Claws of the Cat-Book Review

I was fortunate to win an ARC copy of Claws of the Cat, a historic fiction mystery, by Susan Spann.  The first thing I did after receiving the email is look up ARC and learn that meant 'advance reading copy'. I'm an avid historical fiction book reader and was thrilled to win a book, especially a book with the word 'cat' in it.

In 16th century Japan, Hiro, a shinobi (ninja), learns that his master Father Mateo has a newly converted Christian friend accused falsely of murder. The young girl is accused of murdering a samurai and the son is judge and jury and quickly delivers a death sentence.  Hiro and Father Mateo have three days to prove her innocence otherwise the girl and Father Mateo lose their life and Hiro is masterless.

Having read many European historical fiction books, the ancient Japanese cultures and customs were foreign.  Where Europeans are driven by money, greed and recognition, the Japanese culture hinges on customs and respect. Imagine the possibility of giving up your life to retain your respect of family, friends and the community. Something very foreign in our western world.

Outside of the cute kitten that makes it's presence in the book and eats the bible (yes, imagine a cute little kitten eating a priests bible), I loved Susan's writing. I did receive this book free but just because a book is free, doesn't mean I always read it.  I have a Kindle full of free books.  I realized that many of the books I have been reading, some of them free and some are even best sellers, the writing is crap.  Susan's writing flows, the words carefully chosen, her knowledge of the culture and time period evident and she understands her characters intimately.  This is one of the few books lately that engrossed me and kept my attention.

If you enjoy historical fiction and an awesome mystery check this book out.

Worlds Around Me – Guest Writer: Leah Senona

I walked a total of 26 miles last week. Sometimes I wish I was a runner because my daily three to four mile jaunts would take less time to finish. But I am a walker, despite at least six different attempts to take up running and enjoy it enough to continue. I began walking for fitness, as a way to meet some of my health and weight loss goals, but each day I find something new to enjoy about the activity.

Whether walking in the rain after dinner or through the heat of the day during my lunch break, I look and see worlds around me. There are birds in the trees, singing their unique songs, a spider determinedly making its way down the sidewalk crack, the laughter of children in some distant backyard, each existing completely apart from me but now also part of me because I noticed them. Sometimes on my walks I’m overwhelmed by my own insignificance. Sometimes I’m inspired to believe I can make a difference.  At the end of every walk, though, I am less stressed, more at peace, and left with a sense of accomplishment, of moving toward something more.

Nature awes me, motivates me, teaches me, and thrills me. Walking for fitness allows me to spend time with Mother Earth, learning and growing as I open myself up to the possibilities and wonders of each small world I encounter. Although I wish sometimes I was a runner, I know I am more open to the beauty of the world when I am not gasping for breath and stumbling over my own feet. We each have our unique way to commune with nature and the world at large. The important thing is to get out there and connect with the worlds around us.

Leah Senona is a writer, amateur gardener, raiser of chickens, and avid reader. She spends an inordinate amount of time in her head, finding meaning in nearly everything, and shares her thoughts and experiences at www.parrotandox.com .

Need a Unique Gift for a Runner? How about a Toe Condom?

10 Gift Ideas for the Runner In Your Life

Do you fret over what gift to buy the runner in your life?

You know they love running because the running schedule is tacked over the kiddo's latest crayon drawings.  And they won't run on a dirt track or a rainy day because they have new shoes they don't want to get dirty.  And they have more than enough tech T's because races (at least the bigger ones) provide a tech T and the drawer is already crammed with cotton T's covering every color of the rainbow.

So what do you buy that runner that will make them jump up with joy and give you a great big hug?

1. A gift with safety in mind, is the Road ID. Road ID is identification worn as a bracelet, anklet, necklace or on the running shoe with contact and medical information about the runner. The anklet and bracelet styles are great for the triathlete going from water, to bike to road. I wrote a post about Road ID which includes coupon codes that are kept up to date.  Priced around $20 this is a great gift for the  runner, you and even your dog. (yep, they have a style for the dog too)
2. A race entry fee to a local race is sure to get you a thumbs up.  Make a day out of the gift giving a race entry followed by breakfast or lunch.  Or design a weekend out of town around a race.
3. Nite Ize has an awesome, super bright arm band to wear when you want cars and others to see you in the dark. At $12 this will slip easily into the Christmas stocking.
4. Guys, sorry this next one is just for girls.  Lululemon turbo speed shorts are extremely comfortable and the perfect length covering the butt cheeks. While a little pricey at $54, maybe only one may makes it into the running clothes drawer but that one pair will be coveted. Rather than wear the shorts for a short, solo run around the block, it'll be pulled out time and again for the longer runs or group runs.  Gotta show off the cute shorts when others can admire them too.
5. If Lululemon shorts were for the gals then nipple guards and toe condoms are for the guys.  Nipple guards prevent bloody nipples and can be worn "for multiple runs over 72 hours".  Now that's getting your monies worth out of a product.  Toe caps, AKA as toe condoms, protect the toe and toe nail from blisters and black toes.  During Ragnar Wasatch my girlfriend successfully warded off black toenails using the toe condoms. 
6. Every runner loves new socks and aren't always willing to spend the money themselves for new socks. Runner socks range from $8-20 a pair so grab a pair or two to give to any runner in your life.
7. Carrying small things like keys,phone, Chapstick or GU is easy with the Spibelt. The non-bouncing belt is a must have rather than cramming everything into pockets. The styles range from $20 to $30 with original styles to waterproof versions and even a spileash for the dog.
8. On cold nippy days, running gloves with the thumb fabric being soft for wiping running noses is a must. Running gloves today also have special fabric on thumbs for touch screen like the iPhone.
9. Garmin running watches range in functionality and price. Only need to track miles and pace without all the extra bells and whistles try the Forerunner 10 at $130. Needing to go from water to road?  The Forerunner 910XT is your watch for $449. With many more watches and varying functionality and price the runner in your life will love tracking miles and paces with a Garmin.
10. Compression socks are still popular touting recovery miracles. There are many brands to check out...Zoot, CEP, Asics, CW-X, and more.

 

My fav's are the hot pink CEP socks which I proudly wear in memory of Sally Meyerhoff. 

Happy Running!

note: I have not been compensated by any company to mention their product.Other than the toe condoms and nipple guards, I've used the products I listed as gifts and recommend them. 

Sunscreen. Is it really Safe for You? Guest Writer Jessie

Sunscreen.  For most health-conscious people it’s a no-brainer; it helps prevent painful sunburns and ultimately skin cancer.  But is it really the health boon that we all think it is? Or is there more to the story?  Recent studies suggest that many sunscreens are not all their cracked up to be and sometimes may be doing more harm than good!

I started reading about sunscreens a couple years ago when one of my favorite health advocacy groups, the Environmental Working Group (a non-profit organization that uses the power of public information to protect public health and the environment) published their annual guide to sunscreen.  Since then, I have seen the same themes repeated again and again on other health forums. I honestly believe that knowledge is power, so today I am going to share the results of some of my reading with you.

More melanoma in sunscreen users?!?  This is one of the first items that I read and I was almost ready to dismiss it as total malarkey, but when you delve into the details, it really does make sense.  According to the Environmental Working Group, “some researchers have detected an increased risk of melanoma among sunscreen users.”   They point to a couple possible reasons for this and the first may be our own overconfidence and overreliance on sunscreen.  Unfortunately, this overconfidence isn’t solely a product of our own psyche; sunscreen manufactures have largely contributed to this by consistently overstating the efficacy of their products, because of this issue “in June 2011 the FDA announced new rules on labeling and effectiveness testing for sunscreens. They will ban the use of misleading claims like “sunblock,” “waterproof” and “sweatproof” and define which sunscreens can claim “broad spectrum” protection.”

Many of us tend to believe that a good sunscreen is fully protecting us from the sun UVA and UVB radiation, but that is not the case.  Many sunscreens work well against UVB radiation (which causes visible burns) but not against UVA radiation, which does not cause visible sunburns but still damages the skin and is a huge contributor to the more dangerous forms of skin cancer.   So while we avoid burns and feel “safer” we are still exposing ourselves to more and more harmful radiation. The misleading claims by sunscreen manufacturers have contributed consumer overconfidence in the protective factors of sunscreen, causing people to stay in the sun too long and stay outside during peak sun hours.  

Unfortunately, overconfidence is not the only unintended health consequence of sunscreen; according to the FDA recent studies have found that vitamin A, a common additive to sunscreen and other moisturizing lotions “may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions when applied to skin in the presence of sunlight”.  Vitamin A is an additive in 25 percent of all sunscreens and while it is a useful addition to overnight creams, it should not be worn in direct sunlight.

In addition to vitamin A, there are other chemicals used in sunscreen that may do more harm than good.  While most sunscreens work to prevent visible sunburn, but do not prevent free-radical damage caused by UVB radiation (addressed above) some sunscreen chemicals actually “generate (additional) free radicals that damage DNA and skin cells, accelerate skin aging and cause skin cancer."  Also, the chemical oxybenzone, a common active ingredient in sunscreen is “a synthetic estrogen that penetrates the skin and contaminates the body.”

This is all pretty scary stuff!  So, what do you do now? As for me, I have moved away from a chemical SPF in my daily moisturizer and changed to a mineral foundation that contains titanium, a natural mineral barrier to the sun.  Mineral barriers such as titanium and zinc do not penetrate into the body to cause hormone disruptions or additional free radical damage.  I also am not so quick to slather on a layer of sunscreen when I am only going to be outside for 30 minutes or so.  Instead, I try to do my outside tasks in the morning or evening rather than peak sun hours.  I use that half an hour in the sun to get my daily dose of vitamin D, which “strengthens bones and the immune system, reduces the risk of various cancers (including breast, colon, kidney and ovarian cancers) and regulates at least a thousand different genes governing virtually every tissue in the body.”

Finally, if I am going to be outside for more than 30 minutes, or at peak sun hours, I do use sunscreen.  I just take a little more time and consideration in what I purchase.  I avoid oxybenzone and vitamin A and instead look for mineral sunscreens containing zinc or titanium.  You can find a list of safer and more effective sunscreens on EWG’s website.  My advice is once you find one you like that is readily available in your area, stick with it and don’t be enticed by the next two-for-one sale!

I am by no means a scientist or an expert on sunscreen; this is only information that I have gleaned from reading the conclusions of studies conducted by the actual experts.  For more information on sunscreen safety and efficacy, please visit the Environmental Working Group’s 2012 guide to sunscreens.   (They also have a TON of other amazing resources related to food and cosmetic safety among other things at http://www.ewg.org/)

Jessie, in addition to being suckered into writing articles for me, makes her own soap and shampoo and educates others in making smart choices when choosing cosmetics, sunscreen and cleaning products.  Her enthusiasm for being a vegetarian, getting involved for community groups and making change have help many, especially sneaky cats.

Jessie, on far left, after running her first and hopefully not last half marathon

Running Movies and Documentaries

After I posted about my favorite running movie (Saint Ralph) I searched for all the running movies and documentaries I could find and sorted them by date.  I found running movies and running documentaries that I had seen but many more that I had never heard of. (I've seen 35% of the movies on the list).  If there are movies/documentaries that I missed please leave a comment and I'll add them to the post.

1. Jim Thorpe – All American (1951 Non-Fiction) The triumph and tragedy of Native Anerican Jim Thorpe, who, after winning both the pentathlon and decathlon in the same Olympics, is stripped of his medals on a technicality.
2. The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962 Fiction) From IMDb: A rebellious youth, sentenced to a boy's reformatory for robbing a bakery, rises through the ranks of the institution through his prowess as a long distance runner. See my review here
3. Marathon Man (1976 Fiction) A paranoid thriller where the main character is a runner. (no…runners aren't paranoid)
4. Running (1979 Fiction) From IMDb: American marathon runner Michael Andropolis sets his heart on representing his country at the Olympic games. Meanwhile his marriage has fallen apart and his children have no respect for him. He sets out on his task with determination and hope that his success will resolve his personal problems.
5. Jericho Mile (1979 Fiction) From IMDb: Rain Murphy is a man sentenced to life in prison, choosing to do his time in near-isolation, and engages in distance running when given the opportunity for free-time
6. Chariots of Fire (1981 Non-Fiction) One of the best running movies. The story of two British track athletes, one a determined Jew, and the other a devout Christian who compete in the 1924 Olympics.(from IMDb)
7. Running Brave (1983 Non-Fiction) American Indian Billy Mills crawls out of the crab bucket to go to the olympics.
8. The Big Chill (1983 Fiction) While not a movie specifically about running, the main character, Harold, is a runner and sells running shoes, meaning running is spread throughout the movie. The plot is about baby boomer college friends reuniting 15 years later due to a suicide of a friend.
9. Courage (1984 Fiction)  Three long-distance runners head off to the New Mexico desert for a 72 mile run when a survivalist militia hunts the runners, not to capture them but to kill them.
10. On the Edge (1986 Fiction) From IMDb:This is a movie by runners, for runners. The director, one of the producers, and many of the actors in the movie are real runners, including many real winners of the Dipsea race that the film is based on. There's something about distance running that those of us that do it understand, and those that don't do it don't understand. This movie does a great job of showing the spiritual side of running, and the magic of pursuing goals. 
11. Across the Tracks (1990 fiction). Brothers attending different high schools join track which puts them against each other.  If you're a Brad Pitt fan you'll enjoy this movie. 
12. Forest Gump (1994 Fiction) From Amazon: this unlikely story of a slow-witted but good-hearted man somehow at the center of the pivotal events of the 20th century is a funny and heartwarming epic. Hanks plays the title character, a shy Southern boy in love with his childhood best friend (Robin Wright) who finds that his ability to run fast takes him places. 
13. Fire on the Track (1995 Non-Fiction) Famous movie about Pre
14. 100 Years of Olympic Glory (1996 Non-Fiction)
15. Prefontaine (1997 Non-Fiction) 
16. Children of Heaven (1997 Fiction N) A foreign film where a poor boy tries to win a pair of shoes so the kids don't need to share shoes anymore
17. Run Lola Run (1998 Fiction) From IMDb:Lola receives a phone call from her boyfriend Manny. He lost 100,000 DM in a subway train that belongs to a very bad guy. Lola has 20 min to raise this amount and meet Manny. Otherwise, he will rob a store to get the money. Three different alternatives may happen depending on some minor event along Lola's run.
18. Without Limits (1998 Non-Fiction) Prefontaine life
19. Endurance (1999 Non-Fiction) The gold medal for the men's 10,000-meter race in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics is won by Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie.
20. Jim Ryan: America's Greatest Miler (1999 Non-Fiction) From IMDb:A documentary on the life of runner Jim Ryun featuring exclusive footage of Ryun's record setting 3:58.3 mile run at the Kansas state championships.
21. Run Like A Girl (2000 Non-Fiction) Documentary by Carol Cassidy covers a woman running in a man's world and a young high school cross country athlete.
22. Running on the Sun: The Badwater 135 (2000 Non-Fiction) From IMDb: Forty runners compete in the most grueling race on earth, the Badwater. The film documents the trials and tribulations of these athletes as they run 135 miles through Death Valley in July and explores the motivations behind this seemingly masochistic contest. A celebration of the perseverance of the human will beyond the limits of the human body.
23. The Long Run (2001 Non-Fiction) From IMDb: The Comrades Marathon is a 90-k race in South Africa. An aging running coach, Barry, wants to field a winner; he's working with four men from a factory, but when he's fired to make way for a smooth, corporate type, he's at loose ends. Then he sees Christine, a Namibian immigrant who runs to forget her troubles. He offers to coach her and soon she's living at his house, following his diet and training regimen.
24. Saint Ralph (2004 Fiction) Humorous movie of puberist Ralph as he trains for the Boston Marathon to do a miracle to save his sick mom. This is one of my favorite movies and I highly recommend it.
25. Marathon (2005 non-fiction N) Based on the true story of Bae Hyeong-jin of South Korea, this film follows austistic Cho-Won, who dreams of running a marathon.
26. Four Minutes (2005 Non-Fiction) The story of Roger Bannister breaking the 4 minute mile
27. Land of the Gods: Legends of the Marathon. (2006 Non-Fiction) a beautifully photographed film that captures the stories of a wide range of runners (beginner to elite, old and young) while they train for and run in the Chicago Marathon.
28. The Runner: Extreme UltraRunner David Horton  (2006 Non-Fiction) From IMDb:Follows extreme ultrarunner David Horton through the desert sun, the high snowbound mountain passes, the pain, the emotion, and his revelation. Join him as he runs more than 40 miles per day for 66 consecutive days in an attempt to set the speed record on the 2,700 mile Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. 
29. Runner's High (2006 Non-Fiction) From IMDb: When teenagers from one of the nation's toughest neighborhoods in Oakland, California sign up to train for a marathon, they begin the journey of a lifetime. Runners High is an intimate, character driven documentary of struggle, courage, and hope. During a season filled with conflict and possibility, four of these teens bare their dreams, joys, tears and fears. As several stumble under pressure in emotionally charged moments, others realize the journey begins with the power and commitment to accept responsibility for their own futures.
30. Indulgence: 1000 Miles Under the Colorado Sky (2007 Non-Fiction) Features ultra-marathoner Anton Krupicka as he trains in the mountains in Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California. The documentary reflects Anton's simple approach to life and running.
31. Spirit of the Marathon (2007 Non-Fiction N) Spirit of the Marathon provides a unique, compelling view into the training and drum-up to the Chicago Marathon. 
32. Running the Sahara (2007 Non-Fiction N)  From IMDb: Three men attempt to become the first humans to run coast to coast across the Sahara Desert.
33. Volcanic Sprint  (2007 Non-Fiction)  It's about a completely insane marathon in Africa that climbs more than 10,000 feet up to the top of Mount Cameroon—which by the way, is a live volcano.
34. Run, Fatboy, Run (2007 Fiction) Five years after jilting his pregnant fiancée on their wedding day, out-of-shape Dennis decides to run a marathon to win her back.
35. The Long Green Mile (2008 Non-Fiction). The movie documents the York Duke's 2005 Cross Country season as the runners seek their record 25th state title in 50 years.
36. Run for Your Life (2008 Non-Fiction N) From IMDb: Without one eccentric first-generation Jewish immigrant from Transylvania, the New York City Marathon simply wouldn't exist. Ehrlich's fun, loving, and inspirational tribute to the late Fred Lebow shows how one man's imagination, determination, and love for running created one of the world's most popular sporting events.
37. Showdown (2008 Non-fiction) Five elite distance runners.  One Dream
38. Ultra-marathon man (2008 Non-Fiction) Follow Dean Karnazes on his journey to run 50 marathons in 50 days. The best part of the movie is the runner running smack dab into a pole.  
39. Run Reckless (2008 Non-Fiction) Documentary from two time olympian Anthony Famiglietti
40. Running for Water (2008 Non-Fiction) 24 hour a day, 95 day relay run around the world, raising money and awareness to bring clean drinking water to the world.
41. Off and Running (2009 Non-Fiction N) A documentary following a black adopted Jewish teen who's trying to contact her biological mother with a little bit of track action thrown in.
42. Running for My Father (2009 Non-Fiction) Finishing is more than crossing the line
43. Atletu (2009 Non-Fiction) The title of this 2009 Ethiopian film translates in English as “The Athlete. " The movie is  about the first African to win a gold medal in the Olympics.
44. Jim Thorpe: The World's Greatest Athlete (2009 Non-Fiction) 
45. Athlete (2010 Non-Fiction) Documentary following triathletes. See my review here.
46. The Robber (2010 non-Fiction) The true story of a marathon runner who robbed banks as a hobby.
47. Marathon Boy (2010 Non-Fiction) Four year old Budhia has a gift for long distance running that becomes controversial that the young athlete is being exploited.
48. Bull Runners of Pamplona (2009 Non Fiction N) Documentary that captures the running of the bulls in Spain.
49. My Run (2011 Non-Fiction N) From IMDb: After tragically losing his wife to breast cancer and struggling to raise three young children on his own, real life super hero and modern day Forrest Gump, Terry Hitchcock seized on an idea. He wanted to accomplish the impossible: run 75 consecutive marathons in 75 consecutive days to bring attention to the incredibly difficult lives of single-parent families. 
50. Unbreakable: The Western States 100 (2011 Non-Fiction) Follow four men as they compete to win one of the greatest ulta-races. 
51. The East Coast Trail Full Movie (2011 Non-Fiction) Ultrarunner Gary Robbins records his success in breaking a record in Canada
52. Fast Women (2011 Non-Fiction) Awarded Best Documentary at the Mammoth Film Festival, this film follows four amazing women on their journey as they train, race, juggle family life, and manage the ups and downs of competitive racing.
53. Why We Run: Tarahumara Runners of Mexico (2011 Non-Fiction) learn about the Tarahumara Tribe of Copper Canyon Mexico.
54. Miles and Trials: Running Towards 2012 (2011 Non-Fiction) A documentary in the making about six women and their big dreams of making it to the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials. 
55. Hood to Coast (2011 Non-Fiction) Documentary following Hood to Coast teams.
56. Barefoot Running, The Movie (2011 Non-Fiction) Although this has "The Movie" in the title, it appears to be an informational documentary on how and why barefoot running will help you as a runner.
57. Finding Traction (2012) This movie follows Nikki Kimball, an ultrarunning icon who has won the Western States 100 along with several other endurance races, in her attempt to set the speed record on Vermont’s 273-mile Long Trail in August 2012, when she was 41 years old. The crew spends four days capturing Kimball’s triumphs and struggles on the trail, which traverses the beautiful but difficult Green Mountains of Vermont.
58. Running Inside Out (2012 Fiction) N  Inspired by a true story, this christian drama follows a young woman's journey from college to career.  Multiple running scenes. 
59. Usain Bolt: The Fastest Man Alive (2012 Non-Fiction N) A documentary following Usain including his false start disqualifying him from the finals in Daegu in 2011.  
60. Starting at the Finish Line: The Coach Buehler Story (2012 Non-Fiction N) Documentary highlight the career of Duke track coast Al Buehler who enriched the lives of students and athletes.
61. Fast Girls (2012 Fiction) Two female athletes strive to become members of the 2x100 realty team at the World Championship representing Great Britain.
62. Reverse Runner (2013 Fiction) Austrian comedy about a teenager who dreams of making his mark as a runner who runs backwards. 
63. Spirit of the Marathon II (2013 Non-Fiction) Seven runners are followed in the street or Rome, Italy as they train for a marathon. Interviews with world class runners Stefano Baldini,Paula Radcliffe and Frank Shorter.
64. Desert Runners (2013 Non-Fiction) If you are up for watching runners go through excruciating pain, then this documentary of a group attempting to complete the 4 Deserts ultra races is right up your alley. Each race for these amateur runners is a little north of 150 miles and runs through the Atacama Desert, the Gobi, the Sahara, and Antarctica. Brutal.
65. The Runners (2013 non-fiction) This 11 minute british film asks joggers personal questions and the answers are honest. 
66. Unbroken (December 2014 non-fiction) The amazing story of Louis Zamperini who made the 1936 Olympic team in the 5k as a teenage unknown, and later became a war hero after surviving 47 days at sea. This incredible story, captured in the 2010 book Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by best-selling author Laura Hillenbrand.
67. Running the Edge (2014 non-fiction) Family man and ultra runner, Scott Jaime prepares to run the entire 486 mile Colorado Trail in the Rocky Mountains. 
68. Ultra- Running Movie (2014 non-fiction) Danish documentary follows Andreas Carlsen as he prepares for Western States and the Sparthalon
69. Four Minute Mile (2014 fiction) N A teenage tract start and a former coach who each face difficult obstacles in life turn to each other to find comfort, stability and hope.
70. Transcend (2014 non-fiction) Long distance running allowed Wesley Korir to escape the grinding poverty of Kenya. But after winning multiple American marathons, including taking running's most cherished prize, the Boston Marathon, he risks it all and returns home to help fellow Kenyans create better lives for themselves.
71. The Barkley Marathons: The Race that Eats their Young (2014 non-fiction) The name says it all, chronicling one of the most brutal races that only a handful of brave souls can actually try. (Only 15 individuals have completed the 100+ mile race in the hills of Tennessee over the race’s existence.) For years, the Barkley Marathons was a race that nobody talked about. You had to know somebody who knew how to enter to even have a chance at entry. This documentary gives a great look at the trials and tribulations that a small number of runners put themselves through each year, and why the race director, Gary Cantrell, designed the devilish race in the first place.
72. Run Free: The True Story of Cabello Blanco (2015 non-fiction). Chronicles the lift of American ultra running legend Micah True (Caballo Blanco AKA White Horse) and his quest to create an ultra marathon in Mexico's Copper Canyon to promote and preserve Tarahumara running tradition. 
73. 1 Mile to You (2017 fiction) After a teenager's friends die in an accident he finds running allows him to remember them perfectly. Running, however, also brings him notoriety.  He is caught between keeping the past alive and making new memories in the present.
74. Tracktown (2017 non-fiction) Plumb Marigold (Alexi Pappas) is a famous but lonely distance runner preparing for the biggest race of her life: The Olympic Trials. But when an injury forces her to take an unexpected day off, Plumb wanders into a bakery where the aimless boy behind the counter catches her eye. In this story that captures the experience of a young Olympic hopeful, many of the actors are actual Olympic athletes -- including co-writer/director and lead actor Pappas.

Guest Writer- Ramblin with AM-Vestal Rail Trail

Today I have a guest writer Alana join me.  For the blogathon we swapped posts and I'm longing to run on her trail.  Read on to hear about a great trail.

Hi!  I write a blog called Ramblin' With AM  and live in upstate New York.  I am not a runner but I have been a dedicated exercise walker for some 35 years now.Thank you to Christina at Lazy Bones Running, for giving me this opportunity to guest post on her blog.

One of my favorite places to walk is on what used to be a railroad track.  Years ago, when the railroad industry was king, there were thousands and thousands of miles of railroad tracks criss-crossing the United States.  Now, a lot of those tracks are no longer needed.

Around 1968, people had an idea:  take up the tracks, build trails on the railroad right of ways, and have these trails available for exercise and other community activities. Several rounds of federal legislation followed,.  The application for the first rail trail, in Missouri, was filed in 1986.  Almost 20,000. miles of these trails have now been built. So, almost everywhere you go in the United States, you can find a former rail, now a trail, just waiting for you to run on it.  And maybe even train for a marathon.

Don't take my word for it:  The Rails to Trails Conservancy published a recent article on how a Rail Trail can be an ideal marathon training venue. 

No traffic to dodge.
It's quiet.
You can run for long, uninterrupted stretches.

Our local trail is the Vestal Rail Trail and has been open for over 15 years now.  It is frequented by walkers, runners, bicyclists, and inline skaters, along with families just having a good time. Our particular trail is flat, straight, and  is a tiny bit over 2 miles long each way.  It is well maintained, with good surface, and is plowed in the winter.  It is never so crowded that exercise is difficult, although it is less congested on weekdays.  But there are shoulders to run on, if you need to pass someone.  And there is a little nature trail turnout, if you need to run on dirt.

The sign at the east end of our trail.

On the west end of the trail, the historic Rounds Coal House sits.  Moved several years ago from its original spot, where it was in danger of being torn down, it was moved and renovated. 

All along the trail are wildflowers and wild plants, which I have photographed time and again for my blog. Other rail trails have sculpture, and even community gardens.

Are you ready to take a run on your local rail trail?  

A New Adventure in Yoga

Yoga is touted to have many benefits and I've been interested in trying it from the stand point of staying healthy for running. A couple years ago I bought a Yoga DVD that sat wrapped in the package until I bought a new DVD player and needed to test the playing functionality.  After testing the DVD did in fact run, the disk sat there waiting to be played.  About a year ago, I bought a Groupon for a yoga studio less than a mile away from my house and the Groupon has since expired.  The class schedule didn't work well for me and I'd rather be running anyways.

When Amanda at Run To the Finish posted about her May Yoga Challenge and her giveaway for My Yoga Online I knew I had to check out the website. The videos that are available look amazing.  Videos on  postnatal yoga, pilates, meditation, beginning yoga, regular yoga, cleansing and more.  There's even some sort of cooking videos too.  Since time is often limited and I have a short attention span, the lengths of the videos of 6 minutes to an hour were really appealing.

For $9.95 a month I decided to sign up and give it a try. After all, if I watch just one a month I'd feel like I got my monies worth.

After waking up with the sun at 4am, I decided to try my first beginning yoga video called Discovering Sun Salutations.  The moves were easy and I enjoyed the stretches and breathing exercises and the 25 minutes went quickly.  This afternoon I even fit a 6 minute breathing video.

I recommend you check out the website and watch the video samples that are long enough to get a good feel  of the content and if watch many of them you can create your own workout. (disclaimer I haven't gotten paid for my glowing recommendation (or at least yet...hint, hint myyogaonline))

Do you participate in yoga classes or videos?  

Happy stretching!

Does This Skirt Make My Butt Look Fast?

The mail held a package from Running Skirts and I squealed in delight thinking it was a gift from my friend Somer. We often send each other running gifts because we both love running and shopping for running clothes.   Reading the enclosed letter from Cindy and Christy from Running Skirts, I was surprised I was chosen to review their products. Woo hoo!  I love running clothes.  I finished ripping open the package and saw a purple skirt and matching top.

All sweaty after my morning run

My very next run the following morning I put on the skirt and top.  The skirt didn't have built-in shorties so I wore black compression shorts underneath the skirt. Maybe if I were running a race and wanted to beat a bunch of guys because they wanted to run behind me, I would forgo the shorties. The shorts were a little long and showed at the bottom and John said I looked goofy.  (Note: I talked to Cindy from Running skirts and the skirt is a triathlon skirt intended to go over compression or swim bottoms.) The skirt bunched a little at the waist in the back but not substantial.  There are two pockets on each side have ample space and easily hold an mp3 player, chapstick, car key and GU.

I love the back of the top

The running top fit great and I love the argyle pattern and chris cross design on the back. The bra was padded with removable pads making me look like I actually had boobs.  The only problem with the padded bra is that it kept me warmer in the Arizona heat and absorbed my sweat. The bra must have weighed an extra 10 pounds holding all my sweat by time I finished running.

To complete my review I needed to see how it would hold up in the wash machine.  Had I paid attention, I would have noticed the complete care instructions inside the skirt.  Just a couple months ago I bought a fold-up clothes dryer and by pure chance I actually followed the directions to line dry the skirt.

Isn't the sassy "performance gear with girly-girl style!" fun?

The second time I wore the outfit I removed the bra pads, which came out easily and seemed to have held their shape well after washing.

Wash and wear  (before the run)

I checked out  their website and maybe I'll buy some shorties for underneath the skirt or wear it over capris in the winter or I can wear it out at the lake over my swimsuit.  The top will get lots of wear this summer and help keep me cool.  And when winter comes they have totally cute arm bands that match the outfit.

Happy Running!

Disclosure: The outfit was sent to me by Running Skirts for my review.  There were no monies received outside of the value for the outfit itself.

Dreams vs. Goals - Guest Writer Liz Finch

Have you ever dreamed of running a Marathon? Maybe even the Boston? Even if your answer is no, this post can still help you… if you are only willing to take a small journey with me. Ready? Let’s begin.

The first thing you need to learn is that there is a big difference between goals and dreams.  A dream is only a dream. When we take steps to achieve it, then, and only then, does it become a goal.  A dream is the desire to run Boston. A goal is taking steps to run the Boston. Even so, dreams are very important because they are the stepping stones for our goals.

So think with me for a moment, what do you daydream about? I literally had a dream last night that I was running this 5k that I’m registered for and my running was effortless and flowing just like what I had secretly imagined. Okay, so a 5k is a small dream, but it’s a stepping stone to larger dreams like one day running a full marathon.

The very first thing that I need is a mission statement. A mission statement is your dream, written out. So let’s say my big dream is to run in the Disney Princess Half come February 2012. (My small dream was the 5k, remember?) My mission statement might be, “I will train, through 5ks and 10ks, to run in the Disney Princess Half”. Or it might be, “I will become fit and strong through running races and cross training so that I can run the Disney Princess Half”. This mission statement is for you alone, so get as creative as you like!

The next step is where you can get quite creative. Put on your thinking cap, and think of goals that will help you accomplish your mission statement. Mini-steps. The only criteria that you need to use for those are that they must be MAPSS – Measurable, Attainable, Positive, Specific, and Scary!

So a good goal for me is, “I will run 2 5ks and 2 10ks and 1 half marathon to prepare for the Disney Princess Half”. A mini goal is “I will run the 5ks in under 40 minutes”. Measurable, Attainable, Positive, Specific, and Scary! 

Keep making goals until you’ve reached your major goal. So it would look like this:

Run a 5k à Run a 10k à Run a half marathon à Run the Disney Princess Half. 

Under each of those you might have even smaller goals, like a time goal, weight goal, or fitness level goal.

Does that make sense? Remember, any dream can be accomplished if you only break it down into measurable steps.

The last step is the most fun, in my opinion. Post your mission statement and your current goal somewhere where you can see it. On your bathroom mirror, the fridge, where ever! I also post pictures from Runner’s World and especially the posters of the Disney Princess Half all over the house so I’m always reminded of my goal.

Cheers, and Good Luck on your Goals!

L. Finch

Liz is a runner from the Kansas area whose biggest dream is to run the Disney Princess Half... and someday maybe a marathon. Her weakness is coffee, chocolate, and books. After falling and breaking her arm while running, her greatest fear is falling while running. Visit Liz at her blog Feet Dominating Pavement

Boston Marathon. A Century of Blood, Sweat and Cheers

As Boston approaches, I desire to learn more about the marathon.  Not only the course but also the interesting tidbits about the famous marathon.  I've been listening to Steve Runners older episodes of the State of the Course and anxiously await the 2011 State of the Course episode.  Sitting on the bookshelf of my boyfriend is the  book 'The Boston Marathon A Century of Blood, Sweat and Cheers' published in 2003 by Tom Derderian, that  has captured my interest with snippets of Boston marathon history, the course and races.  I recommend reading the book yourself but in the meantime, here are a couple tidbits I found interesting.

• In 1924 the starting line was moved to Hopkinton from Ashland.
• Wheelchair collisions occur, much to the horror of the spectators. The collision in 1987 required changes controlling the start to prevent crashes.
• 1987 must have been a horrible start because they used a rope to prevent runners from false starting.  The starter, fired the gun without realizing the rope was still up causing runners to trip and fall.  (see there's a reason I'm not an elite at the starting line)
• The Hadleys, who live on Hopkinton Common,open their bathroom to runners; many who return year after year for their hospitality.
• An extra 12,000 vehicles go through the Hopkinton tollbooth increasing tolls collected
• It once was believed the marathon was harmful to the human body. At least until 1958 a physical was required the day of the marathon to prove the fitness of the athlete before running Boston.
• In the first Boston, each athlete had their own handler. Someone to ride along on a bicycle in case their runner needed "water, food, massage, encouragement and stimulants."
• In 1907 runners had to wait for a freight train giving Longboat the lead in front of Fowler.
• In 1927, when paving roads was still basically an experiment,  the tar melted sticking to the runners shoes.
• The largest margin of victory was 6:52 in 1897 for the men, 9:59 in 1972 for the females.  The smallest margin was 1 second for the men in 1988 and .40 seconds in 1980.

Happy Running!

Guest Blogger - Tips for Running Boston from Gideon

After getting great tips from Jason about running Boston, I asked my friend Gideon, who was a guest blogger last year, to also give tips for running Boston.  Thanks Gideon for the awesome information.


A few tips I learned from running Boston in 2010:

1. Be patient! - The wait to get a bus to Hopkinton was 1+ hours, the bus ride was 1.5 hours and the wait at Hopkinton was almost 2 hours.  Don't overdo drinking before the bus ride as it will make for an uncomfortable ride.
2. Bring food - Most marathons end by the time Boston starts, so you will get hungry waiting and running (especially smelling all the wonderful cook outs the residents have along the course).
3. Hope you are ok with crowds - Simple math; 26,000 runners packed on a rural street only 22 feet wide for several miles is like a school of fish in wicking clothes!  You can waste a lot of energy weaving around runners, so stay in your pace and try to avoid the weaves.
4. H20 stops are on both sides of the road; if you miss 1 on the left, 1 on then right will be up shortly.
5. The crowds are very vocal - if you want to draw attention to yourself, wear a Red Sox, Patriots or Boston College shirt (or tape your name on your shirt).  Likewise, if you like to be yelled at while racing, wear a Yankee's t-shirt...
6.  Post race food is skimpy - chips, piece of fruit, water and something else I can't recall; smarter idea is to pack something you like to eat and place it in your gear check bag.
7.Lastly, soak everything in - the crowds, historic buildings, banter with other racers, atmosphere, and nuances of the course - the left turn on Boylston to the finish line is very memorable and vivid for me; appreciate it as you earned it!!  


And it's ok to wear your medal the rest of the day :-)

Gid Oswitch
Kent, Ohio  

Guest Blogger - Tips for Running Boston from Jason

My friend Jason sent me an awesome email with all kinds of great information for running Boston.  Thanks Jason for taking me under your wing; I really appreciate it.

Enjoy the post and let me know if you have tips for running Boston, waiting around at the start or the finish.

So the past years with the 2 wave start they have had 2 colored bibs, one blue and one red. Sounds like the 3rd wave will have white this year.  They call everyone with blue bibs in wave one to head to the start.(I think it's about 9:15 or so?)  They have corrals marked off so the elites are up front, then bibs 1000-1999 in the first corral, 2000-2999 in the 2nd and so forth.  You may be several hundred yards from the starting line.  Just before the race they take down the corral roped barriers and everyone kind of surges forward, you really can't 'run' until just before the start.  I believe the cut off is 9000 per wave this year.  Once you get to the start you'll be running.  Just don't waste energy weaving in and out of folks, I've learned this the hard way, it will eventually clear out.  Make sure to go out slow, the first 2 miles are severe downhill and with a taper you'll want to scream out of there, don't do it, make a conscious effort to be aware of your pace and run smooth.  Make sure when you get to about half mile to look back up the hill at the sea of runners.  Simply awesome.   Remember to give the kids on the side some high fives too!  :)  

It's a wild scene.  It's WAAAAAY better than my first year in 2005 when they didn't have wave starts, I had bib 17,727 and didn't cross the start line for 20 minutes.  It's much better now and you'll see on the maps they send out where everything is.  My biggest Athlete's village keys are, go to the bathroom line as soon as you get there, seems like every year they have added more port-o-johns yet the lines are always long and obviously get worse close to the time you head to the start. Take an old marathon heat sheet to lay on the ground, it's typically around 45 degrees and you are just sitting around waiting. 

Time crawls until about 45 minutes before you have to head out.   Leave in plenty of time, drop your bag at the buses, make a nice, leisurely stroll to the start.  We've been caught, 2009 I think, running to the corrals and that's just not fun. Obviously I hope you'll be hanging out with the Alzheimer's group so if there are last minute items you need etc, someone will have them.  Plus we form an easy to find camp of runners.   :)

Remember to practice your meals since most of us don't run at that time of day, 10:30am is a bit different for me, I usually eat a small bagel at the Westin then something in the village.   To me that's the biggest headache of this race, leaving soooo early for the village then sitting around and having to kind of go through your race prep out there.   I've gotten a little bit better at not sweating it but it can be a difference for some people.

But hey, it's the Boston Marathon!!  

Athlete - Movie Review

Always looking to get my hands on movies about running, I had great hopes for the documentary Athlete by David Lam found on Blockbuster online. The documentary would follow triathletes in their training and racing journey. Per the Blockbuster website,

Synopsis Of Athlete
David Lam's documentary gets inside the heads of everyday people who become engrossed in various endurance sports, and makes a case for what it takes to call oneself an athlete in this day and age. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi 

There were 3 (almost 4)  athletes followed, each with their own personal, inspirational story
Artie, an older gentleman with a pot belly, became an athlete after he started losing his vision. He joined the Achilles organization and resumed running after a 25 year hiatus.  He completes the New York City marathon and a triathlon in the movie.

Kellie, an outstanding athlete, signed up for a triathlon with her twin sister Carrie. Unfortunately Carrie hits gravel while on her bike using the aero bars and has the road of recovery in front of her. Kellie completes the Ironman at Lake Placid.

Jenny, is a cancer survivor and helps raise money for cancer and completes a full marathon along with a triathlon.

The movie was incrediably choppy and hard to follow. It flipped between athletes and jumped around in time.  One moment you'd be at the morning of the Ironman, then she'd be loading the bike in the car, then it would be in the middle of the race or maybe it was a different race, then at the beginning of the training, then the night before the race.  It was horrible.  It would also flip to different races making it impossible to develop any timeline for the athlete.  The cinemetography had points where it was just bad filming, blurry or downright boring, such as watching the coffee brew or the 2 minute scene of watching Jenny get blood drawn for tests.  Two of the female athletes were blond with similar length hair and because the movie was so choppy, I couldn't tell which athlete I was watching.

It's like the director of the movie took all the things they learned in school and used it, not paying attention to flow or if it even made sense. Ask the question, does this add to the viewers experience?  Does it help convey the message I'm trying to tell?  If not, then don't include it. A example of this is towards the end of the movie, photo's are shown of the twin sisters growing up.  That should have been at the beginning, when characters are being developed. To show the bond the sister had and that would support the idea of the sister competing together. By showing them at the end it made me think the director had a good idea 1/2 way through editing and thought just put the pictures in at that time.

Despite the choppiness of the movie, there were moments of inspiration, like when Artie explains how becoming blind was the best thing that happened to him because he became an athlete and met many fantastic people in the Achilles organization.  Or seeing Jenny's dedication and drive while being a cancer survivor.

My rating is 1 out of 5 running shoes

Hood to Coast Movie

Seeing the Hood to Coast movie tonight makes me excited to run my next Ragnar race.   The movie followed 4 teams ranging from newbies to experienced and told personal stories of the runners.

The opening scene was a runner at night and ZOOOOMMMMMM, another runner zipped by like she was standing still.  If you've run a relay, or any race for that matter, you know the feeling of being passed when you're so dang tired.  Been there, done that.  I had to laugh.

It was a great movie that captured the essence of what a relay is about. There were many laughs, understanding of the exhaustion through the middle of the night and the drive to keep going.  In case you have the opportunity to see the movie, I won't get into the stories and characters and let you discover them for yourself when you see the movie.  While it was only a one night showing,  if you get a chance to see the movie jump on the opportunity.

My Rating is Five out of Five running shoes

Happy Running!

Movie Review-The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

Any movie with "running" in the title must be great, right?  That's what I thought when I saw this movie in the Blockbuster online list.  While I did know it was an old British film from 1962, I didn't realize that it would be in black and white and have very little to do with running.

To mask the silence of the movie, because there was nothing to say and nothing happening, symphony music played in the background. Music is always playing in a movie and helps set the mood but in the 60's, they hadn't mastered the use of music and probably only had symphony music readily available.

The movie takes place at a school for juvenile delinquents and one boy, Smith, is identified and groomed for a big cross country race against another school.  One day, Smith is allowed to go for a long run off school grounds.  Outside of the gates that hold the boys in he runs (more symphony music) and returns to the school.  Besides the last scene, that is all the most running you see.

When making the movie there were no real runners directing it so there is lots of bad form.  In the final scene he's running along (the race can't be more than 5 miles) and it's like the director said, ok now look like you're tired, flap your arms and hands,  Yes, that's it.

The movie ended horribly.  He's in the lead and while he's racing he has all these disjointed pictures of his past running through his head.  While this is normal for us runners to shift from thought to thought, the movie shows those pictures and Smith concludes that he's running for the school, not for himself and screw them and all authority and he STOPS. He just STOPS before the finish line. And that's it. There's nothing more. It was a stupid ending.

Unless you have absolutely nothing to do and wish to kill a couple hours, I recommend you leave this movie where the other black and white old movies belong...on the shelf.

My rating is one out of 5 running shoes

Happy Running!

Runners Blood - Book Review

Coach Dean knowing my enjoyment for reading, especially running novels, loaned me the book Runners Blood by James Fischer.  He said just look past all the technical blood stuff and it is a great story.  Dean isn't a big novel fan so the fact he liked it means a lot.

Running books come in different flavors. There's the training books, the fiction book of some unrealistic story and then history books of running. Luckily there are more and more running books and I have many to choose from.  I have a handful in my bookshelf now waiting to be read.  Runners Blood has a really interesting concept and running is woven into the storyline. 

Runners Blood captured my attention right away.  A race winner, a mystery and a murder set the scene at the very beginning of the book.  Sean, is an elite, olympic runner who gathers pieces of information to solve the mystery of how an old man was able to beat him. A scientist finds a way to change the ability for blood to carry oxygen giving a runner (or really any endurance athlete) an unfair advantage.  Basically the athlete can cheat but without the help of steroids detectable by tests.  The mystery of the book takes you on a journey to learn about blood, DN, proteins, hemoglobins and more technical terms that had my eyes rolling to the back of my head.  That's what Dean meant by look past all the technical blood stuff.  I followed enough to get the gist of the benefits of the special blood.

The book did make me see a whole new side of science that I had no idea existed.  It opened up my world of realizing there's so much to science and its quite tediious work.  I'm thankful there are people out there with the knowledge, patience and ability to know and understand science so they can create treatments, prevent diseases and illnesses. 

One thing I kept expecting about the book is something evil and sinister to happen.  You know, where the bad guys chase the good guys.  While reading about the gal in the lab late at time, I expected the bad guys to chase her, have this fantastic scene with test tubes flying about leaving shattered glass everywhere and she would escape.  There were many scenes where it was a perfect setting but nothing happened.

The end has a nice little twist to it, but I won't give it away.  You'll have to read the book yourself.

Happy Running!

Guest Writer - Gideon Oswitch

My friend Gideon wrote the following story about his quest to become a Boston Qualifier.  His determination and never quit philosphy shines through as he explains it took 7 years and 15 marathons to qualify for Boston.  He says

To you fellow racers that have tried to BQ but have come up short – keep trying, find a fast course, train with other runners seeking the same goal, and don’t ever quit; Boston is not going anywhere.

Happy Running!


Finally!!

It’s Mile 23 at the 2007 Akron Marathon; the sun is out, the temps are cool – this is the perfect weather I had hoped for race morning to try and qualify for the 2008 Boston Marathon. But as I scurry down Portage Path towards West Market Street, I am calculating the math in my head that I need in order to Boston Qualify (BQ). It’s not going to happen. My legs are getting heavier with each step, cramps are nastily settling in, my blood sugar is starting to drop, and that iron clad motivation for months to try and BQ is being replaced with the struggle to try and finish without looking as rough as I feel. Several minutes later I hit the finish line in Canal Park, shake hands with race director, Jim Barnett, and look at my watch – missed it by 3 minutes – that seems so damn short, but in order to BQ, missing by 3 seconds, 3 minutes or 33 minutes puts you in the ‘not-quite-fast-enough’ boat and you need to just wait until the next marathon; and for me, since first planting the BQ seed in 2003, the next marathon became a carousel of trying and failing and trying and failing for 6 years and 12 marathons (just think, my quest to BQ started before Lebron James scored his first basket for the Cavaliers!).

I tried marathons that other runners recommended as being fast – Cleveland, Phoenix, Columbus and Chicago, but the results still came out; good race, but not good enough to grab the brass ring called Boston. I started to really obsess about nabbing the BQ – at least once a day, every day, Boston thoughts would pop in my head for years; I was getting so tired of hearing other runners talk about the greatness of the event and reading about the history and mystique of racing on Patriot’s Day. As much as I liked supporting my running pals, it was always hard on race day tracking their progress while wishing I was the one racing it. But I kept on trying and decided that in 2008, I would do something out of the ordinary for me – I would run Akron as I do each year, but purposefully would hold back and really gun for Chicago 2 weeks later as my attempt to BQ. Based on the Boston criteria and my new age group in 2009, if I ran a sub 3:21, I would land in Boston in 2009; a sub 3:31 would get me there in 2010. Akron went very well and I finished in 3:34 with plenty left in the gas tank; as soon as I finished, I ran over to my wife, Beth, and daughters, Sadie and Celia, by the dugout in Canal Park like a jumping bean yelling to them, “Bring on Chicago!” I knew I could shave a few minutes off that course even if I only had 2 weeks in-between races. Everyone knows how hot and dreadful Chicago ’07 was, well, Chicago ’08 was a far cry from perfect running conditions – the temperature hit 82 degrees a couple hours into the race, but I paced myself smartly and by mile 20 was on track for a sub 3:21. However, by mile 23, the 3:21 was gone and now I was in real peril of losing the 3:31; at that point, I totally got into a Zen state – I did not hear any crowd noise, I only focused on 1 thing – get to the finish line and get the BQ no matter what. I have no specific memories the last 5K except 1 thought popped in my head and that was – you are so close to getting this and you may not get this chance again, so buckle down, tough out these last 3 miles, and make it happen. In the near 450 races I have raced since 1992, those last 3 miles were the physically and mentally most difficult obstacle I have faced. I am not sure how I did it, but the mind games and focusing worked and when I saw the finish line, I knew I was going to be sub 3:31 and heading to Boston in 2010. Unfortunately, the dream I had rehearsed tons of times of how I would react when getting to BQ wasn’t how I finished in Chicago. I was dizzy, confused, dehydrated and kept telling myself, ‘don’t let my girls see me collapse.’ I had a few friendly aides help me through the food line and someone placed ice on my neck and then I shuffled to my family (smartest thing to do at any marathon: plan AHEAD of location where to meet!). Very slowly we went back to our hotel room so I could re-gain my senses and energy – I may have made the BQ, but I was exhausted and far from being in a celebratory mood. Yes, I had reached the BQ, but now I had 18 more months to wait and wait.

Boston 2009 was a hard day for me – I knew many runners that were racing (including a number of first timers) and I was just wishing that I could have been part of the festivities. I tracked them all, called them after the race and heard the words, “wonderful, awesome, unbelievable” so many times, that I started to get really depressed. After work, I walked around my neighborhood that night and just felt so isolated; 1 more year to wait and with my luck, something will happen in the next 365 days to not allow me to go. I was more bummed this night about not being in Boston than any other day of my life – I was close, but not close enough. The rest of 2009 was my usual docket of racing and training and now I was able to tell others and myself, that I will be heading to Boston in April and I went on with the other parts of life – work, coaching my kids in sports, doing family things and the such, but I was still feeling a tad unfulfilled. But as the seasons change and time inches closer to goals, I was able to see on my calendar that April 2010 was getting more in focus and with that came the monthly, then weekly and finally the days countdown to Boston.

1948 and 1952 Olympic gold medal winner, Harrison Dillard, said “Good things come to those who wait.” On April 17th, After 7 years of waiting and 15 marathons completed, Beth and I flew from Cleveland to Boston on a rainy and grey day. Once the plane lifted off, it was starting to sink in - I was finally heading to Boston. I must admit I was still thinking that something would pop up that would disallow the race or having me participate, but none of that happened. Instead, the weekend was as fun as we had hoped – meeting lots of other runners, going whale watching and strolling in downtown Boston and taking everything in. Race morning was surreal for me – riding on the highway on the bus to Hopkinton and seeing the exit signs for all the small towns we would be running through just seemed so distant, but was now soon to be reality. As I lined up in Hopkinton in my starting corral, and walked towards the starting line shortly after 10am, I could not help to grin; the first 2 minutes of the race were some of the happiest race moments of my life – I actually said out loud “Dreams come true” when I hit the starting mat and wasted a lot of energy high 5’ing kids, pumping my arms, waving and being so excited to finally be “running the New England.” The race itself was a lot of fun, but as was advertised is quite hard at times and running through my regular lunch hour, made me very hungry. Finishing time was irrelevant, and though I would have liked to have had more energy at the finish, I was very pleased with a 3:38. My emotions got the best of me when the volunteer placed the finisher medal around my neck – I stared at the brightly colored unicorn and ribbon of the 114th BAA Marathon and started crying - 7 years I had waited for this moment; 7 years of waiting, thinking about, reading about, hearing about, talking about, and now I was a finisher. I met Beth a few minutes later and the tears continued. We both knew how much this moment meant to me. Usually minutes after a marathon, Beth consoles me or I tell her “maybe next time,” but on April 19, 2010, this WAS next time!

So, was this race life changing as many claim it is? No, but it was pretty dang special. Was it the best marathon on the planet? Again, it was a very well oiled race, but I would say I prefer the big stage atmosphere in Chicago better. But this race was the result of years of dedication, persistence, 6 years of attempting and coming up short, but never giving up and working to making a race dream become a race reality. At times I questioned why I would put myself through all this effort to say, “I Ran Boston,” but now that I have achieved that goal, it was all worth it. So, to you fellow racers that have tried to BQ but have come up short – keep trying, find a fast course, train with other runners seeking the same goal, and don’t ever quit; Boston is not going anywhere, so you may not hit it in 2011 or 2012, but when you do, it will be a very special moment for you and can never be taken away.
-Gideon Oswitch
(April, 2010)
Brief Bio:
• Road Racing for 19 Years
• Sponsored by PowerBar for 5 Years
• American Heart Association – “Heart and Sole” award recipient – 1996
• Work in Human Resources for Saint-Gobain Corporation since 1990
• Wife: Beth, Daughters: Sadie (10) / Celia (9)
Favorite Quote: “Dream your painting…then paint your dream.”

Running Question Challenge - What is the most interesting thing you've seen on a run?

Feel free to comment or answer the question on your own blog. Click here to see past questions.

What is the most interesting thing you've seen on a run? 

This question was spurred by my recent podcast review of What the Runner Saw.  Podcaster Carrie talks about the bizarre and interesting things she's seen and that got me thinking about what I've seen on a run.

I’ve seen a rattlesnake while on a trail run at Usary Mountain along with coyotes at South Mountain. I've seen a lot of homeless people, especially when running in Europe (somehow I manage to find the homeless areas in the big cities).  Probably  the most memorable, interesting thing I’ve seen are hot air balloons.  By my old house every weekend hot air balloons would launch and land close to my house.  They float silently through the sky and I've often stopped to watch them float through the air or skip along a field to land.  One time I left my house and before I left my neighborhood were two balloons so low I could hear the gas turning on to pull the balloon higher. I could have talked to the people in the basket they were so close.  It reminds me of the time when my brother was going to propose to his now wife, went out into a field and was spreading lye "Will you Marry Me". The cops came up on him and wondered what he was doing (like he'd be throwing cocaine on the ground).  I can't remember if the weather turned or if he wasn't able to finish the writing but he ended up proposing on another day.  I think it would be nice to go up in a hot air balloon one day and float through the skies.

Podcast Review - The Race Report

Joe, with The Race Report, wanted to give podcasting a try and loves race reports.  He loves hearing race reports on other peoples podcasts and reading race reports.  Race reports are beneficial to the running community and can really inspire people while giving other runners tips on what to try and what to avoid.  And hearing runners struggles can help runners not feel so alone as they go through their own challenges.  Joe combined his two loves, podcast and race reports, creating an awesome podcast about race reports.  Joe says " I thought if I could create a podcast that focused on runner's race reports, in their own words, it would inspire all types of people to run! " He wants to record race report from people all around the world and has done 5 episodes and is looking for more people to share their race stories, either current or prior races.  You can email your race report and he'll read it on his show or you record your race report and he'll play it in his podcast.

I heard about The Race Report on Phedipidations and Joe put out a request if anyone wanted to do a race report either record their own MP3 or he could interview them.  Still being on my IMS Arizona Marathon high, I sent him an email and we set up an appointment.  I called into Talkshoe, which would record the call; our conversation flowed easily and  before I knew it, time was up and we were saying goodbye.

I have to admit that I have not listened to my race report yet because I don't like to hear my own voice. Maybe I'll listen to this one.   I did listen to other episodes of The Race Report and really enjoyed listening to Joe's story and his running history.  Launching into his inaugural race report of his first marathon his race report was moving.  I realized that I too love listening to race reports.  It is so motivating and exciting to  someone's race report that it makes me want to sign up and run a race.

Joe is all about inspiring others to run.  He says "I really love to talk about running.  Once I started running, I found that all I wanted to talk about was running.  Funny thing is, non-runners aren't as excited to talk about running.  So I found another outlet...the podcast.  Now I can talk and I know if anyone is listening, they must care about what I am saying.  Also, when I first started running, I downloaded a podcast called Phedippidations.  That podcast was with me through many a long run.  I could only hope I could inspire in the same way. "

Joe's favorite part about having a podcast is talking to other runners that have achieved something great.  And he knows that ALL of us have achieved something great.  Consider sharing your race report and help inspire another runner.  Sharing your race report is really easy and talking to Joe is like talking to an old friend while out on a run.  Check out his great podcast, visit his blog Blog of a Middle Aged Athlete or send him an email to share your race report at joe at middleagedathlete dot com.  Let me know if you do a race report and I'll link to it in a blog post. 

You never know who you'll inspire next!