Marathons and Triathalons: Don Some Running Shoes and Hit the Road

by Jamie Rhein on

One of my all time running highlights was winning second place for my age category in a 4th of July run in Middletown, Ohio. I ran almost a minute faster a mile than I normally did. (And yes, there were more than two people in my category.) When the first mile came and the time-keeper called out the time, I almost turned back to ask, “What did you say?” Instead, I ran like heck to the next mile marker for a confirmation. I was on fire. I think it had to do with: living in Albuquerque at the time, running a lot with a guy I was dating who taught me some running tips, and buzzing a bit from the two days drive to get to Middletown. Besides the fun of doing so well, being a part of a community event pulled me right into the milieu of Middletown. Man, was it glorious.

If you’re a running type, here are some running events listed on the Web site Active.com to consider when thinking about where to travel for your running highs. My run in Middletown was impromptu. I didn’t know the run existed until I showed up at my friend’s friends’ house. This list goes through March 2008.

On the International Scene

Tri Escape to Bermuda Triathlon: 10/21/07 –St. George’s, Bermuda
Run 22nd Venice Marathon: 10/28/07—Venice, Italy
Run adidas Dublin Marathon: 10/29/07 –Dublin, Ireland
Run Puerto Vallarta International Half Marathon & 5K 2007: 11/4/07–Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Run Brooks Brighton 10k: 11/18/07 –Brighton and Hove, UK – England
Run Firenze Marathon: 11/25/07 –Florence, Italy
Tri Island Triathlon Series™ Turks & Caicos: 12/1/07 –Grace Bay, Providenciales, TCA
Run Reggae Marathon & Half-Marathon: 12/1/07– Long Bay Beach Park, Jamaica
Run Lisbon Marathon: 12/2/07– Lisbon, Portugal
Run Milano City Marathon 2007: 12/2/07 –Milan, Italy
Run The Santa Dash: 12/2/07 –Liverpool, UK – England
Run Cabo Half Marathon 2008: 1/19/08 –Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Run Porto Santo Marathon- Madeira Islands: 3/1/08 –Madeira, Portugal
Run Monaco Marathon: 3/30/08 –Monaco, Monaco

In the United States

Tri EnduraSport Half Triathlon: 11/10/07– Freeport, Bahamas, BHS
Run The Las Vegas Marathon & Half Marathon: 12/2/07 –Las Vegas, NV
Run Honolulu Marathon: 12/9/07 –Honolulu, HI
Run Walt Disney World Half Marathon: 1/12/08 –Lake Buena Vista, FL
Run Walt Disney World Marathon:1/13/08 –Lake Buena Vista, FL
Run P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona: 1/13/08 –Phoenix, AZ
Run Carlsbad Marathon & Half Marathon: 1/20/08 –Carlsbad, CA
Run ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon: 1/27/08 –Miami, FL
Run Surf City USA® Marathon & Half Marathon (formerly Pacific Shoreline Marathon): 2/3/08 –Huntington Beach, CA
Run Los Angeles Marathon: 3/2/08– Los Angeles, CA

Bay to Breakers Race: Show Me Yours

by Jamie Rhein on

The words “Show Me Yours” are real attention grabbers. That’s what pops up when you open the Bay to Breakers Web site. This is the race in San Francisco where being a great runner isn’t exactly the point. Having a sense of humor and a taste for the off-beat is. And this is one mega, off-beat event. Between the spectators and the participants more than 160,000 people will hit the streets to run the distance between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay on Saturday, May 20.

This race, always the 3rd Saturday in May, has been around for 95 years so it’s had some time to perfect the frivolity mixed with athleticism combo. Originally started as a way for people to get over the devastating earthquake of April 18, 1906, Bay to Breakers is a way for San Francisco to celebrate how it’s a city like no other. Here’s the one time it’s okay to run naked if that’s your thing. From some of the photos I found on Flicker, that’s exactly some people’s thing. Wild costumes are other options-or regular running gear. It doesn’t matter what your pleasure is, only that you come out and join in. And, according to the description, you really don’t have to run. There are so many people in the race, it might be hard to pick up speed anyway.

If you are in the race, you need to wear a timing chip on your shoe. This is the first year these have been used. It’ll keep track of when you cross the finish line. I was in a race that used these. Pretty cool. I remember needing to step hard at the starting point to activate it. If you really want to jazz up your footwear, donate $10 and you’ll get an orange pair of shoelaces. All proceeds go to school-based fitness programs for kids.

To register, click here. For a lively account of the race from C.W. Nevius, a columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle, click here.