Saturday Oct. 11; Running a "short" 10 miles before the BIG 20 on Oct. 18 This Saturday, I won't say we, but the group ran 10 miles. It was a piece of cake! LOL! (I'm not elaborating. )
JAs I ran my own miles, I started thinking about an article that I had read in the September issue of Runner's World. It really stuck with me; which at times is rare since I sometimes tend to forget things—some call it "selective recall" or "selective learning." Whatever you call it, I was able to retain this information, and I wanted to pass it on to you. The reason: I've been getting nervous about the Route 66 Marathon, the last few miles, finishing, and the pain in my side that is called a "stitch" (although sometimes I call it my co-anchor Clay Loney. Just kidding, he's amazing and like a brother to me!)
Coach Paul (with the group M3B, Hawt AsSphalts) has been wonderful and so very encouraging. During the 18 miler I was in the back of the pack, (what's new) and he talked to a couple of us runners about how to stay motivated, things to think about that can get you through your run, how to over-come the difficult miles, and other tips on getting it done. For us, his advice was tailored to each one of us, included inside jokes that we all shared, as well as stories, mishaps, memories, etc. His voice of wisdom paired with Coach Brian's laughter, stories, energy and encouragement were helpful beyond words; priceless really.
Anyway, Coach Paul and Brian made me think about this article in Runner's World about pacers at the Philadelphia Marathon in particular. The pacer in the article had never met the people she would be leading, but it was her job to get them to the finish line in a specific amount of time. She really had the challenge of not knowing the different personalities, or what motivated each person the way Coach Paul and Brian do; she had a lot of work to do besides just finishing. Her name is Star, and she had such a wonderful air about her, I wanted to share with you the last few paragraphs of the story. I hope you enjoy it, and I also hope you appreciate and understand how important our coaches/pacers are---and the huge role they play for all of us runners with Fleet Feet. Without coaches like Paul, Brian, Ben, Tim, Kathryn, Lori, etc., we would be hurting. Thank you.
After you read this, if you haven't read the blog posted last week (Oct. 6th) from some 4th graders at Rhoades Elementary in Broken Arrow, please check it out. It is WONDERFUL. Kids truly are amazing and smart, smart, smart! Within the next few weeks the 4th graders at Rhoades Elem., will also have some words of wisdom before we run the Route 66 Marathon, so stay tuned!
And finally, Congratulations to the runners who completed the Chicago Marathon! YOU GUYS DID IT! Everyone is so proud of you! We can't wait to hear the stories and see pictures!
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Marathon Pace Groups
PARTY AT MY PACE
Marathons are never easy, but pace groups make them less hard and more fun. Want proof? Follow along.
By John Hanc
Photographs by Ryan Donnell
PUBLISHED 09/10/2008
...Pace-group leaders learn from experience what works, and with 10-K to go, Starshine "Star" Blackfordlaunched into her memorized countdown. It was so effective, I got absorbed in it myself, and almost forgot that my mission wasn't my own finish.
"Okay, everyone, this is where we start taking the race one mile at a time. For each mile, I'm going to ask you to focus on something. For mile 20, your focus is on the reason you're in this race. Is this a Boston qualifier, a personal best, a dare from a friend?"
We ran for another eight minutes, 45 seconds.
"Five miles left. Now for this next mile, I want you to focus on all the work that you've done to be here, and how it's all paying off now."
I recalled that it was around this point at Twin Cities that I had to stop and walk. It was humiliating. I was supposed to be the one suffering runners could turn to for help. Instead I was helpless as the temperature reached 80 degrees.
Another mile down: 8:43.
"For this mile, 22, we focus on the personal support system, on our families, friends, children, parents? -everyone who has helped you over the past few months. Give them a silent shout-out of thanks."
My family and running buddies had to listen to me whine endlessly about having to lug a balloon stick. Sorry, guys.
"Three miles to go. We all have a personal hero, someone who has been through something so much harder than a marathon. Let's think about what they got through, and use that strength."
My wife had gone through chemotherapy, and she was so strong during it?but wait, I'm a pacer, must stay steady.
"Just two miles left, guys. Remember a time in your life when you demonstrated great strength in some other arena. Tap into that strength now. Only one tenth of one percent of the U.S. population finishes a marathon every year, so you're about to achieve something special."
At this point, our group came upon Teresa Traxler, a 25-year-old from Arlington, Virginia, who was struggling. "I heard a voice say, 'You've worked so hard, are you going to lose it now?'" she would tell me later. "And I said to myself, No, I'm not!" Traxler snapped out of her doldrums and joined our group.
"Last mile, everybody. You are going to do it! Every step at this point is erasing that distance to the finish line.
