RegularJoeRunning

Cup-o-Joe About Joe & RegularJoeRunning Follow RegularJoeRunning on Twitter! (@RegularJoeRuns) Email RegularJoeRunning As seen on... South Philly Review 2011 Difference Makers K-Swiss New York Daily News The San Francisco Marathon Race for Others Runner's World For the Regular Joes 10 Tips for The San Francisco Marathon "Basics of Running" (SRPS Presentation) Eating on the Run Quick-Dry Your Wet Shoes Philly Marathon Guide (2010) In the Community Spreading the good word about a great race as an Ambassador for The San Francisco Marathon Learn about my volunteering with Students Run Philly Style Part of the Strides for Stroke 5k Planning Committee since 2008, volunteering the "runner's perspective" I twilight as a Running Tour Guide - check it out & book a tour My 2010 Chicago Marathon Charity! Races... On Tap - 2012 Schedule Disney Marathon Goofy Challenge 1/7-8/12* Road to the Superbowl 5k 1/22/12* Gasparilla Distance Classic Michelob Ultra Challenge 3/3-4/12* New York City Half Marathon 3/18/12* Phillies Charities 5k 3/31/12* Cherry Blossom 10 Miler 4/1/12* Broad Street Run 10 Miler 5/6/12* Great Ethiopian Run 10k (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) 11/25/12 * = 100% Confirmed (Registration paid, flight booked, etc.) As a Spectator/Cheer Section/Pacer San Francisco Marathon 7/29/12 I'll be in Ethiopia, but cheering Laura, and all my SF friends/Ambassadors from afar Philadelphia Marathon 11/18/12 Same as above, but add Students Run Philly Style to the long list of people I'll be cheering for Reports & Such Ocean Drive Marathon 3/27/11 Letter to Alex (Philly Marathon) 11/21/10 Richmond Marathon 11/13/10 New York City Marathon Experience 11/7/2010 (Spectator) Chicago Marathon 10/10/10 San Francisco Marathon 07/25/10 Ocean Drive Marathon 03/28/10 25 Races in 2009 01/04-12/27/2009 Philadelphia Marathon 11/23/08 (First Marathon!)

[regularjoerunning]

117

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. I was supposed to write about running, but not like this. It was supposed to be about sitting in a room full of Ethiopians as Lelisa Desisa – with the familial support from his countryman, Gebre Gebremariam – outkicked Micah Kogo, the Kenyan dark horse, to own Boylston Street by five seconds. It was supposed to be about the eruption that ensued for this superstar-in-the-making. It was even supposed to be about the rousing applause bestowed upon Rita Jeptoo from the Bekoji faithful as she outlasted their native sister, Meseret Hailu, in the final rounds of a bout that saw the East African chase pack overcome a minute-plus gap, established far too unwittingly by a naïve, young thoroughbred. That kind of appreciation might defy expectations for a running rivalry one of the race commentators dubbed the “Yankees/Red Sox” of Africa, exemplifying Western sensationalism at its finest

I was supposed to write about a new running acquaintance from Sweden, and a message from a friend back home, both of which have inspired my running and reignited my desire to share in the joy of running. I was supposed to write about the many challenges I’ve had to overcome and the adjustments I’ve had to make in order to run in the heartland of Ethiopian distance specialists, some of the finest athletes the world may never see, who do what they do without the benefit of private gyms, personal trainers, and lucrative sponsorships.

  And then, I got a text from my sister. It was just before 10:30 pm in my corner of the world. “Are you hearing about what’s happening at the Boston Marathon?” she asked. “Beyond who won?” I replied, taking delight in alluding to Ethiopia’s success before searching “Boston Marathon.”

  Fear. Anger. Disbelief.

  Immediate reactions felt akin to September 2001, but this time felt different. While it’s certainly possible that I or anyone I know could have been on those airplanes or in one of the towers, the events of the 117th running of the Boston Marathon present a situation that I can easily place. I had no less than twenty friends present as either spectators or participants, and many were in the company of their own friends and family. Had such events transpired at the 2011 New York City Marathon, I could have lost a loved one. Were I in America right now, it’s quite possible I could have well been present in Boston, cheering friends into the finish and enjoying the festivities of perhaps the most celebrated day in American road racing.

  For those who run, there’s a whole new life beyond the point which you previously thought impossible to reach.  It’s one of those intangible effects of running that we find so hard to explain, yet see it as part of the fabric that has helped us improve as people, whether at the track or at home with your kids. As my runner friend, Colin – a beast of the California trails – often says, “the very best of humanity can be found at the finish line of a marathon.” While the polarizing extreme of today’s horrific act may itself appear to counter such displays of human goodness, the courage and selflessness of first responders and good samaritans will be the stories that prevail.

Beyond running’s physical and psychological impacts, there’s often a strong social effect as well. I am blessed with the inability to quantify the number of people who have entered my life through running and have left a lasting, positive imprint on me. Even 7,000 miles from apart, we have shared in our grief around this moment. Many have remarked that it feels as though our family has been attacked, but that we will get through this together. As my buddy Steve put it, “Hearts are broken but not our spirit!” Among the throngs of “you were one of the first people I thought of” messages I received immediately following the news, the short thought sent along by my best running buddy, Joe, brought with it the hardest tears of the past 14 hours.

  a somber run along the underbelly tonight, thinking of you.

  The “underbelly” is a favorite route of ours back home, and I can’t imagine a more appropriate landscape for trying to process everything that happened. Just as Joe grabbed me by the collar when he found me limping through the late stages of my second marathon and uttered enough inspiration to push me along to my goal, we will stride along with one another through even these toughest of miles. Stay strong, my friends. And as Todd always urges, don’t forget to bring the giddy-up.

[regularjoerunning]

Making a Bad Situation Great: Runners Shine in Spite of 2012 New York City Marathon Cancellation

Faced with an exploding controversy over whether or not to hold the annual event – one that is as essential a part of the fabric of New York City as the Yankees or the Statue of Liberty – Mayor Bloomberg, along with Mary Wittenberg and the New York Road Runners made the incredibly difficult decision to cancel this year’s event (that’s right…cancel, not postpone; postponement is simply not possible with an event of this magnitude). The decision was not based on a lack of capacity for holding the event itself; it was established earlier in the week that the course was passable and that the resources dedicated to conducting the event were not those that would otherwise be utilized for the recovery effort in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Ms. Wittenberg and her peers came to this conclusion because the alternative – going forward with the race – became a source of division within the community. Those opposed expressed a growing animosity toward race organizers and participants, citing selfishness and a general disregard for the lives affected and taken by such an epic storm.

Watching clips from the cancellation press conference on BBC, Mary Wittenberg on the edge of tears, I was heartbroken. As is true of so many people, the New York City Marathon is near and dear to my heart. I had the distinct privilege of watching the elite finish from the grand stands two years ago, and then hitting the streets to cheer on the back of the pack. I then had the honor of participating in last year’s race, whose status was threatened by a damaging snow storm the weekend prior, and announcing to my family and now-fiancé, at mile 8, that I would be going to Ethiopia to serve for 27 months as an Education Volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps. I often remark that the New York City Marathon was my definition of a marathon long before I ever decided to tackle the life-changing distance. Running in it for the first time in 2011 was such an amazing experience that I gave up on several attempts to write about it because I felt there was no way I could ever do it justice. It was one of the happiest days of my life; one that will bring a tear to my eye every time my mind drifts back through the sea of memories.

Understanding full-well the power a running event has to bring people together (after all, my divorced parents came together to watch me run last year), it was hard to believe that anyone would see this year’s New York City Marathon as anything but an opportunity to do just that, especially in a city that has affirmed its collective resolve time and time again. It’s not the first time I’ve heard people complain about roads being shut down for “a buncha runners,” and it seems that, to a degree, the opposing opinion was using the circumstances as a form of political and social grandstanding as much as it was expressing a genuine level of concern for what they alleged as the race’s negative impact on recovery efforts. However you dice it, some of the comments to be found on stories related to the decision are beyond nasty, not to mention misdirected and misguided.

Those who were set to participate made serious investments in anticipation of one of the greatest experiences available to a human being this day in age – running through the streets of New York, sidewalks packed, front to back, high-fiving people of all ages and backgrounds, and sporting an ear-to-ear smile from the first to final mile. Many invested hundreds and thousands of dollars in travel and hotel accommodations, coming in from all corners of the globe and supporting the not-exactly-cheap hospitality industry in the Big Apple. All invested in the race itself, which commands more than $200 to enter (and is worth every penny). Some invested in fundraising efforts to participate, meeting or exceeding the minimum $3,500 required to support charities such as Fred’s Team and Team for Kids. Perhaps the greatest investment was in that of time and effort to prepare for the event, which requires several months of dedicated training, and demands sacrifices to time spent with friends, family, and so much more. None of these investments are refundable, especially with an announcement being made within 48 hours of when the first wave was scheduled to being the ascent up the Verrazano from Staten Island. You might sympathize, then, if these individuals, jaded by the hand of circumstance, decided to go ahead and fulfill the persona of selfishness for which they were being accused, called it a vacation weekend, and bathed in the variety of lush indulgences New York has to offer.

But they didn’t.

Many still ran. An unofficial marathon, with options for shorter distances and open to anyone, was organized in Central Park, offering thousands the historic opportunity to run the original New York City Marathon course in fine company. Oh, and they used the event as a vehicle to raise thousands of dollars and collect supplies for the storm victims.  Many will join the crowds of runners that boarded the Staten Island Ferry this morning to help with the recovery efforts, or seek out one of countless other opportunities to pitch in, after running 26.2 miles. I hope they still get a finisher’s medal.

So whether you helped remind New Yorkers of their forgotten resolve, lent a helping hand despite feeling short-changed, or tackled a little bit of both this weekend, I hope you can hear my applause from 7,000 miles away. While your good deeds may go unnoticed by many of the nay-sayers, you are have set fine examples of humanity at its best, as you always do, and make me proud to call myself a runner. I am inspired and humbled by your efforts.

[regularjoerunning]

Broad Street Run 10 Miler - SOLD OUT

Philadelphia's marquee road race opened its virtual doors to registrants at 10 A.M. this morning. Celebrating its 33rd year, the 10 mile running event is held each year on the first Sunday in May and is essentially the unofficial start of spring in Philadelphia. Cherry Blossoms will have bloomed, the Phillies will be a month into their season, and 30,000 runners will trek the point-to-point course contained exclusively along Philly's main thoroughfare, covering the same ground as the Mummers and the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies. The day carries with it the vibe of a block party more so than a running event (as these things should, naturally). It's a celebration that kicks off one of the best times of year to be in Philadelphia.

The race has become so popular in recent years that organizers recently enacted a registration cap, which seems to have only enhanced the allure of this unique event. Two years ago the cap was reached months before race day. Last year it took a matter of days. Today's registration lasted a mere six hours.

I first participated in the Broad Street Run in 2006. It was my first road race and is pretty much responsible for a complete lifestyle shift centered around a love for the sport. That year, less than 15,000 participated and one could, if one so desired, register to run at the race expo. This year's race will be my 7th consecutive BSR, and my last before heading to Ethiopia. I already considered it a most fitting bookend, but given the historical significance of this year for the race, I can't imagine a better way to go out.

Organizers have announced that a lottery will be held to allow an additional 2,500 runners into the race. I would not be surprised if by 2015, the year in which I would next able to participate in this event, the entire process is lottery driven.

[regularjoerunning]

What you call a Mud Run...

...I call Sunday.

[regularjoerunning]

Running a Marathon Without Ever Touching the Ground

My father regularly talks about the first time he got to march in the annual Mummer's Parade, an ancient tradition in the cannon of Philadelphia experiences that marks the first day of each year. His eyes sparkle when he recalls the euphoria and elation that swelled throughout his glorious day on Broad Street. He always remarks that his feet never touched the ground between South Philly and City Hall. You might even observe an act of mild levitation each time he tells the tale.

If my forecasting abilities are even passable, I would predict a feeling of the same sort as I trek the five Boroughs this coming Sunday morning. New York may very well be the first marathon I get to run without the benefit of me feet ever touching the ground, from the Staten Island start to the Central Park Finish.

[regularjoerunning]

As Team Palumbo continues to work toward Philly Marathon day (November 20th), me and fellow Running Leader Justin Heaton have decided to fundraise for Students Run Philly Style. We're staging a friendly competition to see who can raise more. We haven't decided what the stakes are yet, but you can help me come out on top by visiting my page and clicking either "Make a Donation" (on the left) or "Sponsor Me" (on the right) to make a donation to my fundraising effort.

If you know me at all, you know this program means the world to me. If you have any doubt, please visit my page, read the description, then read the many positive things I have written about the program on this site.

Thanks!

[regularjoerunning]

LBI 18 Miler (with Team Palumbo of Students Run Philly Style)

I often find myself quoting lines from the 2007 running documentary Spirit of the Marathon when talking or writing about the sport. Since the film follows various stories up to and through the 2005 Chicago Marathon, whose 2011 version was run yesterday, it seems as good a time as any to pull out a line as I reflect on yesterday's experience with Team Palumbo at the Long Beach Island 18 Miler. In the opening sequence of the film, Olympian and winner of that 2005 Chicago Marathon, states, "Sometimes the moments that challenge us the most, define us."

For Team Palumbo, there were challenges at every turn. As this was not an official Students Run Philly Style race, the first challenge was getting us into the event to begin with, which turned out to be less of a challenge than I had initially thought. I wrote an email to the race, describing a bit about Students Run Philly Style, our particular team, and why we would love to participate. I also had to ask for free registration for 13 people, which is not easy to do. I received an email a few days later, which connected me with race director Mike Thompson, who was more than thrilled to have us down for the day. This was great news, but suddenly posed the next challenge - How are we going to get down there?

More specifically, how are we going to transport 13 students 65 miles with no access to a large vehicle and two of our four leaders out of town for the weekend? Somehow it all fell into place. The mother of one of our students agreed to give up her whole Sunday and help us for the day, one of our leaders from last year was able to help us get students down (she literally drove 3 hours just to do so), and my mother came down after church to help get them back (which required some of the students to take public transportation after the long day). It wasn't easy, but it all worked out. Somehow.

Then there was the whole "time" issue. We left Philly a little later than we'd planned and ended up catching the last shuttle to the start. We arrived on the southern point of the island with 8 minutes to go before the starting gun, which was about 2 minutes too few to allow us to scramble for bag check and find the students who were dropped off at the start before us.

                      Team Palumbo waits for the shuttle to the start

Oh, and then we had to run 18 miles.

For three of our "in training for the marathon" students (some are running the half in November), this would be the furthest they'd ever trekked on foot. As we've built up to this distance, and still have further yet to go before the big day, I had all the confidence in their abilities, but it was a challenge nonetheless.

I had the great pleasure of running with each of those three students at various points throughout the race. I spent many of the earlier miles with Desi, a student who also doubles as a mime (not clowning about that one) and is full of positive energy. She displayed a strong demeanor and offered many encouraging words to other runners. She definitely proved why her mime personality is "Inspirational."

                              Jordan can't handle all of Desi's inspiration

I traversed the later miles in-stride with Jacqueline, who I found stretching out in a driveway somewhere around the 11th mile marker. Jackie's performance from that point to the finish line was beyond impressive, as has been the case with Jackie all season. After two seasons with Students Run, Jackie finally took the big step of committing to the full marathon. She has several times re-stated that commitment, and more importantly has shown it in action, pushing harder with each run. To hear her whisper to herself, "You can do this" gave me chills. Prior to this event, Jackie had twice run 15 miles. As the miles climbed, it was clear that Jackie was fighting through new walls, and breaking them down with each step. When I challenged her to go the entire final mile without stopping, at the reward of a cheese steak or cheesecake, she stepped up and finished with sublime focus. She even took home a medal for first place in her division, which was icing on the cake. She still couldn't believe that she had just run 18 miles.

                             Running with Jackie, Nancy, Mollica, and Tania

       Jackie, Alex, & Mel with their age group awards & RD Mike Thompson

In between and after my time spent with Jackie and Desi, there was Mollica. Equal parts enthusiasm and spirit, Mollica has been a staple of our team all season. When asked for students to attend the annual Leadership Summit back in July, there was no doubt that Mollica was our first choice. She has done everything we have asked of her and then some, and has become a leader in her own right for Team Palumbo. After owning the final miles of last week's 15 mile training run, she was set for a strong performance at LBI. As the miles wore on, it became clear that the heat was having its say on Mollica's day, with temps climbing into the 80s. She was struggling mightily, and when I came back to find her and give her the GUs that Desi had been carrying for her, we even talked about the possibility of her dropping out early, as she was experiencing notable light-headedness. With Junior Leader Nancy (a former Palumbo runner, 3 time marathoner, and current college student) by her side, Mollica decided to gut out the long distance with the aid of several walking breaks along the way.

After I finished with Jackie, I walked back along the course until I found Mollica and Nancy walking on the side of the road. I rattled off some words of encouragement and got her moving. As we approached the final stretch, one-by-one we were joined by Ms. Tuff, Shania, and Jordan F, all of whom came out to "bring in" Mollica. It was by far the highlight of the day for me as it truly embodied the spirit of this team.

                         Looking for Mollica along the late, lonely miles of LBI

And just when we thought we'd mounted all challenges, I returned to a dead battery in my truck as I'd left the lights on that morning. Before I could even open my hood, a man by the name of Mark pulled up, hopped out with a pair of jumper cables, and got us on the road. He had seen the lights on earlier that day and new we were going to need a hand eventually, so he was standing by. Funny how the world works sometimes, huh?

All-in-all, yesterday's LBI 18 Miler was a challenge that most certainly defined us, both on individual levels and as a team. We proved to each other how far we can go with a little grit, determination, and a whole lot of teamwork. Two weeks from now, we'll do it again, as we run 20 miles. And just four short weeks after that, it's the big day. This team has made me proud time after time, and I'm looking forward to more of the same. 26.2 miles more.

                           Team Palumbo enjoys some post-race grub

                   Race Director Mike Thompson (left) & Team Palumbo

[regularjoerunning]

When it Comes to the 2011 Chicago Marathon, Don't be a Bonehead

"Runners are boneheads, man," quipped the Mayor of Running as we talked race-day preparations and pacing strategy in light of the much-warmer-than-ideal temperatures on slate for the following morning; "Don't be a bonehead." When Bart gives me advice, I tend to listen, but this was a particularly tough pill to swallow. I had been preparing for this one day - my first ever Chicago Marathon - for the preceding six months, training harder (and smarter) than I ever had before. And Bart knew all about it. We had exchanged several emails and spoke in person a few times over that six month period. By way of the Runner's World Challenge, he had helped coach me to a 10-minute PR at The San Francisco Marathon two months prior, employing an optimized negative split strategy suited perfectly for the course. It was his vote of confidence in the work I'd done that inspired an ambitious 3:30 Chicago goal to begin with. In short, Bart was very connected to my process. Oh, and he just happens to be a bit of an expert on the whole "running" thing. So when he and Jen Van Allen, another fine Runner's World expert who happens to know a thing or two about running in the heat, were trying to convince me to "dial back" my goal a few minutes, it should have been a no-brainer.

Fortunately for me, after initially rolling my eyes and thinking I knew better, it finally sunk in that I would be the wiser to make a few adjustments and shift my expectations for the big trek through Chicago's friendly streets. With Bart's wise counsel, I decided to adjust my pacing strategy to take aim at a 3:35. He applauded the decision, stating that I was certain to have a better day than most of the people out on course, and would feel even better as the race progressed by virtue of being better off than most others in my company. He was right. Go figure. Not only did I manage a 3:34 that drained every last drop I had in the tank, but I was one of a very small class of folks sharing a positive race experience over post-race brews and grub.  

If you're running the Chicago Marathon this weekend, use your head. The heat is going to affect your performance, but if you are smart about it, it won't ruin your day. Here are some tips (based on my experience and words of wisdom from others):

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. This is ancient wisdom, of course, and is always critical as you approach marathon day, but it is especially important for this Sunday as the heat will suck more liquid out of you than normal. The same applies for your in-race behavior. The aid stations at Chicago are long and ample, so there's absolutely no excuse for missing out on water and electrolytes. Hydrate early and hydrate often.

Dress light. Light colors, light weight. Again, ancient wisdom, but this Sunday will definitely call for some of the lightest clothing from your running drawer.

Last year, volunteers handed out water-soaked sponges. Assuming the same will be true this year, take one and use it for the relief that it provides, particularly on your face and neck, but don't toss it after doing so. You can use it again before the next "sponge station." Grab water to drink in the early part of an aid station, and then a second cup to dip the sponge in and repeat the relief. Toss it for a new sponge at your next opportunity.

If you have a goal time going in, it's time to reconsider. Goal times are designed with optimal conditions in mind. This Sunday is going to be far from optimal. To quote the Van Allen article referenced above, "Research has proven that the optimum temperature for running a marathon is 54° F. Every seven degrees above that, your overall time slows by a minute or more." Do the math and come up with a new time. It may be hard to embrace this new time at first, but your shift in expectations will allow you to perform at your best given the conditions.

If you are running without a goal in mind, don't change a thing. Just be sure to take your time. Enjoy the big crowds, soak in the sights, give lots of high-fives, and just focus on having fun.

Beware of the late miles. You are significantly more exposed after mile 20, and especially between markers 23 and 25 or so. Don't let the shade provided by many tall buildings in the preceding miles fool you. It's much hotter out there than you think, and you will be in for quite a surprise once you hit the South Side if you don't respect the heat. It's also worth noting that these late miles are virtually vacant of crowds, which could drastically affect your momentum after being met by walls of people for most of the race.

Most importantly, have fun. The Chicago Marathon is an amazing experience. Soak it up. Whether it's your first or your fifteenth, enjoy the trek.

[regularjoerunning]

Making a Difference, One Stride at a Time

I got back to my desk this afternoon to find a message from Students Run Philly Style in my voicemail box. Seeing as I had been corresponding with Heather McDanel, director of Students Run, in recent days about the logistics surrounding a non-program-sponsored team trip to run the St. Francis Community Center LBI 18 Miler in a couple weeks, I figured that's what the call was in reference to. After a brief round of phone tag, I was finally reached by Amber, a recent addition to the Students Run family, who informed me that the organization had recently nominated me for the South Philly Review "Difference Makers" issue, and that I had been chosen as one of the individuals they would feature.

I'm honored, humbled, and beyond speechless (and frankly, a bit misty-eyed) to be given this kind of recognition, but it truly is a privilege to be able to do what I do on a weekly basis with my Students Run team. They are such a fantastic, energized group who has made more of a difference on me and my life than I could ever possibly express. So thank you, Students Run, for this honor, and thank you to the Students - both on Team Palumbo and throughout the program - who make it such a joy to volunteer my time for a good that stretches far beyond my personal limitations.

[regularjoerunning]

Strength Is...

At tonight's monthly Students Run Philly Style Leader's Meeting, program director Heather McDanel posed a question to the group. She asked us to consider strength, its sources, and the people or experiences that have given it to us. She brought up her current battle with an uncooperative IT Band and related it to a series of conversations between she and I. In case you don't know the story, I suffered two blows within two weeks of each other earlier this year, coming down with a case of plantar fasciitis in the wake of a rough marathon experience followed by a severe groin strain playing softball.

Just as Running Leaders do with the students, Heather has taken on a mentor role in my life. She has been a sounding board, a source of experiential wisdom, and a confidant. Naturally, Heather was a primary channel through which I vented my frustrations and shared my struggles as I attempted to come to terms with being unable to run; being without the one thing that has been a mainstay of peace and sanctuary. She witnessed the full range of emotions throughout my journey that ultimately led me to the place of zen-like spirituality I have found with running as I've made my way back to the roads & trails by way of a long, slow, and trying path spanning the past six months.

Heather went on to define these conversations as a source strength through the power of patience. She stated that she has gained perspective on patience to the extent that she realizes how necessary it is for her to allow her body the time it needs to heal so she can regain the physical strength that will allow her to return to the place of calm that running affords.

When the question was turned over to the group, I related an experience from seven or eight years ago. I was going through a pretty rough stretch, having moved out of my mother's house overnight, isolating myself from most of my friends, and simply going through a wave of changes all at once. I hadn't yet fallen in love with running, but I still got something out of it, no matter how much I had to force myself out the door. While going through that stretch, running had fallen completely off the map. I was fortunate to have another fantastic mentor in my corner at that time; an Anthropology professor from my freshman year at Temple, who still fulfills that same role today.

I met up with Dr. Johnson one afternoon during that grim fall for a cup of coffee and a conversation that, by my measure, changed my life forever. I shared my woes with Frank and revealed that I had lost touch with the run. Frank is not a runner (or, at least he wasn't at the time), but he urged me to get out and run, even if for shorter amounts of time and fewer times per week. He insisted that it was a positive force in my life and that it was important not to give up on that. To this day, that spirit of not giving up - of persistence - sends a surge of strength throughout my being whenever I need it most.

So, why do I share all of this with you? What does it amount to? Well, first, I just want to highlight how sometimes even the seemingly minute interactions can produce unexpected sources of strength. This is important for both parties. Be receptive to those sources of strength as they come your way, and be sure to share some encouraging words with your fellow human. You truly never know how far it could take someone. Second, I just want to remind anyone who is reading this to take whatever struggles you may be going through - whether they be an injury, a state of emotional distress, or what have you - and try to put it in perspective through some source of strength you've gained in your life. It will undoubtedly help you gain faculty over those struggles. Finally, I want you to share your sources of strength. Have you had an interaction or a person in your life that has given you strength? What drives you? What is strength to you? Please share in the comments below.

I leave you with this great Saucony spot that Heather shared: Find Your Strong. I love Saucony and I love this bit. Definitely worth the one minute of your time it will take to watch.

[regularjoerunning]

Run with love in your heart and the wind will always be at your back.

[regularjoerunning]

The San Francisco Marathon Wrap-up: The Ambassador Chronicles (Part II)

Read Part I here

                     Signature RJR Thumbs-up on race morning

A half hour of shut-eye before my SFO-bound flight last Thursday, a minimum of 21 hours on my feet in a 36 hour span (starting with Bart's shakeout run on Friday), a flat-out exhausting stretch of expo'ing, and I still couldn't fall asleep on Saturday night. As many already know, a pair of injuries counted me out of running anything but the 5k on Sunday, but I still couldn't sleep. It didn't matter that the following morning was not marathon day for me. Simply knowing that I was waking up to take part in such a big day for so many people lead to tossing and turning and very few Zs. And just as I would if I were rising to devour my ritual pre-marathon bagels, I sprung out of bed with kid-on-Christmas excitement at the sound of the 4:30 a.m. alarm.

Walking from the hotel to the VIP party at Perry's, I could fully feel the buzz. There was one undeniable moment where I wished I was putting on the finishing touches of Body Glide, packing up my fuel, and dropping a bag before heading into corral 2. As much fun as it was to watch the start as a spectator, it was hard not to want to be a participant for this one after having such a great time last year. As the day would reveal itself from beyond the fog, however, there were some unique upsides to experiencing race day as an injured Ambassador.

One of the many things I got to see that I would have missed if I were out trekking 26.2 San Fran miles was the start of the Charity Chasers, Sam Felsenfeld and Dane Rauschenberg. I had the pleasure of meeting Sam in Philadelphia last year when he was running 61 marathons to raise money and awareness for autism, so I felt a little closer to the story than I would have if this were just two random guys. 

           Dane and Sam were like caged jaguars waiting to take off

After watching those guys dart toward the back of the pack, I got to hang out with Kelly a bit.

                                                Kelly

As I mentioned in Part I, I had very much been looking forward to the opportunity to meet Kelly this weekend. When she and Jim stopped by the expo, I was so busy that we hardly got a chance to chat, and I was never able to peel away and join them for lunch as we had loosely planned. So it was really, really, really cool to walk around a get in some good conversation with her before getting geared up to run the 5k/Progressive Marathon, which Kelly was sticking around to watch.

Around 7:15, I did just that; shifted from spectator to runner and headed to the start line of the 5k, which I was running as part of the Progressive Marathon. I had a lot of people ask me what that means, and since I had no idea before I looked into it after the doc told me no full or half in San Fran, it's worth shedding some light on it here. The basic idea is that you print out a log sheet from The San Francisco Marathon website, log a total of 23.1 miles before picking up your bib at the expo, have a trainer/running partner/friend sign off on each run, and cover the final 3.1 miles on race day, thus running a cumulative total of 26.2 miles (and earning yourself a medal in the process). It's not something I would have normally been interested in, but given my current status of being "on the recovery trail," it really offered a heightened sense of validation to the limited running I was able to do, and added a degree of importance to each run; if I missed a run here or there I would have been in jeopardy of not logging the requisite mileage.

As for the 5k itself, the race went great. The most important note is that there were no "oh no" moments related to either of my injuries. As an added bonus, I ran a time that made me feel really good about where I'm at. Since I haven't ran with a watch or any other kind of tracking device since starting back up about a month ago, this was my first time having any kind of numbers to look at. As a double-added bonus, I also bested Olympic champion Apolo Ohno (check the results if you are in doubt). I joked heavily at the Ambassador dinner that I would find Apolo in the morning and challenge him to a 5k. I wasn't able to track him down pre-race, but I was definitely the swifter between us. I say all of this in jest of course. If Apolo were really running against me, he would probably destroy me. Maybe I'll actually get to offer him the challenge for real before the New York City Marathon in November.

After grabbing some tasty hot breakfast food in the VIP area, Jojo asked me if I'd want to join Bart in the finish area and help him live-tweet the event - exactly the kind of experience I was hoping to gain in light of not being able to run the marathon. On our way to Bart, Jojo also suggested that I give a finisher's medal to one of the marathoners, so we grabbed a pair from the rack and did just that. If putting a finisher's medal around a marathoner's neck doesn't give you chills, I don't know what will. It was a totally humbling moment, and the first of many that I would experience in the following two hours.

                          Bart knows how to work the crowd

  Caroline Kirui comes in at 1:15 to take the women's second half marathon

         Fulls to the left of me, Halfers to the right, and here I am...

             Bart & Regular Joe's phones take a social media rest break

One relevant observation from the finish area: people have a massive amount of love for Bart Yasso (shocker, right?). People run 26.195 miles and literally stop dead in their tracks to hug/high-five/take a picture with the man before taking their final steps. I'm pretty sure a few runners missed loved ones screaming out their names at the finish because they were more excited about giving some props to the Mayor of Running than they were about actually crossing the line. Not that it comes as a surprise. Bart's a pretty hip dude.

     How can you not love a guy who rocks plaid shorts and a lobster shirt?

After months of virtual interactions and a weekend of good times in and around the expo, having a front row seat to catch many of the Ambassadors charging toward the finish was more than awesome - it was an honor and a privilege. Having an unobstructed view also meant prime picture-taking capacity.

                     Tutu-clad Monika, finishing strong & high-fiving Bart

    Laura rocked it to the finish, and then promptly answered a "quick question"

         Ambassador Libby within strides of finishing her FIRST MARATHON(!)

    Ambassador Nellie looks pretty good after finishing her first marathon, no?

Nellie is Jojo's sister. Jojo was crying after Nellie finished, so she wouldn't pose with Nellie for me, so here are some pics of each of them with Bart. Close enough, right?

                                             Bart & Jojo

                                                      Bart & Nellie

Right in line with seeing the Ambassadors finish, perhaps the most entertaining moment of the race from my vantage point was seeing my buddy Peter, the Russian Bear, romping to the finish in the company of fellow Phillies fan Lauren and ultrarunning legend Marshall Ulrich. As if that's not already cool enough, the Bear - in all his Bear-like glory - was sporting a bright orange tutu. Seeing as the Bear was the first person from the Twitterverse that I ever met/ran with in real life, this was quite the fantastic moment for me.

           Definitely cooler than someone running in a greenman costume...

                                                  Greenman

While I can't get enough of the comical and the absurd marathon finishers, I have an undeniable soft spot for the heart warmers.

There was Gregory Brown. Donning bib #200, Gregory completed his 200th marathon at the prime young age of 62.

        Gregory is in the center - dark blue shorts, red cutoff T, white gloves

There was Tim Borland running in with Jim and Cathryn Achilles for the A-T Children's Project.

                                Jim & Cathryn in front, Tim in back

Then there was Lisa Hallett. I had caught wind of Lisa's story in the late expo hours on Friday from a one Marcos Rodondo, an ultrarunner who stopped by the Information Center to ask me about getting to San Bruno via BART (not Yasso) for an adventure late on Saturday night. I eventually learned that the reason Marcos wanted to get to San Bruno was to join Lisa on a mission to honor her fallen husband, a U.S. Army Captain, by running 26.2 miles before the start of The San Francisco Marathon, and then run the race in support of Wear Blue to Remember.

       Lisa (wearing bib 10064) carries the American Flag down the final stretch

[regularjoerunning]

The San Francisco Marathon Wrap-up: The Ambassador Chronicles (Part I)

Excited runners are streaming in droves through the doors of the SF Design Center to pick up their packets and soak in the vibes with less than 24 hours to go before the big day! I'm here all day again, at the info booth until 11:30, then back to the Tech Center to hang with the Ambassadors until everything closes down at 5:00. I hope to get in some live blogging today, but it'll be a busy one, so I'm not sure how much of that will actually happen. Stop by, say hi, and share in all the fun!

I have a little catching up from late day/last night that I didn't get to post...

After having several chance to live blog and tweet-it-up from the Tech Center at The San Francisco Marathon expo on Friday, the weekend turned into as non-stop sprint toward race day that allowed little room for posting pictures and sharing my experience. As evidence by the bit above, this post actually started as commentary on the doors opening to the public on Saturday while I was posted at the Information Center, but I barely put together a paragraph and loaded up a few pics before answering a sea of questions that saw me staying at Information 2.5 hours beyond when I was scheduled to join the Ambassadors in the Tech Center.You won't hear any complaints from me, though; that was all part of what amounted to one heck of a behind-the-scenes experience for a fantastic event that brought together so many incredible people. Read on for Part I of my chronological wrap-up, starting with late expo'ing on Friday...

Speaking of all those incredible people this whole running thing brings together, I had the pleasure of meeting Jason Daniel while I was working the Information Booth. Jason entered my Home Stretch to The San Francisco Marathon Contest and is a regular reader of Regular Joe Running, so it was very, very cool to get to say hello in person.

                                          Jason Daniel

Once the doors closed at 7:00, it was time to head across the street for the Ambassadors' dinner at Mars Bar. The San Francisco Marathon has taken care of the team every step of the way and this was no exception. Drinks flowed freely, food was bountiful and delicious, and great conversations buzzed throughout the evening as many of the Ambassadors were meeting in person for the first time after months of electronic correspondence.

                             Ambassador Nick & Crew

                    Ambassador Page & her brand new hubby

     Two Ambassadors who know how to answer a "quick question"

        Jojo's Thank-you from the Ambassadors. Nice work, Sean!

            This was one incredible group. Ambassadors for life!

A cab ride (wherein I gave the driver a blue SFM Sweatband) and a few hours of sleep were all that separated the dinner from an early rise to hit-up the Lululemon shakeout run before running with Ambassador Nick to the expo for round two. As mentioned, there was little room for anything but answering the full-range flurry of questions. While most questions were of the common and repetitive sort (where to park, start times, shuttle buses, etc.), the shining moments were those where I helped first-timers figure out how to use a D-tag, worked out turn-by-turn directions for the late miles of the course for a woman who finishes after it closes, or sifted through a gentleman's Brazilian accent to help him get the press credentials he had requested so he could help promote the race on his website (while making a new friend in the process!). Greeting each runner with a big smile and sharing in their excitement, nervousness, and enthusiasm for what they were about to do is what this whole Ambassador gig is all about, and it really was such a thrill to do that time after time, despite the immense amount of energy and focus it demanded.

While I might not have been able to tweet or blog it up in my human-Google capacity, I did have a few visitors of note...

My buddy Justin, who is a fellow leader with Students Run Philly Style, came out to join in the fun and run the full marathon (and also to visit his brother). He stopped by early and witnessed the quick-growing mass of crowds and questions.

    Justin (who rocked a casual 3:20 at The San Francisco Marathon...)

While the time between Justin and my next visitor could be measured in minutes, it would be fair to say that a couple hundred questions later I looked up to a bright-blue-eyed smiling face cheerily asking, "Are you Joe? I'm Kelly!" Cue extreme joy and hugs and smiles. I've been looking forward to an opportunity to meet Kelly for well over a year now, so this was a big moment. Kelly and I originally met on Twitter, but have exchanged countless lengthy emails about running and life, spurring a genuine penpal-esque friendship. She was in the company of Jim, which meant two of the three contributors to my good buddy Brady's Loving the Run website were on hand (Please check out LTR. It's a stellar expression of why this sport is so great). Jim, Kelly, Brady, and Matt are also teaming up to raise $10,000 for Feed my Starving Children. It's an ambitious and admirable effort, to say the least, so please do help them reach their goal. Every little bit counts.

                                           Kelly & Jim

Not long after Kelly & Jim wandered off was I greeted by Twitter pal Elisabeth. She was a bit reluctant to pose for a pic, but I told here there was no way this pic-happy Ambassador was going to let that happen.

                                          Elisabeth

As I was buzzing like a happy little worker bee dishing out oodles of information honey, the Ambassadors were spreading the good cheer back in the Tech Center. Since I was unable to join them as the schedule planned, they took this awesome pic, loaded with the signature Regular Joe Running thumbs-up salute:

    (L to R) Andrew, Sean, Aron, Monika, Lucie, Nick, Laura, and Page

After finally getting to slip up to find some respite (& pizza) in the on-site office that doubled as a break room...

                      Jojo & Bart taking a breather in the office

...I popped down to the Tech Center for another long-awaited meet-up with fellow Runner's World Challenge runner, Monica. Monica and I were both part of the Challenge for the 2010 SF Marathon, but somehow never crossed paths. We've been part of the same circle of runner-friends on Facebook ever since and have both been looking forward to this opportunity. It was an absolute pleasure to meet Monica and chat it up about running, life, and everything in between.

                                             Monica

Before shutting down the expo shop for the weekend, I had two more visitors from the land of blog-readers/Twitter followers. Almost immediately after I worked my way back to the Tech Center to chat with Ambassadors Lucie and Laura, the winner of my Home Stretch Countdown to The San Francisco Marathon Contest, Claudine, dropped in to claim her $30 credit to use in the official SFM expo store. Claudine's timing was impeccable as the store was offering 15% off of everything left on the shelves. 

            Claudine showing off the signature RJR Thumbs-up

Claudine even sent along this sweet message after the race: 

Hello Joe, I finished the SF Marathon but those hills hurt a little. I did finish strong and all my photos are going to contain the purple hat I purchased with my credit at the Expo. Lol, women there wanted to fight me for it. It was the last one! Thank you again! Claudine.

The other late-stage visitor was Jon from Indianapolis, who was more than ready to rock the run on Sunday.

                                        Jon from Indy

Stay tuned for Part II - Race morning, VIP treatment, Topping Apolo Ohno in the 5k, Hanging out in the finish line announcers' area with Bart Yasso and Rob Powers, and much more...

[regularjoerunning]

The Ambassadors Keep Meeting People @THESFMARATHON Expo!

The crowds are really picking up here at The San Francisco Marathon expo. We've been meeting runners by the dozen here at the Tech Center. Ambassadors Lucie, Laura (@lauralang3), and Sarah (@SarahStanley) are all in the house. Lucie just stopped by to say hi (she'll be here tomorrow from 1-5 pm). A couple of Twitter friends Peter (@RussianBear) and Lauren (@RunningLaur) even passed through the Tech Center to chat for a bit. And to top it all off, Brandon (@likes2read76) and Sarah (@sezbeth) popped over to pick up their SFM Sweatbands they earned from entering the Homestretch Countdown to The San Francisco Marathon Contest. It's been a blast to talk to everyone, hear their stories and share the excitement! And we've still got a good half-marathon's worth of hours between today and tomorrow to get everyone excited before the big day on Sunday. Great times!

   John and Jason stopped by the Tech Center for some SFM Sweatbands

                     Ambassador Andrew chatting it up

         Myrna is super-excited to be running the 5k on Sunday!

           Regular Joe and Lucie get to talk running in-person

     Kim is running the first half this year for the Half it All Challenge!

                            Peter (a.k.a. The Bear) and Lauren

                   Brandon (my left) and his friend Michael

    Sarah's not running on Sunday, but she's still excited about SFM!

      Ambassadors Ahoy!!! From left: Laura, Lucie, Sarah, Regular Joe

[regularjoerunning]

More First-timers @THESFMARATHON Expo!

Albert (first pic) and Adrian (Bib# 8268) just stopped by. Albert is running his first SF Marathon and Adrian is running his first ever marathon on Sunday! Go get em, guys!

[regularjoerunning]

First Time Marathoner, JJ @THESFMARATHON

I just had the pleasure of meeting my first runner of the day. JJ will be running the full marathon on Sunday - his first ever! Great to meet you, dude. Have a blast out there and savor every second of it!

[regularjoerunning]

Ready, Set, Expo!

Alrighty folks...here goes my first attempt at live-blogging from The San Francisco Marathon expo. After 3 hours of putting on the finishing touches or hanging signs, setting up tables, and working out the fine details, runners are starting to shuffle in the door. The Ambassadors are all set at Tech Center. The live Twitter scroll is uip and running, Map My Run is here to show folks the tracking ap, and the XBox system is ready to rock with some track and field games. I'm here hanging out with Andrew. Sarah Stanley will be by once her "It's All in Your Head" seminar talk. Nellie will be by shortly, and Laura will be joining us later this afternoon. Swing by and say hi!

i!