Running Philly, NJ and New York gave me a 3-day endorphin rush/runners high. Thank you Dean for coming up with the 50 in 50 in 50 idea and for inviting the public to join him. This was a truely unique opportunity.
I have even greater respect for Dean after he ran 3:00 in New York after a 49 marathon warmup. I thought he was being conservative when I caught up with him in Chicago; he was recovering from a cold.
I signed on for 3 marathons in 3 days for several reasons - some trivial: a) I couldn't get the time off to do 5 in 5. b) I wanted to out-do the Goofy Challenge (only a half and full in 2 days). c) there was someone from our Orlando Track Shack group that got recognition for the most marathons in 2005; I wanted to make sure I got it this year. What better way than to knock out 3 in a weekend - I'll have 13 marathons + 2 ultras for 2006. d) I wanted to see what was I left for New York after running a marathon Friday and Saturday.
In Philly Friday, we ran as a group finishing in 3:57. I have been running for time for the last 4 years -- I have forgotten how much fun is it to run in a group or to start in the back of the pack and talk your way up. Dean is an excellent pacer; I think he was trying to hold his heartrate to about 108 to optimize recovery. My heartrate from sitting around after a couple cups of coffee is 108. Several years ago when I wore a heart rate monitor in a marathon, my heart rate hovered 185-192.
We were led by a roving police escort through downtown Philly in mid-day traffic. Very cool. We had our own private marathon of 50 runners. I normally take a walk break through water stops so it was a first for me to pretty much run 26.2 continuously while grabbing water from a moving sag wagon. When conversation slowed, some guys started rapping. It was lot of fun. My right hamstring felt inflamed but other than that it was a leisurely marathon.
Joe Kulak, a top ultramarathoner, joined us in Philly. I look forward to seeing him at Umstead 100. I chatted with David Sylvester who was on a bike; after losing a friend on 9/11, he is biked as the first African American across 2 continents while raising money for scholarships.
Sat morning New Jersey: my left pinkie toe ached --- loosening the shoelaces helped. We finished in 4:09. Dean had 250 runners to meet and greet so the pace was slower. The group spread out; we kept running ahead of the police escort and had to stop to wait for the main group to catch up. We spent a lot of time chatting. Sponsored athletes from Northface joined us for the run -- including top ultramarathoners and a mountain climber. Sam Thompson who did 51 in 50 in the summer was also present. My left ITB was getting tight; I didn't enjoy the last 6 miles.
After the race, I made a mad dash to Manhattan to pick up the New York marathon race packet before the expo closed at 5. Logistically there was no good opportunity to pick up to the race packet Thurs or Friday. I was more nervous about finding parking and traffic than running the race itself. Fortunately, my brother knew the shortcuts as the tunnels were backed up for 40 minutes. I stopped by the Paragon booth where they were still waiting for Dean to arrive and sign books.
Carbo-loading was done with a fine bottle of Italian wine and pasta with Italian bacon.
Sun morning. New York -I had expected some struggle on day 3. At the pre-race massage in Staten Island, the massage therapist confirmed that my left quads/ITB was tight along with the calves.
Surprising, once over the Verrazano Bridge, I start moving well (7:40 on mile 2). A friend from work offered support on First Ave in Harlem. She had a Dunkin donut and coffee waiting for me at mile 19. I had to pick up the pace on the downhills -- nudging runners out of the way, so the coffee wouldn't get cold and my friend wouldn't have the donut for herself. I finished in 3:35 with an even split.
Without the bridges and hills (800ft of elevation gain), and extra effort weaving through the crowds -- I think I could have run a PR. (3:27 Chicago). I think the 52.4 mile warmup from Friday and Saturday actually helped improve my speed slightly. I was already warmed up for Sunday. While I normally train only 6 miles a week, now I understand why hard-core runners train 70 mile weeks to get faster. On the other hand, I am extremely well rested between race weekends.
It was a very pleasant surprise that marathon 3 was no physical challenge at all. Maybe the endorphins were in overdrive. Day 2 was the hardest; there was a lot of stop and go and the time pounding the pavement was the greatest.
I asked Dean several times what I should expect for day 2 and day 3. He said some runners kept up and some didn't. And he had no prediction for me or himself for New York.
"I believe that our limitations are usually just by our mind and that our bodies can actually go much farther," - DK.
At the post-race gathering at the Northface store, "Coach" Dean said that he was proud of my New York run and the 3 in 3. It affirms his motto of "pushing preconceived notions of what is possible".
This triple is good prep for the JFK 50 miler a week from Saturday. Bekkie Wright, who cartwheeled across the NJ finish line, and ran 6 in 6 days, will be running it.
Monday - Recovery from 3 marathons is easier than recovering from just one marathon. In the walking downstairs with ease test, recovery that normally takes 3 days took only one day. The body seems to get used it; and perhaps it gets into hyper-recovery mode. One thing I started to do post-marathon is: soaking my legs in a trash can filled with cold water while wearing a fleece jacket and cap.
In listening to Koop, Dean's trainer from Carmichael (Lance's trainer), it seems that Dean is not breaking down as the medical experts in the mainstream media predicted. I think both Dean and Sam Thompson said in their blogs that, they found it easier and they were running faster as the body adapted to a marathon every day. My physical therapist had suggested years ago I give up marathons and take up tennis because of a skeletal issue that causes poor biomechanics.
Lesson learned: find a medical specialist who tells you what you want to hear!
I asked Dean to dedicate one of the copies of his book to a school teacher I had dated; Unfortunately, the many weekends spent racing out of town this fall was a factor in the breakup. This multi-day event has helped me refocus.
My enthusiasm this weekend spread to my family and friends and brought us a little closer. I was a little surprised and am appreciative of their support and encouragement.
It's pretty amazing; Dean reached a lot of people. Strangers started talking about him when they saw I was wearing the Endurance 50 shirt. I think he inspired a lot of ordinary folks to get out there.
50 days on the road in 50 different states can be tiring and there isn't much time to catch the sights. Traveling is a endurance event in itself. I hope Dean's family and the support crew had a blast.
I look forward to another opportunity to join Dean on an adventure. Dean's passion is contagious.
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