Enjoying the weekend in San Juan, Puerto Rico before our Caribbean Running Cruise. before the cruise; a vacation before our vacation. Started the morning with a nice walk to the Old Fort with Canadian friends Cathy Belic and Klari Kalkman. Spent most of the day on the beautiful beach across from our hotel, catching up with old and new friends as they arrive in PR before boarding our ship on Sunday. Lunches and dinners at our fave San Juan hangout down the street - Don Jose Hacienda. Beautiful floor to ceiling open windows where you can experience the spray of the ocean inside the restaurant when the waves crash against the rocks outside the windows. Every once in a while a waiter will toss out some pan (bread) and a fish feeding frenzy ensues below. Saturday night we kayaked in a Glow-in-the Dark Lagoon. Unbelievable. Nighttime Kayaking into the Fajardo’s Las Croabas Lagoon thru a narrow channel, a mangrove swamp – gnarly roots everywhere, iguanas sleeping in trees, warm water and only three feet deep. After about a half mile of the narrow canal we emerge into the lagoon –  a bioluminescent bay, one of only 6 or so in the world,  lit up by the tiny dino-flagellates. Incredible.

Four years ago, the ING Miami Marathon was the first race to brand the hotel card keys. Brilliant!

ING Miami Marathon 15,000 runners in the marathon or half marathon.

ING Run for something better kids run had 4,000 youngsters.

On Saturday 1,500 runners did the 5k, which finished in Miami Beach.

I spent Friday and Saturday selling books and doing seminars at the expo.

Sunday I was at the finish line watching 15,000 happy runners cross the finish line.

 I met Alexis Garcia at the San Francisco Marathon 2008 we ran side by side the last 14 miles of the marathon. We slowed down to run with me.

His story is quite incredible. He left Cuba 16 years ago in Kayak.It took him 55 hours to reach the US. Today he’s a PE teacher and very active in the Miami running community. His wife Marlene did the half marathon and stepdaughter Lauren did the 5k and the kids run.

I call them my Cuban family.

Bart

Hey Bart,

Bart,    

So I was reading your book yesterday and a huge smile broke out across my face.  Sara couldn’t help but notice from the across the room asking what I was smiling about. I didn’t tell her but the smile stayed on my face for a while.  I couldn’t believe you wrote about me in your book. When I first saw it I was curious what could possibly make me book worthy.  It was a huge honor man…it means a ton to me.  What I appreciate most about it is that it wasn’t based on my foot speed but on my heart.  Those are the compliments that mean the most to me.  In the sometimes fickle world of elite running, where they love you one day and forget about you the next it is nice to know that I have friends that care more about my heart than my speed.  

I also wanted to tell you that we are doing comrads man!  That is the only race over 26.2 that I have any desire to do.  I know your knees aren’t what they used to be but I know they have one last epic run in them. Lets plan on it!  

 

I hear you are going out to Chicago for a book signing this week.  

Have fun with that.  Take care!

 

Ryan

Some inspirational letters I’ve received…

Dear Bart, 

Sometime in July, I had the opportunity to meet you at your book signing, held at The Running Company in Columbus Circle. I told you that I was preparing for my first marathon. Up until the time I met you I only had two 1/2 marathons under my belt with a PR of 1:40, and that was leaving it all out on the road. At the NYC 1/2, I had to walk most of the last 3 miles.  I knew I had a lot of work to do. I had never ran more than 16 miles at one shot. Well, I read about half of your book (which is awesome) and it inspired and motivated me. You stated that the last 3 or so miles of a marathon were about guts. You also mentioned at the book signing that all you need is 3 key workouts in a 10 day period. I’m an Ironworker in NYC which is very physical and combined with heat it is a work-out. During the work week my running was in the heat of the day and my long runs on Sunday mornings. To make a long story longer, I crossed the finish line in 3:28:30, and I’m 47 yrs old and had to run a 3:30:59. I Did It Bart!!! I learned a lot in that race too. I’m glad I never got to the part in the book before the race, where you talk about the guy who had tried to qualify for Boston 22 times. Lol. I wil say that when I crossed the finish line, I raised my hands thanked God and yelled, “I’m going to Boston!” Then, proceeded to weep like a baby. I’m sure you know how I felt. One last thing, I am a recovering addict. Just over a year ago I was contributing to some Colombian’s bank account. Running, has become a huge part in my recovery as well as a tool in rebuilding my self-esteem. I wanted to Thank You, Bart, for all your dedication to the world of running. You are an inspiration to me and I am very glad I got to meet you. I hope I get a chance to see you again. Thank you Bart.
Sincerely, 
B

Writing My Life On The Run was often an arduous journey…just ask my wife and cat. However, the rewards have been great and I am always happy to hear from runners and nonrunners near and far about how my story in general or something specific in the book has inspired them in some way. I’ll share a few of the letters I’ve received. You’ll see some runners have their own inspirational stories…

I feel very fortunate to be able to do what I do – even when my body is whacked – being out there running, walking, helping out and volunteering at the races. Taking part, that’s what it’s all about.

It’s three weeks into 2009 and I’ve already been to Vegas (Fleet Feet & Running from an Angel Marathon) the first week of this new year, Green Bay Marathon kick off the next, Phoenix for Rock n Roll Arizona…and no, I didn’t go to watch the Cardinals defeat my team, the Eagles. Posts to come on all. I am now en route to Miami. Alexis Garcia and his wife Marlene offered to pick me up at the aiport in Ft. Lauderdale. Alexis is a runner I met during my comeback marathon at San Francisco last summer. If you’re at the Mimai Marathon expo this weekend, stop by my both and say hi. I will also be showing my slide show at a seminar on Saturday. 

Coming up next week: San Juan, Puerto Rico for a few days before the Caribbean running cruise, www.cruisetorun.com – a perfect time to escape winter. Then it’s  back-to-back trips out west: Running USA in San Diego followed by the Austin Marathon and RD conference, and a potential visit to the White House. Spring events will include the Pittsburgh Marathon kick off, Little Rock Marathon, Cooper River Bridge Run, the inaugural Illinois Marathon, Boston, Big Sur and Santa Barbara Wine Country Half. I am most excited about a July trip to Iraq, yes Iraq, where I will visit our troops at seven different bases in seven days. Stay tuned.

During the second week of the year I was in the coldest place on the planet – Green Bay, Wisconsin. It took planes, trains and automobiles – and two days – to get there so of course I had to make a pilgrimage to Lambeau Field. Cellcom Green Bay Marathon does an event kick-off in the dead of winter that is impressively attended by the local running community, newbies and grizzled vets alike. It felt like a thousand degrees below zero the night I was there but that didn’t stop 600+ brave (crazy) souls from showing up. The program included a highlight video from last year along with an overview of the 2009 event, the 10th running. I gave a talk and answered questions. Thanks for inviting me to be the guest speaker – and yes, that is a piece of cheese I am wearing on my head -not a turban.   

Here is a link to an article in the Green Bay Press Gazette:

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090108/GPG0101/901080583/-1/archive

Happy New Year!

I apologize for being a poor bloggernaut in ‘08. I promise to catch you up-to-date in the coming months on some of my more interesting travels and races from last year. A quick tally of where I was yielded 6 countries including my first visit to Iceland where I ran the Reykjavik Marathon. I also ran the SF and Maui Marathons – a return to marathoning, kind of, after a four-year hiatus due to complications from lyme disease. 

The TSA folks at our local airport know me by name. I love the travel but our cat Mojave doesn’t and has taken to packing himself in my luggage. See photo. 2008 book signings, speaking gigs, race announcing, work (and vacations) brought me to more than 50 events in Canada, the Caribbean, and 22 states including numerous trips to California and Texas. It’s been great meeting other runners and hearing their stories…some of which I will share with you in future posts.