COLUMBUS MARATHON 2014: TAKING THE LEFT AT HALFWAY HOME AND THE HOMESTRETCH

There's a stretch of High Street just north of Columbus' central crossroads at Broad Street headed towards Nationwide Arena where halfway home and the homestretch meet.

Take the left turn and 13.1 miles are almost in the books. Go straight and 13+ remain ahead in the distance.

At this year's Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon, 11,000 took the turn, while 7,000 others ventured forward on a day marked by nearly perfect weather and a slightly updated course - altered to show off the progress on the title sponsor's campus.

This was the first time in 14 starts, that I was among the majority in the half marathon.

A slight hamstring pull at a mid-July Marathoners In Training speedwork session - highlighted with an appearance by Olympic medalist, New York Marathon and Boston Marathon champion Meb Keflezighi - slowed what had otherwise been full speed ahead training inertia on my part to that point.

Motivation and mileage fell off soon after. No long run went much past eight miles. I went nine runs for August, eight for September and five for October prior to the race.

Age hasn't always made me smarter, but this time I made the more prudent decision to register for 13.1 instead of 26.2.The lesson of going slower isn't necessarily easier wasn't lost this time; there is no cheating the long runs when it comes to the marathon trek.

As I hit the 6-mile mark Sunday, I laughed at myself and the happy realization that there were only seven miles to go, not 20.

After leaving German Village and the Ohio Statehouse behind on High Street, this year's left turn beckoned. I bid my marathon compatriots a "rock on" and, in another first, finished with the top two marathoners running down the same stretch of glory road.

Van Halen's Drop Dead Legs preceded homeboy Happy Chichester's Glamorous Town with the finish approaching.

Happy's right. We do live in a glamorous town. And, on Sunday, October 18, 2015, I plan to see 13.1 miles more of it.

The Race Day Soundtrack

Race Day Songs:
Doreen & 4 Leaf Clover

1. Do You Wanna Touch Me? (Oh Yeah) from Joan Jett Bad Reputation
2. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker from Ramones All The Stuff (And More!) Volume 1
3. The Anthem from The Honeys Shoot From The Hip
4. Artificial Fanfare from Happy Chichester Lovers Come Back
5. Problem Child from AC/DC If You Want Blood
6. Rocky Mountain from Joe Walsh Look What I Did! Disc I
7. No Surrender from Bruce Springsteen Born In The U.S.A.
8. Talking Bear Mountain Picnic from Bob Dylan Carnegie Chapter Hall 1961
9. Going Home from Rolling Stones Aftermath
10. Doreen from Old 97's Alive & Wired Disc I

Race Day Songs:
Rocky Mountain Way & Life's Been Good

11. 3 Shades Of Black from Hank III Damn Right, Rebel Proud
12. I'm A Slut from Howlin' Maggie Honeysuckle Rose
13. Old Weakness (Coming On Strong) from Wanda Jackson Unfinished Business
14. Dark Sunglasses from Chrissie Hynde Stockholm
15. Cowboy Song from Thin Lizzy The Definitive Collection
16. Life's Been Good from Joe Walsh Look What I Did! Disc II
17. Nineteen from Old 97's Fight Songs
18. A Fool For Your Stockings from ZZ Top Deguello
19. (I Live For) Cars And Girls from The Dictators Blank Generation The New York Scene (1975-78)
20. Hellbilly from Hank III Hillbilly Joker
21. Bank Of Bad Habits from Jimmy Buffet Barometer Soup
22. I Don't Want To Grow Up from Ramones Adios Amigos
23. 4 Leaf Clover from Old 97's Alive & Wired Disc II
24. Dude? from Happy Chichester Live At The Aladdin Theater
25. San Francisco from Me First And The Gimme Gimmes Blow In The Wind
26. New Tattoo from Dave Alvin Romeo's Escape
27. Tombstone Blues from Bob Dylan Highway 61
28. Drop Dead Legs from Van Halen 1984
29. Glamorous Town from Happy Chichester Torchwood Loop
30. Everybody Wants Some!! from Van Halen Women And Children First

2014 Columbus Marathon (1/2 Marathon) Statistics

(Sunday, October 19, 2014)

Finish Time: 2:13:13
Final Pace: 10:11 Per Mile
Overall Finish: 5066/10411
Men's Group: 2315/3581
50-54 Men's Age Group: 171/280

Watch Splits Mile 1: 9:37
Watch Splits Mile 2: 10:22
Watch Splits Mile 3: 9:36
Watch Splits Mile 4: 10:02
Watch Splits Mile 5: 10:07
Watch Splits Mile 6: 9:38
Watch Splits Mile 7: 10:23
Watch Splits Mile 8: 10:27
Watch Splits Mile 9: 10:15
Watch Splits Mile 10: 10:07
Watch Splits Mile 11: 10:28
Watch Splits Mile 12: 10:07
Watch Splits Mile 13: 9:47
Watch Splits Mile 13.1 (.22): 2:09

IT'S ANOTHER FANTASTIC FINISH ON THE 50 IN OHIO STADIUM AT 2014 OHIO STATE 4 MILER

In football terms, the 2014 Ohio State 4 Miler scored another running touchdown.

It's 2 for 2.

Undefeated and pretty likely to stay that way.

In fact, the only thing that likely will slow its growth is the number of participants that can safely run in the event. Moving from a cap of 10,000 in 2013 to 12,000 this year, the sold out sign went on weeks before the September 21 race date.

At four miles, it's an approachable and doable distance for runners and walkers of practically every ability. Best yet, it's a 10 a.m. Sunday start that allows for a solid Saturday night without facing a penalty flag.

Buckeye Nation makes up most of the participants. So, it's a trip to Mecca along side OSU sports legends, fellow fans and a finish on the 50 yard line of Ohio Stadium that you can watch on the Jumbotron.

It's the ultimate selfie on a course filled with scores of shareable photo moments throughout the Ohio State campus, which doesn't have many hills but plenty of steeper-than-they-appear inclines to climb.

Last year's keepsake medal was a replica of Ohio Stadium, this year a football helmet. Buckeye lore leaves plenty of future options - a buckeye, Block O, Woody, Archie, gold pants. The opportunities are as numerous as there are ways to score on Michigan.

Scheduled around the Buckeye football bye week, last year's event came in cool November and this year in hotter September. In 2015, look for a Sunday, November 1 date.

If Carmen Ohio makes you teary, this is your kind of off-week tailgate.

The Race Day Soundtrack

(A Return to 2013 Columbus Marathon Playlist)

1. Merry Go Round from Kacey Musgraves Same Trailer Different Park
2. Sheena's In A Goth Gang from The Cramps Big Beat From Badsville
3. Matchbox from Willie Nelson And Family Let's Face The Music And Dance
4. Old White Boots from Sarah Gayle Meech One Good Thing
5. Customer from The Replacements Sorry Ma, Forgot To Take Out The Trash
6. Hold On Hope from Glen Campbell Ghost On The Canvas
7. More Than A Feeling from Boston Boston
8. Dancing In The Light from Rolling Stones Exile On Main Street Bonus Disc
9. Man Out Of Time from Elvis Costello & The Attractions Imperial Bedroom
10. Manifesto No.1 from Shooter Jennings Put The O Back In Country
11. Zip City from Drive-By Truckers Southern Rock Opera Disc I

2014 Ohio State 4 Miler Statistics

(Sunday, September 21, 2014)

Finish Time: 38:29

Final Pace: 9:38 Per Mile

Overall Finish: 2562/10904

Men's Group: 1498/4134

50-54 Men's Age Group: 113/303

Watch Splits Mile 1: 9:17

Watch Splits Mile 2: 9:35

Watch Splits Mile 3: 9:55

Watch Splits Mile 4: 9:44

THE SONIC 2014 COLUMBUS MARATHON: COMPLETE TRAINING SOUNDTRACK

Songs For The Soundtrack:
Glamorous Town and Battle

1. Glamorous Town from Happy Chichester Torchwood Loop
2. Much Too Much from The Who The Who Sings My Generation
3. I Don't Want To Grow Up from Ramones Adios Amigos
4. Dance Naked from John Mellencamp Dance Naked
5. Artificial Fanfare from Happy Chichester Lovers Come Back
6. Dude? from Happy Chichester Live At The Aladdin Theater
7. When The Deal Goes Down from Bob

Song For The Soundtrack:
Penguin In Bondage

Dylan Modern Times
8. Mama Kin from Aerosmith Aerosmith
9. Bank Of Bad Habits from Jimmy Buffet Barometer Soup
10. School Boy Heart from Jimmy Buffet Banana Wind
11. Memory Motel from Rolling Stones Black And Blue
12. Don Henley Must Die from Mojo Nixon Otis
13. Working Man/Finding My Way from Rush All The World's A Stage
14. A Fool For Your Stockings from ZZ

Top Deguello

15. Battle from Happy Chichester Torchwood Loop
16. If You Let Me from JP, Chrissie & The Fairground Boys Fidelity!

Song For The Soundtrack:
Sophomore

17. Dark Sunglasses from Chrissie Hynde Stockholm
18. Penguin In Bondage from Frank Zappa Does Humor Belong In Music?
19. Spider-Man from Ramones We're Outta Here!
20. Wish You Were Here from Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here
21. Life's Been Good from Joe Walsh Look At What I Did! Disc II
22. Rocky Mountain Way from Joe Walsh Look At What I Did! Disc I
23. Cherry Bomb from Joan Jett And The Blackhearts Flashback
24. Nothing I Can Do About It Now from Willie Nelson Live From Austin, TX

Song For The Soundtrack:
Problem Child

25. Dead Leaves & The Dirty Ground from White Stripes White Blood Cells
26. (I Live For) Cars And Girls from The Dictators Blank Generation The New York Scene (1975-78)
27. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker from Ramones All The Stuff (And More!) Volume 1
28. Problem Child from AC/DC If You Want Blood
29. No Surrender from Bruce Springsteen Born In The U.S.A.
30. The War On The Terror And The Drugs from Ike Reilly Hard Luck Stories
31. I'm A Slut from Howlin' Maggie Honeysuckle Rose
32. Supersonic Cheerleaders from The Favors Long Live The Nubiles

Song For The Soundtrack:
Do You Wanna Touch Me?

33. Soundtrack To My Life from Los Gravediggers If Heartbreaks Were Highways
34. Superior from Colin Gawel Superior
35. Chemotherapy from Colin Gawel Chemotherapy
36. Hot To Handle from The Honeys Hot Day In Heaven
37. The Anthem from The Honeys Shoot From The Hip
38. Sophomore from The Girls! Let's Not Be Friends
39. Black Concert T-Shirt from Watershed The More It Hurts, The More It Works
40. Do You Wanna Touch Me? from Joan Jett Bad Reputation
41. 4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) from Bruce Springsteen The Wild, The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle

Song For The Soundtrack:
Hellbilly

42. Come As You Are from Nirvana Nevermind
43. Drop Dead Legs from Van Halen 1984
44. Everybody Wants Some!! from Van Halen Women And Children First
45. Cowboy Song from Thin Lizzy The Definitive Collection
46. Mascot Mania from Jello Biafra and Mojo Nixon Prairie Home Invasion
47. New Tattoo from Dave Alvin Romeo's Escape
48. Someone Saved My Life Tonight from Elton John Greatest Hits Volume II
49. Old Weakness (Coming On Strong) from Wanda Jackson Unfinished Business
50. Let Me Teach You How To Eat from Reverend Horton Heat REV

Song For The Soundtrack:
Codeine

51. Hellbilly from Hank III Hillbilly Joker
52. 3 Shades Of Black from Hank III Damn Right, Rebel Proud
53. Hope You're Feeling Better from Santana Abraxas
54. Four Leaf Clover from Old 97's Alive & Wired Disc II
55. Doreen from Old 97's Alive & Wired Disc I
56. Codeine from Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit Here We Rest
57. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right from Bob Dylan The Free Wheelin' Bob Dylan
58. Tombstone Blues from Bob Dylan Highway 61
59. Lost Highway from The Replacements Songs For Slim
60. Nineteen from Old 97's Fight Songs

Song For The Soundtrack:
Don't Think Twice It's All Right

61. Maria Bartiromo from Joey Ramone Don't Worry About Me
62. Talking Bear Mountain
Picnic from Bob Dylan Carnegie Chapter Hall 1961
63. San Francisco from Me First And The Gimme Gimmes Blow In The Wind
64. Going Home from Rolling Stones Aftermath

THE FINAL RUNDOWNS WITH MELLENCAMP, RAMONES, THE WHO & A HAPPY ENCORE

Song For The Soundtrack:
Dance Naked

John Mellencamp Dance Naked (1994)
"Dance Naked is an underrated and rollicking relic that's two decades old from a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Hoosier Daddy."

Running Data for Wednesday, October 1:
3.08 Miles
33:18
Additional Dance Naked Candidates For The Soundtrack: Wild Night, Another Sunny Day 12/25, The Big Jack
Columbus Marathon Training Total Mileage: 300.84 Miles

Song For The Soundtrack:
I Don't Want To Grow Up

Ramones  Adiós Amigos! (1995)
"On their final studio album, the Ramones go out in style with Joey letting C.J. sing lead vocals on four of the 14 songs."

Running Data for Wednesday, October 8:
4.21 Miles
46:29
Additional Candidates Adiós Amigos! For The Soundtrack: The Crusher, Life's A Gas, Spider-Man
Columbus Marathon Training Total Mileage: 305.05 Miles

The Who The Who Sings My Generation (1965)

Song For The Soundtrack:
Much Too Much

"The Who Sings My Generation shows flashes of the brilliance to come, produces a classic for every generation, and offers an R&B novelty with Roger Daltry singing Please, Please, Please."

Running Data for Monday, October 13:
3.03 Miles
33:06
Additional The Who Sings My Generation Candidates For The Soundtrack: My Generation, The Kids Are Alright
Columbus Marathon Training Total Mileage: 308.08 Miles

Conversation Run, No Music

Running Data for Wednesday, October 15:
5.19 Miles
57:19
Columbus Marathon Training Total Mileage: 313.27 Miles

Encore Song For The Soundtrack:
Glamorous Town

Happy Chichester Torchwood Loop (2013/Encore Run)
Running Data for Saturday, October 18:
2.06 Miles

21:51
Columbus Marathon Training Total Mileage: 315.33 Miles

MORE RUNNING MOJO WITH STONES, BUFFET, AEROSMITH, DYLAN & HAPPY CHICHESTER

Mojo Nixon Otis (1980)

Song For The Soundtrack:
Don Henley Must Die

"When your mojo is missing, hire the Perry Mason of Love to find it. Otis is an all-star psychobilly outing that includes Mojo Nixon, John Doe, Country Dick Montana and Luther Dickinson among others."

Running Data for Monday, September 1:
3.43 Miles
37:57
Additional Otis Candidates For The Soundtrack: I Wanna Race Bigfoot Trucks, Ain't High Falutin', Rabies Baby
Columbus Marathon Training Total Mileage: 262.45 Miles

Song For The Soundtrack:
Memory Motel

Rolling Stones Black And Blue (1976)
"The Stones don't make any statements on Black And Blue, but that doesn't prevent it from being a jammin' party to attend, especially because Billy Preston is there."

Running Data for Tuesday, September 2:
3.60 Miles
38:54
Additional Black And Blue Candidates For The Soundtrack: Hand Of Fate, Crazy Mama
Columbus Marathon Training Total Mileage: 266.05 Miles



Jimmy Buffet Banana Wind (1996)

Song For The Soundtrack:
School Boy Heart

"When you sunburn as easily as I do, Jimmy Buffet music is as close as you get to the Florida pirate lifestyle."

Running Data for Friday, September 5:
4.02 Miles
42:44

Additional Banana Wind Candidates For The Soundtrack: Only Time Will Tell, Mental Floss, Cultural Infidel
Columbus Marathon Training Total Mileage: 270.07 Miles

Jimmy Buffet Barometer Soup (1995)

Song For The Soundtrack:
Bank Of Bad Habits

"There's no doubt Jimmy Buffet drifts into Caribbean Muzak at times, but anyone with his own successful genre of music deserves a lot of credit."

Running Data for Tuesday, September 9:
6.13 Miles
1:07:25
Additional Barometer Soup Candidates For The Soundtrack: Barometer Soup, Remittance Man, Mexico
Columbus Marathon Training Total Mileage: 276.20 Miles

Song For The Soundtrack:
Mama Kin

Aerosmith Aerosmith (1973)

"Who would have guessed from this album cover that Aerosmith would become America's version of the Rolling Stones and launch the power ballad phenomenon?"

Running Data for Wednesday, September 10:
3.11 Miles

33:35
Additional Aerosmith Candidates For The Soundtrack: Makin' It, Dream On, Movin' Out
Columbus Marathon Training Total Mileage: 279.31 Miles

Bob Dylan Modern Times (2006)

Song For The Soundtrack:
When The Deal Goes Down

"On Modern Times, Bob Dylan's first No.1 album since Desire in 1976, he dances a bluesy waltz that's perfectly accented by his scratchy vocals."

Running Data for Tuesday, September 16:
3.10 Miles

"33"

Additional Modern Times Candidates For The Soundtrack: Thunder On The Mountain, Workingman Blues #2
Columbus Marathon Training Total Mileage: 282.41 Miles

Song For The Soundtrack:
Dude?

Happy Chichester Live At The Aladdin Theater (2004)

Happy Chichester Lovers Come Back (2007)

"Happy Chichester is the Columbus version of Todd Rundgren - a wizard and a true star."

Running Data for Saturday, September 20:

8.22 Miles
1:31:44
Additional Live At The Aladdin Theater Candidates For The Soundtrack: A Man Needs An Airplane, You Are, Alcohol

Additional Lovers Come Back Candidates For The Soundtrack: Lost Connection, Shadows Remember The Day

Columbus Marathon Training Total Mileage: 290.63 Miles

Song For The Soundtrack:
Artificial Fanfare

Conversation Run, No Music

Running Data for Saturday, September 27:

3.14 Miles
34:22

Columbus Marathon Training Total Mileage: 297.76 Miles

SMOKIN' THROUGH THE MILES WITH JOE WALSH, RAMONES, ZAPPA, CHRISSIE & HAPPY

Songs For The Soundtrack:
Rocky Mountain Way (Disc I)
Life's Been Good (Disc II)

Joe Walsh Look What I Did! Disc I (1995)

"Smokin' Joe doesn't always get the credit of his contemporaries, but few have as many entries in the all-time rock playlist. History especially has underrated the legacy of the James Gang."

Running Data for Saturday, August 2:
7.03 Miles
1:18:59
Additional Look What I Did! Disc I Candidates For The Soundtrack: The Bomber, Funk #49, Walk Away, Turn To Stone,
Columbus Marathon Training Total Mileage: 212.27 Miles


Joe Walsh Look What I Did! Disc II (1995)
"Life's Been Good never gets old; it just gets better. But, these days, I just wish I could stay up until 4."

Running Data for Monday, August 4:
7.01 Miles
1:16:29
Additional Look What I Did! Disc II Candidates For The Soundtrack: County Fair, Over And Over, All Night Long
Columbus Marathon Training Total Mileage: 219.28 Miles

Song For The Soundtrack:
Wish You Were Here

Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here (1975)
"Before this run, I'm not sure I've ever listened to all of Wish You Were Here when the sun was still shining."

Running Data for Tuesday, August 5:
4.42 Miles
47:29
Additional Wish You Were Here Candidates For The Soundtrack: Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Have A Cigar
Columbus Marathon Training Total Mileage: 223.70 Miles

Song For The Soundtrack:
Spider-Man

Ramones We're Outta Here! (1997)
"Recorded at the band's final live performance - August 6, 1996 in Los Angeles - the Ramones run through 32 songs at warp speed, clocking in an entire farewell show with guests in just over 64 minutes."

Running Data for Wednesday, August 6:
6.02 Miles
1:03:24
Additional We're Outta Here! Candidates For The Soundtrack: Do You Wanna Dance, RAMONES, 53rd & Third, Beat On The Brat
Columbus Marathon Training Total Mileage: 229.72 Miles

Song For The Soundtrack:
Penguin In Bondage

Frank Zappa Does Humor Belong In Music? (1995 Reissue)
"I think Zappa's R-rated humor and scathing political commentary get in the way of his historical standing. With all due props to Jimi, Eddie, Jimmy, Clapton and all the other usual suspects, Zappa may be the King of the Guitar."

Running Data for Saturday, August 9:
7.01 Miles
1:13:43
Additional Does Humor Belong In Music? Candidates For The Soundtrack: Tinsel-Town Rebellion Band, Whipping Post
Columbus Marathon Training Total Mileage: 236.73 Miles

Songs For The Soundtrack:
If You Let Me (Fidelity!)
Dark Sunglasses (Stockholm)

Chrissie Hynde Stockholm (2014)
"In her first solo release - depending on how you classify the later Pretenders records - Chrissie Hynde coos, hisses, sing talks and spits out love, lust and loathing in ways only she can. It's impossible to not fall for her, even when you know her emotional knife cuts bloody both ways and quickly."

JP, Chrissie & The Fairground Boys Fidelity! (2010)
"This Chrissie Hynde collaboration with then-lover JP Jones is like listening to a May/September romance with guitars. The vocal fireworks are starry, the courtship a blast and the morning after burnout inevitable."

Running Data for Tuesday, August 12:
6.48 Miles
1:09:50
Additional Stockholm Candidates For The Soundtrack: Like In The Movies, Down The Wrong Way, House Of Cards
Additional Fidelity! Candidates For The Soundtrack: Perfect Lover, Fairground Luck, Australia, Fidelity!
Columbus Marathon Training Total Mileage: 243.21 Miles

Song For The Soundtrack:
Battle

Happy Chichester Torchwood Loop (2013)
"Torchwood Loop is madcap musical wizardry from Cbus' own version of Todd Rundgren - Happy Chichester - and it's got a groove that grabs from the get go."

Runing Data for Tuesday, August 19:
6.27 Miles
1:09:06
Additional Torchwood Loop Candidates For The Soundtrack: Motorbike, Ride, White Devil, Sexy Girl, Glamorous Town
Columbus Marathon Training Total Mileage: 249.48 Miles

Song For The Soundtrack:
A Fool For Your Stockings

ZZ Top Deguello (1979)
"Deguello is the record that bridges ZZ Top's 'Little Ole Band from Texas' era with its MTV-fueled commercial hot rod of the 1980s."

Running Data for Tuesday, August 26:
3.20 Miles
35:00
Additional Deguello Candidates For The Soundtrack: I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide; Cheap Sunglasses
Columbus Marathon Training Total Mileage: 252.68 Miles

Song For The Soundtrack:
Working Man/Finding My Way

Rush All The World's A Stage (1976)
"I never understood the plot of Rush's 2112, but always loved singing 'We are the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx.' Rush may be a geek band, but Alex Lifeson can make you an air guitar god."

Running Data for Wednesday, August 27:
6.34 Miles
1:09:29
Additional All The World's A Stage Candidates For The Soundtrack: Anthem, Fly By Night/In The Mood
Columbus Marathon Training Total Mileage: 259.02 Miles