Well, I'm one month from my final race of the year... the California International Marathon (CIM). I dont know, I'm losing motivation... when I wake up in the morning, its dark. When I get off from work, even if its 5:30pm, its dark. Its cold outside too... but that's not too much of a problem. I took a mini break after the marathon after I got out of my funk from a poor performance. I did an additional 40 miles the week of my marathon (after it of course) to punish myself. But, I felt that my runs were a little labored even 2 weeks out. So I eased off big time. Now my legs are fresh, did a tempo run of 6.5 miles with no problem... the last 2 were sub-7 minute pace.
Realistically, I think I can get to Boston, but with a family and a job from hell, it becoming less of a reality. I'm just limited to the time I can dedicate. Dont ask me why, but I get the guilty feeling when i'm out running for too long. But, this night running is "interesting". I have the reflective vest and I run with a headlamp (so I dont trip on a pothole or something). I run on the city streets, and there are no streetlights where I'm at except the highway. There are some really dark stretches with just brush. We are known for having stray animals lurcking... and I'm not talking cats and dogs. Every couple years a loose panther (yes that's right) is reported... I've been face to face with a family of deer... ran into a cougar (no, not an old lady)... a couple of foxes... I guess that's why they call it FARMington Hills.
Well, I'm getting all my ducks in a row for this marathon... I'm making sure EVERYTHING is perfect before I hit that plane:
- 5 Gu's
- compression shorts AND tights
- gloves
- 2 pair of socks
- running shorts
- compression short and long sleeve
- running shirt
- Garmin
- Ipod... and make sure its charged
- Running shoes
- Running cap
- Wristband to hide Gu
- Paceband
- Bodyglide... can NOT forget that
Ok, now things to remember leading up to and during the race:
- Hit up Olive Garden for the All-U-Can-Eat Pasta on Friday
- Force feed myself from Wednesday on up... (dont worry about getting fat)
- Make sure the idiots at work dont stress me so I lose sleep
- Do NOT run on Friday or Saturday, regardless of ANYTHING
- Wake up 3-4 hours before start and eat at least 800 calories
- Drink water like it aint no tomorrow
- Down a Gatorade 1 hour before race
- Find a nice bush 10 minutes before start to empty bladder, LOL
- Start off slower than goal marathon pace by like 20-30 seconds
- Attain GMP by mile 3 or 4
- Keep Pace Group for 3:15 in sight at ALL TIMES!!
- RELAX RELAX RELAX
- Body check every 3 miles
- Gu at mile 6, 11, 15, 18, 20, 22 regardless to how I feel
- Drink 2 cups at aid stations if possible (and dont spill on glove)
- Keep that head up, the ground aint going nowhere
- No "scissors" running form, bend at ankles not waist
- Land on midfoot, not heel or forefoot (like a marcher does)
- Relaxed breathing 2-2
- Cruise up hills, dont waste energy
Now I know I'm forgetting something... but this is just a start. This marathoning thing is just too complicated. Too much to think about. So you say "Well why do u do it". My kneejerk response is "Because I want to", but really its to prove to myself that I have the ability to do what I thought I could never do and for fitness' sake. I aint gettin no younger and its harder to keep weight off. If I do qualify for Boston, then MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. Then I'll decide if I want to do an ultra, an Iron Man (in far future), or the coveted 50 marathons in 50 different states over a 10 year span. So much to think about, but until then, I run on...
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Back to the Drawing Board!!
Well, this past Sunday was my marathon... yeah I was supposed to use this as a "tuneup" marathon, but I hate the fact that I still got work to do to get to Boston... I wanted THIS marathon to be the one! I still have one in 7 weeks called the California International Marathon in Sacramento. Its supposed to be a kinda fast course. I'll be the judge of that. I have been overly confident these past couple of months, I was getting personal bests at every race I did... even the dreaded Brooksie Way Half Marathon (I crushed my last year time by 5 minutes). I slacked off BIG TIME the last 6 weeks or so, I must admit. I felt good... I think I may have peaked a little too early for my marathon.
This was the Grand Rapids Marathon. It was supposed to be flat and fast. The first half of this marathon was all but flat! The second half was very flat but seemed a net uphill. I did everything wrong leading up to it for the last 3 days. Didnt "carb load", and I felt kinda sluggish. I tried a 3 miler really slow the day before, because I was not "feeling it". Still no good. Race day, still not "feeling it". I had a small portion of Chinese Food the day before. The morning I had 2 fake french toasts from the hotel and some coffee. I wasn't hungry at all. Really didnt drink much either. But I was thirsty at the start and they started the race 10 minutes early, so I couldnt get to a faucet. But it was very cold, so it didnt bother me too much... 35 degrees at 8am.
The start was 10 minutes early, so I couldnt get to my pace group. I started off at a 8minute per mile pace for .75 mile. It seemed like i was kinda working, not hard, but definitely working to keep pace. The miles were not "easy" like my previous few races. I had 5 Gu's stashed in my sleeve under my wristband and pocket. At the first water station, I spilled water on my hand and it soaked my glove... needless to say I was miserable for over 2 hours due to not being able to feel my hands. This made it very difficult to get to my Gu (more on that later). Mile 4 or 5 was a very large hill and the recovery was quick. A lot of rollers. Didnt even see the Gu station at mile 8, and I was looking for it. Get to mile 10 in 1:14:xx kinda where I wanted to be, but it was not "easy". I get to the half at 1:37:xx PERFECT SPLIT.
Oh, I did take a Gu at mile 8. So mile 15 I start to struggle a bit, my pace was dropping dramatically. I started getting nervous "Why am I slowing down"!! I tried everything to pick it back up... nogo!! So we hit our "turnaround" at mile 18, and I'm like at a 7:44 / mile pace. At that time, I knew qualifying for Boston was out! So I adjusted my finish to 3:20:xx... then low and behold I had an idea... why dont I try and take a Gu now. It was stashed in my right wrist and my left hand was still totally numb. So I had to use my teeth to pull my sleeve back and get the Gu from under the wristband and open with my teeth using only my right hand! I was kinda scared that I had gotten frostbitten. So I get to mile 20 and it was a wrap then!! I hadnt felt so bad in my entire life!! I was there around 2:34:xx... depression set in. It was actually PAINFUL to run. I was really bonked by then... I slowed down to a 8:15 - 8:30 per mile pace. But I still could make 3:25:xx... It just got too painful, so I did this technique called Gallowalking...
Ran mile 20-22, then walked for like half mile, then ran again to mile 24, walked half mile, then waddled the rest of the way!! Just seeing the finish was anguish!! I wanted to DNF soooooo bad!! Now I saw the 3:29:xx pace group pass me on the 25th mile, so I was like, I know good and well I aint gonna not break 3:30:xx... I tried and tried... nothing left. At like 200 meters to go, I usually try to sprint in, not happening!! Some guy from the crowd got all in my face and was screaming "PICK IT UP, YOU CAN BREAK 3:30!!!" It didnt work, I still waddled on!
So I cross the mat, and the Race Director (Don Kern) was there and congratulated me! That was cool, b/c I was sooooo not feelin like being bothered, but he was the big fish of the race acknowleging me. So I down like 5 cups of gatorade and water, eat 2 hotdogs and chili and innumerable number of orange wedges at the finish!! My final time was.... 3:30:01... can u believe it??? 1 second?? Serves me right!! BTW... around mile 18, I started getting those fantom hunger pains. Well I probably WAS hungry based on my breakfast and it was like 10:30 now. Although I didnt fuel up like I was supposed to, the one thing I made sure was that I got 2 drinks at the aid stations! LOL.
Lessons learned...
1) U cant run a marathon on 2 Gu's
2) Carb load!!!!
3) Eat a good breakfast and hydrate before the race
4) Any given Sunday can be your worst!!
5) Dont ever walk again... I dont care what the pain is!
6) The marathon is not 2 half marathons!
7) If you start to fade early again, guess what... it could be that you didnt Gu up!!
8) Run faster
9) Run more mileage!!
10) Pain is temporary
11) Being undernourished for a marathon WILL cause you to fade, regardless of your fitness or confidence
12) Read 1-11
My Garmin was off a lil bit, but here were its splits:
7:24 / 7:22 / 7:24 / 7:17 / 7:21
7:27 / 7:30 / 7:24 / 7:30 / 7:10
7:26 / 7:32 / 7:42 / 7:46 / 7:48 (here comes the fade... mile 15)
8:03 / 8:00 / 8:05 / 8:15 / 8:28 (the mile 20 monkey)
8:33 / 8:29 / 8:37 / 9:01 / 8:56 (this Gallowalking is FUN *not*)
8:59 / last .2 miles unaccounted for due to Garmin screwup.
So now its back the to drawing board... I'm doing all long runs for here on out minimum 14 miles each and 20 every Saturday until CIM. I need the endurance!! Well I'll stop the higher mileage 2 weeks before ther Dec 7th race, so until then, I run on...
This was the Grand Rapids Marathon. It was supposed to be flat and fast. The first half of this marathon was all but flat! The second half was very flat but seemed a net uphill. I did everything wrong leading up to it for the last 3 days. Didnt "carb load", and I felt kinda sluggish. I tried a 3 miler really slow the day before, because I was not "feeling it". Still no good. Race day, still not "feeling it". I had a small portion of Chinese Food the day before. The morning I had 2 fake french toasts from the hotel and some coffee. I wasn't hungry at all. Really didnt drink much either. But I was thirsty at the start and they started the race 10 minutes early, so I couldnt get to a faucet. But it was very cold, so it didnt bother me too much... 35 degrees at 8am.
The start was 10 minutes early, so I couldnt get to my pace group. I started off at a 8minute per mile pace for .75 mile. It seemed like i was kinda working, not hard, but definitely working to keep pace. The miles were not "easy" like my previous few races. I had 5 Gu's stashed in my sleeve under my wristband and pocket. At the first water station, I spilled water on my hand and it soaked my glove... needless to say I was miserable for over 2 hours due to not being able to feel my hands. This made it very difficult to get to my Gu (more on that later). Mile 4 or 5 was a very large hill and the recovery was quick. A lot of rollers. Didnt even see the Gu station at mile 8, and I was looking for it. Get to mile 10 in 1:14:xx kinda where I wanted to be, but it was not "easy". I get to the half at 1:37:xx PERFECT SPLIT.
Oh, I did take a Gu at mile 8. So mile 15 I start to struggle a bit, my pace was dropping dramatically. I started getting nervous "Why am I slowing down"!! I tried everything to pick it back up... nogo!! So we hit our "turnaround" at mile 18, and I'm like at a 7:44 / mile pace. At that time, I knew qualifying for Boston was out! So I adjusted my finish to 3:20:xx... then low and behold I had an idea... why dont I try and take a Gu now. It was stashed in my right wrist and my left hand was still totally numb. So I had to use my teeth to pull my sleeve back and get the Gu from under the wristband and open with my teeth using only my right hand! I was kinda scared that I had gotten frostbitten. So I get to mile 20 and it was a wrap then!! I hadnt felt so bad in my entire life!! I was there around 2:34:xx... depression set in. It was actually PAINFUL to run. I was really bonked by then... I slowed down to a 8:15 - 8:30 per mile pace. But I still could make 3:25:xx... It just got too painful, so I did this technique called Gallowalking...
Ran mile 20-22, then walked for like half mile, then ran again to mile 24, walked half mile, then waddled the rest of the way!! Just seeing the finish was anguish!! I wanted to DNF soooooo bad!! Now I saw the 3:29:xx pace group pass me on the 25th mile, so I was like, I know good and well I aint gonna not break 3:30:xx... I tried and tried... nothing left. At like 200 meters to go, I usually try to sprint in, not happening!! Some guy from the crowd got all in my face and was screaming "PICK IT UP, YOU CAN BREAK 3:30!!!" It didnt work, I still waddled on!
So I cross the mat, and the Race Director (Don Kern) was there and congratulated me! That was cool, b/c I was sooooo not feelin like being bothered, but he was the big fish of the race acknowleging me. So I down like 5 cups of gatorade and water, eat 2 hotdogs and chili and innumerable number of orange wedges at the finish!! My final time was.... 3:30:01... can u believe it??? 1 second?? Serves me right!! BTW... around mile 18, I started getting those fantom hunger pains. Well I probably WAS hungry based on my breakfast and it was like 10:30 now. Although I didnt fuel up like I was supposed to, the one thing I made sure was that I got 2 drinks at the aid stations! LOL.
Lessons learned...
1) U cant run a marathon on 2 Gu's
2) Carb load!!!!
3) Eat a good breakfast and hydrate before the race
4) Any given Sunday can be your worst!!
5) Dont ever walk again... I dont care what the pain is!
6) The marathon is not 2 half marathons!
7) If you start to fade early again, guess what... it could be that you didnt Gu up!!
8) Run faster
9) Run more mileage!!
10) Pain is temporary
11) Being undernourished for a marathon WILL cause you to fade, regardless of your fitness or confidence
12) Read 1-11
My Garmin was off a lil bit, but here were its splits:
7:24 / 7:22 / 7:24 / 7:17 / 7:21
7:27 / 7:30 / 7:24 / 7:30 / 7:10
7:26 / 7:32 / 7:42 / 7:46 / 7:48 (here comes the fade... mile 15)
8:03 / 8:00 / 8:05 / 8:15 / 8:28 (the mile 20 monkey)
8:33 / 8:29 / 8:37 / 9:01 / 8:56 (this Gallowalking is FUN *not*)
8:59 / last .2 miles unaccounted for due to Garmin screwup.
So now its back the to drawing board... I'm doing all long runs for here on out minimum 14 miles each and 20 every Saturday until CIM. I need the endurance!! Well I'll stop the higher mileage 2 weeks before ther Dec 7th race, so until then, I run on...
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
My Brian Sell Interview...
So in one of my previous blogs I talked about my brief "interview" with Brian Sell... He talked about how he felt "old" and that NYC was going to be his last marathon... he wanted to go to dental school... bla bla bla!! My response to him was "Yeah, we heard it all before...". Well I guess it is official, he is calling it a career after he runs NYC.
I never knew this guy... I was always a Ryan Hall follower, because he was the best American marathoner as of recent, and a Dathan Ritz follower because he was a local HS sensation with untapped natural talent. In an interview some years ago, I read Brian being asked something to the extent of "What do you say about people commenting on your 5k performance..." and he replied "If I cared what a 18 minute 5k'er thought, I would ask my wife!" I was like u cocky (fill in the blank). Well, I know now he was just kidding. Having talked to him personally for an extended period of time, I know he is a very humble person and hardworking. To make the Olympic Team without all the glitz and glamor and equipment as the Oregon and Boulder boys, says volumes on his work ethic!!
Being that he could not break 10 minutes in the 2 miler in HS and being an Olympian in the marathon is quite an accomplishment. Heck, I ran 11 minute 2 milers... just behind him (sorta). He has always been the "bullnose" type of runner... the bluecollar type. Not the "finess" type, and it worked for him. An extensive recent interview link is below... no its not me interviewing him...
BRIAN SELL INTERVIEW
Oh yeah, we both ran the Brooksie Half this past Sunday... he beat me by a hair!!! A longggg strand of hair. So I got my work cut out... and I run on...
I never knew this guy... I was always a Ryan Hall follower, because he was the best American marathoner as of recent, and a Dathan Ritz follower because he was a local HS sensation with untapped natural talent. In an interview some years ago, I read Brian being asked something to the extent of "What do you say about people commenting on your 5k performance..." and he replied "If I cared what a 18 minute 5k'er thought, I would ask my wife!" I was like u cocky (fill in the blank). Well, I know now he was just kidding. Having talked to him personally for an extended period of time, I know he is a very humble person and hardworking. To make the Olympic Team without all the glitz and glamor and equipment as the Oregon and Boulder boys, says volumes on his work ethic!!
Being that he could not break 10 minutes in the 2 miler in HS and being an Olympian in the marathon is quite an accomplishment. Heck, I ran 11 minute 2 milers... just behind him (sorta). He has always been the "bullnose" type of runner... the bluecollar type. Not the "finess" type, and it worked for him. An extensive recent interview link is below... no its not me interviewing him...
BRIAN SELL INTERVIEW
Oh yeah, we both ran the Brooksie Half this past Sunday... he beat me by a hair!!! A longggg strand of hair. So I got my work cut out... and I run on...
Monday, October 5, 2009
Da Monkey Is Off My Back!!
Well... I had my half marathon yesterday!! If you are a frequent and dedicated follower of my blog, you would know that it was the Brooksie Way Half Marathon. I ran it last year for its inaugaral event, and it was the toughest half I ever ran. Today... I still say it was the toughest half I have ever run!!! It has 5 miles straight of just uphill... race director said that was done on purpose to keep in the mode of challenging courses like the CRIM 10 Miler. I hate running these hilly courses, but it does make me stronger. But that 30k I did on Labor Day STILL TO THIS DAY has me all in a flux!!! I STILL say I'm never running that one again!!
I was a little nervous because I was unable to get my race packet the day before at the expo, but it was smooth sailing getting it in the morning. Got there at 7am... it was like 50 degrees... PERFECT!! This year we didnt have the episode of the deer rambling through the crowd and hurdling cars like last year near the start, LOL. I decided to run with my Ipod, because there was NO entertainment on the sidelines to pump me up!! I started with the 7 minute per mile group... it went all the way to 16 mpm pace groups (in my opinion, that is WALKING!!!). I peeked at the front line to see if anybody I knew... lo and behold I see a man with a stark resemblance of our USA Olympic Marathon runner Brian Sell... well u guess it... it was him. So now I thought "OK, who's going to get second place" lol.
The gun goes off... half a mile in I'm at 6:30 pace... caught up in the excitement, so I slow down. 7 minute pace felt perfect. I kept this pace for the first 4 miles or so. I ran along side this guy from my CRIM race... yeah, the CRAZY LOOKING guy from my pic in the blog 2 down from here. He went down with a hammy and I never saw him again, LOL. We ran along a trail, and they were serving water... uh, no thanks!! Dust and leaves flying all over the place... not my cup of joe (as the old saying goes). Anyways... I get to mile 5 and I do notice that its getting a little bit tougher to keep pace. So I thought to myself "The pace will suffer going uphill, just keep the effort even". My long legs didnt help me one bit, but I pushed up the hills and thought "Rest at the crescent" (aka top of hill). My legs were BURNING!!
I get to mile 10 where I made my last 5k dash last year, but didnt have the strength this time. Looking back, my times were similar for the last 5k, but my effort this time was a lot less. Passed people left and right (I love when that happens). The crowd gets denser, and there are a lot of kids cheering us on. I think I hi-5'd about 30 kids on the sideline during the run. Now I pass mile 12 which was an uphill battle too, and things looked different. THEY CHANGED THE FINISH!!! I knew exactly where I was going to kick from last year. I somehow always slow down when I dont know where the finish is. So I thought "Just run the mile you are in... dont worry about the finish". I did a lot of thinking this race, LOL. So 0.25 mile from finish I see the end and its downhill to the finish... then outta nowhere, a guy zips past me to the finish. I was like "whatever... my chip time is better", then my pride kicked in after he got like 10 meters ahead of me and I sprinted like I aint never sprinted b4 in my adult life!! LOL. I walked that bamma down and it was a foto-finish! He may have outleaned me, but I won... look at the times, dead heat until the fat lady sung!!
Of course Brian Sell wo n. I could have caught him if the course wasn't so congested and I didnt start that far behind... I'll get him next time!! But I was happy with my performance, near flawless from my standards except I could have still run faster when no on hills. I felt GREAT at the finish, recovered in like only 2 minutes. Oh, I did almost 4get to stop my Garmin. I looked at it.. 1:36:xx. A new PR!!!!!!!!!! And on this hellova course!! Just think what I could have done on a "normal" course. So now the monkey is off my back. I hadnt PR'd since I jumped out of bed and ran my first ever Half Marathon 2 years ago, after never running farther than 6 miles EVER and not training (granted that was a flatter than pancake course) in Grand Rapids. So I decided to make my Boston Qualifier attempt here too... more on THAT in another blog where I'll be whining!!
So now I'm ecstatic. I'm getting on par now for that 3:15:00... if I can run this time twice all in one race, LOL!! 2009 has been a great year, being that I actually trained somewhat this year. Looking forward to my marathons. This half was actually not bad in the sense that it didnt seem like a long race. I'm liking running again... My pops asked me "Aint u tired of all dat running??" I gave him that "You're stupid and I'm smarter than you" look, LOL. Now its taper mode... Oct 18 cant come fast enough!!
MY SPLITS:
http://connect.garmin.com/splits/15445556
So now I'm on a mission to drop that old 10k time of mine, and I run on...
I was a little nervous because I was unable to get my race packet the day before at the expo, but it was smooth sailing getting it in the morning. Got there at 7am... it was like 50 degrees... PERFECT!! This year we didnt have the episode of the deer rambling through the crowd and hurdling cars like last year near the start, LOL. I decided to run with my Ipod, because there was NO entertainment on the sidelines to pump me up!! I started with the 7 minute per mile group... it went all the way to 16 mpm pace groups (in my opinion, that is WALKING!!!). I peeked at the front line to see if anybody I knew... lo and behold I see a man with a stark resemblance of our USA Olympic Marathon runner Brian Sell... well u guess it... it was him. So now I thought "OK, who's going to get second place" lol.
The gun goes off... half a mile in I'm at 6:30 pace... caught up in the excitement, so I slow down. 7 minute pace felt perfect. I kept this pace for the first 4 miles or so. I ran along side this guy from my CRIM race... yeah, the CRAZY LOOKING guy from my pic in the blog 2 down from here. He went down with a hammy and I never saw him again, LOL. We ran along a trail, and they were serving water... uh, no thanks!! Dust and leaves flying all over the place... not my cup of joe (as the old saying goes). Anyways... I get to mile 5 and I do notice that its getting a little bit tougher to keep pace. So I thought to myself "The pace will suffer going uphill, just keep the effort even". My long legs didnt help me one bit, but I pushed up the hills and thought "Rest at the crescent" (aka top of hill). My legs were BURNING!!
I get to mile 10 where I made my last 5k dash last year, but didnt have the strength this time. Looking back, my times were similar for the last 5k, but my effort this time was a lot less. Passed people left and right (I love when that happens). The crowd gets denser, and there are a lot of kids cheering us on. I think I hi-5'd about 30 kids on the sideline during the run. Now I pass mile 12 which was an uphill battle too, and things looked different. THEY CHANGED THE FINISH!!! I knew exactly where I was going to kick from last year. I somehow always slow down when I dont know where the finish is. So I thought "Just run the mile you are in... dont worry about the finish". I did a lot of thinking this race, LOL. So 0.25 mile from finish I see the end and its downhill to the finish... then outta nowhere, a guy zips past me to the finish. I was like "whatever... my chip time is better", then my pride kicked in after he got like 10 meters ahead of me and I sprinted like I aint never sprinted b4 in my adult life!! LOL. I walked that bamma down and it was a foto-finish! He may have outleaned me, but I won... look at the times, dead heat until the fat lady sung!!
Preston Thomas #1979
Farmington Hills, MIAge: 35 Gender: M| Distance | HALF MAR |
| Clock Time | 1:36:44 |
| Chip Time | 1:36:39 |
| Overall Place | 138 / 2463 |
| Gender Place | 125 / 1201 |
| Division Place | 24 / 188 |
| Split | 48:51 |
| Divtotal | 188 |
| Sextotal | 1175 |
| Pace | 7:23 |
Dan Turnas #117
Rochester Hills, MIAge: 32 Gender: M| Distance | HALF MAR |
| Clock Time | 1:36:44 |
| Chip Time | 1:36:39 |
| Overall Place | 139 / 2463 |
| Gender Place | 126 / 1201 |
| Division Place | 19 / 145 |
| Split | 49:49 |
| Divtotal | 145 |
| Sextotal | 1175 |
| Pace | 7:23 |
So now I'm ecstatic. I'm getting on par now for that 3:15:00... if I can run this time twice all in one race, LOL!! 2009 has been a great year, being that I actually trained somewhat this year. Looking forward to my marathons. This half was actually not bad in the sense that it didnt seem like a long race. I'm liking running again... My pops asked me "Aint u tired of all dat running??" I gave him that "You're stupid and I'm smarter than you" look, LOL. Now its taper mode... Oct 18 cant come fast enough!!
MY SPLITS:
http://connect.garmin.com/splits/15445556
So now I'm on a mission to drop that old 10k time of mine, and I run on...
Sunday, September 27, 2009
A Blistering 20 Mile Run!
Ok, so its almost tapering mode for my marathon. I FINALLY got in a full 20 miler today. This was only my 3rd ever 20 miler! I haven't been running as much as I should these past few weeks, and nothing since Tuesday of this week. So I did an easy 6.5 miler yesterday just to keep me loose for today. I tried on my new shoes the Brooks Ravenna... nice shoes, kinda high off of the ground though. It has a "different" feel to it than my other shoes. I got a nice small blister on my second toe after the run... nothing major. The shoes feel a little heavy for some reason. They are lighter than my Adrenalines, but they feel heavier. Or maybe it was just me adjusting to the different feel.
So I have this 20 miler set up today. Of course I had to try my new shoes on the long run. I felt sooooo weird running, like I was clumsy or something. But my true purpose was to not only get in 20 miles so my marathon will feel "familiar", but I wanted to mix in a quality session too. So I set out to do 5 easy, then 5 at marathon pace, then 5 easy, then 5 at marathon pace =20 (in case u couldn't add). I got there a little late... it was a group run sponsored by one of the local running stores... because they closed off the entrance that I'm used to entering to the park. All in all, it was a good run. I tried a new technique to carry my Gu... I had a wristband and stuck the Gu under it... worked like a charm. So everything went according to planned today, with my splits being:
8:12 / 8:09 / 8:11 / 8:26 / 8:29 EASY PACE
7:40 / 7:38 / 7:36 / 7:27 / 7:17 MARATHON(ish) PACE
8:05 / 8:09 / 8:10 / 8:11 / 8:21 EASY PACE
7:26 / 7:27 / 7:40 MARATHON(ish) PACE
8:59 / 8:44 COOLDOWN
As you see, I didnt totally stick to my original plan, but I decided I needed a cooldown. So I'm on a new confidence again.. all this on the heels of my 15k (another hilly race) from last weekend. Oh, did I forget to give a race report?? Sure did!! It was a nice cool morning, perfect for running. Before they even shot the gun, we was running uphill!! 10 minutes before the gun, I notice that I FORGOT MY GARMIN AND IPOD!!! So now I had to totally run on feel!! By mile 2, I ask a guy "What time u got?" He said "Almost 14 minutes!" I was like "OH (fill in the blank)"!!! Took off too fast. Mile 4-5 was very tough for some reason. Nothing spectacular about this race, except for joggers on the course not moving outta my way!! There was a lady I recognized that beat me by 1 minute in a 10k in the past... I got sight of her around mile 6. I inched and inched towards her, but I ran out of gas around mile 8.5 as we went up another hill. I tried to sprint it in at the end and could have caught her but there was nothing left for me!! She got me by a few seconds.
I sure hated that I couldnt get hyped up with my ipod, nor could I tell how fast (or slow) I was going without my Garmin. But it taught me to trust my body, not my external guides. I trot in at a somewhat respectable 1:07:51 for the 15k. Lo and behold, I get 3rd in my division. The pace was faster than my 10 mile race last month by 5 seconds. And one last thing... wondering why this was a blistering 20 mile run?? I got a huge blister on my toe right now after the run... I irritated it more during the run. Now the question, should I bust it or leave it be?? Not being a wuss about it, but until next time, I run on...
So I have this 20 miler set up today. Of course I had to try my new shoes on the long run. I felt sooooo weird running, like I was clumsy or something. But my true purpose was to not only get in 20 miles so my marathon will feel "familiar", but I wanted to mix in a quality session too. So I set out to do 5 easy, then 5 at marathon pace, then 5 easy, then 5 at marathon pace =20 (in case u couldn't add). I got there a little late... it was a group run sponsored by one of the local running stores... because they closed off the entrance that I'm used to entering to the park. All in all, it was a good run. I tried a new technique to carry my Gu... I had a wristband and stuck the Gu under it... worked like a charm. So everything went according to planned today, with my splits being:
8:12 / 8:09 / 8:11 / 8:26 / 8:29 EASY PACE
7:40 / 7:38 / 7:36 / 7:27 / 7:17 MARATHON(ish) PACE
8:05 / 8:09 / 8:10 / 8:11 / 8:21 EASY PACE
7:26 / 7:27 / 7:40 MARATHON(ish) PACE
8:59 / 8:44 COOLDOWN
As you see, I didnt totally stick to my original plan, but I decided I needed a cooldown. So I'm on a new confidence again.. all this on the heels of my 15k (another hilly race) from last weekend. Oh, did I forget to give a race report?? Sure did!! It was a nice cool morning, perfect for running. Before they even shot the gun, we was running uphill!! 10 minutes before the gun, I notice that I FORGOT MY GARMIN AND IPOD!!! So now I had to totally run on feel!! By mile 2, I ask a guy "What time u got?" He said "Almost 14 minutes!" I was like "OH (fill in the blank)"!!! Took off too fast. Mile 4-5 was very tough for some reason. Nothing spectacular about this race, except for joggers on the course not moving outta my way!! There was a lady I recognized that beat me by 1 minute in a 10k in the past... I got sight of her around mile 6. I inched and inched towards her, but I ran out of gas around mile 8.5 as we went up another hill. I tried to sprint it in at the end and could have caught her but there was nothing left for me!! She got me by a few seconds.
I sure hated that I couldnt get hyped up with my ipod, nor could I tell how fast (or slow) I was going without my Garmin. But it taught me to trust my body, not my external guides. I trot in at a somewhat respectable 1:07:51 for the 15k. Lo and behold, I get 3rd in my division. The pace was faster than my 10 mile race last month by 5 seconds. And one last thing... wondering why this was a blistering 20 mile run?? I got a huge blister on my toe right now after the run... I irritated it more during the run. Now the question, should I bust it or leave it be?? Not being a wuss about it, but until next time, I run on...
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Quitting Not An Option!
So I had my hilly 30k... the report is in my previous blog. I must have done some real damage, because my runs have been tough since then. I am struggling to keep my pace. I guess I need more recovery time. Nope, this aint a "Im ready to quit" blog... I'm smarter now with this long distance stuff to know that this is temporary... rest rest rest!! Hit up the track yesterday and did some intervals after a 2 mile warmup... 1200 meters at 5minutes each with 2 minute rest. Only did 4 of them, because I knew I was going to run long the next day (today). Did a 2 mile cooldown. I felt like I was working. I loosened up on my 2nd interval... but it was still "weird".
So today I go on a long run with the Hanson's group. Was supposed to go 16 miles. I had every intention of going slow at 8:30 pace, but got caught up in the moment!! BRIAN SELL was out there clicking off low 5 minute miles... so that got my adrenaline running and I was out wayyy too fast for a easy run!! I was at 7:30/mile pace for the first 5 miles until I realized I was a minute per mile too fast... I started to feel it. So I left the group I was running with and slowed it down, then a guy caught me and chatted with me for the next 3 miles at a 7:45 -8:00 pace. So there goes my easy run... LOL. At 8 miles, I stopped for a drink(s) and just decided to do a 2 mile cooldown... I was done!! Now THIS was done at my goal 8:30/mile pace!! (I'm sooooo stupid).
I stop into the running shop to try on some shoes to run my marathon in... it was between the Brooks ST Racer and the Brooks Ravenna. I loved the fit of the Racer plus it had lots of stability... but the cushioning had me a little worried... even though its advertised for the marathon. The Ravenna had perfect cushioning and stability, but was a tad bit on the heavy side. I think I'm sold on the Ravenna, because I have the Saucony Fastwitch as a racer and have run up to 25k in them. Plus, I am not a little guy when it comes to marathons... I'm down to almost 185lb now, but thats still BIG for a marathoner.
So while I'm trying on the shoes, this little guy with a huge head and beard comes up to me and starts chatting with me. Its BRIAN SELL. We talked about his debacle at Boston this year, how he's going to run NYC this year as his retirement race. I told him "You know how many times we have heard that from you, yet u still run more marathons..." We talked about Clint Verran and how I ran against him in High School and got "schooled" in XC... and how Clint stood up in his wedding. He half jokingly said that Clint must have been on performance enhancers back then... being from hickville Lake Orion!! LOL. He just had hip surgery, so has been out of the circuit for a while. I could tell that he was Brian's buddy! He talked about the struggles as of recent after turning 30, and was like "I wonder how bad it will be at 40". I told him, "WHATEVER!!!! You'll be setting all kinds of 'masters' records at that age!" I told him that he still did respectable at the Olympics in Beijing... the weather was not the best and the nasty air u had to breath was horrid!! And being the 22nd fastest man on the planet at the marathon is not too shabby!! He really seemed like a cool katt. Not snobby like some people get when they achieve status. He even offered me 20% off my shoe purchase and 30% off anything else. WOW!!
I didnt try to get any free training advice... I'm sticking (sorta) to my plan I have mapped out. I'm REALLY starting to doubt my Boston Qualifying time. I have hit a low point in my training... I was gung-ho the first part, but have been barely running the past few weeks. This run I should have expected to not be great being less than 24hr ago I did speedwork. I was just testing that "residual fatigue" thing that the Hanson's promote... and boy did it make me wanna quit, not to mention I went out too fast. But quitting is not an option... I will NEVER quit!! So next wknd is a 15k run... I'm seriously thinking of "racing" it. I'm in the Clydesdale Division (aka Fatboy Division), LOL, so I have a chance to medal. Then its a 20 mile training run to hone in my fueling/hydration plan, then the Brooksie Way half marathon (super tough from last year), then its a 2 week taper for my tune-up marathon. I'm all set for my goal marathon at CIM in Sacramento!!! All I gotta do is show up! After that... BOSTON!!! (hopefully), but until then, I run on...
Sunday, September 6, 2009
That Was NOT Fun!!
Ok, I'm recoverING from my 3rd longest race ever... my 30km race in Milford, MI. This was kind of a last minute decision, well actually last month decision. I'm starting to think that was a bad decision. Of all my races... hilly, hot, whatever... this was BY FAR the toughest course EVER!! The said it was tough on the registration, but I took it with a grain of salt. Never again!! My last race The CRIM (and its Bradley Hills) had NOTHING on this. My last half The Brooksie Way (and its 4 miles of continuous up) had NOTHING on this. The 25k Championships hosted in Grand Rapids (and all the up down up down) had NOTHING on this!!! Half of the race was on dirt roads. The entire course was rollers... even on the dirt!! Had to avoid soft spots in the road, potholes, and twisting of ankles on rocks. These hills were INSANE!! I'm talking 60 degree grade hills, 200 feet high minimum (i'm guessing), while trying to keep your footing in the dirt roads. No exaggeration!! If you ever want to slow me to a crawl, just throw in some hills.
The temp was great at the start. 65'ish degrees. No starting mat, and I was near the back of 500 runners. Felt a little thirsty at the start, as they had nowhere to get something to drink. So my plan was to grab a water at the first aid station. The first 1-2 miles were the typical bob and weaving. The first aid station actually had full sized cups, not those courtesy cup 4oz things that are half full. I grabbed 2 and downed it. Feeling good. About mile 3.5 was a hill straight from HELL!!! I was at a near standstill getting up that thing!! We run thru the downtown area and then the sun comes out and it gets hot realllll fast!! I would say close to 75-77 degrees by mile 5, and that's when the dirt roads began.
Running on those dirt roads was "interesting". I always felt that I was leaning to one side b/c the street was uneven, and my left hip was feeling it. I'm usually particular about the water stations, but I didnt care that they were on dirt roads, dust flying everywhere, bugs all over, leaves falling, volunteers fingers dipping... all into the cups!! When ur running and its near 80 degrees, you just dont care... I didnt, and I drank it! LOL.
I got to mile 10 in 1:16:xx. I thought that I was going a little too fast. I had a time goal, not all out racing. Hit the half marathon mark in 1:38:xx, so that was just where I wanted to be. Then, this is where I really wanted to quit. The next 4 miles were still on dirt and the rolling hills were more frequent. I really need to learn how to run up hills. I always get passed by masses going up, but I catch them going down. Mile 15-16 took the cake. There was a sharp right turn then another massive hill. I just couldn't take it... I had to take a walk break, my thighs were burning and the oxygen was sukked from me!! The only good thing was a water station at the top. Walked thru the station and drank 2 cups. Started back running... but got that familiar dizzy episode thing again. Just chugged thru!! Running in a pack is a saving grace, I must say!
By the last mile, it was sooo hot and no shade!! That was the longest mile ever!! I was just ready for it to be over. I get in at 2:25:37... right on target (well a lil slower), I wanted a 7:40-7:45 pace and got 7:49 pace. I was still a lil dizzy, so I took a seat on the firetruck and reflected on this suicide mission I just completed. I'm not a punk, but I'm NEVER running this one again!! It felt like I just ran a full marathon... and I had to go to a class reunion event the same night and pretend I wasn't hurting. It is currently a day later as I type, and I am still saying "That was NOT Fun!!" So, I think I'll just halve the distance 2 weeks from now and run a 15k race. Gotta check the profile, I hope its not dirt and hilly. if not, I WILL be racing this one in hopes of 7:15 pace or better. My 2 goal marathons (Grand Rapids, MI and California International Marathon) are supposed to be kinda flat! Attached is the suicide race profile and splits. So until my next race... I run on...
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/12717375
The temp was great at the start. 65'ish degrees. No starting mat, and I was near the back of 500 runners. Felt a little thirsty at the start, as they had nowhere to get something to drink. So my plan was to grab a water at the first aid station. The first 1-2 miles were the typical bob and weaving. The first aid station actually had full sized cups, not those courtesy cup 4oz things that are half full. I grabbed 2 and downed it. Feeling good. About mile 3.5 was a hill straight from HELL!!! I was at a near standstill getting up that thing!! We run thru the downtown area and then the sun comes out and it gets hot realllll fast!! I would say close to 75-77 degrees by mile 5, and that's when the dirt roads began.
Running on those dirt roads was "interesting". I always felt that I was leaning to one side b/c the street was uneven, and my left hip was feeling it. I'm usually particular about the water stations, but I didnt care that they were on dirt roads, dust flying everywhere, bugs all over, leaves falling, volunteers fingers dipping... all into the cups!! When ur running and its near 80 degrees, you just dont care... I didnt, and I drank it! LOL.
I got to mile 10 in 1:16:xx. I thought that I was going a little too fast. I had a time goal, not all out racing. Hit the half marathon mark in 1:38:xx, so that was just where I wanted to be. Then, this is where I really wanted to quit. The next 4 miles were still on dirt and the rolling hills were more frequent. I really need to learn how to run up hills. I always get passed by masses going up, but I catch them going down. Mile 15-16 took the cake. There was a sharp right turn then another massive hill. I just couldn't take it... I had to take a walk break, my thighs were burning and the oxygen was sukked from me!! The only good thing was a water station at the top. Walked thru the station and drank 2 cups. Started back running... but got that familiar dizzy episode thing again. Just chugged thru!! Running in a pack is a saving grace, I must say!
By the last mile, it was sooo hot and no shade!! That was the longest mile ever!! I was just ready for it to be over. I get in at 2:25:37... right on target (well a lil slower), I wanted a 7:40-7:45 pace and got 7:49 pace. I was still a lil dizzy, so I took a seat on the firetruck and reflected on this suicide mission I just completed. I'm not a punk, but I'm NEVER running this one again!! It felt like I just ran a full marathon... and I had to go to a class reunion event the same night and pretend I wasn't hurting. It is currently a day later as I type, and I am still saying "That was NOT Fun!!" So, I think I'll just halve the distance 2 weeks from now and run a 15k race. Gotta check the profile, I hope its not dirt and hilly. if not, I WILL be racing this one in hopes of 7:15 pace or better. My 2 goal marathons (Grand Rapids, MI and California International Marathon) are supposed to be kinda flat! Attached is the suicide race profile and splits. So until my next race... I run on...
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/12717375
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
