The Race We're Still Running!

I recently read The Longest Race: A Lifelong Runner, an Iconic Ultramarathon, and the Case for Human Endurance by Ed Ayres.  For someone like me, a runner and environmentalist, this book ties together two aspects of my life in a way that is intellectual, philosophical, and fun.

Ed Ayres is a running icon, having been a member of the original New York Road Runners Club that ran the first New York City Marathon, and having run, and won, the JFK 50 mile ultra-marathon.  He also wrote for the World Watch Institute, an environmental organization that is working to accelerate society's transition to a sustainable world that meets human needs.

In this book, Ed tells a story about his experience running the JFK 50 mile ultra-marathon at age 60, using the race as a back drop while he shares insights about running, sustainability, and a life well lived. 

Some may find this book difficult to read because it's dense and intellectual and it challenges the reader to examine their own beliefs, biases, and prejudices.  I would say this book is a subtle call to action in that Ed points out problems with the unsustainable human existence as it stands now and discusses the lessons human's can learn from ultra running about conservation, planning, and endurance.  

Humans are constantly faced with difficulties that are often onerous to surmount, but we somehow figure out how to endure, much the same way an individual runner in a marathon or ultra-marathon figures out how to draw strength and energy from within to reach the end of the race.

Ayers does a great job using runners and running as metaphors for sustainable living.  In every component of the JFK 50 that Ed writes about he circles back to human sustainability and environmental conservation, finding a window through running onto which we can all learn a little more about human persistence and our place in the world. 

My one issue with Mr. Ayers' book is the poor transition from the story about the race he is running and the philosophical environmental and human issues he addresses.  He has a hard time weaving these two components together seamlessly.  However, despite this issue, I still highly recommend this book to those who enjoy running stories and intelligent reading rolled into one book.  Check out Ed Ayers blog to learn more about him and his philosophy. 

Happy reading and happy running!

100 < 5

So, do I have your attention?  Here it is!  On Valentines Day this Friday I am asking you to donate some amount of money less than $5 to my One Run For Boston fundraising page!  Here is how it works.

Make up a number, any number that has meaning to you, like $2.14 (Valentines Day!) and donate that amount to my fundraising page.  My goal is to get 100 small donations in one day.  I am only asking you to donate up to $5.  Also, whatever amount you decide, give me an explanation as to why you choose it.  Whatever reason you want.  No reason is too small, weird, etc...


If you want to chose a loved ones birthday, I am OK with you going with a number greater than $5 (maximum $12.31).  Just don't feel obligated to do so.

So, whatever amount, no matter how small ($0.01 - super tiny donation); whatever your reason, no matter how strange ($0.27 - the number of times Sting says Roxanne in the song of the same name), just donate.  Again, what I want to achieve is 100 small donations in a single day.  I will be posting some of the most interesting explainations in a future blog post (see example below).

I hope you will consider donating on Friday, 2/14/14!  This is a good cause and your donation will help those whose lives were shattered after the Boston Marathon bombing! 

Thanks,
Neal

Fast Frigid Fiver!

Well, the race is over and the results are in.  I finished the Frigid Fiver 5 mile road race in 34:21 (officially), although my watch said 34:19.  Either way, this is the first time I have ever completed a race in under 7 minute/mile (6:53 min/mile to be exact).

It was a great day for a race.  While it was cloudy, the temperature was in the upper forties.  There was a great crowd of about 317 runners, and some nice smiles all around.  I placed 43rd overall, and 6th in my age group.  Not so bad, if I do say so myself!

The race got started and just as I was approaching the 1 mile marker I saw my family cheering me on.  Since the race went right by my street all they had to do was walk around the corner to watch me run by then head home.  I got a strong high five from my son!  It was awesome!


After I passed the first mile marker I noticed I was under 7 minutes/mile.  Normally I would slow down and conserve energy, but I could tell that I there was nothing holding me back from maintaining that pace for the entire 5 miles.  I kept at it, finding runners ahead of me to 'reel-in' one at a time. 

By the time I reached the 4 mile mark I was feeling so strong that I knew I could pick up the pace a bit more.  I slowly started picking up the pace and when I felt there was less than 1/2 mile remaining I kicked it into high gear and finished hard, passing quite a few runners at the end.  What an exhilarating run!

As I mentioned in my last post, this is my first race of 2014.  It had been a while since my last race, but it felt good to get out there again.  2014 is starting off strong and I couldn't be happier!