NO RETIREMENT AGE

There is no retirement age in our sport. Here is the article written by Theoden Janes from the Charlotte Observer. An amazing accomplishment.

Congratulations Harriette!

BY THÉODEN JANES

tjanes@charlotteobserver.com

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Harriette Thompson of Charlotte completed the San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon on Sunday to become the oldest woman ever to complete a 26.2-mile race.

Her unofficial finish time was 7 hours, 24 minutes and 36 seconds.

She finished alongside her son Brenny Thompson, 56, also of Charlotte, who strode alongside her for the entire distance while taking video and photographs with his iPhone.

Nearly 19,000 runners were entered in Sunday’s race, the 18th running of the Rock ‘n’ Roll event, which is owned by the San Diego-based Competitor Group.

Thompson has run the race 16 out of those 18 years. She missed it in 1998, the inaugural year, and in 2013, when her 14-year streak ended because she’d recently had all but one of her upper teeth removed as a result of an oral cancer that also took her upper jawbone. In 2010, 2011 and 2012, she ran while the disease was eating away at her mouth.

Previously, the oldest female marathon finisher on record was Gladys Burrill, who ran the 2010 Honolulu Marathon in 9:53:16 at the age of 92 years, 1 month. Thompson turned 92 in March.

Thompson did fall shy of another world record: Her time of 7:07:42 at last year’s race remains the fastest marathon ever run by a 90- to 94-year-old woman.

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/article22753806.html#storylink=cpy

BOGO BOOK EXCERPT

Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial kickoff of the summer season has passed, and now it's time to train, race, and relax in a big way.

If you're heading to the beach, the mountains, or to your favorite vacation spot, you could probably use some good reading material.

In a few weeks we'll celebrate Father's Day. Not sure what to get for dad?

Well, I have just begun the biggest sale and savings ever on my two books, Personal Best, and Running Shorts.

Go to: www.muldowneyrunning.com where you can buy one of the books, and receive the other ABSOLUTELY FREE. That's right. You can buy one for you and give the other to dad. Or keep both for yourself. Give one to the person who inspired you to begin training. Give one to your spouse, your son or daughter...well, you get the picture.

My first book, Running Shorts: A Collection of Stories and Advice for Anyone Who Has Ever Laced Up a Pair of Running Shoes, published in 2011, is a compilation of my experiences as competitive runner for 39 years, but many of these tales reflect experiences YOU have had during your years as a runner. As one of the Amazon reviewers stated, "It will make you laugh and it will make you cry." amazon.com/author/joemuldowney, A KIndle version of Personal Best is available on Amazon at the low price of $1.99.

Following is an excerpt from the opening chapter of Personal Best.

It is my account of the chilling events, as I witnessed them, at the tragic 2013 Boston Marathon.

WAS THAT THUNDER?

     A good day to run a marathon is usually a bad day to watch a marathon.

     That was not the case on April 15, 2013.

     The day broke with a deep blue sky; a chilly wind fluttered from the west, the air was arid.

     An endless procession of yellow school busses departed from the Boston Common to begin the journey along the Mass Pike to the village of Hopkinton, the center of the running world on Patriot’s Day.

     My morning began in an unusual manner. Preparing to run the Boston for the sixteenth time, my wife and I decided that, rather than deal with the crowds at the bus loading area, she would transport me to the athletes’ village, drive back to the train station in Needham, later assuming her spot near the finish line on Boylston Street.

     At the toll plaza, busses were lined up like yellow jackets at the hive, and despite some congestion, we reached the quaint, “Welcome to Hopkinton, Incorporated in 1715” sign by 7:30 a.m. In the forested area on the edge of town, placards nailed to the trees, bore the warning, “No Stopping Monday.” Between the words, “Stopping,” and “Monday,” was the image of a runner breaking the finish line tape.

     Within three blocks of the athletes’ village, all roads were barricaded, and as my wife and I exchanged farewells, an aching, empty feeling of loneliness enveloped me, even as I approached a small city of over 23,000 runners. I stood, motionless, for a few moments, as her car faded to a silver dot. On a magnificent mid-April morning, something didn’t feel quite right to me.

BOGO-BIG!

Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial kickoff of the summer season has passed, and now it's time to train, race, and relax in a big way.

If you're heading to the beach, the mountains, or to your favorite vacation spot, you could probably use some good reading material.

In a few weeks we'll celebrate Father's Day. Not sure what to get for dad?

Well, I have just begun the biggest sale and savings ever on my two books, Personal Best, and Running Shorts.

Go to www.muldowneyrunning.com, where you can buy one of the books, and receive the other ABSOLUTELY FREE. That's right. You can buy one for you and give the other to dad. Or keep both for yourself. Give one to the person who inspired you to begin training. Give one to your spouse, your son or daughter...well, you get the picture.

My first book, Running Shorts: A Collection of Stories and Advice for Anyone Who Has Ever Laced Up a Pair of Running Shoes, published in 2011, is a compilation of my experiences as competitive runner for 39 years, but many of these tales reflect experiences YOU have had during your years as a runner. As one of the Amazon reviewers stated, "It will make you laugh and it will make you cry." amazon.com/author/joemuldowney

Traveling the country, promoting my first book, prompted me to write, Personal Best, my second book, published in September 2014.

Runners told me what they wanted in a running book, and I tried to respond by writing a book that is instructive to runners of all ages and abilities.

Personal Best took a tragic turn in April 2013, soon after I crossed the finish line at the Boston Marathon. I devoted my first chapter, entitled "Was That Thunder," to the events, and my experiences of that day. I guarantee you, it is worth the read, and it is my fervent hope that I was able to capture the emotions of that fateful day in a manner in which every runner can relate.

I will personally sign the books for you, and I will guarantee that the books will inspire and help you become a better runner.

The offer will continue only while supplies last, so order your books now.

Here's to a great summer to all.

TRAIN FASTER...BE FASTER

You've run your first marathon, or 5K, or even the 1600 meters (mile). You like this running stuff. After a couple of races, your times get faster, but then you level off, become stagnant, or, God-forbid, your times get slower.

If you want to get faster, you need to train faster.

Grinding out long runs are a necessity for a marathon, but they are not an absolute necessity if you're concentrating strictly on 5K events. And once you've gotten that first marathon in the books,speed is essential if you want your time to come down.

Last summer, I was contacted by the father of a young man who runs on a local high school track team. The boy was a sophomore with terrific desire and a great deal of running potential. His coach seemed insistent on steering him toward the 3200 meters (2 miles), but he appeared to me to be ideally suited to the 1600 meter race. In addition, the coach seemed to stress slow runs of 5 to 7 miles, with few speed workouts.His best time for the 1600 meters was 4:54. Beginning last summer, I placed him on a steady diet of a weekly speed workout. Distances ranged from 200 meters to 1600 meters, with plenty of repeats. He was diligent and dedicated. Two weeks ago, he completed his junior season at the district track meet by turning in a time of 4:33 for the 1600 meters, a personal best, and some 20 seconds faster than a year ago.

On the other end of the running spectrum, good friend and one of the featured runners in the chapter entitled, 'Extraordinary,' in my latest book, Personal Best, Father Chris Zelonis, began his marathon career by running a 3:36 in September 2013. Together, we designed a program that would bring his time down. It featured a weekly long run at a faster pace as well as a weekly speed workout. He followed the plan religiously. (sorry) In November, he brought his marathon time down to 3:08, qualifying him for the 2016 Boston Marathon Two weeks ago, despite tropical conditions at the Pocono Run for the Red Marathon in Pennsylvania, he lowered his personal best further, crossing the finish line in 3:03:12

In order to run faster races, you have to train faster. It's just that simple. If you need help with a training program, I can write one for you. (I've written hundreds of them) Go to my website: www.muldowneyrunning.com and check out the personal training option. Or, you can check out my gigs on Fiverr, www.fiverr.com, Look for me under, 'Runnin Shorts.'

Train faster, cut down on 'junk miles,' do your speed workouts, and your times will plummet..

SUMMER SAFE

Following is an article I wrote for this month's edition of Myrtle Beach's Grand Strand Running Club's (GSRC) May newsletter. Check them out at: www.grandstrandrunner.com

The summer season has arrived. Stay safe out there!

They dubbed it, "The Duel in the Sun." Alberto Salazar and Dick Beardsley, America's top marathon runners, battled for 26.1 miles, in 85-degree, mid-April heat at the 1982 Boston Marathon. Salazar prevailed, edging Beardsley in the final tenth of a mile. But Salazar paid a steep price. His body was severely dehydrated, and his core temperature soared to a near-death 105 degrees. He was plunged into an ice bath, and intravenous fluids were pumped into his arms. By his own admission, he was never the same runner after that race.

Make no mistake: running in the heat can produce potentially deadly results. If proper measures are taken, however, blast furnace temperatures and tropical humidity can be dealt with safely.

First and foremost, be sure you are properly hydrated. It is nearly impossible to drink too much during hot conditions. Water, the principal component of our bodies, is the best form of hydration. Drink plenty of it, before and after you run. Be sure to plant water along your route if you plan on doing a long run. Many of us enjoy the refreshment of a cold beer after a summer run. Keep in mind, however, that alcohol will dehydrate you, as will caffeine. Be cautious with both if the temperature is hot.

Seek shade, which can drop the temperature by as much as ten degrees. Try to run early or late, when the rays of the sun are not as direct, and apply a sunscreen that is designed for athletes.

Get to the nearest pool, hose, or ocean when you complete your run, as water will drop your body temperature quickly. Spraying cold water from a garden hose on your legs will refresh them for your next run.

Take advantage of the many quick-drying fabrics available for runners these days, and wear light colored clothing that reflects, rather than absorbs the sun.

Finally, summer is a time to go short and fast. Take a few weeks off from long runs, and concentrate on short, fast workouts.

And, if you feel dizzy, disoriented, or if your body stops producing sweat, these are signs of severe dehydration. Stop immediately, cool down, and drink water.

Summer is a great time of year for runners. By taking a few simple precautions, you can keep your summer running both safe and enjoyable.

**Joe Muldowney has been a competitive runner since 1976, owning a personal best marathon time of 2:22:54. He is a veteran of 54 marathons, 48 under the 3:00 mark, and 12 under 2:30. At age 57, he turned in a marathon time of 2:58:54. Joe has run the Boston Marathon 16 times, and in Personal Best, he writes his account of the events at the tragic 2013 race. Check out his website www.muldowneyrunning.com

MEMORIAL DAY

Happy Memorial Day to all.

Thanks to all who have served and who currently serve. And to those who have paid the ultimate price to keep us free, no words can express the gratitude of a nation. 

Special thanks to both my late dad, Joe Sr., a World War II veteran,who served in London during the German blitzkrieg and my son, Logan,who served honorably in the United States Marine Corps, for their service to our country.

They Really DO Run This Beach!

My family has vacationed at Myrtle Beach since 1990.

From my first visit, I was impressed by the warm, Gulf Stream-fueled water, the wide pristine beach, the people and their legendary Southern hospitality. My daughter, Kelly, was so impressed with the state that she attended and graduated with a Master's Degree from the University of South Carolina in 2001.

After a few years, an annual vacation to Myrtle Beach didn't seem like enough. My wife and I grew weary of nearly six months of winter in Pennsylvania, it's colorful grays and browns from November to May, snow and ice storms, polar vortexes, and potholes, potholes, potholes.

Last December we achieved our dream of owning our own slice of Myrtle Beach. We purchased a condo along an area north of the city known as the "Golden Mile."

We have taken every opportunity to occupy our condo since.

Back in 1992, a running rival, who has become one of my oldest and dearest friends, John Ausherman, randomly ran into me as our families visited a local Myrtle Beach attraction. It turned out he was staying at the condo next to mine. For years, we met at 8:00 a.m. sharp, in order to avoid the July heat, training on a 7-mile course we called, "The Arcadian Loop."

So, in February, on a visit to our condo, I reached out to the Grand Strand Running Club. I had always enjoyed running at the beach, and I wanted to find some like-minded individuals here in Myrtle.

I received emails from the club president, Roscoe Griffin. Roscoe is a knowledgeable, veteran runner, and is the ideal ambassador for the club. Everyone knows Roscoe, and if you know him, you instantly like him.

At the packet pick-up for the Myrtle Beach Marathon in February. I met some terrific club members, and it was a no-brainer for my wife and I to sign up as members as members ourselves.

Each month, club members get together for a run and a club social. In March, we ran, then dined at a local Mexican restaurant. This week, we ran along the beach, then attended a pizza party.

At the party, the club awarded scholarships to two young men from the area, who ran track and cross country and now plan to further their education. The GSRC is paying it forward to young runners.

Next month, the club social features a run followed by a Myrtle Beach Pelicans minor league baseball game.

The GSRC sponsors many local races, and, well, I'm sure to miss many of the great things they do,  so visit their website, http://www.grandstrandrunner.com/ to learn more about the club.

The GSRC has made my wife and I feel at home here in Myrtle Beach. I would highly encourage any runner who lives or visits the area to join this fine running club.

Their slogan is, "We run this beach," and they do.

To borrow from Darius Rucker, they embrace running "Southern Style."

www.muldowneyrunning.com

BEACH DAY

Winter's icy grip continued to clutch the eastern seaboard into the green month of May. Chilling temperatures, hovering in the low 50s, when the average temperature should hit 70, continued through last week.

Sunday, however, was a great day to go to the beach. Tropical conditions prevailed, with high humidity and temperatures finally reaching the 80s.

A great day to watch a marathon is a bad day to run a marathon.

Two dedicated runners, both of whom I have great admiration and am proud to call my friends, dedicated  the last three months or so to training for yesterday's Run for the Red Marathon, held in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. They had largely good weather for marathon training, with a few warm days sprinkled in. They could hardly be acclimatized for weather more suited to tanning than to running a marathon.

Samantha Snukis, a former high school state champion in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles, and Father Chris Zelonis, a novice runner, who has quickly excelled in the sport and has qualified for the 2016 Boston Marathon, had turned in some of their best training for the race, but yesterday they knew that the 26.2 mile road to the finish was going to be a torrid trek.

Few things are more difficult than running a marathon under hot conditions. Heat produces devastating effects as body core temperatures can rise to near-death levels. World-class runner, Alberto Salazar's body temperature reached 105 degrees at the end of the hot 1982 Boston Marathon. He was immediately plunged into an ice bath to bring his temperature down.

It is very easy to mentally shut down during a hot marathon race. The mind literally asks, "What's the point of this?"

Amid the heat and humidity of yesterday's race, Snukis and Zelonis, who happen to hail from the same small town of Saint Clair, Pennsylvania, (Is there something in the water, or is it the Yuengling beer?) emerged as champions.

Samantha Snukis earned $500 by placing third in the women's division, smashing her personal best marathon time by clocking a 2:55:18.

Father Chris lopped a full five minutes off his best marathon time by hitting the finish line in 3:03:12, placing 4th in his age division.
.
The intense heat drove him to the medical tent where he received an IV cocktail, but he quickly recovered.

Sometimes runners make excuses when weather conditions are poor.

Often, competitors pack it in, drop out and run another day.

These two gritty competitors faced the heat and conquered.

They earned complete admiration and praise.

I think it's time for them to go to the beach.

THE SIXTH AMENDMENT

"In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence."

The Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights

Twenty five months ago, after months of careful, calculated planning, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and his brother, Tamerlan, calmly placed their backpacks filled with instruments of death, next to innocent spectators,children among them, detonated the explosive devices, pressure cookers filled with gunpowder, BBs, and nails, killing three, and injuring nearly 300 more. Many of those injured will never fully recover.

After finding Dzhokhar Tsarnaev guilty on all counts, today, a jury of his peers, following the constitution of the greatest democracy the world has ever known, sentenced him to death by lethal injection.

A young man whose family fled political strife in his own country, came to America, enjoying all the benefits this country has to offer, and chose to commit a senseless, brutal act of terror at a sporting event which celebrates human achievement.

In his country, justice would have been swift and equally as brutal. Those who he claims America "persecutes," treat women as second-class citizens, and behead innocent victims.

Tsarnaev was afforded due process of law, and was represented by attorney.

He will spend the rest of his days in a supermax prison, of course there will be endless appeals, but, in the end, he will die.

The Richard family will not get their 8-year old son, Richard, back. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's backpack bomb killed him.

Seventeen people will never get their limbs back. His bomb made sure of that as well.

George Patton once said, "God may forgive you, but I won't.

Justice has been served.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will die for his hideous crimes.

                    8-year old Martin Richard

ONE BAD MOTHER RUNNER

Here's a question to ponder.

Are runners remarkable people, or do remarkable people become runners?

Last Saturday, the day before Mother's Day, I received a message from Avery Alvarez. She wanted to tell me more about her mother's remarkable running journey, and asked if I would write about it.

Her mother,Sirena Alvarez is 57 years old. She started running last September.

It started innocently enough.

She and two of her friends were sipping coffee and relaxing at Lake arrowhead, California when the topic of running came up. The three were avid hikers, and all but Sirena had done some running and had competed in races.

Sirena's friend, Jana, was persistent, suggesting they begin a training program.

Sirena's responses were: "It's not for me.," "I'm too old," and "It's not good for my knee."

Undeterred, Jana replied, "If nothing comes out of it, at least you can lose weight. It's one more form of exercise. If you don't like it, you can quit."

Needless to say, Sirena didn't quit.

After shopping for running gear, her first workout took place at the legendary Rose Bowl, in Pasadena. An "easy" workout turned into a 3-mile run, a painful knee, and a visit to the chiropractor, who suggested easing into training rather than starting out too fast and too far too soon.

She followed his advice, worked her way up to 12 miles, and in December she ran the Santa to the Sea Half Marathon in San Diego, California.

Hopelessly addicted, she ran another half marathon in December.

In a short, six-month span since beginning competitive running, Sirena has completed numerous short races, five half marathons, and the Los Angeles Marathon, on a hot day, back in March.

Her goal is "60 by 60." She hopes to  earn 60 medals by the time she reaches 60 years of age. She plans on running the  Rock and Roll Las Vegas Marathon in October, and a half marathon at Disneyland, Paris in 2016.

Sirena runs to remain healthy, to manage her weight, and to keep her cholesterol down. She has borderline diabetes, so she likes to be able to eat what she wants.

Remarkable people become runners.

Sirena Alvarez is one of them.

"A BETTER MOMMY"

Happy Mother's Day to all!

And to all the moms out there, I hope you were able to get out there and run today, because you deserve it!

You see, you simply do more than us. You multitask, juggling a family, work, and countless chores.

Last summer when I interviewed Dr. Jenny Burgess for the chapter entitled 'Extraordinary,' for my book, Personal Best, www.muldowneyrunning.com, she told me that she explains to her three children that after she goes out for a run, she comes back "A better mommy."

Jenny is a mother, a wife, chiropractor and a coach, as well as a veteran of three Boston Marathons.

There are a lot of great running mommies reading this blog. Become a "Better mommy" by letting your family know how important your running time is to you...and them!

THERE'S NO EXCUSE FOR THAT

It has happened to all of us at one time or another. We run a personal best, turn in a great performance, earn an age-group award, or defeat that "special someone," and we are elated.

Within moments it begins to rain.

No, not precipitation from the sky, rather a deluge of excuses.

That "special someone" seeks you out after the race to tell you, "My hamstring's been sore all week. I didn't think I'd be able to run this race/

"I've been down with the stomach flu."

"I was catching you."

"That pasta didn't agree with me last night."

"Too many beers.."

"I don't run well in the heat (cold, wind, rain, high or low humidity)"

"This is my third race this weekend."

Want more?

I devoted a chapter, entitled, "Excuses, Excuses" to the subject of, well, runners' excuses,. in my first book, Running Shorts. www.muldowneyrunning.com

Runners are great people. We are passionate about what we do, and sometimes we fall short of our goals. That's why we have our support group. Your spouse, or significant other, needs to be your excuse sounding board. Your training partners probably know you better than anyone. They are usually empathetic to your excuses, many of which may be legitimate.Don't portray yourself as a sore loser at a race. If there, indeed was a legitimate reason for your less than expected performance, accept it, and give props to those who had a good race.

One of my oldest running partners, Brian Tonitis, says, "It only counts when you pay the entry fee."

Training is the practice field; your race is your game day. You've conducted rehearsals and the race is your stage performance, your musical recital, your victory speech.

Don't water down your performances by over-racing. Rather, choose your races judiciously, and make each race your own world-class performance.

Oh, and when you're on the receiving end of, "I just ran this race as a speed workout," just grin and think to yourself, "Excuses, Excuses."

A QUICK AND EASY PACE APP

There's an app for everything these days, and, even though I'm an old-timer, I love the apps out there for runners.

I recently found a pace calculator app that I really like.

It was designed by a guy who wanted to help his wife, who is an avid runner, because even though there are many pace calculators on the market, he wanted to design a product that was both simple and easy to use.

Pace Calculator by RBIDesign https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pace-calculator-by-rbidesign/id944112227?mt=8, can be found at iTunes, where you can buy and download the app.

This unique app allows you to calculate pace from total time or time from pace very quickly and easily. It also has a "Today Widget" that you can use to calculate pace without leaving the app you're in so you can look up a race result, pull the widget down from the top of the screen, and calculate your average pace without leaving the results page. Some other features include the ability to save results so you remember your best times, selecting pace per mile or per Km, and view splits for various distances.

If you try Pace Calculator by RBIDesign, you'll find out that it is the quickest, easiest, and most intuitive pace calculator in the app store.

We runners like to simplify our workouts and races with innovations that are quick and easy.

That's why I recommend you try Pace Calculator by RBIDesign.

ALL RUNNERS NEED HEALING HANDS

Although our sport is as simple as placing one foot in front of the other and going as fast as we can for as long as we can, despite our fierce independence, we really can't do it alone.

Support of family and friends is vital, but having a competent team of health care professionals at our disposal is, especially as we age, vital to our continued running success.

Over the years, I have sought out doctors, physical and massage therapists, and chiropractors who are aware of and sensitive to my running addiction. Even my dentist is a runner.

For nearly two years I have been clawing my way back from a hamstring injury which, literally, tore me apart as it tore two tendons from their moorings. An orthopedic surgeon, and a physical therapist have been helpful in many ways, but a weakness and an instability in the leg has remained, cascading into lower back pain, causing me to drag my leg as I run, preventing me from accelerating.

Over the winter, I began to visit Doctor Jason Burgess, at Healing Hands Chiropractic in Minersville, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Burgess(s) has/have quite a resume.

You see, Doctor Jason Burgess, and his wife, Doctor Jennifer Burgess are co-owners of Healing Hands Chiropractic. They are both excellent chiropractors, accomplished runners, and respected coaches.

Dr. Jason Burgess is the 'cover boy' on the cover of my latest book, Personal Best www.muldowneyrunning.com; while Dr. Jennifer is featured in the chapter entitled, 'Extraordinary.'

A little over a month ago, Dr. Jason, while working on my back, offered a suggestion. He said, "Why don't you try doing balancing exercises for your bad leg?"

His suggestion sounded ridiculously simple, so I tried it. So now, several times a day, and especially before a run, I simply balance on one foot for about ten seconds, extending my arms outward, like a glider, bending at the waist. I do three repetitions on each leg.

The results have been remarkable.

My leg has felt looser, my gait is improved. On Wednesday I ran my fastest mile on nearly 104 months since the hamstring tear.

Running is a simple, yet complex endeavor. There are a lot of moving parts.

Select your team of health care professionals carefully. They can get you back on the road after an injury sidelines you.

Sometimes, in order to move your feet, you need healing hands.

                                                                            Doctors Jason and Jennifer Burgess