Horrible Marathon Photos…

…that I won’t be ordering.

Click on the link below to view thumbnails taken by the official Providence Marathon photographers. Click on the thumbnails to view larger versions and you’ll see why I’m taking a pass on these. The pictures with the orange cones show me sprinting toward the finish and are particularly unflattering. But, then, I guess it’s how you’d imagine I’d look after running 26.(nearly)2 miles. 

http://www.capstonephotostore.com/searchresult.php

And if this doesn’t work for you, click here and type in my Bib Number: 420. That’s racing bib, not because I drool while I run.

The Day After

I’m sore this morning. Grunting every time I descend another stair sore. Hobbling around like a 98-year-0ld man sore. And if experience holds I’ll be even sorer the day after the day after the marathon. Here’s a hilarious (and brief) video titled “The Day After the Marathon” which will give you a sense of how I’m feeling today.

Of course I’m not complaining — the aches and pains are reminders of a great day at the Providence Marathon. I ran the 26.2 miles in 4 hours, 9 minutes, and 59 seconds, shaving nearly 11 minutes off my previous best time, while averaging a 9:32 pace per mile.

Having only run marathons in major cities (Baltimore, Chicago, Boston) with thousands of other runners, this was a much more intimate experience (think 700 runners versus 30,000). Which has its advantages and disadvantages. Since we stayed at the host hotel, I was able to walk out my room 20 minutes before the race to get to the starting line. And on the other end Bryna, Ben, and Zack were able to watch me cross the finish line. Of course they all refused to hug me in my post-marathon state.

The real difference was in the crowd support. In Boston, the marathon is held every April on Patriots’ Day which, if you’ve ever lived in Beantown, is one giant party. There are literally people lined up on the course the entire way from the small towns at the start to the screaming women of Wellesley to the undergrads at Boston College urging you up Heartbreak Hill to Boyleston Street. If you feed off the energy of the crowds (and if you don’t, I’d need to check your pulse), it makes a big difference in those last few miles.

In Providence there were some folks at the beginning and some at the very end. In between it was pretty quiet — you’d see the occasional group holding up a ”Go Jen Go” sign or hear someone ringing a lonely cow bell. And at one point I heard someone yell to a friend “You go, girl!” — and I pretended they were rooting for me. But a smaller marathon really forces you inward, which can be a tough place to be when you begin to encounter (and hopefully overcome) The Wall.

One of the most rewarding things about the whole experience was raising over $2,100 for Episcopal Relief & Development. For me, raising money for charity while running a marathon adds a whole layer of meaning. It also allows me to use what is, in essence, a very self-focused activity to help others. And, not wanting to deny anyone the chance to donate, there’s still time! http://www.firstgiving.com/frtim. And if you already have givien to the cause, thank you — it means a tremendous amount to me and to those in extreme need throughout the world.

I’ll be hobbling around the next several days but it’s always worth it. As Lance Armstrong likes to say, “The pain is temporary; quitting lasts forever.”

The Glorious Taper

When most people (at least in church circles) think of “tapers” they envision beeswax candles, acolytes, and high altars. For marathoners the taper is something entirely different, though no less holy.

I’ve reached that vaulted stage of marathon training known as “The Taper.” Most of the mileage is behind me and I can now focus on letting my body heal and gain strength for race day. In my case, the Providence Marathon in Rhode Island on May 3rd.

The taper is all about easing off on the training and bumping up the rest. Oh, and eating lots of carbs. My favorite! While marathoners differ on the specifics of the taper, most look like what I’m doing this year: 22 miles three weeks before the race, 12 miles two weeks before (I did this today), 8 miles the week before, then 26.2 miles on race day. Those are the weekend “long runs” — shorter runs get mixed in during the last three weeks as well plus cross-training.

The problem is that marathoners never quite know what to do with themselves while tapering. We’re exercising less, eating more, and getting the pre-race jitters. This is a bad combination. Especially for our spouses who must put up with us in this state. Bryna usually just sends me to the refrigerator to eat something or drink some Gatorade if I start to drive her nuts.

There’s great freedom in the taper because there’s nothing else you can really do. If you’ve trained hard and prepared correctly, the marathon will take care of itself. The fact is, you can’t “cram” for an endurance race. You’re either prepared or you’re not. It’s the difference between “Godspeed” and “God’s judgment.”

But I find that there’s also a great sense of peace that takes over during the taper — since there’s nothing else I can do besides short workouts and annoying Bryna, I can let it all go. Sure, I’ll be anxious in the days leading up to the race but there’s nothing more I can do to get myself ready at this point. And that’s a nice feeling after the hundreds and hundreds of miles I’ve run to get to this point.

So, the taper continues. And here’s one (probably not) final plug to help me raise money for Episcopal Relief & Development: Donate now! Click here!

26.2 or Bust

With the President of Tufts following the 2008 Boston Marathon

Boy, is it easy to sign up to run a marathon. You go to the website, click “register,” type in your info inculding your credit card number for the registration fee, and presto! You’re in. It’s only later, as you’re slogging through mile 17 of a training run in the pouring rain that the buyer’s remorse kicks in. But by then it’s too late. You’ve already told your family and friends that you’re running it so the potential shame alone keeps you going.

For me, the hardest part about running a marathon isn’t race day. Despite a few close encounters with “The Wall,” the marathon itself isn’t the toughest piece. It’s the training. It’s the four-month mileage buildup to make sure you can make it to the finish line. That’s the part that no one sees. Unless you’re the spouse of a marathoner and you’re used to getting woken up at oh-dark-thirty by your clumsy runner-husband who trips over his shoes in the dark. Speaking of which, here’s a great article on the subject of crazy runners that my sister-in-law forwarded to Bryna.

I always figure if I can make it to the starting line in relatively good health, I’ll be fine. That hasn’t always been the case but I’m feeling good these days as I train for the Providence Marathon in May. I ran 15 miles last Saturday and will continue to slowly build up the mileage. It will be my fourth marathon (Baltimore, Chicago, Boston) and, as I did for Boston last April, I’m excited to be raising money for a good cause. (Best thing about running Boston? Blessing the students from BC yelling out “Go Father Tim!” as I climbed up Heartbreak Hill — here’s that story.)

This time I’m raising funds for Episcopal Relief & Development, the Church’s global outreach ministry. They do amazing work all over the world in areas of greatest need. So, if you’re so inclined, you can support me in this endeaver by going to my fundraising website. Chip in a few bucks, add a comment, and I’ll be eternally grateful. Or at least grateful until the next time I run a marathon for a cause at which time I’ll hit you up again.

Slip Slidin’ Away

Labor Day began with a thud. Literally. I got up at 5:30 in the morning and proceded to slip feet first down the stairs. Ouch — I broke most of my fall with my right elbow. Luckily that didn’t translate into a broken elbow, just a very sore and bruised one.

Bryna, of course, rushed to see if I was still alive. It really did make a horrible sound. The line from “Twas the Night Before Christmas” popped into my head: ”When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.” Before I knew it she had the ice pack out for my elbow.

Fortunately my great fall didn’t wake up the boys.  Not practicing what you preach is a lousy quality in a preacher. And how many times have I yelled at them to “Stop running on the stairs with socks on!” Not that I was running — I was barely awake.  

So what was I doing getting up so early on Labor Day anyway? Good question. I thought it would be a good idea to celebrate resting from my labors by running the New Haven 20K (12.4 mile) road race. For a split second I considered just going back to bed but since I was up — well, still sitting on the bottom step — I figured I’d just stick to the plan. Plus what better way to ignore the pain of long distance running than focusing on some other body part that hurts?

It wasn’t my best race but considering the circumstances, it wasn’t so bad. Next time I think I’ll just keep the shoes and socks at the bottom of the stairs.

Running for It

Ben and I ran a local 5k race (3.1 miles) on Memorial Day.  It was a fundraiser for the village library expansion project and about 100 people turned out. So for $40 we did a good thing, got some exercise, and earned a t-shirt.

We ran in lockstep, getting to the finish line in 33 minutes. A nice, smooth 10:38 per mile pace. Not bad for an almost 9-year-old running his very first 5k! Sure there were a few spots when Ben wanted to quit (“Dad, I think I’m gonna throw up”) but I encouraged him to keep going.

I didn’t use threats, just lots of incentive. I told him that there would be refreshments at the finish and to think of it like enduring church to get to the Promised Land of Coffee Hour. Not the most positive image of church but I was desperate. And it paid off — Ben finished second in his age group (8 and under) and was awarded a plaque. Plus they had donuts at the finish line so it was just like Coffee Hour. Somehow the urge to yak dissipated as he stuffed two glazed donuts down his throat.

I’m not sure when we’ll run another one together but it’s a gift to be able to share your own passions with your children. Zack and I ran a 5k last Thanksgiving. He also did a great job and had a lot of fun. But when I asked him whether he wanted to run this one with me and Ben (thus roping in his mother) he said, “I’ve already run one. What the big deal?” Okay then. Been there, done that I guess.

Boston Photos

Here I am grinding it out. Do I look good in a muscle shirt or what? No need to test for steroids on this runner!

 

This was taken just after I crossed the finish line. I’m shaking hands with Tufts University president (and marathoner) Larry Bacow. I’m not sure what I said since I was delirious; hopefully nothing too embarassing.

Mission Accomplished

4:20:12. That’s what I ran in today’s Boston Marathon and it feels great! Well, aside from some very sore legs and a touch of post-race nausea. But that’s just temporary — the memory of completing this historic marathon will endure.

It’s quite a course. The infamous “Heartbreak Hill” is actually the culmination of four hills collectively known as the Newton Hills. Yes, they’re tough but it’s more their placement than the hills themselves — they stretch from mile 16 to 21 which is classic “Wall” territory.

I accomplished my main goal which was to run the entire course without stopping to walk. And when I got to the hills I wasn’t about to let Heartbreak Hill either break my heart or, more importantly, my spirit. The other thing I’ll never forget was the amazing crowd support. People were out in force from Hopkinton to Ashland to Framingham to Natick to Wellesley to Newton to Boston. They were amazing and loud.

For the first time I wore my name on my shirt during a marathon just to see if it would help. You see people do this all the time but I thought people calling out my name might get annoying — especially when I felt lousy and wanted to quit. But I wrote ”Father Tim” on a piece of tape figuring I could always peel it off if it got bad. It was awesome. I heard more calls of “Go Father Tim” than you can imagine and it really helped push me along.

It was most vocal around Boston College. Sure, the students thought I was a Roman Catholic priest but they were rooting hard and I had fun blessing them with my right hand as they yelled out my name. BC is also right along the route of Heartbreak Hill so the timing was perfect.

And in the end I raised over $3,000 for global nutrion through my alma mater, Tufts University. Thanks to my many sponsors and for those who supported me in prayer. I couldn’t have done this without you. Okay, lets be honest, I could have. But it wouldn’t have been nearly the experience it was. You guys are the best!

The Glorious Taper

One of the rights of passage for marathoning is the taper. After months of increasingly longer runs (up to 22 miles), you suddenly back off the training quite dramatically. Most marathon programs call for 20 miles three weeks before the race, 12 miles two weeks out, and 8 miles the week before.

In preparation for Monday’s Boston Marathon I ran for the last time this morning — about five and a half miles. Now come the pre-race jitters. Most runners start to go a bit nuts when they can’t run for even several consecutive days. Add in pre-race nerves and it’s a recipe for twitching. Or at least driving your family mad.

Granted it didn’t help that I had three cups of coffee while working on my sermon at Coffee Labs. I was only going to have two mugs of the El Salvadoran blend but just as I was getting ready to pack up the owner, Mike Love, brought me over a free latte. To paraphrase Vito Corleone in The Godfather, it was an offer I coudn’t refuse. But it didn’t help with the whole twitching thing.

This afternoon I’m sitting in my office, getting some work done, and hydrating. This used to be called “drinking water.” Starting tomorrow I’ll pay special attention to carbo loading. Or, as I like to call it, the Anti-Atkins Diet (whatever happened to that?).

I’m still about $450 short of my goal to raise $2,500 for global nutrition programs through Tufts. You can click here to donate. If I don’t get there it’ll come out of my pocket. That’s fine — I was planning to donate something anyway. And, as I told Bryna, they did send me (what might become a $450) t-shirt and hat.   

Boston or Bust

As some of you know, I’m training for the Boston Marathon on April 21st. Running’s an important part of my spiritual life — the “body” part of the Benedictine concept of nurturing body, mind, and spirit. Training for a marathon takes discipline, perseverance, and flexibility when things don’t go according to plan. Much like our respective prayer lives. Training for Boston has also been an important part of my (quickly diminishing) sabbatical.This will be my third marathon (Baltimore in 2004 and Chicago in 2007) and by far the toughest course I’ll have faced. The 26.2 mile jaunt begins in Hopkinton, Massachusetts and finishes in the center of Boston at Copley Square. It’s considered one of the more difficult marathon courses because of the Newton Hills which culminate in the infamous Heartbreak Hill near Boston College.I’ll be running to raise money for global nutrition programs through my alma mater, Tufts University. I’ve committed to raise $2,500 (they have my credit card!). So…here’s a shameless appeal for money: consider sponsoring me in this endeavor. It’s quick, easy, and tax deductible. Just log onto my fundraising website and click “sponsor this runner.” I’ll be forever grateful.

I ran 20 miles on Monday – my longest training run so far – a great way to kick off Holy Week! A little medieval self-flagellation never hurt anyone. Much. I’ll try to get in another 20 miler in two weeks and then the glorious taper begins. And then, come Patriots’ Day in Boston, I’ll be doing my best to heed St. Paul’s charge to “run with patience the race that is set before you” (Hebrews 12:1).