Somerset Stampede Half Marathon

I checked the weather report earlier in the week and quickly signed up for this small race in Somerset Center, Michigan.  It was a comfortable 50 degrees at the start of the race which is unheard of in mid-August.  This race game me a chance to knock off my ninth state and get a tune-up in for the Air Force Half Marathon next month.  And this little race was only $20.

The morning started early as I left Tiffin a little after 4 to make the trek to Somerset Center.  I was amazed at how cool it felt outside.  Perfect running weather for any time of year.  I arrived at Somerset Beach Campground with about an hour to spare.  This gave me plenty of time to stretch out and check out the course map.  The race is billed as scenic and one of the toughest half marathons in the state of Michigan.  It was a very scenic race around the countryside and it was definitely tough.  In fact, this was the toughest half marathon course I've completed.

We started out at 7:30 and made our way through the campground area to the first of many dirt roads.  This was one of the great things about this race.  We ran on asphalt some, but most of the race was on dirt roads and even some trails.  The hills started in right away.  And they never stopped!  Most of them were rolling but some were pretty steep.  I clocked in at 9:00 for the first mile, 18:12 for the second, and then an inexplicable 28:25 followed by 33:37.  The mile markers were obviously off, so I stopped paying attention to split times and focused on how I felt.  And it felt rough for the first five miles or so.  The constant ups and downs are something I'm just not accustomed to running.

We continued on some trails during mile 5 and back to dirt roads.  The course was scenic and there were very, very few cars.  It was simply a nice crisp morning.  I took a gel at mile 5 and it helped.  Mile 6 felt pretty good and I started to run a lot faster around mile 7, despite the never-ending hills.  I got into a battle with another runner at mile 8 that went on for about two miles or so.  He led for a bit, then I led, then we just ran together for a short time.  I finally left him somewhere during mile 10 and passed a few others along the way.  The mile 10 split time showed up at 1:23 but I knew that was impossible on this course.  1:26-1:27 is more likely.

The last three miles went by in a blur.  There was one major hill during mile 11, then we made our way to a nice trail that wound its way around the campground.  The soft surface was a nice change because my body was feeling all those hills.  I finished hard down the final straightaway and came in at 1:50.06.  This is my fourth fastest half marathon time but I'm a bit skeptical.  I did feel like I ran one of my best races of the year, but those hills definitely work against you.  The mile markers were off at times, so I wonder if the course was a bit short.  Regardless, it wouldn't have been more than a few minutes slower, so my sub-2 hour half marathon streak has been extended to ten!  This is the confidence boost I need going into the Air Force Half next month.  I'm hoping to run a sub-1:50 at that race.

Next race: Air Force Half Marathon- Dayton, OH

Carey Twilight 5k

I'm a week late with this post, but I ran the Carey Twilight 5k last Saturday evening.  Due to some thunderstorms moving through the area, it was interesting to say the least.  The race itself was much bigger than I was expecting with 250-300 runners.  I got to the start later than I meant to and didn't have much time to warm-up.

The start was the best part of this race.  We waited at the start line, looking down the first hill, and saw nothing but dark clouds with lightning in the distance.  That was a first for me, despite having ran in 90+ races.  The race director stated that he thought we could get the race in and to find cover if it got too bad.  Okay.  Will do.  The nice thing about the weather was that it cooled everything down.

The downhill start was unfortunate because I really wanted to run negative splits in this one.  But, of course, I had no choice but to start fast.  We made it to the bottom of the hill, made a sharp left turn and entered a very cool park.  We did a lap around the park and hit the first mile maker in 7:00.  I was feeling pretty good and tried to keep up that pace.  The weather was getting worse and we saw some lightning strikes just outside of town.  I noticed this as I made my way around a pond.  Water+Lightning=Picking up the pace

The second mile wasn't far off the first, clocking in at 14:12.  There's not much to say about the course at this point.  It was nice running in the evening, but it was your typical 5k through a small town.  The line of people spraying hoses in the air along the course were nice.  It wasn't really necessary since we were getting some sprinkles anyway.  I tried to pick it up on the third mile but the course was mostly uphill at this point.  I passed some people and clocked in at a respectable 21:44.  Much better than the 23:00 I ran at my last 5k.  I waited around for the awards and was pleasantly surprised to receive a nice glass for placing second in my age group.

I've been looking for a half marathon to do because I want to make sure that the Air Force Half next month will be my 20th.  I looked at several races and decided on making the drive north to Michigan to get my 9th state.

Next race: Somerset Center Stampede Half Marathon- Somerset Center, MI

Old Port Half Marathon

I knocked off my eighth state, Maine, a few weeks ago at the Old Port Half Marathon.  To say that this race was gorgeous would be an understatement.  My performance was better than I expected.  Summer training has been hit-or-miss due to the new job and move to NW Ohio. 
I explored the city of Portland the day before the race.  It was a blast!  The Portland Head Light State Park is a very cool place to spend the afternoon.  Packet pick up was smooth at the Maine Running Company.  I loved the tech shirt and the glass mug I purchased. 

Race morning was pretty smooth.  I parked at one of the downtown garages and made the half mile trek to the race start along the Eastern Promenade.  The first of two snafus occurred as I realized there was no bag check and had to run back to the car to stow my gear.  No bag check?  Seriously?  Not a big deal, but I'm also not a fan.  The second snafu was one I was at least aware of.  The women's race started at 7:30 with the men's race starting at 7:45.  Many people, including myself, were frustrated by this odd bit of race management.  First, I want to run early.  It's hot outside.  Second, what purpose does this serve?  Simply have a corral start if you're concerned about people lining up correctly.  Many of the people in the second wave (you had some mixing due to people running with loved ones) were frustrated having to dodge some of the runners from the first wave during the second half of the race.  Oh well.  At least we knew ahead of time.

The second wave headed out and I started a little fast at around 8:00.  The scenery and the cool breeze off the ocean felt great.  Despite that, I had to dial it back some.  We ran along the Eastern Promenade until the first bridge, near the Back Cove.  I was feeling good and occasionally took off the headphones to enjoy the sites of Portland.  The air felt clean and I just enjoyed being there.  We continued our way north parallel to I-295 and hit the second bridge.  Again, gorgeous views!  My three mile time was just under the 27:00 mark.  This is right where I needed to be and I kept it at that pace for the duration.

I loved the trail portion near the 5 mile mark.  It was probably only a half mile long or so, but it was definitely a much needed break for the legs.  This served as the turnaround point and we made our way back towards Portland.  My favorite part of the course was the roughly three mile stretch (around the 7.5 mark to the 10.5 mark) looping around the Back Cove.  This was a beautiful part of the course.  The legs appreciated the crushed limestone surface this late in the race.  Another thing that struck me were the number of people out and about on a Sunday morning.  People were out jogging who weren't in the race, cycling, walking, etc.  Portland is a very active community and a breath of fresh air.

We then made our way back along the Eastern Promenade towards the finish.  I was feeling the race at this point and got into a mini-battle with another guy.  He beat me out with about a half mile to go, but we did pass plenty of people along the way.  The ending was at the Maine State Pier (very cool) and I came in at 1:54.31.  Not a bad time considering the inconsistent training.  My sub-2 hour half marathon streak extends to nine!

The post-race festivities were some of the best I've seen.  A live band was playing actual music (Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc.).  Pizza, fruit, ice cream, and Shipyard Brewing Company Beer were in abundance.  Each runner was greeted with a cold towel and sports bottle filled with ice water at the finish.  Nice touch.  This was a great race and one I'll definitely consider coming to again.

Next race: Carey Twilight 5k- Carey, OH

Run with the Little Giants 5K

This was my first race since I moved to Northwest Ohio and my twelfth straight on the Fourth of July.  The race started and ended near the Fremont Recreation Center and benefited the local high school track team.  My training has been pretty lackluster due to the move earlier this month.  I've been able to get into a slight groove the past few weeks, but I'm nowhere close to being in tip top shape.  Plus it was extremely hot and humid this morning.

The entire race was held on the bike path outside the Rec Center.  I don't have much in the way of splits (except for the turnaround) as the miles were not marked.  We started out at a very conservative pace due to the heat.  I felt decent at the beginning but knew better than to push the pace.  Most of the runners were high school/junior high age and I tried to stick with the second pack of runners.  I really just wanted to place in my age group and not worry about my time.

We continued on the bike path to the Sandusky River.  This was a nice part of the course as we made our way over the river, made a left turn, and ran along the river into a park.  I clocked in at 11:18 at the turnaround point within the park.  It was pretty obvious that I was not going to run anywhere near the 21s at this race.  My legs were feeling weaker with every step and the sun beat down on us for the one mile portion after crossing the river and coming back.  I actually took water during this race which is something I never do during a 5k.  Judging by the number of cups on the path, lots of other runners were doing the same.  I tried to finish strong but didn't push it too much.  Final time- 23:00

This race was okay but I do have one complaint.  There was no water/Gatorade at the finish line.  Temperatures climbed near 100 today and it wasn't comfortable at the start of the race.  We had to walk back to the Rec Center (about a half mile or so) to find anything to drink.  The only thing there was one five gallon jug of Gatorade.  That's it.  Not acceptable for a race being held in July.  Otherwise, the course and most of the organization was fine.  I did run well enough to win second place in my age group.

Next Race: Flirt with Dirt Trail 5k- Findlay, OH

Sugarcreek 5 Miler

I wanted to do one last race sponsored by the Ohio River Road Runners Club (read: well organized and free for members) and this one couldn't have been better! It was held in the ever-popular Sugarcreek Metro Park near Bellbrook. The technical trails made for a very interesting trail race. Thankfully, the footing was a lot better than during the torrential rains we had at the Twin Creek 10k. But it was still a race full of uphills, downhills, tree roots, and rocks.

I went straight to the park after work and was very glad I did. The parking lot was almost full a good hour before the race start. The race organizers told us that there were two other group activities going on at the same time, which didn't surprise me considering the popularity of Sugarcreek. I had plenty of time to drink some water and stretch out. The stretching out was especially important due to my lack of sufficient training. I was really just looking for a nice workout for my last race in the Dayton area.

I don't have any split times as it's difficult to mark miles at a trail race. We started out with some technical trail right off the bat. A winding downhill greeted us at the start, followed by some winding paths. The hills weren't terrible but you could tell they were there. I started off at a conservative pace and simply ramped it up a bit on the downhills. Overall, I felt great! A tough section came around at roughly two miles in when we ran a winding downhill, crossed a stream by jumping on rocks, and then making our way uphill. The uphill was awkard because it was steep and narrow. Some runners tried running to the side, while others attempted to climb up using some huge rocks. This is the kind of stuff that makes trail running fun. You can't simply zone out and go. You have to look down and constanly watch where you are going. The halfway point was well marked, so we could get a sense of where we were on the course. I still felt pretty good but had an issue arise just past the half way mark. A rock had found its way into one of the grooves on the bottom of my shoe and was hitting the ball of my foot. It hurt quite a bit so I considered stopping. For about a second. My time was still good and I could still run on it so I tried to forget about it. Note to those reading this blog- Don't do that! Just stop and take the rock out. My foot was hurting for a few days after the race.  The second half was easier than the first half and I finished strong with a 41.27.  Surprisingly, that was good enough for third in my age group, so I'm 3/3 placing in trail races.  I will greatly miss these ORRRC races, but I'm excited to run new races in the NW Ohio area.

Next race- Either Team Jenny 5k or Run with the Little Giants 5k, both in Fremont.

Casey Terrell Memorial 5k

I'm late on my race reports due to a job change coupled with a move. I just moved out of the Dayton area, but had two races (naturally) before I left. This first one was a couple of weeks ago in Xenia. I've had great luck running races in Xenia by placing in the two 5ks I've ran there and getting a PR at the half marathon. But my training has taken a hit due to this move. My realistic goal was to just run a good, hard race.

This course was interesting. We started out by crossing the parking lot at the FOP Lodge to get to a steep and long downhill toward the bike path. I wanted to start out at a conservative pace and run negative splits but this start did not allow for that. I flew down the hill and immediated knew that I was running way too fast. This was a small 5k with no mile markers, so I'm not sure what kind of splits I ran, but the first mile was way too quick. Next, we made our way to the bike path (the same one we run during the ORRRC Half) for a nice, flat straightaway. I had no problem with this portion of the race until we got past the halfway point. I knew I was in the top five, but I wasn't sure if I could hold this kind of pace. I had stopped passing people and the next person was a good 50 meters away. Instead, I focused on not getting passed during the second half of the race. We continued along the bike path, until roughly the 2.3 mile mark, until we made our way to that hill again. Except this time we had to make a long trek up this thing. I struggled uphill and just managed to keep my position. A quick left turn back into the parking lot and I had a solid 21:29 and a fourth place finish! Not too bad for managing very little training over the past few weeks.

I did stick around for the awards and I did wind up winning my age group. This was a very well organized race which I would run again if I wasn't out of the area. The goodie bags actually had useful stuff in them and the snacks after the race were fantastic. Next up is my last race in the Dayton area.

Geist Half Marathon

The Geist Half Marathon has been on my list for a few years and I finally made the trek over to Indianapolis for this one.  I came into this race with very modest goals.  The Cap City Half was only two weeks ago and I really struggled with my recovery from that one.  My goal was to run around 1:55, have some fun, and call it a day. 

I'm pretty amazed at how organized this race is considering it's only five years old.  The parking situation worried me, but it there was plenty of parking at the local high school.  Buses were taking runners to the start line but I just walked.  It was only a mile and good for a warm-up.  My race bib was for Corral A as I had qualified for preferred seeding.  One problem.  I had qualified for Corral C.  I was in Corral A with only about 30 other people who looked very, very fast.  Hilarious.

We started out by making our way across the lake before starting our trek around.  I started much like I did at Cap City with two 8 minute miles.  Unlike Cap City, I really felt like crap.  I was able to slow down by the time we made it to mile 3.  And then I actually walked for a little ways.  It wasn't painful, but my legs felt dead and just heavy.  I tried stretching out some but it really wasn't until mile 6 until I felt good again.  Not much to report.  The course itself was gorgeous with great views of the lake and plenty of shade along the way.  It was one of the hillier courses I've done this year.  There were lots of rolling hills throughout the entire race.  I just didn't feel great because of that dead feeling.  Again, there were no major goals for this race but that doesn't mean I didn't want to have fun.

Despite the crappy feeling, I was still hitting my splits!  I was at 58 minutes at the half way mark and finally starting to enjoy myself.  Mile 7 included the steepest climb of the race which seemed to go on forever.  My one complaint is that they should actually reverse the course so the runners have shade during the second half.  It started getting warmer about 8 miles in and there was no shade.  On a positive note, the volunteers at this race were some of the best I've seen at any race.  From the police officers blocking traffic to the volunteers at the water stops this was first class all the way.

I hit the 10 mile mark at about 1:27 and felt decent.  The sun was really beating down on us at this point.  I don't have too much to say about the final 5k.  I was really just trying to hang in there.  More ups and downs before we hit the final downhill and made our way across the lake (gorgeous) to the Geist Marina for the finish.  I finished strong in 1:54.21.  The finish line area was really pretty cool.  I wish I would have felt like sticking around but I really didn't.  Just found a quiet area to stretch, grabbed water and a banana, and found my way to the shuttle buses to head back to the high school (point-to-point course).  It wasn't hot until well into the second half of the race but I felt drained.  I actually didn't feel good for a few hours after the race which was great with the drive back to Dayton.  This race is very well organized and scenic.  I would recommend it to anyone.

My next half marathon isn't scheduled until late July as I'll make my way to Portland, Maine for the Old Port Half Marathon.  Between now and then I'll be running some 5ks.