Dallas White Rock Marathon Recap

Dallas White Rock Marathon Recap

A Runner's Ramblings: Volume 1; 49th Edition
1,283.8 miles raced
78.6 miles to race
Race: Dallas White Rock Marathon
Place: Dallas, Texas
Miles from home: 1326
Course Difficulty: 4.5 out of 10
Course Enjoyability: 6 out of 10
Weather: 50s. Overcast. Slight wind.
Finisher’s Medal: 7.5 out of 10
Donations to Date: ~28k

• I now have fewer miles to race in Fiddy2 then I once ran in 12 hours (2003 Personal Endurance Classic in Erie, PA. 84 miles in 12 hours is still the course record. Yes, I am bragging.)
• While I have been rather inefficient on knocking off new states during Fiddy2, this was my first in Texas. With Austin and Houston following up soon in 2007, there is a possibility I will run all three to complete the Texas Challenge.
• The Drake Well Marathon in Titusville, Pennsylvania is less than 2 weeks away. While the race has reached it capacity, donations are always accepted. (For more info look here: www.fiddy2.org/dwmarathon.html)

Many thoughts regarding marathons and Fiddy2 have been prevalent in my mind during these last few weeks. Ever since a nice string of times starting in Niagara Falls and ending in New York City, I have experienced a slight slowing in my finish times (almost all easily explained but for the competitor never excused completely). While without a doubt, some of this perceived lethargy is just the year catching up to me, I know that a portion is psychological. You see, I am ready to be done with Fiddy2.

Please do not get me wrong: Fiddy2 has been a wonderful experience and the people I have met and the places I have ventured to in 2006 have been both unique and fascinating. But it has been draining, both physically and mentally. Having never done anything even close to this prior to 2006, I have no past experience to call upon to know if I would feel any different extenuating circumstances were different. I am of course, referring to both continuing to have a full-time profession in addition to fundraising for L’Arche Mobile. All while pushing myself past boundaries I did not even know existed prior to the first weekend in 2006. But undoubtedly, removing one of those factors would have to have made this year infinitely easier.

Why? Besides the obvious fact that resting during the week, instead of putting in 50-plus hour work weeks makes anything more easy, is the additional drain of setting a goal for fundraising that is probably higher than I should have! Even more so than this, is doing so when I have never done fundraising of this scale before and can barely concentrate full efforts on doing so. I will admit that in he beginning of the year I was pretty sure that it would only be a few races in before my communication with many various national brands of various type of companies would be fruitful not only for L’Arche Mobile but for myself. I could not have be more wrong As months passed, the halfway point slipped by, a sub 3 hour marathon became mine, milestone after milestone has come and gone with about as little fanfare as possible. Therein lies the rub. For, as I have mentioned in previous recaps, the mystery of whether I am able to finish a marathon is gone. I will always respect the distance and be fully aware that anything can happen on race day but for the most part, I know it will take extreme circumstances to keep me from crossing the finish line and more often than not in a relatively competitive time.

Likewise, my friends and supporters, while obviously more impressed with a faster finishing time, are just as happy to receive these recaps regardless of the time on the clock in the photo. Their kind words of encouragement flow regardless. More importantly, as I am neither that impressed with myself, nor am I seeking fame, the amount of adulation I receive is more or less something I do not care about.

In fact, the additional praise I could receive would only matter if, and here is the underlying point, fast times, press, adulation etc., led to more donations. Unfortunately, they do not.

So instead, while I do indeed push myself every week to set a new personal best, as the year winds down, I am doing my best to enjoy the ride. Soon it will be over and whether I have reached the donation goal I have set or not, I realize I would be rather upset with myself if I did not enjoy myself on the way.

Looking back at some of my early recaps (and I shudder when I see how lacking of information they were) I am reminded how I was more social during the races then. I have not gotten less social as the year has gone by but rather I have gotten faster. As such, the amount of people around me during the race has lessened. Nevertheless, even locked into a battle not only against the few people around me but my own desire to set a new PR every week, I have somehow gotten back to enjoying the races again.

Without a doubt, dipping under that 3 hour barrier in Niagara Falls was a release and a curse. No longer was I left wondering if I could run that fast during the course of 52 marathons in one year. Now the question became how fast could I run from here on out, which is far less goal-oriented. Consequently, this attitude has left me with the ability to acquiesce to a slower time thinking I have more weeks left to run in the year to make up a faster time. Granted I have faced some conditions which have been far from ripe for the PR picking but more regardless, I now realize I have very few races left to indeed see how low I can get my time. Three marathons in fact. Thinking about that sometimes boggles my mind. Not because I am impressed with my times. Not because I think what I am doing is extremely noteworthy. Moreover I just cannot begin to recall a time when Fiddy2 was not in my life. For the past 22 months Fiddy2 has consumed me either partially or completely.

This leads me to the thought process of above. Could I have run much faster without working 50 plus hours a week? Does spending most of my evenings recapping, promoting and searching for sponsors for Fiddy2 sap my energy? Am I realizing that while this has been done only by a handful of people and no one has done it faster, that I really did indeed sacrifice an entire year of my life? Yes and Yes and Yes. No doubt whatsoever. But I am so glad I have done so. I am tired both mentally and physically but I still hope every week to not only break 3 hours again but am surprised when I do not and actually wonder why I am tired at the end of the race. I call it marathon-amnesia. It is the state of mind that, while it may be hot or the course was tough or this that and the other thing, as a competitor, you always say: “Yeah, but I still should have run faster.” And every runner has done this and nothing anyone says to you (runner or not) will completely convince you otherwise.

So I am flying to Dallas right now. Had to wake up yet again at another god-awful hour. I am beat. The course does not look that forgiving. I have lingering leg problems that more or less started in July in consecutive brutal races in Colorado (one of which was absolutely necessary given it was the only marathon in North America and by skipping it I would not have kept my streak alive and Fiddy2 would have been called Twenty5). But I have every intention of going out tomorrow morning and pushing the first half well-under 90 minutes and still expecting to get faster in the second half. Why? Because I do not give a damn about every excuse/reason/problem I just listed.

I have a race to run.

1st half marathon: 1:31:50

What a pasta dinner! The meal spread put on by the Marathon felt like a four star banquet with the multiple choices of pasta, excellent salad, dim lighting and ballroom atmosphere. This is to say nothing about the various running dignitaries on both the dais at the front of the hall, as well as those available to rub shoulders with afterwards. Dick Beardsley gave a rousing speech about the beneficiary of the Dallas White Rock Marathon, the Scottish Hospital, where he detailed the many “handicapped” people he encountered who were anything but. A vision-impaired gentleman was profiled by the Marathon he has run this marathon many times and had done so with speed man of us with full vision which we had done once. (Truth be told, I was completely ignorant of the fact that this was Dallas’s 37th running of this marathon). Giving interviews about the various runners in he race as well as the race itself on the local news broadcast to all of us in the ballroom was Frank Shorter. While I stood in the buffet line I had the brief opportunity to speak with Joan Benoit Samuelson. My goodness! For non-runners allow me to explain: if you like celebs this is like meeting Tom Cruise (before he went batsh*t crazy) and if you like scientists and follow them around with fervor (*cough* geek *cough) it is akin to meeting Stephen Hawking. I am not a person to be start struck at all but to even be in the room with these luminaries was humbling and enlightening.

After the dinner where I spoke with five lovely ladies running the relay, I knew I needed to speak to a few more of the racing legends. I could not pass up an opportunity like this without regret. So, first was Bill Rodgers (aka Boston Billy for his multiple successes at the Boston Marathon). Soft-spoken and unassuming, I actually had no idea what I would say to Bill when I approached him. Having brought nothing for him to sign, I remembered the Fiddy2 cards in my pocket and handed him one. To his credit, before signing the card, Bill actually looked it over and said: “Is this you?” When I told him it was he actually raised his eyebrows a pinch. I impressed (even slightly) Bill Rodgers! We spoke about the intricacies of Fiddy2 and I recounted to him his quote of “No one with a full-time job will ever beat me in a race.” I am sure he has heard his own words sent back to him a multitude of times but I thought it was pertinent given the depth of our conversation about how hard it is to run fast and work a regular job, let alone adding a fundraising aspect to the mix. What a pleasure that was.

I next moved down the table to Dick Beardsley. Deeply involved in a conversation with another runner like myself, I could see why he was chosen to be a speaker. His enthusiasm is immense, his desire t listen genuine, and his demeanor warm and inviting. We spoke about Fiddy2 as well and some other ultras I had done in the past few years. When he heard my times in those races, he said: “You have some talent! You need to get this out and known.” If only it was that easy. Regardless, for a man who has run a 2:08 marathon he stilled seemed genuinely impressed with my feat and I could not have been more flattered. When I felt I had taken enough of his time, I excused myself to leave.

With the evening nearing its conclusion, my friend Amy, who traveled from her home in Austin to run this marathon (her fifth this year!) and had also been kind enough to pick me up at the airport, began to head for the door. It was then that I noticed Frank Shorter sitting with a few people and chatting. I was not able to get the entire conversation but he was espousing about something rather elegantly in regards to steroid testing. Only wishing to get his autograph, I was quite surprised that when he asked for my name, the reporters sitting around him immediately ushered me to join them at this round table discussion. Before too long, they were asking me about Fiddy2 and I felt a little awkward speaking about what I was doing given the company I had. Nevertheless, Frank said there and then again later when I saw him in the halls that was I was doing was quite great.

Finally, as I left the banquet hall I saw Jeff Galloway (I mean seriously, all I was missing Deena Kastor and Alberto Salazar to have a runner’s dream lineup in front of me). In case you do not know, Jeff Galloway revolutionalized the training for many marathoners, enabling those not blessed with great talent to complete a marathon with a run/walk method. Say what you will about the plethora of runners running marathons these days or the soaring average marathon time but I know that he single-handedly is responsible for far less obese people in this country. I more or less told him this and again got another signed Fiddy2 card. Talk about beaming!

Amy and I said goodnight and I had dreams of really crushing this course. Too bad the drunken couple in the room next to me kept me up on and off all night until I finally had to take care of the situation. A few hours of sleep later I woke and readied for the race.

Given the elite bib number of 49 (for the 49th marathon I was doing this year) I was hoping I could earn it by running at least 49th overall. I was aware this was going to be difficult given the strength of the field (the course record was broken for both men and women with an overall winning time of 2:12 the fastest time of any race I have ever ran. My friend Wilson Komen came n just shot of the medal stand in 4th place overall with a 2:19:49! Holy Crap!) As I settled into the crowd as one of the only few white people, I saw standing next to me was Dick Beardsley again. We exchanged pleasantries and I asked him what he hoped to run. With a shrug he said: “in the 2:40s”. I laughed and then said I was going to go out fast to say I lead Dick Beardsley in a marathon. The gun went off and for 100 meters I did just that. Then I never saw him again (he ended up running a 2:49:41. What a nice guy with incredible talent)

Throughout the first few mils the weather was pretty close to perfect. With a temperature of 50 degrees at most and overcast, only a swirling wind added difficulty to the race. Well run water stops and bands dotted the course as did visible mile markers and clocks every mile. I had, as I mentioned designs on a PR but they seemed to go by the wayside when at mile 4 I was already running a slower than I hoped. But the next 4 or 5 miles gave me hope again as I picked up some time with the aid of some downhills.

Throughout this first half I encountered many people who I had met at previous races and made lots of new friends as well. A sign on my back made by my friend Christine that said: “49 weeks 49 marathons” garnered much attention. However, I often had to shirk their congratulatory statements of finishing my goal that day with a “Well, I actually still have 3 more to go.” “52?!” they would say in incredulousness which I always found to be quite amusing. Apparently, 49 marathons was no biggie. But 52. Now that’s saying something!

We soon entered the area which was the namesake for the race, White Rock Lake, and prepared for a relatively flat 9 mile loop circumventing lake. Running with some people here and there, I did my best to keep hopes low. I busied myself with thoughts of preparing the Drake Well Marathon and at one point picked up a power gel someone had dropped out of their back pocket right in front of me. The number of times he looked back at it crestfallenly made me scoop it up, sprint ahead and tell him if he reached back like a relay runner I would hand it to him. Although I still saw 2 other gels in his shorts he treated this present like manna from God. He looked back a few times ay my bib number when doing so which prompted me to say “I know, I know. ‘Elite’ my ass, right?” He smiled and said, “Just want to know who to thank when he race is over.” I wonder if he felt the same at mile 23 when I passed him. Regardless, the lake was quite pretty with what I think were herons flitting in and out of the lake on a leisurely Sunday morning.

The halfway point appeared and while a little under my goal time I felt slightly refreshed. Could I run a negative split? I knew the latter part of the course had some semi-tough uphills so I figured all I could do was try.

Mile 21:

The wind picked up in a few places around the lake (I have said often that water, while pretty, always means wind) but it was never really that much of a deterrent. It could have been far worse, that is for sure so no complaints here. Moreover a fair amount of spectators began to show up to support the runners. Given that Dallas is the 5th largest city in the country, a few more could not have hurt. However, unlike New York and other city marathons, White Rock is not run strictly within the confines of the city which limits the ability for spectators to walk out of their house and cheer. And I personally have never watched a marathon, so who am I to complain?

Running out of White Rock Lake I came across a gentleman who I had run a few marathons with this year. He ran Marine Corps in October in a time of 3:o5 (just behind me) for his 100th lifetime marathon. I was hoping to stay with him and chat but my energy was ebbing a little bit. I could tell that the humidity form Cayman last weekend and the short turn-around to this race was not helping much. But I refused to crash and burn and I kept on chugging. I might slow down but I refused to have one bad mile that could sabotage any subsequent goals for the race.

For some reason I did not want to do time splits in my head to figure out where I may finish (a distinct difference from a few races) but instead focused on my surroundings and my body. My shin was bothering me but no more than usual. And given that I was wearing the shoes that may have very well caused this, it was a great mental release. Even after the race my legs continued to only bother me at the normal rate which was a little victory in itself. Running in potentially problematic shoes was a little risky for me to attempt but given I only have 3 more marathons left this year I figured it was worth it. I was very curious why the legs started to hurt in late October and was trying to find the cause. But as my diagnosis from a friend who is a physical therapist seemed to prove, my legs are just tired. As simple as that solution seems, I much prefer knowing that is probably the case as to the alternative long lasting injury!

Knowing the last five miles were supposed to be downhill I was really holding on and hoping to make up some time. To kill the suspense for you here, I did not run a PR. Sorry about that. But there is still some drama left to be told.

As we started what I would hope would be the grade of elevation down for the last 5 miles, I picked up the speed. On the nice slightly steep downhill, I caught glimpse of a mass of humanity up ahead on the course and I could not figure out for the life of me what it was. However, as I drew closer I realized that this was where the half marathoners were joining us from a cross-street. As they started an hour later than the marathon, I was running smack dab into the biggest chunk of half-marathons, all pushing for a 2 hour finish. To be honest I was quite unhappy.

Clogging the entire street with not much runner’s etiquette among many of them, they would run five abreast at times in spite of the many yelps from race volunteers that half runner had to stay on the right and make way for passing marathoners. I agree that they too are running a race (as one runner said out loud when asked to move over) but the fact remains it is a different race. Just like in races where 10kers and half marathons eat a majority of the food provided for the races and even sub-3 hour marathoners must wait in line for badly needed massages because of the dirge of the smaller race finishes I think this is just in poor form.

Believe me, I know this viewpoint sounds like an elitist view but it is not. Hear me out. I think, amongst other things, that there should be separate tables for massages for the smaller distance races and also possibly different food tables. Before I hear cries of foul, I have a fool-proof argument to back me up that has nothing to do with the time run or the distance traveled. Marathoners, flat-out have paid more to run. What talks more in the world than money? Should they not receive more for their hard-earned cash? I do not think anyone would argue that marathoners need nourishment and assistance more than those who have run considerably less distances (generally, at least). I do not think it is too much to ask for some slight modifications in areas like this in all races. On top of that, do not even get me started on non-runners eating food before runners get there or using race area porta-potties.

Nevertheless, to his endless credit, the race director found me after the race and asked for my honest opinions. He said he fully appreciated my candor in previous recaps and knew that catching me within minutes of my finish would allow him to find out even more about my true feelings without a filter (Yes, I have a filter, Smarmy McSarcasm). The first thing I said (and honestly the only complaint I had) was this last five miles. He nodded almost immediately and said something akin to “That will be fixed.” He sounded like a person happy to have the biggest filed ever for his race but unhappy that congestion had caused anyone to have a possible slower time. It did not keep me from slowing down all that much but for those pushing for that once in a lifetime time goal, it was indeed a pain. I knew he was truly understanding of the enormity of the situation and could already see the wheels churning in his mind. I have no doubt that problem will be remedied next year.

Finish:

Back to the race. I settled back into my mind as the crowd thickened and began following a woman who had two pacers breaking their way through the crowd for her. I knew the gaps they were creating would quickly close, so I did my best to stay tight with them to the finish. A few surprise slight uphills sort of took some wind out of my sails but I was determined to get my new adjusted goal. Down to the last quarter mile or so, the crowds of spectators thickened considerably and the cheering started. As every person crossed the finish line the announcer said their name and with some added a little commentary. At points later this would be come even more difficult as the finishers would cross in heaps but I am pretty sure that he got them all.

“Let’s welcome SuzyCaraSteveMarshallandAudrey as they finish the White Rock Marathon!”

Surprisingly not as close as I thought it might be, I cruised in under 3:10 with a 3:09:36 for my fifth sub 3:10 in the last two months and my 8th fastest lifetime finish. My friend Amy, not nearly as lucky with the weather as the predicted 60s and sunny became colder and rainier for her last 6 miles, finished a little behind me to the cheers of the 20 or so people I had asked to scream her name. Even though her iPod she swears she heard them.

Any problems with the crowding at the end of the race stems from the same crowding problem from before and while I was a little surprised by it, I think that it to will be fixed in time for the next race in Dallas.

A quick lunch with Amy and her family had me spreading the word to even more people about Fiddy2 (I had to have handed out over 100 business cards in the 30 hours I spent in Dallas; none to Drunky VanEarlyDivorce in the room next to me in the Hyatt unfortunately) which was followed by an even quicker trip to the airport.

It only took two weeks back into flying for me to be swiftly reminded of my distaste for this travel form as a late take-off had me sprinting through O’Hare to make my connection. Then after barely making the plane I had the pleasure of sitting on the tarmac for an hour or so before we took off. Classic hurry-up and wait. On the plane my seatmate decided he needed to keep his Nanook of the North winter jacket on the entire trip so I was T-Rexing my arms as I tried to type this recap. Throw in his need to get up to the bathroom 3 times on a less than 2 hour flight and his jaw-dropping decision to twice (twice!) redip his Skoal LipCancer and my designs to get my own pilot’s license tripled. Seriously, chewing tobacco?! On a plane?!) Even better was when I had to get up every time to let him deal with his 4th grade Girl Scout bladder, he would sit back down and stake claim to the seating area with legs open so wide a porn star would blush. Did I forget to mention the crying, ne, shrieking baby and the indifferent parents holding her? Thought I had.

115 flights down for the year. Just a few more to go.

Off to Florida I go for the 5th and final time this year. I get to once again see my good friend Katie and hopefully some new friends from the Taper Madness running website. A flat course will help me in my continual quest to break 3 hours. Even more importantly, I will be one race closer to completing Fiddy2 and to resuming a normal life. Christmas will then be just around the corner and with that I get to see my parents and finally see the Drake Well Marathon come to a conclusion.