Wednesday Night Laundry Runners
Club Newsletter (published regularly) - Volume 12, Number 2
March 11, 2002
“ALL OF THE NEWS OF THE FIT IN PRINT”
WNLR HALL OF FAME: Jay Cook, Richard Leutzinger, Patty Selbicky, Glynn Wood, Nellie Wright
Report from the National Cross Country Meet
By Greg Mislick
Fellow Warriors,
Have been asked, so I thought I would recount the cross country race this weekend in Vancouver Washington, near Portland. We haven't had many stories lately!
First off, I'd been training for the Las Vegas Marathon since December, including that 2:57.10 training run at CIM in the pouring rain, and had done a long run (15-18 miles) each weekend since just before Christmas. Felt I was ready for a sub-2:40 at Vegas; but 10 days before, I got asked by Tim Minor if I would reconsider running Vegas and do the cross country race instead, since the Aggies were short-handed and a few key guys were injured. Said "what the hell", and decided to try something different -- did some fartlek and a few track workouts (400's) over the next 10 days, still went to Vegas, and ran 16 miles for a workout; 2 miles easy, then 14 miles @ 6:15 pace. Ran easy the next five days and headed up to Portland! What was I thinking?!
When I got there, I really didn't know what to expect -- after all, 6:00 training pace and all-out cross country are two quite different things! The race was 6k for the Masters, three loops around a 2k course. We went straight from the airport to the course, and did a few warmup laps and then some strides in spikes. The course was altered from the year before and was even more challenging -- more hills! The surface was clumpy uneven grass, and was very wet and slippery, and spikes were a necessity. It contained one good long downhill at the start, a short uphill coming back, some running on canted ground, another short downhill, dodging a few trees, and one long uphill to complete the loop -- something to look forward to three times! Lots of turns and one in particular was hard -- about a 135° turn around a tree to the right, so you lost plenty of momentum, then had a good 75-yard hill immediately to race up, which made you feel like you were running in slow-mo (which I probably was!)
Talk about a rookie! I was wearing Reebok spikes that I had had for years but never worn. What freakin' length of spikes to use? I only had the 1/4" variety used on all-weather tracks which would have done nothing on this course! Fortunately Jeff Shaver had some extra 3/8" spikes that he let me use. For sure, it was hard getting used to spikes, but after the first lap of the race I finally got the hang of it -- man, they really dug in and helped making turning easy! After wiping out in my flats during warm-up, I was all too aware how slippery the course was!
I was definitely nervous beforehand, not knowing what to expect, and hoping to just run hard and not embarrass myself -- how would marathon training help or hurt? I'd had NO intensity of this nature for a long time! At the gun, all 130 of us Masters men (separate race for 50 Masters women) bolted out, and I managed to get a good start -- my strategy (as per Steve Shaklee's instructions!) was to go hard at the start, surge in the middle, then kick it in at the end :-) (I wish!!) At the mile, I was in around 15th place and hit a 5:16 which I was pleased with and still felt decent and in-control. We went up the hill at the end of the first loop, and then hit the main straightway again. Four dudes dashed past, picking it up, and I just tried to hang best I could -- man, this was hurting! Eddy Hellebuyck was running a ways out front, then Dave Olds, then Tim Minor. They finished in that order and were the only 3 runners under 20 minutes. I jockeyed a few places, gaining and losing a few to the same few guys throughout, but finally surged past one of them and finished 19th OA, 4th on the Aggies behind Tim, Carmelo Rios, and Jeff Shaver, and ahead of Steve Palladino, Tom Cushman and Kevin Searls. I was the last runner to break 21:00, at 20:59. Shaver was 22 seconds ahead. While I was very pleased with the race, the Black and Blue went down to defeat. Combining our best 5 times and theirs, we were beaten by a mere 10 seconds -- 2 seconds per man!! "They" were the Oregon Track Club, and they snuck up on us, as we didn't even know they had a good team, but that's what happens when you are the reigning Champs -- everyone is gunning for you! But we had a great time and an awesome party that night. After the award ceremony with free Hefeweizen, we went to a brewery pub where we continued with beer and pizza, then hit a few clubs downtown. The last one was a place called "Panorama" and was unbelievable. The night's theme was "Mardi Gras" -- this allowed the locals to show their true colors! Too funny -- Some 6'5" chick in a bathing suit was doing the Hula Hoop on stage for 30 minutes, which was rather mesmerizing...But, lots of cute women too, good music, and we stayed until 3:00 AM. The trip home included a "Run to the Border", at Taco Bell, and we finally crashed at 4 AM. Good night, and fun was had by all!
Anyway, you asked for it, you got it ("Toyota......") An overall fun and good experience.
WANTED: NEW NEMESIS
by Donny Buraglio
A good friend of mine recently moved back to his home state of Tennessee. We had many things
in common in our lives, and spent many hours talking about them—we are only a few months apart in age, we attended
the same church, we both have small children, and we even worked together for a couple of years. He is a
very good athlete who entered many local running races and triathlons. When someone like that is no
longer part of your life, it leaves a large void. Yet with all of his strong qualities, the thing that makes
me most disappointed about his leaving is this: I’m six minutes behind him in one-on-one triathlon competitions,
and now I may never catch up.
I met him at the MPC track one evening shortly after I moved to Monterey, and we became acquainted over the
course of several nights of speed workouts. Eventually our work and family schedules became too busy to allow
us to train together frequently. Despite the fact that we both spent our summers training for triathlons, our only
workouts together were a few mornings in the Carmel High School pool. I spent most of those workouts trying
to draft in his wake, and trying not to get lapped when we swam anything longer than 200 meters. I was the
stronger runner, and we entered a couple of races together, where he ran the 5K, and I did the 10K, but we never
raced the same distance.
The one race that we competed head to head was the 1999 PG triathlon. He beat me by six minutes in the
swim, two on the bike, and two through the transitions, before I gained four minutes back on him in the run.
Essentially, after we came out of the water, we did equal races. Neither one of us ever forgot the margin
of victory, and we each worked on ways to improve our standing relative to each other. We figured it would
be the first of many competitions.
In 2000 we both missed the PG Tri for different reasons, but signed up for the 2001 race. Then about one
month before the race, he told me he was moving away. The rest of my training before the race seemed a little
bit pointless, especially all of the extra hours I had spent driving to Lover’s Point to work on my ocean swimming.
I found that I wasn’t quite pushing myself as hard, and losing some of my motivation. It occurred to me that
many mornings, when it was hard to get out of bed, I would remind myself that my friend was out there training,
and if I didn’t get up, I might lose some ground to him. Race morning finally came, and I did make a significant
improvement in my swim time, but I never had the excitement of “the chase” that I felt the first time around, and
the overall experience was a little less enjoyable.
When I first started road racing, I used to dread it when I knew that faster runners were in the same race and
same age group as me. Sometimes I would secretly hope that some of my training partners would not enter races
I had signed up for, thinking that my overall place would be higher, or hoping to avoid a potential defeat.
I’ve come to feel very differently about this now. I place less importance on winning an age group award
than I do on continually striving for improvement. One of the best ways to do this is to develop an honest-to-goodness,
down-and-dirty rivalry with someone. I’ve finished lots of races ahead of people who had once beaten me,
and there’s just about no better feeling. Recently, I’ve been losing a lot of races to people I was once
faster than, and it’s difficult to swallow.
I may never have a chance to gain those six minutes back from my friend in Tennessee, and I don’t want to make
the same mistake twice. So here’s my message to anyone who runs similar times as me: I’m aiming for you.
You may not even know me, but I’m looking at your results in the Communiqué, comparing our times, and checking
what races you’re entered in. I’m using you as my motivation. I’ve had a down year and run a lot of
slow times lately, but I’m training with fast runners, and I’m determined to get a lot faster next year.
I’m grateful to have you as a competitor, even if we never train together. I hope you continue to run well,
and that we can push each other to have great races and achieve new PRs for many years to come. See you on
the start line.
Could it be THAT TOM JOHNSON: (True Story) In Abu Dhabi on February 6th, U.S. Runner Tom Johnson battled heat, sand, and stray camels to outrun an Arabian Horse in a desert endurance race, finishing just 10 seconds in front of the horse at the end of the 50 mile race. Johnson completed the trek across the sand in 5 hours and 45 minutes and took advantage of the Horse’s need to rest for an hour during the run. Johnson said, “in the last meters of the race I looked behind to see the horse approaching so I increased my speed to the maximum and I won!!”
Big Sur Marathon Training Clinics
Tell your friends who want to learn how to train and run the Big Sur Marathon that there is still time to get some useful advice at the Marathon Training Clinics. They are Tuesday nights at 7PM in Conference Rooms A, B, and C at Community Hospital.
Here is the Remaining Schedule:
Tues Mar. 12 The Big Sur Course
Tues Mar. 26 Runners Forum (The Experts)
Tues Apr. 9 The Taper
Tues Apr. 23 The End Game
Tues Apr. 30 Marathon Success Part (Pizza and Stories)
LOCAL HERO RUNS
We had a record 75 people at the WNLR/Big Sur Marathon Clinic Popsicle Run on February
16th. It was a perfect day, and the popsicles were great at the end as some people ran their first 13 mile San
Benancio/Corral De Tierra Loop run. Sally Smith ran THREE of them that day. Starting at 3:45 AM, she
ran loops of 2:41, 2:38, and 2:59 for a total time of 8 Hours and 19 minutes. 39 MILES!!!
It got us to thinking about all-time local hero runs and several came to mind.
If you have some others please tell me and we can add a section for you.
Ben Faus is the only other recorded 3 loop in one day person, so Sally’s feat
is not the first 3 loop day.
Ben and the owner of the old Fleet Feet Store in Salinas, Dave Lewis,
tried to ride their mountain bikes from Chew’s ridge to Big Sur, about 26 miles of hilly terrain, and found the
roads impassable so they had to carry them. Dave couldn’t make it in one day, so had to spend the night in
the wilds with his bike, and Ben brought back help in the morning to get him out.
Jim Eagle ran the same route one Saturday and turned his ankle about 8 miles
into the run but ended up completing the 26 mile run. The next day x-rays showed he had a broken ankle!!!
Dave Cech and I were the only ones to show up and do the San Benancio/Corral
De Tierra Loop a few years back during the worst rainy day of the flood year, and finished the loop although we
had to hike through ankle-deep mud twice, hurdle downed trees and bushes, and wade through running water several
times.
Another great hero run was Marc Lieberman’s P.R. Marathon of 2:46 at the California
International Marathon in cold rain and gusty winds.
Jim Allen setting a 4 minute P.R 10K of about 36 minutes in the first Every
Dog Has its Day 10K is another great WNLR Hero run.
But the ALL TIME FIRST PLACE LOCAL HERO run was in 1990 when Tom Thayer was
training for the Western States 100 miler and ran, LISTEN TO THIS, SEVEN SALINAS SKYCLIMBS IN ONE DAY!!!!!
Everything else pales in comparison to this hero run!!!!
Don Bieber’s Health Report
APPLES are even better at fighting cancer than Vitamin C. C.Y. Lee, professor at Cornell, found that Vitamin C blocks the carcinogenic effects of hydrogen peroxide on intercellular communication. Quercetin, a phytochemical found in apples has even stronger anticancer activity. “Diet is the most important factor in preventing cancer. Phytochemicals are most readily available in fresh fruits and vegetables.”
FEED YOUR HEAD with PROTEIN as it stimulates thought as effectively as it does the muscles. Next time you find your mind drifting, down a cup of high protein nuts or yogurt instead of coffee or cola. Vitamins B-6 and B-12 found in brewer’s yeast, eggs, alfalfa, and fish help with production of neurotransmitters and maintaining basic brain function. Iron keeps the oxygen pumping into red blood cells which helps the brain. This means eggs, whole grains, liver, fish, and leafy greens.
RUNNING GIVES THE BRAIN A WORKOUT AS WELL. Researchers at Duke University found that runners, even joggers, consistently scored higher on intellectual tests after starting and maintaining a running program. Tests were given before and after starting a 12 week program of 3 times a week running for 30 minutes. Scores on all tests significantly increased. “Runners had clear improvement in prefrontal function”. Scores fell if the participants stopped their running program.
RUN FROM OVARIAN CANCER. A study in Obstetrics and Gynecology magazine by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh showed that runners had a 27% less chance of getting ovarian cancer than non-runners.
LOWER YOUR CHOLESTEROL WITH MEAT AS WELL. The American College of Nutrition, in a study funded by the American Cattlemen’s Beef Association, found that high cholesterol can be lowered just as well by eating the lean red meats like beef, veal, and pork, as comparable to the lean white meats in poultry and fish. So it’s ok to eat meat as long as it’s lean.
BEST SNACKS: Handful of nuts, apple, rice cakes, carrots, celery, honey, other fruits and vegetables.
JUDGES? WE DON’T NEED NO STINKING JUDGES
by Donny Buraglio
I generally love the Olympics. There’s really no more inspirational and uplifting
sporting event in the world. This winter was no exception. I sat in front of the television most evenings,
enthralled by the speed skaters and downhill skiers, and indulging my longtime passion of watching hockey.
I became a new fan of cross-country skiing after watching the 4x10K relay competition between Italy and Norway
decided by less than a second, and learning that these same two countries have finished within a second of each
other in each of the last two Olympic Games.
However, I also found that there were several sports which didn’t hold my interest for
very long — snowboarding, aerial jumping, and moguls racing to name a few. The marquis sport of the Games,
figure skating, didn’t interest me much beyond cheering for Michelle Kwan as she tried to finally win the title
that slipped through her grasp four years ago. Even the unlikely turn of events during the final skate didn’t
have as much emotional impact on me as I thought it would.
I eventually realized a pattern to the sports I liked, and those I didn’t: any event
where the result depends on style points, or scores given by judges, was somehow less attractive than those that
involved traditional competition. The events where athletes or teams are competing head-to-head, or racing
against the clock, seemed inherently purer, and also more exciting. I couldn’t help but think that my obsession
for running has heavily biased my perception and appreciation of other sports.
One of the things I love the most about running is its fundamental nature — go from here
to there as fast as you can, using only your body. It took me a while to discover this quality of our sport.
I had dabbled in bicycle racing for a while, but grew frustrated that I was losing to many people not because they
were better riders, but because they had better equipment. Having the lightest, fastest parts and components makes
an enormous difference, and it was a common expression to say that someone would get “out-biked” when losing to
a competitor because they had the advantage of using superior equipment.
I’ve never had that problem with running. Every single person who finishes ahead
of me in a race is either in better shape than me, or executed a better race strategy than I did. Nobody
I know of has ever been “out-shoed” in a race. The clock tells me precisely how well I performed, exactly
how much better or worse I did in comparison to everyone else. There is nothing abstract or biased about
my finishing place. Watch any local 5K or 10K race, and you will witness the purest form of competition there
is to be found.
Even some of the Olympic sports that appear at first glance to be very objective have a subjective
component that seems unnatural. For example, it seems obvious that for ski jumping, the winner would be the
one who flies the farthest. I didn’t realize that the jumpers were also given style points based on their
landings — which, unless someone completely crashes, all look remarkably similar to me. So instead of comparing
the distances, the jumpers are given a composite “score” and ranked accordingly.
Thank goodness this standard doesn’t apply to running. Some of the greatest runners
in history look like miserable wretches at the time of their highest achievement. The great Czech runner
Emil Zatopek, who won three gold medals at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, ran with his head cocked to one side, with
his tongue hanging out of his mouth and his eyes bulging from their sockets. A famous description of him
was that he looked like a man with a noose around his neck. Steve Prefontaine ran with his head wrenched
backward, flung his arms in every direction, and had a face of sheer agony during every one of his races.
He tried to decide races based on who had the most guts, and he usually came out on top, defeating many runners
who looked much more graceful. There is a long list of elite runners who during the course of a race have
thrown up, relieved themselves, or become bruised and bloody in pursuit of their goal. How revolting it would
be if their accomplishments were considered secondary to those runners who looked more sophisticated while running
more slowly.
This aspect of running applies to us amateurs also. As a physical therapist, I
spend a lot of time watching people walk, analyzing the biomechanics of their stride. During training runs
or long races, as my mind drifts, I instinctively assess the form of runners around me. I can attest that
there are a lot of ugly runners around here. Feet slapping the ground, elbows flailing, heads lolling all
about — it’s easy to find these and many more gait abnormalities if you look at the runners around you. However,
many of them run extraordinarily fast race times. There are also a lot of ugly sounding runners, whose groaning
and gasping keep the medical personnel at aid stations on high alert during races. But those of us running near
them don’t even give a second thought to their clamorous efforts. The great thing is, it doesn’t really matter
what we look like or sound like as we race. Our pleasure and satisfaction come not from our presentation,
but in attaining the tangible results for which we strive. It doesn’t take a panel of judges to tell us if
we have succeeded.
Significant WNLR Events and other News
—-You can renew or get a new USATF yearly membership by going to www.pausatf.org. $20.00 per year. Remember to put that you are a member of the Wednesday Night Laundry Runners. Team #133.
—-Those who entered a new age group recently or will soon are Deborah Rothhouse who turns 50 on March 12th. Go by the Treadmill and wish Deborah a Happy Birthday. Can it be? Linda Bebermeyer turned 60 on February 21st. Drive by the Bebs and honk for Linda. Judy Clare-French also turns 60 on April 2nd. April Fools day for Judy. Drive by her house and honk.
—- Rumor has it that Dr. Marc Lieberman, Dr. Jim Eagle, and Dr. Don King, all too injured for running on the roads, have been doing Synchronized Doctor running on the side by side Treadmills at Chamisal Fitness Club, very early on most mornings. They set the treadmills at 15% grade to protect their knees, and then grunt and groan and moan in unison. What a sight to behold!!! Go by and watch. Seats are available first come, first served.
WNLR TEAM
Forgot a few important Individual Rankings in the 2001 Yearly U.S.A Track and Field competition in the Western Region. In the ULTRA competition Sally Smith was 7th overall Senior Woman, Gloria Dake was 9th overall Super Senior Woman, and Al Polley was 41st overall in the Master’s Men Division.
We have a pretty good group going up to Palo Alto for the 50+ 8K Race on March 17th and to San Francisco for Houlihans Across the Bay 12K on March 24th. On June 8th virtually every Wednesday Night Laundry Runner, except Al Polley, is going to try and enter the Dipsea in Marin County. (just kidding)
If anyone is interested in something different on June 8th, there is an Around Lake Tahoe relay, about 72 miles, for 7 person age group/gender teams. Each leg is (you can figure it out yourself) about 10 miles, although some are a bit shorter and some a bit longer. Contact Mike Dove if you are interested, and I can fax you the entry with the race information. Don’t forget the 6,000 foot elevation.
Quote of the Month...A Fast Big Sur Marathon
Marc Lieberman suggests that the way to run a fast Big Sur Marathon is to go out and run a fast first half, then
run the second half faster!!! Remember that!!!
Quote of the Month...Very Safe Bet
At the last Big Sur Marathon Board Meeting, Al Polley suggested that “since the Chicago Marathon got a lot of publicity for offering $1,000,000 to any runner that broke the Marathon World Record at Chicago that the Big Sur Marathon ought to offer $1,000,000 as well!!!!!!”
Secrets of the Universe
by Jack Nelson
(Editors note: Jack Nelson lives in Chicago and was rated two years in a row by Running Times magazine as the fastest 60-64 year old in the country - he submitted this just for the WNLR Communiqué)
It was one of my easy days, 6AM, running North at 6:30 pace per mile along the Green Bay Trail that parallels
the Metra North Line in Winnetka. That’s when I spotted it...a UFO! It was nearly round, silver gray in color,
moving very slowly....low to the ground...right toward me. I was so excited! At last, one of my lifelong
fantasies was being realized. I was going to meet an extraterrestrial!!
I didn’t know whether to keep running north, stop, or turn around and run south. Discretion being the better part
of valor, I stopped and stepped to the side of the path behind some bushes and squinted up the trail into the early
morning haze. Ever so slowly the UFO came into focus. Much to my chagrin...or
was it relief?...the UFO was NOT an unidentified flying object as I had thought, rather it was an unidentified
flopping object, better known as “Hap” Hazard, a friend from my college days at the University of Arkansas.
There he was, in all his splendor, wearing heavy gray sweats, with a hooded top made of cotton, canvas basketball
shoes, heavy woolen socks left over from gym class. Ten to one he was wearing a jock strap as well. He hadn’t changed
his running gear in over 40 years apparently. We stopped and chatted, and I even changed directions, abandoned
my planned workout to turn south again and talk with my old friend. He had a very difficult life, going from job
to job, losing one wife and divorcing another, he was actually homeless for a short period of time, but he kept
running virtually every day. And he said he expected to run into me on one of his runs. When he ran he thought
of me often and our other friends at the University of Arkansas and it got him through tough times. He felt
we had been spiritually connected by running over the past 40 years. The next day I went with him to the
local running store and helped him pick out some running shoes and socks, a coolmax shirt, and some tights.
From Joan Benoit Samuelson, “One thing you need is flexibility and adaptability in your training and your life. You have to develop a sense of wholeness. Unless you feel happy about yourself, as integrated as possible, you can’t expect to have success in anything....from running to mothering to any other job. I cannot stress enough how great an effect this has had on both my personal and professional life. There is not a better feeling than to find the moment of balance and harmony when running and life come together. Then you truly know why you run and that you couldn’t live without it.”
YOUR COMMUNIQUÉ LABEL and Check Writing
Take a look at the label on this communiqué. The date on the label after your name
is the next date that you have to pay your $10.00. The format is month and year (example 05/02) means that in May
of 2002 you are due to pay again. It may have a date in the past like 01/02, that means you are overdue.
When you pay your dues
you can make the check out to WNLR. Remember you can also pay for multiple years at one time and your label
will reflect it. Also you can include a donation to the WNLR Scholarship Fund in your check. (see below)
WNLR SCHOLARSHIP FUND
It’s Time to make your donation to the WNLR Scholarship Fund. We make our choices in April and award the money in May. The WNLR Scholarship fund has approximately $606. The money is used to award scholarhips for college to High School Senior distance runners. Last year we awarded $1,500 thanks to a generous donation from the Big Sur Marathon of $1,000. Let’s see if we can go higher!!!
Some Interesting Facts: (and you thought you never learned anything from
the Communique?)
On a flight to the Disney Marathon in January the flight attendart was heard to say, “In the event of sudden loss in cabin pressure, masks will drop from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, pull it over your face. If you are assisting a child, secure yours then theirs. If you are travelling with two children, secure yours then pick your favorite”.
HERD ON THE TRAIL
George Nye and Tom Long (and Buddy) were running on the trail when they came across a bum laying in the bushes
near the Tin Cannery.
The Bum yelled “can you spare $2.00?”
Tom asked him if he would spend it on booze and he said emphatically “NO I don’t drink!”.
George asked him if he would spend it on gambling and he said emphatically “NO I don’t gamble!!
Tom asked him if he would spend it on Golf and he said emphatically “No I don’t golf!!!”
Tom and George decided to take the bum home to let Judy and Ruth see what happens to a guy that doesn’t drink,
gamble, or play golf!!!!!
HEY, THAT’S WHAT JIM ALLEN HEARD, O.K.!
HERD ON THE TRAIL:
Glynn Wood, Doug Shankle, and Kevin Smith were at the Mucky Duck on a Friday Afternoon and were having a good
time. Glynn stopped in at a neighborhood liquor store and bought another bottle of booze.
After a few beers, Kevin decided he would drive Glynn and Doug home. They took their last half finished Buds in
the bottle with them. On the way home, Doug looked ahead and saw a police roadblock and said, “we’re going
to get busted for drinking these beers!!”
“Don’t worry Doug”, Kevin said, “we’ll just pull over and finish drinkin, peel off the
labels and stick them on our foreheads, and throw the empty bottles under the seat!!”
“What for?”, asked Glynn.
“Just let me do the talkin!!”, said Kevin.
When they reached the roadblock, the sheriff said, “You boys been drinkin?”
“No Sir”, said Kevin, “We’re on the Patch!!!!!”
HEY, THAT’S WHAT JIM ALLEN HEARD, OK.!!!
WNLR Balances:
Members: 172
Regular Account: $839.50
Scholarship Fund: $606.15
More on the Nemesis Theme - I don’t even know them but I hate them
Greg Mislick talks about beating the Oregon Track Club at the National Cross Country
meet on the front page of this Communique. Donny Buraglio talks about his friend that was his Nemesis that
moved to Tennessee on page 2. He later talks about Michelle Kwan, and we all know about her nemesis Sarah
Hughes. I’ll continue the theme as it often takes a nemesis to make us train and run our best. Even outside
of running we can probably all name a nemesis at work or in other activities.
I just turned 55 and have been scouring the websites and National running magazines and
National Masters News for times in races of other 55 year olds. Last year the number one ranked 55 to 59
year old in the country ran 36:10 for 10K. I started my 55 year this year in February by running 36:03, then
36:07, then an 8K in 28:26 or the equivalent of about 36:05. Pretty consistent, and faster than last year’s
number 1. BUT there are a lot of nemesis (should it be nemesisis?) out there!!
I know a lot of 54 year olds in Massachusetts, and Colorado, and Wisconsin, and Kentucky
and Illinois who turn 55 this year. Larry Olson in Massachusetts, Richard Hallop in Wisconsin, Dave Dooley
in Colorado, Albin Swenson in Illinois. A 58 year old named Dan Koffman ran the Las Vegas Half Marathon this
year in 1:15:45 (but it’s downhill). I’ve never met these men and I don’t know if they are nice guys are
not, but I’ve seen their times in the magazines and on the web and I hate them. Northern California has a
bunch of nemeses who just turned 55 but I know them, Frank Ruona, Chuck McDonald, Don Porteus, Greg Jewett and
actually like them.
Hated or liked, they are all nemeses, and they make me run faster and train harder.
Happy New Year from The Treadmill. Thanks for your support in 2001.
We look forward to supporting
Wednesday Night Laundry Runners Club in the new year!
If you think shopping
at TheTreadmill
is fun…
imagine what it is like
to work here!
Please inquire about our
unique employment opportunities
with flexible hours available
in both Carmel and Monterey stores.
Call Deborah 624-4112
The Big Sur Marathon is Sunday April 28th
We don’t have to tell you this, if you are entered and running. It’s the premier race of the year and this will be the last communiqué before this year’s race.
Jeff Galloway will again be speaking at the clinic the day before the marathon. It’s always good to re-read Galloway and as you train and run the marathon, he says, “You can do it. We find ourselves on this earth with a generous supply of hopes, abilities, and expectations. Many people live out their lives without discovering how to rise above obstacles and enjoy the immense satisfaction and exhilaration of improving. With determination, patience, and persistence, you can mold yourself into a runner, and in the process, have a more healthy, rewarding, and productive life.”
HERD ON THE TRAIL:
One of our WNLR’s, who for obvious reasons shall remain nameless, reports that he had
been running absolutely every single day for the past 5 years. He’d get up early in the morning, dress quietly,
so as not to wake up his wife, tiptoe out the door and go for his one-hour run.
One morning a few weeks ago it was rainy and snowy and he actually went outside a few
minutes then came back in the house, undressed and slipped back into bed and cuddled up to his wife’s back and
whispered, “The weather is really terrible out there.”
His wife replied, “Can you believe my stupid husband is out running!!!”
Hey, That’s what Jim Allen heard, O.K!!!!!!!!!
When something is out of whack, what is a whack?
When cheese gets its picture taken, what does it say?
Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposites?
If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive!