Operation Jack Marathon … It's Back!!!

OK, we’re ready! The third-annual Operation Jack Marathon is officially back, open for registration! We’ve got our informational site up at operationjack.org/marathon and you can GO … REGISTER … NOW!

I’m really excited for this race for a lot of reasons. As y’all probably already know, I ran 61 marathons back in 2010, all-out every time, to raise money for Train 4 Autism in honor of my son Jack. He’s severely autistic and I wanted to use my running for something more than just PR-chasing. So, I ran all those races as my stupid-human trick to get some attention and raise some money. To date, “some money” has a gross total of about $140,000.

I’m never running 61 marathons in a year again. There’s just no way. At the end of that last race, I told a buddy of mine that I was glad it was finally over and he gave me the old cliche that it was just the beginning. While I’m not running a marathon a week any more, he’s right. Operation Jack fights on and I’m grateful to have an opportunity to try to do some good in the world.

STOP RAMBLING SAM!

OK, I’m done rambling. The Operation Jack Marathon and Satellite Runs are now the main fundraiser for my foundation and they do pretty well. Last year, they grossed about $40,000. This year, we’re hoping to do even better. So, a few things you need to know:

(But first, LIKE THE RACE on Facebook and FOLLOW THE RACE on Twitter!)

Actually, for old time’s sake, I should throw in the video from the 2010 race:

1. The actual Operation Jack Marathon will be on December 26, 2012 in Manhattan Beach, Calif. Registration is only $45 for the half, $55 for the full until September 3. You’re just not going to find a less expensive race with a better medal supporting a better cause than that! A full marathon for $55?

2. If you would rather just run the race for free, we can do that for you, too. You only need to raise $150 and we’ll comp your entry!

3. We’re still going to have satellite runs — for a lower registration fee ($35), you run wherever you are that day and we’ll send you the shirt and medal that we give to everybody at the race.** Anybody who participated last year knows that we provide an awesome medal!

** I have help this year to get the shirts and medals out in a timely fashion. There are several things I’m good at. Promptly shipping shirts and medals is not one of those things, as several of you can attest.

4. The Satellite Runs and races are actually going to be on December 29. If you want help putting on a race or event, let me know. We have two confirmed races at this point, one in Portland, Oreg., on December 22 and two in Houston — one on December 29 and one on December 30. If you want to put on a small race, it’s not as hard as you’d think, I’ll give you everything you need, plus you’ll be helping out great causes. Just let me know!

Side note on the satellite runs: I don’t have any plans for December 29. Let me know if you’re going to host an event — I need somewhere to go!

5. The race on the 26th starts at 7:30 a.m., but I’m going to take an early start at 2:30 a.m. I’ll run the course somewhere in the 3:20-3:30 range so I can be back before 6 a.m. to help with registration. After I ran the marathon last year, I stayed at the finish line and handed out medals. It was such a treat to hand out medals and thank people for participating in the race. I don’t want to miss any of that, so I’m going to start early and drink lots of coffee.

I think there will be a few other folks running with that super-crazy-early start, so if you’re interested, let me know. Get your medal before the race winners!

I feel like I’m forgetting something. I’m sure I am. I’m getting old, I’m going gray … I’m sure my memory is failing, too.

I Like To Run

So, I think at the bottom of each blog, I’m just going to put a personal running update. So many folks out there with running-related blogs talk about their running and I might as well, too. I feel kind of weird doing so, but I guess you’re supposed to talk about yourself in a blog somewhat.

Yesterday, I rode the bike in the morning at the gym. Got a nice workout in. I’ve been battling a hamstring strain since about May 18 and running a marathon on May 20 didn’t help things. I’m trying like mad to run like the wind on June 9 at the Utah Valley Marathon, so I need a little bit of a tuneup on the wheels, but even more important, I need to be healthy.

So yesterday after work, I went to the gym to try two slow miles on the treadmill. There was a little bit of pain in my right hip, but it wasn’t too bad. I didn’t run this morning because I let my wife go to the gym for a class, but I’m going to the gym after work. I’ll probably go with a couple of easy stints on the treadmill and some time on the bike in between if I hold up. I’m resigned to the fact that Utah Valley is going to hurt pretty bad, probably less than halfway in, but I’m going to have to fight through the pain if I want to reach my goal of getting back to Boston next year. I have no idea what kind of guts I have, but I’ll find out.

And that’s all, folks. Have a great Wednesday! Register for the race! Tell me something interesting!