8/23/14 Run Like a Dog 5K

4th time here at this 9th annual event.  Race that is the closest to my home.  I registered yesterday at packet pick up so now I can leave my house after 8AM and have plenty of warm up time before the 9AM start. $30 includes T-shirt, medal, backpack full of goodies and the proceeds go to the Humane Society.

2 mile warm up, then change into my 5K racing shoes (Brooks Launch).  Fog has lifted and it will warm up but much of the course is on the shaded Chehalis Western Trail.

I worry about all the dogs causing a ruckus at the start, but the RD is good about getting the faster runners up front and the dogs and walkers behind them.

Start - Delayed a few minutes, then a smooth start on the potentially hazardous course which turns, narrows, crosses a street, and narrows again.  Excellent work by the volunteers all along the course.  The change of shoes and quality warm up has me feeling good and I am running well.

Mile 0.4 - Been watching a little kid ahead of me.  Sometimes I misjudge a persons speed, but I am sure that he is going to crumble soon.  And yes, he takes a walk break, then zooms farther ahead.  I gradually catch him and hear him start walking again as I pass.

Mile 1 - 7:15 - Start to feel a little tired in my legs.  This is my third speed workout in the week and I knew that it might be a little rough.  Turn onto a road.  Now I hear heavy fast breathing coming up behind me.  Quite the panting and the dog and its owner get past me.

Mile 1.5 - I pass up on the aid station but the dog just ahead of me decides to check it out. (They have kiddie pools for the dogs that want to cool off)  Now she passes me again.  Later it looks like she is walking, but I still can not catch up.  I do get even to a human female.  Not saying a word I just run side by side with her for a quarter mile or so.  Then I feel like I could go a little faster so I do.

Mile 2.5 - One guy comes up real strong and makes a solid pass.  Now a road crossing and I hear a volunteer say "we can let cars go after this guy"  which I translate as there is no one now close behind me.  Same thing happens at the last road crossing.  No need to look back, but also less pressure to run as fast as I can

Finish - I have a decent sprint at the end and pick it up for the finish.  3.04 on the GPS.

Grab a water and then watch the runners come in.  Fun to see so many with dogs.  Many of the dogs have great form and are having fun.


Lots of vendors (pet related mostly) and some really good raffle prizes but alas I do not win anything.  Still a fun time and great work out on the home course.



22:25
19th place of 336
Race#335
5K#87
Run Like a Dog 5K #4
****

8/10/14 Transcendence 12 hour

5th annual event and my 5th time here, making me a legacy runner.  There are 8 of us who ran the first four races, but only 5 of us are here to carry on the legacy.  I don't feel highly motivated to run all day.  Maybe just get the 50K in to count for MM stats and then take a few more easy laps.  50 miles would be great, but it is supposed to be HOT and I just don't care that much. Definitely will not run through pain.  I have not run long since June, so this will be a good chance to hit the wall and work on endurance.  Marathons planned in 3, 4 and 7 weeks from now so it is time to step it up.  Three hours of good solid running to hit the wall and then evaluate from there is the plan.  Also then I will be running fast in the cool of the morning.

Start - Attendance is down this year but it is still a nice event with some Team Cupcakes representing and Tory running her 100th marathon or ultra.  We line up right on time and only a few of us want to be near the front.  Off we go and I settle into third place.  Loops of 1.524 miles.

Loop 1 - 15:16, right at 10min/mile
Loop 2 - 13:17, Playing the role of the rabbit, I am now in first place
Loop 3- 14:03
Loop 4 - 13:55 - Still in first place, but I get passed while taking a quick fluid and salt break. 

3 hours - 12 loops done, 18.3 miles and now I start to warm up and tire.  It was fun while it lasted.  I tell Deb that I am going to walk for the next 9 hours but she does not believe me.  The walk breaks do start and my average lap goes from the 14s to 21-22 minutes.

26.2 miles, about 4:45

50K at 6 hours

So now it is noon and getting quite warm. It will reach the mid to high 80s soon.  Craig has been posting the current standings and I keep seeing that I am in third place.  There are no age group awards, but there are awards for the top 3 male and female.  I decide that I would love a top 3 finish so I keep the breaks short at the aid station and keep moving.

7 hours - a little dehydrated.  I start drinking quite a bit more.  I also take a large dishtowel, soaked in cold water and run with it around my neck.  At the far side of the lake, the sunny oven, I put the towel over my hat and it keeps my head much cooler.  This towel trick helps a lot and I start feeling better.

8 hours - Try to eat a little something after each lap.  Mostly potatoes and gels.  Rounding a corner a little girl says "eww stinky" and I don't know if she means me or the lake.

9 hours - 43 miles - I guess that I will go for 50 miles after all.  Nothing hurts, just hot and tired.  I have 3 hours to cover 7 miles, that should be easy.

10 hours - Other than Holly, I have not seen any locals.  But now Martinho shows up to check on me.  And he is ready to run with me.  I feel bad because I can barely shuffle.  But he does not mind and he is a great distraction.  We talk Silver Strider Strategy and he keeps me motivated by subtly suggesting that the 4th place guy might be catching up.  I look at the leader board and think that I have a lock on third, but only if I keep moving.

11 hours - Martinho and I throw down a 19 minute loop, me thinking it will be my last.  But halfway through, I consider doing one more.  One more loop would ensure third place and would make this the second farthest I have ever run.  (57.9 miles here two years ago on a cooler day).  We cover one final lap, not so fast and call it a day.

51.8 miles
11:31:18

I do get third place and win a nice Guerilla Running visor.  Other than the balls of my feet partially melting during the last hour, things felt pretty good throughout. 


3rd place of 34
Marathon or ultra #113
Race #334
Transcendence 12 hour #5
*****

8/2/14 Tacoma Narrows Half Marathon

4th time here, but it has been a couple of years.  A while back Jody was looking for a half and we picked this one.  Too bad her training did not go as planned and she will not try to be fast here.  But we will come race it anyway. 

To make things easier before the race, I picked up our numbers the day before.  This morning we drive to the start at the airport and will take a shuttle bus back after.  We get there at about 7AM, thirty minutes before the 7:30 start.

A few clouds and a smattering of weird giant rain drops.  It has been so hot lately, I welcome the clouds and the early start time.

Say hi to a few friends and then cram in the start area behind the 1:50 pacer (Sabrina).  My PR  (1:38) was here in 2011, but this year I doubt my speed.  Chelan was 1:52 and I should be better than that, but some runs have been so sluggish.  I will be happy with a feeling good sub 1:50.  Halfhearted half mile warm up.

Start - Crowded but smooth, a few minutes later than scheduled.  Turn off the runway and the short out and back on the road.  Going to be crowded for a while but I will be patient.  Run with Rickie for a bit, have not seen her in ages.  The 1:50 pacers are getting a little ahead and I am still crowded in, so as soon as the road opens I make a move to get ahead of them.

Mile 2 - I had planned to stay with the pacers until the halfway point, but the pack was so tight, I went ahead of them and now have been gradually gaining on them.  I don't want to look back, but I also don't want to get too far ahead.  About an 8:15 pace and it feels comfortable.

Mile 5 - Over the Narrows and up the big hill.  8:21 pace but its not so hard to get up the hill.

Mile 6 - Judy Fisher sighting.  Around the neighborhood and the overall pace is back to 8:15.

Mile 8 - 8:12 overall pace and still feeling comfortable.  A few fat rain drops.  Then warm sun.  Into Cheney stadium and around the warning track.  Just as I leave the stadium, Pacer Sabrina enters, so I know how far ahead I am.

Mile 10 - Start to get a little tired.  That long straight ugly slightly uphill section along Highway 16.  Looking forward to the downhill.  I have not been running with anyone, just doing my own thing.  But now I catch a guy and we grunt a little to each other.  He he gets ahead of me and I catch another runner.  Don't say anything, just run next to her for a bit.  Then run with another guy.  It is nice to pace with someone, we are all just trying to hold on and not slow down.  Really can not wait for the downhills.

Mile 11.5 - The steep downhill is too steep.  With a young guy who is running his first half marathon.  I encourage him, we have a great finish coming up.

Mile 12 - Now the final mile to the end.  Nice gradual downhill.  Happy that everything feels good.  No pains or worry spots.  I will make my time goals, but I still think that I should be faster.  I gave it  a good effort and will get a slight negative split.

Finish Mile 13.1 - 13.19 on the GPS.  Heavy finishers medal.  Great post race gathering area with plenty of food and drink.  I like the live music.  Cheer on the runners and watch Jody finish.  We have to wait a long time for the bus back to the start but it is nice to chat with fellow runners and we make it home before noon.



1:47:24
136th of 790
Race #333, Half Marathon#30, Tacoma Narrows half#4