Thursday, May 1, 2025

May Day Poem: Laugh at me Running

Laugh at Me Running

You may want to laugh at me, that’s OK—
It was on my training plan.


I’m used to the sideways glances,
the double-takes from dog walkers and delivery drivers
as I shuffle by at dawn,
sweating profusely,
wearing as little as possible,
in colors that clash on purpose
because I want to be seen, and they were on sale.


You’ve probably seen me,
arms flailing in some wild attempt at “form drills,”
or skipping or walking in place at a red light,
because stopping completely would mean “losing my momentum”,
and, let’s be honest-- it wasn’t on the training plan!


I am surely training for something
that demands me looking like this—
a race you’ve never heard of,
with a medal I’ll wear around town, cherish for a week
and then hang on a doorknob,
and clank every time I open the closet.


You may have caught me
staring at my wrist,
so engrossed in my GPS watch
that I run straight into a mailbox,
or a low-hanging branch,
once, a near miss with a very patient cat. 

(and a pulled hammy as it sauntered away, no doubt laughing at me)


Yes, I wave at strangers with the enthusiasm
of a politician on parade—
because we runners have a code:
if you cross paths you acknowledge that stranger,
even if you’re both gasping for air
struggling for "hi" with a nonchalant nod at the top of a hill.


Laugh. That's OK-- I do have gels and beepers
tucked into places that would confuse a TSA agent,
and yes, I have mastered the art of drinking from a cup while running...
which mostly means spilling it down my shirt, or on my shoes,
and pretending it’s part of the plan.


You might see me "stretching and strengthening" unproductively at a park bench,
grimacing in ways that alarm small children,
or talking to myself
perhaps negotiating with my legs,
promising them rest and carbs if they just get me home from my long run.


Yes, my toenails are often a mosaic of black and blue,
and I can recite the location and reputation of every public restroom
within a ten-mile radius of my home...


And yet, despite all my careful planning and laughable evidence to the contrary,
I often take myself far too seriously—
debating shoe models like a rocket scientist,
agonizing over split times
as if Olympic gold were on the line,

when really, my only prize for all this effort... a banana?
If I’m lucky, a knick-knack age group award on my dusty shelf?

OK, I’m in!


So yes, you may want to laugh at me,
and that’s OK— it is all pretty funny.

Along the way I've made a few friends

who are just as stalwart, quirky and ridiculous as me.

And maybe, after all, some laughter is exactly what was on the training plan.



by Mark Lane-Holbert


Friday, April 25, 2025

2025 Boston Marathon with Dennis Lavoie

 Podcast Episode 79Dennis Lavoie, "Team with a Vision" Runner & 6 Star World Marathon Majors Finisher

Dennis and Mark at Tracksmith House

Most marathon partnerships are forged over months of planning, but sometimes, fate steps in with a last-minute twist... Just a week before this year’s Boston Marathon, I received a message: A very dedicated and talented runner’s regular guide was sidelined by injury; would I be able to get to Boston? Suddenly, I was given the opportunity to guide Dennis—a runner whose story I knew only in passing, but whose determination I would come to know intimately over these 26.2 storied miles.


Dennis is no ordinary runner, and no ordinary individual. He lives with Usher Syndrome Type 2, a condition that has left him profoundly deaf and legally blind, with just a sliver of vision remaining. Yet, in the past six years, he has managed to run marathons in Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, New York, and Tokyo—earning the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Medal, and becoming, as far as records show, the first person in his category (legally blind/profoundly deaf) to do so! His journey from early retirement to this elite club of fewer than 20,000 runners worldwide is nothing short of remarkable.


Dennis is a native French speaker, who grew up figuratively bridging the border between Canada and the US as his parents moved to northern Maine for work in the paper industry; to the furthest northeastern town in the continental US, Madawaska. Despite initially struggling in school due to hearing issues, once they figured it out his family did all they could to support him and help him grow as a student. He became an engineer and applied his skills in the field inherited from his father, but his vision continued to decline throughout his career due to his condition. He knew from a young age that he would eventually lose vision completely, and hence leaned into life (and running) even more passionately to enjoy and traveled to see everywhere that he could, while he could.


Our Boston weekend began with a dinner that felt like a gathering made of running legends. Dennis and I joined one of our mid-Michigan icons and running mentor Mark Bauman—who now holds the Marathon Streak World Record at Boston at an incredible 56 Boston finishes in a row!  As a primer for the 26.2+ mile day to come, we had a meal filled with stories, some advice, and laughter. Mark, as it turned out, would be the official starter at Hopkinton the next morning, a surprise that added to the sense of historical connection and camaraderie as we retired.


Race day itself was electric. We woke early and navigated our way to the para athlete buses, followed by likely the only time in my life I would have a police escort through a major highway and city. As guides in the competitive para athletes division, we also found ourselves camped out at the athletes village together, and lining up just behind the elite women. In the AWD tent we connected with incredible people and heard their stories, including paralympians and some famous guides for the record setting para athletes like Mike Wardian, who all shared recent adventures and inspiration. Time flew by and in a few hours we were processing to the start line, fully fueled and excited to punch into the roads for 26.2+ mile journey. The proximity to legends like Des Linden, Sarah Hall, and Paula Radcliffe was surreal; we exchanged a few words of encouragement, though it was probably us who needed it more. Boston marathon is unique in that, as para athletes, we started ahead of thousands of the country’s fastest runners—meaning we were passed, cheered, and swept along by a tide of speedsters for hours, a humbling and exhilarating experience.


For those unfamiliar, qualifying for Boston is a feat in itself. Runners must achieve a certified time well below the already-tough standards for their age group, and in recent years, the cut-off has been even more competitive—sometimes requiring runners to be nearly seven minutes faster than the official qualifying time. For para athletes, the standards are equally rigorous, and the field is capped, making every spot hard-earned. I was grateful to be among them, and respectful of the incredible amount of hard work everyone had put in to earn a spot there on the roads. 


Dennis’s journey to the Six Star Medal is even more daunting. Completing all six World Marathon Majors—Berlin, Boston, Chicago, London, New York, and Tokyo—requires not just speed, but also perseverance, resources, and a bit of luck. Very few runners ever achieve it, and Dennis did so in a relatively short running career, despite the added challenges.


The Boston course itself is legendary and beguiling, winding through small towns whose residents line the streets with unmatched enthusiasm. The crowds cheered us every step of the way, from Hopkinton to the roar of Boylston Street. Wellesley College, with its infamous “scream tunnel,” was a jolt of energy and humor—the signs this year were especially creative, and Dennis and I couldn’t help but laugh as we passed, and I read a few of the signs. 


Despite a nagging hip flexor injury, Dennis pressed on through the second half of the course, even as those infamous Newton hills took their toll. His grit was unwavering, and together we crossed the finish line—Dennis meeting his main goal to qualify for next year’s Boston and have another crack at it, a testament to his resilience.


Looking back, the experience was profound. In a marathon where tradition runs deep (longest running in the US) and every mile echoes with history, I was reminded of the power of connection—between runners, guides, mentors, and the cheering masses. I recognize Boston is more than a race; it’s a celebration of perseverance, community, and the human spirit. I am grateful to have played a small part in Dennis’s extraordinary journey, and to have witnessed firsthand how this particular marathon’s traditions leave an indelible mark on all who take part.


For more on Dennis’s story and his Six Star journey(link), see a recent Bangor Daily News article or another story from WAGM just a few weeks ago, linked here about his paving the way for other vision-impaired runners!

- Article by Mark R. Lane-Holbert, Team with a Vision & Achilles International Guide Runner

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Running Poetry: The Day After the Marathon

 The Day After the Marathon

Yesterday, the road stretched infinite,
26.2 miles— 42 kilometers—etched into memory.
Today, the ache is like a multi-tiered symphony's finale,
Each stanza echoes of the journey, a water stop downbeat or meaningful crowd call-out upbeat.

We honed our skillful instruments in rehearsal. Do you recall?

Not just the race, but the many months that allowed us to show up and play.

The training score began as a season of hope, 
A winter’s resolve into summer’s fire.
Each mile carved into the calendar overture,
A rhythm of pavement and trail,
Cadence hypnotic, meditative—a heartbeat outside the body.


Some days, the world aligned to our composition. 
Remember how Nature whispered encouragement—
The rustle of leaves, the kiss of sunlight,
Feet gliding weightless over earth’s embrace.
Other days were battles:
Rain-soaked humid mornings and winds that howled defiantly,
Tiresome, monotonous miles companions on endless roads.


But Friendships also rhapsody in shared struggle—
Strangers turned comrades through sweat and (s)miles.
Stories exchanged between intervals,
Dreams and fears confessed at mile markers.
Together we built a mosaic of resilience,
Each shard a testament to strength found in unity.


Injury strummed at some of these movements—
A sharp or lingering protest from an achilles or hamstring.
Recovery became its own opus within the training score:
Physical therapy meant strength discovered in weakness, foam rollers and healing salves of all kinds.
Learning to listen to a body's subtle tones oft ignored.


The rhythm of training pulled us back each time—
Addictive as it drained us dry.

Invigorating as it pulled time into tempo.
Miles became mantras; footsteps prayers.


And then came race day, the finale!
The start line buzzed with anticipation,
The air electric with possibility, as we pitch our bodies and minds in corals.
The at-once-celebration-and-trial begins with a bang!

Every mile thereafter a chapter in an epic opera:
Hills conquered as dragons slain, crowds cheering as bards singing praise.

"The Wall" pushed past by sheer resolve.

Crossing the finish was not just an end; it was lyrical self-transcendence,
Where pain met triumph, where exhaustion birthed joy!


Today, we rest  but only for now.

For the orchestral road calls again in whispers:

Another season awaits, its heroic story yet unsung.


                                                                                        by Mark Lane-Holbert

Monday, October 7, 2024

77: Marathon Training Devotional

 Introducing: "Faith, Hope, and Love on the Run: A 26.2 Week Journey for the Runner’s Soul"

I’m thrilled to announce the release of my latest project, Faith, Hope, and Love on the Run: A 26.2 Week Journey for the Runner’s Soul—an Online/PDF Devotional designed to inspire and guide runners of all levels on a unique, holistic path of training. It’s a journey that connects body, mind, and spirit, drawing lessons from some of the greatest role models in distance running history. With a foreword written by none other than “Coach Jeff” Galloway, 1972 U.S. Olympian and beloved running coach, this book offers something truly special for those who love the sport and seek deeper meaning in their running journey.

What to Expect / How it Works:

Faith, Hope, and Love on the Run isn’t your typical training manual, nor is it a traditional devotional. It’s something entirely unique—a blend of inspiration, practical wisdom, and personal reflection tailored for runners who want to strengthen not just their bodies, but also their hearts and minds. The online resource is not overtly religious or exclusive in any way, but does integrate the powerful, personal stories of runners—each week offering a new lens through which to view training and life.

Here’s a breakdown of how it works:

  1. Weekly Themes Inspired by Running Icons
    Each of the 28 weeks centers around an iconic athlete from the distance running world, focusing on a key lesson from their life or career. These aren’t just athletes—they are role models who have overcome adversity, demonstrated resilience, and used their gifts to inspire others. From world record holders to everyday heroes, their stories will motivate you to push your own limits, both in training and in life.

  2. Practical & Mental Strength Exercises
    After exploring the athlete’s story, you’ll find practical exercises designed to build both physical and mental resilience. Whether it’s a mental strength drill, a body conditioning exercise, or a journaling prompt, each week’s practice is tailored to help you apply the lesson to your own running journey. The exercises encourage you to reflect deeply on how these principles can transform not only your running but other aspects of your life as well.

  3. Reflection and Connection
    At the heart of each week’s practice is an opportunity for personal reflection. You’ll be invited to think about your own journey as a runner and how you can integrate the lessons you’ve learned into your training and your daily life. It’s an opportunity to connect with the runner inside you—on a deeper level.

  4. "For The Long Run" – Bonus Multimedia
    As an added bonus, each week comes with “For The Long Run” suggestions—a podcast episode, video, or other multimedia resource that allows you to explore the theme even further. It’s designed for those who want to dive deeper and continue learning, long after the week’s devotional has ended. Many of these resources come from The Running Anthropologist Project, where I’ve spent years interviewing athletes, coaches, and thoughtful leaders in the running community.

Who It’s For:

Whether you’re just starting your running journey or you’ve been at it for years, Faith, Hope, and Love on the Run is for anyone looking to blend purpose with practice. It’s for runners who believe there’s more to the sport than just hitting a certain pace—it’s about discovering strength, hope, and love on the run, and allowing those values to guide you both on and off the road.

Why You’ll Love It:

  • Inspiration from Legends: Each week offers insight from legends like Eliud Kipchoge, Patti Catelano Dillon, Courtney Dauwalter, Meb Keflezighi, Mike Wardian, Joan Benoit Samuelson,  Tatyana McFadden and many others, weaving their stories into practical lessons life and training.
  • Holistic Approach: It’s not just about raw speed or endurance—it’s about building resilience in all areas of life, integrating faith and determination into everything you do.
  • Tailored for Runners: The weekly exercises and reflections are designed specifically for runners, offering practical tips and challenges that align with your training. More like a weekly training blog than a book! Jump around, circle back to any weekly tools and have fun. 

If you’re ready to embark on this 26.2-week journey, I invite you to dive in and explore the lessons, stories, and exercises that will help you grow as a runner and a person. I hope it brings you as much joy and inspiration as it has brought me in creating it. Google Doc/DOWNLOAD LINK HERE

Happy running, and may you find faith, hope, and love along the way!

For more information and weekly updates, visit me at RunningAnthropologist.com, or RunningAnthropologist on IG or Facebook, or your favorite podcast platform where you can also listen to interviews and insights from many of the athletes featured.