Raven Run Part 2

I can't believe this guy is sucking us in to run 8 miles, I can still feel the Corona in my belly.  It's pretty warm, it's now 4:45 and the group is antsy.

"We just ate, so maybe we can just take some pictures and join you tonite for the dinner"

Sarah nods approvingly, fear and shock would better describe her facial expression when I suggest maybe we should run then.   "It's only eight miles, and we can walk/run it".  

Raven:   "You can't attend the dinner if you're not in "the book".

Sarah:  "What book?"

Peter:  "There's  a book too?"

Sexy Canadian:  "Well it's actually a list, of every runner who has ran 8 miles with the Raven".

Canuck:  "C'mom, you have to run now, you are here, and you'll get a nickname too"

Sarah and Peter:   "A nickname"?

Raven:  "So are we running or what"....


(you get the jist of the conversation, as I mull over the possibility, and Sarah recovers from the reality that instead of another round of margaritas on a patio, after  an easy bike ride, she may have to run again, with the wrong bra no less)


Peter:   (to Sarah).   "We have to run, we may not be here tomorrow, or for another year in fact!"

Josh pipes in (my friend and exposure #1):   "You are running aren't you?"

Peter:  (to Raven)  "How fast do you guys go?"

Raven:  "After 35 years...trust me...it's not that fast"

Sexy Canadian:  "But you have to be back before Raven leaves the beach or you don't get on the list"

Sarah and Peter:   "Rats".   

Sarah:   "We just ate, and I am not dressed.  No way can I do this, especially after eating``

Peter:  ``Ì will go with you (famous last words, every runner has said this to a slower companion)....it will be fun, trust me (more famous last words).


So the group takes off, we`re at the back, and now there are 20 runners, Raven starts Roll Call and introduces the new people.  What a memory, and he mentions my World Record too (mascot marathon).  He also appreciates me and Commando in our barefeet, so he asks me what my nickname will be.  Apparently, he makes up alot of runner`s nicknames, but he senses my marketing savvyness and before long (8 seconds) I decide that Mascot is appropriate.   I could have gone with Promoter but Frankie Ruiz from the Miami Marathon has that name down.  (there are no duplicates on `the list`)

Raven remembers everyones nicknames, how long they have been running with him, and other tidbits to pass the first stretch south towards the pier.   We are also in the midst of special members today, Warrior most among them.  He was extremely overweight, out of shape and un-motivated two years earlier, living up north when he heard about Raven.  He shared with me that one day he decided, enough was enough, he wanted to change his lifestyle for the better.  He moved to Miami Beach, got fitter, started running 80 days ago and hasn`t missed a day!  This included the day prior, when he ran his first marathon AND ran 8 miles on the beach that afternoon.

No wonder his nickname is warrior!   He is going after the most auspicious Raven record of the lot, the most consecutive days running with the legend himself, which is actually owned by Poutine, a Canadian gal whom we met at dinner that evening.  Her streak ended un-ceremoniously at 151 days when she went back to Canada for the birthday of a relative (soft).   So now after less than a few miles, I start to have a fond and growing respect for what`s going on here.  Imagine the impact of this one individual, transforming his life and now inspiring others to do the same.  How the hell can I quit now!

Sarah and I though are quickly suffering from the heavy stomach, her sore legs and my aching body.  The main group sticks together and you quickly notice the stares and attention from late day sun worshippers collecting a few more rays of skin cancer.

There are many joggers and power-walkers, fast runners and certainly many have no idea of the history passing them by.   Speaking of passing, the lead group is already coming back the other way, and everyone encourages each other so it`s inspiring.   There are 4 routes I believe, this is south, north past the starting point, back to the pier, north again a little further than before, then all the way back to the pier a 3rd time (killer time now), then finally at the Lifeguard station.

Sarah and I are so far behind after a few miles, I worry that we`ll both miss the cut-off.  We`re as committed now as a couple of pigs at a slaughterhouse, so this could get ugly.  For the first time in a long time, I don`t want to finish a run and Sarah seems further behind mentally than I am.  I have quit very few races in my 16 years of running, but more than a handful of training runs have been bailed on.  This seems different, even on vacation and the day after a half-marathon (which I always take off btw).

Not only are the Raven runners supporting us, but I sense something regretful if I don`t finish today.   The sun is setting, and I start to selfishly think of myself.   ``Sarah can always run again tomorrow, and being a newbie may not care to miss out on making `the list`.   But I HAVE TO finish...so she lets me take off, as I proceed down to the water where the sand allows me to pick up the pace considerably, in my barefeet.  I am certain she`s toast, like some of the sun worshippers among us.

Pretty soon, I find my gears, and start whipping along the beach, catching up to the pack.  I am amazed at how nimble I soon feel, nothing quite like a change of scenery, on a soft surface, to dig up some long lost running inspiration.  I head back up the flat, hard, wide section of the beach, the first point of entry from the sidewalk.  There is a very large middle section, where the sunbathers, chairs and umbrellas fill in, then the hard-packed, jelly fish littered, cantered section adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean.  I have almost caught up to the group, passing Sarah once more and stopping to encourage her.   She`s doing okay, but I worry that she won`t make it before Raven finishes.  We`re almost done but she still has a ways to go.  Thankfully, Canuck has to finish his run by heading further north, so he joins her on the lonely, last section furthest north on today`s route.  (regulars are allowed to improvise their runs by running to the start, thus running back to homes and condos and still qualifying as a `run`with Raven``

I finally finish but not before passing Sarah one last time, as she heads south again for her last mile.  She`s ecstatic, which surprises me, and even refuses my water.  Ì have it! she exclaims, like she must mean the winning lottery ticket to last evenings`draw.   Or she found a 1000-year old Spanish Gold antique lying under the sand.

`My nickname`she cries, as if it was the answer to the Holy Grails resting place.  `Northen Dancer!   How appropriate I comment, you like to Salsa, grew up among horses in Kentucky and are also a Canadian.

Well how about that, we all need inspiration in many ways, shapes and forms and Sarah covered more ground today than she ever had as a `runner`.

Thank you Raven.

The World's Most Unusual and Unique Running Club

 RavenRun

Miami, Florida

How would you like to know that you can show up, every day, at the same time and place and be guaranteed someone to run with, rain or shine?  And it was FREE!

Recently I was in Miami attending the Miami Marathon, Florida's fastest growing running festival.   Peter Donato finally ticked off another running conquest, running with South Beaches legendary streaker (consecutive days running with no days off), Robert "Raven" Kraft.  Some of you may have heard of this interesting personality, who recently celebrated 100,000 miles of a running streak lasting 35 years, and counting.   I actually heard about the Raven several years ago on my first visit to the Miami Marathon, which is now a client of our company.  A friend who had been to Toronto to work the Scotia Bank Marathon Race Expo invited me to "run with the Raven", but it sounded a bit bizarre.   Not knowing this person, and fearing he was kind of a freak, I passed on the invitation.

At the Miami Marathon Race Expo on the Friday, I bumped into a fellow runner from Canada who I had seen countless times at local GTA races.  He noticed Jefferson who was with me, tied to the Girl Guides table out front, smart place to sell cookies!  He's mentioning the Raven Run and will I be joining?   He tells me his nickname is the Sexy Canadian, and I can't disagree.  Solid tan, matching and fashionable clothes, cool demeanour about this fellow.  I dismiss the offer, again, not wanting to get sucked into anything unusual (!).   But now it's exposure number four, they say it takes six or seven often to make a decision.

During my 1/2 marathon run 2 days later, at mile three as we enter South Beach, I pass a familiar looking guy on the side of the road.  Dressed in black, shirt open, scraggly and greying hair.  He's cheering on the sidelines, and at the very moment I hear a woman shout out, "hey Raven thanks for cheering" and she passes me wearing a Raven Run t-shirt.  That wasn't what bothered me....it was not being able to catch up to her to read the back!    Now we had posted an article and photo on our site years earlier, so this "Raven" person now has a face, and he even looked familiar to someone I passed at the Expo on the Friday  (although I was in Mascot drag so who knows if he saw me).....(:

So there it is again, the Raven....

Monday morning arrives, me very much stiff, sore and barely coherent, tyypical post-race enjoying a mellow breakfast overflowing with eggs, toast and unlimited coffee.   The Sexy Canadian passes our table on the sidewalk.  Sarah is seated with me, girlfriend and casual runner who just finished a 45-minute run-walk along the beach.  Alot of miles for a newbie on vacation (foreshadowing here folks).   "Hey Sexy Canadian, over here...join us".   It's always great to mingle with fellow Canucks on the road, especially colourful characters like Dave is.  We exchange the usual post-run banter, etc.  How was your race, what's your "next race"...lol

"No running for me today, in addition to running the 1/2 marathon I also biked to/from the start line, and roller-bladed over an hour at the end of the day.   Severely exhausted I am, Sarah too.  "Why don't you join me today at 4pm for the Raven Run, then tonite at the Annual Awards Banquet."...enquires the Sexy Canadian.

What???

There's a run AND an Awards Banquet?  What and who is this guy?   Curiosity finally killed this cat.

Now we have to meet him at least.  Sarah and I decide to show up, finally (exposure number seven seals the deal) but JUST to meet him, take a picture, maybe attend the dinner.   I bring my roller blades and her bike, we're going to burn off the late lunch, margaritas and Coronas.  She has run already, and my legs are trashed.   As we wander to the Lifeguard station near 5th Street we have zero interest in actually running.  Maybe tomorrow.  It's 4:15, we're late and there is no sign of the guy.  Another girl wearing a shirt approaches us wandering the sidewalk (lost),  comforts us, we're not lost afterall.  "Oh he's coming, he is usually late anyway".  

We are now on the beach, beautiful sand, water, sun, near naked bodies splayed on the sand.  Not a bad choice for a daily run, even 13,000 days consecutively.  Pretty soon people show up from all directions, all shapes and sizes, and it's a real friendly, social gathering.   Typical run club outing, for starters.  10-12...15 people.  Something's happening here. Raven shows up too.  All in black....

Sexy Canadian is here.  Groundhog.  Canuck (from Toronto as well).  Warrior (massive, strong looking guy who also ran the marathon the day prior).    Seems like everyone has an alter ego.  Sarah and I get some pictures taken, then he pops the question.  "So, are you two running with us?".

"Ah, no, not really...."

And as they say, "the rest of the story" follows on post number two.

http://ravenrun.net/

Tour for kids 2010

Tour for kids 800km epic 4day adventure, pledges still accepted!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day One - Thursday

Stouffville - Trent University

It's 7:20 pm and 15 of us are stranded at the Pioneer Gas Station in Springville - 15 km's out of Peterborough. We started at 9am by the way.....

I knew it was going to be a bad day when I lost my little baggie with $30 in it....somewhere in the first 50km. I also decided to start in the 2nd fastest group again this year, and rode my ass off quite well till 50km (too bad it's a 200km day). I then got dropped like a bad Brett Favre pass. But not after enjoying some "Tour de France" like riding - bombing along the country roads towards Uxbridge at 40+ kph in some flat sections....priceless. In a Peleton (pack of cyclists) you can even go up a decent hill doing 30.

The weather was perfect today, sunny skies, warm with slight winds to provide relief. After the first rest stop, a few of us missed the cut off on

Marsh Hill Road

, and so a few miles later we were officially lost. This would set the tone for the day unfortunately.

I decided that we should "improvise" and find our way back to the group we broke off from, but my travelling companions wanted to retrace their pedals......and before I could turn around to join them I noticed my tire going flat.

AAggghh!

20 minutes later....and two C02 cartridges...I am on my way, map in hand with a less-than-fully inflated front tire. So I know this won't last another 100+ km's, and we're getting close to Port Perry. "There must be a bike shop here somewhere"?

I am now on the outskirts of Port Perry, and pull into a "tire repair" shop which would make sense if I was in a car! Usually these mechanics have everything, including the convertor for regular air pressure and these skinny tires we have.

I skirt across the road and notice a rather impressive looking Audi turning out of the lot, and he's yelling at me! "White trash redneck" is all I could think at the moment, forgetting that it's a $50,000 German car and not a used North American pick-up. I am trying to find someone who works here and the guy in the Audi is still shouting and now he's reversing his car back towards me!

Good grief, he either really hates road cyclists, or maybe he wants to make a donation to Tour for Kids?? (Always the Optimist).

Well, funnily enough it's a client, Adam Ruppell from Chico Racing (Ontario's Premier Mountain Biking guru). "How did you know it was me" I asked? "Your Juice Plus+ cycling jersey gave you away!"

So 15 minutes later as we discuss the state of affairs in Trail Running (stay tuned for new 2011 Chico Trail running folks)....we finally change topics and move onto more pressing matters, like my under-inflated flat tire! "There's a bike guy straight across the corn field over there, Johnston's Bike Shop".

These were the directions I was given by my friendly attendant, who finally emerged from the shadows, reading the Toronto Sun certainly. "Yup...if you could ride your bike straight that way you'd see Johntson's Bike Repair right in front of you. "Or a madder-than-hell corn farmer" was my first thought.

"Great...so how about instructions on my Cervelo here...on a paved road"?

Now I am headed in the opposite direction of Peterborough but happy to find relief in one of the most unlikely places for a roadie. The Bike Shop - a garage actually, but upon entering it's just like the back shop of any cycling mechanic. Messy....chock full of wheels hanging from the ceiling, notes, scribbles and items from across the full spectrum of cycling parts known and unknown. And Brian is larger than life, literally and figuratively.

"Don't get too many road types like yourself in here, they pass by all the time though and would rather spend 2x as much elsewhere."

"Well I just need to add some more air to my front tire, and if you have a spare tube for these wheels I will happily grab one of those as well". (Polite gesture as I figure no way he has one.).

"Got one left as his head emerges from a pile".

"Just 10 bucks for the Presta Valve and Tube."

What a deal I think, and scrounge through my jersey pockets and Bento Box, looking for that plastic baggie with the 30 bucks.....oh oh.

To be continued.......

 

Tour for kids 800km epic 4day adventure, pledges still accepted!

http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=827935&LangPref=en-CA 

Canceled races...

 My friend and client Jerry emailed me yesterday, Cruise to Run Race Director, just got back from Alaska on their "maiden" Running Cruise. This guy has seen it all, done it all, and shared with me that one of their races was delayed due to the fact the ship (small, presumably) bringing the runners hit a whale.

No $%^# Mobey Dick!

And on the same "run" a bear was on the course and interrupted the run (are they adjusting the finish times with an asterisk)?

* the following participants can deduct 30 seconds and qualify for a fresh pair of shorts

! (:

So of course I piped in, "we actually had a pregnant bear on the course at the 1999 Jasper-Banff Relay that canceled outright stage run #11 for all teams except the first place Japanese Pro team who went by first.....Naturally the bear was dis-interested in these skinny fellows anyway, wait for the plodders 4 hours later.... yours truly was actually scheduled to run that stage, all revved up and back to bed....strange evening for sure.

So we started chatting, Jerry and I, and found out that we were both in the infamous Around the Bay Road Race 30km in 1996. The Port of Hamilton bridge went "up" a little prematurely on all 4,000 runners save for the first 15 men and lone female, now that was a debacle! It was exactly 15km into the race, so of course many of us turned around and went back the way we came. We could see in the water the slow-moving tanker that was in fact a day early on arrival (who wants to be in Hamilton earlier than expected anyway)??

Think that's strange.....

An early edition of the Toronto Marathon (when there was only one - 1971 I think) featured world famous marathoner Bill Rodgers, and somewhere out in Scarborough (yikes) a pack of runners was stopped by a train, another race finish another asterisk....

*the following runners can deduct two minutes from their finish times and earn 35% off their next trip with Via Rail

How about the race in Myrtle Beach - canceled due to a massive, freak snow storm the night prior:

http://www.mynextrace.com/Article1132.htm

Remember the Chicago Marathon in 2007, canceled mid-stride as it were, due to oppressive heat and humidity:

http://www.mynextrace.com/Article526.htm

The best story was the Montreal Marathon, somewhere back in the 1990's I am guessing, the race was actually canceled as runners lined up at the start line. "Runners, take your marks. Set. Wait........hold on...nervous Race Director takes emergency call from police on course....permit hasn't been paid....unsafe road conditions (traffic)....Pull the Plug!

Well, something like that, straight from the mouth of the current organizer, a client and friend of mine, who struggled for years with runners and sponsors, saying time and again, "we're not the same organizational team as THAT year"!

Imagine if that was you, what would you do?

At least a bear won't be munching on your energy bar.

PD

peter@mynextrace.com 

I am a Tour de France Cyclist

It's interesting what goes through your mind when you are out on a bike....for hours....

In the middle of a 110 km day of training under a windy and intensely hot ride, I arrived at the conclusion that I am an easy roadie to identify with. For five straight years, it seems like I get started on some serious rides around early July, and my cycling peaks in September when the weather is ideal here in Southern Ontario.

If you’re thinking, “fair weather cyclist” you are partially correct, although I find myself getting from A-B year-round in the city on my commuter bike in just about any weather, including icy and snow-covered city streets. I also own a very active dog, Jefferson is a collie mix so it does not matter what the weather brings, he needs exercise....including several hours with me on a bike and he jogging along. In my 4th year of downtown living I have become a true cyclist, saving gas, the environment and building a real firm butt!

My last true holiday also found me riding from Rome to Venice, so clearly I enjoy the long distance variety!

However, it dawned on me this past weekend, that it's the Tour and all the excitement that goes with this race where I start to begin my short, outdoor season in earnest. My road bike stayed out of action when I returned from Italy in mid-October until mid-May, which is terrible I know. I chose not to ride it in Florida partly because of the cold snap (wimp) and because I left all my cycling clothes behind as I hurriedly packed when it was minus-25 and I was itching to hit the highway. (I did bring the trusty commuter bike with me, which I left behind with my brother-in-law).

I can't stand indoor spin classes (claustrophobic), and stationary trainer riding at home was a necessity for the build up to Ironman but the dust has now collected on the trainer. It's actually being put to use as a very expensive door stop, our french doors open to a glamorous view of our neighbour's backyards here in dwtn Queen West.....

Once the cold and windy rain starts in late fall....there goes the Cervelo until the annual winter Florida trip....

Not sure how I break this cycle...maybe tape the Tour and pop in some DVD's to fake me out??

Oh well....maybe a new bike purchase will change this?

PD

peter@mynextrace.com 

shoeguy

-         Have you ever met a "shoe guy"???

-        

-         To be more specific....a running shoe "rep"?   If I asked you what colour their eyes were, that could be a challenge.

-        

-         Cause they are programed like robots to stare at the ground....at least until they satisfy their craving.

Medical advice...

Okay, after a long absence here goes a new resolution in 2010, more writing....

I have found some cool, local coffee shops and hideaways in my new "hood" so it should be easy to pen some thoughts from this wacky world of endurance sports.

This first one could be the best of the year!

Anyone (Canadian) found themselves caught in a hospital (U.S.A. or insert scary foreign country here_____________)

....with no medical coverage...

....after running a partial marathon...

....and you woke up...

...in a hospital in your running clothes....

!!!!!

Dorothy, we're not in Kansas anymore. Seriously, this HAPPENED to someone I know, recently, at a big U.S. race where he / she (we're going to protect the identity of this individual) was pushing the envelope to qualify for Boston.

(not ANOTHER crazy runner pursuing the Holy Grail?)...

He / she was on pace, everything seemed fine, then instead of mile marker 24, some sports drink, maybe a gel, hopefully a Rock and Roll Band encouraging everyone as you're "almost finished"....then he /she woke up in a hospital. Then transferred to another hospital for more tests...

"Oh, can someone track down my runner's bag at the finish line?"

"Oh, can someone call my hotel to tell them I won't need that $200/nite hotel room, this polyester bed sheet and green potatoes are fine"....

Could anything be worse than this post-marathon HELL???

"Ah, Mrs / Mr. ____________ - it seems as though your insurance documents are dated for the 18th, and we admitted you on the 17th...."

AAHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH

"Hello, Insurance Company.......YOU %$%#ed up......!!!

$27,000 dollars later.....the soap opera continues....

Let's see if we can get a happy ending out of this story.

Just a friendly reminder to check that list, check it twice....

happy running.

or not

PD

peter@mynextrace.com