2009 ???

What does the year 2009 have in store for me? I received notice today that I was put on the waiting list at Barkley Marathon. Kind of disappointed that I didn't get accepted, but I guess in real life I'm not the front runner or the likely candidate to actually finish this 100 miler.
Barkley? It is 5 twenty mile loops through Frozen Head State Park near Wartburg Tennessee. It was started many years ago by Gary Cantrell after hearing of James Earl Ray's escape from Brushy Mountain Prison. After Ray had been gone 55 hours, he had only managed 8 miles or so from the prison. Gary commented that he could have been 100 miles or more away in that length of time. Well, after some research and surveying the landscape, Gary had the idea to have a race through the wilderness there. I think there has been a total of 7 finishers in all the years it has been held. The problem is not the distance, runners from all over the world have come to run the Barkley. What happens is they quit! Or the time limits catch them. There is a 60 hour overall limit and a 12 hour per loop limit. The trail is mostly unused and is very unrunable.
Why would anyone want to run Barkley? I really don't know. It is kind of like when you were a kid and hit a ground ball back to the pitcher. He(She) fields it cleanly, you know you are going to be out. You still run as hard as you can to first base and even run through the base. You are hoping that there is a small chance, you will be safe. That is the best explaination I can give.
I'm not big on New Year's Resolutions but sitting here and pondering on 2009, what should I do? Lose weight, you bet! Run more? Yeah.
I want and will try in 2009 to:

1) run fewer ultras and concentrate on faster races.
2) Lose 20 pounds (this will help with #1)
3) Concentrate on running faster marathons and if it is in me, to qualify for Boston in 2010. I will be 55 and only need a 3:45

Well, there are some goals, not resolutions. You may not see me at as many ultras this next year, but hopefully will see me toeing the line in Boston for the 3rd time.

Peace

look at this link: type in 2006 to 2007 and Lyda for the last name.

http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/results-commentary/marathon-results.aspx

2008 Rocket City Marathon

Or I could title this, "The Loss of Enthusiasm". The Rocket City Marathon is a well organized, community supported event. This was the 32nd year since it was started by the Huntsville Track Club and the dream of Harold Tinsley. It is the first and oldest marathon in Alabama. The course winds through downtown Huntsville, the historic district and the newer south side near Grissom High School. The course is noted for being flat and fast. The weather is also noted as cold and breezy. This day proved to be cool, but the wind was not a factor.
As I hit town, I checked into Holiday Inn at the Civic Center which is the race headquarters for the marathon. This year I had to prepay for two nights to ensure I had a room. The race usually fills up. I checked into the Expo to get my race packet, I felt the packet and didn't feel the familiar bump in the packet to make sure the timing chip was there. (Today, some of the more advanced races uses a computer chip for your times during the event. Talk about big brother! The chip is attached to your shoe and as you cross the starting line, the computer starts "your" time. When you cross the finishing line, it stops it. Some races has these readers at various places along the course. Rocket City uses the start, halfway and finish.)
I went to a familiar face at the Expo, Jim Oaks. I have known him since the early 80's and asked him where the timing chip was. He informed me that there was a new type being used, a disposable one and to watch the instructional video across the room.
Boy did I feel like a dummy. Later, after I got back to my room, I found my race information booklet and read the instructions. Lo and behold, there was the instructions for the new chip. Now for the title "The Loss of Enthusiasm".
I first ran this race back in 1980. The race was already 3 years old and the course had already changed for the start and finish at Grissom High School. I had been running for recreation since about 1978, to lose weight and try to keep in shape. Mother Nature had already kicked me out. Mother Nature will take care of you until you're mid twenty's, then she will tell you that you are on your own.
I ran my first organized race in June of 1980, "the Provident Heart Run" in Chattanooga. My cousin, Bobby Smith had talked me into running it and later convinced me to run a marathon. So we began our training for "The Joe Steele Rocket City Marathon" in December 1980. I entered and anxiously awaited the information booklet that was promised. The booklet came and I read it cover to cover looking at all the pictures and learning all the names of all the runners. I saw pictures of Steve Bolt winning and Mike Hamm and Ron Hill. I was excited! Ron Hill was a world class runner from Britain. This race had international participants!
After 28 years and running this marathon 10 times, I didn't even open the booklet. What have I become. Have I lost the enthusiasm of running the marathon? I guess so. I will ponder on this question for a while to see what I have lost or gained over the years.

The race began with a shot from a musket, fired by Wayne Smith's daughter. I had met her 22 years earlier when she came to TVA to do a fitness test for the newly formed "Livewell" program. The air was cold but not brutal. It had the feel that the day would warm some but not be hot. This proved to be true.
The night before, a couple of runners that I had met (both from Indiana, but didn't know each other) asked me what my goals were. I answered that I hadn't thought about any. I figured that I would go out and run within myself and see what the day and the course would allow.
I started slow to keep from burning out early, I settled into about a 10 minute per mile pace. This proved to be the ticket. I met some other runners that were settled into the same pace. Bill from Huntsville and Allen from Tampa, FL. Bill ran head after about 6 miles but Allen and I ran together for about 17 miles. We hit the halfway point in 2 hours and 10 minutes. If we could maintain, then that would mean a 4:20 marathon. At about 17 miles, Allen and I both started to have a few issues. The wheels were wobbling a bit. I settled in and started to press a little. About that time I saw the aid station giving out Clifshot gels. They had a variety and I was bonked to the point, I didn't (couldn't) hear what they were offering. I grabbed one from the second girl handing them out. It turned out to be a "Caffeine" one. It tasted like Expresso Vaseline due to the cold, the gel was almost a solid. The energy and the caffeine buzz gave me a little kick. I kept pressing, all the time thinking that I was running too fast for the amount of distance left. My heart rate was reaching 94 to 97 % of my maximum. I was well into anaerobic territory. This meant that my time was limited at this level. When lactic acid builds during this phase, it causes the muscles to ache and slow down and eventually quit moving. Being crazy to start with along with being in a daze from fatigue, I kept on.
At about 23 miles I reached into my secret pocket in my running shorts and pulled out my last secret weapon. A Little Debbie Fig Bar. Smashed as it was, I choked it down. At this phase of the race, the mouth is dry, the tongue doesn't want to work. After a half of mile or so, I hit an aid station and gulped down a couple of cups of water. The plan from the start was to save this fig bar until mile 23. I'm surprised that I hadn't used it until then or even forgot that I even had it. After a mile and half or so, the fig bar kicked in and I was able to carry my tired, aching old body across the finish line. Time 4:21:06. The second half was just a tad slower than the first.
Afterwards, I went to the hotel room when the lactic acid finally caught up. My calves ached for about 30 minutes. I sat with my feet propped up on the bed as I ate the stew and fruit provided by the race. After about an hour, the body was almost fully recovered. I had one blister on the left foot in the arch. I didn't know I had it until the race was over. Today the legs have a few tender spots but very little soreness. We'll see how they feel on Monday, the soreness usually peaks about 48 hours after the event. The Rocket City Marathon was my first and remains my favorite marathon.

Chattanooga Fat Ass 50k

For the ones who does not know what a Fat Ass race is. It originated in Australia. It is a race with usually no entry fee, no shirt , no frills, and definitely no awards. The race starts at the base of Krandyland. This is the home of Kris and Randy Whorton, who is a big part of the trail development and trail racing in the Chattanooga area.
The race starts, after you climb the mandatory 54 steps to Krandyland. I arrived early and delivered some goodies for the 100k. Kris and Randy were very hospitable and offered coffee. The weather was going to cooperate for the FA50k. The start was scheduled for 08:00 but by the time we all got ready, it was about 08:25. The race is advertised as group of friends, running a training run. NO PRESSURE!

We started as the temperatures hovered about 30 degrees.. as we ran out, the cool wind cut through the cheap cotton gloves. ( 50 cents). I don't think it mattered as everyone I talked to complained of hands being cold.
We started on the street at the base of Krandyland and headed towards Ruby Falls. I have lived in the area most of my life, and have never seen Ruby Falls or Rock City, shame on me.
A small group of us started out slow, knowing that the mountain and miles would take it's toll. A small group of us (5) missed the first trail turnoff. We never saw the markers. after a few minutes of discussions and exploring where we went wrong, we decided that we had missed the spur trail and we would press on past the turn and add some mileage (according to GPS) to allow for the error.

We met several of the other runners who had followed the correct course. We all got a chuckle at telling them that they were slow. All the time knowing we were off course. After the correction, 2 of the group turned at the junction, they had opted for the 10-12 mile option.
Then there was three of us at the end of the pack. We kept a steady pace, all along keeping our conversation light and positive. I ran with Charlene from the CTC and Cat who comes from a biking background.( if I'm wrong, please correct me Cat). She is new to the running arena and has only been running for about a year or so. We maintained a respectable pace and had some very energizing conversations. I think she (Cat) baited me though, she told me that she wanted to run slow, because we had a lot of miles to go. Then about 15 miles, she kicked it in and I never saw her until the end. She had only done 16 miles max until this run. She really kicked ass!! Good job Cat!

That left Charlene and me to finish the 21+ section. Charlene gave me a history lesson along the route. We wrapped around the bluffs of Lookout mountain where significant historical Civil War battles were fought. On one occasion, I had told Charlene, that if one of us heard voices, then we were losing it. I turned once to her and whatever face I had on, she said 'You're not freaking out on me , are you?" We both got a laugh out of it. We made it to Craven's House ( Google it) and refreshed with our drop bags. We met back up with Lynn and her dog. She had slept in late and had come out to run some on the mountain. The meetings were brief but enjoyable. She is planning on pacing for the upcoming 100k.
Charlene and I cruised back to Krandyland, both not really taxed from the run. We all reunited with the folks that had stayed after the run. We ate chili, listened to music and exchanged war stories with the other runners.

Entry Fee $0
Drive time: 1 hr
experience : priceless

Charlene and I didn't write our 22.74 mile time down, because the time really doesn't matter.

We had a day in the woods with friends (new friends), no pressure to compete, experienced a part of History and had a great time of fellowship with folks that has the same goals as you. Oh yeah, the chili wasn't bad either.

Thanks Kris, Randy, Boonies and all the runners that came out and made the day.