Running: 23 June 2011 - It's Been a Whole Dam Year

Hello runners.  Well, as ANONYMOUS was so kind to remind me, it has been a year since I started this blog, and it's time to recap, remember, and reveal what I have learned thus far.  A year ago, as a result of some inspiration from a friend who had ran Dam to Dam, I promised the world that I too would run Dam to Dam.  I had just finished watching the movie Julie and Julia which is where I got my inspiration to start this blog.  This collection was to chronicle my findings over the course of a year to discover why people run, and train for Dam to Dam.


Growing up as the son of a runner, one would think I'd have followed in my father's footsteps (no pun intended) and become a runner.  My Dad has been running for nearly 50 years.  That's a lot of experience, sweat, time, miles, and shoes.  He was quite the marathoner, 50 miler, Dam to Dammer, Midnight Madnesser, Living History Farmer, run 15 miles home after churcher.  So when I stepped on the High School track team in 9th grade, I was immediately greeted with, "Hey! You're Bob Kaldenberg's kid...our long distance runner!"  To which I promptly retorted, "No, I am a sprinter, and I am adopted," (which is true).  Needless to say, I wound up running the 880.  My track experience lasted one season.

A year or so later, my Dad became the Boys Cross Country coach.  He did it for a whopping salary of $1.00.  And guess who found himself on the team...ME!  Why did I run?  It was great conditioning for wrestling.  I ran Cross Country 2 seasons.

After High School and a year of running from party to party at Simpson College, I joined the Air Force.  We ran every morning in basic training.  We ran our obligatory 1.5 miles fitness test every year.  My best time in the 1.5 mile test was 9:10.  I was much younger and a bit lighter.  I didn't run often or far, but I never failed my running test.  I organized a small running group while stationed in Rome, NY (mostly to keep fit).  We ran 3-5 miles 3 times a week.  Then I retired - which brings me ultimately to this blog and Running A Year To Find Out Why [people run].

If you have followed my blog at all, you'll notice I ran my first 5K after less than a week of training.  I ran my first 10K less than a month later.  But my first 20K took a year.  I ran a lot at the beginning of this experience.  I have ran in the rain (Kickin' It Up For Health), the frigid cold (Resolution Run 2011), the pitch dark (with the Madison County Milers), and the Iowa humidity (Stuart Good Egg Days, and Dam to Dam 2011).  But the real question is WHY?

I run for the solitude.  Although I hate getting up to run, when I am out on the quiet road running under the beauty of the moon, I am at my most peaceful.  Here, I can think and reflect.  It is just me, my thoughts, and the open road.  I like that.  There is no one to judge me, no one to interrupt me, and nothing in my way.  I am a runner.

I run for my health.  With time, the gravity of aging pays close attention to me.  Having diabetes, keeping fit helps stave off many of the adverse threats caused by this disease.  Running improves circulation, conditions the heart, and releases stress.  I know I can never run away from diabetes, but I CAN run with it.

I run for the camaraderie.  It's a good feeling when others I know show up to run.  It doesn't matter if it is for training or competition, seeing fellow runners always conjures feelings of belonging.  It feeds the Id.
**In Freudian theory, the Id is the division of the psyche that is totally unconscious and serves as the source of instinctual impulses and demands for immediate satisfaction of primitive needs.**  Feeling accepted by a group of fellow runners (no matter your running level) keeps me coming back for more.  It is inspiring. 


I can't say I "like" running itself.  Although I miss it when I don't do it.  And I don't always like it when I am doing it.  Whether it is an internal driving force, or external support from family, friends or COACH (Completely Online Anonymous Coaching Helper), running takes motivation.  What I have found is that it takes a healthy mixture of both to motivate me to run. 

Will I continue to run?  Do I consider myself a "runner?"  I will and I do.  Will I ever run a marathon?  I don't know.  But I won't rule it out either.  I have many miles to put in to get to that place.  I hope to continue my moonlit morning runs (they're my favorite) and enjoying the slimming, cardiological benefits of putting miles of road behind me, and the slapping of high-fives with my commrades when I cross the finish line.

Oh! I almost forgot to mention Dam to Dam 2011.  Here's a real quick summary of the race.  "Ugh."  Ok, that was too short. 

By 6:45 am, 8000 runners gathered at the rim of Saylorville Dam, of which I was one.  Having never ran more than 7-8 miles, I really did not know what to expect.  At 7:00 am the starting gun barked out its command - GO!  All of us were wearing timing chips, so it really didn't matter if we started with the starting gun or not.  We started with the pack somewhere near the 10 minute pace mark and eased our way to the starting strip.  Once we crossed the strip, we all started our stopwatches.  I settled in at a comfortable pace, and by mile 1 I was running in the mid 7s.  I managed to keep that pace through the first 5 miles or so.  By the time I got to the 10K mark, I noticed I was slowing down.  My 10K time was somewhere around 55 or 56 minutes (better than my Midnight Madness 2010 time).  I stopped at a medic station to check my blood sugar.  I was at 93 and happy with that.  I didn't feel too bad and got back on the route.  I had been carrying a couple Gatorade G2 pouches for energy, so I popped one open and slurpped it down.  Between mile 6 and 7 I started to wane.  Wane/walk, what's the difference?  I was starting to feel the humidity and the Gatorade was turning to yuck in my stomach.  I would pass and be passed by the same runners for the next 2 miles.  By mile 10 it was getting really tough to keep moving.  It seemed like every time one of my feet hit the pavement it took everything I had to make the other foot do the same.  I popped open the other G2.  I nursed this one a little more slowly, consuming it over the next mile, and finally dropped it somewhere after the 11 mile mark.

I found a running mate (can't remember his name) who was running his first Dam to Dam as well, who was in about the same sorry state I was.  We ran (and walked) together for a while, then we sort of lost each other.  I think I might have stopped to walk.  A lot of people did.  A lot of people didn't.  I don't think Dad did.  He lost me back around 5.5 miles.

I can't really remember the last mile, but I do remember the last 400 meters or so.  When I passed the 400 meters remaining mark, the scene before me was a bit inspiring.  I could see the finish line!  But it seemed just like in horror movies when the hallway to Hell starts to stretch endlessly before the soon to be victim.  300 meters left.  200 meters left.  The last 100 meters was the longest part of the race.  But it too fell behind me...just like the other 20,000 meters.

I heard my name as I crossed the finish line.  I stopped my watch.  I ripped off my timing chip.  I took my participation medal from a girl.  I was almost blind as I made my way to the area where they were taking photos of the finshers.  I looked around for my Dad.  After I grabbed a bottle of something to drink, and not finding him, I started making my way back to the car.  I could barely walk.  I couldn't talk.  And everything was so bright and white.  God!  Was it that damned bright light everyone who has a near-death experience speaks about?  I don't know.  But I had finished the 2011 Dam to Dam.  A year in the making.  Run time - 2:15:48.  Not the 2 hours I was hoping for, but I finished.

So, why do people run?  Beats the hell outta me.  I know why I run.  And now, you do too.
Thanks for reading my blog. 
It's been a quick year.

Dam to Dam 2012?
Yeah, probably...

myk