Randomly Thinking

Well, the 2006 New York City Marathon is complete. I’m back on the ground in Houston after a four-day adventure in the greatest city in the world.

Thanks to everyone who called, emailed, or sent text messages wishing good luck or asking about the race. Without your thoughts and support, I would not have been able to complete this adventure on running’s biggest day. I figured this forum was as good as any to share some thoughts about the race for fellow runners and my other peer groups, friends, and family.

It’s been a while since I wrote in the blog, so I’ll start from the beginning.

In 2005, I applied online for the New York City Marathon (heretofore known as the NYC marathon – cheap legal reference courtesy of Scott Kelly). I wasn’t selected, but decided I’d apply every year until my name was selected. After four years of applying, a runner is guaranteed entry. I figured my name would come up in 2008, as my marathon times are mediocre compared to some of the better-trained weekend warriors in my peer groups.

However, in June, I got the email from the New York Road Runners Club that I was selected to run the race on November 5. It was a thrill just to get selected. I was already in shape, having completed the Madison (Wis.) Half-Marathon on Memorial Day Weekend. The temperatures in Wisconsin that weekend were extremely warm for the season – records, in fact. Based on my finishing time and endurance, I knew I could finish NYC without much worry, but it was time to get in shape for the biggest race in the world.

I started hitting the road in Houston to train for the marathon. I knew my friends at KatyFit would be starting their training program in July, so I marked my calendar for then and completed some longer runs in June and over the 4th of July Holiday.

Then, the heat and humidity hit me.

Houston in the summer is legendary and I decided training for a PR in the NYC Marathon would be almost impossible with the heat, humidity, work schedule, and timing – less than 3 months ‘til race day. By making that decision, I put a lesser importance on the time in NYC and more emphasis on the enjoyment of the run. I set Houston (or New Orleans) as a goal race and began to view NYC as a long training run and maybe the world’s greatest fun run. In the end, I hit both a PR and enjoyed the route.

Instead of a long narrative about my experiences leading up to the race and then on the course, I’m going to switch to a stream-of-conscience style, as the entire event is very overwhelming on the senses. I’m sure I’ll leave some thoughts out as I complete this blog entry, but I’ve got one last day of vacation and I’m enjoying every minute of not checking the Cox Radio email address or answering the phone unless absolutely necessary.

Jennifer and I flew into LaGuardia on Friday night (11/3). We arrived around 4 p.m. and jumped in a cab to our hotel in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn. I gave the cab driver the address of our hotel and he provided me with a blank stare. Great, I thought, here we go again. The last time I took a cab was in Atlanta and it was Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. However, after a couple wrong turns, our cab driver located the hotel.

We found our room, put our bags up, and flipped on the TV. We found WNBC-TV, the official TV home of the NYC Marathon and the only WNBC left on the AM/FM/VHF dial and I’ll never be able to say WNBC without the placing an emphasis on the “N” (Howard Stern’s Private Parts reference).

We were meeting my father at the hotel on Saturday to head to Manhattan for packet pick-up, but Jen and I decided we needed to hit Manhattan on Friday night for a little Italian food. I’m a big believer in that the Friday before a Sunday race is more important than the Saturday night. In other words, carb-load on Friday night. And, make sure a good night’s sleep can be had the second night prior to the marathon than on the eve of the race. With that in mind, Jen and I jumped on a subway (two blocks from our hotel) and headed for Little Italy.

I’ve been to New York a number of times throughout the years and am very comfortable on the subway. It’s safe, clean, and can get you anywhere you need to go. It’s a model of mass transit for the developed and developing world. However, when I jumped off the train on Canal Street in Manhattan with my wonderful wife (who’s been to New York a number of times also, but never Little Italy), she looked at me and said, “I think we’re in Chinatown.” I laughed to myself and said to give me a block or two. After a short walk, we began to get the olfactory sensations of lasagna and ravioli. Mulberry Street was within site. For those familiar with New York, understand the irony.

We decided on a restaurant and dined. The first picture we saw in the restaurant was the owner with Opie and Anthony. Maybe it was my kind of place. Various other famous people we scattered throughout the walls. The atmosphere was great. Now, I’m not a food critic, but the food was fair and the service was terrible.

It also confirmed in my mind that food in the Midwest and the Northeast lacks the flair and style of food in the Southwest. Presentation isn’t as important in those regions as it is in Texas or the West. Yes, I’m politely saying the food in the Midwest and the Northeast is plain compared to food in Texas. That’s my belief and I’m sticking to it. This was also confirmed by visits to two local restaurants in Brooklyn. The food was good and the atmosphere was excellent at these stops, but the flair was lacking (and this is by no means an Office Space reference).

Jen and I finished our meal, grabbed a cannoli on the street and headed to the subway.

Saturday morning arrived and so did my father. We left our bags in Brooklyn and headed back to Manhattan for packet pick-up and lunch. We arrived at the Javits Center for packet pick-up and found a well-oiled machine. We were quickly passed off to our appropriate color group (more on that later) and grabbed our number and timing chip. Then, it was T-shirt pick-up and for this race - a nice technical shirt with long sleeves. I guess when the entry fee is greater than $100 American, a technical shirt can be provided.

The expo was the mother of all race expos. It had all the shoe companies including Mizuno (my brand), Nike, and Asics – the official sponsor. We walked away with more Powerbars, Marathon bars, and mixes than we’ll use in the next six months.

As with almost no other marathon operations, packet pick-up and the expo was a very well oiled machine – organized, structured, and very choreographed. Race day was the same day. It was almost a military operation, according to Al Trautwig, who anchored the marathon coverage. I heard most of the coverage on my Walkman as it as an AM/FM/VHF receiver and I was able to tune-in the pre-race soundtrack on WNBC-TV.

After a sightseeing trip to the Top of the Rock (my father enjoyed this because my mother is acrophobic) and lunch at a real New York pizza place (near Herald Square), it was off to the ESPN Zone in Times Square to catch up on college football before heading back to Brooklyn. Walking around Manhattan was probably not the best pre-race activity, but when you’re in New York, take advantage of everything around you.

Our hotel in Brooklyn was at the 5K mark of the race. It was great for my wife and father as spectators. They watched the live race coverage on TV and then could walk out to the sidewalk and see the runners live. For me, it became a logistical nightmare. I needed to get across the Verranzo Bridge by 7 a.m. for the 10 a.m. start. Buses to the start ran from only Manhattan. It meant either catching a city bus across the bridge or taking a car service. I opted for the car service. It turned out to be an expensive 3-mile ride ($45), but hearing the NYPD officer yell at the driver in his Brooklyn accent made it worth the money. The driver stopped where he shouldn’t have raising the ire of the cop. I threw my money at him and ran to the entrance. I let the driver deal with the Det. Sipowicz wannabe.

After waking up at 3:30 a.m. without an alarm on Sunday morning, I made it to the start of the race. I found my area in the orange group. Being orange meant that I started on the top of the bridge. Over-hydrated runners urinate on runners on the lower deck – not knowingly of course. It pays to be in shape because the slower runners get the bottom of the bridge.

I had about four hours to kill before the race. I read two magazines and dumped them in the trash. I ate breakfast, drank water, and stretched. I also peed in the world’s longest urinal – which was a distinct advantage for men over women.

Being a media junkie, I also checked out the WNBC-TV4 live broadcast and snooped on their set-up. There is such an allure of working in New York, but doing a live broadcast is no different in New York than it is in Houston, Austin, Boise, Milwaukee, or Madison. There are just more people that can watch or listen.

The start was a little daunting. What should I wear? How cold would it be? Jen and I had cleaned out our closets in January 2006 and taken six garbage bags of clothes to the Purple Heart folks. That left my closet a little empty. I needed some discard clothes. In my promotion/marketing director days, this was easy. I grabbed a movie sweatshirt out of the closet prior to a big race. That’s what I did for Chicago in 2005.

Now, our promotion director had no promo sweatshirts. I was going to have to improvise. I found an old knit poncho purchased in Mexico and wore that for warmth. I also layered a couple of old flannel shirts. If I left these on the course, Jennifer would be very happy. As the sun came up over Long Island and we stood on the bridge to start the race, I started dropping the clothes. Somewhere, a homeless person in the New York area has a stylish red and white poncho. If I didn’t drop it Sunday, it would have made its way to the Goodwill pile in the next couple years.

After a four-hour wait, it was time to head to the bridge to start the race. I was near people of my own ability. We talked about strategy and college football before the race. One of the best things I did for the race was to wear a Texas Longhorns burnt orange T-shirt. It was easy for people to yell for me. Instead of trying to read my name, they could see the color and the Texas emblem then shout “Go Texas.”

As a proud graduate of the University of Wisconsin, it was hard not to wear a Bucky T-shirt. But until the current chancellor is removed from office for letting the institution slip in the national ratings and fighting battles that don’t need to be fought, I’m not giving Bucky any free publicity. Full disclosure – I did wear a knit hat with a Wisconsin logo, bit that was not as visible. It simply covered my ears from the wind.

Crossing the bridge was great. Frank Sinatra was singing in the background. Six helicopters floated above the bridge. Manhattan was in view. So was the Statue of Liberty. And 39,000 runners were packed into one large pack, shedding clothes and screaming. There was more adrenaline on the bridge than anywhere I’ve ever been including a college fraternity house and a Las Vegas casino.

We ran across the bridge and that’s where the race started. Mile 1 is on the bridge. It was very slow. I could reach out and touch someone the entire race. I couldn’t get a stride until mile 4. I was busy trying not to get run over or tripped. Even when that was happening, I still ran into a construction barrel on the 59th Street Bridge, an uneven manhole in Williamsburg, and 7 or 8 runners throughout the course. Crowded is an understatement. It was like running with the entire crowd at Minute Maid Park following a Roger Clemens pitching appearance. Runners were everywhere – left, right, forward, back, diagonal.

And, a bigger challenge was the language barrier. In past marathons in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, New Orleans, Chicago, or Madison, a simple "on your left" was understood. In the NYC Marathon, there were so many languages spoken that sometimes German, Italian, Chinese, or Arabic were the only languages understood by other runners. That meant some bump drafting (yes, a NASCAR reference).

The water stations were also tough to navigate. I decided on Saturday night as I tried to fall asleep that I’d walk all the water stations. This proved to be a good strategy as the concrete and pavement was soaked at each station with Gatorade and discarded cups. I saw people slip, fall, and tumble into each other at the water stations. By walking the water stations, I probably saved myself a fall or two.

For as crowded as the course was with runners, the spectators were awesome. The streets were lined with at least one person in every mile. Sometimes the crowds were five or six deep. They cheered for you as if you worked with them in Brooklyn, the Bronx, or Manhattan. The crowds were truly inspirational. Including my own fan club.

Jen and my father saw me at mile three. By selecting a hotel on the route, I was able to make a necessary pit stop. It added four minutes to my official time, but allowed my to not sit in a port-a-pot. For this, I give our trip planning an A. After passing my fan club, I hit a stride for the long stretch of Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn. I went from a 14 minute pace to a nine-minute pace at some points.

Then, the blue and orange routes merged at mile 8. Again, it was a crowd and a slow pace. You’re trying not to step on anyone. The course again merged with the green near the 59th Street Bridge, again slowing everything down.

After crossing the bridge into Manhattan, I saw my fan club again at 68th Street while I was headed to the Bronx. They also appeared at mile 25 in Central Park. Knowing they were on the course was a big inspiration.

I reached the final 800 meters to go with little energy. But, I also knew what it was like to run an 800 with little energy. This is where I turned it on. I knew I could set a PR and I did – by 59 seconds.

I reached three of five goals - that's the salesperson in me.

I finished. That’s goal #1 for any race.

Goal #2 was to have my name in the New York Times. To do that, I needed to finish less than 5 hours on the official clock. I accomplished that.

And, I set a PR.

I wanted to finish in less that 4:20 and that can be accomplished in Houston or New Orleans next year.

A four-hour marathon is also within sight. I need to keep pounding it out and finishing in New York will continue that inspiration.

I wouldn’t have made it through the course without the help of friends and family who texted, emailed, called, and asked about my training. If I listed names, I’d leave somebody out. You know who you are and to each of you I say thanks.

To Jennifer and my father who showed up in New York to make this possible, I’m forever grateful. Without knowing that you’d be along the course, it would have been difficult to continue. Thanks to the power of text, I was able to track their location and find them because finding a runner is like finding a needle in a haystack.

I’ll probably write more at another time, but this is a start. I think I’ve missed a mention of the celebrities in the race, although I did beat Gov. Huckabee of Arkansas. I could talk forever about the neighborhoods, especially Bay Ridge, Williamsburg, and Central Park. I missed a mention about our Monday trip to Coney Island and the sense of appreciation it gives you for history.

As Jen and I waited for our delayed flight from LaGuardia on Monday (because of storms in Houston), I decided I’d sign up for the lottery in 2007. Why not? I’ve been through it once and have really come to believe that the New York City Marathon is the greatest sporting event in the world. It’s not about professional athletes getting paid millions of dollars. It’s about millions of people cheering for the everyday athlete and weekend warrior. It’s about you and me accomplishing a goal of personal fitness, growth, and achievement. It’s something that all of us can do and that’s why it’s special.

-30-

It's time to play catch up with a few things as Jennifer and I have been on the road:

- Spent the weekend in Indiana for my sister's wedding. It was a great weekend and a beautiful ceremony. The Indiana University campus is maybe the quintessential college campus. It has a number of quads or malls with a number of fraternities and residence halls in featured locations around the campus. As pretty as it was, I was a little overwhelmed with IU branded material. As a Bucky alum, that's hard to swallow for three straight days.

The other thing about Indiana is that everytime I visit the state, I feel like I'm traveling back to 1950. I start looking for cars with tail fins and drive-ins serving malts. I'm tempted to check the paper and see if Ike is the president and if Bobby Darin is performing somewhere that night in an auditorium. It's almost like when Marty McFly landed in the Delorean.

- I know it's old news, but did we see the sensitive side of Ozzie Guillen last night when he started crying during the Clemente tribute at the All-Star Game? Must be all that training he's been going through lately.

Should Ozzie have said it? No

Should it have been discussed? Sure

Do the White Sox care? Yes - at least in the PR game when the camera is rolling. But behind the scenes, Reinsdorf and the rest of the front office is excited because for the first time since the 50s and 60s - the Sox are the sports story in Chicago. Bigger than Da Bears, Da Bulls, and the Cubs. The Sox lead the 10 p.m. sports on WLS-TV. The Sox are on the front page of the sports section. And, the tickets are hard to get. The Sox are relevant to the whole city today. In the past, the Sox mattered to their niche of fans on the southside and segments in the suburbs. Today, everyone is a casual Sox fan.

What about Mariotti? He's still a tool. Has been since he started writing. But, he's not paid to be buddies with the players or other media members. He has one job - to write his opinion on the printed page and provide a compelling argument that makes people want to grab a copy of the Sun-Times on their way to the Metra station. Mariotti's opinionated writing is why some people pick up the Sun-Times instead of the Tribune, the Daily Herald, or the Daily Southtown.

I've paid close attention to this discussion since it started last month. I've read about it on the internet and in print. One piece of analysis I never saw was a discussion of the fact that Chicago is still a multiple newspaper town. Opinions and editorials still matter as the newspapers battle for readers. Give the sports fan an opinion they can get in the competition or on the internet and it might drive single copy sales and subscriptions. Objective reporting should be in every paper. Unique opinions and columns provide each individual daily a competitive advantage.

This wasn't discussed as a number of major metro including Houston, Milwaukee, Atlanta, and Los Angeles are (for the most part) single newspaper towns. These publications don't need to worry about their competitor. They're the only game in town. If the Houston Chronicle's writing isn't too cutting edge, it doesn't provide a disadvantage to anybody but the readers. The Chron's bottom line is okay because there isn't another choice for a local daily newspaper delivered to your front door.

The same way the Sox are okay with Ozzie running his mouth, the Sun-Times love Mariotti's notoriety. It's free publicity and the kind you can't purchase with an advertising and marketing plan. It's water cooler talk and viral.

It also goes to show that strong cities and nations have more than one voice - whether that's an objective voice reporting facts or a conservative on Fox News. This, of course, is also part of the challenge of media in 2006 as Chris Anderson writes about in The Long Tail. As the choices for music, media, television, news, print, and more explode, the targeting of the audience becomes more difficult. I've read excerpts of The Long Tail. For those interested in the media, it's fascinating.

It's also sad. An era is over. The reporter with the derby hat and source at the local cop shop matters less than the middle-aged blogger from The Woodlands. Disseminating information to the public is changing as facts are valued less than opinions. If you don't believe me, ask a friend who voted republican in '04 and then ask a friend who voted democratic in '04. Find out where they get their information. The answers are predictable, but paint a picture of today's media world.

-30-

Thanks to everyone for their feedback on the T-shirt for the ING New York City Marathon. On the front stretch, the leader out of the gate is for a Freeport Pretzels shirt, including one nomination for a vintage "You Can Eat Us, But You Can't Beat Us" model from 1990. There's been some chatter about a version of the Kenyans saying.

Spread the word because voting continues for a while and as they say in Chicago (and Mexico): Vote Early and Vote Often.

Had two workouts earlier this week. A 3-mile run and a 3.6 mile run. Heading to Cullen Park for a quick run before two days off prior to a long run on Saturday.

Rescue Me keeps getting better and better. Tommy now lives in an empty house (in more than one way), he might have an STD, is going to date his brother's ex-wife as a means to revenge, has an uncle in prison, and a soon-to-be ex-wife who still has feelings for him. With a story line like this, it's almost like a daytime soap opera.

-30-

In case you haven't been reading, I was one of the lucky runners selected to compete in the New York City Marathon in November. Missed the sponsor mention. I mean, the ING New York City Marathon. It's November 5 and goes through all five boroughs of the city.

I'm very excited about being selected. 90,000 people entered the lottery and about 20,000 people were selected to compete. They'll be more than 30,000 runners that fall Sunday as there are certain exemptions to guarantee entry.

Here's where you come into the picture. I need some help choosing a T-shirt to wear during the event. I've graduated from two universities, a high school with a unique nickname, lived in four different cities during my professional career, and cheered for a few different sports teams. I'm not sure what shirt to wear.

In my past distance events, I've worn a couple different junk T-shirts. Look, one of the perks of radio and running are the free T-shirts. I also don't like to put my name on my shirt. Everybody does that and Mike is a very common name.

So, I'm asking for your help. Below is a list of options for T-Shirts. Please respond by posting a comment on which shirt I should choose. This vote is non-binding and I reserve the right to veto any winner.

I look forward to your feedback. Here are your options:

A) Freeport Pretzels. Yes, that's my high school and that's the nickname. It would probably be a very unique T-shirt in Brooklyn and The Bronx. I'd have to order a shirt through the Iron-T-Junction.

B) Wisconsin Badgers. I don't think I need to elaborate.

C) Boise State Broncos. I caught a pass on the Smurf Turf during my Idaho tenure. Probably not too many BSU shirts in Queens.

G) Houston Astros. The Clemens factor might lead to a veto on this option. Not sure if New Yorkers respect America's Favorite House Guest anymore. I don't know if I want to be covered in vegetables at the end of the run.

I) Houston Texans. Gotta give the locals some love.

J) University of Houston. I hold a graduate degree from this growing institution. It could be my tribute to Andre Ware.

K) Dallas Cowboys. My legacy NFL team. It could be a lot of fun to run the race with a Cowboys shirt in the heart of Giants country. Or, maybe not.

L) A custom "Gotta Catch The Kenyans" Shirt. I'd have to get this one made, but it could provide some humor.

Please post a comment and let me know which shirt is best.

Results and updates throughout July and August. Winner announced after Labor Day.

-30-

Training Update:

Put in about 10 miles, give or take a standard deviation. I'll put that standard deviation as .2 miles. I ran through the swamps of Cullen Park and into Bear Creek Park. There was some standing water from all the rain throughout the week, but only one spot on the trail was puddled over. No alligators or snakes.

It's June and I slept in ('til 7:45), so I hit the road about 8:30. The heat was a factor because of my late start.

Got to listen to the tape delayed broadcast of the Today show because my headset gets the VHF television stations in the market. I listened to how to measure the max heart rate, apply makeup for women over 40, and I got the news and weather at the top of the hour. I can get the big three networks, in addition to the AM & FM frequencies. I know, I need an MP-3 player. Had one, broke it. Haven't grabbed a new one yet. It's coming soon.

When I run through Bear Creek Park, I run past a golf club with 54 holes, the Farm & Ranch Club, and the very 60s looking picnic shelters. Yep, these bad boys are left over from the space age of Houston. It's one of the few relics left paying respect to our background as the Space City.

-30-

I've done some pretty cool things in my life and career in the media. I've met some high profile people, been in the audience during notable moments, and been a part of some special private events. I've always said I need to make a list of the "celebrities" I've met, interviewed, or helped with projects. I've also always kept a list of my top 5 concerts in the back of my head. More on that in another post.

Because of my job, I've had the opportunity to meet a number of people along the way and be a part of the "private showcase" performances artists put on at radio stations. It's the artist's way of promoting their product, just like Sargento Cheese buys advertising or has a retired school teacher distribute cheese cubes at Kroger on a Saturday.

I've seen Britney, Avril, Michelle Branch, the Backstreet Boys, Diddy, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Matchbox Twenty, Goo Goo Dolls, Jewel, Sarah McLachlan, Kenny Rogers, Rascal Flats, Train, Sheryl Crow, Duran Duran, Beyonce w/Destiny's Child, and many more that don't have headliner status perform in intimate settings.

Today was different. Hank Williams Jr. did a private performance for our country station at lunchtime in a hot and steamy airplane hanger at Hooks Airport, just north of Houston. He arrived on a corporate jet (actual jet at right). It was not his personal jet as the air conditioning was out. He stepped off the plane, grabbed his guitar, and performed for about 30 minutes to a crowd of about 100 people. After his performance, he took group photos with the attendees and signed a few autographs even though his handlers said he wouldn't sign for anyone.

It was a setting for a show I'll never forget with a real American music icon. Whether you think country music is simply for rednecks or understand the cultural significance of Hank Williams Jr. and his family tree, it was a truly unique experience and setting. After all, this is the guy made famous by the adaption of one of his records for a weekly television show. Even though the network that made his "All My Rowdy Friends" record crossover into the mainstream didn't renew the weekly series, his song will still be a part of the broadcast as it migrates to ESPN on September 11.

Training Update:

Dotel route, 29:38, about 8:13 miles mean for 3.6 miles. Off until Saturday.

-30-

Training Update:

Tonight was a non-running evening. I did a 15-mile (actually, a 14.8 mile) bike ride through Cullen Park. It's good to keep the pounding off the legs and still work the cardio. I was actually a little more winded after the ride than a run, but that was more about the different muscles.

Cullen Park is where I do a lot of my running. It's a great 3.3 mile trail that only runs into two streets and one is not a main road. I've been running at Cullen Park since 2001 and have seen almost all of the wildlife known to the area: deer, snakes, birds, ducks. But, so far, no alligators. Not sure if I want to see one of those.

We'll punch out with a little Rod Stewart because, every picture tells a story, don't it?









-30-

Training News:

Ran on Sunday. It was hot. I was slow at the end. It was an out and back loop. At the turn, I was pacing for a course record. At the end, I was far from a record. I won't use the heat as an excuse, but it was 92 with 80-percent humidity. Heat index approaching 100. Hot. But, at least I was working it.

Monday was better. Did a mash-up course of about 4 miles. Mean per mile was about 8:30 with an inaccurate measurement. The course was a combination of the Westfield Terra course and the Dotel course.


News Commentary:

If you missed it, there was some rain in Houston today. Not as bad as Brian Williams made it out to be on NBC. Still an unfortunate event for many in the area. It might not be Hurricane Katrina or the "floods of epic" proportions, as was described on NBC's Nightly News, but if you're house is flooded, it's just as bad as last year's hurricanes because it affects you, not somebody you see on TV.


My biggest comment about today's rain is that flooding is going to happen based on Houston's topography, geography, geology, hydrology, and sociology. Because of the way the city is built and developed, flooding is going to happen when there's ten inches of rain in four hours. There's nothing that can be done by planners, landscape architects, or politicians. There's no way to compensate for natural events like what the area experienced today. Technology has allowed us to control many risks in our world. The intersection of humans and meteorology will usually result in a victory for the natural forces.

-30-