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.