30 down, not sure there will be 31

It was 30 years ago, well over half my life, that I made a goal of running Grandma's Marathon and Twin Cities Marathons each for 25 consecutive years. The postal service goofed up my Twin Cities Marathon streak at 12 when the mail sorting machine chewed up my entry, which was returned after the race. So I have Grandma's, where I am a Lifetime Entrant (I never pay an entry fee, as I paid $100 in 1990).

When I reached the 25th year, I was prepared to be satisfied with achieving that goal.  Then, the 2009 Grandma's entry information date came, and my son encouraged me to run with him for a 26th race. After a few minutes at the start, I think he was gone!  Then, for the 27th, I decided to run 5.24 miles and quit.  That would mean I ran 26.2 consecutive Grandma's Marathons.  My son decided to run the whole race with me, so I could not quit at 5.24 miles, as this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  But he stayed with me the entire way, and I cherished that time with him.  So finishing 27 means only one thing!  The goal was now 30 consecutive finishes...  

The 30^th Consecutive finish at Grandma's Marathon is complete. I went into the week of the race thinking the two 2-mile runs, a 4-mile run, and a 5-mile training run in the two weeks before the race were inadequate to finish. For the past three years, I think I logged less than 15 miles running between each Grandma's. I do bike and walk. Running has lost all its allure, and I generally hate even a mile run. Walking is now even that enjoyable.

This year, Jordan was going to run the race with me.  We left for Duluth on Friday at about 2:00 PM.  It was just us, as Shelley had plans with her parents in Lincoln, Nebraska, and my sister could not make the race in years.  We arrived in heavy fog and 48 degrees at 5:15 PM (traffic was horrible) and quickly picked up our packets.  We walked around Canal Park, freezing!  Jordan had won Spaghetti tickets, so we ate a below-average meal and headed to the car to sleep.  By 10:30 PM, we were sleeping.

 

I woke at 4:00 AM, and the race forecast was dismal: cold, rain, and winds. The only thing that could have made the weather look worse was snow. Thank God that did not happen!  

Jordan woke at 5:00 AM, and we were headed to the train by 5:25 AM. We made it to the start with about 45 minutes to prepare. All went well as we contemplated what to wear. I wore a real shirt with arm warmers, and Jordan wore a double-layer short-sleeve. We even each made it through the Biffy lines and lined up 10 minutes before the start.

When we started, I felt like I imagined the Tin Man from Wizard of Oz needing oil.  Just needed to feel more smooth.  The first mile was 11:29, and every mile was slower until miles 9 and 10. We gained about 30 seconds a mile.  Then we were in a run/walk and 16-minute miles to the finish.  At Mile 23, I was very nervous about finishing.  Cramps started, and I used all my mental capacity to vary the strides and paces to hold them off.  I was concerned I would get a Charlie horse, eliminating the chance to finish.  Wisely, we chose to take it easy.

As a side note, between Mile 11 and 16, there were several times I was going to quit.  I was hurting all over and very cold.  Mentally, I am not as strong as I once was, which made the race hard.  Jordan was just hanging with me for support, although at times, he would unknowingly cause me issues as he continually asked how I was doing.  To answer, I could no longer block out the pain.  My left ankle was in heavy pain, and I felt cramp-like twinges in various muscles from mile 12.

In the end, I scored 6:36:48, whereas last year, I scored 6:33:59, so I was consistent.   

I really like the medal this year!

The only issue I have now is what is left.  This is a time when it is easy to get depressed as I am running out of goals to keep me going. I need a goal to live.  Someone asked me why I did this or rode my bicycle from Denver to Minneapolis. I told them it reminded me that I was still alive.  This is the only reason 31 is in my mind, but I realize that less than 15 miles of training will cut it, and I despise running. Wonder which one will win out?

Carry on, my friends.  Carry on!

THE FINAL Comments - Denver to MPLS

Over two weeks have passed since the ride was completed. I postponed a final post, awaiting the resolution of any lingering discomfort. Despite this, I still experience significant numbness in my left hand and partial numbness in my right hand. Only the little finger and a portion of the ring finger remain numb.

I have been informed that this is not uncommon and that the healing process may take longer than a month. While the condition has not improved and remains frustrating, I have received valuable advice from several well-intentioned friends. I have implemented their recommendations, and stretching exercises have proven to be most beneficial. I have come to understand that the pain does not originate from the hand or wrist, but rather from the elbow. As many bicycle websites elucidate, Ulnar Nerve Entrapment at the elbow is the underlying cause of numbness.

This makes sense since I minimized the impact on my hands and wrists, but the pain persisted. I’ll have my bike refitted because my position caused extra elbow strain. I should’ve thought of this earlier. In running, the hip can cause ankle pain, the foot can cause knee pain, and the knee can cause hip pain. It’s odd how this complex machine (the human body) has so many parts that affect others.

Well, some bicycle lessons learned include:

• Enjoy the scenery and journey. I prioritized reaching my destination, but if I were to do it again, I’d plan all hotel or camping options without preconceived notions. That way, I could adjust to each day and the elements.
• I plan hotel stays. Camping costs $300 less, but setting up and taking down the camp, as well as the decreased sleep quality, detract from the experience. So it may be inexpensive, but there are expenses like bike maintenance, eating, and other needs to consider. A good night's sleep, a shower, and no concerns over nighttime weather would make the trip easier.
• If I hadn’t planned to camp, I could’ve removed about 40% of my gear, saving over 20 pounds and making the ride easier while conserving energy.
• Knowing road conditions is crucial for such trips. I was familiar with the road from Colorado to Nebraska, but I was unfamiliar with the construction and activities that required more knowledge for Iowa and most of Minnesota. This created tension and stress, detracting from the ride quality. I also test-drove the planned route on a Saturday, finding weekday traffic to be much higher and more dangerous.
• Ensure you have a good pump and plenty of tubes for the bikes. We had a decent pump and used eight tubes, but we couldn’t consistently use it when our hand strength diminished. We were able to inflate the tires to about 65 psi, but not the desired 100 psi. The CO2 required frequent filling, but the air wasn’t sustained; overnight, we had a flat tire.
• Calories and water are crucial. Losing control of these will delay recovery for more than a day. We reminded each other to eat or drink.

That encapsulates my thoughts. It was an unforgettable ride. I sometimes forget on purpose, as expected with stressful rides, but I always consider it a positive experience. I hope my son feels the same.

I may be way off base, but I don't know how many 51-year-old men would even consider taking their child on such a ride. The stamina, strength, and overall well-being of a 25-year-old are significantly different from those of a 51-year-old. I am proud to have accomplished this, but I know it would not have been possible without my son's support and guidance.

This final entry is the end of the blog. I may resurrect this blog if I attempt another trip. As I type these words, I realize this chapter of fatherhood is over and will never be the same.  This venue enabled me to archive forever, in real time, with edits, which would have been very difficult 15 years ago.

In moments of melancholy, I find solace in composing songs, using the writing to alleviate the emotional burden. Upon my return from this journey, I dedicated myself to translating my thoughts into lyrical form. The resulting composition, aptly titled “Bicycling Through the USA,” has met with my satisfaction. The lyrics are as follows:

Two wheels rollin' down the highway

Golden fields and skies of blue

From Tennessee to California

Chasing dreams with every view

By the river, through the valley

Pedalin' past a worn-out shack

Grit and gravel feel the freedom

Ain't no way I'm turnin' back

(Chorus)

Bicycle through the heartland, feel the wind in my hair

From the Rockies to the bayou, I'm goin' everywhere

Every pedal's a memory, every road a new day

Bicycle through the USA, I'm ridin' away

Campin' under stars of Dixie

Wakin' up to mountain air

Small-town smiles and classic diners

America, you treat me fair

Rusty bridges wide open spaces

Lakes and forests towns so small

Every day, a brand new story

This bicycle's my freedom call

(Chorus)

Bicycle through the heartland, feel the wind in my hair

From the Rockies to the bayou, I'm goin' everywhere

Every pedal's a memory, every road a new day

Bicycle through the USA, I'm ridin' away

I’m riding away

(Chorus)

Bicycle through the heartland, feel the wind in my hair

From the Rockies to the bayou, I'm goin' everywhere

Every pedal's a memory, every road a new day

Bicycle through the USA, I'm ridin' away

I’m riding away

I’m riding away

So carry on, my friends. Moreover, if you ever have the chance to do something like this with your child, do your best to seize the opportunity!