Grand Rapids Marathon - Flash Race Report

I've been trying to get a race report written today but have been torn in several directions with "stuff". So I'll give you flash report with more good stuff to follow.

Finish 3:33:10

Details to follow....and I do mean details.....you know I love details with my race reports.

Thanks everyone for checking in, wishing me good luck and sending congrats if you found the results from the website.

Aimee went 4:04:15, which was a PR by 1 minute. She had a great day and I'm so proud of her double marathon effort in 30 days.

More to follow. Game was on.

Coming clean and race ready

It's time to come clean. I posted that Aimee is running the Grand Rapids Marathon (GRM) this weekend. That my marathon season is a bust, again. When we decided to run the GRM we made a conscious effort to stay under the radar. Drive in, run, drive out. If we have a good day.....great. If we have a bad day, mums the word.

Well I was handed a big plate of guilt when Aimee accused me of throwing her under the bus regarding GRM. "Sure, throw me out there and you keep on flying under the radar." That's what she said more or less.

So I have to come clean. I'm running......26.2 miles....this Sunday......and I'm so flippin' excited about it. I don't know how clean I've come because I may have lost my audience during my blog break but it still feels good to let it out.

My recovery has been great thanks to the help of Aimee, Angela and my acupuncturist. The three have helped my mental, training and physical recovery.

And this marathon is going to be fun. The race director keeps a blog and has a great sense of humor about the days leading up to the race. Check out the race website and click over to the blog.

I'm also excited about some possible blogger meet-ups. Vicki at Living and Tri-ing in River City and Great Lakes Running Gal.....L*I*S*A.

I don't know what will happen on Sunday. I'm trying to go in relaxed, confident and open. I've decided to NOT wear a watch or my heart rate monitor. I may still have some goals but fun and finishing is most important.

I leave you with this video. I picked it to be my Marathon anthem in July. Enjoy



GAME ON!!!!!!

Music....spanning the years

If you have ever looked at my profile you will see that under music I have listed three distinct styles and "anything else". And I do listen to many types of music. In my collection I have Herbie Hancock, The Who, Charo, big band, chanting monks, Pink Floyd and many others. But my favorites are those with an upbeat tempo and cool electronics, hence the electronica, techno and dance.

I have my brother to thank for finding some of these artists. I remember finding his albums of Pink Floyd and listening to the tracks in stereo with headphones. I can recite the instruments from Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells. Most of all I remember when he introduced me to the B-52's.

We are seven years apart and I was still in junior high while he was in college. During one visit to Miami University he played Rock Lobster because it was the best song. That was 1978. Know what? He was right. I was hooked on the B-52's as well. They are scheduled to release their first album in 16 years on February 26th, 2008, the day before my birthday. I'm a little excited about that.




Fast forward to 2007. My daughter and I have similar yet different tastes in music. However, we can agree on some things. The Ramones are the greatest punk band ever. Pink Floyd has a great sound. Some of the new wave songs from the 1980's are just a popular today as then.

I recently introduced Amanda to one of my favorite groups and a single from their new album. The Chemical Brothers' "We are the Night" has two great songs. The first, "Do It Again" is my anthem for Ironman Wisconsin....along with some other songs.

But for Amanda and I it's all about "The Salmon Dance"




Dance On.

Marathon Season - well almost

I know it's been a long time since I last posted. I'm still letting my leg recover and get better. A little frustrating since we are in the middle of marathon season. Aimee did her Wineglass Marathon September 30th. It wasn't the marathon she was hoping for. She was on track at 13.1 for a going sub-four hours and if she kept pace would have been close to a Boston time.

Unfortunately the wheels started to wobble a little, never fully came off, and the pace slowed. I mentioned it to her and she had already thought about it as well, back off the rest of the marathon, recover, taper and run another marathon. So Aimee's going for it again one month after Wineglass. I'll write details later.

So like I said we are in the middle of the marathon season. We tracked three friends at Chicago. Another friend is going Marine Corp this weekend. TriAl did Columbus Marathon. Akron Marathon, Towpath Marathon, Detroit Marathon.......so many races.

But I'm on injured reserves watching from my laptop. I'm excited as friends hit the pavement, hopefully not with their face, and go for goals. Whether those goals are time or finishing, they are wonderful goals to have.

I can't help but wonder what could have been. Next year I'm back to Ironman training. IM MOO on September 7, 2008. I'm excited about it. That marathon may have to wait until after IM. Maybe that elusive marathon won't ever happen. I'm fine with that. Maybe some day.

For those that are getting ready to run 26.2 this Game On is for you.

Toe the line with confidence in your training and preparation. Stick to your game plan and have a wonderful day.

Game On

Trust

Amazing what you can learn, or think about, during a 3 hour bike ride.....with friends.

I had an opportunity to ride with Scott again. He should be entering taper for IM FLA soon.

Anyways, we rode yesterday. Chris joined us as well. I managed to map out a ride that would provide some variety from what Scott was used to.

So we have three strong cyclists clipping along at 20MPH average. On the return trip we were hitting speeds of 24MPH. We are flying. Tucked in on the aero bars wheel to wheel. I felt like a team time trial.

Then it dawned on me. I trusted these guys. 24MPH, six inches apart, hands nowhere near the brakes levers. I didn't even think about what we were doing. I wasn't worried, nervous or concerned.

We trusted each other. We trusted the lead person would get us around bad sections of road. We trusted that no one would get left behind. We trusted that the person up front wouldn't be slamming on his brakes for no reason.

I guess it's just unspoken. If the trust wasn't there you would be riding alone.

Regardless if you are the squad leader or a wingman, earning that trust is important and binds friends together.

I'm lucky to have found that type of trust. I think about where else I may experience that level of trust. In business it's very hard to find and earn that deep trust. I'm fortunate to work closely with some co-workers that I do trust...after 9 years I would hope so.

I wish more people would be able to find the trust I have found. It's precious and should be cherished.

Game On.

When Good becomes Great

Two weks ago I touched base with my Coach's husband Scott. Asked him about his weekend ride and if he wanted some company. He's training for IM FLA and is ready to rock the course. I knew it was going to be a good ride. I hadn't ridden my tri bike for several months.

He had four hours on schedule. He's been riding alone. It gave me a good excuse to finally get my bike put back together.

I knew we were going to have a good ride. Jeff was going to join us for part of the ride. He was still recovering and taking it easy after IM USA where he laid it on the line.

Here's Jeff:

...and his big guns:

The weather was great for a fall day. The roads in the Cleveland Metroparks were fiarly empty of cars. We talked about many things, most of which I have forgotten. But I definitely remember laughing. Joking around about crank lengths and looking like Darth Vader.

I even managed to show Scott some new roads with great views of Lake Erie. At the end of our ride we not only had four hours and 80 miles to show for it, but a good ride had become a great ride.

Scott is so strong he pulled my butt all the way back home for the last 20 miles.

I'm riding with him again this Saturday and can't wait to go along for the ride.