"Hello. Yes, can you please wake me up at 4:57am? Thank you."
That is how I finished my work before i would awake to the day that i would run my first new york city marathon, and my third overall world major marathon.
A nice CBD capsule around 9pm, a belly full of days worth of carbs, an easy conversation with Josh Brewer on the phone, a goodnight facetime to my wife, and the luck of getting an extra hour of sleep with daylights savings time, I turned off the light in my room at the Double Tree Hotel in the Financial District, just a few minutes walk from the Staten Island Ferry I was set to ride on at 5:45am that morning.
I have been wanting to get into this race for three years. That is when i started pursuing it, yet I have hearing much about it from friends, and understanding it's general importance in the world of marathons since I began this long distance running lifestyle almost 10 years ago. Mike Mitchell did NYC as his first marathon close to a decade ago, David Brinkley was set to go before Sandy derailed him 5+ years ago, and my old teammate Carson Blackwelder has run it multiple times, I believe. Also, i remember when i was about to go to Boston in 2012, Stephen Spada expressed to me how much better NYC was compared to Boston, no doubt I took his comments with a suspected partiality but knowing his home and the friction of anything between those two cities - but also, when I visited my brother coinciding with the marathon, i would say around 5 years ago, i began to wonder and shift to thinking New York very well may be the best one.
So I entered the lottery two years ago, and also last year, both to no avail. As I was getting ready for the January 2019 Disney Marathon in Autumn 2018, I jumped in the Charlotte half marathon and ran a PR, that, as NYC operates, resulted in me qualifying still not a guarantee, to the race. So i put my name in the hat, the same week i had just finished the Disney race, and found out a few weeks after, that i had been accepted. Wahoo!
I knew I was in for something really special before I even got on the ferry, as i walked down the cold dark street where people were giving away free coffee, and volunteers were welcoming the runners with greetings of good morning and excitement. Here we are, 4 hours away from the gun, and folks are already happily volunteering, making no doubt a very long day. It was adventurous in feeling, going out from my bags and phone back at the hotel, where I wouldn't be "in touch" with people until I was done with the race...hours and miles much later far away, while going headlong into the throngs of people on the same journey. As I got into the Ferry port departure building on the Manhattan side, I immediately became away at how this even is unique in the fact that where typically in a large gathering you know in 2019 see about 85% of people looking at their device screen, but here it was about 45% - a drastic enough difference to be noticeable. Still, if you think about it - that is a LOT of people leaving it up to checked bag teams or carrying their phones during race! And yes, there were a lot that did carry, made easy by the fannypacks of pockets that some marathoners like to use. I digress...
A beautiful sunrise greeted us over the waters, while we ferry'd over to staten island.I was now for the first time in Staten Island, making that the last borough for me to have been to in my life. Being separated but still a part of the city definition, it had very much it's own personality apart from the other boroughs. A more blue color new england look, not as tightly packed like the other parts of NYC. It seemed like a great place to start this run, especially on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge - once the longest suspension bridge at 2 miles across, made for the most incredible start. Of course we were all ready to get going for the 9:40am start, as the waiting in the start village was over 2 hours for most people. Hats off to the race in so many phases, but in no small part to the complimentary bagels, energy bars, coffee, water, and bananas...and free dunkin doughnuts hats! I was very happy this was the case because i did not bring any fuel with me. Just a pair of sweatpants and a longsleeve t shirt which i would donate after stripping off before the start. It looked like a displaced migrant group that was laying on the grass and parking lots on cardboard, wearing plastic bags and random mismatched clothes. It was chilly, but thankfully not a cloud in the sky. The corral opened up, and the crowds began to get in line to get in line. It was getting closer and then they let us to the start, on the bridge. There we got in place, while the elites had the middle of the bridge, i was on the left side facing Brooklyn. It was cool being able to see them all get ready and do strides so close to me, while the starter over the load speaker introduced them. I recognized a couple of them from where I was, and then the music began after the star spangled banner. The fever was rising and we all were starting to bounce up and down with excitement. Then, we were off...
I didn't have much trouble getting out. I was about 15 seconds behind the starting line, and then only it took maybe a half mile to have it thinned out enough i was not effected at all by traffic. I knew given the incline i would not be quick, so when my watched hit 6:49 I was not alarmed at all. This was slower than the pace I had recently decided to go for (sub 6:30). Okay, so I had the best fitness i have gotten for any marathon going into this one, so I knew I wanted a big PR but up until seeing folks run great at Chicago, and Marine Corp, did I start to believe I had a shot at going sub 2:50. It's hard to say, but I don't think I totally expected to - but also I now was brave enough to think it was possible. Anyway, the downhill part of the bridge begun and the legs started to roll along with all the rest of the people. The view was amazing up here - my favorite on the whole course....such a clear autumn day, you could see Staten Island, Brooklyn, Statue of Liberty, the New York Harbor, and Lower Manhattan. It was majestic. Also, there were a half dozen helicopters humming parallel to the bridge beside us adding to the atmosphere, as well as a handful of other copters flying about beyond.
6:01 for the second mile, and exiting off the bridge onto the days first bit of flat ground. The difference had been made up just like that and now was at a 6:25 average. Under 6:30 would be a little quicker than my old teammate and still friend, charly parsons ran in his marathon debut the week prior at Marine Corp 2:50:59 . Simply stunning. It was always fun competing against him, and he typically would set the mark, so this was like old times in chasing him. Signs, people, cheering, parties, and anything you can imagine that people do while watching a marathon go by out on the street on a beautiful day in new york city had begun. This was going to be a rocking party. A fitness parade hahah. With 53,000 runners, i believe this was officially the biggest marathon in the world on record. We would pass by over a million spectators. What an energy!
As i started to settle into my pace and rythm and began to keep my eyes open for any potential people i may join, either known to them or not. If headphone free I would say Good Job, and on the first guy i asked what he wanted to run I was surprised he wanted to run what i did, 250. okay, I'm seeing to be going faster than him so this is a good sign, and yes we are faster than pace, but I decided to go on after he encouraged me. I didn't leave thinking I wanted to go faster than 250 - but that i wanted to run what i felt was the appropriate pace....and this felt too reserved. This being my 8th marathon, i trusted my senses more than ever since i was properly trained. It's amazing how freeing that feelign is over having done the work. We think we can avoid training because may get away with it, and we will have saved time, or didn't have to sacrifice whatever else we chose to do instead of run. But then you get to the race and - like me at Chicago - you "trust" those feelings, and then have a hell of a time once the collapse takes hold. This is part of learning, and experiencing the lessons of the marathon. And not just the race itself, but what it takes in preparation to be able to execute a pace that you can maintain. Now, you can also slack in training and run restrained, but believe me - it's not as fun as how i felt - being in shape, feeling 615s like a breeze, and like you are about to do something special. So that was my prevailing feeling as I went full steam ahead into deeply uncharted territory. I definitely had room in my head that i might not increase, but that i was tough enough to hold on. And so after passing my family beside my brothers corner at 72nd and 4th Ave. in Bay Ridge just after the 5k mark, I through them my hat - which almost made it off the street, but not quite - to where they could not retrieve (sigh), for, at this juncture in the race, i was still on the opposite side of the road from them with a barricade in the middle as the runners from different corrals merged at a point elsewhere off the bridge to to where we had yet arrived with open streets that we could run freely in.
I had my first gel, Maurteen with Caffeine - at mile 6.5 after i crossed the 10k under 40 mins. I was in a nice groove now, and was enjoying the sun shine upon my face. On ward i went, feeling smooth and in control. The new Nike Next% shoes felt awesome on my feet. I think they sure are worth the hype, as well as thousands of others in the bright green and pink shoes. Miles 8-11 in Brooklyn were awesome. The crowds were so ruckus. Then we hit the Hasidic Jewish area and it was very quite. Quite a difference.
I hit 10 miles in a new 10 mile record for me, sub 103. Wow - just cruising. The conversation in my head was starting to pick up: Keep leaning forward/push off on your toes/keep your feet falling quickly to the ground/quick cadence/you got this/feeling awesome/etc. I was not feeling fatigued, I was excited knowing the first half was coming up pretty soon. Here in this section there was a good amount of rolling hills and turns around Williamsburg, and then as we wound our way into Queens right around 13 miles. I started to take my second Maurteen gel, no caff, and hurry up over the bridge /overpass - which was small - before the Queensboro bridge - into the first half point at 1:22:38...just 10 seconds off my half PR, but it felt easy! I thought I may not be even or negative split, but I did feel I was going to be in for a great PR because I trusted my fitness if times got rough - which i still was hoping I may be able to unleash a good finish, but i wasn't totally sure being that I had 13 miles still to run and I was on such a pace. But no less I didn't dwell on that, just continued to stay in the moment and focus each mile based on the people around me making sure I was keeping pace, picking a target in front to stay equal with, or increase, and focus on a smooth form. Being this far in people had really settled and there were a few shirts I kept tabs on for many miles that helped a lot.
The Queens Borough was very short lived, but all the attention was on getting up and over one of the hardest parts of the course, that bridge - coming at mile 15. It was hyped up enough i was ready for the challenge but actually running it was not as hard as it was made to seem. I definitely slowed down but just to 6:30 for that mile, but on the down I didn't speed up as much and the 16th mile, with some sharp turns, i hit 6:27 - still slower than my overall pace. Maybe this was the first sign of "uh-oh". We went left onto 1st Ave. and the crowds of Manhattan became very ruckus once again, welcoming us to the first glimmers of where we'd be finishing, just a few blocks over in Central Park. Now, these next few miles 16-19 were pretty tough IMO on the long straightway, wide street, headwind, and rolling inclines. This accelerated the slowing oncoming fatigue that I began to feel, yet was being held off from the new sights and sounds of this the very populated borough. The crowds seemed to be 4 and 5 deep off the street, on both sides. Madness. I was keeping my eye out for Charly who said he would be around mile 17, but I really thought I would never see him. Sure enough, he yelled out, up on his perch, and I got a little boost from that I carried on, despite the creeping dread that was in the back of my head.
I remember waiting for the bridge out of Manhattan that would take us into the Bronx. I had shifted gears into breaking down the course into mini segments as I was now relying on mental tricks to keep the pace. Once we hit that small bridge over, beside us was a band playing Smells like Teen Spirit and that provided a little boost, but I had realized I was having a tough time - and had now since about a mile earlier on the last wide parts of the straightaway - gone from eyeing people to stay with, to seeing a few here and there come up beside me and increase their lead. I was slowing down ever so slightly, and now, coming into "the wall" I was clearly beginning the fight.
We hit the Bronx, and at mile 20 and I was still on pace for a 2:46 but but that was beginning to feel very tough to keep replicating for 6 more miles what I had done. The crowds were thin here, the scenery not as vibrant, and we passed some spectators telling us 5 more miles, and my breathing started to get labored and I wondered just how well i was going to hang on. the Mile 21 split I was now at 247 pace, clipping a split of 654. The pace had began to rise at 19, but this was the slowest difference by far of the race. We were now back over the last bridge, into Harlem (Manhattan once again) and at the 22 mile marker I split a 7:10. Uh-oh. pace now was on for a 248. I knew I wasn't going to at this point stay there, but I still thought maybe i would get a last wind to still challenge sub 250. I looked down and tried to move my legs almost mentally but in taking inventory of my body, it seemed the lactic acid had set in and I may not be able to shake it.
backing up a bit, after the second gel, finished off around mile 15 I was happy to have it finished because with the ongoing sips of Gatorade as well, my stomach wasn't loving the sweet tastes anymore and i really had no desire to take a third one when the time came. The weather provided really not a great need for me to really go after the H2O but for the Gatorade I did try and keep regular, every other or few miles, to make sure I was getting replenished and would avoid cramping.
and what typically happens with me in the marathon, is that around the Wall i do tend to get some bouts of nausea. No exception here. Its tough because your body is starting to hurt, and people are starting to pass you and its all around demoralizing. so, the third gel (GU rocket fuel), at mile 22 i tried once suck and could not take anymore. that would be it for me. I almost wondered why try, but i was trusting they would help and if i relied on my feelings i would probably regret not being preventative with fuel, so it was tough exactly to know how to handle it. anyway i had to get through 4 more miles.
at mile 23, now entering Central Park, after having the last couple miles of throngs of people pass me, .i was- for the last time- still under 250 pace (2:49:39) and was at a 7:40 for the mile. I had began to come to terms with the fact that i would not be beating my old teammate Charly's record this day, despite having such a lead for so long. Yet, three miles to go though is very short when you train for marathons. It's basically a recovery or warm up, just a bit over 20 mins. Who can't suck it up for that long?! I had to trick myself, and make the most of this race i was having and see how much of a PR i could muster. Also, I was now in Central Park, I was having the race of my life, lots of people were tracking me and I just couldn't give up. I felt a lot of pressure, and i'm glad i did - i needed all the help i could get to not give in. No doubt the experiences of past marathons helped me from going through these times before and coming out the other side. I reminded myself that this is temporary. Pain is not permanent and that my future self would be relieved if I fought with all I had, verses the alternative where I couldn't go back and change the past were I to know I didn't give my all. So, that 24th mile I did not loose pace, but i was still falling off from my expected finish. 24th mile 7:40 once again. 2 miles to go and i saw the running clock read 2:36:30 and I thought just keep holding on and this will be a great race.
I think sensing that if I could push really hard for one more mile, I knew I could get the last mile in mentally, and so with everything I had I went for it and was able to bring the split down to a 7:19. This was no small feat given it's so hard to reverse course once lactic acid sets in, and you are in mile 25. But that seemed to totally whip me out. I had mental motivation with one mile left, but physically i was drained. I could not see normally, my vision was blurry and my head so light. This last mile was one of the most tenuous runs of my life. It felt as if i could fall over or my body just decide to stop on it's own if i wasn't careful. Balancing this feeling while also telling yourself to keep running because each second slower was a sacrifice to my new PR, i was in a really rough spot. I felt the finish close but it seemed to not come. The last straightaway before the final turn was taking for ever. I was swerving left and right, just trying to keep one foot in front of the other. Slowly, i hit the last turn, saw mile 26 and the clock said 2:52:12, and i gazed ahead for a line to run to. I couldn't see it. The last stretch was winding and I had to keep trudging until I got my view-able goal line.
There it was, up on a little incline, and while the first part of the last .2 I had no kick at all, the last half of that .2 (.1) i looked at my watch and saw that if i did not kick i would miss 253. I did, and just snuck past the line at 2:53:57. OMG - i had done it. Right there at the finish line a black guy in jeans, a fleece, and a ball cap was shaking finishers hands. Whoa, he looked like Meb Keflezighi. It would make sense i thought, but nah, really? After a few paces beyond, i had to turn back to ask. With a big smile, he nodded it was him. Amazing - this is one of the best distance runners of all time. a 2004 silver medalist in the marathon, a 2009 NYC champion, and 2014 Boston Marathon. kind of a cool thing!
that's pretty much the race recap. the long chute proved too much for my lightheaded-ness and fatigue so i went to the medical tent to recovery for about 10 mins before finishing my exit. I had really left it all out there, after a daring race going much faster than I ever have, and giving myself a real shot for going well under 250, where my previous best was only 257. All this in less than a year. I felt i really have gained a lot of fitness and improvement in 2019, and I'm excited to see myself still ripping off PRs. in the last 12 months I have had lifetime PRs in: half marathon, 10k (twice), trail half marathon, and marathon (twice).
Mile Splits for the day: (1) 645, (2) 601, (3) 622, (4) 614, (5) 612, (6) 615, (7) 616, (8)620, (9)621, (10)608, (11)621, (12)613, (13)622,(14) 618, (15) 631, (16) 627, (17) 623, (18) 621, (19) 631,(20) 641,(21) 654, (22)710, (23)740, (24) 741, (25) 719, (26) 822, (.2) 145
underlined is when i fell off hard
I'm close to popping another BIG PR, and i'm excited to keep on ahead. Thanks for reading!
Showing posts with label race. Show all posts
Showing posts with label race. Show all posts
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Sunday, September 8, 2019
experience and understanding - thoughts and snippets from Around the Crown 10k PR (9/1/19)
thoughts come and go and the older we get the more they tend to just be thoughts and less likely to be followed up by actions unless we consistently practice intention. or maybe we just find ourselves "busier" which, if you think about it, is really only us feeling more bound to responsibility that may be critical or may be things we get sucked into through routine and societal expectations and a lack of intention that when we blink, we wonder - where the time went, the day has gone, and all thoughts thoughts that we had that didn't come to fruition. and if you think about it, there is never more or less time in a day, and there is never wasted time - just time that we are doing something else. all that to say, while i have had consistency in running the sacrifice has been a loss of putting so many thoughts down that i used to seem to find easier to relay onto this blog, or my written journal. I know we can't do everything, and i do keep in mine that while i may not be doing one thing, i'm doing another thing, and time is never wasted - it's just used differently. Still, i have maintained a desire to not give up on using writing as an outlet, because i think it can be a great way to complete the gift that running allows through it's contemplative-ness that conjures wonderful ideas, and it always feels i completed the function when i hit the keys. not that i always get to what i thought or wanted to say, nonetheless something better than nothing. it would feel like a waste to never move the idea from the head to the pad. and that feeling of a waste is a bit egotistical, but think of all the great things written in history - they didn't have to be written, but the world and history is better for those people taking the time to get them out, and utilize the written word for the betterment of mankind. as if i'm doing a great deed, ha i am not, but if feeling complete gives peace, then in the least that peace will be a nice energy i carry that can have a positive impact with my fellow man who comes across my path.
so what have i been thinking lately? (on my runs) - i have been thinking that one of the reasons distance running lets the runner maintain a high level of success into late 30s is because of the accumulation of mental experience we gain from all the long runs, races, downs and ups, trials and successes. The early 20s runner has peak physical ability, but what keeps the fall off stabilized in the physical department is the increased mental focus, belief, and stories of overcoming we gain through the years.
Last Sunday i raced a fantastic inaugural Charlotte 10k race. Around the Crown 10k. It was something new as it was the first race in the city that was on i277. it was pretty thrilling to run on an interstate that had never been run on before. as it is a city loop it had a banked curvature to it that was not common, complete with a nice descent and even more of an uphill. As it started out with the down, i was clicking off a bit of a quicker pace yet from the experience I trusted my ability to go with it, and during the uphill as I was falling off pace I also trusted that I could comeback the last couple of miles and make it up. both of these ended up being true, and also when I needed to get back in gear I had the awareness that i had to make an intentional mental shift to "snap out of it" by changing gears and push myself until i felt like i was running a race and not trying to hold on. The surge paid off, as i passed some people back, and got back on track to my pace (faster than actually) and was able to finish the race with a new big PR. I found that the trust early on going quick, the trust to comeback during a hard spell, and the realization to surge all were marks of experience that I had gained during so many previous training runs and races that overshadowed my 35 year old body who still hasn't been able to train like I did in my hay day.
so what have i been thinking lately? (on my runs) - i have been thinking that one of the reasons distance running lets the runner maintain a high level of success into late 30s is because of the accumulation of mental experience we gain from all the long runs, races, downs and ups, trials and successes. The early 20s runner has peak physical ability, but what keeps the fall off stabilized in the physical department is the increased mental focus, belief, and stories of overcoming we gain through the years.
Last Sunday i raced a fantastic inaugural Charlotte 10k race. Around the Crown 10k. It was something new as it was the first race in the city that was on i277. it was pretty thrilling to run on an interstate that had never been run on before. as it is a city loop it had a banked curvature to it that was not common, complete with a nice descent and even more of an uphill. As it started out with the down, i was clicking off a bit of a quicker pace yet from the experience I trusted my ability to go with it, and during the uphill as I was falling off pace I also trusted that I could comeback the last couple of miles and make it up. both of these ended up being true, and also when I needed to get back in gear I had the awareness that i had to make an intentional mental shift to "snap out of it" by changing gears and push myself until i felt like i was running a race and not trying to hold on. The surge paid off, as i passed some people back, and got back on track to my pace (faster than actually) and was able to finish the race with a new big PR. I found that the trust early on going quick, the trust to comeback during a hard spell, and the realization to surge all were marks of experience that I had gained during so many previous training runs and races that overshadowed my 35 year old body who still hasn't been able to train like I did in my hay day.
Monday, January 21, 2019
Walt Disney World Marathon 2019 recap, Jan 13th 2019
One of the reasons I appreciate and enjoying taking on a marathon is that it has the potential to be one of the greatest teachers to life that one can learn from. It was after my last marathon, my 6th one, that this really became apparent when I went through my second hell race (hitting the wall hard and early and having to suffer, rather than compete, until the end of the line). And it's funny to think before i ever undertook a marathon that I would ever do more than one...but looking back each one has been a teacher in different ways, and to varying degrees, and there is still more i want to learn, experience, and soak up while I can as I continue to embark on this physical test that doubles as a reflector to your own interior make up and fortitude. With each one, we certainly carry our own preparations and expectations, but what you will find as you encounter the challenge that there still is that element of unknown fortune that will show up on race day....and that is why also I like it. Ultimately we can not control every variable, but we try to give ourselves the best chance, and we learn how to spend those saved up coins of fitness more wisely each time we go about the race, yet we march on with that bit of uncertainty that things can go south, or just as unexpectedly better than we hope, all while it unfolds before us.
about a year ago i was looking ahead to see what marathon I would give a go next, and with our third child arriving in April, I had the second half of the year to look towards. I, for the second year in a row, applied for New York Marathon via lottery, but when i didn't get in, and also when I discovered the Disney marathon was run in January, and that we were looking to take a family trip with our other children to visit the parks, it made sense that - while a year away, the Disney marathon 2019 would work well. I'm still in the mode of wanting to try new marathons rather than repeats, and this one was appealing in that it lined up with our vacation and was a nice big event, something memorable.
My recent posts tell you, without having to repeat too much here, that I had gotten myself in shape well enough to garner a PR this past November and that certainly was the beginning of small thoughts toward the potentiality of a new marathon PR, though I still considered it more unlikely than likely. As training continued well with long runs in December through some naturally hilly runs in Charlotte, my target eyes grew a bit more as I considered the flat terrain I would be working with down in Orlando. I felt it was about 50/50 going in to grab a PR, and when pressed, my answer to goal was 2:58-3:04 (as that would be nice to earn another BQ at this stage in my running). that is about 6:48-7:02 pace per mile.
The taper had gone well, and the carb loading also going into the race weekend. A nice Italian dinner at carrabas in Savannah Friday night, a shake out jog Saturday morning, a Mahi Sandwich for lunch the day before after the race expo, and a fantastic buffet at Chef Mickey's at Disney's Contemporary Resort for a pre race dinner where I opted for much pasta (and a Long Island Iced Tea!) served my diet well. I was hydrating well, as the weather was calling for 60 degree with 90% humidity and even an email to all runners to be advised of less than perfect weather and a caution to perhaps forget not going for an attempted best.
The wake up was earlier than anything I had ever woken up for. The last bus was leaving at 3:30 am from our resort at Disney's the Art of Animation, and so I figured looking back I got about 4 hours and change of sleep, with a wake up call at 2:55. A front row seat on the bus with a pleasant conversation with the bus driver who was a Vietnam Vet still in extraordinary shape started my day, as I brought with me coffee, a bagel and some peanut butter which I would eat around 4:15-30. From the bus drop off the runners are held in a parking lot complete with a full pre party stage that held a DJ (yes, working it and playing loud music). It was basically a late night club vibe except everyone was sober and wearing short shorts. Quite the scene at 4am! I continued to drink water after my coffee to make sure i was hydrated, and probably went to the bathroom about 5 times before the gun went off. once i break the seal i am guaranteed multiple times going.
I got to my A corral about 5 mins before the start as they were beginning to sing the national anthem, and I was feeling ready and good. The gun went off under the dark 5:30am sky, clear and star and moonlit, and I was off with 11,000 other marathoners. Even though i was in the A corral, behind the elites, I was not in the front of A and so the first mile was quite a bit of dancing around the crowds to where i could get into my pace, and so my first mile split put me behind the 8 ball with a 7: 17 split. Doing quick math in my head, I realized at about 30 seconds behind optimal goal pace I'd have to hit about 6 miles of 6:40 to make it up. When I thought about this i was a bit frustrated at how just one mile can really effect such a long race as a marathon, but I had the experience to not worry, as the marathon still had more than 2 hours and 50 mins for many things to unfold. Also, I was a bit agitated at this point as I already had to pee! I knew i wasn't going to hold it forever, but I wanted to not give in right away for the thought that if I was to go this early, it could lend itself to having to go again still early in the race, and so I used the opportunity to practice patience and my mind to go elsewhere. 6:42 split the second mile, and so I was pleased that I was moving in the right direction to start chipping away at the deficit I had put myself in. The first couple miles of the race send you off on wide open highways leaving Epcot towards Magic Kingdom, and around mile 3 you see the entrance to the first Park of the day. I was comfortable with the next 6:43 and as the next couple of miles led us through Magic Kingdom, complete with running literally through Cinderellas castle, the flair that makes the Disney marathon special was really shining through. The spectators, characters, music, and lit up park made it an outstanding environment and scenery and increased the race adrenaline as i continued to stay on pace with high 630s and low 640s through the park and past mile 6 until we exited and were on a dark road on mile 7 that i gave in to my bladder and pulled over to empty the liquids. This was a full 30 second pee break. Part of holding it seemed to fill the bladder more and thus take longer for it to empty. I hated losing that time but it's part of the race and most runners have to go through it. Only once I believe have I not had to stop for bathroom (Charlotte 2011). about 10 runners passed me, and I kept the group in my sights as I got back into pace.
I tried to have some small surges to chop away at lost time and my 8th mile was about 5 seconds faster than my miles yet, with a 6:33. the next couple of miles i started passing those guys that passed me, and took my first of 3 Maurten energy gels (actually had this around mile 7, right around pee time). Character photo ops continued to line the streets, as did Disney music as well as DJs on stages blaring loud pump up music. At mile 10-12 there was this long straightaway on a wide road that did an out and back, with screens playing inspirational music and movie clips that got me going along with seeing the faster runners make their way ahead of me as i noticed their stride and determination on their face that helped keep me focused and reactivated to a sense of purpose and pursuit. Seeing these fast male and female runners out in front leading a charge got my focused as i was about to begin the second half of the race.
We were finally led into our second park, Animal Kingdom where we would cross the half way point, for me, as the sun was rising, and the music was sounds of African Serengeti tunes and live animals awaking as well in their habitat, occurring around 7am. I started to get a surge of adrenaline as I was half way home and still feeling comfortable on my pace for a PR, crossing in just under 129. I was about ready to take my second energy gel as we exited the park, and I started to gap the nearby runners behind me and began to close in on some runners ahead.
We made the exit and through the parking lot out onto the highways of Orlando that would take us to the next Park. Here, the course was long wide and straight, with plenty of good views of runners ahead to put in my sights. These were miles 15, 16, and 17 - all straight away with some moderate ascents as we over-passed highways underneath about two different times. The population was sparse, but there were several loud official stops with blaring speakers playing inspirational loud rock and roll and various other pump up music along the way. This is the stretch I began to feel a bit of a toll on the legs from the pace, and had to start running on faith and focus.
We entered ESPN Wide World of Sports at mile marker 18, and here, for the next 2+ miles would run around the campus that included sports fields, a 400m running track, and the outfield of a baseball stadium which was seated with spectators and a guy on the PA announcing our names and places of residence on the loudspeaker, providing a nice little boost of motivation. This park was peppered with tight turns and narrow chutes which made for some tougher miles, but i was holding still to a sub 6:45 pace. My fastest mile of the day was the 18th where I hit 6:28, followed by 6:42, and 6:44 for my 20th mile. We exited the park on the 21st mile, and this is where I started to put into focus my last 10 kilometers of the race to execute, having done the work so far for 20 miles. At this point I was on my 3rd and final energy gel, and it started to go down not as easy as the other 2. A little bit of nausea, and some upper GI pains began to creep in, but I had to ignore that as best I could and begin the "hanging on" part of the race, as I also was trying to begin my most focused part of "letting go" to caution and leave all I had out there.
Around mile 13 or so, I began to think about how I felt like I was holding back, with the adrenaline making the pace seem easy, and still having so much more to go. The marathon is all about patience and then determination. The first half (13 miles) you have to make sure you get to your point on pace, but it feels like you are running with the brakes on. It's a race, but it doesn't really feel like it, as the mental part is a repeated "hold back" mantra. You see runners ahead and you cannot let your competitive race instincts kick in, going after them. You have to be methodical. Then from the half way point to mile 20, you still have to hold back, knowing that the last 6 miles a lot of bad things can happen the way fatigue will jump on your back in a hurry, and can cause you to derail all the work you have done. 20 miles of 26 is 76% of the race, and so I will tell you - three fourths of the race you are "holding back" and the last quarter of the race, you are "holding on/letting go" - trying to keep it together while also letting all the gas out of your tank so that you are completely empty at the finish line.
that 22 mile i really started feeling the exhaustion in energy, and some soreness in the legs, but I was not red lining it so I kept going, as we went up another overpass. A hill here was very challenging, but there was a Toy Story Army Man with a megaphone barking out military like exhortations and encouragement. I played to him and pointed to him and gave him a firm look, and he subsequently bolted out more encouragement which propelled me up the ramp, to where i was able to ride the down ramp and into mile 23, as i passed another runner.
These last 3 miles of the race were the hardest, and the suffering seemed to exponentially increase here. That 24th mile we jut into the 4th park, Hollywood Studios, and while there was much attractions along the way, I had lost the ability to take in my surroundings. I only had the capacity to focus on my will to keep going and hold on to the pace. With another park to navigate, the turns became tight again and the paths more narrow. This was intensely more challenging that the previous parks, but it didn't last long as this park is not very big. When I hit the 24th mile marker, I had a bit of a sense of relief that I only had two miles to go. This was a point I wanted to reach when the pain started because I knew once i got here, I told myself i just needed to hold on for one more mile, then let everything I had out that last mile. And so, that 25th mile began and I could sense the end being near, and that I was on pace to go 258 or faster as long as i didn't crumble. The only point really the whole day, a runner started coming up on me, as I was passing a couple runners ahead, and here he latched on to my shoulder and forced me to either give up - which i think would have mentally led me to slow down via just negative thoughts coming in that i was slipping, or try and push him and there by holding on to my pace. I chose the hard way by not letting him pass me, and this was the hardest part of the race for me. The next mile we ran stride for stride. He didn't make a move to pass me, and I was giving it all I could to stay one step ahead, and so we raced. Into the last mile, around the lake of the nations at Epcot, where the motivational loud music was replaces with common park Disney songs, smells of food and funnel cake wafting in the air, and the heat overhead and sun beginning to make things all that much warmer...all while I was in tremendous pain and battling the aforementioned bouts of nausea. With less than a mile to go, he passed me, and I couldn't fight back. I knew I had made it without falling off my pace and I simply just had to get to the finish line - about two laps around a track I told myself, and then I could start to feel better.
The finish lines stands started up ahead, and I was almost there. I was thinking of my family during the hard parts of the race, knowing they were going to be waiting for me at the end. Here, I was started to get emotional knowing I fought hard to not falter in, and was proud of my efforts. My daughter Avery made me a bracelet i wore during the race that i would look down on from time to time, knowing that I had people looking up to me, and that I wanted to run my best for her and all my family. The pics Disney took, you can see my face writhed in pain, more so than any marathon I have ever done. The battles of Boston and Chicago to finish were excruciating and hellacious, but this race was the hardest in it's own way of me fighting to hold on, and doing the best I have done so so far - through a faster pace than planned, and fighting the 90% humidity with low 60's temps and many many water stops taking me off rhythm. I will say i think my training in Charlotte with hills did prove to be an extra benefit to translating a faster time on this flat course. I saw the clock up in the distance at the finish line just tick up to 2:57, and I knew i was going to break 2:58. I saw my family just past the finish line...Grace, Avery, Arden, Katie, Debby, and Kristen, and I welled up with tears and emotion just having gone through the whole ordeal - the only other time getting that way in a marathon aside from my first one back in 2010. I gave them a smile and a high five, and kept going down the finishing chute, to catch up with them soon.
A great race event, a surprising PR, and a hard fought battle. 7th time was a charm.
From Official race results:
5 mile split: 34:14
10 Mile Split: 1:07:55
Half: 1:28.44
20 Mile: 2:14:30
Finish: 2:57:25 (6:46 ppm)
44th overall, 39th overall male, 8th in age group 35-40
Miles via Garmin: 7:16, 6:42, 6:43, 6:38, 6:43, 6:36, 7:05 (includes 30 sec pee break), 6:33, 6:34,
6:36, 6:33, 6:33, 6:38, 6:34, 6:34, 6:34, 6:36, 6:29, 6:42, 6:44, 6:33, 6:41, 6:41, 6:50, 6:47, 6:58, 3:27 (6:54 pace....watch measured an extra .3)
about a year ago i was looking ahead to see what marathon I would give a go next, and with our third child arriving in April, I had the second half of the year to look towards. I, for the second year in a row, applied for New York Marathon via lottery, but when i didn't get in, and also when I discovered the Disney marathon was run in January, and that we were looking to take a family trip with our other children to visit the parks, it made sense that - while a year away, the Disney marathon 2019 would work well. I'm still in the mode of wanting to try new marathons rather than repeats, and this one was appealing in that it lined up with our vacation and was a nice big event, something memorable.
My recent posts tell you, without having to repeat too much here, that I had gotten myself in shape well enough to garner a PR this past November and that certainly was the beginning of small thoughts toward the potentiality of a new marathon PR, though I still considered it more unlikely than likely. As training continued well with long runs in December through some naturally hilly runs in Charlotte, my target eyes grew a bit more as I considered the flat terrain I would be working with down in Orlando. I felt it was about 50/50 going in to grab a PR, and when pressed, my answer to goal was 2:58-3:04 (as that would be nice to earn another BQ at this stage in my running). that is about 6:48-7:02 pace per mile.
The taper had gone well, and the carb loading also going into the race weekend. A nice Italian dinner at carrabas in Savannah Friday night, a shake out jog Saturday morning, a Mahi Sandwich for lunch the day before after the race expo, and a fantastic buffet at Chef Mickey's at Disney's Contemporary Resort for a pre race dinner where I opted for much pasta (and a Long Island Iced Tea!) served my diet well. I was hydrating well, as the weather was calling for 60 degree with 90% humidity and even an email to all runners to be advised of less than perfect weather and a caution to perhaps forget not going for an attempted best.
The wake up was earlier than anything I had ever woken up for. The last bus was leaving at 3:30 am from our resort at Disney's the Art of Animation, and so I figured looking back I got about 4 hours and change of sleep, with a wake up call at 2:55. A front row seat on the bus with a pleasant conversation with the bus driver who was a Vietnam Vet still in extraordinary shape started my day, as I brought with me coffee, a bagel and some peanut butter which I would eat around 4:15-30. From the bus drop off the runners are held in a parking lot complete with a full pre party stage that held a DJ (yes, working it and playing loud music). It was basically a late night club vibe except everyone was sober and wearing short shorts. Quite the scene at 4am! I continued to drink water after my coffee to make sure i was hydrated, and probably went to the bathroom about 5 times before the gun went off. once i break the seal i am guaranteed multiple times going.
I got to my A corral about 5 mins before the start as they were beginning to sing the national anthem, and I was feeling ready and good. The gun went off under the dark 5:30am sky, clear and star and moonlit, and I was off with 11,000 other marathoners. Even though i was in the A corral, behind the elites, I was not in the front of A and so the first mile was quite a bit of dancing around the crowds to where i could get into my pace, and so my first mile split put me behind the 8 ball with a 7: 17 split. Doing quick math in my head, I realized at about 30 seconds behind optimal goal pace I'd have to hit about 6 miles of 6:40 to make it up. When I thought about this i was a bit frustrated at how just one mile can really effect such a long race as a marathon, but I had the experience to not worry, as the marathon still had more than 2 hours and 50 mins for many things to unfold. Also, I was a bit agitated at this point as I already had to pee! I knew i wasn't going to hold it forever, but I wanted to not give in right away for the thought that if I was to go this early, it could lend itself to having to go again still early in the race, and so I used the opportunity to practice patience and my mind to go elsewhere. 6:42 split the second mile, and so I was pleased that I was moving in the right direction to start chipping away at the deficit I had put myself in. The first couple miles of the race send you off on wide open highways leaving Epcot towards Magic Kingdom, and around mile 3 you see the entrance to the first Park of the day. I was comfortable with the next 6:43 and as the next couple of miles led us through Magic Kingdom, complete with running literally through Cinderellas castle, the flair that makes the Disney marathon special was really shining through. The spectators, characters, music, and lit up park made it an outstanding environment and scenery and increased the race adrenaline as i continued to stay on pace with high 630s and low 640s through the park and past mile 6 until we exited and were on a dark road on mile 7 that i gave in to my bladder and pulled over to empty the liquids.
We were finally led into our second park, Animal Kingdom where we would cross the half way point, for me, as the sun was rising, and the music was sounds of African Serengeti tunes and live animals awaking as well in their habitat, occurring around 7am. I started to get a surge of adrenaline as I was half way home and still feeling comfortable on my pace for a PR, crossing in just under 129. I was about ready to take my second energy gel as we exited the park, and I started to gap the nearby runners behind me and began to close in on some runners ahead.
We made the exit and through the parking lot out onto the highways of Orlando that would take us to the next Park. Here, the course was long wide and straight, with plenty of good views of runners ahead to put in my sights. These were miles 15, 16, and 17 - all straight away with some moderate ascents as we over-passed highways underneath about two different times. The population was sparse, but there were several loud official stops with blaring speakers playing inspirational loud rock and roll and various other pump up music along the way. This is the stretch I began to feel a bit of a toll on the legs from the pace, and had to start running on faith and focus.
We entered ESPN Wide World of Sports at mile marker 18, and here, for the next 2+ miles would run around the campus that included sports fields, a 400m running track, and the outfield of a baseball stadium which was seated with spectators and a guy on the PA announcing our names and places of residence on the loudspeaker, providing a nice little boost of motivation. This park was peppered with tight turns and narrow chutes which made for some tougher miles, but i was holding still to a sub 6:45 pace. My fastest mile of the day was the 18th where I hit 6:28, followed by 6:42, and 6:44 for my 20th mile. We exited the park on the 21st mile, and this is where I started to put into focus my last 10 kilometers of the race to execute, having done the work so far for 20 miles. At this point I was on my 3rd and final energy gel, and it started to go down not as easy as the other 2. A little bit of nausea, and some upper GI pains began to creep in, but I had to ignore that as best I could and begin the "hanging on" part of the race, as I also was trying to begin my most focused part of "letting go" to caution and leave all I had out there.
Around mile 13 or so, I began to think about how I felt like I was holding back, with the adrenaline making the pace seem easy, and still having so much more to go. The marathon is all about patience and then determination. The first half (13 miles) you have to make sure you get to your point on pace, but it feels like you are running with the brakes on. It's a race, but it doesn't really feel like it, as the mental part is a repeated "hold back" mantra. You see runners ahead and you cannot let your competitive race instincts kick in, going after them. You have to be methodical. Then from the half way point to mile 20, you still have to hold back, knowing that the last 6 miles a lot of bad things can happen the way fatigue will jump on your back in a hurry, and can cause you to derail all the work you have done. 20 miles of 26 is 76% of the race, and so I will tell you - three fourths of the race you are "holding back" and the last quarter of the race, you are "holding on/letting go" - trying to keep it together while also letting all the gas out of your tank so that you are completely empty at the finish line.
that 22 mile i really started feeling the exhaustion in energy, and some soreness in the legs, but I was not red lining it so I kept going, as we went up another overpass. A hill here was very challenging, but there was a Toy Story Army Man with a megaphone barking out military like exhortations and encouragement. I played to him and pointed to him and gave him a firm look, and he subsequently bolted out more encouragement which propelled me up the ramp, to where i was able to ride the down ramp and into mile 23, as i passed another runner.
These last 3 miles of the race were the hardest, and the suffering seemed to exponentially increase here. That 24th mile we jut into the 4th park, Hollywood Studios, and while there was much attractions along the way, I had lost the ability to take in my surroundings. I only had the capacity to focus on my will to keep going and hold on to the pace. With another park to navigate, the turns became tight again and the paths more narrow. This was intensely more challenging that the previous parks, but it didn't last long as this park is not very big. When I hit the 24th mile marker, I had a bit of a sense of relief that I only had two miles to go. This was a point I wanted to reach when the pain started because I knew once i got here, I told myself i just needed to hold on for one more mile, then let everything I had out that last mile. And so, that 25th mile began and I could sense the end being near, and that I was on pace to go 258 or faster as long as i didn't crumble. The only point really the whole day, a runner started coming up on me, as I was passing a couple runners ahead, and here he latched on to my shoulder and forced me to either give up - which i think would have mentally led me to slow down via just negative thoughts coming in that i was slipping, or try and push him and there by holding on to my pace. I chose the hard way by not letting him pass me, and this was the hardest part of the race for me. The next mile we ran stride for stride. He didn't make a move to pass me, and I was giving it all I could to stay one step ahead, and so we raced. Into the last mile, around the lake of the nations at Epcot, where the motivational loud music was replaces with common park Disney songs, smells of food and funnel cake wafting in the air, and the heat overhead and sun beginning to make things all that much warmer...all while I was in tremendous pain and battling the aforementioned bouts of nausea. With less than a mile to go, he passed me, and I couldn't fight back. I knew I had made it without falling off my pace and I simply just had to get to the finish line - about two laps around a track I told myself, and then I could start to feel better.
The finish lines stands started up ahead, and I was almost there. I was thinking of my family during the hard parts of the race, knowing they were going to be waiting for me at the end. Here, I was started to get emotional knowing I fought hard to not falter in, and was proud of my efforts. My daughter Avery made me a bracelet i wore during the race that i would look down on from time to time, knowing that I had people looking up to me, and that I wanted to run my best for her and all my family. The pics Disney took, you can see my face writhed in pain, more so than any marathon I have ever done. The battles of Boston and Chicago to finish were excruciating and hellacious, but this race was the hardest in it's own way of me fighting to hold on, and doing the best I have done so so far - through a faster pace than planned, and fighting the 90% humidity with low 60's temps and many many water stops taking me off rhythm. I will say i think my training in Charlotte with hills did prove to be an extra benefit to translating a faster time on this flat course. I saw the clock up in the distance at the finish line just tick up to 2:57, and I knew i was going to break 2:58. I saw my family just past the finish line...Grace, Avery, Arden, Katie, Debby, and Kristen, and I welled up with tears and emotion just having gone through the whole ordeal - the only other time getting that way in a marathon aside from my first one back in 2010. I gave them a smile and a high five, and kept going down the finishing chute, to catch up with them soon.
A great race event, a surprising PR, and a hard fought battle. 7th time was a charm.
From Official race results:
5 mile split: 34:14
10 Mile Split: 1:07:55
Half: 1:28.44
20 Mile: 2:14:30
Finish: 2:57:25 (6:46 ppm)
44th overall, 39th overall male, 8th in age group 35-40
Miles via Garmin: 7:16, 6:42, 6:43, 6:38, 6:43, 6:36, 7:05 (includes 30 sec pee break), 6:33, 6:34,
6:36, 6:33, 6:33, 6:38, 6:34, 6:34, 6:34, 6:36, 6:29, 6:42, 6:44, 6:33, 6:41, 6:41, 6:50, 6:47, 6:58, 3:27 (6:54 pace....watch measured an extra .3)
Sunday, April 15, 2018
time and space
Nothing makes me more convinced that time and space are relative, than running the last 10k of a marathon. While the 6 marathons have all had unique experiences, the last part of the races have all shared a similar phenomena to varying degrees.
I believe a couple things start to open up during our runs. We begin to drift and settle into a trance of repetitive footfalls, breathing, and a lull of the speed of our vision the sights passing in our periphery. Mentally, we go from quick passing miles filled with adrenaline and optimism, into a drone of steady lapse during the middle of monotonous miles, until we start to hit, fight, and make our way through and beyond "the Wall." It is here where I have felt, along with countless other runners who may testify to the existence of what seems to be almost another dimension of the aforementioned shift of experience in time and space. I cant speak for all people, or even for all times of any given runner, but nonetheless having experienced this relativeness of our universal constructs shifting, where - time seems to almost freeze into a singularity of moment, and distance seems to stretch well beyond our conditioned experience of measurement, going through these final stages we come out on the other side of the finish line a new believer into worlds just beyond the veil, only entered through pain, trust, faith, fatigue, and strength synergized between mind, body, and spirit.
It was while listening to Audrey Assad's Joy of the Lord as I mowed the lawn today, that I began to muse on a collective thought from her words in the song, "The Joy of the Lord is my Strength", along with the pastor's reading in church today from Colossians 1:11, "being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance with patience with joy." As goes with most spiritual wisdom in the vein of counterintuitive-ness, it's not through an extraordinary portion of might or power that God gives, demonstrates, or teaches us in his showcase of strength, but it's through the ways of enduring, staying with, patience, faith, remaining, abiding, that we tap into and reflect and showcase the strength of God....that ultimately changes our trial into a joy, that is the result of a higher transformation, one that leaves us new and better, where as if we only were wielding the strength of God for our own advantage or short sighted, immature request to begin with. And so it goes, we come out of the refiners fire a better version or our self than we could dare even dream to ask going into our tribulation, trough, or dark night, that once again gives credence to God's ways being higher than ours.
the last thread that weaves into this post is drawing on the concept of time. Spiritual teachers of most traditions, including Christianity, will share that it is in the present that we can find peace. The hurt or pain of the past, and the anxiety of the future are not where we would be advised to spend our mental time. Reading C.S. Lewis The Screwtape Letters, he writes: "The Present is the point at which time touches eternity. Future is, of all things, the thing least like eternity. It is unknown, UN-Realized. For the past is frozen and no longer flows, and the Present is all lit up with eternal rays."
When you are hitting the wall in a marathon, as time slams to a halt, and the miles stretch on like a never ending horizon, the only friend you have is the present moment. It's as if we have reached a point in our bodily and mental fatigue that has stripped away all unrealities, shedding the unnecessary weight mentally and spiritually that we can no longer bare to carry, that we come to a stark and sober clarity of the present that gets us through to the finish. Recalling what we've accomplished thus far will either leave us with regret of how we went about getting to this point of pain, or a sense of pride of having done enough as is it, that those thoughts could derail us, just as much as thinking of how far we still have to go, and how we ever are going to get there, questioning how it ever could be, is also equally as dangerous. The mantra becomes "one foot in front of the other" in a lock step of present moment that eventually we find that finish line tape.
the strength we find in our endurance of the race in a marathon, or the just as real analogous 'marathon of life', is where we ultimately find our joy in the completion of being carried through by coming face to face with the present. There isn't a strength to achieve patience, but patience is the achievement of strength. amen.
I believe a couple things start to open up during our runs. We begin to drift and settle into a trance of repetitive footfalls, breathing, and a lull of the speed of our vision the sights passing in our periphery. Mentally, we go from quick passing miles filled with adrenaline and optimism, into a drone of steady lapse during the middle of monotonous miles, until we start to hit, fight, and make our way through and beyond "the Wall." It is here where I have felt, along with countless other runners who may testify to the existence of what seems to be almost another dimension of the aforementioned shift of experience in time and space. I cant speak for all people, or even for all times of any given runner, but nonetheless having experienced this relativeness of our universal constructs shifting, where - time seems to almost freeze into a singularity of moment, and distance seems to stretch well beyond our conditioned experience of measurement, going through these final stages we come out on the other side of the finish line a new believer into worlds just beyond the veil, only entered through pain, trust, faith, fatigue, and strength synergized between mind, body, and spirit.
It was while listening to Audrey Assad's Joy of the Lord as I mowed the lawn today, that I began to muse on a collective thought from her words in the song, "The Joy of the Lord is my Strength", along with the pastor's reading in church today from Colossians 1:11, "being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance with patience with joy." As goes with most spiritual wisdom in the vein of counterintuitive-ness, it's not through an extraordinary portion of might or power that God gives, demonstrates, or teaches us in his showcase of strength, but it's through the ways of enduring, staying with, patience, faith, remaining, abiding, that we tap into and reflect and showcase the strength of God....that ultimately changes our trial into a joy, that is the result of a higher transformation, one that leaves us new and better, where as if we only were wielding the strength of God for our own advantage or short sighted, immature request to begin with. And so it goes, we come out of the refiners fire a better version or our self than we could dare even dream to ask going into our tribulation, trough, or dark night, that once again gives credence to God's ways being higher than ours.
the last thread that weaves into this post is drawing on the concept of time. Spiritual teachers of most traditions, including Christianity, will share that it is in the present that we can find peace. The hurt or pain of the past, and the anxiety of the future are not where we would be advised to spend our mental time. Reading C.S. Lewis The Screwtape Letters, he writes: "The Present is the point at which time touches eternity. Future is, of all things, the thing least like eternity. It is unknown, UN-Realized. For the past is frozen and no longer flows, and the Present is all lit up with eternal rays."
When you are hitting the wall in a marathon, as time slams to a halt, and the miles stretch on like a never ending horizon, the only friend you have is the present moment. It's as if we have reached a point in our bodily and mental fatigue that has stripped away all unrealities, shedding the unnecessary weight mentally and spiritually that we can no longer bare to carry, that we come to a stark and sober clarity of the present that gets us through to the finish. Recalling what we've accomplished thus far will either leave us with regret of how we went about getting to this point of pain, or a sense of pride of having done enough as is it, that those thoughts could derail us, just as much as thinking of how far we still have to go, and how we ever are going to get there, questioning how it ever could be, is also equally as dangerous. The mantra becomes "one foot in front of the other" in a lock step of present moment that eventually we find that finish line tape.
the strength we find in our endurance of the race in a marathon, or the just as real analogous 'marathon of life', is where we ultimately find our joy in the completion of being carried through by coming face to face with the present. There isn't a strength to achieve patience, but patience is the achievement of strength. amen.
Monday, April 4, 2016
Cooper River Bridge Run
with a light week of training between the books ends of March's last weekend Half Marathon Trail race and April's first of the CRBR 10k yielded a light week of basketball Monday, 45 mins easy running Tuesday and then full body massage to get the soreness out, 30 mins light running Wednesday, and off on Thursday. Friday was also an off day from running, but was a good night of Pasta, beer, and chilling with Josh Brewer down in James Island, SC.
never being a morning person, Saturday's wake up came harsh and fast. Was feeling very full from the night before's diet, so didn't attempt any food - which proved to be non detrimental. Legs felt pretty fresh during the shake out - but being in the first wave, i was nervous i was going to go out too fast and not be able to hold a steady pace, so i over protected and regulated myself to comfort that first mile. Still, the shock of not being inside a race for more than an hour seemed to take a while for me to get the notice that i had to start moving. That notice came basically the second half of the race.
How the course lays out - you have that first mile which can be hard with the crowds in general, and where i wanted to go slow (i wanted 630 split and 630 split is what i got)-then the second mile you are just trying to gear up for the bridge so you don't really drop it too much - at least i didn't. i tried to maintain but basically with the split coming just a little bit into the bridge's climb, i ticked off a 640 mile so was behind the ideal race plan already. The third mile ( the uphill bridge climb) came with a strong left to right wind that really slowed things down. I realized my legs were obviously groomed to make the distance, but the pace was already taxing me, and the hill i started to drift mentally at times. When that happens it's sure to spell a slowdown. and it did, so i rattled off my worst mile of the day at 720 and just trying to hold on and crest the bridge. The bridge is a lot of ways is it's own entity. It's why i love the race. It impacts the first 2 miles, the 3 and 4th mile are all on the bridge basically, and with it's hill, wind, and energy it's a complete obstacle that must be dealt with.
How the course lays out - you have that first mile which can be hard with the crowds in general, and where i wanted to go slow (i wanted 630 split and 630 split is what i got)-then the second mile you are just trying to gear up for the bridge so you don't really drop it too much - at least i didn't. i tried to maintain but basically with the split coming just a little bit into the bridge's climb, i ticked off a 640 mile so was behind the ideal race plan already. The third mile ( the uphill bridge climb) came with a strong left to right wind that really slowed things down. I realized my legs were obviously groomed to make the distance, but the pace was already taxing me, and the hill i started to drift mentally at times. When that happens it's sure to spell a slowdown. and it did, so i rattled off my worst mile of the day at 720 and just trying to hold on and crest the bridge. The bridge is a lot of ways is it's own entity. It's why i love the race. It impacts the first 2 miles, the 3 and 4th mile are all on the bridge basically, and with it's hill, wind, and energy it's a complete obstacle that must be dealt with.
I think also the long distance marathon training hasn't prepared me well to mentally engage in a race in the first couple of miles, like you have to in the 10k. So once i got over the bridge hill and crossed my 5k split in 21.15 i knew i had sacrificed so much time that i wouldn't be able to get it all back. Those seconds and minutes were gone at the expense of not being ready mentally from the gun, and handling the bridge climb poorly that day. However, i had a lot of running left in me and started to lock in with my mind.
the 4th mile we started to descend the bridge and i was able to start staying on pace with the people around me rather than get passed like i had been the previous mile. as i started to get in a groove, we hit the 4th mile mark where i brought it down to about a 650, and mentally was starting to get competitive with only 2 miles to go. I thought about having 2 miles to go last week in the trail race and how i was at that point really treating it like the final push, so i did the same here. I started to pass people and quicken my stride to combat some extra heaviness i felt in my non-thinking stride. the shorter pace and wearing my road flats made me feel light, and so did coming up on people's shoulder and passing them by. And yet, from the top of the bridge where a tall large young man in american flag bandanna and american flag racing shorts had strode out past me, he and i remained in sight and near each other the rest of the way.
The music on the course would give me surges, and i knew i was starting to feel that old familiar boost of adrenaline coming into the last mile. i was excited to run that last mile because that 5th mile i was bringing down the pace even more to a 635 and feeling the vibes as the last mile is lined with loud spectators as you round into King street for the peak of the pageantry and energy. This is where the race feels like Boston (or i'm sure NY or Chicago- but i just haven't done those...yet). with 40k people the crowds of runners and fans are huge, and it's like you are running down a hall way of straight flat ground where your vision becomes tunnel and your thoughts are just flying down as fast as you can until the end. The last mile .2 of the race ends with two quick turns, by which time i was already in 5th gear, so i used the previous experience to keep up the pace, and put in a good kick on the last straight to the finish, where here a young early 20s looking woman came up with me and went stride for stride with me in one of the fastest finishes i have ever done. i wouldn't let her take it so we just ended up going all out, like we were racing a 100m dash. It sure feels good to have that much in the tank at the end and finish so strong. it's like birding the 18th hole after a not so good round overall, that keeps you coming back. i clocked about a 545 last mile.
All the splits were done off recalling the time clocks on the course. I still don't wear a watch when i run, and that includes racing.
Time: 41.03--6:36 pace
first 5k 21:15--6:30, 6:40, 7:20---6:49 pace
last 5k 19:47--6:50, 6;30, 5:50---6:22 pace
http://results.xacte.com/?kw=crb#
Monday, March 28, 2016
New South Trail Marathon - Half
Saturday March 26th 9am White Water Center, Charlotte, NC - 13.1 miles
http://usnwc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/2016-New-South-Awards-Half-Marathon-Overall.pdf
http://usnwc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/2016-New-South-Awards-Half-Marathon-Overall.pdf
i tell you the force field that keeps you from coming to the pad to sit and write is awfully strong when you have been away for so long, but i had to jump in and dive headfirst real quick and not stay on the edge, because i have known after letting that trail race marinate on my brain, and seeing it not drift away without demanding recollection, to know that this was a special experience for many reasons, and so, i had to put some letters down on screen.
i'm writing this 48 hours from when i was traversing mile 5 or 6 at the New South Trail Half Marathon at the White Water Center, wondering if these trails were going to remain so arduous, if my pace was too quick to last the 13.1 miles, and how close i was going to stay with my competitive challengers. The aches and dull soreness felt from hips down has lessened, as has the tightness of calves and fee by this point, but i'm still acutely aware of the full body grinder that was my first real trail course, that eased me in and spit me out a destroyed heap of something other. while my body has started to heal, the weather has basically stayed the same over the last couple of days-with this Easter Weekend of perfect running temperatures.
10 miles was the longest i have run going into this race, but i wasn't too concerned about finishing 13. I did have fair reason to wonder how much of a decent pace i could maintain going the extra 3 miles tho, and then especially on a trail course. Being a non stranger to running off the roads, i have ran my share of different surfaces and difficulty levels, but for me the more difficult, technical, and single file a trail that i've run has coupled with it's brevity of length. Basically, green-ways and more accommodating trail ways that stretch long are typically the type i would expect for 13 miles (think moses cone, trout lake, boone nc) - still, i did expect some more tight and curvaceous trails given that i've run just a little bit at the White Water Center and remember them being no easy picnic.
the best comparison i have for the course was the trails in my old neighborhood of madison park/montclaire and that also are a part of Marion dehl across the street of tyvola...except put that on steroids and blow it up 30 fold - both in terms of length and exaggerated hill climbs and drop off after drop off. basically, it was the most fun and interesting of a trail that i have ever run----especially with it being almost 13 miles long in this one giant incredible loop. switchbacks, bridges of wooden beams, 60 degree banked turns, 3 foot drop offs, 150 foot hill climbs, winding, rocky, rooty, dirty, clear, and the best well markings of any course i have been too.
as I've been doing now for about 7 or 8 months, i haven't been wearing a watch, which was good because any distraction could have easily resulted in a fall from tripping on the course from not paying attention. this of course also meant that your mind didn't have time to wander and find those negative thoughts that come with boredom which seem to be more available on the open road. but that's really about as far as i'll go in comparing this with most races. It was such a different animal because of the spectacular course that you have to travail, requiring utmost awareness and toughness that i was only able to contemplate my path and getting to the next mile marker. Going out with Josh Brewer, the first two miles we realized our total running time, from his watch, put us at a pace that wouldn't seem too aggressive, but for me i still felt that if the course didn't relent, this pace was plenty eager enough. My legs felt good and able to put in a quality race, as you can asses in that first half mile of if your legs are ready or not. Mine were. My stomach was pretty good - wasn't hungry and wasn't full - just right from the pasta the night before, and the bread and peanut butter a couple hours earlier was telling me that i was good off that. I had a few Sport Beans for energy in my pocket i would dissolve and chew in my mouth during the second half of the run.
so i felt good, except by mile 3 i knew that i was going to have to stop and pee during this race. The coffee and water i had before had broken the seal and i was off to the urinary races as i typically am after such morning routine beverages. when i realized that having to stop and pee was consuming more thought that i had available, with trying to concentrate on the course and needing to also have a level and encouraing mindset, i knew i twas time to pull over. I waited until a great spot, at the 1st water station 4 miles in, grabbed a cup, pulled over and balanced fluids. i was quickly off, and now my pack of runners was ahead and i was behind some new bodies wondering how i would get back, and if they would fall back to me.
so here i don't know any kind of pace times, but i was feeling much better having had the bathroom break and remained through out the race. after being slingshot from the downhills- using my long legs to propel me down the hills and gain ground, i realized that I was surrounded by quality trail runners for the most part. People were able to hold paces, so my catch ups were slow, and i had to work a lot by myself. the first 4 miles with Josh Brewer in conversational ear shot were great to knock out the early miles and get things started, but now being alone i enjoyed where i was because i was allowed to get and stay in my own head. i felt like i was the most aware, present, and totally engrossed and absorbed in the race as i have ever been for that long in my life. I won't say as intense - i think the middle distance track races are the most intense present experiences, but for long term- yes. i found my rhythm of fast down hills, steady slow hill climbs and surges during the straights and flats. my energy stayed constant, but my legs started to feel the toll of the ups and downs around mile 9. I look back now and realize that the mileage i was covering seemed so long in coming because of the pace i was going - but that never occurred how slow total i was going because i knew my effort was maximum and regulated to get through evenly this tough course for 13 miles.
I was able to never get passed back after the bathroom stop, and continually was able to pass competitors over the last 9 miles, perhaps 7 or 8 people in total. On some of the switchbacks i would pass Josh and knew he was maintaining and increasing and that i just needed to stay committed and see how close i could keep the gap and try and get anyone between us.
The course was designed smartly by a clearly veteran designer in putting the last mile mostly flat, so any lasts race within a race could occur, whereby the runners would be able to open their legs up and see what was left after coming out of the gauntlet. At least for the most part. They diabolically threw in one last large down and windy descent complete with a last climb, before entering back out around the water in front of the facility in fan view for the last 3rd of a mile to finish. Incredible lay out, and i was alone and could see another in front about 20 secs up and also Josh at the finish line. I spotted my wife and girls on the hill with about 150 meters to go and waved and came in so happy and delighted.
i knew what i just went through on my first real black diamond trail race for 13.1 miles was something unique that i had never done and how I would have a big appreciation for the experience. And when i saw 2 hours as i came through, for the first time seeing a total time, even though it was about 15 mins slower than what i predicted i would finish - obviously not knowing the nature of the course - i wasn't upset, but just smiled and knew that that bear of a trail was nothing i could do but appreciate.
http://usnwc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/2016-New-South-Awards-Half-Marathon-Overall.pdf
http://usnwc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/2016-New-South-Awards-Half-Marathon-Overall.pdf
i tell you the force field that keeps you from coming to the pad to sit and write is awfully strong when you have been away for so long, but i had to jump in and dive headfirst real quick and not stay on the edge, because i have known after letting that trail race marinate on my brain, and seeing it not drift away without demanding recollection, to know that this was a special experience for many reasons, and so, i had to put some letters down on screen.
i'm writing this 48 hours from when i was traversing mile 5 or 6 at the New South Trail Half Marathon at the White Water Center, wondering if these trails were going to remain so arduous, if my pace was too quick to last the 13.1 miles, and how close i was going to stay with my competitive challengers. The aches and dull soreness felt from hips down has lessened, as has the tightness of calves and fee by this point, but i'm still acutely aware of the full body grinder that was my first real trail course, that eased me in and spit me out a destroyed heap of something other. while my body has started to heal, the weather has basically stayed the same over the last couple of days-with this Easter Weekend of perfect running temperatures.
10 miles was the longest i have run going into this race, but i wasn't too concerned about finishing 13. I did have fair reason to wonder how much of a decent pace i could maintain going the extra 3 miles tho, and then especially on a trail course. Being a non stranger to running off the roads, i have ran my share of different surfaces and difficulty levels, but for me the more difficult, technical, and single file a trail that i've run has coupled with it's brevity of length. Basically, green-ways and more accommodating trail ways that stretch long are typically the type i would expect for 13 miles (think moses cone, trout lake, boone nc) - still, i did expect some more tight and curvaceous trails given that i've run just a little bit at the White Water Center and remember them being no easy picnic.
the best comparison i have for the course was the trails in my old neighborhood of madison park/montclaire and that also are a part of Marion dehl across the street of tyvola...except put that on steroids and blow it up 30 fold - both in terms of length and exaggerated hill climbs and drop off after drop off. basically, it was the most fun and interesting of a trail that i have ever run----especially with it being almost 13 miles long in this one giant incredible loop. switchbacks, bridges of wooden beams, 60 degree banked turns, 3 foot drop offs, 150 foot hill climbs, winding, rocky, rooty, dirty, clear, and the best well markings of any course i have been too.
as I've been doing now for about 7 or 8 months, i haven't been wearing a watch, which was good because any distraction could have easily resulted in a fall from tripping on the course from not paying attention. this of course also meant that your mind didn't have time to wander and find those negative thoughts that come with boredom which seem to be more available on the open road. but that's really about as far as i'll go in comparing this with most races. It was such a different animal because of the spectacular course that you have to travail, requiring utmost awareness and toughness that i was only able to contemplate my path and getting to the next mile marker. Going out with Josh Brewer, the first two miles we realized our total running time, from his watch, put us at a pace that wouldn't seem too aggressive, but for me i still felt that if the course didn't relent, this pace was plenty eager enough. My legs felt good and able to put in a quality race, as you can asses in that first half mile of if your legs are ready or not. Mine were. My stomach was pretty good - wasn't hungry and wasn't full - just right from the pasta the night before, and the bread and peanut butter a couple hours earlier was telling me that i was good off that. I had a few Sport Beans for energy in my pocket i would dissolve and chew in my mouth during the second half of the run.
so i felt good, except by mile 3 i knew that i was going to have to stop and pee during this race. The coffee and water i had before had broken the seal and i was off to the urinary races as i typically am after such morning routine beverages. when i realized that having to stop and pee was consuming more thought that i had available, with trying to concentrate on the course and needing to also have a level and encouraing mindset, i knew i twas time to pull over. I waited until a great spot, at the 1st water station 4 miles in, grabbed a cup, pulled over and balanced fluids. i was quickly off, and now my pack of runners was ahead and i was behind some new bodies wondering how i would get back, and if they would fall back to me.
so here i don't know any kind of pace times, but i was feeling much better having had the bathroom break and remained through out the race. after being slingshot from the downhills- using my long legs to propel me down the hills and gain ground, i realized that I was surrounded by quality trail runners for the most part. People were able to hold paces, so my catch ups were slow, and i had to work a lot by myself. the first 4 miles with Josh Brewer in conversational ear shot were great to knock out the early miles and get things started, but now being alone i enjoyed where i was because i was allowed to get and stay in my own head. i felt like i was the most aware, present, and totally engrossed and absorbed in the race as i have ever been for that long in my life. I won't say as intense - i think the middle distance track races are the most intense present experiences, but for long term- yes. i found my rhythm of fast down hills, steady slow hill climbs and surges during the straights and flats. my energy stayed constant, but my legs started to feel the toll of the ups and downs around mile 9. I look back now and realize that the mileage i was covering seemed so long in coming because of the pace i was going - but that never occurred how slow total i was going because i knew my effort was maximum and regulated to get through evenly this tough course for 13 miles.
I was able to never get passed back after the bathroom stop, and continually was able to pass competitors over the last 9 miles, perhaps 7 or 8 people in total. On some of the switchbacks i would pass Josh and knew he was maintaining and increasing and that i just needed to stay committed and see how close i could keep the gap and try and get anyone between us.
The course was designed smartly by a clearly veteran designer in putting the last mile mostly flat, so any lasts race within a race could occur, whereby the runners would be able to open their legs up and see what was left after coming out of the gauntlet. At least for the most part. They diabolically threw in one last large down and windy descent complete with a last climb, before entering back out around the water in front of the facility in fan view for the last 3rd of a mile to finish. Incredible lay out, and i was alone and could see another in front about 20 secs up and also Josh at the finish line. I spotted my wife and girls on the hill with about 150 meters to go and waved and came in so happy and delighted.
i knew what i just went through on my first real black diamond trail race for 13.1 miles was something unique that i had never done and how I would have a big appreciation for the experience. And when i saw 2 hours as i came through, for the first time seeing a total time, even though it was about 15 mins slower than what i predicted i would finish - obviously not knowing the nature of the course - i wasn't upset, but just smiled and knew that that bear of a trail was nothing i could do but appreciate.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
goin' racin'
since my last post, I have only raced once: The Rock N Run 5k back in the latter part of August. (actually referring to the last post, I did race the 5k at McAlpine in May...19:33). I managed to stay under 20 mins (19:47), but it wasn't very pretty. However, I have not really been doing much this summer running wise - so it's not a surprise.
The last couple months though I have started to pick up my frequency (3 runs a week-ish), but have turned towards the Track for a good portion of those runs. Once or twice a week I have found myself doing some light to medium workouts at shorter distances around the oval. I'ts been fun to rebuild some speed, and change things up.
I always enjoyed running track more than the next runner, and I plan on keeping it up ever how long I desire. I think it started when I wanted to resume activity coupled with some of my summer readings about the great track teams of Oregon during the Bowerman years. I definitly would recommend his biography written my Kenny Moore.
Anyway, I'll be racing at the 1st annual Showmars 5k this Saturday, and we'll see how some of those speed workouts translate into a 3.1 mile race.
The last couple months though I have started to pick up my frequency (3 runs a week-ish), but have turned towards the Track for a good portion of those runs. Once or twice a week I have found myself doing some light to medium workouts at shorter distances around the oval. I'ts been fun to rebuild some speed, and change things up.
I always enjoyed running track more than the next runner, and I plan on keeping it up ever how long I desire. I think it started when I wanted to resume activity coupled with some of my summer readings about the great track teams of Oregon during the Bowerman years. I definitly would recommend his biography written my Kenny Moore.
Anyway, I'll be racing at the 1st annual Showmars 5k this Saturday, and we'll see how some of those speed workouts translate into a 3.1 mile race.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
2012 Winter Flight 8k race recap
Hey hey - surprised myself here. What a fun race and great morning. Having now done this race twice, I find it to be one of my favorite road races out there. Why? The course is cool, it's cheap, long sleeve tech t, late start, i love the course, and it's run very smoothly.
Last year it was sunny and cool, this year it was rainy and cool. By rainy, I mean that it lightly sprinkled throughout the race, but not heavy enough to ruin the experience.
my fuel for the day was 1.5 chocolate chip pancakes with peanut butter on top, and drizzled in syrup. For drink I had a Gatorade and a Dunkin' Doughnuts small coffee.
Warm up was just over a mile in 8:30's pace. Got up to the front, about 2nd row from the starting line. Legs felt good, and I felt rather quick and light, thanks to my Lunar Racers. Took off and settled into the race the first mile in 6:05-10 pace. Allowed Jason and his group to get up in front, and was able to watch Mitchell go out with the leaders - or right behind them anyway. Came through the first mile in 6:12 and felt fine. The course begins to climb and I tried to overcompensate to stay on pace. Cresting the hill I found myself at 6:15-20 pace and begin to adjust to get it back down towards 6 flat. The hill downward helped. Here, the course lets you out onto the long straightaway hilly country roads where the bulk of the race takes place.
Came through mile two a tad faster and feeling fine. Jason and his pack were slowly coming into reach, and the next long climb was upon us. I think it was around 2.5 miles when I caught up to Jason and his pack as we elevated up the hill. Initially I passed, then he passed right back, then we kind of grouped up, them right off my right shoulder.
After we peaked on the hill, the older gentlemen (John Anderson) in the pack went around me and sped up until he got a couple meters gap on me. At 3 miles I stayed even from mile two on the pace, and managed not letting this new member of the pack I just passed, continue to build on his lead. My focus was on him, and not the other people in the pack I had just passed. I kept him in contact that third mile, and as we sped along at a slight decline, our 4th mile quickened, especially when I made my move to pass him just before splitting 4 miles in the race. As we approached the last mile, around 3.8 miles, I told myself to work on passing him and ride this stretch into the last mile's pickup. Basically I decided to make my move before a mile to go, and not relent. The slower start allowed me to feel ready to attack, and I was focused on putting as much ground between the people I had passed, and not letting them get back to me. While I was doing this, a guy in front of me (Joseph Willis), who had been too far out of reach for me to worry about, started to come into view. I was telling myself to keep going, not to let up, and mentally was breaking down the last mile into quarters as I visually pictured getting closer and closer to being done. The last half mile of the race gives you a reprieve from the final hill you just climbed, and descends down into Catawba College campus and winds you to the entrance of the stadium. A few sharp curves are present here, and during this stretch I passed the guy who had been long in front of me the whole race. Again, he initially passed me back, then I made one more strong move, right before being let onto the track, where I passed him back. I was in top gear at this time, and just had 300 meters to go. I was determined to not let anyone pass me back, and just drove deep and tried to get onto my toes and turn my feet over as fast as I could. I glanced up at the scoreboard and saw the official race time tick up. As long as I ran the last 200 meters in under a minute I would have broken 30 mins for the race, something I wasn't sure I could do going into the race. I held on and finished strong and came in officially at 29:40 - good for 6th place. My friend Mike Mitchell was in 5th place, but had finished more than 2 minutes earlier.
I had a blast out there. It was especially enjoyable because I started off conservative, and was able to really pick it up the last couple miles. Finishing strong is always the best thing, and it doesn't always play out like that. I loved the camaraderie of my friends being out there, and BBQ in China Grove after was a nice cap on the event.
Great Race to Jason too - check out his recap
Race Time: 29:40
Pace: 5:58
Splits: 6.12, 6:01, 6.01, 5:50, 5:34
Place: 6th
Link to results
miles for the day - 8 - 1 mi w/u, 2 mi c/d
Week in review: 15 miles on 3 days running. 2 short runs, and 1 race.
Last year it was sunny and cool, this year it was rainy and cool. By rainy, I mean that it lightly sprinkled throughout the race, but not heavy enough to ruin the experience.
my fuel for the day was 1.5 chocolate chip pancakes with peanut butter on top, and drizzled in syrup. For drink I had a Gatorade and a Dunkin' Doughnuts small coffee.
Warm up was just over a mile in 8:30's pace. Got up to the front, about 2nd row from the starting line. Legs felt good, and I felt rather quick and light, thanks to my Lunar Racers. Took off and settled into the race the first mile in 6:05-10 pace. Allowed Jason and his group to get up in front, and was able to watch Mitchell go out with the leaders - or right behind them anyway. Came through the first mile in 6:12 and felt fine. The course begins to climb and I tried to overcompensate to stay on pace. Cresting the hill I found myself at 6:15-20 pace and begin to adjust to get it back down towards 6 flat. The hill downward helped. Here, the course lets you out onto the long straightaway hilly country roads where the bulk of the race takes place.
Came through mile two a tad faster and feeling fine. Jason and his pack were slowly coming into reach, and the next long climb was upon us. I think it was around 2.5 miles when I caught up to Jason and his pack as we elevated up the hill. Initially I passed, then he passed right back, then we kind of grouped up, them right off my right shoulder.
After we peaked on the hill, the older gentlemen (John Anderson) in the pack went around me and sped up until he got a couple meters gap on me. At 3 miles I stayed even from mile two on the pace, and managed not letting this new member of the pack I just passed, continue to build on his lead. My focus was on him, and not the other people in the pack I had just passed. I kept him in contact that third mile, and as we sped along at a slight decline, our 4th mile quickened, especially when I made my move to pass him just before splitting 4 miles in the race. As we approached the last mile, around 3.8 miles, I told myself to work on passing him and ride this stretch into the last mile's pickup. Basically I decided to make my move before a mile to go, and not relent. The slower start allowed me to feel ready to attack, and I was focused on putting as much ground between the people I had passed, and not letting them get back to me. While I was doing this, a guy in front of me (Joseph Willis), who had been too far out of reach for me to worry about, started to come into view. I was telling myself to keep going, not to let up, and mentally was breaking down the last mile into quarters as I visually pictured getting closer and closer to being done. The last half mile of the race gives you a reprieve from the final hill you just climbed, and descends down into Catawba College campus and winds you to the entrance of the stadium. A few sharp curves are present here, and during this stretch I passed the guy who had been long in front of me the whole race. Again, he initially passed me back, then I made one more strong move, right before being let onto the track, where I passed him back. I was in top gear at this time, and just had 300 meters to go. I was determined to not let anyone pass me back, and just drove deep and tried to get onto my toes and turn my feet over as fast as I could. I glanced up at the scoreboard and saw the official race time tick up. As long as I ran the last 200 meters in under a minute I would have broken 30 mins for the race, something I wasn't sure I could do going into the race. I held on and finished strong and came in officially at 29:40 - good for 6th place. My friend Mike Mitchell was in 5th place, but had finished more than 2 minutes earlier.
I had a blast out there. It was especially enjoyable because I started off conservative, and was able to really pick it up the last couple miles. Finishing strong is always the best thing, and it doesn't always play out like that. I loved the camaraderie of my friends being out there, and BBQ in China Grove after was a nice cap on the event.
Great Race to Jason too - check out his recap
Race Time: 29:40
Pace: 5:58
Splits: 6.12, 6:01, 6.01, 5:50, 5:34
Place: 6th
Link to results
miles for the day - 8 - 1 mi w/u, 2 mi c/d
Week in review: 15 miles on 3 days running. 2 short runs, and 1 race.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Thunder Road marathon 2011
I read my recap of last year's Thunder Road 2 or 3 times last week as I was becoming more and more excited as this year's race drew near. I must say it was some pretty good writing, and I don't really think I can recap as well as last year - but I'll give you my thoughts nonetheless.
Just like I don't think I can give as good as a report on this years race, as I did last year, similarly I thought going into this year's marathon that I wouldn't be able to repeat with a race that was as good as I ran last year. Despite a full year of running, and racing, I didn't fully have the confidence going into the race that I would be able to PR (personal record). Fully, being the operative word. I knew I had a chance, but that thought was kind of deep down.
I think the main thing that I doubted was my ability to hold the pace required to get under 3 hours. Yes, anything under 3:00:40 would give me a new best, but if I was going to improve I really wanted to break the 3 hour barrier. Another thing that was keeping me from really believing and being pysched about it was the fact that Boston 2012 plans have already been made, and that the whole point - at least when I decided, back in the summer, to run the Thunder Road - was to have one more marathon experience so that I could really use Boston as the race to lower my PR. Basically, I was looking at Thunder Road as an "experience" marathon rather than one to focus on getting a PR. At least that was the thought process back then, and I found leading up to this race, that I was lacking a little confidence and fire to go run something great.
Yet, my old highschool friend and teammate, Josh Brewer, was in town, and he was thinking about trying to break 3 hours - so I knew that I would have some friendly competition to get me going, not to mention David Brinkly.
The weather was clear and cold at the start. Mid 30's, and warming up as the morning went on. Really great running weather actually. I found my way to the start earlier this year, and with the new corral system, there were no issues on getting out, like there were for me last year.
I knew the first mile was downhill and fast, from experience, so I decided to make it feel like a crawl as Josh and I strolled along to a 7 minute mile on the opening stretch. My Garmin beeped signaling "mile 1" some 8-9 seconds before the first course mile marker, and from there on my Garmin would measure each mile little by little further and further from the course markers as the race went on.
Josh and I kept it easy the second mile, and by the third mile I noticed he was dropping back, while I was keeping an eye on David. - I must say in taking inventory of how I felt, my legs felt fresh, breathing felt good, no aches or nagging pains, and I was settled in and the pace felt easy and comfortable - all positive check offs a marathoner looks for early on in the race -. I slowly reeled in David and Jamaar until I caught them around the 4.5 mile mark.
As the 3 of us came along the crowd at the corner of Providence and Sharon at the 5 mile mark, I threw KT my long sleeve shirt, and took my first GU Chomps. As we ran throw Foxcroft, we sunk into a pace that was heading for a sub 3 hour marathon. In this neighborhood, David and I came up to the pretty good sized pack of runners around the 3 hour pace group leader, an older man named Jonathon who sounded very British. I was talkative, and introduced myself, and he was not shy to talk either - for I'm sure he was quite comfortable being a pace leader.
When our pack passed the 9 or 10 mile mark where I had to use the Porta John last year, I was pretty excited that I didn't have to stop, nor think that I would anytime soon. I was hoping I could get through my first marathon without having to use the bathroom.
As we came down Queens and made our way onto Kings, I found myself a few strides ahead of the pack and restrained myself from growing the gap but also not slowing down enough to let them catch up. I turned, and they followed, up Morehead and the hill didn't seem to be anything of a challenge at this point in the race at all. I was still feeling good. My splits to this point were close to the 3 hour mark, but I was a little thrown off from the beginning since my Garmin was registering miles long before the actual markers. (later that night after the race, i found out I can still hit the "lap" buttong on my garmin to record intentional splits I choose, despite it telling me when i have run a mile or not...next race i'll do that!).
There was the biggest crowd of the day so far when I came across the turnoff for the marathoners and the half marathoners. Speakers blasting some Switchfoot, and CRC and fans going crazy cheering. This electrified me and I started to grow the gap from the 3 hour pace group and found myself alone after the turnoff. The energy I got really increased my pace, and I started running away from the pace group, knowing I was flirting with the unknown as I was venturing farther and farther into sub 3 territory....so early too, as this was only mile 13. Mentally, after I crossed the half way point, I felt like the end would come soon, and I got agressive and decided to roll the dice. When my pace krept faster, I settled into that and didn't hit the brakes. I was going to try and maintain for as long as I felt in control, and hope I still had a good last 10k to bring it home to the finish line.
Keeping my spirits upbeat and quick, I passed Katie and my daughter and mother in law around mile 15 and started to reel in runners in front of me. The field was pretty thin, so I was hoping I would link up soon with someone going my pace to help me work. I passed a couple runners coming up Mint St., and as I passed Bank of America Stadium, I asked the runner who I just passed to come run with me, and what his goal time was. This would be Chris McFarlane (not to be confused with the creator of Family Guy). I remembered when he passed David and I around mile 5, and noted that he looked like he was a pretty good runner. Once he answered the call, he and I introduced ourselfs and talked about where we were in relation to pace, and how we wanted to finish. Realizing we both had almost identical PRs and goals, we decided we would work together forever how long we could for the rest of the race. Since I was pushing a faster pace at this point (having caught him), and keeping it there as I asked him to come up, Chris told me he was willing to try and stay where we were. This was a crucial point in the race. Looking back I might have talked to much in the race during my time with him, but perhaps it helped the miles go bye and me not dwell on how fast we were going, since we were doing the typical get to know you routine of our past. Pretty cool!
Chris and I clicked our faster mile for the race (at least mine) at mile 19 before we turned onto N. Davidson, and were quickly approaching the Wall zone, where runners start to bonk. As I took GU Chomps at miles 10 and 15 per the plan, I reached into my shorts and unleashed my last supplement - a GU Rocktain gel. I tried to suck/eat it around the 20th mile, but could only get about half of it down. I took some water and that helped, but the whole process wasn't as smooth as I would have liked, nor did it go down as easily as I had envisioned.
Again - I am reazling I'm not giving proper "props" to those fans who came to multiple spots like I did in my last blog, so let me apologize. Mitchell, Blackwoods, Family, and anyone else - you guys rocked and inspired me, so let me THANK you here. You guys posistioned yourself well along the course, and it was great to see you out there.
-now back to the race-
As Chris and I made our way on the Plaza, we were now into, I think, our 21st mile, and starting to come off the pace I had been pushing. I started to feel my legs getting tired and heavier as I ran down Plaza, turned onto Central, and made my way back into the residential neighborhood of Plaza Midwood. And during this stretch I was fighting bouts of nausea. Also, the conversation between us had stopped a few miles ago, and we were getting into the tough part. The mental zone. The fight to the finish.
I pushed through, and at the end of the 24th Mile, before we turned to Hawthorne, Chris passed me. As we came down Hawthorne Chris stopped quickly for a water/gatorade at the stop, and I passed him, and 2 others who had been ahead the whole race. This was short lived as Chris passed me back right before the Hawthorne Hill. While I was climbing said hill, I heard a guy yell "let's go shirtless!" Woah - could it be?! When I heard this I was shocked. I had left Josh Brewer - the only guy shirtless in the whole race - at mile 2, and had been looking behind throughout the race and hadn't seen him at all. Now, he's right behind me? I knew it had to be him. As I started the 25th mile, cresting Hawthorne and making my way towards downtown, Josh passed me like a flash. Another runner passed me soon after, and now I was watching "shirtless", Chris, and the Asian (guy who passed me after Josh) battle and pull away from me. I was hurting, but I wasn't dying. My pace wasn't getting out of control. I passed the 25th mile marker as the clock showed 2:50:xx and I knew that as long as I didn't fully fall apart, sub 3 would be mine.
As we made our way down the hill, and took the left onto the straightway which would run us up to MLK, where the race would finish, I was doing everything I could to keep it together. Just keeping one foot in front of the other, and knowing that I had to suffer because sub 3 was atainable. I remembered Theodan's mantra "you can tolerate more pain than you think you can". I was telling myself this the last mile, while literally shaking my head in an effort to snap out of the haze and push to the finish. As I made that last turn to the finish line, I felt my vision dwindle and my legs ache. My face was contorted and twisted and I read the clock tick from 2:58 to 2:59 and prayed I could get to the finish before it read 3. I didn't lock up for fall down, and I made it. 2:59.12. Thank God. I put my hands on my knees and couldn't move for a few seconds. I raised up, and hugged Josh who had broke 2:59 and congratualted him, as he did me.
I made myself keep walking down the shoot, and looked for David. He made it! A huge PR for him, and a BQ (Boston Qualifer), so that was just awesome.
As I got some water and gatorade, I kept walking around, hugged Katie, and waited for Jason. He made it too! just under 3:30 for his First marathon.
Marathons feel like Championships, as I told me wife earlier in the week. It's the culmination of long training, and the day is just so sweet. While I told myself during the aganozing stretch of this race that I would Never do another one, I'm already looking forward to resting and regrouping to attack Boston this april for hopefully another PR. Thanks again to everyone who supported me.
Here is a link to my Garmin Splits. You'll note it measured my race almost a quarter mile longer than a marathon.
Clock Time 2:59:17
Chip Time 2:59:12
Overall Place 14 / 907
Gender Place 14 / 605
Division Place 6 / 70 (3rd place age group award. A cool TR flag I will frame and put in my man cave!)
Pace 6:50
10Ksplit 42:33
13 1Msplit 1:29:30
20Msplit 2:15:33 / 13.1-20mil 46:03, 6.40 pace
2nd half(13.1mi) split: 1:29:42 / last 10k 20-26.2mil 43:39, 7:01 pace
Just like I don't think I can give as good as a report on this years race, as I did last year, similarly I thought going into this year's marathon that I wouldn't be able to repeat with a race that was as good as I ran last year. Despite a full year of running, and racing, I didn't fully have the confidence going into the race that I would be able to PR (personal record). Fully, being the operative word. I knew I had a chance, but that thought was kind of deep down.
I think the main thing that I doubted was my ability to hold the pace required to get under 3 hours. Yes, anything under 3:00:40 would give me a new best, but if I was going to improve I really wanted to break the 3 hour barrier. Another thing that was keeping me from really believing and being pysched about it was the fact that Boston 2012 plans have already been made, and that the whole point - at least when I decided, back in the summer, to run the Thunder Road - was to have one more marathon experience so that I could really use Boston as the race to lower my PR. Basically, I was looking at Thunder Road as an "experience" marathon rather than one to focus on getting a PR. At least that was the thought process back then, and I found leading up to this race, that I was lacking a little confidence and fire to go run something great.
Yet, my old highschool friend and teammate, Josh Brewer, was in town, and he was thinking about trying to break 3 hours - so I knew that I would have some friendly competition to get me going, not to mention David Brinkly.
The weather was clear and cold at the start. Mid 30's, and warming up as the morning went on. Really great running weather actually. I found my way to the start earlier this year, and with the new corral system, there were no issues on getting out, like there were for me last year.
I knew the first mile was downhill and fast, from experience, so I decided to make it feel like a crawl as Josh and I strolled along to a 7 minute mile on the opening stretch. My Garmin beeped signaling "mile 1" some 8-9 seconds before the first course mile marker, and from there on my Garmin would measure each mile little by little further and further from the course markers as the race went on.
Josh and I kept it easy the second mile, and by the third mile I noticed he was dropping back, while I was keeping an eye on David. - I must say in taking inventory of how I felt, my legs felt fresh, breathing felt good, no aches or nagging pains, and I was settled in and the pace felt easy and comfortable - all positive check offs a marathoner looks for early on in the race -. I slowly reeled in David and Jamaar until I caught them around the 4.5 mile mark.
As the 3 of us came along the crowd at the corner of Providence and Sharon at the 5 mile mark, I threw KT my long sleeve shirt, and took my first GU Chomps. As we ran throw Foxcroft, we sunk into a pace that was heading for a sub 3 hour marathon. In this neighborhood, David and I came up to the pretty good sized pack of runners around the 3 hour pace group leader, an older man named Jonathon who sounded very British. I was talkative, and introduced myself, and he was not shy to talk either - for I'm sure he was quite comfortable being a pace leader.
When our pack passed the 9 or 10 mile mark where I had to use the Porta John last year, I was pretty excited that I didn't have to stop, nor think that I would anytime soon. I was hoping I could get through my first marathon without having to use the bathroom.
As we came down Queens and made our way onto Kings, I found myself a few strides ahead of the pack and restrained myself from growing the gap but also not slowing down enough to let them catch up. I turned, and they followed, up Morehead and the hill didn't seem to be anything of a challenge at this point in the race at all. I was still feeling good. My splits to this point were close to the 3 hour mark, but I was a little thrown off from the beginning since my Garmin was registering miles long before the actual markers. (later that night after the race, i found out I can still hit the "lap" buttong on my garmin to record intentional splits I choose, despite it telling me when i have run a mile or not...next race i'll do that!).
There was the biggest crowd of the day so far when I came across the turnoff for the marathoners and the half marathoners. Speakers blasting some Switchfoot, and CRC and fans going crazy cheering. This electrified me and I started to grow the gap from the 3 hour pace group and found myself alone after the turnoff. The energy I got really increased my pace, and I started running away from the pace group, knowing I was flirting with the unknown as I was venturing farther and farther into sub 3 territory....so early too, as this was only mile 13. Mentally, after I crossed the half way point, I felt like the end would come soon, and I got agressive and decided to roll the dice. When my pace krept faster, I settled into that and didn't hit the brakes. I was going to try and maintain for as long as I felt in control, and hope I still had a good last 10k to bring it home to the finish line.
Keeping my spirits upbeat and quick, I passed Katie and my daughter and mother in law around mile 15 and started to reel in runners in front of me. The field was pretty thin, so I was hoping I would link up soon with someone going my pace to help me work. I passed a couple runners coming up Mint St., and as I passed Bank of America Stadium, I asked the runner who I just passed to come run with me, and what his goal time was. This would be Chris McFarlane (not to be confused with the creator of Family Guy). I remembered when he passed David and I around mile 5, and noted that he looked like he was a pretty good runner. Once he answered the call, he and I introduced ourselfs and talked about where we were in relation to pace, and how we wanted to finish. Realizing we both had almost identical PRs and goals, we decided we would work together forever how long we could for the rest of the race. Since I was pushing a faster pace at this point (having caught him), and keeping it there as I asked him to come up, Chris told me he was willing to try and stay where we were. This was a crucial point in the race. Looking back I might have talked to much in the race during my time with him, but perhaps it helped the miles go bye and me not dwell on how fast we were going, since we were doing the typical get to know you routine of our past. Pretty cool!
Chris and I clicked our faster mile for the race (at least mine) at mile 19 before we turned onto N. Davidson, and were quickly approaching the Wall zone, where runners start to bonk. As I took GU Chomps at miles 10 and 15 per the plan, I reached into my shorts and unleashed my last supplement - a GU Rocktain gel. I tried to suck/eat it around the 20th mile, but could only get about half of it down. I took some water and that helped, but the whole process wasn't as smooth as I would have liked, nor did it go down as easily as I had envisioned.
Again - I am reazling I'm not giving proper "props" to those fans who came to multiple spots like I did in my last blog, so let me apologize. Mitchell, Blackwoods, Family, and anyone else - you guys rocked and inspired me, so let me THANK you here. You guys posistioned yourself well along the course, and it was great to see you out there.
-now back to the race-
As Chris and I made our way on the Plaza, we were now into, I think, our 21st mile, and starting to come off the pace I had been pushing. I started to feel my legs getting tired and heavier as I ran down Plaza, turned onto Central, and made my way back into the residential neighborhood of Plaza Midwood. And during this stretch I was fighting bouts of nausea. Also, the conversation between us had stopped a few miles ago, and we were getting into the tough part. The mental zone. The fight to the finish.
I pushed through, and at the end of the 24th Mile, before we turned to Hawthorne, Chris passed me. As we came down Hawthorne Chris stopped quickly for a water/gatorade at the stop, and I passed him, and 2 others who had been ahead the whole race. This was short lived as Chris passed me back right before the Hawthorne Hill. While I was climbing said hill, I heard a guy yell "let's go shirtless!" Woah - could it be?! When I heard this I was shocked. I had left Josh Brewer - the only guy shirtless in the whole race - at mile 2, and had been looking behind throughout the race and hadn't seen him at all. Now, he's right behind me? I knew it had to be him. As I started the 25th mile, cresting Hawthorne and making my way towards downtown, Josh passed me like a flash. Another runner passed me soon after, and now I was watching "shirtless", Chris, and the Asian (guy who passed me after Josh) battle and pull away from me. I was hurting, but I wasn't dying. My pace wasn't getting out of control. I passed the 25th mile marker as the clock showed 2:50:xx and I knew that as long as I didn't fully fall apart, sub 3 would be mine.
As we made our way down the hill, and took the left onto the straightway which would run us up to MLK, where the race would finish, I was doing everything I could to keep it together. Just keeping one foot in front of the other, and knowing that I had to suffer because sub 3 was atainable. I remembered Theodan's mantra "you can tolerate more pain than you think you can". I was telling myself this the last mile, while literally shaking my head in an effort to snap out of the haze and push to the finish. As I made that last turn to the finish line, I felt my vision dwindle and my legs ache. My face was contorted and twisted and I read the clock tick from 2:58 to 2:59 and prayed I could get to the finish before it read 3. I didn't lock up for fall down, and I made it. 2:59.12. Thank God. I put my hands on my knees and couldn't move for a few seconds. I raised up, and hugged Josh who had broke 2:59 and congratualted him, as he did me.
I made myself keep walking down the shoot, and looked for David. He made it! A huge PR for him, and a BQ (Boston Qualifer), so that was just awesome.
As I got some water and gatorade, I kept walking around, hugged Katie, and waited for Jason. He made it too! just under 3:30 for his First marathon.
Marathons feel like Championships, as I told me wife earlier in the week. It's the culmination of long training, and the day is just so sweet. While I told myself during the aganozing stretch of this race that I would Never do another one, I'm already looking forward to resting and regrouping to attack Boston this april for hopefully another PR. Thanks again to everyone who supported me.
Here is a link to my Garmin Splits. You'll note it measured my race almost a quarter mile longer than a marathon.
Clock Time 2:59:17
Chip Time 2:59:12
Overall Place 14 / 907
Gender Place 14 / 605
Division Place 6 / 70 (3rd place age group award. A cool TR flag I will frame and put in my man cave!)
Pace 6:50
10Ksplit 42:33
13 1Msplit 1:29:30
20Msplit 2:15:33 / 13.1-20mil 46:03, 6.40 pace
2nd half(13.1mi) split: 1:29:42 / last 10k 20-26.2mil 43:39, 7:01 pace
Monday, September 19, 2011
San Diego, Sickness, and a Race (Recap from 9/11 to 9/19)
9/11 Sunday - Flew to San Diego for a company meeting. The airport was quite and thin. Flight was fine, Thank God. Good day of rememberance and realizing the Panthers have a franchise QB!! No running
9/12 Monday - After the day's meeting, got out for a light run around San Diego. Had to watch the clock so I could make it back in time for the evening's events, but was able to squeez in 4.5 miles of running around the hills.
9/15 Thursday - With two days off (Busy and Tired as hell are my excuses!) I really needed to exercise the legs. Trying to salvage the week with a good race, I didnt' want to overdo it - as I normally like to take the day off 2 days before a race anyway. Just ran 3.5 miles easy, but could tell there were some cobwebs.
9/17 Saturday - Hit the Brixx Race 10K - So the day before I knew I wasn't being the smartest in terms of preparing for the race by going to the Incubus concert at Verizon Ampetheater, but with 11 races I'm not the kind of guy to let running ALWAYS get in the way. And on top of that, I started coming down with a sore throat Friday afternoon. The last couple days in San Diego whiped me out as I didn't get enough rest, and I just felt run down. But on to the concert I went, and had a very late bed-time!
So after 4 hours of sleep, and with a throbbing sore throat I get out of bed and hazily put my clothes on and get out the door. I was so tired, I just sat in a booth at Brixx Pizza (pre-race site) and watch others warm up, until 15 mins before the race where I sauntered out and forced myself to warm up for 10 mins.
That allowed me to at least get warm, and when I toed the line, I was just hoping for the best. The first mile was sort of downhill, and I felt alright as I settled in behind the faster runners and knew I really had to watch my pace given my condition. Hit 6.03 for the first mile, and that felt fine. Started to climb the second mile a little, but while I thought I was upping the pace, I actually slowed a tad and hit 6.08 for a 12.12 two mile. Rolled to another downhill, and as Vincent Arey came flying by I tried to mimick his light stride and pick it up. Didn't feel like I was able to drop a negative mile here, but was thinking I was just maintaing pace and could maybe drop a negative split for the second half of the race. A little disappointed when I hit 18.20 for the 3 mile mark (6.08 split).
The 4th mile saw a good climb in elevation, as well as a couple racers who passed me. This is when I got focused from Jason Martin who said "worry about the guys in front, don't look back." This stuck with me the rest of the race. I wasn't going to care who passed me I was going to keep my focus up front. The oldest trick in the book, but if you don't remember to do it, a race will get away from you in a heartbeat. Only with focus did I manage to hang on, because that 4th mile started to get me. Came through in 24.34 (6.13 split). The 5th mile we were on roads winding around Elizabeth where I had an awful performance earlier in the GPX series at the Skyline 5k, so I was keyed in to running these streets with a vengence. I started to gain on the runners ahead who passed me, while we also reeled in a couple from the pack way ahead who were slowing down. Throttled the 5th mile pretty good, and was getting geared up to stay strong the last mile. Came through 5 in (30.49 (6.14 split ??? Approx. trying to recall as my watch deleted my splits)). The last mile was a BIG climb up 7th Street, and I was fighting the whole way. I was probably most proud of my fight in this race than all the other races of 2011. I was moaning as I was climbing, trying to catch the guys in front, and not let the ones in back catch me. I was able to get 1, and keep off another. Hit 37.08 for 6 miles, 6.19 split (maybe toughest mile on the course). With .2 to go, I came up to Greg Shore and we really kicked it in. We were stride for stride, both building speed the the whole .2 until about 50 meters from the tape he got up on his toes a little quicker and got me by a second. Still a 1.07 for the .2 I will take anyday.
After the race, I was totally done for. I slept for 3 hours, and layed around the house until I decided I needed to go to Urgent Care because I believed I had strep throat. So after finding out I had a fever and my throat looked awful, I got a shot of penicllin in the buttox to cap off the day. Awesome.
Time: 38.15
Place: 23rd
Pace: 6.09
Miles for day: 9
Week: 17 (last week was 46!)
9/19 Monday - Still recovering, I got antsy and wanted to run. I meant to run about 4 miles, but go into a route which didn't let me once I got past a certain point, and ended up running 50 mins around the hills behind my neighborhood. Felt okay, but got real weak the second half of the run.
Miles: 6.5~
Time: 49.13
Pace: slow
9/12 Monday - After the day's meeting, got out for a light run around San Diego. Had to watch the clock so I could make it back in time for the evening's events, but was able to squeez in 4.5 miles of running around the hills.
9/15 Thursday - With two days off (Busy and Tired as hell are my excuses!) I really needed to exercise the legs. Trying to salvage the week with a good race, I didnt' want to overdo it - as I normally like to take the day off 2 days before a race anyway. Just ran 3.5 miles easy, but could tell there were some cobwebs.
9/17 Saturday - Hit the Brixx Race 10K - So the day before I knew I wasn't being the smartest in terms of preparing for the race by going to the Incubus concert at Verizon Ampetheater, but with 11 races I'm not the kind of guy to let running ALWAYS get in the way. And on top of that, I started coming down with a sore throat Friday afternoon. The last couple days in San Diego whiped me out as I didn't get enough rest, and I just felt run down. But on to the concert I went, and had a very late bed-time!
So after 4 hours of sleep, and with a throbbing sore throat I get out of bed and hazily put my clothes on and get out the door. I was so tired, I just sat in a booth at Brixx Pizza (pre-race site) and watch others warm up, until 15 mins before the race where I sauntered out and forced myself to warm up for 10 mins.
That allowed me to at least get warm, and when I toed the line, I was just hoping for the best. The first mile was sort of downhill, and I felt alright as I settled in behind the faster runners and knew I really had to watch my pace given my condition. Hit 6.03 for the first mile, and that felt fine. Started to climb the second mile a little, but while I thought I was upping the pace, I actually slowed a tad and hit 6.08 for a 12.12 two mile. Rolled to another downhill, and as Vincent Arey came flying by I tried to mimick his light stride and pick it up. Didn't feel like I was able to drop a negative mile here, but was thinking I was just maintaing pace and could maybe drop a negative split for the second half of the race. A little disappointed when I hit 18.20 for the 3 mile mark (6.08 split).
The 4th mile saw a good climb in elevation, as well as a couple racers who passed me. This is when I got focused from Jason Martin who said "worry about the guys in front, don't look back." This stuck with me the rest of the race. I wasn't going to care who passed me I was going to keep my focus up front. The oldest trick in the book, but if you don't remember to do it, a race will get away from you in a heartbeat. Only with focus did I manage to hang on, because that 4th mile started to get me. Came through in 24.34 (6.13 split). The 5th mile we were on roads winding around Elizabeth where I had an awful performance earlier in the GPX series at the Skyline 5k, so I was keyed in to running these streets with a vengence. I started to gain on the runners ahead who passed me, while we also reeled in a couple from the pack way ahead who were slowing down. Throttled the 5th mile pretty good, and was getting geared up to stay strong the last mile. Came through 5 in (30.49 (6.14 split ??? Approx. trying to recall as my watch deleted my splits)). The last mile was a BIG climb up 7th Street, and I was fighting the whole way. I was probably most proud of my fight in this race than all the other races of 2011. I was moaning as I was climbing, trying to catch the guys in front, and not let the ones in back catch me. I was able to get 1, and keep off another. Hit 37.08 for 6 miles, 6.19 split (maybe toughest mile on the course). With .2 to go, I came up to Greg Shore and we really kicked it in. We were stride for stride, both building speed the the whole .2 until about 50 meters from the tape he got up on his toes a little quicker and got me by a second. Still a 1.07 for the .2 I will take anyday.
After the race, I was totally done for. I slept for 3 hours, and layed around the house until I decided I needed to go to Urgent Care because I believed I had strep throat. So after finding out I had a fever and my throat looked awful, I got a shot of penicllin in the buttox to cap off the day. Awesome.
Time: 38.15
Place: 23rd
Pace: 6.09
Miles for day: 9
Week: 17 (last week was 46!)
9/19 Monday - Still recovering, I got antsy and wanted to run. I meant to run about 4 miles, but go into a route which didn't let me once I got past a certain point, and ended up running 50 mins around the hills behind my neighborhood. Felt okay, but got real weak the second half of the run.
Miles: 6.5~
Time: 49.13
Pace: slow
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Race Recap: Greek Fest 5k
Good morning blog readers. Allow me to give you the story of the Greek Fest 5k...
This being my first ever full season of Run For Your Life's Grand Prix series, I can say that just getting through the season healthy is nice, but I had visions of myself breaking the 17 min mark back when I signed up in late winter. With two 4 mile races, the rest of the events have been comprizsed of 5k's. And I can say that the 5k's have been a struggle for me. I have run the 4 mile races at paces better than the 5ks, and just haven't had a good 5k all season. That all being said, I was really geared up to finish the last 5k (This Greek Fest) on a high note. Of course, given my race times this year, sub 17 was out the window as far as goal, but sub 18 was definitly something I wanted to accomplish, along with just competing against the field.
Since the last 5k nightmare, I have put in 3 good weeks of training. I am proud that I stuck to my plan, and stayed focused. I did 3 long runs every sunday morning with company in the morning; accomplished my work outs for the week; and hit my weekly mileage goals.
Now time to race. With the work being done, I needed to make sure I came up with the mental preparation that would allow me to squeez all the juice I could from the lemon. Noticing that I have done much worse when going out too hard the first mile (Blue Pts, Skyline, Twilight) and better when I went the first mile conservativly (Great Harvest, RFYC) I decided I would stay comfortable, and use David as a gauge whereby I would keep him in front of me to make sure I stayed in control. After that, I would try and negative split the second mile, and then give it all the last mile.
The week up to this race, I was in L.A. and didn't get back home until Friday night. Now, this was to be an Easy Week, as I was trying to really be rested after 2 solid weeks of high intensity/volume training, so with me missing my runs Thursday AND Friday I was sort of okay with it, although I would have liked to had a shakeout run one of those days. Along with that, the jet lag had me a little worried, as my body clock would feel like 3:30am when I needed to wake up for the race, since I was adjusting back to East Coast time from Pacific Time.
Pre race dinner: pizza...no complaints there. Pretty good nights sleep night be fore, can't complain. So the gun goes off...
I feel relaxed as I start off on the race, and happily find David up in front and from here just try and settle in. I felt way in the back, but I was sticking to the plan and would trust I would be passing a lot of these people in the not too distant future. The first mile felt more relaxed like I wanted, but I can't say I was exactly ready to hit it hard once I started on mile 2. My split was maybe still 5-10 seconds faster than I wanted, but it wasn't too bad. During mile two I tried to press the gas, but felt like I was just maintaining. However, I didn't feel like I was slowing at all, and still felt in control. Perhaps I fell asleep a little at the wheel, but David stayed equal distance ahead, and I was just trying to keep it that way until I made a final push. Also, I wanted to see what my second mile split was, before I set off too soon. Since I didn't feel as good as I wanted here, I was focusing on not loosing ground.
mile two was slower, but still not bad, and I started to really gain focus here. I recalled the workouts I have done and tried to get up on my toes more and work on my turnover. My areobic capacity is large, and I felt no trouble breathing. I did feel a little faster than my other 5ks here, but still never felt like I tapped into that next gear, which I still remember so well from my highschool and college days (the kind of gear where you start knocking off sub 5:30 miles). Anyway, I started to reel people in, and David came back to me some, but I could tell he was having a good race too and was fighting hard. The course turned us up East Blvd, and I could see the finish. See, yes, but it was very far away. Kind of a mirage, as you start to instinctivly pick it up, but then realize damn it's far away...I passed a few more people, but couldn't catch David, and tried to hold off the recent passings I just had done. As I saw the clock tick up as I approached, I dug deep and realized I was very close to accomplishing my time goal.
Okay, so, not a bad race, and it looks like the training paid off. Wasn't able to catch my friend/competitor, but was at least satisfied to end these dreadful 5ks with this performance. Very happy about the last 2 races on the circuit: a 10k then a 15k! Let the training continue...
Splits: 5.44, 5.50 (11.34), 5.43 (17.17), .40 (maybe a shade long?) = 17.57
2011 5k PR and 45 sec improvment from race 3 weeks ago.
This being my first ever full season of Run For Your Life's Grand Prix series, I can say that just getting through the season healthy is nice, but I had visions of myself breaking the 17 min mark back when I signed up in late winter. With two 4 mile races, the rest of the events have been comprizsed of 5k's. And I can say that the 5k's have been a struggle for me. I have run the 4 mile races at paces better than the 5ks, and just haven't had a good 5k all season. That all being said, I was really geared up to finish the last 5k (This Greek Fest) on a high note. Of course, given my race times this year, sub 17 was out the window as far as goal, but sub 18 was definitly something I wanted to accomplish, along with just competing against the field.
Since the last 5k nightmare, I have put in 3 good weeks of training. I am proud that I stuck to my plan, and stayed focused. I did 3 long runs every sunday morning with company in the morning; accomplished my work outs for the week; and hit my weekly mileage goals.
Now time to race. With the work being done, I needed to make sure I came up with the mental preparation that would allow me to squeez all the juice I could from the lemon. Noticing that I have done much worse when going out too hard the first mile (Blue Pts, Skyline, Twilight) and better when I went the first mile conservativly (Great Harvest, RFYC) I decided I would stay comfortable, and use David as a gauge whereby I would keep him in front of me to make sure I stayed in control. After that, I would try and negative split the second mile, and then give it all the last mile.
The week up to this race, I was in L.A. and didn't get back home until Friday night. Now, this was to be an Easy Week, as I was trying to really be rested after 2 solid weeks of high intensity/volume training, so with me missing my runs Thursday AND Friday I was sort of okay with it, although I would have liked to had a shakeout run one of those days. Along with that, the jet lag had me a little worried, as my body clock would feel like 3:30am when I needed to wake up for the race, since I was adjusting back to East Coast time from Pacific Time.
Pre race dinner: pizza...no complaints there. Pretty good nights sleep night be fore, can't complain. So the gun goes off...
I feel relaxed as I start off on the race, and happily find David up in front and from here just try and settle in. I felt way in the back, but I was sticking to the plan and would trust I would be passing a lot of these people in the not too distant future. The first mile felt more relaxed like I wanted, but I can't say I was exactly ready to hit it hard once I started on mile 2. My split was maybe still 5-10 seconds faster than I wanted, but it wasn't too bad. During mile two I tried to press the gas, but felt like I was just maintaining. However, I didn't feel like I was slowing at all, and still felt in control. Perhaps I fell asleep a little at the wheel, but David stayed equal distance ahead, and I was just trying to keep it that way until I made a final push. Also, I wanted to see what my second mile split was, before I set off too soon. Since I didn't feel as good as I wanted here, I was focusing on not loosing ground.
mile two was slower, but still not bad, and I started to really gain focus here. I recalled the workouts I have done and tried to get up on my toes more and work on my turnover. My areobic capacity is large, and I felt no trouble breathing. I did feel a little faster than my other 5ks here, but still never felt like I tapped into that next gear, which I still remember so well from my highschool and college days (the kind of gear where you start knocking off sub 5:30 miles). Anyway, I started to reel people in, and David came back to me some, but I could tell he was having a good race too and was fighting hard. The course turned us up East Blvd, and I could see the finish. See, yes, but it was very far away. Kind of a mirage, as you start to instinctivly pick it up, but then realize damn it's far away...I passed a few more people, but couldn't catch David, and tried to hold off the recent passings I just had done. As I saw the clock tick up as I approached, I dug deep and realized I was very close to accomplishing my time goal.
Okay, so, not a bad race, and it looks like the training paid off. Wasn't able to catch my friend/competitor, but was at least satisfied to end these dreadful 5ks with this performance. Very happy about the last 2 races on the circuit: a 10k then a 15k! Let the training continue...
Splits: 5.44, 5.50 (11.34), 5.43 (17.17), .40 (maybe a shade long?) = 17.57
2011 5k PR and 45 sec improvment from race 3 weeks ago.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Recap of RFYL RFYC 4 Miler
Fueled up on Mellow Mushroom pizza and a couple pints of beer at dinner, then while watching a movie in bed - decided to snag one more slice before i went to sleep. This was all done so I could sleep in and not have to eat breakfast!
I purposefully did a shorter warmup (1 mile), as I was thinking that perhaps I could save some energy and be just as warm as I would with going 2 miles (typical). It seemed to work. I got this idea after I felt like I ran better at Great Harvest 5k with no warm up.
Gun went off, and I found a comfortable pace posistioned accordingly amoungst the field. The people who should be in front of me were, and I just settled in. The first mile was uphill, and luckily my internal pace clock was on target as I hit 5.58 (just where I wanted to be). With the effort not feeling too hard, and having the climb out of the way, I made a push to drop the pace. I felt smooth as I ran down East Blvd., and here my racing partner for the day would come along side and really help me stay focused the rest of the race. An older man with a blue tank top, grey hair, and neon yellow shoes came up on me quick, and I just went with him. We both settled in after I decided to go with him, perhaps as he just wanted to do a surge and see if I would drop. I came through in 11.30 for 2 miles (5.32 split), and was pumped as I was running well and feeling well. The next mile sort of rolled along, and David Dye (His name I would later find out) and I ran side by side to bring home the third mile in 17.26 (5.56 split). I noticed that had this only been a 5k, I would have run a seasonal PR. With a mile to go, and my pace faster than expected, I battled with David the next half a mile as we rolled up our last hills. On the uphill I pulled ahead, and on the down hill he caught up and we ran together. He seemed to make a move with about a half mile to go, and I followed suit, opening up my larger stride and passing him back. Here I realized I was closing in on another runner, and tried to make up as much ground as I could. I seemed to have started my kick a little bit early, and the runner in front of me started his kick late....right when I got near, so I couldn't catch him. But I did stay ahead of David Dye. Closed the last mile in 5.53...not really fast, but the last half mile had to be much faster. Happy with my kick.
32 second improvement from the 4 miler back in March, so I'll take it.
18th overall out of 450+
Finishing time: 23.20
8 miles for the day (w/u+c/d)
I purposefully did a shorter warmup (1 mile), as I was thinking that perhaps I could save some energy and be just as warm as I would with going 2 miles (typical). It seemed to work. I got this idea after I felt like I ran better at Great Harvest 5k with no warm up.
Gun went off, and I found a comfortable pace posistioned accordingly amoungst the field. The people who should be in front of me were, and I just settled in. The first mile was uphill, and luckily my internal pace clock was on target as I hit 5.58 (just where I wanted to be). With the effort not feeling too hard, and having the climb out of the way, I made a push to drop the pace. I felt smooth as I ran down East Blvd., and here my racing partner for the day would come along side and really help me stay focused the rest of the race. An older man with a blue tank top, grey hair, and neon yellow shoes came up on me quick, and I just went with him. We both settled in after I decided to go with him, perhaps as he just wanted to do a surge and see if I would drop. I came through in 11.30 for 2 miles (5.32 split), and was pumped as I was running well and feeling well. The next mile sort of rolled along, and David Dye (His name I would later find out) and I ran side by side to bring home the third mile in 17.26 (5.56 split). I noticed that had this only been a 5k, I would have run a seasonal PR. With a mile to go, and my pace faster than expected, I battled with David the next half a mile as we rolled up our last hills. On the uphill I pulled ahead, and on the down hill he caught up and we ran together. He seemed to make a move with about a half mile to go, and I followed suit, opening up my larger stride and passing him back. Here I realized I was closing in on another runner, and tried to make up as much ground as I could. I seemed to have started my kick a little bit early, and the runner in front of me started his kick late....right when I got near, so I couldn't catch him. But I did stay ahead of David Dye. Closed the last mile in 5.53...not really fast, but the last half mile had to be much faster. Happy with my kick.
32 second improvement from the 4 miler back in March, so I'll take it.
18th overall out of 450+
Finishing time: 23.20
8 miles for the day (w/u+c/d)
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Summer Breeze 5k
I remember when this race was called the BB&T Summer Breeze. It used to be run downtown. Also, back in highschool, I garnered awards for the two times I did it. Today would be a different result. Funny how it seems I work a lot harder, but am running pedestrian like times, compared to highschool. I knew my training was light the last few weeks (9 miles, 9 miles, 18 miles), and that being at a Phish concert the night before is never the best pre-race preparation, and that I had been running relatively quicker this week in an effort to drop my pace...so I didn't think anything reall fast was in the books. But I was hoping I would be where I should (Sub 18!?!) Anyway, after a warm up - I was lined up, and let my buddies take it out quick. I knew Mitchell wouldn't be reachable probably at all, and Jason and David shot out a little quicker than normal - so I let them go. I held on and was right where I wanted at mile 1. 6 mins. Just like last race, I was at 6.04 and then was able to drop my splits significantly. This time, I would feel like I was upping the pace slightly, but the clock indicated otherwise. The field was pretty packed, so that was nice to work off others, and I made a good move the second mile to not fall off, especially since I clicked off a 6.15 for that mile. The next and last mile was supposed to be fast, so I tried to open up, but just wasn't happening. When we got to the Lake at Freedom Park for the finish I sped up so, realizing guys were breathing down my back, and I didn't want to get totally passed by everyone. I was able to ride it out and finish strong. My time kind of sucked (19.09) but it wasn't the worst race ever.
Time: 19.09
Pace: 6.10
place: 35th
Results:
Time: 19.09
Pace: 6.10
place: 35th
Results:
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Great Harvest Bread Co. 5k
I fully aware my content on my posts has diminished. I'm sorry I'm not sorry! haha and I also realize that my writting is cheaper and not as well put together when there is content. Just a phase. Times are busier for me, and maybe I'm just less inspired - blogging wise.
Well, as every race has started at 8am, David nor I really didn't think this one would be any different. After leaving my place at 7am, I ate a Cliff bar on the drive to the parking lot, and we parked and jogged down to the course start. We noticed there were people lined up, and we asked someone going to the line when the race started and he said "now." That's when I heard the race director say, "5 minutes until the start!." oops.
We were able to get our chips and pin our numbers on our jerseys in those 5 minutes and also get a relatively good spot near the front all by the time the gun went off at 7:30.
My goal was to go out slower the first mile because I was tired of dying in the race and coming in dragging. I knew I was on plan when I allowed myself to chat with David and Jason during the beginning, and felt less agrresive going through the participants. I hit 6.04 on the clock my first mile. I didn't wear a watch, so I only had the "mile clocks" that were posted to go off of.
The second mile I came up on a pack of runners and decided to take the lead for them. Another runner in that pack came with, and he and I would go along for the next mile and a half. He would surge, then I would go with, and vice-versa.
After we split the second mile, on the clock, at 11:58 I realized I dropped a negative split with my second mile around 5:54. So far so good. At this point, the guy with me went up a little and for maybe 8 seconds I let him go and receeded to not fighting and upping the pace with him. Then I snapped out of it. I used the downhill we were on to open up my stride and catch back up. Here I passed him and I think he fell behind for good right then. Less than a mile to go and I knew we had one more climb before the finishing straight away.
I was able to catch some runners in front on that last hill, and some more on the downhill/flat straight away. At the 3 mile clock, I saw 17:35. Awesome! Another quicker mile, with this one being my fastes in a 5k all year, 5:37. I tried my best to kick it in to the finish for the last fraction of a mile, but it wasn't my best effort. Rounding the parking lot kind of threw me off, and it felt longer than it should. Turns out I was probably right as many have gone on to say that their GPS watches measure the course by half a tenth or so longer. Right at the tape I saw David Brinkly come up to me, which was a surprise, and we officially tied on time but the officials gave me the posistion, which earned me my first age group award of the year. 3rd place, male 25-29.
Result: 18.22 5k
Splits: 6.04, 5.54, 5.37
Website Results
Well, as every race has started at 8am, David nor I really didn't think this one would be any different. After leaving my place at 7am, I ate a Cliff bar on the drive to the parking lot, and we parked and jogged down to the course start. We noticed there were people lined up, and we asked someone going to the line when the race started and he said "now." That's when I heard the race director say, "5 minutes until the start!." oops.
We were able to get our chips and pin our numbers on our jerseys in those 5 minutes and also get a relatively good spot near the front all by the time the gun went off at 7:30.
My goal was to go out slower the first mile because I was tired of dying in the race and coming in dragging. I knew I was on plan when I allowed myself to chat with David and Jason during the beginning, and felt less agrresive going through the participants. I hit 6.04 on the clock my first mile. I didn't wear a watch, so I only had the "mile clocks" that were posted to go off of.
The second mile I came up on a pack of runners and decided to take the lead for them. Another runner in that pack came with, and he and I would go along for the next mile and a half. He would surge, then I would go with, and vice-versa.
After we split the second mile, on the clock, at 11:58 I realized I dropped a negative split with my second mile around 5:54. So far so good. At this point, the guy with me went up a little and for maybe 8 seconds I let him go and receeded to not fighting and upping the pace with him. Then I snapped out of it. I used the downhill we were on to open up my stride and catch back up. Here I passed him and I think he fell behind for good right then. Less than a mile to go and I knew we had one more climb before the finishing straight away.
I was able to catch some runners in front on that last hill, and some more on the downhill/flat straight away. At the 3 mile clock, I saw 17:35. Awesome! Another quicker mile, with this one being my fastes in a 5k all year, 5:37. I tried my best to kick it in to the finish for the last fraction of a mile, but it wasn't my best effort. Rounding the parking lot kind of threw me off, and it felt longer than it should. Turns out I was probably right as many have gone on to say that their GPS watches measure the course by half a tenth or so longer. Right at the tape I saw David Brinkly come up to me, which was a surprise, and we officially tied on time but the officials gave me the posistion, which earned me my first age group award of the year. 3rd place, male 25-29.
Result: 18.22 5k
Splits: 6.04, 5.54, 5.37
Website Results
Saturday, April 30, 2011
CPCC Skyline 5k
I'm uninspired to really talk about this race, but I know I would value at least a few comments on how I felt and my splits, when I look back.
18.37 (1 second slower than Cupid Cup 5k in mid Feb.)
Splits: 5.49, 6.00, 6.11, .35
Reflections: Mile 1 started off fine. Not too fast like Cupid Cup, and not too slow. Just right. First mile was uphill, but I didn't feel too bad. Second mile I seemed to fall off, and people started to pass me. I thought, let them go, save it for the end. I also got a stich in my side. When people were passing me I didn't put up a fight. Third mile I wasn't able to turn it on, and just trying to hold pace became tough. Despite the downhill mile, I never was able to quicken the pace. Last 200m I had a nice kick, and felt like I was pretty fresh.
Overall, I would say that I just was not tough on this. I wasn't prepared for the race mentally, and physically it was just a bad day. I felt like I had so much left at the end because my legs were not tired and I was fine. I know I didn't race it like a 5k. I let my foot off the gas on the first mile, and you just can't do that. Obviously it's disapointing because I have put in consistant work since Feb. What I am taking away from this is that I need to keep on my training, not get hung up on just a bad day, and to approach a 5k with a more aggressive "over-before you know it" type attitude. Can't sit and wait.
18.37 (1 second slower than Cupid Cup 5k in mid Feb.)
Splits: 5.49, 6.00, 6.11, .35
Reflections: Mile 1 started off fine. Not too fast like Cupid Cup, and not too slow. Just right. First mile was uphill, but I didn't feel too bad. Second mile I seemed to fall off, and people started to pass me. I thought, let them go, save it for the end. I also got a stich in my side. When people were passing me I didn't put up a fight. Third mile I wasn't able to turn it on, and just trying to hold pace became tough. Despite the downhill mile, I never was able to quicken the pace. Last 200m I had a nice kick, and felt like I was pretty fresh.
Overall, I would say that I just was not tough on this. I wasn't prepared for the race mentally, and physically it was just a bad day. I felt like I had so much left at the end because my legs were not tired and I was fine. I know I didn't race it like a 5k. I let my foot off the gas on the first mile, and you just can't do that. Obviously it's disapointing because I have put in consistant work since Feb. What I am taking away from this is that I need to keep on my training, not get hung up on just a bad day, and to approach a 5k with a more aggressive "over-before you know it" type attitude. Can't sit and wait.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Cooper River Bridge Run 10k
I heard about this race since Highschool, but with track meet conflicts during the season and in college, I never got around to it until I was back in Charlotte after graduation, in 2007. That year, I was not in great shape and managed 44 minutes. In 2008 I was so far back from the starting line, and not being in shape, I ran north of 50 minutes. 2009 I was out of town, and last year I was injured. Needless to say, I was expecting a big PR.
Perhaps my goal was a little optomistic, but having just ran under 18 mins for a 5k, I was hoping I would be able to run something near 37 mins or faster.
I was successfull in getting in the top Corral - the seeded zone, by way of registering as a sub 40 min 10k runner...despite not turning in any verification. David assured me I would get in, and sure enough he was right. Once the gun went off, I was basically out there free to run at my own desires...something very nice from the previous CR runs I've done. David and I quickly settled on going out at 6 minute pace, and when I noticed that I was well slower the first mile - (6.18 even though David says we were at 6.05), I decided to go. I passed David, and tried to bring the pace down and stay comfortable before climbing the bridge. I guess the bridge starts about a mile and a half into the race, and once we hit it - the wind was really whipping around. The third mile marker split my watch with a 5.25, and that was all climb...so I know that is not right.
Going up the bridge, I didn't really loose ground to people, so I think I stayed on pace. I never really was able to tuck in behind a throng of people. After seeing the 5.25 3rd mile at the time I was very pumped, and I think I had a nice surge down the bridge - despite the strong head wind. I was brough back to reality and also the notion that the markers were indeed off, as my 4th mile (almost all downhill) split 6.45. However my total running time at that point was right at 25 mins. I quickly realized that I was way off pace to run 37 mins. But I knew I could get under 40 easily and wanted to make sure I finished strong. I didn't feel like I was out of gas.
As we got off the bridge, I felt my legs tighten up, and my turnover begin to slow. I was battling fatigue and the effort from the bridge. I was also mentally getting drained as people started to pass, and I knew my pace wasn't where I wanted it to be. As we started to pass more people and music though, I was able to find surges. I also was able to change gears when I felt my form was slacking. It was a constant intentional battle to fight poor form, and to think to lean forward, stay on my toes, and quickin my pace...but when I did it, it helped. My 5th mile split was approx 6.15, and I felt like that was pretty right on. The last mile seemed to go by pretty quickly, and also the crowds thickened and I was able to dig deep telling my self it was only a matter of minutes until I would be finished.
I hit 37.09 for the 6th mile mark, and my watch said 5.53. At that point I realized I wasn't going to break 37, but I was pumped that I just had my fastest mile. I threw all I had into my final .2 and passed probably a dozen people or so with a very nice kick. I ran 1.09 for the final .2, hitting the finish in 38.18.
Not exactly what I thought I should do, but I raced well and finished well. Looking back on my training - 10 weeks with nothing higher than 27 miles, and just a few workouts, I can't be too disappointed. Also, I raced the last 2 weekends before this with the Shamrock and the 5k on the track, so I'll take it.
After the race, I am very pumped to take this as a building block to grow and up the training and get faster. I'm already looking forward to getting over 30 miles next week, and starting some speed work after a week "rest" of recovery runs and a couple long runs.
Perhaps my goal was a little optomistic, but having just ran under 18 mins for a 5k, I was hoping I would be able to run something near 37 mins or faster.
I was successfull in getting in the top Corral - the seeded zone, by way of registering as a sub 40 min 10k runner...despite not turning in any verification. David assured me I would get in, and sure enough he was right. Once the gun went off, I was basically out there free to run at my own desires...something very nice from the previous CR runs I've done. David and I quickly settled on going out at 6 minute pace, and when I noticed that I was well slower the first mile - (6.18 even though David says we were at 6.05), I decided to go. I passed David, and tried to bring the pace down and stay comfortable before climbing the bridge. I guess the bridge starts about a mile and a half into the race, and once we hit it - the wind was really whipping around. The third mile marker split my watch with a 5.25, and that was all climb...so I know that is not right.
Going up the bridge, I didn't really loose ground to people, so I think I stayed on pace. I never really was able to tuck in behind a throng of people. After seeing the 5.25 3rd mile at the time I was very pumped, and I think I had a nice surge down the bridge - despite the strong head wind. I was brough back to reality and also the notion that the markers were indeed off, as my 4th mile (almost all downhill) split 6.45. However my total running time at that point was right at 25 mins. I quickly realized that I was way off pace to run 37 mins. But I knew I could get under 40 easily and wanted to make sure I finished strong. I didn't feel like I was out of gas.
As we got off the bridge, I felt my legs tighten up, and my turnover begin to slow. I was battling fatigue and the effort from the bridge. I was also mentally getting drained as people started to pass, and I knew my pace wasn't where I wanted it to be. As we started to pass more people and music though, I was able to find surges. I also was able to change gears when I felt my form was slacking. It was a constant intentional battle to fight poor form, and to think to lean forward, stay on my toes, and quickin my pace...but when I did it, it helped. My 5th mile split was approx 6.15, and I felt like that was pretty right on. The last mile seemed to go by pretty quickly, and also the crowds thickened and I was able to dig deep telling my self it was only a matter of minutes until I would be finished.
I hit 37.09 for the 6th mile mark, and my watch said 5.53. At that point I realized I wasn't going to break 37, but I was pumped that I just had my fastest mile. I threw all I had into my final .2 and passed probably a dozen people or so with a very nice kick. I ran 1.09 for the final .2, hitting the finish in 38.18.
Not exactly what I thought I should do, but I raced well and finished well. Looking back on my training - 10 weeks with nothing higher than 27 miles, and just a few workouts, I can't be too disappointed. Also, I raced the last 2 weekends before this with the Shamrock and the 5k on the track, so I'll take it.
After the race, I am very pumped to take this as a building block to grow and up the training and get faster. I'm already looking forward to getting over 30 miles next week, and starting some speed work after a week "rest" of recovery runs and a couple long runs.
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