Success in the Fall Depends on Now

The Race to the Starting Line Begins Now

Just as opening day in Major League Baseball, or the National Football League, or the National Basketball Association is not literally the first day of playing ball, the racing season for runners does not begin at the first start line of the season. Baseball players have Winter ball or, at the very least Spring training. Basketball players may take some time off to play golf or goof off when their season ends, but this won't last long. Soon they'll be in the gym, strength training, shooting free throws, working with the team trainer. This will go on for months before training camp actually opens. The point here is that the successful professional athletes spend a lot of time training in anticipation of the first pitch of opening day and those of us who are wannabee athletes (coach Shelly Campbell says each of us who train and compete is an athlete) have to do the same.

For a number of years my principal race of the year has been the San Antonio Marathon, now the Rock'n'Roll San Antonio Marathon. This has meant that I have to get down to serious training by mid to late June or I'm going to regret it on race day in November. To be honest I have played somewhat lose with my training regimens in the past. There's almost always an ebb and flow. Life sometimes has a way of demanding my attention, at times disrupting my training intentions. But this year I am investing a bit more in my Fall marathon. I managed to beat the rush into the Chicago Marathon and was able to secure a place. The greater investment begins right away. The entry fee is higher for Chicago and the other premium marathons. Then there will be travel expenses, accommodations and Pizza Uno. It's worth it. I've long wanted to run the Chicago Marathon. Chicago is my favorite big American city and it's been forever since I have been there. It will also be a blast to run in a field of 40 thousand runners.

But I also want to run well in Chicago which means my next 5 months will revolve around training. Chicago is run in October. Thus the higher mileage weeks of training, when the weekly long run becomes increasingly long - 18, 20, maybe 22 miles in the run up to the race, will fall during the dog days of September. The bottom line, however, and this applies to everyone who is training for a Fall marathon, or half marathon, is that training begins now. I'm making a plan and intend to stick to it. You should do the same. If you're new to distance running, get some advice, have someone map out a complete training program for you. You might even consider joining a training group.

We all hear stories of people who go out and run a marathon, or half, with little or no preparation. I don't pretend to understand their motivation, nor do I recommend this approach for anyone. Just as success on race day depends on making a training plan and executing it, even running on those days when you would rather not, or when it's hot as Hell in July, the full package of satisfaction is delivered only when a runner learns not only how to run 26.2 miles, but also learns discipline, that bottom line key to every athlete's success. And the cool thing here is that this training discipline eventually informs every other aspect of one's life which requires staying a course.

So far I'm on track. I ran a bit over 10 miles tonight, with hills, and feel good about it. But this week alone will not make a difference in October unless I continue to run, to ramp it up, to gradually increase the long run and, yes, make myself run when life insists there's not time. Is this an obsession? I think not. It's a life. And it's a great life. Give it a shot and you just might find yourself transformed.

Beach to Bay 2010 - Not to be Forgotten

It all started just fine, this year's B2B. Oh, the team sort of stumbled into Corpus on Friday. It's inevitable now that we come from so many different places: San Antonio, Caldwell, Houston and Corpus. And all us out of towners drove through varying degrees of inclement weather to get here. Thankfully, Corpus was mostly dry when we were finally all accounted for Friday night. The forecast called for possible showers on race morning, but no one predicted the stormy weather which actually materialized.

Race morning. Up at 6am and out the door by 6:20. I dropped Maeve at the starting line/2nd leg handoff and then drove from the island to the Flour Bluff bus depot. It was cloudy, a blessing, though I regretted Ed, running the first leg, would not get to watch the sun rise out of the Gulf of Mexico. But as I rode a bus back across the causeway to the island, to post myself for the start of my leg 3 (back over the bridge, 4 miles of bridge running), the horizon broke and the sun appeared, though wrapped in clouds. Once I was at my handoff zone I sat, caught my breath, ate a bagel, drank my morning coffee and watched the storm clouds gather and thicken. "How much of the race will we run before the rain comes?" I wondered.

Ed's in there somewhere!

A live radio feed ran on the PA system. There was a report of complications at the start. The tide was high and water was advancing toward the dunes. Turns out it brought with it a lot of seaweed. The running track was narrowed by all this, making what is always a congested leg 1 even more so. Nevertheless, I heard a report later that the lead runner ran leg 1 (a bit more than 4 miles) in 21 minutes. Ed Brackin, the leg 1 runner for team Mid-Texas Symphony needed 51 minutes before he could hand the baton to Maeve. By now, the wind was beginning to rage and everyone watched the rain, by now just offshore. Leg 2 was all headwind, probably 20-30 mph, and a light rain began to fall.

The runner for the lead team handed off to his leg 3 runner at 51 minutes. By the time I took the baton from Maeve at about 8:30 (the start was at 7, it was raining a little harder, lightning was zapping across the sky and a strong crosswind, eventually a headwind, was blowing. I labored across the bridge, not exactly what I had trained for. By mile one of this 4 miles plus, every runner was drenched. Can anyone say duck? I handed off the baton to Holly and she handed off her 8 year old son Mathias. Ed wasn't back yet from his leg 1 adventure.

By now the rain was a heavy coastal rain. Mathias and I walked back to the parking lot, debating whether to find his mother's car or go to mine. Eventually I won. By now we were beyond trying to tiptoe through the deep puddles. It was more like wading. No dry clothes, no towels for drying off, and my shoes were squishy and waterlogged. At least we were out of the rain, which was beginning to subside. Mathias had questions about everything; I love his curiosity. Finally he decided to play games on his mom's iPhone while I waited to hear from Ed. It took a couple of semi-aborted phone calls before I finally got word from Ed. The buses from the end of leg 1 back to Flour Bluff had gone askew. Lots of runners, no buses, lots of soaked runners. Friday night I had told Ed my experience a couple of years of hitching rides on the backs of pickup trucks and finally he did that himself.

By now, Ed's iPhone quit on account of the soaking it had sustained. Mathias had Holly's phone. Communication was breaking down. Maeve called. She was back at Flour Bluff, sheltered in the Walmart out of the rain. I picked her up and we waited for Ed. At this point Maeve connected with the running buddy she had ridden with from San Antonio. She headed out with him, preferring a moving vehicle to my vehicle in waiting. I parked by the bus terminal, anticipating Holly's return from her leg 4 which I figured was surely done by now. Still no Ed, until now. He had borrowed a phone and let me know he was at the Walmart. I drove over and picked him up, then we drove around looking for his car. He didn't know where Holly had parked it, so we played the honk the horn on the remote game until we got lucky and located the car. Still no Holly, but of course she had no way of calling us since Mathias had her phone.

Monetary panic set in as Ed looked at his watch and said: "I've got half an hour to get back to the hotel and check out."

"Go!" I say. "I'll wait here for Holly." And I waited and waited. I called Holly's phone but got such a garbled connection with Ed that there was no point in conversation. I waited some more, looking for what I supposed would be dismay on Holly's face when she didn't find her car where she left it, nor her son whom she had left in my care. Time ticked on. I tried to call Jonathan, tried to call Fred, tried to call Dorian. Nothing. I finally gave up and came back to the condo on the island. It would be easier to do my tracking after a shower and dry clothes.

Turns out Ed and Mathias, returning from checking out of their hotel, had stumbled into Holly as she got off the bus. Only I had no way of knowing and by now phones seemed useless. A multi-threaded game of phone tag began, not to be resolved until past noon. That's when I at last connected with Holly and Ed, found they were reunited but that poor Holly was still in her soaked running outfit. I invited them out to the condo for a hot shower and change of clothes and also finally connected with Fred. I felt like a platoon leader must feel when all his men are located after a battle.

The afternoon eventually turned sunny. Holly, Ed, Mathias and I headed over to Port Aransas to visit with David Horne and get a ride on his 30 foot "Baywatch" boat. It was exciting to be out on the water, speeding along up to 49 miles per hour (David's sons are determined the boat will eventually travel at 50+ mph).

So....that was Beach to Bay 2010, unlike any of the previous 4 we have run. Our finish time, surely impacted negatively by the conditions, was 3 hours 51 minutes and some change. No threat to our team record of 3:38, but still good enough to place 299th out of over 2300 teams. However, the important record is the one which says we all had a great time despite so many weather induced complications. Earlier, as this all unfolded, I thought what a miserable experience this must be for the newcomers Ed and Holly. By mid-afternoon, as wind blew into our faces while we boated over to Rockport and back, we were all smiles. I actually think Ed and Holly will come back if we need them next year. Yay, team Mid-Texas Symphony and thanks to the entire team for a race well run.

Beach to Bay 2010

Just as I was late in coming to distance running (I was 55 the first year I ran a marathon), I have come relatively late to relay running. They are really two different animals, linked by the fact they both involve running. I believe I'm in truth not too out of the mainstream to have discovered relay running only after I was well committed to running individual half marathons, marathons and ultras. This is all to say that they've been staging the Beach to Bay Marathon Relay in Corpus Christi, Texas for 34 years (Saturday's 2010 event will be number 35). I've been involved since 2006 when I organized the first team of runner musicians who represent the Mid-Texas Symphony.

The Beach to Bay (B2B) has grown immensely over the years. Last year's numbers were staggering: 1,980 teams, comprised of over 12,000 runners. B2B has a personality all its own. There are runners who have run every year. There are teams from up and down the coastal plain, teams from Mexico, Kenyan runners who have just discovered the race. There are teams which run highly competitive races, there are grudge matches between rival teams, and then there are teams who are there just because of the event. It's an excuse to party, it's a reunion, and it's sometimes a big mess when teams are too casual about it all. The smart teams have a plan, the casual teams don't. But even with a plan there are many variables, often unanticipated. I remember one year when our anchor runner got caught in a terrible logjam of traffic while driving to his handoff spot. The poor 5th leg runner got to the end of her leg and panicked when she couldn't find the anchor (final leg) runner. He finally got there 10 minutes late. Ironically, this was our best year in terms of finish time.

This is not a race for the purist. Truth is, the purists find themselves vastly outnumbered in practically every race these days, and I'm happy for it. The purists I speak of are those who believe races are for the serious runners, those who train long and hard, run their sprints, take a hardened approach to the business of racing. These purists complain about the "commoners" who have taken over their sport. I respect the grit and the sweat and sacrifice the purists put into their efforts, but I applaud the middle pack runners and admire those who run (or even walk) in the back of the pack. Surely, running should be our sport, inclusive of all who lace up the shoes and make a commitment to log miles, whether it's walking, ambling, or running.

B2B is a people's race. Look at the participants and you see South Texas. Few events of this size reflect so truly the population of the region. In fact, this is where the census takers need to be. They would see a majority Hispanic participation joined almost seamlessly with a lighter skinned 40-45%. If there is a shortcoming, it's the relatively low numbers of African-American runners. And then there are the kids! There are Elementary and Middle School teams, and these kids can really run! The winning Elementary Boys team last year came in under 3 and a half hours; the winning Elementary Girls finished in under 4 hours. The fastest Middle School Boys team finished in just over 3 hours, good enough for 47th place overall!

The experience of B2B for the Mid-Texas Symphony team is part reunion (we are scattered from San Antonio to Austin and in between) and part love of running. This is where our team began. In the beginning, we were none too certain relay running was anything we would enjoy. After that first race, we were like a bunch of giddy kids. We've been running together ever since and counting the experience as a blessing. That's why I can't wait to get to Corpus tomorrow. I just LOVE running with my team.

Running Ft. Sam Houston

Ft. Sam Houston, occupying a considerable piece of San Antonio, Texas real estate, is one of the oldest military bases in the country. The present site went into service around 1876, building on the original 92 acres given the Army by the City of San Antonio. Ft. Sam now occupies around 3000 acres. The facility itself is a mosaic of parade grounds, supply depots, athletic fields and numerous historic buildings. The more than 900 historically significant structures led to the post being declared a National Historic Landmark in 1975.

It is unfortunate that one of the post 9/11 consequences was the closing of Ft. Sam Houston to the civilian public. When I first came to San Antonio in the mid-70s, it was possible to walk, run or bike through the grounds of the base. The San Antonio Symphony would give an annual outdoor concert there, attended by a mix of military and civilian music lovers. San Antonians loved Ft. Sam and still do. It's an important part of our community.

The fond memories I have of Ft. Sam Houston and my love of running are what bring me to Ft. Sam at least once, sometimes a couple of times per year. John Purnell organizes and directs a collection of triathlons and road races annually, including several 10 mile races which are part of the national series of Army 10 Milers. These competitions are open to military and local athletes alike and afford us civilians a wonderful chance to spend some time running through the historical grounds of Ft. Sam.

Needless to say, 10 miles is a substantial distance. Testament to the size of Ft. Sam Houston is the fact it is possible to lay out a 10 mile race course which is essentially without loops or repetition. In its present configuration, the course turns back into itself in only a couple of places, allowing the mid-pack runners to get at least a glimpse of the faster competitors. However, even this did not allow me to observe the winner of yesterday's 10 miler. I saw him at the starting line, but my pace of 10 minute miles could in no way keep up with his 6 minute pace. Nevertheless, I had good company with the true "soldiers" of San Antonio running, those who run for the love and challenge of the sport, knowing they will never be on the winner's stand at the finish. We run for fitness, we run for the endorphin kick, the so-called runner's high, we run because we want to run tomorrow, next week, next year. We want to still be running marathons when we're 50, 60, 75, even 80 years old. Come join us.

The Soda Debate

National Public Radio (NPR) recently offered a two part series about the ongoing debate regarding soft drinks, or soda pop as some say. I listened in indignant consternation to the rebuttal offered last week by a spokesperson for the soft drink industry who said "a full-calorie soft drink has 90 percent water, and a diet soft drink is 99 percent water. Water is the most important nutrient that we have..." By implication we are to believe soft drinks to be of some nutritional benefit. Dr. Maureen Storey, representing the American Beverage Association, went on: "Of nutritional value, there is either high-fructose corn syrup or sucrose, and that does provide energy or carbohydrates. And if we are active and need a refreshing beverage after a nice, long walk or a run, you can have a beverage and quench your thirst and stay hydrated."

Roll over Gary Erickson, founder of Clif Bar, a full line of nutritional products for athletes, or Brian Frank of Hammer Nutrition. Both Gary and Brian have invested in research and product development with the athlete, whether the weekend variety or a professional, in mind. Yes, you will find sugar in their products, but most often sugar derived from sources markedly different than those used by the mainstream food industry, including the manufacturers of soft drinks. Granted, the arguments pro or con regarding the health risks or not of high-fructose corn syrup are ongoing and thus far not absolutely conclusive one way or the other; nevertheless, the research produced by Hammer Nutrition and to some extent by Clif Bar indicates a soft drink, whether full-calorie or diet, is far, far down the list of athletically and nutritionally significant preferences.

Finally, the aforementioned Dr. Storey, in conversation with NPR's Michele Norris, argued that a sugar-laden soft drink is often the right hydration choice for children. Said Dr. Storey: "I don't think it's nutritionally unsound. There are some studies that show that particularly with children, children who have been exercising may not drink enough water to get back to the hydration point that they need to be at. So with a little bit of flavoring and a little bit of sweetness, they will drink enough, then, to get back to where they need to be."

Thankfully, some semblance of truth and skepticism returned a few days later when a listener laughed out loud regarding the soft drink industry's assertion of "the benefits of reaching for a refreshing glass of what is essentially a sugar-laden diuretic for post-exercise rehydration."

How about some good old water, or even Gatorade in its lower sodium modern formula. Better yet, make my preference Heed, the hydration product out of the Hammer Nutrition laboratories. We each will find the "water" which works best for our needs, but please take some time to understand the nutritional labeling and issues while making the most effective and health conscious choice.