46 DOWN, 4 TO GO…

Baltimore Marathon, Maryland
Number of Runners: 30 (filled to capacity)
Elevation: 95
Time: 3:49:40
Weather: 75 degrees, sunny

They say that running saves lives. Today it did, quite literally. We began the Baltimore Marathon this morning with a Police escort eleven strong. Our group was proceeding down a street just past the two mile mark when someone noticed smoke coming out of the window of a second story building up ahead. By the time we reached that building, flames were erupting out of the window and the heat from the fire reached us all the way in the street. We were told to dash ahead quickly and wait at the next intersection. The officers circled back and broke down the door. Rushing inside, they pulled three people out of the building, including a baby. It all happened so quickly, it was hard to make sense of what was going on.

After regrouping, we started off again, a bit shaken, but still intact. In talking with one of the officers, had they not been driving down that very street at that very time, there was likely no way they could have responded quickly enough to get those folks out of the building in time. By mere coincidence, our run had put them in the right place at the right time. Amazing start to the day.

We ran past some incredible places during the marathon, including Fort McHenry, the birthplace of our national anthem. You actually see the cannons and the place where the harbor was bombed. As we ran by, I could just envision Francis Scott Key watching, “…the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air…,” and it gave me goose bumps as we passed by.

As we ran past a local hospital, a mother of one of the runner’s was out in front taking pictures. He was a young guy, a first-time marathoner, and it ends up his brother was in the hospital with his sister-in-law, who was currently in labor. His Mom wanted to be part of both “events,” and as fate would have it, the hospital was right on the marathon course!

At mile 15, a local tavern was awaiting our arrival and had setup an aid station with water, and, get this, samples of beer. About half the runners partook. If you’ve got to get down the carbohydrates, I guess that’s one way to do it.

The Baltimore Marathon finishes at M&T Bank Stadium (Camden Yards). As we made our way down the final stretch, the streets were busy and crowded with people watching us run by. Someone yelled, “Why are you running?” One of the runners yelled back, “Because we can.” Everyone on the street applauded and cheered his response. Even though most of them were clearly not runners, I think they got the gist of his comeback.

At the finish, I was talking with one of the runner’s who had originally planned on doing the half, but decided to try the full marathon at the midpoint, and made it! I asked him if he had learned anything from the experience. “Yeah,” he said, “I learned that limitations are between my ears.” Today he turned off that part of his mind that says, “I can’t,” and just put one foot in front of the other, and did.

We also got some exciting news at the finish, our other first-time marathoner had just become an uncle! His sister-in-law delivered about the exact same time he completed his first marathon. I would say his Mom was one proud lady today. He was so excited to get his book and finishers certificate signed so he could dash over to the hospital.

I was honored to have the opportunity to meet the gifted athletes of the Special Olympics, Maryland at the finish. They were the most spirited and enthusiastic bunch I could ever imagine, and we joked and told stories about sports, and about life. They had been tracking on the Endurance 50 over the past 46 days, and they wished me all the best in completing the remaining four marathons.

It was another day to relish. The other runners were absolutely terrific, and their positive energy and passion will help carry me far. Best wishes to you all, and keep going strong. Why? Because you can.

Dean

P.S. The “finish party” in New York City will be on November 5th from 12:00-4:00 PM. The location is at The North Face retail store: 2101 Broadway (at 73rd), New York, (not far from the NYC Marathon finish). Phone number: 212-362-1000

All Endurance 50 participants (at any of the 50 marathons across the country), guests and fans are welcomed. So please swing by if you can. We’d love to see you!

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

Comments

[Rob (coach) Woodliff]

Dean power!!!
Saved a baby Your Running love. What a daddy --- you should be a god father now! I have never heard of a runner group saving anything. Dean power will most likely save millions before you die and way after. Who knows what you started world wide.
Runner Ghandi --- He fasted and you run. What a pair you two would have made. Freedom
is movement of thought. May joy of play bring much happiness on your way to NYC.

[Lisa Melrose]

How utterly inspired I am by Dean's endurance. It's amazing how one can motivate a complete stranger by his example and his outlook on fitness.

Thank you. And, may God heal that beaten body of yours.

[Albert Martens]

Hi Dean

I am so glad that you are still running strong. I couldn't check the Blog for about 12 days, because I was hiking in the Grand Canyon. So today I just read all your Blog postings, and I am so encouraged by your determination and great example.
A few things I notice is that you write about the other runners a lot and that is so special and unselfish of you. Also I notice that there are many marathon first timers in your presence.
A very nice thing that I notice is that you always write and say positive things, especially when the going is rough, you always are determined to see the good things in life. You are a sensitive and thankful person.
Your running trip reminds me very much of my fund-raising run across Germany many years ago.
Love to have you come speak in Canada
Read my favorite verses in the bible: Isaiah 40: 28-30
Have a great GRAND RUN IN in NY on Nov. 5th. I wish I could be there.
Albert
AIA Manitoba
Canada

[fe-lady]

Great story! Glad the police and fire fighters could respond so quickly! Thanks to you and your running community!
Yeah for Special needs kids! I love them!

[Eugene Kossoy]

Dean, I started following your progress in utter disbelief as I have just read in a book how hard it can be on your body to prepare for a marathon and you are running 50 of them! I have to say, over the course of last 46 marathons you have become a big inspiration for me just like for many other people around the world. The determination that carries you through this is incredible and the warm-hearted attitude you keep shows an example of how we should tame our tempers.

I suppose you are not inclined to talk about the physical impact the marathons have on you, but it is very interesting! From the blog it looks like you can run just as many marathons as you have finished, but sure you have to feel differently from what it was in the beginning. Would you please say a few words on how you are taking it, or perhaps you are just saving the story for after the last one? The best of luck to you, Dean, and please, keep running!

Eugene Kossoy, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

[Patrick abd Calvin]

Now that your adventure is almost over, we have been thinking. What to do Monday with no more cell phone updates, no more Dean blogs? Guess we and everyone else who followed this will just have to get out and run. Thanks for the inspiration Dean. Thany you very much, you have taught us much over the last few weeks. We have learned the ultimate for the ultimate runner. NEVER SAY NEVER ! ! !

[Adam Armstrong]

Hey Dean. Im a XC runner, im 13. im #1 on my team and ur my inspiration. Everytime i think im gonna give up i think of u and i continue on. I wanted to run with you when u come to NJ on sat, but i have a race, sorry. Good luck dean, maybe ill find u sometime and ill get to run with you

adam

[Tonie Quigley]

Dean, what an inspiration you are to so many. Do you think it was a coincident that people were saved from that fire today? Or that the mother of the first time marathon runner got to be with both of her sons in two seperate events? I think it was "The God Factor". God at work in our lives. We are capable of so much, but with the "God Factor" in place we are capable of so MUCH MORE. Thank you for showing us that we are capable of more than we know.

tonie quigley, sonoma county, california

[Debra, LA California]

Dean,
Congrats on completing the endurance 50, I truly wish I could have ran with you. You are my running inspiration, I think that you are a truely amazing human being!

Wishing you some well deserved rest and recovery and a safe run back home!!

From Los Angeles, CA I'll keep running!!!

[Linda]

An excellent race report - there's seldom some much drama in a remote fell race (my usual gig). Sounds like an episode or ER or something!!