This race on 28 Sept 2002 was very special in more ways than one. To put it in perspective I need to give you a little history on how I got there. After 9/11 my youngest son enlisted in the Army to do his part. He graduated with honors from boot camp in April. Besides being one of the top guys in PT he came in first out of 200 guys in 2 the mile run. His first duty post was Fairbanks, Alaska where he ran his first 10K for fun. After the race some of his buddies were talking about the Fairbanks Marathon and how it was the second toughest marathon in the country right behind Pikes Peak. (Special point 1:  tough course in the middle of nowhere. Now we're talking.)

The following weekend on a phone conversation he asked how he should train. Of course I couldn't let him off that easy so I said if he'd do it I would be there. He says he has never beat me in a run, and if I come there he will kick my butt. (Special point 2: The competition begins. I don:t care if he is half my age).

It seems with all his other duties he was not able to train the way we talked. He got in the short runs but never ran over 12 miles and he only did that a couple of times. As for me I was distracted since the end of July because of Training for the Reston Triathlon and I only did a couple of runs in the 10-15 mile range. (Special point 3: To have fun you don:t need to train much. You just need attitude.)

Well after 14 hours on a plane with my wife Linda, we get to Fairbanks and snow flurries. Over dinner the next evening as Tom and I were discussing strategy and who would beat whom,. Linda decided it was best if she didn:t go the start. In fact after being around me for 34 years she didn't even feel the need to be at the finish. (Special point 4: Wife/mother at the finish is not essential. They just get board, cold, or both. Be considerate. You may have to pay for it later.)

Before the race we both were excited and eager to go. The temp was 27 degrees, cloudy with very damp air. We had studied sections of the course from a car the day before. Most of it we could not see since it was on trails. We knew our approaches were different. My strategy was to walk the first up hill and some of the early steep ones, enjoy the scenery as I go up and down on top of the mountain, then hammer it on the long down sections. With my experience I should catch Tom while having fun. Tom's strategy was to run easy for most of the up hills trying to stay relaxed and comfortable for most of the first half. Then he was going to run hard the second half. It was evident we could never run together. (Special point 5: Don't use the other guy's strategy.)

The race starts. Up the first hill we go, through the college onto the cross country ski trail, in and out of the fog, zig zagging on the snow mobile trail, onto a dirt road in a cloud, up a 4 mile hill and into the sun on top of a mountain. Wow, what more could you ask for. All those clouds below and me looking at snowy mountain peaks in the distance. Is this a great course or what? (Special point 6: You are rarely disappointed on a course in the mountains.)

I see Tom at the top of the next ridge. It's not half way yet. If I pass him too early he could come back on me. (The old fox is worried.) Running up and down, the road then onto a trail and through the foliage I wonder when I will catch him. I eventually catch him on a steep up hill. We discuss how things are going just before I duck into the bushes. (Nature call) Tom pulls ahead but I catch him on a dirt road. I give him some electrolyte pills and Ibuprofen since his was cramping a little and his back was bothering him. (Special point 7: Competition isn't everything.)

I run hard on the ups and downs of the dirt road thinking I had better keep moving or he will come back on me. I come to a downhill so steep most races would have roped it. As I try to run this without falling on my face Tom flies by yelling, "Hey old man it's easier to run it fast than slow." When I get to the bottom, he is well out of sight but I still think he is mine. I just know he is going to explode.

We are 12 miles from the finish and I have a lot left. After another 8 miles I see him about 1/4 mile ahead. He is mine now. He goes out of sight over the ridge and around the bend. I pick the pace up and run harder for a mile or so only to look up and see I haven't gained an inch. Give me a break! (Special point 8: Experience counts a lot, but don't underestimate the youth in your competition.)

Tom makes a right after the railroad track then left on a trail and up a hill toward the finish. Needless to say I lost by a couple of minutes in 4:43 - a PW for a marathon but a PB on this course. We finish number 100 and 101 in the open male category out of 200+ men. As I cross the finish Tom is there smiling and I shake his hand congratulating him on his first marathon finish and the win. This was a real tough course for a marathon and he did it as his first. (Special point 9: It helps to have a course with character as it brings out character on the course.)

From my perspective this race was so low key you would think it was a neighborhood turkey trot. The race encourages participation by having relay teams so I figure there were about 500 participants. The people were great, the course challenging,. This event was laid back with no whoop la, no big sponsors, and no race purses for the winners... and it has been going on for 40 years. The mile markers are permanent signs, slightly bigger than a parking sign, and contain the names of families and other individuals who donated each.

As for Tom and me, we agreed that if he is in Fairbanks next year there will be a rematch.