Run Into Fall Marathon

Earlier this summer, Endorphin Dude met his match. The marathon caped crusader got struck from behind by his nefarious nemesis, Battle Star Sciatica! Out of nowhere, this evil villain shot vicious venom straight into the Endorphin L4 lumbar, knocking E-Dude out of the race and rendering his right leg unconscious. No amount of endorphins could save him, and sadly, Endorphin Dude had no choice but to cower in the corner and watch his Titanium dream quickly slip away.

Being on the injured reserved list is no fun, and E-Dude had to drop out of eight races to recover.  He tried everything to reverse that pernicious affliction. He consumed large quantities of drugs. He visited a man in a white coat who cracked his bones. He allowed a cortisone specialist to stick a very big needle in his back. Nothing seemed to work, and with nothing else to lose, Endorphin Dude consulted the wise old Chinese man. This pins and needles guru from the Far East instructed E-Dude to let his aura free and allow the needles to push the evil sciatic intruder out. Sure enough, it worked. Acupuncture did wonders for this running super hero, and now he's back on that Titanium track!

TAKE THAT!  Endorphin Dude shoots down the Battle Star Sciatica!  HA!

I don't believe in giving up, and I was not going to let this injury knock me out of contention.  Reaching my Titanium goal is still very much in the cards, but it's going to be much more challenging now.  Because I was knocked out for a few weeks, I now have to cram in a few doubles and triples between now and the end of the year.  First up is the 65.5 mile weekend: Run Into Fall Marathon on Saturday, Disneyland Half Marathon on Sunday, and the Labor Day Marathon on Monday.  How apropos that this should happen this weekend, as these three days will be quite laborious!

First up is the Run Into Fall Marathon, which took place in Lake Forest, CA. I ran this exact same course a few weeks ago at the Run The Forest Marathon, so I didn't mind the darkness of my 3am start.  I did mind the fatigue, but that goes with the territory.  I thought I was the first one out there, but sure enough, fellow Marathon Maniac Jo Jo Starbucks took a 1am start!  I felt good knowing that I had company out there because the first few hours in the dark were not too fun.  I kept myself entertained by taking photos. I suppose that probably doesn't come as a shock to many of you.

You think I'm crazy for starting at 3am? Jo Jo Starbucks was out there at 1am!

"Jo Jo Starbucks says to turn." I love it. Even in the dark, I couldn't miss this.

I kept hearing rustling in the bushes. I sure hope it was rabbits and not crazy homeless people ready to pounce!

I've come to realize that I really do need people around.  I am a social runner and being alone out there made me go a little nuts. Talking to myself took me only so far.  Fortunately, the three hours in dark flew by fairly quickly, and by about 6:30am, other runners appeared. By then, I had finished a little more than half of the 26.2 miles. I headed back to the start line for a quick meet and greet and I took off for my second half with everyone.

Endorophin Dude and The Manimal, Wayne Sherman.

There's Todd Hine and his wife.

Sally and her dad Harold, both Maniacs. I love seeing these two.

Deo!

I first met Cyndie the week before in Santa Rosa. Now we're buds!

It took me a little over 7 hours to finish this marathon. I walked most of the 26.2 miles. I figured, I still had 39.3 miles to complete over the next two days, so why stress out my body out. It doesn't matter how slow it takes me to Titanium, as long as I get there. With this Run Into Fall Marathon, I am now more than halfway there. Woo Hoo!