Indy racing

We were in Indianapolis to pick up Ryan after the Drum Corps Finals competition.

He spent the entire summer traveling the country as part of a competitive Drum and Bugle corps.  We were able to see their show several times and it just kept getting better and better.

We were happy he had that experience but we were thrilled to have him back with us.

I took advantage of the trip to run one of the new Double Road Race events.  There have only been a few of these so far around the country. They are a unique combination of a 10K race, and a 5K race, with a halftime in between.  The two race times are combined.

These are the latest brainchild of Bob Anderson, who founded Runner's World magazine many years ago when he was a student at K-State, my Alma mater.  We chatted a little about K-State at the start. 

During halftime, Shelly and I stumbled upon this runner.  He isn't as fast as me, but to be fair, he is a Goonie who runs in shoulder pads and has Hobbit feet... 

Seriously though, Sean Astin is a an actual runner; he doesn't just play one on TV.  He just showed up to run the race with no fanfare whatsoever.  I'm not even sure the race organizers knew he was there.  He has finished several marathons and has a respectable 4:04 PR.

At the beginning of races, when runners are bunched together and most start out too fast, I like to listen to other runners' breathing patterns compared to my own.  Most of the people huffing and puffing in that first mile will peter out long before the finish.  As a rule, I won't pass anyone breathing slower than me, and I don't worry about getting passed by anyone breathing harder than me.  I will see them again.

This lady passed me breathing quite hard.  I expected to catch her later but never did.  She is Christine Kennedy, arguably the world's best runner in her age group.  She ran with the elite women in Boston and finished in 2:55 at the age of 58!

The course was flat, with only a few bridges.  It was relatively cool at the start, perhaps 65F, but very humid.  When the sun came out, the 5K was downright hot.  Still, decent conditions for summer racing.

In runner-speak, I sought to run both the 10K and 5K at my "LT" pace -- nominally the pace I can run for an hour in race conditions.  I claim I can run this pace by feel, so I tried to do just that.  I held back a bit in the first mile of the 10K to offset normal adrenaline effects, settled into a steady LT pace, and finished without any final kick.  This was the first time I have smiled at Shelly at the finish line of any race.  I had more in the tank, finishing the 10K portion in 41:31.

I tried to stay loose during halftime but my muscles still felt a bit tight at the 5K start.  I tried to push the pace as much as I could but it was tough, between the heat and the fatigue from the earlier race.  I wasn't smiling this time.  I finished the 5K in 20:12.

My combined time was 61:43, placing me 11/163 overall, 2/10 in my age group, and second among male Master runners.  I earned a nice medal and a $50 prize.  I also got to meet Bob Schul, the only American to win the 5K Olympic gold medal, at Tokyo in 1964.

Cancer Challenge 10K

It felt good to get out and compete again. I ran a couple of half marathons earlier this year but treated them both as training runs.

Today I raced. In fact, I surprised myself. I had expected to run something close to 43 minutes, given that I'm not quite back to top form yet, it is a tough, hilly course, and the weather has been hot.  Instead, I finished in 41:12.  I was 16/256 overall and 2/14 in my age group.

The temps really weren't that bad today, maybe 70F at the finish, though it always feels a little warmer when you are running hard.

Training has been going well.  I'm averaging about 70 miles/week lately and have put in a few good, solid speed sessions too.  Today counts as one of those.  I will be running at least one full marathon this fall but I haven't chosen which one yet.

There was a creepy guy with a beard at the awards ceremony.  The local baseball mascot showed up too. :)

Still running

This winter has been a tough one for me.  The NYC marathon was cancelled, then I ran poorly in my replacement race (Bass Pro in Springfield, MO).  Work responsibilities were overwhelming, and, well, somewhere in there I got depressed.  I spent the entire winter working more, eating more, and running less.  I gained 20 lbs. and I wasn't sure I would ever race again.

I never stopped my daily workouts though.  My streak is still active.  That commitment to exercise was key for me.  Little by little I have now worked my way back to some good running.  I'm still above my ideal race weight, so I won't be winning any awards for a while, but I'm a runner again!



Bass Pro - November 2012

Marathons are hard.

I know, I know.  Marathons are supposed to be hard -- duh.

What I mean when I say that marathons are hard is that it is very difficult to figure out how to achieve your goals in the marathon.

Choosing appropriate goals is absolutely essential, of course.  Doing the hard work of training is certainly part of the recipe too.  Yet, those aren't enough.  You have to eat right.  You have to rest right. You need a suitable course, and good weather.  You most certainly have to pace yourself right on race day.  Even still that isn't enough.  On paper, I did all those things right.  I still failed. 

Next time, I should just run on paper.

I ran the Bass Pro Conservation Marathon in 3:18 and change.  I failed in my goal of 3:10. At about mile 22 my right quad started cramping and it was all I could do to not stop completely.  Quad pain is pretty common for runners who aren't prepared for racing hills.  That isn't me though.  I train hard in hills all the time.  I'm in Arkansas, for goodness sake, we have a Junior High track nearby with a hill in the track surface!  (No joke.)   I had noticed a little soreness in that right quad in the weeks leading up to the race but it was so slight I just ignored it.  Argghh.

After the emotional roller coaster that was the NYC marathon, I was thrilled to be able to run the race in Springfield, MO.  As luck would have it, Springfield is home to a virtual running friend that I met online.  We were able to meet and make a virtual friendship real.  Running is a great way to meet some really nice folks.

Chad and his wife Jessica cheered for me in Springfield.  Today I'm heading out to cheer for them.  They are running in a 200 mile relay race through the Ozarks.  "You are a mermaid!!!"