8 Tuff Miles – the challenge
Since its inception in 1997, St. John’s 8 Tuff Miles road race has escalated into a mammoth event where 838 runners will gather on Saturday, Feb. 28 to summon up their inner and outer strengths to compete in one of the toughest 8.38-mile road races anywhere. The virgin run of this event had only 21 entries, who signed up on race morning. It is now the largest road race held anywhere in the Virgin Islands. It grows every year and has blossomed into THE premier running event of the Caribbean.
Runners are a dedicated clan. They run for reasons as diverse as the lifestyles that inhabit our islands, and they will all tell you how running has touched and changed their lives. We run to think, feel, and heal. We run to stay fit and strong. We run because we are driven by forces sometimes beyond our control. The hills on St. John are, of course, a metaphor for our lives, and as we propel our bodies and souls along these magnificent vistas we are reminded of the beauty in all things. The up and down nature of running here will leave you stronger in more ways than one might think. Running legend Steve Prefontaine believed that a race was a work of art. I concur. The 8 Tuff Miles race can be a simple fun run or an analogy for the challenges of living on a remote island such as ours. This race will mean a lot of things to a lot of people, and as a 21-year resident of St. John and entering into my third year of full-time running, it has a special meaning for me. It was my first race and one that drove me to become very passionate and dedicated to this sport.
I have offered support in various ways over the last few years to this event, and this year will be no different. I will donate one dollar to the college scholarship fund – created by Peter Alter, the race director – for every person who crosses the finish line in Coral Bay. Furthermore, I will match dollar for dollar any donation made by any runner who has a better time than me in the race. Last year 54 people finished ahead of me, so this leaves lots of room to raise money for the scholarships, which give $4600 to 6 children who win in their age groups, 3 male and 3 female, each year. Last year I donated the entire $4600, but due to the current economic crisis, I am unable to do so. This is where you come in. Please go to 8tuffmiles.com and make a donation, no matter how small. Our newly elected president raised money with this same tried-and-true way, one dollar at a time, and look at him now! Come race day we will push ourselves one stride at a time, one breath at a time and one person at a time to the completion of our journey. If you only have one dollar to give, your donation is equally important as any.
Saturday morning, the 28th of February, at 7:15am will be an exciting time on St. John. Thousands of people partake in the race as participants, volunteers and spectators. Each has a place in the success of the event, each has a reason for their involvement and each has a resounding effect on the state of running as a sport on St. John. I will be a cog in Peter's well-oiled machine and do my part come race day. The combined efforts of the community have made this race a jewel in the world of road racing and an annual event that any St. Johnian or Virgin Islander can be proud of. See you at the finish line!
Be Well,
Luigi Costello stjohnrunner.blogspot.com
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
VICTORY LAP
Last Tuesday was of course a most excellent and historical day. I cut out of work for a few hours, hey I'm the boss and I can do that, to watch the transfer of political power to the most articulate politician of our modern time. 23 months had past since Barack announced his candidacy and 4 1/2 years have past for me waiting for that magical moment in front of the Lincoln Memorial. When Barack delivered his Keynote speech at the '04' democratic convention I was simply stunned! I knew right then and there that the democratic party had found their voice. Much Much to late to replace him for John Kerry, who has the personality of dried liver, and much to late to unseat W. The country was ready for a change in 04, but the wrong candidate was put up. And so we spiraled out of control as a nation and lost the respect of the world at large. W's decisions are a prime example how one persons choices affect the overall balance of the world! And oh did he affect! Don't get me started.
So elated this day I was that I adorned my self with 6 Blue and White balloons in the middle of a warm tropical day and took a victory lap, well much longer than a lap, and headed up the North Shore to that old familiar haunt of runners paradise. I ran to Easter Rock for Barack. I really looked quite silly but 4 balloons were for the 4 years I waited and the other 2 each represented a term he will hold. I believe he will be the most loved and proficient president since JFK and re-establish the good will that W and his gang of cronies systematically destroyed. Seeing Cheney in a wheel chair at the ceremonies was symbolic nirvana! As I ran I could not help smiling and relishing the moment. Running can intensify things in ones life. It was a brisk run but ever so easy as the wind felt especially cleansing and my leg just flowed and guided me to a new beginning in the modern history of our world.
Having a President that is into physical fitness as seriously as Barack is, also sends a message to our youth and the populous at large. Fit in mind and body, strong in will and resolve, ready and willing to walk the talk, and to be an example to all classes and cultures. I may not be the Barack Obama of running, but I am striving for a cabinet position in 2012. My journey as a runner is in its infancy, and as Barack heals our nation I too will master the hills and valleys that I embark on daily. That old cliche "A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step" could not have greater meaning.
So elated this day I was that I adorned my self with 6 Blue and White balloons in the middle of a warm tropical day and took a victory lap, well much longer than a lap, and headed up the North Shore to that old familiar haunt of runners paradise. I ran to Easter Rock for Barack. I really looked quite silly but 4 balloons were for the 4 years I waited and the other 2 each represented a term he will hold. I believe he will be the most loved and proficient president since JFK and re-establish the good will that W and his gang of cronies systematically destroyed. Seeing Cheney in a wheel chair at the ceremonies was symbolic nirvana! As I ran I could not help smiling and relishing the moment. Running can intensify things in ones life. It was a brisk run but ever so easy as the wind felt especially cleansing and my leg just flowed and guided me to a new beginning in the modern history of our world.
Having a President that is into physical fitness as seriously as Barack is, also sends a message to our youth and the populous at large. Fit in mind and body, strong in will and resolve, ready and willing to walk the talk, and to be an example to all classes and cultures. I may not be the Barack Obama of running, but I am striving for a cabinet position in 2012. My journey as a runner is in its infancy, and as Barack heals our nation I too will master the hills and valleys that I embark on daily. That old cliche "A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step" could not have greater meaning.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
PERSONAL BEST
As runners most of us strive for better times when we race. We train and strain and hopefully gain. As a self trained runner I am in the constant state of experimentation with my runs. No coach or group leader to guide me. No one telling me my mistakes or showing me my pitfalls. Formulating a training program for myself is not always easy and not always possible to follow due to the runners triangle(see previous post). Case in point the training I did for the Half Marathon I ran this past Saturday. The last long run I did was 5 weeks prior to the race. I had planned more but they simply did not occur. I have valid excuses though, trust me!!!!! Right! LOL
I train hard most of the time I am running, Taking easy days of course to balance the intensity of the overall training, but in general run hard. I have been doing a lot of out and backs of 7 plus miles along the North Shore and once a week running 3 Loops around the Lind Point trail starting from town. Both of those runs are tough to say the least. I can sometimes literally feel myself getting stronger. I am pretty adamant about getting my 5 runs in weekly. Sometimes even 6 and once in a while it will go down to 4. I am hard on myself and consider 3 runs in a week in the category of total slacking. Sick running junkie that I am!
So what to my wondering feet do I achieve, a personal best in the half marathon you see! Oh Santa would be proud of me but he is very busy making sure my son and all the other children of the world have a very merry one in "09". It was my 4th half marathon and each one the times went lower and I ran a 1:42:01 at Disney this weekend. I am quite pleased, ever though I had my eyes on a 1:40. I tried to stay with that pacing group but did not want to go out too fast and I held them in sight for the first 6-7 miles then just lost sight of them. Having clocks at every mile is awesome and I knew I was still on pace for a PB. It is always an awesome feeling crossing the finish line.
My stats where as follows: Time:1:42:01, 419th overall out of 12,434 finishers, age group(50-54) 27th out of 580 males, age grade 66.8% and 348th overall out of 5253 for males.
So the question is this. Did I under train by not doing my long runs or did I amply train and have a PB because the hills of St. John are the most awesome place on the planet to run and they reward all who suffer through their wrath? Probably a little of both I would imagine. I always tell stateside runners that a 7 mile north shore run is equivalent to a flat 10 mile run in the states because of the 3H club(see previous post) Hills, Heat and Humidity. We run in high heat and high humidity pretty much year round and in the summer and fall it is just plain brutal. So when we get up to the states and run on flat ground in much lower temperatures and lower humidity it is like having an extra jolt of what ever all those cheating athlete take that disgrace themselves and their perspective sport. What a sad state for sports when the playing field is not level and our children must deal with the multitudes of issues surrounding these athletes and the dire backlash that occurs due to ignorance, greed and ego. All boost in sports and performance are not created equal!
The next race for me will be the 8 Tuff Miles right here on St. John on Feb. 28th. I will be fully trained for that race and will enjoy every minute of it, even the ones I plan on shedding off of last years time!
I train hard most of the time I am running, Taking easy days of course to balance the intensity of the overall training, but in general run hard. I have been doing a lot of out and backs of 7 plus miles along the North Shore and once a week running 3 Loops around the Lind Point trail starting from town. Both of those runs are tough to say the least. I can sometimes literally feel myself getting stronger. I am pretty adamant about getting my 5 runs in weekly. Sometimes even 6 and once in a while it will go down to 4. I am hard on myself and consider 3 runs in a week in the category of total slacking. Sick running junkie that I am!
So what to my wondering feet do I achieve, a personal best in the half marathon you see! Oh Santa would be proud of me but he is very busy making sure my son and all the other children of the world have a very merry one in "09". It was my 4th half marathon and each one the times went lower and I ran a 1:42:01 at Disney this weekend. I am quite pleased, ever though I had my eyes on a 1:40. I tried to stay with that pacing group but did not want to go out too fast and I held them in sight for the first 6-7 miles then just lost sight of them. Having clocks at every mile is awesome and I knew I was still on pace for a PB. It is always an awesome feeling crossing the finish line.
My stats where as follows: Time:1:42:01, 419th overall out of 12,434 finishers, age group(50-54) 27th out of 580 males, age grade 66.8% and 348th overall out of 5253 for males.
So the question is this. Did I under train by not doing my long runs or did I amply train and have a PB because the hills of St. John are the most awesome place on the planet to run and they reward all who suffer through their wrath? Probably a little of both I would imagine. I always tell stateside runners that a 7 mile north shore run is equivalent to a flat 10 mile run in the states because of the 3H club(see previous post) Hills, Heat and Humidity. We run in high heat and high humidity pretty much year round and in the summer and fall it is just plain brutal. So when we get up to the states and run on flat ground in much lower temperatures and lower humidity it is like having an extra jolt of what ever all those cheating athlete take that disgrace themselves and their perspective sport. What a sad state for sports when the playing field is not level and our children must deal with the multitudes of issues surrounding these athletes and the dire backlash that occurs due to ignorance, greed and ego. All boost in sports and performance are not created equal!
The next race for me will be the 8 Tuff Miles right here on St. John on Feb. 28th. I will be fully trained for that race and will enjoy every minute of it, even the ones I plan on shedding off of last years time!
A Tradgic Run
Running never quite offers up the same ambiance. So many factors at play to adjust the desired result. Better we just flow along and see where it takes us than be disappointed when the result strays from our expectation.
One never knows when it strikes, at times as foreign to us as a Summers day on Lakeshore Drive in January. A run such as this is etched into our hearts as we feel the pain of another and wonder what order, if any, life's random assaults have. Moving one's body briskly along these hills when consumed with the grief of another, and one's own, is trying and troublesome, and offers up the excuse to slow down or simply quit. Tragedy slowly creeps like the ever prevalent misfortune that begot a family member of mine over the New Years weekend.
The overwhelming feeling and urge to stop the run is all encompassing and must be dealt with in the same manner as the grief facing my loved one. To continue on is the only logical option, but so shrouded is that line of reasoning it calls into question ones resolve. So we are tested. We are dealt a hand that can go either way. If the choice seems so simple then why do we struggle so? Simply said, we are mere flesh and bone, not the great warriors our ego leads us to believe. We must dig so deep within ourselves to convene our vigor that we seem to drain the very force we are relying on right out of us. And at that moment when we want to give up completely, when we feel we can not run another stride, not take another breath, not bear the burden of yet another one of life's insidious jokes, it is in that instant that we often see clarity and find the strength to continue on. Tragedy will call into question ones frivolous life. It will show you who you really are and what you are truly made of. So the legs keep moving and the arms continue pumping and the heart and lungs persist in striving and the will to sustain is carried on.
Trials and tribulations are often the cornerstones of great progress. We must not let anything slow us to the pace of submission. Great runners know this and use it to make themselves stronger. We are only as good as we allow ourselves to be. We simply must never stop!
One never knows when it strikes, at times as foreign to us as a Summers day on Lakeshore Drive in January. A run such as this is etched into our hearts as we feel the pain of another and wonder what order, if any, life's random assaults have. Moving one's body briskly along these hills when consumed with the grief of another, and one's own, is trying and troublesome, and offers up the excuse to slow down or simply quit. Tragedy slowly creeps like the ever prevalent misfortune that begot a family member of mine over the New Years weekend.
The overwhelming feeling and urge to stop the run is all encompassing and must be dealt with in the same manner as the grief facing my loved one. To continue on is the only logical option, but so shrouded is that line of reasoning it calls into question ones resolve. So we are tested. We are dealt a hand that can go either way. If the choice seems so simple then why do we struggle so? Simply said, we are mere flesh and bone, not the great warriors our ego leads us to believe. We must dig so deep within ourselves to convene our vigor that we seem to drain the very force we are relying on right out of us. And at that moment when we want to give up completely, when we feel we can not run another stride, not take another breath, not bear the burden of yet another one of life's insidious jokes, it is in that instant that we often see clarity and find the strength to continue on. Tragedy will call into question ones frivolous life. It will show you who you really are and what you are truly made of. So the legs keep moving and the arms continue pumping and the heart and lungs persist in striving and the will to sustain is carried on.
Trials and tribulations are often the cornerstones of great progress. We must not let anything slow us to the pace of submission. Great runners know this and use it to make themselves stronger. We are only as good as we allow ourselves to be. We simply must never stop!
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