Marathon Madness

Joel Miller, a friend in the publishing industry here in Nashville, has written a great (and funny) article for the American Spectator on his participation in the Country Music Marathon.

After the Finish

Mission Accomplished

Wow. Somehow I soldiered through and finished the Country Music Half Marathon. I started very cautiously through the first two miles or so with 11 minute miles. Since I was feeling so good at that point, I cranked it up to about 8 and a half minute miles for the next seven or eight miles. That was probably a big mistake. I pretty much fell apart after the 9-mile marker. From there to finish, it was just a trudge home. It wasn't pretty, but I did it. My final time was 1:59.21. I'm sore. I'm tired. But, I'm more than satisfied; I'm thrilled.

And the King's Meadow Endurance Team experience was spectacular. With more than a dozen runners, we had a great time at a great event raising support for a great cause. Thank you to everyone who stood with us in prayer, cheering along the course, and with financial support. What a gift of God's grace!

CMM: Tomorrow Morning

I'm going for it. Surely the old lungs, gimpy ankles, and wobbly legs can hold out for 13.1 miles. Should be fun. After all, I'll be running through beautiful Nashville with about 30,000 of my closest friends through the traditional marathon thundershowers!

CMM: 3

Things are not looking good. My Bronchitis has taken a bit of a turn for the worse. But, I've still not given up all hope of running. I've got a couple of days to decide!

CMM: 5

With just five days to go, the head cold and lung congestion I experienced over the weekend is starting to clear up. Perhaps one more night of NyQuill will do the trick. I sure hope so. I've come way too far just to let a late-training cold knock me out of this year's marathon.

Boston

The Boston Marathon is the oldest annual city marathon in the world, appearing for the first time in 1897. That year, only 18 runners entered the race. The number of participants has increased steadily since then. On Monday, the traditional PatriotsŐ Day running of the race, about 25,000 people will run, cheered on by about 500,000 spectators.

In terms of on-site media coverage, the Boston Marathon ranks behind only the Super Bowl as the largest single day sporting event in the world. More than 1,100 media members, representing more than 250 outlets, receive credentials annually.

Thus, the Boston Marathon ranks as one of the most prestigious running events in the world. This honourable position is attained thanks to the long and venerable history of the race, the hilly and challenging course, and the fact that runners have to qualify to register as an official participant.

The qualifying standard is high enough to make just qualifying for Boston--AKA to BQ--quite an achievement in itself. The time limit for my age group is a quick 3 hours and 35 minutes. That's an average of about 8 minutes per mile for all 26.2 miles! Whew!

I'll be following the race live on the WBZ TV website.

Yogi's Wisdom

When I simply don't have any physical reserves left in a marathon, I just remind myself of Yogi Berra's sport's wisdom, "It's eighty percent half mental."

11 Days: CMM

My training has been anything but ideal. But, I'm going for it anyway. In just eleven days I'll be running in the Country Music Half Marathon with 30,000 other runners. I've got two very simple goals:

1. Finish. I don't care how slow, how painful, or how pitiful. I just want to finish.

2. I want to raise some significant funding for our New College Franklin project.

So, as I hit the pavement in this last push to train, would you be willing to sponsor me? If so, just click through to our King's Meadow Endurance Team donation page. Keep me running! Keep me training! Keep me smiling!

Out the Door

"After running regularly for about 25 years, I have only one tip: Force yourself to step out the door. Once you're outside, you're golden." Jeannie McGrew

Last Ditch Effort

It's been slow going--recovering from a couple of shoulder surgeries, months of physical therapy, and a layoff from serious running for most of the last ten months. Most recently I've battled some upper respiratory troubles. But, I am now battling through it in a last ditch effort to train for the Country Music Marathon and Half Marathon the last Saturday of this month.

My goal is two-fold: first, I want to finish without regard to time whatsoever; second, I want to raise some significant funding for our New College Franklin project.

Would you be willing to sponsor me? If so, just click through to our King's Meadow Endurance Team donation page. Keep me running! Keep me training! Keep me smiling!

Competition

"The whole idea is not to beat other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit." George Sheehan