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Blog Entry 154 of 623 What's Going On
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HubCap: Regular people run, too

Contributed by: Brendan Leonard/YourHub.com   on 10/16/2006

Phillip Blecker had to start his running career over after a race left him with achilles tendonitis three years ago. After physical therapy and training, he was able to finish the Denver Half Marathon on Oct. 15 in an hour and 24 minutes, which is pretty fast by racing standards, and like lightning by my standards.

I don't consider myself a runner. Oh yeah, I run a few times a week, but I'm just kind of dabbling in the running world. I heave myself up the hill in Cheesman Park a few times a week and wish I was faster, more nimble and weighed less, but I don't get to bent up about it because there aren't a lot of people watching me run at 5:30 in the morning. I enjoy punishing myself in this way, and because of my love of pain, I was able to start and finish the first ever (but last ever for Brendan) Colorado Colfax Marathon this past May.

I subscribe to the school of thought made famous by John "The Penguin" Bingham, a former couch potato who started running at the age of 43 and has now finished 40 marathons. Bingham writes "The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start." From his writings, I gather that Bingham is a guy kind of like me, who knows all the elite runners at the front of the pack are going to finish an hour or two ahead of him. And he doesn't care.

Guys like Phillip Blecker are tough as nails and have all my respect, but I think there aremore of us Penguin-type folks out there than there are guys like him. I'm running in the Denver Gorilla Run on Oct. 28, and I'm more worried about what kind of costume I'm going to throw on over my gorilla suit than I am about what place I'm going to finish the race.

The Gorilla Run is a fun run, and there are dozens of these kinds of events out there. If you're taking part in the Scream Scram,the Turkey Trotor any other run/walk for charity or fun, post a photo of yourself after you've crossed the finish line. Or, take a photo of yourself beforehand if you don't think you look your best when you're all sweaty and disheveled.
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Showing 1-3 of 3 comments
Submitted By: karla schultz
posted on 10/17/2006 @ 5:23:02 PM
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I feel your pain... I can't even run a mile without slumping over from a side cramp. Great story!
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Submitted By: Phillip Blecker
posted on 10/17/2006 @ 1:06:25 PM
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Brendan makes a good point; there are more of the Penguin type folks out there than folk like myself. I feel fortunate that I was able to discover my talent early in life and that I was able to develop it to the point I’m at now. There was one lesson I learned in high school cross country so many years ago that has stuck with me more than anything else. It is the regular folk that really make the heart of the race. Without the regular people, there would be no cheering crowds out in the streets at 8:00 A.M. Without the regular people there would be no tales of endurance and overcoming. Granted, the fast people make the race interesting, but you won’t see them dressed in costume and you don’t usually see the crowds chasing after them. I guess what I’m trying to say here and what I usually tell people about running is, don’t be afraid to run because you can’t keep up with me. There will always be someone faster out there. Do it for yourself and the triumph and fun will come naturally.
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Submitted By: Bill Boucher
posted on 10/16/2006 @ 10:47:16 PM
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I still say evolution is the way to go.
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