I couldn’t have been more depressed this year when I waited too long and was denied entry into the 2011 Disneyland Half Marathon. Having participated in four of the last five races (missing the inaugural race in 2006), this weekend became an annual family vacation that we all looked forward too. We had already booked our room so we simply moved our reservation to Halloween weekend to make sure our kids (and my wife) got their “Disney fix” for the year.

We usually go to Disneyland at least two times a year and we’re hard core. We’re at the gate when it opens and don’t leave until the last firework has been shot. That’s a long day anywhere but when it’s Disney, there’s a lot of walking involved. One a normal race weekend, we run the 5K the day before and then I run the half marathon the following day. Both days we hit the parks immediately afterwards. No rest for the weary they say!!!

I’ve always wondered how far we really walk on a typical day at Disneyland so I wore my Garmin one day on our vacation and the result surprised me. During the course of a 13 hour day, we walked exactly 12 miles. 12 miles!!! On any other given day if I had to convince my kids that we were going to walk 12 miles, it would never EVER happen. I specifically did not tell them I was tracking our distance because I knew the mere mention of how far we had gone would have landed us in the hotel before you’d know it.

Even though I didn’t get to race in the Disney Half Marathon this year, I did nearly get all my miles in with my family in one fail swoop. If I’ve learned anything over the past year, it’s register for your favorite races early or you’re going to miss out.

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After hearing of Patrick Makau’s record-setting performance (2:03:38) at the 2011 BMW Berlin Marathon, I could hardly wait to see the replay of the race on Universal Sports. I set my DVR to record the scheduled 2 hour replay since I was going to be out of the house at the time. The race weighed heavily on my mind the entire day. After scrambling home feeding the kids, I plopped myself down on the couch for two-hours of riveting race action in the first marathon major of the season.

Everything started out OK, then the wheels fell off. After a commercial break, the announcers come back and take us thru the final recap of the finish. What? We’re not even 10 minutes in and you’re showing me the finish? No drama? No strategizing? What a colossal disappointment! The broadcast was only 3o minutes long and was in no way representative of the world record performance displayed by Patrick Makau.

Now I’ve done some research and it seems that the live feeds from the lead vehicles didn’t work – thus no “meat” to the race. My question is why no backup plan? Why on a tape-delayed broadcast wouldn’t you make the viewer aware they were only getting a snippet and to not expect a quality program? In my judgement, Universal Sports dropped the ball…BIG TIME!!!

As runners, we don’t have a lot of options when it comes to viewing running events. If Universal Sports wasn’t around, we’d all be crowded around computer screens watching live feeds at ungodly hours. While I usually applaud Universal Sports for their dedication to our sport, I must stand up and boo loudly on this occasion. What a disappointment.

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You’d think that because I’ve spent nearly half of my life in the world of advertising that coming up with a logo for ORB would have been easy. It couldn’t be further from the truth. While it’s easy for me to craft artwork for clients, when it comes to my own projects, I hit the wall.

So, after many months of drawing, reviewing, throwing, drawing, debating and finalizing, the new ORB logo is finally complete.

Since the Runner’s Gang Sign has become I mission of mine, I decided to make it the icon. Giving life in art form to the gang sign to make it recognizable by the masses. Please let me know what you think and if you’d be open to the idea of shirts. I want to gauge interest before investing the money.

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May is almost over and that means one thing…National Running Day is right around the corner.

National Running Day, held annually on the first Wednesday in June, is a day when runners everywhere declare their passion for running. Wherever we are and whomever we’re with, we run—fast or slow, alone or with others, all over town or just around the block. It is a coast-to-coast celebration of a sport and activity that’s simple, inexpensive, and fun. It’s the perfect way for longtime runners to reaffirm their love of running and for beginners to kick off a lifetime and life-changing commitment.

Make sure to search “National Running Day” to find group runs, special offers from races and retail outlets and inspirational stories.

How will you celebrate?

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I’m very excited to announce a new Lobe at OneRunnersBrain. Tara Maras has gratefully accepted my invitation to write and share her running experiences here at ORB. Besides being a running fanatic (after recently joining our ranks) she is also a gifted writer and I’m sure many of you will welcome her perspective on running. I look forward not only to her insights (and rants) but her poetic verse that will no doubt put my dribble to shame. Please join me in welcoming Tara into our obsessive universe where the roads rule and sweat reigns supreme!!! (that kind of sounds like Iron Chef – the Japanese version)

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Other than a select few elite athletes, the rest of us have to learn how to juggle running with our family, jobs and life’s other obstacles. Life can just get in the way sometimes and it’s up to you to put the train back on the tracks. I’m currently in one of those spots in my life. 60 hour work weeks, wife’s new work schedule, my family obligations and a recent injury have derailed my running routine – and it’s tough to get back. Here’s a couple of things I’ve set in motion to get back in motion:

Family
This one is number one and always should be. No matter what, family comes first. It’s easier to reschedule a run than to miss a once in a lifetime moment with your kids or hanging out with your spouse. If you’re one of the lucky ones and can run with your spouse and children you’ve got this one covered. Kids grow quickly and you can’t get those days back – move that run and cherish the moments with your loved ones.

Work
This is the hardest one to overcome. Putting in long hours make that 5:00 am or evening run difficult to mark off your training schedule. I’ve missed countless runs because of this and has been the biggest derailment issue in my life. The best thing I’ve found to combat crazy work schedules is to power through it. Ditch your scheduled run days and get your runs in on the least crazy days. You have to be flexible (with your schedule) and requires some quick planning to not conflict with other things in your life – but it can be done. If you have the weekends off, try running both days. They don’t have to be hard or long efforts but you’ll be able to take advantage of your time to fill up your miles.

Injury
If I’ve learned it once, I’ve learned it countless times – you need to take time off to heal…PERIOD! If you don’t heal your injuries or going to either get worse or be bothersome longer. Mentally, injuries are the hardest to deal with since you don’t have those external obligations filling your down time. REST – this is the easiest answer but hardest to apply.

Change in Schedule
The good and the bad. My wife didn’t have a job for a good period of time. While this made an economic impact on our family (the bad) it had an effect on my running schedule (the good). I new that at any time I could go for a run – with a couple of younger boys in the house there still needs to be supervision. Now that my wife is employed again, I’ve had to schedule runs according to when she’s home. I love running in the morning but know that’s not always going to be possible so evening runs are going to have to be inserted. It’s going to be strange but putting on the shoes and getting out the door will solve all timing issues.

Hopefully your life isn’t in quite a tailspin as mine is right now but follow these tips when running grinds to a halt and you’ll be able to overcome and hit the roads in no time flat.

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Earlier this year I was going thru all my race related t-shirts. Regular tees and technical shirts were clogging up my closet and I was having a hard time letting them go. Finally, lighting struck!!! When I was home for the Fargo Marathon, I asked my grandmother to work her magic with needle and thread. The result? Only the best blanket EVER!!! Not only do I have a blanket for the winter but an item I will truly treasure forever.

There are a bunch of ads in various running magazines touting this same service. If you’re interested, I’d highly recommend. Currently, my grandmother isn’t for hire.

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What started out as a desperate situation in the Denver International Airport turned into one of the coolest running experiences I’ve ever had. This is the story of how three strangers joined forces to get to Fargo, North Dakota at any and all costs.

Our flights left early Friday morning from three separate airports. While all were short in length, the anticipation of flying to a marathon destination made minutes turn into hours. Upon landing, the connecting flight to Fargo had to be found. Finding the departure board was the first thing on all our minds and being runners, the distance would between gates could easily be reached, no matter the time constraints. Scanning the sea of on time flights, fate would have it that the flight to Fargo was not just delayed…but canceled.

On any other day, this would be considered an inconvenience but today, it was as disaster. With the 5K scheduled for later that evening, every attempt was going to be made to toe the line when the gun sounded. Nothing was going to keep these three strangers from making their destination…no matter what.

Separately, we all made it to the now canceled gate and eventually the United (yes I’m calling you out) Customer Service counter. As fate would have it, we all ended up at the smaller counter and not the mile long line we would encounter on the way to our eventual destination. The funny thing about being a runner is we can sniff each other out. Whether its the physique, the apparel or even the reading material, we know who we are. While standing in line, we found each other and instantly started formalizing a rudimentary plan. OK, to be honest, we didn’t have a plan – we winged it. While the agent proceeded to tell us we were booked on the first flight out Saturday morning, the wheels set into motion.

Us: “Can you get us to Grand Forks, ND.”
Them: “No available seats.”
Us: “How about Bismarck, ND.”
Them: “Not until later tonight and there might not be seats available.”
Us: “Minneapolis then Fargo!!!”
Them: “There are no seats available to Fargo from any city today.”

By this time, we started joining forces and racked our brains to come up with a city we could fly into and then drive to Fargo in time for the evening’s race.

Us: “Sioux Falls, SD.”
Them: “Oh, well yes, we have plenty of seats to Sioux Falls.”

Before the agent could even finish saying “yes” we had already slammed our tickets on the counter and had her book us seats immediately. Once we had the third member of “Team Fate” on the flight, we began to figure out how in the world we were going to traverse the 250 miles to Fargo. As luck would have it (there was a lot of luck flowing that Friday), one member of our running trio had enough points to reserve a car in Sioux Falls and it would be waiting for us when we arrived.

So here we were. Three runners who never knew the others existed being brought together by a higher power to share a running story that will not soon be forgotten.

Eric Selvig from Las Vegas – a running brain flying to his hometown to run with his family and looking to refuel his spiritual tank.

Dan Harbeke from South Jordan, Utah – a PR Director for Union Pacific going back home to run in his third Fargo Marathon.

Jeff Schiller from Nampa, Idaho – a CPA with his legs set on running marathons in 50 states (Fargo would be his 27th) who had the best line of the trip. “If you can’t get me there today, send me home.”

Not seated together on the flight to Sioux Falls, we still really had no idea who each other were but that was about to change. The 3 1/2 hour drive to Fargo could have been 30 minutes and I don’t think any of us would have known the difference. For as bad as the day looked when we all arrived in Denver, the drive was one for the running books.

We shared a common bond – running – and each had a story to tell (or ten). For every story and factoid there was another just as interesting around the bend. There were no awkward silences. We talked over each other and bit our tongues waiting for our turn to chime in. It was the most intense conversation I think I’ve ever been involved in. Jeff and Dan knew the same people. Dan and I shared home town experiences. We quizzed Jeff about Boston, New York and his goal of 50 states. Running strides, shoes and motivations. Diets, clothes and weather conditions. What we shared wasn’t personal (in fact I had to do some searching write this story), but it was a passion for running that can be found on the streets, trails and races all around the world. It’s the bond of the runner that turns complete strangers into comrades. Our paths may not cross again but I consider them both friends.

God works in mysterious ways. I can’t speak for the others but my soul needed a lift and it was provided to me tenfold. I never could have planned this to happen but thank God it did.

Our paths did cross once more after the weekend was over. I saw Jeff on the late local news being interviewed after the race and happened to be on the same flight with Dan on Sunday, flying back to Denver…where this wonderful journey all began.

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For the past several months I’ve been down. Through injuries, work and everyday stresses…I’m spent emotionally. I haven’t had the same enthusiasm and passion for running as I normally do and the proof is right here on the blog. The longer in between posts, the worse it is. When things are normal, I have more drafts ready to go out then I have time to write.

This weekend, I’m hoping the tide will turn. I’ll be heading up north to Fargo, North Dakota to participate in the Fargo Marathon Weekend. I’m going back home to run on the streets I once called home and I hope it’s just what the doctor ordered…a hit of passion. There are family and friends running in every distance (5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon) and the social aspect of running should be at an all time high. Friends I haven’t seen in 15 years. Family I haven’t seen in 5.

This weekend will also mark the first time I will get to run with my father since I’ve started running. Growing up, he was a maniac before there was an official club. He’s enlisted the help of a trainer to help him work thru his injuries to run a 5K. It won’t get any better than that until the roles are reversed and my kids come back to run with me. I’ll also be running with my sister, her husband, a great friend and my 86 year old grandmother (OK, she’ll be walking but I be right there by her side). That covers Friday.

Saturday will be the half marathon where I hope to overcome all my injuries from the year to let my hair down and let it all hang out. Add into the mix 20 or so family members and you’ve got emotions to the nth degree. If this weekend doesn’t lift my spirits, I either dead or lost.

Here’s to a weekend full of emotion and a recharged battery!!!

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Well, we’re less than 4 weeks out from the Fargo Marathon and our Fargo Fitness Challenge on Facebook has been a great success. While we hit 70 fans and at least 32 confirmed runners, I have a feeling that it’s impact is going to be much larger than that.

Let’s just take a look at my immediate family for an example. The Selvig clan has slowly grown into a running family. My father was a runner before the boom and as a result, is a little broken down. His running has been limited (by physicians, not him) but has sought the help of a trainer and will running the 5K. While it took a little work on my dad, my mom was “gung ho” from the beginning. She’s always been in shape and a dare anybody to stick with her exercise schedule. My sister and brother-in-law will be running the 5K and 1/2 marathon with me and I talked my cousin and his wife to join the family reunion run. Now, to top it off…my 85 year old grandmother wants to walk the 5K. 85!!!

Side note: there will be over 20 people staying at my parents place that weekend!!!

For those of you that lost count, thats 8 fair-skinned Norwegians that will be hitting the streets of Fargo, ND – all in the name of fitness and health. It didn’t take a whole lot of encouragement. It was more infectious than anything. People get excited if your truly excited and motivated to do something.

Sometimes we keep to ourselves because we don’t want to drown a conversation with our running stories. I challenge you to dangle the bait the next time your in a group of nonrunners and see who takes the bait. You never know whose life you could change by introducing them to running.

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