Ted's Running Journal/Logbook: Get the show on the ROAD !

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Get the show on the ROAD !

9:27 AM |

Posted by Ted |

Yo Folks... I have completed my sixth marathon. It wasn't the best but I have every reason to be proud of my own accomplishment. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I love Vermont. I love Burlington. I love Vermont City Marathon itself. The hills was nuthing! Here's the recap in bullet style points.

The highs.....

Taking the girls to Teddy Bear Factory.
Got a wonderful opportunity to meet a Canadian blogger for a cup of tea the night before the race. Marci of the Ramblings of a Running Addict and her husband were the nicest couple I've met. We've chatted for a good 45 minutes about running!!! (should have brought my camera).
Weather wasn't too bad. I didn't care since it was cool most of the time. At the start of the race, it started as a sprinkle. 50 to 60 degrees. Half hour into the race, it was downright pouring for an hour or so. At the end, the sun came out.

The lows...

My daughter, Erin, was sick the entire time. She came down with bad fever, coughing and sore throat.
Completely stressful. Long driving. Short visit. My wife and I taking turn by taking care of Erin. Worried that it may pass to my youngest daughter, Sarah, who have seizure disorder.
Very uptight myself along with poor hydrating and pre-race meal. Wasn't in the right frame.
Came so close to bailing out.
Sarah convinced me to run the race. She said to me "Dad - Please think nothing. Think about running. Erin will be fine. Please go."
Erin, at last, said to me "Dad, please get the show on the ROAD. Now !"

Pictorial recap....

The girls at Vermont Teddy Bear Factory.

Erin

Sarah

The uphill at mile 15.

The stats...

The video...

Check this cool website where you can view my stats. Type in my BIB number which is 879.

And at last... my final time...... 4:33:18. After the race, I've made a dash to the hotel to be with Erin. She was in bed with a fever. I gave her the medal and said "Erin, you are my HERO for calling 911 when Sarah had the bad seizure last January." She was in tears when I put the medal around her neck. Erin is the one who is a real sport for the entire weekend.

P.S. Erin is feeling better. I took her to the doctor yesterday where she came down with a strep throat. She is now on antibiotic and doing well.

One last note.... How cool is that for a 9 years old boy to complete the Vermont City Marathon ?

His time: 4:18

31 comments:

Mel-2nd Chances said...: Ok, as i mentioned in my email yesterday, glad you listened to the girls and ran the race! Well done! I think that site with the stats is amazing! Hope Erin is feeling 100% now, and dedicating the medal to her was amazing. Glad you got to meet up with Marci too! Congrats on your 6th marathon... outstanding :); May 27, 2009 10:47 AM
Carlee said...: Great job!!! Sorry I missed you. I'm glad Erin is feeling better; sounds like they are some gerat supporters.; May 27, 2009 11:27 AM
Marlene said...: Congratulations on number 6! I'm so glad you decided to run it, despite having a bit of a rough time and not feeling like your head was 'in the game.'

Good job getting the showe on the road!

So sweet that you gave Erin your medal.; May 27, 2009 11:29 AM
Laura said...: Awww, you finished RIGHT behind me! Like seriously 60 seconds back!!! I'm so bummed we didn't get to meet :( I suck at planning...

Congratulations on pushing through it though!; May 27, 2009 11:36 AM
X-Country2 said...: Congrats! That's quite the race report, and you are so lucky ot have such a great support system. Those girls seem pretty fantastic. :o); May 27, 2009 11:39 AM
Michelle said...: Ted you never cease to amaze me. Your enthusiasm and love of running is so infectious. Makes me want to run run run!!

Congrats on a great marathon. You really did so great. And under stress too!! You are really inspiring to me.

I am glad Erin is feeling better. She is a beautiful girl as is Sarah!! Just great!!

And that 9 year old? WOW!!! Looks like he may have great running years ahead of him!!

Can't wait until Saturday!!!!; May 27, 2009 11:57 AM
Nitmos said...: Congrats on #6! Looks like a fun time. I've always wanted to visit Vermont but my wife would never let me coordinate it with yet another marathon.; May 27, 2009 12:08 PM
Chic Runner said...: Hope your daughter feels better soon. Looks like you have the best cheerleaders around!; May 27, 2009 1:43 PM
kara said...: Rain...no fun. Lucky you had your cheer-up team with you. (love the poster:)
Nice report and a hey, job well done!!!; May 27, 2009 1:45 PM
Adam said...: Nice work plugging it out. Your daughters were totally right! I rarely say "boy I wish that I didn't go for that run today".

I have yet to run a race in hard rain and I HOPE that I don't have to find out what that is like.

Side note, do you use an online tool to upload your Garmin activity? I'm shopping around trying to find a good one. Feel free to respond here or on my blog.; May 27, 2009 3:01 PM
Abby said...: Wow, way to go! I'm sure it was really hard to focus on the race with everything else going on, but it sounds like once you were at the gate, you were able to get in gear.

Congratulations!

I'm really glad to hear that Erin is on the mend.; May 27, 2009 4:37 PM
Frayed Laces said...: wow, way to go on your finish! That is SO weird you thought it was me! Nope, certainly wasn't there, and although I have a sis, she wasn't anywhere near Vermont. Too funny!; May 27, 2009 7:33 PM
Chad in the AZ Desert said...: Very cool post! Glad to hear your daughter is doing better. Congratulations on the marathon finish!; May 27, 2009 7:36 PM
M*J*C said...: Hey! Thanks for stopping by and your comments about Pittsburgh! I had an amazing time cheering for TNT, it was a great experience!
Congrats on your 6th Marathon!!! That's AWESOME!!!!! Best of luck to you in all of your future endeavors!; May 27, 2009 10:07 PM
joyRuN said...: Congratulations on #6! Definitely sounds like a rough frame of mind to be starting off a marathon with, but you got it done :)

Glad to hear Erin's feeling better!; May 28, 2009 7:30 AM
Marcy said...: Here's to another marathon in the bag! You're such a cute Dad, I love it! I'm glad the kiddo is feeling better. It's never easy when they're sick.

A 9 year old running a marathon?! I thought you had to be at least 18?!?; May 28, 2009 8:01 AM
Jess said...: Congrats on completing your 6th marathon!; May 28, 2009 8:43 AM
Progman2000 said...: Way to go dude! Hope your daughter feels better - mine was sick over the weekend too :(; May 28, 2009 9:13 AM
Xenia said...: Congrats on another marathon finish, Ted! But more importantly, congrats on raising two of the best daughters in the world. I usually fear for the future with the way kids act these days, but your daughters are beautiful people, inside and out. Just like their dad. :); May 28, 2009 9:40 AM
Peter Larson said...: Great report! Sorry to hear about your daughter, but I'm glad she's doing better. It's always hard when the kids get sick. I love that your already signed up for another Half this weekend!; May 28, 2009 12:14 PM
robison52 said...: What a great race report and the photos of your children are simply adorable! I'm sure with your excellent example they'll be strong runners like their dad.; May 28, 2009 1:17 PM
FLYERS26 said...: Congrats on completing #6.
You should be proud of yourself for raising 2 great girls!

We'll have to hook up over the summer and run together.; May 29, 2009 7:09 AM
Marci said...: Ah thanks for the shout out. I am sorry I am so slow with my report, it was really nice meeting you too, and it was nice to relax and chat before the run! Congrats on another marathon, especially with your daughter being sick. I hope we can meet up again in the future!; May 30, 2009 10:04 PM
Marci said...: Oh and I am sorry I forgot my camera too!! I had my phone and should have taken a picture!; May 30, 2009 10:06 PM
Kelly said...: Congrats on your great time! That 9 year old puts me to shame.; May 31, 2009 2:47 PM
sRod said...: Congrats on getting out there! It looks like those last couple miles were brutal. Glad you were able to muscle through them.; June 1, 2009 5:03 PM
chris mcpeake said...: Congrats on a great race. Way to tough it out it couldnt have been easy.; June 3, 2009 10:06 AM
Hua said...: Hi Ted,

Congratulations on #6! You definitely are motivating me to want to sign up for a marathon. I'm Hua, the director of Wellsphere's HealthBlogger Network, a network of over 2,000 of the best health writers on the web (including doctors, nurses, healthy living professionals, and expert patients). I think your blog would be a great addition to the Network in the Running community, and I'd like to invite you to learn more about it and apply to join at http://www.wellsphere.com/health-blogger. Once approved by our Chief Medical Officer, your posts will be republished on Wellsphere where they will be available to over 5 million monthly visitors who come to the site looking for health information and support. There’s no cost and no extra work for you! The HealthBlogger page (http://www.wellsphere.com/health-blogger) provides details about participation, but if you have any questions please feel free to email me at hua@wellsphere.com.

Best,
Hua; June 4, 2009 5:53 PM
Lily on the Road said...: What a moving race report Ted, I'm so glad you ran it and how wonderful of you to give your daughter the medal and acknowledge her judgement.

I didn't think they would let someone so young run in the marathon. Wow, that is cool.; June 5, 2009 9:47 AM
Irish Blue said...: Hey Ted, congrats on doing the marathon under less than desirable circumstances. Hope your daughter is fully recovered. They are so cute btw.; June 5, 2009 1:03 PM
Andrew is getting fit said...: #6 Well done!

Glad to hear your girls are ok.; June 5, 2009 5:57 PM