In 2005, I ran an Idaho marathon, noted for large temperature swings during the race, up to 60 degrees. It was very cold at the start, so we waited on the buses after arriving. I shared the bus with a group of “Marathon Maniacs”, and listened to their predictable conversations, with questions like “how many marathons you run”? Then I heard one of their wives say “I don’t care how many marathons any of these people have run”.
Shortly before gun time, the bus drivers decided to go turn the buses around, so they drove away. Assured we were just turning the buses, we stayed on. The first one stopped, then backed into the sand and got stuck. Then I watched the bus I was on do the same thing. Now we were over a mile away from the start, with 15 minutes to gun time.
Some of the runners jumped off and started running back to the start, others stayed and waited as the drivers worked to free the stranded buses. After a significant effort, one of the buses got free, so we all got on that one, picked up those who had started back, and got to the start line. I left my gloves on the bus, so I went back into the bus, and heard the gun fire. I retrieved my gloves, ran out of the bus and across the starting line, in dead last place.
Fortunately, I wasn’t dead.
Frank has run 103 marathons and 3 ultras. He considers any exercise that is not running to be a waste of time. His running music of choice is Nightwish, though he is also a huge fan of Cher. Frank currently lives with his wife in West Jordan, Utah.
Race Directors Note: Frank is a good personal friend that I have known for many years. We currently run together on a weekly basis, and I have run several marathons with him. Through these many interactions I have heard many of the stories that we are sharing on this blog, and I thought it was about time for the rest of the world to hear them. So I hope you all enjoy Fridays with Frank.
-Andrew