Wow, first ever blog...I guess that means I'm evolving?
I decided to join the masses by having a blog, at least for the next month or so.
Why? Well, next week starts a whirlwind month of travel and running. I leave next week to travel South to Antarctica and run the Antarctica marathon, I come back for two weeks and then travel to the North Pole to run a marathon there.
I know, I know....I'm not right.
It's not that I really like cold weather and thousands of miles of bareren tundra, I just like to run the 'different' marathons. I came to the realization years ago that I am not the fastest runner. I do ok with a PR of 3:48, but not close to a Boston qualifying time. I might be able to shave some time off with more dedicated training, more time doing speedwork, more miles, etc, but would I really enjoy it as much?
Instead of the fast path, I have chosen the fun path. I have run a marathon on every continent (Asia, N America and soon to be Antarctica twice) and have made countless new friends from all over the world. Along the way I have got to run on the Great Wall of China, stand surrounded by penguins, be awoke by a lions roar at 2am and realize I am sleeping in only a canvas tent, stare at billions of stars from deep in the New Zealand outback, drink some of the finest beer in Prague and watch the sun set over the Himalays. And now the next adventure...
Antarctica:
Run on the Antarctic peninsula, starting at a Russian research base called Bellingshausen. http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/stations/bellinghausen.shtml
It is not as cold as you would think. Some years it is snowy and col
d, others it is more mud than ice. In 2002 the weather was so bad that the runners could not leave the ship and had to run laps on the top deck to get in their 26.2 miles. The marathon is the reason for the trip, but the other 14 days are the reward. Standing among thousands of penguins, floating alongside humpback whales and just enjoying the quiet and beauty of the ice and sea. Amazing.
d, others it is more mud than ice. In 2002 the weather was so bad that the runners could not leave the ship and had to run laps on the top deck to get in their 26.2 miles. The marathon is the reason for the trip, but the other 14 days are the reward. Standing among thousands of penguins, floating alongside humpback whales and just enjoying the quiet and beauty of the ice and sea. Amazing.North Pole:
Yeah, a weeee bit colder than Antarctica. Last year the temp was -29 with windchills approaching -40. It is run in a circle: 4.2 kilometers x 10 laps and the course actually moves during the race. Since there is no land at the North Pole, you are running on floating, moving ice.
The plan is to spend between 24 and 48 hrs at the pole and run the race when conditions allow.
The hardest part for this race is trying to grasp what -29 degrees feels like? The Northern US had a spell of these temps this last winter, but I don't think many people went out for a 26.2 mile run. That, and running in snow shoes. I have my snowshoes...all ready to go...and then Kansas City doesn't get but a few little inches of snow the whole winter. So unfair.
In addition to wondering why I am doing this you may ask, How can I do this?
No, I did not win the lottery or make a killing in the market. (has anyone?)
All this would not be possible without several great companies that are making my strange hobby a reality. So, if you are planning to do your part to stimulate the economy, consider the following: Redfeather Snowshoes www.redfeather.com makes great snowshoes and was the first to talk to me and actually not laugh when I told them what I wanted to do! FRS healthy Energy drinks www.FRS.com have been part of my training for some time. While they don't make the miles go faster, they make the recovery from long runs much faster. Thorlo socks will keep me warm through all 26.2 miles of running and just hanging out in the middle of no-where. www.thorlo.com and thanks to www.Travelocity.com for their support and my little Travelocity Roaming Gnome that will accompany me along the way.
Whew, that'a alot for a first blog. It's time to pack, repack and think of things that I will forget.
Hope you tag along for the journey....it's gonna be cold, but fun!
-Bob
