Running and Beer Labels

Recent blog posts have inspired me to write about memorable runs from the 12 years or so that I've been a runner.

Origins of Zeke
Well, I guess most obvious memorable run was my first Cross Country practice in high school the summer before my Junior Year. It was August of 1997. 2 weeks before school started. "Zeke was born".

Since it was the first practice of the year, Coach Morgan decided to have us do the classic Point Run. A relatively flat 8-mile loop This was the first time I have ever ran that far. I think the previous before that was 4 miles. Anyway, the halfway point for this run was at Kimberely Point. Coach had everyone stop so everyone could get caught up before we continued. I walked to the lighthouse to get a drink at the bubbler (that's right!). After I got up from the drinking fountain I wiped by mouth and started to walk back by the rest of the guys I knew. On my way back, a senior, Nick Madsen, came up to me and asked my name. I said "Mike" and he said "You look a Zeke, can we call you Zeke?" And the rest is history; a legend had been born. From that day forth, every member and coach on the team called me Zeke. It soon spread to everyone else in school and from then on I was only known as Zeke. All through college, even at home once in a while my family will me Zeke. Nick, you created a monster!

The Thorn in My Side
It was August of 2003. Same week in August as the story above. I was a senior in college trying to prepare myself for my first marathon. It was moving day in Madison, so, let's say around Aug. 15th. I was helping Amber move into her new apartment on Hamilton St. all day. I was walking up and down stairs carrying heavy loads with on loose sandals on. That afternoon I drove back to Neenah because Shawn and I had plans to be volunteers at the Neenah Boys Cross Country Camp up at Onaway the next morning. But that evening we were planning on going for a 6 mile run. The run started out fine; the first 3 miles were great. At about mile 4 I noticed I had some pain in my left knee that started to annoy me. I didn't know what was going on so I decided to stop and walk for a bit. It seemed to get better. Then at about mile 5.5, on Bayview Rd. just before getting back to Shawn's house, I felt the most intense, sharp pain in my knee. I immediately stopped and could barely walk back to the house. The marathon was only a month away and I was bound and determined to do it! After all those months of training I as not going to give up! Long story short, Marathon Day, very cold morning. I started the race with Shawn. We held about 8:30 pace or so. At about mile 4 in Jefferson park, out of nowhere the pain came back and I told Shawn "I'm Out." And he had to finish the next 22 miles by himself. I was pissed. I was determined to walk the entire marathon, but at about mile 8, walking was unbearable so I just finished the half marathon. I felt beat down.

Fast forward 5 years later to the last week in April 2008. I had just run an amazing Crazy Legs 8k and was riding high going into the 2nd Annual PDC Half Marathon that next weekend. On Sunday, I was scheduled to run an 11 miler as my last long run before the race. At about mile 5 my legs felt tired and weak, probably since I ran such a hard race the day before. I decided to call it quits and let my legs rest. That Tuesday I went out for a 4 miler and at about the .25 mile mark the same darn intense pain was back!! I was livid. It took me a solid half hour to limp back to the house. What was I going to tell Shawn?? Anyway, since I was signed up for the race I was still planning on showing up to cheer on Shawn. I decided to run with him the first few miles and then drop out when the pain came. But mile after mile came and no pain, before I knew it, mile 10 was there and I might as well finish! You can read about the details here, but it was an amazing day!

Oh, and here are the new labels for my beer. It actually tastes pretty darn good now!!