Marathon

Until 1972 I led a somewhat sedentary existence - a proverbial "couch potato". I weighed in excess of 200 pounds (212) and wore a trouser with a 42" waist. My dear wife Shirley and I were sitting on that proverbial couch watching the 1972 Olympics.

You may recall the 1972 Olympics were marred by what has come to be known as the Munich massacre.

On this particular day Frank Shorter was competing in the marathon. I sat transfixed through the whole event. He completed the marathon in 2 hours, 12 minutes. At the conclusion we watched the post race interview. I was awed by his size and condition. In comparison I felt like the flab machine. When discharged from the service June 30, 1945 my weight was 154 pounds - a far cry from 212. (In later years I was fortunate to meet Frank Shorter in person at a post race ceremony in Jacksonville, FL).

Frank Shorter's awesome performance inspired me to get back into condition. At the age of 48 decided to start a running program as part of a fitness program. The next day went on a short run (a very short run) and quickly realized that there was more about this running thing than meets the eye. Did a little looking around and discovered Runner's World Magazine, which turned out to be the runner's bible. It was really a revelation. After reading a few back issues and picking up books at the library, I restarted my running program.

Joined Weight Watchers and reached the goal weight they set for me of 176 pounds. That was a reduction in weight of 36 pounds. I already felt better.

I set a goal of running a marathon. Purchased a pair of running shoes. That was a learning experience in itself. The importance of the correct shoes for your physique and running style can not be over emphasized. I discovered that one does not just decide to go out and run a marathon without a lot of experience. To be able to run a marathon a runner has to develop a base. A rule of thumb is that a runner should not run a race over 3 times there daily training mileage. This meant I would have to get to the point of a 9 mile a day average

I continued my running program and did a lot of running and joined the Jacksonville Track Club. While in the club participated in a project to set up a new race event, the Jacksonville River Run. We were surprised at the races instant popularity and success. In a few years the annual event became the largest 15 K race in the United States. I am proud of the fact that I was on the initial team that set up the inaugural race in 1978 and participated in it 25 consecutive years. It is a scenic race winding through the downtown streets of the city along the St. John's River, making three river crossings over one very step high bridge and ending up at the old Gator Bowl (which is now Alltel Stadium). The River Run has been renamed the The Gate River Run after it's primary and long time sponsor.

In the interest of being brief my running career went on for many years. Due to my extensive traveling I ran all five continents, many of the major countries of the world and in almost every state in the U. S. I finally attained my original goal of running a marathon at Miami, January 13, 1979. The Marathon was then named The Orange Bowl Marathon, now The Miami Marathon. The Orange Bowl Classic started and ended right at the Orange Bowl. I completed the marathon in 4 hours and 16 minutes. At the start of the marathon it was raining, starting temperature was 76 degrees, finishing temperatures in the mid 80 degree range.

An interesting sidebar: I ran this marathon with a sprained ankle. The week before I was training in Mobile, Al, early in the morning and was run off the road by a motorist and dove into a deep ditch at the side of the road. I turned my ankle, returned to the motel and from that time until marathon day in Miami it was hot and cold compresses. The swelling subsided before the marathon but the ankle was still swollen and pained to walk. After months of training I wasn't about to miss running the marathon.

I won't go into the training program when preparing for a marathon. There is a lot of that information available on the Internet. I will however elaborate in what happens running a long race like a marathon as it relates to pain because I felt it was my salvation with the sprained ankle. Some time during a long race a runner will feel the effects of what is called in layman's terms, "a runner's high". The high is related to the connection between mind and body. When the body is pushed to the limit, as in a marathon run, the runner might eventually begin to experience pain from running. (There may be other pain present from other conditions - such as my sprained ankle). To compensate for the pain or to alleviate it, the body produces endorphins which help mask the pain. The analgesic effect of endorphins are also capable of inducing a euphoric feeling. The runner may now feel less pain and compelled to push themselves to the limit . (The high generally hits me at about the five mile point of the race).

This euphoric state and the resulting reduction in pain can effect the runners pace. When in a euphoric state the runner, he or she, tends to quicken the pace. If the pace is not controlled the runner may become prematurely tired or in some cases become so completely exhausted, and drop out of the race.

Here is the way a marathon goes. - Just being there and starting an event like this is a heady experience in itself. When the race starts the runner goes out at at the fastest pace that is comfortable. At the time the runners high (euphoric state) kicks in, the pain of running the first few miles is masked. He or she feels good and that they can run as hard as they like, forever as long as they like. The runners pace unconsciously picks up. This pace must be controlled! If the pace hasn't been adjusted and they continue at the faster pace, the pain returns and intensifies. Their energy is depleted and they become completely exhausted. This unexpected pain and exhaustion is referred to as "hitting the wall". With most average runners the wall will occur at about the 20 mile marker. From that point on it is a painful struggle to continue the race. Some will not finish, others finish but in a disappointing time. The knowledgeable, experienced runners that control their pace and energy will finish with a satisfactory time or even, "place, win or show".

Frank Shorter has been said to comment, "Any one can run 20 miles but to complete a marathon is some thing completely different".

For the average runner like me that runs a 3 to 4 hour marathon there is some solace. Bill Rodgers, another winning marathoner was said to comment, "I really admire those people that run a 4 hour marathon. I don't know how they do it, I couldn't run 4 hours".

YEAR	MARATHON

1979	Orange Bowl Marathon, Miami
1980	Savannah Marathon - January 5
1980	New York City Marathon - October 26
1981	Chicago Marathon
1882	Jacksonville Marathon
1983	Savannah Marathon (2nd time)
1984	Jacksonville (2nd time)

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