Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Feb 27th Run (Week 6, Run 70)

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Feb 27th Run (Week 6, Run 70)

Click the link above for my run from this morning.

Man, a half marathon is as long as it sounds! If you look at the track at the link above, you'll see it came out to 11.84, or something like that, miles. I had a GPS error. I looked down at my wrist and noticed that somehow the stop button got pressed. So, there is a bit of time & mileage that didn't get counted. I know it ran fine all the way out, so it was on the way back, around 8.9 miles... not exactly sure how long it was stopped though. I know I ran out 6.5 miles, so it should've come to 13ish miles total.

Worn my new shoes today.  Unfortunately, it looks like I may have to buy a new set of quick laces.  Quick laces are this bungee cord material with one of those plastic squeeze lock things to hold it tight.  It allows the shoe to be tight to the foot, but expand as your feet swell with the pounding of the pavement.  I wore the regular laces today and had to stop a couple times to retie my shoes.

I wore out my first pair of Under Armour compression shorts.  The material, I guess from the friction & constant washings, has began to pile.  It's no longer smooth, which caused some chafing today... not fun!

All that after working the overnight shift!

In case ya'll want a beautiful area to go walk through, the town of Steinalben is B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L!  It kept me pushing forward to see what else I'd get to discover!  Will definately have to go walk though this area & just take my time to enjoy the scenery one day as the weather gets better.

Dwindling Time

45 days, 14 hours, 57 minutes, 45 seconds. My marathon experience is almost upon me!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Tuneage A.K.A. My Personal Marathon Soundtrack

Let me tell you, if there is one hurdle that is the hardest to cross, it's the mental barrier that comes along with knowing you are about to run 10, 15, 20+ miles.  People do things to help ease their minds, but some marathon organizers are all about removing extrernal helpers.

Case in point, in October of 2009, 2 people were disqualified from the Lakefront Marathon in Wisconsin due to iPod usage (or alleged usage), one of them being the fastest female finisher.  You can read the full story by clicking HERE.  While I get the fact that professional runners shouldn't be allowed to use iPods or other devices to help overcome the mental challenge, people, like myself and millions of others, are just out trying to prove something to ourselves, raise money for a charity, or just get in better shape.  I do not see the foul in taking the people's money for a road race, then hanging a DNF (Did Not Finish) tag by their name at the end of the race because some bystander or some company hired to take photos during the race find out that a casual runner used an iPod during their run.

The kicker is when you apply to run a marathon, most of the time you are categorized by your time, if you have an established PR (Personal Record).  These times are used to place you in the starting grids.  Obviously, they want people who are world-class athletes & runners in the front.  These people usually win big bucks every year by finishing races in the top positions & bonuses if they beat a marathons current record.  In a lot of cases, such as the Disney Marathon, to be placed in one of these forwards starting positions, you have to send in certified proof that you can run that fast, by way of a certificate of finish from a recognized, official prior marathon.  These people are professionals at punding pavement.  The people in the back of these gaggles of hundreds to tens of thousands of people are amatures... like me.  I just want to finish!  Who cares how, as long as it's on my own two feet and I pass through every check point required of me.  My final complaint is most marathons actually have bands set up across the course & the music can be heard across the entire route, so what's the big deal if I want MY style of music?

I guess I am willing to get a DNF if I decide to run in a marathon that doesn't allow iPods.  I have to have mine to run.  IT'S REQUIRED!  I wonder if I can get a doctor's note stating that I must have my iPod?  I need the music.  I have to have the constant thumping of some bass in my ears.  Basically, I want a wave of music hitting me while I run.  While the picture is not exactly what I had in mind, you get my drift!  (Such a great piece of art by the way!)  Go check out the artist's website HERE.  But, not just any music will do.  In fact, here's what is on my iPod that I run to now:

- AC/DC – Thunderstruck - Good song to get me pumped
- Barenaked Ladies – One Week - Reminds me of hanging with my brother while home on leave
- Beastie Boys – Intergalactic
- Beastie Boys – Sabotage - First song I ever timed myself running to to keep a pace
- Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – You & Me & the Bottle Make 3 - Reminds me of my 21st B-day in - Vegas with some of the coolest guys ever!
- Black Eyed Peas – Pump It
- Britney Spears – Toxic – Armand Van Helden Remix edit - Reminds me of my wife... she says all BS's songs sound the same, and she is absolutely right!  This mix just has a great beat.
- Bush – Everything Zen - Helps me stride out a tough hill... seems to always hit when I need it
- Cake – The Distance - Come on... I'm running 26 miles here!
- Casting Crowns - Between the Alter & the Door - These Christian songs are scattered through to boost my spiritual energy,
- Casting Crowns - The Voice of Truth
- Chumbawamba – Tubthumping - Reminds me of my first military unit Christmas party!
- Coldplay - Speed of Sound - This was at the top of the charts when my daughter was born!
- Darius Rucker - All I Want (You to leave me is alone) - I'm a Hootie fan, his country music is good!
- Fall Out Boy – Dance, Dance - Reminds me of the music I listened to to help cut weight in Korea.
- Fall Out Boy - Thanks for the mmrs
- Family Force 5 - Kuntry Gentleman - Another Christain group that ROCKS YOUR FACE OFF!
- Fatboy Slim-The Rockafeller Skank
- Garbage – Only Happy When It Rains - Reminds me of hanging out with Steve in Idaho.
- Good Charlotte – lifestyles of the rich and famous
- Green Day – welcome to paradise (live) - Reminds me of college at PRCC.
- Green Day – American Idiot
- Guns ‘n Roses – It’s so easy - Reminds me of hanging with my cousins in Oak Grove WAYYY back in the day!
- Guns ‘n Roses – Welcome to the Jungle
- Guns ‘n Roses – You Could Be Mine
- Gwen Stefani – Hollaback Girl
- Harvey Danger – Flagpole Sitta - Another memory of being home on leave.
- Hawk Nelson - The Show - Another Christain hit!
- Kool & The Gang – Jungle Boogie
- Linkin Park – Faint
- Maroon 5 – Harder to Breathe
- Moby – James Bond Theme (Moby’s re-version)
- My Chemical Romance — I’m not okay (i promise)-rtb - Another remnant of my days in Korea.
- Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit - Reminds me of living at home with my mom & brother.
- OutKast – Hey Ya! - My wife loved this song!  Really reminds me of California.
- Survivor – Eye of the Tiger - Do I really need to expalin this one?
- Talking Heads – Burning Down The House
- The Killers – Mr Brightside - Reminds me of driving in my 1500 Daytona in Ocean Springs.
- The Killers – Somebody Told Me (Mylo Remix)
- The Offspring – Get a Job - Reminds me of my buddy Rob A.
- The White Stripes – Thinking About My Doorbell

There are a ton more songs on there.  Most of them have some trigger to a good memory to me.  One thing I read was that when you are hitting the mental wall in a marathon, DO NOT think about anything negative.  The fact that you are tired, that your legs feel like lead weights, that your muscles feel like fire ants are making a home in them, NOTHING NEGATIVE!  Hopefully these songs will trigger the memories I need to push through.  I recently found a set of CD's called MTV Mash Volumes 1-14.  They take several songs and DJ Mix them into tracks.  For example, in Volume 1, they mix Grease - You're the One That I Want with Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg's - The Next Episode.  Yeah, odd pairing, but makes for some awesome running tracks.  While not all of them are great for running, I think about 95% are useable.  The crazy mix up of songs keeps you guessing too.

I currently run with a First Generation iPod Touch.  Yeah, I know... it is bulky.  I may downsize, but for now, it's what I have& don't want to spend the money, or the time uploading more songs to it for that matter.  My biggest drawbacks about this iPod are pretty obvious.  It's size, a little bigger than a deck of playing cards; it's weight, about as much as a roll of quarters; it's cost, too much; and it's delicateness (if that's a word), I really have to make an effort to keep this thing safe.  The iPod performs well, I just have to be stupid crazy about protecting it. I'd hate for that thing to get wet on a rainy day run. I have found some tricks to help though.  If you are going to do any type of athletic type thing with this device, I want to caution you to buy another one.  I didn't buy this one with the purpose of using it while I ran.  I got an amazing deal on it in the Youngsan Electronics Market in Seoul while stationed in South Korea.  It was as much as a normal mp3 player when I got mine, plus, it was an insurance claim, so it's not like I paid for it... okay, I did through premiums... let me live my dreams guys!

I carry my iPod in a Belkin Arm Band.  This think is nice!  It's biggest feature is that it's adjustable, so if you have monster Hulk Hogan guns, o big fatty arms like mine were, it'll fit.  And when I say fit, not only does it not slide due to the texturing on the inside of the elastic arm band, it just down right feels good.  It's almost like a neoprene material... who knows, maybe it is.  Nonetheless, it fits like a dream.  While the picture isn't exactly like mine, it's a close enough representation.  Mine has a case for the iPod that is not made onto the band like the one in the picture.  I like the fact that I can remove my iPod from my arm if need be, without having to pull the armband off.  Additionally, the little headphone keeper is handy, though not as great as I though it'd be.  The bonus of this is there is 3M relfective material on the armband to help increase your visibility to drivers on night or early morning runs.  This armband IS NOT water proof!  I can't stress this enough!  That's why I like being able to remove the iPod.  Get it out of the heavy rain.  Why just heavy rain?

I put my iPod in a trusty Ziploc baggy!  I put it in so the baggy opening is at the bottom of the iPod.  This helps keep water from running down into the baggy.  It may get the baggy wet, but hopefully it will not get into the iPod itself.  To help with this, I usually put a twist or two on the baggy and fold it back over on top of itself.  With the baggy over the iPod, pulled tight across the front, I can still control the devise with the touch screen inputs.  Pretty handy.  I also turn the armband so the iPod is under my arm when the rain starts.  This adds one more layer of protection to my gear.

To get my tunes to my ears, not just any old head phone will do.  I need the soft earbuds cause wearing hard earbuds for 5 hours will probably make for a bloody mess, but I also have a condition to take into account.

"Hello, my name is Chris & I have SECS."

SECS, or Sweaty Ear Canal Syndrome, is what I have called my condition.  It's never a real condition until it has a name & an acronym!  Basically, I'm considered a cllydesdale runner... yeah, like the big old beefy Budweiser beer horses.  So, naturally, I sweat a lot... a lot doesn't even do it justice.  I sweat EVERYWHERE.  Hence, SECS... just like it sounds, I have sweaty ear canals.  It's not that my ear canals themselves sweat.  What happens is I sweat so much from my head, it fills my ears, seeping past my earbuds and will pool in my canals.  I know it's gross, but I never said my blog would be all perfume & roses!  This running blog is a gritty man thing!

I had to search for some special earbuds to run with.  I needed something that was going to stand up to the constant bombardment by my sweat.  What I found was a set of JVC Bi-Metals.  They sound great, JVC is known for their audio quality, and they are sealed for waterproofing.  Not to mention, they have interchangeable soft earbud pieces for comfort on a 26 mile run.  I wansn't looking for this feature, but these earbuds actually fit over the ear.  The cord wraps over the ear to support the weight of the earbud to take preassure off the opening of the ear canal.  I will probably have to put some Body Glide on the tops of my ears, just to make sure there will be no chaffing.  I haven't experienced any yet, but 26 miles is a different animal!

Now, go load up some tunes, lace up your running shoes & as my boy Jack Black says, melt your face off!

One Step Closer

I went and picked up my running jersey from the post office today.  It looks so sharp... the picture doesn't do it justice.  Key features are 3 larger pockets across the back, they look like they will do fine to throw a few packs of sport beans in.  Additionally, the zipper on the front sips down to about my belly button so if I start to overheat, I can run the race J. Lo style!

Maria is going to help me modify it a little bit. We are going to figure out where to embroidier the names of the people I am running in memory & in honor of.  Any ideas?

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Dec 26th Run (Week 16, Run 49)

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Dec 26th Run (Week 16, Run 49)

Click the link above for my run from this morning.

Yeah, yeah, yeah... I know. Shame on me for not having run more over the past 2 weeks. Yes, I know I still have a marathon to run, and yes, I know that if I don't get my runs in, I won't be able to finish the race. Working mids, the first since I left Korea, really zapped me. I have them again next week, but I think I am getting used to them again. I have to learn to get my runs in, as after the New Year, I will be working a rotating shift schedule... 2 days at 0600-1400, 2 swings at 1400-2200, 2 mids at 2200-0600, then 1 1/2 days off. So, it will be a challenge. Maria asked me the other day, and forgive me but I can't remember the words she used, but the way I took it was her asking me if I had lost focus or motivation toward my goal. I want to assure everyone, NO! In fact, after today, I am MORE focused & motivated! I looked at my wall chart I made and this week was my halfway point!

This 30 week program by Hal Higdon seems like the first half is a gradual build up to a normal 16 week marathon prep program. The next 15 weeks, instead of gradual build up, seems like it makes leaps & bounds to get you up to 20 miles for the longest run of the program. It's a little nerve racking looking at the mileages per week, but I know I have put down 25ish miles in a week, so I should be able to keep up. One of my favorite movie quotes is from Major Payne with one of the 400 Wayans brothers,

"Alright my little patch of brussel sprouts, uproot yourselves and get some
rest... tomorrow, we gonna start the hard stuff!"

Merry Christmas to ya'll!

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Dec 8th Run (Week 18, Day 45)

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Dec 8th Run (Week 18, Day 45)

Click the link above for my run from this morning.

NICE!!! I came in under my goal pace today. 9:55/mile is pretty good. Maybe this is a sign that my shin is getting better. I did kick it up a notch on the last leg when I glanced and saw my time. The last 1/4 mile was ran way fast for what I usually run it in. Admittedly, I do usually save a little in the tank for the last little bit of my runs and push the pace up some, but today, I was pretty much sprinting! LOL!

It was a good run, but rainy. It was a driving mist, that turned in to a slight rain for about a mile, then back to a driving mist. If it was colder by about 10 degrees, I probably would have been running in the snow... I am sooooo ready for that! Okay, maybe not, but it'll be cool for the first few minutes! :)

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Dec 5th Run (Week 19, Day 44)

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Dec 5th Run (Week 19, Day 44)

Click the link above to see my run from this morning!

Man, long run today! A hair over 9 miles! It was cold & dreary today.

I ran through Horbach to this resturant that Maria & I had found before. It's a biker... as in pedal bike, not motorcycle... resturant in the bottom of this valley just on the other side of Horbach, before the turn to the village of Schopp. I run the sidewalks through Horbach, but I found where the bike trail picks back up, right at the Festplatz (Festival Place) at the foot of the church. It was a good run, but let me tell you, 9 miles will wear you out!

The resturant is in an old farm house, and is also a hotel, or Guesthaus.  Is sits at the bottom of a valley, with a creek and spilt rail fencing that keeps horses in a pasture.  The valley wall on the south side have HUGE rocks justting out of it, of which most are covered with an extremely bright green moss or alge.  It really is something out of a fairy tale!  Will see if I can grab a picture this week!  Ready for my next long run now so I can go see it & bask in it's beauty.

Shin didn't hurt so bad after an extra day of rest that was actually for my hamstring!  LOL!

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Nov 28th Run (Week 20, Day 41)

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Nov 28th Run (Week 20, Day 41)

Click the link above for my run from this morning.

Now, before anyone says anything, yes, I know my run was slow for having the past 2 days off. Happy Thanksgiving to ya'll by the way! :)

I started looking at my running chart I made to track all my run days and such on. As I progress, I will be gaining a mile each week. This morning, I figured I'd test my knee to see if it's the mileage that hurt it last time. As you can see in my GPS tracker above, I ran the same route and got roughly the same distance. My knee feels great so far... it's been about 5 hours since I ran. I ran intentionally slow so if I felt any twinges of pain of unusual snaps or pops, I could stop and try to isolate where it's coming from, plus I don't need to overdo it.  It felt good during... well, except for my left shin is still bothering me, and today, it felt like someone had pulled my right arch so tight it was about to snap. I looked that up and will be trying some home remedy using a golf ball & raquetball... I'll explain in a later blog about home remedies for the runner.

It was cold this morning, but I warmed up quick. It's nice seeing all the Christmas lights & decorations going up little by little. It's actually helping to motivate me to see what's new along my route! I love this time of year!

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Nov 7th Run (Week 23, Day 32)

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Nov 7th Run (Week 23, Day 32)

Click the link above for my run from this morning.

Today was a special run. I participated in World Run Day, that I blogged about a couple weeks ago. Basically, World Run Day is an event that people can sign up for, and run either by themselves, or in a local group, to help raise money for the charity of your choice. Of course, I donated to Livestrong. I was only slated to run 6 miles for my World Run Day entry, but I wound up running 8.25.  I was planning on doing around 7.5 miles today, but lost track of my mileage as I neared Horbach.  At least I know I am capable of making it that far!  LOL!  Next week is a step back week.  I cannot afford to lose track of my mileage next week.  The step back weeks are designed to let your muscles repair the micro tears you put in them by extending your runs, and to give you body extra time to heal.  It's expecting to run a long istance, so when you run a shorter distance, it seems easier to run longer the next time.  I'll admit, it's been a few weeks since I did a step back week, so this will be a welcome change of pace.  Not to mention, I have swing shifts next week at work, so I need to figure out what time I am going to run... I may just keep it the same though, just to stay in some sort of cycle.

I took Horbach, the next village past Linden, by storm this morning. A whole new batch of people staring at me wondering what this guy is doing, where are those weird sounds coming from, and why is he spraying our village with snot rockets! LOL! I made a loop around their church and back to Queidersbach.  Sorry, I looked extensively through Google, and couldn't find 1 picture of Horbach, Germany.  I did learn that there are 2, 1 is up near the Netherlands, and I did not run to there!

It was pretty chilly this morning when I started running, but my gear kept me warm enough once I started running. I had a head wind on the way out to Horbach, with a driving, misty rain the entire run. It rained pretty much every day this week over here. Made my autumn carpeted running trails a mushy mess!

I can definately tell the difference when I use the Jelly Belly Sport Beans! Man, it's crazy how much 15 jelly beans will feed your muscles. I know, they aren't exactly ordinary jelly beans, but I did read a few forum posts about someone who uses just your plain old jelly life savers. Makes me wonder!

Today was special for another reason. I am 1/4 of the way to Paris right now. That's a huge accomplishment for me. I still have a LONG way to go on the fundraising though, as I don't think I have gotten 1 donation! *sigh*  Hopefully my band of friends will swoop in and save the day!  Most of the folks I know are procrastonators anyway!  Love you guys & gals though!

Back of the Packers

I found an amazing blog tonight that talked about slow runners like me. I know, some of ya'll are probably thinking I am doing pretty well. Yes, I am shooting for a goal pace of 10 minutes per mile during the marathon, but 26.2 miles is a forever long way!

I would love to be able to put up a 10:00/mile pace for 26.2 miles. If I could do that, I would truely be amazed at my progress & know that God gave me wings to fly the marathon! I am realistically shooting for 10:00.mile for maybe the first 13 miles. After that, I expect quite a bit of taper on my per mile pace. The glory of this is, no matter how fast or slow I run the Paris Marathon, there are a couple guarantees:

1 - I just ran my first marathon... I set a personal record.

2 - If ya'll help, WE will have raised a good chunk of change for cancer research

3 - I can cross this off my list of things I want to do before I die

After trying to do a Google search to find out why when I feel slow I am actually running faster & vice versa, I stumbled across this guy's blog. His name is Jason, and he is a definate motivator for me know!

See, Jason was like me. He was fat & felt fat. He did what he had to do to lose the weight. Jason's now a lunatic who runs ultramarathons... distances of more than 26.2 miles. He ran 12 marathons in a year! That blows me away! New goal for me? LOL!

Anywho, I found a blog on his page that talked about "back of the packers" or people who run slow marathons. I will probably be in that category at Paris, so the story piqued my attention. The article was about a debate that these slow runners aren't really running a marathon cause they aren't pushing themselves. I equate this to running a marathon with an iPod.

See, alot of marathons are outlawing iPods, claiming that the mental portion is part of the challenge of the marathon. I say, you are the challenge of the marathon. Whatever you need to get you through the long hours of running, the sore muscles, and the mental challeges you face while preparing & running a marathon is what you should be doing!  A marathon is not a mythical beast to be conquered, but rather a milestone in someone's life.

Check out Jason's blog & really check out the article about the "back of the packers" by clicking HERE.  Show Jason some love while you're there too!

Wanna Join Me?

Running, while mostly a solitary, competitive event, has long been known for joining groups of people together who share the common intrest of running.  Be it for health, raising money, or for out right competition, running has been bringing people together for years.

I am not a competitive runner... anyone who has seen... well, heard me... clomp & clammor out of Queidersbach & back (that's you Luigi!), shooting snot rockets & sweating worse than any celebrity paired to be on stage at the same time as Kanye West!  I guess I fall into the solo category for neccessity right now.  I can't carry on a conversation long while I run as I still huff & puff quite a bit while I run, but I can see me becoming more of a social runner.

Any search of the interweb will probably yield a runners club in or around your city.  If not, there are some that are strictly online, but I think they are more along the lines of the more serious runners, some, like the Marathon Maniacs, actually require you to show proof that you have run several marathons and other criteria.  I'm not there yet, but I will reserve the right to join the Maniacs, based on how I feel after Paris!  LOL!

To keep things new on my trail to Paris, I am signing up for 5k & other events.  My first event is November 9th, 2009.  I will be running a 6 miler (10k) for charity... yes, Livestrong.  The event I will be running is called World Run Day.

World Run Day was founded in 1999 by Long Island Runner Bill McDermott.  World Run Day is intended to promote the sport of running and charitable giving on one special day each year. Starting with just 100 runners worldwide, runners connected and impacted their communities in a positive way. As a result, World Run Day was the only event celebrated simultaneously around the globe by people of all backgrounds, faiths, nationalities, and benefited their favorite charities. Soon group events formed in different cities such as World Run Day - Philadelphia, World Run Day - London, World Run Day - Sydney, etc. (even "World Run Day - Afghanistan" was celebrated during wartime). The event was designed to allow every runner, whether with a group or running individually, to be a part of the day.  You can find out more about World Run Day & the events in your area, by visiting their website HERE.

While there, sign up to run with me on November 8th, even if we can't run in the same place, at least we can be running for the same event!  If you can't run, why don't you drop on by my Livestrong Donation site & make a donation to help those who are in the race for their life against cancer.  You can find my Donation site below.

John Bingham is My Hommie!

You're probably not familiar with John Bingham.  I just met him tonight... well, met is probably the wrong word.  He writes for Runners World magazine, and I just read the best little article I think I have read in a long time!  I had to jump on here & share it!  By the way, meet Mr. Bingham!  --------------->

All of the following is from his article, and I claim NO credit for it's awesomness!

Rising to the Challenge

A Marathon is a test of strength that can take you to new heights

By John Bingham

John Bryant's riveting book "The Marathon Makers" recounts the story of the 1908 London Olympics - the first time the marathon was officially 26 miles, 385 yards - when the race leader, Dorando Pietri, stumbled five times in the stadium and was carried across the finish line.  When I met Bryant last year - where else? - a marathon expo, I asked him why, 100 years after the first 26.2-mile marathon, the distance is so popular with runners of all speeds.

"It has become the great urban Everest," Bryant said.  Like Everest, the marathon stands as a challenge to all who confront it.  The difference, as Bryant points out, is that completing a marathon is both "conceivable & achievable" for all runners.

Conceivable & achievable.  At some point in most of our lives we develop a long list of goals & dreams we'd like to accomplish.  Eventually, those of us with modest talent end up dismissing the vast majority of these aspirations because we realize how improbable they really are.

I've watched hundreds of hours of film about climbing Everest and yet I still can't conceive of doing it myself.  Not that I lack ambition or suffer from a terminal case of low self-esteem.  It's just that I know that my physical & emotional limits would keep me from trying.

But the marathon was different.  Years ago, when I was just starting to run, I met someone who had just finished a marathon.  What surprised me was that they he didn't seem all that different from me.  I though, Well, if he can do it, so can I.

And thanks to all the training programs & running clubs & coaches out there today, plenty of resources can help aspiring marathoners achieve their own goals.  Every year hundreds of thousands of people of all ages, shapes, speeds, and backgrounds make their way over 26.2 miles in races large & small.

The marathon wasn't always such a welcoming event.  In 1908, the myth of Pheidippides, who ran the first marathon in ancient Greece and then promptly dropped dead, still kept men from competing in the race.  Just a generation ago the ignorance of men who organized marathons kept women away.  But then our culture started to gradually change - and running evolved with it.  People of strength & character started breaking down doors of discrimination.  People like Katherine Switzer, who in 1967 became the first woman to finish the Boston Marathon with a bib number, made the marathon both a conceivable & achievable goal for runners everywhere.

And so the marathon has become the great urban Everest that Bryant describes.  It's a challenge that's open to everyone.  Young or old, fast or slow, all you need is the desire to test yourself, to push your limits.  Succeeding ath this challenge - wether it's your first or 50th marathon - can be one of the highest points in your life, a place from which you can look down on all that you've accomplished.

That pont may be at sea level instead of 29,000 feet, but it is a view that cannot be matched.

Waddle on, friends.

I couldn't have said it better myself!  John Bingham just bled awesomness from his pen... or keyboard!  LOL!