Fake a marathon finish?

I'm soooo behind the times, I know, but my group of athletes is still talking about the Biggest Loser debacle with Dane, last week's kicked off contestant, who a few days later, was in a photo depicting him crossing the finish line of an Arizona marathon with his wife.

The apology and story that is coming out does not add up. How do you get picked up at mile 17 because you won't make the six hour cutoff, get dropped at mile 20, and be seen crossing the line at - what first appeared 3:53 because of shot lightbulbs - 5:53? There is no way going only 3 miles put you 7 minutes under the cutoff. You would need to be driven further.

When my husband and I watched last week's show, recorded on our trusty DVR, we were shocked - SHOCKED, I tell you - that he finished in 3:53. Man, did I feel like a total slow poke. Although we were both shocked and amazed, we attributed it to his past athletic prowess, and his wife's seemingly in shape body.

Nonetheless, it was actually 5:53. Whew. But, then you skip out on 3 miles and say you feel good about what you did because you went back and ran the other 3. How is that completing a marathon? Granted, that is remarkable that you did 26 miles in one whole day, but I can go run two half marathons, one in the morning and the other in the evening, and still not complete a marathon. And you're not going to give the medal back, and apologize because you don't know "runner's etiquette" but feel you accomplished something great and don't feel the need to be stripped of the medal (which by the way was given to him from the race director even though they knew he was driven 3 miles)???

Unfortunately, Dane was a cool guy, and I think he got cut early and for the wrong reason (it was obvious the blue team didn't know how to play the game - Dane will KEEP YOU FROM CUTTING ANY MORE TEAM MEMBERS!).

What NBC should have done, instead of the field producer worried about getting a shot before the race closed, was pay the race director a little extra moolah that NBC has lying around and keep the race open and keep the time rolling. And, couldn't special effects fill in the dots where the missing lightbulbs should have been so there wasn't a two-hour time confusion? I mean really...

13.1 miles and counting

Half our gang in the start chute. I started with our marathoners.

Mile 8.5ish. Still moving strong!

Done! And enjoying a nice post-race beer.

13.1 miles done at this year's Dallas White Rock Half Marathon. And boy, am I happily surprised with my performance!

2006 time: 2.04.40
2008 time: 2.06.02


1 minute, 22 seconds separated me from a PR - with no training! Now, I'm not condoning racing without training, but ccan I please get a high five for that? My body can carry me 13 miles at a 9.37 pace with hardly any training....and I'm still moving. :)

The race course did change for the half - I wasn't too thrilled with it as much as years before, but it still worked. I did miss running the last few miles on Swiss Avenue, seeing downtown come into view; instead, I got view of Katy Trail and bushes on either side, not knowing where the end was coming. It made it for a dreary last 5k.

Weather - um, was it May in Dallas today? It was in the 60s, sunny at the end. Beautiful day for running - however, we all could have done without the 20+ mph gusts of wind! Definitely took some energy out of everyone and made it difficult for PRing (so maybe I did actually PR!).

Congrats to everyone who did the half and the full today! Great day and thanks to my hubby for following us all around, cheering us on and taking photos. It was very easy to spot you in your helmet and bike gear. :)

Women's Olympic marathon trials

I need to do a post on this. The women's Olympic marathon trials were yesterday and of course, Deena Kastor is the victor! What an amazing athlete and runner.

I was cheering on for Desiree Ficker, pro triathlete who qualified for the Trials in Austin last year. She looked amazing and had a great finish, but didn't make it. Bryon's upset...

There was also a girl on our relay team running, Heidi, who also qualified and ran in the Trials. It'll be pretty neat to get to talk with her about her experience and how cool it felt to be so close to something so big as the Olympics.

So cool!

101-year-old finishes first marathon

So he's the oldest person to ever finish a marathon, this was his first marathon - and he fuels himself with 8 pints of beer and 14 cigarettes a day!



If only I get to continue being active half as long as he has (but in healthier ways)!