yeah - first blog post of the new year . . . been busy (doing whatever?)
Ran two 5k's recently. February's plan of getting really speedy workouts was mostly a bust due to the extreme snow situations; however, my racing was still decent. First ran the Logan House 5k. A few hills but nothing too bad. Ran something like 21:10 and was okay with that.
This past Saturday ran the Haddonfield 5k and did better than expected. Hoped to break 21:00 and ended up with 20:34. Very happy. Will probably be my fastest 5k of the year since I had planned to focus on speed & short runs for the first months. Now I have to look toward Broad Street 10 miler and so must get back into long runs. The longest I've gone in the last 10 weeks is like a 7 or an 8 miler. So I've got about 5 weeks to build back some endurance. I might do some other races during these weeks - done as my speed work while i focus on long runs.
Looking forward to getting back onto trails too - most of the past few months have been treadmill at Y.
Showing posts with label raceReport. Show all posts
Showing posts with label raceReport. Show all posts
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Monday, November 2, 2009
LSD for fun
I've decided to begin my long runs for January's 50k. I don't remember if I've even mention yet that I'm going to attempt a 50k trail run - this will be my longest run ever!
I've been racing quite a bit, and got some new PR's. The last race I've signed up for this fall is the Rothman 8k (same day as Philly marathon). After that I plan a phase of longer trail runs at easy pace. I just feel a bit burned out from the same old 5k / 10k race circuit so next year I want to focus on fewer races overall, with more trail races, and longer distances. Then maybe next fall I'll be ready for my marathon redemption.
The best of my recent racing was my PDR half marathon 1:31:13 in late Sept. This is a new PR by several minutes. That race was followed by an awesome 10 mile trail race, very challenging course. Next was the 15k which was a PR by about 30 seconds. Then Sunday - i haven't written the race report yet - I nailed another PR. This time it was 10k distance and only 9 seconds over the old PR. I ran some other races in the last few months, but those 4 are the highlites.
I like that the PR's came in order from longest distance to shortest. And the longest race was a PR by alot of time, and the short distance was a PR by only a few ticks. The race in the middle was PR'd by an amount in the middle. That's nice. It's not symmetry, what's the word for it? Fung shwei? NOT. Balance or harmony or something. Jeez, I wish I was better with the written word.
Anyway, I usually don't do long slow runs unless they're aimed at a speific target. Last Wednesday I headed out to the trusty woods for a scheduled 5 or 10 depending on how I felt. It was a crappy rainy morning, and I was very close to not running at all due to the weather. I didn't want to do the treadmill . . . but I wasn't really looking forward to the mud bath. I had actually mentioned to a few people in the morning that I was schedule to run long in the woods and was going to cancel. But I forced myself to get out there. I'm glad I did.
The rain was mostly over by lunchhour when I started. Light drizzle with huge puddles. Right away I felt good to be out there when nobody else was around. I planned to do a 5 mile loop back to the car and decide how I felt. I wore my new Coleman hydration backpack. After a few miles I was feeling much better about running in the weather. I purposely took the creekside trail. Wow, it was totally flooded. Some of the puddles were 8 or 10 inches deep, but i kept going. When I got to the creek crossing I had to turn back. The river had backed up so far that the creek was like 4 or 5 feet deep. No way was I going to try it. I was having fun but that was just too much to attempt. Not worth it. I could see the fallen tree that acts as a bridge. First of all it's grounded on the other side. Secondly, it just disappeared down into the murky water. So the prospect of jumping into there and hopefully landing on the log and then climbing up & out the other side was just too much. So I back tracked to get back up onto the ranger road.
Most of the rest of the run was uneventful. As the hours passed the sun did come out a few times. The warmth felt good. I ditched the back pack after just 5 miles. Pretty uncomfortable, will take some time to get used to running with that thing on. After 2 of the 5 mile loops and wanted to keep going. Luckily nothing scheduled for the afternoon that couldn't get done any other time. So I ate my 'after run' snack at 10 mile mark, and finished the last of my water ( I hadn't planned to go so far). And I headed back out. I saw a solitary deer. I felt the same as our paths crossed and we headed separate ways inthe woods. I found a light from a mountain bike. It was flashing on the side of the trail. Weird, but I couldn't get it to turn off. Later at home I took it apart, dried it out, and then it switched off.
In all it turned out to be 16 miles. Done in 2:41 - just about perfect 10 minute pace. About 2x3=6 minutes of that was refuel at the car. So actually running pace is closer to 9:30.
Followed up this LSD with a rest day on Thursday. Body feels good except for toes which took a pretty good beating. Then Friday 5 miles easy on flat trail in woods. Legs wiped out tired.
I've been racing quite a bit, and got some new PR's. The last race I've signed up for this fall is the Rothman 8k (same day as Philly marathon). After that I plan a phase of longer trail runs at easy pace. I just feel a bit burned out from the same old 5k / 10k race circuit so next year I want to focus on fewer races overall, with more trail races, and longer distances. Then maybe next fall I'll be ready for my marathon redemption.
The best of my recent racing was my PDR half marathon 1:31:13 in late Sept. This is a new PR by several minutes. That race was followed by an awesome 10 mile trail race, very challenging course. Next was the 15k which was a PR by about 30 seconds. Then Sunday - i haven't written the race report yet - I nailed another PR. This time it was 10k distance and only 9 seconds over the old PR. I ran some other races in the last few months, but those 4 are the highlites.
I like that the PR's came in order from longest distance to shortest. And the longest race was a PR by alot of time, and the short distance was a PR by only a few ticks. The race in the middle was PR'd by an amount in the middle. That's nice. It's not symmetry, what's the word for it? Fung shwei? NOT. Balance or harmony or something. Jeez, I wish I was better with the written word.
Anyway, I usually don't do long slow runs unless they're aimed at a speific target. Last Wednesday I headed out to the trusty woods for a scheduled 5 or 10 depending on how I felt. It was a crappy rainy morning, and I was very close to not running at all due to the weather. I didn't want to do the treadmill . . . but I wasn't really looking forward to the mud bath. I had actually mentioned to a few people in the morning that I was schedule to run long in the woods and was going to cancel. But I forced myself to get out there. I'm glad I did.
The rain was mostly over by lunchhour when I started. Light drizzle with huge puddles. Right away I felt good to be out there when nobody else was around. I planned to do a 5 mile loop back to the car and decide how I felt. I wore my new Coleman hydration backpack. After a few miles I was feeling much better about running in the weather. I purposely took the creekside trail. Wow, it was totally flooded. Some of the puddles were 8 or 10 inches deep, but i kept going. When I got to the creek crossing I had to turn back. The river had backed up so far that the creek was like 4 or 5 feet deep. No way was I going to try it. I was having fun but that was just too much to attempt. Not worth it. I could see the fallen tree that acts as a bridge. First of all it's grounded on the other side. Secondly, it just disappeared down into the murky water. So the prospect of jumping into there and hopefully landing on the log and then climbing up & out the other side was just too much. So I back tracked to get back up onto the ranger road.
Most of the rest of the run was uneventful. As the hours passed the sun did come out a few times. The warmth felt good. I ditched the back pack after just 5 miles. Pretty uncomfortable, will take some time to get used to running with that thing on. After 2 of the 5 mile loops and wanted to keep going. Luckily nothing scheduled for the afternoon that couldn't get done any other time. So I ate my 'after run' snack at 10 mile mark, and finished the last of my water ( I hadn't planned to go so far). And I headed back out. I saw a solitary deer. I felt the same as our paths crossed and we headed separate ways inthe woods. I found a light from a mountain bike. It was flashing on the side of the trail. Weird, but I couldn't get it to turn off. Later at home I took it apart, dried it out, and then it switched off.
In all it turned out to be 16 miles. Done in 2:41 - just about perfect 10 minute pace. About 2x3=6 minutes of that was refuel at the car. So actually running pace is closer to 9:30.
Followed up this LSD with a rest day on Thursday. Body feels good except for toes which took a pretty good beating. Then Friday 5 miles easy on flat trail in woods. Legs wiped out tired.
Monday, October 26, 2009
RaceReport: Radnor 5 miler
My running was in the crapper last week due to being sick. I skipped Wed-Thurs-Fri-Saturday and had already signed up for the Radnor 5 mile race. So Sunday morning, feeling less than 100% I headed up there to run.
The carpool was the most interesting part. I was driving up with Carole - and another club member, a new guy named Epi. A mutual friend put us together for the carpool, so it's a chance to meet another club member and runner. I was really hoping the Epi spoke english (which he did) and was glad that he was going to race because I've seen his name in the race results and he's fast. Our club needs more fast runners if we've gonna hang onto 2nd place inthe club challenge.
The race itself: I tried to go out easy. This course has several big hills. I was really hoping that I wouldn't go into one of my wheezing/coughing fits like the ones plagueing me the past few days. The first hill is from like .5 to 1.0 and my one mile split was 7:18. So mission accomplished on slow first mile.
Mile 2 is downhill; done in 6:32. Total 13:50 at 2mm, so avg 6:55 which I was happy with. Mile 3 has the nastiest hill. Steep near the bottom and then a long steady grind. 7:55 for that one. I wasn't feeling too good at this point. Note on course: this is right where you are passing some serious kick ass mansions. They've got some real wealthy types in Radnor, PA. I swear a few of the homes look like castles with huge acreage and personal tennis courts, Bentley's in the driveway, etc.
Anyway, mile 4 is flatish, with some small ups & downs. 7:18. Total time 29:03 which i realize is about 7:15 pace and the effects of my cold are obvious. Most of miles 4 & 5 I run along side a woman who is looking very strong. In the end she pulls away to beat me by about 5 or 10 seconds. She gets 1st a.g. 35-39. I struggle to finish. Basically I don't try to kick at all. It's more of a maintain pace while coasting on in. Mile 5- 6:48 so the final clock is 35:50 @ 7:10 pace. I don't care, given the situation.
Next weekend is the Bridge 10k - hopefully I can get a fast tempo effort mid week and then be in good health for Sunday's race.
The carpool was the most interesting part. I was driving up with Carole - and another club member, a new guy named Epi. A mutual friend put us together for the carpool, so it's a chance to meet another club member and runner. I was really hoping the Epi spoke english (which he did) and was glad that he was going to race because I've seen his name in the race results and he's fast. Our club needs more fast runners if we've gonna hang onto 2nd place inthe club challenge.
The race itself: I tried to go out easy. This course has several big hills. I was really hoping that I wouldn't go into one of my wheezing/coughing fits like the ones plagueing me the past few days. The first hill is from like .5 to 1.0 and my one mile split was 7:18. So mission accomplished on slow first mile.
Mile 2 is downhill; done in 6:32. Total 13:50 at 2mm, so avg 6:55 which I was happy with. Mile 3 has the nastiest hill. Steep near the bottom and then a long steady grind. 7:55 for that one. I wasn't feeling too good at this point. Note on course: this is right where you are passing some serious kick ass mansions. They've got some real wealthy types in Radnor, PA. I swear a few of the homes look like castles with huge acreage and personal tennis courts, Bentley's in the driveway, etc.
Anyway, mile 4 is flatish, with some small ups & downs. 7:18. Total time 29:03 which i realize is about 7:15 pace and the effects of my cold are obvious. Most of miles 4 & 5 I run along side a woman who is looking very strong. In the end she pulls away to beat me by about 5 or 10 seconds. She gets 1st a.g. 35-39. I struggle to finish. Basically I don't try to kick at all. It's more of a maintain pace while coasting on in. Mile 5- 6:48 so the final clock is 35:50 @ 7:10 pace. I don't care, given the situation.
Next weekend is the Bridge 10k - hopefully I can get a fast tempo effort mid week and then be in good health for Sunday's race.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Del Distance Classic 15k RaceReport
A bit overdue, but here we go:
Weather was ideal. Cold fall morning, not a cloud in the sky. I think the start temp was around 45. Some runners had gloves or arm panties. I like to run in the cold so I was as bare as possible.
Since I know the course and this race is very close to my house I had volunteered to help with set up. I put up a few banners for our club (race sponsor) and the RRCA. But there really wasn't much else to do. Being a local race, plus the good club turnout, I saw lots of folks that I know. I pretty much said I would go out at a PR pace and just hope to hold it. This was based on PDR Half marathon 3 weeks earlier, and I felt rested/hadn't pushed too much in the week leading up to this race.
I did very minimal warm up - which for me is typical of 'longer' races. My outlook is "the first mile is the warm up for anything over 10k." Actually I farted around long enuf that I barely got my Gu on time & then changed into my race shoes before it was time to line up. I tried to be about 5 or 6 rows deep figuring that 50 or 60 guys in front of me is about right for the finishing order with a race of this size (300 entries). As it turned out I crossed the line 45th so that's just about right.
It's cool how during the first mile some of the runners along side will end up being far ahead, and others will be way behind. Only a few match my pace all the way. I enjoy noticing stuff like that. A few young kids were on the front line. I passed them within the first half mile. I fell in behind Greg Vitale (who I was introduced to after the race, but I already recognized from the circuit) who was obviously running together with a woman (maybe they are in the same club?). Anyway, as we approached the 1 mm he accelerated away never to be seen again, and I was left running alongside his partner. As things worked out, she & I spent the entire race trading the pacing efforts, spoke just a bit over the course, and met after the finish. Matching up with somebody about the same speed as myself is a huge advantage during a race. Keeping up with Mary, and trading the pace making with her, definitely helped me PR this race. The early splits:
1 - 6:45 PERFECT PACE FOR NEW PR!
2 - 6:58 small uphill
3 - 6:41 the downhill
4 - 6:41
It was during that forth mile that I really decided I would try to stay with Mary's pace. The water station at ~3.25 slowed me a bit (hydration is key for me when going longer than about 5 miles). I fought hard to catch back up with her along the Riverwalk boards section. I remember seeing my 4 mile time, 27:05, and thinking 1 minute under a 7:00 min mile pace ... 7x4=28 ... math is so difficult when giving 100% effort . . . wait for it . . . ah ha, 6:45 pace thru 4 miles. I knew this was right on track for a PR. But could i hold this pace? The middle splits:
5 - 6:48
6 - 6:59
7 - 6:56
There's a water stop just after the 5 mm - I really wanted to slow down and drink a full glass. It wasn't the water so much as I just wanted to slow down. Do you ever get that feeling during a race? It used to happen to me alot, but not often the past few years. Anyway, I knew I'd lose 5 or more seconds to Mary and so I just got a small splash to gulp down. She moved ahead on the small hill at 5.5 and I tried to make it back on the downhill side. I was pushing hard here and after the turnaround point we approached the same hill again. I forced myself to catch up with her before the hill. I felt like I was working very hard. I was actually weezing a bit at the top of the little hill, and then on the way down, past the 7 mm, I saw several runners going up from the opposite direction (they were at 5.5) and I got a boost of energy from exchanging greetings. Later at the finish line when Mary & I introduced ourselves she said "well I know your name's Dean from so many people calling out to you on the course." Mental math game #2: at 7mm my time was 47:48 which I figured was close to 48 mins. 7x7=49 so now I was still about one minute faster than 7 min.pace. Not good since i was slipping away from PR pace. I told myself I still had a shot if I could accelerate ever so slightly over the last miles. We were side by side thru the water station at 7.25 ... I didn't even think about any more water breaks. This race was oN!
Through the 8th mile Mary & I traded position several times and I tried to push the pace. The split was 6:52 Ugh, not fast enough to guarantee a PR. This was going to be very close. Starting at about 7.75 mm I decided to play the game where you try to pick off a runner (or 2) in front. We had been gaining on the solo runner in front of us, and so I put in a push to close the gap. We caught & passed at around 8.25. Turns out he was a runner I know thru some other folks (Chuck from Y). He didn't seem to be working too hard because he was able to give me a few words of encouragement to which I could only reply "garble gurgle". I tried to say something (what?) but I swear it came out all mish-moshed and I'm sure it was completely un-intelligent. Whatever. I'm working hard over here. He's striking up a conversation like this is an easy effort or something!
At this point I was no longer aware of Mary's location. She was behind me but I don't know how far. I focused onthe guy in front of me. But he began his own finishing burst and really took off away from me. As I approached the 9 mm there was no one in front of me within striking distance. That other dude had moved up to a small group and was passing all of them, but they were too far ahead for me to even think about it. I really focused on my own thing at this point. Strong finish, don't let anyone catch & pass me, run for the PR now. Mile 9 split was 6:44. Yes. I'm doing it. Total time now 1:01:24 with a third of a mile to go. Mental math #3: if the final stretch takes 2:30 I'll still get a PR by a few seconds. And if it's more like 2 mins flat then I'm totally rockin' this PR!
I cover the last .3 in a 2:09 and PR with 1:03:33 which is about 30 seconds better than last year's race. Chuck was only a few seconds behind me, and Mary another 5 seconds back. Wow, good thing I didn't let up because they both would've passed me.
I worked so hard during this race. This was an evenly measured out effort with the pain spread across the entire distance. I've certainly had races where I felt more pain, but those were all bad situations when I had gone out too fast and couldn't hold pace. I really worked my ass off for this race. This has got to be one of the best executed races I've ever done. Honestly, I don't know how i could ever get another 15k PR without somehow getting my fitness level lifted up one whole step to a new plateau. Because for the level of fitness I have now, this race was run to the max for the full 15k's. Very satisfying. But I'm not sure where to go from here and how on earth to get there? One observation of this race: I was focused 100% on the race effort for the entire distance. Usually that happens for me during a 5k or 5 mile, but longer races are always marked with a 'zone-out' during the middle somewhere. Usually I catch myself checking out the scenery, or spectators, or architecture, etc. This is the first time I remember almost nothing except the race effort itself.
Weather was ideal. Cold fall morning, not a cloud in the sky. I think the start temp was around 45. Some runners had gloves or arm panties. I like to run in the cold so I was as bare as possible.
Since I know the course and this race is very close to my house I had volunteered to help with set up. I put up a few banners for our club (race sponsor) and the RRCA. But there really wasn't much else to do. Being a local race, plus the good club turnout, I saw lots of folks that I know. I pretty much said I would go out at a PR pace and just hope to hold it. This was based on PDR Half marathon 3 weeks earlier, and I felt rested/hadn't pushed too much in the week leading up to this race.
I did very minimal warm up - which for me is typical of 'longer' races. My outlook is "the first mile is the warm up for anything over 10k." Actually I farted around long enuf that I barely got my Gu on time & then changed into my race shoes before it was time to line up. I tried to be about 5 or 6 rows deep figuring that 50 or 60 guys in front of me is about right for the finishing order with a race of this size (300 entries). As it turned out I crossed the line 45th so that's just about right.
It's cool how during the first mile some of the runners along side will end up being far ahead, and others will be way behind. Only a few match my pace all the way. I enjoy noticing stuff like that. A few young kids were on the front line. I passed them within the first half mile. I fell in behind Greg Vitale (who I was introduced to after the race, but I already recognized from the circuit) who was obviously running together with a woman (maybe they are in the same club?). Anyway, as we approached the 1 mm he accelerated away never to be seen again, and I was left running alongside his partner. As things worked out, she & I spent the entire race trading the pacing efforts, spoke just a bit over the course, and met after the finish. Matching up with somebody about the same speed as myself is a huge advantage during a race. Keeping up with Mary, and trading the pace making with her, definitely helped me PR this race. The early splits:
1 - 6:45 PERFECT PACE FOR NEW PR!
2 - 6:58 small uphill
3 - 6:41 the downhill
4 - 6:41
It was during that forth mile that I really decided I would try to stay with Mary's pace. The water station at ~3.25 slowed me a bit (hydration is key for me when going longer than about 5 miles). I fought hard to catch back up with her along the Riverwalk boards section. I remember seeing my 4 mile time, 27:05, and thinking 1 minute under a 7:00 min mile pace ... 7x4=28 ... math is so difficult when giving 100% effort . . . wait for it . . . ah ha, 6:45 pace thru 4 miles. I knew this was right on track for a PR. But could i hold this pace? The middle splits:
5 - 6:48
6 - 6:59
7 - 6:56
There's a water stop just after the 5 mm - I really wanted to slow down and drink a full glass. It wasn't the water so much as I just wanted to slow down. Do you ever get that feeling during a race? It used to happen to me alot, but not often the past few years. Anyway, I knew I'd lose 5 or more seconds to Mary and so I just got a small splash to gulp down. She moved ahead on the small hill at 5.5 and I tried to make it back on the downhill side. I was pushing hard here and after the turnaround point we approached the same hill again. I forced myself to catch up with her before the hill. I felt like I was working very hard. I was actually weezing a bit at the top of the little hill, and then on the way down, past the 7 mm, I saw several runners going up from the opposite direction (they were at 5.5) and I got a boost of energy from exchanging greetings. Later at the finish line when Mary & I introduced ourselves she said "well I know your name's Dean from so many people calling out to you on the course." Mental math game #2: at 7mm my time was 47:48 which I figured was close to 48 mins. 7x7=49 so now I was still about one minute faster than 7 min.pace. Not good since i was slipping away from PR pace. I told myself I still had a shot if I could accelerate ever so slightly over the last miles. We were side by side thru the water station at 7.25 ... I didn't even think about any more water breaks. This race was oN!
Through the 8th mile Mary & I traded position several times and I tried to push the pace. The split was 6:52 Ugh, not fast enough to guarantee a PR. This was going to be very close. Starting at about 7.75 mm I decided to play the game where you try to pick off a runner (or 2) in front. We had been gaining on the solo runner in front of us, and so I put in a push to close the gap. We caught & passed at around 8.25. Turns out he was a runner I know thru some other folks (Chuck from Y). He didn't seem to be working too hard because he was able to give me a few words of encouragement to which I could only reply "garble gurgle". I tried to say something (what?) but I swear it came out all mish-moshed and I'm sure it was completely un-intelligent. Whatever. I'm working hard over here. He's striking up a conversation like this is an easy effort or something!
At this point I was no longer aware of Mary's location. She was behind me but I don't know how far. I focused onthe guy in front of me. But he began his own finishing burst and really took off away from me. As I approached the 9 mm there was no one in front of me within striking distance. That other dude had moved up to a small group and was passing all of them, but they were too far ahead for me to even think about it. I really focused on my own thing at this point. Strong finish, don't let anyone catch & pass me, run for the PR now. Mile 9 split was 6:44. Yes. I'm doing it. Total time now 1:01:24 with a third of a mile to go. Mental math #3: if the final stretch takes 2:30 I'll still get a PR by a few seconds. And if it's more like 2 mins flat then I'm totally rockin' this PR!
I cover the last .3 in a 2:09 and PR with 1:03:33 which is about 30 seconds better than last year's race. Chuck was only a few seconds behind me, and Mary another 5 seconds back. Wow, good thing I didn't let up because they both would've passed me.
I worked so hard during this race. This was an evenly measured out effort with the pain spread across the entire distance. I've certainly had races where I felt more pain, but those were all bad situations when I had gone out too fast and couldn't hold pace. I really worked my ass off for this race. This has got to be one of the best executed races I've ever done. Honestly, I don't know how i could ever get another 15k PR without somehow getting my fitness level lifted up one whole step to a new plateau. Because for the level of fitness I have now, this race was run to the max for the full 15k's. Very satisfying. But I'm not sure where to go from here and how on earth to get there? One observation of this race: I was focused 100% on the race effort for the entire distance. Usually that happens for me during a 5k or 5 mile, but longer races are always marked with a 'zone-out' during the middle somewhere. Usually I catch myself checking out the scenery, or spectators, or architecture, etc. This is the first time I remember almost nothing except the race effort itself.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
15k PR . . . and having fun!
Of course, by now you have figured out that life has become very busy for me, and blogging is taking a back seat to my other stuff. But the good news is that I've been insisting that running should not slip off my priority list.
Since my PDR half marathon PR i raced an amazing trail race, the Conestoga 10 Miler. http://www.lrrclub.org/Conestoga.html the course is approximately 3,000 feet of climbing in just ten miles. Think "steep ass hills" and then don't forget the downhills which were really kind-of dangerous in places. I had fun. My legs were completely shredded for a full week. Photo above is about half a mile till finish line.
But I managed to recover in time for this past weekend's Delaware Distance Classic 15k race. It's like the only 15k in Delaware and the whole Phila,PA region that I'm aware of so I try to do it every year. Result: a new PR @ 1:03:33 (6:50 pace). Also very interesting that in these last 3 races I've run side by side with fast women. And that seemed to motivate me greatly. All 3 cases I met these competitors during the race; the situation makes me think that maybe I should spend time with fast women more often! {PDR was Urszula, Conestoga = Marsha, and DDC I paced together with Mary. That's one amazing trio of hot chicks}
More later, I'm running late again...
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Summer Trail Running+Pre-race Pasta@Mrs. Robino's=PR!
race report to follow, just a quick post:
I wasn'ty sure what would happen, but when out fast. Absolutely perfect weather for a run: cool & sunny September day. Had some issues mid race. After they cleared I was able to finish strong with a new PR! 1:31:10 on my own watch. Will wait to see what the PDR chip time is. Heard that Ryan Hall beat all the Kenyans to win with a 1:01:xx
I wasn'ty sure what would happen, but when out fast. Absolutely perfect weather for a run: cool & sunny September day. Had some issues mid race. After they cleared I was able to finish strong with a new PR! 1:31:10 on my own watch. Will wait to see what the PDR chip time is. Heard that Ryan Hall beat all the Kenyans to win with a 1:01:xx
Thursday, July 9, 2009
RaceReport- Rooney's 5k
Realized I never did race write up for my last 5k. So i'm back-dating this posting.
I am not an evening runner, but in the summer time there seems to be a trend of 5k's during the week. This race is a Thursday 7 p.m. affair. This was the 3rd in my effort to get back some of my speed. Since I'm writing this 2 weeks later, I know now that it was the last 5k because I skipped the other weekend ones. And now I'm in the mindset of longer workouts. 5k speed is no longer the focus since we're getting closer to the fall race season (PDR in Sept. then 15k in Oct. and probable 26.2 in November).
First time I've ever done this race and/or run this course. Lots of races in our town are run over the same few courses, but this one is not oft used. Downhill first mile, then flat #2, uphill at end but the finish line is 25 to 50 feet lower than the start (i.e. net downhill). Mile 1 = 6:24 and most of the regular crowd went out faster than me so that I passed them between .5 & .75 or so. Guess I should've gone out faster. Mile 2 = 6:59 (13:23) I felt under control, holding something back for uphill finish. Mile 3, fatigue setting in; saw someone ahead of me who has been beating me lately, but I used to get the better of our races last year. Slowly closed gap and passed before 3mm. Time 6:56 (20:19). Uphill .1 = 41 seconds. Had plenty left to sprint final 100 yards. Wasn't going to kick it in until I saw another guy that usually beats me this year. I got in front of him just before the line! I know he's a lot older than me, he always gets a.g. award, but I still try to beat him when I can. 21:00 even (but online race results shows 21:01).
Tried to be social and hang out at bar afterward, but I knew I wasn't getting any a.g. medal with a 21:00 because there's always tough competition for M40-49. Had 2 beers, ate food . . . they ran out which isn't cool. If ur gonna have an evening race then you gotta expect runners to be HUNGRY. Anyway, that's my fastest of the year. One minute slower than last yr's best, and about 40 seconds slower than last yr's typical. Where has my speed gone?
I am not an evening runner, but in the summer time there seems to be a trend of 5k's during the week. This race is a Thursday 7 p.m. affair. This was the 3rd in my effort to get back some of my speed. Since I'm writing this 2 weeks later, I know now that it was the last 5k because I skipped the other weekend ones. And now I'm in the mindset of longer workouts. 5k speed is no longer the focus since we're getting closer to the fall race season (PDR in Sept. then 15k in Oct. and probable 26.2 in November).
First time I've ever done this race and/or run this course. Lots of races in our town are run over the same few courses, but this one is not oft used. Downhill first mile, then flat #2, uphill at end but the finish line is 25 to 50 feet lower than the start (i.e. net downhill). Mile 1 = 6:24 and most of the regular crowd went out faster than me so that I passed them between .5 & .75 or so. Guess I should've gone out faster. Mile 2 = 6:59 (13:23) I felt under control, holding something back for uphill finish. Mile 3, fatigue setting in; saw someone ahead of me who has been beating me lately, but I used to get the better of our races last year. Slowly closed gap and passed before 3mm. Time 6:56 (20:19). Uphill .1 = 41 seconds. Had plenty left to sprint final 100 yards. Wasn't going to kick it in until I saw another guy that usually beats me this year. I got in front of him just before the line! I know he's a lot older than me, he always gets a.g. award, but I still try to beat him when I can. 21:00 even (but online race results shows 21:01).
Tried to be social and hang out at bar afterward, but I knew I wasn't getting any a.g. medal with a 21:00 because there's always tough competition for M40-49. Had 2 beers, ate food . . . they ran out which isn't cool. If ur gonna have an evening race then you gotta expect runners to be HUNGRY. Anyway, that's my fastest of the year. One minute slower than last yr's best, and about 40 seconds slower than last yr's typical. Where has my speed gone?
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Ham for Paparazzi
Managed to track down a pic of me just after last Saturday's 5k race. Still would like to see a photo while running, but this will have to do. Feeling like 21:11 not too bad in that outfit.
Today: rest day.
Yesterday: first bike ride of the year! Felt good to be on wheels. Nothing noteworthy during ride. 17.5 miles @ 14 mph. I'm writing this down on my mileage log as equivalent of 5 miles running. I'm on track for a decent week as long as I do that long run on Saturday.
Peace. Here's a couple of shout-out's to fellow bloggers:
1. Very funny post from Joy, RN in NJ
http://runjoy.blogspot.com/2008/11/i-need-life.html
I went back to read after she reported this week on a successful snot rocket !
http://runjoy.blogspot.com/2008/11/i-need-life.html
I went back to read after she reported this week on a successful snot rocket !
2. Congrats to Lindsay... a comfortable 200 mile month...oh, and btw, engagement. http://www.chasingthekenyans.com/2009/07/june-2009.html
3. Denise could use your help fundraising for BackOnMyFeet. She's doing her first Ultra, only been running for like about two years. http://run-denise-run.blogspot.com/2009/07/246-for-june.html
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Race4Time @ Joe's Crab Shack
The family decided to join me for the 5k race this morning, although sans son #1 because he's now officially got the teenager attitude and it just isn't cool to wake up early and be seen with the P's at a race. That makes all my years of effort being a 'good' parent seem so satisfying!
Since we were expecting about 20 of my Pike Creek run club members to be here, we had all decided on a Mardi Gras Beach Party theme. It was either that or everyone go in drag... which I just hate wearing a wig & makeup when I'm trying to run fast. (insert drum rimshot: bum-bum-crash)(insert laugh track: hardy har har). For this reason I ran the race in a Hawaiian shirt with a couple of lei's around my neck & a large silly balloon hat. Might have slowed me down a bit, but not more than a few seconds. I've never run with any type of costume, it was fun! Not sure if or when I'll do it again, but sometimes you just have to go for it.
As to the race, started well back from the front. Good thing too becuase there's a lot of fast people at this race. The age group 1st place is a nice gift certificate to the local running shoe store. 2nd & 3rd get small GC too. Took it out sensibly & under control. I could see a few runners ahead of me that I hoped to be finishing with. But I didn't push the pace early and figured I would catch them later. This course is totally flat. Temp was around 72-75 or so and half sun/half clouds. First mile in 6:41 which seemed great because I was feeling good. The RD was at the 1mm taking photo's but he seemed to be having an camera issue so didn't get me. I really wanted a pic of me running in my zany costume but it didn't happen. other race pics here. As the second mile came back around to the riverwalk path I could tell that I was losing ground to everyone (Theresa, Jack, Ivan plus unk's) in front of me except Ray. This is where the typical 5k discomfort began to set in. That fact tells me that I should've/could've gone out faster in the first mile. Reach 2mm in 6:50 (13:31) which seemed fine; Ray was about 10-15 seconds in front of me.
The 3rd mile I felt like I was running my race, slowing pulling up towards Ray. I could see Jack was battling someone from his own a.g. and they were pulling farther away from me (he would finish 36 secs ahead). Was I didn't figure is that Ray was actually slowing because my split was 7:01 (20:32). When I saw that I was over 7 mins I knew that i wasn't working hard enough. The 3mm was just where I was catching up with Ray. i called over to him "c'mon - finishing kick" and then he proceeded to out sprint me to the line. Final .1 in :39 - which is good kick... again indicating that I should've worked harder earlier. 21:11 is not bad. 20 sec improvement from last weekend, but still not this year's best time. And about one full minute slower than last year's times.
This coming week I plan to take it a bit easy, cycle down then build a big week the one after. June has been a nice transition from post-marathon recovery into summer speed. A few more weeks of speed and then fall marathon training begins! Tomorrow will be a gentle trail run done solo & early morning. Looking forward to that.
Since we were expecting about 20 of my Pike Creek run club members to be here, we had all decided on a Mardi Gras Beach Party theme. It was either that or everyone go in drag... which I just hate wearing a wig & makeup when I'm trying to run fast. (insert drum rimshot: bum-bum-crash)(insert laugh track: hardy har har). For this reason I ran the race in a Hawaiian shirt with a couple of lei's around my neck & a large silly balloon hat. Might have slowed me down a bit, but not more than a few seconds. I've never run with any type of costume, it was fun! Not sure if or when I'll do it again, but sometimes you just have to go for it.
As to the race, started well back from the front. Good thing too becuase there's a lot of fast people at this race. The age group 1st place is a nice gift certificate to the local running shoe store. 2nd & 3rd get small GC too. Took it out sensibly & under control. I could see a few runners ahead of me that I hoped to be finishing with. But I didn't push the pace early and figured I would catch them later. This course is totally flat. Temp was around 72-75 or so and half sun/half clouds. First mile in 6:41 which seemed great because I was feeling good. The RD was at the 1mm taking photo's but he seemed to be having an camera issue so didn't get me. I really wanted a pic of me running in my zany costume but it didn't happen. other race pics here. As the second mile came back around to the riverwalk path I could tell that I was losing ground to everyone (Theresa, Jack, Ivan plus unk's) in front of me except Ray. This is where the typical 5k discomfort began to set in. That fact tells me that I should've/could've gone out faster in the first mile. Reach 2mm in 6:50 (13:31) which seemed fine; Ray was about 10-15 seconds in front of me.
The 3rd mile I felt like I was running my race, slowing pulling up towards Ray. I could see Jack was battling someone from his own a.g. and they were pulling farther away from me (he would finish 36 secs ahead). Was I didn't figure is that Ray was actually slowing because my split was 7:01 (20:32). When I saw that I was over 7 mins I knew that i wasn't working hard enough. The 3mm was just where I was catching up with Ray. i called over to him "c'mon - finishing kick" and then he proceeded to out sprint me to the line. Final .1 in :39 - which is good kick... again indicating that I should've worked harder earlier. 21:11 is not bad. 20 sec improvement from last weekend, but still not this year's best time. And about one full minute slower than last year's times.
This coming week I plan to take it a bit easy, cycle down then build a big week the one after. June has been a nice transition from post-marathon recovery into summer speed. A few more weeks of speed and then fall marathon training begins! Tomorrow will be a gentle trail run done solo & early morning. Looking forward to that.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
You Can't Always Get What You Want...
But if you try sometimes
you just might find
you miss by a second or two?
The summer of "Stones blog titles" continues with today's installment. The other day my younger son was getting ready to leave from camp and I overheard him talking to another boy. Andy was collecting his things/toys/crafts and the other boy wanted him to leave something so that he could play with it. "You can't always get what you want" was my son's reply! When I asked him about it in the car he said - you know, Dad, like that song you were singing the other day. 8 years old. Cool.
I had sort-of predicted that I'd finish in the range of 21:15 thru 21:30 but my time was 21:31 so I just missed. It started raining 15 mins before gun time; it started pouring cats & dogs 5 mins before! They delayed the start about 10 mins but there was no end in sight. So we ran in a downpour. Course: downhill .2 miles, then up over 9th street bridge, then mostly flat until a large hill at 1.5 miles. Then exactly back the same way.
I purposely went slow, controlled at start. In retrospect I could've gone faster like I typically do. My plan was to crest the bridge then settle into a steady working pace. That went fine. Mile 1 in 6:55 and feeling fine. I let up a bit as we eased into the hill...then slowed it down on the steep part. At no point did I feel that I was pushing into the 'red' zone. Then downhill to the 2 mm @ 7:09 / 14:04. I was expecting that. My conservative plan was to yield a mediocre reslut...but you can't have it both ways.
I thought I was working real hard during the 3rd mile. Set my sights on a guy with blue & white stripe shirt...caught & passed rather quickly (he must've gone out too fast?). Then there was a kid in red shirt about 10 yards in front of me. Slowly made up that ground...passed him with less than half mile left. I could hear his footsteps behind me as we turned onto 9th street for the bridge. As we crested same I saw that the next person in front of me was just rounding the next corner - a full block in front of me! I went down the hill fast, turned onto the finishing str8 (uphill couple of blocks). At this point I was just coasting with no one in front & no one right behind me. 3 mile split 6:48 / 20:52.
I felt like I had worked pretty hard, but it was that 2nd mile where I should've pushed a bit more. It's tough to measure it out evenly on the first 5k back. This is alot different than marathon running! I found some way to push the final tenth - done in 39 seconds - and the race director got a photo of me finishing. Blurry pic, but that's the way it was because I'd forgotten my hat and was taking full rain the face/glasses. Blurry race.
21:31 gives me plenty of room for improvement. Overall I finished 22 out of 295. But I'm only happy in the perspective that this is the first in a series of 5k's this summer. So the bar was set semi-low and I did what I did. Now I've got to step up the training and the race mentality. I was 6th in my 10-year age group. 6 of the top 22 finishers were men 40-49.
you just might find
you miss by a second or two?
The summer of "Stones blog titles" continues with today's installment. The other day my younger son was getting ready to leave from camp and I overheard him talking to another boy. Andy was collecting his things/toys/crafts and the other boy wanted him to leave something so that he could play with it. "You can't always get what you want" was my son's reply! When I asked him about it in the car he said - you know, Dad, like that song you were singing the other day. 8 years old. Cool.
I had sort-of predicted that I'd finish in the range of 21:15 thru 21:30 but my time was 21:31 so I just missed. It started raining 15 mins before gun time; it started pouring cats & dogs 5 mins before! They delayed the start about 10 mins but there was no end in sight. So we ran in a downpour. Course: downhill .2 miles, then up over 9th street bridge, then mostly flat until a large hill at 1.5 miles. Then exactly back the same way.
I purposely went slow, controlled at start. In retrospect I could've gone faster like I typically do. My plan was to crest the bridge then settle into a steady working pace. That went fine. Mile 1 in 6:55 and feeling fine. I let up a bit as we eased into the hill...then slowed it down on the steep part. At no point did I feel that I was pushing into the 'red' zone. Then downhill to the 2 mm @ 7:09 / 14:04. I was expecting that. My conservative plan was to yield a mediocre reslut...but you can't have it both ways.
I thought I was working real hard during the 3rd mile. Set my sights on a guy with blue & white stripe shirt...caught & passed rather quickly (he must've gone out too fast?). Then there was a kid in red shirt about 10 yards in front of me. Slowly made up that ground...passed him with less than half mile left. I could hear his footsteps behind me as we turned onto 9th street for the bridge. As we crested same I saw that the next person in front of me was just rounding the next corner - a full block in front of me! I went down the hill fast, turned onto the finishing str8 (uphill couple of blocks). At this point I was just coasting with no one in front & no one right behind me. 3 mile split 6:48 / 20:52.
I felt like I had worked pretty hard, but it was that 2nd mile where I should've pushed a bit more. It's tough to measure it out evenly on the first 5k back. This is alot different than marathon running! I found some way to push the final tenth - done in 39 seconds - and the race director got a photo of me finishing. Blurry pic, but that's the way it was because I'd forgotten my hat and was taking full rain the face/glasses. Blurry race.
21:31 gives me plenty of room for improvement. Overall I finished 22 out of 295. But I'm only happy in the perspective that this is the first in a series of 5k's this summer. So the bar was set semi-low and I did what I did. Now I've got to step up the training and the race mentality. I was 6th in my 10-year age group. 6 of the top 22 finishers were men 40-49.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
RaceReport: M 8k
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.
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.
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?"
Thursday, May 28, 2009
ReCap
oh wow, what a crappy performance by me. And a really bad feeling knowing that I wasted the chance to do something better.
I know I can do much better than friggin 4:21 marathon. Now I have to regroup and recover and then plan for a fall marathon. Round Two will be different (better).
I finished. I got the medal. DNF was definitely a possibility as wiped out as I was feeling. All the muscles of my legs were in cramps/spasms.
I have some email & FB messages that I will copy & paste into the blog. For now here's a few photos:
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Quips from post-race
These are some FaceBook & email messages from the hours right after the race:
Sunday night: I finished...that's about all I can say. Just about everything that could go wrong did. But I got the finisher medal.
It was one of my worst running experiences ever...humity, too much early speed, & lots of hills.
marathon: total meltdown. Changed mantra mid-race to "When will this end; I will not DNF." Leg cramps=bad. Walked the final 2.5 miles.
Monday morning: This morning's paper has some info on Wardian's race... he's happy that it's a new PR for him 2:21 - but it's the 5th year in a row that he's come up here and the 5th time he's finished 2nd. Seems to be different guys each year show up to take the win...
I don't know how there was so many guys under 2:30. This course has alot of HILLS! Women's winner also set her PR at 2:35 - she's a 3 time winner here. The sun came out when I was around mile 19 or so. It started to get hot & steam was coming up from the streets and roofs of houses. I guess the speedy runners were already done (or close to done) at that point.
There was a 9 y.o. boy that ran the full marathon. He passed me while I was walking in the final miles. That's the kind of day it was for me.
Sunday night: I finished...that's about all I can say. Just about everything that could go wrong did. But I got the finisher medal.
It was one of my worst running experiences ever...humity, too much early speed, & lots of hills.
marathon: total meltdown. Changed mantra mid-race to "When will this end; I will not DNF." Leg cramps=bad. Walked the final 2.5 miles.
Monday morning: This morning's paper has some info on Wardian's race... he's happy that it's a new PR for him 2:21 - but it's the 5th year in a row that he's come up here and the 5th time he's finished 2nd. Seems to be different guys each year show up to take the win...
I don't know how there was so many guys under 2:30. This course has alot of HILLS! Women's winner also set her PR at 2:35 - she's a 3 time winner here. The sun came out when I was around mile 19 or so. It started to get hot & steam was coming up from the streets and roofs of houses. I guess the speedy runners were already done (or close to done) at that point.
There was a 9 y.o. boy that ran the full marathon. He passed me while I was walking in the final miles. That's the kind of day it was for me.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Broad Street 10m raceReport: The 10 Mile Warm Up Club
This is long overdue, still trying to catch up on blogging...
Overall the weather report: cool, rainy, no wind. This is the first run in my new shoes (glycerin7) where they got soaked, dirty. So they looked new for a long time, but ya knew it wasn't gonna last forever.
Cue dramatic NFL music: the day broke cold & grey & wet on the streets of Philadelphia. The runners -, 25,000 strong - huddled in masses, trampling front yards, peeing in parks, moving as if one to the intersection of Broad & Olney in North Philly. OK, enuf with that. But really the entire setting is epic, inspirational, and awesome.
The course description has been written about so many times, suffice it to say it's a net downhill point to point straight line 10 miles long with a slight curve around City Hall and a few slight rises in the first half. In a word: Fast.
I got up extra early, couldn't get back to sleep once awake, and did all the prep ritual correctly because I was out the door right on time @ 6a.m. There was already a huge traffic situation at the stadium off ramp. I don't ever go to the front and cut in, but this morning I did go about half way up and then got in...only because I knew that I was running 10 miles before the start and all the rest of these people were going to be on the subway up to the starting line. My goal was to start running before 7 a.m. to give a bit of a cushion in time. Race starts at 8:30.
The line of cars was moving soooo slowly. I needed to prep in the car. Ever strip from the waist up while in traffic to apply Superman band aids to nips and then get into your singlet? Done it. Went thru some motivational tunes: Chili Peppers, Offspring, Green Day. Got the sweat pants off whilst driving, loaded pockets with Gu and filled Fuel Belt bottles. Finally got parked in front of Spectrum and needed to go pee very badly from drinking water, Gatorade & diet Coke for the past hour. Time check, 6:59. That sux. In a flurry of activity I got my hat on (rain still lightly coming down) then belt on, tightened & tied laces, watch, pinned number (duh, almost forgot) and put chip on shoe, popped can of Red Bull and finally headed to the port-o-johns in south corner of parking lot - the opposite direction that I need to be running.
Business done, start running. Time check, 7:04. Crap, I've got to run quickly up to the start to make sure I make it there before the gun. I'm drinking a can of Red Bull as I pass small groups of runners moving toward the subway station. Mostly they give me looks like "why is he wearing on singlet with bib on it already?" and "why is he running...there's still over an hour to the start plus the subway ride?" At the far side of Pattison there's only a few runners standing around trying to stay dry by hugging the subway station building. They all look like they're waitign for a friend. They look at me with those same curious questioning eyes. I want to stop and explain to them, but I'm already late. I want to tell them that the main subway entry is one full block south, that it's mobbed with 100's (maybe 1,000 now?) of runners, and that their friends/co-workers/etc are all probably standing down there wondering where the hell are they? but I run on.
Dodging cars on Broad is my next fun activity. There's like inner lanes & outer lanes & merging going on here. I need to get to the other side to follow street northbound. Once over there I use sidewalk & street all the way up. For now I'm up & down trying to decide which is better/safer. I prefer blacktop over cement but there's too much traffic. I'm already soaked. And the streets are filled with alot of dirty trash. Bummer. Mile 1 fairly slow, I dropped the can into a community trash pile and begin the search for any definitive mile markers. This quest will not be satisfied for quite a long time. I pick up the pace with 9 miles left to go before the start.
The next few miles go by at a comfortable 8:15 pace (est). I say Hi to everyone I see. Yo South Philly. Some look at me like "WTF" but most don't seem to realize today is even race day. @ or 3 people call out "You doing the race today?" to which I answer "yeah, with a 10 mile warm up!" They seem to appreciate that by shaking their heads in a disbelief fashion. Ha, luv that. At the first few water stations there's no activity but the tables & boxes & water are all there waiting. That's kind of cool to see the progression of readiness as you run backwards up to the start. I'm thinking this could be an annual 20 miler for a group of runners. The 10 Mile Warm Up Club. With about 15 or 20 runners sporting matching t-shirts that would be cool.
I can find absolutely no pavement markings for the mile splits. I don't know where I am/how the time's doing. At the next several water stations I ask for the mile marker but no one has any clue what I'm talking about. Some of the vol's are nice and friendly (and cute), but others are grumpy & appear to be working off c.s. hrs by court order because they obviously don't want to be there. How am i doing on time? Don't know, pick up the pace.
As I approach downtown - which I know City Hall is the unofficial half way point - I realize I need to pee (again). Of course now there's many more people milling around on every block. At every subway stop there's small groups or individuals hurrying down the steps. Or waiting outside. Where's my training partner/friend/lover/co-worker? they are sipping coffee, some are talking on cell phones. I want to ask where's the nearest toilets but none seems to want to engage me in conversation. They see my bib, realize I'm running...not taking the subway, then they turn away! Interesting psychology experiment at work here. The rain is still litely falling. I'm soaked but notice that the cooling effect is wonderful. I really got to pee and the rain doesn't help that sensation. No body knows the mile markers. I begin to see cops during this section. One about every-other corner. Some say hi back to me, others give me a hard tough-guy look. Some are smoking cigs and texting on their cel's. There's supposed to be port-a-potties at certain mile markers...this I should've put to memory for the duel purpose.
Finally at City Hall. This is at least 5 miles done. I decide to short cut (bladder near bursting. gonna have to find a side street and do the public urination thing very soon) up sidewalk, across courtyard to the other side (saves about 100-150 yards). As I round the corner I see them . . . their bright blue glistening majestic line up is like a holy grail - a row of port-o-johns! Things are looking up! I'm in, pee like a race horse, then out in a flash. Hardly even broke stride. A few blocks later, more good news: mile marker 4. So I've gone 6. Time check, 46:00, which is sub-8 min pace. Yikes, too fast. Yet good news in that I'm definitely going to make the starting gun. The next water stop is nearly fully set up. Now i'm getting closer. Still seeing runners at every subway entrance rushing to get onto trains. I invite a pair of guys "C'mon with me, only 3 miles to the start" Response: "the subway stops right here, come back...you can take the train."
The road begins to have some uphill blocks. Mile split 8:25. That feels better, and only 3 more to go. There seems to be less traffic now, but roads still look open. Cop on every corner now. I pass a guy drinking coffee in front of Starbucks (Temple campus?). About 5 mins later he catches up to me but instead of falling into stride together he moves steadily past me. Huh. No love for The 10 Mile Warm Up Club? I pick it up to stick with him, but on each uphill he puts more distance between us. We get to an intersection with the El tracks (?) above and police and directing traffic. No cars allowed to go north from here. Mile split 8:18. One more.
Now there are other runners walking & jogging toward start area. It's weird to see the transition from cars and very few peds to lots of walk/run and total absence of cars. No one notices me now. I'm blending into the scean. I pass other runners jogging...they don't know I've already done 9 miles. Some of the up hill blocks are now noticeably steep. Funny, never noticed that when running the opposite way! Irealize that I'm beginning to feel fatigue. I slow it way down, I'm going to make the start so I'll conserve energy. I can still see coffee guy up ahead, but he's almost a full block ahead. Then I lose him altogether. I move to the middle of the street. I actually feel pretty damn good.
i can see the starting line. The wheelchairs haven't begun yet. This final ascent seems steep. Yes, I am tired and burned a lot getting up here. Last mile split, 8:51. The elites are coming off the front to heat up their legs. Kenyans, real ones. I recognize the local speedsters. I see DavidJ - wave & hello. My friend TJ - "do we need to go around timing mats" i ask, but he says no. Asks if I ran the 10 warm up. "Yep" is about all i can manage. As I go past the start line into the throng I see that my bib doesn't match. I'm in the second corral. I move straight thru the middle and get to my own bib-color mates. I am out of water and can't fight thru entire 25,000 to find more. Start is less than 5 mins now. I move to the side where brick park is to be and see assorted water bottles on the ground in various stages of near empty/near full. I really really don't want to pick up a bottle off the ground and re-fill my Fuel Belt bottles, but they probably are safe, right? i see a dude with a almost full bottle stretching on the sidewalk. Dude - can I refill? No problem. I use about half what he has to fill both tanks half full (will carry 6 oz total on race,,,had 12 oz on the way up to start). He makes a good grab as a throw the the bottle back. Thnks, have a great race!
I wonder how sweaty tired I look? I see Theresa. She's about 10 rows behind hubby & I'm inbetween. She asks if I did the warm-up & I feel better calling back "Yep, just got here, made about 8:30 pace for the 10 mile warm up". It's go time. When I click the next split it says that my standing around was only 6:12 - man I barely made it on time.
Here's the splits for 11 thru 20 (the BSR 10 mile race):
1. 7:26
2. 7:17
3. 7:27
4. 7:40
5. 7:37
6. 8:24
7. 7:44
8. 7:56
9. 7:36
10.7:35
They had my chip time as 1:16:16 and I had my total running time as 2:42:50.
This post is long enough without a total report, I'll give you highlites: I wanted to go 8 pace. The first mile I was pulled along faster adn then figured why not hold pace as long as possible. Between mile 3 & 4 must be where the downhill becomes flat because that was the first slowdown.
Mile 6 includes a 45 second pee break becuse I had to go yet again. I must've hydrated exceptionally well this day! My buddy G passed me here - he was with his BOMF participants. Mile 7 & 8 were the slowest again this year. Somehow I always lose focus and feel so tired here. I remember looking up at windows of hotels/ apartments/ houses and each person I saw I would wave to. They all responded but several took a while to see me in the crowd. there wasn't enuf cowbells ringing! There was a guy giving high fives somewhere near mile 7 so I moved over to his side of street. I miscalc'd and slapped his hand really hard! I heard his friend/wife laughing as he was saying "that one hurt." Near the end I was really very tired. I heard my name being called out but I couldn't find the voice in the crowd. At the last second I saw Dr. Dan with a megaphone but I was already gone past and was sooo darn tired I couldn't respond or acknowledge at all.
The last mile: some people began passing me- they had gone out too slow. One was a beautiful redhead wearing red shorts & top. I think maybe the back said Hawks. I tried to stay with her but she was really moving. Several teen/20-something dudes with a lot left in the tank sprinting it in. I felt i could give it something more, and I tried. There was a girl just in front of me wearing green socks, 2-tone green layers top and she had a shamrock tat on shoulder blade. I'd been following her for a few mins. As I surged I paused at her side and said "c'mon Irish, let's kick in in together" but when i looked at her face I knew she was already max'd out. She didn't smile or say anything,,, and I never saw her again. Looking at the split it doesn't show it, but i was working hard that last mile.
Exhausted, soaked. I more or less went straight to my car and drove home. I was so completely exhausted that I almost felt like crying. Very strange. It happened a few times on the drive home. I drank gatorade thinking maybe something was very out of balance. Was I hallucinating? I almost cried but i don't know why. It felt like something about being tired(of course) and being alone in a crowd of 25,000 runners. Hopefully that doesn't happen at end of marathon. weird!?! It was a very lonely feeling...but not sure if it was real or maybe was induced by some type of physical chemical inbalance.
My son had a soccer game at noon which I was challenged to make it there on time. I did. But they lost the match. I know i was a bit grumpy standing in the rain watching us get beat. I tried to make the best of it and then went home for a nap.
My toes took a brutal beating on this 20 miler. But it was a good longRun. Basically 8:30 pace uphill 10 followed by 7:40 downhill again.
Overall the weather report: cool, rainy, no wind. This is the first run in my new shoes (glycerin7) where they got soaked, dirty. So they looked new for a long time, but ya knew it wasn't gonna last forever.
Cue dramatic NFL music: the day broke cold & grey & wet on the streets of Philadelphia. The runners -, 25,000 strong - huddled in masses, trampling front yards, peeing in parks, moving as if one to the intersection of Broad & Olney in North Philly. OK, enuf with that. But really the entire setting is epic, inspirational, and awesome.
The course description has been written about so many times, suffice it to say it's a net downhill point to point straight line 10 miles long with a slight curve around City Hall and a few slight rises in the first half. In a word: Fast.
I got up extra early, couldn't get back to sleep once awake, and did all the prep ritual correctly because I was out the door right on time @ 6a.m. There was already a huge traffic situation at the stadium off ramp. I don't ever go to the front and cut in, but this morning I did go about half way up and then got in...only because I knew that I was running 10 miles before the start and all the rest of these people were going to be on the subway up to the starting line. My goal was to start running before 7 a.m. to give a bit of a cushion in time. Race starts at 8:30.
The line of cars was moving soooo slowly. I needed to prep in the car. Ever strip from the waist up while in traffic to apply Superman band aids to nips and then get into your singlet? Done it. Went thru some motivational tunes: Chili Peppers, Offspring, Green Day. Got the sweat pants off whilst driving, loaded pockets with Gu and filled Fuel Belt bottles. Finally got parked in front of Spectrum and needed to go pee very badly from drinking water, Gatorade & diet Coke for the past hour. Time check, 6:59. That sux. In a flurry of activity I got my hat on (rain still lightly coming down) then belt on, tightened & tied laces, watch, pinned number (duh, almost forgot) and put chip on shoe, popped can of Red Bull and finally headed to the port-o-johns in south corner of parking lot - the opposite direction that I need to be running.
Business done, start running. Time check, 7:04. Crap, I've got to run quickly up to the start to make sure I make it there before the gun. I'm drinking a can of Red Bull as I pass small groups of runners moving toward the subway station. Mostly they give me looks like "why is he wearing on singlet with bib on it already?" and "why is he running...there's still over an hour to the start plus the subway ride?" At the far side of Pattison there's only a few runners standing around trying to stay dry by hugging the subway station building. They all look like they're waitign for a friend. They look at me with those same curious questioning eyes. I want to stop and explain to them, but I'm already late. I want to tell them that the main subway entry is one full block south, that it's mobbed with 100's (maybe 1,000 now?) of runners, and that their friends/co-workers/etc are all probably standing down there wondering where the hell are they? but I run on.
Dodging cars on Broad is my next fun activity. There's like inner lanes & outer lanes & merging going on here. I need to get to the other side to follow street northbound. Once over there I use sidewalk & street all the way up. For now I'm up & down trying to decide which is better/safer. I prefer blacktop over cement but there's too much traffic. I'm already soaked. And the streets are filled with alot of dirty trash. Bummer. Mile 1 fairly slow, I dropped the can into a community trash pile and begin the search for any definitive mile markers. This quest will not be satisfied for quite a long time. I pick up the pace with 9 miles left to go before the start.
The next few miles go by at a comfortable 8:15 pace (est). I say Hi to everyone I see. Yo South Philly. Some look at me like "WTF" but most don't seem to realize today is even race day. @ or 3 people call out "You doing the race today?" to which I answer "yeah, with a 10 mile warm up!" They seem to appreciate that by shaking their heads in a disbelief fashion. Ha, luv that. At the first few water stations there's no activity but the tables & boxes & water are all there waiting. That's kind of cool to see the progression of readiness as you run backwards up to the start. I'm thinking this could be an annual 20 miler for a group of runners. The 10 Mile Warm Up Club. With about 15 or 20 runners sporting matching t-shirts that would be cool.
I can find absolutely no pavement markings for the mile splits. I don't know where I am/how the time's doing. At the next several water stations I ask for the mile marker but no one has any clue what I'm talking about. Some of the vol's are nice and friendly (and cute), but others are grumpy & appear to be working off c.s. hrs by court order because they obviously don't want to be there. How am i doing on time? Don't know, pick up the pace.
As I approach downtown - which I know City Hall is the unofficial half way point - I realize I need to pee (again). Of course now there's many more people milling around on every block. At every subway stop there's small groups or individuals hurrying down the steps. Or waiting outside. Where's my training partner/friend/lover/co-worker? they are sipping coffee, some are talking on cell phones. I want to ask where's the nearest toilets but none seems to want to engage me in conversation. They see my bib, realize I'm running...not taking the subway, then they turn away! Interesting psychology experiment at work here. The rain is still litely falling. I'm soaked but notice that the cooling effect is wonderful. I really got to pee and the rain doesn't help that sensation. No body knows the mile markers. I begin to see cops during this section. One about every-other corner. Some say hi back to me, others give me a hard tough-guy look. Some are smoking cigs and texting on their cel's. There's supposed to be port-a-potties at certain mile markers...this I should've put to memory for the duel purpose.
Finally at City Hall. This is at least 5 miles done. I decide to short cut (bladder near bursting. gonna have to find a side street and do the public urination thing very soon) up sidewalk, across courtyard to the other side (saves about 100-150 yards). As I round the corner I see them . . . their bright blue glistening majestic line up is like a holy grail - a row of port-o-johns! Things are looking up! I'm in, pee like a race horse, then out in a flash. Hardly even broke stride. A few blocks later, more good news: mile marker 4. So I've gone 6. Time check, 46:00, which is sub-8 min pace. Yikes, too fast. Yet good news in that I'm definitely going to make the starting gun. The next water stop is nearly fully set up. Now i'm getting closer. Still seeing runners at every subway entrance rushing to get onto trains. I invite a pair of guys "C'mon with me, only 3 miles to the start" Response: "the subway stops right here, come back...you can take the train."
The road begins to have some uphill blocks. Mile split 8:25. That feels better, and only 3 more to go. There seems to be less traffic now, but roads still look open. Cop on every corner now. I pass a guy drinking coffee in front of Starbucks (Temple campus?). About 5 mins later he catches up to me but instead of falling into stride together he moves steadily past me. Huh. No love for The 10 Mile Warm Up Club? I pick it up to stick with him, but on each uphill he puts more distance between us. We get to an intersection with the El tracks (?) above and police and directing traffic. No cars allowed to go north from here. Mile split 8:18. One more.
Now there are other runners walking & jogging toward start area. It's weird to see the transition from cars and very few peds to lots of walk/run and total absence of cars. No one notices me now. I'm blending into the scean. I pass other runners jogging...they don't know I've already done 9 miles. Some of the up hill blocks are now noticeably steep. Funny, never noticed that when running the opposite way! Irealize that I'm beginning to feel fatigue. I slow it way down, I'm going to make the start so I'll conserve energy. I can still see coffee guy up ahead, but he's almost a full block ahead. Then I lose him altogether. I move to the middle of the street. I actually feel pretty damn good.
i can see the starting line. The wheelchairs haven't begun yet. This final ascent seems steep. Yes, I am tired and burned a lot getting up here. Last mile split, 8:51. The elites are coming off the front to heat up their legs. Kenyans, real ones. I recognize the local speedsters. I see DavidJ - wave & hello. My friend TJ - "do we need to go around timing mats" i ask, but he says no. Asks if I ran the 10 warm up. "Yep" is about all i can manage. As I go past the start line into the throng I see that my bib doesn't match. I'm in the second corral. I move straight thru the middle and get to my own bib-color mates. I am out of water and can't fight thru entire 25,000 to find more. Start is less than 5 mins now. I move to the side where brick park is to be and see assorted water bottles on the ground in various stages of near empty/near full. I really really don't want to pick up a bottle off the ground and re-fill my Fuel Belt bottles, but they probably are safe, right? i see a dude with a almost full bottle stretching on the sidewalk. Dude - can I refill? No problem. I use about half what he has to fill both tanks half full (will carry 6 oz total on race,,,had 12 oz on the way up to start). He makes a good grab as a throw the the bottle back. Thnks, have a great race!
I wonder how sweaty tired I look? I see Theresa. She's about 10 rows behind hubby & I'm inbetween. She asks if I did the warm-up & I feel better calling back "Yep, just got here, made about 8:30 pace for the 10 mile warm up". It's go time. When I click the next split it says that my standing around was only 6:12 - man I barely made it on time.
Here's the splits for 11 thru 20 (the BSR 10 mile race):
1. 7:26
2. 7:17
3. 7:27
4. 7:40
5. 7:37
6. 8:24
7. 7:44
8. 7:56
9. 7:36
10.7:35
They had my chip time as 1:16:16 and I had my total running time as 2:42:50.
This post is long enough without a total report, I'll give you highlites: I wanted to go 8 pace. The first mile I was pulled along faster adn then figured why not hold pace as long as possible. Between mile 3 & 4 must be where the downhill becomes flat because that was the first slowdown.
Mile 6 includes a 45 second pee break becuse I had to go yet again. I must've hydrated exceptionally well this day! My buddy G passed me here - he was with his BOMF participants. Mile 7 & 8 were the slowest again this year. Somehow I always lose focus and feel so tired here. I remember looking up at windows of hotels/ apartments/ houses and each person I saw I would wave to. They all responded but several took a while to see me in the crowd. there wasn't enuf cowbells ringing! There was a guy giving high fives somewhere near mile 7 so I moved over to his side of street. I miscalc'd and slapped his hand really hard! I heard his friend/wife laughing as he was saying "that one hurt." Near the end I was really very tired. I heard my name being called out but I couldn't find the voice in the crowd. At the last second I saw Dr. Dan with a megaphone but I was already gone past and was sooo darn tired I couldn't respond or acknowledge at all.
The last mile: some people began passing me- they had gone out too slow. One was a beautiful redhead wearing red shorts & top. I think maybe the back said Hawks. I tried to stay with her but she was really moving. Several teen/20-something dudes with a lot left in the tank sprinting it in. I felt i could give it something more, and I tried. There was a girl just in front of me wearing green socks, 2-tone green layers top and she had a shamrock tat on shoulder blade. I'd been following her for a few mins. As I surged I paused at her side and said "c'mon Irish, let's kick in in together" but when i looked at her face I knew she was already max'd out. She didn't smile or say anything,,, and I never saw her again. Looking at the split it doesn't show it, but i was working hard that last mile.
Exhausted, soaked. I more or less went straight to my car and drove home. I was so completely exhausted that I almost felt like crying. Very strange. It happened a few times on the drive home. I drank gatorade thinking maybe something was very out of balance. Was I hallucinating? I almost cried but i don't know why. It felt like something about being tired(of course) and being alone in a crowd of 25,000 runners. Hopefully that doesn't happen at end of marathon. weird!?! It was a very lonely feeling...but not sure if it was real or maybe was induced by some type of physical chemical inbalance.
My son had a soccer game at noon which I was challenged to make it there on time. I did. But they lost the match. I know i was a bit grumpy standing in the rain watching us get beat. I tried to make the best of it and then went home for a nap.
My toes took a brutal beating on this 20 miler. But it was a good longRun. Basically 8:30 pace uphill 10 followed by 7:40 downhill again.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Haddon 5k
No carpool up to this race, got there on time & without stress. Saw a few folks pre-race & did a warm up of about 1 mile. Did a Red Bull & Gu packet about 15 mins prior to start. Got back to start area a bit late, and Norm Green was nice enough to agreed to hold my hat during race...didn't want to just throw it away on the ground. Wore gloves, but temp wasn't feeling too cold by start time.
Started about 10 rows deep, which turned out to be about right. Went out fast, but under control and fell into my pace after initial 2 minute effort. A steady stream of runners passed me until about the 1 mile marker(passed @ 6:43) , from there on the field seemed to hold mostly steady. I eased up further on the uphill at the 1.75 - 2.0 mile marker (passed @ 6:56 / 13:39). A small group moved past me on this climb.
The "s-turn" by the school gave me a bit of renewed energy and I focused on staying with the folks just ahead of me. Back onto the long straight away toward the finish... I was feeling the tiredness set in and couldn't respond when a few more folks passed me. 3rd mile (6:49 / 20:28) just seems to last so long here since you can see for blocks ahead of you. Made a last ditch effort to pass a guy in the final 10 yards - he seemed surprised by the late surge! Haha.
Overall it's just about exactly what I predicted, 6:48 and 21:08 gun time. About 45 seconds slower than last year. 67.1 Wava score. Hung out, stayed late thru awards (club runners did really great). Here's a cut & paste from my club recap:
Our team had good participation at the Haddonfield, NJ Adrenaline 5k yesterday. The weather was perfect for racing - Temp 40 and clear blue sky. We had 11 runners compete in what I consider to be the fastest 5k in the Mid-Atlantic region. The race didn't disapoint - several club members took home age group awards, new PR's and/or cash winnings!
There was a buzz in the crowd that several national & world class athletes were running, including participants from last year's Olympic Marathon Trials and Beijing Olympics. The women's overall winner was Erin Donohue (http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/7/220547.shtml) who is a local athlete who represented the USA at the Beijing Olympics (Race: 1500 m) last year. Her time yesterday - 16:09 - is amazing. Plus no other women were near her so I'd assume she might go faster if she had wanted to.
The men's overall winner was a Thomas Slowsky - somebody must've dared him to run under that name or else it's a classicly ironic runner's name! Time 14:47, and there was a total of 8 runner's under 15 minutes. Yikes, how do they do that?
Started about 10 rows deep, which turned out to be about right. Went out fast, but under control and fell into my pace after initial 2 minute effort. A steady stream of runners passed me until about the 1 mile marker(passed @ 6:43) , from there on the field seemed to hold mostly steady. I eased up further on the uphill at the 1.75 - 2.0 mile marker (passed @ 6:56 / 13:39). A small group moved past me on this climb.
The "s-turn" by the school gave me a bit of renewed energy and I focused on staying with the folks just ahead of me. Back onto the long straight away toward the finish... I was feeling the tiredness set in and couldn't respond when a few more folks passed me. 3rd mile (6:49 / 20:28) just seems to last so long here since you can see for blocks ahead of you. Made a last ditch effort to pass a guy in the final 10 yards - he seemed surprised by the late surge! Haha.
Overall it's just about exactly what I predicted, 6:48 and 21:08 gun time. About 45 seconds slower than last year. 67.1 Wava score. Hung out, stayed late thru awards (club runners did really great). Here's a cut & paste from my club recap:
Our team had good participation at the Haddonfield, NJ Adrenaline 5k yesterday. The weather was perfect for racing - Temp 40 and clear blue sky. We had 11 runners compete in what I consider to be the fastest 5k in the Mid-Atlantic region. The race didn't disapoint - several club members took home age group awards, new PR's and/or cash winnings!
There was a buzz in the crowd that several national & world class athletes were running, including participants from last year's Olympic Marathon Trials and Beijing Olympics. The women's overall winner was Erin Donohue (http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/7/220547.shtml) who is a local athlete who represented the USA at the Beijing Olympics (Race: 1500 m) last year. Her time yesterday - 16:09 - is amazing. Plus no other women were near her so I'd assume she might go faster if she had wanted to.
The men's overall winner was a Thomas Slowsky - somebody must've dared him to run under that name or else it's a classicly ironic runner's name! Time 14:47, and there was a total of 8 runner's under 15 minutes. Yikes, how do they do that?
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Caesar Rodney Mug Shots
Here's a few shots of me on the morning of C.R. 1/2 marathon. Two are during the race, the other is while warming up before (although I'm pretty sure those other 3 runners were finishing the 5k event). The middle shot is at about 6 mile marker - I look focused. The last shot is at about mile 12.5 - you can see I'm looking tired. What you don't see is me contemplating just how in the hell am i going to get up that last big hill without walking? I didn't. Lost about a minute & 25 places on that final hill. UGH.
Caesar Rodney raceReport
This race is an example of what not to do on race morning. I'm sort-of disappointed with this race, but it's not too bad.
I know I'm smarter than this, but here's the list:
Woke up too early, could've used the rest/sleep.
Ate sugary snacks & caffeine too early, peaked before start, crashed during race. That's not good.
Went out too fast & didn't ease off the pace until too late into the race.
On the positive side, here's a few things that went well:
Finish time was within acceptable range (1:38:52 - I had expected to be in between 1:35 & 1:40; however, I wanted to be at 1:35, not 1:40-ish). This is my slowest ever on this course, and my slowest 1/2 since 1999.
I met a few new runners, and got to hang out & 'party' with a nice group of folks. Some I knew & some not. So that's always nice to be social.
I did 2 extra miles at the end and so completed my scheduled 15 miler as per plan.
I saw lots of people I knew before the race including Cheryl who was limping badly from a sprained ankle. She ran & finished -wow; gutsy! Maggie did the 5k - course has the same big hill at the end. Rudy, DeDave, Bruce, Norm, and the regular crew. I started right next to K.K. and had a chance to talk with her,,, nice to put a smile with the emails! Sara must've passed me in the final mile or two, but I didn't see her (she got a PR).
I did the first mile in 6:45 - way too fast even if it's downhill. I was still next to Kris (finished 1:31 and took herself an a.g. award). From there on it's a long list of the folks that said hello as they passed by me. David J (1:32), Christina Mc (1:33), Theresa (1:34:00 - my time from last year). This is in the order that they passed me on the course . . . DeDave (1:34), CJ Smarty (sub 1:30?) this was at the 3 mile marker. KelDrive @ 4 mm (1:33), Gene D (1:34). Then much later RayChris (1:36) at the 11 mm, then Sara b/w12 & 13 mm's (1:36:30PR).
My legs felt like meat & I was very exhausted the last few miles. I knew Rich & Rebel crew would be out at 12.5 mm - was sort of dreading having them see me this way. They gave me the business with "looking good" and "finish strong" but I'm sure they saw the pain on my face. Mags was at the next intersection and then Tom J at the base of the hill - I could hardly manage a smile for them as I chugged past. I wanted to walk on the flat leading to the final hill, but I kept moving. But then the hill itself had me beat before I got there. Mentally I was just so done. I went around the "S" turn before walking. Walked about 30-60 seconds. Seems like at least 25 (maybe 2x that #) passed me during this time. Reminded me of the first C.R. I did back in 2004. So many people passed me on the final hill that year...even though I was still 'running' albiet at my granny gear pace. I was in bad pain, my legs were rubbery lead boulders & wouldn't respond to any mental commands, but I forced myself to run again and finished totally in agony. Finish line picture shows my tongue hanging out! UGH.
Didn't realize it at the time but both #2 toes took a brutal beating and will probably be black & then fall off in the next month. Also my nips got absolutely raw, especially on the right side. Could be the new singlet (first time wearing). Also the weather is 35-40 degress with fog & lite rain/100% humidity. Recovered for a few mins, then jogged/walked the extra 2 to make it 15. Then over to after party at Jack & Kel's.
Splits:
1. 6:45 - downhill
2. 7:15 - 14:00 small uphill
3. 7:02 - 21:02 small down
4. 7:11 - 28:13
5. 7:18 - 35:31 small uphill
6. 7:13 - 42:44 small down
7. 7:47 - 50:31 uphill
8. 7:59 - 58:30 uphill
9. 7:35 - 1:06:05 up, then flat
10. 7:37 - 1:13:42
11. 7:42 - 1:21:24 downhill
12. 8:04 - 1:29:28 down, then flat
13. 8:32 - 1:37:00 flat, then big final hill, walking
.1 :55 - 1:38:55
Like I said, the final time isn't so bad. But it's more the way I got there. Lots of pain from going out way too fast. Miles 6, 7, & 8 look about right, but all the other miles were too fast until you get to 11. Look at that: downhill & 7:42. That's where I lost it. Ray passed me at the bottom of that downhill, and then went on to finish 2 mins. faster than me. I was crashing & he was finishing strong. Then looking at split for mile 12 - I had popped.
Now I have to focus on marathon goal & recovery from this wipe-out!
I know I'm smarter than this, but here's the list:
Woke up too early, could've used the rest/sleep.
Ate sugary snacks & caffeine too early, peaked before start, crashed during race. That's not good.
Went out too fast & didn't ease off the pace until too late into the race.
On the positive side, here's a few things that went well:
Finish time was within acceptable range (1:38:52 - I had expected to be in between 1:35 & 1:40; however, I wanted to be at 1:35, not 1:40-ish). This is my slowest ever on this course, and my slowest 1/2 since 1999.
I met a few new runners, and got to hang out & 'party' with a nice group of folks. Some I knew & some not. So that's always nice to be social.
I did 2 extra miles at the end and so completed my scheduled 15 miler as per plan.
I saw lots of people I knew before the race including Cheryl who was limping badly from a sprained ankle. She ran & finished -wow; gutsy! Maggie did the 5k - course has the same big hill at the end. Rudy, DeDave, Bruce, Norm, and the regular crew. I started right next to K.K. and had a chance to talk with her,,, nice to put a smile with the emails! Sara must've passed me in the final mile or two, but I didn't see her (she got a PR).
I did the first mile in 6:45 - way too fast even if it's downhill. I was still next to Kris (finished 1:31 and took herself an a.g. award). From there on it's a long list of the folks that said hello as they passed by me. David J (1:32), Christina Mc (1:33), Theresa (1:34:00 - my time from last year). This is in the order that they passed me on the course . . . DeDave (1:34), CJ Smarty (sub 1:30?) this was at the 3 mile marker. KelDrive @ 4 mm (1:33), Gene D (1:34). Then much later RayChris (1:36) at the 11 mm, then Sara b/w12 & 13 mm's (1:36:30PR).
My legs felt like meat & I was very exhausted the last few miles. I knew Rich & Rebel crew would be out at 12.5 mm - was sort of dreading having them see me this way. They gave me the business with "looking good" and "finish strong" but I'm sure they saw the pain on my face. Mags was at the next intersection and then Tom J at the base of the hill - I could hardly manage a smile for them as I chugged past. I wanted to walk on the flat leading to the final hill, but I kept moving. But then the hill itself had me beat before I got there. Mentally I was just so done. I went around the "S" turn before walking. Walked about 30-60 seconds. Seems like at least 25 (maybe 2x that #) passed me during this time. Reminded me of the first C.R. I did back in 2004. So many people passed me on the final hill that year...even though I was still 'running' albiet at my granny gear pace. I was in bad pain, my legs were rubbery lead boulders & wouldn't respond to any mental commands, but I forced myself to run again and finished totally in agony. Finish line picture shows my tongue hanging out! UGH.
Didn't realize it at the time but both #2 toes took a brutal beating and will probably be black & then fall off in the next month. Also my nips got absolutely raw, especially on the right side. Could be the new singlet (first time wearing). Also the weather is 35-40 degress with fog & lite rain/100% humidity. Recovered for a few mins, then jogged/walked the extra 2 to make it 15. Then over to after party at Jack & Kel's.
Splits:
1. 6:45 - downhill
2. 7:15 - 14:00 small uphill
3. 7:02 - 21:02 small down
4. 7:11 - 28:13
5. 7:18 - 35:31 small uphill
6. 7:13 - 42:44 small down
7. 7:47 - 50:31 uphill
8. 7:59 - 58:30 uphill
9. 7:35 - 1:06:05 up, then flat
10. 7:37 - 1:13:42
11. 7:42 - 1:21:24 downhill
12. 8:04 - 1:29:28 down, then flat
13. 8:32 - 1:37:00 flat, then big final hill, walking
.1 :55 - 1:38:55
Like I said, the final time isn't so bad. But it's more the way I got there. Lots of pain from going out way too fast. Miles 6, 7, & 8 look about right, but all the other miles were too fast until you get to 11. Look at that: downhill & 7:42. That's where I lost it. Ray passed me at the bottom of that downhill, and then went on to finish 2 mins. faster than me. I was crashing & he was finishing strong. Then looking at split for mile 12 - I had popped.
Now I have to focus on marathon goal & recovery from this wipe-out!
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