5/19/13 Capital City Marathon

I first ran here in 2000.  Then a few years of doing the half marathon and the five miler.  Since 2005, I have run the full, making today my 9th in a row (longest marathon streak) and 10th time running the full marathon.  This is my third year as a pacer.  It works out well to run a little slower than usual and treat it as a training run. It comes soon after Tacoma and prior to a June race. This is a tough course for me to race well at, so I am happy to take my time and help others achieve their goals.  Since this was my original favorite marathon and my home town race that they do so well with, I am honored and proud to serve as a pacer.  Coming off my injury in the Winter I was unsure of what time I could run, so I ended up with 4:45 duties compared to 4:15 last year. 

Pacer meeting at 6:30 to get our balloons tied on. Some last minute shuffling of duties has me running the whole distance alone, but it should not be a problem.  The weather is cloudy and cool but not cold at the start.  It will warm up a little but really be ideal.

Start -  Under 300 in the full marathon so lining up is not a problem.  Smooth start and I am careful to not go out too fast.  It has been difficult to run 10:50 per mile in practice, it is just slower than comfortable for me.  But I will work hard and keep checking the watch to stay on pace.  Walk breaks at the aid stations are planned to get me back on track if needed.

Mile 1 - Hanna H sighting

Mile 2- Haley H sighting

Mile 3 - Runners fairly spread out now.  Two guys are chatting and are staying right behind me.  They comment on the green balloon tugging at my shoulder, like a fish on the line.  I tell them that they will have PTSD the next time they see a green balloon, if they follow me the whole way.

Mile 4- Meet Julie, just hoping to break 5 hours.  We will go a little back and forth the whole way and she will make her goal and thank me after the race.  It is so rewarding to have people thank you afterwards.

Mile 5 - The two guys (Will and Mike) have really latched on to me.  They are both running their first marathon.  They are not concerned with finish time, just getting it done and having fun.  We while away the miles talking about guy stuff.  No one else joins our group.


Mile 20 - 15 uneventful miles.  Up and down.  Feeling very comfortable at this pace.  Still with Mike and Will.  Mike is falling behind a little.  No one has passed us.  With the even pace we have picked off runner after runner, many of whom are taking walk breaks.  Closer to town we start to see more spectators and the excitement for the finish starts to build.

Mile 23 - The last long uphill.  Will has not run farther than 13 miles, but he feels great and decides to finish strong.  He goes on ahead and will beat me by nine minutes.  Mike is hanging on not far behind me.  Every once in a while I get a mysterious pain deep in my left foot.  With a few careful steps it goes away.

Mile 23.5 - Catching up to a Maniac.  Ah, Mama Lisa.  I have seen her at each of my last three marathons.  Nice to see her here, then she rallies and goes on ahead.  Meanwhile the free beer at the last unofficial aid station has energized Mike and he is back with me.

Mile 24 - Pass a couple of people who seem to think that I am ahead of pace.  I think that I am at most 2 minutes ahead and I should slow down some.  The GPS is reading long, so the math is not quite as easy. Plus, I do not have a seconds reading after one hour, so I am not exactly sure of the time.

Mile 25 - Downhill all the way now.  I suggest to Mike that he finish strong, but he is happy to just stay with me.  The Pacer's job is really done at mile 25 in this race.  Anyone who can stay with a pacer all that way will have no trouble picking up the pace for the final downhill mile.  Other that Mike, no one is near me.  I slow some more in hopes of coming in just under 4:45

Mile 25.8 - Just like last year, I underestimated my time ahead of schedule.  Now the finish looks far away and it is 4:43.  I start running faster.  I hate to do this to Mike, but I am supposed to come in under my goal time.  Last year I ran much harder and just barely made it.  This year it is out of reach.  I started the sprint too late, plus it really does not matter.  Mike and I run fast to the finish and are pleased with our times.

26.2 - 26.49 miles on the GPS watch.  Most of the crowd has left, but there are some friends here to celebrate with.  Jared ran the half marathon, his first, and crushed his predicted time.  Lots of people got their BQs, age group awards and PRs.  Another Capital City Marathon is done and it continues to be a terrific event.


4:45:18
220th of 293
Race #293, Marathon or Ultra # 96
*****

5/5/13 Tacoma City Marathon

Squak Mountain trail marathon was three weeks ago.  I have not raced since then, but have had some running experiences.  Shortly after Squak I was trail running and turned my right ankle and fell hard.  Except it was all a dream.  It seemed so real, I wondered if I had actually hurt my ankle.  All is fine though.  Then we had the events at the Boston Marathon.  Many friends said that they were thinking of me.  Luckily I ran Boston last year, I would not have finished this year.  I had one friend who finished just a few minutes after the bombs and one friend who was very close to the end, but not able to finish.  I feel so bad for what they experienced and for everyone who was affected.  Only one friend suggested that I not run Tacoma in case something happens here.  I went to a community run that week and it was great to connect with fellow runners.  I am also so looking forward to seeing my Maniac family at Tacoma.  Two weeks ago Jared ran the open one mile race at the Kings Invite.  He wore a dress shirt and tie.  At the last lap he picked up a bunch of flowers and delivered them to a friend at the finish, asking her to the prom.  The crowd in the stands, including his parents thought that was terrific.

What goal time for Tacoma as I am still improving after my injury time off?  That is the hard question.  My last three long runs/marathons...Squak 6:50!!, Redmond Watershed in March = 5:12 (about 35 minutes slower than I have raced it previously, Presidents Day = 5:15 with a brutal painful last 10 miles.  I have been building mileage, increasing each month since November.  111 miles in March and 120 in April.  Other than the marathons I have done a couple of fairly fast ten milers.  If I can get in quality workouts I run best at about 120-140 per month.  Since my last two marathons were on trails I have done all other running on pavement and I think that I will not have the leg pains that came on Presidents Day due to lack of mileage.  But how is my endurance?  I have gone sub 4 (barely) each year at Tacoma but I really think that to set off at that pace would be foolish.  I decide that I will stay with the 4:20 pacer until at least the halfway point and see how I feel after that.  I am pacing the 4:45 group at Capital City in two weeks and I need to gain some confidence.  I will be happy today with a comfortable sub 4:30, under 4:20 would be good.  Hopefully by July I can get back under 4 hours.

7th annual event and my 6th time here.  Each year I regret not running the first year.  Especially because at the time I wanted to run it, but did not think that it was possible to run marathons on back to back weekends, and Capital City was only seven days after Tacoma.  This year is also the 10 year celebration of the Marathon Maniacs.  Due to family considerations I will skip most of the festivities.  I did get some great swag at the expo.  In addition to the race shirt, all Maniacs got a very nice hat and poster, and a "press pass" that is neat but I am not sure what to do with it.  Short time at the expo but I get to see a bunch of friends and that is what this race is really all about for me this year.

In addition to my anticipated pace, I spend most of my thoughts agonizing over whether to park at the finish and take the shuttle to the start or park at the start and get a ride back after the race.  There are supposed to be shuttles back to the start, but the expectation is that most runners will park at the finish.  Since Jody and I are staying at Hood Canal for the weekend, it makes sense to park at the start line.  I get an extra hour's sleep before the 7AM start and save the toll on the bridge.  I leave my press pass on my dashboard so they will know who's car it is, if I have trouble getting back there. 

Hot on Saturday and supposed to be even hotter today.  Brilliant sunshine.  Maybe 7AM is a good time to start.  It feels cool here at the start, at the Narrows Airport.  The new course covers mostly familiar territory.  It will be interesting to run through Defiance Park in the opposite direction. Since I have my car, I can stay warm in there, have breakfast and organize my stuff before heading out to greet friends and go to the start line.

Start - Looking for the pacers.  I see Betsy (5 hours) not the others.  Then I hear that the pacers signs were not delivered to the start but would hopefully be picked up at about mile 4.  I start behind Betsy, it is so crowded, but I know that I will have plenty of time to get moving and I would rather start slow than fast.  No nerves, just ready to enjoy the morning, and we are off.

Mile 1 - Short out and back.  Rogue Wave sighting.  I get ahead of Betsy.  Catch up to Maniac Tracy.  She is the one who finished just ahead of the bombs in Boston.  She was having a blister attended to in the medical tent when the bombs went off and they started bringing injured in to that area.  I was hoping to see her and run with her some today.  She says that Pacer Brian is right behind us, but that he is pacing 4:25, there is no 4:20 pacer.  I guess that I will stay just ahead of him.  Maniac Kurt is pacing 4:10.  I will not let myself pass him and now I do not have to look at my watch to think about pace.

Mile 3 - Over the Narrows.  What a beautiful day.  Nice gentle breeze.  Feeling good.  Running with Tracy.

Mile 4.5 - Up the hill.  Pacer Kurt not far ahead.  KP sighting.  Crowd thinning out, there will be plenty of running room now.

Mile 5 - Tracy says that she needs to walk and will try to catch up to me.  Did I mention that she ran a marathon yesterday?  The "Ghost of Tacoma" was a low key event that attracted quite a few Maniacs for the double.  I will be slower than most of my normal rivals, but hopefully faster than those who are running the double.

Mile 6-9 - Now I run a few miles with non Maniac Ron Fowler.  I have not run with him in a long time, so it is fun to reconnect.  He will be at Capital City in two weeks, for the 30th consecutive year.  I also run about a mile with Maniac Ken.

Mile 10 - Pacer Kurt goes running off the the bushes.  I am now ahead of him.  I expect him to catch me but he does not do so.  Am I going faster than 4:10 pace or is he having a bad day?  I should be doing the pacing math in my head, but the 9:20/mile according to the watch seems very comfortable.  Proctor Street bridge.  Tacoma Neighborhoods that I have not been to before.  Lots of great spectators.  Some have hoses set out, others have unofficial aid stations.

Mile 13.1 - Uh oh, I am going too fast.  Make myself walk a little before the chip mat.  Cross the mat in 2:03, about seven minutes faster than I had planned.  Now it is just a matter of how much endurance do I have?  I hope that I can make it to 20, 21 or maybe 22 before hitting the wall and walking.  In the mean time there is the reverse of the Sound to Narrows course. 

Mile 14 - Mildred Street hill is not nearly as bad in reverse and at the slower pace.  Yet all of us are walking up it.  The course is plenty hilly.  Nothing super steep but continual up and down so far.  Into the park and thankful for shade.  Another  up hill.  I am running but most others are walking.  Nice to be passing people.  Feeling good, just wondering how long it will last.

Mile 15 - Run a little with Maniac Hope a doubler.  Then I catch up to Maniac Melissa and we run a mile together.  This is her 100th marathon.  It would have been my 100th had I not been injured all winter.  I am happy for her.  I go ahead of her and she says that she will kick my but if I let her catch back up.  Looking at the results afterword it is interesting to see how some people that I passed ended up finishing long after me,but others stayed right behind me and probably had me in their sights the whole way.

Mile 17 - A mile long downhill in the shade.  Wonderful.

Mile 18 - Back to the sun and getting warmer.  Uphill and flat with a short out and back.  Steepish hill down to Ruston Way.

Mile 19 -Now the long mostly flat but hot trek to the finish.  The wind is at our back but we do not really feel it.  My legs and feet are doing great.  I feel like at any point I could speed up, but I am worried about my head and the heat and the remaining distance.  I start having trouble holding my head up.  I know that if I can just keep from walking, other than through aid stations, I will have a good finish time.  The farther that I can go without taking a walk break the better.  My pace has slowed but I am running and I do not feel so bad.  I can not hold my head up for long though.  So mostly what I remember is trudging along in the heat looking at the concrete road. 

Mile 21 - Pacer Kurt  (4:10) passes me.  He encourages me to stay with him.  But in my mental state I think, no, I am supposed to stay between him and Pacer Brian.  I keep along at my own pace.  I am definitaley passing more people that are passing me.  A few are running strong and pass me, but more are reduced to walking.  Now the one uphill/overpass on Ruston Way.  At the top there is a guy in a blue shirt bent over.  I am afraid that if he passes out he could fall off the bridge.  I stop to see if he is OK.  He says that his back hurts.  I ask how his head is and he says OK.  I go on down to the aid station.  After getting my water, mostly dumping on my head, I remember that guy.  I look back and he is way back there but moving down the hill.  I ask two volunteers to check on him and hope he is OK.

Mile 23 - Still running.  OK a few walk breaks in there but I have had much worse finishes.  Longing for shade, and a little walk when I do get some.

Mile 24 - Last uphill to get us off Ruston Way.  Happy to see Maniac Lisa and Deb here.  Run with them just a bit.  I would be happy to finish with them.  Deb is the first one to walk on the uphill and I say that I will stay with them, but as we near the top and I know that mile 25 is close, I take off on a jog.  A non Manic that I do not know, who I have been leapfrogging with, grinds to a walk so close to the top.  I encourage her to get running again.

Mile 25 - Over a bridge and then turn on to Pacific Ave.  My new running friend and I go back and forth and run together.  We are ready for this to be over.

Mile 26 - Where is the finish?  I thought that I would be able to see it from here.  From the course map I thought that it was the same finish as last year, but no we have to turn, go downhill and turn again.  We give it a good final effort and come in together.

Mile 26.2 - 26.19 on the GPS.  Mix and mingle and watch finishers come in.  There is a bus back to the airport and when I get on, the driver says that this is his last trip.  It is only about the five hour mark with many runners still on the course.  I had been talking shuttle return with Ginger and she is not here, but then I see her crossing the street.  Close call but we make it back, hopefully no one was really stranded.  Recovery is good.  I am really happy with how the legs felt and how I was able to keep moving late in the race.  No real wall.  2:03/2:09 split means that I slowed some but I have had much worse split times.  I probably should have tried to stay with 4:10 to give myself a challenging goal late in the race.  Without any hard goal I just cruised on in, tough but no agony.  I do now have the confidence that I needed for my pacing duties at Capital City and I believe that I can get back under 4 hours soon.

So great to be running with the Maniacs.

4:12:30
286th place of 885
Race#292, Marathon or ultra #95, Tacoma City Marathon #6
*****

4/13/13 Squak Mountain Marathon

This marathon is logistically easy and cheap.  What I gain in convenience I will have to pay for with a brutal course. This should be similar in difficulty to the Mountain Marathon of two years ago and the Gorge Waterfall 50K of last year.

Two weeks ago I scoped out the mountain.  It was a beautiful, warm Spring day.  I did not have the course map with me, so I just took a trail up to the top, went back the way I had come, and then ran up to the top and down again via the access dirt road.  The trails that I ran on were mostly cushy and not very technical. I decided that on race day I would just wear my road shoes.   Little did I know that I picked trails that were largely not on the course.

Photos from a sunny day:

I don't know what is up with the Microwaves on top of the 2,300 ft elevation.  The deep woods with the government installation did make me think of the X-Files.


Race day arrived with cooler weather and the threat of rain.  My scouting trip allowed me to know where I was going and I was able to leave home a little before 6AM to make the 7:30 early start with no stress.  This time I have a print out of the course map that I will carry with me.  Start at the bottom and run up the dirt road just a little ways.  Right onto a "pretzel" trail, back to the road, then another side trail that goes out and back to the road at a higher point. Finally take the road to the top, which completes the blue trail.  Next is a 5 mile loop, green on the map.  This I had not done any of previously.  It is mostly single track technical trail with about a dozen downed trees to go over or under.  One creek crossing and a large boulder that I would have to think about before climbing over.  The green loop also starts with a crazy long very steep downhill.  The loop is actually a "lollipop" and we have to climb up this same hill to get back to the top and aid station.  After the green loop, we will take the purple trail back to the bottom.  It will descend steeply before another long uphill climb.  Finally it merges with the trail that I did run a few weeks ago and is mostly a very nice and runnable downhill.  Blue, green, purple completes the course.  Except that is just a half marathon.  I will do this loop twice for the full 26.2 miles.  50K runners will complete the green loop twice on their second full loop.  If I stray onto an orange trail or some other unmarked trail, it could be bad.  And I have heard tales of runners getting lost here during this race in previous years. Over 100 in the half, but only 27 will finish the marathon and 23 the 50K.  About 7,300 feet of elevation gain in the marathon.  Some 50K starters will drop to the full and some marathoners will drop to the half.  I know that I must be quick at the start/finish aid station and get going on loop two before I can change my mind and drop to the half.

There are two things about this race that I can not adequately describe.  One is the toughness of the course.  Many very long sections of uphill that I simply must walk.  I actually do alright on the uphills.  By the time I am done walking so long, my legs are ready to run on the flats and downhills.  The narrow trail, technical sections, especially the downhills are what get me though.  I am so afraid of falling, that I tend to pick my way carefully down the steeps, while other runners seem to fly past me.  Shout out to Maniac Mama Lisa.  I would gain on her on the uphills, but then marvel at how fast she can get down the tricky trails.  At times I wish I had my trail shoes, but I never really come close to slipping or falling.

The truly indescribable part of this race is the scenery.  No great views, but some terrific forest.  The deep forest combined with the weather really struck something in me.  After a nice run of warm sunny days, it was like winter was coming back, the end of something.  Fog rolling through the woods, wind howling above, damp but not raining.  It feels like night is coming on, but it is only 11AM.  It feels like winter is closing in, light snow falling, but it is April. It is not spooky, but it seems like the guardians of the forest are lulling me into a trap.  During the long stretches in the murky woods, while running alone, I get this weird feeling. Perhaps I will make a wrong turn and wind up on another trail and just keep running in these woods for eternity.  Then a fellow runner, often someone I know, catches up or comes toward me as our course has some two way sections, and I snap back to reality.

Loop 1 - 3 hours 10 minutes.

Loop 2 - Now I decide that it would be a good goal to run it in 3:50 and beat 7 hours.  On the way down I know that I will make it.  My feet are sore and I have just a little right knee twinge.  I ease back and do not pound the downhills.  My energy level stays good the whole way and I mange to keep my feet mostly dry.  Fun to see four of the Kuhlmanns here.  And other Maniac friends.


Time wise this was the 4th longest run I have done.  Though only a marathon, It took me more time to complete than any of my previous thirteen 50K races (31.1 miles).  Unlike my previous difficult trail races, I leave this one thinking that I would do it or a similar event again.  In fact, this type of race may become my favorite, over the city road marathon.  


6:50:34
18th place of 27 finishers
Race#291, Marathon or ultra #94
*****

3/30/13 Run Like a Fool 5K

My second time here.  My 75th 5K.  Two loops around Capitol Lake plus a little more to make it an accurate distance.  $25 including a long sleeve shirt is a reasonable price.  Still getting my speed back.  Killer workout on Tuesday and I can feel a little soreness in my quads.  Goal is to beat my time from the Friendship Run  of two weeks ago (23:12) and hopefully get in under 23:00.

Weather is amazing.  Mostly sunny and cool to start. Nice to run a 1.5 mile warm up loop with Tammy and Amy.  Now some sprints to get ready to race.

Start - Race starts on time and I have positioned myself well, allowing the fast guys to be in front.  Bill and Wade go off faster than I would like.  Amy is already a speck in the distance.  I feel like I am running fast enough (I am on a good pace) and will stick with it.











Mile 1 - 7:20.  Bill continues to extend his lead.  It is all I can do to hold my pace.

Mile 2 - Pass two runners.  Slowing a little and I am not sure if it is my legs or my breathing that is the limiting factor today.  Feet feel really good though and I am happy to be here.

Mile 3 - I hear a runner thundering up behind me and he passes me on to a strong finish. Not one of the two I had passed earlier.  Now I just try to hold on and finish strong.

Mile 3.1 (3.08 on the GPS) - Done. Under my time goal.  Slower than last year, but right about where I expected to be.  Cool down loop with Amy gets me 6 miles for the morning.

I get a ribbon and a Cliff Bar for earning 3rd place in my age group.  At the raffles I win an assortment of Gatorade products.  The bag is heavy and has about $20 worth of drinks, gels, powders and such.  It was nice to be out in the sun, warming up, with the other runners, having the satisfaction of a good workout done.  Amy does a crazy dance to win a prize.  I do not care for this Capitol Lake course, I have done it too many times, but they do such a nice job with this race that I will look forward to running it again.


22:46
12th of 167 runners and walkers
3rd of 9 in age group
Race#290
5K#75
****

3/17/13 Frienship Run 5K

10th annual event and my 6th time here.  This event keeps growing. Not so happy about it being moved from early February to mid March and from Saturday to Sunday.  Biggest gripe is the major increase in price. I am paying double what I paid last year, but it is still a very nice event.  And this year we get socks.  I know that the parking lot will fill, so I get there plenty early.  Strong breezes make it seem very cold, but at least it will be dry.  I contemplate hat and gloves but decide to just run fast to keep warm.

I have been able to do some speed work in the last two weeks and things are feeling good.  Maybe I can match last year's time (22:23) but probably not.  My warm up is OK but not great.  I just don't feel super speedy and I think that the cold wind is part of the problem.

Start - I position well and start off with no problems.  Step over the metal fence curbing, make all the early sharp turns, hope over the asphalt curb and wind up the paved trail.  Plenty of room to run now.  One kid does not seem to want me to pass him.  He speeds up as I catch up and when I do pull almost even, he comes toward me as if to block me out on the narrow trial.  I have to wait a few seconds and make my move again.  This time I break free.

Mile 1 - Missed my split time.  Too many ups and downs and twists and turns.  I feel OK but my legs are a little tired.  Get passed by a stroller.  Sharp turn to the left, then another left to return on the road that is parallel to the trail. 

Mile 2 - Gradually pass a kid.  Now a guy just a little younger than me.  He stays on my tail and is making all kinds of hard work noises.  His ragged breathing sounds like how I feel.  My breath is OK but my legs are tired and my brain starts feeling foggy when I try to speed up and get some distance from him.  Up the steep hill to the overpass.  Its alright if he passes me, but he does not.  I try to pick it up on the bridge.  I won't mind if he gets me here, but he does not.  Now the steep downhill.  He will probably get me here, but no.  No cars to stop us this year (thanks volunteers) I keep on as best I can knowing that the end is near but that I will not beat last year's time.

Mile 3.1( Finish) - Up that last hill.  Sprint hard so that terrible breathing guy does not get me. Bob Martin sighting. In to the finish (3.02 on the GPS) and three of us look like we might vomit.  Everyone recovers alright and then it is cheer on the others and wait for raffles and awards.  So many great raffles, but alas I do not win anything.  Fun time today though and pleased with the results.  Same finish time as 2004.














23:14
9th of 218 (many walkers)
1 of 8 in age group
Race#289, 5K#74
****

3/3/13 Watershed Preserve Trail Marathon

My 5th time here.  The official race name is the Northwest Trail Runs Spring Run for Fun.  I will keep calling it the Watershed Preserve marathon for my organizational purposes.  Same course as last year.  A five mile loop with two out and backs added on to make it 6.55 miles.  Four loops equals a marathon.

Surprising that I am here.  First marathon post injury was just two weeks ago.  I recovered so well from that I ran the 15K last weekend and that went great.  I have decided to try to build on my fledgling endurance and have another go at a long distance today.  No time expectations, just give it a good effort and get in an endurance run.  I'll try o run each loop at 1:15 and hope to beat 5 hours.

Cold but sunny.  A humid cold though.  I will wear gloves till mile 2 and keep my hat on the whole way.  The trail is damp and squishy but no big puddles or deep mud.  New this year is that we have to park a mile from the start and take a shuttle bus.  I bring two bags with dry clothes and other possible essentials.  No waiting for the shuttle, it is not a hassle.  8:30 early start and most of the marathoners choose that time.  We do not start until 8:42 but I do not mind waiting and chatting with fellow runners.

Loop 1 - 1:11
I start way in the back and take my time moving up to my place.  About a 12:30 pace to start and get up the first hills.  Ron and Jackie staffing the aid station that is more than halfway out there.  Fun to see them each time.  There is a very nice wide smooth gradual downhill for about a mile on the back half of the loop and I get my pace under 11/mile.  Then the twisty uphills, but really not a difficult trail.  This is where I ran my first trail marathon and it is still one of my favorite courses in terms of trail difficulty and the logistics of racing here.  No horses yet, but I am expecting the stampede of the 9:30 starters (5 mile, 10 mile, half marathon and regular start marathon) as I am now heading back to the start and finish area.  Now the blazing fast runners zoom at me, and then the hordes of other runners.  At least 100 runners all coming toward me on the two lane trail.  Just about all of them stay to their right and there really are no close calls.  Quickest Tracy Marshall sighting ever.  I hope that she catches up to me like last race, except I'd rather be faster than that.

Loop 2 - 1:11
Second loop is fine until the last two miles.  I start to tire and get a little negative in the head. I remember how tough the last marathon was and hope that this one is not so bad. I consider dropping out, but not too seriously.

Loop 3 - 1:21
Catch up to a woman from West Seattle who took the 9:30 start but now we are going about the same pace.  We run together and talk for the second half of the loop.  A really great diversion.  I know that I would have walked more with out her there.  I have my good attitude back and I know that I will finish today.  Earlier I passed a whole bunch of Maniac friends and I am running a little scared that they will start passing me.

Loop 4 - 1:28
Serious slowing but really things are not that bad.  No one is passing me and I am able to run long distances with walking on the uphills.  Just plugging along slowly.  Legs are tightening up some, but an S!Cap and some salt dipped potato at the aid station seems to help.  I won't make 5 hours but now I am motivated to not let any Manic friends pass me and also to beat my time of 5:15 from my last marathon.  If I can reach that one intersection by 5:00 I should be able to make that goal.  Even if I do not, this race has gone way better than the last one.  No pains and I am able to run just about the whole thing.  I am slower than the previous loop, but I think that I am walking less.  I hit the intersection at 5:02.  Now if I can just make it to the clearing by 5:10 I will have no trouble beating 5:15.  Too many turns and ups.  Where is it.  Finally at 5:09 I see the big clearing.  Up the little hill, there is the parking lot, now a turn then another.  One more turn and up a little hill and I will be there, but as I make the last turn, there are two horses blocking the way.  With less than 100 feet to go I have to stop and step to the side of the trail.  It only costs me a few seconds and soon I am running across the finish line.


My worst finish time on this course, but I expected that.  Really I enjoyed the race and am pleased that I am getting some endurance back.  No significant aches or pains.


5:12:02 
31 of 62 finishers, 3 of 6 in age group
Marathon or ultra#93
Race#288
*****

2/23/13 Resolution Run 15K

My 287th race, but only my 2nd 15K.  I had no plans to be here today, but my recovery from the marathon of last week went much better than expected.  On Thursday I was thinking about the weekend and that a good ten mile effort with no walk breaks would be a good work out.  Then the rest of my family had plans, so I was free to race.  The 15K is 9.33 miles and will be more fun that running alone.

There was a huge windy rain storm all day Friday, but now it is mostly clear skies.  In fact I will wish that I had sunglasses at times. Cool and a little breeze but nothing to complain about.  No real racing goals.  I would like to be around a nine minute mile.  Ideally I will run the second half faster than the first half.  Same old out and back course that I have done so many times.  Fun to see Maniacs and Oly area runners.

Start - No warm up and I start way in the back.  Probably a 10-15 second differential between my watch, which I start when I get to the start line, and the official time.  Around the track and up the hill.  I am right at a nine minute pace but it feels easier than that.  Gradually I speed up to about 8:50 pace, which is where I am at when I see the first mile marker.

Mile 1 to Mile 4.665 - In a big pack.  No hurry to pass people, but I do pass some when there is an easy opportunity.  Really nice to be out in the sunshine and feeling good.  I gradually get just a little faster.  It is a good steady pace, working hard but it is sustainable.  I can see Maniac Nancy up ahead and I want to run with her, but I take my time and reel her in slowly.  We run together to the turn around.  8:47 overall average pace at the turn around. I tell her that I plan to negative split.  Secretly I am not so sure that I will be able to.  In my return from injury I have been taking so many walk breaks in all of my runs for the past few months.  Plus I ran a marathon seven days ago.  I expect to get real tired and that is fine.

Mile 4.665 to 15K -So I set out a little faster and keep an eye on my overall average pace.  8:47 drops to 8:45, then to 8:43.  Working harder, but it feels good.  Runners are spread out and now I am playing catch and pass.  8:39 and with every person that I pass, it gets just a little more difficult.  Bro Terry sighting.  Now the only real uphill on the way back.  I slow a little but it is not so bad and I know that there are some nice downhills coming up.  Pass a few more people and it is 8:35 overall pace.  Two guys up ahead and less than two miles to go.  I can't believe that I am thinking about age group results and wondering if they are in my age group.  This is turning into a wonderful race.  I will have the negative split no problem and I probably will not be passed by anyone in the second half.  If I can catch these two guys, one of them may come back to get me, and I still fear falling apart, but I am truckin right along.  Pass both of them and then run scared that they will get me. 8:31 pace.  I can not help but look back at one of the last turns and it looks like I am OK. Cruise on in to a happy finish.



Results pending, but I did get a third in age group ribbon
First Half: 41:05, Second Half: 38:27
1:19:32
36 of 83
Race#287, 15K#2
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