Local 'finishes' Boston Marathon - Reprint of an article from The Independent, from Chewelah Washignton

I am reposting this article, as it is truly inspiring to me.  We fill the news with the tragedy of Boston, but it is also important to remember the good that comes out in the world as well.

This article has been reprinted with the permission of Jared Arnold, owner of The Independent of Chewelah, Washington.

Sharon Heise of Chewelah made an emotional, well-deserved trip across a finish line to complete her dream of "finishing the Boston Marathon."

After years and years of running in numerous marathons and volunteering for The Chataqua Challenge Fun Run, watching hundreds of others cross their finish line, Sharon finally had her dream come true when she qualified to run the Boston Marathon in 2012. Shortly after being notified of this accomplishment, however, her husband and soul mate JB Morrison became very ill and was subsequently diagnosed with leukemia.

Sharon made a decision to give up her dream in order to join JB on his own long and painful marathon. However, even as his health declined, JB and Sharon and their families continued to help so many others, raising money and volunteering for non-profit groups like The Rose Garden Healing Lodge. Sharon also continued to run for recreation and stress relief, with JB bringing her water along the way.

Lake Montebello and Herring Run Trail, Baltimore MD

Once again it was my turn to drive the boys up to the Maryland State Boychoir practice.  I have been lucky enough to carpool with another parent - which means I only have to drive every other week!    Since I have a couple of hours to kill - it's the perfect time to go for a run!

I thought I would try something different, and research the areas I was going to run.  I am all to aware, that in Baltimore you can be in a wonderful neighborhood, and two blocks later enter a not-so-wonderful neighborhood.   I did a quick google of crime in Herring Run Park and didn't find any recent murders/rapes/assaults. (Hey, in a city like Baltimore, you expect SOME.)  I planned a quick run up to Lake Montebello and the Herring Run trail.  I thought a nice 3-4 miles would be in order for the night.

It was raining and misty, so I ended up overdressed as I had rain-gear on... Then it didn't rain while I ran.

The run itself felt nice.  I kept with my recent plan, and just let my body determine the speed, although I tried to slow it down a bit for mile 2..  The initial run up to the lake from the MSB center was all through nice neighborhoods (nice enough, I probably couldn't afford a house there) and the people nodded their heads back at me when I initiated it. <-- My indicator of whether or not a neighborhood is friendly.

[caption id="attachment_2582" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Picture from http://abikeinbaltimore.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html[/caption]

Still Running...

I apologize, I have been a bit quiet lately!   I figured I better take a moment to play catchup!

I did take a week or so off, as my knees and IT band were bothering me.  I suspect the jumping back into running like I hadn't ever stopped - wasn't my smoothest move.  Since I don't want to repeat my annual injury story, I thought some rest and recuperation might be in order!

[caption id="attachment_2576" align="aligncenter" width="294"] Now THIS would have been the perfect Rest and Recoup![/caption]

Couch to 5K

I know that I  have followers that aren't runners.  If you are one of those people who have almost felt inspired to run, but weren't sure how to start, I have some great news (if you have an android phone!)

Today's free app of the day is a well-rated Couch to 5K app!  What a great day to start Running!  HEck! Even if you think you MIGHT want to start running, get it today!

I promise, if you get it today and don't like it - I will refund your money for you.

Reflections

This is my 300th post on this blog.

Today I'm not going to be posting about running, and not just because yesterday was a Rest Day.  With it being a mile stone, it seems a good time to stop and look at life in general.  I heard a line on the radio (NPR, in "In Which Way, a War Photographer in his Element") this morning that got my mind working.

"You are rich because you have the power to determine your future, and most of the world doesn't."

We are rich.  We have so many choices in life, that even when most of us think life is hard, that we are at a "low" point - we are so much richer than most people in the world.  We have choices and opportunities that most people in the world can't imagine.  We raise our families and can put our kids in programs that our grandparents couldn't have envisioned if they tried.  It isn't just these things that make us rich either.  There are so many things beyond money.

Me?  When I look at the world in general, I have to admit - I am wealthy beyond all imagining.

[caption id="attachment_2560" align="aligncenter" width="490"] My amazing family - last weekend in front of the white house.[/caption]

Fixing the foot strike

So, One of the things I began to work on when I switched to minimalist shoes, was my foot strike.  My goal was to move from being a heel striker, to a fore-foot striker as many of the websites I read, assured me that this would reduce injury and they can't put anything on the internet that isn't true.

[caption id="attachment_2547" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Look at that heel hit the ground![/caption]

Now, if you change HOW you run, you aren't going to change the amount of force that your body receives - so the reality is that you just change the sorts of injuries that you are risking.  This is a topic that Craig Payne, a podiatrist from the land down under, wrote about on his site "Running Research Junkie".  His writings are an interesting change from most running sites, as he relies on (gasp!) facts.  (as a side note, I can totally support his "Calf-Strain" on the forefoot running, as I went through several of those as I transitioned!)

The Boston Marathon Tragedy...

[caption id="attachment_2538" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Picture taken the morning of the Boston Marathon 2/15/2013 by Alexander Abbey of Star Archer Productions[/caption]

Alexander Abbey took this picture in Boston on the mornin of 4/15/2013, the day of the __ Running of the Boston Marathon, without knowing what the day had to hold.

My heart goes out to the victims. To those that died, to those that were injured, and even to  those who's dream of crossing the finish line at the Boston Marathon for the first time was denied to them today.

I thought of all of these people. Those that Ran. Those that witnessed this tragedy.  Those that were injured. Those that died. Those that will have to wait and hope for another chance to complete a dream, while being thankful they were not injured.  Last night I thought of these people, and will do so with every run this week.  I will remember how luck we are to have the opportunities to continue to go out and put one foot in front of the other.

As a runner who is planning to finish their first marathon this year, the picture that Alexander took, speaks to me.  It reminds me to not let fear rule me.  To not allow a coward and his act of  terrorism to keep me from my dreams and that which I love.

No matter what, I will keep calm and marath on."

Running through Baltimore while the choirs sing

Monday nights are normally not a running night for me as my son has chorus practice.   The monday schedule involves ending my work day a tad early, pick the little chorister up from karate, head to his practice in Baltimore (with a side trip of 40 minutes to pick up the car-pooling buddy), sit though practice, then head home (After dropping the car-pooling buddy off.)  I leave for work at 7:45, and get back hoe around 10:30.   Needless to say, I am not going to go run at 10:30 at night.  Call me lazy.

Tonight, I followed through on a better plan than just sitting on my butt while the boys sang.  While I was at home getting some food into the boy (mmmm. Corn Dogs.) before heading off to get the car-pooling buddy, I changed into my running clothes.  I thought that while my son was exercising his voice, I could exercise by  running around Baltimore!  My only real concern was that I didn't know Baltimore.  This gave me a slight level of  fear that I might run into a neighborhood that I had no business being in.  My wife seemed to share this concern as she informed me I WOULD  asked me very nicely if I would call her when I finished running.   Of course I assured her that not only would I do so, but I would also be very careful about where I went. (Though I have to admit, I'm not sure how you tell that you shouldn't be in a neighborhood before you are...)

To run or not to run..

[caption id="attachment_2525" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Don't we look tired?[/caption]

Normally that seems like a stupid question - obviously, you run.   But more and more science is looking at recovery times, and even how less running can lead to more weight loss, more speed, and all sorts of other benefits.

Competitor.com did an article on how less running can improve your marathon time.

Runner's world published a book on how to run less and get faster.

But then there are articles on active.com that talk about how running when you are fatigued (also known as recovery runs) can help you build more endurance.

It seems that just like everything else in running, there are conflicting ideas.

Out running with my buddies.

So, after a day of rest, I headed out for an evening run.  Now I had been on the fence on whether two days of rest would be a better idea (I was still very tired/sore from my training less run), but really wanted to be out in that beautiful weather.  That, combined with the worry of building non running momentum (it's so easy to not run on the third day...) I decided it was a definite running day.

I gathered up my sidekicks....and then stopped.  See, my sidekicks were going to ride their bikes and keep me company.  Well, it seems that boy-child's bike kept popping the chain off!  Well, some quick surgery on the bike and THEN we were off!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Notice how well attached the bike chain is on the silver bike?[/caption]

 

Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Recap - Cool Statistics

That's right, day 2 after my race - and I am STILL posting about it!  How much mileage do I think I can get out of 10 miles?

After seeing this, I wanted to post it up here for all to see!



I know that it shows me as being slow, with more people in my brackets ahead of me than behind.. But still! HOW COOL IS THIS?

Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Race Recap

So, to set the stage.

I signed up for the Cherry Blossom Festival Lottery, with great hope of getting in.  I thought this would be an AWESOME start to running races in DC.  So, with true jubilation - I found out that I was one of the lucky chosen to run through the streets of our nation's capital, having trained hard and enjoying the fruits of that labor.

So that was the plan.  In fact, I even joyously posted on January 28th that I had started my training.

I was totally going to rock this..

And I'm sure I would have.. if I had actually done some training.

[caption id="attachment_2492" align="aligncenter" width="490"] I'm going to do WHAT?[/caption]