150th Marathon-Two Cities Marathon 11 6 16

 Two Cities, Fresno and Clovis

November 6, 2016

4:12:08 128/369 overall   6/19 60-69

Jodi –Half Mar 1:50:43  146/1323 overall  13/221 40-49  

            Earlier this year, Jodi told me that it would be a fun idea to schedule my marathons so that TCM would be my 150^th marathon, and we could celebrate in town with our friends including the ones I’ve coached. That has turned out to be a great idea as we have had a great time planning the celebration and a great time running the race and seeing so many at the celebration.

            Jodi arranged for me to wear bib #150 which was very cool. We were also able to walk to the start from our house having slept in our own bed. At the starting area we saw a lot of friends and took pictures. Estella Salcido showed us the two inspirational posters (see Shutterfly pics) that she had put up in the start area. Race conditions were ideal with fog that kept the temps in the low 50s all morning. Having run PEI Marathon just 3 weeks ago, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was able to run mostly in the 9:20s reaching the half-way point at 2:03:49. Oliver Valenzuela ran a few miles with me along Shepherd and then finished up by running Jodi in. Quite a feat to run with both of us and also get a sub 1:50 time of his own in the half. It was quite fun seeing so many people and hearing many calling out my name along the course and from within the sea of runners doing the Clovis Half.

            When I turned onto Friant Road about mile 17, it was pretty lonely as I didn’t see anyone within a few hundred yards, but I worked to see if I could keep the miles under 9:20 so I could get a BQ time. I did keep that average up until about 21 and then the proverbial piano jumped on my back for the last 5 miles going back up Friant Road. It was great to see Sherrie Flynn and Deb Schmidt holding Estella’s sign about mile 22, and then Katie and her CC teammate, Clare had a “Go John, Run” sign and a picture of me that Jodi had blown up from a wedding picture. Rudy Montoya and Jodi ran with me for the last 3 miles, but it was definitely “beating a dead horse” as I struggled to run 10:30’s. They really helped distract me from the struggle with Rudy telling stories about his “Sanger high librarian” (me), pushing Sunny, and taking a video that you can see on Facebook. Jodi had run a great half-marathon and then made it out to mile 23 to run some more miles. It was really a full day for her and above and beyond the call of duty!

            I did get mile 26 under 10, but it was hard. As Jodi and I turned into Woodward Park, she spied Vince Tomei ahead of us. Vince had trained with our Fleet Feet team and was completeing his first marathon. Jodi and I pushed to catch up to him and then Vince and I pulled each other to the finish line with a bit of a pickup. We had both made it!

            After the finish Jodi and I got pictures with a lot of our friends/runners feeling like we had our own paparazzi. I was very tired, but quite happy to finish #150. After cleaning up and resting a bit, we went to the celebration at Debbie Coate’s Boot Camp facility. It was pretty amazing to get there and see all the work Jodi and her helpers had put in to set it up. There was a #150 cake and a special lemon cake (my fav) made by Katie. It was also great now that Katie has her license that she could help Jodi with bringing things like the food. Nick was our official photographer so the whole family chipped in. And then Mom was able to attend as she and Bill had moved here just the week before. She surely enjoyed seeing so many of you that she has met over the years.

            It was really special to have Juan and Suzane Sobenes attend the celebration. Juan was the first person in the Fresno area to run 150 marathons.

He and Suzanne and I have run many marathons together in a lot of different places and shared many memorable experiences. Jodi had asked me some marathon history questions and Shawn Young served as MC recounting those answers and many other fun stories from our running past together. Shawn had been announcing all day at TCM so it was amazing that he still had more to give at the party. Shawn and I told many stories some featuring John Pius with whom I ran for over 30 years. John wrote me a wonderful tribute letter which Shawn read to all and you can see in the pictures and read, too.

            My two coaching groups presented me with some very creative gifts. I was the original coach for Team in Training in Fresno and coached with them from 1998-2014. They gave me a framed TNT coach shirt and a trophy with this inscription: John Volkman  Forever Our Coach  Congratulations on your 150^th marathon!  From the thousands you have trained to cross the finish line  -2016- 

            I have been coaching Fleet Feet since 2013 and my current team headed by Huiwen Hao and Tina Banks presented me with a tapestry/quilt featuring a photo of our team stiched into it. Quite a remarkable gift!

            In case you are interested, here are the questions and answers from the marathon history trivia:

1.      Years running: 36

2.      First race: 10K, 1980 in Sanger

3.     First marathon: March 1981, Napa, 2:58:43

4.     Total marathon miles: 3,992

5.     Marthon PR: 2:57:25, CIM in Sacramento, 1985

6.     Farthest traveled for marathon: Stockholm, Sweden

7.      Favorite Marathon: CIM because my best times and many BQ’s are there

8.     Number of Boston Marathons: 18 (15 CIM, 13 Napa)

9.     Numbers coached: Over 2000

10. Most memorable coaching season: TCM 2013 Why? That’s when I met JodiJ!!!

11. Most gratifying coaching experiences: Steve Wilson (oldest first time marathoner at 59)

and Mark Dorman who went from couch to Boston and ultramarathoner and longtime assistant coach

This was Marathon #150; 21 states on 2d go round; All 10 Canadian provinces. Next up: CIM in Sacramento on Dec. , 2016.     

Pictures at: https://www.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0MbNGThy3bO2A&emid=shareprintviewer&linkid=link