Born to Run

Don't panic, this isn't a post about yet another one of my odysseys to see Bruce Springsteen. This is a post about people, a book and shoes.

I believe that everyone who comes into your life, comes in for a reason. Some people are in for the long haul, some for only a chapter or two and some for just mere hours. My life intersected with Hank M. for three hours at Chicago Midway airport last Thursday on my way to Minneapolis. I was headed out to Minneapolis to meet up with The Blister Sisters and The Misters for the Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk For The Cure. He was headed there to see his sons. Over the next three hours we exchanged life stories and views on a variety of topics including the two "must avoid topics" for a first meeting - religion and politics!

Most important, when I told Hank about my attempts at running, his eyes lit up. He immediately told me of his own running and a book he had just finished and was taking to his son, "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall. (www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-august-18-2009/christopher-mcdougall) As we continued to talk and I confessed to him my plans of running 50 by 50 in 50, he insisted that I take the copy of the book he intended to give to his son. He convinced me that this book would change my thinking about running. He was right.

The book tells the story of the Tarahumara tribe of Mexico. The book goes way beyond just telling a story of an ultrarace in the Copper Canyons. And Hank was right, it did get me thinking about why I was running. One of the first points made was to get back to running for the share joy of running. Remember when you were a kid and got out to run just because you could? You weren't running to lose weight, work off stress or stave off depression. You just ran. How liberating!

The second take away for me was that running shoes are killing us. Okay, not literally, but they are causing more injuries than they are preventing. The discussion of the architectural design of our foot as a perfect arch, the fact that a surprising number of big time coaches have barefoot training drills, and yes you can't forget the Kenyans really got me thinking. Coincidentally I was awaiting the arrival of a new pair of shoes while I was reading the book. When the shoes arrived, ones I've worn for a couple years and love for the big toe box, they had been re-engineered. And yup, they had narrowed the toe box. I got refitted for a different pair of shoes but can't say I'm that happy with them. Maybe it is time for me to try the Vibram FiveFinger shoes......

The final take away from the book for me was the discussion on endurance running. For me marathons or ultramarathons are not in the cards. I'm not running 26.2 miles or 50 miles or 100 miles let me make that real clear. I might get up to a 10K but that's it. However the discussion of humans as persistence hunters was fascinating and helps me understand all those folks who can go the distance.

By the way, Hank wasn't satisfied with my goal of breaking 30 minutes. He told me he's looking for a 28!

Race #7

I'm finally going to get this blog current!

I just got back from Race #7, the Elvis Presley Run, Walk, Rock and Roll (www.elvispresleyrunandwalk.com). I wish I had good news to report with regards to my time, but I don't. I finished with a flat 36:00. Even though I say time isn't that important, I have to say I was a bit disappointed with myself. I know that the temperature played a part, it was 85 degrees, but I think my lack of serious training is really more to blame. As I was plugging my way through the race I knew that I had to either abandon this craziness or recommit myself to the goal. In honesty, it was tough to finally agree to recommit - I was feeling more like I should be committed!

Once again I made reservations to leave at o'dark thirty so ended up arriving in Memphis by 8:45am on Friday. Since I'd toured Graceland on a previous trip to Memphis I went looking for another way to spend the day. On the advice of Mary the shuttle bus driver, I headed to the Memphis Zoo, www.memphiszoo.org. It was a nice way to spend the morning, until it heated up and all the animals decided to just lay in the shade. So I decided to do the same and checked into my hotel for an afternoon nap.

Was intending to find an Italian restaurant for my ritual pasta meal but then figured I couldn't leave Memphis without trying the local barbecue. I'm from NC, make that eastern NC so my pork barbecue comes slow roasted over hickory wood, chopped and infused with a vinegar based sauce, no tomato sauce for this girl. I went to Central BBQ which was touted in the visitors magazine as a great local barbecue shack www.cbqmemphis.com. For pork barbecue in a tomato base, this was pretty darn good. I got there early enough to avoid the long line but by the time I left, people were lined up outside.

After dinner I drove to the race site and checked out the course. The race started in front of Graceland and then meandered through a residential neighborhood behind the mansion. No steep hills but a couple gradual inclines. Nothing so intimidating that I thought I needed to create an elaborate excuse to not run on Saturday.

I got up Saturday hoping for rain and overcast and actually got it. Unfortunately but the time race time rolled around, it was sunny, hot and humid. I was hoping that a lot of people would be dressed in Elvis regalia, but was a bit disappointed. There was one guy in a full Elvis suit, including a cape and white loafers. I'm not sure, but I think he actually ran in the loafers the entire race. I did see one gal in an Elvis wig, but truthfully that was about it. One neat aspect was a platoon of Navy guys who were using this as a PT drill. They were lined up behind me and it was great to hear their cadence as they jogged the course. I kept telling myself I needed to stay ahead of them and was able to stay ahead until the last mile. I'd like to say that they increased their pace, but the truth was I slowed mine down. I actual walked for two, two minute intervals and my legs felt like jelly! When I finally crossed the finish line, I had absolutely no kick left in me and truly thought I was going to pass out as I leaned on the lady who cut the timing chip off my shoe. To make matters worse, the water table right at the finish line was out of water. It took a trip down the block to the staging tent to finally find water - that was after I walked by the table of hot dogs, popcorn, soda pop, donuts, etc. I guess when the race is in memory of a man who loved fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches, one shouldn't expect healthy snacks to be front and center.

So, I'm back in Durham and really want to get into more serious jogging and exercising but first I have to get through the Susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk For the Cure which begins Friday in Minneapolis. I don't think I'm as ready for this event as I was last year but hopefully my team mates will help me through.

Race #5

Michele and Camille suiting up before the race.Here we are at the start line, getting ready to burn up the course!

Caught in action - we're behind the lady in blue

I think I can honestly say that this was the “no turning back” race. I very specifically picked a state and went looking for a race. I also got other people involved. Greenville, SC is relatively close to Charlotte, NC where my friend Karen M. lives with her husband Rick and daughter Michele. Karen and I go all the way back to elementary school at Club Boulevard.

The unique aspect of this race is that it is run at night and the route is lit with luminaria. To add to the fun, I ran with Michele, Karen’s 10 year old daughter. Michele had participated in a program called Girls on the Run during the prior school year and wanted to run another 5K. So I enlisted her as my running buddy for this race. Prior to the race, Michele and I discussed “race strategy” and decided Michele would wear the interval watch and we would set it at five minutes and two minutes. I recommended that we not go out too fast, so that we wouldn’t get worn out too quick.

Before the race Michele, Karen and I went out to eat at the Olive Garden to carbo-load then we headed back to the race site to await the start. During our wait we of course checked out the competition. We were most impressed with the three guys Michele called “the beach boys.” The beach boys were three middle aged men who walked around in only their skimpy running shorts, deep tans and grey hair, working to impress I don’t know who! Though we couldn’t laugh too hard, they did beat us to the finish line.

We lined up at the finish line and started talking to the people around us, I even told a few people of my 50 by 50 in 50 plans. The start gun went off and the impatience of youth took over. We went out like two bullets! We stayed on our interval times for two rotations and then went into a “free run” dictated by Michele. The course was a big loop, uphill for the first half and downhill for the second half. It was fun to see the race leaders pass us on the way down as we were still struggling up the hill.

I felt good throughout but then we did quite a bit of walking. The race included a lot of young people which I think was encouraging for Michele. We talked along the route about the importance of having fun when you run or there is no sense in doing it. I hope she continues to find enjoyment in running.

Michele finished with a big kick at the end to cross the finish line at 43:13. I came in behind at 43:28. All things considered I’m not to disappointed. Thanks Michele for joining me in one leg of my big dream.

Check out the web site: http://www.candlelightrun.com.

Race #4

The Race Queen gets readyCamille and Ern before the fun starts

We're rounding the final turn!!

Running a race in Washington DC was a last minute decision. I had plans to go play tourist with my cousin Colleen G. for a long weekend and thought why not try to find a race while I'm there. But I had a dilemma. DC is not one of the 50 states so would I somehow be able to count this as part of my 50 by 50 in 50? Technically I don't think I can but I decided I'd keep it as a "spare" race and if I don't get to Virginia or Maryland before the time is up, I'll use this race.

The race, the National Police Week 5k, is run in memory of fallen police officers throughout the United States. I ran in memory of Paul Avery Starzyk. I looked up his story when I got back home. He was my age at the time of his death and died while responding to shots fired at a hair salon. Here is a link to his story: http://www.odmp.org/officer/19546-sergeant-paul-avery-starzyk?printview=1.

I recruited a friend, Erin R., who lives in the DC area to run with me. Once again I picked a running partner who this time, is thirty years younger than I am and is all legs! But she was a great sport even gave me some running tips along the way that have proved helpful. Erin is a good athlete, is in the process of training for a triathlon. Need I say more. To make it worse, this race was full of law enforcement people, from police to FBI agents. Most were young and in impeccable shape.

The race started as rain clouds threatened. The course took us around the nations capital and other government buildings. It was pretty impressive to be able to go past all those buildings without the push of a tourist crowd. I was able to run the entire route but ended up with a time of 36 minutes, not my best run.

Having someone to run with is clearly a bonus, I'm going to have to try and make that happen more often.

Archieve photos

I was cleaning out my email and found this photo and video of my first race. In the picture with me are Kathy, Jen and Jen's son Roman.

Jen's husband took this video of my first finish, thanks Chris!

Race #6

Yes, I do know how to count, I just wanted to get this race on the blog while it is fresh. I’ll catch up on #4 and #5 shortly.

The New Hampshire trip started out bad. But for once, being an insomniac paid off for me. Thursday morning I had my usual 4:30am wake up and thought I should probably set my alarm for 6:00am just in case I actually fell back asleep. At 5:42 I came to again and something told me to check my flight info and confirm my departure from RDU at 8:40am. I reached for the folder at the end of the bed, opened it and saw that my flight from RDU left at 6:50 – in an hour! It was the flight from Baltimore to Manchester that left at 8:40! Immediate panic. I jumped out of bed, threw the few things I’d set aside the night before into a bag, jammed the toothbrush in my mouth and was out the door in 10 minutes. I walked out the back door into a torrential downpour that I knew would slow down my drive time. What could I do but laugh at my blond moment!

The rest of the trip to New Hampshire was uneventful. Upon my arrival I got my first sign that maybe the race wouldn’t be a total wash out for me. My rental car? A bright blue Ford Mustang. What better symbol of speed could I ask for?

Have you ever asked a New Englander for directions? It is as if they revel in the opportunity to help someone out. The motorcycle policeman I stopped to help me get around Portsmouth told me at least three times how to get to my destination along with comments about the quality of the map I was using and the state of the weather. This happened as well in Massachusetts when Craig, John and I stopped a fellow for directions. We not only got directions but exchanged life story as well.

The Thunder Chicken 5K is put on by the Portsmouth Rotary Club along with a barbecue chicken cook out and is held at the Strawbery Bank Museum. Strawbery Bank is a living history museum of an early settlement in Portsmouth. I toured the museum before the race to kill time then went and hung out in Prescott Park across the street. While sitting on a park bench an elderly gentleman, Andy, sat down next to me and struck up a conversation. Conversation of course started with comments about the weather and where we were both from. He was from Andover, MA and looked to be in his 80’s. I told him of my reason for being there and plans for running in all 50 states. Which lead to numerous topics from bonsai trees to golf to travel, including my dream of spending three months in Sienna, Italy studying Italian. He assured me I would accomplish it all! He had such a great positive outlook about life even while recognizing that his was coming down the home stretch.

I finally headed over to the start line to check out the competition. The first dilemma was actually finding the start line. The race had chip timing so I was looking for a starting pad but there wasn’t one in sight. As people started to mingle I asked a couple if they knew where the start was. They pointed out a strip of duct tape stretched across the road. That’s what I call high tech.

There were over 300 runners including a lot of young kids and moms with strollers. Overall it was a healthy looking bunch, I started getting nervous. I found a spot near the back of the pack, but in front of the strollers. I started the race at a pretty good pace and had a ten minute split at the first mile, but I knew I couldn’t keep up that pace. And I couldn’t. During mile two I started to get a gut ache, probably from the water I drank too soon to the start line. So I walked for about two minutes to catch my breathe and then turned it back on. Just before the second mile mark I convinced myself that I had to be the last one in the race. I had passed no one in a long time and it seemed like everyone was passing me – including all the old ladies and young kids (and when I say young kids, I mean four and five year olds!). Of course I had that flash of “why in the hell am I doing this?” And what possessed me to tell so many people about this absolutely stupid idea??

Somewhere in the last half mile, getting cheered on by the runners that were heading back to their cars after completing the race 10 to 15 minutes previously, I had an attitude adjustment. I could finish this and I’d live to jog another day! And how fantastic to have the announcer actually announce my name and city/state over the PA system as I crossed the finish line. Okay, I know that means I’m one of the last runners as there is enough space between the runners at this point to announce our entire life story!

I crossed the finish line at 34:12. I was a bit shocked as I thought for sure it was going to take me at least 40 minutes. I was definitely hurting by the end and didn’t have a kick left in me at the end – unlike the six year old kid who came barreling past me for the last 100 yards.

The chicken dinner was great, one of the sweetest ears of corn I ever remember eating. As I was driving out of the parking lot a guy came up to me and told me he’d been admiring my car but couldn’t understand why I got a muscle car with an automatic transmission! I assured him that if this was my car it would have had a standard transmission, but alas this was a rental.

Friday before heading home I headed to the beach for a couple hours of sunshine and a drive along the coast. The natives kept telling me this was the best day they’d had all summer, I assured them I was responsible and had brought it with me from Florida!

Next weekend I’m off to Memphis for race #7. I’ve got to get in a few work outs this week as my legs are still hurting today, Saturday.

Oh yeah, I wasn’t last.

Here's your sign

I believe in signs. Sometimes it is a bit of a stretch to make an occurrence deliver the message I want to hear, but I'm a believer. I got another sign today that I'm supposed to run all these 5K's. I dropped mom off for her weekly hair appointment and went in search of pomegranate molasses. I tried the Whole Foods store and got a tip from them that there was an Asian market across town that probably carried it. As I was driving that way, I pulled up behind a car with New Hampshire license plates. Where am I going tomorrow? New Hampshire to run in the Thunder Chicken 5K. I got a bit of a chuckle out of this and continued on my hunt for the pomegranate molasses. I didn't find the Asian market so headed back to the beauty shop. Stopped at a stop light, I decided at the last minute to turn left instead of right, take a different route back and maybe happen upon an Asian market. I didn't, but at the next light I stopped behind a truck with Tennessee plates. Where is my race in two weeks? Memphis, Tennessee for the Elvis Run, Rock and Roll. I'm taking this as a sign!

Race #3

Just back from my workout at the Y, trying to get ready for Race #6 in Portsmouth, NH. I slowed my pace back down to 11 minute miles in hopes of running further. It helped, but I just don't think I'm over that cold yet. On the way back from the gym I called my sister Andre A. and guess what? She'd done her first 5K the day before!! She went along to support a friend but ended up having a good time. Hmmmmm, maybe I'll have a running buddy after all!

Okay, back to the races:

(Look at that hair fly, what speed!!)

If there was every any doubt about continuing to run, it was erased when I got an email from my brother Craig. He forwarded on a link to the Boston Athletic Association website. In conjunction with the Boston Marathon, for the first time they were organizing a 5K race to be held the day before the marathon. “Sign up” Craig said, “You’re going to be there anyway.”

Craig was running in the marathon and I was meeting him to be his head cheerleader. At that point I told him about my 50 by 50 in 50 plans which was all the more reason for me to run, I’d be able to mark another state off my list. He thought my idea was pretty neat. (However, a couple weeks after our Boston trip I got a call from him: “Camille, I’ve been thinking about this idea of yours and it has to be the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard. Sure, a marathon in every state, but a 5K???”)

Race morning arrived with a field of almost 4,000 people and a lot of spectators, including brother Craig and friend John E. from Iowa. We got to the start early so had time to kill, got coffee and donuts and I started checking out the competition. Craig, John and I decided that I needed to beat the gal from Nebraska we referred to as “Cornhusker” who we met in the donut shop. She was a good sized farm girl in red shorts and a red sweat shirt – I could definitely keep track of her in the crowd.

The nice part about this race was that the uphill was all at the beginning and spectators could move around to watch “their runner” at a couple points along the route. Craig and John proceeded to hoot and holler at me whenever I went by, berating me for not going fast enough at one of the turns, which got a laugh from all the runners around me. I ended up with my best time yet, 33:05 and finisher number 2,800 out of a field of 3,523.

And yes, I beat Cornhusker!

The Boston Marathon the next day was an unbelievable experience, even for a spectator and the Bruce Springsteen show we stayed an extra day to see was definitely worth it.