We love coming to these meetings because we have an opportunity to meet other specialty running companies, discuss the ASICS products and how to be a better merchant for our customers.

We also get a chance to meet with some spectacular athletes such as; Billy Mills, Ryan Hall, Dan Patrick, Bob Babbitt and this year Deena Kastor.

Tomorrow we get a chance to see footwear, apparel and accessories for Spring 2011. So, if any of you are looking for something special or want me to pass along a message to ASICS, let me know.

With the running scene, being off felt good but trying to get back in HAS NOT!

My next big race is the NYC Half marathon which has been moved from August to March for the very first time. There is a very exciting professional field including Deena Kastor and Meb returns to run in NYC for the first time since winning the NYC Marathon.

As for my training and race goals. Ummmmm finish I suppose. I have been doing a 6 mile run base a few times a week, but I doubt that will net a PR for me. Looking back on the NYC Marathon splits, I had run a 1:40 half. I could possibly do a sub 2 but rather shoot for a 1:35 finish time. Will that happen, doubtful, will I try my hardest with the time and resources I have now… absolutely.

More updates to come, but wanted to make a light re-entry into the blogging world…. more posts to come including my decision on the NYC Marathon 2010!!!

Happy Running!!!!

I think it was some time after mile five when I saw the first of the shirts. It was being worn by some short, blonde woman and the back of the shirt angrily said: “13.1 is half of NOTHING”. Huh?

After the race, I saw another similar shirt worn by a slightly taller woman and this one stupidly said: “”13.1. Been There. Run That.” OK.

For the most part the running community is awesome. Especially in these long distance races (half-marathon+) there is a sense of self-sacrifice and discipline. You know your fellow competitors have been through the same pain and training that you have been through. When I fell, one of the runners took the time from his run to help me up and made sure I was OK. This was an awesome thing to do and characterisitc of the running community.

These two bimbos – and I really hate to use that term, but in this case it is apropos – are not characteristic of the running community. They denigrate a race that so many work so hard for. But even beyond that – making light of the half-marathon just because you are doing the full marathon is a stupid thing to do.

Perhaps, their idiotic t-shirts would make a bit more sense if these morons were complete and utter masters of the half-marathon. But I am very doubtful that either of them holds any world records. What makes the situation more ironic is that Deena Kastor and Ryan Hall – two outstanding runners and Olympians to boot – ran the P.F. Chang’s half-marathon and their times were superb (if there was any doubt).

I have in my mind a vision where a meaner version of Deena Kastor reads the dumb sayings these nincompoops are wearing and saying casually, “Oh, you think the half-marathon is nothing, do you? Want to have a little (half of nothing) 13.1 race?” I could see in my mind the two girls exchanging nervous glances as they line up at the starting line along with Deena Kastor. I imagine Kastor completing the race and completing leaving the morons in her dust. In fact, she would probably finish the impromptu half-marathon with time to drive home, shower and eat a healthy meal before either of the two denigrators has time to even think about crossing the finish line.

Fortunately for them, Deena Kastor is an AWESOME person in real life who I got to meet! She asked me what my goal for the marathon was and I mention my stretch goal would be sub-four hour and she smiled and was genuinely encouraging. This despite the fact that she runs twice that fast in the marathon on a routine basis.

So, in conclusion, it doesn’t matter if it is a 5K, 10K, half or full (or ULTRA) marathon – no matter what the distance – you MUST RESPECT THE RACE. I thought this was something that runners learn first thing as they get into the sport. But, I suppose, statistically there’s always going to be the aberrant losers who prove the rule.

P.S. – It took a couple of years – but this is the Intel Chandler Group’s Running Blog – 100th post!

Earlier this year, Deena Kastor told an audience in the New York Times building that before her big races, she looked back through her training logs for the pink workouts. Those were the ones she nailed, highlighted in pink as noteworthy and successful. Deena takes heart in the blur of pink she sees as she flicks the pages. I take heart in the progression of my words over the months, from “tired” to “amazing,” and from “hurt” to “strong.” I am encouraged by the number of workouts I have had side by side with people who I love.

How do you track the progress of your running life? What do you read between the lines of your training log that moves you, inspires you, reveals you? In what do you take heart, when it comes time to stand at the starting line?

I have a bunch of 2010 training logs for a few of you, sent over by my friend Phil, who has been designing and printing training logs for runners for nearly 3 decades. Check it out. This is how it works: everyone who posts a comment gets entered for a chance to win a 2010 training log. I’ll pick the winners a week from today (December 27th) so you have them in time for the New Year.

by Jeff Metcalfe – Dec. 15, 2009 07:25 PM
The Arizona Republic

Ryan Hall and Deena Kastor, both 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials champions, will make their P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona debuts by running in the  1/2 marathon Jan. 17.

More than 30,000 entrants are expected for the seventh annual event, the world’s largest marathon and  1/2 marathon combination. It will include a new 50K division.

Hall and Kastor are U.S.  1/2-marathon record holders: 59 minutes, 43 seconds in 2007 and 1:07:34 in 2006, respectively. Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia set a then-world  1/2-marathon record (58:55) here in 2006 on the back half of the marathon course.

“It’s great for Arizona (to host the U.S. Olympians),” said Matt Turnbull of Elite Racing. “Since Haile, we haven’t had a marquee athlete, if you like. Our goals are to get the best in America to run for us, and they fall in that category.”

Hall, 27, was 10th at the 2008 Olympic Marathon and fifth at the 2008 London Marathon, recording a personal-record time of 2:06:17.

Kastor, 36, was the bronze medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics but dropped out of the Beijing Olympics marathon because of a broken foot. She was sixth at the Chicago Marathon in October despite stomach problems and could be ready to run fast here in a field that will include Kim Smith of New Zealand (seventh at the 2009 World  1/2 Marathon Championships) and Phoenix native Sara Slattery.

The field for the Dean Kamazes Ultra 50K is limited to 150. Entrants will complete the extra five miles before the start of the 26.2-mile marathon.

Also new for 2010, headlining band Everclear will perform shows at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the finish line in Tempe rather than perform in an evening concert.

—————-
Now playing on iTunes: Moby – Pale Horses
via FoxyTunes

by Jeff Metcalfe – Dec. 15, 2009 07:25 PM
The Arizona Republic

Ryan Hall and Deena Kastor, both 2008 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials champions, will make their P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona debuts by running in the  1/2 marathon Jan. 17.

More than 30,000 entrants are expected for the seventh annual event, the world’s largest marathon and  1/2 marathon combination. It will include a new 50K division.

Hall and Kastor are U.S.  1/2-marathon record holders: 59 minutes, 43 seconds in 2007 and 1:07:34 in 2006, respectively. Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia set a then-world  1/2-marathon record (58:55) here in 2006 on the back half of the marathon course.

“It’s great for Arizona (to host the U.S. Olympians),” said Matt Turnbull of Elite Racing. “Since Haile, we haven’t had a marquee athlete, if you like. Our goals are to get the best in America to run for us, and they fall in that category.”

Hall, 27, was 10th at the 2008 Olympic Marathon and fifth at the 2008 London Marathon, recording a personal-record time of 2:06:17.

Kastor, 36, was the bronze medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics but dropped out of the Beijing Olympics marathon because of a broken foot. She was sixth at the Chicago Marathon in October despite stomach problems and could be ready to run fast here in a field that will include Kim Smith of New Zealand (seventh at the 2009 World  1/2 Marathon Championships) and Phoenix native Sara Slattery.

The field for the Dean Kamazes Ultra 50K is limited to 150. Entrants will complete the extra five miles before the start of the 26.2-mile marathon.

Also new for 2010, headlining band Everclear will perform shows at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the finish line in Tempe rather than perform in an evening concert.

—————-
Now playing on iTunes: Moby – Pale Horses
via FoxyTunes

I handled the filming, mostly, and Fred put on his competitive running journalist hat, corralling the pros at the end of the race. As members of the “mixed media” we were placed in a tiny box after the finish line, where various sweaty, limping and dazed athletes wearing space blankets were shuttled over to us by public relations people. I can’t imagine ever wanting to be interviewed or even being able to put together intelligible, coherent thoughts after running 26.2 miles, but the finishers were more than accommodating to our pestering immediately after the race.

Here’s the highlight video of the pro race that we put together:

I think Fred has a future in broadcast.

It was quite a weekend of adventure and forgetful “lesson-learning” on my part.

At Columbia, I’ve found that most of the really pivotal “learning” that I do always, without fail, happens the hard way.

Exhibit A: The beginning of Fred and my marathon coverage adventure began with an 8 a.m. wake-up on Saturday followed by a rain-and-sweat-soaked bike sprint with a video camera on my back to the Fifth Avenue Niketown where Lance Armstrong was in town to do a PR fun run with the public in Central Park. We were to film it, and, if possible, score a interview with Lance. We arrived just minutes before the start. I was still wiping the sleep from eyes and Fred’s night of Halloween celebrations left him in no better state. We quickly chained our bikes and set about weeding our way through the two hundred-strong group of runners, many of them adorned in Lance’s iconic Livestrong yellow. I put the camera bag down and quickly took to setting up as Lance and the group was about to take off momentarily.

I picked up the camera, shuffled through the bag to get my battery. I Kept shuffling. I unzipped the side pockets, rifled through. Nothing.

No batteries.

Dejected, I walked across the street to Fred.

“There’s no batteries in the case,” I said.

You could almost hear him deflating. The early-morning bleariness confused him enough that he tried ponder ways around it, but it was clear that we weren’t going to film Lance without batteries for the camera.

Thankfully, Fred was in good spirits. The guy doesn’t get down over much. He’s had three bikes stolen and his apartment ransacked since moving to NYC, but I don’t think it’s possible to sway him.

In my defense, the equipment room’s standard procedure for checking out video cameras is to equip the student with a set of two batteries. In their defense, I most certainly should have double-checked for batteries myself.

Will I ever check out a camera with out making sure I have batteries again? Nope.

LESSON LEARNED.

Exhibit B: This episode of my forgetfulness was far less detrimental, but very similar in that it involved an early-morning bike sprint. This time, it was Sunday (race day), and I met Fred at Central Park near the 90th street entrance before we were to ride the Queensboro Bridge. As I rode up to him, I saw his shiny white press pass dangling from his neck. Which reminded me that I had forgotten mine at my apartment on 109th and Broadway. I was already running a bit late, but this was the NYC marathon. There was no just holding a camera and hoping that makes you official enough. I had to go back and get my credentials.

I gave Fred the camera, sprinted back home, got my pass and sped off to the Bridge. Luckily, since most of Madison Avenue was completely devoid of cars because of the race, I had the surreal opportunity of bombing down an empty New York City Avenue completely uninhibited.

I got there with plenty of time. We filmed the crowds, the women’s lead pack and the men’s lead pack as the came off the bridge into Manhattan at the sixteenth mile. They were incredible athletes. It was like they were running at a full sprint for 26.2 miles. The winner, Meb Keflezighi’s average miles splits were under five minutes.

So will I ever not give myself adequate time in the morning before I have to go cover an assignment again? And, will I ever leave the house without doing a thorough mental check to assure I have everything I need?

Probably, yes. Probably, over and over again. I just love sleep.

But I will get better at this.

LESSON (kind of) LEARNED.

While our main objective was to cover the more competitive side of the Marathon, the event itself was largely dominated by the lighter side of things. The crowds were absolutely nuts and the only thing crazier was the characters actually running the race. Fred edited together a piece about the freaks and geeks of the NYC marathon.

The whole atmosphere reminded me of my Iceman racing days. Professional athletes + thousands of crazy yahoos (mainly the Clydesdale crowd) = a really good time.

As for Perky Jerky, Yes, it’s real. People come up with the craziest things. Take a look here.

You can see our videos on the competitor.com Web site as well as some additional interviews we shot with marathon all-star Paula Radcliffe on her disappointing performance, Desiree Ficker on her choice to run the marathon and triathlete Peter Reid.

They took the stage about 15 minutes late, which I blamed on Lance. Surely he was being a prince and arrived in his own sweet time. Regular readers will know I’m no fan–I get indignant about all the special treatment and media he got the few times he ran marathons; and at how lightly he took his preparation the first time out (so disrespectful and arrogant); and how the organizers of the Boston Marathon let him break a tape when he crossed the finish line.  That he shoehorned his way on to the panel, tainting which was otherwise a celebration of female marathon greats, totally annoyed me!  He got the most enthusiastic applause when the panelists were introduced–boy did that really piss me off. Runners are always competing for a bigger piece of the sports media pie, so to have their panel usurped by Schmance Warmstrong, on the eve of one of our sport’s greatest events (our one big chance to have full attention on running), was nearly enough for me to show up with a bag of rotten tomatoes. (If only I didn’t throw like a girl…)

I’d decided to ignore everything he had to say. Fingers on ears. Low humming. Noo Schmance, I can’t hear yoooouuu!

When Grete, Joanie, and Deena took the stage, the hairs stood up on the back of my neck and tears welled up in my eyes. These women–they have done so much for the sport, and for women in the sport! Their stories, efforts and accomplishments have kept me running and pushing through long runs, speed workouts, and injury recovery. And there they were, on the stage, ready to dispense wisdom and humor, for me! Oh, this was going to be a very, very good date night.

Tara Parker-Pope (she blogs at NYTimes.com and has been training for NYC, her first marathon) did an excellent job as moderator. She really knew the stories of each athlete and of other professional runners–her expertise came through in her questions, responses, and commentary. So, um, I took notes. Perhaps one would even call them copious. I’m just going to type them up here for you. (Yes, I am blushing at my display of massive geekiness. I can only hope you find them charming, both the blushing and the geekiness.)

Grete: [she looks so young! wearing warm-up pants & jacket] Her hardest marathon was the one she ran with Fred Lebow.
Joanie: [also wearing warm-up pants & jacket] Finished every race she’s ever started.
Deena: [wearing a pretty black dress and jumper with floral embroidery across the right shoulder] Finished 6th in Chicago this year because she had to use the toilets.
Grete: she took a potty pause twice (once crouched between 2 cars; the other time she just peed on herself while running) but managed to win the NYC marathon each time
Lance: [wearing jeans and a cool gray windbreaker. suspiciously tan] Admitted he “weaseled” his way in when he saw the TimesTalk advertised in the paper a week or so ago.
Grete: Ran a negative split her first marathon (her longest training run had been 12 miles!) by 4 minutes. She was a miler (best Mile = 4:25; best 1500 meters = 4 flat) in her home country of Norway.
Joanie: The first time she ran Boston, she asked a guy on the course when they were going to pass the Heartbreak Hills only to be told she had already run over them.
Lance: When queried if he was looking at triathlons again, he replied, “I look at them… on TV.” But then said that in 2011 he may do “a couple of Ironmans.” Just a couple? Pussy!

Grete: After her cancer treatments, she became a couch potato. Lance sent her an email (they had never met before) which motivated herto begin training again.
Lance: “It was a simple note. I had to really think about what I was going to say. I mean, it was Grete Waitz!”

Grete: In your training, it’s okay to “hurry slowly” towards improvement.

On this buzzable New York Times piece about marathon plodders:

Grete: Running with fast-walk breaks is fine.
Joanie: As the marathon is getting slower, it is also getting faster. It’s about achieving the goals you set for yourself. [She didn't sound entirely convinced that she was OK with the plodders. Just my impression.]
Deena: Marathoners get to the starting line with mutual respect because everyone there has put in the work for the event.
Lance: The majority of the sport’s participants are slow. “Majority rules!” When Tara countered that the article posited that the plodders were removing the mystique of the sport, Lance replied “Well the marathon was very mystical for me.”

Deena: Mantra from her first Chicago Marathon, “Define Yourself.”
Joanie: Mantra from 1984 Olympics, “The Last Shall Come First, and the First Shall Come Last.”

When asked about how to overcome injuries and massive physical setbacks:

Grete: Move through recovery with a supportive circle of friends, family and coaches/teammates
Lance: Some people pump you up; other people drain you. Dump the drains and collect the pumps.
Deena: No matter your level of fitness or capability, it’s important for all runners to set goals for themselves, even if they seem like impossible goals, and to work towards them. Then look at how your life has changed and improved in pursuit of your goals, even if you fall short of them. [I nearly rushed the stage to fall at her feet in gratitude when she said this.]

Lance: On how he deals with the inevitable emotional vacuum after a race, “Drink!… Heavily.” [This may have been the point where I agreed to cut him a little bit of slack.]
Lance: Sports live and die (as far as spectator popularity and TV coverage) by the stories the athletes have to tell.
Grete: In a marathon, the first 20 miles is transportation.  Then start running.

Needless to say, I was entranced the entire panel, completely delighted by the women and ultimately willing to listen to Lance. He did beat the “humbled by the marathon” drum pretty loudly throughout the event. Grete was the biggest populist of them all, just very good-natured. Joanie had a bit of that New England no-nonsene sternness to her; she conserved her words. Deena seemed like a reflective, eloquent and positive California girl. Even though each of the four panelists told stories I’d read before, I will never forget what it was like to listen to my heros in person.

Here’s an abbreviated list of fantastic things that I did while in the Windy City:

1. As previously mentioned, I met Kathrine Switzer and Bart Yasso. Bart Yasso is a bit of a silver fox, but he’s also a native of the LV and, according to his book, My Life on the Run, which I am currently devouring, Budd Coates got him into running. Of course, you already know that Budd’s wife got me into running. So we have that in common. Bart, call me. I will consider moving back home to work for Runner’s World. Seriously, though, Bart, Kathrine, and Roger Robinson, another running commentator/writer and Katrine’s husband, were all warm and approachable and so happy to talk about what we all love: running.* And they were all pretty sympathetic to the fact that I was out of the race, though I have a feeling, after reading his book, that Bart Yasso wouldn’t let a little thing like a bruised IT band derail his marathon plans.

2. I bought ridiculous shoes. In an expo-induced frenzy of consumption, I bought the Chicago-themed Nike Lunarglides. I just thought they looked cool, but these shoes have changed my life. When I tried them on, my feet were aching from walking around the expo. After buying them, I proceeded to wear them around the city–and my feet never bothered me again. It was a Chicago miracle. I walked at least 3 miles a day, and I ran most mornings, and my feet still don’t hurt. I’m thinking about buying another pair for running and another pair so I don’t wear out the cool ones so quickly (as of now, you can’t buy the Chicago ones anywhere else).

3. Went to see Second City, e.t.c. It was the first theater we came to on the street (apparently the regular Second City is next door?). The show was hilarious and fun, and I love the idea that I can go see excellent improv any night of the week and twice on Fridays and Saturdays in Chicago.

4. Watched the Chicago Marathon. It was freezing, Deena had to take a bathroom break, and we got to the finish after Sammy Wanjiru did, but it was still exciting and inspiring to see 34,000 fellow lunatics out there braving the cold. I even managed to see some of the lunatics I know personally come across the finish line before the cold and hunger got the best of me. But all of my friends ran huge PRs, and that’s really what it’s all about. Yes, I’m jealous, but I’m mentally ready to get back into training. Next week.

5. Three words: Pizza. Pot. Pie. Don’t think about it. Just eat it.

6. The Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Game. Wes invented this game after developing a deep-seeded obsession with Marina Towers, the distinctive Chicago condos that grace the cover of Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. It’s a lot like punch buggy, except the buildings don’t move. So you might think you’d always see a punch coming, but you’d be wrong. Plus any time the buildings dip out of sight for a minute, the game restarts, and you can be punched again. Pictures of the buildings count. Wes doesn’t know this, but I have a brochure from the CAF Boat Tour with a picture of the towers on them. And I’m about to go all Yankee Hotel Foxtrot on his ass in a few minutes.

Watch out behind you.

That’s all I can think of right now, because it’s 11:30, and I’m working (vacation comes at a hefty price), and I’m tired. Fingers crossed it’s raining tomorrow morning, so I don’t have to wake up for my run.

*I almost mentioned the blog to Kathrine but chickened out. I’ll get her next time, when there’s actually something to advertise.

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