Drake Well Marathon Recap

Drake Well Marathon Recap

A Runner's Ramblings: Volume 1; 51st Edition
1,326.2 miles raced
26.2 miles to race
Race: Drake Well Marathon
Place: Titusville, PA
Miles from home: Birthplace: 0; Present home: 333 miles
Course Difficulty: 1.5 out of 10
Course Enjoyability: ?? out of 10. Hard for me to accurately rate this. .I say 10.
Weather: 30-40s. Slight wind. Overcast. No snow!
Finisher’s Medal: 10 out of 10
Donations to Date: ~31k

• One more marathon to go.

Back in July an uncomfortable truth became a reality. Any chance of a marathon being run on the weekend before Christmas had officially moved from slim to none. For whatever reason, even the so-called Christmas Marathon in Washington was run on the week before Christmas. (Of course, the truth now is that because of weather conditions last weekend, the race was postponed until December 23rd. However I had no idea that would occur in July). My search for, and subsequent wishes both ended without fruit as the year progressed and no marathon appeared in that open slot. I knew something needed to be done.

This year, I really think, could be called the year of the mutli-marathoner. Many runners, including myself, have garnered press for running multiple marathons in 2006 This is not to say that many runners in the history of running marathons have not run more marathons in a year or done them in odd configurations, but for some reason 2006 seemed to be the year where the press finally started paying attention With Dean Karnazes and Sam Thompson doing their 50 states in 50 days, Lance doing his New York marathon and many others doing feats to amaze, marathoning was not quite the Running boom of the late 1970s and early 1980s but it was a miniboom indeed and threatening to spill over even further into the mainstream, I need not bore you with running statistics of the record number of marathon finishers in 2005 to prove my point. Look around. You all know someone who has finished one if not more than one marathon. But I digress.

Let me provide you with a little background about myself here. I have had a crash course this year, not only in running a marathon but in the history and traditions of marathons. Because of this and all the hubbub surrounding marathons this year, I came to the realization that I simply had to run a marathon on Christmas weekend and that marathon had to be a “real” marathon. Now, arguments can be made either way as to what makes a marathon “real”. But I determined that one of the major things setting me apart from others this year, was the fact that I was running a certified marathon, ever single weekend in 2006, with no exceptions. This meant I could not run a double on one weekend to make up for time where I may have wished to rest or where I would have enjoyed putting a few marathons in the bank, so to speak, for later. Case in point, I had turned down an offer to run the Tahoe Triple in Tahoe which consisted of three marathons in three days, as, while it would have afforded me some downtime later on in the year, it would not have been in the true spirit of what I was doing. Therefore, I had to run one on December 23rd or December 24th

As I mentioned, as this year has gone, on I have learned a lot about people, marathons, and the running community. Far more than I could possibly write in this little recap. But one of those things I learned was that most consider a marathon to be a timed race, run on the day it is advertised, with other competitors. At first I lent this theory little credence as it appeared to be an elitist view. But as the year went on, I was converted. I figured, when I go home after work and run a 6.2 mile route, I should not consider myself the sole winner of the Dane Rauschenberg Start in my BackYard 10k. Likewise, I could not possibly run a “fake” marathon on Christmas weekend and count it as a marathon towards Fiddy2. Therefore, my original idea of finding a 26.2 mile course or a 5k course and looping it around (even further than 26.2 miles just to be safe) went out the window. I had to either find a marathon or make one. Since I could not find one, I chose the latter course.

But could I possibly get a real course laid out? And where would I do it? Like a thunderclap the Drake Well Marathon was born in my head, fittingly while I was out on a run. I cannot exactly pinpoint when it hit me but it was so simple it was silly. I could definitely put together a race in my hometown where the course layout was easy: run around a track until a marathon distance was covered But that would not satisfy all the other requirements. So, get it certified, get other people to run it, make it chip timed and problem solved.

Easier said than done of course. But when I get a hold an idea I refuse to let it go when I think it can be done (case in point, my repeated failed attempts to get into the New York City Marathon only made me want to get into it more. While I did not resort to annoyances or backhanded deals, I did indeed gain entry and was proud to run as part of the New York Fire Department’s Haz Mat division). I had no idea however, that the response to my seemingly odd idea would be so overwhelming.

In case you were not aware, the course was this: run 105.5 (give or take a few feet) laps around my high school track. I got in touch with my old high school track coach and enlisted his help. As much as I despise delegating (you delegate and things do not get done I have found) I was forced to. I lived 6 hours away from where the race was to take place, was working a full time job and traveling and planning Fiddy2 for the other 51 weeks of the year. I simply could not do this alone. Coach Henderson came through with flying colors. The track was secured. We got in touch with a man to both do the chip timing as well as the certification. The biggest hurdles were quickly jumped.

Next up, I needed assistance from my parents. My father, a skilled wood carver, was asked to make replicas of the historic Drake Well to act as a Finisher’s Medal. Drake Well is the first fully-functioning oil well to ever be drilled in the world and it is located in my hometown. The silhouette of the oil derrick is famous in the region and I thought it would make a fitting and unique medal. This was one of the many reasons I limited the race field to the first 25 runners, whoever they would be. The last thing I needed was to turn my Dad into a one man sweatshop.

After that, I asked my mother to assist on assembling individualized runner’s boxes to be given to each participant. Placed on a table on the track, the runners would be able to place whatever they wanted in those boxes for their consumption every quarter mile. My mother individually wrapped each box to look like a Christmas present, labeled all of the boxes with the names of the runners and their choices of Gatorade, and made muffins for everyone to have. With easy access to their food and water, only a card table with cold water, manned by many people, including my Uncle, on the far side of the track was needed to keep everyone hydrated even on this cool day.

Along with my parents my Aunt Monica came through in the clutch and acquired the services of a DJ who was instrumental in keeping us from all going insane. I had not even thought of this idea (the most I thought of was an iPod with speakers) but it turned out to be many a runners fave.

The list could go on of all the wonderful things that my family assisted me with in this race but suffice it to say that without them I would never have been able to complete this race. I delegated and never once was there a problem.

But most importantly, the race could never have been completed without runners. I never would have thought that my limit of 25 runners would b reached so quickly but up until the day of the race I was still turning runners away. This was especially hard to do as the registration fee was a complete 100% donation to L’Arche Mobile and every person I turned away was $100 less that I made for the charity. But along with the thought that I simply might have a colossal disaster trying to fit that many runners on one track at one time was the fact that along with the finisher’s medals being hand-carved, they were also emblazoned with a plaque that carried each individual runner’s name on the medal. That’s right, when I finished I handed myself a Drake Well Medal with “Dane Rauschenberg” already on it. That does not happen to often in a marathon I can guarantee that! As such, I had to have the complete list done by Thanksgiving in order to get them all printed. When I got home the day before the race, the medals looked even better than I could have hope them to be.

But, even without the extra donations, I am happy to have had the runners who made it and no more. While due to injury or unforeseen circumstances, four runners did not make the trek to 16354 for the Inaugural Drake Well Marathon, the other 21 made it special indeed. As they are the reason this entire race was possible, I think I should tell you a little about each one of them. (Go to www.runhigh.com for full detailed results of their times and all 106 lap splits!)

Bib number 2: Larry Herman (Maryland)
The very first person to sign up for the Drake Well Marathon. Back in July, at the San Francisco Marathon, we were having dinner with other runners (Larry is also one of the race directors of the Frederick Marathon in Maryland and I highly recommend this race) when I told him about my idea for the DWM. Right then and there he signed up and said: “I want to be part of this.” Bothered by an injury sustained during the JFK 50 mile race just a month ago, Larry gritted through this tough ankle pain and made everyone smile with his wit throughout the race. While he brought up the rear, never once did he grumble.

Bib number 3: David Terrill (Pennsylvania)
David and I met at the Hatfield & McCoy marathon in July. With a PR of 2:53, David was looking like he would be the winner of this race when the entrants came in. But having suffered his own injury as well just a few weeks before the race, he was slowed slightly. Regardless, he is one of the most stand-up people you will ever meet. Truly kind and giving, we should all be so lucky to call people like Dave a friend. Coming in on his injured legs, his third place overall was a thing a beauty. As I passed him on a lap once he stated to me: “I did not come her to start, I came here to finish.” That should make your list of quotes for 2007 and beyond.

Bib Number 4: Jim Roeder (Pennsylvania)
Far and away the tallest competitor of the DWM. At 6’9’’, Jim is an Ironman Triathlete who set a 47 minute PR at the Drake Well Marathon!! A fountain of information on all things triathlon related I will be calling on him once Fidd2y is over. To quote Jim:

“Once again, thanks for the great day yesterday and the good fellowship at the pre-race meal Friday night. I think you, your family, and friends did a great job with the race. I was fun to have the run on the track as we were able to keep constant watch of our splits over a quarter of a mile. I think the surface was a little easier on the knees as well. With the small field and allowing some of the locals to run along side also was nice.

All of the above factors helped me move my PR from 5:03:19 at the Marine Corp. marathon to 4:19:26 at the first annual Drake Well Marathon. I'll take it over Marine Corp. and Disney any day.”

Bib Number 7: Theresa Nosko Lyon (Virginia)
Ah, the Nosko girls. I say “girls” but I mean ladies in every sense of the word. These three sisters have been on the Fiddy2 bandwagon for quite sometime and it was no surprise when they signed up to run the DWM. The overall Woman’s winner, Theresa did a smack dab awesome job on race day.

Bib Number 8: Julia Nosko Murray (Pennsylvania)
Julia told me that if we ever run the DWM again or if the course gets modified into more of a “real” race (as I mentioned would be my desire if I can get some help in 2007) that they would help in anyway that they could. Just a great all-around family. Their friends and family accounted for a vast majority of the supporters and fans down at the race track Saturday morning.

Bib Number 9: Monica Copley (Pennsylvania)
In only her second marathon with little to no training leading up to the race, Monica is a Titusville resident who said: “I can’t rightfully pass up the opportunity to run a marathon 1 mile from my doorstep!”

Bib Number 11: Tracy Allen (Ohio)
I did not get to speak to Tracy as much as I would have wanted but after finishing the race I know he cared enough to send his family back down to the race to pick up his coveted Finisher’s Medal!

Bib Number 13: Bonita Nosko Coats (Virginia)
Get this. For her first marathon ever, the third Nosko girl chose the DWM! Color me flattered and impressed as I would have never taken on nearly 106 laps of a track as my first marathon! While her time was not a world-record never once did she stopped moving forward. True grit.

Bib Number 14: Damon Lease (Vermont)
Traveling all the way from Vermont, I know Damon was trying to qualify for Boston. Having already run well under 3 hours in his best time ever, I think a nagging injury got the best of him on Saturday and he had to withdraw around mile 21. I did not get a chance to see him go before he left unfortunately, but wish him a speedy recovery.

Bib Number 15: David Frame (Minnesota)
The birthday boy! Celebrating his 60th birthday, we welcomed David to Titusville before the race with a round of applause and serenaded him with the Beatles “Birthday Song” or whatever the heck the name of that song is. While he said the multiple loops got to him in the long run, David ran a race to be proud of. As a Minneapolis resident, he could appreciate as well as all of us that the weather gods smiled down upon us on Saturday and kept the snow at bay. A rarity for December 23rd in NW Pennsylvania, that is for sure.

Bib Number 16: Michael Yoder (Pennsylvania)
A quiet chap, Michael also set a personal best on the course by over 3 minutes (if I recall his words correctly). Few things made my day more than hearing words like that!

Bib Number 17: Annie Kirkland (Virginia)
Nearly a scratch before the race because of an injury, Annie and her lovely mother made the trip up from just a few miles away from me in Virginia. Annie is probably quite happy that she raced, as she took home 2nd place overall for the women! Way to go Annie!

Bib Number 18: Cowboy Jeff (Maryland)
What can I say about Jeff? Just an outstanding fella who took it upon himself to organize the pasta dinner the night before the race because he knew I had a little too much on my plate. Conspiring with my mother who made dessert for the dinner, Jeff made the dinner a success. A good percentage of the runners made it and were treated to wonderful company all around. I cannot thank Jeff enough and am glad we met all the way back at the Little Rock Marathon in March. There is s special place in heaven for folks like Jeff.

Bib Number 19: Eric Seremet (Colorado)
Eric put on such a strong showing that he was constantly spurring me on to go faster. I am sure the air felt like heaven to his lungs as he is currently living in the high altitude of Colorado. I was unsure if this was personal best for him but if not, it was close! Eric ended up taking 2nd place overall for the entire race!

Bib Number 20: Rick Parisi (Alabama)
I did not get to speak to Rick as much as I would like but I am glad he shed the warm winter fleece he wore for the majority of the race as he made me hot every time I saw him. He and his lovely female friend, Gretchen seemed quite pleased with his finishing time as they should have been.

Bib Number 21: Melanie Dorland (Indiana)
Making the long drive from Indianapolis, Melanie, whose pretty face made many a runner stop and chat, had a very strong showing. With some of the most even split times on the day Melanie chugged along like a machine. I hope she is very proud of her 4th placer woman’s finish, as I assuredly was.

Bib Number 22: Mary Siegel (Pennsylvania)
Bringing Hammer Gel for everyone, Mary was a welcome addition before her gift. Mary finished third overall for the women in style when with just a few steps to go, Mary turned around and backed over the finish line. Making quips all day, Mary was a joy to have on the track that day.

Bib Number 23: John O. Smith (Pennsylvania)
As the only one who left without removing his chip, he was the recipient of my first post-marathon email! Like many others he expressed that the race was wonderfully run and if there is a second version not only would he be there but four members of his family would love to help.

Bib Number 24: Kelli Kleeb Staub (Pennsylvania)
The girls of this race were so generous. Kelli is a fellow runner who I had met online earlier this year, as well as at the Erie Marathon in September. She was one of the last people to sign up for the DWM but one of the ones I most enjoyed having at the race. Kelli brought Snickers Energy Bars for everyone and her quick smile and cute little daughter made us all happier. She barely looked tired as she finished the race and sat down to chat with her family.

Bib Number 25: Dan Geier (Pennsylvania) with a large portion of his family in tow, Dan was quick with a smile and a joke. From his email after the race, Dan says:

“I enjoyed a PR yesterday....my Marine Corp was a 4:33.56.......and my legs didn't bother me in D.C. like they did yesterday”. And also noting how well my mother added surprises to the race, he talked about how the muffins and cake and cookies she had baked for the pasta dinner was so yummy and “... with a mom like that, I surprised you don't weigh 250”. He doesn’t realize this is why I only go home twice a year. I would have to roll back afterwards. Also unbeknownst to me, my mother had purchased colorful fleece blankets for all the finishers and Dan said this was wonderful surprise. Further relating how much en enjoyed the finisher’s medal “…which is now hanging on our Christmas tree (and will each year)”. Dan did not mention he PR’d by 24 minutes!

That makes 21 starters, 20 finishers, at least 4 personal bests, 9 states represented and with just a few snafus (including a 20 minute late start because I underestimated how long it would take to set a few things up in the morning and getting up at 4:45 am did not leave me with all the time I hoped for but did give us more daylight to run in), I am pretty sure everyone had a wonderful time. With so much that could have gone wrong I think so much went perfectly.

And in a nice moment for myself, I was able to run a 3:07:38 and break the tape held by my aunt and mother to win a marathon for the first time ever.

The final weekend of Fiddy2 is here. I end in Springfield, Missouri where I will also end my year. With a late afternoon start (3 PM) and the last flight out of Springfield to DC leaving at 6 PM, you needn’t be a math wizard to figure out where I will be spending my New Year’s Eve.