On the Eve of Boston 2014

I had intended to write a blog entry on the flight back to Indy summarizing this entire trip, if only for my own memory.  The last three days have been so impactful and potentially life changing that I want to record at least a few thoughts before my mind is even more muddled by the 26.2 mile emotional journey that I'll talk alongside 36,000 other runners.  

The trip started on Friday with a 9 a.m. flight connection from Indy to Charlotte before flying into Boston.  After a late night of packing, finishing the week and preparing for the trip I was in need of some rest so the first flight passed with the blink of an eye.  Landing in Charlotte brought back memories of my time training there with friends Jeff Guadette, Meagan Nedlo and others.  The flight into Boston became meaningful when, while boarding, I walked past the superintendent of our school district while I was in high school, Steve Waterman and his wife Carole.  They are great people who I've stayed in touch over the years with while visiting home and seeing them at church.  They were on their way to Boston to cheer for their son who is also running and had already asked my mom for my bib number so they could be sure to cheer for me too.  Moments later, after I found my seat, the flight attendant requested a round of applause for all of the runners and their families headed to Boston this weekend.  The ovation was overwhelming and the gravity of the weekend immediately sunk in.  I suddenly had a much better understanding for the collective emotion attached to this weekend's marathon; before I could control my emotions big heavy tears poured down my cheeks.

After arriving in Boston and passing by the souvenir shops filled with Boston Marathon gear, I retrieved my bag from baggage claim but I wasn't able to catch up with the Watermans.  On the shuttle to the T-stop a serviceman, with bags indicating that he was returning home from a long tour of duty, found a seat nearby.  In thinking of where he was headed and where he'd been, I also thought of the little boy who'd sat in front of me on the flight.  Something about watching the boy, roughly 8 years old, and then meeting the dedicated service man brought me to tears again on the bus.  Whew! At this point, it became all too clear that this weekend was going to be cathartic for everybody and I was off to a head start.

After arriving in Boston and checking into the hotel I went for a short run around Boston Common and toward the finish.  On my way back, I met a fantastic runner who happens to be planning on the Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon in the fall.  We had a great chat but before we exchanged many more details than our first names I heard my name being called from across Tremont Street.  It was long time friend and former training partner (summer, 2002), Kevin Beatty.  It was absolutely great to see him and catch up with Kevin, even if only for a few minutes on Friday afternoon.  

After a quick shower, I was off to the Team MR8 celebration reception.  It was an amazing experience - Meb, Amby Burfoot (Runner's World editor and 1968 Boston Marathon Champion) and Dave McGillivray (Boston Marathon Race Director) all spoke.  Meanwhile Doug Flutie and Joe Andruzzi celebrated the successes of their foundation's fundraising efforts.  I met amazing members of Team MR8, Sarah Broderick and Vicky Shen and swapped stories of our connection to the Team.  The night was inspirational to say the least.  Local artists, Rhett Price and Dropkick Murphy's rocked the Harvard Club and the crowd, especially when Dropkick pounded out the unofficial song of the Red Socks - "I'm Shipping Up To Boston".  Despite all the celebrities and poignant V.I.P. speeches the undebatable highlight of the night was getting to watch 8 year old Jane Richard set the example of how life goes on after tragedy.  Her energy, passion and dancing were admired by all in attendance.  

As amazing, emotional and inspirational as Friday was, Saturday was an equal growth experience for me.  I slept in to catch a little sleep, which means I missed the B.A.A. 5k but I was sure to catch the survivor tribute run/walk.  Watching Henry Richard near the front of the pack with a huge smile covering his face was as heartwarming a moment as anyone could ask.  I was touched to be able to personally cheer for both Bill and Denise Richard before being impressed by other survivors who included amputees and many faces who have become familiar from race day photos and subsequent media appearances.  The time watching these runners and walkers who were impacted by last year's events was as moving an experience as I've ever had as a participant, coach or spectator of a running event.

After a lunch with the Runners Connect group, including long time friends Jeff Gaudette and Brian Schmidt, it was off to the expo with Brian and his parents, including his dad who I admire greatly and know from my days as an undergraduate at SMS, Dr. Bruno Schmidt.  The 2014 Boston Marathon expo can best be described as the running version of Black Friday, without the violence.  After a walk back past the finish line, through Boston Common and back to the hotel, it was off to dinner with Jim Estes and friends before meeting long time good friend Travis McCathie for a night cap.  

Without even mentioning my group run this morning, my stop at the Chicago Area Runners Association breakfast and a luncheon with Active.com today, I realize exactly why I'm so tired.  I've done a lot in just three days!  This note has basically turned into an inventory of all the great people that I have been able to spend time with this weekend so I'm going to cut it short.  However, the more I type the more I realize how amazing this event is because it brings together so many outstanding people from all over the world.  The city of Boston embraces it and every where you turn you see runners and their supporters.  Without overstating the obvious, 2014 has taken on a whole new meaning for everyone that's here.  The goodwill in the city and the common sense of togetherness is palpable and heartwarming.  Tomorrow promises to be a special day, no matter how fast I'm able to run after the long weekend...

February 8 Blog Post, Lost but Found

On the eve of the Boston Marathon, I just found this blog entry that I intended to post back in February but planned to re-read and revise.  Here are the notes unedited...

February 8 Blog Entry

One month into my "return to running"

December was my time to get healthy and test the waters by running every day.

January was my chance to establish a regular running routine and start evaluating what might be possible in 2014.

Although, I haven't recaptured the fitness of my last go-round as a runner, I'd definitely consider the last six weeks a success.

First and most encouraging,  I've already lost ten pounds.  It seems strange to most people who know me in Indy that I'm hoping to lose weight.  Considering that I started the year 35 pounds heavier than my previous "racing weight", it seems natural that I'll shed a few pounds with even just a little exercise.  

I haven't crossed the threshold to setting specific goals in training or racing so for now my main goal is still creating a healthy training routine.  To that end I'm logging a few details about my training on a daily basis, something that I haven't done in five years.  

Also this month I've even picked up some of the books that I devoured in high school.  Reading these books has taken me back to a time when I was hungry to learn everything I could about distance running.  I just finished "The Long Road To Boston", which seemed like a fitting read while training for the race on 4/21.

My journey to Boston can't possibly match the drama of the book's but like the tens of thousands of others preparing for 2014 and the hundreds of thousands before us, it is sure to be a memorable experience.  Last month, I found out that I have been selected as a member of Team MR8.  The team was selected by the family of Martin Richard, the eight year old boy who lost his life in the attack at the 2013 Boston Marathon.  Team MR8 is raising funds for the Martin W. Richard

I've run over 40 miles each of the last two weeks and my body doesn't seem to be any worse for the wear.  Looking ahead to February, I see some structured workouts and quality long runs in my future...

"Post Competitive" Running - A whole new journey

A few years ago I wrote about three fundamental lessons that I learned during my competitive running days and while working with great athletes as a coach.  I've shared this message at summer camps, running clinics and in other talks I have given.  Those three lessons still hold true but as I begin training in earnest for the 2014 Boston Marathon (for more on that see this funny video or this blog), I'm quickly realizing that I have many more lessons to learn.

In the years since I stopped running competitively I have struggled to maintain a healthy training routine, failing to stay motivated.  Simply put, I've lost a connection to the activity that once was as intimately a part of my daily life as eating or sleeping.  For me, the 2014 Boston Marathon has already presented an entirely new perspective on the sport and entire industry of distance running.  I hope to reflect on my motivation and the greater personal purpose of the journey sometime soon.  For now, here are three lessons that I've quickly learned in just a few short weeks of routine running:

1. If you want to enjoy running or simply moving in the near future, don't live a sedentary lifestyle for months at a time.

This should be self evident but somehow after a few years away and several "on again, off again" running spurts I managed to forget that I can't expect to be fit without having lifted so much as a foot in the way of running.  Enough said.

2.  A 34 year old body doesn't recover like a 24 year old body.  

Again, this seems pretty common-sensical but I guess it's a lesson that you have to learn firsthand before you can truly appreciate the difference.  I have found that some mornings I have to get out of bed gingerly despite only having taken a relaxed 30 minute jog the day before.  I'm not sure what happened to the super powers that allowed me to run 15 miles a day, while coaching and finding time for a pick-up basketball game or a host of other activities.  I suspect that it won't be easier at 44.

3. Negative temperatures on the thermometer are much easier to deal with when you are fit. 

In the years since I stopped training at a serious level I have waxed nostalgically over wintry runs and the accompanying frozen eye-lashes.  In 2014 the romance has entirely disappeared from that idea.  I haven't decided for sure that the pain that I'm enduring now is really worse because I am less fit.  It's also probably fair to say that I'm less motivated than when my next rent check might have depended on the outcome of an up-coming race.  Without exactly pin-pointing the cause, I can definitely say that running in sub-zero temperatures has been much more challenging than I remember.  On the other hand, I'm proud to say that I haven't missed a day outside and the additional challenge of the weather has provided a worthy opponent to assist in measuring out my true motivation.

I'm sure those three lessons are the first of many more in the coming months.  However, the largest thing I have learned in my first month back to dedicated running is no matter the pace or speed there is something simple, natural and downright enjoyable about running hard.

Guest Blog

You can clearly tell by the regularity of the posts here that I haven't spent time reflecting on life, at least not in a recorded way.  However, I did have the chance to share some thoughts about New Year's Resolutions on the blog of a Downtown Indy yoga studio, Invoke: http://loveinvoke.com

Recruiting

If there is anybody out there that still visits or follows this blog, then you know that my competitive running days are behind me and I now only occasionally post about my exploits as a coach. Today is National Signing Day and although Ivy League schools don't do a National Letter of Intent, it's an exciting day for my first recruiting class here at Penn. Here are a couple great links that talk about the guys who have committed to be here next year: http://www.pennathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=1700&ATCLID=205369529 And especially exciting, is "Faces in the Crowd" from this week's Sports Illustrated: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1194168/index.htm Definitely more to come!!