What’s Quan?
Don’t know. I’ve spent the last 30 minutes looking and all I’ve found are a reference to a rare Chinese family name and at the end of several Tai Chi and Kung Fu definitions. With no clear english definition, it means it’s open to interpretation. According to Rod Tidwell (a.k.a. Cuba Gooding Jr.), it means “love, respect, community and the dollars too.” To me, it means something totally different.

Quan is what we as runner’s do naturally – as natural as breeding offspring and reproducing for the survival of our species. The definition of “Quan” is spreading our love for running – inspiring others to share in our need to pound the pavement and paths. If we don’t, our species will die (I doubt it but I’m on a soapbox). Part of being a runner is to be an Ambassador of Quan. Getting an ex-jock back in the game or inspiring a couch potato to jog around the block, that’s our calling…that’s our “Quan”.

So Who’re It’s Ambassadors?
A one-legged brother? Roy Firestone? A militant TP? Troy Aikman or Tom Cruise? Yes, yes, yes, yes and yes. “Quan” has no barriers, no rules of possession or discrimination. It’s there for every runner/jogger/walker to spread like the wind to the masses. All you have to do is share a story, drag somebody out the door or ask somebody to join you.

Who’s Your Ambassador(s)?
As much as I’d love to say it was my dad, I truthfully cannot. He’s been a great inspiration for me since I started running but he wasn’t my “Ambassador”. In fact, I don’t even know my “Ambassador’s” name!!! All I remember is an image from a early December morning television broadcast of the Las Vegas Marathon in 2005. As I lay in my warm cozy bed next to my sleeping wife, I saw him. Not an image of grace and beauty or speed and athleticism. No, the man I saw trod across my television screen could have been my twin. A tall, overweight guy running the marathon. Although I will never know his name, he forever will be my Ambassador of Quan. At that moment, I told myself if that guy can do, then so can I.

Who were/are your Ambassadors of Quan?

“Just one of those days.”

How many of these have you had? Where your run didn’t turn out as well as you had planned. Sometimes it’s circumstantial and other times you can’t explain it. It just happens. I’ve had my fair share of these days and today I got smacked it the face pretty hard – and I should have seen it coming. In fact, I was in denial and thought I could overcome it – I was wrong.

8 1/2 mile trail run. That’s it. I’ve done it before and I love the route. It’s the one route that I will actually loose sleep over the night before (you’ve seen the photos). Last night was no different, except for the fact that it wasn’t the run that kept me up all night (and morning).

I’m a HUGE West Wing fan. I forgot how good that show was until I found Bravo running it twice a day. Since it airs early in the morning, I have my DVR set to record each episode. Usually, I’ll find time every night to watch the latest conflicts of the Jud Bartlett administration and still make it to bed before midnight. This week, I did not. The allure of 10 episodes waiting for me was just way too much. I kept telling myself, “one more and it’s off to bed” but one turned into five and then into all ten (the episodes were Season 7 – the last year it aired). 4:30 a.m. came before I knew it. I made up my mind that I wasn’t going to sleep and just head out the door. Great plan…on paper anyway.

8:30 a.m. I found myself in the same position I had rolled over to 4 hours before. Disgusted with myself, I vowed to eat breakfast with the family and head out at 10. No problem. Oh wait…this is June in Las Vegas!!! Today’s high was 103 degrees and by 10 a.m. it was already pushing 90. No problem. Done it before too. I filled up my CamelBak and head out to the trail.

You know when it’s not there. I tried to bang through it – I really did. When I got to 2 1/2 miles up in the foothills I stopped and assessed my situation. I had nothing in the tank. Sweat was already in my eyes and 90 degrees was a distant memory. So, instead of making this run miserable, I made the decision to head back – 3 1/2 miles short. By the time I got back home, I knew I had made the right choice. While the run wasn’t what I wanted, I listened to my body and my circumstances and made the rational choice.

We all try to hit our goals. We all try and be diligent and committed to our craft/hobby/sport/job. We all need to remind ourselves that sometimes it’s just not there. If you push it, you might regret it and it could lead to injuries and miserable experiences. My solution is to take a page from baseball – it may not have rained – but tomorrow I’ve got a makeup game to play.

I was checking out my “Tweets” the other day and happen upon this article sharing Sara Hall’s iPod Playlist. Ryan and Sara’s devotion to their religion as well known. In fact, it’s refreshing that they don’t try and hide it or feel embarrassed to make it known publicly.

Back to the subject at hand, I found it funny that I just posted on this same exact topic – My Spiritual iPod. I also wanted to share one of the songs that gives me goose bumps every time it shuffles thru my magic metallic green music box. I love the tie in with running and praying and this song sums it all up for me. If you like this song and want to check out the rest of the album go the the two42 cafe and have a listen (Track 13).

Nearly one year ago I decided to try my go at running a “marathon”. I admit, I was one of those guys that asks the infamous question, “how far is a marathon?” On May 17, 2008, I started, and yes, FINISHED my first full marathon (26.2 miles) for those of you who are still wondering what the answer is to my earlier question. It was a quiet finish for the most part, a modest time just over 3 hours and 30 some minutes. With a few congratulations, hugs and high fives, I knew immediately upon crossing the finish line that I was not satisfied. Don’t get me wrong, I was internally proud that I had FINISHED a marathon, but my hunger for the MARATHON was not satisfied. 

With in a day, I began experiencing symptoms…strange symptoms (felt a little down, slightly defeated, without purpose). Through some due dilligence within my running circles I determined I was experiencing the post race blues. I knew that the only cure was to run another race and SOON! So, literally the day after my first marathon, I signed up for the Portland Marathon. Not only did I sign up for that marathon, I signed up for a third marathon called California International (CIM). If that wasn’t enough, I decided to raise the bar a bit…chantings of “Boston, Boston, Boston” rang through my head. Yep, that’s right, after one lousy marathon finish I set the goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon, and gave myself two opportunities in 2008 (October and December) to accomplish the task.

I then made one mistake every runner should avoid (I actually made several, but one very important one). I TOLD PEOPLE. Never, never, never, tell people that you are trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon. The pressure in itself is hard enough to burden, but to bring added pressure to yourself by mentioning to others that your goal is to qualify for Boston is another. Do you know what that means, Troy? You are saying you are going to shave 27 minutes off of your first marathon time and run a SUB 3:10 marathon? That’s right, I was going to prove the nay sayers wrong (believe me, there are plenty of nay sayers out there, and they just love to see you fail; I actually love the nay sayers, without them, my fire may not burn as hot as it does).

Portland Marathon - October 5, 2008, arrives… I run, I finish, I set a PR (Personal Record) AND…I miss my BQT (Boston Qualifying Time) by approximately 98 seconds!  The nay sayers, got me.  They proved that I couldn’t do it. They were right, I was too old, too slow, and too new to running. 

 Yeah right. You think for a moment I believed any of that? I admit, after the race, I again experienced severe post race blues (among many other symptoms that require a separate post). There wasn’t time for the blues. CIM was just 8 weeks away. All those people that had known I was trying to qualify began calling, texting, and emailing me to see if I had accomplished the goal. The answer, a humble “no”. I would quickly respond to each inquiry with, “I have another marathon in a few weeks, and I will try and have a better race”. Their reply, “Oh, is that a Boston Qualifier?” Oh, no I did it again, I set myself up! I made it public for a second time that I was trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I am a competitor by default. The competition drive is mostly with myself. I can handle pressure, but I had created a real pressure cooker and it was my own fault. 

California International Marathon - December 5, 2008, I run, I finish, I set a PR, AND…I miss my BQT by approximately 33 seconds! The nay sayers, got me again. They proved that I couldn’t do it. They were right, I was too old, too slow, and too new to running.

WOW! “Again?” I asked myself. I was embarassed, disappointed, defeated and down right humbled. At this point, I knew I had to do two things: 

1. Sign up for another marathon and

2. Don’t tell anyone except for my wife (and a select few of my inner running circle).

Utah Valley Marathon - June 13, 2009 arrives. Just 10 days before my 35th birthday, I quietly set out on my mission for a 3rd time. Racing at 5,700 above sea level, on 3 hours of sleep, with severe thunderstorms in the forecast…

Will this run be different from the others?

Is Boston in my future? 

Here’s a clue…on mile 4, severe runner’s drag has already set in. My feet feel like they have magnets taped to the bottom and the earth is a huge U shaped magnet.  I think to myself, “This is going to be a long day”….

- RITN, Schritter

I’d like to take this time to wish my father a Happy Father’s Day. He has always been there for me and supported me in every direction I’ve head. From supporting me thru sports to waving goodbye as I’ve moved across the country, he (as well as my mother) have let me venture off away from the nest. Where does this fit in to running? Read on…

Growing up in North Dakota, I was entrenched in seasonal sports. Football in the spring followed closely by hockey in the winter. Spring and summer where split between baseball, golf and mowing lawns (in my mind I considered mowing lawns a sport). The furthest sport from my mind was track. I threw the spot put and discus in eight grade but I wasn’t into at all. In high school, the football coaches at Fargo South High School (Go Bruins!!!) kept pushing me to the track team but I just couldn’t do it. What would you rather do, run laps or walk 18?

Take a trip back with me to the late 1970′s and 80′s. Then in my adolescent years, I never really paid much thought to the “modified” gray New Balance shoes in the garage next to the door. “Modified” may not be the best term to describe the 2 pounds of Shoe Goo that my dad used to keep the shoes together. I can still remember his running gear. A simple white cotton shirt (the kind you wore underneath “nice” shirts), shorts and toilet tissue in his hand (do I really need to explain?).

My dad was a “runner” before the boom. He didn’t compete in races and he wasn’t a member of running group – he just ran. He’s fathomed a guess at his weekly mileage and it was big. I remember several occasions my mother driving him out into the country so he could run home with the wind. We’re talking 10 to 15 miles several times a week. Saturdays at the lake where he would be gone for a couple of hours and come back drenched in sweat. Cotton shirts that were worn so thin you could practically see thru them.

Back then I never questioned his running, never asked if I could go and he never pushed me to run with him. But now that I’ve taking up running and he can no longer run – the example he set some 20 years ago has stuck with me. I know he’d give his left arm to run a race with my sister and I and we in turn would do the same. The truth is, there’s a part of him that is running with us every time we lace up our shoes.

Thanks Pa!!! You led by example – in running and in life – and I am trying to follow in your footsteps the best I can. Happy Father’s Day and I love you very much.

SIDENOTE: Congratulations to all the Grandma’s Marathon finishers!

I’m thru 5 weeks on my Disneyland Half Marathon training and so far, so good. I’ve never made it thru a training cycle unscathed – NEVER. I’m not a crazy mileage training schedule kind of guy, it just seems that there’s “something” that gets in the way. Whether it’s work or family obligations or an injury, I’ve haven’t been able to turn in that perfect attendance report at the end of 16 weeks.

I’m trying something a little different this time. For the first 6 weeks, I’m only running 3 days a week with mileage topping out at 17 miles per week. Weeks 7 thru 15 I’ll move up to 4 days a weeks topping out at 25 miles and a long run of 12-13 miles. Every four weeks I’ll bring down the mileage for recovery. I’ll end up doing about 85-90 in August. I’m also throwing in 1-2 cross training days (swimming) on my off days. I’ve been hit by bursitis in my hip, shin splits and a badly sprained ankle (occurring just 3 weeks before the Las Vegas Half Marathon last year) over the past few years and I’m trying to avoid it at all costs.

With my busy fall and winter race schedule, I’m hoping this solid base will lead to more productive training schedules when I bump up the mileage in preparation for my upcoming marathons.

I’ve been “running the spiritual path” now for about a month and a half. It’s changed my life. I love the quiet moments with God and being at one with my breath. It’s not only enlightening but it transforms you. You know how when you see that really inspirational movie (i.e. Rudy) and you get the chills…actual chills. I’ve attained that with spiritual running. There have been many occasions when I’ve made that connection and God has lifted me up and touched me. Some may call it a “runner’s high” or an “adrenaline high” but I see it as being touched by Him.

The point of this, is that I cheated or at least I felt that I had cheated. During my “slump” a couple of weeks ago, I headed out on a 5 mile run with my iPod. God wasn’t on my iPod – no, somebody MUCH different – Nickelback was. I honestly felt guilt going out on a run with music and apologized profusely in prayer. I needed to give it a shot. I hate to admit it, but the music was good. I had a driving force behind my pace but spiritually my run was empty. I couldn’t commit to a mantra nor could I establish any concentration towards any communication with God. Call it an epiphany or call it a sign, but I came up with a solution on that guitar mashing, profanity laden run.

The following Sunday while attending Central Christian Church here in Las Vegas (Summerlin Campus) I marched right up to the two42 Cafe and purchased all three of the First Wednesday CD’s (First Wednesday is a time when our Church worships with an hour full of inspirational music and fellowship). These are not hymns by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, there’s nothing “old school” about them at all. There’s a full drum kit, electric guitars, a bass and it’s loud!!! The only difference is the message of these songs. One’s about getting drunk and fooling around while the other celebrates and thanks our Lord.

The following day, I tried this experiment/suggestion and it hit the mark. While it may not having the speed guitars of Dragonforce or the hard driving beat of AC/DC, it surpassed any of my rock library hands down. I swear I caught myself singing a couple of times and I know I caught myself “lifting it up to God” several times. But you know what…it felt great. I felt connected and I felt I was communicating with Him the way he intended me too.

I still don’t run with an iPod that often, but when I do, I know that my time spent is going to be meaningful time well spent.

re•count•er [ri'kountǝr]

noun
Meeting a fellow Urban Warrior on a long run and then seeing that same individual at another point on your route signifying that they are on a long run too.

This has to be one of my favorite things to happen when I’m running. I’ve now grown accustomed to flashing the “Runner’s Gang Sign” to every runner I meet – even if it means running backward to catch their attention. It’s a movement people!!! “Just Do It!”

As I was saying…I’m trying to be more social when running. We’re a community and we need to stick together. What makes this a special moment is when you get to see that same runner again. They remember you. Whether it’s because of the “Runner’s Gang Sign” or my Lasse Viren appearance (no, I’m not going to post a photo of me), they remember you.

They are not just another once a week runner, they’re on a long scheduled run like you. The fact you met them at mile two and again at eight puts it all into perspective. There’s a camaraderie there as if to say “RMFR you’re doing great!!!” It’s this kind of unexpected support that makes us runners. We understand each others dedication and psychotic AM runs. We know how it feels like pushing up 25% grades and screaming down the same decline. So next time your pounding the pavement or trails, hail your kinsmen because you never know when you’ll meet them next.

Posted the latest and last photos from my trail run last Saturday (this week was an easy week) on the Trail Run Photo page. Unless something amazing happens on my trail runs, I’m going to be taking less photos and do a little more running. Enjoy.

Great news for you Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon runners…we have a new route!!! When Competitor Group, Inc. bought the Las Vegas Marathon last year, I had a feeling good things were going to happen to the December 6th event. It was released this week that a new, more friendly route will be used for this years race.

In year’s past, the marathon course ran the first 6 miles down the strip and then set off into Never Never Land. Runner’s were sent out north into the “desert” out to Carey Avenue and Smoke Ranch Road before trekking across Torrey Pines and eventually back down Twain until you came back to civilization. The half marathon wasn’t too bad unless you call passing several strip joints and “not so nice” neighborhoods on Industrial Road until reveling in the awe of the back of the strip casinos.

This year, they are shutting down both the north and south bound lanes of Las Vegas Boulevard (aka “The Strip”). The half marathon will be run entirely on The Strip. How cool is that. The walkways over the street are great for friends and family to witness the mass of humanity – not once but twice. The marathon will also spend more time amidst the “Towering Money Makers”. After 10 1/2 miles, we’ll head west up Twain to Rainbow. Here’s where it gets interesting…for me anyway. I work near here and have run these streets during many a lunch hour. It will be a welcome site come miles 17-23 near Spanish Trail Country Club. I know these streets like the back of my hand. It’s back down Hacienda to the finish after a little loop that I’m not quite sure about.

Overall, I couldn’t be happier. The old route is why I only ran the marathon once. I couldn’t stand the marathon course. Having a little foresight, I signed up early and now I’m being rewarded for my leap of faith. See you all in December!!!