ONU Polar Bear Indoor Half Marathon

My first 2016 race was a nice surprise in nearby Ada, OH.  The ONU Polar Bear Indoor Marathon is in its seventh year and I've wanted to get into it for some time.  The registration is capped at 40 for the half and full due to it being run on an indoor track.  Congestion occurred a lot even with those small numbers.  But FW and I had some real fun at this one.

I assumed the weather would be horrible when I signed up for this race.  "Oh, it will be 15 degrees outside and 60 degrees inside!" I thought.  Of course we had the nicest weekend of the winter with highs in the mid-50s.  But who would think that would happen?  Despite it being nice outside, this was a great race.  We stayed at the only hotel in Ada, The Inn at Ohio Northern, which was a remarkable place to stay.  The price was reasonable and it was seriously one of the nicest places we have stayed prior to a race.  The Inn's restaurant and bar was top notch.  FW loaded up on the homemade kettle chips!  We both give the inn two thumbs up.

Race morning was very easy as we had a five minute walk from the Inn to the ONU Sports Center.  I quickly met up with my lap counter for the day, a cross country/track runner for the school.  The entire team was there to count laps and give encouragement to the runners.  Seriously, they were the best part of the race!  They had a meet the previous night, returned at 1:30 in the morning, and were at the Sports Center at 6:30 to begin preparations.  Yet they were energetic the entire time.  They even made individual signs for each runner.  That's pretty awesome!

FW gives this race two thumbs up because she was able to sit in the stands and watch the entire race.  She usually gets to see me a few times during the course of a race but never this much.  I was able to look up at her throughout the race to let her know what mile I was on or to even jump up and give her a quick high-five.  It was a lot of fun for both of us!  She took a few pictures throughout the event, plus the organizers offered some free ones.

The ONU Track Team also created a sign for each runner!

Let's get to my brief report:

I'll keep this report shorter because the course was always the same.  The half marathon was 105 laps and the full was 210.  I thought the race would drag on despite the enthusiasm from the student-athletes.  But this seriously flew by!  My lap counter did a tremendous job of cheering me on and giving me updates.  She'd let me know when I had one lap to go until the next mile and then that I had hit that mile.  It took the guesswork out of it and I was able to just run.  I also liked that there were a few tables on the course for water, sports drinks and any other necessities like gels.  The race does have cups of water, but I recommend bringing your own.  I would grab my bottle from one table, jog with it for a bit, and then drop it off at another table.  No waiting around at aid stations.

The eventual winner took off FAST!  I spent most of my time trying to finish in second place.  While it was hard to know where you were in relation to others, I knew I was passing everyone other than the eventual winner.  My splits were very consistent.

Mile 1- 8:05             Mile 2- 7:55            Mile 3- 8:00             Mile 4- 7:44              Mile 5- 7:48
Mile 6- 7:59             Mile 7- 7:52            Mile 8- 7:38             Mile 9- 7:36              Mile 10- 7:55
Mile 11- 7:33           Mile 12- 7:47          Mile 13- 6:54         

My final time was 1:42:06, good enough for 2/15 overall.  FW was there to congratulate me on a great race!

FW and I cannot say enough positive things about this race.  It's so well organized, easy to get to, offers great accommodations, the students are fun, and spectators can actually watch their runner run an entire half or full marathon.  That's pretty rare.  I definitely plan on doing this one again next year.  The swag was pretty good, too.  We received an awesome long sleeve tech shirt, cool clear medal, a small sports towel, and a water bottle. 

I have another gap between races as I'm trying to run fewer than last year.  FW is back in the gym with me and can hopefully do the next one.

Next race: Mardi Gras 5k- Lexington, OH

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

FIT Fright Challenge 5k

This was a very late addition to my running schedule.  GF and I have been extremely busy the past few months and I didn't have any races scheduled in October.  We had a rare free Saturday morning last week and I decided to sign up for this one in nearby Norwalk.  I'm very happy I gave it a shot as the result was very surprising.

Everyone knows I put minimum effort into training for a 5k.  I normally have a half marathon soon after, so I have to keep my focus on that goal.  This one was no different as my next half is in a couple days.  This was also my first 5k in over three months.  So I did a few three milers at a good pace and came in just hoping for the best.  My left hip has been giving me some issues, too, though it doesn't seem to be affecting my running.

This race started at Veterans Memorial Lake Park in Norwalk.  The scenery was gorgeous for a fall run.  We've also had very mild weather for late fall, so the overall experience was very nice for this time of year.  On to my thoughts.

I lined up near the front of the meager start line as it didn't look like there were too many people looking to race.  Many folks were dressed up for Halloween, giving this race a different laid back feel.  We started by running a trail between two of the park lakes.  A few younger folks started out in front for the first half mile or so.  Ah, youth.  I started out at a good pace and looked to maintain steady splits throughout the race.  It took little time for me and another runner to pull out in front of everyone and make it a two person race.  My first mile came in at 6:42.  We wound through the park and made a few short loops.  The scenery was great throughout as it was either wooded areas or open areas with views of the lakes.  It continued being a two person race, though I would occasionally pass him for a bit, then he'd pass me for a bit.  I think we both decided to give up on that and run step for step for a bit.  The second mile came in at 6:55.  I think this picture shows that I was working my butt off.

I made my "move" early in the final mile because I knew I would not have much of a kick left.  My pace was just too fast compared to my training.  I passed the other runner as we made our way back to the thin strip between the two lakes.  But I didn't build much of a cushion and he was able to stay about 5-10 meters behind me as we headed downhill to the finish.  I tried to hold on but he passed me with a .1 mile left and won by six seconds.  Disappointing as it is to lose a race at the very end, I'm still very happy with my finishing time of 20:25.  This ties my fourth fastest 5k time.  I also just realized that three of my five fastest 5k times have happened in 2015.  That's a surprise.

This race gave me a bit of extra confidence going into Sunday's half marathon.  Massillon will be my last half marathon of the year.

Next race: Made in America Half Marathon- Massillon, OH

Akron Half Marathon- Half Marathon #50!

GF and I celebrated a huge milestone last month as I ran my 50th half marathon!  I couldn't have picked a better race for this accomplishment.  The Akron Half Marathon was perfectly organized, the weather was gorgeous, the swag was terrific, and I had a great time!  GF would like to add that this is a VERY spectator-friendly race.  She was able to see me at four different points in the race and only had to walk a few blocks.  She saw the start, the 6 mile mark, 11 mile mark, and the finish.  GF rated this as one of the most enjoyable events she's attended with me.  If you are looking for a race in NE Ohio, look no further.

Obviously, it has been quite some time since this race and I haven't updated the blog because I haven't entered a race in a long time.  I'll add my basic thoughts to this one as it was more about finishing half #50 than anything else.

We had a bit of a snafu on the way to the race.  GF asked me the day prior if I had ever missed a race for any reason.  I said, "Of course not!  I plan ahead and get to each race with time to spare".  Until this race.  I mistakenly kept thinking it started at 7:30 when it actually started at 7:00.  We got to the parking garage, which is right at the start line, at about 6:40.  I figured we had plenty of time, so we waited a few minutes before making our way to the start...just in time to see Corral C taking off.  Whoops!  I figured I had plenty of time since the race was chip timed, so I had GF snap a few pre-race pictures and then took off at the end of Corral C.  What's amazing to me is that we were able to park right next to the start line 20 minutes before the race!

On to my report:

Miles 1-5: Well, my GPS would not start since I had no time to wait around.  I ran this one without that benefit, but I actually enjoyed running by feel.  The problem was I spent the first 4-5 miles dodging people due to my late start.  We headed north on a nice, long straightaway.  I believe we headed the opposite way when I ran the full back in 2013, so I enjoyed running a slightly different course.  The crowd in Akron is surprisingly good and it makes a medium city race feel like a big city one.  I believe I was right on pace at around 8:00 per mile after the first five.

Miles 6-10: We made our way back toward downtown with and headed east to the University of Akron campus.  This portion was much more enjoyable than in '13 as it seemed we ran through more of the campus and a lot of students were out cheering.  GF saw me early in this portion but I missed her as it was still very crowded.  I still felt very good during this portion of the race and continued running 8:00 pace.  We made our way south out of the campus and then headed back north towards downtown once again.

Miles 11-13.1:  GF saw me once again at mile 11 and I actually saw her this time.  I did my goofy fist-pump and high-fived her.  We had a few rolling hills as we ran through downtown and made a short loop to the minor league baseball stadium for the finish.  Again, I was really enjoying myself and basking in the glory of finishing my 50th half marathon.  We finished in the stadium and I collected my medal and finishing gift, which was a great pair of running socks!  My finishing time was 1:43:35, good enough for 356/4111 overall and 37/279 in my age group.  Not a bad day!

I've already finished ten half marathons in 2015 and achieved my goal of getting to 50 overall.  The last one for the year is in a little over a week.  This has not been my usual October as I haven't raced at all.  To remedy that, I'll be doing a 5k this weekend to prep for the half marathon.

Next race: FIT Fright Challenge 5k- Norwalk, OH