26 DOWN, 24 TO GO…

Rocket City Marathon, Alabama
Number of Runners: 32
Elevation: 607’
Time: 4:15:27
Weather: 68 degrees, partly cloudy

This morning was a rough one. The drive from Louisiana last night was arduous, and what sleep I did get was restless. It wasn’t easy prying myself up at sunrise to go run a marathon. But upon seeing the other runners standing on the street corner at the start of the course raring to go, my spirits lifted immediately.

A cold front had swept through the middle of the country last night, and temperatures this morning were cool, a welcomed relief from yesterday’s heat and humidity. We snapped a couple pictures at thestarting line, and things got underway. Although Huntsville is surprisingly hilly (I had thought all of Alabama was essentially flat), the marathon course follows a route that is relatively level. We passed through some historic, tree-lined neighborhoods in the cool of the morning air.

The group was a diverse one. There were experienced ultramarathoners, first-time marathoners, college students, coaches, triathletes, school teachers, and business owners, all with one thing in common, a shared passion for running. Because the course crossed several major intersections, the group really worked hard at staying together so that the Police could get us all through. For some it meant holding back their pace, and for others it meant pushing as hard as they could. Everyone was terrific in working together as a team to keep within close enough proximity so that the roaming road closures didn’t hold up traffic.

Runners today had come from Georgia, Texas, Atlanta, Mississippi, and Tennessee. A college student had driven half the night from Georgia with his girlfriend to be at the start. One of the teachers I spoke with had her entire 5th grade class following the Endurance 50, and they were so excited that their own teacher got to be a part of it!

After we crossed the finish line and exchanged hugs and high-fives, a very distinguished gentlemancame over to me and said, “Thank you for the most memorable marathon my career.” I said, “You’re welcome,” and asked him how many marathons he has run: “Over two hundred.”

Wow! My first reaction was to bow to him in admiration. Instead, I said, “Thank you for the most memorable 26 days of my life.”

It’s another long drive tonight, and it won’t be too fun. But at least now I know what Lynyrd Skynyrd meant when he wrote, “Sweet home Alabama...”

Warmest regards,
Dean

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Click here for Endurance50 pictures.
Click here for Endurance50 videos.

Comments

[Jan Larson]

Dean -

Congratulations on crossing the half-way point. You are an inspiration to runners everywhere. I'll be running with you (and 37,000 others) in New York. Continued best wishes.

Jan
Cedar Park, TX

[Patrick and Calvin]

Dean, Keep going, push on, and only run the Boston 1 time this Sunday . . .

[steve hearst]

Seems like you are floating on "Cloud 9" instead of running over 650 miles the last three weeks!

Thanks for sharing the experience with us.

Steve

"To change one's life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly. No exceptions." William James

[Brent Neill]

Dean, Congratulations on finishing 26. I'm a huge fan of yours. I think im flying over to Kentucky to run that marathon. I was really dissapointed i didnt get to run the dallas marathon with you but i had a test that day. I live in Austin so that would have been ideal, but im still trying to come to Kentucky. I hope i get to run with you, you're an inspiration to everyone.

[Bill Willcox]

Dean,

You're doing it. Unbelievable. I keep waiting to hear that you had to bow out because of an injury or something, but that never happens. Your efforts remind me of a 60-minutes piece years ago on the running monks in China, that run a marathon every morning as part of the Buddhist religion. Actually, they walk part of it, but that is beside the point. If there is a point, I guess it is that you, and the monks, are proving that the human body is capable of amazing feats of endurance. I am signed up to run in Greensboro in two weeks. It should be nice and chilly by then.

Bill Willcox
training in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

[Alexander Vero]

Amazing, I was told about this story by a friend in the British army and have just started to read your book. I find it truly inspiring as I myself have a huge goal that I am trying to achieve; to qualify to represent Great Britain at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Marathon. At the start of the year I was 16 stone a heavy drinker and could barely run for the bus. In a weeks time I am running my first Marathon in Palma, Spain and if I can go under 2hrs 45mins then I can gain the investment needed to continue the project. When I am hurting I shall think of what you are going through. Best of luck with the rest of the race, I am sure that you will make it. Please do have a look at www.theroadtobeijing.co.uk

Best Wishes

Alexander Vero

[Chris Field]

Keep on, keeping on Dean! You are more than halfway there and are inspiring people across the country to get more exercise.

Cheers.

[Nina Holliday]

I am so amazed reading this blog every day and being brought to tears. This is such an incredible story! I know there's probably a team in place that's doing public relations efforts, but I'm in marketing in Cleveland and have media connections - I'm happy to make some calls if appropriate. So excited that Dean is coming to Cleveland for the Ohio stop. I've signed up to run, although I'm planning on dropping off when we hit downtown again at the halfway point as I had an injury this summer and haven't been able to train as I normally would for a marathon. Please feel free to have someone contact me if I can help out with coverage in Cleveland.

[Lisa Samson]

I live in Boston and was planning on being on the marathon course, particularly at Heartbreak Hill, and was wondering when you are starting that day? Good luck. Lisa

[Rusty Wutkiewicz]

Hey Dean,

I've been training for the Philadelphia Marathon would love to run with you on Sunday here in Boston but I play jazz piano and have to work. I'm going to try and come see you along the course before my gig on Sunday and say "hi". Maybe I'll try and run a couple with you.

Love what you're doing!
Rusty

[Jon Elmore]

Dean, It was an honor and a pleasure to run with you in Huntsville,AL for your 26th marathon.Your book is a great read and an inspiration. I'll be using the insights that I gained from it to get me through The Mtn Masochist 50 miler on Nov 4th. I'll also be cheering you on in spirit as you run the remainder of The 50. After the 26.2 we did on the 12th, fellow runner Eric Shotz and I did an additional 12 miles up and down that mountain just east of the finish area. A 38+ mile day left me a little weary but when I got home and told my kids about my day, their excitement and enthusiasm (plus some much needed noshing) rallied my energy enough to take them to an art exhibit and outdoor picnic that night, a great recovery. Keep Running, Jon Elmore