Country Music Marathon & Nashville BBQ

Country Music Marathon Course Map

In 2005, I ran in the NYC Marathon.  I trained with Fred’s Team, an organization that’s affiliated with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.   The experience was amazing, but I considered it a check mark, off the “things you do before you die” list.  No need to go through that again.  But a few events have combined to motivate me for another run.

1)  Time- Moving to Ithaca, and removing two hours of commuting time from my daily schedule

2)  A good friend-  Brendan is attempting to run 50 marathons in 50 states, and his mission is coming to Nashville in April.  He’ll be traveling with his new baby, Karina (and our god-daughter!) and wife, Kazumi.  So it’s a marathon and a reunion all-in-one.

3)  Food- I spoke to someone from Nashville while eating BBQ at Fette Sau in Brooklyn.  His boasting of Nashville BBQ solidified my interest in visiting Nashville. For the record, those restaurants were:  Sweats Soul Food, Prince’s Hot Chicken Shack,  Whitts  BBQ, and Monell’s.  According to a friend of ours who filmed Hamburger America I also have to taste the burgers at Brown’s Diner and Rotier’s.  My favorite thing about the first marathon was filling the raging appetite that came with all the running.  What better place to celebrate after 26 miles than a town famous for its burgers, spicy chicken and BBQ.

4)  Country Music-  The only music I wouldn’t listen to growing up, is now a favorite.  I still haven’t acquired a taste for Big and Rich style country, but Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, George Jones and Johnny Paycheck have all become favorites.  Thanks to Cousin Tim for introducing me to classic country.  If you live in the Boston area, look up Tim Obetz on the steel guitar with one of his many bands, including Dave Aaronoff and the Protagonist.

5)  Team in Training-  Similar to the NYC marathon, I’ll be running the Country Music Marathon for a cause.  For this race, I’ll be running with Team in Training, part of the  Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  An estimated 150,000 people will be diagnosed with Leukemia or Lymphoma this year and it’s the cancer that causes the greatest death to children (under the age of 20).    The Leukemia & Lymphoma society spends $61 Million per year on research, financial assistance for patients and education about the disease.  Please visit my personal fundraising page if you would like to make a donation.  Ethan’s Team in Training Fundraising Page

I will  post on this blog about my training from now until race day.  So check back for updates on what it feels like to run a 20 mile training run in an upstate NY winter.  Or to run a half marathon on a treadmill when it’s sub-zero outside.  Or come meet us in Nashville for some hot chicken, cold beer and Johnny Paycheck.