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.