Today marks the beginning of registration for the Twin Cities Marathon on October 3.  This is the earliest registration has opened and they are expecting it to sell out quickly.

From the official press release (pdf):

“In the past, we’ve opened registration in late April,” said Achman [Twin Cities In Motion executive director Virginia Brophy Achman]. “The earlier registration date will give marathoners from around the world the opportunity to include the Most Beautiful Urban Marathon In America® in annual travel plans,” said Achman. The marathon takes place Sunday, October 3, 2010 and typically fills its spring-time registration within a month. Registration is online only at mtcmarathon.org and is capped at 11,000 on a first-come, first served basis.

I won’t be running it this year.  Given that I’ve been injured for almost a year and basically took 3 months off running this winter, it doesn’t seem wise to endure the long training cylce for a marathon.  I wish everyone luck and I’ll probably do the TC 10 Mile if I can get an entry.  I plan to focus on shorter distances this season.

Technorati Tags: Twin Cities Marathon, TCM, Marathon

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Want to complete 26.2 miles in Minnesota?  Below is a list of races throughout the state and surrounding states.  Some well known ones and some you’ve probably never heard of.  The list is compiled from the MarathonGuide.com.

The link on the name of the race points to the official homepage, the link on MG points to the Marathon Guide page so you can read past reviews, etc.

Minnesota

May 8 – Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon St. Joseph, MN MG

May 30 – Med-City Marathon & Half Marathon, Relay, 20 Mile Rochester, MN MG

May 30 – Stillwater Marathon & 20 Mile, Half Marathon, 12K Stillwater, MN MG

June 6 – Minneapolis Marathon & Half Marathon, 5K, 5K-9 Minneapolis, MN MG

June 19 – Grandma’s Marathon & Half Marathon, 5K, Kid’s Races Duluth, MN MG

July 11 – Half Voyageur Trail Marathon Carlton, MN MG

September 12 – Moose Mountain Marathon & 50 mile, 100 mile Lutsen, MN MG

September 19 – Walker/North Country Races & 2 Person Relay, 1/2 Marathon, 10K Walker, MN MG

October 3 – Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon & 10 Mile, 5K Minneapolis/St.Paul, MN MG

January 2011 – St. Olaf College Women’s Track & Field Team Zoom! Yah! Yah! Indoor Marathon Northfield, MN MG

Surrounding States

January 24 – InStep Running & Walking Centers InStep Icebreaker Indoor Marathon & Half Marathon

Milwaukee, WI  MG

April 4 (2009 date) – Re/Max, Children’s Miracle Network Trailbreaker Marathon & Half Marathon, 5K

Waukesha, WI MG

April 24 – Pine Line Trail Marathon & Half Marathon, 26.3 Mile Relay, 5K Run/Walk

Medford, WI MG

April 25 (2009 date) ING Trestle Valley Marathon & Marathon, Half Marathon, ND Distance Relay Championship

Minot, ND MG

May 1 – Wisconsin Marathon & Half Marathon Kenosha, WI MG

May 2 – Eau Claire Marathon & Half Marathon, 1 Mile Fun Run Eau Claire, WI MG

May 2 – La Crosse Fitness Festival & Half Marathon, Relay, 5K La Crosse, WI MG

May 8 – Journeys Marathon & Half Marathon, 5K, 13.1 mile Power Walk Eagle River, WI MG

May 8 – Lake Geneva Marathon & Half-Marathon, Relay, Walk, 10K, 5K, Adventure Race Lake Geneva, WI MG

May 10 (2009 date) – Central States Marathon & 50K, 11 Miler Ames, IA MG

May 16 – Cellcom Green Bay Marathon & Marathon, Relay, Half Marathon, 5K, WPS Kids’ Run Green Bay, WI MG

May 30 – Madison Marathon (Mad City Marathon) & Marathon, Half Marathon, Quarter Marathon Madison, WI MG

June 6 – Deadwood-Mickelson Trail Marathon & Half Marathon, Relay, 5K, 1K Deadwood, SD MG

June 12 – Marathon-to-Marathon & Half Marathon, Marathon Relay, 5K Marathon, IA MG

June 13 – Swan Lake Marathon & 1/2 marathon, Sunfish 5.3 Viborg, SD MG

July 18 – University of Okoboji Marathon & Half Marathon, Triathlon, 10K Okoboji, IA MG

August 8 – Paavo Nurmi Marathon Paavo Nurmi Marathon (USA) & Relay Hurley, WI MG

August 15 – LEADING LADIES’ MARATHON & Half Marathon Spearfish, SD MG

September 18 – Kroll’s Diner YMCA Bismarck Marathon/Half Marathon and Footfest 5k & Half Marathon, Marathon Relay Bismarck, ND MG

October 3 – Lakefront Marathon Milwaukee, WI MG

October 9 – WhistleStop Marathon & Half Marathon, 10K, 5K Ashland, WI MG

October 17 – Des Moines Marathon & Half Marathon, Marathon Relay, 5K Road Race, Kids Run Des Moines, IA MG

October 25 – On the Road for Education & Half-Marathon, 10K & 5K Mason City, IA MG

November 7 – Rails to Trails Marathon Norwalk, WI MG

That is quite a few choices.  Did I leave any out?

Today, Dec 1 is World AIDS Day.  You really should read this article about hope from Relevant

I left Desalech with an amazing sense of hope, and also urgency. She had seen her life turn around. But I could only imagine how many other women there were like Desalech who desperately needed help: life-saving help.

I had traveled to Ethiopia with a couple of other World Vision staff who worked solely with Team World Vision. They basically recruited people to run marathons in honor of people like Desalech in Africa, raising awareness and asking for financial support in the process. This marathon thing, to me, was an absolutely ridiculous idea.

In seventh grade, I was the girl who faked being sick to avoid running one mile in gym class. Chalk it up to all the classic reasons: self-consciousness, fear of failure, embarrassment. I dreaded that one mile so much that I probably wasn’t actually faking sickness at all. The thought of running for even 10 (OK, maybe 14) minutes, coupled with the resulting humiliation of it all, was enough to make me physically ill. Let’s just say that my aversion to sports did not improve throughout high school. Or college.

Be sure to read the whole article.

Technorati Tags: Relevant, World AIDS Day, World Vision

www.youtube.com/watch?v=T69TsNig-R4

Technorati Tags: Meb Keflezghi, Meb, Letterman, NYC Marathon

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Jerry Johncock

I’m not sure what I think about this whole situation.  According to the Pioneer Press Jerry Johncock was almost disqualifed from the 2009 Twin Cities Marathon for using a catheter at mile 21.

The report says he couldn’t urinate and from past experience knew he had a blood clot which prevented him from going.  Based on USA Track and Field Rule 144.3(d) (pdf) TCM officials decided not to disqualify the 81 year old who ran a 5:22. Johncock holds the U.S. marathon record for men aged 80-84 with a time of 3:59:12 and placed 1st in the the age group this year. Officials were initially unsure whether using a catheter was improper assistance.

The story gets stranger.

Johncock asked for a catheter at a medical tent.  They don’t carry such a device, for obvious reason s – check out the pictures.  Then a random spectator offers a spare one from his car.  1) Who carries a spare catheter? 2) Would you use someone’s spare catheter? Evidently the guy had a spinal cord injury.

Then according to this “explicit” picture, he would have to stick it up his penis (while running?) while standing on the side of the road. In a near by ambulance – obviously.

Then he ran 5 more miles.

Here are his race stats:

Jerry Johncock earned his finisher’s medal.  Based on my calculations he lost about 40 minutes with this incident.

Pioneer Press Articles:
Results stand for man, 81, who used catheter during marathon
No DQ for marathoner, 81, who borrowed catheter
Man borrows catheter from stranger’s car to finish Twin Cities Marathon
Picture Credit

Here is a random update on the catheter story.

Technorati Tags: Jerry Johncock, Twin Cities Marathon, TCM, Catheter

I finished my second marathon. Pretty worse for the wear, but I finished. I had pretty modest expectations going into the race based on my training over the last year. I felt that 3:30 was pretty reasonable since most of my longer runs had been at 8 minute pace.

A friend from college, Pez, was debuting this year and he’s a pretty smart guy and decided to run with me for the first 3 miles around 8 minute pace and slowly build up. He had an excellent race finishing in 3:19. I felt really good during the first 5k, I did stop for a quick bathroom break and had to force myself to not try to catch back up.

I passed fellow classmate Kevin on the north side of Lake of the Isles. Staying pretty consistent at 8 minute pace. The 3:30 pace group was pretty far ahead now, because of my potty break – but they did take it out fairly fast from the start. I passed Deb on the north side of Lake Calhoun and the ran with Anne and her friend for awhile on the south side of the lake. I probably should have stayed with any of them and continued running at an easier pace. But I was hitting my splits pretty accurately.

At some point early on the Minnehaha Parkway part of the course I started catching up to the 3:30 pace group. At which point it got really crowded. Marty was towards the front of the group and we slowly came together as we went through the rolling hills stretch. I was taking it easy and hitting 8 minute pace. Marty and I ran together for a couple of miles. He said he was struggling and right before Cedar he said he would see me at the finish and dropped off.

I maintained my pace through 13 but started to hurt around 12. It started in my hips and throughout the race slowly worked its way down my legs. Mostly on the left side (where I have plantar fasciitis). I got through the half in 1:44 so pretty much right where I wanted to be. I slowed down a bit and I think I stopped to stretch it out before leaving Nokomis. From here my splits slowly slowed down as I struggled with trying to loosen up my legs, staying mentally tough, and not bonking.

As my paces show I quickly deteriorated and never really recovered. Part of me wanted to quit, part of me wanted to walk, part of me knew I had to fight to the finish. I made a mental decision that I would finish, even if I had to walk the rest of the way, but also made the decision that I would run for at least a mile in between walk breaks. I started just trying to walk through water stops, but then gave up on that and just started walking when I didn’t feel like going any farther.

I saw my wife and friend at mile 16 and gave them the thumbs down. I think they knew I was off pace but the thumbs down was a clear sign that I was struggling. I heard a couple of my students cheer for me and a former student gave me a needed/welcome Gu pack around mile 17.

Blood Filled Blister!

The rest of the race is a blur of struggle and pain but I finished. And I was running at the finish. I finished in 3:56:00 officially. Deb and I passed each other back and forth throughout the last 8 miles. She served as much needed motivation to keep on pushing. A first time marathoner chatted with me a bit as we were getting ready to go up the St Thomas hill. I told him I was doing terrible but he kept talking. As we started up the hill he asked, “Is this the big hill.” I replied, “One of them.” He was caught of guard by that, and I felt a little bad, but I was out of it and didn’t really want to chit chat about the intricacies of the last 6 miles.

One high point of the final stretch was my wife and friend were just in front of the Target Cheer Zone. Summit Ave is already pretty packed with people and can be very encouraging. So I passed them and they were really cheering and the whole block or two was extremely uplifting, especially as you pass through the Cheer Zone. I got a boost in my step, which didn’t last near as long as I was hoping!

Seeing the cathedral top made me happy because I knew it was almost over. Then slowly making the turn and seeing the capital. I dug deep and found something and pushed hard. The crowd roared and I finished. Then I shuffled through the chute getting water, fruit, chips, a banana, a heat sheet, vegetable broth, and finally a finisher’s shirt. Marty and I hobbled and talked for a bit before I tried to find my wife and friends to go home.

It is amazing how much pain you can be in after running that far. My body hurt during the run, but hurt even worse right after it was over and for the rest of the day! When I peeled off my sock I found a nice blood filled blister pictured above!

Thank you to the thousands of people who cheered!! Those who knew my name, those who cheered for “MDRA” (my jersey), my race number, and even those who yelled for “MORA” (because evidently the D looks like an O). Each and every one of you and all of the volunteers helped make this race successful.

Technorati Tags: Twin Cities Marathon, TCM, Marathon

Tuesday we ran 5 miles from the Edina Community Center and then heard from Jason Lehumkle about his perspetives on marathoning.

My foot has been feeling good depsite being on my feet a lot lately with working on the house.

Below are 26 pictures from the course itself (though they don’t come from all 26 miles of the course).

	A picture of the map…
The Hurbert H Humphrey Metrodome – aka staging area and starting line.
	A random wall downtown along Hennepin Ave.  I know some of the symbols are Adrinka symbols of West Africa, but I don’t know their history here.
The Basillica of St Mary is on Hennepin as well. Don’t let the old architecture fool you, they are on Twitter.
	This is WAC, the Walker Art Center.  On the right is the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.  I’ve heard tell that some people use it as a quick potty stop. (I don’t recommend it) Watch this hill.  If we ran on the sidewalks we’d actually get to run under the Walker.
TCM isn’t called “The Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in American” for nothing.  This is Lake of the Isles, the first among several lakes we’ll travel around.  We won’t run by the most expensive house in Minneapolis, but it is located on the Isles.
	Here’s another shot of the Isles.
Dean Parkway going underneath the Midtown Greenway.
	Lake #2 Lake Calhoun.  On the south end there will be a cool view of the downtown skyline with the lake in the foreground.
The third lake is Lake Harriet which has a cool band shell and yacht club.
	Running under the Niollet Ave bridge (I think).   A local marching band stands under one of these bridges and plays.
The 7ft bronze rabbit at the intersection of Portland and Minnehaha Parkway.  I can’t figure out where it came from.
	We run a long ways on this parkway. Here is wikipedia’s take on who Minnehaha was…
The Grand Rounds is a great way to see the major sites in the city. A road, trail system, and scenic destination itself, much of the marathon is actually run along the Grand Rounds.
	West River Parkway has been under construction all summer, but it won’t affect the race.  This is where I started to fall apart during the 2008 marathon.
The Mississippi River is a national park.  This is crossing the Franklin Ave bridge.
	A bad shot of the river!
This is now on East River Road getting ready to go under a rail bridge which will one day connect to the Greenway.
	University of St Thomas sits atop a nice hill and is around the 21 mile mark!
A nice long look up Summit Ave. A nice long uphill. And is the longest remaining stretch of residential Victorian architecture in the United States.
	Bridge crossing Ayd Mill Rd.
A cool church on the corner of Lexington Parkway and Summit Ave.
	One of many cool houses. If you aren’t in complete agony, be sure to check them out! They are on both sides.
This is a great sign!! You are atop the hill and getting ready to turn left into the final stretch.  I always felt a little let down that we turn here instead of just going down the hill!
	The Cathedral of St Paul. When you see the steeple it is almost over!
The Minnesota State Capital building and the finish line!!!  Congratulations you’ve finished.

Technorati Tags: Twin Cities Marathon, TCM, Marathon, Twin Cities

Past Posts

We all want to get faster, striding is one way to accomplish that.  USATF is trying to be a better, friendlier organization.  One way they are doing that is through a CEO Blog, my thoughts. Want to know what it is like to live with HIV/AIDS, the World Vision Experience helps you understand. A nice 5k loop with great views and wildlife is Pike Island, one of my favorites.  Foto Friday was in honor of my wedding anniversary.

Last Year’s Mileage

Run: 33.3 Miles
Bike: 48.0 Miles

This Week’s Running

Tuesday morning I ran alone, since we would need the evening to work on our house.  I ran 7.5 miles on the Minneapolis Riverfront loop. I finished in just under an hour. It was 59 and humid.  I did at least 8 “fast intervals”.

Thursday was a 5 mile run on the Greenway.  It was 60 and humid. I ran this “tempo” run in 39:11.

Friday I went to the gym again and stretched, foam rolled my IT band, and relaxed in the hot tub.  This has been really helpful in keeping my leg loose, which helps my foot.

Saturday we ran from the Nokomis Community Center to and around Lake Harriet getting about 11 miles in.  I finished in 1:26.  It was 60 and humid, again!  Most of the run was at 7:30 pace and I got dropped about 8 miles into the run.  They came back once, picked me up, and then picked the pace back up!  Oh well.

This Week’s Mileage

Run: 23.5 Miles

Two race reviews – from 2007 the DINO Series #5 at Town Run Park and from 2008 the City of Lakes 25k. In case you missed it, last year the Republican National Convention was held in the Twin Cities.  My wife and I took part in a World Vision event – sending caretaker packages to Africa. Two runners attempted to run across America. They did complete the journey – now we just wait for the video. Foto Friday is a picture of Mike at the City of Lakes 25k.

Last Year’s Mileage

Run: 53.0 Miles
Bike: 25.3 Miles

This Week’s Running

Monday was the Victory 5k race during which I ran a 20:36 on a pretty nice morning. Be sure to check out my deeper thoughts about my first race since May.  Tuesday night was our group training run, a lot of us had raced the day before so instead of a workout we just ran 8 easy miles on the marathon course.  It was by no means an easy run as we ran up Summit Ave (aka the long slow hill at the end of TCM), before turning around.  It is actually a little hilly on the way back too, which is a good reminder that there are downhills on race day!  It was 81 and sunny which wasn’t too pleasant but I ran 8.3 miles in 1:08.  The run was followed by a Dinner Fun Night where the training class goes out to eat together.  This time we went to the Wild Onion in St Paul.  I took my normal Wednesday off and am still trying to get into the routine of working out in the morning, so I skipped Thursday’s run. I’ve only been running 3 days a week anyway so I wasn’t super motivated.  I’ve heard from a few other people that they lack motivation and feel lethargic right now.  On Friday morning I managed to get up early and head to the gym.  I stretched, used the foam roller on my IT Band and sat in the hot tub.  I still didn’t have time to swim though.

Saturday morning was the big day.  Our last real long run for the training cycle. I woke up pretty congested and out of oatmeal (my pre-long run food).  I think I was a little dehydrated too.  It was in the upper-60’s and very humid. Enough excuses though.  We met at the University of St Thomas which is around mile 21 on the course.  We then proceeded to run it backwards to the 11 mile mark.  I ran with the group for a good 7-8 miles before they started picking up the pace.  I made a decision to let them go so that I could try to salvage the remainder of the run.  I was really feeling terrible when I got to the water stop at 8.5 miles.  It was on Lake Nokomis and there was some race going on.  It was at this point that I started running into Lifetime Fitness runners. They were running the last 20 miles of the course and made for a very congested trail.  I decided to run out to the turn around point and by the time I got back to the water stop I was feeling a lot better.  I decided to continue the run instead of my many contingency/worst case plans running through my head.  Even though they tried to steal our water it was nice having the Lifetime runners out there.  It gave me lots of people to pass which felt really good and was a good motivator. I actually felt really good until I turned off the course and cut the 20 miles short.  I turned on Lake Street as planned from the beginning as an option.  When I got to the top of the St Thomas hill I was around 16.5 so I ran a little more before being done. I finished the just under 17 miles in 2:17.  I didn’t feel too terribly bad.

Sunday was a nice rest day.

This Week’s Mileage

Run: 28.3 Miles