Not too much exciting to report from this race. As I expected, my performance was "okay" but nothing special. This is my first fast running since marathon day. I'm happy with the way the this one turned out, although my time is a minute slower than last year.
Saturday morning was not as warm & humid as last year's running...would've been a good chance to run this course for a PR. Bigger crowd this year - they ran out of t-shirts. Nice shirt, tech fabric, says 25th anniversary. I found some guys iPhone & turned it into the DJ for an announcement over the PA speakers. I didn't run any warm-up at all since I don't think my legs are ready for any extra miles yet.
One fun aspect of this race is that there's a simultaneous relay event for youngsters that features 5x1 mile (last mile is a bit short). So there's lots of speedy kids up front. I purposely stayed well back from the front lines. My Splits:
6:53
6:54 - 13:47
7:26 - 21:13
7:33 - 28:46
7:00 - 35:46
First mile, felt good. Kids zipping past me as we near the relay hand-off location. Fun, but I move to the other side of the street. Second mile, ran the whole way with 2 young ladies that were local h.s. track buddies and now go to different colleges. They're home for summer and doing the race together. One of them (Jessica or Allison?) has a really cute way of running on her tippie toes. I asked if maybe she was a sprinter . . . but no, she's always been a long distance runner up on her toes like that. Obviously I'm not the first to comment on her form. As we approach the 2 mile mark I pull ahead of them and don't see them for a while. Someplace during the third mile I notice that the sun's come out and I'm feeling hot. Is this section uphill? {I've looked up my splits from last year and this is the same stretch where I wilted then too. } By the time I see the 3 mm I'm not feeling good. From about 2.75 thru 4.0 I am trying to slow down so that I feel better but I'm not enjoying this. The girls catch me at about 3.5 and they glide by smooth & strong. They're still chatting away. They aren't taking this race seriously. Soon after the 4 mm I feel recovered. Those girls are about 15 or 20 seconds in front of me and I resolve that I will try to reel them in. A woman named Sylvia has a pacer join her right at 4 and they power away from me. But as I try to stick with them I am making up ground on the girls. There's a long straight away here and I see my buddy Dirk way up ahead. I'm focused on making up ground and I do it. I finish 2 seconds behind the girls & chat with them post race. The one girl's dad is fast (he's over 50 and ran 31:30). Sylvia beats me by 17 seconds - she really flew that last mile!
One of our club members DNF's due to injury from trail run wipe out. This is the day that half our runners are doing the trail event Wissahickon. My WAVA is only 65% so I can't help the team. But I wasn't expecting much here anyway. My time is exactly within the range that I predicted. Funny how that happens with such regularity.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Top Ten List
I've thought about this one a lot in the last few weeks 'post marathon' so without further procrastination, here's my Top Ten "Ways to Screw-up Your 1st Marathon"
10. Set an unrealistic goal. If you do your 20 milers at 8:40 pace, then what illogical thought process made me think I could do 8:20 for the marathon. . . and hold it an additional 6.2 miles?
9. Start out waaaayyy too fast. And on a humid morning, and a hilly course. Hello? What was I thinking?
8. When the facts are clearly right in front of you, fail to adjust to the situation early enough to make a difference. Actually, failed to adjust at all really. At mile 7= 4 minutes ahead of pace; then at mile 10= 5 mins ahead. Huh? How come it didn't occur to me that I must slow down until my legs already were beginning their revolt/cramps?
7. Drive your car 10 hours the day before the race. Duh. Arrive at the hotel at a quarter till midnight. Doh!
6. Recruit a support person who is not a runner. In all fairness to the Mrs., this ended up being a minor issue given all the other major screw ups. But the water, cereal bar, and dry towel would've been nice at 16. And the missed Gu handoff was a real factor. The refusal to wake up & get out of bed at 5:30...plus the double back to the hotel after packet pick-up for the wife pick-up, that added a bit of stress.
5. Fail to interpret the course description profile correctly. "This course has LOTS of HILLS? Why didn't they just come out and say that?"
4. Other translation miscues: When they said this marathon is good for first timers, they didn't mean that the course is not challenging; they meant 1,000's of locals will come out to watch you suffer. When they said the race has a high BQ ratio, they forgot to mention that they invite a lot of fast people to come up to Vermont to race. Kind of like Carlsbad 5000 is 'America's fastest 5k' because of the runners that it attracts (it's not the course there either people).
3. Start out way too fast. This one cannot be understated as the primary reason for failure.
2. Drink a few beers & eat crappy food for the pre-race meal. It tasted good, but greasy cheese puffs, mini spinach quiche and fried mushrooms is not proper carbo-loading fare.
1. And from the home office, the number one way to screw-up your first marathon is... "Logical thinking . . . who needs that?"
10. Set an unrealistic goal. If you do your 20 milers at 8:40 pace, then what illogical thought process made me think I could do 8:20 for the marathon. . . and hold it an additional 6.2 miles?
9. Start out waaaayyy too fast. And on a humid morning, and a hilly course. Hello? What was I thinking?
8. When the facts are clearly right in front of you, fail to adjust to the situation early enough to make a difference. Actually, failed to adjust at all really. At mile 7= 4 minutes ahead of pace; then at mile 10= 5 mins ahead. Huh? How come it didn't occur to me that I must slow down until my legs already were beginning their revolt/cramps?
7. Drive your car 10 hours the day before the race. Duh. Arrive at the hotel at a quarter till midnight. Doh!
6. Recruit a support person who is not a runner. In all fairness to the Mrs., this ended up being a minor issue given all the other major screw ups. But the water, cereal bar, and dry towel would've been nice at 16. And the missed Gu handoff was a real factor. The refusal to wake up & get out of bed at 5:30...plus the double back to the hotel after packet pick-up for the wife pick-up, that added a bit of stress.
5. Fail to interpret the course description profile correctly. "This course has LOTS of HILLS? Why didn't they just come out and say that?"
4. Other translation miscues: When they said this marathon is good for first timers, they didn't mean that the course is not challenging; they meant 1,000's of locals will come out to watch you suffer. When they said the race has a high BQ ratio, they forgot to mention that they invite a lot of fast people to come up to Vermont to race. Kind of like Carlsbad 5000 is 'America's fastest 5k' because of the runners that it attracts (it's not the course there either people).
3. Start out way too fast. This one cannot be understated as the primary reason for failure.
2. Drink a few beers & eat crappy food for the pre-race meal. It tasted good, but greasy cheese puffs, mini spinach quiche and fried mushrooms is not proper carbo-loading fare.
1. And from the home office, the number one way to screw-up your first marathon is... "Logical thinking . . . who needs that?"
Friday, June 5, 2009
Goat's Head Soup? Goat's Head Soap!
I don't know why, but at the marathon we rec'd a full sized bar of Goat's Head Soap with the packet pick-up. This stuff says they make it in France, Canada, and Vermont. Yikes, who wants to bathe with Goat's Head Soap?
I've wanted to post this pic & comment for like 2 weeks. I never seem to get totally caught up around here. Anyways, I'm also working on my autobiographical 'top ten ways to choke on your first marathon' which I will add to this posting sometime very soon (hopefully tonite while I'm watching the Phils play L.A. from West Coast).
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Already Too Late
Ran 4 miles yesterday for Nat'l Run Day. Instead of typical (boring) loop around neighborhood at lunchtime, I went out to the main road and ran to the Y because I know it's just slightly over 2 miles to get there. Tons of cars/trucks, an old guy on a bike, but no other runners. So I feel like I was representing us runners out there. Forgot to wear club colors, had a Phillies shirt on. Noticed several places where the bushes/weeds/vines are totally overgrown blocking the sidewalk... don't notice that when driving past. I see walkers along here regular, and it is a full sidewalk, just covered in places by jungle. Maybe I'll contact these folks back to point out that their sidewalks are almost un-passable do to the overgrowth (maybe).
Easy pace, variable. One measured mile was 8:15, but I know that i started much slower than that. Picked up my new stainless steel water bottle at the Y. They give away something about every-other month. I guess that's where my $75/month goes. Frankly I could do without the give aways, but i always pick them up since it's my money anyway. They probably end up thinking the friggin give aways are soooo popular! I'd rather have some of my money bacK!
M8k race is saturday. I'm not expecting much. In all the times I've done this race i've never had a really good one here. It's flat so I always think... i'll run fast. But several times it was warm & humid. Other years I was injured or just coming back from injury so didn't max the opportunity. Forcast this year is pretty good, but I haven't done a lick of speed work in over a month. Plus still not 100% since post marathon. Speaking of which, that little nagging pain in lower left abdominal area is really buggin me. I made the mistake of playing tennis for a long session the other night and the reaching, pivoting, etc really aggrivated the problem. This tennis was a prefect parallel to my marathon experience. I know what to do, but i don't always do it. Tennis hurts my body- I should stay away from it or at least take it in small doses. It's like when I start having fun (yes, I can still whup my 13 y.o.'s butt, and his friends, even though they were on the tennis team at school this year & I only picked up a racket 2x in the last 2 yrs)... then my brain shuts down and I just don't think until it's too late. When my 10 mile split at the marathon was 5 minutes ahead of pace AND there was more hills than I anticipated... it was already too late. Gotta remember my brain more often when I am out having fun.
M 8k times over past few years:
2004 33:40 6:46pace
2005 injured; didn't run
2006 busy w/work; was on break from running
2007 36:38 rehab'g quad tear
2008 34:54 humid/went out too fast
2009 ? not expecting much, maybe 35:30 - 36:30 range. One of these years I'm going to get it right at this race but it ain't gonna be this year.
Easy pace, variable. One measured mile was 8:15, but I know that i started much slower than that. Picked up my new stainless steel water bottle at the Y. They give away something about every-other month. I guess that's where my $75/month goes. Frankly I could do without the give aways, but i always pick them up since it's my money anyway. They probably end up thinking the friggin give aways are soooo popular! I'd rather have some of my money bacK!
M8k race is saturday. I'm not expecting much. In all the times I've done this race i've never had a really good one here. It's flat so I always think... i'll run fast. But several times it was warm & humid. Other years I was injured or just coming back from injury so didn't max the opportunity. Forcast this year is pretty good, but I haven't done a lick of speed work in over a month. Plus still not 100% since post marathon. Speaking of which, that little nagging pain in lower left abdominal area is really buggin me. I made the mistake of playing tennis for a long session the other night and the reaching, pivoting, etc really aggrivated the problem. This tennis was a prefect parallel to my marathon experience. I know what to do, but i don't always do it. Tennis hurts my body- I should stay away from it or at least take it in small doses. It's like when I start having fun (yes, I can still whup my 13 y.o.'s butt, and his friends, even though they were on the tennis team at school this year & I only picked up a racket 2x in the last 2 yrs)... then my brain shuts down and I just don't think until it's too late. When my 10 mile split at the marathon was 5 minutes ahead of pace AND there was more hills than I anticipated... it was already too late. Gotta remember my brain more often when I am out having fun.
M 8k times over past few years:
2004 33:40 6:46pace
2005 injured; didn't run
2006 busy w/work; was on break from running
2007 36:38 rehab'g quad tear
2008 34:54 humid/went out too fast
2009 ? not expecting much, maybe 35:30 - 36:30 range. One of these years I'm going to get it right at this race but it ain't gonna be this year.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
National Running Day
Isn't there also a Run To Work Day? Not sure if that's the same or diff...
Anyway, my schedule isn't good for evening run (soccer game) so I'm going to hit the streets solo this a.m. But the club folks will be out together. Here's a re-post from last week's info:
Here's a link about NATIONAL RUNNING Day which is next TODAY: http://www.nyrrmail.org/eventcal/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=127Our club will be out running - but we have a standing group run on Wed. evenings (get it, standing group run?). {Duh, bad, i know.}
Anyway, my schedule isn't good for evening run (soccer game) so I'm going to hit the streets solo this a.m. But the club folks will be out together. Here's a re-post from last week's info:
Here's a link about NATIONAL RUNNING Day which is next TODAY: http://www.nyrrmail.org/eventcal/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=127Our club will be out running - but we have a standing group run on Wed. evenings (get it, standing group run?). {Duh, bad, i know.}
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
New Group Runs at Brandywine Creek S.P.
This is from an email I sent out today:
New Group Runs for Pike Creek:
Because club members asked for more group runs, we are announcing the following dates for group trail runs at Brandywine Creek State Park (link). These groups runs are open to runners of all abilities, club members or not, so please invite friends & guests to come out and run with us!
Sunday June 14th - This run will be led by Dean. 6 mile trail run starts at 9 a.m. We will meet in the parking lot behind the TGIFridays on 202 Concord Pike (map) at 8:45. Water & light snacks will be provided. The trailhead is behind the hotel next door (Rocky Run Parkway). This run can be shortened to 4 miles, or you can add more trails to bring it up to 10 miles or longer. The restaurant mgr has agreed to open the TGIF front patio an hour early (10 a.m.) for our after run drink & food needs!
Sunday July 12th - 5 mile trail run starts at 8 a.m. Meet in parking lot behind the JCC off 202 on Garden of Eden Road (map). Trailhead is at back of lot. Similar mixed terrain, some flat wide sections along river, some single track with hills. Distance can be more or less. If anyone has a GPS pls bring because I've always wanted to get an accurate distance on this route. This trail features the mtn bike 'bridge' that some kids built last year. I've run up & over this contraption - something different. After running we'll meet at Janssen's Market Cafe (here) by taking Mt. Lebanon Road to Rockland Rd to Rt.52 in Greenville.
Sunday August 16th - location/time/distance TBD. Save the date & look for details to follow and/or I'm open to suggestions. If we meet in the park you have to have pay $3 per car or have the annual parking sticker.
Please RSVP so we can have an estimated headcount. Feel free to invite all runners to join us on these group runs. Arrive 15 minutes early to review trail maps; the run begins at scheduled time. If you need to start early (to run longer) contact me & I will meet you there early. For general info about Pike Creek Valley Running Club, and our group runs, follow this link.
New Group Runs for Pike Creek:
Because club members asked for more group runs, we are announcing the following dates for group trail runs at Brandywine Creek State Park (link). These groups runs are open to runners of all abilities, club members or not, so please invite friends & guests to come out and run with us!
Sunday June 14th - This run will be led by Dean. 6 mile trail run starts at 9 a.m. We will meet in the parking lot behind the TGIFridays on 202 Concord Pike (map) at 8:45. Water & light snacks will be provided. The trailhead is behind the hotel next door (Rocky Run Parkway). This run can be shortened to 4 miles, or you can add more trails to bring it up to 10 miles or longer. The restaurant mgr has agreed to open the TGIF front patio an hour early (10 a.m.) for our after run drink & food needs!
Sunday July 12th - 5 mile trail run starts at 8 a.m. Meet in parking lot behind the JCC off 202 on Garden of Eden Road (map). Trailhead is at back of lot. Similar mixed terrain, some flat wide sections along river, some single track with hills. Distance can be more or less. If anyone has a GPS pls bring because I've always wanted to get an accurate distance on this route. This trail features the mtn bike 'bridge' that some kids built last year. I've run up & over this contraption - something different. After running we'll meet at Janssen's Market Cafe (here) by taking Mt. Lebanon Road to Rockland Rd to Rt.52 in Greenville.
Sunday August 16th - location/time/distance TBD. Save the date & look for details to follow and/or I'm open to suggestions. If we meet in the park you have to have pay $3 per car or have the annual parking sticker.
Please RSVP so we can have an estimated headcount. Feel free to invite all runners to join us on these group runs. Arrive 15 minutes early to review trail maps; the run begins at scheduled time. If you need to start early (to run longer) contact me & I will meet you there early. For general info about Pike Creek Valley Running Club, and our group runs, follow this link.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Fall Season Coming into focus
I did 3 easy miles around the neighborhood. I told myself at the beginning that if my legs still feel 'dead' then I'd take a walk break in the middle. I walked. Gee, these walk breaks are addictive. You'd think that maybe I got enough walking during the last few miles of the marathon melt-down. But I walked for a minute (and didn't time the run at all anyway).
Didn't have time to hit the weights. Will try for the gym tomorrow. I've been eating slightly healthier post-marathon. That feels good. I look downright fat in some of the online pics compared to other runners around me. Oh, btw, online pics are up! Here's a photo montage in crappy low-resolution. I guess I should fork over the $55 to get the high-res images. Right click and open in 'new tab/new window' to see best. insertPingimagehere
Didn't have time to hit the weights. Will try for the gym tomorrow. I've been eating slightly healthier post-marathon. That feels good. I look downright fat in some of the online pics compared to other runners around me. Oh, btw, online pics are up! Here's a photo montage in crappy low-resolution. I guess I should fork over the $55 to get the high-res images. Right click and open in 'new tab/new window' to see best. insertPingimagehere
I have a lingering muscle pain in the lower left abdominal region. This was hurting with the leg spasms during the race. Now it's the last remaining ache. Hard to exactly put my finger on it - literally. It's like a pulling/pinching pain when stretching, coughing, bending. I'm thinking hernia type issue, which I really hope it's not that. I had that surgery about 12 years ago and the area has always bothered me. Pretty sure the doc did a sub-par job and there's like scar tissue or just plain not done correctly. Will watch this for a week & hope it resolves on it's own.
I have signed up for the Philly Distance Run Half in Sept. This is a PR target as it will be my first flat 13.1 in many years. This is the focus of my early fall season. And another shot at the 26.2 distance will be the focus of the late fall season. Really torn between Philly Marathon (here) or the Rehobeth Beach marathon but Philly seems the logical choice. About a dozen runners from club are doing Rehobeth That would be fun...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)