13 DOWN, 37 TO GO…

City of Trees Marathon, Idaho
Number of Runners: 18 (the group swelled to 31 people at one point, plus a dog).
Elevation: 2,659’
Time: 4:08:51
Weather: 75 degrees, clear

I’m not overly suspicious, but the number 13 has a certain aura surrounding it. I woke up this morningthe sorest I’ve been since the beginning, hopeful that this was just a coincidence and not related to the 13th marathon. Then I did a radio interview in which the host asked how far my marathon would be today? When I responded that all marathons are 26.2 miles, he asked if today would be my longest. Weird.

But the second I walked outside and smelled the fresh Idaho air, I knew things would go well today, despite the oddities this morning and it being marathon #13. There were 18 terrific runners waiting at the start, one of which I had just met last night and she decided at three in the morning to join us. There was a runner from San Francisco that had flown out, a runner from New Mexico, and a runner that had traveled from Alabama to run with the group.

With a boisterous sendoff from the crowd, we headed off down Main Street through the central section of town. There was plenty of diversity in the crowd today, from some younger ultrarunners, to some seasoned marathon veterans, to a Minister who was running his first marathon. Our armed forces have been well represented throughout the Endurance 50, and today we had an esteemed member of the Special Forces running with us.

The course proceeded through some beautiful, tree-lined residential districts that shaded the road and helped keep temperatures lower. There was almost no wind whatsoever, so the air warmed quickly as the day wore on. We moved along at a comfortable pace, the group holding together through the halfway point, swapping stories and sharing laughs. At just past mile sixteen and at mile twenty, a couple neat things happened. The following commentary comes from an email the Race Director, Jeff Ulmer, sent to the Endurance 50 event manager, Jim Anderson (Jeff, I hope it’s okay to use this):

"Jim,

That was one of the coolest events I have been involved with… Two things that hit me during the Boise event.

1) It was the 13th race, we ran down 13th street, to one of my running groups favorite hangouts, Lucky13 Pizza. Everyone stopped running and stood by the Lucky 13 sign in their #13 bibs and Deans #13 singlet, and snapped a group photo, awesome!

2) Dean was high fiveing, shaking hands, and talking to kids along the course, but at mile twenty there was a group of Catholic school kids waiting for him who were on a field trip just to see him. They were all standing kind of in a half-circle awaiting his arrival. He ran over and got down on one knee so he was eye to eye with them and they immediately closed ranks around him and were slapping hands, reaching out just to touch him or pat him on the back. It was a wonderful moment, I looked over at my friend who was in my jeep with me, and her eyes were welled up, I asked her if she was making fun of me and she said no I was just checking to make sure you were seeing the same thing I was seeing. Yep my eyes were already teary. Very cool, very touching, and something I will always remember."

At the finish, my daughter and son were holding the ribbon across the line, and we runners ran through hand-in-hand, united as one. Jeff, my eyes were teary too. It was another remarkable moment that I feel blessed to have shared with a terrific group of uplifting and positive individuals. Running brought us together, and the spirit that we shared out on the road today—the highs, the lows, the struggles and the triumphs—formed a bond between us that will last forever.

Inspired in Idaho,
Dean

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Comments

[Paul K. Lindauer]

Congratulations on another fine day, Dean...I wish I could have run with you today here in Boise, but I could NOT get out of work. Oh well, thanks for the continuing updates and I will continue to follow your great progress. I wish you good luck with all of your diverse endeavors and hope to see you on the trails someday...

[Tim FitzGerald]

Dean...I read your book and it was amazing. I am a very athletic father and die hard soccer player who is past his prime...I am 38 and have always wanted to run a marathon but my knees won't let me train the miles required. Playing on grass is much easier on my knees. I log in every night to see how your day was. I think you are incredible. The so called athletes that play pro sports could NEVER keep up with you. You deserve all the rewards life brings you, financially as well. Where is NIKE during all this? They should sponsor you to the likes of Labron James, Tiger Woods and Payton Manning; because what you are doing dwarfs their abilities...best of luck and I wish you well.

Tim

[christi feeter]

Thank you dean for your beautiful blessings to Dave Ames...he has been one of my closest friends since 7th grade and didn't even know you knew him till last night at the fundraiser....thank you so much for your contribution...all the Feeters say hello to you by the way - and wish you well...we are still sailing as a family - i have a house on molokai - and my parents are down the road...clay and kurt say hello...dave's illness has been a gravitational pull for us all - thank you so much - and I hope i can be there to see you cross the line with dave -- he is truly one of those happy - wonderful people in the world...thank you...christi

[Bill Willcox]

Way to keep going Dean. I have signed up to run with you in Greensboro. I am a watered down version of yourself on the East Coast. I run about 12 miles every morning with my dog. I am running to raise money for a friend who had a stroke. Your book was very, very inspirational and I thank you for it.

[Heather Griffith]

Isn't it so wonderful that no day of running is ever exactly the same! Who could ever bore of the sport! It is even more wonderful that the longer you run, the more you can experience in one day! You're doing so great out there, and having so much fun. Reading your blog about each marathon is so delightful! I think it is not how much we work toward something, but how much we love doing it...and that if we really love doing something (like running) it is not work at all, it is life!

[ernie resillez]

Dean..incredible. You are an animal. You inspire those thats just start out and people like me that have done marathons for 20 years and want to do something hard core.

HARD CORE...DEAN

HARD CORE.

ERNIE...CHICAGO, ILL

[Alex Burnet]

Dean,

I've been reading our columns and reading of your exploits for some time now. I am running my first marathon next week...and just wanted to say you are a huge inspiration to me, and i'll be thinking of the pain your legs must be feeling as I ignore the pain in mine (you'll be on day 23!).

Thanks

Alex in Ottawa, Canada

[Peter]

Enjoy the Portland Marathon and your brief stay in the Rose City this Sunday!

[steve hearst]

I can't wait for the Dean Wave to come to Ohio!!!
I am glad that there is a documentary being filmed make sure that some of the comments from this blog are included.
These are as inspirational as the Endurance50.
Dean, thanks for the avenue to share this run with you.

[Brian Harvey]

Hey Dean,

I hope all is well. Your stories are rocking! I'm looking forward to one of your "shorter marathons" to join you on. ;) My current long run is 17 miles, ramping up for the Big Sur International.

Good Wishes,

Brian

[Jen Pugh]

Dean - I'm sorry that you are coming to Indiana 3 days after my first marathon. Thanks for being a great role model, and for making the world see how awesome you are. Rock on... I'll be cheering for you.

Jen - Greenwood, IN

[Blake Austin]

Dean,
Thanks for putting the run together on Friday. It was a great day. I read your book on the way home and found it inspiring, not only for the accomplishments, but for your perseverence. We are out here pulling for you. May God bless you and your family.

Blake from Alabama

[Rebecca]

Dean,

Maybe the radio host was thinking of the Chicago Lakeshore Marathon in 2005, the one where the official course ended up being 27.2 miles instead of 26.2!

-Rebecca