My final race for 2011 was the La Porte By the Bay Half Marathon in La Porte, Texas. I was able to visit my aunt, uncle and cousins, which made this one even more fun! They were even able to follow us on the course and see me at several different points along the course. Extra motivation!
Getting to the race was a piece of cake. Plenty of parking at the high school across from the Sylvan Beach area for the start. I was impressed with the size of the race (890 runners) and the organization. The swag was pretty nice as we got gloves, a tech shirt, and some running socks.
The weather wasn't bad at all. It was around 55 degrees with a drizzle at the start of the race and it didn't warm up much from that. We started out from Sylvan Beach and I used a different race strategy than normal. The key attraction of this race is that we got the opportunity to run the Fred Hartman bridge twice. I could tell from the pictures of this bridge that it would be tough, so I decided to start out fast to make up for time missed on the bridge. We made a quick one mile loop around town before we began heading outside of La Porte towards the bridge. I kept under my usual 9 minute pace for the first few miles and got through the first three miles in 26:04.
The area before the bridge was not very scenic, but I wasn't really expecting much. This race was all about the bridge itself, which we started at the five mile mark. This thing was a beast! The ascent began with a gradual uphill that really wasn't bad. Then the uphill changes dramatically. Check out pictures of this thing online. Plenty of people were taking some walk breaks. I had no problem the first time around and just maintained a steady pace. I hit the halfway point in just under an hour.
The downhill was nice, but a little too steep. The quads were beginning to feel this race and I was glad to make my way back to flat ground. We made a quick detour to the turnaround point and my family saw me twice here. Then we made our way back to the bridge. Not so much fun the second time around. I walked about 100 yards on the initial uphill and was able to slog through the rest. I stopped taking splits right now because my quads were in a lot of pain and I did something to my left foot during this race. Thankfully, that has now healed up. The final three miles were slow, but enjoyable as the bridge was now behind me (though it may haunt my dreams). I just maintained a steady pace and came in at 1:53.08. That is way faster than my goal of simply breaking 2:00. I was in PR shape, but those uphills were just terrible.
That ends my 2011 running season. I achieved my goals of new PRs in the half marathon and marathon and I even added a surprising 10k PR, too. Nine half marathons, one full and twelve other races make this a very successful year for me. I also ran in several more states: Florida, Kentucky, Indiana, and Texas. I'm taking a well earned break during the holidays before starting in again. My plan is to start in late February with a half marathon in either Florida or Georgia.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon
I made the trek from Dayton to Louisville this weekend to mark Kentucky off my list. This was an inaugural event, but put on by the same people who organize the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon. I figured there would be no problems since that race gets such great reviews. The organization for this race was definitely top notch. No major issues that I can think of from this race, but there is room for improvement.
Packet pick up was on Friday and I got to Louisville at about 2:00. Got right in to the Galt House Hotel for pick-up which was very unspectacular. One booth for bib numbers, one for the T-shirt and one for free gels (this was a nice touch) and that was that. I was disappointed that there wasn't a local running store represented, but I didn't need to buy anything anyway. The shirt is a very nice long sleeve Adidas tech tee. I don't have too many long sleeve tech tees, so I am happy with that.
I woke up on Saturday at about 6:00 and found a parking garage downtown at around 7:15. It was about a mile walk to the start line at Waterfront Park. I had no problem with this as I was parked closer to the finish line so I could get out at a reasonable time since I had a ticket to the Louisville-Pitt game at noon. The walk also gave me a chance to warm up. The weather was perfect in the mid-40s but the wind made it feel much colder in the morning. Gear check was a breeze and I made my way to the start line with plenty of time to warm up. My goal for this race was to just run at a comfortable pace and hit a 1:57-1:58. I don't have many exact splits, but here are my thoughts from the race.
The start wasn't much of a cluster at all. I was able to start at a comfortable pace and hold steady throughout the run. We made our way from the park through part of the downtown area heading east. The first few miles were around 9:00 each and I believe I was at 27:07 for the first three miles. That's about where I like to be at for the first few miles as I've finally been hitting negative splits at these races. The first half of the race was very scenic. We made our way to Cherokee Park. This is one of the prettiest parks I've ever gone through at one of these races. There was an abundance of fall colors in the park and we were lucky enough to spend a few miles making our way around the park. The only hills that I noticed were in this park, but nothing horrible. Just the rolling variety. We made our way to the six mile mark just outside of the park. I hit this split in about 52 minutes. I'm guessing I was around 57 minutes at the halfway point of the race.
While the first half of the race was very scenic, the second half was not. We made our way through some parts of town that have clearly seen better days. The crowd support was pretty sparse, too. I kept at a steady pace and started to pick it up some around mile 7. I wasn't thinking about setting a new PR, but I did think I had an excellent shot at a sub 1:55. The only real issue I had with this race was that the course support seemed to disappear during the second half. There were aid stations at every mile during the first half. I only counted three during the second half. And there was a huge gap between mile 9 and 12. That aside, I kept up a strong pace and hit the 10 mile mark in 1:26. As you know by now, I usually try to hit ten miles in 1:30.
The final three miles wound back through the downtown area and flew by for me. I always try to finish the final 5k strong and I definitely did so yesterday. My body is used to running this distance now so I never felt like I was straining too much. I hit the finish line in 1:50.56. This is my second fastest time, being behind my Air Force Half time of 1:50.01. I finished 416/2326 overall.
My confidence is obviously sky high as I came to Louisville just wanting to break 2 hours and prep for the next race. It was only four weeks ago when I did the Columbus Marathon, so to run a 1:50.56 just blows my mind. I have one race left on my 2011 calendar and it's in three weeks. I could very well try for a new PR to finish the year. We'll wait and see.
Next race: LaPorte By the Bay Half Marathon- LaPorte, TX
Packet pick up was on Friday and I got to Louisville at about 2:00. Got right in to the Galt House Hotel for pick-up which was very unspectacular. One booth for bib numbers, one for the T-shirt and one for free gels (this was a nice touch) and that was that. I was disappointed that there wasn't a local running store represented, but I didn't need to buy anything anyway. The shirt is a very nice long sleeve Adidas tech tee. I don't have too many long sleeve tech tees, so I am happy with that.
I woke up on Saturday at about 6:00 and found a parking garage downtown at around 7:15. It was about a mile walk to the start line at Waterfront Park. I had no problem with this as I was parked closer to the finish line so I could get out at a reasonable time since I had a ticket to the Louisville-Pitt game at noon. The walk also gave me a chance to warm up. The weather was perfect in the mid-40s but the wind made it feel much colder in the morning. Gear check was a breeze and I made my way to the start line with plenty of time to warm up. My goal for this race was to just run at a comfortable pace and hit a 1:57-1:58. I don't have many exact splits, but here are my thoughts from the race.
The start wasn't much of a cluster at all. I was able to start at a comfortable pace and hold steady throughout the run. We made our way from the park through part of the downtown area heading east. The first few miles were around 9:00 each and I believe I was at 27:07 for the first three miles. That's about where I like to be at for the first few miles as I've finally been hitting negative splits at these races. The first half of the race was very scenic. We made our way to Cherokee Park. This is one of the prettiest parks I've ever gone through at one of these races. There was an abundance of fall colors in the park and we were lucky enough to spend a few miles making our way around the park. The only hills that I noticed were in this park, but nothing horrible. Just the rolling variety. We made our way to the six mile mark just outside of the park. I hit this split in about 52 minutes. I'm guessing I was around 57 minutes at the halfway point of the race.
While the first half of the race was very scenic, the second half was not. We made our way through some parts of town that have clearly seen better days. The crowd support was pretty sparse, too. I kept at a steady pace and started to pick it up some around mile 7. I wasn't thinking about setting a new PR, but I did think I had an excellent shot at a sub 1:55. The only real issue I had with this race was that the course support seemed to disappear during the second half. There were aid stations at every mile during the first half. I only counted three during the second half. And there was a huge gap between mile 9 and 12. That aside, I kept up a strong pace and hit the 10 mile mark in 1:26. As you know by now, I usually try to hit ten miles in 1:30.
The final three miles wound back through the downtown area and flew by for me. I always try to finish the final 5k strong and I definitely did so yesterday. My body is used to running this distance now so I never felt like I was straining too much. I hit the finish line in 1:50.56. This is my second fastest time, being behind my Air Force Half time of 1:50.01. I finished 416/2326 overall.
My confidence is obviously sky high as I came to Louisville just wanting to break 2 hours and prep for the next race. It was only four weeks ago when I did the Columbus Marathon, so to run a 1:50.56 just blows my mind. I have one race left on my 2011 calendar and it's in three weeks. I could very well try for a new PR to finish the year. We'll wait and see.
Next race: LaPorte By the Bay Half Marathon- LaPorte, TX
Monday, October 17, 2011
Columbus Marathon
This was the big one. The key race I've been building up to since January. And it did not disappoint! I knew coming in that I would do better than last year's Spinx Run Fest Marathon (4:42) for two reasons. 1. Columbus is a much flatter course than Greenville, SC. 2. My training was so much better this year. My top long run last year was only around 16 miles. This year I did two 16 milers, a 17 miler, and a 20 miler. My body is a lot more accustomed to this kind of distance and that showed on Sunday. My realistic goal for this race was to break 4:30. My somewhat unrealistic goal was to break 4:15.
I stayed only four blocks from the race start, which was absolutely perfect. I was able to take my time getting ready, pop a gel, watch the traffic begin to back up outside the hotel, and then make my way to the start. It was about 7:00 when I made my way to Corral D for the 7:30 start. Now I've mentioned before that I usually don't run larger races. Last month's Air Force Half Marathon was the largest race I've done, but it wasn't overwhelming. This race was huge. It's like the whole city comes out to support this race, which is so cool. A band played at the starting line until we started and it was a party like atmosphere. At 7:30 a huge cannon went off, followed by fireworks, to start the race. It flowed pretty well and it took about 5-6 minutes for me to cross the start line.
I went out at a very conservative pace after learning my lesson last year. 10-11 minute miles for the first few miles is fine because I have plenty of time to make it up. We headed east on Broad St. toward Capital University for the first few miles and I was overwhelmed by the crowd. Cheering people were packed along every city block and were out in full force in the smaller neighborhoods, too. The first few miles clicked off like they were nothing and I just settled in and enjoyed myself. I didn't bother to get splits for every mile (not for a full marathon) but I do have the major splits from the race site itself. The fact is, I felt pretty good. The first 10k went by in 58:31. That's actually not far off from where I like to be in a half marathon but, again, this is a fast course.
We made our way through German Village and back north on High St. These miles weren't bad, but I began feeling a few aches, nothing major, during this portion. It seems it's always around mile 10 when I do start feeling the race, but it tends to go away pretty quickly. Again, the fans overwhelmed me during this stretch. So much support from the city. I hit the half marathon mark at 2:03.56. I think I was at 2:07 at this point at last year's marathon and really hit the wall around mile 17. It certainly didn't feel like I was going to hit the wall anytime soon, so I kept a steady pace.
I forgot what a powerless feeling it is when the half marathoners break off to finish their race and the rest of us keep running. That's the precise moment when you realize you're in a marathon. It is nice since we actually had room to operate once we lost the half marathoners. We ran their entire race with them. That's a bit odd as every marathon I've been to splits up the two races at an earlier point. With 17,000 combined in the half and full, you really had to watch where you were going. We continued up High St. and over to the OSU campus. We even made our way around Ohio Stadium! I still felt good (minus one pit stop) and was maintaining a steady pace. Mile 20 was in a residential area in Upper Arlington. There were plenty of cheering people at the Mile 20 marker, otherwise known as The Wall. The point every marathoner really begins to feel the race. We even went under an inflatable sign that said "Break Through the Wall!" I noticed one sign that said, "Every wall has a door." Awesome. I crossed the 20 mile marker in 3:11.52.
We continued through a few neighborhoods in Upper Arlington and started making our way back to downtown. I still felt good, but was feeling a few aches in the left knee and in the hips. My knees sometime ache when I get to about 15 miles and they had remained pretty quiet until this point. The hips are always an issue for me in a longer race. Something has to be off with my form and I plan to work on this in the winter. I stopped at mile 22 to stretch some and walked through the water stop. There were fewer spectators through a little neighborhood, but the ones who were out were very enthusiastic. Miles 23 and 24 were very slow. I was really feeling this race at this point. I stopped to stretch out again. Mile 25 was pretty good as I ran with a larger group and chatted with them some. As we made our way downtown, I knew a PR was a definite, and that a sub-4:15 was a good possibility if I kicked it in some. We hit the 26 mile marker and I gave it everything I had left, crossing the finish line in 4:13.49!
I had to have looked like death after crossing the finish line. After almost collapsing twice, I received my medal from a volunteer and very carefully made my way to the food. They gave each runner their own bag of food to ensure everyone got something. That's a nice touch. I just collapsed on the grass and tried to stretch out. I can say in all honesty that I gave this one everything I had and I'm very proud of it. Going from a 4:42 to 4:13 is a huge difference. Will it be my last marathon? No. I'll be doing another at some point. I'm leaning toward Indianapolis, Kentucky Derby, or maybe Columbus again (I've earned the right to start in Corral C next time). Rather than going through the post-marathon funk that some people don't believe is possible (it is) I have two half marathons planned to finish 2011.
Next race: Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon- Louisville, KY
I stayed only four blocks from the race start, which was absolutely perfect. I was able to take my time getting ready, pop a gel, watch the traffic begin to back up outside the hotel, and then make my way to the start. It was about 7:00 when I made my way to Corral D for the 7:30 start. Now I've mentioned before that I usually don't run larger races. Last month's Air Force Half Marathon was the largest race I've done, but it wasn't overwhelming. This race was huge. It's like the whole city comes out to support this race, which is so cool. A band played at the starting line until we started and it was a party like atmosphere. At 7:30 a huge cannon went off, followed by fireworks, to start the race. It flowed pretty well and it took about 5-6 minutes for me to cross the start line.
I went out at a very conservative pace after learning my lesson last year. 10-11 minute miles for the first few miles is fine because I have plenty of time to make it up. We headed east on Broad St. toward Capital University for the first few miles and I was overwhelmed by the crowd. Cheering people were packed along every city block and were out in full force in the smaller neighborhoods, too. The first few miles clicked off like they were nothing and I just settled in and enjoyed myself. I didn't bother to get splits for every mile (not for a full marathon) but I do have the major splits from the race site itself. The fact is, I felt pretty good. The first 10k went by in 58:31. That's actually not far off from where I like to be in a half marathon but, again, this is a fast course.
We made our way through German Village and back north on High St. These miles weren't bad, but I began feeling a few aches, nothing major, during this portion. It seems it's always around mile 10 when I do start feeling the race, but it tends to go away pretty quickly. Again, the fans overwhelmed me during this stretch. So much support from the city. I hit the half marathon mark at 2:03.56. I think I was at 2:07 at this point at last year's marathon and really hit the wall around mile 17. It certainly didn't feel like I was going to hit the wall anytime soon, so I kept a steady pace.
I forgot what a powerless feeling it is when the half marathoners break off to finish their race and the rest of us keep running. That's the precise moment when you realize you're in a marathon. It is nice since we actually had room to operate once we lost the half marathoners. We ran their entire race with them. That's a bit odd as every marathon I've been to splits up the two races at an earlier point. With 17,000 combined in the half and full, you really had to watch where you were going. We continued up High St. and over to the OSU campus. We even made our way around Ohio Stadium! I still felt good (minus one pit stop) and was maintaining a steady pace. Mile 20 was in a residential area in Upper Arlington. There were plenty of cheering people at the Mile 20 marker, otherwise known as The Wall. The point every marathoner really begins to feel the race. We even went under an inflatable sign that said "Break Through the Wall!" I noticed one sign that said, "Every wall has a door." Awesome. I crossed the 20 mile marker in 3:11.52.
We continued through a few neighborhoods in Upper Arlington and started making our way back to downtown. I still felt good, but was feeling a few aches in the left knee and in the hips. My knees sometime ache when I get to about 15 miles and they had remained pretty quiet until this point. The hips are always an issue for me in a longer race. Something has to be off with my form and I plan to work on this in the winter. I stopped at mile 22 to stretch some and walked through the water stop. There were fewer spectators through a little neighborhood, but the ones who were out were very enthusiastic. Miles 23 and 24 were very slow. I was really feeling this race at this point. I stopped to stretch out again. Mile 25 was pretty good as I ran with a larger group and chatted with them some. As we made our way downtown, I knew a PR was a definite, and that a sub-4:15 was a good possibility if I kicked it in some. We hit the 26 mile marker and I gave it everything I had left, crossing the finish line in 4:13.49!
I had to have looked like death after crossing the finish line. After almost collapsing twice, I received my medal from a volunteer and very carefully made my way to the food. They gave each runner their own bag of food to ensure everyone got something. That's a nice touch. I just collapsed on the grass and tried to stretch out. I can say in all honesty that I gave this one everything I had and I'm very proud of it. Going from a 4:42 to 4:13 is a huge difference. Will it be my last marathon? No. I'll be doing another at some point. I'm leaning toward Indianapolis, Kentucky Derby, or maybe Columbus again (I've earned the right to start in Corral C next time). Rather than going through the post-marathon funk that some people don't believe is possible (it is) I have two half marathons planned to finish 2011.
Next race: Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon- Louisville, KY
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Run for the Rams 5k
I just finished the Run for the Rams 5k at the Miami Valley School here in Dayton. I wasn't too keen on running a race for the third week in a row, but this one was free. I'll say that again. Free. I've never been to a free 5k and wasn't expecting much, but it was better organized than some half marathons I've attended. We even got a nice long sleeve tech tee! For free! This was also my final 5k in my 20s, so I wanted to have a good showing.
My goal for today was to just go easy, try to place in my age group, and prepare for Columbus in three weeks. Why do I ever say I'll go out easy? I never do. I lined up near the front because a ton of little kids were lining up near the front and I didn't want to dodge them to start the race. Let the others do the dodging. We headed out and I ran a very fast pace for the first mile. There were some nice hills throughout this race. The first one was about a half mile in and was definitely a nice challenge. I hit the first mile in 6:31 which is much faster than I wanted to go. But I also like to establish myself early in a race and maintain distance between myself and the second pack. There was another runner who I chatted with prior to the race who was now just in front of me. He said he usually ran around 21 minutes, so I trailed him for the majority of the race. The second mile was very, very tough with another hill. This one wasn't as steep, but it was long. We hit the halfway mark in 10:37 and the two mile mark in 13 and change. Then we went back around the same neighborhood and met up with the walkers who were nice enough to cheer each one of us along. Again, there was a hill at about the 2.5 mile mark. I actually like getting some hills in during races because of the challenge. It's the only way you'll ever improve. I passed my runner friend with about a quarter mile in and kicked it in for a strong finish of 21:22. Pretty happy with this time considering all the hills. I placed first in my age group and I think in the top 10 overall.
October 16th is quickly approaching and my goal race for the year, the Columbus Marathon, will be here before I know it. I've got a 19-20 miler planned for Friday and then a two week taper. I'm focused in and feel much more confident than I did last year before the Spinx Run Fest Marathon.
Next race: Columbus Marathon- Columbus, OH
My goal for today was to just go easy, try to place in my age group, and prepare for Columbus in three weeks. Why do I ever say I'll go out easy? I never do. I lined up near the front because a ton of little kids were lining up near the front and I didn't want to dodge them to start the race. Let the others do the dodging. We headed out and I ran a very fast pace for the first mile. There were some nice hills throughout this race. The first one was about a half mile in and was definitely a nice challenge. I hit the first mile in 6:31 which is much faster than I wanted to go. But I also like to establish myself early in a race and maintain distance between myself and the second pack. There was another runner who I chatted with prior to the race who was now just in front of me. He said he usually ran around 21 minutes, so I trailed him for the majority of the race. The second mile was very, very tough with another hill. This one wasn't as steep, but it was long. We hit the halfway mark in 10:37 and the two mile mark in 13 and change. Then we went back around the same neighborhood and met up with the walkers who were nice enough to cheer each one of us along. Again, there was a hill at about the 2.5 mile mark. I actually like getting some hills in during races because of the challenge. It's the only way you'll ever improve. I passed my runner friend with about a quarter mile in and kicked it in for a strong finish of 21:22. Pretty happy with this time considering all the hills. I placed first in my age group and I think in the top 10 overall.
October 16th is quickly approaching and my goal race for the year, the Columbus Marathon, will be here before I know it. I've got a 19-20 miler planned for Friday and then a two week taper. I'm focused in and feel much more confident than I did last year before the Spinx Run Fest Marathon.
Next race: Columbus Marathon- Columbus, OH
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Air Force Half Marathon
I just finished my first major half marathon earlier today and was thrilled with the result. The race takes place at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton. The expo at the Nutter Center was very well done and I had no issues. Same goes for the parking on race day. Most people complain about it, but it's fine if you get there early. I arrived two hours before the half started and got right in. It is about a mile walk from the parking area to the start line by the Air Force Museum, but it's good for a warm-up.
Let's get to the race itself. I came in to this one thinking I would just take it easy. Break two hours, go home, rest up for the Columbus Marathon next month. But the weather was just too perfect and I felt great during this one! Here's the breakdown:
Miles 1-5: The start was a bit of a cluster compared to what I'm used to, but there were around 5,000 in the half. The first part winds around the base itself, so there are very few spectators and nothing too scenic. I started out at my usual pace and hit the first mile in 9:00. The second mile was slightly faster and the third was slightly faster than that. I was feeling pretty good and started flirting with the idea of running a 1:55. We made our way off the base into a few local neighborhoods. I took a gel at mile 4 because I felt that I was running a good pace and wanted to keep that going. I hit the 5 mile mark in 44:22 which is slightly faster that the 45:00 I usually try to hit.
Miles 6-10: Something happened to me around mile 6. I hit the mile marker in 52:26, making it just higher than an 8 minute mile. Granted, there was a downhill here, but an 8 minute mile doesn't happen to me during a half. And I still felt great. So I slowed down just a bit to keep it realistic, but was still running a nice pace. There was a wicked hill just past the 8 mile mark. I slowed down a bit during this stretch and hit the downhill pretty hard. We came in around Wright State University and I hit the 9 mile marker in 1:18.24. Another little hill during mile 10, but I was still at 1:27.13 at the 10 mile mark. Usually I try for a 1:30 at this point. I can safely say that this was when I decided to really push my pace and go for a new PR.
Miles 11-13.1: We hit a few more hills between WSU and the base, but I know the roads around this area very well since I went to WSU. Kept pushing my pace and hit the 11 mile mark in 1:35 and change. My previous personal best is 1:52.57, so I still had to push the pace some to hit that mark. I definitely did that today. Not sure what my 12 mile mark was, but I think it was around 1:42, making it a 7 minute mile! Pretty close to the same for the final mile. We made our way back to the Air Force Museum, made a few turns, and ran underneath the wings of several planes lined up along the finish (awesome). Hit the finish line in 1:50.01, beating my previous best by 2:56! That's a huge PR! My overall place was 578/4661.
I am obviously thrilled with my time with this race. It gives me a new PR and the confidence to try to break 1:50 next year. It also gives me confidence going into next month's Columbus Marathon. I have an easy 5k next week that I decided to sign up for because it's free. Can't pass that up! But I'm pretty focused in on Columbus right now.
Next race: Miami Valley School Run for the Rams- Dayton, OH
Let's get to the race itself. I came in to this one thinking I would just take it easy. Break two hours, go home, rest up for the Columbus Marathon next month. But the weather was just too perfect and I felt great during this one! Here's the breakdown:
Miles 1-5: The start was a bit of a cluster compared to what I'm used to, but there were around 5,000 in the half. The first part winds around the base itself, so there are very few spectators and nothing too scenic. I started out at my usual pace and hit the first mile in 9:00. The second mile was slightly faster and the third was slightly faster than that. I was feeling pretty good and started flirting with the idea of running a 1:55. We made our way off the base into a few local neighborhoods. I took a gel at mile 4 because I felt that I was running a good pace and wanted to keep that going. I hit the 5 mile mark in 44:22 which is slightly faster that the 45:00 I usually try to hit.
Miles 6-10: Something happened to me around mile 6. I hit the mile marker in 52:26, making it just higher than an 8 minute mile. Granted, there was a downhill here, but an 8 minute mile doesn't happen to me during a half. And I still felt great. So I slowed down just a bit to keep it realistic, but was still running a nice pace. There was a wicked hill just past the 8 mile mark. I slowed down a bit during this stretch and hit the downhill pretty hard. We came in around Wright State University and I hit the 9 mile marker in 1:18.24. Another little hill during mile 10, but I was still at 1:27.13 at the 10 mile mark. Usually I try for a 1:30 at this point. I can safely say that this was when I decided to really push my pace and go for a new PR.
Miles 11-13.1: We hit a few more hills between WSU and the base, but I know the roads around this area very well since I went to WSU. Kept pushing my pace and hit the 11 mile mark in 1:35 and change. My previous personal best is 1:52.57, so I still had to push the pace some to hit that mark. I definitely did that today. Not sure what my 12 mile mark was, but I think it was around 1:42, making it a 7 minute mile! Pretty close to the same for the final mile. We made our way back to the Air Force Museum, made a few turns, and ran underneath the wings of several planes lined up along the finish (awesome). Hit the finish line in 1:50.01, beating my previous best by 2:56! That's a huge PR! My overall place was 578/4661.
I am obviously thrilled with my time with this race. It gives me a new PR and the confidence to try to break 1:50 next year. It also gives me confidence going into next month's Columbus Marathon. I have an easy 5k next week that I decided to sign up for because it's free. Can't pass that up! But I'm pretty focused in on Columbus right now.
Next race: Miami Valley School Run for the Rams- Dayton, OH
Sunday, September 11, 2011
DeGraff Fire Dept. 5k
Headed to my hometown this weekend for a nice little 5k. This was the second year for this race with last year being a pleasant surprise. I figured it would be a nice little speed workout for the upcoming Air Force Half.
It was nice simply walking from my parents' house to the race start. It was a nice, cool morning with a surprising amount of fog. Not bad race conditions for early September. I met up with a high school friend and we caught up prior to the race start. It's nice coming home occasionally. We lined up at the modest start line and headed out.
The first mile went very fast, but I'm curious about the mile markers. More on that later. We wound through town before making our way outside town. Two runners made their way in front of me and there was nobody immediately behind me. My parents were able to see us about a half mile in as we made our way past their house. Good thing as they were the only spectators! We started hitting the hills during this stretch. They're worse than I remember. My first mile clocked in at 6:11. Way too fast! The second mile was more hills and the turnaround point. This is where things got interesting. I was struggling a bit because of my first start. I also noticed that the 2nd mile was a long time coming. The marker was in the same spot as the 1st marker and I clocked in at 15:35. Huh? No way this is correct. I just focused on where I was as I was holding on to third place. Back by my parents' house, we made our way down the final hill back into town. This little stretch is somewhat downhill with two blocks to go to the finish line. I just kicked it in and crossed the line feeling pretty good. Remember that 15:35? My final time was 20:37. I know I didn't run a 5:02 mile. The course is definitely short as the mile markers are in the same spot, yet we don't finish as far into town as where we start. Something was off, but I still had a good time. Course measured at about 3 miles even, so a 20:37 is still one of my fasted times for the year. I placed 3rd overall and 1st in my age group.
Next race: Air Force Half Marathon- Dayton, OH
It was nice simply walking from my parents' house to the race start. It was a nice, cool morning with a surprising amount of fog. Not bad race conditions for early September. I met up with a high school friend and we caught up prior to the race start. It's nice coming home occasionally. We lined up at the modest start line and headed out.
The first mile went very fast, but I'm curious about the mile markers. More on that later. We wound through town before making our way outside town. Two runners made their way in front of me and there was nobody immediately behind me. My parents were able to see us about a half mile in as we made our way past their house. Good thing as they were the only spectators! We started hitting the hills during this stretch. They're worse than I remember. My first mile clocked in at 6:11. Way too fast! The second mile was more hills and the turnaround point. This is where things got interesting. I was struggling a bit because of my first start. I also noticed that the 2nd mile was a long time coming. The marker was in the same spot as the 1st marker and I clocked in at 15:35. Huh? No way this is correct. I just focused on where I was as I was holding on to third place. Back by my parents' house, we made our way down the final hill back into town. This little stretch is somewhat downhill with two blocks to go to the finish line. I just kicked it in and crossed the line feeling pretty good. Remember that 15:35? My final time was 20:37. I know I didn't run a 5:02 mile. The course is definitely short as the mile markers are in the same spot, yet we don't finish as far into town as where we start. Something was off, but I still had a good time. Course measured at about 3 miles even, so a 20:37 is still one of my fasted times for the year. I placed 3rd overall and 1st in my age group.
Next race: Air Force Half Marathon- Dayton, OH
Monday, August 22, 2011
Little Miami Half Marathon
This was a memorable half marathon for me because it was my tenth! Only two short years ago I was training for my very first. How things change in such a short amount of time!
The race itself is very, very small. It begins in Morrow, OH, and takes place on the bike path (there were some rude cyclists included) along the Little Miami River. Despite this being a small, inexpensive race, I really like the medal and tech tee. Well done! It's also nice to be able to park very close to the start line and just hang out before the race. The course itself was a bit dull, but I do a lot of my runs on a similar bike path, so I knew what to expect. I toyed around with trying for a new PR, but it was way too humid to attempt that. On to my breakdown:
Miles 1-5- We started with a quarter mile through the Morrow before hitting the bike path. Within the first couple of miles I noted that my legs felt heavy. I just could not get into a real groove during this whole race. The first mile clocked in at 9:01 and the second clocked in at 18:15 (9:14). I resigned myself to the fact that 9 minute miles would probably be the best I could do. A couple of cyclists came through the first water stop and didn't slow down one bit for runners trying to get water. One shouted out something along the lines of don't get in the way or you will get run over. Umm. Nobody was in the way. I have no problem with cyclists and always run to the far side to allow them to pass, but come on. The race was advertised for quite some time and signs were posted weeks in advance. Have some class. I wish I could say something about the course itself. Not much to say. A bike path, trees on both sides and some views of the river. That's it for 13.1 miles. Anyway, I just kept up with the same pace. The five mile mark came in around 46:15.
Miles 6-10- The six mile mark came in around 55:23. This really isn't far off from what I normally run. I try to hit the half-way point in one hour, so I'm not doing bad considering my legs are still feeling heavy. There is something I'd like to ask about the aid stations. Heed? Really? Does nobody realize that that stuff tastes horrible? I realize we need electrolytes, but how about Powerade or Gatorade? They even had Gatorade at the finish! Heed is just terrible beyond words. I stuck with water instead. The turn-around point was just past the halfway mark and I began to lose track of mile splits after that. I do know that I hit the 10 mile marker in 1:31 and change. I had to kick it in just a bit to ensure I finished in under two hours.
Miles 11-13.1- I sprinkled in some harder running here, but it didn't seem to make a huge difference. The legs still felt off. Not horrible, just off. I hit the 12 mile marker in 1:50 and change, so I knew I had to kick a bit more. The last mile felt decent and I was able to finish in 1:59.39.
Not a whole lot to comment on. The food at the end was sub par. Some bagels, bananas and oranges that all looked bad. The Gatorade and water was all I really wanted anyway. I really did this one just to finish my tenth half marathon. Considering some of the rude cyclists and the boring course, I don't plan on doing this one again. Ah well. Again, at least the tech tee and medal are nice!
Next race: DeGraff Fire Dept. 5k- DeGraff, OH
The race itself is very, very small. It begins in Morrow, OH, and takes place on the bike path (there were some rude cyclists included) along the Little Miami River. Despite this being a small, inexpensive race, I really like the medal and tech tee. Well done! It's also nice to be able to park very close to the start line and just hang out before the race. The course itself was a bit dull, but I do a lot of my runs on a similar bike path, so I knew what to expect. I toyed around with trying for a new PR, but it was way too humid to attempt that. On to my breakdown:
Miles 1-5- We started with a quarter mile through the Morrow before hitting the bike path. Within the first couple of miles I noted that my legs felt heavy. I just could not get into a real groove during this whole race. The first mile clocked in at 9:01 and the second clocked in at 18:15 (9:14). I resigned myself to the fact that 9 minute miles would probably be the best I could do. A couple of cyclists came through the first water stop and didn't slow down one bit for runners trying to get water. One shouted out something along the lines of don't get in the way or you will get run over. Umm. Nobody was in the way. I have no problem with cyclists and always run to the far side to allow them to pass, but come on. The race was advertised for quite some time and signs were posted weeks in advance. Have some class. I wish I could say something about the course itself. Not much to say. A bike path, trees on both sides and some views of the river. That's it for 13.1 miles. Anyway, I just kept up with the same pace. The five mile mark came in around 46:15.
Miles 6-10- The six mile mark came in around 55:23. This really isn't far off from what I normally run. I try to hit the half-way point in one hour, so I'm not doing bad considering my legs are still feeling heavy. There is something I'd like to ask about the aid stations. Heed? Really? Does nobody realize that that stuff tastes horrible? I realize we need electrolytes, but how about Powerade or Gatorade? They even had Gatorade at the finish! Heed is just terrible beyond words. I stuck with water instead. The turn-around point was just past the halfway mark and I began to lose track of mile splits after that. I do know that I hit the 10 mile marker in 1:31 and change. I had to kick it in just a bit to ensure I finished in under two hours.
Miles 11-13.1- I sprinkled in some harder running here, but it didn't seem to make a huge difference. The legs still felt off. Not horrible, just off. I hit the 12 mile marker in 1:50 and change, so I knew I had to kick a bit more. The last mile felt decent and I was able to finish in 1:59.39.
Not a whole lot to comment on. The food at the end was sub par. Some bagels, bananas and oranges that all looked bad. The Gatorade and water was all I really wanted anyway. I really did this one just to finish my tenth half marathon. Considering some of the rude cyclists and the boring course, I don't plan on doing this one again. Ah well. Again, at least the tech tee and medal are nice!
Next race: DeGraff Fire Dept. 5k- DeGraff, OH
Saturday, August 13, 2011
GermanFest 5k
This one was a pleasant surprise. The 5k started at Carillon Park in Dayton during GermanFest. I wasn't a big fan of the 6:30 start, but at least it was easy to get there right after work. A free beer after the race didn't hurt either. The course itself was nothing special. We simply ran along the Great Miami Trail on an easy out-and-back. No shade and plenty of sunlight didn't give me much hope of accomplishing much.
I was planning on running a conservative pace for the first mile but this course was way too fast for that. There were also a few little downhills over the first mile. I started just behind the lead pack and came in around 6:45 for the first mile. A little too fast considering the heat and humidity. From there we were on a nice, flat straightaway until the turn around point. The second mile went better than it usually does for me and I just stayed right behind a few runners who I recognized. I've lost to both of them in recent races so I was happy to stay right behind both for a while. The second mile clocked in at 13:45 and I was feeling pretty good. Passed both of my competitors on the second uphill halfway through mile 3. I've always been a proponent of passing people on hills if you have the strength to do so. If you can create some space as you come up over the hill, that can be pretty demoralizing to the person you just passed. I'm all about race strategy since I'm not particularly fast. The final mile went very fast and I hit the finish line at 21:26.
This is the fastest I've ran a 5k this year! My previous fastest for the year was way back in March with a 21:38 at the No Buts About It race. I finished 2nd in my age group and 11/186 overall. I'm clearly thrilled with the result, especially as it gives me a nice confidence boost going into next week's half marathon.
Next race: Little Miami Half Marathon- Morrow, OH
I was planning on running a conservative pace for the first mile but this course was way too fast for that. There were also a few little downhills over the first mile. I started just behind the lead pack and came in around 6:45 for the first mile. A little too fast considering the heat and humidity. From there we were on a nice, flat straightaway until the turn around point. The second mile went better than it usually does for me and I just stayed right behind a few runners who I recognized. I've lost to both of them in recent races so I was happy to stay right behind both for a while. The second mile clocked in at 13:45 and I was feeling pretty good. Passed both of my competitors on the second uphill halfway through mile 3. I've always been a proponent of passing people on hills if you have the strength to do so. If you can create some space as you come up over the hill, that can be pretty demoralizing to the person you just passed. I'm all about race strategy since I'm not particularly fast. The final mile went very fast and I hit the finish line at 21:26.
This is the fastest I've ran a 5k this year! My previous fastest for the year was way back in March with a 21:38 at the No Buts About It race. I finished 2nd in my age group and 11/186 overall. I'm clearly thrilled with the result, especially as it gives me a nice confidence boost going into next week's half marathon.
Next race: Little Miami Half Marathon- Morrow, OH
Monday, August 1, 2011
Ralph Wade 10k
As I mentioned in my last post, the 10k distance worries me. I last did a 10k in 2001. It's been a while. The reason for that is that I simply am not sure of how to pace myself for one of these. I've done enough 5ks to know what I'm doing there and I always start out at a conservative pace at half marathons so no worries there. My goal for this race was to simply break 50:00. It seemed like a realistic goal to have.
I made it to Springboro at about 8:15 on Saturday morning. The race didn't start until 9:00 (a little late for my liking in mid-summer) so I had plenty of time to pick up my race packet and stretch out. I was already starting to sweat just walking to the start line. Thankfully the sun wasn't out for most of this race. The course was of the two loop variety, which was actually nice.
We headed out and I started out at a good pace. Not too fast, but fast enough to make my way to front pack of runners. The race had some nice rolling hills. I actually prefer this as it works out different muscles and breaks up the monotony. I clocked in at 7:23 for the first mile. This was a little faster than I wanted so I slowed down some and hit the second mile at 15:05. I felt good through this race and really paced myself well. During the second and third miles I didn't get passed nor did I pass anyone. I was right where I needed to be. The third mile clocked in at 23:12 and I was still feeling pretty good. We made our way back to the start and began our second loop. Midway through the fourth mile I decided to start making a move. I passed a few high school runners and saw the 5k walkers in front of me. Passing some of the 5kers along with a few 10k runners during the hilly section of the fifth mile gave me some extra energy. I missed the fourth split, but the fifth split was roughly 38:25. The last mile was somewhat hilly but I felt like I flew through it. I passed a few people who looked like they could possibly be in my age group (I know one was). The final 200 meters went fast as I outsprinted another 10k runner and several 5k runners. My final time was 47:54.
I'm pretty happy with this time and the results. My place was 15/72 and I finished first in my age group. It did show me that I can probably pick up the pace some during half marathons, but definitely during 5ks. My 5k time has been weak this year and I only have a couple more opportunities to improve upon it. Overall, this was a great race and quite the confidence boost.
Next race: Germanfest 5k- Dayton, OH
I made it to Springboro at about 8:15 on Saturday morning. The race didn't start until 9:00 (a little late for my liking in mid-summer) so I had plenty of time to pick up my race packet and stretch out. I was already starting to sweat just walking to the start line. Thankfully the sun wasn't out for most of this race. The course was of the two loop variety, which was actually nice.
We headed out and I started out at a good pace. Not too fast, but fast enough to make my way to front pack of runners. The race had some nice rolling hills. I actually prefer this as it works out different muscles and breaks up the monotony. I clocked in at 7:23 for the first mile. This was a little faster than I wanted so I slowed down some and hit the second mile at 15:05. I felt good through this race and really paced myself well. During the second and third miles I didn't get passed nor did I pass anyone. I was right where I needed to be. The third mile clocked in at 23:12 and I was still feeling pretty good. We made our way back to the start and began our second loop. Midway through the fourth mile I decided to start making a move. I passed a few high school runners and saw the 5k walkers in front of me. Passing some of the 5kers along with a few 10k runners during the hilly section of the fifth mile gave me some extra energy. I missed the fourth split, but the fifth split was roughly 38:25. The last mile was somewhat hilly but I felt like I flew through it. I passed a few people who looked like they could possibly be in my age group (I know one was). The final 200 meters went fast as I outsprinted another 10k runner and several 5k runners. My final time was 47:54.
I'm pretty happy with this time and the results. My place was 15/72 and I finished first in my age group. It did show me that I can probably pick up the pace some during half marathons, but definitely during 5ks. My 5k time has been weak this year and I only have a couple more opportunities to improve upon it. Overall, this was a great race and quite the confidence boost.
Next race: Germanfest 5k- Dayton, OH
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Carriage Hill 5k
This race took place at Carriage Hill Metropark in Huber Heights on Wednesday. I'm a little behind because I was out of town for a few days. This was my fifth race sponsored by the Ohio River Road Runners Club. Surprisingly, despite doing around 76 races over the years, this was my first ever trail race. Seventy-five percent of my training is on some tough trails so it's surprising that this was my first trail race.
We were supposed to start at 7:00, but there were so many people still needing to register that the start was delayed until 7:15. The race director then told us at the start line that the course was actually 3.4 miles instead of 3.1. I actually think it was around 3.5. That actually took some pressure off so I wouldn't worry about breaking 22 minutes. There was no way I could do so on a longer course in hot, humid weather.
I'll tell you how my first trail race went. Within a half mile it was like falling in love with running all over again. Seriously. The trail wasn't too technical, but there were enough up-downs, tree roots to avoid, branches to duck under, and ruts to dodge to make it fun. There's something different about trail running. It's not glamorous and you can get pretty dirty, but it's a blast.
I don't have splits for this race since there were no mile markers. All I can go on is that I felt great! I ran a conservative pace for the first mile or so. Then I started picking them off one at a time. In a half mile stretch somewhere in the middle portion I passed twelve people. This is what I've been missing with my recent 5ks and I hope it continues. I played back and forth with another runner for quite some time before I was finally able to pass him for good. Battles like that keep you focused on the race and not on the pain. The final mile was fast as I tried to catch up to some runners 75 meters ahead of me. I wasn't able to catch them but it made for a strong finish. My time was 26:07. I was surprised to receive a nice little trophy for finishing 4th in my age group. Not bad at all for my first trail race. I will definitely be running more of these.
The next adventure will be my first 10k since 2002. I'll be honest, this distance scares me. I'm really not sure how to pace myself in a 10k. It will be a challenge.
Next race: Ralph Wade 10k- Springboro, OH
We were supposed to start at 7:00, but there were so many people still needing to register that the start was delayed until 7:15. The race director then told us at the start line that the course was actually 3.4 miles instead of 3.1. I actually think it was around 3.5. That actually took some pressure off so I wouldn't worry about breaking 22 minutes. There was no way I could do so on a longer course in hot, humid weather.
I'll tell you how my first trail race went. Within a half mile it was like falling in love with running all over again. Seriously. The trail wasn't too technical, but there were enough up-downs, tree roots to avoid, branches to duck under, and ruts to dodge to make it fun. There's something different about trail running. It's not glamorous and you can get pretty dirty, but it's a blast.
The next adventure will be my first 10k since 2002. I'll be honest, this distance scares me. I'm really not sure how to pace myself in a 10k. It will be a challenge.
Next race: Ralph Wade 10k- Springboro, OH
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Run for Recovery 5k/Fall Schedule Finalized
I headed up to Troy to finish out this three 5ks in two weeks gauntlet. I always run a race on the 4th, but wanted to relax on the 4th this year. It rained a few hours before the race so it was hot and humid. This race was held at Duke Park and if you ever get the chance, check it out. It is a gorgeous park. Here is my brief race report.
Mile 1- We started by running the inner loop of the bike path for the first mile. It was pretty flat and fast despite the constant turns. I felt great at the beginning and my stride felt pretty good. My goal was to hit the first mile in seven minutes (rather than the ridiculous 6:23 I hit at last week's 5k). I came close as the first mile went by in 6:53.
Mile 2- Slowed down a bit as always, but still felt pretty good. We finished the interior loop and started on the outer loop. There were fewer turns here, which really helped. I started pacing another runner and it soon became a game of cat and mouse. I passed him, he passed me. The second mile clicked off in 7:16 (14:09).
Mile 3- I passed my opponent for the final time and tried to kick it in for the last mile, but the humidity was having none of it. I couldn't really start my kick until the last half mile or so. The third mile went by in just over seven minutes and I hit the finish line in 22:06. Even though I just missed my goal of breaking 22 minutes, I was pretty happy with this time. It seems that getting the kind of times I was getting last year in 5ks just isn't in the cards this year.
This was a pretty good race and very well organized. I really like races that stick with bike paths and off the roads. They had plenty of food afterwards, including brats and burgers. Not too bad at all.
I've finalized my Fall racing schedule and here's what I've signed up for: Little Miami Half Marathon in August, Air Force Half Marathon in September, Columbus Marathon in October, and the Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon in November. I may fit in a few 5ks in the Fall, but not as many as last year.
Next race: Carriage Hill 5k- Huber Heights, OH
Mile 1- We started by running the inner loop of the bike path for the first mile. It was pretty flat and fast despite the constant turns. I felt great at the beginning and my stride felt pretty good. My goal was to hit the first mile in seven minutes (rather than the ridiculous 6:23 I hit at last week's 5k). I came close as the first mile went by in 6:53.
Mile 2- Slowed down a bit as always, but still felt pretty good. We finished the interior loop and started on the outer loop. There were fewer turns here, which really helped. I started pacing another runner and it soon became a game of cat and mouse. I passed him, he passed me. The second mile clicked off in 7:16 (14:09).
Mile 3- I passed my opponent for the final time and tried to kick it in for the last mile, but the humidity was having none of it. I couldn't really start my kick until the last half mile or so. The third mile went by in just over seven minutes and I hit the finish line in 22:06. Even though I just missed my goal of breaking 22 minutes, I was pretty happy with this time. It seems that getting the kind of times I was getting last year in 5ks just isn't in the cards this year.
This was a pretty good race and very well organized. I really like races that stick with bike paths and off the roads. They had plenty of food afterwards, including brats and burgers. Not too bad at all.
I've finalized my Fall racing schedule and here's what I've signed up for: Little Miami Half Marathon in August, Air Force Half Marathon in September, Columbus Marathon in October, and the Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon in November. I may fit in a few 5ks in the Fall, but not as many as last year.
Next race: Carriage Hill 5k- Huber Heights, OH
Friday, June 24, 2011
Duck 'n' Run 5k
Remember how I started too fast on Sunday? This was worse. Let me reiterate. THIS WAS WORSE. It was a nice, cool evening on my favorite course. Tawawa Park in Sidney is an awesome place to run. And it was a very fast group of people. I must have just got caught up in it all and went out way too fast. I'm also thinking that I should stay away from evening races because I almost always get a massive stomach cramp. I didn't eat anything horrible through the day, so I'm not really sure what the problem was yesterday. The recap will be short and (not so) sweet.
The first mile is a long straightaway through the upper part of the park. It's lined with trees, ponds and the stream that runs through the park. Gorgeous. I didn't take in the sights and took off like a bat out of a very warm place. The worst thing is that I realized how fast I started. After 70 some road races, I know what I am capable of and what to stay away from. The first mile went by in 6:23. 6:23. Adorable. I really do need to go out around 7:00 in the first mile. The second mile started out well, but about halfway through I started feeling like crap. A stomach cramp set in and it was all downhill from there. I'm not sure what my second mile was, but it had to be around 8:00. I was able to tough it out and run a respectable final mile and even come in strong at the finish. My final time was 22:24 which still isn't bad (7:12 pace). Only 7 seconds slower than last Sunday's race.
This was a very frustrating race for me because I veered off from the game plan so early and just couldn't recover. I did a nice four miler today and a ten miler planned for Sunday with a good five miler and some speedwork planned for next week. The next race should be a lot better and I'm looking forward to breaking 22 minutes.
Next race: Run for Recovery- Troy, OH
The first mile is a long straightaway through the upper part of the park. It's lined with trees, ponds and the stream that runs through the park. Gorgeous. I didn't take in the sights and took off like a bat out of a very warm place. The worst thing is that I realized how fast I started. After 70 some road races, I know what I am capable of and what to stay away from. The first mile went by in 6:23. 6:23. Adorable. I really do need to go out around 7:00 in the first mile. The second mile started out well, but about halfway through I started feeling like crap. A stomach cramp set in and it was all downhill from there. I'm not sure what my second mile was, but it had to be around 8:00. I was able to tough it out and run a respectable final mile and even come in strong at the finish. My final time was 22:24 which still isn't bad (7:12 pace). Only 7 seconds slower than last Sunday's race.
This was a very frustrating race for me because I veered off from the game plan so early and just couldn't recover. I did a nice four miler today and a ten miler planned for Sunday with a good five miler and some speedwork planned for next week. The next race should be a lot better and I'm looking forward to breaking 22 minutes.
Next race: Run for Recovery- Troy, OH
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Dorothy Lane Market Dash 5k
I decided to do a local 5k only 8 days after the Carmel Half Marathon since I really need to catch up with some speedwork. This race was sponsored by one of the local running stores and the Dorothy Lane Market located right across the street from my workplace. It was hard to turn it down since it was so close to home. Plus, I got a chance to chat with some coworkers who were also running the race.
Today turned out nice as it was humid at the start, but thankfully the sun was partially hidden for most of the race. The course itself had a few more hills than I thought it would. Overall, this was a great local race. On to the breakdown:
Mile 1- I wanted to come out strong for this race to find out where exactly I am at the beginning of this 5k gauntlet. Well, I did indeed come out strong...way too strong. The first mile clicked by at 6:50. There was a lengthy downhill late in the first mile so that probably didn't help. But I was feeling pretty good regardless. We turned into the first of two smaller neighborhoods we'd be visiting.
Mile 2- The second mile has always killed my time in 5ks. I believe it's actually worse now since I spend far less time training for negative splits in 5ks in favor of training for even splits in half marathons. This one wasn't too bad. We did a loop around the neighborhood and hit the two mile mark on the way back out. I clocked in at 14:11 here for a 7:21 for the second mile. Still not bad at all.
Mile 3-finish- Mile 3 started with a wicked little uphill and we turned into the second neighborhood for a short loop. I felt pretty good but was having problems with pacing here. There was nobody in front of me but I could hear someone gaining on me. I knew there was a downhill finish so I picked it up with a little over a quarter mile left to hold him off. Mile 3 clocked in at 21 and change. Final time- 22:17.
This was an excellent event only a few miles away from my apartment. It's hard to argue with that. I'm also very happy with my place in the race- 20/230. It's exciting to run a solid race considering I will be on my favorite 5k course this Thursday.
Next race: Duck 'n' Run 5k- Sidney, OH
Today turned out nice as it was humid at the start, but thankfully the sun was partially hidden for most of the race. The course itself had a few more hills than I thought it would. Overall, this was a great local race. On to the breakdown:
Mile 1- I wanted to come out strong for this race to find out where exactly I am at the beginning of this 5k gauntlet. Well, I did indeed come out strong...way too strong. The first mile clicked by at 6:50. There was a lengthy downhill late in the first mile so that probably didn't help. But I was feeling pretty good regardless. We turned into the first of two smaller neighborhoods we'd be visiting.
Mile 2- The second mile has always killed my time in 5ks. I believe it's actually worse now since I spend far less time training for negative splits in 5ks in favor of training for even splits in half marathons. This one wasn't too bad. We did a loop around the neighborhood and hit the two mile mark on the way back out. I clocked in at 14:11 here for a 7:21 for the second mile. Still not bad at all.
Mile 3-finish- Mile 3 started with a wicked little uphill and we turned into the second neighborhood for a short loop. I felt pretty good but was having problems with pacing here. There was nobody in front of me but I could hear someone gaining on me. I knew there was a downhill finish so I picked it up with a little over a quarter mile left to hold him off. Mile 3 clocked in at 21 and change. Final time- 22:17.
This was an excellent event only a few miles away from my apartment. It's hard to argue with that. I'm also very happy with my place in the race- 20/230. It's exciting to run a solid race considering I will be on my favorite 5k course this Thursday.
Next race: Duck 'n' Run 5k- Sidney, OH
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Carmel Half Marathon
This was a fantastic race for an inaugural event! I almost didn't sign up for this one simply because it was the first year for the Carmel Marathon. But once I saw how much hype they were throwing into this race, I decided it would be worth a shot since there aren't many half marathons in the Midwest in June and because of the short drive to Carmel. Besides a few minor issues (most of which I've seen at more established races) the city did a great job with this event. The weather cooperating was also a nice surprise. It was mid-70s and overcast at the start and the sun didn't come out too often during my race.
I arrived on Friday afternoon and went straight to packet pick up at the Monon Community Center. This was a breeze to get to and there were no problems here. The expo left a bit to be desired considering the amount of hype this event had going for it. I was happy to see two local running stores represented with a good amount of merchandise. After purchasing some new running shorts and some Sport Beans (for the next morning) I headed to my hotel.
Race morning was a breeze. I showed up around 5:30 and had plenty of time to walk to the start (parking was about a half mile from the start), go to bag check and stretch out. And I even saw some friends from back home who were running the marathon! Small world. Lining up for the start was a bit of a cluster as the marathon and half marathon started at the same time. Thankfully, they had clearly marked pace signs and most people were good about lining up where they should. I lined up near the 9 minute pace section and felt good as we started out. I've started wearing a watch to the races, plus they had timing mats at every 5k, so these split times are pretty accurate.
Miles 1-3: I knew I went out a little faster than I had planned. The first mile went very quickly and I was at about 8:50 for the first mile. A little fast, but the first few miles were basically straightaways. Not having to constantly turn can really improve your time. I was at 17:40 for the second mile and holding on to around an 8:50 pace. At this point I decided to try my best for even splits for the rest of the race. The first 5k clocked in at 27:05 and I was holding steady.
Miles 4-6: We split off from the marathoners soon after the third mile, but I never felt alone on this course. There were always four or five other runners around me, which is nice compared to those lonely training runs. We started going through some nice, scenic areas of Carmel. The hill during mile 4 caught a lot of us off guard. The rest of the course was very, very flat. I kept up my pace and hit mile 6 in 51:48.
Miles 7-9: I've mentioned in a previous post that these are the important miles for me. I either listen to my iPod and watch the miles click off, or I feel each and every step. This was the first time since my injury issue in April that I've really felt like myself. Plus this was a really cool part of the course! We went on to the Monon trail right when the sun was peaking through the clouds. The shade was very much needed here and the course was very scenic I can't remember the exact splits for these miles, but I know they were still close to 8:50-9:00 each.
Miles 10-12: . My split for the first 10 miles was 1:29.06. Not bad considering I usually try to hit that in 1:30. I also realized that a PR was out of the question due to the humidity and the potential sunlight during the last 5k. But that wouldn't stop me from posting a very good time. We started to head back to the finish area through the Carmel Arts District. This was another cool area of the course and the spectators were very nice through the final miles. At mile 12 I was at 1:47 and change.
Final mile: We hit a wicked little hill during this last mile, but the downhill to the finish was worth it. For a small city, there sure were some awesome spectators during this final push. I especially liked the sign one was holding that said, "You are all making me feel lazy!" Awesome.
Final time- 1:56.06
I am thrilled with this time, especially considering having to scratch out of the Glass City Half Marathon less than two months ago. This was the finishing touch on my Spring 2011 race schedule, so it's on to some summer 5ks. My next half marathon won't be until the Little Miami on August 21st. I can use the break considering I've completed five half marathons this year. The Carmel Half was a terrific event and I will seriously considering coming back next year. The organization was top notch!
Next race: Dorothy Lane Market Dash- Centerville, OH
I arrived on Friday afternoon and went straight to packet pick up at the Monon Community Center. This was a breeze to get to and there were no problems here. The expo left a bit to be desired considering the amount of hype this event had going for it. I was happy to see two local running stores represented with a good amount of merchandise. After purchasing some new running shorts and some Sport Beans (for the next morning) I headed to my hotel.
Race morning was a breeze. I showed up around 5:30 and had plenty of time to walk to the start (parking was about a half mile from the start), go to bag check and stretch out. And I even saw some friends from back home who were running the marathon! Small world. Lining up for the start was a bit of a cluster as the marathon and half marathon started at the same time. Thankfully, they had clearly marked pace signs and most people were good about lining up where they should. I lined up near the 9 minute pace section and felt good as we started out. I've started wearing a watch to the races, plus they had timing mats at every 5k, so these split times are pretty accurate.
Miles 1-3: I knew I went out a little faster than I had planned. The first mile went very quickly and I was at about 8:50 for the first mile. A little fast, but the first few miles were basically straightaways. Not having to constantly turn can really improve your time. I was at 17:40 for the second mile and holding on to around an 8:50 pace. At this point I decided to try my best for even splits for the rest of the race. The first 5k clocked in at 27:05 and I was holding steady.
Miles 4-6: We split off from the marathoners soon after the third mile, but I never felt alone on this course. There were always four or five other runners around me, which is nice compared to those lonely training runs. We started going through some nice, scenic areas of Carmel. The hill during mile 4 caught a lot of us off guard. The rest of the course was very, very flat. I kept up my pace and hit mile 6 in 51:48.
Miles 7-9: I've mentioned in a previous post that these are the important miles for me. I either listen to my iPod and watch the miles click off, or I feel each and every step. This was the first time since my injury issue in April that I've really felt like myself. Plus this was a really cool part of the course! We went on to the Monon trail right when the sun was peaking through the clouds. The shade was very much needed here and the course was very scenic I can't remember the exact splits for these miles, but I know they were still close to 8:50-9:00 each.
Miles 10-12: . My split for the first 10 miles was 1:29.06. Not bad considering I usually try to hit that in 1:30. I also realized that a PR was out of the question due to the humidity and the potential sunlight during the last 5k. But that wouldn't stop me from posting a very good time. We started to head back to the finish area through the Carmel Arts District. This was another cool area of the course and the spectators were very nice through the final miles. At mile 12 I was at 1:47 and change.
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| The greatest sign a half marathoner will see. |
Final time- 1:56.06
Next race: Dorothy Lane Market Dash- Centerville, OH
Monday, May 30, 2011
Lou Cox 5k
I have one word to describe this race. Hot. No, let me edit that. Freakin' hot! It was already muggy when I got up at 6:30 this morning. This was one of those times where an 8:00 start wouldn't have even helped us out much. But it was still a fun time and I'm guessing there were a good 1,000 runners or so.
The course itself would be absolutely perfect for a PR if race conditions are good. It starts outside of UD arena, runs across the Stewart St. bridge, along the river, and back to UD (with a nice downhill) finishing with a lap around the track.
I decided to not even attempt to race this thing, especially with a half marathon in 12 days. I even wore my iPod, which I never do at 5ks. After going through warm-ups and already building up a nice sweat, I made my way to the start line.
The congestion at the start of this race was more than I was expecting. It's usually not a big deal for me at half marathons because I start out very slow at those. I had to weave around a lot of people through the first half mile or so. It got better after that and I settled into a nice little groove. The first mile was around 8 minutes even, which I was fine with today. The fact that this is one of the few days we haven't had rain made me appreciate just being outside. The second mile was about the same as the first. We turned around by the river and made our way back to UD. I'm thinking I was just under 16 minutes at this point. The third mile was fine as we made our way back across the bridge and down a nice little hill to the stadium. I passed probably around a dozen people going down the hill and around the track. Final time- app. 23:48. About a minute slower than Vandalia, but about all race conditions would allow.
Nothing major is planned prior to the next race. I may try to get some speedwork in and probably a 7-8 miler next weekend. My key race for the first half of the year is coming up fast.
Next race: Carmel Half Marathon- Carmel, IN
The course itself would be absolutely perfect for a PR if race conditions are good. It starts outside of UD arena, runs across the Stewart St. bridge, along the river, and back to UD (with a nice downhill) finishing with a lap around the track.
I decided to not even attempt to race this thing, especially with a half marathon in 12 days. I even wore my iPod, which I never do at 5ks. After going through warm-ups and already building up a nice sweat, I made my way to the start line.
The congestion at the start of this race was more than I was expecting. It's usually not a big deal for me at half marathons because I start out very slow at those. I had to weave around a lot of people through the first half mile or so. It got better after that and I settled into a nice little groove. The first mile was around 8 minutes even, which I was fine with today. The fact that this is one of the few days we haven't had rain made me appreciate just being outside. The second mile was about the same as the first. We turned around by the river and made our way back to UD. I'm thinking I was just under 16 minutes at this point. The third mile was fine as we made our way back across the bridge and down a nice little hill to the stadium. I passed probably around a dozen people going down the hill and around the track. Final time- app. 23:48. About a minute slower than Vandalia, but about all race conditions would allow.
Nothing major is planned prior to the next race. I may try to get some speedwork in and probably a 7-8 miler next weekend. My key race for the first half of the year is coming up fast.
Next race: Carmel Half Marathon- Carmel, IN
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Vandalia 5k
This was a last minute addition to my race schedule. It's organized by the Ohio River Road Runners Club, which is a top notch organization. A $9 registration fee and a chance for some speedwork on a Tuesday evening made it a no-brainer. This was my first 5k since the Glass City debacle, so I was eager to see where I was in my recovery.
I made my way to the Vandalia Rec Center after work and got there in plenty of time to warm-up. It was rainy which is par for the course this spring. It wasn't too cool though and made for comfortable race conditions. Plus we could warm-up in the Rec Center prior to the race.
The race report itself is pretty short as there were no clocks along the course. The only thing that irked me was the first half mile or so. The race starts in the parking lot of the Rec Center and goes on to a bike path through the complex. A very narrow bike path. With close to 200 runners on it. You see where I'm going with this. It was jam-packed and made very difficult by the fact that nobody wanted to pass in the grass due to the rain. The grass looked pretty slick so I had to just hang tight. The first mile went fast, almost too fast. We went through town and I started feeling it around the mile 2 marker. I really didn't have a goal or plan coming into this due to a lack of heavy training. It seems my legs are getting really tired early in races right now. I upped my pace slightly during the last mile, which was back on the bike path, which was a lot less congested than in the beginning of the race. I was able to kick it in during the last 100 meters for a respectable 22:38.
Next Race: Lou Cox 5k- Dayton, OH
I made my way to the Vandalia Rec Center after work and got there in plenty of time to warm-up. It was rainy which is par for the course this spring. It wasn't too cool though and made for comfortable race conditions. Plus we could warm-up in the Rec Center prior to the race.
The race report itself is pretty short as there were no clocks along the course. The only thing that irked me was the first half mile or so. The race starts in the parking lot of the Rec Center and goes on to a bike path through the complex. A very narrow bike path. With close to 200 runners on it. You see where I'm going with this. It was jam-packed and made very difficult by the fact that nobody wanted to pass in the grass due to the rain. The grass looked pretty slick so I had to just hang tight. The first mile went fast, almost too fast. We went through town and I started feeling it around the mile 2 marker. I really didn't have a goal or plan coming into this due to a lack of heavy training. It seems my legs are getting really tired early in races right now. I upped my pace slightly during the last mile, which was back on the bike path, which was a lot less congested than in the beginning of the race. I was able to kick it in during the last 100 meters for a respectable 22:38.
Next Race: Lou Cox 5k- Dayton, OH
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Seymour Mini Marathon
This was a big event for me because I'm still trying to get over this IT band problem. I only ran around 8 miles in the five days leading up to this event, so training had obviously slowed down. This gave me a chance to see how the healing was going.
The price of this half was by far the cheapest I've seen. $20 plus ten canned goods (the race was for the local food pantry) got you in the race! The race is in its second year and is only about 160 people strong, though up from 80 last year, so it's growing. I also forgot how much I love race day packet pick-up! Parking was a breeze at the local church. It's times like this that I love the small races. The large races are fun with the expo and crowds, but these smaller races have a charm all their own.
Let's get to the race. I had to stretch a lot longer than is the norm for me since this injury hasn't healed completely. I did wear an IT band strap and used some Icy Hot, too. We lined up for the start and before I knew it, we're off!
Miles 1-3- I knew that these could be the most important miles in this race. Would the injury be an issue or not? There was some mild pain but nothing bad. The first mile had plenty of curves as we made our way through town. We made our way into the country, and more straightaways, over the next two miles. My realistic goal for this race was 2:30 since I figured I'd have to take an occasional walk break if the injury became too nagging. It was hard to figure what I was running because there were no clocks on the course and I never wear a watch. I asked someone at mile 3 and she said we were at 29:37. Usually I would try to be around 27:15, but I was very happy with 10 minute miles for this first race back.
Miles 4-6- A nice long straightaway for most of this stretch. I started taking water at each aid station, which was located every two miles. The course was nothing special. Pretty much what I expected from a smaller town. What I loved was the lack of hills on this course. We turned down a little country road about five and a half miles in and hit the mile 6 aid station right before heading back toward town.
Miles 7-9- We finally hit the few hills on the course, but they were actually a nice change of pace. Nothing major, just the rolling variety. The steep climb down the last hill right at mile 7 was a little unpleasant because it was hard to not fly down the hill. We started making our way back to town by running the same country road from earlier. It actually seemed shorter on the way back. At this point I knew I was going to finish this thing and in a much better time than expected. I wasn't even feeling any pain from the IT band, but my legs were feeling heavy due to the lack of training. I started sprinkling in a few one minute walk breaks around mile 9.
Miles 10-12- More country roads until mile 11 when we hit town again. I took a few short walk breaks but still felt pretty good. We hit some different roads in town and winded around quite a bit since a true out and back would have been short of 13.1 miles. There weren't many people outside even though it was gorgeous out. Not much in the way of spectators, but the ones I did see were very enthusiastic and thanked the runners for supporting the town. Around the 12 mile mark I really started feeling like crap. I was getting pretty dehydrated even though I stopped for water at each stop. My one complaint was that there was no Gatorade along the course. But with only one mile left, I toughed it out.
Mile 13-end- I ran very easy over the last mile since I was feeling pretty dehydrated. There really wasn't anyone around me at this point and I just ran easily. No reason to try to improve my time by a few seconds because I knew my time would be slow anyway. Finally hit Stadium Dr. by the high school and finished at the church in 2:09. Got my medal and headed straight for the Gatorade, which I promptly destroyed.
Thoughts- The was a very well managed race for such a small race. I was pleasantly surprised with the goodies we received from a $20 race fee; a classy medal, tech tee, water bottle, and lunch cooler. I've received less at races that cost two to three times more than this one. Each mile was marked and aid stations were plentiful. It's about a two hour drive from Dayton, but it was very well worth it. I see this event growing exponentially in the coming years and wouldn't be surprised if it rivals events like the State to State Half Marathon in size. The most pleasant surprise is that I was able to run most of the course and my IT band is not giving me any problems the morning after the race. I've got a three week break until my next race and am looking to get back into race shape soon.
Next race: Lou Cox 5k- Dayton, OH
The price of this half was by far the cheapest I've seen. $20 plus ten canned goods (the race was for the local food pantry) got you in the race! The race is in its second year and is only about 160 people strong, though up from 80 last year, so it's growing. I also forgot how much I love race day packet pick-up! Parking was a breeze at the local church. It's times like this that I love the small races. The large races are fun with the expo and crowds, but these smaller races have a charm all their own.
Let's get to the race. I had to stretch a lot longer than is the norm for me since this injury hasn't healed completely. I did wear an IT band strap and used some Icy Hot, too. We lined up for the start and before I knew it, we're off!
Miles 1-3- I knew that these could be the most important miles in this race. Would the injury be an issue or not? There was some mild pain but nothing bad. The first mile had plenty of curves as we made our way through town. We made our way into the country, and more straightaways, over the next two miles. My realistic goal for this race was 2:30 since I figured I'd have to take an occasional walk break if the injury became too nagging. It was hard to figure what I was running because there were no clocks on the course and I never wear a watch. I asked someone at mile 3 and she said we were at 29:37. Usually I would try to be around 27:15, but I was very happy with 10 minute miles for this first race back.
Miles 4-6- A nice long straightaway for most of this stretch. I started taking water at each aid station, which was located every two miles. The course was nothing special. Pretty much what I expected from a smaller town. What I loved was the lack of hills on this course. We turned down a little country road about five and a half miles in and hit the mile 6 aid station right before heading back toward town.
Miles 7-9- We finally hit the few hills on the course, but they were actually a nice change of pace. Nothing major, just the rolling variety. The steep climb down the last hill right at mile 7 was a little unpleasant because it was hard to not fly down the hill. We started making our way back to town by running the same country road from earlier. It actually seemed shorter on the way back. At this point I knew I was going to finish this thing and in a much better time than expected. I wasn't even feeling any pain from the IT band, but my legs were feeling heavy due to the lack of training. I started sprinkling in a few one minute walk breaks around mile 9.
Miles 10-12- More country roads until mile 11 when we hit town again. I took a few short walk breaks but still felt pretty good. We hit some different roads in town and winded around quite a bit since a true out and back would have been short of 13.1 miles. There weren't many people outside even though it was gorgeous out. Not much in the way of spectators, but the ones I did see were very enthusiastic and thanked the runners for supporting the town. Around the 12 mile mark I really started feeling like crap. I was getting pretty dehydrated even though I stopped for water at each stop. My one complaint was that there was no Gatorade along the course. But with only one mile left, I toughed it out.
Mile 13-end- I ran very easy over the last mile since I was feeling pretty dehydrated. There really wasn't anyone around me at this point and I just ran easily. No reason to try to improve my time by a few seconds because I knew my time would be slow anyway. Finally hit Stadium Dr. by the high school and finished at the church in 2:09. Got my medal and headed straight for the Gatorade, which I promptly destroyed.
Thoughts- The was a very well managed race for such a small race. I was pleasantly surprised with the goodies we received from a $20 race fee; a classy medal, tech tee, water bottle, and lunch cooler. I've received less at races that cost two to three times more than this one. Each mile was marked and aid stations were plentiful. It's about a two hour drive from Dayton, but it was very well worth it. I see this event growing exponentially in the coming years and wouldn't be surprised if it rivals events like the State to State Half Marathon in size. The most pleasant surprise is that I was able to run most of the course and my IT band is not giving me any problems the morning after the race. I've got a three week break until my next race and am looking to get back into race shape soon.
Next race: Lou Cox 5k- Dayton, OH
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Glass City 5k/Injury Status
I am way behind so I'll try to keep this one short and sweet. You'll notice that I ran the Glass City 5k instead of the half marathon. I developed an IT band problem soon after the ORRRC Half Marathon on April 3rd. At first it felt like a strained quad, but now I'm sure it's an IT band issue. Anyway, I was in no shape to try a half up in Toledo and opted for the 5k instead. My time was 24 minutes and change, which is about 3 minutes slower than my normal time. I do have some thoughts on the race.
The expo that Saturday was much better than expected. Everything was running very smoothly and there were quite a few vendors. I wasn't really in the mood to look at too much, but it looked like there were some great deals on gear. The race itself was very well organized. It was pretty windy on Sunday morning, but thankfully Savage Hall Arena was open for runners to stretch prior to the races. The half/full started at 7:00 and, I'll admit, I was ticked off seeing them go out without me. I never thought I'd get to the point where I was so disappointed to not be in the half marathon. The 5k started at 7:15 and went well considering I wasn't in any shape to race. The first mile was very, very slow as I was simply reading how hard my body could go. I actually was at about 9:30 for the first mile. The second and third miles weren't bad at all as I clocked in at roughly 7:30 for each. The finish is very cool in the Glass Bowl Stadium. I finished about 62 out of over 800 runners. Not bad on an injured IT band.
I had to cancel running a 5k on Easter and didn't do much running for a couple weeks after Toledo My workouts have consisted of icing the leg and working out with a foam roller. I'm finally able to run again and have had some good workouts. This weekend is very important as I've got a half marathon scheduled. I plan to use the run/walk method and simply see where I am. My goal race is the Carmel Half Marathon on June 11th, so I am hoping for a full recovery and possibly a 5k on Memorial Day. I'm not looking for a PR until Fall, but I'm hoping to be back to normal soon.
Next race: Seymour Mini Marathon- Seymour, IN
The expo that Saturday was much better than expected. Everything was running very smoothly and there were quite a few vendors. I wasn't really in the mood to look at too much, but it looked like there were some great deals on gear. The race itself was very well organized. It was pretty windy on Sunday morning, but thankfully Savage Hall Arena was open for runners to stretch prior to the races. The half/full started at 7:00 and, I'll admit, I was ticked off seeing them go out without me. I never thought I'd get to the point where I was so disappointed to not be in the half marathon. The 5k started at 7:15 and went well considering I wasn't in any shape to race. The first mile was very, very slow as I was simply reading how hard my body could go. I actually was at about 9:30 for the first mile. The second and third miles weren't bad at all as I clocked in at roughly 7:30 for each. The finish is very cool in the Glass Bowl Stadium. I finished about 62 out of over 800 runners. Not bad on an injured IT band.
I had to cancel running a 5k on Easter and didn't do much running for a couple weeks after Toledo My workouts have consisted of icing the leg and working out with a foam roller. I'm finally able to run again and have had some good workouts. This weekend is very important as I've got a half marathon scheduled. I plan to use the run/walk method and simply see where I am. My goal race is the Carmel Half Marathon on June 11th, so I am hoping for a full recovery and possibly a 5k on Memorial Day. I'm not looking for a PR until Fall, but I'm hoping to be back to normal soon.
Next race: Seymour Mini Marathon- Seymour, IN
Sunday, April 3, 2011
ORRRC Half Marathon
The Ohio River Road Runners Club Half Marathon was held this morning in Xenia, OH. I decided to run this one as a tune-up for the Glass City Half Marathon in two weeks. The goal was to run around 2:00 and shoot for a solid time at the next one. Plans often change. It was around 35 degrees at race start and it felt perfect! I decided at the last minute to see how the first five miles went and then go from there.
Before going through my breakdown, I do want to encourage any readers to check out this race. I really wasn't sure what to expect (Xenia isn't exactly a destination marathon) and was looking at a potentially boring course. A major plus is the cost which is $25 for early registration. That's the cheapest half I've found! And the race organizers don't skimp at all. The registration fee includes the run on a beautiful course, an awesome tech tee, classy finisher's medal, and hot food at the finish. This wouldn't be my choice for a first marathon (only 165 in the full) but it's a nice race overall. On to the breakdown:
Miles 1-3- The first few miles are in town as we headed north from the YMCA, turned around, and headed back south towards the rails to trails that runs through Xenia. The road is a little uneven on this portion so you really have to watch the potholes. My first mile clocked in at 9:18. I was shooting for 9:30. Second mile was 18:28 (9:10). Whoops. Didn't mean to start out this fast. Unfortunately, clocks weren't available at most of the miles after these first few.
Miles 4-6- A short little jaunt on the trail, then south out of town. There were some nice rolling hills along this part of the course to break up the monotony. I can't stand completely flat courses, so this was nice. At around mile 5 we came back to the trail. A large part of this race is one long straightaway. I was running at a nice pace and passing some people along the way. The clock at mile 6 said 54:47. I was running even splits and feeling pretty good. This was when I made the decision to push the pace and see if I could run hard for the remainder.
Miles 7-9- More of the trail. Stopped at one water spot for some Gatorade. They only had lemon-lime. Yuck. Mile 8 was on a little side road that runs to Central State University. We turned back around at the university and headed right back to the trail. Still feeling pretty good and really pushing my pace.
Miles 10-12- Hit the 10th mile marker at 1:28. I usually aim to hit it at 1:30. Kept running even splits and even chatted with another runner for a half mile or so. He was running his first half and said, "I love it!" That's what we like to hear. At the 12th mile marker we were just getting back to Xenia.
Final push- The last bit of the race was on the road we took south out of town, so it was easy to tell exactly how much was left. I really finished strong during this last mile and still felt good. Final time- 1:54.25. Overall, this was a major confidence boost. Now is a brief recovery before the next one.
Next race: Glass City Half Marathon- Toledo, OH
Before going through my breakdown, I do want to encourage any readers to check out this race. I really wasn't sure what to expect (Xenia isn't exactly a destination marathon) and was looking at a potentially boring course. A major plus is the cost which is $25 for early registration. That's the cheapest half I've found! And the race organizers don't skimp at all. The registration fee includes the run on a beautiful course, an awesome tech tee, classy finisher's medal, and hot food at the finish. This wouldn't be my choice for a first marathon (only 165 in the full) but it's a nice race overall. On to the breakdown:
Miles 1-3- The first few miles are in town as we headed north from the YMCA, turned around, and headed back south towards the rails to trails that runs through Xenia. The road is a little uneven on this portion so you really have to watch the potholes. My first mile clocked in at 9:18. I was shooting for 9:30. Second mile was 18:28 (9:10). Whoops. Didn't mean to start out this fast. Unfortunately, clocks weren't available at most of the miles after these first few.
Miles 4-6- A short little jaunt on the trail, then south out of town. There were some nice rolling hills along this part of the course to break up the monotony. I can't stand completely flat courses, so this was nice. At around mile 5 we came back to the trail. A large part of this race is one long straightaway. I was running at a nice pace and passing some people along the way. The clock at mile 6 said 54:47. I was running even splits and feeling pretty good. This was when I made the decision to push the pace and see if I could run hard for the remainder.
Miles 7-9- More of the trail. Stopped at one water spot for some Gatorade. They only had lemon-lime. Yuck. Mile 8 was on a little side road that runs to Central State University. We turned back around at the university and headed right back to the trail. Still feeling pretty good and really pushing my pace.
Miles 10-12- Hit the 10th mile marker at 1:28. I usually aim to hit it at 1:30. Kept running even splits and even chatted with another runner for a half mile or so. He was running his first half and said, "I love it!" That's what we like to hear. At the 12th mile marker we were just getting back to Xenia.
Final push- The last bit of the race was on the road we took south out of town, so it was easy to tell exactly how much was left. I really finished strong during this last mile and still felt good. Final time- 1:54.25. Overall, this was a major confidence boost. Now is a brief recovery before the next one.
Next race: Glass City Half Marathon- Toledo, OH
Saturday, March 26, 2011
No Buts About It 5k
This will be a shorter post today since this was only a 5k. I headed up to the Mall at Fairfield Commons in Beavercreek for this 5k at 7:30 this morning. Got there a little before 8:00 for easy packet pick up and to loosen up some before the 9:00 start. The past week was beautiful for Ohio in March. We had some nice days in the 50's and 60's which is ideal for me. But, since it's Ohio, I knew it was too good to last. And it did not last. It was a brisk 26 degrees this morning with a decent wind added to the mix. I don't say this often, but I really didn't want to get out of bed for this one. Runners are a dedicated breed so I naturally ran anyway.
I went for a brief jog around the mall about a half hour before the start and could tell that this was going to be a rough one. Let's just get it over with. The start went better than I thought it would. I started at a nice pace (not sure of my splits as there were no mile markers/clocks) and quickly realized that everyone was starting at a conservative pace. I figured I was in about 20th place or so after the first mile. The second mile was through a little neighborhood behind the mall. This was where my lungs started to feel the cold air. Plus there wasn't much to block the wind. Not fun, but I think I kept a good time for the second mile. The third mile looped back around where we came from. I was little irritated by the huge mass of walkers who did cheer us on but also did not move out of the way. I had to steer wide to miss them. Oh well.
The finish was much stronger than I thought it would be and I passed three people before crossing the timing mat. My time was much, much better than I thought it would be considering the weather conditions. A solid 21:36 which is faster than my past four 5ks. To add to the surprises, I placed 3rd in my age group and received a nice plaque! Overall, I'm seeing that the recent speedwork has helped. I have four tough weeks ahead with the ORRRC Half Marathon, Glass City Half Marathon and another 5k on the horizon.
Next race: Ohio River Road Runners Half Marathon- Xenia, OH
I went for a brief jog around the mall about a half hour before the start and could tell that this was going to be a rough one. Let's just get it over with. The start went better than I thought it would. I started at a nice pace (not sure of my splits as there were no mile markers/clocks) and quickly realized that everyone was starting at a conservative pace. I figured I was in about 20th place or so after the first mile. The second mile was through a little neighborhood behind the mall. This was where my lungs started to feel the cold air. Plus there wasn't much to block the wind. Not fun, but I think I kept a good time for the second mile. The third mile looped back around where we came from. I was little irritated by the huge mass of walkers who did cheer us on but also did not move out of the way. I had to steer wide to miss them. Oh well.
Next race: Ohio River Road Runners Half Marathon- Xenia, OH
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Last Chance for Boston Half Marathon
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| A look at the course |
I arrived in Dublin on Saturday and went right in and out of the host hotel for packet pick up. Easy as can be. I was actually quite happy with the gray long sleeve tech shirt. Not bad at all. Then I walked back to the hotel I was staying in. It's nice that there are four hotels right by the race, making race morning a piece of cake. Some extra sleep and no drive to the starting line. Sign me up! A simple pasta dinner the night before and plenty of rest and I felt ready to go.
Race morning was much nicer temperature-wise that I was expecting. As soon as I clicked the "Submit" button on the registration form I thought, "Uh-oh. What have I done?" It could easily be ten degrees on race morning, but it was actually near 40. Nice. I went outside the hotel for a nice warm-up jog with some other runners who wanted to check out the weather, too. Relaxed in my room for another half hour and went out for the start.The odd thing with this race is that the 5k and half start at 8:00 and the 10k and full start at 8:03, so there are four races running at the same time. This was difficult for me as I never really settled into the pace I wanted. The first split (the first .1 plus one mile) was 11:36. Ugh. Not good. The next two splits were 10:00 and 9:54. I wanted to run around 9:30 per mile for the first 8-9 miles. Not a good start. I averaged around 9:50 for the next four miles, so I quickly decided to just enjoy my sixth half marathon. No chance at a great time. And the fact that I desperately needed to use the porta john at mile 8 did not help. I hit the 9:30s and low 9:00s for the remainder until hitting an 8:08 on the final mile. Overall- 2:07.31. I'm actually pretty happy with that time since I started so slow and made a rare pit stop mid-race. I've never been much of a cold weather runner, so the fact that I can complete one this time of year is a huge improvement over previous years.
Postrace was nothing special. The medal is like something you would get at a local 5k. Think of the cheap medal with a sticker on it. Plus it doesn't distinguish between the marathon and half marathon, which is a major no-no in my book. The food was so-so. Gatorade, water, bagels, and some fruit. Eh. The payoff is the race itself as the volunteers are great! Hitting the aid station 13 times during the race is awesome and they were very supportive throughout. The same goes for the spectators who, again, you see 13 times during the race. All in all, I'm glad I did this one.
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| Race swag |
Next race: No Buts About It 5k at Beavercreek, OH
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Melbourne & Beaches Music Half Marathon
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| Bill Rodgers |
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| Keith Brantly |
After the expo, I headed down to Ft. Pierce as I was staying with friends down there. It's about an hour drive down there, so I got to enjoy the sights of Florida (as opposed to Ohio). I was up at about four the next morning and was surprisingly ready to go! Felt even better after having some coffee and Try Chips during the drive to Melbourne for breakfast. Getting to the race was a breeze as I found parking about two blocks from the start and the gear check, port-a-johns, and water were only minutes away. And the weather was perfect! At the start it was about 58 degrees and overcast with a light mist. The weather needs to be like this for every race. After going through my warm-ups it was finally race time!
I can't compare this race to any others in Florida, but I was very impressed. The first five miles went quickly (though I found it strange that we had a quick left hand turn within 100 meters of the start) and was on very flat terrain. We ran through some smaller communities and the crowd support was wonderful for a smaller race. The congestion wasn't bad either, even though the marathoners and half-marathoners started together.
Now...there is one bad thing about the first five. You can see the first of two bridge crosses in the distance during those first five. These bridges are very steep and quite intimidating. I noticed that I wasn't the only one stealing a glance at the bridge every so often. We began our ascent right at mile 5. I knew that if I just took it easy, I would be fine. The crossing felt like it took forever, but everyone made it and began the descent, which I also took very easy. I did see a few people flying down the other side. They probably paid for that later on.
Miles 7-11 were very uneventful. The course support was great, but it was one long straightaway with little view of the water. These are the important miles where I either shut out the pain by paying attention to the music from my iPod, or I'm aware of every mile. Despite my training being very so-so, I was able to get lost in the music. Arcade Fire, the New Pornographers and the Pixies were able to get me through this race.
Final time- 2:01.11
I was pretty happy with this time. Especially since I had a minimal amount of training and this was my first longer race since the Spinx Run Fest Marathon in October. The post race party was a blast as there was plenty of food and drinks available. The atmosphere was phenomenal!
Next up: Last Chance for Boston Half Marathon in Dublin, OH on Feb. 27.
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