2008 JFK #26 ...... WILL HAVE TO COME BACK AGAIN NEXT YEAR
Many thanks to Anna Bradford, Jim Ashworth, RR support crew, RR cheerleading family, for pre-race and course enthusiasm! always a lift to push harder or just enjoy the atmosphere of camaraderie and competition.
Unfortunately, crossing the finish line at the JFK this year was not sufficient, since a 14:15 is not a finish at the JFK, a DNFOT this year. At mile mark 48 my time was 13:50, and there was no way I could do 10 minute miles to finish, so walked in the final two for 50 miles, but no medal and no 26th JFK finish. Just happy that race officials chose to follow me and another runner to finish rather than requiring us to ride in. Despite disappointment, 2008 certainly felt better than 2007 which was a DNS - as in, did not start! I woke up at 3 AM race day, went to get out of bed and fell on the floor. I have had an on-going health problem with "vertigo", severe and unpredictable dizzy spells, and much worse the past several years, so actually quite satisfied to start this year and complete 50 miles, and then go on to Dallas White Rock Marathon last weekend and finish there, marathon #223.
Training severely down the past couple of years due to that illness, not to mention back surgery, spinal fusion in 2002, and reconstruction of tendons in my ankle, also 2002. Doctor said .. "suggest you don't run trails or anything that could injure your ankle again, or you will not be running anymore"! So now I walk the entire AT section, 5+ hours to Weaverton. 9-11 hour JFK finishes (1982-2001), seemed easy, just enjoyed the day and the course, never really ran that hard, other than the road section, the last 8, where I have always enjoyed trying to run it in and pass people who are mostly walking. But since 2001, all finishes13+hr thanks to surgery and 3000 mile training years now 1000 or less.
Plan this year was to use my ultra technique (67 finishes), used for 24 hour and multi-day races, of breaks for "time off the feet", 5-12 minutes, as Crampton's Gap, Weaverton, Antietam, Snyder's Landing, and my house at 6605 Dam #4 Road. I was very close to several cut off times along the way, but feeling better after Taylor's Landing and expecting to finish. Until stop at my house became extended, unplanned pit-stop.. .. too much pizza! When I left my house at Mile 42, I was the last place runner and straggler vans and support vehicles wanted to pick me up I started running as much as I could. But original plan, 14-15 minute pace on the road to make finish, was now 12-13, and training base just not there. Did not get stronger on road as in years past, did start passing runners, so no longer last, but running up that hill to mile mark 47 pretty much did me in, not getting faster, mile 48 a 14 minute pace, so that was pretty much it for race plan, and official finish time limit -14 hours. But, Lord willing, back for another try next year. First 20 JFK's seemed easy (except maybe 1987), rarely had support, but 26 has not been a good number, despite being a 223 finisher of 26.2 miles, marathons, that is.
Use to run about 12 marathons a year (1983-1995), but back finally impacted by impact of 50,000 miles. Usually started fall train up for JFK with Toledo-USTAF 24 Hour National Championship ... nothing like pushing hard the last 6 hours to try to get to 100 to prepare for JFK, then a couple of marathons each month in September, October, November, combination of Air Force, Rochester, Buffalo-Casino Niagara, Detroit Free Press, Chicago, Marine Corps, Milwaukee-Lakefront, and the Columbus Marathon, some years when it was only 6 days before JFK. But I was much younger then, 42 not 62! Haven't been able to keep to that marathoning calendar since 2001, so now just have to plan, struggle, and hope that nothing goes wrong with the plan, the weather, or the aging body!
NEW TO THE "COMMONWEALTH" OF VIRGINIA BUT MANY TIES TO THE JFK
It is certainly most helpful and welcome to be member of a running club with so much interest, enthusiasm, and support for the JFK. I had a similar experience with a Dayton, Ohio running club, the Ohio River Road Runners, which often brought 30-40 runners in the 1970's'-1990's, when the JFK only had 250-400 runners. Anyway, besides owning a house on the course, purchased in 1995 as a "vacation property" (no running water), I have a few other ties as well. I have been a Civil War Reeanactor for many years, and my Regiment - the17th Michigan, fought at Fox's Gap, and we paid for a historical marker noting the participation of Michigan soldiers and the 17th Michigan Regiment. The marker is located just at the conclusion of the first trail segment, Fox's Gap Road. Frankly, it is the history of the area and the beauty of the terrain that have brought me to appreciate the annual JFK opportunity when I can view and review my favorite historic sites, beautiful vistas, and unique stories going back to the Revolutionary-era and the Civil War.
My involvement with the 17th Michigan Regiment brought me to Antietam for the 135th reenactment of the battle, a huge event of 15,000+ reenactors in 1997, which then led to participation in the filming of the Antietam documentary produced by Media Magic, The Historic Film Group, narrated by James Earl Jones, and now shown at the Visitors Center of the Antietam Battlefield. Could tell many stories of the filming experience which actually took place on the Battlefield 1998-99. That involvement also led me to a similar participation in "God's and Generals" and filming that took place at Harper's Ferry, made to be Fredericksburg in the movie. I suppose it helped that I am 5'8, 150 pounds, and have a beard, to fit the role, despite being somewhat older (52) at the time of filming than 20 something Civil War era soldiers.
Other ties to JFK include, being married to wife Pat at the Bavarian Inn overlooking the Potomac and the JFK course. Went on a 'training run" wedding day, September 28, 2002 on JFK course, of course, at Shepherdstown that day. Now often train on weekends on towpath from Dam #4 to Snyder's Landing and return, but 'home course" did not help me this year. Before I forget .. thanks to JFK runners in training, who gave me a ride home from Taylor's Landing one day as I was weaving down the path with a dizzy spell!
RUNNING BOOM ERA RUNNER - JUST HAPPY TO KEEP RUNNING MARATHONS & JFK-50
At the time of the "RUNNING BOOM ERA" ..... I was introduced to the JFK and marathon running by Sy Mah, a Phys Ed professor from the University of Toledo, who was a marathon mentor to many. Sy often ran 45-50 marathons a year, and coached world class female ultra-runners in the 1980's. Sy passed away unexpectedly in 1988 at age 60 having run 524 marathons. But Sy's enthusiasm inspired many who were not world class runners that they could go the distance, and then the addiction set in. We had our own informal marathon maniac running group, seeing each other at many races around the country. Many of Sy's contemporaries just kept running and running marathons long before the 50 States and DC Marathoning Club existed. Some like Don McNelly and Norm Frank of Rochester, NY, have well over 800 marathons and are still finishing marathons, now in their 80's. One of our marathoning buddies actually changed his name to "Don Marathon" and went on to run 60 official marathons in a year. I was new to the marathon in 1982, and Sy told me I should join him to end the season with a "trail marathon" in November. He did not tell me it was 50 miles! I learned the "Galloway method" of running /walking at that first JFK event, and finished in 11:37, and was sold on the JFK from that day on.
Living in Monroe, Michigan at the time, I was also tied in with the Redford Roadrunners, another opportunity to be encouraged by marathon runners and club members like Greg Meyer, Boston Marathon winner 1983, Doug Kurtis, who ran 60 marathons under 2:20 in his career, and Todd Williams, a 29 minute 10K runner at age 15, and future Olympian. Lots of competition, running/racing excursions around the country, and excitement in Michigan, and the "running boom era". But that would be another long story that older runners would identify with, but the younger generation would have no connection too or familiarity with.
When Sy Mah took me to the JFK in 1982, we met up with the Dayton area running club which mirrored much of the interest and involvement that I am enjoying with the RR. I joined the Dayton Club in 1982, and eventually ended up working in Dayton in 2000, so I have had a long history with the JFK through that running club connection/experience. They just kept coming back every year, with more runners making the 500 mile trip from Dayton every year, and with 12 runners now in the 500+ mile club, only one still ahead of me with 26 finishes, but he is no longer running. Unfortunately, many of those Dayton JFK enthusiasts are not running the JFK or now retired from running, and the Dayton crowd has been reduced to a few who are still coming back every year, so very pleased to find RR right in my neighborhood. As of 2008, I am now living in Fairfax, Virginia and/or 6605 Dam #4 Road, Downsville, and working here for Fairfax County government as a city planner. Looking forward not only to JFK 2009, but other Reston Runners runs, events, and camaraderie.