Dunn’s Daily upDates (December)
December 1 - Friday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 191 of 200
Location: Tampa, Florida
Temperature: 49 / 69
Weather Conditions: Cool in the morning, pleasantly warm after the sun came up.
Running Time: 5:11
Road Finds: 3 cents....all before dawn.
Comments: Here we go.....the last venue; the last round-up; the last 10.
Today of course was another 1st day on a new course, and since this is a new marathon, I was the 1st person to run it. One of the race staff drove me around the course yesterday, so I had very little difficulty finding my way around. I did miss one turn that had me running on a road that was one way in the opposite direction, which of course we could not drive on yesterday. I caught it early, and only added about a 1/4 mile. There's also construction at McDill Air Base at the gate where we will enter next Sunday, but until then, I need to talk a 1/2 mile detour to get on and off base. But I was aware of this minor change, and it caused no confusion.
The course begins at the Ice Palace, in downtown Tampa. It does a loop around Davis Island, and then backtracks back past the Ice Palace, and loops around a portion of the downtown streets, ending up back on Bayshore Drive. The course then hugs the coast line all the way down to McDill, does a loop around the base, and then back up the coast to the finish.
It's a very pretty course. It's flat, (which I don't like all that much, because there are no hills to WALK. It will be good for the "racers".
One interesting piece of trivia -- the sidewalk that runs along the coast on Bayshore is the longest continuous sidewalk in the world. (I'm guessing that it's about 4+ miles.) And while we're on trivia, I have a personal piece. When I reached mile 24 today, I hit 5,000 miles for the year.
I've been excited for the last few days about getting this last segment started, and I assumed that that excitement might translate into faster times, but as you can see from my 5:11 posting, my legs weren't as excited as my head. I do plan to "put it all on the line on the 10th, and see if I can run a 4:15, which would be my fastest of the year. That doesn't look too likely to happen, but who knows what this old bod can do in the "Grand Finale".
I'm having mixed emotions about the end of this incredible odyssey. The positive side of course, is that I will be dunn. I will have completed my mission. I will have established a record -- "unofficial" as it may be. The down side, is that after investing 2 years of my life in the planning, organizing and execution of this "once-in-a-lifetime" experience.....what next? I of course have some plans, but those plans do not come close to the magnitude of what I will finish on the 10th.
After I finished my 104 in '93, I had to deal with a bit of "crash and burn", but given that, I think I will be able to deal with this "let down" more easily. I guess that remains to be seen.
Anyway, I AM glad to be in the "home stretch", and I'm going to savor the moment/last days.
Later.
***
December 2 - Saturday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 192 of 200
Location: Tampa, Florida
Temperature: 51 / 74
Weather Conditions: Gorgeous.
Running Time: 5:17
Road Finds: 11 cents. A dime and a penny, both found pre-dawn again. Reflecting off the street lights.
Comments: The first 1/2 mile I felt like and old man with wooden legs. The next mile and half, I just felt like an old man. Finally after about 5 miles I felt like Jerry -- middle-aged, and sore. My quads, as they say, were SCREAMING. I got them to quiet down a little bit, but I could never silence them completely.
There were a lot of other runners out today, and that made for some diversion. I ran with a couple of guys who were beginning their taper week for Sunday's HOPS marathon. One of them was a first timer, and the other hadn't run a marathon since 1984. They seemed to be ready, both physically and mentally.
After the run, I lunch with Alex and his mom. Alex is a 9 year old boy who had done a telephone interview with me a couple of weeks ago, for the St. Pete Times. He is part of a program that has students learning how to write for a newspaper. Alex found my web site, and thought I would make an interesting subject for his current assignment. (It should run Monday).
Now I'm watching college basketball, and just chillin' out. Well, I guess I'm "warming'" out...I'd be chillin' out if I were back home in S.Dak.
Even as close as I am to finishing up, I still find myself needing to take it one day at a time. I still have 8 to go, and they each have to be done individually.....there's no magic carpet to transport me to next Sunday. Actually, I need to savor each and every one of these Last Days.....that's made more difficult w/o having fresh legs, but I'll see what I can do.
Stay tuned.
***
December 3 - Sunday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 193 of 200
Location: Tampa, Florida
Temperature: 55 /71
Weather Conditions: Foggy, cool, slight wind.....a good day for running.
Running Time: 5:28
Road Finds: A day with no coins. or anything else.
Comments: SUNDAY - a day of rest. I ran my 193rd today, but I'm going to take a break from the Update today.
Check in tomorrow.
Jerry
***
December 4 - Monday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 194 of 200
Location: Tampa, Florida
Temperature: 40 / 47
Weather Conditions: COLD. They say the wind chill was about 37. A little cool on these skinny old legs.
Running Time: 5:42
Road Finds: 20 cents. 2 dimes...after sunrise for a change.
Comments: I had to modify my route a bit today, to accommodate the media. I did the Davis Island loop, and the downtown loop, plus 2, which put me at 10 miles when I met Russell to do the first "hit". Russell then ran about 2 1/2 miles with me. We ran out to the farthest point on David Island, where we did another "live" hit. We parted ways, and I finished that Davis Island loop; another downtown loop, and then one more circuit of both.
It was cold enough for gloves today -- is this Florida? But, being the well prepared traveler-runner that I am, I DID have a pair gloves with me. This looks like a fast moving front, so tomorrow should be back to normal.
I was asked again today if I have actually absorbed the magnitude of what I'm about to accomplish....my answer, "yes, and probably not." Having run 104 in '93, I DO have an idea of what I've done, BUT I do think that when I've had a few weeks to reflect, I'm going to have a different perspective on 200 IN 2000.
In just a few minutes I will be getting together with one of my old friends from Florida. I haven't seen Steve in almost 20 years, and it's going to be very interesting....2 former "users" who have both cleaned up their acts. It'll be one of those "good old days, but look where we are now" kind of conversations.
Later
***
December 5 - Tuesday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 195 of 200
Location: Tampa, Florida
Temperature: 54 / 63
Weather Conditions: Cloudy until about 10:00, and then the Florida sunshine appeared.
Running Time: 5:13
Road Finds: 1 cent.
Comments: Forgot to mention this yesterday, but I've found the Dunkin' Donut shop. I have to take a quick exit from the freeway, about half way from my motel to downtown, but it's worth it. I need that coffee and donut before I run. So anyway, I stopped there again today, and was still able to push the start button at 5:30 AM.
Maybe it's eagerness to get the final day, but I've been starting early every day this week.
I also modified my route a bit this morning -- I ran the downtown loop first; then the Davis Island loop; and then headed down Bayshore to MacDill A.F.B. and back. A little variety.
My legs felt somewhat better today. I came up with one possible solution for the leg pain.....new shoes. I've worn new shoes, right out of the box, on other occasions this year, but never on 3 consecutive days. (A new pair every day for the 1st 3 days here in Tampa). Yesterday, and today, the shoes I wore, had 26.2 miles on them. So maybe it wasn't a good idea to bring "only" new shoes with me. I mean, the soreness couldn't be due to too many miles so far this year....could it?
What ever's going on, I feel better today, and I hope the rest of the week goes at least as well as today.
Elaine arrives tomorrow night, and she and I will go to Fort Meyers to pick up my mom on Thursday. Friday and Saturday will be jam packed with activities, both marathon related and family related, and then the Big Day, Sunday, will be upon us.
Stay with me.....we're almost there.
Jerry
***
December 6 - Wednesday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 196 of 200
Location: Tampa, Florida
Temperature: 51 / 65
Weather Conditions: Another great day in Tampa Bay.
Running Time: 5:15
Road Finds: 1 cent.
Comments: I started out feeling the best I've felt all week. That translated into a fast first half marathon, but when I turned around and headed back up the coast, into the wind, I slowed considerably, and ended up with the same old 5 plus time.
Things are beginning to happen on the course in preparation for Sunday. Barricades; finish area tents; and port a-johns are all being set up.
Last night I went to the sponsors banquet. I met a number of interesting business persons, and, I learned many of the behind-the-scenes challenges that the race committee faced in the process of putting together a new marathon.
I also had an opportunity to say a few words at the banquet, which I of course was eager to do, because it gave me the chance to thank Susan and her staff at Gasparilla Distance
Classic Association. They have been extremely helpful and hospitable.
Well, I'm gonna take a nap so I can stay awake until 10:40 when Elaine arrives.
FOUR MORE ---- YES!
Jerry
***
December 7 - Thursday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 197 of 200
Location: Tampa, Florida
Temperature: 49 / 66
Weather Conditions: Beautiful
Running Time: 5:13
Road Finds: nada.
Comments: After having taken a nap yesterday afternoon, so that I could stay up late enough to pick up Elaine, I had trouble sleeping last night. And since we have to drive to N. Fort Meyers this morning to pick up my mom, I just got up early, and started running at just after 4....nice having over half the course done by the time the sun came up.
So Elaine and I are off for a little road trip, after we get some food, and hopefully it will warm up enough to put the top down on the car.
Later
***
December 8 - Friday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 198 of 200
Location: Tampa, Florida
Temperature: 57 /71
Weather Conditions: Outstanding!
Running Time: 5:21
Road Finds: 10 cents. In the middle of a major intersection....which always amazes me. How did this money get here?
Comments: Having moved into our new "digs" at the Hyatt Regency, downtown, Elaine and I were able to walk to the start line. Elaine did the Davis Island loop with me, then came back and picked up the car and "crewed" for me the rest of the day. I love having her as my support team.
Now I'm off to pick up my other lady, my mom, who has never been to one of my marathons before, so I'm gonna show her the whole experience. I will start by taking her to the Press Conference this afternoon; then off to the expo, for a little shopping with Elaine, while I work in the Endurox R4 booth; then out to dinner at the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City. That should give her a good idea of what my life has been like for the past year.
Stay tuned....more tomorrow. Things are pretty hectic here this weekend, so the full report may have to wait until next week.
Later
Jerry
***
December 9 - Saturday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 199 of 200
Location: Tampa, Florida
Temperature: 54 /73
Weather Conditions: As George Sheehan once said; "Sweating is the only way to get clean from the inside, out."
Running Time: 5:14
Road Finds: 2 cents, AND, a tennis ball at 22 miles. I kicked it for over three miles. Haven't had that much fun since the Flying Pig course in Cincinnati in May.
Comments: The human body, and the mind, and the human Spirit are inextricably intertwined, and today I am so very thankful, to God, that I have made it to the eve of completion of this self imposed test of MY body, mind and spirit. To say it's been an incredible year is inadequate. To say it's been a successful year is an understatement. So when I figure out how to describe how I feel, I will. But for now, suffice it to say......Hallelujah....and AMEN.
Jerry
***
December 10 - Sunday
200 IN 2000 Day Number: 200 of 2001
Location: Tampa, Florida
Temperature: 60 / 80
Weather Conditions: Hot!
Running Time: 4:05:30
Road Finds: Speed.
Comments: It is over. I ran like the wind.....wind being a relative term. More tomorrow, and in the near future.
Thank you all, for your prayers, love and support.
Jerry — AMERICA'S MARATHON MAN
***
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