What better way to kick off the new year (happy 2004!) than to attempt the "marathon a month" challenge? To "join the club", one has to complete a marathon each calendar month for a year. A challenge? Sure, but it pales in comparison to Todd's 150+ marathons or Jasper's epic 100 milers.
For a beginning marathoner with a best time of rather pedestrian 4:43, I thought it would satisfy that need to venture into the unknown as well as be a substantial accomplishment. I also figured that, since I was so naturally slow, it couldn’t do much damage. The other attraction were the exotic locales, including London in April (Tally Ho!). Redding was to be the kickoff marathon on New Year's Day.
Well, unfortunately, Redding was digging out of the worst snow storm in 30 years. Over a foot of snow. Can one actually run on snow? Well, that question was overshadowed by the intense rainstorm that greeted us marathoners on race day. 60 mph winds...rivers overflowing...roads blocked up to Shasta Dam...The course had to be rerouted due to uprooted trees...
"We think it might be a little bit longer", noted Don Jacobs, the race director, "but just by a 10th of a mile or so." Realizing my marathon potential, I surmised that might add up to an extra 5 minutes. But, no problem; it was a great way to start 2004 by doing something healthy. Now, "healthy" is a relative term. I'm sure quite a few of you are kind of tired of hearing about my various ailments (the sessamoiditis, the lingering respiratory condition, the nagging ITB syndrome, etc.). Moreover, was it truly healthy to run 26 miles twelve times a year? Guess I'll find out, thanks to the Department of the Interior for its lifting of the "orange alert" up by Shasta Dam.
We waited until a lull in the storm and 64 of the registered 74 runners took off across the top of the dam. Apparently, 10 of us athletes elected to ride out the storm by prudently staying indoors and missed out on all the scenery and fun. Although it rained intermittently and was, at times, gusty and cold, all in all, it was a beautiful day. The course meandered along with the river on gravel roads, trails, the highway, as runners negotiated creeks and crossed pontoon bridges, with the help of the friendly volunteers. It's one thing to volunteer in a nice place with great weather like San Diego or Long Beach, but to maintain your station in adverse conditions is to be applauded. A big thanks to those Redding folks! Well, about my race. Here I go again about the ITB problem. It's been going out around 8 or 9 miles and this race was no exception. No matter that I started with 10 minute miles and walking for a minute every mile. Right at the 9 mile marker, the ITB said "no more today!" But, one can't join the "marathon a month club" without a little discomfort, so me and the ITB made a deal. I would rest my right leg with a minute of walking for a minute of jogging. Instead of doing my typical 10 minute pace, I slowed to a 12 minute pace and was able to finish the race with a smile. The smile grew larger when I discovered that I was 6th in my division! (Of course, there were only 7 of us old guys in the race anyway....) but the top AREC spot goes to Suzanne Kairy. She was up north visiting her family for Christmas and decided to "join the marathon a month club" by blazing through the course in a 3:59:32. Suzanne was 3rd woman and took second in her division! Talking to her after the race (she was kind enough to stick around for over an hour and supply this old timer some homemade soup), she concurred that the Redding Marathon is beautiful race with great folks and fantastic way to welcome the New Year. There's still more opportunities to join the marathon a month club. We've got Rock N Roll on the 11th and San Diego on the 18th. Next race for me is Pacific Shoreline in Huntington Beach. See ya at the races!