John U. Bacon Ran a Marathon by Himself Today
There might not have been a spring game, but there WAS a sporting event in Ann Arbor today!
If you follow John U. Bacon (Michigan author) on social media, you know that he launched a personal mission called "Operation Fat Ass" nine months ago on his birthday, when he realized he was a fat ass. He started running a lot and he lost 35 pounds, all the with goal of running in the Boston Marathon this spring.
When that got canceled, he kept his promise to run a marathon, and he did it today. He charted a 26.2-mile course around Ann Arbor and he ran the whole damn thing today. He did it in 5:30 (he called it a "staggeringly slow" time, but he ran the whole way. That's about a 12:30-per-mile pace.
Dude is in his mid-50s and has never been a runner or jogger before this year. But he did it. Way to go, JUB.
I hope this link works. This is him crossing the finish line. LINK.
April 18th, 2020 at 10:03 PM ^
That’s awesome. It inspires me to get my fat ass in shape so I can run a marathon in 9 months.
April 18th, 2020 at 10:22 PM ^
Highly recommend the Non-Runners Marathon Trainer. They taught a class on how to go from not running to Marathon distance in a semester https://www.amazon.com/Non-Runners-Marathon-Trainer-David-Whitsett/dp/1570281823/ref=nodl_
I had a friend who ran 5 miles and walked one mile. He actually finished in the middle of the pack, passing runners who got gassed after 15 to 20 miles in.
I was not a runner and did something similar in my early 30’s, what I did was I ran to every water station, then walked while I drank the water. Basically it was a series of 2 or 3 mile runs. I also walked up every hill, I noticed in training, every time I ran up a hill it tuckered me out and I walked after, so why not save the energy for flat land. The marathon I ran had a huge hill at the 21 mile mark, I got passed by hundreds going up it, than I passed about 1,000 people immediately after.
My goal was running a marathon, shortly after I was going for a long run and about 5 miles in a realized I had met my goal and hated running, I turned around and walked the 5 miles home, and never ran again until the last three weeks with the gyms closed, turns out I still don’t like it.
Good strategy. The water stations are good points to walk. Nice little break and some people have a tough time drinking from a cup while running anyway. There’s nothing worse then choking on some water or Gatorade when you’re already out of breath.
I’m a little crazy bc I love hills. I use them to demotivate my opponents in a race. If I’m chasing someone down and there’s a hill coming up I will wait to pass until we are going up the hill. Most people hate hills so they get discouraged about being passed on the uphill. I then use the hill to accelerate my pace when I get to the top. But then again, I get to train on some nice hills near my house, so I’m used to them.
This is a legit technique for slower runners (like 7:30/mile plus) and has a name, but it’s better to cut it up into smaller pieces like 2 minutes on two minutes off. Often you will find that you end up going faster overall.
I have a ton of respect for anyone who runs for longer than 3 hours. I’ve only done it a few times and it was miserable every time.
Agreed. The run/walk technique can work very well. I’m a decent runner (under 7:00 pace for 10k in my late 40s) and I run/walk in most of my training runs. I’m at the point where I get more frequent calf injuries when I’m not stretching daily, and that little walk break half ease the strain on my legs.
it doesn’t have to be a long break - I might run 6 minutes then walk for 30-45 seconds. But if you are starting out as a runner, you can start with running 1-2 minutes and then walk 1-2 minutes. Over the weeks, just slightly increase your run time by 30-60 seconds and decrease the walk time slightly. Works great.
I’ve also been much more focused on biking and swimming since running is taking its toll on my body. Cycling is great I’m lucky that I have some great country roads nearby. Triathlons are my race of choice these days.
April 19th, 2020 at 12:16 PM ^
That is how I got back to running after I suffered a herniated disk L4-L5. I started out walking at first, then I mixed in 1 minute of running between 2 minutes of walking and gradually over a 3 month period increase my running to where I now run a solid 3 miles 4 times a week. I don't run the 8 to 10 miles almost every day like I did when I was under 50, since I started getting some knee and hip pain. I use to run close to a 7 minute mile back in my 20s and 30s but it has slowed to around 10 minute mile.
You can do it. When I lived in Chicago I was so out of shape I could barely run a mile. I read an inspiring article in the Chicago Tribune by a columnist named Eric Zorn and he suggested a popular 4x per week schedule for beginner runners. I started New Year's Day and in October of that year completed the Chicago Marathon in about 4:30. Not an epic time but it was one of the greatest feelings of accomplishments I've ever had.
My tip: get a running partner for at least some of the runs to motivate you to get out there. If you've got someone else meeting you there you're under pressure not to no-show a run.
Running partners are the best. It can even be someone you talk to every day about running. Don’t worry about time. You are only racing yourself. Go out and do it and enjoy the party afterwards
Running partners can be hugely motivational for many people. It can really help you avoid bailing out on your scheduled runs and can make the run itself that much easier.
I’m particular about my runs (distance, pace, etc) so I always run solo but run partners or groups can be fantastic. See if you have a local running club, they are great support for many runners.
April 19th, 2020 at 11:35 AM ^
Great Eric Zorn reference! He's a Michigan guy, too. I worked at the Michigan Daily the same time he did.
A marathon is not even a healthy thing to do. Don’t run more than 20-25 minutes. Increase intensity. Diet is the main thing if you fat.
Your fourth sentence is pretty much true. Your second and third are random tidbits, and possibly useful with context. Your first sentence is grade a horse poop.
April 19th, 2020 at 10:17 AM ^
As an avid runner for decades I'm a strong believer in running more than ten miles a day has deminishing returns with greater risk of injury and long term joint and cartilage deterioration. In my opinion your much better off and it's more impressive to run fast 5 and 10k's than to slog through a marathon
April 19th, 2020 at 12:24 PM ^
Not really. It depends on what level one is at. Running 10 miles or more per day is a function of ability. Collegiate distance runners (5K to 10K train at a minimum of 70 miles per week. Sub 3 hour marathoners also train 70 miles per week, even those who are in there 30s, 40s and 50s.
The trick is how long. Usually at least 10 weeks and up 20 weeks to prep for this level. This can also be done on a 5 or 6 day week. Running twice a day for some days is required.
However, running too many marathons is detrimental. IE: no more two per year is optimum. It does take 2-3 weeks to fully recover. Those who run more than that never really get a chance to fully recover and are not going 100% during the race. Marathons in general take a lot of wear and tear and shorten one's running career.
I never ran more than two marathons per year and that was only in some years. My entire marathon career was spread out over 15 years and then called it quits on 26.2 mile races. Half marathons are much easier to train for and recover from. Once you've climbed the marathon mountain, you need not proving over and over that you can do it. That's just me, as others feel the need to keep on keeping on. They only prove to me that you run or borrowed time by doing that.
I do agree that being a fast 5K and 10K runner is more impressive but it is a matter of opinion. Marathoners think much differently. They are a different breed.
April 19th, 2020 at 12:49 PM ^
I never ran anything close to a marathon—my longest distance ever was ~13 miles when I was about 20— but I can readily accept that running marathons is very hard on the body.
I was a lifelong runner with my typical distances being 3-5 miles; inside the gym in winter it was only 2 miles. I would do only one road race per year, the 10K A2-Dexter run. In other words, true runners would categorize me as a laughable lightweight.
Even with those relatively light loads, it didn't prevent me from encountering significant problems in one knee that was eventually diagnosed as arthritis at 55. I was a pretty hard heel striker, which I would guess played a big role. I had to give up running on horizontal surfaces (I can run hills and steps all day with no problems), and have been a biker ever since.
IOW, it's not distance alone that determines what happens to you—it's heavily influenced by your own particular genetics, physical structure, and running style.
This is true. Why can some run for more than 20 yrs, some even 40 and 50 yrs? Once you get out that far, you are an anomaly.
Have had my share of injures past 5 years alone but never enough to require surgery or be on the shelf for a prolonged period of time. Put me in the anomaly category.
I used to run 6 miles a day, now I run 2-3 miles once or twice a week. And I run 400 meters as fast as I can once a week. That 400 meters at full intensity is way better than the 6 miles a day. Anyone running 10+ a day is asking to be a skinny stick with injury problems at some point.
April 18th, 2020 at 10:08 PM ^
What he did over the last nine months is incredible.
Hail, hail to JUB! A leader and no longer a fat ass!
April 18th, 2020 at 10:29 PM ^
I agree. As someone who has just started seriously training in running about 4 months ago or so, to think of running 26.2 in less than 6 months makes me physically ill. It took me about 3 or 4 months to get my fat ass up enough endurance to run 7-8 miles regularly (1 or 2 times a week).
April 18th, 2020 at 11:39 PM ^
To this day I have no clue how Eddie Izzard accomplished his marathon of marathons. Some serious willpower.
There’s a group of crazy people that do 30 days of full Ironmans.
April 18th, 2020 at 10:16 PM ^
I remember in 3 and out he explained how he was doing 10% of the workouts the players were doing and he literally couldn’t walk.
Good work JUB!
April 18th, 2020 at 10:19 PM ^
Wait, this was his first marathon? Don't you have to put up a qualifying time at a marathon to run the Boston?
April 18th, 2020 at 10:30 PM ^
Maybe it wasn't the Boston Marathon he was aiming for. One of his friends posted that, but I should have double-checked it. It was probably some other marathon this spring.
April 18th, 2020 at 10:52 PM ^
No, I remember hearing him speak about it on Sam Webb's show. He was definitely targeting Boston.
I suspect it may have been a question of whom he knows. It wouldn't surprise me if there were a limited number of slots available for the media.
A large portion of the field is comprised of runners that get in with a charity bib with no time qualifier https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/charity-program.
as it is, for competitive/elite runners, Boston is surprisingly one of the easier major races to qualify for with a time. Chicago is easier, NYC is middle of the road. Tokyo and Berlin are really tough, and London (if you’re not a UK resident) is nearly impossible.
New York and Chicago (not sure about the other majors because they were never a financial option) are a lottery for the vast majority of the field. They qualifying time are only for people who meet a set of very specific criteria, like they qualifying time has to be at a specific New York run club event.
The Boston field is either qualifying time (at any marathon) or charity. It is not worth comparing them in that way.
Meeting the qualifying time only allows you to apply. Typical a person who is only 30 seconds under the qualifying time will not get in. The years following the bombing (2013) you needed to be 3 to 4 minutes faster. That’s why they dropped the times by five minutes form some age groups a year or two ago.
This isn't true. I've qualified via time for both NYC and Chicago and am not local to either.
Berlin has a sub-elite 2:45 qualifying time, and Tokyo has a dedicated set of 300 entries for non-Japanese applicants with a sub-2:45. London has a qualifying time for UK residents (not necessarily citizens), and an extremely strict auto-qualifying time for semi-pros.
April 18th, 2020 at 10:53 PM ^
I think there can be exceptions if you’re doing it for a charity? Not 100% sure.
April 18th, 2020 at 11:14 PM ^
Not for Boston. Nobody gets into Boston without an absurdly challenging qualifying time. Even for those 55-59, you need to get under a 3:35 time, which is just crazy hard. I’ve done three marathons, all before I was 35, all under 4 hours. My best time was 3:53. I will never qualify for Boston unless I can still run a 4:05 or better at 65
April 19th, 2020 at 12:59 AM ^
I can't say about this year but there definitely have been exceptions in past years. My best friend from college, who was not a runner, got his lazy ass into shape to run Boston as his first marathon and received an exemption from the usual rules because he raised a shitload of money for Boston Children's Hospital (where his kid's life had been saved). He ran and finished but he's slow as hell.
Only reason I know anything about it is because my friend qualified when he was in his early 30's with a 3:06, but then got heat stroke running it and finished in over 4 hours.
This is not accurate. About 1/3 of the field are charity runners. There is also the fourth wave of bandit runners, but those are supposed to only be locals.
April 19th, 2020 at 12:03 PM ^
John U was planning to run the Boston Marathon. No he didn't have to qualify because he got one of those media slots. It is a weird deal but still legit.
Boston has always been a race that one much run a previous marathon or an equivalent half marathon time in a prior race no more than one year before. That's why Boston is considered an elite type marathon.
April 18th, 2020 at 10:21 PM ^
Good for him.
I rode my bike around Lake Tahoe about 5 years ago.
Set a goal and go do it.
April 18th, 2020 at 10:50 PM ^
impressive...
I walked to my second fridge in my mancave to get a beer, which is, once again, in a separate facility that some would call a shed....
I plan on doing at least 6 laps today
But I guess you win Mr. Bacon
April 18th, 2020 at 10:53 PM ^
But I guess you win Mr. Bacon
Eh, not so fast. I bet he didn't have to carry a beer with him!
April 18th, 2020 at 11:22 PM ^
Wait. Are people allowed out in Michigan to do things such as run a marathon? Serious question.
April 19th, 2020 at 12:42 AM ^
Yes. You can go for a run, walk or bike ride as long as you follow safe distance guidelines and people do all the time. I usually walk 3-4 miles a day at my local Metropark.
We’re not in some Alcatraz like lockdown condition like the news running the stories about the idiot Lansing protestors want you to believe.
April 18th, 2020 at 11:32 PM ^
Good for him. That’s an accomplishment
April 18th, 2020 at 11:37 PM ^
I sat on my couch and had potato chips and beer.
April 18th, 2020 at 11:40 PM ^
Would have been cited in NJ
I'd bet he was sighted in Michigan
April 18th, 2020 at 11:42 PM ^
John U. Bacon is the best bacon and everybody knows it. It has much much better ratings than Canadian Bacon. Really, we should ban Canadians, it isn't sending us their best, they've been sending us their worst for years.
Turkey Bacon is third rate, all the best people are saying it. We have the biggest and best bacon in the US, really, just beautiful American bacon. I'm rich and my wife is a 10, by the way, my daughter too.
But John U. Bacon is just tremendous - the biggest, best, most beautiful of all the bacons - you know it, I know it, everyone knows it.
April 19th, 2020 at 12:03 AM ^
Great post, John U. Thanks for letting us know.
April 19th, 2020 at 12:25 AM ^
If he planned on running Boston he definitely planned on fundraising instead of qualifying.
Good for him getting healthy and I guess since he was not a big runner his joints are still in good shape. I ran 3 marathons in my life, 2 in my mid 20s and my last one at age 34. Through my 40s I would run 8 to 10 miles every day but I have cut it way back to 3 to 5 miles every other day, since I turned 50 I noticed some bad joint pain and had to cut back. Now I feel fine running my 3 to 5 miles 4 times a week, the hip and knee pains are gone.
Great for JB! I'm not quite as old as him, "just" 52 this year, but totally with him on the fat ass realization.
A couple of years ago, I joined my current company and all of my colleagues were at least a healthy weight; many were seriously fit. So, I decided to do something about it.
I have bad knees (always have) so running is out. I started walking every day instead, and built up to a 13:30 per-mile time, and between 5-6 miles per day, sometimes 7, depending on the day and the weather. I joined a gym and started doing cardio 4x per week, but have switched to Yoga in the past couple of weeks since the gym is out. I also changed my eating habits - now about 95% plant-based (I occasionally treat myself to sushi or a poke bowl), with 16/8 intermittent fasting - and get plenty of sleep.
I'm down about 40 lbs since June 2017, and I have never been more fit in my entire life.