RACE FOR RESEARCH

My one question when signing up for the Race for Research Half Marathon was what was it that they were researching and who were they?  After a few clicks with the computer's mouse, I soon learned that the race was being sponsored by the Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies.  The mission of Torrey Pines Institute is to pursue innovative research that leads to the understanding and treatment of major medical conditions, including multiple sclerosis, AIDS, Alzheimer's disease, pain, arthritis, heart disease, and many types of cancer.

Being blessed or downright lucky to have one of her work days switched with a co-worker, Janet was able to join me in running the first annual Race for Research located in the town of Tradition in the Port St. Lucie area of South Central Florida.  The town of Tradition is a relatively new area made up of mostly upscale homes (I refer to them as McMansions) and modern office buildings.   

Staying overnight with our good friend Tina and family in Vero Beach, we were only 35 miles north of the start and finish line – a quick 30 minute southbound drive on Interstate 95.  My new Garmin GPS eliminated any directional snafus to and from the race.

Picking up our race numbers, computer chips, race shirts and caps in the attractive air-conditioned lobby of the Torrey Pines Institute turned out to be effortless.  We were met with friendly professional volunteers at each step of the brief process.  The indoor bathrooms were spotless and the lines relatively short – a nice break from the traditional stench of outdoor Jiffy Johns and their customary long lines.

A minute or two after a chilled spectator sang our National Anthem, 228 eager runners began their trek through many of the outlying streets of Tradition.  The temperature at the beginning of the race was 54 degrees with a steady breeze coming from the northwest.

The course, nearly all 13.1 miles of it, was run on remote divided roadways that separated several stylish gated communities.  The roads were well maintained, purposely manicured, spotless, and they lacked the typical scattered litter seen in and around most communities.

 
The course also lacked Jiffy Johns, prompting many runners and walkers to eliminate within the hidden confines of the many manicured shrubs and trees.  Janet and I gathered that the town of Tradition and their persnickety residents did not wish to have unattractive, smelly outhouses placed at optimal positions in their town – not even for one day or a few hours.  

Because of their questionable decision, I personally watered and fertilized one budding tropical plant and one medium-sized tree.  Because I’m an obsessive green horticulturist, I was pleased to assist with the growth of the plant and tree.  

Turning from chilly to downright warm, the last couple/three miles became somewhat excruciating – relatively speaking, that is.  We’ve participated in running events where one might feel as if they’ve been casts into the lake of fire.  This past Saturday’s event was not that bad. 

All in all, Janet and I found the course to be extremely isolated and boring – but exceptionally beautiful and impeccably maintained.  Kudos to the wealthy Town of Tradition and their residents!     

Mostly walking with an occasional jog, Janet and I finished around the time (3:08) we expected to finish.  We both were having minor physical issues, so we kept our running to a minimum – a wise decision to prevent further discomfort and/or injury.    

Bringing along my small digital camera in one of my Race Ready pockets, I stopped along the course and took many pictures of interest.  That’s not to say that Jan and I are interesting subjects, but walking in the back of the pack basically kept us apart from the speedier and more interesting runners.

 

After downing a couple of cookies at the finish line, we hopped in our Explorer and drove the 35 miles back to Vero Beach, stopping first for breakfast at IHOP before arriving back at Tina’s beautiful home.  Those harvest grain pancakes sure did taste good after power walking 13.1 miles – and the hot shower at Tina’s was rejuvenating before enduring the two-hour drive back to our home in South Florida.  

Janet and I would love to participate in this running event again next year for two distinct reasons – a repeat visit with Tina and family and to have another opportunity to power-walk for a good cause - molecular research.                      

                  

UNINTENDED RUNNING

When asked by my lovely wife if we would escape the rain should we choose to walk the half mile or so to the fitness center, I assured her that there was no need for concern - that we were in the clear and positively would not get wet. Janet disagreed! Having just come off a bad head cold, one could understand her apprehension.

I must say that a weather man I’m not. Just feet from our front security gate, after only a tenth of a mile into our walk, little droplets began bouncing off the tops of our heads as well as the rest of our body. Ducking underneath the security gate’s narrow archway proved pointless seeing as though the strong wind was pushing the rain nearly sideways.

This impossible situation called for a hastened half run and half walk in the general direction of the fitness center, all the while keeping our eyes half squinted, our noggins retracted and our shoulders shrugged, thinking that this strategy would prevent our heads and faces from getting wet. Our strategy, obviously, did not work!

Just as predictable as the sun rising from the east every morning, the rain ceased the very moment we arrived at the fitness center’s front-door overhang. This kind of phenomenon is typical.

Wet but not dripping wet, we toweled off shortly after entering the double glass doors and directly after scanning our ID tags at the front desk. No electronic confirmation that we were paid members, no towels. The receptionist didn’t say that, that’s my assessment.

Not being able to do any run training for a week or so, mainly because of her head cold, Janet began her usual three-mile run/walk routine on one of the treadmills while I began a quick tour of some of the weight machines. I indicate quickly because six or seven machines into my workout, I remembered that I failed to close our sliding glass doors in our condo prior to leaving.

Noticing that the rain had picked up considerably, pouring actually, I ran the half mile from the fitness center to our condo across the street just to check and make sure that the rain wasn’t coming through the screened patio area onto our laminate flooring. It wasn’t, by the way, and all was well except for the fact that I was now wet from running in the rain.

Our two felines were pleased to see me, if only briefly, but sad when I had to promptly leave  with one of our old towels and our oldest car. Not trusting the weather any longer, or my blundering forecasts, I thought it best to drive back to the gym, pick up Janet, and then drive her back home – saving her from the certainty of getting wet twice.

The only fly in the ointment was the nearby traffic signal that had evidently died due to the driving rain. Not being able to take the short route to the fitness center due to the traffic signal’s failure, I was forced to make a U-turn and then drive an additional three miles to reach my final destination, the fitness center. The worse part of the short trip was the maddening drive through the shopping mall area. People are crazy, this I know. They are even crazier when it’s raining.

The end result of my erroneous weather forecast was unintended running and unintended driving.

I’ll know next time to listen to my wife. She’s always right. Just ask her, she’ll tell you.

MEGA MILES

Having never kept a training log for any length of time during the past fifteen years of running and walking, I can only guesstimate that we’ve run or walked a total of 15,000 miles, give or take a few miles. Those numbers are based on 1,000 miles per year or slightly less than 20 miles per week, and takes into account all running and race-walking events as well as the training.

The way the crow flies, we can rightfully say that we’ve run from Miami to San Francisco, enjoyed some Bubba Gump shrimp at Pier 39, and then continued on from San Francisco to Beijing, China. Phew, I’m tired just thinking about it!

Exactly how many miles we’ve logged in our neighborhood’s picturesque county park is anyone’s guess. I’m estimating that 25% to 30% of our training has been done within the boundaries of the 299 acre park, with the balance either on a treadmill, the three miles of sidewalk that make up our block, or Hollywood Beach’s boardwalk.

So my best estimate tells me that we’ve run or walked approximately 2,250 miles of curved pathways and asphalt roadways all within the fenced border of the park. That’s a lot of miles. And what makes those park miles so exceptional is the fact that clean bathrooms and cold drinking fountains are easily accessible all along our training route during daylight hours. And because the park doesn’t open to the public until the sun rises, all of our training takes place during hours of daylight.

It makes sense, then, to continue most of our training within a stone’s throw of our home and fitness center – enjoying breakfast afterward at Bobo’s Bed & Breakfast.

We do miss not being able to fraternize with our friends on Hollywood Beach's scenic boardwalk, though.  But when you take into consideration that they run and we walk, plus their busy schedules often prevent them from sticking around on the boardwalk for breakfast afterward, then it doesn't make any sense to drive 24 miles round-trip just to walk.


When we opt to train around our home area, we always have the option of training on the gym’s large commercial treadmills should the weather not cooperate. On days when the park isn’t open because of current budget issues, or we simply do not wish to train indoors, we can always retreat to the sidewalks and roadways near our gated community.

Realizing that concrete sidewalks can be more damaging to the joints, we make every attempt to remain off the hard surfaced paths. Walking, however, is much easier on the joints than running – no matter the surface.

The 10 miles of walking that we logged in the park this past Friday morning at daybreak has us in effect leaving Beijing heading back to San Francisco’s Pier 39 for some delicious Italian pasta at Swiss Louis Italian & Seafood Restaurant.

We can’t wait!

MOTHER EARTH'S HEALING POWER

The TV show LOST suggests that its mysterious South Pacific island emits magnetic radiation that rapidly heals the survivors of Oceanic 815 and other inhabitants of diseases and injuries.

In Maui, some believe that their island draws up similar vibrations from Mother Earth.  The island’s inhabitants literally live on a mountain of molten rock that is taller than Mt. Everest when measured from the ocean floor.

So am I suggesting that we should quit our jobs and move to Reiki Island, Bora Bora, or somewhere similar?

While that may be a possibility for some, certainly not me, a more practical suggestion would be to unearth the healing paradise you live in right now.

Having recently felt the healing power of an occasional walk in the park, I strongly recommend you make physical contact with the earth every single day, even if it's just some backyard gardening or a barefoot walk at a local park or beach.  My personal choice would be the beach, preferably at sunrise.  Stand on the shoreline and allow your feet to sink slightly in the moist sand as the waves caress.

For those who are currently experiencing a frosty northern winter, touch or hug a tree with your bare hands.  Draw negative ions up through its roots.  At the same time, you'll be dispelling all the stress-producing positive ions you've collected in our perplexed techno-world.

Consciously tuning into the earth's healing energies is probably more powerful than unconsciously and passively living at a focal point like Lost Island, your manicured backyard, or in beautiful places like Maui or Bora Bora.

Be radically conscious of what has been provided for you.    

A WALK IN THE PARK

Every time that Janet and I walk outdoors, it isn’t always a training type of walk.  We often walk outdoors as a healthy means to deprogram or erase from our minds all that clutters and clouds our ability to think clearly and logically.
  
Let’s face it, we who hype ourselves as being self-disciplined and in total control, a joke by itself, are constantly being bombarded with negatives that would depress even the most saintly amongst us. 

Something must reverse this blathering of mind junk. And in my opinion, walking while appreciating all that has been provided for us is the perfect method.

Take yesterday for instance.  Dressed only in running shorts and matching sleeveless tops, Janet and I began walking across the street to our hospital’s fitness center.  Half way there, right when we began walking alongside our neighborhood’s man-made, tropical-themed lake, we began committing to one another what a beautiful day it was.  The sky was perfectly clear and the temperature was in the mid-sixties.  It wasn’t difficult to convince my lovely wife that a change of plans was forthcoming and necessary. 

Instead of walking to the gym and doing an indoor gym workout, which would have taken our bodies out of the perfect outdoors, we continued straight eventually crossing busy Flamingo Road at the crosswalk and traffic signal.  We then ended up walking four miles in our beautiful county park, a park whose entrance is exactly ½ mile from our home. 

We didn’t walk fast, only at a pace that was comfortable and agreeable. 

We loved it!  We cherished every moment  walking along the many curved pathways, across the wooden pedestrian bridges, next to the lake’s pristine shoreline, through the travel trailer section where many visitors from Canada were still displaying their country’s flag in celebration of their hockey team’s victory, and down the west roadway that parallels an elementary school that is located just across the canal and fence. 

We committed on the many children in the playground laughing and singing without a care in the world.  The children made us smile, consequently offering us a brief sense of solace.  We were in effect being deprogrammed.  The purpose of the walk was working as planned.      

There was a lesson learned during yesterday’s ideal mind-clearing walk, and that lesson is that we need to be more like children - for it may be our only clear path to lasting sanity.

Feeling transformed and invigorated, we later complimented our restful walk with a hardy breakfast of eggs and hot oatmeal topped with fresh blueberries.

                       

SENIOR MARATHON TRAINING?

Is it possible to keep marathon-training sustainable as we age?

Let’s face it, people, our joints are not as tight and lubricated as they once were – sort of like the joints on the front end of a vehicle. Only difference is, a seasoned auto mechanic can skillfully replace the vehicle’s worn-out joints. The mechanic can even lubricate them prior to their death. This is certainly not the case with the human skeletal frame.

Oh sure, many capable surgeons often replace ailing knee and hip joints. They’ve even come up with new materials that advertise life spans of 20 to 30 years, maybe even longer. The recipients of these artificial joints, however, are not about to run or walk marathons, at least not in the short time-frame administered by most if not all marathon organizers.

And then there are the many knee injections touting liberating newness to that particular joint, or the popular cortisone shot offering temporary relief. Been there done that on both of these – all while age-related arthritis continues to ravage the joints.

Long-term usages of anti-inflammatory pills are out of the question due to the adverse effect they may have on the liver and stomach. Certain factors can increase the risk of liver toxicity from products containing acetaminophen and the risk of GI bleeding from the use of products containing NSAIDs.

Cross training, then, may be the only answer to keep oneself in the marathon loop. Not overusing any one joint most certainly sounds like an unfailing solution.

When we were in the fitness center yesterday morning, my butt was literally kicked by a shortened version of what I consider an acceptable marathon cross-training routine. Two miles on a treadmill, two miles on a stationary bike, and one mile on an elliptical trainer isn’t exactly a challenging endurance routine by any stretch of the imagination, even if I did do all three rather quickly.

Using yesterday’s joke of a workout as an example, I now know what must be done to maintain a fitness level high enough to endure distances of 26 miles or less.

And when the weather warms and our condo’s pool water doesn’t encourage embarrassing shrinkage, then and only then will I add swimming to the other three disciplines.

Longevity has its price!