25 Down, 25 to Go

3 Marathons in 3 Days

Years pile on top of you and they are heavy. Work piles on top of you. Injuries pile on top. Sorrows, pain, money problems, heartbreak, depression, and fear. But you keep going. You keep moving forward. You keep running. Sometimes you don’t even know why, but you keep on. That’s what I’ve been doing—keeping going, day by day, week by week, run by run, and marathon by marathon. I look at the number of states I have left, and it looks like I’m probably not going to make it before fifty. But I’m going to keep trying. It may not make sense, but I’m not going to stop. Last time I ran Boston I saw someone holding a sign that read, “Your Reason Matters!” Of all the signs I’ve seen in all the races I’ve run, that is my favorite. That phrase echoes in my head when I get discouraged. Your reason matters.

I’ve run 8 marathons since my last post, and I’m one state away from being half-way done. I just turned 45 years old. I have five years to do 26 states. Considering that I started this 50 states quest 10 years ago, that means I’ve only averaged a little over 2 states per year. Ugh. At that pace, I’ll never make it. But I made a discovery last week that I think is going to help me.

First, let me sum up my races since my last post. I ran the Mowdy Mustang Run in Oklahoma with my buddy Clint from Dallas. It was a humid, hot, muddy, muggy trail race around the ranch, with wild mustangs running by here and there. It was fun to see Clint, and fun to see my son Isaac compete at the National Debate tournament in Dallas. I got 4th overall and 1st in my division with a 4:13 finish. The top three finishers were all females, which was cool. I’d never seen that happen before.

Inaugural 2015 Race

Tarantula at the Mowdy Mustang Ranch Marathon

After that, I didn’t run a marathon for a year. But Deb and I did enjoy a beautiful backpacking trip through the Green River Lakes in the Wind Rivers, and we summited Square Top (Sept. 2015).

Hiking in, Green River Lakes trail.

Looking up at Square Top

Looking down from Square Top

Also, for Deb’s 40th birthday, she wanted to hike the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim, so we did (Sept. 2015). It was awesome! Stunning views, great trail, challenging distance and elevation gain and loss. Add it to your bucket list.

Descending into Grand Canyon from the North Rim

Approaching the South Rim, Bright Angel trail

We also had our most successful hunting season yet: I got an antelope, Ed got a two-point (his first!), and I got a nice four-point.

Nothing says "I love you" like heart-shaped horns

Eddie's first buck

And we celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary with a trip to Hawaii (March 2016). I presented at a literature conference (AML) at BYU-Hawaii on Oahu, and then we flew to Kauai to relax and celebrate. And by relax, I mean we snorkeled, did some trail running, hiked the absolutely breathtaking Hanakapiai Trail, and took a scenic helicopter tour of the Napali coast.

Hanakapiai trail, Kauai

Napali Coast from helicopter

Kauai

I gained some weight pigging out in Hawaii, but I signed up of the Leadville, CO race and that helped me get back on track (June 2016). This was by far the most difficult marathon I’ve run. This challenging, up and down trail summits Mosquito Pass at 13,185 feet! It was an unusually hot day. I got dehydrated, and I turned my ankle on the way down. I bonked worse than I ever have at about mile 20. I sat down at the aid station and tried to refuel. The next section was downhill, and I cramped so bad I had to sit down on the trail, mosquitoes swarming around me. Another runner gave me some salt pills, but I never could get past the cramps. I had to walk the last 5 miles, and finished in 6:15. It was beautiful, but brutal.

Finish line, Leadville trail marathon

My son Isaac graduated from high school and received a mission call to serve in the India Bengaluru mission for two years, so we took one more family trip before he left, to Escalante, UT and had a blast hiking Spooky and Peekabo gulch (June 2016). It was hard to see him go!

Spooky Gulch, Escalante, UT.

Isaac at work in India

In August (2016) we took a Pacific Coast road trip, visiting Crater Lake, Cannon Beach, San Juan Islands, Seattle, Coeur d’Alene, and the Hiawatha bike trail. We had a great time. I ran a marathon at our first stop, Crater Lake. This was a beautiful run around the deep blue water. Super scenery! I finished in 4 hours, 10th overall.

The marathon loops breathtaking Crater Lake

Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, OR

For our backpacking trip this year, we did the Sawtooths (2016). Gorgeous!

Sawtooth range, above Twin Lakes

I also took the 90 minute Table Rock summit challenge in the Tetons (Sept. 2016). Made it with two minutes to spare. I love the view of the Tetons from here.

Just sitting here, enjoying the view from Table mountain

My sister moved to Indiana, so for my next race I visited her and ran the Tecumseh Trail Marathon. This was a beautiful, winding, up and down race through the autumn leaves (Oct. 2016). Took me 5 hours.

Ed got a nice 3x4 and my brother got a four-point this fall (2016). Eddie's buck hid in the trees for hours before we got an opportunity. Eddie showed amazing patience lying prone for hours.

I love hunting with my boys

My brother's first buck

Spring of 2017 I ran the Grand Ridge trail near Seattle. I drove all day, got some chowder, put some on ice, slept in the truck, ran the marathon, then drove home all day, and arrived with some of Wally’s chowder for Deb. Her favorite. The race was a beautiful, soft, trail through the moss-covered trees of the Cascade mountains. I got 3rd place with a 5:37 finish. A lot of elevation gain and loss in this race.

Grand Ridge trail, Issaquah

I did a 20 mile training run up the Hilgard Basin trail in Montana (Sept. 2017). Great trail, quiet mountain lakes all to myself.

Hilgard Basin trail, MT

Our backpacking trip in 2017 was to the Uintas. Gorgeous country.

Hiking buddies, Uintas

Deb in her happy place

Spread Eagle peak, Uintas

So, now for the discovery I mentioned earlier. I was looking for a marathon to run this fall, and I found a series of trail marathons in the mid-Atlantic area. I have never run back-to-back marathons before. I rarely even train on back-to-back days. But it sounded like a fun challenge, and a good way to get more marathons done, to run multiple marathons in a row. So I signed up to run the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) marathon in Maryland on Thursday, the GAP Trestles marathon in Pennsylvania on Friday, and the Barnum Rail Trail marathon in West Virginia on Saturday (Sept. 2017). I wasn’t sure what to expect. I didn’t know how my legs would hold up. I ran the first race by walking a quarter mile, then jogging three-quarters. I did this for the whole race along the beautiful rain trail, and finished in 4:56. I drove to the next race start, slept in the back of my rental SUV, and ran the second marathon in 4:36 by walking one-tenth of a mile and jogging nine-tenths. Surprisingly, my legs felt good. I drove to the next start, slept in my SUV, and ran the third marathon in 3:41, taking second place. I was amazed at how good my legs felt during this race. It was almost like the other races helped me get ready. It was weird. So I gave it all I had on the third race, trying to catch the guy in first place, which I couldn’t do. So, I got three states done in three days! This was encouraging to know that back-to-back marathons are an option for me. Maybe I’ll reach my goal after all! Maybe.

Thursday race, GAP marathon, Frostburg, MD

GAP Trail

Friday race, GAP Trestles marathon, Meyersdale, PA

Trestles trail

Saturday race, Barnum, WV

Barnum road

I visited the Flight 93 memorial. Inspiring place!

Stopped by Frank Lloyd Wright's Falling Water house

So that's it for my recent marathon adventures. Not sure exactly when my next race will be, but I only need one more state to be halfway done. I haven't given up on my 3-hour goal quite yet either. I just signed up for my local Teton Dam marathon for 2018 to see if I might make it happen there, or at least get a PR. I've got six months, so I better hit the road. See ya!

2nd Boston, 1st Place at Home, and 1st 50K

Boston Marathon, April 2014
The energy at the 2014 Boston Marathon was powerful. 36,000+ runners entered the race--more than any other year besides the 100th anniversary--with an attitude of resilience and defiance after last year's bombing. With such a large field, it took me seven minutes just to cross the starting line after the gun went off.

I was a little under the weather during the race with a sore throat, but managed a 7:15 pace until the Newton Hills. I slowed down quite a bit, and the last mile was a slog, but I finished in 3:28, about 10 minutes faster than when I ran Boston five years ago. Fans came out in droves, and it seemed more than serendipitous that an American, Meb Keflezighi, won the race--first American in 30 years! I was thrilled to be a part of it.

It was, however, a whirlwind trip for me. I left for Boston on Saturday, arrived early Sunday, went to church, visited the expo for packet pickup, ate at Giacomo's (their sautéed broccoli appetizer and pumpkin tortellini is a must!) then I ran the race Monday, and went straight to the airport from the race. I toweled off in the airport bathroom with wet wipes, changed clothes, got on my flight, and was home by Tuesday 4:00 a.m. Maybe I'll do it again in five years, if I can qualify again.

Expo and packet pickup.

Giacomo's Ristorante: long line, worth the wait.

Done! Wearing the shirt from my last race reminds me that I can do it.

Teton Dam Marathon, June 2014
Registering for the Boston Marathon in the fall motivated me to train during the winter, but the real race I was training for was my hometown Teton Dam Marathon. I didn't run it in 2013, but I registered almost a year in advance for 2014's race, determined to put in my best time. I have been trying to get to the point where I can run a 3-hour marathon, but haven't been able to do it. (I eat too much.)

After the Boston Marathon, it was pretty clear to me that I wouldn't be ready to run a 3-hour race this year on the Teton Dam course, so I adjusted my goal a little and set it at 3:10. I ran up summers hill so many times while training. That is the key to getting a good time on the Teton Dam Marathon--be ready for the gradual uphill from mile 18-23. I was ready. I knew I could keep a 7:10 pace on the rest of the course, but could I keep it up on Summer's hill? Nope. I couldn't, but I did my best.

It helped to have my family in the minivan leapfrogging me as my support vehicle. My kids were jumping out and running along with me to hand me my fluids so I didn't need to stop at aid stations. They were also pumping music and telling me how many people were ahead of me. Ten at first, and I picked them off one by one, and by the bottom of Summer's hill I could see the leader and I managed to pass him on the hill. That motivated me to keep it up for the rest of the race, but I was looking over my shoulder for the last couple of miles.

I didn't reach my goal of 3:10, but I came in first(!) at 3:13. They gave cash awards this year and I scored in three divisions: 1st overall, 1st in masters, and "King of the Hill" (fastest runner up Summer's hill.) Taking home some cash was a fun surprise!

Mile 25 with a faithful member of my support crew.

Approaching finish line with help.

Did I win?

Couldn't have done it without these guys.

Not too hard to make the local paper.

Sierra Vista Trail 50K, March 2015
The 3:13 at the Teton Dam Marathon took something out of me. I didn't do much serious training during the summer, but enjoyed jogging consistently with Debbie. We enjoyed a beautiful backpacking trip through Yellowstone's Bechler Meadows at the end of the summer, which would be a fun trail to run in one day with a group and a can of bear spray each.

Backpacking Bechler with Deb

Once fall hit, I started eying a few different races, but couldn't find any that fit with my schedule and my finances. We had to replace our water main and that put a strain on my budget. So I didn't run a race in the fall, but hiked all over Idaho deer hunting. Once the weather got cold, audiobooks kept me on the treadmill. I finally saw a good deal on a flight to Albuquerque and signed up for the Sierra Vista Trail 50K. I trained fairly consistently with following routine:
M:     1 mile warm up
         3 miles of speed work
         1 mile cool down
         strength training

W:     1 mile warm up
         8 miles of pace work
         (usually between 8.1 and 8.8 mph)
         1 mile cool down

F:     Distance work at a comfortable pace
        (Usually 10-20 miles)

Four weeks before the race I did a twenty miler, and then three weeks before the race I did another. That's the first time I've done two twenty milers a week apart. Even though this was an ultra-marathon, I didn't put in any runs longer than 20 miles.

This was my first 50K. The race was a beautiful high desert trail along the base of the Sierra Nevadas. The weather was perfect. I didn't have a very firm time goal, but was hoping to average 9-minute miles. Didn't quite manage that, but finished in about 5:20, fast enough to take 8th overall among the small field.

I actually enjoyed the pace and distance. 31 miles at a comfortable pace is easier than 26.2 trying to run fast. My ankles took a beating though from the rocky, uneven ground. All the travel time getting to and from the race allowed me to finish Don Quixote on audiobook. Loved it! I'm now working on writing a play based on one of the stories within the story.

Water main, big pain (in the wallet).

Sierra Vista Trail 50K Start.

So, what's next? That's what everyone asks me these days when they see me. "When's your next marathon?" It's funny how we peg people. Strangely, I don't really think of myself as a marathoner or distance runner. It's something I do because it motivates me to keep in shape, and I'd rather be audiobooking while running than reading while sitting on my butt.

Anyway, my next race is the Mowdy Ranch Mustang Run in Oklahoma in June. My son qualified for the National Debate Tournament in Dallas, and I'm going down to watch him, so I thought I might as well find a marathon in the area, right? Since I'd already done Dallas (sorry, Debbie), I looked to the nearest neighbor and found this good looking inaugural trail race at Mowdy Ranch in Oklahoma on the same weekend. Perfect.

Just in case you didn't get a Christmas card from us. :)

News

Oh yeah, and you might get a kick out of this Local News 8 video of the Teton Dam Marathon (notice something missing?), and my brother's biased reply below--if only my bro could have used "hometown hero" a few more times, and I love the intentional typos:

Jim -

We need to talk!  This is ridiculous.  Here is how the report should have gone:

Making Dreams a Reality: Hometown Hero Wins Teton Damn Marathon!

Father of five boys, determined to run 50 marathons in 50 states by age 50, is well on his way to making all of his dreams a reality! 

This year's Teton Damn Marathon winner, Jim Richards, has been training for years to become Rexburg's hometown hero.  In 2007 Jim started training for his first marathon in an effort to shed a few pounds.  Now, just 7 years later, Jim has run 25 marathons, including the Boston Marathon (twice) and the Teton Damn Marathon (7 times!).  On his bucket list: win his hometown marathon. CHECK!

But Jim's accomplishments don't stop there.  In the last 20 months Jim has successfully set his personal record marathon time of 3:12:20, finished a grueling Florida Ironman, and completed the historic 2014 Boston Marathon. 

With 15 states under his belt, Jim Richards has proven to the world (and to himself) that it is better to set a goal and strive for it than to set no goal at all.  Will Jim actually be able to run 35 more marathons in 9 years?  According to Jim that is the wrong question to ask.  Instead, Jim would ask, "what is my next marathon, how fast can I finish, how can I prepare, and how can I enjoy the journey?" 

Think of it!  7 years ago Jim weighed nearly 200 lbs. and had never run a 10k.  Now, he is Rexburg's 160 lb. hometown hero!  He has inspired his children, siblings, cousins, nieces, and nephews to "try" running and many of them have now completed their own marathons.  He has traveled the nation in search of adventure and accomplishment, but not for public recognition, but rather personal fulfillment and satisfaction.  He has done what few people dream of.  What is that?  He has mastered the art of setting personal goals and finding joy in accomplishing them.

Jim Richards is much like the elusive snow leopard from the 2013 Walter Mitty film.  Adventurer Sean O'Connell (played by Sean Penn) says: "beautiful things don't call attention to themselves".  Most people grow lazy, heavy, and tired with age.  And then they want recognition for everything that they have done.  In stark contrast, is 41-year old Jim Richards.  His accomplishments are a thing of beauty.  Rexburg's elusive hometown hero has done nothing to call attention to himself.  His quiet & persistent dedication has shown his boys, his town, and most importantly himself, that dreams can become a reality.  Where will he show up next?

I love you Jim!

Dave

ps - forgive the poor grammar.  I am not the writer you are.  But clearly, behind Mom and Deb, I am your biggest fan!

Thanks, Dave! Sorry if this self-promoting blog undercuts your assessment of me. Toodles, cyberspace.

15 States Down!