May 6, 2017 - The 4th Charge of the British History Half Marathon

Today's run was sponsored by Isaac, Adam, Brianne, Scott, Justin, Jacinta, Nathan and the other AES Runners! Thanks so much for continuing to help fund the Ty Taylor Memorial Campship Endowment. We're getting so close to fully funding the endowment, I appreciate your help! Soon, YMCA Camp Miller will be able to send a deserving camper to camp for free every year in honor of an amazing man.

It's not easy to write a sentence that can fully introduce the importance of my running group. Over the years, the AES Runners have challenged me, supported me, indulged me and more. They've trained me up for my first half marathon, my first marathon and more. They've (almost) always said yes to my crazy ideas for runs. And they've pushed me to create a monster - The British History Half Marathon. And they've consistently opened up their wallets to donate to my causes. This year alone, AES Runners past and present have donated over $600. Amazing.

The British Half Marathon was born in 2014, from a desire to do a long training run on new territory. It occurred to me that a point-to-point run could take us pretty far from home. A 13 mile line on a Google Map brought me to the Coronation Memorial and the BHHM quickly started taking shape.

You can read all about that inaugural version here. It's also referenced pretty heavily here. For various reasons, 2015 and 2016 never got write ups. Here's a quick look at last year's event.

If you're paying attention, you can see it all. A bus, over 20 runners, historical monuments, note cards with "fun facts." It's all there. The only photo missing is the one from the end. The one showing my stitches. I'll come back to that.

Here's a video of this year's event.

The British History Half Marathon has grown into something special around here. The preparation begins early, with runners of all abilities training and me writing emails. An excerpt:

Depending on your side of history, Mangal Pandey either bravely became the first martyr of Indian independence or foolishly presented himself as a bhang and opium-induced traitor and mutineer as he attacked Lieutenant Baugh, Adjutant of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry and later, Sergeant-Major Hewson with musket blasts and talwar blows.  

Either way, he turned his musket upon himself and discharged a round into his own chest. It wasn't enough to kill him though, and he was hanged without recourse. 

On 6 May 1857, the 34th was was disbanded "with disgrace" for failing to perform their duty in restraining a mutinous soldier and their officer. It's widely regarded as the start of the Indian Rebellion. Or, depending again on your side of the story: the Sepoy Mutiny, the Indian Mutiny, the Great Rebellion, the Revolt of 1857, the Indian Insurrection, or India's First War of Independence.
Almost 100 years later, on 6 May 1954 Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister, CH, CBE, became the first human being to break the sub-four minute mile. 

An auspicious day then, it would seem, for the Fourth Annual British History Half Marathon.
Save the date 6 May 2017, history buffs and runners. More information will be coming soon.


Early bird registration begins today.

Yours,
Rao Bahadur Jason Coleman, Receiver of 17 Gun Salutes, HEIC, Event Organizer

You see, indulgence. And support. This is what the AES Runners have allowed me to become. A fake running event organizer and armchair historian. But mostly, a writer of silly emails. Another excerpt:

InclusivenessThere will be at least 19 of us running! While not the largest fake running event that I have ever organized, it's still a big group! Please be mindful of the fact that there are many different people with different paces and abilities on the road. More than anything, everyone wants to participate. This is a slow-paced race with lots of built in stops. 

Water, First-Aid, Emergency TransportationAs we will be running through a city of almost 20 million inhabitants, we are never far from any of these things. That said, there is no official support. Make sure to bring a phone, camera, battery pack, water, money, energy gels or anything else that you might need to be on the road for 2 1/2- 3 hours.

Indeed the 4th charge was an inclusive and participatory event. 20 runners showed up at 5:45am to collect my ridiculous home-made bibs, Indian Tricolor wristbands and board the bus to the Coronation Memorial. The fact that the runners were now a captive audience allowed me to read some notecards and set the scene for today's run. The Mutiny of 1875, or the beginning of the War for Indian Independence. See the 2014 post for more details on the history, today I'll concentrate on the run. 

As always, our arrival at the Coronation Memorial attracted the attention of North Delhi's early birds. More surprising to me though, was the sheer number of people out and about at 6am. The park was full of people! And statues of old, dead British guys. Among them was King George. Another note card from me (think elaborate descriptions of Durbars) and we were off and running. For the 2017 edition, there were several veteran runners. Memories of years past were flowing as quickly as the water from my Camel Back the year it exploded at the beginning of our run.

The first two miles of the run are not pretty. There's a strip of junked out cars, some olfactory delights and once, a steam roller that was laying fresh blacktop that we had to dodge. The first real point of interest beyond the Memorial is Delhi University. Sneaking through the gates ("Entry Restricted"), there was talk of monkey attacks (looking at you Alexa) and a quick stop to pose with Gandhi (because, India).

The first scheduled stop occurs at the Flagstaff Tower. This windowless castellated tower was the hideout of the few surviving British once the mutineers tore through town. I grabbed this pic from my elevated vantage point. I love it and everyone in it. They inspire me.

They also allow me to read them notecards, so it was a quick summary and an quote from everyone's favorite British-Delhi-Historian, William Darlymple and we were off again. But not for long. I quickly spied a group of men doing laughing yoga and insisted we join in. It was simply wonderful. It was not the first time I've spied these hysterical yogis doing their thing on a run, but it was the first time I've joined in. I've been emboldened by my impending departure and want to catalogue as many memories as possible. Today would definitely allow me to do just that.

Next stop was an Ashoka pillar from the 3rd century BC. At this pillar, I turned over my docent role to Laura, an actual history teacher. She regaled the group with enthralling history and I made a joke about erection.

Continuing on toward the Mutiny Memorial, memories of years past began to creep in. Like the first year when we cajoled the guard to let us in. And the second, when we knew he would. And the third. It was like visiting an old friend. Here the history took a decidedly revisionist bent as the cards examined the very nature of history. Who's story is it to tell? Can it ever be told accurately? Had we really already run five miles?

The next section has historically been where my "half-marathon" gains notoriety and extra miles. This year, I was bound and determined to not get lost or add too much extra milage, so I kept tight track of our turns. By now though, the route was feeling pretty familiar.

Stops at an old city gate, a powder magazine and The Red Fort were the locations of the first goodbyes. Among the great things about city running is the ability to jump in an autorickshaw at any point and rest tired muscles and cruise home (reasonably) comfortably. The signage advertising a magician at The Red Fort was a source of much revelry and we were off again.

Our revelry was soon squelched when we passed what could only be understood as a dead body. Questions and curiosity sobered us all as a brave runner went back to check it out. After what seemed like an eternity, there was a twitch and a rise of the chest, assuring him enough that there was life left in that body, but how much and toward what future was uncertain. The next mile was a quiet one.

By now we had run almost nine miles, so a break for drinks and mental decompression was quickly organized. At a busy intersection in the alleys of Old Delhi, our drink stop allowed for a lot of gawking. And almost got us run over by motorbikes and chicken trucks. Oh, and don't forget the van full of goat heads.

From Old Delhi, the route almost runs out of Mutiny material.There's a mile long section in the hot sun over an overpass (re-included in this year's run due to last year's inability to cross the train tracks any other way, adding an extra mile). There's a stretch of the Janpath and things start to look familiar. It's our Delhi, the Delhi of India Gate runs, the Kessel Run and countless other pounded pavements from countless runs with the group.

The last (almost) scheduled stop comes at the Secretariat, center of operations for the Indian government. Although it was not created when the events of 1857 took place, I like to stop to look at the quote written over the entrance:

“Liberty will not descend to a people. A people must raise themselves to liberty. It is a blessing that must be earned before it can be enjoyed.”

In seeming fully disrespect for the people of the country that they had violently overtaken, the British inscribed this scolding. However, it turned out that the people of India would get the last word. Not only did the overthrow the Raj and declare independence, but they left the inscription so we can still read it today.

The last last stop on the BHHM was added this year. It was a stop to commemorate the spot where I ran into a pole last year and almost broke my nose.

I stumbled for three steps, tried to keep running and continued staring at my GPS. Feeling like I had been punched by a prizefighter, my only thought was, “Get the group back home.” Then a more rational idea emerged. “You just ran into an iron street sign. Look up and take a moment to assess.”

Despite my efforts to plan a memorable day of running and learning, The Third Annual British History Half Marathon had taken a distinct change of course. What had started as a successful edition of a run that takes colleagues and parents on a guided history tour of one of the world’s most dynamic cities had turned into a dizzy, bloody mess. “Stitches?” I asked.

“Stitches,” came the reply. On my way to the hospital, I reflected on our running group.

I wrote those words as the introduction to my recruiting profile last year as my family made the difficult decision to leave Delhi. We've been here for nine years and it's been amazing. Our running group has been a major part of my life and I'm going to miss everyone in it beyond belief.

Thanks friends.

RUN STATS

Distance: 14.2 miles? 15.2 miles? Certainly not 13.1 miles.

Duration: 2:44:33? 3 hours?

My GPS Stopped half way, so I have two workouts for this run, and the stats are off.

May 3, 2017 - For Chico and the Gang!

Today's run was sponsored by Chico! Thanks so much for continuing to help fund the Ty Taylor Memorial Campship Endowment. We're getting so close to fully funding the endowment, I appreciate your help! Soon, YMCA Camp Miller will be able to send a deserving camper to camp for free every year in honor of an amazing man.

This dedicated run had to be this classic. It's the kind of run that needs to be run with a friend, so when I met Laura at the gate and she suggested the Back Door Five Miler, I couldn't have been happier. It's a classic route that sneaks its way through not one, not two or three, but four places that seem like you shouldn't be allowed to go. I last wrote about this route almost three years ago to the day!

The first back door is the best. We ran through the open gate on the back side of the Safdarjung Railway Station. "Just act like what you're doing is totally okay," is the mantra of this run. Unfortunately, the entrance was the easy part that day. A huge, fat mama monkey was with her baby on the stairs to the bridge that took us over the tracks. "What do we do here?" I asked. "Just go," was Laura's nervous reply, followed by, "Don't look at it." Obviously, I've written this post, so you know I made it. The bridge leads right to the platform and before we knew it, we were like the sultry muse of Prince's Raspberry Beret in reverse as we ran out through the in door. In door.

Running to the train station for Harry Potter themed 9 3/4km race

Back door number two is behind the Leela Hotel. Over the years, this has slowly turned from a small door, to a bigger door, to no door, to what I expect will soon become a full-fledged road. Can't stop progress I guess.

The third back door is the rear entrance to a sprawling government employee housing complex. Complete with bungalows, apartment towers, underground parking and their own park and shops, New Moti Bagh feels like it could easily be in Anytown, USA. It's always a trip running there, but today was special. The back door wasn't just the normal red and white barrier arm, but a full-fledged locked metal gate across the whole entrance. Having arrived to the seemingly impenetrable wall just behind a man on a bike, we decided to wait. He pounded on the door, we all waited. The gate was opened and we cruised past the guard, no questions asked. "Just act like you belong here."

The final back door is a door in the fence that opens to a private walkway between the Railroad Officer's Bungalows and a golf course. It parallels a public park and actually offers vertical rise in a mostly flat city. It ends at another bridge over the tracks to another government housing development.

RUN STATS

Distance: 6.24 miles

Duration: 57:49

April 26, 2017 - For Melissa!

Today's run was sponsored by Melissa! Thanks so much for continuing to help fund the Ty Taylor Memorial Campship Endowment. We're getting so close to fully funding the endowment, I appreciate your help! Soon, YMCA Camp Miller will be able to send a deserving camper to camp for free every year in honor of an amazing man.

This write-up is so late in coming that I'll actually dedicate two runs to Melissa. Thanks for your generosity, I appreciate it

The first run was actually in March!

Melissa, the generous donor behind this post, was visiting Delhi. As our incoming Middle School Assistant Principal, she was in town getting to know the school as part of the transition visit. When I heard that she was a runner, I couldn't resist the offer to play tour guide, so I volunteered myself to guide a morning run. Probably not fully knowing my history, she agreed. Since she was staying at the Claridges Hotel, I decide to take a loop around Nehru Park, meet her at her hotel, hit the tourist hotspots near the hotel and finish with a half lap of Lodhi Garden.

The run was an immediate introduction to urban Delhi running. Monkeys and dogs were our companions as we headed toward the Gandhi Smriti. The Gandhi Smriti is the location of the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948. It's now a flashy "high-tech" interactive museum and a taciturn preservation of his few possessions, his simple living quarters and an immortalization of his final footsteps. Gandhi was assassinated in the garden of the Birla House by a Hindu nationalist that opposed his stance on Pakistan and his doctrine of non-violence.

The spot where Gandhi-ji was killed. Notice the footprint, the path traces his last steps.

Flashy Interactive Museum!

And, oh yeah. We had tea with his granddaughter. (far right)

Our run continued past another commemorative site, the site of the assassination of another famous Gandhi (no relation), Indira. Indira Gandhi was the third Prime Minister of India and was actually the daughter of Jawarharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister (who's death site is just down the road from hers!). She was assassinated famously by Sikh bodyguards who were retaliating for Gandhi's ordering of Operation Blue Star in 1984. The house is also now a museum. I still haven't visited it, but writing this post reminds me that I only have a little time. I think I will make this a mission.

We continued running, chatting the whole time, discussing the relative merits and dangers of running in a mega-city. It was as we were crossing the street near Safdarjung's tomb when it happened. I came pretty close to getting hit by a bus. Granted, it was starting from a dead stop at a red light, but it was close enough to encourage me to have a quick discussion with the driver and to (probably) scare Melissa off from running in Delhi entirely! Tranquility was restored when we arrived to Lodhi and took a leisurely half-loop in the city's idyllic heart.

RUN STATS

Distance: 7.43 miles

Duration: 1:01:32

April 26, 2017

This was the run that Melissa actually sponsored, an early morning run after a night of wonderful rain! It managed to cool things off a little, but not much. I met Justin at the gate and we set off on an hour-long run where I thought I could show him some new spots and mix it up a little bit. The first hit on this route was the pedestrian over-bridge that crosses the train tracks near the Chanakyapuri Railway Station. To call this a station is a bit of an overstatement. It's really a platform. As you can see, the station itself looks like it hasn't been used in a while.

This run features a few up and overs. First the railroad tracks, then up and over the Ring Road. We continued on through what has been a rough patch in the past, but is now absolutely terrible. Tons of construction, ripped up roads, into bright headlights...and back to the Rao Tula Ram Marg and a dash across the Ring Road at ground level.

From there, I had the idea to try to "sneak in" the front gate of New Moti Bagh. I've never tried to go in the front gate, so I thought it would be worth a try. The guards greeted us with "Good mornings," as we passed through the gate and it was a success! We took a lap around this strange anomaly of a planned community with amphitheater, parking garages and private fruit and milk shops and headed out the back gate.

Then it was all business as we headed home. Running with Justin keeps me honest. He likes to run fast. I know I slow him down, but I like to think he likes the company.

RUN STATS

Distance: 7.23 miles

Duration: 1:01:04

April 15, 2017 - For Heidi!

Today's run was sponsored by Heidi! Thanks so much for continuing to help fund the Ty Taylor Memorial Campship Endowment. We're getting so close to fully funding the endowment, I appreciate your help! Soon, YMCA Camp Miller will be able to send a deserving camper to camp for free every year in honor of an amazing man.

I'm so excited to write about this run! In most ways, it sums up exactly what running in Delhi has been all about for me over the past several years.

Heidi was kind enough to donate for the write up, thank you so much. It has been truly an honor getting to know her over the years. I'll confess though, when I first met her, I was a little intimidated and unsure about what it would be like hanging out with a parent and not just other teachers. I was bridging an unknown gap, going out of my comfort zone. Luckily, it was exceedingly easy to chat with her on runs and we've been doing it ever since. In fact, she's outlasted several teachers in our running group. If I'm not wrong, she holds the most seniority in the group! And she's by far the biggest recruiter of new runners. Due to her hard work, friendliness and ability to do what I can't, I've been able to meet several great people that didn't actually work with me. Chalk it up to another benefit of running. Thanks, friend.

Saturday's run had to have a theme, of course. Heidi has been along for all of the themed runs, the drawing routes, the (probably) dangerous runs and more. Always with a smile. So, it had to be the Round Buildings Run I put together in 2013.

Circles seem to be a theme in Delhi. Traffic circles are everywhere, markets are designed in circles, and several buildings in the heart of Lutyens' Delhi share the shape. To clarify, Edwin Lutyens along with Sir Hebert Baker, was the chief architect of the British Raj in the 1920s and 30s. He was responsible for shaping much of what is now known as New Delhi, the nerve center of the capital's government.

This eight mile route passes nearby to what is perhaps the most iconic round building in the capital - The Sansad Bhawan, or Parliament House. Lutyens' signature was combining local and traditional elements in his works. The Parliament is inspired by the Chakra Wheel, the symbol in the center of India's flag.

New Delhi's round post office, the Gole Dak Khanna, was built in 1934 by R.T. Russel, the same architect who later finished Connaught Place, Delhi's iconic round market. For an incredible glimpse into what the area was like, take the time to read this wonderful recounting of Lalit Nirula's growing up in CP.

The final round building inspired a bit of controversy during our excursion. Tempted to play tour guide, I talked about the main building of Gole Market. I mentioned its octagonal shape, making it in fact, not a round building. Quickly, Tim (a scientist!) piped up, "Are you sure? There seem to be more sides than that." Given that we could see four of them from our vantage point, I knew he was right.

 slyronit via Flickr

It was also designed by Lutyens and was the principal market area that served his Delhi. It was also the precursor to the more grandiose Connaught Place. Saturday's controversy isn't the only one surrounding this dodecagonal building, though. Over the years, tenants have fought and lost to keep their shops open as the building crumbled around them. A wonderful monument to the past it was supposed to be redone in 2009 as part of the build-up to the Commonwealth Games, but for now, it stands in ruins, victim to time and the political machine that Lutyens buildings call home.

RUN STATS:
Distance - 8.09 miles
Time - 1:12:54

Running For a Reason 2017

It's time to finish this.


In 2010, the world lost Ty Taylor. He was a camp counselor. He was a father. He was a son. He was a friend to many. To me, he was a mentor.

Growing up at YMCA Camp Miller is an important part of the lives of the children of northern Minnesota and beyond. It definitely was for me. Ty played a huge role in helping me to become the person that I am today. For that, I'm thankful and I'm doing everything I can to repay the gifts he gave to me.

From my blog, March 2014:

When I was sixteen I joined the staff as a CIT and when I was 17, I was an Assistant Counselor. That's when I met Ty Taylor. He was an amazing guy that had a life story that blew my mind as a 17 year old from Minnesota. We worked together all summer and he was a big influence in my life. He inspired my love of adventure, my ability to laugh at myself, helped me appreciate the simple things that surrounded me and taught me about the value of unconditional friendship.  

In 2014, I used my marathon training as an opportunity for raising money for the Ty Taylor Campship Endowment. I did the same in 2016. Today, the endowment is $3000 away from generating enough interest to send a deserving child to YMCA Camp Miller for every year forever. It's my goal to raise that money this year.

Please consider donating. It will help a kid have the experiences that I did and it will motivate me to keep running every day from now until raceday. And beyond, if necessary. Anyone who donates will have a run dedicated to them, and a write-up on this blog! Please make sure you let me know you donated so I can write up your run as soon as possible.

Here's the link for donating - http://www.duluthymca.org/give/ Just choose the Ty Taylor Campship option.

If you prefer, here's a direct link.

My goal for this year is to get 40 people to donate and convince one friend each to donate. 80 donations should be enough to finalize this endowment and start sending kids to camp!

Who's first?

For Ty and the Ty Taylor Memorial Campship!

This run was for Ty Taylor (obviously). I'm proud to have had the chance to dedicate the last four months to the memory of a great friend and important role model. Over the course of my training, it was immense fun to remember Ty and talk about him to friends and family. I was able to raise $1750 toward establishing an enduring campship in his name. With the money that was raised when Ty passed away, there's almost $2500 in the account. We still have quite a way to go before there will be enough money in the trust to earn enough interest to send a kid to YMCA Camp Miller every year in Ty's name, but I hope to continue to help build the fund. Of course, you can still donate here! ;)

That brings me to the second dedication of today's run. It is with extreme gratitude that I dedicate my first full marathon to all of my friends and family who endured endless pleas for donations. Thank especially to Seth, Rachel, iBeck, Andrea, Bernie, Michael, Brian, Faze, Adam, Keir, Matt, Ben, Lucie, Marianna, Mrs and Mrs Doc, Liz, Julie, Ted, Michele, Lynner, Anonymous, Anja, Kathryn, DJ Boring, Skweebs, Heather, Lynner, Dr. A, Sara, Lacey, Chico, Rachel, Becky, Sandy and Lynnea for helping to raise money. It truly humbles me to know that you can be so generous. Thank you. For those that weren't able to help financially, thanks for the encouragement, the likes, the support and for reading this blog. You put up with me for four months and I appreciate it.

Finally, this run is ultimately dedicated to my wife, Kate. Without her support and encouragement I would have never been able to achieve this lifelong goal. I know my running took me out of the house a lot and that the long weekend runs made life with an infant and a dog challenging, but you wanted to help me and I appreciate it. To say thank you underplays how important your support has been, but thank you nonetheless. (Readers: if you  think you were bombarded with pleas, running stories, extended run statistics - you should spend one day in Kate's shoes). Thanks Mug.

THE PRE-RACE
No run Thursday, no run Friday. I picked up my bib Friday night at the expo and bought a new water-proof running belt in preparation for forecasted thunderstorms. I carbo-loaded with a pasta dinner, drank several glasses of water and headed back to the lake to get my gear together for the race. (I only had to stop once on the way home to pee!)

When I got back to the house, I was faced with the decision of what to wear. The forecast was for rain, and I was sad. I did not want to run a marathon in the rain. I would if I had to, but it was not my preference. As a result, I ended up packing a choice of a short-sleeve shirt, a long-sleeve and a running hat. I figured I'd choose my outfit at the starting line. I also brought an extra set of regular headphones in the case of rain because my flashy new Bluetooth headphones are NOT waterproof. I checked my bag over and over and kept adding things; running belt, shoes, socks, shorts, my energy blocks, a towel, a banana, Vaseline, pants, a long-sleeve to wear after the race, a winter hat, socks, car keys, driver's license, money, credit card...in the end I forgot a pair of undies to wear after the race. Shhhh, it's our secret. Whoever says, "You only need shoes to run" is nuts. Don't believe them. I made a playlist, set my alarm for 4:45am and made in bed by a reasonable 10:30.

RACE DAY
I slept much better than I ever have before a big race and was pleasantly awoken at 4:33 by my son. I guess he wanted to wish me luck before I left. He went back to sleep and I decided to get an early (12 minutes early) jump on my day. I drank a small cup of cold coffee from the day before to proactively discourage the caffeine-withdrawl headache that I've suffered on longer runs.

I was in the car and on my way to Duluth before 5 o'clock. It was cold, below 50 degrees when I arrived to the shuttlebus. It was foggy, but not raining. I boarded the bus and started what my waiter later in the day would call the "long drive" to Two Harbors. Long drive, you should try the run! The energy on the bus was great, and I was looking forward to running. We arrived to Two Harbors about an hour before the race started, so there was plenty of waiting time in the morning mist. I was finally overcome by the urge to use the littlest bit of my phone's battery, so I posted a quick update, took a few snaps and started my playlist.

The over-achievers (starting in front of me)

What am I about to do? Also-check out that other guy!

I decided to shuffle the list to keep it interesting and the first song immediately made me smile. It was "I Need a Miracle" by the Grateful Dead. Fitting, as I was putting on a show about knowing I could finish strong. A miracle might help. Fitting also, because Ty Taylor was the first Deadhead I have ever met. I was as intrigued by the dancing bears on the back of his truck topper as I was by the possibility that someone could live out of the back of his truck on cross-country trips from California to Minnesota. Man, I thought that was so cool!

THE RACE
I had two publicly-stated goals for the race.

1. Finish in less than four hours. 
2. Don't start too hot! At least three people had sent me the link to this comic from the Oatmeal giving advice for first-time marathoners. The first section is all about starting too hot. Trying to avoid this, I set myself up in the 3:35 starting area.  This would put me on about an 8 minute 12 second pace. I figured that would be a good start, not too hot. 

Waiting for the gun was excruciating. It was cold, I was nervous, I just wanted to get going. At the same time, waiting for the gun was great. Runners are fun people. Everyone's very social, cracking jokes and ready to start. Finally, the gun went off about 3 minutes late and we were on our way. We did the typical "brisk walk turns into a run-turns into a screeching halt-turns back into a run" start in the crowded chute. At this time, my playlist was on a mellow Oreja de VanGogh track, so an easy start was assured. (Good thing Lenny Kravitz was on as I waited!)

I tried not to focus on what was ahead of me and just enjoy the start. The number of people running a race like Grandma's is amazing. There were 6211 people running that day. The sounds of footfalls at the beginning of a race is out of this world. Thud-thud. Thud-thud. Thud-thud. You can almost hear the miles and miles of training and effort in those thuds. It's one of the greatest sounds in the world.

Mile 1 came and went with a MapMyRun announcement of 8 minutes and some-odd seconds. I was on target and feeling good. There were plenty of race fans along the highway despite the weather and soon short-term goal (STG) #1 was accomplished. Water. The first water stop was at the three mile mark of the race. I had decided that it would be best to focus on small goals to help me get through the whole race. From here on out, water would be every two miles until Mile 19, when it would come every mile.

At Mile 4, I announced to the runners near me that we were just a 20-mile training run away from the end of the race. We all had a laugh and kept running. Then I did some quick mental math and realized that I'm a terrible subtractor.  I was called out as not being a math guy, announced that I was indeed a language teacher and was told by Pink-shirt Girl that she was too. "¿Español?" she inquired. "Yes," I responded. "Yo también." And race camaraderie #1 was born. Pig-tail Braids Girl and I had a laugh about how I was already delirious at Mile 4 of the race and I subconsciously picked up my pace. Because we were gabbing? Because I wanted to get away from my fact-checkers?

I'm not sure when race camaraderie #2 was born, but I soon found myself in conversation with another runner. 40 Before 40 Girl told me that she was working on her 38th marathon when I told her that I was working on my first. Her goal was to finish this one, then do two more before she turned 40 years old. We ran together for quite a while, chatting and absorbing the rare glimpses of Lake Superior in the fog of a cold and misty (perfect for running?) day. It wasn't long before Ms. MapMyRun announced a 7:30ish pace in my ear before I told 40 Before 40 Girl that I was going to hang back a bit. I felt good at that pace, but I knew that I had much more race to run.

It was somewhere around Mile 6(?) or 8(?) that my MapMyRun failed me. The miles suddenly weren't matching up to the actual mile markers of the race and my pace had jumped to sub-six minute miles. I knew that wasn't right, so I resolved to focus only on the split timings to try to keep to reasonable miles.

"Hey Beard Guy!" I heard from behind me. As I turned to see who was admiring the Samson-like source of my running acumen, I saw that I was Pig-tail Braids Girl. She had caught up to me. Presuming that she wanted to rub it in that we were now in fact, a 20 mile training run from the finish line, I put aside my pride grateful for some company. We chatted for quite a while, but I lost her in a water stop. I'm guessing she passed me. 40 Before 40 Girl was long gone.

Before I knew it, Mile 13 had come and gone as well. Half way done. My chip time was a little behind the gun time, so when I saw 1:45:08, I was over the moon. My PR for the half marathon is 1:35:47, so less than 10 minutes slower meant that I was holding a good, just over 8 minute per mile pace. I knew that I was going to finish a marathon.

STG #2 was soon met when I reached Mile 14 and kept running. My last big training run was a disappointment for me. I had to stop and walk at 14, so STG#2 was to keep running at 14 and add a few more. I can't remember exactly where it was that I walked through a water station, but I want to say that it wasn't until I entered the city of Duluth, so that would mean that it wasn't until at least Mile 19, but I think it was even later than that. 20 or 21 maybe? Anyway, I had made up my mind that I would walk through the water stations to give myself a little break, but also to give myself enough time to make sure that I could get enough water in my gullet to keep me going.

Entering Duluth is a lot of fun for me. Mile 6 of the Half Marathon and Mile 19 of the Full is Lester River. I grew up here, jumping from the railroad bridge and cliffs into the various swimming holes. My memories of my childhood flood back buoyed by the rousing support of massive numbers of people lined up along the street. This is where the race turns from scenic, wooded solitude to a route lined with screaming, supportive fans. "Go Jason!" people were yelling. "Wow! What support," I thought. "People love me!" Then I realized that my name was on my bib and I wasn't famous. But that's just another thing that makes marathons great. People make you feel so good, that it's easy to power forward, one step at a time. Memories of my Grandma, unrestricted summer bike rides, homes lived in and slumber parties on London Road made the three miles to Lemon Drop Hill a blur. At least that's what I'm saying now. The truth is, I was hurting, so I may have blacked out at some point.

It was time for STG #3. The 26.2 mile marathon had become a race of 2 mile increments. Crossing Mile 20 was a big milestone. That was previously my longest run. I was now breaking distance records with each step. At some point I realized this and started playing the "This is My Longest Run Game."

How to play:

1. Say, "This is my longest run." 
2. Run one step forward.
3. Say, "Now this is."
4. Repeat.

It got old quickly. Lemon Drop Hill was on the horizon.

My pace was dropping and I was starting to feel the burn of running a marathon. Lemon Drop Hill is an icon of Grandma's Marathon. Up until 1990, the hill was actually there. It was the "make or break" point of many races. Elite runners made their move on the hill, leaving competitors in the dust. Exhausted overachievers dropped out after spending all of their energy on the incline. Today, the Lemon Drop Restaurant is gone. The hill is a shortish slope of refurbished highway, but the moniker remains. It was just before Lemon Drop Hill that the 3:35 group passed me. Quietly, I packed away Secret Goal #1. I was hoping for sub-3:30 finish. When the 3:35 pace group passed me and I didn't have the legs to catch them, I knew I would have to "settle" for a sub-4 hour time. In reality, I was okay with that. I was playing the mental game and I wanted to finish. Period.

After Lemon Drop Hill at Mile 22, I knew Kate would be waiting with the boy child and her parents around Mile 24. I couldn't wait to see them. Two grueling miles later, there they were. I was so happy, that I ran over to them, grabbed the boy child and tossed him in the air. Hey, my arms were fine. It was my legs that were tired. A quick kiss for luck and it was only 2.6 more miles to the Finish Line.

I crossed Mile 25 and I knew that I would finish. I was going to finish a marathon. With the satisfaction of checking that item of my list of life goals, I kept going. Not fast, but I kept going. In fact, I made the conscious decision to not go fast. "Just keep it up and you'll finish," I told myself. In fact, I slowed down in an effort to not overexert myself at the end. It was my slowest mile.

Coming around the the DECC near the William A. Irvin oreboat a guy on a megaphone was color commentating and said something like, "Everybody's doing great, that guy with the beard is doing great!" I tossed an I Love You hand sign into the air and he mistook it for the Heavy Metal hand sign and said something else that I wasn't capable of transferring into any real understanding. I was hurting, but smiling.

The last little bit of Grandma's and the Bjorklund is so much fun. There are people everywhere and they are going nuts. When I ran under the overpass into Canal Park, I couldn't even hear my music. I have made efforts in the past to sprint the final piece, but this year I was content to trot across the line and hear the announcer call my finish - "Jason Coleman of Eveleth."

My lifelong goal of running a marathon was realized. I cried. I knew I would. It was emotional. I couldn't believe that I had done it. Running for a reason makes it extra special. This year it was for Ty. Last year it was for Ellis. The year before it was for my Mom, my Grandma and too many others that had suffered with cancer.

POST RACE
I didn't have to jump over anybody as I crossed the line. What a relief! I tried to stretch and couldn't. I got my medal and my shirt and headed toward the recovery area. I stretched a bit, drank some water and celebrated with other finishers. "Great race! Congratulations! Oh no, I dropped my shirt all the way to the ground! I tried to catch you and couldn't (said to me, ironically, as I watched 29 people pass me in the finish)." It was amazing. But, I was having trouble walking and feeling my legs.

I left to find Kate (my phone had just died) when suddenly my cousin Ben and his wife appeared out of thin air. It was great to see them. The conversation went something like this:

Congratulations!
Thanks!
How was it?
Pretty terrible. It's very hard to run a marathon. It's quite long.
Ha.
I need to sit down.
Sure. (awkward silence)
I need to stand up.
Okay.

Eventually, I got my stuff, found my family, had a celebratory beer and waited for my legs to come back. They eventually did and everyone spoiled me for the rest of the day.

Thanks for everything everybody. Every single one of you played an important part in this. My day was perfect in every way because of each of you and without a single one of you, it wouldn't have been the same.

RUN STATS:

Distance - 26.2 miles (That's a marathon!)

Time - 3:37:25

Soundtrack - See below

BONUS:
Race statistics (for my numbers loving friends)
Finisher video
Crazy expensive Marathon Photos. Note: These are all from the last few miles. None were taken when I was feeling good and strong.

Running for a Reason 2014!

I am pleased to announce my fundraising campaign for Grandma's Marathon 2014. In the past two years, I have dedicated my training and my races to different charities. This year I'm doing the same.

And I'm very happy to tell you that this year you can help to make a very real difference.

On January 28, 2010, I lost a dear friend. Today, I'm finally doing something to honor his memory. I wrote this after he died.

One of my highlights growing up in Minnesota was going to YMCA Camp Miller every summer.

It taught me so many things about life that I would have never learned staying at home. I made friends, mistakes, and crafts out of leather.

When I was sixteen I joined the staff as a CIT and when I was 17, I was an Assistant Counselor. That's when I met Ty Taylor. He was an amazing guy that had a life story that blew my mind as a 17 year old from Minnesota. We worked together all summer and he was a big influence in my life. He inspired my love of adventure, my ability to laugh at myself, helped me appreciate the simple things that surrounded me and taught me about the value of unconditional friendship.  

After that summer, I never went back to camp and Ty and I lost touch but just like the things I learned at camp, he was always a part of who I had become. Just a year ago, we met up again on Facebook and despite the 15 year gap, it was just like old times. 

Last week, I received the terrible news that he had passed away after a routine surgery.Several of his friends from Camp Miller have been in touch and we are trying to set up a Campship in his name. If we can get together about 7000 dollars, the scholarship will accrue enough interest to be given to a deserving kid every summer. 

I'd like to think that we're giving other campers a chance to meet their "Ty."

In 2010, we weren't able to make that goal. This year, I want to do everything that I can to make it happen. If the money can be raised, Camp Miller will give a deserving kid a campship in his name every year from now until forever. Ty would love that.

Please consider donating. It will help a kid have the experiences that I did and it will motivate me to keep running every day from now until raceday. And beyond, if necessary. Anyone who donates will have a run dedicated to them, and a write-up on this blog!

Here's the link for donating - http://www.duluthymca.org/give/ Just choose the Ty Taylor Campship option.

If you prefer, here's a direct link.

I'm running tomorrow, so who will make the first donation?