1. The Texas Relays Marathon, Spring 1977--I wasn't very well prepared for this one, and it took 4:20:30. One image in this race that is a strong memory, was of a woman runner with a hand-held radio and ear phones that leaked music out on the trail. I passed her early on and felt superior, I'll have to admit. Much later on in the race when I had slowed down considerably, I heard similar music approaching me from the rear. It reminded me of the crocodile that had swallowed an alarm clock in Peter Pan. Same sort of feeling. I guess she got to feel superior, then. Gail and Travis and Dan ran the quarter marathon. Their times were 79:57, 55:35 and 57:25 respectively. Dan was 3rd in his age group (Male 0-9) and I was listed just above the three DNFs (Did Not Finish) in the 41-50 year age group. I guess I was a BDF (Barely Did Finish!) Gail said "But you did finish, and that makes all the difference." She is an encourager.
2. The Tom Riley Marathon, 19 November 1977--(My second T. R. Marathon) Tom didn't want to take a chance on not being able to finish a public marathon, so he set one up, and measured and calculated the course, 11 laps around Pickle Research Campus, which was Balcones Research Center at the time. Tom and Skippy and I ran on a Saturday. Skippy, our Terrier mix dog, at one point realized we could take a short cut, and he took it and waited for us thick-headed humans. When we didn't seem to catch on, he ran the rest of the laps with us. I started to say “doggedly”, but he really loved to run. [One other time I was doing about 4-minute miles on the Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail and he kept up with me for 3 of them, total. (I'll confess I was on a bicycle)]. Skippy wasn't disqualified for taking the short cut, because he took lots of side trips along the way (bunny paths?). Tom finished the TR Marathon, too, a little ahead of me. I have lost my time but I think it was a few seconds more than Tom's, which was 4:08:44. Tom said the distance was not a precise marathon, as a marathon is 42.2 km, and we ran 42.32 km. He thought we might be disqualified for this error! Tom's time was 3:55 in the 1978 Texas Relays Marathon, a respectable time for a first one (in public).
3. Galveston, 4 March, 1978, time: 3:10:02. This one was nice and flat. There were some student trainers down from a school in Houston examining the runners, and they said I was one of the least limber, not a great thing to excel at. I was 42.
4. Corpus Christi, Bayfest 1978, time: 3:30:38. Several other members of the family ran here. In the 4-mile race Dixon E. Coulbourn did it in 32:09. He was 16. Dan Coulbourn did it in 37:08. He was 11. Gail did the 4-miler in 44:10, an eleven-minute per mile pace! I couldn't find a time for Travis, but I think we all ran there. In Wimberley, TX, in the Hillaceous 10k, I ran it in 39:59.
5. Dallas Whiterock, 2 Dec 1978: time: 3:39:32. A neat feature of this run of two laps around White Rock Lake, was that a lone bagpiper appeared on the second lap, when encouragement was needed.
6. Fort Worth: Cowtown, 17 Feb 1979, time:3:33:50, COLD! 23 to 25 degrees during the race! I got hypothermia and Gail spooned hot stew into me until I quit shaking. On the way up to Fort Worth in our '73 VW van, we ran into an ice storm, and found out how ineffective our heater was. There were 4 little circles that we could see out of, over the heater vents. The windshield wipers were making a scraping noise and not doing much good. Brr. You'd think that a vehicle made in Germany would be able to handle the cold. Maybe it was a special model for export to the U.S. and they were trying to get even with us for winning WWII!
7. A 50 km (31.07 mile) ultra Marathon on Town Lake in Austin on June 30, 1979. I alternated running and walking every 5 minutes except near the end, when I made longer and longer walks. Time, about 7 hours. We started early in the morning, but it got pretty warm by the time we finished. On this one, I alternated, running 5 minutes and walking 5 minutes, most of the way. The time was calculated by assuming 8 minutes per mile for the running parts and 20 minutes per mile for the walking parts. That calculates to 5 hours and 55 minutes, but I think it took at least an hour longer. Ken Hawker and I set this up and ran (and walked) it. We should have saved it for cooler weather.
8. Dallas Whiterock, 1 December 1979 time: 3:14:44.8 A little faster than my first Whiterock. The bagpiper appeared again.
9. Houston-Tenneco: 19 Jan 1980, time: 3:06:43, or 7:07 per mile. I maintained a 7:10 to 7:15 pace at Houston for about 20 miles and felt good, so I picked up speed, and passed a couple of hundred runners. I even passed John Howard, who later won the Hawaii Iron Man. John and I had done cyclocross at opposite ends of the spectrum. He always won the upper division race, and I always brought up the rear in the lower division race. John’s strengths were in biking and swimming, and he wasn’t tuned up for the run, yet. He gave me a chance for a moral victory.
10. Woodlands, near Houston:
Feb. 16, 1980, time: 3:05:01 (My best one--7.03/mile!--1st 3 miles at 6:30/mile!) During this one, one sock was interfering destructively with one big toe nail. I wanted to stop and fix it, but I was glad I didn't, since it was my best time ever. The toe nail was lost, but it grew back.
11. Boston, MA, The Boston Marathon, 21 April 1980, Time: ~5 h.
Although I had been somewhat of a pioneer in the running movement, it was starting to catch on by 1980. Below is a tale I wrote in the back of the book, The Boston Marathon (See bibliography), on eight otherwise blank pages . I wrote it right after the marathon when things were a lot fresher in my mind. It has been edited to reflect what I wanted to have said. I had reservations at the Susse Chalet in Boston and airline reservations even before I qualified. I entered Boston, and got number V-33. I kissed Gail goodbye and met Larry Carver, an Austin running friend, at the plane. The co-pilot was a runner, noticed Larry's running togs, and let us sit in first class. It was a smooth flight. We changed planes in Atlanta GA. Back to tourist-class reality. We were met in Boston by Larry's friend, David. He guided us downtown on the subway. We split up at the Government Center Exit and I took the train to Andrews and caught a cab from there to Susse Chalet. Since it was late it wasn't too prudent to get out on the street. Susse Chalet is a nice motel but some rough areas adjoin its general location. A couple of observations for future reference: Stay closer to the Prudential (Governor Bradford, for instance--I wonder if I could get a discount because he is ostensibly my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather?) Also one should carry on board everything in a small flight bag.
The first night in Boston I was just excited about what was going to happen, especially after hearing some famous speakers talking about running. I went to seminars given by Dorothy Harris, Dr. George Sheehan, and Jim Fixx. They were really good. I took a subway out to Boston College to see it and Heartbreak Hill. Beautiful campus. Quite a hill. Boston Marathon finishers are generally proud of finishing this hill. I didn't see it again, unfortunately. The subway didn't stay subterranean. I talked to a local girl on the un-sub subway who said she would either be in a helicopter or roller skating during the race. I saw her skating. I don't remember when rollerblades came in, but it was one or the other. My neighbors at the hotel Sunday night, the night before the marathon sounded like they were using our common wall as an inverted trampoline. I had gone up there early instead of staying with Sam and Marty to be sure of getting to the starting line on time. That was a wrong decision, because I got hardly any sleep the two nights before the marathon. Finally, at about 3 or 4 AM Monday morning, I went next door and politely as possible told the lodgers I was running the Boston Marathon the next day, and asked if they might be able to quieten down. They actually did, but the damage was done, and I hardly slept at all. I ran only about 4 miles at a pretty good clip, maybe 7 minute miles. It was nothing like the Woodlands marathon where I had qualified. There were about eleven runners from Austin. I see Larry Carver every now and then, (March 2005). Mary Bull from Austin and I were both shooting for a 3-hour time, so we ran together for 3 or 4 miles, at which time I realized it was going to be too fast. I eased off, (I don’t know how she did.) found myself running with Johnny Kelley at about 9 miles. I could hear a roar from the crowd that I determined was for him and not for me! I read in The Boston Marathon that the crowd dispersed after he came by. I didn't experience that. But it's such a big crowd, the sensation must be different for everyone. On the other hand, maybe there were even more spectators before I got to any point and after he passed me. He had won Boston in 1935 and 1945, had come in second seven times, and had run it in more years than any other man in history--48 by 1980, when I ran it, and I was 44 while he was 73. His record was 61 when he died at 97. I found out in 2011 that he had died 8 Oct. 2004. (Women who ran Boston had to start with being admitted in 1972, officially, while Roberta Gibb and Katherine Switzer snuck in, in 1966 and 1967, respectively. Roberta was a bandit. Katherine actually entered as "K. Switzer."), I don't know how many more women snuck in!) I know I stopped at about 0.9 Bostons. I did "do" the Pike's Peak Marathon after Boston. There was a saying at that one, "Train at Boston, run Pike's Peak!" And I did one more Houston. Four black roller-skaters passed me about this time, also. People at several places along the route were yelling "Go Texas," "Way to go Aggie," etc. I heard one person say "Texas A-G's.?" I guess he was a transplanted Longhorn! I was wearing a Texas Aggie T-shirt with a maroon Texas Relays Marathon transfer on the back. (I was wearing that same T-shirt recently, like 31 March 2005!) There was no ERG, since I was in the slower part of the distribution. Since all the runners (except "bandits") have had to qualify with a 3-hour marathon for men under 40 and a 3:30 for men over, my previous night's "revelry" was telling on me. I had qualified with a 3:02, but I could tell this was not going to be close to that.
Little children held out their hands to be slapped all along the route, and there were crowds all along the way except for a few hundred yards between towns in the early stages. The crowd was great. At Wellesley the girls lined the route, screaming. I heard "Yea A&M, etc" more here. Some of the girl runners turned back at the end of this line to run through again. It was really a kick to me, too. I never knew exactly where I was, mile-wise. Boston is not noted for good mile-markers. The route has changed so many times over the years that the marks would have to be temporary, and then they'd make good souvenirs. I just had to estimate the distances, based on my un-constant speed. By about 20 miles I had walked a good bit. I was surrounded by bandits. At 20.5 miles (Well, there were some distance markers,) I got to feeling really bad. I went through a hedge where there was shade and lay down. The people nearby got some help right away. Some police with an oxygen tank gave me some O2. Several other spent runners got in the police van and waited. The Boston Athletic Association bus, a bus full of other beaten down runners, came along shortly and we rode about 2 1/2 miles before getting jammed in traffic. It was warm and some people on the bus were sick, and there was no water. Finally I decided I could make better time walking. Probably contrary to regulations, I got off the bus. (One reason for riding the bus was that my brother Sam was waiting at the Prudential. My watch had stopped and I thought I might still make our deadline of 4:00 P. M.) I walked a little, then found I could run. I ran alongside a car that was slowly moving in traffic. A girl in it passed me her beer. It really was great--I was that desperate for moisture. (I'm not much of a beer-drinker.) I ran a mile or so on that. I walked about a half mile with a woman who was walking along the race route. She kept plying me with questions about the marathon. After a while, I felt like running again and ran the final mile or maybe less.
Sam was waiting when I got to the finish line, and he had expected me a lot sooner, based on my qualifying times. He got me a foil blanket and some yogurt and we went to the Greyhound Station, got my bags, sans glasses, out of a locker there. We then drove to Newport, stopping at a Howard Johnson's for a couple of glasses of orange juice and a cup of coffee. Sam was sweating out being late to a class he was teaching, on scheduling! He was teaching management and economics at Roger Williams College at Quonset Point, in addition to his War College classes. I waited at a diner in Quonset Point while he went and administered a quiz. I was something to behold, with bloody feet, barely able to stand up, holding my running shoes which I had taken off etc. I was still in my running shirt, which said "Texas Aggies" on the front and "Texas Relays Marathon" on the back. (Every once in a while I still wear that shirt to the track in 2005). I still had my number, hair more of a mess than usual, and had slipped on a pair of slacks over my shorts, but hadn't zipped them up! The waitresses asked me about the marathon--that was a kick. I noticed three ketchup packages left on the table. I sucked them dry, hoping to get some electrolytes back into my system. I got some funny looks from a group of four women across the aisle and in front of where I was sitting. When Sam finally came and was helping me, limping out to the car, they were all at the door peering at us. When we finally got to 14 Jackson, I got to take a welcome shower, and then we had a fantastic supper. There was shrimp bisque and then lobster! We got to bed around 1:00 A.M. and I slept like an iron frog. I woke up at 9 A. M. I got up and Marty had left out sausage and grapefruit and English muffins. Sam and
Marty had both gone to work. I located a couple of eggs and milk. Marty picked me up at noon and we met Sam and Larry, another prof. at the War College. We had a great lunch of Providence seafood enchiladas and much-needed coffee. Providence is largely Portuguese, so maybe they know how to make enchiladas. The people at Corky's called it "Seafood Crepes." Marty and Sam and Susan got me a maroon tie with runners on it. Sam got one too, with "red-headed joggers" on it. One of my fellow "runners" in 1980 was Rosy Ruiz. She had only run a short way at the start and near the finish, taking the bus in between, and claimed to be the female winner! She got caught, fortunately. I should be sympathetic to her since I rode the bus a little, too, but I think I'll put her and my neighbors at the Susse Chalet in the same bin to be forgiven later.
Sam has been sending me The Boston Globe the Tuesday after the marathon is run on Monday for years. I keep combing it for my name. So far, no luck.
I saw Larry Carver early in 2006, and sent him my account of Boston. This is what he said: “Dear Dixon,
It was good to see and talk with you yesterday; I am ever so glad to see you up and about, exercising (don't worry about the wait; it was great training for Mungo!). And evidently you are also exercising the mind a good deal; the family genealogy sounds like quite a project. I enjoyed ever so much your account of the trip to Boston and of the running of the Marathon in 1980. Much I had forgotten--the pilot, running togs, and going first class--and it's nice to have the memories restored. Thank you. My time at Boston was finally 3:08 and change; as I told you, I cratered at Heartbreak Hill, at times, or so I remember, nearly crawling the last six miles. Like you, I also qualified for Boston at the Woodlands, winning the 35 to 40 age group with a 2:43 and change. That was to be my best marathon, Boston being my last. The knees simply would not take another.
Again, many thanks for sending this along. Happy birthday and every best wish for the New Year, Larry
P.S. I saw Bill Rogers briefly shortly before the race began and never, needless to say, saw him again.”
My brother Sam wrote,
Dear Dick,
That's great! It certainly checks with my recollection. I remember seeing Rosie, huffing and puffing, all "worn out" from her ride on the bus. I remember how frantic I was, because (1) you had not appeared-- what could have happened?? and (2) I had to be at class and how would I ever connect up with you? Then I remember the anxiety while I was in that class, thinking about you, shivering in that aluminum blanket.
Love,
Sam
12. Round trip on Pike's Peak, 9 August 1981, time: at peak, 4:17:59, round trip, 7:28:40. We acclimated to the high altitude for about a week or maybe a little more. It was not enough. I ran the first mile in about 8 minutes, but then I joined the rest of the unprepared runners. There was a long line of us plodding up to the top and back. At one point on the way up one of the real runners, already on the way down, was trying to encourage us to run, It would take more than a cheer-leader! At the time, I also didn't know I had low blood sugar, and at the top Gail handed me a "Snickers Bar," that we had purchased for the occasion. It may not have been the worst thing we could have done, but close to it. I had just enough energy to roll down to the bottom. I had a pair of shoes with a fancy "lacing system," that I ignored. It turned out I probably should have read and followed the directions, because the shoes were not tight enough, and especially on the way down, my toes kept jamming into the front of the shoes. My big toenails were black for at least a year after that. It kind of reminded me of my elementary school report cards. In many or most of them, they put "Needs Improvement" under the category of "Listens to and Follows Directions!"
13 Houston-Tenneco 1982, time:3:49:13. We stayed with our friends, Dr. and Mrs. Rayner and Nancy Dickey. He had an interesting collection of music boxes, that he bought partly as an investment, partly for fun. There were some really elaborate ones. I don't remember much about this marathon. It was my last, so far. At the present rate that I "run," if I could keep up the pace, it would take about 8 hours. That's not much worse than my Pike's Peak time.
About three years ago, I ran another marathon. It took 6 hours (and 4 days). That’s a little too long to be worthy of a number, but I don’t know if I could do it, now. That’s close to one 10km a day. (± 1%)
An event almost like a marathon was the Double Decker. The course around Decker Lake in Austin is hilly, and about 22 miles long. On one of these, I averaged 7 minutes per mile on the first lap, 9 minutes per mile on the second, for an overall pace of about 8 minutes per mile.
Bibliography: Falls, Joe, The Boston Marathon, © Collier Books, New York, 1977, 204-212 (otherwise blank pages, good idea, Joe.)
