RMFR is the official/unofficial mantra/gang sign here at One Runner’s Brain. Big ups to Troy for sporting this in the Portland Marathon this weekend. If you don’t know what RMFR stands for (Hint: the R’s stand for Run and I think you can guess what MF stands for), CLICK HERE for the history of our Runner’s Gang Sign.

Fall is officially here. While some of us have races coming up soon (good luck to the Portland and Twin Cities Marathon runners this weekend), others are currently training for winter races. Gone are the dog days of summer and here are the cooler temperatures of fall. Depending on where you live, you’re either in the perfect running conditions or about to enter the more difficult weather conditions. Here are a couple of things to remember:

• With the cooler temperatures you absolutely need to dress the part. Trading out short sleeves for long and shorts for tights/pants is common place but don’t forget the gloves and hats. I usually find gloves at a 99¢ store because there are plenty of times when you get hot and have to ditch the gloves instead of carrying them. If your temperatures are moderate, look at getting a running headband that covers your ears. You’ll find that you won’t overheat while wearing a hat. A simple rule of thumb is to dress so you’re just a little chilly when you step outside. If you’re warm, you’ve got too much on.
• Hydration. For those of us used to running in extremely hot temperatures (i.e. Las Vegas, Phoenix), remember that you won’t need to drink as much water. While hydrating is still important, you’ll find you don’t need as much as you did in the summer. For those of you in the snow, try to keep your liquids out of direct contact with the elements. Try putting a layer of clothing over your bottles or packs.
• Don’t let the elements cancel a run. Yes, that 20 mph clipper out of the north may be barreling down on you – but as long as there are no extreme health risks (below zero temperatures and wind chill) have fun with it. I always find challenging elements a fun test of what you can do in them. As an added bonus, it’s always fun to see the reactions of others when you tell them what you just did.

It may take a little while to grow accustomed to the new weather patterns but keep putting one foot in front of the other and before you know it, you won’t even notice (OK, that’s a lie but it won’t be as hard).

With the 2009 Portland Marathon quickly approaching and race day now only 6 days away, my wife has thrown down the ultimate challenge… RUN THE PORTLAND MARATHON WITHOUT MY GARMIN!

Can you say…Race plan? Splits? Pace? Heart Rate? How in the world am I going to stick to my plan? She contends that I don’t need to run with the watch because I know my body and fitness level so well that I will “know” where I am, and frankly, “who cares!” Meaning, I should run free, run for fun, run because I have trained hard and let the chips fall where they fall.

Is she crazy? Or is it just me? I am honestly struggling with this dare. Especially coming from your wife…this is a serious test. In part I have to agree with her, but the obsessive, perfectionist side of me says “stick to your plan and monitor your performance as you go”.

As you can tell, I am torn by this dare. Largely in part, due to the fact that I am the ultimate competitor and want to prove to her that I could run Portland or any other marathon for that matter without my watch and still PR…after all it’s not the damn watch that is doing the running, its my LEGS  and HEAD.

With that said, I am putting it out there to the running world for a survey!

Run with the Garmin:

a. YES
b. NO

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