Mountain Milers

Tucson Marathon - ANOTHER SUPERB STORY FROM BRIAN

Written by Ken Ekman
Tuesday, 09 December 2008
The Tucson Happy Times Brian Peacock December 8, 2008 Happy times. The ride down from Prescott to Tucson was the latest in a few decades of similar rides, only the participants change. I am reminded of the Detroit – Boston, Houston – New Orleans, Detroit Chicago, Houston – Dallas, Detroit – West Virginia, Detroit - Marquette journeys with mixtures of astronauts, school teachers, rocket scientists, engineers, professors, daughters and computer jocks. Happy times. This time it was Serena, Dan and Brian, armed with snacks and CDs, who were driven by the pre race excitement. Dan had to go without his Chipotle breakfast, because the restaurant didn’t open until 11; strange. Serena curled up in the crowded back seat and explained the ins and outs of high school athletics – more happy times, especially when you win. I had to contribute my high school story about when I finished second in the state (Yorkshire) in the pole vault in 1956. At the city meet I cleared 8’ then the next guy broke two aluminum poles and a bar so the competition was over and I went to state. There I met the only other competitor who was going to start at 11’ so I came second! C’est la vie. We saw Picacho Mountain and a graveyard of dead airplanes at Pima and then arrived at Serena’s house. We hardly had a chance to unpack our bags before we were whisked off for a run up the canyon where the middle and high school cross country teams trained. Arizona has amazing mountains and flora, and I was told fauna, but those slithery snakes did not accost us as we meandered through mountain paths all the while hearing about hills and sadistic coaches. No pain no gain said the fatherly entreponeur, Eric . We ended up at a beautiful waterfall (there are rivers in Arizona) but the deep water hole into which the teenagers had jumped had receded to a couple of puddles drained by a shallow stream. We were surrounded by enormous saguaros; hundreds of years old and all around us, together with cacti of every shape and size. Dan and I had a botanical lecture. The evening as always before a big race was a filled with a pasta dinner. There was lots of scrumptious bread and olive oil with pepper; leaving little room for the delicious pasta and cheesecake which came in the package. But runners must stock up on carbs. Dan and I shared a room at Serena’s mom’s place, but I had to leave at 4.45 to drive to the busses that were to take us to the start of the half marathon. My alarm didn’t work but fortunately Dan’s did and I scampered off 25 miles in the middle of the night to the busses. Dan and Serena were part of the Mountain Milers marathon relay team, which was completed by the sprightly Heidi. Last year the” four person” team composed of just Heidi and Dan had won in a respectable 2.48. The pressure was on Serena to improve this time. The traffic lines to the busses were long and slow. The busses were full of the usual excitement – first timers, old timers, long timers and short timers. I sat next to a medical student who, like me scorned the fuss that runners make over injuries, training and magical cures. Nike has it right: “just do it.” Eventually, still before daybreak we got to the start only to find the long slow lines to the porta john, another opportunity to trade stories of marathons past, with excited newbies and gnarled oldies. Off went the gun and we ran down Oracle hill for 10 miles in perfect (half) marathon weather. Trust me good weather, downhill and only half a marathon is the way to go. You get into the massage tent early before the masseuses hands get tired and sweaty and their conversation is still jolly. The highlight of the race was a clear demonstration of the cunning that comes with old age and experience. This 30 something lady decided to pass as many competitors as possible in the last 50 yards, but I wasn’t going to be passed by a mere girl. So, much to the delight of the crowd, we charged neck and neck forward to the finish line. I saw my opportunity 10 yards before the finish line and boxed her in behind a neat young lady in pink. My rival’s cries of “foul” didn’t last long and we have a happy photo together to remember the moment. We then had an age, filled with peanut butter wraps, to wait for the awards, which were beautiful original Navajo sand paintings. Next it was the marathon relay team – Serena (an Arizona High Schools superstar), Heidi (a 2. 46 Olympic trialist) and Dan (a 2.44 marathoner) – finished in the amazing time of 2.45. That’s cooking. A three person co-ed team beating all comers by a substantial margin. There’s no answer to talent. Heidi who had just run a very fast first 14 mile leg, hung around to wait for Ken who was aiming at 3.45 to qualify for Boston. They ran the rest of the race together and Ken all bloody and smiles had 10 minutes to spare. He had worked hard for it and got what he earned. Happy, a PR and Boston bound. This promises to be the trip of the century. Greater New Bedford Track Club members, be ready for a bus load of Arizonans, and some real speedsters, with altitude training. We were now looking for the other Dan, Steve and Deb. Dan was doing his first marathon and like all first marathoner’s had fussed mightily about training and strategy. He came in at 4 something and was rewarded by a beer from the patient Julie who had had here camera focused ever since the four hour target. But as we old hands (now including Dan) know only too well the wall hits you at mile 19. The race begins at mile 20. The minutes in the bank have a way of fading away pretty quickly as the legs refuse to take orders from the addled brain. But finishing your first marathon is a memory to cherish forever. The always happy Steve had finished a few minutes earlier and Deb also on her first marathon a little while behind. Happy times. There are lots of photographic images and sand painting awards to commemorate this great day for the Mountain Milers. Then off back to Serena’s place for a shower and some lunch. Thank you Serena’s mom for your hospitality. The drive up the hill was all about Neil Diamond and Johnny Cash. Happy times.
Last Updated ( Monday, 27 April 2009 )