Phedippidations

Over 1,100 runners from more than 40 countries took part in the 3rd annual World Wide Festival of Races.  This really was a festival; it was a celebration of life, of community, of doing something of importance, endurance and strength.  It was a day where we took to the roads and ran together although we were apart. There were many reasons why we all took part in this event: to celebrate, to share, to make friends and to inspire others.  We did it to prove that national and territorial boundaries on a map are nothing more than dotted lines meant to keep us physically apart, and that our own customs, religions and social environments do not exclude us from the privileges of friendship and camaraderie.  What makes us different from each other locally does not prevent us from going out into this world, under the same sky on the same little blue bubble in space, and celebrate those things that we have in common. We just want to live a good, happy and healthy life.  We just want to live in peace and harmony with

"It's hard to appreciate the Earth when you're down right upon it because it's so huge. It gives you in an instant, just at a position 240,000 miles away from it, (an idea of) how insignificant we are, how fragile we are, and how fortunate we are to have a body that will allow us to enjoy the sky and the trees and the water ... It's something that many people take for granted when they're born and they grow up within the environment. But they don't realize what they have. And I didn't till I left it.'' -- Jim Lovell, Apollo 8 and 13. Greeting Fellow Runners… The average distance from the Earth to the Moon is 384,403 km, that’s 238,857 miles. To put that into perspective, it’s exactly 2,462 miles or 3,961 km between New York and Los Angeles…so the moon is 156 times the distance away from the Earth as New York is to LA. When the Apollo Astronauts went to the moon, they noticed a few things which probably should have been obvious and expected.  First, the moon is dead; Buzz Aldrin stepped out of the lunar lande

These are some of the things that have been on my mind lately…random thoughts that I dwell upon while I’m getting my miles in…and that’s one of the great things about running…it can sometimes be a time for you to reconnect with yourself, to dedicate the duration of your run to thinking about politics, hate, wine and endurance….so let’s go for a run together, and indulge me the privilege of telling you what I’m pondering today.Show Links:Leave a message: +1 206-338-3211Fdip featured blog of the week: The song “Ones and Os” was by Geoff Smith

It was once thought to be impossible for any human being to run the distance of a single mile in less than four minutes.  Roger Bannister knew that if he focused on the task, if he used both his medical knowledge and physical abilities in a good and effective training program he could break the four minute barrier, and accomplish the impossible.  This is his story. Show Links:PLEASE SEND IN YOUR WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR FDIP156 Audio Messages needed by no later than October 6th.Leave a message: +1 206-338-3211Fdip featured blog of the week: The song “Impossible” was by Luthea Salom. 

Running will not prevent you from developing cancer, but it may save your life by retarding it’s growth and by increasing your bodies natural resistance.  Life is worth fighting for…and moderate exercise such as a 2 to 3 mile easy run every day is something that can both ease the stress from dealing with cancer as well as help us to fight against it’s uncontrolled growth. Researchers aren’t sure how much exercise is needed to help prevent cancer, but they all agree that consistency is the most important factor.  Cancer as a disease and as an idea is something we must fight against.  Do not go gentle into that good night. Show Links:PLEASE SEND IN YOUR WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FOR FDIP156 Audio Messages needed by no later than October 6th.Leave a message: +1 206-338-3211Fdip featured blog of the week: The song “I Know You’re There” was by Matthew Ebel.  PLEASE VISIT:

A podcast is so much more interesting, entertaining, informative and intimate than a radio show.  When you subscribe to a podcast, you’re really joining a social club of like minded enthusiasts for whatever the topic of conversation may be.  Running podcasts are special in that they can be listened to while you, yourself, are out on your runs…or on a treadmill, or in the car on your way to or from work, or after your run as you do chores around the house.  A podcast is better than a radio show because it’s a conversation between the podcaster and you, produced and intended to be heard on a computer or, most naturally, an MP3 audio player with little ear bud head phones plugged into your head. You know all this because you’re not just a listener to Phedippidations…you are a fellow runner; we’re in this together…and there are other running related podcasts out there that are much better than this one,  that I know you’ll enjoy if you’ll give them a listen.  Show Links:   All of the PodCasts discussed in this s

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is a procedure that can postpone the condition of clinical death, where the heart has stopped beating and the victim is not breathing.  There is no guarantee of successful resuscitation, but you can act as the heart and lungs of a victim to provide the body and brain with life sustaining oxygenated blood while waiting for a trained emergency responder or doctor to arrive on scene. The person you save through something like CPR may be a person who helps make the world just a little bit better, either directly or by enabling another to do so. Human beings have the potential to do good in the world, and every human life is worth saving for that reason alone. NOTE:  The information contained in this episode is NOT intended to be medical advice, or to replace proper CPR training.  Do NOT use the methods or techniques described in this episode to provide emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation: Please DO consider attending a CPR class and obtaining proper certification as a lay respond

Running is a universally important skill to have in life; no longer solely for the purpose of hunting, gathering and chasing down wild animals that lack the endurance we possess…but as a way to keep our bodies in shape, to help strengthen our muscles and cardiovascular system and to become the good animals we were meant to be.  In baseball, it’s one…two…three strikes you’re out; but in life you only have this one chance to live your life to the fullest, to rise off the couch of doom and to run the way you were meant to run; fast and far across the planets surface.  And just as in baseball, when you’ve run well and covered all the bases…at some point near the end; we’ll all have the chance to run home. Show Links:Call me: +1 206-338-3211Fdip featured blog: The song “Field of Dreams” was by Mary Ellen Kirk

The mens marathon of the 29th Olympiad will feature the fastest and most prestigious distance runners in the world today.  Those few hours and some minutes will mark the greatest race of their lives, and we will witness inspirational feats of athleticism as they run through an ancient city which is being transformed into a modern world.  While these are the best runners on an elite level which many of us will never reach, do not forget that they are also our fellow runners….they have the same passion, the same determination, the same indomitable spirit that you and I share.  For those who have or will one day run a marathon, the distance that the Olympians of the mens marathon in Bejing will run is perfectly identical to that which you will cover in your own events.  Watch the race unfold before you and think about how you’ve felt or will feel when you’re at the mile and kilometer markers that they will cross: and appreciate the association you share with those runners in the marathon of the 29th Olympiad. Sh

This is episode one of a new podcast, created and presented by fellow runners around the world. The Runners Round Table! Episode 1 - Join us at the table as we share some time with our good friend Dr. Monte from the great podcast, . He shares insight he gained from an interview with Dr. Eliza Chakravarty of Stanford Medical School about how exercise (namely running) can play a major role in reducing your disability and even morbidity as you get older. Amazing stuff. Also we discuss the new developments on and a little company called Nike who is staging a vaguely similar event in 2 weeks called . We also mention our dear friend Kevin of - and his call for submissions. So get out there folks and record your training for all to share and send it along...Thanks for joining us for this live show and remember there's always an open chair waiting for you at the table.

The athletes who will run in the woman's marathon of the 29th Olympiad in Beijing China are some of the very best distance athletes in the world.  Each of them have worked incredibly hard to reach this level of competition, and to qualify to stand at the starting line in Tian'an Men Square.  What happens during this race will be historic; the moments of the event will be forever seared in the memories of those who participate and those of us who will watch the race.  We will witness the pinnacle of Athletic Achievement in a way that will inspire us to do our best, to push ourselves past our own limitations and to reach our own Olympic dreams. Show Links: Call me: +1 206-338-3211 Fdip featured blog: The song "China Girl” was by Lena

When you make a stand and decide to change the amount of natural resources you use, such as the oil and gas used by generators to produce electricity to run your water heaters, and lights, and when you install insulation in your home to keep the heat generated from escaping into the cold and low water use shower heads to reduce the amount of clean water used in the bathroom…you are reducing your dependency on the fuel and water needed by others and the next generation who will run across this planet in years to come, after we’re gone. The Earth does it’s best to heal itself from man made impact.  Given time and natural conditions, nature will reclaim what mankind has paved over and modified to suit our needs for resources and space.  There is such a thing as living in concert with nature, and a duty that each of us has to make the world just a little bit better for the next generation of runners to live in a world with clean fresh air, clean clear water and the beauty that can exist without impact of mankind.

The Ancient Olympic Games where part of a festival, where fairness and athleticism where considered sacred.  For over twelve hundred years the games were played in the Athenian city of Olympia and served as a cultural event to promote trade, commerce and diplomacy.  The athlete was respected and set powerful examples for all who came to watch them compete.  Their stories became the part of an ancient legend that inspired the modern games to revive the Olympic Spirit. We owe this spirit, this sense of peaceful competition and international friendship to those who created the ancient Olympic Games and set forth a precedent that has been reinforced through history.  Show Links: Fdip featured blog: The song "History” was by Jason Silver

Frank Shorter is one of those rare living legends whose legacy is seen in every runner who seeks to better him or herself, and who runs with an infectious joy and passion…and sincerity.  There are legends in our sport, as there should be…but Frank Shorter is much more than a legend, he is an Olympian, a leader, a teacher, a good person and above all: a fellow runner. Show Links: Fdip featured blog: The song "Good as Gold” by Admiral Twin The episode is sponsored by Audible.com Go to  for your free audiobook download

This episode of Fdip is much different than all the others, and for those of you who dislike the musical selections that I include in each episode, this one is probably not for you.  But music marks our life and times.  Itâs more than just the poetry or melody: itâs the soundtrack that touches us; it expresses and reflects our feelings, it captures our emotions and it gives voice to our hearts.  In this show youâll hear ten independent artists (nine musical) and songs from previous episodes as we celebrate my three years of podcasting and I go for a run around a tiny little island in the State of Maine, because this week: Iâm on vacation!Show Links:I Am Not Afraid by Majek Fashek Im Not Running by Big Rain Life Less Ordinary by Carbon Leaf In the next life by Al Stravinsky See The Sun by Black Lab Let me Know by the Fire Apes Ordinary Day by Great Big Sea Tom Cruise Crazy by Jonathan Coulton Pre by Phil Wells The episode is sponsored by Audible.com Go to  for your free audiobook download

Planning your Fall Marathon is all about setting a goal, with many months ahead of you within which to prepare.  What marathoners learn as we engage in this preparation is that the joy, passion and discovery takes place during our training: in many ways the marathon itself is merely a celebration of what we have been able to achieve through the hours and miles that we’ve spent in training to get us to that starting line. Now is the time to pick our races, now is the time to make our commitments, now is the moment to promise to ourselves and others that we will train well and hard, and complete a 26.2 mile course with dedication, determination, strength and honor…and these are the races that you and I will run. Show Links: Fdip featured blog: The song “Lost My Way” by Matthew Ebel  The episode is sponsored by Audible.com Go to  for your free audiobook download

Today, I'm going to tell you a little bit about a book written by Dr. George Sheehan titled “Personal Best: The foremost philosopher of fitness shares techniques and tactics for success and self liberation, published in 1989 by Rodale Press.  It’s a book of 37 chapters, each one an essay and study into an physical of cerebral aspect of running.  For anyone looking to read a sample of the right brain/left brain writings of Dr. Sheehan, this book gives you a good sense of his style.  He challenges us to think about our lives, our running, and our purpose within each page.  George Sheehan understood that running was more than just an activity; it is an expression of life and love.    Show Links:          Fdip featured blog:   The song “Better Life” was by the band Common Ground from Texas.    The episode is sponsored by Audible.com Go to  for your free audiobook download 

Have a glass of wine with me while I catch up on some emails from fellow runners.  Wine is one of my many passions.  In order to appreciate wine you have to come into it with a clear head, a clear palate and a clear nose.  Wine making dates back to 6000 BC and is a major part of the culture of many societies and religions.  Wine is also a social beverage, something to share with friends and enjoy with a good meal.  It’s good for you as well, consumed in moderation wine has been found to have both cardioprotective and chemoprotective effects.  In this short format version of my podcast, I’ll be resting my ankle and enjoying a glass of wine with you as we hear from fellow runners across the planet.   

Today I’d like to point out something that’s really obvious; so obvious in fact, that we tend not to think about it much.  In this episode I present for you a very basic, truthful, scientific and historical bit of trivia that both describes and explains the premise which propose, and that piece of trivia is this: Fred Flintstone never wore running shoes.  Running shoes are not evil: you’ll have to pry my NB 426’s off my hot sweaty feet if you ever want me to give up my running shoes: but we should entertain the idea that running without shoes on the open road may be a more natural, less injurious way to run. Show Links: Fdip featured blog: The song “Running Wild Child” was by Lance Larson from New Jersey; the song featured Richie Sambora  check out his amazing music at The episode is sponsored by Audible.com Go to  for your free audiobook download

I have known my friend Kathy for many years, through many life adventures and glasses of quality wine.  In this short format episode of Phedippidations, we run the Long Island Marathon Festival of Races 10K road race in New York, with the goal of finishing in an hour or less.  This is also the story of how I met my wife and the contentious angry beginnings of a friendship that will last a lifetime, and about my incredible victory in a epic battle which took place during an all night drive to Pennsylvania a long time ago in an automobile far, far away.