Where I'll be in the days ahead

On Friday night, I'm making the 35-minute drive from our house in University City up to China Grove so I can run the 5K Main Street Challenge. Won't need my sunglasses for this one -- the starting gun goes off at 9 p.m. Registration remains open, so sign up if you're interested in what I expect will be a pretty unique race.

Then on Sunday morning, I'll set out on my first triathlon ever: Tri-Latta's novice race (the "open" -- i.e. more-competitive -- event is Saturday). It's sold out, but if you're among the 500 athletes signed up, say "hi" if you see me. I want to meet as many people as I can beforehand so I know who to yell for if I start drowning in the lake.

A week from tonight, I'm tentatively planning to check out the Trenton Guy Sr. Summer Track Series (at Myers Park High School) that I wrote about earlier this month. Determined to run a sub-6-minute mile...

Looking a little further ahead, I'm hoping to take Amy Peacock's ChiRunning workshop on Saturday, June 20. (Click here for details.) That's the same morning as the Summer Breeze 5K at Freedom Park, but I've promised my body I'd give it some time off from racing.

Need other race options for this weekend? Unfortunately, there are only a few, and they're somewhat far afield. One is Saturday's Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Raleigh, which is N.C.'s largest 5K (events begin at 7 a.m.; info here). If you missed out on Latta and are up for an overnight, there's the Enka Triathlon at Biltmore Lake in Asheville; it's also a sprint, and distances are about the same (8 a.m. start; info here). Finally, if you happen to have Thursday off and are free for a middle-distance race, head east to Fort Bragg for the Army Birthday 10-Miler, which is held on the base (5:30 p.m. start; info here).

And if none of that does it for you, you can always spend this weekend starting your training for the World Joggling Championships, which will be held in Winston-Salem on July 14. It takes balls to enter this one. I'm serious. Click here and you'll see what I mean.

Favorite song for that final mile?

I don't use my iPod while I run, but I definitely know that the right music can give you a psychological boost in clutch situations -- whether you're in the final mile of a tempo run or have the finish line in your sights during a 10K.

I still remember feeling pumped up at the ING Georgia Half-Marathon in March by Survivor's triumphant anthem "Eye of the Tiger," which was blaring out of a sound system as we pounded the pavement in Little Five Points. And then there was the looping steel pan riff of Soulja Boy's "Crank That," which greeted us as we entered downtown Charleston after crossing the Cooper River at April's Bridge Run. Without question, it helped me pick up the pace.

And those aren't even songs I really like that much!

Anyway, I recently posed this question to a bunch of runner friends: What's the best song for getting you through that final mile? In addition to some general answers -- "most anything by Tool," "Linkin Park does it for me" -- there were votes for a wide variety of tunes:

1. Eminem's "Lose Yourself" ("listen to the lyrics and tell me you can't finish that last mile!")
2. Pearl Jam's "Rearviewmirror" ("if you time it just right")
3. Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music"
4. Green Day's "American Idiot" ("it's got that nice burst at that beginning")
5. Airborne Toxic Avengers' "Sometime Around Midnight"
6. The Charlie Daniels Band's "The Devil Went Down to Georgia"
7. The Black Eyed Peas' "Boom Boom Pow"
8. The Roots' "The Seed 2.0" ("my feet hitting the pavement matches the beat so I can shut my brain off and ignore the pain")
9. Michael Jackson's "Thriller"
10. The All-American Rejects' "Move Along" ("got me through ankle rehab")
11. And finally, Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" ("no joke")

Got your own favorites? By all means, share!

Union County 5K this weekend

I've already blogged about several races up north set for this weekend, including the King Tiger 5K at University City. Thanks to reader Emily, I can now point runners who live southeast of Charlotte to a little Saturday race of their own.

The Torch Run, a 5K, is set to go off in downtown Monroe at 8:15 a.m., preceded by a Fun Run at 8. The race beneficiary is the Special Olympics of North Carolina.

There is no online registration, but forms are available at the Monroe Police Department (218 E. Franklin St.) or online -- click here and find the Torch Run link under "Community Involvement." You can also register on race day beginning at 7:30 a.m.

Entry fee is $20, and includes a T-shirt or hat (spend $10 extra and get both). The Fun Run is open to all ages and is free of charge. Awards will be given to the overall male and female winners.

And we're off to the races ...

Last weekend, almost all the action was down south. This weekend, all the racing seems to be taking place up north.

Not much variety here distance-wise (it's getting hot enough in Charlotte now, I think, that most runners aren't interested in races longer than 3.1 miles) ... but the ones beyond King Tiger are all small affairs -- meaning they're good opportunities for faster runners to win some hardware.

Anyway, let's get to it.

Ourboys
What: 5K and 1-mile fun run.
When: 5K start is at 8 a.m. Saturday. Fun run to follow.
Cost: $20; $50 for a family of four. Fun run is $10.
Where: Harris Road Middle School, 1251 Patriot Plantation Blvd in Concord.
Why: Proceeds will be used in the fight against juvenile Batten disease, which causes blindness, seizures and learning difficulties in affected children. Eventually, sufferers lose the ability to walk, talk and even swallow.
Of note: Race hosts are Chris and Wendy Hawkins, whose two children both are affected by the disease. For more on Batten Disease, visit www.bdsra.org. For more on the Hawkins family, visit www.ourboysjourney.com. It's a small, no-frills race -- just over 150 runners participated last year -- but for a very worthy cause. The Observer ran a nice column about the Hawkins' efforts recently, which can be read here.
To register: Click here.

RE/MAX at the Lake Run for Miracles
What: 5K run/walk.
When: 8 a.m. Saturday.
Cost: $20 in advance, $25 on race day.
Where: Mount Mourne Volunteer Fire Department, 1577 Mecklenburg Highway in Mooresville.
Why: Proceeds benefit the Children's Miracle Network, which raises funds for more than 170 children's hospitals.
Of note: It's reportedly a level, fast course. Top overall runner and top overall youth runner each will get a $50 Dick's Sporting Goods gift certificate. Another small race: Last year, there were 175 finishers.
Official site: Click here. To register: Click here.

June Bug Road Races
What: Mile walk/fun run; 2-mile cross-country run; 5K.
When: Friday. 6:30 p.m. start for the mile, 6:45 for the 2-miler, 7 p.m. for the 5K.
Cost: $21 for the 5K, $10 for either of the other two events.
Where: Frank Liske Park, 4001 Stough Road in Concord.
Don't know much about this one, though it sounds good for families, anyone who prefers evening races, or people like me who have a prior commitment Saturday morning and therefore can't run any of the races listed above...
More info: Call Perry Gabriel at 704-920-2701. To register: Click here.

Running one of these races this weekend? Which one, and why?

Start spreadin' the news ...

Well, I was about to post a blog entry about a New York Times article that multiple people have forwarded to me this week: "Better Running Through Walking," by Tara Parker-Pope, who plans to run the 2009 ING New York City Marathon in November using the "run/walk" method popularized by famed distance coach Jeff Galloway.

But then I noticed, in the top right-hand corner of the page, another headline that caught my eye: "Dropping Out of the Big Race." Click.

Took me to a story by the Times' Andrew W. Lehren about an exclusive group of runners -- those who start the New York Marathon but do not reach the finish line. Five paragraphs in, this sentence: "The lottery for the race will be held Wednesday, as about 6,500 runners from more than 40,000 domestic applicants will be selected to participate in this year’s event, scheduled for Nov. 1."

And I'm thinking, Hmm... I thought I read that applicants would find out in "mid-June"? So I ditched the story and surfed over to the NYC Marathon's site. There, on the home page, it currently reads: "Lottery results for U.S. residents will be available on Thursday, June 4, at noon."

Logged into the site just for kicks, and there was the magic word: "Congratulations! You have been accepted into the ING New York City Marathon 2009. We are thrilled that you will be joining us on Sunday, November 1. Be sure to bookmark our site and visit it often for the latest news. Good luck with your training."

A fit of euphoria grabbed me. I quickly flashed back to all the times over the last three months that friends have said, "I have a good feeling you're going to get in" -- to which I replied, "I'm not getting my hopes up. The odds really aren't great." I thought of my running bud, Brian, who's been rejected twice and will be in automatically in 2010 if he gets denied again this year. I thought of another running partner, Diane, who ran NYC as her first marathon two years ago.

I also felt a slight twinge of disappointment, knowing this all means I won't get to run the Philadelphia Marathon, which is taking place Nov. 15 in the city where both my sisters live.

But that feeling left as rapidly as it arrived. I mean, we're talking about THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON. It's a dream for so many, realized by so few. It's like an amateur golfer getting to play at Pebble Beach. A Red Sox fan given the opportunity to take batting practice at Fenway Park.

The lottery victory marks the first time I've ever won anything of significance in my life. And the NYC Marathon will mark the first time I've ever run a 26.2-mile race in my life. So needless to say, a very exciting night.

Anyway, beginning in a few weeks, I'll start blogging regularly about my training (while continuing to keep you up to date on everything else I've been keeping you up to date with). I'll see if I can get tips from readers who've run marathons before. I'll see if I can pass along advice of my own, for others who are also training for their first-ever marathons in the fall.

And if you were lucky enough to also be accepted into the big NYC race ... I'll see you there.

Go celebrate National Running Day

Wednesday's the day!

The easiest way to observe it is to follow the advice of the initiative's Web site: Just go for a run. There's no minimum distance required. Running shoes are ideal, but walking shoes or cross-training shoes will be fine if you aren't going very far.

The biggest way to observe it: Be at Run For Your Life's Dilworth location (2422 Park Road) at 5:45 Wednesday afternoon for a group run with the store's three coaches. The groups set out at 6 p.m. There is a beginner coach who will run two miles as a run/walk; an intermediate coach who will run three miles; and an advanced coach who will lead a four-plus mile run. The first 100 runners who show up will receive a free Run For Your Life T-shirt, and refreshments will be available.

Says RFYL event coordinator Jessica Douglas: "The group run is meant to be fun and non-intimidating. We would like both runners and walkers to join us!"

I also just called the University location (at West Mallard Creek Church Road and Senator Royall Drive), and was told "there will be a few people running here" Wednesday -- so that's an option for northside dwellers. The Stonecrest store says that if anything happens there, it'll be informal and impromptu.

Throughout the day, all three RFYL locations will be giving away a free T-shirt with the purchase of any pair of running shoes, while supplies last.

Your King Tiger 5K questions answered

The University City 5K -- now in its second year with taekwondo school King Tiger as the title sponsor -- has steadily grown into one of the precious few mid-sized races in the UCity area, having nearly doubled in size from 2006 to 2008.

What's in store for 2009? I traded e-mails with race director Chris Elkins earlier today, and he graciously answered several questions about Saturday's event:

Q. How many runners are you expecting this year?
650 to 700 total, between the walkers, runners and kids fun run.

Q. The race site says the course is "new and improved" -- what's new, and how has it been improved?
The police forced us to change the course from last year, so it's new because it has to be. Improved might be a stretch; sometimes a nice way of saying that there are a few more hills. Last year was a straight down and back. This year, it's 1/2 long and straight and 1/2 rolling through neighborhoods.

Q. A friend who ran the course recently said there's a big hill in the final mile, and that none of the course is shaded from the sun -- both of which could present challenges for unprepared runners. How tough would you rate this course on a scale of 1 to 10, given those factors?
3/4 of the final mile should be flat to downhill. But there is an uphill towards the end of Mile 2. True, not much shade, but that is what this area provides us (without going down into the research park, which we tried four years ago and people complained because it was very hilly). We start the race as early as we can to avoid the hottest part of the day. But very few parts of Charlotte are flat, so I'd say most runners will be prepared as long as they didn't train on a treadmill. If last year's flat course was a 1 on a tough scale, I'd say it's up to a 5.

Q. So this is the fourth of nine races in Run For Your Life's Grand Prix series, right? Explain how the series works, and tell me: Could someone theoretically enter this as their first GP series race and still wind up with some hardware and/or prize money by the end of the season in October?
Each Grand Prix race rewards the finisher with points. The better you place, the more points you get. You are allowed to drop your two lowest points from any of the nine races. Awards are passed out at the end of the season in all the typical race categories and age groups. Someone could enter this race as their first and still place at the end of the season, based on the rules. But because so many of the runners do at least seven to eight of these races, it would be hard to imagine that happening.

Q. Any cool amenities slated to be on-site Saturday that you want to tell runners about?
We will have food from Trader Joe's, treats from Rita's Italian Ice, music, a massage therapist and a physical therapist, all out to provide products and services for the runner. And we're waiting to hear from a few more restaurants, so there might be more food. King Tiger will be doing demos of their (martial arts) routines. Very cool. They did this last year and it drew a big crowd.

Q. Anything unique about the T-shirts or the awards? Doing any door prizes?
The shirts are NOT boring white. They are a nice royal blue. And the awards are Taekwondo belts.

* * *

Under almost any other circumstances, I'd be out there Saturday. Unfortunately, our neighborhood has scheduled its annual yard sale for that morning, and, well, duty calls. (So does the need to drum up additional funds for our trip to Spain this summer.)

It kills me to miss it. The King Tiger is less than four miles from my house, and several friends and acquaintances will be volunteering and/or running Saturday. But we can't run 'em all, right? If you're doing this race -- or any of the others happening this weekend -- have fun, and be safe.

Race site: Click here. To register: Click here.