Well......can I brag again??

So - last weekend two more of my kids ventured into the marathon game. You guys already know about Chelsea and I told you about my 16 yr old Gaby who has been struggling with weight, etc......no reason to repeat what I posted before. Well, my eldest son also gave the marathon a go.

So first - let me tell you about Gaby. The one, that I wanted to get moving for a few years, and finally the "car carrot" worked. Her report card was Sunday. All the work, 5ks, HM have now come to a close. She ran Grand Rapids this past Sunday on a very beautiful fall day here in Michigan. The two of us (a father and daughter deal, this one was) ventured up to GR on Saturday evening after celebrating my 25 yr old's b'day (more on him later). Rose early and she chose to start in the 7am "velocity challenged" group vs. the 8am group. It was dark, but there were about 300 early starters so she had some company. I saw her in the beginning, at the 4 mile mark, but not again til 17 - she was plugging along - trying to maintain a run 4 min walk a minute strategy, but I think it was turning more into a walk 4 run 1 reality. But she was a gamer. I ran a bit with her, she shed her arm warmers, and I saw her again at 19 and again at 23. She would be walking and then see me and start to jog. As she came into the last few hundred yards I could see she was laboring, she said her knee was hurting (more than that would be hurting on me if I was out there for 6+ hours), but she found the where-with-all to sprint the last hundred yards, pass a couple of people and complete the run. I am so proud of her journey. Yes, she was "velocity challenged" and probably didn't really push herself in training, but in the end, she got off the couch and did enough to complete a rather formidable task. Lost 10 pounds and a couple of sizes. She has garnered all sorts of positive comments from friends and teachers. She been smiling ever since. My hat goes off to all the slower runners, I don't know how you have the patience or stamina to do it.

So now on to my newly minted 25 year old son, Trevor. A natural athlete with charisma. Everything going for him in life. Works hard at things and succeeds. Works less hard at things and succeeds. Lucky kid. So the marathon was no different. He signed up for Detroit (you might be wondering why both kids didn't run the same race - but that was Dad's mess up - I didn't realize how early you had to sign up for Detroit due to the International border crossing, so it was full by the time I looked ). So he had run a couple of 10ks, I think three HMs over the past year or so. He had some idea what he was getting into. I gave him a 12 week Pfitz 55 mile plan because that's all the time he had left to train (your kids never plan do they?) -- He ran the race well, but had a moment at 23.5 where he couldn't bend his knee and had to stop and try to stretch it out. He really wanted to reach his goal, so somehow he got it going again until 26.0 and he froze again, but somehow sprinted to the end. 3:04:18 -- Boston Qualifier by 42 seconds. Finished 77th OA, pretty good for a maiden voyage. But more importantly, damn, he now holds the family record over me by 1:47. I get my shot next week at the R2B to get it back. Time is on his side, so it won't be long before he puts it out of my sight. So 2014, I potentially have Trevor, Chelsea, my brother and my sister all running Bos. 5 of us. Now I gotta get my pregnant sister off her butt and re-qualify.

So, sorry to brag again about my kids. But living vicariously through them gives me some thrills and I know you guys understand what it takes to accomplish these goals. Out of my six kids, three have run marathons and five have run halfs. I'm limiting my 8 yr old to 5ks for now . So I hope there's still lots in the future.

Congrats to all of the runners in your family, even a begrudging kudos to the Polar Bear runner from this Mule. Bowdoin still sucks, though.

That is great news! Brag away. You have every reason to be proud of them. Gamers every one!

That's awesome!! No need to apologize. It looks like you have been a great role model for your kids.

I bet if there is a family relay race, yours can score high.

What a wonderful family story! Bragging about your kids is good! I believe when you do, they hear it even from far away

E Greenie

THis is really cool, congrats to all!

Since I know one of your sisters, I can see that it is definitely in the genes. Congrats on Gaby as hers was a tough challenge and she rose to it. And congrats to your gifted son as well - nice to have the gift, now let's hope he can hone it for that sub-3. I hope to see you all in Boston in 2014 (hopefully Jill will make it - no more injuries for her!).

PS I thought the early start for GR was well done - two of my friends (who were injured and jog/walking) started in the early group last year. It was very well done.

And I almost forgot. RtB has a bunch of rolling hills in the first 6 miles before you descend the big hill. Stay controlled on this beginning stretch and be smart down the hill (there are a few small climbs in the "descent" which help with the leg fatigue). Don't get too carried away as it is a bit of a shock to the system when you hit the flat out and back portion at the bottom of the hill (mile 15-16). After that the course is mostly flat with some very slight longer inclines and declines (2% grades). The last 1.5 miles is a bit downhill.

If you have time when you get there, go to the finish area and run back a mile or two so you get a feel for the gravel road and the last decline to the parking lot for the finish. I was very glad that I did this back in 2010 as I was able to decide what shoes were the best to wear based on the terrain. (It had rained and it was a bit rocky so I actually wore a light weight trainer rather than my marathon race shoes.) Enjoy a plunge in the river after the race!

That's really cool, have you thought about forming a family team for a relay race?

Sweeeeeeeeeetttttttt!

That's awesome. Congrats.

Michele "1L" Keane wrote:Since I know one of your sisters, I can see that it is definitely in the genes. Congrats on Gaby as hers was a tough challenge and she rose to it. And congrats to your gifted son as well - nice to have the gift, now let's hope he can hone it for that sub-3. I hope to see you all in Boston in 2014 (hopefully Jill will make it - no more injuries for her!).

PS I thought the early start for GR was well done - two of my friends (who were injured and jog/walking) started in the early group last year. It was very well done.

And I almost forgot. RtB has a bunch of rolling hills in the first 6 miles before you descend the big hill. Stay controlled on this beginning stretch and be smart down the hill (there are a few small climbs in the "descent" which help with the leg fatigue). Don't get too carried away as it is a bit of a shock to the system when you hit the flat out and back portion at the bottom of the hill (mile 15-16). After that the course is mostly flat with some very slight longer inclines and declines (2% grades). The last 1.5 miles is a bit downhill.

If you have time when you get there, go to the finish area and run back a mile or two so you get a feel for the gravel road and the last decline to the parking lot for the finish. I was very glad that I did this back in 2010 as I was able to decide what shoes were the best to wear based on the terrain. (It had rained and it was a bit rocky so I actually wore a light weight trainer rather than my marathon race shoes.) Enjoy a plunge in the river after the race!

Yeah, I ran THE SCREAM HM back in July, so I've seen the entire course and run half of it. I know what I'm in for --- 5 days of soreness after. Not sure its worth the pain just to pick up two or three minutes due to the downhill. But it might be what I need to get below 3:00:00

I forgot that you ran the half. Not sure you really pick up the time actually once the course flattens out there are a lot of stretches of what feel like "uphills". I loved the race though.