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Oops I Did It Again - 2020 - Boston & Chattanooga Bound

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Post  Michele "1L" Keane Mon Aug 31, 2020 6:23 pm

I know, I know it has been a long time.  But I'm still running, biking, and swimming.  I swam mostly in the lake this summer for the first time since pools were not open in NY State, and even back here in GA, my pool didn't open right away and my gym is mostly empty.  I have a Virtual Boston Marathon to run next Monday, and I just hope the weather cools down a degree or two.  This past few days have been lows in the mid 70s with humidity of like 90-100%.  Remnants of the hurricane/tropical storms down in the gulf.   What I wouldn't give for a day with a temp of 69!  Maybe next Monday we will get a little reprieve.   It is hard to deal with running that long when you are drenched in an hour.  Good thing is that there are no time limits - just needs to be done as a consecutive effort.

Then after that - who knows!   Peachtree, our big July 4th 10K, has been moved to a virtual race on Thanksgiving Day (when our half marathon usually takes place), so there is that.  I think I might do another 5K swim - cause why not? and I might actually do our (In-Person) 10 Miler which will now be held on a local race track (not a Nascar Oval) but an actual track with hills and such so that could be interesting.

I deferred my IMFL entry as I just couldn't wrap my head around the numbers of people (they moved a 70.3 to the same day) and even with deferrals, I cannot see how they can safely conduct 3000+ athletes and even though the panhandle is not a high a case count as south Florida - it is still a mess.  Georgia is a mess too as we have far too many very right non-mask wearing, gun toting, Q theory believers flying their tRump flags.   (And pardon me if you are a tRump fan, I am not, and it is my blog).  Sad that these people keep telling me that I should love this administration cause their economic policy, immigration policy, education policy, etc., etc are awesome, but they can never provide me with one single article where I can read or compare such policies.  I do not know how I became so radical left when I'm really just a centrist.  Sorry - I will stop ranting.

Back to my Virtual Boston - just think good thoughts for me come Monday morning, September 7th starting at 6 am EST and hopefully finishing by noon.
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Post  ounce Mon Aug 31, 2020 9:16 pm

Michele \"1L" Keane wrote:I know, I know it has been a long time.  But I'm still running, biking, and swimming.  I swam mostly in the lake this summer for the first time since pools were not open in NY State, and even back here in GA, my pool didn't open right away and my gym is mostly empty.  I have a Virtual Boston Marathon to run next Monday, and I just hope the weather cools down a degree or two.  This past few days have been lows in the mid 70s with humidity of like 90-100%.  Remnants of the hurricane/tropical storms down in the gulf.   What I wouldn't give for a day with a temp of 69!  Maybe next Monday we will get a little reprieve.   It is hard to deal with running that long when you are drenched in an hour.  Good thing is that there are no time limits - just needs to be done as a consecutive effort.

Then after that - who knows!   Peachtree, our big July 4th 10K, has been moved to a virtual race on Thanksgiving Day (when our half marathon usually takes place), so there is that.  I think I might do another 5K swim - cause why not? and I might actually do our (In-Person) 10 Miler which will now be held on a local race track (not a Nascar Oval) but an actual track with hills and such so that could be interesting.

I deferred my IMFL entry as I just couldn't wrap my head around the numbers of people (they moved a 70.3 to the same day) and even with deferrals, I cannot see how they can safely conduct 3000+ athletes and even though the panhandle is not a high a case count as south Florida - it is still a mess.  Georgia is a mess too as we have far too many very right non-mask wearing, gun toting, Q theory believers flying their tRump flags.   (And pardon me if you are a tRump fan, I am not, and it is my blog).  Sad that these people keep telling me that I should love this administration cause their economic policy, immigration policy, education policy, etc., etc are awesome, but they can never provide me with one single article where I can read or compare such policies.  I do not know how I became so radical left when I'm really just a centrist.  Sorry - I will stop ranting.

Back to my Virtual Boston - just think good thoughts for me come Monday morning, September 7th starting at 6 am EST and hopefully finishing by noon.
It goes back to your avatar.  As you no doubt know, you're a Damn Yankee (a Yankee in the South).  So, maybe in Boston terms you're a centrist.  Bubbas don't have time to learn the issues.

With regard to racism and lessening its effects, I am 4th generation Southerner since the Civil War.  To really lessen the effects of racism, it will take Shannon's kid's grandchildren to have racism be the exception or the beginning of the 22nd century.  All the little Bubbas have to die to get white supremacy to have less impact.  Until then, it will be a slowly declining problem.  Yet still it's not exclusive to the South.  The North has the same issue, but not as many.

I enjoy watching movies like "The Butler," "Selma," "Marshall," or "Mississippi Burning" because my rearing did not include a 'balanced' depiction of those times. 

So anybody you hear saying racism can be eradicated in 20 years is blowing smoke up your ass.

Good luck on your Labor Day labor!
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Post  Michele "1L" Keane Wed Sep 02, 2020 10:14 am

I fear that you are so right, Doug.  I'm a couple of years younger than you and growing up in Massachusetts we certainly had our "racism" and I would absolutely call my Grandparents and even my parents racist to some extent except that we blamed "segregation" and those forms wholly on the South.  We, of course, had "forced busing" in Boston which makes for an interesting history lesson that is often ignored.   My Grandparents on my Mother's side came here from northern Italy and their prejudices were very much like the rest of my hometown growing up i.e. the Italians hated the Irish, the Irish hated the Portuguese, the Portuguese hated the Puerto Ricans, the Puerto Ricans hated the Blacks, the Blacks hated the Jews, the Jews hated the Catholics, and so on.  So no one was ever left out.  There were still remnants when I was a young girl as there were stores/areas of the city where I didn't venture nor was I welcome being of "Italian descent" and Catholic.  I knew very few Black people growing up, but I did know my fair share of people from (what we now call) hispanic origin - mostly Puerto Rican and Portuguese (Brazilian and actually Portugal).  My mother still says things that often floor me, but she would also tell that a woman wearing a short dress was simply "asking for it", if you catch my drift.  I know that is generation gap - but still it can be hard.  I know that I grew up very sheltered from blatant racism and then saw it first hand (when I was finally old enough to see) in college - partly it came from the times as erecting "shanty towns" to protest South Africa was the thing to do on northern college campuses in the early 1980s and partly from the Black and hispanic women (and even Muslim) that I met at Wellesley.  Women's rights and (parts of) the Feminist cause will always formulate some of my thinking.

I do see that amongst my daughter's immediate friend group (and those late 20s kids who live in the City and close in suburbs here) are pretty unbiased.  Even though my daughter grew up with means, we moved to be closer into Atlanta when she was 5 to partially get away from some of the "entitled, privileged" community that has grown in the more northern suburbs and (sadly) for access to a more diverse group of schools.  Yes, my daughter did go to a "private" Catholic high school but it was one that is known for it's diversity and exclusion i.e. in that only 75% of the students are Catholic and the remaining 25% is quite mixed.  Minority representation was pretty high (with the exception of Black because, well, they are not Catholic typically) with a number of Asian and Hispanic families.   

The northern Atlanta suburbs though can be represented by a lot of "Karens".  More-affluent whites who are not necessarily thrilled with the influx of Asian communities (Indian, Korean, Vietnamese, Pakistani) are moving even farther north and they are mixing in with the god old boy Georgians giving them the permission to be their obnoxious, racist selves.  I find myself very disconnected right now to people that I have known for over 30 years siding with these people in believing that the protests are being led by a violent Black community (not seeing that the looters are often entitled white kids), that "law and order" can only come from the fear mongers in power, and that frankly Black Lives and even Women's rights don't matter.

Any way enough ranting.  And again, feel free to skip right over it as it is indeed my blog.  Please don't love me less if I disagree with you.  I only want a conversation, a discussion, a debate, and an airing of differences - not a fight.  Yes, I am pro-child, pro- black, pro-brown, etc., but no I will never condone walking into town with an automatic weapon or firing 7 shots into anyone by the police (unless they are firing at me).
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Post  ounce Wed Sep 02, 2020 7:32 pm

I've had a sheltered life.  There wasn't a black kid in my high school until I was a junior, because there was an apartment complex built across the street.  That lack of color was THE reason why we lived in the area we did.  Wherever we lived was the whitest area of town with a good school district.

We moved to Texas in 1960.  I was almost 3 years old.  Both sides of my family are from Tennessee.  VERY white.  Not KKK white, though.  The KKK was anti-semitic and that was the line that my family would not cross (so to speak).  I grew up being taught that state's rights was the reason for the Civil War.  Slavery was the excuse.  We didn't learn The Gettysburg Address.  We knew and sang "The Battle Hymn to the Republic," but we belted out "Dixie."  "Dixie" ALWAYS followed "The Battle Hymn to the Republic."

When I was old enough to remember, I remember in the summertime in Dallas or Beaumont, we were going to a park that had a pool.  My brothers and I were very excited, but there was 1 qualifier.  There had to be NO blacks in the pool.  Zero.  We would go home more times than not.

I don't remember separate water fountains and the like.  But I and the majority of my classmates from 2nd grade on up used the N word as easily as 'ice cream.'  I didn't think anything of it.  In fact, I must've been wanting to make the connection between a black person and the N word when I was about 5 years old.  A black lady was coming out of the grocery store, as my mom and I were going in.  We were about to pass the black lady and I said in a very clear voice, "Mom, is that a n-?"  My mom said quietly, "Yes, it is, honey" and we scurried into the store.

To my dad, there were N and there were colored people.  "Colored people knew their place," he said.  I made it a point not to pass any of that along to my kids.  What worked from the 70's back wasn't going to work going forward.  I don't remember all of the different slur words we had for blacks, but there were close to 10, maybe more.

But my favorite movie was and still is "Gone With The Wind."  It's just a fabulous film.  Loved Scarlett, but as I got into my 30's, her justification for using prison blacks didn't wash.  Still a good movie.

I'm not a usual Republican and certainly not a lover of our tweeting president.  It baffles me why conservatives think Covid-19 is anything other than what Fauci and Birx say it is.  I hadn't heard of QAnon until 2 weeks ago or OAN until a month ago.  So, I wouldn't pass the litmus test for a conservative.  I try to exist in this country as a 'live and let live' kind of person.  Some things I wish were different, but as long as it's not illegal, have at it.

I am pro-choice up to the point of viability outside the womb.  I don't believe that life begins at conception, but at birth.  I believe in the rule of law.  I believe that only a right thing, done only in a right way, is right.  I think that Socialism and neo-Marxism are repugnant to the Constitution of the United States.

I absolutely believe that freedom of choice guarantees inequality. 

I support equality under the law, but realize that we, as non-perfect humans, will not get it right all of the time.  I believe in the death penalty.

Miche1e, I feel like the people on your Friends list either think similarly or don't.  Regardless, I don't think any rants you generate changes anyone's mind.  So, I question why make them.

I don't love you any less.  After all, it's your blog.  Sometime, we'll have to get together again.
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Post  Mark B Thu Sep 03, 2020 10:44 am

As  journalist and general observer of the human condition, I have been following this conversation with great interest.

Growing up in Oregon, I didn't know many people who were Black. The Black kids in school were often among the most popular and talented kids around, so I grew up mystified why anyone would ever think a person of color was inferior in any way. I heard my mom say a few things that wouldn't pass muster today (and frankly, shocked me then), but the N-word was never spoken. 

Outside of my circle, out in more rural areas, I think the situation may have been different.

It took years to understand why Black people were so rare where I grew up (even as a university town), since we weren't ever taught about Oregon's exclusion laws, redlining in Portland, etc. I had to find that out much later. 

In the Peace Corps, I got a small taste of what it felt like to stand out in the crowd simply by who I am. The feeling of being "the other" is nothing like what some people have to deal with from the day they're born, and while I'd never be so presumptuous to say that I truly understand all the words to that song, the experience taught me to at least recognize the tune.

I won't go into personal political positions, but I will say that I'm happy that I can count you as my friends.


Last edited by Mark B on Fri Sep 04, 2020 5:20 pm; edited 1 time in total

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Post  Michele "1L" Keane Thu Sep 03, 2020 2:02 pm

Thanks to both of you!

And Doug - no you are not the usual Republican at all, and I totally respect every single thing you stated.   I so wish the "friends" I mentioned thought like you because I think we actually agree way more than we disagree.  

And I am more than happy to call you my friends cause I know we could have a very intelligent conversation on our differences and still share a beer and nachos and live to respect each other then next day.
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Post  ounce Thu Sep 03, 2020 7:19 pm

Like different phones have different charging times, so it is with my intelligence.  I'll need some charging time before I join in on an intelligent conversation and I'll have to find some handlers to coach me.

Sunday, a FB friend was making the comment why we had to even wear masks if the 180K dead is only 0.000355~ of the US population.  I'm tired of that oversimplified statistic.

So, I replied 'just how many people would have to be infected with covid and die of covid for it to get your attention that it is really real?  How many millions within a year would cause you to think this isn't just another influenza?'

He replied with nothing unusual.  He, of course, thought I was on the wrong side of the issue, even though I'm usually a 'level headed thinker.'

Oh, well.  Later on he said that he wasn't going to ask questions like this because so many people have entrenched positions.  scratch 

To Miche1e's comment about we all having a conversation, I can't see her having a beer, rather a few bottles of red wine.  In fact, I can't see me having a beer.  I stopped drinking a little over 3 years ago.  Not for having to, just because I saw what it was doing to someone else and what little I DID drink (about a beer a year), it just wasn't worth it.  I had really cut back my drinking back in the 80s, post-college.
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Post  nkrichards Thu Sep 03, 2020 10:47 pm

To Miche1e's comment about we all having a conversation, I can't see her having a beer, rather a few bottles of red wine.  In fact, I can't see me having a beer.  I stopped drinking a little over 3 years ago.  Not for having to, just because I saw what it was doing to someone else and what little I DID drink (about a beer a year), it just wasn't worth it.  I had really cut back my drinking back in the 80s, post-college.


I take a day off to take the grandkids rafting and look at what I miss!  This friendly get-together is going to be pretty quiet as I don't drink either.   Laughing  Never did much and it was suggested I stop completely when I was on heart meds.  It seemed pretty silly to try to learn to enjoy a drink at my age so I just don't.


***


This is an interesting conversation.  So here's my story.  I didn't grow up privileged.  I grew up on a small farm near a small town.  The residents of the community were primarily loggers, farmers, construction workers, the business owners and others needed to support the needs of the community.  We were about an hour from Portland and I knew colored people lived there but my community was pretty much all white.  We spent evenings, weekends, and summers working.  Dad built a chicken house for us and at the age of three we started helping with chores and shared in the egg money.  By age 5 or 6 we were mowing lawns, picking up sticks in newly cleared fields, peeling chittum tree bark to dry and sell, stacking firewood and anything else we could find to do for family, friends, and neighbors.  My parents provided the essentials...food, shelter, and some clothing (coats, shoes, underwear...) but if we wanted school clothes or anything else we had to pay for it ourselves.  We usually got the essential clothing as gifts for Christmas or birthdays but there was always one toy under the tree every Christmas.  Dad worked as a labor foreman in commercial construction in Portland and Mom drove bus for the local school.  The farm was "part time".  We also cared for both my grandparents farms which were nearby.  Our parents encouraged us to participate in school activities especially sports and other youth activities.  I was a scout and very active in 4-H as I got older.  It seemed like a normal childhood to me.


I remember Dad talking about having to meet a quota of minority workers on his crew.  He often praised workers that worked hard.  I knew some of them were colored.  He did complain when he had to keep a minority worker (either colored or female) on his crew that wasn't willing to do their fair share.  They knew he couldn't fire them.  He was upset because the older workers nearing retirement who had spent years breaking their backs had to step up and do the heavy lifting to make up for the lack of effort by the younger minority workers who wouldn't try and didn't care.  He wanted to give the older workers the easier tasks but couldn't.  He let us know in no uncertain terms that he was prejudiced against lazy people no matter what color or gender they were.  It's a lesson I remember and agree with to this day.


We were taught to value hard working, honest, law abiding people no matter their color, age, gender...  We also put a high value on how people treated their neighbors and friends.  It was a community in the true sense where everyone took care of everyone else.  We did it because we wanted to...not because the government required us to.  We weren't a religious family but we were a charitable family.  Sometimes it was time rather than money but we did share.


I didn't realize until I was older that we were actually poor.  My parents where trying to support their growing family (I have 3 brothers) and support their parents as well.  I just thought my parents valued hard work.  I do remember feeling funny when I was in 7th grade and a classmate brought our 2nd grade photo to school.  I was horrified when I realized I was wearing the same skirt!


Fast forward to my married life.  We raised our children in a very similar manner.  I was married and a Mom at the age of 18.  Marty worked in construction and I often ran out of money and food before the week was over.  I knew that I could write a check at the grocery store on Friday afternoon and it wouldn't clear the bank before I deposited his paycheck on Monday morning.  When the kids were 6, 9, and 11 we decided to move to Madras and farm full time.  That meant we lost health insurance coverage and had to purchase health insurance.  In hindsight we probably would have qualified for Medicaid but we didn't think to check.  It was our responsibility to care for ourselves and our children.  At the schools insistence we did fill out the paperwork for free lunch for the kids as that increased their funding.  But we continued to send our kids to school every morning with lunch money.  We went from an all white community to one of the most diverse communities in Oregon.  Madras schools are essentially 1/3 white, 1/3 Hispanic, and 1/3 Native American.  Our kids were a bit shocked on the first day of school but adjusted quickly and fit in well.  I won't say there isn't any racial tension but it's usually the older generation that struggles. 


I don't remember the year that we learned another life lesson that has really stuck with us.  We had scrimped and given up much to provide health care for our children without giving it a second thought.  A family in Bend had different ideas.  They earned to much money to qualify for Medicaid but chose not to purchase health insurance for their family.  They spent their money on camps and travel in the hopes that their talented son would become a world class snowboarder.   Their hopes were dashed when he crashed and was paralyzed.  They had no health insurance to cover his care and did not qualify for Medicaid.  So what happened?  The government succumbed to public pressure and provided for his care for life.  And the family got a brand new accessible home.  They made a choice and my tax dollars paid for it.


So where does that leave me today.  I'm a Republican but I voted Libertarian in the last presidential election.  It was an easy choice as Oregon is so heavily Democrat that my vote didn't matter.  I still value hard work and honesty.  I believe that we should take care of those that are less fortunate...unless it's due to their laziness!  I don't believe I should be forced by the government to share what I've worked hard for with others who choose not to work but I'm willing to share...especially with children.  I believe we all deserve basic health care and the right to purchase better care.


I believe in judging a person by their actions not by their color, age, gender...  I'm proud of my country and the sacrifices my family made to protect it.  That doesn't mean I think we are perfect.  But I'm proud and patriotic.  


I'm disappointed that our country's leaders can't acknowledge a good policy/decision if it's made by the other party.  I don't like a lot of things Trump does but come on.  He gets it right occasionally.  I think Clinton is morally abhorrent but he did do some good things and I'll admit it.  I think GW was/is a great person but I didn't like a lot of the things he did while he was in office.   I don't understand why we can't be more tolerant of others.  I chose to be friends with people because they are good people regardless of their political beliefs.


I've taken up way to much space on Michele's blog.  Hope I'm allowed to join the friendly conversation...when COVID is over.
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Post  Michele "1L" Keane Fri Sep 04, 2020 1:23 pm

I think Nancy pretty much summed it all up, and why I am friends with all of you.
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Post  nkrichards Mon Sep 07, 2020 1:52 pm

Hope your run went well this morning Michele.  I know it's not the same as running in Boston but it is another Boston under your belt.  Hopefully next year we'll all be racing in person again.

Stay well...
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Post  ounce Tue Sep 08, 2020 2:51 pm

Ditto.

I saw the photos you posted.  If Houston decides to do their races as virtual with no time limit, like Boston chose to, I will register for the marathon.  I can complete 26.2 miles with no time limit and it would be my 9th toward my target of 10.  Houston has already written that if the race isn't held, those that registered for 2021 will have the opportunity to defer to 2022.

Have a bottle of red on me, Miche1e.  Gratz!
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Post  nkrichards Tue Sep 08, 2020 8:52 pm

ounce wrote:Ditto.

I saw the photos you posted.  If Houston decides to do their races as virtual with no time limit, like Boston chose to, I will register for the marathon.  I can complete 26.2 miles with no time limit and it would be my 9th toward my target of 10.  Houston has already written that if the race isn't held, those that registered for 2021 will have the opportunity to defer to 2022.

Have a bottle of red on me, Miche1e.  Gratz!
I found Michele's photos on Strava as well...and now she knows I'm on Strava.  Oops.  I can't hide. Razz

I thought the time limit for the virtual Boston was 6 hours but I read the fine print and I guess that was the "suggested" time limit.  Anyway...Michele's streak is alive and well.
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Post  Michele "1L" Keane Sun Sep 13, 2020 5:01 pm

No time limits - Boston removed them completely.  I would have liked to have run faster, but the last couple of weeks of my training were very draining with the weather, and since I was running with others, I just decided to go with the flow.  And time doesn't count anyway.  The woman that I run with in NY ran 3:47 which is awesome but they were able to run the Erie (PA) marathon course which basically has no road crossings or even other people on it.   I also ended up being the one to lay out the course and coordinate everything too.     It was fun though!   Hopefully I don't look too old for these women since I could be the girl on my right's Mom - lol.  I'm almost 10 yrs older than the next closest woman in this group - yikes!


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Post  ounce Mon Sep 14, 2020 10:06 pm

Don't you fret about age, young lady.

At the risk of repeating myself, it's the model, not the miles.
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Post  Mark B Tue Sep 15, 2020 10:19 am

You may be older, but you're the fittest looking one in the bunch. Well done on the virtual Boston.

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Post  Michele "1L" Keane Tue Nov 17, 2020 2:49 pm

I do indeed come by and read through the posts every once in a while.  And since some of you are on FB and Strava, you do know that I'm still at it and that I even ran an "in person" 10 mile race on November 1st.  It went well in spite of the difficult, hilly course and we had a nice weather morning too (mid-50s).  I'm actually training to run/walk a 50K come December 5th as part of a tri-club Challenge.  We did a 5K Swim (lake) challenge back in September that I did, a bike miles challenge back in May, so now this one.  Heck, why not.  I'm only disappointed that it is on a flat, concrete (mostly) rails to trails here in GA called the Silver Comet Trail.  Very, very pretty, but I'd like a couple of small inclines/declines to mix it up, and I guess there is a bridge to cross.  There is a 50 mile! Challenge too that will take you over some hills in the latter miles - but that seemed really, really stupid.  Been running 60 mile weeks and I've slowed down a lot - weather hasn't helped until this week since it was still in the 70s and quite humid, but tomorrow morning, it will actually be in the 30s.  2020 is as usual weird.

Worked as a poll worker and have been involved a bit in our upcoming Senate run-off.  Very interesting time especially with our hand audit/recount.  I didn't witness anything weird on election day at all, just a steady stream of voters, and that steady stream started back on October 12th.  Agree or disagree with my choices - it is time to get over it and move on.  Lot's of sore losers including our two Rep Senators who are doing a bit more whining right now than their jobs. Wish there was a way to get them to spend as much money on the programs we need as a country than their ridiculous TV ads.  Unbelievable.  

No worries, I'll stop by again after my 50K and report back.
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Post  Mark B Tue Nov 17, 2020 10:32 pm

Good luck on the 50K!

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Post  ounce Wed Nov 18, 2020 3:36 pm

Good time for a 50K to run in December.  It'll either be blustery or 'pleasant.'

Just remember on your hydration during the race...water will freeze, but wine won't.
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Post  nkrichards Wed Nov 18, 2020 6:29 pm

Hope you enjoy the 50K.  I love trying new things and I especially loved training with others for my half Ironman.  Sounds like you've got a great group of training partners and you/they are coming up with great ideas to stay active while we're unable to organize in person race events.

Stay safe.
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Post  Michele "1L" Keane Thu Dec 10, 2020 11:38 am

So you all know that I ran a little run this past Saturday, and it was actually fun and quite fulfilling.  Sometime in late August, my local tri club put out the feelers to see how many people might want to try their hand at a 50 or 100K run on our local rails to trails, the Silver Comet.  The SCT runs from Marietta, GA (just outside Atlanta) to the Alabama state line and is roughly 62 miles from end to the state line.  Since it has been a weird year, and I knew that I was not going to embark on my 2nd Iron Man (just couldn't wrap my head around training after so many cancellations/virtual races, etc.), I thought I might do it.  I still had my virtual Boston to run, and I figured that I'd see how I felt after that.  

My virtual Boston was somewhat of a disappointment.  I didn't have  a great day and never actually felt right from the start.  I probably over trained a bit in the heat and humidity and I think I just never really wrapped my head around the whole thing.  So much worry and craziness with my daughter teaching in person in the time of COVID and my personal life being a bit of a mess.  Running/biking, etc. is my outlet and it was stressing me a bit with the pressure of Boston even as a virtual race.  After the virtual run, I took a couple of down days and then focused on a crazy 5K swim challenge that was a week later just to get my mind off running.  I then just started back real easy to see how I felt and focused on just making sure the runs and rides felt good.  The tri club had put out a loose schedule of mileage and working with my Coach, we put together a weekly plan that had me focus more on running as I started to feel better about it again and the weather began to cooperate.  I actually got up to a 70 mile week at the peak which I handled and only had one really (really, really) bad run which meant that I got it out of the way.

On to challenge day.  I got up very early (3:30 am), dressed and ate breakfast (oatmeal, a banana, coffee and some Gatorade), finished packing my car and left for the starting area  to arrive at 5:20 am.  Several folks were running the 50K+ (it was actually just shy of 33 miles) and two were running the 100K (to the State Line).  After some quick logistics and pictures, we took off in the pitch black at 6 am.

My plan was to have Andrew help crew me for the first few miles until I met up with my daughter at the 15 (14.6) mile trail head.  I had several gels, some Base salt, some gummy chews and a full bottle of Infinit with me.  The first few miles were with a lot of company and we ticked off 6, 8, 10, 12 miles feeling very easy with some banter and talk and it went by very quickly.  I gave Andrew my light up vest and headlamp at mile 7 and then I missed him at mile 12 (he was helping others too), but I smartly put a Nuun tablet in my belt so I stopped at mile 12 to use the bathroom and re-fill my bottle knowing I could make it to mile 15.  

At mile 15, I met Shannon at the trail head, took off my top layer, filled my bottle, had another gel and grabbed some more gummies.  I felt fine and actually had been struggling with keeping the pace in check as I certainly didn't want to run too fast.  At this point, I was running by myself which was fine and kind of pleasant.  I don't run with music at all, so I was just kind of taking in the trail and the scenery and moving along to see Shannon again at mile 22.  During this stretch, Tim came by on his bike and we chatted at bit which was fun, I caught up with Stephanie who was running the relay, and I kind of reveled in the fact that I had only ever been on this part of the trail on my bike.  The trail also changes to concrete from asphalt somewhere in this stretch, but I didn't let that get to me.  There is also a "downhill" section (the trail is like a net 1-2% grade from mile 0, so even though it is downhill, it isn't that noticeable except for pace) to the 22 mile mark at Rambo Nursery.

Got to mile 22 without any issues and again refueled with another gel, a banana and once again refilled my bottle with Infinit.  I knew this was the last time I would see Shannon or anyone really unless they were on the trail running or riding until the end at mile 32+.  I would also get to run through the tunnel which was a section that I had never even ridden through (I had only ridden out as far as mile 25 in the past).  I made it my goal to "not walk" (shuffle if need be) until at least the tunnel.   A tri coach friend of mine told me before my first full IM to resist walking if I could during the run and even if I was running a 30 min mile, keep running, and I took that to heart.  So I kept moving forward.  This part of the trail seems like an endless uphill (which it actually is to the tunnel) and I had to keep focusing by putting one foot in front of the other and making it to the tunnel.  At roughly the marathon distance, there was a sign that said the tunnel was 4 more miles and I glanced at my watch (which had overall time including stops as I didn't pause or stop it at my re-fuel stops) which noted that I had run for 4:19 min - which in reality is my BQ for a 60 yr old (and I'll be 59 in less than a month) so that was cool.  Keep moving forward, taking in the leaves, the squirrel and the occasional biker.  Adrienne passed me somewhere along this stretch as she was running the relay and told me that I had roughly 5 miles to go, and at that point, I knew I'd make it as I still felt good and all systems were a go.

It seems like several miles after seeing Adrienne that I saw the entrance to the tunnel.  I texted Shannon to let her know that I was there, and that I had about 2.5 miles left to go.  The tunnel is actually surreal as it is a large concrete structure just wide enough for a train and quite high.  It echoes when you run through it and suddenly the "hill" seemed to finally flatten out.  Just as I exited the tunnel, I had a really weird sensation as I suddenly felt like I was in a fog and that I might pass out - so remembering what Doug had said once - I took another gel and a hit of Base salt and after a few moments I felt fine again.  My pace had slowed a bit at that point, but I knew that I was almost done.  It was along here that Tim caught me on his bike again as he was headed to the 50K finish to welcome those of us who were done and make sure those doing the 100K (who were not far behind me) got their stuff there.  

The last 2 miles is a blur, but suddenly I could see the lake on my left and knew that I was going to be done in a matter of minutes.  Andrew was there with his Go-Pro taping and giving me a fist bump, and Shannon was there to run me in the last few steps to the "finish line banner" and I was done.  5 hours and 28 mins after starting (5 hrs 22 min of running) and I had done it - 32.89 miles.   And surprise, I was tired, but I have been more tired after a hard half marathon or even 10 mile Race, which made me very, very happy.  

Would I do it again???? Not so sure, but it certainly gave me a lot of confidence both in my ability to run that far and pace (my pacing was actually very good and I didn't really drop off that much in that my last mile was the same as my first) and my ability to handle slightly higher mileage in training which I think served me well.  I also found that the "shorter" training cycle may have served me quite well too.  I'm excited for a couple of weeks of easy downtime and then hopefully getting back into training for a late February marathon.  For that marathon, I'd like to run one last sub-4 (hopefully sub 3:50) and get my last qualifier so I can run Boston in 2022 as a 60 yr old.


Last edited by Michele "1L" Keane on Wed Dec 16, 2020 9:00 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Post  nkrichards Fri Dec 11, 2020 2:39 pm

Nice run!  I saw your splits on Strava.  Quite impressive.

So questions.

  • Do you have a local coach that you can actually talk to face to face?  Where do you find a coach?  I'm considering looking into a coach.  It's expensive but a small price to pay for my health.  I had a couple sessions with a local coach in 2013 and she tweaked my training...adding warm up and cool down and designing a core/strength workout.  But she struggled to come down to my level.  Bend is a super competitive climate and the coaches seem to be more in line with more successful athletes.  I communicated with Luke Humphrey and paid for a custom designed plan but I didn't feel I had enough personal contact...and it also was interrupted by life.
  • Do you think you'll be able to race in person in February?  Local marathon?
  • What do you think the future of Boston looks like?  I can't seem to shake the desire to go back but only if I can run a BQ.  I turn 65 in April of 2023.


Thanks for taking the time to post your report.  Lots of interesting lessons in there.

Take care and enjoy the holidays...
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Post  Michele "1L" Keane Fri Dec 11, 2020 8:37 pm

nkrichards wrote:Nice run!  I saw your splits on Strava.  Quite impressive.

So questions.

  • Do you have a local coach that you can actually talk to face to face?  Where do you find a coach?  I'm considering looking into a coach.  It's expensive but a small price to pay for my health.  I had a couple sessions with a local coach in 2013 and she tweaked my training...adding warm up and cool down and designing a core/strength workout.  But she struggled to come down to my level.  Bend is a super competitive climate and the coaches seem to be more in line with more successful athletes.  I communicated with Luke Humphrey and paid for a custom designed plan but I didn't feel I had enough personal contact...and it also was interrupted by life.
  • Do you think you'll be able to race in person in February?  Local marathon?
  • What do you think the future of Boston looks like?  I can't seem to shake the desire to go back but only if I can run a BQ.  I turn 65 in April of 2023.


Thanks for taking the time to post your report.  Lots of interesting lessons in there.

Take care and enjoy the holidays...
My answers:

1) Actually, I did use a local coach for my IM and I will use her again for the next one, but I actually use a Hanson's coach for marathons and for this run - Melissa Johnson-White.  We met at the trials, and she has been great to work with regarding running only.  She is not a triathlon coach, strictly a running coach so I'll go back to my ATC (Atlanta Triathlon Club) coach for Chattanooga.
2) Yes, the February marathon will be held at the Atlanta Motor Speedway which is a "private" venue - so it can let the track club use its facility (for a fee of course which they have set quite low which is nice of them).  The Atlanta Track Club (also ATC) had an in-person race in November at our other (car) race track facility here and it was very well run.  Since the venue was open all day, the ATC sent us off in waves of 10 runners every 15 min and we were relegated to "lanes" for the three loops.  I passed several people but was never actually running next to anyone.  You must wear a mask at the start and finish (as I did for the Ultra - you can see it in my photo if you look closely) and socially distance when not racing/running.  It was very well handled and this will be the same format.  
3) If enough people are vaccinated, then I think Boston 2022 will happen.  Now they may spread out the start more - meaning earlier for some and later for others, and they may lessen the size of the field which might make it more competitive - but I think large marathons will indeed return.  I think that 2021 may set a fall date, but again, you will have to have proof of vaccination to run the "in person" race.  That will be interesting as I am probably 99th out of 100 to receive a vaccination in GA.  With a new administration, the wearing of masks and such may change and we may get a handle of this virus before the end of summer.    But then again - who knows.
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Post  Michele "1L" Keane Fri Dec 11, 2020 8:38 pm

And here is the tunnel of which I spoke in my race report:Oops I Did It Again - 2020 - Boston & Chattanooga Bound - Page 2 131168356_10221444311291559_8488380464348942198_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=2&_nc_sid=dbeb18&_nc_ohc=aAESHxrD5lYAX8MzINa&_nc_ht=scontent.fatl1-1
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Post  nkrichards Sat Dec 12, 2020 11:13 am

Michele \"1L" Keane wrote:
nkrichards wrote:Nice run!  I saw your splits on Strava.  Quite impressive.

So questions.

  • Do you have a local coach that you can actually talk to face to face?  Where do you find a coach?  I'm considering looking into a coach.  It's expensive but a small price to pay for my health.  I had a couple sessions with a local coach in 2013 and she tweaked my training...adding warm up and cool down and designing a core/strength workout.  But she struggled to come down to my level.  Bend is a super competitive climate and the coaches seem to be more in line with more successful athletes.  I communicated with Luke Humphrey and paid for a custom designed plan but I didn't feel I had enough personal contact...and it also was interrupted by life.
  • Do you think you'll be able to race in person in February?  Local marathon?
  • What do you think the future of Boston looks like?  I can't seem to shake the desire to go back but only if I can run a BQ.  I turn 65 in April of 2023.


Thanks for taking the time to post your report.  Lots of interesting lessons in there.

Take care and enjoy the holidays...
My answers:

1) Actually, I did use a local coach for my IM and I will use her again for the next one, but I actually use a Hanson's coach for marathons and for this run - Melissa Johnson-White.  We met at the trials, and she has been great to work with regarding running only.  She is not a triathlon coach, strictly a running coach so I'll go back to my ATC (Atlanta Triathlon Club) coach for Chattanooga.
2) Yes, the February marathon will be held at the Atlanta Motor Speedway which is a "private" venue - so it can let the track club use its facility (for a fee of course which they have set quite low which is nice of them).  The Atlanta Track Club (also ATC) had an in-person race in November at our other (car) race track facility here and it was very well run.  Since the venue was open all day, the ATC sent us off in waves of 10 runners every 15 min and we were relegated to "lanes" for the three loops.  I passed several people but was never actually running next to anyone.  You must wear a mask at the start and finish (as I did for the Ultra - you can see it in my photo if you look closely) and socially distance when not racing/running.  It was very well handled and this will be the same format.  
3) If enough people are vaccinated, then I think Boston 2022 will happen.  Now they may spread out the start more - meaning earlier for some and later for others, and they may lessen the size of the field which might make it more competitive - but I think large marathons will indeed return.  I think that 2021 may set a fall date, but again, you will have to have proof of vaccination to run the "in person" race.  That will be interesting as I am probably 99th out of 100 to receive a vaccination in GA.  With a new administration, the wearing of masks and such may change and we may get a handle of this virus before the end of summer.    But then again - who knows.
Thanks Michele.  I think if I'm really serious about trying to run a BQ in the future a coach would be advisable.  I've been working on running a lot more miles and more frequently this year and I've been able to handle it much better than I ever expected.  Not fast miles but lots of miles.  I'll look into the Hanson options.  I like their strategy.  Just out of curiosity...what level of coaching do you utilize?  Does it provide adequate personal contact?

Enjoy the holidays.  Hope marathon training goes well.  What a great opportunity for an in person event.
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Post  Michele "1L" Keane Wed Dec 16, 2020 9:03 pm

Not sure if there is a level with Hanson's - honestly cannot remember - but I pretty much have contact with her weekly.  We were fortunate to have met at the trials, so I am sure the personal aspect of the relationship has helped a lot.  As for my tri coach, she is from the local group, so we talk constantly.  She is really there more to guide than actually coach, whereas Melissa is there to coach me with regards to my marathon plans.  To me, doing a full IM is a different beast all together.
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