2015 Year in Review

This was certainly one of my best running years.  My half marathon PR dropped several times, I won a few races, and enjoyed training/racing with FW.  I meant to scale back my race schedule and somehow managed to increase it.  I also didn't have any single "man, that was terrible" races.  Heck, I even had the "opportunity" to run a solid half marathon in 17 degree weather.

Here are my thoughts on 2015:

2015 Race Totals

5k- 9
4 Miler- 2
Half Marathon- 11
1 10k, 1 7k, 1 17k
Grand total of 201 miles in races

Highlights

• PR'd three times in the half marathon.  These happened at the Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Half, Three Creeks Half, and Ohio River Road Runners Half.
• Ran only my second sub-20:00 5k at the Ontario Liberty 5k (19:52).
• I ran my first double by doing the 5k and half marathon at Rock 'n' Roll Arizona.  Then I completed the Skyline 3-Way Challenge by running the 5k, 10k and half marathon at the Flying Pig.
• Added states twelve (Arizona) and thirteen (Rhode Island).
• This was an awards heavy year for me.  I won three more races, bringing my grand total to six, by winning the Liwiro La Malawi 5k, Great Mohican 17k, and Lifesaver 5k.  I came in second at the FIT Fright 5k in Norwalk.  I placed in a couple half marathons, too, by getting second in my age group at the Three Creeks Half and third at the Medina Half.
• I had a blast training with FW this year and she made significant strides by beating her 5k PR twice, first at the Flying Pig then at the Kingwood 5k.
• FW continues to fight plantar fasciitis but she's hanging in there.  She's working very hard on the elliptical, stationary bike, treadmill, and some light lifting.  I'm very curious to see how she does once spring gets here.
• I also enjoyed the support I received from FW throughout the year.  She went to so many races (not always in great weather) to support me.  I know it can't be fun to watch a race start and then wait around for over an hour and a half.  You're the best, FW!

Favorite Races

• Rock 'n' Roll Arizona 5k/Half Marathon- This was a terrific destination race and I ran a surprisingly ran a new PR at the time.  The course is scenic and you could not ask for better weather!
• Ohio River Road Runners Club Half Marathon- The ORRRC race winds up on my list year after year.  This was my fourth time running it and second time I PR'd.  FW and I enjoyed a nice weekend in nearby Yellow Springs which made the experience even better.  If you are looking for a well organized race, look no further!
• Flying Pig Skyline 3-Way- The entire experience was wonderful at the Flying Pig.  The 10k was more enjoyable than most and following it up by running the 5k with FW was even better.  Plus, FW ran a then-PR.  The next day's half marathon was the most challenging of the year, but I may have had more fun than all the others.
• Private Heath Warner Memorial 4 Miler- This one was a shocker!  We had beautiful weather for late May and I ran an insane 25:51.  The course was pretty nice and the organization was top notch.
• Medina Half Marathon- A late addition to my 2015 schedule, the Medina Half was a blast.  FW enjoyed the town square with a great coffee shop and farmer's market.  I enjoyed the course, even though there was an insane amount of turns.  This was also only the third time I placed in a half marathon.
• Kingwood 5k- FW ran a PR and had a great time doing it!  Kingwood is a really cool place to hold a race and we plan on doing it again.
• Akron Half Marathon- This one marked my 50th half marathon and I could not have picked a better race to celebrate the accomplishment.  The organization is some of the best I've seen.  It has a big-city feel without all the hassle.

2016 Goals

• Set a new half marathon PR.  My current PR is 1:36:24.  With that in mind...
• Break 1:35 in the half marathon.
• Set a new 5k PR.  My current best is 19:42.  This one may be a bit too unrealistic, but I think I can do it on the right course in the right conditions.
• Run 7-8 half marathons.  We have a wedding to plan but I think this is still realistic.
• Run a trail half marathon if my schedule allows.
• I would love for FW to set a new 5k PR.  She made some excellent strides this year.  She'll be good if the plantar doesn't keep coming back.
• Find a 5 miler (or above) for FW.  She came very close by running the Shawshank Hustle 7k and that was in miserable conditions.

Next race: Ohio Northern University Polar Bear Indoor Half Marathon- Ada, OH

Lifesaver 5k

My final 2015 race summed up one of my most solid years of running.  I've had a lot of good things happen this year, including half marathon PRs, a few wins, placing at several halves, a sub-20 5k, and more. 

This race was in nearby Mifflin at Charles Mill Lake and it was a beautiful day.  We had some very strange weather for an Ohio December.  It was over 50 degrees at the start of the race and most runners, including myself, were wearing shorts and t-shirts.  It was very enjoyable for FW, as the weather was great and she was able to see me at several points on the course.

We started out with a quick loop around the campground area and, man, the hills were much more than expected!  They were rollers but I had no choice but to fly down them early on.  There was a 10k running the same course, so it was very difficult to tell where I was at in the race.  I started out with the top five people but I was thinking they were 10kers.  We looped around and back to the start line where we headed out a peninsula in the lake.  My first mile came in WAY too fast at 6:04. 

The peninsula portion was flatter and very scenic with good views of the lake.  I got a side cramp at about the 1.5 mile mark that really hurt me the rest of the race.  I actually walked for a bit because it was affecting my stride.  The second mile came in at a much slower 7:01.  I probably should have started at that pace but the first hills got me.  We finished the peninsula and made our way to the third loop by running out towards the highway.  I saw the 10kers coming back and realized I was the first 5k runner.  As I made my turn and came back it took a while to see the next 5k runner.  So I knew I had my third win of the year in the bag and kicked it in as much as I could.  I high-fived FW as I made the turn to the finish line and hit the mat in 20:46. This is another fast 5k for me!  More importantly it was my sixth ever first place finish!  I received a nice trophy for my efforts.

2015 has been a great running year.  I'll have my end of year thoughts posted in a week or so.  I'm signed up for three half marathons in 2016 with more to be added soon.  The first one is my first indoor half.

Next race: Ohio Northern University Polar Bear Indoor Half Marathon- Ada, OH

Flying Feather 4 Miler

FW (Future Wife!) and I headed down to Dublin on Thanksgiving for the Flying Feather 4 Miler.  I ran this one last year and posted a good time just under 30 minutes.  This year we used the race to see how FW is doing after getting back into an exercise routine.  She had a very good day!

Getting to the race was a piece of cake.  We parked at the same high school as last year and immediately jumped on one of the shuttle buses to the start.  One complaint: We got there very early to pick up our packets but The Club at Corazon was not open for runners to warm up.  This was one of the best things about last year's race as it was pretty chilly out.  I can't imagine why it wasn't open this year but it was very disappointing.  I mean, really, poor FW had to try to warm up on her own!

 

But we did get a picture with the race mascot!

 

On to the race!

We started near the end so FW could get into a rhythm and not start too fast.  She had the goal of getting in under 1:20.  We jogged for a bit at the start and then settled into a brisk walk/jog for much of the race.  FW hit the tangents well and was really working hard.  This course has a TON of turns for the first two miles or so.  We hit the first mile in 17:48.  That was well within range of her 1:20 goal but we knew she'd have to pace during the second mile.  We continued winding around some VERY nice neighborhoods near Glacier Ridge Park and just enjoyed the decent weather for a Thanksgiving morning.  FW was still working hard but not feeling bad.  We hit the second mile in 17:54, still well within reach of her goal for the day.  I started thinking she could actually break 1:10 if she continued at this pace.

We finally made our way into Glacier Ridge Park at about the 2.25 mile mark.  This part of the course is a bit more scenic which we enjoyed.  There's still a bit of winding around during this section but not as much.  FW started springkkling in more jogging during this section .  Her time was starting to look better and better.  We passed quite a few people during this part of the race, too.  I think FW has a similar strategy as I do, as she didn't like getting caught up in large groups and would speed up to pass them.  She hit the third mile in 17:17.  She really sped up during the final mile as we had a nice, long straightaway to the finish.  She used some downhills to her advantage and jogged down, took a break, and jogged down the next one.  We made a turn toward the finish and finished hard with a 16:05 final mile, good enough for a 1:09:14 final time!  This was obviously much faster than she thought she would run at this race and I couldn't be prouder!  

FW has started getting into a groove again but she's starting to get some plantar fasciitis again.  We're hoping she'll be able to do the elliptical and stationary bike over the winter to build up her cardio.  

The final race for 2015 will be a local 5k.

Next race: Project Lifesaver 5k- Mifflin, OH

 

Second Sole Made in America Half Marathon

My final half marathon for 2015 was at the Second Sole Made in America Half in Massillon, OH.  We experienced very mild weather for this time of year as the days leading to the race were in the high 70s.  But not on race day!  It was a cold thirty degrees when I left Mansfield at 6:00 on race morning.  This wouldn't normally worry me but I didn't have time to acclimate to colder temperatures yet.  Despite running with pants (for maybe only the third or fourth time ever), I ran a great race and had a good time.  I also ran this one with a good friend, making it a great way to finish my eleventh half of the year.  My only goal for the race was to stay in the 1:45 range.

Packet pickup was a breeze as there was a trailer set up outside the Massillon Recreation Center.  Parking was abundant and I was able to quickly grab my bib and go back to the car to warm-up.  My friend met me there and we did our best to stay warm prior to the start.  Thankfully, there was no wind and the sun came out before the race.  We headed over to the start, about a block away, and chatted prior to the start.

Miles 1-5: We started out on a slight downhill and made our way through a very long straightaway.  My friend and I started out at about a 8:30 pace.  I wanted to help him settle into a nice pace as this was his only race of the year.  I felt pretty good and headed out after the two mile mark to make up some time.  This part of the course had the only hills but they were simple rollers.  It was also not very scenic until we came to the Towpath Trail about four miles into the race.  Then the race got fun as the trail was crushed limestone which felt great!  Plus, the fall foliage looked really cool as we continued farther from town.  Here are the splits for the first five: 1 (8:29), 2 (7:50), 3 (7:45), 4 (7:20), 5 (7:22).  I started out well on pace for a 1:45 or better.

Miles 6-10: I don't have the mile splits for this portion of the race.  After looking at the race site it appears I stuck around a 7:20-7:30 pace.  We hit the bike path on the return back to Massillon and were still treated with crushed limestone trail for a bit before hitting the bike path.  I tucked in with a group of runners for a bit and tried to focus on each mile.  I had been crapping out on a lot of long runs prior to this race but it didn't happen here.

Miles 11-13.1: More of the same bike path.  It felt a lot warmer during the last stretch of this race and I actually rolled up the sleeves on my running jacket.  I felt good and passed five or so people during the past few miles.  The sun felt good and it turned into a beautiful day for a run.  I was able to run a very solid final 5k and finished in 1:42:40, good enough for 85/453 overall.

This race is pretty well organized except for the finish.  I could not find any fruit but there were Subway sandwiches because this race was part of the Subway Ohio Challenge Series. I have very mixed thoughts on the series, but would it be difficult to offer up some fruit or granola bars after a half marathon?  The other issue is that the start and finish were about one mile apart.  My friend (who ran a great race!) and I walked the bike path back to the car and were very thankful it wasn't colder out.  Other than these little glitches I'm looking forward to running this one again next year.

The next race was a dual effort with GF (who is now FW for Future Wife!) on Thanksgiving morning.

Next race: Flying Feather 4 Miler- Dublin, OH