Hi:
As you may know, running is a very important aspect of my life. It has been with me through some really great times. Some very low times too. Running has been my comforter. Running has been my muse. Running is my therapy.
Over the years, I have run races from 1 mile up to 50 miles, and every distance in between. I have had fun competing in over 40 marathons and ultra-marathons. Even with all that running, there is one thing I have yet to do. To run for a cause.
Until now.
For running the 6th segment of the MS Run the US Relay, a total of 165 to 170 miles all in 7 days, I have chosen Brooks Running Glycerin 10 as the shoes to carry me along.
For most of this year I have been wearing Brook’s Pure Flow 2, which I have really enjoyed. I have found that my feet would feel tender and sore after a 10 plus mile run. With my segment daily average to be around marathon distance I needed a shoe that could provide my feet protection and cushioning from the pavement. The Glycerin have proven to me to be that shoe.
Here are some things I really like:
1. Fit. The 10s are built true to size and they come in 2E, which is really nice. I tend to like a wider shoe and toe box. The shoe is very flexible in the forefoot.
2. Feel. The overall feel of these shoes is plush. Very cushioned, but not soft. The uppers hug the foot, but in a gentle way. Very comfortable shoe in all regards.
3. Cushioning. These shoes protect me from the hard pavement. I wore them in a 50 mile race on crushed gravel and the 10s did a great job. My feet didn’t hurt when I was finished. Which was nice. I feel like they do a good job in cushioning and they don’t feel soft or squishy.
4. Quality. Like all Brooks products that I have owned and wore, the quality of this shoe is excellent. A very good product for the price.
While I am running my 170 mile running segment, I am taking two pairs of the 10s, planning on alternating them from day to day. What is nice for me is knowing that my feet are going to be protected and that the Brooks Glycerin 10s have my back.
Wow! After a thousand plus miles of running and countless number of calories eaten and burned I am nearing my time to run for the MS Run the US Relay. In 10 days I will start running from Vernal, Utah to Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Some 170 miles. Give or take. May it be the take. I have 7 days to run all this which is very close to running a marathon (26.2 miles) per day for those 7 days. All my training and preparation is coming down to the wire. This is when I put everything on the line and experience what I think will be an epic experience. At least I hope it is an epic experience and not something I put on my “Seemed Like A Good Idea” list. It’s a long list too.
This training journey of mine has been very positive for me. My running has been nothing but pure joy. No aches or pains to speak of. Oh, I had some adjustments to make, but for the most part, everything is going smoothly. Training for the Relay has also given me the opportunity to spend quality time with my running friends. Thank you Susan, Stan, Brendan, Paul, Randy and Brian for your help and support. Shelly, my wife, redesigned our eating to ensure that I had the energy needed to log weekly miles of over 60, 70 and 80 miles per week. Thank you Shelly. Besides eating good food to fuel to my body, I have also dropped over 45 pounds. Thank you J.J. Virgin and a whole lot of running. This whole experience has left me feeling great, much like I did when I was in my 20′s.
With 10 days to go my thoughts move from running to packing to, well, so many things that I need to do. Lists to make. All things to keep me moving forward.
As far as my running for this week is concerned I have 2 goals. (1) to run, but to run with the intention of recovery and relaxation. (2) Not to injure or hurt myself. Just last week while running trails with friends I let myself go and started pushing my pace. Flying over roots, rocks and stumps. Then I realized that I couldn’t afford to trip and hurt myself. I have been cautiously running since.
10 days to go and tomorrow will be 9. Time moves forward and so must I. Stay tuned.
Clark
PS Thursday night is Wine Tasting for MS at 5.
PSS to donate to the cause of finding a cure for MS, visit here.
Date: May 16, Thursday
Time: 5:00 to 7:00 pm
Where: San Juan Vineyards Piano and Wine Bar (55 Spring Street, FH)
Cost: $10.00 (includes two glasses of wine and appetizers)
Please come join me before I leave to run the 6th segment of the MS Run the US Relay. My running segment starts in Vernal, Utah and finishes in Steamboat Springs, Colorado – close to 170 miles in distance. That is like running 7 marathons (26.2 miles) in 7 days. My run’s purpose is to bring awareness to this horrible disease.
All proceeds of this wine tasting event will go for multiple sclerosis (MS) research and education.
Please, come join me in helping others.
Clark
Can’t attend? You can donate here.
First of all, I would like to thank all of you who have given to the cause of MS research and education a very BIG THANK YOU for your donations. I do appreciate it.
Clark Gilbert
Segment 6
Some of you might have seen on my web site (www.runhappyrunhard.com) or on the various social media networks that I have taken on a new challenge in 2013. I have joined forces with MS Run the US to raise awareness and funds to END MS. Read about it here ===> http://www.msruntheus.com/clarkgilbert/
On May 24, 2013 I will be running the first of my seventh back-to-back marathons starting in Vernal, UT and concluding in Steam Boat Springs, CO on the May 30th.
Crazy right?
I know.
It’s definitely not for everyone, however, I feel extremely fortunate that I am in excellent health (all though some might wonder about my mental health) and I am running both long and hard to prepare myself for this epic adventure while representing an incredible charity.
Along with my pledge to run 7 marathons I have taken on the challenge of fundraising a minimum of $10,000. (This is where I need your help).
I am asking all of you for the following help:
- Make a Donation Today: http://www.msruntheus.com/clarkgilbert/ any amount can and will help because 100% of your donation goes to MS Research and Education. Checks can be sent to P.O. Box 3198, FH, WA 98250.
- Share this E-mail: please send this e-mail on to as many of your friends + family as possible. The broader net we can cast the more people we can reach and the stronger we can grow.
- Post on Facebook: “I just donated to, Clark Gilbert, MS Run the US 2013 Relay Runner. Learn more here ===> http://www.msruntheus.com/clarkgilbert/“. Copy and paste the sentence before into your status update to help spread the word!
- Lend Me Your Network: $10,000 is a large amount of money and I am not expecting my small group of friends and family to donate all of that cash. I am hoping that we can all look inside our hearts, find the one thing we all have in common, compassion. I appeal to all of you to share with me anyone or any company that might be interested in becoming involved with my crazy adventure and MS Run the US.
I am very excited about this new adventure and working with MS Run the US. I can’t wait to share it with all of you as I share my experiences leading up, during and after my run. Any help you can provide to myself and MS Run the US is greatly appreciated. Check out my journey at www.runhappyrunhard.com or www.seattlepirun.com.
What a week this has been and it’s only Thursday.
Sadness still lingers in my heart over the Boston Marathon Bombing. When I first learned of the bombing I was shocked to tears. This running was the 20th anniversary of my Boston Marathon Experience. Twenty years ago that Boston Marathon had bombs on their minds as the World Trade Center had been bombed a few months earlier on February 26. The last few blocks of the Marathon course had been boarded up to keep spectators away from the finish line.
My thoughts and good wishes go out to the victims and their families.
Wearing my 1993 Boston Marathon Shirt
This past Sunday Susan and I ran 35 miles in preparation for the Mt. Si 50 miler which is on April 28. Leaving at 5:40 am the air was chilly, but the sky looked promising for sunshine. We ended up running 35 miles in 7:01 with a max elevation of 6,724 feet. I forgot how hilly this island is.
Monday night was Monday Night Trail Running out at American Camp. Susan, Brendan and I ran our 10 mile loop at a pretty good clip – the fastest for me this year. It was a great run in spite of my tripping and falling. I have a couple of scrapes on my knee, elbow and hand. Makes for good stories.
Tuesday was a double day workout. Lunch time I ran 6 mile in 56:56, which I am really proud of. After work I ran the Egg Lake Loop which is 12 miles. My time was 2:04. Both runs had sunshine! Felt so good having the warmth of the sun on my face and back.
The last three days I have run 63 miles, an average of 21 miles per day. This is close to what I will need to run when I am running my MSRuntheUS Relay segment, where I will need to average 23 miles a day for 7 days.
My training is paying off for me. The best thing is that I feel so good. Great even. Amazing what this 59 year old body can do.
Clark
The saddest one thing in our running world has happened today at the running of the Boston Marathon. Two bombs went off at the finishing line. Two people have died and dozens more are injured. One picture I saw had the race clock at 4:09. The time frame where mid-packers would be arriving. This shock brought me to tears.
Dennis Dahl from Orcas was a half-a-mile from the finish line with the bombs exploded. He was unharmed, as was his wife, Bonnie, who was waiting for him.
Jared Dallmann from San Juan Island, finished his Boston race in a time of 3:02 and should have been out of the finish area. I have no “official” word that he is safe, but I am confident that he is.
I will post more concerning our local Boston runners as I can.
Clark
Update: confirmed that Jared is safe and sound.
