McCann Marathon

For a while now, I have had this silly idea -- along with my coffee buddy Krys -- of running a 26.2-mile marathon on the 160-meter McCann Center track. I was even seriously considering this "idea" for New Year's Morning.

But alas, with the home basketball schedule being what it is, the bleachers will be pulled out and a New Year's McCann Marathon will have to wait another year at least.

Here's the thing, though: Somebody you know may have just done a McCann Marathon!

That's right. Our old pal and recent alum David Raucci was at practice on Wednesday. He wanted to see the guys, his old coach and get a few miles in. Well, maybe more than a few.

David ran for 3 hours in the gym. Three hours.

Due to circumstances beyond his control, though, it was not a continuous three-hour run. After 1 hour, 43 minutes, the Student Section bleachers had to be pulled out for about a half-hour. The architects for the upcoming McCann Expansion Project were in the building and they needed to see the bleachers pulled out for whatever reason.

Unfazed, David hung out with the arriving team members, most of whom were stressed out from finals and looking to get a stress-busting run or workout in.

After the bleachers were pushed back in, David resumed his laps and laps and laps and laps for the remaining 1 hour, 17 minutes. He was running in his trusty old Nike Frees, a black pair that was so worn and ripped that the entire side of his feet were exposed. Might as well have been barefoot ...

Later, while lounging in my office eating a sandwich ("I'm starving, coach," he said ... gee, I wonder why?), he said his run probably started at around 7-minute pace but that he picked it up progressively to the point where the last hour or so was at about 6:00 to 6:10 pace.

It did not dawn on me till much later, but our pal had just run the first McCann Marathon -- albeit not continuous, again through no fault of his own.

David is training hard for the spring marathon season. He's putting in mega-mileage.

Please note: Whenever David has the time and inclination to put in high-mileage, mostly aerobic training, the end result is usually a string of eye-popping races. Stay tuned.

Programming note: With the holiday season upon us, and family commitments aplenty, the posts may be a bit more sporadic the next few weeks. I'll try to keep them coming, but there may be some gaps. Sorry, Schabby, I'll do my best.