Sometimes Finishing isn't what's Important

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Aaron and his brother share a Fargo marathon medal.

In Runner's 101, we teach runners to set a variety of race goals: three different achievable time goals as well as performance goals such as running an even effort or having fun. For all of us, one of these goals is almost always to finish. But sometimes course conditions, weather or some other variable out of our control gets in the way and its better to bow out and live to run another day.

This past weekend two PB runners attempted to run a humid marathon in Fargo. Carl got lost and succumbed to blisters and Aaron became confused as he suffered from dehydration. His brother took him off the course at twenty miles and completed the last six miles for him. Now they share a medal as an impromptu relay team.

Both Carl and Aaron listened to their bodies and ran with dignity. I'll be adding running with dignity to my list of race goals. Congrats Carl and Aaron!

PB Tornado Relief Efforts

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photo by Urbancn

As many of you know, I am a physical therapist and graduate of KU Medical Center. My Alma mater is serving as a collection site for the tornado victims of Joplin, Missouri.

PT Students are in Joplin now assisting with search and rescue. They currently report that they need: chain saws, gloves, bottled water, blankets, 5 gallon buckets, fruit, baby formula, breakfast bars, basic toiletries, pillows, and towels.

The American Physical Therapy Association has pledged to match the financial gifts donated to the BSU PT student's working in Joplin.

If you'd like to help, please bring your items to the run this Saturday! If you can't go to the run, you can arrange a drop off at my home. To do so contact me at kcrunning@hotmail.com. I will be delivering items to the med center next week.

If you'd like to donate money and have it matched by the APTA, write your check to the Southwest Baptist PT Program and bring it to the run on Saturday or mail it to me: 6608 W. 102 Street, Overland Park, KS 66212.

Thank you for your help!

Send in your questions for ultra marathoner, Mark Wardian

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photo by Chris Rief

Personal Best has been granted an exclusive interview with elite ultra runner Mark Wardian and we need your questions!

Mark Wardian is part of the North Face Global Athlete team and will be running the 50K race at the Kansas City North Face Endurance Challenge in August. Mark is an ultra marathoner who runs 50K and 100K events. He is most notable for the sheer number of marathons that he runs. He just won the Delaware marathon in 2:25:11.

Like Personal Best, Mark embraces the fun in running. He has held several world records including the fastest marathon on a treadmill and just recently was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records as fastest man in a superhero costume. Click here for more on Mark.

So, what do you want to know??? Send in your questions to kcrunning@hotmail.com. The sooner the better!

Intervals Tuesday May 24th

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photo by andertoon

Its our last speed work session of the season! Haven't been keeping up on the speed work but running HH in two weeks? It's not too late. Contact coach Amy at kcrunning@hotmail.com for some modified speed work.

You don't have to do speed work to join in the fun. Roe Park is situated along the trail. Meet some buddies for a short run around Roe and along the trails. Those of you four weeks into your recovery, you can come for some cruise intervals or fartleks.

Meet at 5:30 p.m. Roe Park.