Let me start by saying this was an incredible running experience. But the MC200 is much more than that. It is a people experience. The running part is great, but you are really only running 1/12th of the time you are out there. The really fun part is being a member of a team. It's not something I have done in running since college. But with this, most of the teams are not so much competing, as they are just enjoying the experience.
If you have ever trained for a marathon, you have probably done a long run of around 20 miles. As you know, it's challenging, but you get through it. Well, as I think about the MC200 we participated in over the weekend, I realize my total mileage was less than that. I ran about 18 miles, and it was split up into three runs. A piece of cake right? Well, the challenge here was doing it when you've been awake for (basically) 36 hours straight, and you've been sitting in a cramped van for most of that time.
This is what relay distance running is all about. It was an odd and unique experience. Even though I have run this relay before, the experience this time around was memorable for many reasons. First of all it was a joy to run with 11 other people who came together as a team for this event.
We were the media team: 11 members of the Chicago broadcast and print media (and one staffer from Runner's World Magazine) brought together by our love of running, and challenges. Team captain Amy Freeze knew none of us when she invited us to join the relay. But after spending lots of quality time driving from one transfer area to the next, and waiting for the next runner to arrive, we got to know each other pretty well.
I want to share some of the highlights, to go along with some of the many pictures.
Our team had it's share of heroes. One is Tom Negovan from WGN. The night before the run, his station sent him to Washington to interview Barack Obama. He agreed to go, but insisted the return flight be to Madison the next day, so he could join the team in time for his first relay leg. We, in the second van, picked him up at the airport while the first van began the race. Tom ran the 6th leg and made it to the transfer area just in time. He ran, on very little sleep, but kept his commitment to the team. We really appreciated it.
Then there is Dina Bair. She was our lead off runner, pictured with my wife Christine, and Amy Freeze. Dina took off first, and promptly got lost in Madison neighborhoods, where the course markings were a bit confusing. She added a little distance to the run, but was most concerned about letting the team down. Little did she realize that letting us down was impossible. Our only expectation was to finish. It was only later that we learned Dina put serious health issues on the back burner to do this run, rather than disappoint her teammates. We would have understood Dina, but we are now your biggest fans, and praying for you.
Amy Freeze from Fox-32 was our team hero. She not only brought us together, but planned virtually everything. She even got sponsors who donated shoes (Nike), clothes and equipment (Fleet Feet), Food (Dominicks) and a number of other items. She was tireless, and even took on some of the most difficult legs of the relay for herself.
Bart Yasso from Runner's World called Amy a 5 star captain. Bart should know. He's
organized teams, and races, like this for years. But for this race, I call him a 5 star teammate. He ran whatever leg we asked of him despite not having run in the previous week because of illness. He entertained us with stories from his amazing running career. And he encouraged and inspired us to run our best with good advice. If you get a chance to read his book, I highly recommend it. And watch the interview I did with him in my last blog entry.
Most everyone made sacrifices to be part of our team. Gail Fischer had not been home since early in the week because she was traveling for work. I didn't even realize that until the relay was just about over, because she never said a word about it. And Ramblin' Ray Stevens got a shot in his knee the
day before, just so he could join us. He made it with no problem. He is pictured getting a hand-off from Phil Schwarz. Phil ran his three legs, slept a couple hours in the van, and then went to work, where he was busy with severe weather all night.
And then there was my wife, Christine. She ran her 3 legs, totaling 15 miles, with no problem. That includes the 6.5 miler in the near 90 degree heat, despite having a baby four months ago. Yeah, there's no question about the strong one in our relationship.
I've done hundreds of races over the years. Most are individual performances, and the satisfaction I get from completing them is really a selfish one. It's all about me. Not this time. My runs were fun, but the satisfaction was about being part of a team that managed to run continuously from Madison, through Milwaukee, to Chicago. We put endured the same sleep deprivation that the other 102 teams did, and ran through extreme heat, darkness, and rain storms. And along the way, we developed a little more respect and
admiration for each other.
The picture here is of the finish. I got the last leg, and was soaking wet, and anxious to be done after being held up for an extra two hours by course marshalls concerned about the weather. They stopped us just before I got the baton for the final leg. Those momentary frustrations evaporated quickly though as we took one final picture with the remaining teammates at the finish line. We got our medals, yes. But more importantly, we got lasting memories of a really wonderful experience.
On the way back after we were done, Amy started talking about how we
could do even better next year. I'm sure that's possible, but right now I'm not ready to think about it. Right now, I want to congratulate my teammates, 11 of the nicest, most down to earth media people you are ever going to find in Chicago. Congratulations also to all the other teams along the way. Each one had stories equally as memorable I'm sure. That's why we do it. And that's why we'll probably be back next year.