My 40th official race of the year (since I did a Double in Cabo that I am not counting) is the Clarksburg half marathon next Sunday.  So this was going to be an easy weekend.  However, I did think I would get in some extra miles this week.  I have felt I had lost some of my conditioning along the way.

My best friend from high school (Dave Zimmerman in the middle) was in town.  He came in Saturday morning and we spent the morning interviewing him for our movie.  He was there when I started Distance Running News.  In fact, he was the person I first told that I was starting a running magazine.  He had so many memories to share and in fact he got Michael jazzed up.  So jazzed up that Michael suggested the next morning that he and I do the 32 Mile Relay to the Ocean we once did about 10 years back. 

Our relay works like this.  One person drives the car while the other is running.  Then we tag off and so on.  We don't decided in advance what the legs will be.  One thing for sure, the course is very tough.  It starts at my house in Los Altos (which is about 200 feet elevation) and goes up Moody Road.  We climb to about 2000 feet, then we drop down to about 400 feet before climbing again to about 1500 feet.  Then it is mostly downhill to Loma Mar.  We hit the town of Pescadero and two miles later we are at the Ocean.  32.1 miles...

This was a tough workout but I think it is going to help me this Sunday.  My legs do feel pretty tight and tired right now but with all the downhill not as bad as they have in the past.  I got in 47 miles this week.  I am only doing 30 miles next week and 13.1 will be on Sunday.  

When we saw this sign, we had already done a lot of climbing.  We just had 22 miles (20 to Pescardero and another 2 to the Ocean) to go.

It took Michael and I 4 hours and 48 minutes to complete our relay.  It is a tough course.  That is 9 minutes/mile pace.

Michael checking his split.

We brought a lot of gear but we did not have enough Glu with us.  However, I am glad I brought along four shirts.  I wore them all...

It is a tough course but also very beautiful.

The Ocean is almost within sight.

We made it...32.1 miles.  This is only the second time we did this.  The first was over ten years ago.   Thanks Michael for suggesting this.   Thanks Dave for inspiring us to do this.  And thanks Catherine for all your support.

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Dave Zimmerman and I were just 17-years-old when I told Dave on a bus headed to a high school cross country meet that I was going to start a magazine about running.  Dave worked with me for one year before we both went off to college.  I went to Kansas States and Dave to Missouri.  I got busy with the magazine and 40 years went by.  We sat down on Saturday and Dave talked about Distance Running News. (lead photo...Dave and I when we were 17...we look pretty young to be starting a running magazine don't you think?)

Dave and I are both 64 now.  Even through we had not seen each other for over forty years we still have that bond that brought us together in the first place.  We were both runners in high school.  Our cross country team coached by Coach McGuire was first at regionals and second at state.  The team that beat us at team we had beaten at regional.  Dave and I were second and third at state on our team.  In track Dave ran a 1:51 half mile.  My parents moved to England my senior year and Dave's family had me stay with them to finish high school.  I will never forget this.  If I had gone to England I am sure I would not have started my magazine...

It is only fitting to be in front of Redwoods when Catherine is setting him up for the intereview.  Dave majored in forestry in College and is still currently working in that field.

Director Michael setting up the shot.  Waitman was on the second camera.  Catherine took still images.

Dave and I have so many good memories when we were in high school.  Dave's running ability got him a full college scholarship.  And my love of running got me into the magazine business.

I just had to take Dave to my Burger place after the interview.

Dave and I hung out at a similar place in Overland Park.

We could have talked for days.  So many great stories for our film.

After lunch Catherine, Dave and I drove to Santa Cruz, then the beach and finally to the Moutain House for dinner.  What a great day.  Dave and I agreed that we are going to stay in closer contact.  Forty years was just too long... photos by Catherine Cross

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Looks like you had a great weekend! You're almost there!! On a side note, I am thinking you should buy Burger Town ;)
Jodi Labossiere 11/8/12 3:49 pm

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