1. Running coach fired for running Boston Marathon
2. Interesting comments about Nike from Vern Gambetta
3. “This I Believe” by Jay Johnson
4. Discussing the length of the long run in marathon (and 13.1) training
5. Just click this and thank me later
1. Looks like Huffington Post is giving the “100-ups” some love
2. Here’s a truck load of BS (consider the source)
3. heres a REAL scientific study done by people with brains or this piece that asserts correctly that reading a couple of sentences in a study is stupid, that if you really read the entire study, you will find highly different results
4. Ha!
5. Ellie Greenwood’s Comrades Marathon race report
1. Minneapolis Marathon canceled due to weather
2. Do you have questions for Mizuno’s shoe guy? Red these and submit your own
3. Scrape your feet, clear your throat, no need for a “run bell.” Save $25
4. Scary scene at Comrades Marathon
5. Great beginner tips from Ian Torrence
1. Thoughts every runner has on a long run
2. Pete Larson explores the question of injury risk and transitioning from “conventional” show to a “moderately cushion minimalist” shoe
3. Ninety-one year old finishes San Diego marathon
4. Cool two part series on Leo Manzano. Part 1 here
5. Manzano part 2
Here’s a throwback Thursday post for you. The race report from my first marathon, the 2009 Disney marathon. Finishing that race started me along this crazy endurance road and opened doors that I never thought would open. Reading this report was a trip. I still remember the feeling as I crossed the finish line and the marathon high that lasted for weeks.
Disney Marathon Race Report Part 1
Disney Marathon Race Report Part 2
Ruffner Mountain is a small mountain on the eastern side of Birmingham that has a long history in the area. In Birmingham’s golden age of industry and iron production, Ruffner was a source of stone and iron ore. Iron was mined and loaded on rail cars for transport to the Magic City’s Sloss Furnace iron mill until the iron industry faded away in Birmingham after the 1950s.
My father grew up in East Lake, not more than 2 miles from Ruffner Mountain and its mines and quarries. In the 1950s and 1960s he drove his old World War 2 jeep all over the mountain, once almost driving right off a cliff into a water filled quarry. He and a friend once “borrowed” dynamite from the mining company and exploded it in the water. Ruffner was his playground then. Last week it was mine.
The Ruffner Mountain Trail Festival is a small but really fun series of races held at Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve, one of the nation’s largest urban nature preserves, organized by Alabama Outdoors and Resolute Running and directed by Greg Stein. Relaxed and cheery, this group of runners was small in number but so much fun to be around.
Back running for about 5 weeks, I was looking for something other than my usual route around the neighborhood. It just so happened thatHudson had a baseball tournament in Birmingham that weekend, so things worked out perfectly for my first race since surgery.
I say race, but this was an organized easy romp through the woods, taking it easy and just getting some work in a new place. Cool weather with mist greeted us as we started the race. There were three distances to choose from: 5K, 10K, 15K. The bulk of the field chose the 15K, with the 5K second most popular, and my 10K option had the fewest people. The course branched three ways and after the field split, I was alone for most of the race, which was a little unsettling since I have no experience on the course. Plus, it started pouring rain, drenching my glasses an making me miss a couple of turns. I probably lost 10 minutes from running off course and having to work my way back. I didn’t care, as long as I didn’t see snakes and made it back alive.
Ruffner has stunning trails and I’m excited to get back there this summer for more of the organized events.
On vacation this week, so I’m giving the Five a break. But, I won’t leave you empty handed. I’ve got a few posts for this week queued and ready to go. The Five will return on May 29.
Have a great week!
1. Cool story of Tony Krupicka’s move to longer distances
2. DC Rainmaker gives an excellent glimpse into his methods for evaluating crowd funded projects
3. Funny and true piece on USA (unsolicited stranger advice)
4. Interesting study here
5. Why I’m not that crazy about my kids playing football (they don’t as of now: Baseball and Soccer)
3. On the road
4. Woman who pulled Boston marathon fundraising scam headed to prison
5. Great link from Pete Larson
1. Seven lies you shouldn’t believe about ultra marathons
2. Not running, but if you’re a fan of Disney history, then you’ll love this
3. Bay to Breakers photos
4. How to avoid blown quads in your next trail race
1. Lake Martin 100 race report from my friend Suman (thanks for the shout out!)
2. Dont count your victories before they hatch, or something like that
3. Not cool at all. If you see this call it out. (I caught a major Disney blogging personality doing this last week)
4. Mizuno is stepping up their game to assist the homeless. Bravo
5. Drills for trail running
This Running Life 