well........maybeeeee.....". 

I signed up for the worst possible reason. Or maybe the best. The next day, the price was going up - an entire $10 !!!  Worst impulse item purchase ever.  Probably. 

But being someone who hates to part with money, after I hit 'enter', I was committed. At least in my mind. That is when I joined the training group. 

Fast forward 16 weeks, and two days ago was the half and full marathon. Until driving down before dawn, I had not been excited or nervous. Now I was both. 

It was a perfect running day. 54° and not a cloud in the sky. It would have been nicer if it stayed at 54°  but it did start to warm as the sun rose. 

I was lucky to run with a new friend that I met at my 10 miler. Well, most of the way. 

For the first 8 miles I kept a decent pace in the mid-10 minute / mile range. But coming out of a long stretch was some icky elevation. The first hill at mile 5 was usually my nemesis, but this time, I made it up that without a care. This one though......I was feeling it. The mind is much stronger than the body when it comes to shutting shit down. 

At mile 10, I was more of 10:47 / mi guy. But....you know.....I can do this. But I struggled. Joe was losing his time so I told him to just go ahead. Don't let me hold him back. He only went when he made me promise I would finish. And yeah, I was struggling a little, but it never occurred to me that I would not go the distance. 

Joe and I passed what I thought was a Resusci Anne splayed on someone's front lawn. But Joe assured me it was a real person. Dehydration? Heart Attack?  In my head, I went, "well, at least I won't be last!".  After Joe left, I passed a parked ambulance where I could see feet, so I figured I'd beat at least two folks!

But then came 11.5.  FUCK. It was a brick wall - or so it felt. That was tough. I truly walked for my first time, but it was mostly to do my inhaler and recalibrate. It felt like forever, but I'm guessing it was 45 seconds of walking. Once I got to 12, I found my stride again, albeit slower. 

The thing about the last mile that people should know, and yet I swear to g-d, it never occurred to me: the last almost mile was lined with people 3-4 deep through the finish line. The rest of the course had people, but some areas had zero. So I didn't really think about crowds. 

People will tell you the crowd is a motivator, and in a way they kind of are. I'm vain enough, and proud enough, that no matter how badly I wanted to walk or slow down, I wasn't going to happen in front of throngs of folks. 

Someone had a "Give the Thumbs Up if You Have to Poop" sign.  I didn't have to, but I gave two big thumbs up. We all laughed. 

I will say at mile 12, the pacer, who I had NOT seen since before the start, was right next to me, and with the time I assumed I would get. (I wanted 10 minutes better, but statistically I knew where I would be well before race day.).  I kind of shook my head thinking he was lost, because I didn't feel I was on pace any longer for my goal. 

Yet I was. Actually, I thought I crossed over 3 minutes later than I wanted, but that was the clock time, not the chip time. I was exactly three seconds earlier than my goal. 

BTW - we ran into neighbors the following day (yesterday) and they asked if we had a nice weekend.  710 is just bursting with pride - "Blobby ran a half marathon".  Some chit chat and Mike asks, "did you have a good time?"

It turns out that question to a runner versus anyone else means something different. 

Neil, Mike and 710 had to explain to me, "if I enjoyed myself", as I tried to tell them my goal time and actual time. 

Save for some wonky lightheadedness after the race, I did have a good time. It was a lot of work. At lot of focus - which I'm not really known for, and a lot of stick-to-it-ness.  I think some of my earlier running posts I had the internal monologue of "what are you doing?" or "you can't do this!".  Normally my instinct is to listen to those voices. But with support from Morty, I got past those thoughts and they crept in fewer and fewer times. 

At mile 12 is when the full marathoners and the halves split to go different directions. But it was at that moment I said - out loud even -  "nooooo. no marathon for you ever". 

I have the right to change my mind, of course. 

BTW - one of the first things I blogged about on this here blog 20 years ago, was real-time trending of Morty through his first Boston Marathon. It seems very fitting he's part of this post. 

Song by: Patsy Cline