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.

RMFR

This is my first real post related to RUNNING and I have to admit I am having a bit of a challenge clearly organizing my thoughts. Why? Well there is a phenomenon that occurs before every major individual running event. I have officially branded it TAPER TORTURE.  If you are a newbie to running marathons, the “Taper” is the segment of your training that includes a gradual reduction in mileage and intensity. At first, you might think the taper sounds great giving your body a much needed break from the pounding and beating you have been dosing it with the past 16 plus weeks. While your body deserves and needs the much needed time to rest and recover (rebuild muscle damage), the psychological torture that comes with this segment of the training can be difficult to manage. Water boarding sounds pretty good right about now.  

Intellectually I know and understand the benefits of the TAPER, but psychologically, it can play tricks on you.  Makes you question your training, your fitness level, your weight, your speed, your VO2 Max, your max lactic threshold limits, your marathon plan, your pace…you name it and I have thought about it, obsessed, fixated, worried and mentally tortured myself about it.

With less than two days before my next marathon event, the torture is becoming increasingly more intense. There are moments I feel like an untreated adult with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder for you DSM and mental health folks). All joking aside, the Utah Valley Marathon is a BQ (Boston Qualifier) and is an important pre-summer race for me. My last full marathon was California International- CIM (Sacramento, California) in December of 2008. Running fitness isn’t my worry at this point. I trust I have worked hard enough in my training to have a good run on Saturday. I had planned to run two marathons in the spring only to cancel due to relocating to the Boise, Idaho area making travel to a marathon nearly impossible during a life move. I did however, run several half marathons this year (including a PR 1:26:29 Boise Famous Potato Half Marathon) in the Boise area that were used as part of my overall marathon training plan. I realize as I become battle bourne, it is the mental aspect of running that is sometimes the most difficult to master. I had a great running friend once tell me that running is totally cerebral (thanks “E”). Intellectually I understood what he meant, but after running and training extensively as a marathoner, I truly understand what he means. 

Training your mind is equally as important as training your legs and your body. What have I done to help prepare mentally for this upcoming race?

1. Trust my training
2. Sleep
3. Cross train on “rest days”
4. Iced an injured arm (cross-training accident; post forthcoming)
5. Stretch and Roller Massage.

Now, there’s a lot more in terms of details, but simply stated, I have really focused on those 5 areas to try and remain relaxed prior to the starting gun. It will be a short, but long couple of days, including a 3:00 a.m. wake up call on Saturday morning to catch the marathon bus to the start. Race time: 6:00 a.m. Start: Provo Canyon and Wasatch Mountain Range Finish: No public predictions (I like to keep those to myself). 

Taking your mileage from 60-70 mile weeks down to 20-25 is not easy.  Your body and brain are telling you to run, cleanse the soul, feel some pain, crank up your heart rate, get some fresh air, clear your head, burn some calories, stay fit…while my mind and body are telling me to GO, I know they’ll be plenty of that in less than 48 hours and this resting time known as the TAPER TORTURE will be well worth it.

- RITN, Schritter