Week 11 - The Blue Line

"The Blue Line" for those of you reading this out of the Akron area refers to the actual blue line that runs through the city of Akron that marks the Akron Marathon course.  Every year, runners of all abilities start out in the heart of Akron's downtown and proceed up South High Street across the All-America Bridge.  Each runner is in search of their own personal definition of success.  One of my annual joys is setting up a large sound system and playing music, encouraging the runners, and watching the personal stories unfold at the marathon.

This year is no different.  The two mile mark of this year's marathon course is located at the Peoples Bank, North Akron location. I will get a chance to play music one more time, give high fives, and join in with a group of wonderful people in a cheer section.  Joining our cheering section will be none other than legendary marathoner Dick Beardsley who will also be cheering runners on and giving high fives and encouragement. We will have a high spirited group. Next year I will be running the race.

Here's Dick (#3) from "The Duel in the Sun" at the 1982 Boston Marathon:

Friends of mine posted pictures on Facebook of their training run on the Blue Line yesterday.  I was both happy for them and jealous at the same time.  Most of my miles have been alone.  Here's a picture of my favorite eating place.  It's a real paradox for me as I look at this picture.  The Blue Line represents a commitment to a healthy lifestyle. Swensons is a regular experience for me for lunchtime. Can you say. "Quarter pound hamburger and french fries?" (Dear Lord and Richard Simmons, please forgive me).

To be totally honest, I wish I was running this year but I knew I would not be ready by the race date.  Several times I registered for previous Akron Marathons and each time injuries deterred me from getting ready.  My favorite individual mishap was Friday morning, September 24, 2010 at 6:00 a.m. the day before that year's race.  I broke my little toe on my right foot walking down the stairs in my home. Instead of going to the marathon expo to pick up my race packet, I was sitting in my favorite orthopedic doctor's office visiting my friend Dr. Greg Hill.  Bummer.  That is was just the beginning of my string of almost five years of nagging Achilles, hamstring, and other health issues.

This year, for the first time in a long time, I feel healthy. Since the infamous mishap that Friday morning in 2010, I have been searching and hoping for this moment.  I know that I am nobody special when it comes to running.  I'm a full fledged card carrying member of "The Back of the Pack."  I know I'm slow, but for four months I have been consistent and uninjured.  Color me grateful.

Everyone of the marathon, half marathon, and marathon relay runners on September 26, 2015 will be chasing their dream.  There will be millions of others between now and then at races all over the world and well after, that will do likewise.  I'm honored to be allowed at my age to still be part of this group.

Dr. Sheehan once said that it doesn't matter if you run, swim, walk, ride a bike, or participate in some other level of fitness activity.  Figure out what your "brand" is and then embrace it.  It's all about becoming a fit animal.

I've got a total of 501 miles on my various Brooks Ghost running shoes since May 1, 2015.  I completed 187 miles in August.  I'm resting tomorrow.  As of right now I am not injured.  I have lost twenty pounds and I'm eating healthier.  I'm far from perfect.  I know. I  saw mom this month and she reiterated that point. Moms have a way of keeping it real. Come to think of it, most of my family and real friends, (See the Oracle of Delphi posting), don't mind letting me know that either.  They of course are absolutely correct and I love them for it.  Perfection is unattainable, but achieving excellence at any level is.  Well, that's just fine with me.  I'm not there yet, but I'll keep working at it.
It gives me something in common with everybody else who will be chasing their dream on September 26th and then again three weeks later.

I'm proud to be part of the Akron Marathon experience!  I'll be there cheering and rooting for every single athlete I see.  It's their dreams, and I hope they all come true.  Mine have to wait until three weeks later.  When I get tired in Columbus, I will remember the faces of Akron and know that I can give no less.

"Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be."  If the good Dr. Sheehan said so, then it sounds like a great philosophy to bring with you on marathon morning.  I know I will.

Week eleven is in the books.  There are seven more to go. It's like waiting for Christmas but Santa first has to know I've been good.  Son of a gun.  No Swensens until the evening of October 18. Its a sacrifice but its part of my plan to become the person I believe I was meant to be.  Success to me, is making a finish in Columbus happen with a smile. However, the Finale to my eighteen weeks of training begins with the spirit of others along a blue line and their dreams as they follow its path.

Week 10 - Phil

I love my brothers and sisters.  We are all so very different from one and other and its great.  My younger brother Gerry is an amazing guitarist.  We have performed together numerous times but he is much better than I will ever be or hope to be on the guitar.

Gerry on the left and Phil Hailer in the Bruins sweatshirt, November 2013.  I'm at 245 pounds in this picture!

The oldest of my younger sisters Paula is a great artist.  She is my favorite artist and not just because she is my sister.  She paints scenes from life that anybody can look at and relate to and say, "I feel like I'm there."

My favorite work of Paula's, Fenway Park:

My sister Karla is a gifted educator.  She was great with inspiring young children to read long before she did it for a living.  Kids love her.

Grace Anne, who is the youngest of all of us, keeps me in line.  There is nothing I can do that she can't hammer.  We don't see each other that often but when we do, it's like we talked a couple of hours ago. Anything I do or have done is fair game for her humor.  She has managed the business affairs of various Washington, D.C. law firms for years and that was after a long distinguished career as a legislative aide on Capitol Hill.

Grace Anne in the upper left and Paula lower right and of course, "Hot Breath Houlihan" in the middle:

Then there is my older brother Phil.  He was my best friend growing up. I didn't have to be his but he was mine.  He was the perfect "Big Brother."  He didn't bully me like lots of big brothers can do.

From Christmas 1953:

He also didn't put up with any crap from me. Phil included me in a lot of stuff that he did as we were growing up. We went to Boston Patriot, Red Sox, Bruins, and Celtics' games together as teens.  We played a lot of driveway football and Whiffle ball together.  We saw the Stones, The Beatles, The Beach Boys with Brian Wilson, and all sorts of other classic rock and pop acts together.  Phil blazed the trail with our conservative parents and took the heat for things that I was later allowed to do without question. I chose Ohio Northern University for college in part because Phil was sixty miles up the road in Bowling Green. How'd that workout for me?

Here's Phil in the winter of 2010:

In college I changed my preferred participation sport from high school football to college cross country.  I started out running in cross country meets at around seven minutes a mile thinking that I sucked because I was dead last.  Phil was the one who helped me gain perspective so I didn't quit.  When complaining to him about my lack of performance he pointed out that I was nuts and explained in a brotherly tone how few people could do what I was doing.  He also pointed out that I had lost 30 pounds my freshman year as my team workouts averaged about seventy miles per week.

Phil was the first in the family to run a major road race. It was the 1977 New York City Marathon that went through all five NYC  Boroughs as opposed to its early days when it just went through Central Park. While Phil and I age wise are in our upper sixties now, our parents back then were 52.  The thought of running in a race back then never crossed their mind.  They thought when it came to running that we were nuts.  They were right but for all the reasons parents know about their children.

Phil and I ran the Boston Marathon together as bandits when the race had about 2,000 runners.  Now before any of my running purist friends get upset, at that time, being in "The Back of the Pack" was okay.  In fact we were even welcomed as long as we didn't get in the other runners' way.  Heck, at that time we were just bodies on the road.  There were no official water stops until Canadian Jerome Drayton after winning the race pointed out the race management faux pas. Back in the 1970's as it does now, the Boston Marathon race management hands out numbers to VIPs in the Boston area for runners who do not qualify.* A Groucho Marx look a like was in the back of the pack every year, and still is to my knowledge but much older, handing out race numbers that say, "Back of the Pack."

National television stories were done about runners like us. Bandits like Roberta Gibb, the first known woman to run as a bandit, Nina Kuscsik, a bandit her first three Boston Marathons, and arguably K.V. Switzer to name another.  Yes it was a different time.  Phil ran a lot of years as an invited runner until it was determined last year that he was no longer a race VIP.  Phil like me would not think of just jumping in the race without meeting today's charity or invited or qualifying standards.  Like I said, things are different now.  But bother Phil last year ran the Boston Marathon much like race director Dave McGillivray does every year. After the race was over, sister Karla drove him to Hopkinton in the mid-afternoon rain and Phil ran the Boston Marathon course. This next April we are both doing that.  If you would like to join us then please do.  Instead of the "Running of the Bulls," it'll be "The Running of the Bums."  It has a nice ring to it if you ask me.  We are legitimate bandits once again!

Phil, April 2015 running his own Boston Marathon:

I thought of this today and it was a driving force in my half marathon effort today.  This week of the training scheduled was "screwed up." I believe that is a technical term used by everyone everywhere to provide a cleaner version of what we are really thinking.  My legs from Falmouth hurt. Doing 36 miles in 48 hours four days after you have dental surgery is not smart. There I said it.  But I would do it again on a similar journey to the one I'm on. In fact I did today.

Much like some of my favorite female runners, Greta Waitz, Paula Radcliffe, and the first official winner of the Boston Marathon, Nina Kuscsik, I was having gastro intestinal issues.  The difference for me was that I was not going to be on international television and, being slower, I had a choice of Portable Plastic Temporary Manufactured Housing ("PPTMH") at my disposal.  (Maybe a slight pun but not intentional). There was no way that I was going to avoid running in Cleveland today.  I woke up sick but in my mind I just had to run.

Greta Waitz in one of her NYC Marathon wins:

The Boss was ready.  I was motivated but I was experiencing lower abdominal pain. I then thought about not running but then I could hear Phil as I would be telling the story.  He would be doing his impression of Jim McKay of ABC's announcing of Greta Waitz when she halfway in the NYC Marathon had "issues." McKay pointed out to everybody who was watching or listening and then invited analysis from the runner reporters. You already know from a previous post that Greta is my number one sports hero.  I figured it was go time no matter what.  Good enough for Greta, good enough for me! The best part was the Boss was in my corner, and unfortunately for her, would also be in the same car with me if it didn't go well.

I finished today.  There was a stop at a gas station at the Ohio Turnpike entrance on the way to the race.  There was a random stop at a PPTMH unit in Downtown Cleveland that appeared out of nowhere as we got close to our eventual parking spot.  I did the live parking in the street with the flashers on while I checked out the housing unit.  (I think Greta and Phil willed the presence of the PPTMH for me). During the race, there were three stops along the way.  Kind of graphic, eh? Well, every runner sometime goes through it and some more than others on certain days.  Today was my day. Clearly I would have been faster but so what?

The good news is that my objective was to finish with a time with a "2"in front of a bunch of numbers, much like in guessing the price of the car on the TV show The Price Is Right.  I finished in 2:58:54.  I was 1,054 out of 1127 and 478 out of 490 males.  I was 11 out of 14 in my age group.  But that's not the whole story.  In Jim Chaney's NFL Hall of Fame Marathon in April, my half marathon time was 3:34:44.  At the time I was 20 pounds heavier.  I also was a guy who was just a few days short of the one year anniversary of a stroke.  Today I had issues and a will to overcome my obstacles, concerns and questions such as, "I wonder if there's any toilet paper left in the PPTMH?"
I feel real good about today.  Of course now that I have written this, its Open Season from my siblings and in particular Grace Anne.

On the plus side, even while Phil is mocking me the next time I talk to him, I know he understands. Every runner does.  No, not that.  It's, "I'm a runner.  Race day isn't always going to be perfect.  Now shut up and run."  It's what Phil would do and he's my big brother.  Enough said.

Day 48 - Falmouth 2015

This is a longer than usual posting and the I'll let the pictures tell a lot of the Falmouth story for 2015. Hundreds of runners would drop out.  Eleven participants would be taken to the hospital with heat issues. An update on future writings of the Blog is at the end of tonight's posting.  Enjoy the story of Falmouth.  I did!

The Falmouth Road Race was wonderful but it was hot!  The volunteers at the 5K mark ran out of water.  For later finishers like the guy writing this story, they ran out of water at the finish line, on a day when the temperatures had to hit well into the nineties on the roads.  Ah, but that wouldn't stop me from being.....well...ME! No negativity in this boy.

Today's front page from the Cape Cod Times:

Sunday began early for me.  I woke up at 2:00 a.m.  I went to bed too early.  I was up for almost two hours but was able to go back to sleep for a while.  Like I indicated in my pre-race comments, sleep was at a premium on race eve. I woke again sixty minutes later to The Boss (TB) saying, "You need to get ready."

It was a clear sky.  The sun was coming up, with a little breeze thrown in on a day that you just knew was going to be hotter than hell at around 9:00 a.m. when the race was suppose to start. We walked from the Palmer House Inn in Falmouth where we stay each year for this race, to the starting line which is literally five miles away.  We walk down the Shining Sea Bike Path each year as opposed to taking the shuttle buses.  It's usually a fun walk and quite scenic with views of the trail, the water, Martha's Vineyard in the near distance, and some runners and walkers doing the same thing TB and I are doing. Here are some views along the way.

TB on the Shining Sea Bikeway about 2.5 miles from the starting line:

A tribute to the Black Dog Tavern on the trail along the way to the starting line.  Definitely cute:

A highlight from the walk every year is that as we get closer to the starting line in Woods Hole, the guaranteed winners come out onto the trail to warm up.  You can tell the contenders from the pretenders.  The posers are the ones wearing the Boston Marathon gear and and can be overheard talking race strategy while the potential winners just wistfully pass them by.

Due to the pulse starting system, it was almost 28 minutes before we got to cross the start line. The lead women and the leaders were seven miles away in Falmouth Heights at the finish line by the time my group got going.  Standing in place for over thirty minutes including the time we actually lined up was not pleasant.  It was even more uncomfortable as the young couple in front of me were acting quite, well let's just say they needed to get a room someplace.  It was weird.

Scenes from the start.  First in front of the start line, then from where I started, looking forward, and then behind me:

I was purposely running without headphones and only carrying an old nonworking smart phone to take pictures.  After I took some shots of the "cattle call" at the start, I put the phone away.  It's amazing what you can learn about people's lives at the beginning of a race.  T.M.I. if you ask me. There were pleasant moments though.  This was all part of the preparation and test for nine weeks away.  The people pushing past you to get a better spot or just gently in most cases nudging you out of their way as though in the end it would make a difference. There was the five mile walk from the bed and breakfast to the start.  Then it was a seven mile run followed by a three mile walk back to our inn.  My total distance for running and walking in approximately 48 hours would be 36 miles! This whole experience was about learning to control race day emotions and dealing with stress on my body and mind.

Falmouth has over 12,000 runners for a seven mile course.  It's what is commonly referred to by other race directors as a "zoo race." For most participants, it's about the experience of being part of the history of the race.  Time is irrelevant.  At least time was irrelevant for me.  Most of my nine weeks of training so far have been alone.  The longer miles, the training runs before dawn, my battles with the sun, its been me, in most cases my music, and thoughts of the kind folks like yourself that have been willing to share this journey with me.  I think about you when I run and it makes a difference. Sunday in Falmouth was no different.

The only time goal I had is that I wanted to get through the first mile with all the crowd and the stop and go cadence in under twelve minutes.  In the words of George W. Bush, "Mission accomplished."
I took a selfie of me at Nobska Light. It's my favorite lighthouse ever.  The annual playing of the theme from "Rocky" was thumping through the loudspeakers.  I have grown to mock that song but I still love the movies but the theme does drive me nuts.

Me at the one mile mark:

As runners begin the second mile, you go up a hill and then go down the other side where you can look across the water and see Falmouth Heights almost six miles away where the finish takes place. It's a psychological tease to experienced race participants.  It then becomes a process of what I previously have referred to as "stealing shade."  It was substantially cooler protected from the sun but as we passed the three mile mark, I knew it would be a mile and a half of dead solid sun.

No water at the 5K mark.  One volunteer unfortunately yells, "Run faster! There's water a half mile down the road!"  Whoops!  Wrong thing say to the thundering heard of big people I am with as we begin our sun drenched journey down Surf Drive. As we pass the halfway point of the race I have an attitude transformation.  To be honest, I was struggling.  The waiting at the start line corral for so long, the five mile walk, the previous day's total of walking, and the Friday sun drenched fifteen miler were getting to me. I think it was the calling of my name on my bib and the goals in my head that gave me confidence.  I was Eddie Murphy's portrayal of Gumby." "I'm Gumby dammit and I'm going to finish!"

Only my case its not as simple. It's more like I thinking, "I'm Steve Hailer. I'm a nice guy.  I have goals today.  I've worked hard and promised myself I'm going to enjoy the day......"  On second thought, let's just go with, "I'm Gumby."  Less said the better.

As the race continued, I started talking to other runners who were walking or suffering offering encouragement.  I played off the people lining streets with one liners.  At one point near the turn at the end of Surf Drive I was passing a house with a long deck and a lot of early morning beer drinkers.  I hear, "Go Steve!"  I yell back, "I'm going to the British Beer Company.  Want me to bring you back fired clams?"  The whole entourage starts yelling, "Steve! Steve! Steve!"  Numerous offers for beer roll into my ears. Ah, but I don't drink.

It's about this point I meet up with my new best friend Robert.  He's 72 and a veteran of 35 Falmouth road races.  He's starting to walk and I talk to him. What a good guy.  He says this is the hottest one that he can remember.  (We all say that because we block out that maybe four years ago was worse but today is what counts).  Robert and I get to talking and I get him to run some.  We walk through the water stop at 5.5 miles and then pick it up again.  As we make the turn to head towards the road that will take us to Falmouth Heights, I tell him that he needs to look good for his wife who will be waiting to see him in a quarter of a mile. We aim for the shade but there's a problem.  Previous finishers are crowding the road on their walk back along the course to their cars and forcing us to the sunny side of the road.  I silently push back making the returning runners move to the side.  Their day is over and ours soon will be but if I have one pet peeve about runners at races, its when the leaders are done and they start milling in front of the finishing area or getting in the way of others still on the course.  I turn it into a positive.  I congratulate them on their finishes.  It becomes a self regulating situation.  The returnees now turn to tell others, "Runners coming!"  A lady who had been trailing us says, "Nice move Steve!."  I feel good.  Taking a negative and making it a positive.

As we make the turn to go up the last hill, I tell those around us in a cheerful voice that there are pictures up ahead.  You want to look good.  I'm next to this very tall and large woman runner. I am totally honored to run with her.  She was working hard the whole race I am sure, and she was going to finish. Not only that, she probably beat me because at the top of the last hill I looked back and saw Robert.  I wasn't going home without him.  It's a bond that those of us in the back of the pack understand.  We are pulling together.

A different shot of Robert and me at the finish from what was posted on Facebook:

This is me just sitting down to take a rest before walking almost three miles back to the bed and breakfast:

And of course being reunited with the woman I'm related to by marriage:

All this was followed by going to a Falmouth Track Club annual post race party at Courtney Bird's house.  Courtney is the former race director of the Cape Cod Marathon and stalwart of the Falmouth running community.  He has an awesome personality and is a real character:

The Tale of the Tape and the Blog Moving Forward

The reality is that I have lost 16 pounds since I started but its not enough for what I want to do.  I have done a good job in keeping with Hal's running schedule only to have to move  few things around to make it work.  Nutrition now will be a big part.  I am only going to write in my Blog on Sunday evenings with maybe one other one during the week if I think I have something to say that would be useful to those who read my writings.  The weezerandgeezers Blog has gotten me this far.  It hasn't been too narcissistic or at least as much as it could have been.  I needed "something" to get me back to where I want to be. This has at times been a conversation with the hundreds of readers.  It certainly has helped me find my path to becoming a fit animal.  There is however so much more to do.  

I am excited for Weezersandgeezers Part II.  This is where the gloves come off in my training.  i'll be more intense in my training. There will be a limited amount of speed work that has been nonexistent before, and a focus on sleep and nutrition.  I've got Mari alias TB etc., and a whole host of friends and family supporting me and will to discuss all this with me. I deeply appreciate the support.  Words cannot express how much it means to me.  

So until next Sunday, let me leave you with a smile.  Here's brother Phil and me at ages 5 and 3 with our dog Chauncey at the time who I absolutely don't remember. What does this have to do with running?  You'll find out next week.  Lots of smiles in the meantime.

Day 47 - Pre - Falmouth

Morning will come early.  I know sleep for me will be at a premium tonight. Tomorrow morning is the Falmouth Road Race.  This annual event is very important to The Boss. This year its important to me. I love coming to see the friends we have made through the years here. Tomorrow is different from other years though. Much different. It's the end of Part I for this Weezer and Geezer.  Part II begins Monday, but I'll worry about Monday on Monday.

I did a three mile walk before breakfast this morning and then The Boss (T.B.) and I did the three mile Falmouth Walk for local charities that we do every year. T.B. also did a four and a half mile warm up run. this morning.  She's looking really good.

The number is ready:

Here's a bit of history of the 42 years of the race with Bill Rodgers leading Alberto Salazar and Craig Virgin right behind Alberto:

Some more history with marathon great Greg Meyer, Number 33, springing to the lead with family friend Randy Thomas over his left shoulder:

The one mile mark at Nobska Light.  Simply beautiful:

This is the first test. This isn't about speed. It's about enjoying the whole race and finishing strong with a smile. In words any runner can understand, "It's on!"

Good night my friends and peace.  I'm ready.

Days 45 and 46 - A Thousand Wild Horses

Thursday, I was able to sneak in three miles and a short visit to the gym early in the morning.  The run was short as directed by my favorite oral surgeon.  There wasn't much happening in the way of exercise for the day other than a lot of walking through airports.  Mostly I spent the day thinking about what this morning would be like.

Friday morning I did fifteen miles on the Cape Cod Rail Trail. I got out early. I do however have this feeling of impending doom each time I head out for a long run and get beyond twelve miles.  It's the same feeling I get when I do well on the golf course. There's this voice in my head that says, "Not so fast Big Boy.  You're not that good."  Symbolically speaking and using the words of one of my favorite song writers Gary Burr:

"Just when I thought, the demons I fought, were dead and gone.....I don't have to stop and look over my shoulder, I already know from the sound, there's a thousand wild horses, running behind me, hell bent on running my down."

Visually speaking this is my view of the world on a run at the twelve mile mark or longer in my head:

Compare that to this guy at ten miles who ran down a dirt road on private property on a cranberry bog farm to get this shot to do an impression of The King:

Quite a different view of the world in just two miles.  The more I train, the more I know I will control this negative perception.  You know the age old saying, "The harder you work, the luckier you get."  In my case, I believe that if I stick to the schedule, the further I will get to run, before the bad boys in the first picture catch me, if at all!

Negative mental images get in the way.  I like the guy who trespassed on to private property. Take a risk and keep on pushing. That's got to be me in the future.

Tomorrow's the Falmouth Road Race and I am the most ready I have ever been for this race.  It's seven miles. It's the halfway point on the marathon schedule on the journey to Columbus.  I'm ready.  The horses will just have to wait.  They're not going to get me tomorrow.  I'm hell bent on enjoying the day.  Take that Seabiscuit and Trigger!

Day 44 - Doctor's Orders

I want to run tonight but I can't.  I need to wait just a little longer. "I'm hitting the rack early." I've got four easy miles to do in the morning.  Because of the oral surgery on Monday, I need to take it easy for just a little longer.  It's been killing me.  This actually is a good thing. The alternative could have been, "I don't care."  Ah, but that's recently Old Steve.  This is new Steve. So here's the plan.  I'm going out tomorrow morning.  Okay.  So this is a boring and unimaginative post.  I couldn't run.  Doctor's orders. I hope I have something better for you tomorrow.  As for me, I'm going to bed.

Days 42 & 43 - Chasing the Dream

As the President of the Summit Athletic Club, I have enjoyed many honors.  Tonight might have been the best yet. Meet Andre (Dre) Davis and Zeke Petrie.  They were the program this evening at the club meeting.  This first picture shows Dre's award winning smile that reflects his positive outlook on life.

These gentlemen are dedicated athletes of the first order.  Zeke was wrongly imprisoned in Haiti for five years.  Dre's mother abandoned him when he was eight. He spent twelve years living in the basement of a foster home.  Neither man has any bitterness about them.  In fact both men share a dream to achieve more each time they compete.  They competed in a triathlon this past weekend in Michigan. This actually is something considering a year ago Dre was afraid of the water.  They were swimming in Lake Michigan this past weekend in rough waters.  I wouldn't have done that.  They did.

Dre and Zeke have a strong faith and trust in God and in each other. How can this be? Dre's motto is, "..never stop believing that you can do anything." Bitterness and anger from the cards that life dealt them is not allowed.  There's too much joy waiting to experience in the beauty of their commitment to their sport and the thrill of attaining their goals. They are the definition of teamwork.

Dre and Zeke both have great senses of humor and deliver one liners as smoothly as anything Abbott and Costello ever did.  What a joy to listen.  What an absolute inspiration is to hear them tonight.  

I ran just two maintenance miles early yesterday morning.  I had oral surgery yesterday afternoon performed by Dr. Mike Hoffman from Falls Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Center.  (I decided when I left that I would name his practice the official oral surgery and dental implant center for Weezersandgeezers.blogspot.com). Dr. Mike, a runner and someone you met in my Fourth of July posting, had the unpleasant task of telling me that I shouldn't run over the next couple of days.  I was bummed.  It actually affected my attitude that my running Chi had been interrupted.  

My standard positive attitude wasn't there today. On the one hand, its good that I have come this far and that I want to run. On the other hand, "Just who the heck do I think I am?"  Thousands of people are doing what I am doing.  They have minor interruptions too.  Another surgeon might have said, "Wait a week." Not my guy. Once I sorted that out in my head I began to improve my outlook on life. In fact, Dr. Mike did such a good job that the pain tonight is gone. I will be on the roads later tomorrow.

At tonight's meeting, Zeke shared with us that he has a growth in his head that is affecting his balance that has to be dealt with and asked for all that pray to remember him in their prayers.  When it comes to Dre's challenges, he's like the Kevin Bacon character in the fraternity house scene in the movie Animal House.  "Thank you Sir. May I have another?" 

Here's what I can tell you about Zeke, and I just met him.  He is not complaining.  He's not asking, "Why me Lord?" He is not focused on the negative. He's planning his next big adventure with Dre. Our guys are keeping it positive.  They're chasing their dreams. 

Hmmm, what were my problems again?

You can Google Dre and Zeke, or go to Youtube, and find all the information about them that you want to know. Tell me you're not impressed after you find out what their whole story is.  Then you and I can get together.  Tell me your problems and I'll tell you mine.  Then we can recite together, "..never stop believing that can do anything."  Then we will laugh and talk some more about Dre and Zeke.  And finally we will ask each other, "What exactly do we have to complain about?"

As marathoner Deena Kastor says, "Sometimes the things that challenge us the most, defines us."  Considering what Dre and Zeke have been through individually and together, any definition of them begins with the word courage.  Their message is clear. Just accept where you are and smile. There's so much to look forward to that there's just no time to look back.  You just never stop believing that you can do anything.  In the words and wisdom of Bob Marley, "Everything will be alright."  All I can tell you from tonight is, "Yes, everything will be alright if you want it to be so." Dre and Zeke said so.  Who am I to argue with them? 

Day 41 - My Visit to My Oracle of Delphi

As Rodney Dangerfield so eloquently once said, "I'm searching for The Fountain of Middle Age." That may be what my journey is all about.  My youth is shot but middle age?  I've got a chance.

In order to get there, I sometimes need help to stay on the path.  I write the Blog to hold myself publicly accountable to staying on this path to enlightenment and good health.  As a true believer in the Ricky Ricardo, "You got a lot of 'splaining to do I Love Lucy philosophy," writing helps me work things out in my mind.

Then again, there is a much simpler way.  I just need to go see my own "Oracle of Delphi."  Her name is Beanie.  Okay that's her nickname.  Her real name is Eleanor but everyone knows her as Beanie.  She is ninety years old and she is nobody's fool.  She calls them the way she seems 'em.  If Pedro Martinez had her fastball, he would still be pitching in the major leagues and not be in Cooperstown for at least another five years.

After work Friday, I was going to head to Vermilion for the weekend and decided to go by way of Wapakoneta, Ohio. It was five hours out of my way but I was in search of truth. Over the past ten years, Beanie has commented on my growing waistline.  She told me on a couple of occasions, "You're fat.  Take some weight off."  I save the political correctness when it comes to Beanie.  She's from The Greatest Generation.  Case closed.  Check your ego and outrage at the door.  She's not changing.  More importantly, she was right.

I spent almost two hours with her Friday night and it seemed like 20 minutes.  Think about it.  You go visit grandma or grandpa and you are searching for words to have a meaningful conversation.  Not with Beanie.  Throughout the years I would on a whim call "My second mother" just to talk and laugh.  Laughing is huge with us.  We laugh a lot.  Her husband Jim passed a few years back. He was like a second dad and more to me. He was the chairman of the board of a savings and loan that hired me at the age of 29 to be a chief executive officer.  That is unheard of in banking.  It launched a 34 year career as a banking CEO for me. Color me grateful to both Jim and Beanie.

Friday I needed to commit to my run on Saturday.  If I told Beanie I was running 17 miles in the morning then I knew I would do it.  The first rule is don't ever lie to Beanie and make sure you follow through.  Second rule, when in doubt, refer to the first rule as your guide.  Amid the reminiscing and laughter I told her what I was planning for the morning.  She just said, "Be careful." And then we exchanged our,  "I love you," sincere greetings to each other and a hug. As I was getting ready to leave, unsolicited, and the girth issue never being part of the conversation up to now, "The High Priestess of All Truth" says, ""You look a lot slimmer.  Good for you."

Whoa baby! 17 miles in the morning?  Book 'em Danno!!!

I left. There was a one hour dead stop traffic jam at about 11:00 p.m. on Interstate 75 south of Findlay, Ohio on my way to Vermilion. I couldn't have cared less about the inconvenience.  My evening began with a search of the truth and for the moment, I had reached total consciousness and for all practical purposes, found the end of the Internet.

I arrived in Vermilion about 1:00 a.m.  I got a later start in the morning on my run than I hoped for.  My arch nemesis the sun was already high in the sky by the time I got out.  Not a factor.  If I didn't finish, somehow, someway, in the energy that connects us all, Beanie would know.  I didn't want to have to answer for it! Along the countryside route, two different strangers provided me with cold bottled water.  How great is that?

At mile 15 a text came across my phone from one of Beanie's daughters that said, "Wow! Getting a compliment from Bean is a highlight."  I'm telling you, Beanie knows all and sees all.  The timing of the text was perfect.  "Two more miles, in the pocket," I murmured to myself.

When I was done I just had to take it all in.  17 hot sun drenched miles.  Stealing shade wherever I could. Angels of mercy with water when it was totally unexpected.  A text message when I was tempted to mail it in.  There were no words.  The smile in the picture yesterday's post said it all.  Mission accomplished.  It was a less said the better moment.  Five hours out of my way to find the truth and a helping hand.  However, the real truth is that I am only eight weeks into the training program.  Yesterday was great but now its over. A new revolution in the training begins with the mid-way point waiting for me next Sunday afternoon after the Falmouth Road Race.

Yesterday as important as it was is only a brick in the wall.  It's now a day that belongs to the ages. My mindset has now changed.  It's on to Falmouth.  Both "The Hoodie" and Beanie would approve.

Day 40 - Seventeen Miles in the Sun

This is me after seventeen miles.  The story can wait until tomorrow.  Right now I'm just going to be.

Day 39 - "The First Ones Now Will Later Be Last"

A great eight miles this morning at my hopeful marathon pace. Who better to run twenty-five miles in two days with than this guy?

A big 17 miles tomorrow and looking forward to it. "The Times They Are A Changing." Indeed they are!

Day 38 - Good Judgement and Mary Lenari

Everything I needed to know about running smart I learned from Mary Lenari of Sarasota. I  first met Mary at the Cincinnati airport in May 2003 while I was waiting to catch a connecting flight to Sarasota. The day before, I dropped out of the Pittsburgh Marathon as I was trying to run through an injury. That same day, Mary was 200 miles away running the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati.  Her energy and positive nature were quite evident in the waiting area at our gate in Terminal C.  With the Sarasota contingent of Galloway runners surrounding her, Mary included everybody in the conversation.  She looked familiar but I was sure we had never met.

Mary at the Myrtle Beach Marathon:

Mary has coached and inspired former coach potatoes to runner status for years. She is the John Bingham ("The Penguin") of the Sarasota area running community.  She has earned the status of Marathon Maniac.  Her theories on marathon running are based on Penguin like facts. No need for speed. Enjoy the experience.  Have fun.  Meet people.  Advance your health. Make life long friends and change lives. Do what you never thought you could do and don't use your body up.  Don't forget to rest and you will run for a long time. These are all characteristics that would describe Mary's outlook on running. All good thoughts.

A common look for Mary during a marathon always running with somebody:

I felt bad about dropping out of Pittsburgh and said so to Mary as we engaged in our first conversation.  She was the first runner I remember using the terms and saying that DNF ("Did Not Finish") beats DNS ("Did Not Start").  My focus in that first conversation changed to the successful seven marathons I had done in the previous twelve months prior to meeting her. Our discussion centered on the Galloway theory of running. I felt we became instantaneous friends. In all honesty, maybe we have met twelve times in person and then through Facebook and emails over the years. I absolutely consider Mary a friend and continuing running inspiration.

On three different occasions while in Sarasota visiting my parents, I would connect with Mary's Saturday morning running group including running two different times in a group with her husband Bob who had me in stitches the entire training run. A very funny guy indeed.

Mary and Bob (Bobby):

I unexpectedly ran into Mary at the beginning of my first New York City Marathon experience and then a few years later on the course at a Marine Corps Marathon.  I pushed myself at both events only to watch Mary pass me by later in the race with her measured, "What Wall?" theory of marathon running. She is always smiling. Always.

The Boss met Mary at a couple of Sarasota races and instantaneously liked her.  Noticing a pattern here about Ms. Lenari's positive impact on people?

I was standing at the starting line of the Boston Marathon in 2010 and got into a conversation with a fellow runner who said he was from Sarasota.  I asked, "Do you know Mary Lenari?" He responded, "Everybody knows Mary."  A year later while having dinner at the Quarterdeck in Falmouth, Massachusetts prior to the Falmouth Road Race, I felt a tap on my shoulder.  The man says, "Hey, I was next to you at the start of Boston last year.  You're Mary Lenari's friend aren't you?" I smiled and responded, "Who isn't?" We both started laughing.  He had a couple of friends with him and they chimed in and asked, "So you know Mary?"

When my dad was living in Sarasota and he had his first stroke and mom had some health issues. I remember asking Mary in a phone call that if anything ever came up would she mind if I called her to check in on them?  While I never needed her help, her immediate reaction was, "Sure," and you knew she meant it.

There's nothing wrong with running in a measured fashion.  The heck with DNF and DNS.  LPF, ("Last Place Finish") blows the other two away.  Mary would approve, with enthusiasm and a huge smile.

As I have been training for Columbus, on some of the longer runs, sometimes I am disappointed that I'm not the runner I used to be. Then I think about what I have learned from Mary and celebrate the runner I am.  Yep, everything you need to know about good judgement when it comes to running you can learn from Mary.  I rested today to prepare for the long runs of the next two days. "Thanks Mary! You are one very smart Penguin." Glad we met.

(Note: Pictures from Mary's Facebook photo page. Hope you don't mind my friend. They're great!)

Day 37 - Vermilion - The Course

I figured if I am really serious about being successful in Columbus, I have to do a few unexpected things along the way.  I took my own advice from "The Hoodie" episode, "Its on to Vermilion."

Last night, I went to Vermilion to map out my course to prepare for this weekend. (As all of us know, "The Hoodie" is all about preparation).  The course is going to be two loops of an 8.5 mile course that will take me out through the countryside of morning sun drenched cornfields, bean fields, farms with cows, over Route 2 that runs from Cleveland to Toledo, and begins and ends on U.S. Route 6.  This is the same route that could take me west to Oregon or east to my beloved Cape Cod.

I ran the first loop of the course this morning. Here's the course in pictures and the necessary medication for this portion of my training program.

Morning has broken:

As the run began, here was the view of a channel leading out to Lake Erie as I began:

The sky at one mile:

Three miles into the run, a small river:

Five miles into  the run:

Feeling happy along the way:

From one of the bridges that crosses Route 2:

Sunrise over corn at six miles:

Corn looks great:

Take me home country road:

A stream with about a mile and a half left:

Lake Erie on the turn on U.S. Route 6 back to the start/finish one mile out:

As the Dr. Higdon's prescription for the weekend says, "Repeat as needed with unlimited refills."