by Jamie on November 30, 2009
An excellent start; the 2009 Philadelphia Marathon swag is the best ever. A smart Kick Asphalt technical shirt, runners’ gloves and a (zippered) mesh bag.
Sunday, 11/22, 5:10 am. It’s finally time…Kim and Kerry are running their first marathon. The mood in the car is optimistic and light.
The day is made for marathon running, cool, bright and cheery. We choose the facilities at the Starbucks on Callowhill and 20th. The line of ardent runners recount tales of race bibs purchased on Craig’s List and compare favorite marathons (it’s NY by a mile.) We women get a bad rap when it comes to time in the loo…those Starbucks men sure took their time!
The new wave start is touted. With roughly 7,500 marathoners, 7,200 half marathoners and 1,575 8K runners, the streets are mobbed for the first mile or 2.
Kim and Kerry (the K’s) are low key, savoring the architecture (the Beaux-Arts Memorial Hall in Fairmont Park is a midpoint standout), the sparkly rivers and the quirky marathoners along the way. Kim discovers her mantra at mile 4…..never say never. The ever vivacious Kerry chats with fellow runners, collecting their stories.
I’ve run Philadelphia twice. This time, I am doing the half. I’ve read of runners who purchased a half marathon bib and then proceeded to run the full marathon. Those are not my people. The leisurely half is great fun. And so is the finish line. But the day is all about the marathon; we half-runners are merely poseurs. I forgo my Mylar blanket, medal and banana.
I cheer the runners at Lloyd Hall (after mile 25.) This year, runner’s first names are boldly printed on their bibs. We yell out their names as runners grit their teeth, limp, cry or (happily) accept candy from the crowd. A group of young women are singing the Black Eyed Peas’ latest. The entire song. At mile 25.5. I don’t like them one bit. A bystander is obsessively playing the Rocky theme—a runner requests Sinatra. A middle aged man, with his entourage, is running his 100th Marathon. The crowd goes wild. A young couple run by, the man’s shirt says, “I love my marathoner”, pointing to the woman.
LDF’s, Ann and Jill, jump in at mile 23, with stories to tell, just what the K’s are craving.
Kim and Kerry run past. They seem calm, classy and jubilant. They did it.
Monday finds the K’s with the inevitable sore and unsightly toes and that painful stair walking. Talk quickly turns to their chances of getting into the New York Marathon next fall. The glorious conversation continues….
by Monica on November 22, 2009
Six degrees of separation is at play in the running world… Jamie and I run and blog (and read). (1) Maven Jamie (a Malcolm Gladwell’s Tipping Point kind of Maven–always an ear to the ground) lends me a book called Personal Record: A Love Affair with Running and we both are intrigued by the author’s sharp, sardonic wit and approach to running and racing. We also have teenagers so we move on to her Admissions Confidential. We love her refreshing look at the daunting process of college admissions and she talks about running. (2) Jamie thinks that Rachel is a hoot on Facebook and in her Running Times’ articles so I friend her because she cracks me up. (3) I think she will appreciate my humor so I send her a Remanents tee and she sends me an idea for one (I love it). (4) I see on Facebook that she is going to the expo for the NY Marathon. I mention to my LDF Jane (who herself is an avid reader–and running the NY Marathon with her medical school buddy Denise) that if she happens to see the Moeben booth, she can get free arm sleeves if she buys Rachel’s book. (5) Jane meets Rachel and they share a fun “expo moment”–worlds collide! Here they are together, an admired author and a treasured friend. (6) Rachel was kind enough to be the first to answer our A Bold Pace running adaption of the Proust Questionnaire and we are thrilled.
Rachel Toor and LDF Dr. Jane Ierardi
10 Running Questions for Rachel:
1. Running skirt: friend or foe? BFF
2. If you could run with any 3 people (they don’t have to be runners or alive) who would it be? Too overwhelming to answer; too many good people alive and dead to choose from.
3. What traits do you most value in your running friends? Most of all, good conversation not about running; people who can teach stuff and push me to run harder; those who are willing to listen to me whine about being cold.
4. The one running item (gear/sustenance/song) you cannot live without? Running bra. Seriously big ta-tas.
5. Describe your present state of (running) mind? After years of leading marathon pace groups, I’ve rediscovered how much fun it is to do a marathon and not give a hoot about your time. If I want to stop and get Ben and Jerry’s at mile 18, I can. If I want to negative split, I can. If I find someone really interesting to talk with, I’ll run at her pace. I’m in it for the fun and companionship these days.
6. What running superstition do you always heed? A good pre-race poop always helps.
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by Jamie on November 20, 2009
Thanksgiving–what’s not to love? A weekday off revolving around family, friends and comfort food. No presents to fixate on, minimal decorating is required and oh, those leftovers. What’s more, the feasting takes place during prime running season; often culminating here in the Philadelphia Marathon. Is there any better excuse to enjoy every morsel of Thanksgiving dinner?
Our menu, which varies little over the years, could be described as traditional with an edge. Turkey (cooked in a 1950’s style black, speckled (covered) roasting pan), Laurie Colwin’s cornbread stuffing, sweet potatoes with bourbon and pecans, brussel sprouts with pancetta and balsamic vinegar, white potatoes with sage and cheddar cheese and pumpkin pie with a dash of black pepper and bourbon (sensing a theme here?)
The cranberry sauce is from Bobby Flay. Bursting with apricots, ginger and curry; it is sweet, spicy and just the ticket for those leftover turkey sandwiches. Runner friendly, the cranberry sauce is replete with antioxidants, Vitamin C and Vitamin A.
We often begin our meal with the dearly departed Shelia Lukins’ (of The Silver Palate fame) recipe for Roasted Winter Vegetable soup. It too is sweet, velvety and the most divine color (the essence of autumn.) It provides antioxidants, Vitamins A, D and potassium. Both recipes can be made well ahead of time and frozen.
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by Monica on November 18, 2009
http://www.vimeo.com/2469308
Filmmaker Stefani Weiss (who is sponsored by the artist supporting non-profit organization Fractured Atlas–donations are therefore tax deductable) began a twitter (@wincatherine) and Facebook campaign to secure funds to complete the film. Jamie and I were lucky enough to hear Catherine speak and get her autograph (and a hug) at the Philadelphia Distance Run Expo. She spoke eloquently about her marathon triumphs. What an amazing, gracious lady. Here is the (9 min) trailer that will inspire! There are also photographs of Weiss and company making the film on the website. They include Catherine’s win this year at the Distance Run and a blog to follow the progress. I hope they are successful in their fundraising efforts because I would love to see Catherine’s entire story.
From the filmmaker :
This is the fundraising trailer for Wincatherine: The Story of Wincatherine Nyambura Ndereba (working title) the inspirational story of a Kenyan woman who despite being born into extreme poverty, facing gender biases and other obstacles, put her faith in God and followed her dream of becoming a world champion runner, lifting her family out of poverty and finally shedding her childhood nickname of Crazy Catherine as the world has come to know her as Catherine the Great.
