North Woods River Runner: Twofer

Summer Training Shoes-Brooks Ghost 11's

So I run. I’ve run since I was a wee lad. Sometimes I’ve run slow, sometimes I’ve run fast, but more often than not, I’ve run for fun. (Click on and see: “Running Part#1: The History” - from the Spring of 2016)

Now on the brink of my fifteenth marathon, this time in downtown Chicago, I find myself reflecting on the reasons why. I think I’ve narrowed it down to two specific reasons, although it could probably be argued that each of those reasons most likely contains subsets of notable significance. Regardless, I like to think of it as a “Twofer;” two reasons to run, rolled into one.

The first of these reasons involves running as an escape. I know I can’t run away from anything, but sometimes it provides an outlet that allows me to refocus; even when I may seemingly start the run without a whole lot in the tank. Sometimes my mind slips into a dream phase while I run, where I am accomplishing something, or saying something, that apparently must be important deep within the brain. As I mentioned in my last blog two months ago, this past summer’s responsibilities kept me from being able to get into the out of doors as much as I would like. The outdoors is typically where I recharge to do what I do. I remember when I first started this blog, and how I could could go out fishing, hiking, or kayaking almost every couple of weekends, and then come home and write a blog entry for that adventure. It pains me to say that directives during the school year, to make things “easier”, have sometimes kept me from being able to do what I long to do as well. And so I have my running. Thank God; literally.

During the week I often run on my own, and that’s helped fill the void of thinking and exploring; a mental and physical outlet that somehow fuels me even as it drains me. Irony! On the weekends I’ve run with friends; new and old. When you run in a group, you can feel the pull and motivation that comes from a pack mentality. The miles slip by when you’re running, talking, and listening to others alongside you. These are the things that make up reason number one.

In addition to running as an escape, my second reason for running is to help others. Often that involves grabbing some friends, coming up with a goal race and training plan, and then providing some motivation to help them achieve it. Sometimes I find that I can motivate others through phone texts or personal conversations; words have power and strength. At other times I can supply the motivation by simply providing opportunities, such as letting them know when I’m going out for a run in case they want to join me.

For this fifteenth marathon I’m also running for Team World Vision. I did back in 2008 and 2009; years I was also trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon. In both cases I injured myself about a month from the race and had to struggle to finish under excruciating pain; figuring it was the least I could do to honor those who had supported me and donated money to my goal of bringing fresh water to African communities who need it. In many of those villages, women and children walk many miles for contaminated water that can make them deathly sick. For those marathons, running on injured legs didn’t seem worth complaining about, even despite the extreme disappointment of dashed dreams.

This year my goal continues to be to raise funds for World Vision; running for others and supported by many. It’s a goal to help others beyond my community, and fortunately at this point, I feel strong and healthy going into the marathon itself. After backing down in mileage while coaching basketball for a few months at the start of the year, I officially started back into a base work of training in late March. Since then I’ve ran countless miles. Well, I could probably figure it out, but I get bored trying to keep mileage journals like I used to do, and if you know me at all, the new fangled watches that synchronize with some programs on your computer just aren’t me. I’m more ninja than cyborg. I’ve run three different races throughout the year as part of training, and I loved all of them for different reasons; the Rockford 4th of July 8K tradition, the 12K Run Clark Lake family heritage, and the Byron Tiger 10 Miler for the challenge and beauty. The Runner’s Image store in Rockford continues to be my supplier through it all...with running shoes that is! And for many years now, the Brooks Ghost have been the shoe of choice.

Those are some of the details, but when you sift through it all, I love to run. I run for the mental escape from the tough days or seasons we have throughout life, and I run to help others. I’ve run this particular year, the year 2019, to prepare for the Chicago Marathon. As I’ve mentioned, it’s my fifteenth marathon, and the fourth time I’ve run Chicago. My wife Cindy and I will head into the Windy City next weekend. I’m looking forward to running this one injury free, and I’m hoping I can carry that through the entire 26.2 miles. I’m also looking forward to running for those who have sponsored me through World Vision; remembering the kids, families, and communities that will be affected by the monies raised by our Team. Breathe deep, this is going to be an adventuresome “Twofer;” a weekend to run where I can escape among over a million people, to help communities on the Flip-side of the world.

See you along The Way...

THE PICS LEADING UP TO THE MARATHON

Zach And I Signing Up For The Marathon With The Heartland Team

One Of Our First Group Runs Along The Rock River Bike Path-Early Spring

Training On Trails

Training On The Stone Bridge Trail

Training On The Rock River Bike Path

Team World Vision Heartland - Early Summer
Zach's In The Fluorescent Shirt, And I'm To His Left

Rockford's "Lifescape 4th Of July Classic" 8K Race

Cousin Brian & I Running Michigan's North-wood Trails
The First 5 Miles Of A 10 Mile Training Run

Cousin Brad & I Running
The Second 5 Miles Of My 10 Mile Training Run

Sean, Brad, Brian, And I Running In The Heat
On A Dirt Road In Northern Michigan

Morning Run On My Birthday

Cousin Brian And I Finishing Strong In
The "Run Clark Lake" Race in Michigan (August)

Stretching Out And Enjoying The View Of The Rock River Valley
Before Byron, Illinois' "Tiger 10 Miler"

Tiger 10 Miler
I Love This Type Of Running!

Finishing The Tiger 10 Miler

Doug, Justin, Amy, And I After The Tiger 10 Miler

I Actually Ran This Race Faster Than I did Last Year
And Finished Second In My Age Group Again.
After Race Party At The "Hairy Cow" In Byron, Illinois

Running On September 11th

I Ran 9.11 Miles In Honor Of September 11th

Part Of The Team World Vision Team That I Run With.
(L-R) Andrea, Chris (el Capitan), Me, Jake, Brian, Louie, Zach, And Terry
This Was After Finishing Our 20 Mile Training Run

In High School My Senior Motto In The Yearbook Was
"Save The Trees, Save Your Lunch Bags."
For Every Team Run, I get A Cup And Use It Over & Over Through The Miles
After The 20 Miler, This One Was Pretty Beat Up! : )