New Stuff
There are two new pages of lists. One is my favorite quotations, and the other is locker room material. Enjoy!This week, I attended Transforming Transportation, a joint Michigan Department of Transportation / Michigan Association of Planning one-day session on complete streets, context sensitive solutions, and Safe Routes to School. During one of the breakout sessions, the speaker asked us, “Do you like poetry?” In stereotypical fashion, I muttered to myself, “Poetry sucks.” That got me thinking a bit, though, and this was the result.
Poetry sucks.
I prefer ducks
Who live in the muck,
Or maybe a buck
Shot by sheer luck.
I also like rucks
Not made from huck,
Inside which I’ll tuck
My hockey pucks.
If this made you say, “Yuck,”
Then I say, Oh, fiddlesticks.”
If I learned anything this week (other than the fun stuff I learned at Transforming Transportation), I learned that way too many people are way too easily offended by just about anything these days. So, if the above little bit of poetry offended you, watch me not care.
Recently, one of my friends posted to Facebook a rant about Lady GaGa; said rant was prompted by Eric Cartman’s singing of “Poker Face” on South Park. When Alyssa Milano posted to Twitter about Christopher Walken’s performance of the same song, I realized that I had enough different versions for a blog entry. All of this begs the question: Which version do you like best? I’ve provided videos or links to help you make a decision.
First, the original by Lady GaGa herself:
Next, here’s a link to the Eric Cartman’s rendition on South Park.
Finally, here’s Christopher Walken’s interpretive reading:
Now, make your selection!
The “book” says that runners are supposed to take a bit of a break after a marathon. Of course, I don’t read as much as I should, and I have a bad habit of demanding way more of my body than I probably should. Given the rather nasty condition in which I found my right foot after the Detroit marathon, I didn’t run again until Thursday. I had an okay 3-mile run; it wasn’t really anything spectacular, but I got through it.
22 October: 3 miles, 28:58, 9:39.2/mile
The next day, I headed off to Mackinaw City to get ready for the Mackinac Island Great Turtle half marathon. The weather was miserable all day, but I still made fairly decent time. Along the way, I picked up another bottle of hand sanitizer.
Remember how we talked about hand sanitizer in a previous blog entry, and I told you that it didn’t do much good, and that you would learn more about that soon. Just wait for it.
The weather was so bad in Mackinaw City that I couldn’t get a ferry out to the island to get my race packet. So, I settled into my room, picked up dinner at BC Pizza, and rested up for the next day’s race.
I got to the ferry dock early on Saturday morning and enjoyed an easy trip out to the island. Once safely ashore, I walked down to the Mission Point Resort and waited for the opportunity to pick up my bib and my friend Kenzi’s. After bibs were got, and while I was getting my number pinned to my shirt, Kenzi arrived with her boyfriend fiancé Jon close behind. Kenzi then showed me the reason why I’m able to use the fancy feature to strike through earlier text in this paragraph.
Dear Kenzi and Jon,
Yay! Congratulations!
Sincerely,
Darrell
After getting a snack, we chilled out for a while before meeting up with Kenzi’s family and then hitting the course. Our races started in different places, so I stayed put while everyone else moved to the start line for the 5.7-mile race. I didn’t stay put for long, because the race got underway. The first 2.5 miles or so were super easy. The course was nice and flat, and I was cruising. When we turned left to enter the middle of the island, we started uphill. We kept going uphill, too, for the next 33 miles.
*sigh*
Okay, I lied. We didn’t go uphill for the next 33 miles, as the race was only a half marathon, and we had already covered 2.5 miles when the climb began. It just seemed like 33 miles, for several reasons.
1. I had run a marathon 6 days before this race.
2. I think I had inadvertently been taking my old blood pressure medication for a couple days.
3. I felt really, really tired, and not in the “I ran a marathon this week” sort of way.
Think about the hand sanitizer sub-plot.
Somewhere around the 5-mile mark, there was a rather sharp incline. After pondering how it was possible that the climbing could become more intense, I asked myself what I thought about running up that hill.
Darrell: What do you think? Do you want to run up that hill?
Darrell: No way.
So, I didn’t. After all, I was there to enjoy being on Mackinac Island, to celebrate my marathon by going to a resort community (in less-than-ideal conditions), and to formally put paid to my 2008 hamstring injury by finishing the longer version of the race I missed. In other words, I was there to have fun. Running up that hill was not going to be fun, so I didn’t. For the next 4 miles, I ran when I wanted, and walked when I wanted, and generally enjoyed myself.
Around the 9-mile mark, my race strategy changed. I encountered Kelley, a runner who was working on her first-ever half marathon. Unfortunately, she didn’t seem to be having the best race day. She wasn’t feeling quite so well, and the friend who had been running with her had left her behind. Since she wasn’t feeling well, and I was in no hurry, I told her that I’d stay with her for the remainder of the race.
And I did.
Those of you who know me know that I have a bit of a competitive streak, even when I’m not in competition. It’s one of my blessings and one of my curses. Even though I wasn’t really racing, it had not been my original plan to make it a leisurely stroll, either. Sometimes, though, things are more important than finishing a race in an acceptable amount of time. What’s the real benefit of my finishing a half marathon about which I don’t care if someone else perhaps doesn’t finish that same race? For the record, there is only one right answer to that question. Whether you’re bringing up the rear, running away with the race, or somewhere in the middle, no race, and no time, is so important that a runner having a potentially serious health problem should be left to cope with her/his problem alone.
Kelley turned out to be a lot of fun. I think we would have enjoyed the chat way more if one of us hadn’t been feeling pretty blech. We took a break at the last water stop, 2.6 miles from the finish. After the break, we stretched and made our way to the finish. I stayed with her the rest of the way, crossed the finish line with her, and then ensured that she got to her parents. When it was all said and done, I could honestly say that it was the best race result I had ever enjoyed.
Dear Kelley,
Not that many folks are capable of finishing a half marathon. Be proud.
Sincerely,
Darrell
The rest of the day was a blast. I met another first-time half marathon finisher after the race; she and I had both traveled alone, so we decided to have dinner together. We traded contact information, and then headed to our respective rooms to shower and get warm before dinner. I walked back to the ferry dock and decided to go ask the staff when the next boat would leave for Mackinaw City. As I approached the staff, one of them picked up the microphone and announced the following:
“Last call! The 3:25 special for Mackinaw City will be leaving in two minutes!”
I happily scurried to the ramp and entered the boat. Much to my surprise, Kenzi’s family were on the ferry, so I had friends with whom to visit. Another very nice group of folks sat closer to each other so that I would have a place to sit. Kenzi’s family told me that I had something delicious to anticipate, as Kenzi had picked up some fudge for me.
Dear Kenzi,
That was awesome; thank you!
Sincerely,
Darrell
I got to my room, showered, noted that Alabama were winning against Tennessee, then headed back out to wander a bit before having dinner with Tracy.
Dear Tracy,
Congratulations, you ran your first half marathon! Enjoy!
Sincerely,
Darrell
After dinner, I stopped at the hotel front desk, where I had a package waiting for me. If you suspected that it was the fudge Kenzi had picked up for me, you should pat yourself on the back. While I was at the front desk, the manager’s daughter was talking about her anticipated Halloween costume; she planned to be a zombie fairy. Unfortunately, she wasn’t entirely well versed on the proper method of walking like a zombie. I gave her a couple of lessons. Eventually, I went back to my room, only to hear a knock at the door a few moments later. When I answered the door, it was the manager’s daughter. She had been nice enough to whip up a little gift bag for me to thank me for staying. She had put a bag of lollipops in a nice canvas tote for me.
Check out the bag of treats! (opens in a new window)
By this time in the evening, I was starting to feel a little bit under the weather. By Sunday morning, I pretty much knew I was sick. I had a nasty case of influenza, and ended up missing a few days of work. I guess my body really, really wanted to get some rest, and it made sure I didn’t have a choice.
Here are some of the tunes I’ve recently added to my collection. Let the embarrassment begin.
- Tori Amos, “Somewhere over the Rainbow” — I posted a link to a video of her version of this song. It’s truly beautiful.
- Marc Anthony, “I Need to Know” — I don’t remember which car company used this song in a recent commercial; I just remember that I like the tune. I can live without the lyrics, but I like the music.
- Spencer Davis Group, “Gimme Some Lovin’” — No, I’m not using this as a pick-up line. It’s just cool retro music.
- Ben Folds, “Kalamazoo” — I’ve gotta give some love to a song about the area where I live.
- Heart, “Alone” — You love the ’80s. You know you do.
- Jimi Hendrix, “The Star-Spangled Banner” — It’s a classic.
- Lady GaGa, “Poker Face” — This was the first song I heard after I finished the Detroit marathon.
- Alanis Morissette, “You Oughta Know” / “Your House” — I downloaded this more for the latter song than for the former; it’s a really cool, really sad song.
- Katy Perry, “Waking up in Vegas” — It’s catchy; therefore, I like it.
- Merrilee Rush and the Turnabouts, “Angel of the Morning” — It’s one of my favorite hits by a one-hit wonder.
- Styx, “Renegade” — It’s a classic.
- Super Mario Bros. theme — You know you love it.
- t.A.T.u., “All the Things She Said” — What’s better than catchy music? Catchy Russian music.
Check out the Laikon Cafe sign! (opens in a new window)
Check out the Second Baptist historical markers! (opens in a new window)
Check out Comerica Park! (opens in a new window)
Check out the Simmons and Clark sign! (opens in a new window)
Check out the Pegasus Taverna sign! (opens in a new window)
Check out the coffee and the medal! (opens in a new window)
Everything I had heard told me that I would be way more sore the day after a marathon than I was that day. I pretty much expected to wake up unable to move. Fortunately, I felt rather spry on Monday, 19 October, compared to how I had felt the day before. To be sure, I was sore, and I was reminded of that fact every time I switched from a seated position to a standing position. I got up surprisingly early, especially given that I didn’t set an alarm. I headed down the street to Plaka for breakfast; it seemed right to dine in after having made such a quick trip there the day before. Breakfast was pancakes, sausage, and scrambled eggs, and might have taken 5-7 minutes to arrive. Bottom line, Plaka is super-fast, and their meals are super-tasty.
After breakfast, I bid farewell and offered thanks to the front desk staff at the Greektown Hotel, and then departed for Farmington Hills. I wanted to make a quick stop at the New Balance store, and then I visited Biggby Coffee. I hadn’t yet had my traditional post-race coffee, and Biggby – Farmington Hills was the place to do it. I ordered up a grande Mocha Caramel made with skim milk, sugar-free chocolate, and no whipped cream. It was delicious!
Dear Biggby Bob,
The folks at Farmington Hills made my visit a lot of fun! I’m eager to stop there again the next time I’m in the area.
Sincerely,
Darrell
I spent a little time at Biggby catching up on my e-mail while I had my coffee, and then made my way to Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup, a restaurant just a couple doors down. Though the food there — my lunch of a grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup — was really good, that wasn’t the real treat.
Dear Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup,
Not just any treat would have topped that lunch. It was really good!
Sincerely,
Darrell
I was privileged to have lunch with my friend Christina, who had just moved to Farmington Hills and was working her very first day at her new job. It was great to catch up a bit and help celebrate her new gig as a paralegal while we also celebrated my first marathon.
Dear Christina,
That was a really nice finishing touch to my trip. Thanks for making time for the visit!
Sincerely,
Darrell
From there, I made my way home. I called Mom on the way home to let her know that I had finished, and I stopped at the Grass Lake rest area for a photograph.
Check out the Grass Lake RA! (opens in a new window)
After a quick stop by my physical therapist’s office to celebrate (and schedule an appointment), I made my way home to crash. The trip was pretty much spectacular.
October 18 started like pretty much any other Sunday morning, except that I almost never do long runs on Sunday, and I never get up at 0400 hours EDT. Since I was awake, I set about getting ready for the race, getting into my attire. Really, while I waited for breakfast, I got just about everything done but for taping my right foot.
Breakfast was supposed to arrive at 0500 hours EDT. That hour came and went. I waited, and continued to wait. Finally, around 0515, I called room service and asked for a status report on my sandwich. The gentleman who answered the call informed me that he had before him an order for a turkey sandwich, but that there was no room number attached to said order, and so it was not filled. He also informed me that it would be 30-45 minutes before a sandwich could find its way to my room. Given that I knew Avaney had told the guy in room service the night before what my room number was — 3 times, in fact — I knew where the error had occurred. That didn’t really help me, though, and I needed to eat. So, I hurried down to the front desk and asked Linda (less politely than I should have, leading me to apolgize later, as I should have) where I could get a sandwich. She suggested that I go to Plaka Cafe down the street, so away I ran (literally).
Check out Plaka! (opens in a new window)
When I got to Plaka, I explained my plight to the waitress, and everyone suddenly sprang into action! She took my order, and walked it to the chef. The cook got right on it, and someone quickly cashed out my order. Three minutes later — if even that long! — I had a turkey sandwich, complete with toasted bread and all the appropriate toppings!
Dear Friends at Plaka Cafe,
You were amazing, and you saved my morning. Thank you SO much!
Sincerely,
Darrell
I darted back to the hotel with my sandwich and inhaled it (literally), then set about finishing the rest of my race preparations.
Okay, so I didn’t really inhale the sandwich. That would have hurt.
I taped my foot, made my final preparations, packed my bag for gear check, and then I heard a door open in the hall. Gayle’s head was sticking out of her room, and I mimicked her prairie-dog style. We chatted briefly, including a quick rant about my breakfast drama, and then Mike returned from dropping off things in their car. We then made our way to the rendezvous point, where we met up with Josh, Eric, and Dana. At that point, the fun began. I made my way to gear check and back again. We randomly scurried off to use the restroom one last time before the race. We stretched. We who were running thanked the folks who weren’t running for being there to cheer for and support us. Mike took a couple of photos. The runners amongst us — Gayle, Eric, Josh, and me — made our way into the corral. We listened to the US and Canadian national anthems; I sang along with both. We talked to the folks around us. A fellow runner, Gail, let me borrow her shoulder for a balance-giving hand-hold while I stretched my calf muscles one last time. The dialog was rather entertaining, actually:
Darrell: May I borrow your shoulder for a moment.
Gail: Yes. You may use me. Use me!
I particularly enjoyed talking with the really cute Canadian gal, tightly bundled in jacket, hat and scarf, who was preparing for the relay.
It would figure that I’d be surrounded by attractive, friendly women at a moment when I’d have no real chance of doing anything about it.
Then, right on cue, the race began. We ran together for the first half mile or so, and then I set out on my own pace. The trek to the Ambassador Bridge was relatively uninteresting, but the trip up the bridge was a glorious one. The sun was rising on the horizon as we climbed the bridge; only a sliver was visible as I reached the summit. The trek down from the bridge’s peak was a blast; I love running downhill, and think I could probably do so all day.
Hooray for having compliant quadriceps muscles!
The folks in Windsor were so loud; as a result, the run through Windsor was so much fun! I shed my gloves at mile 5, leaving them together with a pile of other clothing that I truly hope found its way to a homeless shelter. The race course led along the river, and then through downtown Windsor before taking us to the tunnel. One of the best features of the Detroit Free Press / Flagstar Marathon is the underwater mile. The first half of the tunnel was more delightful downhill running; unfortunately, it was followed by uphill running. After exiting the tunnel, I made my way through the customs booths without being stopped, and then worked my way through Detroit. My co-worker and friend Mia yelled out to me around the 12-mile mark; that was a huge boost!
Dear Mia,
Thank you SO much for coming out to cheer for me; that was so awesome of you, and I’m so very grateful to you for making time on your Sunday morning to come out there and yell for a crazy runner.
Sincerely,
Darrell
Shortly after this, I saw the saddest sight I encountered during the day. A runner had gone down, and bloody bandages were strewn on the pavement. A runner was loaded in an ambulance, and a second ambulance was joining the scene. I didn’t know what was going on, but I knew that someone was in a bad way. I tried to maintain focus on my running, as I had problems (though, for sure, less serious ones) to deal with at the time, but it was a sad moment.
Later, I would learn that the runner, and two others, had died as a result of their competing in the half marathon that day. My favorite runs, whether they be races, large group training runs, or small group runs, are those that see everyone get home safe and sound. I couldn’t have imagined someone dying during the race, let alone three folks. I was, am, and will continue to be elated about finishing my first marathon, but I will always feel pangs of pain for the families and friends of those who lost someone dear that day.
As I neared the 15th mile, I began to realize that my ailing right foot was not likely to hold up for another 11.2 miles, at least not at the pace I was running. I had finished the first half of the race in 2:02, and my cardiovascular system felt very strong; unfortunately, my foot wasn’t so strong. I carefully weighed the benefits and risks, considered where I was in the race, considered how far I had to go, and made the only decision I could make, and changed my race strategy to one of preserving the structural integrity of my foot as best I could. From somewhere around the 16-mile mark, I began a run-walk strategy, running for a while then walking a bit to take some of the pressure off my foot. Around this time, I also managed to tweak my right calf; it wasn’t a major injury, but it was enough of an injury to be consistently uncomfortable. While I would have loved to push through it, I don’t think I could have pushed through that without doing damage. The foot was damaged going in, as followers of this blog probably know. I had spent two months in physical therapy leading up to the race, getting treatment for tendinitis and plantar fasciitis. There will be more marathons in the future, and I will finish them faster. That one, though, I needed to finish, and I did what I needed to do in order to make that happen.
Eric passed me around the 17th mile, and Gayle caught up with me on Belle Isle. Josh caught up with me as well, and we ended up finishing out most of the last 5.2 miles together. Also making multiple appearance in the back half of the course was my friend Andrea, who was there to cheer for several friends that day.
Dear Andrea,
Thanks so much for being out there to cheer, and for showing up in multiple places. I really appreciate your being so loud and supportive. You rock!
Sincerely,
Darrell
Before I knew it, the finish line was just ahead of me, and I did my best to sprint out the finish. The final tally, as I would learn from ilikemargarine, was 4:38:08. Very quickly thereafter, there was a medal around my neck, a foil blanked across my shoulders, and food and water in my hands. It was over. I caught up with everyone but Josh (and went back looking for him), then got a quick massage, and then slowly made my way back toward my hotel room. I had a camera with me, though, and couldn’t pass on a couple of fun finds:
Check out the Fort Street Presbyterian Church's historical marker! (opens in a new window)
Check out the car wash sign! (opens in a new window)
After riding the People Mover all the way around, just for the sake of staying off my right foot a bit longer, I hobbled through the casino and back to my hotel room. There, I showered, sent texts, Tweets, and Facebook messages, and watched some football before finally realizing I was hungry. As I had burned around 3,700 calories in the race, I decided all dietary restrictions were suspended for the remainder of the day. With that joyous decision reached, I made my way to the International Buffet in the Greektown Casino and proceeded to lay waste to it.
Plate 1: Two slices of pizza, chicken parmesan (with two chicken fillets), and a pile of chicken fettucine alfredo
Plate 2: Salad, several pieces of fried catfish, and a large pile of mashed potatoes
Plate 3: More fried catfish and more mashed potatoes
Bowl 1: A mound of vanilla ice cream, complete with an entire ladle of rainbow-colored sprinkles
Add to that the two glasses of Diet Pepsi I had, and I had two reasons to waddle back to my room, only one of which was related to my foot. After lunch — oh, yes, I considered that to be lunch, not dinner — I watched more football and packed a bit until Megan arrived. We then made our way to Como’s Restaurant in Ferndale.
Check out the Como's sign! (opens in a new window)
Everything about that stop was perfect. The folks at Como’s were spectacular! One of the folks working there had run the marathon a few times before, so he was happy to talk to us, as was Sicilia, the owner. She was even nice enough to treat me to a beverage as a sweet, kind congratulatory gesture. The pizza was incredible! It was perhaps the best pizza I’ve ever had. I can’t believe how tasty it was!
Dear Friends at Como’s Restaurant,
Thanks for making my post-marathon dinner one to remember! The pizza was incredible; in fact, it was almost as great as your kindness and courtesy! I’ll definitely be back!
Sincerely,
Darrell
Megan was sweet enough to pick up the tab for dinner, as she felt it was appropriate to treat me in honor of my first marathon.
Dear Megan,
Thanks for the time you spent with me, and for treating me to dinner! I really appreciate your making time to help me celebrate, and I was able to pay forward the kindness a few days later (as you will read about in a later blog entry).
Sincerely,
Darrell
I didn’t last too much longer after Megan returned me to Greektown. I remember that we chatted for a while, and then she left, and then … well, your guess is as good as mine.
All in all, the experience was great; I’m glad I did it, and I would do it again (faster, I hope).
- Check out the finisher’s medal! (opens in a new window)
As seems to be my custom on Saturdays when I don’t have to be at a group run or a race, I got a late start for Detroit on 17 October. In retrospect, it probably would have helped if I had packed the night before, but I didn’t.
I normally pack well, even if I do overpack. That being said, I usually give myself enough time to pack well. I didn’t on this trip, and I would be reminded again before the race that I pack better when I don’t rush it.
I still hit the road fairly early, maybe around 0830 hours EDT. I was rather hungry when I left, but I denied myself until I got to Marshall. Why?
Check out the Hardee's sign! (opens in a new window)
I have a fondness for Hardee’s that dates back to my youth. When I moved north, one of the great sacrifices I made was the loss of readily-available Hardee’s sausage biscuits. I also happen to like tater tots, and Hardee’s has both, so I had a nice breakfast treat on my way to Detroit. At the gasoline station next door, I was also able to pick up a bottle of hand sanitizer.
Upcoming entries will tell you that it didn’t do me a whole lot of good, but I didn’t know that at the time.
My trek continued. As I neared the Sandstone rest area, I nearly extinguished the life of a squirrel. To be fair, it wasn’t really my fault. When I’m driving on I-94 at speeds appropriate for freeway travel, I expect the little critters of nature to not play in traffic.
Stimpy said they don’t know that they’re ugly; apparently, they don’t know that they’re stupid, either.
I nudged my car about a foot to the left of where it would otherwise have gone, and that was enough; as I checked my rear view mirror, the stupid little critter frolicked off the pavement and into the grass. I continued to the rest area, stopped for a couple of minutes, and then hit the road again. I should have photographed that rest area while I was there, but I didn’t. I didn’t make the same mistake at the Chelsea rest area, though.
Check out the Chelsea rest area! (opens in a new window)
The rest of the drive went without incident, and I parked Victoria in the Greektown Hotel Casino parking deck. The Health and Fitness Expo was getting ready to open, and I wanted to wander over, but I first decided to ask at the hotel front desk when I should expect to be able to check into my room. I figured I’d be able to check in sometime that afternoon; much to my surprise, though, Melissa told me that I could check in right away.
That was the first of several gold-star moments from the Greektown Hotel front desk staff.
I checked in, got my key, went back to my car to get my stuff, and then made my way to room 1526. It was a nicely appointed room; my only disappointment was the shower-only option in the bathroom. I had been planning a post-race ice bath, but that wouldn’t be an option.
I was only partially disappointed. While ice baths are good for the muscles, they’re none too pleasant at the outset.
After getting things put where I wanted them to be for the next couple of days, I took a moment to peek out the window.
Look at that view! (opens in a new window)
I then made my way to the expo. I had lots of fun there. “Fun” means several things. For starters, I picked up my race packet, including the race shirt and bib number. I met a few of the fantastic Hansons-Brooks Distance Project runners, including Brian Sell and Melissa White. Brian was literally working; he rang up my purchase of a nifty Brooks Podium half-zip and a throw-away pair of gloves for the next morning. Melissa and I had a great, humorous exchange:
Darrell: How fast does one have to be to make the team?
Melissa: Men have got to run it in 2:18.
Darrell: You mean the half marathon, right?
Darrell and Melissa: *laughter*
Okay, so I’m not likely to make the Hansons-Brooks team any time soon. Nonetheless, I had fun. After picking up a couple more pieces of attire on the cheap, I made my way back to my room. I had planned to get a quick bite to eat, but then I got a phone call from my friend Gary, who made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. I headed right back out, Gary picked me up, and we made our way to the Detroit Opera House, where Gary gave me what he claimed was the “25-cent tour”; in actuality, it was more like the 25-dollar tour. Gary knew exactly what would tickle my fancy, and skipped over the less-interesting stuff so he could show me things like the sound board, lighting controls, and other fancy stuff.
Dear Gary,
Thanks for an amazing tour! I couldn’t have imagined anything as awesome as the tour you gave me! You’re the best!
Sincerely,
Darrell
After the tour, I met up with Gayle and Mike. I managed to find them without even a phone call. The three of us went out to Cyprus Taverna for dinner. Gayle had been craving a Greek salad. Dinner was tasty, and I definitely enjoyed the company. Even nicer, Gayle treated me to dinner.
Dear Gayle,
That was really nice of you; thanks!
Sincerely,
Darrell
After dinner and a brief stint in the casino to get Mike set up for the evening, Gayle and I retired to our respective rooms. I set about getting my attire laid out for the next day, and then realized that I had failed to pack the boxer brief I wanted to wear under my tights. As a result, I had to settle for a different one.
Note to self: Pack for out-of-town races the night before, no matter how tired you are.
I also took the time to make a room service order for the next morning. Avaney at the front desk helped me confirm the order, given that it wasn’t on the traditional breakfast pre-order menu. I like to eat a turkey sandwich on the morning of a race, and room service seemed like a good idea, as I wouldn’t have to go chasing breakfast before chasing the really fast people the next day. When I went to bed, Alabama were leading South Carolina 13-6, I was looking forward to the marathon, and I was relishing a great day-before-the-race.
Check out the sign, and figure out how I got the shot! (opens in a new window)
I’m on my way to bed. First, though, I wanted to post a quick note. I’m actually looking forward to the race. Maybe it’s just that I want to be done, but I think it’s more positive than that. I feel ready.
I also feel grateful. I could run through the whole list of God and medical professionals and coaches and training partners and friends and supporters, but I’d inadvertently omit someone and feel bad about it, so I’m just going to say thanks. If you helped get me here, you know who you are, and I’m grateful to you for it.
God willing, the next time I post an entry to this blog, I’ll be in the 0.1% of the world’s population who have finished a marathon. Good night, everyone.
I considered not even submitting a bio sketch to be included in the Mid-America Trails and Greenways conference brochure. I’m generally happy to remain at least vaguely anonymous at the office. Pretty much all the others speakers are doing it, though, so I submitted the 100-words-or-less sketch. For your amusement, I am sharing it with you.
Darrell Harden, a transportation planner with the Michigan Department of Transportation, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Alabama and a Master of Public Administration degree from Western Michigan University. He serves as the grants coordinator and the non-motorized coordinator for MDOT’s Southwest Region and is actively involved in developing and funding state and local trail projects.
When Darrell is not working, he is likely watching Alabama football, working on his stamp collection, or running. This fall, he is running three races that end in marathon (1 full, 2 half) in 15 days.
