I had done three marathons and two 50k trails runs earlier in 2009.  Training for and then doubling my longest distance should be possible.

Then of course “life” got in the way.  I’m not going sit here and tell you a bunch of tails of horrible injuries that kept me from running.  Or about family or work issues that got in the way.  There wasn’t anything that really prevented me from running.  It was just laziness and enjoying life that did me in.  Lack of commitment perhaps.  A willingness to accepting excuse after excuse.  Why run today when you can put it off until race day right?

So here I am.  Race day is just around the corner.  And by corner, I mean 66-hours and 20-minutes…

No point in running now unless it’s running away.  All I can do is lay out my gear (like my new Garmin 450t hand-held GPS), figure out my nutrition plan, review the course and cut-off times, and, well that’s about it.

Looking back over my training log for the last 6-mounts I see that I’ve ran about about 135-miles total.  I wouldn’t be surprised if there will be a few runners at Miwok that have logged 100+ mile weeks leading up to this race.  I can think of a few that might have logged over my 135.

But there is the difference.  I’m not racing.  I’m going out to see if I can finish.  And what better way to test yourself than to jump in head first.  For me it will simply (simple does not mean easy) be a very long day fighting to continue my forward progress.

I know full well this is going to hurt.  Mind, body and soul.  But in some strange way I’m looking forward to the suck.

So here’s to the looooooong taper.  To not giving up just because your unprepared.  If you do you’ll never find out what you’re capable of.

-Shawn

Ps. If you want you can follow the live updates on Twitter

• Miwok 100k – May 1st (Goal: Finish)

2009

• Run Wild for a Child 10K – Nov. 29th (46:38 (New PR)) (Garmin Connect)
• Bizz Johnson Trail Marathon – Oct. 11th (4:50:05) (Garmin Connect)
• Kauai Marathon – Sept. 6th (4:25:29) (Garmon Connect)
• 13-miles of the Kalalau Trail on the Nā Pali Coast – Sept. 5th (Not an official event) (Garmin Connect: leg 1, leg 2, leg 3)
• PCTR: Salt Point 50K Trail Run – July 26th (6:45:35) (Garmin Connect)
• PCTR: Sequoia 30K Trail Run (Summer) – July 18th (3:52:27) (Garmin Connect)
• Western States 100 Endurance Run – June 27-28th (Volunteering)
• The Relay : 199-miles from Calistoga to Santa Cruz – May 2nd-3rd (~31:30:00) (Garmin Connect: leg 1, leg 2, leg 3)
• PCTR : Skyline to the Sea 50K Trail Run (Spring) – April 26th (6:20:12) (Garmin Connect)
• Maratona di Roma, Italia – March 22nd (4:14:00 (New PR)) (Garmin Connect)
• PCTR : Sequoia 30K Trail Run (Winter) – Feb. 28th (3:44:47) (Garmin Connect)
• Kaiser Half Marathon – Feb. 1st (1:44:36) (Garmin Connect)

2008

• Run Wild for a Child 10K – Nov. 30th (48:22)
• US Half Marathon San Francisco – Nov. 2nd (1:56:20)
• Chicago Marathon – Oct. 12th  (4:31:19)

[Don't feel like reading anymore, please click here to donate!]

This summer marks my third season with TNT (second as a mentor) and I’ve just a few short weeks to raise my goal of $3210 for LLS.  Sometimes it’s hard to imagine how money given to charity is put to use.  But by being involved with TNT I’ve had the opportunity to learn first hand the impact LLS has.  From Ryan Massey, a TNT Honoree and cancer survivor who I ran the Rome Marathon with and am now honored to call my friend, to the mother of one of my best friends!  The money raised has had a direct effect on so many lives by funding research and paying for treatments!  And in the end, you do make a difference!

If you supported my fundraising efforts last year, I offer my thanks and hope you can do so again.  If you were not able to then, perhaps you can this time around! Just click here to get to my official fundraising page!

Speaking of this time around… I’m training for the first annual Kauai Marathon.  Now I know what you’re thinking, must be nice to go to Kauai and run a marathon.  But rest assured, I’m not making it easy on myself.  As a warm up for the marathon, which I expect will be hot as hell, I’m planning on running/hiking the Kalalau Trail on the Nā Pali Coast the day before.  This 22-mile out and back trail has been described as, “strenuous” and “dangerous when wet”.  Should be a blast!

Then, 6am the next day, I’ll be out on the start line to see what my legs have left in them.  And of course, I’ll be running in my Vibram FiveFingers (read: almost barefoot.)

So, you see, I’m making it all into a nice challenging adventure.  But trust me this challenge is nothing compared to what hundreds of thousands of people face every day in their fight against the diseases LLS hopes to cure!

So please take a moment to click on this link and donate what you can.  $10 or $100, every penny makes a difference!

With many thanks!
Shawn

• San Francisco/Bay Area, California
• Bolder, Colorado
• Fort Collins, Colorado
• New York City, New York
• Austin, Texas
• Seattle, Washington

International

• None listed

Race day started at 5:30AM with a banana and some Gatorade.  After putting on the crazy shoes, the timing chip, my race bib, and an entire bottle of sun block I was ready to head out of the hotel.  The majority of people I trained with all season were running a marathon in San Francisco, but fortunately there were a few of us from the team in Chicago.

As we walked to the starting line, about a mile from the hotel, we all quickly started to realize what an amazing day was in store!

When someone says, “the support in Chicago is fantastic” it’s true, but I didn’t really appreciate that statement until I saw it for myself.  From the start line through to the 5K mark I don’t think there was a single foot of sidewalk, on either side of the street, that was empty.  People everywhere, sometimes four deep, cheering and clapping, smiles and big signs pushing you on.  There of course were some places along the course, around mile 21 and 22, where the side walks were a little empty, but not for very far.  The support truly was amazing!

During my training a few people told me I might be setting a lofty goal, that was to finish in under 4-hours…  My perspective was simple, if you can achieve a goal the first time out, you didn’t set the bar high enough!    I missed that mark…  I completed my run in 4-hours, 31-minutes and 19-seconds.  For what I accomplished, on that particular day, I’m happy.  But, that goal still remains!

To all of you who donated, you’re donations and more importantly your support and encouragement turned this entire process into an absolutely wonderful experience!  So wonderful in fact, I’ve decided to return to the Team in Training program as a mentor for their winter season and will be continuing my training to run a marathon in Rome, Italy in March (don’t worry, I won’t be hounding you for donations this time around.)

So, we shall see… lessons learned, training plans reworked, happy feet in their crazy shoes… after a few hundred more training miles I may just achieve that goal!

Thank you again for all your support, donations and encouragement!!  I could not have done it without you!
Shawn

PS.  Your donations helped the San Francisco Chapter of Team in Training raise over $650,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!!!  Simply put, YOU ROCK!

For the curious, here are my results, and thanks again!

Since then, I’ve ran more than 100-miles… starting with small runs a few times a week, and working up to my most recent run of 12-miles this past Saturday.  That was farther than I had ever run before.  But there is much more fun yet to come, and I only have eight weeks left to train!

This post is to ask for your support, both financially and through any words of encouragement you may wish to offer!

LLS’s mission is to find cures for blood cancers and to help patients, who are fighting for their lives, live longer and live better!  But to do that, they rely heavily on donations from people like you.  Friends, family and others who I feel fortunate to know.

Please use this link to donate online quickly and securely, plus learn more about my progress.  You will receive a confirmation of your donation by email and I will be notified as soon as you make your donation.

Thank you very much, and I hope you and your family are well,
Shawn

P.S. If you know someone you think may like to support the LLS and my fundraising campaign, please email them a link to this page, or directly to my donation page at
( ARCHIVED PAGE ).  For many of my friends I don’t have any contact information for your parents, and every donation makes a difference!

Of course, if you who would prefer to donate by check, please contact me for address information.  And don’t forget to check and see if your employer offers matching donations.