I'm retired from racing. Really.

Enjoy the cruise!!!

Have fun and relax! I am jealous!

Jon, may I suggest an activity during the cruise that I'm sure will be a hit with Marci. Here is what someone did:

>>> "Scott Snyder" 2/1/2005 2:46:17 AM >>>

Forgive my self aggrandizement.

Just returned from a week long cruise of the Caribbean on the Queen Mary 2

(currently the largest cruise ship in the world; actually it's an ocean

liner according to the commodore).

There's quite a lot to do on one of these ships, but the ultrarunner in me

found another activity not listed.

The promenade deck is 640 meters in circumference, made of teak, roughly

150 feet above sea level, and narrows to about three and a half feet wide

twelve times a lap. Starting @ 0800 Monday 24 Jan and ending 29h26m later,

I completed 274 laps of the deck for a total distance of 104.53 miles. The

goal was to run 100 miles, but the exact distance wasn't verified until the

ship's commodore made the circumference of the deck known when I informed

him of what I had accomplished. I hadn't told the ship's crew what I was

going to attempt before I started figuring it would be easier to ask for

forgiveness than permission.

The finer points (the reading gets pretty dull from here).

The time - 29h26m - GLACIALLY slow I admit, but you'd be amazed how many

people stroll the deck at all hours of the day and night. When the deck

narrows to two shoulder widths, whomever you're behind sets the

pace. Elbowing old people out of the way seemed crass and just not good

idea ;)

The deck - glass flat, sure but that teak turned to concrete after

awhile. I don't know how anybody runs road races and my hat is off to them

because the balls of my feet were pounded into a not so dull ache for the

last 16h or so. I tried every combination of shoes/socks/pads/inserts to

relieve the pain in my feet to no avail. I'm a trail runner (finished the

Slam last year) and this run served to cement that commitment. No pun intended.

The weather - HOT & HUMID - the Caribbean, duh. Tried to heat train as

best I could in the winter months of Colorado; you can imagine how

successful that was. Thank god for electrolyte capsules and the tons of

fresh water the ship makes every day.

Food/Crew - I brought the usual ultra fare - gels, electrolyte drinks, etc

but wound up eating solid food as well thanks to the 24h dining experience

that is a cruise ship and the untiring effort of my wife serving as crew

and "go-fer." If ever there was a gesture of true love - allowing me to

waste 29 hours of her time on a cruise ship running laps AND helping me -

I'm a pretty lucky guy.

Yes, there are better things to do on a cruise ship, but shuffleboard,

putt-putt golf, bingo, and non-stop eating aren't things you can write

about on an ultra list.

My feets are still sore.

Scott

Thanks, Davy, good idea. Maybe I'll do it if I can get Marci's permission.

My wife would push me off the ship if I tried this.

Mine said I can do what I want, but she won't help me- she'll be sitting on the beach.

I think I'll do good if I run 10 miles each day. Maybe I'll wear my garmin to see how much the movement of the boat screws it up (i.e. my 10 mile run shows up as 20 miles, etc)

Have fun on the cruise!

hey if you want to run on your entire vacation than that is your choice...But i won't be with ya or helpin' :) In fact, it would give me a vacation from you too. perfect. jk

Snap, ouch. Dig from the wife.

Ha ha Love it, and Jon enjoy your holiday, No way would I be able to cope on holiday without running, I usually get up really early and run so it doesnt disrupt the day, but If I were marathon training I think the hubby would be enlisted to help no matter what he likes dislikes LOL but hey hat off to your wife Crockett.

My idea can she/he sunbathe and keep hold of the drinks and gel pass on your way past each time sounds good to me although Id be the one running in circles LOL

My hubby wants to do a cruise and I have put it off for so many years now, as the confinement would drive me insane and I get sea sick, I just dont care how big the ships are you still have to run in circles urgghhh although your already left and probably wont read this till you get back so I have rabbited on somewhat but that doesnt matter now does it ha ha :-)