A run for Arden

Below are the details of my Philly marathon on Sunday November 18th. It's a race I've run 6 or 7 times, but this one was different than all others...

When I first decided to run this race as a fundraiser for Arden, almost instantly I knew that I wanted to have a special shirt made to wear during the race. During my 23 previous marathons (and numerous shorter races), I've encountered vast numbers of people wearing shirts dedicated to those in need, those who are ill, and those who have passed on. As focused as I get during my races, I still take the time to say a prayer when running by someone wearing a shirt like this. Its hard to not feel something when you see these runners and just as hard not to wish them peace or whatever it is they seek. In addition to the obvious physical benefits or running, the emotional ones can be just a significant. You can run for introspection, to relieve stress, to plan to conquer the world, to cope with loss, or to escape your pain and demons. But to run for someone else...that is something entirely different.

Over the summer, I trained for a race where I'd be running with a teammate for the entire race. 5 days. 108 miles. That was pressure. I put a lot of pressure on myself to make sure that I trained hard enough so that I would not let my teammate down. It dominated my thoughts and my life for nearly three months. But running for Arden was not the same. Since I learned of her illness, rarely do I go more than a few hours without thinking of her, Amy, and Rick. For those of you who know me, you know I like to be in control of things. I also like to help people whenever I can. I try to be there for my friends when they need me. But what can I do for Arden? Pray, visit, offer support. I don't feel like I'm doing enough. I can't do enough. If I could run another marathon on Monday to help Arden, I would. If I had to run on Tuesday, I would. If I had to run until they carried me away on a stretcher, I would. Like my summer race, this, too, has dominated my thoughts yet I feel powerless to do anything. Running is the one thing I excel at and can control...the least I can do is try to turn it into something to help Arden. This race is for all of us who care and pray for Arden and want to whatever we can to help.

In many ways, Sunday morning began like most other marathon mornings. An anxious and restless night's sleep followed by a reluctance to remove myself from the warm comfort of my bed. It also began like every morning has for the past five weeks since I heard the news about Arden. Saying a prayer as I glance at the picture of Arden that I've placed next to my clock radio. Today's race will be different. Regardless of the time that I finish with or the runners that I pass, it will be a great race. Though I did have a goal time in mind (3:02:32, 7:00/mile) that would not be today's metric for success. To borrow the often corny cliche 'Just getting to the start line is a victory', today, for the first time in any race EVER, I felt that way. I always have a goal time that I strive to achieve. Even if I'm running a race 'just for fun', there is a goal. Today was different. The generosity that all of you have demostrated made the day a success regardless of my finish time. My goal of helping all of you help the Buchers has been achieved.

Approaching the city through the morning's drizzle and gray clouds, I allow my thoughts to begin focusing on the race. My excitement finally begins to build as I exit the Schuylkill and enter Drexel's campus. There is a brief moment of reminiscing, both of my time on campus and of my previous Philly marathons. I park in my usual area, along 31st Street next to the seemingly endless tracks of 30th Street Station. Almost immediately after exiting my car, two women who are running the marathon ask me "Who's Arden"? I join them in their light warm-up run to the start and tell them Arden's story. Both obviously have children of their own and have shed tears before we even get off of 31st Street. I then remember that I'm holding a giant black magic marker with which to decorate my legs. I ask one of the women to write "God Bless Arden" on the backs of my legs and she gladly obliges. After a final exchange of good luck for the race and well-wishes for Arden, we go our separate ways.

Walking around the start area was very different today. Overall 12000 people are involved in the marathon, half marathon, and 8k. There are probably another 12000 friends, family members, and volunteers. Most runners blend anonymously into the crowd. Maybe one out of fifty catch your eye. The really old, or tiny, or large, or outlandishly dressed stand out. Those who 'look fast' draw my attention. And then there are those who are wearing shirts detailing their cause. I normally like to imagine that people see me and think "That guy is fast"! But today, I am not that guy. I have a darling little girl's face on the front and back of my shirt. A few people approach me to inquire about Arden and wish her well. Most runners simply read the shirt, make eye contact, a give a solemn nod before going their way. These silent exchanges, though brief and seemingly cold, are warming. Many of us are in our own world as the start time approaches but these people have read my shirt and wished Arden well. They have ever so briefly added their thoughts and prayers to the rest of our's in Arden Nation.

The race start is delayed until about 7:15am as the police are busy removing illegally parked cars along the course. Conditions, in my opinion, are ideal. About 42F, threat of rain, and not a ray of sunshine in the sky. I'm attired in a hat, gloves, a long sleeve T under Arden's T, and shorts. It hasn't rained at all, yet, which means that we're at least starting the race dry and didn't have to stand around in the rain. The horn sounds to start the race and I'm standing off to the side. I'm watching hundreds, then thousands of people begin their journey. My mind wanders. How many are experiencing their first marathon today? How many are running their last? Trying to qualify for Boston? Running for a cause like myself? Everybody has their unique story. I wish them all success and a happy ending.

Five minutes have passed and I don't see myself starting any time soon. Seven minutes go by...still no indication that I'll be running soon. With over 10000 marathoners and half marathoners sharing the same course, I'm beginning to get somewhat anxious about what I've gotten myself into. Trying to scamper through the throngs of people at the back of the pack is not going to be easy. As the eighth minute passes, the crowd has become very thin. I'll be starting momentarily. At almost exactly nine minutes after the start, I adjust my attire, double check my shoelaces, start my watch, and cross the start line. Hold on! Its going to be a bumpy ride trying to navigate the crowd.

All of us at one point in our lives have been running through a crowd people people who are standing still or walking slowly. While doing so, you're simply hoping that nobody makes a sudden, unexpected move or change in direction because if they do so, its going to be messy. You all know that feeling, right? Well, now imagine doing it for over an hour and you can get a feel for the adrenaline, nervousness, and excitement that I felt for about the first eight miles of the race. My first three miles were significantly impacted by the crowd's density as I plodded through 7:38, 7:51, and 7:25 splits. There were times that I actually had to stop and walk. At this point, I'm very thankful that I have the message "Passing you raises $$ for Arden's cancer" on my back to help these people who are running 11, 12, and 13 minutes miles why there is some jerk who, at times, is running sub-6's at the back of the pack.

By mile five, the crowd has thinned out enough that, though I'm still weaving constantly, I can keep my pace pretty constant. From mile 5 through 15, my splits on the eight 'flat' miles are all between 6:45 and 6:51. I'm thrilled with this and really feel good. Around mile 16, I actually get passed by someone for the first time in the race. I'm very surprised and worry that I'm slowing down now. My next split indicates that my pace has remained the same. I catch up to the guy who passed me and tell him that he should hold back a bit, that its too early for him to be speeding up and he'll pay for it later. He thanks me for the advice, but does not heed it. I make a mental image in my head of him as I know I'll be seeing him again, running much slower at some point later in the race.

Mile 20 marks the turnaround point in Manayunk and from there its a beautiful 6.2 mile stretch along Kelly Drive and boathouse row back to the finish at the Art Museum. But, at this point I've already started to feel fatigued. A little earlier than I had hoped. I know this is likely due to this being my 4th marathon in 5 weeks, but I'm still not looking forward to the impending discomfort that I'm going to feel. For the first time since the crowded start, I have a slower than 7:00 split (7:01) at mile 19. 7:09, 7:08, and 7:06 follow. My glutes are screaming. Though I've been thinking of Arden for almost the entire race (except for the moments when I was narrowly avoiding some major collisions), its not until now that I am relying on her for strength. I think about her and the long stays in the hospital, about all of the crappy chemicals that her body is subjected to, and about all of the 'ouchies' she has to withstand. No way am I going to slow down now. This discomfort is nothing compared to what Arden is facing. I am in control of this and I will not relent. My rate of passing runners has decreased as the crowd thins and I've approached runners with comparable abilities. But with about a mile and half to go, I am able to accelerate. During this time, I've sped up to about a 6:30 pace and the discomfort is barely perceptable. I cross the finish line and say yet another prayer for Arden. I'm overcome with emotional so much so that one of the finish line volunteers approaches to see if need medical attention. I smile and tell her that I'm fine, thanks, knowing deep within me that Arden is going to be fine, too. How can she not be with all of the wonderful people like all of you praying for her and doing everything you can to help?

Final race stats:
Clock time: 3:12:38
Clock ranking: 502nd of 6677 finishers
Chip time: 3:03:44 (7:00.45)
Chip ranking: 287th (top 4.3%)

From the race, I drive straight to the Buchers' house. After all, I promised Arden at the hospital on Friday night that she could have her t-shirt once I finished the race. Within moments of walking in the house, Arden was showing me all her toys and was very outgoing and happy. I probably spent the first 20 or 30 minutes playing with her. It was wonderful to see her so happy. Most of my visits to the hospital have been when she was feeling crappy and not in a very outgoing mood. Today was truly a delight to see her happy and playful. If I let my mind wander, I could even forget for a while the battle that she was facing. I spent the next couple hours with Rick, Amy, Kerry, and Carin. Every time I see them it amazes me to see how strong Rick and Amy have been. I don't know how they are doing it. I know that I got in the car, and just like when I leave the hospital, cried for the first few minutes of my ride home in disbelief that this is happening.

I spent the rest of my day relaxing at home. I actually allowed myself to pig out for the first time in a while and it felt goooood. Two big pieces of lasagna and three beers. As I (gingerly) climed into bed, my day ended just as it began...looking at Arden's picture and praying for her to get better.

Thank you all so much for the support you've given to the Buchers through your prayers, support, and generosity.

The t-shirt:
(yes, they did correct the spelling error before making the shirt)

And yes, I did end up passing the one runner who passed me. He was going slow around mile 24 and I flew by him.

USMC marathon success

I enjoyed the marathon much more than the first time I ran it. It was much better organized this time and the people were nicer. Was aiming for 3:10 and ran 3:10:13. I'm definitely satisfied with that time as its just 2 weeks since my last two marathons. Plus, I started at near the back of the pack, about 20 minutes after the official race start. Lots of time spend trying to pass those people back there and lots of energy wasted in doing so. I probably wasn't able to run at a constant steady pace until around mile 12.