FUTURE RUNNING EVENTS

After signing up today for Fort Lauderdale’s 2011 A1A Half Marathon, we can add one more running event to our challenging running-event calendar.

Upcoming running events include:

* Race for Research Half Marathon; Port St. Lucie, Mar 27^th, 2010.

* Smoky Bear 5k; Sevierville, Tennessee, May 22^nd, 2010.

* Wine and Dine Half Marathon; Walt Disney World, October 2^nd,   2011.

* Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge; Disney World, Jan 8^th and 9^th, 2011.

* ING Miami Half Marathon; Miami, Florida, Jan 30^th, 2011.

* Fort Laud' A1A Half Marathon; Fort Lauderdale, FL, Feb 27^th, 2011.

Undoubtedly there will be more events added to this list, but these are the ones that we have already signed up to run.      

FORT LAUDERDALE A1A HALF MARATHON

Magnificently beautiful, phenomenally gorgeous, remarkably stunning, each glossy description  an accurate account of yesterday’s Fort Lauderdale A1A Marathon and Half Marathon held in - drum  roll please - Fort Lauderdale, Florida USA. 

A more perfect weather day could not have been ordered, even by the folks who put on this popular annual running event.  God, so it seemed, granted runners and spectators, as well as a throng of out-of-town beach-goers, a day to remember.         

The morning sun made its brilliant red and orange entry right about the time when many runners and walkers made their way across the E. Las Olas Boulevard Draw Bridge onto A1A, between mile marker three and four.  This particular bridge, for those of you that are not acquainted with our magnificent sub-tropical area, crosses over the inland waterway, and was the only elevation change during the entire marathon course.  Flat when running is a good thing.

With barely a ripple or wave noticeable, the Atlantic Ocean was a perfect backdrop for the hundreds of runners participating is this fifth annual running event.  Add a few high-altitude white clouds, temps in the low sixties at the start and seventy near the end, a slight comforting breeze coming off the ocean, and you’ve got a picture-perfect day by anyone’s account.  Many of us thought we died and went to heaven.

Even though most of the course had us running on Fort Lauderdale’s famed A1A Oceanside roadway, the first couple of miles had us running eastbound on vibrant and exciting E. Las Olas Boulevard, an area known for its many boutiques, galleries, specialty shops, and ever popular sidewalk cafes. 

We also had a firsthand glimpse at South Florida’s pre-industrial era as we ran through Birch State Park between mile five and six.  Viewable from the park’s narrow pathway were numerous stately mansions, old and new, nestled along the inland waterway.  Yachts and sailboats, small and large, were docked alongside nearly every seawall.

Then there was the tall canyon of meticulously manicured condo buildings at the turnaround spot, located no more than a half a mile prior to where several fun-loving gentlemen stood along A1A offering runners and walkers a cup of leftover beer from their previous night’s party.  They were actually hand filling plastic cups with the foaming brew at your request.  I passed on the beer and opted instead for activWater served by the many young, energetic volunteers stationed nearly every  mile along the 13.1 mile course.

The remaining three miles were run along the picturesque Atlantic Ocean, where two live bands gave it their all to entertain and motivate. 

Outstanding weather, wonderful friends, delicious food, feeling blessed, it doesn’t get any better than that. 

In closing, I would like to volunteer the fact that I became somewhat emotional while crossing over the E. Las Olas Boulevard Draw Bridge, where we were able to view the barely visible ocean and the faint golden glow of the yet-to-rise sun.  It was then that I thanked God for my lovely wife, all of our remarkable friends, our excellent health, and our sub-tropical Shangri-La.

Putting aside my better judgment, as well as my promise to myself not to run but to walk only, I ran probably 50% of the time – generating a modest time of 2:48:11 for the 13.1 miles. Even though I kept my run pace slow, something like 5 mph, it was still considered running. And running is what generally aggravates my spinal stenosis and arthritic left knee. 

Whether by miracle or pure luck, it doesn’t appear that these pesky infirmities were aggravated anymore than usual. Still, I need to tread cautiously during future runs.

Our good friend, Dawn, pictured on the right, completed her 13.1 miles 19 minutes prior to me waddling across the finish line.  I appreciated the fact that she waited for me at the finish line area.                               

THE MEDAL

Who could have imagined? Who could have predicted such an outcome? I mean, seriously, given the importance and popularity of such an event, who could have foreseen such a triumphant ending? Not even me, or my lovely wife, or anyone else for that matter.

But it did happen, despite my pre-event anxieties and weighty running attire. Forty-degrees at the starting line prompted most of us to dress Eskimo style.

Shocked but proud, I came home this morning toting some hardware around my neck, a beautiful gold-plated, first-place inscribed medal proudly hanging from a colorful lanyard, just for winning my age division in a 5k footrace.

Receiving such a medal, on stage for all to see, was a genuine high. I’ve yet to come down!

Oh, did I fail to mention that I was the only runner in my age division?

(Today's event was put on to raise funds for the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital located in Hollywood, FL)

THE MAILBOX

It was the mailbox and its new contents that prompted me to go outside.  I’m glad that I did!   
       

When walking down our exterior stairway, one couldn’t help but notice the stunning red hibiscuses over to the left, showing off their splendor to whoever seeks the beauty that bestows all who pause, even for a twinkling.  

Quaking from the north wind, surrounded by their greenish colored peers, the blossoms appeared to stare back with approval.  There would be, I hope, even more blossoms tomorrow.    
  

The sun, although fading in the western sky, shined its light upon the pedals with delight, promising to return tomorrow from the east.  The sun has never failed, that I know of.  

Walking along our walkway, a solid concrete path that leads to the cluster of mailboxes, I notice a grey squirrel scampering up the trunk of one of many oak trees, and then suddenly stop to stare in bewilderment.  Eyes wide open, short fur ruffled in the breeze, the squirrel then made an even quicker dash back to the manicured terra firma, but only after I peaceably passed and its safety assured.    

One can only assume that the squirrel was grocery shopping the way squirrels grocery shop.  My wife prefers to search the aisles, so sayeth she.  I cannot disagree with her reasoning.  

Even though empty of anything useful, the mailbox gave me reason to once again notice my surroundings.  I look forward to the next delivery.

After properly discarding the unwanted advertisement, only one today, I again gave pause by gazing out across our community swimming pool area, a tropical area now devoid of grownups, umbrellas, and laughing children.  Summer promises to bring about a transformation – albeit a rather noisy one - and I’ll be swimming my laps before the masses awaken.

Life is grand in this sub-tropical paradise!          

          

AN EASY DAY

Despite the brisk northwesterly wind and downright chilly temperature, especially for our earthly region, we braved the 52 degrees, (wind chill being much lower) anyway, all for the sake of working out. Dedicated athletes, we have become.

I wore shorts and a thin T, Jan wore sweats. The two-party consensus is in; she’s the brighter of us two.

The fitness center, located but a hop skip and jump away from our comfy warm home, was nearly empty of civilization – except for the aerobic room where blaring music could be heard through its large glass windows and thin walls. Peeping through the blinds revealed many sweaty bodies moving in unison and to the beat.

An easy day was had by us both, barely grunting when moving the levers, bars and handles of the resistance machines. Still, we were moving our bodies, but not in typical fashion as we do when we run/walk train. I like easy days.

Today was an off day, kind of. Tomorrow will take more effort, and clothes, while running and walking five-kilometers with waves of other upright, intelligent primates.

The event’s weather forecast is for a low of forty – accompanied by stiff northerly winds.

Tomorrow I plan to be as bright as my wife.

WE ARE MARATHONERS

As I was computing in my cozy home office early this morning, sitting upright in my adjustable swivel chair and petting both of my young felines, I could feel the creaking and popping of my left knee whenever I would occasionally extend the leg forward. It was then that I began questioning what compelling factors keep us running and walking competitively. After all, life in general is but a perpetual treadmill. This includes the many hours we spend training on the countless roadways, pathways, even broken sidewalks sorely in need of repairs.

Not to appear cynical, but whenever we do our run and walk training we typically end up where we began. We even plan it that way. That seems pointless, ending up where you began!  

Even though we strained, was anything really gained? The soles of our shoes are less for the effort, joints are worn, allotted heart beats squandered, all for the grandeur of completion.

This rather self-destructive sport of our choosing seemingly has its pitfalls, none greater than the issue of the joints spoken of earlier. Our feet are cruelly disrespected, our breathing tested, our endurance assessed, but the joints - they seemingly are doomed. Mine are a textbook testament.

But we keep plodding forward in this perpetual, questionable quest of ours to conquer long expanses within a predetermined time-frame.

As age advances, the clock becomes an enemy of self. It then becomes all about the distance and our willingness to endure. Failure is not an option.

Why, then, must we self-inflict endurance pain when life itself is a test of stamina? Is it for glory, recognition, health, possibly all the above?

To help beat the clock and cover the distance, we purchase small GPS systems that conveniently strap to our wrist. I own one myself, a modern state-of-the-art Garmin. I would be lost without it. High tech, we runners and walkers have become. We are  tolerantly waiting for the next generation in running and walking technology. When will the Garmin ease my agony, repair my infirmities, shorten the distance?

Still, there is clearly an upside to our apparent madness, but only we long-distance runners and walkers recognize it or have felt it. We even crave it. We will keep seeking it.

Euphoria, jubilation, triumph, that's what it’s all about. That rapturous feeling that embraces every fiber of our weary bodies, mind and soul after completing a long run. We may be dog tired, barely able to stand, but we’ve gained value and self-respect while losing nothing but shoe tread.

We are, after all, marathoners.

DISNEY'S WINE & DINE HALF MARATHON WEEKEND

Despite the area’s obvious adventurous and romantic allure, the Smoky Mountains, or somewhere similar, will simply have to wait for another time or occasion, if ever. 

My remarkable wife, who’s also my best friend and lone confidant, and I, together, fully recognize that we are not the type to sit around and stare at one another for any length of time.   Not that we don’t find one another invitingly attractive, because we do.  It’s just that we are more realistic than what the TV, movies and magazines would have you believe or buy into.  Nor are we the type that would want to hang out on a stilted wooden porch gazing across the cloud-covered hollows voicing our joint approval of the delightful scenery hour after hour, no matter the season.  That’s honestly not us, and we know it. 

We’re also not into boat cruises, expensive international outings, or hibernating in some swanky hotel just because it’s swanky and just so we would be able to brag  to our friends and acquaintances that we stayed in a posh four-star hotel.   We do, however, respect and admire those who opt for such attractions.  We are not judgmental.  “To each his or her own,” I always say.     

Having said that, should we honestly attempt to celebrate in a place or locale that is commonly illustrated by advertisements and the masses as the ultimate in important-occasion get-a-ways?  Wouldn’t it be to our advantage, as well as our liking, to express our independence and free will by selecting what would please us and not what is considered archetypical?  Must we be compliant puppets by doing what most others would do? 

We think not, which is precisely why we will be starting out our 25^th wedding anniversary week in Walt Disney World and not isolating ourselves in the mountains or elsewhere.       

Why WDW in particular, and not somewhere isolated and more applicable for our 25th? 

We enjoy signing up for and participating in running events, no matter if the events fall on birthdays, holidays, good weather days, bad weather days, even anniversaries.  In regards to celebrating special days or occasions, we’ve never made a big deal out of any of them.  In our own subjective way, we do.  Just not in the same manner as most people would.  We’re neither party people nor special-occasion celebrators.          

Coming up the 2^nd of October is Walt Disney World's inaugural Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend, featuring a half marathon that begins at 10 p.m.  We plan on completing the 13.1 mile course the next day around 1 a.m., maybe later.  How cool is that, taking two days to run a half marathon? 

The Inaugural Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon will be run at night on a brand new half marathon course at the Walt Disney World Resort! This race experience will be the ultimate "Runner's Night Out". The course will wind through theme parks and new entertainment and then finish inside Epcot® for an exclusive after hours Epcot International Food & Wine Festival experience for runners, friends and family.

We are really excited about this inaugural event.  Shortly after celebrating our half marathon completion, and then browsing around Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival, the momentous 25th wedding anniversary celebration shall begin. 

And you, respected reader, thought we were prigs.  Not on your life!      

POST MARATHON BLUES

Dear Mr. Post Marathon Blues,

Hola, Mr. Post Marathon Blues, how you been doin’ the past ten or eleven months?   

Shortly after completing Walt Disney World’s 2010 Goofy Challenge and Miami’s Half Marathon, each event taking place within three weeks of one another, based on past experiences I expected you to pay me an unwelcomed visit.  Like clockwork, and just like I feared you would, you did briefly rear your ugly, predictable head.    

However, unbeknownst to you, I have a plan to keep you at bay – at least for awhile.  This is a surefire plan, one that will keep me high and dry and unreachable by the likes of you. 

Want to know what my plan is?  Are you ready for this?

To keep you out of my life, I’ll simply keep signing up to run/walk more marathons, half marathons or something similar.  I maintain that if I always have an event on the horizon, events that don’t necessarily have to be marathons, then I’ll never again be bothered by you or your kind.  Simple solution, don’t you think?

To initiate this new plan of mine, I recently signed up to run a half marathon along beautiful A1A in Fort Lauderdale on the 21^st of this month, and another half marathon taking place in Port St  Lucie on the 27th of March - and you’re not invited.  There, how’s that for bluntness? 

Furthermore, Mr. Post Marathon Blues, there are other upcoming events that I plan on doing.  Not just to keep you at bay, but also for the physical and mental benefits realized from running, walking, swimming, biking, and working out on resistance machines.

And if I do experience a down period due to our area’s intense summer heat and humidity, then I’ll take up a hobby.  Paint by Numbers comes to mind.  This home office that I use often could use a stimulating scenic picture or two.  And while the paint dries, there is always summer swim training in the early mornings and late afternoons when the sun casts long shadows across the sub-tropics.

You’ve no chance of survival…

Adiós, hasta la vista

Bob