Last week, I through a tweet out asking if anybody had any questions for a question and answer blog session. I was hoping for enough to cover a blog, but I got enough for about three. So without further ado, here goes!
Real quick, just in case you’ve never been here, welcome! I’m a father of three and a marathon runner. My middle child, 7-year-old Jack, is severely autistic. I wanted to do something to use my running to make a difference, so I’m attempting to run 61 marathons this year to raise money for a charity I’m a part of called Train 4 Autism.
I named this endeavor Operation Jack, after my son. This year is almost done, as is Operation Jack. I’m through 59 of the 61 so far! And now, the questions …
How many marathons had you run prior to starting this years blitz? 2. Would you do it again?
Before this year, I had run 28 full marathons, a 50K and a 50-miler. I had done this over the course of 3 1/2 years, so I had averaged about eight 26.2-mile or longer races a year since I ran my first marathon in June 2006. However, I had run at least 26.2 in training a good 40 or 50 times, so I had covered the distance maybe 80 times. I also trained with plenty of 100-mile weeks (I think I had about 14 in a row in 2008 at one point) so I was used to high miles and running on tired legs.
Going all-out for 26.2 at least once a week for a year is different than just doing it in training, and tougher than anything I had done, but I was confident I could give it a shot. I wouldn’t recommend it to anybody who thinks heart is enough to get by — I think I was reasonably trained. But it was still a considerable challenge.
Would I do it again? There are two ways to analyze this question. I have no desire to ever run this many marathons in a year again. In fact, I have no desire to run more than two or so competitively per year ever again. But in hindsight, I’d absolutely do this all over again. No hesitation in that at all. No sense every wondering “what if” on something like this — not from a personal achievement standpoint, because this isn’t a big personal achievement to me. I’d rather run one fast marathon than 61 so-so marathons. But I feel like I helped to make the world a better place, and I’m glad I tried.
Are You Going To Write A Book?
If everybody who asked me that bought it, it would be worth writing! The thought has crossed my mind, and it’s possible, but it’s nothing I’m even going to truly consider until I’m done with this year. I have two marathons to go. I could snap my ankle stepping off a sidewalk tomorrow. There’s no telling how this story is going to end, so why write it?
My training is as a writer, so I’ll probably spend some time writing something. If nothing else, I’ll want it for myself. As for a book, if I can get something published and marketed, I’d do it. But I’m not going to write a book if I have to sell it. I don’t have the energy for that.
What Marathon Took The Most Out Of You To Finish?
That’s a tough call between the third day of the Tahoe Triple and Med City in Rochester, Minn. That third day in Tahoe was extremely difficult because of the hills at elevation, because I had run two hilly marathons at elevation the two days prior, and because I refused to take my foot off the accelerator. It was pretty painful and took a lot out of me, but the only real issue was running through considerable fatigue.
Med City, though, was a weather disaster. It was extremely humid and temperatures warmed up to about 90 by the time it was done. I had been running pretty well at that point, running 3:10:00 or better in three of my previous four races and running a 3:19 to take second overall in a race at elevation in the fourth race. But I went through the half in 1:41 that day and new the second half was going to be devastating as the temperatures continued to climb.
I had problems in my IT band in my right leg and started to limp with each step at mile 16. I had never taken a walk break before in a marathon, aside from the hills in Catalina, but I took six on a fairly flat course that day. It truly became a marathon, a battle to the finish. At several aid stations, I stopped to cool myself off by pouring multiple cups of ice water over my head. I struggled to run 10-minute miles. I ended up running a 3:57 and felt like I had gotten run over by a truck. That marathon took more out of me than any other marathon I’ve ever run.
What Was Your Worst Experience With Running/Racing This Year? Your Best? Most Strange? Most Encouraging?
This is tough, because there is so much to think about and I feel like I’m going to slight somebody with this answer.
Worst: The start at Nashville. Parking was a disaster getting in, they started the race early, and as a result, I had to start in wave 2. I had to dodge people for 11 miles on a hilly course on a hot, humid day and it was flat-out miserable. I couldn’t get going and I had a terrible race.
Best: I think it’s going to end up being the Operation Jack Marathon, but for now, I’m going to go with Boston. From a straight-up individual perspective, that was the best race I ever ran. Not the fastest, but the best. I dialed it up and nailed it and was pretty happy with that. I maximized what I was capable of that day, no question.
Most strange: I’m going to say a spectator I saw outside a bar in South Beach, Miami. The guy was dressed extremely odd in a small leather get-up, and when I saw him, I knew that even though it was 7 a.m. Sunday, it was still Saturday night for him. He looked pretty odd, and when I saw him, I couldn’t help but think, “Wow … this guy lives in a waaaaaay different world than I do.”
Most encouraging: The formation of the Maine Train 4 Autism chapter. Sarah and Danielle are the type of people I wanted to find for Train 4 Autism. Seeing what they’re doing and how hard they’re pushing is the boost I need when I’m on a down swing. I’m not going to be sufficiently explain it in words, and I don’t mean this as disrespect to anybody else, but they are my rock stars.
That’s All For Today
I think that’s long enough, right? I have some more questions for tomorrow. If you have anything you’d like to ask, let me know. I got a question about which race has the best-looking women, and I’ll answer it, but it’s still in line. I’ll get to it, Dave. I promise!
Have a great Tuesday! I’ll see you tomorrow!
Rebecca Damon says
If there’s one thing I love more than running it’s running FOR something. I know Danielle and Sarah keep you posted on everything they’re doing but I’ve seen it first hand and you’re right…they ARE rock stars!
danielle speckman says
yes i read it… we believe in what youre doing for jack, for train4autism, and for each and every person living with and affected by autism.
somehow i found you back in april and made that poster for a reason, and its brought us to where we are today. im proud to say that i belong to the Maine chapter of Train4Autism (i even capitalized something, thats big!), and i wouldnt know a thing about it had it not been for you.
Ally Phillips says
Hang on, you mean, you don’t want to go to expos and sell your book? Whhhhattt?? That’s crazy talk! 😉