Tybee Marathon 2003.
This page describes fun runs, dumb runs, training runs, stupid runs, fast runs, mindless runs, and slow runs that I have completed. Visit Chirunnng to "move with nature."
So, I am in Iceland this summer and what the hey, I figured I might as well audition for the remake of The Birds that is being held here. Well, that is not exactly how I got into this situation. After completely trashing myself with workouts this week, I decided to do a 35K run with a group here. Needless to say, I wasn't exactly clear-headed when I woke the next morning. I decided, gee, why not go for a run again today. So, I headed out the door running in no particular direction. Having jogged a couple of miles, I saw a group of four runners and joined them. After a while, there was only one other guy and he was heading into a building. I said, "I don't think I'll be going back the way we came." (This is after executing about a quarter million turns.) He said with a smile (that I was later to ponder over), "Just follow the coast, you will be back in no time ... an hour or two." I headed off on my own enjoying the coast. There was no wind (bad sign for Iceland). After a peaceful few miles, I came into an area absolutely swarming with mosquitos. They were thicker than in Alaska. I had to run with my eyes closed to avoid getting them on my contacts. This was not an easy feat on the rocky coastal trail. Having survived that attack, I was feeling pretty good and relaxed. I was vegging and running by a golf course. A few golfers looked at me kind of strange but I just plodded along. I then realized I was heading down a deadend road. Well, to save face, I figured I would keep going to the end and then turn around as though I had intended to perform this inane manuever. So, I was back to vegging. I heard a few bird noises but nothing special. Suddenly, I was beseiged by about one hundred dive bombing terns. It was The Birds audition and I didn't get selected. I boogied out of there saving face! Stupid is as stupid does.
Area: Boonesboro, Maryland. Event: JFK 50. Terrain: Appalachian Trail (i.e. rocky and hilly). In this 50.2 miler I decided to hang back. This meaning I went through the first 3 miles (including over 500 feet vertical gain) in 22 minutes -- all in 25 degree weather. Which leads me to the topic of this story. I'm running fast through the woods with these guys at about mile 10 and one guy says. "What kind of time are you hoping to run?" I didn't know but replied, "Oh, about 6:45." He says, "Well, you're way ahead of that pace." (Yeah, right.) I ended up going 6:46.
Well, this fast pace got me kind of hungry so I pulled out a trusty old power bar. Remember power bars freeze at about 50 degrees F and boil at just over 2,000 degrees F. I bit into this thing running at 7 minute pace while rock jumping, dodging swinging tree branches, etc. After chewing on that first bite for 5 minutes I got up the nerve to try and swallow it. Bad idea. Does the expression power ball ring a bell? Let's just say I had the dry heaves for the next few miles. I was looking for a puddle to drink out of but everything was frozen. Needless to say the 15.7 mile aid station was a very welcome site.
Well, I'm running in the hills up above Barcelona on a typical 90 degree day, minding my own business like most runners doing a twenty miler. Lo and behold, four dogs decide to eat me for lunch. Not that furry animals with large teeth and foaming mouths need to be on a leash or anything (are you reading this, lady?). I was a little wobbly to begin with but here comes Fido, Sido, Toto, and Bitoh. Well, I was able to punch Bitoh in the mouth. Fortunately, for me a great Spanish soccer player was running the other way towards me. He managed to do a left, right, left combo which sent the other three up in Javier Sotomayor's altitude. This guy was great. I thought he was going to head one of these things before my eyes. Anyway, I got away unbitten but chewed. The dogs owner screaming at us all the while in Catalan while we fought for our skin. Nice.
Ran an impressive .5 miles in 6 minutes on the treadmill today - ouch - day after Boston Marathon.
Bonus: truck overheated on the way home ($535). Nice. I do not recommend running at Pawtuckaway until April. If you do run there, do not drive down the 3/4 mile road to park. You may not be able to make it back due to the ice.