Boston Marathon Bombing

Pray for Boston

As many of you know, I am a runner. I raced this weekend. I won my age group. I ran a 24:10 after starting too fast. That's what this blog is all about: running. Today's Boston Marathon bombings, though, are bigger than running. It could have just as easily been a football or basketball game, or a parade or shopping mall. It wasn't. It was, instead, at the one of the most famous races in the world.

Many runners dream of racing the Boston Marathon. I do. I watched it this morning as a fan, and preparing for a client call (an Olympic runner who might want help writing a speech).

The explosions that blew near the finish line are frightening -- leaving the door open for all kinds of rash speculation. I won't entertain any of that here. I am a runner, and like any distance runner, have known a lot of people who have raced the Boston Marathon. My first thoughts weren't about politics, but about my friends.

My friends are safe and I am thankful to God. That's why I'm saying we should pray.

• Pray for those injured and their families. 
• Pray for the businesses who are seeing material damage. 
• Pray for the authorities to learn definitively what caused the explosion. 
• Pray for our national leadership in both parties to be wise and careful. 
• And if you do not believe in prayer, hope.

(originally in a different form posted here)

High Schooler Mary Cain Wins National Indoor Mile Title

May Mary Cain become who Mary Decker never became. Decker started with excellence, but injuries and other matters pulled her career to a halt.

Runner's World:
High Schooler Mary Cain Wins National Indoor Mile Title:
16-year-old defeats field of pros in tactical race.
By Peter Gambaccini
read here

 Fan of the mile race? See Bring Back the Mile on Facebook.

50 Days of Working Out (and more) into the 100 Days Challenge

51 days are behind me in the John "The Penguin" Bingham - 100 Days Challenge.

I have not skipped a day.

I did weigh myself. I said I wouldn't. But I did. It looks like I have lost 7-8 pounds. I could stand losing 10-15 more pounds.

I have run 79.20 miles, and walked 74.65 miles. That equals 153.67 miles.

101.391 miles were within the last 31 days. That includes walking.

I'm still having "walk days," meaning I do not run on that day, but walk usually around 15:00/mile.

7.25 miles run yesterday (Day 51) in 62:09 (8:34/mile)

5K in 24:17 (7:53/mile)

All on a treadmill, so all times are adjusted when I run outside. See this chart to convert treadmill times to outside running.

Given the treadmill factor, I have no idea how fast I can really run, but I am pleased with my progress. It is cold here in Chicago, and running during daylight is logistically not possible. I am anxious to try.

The Toughest Race Distance

A post on Runner's World's Facebook page asked, "What do you think is the toughest race distance?"

I said:
800 meters. Pure power isn't enough, nor is sheer, sleek endurance. The elite 800 meter runner must race for all 1:45, with a mind tough yet strategic, full of rage but also completely lucid. The body is subject to pain most of the way, but the runner must steer it hard just the same.

Arguments can be made for any distance, but what the 800 offers is different.

Look at Usain Bolt's races. There is no strategy. He is not genuinely competing. Is he fast? Obviously. But does he care, strategically, what his peers are doing? Only as far as mind games go. For the race, he positions himself in the blocks, waits for the gun, then runs until the race is over. He might see a runner next to him and push harder, but he should push hard anyway. If that other runner inspires him, it only means he wasn't going as tough as he could.

Moreover, so often Bolt slows at the end. He has not demonstrated the kind of focus an 800 meter racer must have.

What about the marathoner? Surely they run a difficult distance. Yes, they do. 26.2 miles is a long way, and, to train properly, the runner must be focused for months on end. However, watch the elites race. By the 10K mark, they are relaxed, in a good rhythm, just cranking out the miles. Granted, these are 4:45 miles, but, for the front runners, a pace they can handle. There is plenty of speed and strategy, but much of the race itself is just getting it done. They run step-in-step for much of the way, and might not "race" until after the 20-mile marker.

Tremendous athletes, to be sure, with incredible desire to run hard and long. They do not, however suffer throughout the distance, not the way an 800 meter runner must suffer.

A similar defense could be made on behalf of the elite 1500 meter runner. He must be fast, with strategy and a strong mind for almost twice the distance. And many race both 800 and 1500 meters. Seb Coe made an incredible career of this, as did Steve Ovett. But strategy matters more in the 1500. An 800 race balances both.

There is no taking away from what the elites endure and accomplish in any distance. The right genes + the the right training + the right mind + the right racing opportunities equals greatness, and whether a 100 meters or 26.2 miles, that's a lot to have.

Me? I was a mediocre 800 runner, with a personal best of 2:07, the slowest by far on a relay team of sub-2:00 runners.

The State of Fitness

It has been a strange road I have traveled as a runner. In shape, out of shape, in very good shape, on very poor shape. A lot of start-stop-starts.

I miss being in great shape.

As 2013 came forward, having dealt with some challenges that knocked me pretty hard, I decided to take a different approach. John "The Penguin" Bingham posted on Facebook his 100 Day Challenge. The gist, as I understand it, is to exercise 30 minutes a day for 100 days in a row. He defined what counted loosely, and offered that a person could break things into two halves of 15 minutes apiece. I decided to try this, unworried about workouts as a runner, and think entirely about mere exercise.

I started a day or two early, believing any good resolution starts the moment you realize its value. Officially, I am only counting from January 1, 2013. Day 100 will be April 10.

At first, I only walked, then mixed running and walking. My walking pace in at, or a little slower than, 15:00/mile. My running pace is usually 9-10:00/mile.

Today (Sunday, January 20) I was tired from previous days and so I just walked two miles. Since there are no rest days, I'll walk as many days as it takes to find fresh legs.

20 days -- one fifth of the challenge is complete. Harder days are ahead.

About all of this -- I am not weighing myself until April. I am not planning my workout, at least for now, taking each day as it comes, desiring only to complete 30 minutes.

While I am also not counting calories, I am trying not to eat until I'm full, and otherwise ignoring basic hunger if I have already eaten. And so on, about my diet. I'm eating a little less. Not much less.

100 days is a long time and know simply that if I eat less and am diligent about exercise, I will lose sometging by April.

I'm planning some races this spring. Maybe three or four 5ks. No expectations.