Deena Kastor charged back from a two-minute deficit to win the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Boston this morning. She erased the time gap to pass runaway leader Magdalena Lewy Boulet in the last three miles, winning the U.S. Olympic marathon trials in an unofficial 2 hours, 29 minutes, 35 seconds on Sunday and earning a berth in Beijing.
On a perfect morning for a marathon, with clear skies and temperatures in the high 50s, 146 women set out on a loop course that crossed back and forth over the Charles River before leading them back onto Boylston Street for the traditional Boston Marathon finish. The roads and bridges were lined with thousands of fans, many of them runners planning to head to Hopkinton for Monday's 122th edition of the longest-running long run in the world.
Well, we're back from New York City! Though we had an incredible time siteseeing in the city that obviously never sleeps, we are happy to be home with the kids, our slower Midwestern traffic, and less noise. Yeah, I know a person becomes accustomed to the noise levels from the persistent street and pedestrian traffic, but we like our quiet here at home. Sure makes sleeping a whole lot easier. {grin}
Our flight lifted off at 5:00 a.m. on Friday morning, with a quick stop in Minneapolis to change planes and pick up another travel companion. When we finally touched down in at the Newark Airport in New Jersey, it was about noon. Grabbing a hotel shuttle to Midtown East, we arrived at our hotel before our room was ready. We quickly checked our baggage and found the local charter bus that would transport us to the Javits Center for the ING New York City Marathon expo, where I was supposed to pick up my race packet. The actual check-in process was rather speedy, all of 10-15 minutes total I suppose, but the walk through the official marathon merchandise and vendor sections was clogged beyond imagination. Fortunately, I was able to snag a few articles of apparel (a LS half-zip running shirt, a running vest, etc.) that could remind me of the trip later and located a fast moving checkout lane. Additionally, I was able to have an Asics poster signed by Brian Sell (who took 3rd at the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials), which was a pleasant surprise.
Saturday was filled with basic NYC siteseeing...a trip to the top of the Empire State Building, views of Wall Street and the WTC site, Times Square, Central Park, and most everything inbetween. Though I had visited earlier in the year for a work-related conference, it was still exciting to re-experience many of these again, especially with Laura. In fact, she fulfilled one of her lifelong wishes of riding the Central Park Carousel...that was fun.
Later that evening, we headed over to the Team World Vision pasta dinner at Dean's, just a block over from our hotel. When we arrived, we were ushered upstairs where we met and chatted with a dozen other team runners just like myself. Then we sat down for a wonderful dinner served family-style, with heaping bowls of various pasta and chicken creations, as well as authentic brick oven pizza, all very yummy. And just as I was stuffing my face with some tasty Rigatoni Mezza Calabra, who should walk in on the party? Ryan and Sara Hall, our charity team captains. Ryan happens to be the 2008 Olympic Marathon Trials champion at NYC last fall, surprising most everyone with a very consistent and even effort. What is exciting for me is his outspoken faith in the sport of running. They both greeted each of us and made small talk, before also sitting down to share in our meal. What an incredible night!
Leaving the restaurant, we headed back to the hotel so I could prepare my things for the race the next morning. I carefully pinned my race number bib (#27079), as well an additional smaller sign above with "My 1st NYCM - MIKE", to the front of my Team World Vision jersey, then made sure to attach the official timing chip to the laces of one of my running shoes. I also put together a few things that I would be taking with me for the long, pre-race wait the next morning, including extra clothing, my camera, food stuffs, and a newspaper for reading material. Carefully setting everything near the door where I could easily find it without waking everyone, and checking to be sure my alarms were set, I got ready for bed and turned off the light. It was about 10:30 p.m - only six hours until my race day would begin!
Next up, my NYC Marathon race report and photos as I work my way through the five boroughs of New York and 26.2 miles...
Ryan Hall, who won the U.S. Olympic marathon trials this past fall in New York, will be testing himself at the London Marathon this Sunday on his way to Bejing.
Astoundingly, this is only his third marathon. He made his debut by finishing seventh at last year's Flora London Marathon, then went on to steamroll the field and the hills in Central park on his way to a trials record victory on November 4th.
Hall, who has lived at altitude (7,000 feet above sea level at Big Bear Lake, in the San Bernadino Mountains) since he was 3 years old, thinks he discovered his talent late. "My very first run was 15 miles around the lake," Hall said. "You would think I would have known I could be a distance runner."
After twice winning the California state cross-country championships in high school, Hall went on to Stanford in search of his Olympic dream. But, in the process leaving his close-knit family of five siblings, he began to struggle with results, weight gain and depression. He quit Stanford for one academic quarter and regrouped on long forest runs with his father, drawing strength from his deep Christian faith and family. He then returned to become the runner-up at the 2003 N.C.A.A. cross-country championships and won the 2005 championship at 5,000 meters.
"I think what I've learned from having success in high school and losing it all in college, it taught me you can't make your life successful based only on athletics," Hall said.
He learned that lesson painfully at the trials. He had trained with Shay in Mammoth, Calif., and he and his wife Sara were teammates at Stanford with Shay’s wife, Alicia. Hall was ecstatic after crossing the finish line first. Fifteen minutes later, he was overcome with grief. He and Sara stayed with Alicia Shay in January in Flagstaff, Ariz., where they trained and coped together. Sara, a 5,000- and 1,500-meter runner, will compete at the track trials in June with Alicia. Hall keeps a picture of Shay in the bible he carries with him.
This Sunday's event is his last big race before the Olympics. Apparently, he feels he needs this short-term goal to help gauge his training against some of the world's top talent later this summer.
"I needed something else to be excited about," Hall said Wednesday in London. "You could go crazy thinking about it for six months."
For a select few of America's top distance runners, the road to the Beijing Games next year will run through New York this weekend. On November 3, New York Road Runners (NYRR) will play host to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon where these elite athletes will vie for their chance at a spot on the prestigious summer olympic team. The Olympic trials race is turning heads across the nation and around the world, and the mantra for this week is "Americans can run." Lest anyone believe they couldn't??
The course will be a criterium-style course in Central Park that will start in Rockefeller Plaza and finish near Tavern on the Green. The criterium loop in Central Park will be the reverse of the loop used when NYRR hosted the USA 8 km Championships from 2002 to 2004. Athletes will run the loop five times, with distance added to complete the full 42.195 km of the marathon.
For an indepth and interesting behind-the-scenes look into the race and its participants, be sure to check out Chasing Glory, a unique seven-week series of videos and text-based commentary leading up to Saturday's event.
From NYRR web site: "On November 3, 2007, New York Road Runners will host the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Men’s Marathon in New York City. As part of an unprecedented promotional buildup to the race, which will select the U.S. men’s team for the 2008 Beijing Games, NYRR is proud to present 'Chasing Glory,' a seven-week series of web videos and text-based commentary offering exclusive athlete and coach interviews and insight."
If you're looking for an inspirational story about some of these gifted athletes, read the NY Times article "Team Turns Unsung Runners Into Elite Marathoners" about the Hansons-Brooks Team. Wow, talk about being inspired by a group of 'average' runners and their efforts to bring back the heyday of distance running to America ... sign me up!
Although I won't be able to be there in person to experience this epic race, I'm sure this will be a very exciting event for New York and the thousands of spectators sure to line the course as it winds through Central Park. If you are hoping for a chance to view some of the action yourself, check out the broadcast information below:
Television - Tune in to the live start on Saturday, November 3, at 6:35 a.m. CST on NBC's Today In New York. A half-hour highlights show will be aired on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. CST on NBC. (Check local listings for exact time in your area.)
Internet Streaming - On Saturday, November 3rd, it's America's race -- the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon. And on Sunday, November 4th, it's the world's race -- the ING New York City Marathon. Catch all the action LIVE, only on NBCSports.com/Marathon!
It’s been nearly six months since Ryan Shay collapsed and died 5.5 miles into the Men’s Olympic Marathon Trials. Leaving his wife, Alicia, a widow just months after their marriage, that day literally sent shock waves through the running community. Recent autopsy results said Ryan died of an irregular heartbeat due to an enlarged heart. He had been cleared to compete by doctors who knew about his condition and was a contender in the 26.2-mile trials.
For Alicia, the past six months have been a period of mourning while figuring out what to do next. You see, Alicia and Ryan Shay shared many dreams as a newlywed couple. One of them was qualifying for the Olympics together. But now, she has been left to fulfill this dream on her own.
On Sunday, Shay faces her first career race since Ryan's death; the Cardinal Invitational 10,000m in Stanford, California, where she once broke the collegiate record. And providing a recent abdominal muscle problem doesn't worsen, it will take her another crucial step closer towards the Olympic dream. But this time, that step will ultimately come without Ryan's supportive sideline encouragement she used to enjoy.
"It is so difficult," says Shay. "What I'm coming to realize is that I miss Ryan so much I can't even explain it. I miss my best friend... (but) I have to realize my life is not over. I have to take the strength he left me and the love and the amazing time I had with him. I believe everyone has a wonderful purpose in life. That's what gives me hope and strength every day."
Her plans now carry her forward, towards running at the U.S. Olympic track and field trails in June in Eugene, Oregon. Here she will hopefully get the chance to earn her berth into this summer's Olympics, and grab hold of that dream that Ryan and her once shared.
Shay says, "I believe the Lord uses these situations to help people and be a source of strength to people. I don't believe Ryan died for that purpose. I believe God knows the number of our days, and Ryan passed on."
"I hope that through his death other people take away the reality that our life can be short. Ryan lived with so much passion and love in his heart. My prayer is that people will take that into their own life."
Though I happened to fall asleep later than anticipated last evening, I woke up this morning just in time to see the final 30 minutes of online coverage for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Men's Marathon. And what a spectacular finish it was!
Clocking an amazing 4:32 18th mile, which is believed to be the fastest ever run in Central Park, Ryan Hall dominated the U.S. Olympic Team Trials marathon by outracing the veterans in a record 2:09:02. Dathan Ritzenhein finished second and Brian Sell took third. This was truely an inspiring race and only proves of the greatness yet to come from these three runners in Beijing next summer!
This is exciting, as I've been rooting for Hall from the beginning. A man of strong faith and determination, his performance today showed this and much more ... and this was only his second marathon! I honestly cannot wait to see what the future of distance racing and 2008 Games have in store for this 25-year old ... just stay tuned.
Well, today marks my 100th blog post for the Pursuit of Runningness. It's rather funny...I suppose if you would have asked me a year ago what a blog was, I'm not quite sure I could have provided you with an accurate answer. However, since starting this blog last fall I've rapidly learned what this resource is and can do. The blog has allowed me a chance to connect with friends, family, and new running acquaintances, while also allowing me to provide some plausibly interesting and individualistic commentary on life's adventures...primarily through the focus of running and faith. And although I've occasionally found myself stumbling here and there (I'll plainly admit, my writing skills lack), I've come to realize now the outreach and influence that blogging is capable of. And I am ultimately thankful for the ability to have this freedom, not to mention the relationships it has generated.
However, today isn't about a bloggy, journalistic celebration. Because the blog will continue on, much like my running and my faith. Instead, this 100th post is devoted to a vision of combining these two in a more unique way. It's about running for something.
Up until recently, you couldn't have expected me to believe that I will be running in one of the grandest of all marathons to be held later this year...the ING New York Marathon. But what started as a improbable dream has become one of the truest of all running realities for me this spring. That's when I'd learned ING would be accepting me as a sponsored runner for their November event. Admittedly, it gave me more than just goosebumps…it made me realize how blessed I am to be able to run in something I'd always hoped for. To be honest, the ability to run this race has been a longtime dream-in-making for this aging runner. And I know it will be something I cherish for many years to come. But competing in an event of its magnitude has recently led me to consider the question...why me, why now?
I mean, I have been relatively happy running in the Midwest up until now. My typical marathon circuit has consisted of trading off between Grandmas Marathon in MN and the Des Moines Marathon in my hometown. So why do I feel as though everything has effortlessly worked out for me to go to this fall? For example, take the totally unexpected sponsored entry, the cheap airfare we found for my wife and I, the discounted hotel accomodations (cheap for NYC standards) just mere blocks away from where I'll catch a bus to the starting line, as well as my wife's unexpected but totally enthusiastic response of "we're going!" when it all started going down...it just all seems to be fitting some sort of a plan. And although it seems beyond my comprehension at times, I honestly feel God has had a purpose for my participation from the start. I know He wants to use this race for His good.
As you have seen more than once on my blog, I've been following Ryan Hall's story for quite some time now. Ryan is a very gifted athlete who won last fall's 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Marathon and will be racing the men's marathon event at the Bejing Olympics this summer. He also happens to be a man of deep faith and a firm believer of using the gifts God has given us to make a difference. Recently, Ryan and his wife teamed up with World Vision as a way to generate attention and raise funds to help support children and families in AIDS impacted communities in Africa. World Vision happens to be a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to provide things like: clean water, health care, nutritious food, education, and economic opportunities. Their Team World Vision organization has provided a simple way of giving everyday athletes the ability to reach beyond their own goals to where help is needed most.
In 1-John 3:18 it says, "let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and truth." Now, I know it's easy as a runner to set a goal of achieving a personal best in an event…it can be challenging, exhilarating, and satisfying on a deeply personal level. But there's more to experience and a larger impact that can be made - one that goes further than one can ever dream. For far too many years, I'll admit these races have been about me and my goals. So this year I want to purposefully set a goal that goes beyond me. I guess sometimes running accomplishments in and of themselves are empty without being done for a greater purpose.
After some long and careful consideration, I've decided that I would like to give my training and upcoming NYC experience a purpose. I've come to realize that there is something bigger than me - and it's time to take some action on its behalf. And I've decided as a way of running for something (rather than just "in" something) I am going to partner with Team World Vision for the 2008 ING New York Marathon on Nov 2. After talking with their sponsorship director, I feel this is an inspiring opportunity to hopefully combine my efforts with others to provide something to those who so desperately need it right now.
Up front, I want to clarify that the donations I will be asking for will not used to financially support me or the race in my behalf, and that all funds will be collected and used solely by World Vision for their outreach programs worldwide. Basically, what I am doing is joining a team of like-minded athletes who are using their particular racing event to help raise awareness and funds for some of the world's most vulnerable children.
Throughout the fundraising process, I'll keep track of these donations through a personal Team World Vision website where you will be able to see the numbers grow until the actual marathon event is over. (Currently, World Vision is working to add the ING New York Marathon to their list of team events, and I am waiting for this to be available. When it is ready, I'll be providing more information on my blog, as well as sending it directly to friends and family, about how you can participate.)
If you have EVER in your heart wanted to donate to a worthwhile cause such as this, but just couldn't decide the best way to do it, why not use "such a time as this" to support my efforts through Team World Vision by making a one-time donation?
Here are a few examples of how such a simple, one-time gift would be used:
$25.00.....provides basic lifesaving medicines and supplies to those who are weak or ill, or helps pay educational support for a child's school fees and essentials like uniforms, backpacks, and school supplies.
$30.00.....sends either seeds, tools, and training in Africa that can help thousands of hungry families survive, or goes to prevent starvation (every day, 14,000 children die by the suffering caused by hunger).
$50.00.....provides either livestock to a family that would supply a village or family with eggs, milk or even wool, or access to safe water and sanitation that can cut a community's child mortality rate by half.
A donation does not need to consist of much - even a few dollars will help; just whatever your heart leads you to give.
In summary, I simply feel God has given me the ability to do what I enjoy the most. Now I want to do my best to honor Him by using that ability to help others. And hopefully, by teaming with World Vision, maybe I can somehow use this gift to help bring a little hope to children and families in areas directly impacted by poverty, disease, natural disaster and war, who need it most right now.
Seeing the current events occurring around the world, I know we can all say the opportunities certainly abound to lend a hand. Maybe it's time to put a little hope in motion.
Thanks for your consideration & stay tuned for more info - Mike
A runner who also enjoys road and adventure racing, mountain biking, traveling, climbing, hockey, the outdoors, friends & family, and being a Christian.
Deena Kastor charged back from a two-minute deficit to win the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Boston this morning. She erased the time gap to pass runaway leader Magdalena Lewy Boulet in the last three miles, winning the U.S. Olympic marathon trials in an unofficial 2 hours, 29 minutes, 35 seconds on Sunday and earning a berth in Beijing.
