before sunrise

I ran for years, every morning, before sunrise. So many hundreds, no thousands... (as unbelievable as that might seem), runs, that most of the sunrises have slipped from my memory. Many of the dark mornings, long before sunrise, somehow remain. Things happen between 4am and 5:30am that most of the world misses. As my wife would say- most of the world is glad to miss -but whether it was a long run alone or out with friends, surfing by the light of HB pier or just trying to find my way in the dark on my bike, kayak or our old boat... there's something cool about being out there before the world wakes up... being the first one to meet the day.

Then, there are the sad things you happen across.

A few years back, making the 9 mile run from home to church- I was pushing it pretty hard and feeling pretty fit about 7 miles out. A late summer morning, sun still at least an hour off, I saw a pick up truck stopped in the middle of what's normally a very busy road. Two men were talking and all I heard them say was: "Did you see that albacore?"

I love to fish for albacore. The prospect of albacore running on Arlington Ave., 60 miles from the nearest beach... not to mention another 60 miles from any normal current they might feed in, caught my attention. Not even Charlie Tuna hangs out in Riverside. Slowing my pace, I crossed the street and cautiously approahed the huddled men at the tailgate of the truck. There, crumpled on the ground, was the lifeless form of a man who had been hit at least twice. Once by the original vehicle and then by the man in the pickup.

Distraught, he'd stopped, and when the man driving behind him pulled up he'd run to him and asked: "Did you see another car?" Running, in my own world, I heard the call of the sea: "Did you see that albacore?"

I doubt the victim- already dead or dieing -heard a thing. We were not the best rescue crew in the world. One went to call for help. The man who hit him, struggled to put the pieces of his dark morning together. I did what I've done at so many accident scenes with too many people dead or dieing: quietly, in my running gear, I knelt on the asphalt and prayed... knowing that God hears, God sees, God knows... we can trust Him.

Help came- I gave my statement -then finished my run.

I've allowed some of my fitness to slip away and that early 9 mile run is still a couple of months off. But now days I run with my cell phone strapped to my shoulder. If I see something that touches me- I stop and use it to take a picture. If someone needs me- my phone rings and I walk while we talk. And if someone's ever crumpled in a heap on the road again- I'll dial 911.

I'm connected... 24/7.

Somedays I'll pass the spot on the road where we stood over a seemingly lifeless form and wonder if he survived. Other days, driving by the spot, I smile- thinking back on the brief run of albacore on Arlington Ave.

Before sunrise... so many things happen... they're waiting for you.

Running to Live

Wesly Ngetich, 34, who won Grandma’s Marathon in 2007 and 2005, was shot through the chest with an arrow during fighting in his hometown, not far from Masai Mara.

Something wonderful about running in Kenya... the history of the worlds great runners combined with the beauty, altitude and mystery of what might be hiding in the predawn graylight keeps the mind alert, senses reaching out and heart beating fast reminding you of life and each precious step in it. Kenya is normally a runner's paradise. Marathon stars are recognized and lifted up nation wide.

They've made huge targets in the current violence and chaos. A number have been injued... now another has been killed. An arrow shot through his chest- seems impossible -out on the trans mara, rural, beautiful and now covered in blood.

Look at the photo- VICTORY! - so quickly slipping away... Life. God opens doors, gives us an opportunity and we give it our best... or not. Wesly, named I'm sure for John Wesley, the great reformer. No clue if Wesly was running to or from the violence... today... we have the opportunity remember Kenya, remember Wesly, to run. We have today. Keep the family of Wesly Ngetich in your prayers. What a waste.

Here's a short video of a day we spent in the trans mara in February, 2007

Running to Win

March 2, 2008, Lord willing, I'll be standing at the starting line of the Los Angeles Marathon. Not great timing... Easter's early in 2008, so I'm slipping out at an important time in the life of our church. But the sad reality hit me a couple of months ago- I'd resigned myself to accept that most of my best running was behind me... what a depressing thought. Realizing I needed a big goal to get myself back on track I mentally registered for LA and got to work. I'm up to 40 mile weeks and broke 12 miles on my run this morning- every run alone. That makes it tougher... but it'll stay that way until I'm fit enough and fast enough to run with other folks- I'm still being passed by the aged and infirmed -but little by little, things are improving.

I've run ten or twelve marathons, but LA was my first, March 3, 1991. The poster's framed and still hangs in my office. Ran it once. Running a marathon's not such a big deal- worse case scenario, you sit on the curb and rest. TRAINING for a marathon, now that's a big deal. I spent years of my life staying "marathon ready." Any weekend that came open, I could head out and run a marathon- and I did on occasion. Never qualified for Boston- but never was rushed to the hospital either.

Ran my last marathon 6 years ago... it was horrible and promised I'd never do it again... but I must miss it, more likely it's just been long enough for me to forget how much it can hurt when things don't go well.

Training for my first LA, I was 36, thin and fit. I'd been running for years but was clueless to training. Never read a Runner's World or Running Magazine, had no clue what Race Place or Competitor were and learned about long runs from a friend at a New Years Eve party just 8 weeks before the race- so I started running 15 every Saturday. Just did my daily 7.5 twice. Ran it in a t-shirt and some dolphin shorts my sister gave me for Christmas... I saw overweight guys on the course wearing cut-offs and converse... who passed me, don't know if they finished. My official time was 4:04 - long before timing chips or I learned to wear a watch and mark splits.

My real time was probably 10-15 minutes faster. Started way in the back: 20,000 people back, and grooved to Randy Newman blaring out the speakers as runners jumped in the sunshine to "I Love LA!" Hope they still start with that. Then Mohamad Ali was in the starters box and I moved as closely as I could, HUGE crowd, wanting to see him as the crowd shouted: "Ali!, Ali!" Who knows how long it took before I ever crossed the starting line.

The race was filled with wonders and miracles, barefoot runners and running Elvis's, (who beat me by a mile even though they stopped in every bar on Sunset!), it was all so new. The front half was like a party... and then the work began. It's been said that the marathon doesn't start until mile 20... it's just a 6 mile race... truer words were never spoken. I made it through those final 6 miles- they were filled with enough stories for a book- church choirs singing in the front lawn- best friends slipping out of the crowd to run with me- my sister calling my name at the final turn... and the finish line... Los Angeles Marathon, Where Every Runner's a Star! I was embraced by an older woman, probably 40 or so, who walked me through the lines, put my first ever finishers medal around my neck and told me what a great race I'd run.

I'm going back!

Suddenly I can't wait! New point to point course- I know what that is now and it's my favorite kind of marathon to run. I have a new goal- no longer looking back, now firmly out in front of me. I'm training again. I'm going to run to win- to win my race, one day at a time, one mile at a time... looking forward.

If you've read this far... you're either family, a writer who wonders how this is all going to wrap up, or someone ready to make some big changes, ready to start looking forward, ready to embrace the excitement, fear, adventure and the unexpected the future holds. There are so many ways to go about it but some constants run through them all: set a BIG goal, start training, don't quit. You'll flesh out the fine points as you work through it. Remember, "Reader's are Leaders." Make friends who are stronger and better than you- then stay open to learn from them.

You can do it: GO, DO, BE.

After running my first marathon I wrote a long article on it that was printed in a national magazine- I just might try to dig it up and read through it again. Follow my blog- at the end of this marathon I just might write a book! Our best miles are still ahead of us. Let's run them together.

blessings,

Eric

Listen In to Randy Newman at the song of the day in the side bar
OR... join me for the marathon- just follow the link LA Marathon

random thoughts on todays run

my run this morning

It's the first run over 10 miles I've done in a while... and it was OK. The time may have been REALLY slow...but I bumped into a friend along the way on his run and we stopped and caught up on our families, running and mutual friends. The time needs to pick up- it was all downhill -but all things considered... I'm just glad to be out there- smoke cleared, cooler weather and my body feeling reasonably good.

Simple things please runners... I ran in a new pair of shorts and they fit perfectly. They've got cool pockets, so you've got someplace to stick your hands when you stop to talk. The basic key pocket, but it's built in to the inseam with spandex to keep the key from bouncing around. They're a very cool, light gray color with yellow, orange strips on the hips... any splash of yellow/orange makes you look a little faster while running. And perhaps best of all, they've got a little zippered pocket at the small of the back- I carried cliff shot cubes and ate one every three miles -but it's plenty big enough for a cell phone or some other silliness. Wish I had ten pair of shorts just like them, I'd wear them everyday! Made by a company named RUN - who knew?

If you click on the sattelite shot of my run, you can clearly see Lake Matthews to the west, Lake Perris and Elsinore to the east and a zillion other points of interest. I didn't run by any of them... but cool to see just the same.

Running... it got me out the door again today... my mind stayed relatively free and clear... if I could send it a thank you note, I would. Just 6 weeks ago I laced up my shoes again and already I'm feeling like it's coming back. This afternoon, resting, not needing to work today, tempted to take a nap, I feel blessed. Blessed to enjoy getting outside and blessed to have the health and desire to pull myself out of bed and do it. Hope there's something you're making time to enjoy. Life can come at us fast and it's good to know that the road, the water, the weights, the whatever it is... are waiting and ready for us to get involved. Go. Do. Be.

blessings

tune into the song of the day on the sidebar... it's one of my favorites
Click to hear music file

My Daily Run

That's a satellite shot of my neighborhood. Look closely and you'll see a little blue line with arrows: my daily run. Just under 5 and a half miles, the way I can put it off one would think it's a marathon. Weather's been perfect for running; cool, clear, an invitation to get outside... still I find a way to brush my teeth, check my email, read the newspaper, even cruise all my favorite www sites before pushing this old frame out the door.

But here's the deal- I'm out doing it again, everyday.

I'm a runner. People ask me about my running when I go places. I've been running for decades. In the '60's ran like a kid- (I was a kid!) In the '70's ran mornings when there were no waves- getting in on the fitness craze. Injured my knee running a 5k in '84 and cycled the rest of the '80's. Ran my first marathon in '91 at LA, spent the next decade running a marathon a year. The new century brought a bit of a slow down. Weeks that used to be filled with 40-45 miles were now lucky to break 20. It's been a roller coaster, filled with getting back at it and falling away- old age? No excuses. Too busy... life's definitely been... but I've run through busy times before. Think it's just time to get back at it, again.

This morning I'm blogging- one more excuse not to go outside and play... to run. I'll strap on my heart rate monitor, latch my little computer- a Garmin 305 -to my shoulder to track speed, route, etc... by gps... then go out and run the same little 5 mile loop I've been running for 14 years. Hope you've got something to pull you outdoors today.

still running,

Eric