The Road to Ruthenium (or how to become a 5-star Maniac in 8 days)

I’ve been stuck at Marathon Maniac Iridium level (4 spinny stars) for over 2 years. I decided it was time to go for the next level: Ruthenium. This requires the dedicated Maniac to complete one of the following:
26 - 30 Marathons within 1 calendar year or…..
4 Marathons on back to back weekends (within a 9 day window) or….
3 Marathons in 3 separate US states, Countries, or Canadian Provinces (any combination) within a 9-day time span or….
13 Marathons in 13 different US states, Countries, or Canadian Provinces (any combination) in one calendar year.

It looked like 3 marathons in 3 states in 9 days was the most doable. So I came up with a plan and entered the races.

I approached the first in this series of marathons feeling weak and under-trained. I had stumbled over a pothole at the Royal Victoria Marathon in October and as a result have had pain in my lower ankle although no swelling or heat. Resting didn’t seem to help much, but running made the pain go away for several hours at a time. Still, I knew better than to try and run hard with such an odd niggle. 10 days before Seattle I came down with the flu. I was so tired I couldn’t get out of bed, then my lungs became congested to the point I couldn’t sleep. All the coughing and hacking caused tightness in my back and rib cage muscles. I was miserable and almost decided to cancel my quest for 5 stars. The Friday before Seattle I took a little 4 mile jog and was surprised that I felt almost normal. The races were back on with one caveat: run easy the first race and ease up from there.

Race 1, State 1: November 29, Seattle Marathon in Washington State

I was going to write a report for this race, but I liked Divechief’s so much, I decided to use his instead:

“Right before the start Dove spotted me. Today was the first of marathons in 3 states in 8 days. She wanted to take it kind of easy today and it turned out our paces were pretty much exactly even so we ran the entire race side by side. Often, we would be talking while the miles streamed by and be surprised at how fast our pace was and realize we needed to back it off a little so we didn't suffer in the later miles, then a few miles later our pace would be right back up there.

The course features a couple out and backs where you can see the runners ahead and behind you. We saw SR Lopez running strong, several miles ahead of us. Barefoot Jon a few miles behind us, and Franc and her friend really close to us, but her friend was having foot problems.

We also spotted Bob Dolphin and Larry Macon, world record holder with 105 marathons in 2008 on the course, more on that later. (They were mentioned in the recent Wall street journal article)

Beautiful overcast day, 50º gentle breeze was enough to keep us cool. I was fine with a throw away at the start, shorts and long sleeve shirt, short sleeve would have worked just as well.

We caught up to Larry Macon at around mile 21 (He started an hour early) Chatted for a few minutes and we discovered that he is going to be in Las Vegas next weekend. One of the same races Dove is running. Larry Proposed to Dove. He said he was going to marry 6 women in Las Vegas!!! Dove accepted. We felt that both Larry's wife, and Dove's Finance will be surprised!! We spent the next mile discussing the appropriate running/wedding wear for her upcoming wedding.

The miles continued to fly by, we didn't negative split, I had to dig a little from about miles 23-25 but I was still feeling OK. Finished under 4:30, Dove felt she still has plenty in the tank for her two marathons next weekend. Fun day.”

After Seattle I rested and tried not to run too much. My ankle was not happy with me, but still no swelling or heat. My hip was acting up again, too. It has decided that a spontaneous collapse without warning keeps things from getting boring. I ended up on the pavement a few times this summer because of such hip antics. The hip threatened in Seattle, but never quite collapsed. I was committed to completing the series, so renewed my vow to go out slow and ease up the next two marathons.

Race 2, State 2: December 4, Death Valley Borax Marathon in California

We flew into Las Vegas Friday morning, drove over to the Rock N Roll expo to pick up my race number for Sunday, then stopped to fuel up at the Mandalay Bay Buffet. The race director of the Death Valley Borax Marathon had warned us that there were few choices for dining once we left Las Vegas, so we decided to eat our big meal before starting the drive.
Driving into Death Valley was breathtaking. I knew that I was in for a special run the next day and couldn’t wait to get started.

The forecast was for a low in the mid 30’s race morning, heating up to the mid 60’s by afternoon. I decided to dress for the finish temps and made my way to the pre-race meeting wearing a Brooks running skirt in black, a white and gold Brooks ID singlet, White Marathon Maniac hat and Adrenaline 10 shoes. As always I wore my double diamond studs and 26.2 lucky necklace. I carried a handheld water bottle since aid stations would be 3.5 to 4 miles apart. The pre-race meeting was one of the highlights of my week. The self-important race director turned out to be quite a ham. He explained the rules “start time is approximately 8:00, you win a rubber chicken if you are the first to cross the line… well it used to be a rubber chicken, but now it’s a chicken purse stuffed with $1,000,000 in shredded bills because of past complaints about no prize purse”… and a few other details like the serve-yourself aid stations and self monitored turn-around points for the various race distances. He concluded the meeting with a heartfelt sing-a-long of America the Beautiful. I couldn’t imagine a more fitting way to start the race.

I really don’t have much to say about the actual run. I was completely enchanted by the magic of the valley. We were running below sea level for the entire race, but it was surprisingly hilly. And exposed. The dry air whisked away sweat before I realized it had formed, so I was careful to keep drinking water and taking electrolyte capsules. Running was effortless, but I mixed in plenty of walk breaks, honoring my promise to go out slow and ease back. The pavement had a softness and smoothness about it that cushioned each footfall. At the halfway point we turned around and headed back to Furnace Creek. A gentle head wind had picked up and cooled me just enough. I don’t really know where the time went, but I swear I was out there for less than an hour. Turns out it was well over four hours when I crossed the finish line, received my medal and shirt and plunged into the warm-spring fed pool. A quick check of the results showed I managed a 2nd in my age group. It didn’t matter one bit though…. I could have been dead last and still felt just as blessed.

Race 3, State 3: December 5, Rock n’ Roll Las Vegas in Nevada

As usual I had a hard time eating after the marathon. I did manage to choke down half an order of fried rice and a beer before calling it a day. I woke and tried to eat a breakfast bar, but could barely choke it down. And since it was Vegas, there was no coffee maker in the room to help get the blood flowing. Oh well.

Today’s race would start at 6:15. My past Rock n’Roll experiences meant I needed to be at the start line at least 30 minutes early to check my bag and work my way to the corrals. I was out the door at 5:15, dressed in a black short sleeve Brooks ID tech shirt, black Brooks skirt, Brooks Infinity shoes and a Marathon Maniacs hat. Double diamond studs, my 26.2 necklace and pink striped disposable arm warmers completed the look. By the time I had walked the 2 miles to the start line, I knew I had under dressed. I was freezing! It was too late to go back and change, and nearly impossible with all the runners walking down the strip.

I was in corral 6, a nice place to start. A few minutes after the gun went off, we moved into position and started off down the strip. Fireworks filled the chilly air and illuminated the broken asphalt they call a street. I picked up my feet carefully, trying to avoid another tumble into a pothole like Victoria. The mass number of runners, the efficient manner of the RnR staff and the too slick race entertainment made me feel like pampered cattle being seductively herded to slaughter. The bands were playing, yes, actually playing! (unlike Seattle where most of the bands were just standing around). The big screen displays that casinos have along the strip were broadcasting the race as it unfolded, allowing the mid-packers to watch the battle going on between front runners, as we ran! Despite my dislike of mega races, this one was fun. It was Las Vegas, baby. We ran down the strip with the half-marathoners, made a loop at the 6 miles mark, then head back up the strip towards the finish line. Water and electrolyte drink was flowing, GU was plentiful, bands every mile as promised. Then it happened….. the marathoners split from the half. We were cast out of the glitzy Vegas and dumped like an ugly Christmas sweater into a seedier section of town. The bands no longer played. The aid stations had dwindled. The few bums staggering down the street looked at us with pity as we began a long and steady climb that started at mile 15 and continued to taunt us for the next 4 miles. My legs were done by that time. They were shaky and felt weak. I had been careful to implement a 10:1, run/walk ratio from the beginning of the race and that was beginning to fail me. I was cold and started to shake. At mile 18 an angel know was Marathon Maniac #1382 found me and gave me a double espresso GU and a few Starbursts. The turn around at mile 20 found me with renewed energy. I dumped the walk breaks and took it home at near marathon pace (it helped that 5 of the remaining 6.2 miles were downhill). I crossed the finish line with body intact and 5 spinny stars reflecting in my eyes.

This series of races provide me with opportunity to run a small (Death Valley: 341 runners), medium (Seattle: 9,500 runners), and Mega (Las Vegas: 30,000 runners) marathon in short succession. They were all fun. Vegas is just too glitzy and polished: really a half marathon event with an additional out and back for the marathoners. Seattle will always be a favorite of mine, but after running it 4 times I was ready for something new. I far preferred the small Death Valley marathon with its devil-may-care attitude, funky awards and colorful race director.

P.S. I didn’t get married in Las Vegas. I lost my intended in a sea of grooms so I decided to just keep running. Sorry Larry.
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