Saturday, March 31, 2007

I Can Still Run on the Road!


Marathon # 20 is in the bag with a respectable time of 3:30:48! We had a friend from our running club Michelle ride with us for the 2 hour and 30 min drive to Yakima. That made it a bit interesting during the ride because I would preface my questions with Michelle and both Michelle's would answer me. This marathon was our friend Michelle's first and she managed to finish in approximately 5:26:00. Michelle (my wife)PR'ed with a 5:31. She's a burley woman athlete!

We arrived in Yakima at 2:50 PM just before packet pickup at the Sela WA community center (Race HQ). On our way to Yakima we drove the course so that both Michelle's could see what lay before them. The canyon is really very beautiful with many outcroppings of columnar jointing which are large crystals of basalt rock. We saw many fisherman on the river casting from shore and in dory's. The fishing was all catch and release for rainbow trout. We all picked up our race packets at the expo and then waited for the 4:00 Marathon Maniacs Reunion meeting. The Marathon Maniacs participants of the YRCM each received a YRCM Coffee Cup a Marathon Maniacs lapel pin and an update on our new website that will be launching soon.

After the MM meeting we attended the pasta feed and then John Bingham spoke to the crowd of about 400. John shared his story about how he became a runner and converted himself from an extremely overweight individual who smoked and had a drinking problem to a Marathon Runner at the age of 46. John was a Dean at a College of Music when he started his running. His first run was down his driveway and down the road near his house. He felt like he had run a long way but when he turned around he could clearly see his house still. When he ran home he did something that made him realize he had potential as a runner. He drove the course he had run to see how far he had run. John is a very good speaker and provided an upbeat presentation that was enjoyed by all.

Bob Dolphin completed his 400th Marathon today. I had the honor of popping the cork on a bottle of champagne at the finish and spraying about 1/3 of the bottle up in a high arc over Bob and Lenora as they posed for pictures at the finish. Bob is a stud!

We enjoyed a beautiful day for racing with temps at about 44 F at the start and near 65 at the finish. I was able to get in another 5 miles running back to meet Michelle and Mellissa for a grand total of 31 miles today.

We had too many running friends at this event to name them all. Thanks to Jane Herzog for taking our drop bags to the finish for us on the point to point race. Her husband Ray ran his first Marathon today as well. He ran his goal time of just under 5 hours. Karen Wiggens, and Al Harman both ran this race. The will both be running Western States 100 this year as well.

I'm going to be running with our Y-Run Club in the morning so I think it's time to finish unpacking and grabbing some shuteye. I hope that all of you had a fun weekend of running and I thank you for stopping by!

21 comments:

Jenny, Maniac #401 said...

Well Done! Great photos!
you are so nice to go back to your wife! I know she truly appreciates it.
Jenny

Unknown said...

Nice job out there on the pavement. Don't forget your asphalt sniffing roots.

You up for 14 miles in the morning? How's 6:42 at the Y sound?

Jon said...

I've definately got to do Yakima next year! And nice work with that extra credit and turning it into an ultra! :-D

Joe said...

Great race, Eric, a handy little 3:30 marathon...dude, good job!!

Glad you enjoyed the trip with the Michelles and the Maniacs!!

Sarah said...

Sounds great! I wish I could have been there. Glad to hear you haven't lost your touch. ; ) : )

miss petite america said...

2o marathons??

wait 400??!?!!!

you guys really ARE maniacs.

and a true inspiration!

wendy said...

When we spray you and Michelle with bottles of champagne, we'll be sure to call y'all studs too.
Way to go on the run, and I guess there's no rest for the weary! You looked really strong out there today too.
Congrats on another one in the bag!

Ryan said...

Great action shots! Sounds like a fun filled maniac weekend! Great time out there and way to go heading back out for support, what a team! I would have packed my fly rod and stopped to do some fly fishing along the way, what do you think about crossing distance running with fly fishing = )

Dori said...

Congratulations on your very speedy marathon #20! Do they get easier?

When I first started dating my husband, we went out to dinner with another couple that were friends of his. Her name was Dore and we kept responding at the same time. It was kind of funny.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on Marathon #20! You must be proud! A 3:30 marathon is a great indicator of fitness!

Meghan
www.running-blogs.com/meghan

Anonymous said...

Excellent! Another successful marathon and a dual long training weekend on the road to WS. I'm feeling antsy to run after taking the weekend off. Ok, I did hike 10 miles up Chuckanut on Saturday. It felt like a weekend off. Let's try to figure out when we can get a run together this week before I leave on vacation.

Olga said...

Well, I have to say, we need more details...what is it: we came, I ran 3:30, I saw lots of people...where is the pain, the agony, the axhiliration of a finish line?....oh, wait, it is only a road marathon, right...I'll ask this all in less than 3 months:) Congrats on a good time!

Tony C said...

Nice run Eric! It's fun to go back and pick up people for extra credit miles isn't it.

And nice running on Sunday as well I hear.

*tc

Adelyn said...

Wow!! You 'maniacs' are in a class all your own!

Congrats on some great achievements. #20th marathon is amazing, and that 3:30 time is impressive as well. And, after that, going back for your wife :)

I'm excited to follow your blog as you get closer to WS! You sound like an amazing runner and I'm looking forward to seeing where your hard work and talents take you!

Thomas said...

20 is a good, impressive number, and made even better by the fact that you voluntarily added a few miles at the end. Good man!

Wes said...

I'm not sure why bloglines hasn't picked up this post yet. Grrrrrr. Not sure how I would re-act if you called me a "burly athlete" LOL. Congratulations on finishing #20, and at such an impressive time to boot. Hope you drove both Michelles a little crazy. It IS only fair, since you were outnumbered :-)

runliarun said...

It's cool to have the attention of two beautiful women at once, isn't it?

I cannot cease wondering as to what a buoyant running community you have.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a good run and lots of fun/friends. You amaze me with all of your races!

Donald said...

You know what I liked best about this report? No foot pictures.

Neese said...

Congrats to all of you!!

seagull junker said...

hope the training is going well #121!