Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon 2019 - Bring the Heat

The 2019 Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon was definitely one to remember, for the heat if nothing else.  Running a marathon in Cleveland during the Spring is always a huge gamble with the weather.  In past years, I've run in rain, hail, snow, sleet, overcast skies, you name it.  The one weather condition I always struggle with is heat, especially when it is paired with direct sun exposure.  Welcome to the 2019 Cleveland Marathon with highs around 85 and not a cloud to be seen!

Cleveland weather is extremely volatile and can change wildly, so when preparing for this race it helps to run in a wide variety of conditions to ensure you know how you will handle the weather come race day.  This year we had no days anywhere close to the heat we saw on race day.  There were no days even within 10 degrees of the race day weather, and most were at least 20 or more degrees cooler.  Running in this heat brings out many challenges including major challenges with muscle cramps, sun burns and hydration.  Throughout the race the medical teams from University Hospitals in Cleveland did an amazing job to aid the participants.  From vaseline for chafing issues (which I totally used) to cooling packs for the overheated. These workers had their work cutout for them when it came to handling heat stroke and more serious issues as well, since this was the second hottest Cleveland Marathon on record.

Despite being an amazing and top ranked medical center, there was at least one event these caregivers could not fix.  During the half marathon race, just a few hundred yards from the finish, a runner and recent college graduate a runner collapsed.  Her name was Taylor Ceepo.  Rather than try to put my thoughts here, I would like to refer you to my friend and fellow Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon Ambassador Andrew Hettinger's post entitled "A Grieving Community"  Andrew expressed my exact sentiments over this awful turn of events for Taylor.  The Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon has helped organize a way to honor Taylor through donations to The Children's Miracle Network, which was an organization Taylor helped raise money for while in college.  Although nothing will replace Taylor to her loved ones and friends, I feel finding an impactful way to honor someone's memory is a worthy endeavor.  I hope every runner donates something to her memory, as it is for a good cause and because this could happen to almost anyone.  Throwing out some good karma, thoughts and a few spare dollars can only help us all.

Thank you to the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon team for taking this initiative in Taylor's memory.

After a tragedy such as this happens, I always think "What can we learn from this?" Clearly, no one wants to have a repeat of something like this.  With that thought in mind, here are some of the ideas I have to hopefully deal with adverse elements, particularly heat. In no way am I criticizing Taylor or any other runners. I just believe the one of the best things we can do is learn from our past experiences and move forward from it, what other choice do we really have?

Be Humble. It is super important to try to take a conservative approach to running, especially longer distances.  No one has ever one a marathon in the first mile, but they have lost it.  It's important to know what you have done in the past, so that when you start a race you line up with the right pacers.  Going out to fast can ruin the later part of the race, if you make it there.  In my mind, it's better to play catch up later when you know how you are feeling than to have to try salvage the race when you are completely spent. Show respect for the distance, no of us do these races because they are easy. 

Most bigger marathon races have pacers, use them!  They are always awesome runners who are much faster than the times they are pacing.  They will get you to the finish or at least help you do your best. I use one almost every year at Cleveland and they are awesome! 

Learn and Listen to Your Body. If you listen to one thing you listen to while running, please make it your heart.  Your heart can tell you so much about your run.  If it is beating to fast, dialing it back is a good idea.  Walking or "power hiking" are not bad words and will never disqualify from a race.  Running your heart rate too high for too long will.  I have run for a long time, but have found using a good running watch with a heart rate sensor is a great unbiased judge that will tell me if I am pushing myself too hard. The watch never lies and helps me be humble and listen to my body instead of my ego.

I really had to dial back this year, since it was so hot.  One amazing thing about the Cleveland Marathon is the fan support.  During what is usually the hardest part of the race, miles 14-20, there was tons of crowd support.  Many of them offered extra water for the runners or even brought out hoses to mist us off.  This is one thing that makes this race so amazing, the crowds! Cleveland isn't Boston or New York, we're our own breed.  Our fans know this and embrace this and the difference they make to help us is amazing. So many of them offering support helps a ton in these hot conditions and really makes it easy to keep your body in running form during the race. The crowds had everything including water, sports drinks, oranges, beer and even the blessing of ice.  They were amazing!

Train Smart. Make sure to train adequately for whatever race you are doing.  If it's hot, train in heat.  If it's not hot outside, at least train inside on a treadmill. If the race has hills or mountains, train with hills and mountains. Training smart will help you learn about your body so you can listen to it on race day.  It will also mean that you are more confident and better prepared in case something unpredictable happens.

Adapt. Every race has something that will happen that you can not predict.  It could be a trail race that gets flooded the night before.  It could be falling and twisting an ankle at mile 1 of a marathon. Maybe you didn't sleep well the night before due to nerves. It could be someone else needing your help. Whatever happens in a race you need to be able to adapt. That may mean abandoning the hopes of setting a PR or losing your race goal.  It is always more important to finish in one piece, without any serious injury when possible.  DNF stands for did not finish, it doesn't mean you didn't give that race hell with everything you had.  DNF doesn't mean you stink, it means you learned something that day.  DNFs can and will happen, it's how you adapt to what happened that matters.

Back to the amazing support that is there for the Cleveland Marathon. I saw quite a few medical tents and medics on bike throughout the course, especially the later parts.  This sort of adapting to the heat shows how serious the race director took the conditions and the length they go to to really make sure everyone was safe.  Despite the tragedy that happened, I have to applaud the great lengths they went to. 

Evolve. Things go wrong, the only thing we can do is learn from them so that next time we are better prepared or can handle them. If someone never evolves, they will never get better.  That can mean slowing down, choosing shorter races, trying a new coach or routine.  The important thing is that a lesson is learned and we come out better for it.

Be Supportive. Cheer on your competition.  Maybe they trained more and are actually better than you. This doesn't mean you are a lesser person, it means they earned it.  If you see someone fall, help them up.  I would look at someone who took a DNF to help a hurt or downed runner with much more respect that I would a champion who passed by the same runner to set a record. Distance running isn't like other sports.  We don't dunk on each other, we don't tackle each other and we try to stop one another in any way.  We may pass each other but that effort should always be celebrated, as long as it is done fairly. Reflecting to the early topic discussed in this post, I'm glad I heard that others immediately tried to help Taylor.  I'm sad it didn't save her life, but I'm happy those who could tried.

Hug Your Loved Ones. They show up to support our crazy hobbies.  They deal with us when we get cranky from not running. They deal with us when we are gone for hours on end mindlessly running because we have to. They are also our biggest fans and make us happier than anyone to see them at the races.  They will wait hours for us to show up and ask us if we are OK while seeing us for 5 seconds at some aid station lodged between two mountains that required 4 wheel drive and a dirt road to get there.  Hug them because there is that chance that what happened to Taylor could happen to any of us.  I'd hate to think we missed that chance to spread our love while we could.

My wife and dog standing in the rain during the 2018 Cleveland Marathon waiting for me

My wife and I at 3:30am to start the Leadville 100

My wife (glowing with happiness might I add) and I at mile 40 of the Leadville 100

Despite the extremely high temperatures, I was able to finish the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon with a time of 4:21:30.  This time was by far my worst time ever at Cleveland, but this was NOT my worst race ever.  Upon finishing, I met up with other runners I know and several of them were in rough shape.  Dizziness, muscle cramps and extreme fatigue were common among everyone.  Salts stains where apparent on everyone's clothing and skin.  I kept moving, enjoyed a post race beer and eventually went home.  I kept moving the next day and despite the rough day running, I was totally fine.  I was a little sore but not nearly as bad as I have been in the past.  Being humble and respecting what the race was that day really did my body right.  Without much soreness, aside from some blisters on my toes, I went running 2 days after the race and felt fine.  Had it not been from a lot of my past experiences and lessons from running, this race could have been physically disastrous.  Learning how I need to run was key to making the Cleveland Marathon a celebration of running, like it should be, instead of a miserable one. I hope that some of the above ideas help those who need to hear them.

2019 Cleveland Marathon Medal, 2019 8K medal

(not pictured: the Challenge Series medal)

Running at Night

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Running in Cleveland during the winter can be tough.  You have to layer up correctly so you stay warm, but not too warm.  You have to watch for icy spots that can lead to slips or falls and therefore an injury.  As if that weren't already enough to deal with, it stays dark longer which means cars can't see you if you running on the road.  That leads me to the topic of this post: Running at Night.  I'll provide some of my best tips for running while it's dark and anyone who comments is eligible to win my free entry for any distance race in the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon race weekend, May 18-19th, 2019.  There might be favoritism shown to the runner who provides the best advice! 😉

1. Run with a headlamp - At first I was hesitant to do this mainly because I knew I could see any cars heading towards me, since I always run facing traffic.  One day while out running, A driver was not paying attention and I was forced into a ditch while running. Angered by this near collision with a mid sized SUV, I muttered under my breath and carried on.  After running a loop down a side street I was flagged down by a man frantically waving his arms and yelling at me. This man ran up to me apologizing for running me off the road and admitted that he wasn't paying attention.  He then pulled out a headlamp and told me he wanted me to have it. The man was a runner himself and just wanted me to be safer while running.  I refused his offer, stating I have one at home, which I do.  The man made me promise him that I would always wear one while running on roads at night.  This gesture made me realize, that he was right and that something so simple could mean the difference of life and death for a runner.

2. Make sure to have a rear facing light - While a headlight seems obvious, this might not.  I usually wear red armband LED lights that strap around my arms that might not seem like much.  What I've noticed since wearing them is that cars coming from behind tend to slow down, which always makes running on the roads safer.  They also are more conscientious towards oncoming traffic who can see me running and also slow down or move over.  Being able to be seen by all drivers really does make the roads MUCH safer.

3. Where reflective clothing -  This may sound like a simple thing to do, but we all have our favorite running gear and not all of it is reflective enough and warm enough to run in during the long, cold dark days of winter.  This just helps augment any light you have, any light in the streets and  any light from cars.  I like to this of this as a way to highlight myself while running.

4. Use sidewalks whenever possible - Winter around Cleveland means snow.  Snow means unshoveled sidewalks or snow plows that push snow on to sidewalks.  These can create issues with trying to run through knee high snow and thus can force runners into the roadways.  Whenever possible use the sidewalks, even if there is a couple inches of snow.  This might mean running slower than one wants, but it's better to be slow and safe than fast and seriously injured.

5. Run bridle paths or well groomed trails - When in doubt, just avoid the roads all together. Trials are super fun and very peaceful to run in the winter and provide no chance of being hit by an unobservant driver.  They do pose the risks of ice, rocks and roots so a headlamp is vital to do this and it helps to stick to trails that are wider and better groomed. As a side perk, often roads around these trails are less traveled and drivers are more observant due to the risk of hitting animals like deer, so stepping off a rugged trail and onto a road that connects to smoother trails is an option.

6. Shorten your stride and pick up your feet - At night it may not be possible to see every pothole that may be there, or tree root if on trails.  Shortening your stride and picking your feet up a little higher, helps to mitigate this risk and if you do stumble on an unseen obstacle, your body is in better position to catch yourself without causing and injury. Running in conditions that may have icy conditions means you need to shorten your stride to prevent slipping.  This helps keep your weight over your feet and minimizes the chance of twisting an ankle or knee, if you do slip. If you slip and there is a car coming, but it doesn't get over quite far enough, well I just hope that doesn't happen.  Here is a link to some advice from Runner's World

7. Wear proper shoes - In the winter trail shoes is often a good idea as they provide more grip that most street running shoes.  This again might result in slower times, but can really help prevent falls and sprained ankles.  Microspikes are a good tool to use on trail runs, since they dig in more and can help ascend icy hills.

8. Keep a cell phone on you - If something does happen, this is your lifeline. Always carry it while running at night, no matter where or what time of year it is.

What are some of your running at night tips?  Did I leave any off? Comment below to help your chance to win a free Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon race entry or use the discount code EG2019 for 10% off any race!

See you May 18th and 19th!

2018 Recap, 2019 Look Ahead

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Last year, 2018, was full of new running challenges for me.  I decided in December of 2017, I would attempt 12 marathons in 12 months.  I was coming off of a DNF at the Leadville 100 in August, both bummed I was unable to complete it and amazed I was able to make it through 70ish miles of running through and over the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains.  I had never taken on a challenge that involved this many races in a calendar year, let alone so many marathons.  For me this was a chance to see what I could do, knowing full well this would take up a lot of my free time and weekends.

With 2018 in the rear view mirror, I can say I finished 7 marathons and 3 races of other distances.  The biggest factor that held me back from running 3 races was time.  Family has to come first, yes even over running, and trying to balance these two was always tough.  Time has finite limits and skipping out on time with those who matter is not an option, running can always be done at a later date.  The two other marathons I skipped out on was simply due to lack of recovery or injury.  While I enjoy running and pride myself on being able to go for running for long periods, I'm not a professional and avoiding injury is always my number one goal.  In the end, I still need to be able to go to work and pay my bills.

Here are my races from 2018:

2018 Marathons:
Run for Regis - 1/20/18 - 5:00:52 (2nd overall, 1st male)
                          - ran self supported due to a government shutdown.
Olde Girlded Grit - 2/24/18 - 4:40:17 (7th overall, 7th male)
Glass City Marathon - 4/22/18 - 3:48:06 (435th overall, 308th male) PR!
Pro Football Hall of Fame Marathon - 4/29/18 - 3:59:28 (213th overall, 163rd male)
Flying Pig Marathon - 5/6/18 - DNS - time issue
Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon - 5/20/18 - 3:56:49 (568th overall, 418th male) 2nd fastest time ever!
Youngstown Marathon - 6/3/18 - time issue
Mohican Marathon - 6/16/18 - 5:14:14 (14th overall, 10th male)
Air Force Marathon - 9/15/18 - DNS - inured/recovering
Akron Marathon - 9/29/15 - DNS - inured/recovering
Towpath Marathon - 10/7/18 - 4:29:28 - (89th overall, 59th male)
                           - reaggravated hip injury, officially end race season
Columbus Marathon - 10/21/18 - DNS - time issue

2018 Other Races:
Buzzard Trail Race 25k - 3/17/18 - 2:34:57 (8th overall, 8th male)
Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon 8k Challenge Series - 40:04 (65th overall, 51st male)
Leave No Trace Half Marathon - 8/31/18 - 2:14:00 (44th overall, 39th male)
                           - hip injury aggravated during this race, cut down from the full marathon mid race

Pretty happy with my results overall, other than the little bit of injury that slowed me in prime fall racing season.  Any year I can set my two fastest times in a marathon, I'm happy with the results. The pleasant surprise of the year for me was seeing how highly I placed in the trail races.  This clearly reflects the amount of time I spend running trails and my love for this venue. Some other highlights include: setting a near PR at the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon while running the race with friend to her first marathon finish, setting a personal record for the most marathons done in one year,

I'm sad to hear that the Run for Regis is now canceled due to changes in how the National Park Services allows for use of certain areas of the Cuyahoga Valley. I hate seeing the government stop a sport that has so many supporters of it's services, but they did cite some valid reasons as to why.

2019...

I've decided to tackle some new challenges and start doing more diverse races.  Here are my immediate goal races for 2019.  I also hope to do a race or two with my wife, one with my dogs and tackle some ultramarathons.

Here is what my rough calendar looks like as of 1/8/19:

February: Olde Girdled Grit Half Marathon
March: Buzzard Day Trail Race 50k
May: Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon Challenge Series (Full Marathon and 8k) GOAL: PR
June: Mohican 50, (maybe also the Green Jewel 25k)
July: Burning River 100 (backup in case I am not fortunate enough to make Leadville), Muddy Paws 2 Mile Dog Run
August: Leadville 100 (pending the lottery of course) GOAL: FINISH
September: Northcoast 24 hour Endurance Run (backup to the previous two races)
December: Regal Beagle 50k or 25k


There will hopefully be some smaller races throughout, but this calendar will keep me enjoying the outdoors and all Ohio has to offer, with some possible high altitude racing as well.  I'm always one to aim high but I think everything listed is achievable.

Who's going to talk me into other/more races?

So here's to a new year of running in 2019!

How To Run In A National Park During A Government Shutdown

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As of the writing of this blog post, we are in day 15 of a partial government shutdown.  While many parts of the government are still functioning, this shutdown directly impacts runners due to the shutdown of our National Parks Services (NPS).  As a runner who lives near the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, I use it multiple times a week.  This national park practically buts up to my house and is one of the main reasons my wife and I bought a house where we did.  

To quote the NPS website, "The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world."  Sadly, a lot of park rangers are working without pay or not working at all and our naturally beautiful lands are not being cleaned and protected. This means facilities can be closed, trash may not be picked up and in some races may be canceled.

While the races may be the least to worry about here, this concerns me.  For some, if not many, people, races in national parks may be their first interaction with a park.  This was true for me when I flew out west to visit the city of Leadville, Colorado and race in some of their awesome races.  I grew to love their little city and the expansive national forests (yes, this is different than national parks but the National Forest Service is also shutdown) that surround it. In my trips there, I have visited other national parks, like the Great Sand Dunes, and always had an immense amount of fun and time to find myself.  Isn't that what national parks are for?

Below is some of my advice of how to enjoy the national parks (or forests) and things you should do while you are there:

1. Stay on the trails  - I can not say this enough.  The trail systems these parks provide are there for many reasons, to provide a fun and safe path for visitors to enjoy, to prevent erosion and to protect plant and wild life areas.  Staying on the trail is not only for the safety of nature but for the safety of the visitor as well.  Sure 99% of the time, you will be fine stepping off the trail, but if you wander too far or get lost (which is easy enough to do on the trails) you could get seriously hurt and it will only be that much harder to find you.

2. Pick up trash - I know, this isn't your job.  The problem is, that with the government shut down, it's no one's job.  If you see trash where it shouldn't be, pick it up.  I try to make it a personal goal of mine to pick up 2 pieces of trash every time I visit any park, though I am not always successful.  With the shutdown, I have kept my eyes on trash containers, with the intent to empty it if it is full by putting it into my SUV to take home or to a local facility to dispose of.  Full trash containers risk litter spilling out into the surrounding nature reserves and animals learning food may be present there and thus increasing encounters with humans. Maybe it's just my inner boy scout but I was always taught you should leave it better than you found it.

3. Be respectful of the land - This sounds similar to #2, but this includes staying on proper roadways.  Again, this is for everyone's safety. If you see an area that is in disrepair, avoid using it to worsen it further.  Make a note and contact the park services. 

4. Follow posted instructions - If a park is truly closed, stay out.  If the park is open, you may enter.  I know I can take care of myself out in most wilderness, but if something happens there may be no help available.  Facilities that are often relied on may be closed, which presents further danger than previously thought and thus why you should stay out.

5. Use the facilities before hand - I've had personal experiences with this during a few government shutdowns, which makes me sad to say I've had to experience more than one while running.  Use the restroom, particularly number 2, before you go.  Restrooms are usually locked and this can make a big issue as we all know what runner's trots are.

6. Whatever you bring in, bring it back out - Again, there is probably to refuse service occurring during a shut down. Do not be the asshat who makes a mess and has to leave it for the unpaid park worker to clean up.  An animal make beat them to it, especially now, and get sick off of it. Neither should happen, so pack out what you pack in. The boy scouts teaches you to "leave no trace", remember that and to learn more follow or volunteer with Leave No Trace.  Here are their principles to follow

7. Be respectful to the rangers - Do not take your frustration out on a park ranger who is doing their job.  They want this less than you do, don't beat them up for it.  They may just not come back until they are paid and then the park suffers more.

8. Be the park ranger - Ok, so don't go stopping poachers (unless you're Dog the Bounty Hunter or something).  Be smart but if you see someone doing something they shouldn't be, say something.  Back off if you feel uncomfortable but we really need to do our best to protect the land from people who are doing things they shouldn't be, whether it's a kid playing in a wetland or a company illegally dumping.  You can volunteer your services to better the parks here for the parks and here for the forest services, once they are up and running again.

9. Donate! - You can donate here, and pick your favorite National Park to donate to.  You can donate here for the National Forest Services.

Here is a list of all of the interior United state departments that are shut down when a government shut down occurs.

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Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon

May in Cleveland, Ohio means one thing, besides LeBron taking the Cavs deep into the the playoffs.

It's time for the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon! 

This year marks my ninth consecutive year participating this event, and it is where I ran my first marathon in 2010.  There have been many course changes over this time frame and weather ranging from rain, snow, hail, and blistering heat and sun.  The best summary I have have ever heard about the predictability of weather for these race was in the movie Forrest Gump.  It's like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get.

Volunteering at the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon Expo was something I had never done before but as an ambassador I thought I should really do what I can to fully embrace this race as much as possible and try to make it fun for others. I was assigned helping pass out bibs to other runners of the 5k, 8k and challenge series races with another volunteer on the opening Friday of the expo.  I must say this was quite fun.  I got to talk to a lot of different types of people and made sure to tell everyone who was running in the Challenge Series with me that there was only one rule, they weren't allowed to beat me.

As someone who loves to run and talk to other runners, I found it really fun to get others excited about the races they signed up for.  Cleveland is a fairly diverse city but I was honestly surprised at the diversity of people who showed up.  One surprise to me was just how many families were signed up together for the shorter races.  As a pharmacist, I deal with a lot of people who have not taken care of their bodies as they should or have major health problems.  It was refreshing to see so many people making their health a prerogative in their lives and making it a family event.  I would highly recommend volunteering at this expo to anyone who wants to help support running and people who are trying to better themselves.  The expo has a great positive vibe!

For 2018, I decided to run the Challenge series which included the distances of 8k on Saturday and the full marathon on Sunday.  I usually run 4-5 miles the day before a big race to make sure everything is feeling right, so naturally the 8k just made since.  This year I somehow managed to start getting a cold and sore throat just days before the race.  I knew running the 8k would be vital to me knowing how my body would handle running a full marathon the next day.

Walking to the start of the 8k on Public Square had me a little nervous.  Something never feels quite right before races for me. Either a knee seems wonky, I question my hydration, or in this case my throat felt extra scratchy as well.  As I got to the starting corral I saw a friend, and fellow Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon Ambassador, Brian Burk.  This was great for me, as I knew Brian ran about the same pace I did and would help take my mind off the race a bit since he loves to talk about running and his crazy adventures.  The plan worked great for Brian and I as we both ran faster than we thought we would and felt good while running.

The 8k course was a fun course to run.  Starting in Public Square, heading around the Browns stadium and by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame before finishing with a nice flat section to complete the course.  It is probably not a course to set a PR, mainly due to the hill on East 9th street, but it provided plenty of great views including ones of the famous Free Stamp and Fountain of Eternal Life.  The 5k course was very similar but without the longer flat section.  The weather held out and was perfect for a morning run with a thousand or so other runners.

After the 8k race, I went home and rested up.  After a shower and nap, it was time for one of my favorite traditions of the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon weekend: Carb loading at Trattoria on the Hill in Little Italy!  Honestly, who doesn't like a good reason to go eat pasta until you're silly?

(Highly recommend this place for carb loading!)

Post coma inducing food binge, it was time for my least favorite tradition of marathon weekend: having to organize all of the thing I will need into one pile for the race.  Unlike a lot of runners, I'm not type A.  I'm definitely type B and my running shows it.  I run based on feel, not on time or splits, I take the race as it comes and often times I forget stuff that I wanted or needed.  I've even shown up to races wearing the wrong shoes before.  I did look at the forecast and see that it was not supposed to rain, although there was cloud cover.  This is perfect for running!

Sunday morning, I woke up at 4:50 am, at a bagel with peanut butter and some orange juice plus a few glasses of water.  Since my wife was sick, I walked our three dogs and made sure they all did their business so she wouldn't have to worry about it.  She was sicker than I was and needed some rest.  Walking our dogs before a race is great for me as it is usually super peaceful and lets me focus on how I am feeling and my rough plan for that day.  This day I knew it could be a struggle for me as my throat was sore and cough drops had become necessary for me to talk.  I was unsure how my body would react to the race as I somehow have avoided running a marathon sick before.

As I got into my car with all of my necessities, I checked the forecast again and saw no rain was forecasted.  There was zero percent chance of ran in Cleveland. Sweet Jesus!  After parking near the starting line, I put on all of my racing attire and stepped out into the rain to walk to the start.  Cleveland weather once again showing it's schizophrenic nature and bucking whatever any meteorologist can forecast.  My phone said it was still not raining.

In making my way to the starting line, the other Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon ambassadors and I took several pictures of our group.  Some were professionally taken and look amazing, even in the light rain I'd say we are a photogenic bunch.

(you can't see how much it is actually raining in this picture)

Immediately following the bonding and photog sesh with my fellow famous ambassadors, I did what every runner does and head for the port-O-potties.  While looking for a short line, I found my friend Janelle waving to me.  This might have allowed me to cut a few people in line, sorry other people!  I knew this was Janelle's first marathon and that she was nervous about it.  She had attempted a 50k trail race a few weeks before but had an ankle injury and took it easy as to not ruin this race for herself.  We discussed what her goals where and figured out where we needed to be in the corrals to line up.  This is where I decided to change my race plan.  I told Janelle I would help her finish as best I could and decided that I was going to stick by her throughout the race and try to get her to her goals.  Janelle said her coach told her to run with the 4:10 pacer, but she really wanted to finish in under 4 hours.  I told her I would do what I could to help her.  In my mind, I wasn't truly sure I could run this race in under 4 hours with my cold, but knew that I managed to do so at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Marathon 3 weeks ago, while totally blowing up mid race.  I was a little nervous, but did not want to show it.

Janelle and I had a hard time finding a spot in the corral but did manage to start about 30 feet behind the 4:10 pacers.  The rain was still coming down but lightly, with fog canvasing the skyline.  With the start of this race I made it my objective to have Janelle follow me through the crowd, since I was larger and could easily wedge through the thousands of runners who were at the starting line.  We ping ponged through the crowd until about the mile two, when we noticed we finally caught up to the 4:10 pacers again.  The crowds slowed us down quite a bit in the start, but near mile 3 we caught the 4 hour pacers and where running at a comfortable pace.  From here I made a point in my head to stick with this pace group for a few miles to see how well Janelle and I would handle it.  If everything went to plan and we made it through a few small hills in downtown Cleveland and into the Tremont neighborhood fine, we could start to step up the pace a little bit to build a cushion of time on our goal.

I must pause here to say that I absolutely LOVE the 4 hour pace group.  Most of these runners are either newbies with high aspirations, or runners who love the sport but don't have nearly enough time to train for a Boston Marathon qualifying time.  The pacer Angel has paced this group for the past few years and is possibly the funniest pacer I have ever ran with.  He sings songs, splashes himself in puddles, tells jokes, stories and even does his best to motivate others if he thinks they need it.  Angel is amazing!

As we headed out of downtown, we crossed several bridges.  These are big or famous bridges, hell most people hardly noticed them.  A lot of runners probably don't care about this but I really enjoy these crossings.  These bridge crossings over the Cuyahoga River remind me that because this river caught fire, we have an EPA. These bridges and their ability to move represent engineering marvels that helped us build this city.  The old bridges, that are permanently stuck in the up position to make way for freighters now, are often mocked and used as a sign of Cleveland.  These bridges helped build the city we are running in and I find that pretty cool.

After this brief section, we headed up an into the Tremont neighborhood.  Tremont is always packed with some of the first large crowds for the race.  As Janelle and I ran through here, we caught a ton of smiled at the signs, enjoyed the music and local cheerleaders, and laughed hysterically when one man had a free PBR to any runner who would take it.  A girl behind him took him up on this and I think she attempted to chug it.  The man made her keep it, even after one of his friends asked if she was 21.  Immediately after this came my favorite part of the race.  While still in Tremont about to turn north by Lincoln Park, I saw my wife Julie Anne and my dog Fitz.  I knew Julie Anne had been sick for the past several days and was feeling far worse than I was.  To see that she got up, despite feeling awful, and came to stand in the rain with my furball was amazing!  She did this despite me telling her she didn't have to and having little to no voice to cheer me on.  We blew a quick kiss to each other as Janelle and I continued on our pace.  Now we were starting to pick up or pace a bit as we were past the 10k mark and were feeling great.

(Julie Anne and Fitz)

After Tremont and past West 25th St. there is a bit of a nice long flat section through some residential neighborhoods of Cleveland. This year there was a good gathering of people outside cheering on the runners. This is the second most needed spot for fans, in my opinion.  While I love Cleveland, this area isn't particularly scenic and can get a bit boring. At this point Janelle and I were making use of the flat terrain and running at around an 8:50 or so pace, trying to put some cushion between ourselves and the 4 hour pace group just in case there was a late race blow up.  Despite this stretch being long there are 2 water stops that were fell stocked. The Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon had 19 water stops (some you hit twice) which is great!  Janelle had brought her own water, but I used every single stop to grab something quick while running.  We all know hydration and carbs are key to getting through long distance running and the supply was abundant here, possibly the best I've seen on any road marathon.

As the marathon makes its way to Lakewood, we came up on the magical mile of 13.1.  There were more crowds basically lining all of the course through Lakewood.  Janelle's husband Ben was there on a bike and making sure she was OK and ensuring she had everything she needed.  Ben's dedication to making sure Janelle finished was vital and very endearing.  Ben is a great guy and it was on full display during the race.  He was ready with anything at a moments notice and was giving direction of where he would be for Janelle. Shortly after seeing Ben, Julie Anne appeared again with Fitz.  I think for Janelle and I, it was nice seeing our loved ones support us to keep us going.  We also both had a lot of friends who were out to support us on on race day, especially as we ran through the Lakewood sections.  Janelle's running group was all around on race day, as where some friends of mine from Birdtown Crossfit. Seeing the members of Birdtown always make me smile because they always were supportive of me while I went there and mainly because it's where I met my wife.

During this section another runner who was keeping rough pace with us, turned and said, "I think you two know every person out here!" Janelle, laughed and said we might.  I was immediately reminded of my first marathon where I didn't see a person I knew until I saw my family at the finish.  It made me feel like it was me against the world, how was everyone else so fast?  Now after years of running this race, the opposite has occurred.  I think this goes to show how much of a community Cleveland is, especially the running community.

This part of the race through Lakewood gets tough, it's essentially an out and back to Rocky River.  The crowd support being so amazing, in spite of the earlier rain, definitely helped keep Janelle and I running.  We managed to run sections of this at an 8:40-8:45 pace and really build on the extra time we had accumulated earlier. Ben was there again for Janelle, just before mile 16.  He took her empty bottles and filled them up for when we came back through.  This was smart on Janelle and Ben's part.  Rather then rely on the aid stations, Janelle always had access to hydration in case she needed it.  This is a great idea for a first time marathoner who may not know what to expect.

After running to the turn around in Rocky River and back, I told Janelle, "Remember all those fast runners who we saw that were kicking our butts as we made it out here? Well now that we made the turn, we are those fast runners!" She laughed at this as we made our way back through the northwest side of Lakewood and it's large, luxurious looking homes that sit on Lake Erie.  Ben was there to replace Janelle's water bottles and Julie Anne surprised us by moving down Lake Ave a bit and I got to see her and Fitz one last time as we headed back towards downtown Cleveland and the finish.  Julie Anne was all smiles, I think because she could tell we were doing well, which always uplifts my spirits.  She has a way of making me feel better by just seeing her, which I guess is why we are married.  Smiling and loving faces make you run faster, it's science.

During this stretch back through Lakewood, I actually saw quite a few of my patients from my pharmacy.  One of them had even put together another make shift water stand.  He yelled, "There's my favorite pharmacist!" and handed me some water.  I was happy to take his offering and spill nearly all of it down my front while attempting to drink it. I hardly remember the rest of the run through Lakewood as I just kept talking to Janelle to tried to keep her mind on anything other than the fact that we were still running.  As we approached the end of the Lakewood segments, I saw the mile 21 flag.  I couldn't help but tell Janelle that if I made it to mile 22, this would have been the farthest I have ever ran without walking.  I'm not sure how she felt about this, but I was motivated.  Not only were Janelle and I on pace to meet all of her goals, were were also on pace for me to set a PR of sorts.  When we hit the mile 22 flag, I was pumped and said from here on out we have this, it's all a PR from here!

I'm a firm believer that in long distance running, your mind is every bit as important as your physical preparation.  If you get in your own head and think you will have a bad day, you will.  Positivity might seem simple, but I've had it break me before and have seen it done to others as well.  Race day should be a victory lap of all of your training, not a suck fest to Misery Town.

Janelle was slowing down a bit after mile 22, but I could tell that she was absolutely determined to finish this race.  I've read some studies that show that a higher percent of women finish marathon and ultra marathons that start them than men.  There were several reasons for this that I read, but seeing the look on Janelle's face and determination in her stride, I could see why. When I wanted to walk, she persisted.  After mile 23 on, Janelle actually pushed me the rest of the way.  I could make a student became the teacher quip here but I think rather the truer statement is that we just equally motivated each other throughout the whole race, it was just Janelle's turn to take the lead.

With a steely resolve and a refusal to quit Janelle and I made our way over a small hill by Battery Park (which was steeper than anticipated) and down Detroit Ave.  When we saw the Detroit Bridge, we knew the end was near and we had made it.  I accidentally sped ahead a bit on the bridge, but walked for a brief moment, maybe 10 seconds, to allow Janelle to catch up quickly when I was at the bottom.  We ran through the finish, and I gave her a gross hug.  We were done! Janelle finished and in 3 hours and 56 minutes.  She blew it out of the water!

Janelle was so relieved to be done and to make all of her A and B goals, I remember that feeling.  Today I had a new feeling, I was more happy for her than anything.  Running is about overcoming and bettering yourself. Today I got to witness a friend I've know since roughly 2003, closely since 2007, finish a dream of hers. That is pretty awesome!  It's a great feeling when you can celebrate with someone, while motivating them the whole way.  I honestly don't think I would have run nearly as well without have Janelle motivate and push me for this race.  Somehow I sucked up the cold and with motivation from Janelle, Ben and the amazing support of Julie Anne was able to finish with my second fastest marathon time, too.  It might have stared with rain but it ended with rainbows.  This was my favorite marathon I have ever run to date!

(actual rainbow during/after the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon)

(Janelle and myself)

Lastly, I'd like to give a shoutout to the best sign of the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon.  Thanks Gretchen for making every single runner laugh with this well played sign!

See you in 2019 Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon! PR or BUST!

Weightlifiting to Run - Part 1

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       I've had a few people ask me recently what type of cross training or weightlifting I do to help train for running.  Winter here in Cleveland can be brutal and it's not always feasible to get outside, especially if the air hurts your face.  This is part of what makes training for the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon difficult, you are often fighting the winter weather to get out and train.  I've included a list of exercises I like to do to help my running and my overall fitness.  ALWAYS watch your form and please watch the videos linked for some great tips!

Lifting

Front Squats
    These are great for building up your quads and glutes, both of which are essential in running.  This exercise can also help work your core and improve mobility in your hips.  All the more reason to do them.  I prefer to vary my workout by with these quite a bit.  Lifting heavy building in sets to near failure some days (8,8,6,4,2 rep sets) and other days going light, focusing on form, with higher reps (15,15,15,15).  The higher weight will help power up hills and the higher reps help simulate working on tired legs.

Check this site out for awesome info on form and technique!

Deadlifts
    Deadlifts look badass, but they can help get serious results in running!  They help build lower back, glute and hamstring strength, all of which are vital in running.  Many runners overlook the need to have strong hamstrings, which is a huge mistake as they are vital in helping stabilize the leg while running and help with leg turnover speed and pushoff.  I do these similarly to front squats in rep scheme and avoid doing them in any sort of timed work out.  Quality, good form reps are vital here to avoiding injury.

Check this site out for awesome info on form and technique!

Overhead Squats

   If you want to up your lifting game up, then overhead squats are for you.  This exercise uses a lot of core and stability muscles to keep the weight steady overhead, while utilizing your all of your legs and shoulder/arm strength to keep the weight overheard.  Building all around strength with a movement like this will really help build the weightlifting base and running power for hills.

Check this site out for awesome info on form and technique!

Cardio-Lifting

Kettlebell Swings
    A great combination of strength, cardio and vagal tone are needed to do kettlebell swings.  This makes these a great indoor alternative to help improve your running.  There are several different variations of these but the standard American kettlebell swings work great, scaling to Russian style if you are more comfortable with them.  Start light and work up to heavier weights.  Working in high reps of these in the middle of any workout will get your heart and legs going nuts.  I highly recommend these as a fun variations in workouts.

Check this site out for awesome info on form and technique!

Med ball/ Dead ball slams

     These are another alternative to kettlebell swings and work similar muscles but generally in the opposite direction.  These will work you core, stability muscles and of course your arms and legs.  I will actually leave a dead ball out at a spot on a run and do laps or hill repeats while stopping to do these.  The same could also be done with a treadmill at a gym.  Doing much over 20 pounds won't help runners much unless they are super fit, even 10 pounds will get you burning.

Check this site out for awesome info on form and technique!

Box Jumps/Box Step Ups

     Getting your heart rate up here is a nice benefit, as well as working on explosiveness and learning to land softly on your feet.  All of those can help benefit running form in some fashion.  Some people can get intimidated for fear of missing or hitting their shins, which can also happen when fatigued.  For this concern, simply step up to the top of the box, just like walking up a large stair step.  The step up will also simulate walking up a steep incline and thus help working on the "power hike" many trail runners talk about when tackling mountains or large hills.

Check this site out for awesome info on form and technique!

Accessory Exercises

Clamshells

      Hip exercises can provide a great benefit to runners.  Small hip muscles can commonly tire out in long runs, like marathons, and can than lead to other ways of compensating in the stride that can cause injury.  I highly recommend doing these regularly in any and all variations.  They can easily be worked in between sets while weightlifting or even watching TV at home.

Check this site out for awesome info on form and technique!

Over the Fence/Under the Fence

     Being able to work your hips out after a run can be huge in recovery and building up the small muscles.  These are another great way to do that, that can be done any time just like clamshells.  Over the fence/under the fence can also serve as a great warm up as well, making it very versatile and an awesome tool to have at your disposal for runners.

Check this site out for a brief video example!

Training Partners and Motivation

It's a pretty well known fact that training partners are great to have when running.  They push you physically, mentally and emotionally.  They are so important that there is now an app for them  I can say without hesitation that my running would not be where it is today if it wasn't for running partners to keep me in line and hold me accountable.  One of them stands out above the rest.

My half marathon time in 2011 is actually not my time.  Rather, this time is actually the time of my long time running friend Victor Granger.  I forgot to pickup my packet that year because my grandmother had just past away the week prior and let's just say I wasn't concerned about the race as much as I usually was.  This race was unique to me because it was no longer my goal to run my best race.  My goal was to help Vic run his best race by pacing him as best as I could.

The 2011 Rite-Aid Cleveland Marathon was pretty miserable for most.  It was overcast and rainy the whole race with temperatures in the 50's.  Vic and I love these kind of conditions because it keeps us from overheating and really separates the runners who love to run from those who are just doing it to show off to others.  It was also special to me because the weather embodied my emotions from the week prior, dreary, depressed and a slog to get through it.

Around mile six, Vic took off ahead and yelled to me, "I'm really feeling good, let's push this!"
I disapprovingly said, "Let's keep it steady so we don't burn out.  That last thing we want to do is die out at mile 10."  Vic ran a great time, 1:43:26 is a respectable half marathon pace, especially given the elements (let's face it no one likes wet socks).  We were soaked but had the great feeling that we couldn't have done it without each other.  Vic thanked me several times for holding him back at mile six to keep him on pace.

Next year, 2012, Vic was attempting his first marathon at the Rite-Aid Cleveland Marathon.  It was a brutal race due to the bright sun and record setting temps in the mid 80's.  This was a great day to run, just not a great day to run a marathon.  This year was very difficult for me to train for the race.  I had a new role at work that required more time, a longer commute and was constantly traveling for personal fun and was in a long distance relationship.  Needless to say, the only motivating factor that kept me from not doing the race was seeing Vic finish it.  I attempted running the race and realized by about mile 7, this race wasn't going to be my best.  By mile 10, I could feel my lack of training.  Vic was leading me and prodding me to come along, which had never really happened before.

This was when I changed my game plan.  Vic needed to do this race by himself, just like I had in 2010.  I dropped at the half marathon marker. The arch of my left foot hurt because I had inadvertently tied my shoe too tight.  This, combined with the fear of long term injury, and lack of training made my decision to drop easy.  I told Vic I'd see him at the finish and that I was dropping. Vic prodded some more but could see I was done.

Dropping from a race is never easy, it hurts.  It hurts your pride, your sense of being and really makes you just feel awful.  With this admitted defeat and a sore foot, I trudged back to the finishing corral so I could have a good spot to watch Vic finish.  I waited there for probably 30-45 minutes, downing a chocolate milk while waiting.  At this point my foot no longer hurt and I felt as if I could have tackled the second half of the marathon.  I was increasing frustrated with myself for dropping and not realizing it was my shoe all along.  I did the only thing, I could do, I started walking and intermittently running the course backwards.

By running the course backwards, I eventually caught sight of Vic around mile 23.  He was struggling with his pace and may have even been walking.  What I told him next was that an ex girlfriend of his, who we caught cheating on him (I should link here her but I won't), was ahead of him.  A tirade of profanity followed and Vic picked up the pace.  I paced him in the rest of the way, with some walking worked in for rest.  Vic finished the race and even killed my marathon time in the process.  It wasn't until after the race I told him that his ex was actually behind him and I never saw her.  Although he never admitted it until later, that was probably the best motivation I could have given him.

Last year, at the 2015 Rite-Aid Cleveland Marathon, I was on the back stretch of the race coming down Route 2.  This is a sneaky little part of the race as almost the last 4 miles of it are a slight uphill grind that really wears on runners.  The sun was out and the humidity was up because it had lightly sprinkled off and on earlier.  I had tried a different training method of doing almost entirely CrossFit with just the once a week or so run mixed in.  Although CrossFit, did do a great job for me, I hadn't logged nearly the miles I needed to prepare myself for this race.  I had the Cleveland Skyline in my sights.  My legs were sore, my hips hurt and my paced was now an 8:00 pace when running and a slow 18:00 pace when walking.

At the very juncture in which I needed it, I saw Vic standing on the race course with his running shorts and shoes on.  I don't distinctly remember what Vic said to me, I think it was "Do you mind if I join you for the finish?"  I was exhausted and elated.  I was tired and happy.  Most of all, I was thankful to have a friend and running partner who knew how much it meant to have someone lead me to the finish, all while hearing me bitch about the pain I was in, the course, the weather, the lack of training, all of it.  Don't get me wrong, I loved seeing a bunch of my fellow Birdtown CrossFitters at mile 7 or 8 but nothing beats having that one true friend who is willing to lace up their shoes and carry you home when you need it most.

As I was running earlier this week, I was running down Detroit Road in Cleveland on a 10 mile rehashing the 2011 rain soaked marathon in my head.  The snow and ice mixed with the wind and 16 degree temperatures were making this run a little brutal.  I was sweating just slightly under my layers which I knew would eventually make me colder.  My thighs were sore and I knew this wasn't my best run, if anything it was just a run to get some miles on my legs and really feel the challenge of pushing distance a bit. I was somewhere around mile 4 and I still had 6 to go.  As I passed a great local Irish restaurant called The Harp, I saw some graffiti on a building.  UR WORTH IT

This simple bit of motivational writing lifted my spirits.  It reminded me of Vic meeting me at mile 23 of the 2015 Cleveland Marathon.  It put a smile on my face.  I could see it and I could see the Cleveland skyline in the background.  It had me picking up the pace and grinning.  As I ran by, I gave it pat with my right hand, silently thanking it for the motivation right when I needed it.  

It's the little things like this that I LOVE about running.  It's having a bad day and that one little comment or thing someone does for you that turns the whole thing around.  It's the reason I love spending months training just to get a stupid medal.  It's about others cheering you on, no matter how good or bad you've done because in the end you did your best and left it all out there, for better or worse.  It's knowing that after all the hard work you put in, there's someone there for you.  That's why training partners are so important, they provide you the motivation to do it.

So It Begins...

So It Begins...

Welcome runners!

My name is Eric Geyer and many of my friends consider me to be a crazy runner.  I would consider myself a slightly above average runner but no where near the crazy or elite class.  This blog dedicated to fitness and running mainly to help hold myself accountable for my upcoming training for the Cleveland marathon and hopefully my first ultra marathon, the Leadville Silver Rush 50.

This is by far and away the biggest physical challenge I will have ever tackled in my life and feel a blog like this will help keep me honest, focused and on track with training. Over the past year, there have been many stories of runners who have been caught cheating (example 1, example 2, example 3, read 1, read 2) and rather than play to this negative light on the sport I thought it would be fun to show how a basically average distance runner tackles the tremendous hurdle that is ultra-running at high altitude.

I'll try to update this blog weekly with training logs, some motivational reads or podcasts I've heard, music that I love to run to and whatever else I find that helps push me along this 7 month stretch to transform myself into the best distance runner I can be (while still maintaining a sense of normalcy by keeping my job, friends and dog happy).

As this is my first blog, I want to share a personal story of why I run.  I ran track in high school, which was a blast, but distance didn't really enthrall me.  The 2 mile race seemed like it took forever, was pure boredom and the fans only cheered for the last eighth of the race.  What an overexertion for such little fan fare!  I'll stick to the 400 and 800 meter runs where people are constantly motivating the runners and the race isn't over in 12 seconds.  Those were the best distances!

After finishing high school and going to college, my grandfather was diagnosed with kidney failure due to the long term effects of diabetes.  Seeing the toll diabetes and end stage kidney disease takes on someones life made me vow to never let myself get morbidly obese and minimize my chances of going through the same circumstances my grandfather did.  Preventative exercise would now be a mainstay of my life.

For several years, basketball and weightlifting were my main forms of exercise to keep myself in shape. The competition in basketball has an appeal to me comparable to that of a bear to honey.  With classes getting in the way of peak rec center times, I would occasionally go for a run on a trail near campus just to keep in shape.  I found this greatly enhanced my stamina on the court so I stuck with it, running 2-3 days a week with a max of 10-12 miles a week.

If there are three things in this world that are guaranteed they are: death, taxes and sports related injuries.  In my 4th year of college, I developed a quick flare up of De Quervain's tendinitis.  This tendinitis made it painful even hold a pen, let alone a basketball.  How was I supposed to lift weights when I can't even attempt a push up?  This left me one option to stave off weight gain and boredom (mostly boredom): running.

Over the course of several months I began to realize I was a strong runner and started to compete in local 5 and 10K's, as my college budget would afford.  One 10K in particular helped me really set my sights on running a marathon, it was a fall race in downtown Toledo, OH.  As I positioned myself in the front 1/4 of the race, with dreams of headlining the local newspaper with my win, a Kenyan runner got off of a bus seconds before the race was about to start. With his late hustle to the front, the gun shot echoed and he was off.  I forget the name of the race, the winner and his time but I remember seeing he finished somewhere in the 5 minute a mile time range and thought how slow my 45 minute plus time was.  From that race on I felt the need to get faster and run farther to see how it felt to be that good.

After finishing college at the University of Toledo, I found running was a great way to vent frustration and deal with stress after a dealing with patients all day.  January 7th, 2010 was the day I signed up for my first marathon.  My roommate at the time, Victor Granger, thought I was a little nuts but kept pushing me to do it at the same time.  I'm never forget that race.  It was a warm day, upper 70's, with a glaring sun for almost the whole race.  Strong head winds and a lack of fan support on the second half made it a brutal slog for me.  Somewhere around mile 19, I had what I can only describe as a delusional Indian vision that was induced by severe dehydration and overall fatigue.  Through it all, nothing beat the feeling over coming down the home stretch on Lakeside Avenue in front of the Cleveland City Hall and seeing my family there to greet me. It was brutal, it was awful, it was exhilarating and it was addicting.

Since then the rest is history, but I would like to say thanks to my old roommate Victor for starting to run with me even though he was not much of a runner to start.  Eventually, Vic beat me in a few marathons and still has the best two times between us.  If it wasn't for Vic pushing me, I would not have finished the Leadville marathon in 2014.  Thanks to Troy Bratz for turning me onto the CrossFit Endurance program which I plan to do roughly 2 full times, in addition to other training, and tweeking along the way.  Also a big thanks to the two owners of my local Birdtown CrossFit gym (I refuse to use the term box), Tricia Tortoreti and Jillian Neimeister.  These two women run a great gym in Lakewood and helped me run the 2014 Rite-Aid Cleveland Marathon in 4 hours and 18 minutes in very obscure weather, while only running once to twice a week.


With all of that being said, here is some of my running and fitness background (please don't consider this to be be bragging but rather setting a benchmark for myself and for others who may want to follow me or try this on their own):

Marathons:
2010 Rite-Aid Cleveland: 4:11:05
2012 Rite-Aid Cleveland: DNF (foot soreness)
2014 Leadville: 6:51:28
2014 Gore-Tex Philadelphia Marathon: 4:00:34
2015 Rite-Aid Cleveland: 4:18:27

Half Marathons:
2011 Rite-Aid Cleveland: 1:43:26 (failed to pickup bib due to grandmother's death but paced Victor Granger to the end)
2013 Rite-Aid Cleveland: 1:49:13
2014 Rite-Aid Cleveland: 1:39:43

5K:
2014 Freedom Fest 5k, Rogers, AR: 19:18.4
Too many others to bother trying to find and list so my PR is all I am willing to list.  Most of them are in the 20-23 minute range

Mile:
2003 MAC Conference Finals: 5:03

Other Races:
2008 Men's Health Urbanathlon, Chicago: 1:33:34
2010 St. Malachi 2 Mile: 12:46.44
2010 St. Malachi 5 Mile: 36:04.91
2012 Leadville 10K: 53:14
2013 Leadville Heavy Half: DNF (altitude related dizziness)
2014 St. Malachi 5 Mile: 35:23.76

14ers Summitted:
Mount Elbert: 2014, 2015
Mount Sherman: 2015

Crossfit:
Annie: 8:58 (single unders)
Barbara: 34:43 (4 rounds)
Cindy: 14 + 17
Coe: 5 + 13
DT: 11:43 (115lbs)
Fran: 7:07
Jerry: 27:40
Josh: 16:31
Kelly: 32:49
Murph: 52:40
Wittman: 26:18
Crossfit Total: 735
(Social WOD tracking)

Personal Records:
Back Squat: 295
Bench Press: 225
Clean: 215
Deadlift: 335
Front Squat: 265
Press: 125
Push Press: 185
Snatch: 145
Split Jerk: 225
Thruster: 205
(Social WOD tracking)

By now, I think you can get the gist of what kind of shape I am in.  Clearly my race times show that I am no world class athlete here.  I'm just a your normal want to be fitness junkie who isn't afraid to step in the ring and think I can box.  Please feel free to share some of your own stories, add advice, critique my training or just share motivational thoughts.  This is going to be a very arduous journey filled with highs and lows, but the Holy Grail here for myself is to finish this race and call myself an ultra-runner.

Thanks for all of your support in advance!

- Eric