How it all got started

Last year, October, unwittingly I find myself in a bet regarding a marathon.
On the reservoir in Central Park, talking with Todd and Chubby the other night and I simply can not believe that not one of them got to Chicago 2006 to race the marathon, (the original deal even included three of them--Danny Dollarman too). So somehow the swing got turned round to me… I was criticizing them with all their back out plans, loop holes etc.. and before I knew it I have a bet with Todd!

The first one over the line at Chicago next year $718.

"I will honor this bet, no matter what. I started training tonight." He said, and continued, “So what happens if you get hit on your bike and can’t run?” Too bad for me. The deal is on!

So what are the odds -- In the Brooklyn Corner we have Todd -- Last marathon 3:15, next race Montauk Turkey Trott (“Hey Toby don’t put that race on the web site because 5:56 miling won it last year, and I want to win it this year.”) Last race -- the Club Champs in August.

And representing Manhattan, Me -- last marathon, 3:05. -- Pretty even huh?

Head to head -- height-- Toby taller 187 cm, Todd 5’ 11” smaller (Small is good for the marathon).
Weight -- toby fatter 152-lb, todd-141-lb slimmer (Advantage Todd).
Age same.
Coach -- Todd has Anil, Toby has nobody. Advantage -- Nobody is better.
Performance curve -- Todd, improving -- was in the 9-minute miling in 2004, has improved a minute per mile over the past two editions of the Club Champs. Toby, declining -- ran Brooklyn Half marathon this year in 2:35, five years ago won it. Next year? Probably the grave.

The smart money? Anil, “I‘m taking Todd.” Danny, “Toby.” Chubby, “Are you serious? (he could not stop laughing after that part).

Footnote; whilst on the reservoir Todd says, “I never lose a bet. I bet you Atilly is going to beat Tracy in this mile repeat.” Six minutes later Tracy appears in front of Attily.

Running For a reason: Toby, to raise money for Shoe4Africa. Todd, “To smash Toby.”

Anyway I suddenly thought, what a good idea to fund raise for the S4A Kibera project!

4-weeks to go--Late breaking news, Todd recruited a pacer, but we hear that she might be pulling out! She wants to run Austin instead.

At the Long Training Run I had the pleasure of running around for two loops with journalist/runner John Hanc as we talked music, heroin, and jazz. When I finished early, I bumped into Moses whose eyebrows frowned, “We’ve got $500 riding on you!! You are not finishing the 20??” I went home to put a lump of ice on my heel and drink something loosely described as coffee, and spend 45-minutes on the phone doing the simple task of ordering a new book of cheques from the Chase bank...

25-days to go--Michele C. sends in a pledge, but she does not say which way- gotta decide!

In the Red Corner, coached By Chubbs, we have Todd.. in the blue corner advised by the one and only RunBam (after he was fired from Todd’s team) is me. No clear favorite – one race, no ties!

24-days to go: Verbal battering! I was running in Central Park Friday evening. On the daily dose was 2.5 miles easy when I passed a group of young school girls,
“Hey Toby! Todd’s better than you, he’s gonna beat you!”
Next moment I am surrounded by a group of 11-year olds from a local school where Todd is the coach.
I’m like “How do you know who I am?”
”You’re Todd’s nemesis and he’s going to beat you!”
I was like, “Well if you are so sure why not put your pocket money where your mouth is!”
To which I hear, “I’ll eat my Jimmy Choo’s if you beat Todd, he’s the best.”
Another little sprout comes up to me, “How far have you run cos you’re sweating awful hard. We’ve done a 2-mile warm up, and we’re not sweating!”

As I ran off I heard the heckles, “Todd’s going to kill you!” Wow, what do these kids eat for breakfast? I have finally met his fanclub!

Thanks to Coach Devon of CPTC who sends in a $100 pledge for me!

3 weeks and two days to go, and Pat Duffy is asking, "Who is this person I placed my bet on. What was his name?"

3 weeks and one day to go--The journals of a disenchanted jogger = The road is long.. if you do the full 20...

Three weeks to go, and we have a sandbagger! The Chicago Challenge heats up – Todd missed a week of training a while back (well running), and considers pulling the plug. Hey, Paula Radcliffe missed more than a week and set a world record in 2003... we’re not even going to the local Junior Olympics! One week in the whole of 2007 is not that bad, or?

Anyway, The full monty--I hear that Todd is injured and saying he is not training, then (wonderments of wonderments) who do I bump into on 90th ST running to Central Park, without a limp or a hitch to his stride? So we talk and I find out Todd is entered for the NYC marathon, and now wants to switch the challenge over... to the 5th Avenue mile; two weeks from Today.

But, if nothing less I am stubborn as red pig – yes, I have missed more than a week in training (like him), yes I only managed 11-miles of the Long Training run at 8:30 mile pace, yes I know I am setting myself up for doom by actually writing this, but yes I will be there in Chicago, even if I have to hop round because this is what this bet was about – Just doing it sans excuses – because, in the groups I coach there are loads more people who have difficult training build-ups (all with bona fide excuses), but don’t whine! People who have one leg who don’t whine, are 100-lbs overweight.. blah blah…

20-days to go--$100 pledge for me from Devon, Coach of CPTC!

19-days to go--R2 ups the anty, “I raise the pledge to $250 IF you do a mile repeat session before you get to the starting line!” Well, she must know that is money in the bank!” Thanks R2. Meanwhile Todd came running by me in the park, flew by (well I was standing still coaching), then I went to the gym, and an hour later went out to run, and did so with Rick, and who do I see again still running, Todd! “He’s looking good..” said the Rickster.

And another pledge, from Rachel Z. of S4A, “Please put me down for $100 and some cadburys chocolate on you for Chicago!” You Rock Rachel!!

18-days to go--Sitting in a bucket of ice.” Jamie aptly said, “Like the rest of us!” True words enough – I have an inflamed Achilles tendon, I have tenosynovitus behind my right knee, an inflamed gracilis/hamstring fusion, but I am hoping along.. with something now bothering my heel (but I cut the heel cup out of my shoe to alleviate the pressure…. So I am still hanging in, but a true reminder that my body is shot. Funny, when I was training hard and was serious about running I had one injury in ten years. Now, as a flippertygibbet I am riddled like a teabag. Should not complain. Today I did the old trick of putting a pebble in my ‘good’ foot shoe; this is an annoyance but helps block out the pain of the other foot. For some unbeknown reason my heel is as tender as a sore tooth in a salt mine. Counting the days, counting the days!

17-days to go--At Doc Dan’s tenosynivitus, lumps in the calf muscle, inflamed Achilles and 45-minutes with the stim and finally my leg moved… Did you know Dr. Dan’s first ever marathon was 2:58 aged 48!! What a legend.

15-days to go--The Chicago Bet takes a weird turn!
On a day when I could not put weight on my foot when I got up, then had to go to Dr. Dan’s (above) to move the foot I hear from Todd, who is now running fine, that he wants to forfeit the bet! He wants to replace the bet, now for sure, with the 2008 Houston Marathon.

Two weeks to go, from action to slacktion. I had a great long run, my best yet, but a day after I could not walk, the next day I could hardly jog, then I did a tempo and ran slower for 36-minutes than I had for two hours. Counting the days! Dinner last night still consisted of beer, cake, and ice cream -- unfortunately in copious amounts so the pounds are piling on... I worked out the other day my entire diet is basically pure carbohydrate! Breakfast three servings of oatmeal, raisins. Lunch five cinnamon bagels and coffee, dinner -- as forementioned! I call it the Anti-Atkins!

12-days to go: a pleasant surprise, I thought with my flabby diet I was putting on the pounds, but when I hopped on the scales au contraire! Kool beans. I was running in the park and met Moses, "Hey, your competition is out here in the park, training, I just saw him run by." The good news training wise for myself is I actually had a good training run. My heel is tender-sore, but I did manage to clock a good longish run at a decent pace(!)

11-Days to go. I met Todd twice running in Central Park, each time we passed, not a word was spoken. Fast forward to the evening. Todd is telling about his tempo run, how he passed me and I looked like a cripple, he was parading a new T shirt that arrived in the post from the Chicago Marathon, holding it up like a flag. The taper has begun.

Meanwhile in another part of town I am trying to read the menu at a little Japanese restaurant on Broadway, I have barely opened the cover. “Do you know what you want?” Asked the Russian Rocket. Urm, I think… “Okay, I order for you.” No, give me a sec… I want Sushi, and I tell him so, and to hold on as I have not yet even found the sushi section. “We’ll have Sashimi for two.” I remind him I said I wanted Sushi. “Sashimi, it’s better,” and he is reeling off to the waitress the order-- Sashimi plate for two, a bowl of deep fried soft shelled crabs, mussels in buttered garlic oil, large plate of stir fried vegetables, a sugar soaked and baked eggplant, a bowl of edamame (or however you spell it). bang goes the diet

The waitress asks us what we want to drink, so I ask for something with ginger in it. “No, he wants Saki.” No, I want something with ginger in it…. “C’mon on Tob, for me take one.” Finally settling for a beer I ask for a small Sapporo, the Rocket upgrades it to a large… Five hours later, after the Rocket had even tried to get the Chef to start drinking (“Chef has a bad heart” said the waitress, so then the Rocket tried to get him to smoke a cigar with us, to which the waitress said, “Chef have bad throat,” he tried a desser, "Chef have bad stomach"... so instead the Rocket started buying her drinks, and probably cigars.

Next stop a hotel bar one block up the road. “I want the most expensive bottle of wine you have got.” The Rocket tells the waitress, this time I was the editor, “Give him a glass of that merlot,” I said pointing to the only thing on the wine list under ten bucks. ..” Anyway, the moral of the story is, when you begin the taper and you are resting the body, don’t go out on a school night with a Russian and expect to get home before well into the next day…

11-days to go, hm, not happy with the scales, feeling like a slob. I am running out of time to get my miles session in in time for Chicago. Thanks to Mehmet who pledges $100 for me!! Way to go, and thanks. Spoke with Chubbs, "Todd is being silent, he's playing his cards close to his chest." Speaking to Joe of the Flyers, "So you are going to jump in to the race without having raced at all in 2007? You know I did that once, I had a terrible race, ran awful." Thanks for the vote of confidence Joe! Yup, that starting horn is going to be a shock to the body, but since I am in the last corral I will have a while to get used to it before I even start to move!

10-days to go And on this day Todd is running 20-miles in the park with Amy Sussman. A last minute tune up? "I'm going an easy pace."

Apparently Amy is the new training partner. Two new bets - $100 for Todd (boo) from Jess, and $100 and an elephant beer (yeeharr) from Michele for me!! Thanks Michele. No comment about Jess. This weekend the weigh in, I have to decide what shoes to run in too - my worn in Mizuno elixers or my new elixers? I ran the Istanbul marathon in a pair of shoes straight from the box, and was fine.. setting myself saying that! Injury level -- very painful heel/achilles. Ice is a good friend right now. Diet? Rosa Mexicana for lunch yesterday - Guaca' for starters, black bean, fruit, yellow rice Tuna, and a delectable cheesecake for dessert... the bagels were left waiting on the table!

7-days to go, Todd does his long run of 18-miles at 2-hrs something, and says it felt easy... but is having doubts about running Chicago.

6-days to go, thanks to Ken Trush for his $100 donation for me! $6200. Last two days training 2.5 miles and a 6-miles run. Flippin heel is making me wonder how painful is this task going to be... then a timely reflection -- Ken's son, Danny, is running ING NYC for the first time this year, he is doing it in a handcrank and on foot. A few years ago, after a brain injury, he did not even dream he'd be able to finish the Fifth Avenue mile.. in fact I believe at his second attempt at the 5th Avenue he PR'd by 15-minutes. Kind of puts things into perspective!

Five days to go! Rick tells me that Todd is not running, we think this is a ploy for me to lower my guard. Word on the street is he thinks he can't win. Huh, talking about low bars to jump over... speaking of which R2, "All you have to do is two, it is not like I said you had to do a lot of mile repeats." I told her there is still hope, I have a few days left to do my mile repeats. You see I am doing the pancake flip method of training -- my mile repeats will come inthe race, kind of like I did the taper int he training mode, then on the day of the race - wham bam. The leg, still connected to my body, though still feels like it is not. Diet? I ate two apples and a grapefruit yesterday with the bagels...

PS-- We see Todd standing at 90th ST getting ready for a tempo run with his training partner... and passing in the other direction is Caroline Bierbaum, and Jimmy the Rope, in her last tempo.

Four days left-- No word from Todd, I asked if he had canceled his flight, to which I got no reply, but a laugh. Meanwhile I tried to do a bit of a tempo run -- I thought a steady six miles. I quit after four with cramps... in my Good leg! A timely reminder maybe to get in some liquids. I once carbo depleted for a race, but as I have explained before if I take carbs out of my diet, then there is nothing left, so that is out of the question.

Three days to go - I cut a bagel out of my diet as I am feeling bloated from doing nothing and eating so much, four for lunch now. Finally got round to checking the weather - 'The weather for Chicago ‘A high of 85. Sun followed by increasing cloudiness. Windy from the southwest, unseasonably warm and humid.’ Does not sound ideal, but what the heck beats freezing rain... fighting words from Nick, "I ran Chicago, the nice flat course made me go out too fast. I blew up and went and screamed in a bathroom dejected at mile 18 when I realized I was toast." On the other hand, piles of good luck notes and phone calls -- anyone would think I am going to war. Thanks to Rachel for Cadbury's chocolates for my post race recovery!

Two days to go--$1000 dollar pledge for me, from someone in Iceland!! My last entry, till Monday, because as of now I am off to Chicago and am not taking my laptop with me.

Out for a run this morning, did a slow few on the dirt and I was remembering the last marathon I ran – I remember it painfully well; it literally ran in slow motion—you see the spectators face one way, looking down the avenue and they cheer… well turn back the clocks over twenty-five years; I ran the English Schools XC Championships, which is the top junior race over there in my brief 12-13 yr old running stint, before I learnt how good a marlboro tasted. I remember the race, flying along the course with people yelling meters away and I could barely make out what they were saying as we flew by so quickly... turn the page to my last marathon… so I hear, “Go Toby, you’re doing great…” Then I was running at a speed that when they continued to look up the avenue and presume I had ran past, I hadn’t, “God, he looks bad, he used to able to run… look at him now he looked awful!” That is a true story that happened many time along the course (with a variance of wording).

My other thought going to Chicago is I have never started a race behind 29,000 competitors in my life, 3,000 yes, but I am not looking forward to threading my way through the masses (I am in the 3:55:59 qualifying pen). Anyway, work to do, a bet to win….. a year ago this month I was making this bet saying that Todd wouldn’t do it, I was telling him, there is no way,and he was insisting to me that he was going to do, come hell or high water, that he was as good as his word... We made a deal we'd resort to crutches if we had to,but I told him he would not be able to stand up to the prtessure, go to Chicago and run... and time will prove if I am right, or not! First over the finish line. Despite staying in Monte Carlo, going to Las Vegas four times I have never gambled. The last bet I made was for $20 in September 1990 racing a friend 100m down the High Street in Iceland.

Late pledge from Kristin H. "$100and company match for Toby!" You rock Kristin!! Thx!

PLEDGE update - $7400!!!

The result -- Todd, did not start, Toby did finish the race -- a record 88-degrees heat, dead body, and 400 ambulance rides in the first 4-hrs. Race day--Well, thank goodness it is over, and I am back to normal life sitting with a cube of ice on my achilles. To the people who found me untrackable, that is because I upgraded my number a couple of times from the open division, to the VIP runner status (miscommunication when I was asking for an upgrade) to the C corral, and then some upgrading by myself to get in the A corral - Sub 3:10.

The race started fine, I was running with a few New Yorkers having a dandy time, feeling easy and thinking what is the fuss about. The leg hurt but not more than in training. I met Danny Dollarman and ran with him for a while.

Halfway, 1:22, great... then mile 14 I got stomach cramps, and I started bending over like a paperclip, and although the pace dropped a little it was still 6's. 20-miles was still way under 7-min pace (2:09).. then Slomaslam - mile 20 and one yard. I had a bad mile, it was a 9. I just could not move. Well I thought that was a bad mile, but the next one was even worse.

I was just thinking, "Focus on the bet." I could not swallow as my stomach was a tight knot, the heat was brutal, and the roads never ended. I kept on running, a 10-minute mile (and a high ten!).

Crossing the line was a relief (have not seen the results, but by my watch it was 3:05) as if I had crossed the sahara, and I quickly zipped over to the tent to get some fluids. By the tent (in the shade) it was 84-F. As far as the course and race goes - thumbs up, a great event. My post recovery was first I went for lunch with the athletes,and then to the bar and sunk seven beers in the space of under two hours, before I could finally find my legs. One thought remained with me from Mile 20 until now (back in ice), never again. I heard they closed the course after 3' 30 because over 400 ambulances had been called, and they had ran out of further ambulances... As Daniel Yego, who won San Diego earlier this year in 2:08:16 said after he dropped out, "Today was not supposed to be for running - not even a half."

"At the start it was 73 degrees F (22 C), a new start temperature record by three degrees, and a couple hours into the race temperatures had soared to 88 degrees F (31 C), four higher than the previous high set in 1979." Jim Ferstle, IAAF.

Todd's excuse for not starting, "I did not think I could reach my goal time (enough to beat Toby)... boo, poor excuse!

Chubbs (Todd's coach) "I knew a year ago when you made this bet that you (Toby) would do it, because you always do. I also knew that Todd would never beat you, and really did not think he would even go."

What about Todd, Two years now of not following though -- can he make a hatrick?

Thanks to Hlaup.is of ICELAND who are now opening the books in Iceland!!

Pledges for Toby & Shoe4Africa (All tax deductable):
Start date: 10/28/06
Jerry Macari $100 (for Toby),  Doctor Dan Hamner $100 (For Toby),   Susan McClanahan $100 (for Todd),  Michael Margulies $100 (Toby),  Nicole Cely $100 (Toby),  Andrey Baranov $100 (Toby),   Chris Lynch $200 (Toby),  Ivar Trausti Josafatsson $100 (Toby),  Isaya Okwiya $100 (Toby),  Deidre Cossman $100 (Toby),  Richard Presutti $250 (Toby),   Paul Fetscher $100 (Toby),   Wendy Abma $50 (Toby),  Will Gillies $100 (Toby),   Urban Bettag $100 (Toby),  Paola Fernandez $100 (Toby),  Mike Shaddow $100 (Nobody goes),  Mary Spera $50 (Toby), Evelyn Konrad $100 (Todd),  Robin Roberts $100 (Toby),  Bethany Aquilina $100 (Toby),  Stanley Zucker $100 (Toby),  Alyse & Yves-Marc Courtines $100 (Toby),  Haidee Islip $100 (Toby),   Emily Josephson $200 to S4A (if both finish),   Jo Ann Mannino $100 - all of it on Toby!  Kathy Horton $125 All for Toby,   Jenn Gottlieb $100 on Toby (double if you beat Lance's NYC time!),  Claudia Aquino $50 on Toby,  Ben Goldhagen $100 on Todd as he is a NY Harrier (Ed's note, Not true, but we'll take the $$),   Eileen Casey, My bet is on Toby $100,   Patti Corley $100 behind Toby, plus a company match.  Moses Sawney $150 on Toby & 10-month old Monroe Sawney, "$50 on Tobee!"   Susan Berotti $100 on Todd “I have to, I’m his inspirational coach.”   Nicholas Haber $50 on Toby,   Patrick Duffy $100 on Todd “Don’t know Todd, but I had an uncle called Todd….”   Erin Boyle $50 on Toby,  (total so far $4000!
“So I am totally broke at the moment.. but I will throw in 25 bucks and a box of chocolates :-). To you Toby” From the Choco Chic in Boulder. And, “Toby, Do we have to fatten the pot to get honorable mention? In case you did not it, it was $75.00 and Chuck just sweetened it to $79.72.” from the Master’s ace Kathy, and Chuck, Martin, and GNY’s Edie Perkins, “My vote’s for you Toby…. $100.”

And as far as Boston, “If you're really going to run another marathon, Audrey and I will bet $100 on you. Don't kill yourself though! You should be taking it easy at your advanced age. Let me know if you need any running tips. Fred” And Diane Kenna $50 Toby; $50 Todd, and $50 from Mati Buccini for Toby! And $50 from Russ Charlton (and $50 from The Reservoir Dogs) for Toby!! -- Thanks so much to you all! And last but not least Joy, “$318 for Toby!” And as I was writing in from Canada, “Put me down for $200 for your Chicago race bet for Toby” From Eldo Lise! Camille Collette, $20 for Toby, Tom Cheslik comes with "$100 for Toby!" Thanks to everyone!! ($5000!!). Shawn Young, "$100 on Todd". And from Paul Kavanagh, "Toby – put me down for $100 - on you of course." And from Chuckychina, "I pledge $200 to your most worthy cause."

Jamie Sutherland, "$100 just for Toby." James McQuade, "$100 on Todd, he's looking Sharp." $50 for Toby, from Kurt 'Le Vert' Steege. $100 pledge for me from Devon, Coach of CPTC! Ken Trush for his $100 donation for me! Rachel Z. of S4A, “Please put me down for $100 and some cadburys chocolate on you for Chicago!” $100 for Todd (boo) from Jess, and $100 and an elephant beer (yeeharr) from Michele for me!! Thanks to Mehmet B who pledges $100 for me! Mr Anonymous from Iceland, "$1000 for Toby because I know the pains he is enduring to run this event. I saw him when he was young and ran well, these days he looks like a cripple when he runs, I feel for you."

Kristin H, "$100 and company match for Toby." Thx Kristin! Chris M. the Prez of the NY Flyers, "Pledge 100 for Toby." Thanks Chris!

SEVERAL UPGRADES--Pat Duffy and Robin R. both paid $150 instead of 100 --thanks!

Please ~email in a pledge~ thank you! Pledges collected in October 2007. All pledges go to Shoe4Africa.

10/29/07
(old) Updates -- The Poland Springs 5-miler. Round One. Todd mysteriously does not appear at the starting line. Claims to be doing a tempo run elsewhere at 5:25 pace. A quick check at Todd's race history shows that he is yet to enter the sub-6 zone for a race to date, thus eyebrows were raised. Fila were at the Urban Store.. were they hoping to sign Todd up for the Challenge?

Meanwhile the Fila rep makes comments about how much Toby is eating (only two bagels)... Not looking good in the battle of the bulge especially as Toby was eating bagels (two again, a good number) at the finish of the Poland Springs not half an hour earlier.

10/30-Update #2: Yves-Marc, "I kind of feel bad for Todd since he's behind on the money count. AND - he does have Anil as a Coach, which is an excellent thing and would want to make anyone endorse him out of support (rather than simple old pity). BUT - I don't know him, and $100 to S4A is too good a cause to pass up."
Michael Marguiles, "I pity the fool."
Bethany A. "Go Toby!"
Paul Fetscher, "I'm a sucker for man with a cause. Six pairs of running shoes as well."
Haidee Islip, " I don't know Todd...and who is this Anil fellow??? My dough is all on you. Count me in for $100 to support your cause."

11/01 -- the amount is $4000!! -- fantastic in only a couple of days. Todd is seen running on the Rez with seven year olds, and a ten month old is gambling on Toby -- Let's Go! The huge question has been, "Who is Todd?" We'll discover more on that subject soon. Already he has three coaches -- A technical one, an Inspirational one, and a head one. Meanwhile Toby stands with the last of the mavericks.

11/25
We now have $5600! Thanks so much! Yes Todd did finally find his racing shoes and head out to Montauk on thanksgiving, he came third overall, but did mention he won his age group. We asked for the time but have not heard back as yet, but we did hear a rumor he as the only person in his age group. Well the first head2head is on Dec. 2nd at the holiday 4-miler. Although it is over ten months from the competition it will be the first 'testing the water' of the two. The bad news for Toby is that race was bumped up to five miles (who professes to like 5ks and nothing longer), although Todd was pleased, "My strength usually kicks in after an hour of running." To which Toby was heard to mutter, "Well cool if he plans on taking an hour to run that thing I have nothing to worry about."