Mrs. jmj runs Falmouth

jesus marion joseph · August-10th-2003, 08:09 PM

Mrs. jmj ran the Falmouth Road Race this morning. I was her support crew, which consisted mainly of driving her to and from the race, yelling her name when she crossed the finish line, and finding her in a crowd of 10,000 runners after the race. I was supposed to get a picture of her crossing the finish line, but I forgot to charge the battery in my digi cam last night, so no such luck. This was her first Falmouth race, and the weather was rather hot and very humid. Lots of sunshine made things even hotter. Just prior to the beginning of the race a B-2 bomber did a flyover at 1,000 feet. Very cool. Would have made for a great picture (doh!). The top three men's finishers were Kenyans, but the top female was an American, for the first time in many years. Those Kenyans remind me of whippets, with their long, slender limbs and sinewy bodies. The wheelchair comeptitors were cool to watch. The race finishes down a hill, and the first wheelchair racer was really cooking coming to the line. In fact, he was almost 6.5 minutes ahead of the second place finisher. The top male runner finished in just under 32 minutes on a 7.1 mile course. All in all a great and inspirational day.

Dr Dave · August-10th-2003, 09:37 PM

Mrs. jmj rules!

GoodSpeak · August-10th-2003, 11:00 PM

Mrs. GoodSpeak and I ran a 10k together several years back and though I had the flu, at every turn I called to her and cheered her on.

She finished third and several seconds ahead of me.

It was a great day ;-)

Valerie · August-10th-2003, 11:13 PM

Hearty congrats to Mrs. jmj!!

Squaredancecalling Steve · August-11th-2003, 03:58 AM

Way to go!! Please pass on my congratulations and best wishes.

Falmouth is a world famous road race, one I've always hoped to run. The great Joan Benoit Samuelson owned it for years.

Now that the triple digits temps have subsided, I'm preparing in earnest for my 4th marathon. I did a 10.3 mile training run on Saturday, and will need to build up to a couple of 20+ milers before I start my 3 week taper the end of September.

>>The top male runner finished in just under 32 minutes on a 7.1 mile course.<<

Superhuman -- that's about 4'30" a mile!!!

Ron Thorne · August-11th-2003, 04:08 AM

Though I'm not a runner, I have two comments, jmj.

1. Congratulations to Mrs. jmj for what must have been a thrilling, exhilarating experience.

2. Check your batteries often.

3. Buy an extra set of batteries today and keep them fully charged, too. Sorry ... I added this 3rd comment without warning.

Tom Storer · August-11th-2003, 05:36 AM

I opened this thread thinking Mrs. JMJ had been elected mayor of Falmouth. But running a foot race is even better. Congratulations to her!

walto · August-11th-2003, 06:57 AM

Well done!

jesus marion joseph · August-11th-2003, 07:45 AM

Thanks all. ROn: I definitely learned my lesson the hard way! I forgot to mention that I watched not only Joan Benoit Samuelson cross the finish line, but also Bill Rogers and Frank Shorter. Mrs. jmj plans to run the Boston half marathon (13.1 miles) again, too.

John B · August-11th-2003, 08:36 AM

congrats to mrs. jmj! That must have been a tough race to run in this weather. I ran Falmouth once, back in '97. What a beautiful race! The scenery really can't be beat, but I had never run that far before and, by the huge hill right at the end, kept questioning my sanity thinking that running over seven miles in the summer was a good idea.

I have a friend who has been trying to convince me to run the half marathon with her. I am not anywhere nearly in shape enough for that these days.

GoodSpeak · August-11th-2003, 01:40 PM

Mrs. JMJ is running for mayor?

jesus marion joseph · August-11th-2003, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GoodSpeak
Mrs. JMJ is running for mayor?

No, basically just running from me.

Tom Storer · August-12th-2003, 07:42 AM

She doesn't have a chance--while she's running, you've got the car. She'll tire out first.

jesus marion joseph · August-12th-2003, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tom Storer
She doesn't have a chance--while she's running, you've got the car. She'll tire out first.

As long as I'm driving my car you're correct. She can probably outrun her heap.

GoodSpeak · August-12th-2003, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jesus marion joseph
As long as I'm driving my car you're correct. She can probably outrun her heap.

The Paasat...?

;-)

jesus marion joseph · August-12th-2003, 08:11 PM

Yes, the Luxury Passat! It's going into the shop on Thursday, BTW. Door lock and window crankiness.

moneyp · August-12th-2003, 09:18 PM

The title makes it sound like a Shakespearian cursing competition.

jesus marion joseph · August-12th-2003, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mone peterson
The title makes it sound like a Shakespearian cursing competition.

I'm sure there were some runners who were cursing in Shakespearian form. There was one young lady who, exorted by the announcer on the PA system, "waved to the crowd" and promptly collapsed about 25 yards from the finish line. She was helped to her feet, over the finish line and into a medical tent. I read that this was a banner year for the medical tent, and that as many as 40 of the top 60 elite runners required some medical attention after completing the race. Many of the African runners who finished at the front of the race looked pretty piqued at the finish line. It was damned humid.

ormsbop · August-13th-2003, 01:30 AM

JMJ: Congrats to your wife and thumbs up to the support team! She's fortunate to have a spouse's support. they are unsung heroes. I know some runners who are not so lucky.
My wife and I have a timeshare about a hundred yards from the Falmouth race finish line and I've run along the course a few times (though never the official race - it seems to fill up too quickly). I'd love to run it officially some day. Preferably when it's overcast and about 50 degrees.

SDC Steve: Good luck in your training. You sound like a serious runner. I'm fairly new to it. I ran my second marathon last Memorial Day (3:49). My long time goal is to qualify for Boston (3:20).

Squaredancecalling Steve · August-13th-2003, 03:20 AM

Ormsbop: nice times! I suspect I'm a bit older than you, I turn 60 next July, so my qualifying time for Boston is a little softer, but I'd also love to do it. (It'd give me a chance to see my buddy Walter Horn, too!) My schedule makes marathon training dicey -- this is the first time in three or four years that I've even tried. Last time, it starting raining during my 20-mile training run, I caught a bad cold and didn't bounce back in time to do the race. But I've done the Napa Valley Marathon twice (Calistoga to Napa on the gorgeoous Silverado Trail) and the Russian River Marathon once (Ukiah to Hopland). This time I'm shooting for the Avenue of The Giants Marathon in Humboldt State Park -- nothing but redwoods!

BTW, rene, who posts here sometimes, has a sub-3 hour marathon to his credit!

And, as I've mentioned before, one of my regular weekly club dancers has been national age-group champion for the 60+ set -- Pete ran a 2'03" half-mile as a 50 year old (!!!) and was still in the low 2'30s" into his 60s! Pete's totally unassuming, he never said a word about it himself. One night between dances I happened to be talking about running and his girlfriend piped up that he was a champion.

Jim Dye · August-13th-2003, 11:46 AM

A running thread!

First off, congrats to Mrs. JMJ! Sounds like a nice race. I really admire those who run competitively in their free time.

I am now training for my first marathon. I had been toying with the idea for more than a year. I've been walking/running every other night for about 45 minutes going on 1 month now. It's getting easier every day.

A couple of months ago, I heard a radio ad for a program called Train To End Stroke through the American Heart/Stroke Association. You raise a certain amount of money for the ASA. In return they provide personal training and support for about 5 months and assist with preparation for a marathon. They also pay all your fees, transportation and room and board. I signed up and I'll be running the Walt Disney World Marathon on January 11th.

I guess the main reason I'm doing this is to lose weight and get healthy. I am 6'4 and about 280 lbs. Gotta lose some major weight or its going to start catching up with me. I also want to be around for my kids. I'm at high risk with the pounds I'm carrying.

Sounds like quite a few of you have a lot of experience. I'd appreciate any advice you could give to help me out in the coming months.

Squaredancecalling Steve · August-13th-2003, 03:48 PM

Jim: I've already lost almost 30 pounds since I started training for this one. It's a great incentive.

My bottom line is at least one 20+ mile run before the race, or I don't go.

The most commonly used training method is a long run every other week, adding 2-4 miles each times, with a three week taper before the race with no long runs. I like to get in a 22-23 miler three weeks before, with a 20 miler two weeks before that, and I try to keep my overall mileage at 25+ a week, with several 30 & 40 miles weeks in there, too. (Not sure you can do that doing only 3 or 4 runs a week.) And I'm prone to cramping unless I watch my magnesium, calcium and potassium intake.

GoodSpeak · August-13th-2003, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jesus marion joseph
Yes, the Luxury Passat! It's going into the shop on Thursday, BTW. Door lock and window crankiness.

I tolja to buy a Toyota or Honda, but noooooo....

jesus marion joseph · August-14th-2003, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GoodSpeak
I tolja to buy a Toyota or Honda, but noooooo....

Been there, done that.

tippy · August-14th-2003, 09:54 AM

I too thought Mrs. JMJ had become a politician. Congratulations on her finish in the Falmouth! No small feat, especially to someone like me who thinks that running is the specialized territory of cheetahs.

ormsbop · August-15th-2003, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Squaredancecalling Steve
Ormsbop: nice times! I suspect I'm a bit older than you, I turn 60 next July, so my qualifying time for Boston is a little softer, but I'd also love to do it. (It'd give me a chance to see my buddy Walter Horn, too!)

Yeah I go to "Masters" [40+] category next year, making my BQ time go down from 3:15 to 3:20. Normally it would be a kinda depressing milestone for me but at least the time change makes the goal seem a little easier to reach. I live a couple towns away from the start in Hopkinton and commute on a fair section of the course nearly every day. Helps keep me focused.

Quote:

My schedule makes marathon training dicey -- this is the first time in three or four years that I've even tried. Last time, it starting raining during my 20-mile training run, I caught a bad cold and didn't bounce back in time to do the race. But I've done the Napa Valley Marathon twice (Calistoga to Napa on the gorgeoous Silverado Trail) and the Russian River Marathon once (Ukiah to Hopland). This time I'm shooting for the Avenue of The Giants Marathon in Humboldt State Park -- nothing but redwoods!

California State Park! Redwoods! Sounds AWESOME!! I would love that. I've run Vermont City (Burlington, VT) twice. which I enjoy. Nice view running along Lake Champlain, not too hilly (surprisingly) and the field is kept relatively small - this year only about 3,400 marathoners and another thousand or so in relay teams. Plus I've got much kin up there to help with logistics.

I hear you about scheduling around training - that's half the battle. Especially if you have family. I've been toying with the idea of bumping up training mileage to a 70-a-week schedule. But I don't know if it's worth divorce court.

Quote:

BTW, rene, who posts here sometimes, has a sub-3 hour marathon to his credit!

And, as I've mentioned before, one of my regular weekly club dancers has been national age-group champion for the 60+ set -- Pete ran a 2'03" half-mile as a 50 year old (!!!) and was still in the low 2'30s" into his 60s! Pete's totally unassuming, he never said a word about it himself. One night between dances I happened to be talking about running and his girlfriend piped up that he was a champion.

That's amazing. Good for him We can only wish right? I was very surprised to learn last year that one of my co-workers was married to Bill Rogers in the 1970s when he was at the peak of his running powers. Her current husband placed in the top 15 Americans at Boston a year ago. Guess she's good luck or something.

jesus marion joseph · August-15th-2003, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ormsbop
I was very surprised to learn last year that one of my co-workers was married to Bill Rogers in the 1970s when he was at the peak of his running powers. Her current husband placed in the top 15 Americans at Boston a year ago. Guess she's good luck or something.

Think about it; she makes men run. Fast.

ormsbop · August-15th-2003, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jim Dye

Sounds like quite a few of you have a lot of experience. I'd appreciate any advice you could give to help me out in the coming months.

Cool. Good luck to you. I did the run-walk thing in my first marathon. Are you planning to do that in the race? or just training?

I don't have much experience but I did make many mistakes in my first marathon. Most important bit advice I can give:

buy running shoes from a running specialist store. Not Footlocker or any of those mall chain stores. Have the salesperson analyze your running gait (most will watch you run outside or on a treadmill). They should tell you about your foot movement i.e. pronation, and what are the best shoes to possibly counteract any over-pronation (rolls excessively to inside) or excessive supination (excessive rolls to the outside of the foot). If they don't know, find another specialist store that does. they should also be able to give advice on how much cushion you'll need if you're carrying extra weight. Your knees and feet will thank you!

Also, stay away from racing flat shoes unless you're elite and weigh about 140 lbs.

It's a good idea to buy two pair of the same shoe so you'll have a backup in case one pair gets soaking wet or to rotate use. Generally you should replace shoes for running after 500-600 hard miles.

A good online resource for runners is the coolrunning.com site. They have a newbie forum section and many helpful people there.

Good luck let us know how it goes for you.

ormsbop · August-15th-2003, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jesus marion joseph
Think about it; she makes men run. Fast.

hehehe yeah I did think of that but I couldn't bear to say it - she's a sweet heart!

jesus marion joseph · August-16th-2003, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ormsbop
hehehe yeah I did think of that but I couldn't bear to say it - she's a sweet heart!

Leave it to me to state the tactless.