Friendship Run = Run with friends. Billy and Tammy and Jody. Hoping for a faster time than last weeks slog. Cold and dry.
Start - Second time on this course. Fairly flat with some on a paved trail. Ready to explode....then we are off
Finish - Just get in under a 7 minute pace. Jog back to watch the others finish. Billy is 4 seconds in front of Tammy and just a minute ahead of Jody. Post raffle nets me a hat, shorts and $25 gift certificate to Traditions Cafe.
21:37 CR
18 of 87
*****
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Saturday, February 4, 2006
2/4/06 St Martins Homecoming 5K
Sometimes the weather just does not cooperate. When it is particularly viscious it is time to relax, do your best and blame your time result on the weather. Today it is absolutely dumping rain with strong gusty winds. Good thing it is only a 5K and there is indoor space to wait for the start and dry off after.
Start - Wait till the last minute and do a brief warm up, ending up soaked. We are all laughing about how our friends must be warm and cozy drinking their morning coffee in front of the fire.
Mile 1 - Just over 7 minute pace and thoroughly drenched.
Mile 3.1 - Course still seems long to me. Good thing we brought towels. Jody and I win some "couples" award including $50 cash and free entry for next year.
23:21
13 of 32 1st in age group ribbon
****
Start - Wait till the last minute and do a brief warm up, ending up soaked. We are all laughing about how our friends must be warm and cozy drinking their morning coffee in front of the fire.
Mile 1 - Just over 7 minute pace and thoroughly drenched.
Mile 3.1 - Course still seems long to me. Good thing we brought towels. Jody and I win some "couples" award including $50 cash and free entry for next year.
23:21
13 of 32 1st in age group ribbon
****
Sunday, January 1, 2006
1/1/06 Steilacoom Resolution Run 5 Miles
Missed last years race, happy to be back and have Jody get out of bed and join me. Damp and cool, but no rain.
Mile 1 - Not going to be a great run. Can barely hold 7 minutes per mile.
Mile 3 - Legs tired and stiff, lets just tough it out and finish as strong as possible
Mile 5 - Always fun to race, but somewhat dissapointed with my time. We enjoy some hot cereal with superstar John Riak. He thinks that I still have some of the Seattle Marathon in me and that is why I was not able to race up to my potential. He could be right, but I am not so sure.
37:32
69 of 147
***
Mile 1 - Not going to be a great run. Can barely hold 7 minutes per mile.
Mile 3 - Legs tired and stiff, lets just tough it out and finish as strong as possible
Mile 5 - Always fun to race, but somewhat dissapointed with my time. We enjoy some hot cereal with superstar John Riak. He thinks that I still have some of the Seattle Marathon in me and that is why I was not able to race up to my potential. He could be right, but I am not so sure.
37:32
69 of 147
***
Sunday, November 27, 2005
11/27/05 Seattle Marathon
In every previous race I have run as hard as possible with a specific time goal. What would it be like to run a marathon just for the fun of it? I did my big race in Portland 7 weeks ago, I should be fairly well recovered, yet still well trained. Marathons are great fun, why not just jump in and run Seattle? Raymond planning to run, also mostly for fun.
Start - Drove up with the family the day before. Went to the massive expo/packet pick up. Stayed the night at BK's Pike Place condo. Up early in the dark. Cool with some wind, but no rain. Half mile walk to the Monorail station. Uh oh, there is the Monorail leaning off the side, somewhat derailed. Station is closed and no buses are available so I am told that I must walk the mile to the Seattle Center. Good thing I am plenty early. No need to freak out, just take a nice easy stroll to the start area. Find Raymond and we start off together.
Mile 2 - A pleasant run through downtown, then on to a highway ramp and lots of concrete
Mile 3 - Having to dodge walking half marathoners who are walking three or four abreast. Into the "bus tunnel". A mile long tunnel, this would be great if it were raining. Raymond is warmed up and ready to make his move. I ask him to not eat all the post race food before I get there and wish him well on his way.
Mile 5 - Out of the tunnel and onto the I-90 Floating Bridge. Beautiful day and secenery!!
Mile 6 - Quick turnaround on Mercer Island, great view of all the runners.
Mile 12 - This has been a very flat race so far. Good to get off the concrete, now running along Lake Washington and around Seward Park. Legs feel good and I am on a good pace and having fun.
Mile 19 - Still on the flats, starting to tire a bit, but doing fine.
Mile 20 - Very steep uphill, and now it begins....the hilly section.
Mile 22 - Wasted and taking walking breaks but still enjoying myself, I really do not care about the finish time, it is just great to be here. I am surprised at how much more fun I can have when the pressure is off, just easing up a bit makes this a terrific experience.
Mile 25 - Right turn and a lovely long downhill in site. My left knee however decides to give out with a surge of pain. I have to walk and the pain goes away, but it was severe and a little scary at the time.
Mile 25.5 - There is Jody and the boys. She says that I am not running very fast. Geeze!!
Mile 26.2 - Cool run across the athletic field and sprint to the finish. So glad I did this and hope to come back again.
4:05:29
1031 of 2020
*****
Start - Drove up with the family the day before. Went to the massive expo/packet pick up. Stayed the night at BK's Pike Place condo. Up early in the dark. Cool with some wind, but no rain. Half mile walk to the Monorail station. Uh oh, there is the Monorail leaning off the side, somewhat derailed. Station is closed and no buses are available so I am told that I must walk the mile to the Seattle Center. Good thing I am plenty early. No need to freak out, just take a nice easy stroll to the start area. Find Raymond and we start off together.
Mile 2 - A pleasant run through downtown, then on to a highway ramp and lots of concrete
Mile 3 - Having to dodge walking half marathoners who are walking three or four abreast. Into the "bus tunnel". A mile long tunnel, this would be great if it were raining. Raymond is warmed up and ready to make his move. I ask him to not eat all the post race food before I get there and wish him well on his way.
Mile 5 - Out of the tunnel and onto the I-90 Floating Bridge. Beautiful day and secenery!!
Mile 6 - Quick turnaround on Mercer Island, great view of all the runners.
Mile 12 - This has been a very flat race so far. Good to get off the concrete, now running along Lake Washington and around Seward Park. Legs feel good and I am on a good pace and having fun.
Mile 19 - Still on the flats, starting to tire a bit, but doing fine.
Mile 20 - Very steep uphill, and now it begins....the hilly section.
Mile 22 - Wasted and taking walking breaks but still enjoying myself, I really do not care about the finish time, it is just great to be here. I am surprised at how much more fun I can have when the pressure is off, just easing up a bit makes this a terrific experience.
Mile 25 - Right turn and a lovely long downhill in site. My left knee however decides to give out with a surge of pain. I have to walk and the pain goes away, but it was severe and a little scary at the time.
Mile 25.5 - There is Jody and the boys. She says that I am not running very fast. Geeze!!
Mile 26.2 - Cool run across the athletic field and sprint to the finish. So glad I did this and hope to come back again.
4:05:29
1031 of 2020
*****
Saturday, October 29, 2005
10/29/05 Ghostmuster 5K
Love the Ghostmuster. Billy, Jody and Jared (1 miler). Cool and damp but no rain.
Mile 1 - some right leg discomfort
Mile 2 - tired, this is an off day
Mile 3.1 - Well I had fun as usual, love this size of a race. Finished 16 seconds faster than last year, but know I could have done better.
22:00
21st of 126 3rd in age group ribbon
****
Mile 1 - some right leg discomfort
Mile 2 - tired, this is an off day
Mile 3.1 - Well I had fun as usual, love this size of a race. Finished 16 seconds faster than last year, but know I could have done better.
22:00
21st of 126 3rd in age group ribbon
****
Sunday, October 9, 2005
10/9/05 Portland Marathon
Well I have been trying to beat 4 hours in the marathon for about ten years. Why not today? Been training well and feel ready. Quiet evening at Mom and Dad's. Leave the house nice and early to find the crowd in the still dark downtown. Cool and nice with a little breeze.
Start - Line up just in front of the 4 hour pacer. Soon we are off, a walking, shuffling, finally jogging.
Mile 0.1 - Wow moment. Must be Chinatown or something. Drums pounding from both sides of the road, really dramatic and inspiring. I am almost overcome with emotion.
Mile 0.3 - Except that now 7,000 runners are having to skinny into one lane, then dodge a big puddle and go through a narrow fence opening. We negotiate that and continue on.
Mile 5 - Feeling good, going a little faster than I should. Cheerleaders and musicians throughtout the course. Also, spectators keep yelling my name. My name is printed on the bib so even strangers can encourage me.
Mile 9 - Long flat stretch. Too easy to go too fast. Not the best part of town, some kind of industrial area with lots of train tracks to skip over.
Mile 13.1 - 8:35 pace is really too fast, but I feel so good, maybe I can break 3:50?
Mile 16 - Starting up the one big hill.
Mile 17 - I made it up OK, but it took some energy out of me. High above the Willamette River on the St. John's Bridge.
Mile 18 - Starting to fade. It is all downhill from here, sort of, I just need to hang on.
Mile 20 - Upset stomache. Try to take a GU but it is horrible.
Mile 21 - Can not even drink water. Just dump it on my head
Mile 23 - Getting very hard to keep going, but still running. Mental Tenacity is needed now. I could run 10 minute miles and still beat 4 hours, and that is what I am doing.
Mile 25.5 - The last water stop. I have been walking a few steps at every aid station. Here is the last one. I almost cry as I get to the last kid in line with a cup and make myself run again.
Mile 26.2 - I really did not know if I could do it, and was so pleased to see 3:56 on the big clock. Great recovery area. Now that I am done running I know I need to drink something. I try water, but it does not appeal, I try some kind of "Tazoberry" drink and just can not take a second sip. Then I am offered a cup of orange juice. It is wonderful. I guzzle down three full cups to my sheer delight. Just what I needed. Walk to the car and drive 2 hours home.
3:56:25 PR
1,645 of 7201
****
Start - Line up just in front of the 4 hour pacer. Soon we are off, a walking, shuffling, finally jogging.
Mile 0.1 - Wow moment. Must be Chinatown or something. Drums pounding from both sides of the road, really dramatic and inspiring. I am almost overcome with emotion.
Mile 0.3 - Except that now 7,000 runners are having to skinny into one lane, then dodge a big puddle and go through a narrow fence opening. We negotiate that and continue on.
Mile 5 - Feeling good, going a little faster than I should. Cheerleaders and musicians throughtout the course. Also, spectators keep yelling my name. My name is printed on the bib so even strangers can encourage me.
Mile 9 - Long flat stretch. Too easy to go too fast. Not the best part of town, some kind of industrial area with lots of train tracks to skip over.
Mile 13.1 - 8:35 pace is really too fast, but I feel so good, maybe I can break 3:50?
Mile 16 - Starting up the one big hill.
Mile 17 - I made it up OK, but it took some energy out of me. High above the Willamette River on the St. John's Bridge.
Mile 18 - Starting to fade. It is all downhill from here, sort of, I just need to hang on.
Mile 20 - Upset stomache. Try to take a GU but it is horrible.
Mile 21 - Can not even drink water. Just dump it on my head
Mile 23 - Getting very hard to keep going, but still running. Mental Tenacity is needed now. I could run 10 minute miles and still beat 4 hours, and that is what I am doing.
Mile 25.5 - The last water stop. I have been walking a few steps at every aid station. Here is the last one. I almost cry as I get to the last kid in line with a cup and make myself run again.
Mile 26.2 - I really did not know if I could do it, and was so pleased to see 3:56 on the big clock. Great recovery area. Now that I am done running I know I need to drink something. I try water, but it does not appeal, I try some kind of "Tazoberry" drink and just can not take a second sip. Then I am offered a cup of orange juice. It is wonderful. I guzzle down three full cups to my sheer delight. Just what I needed. Walk to the car and drive 2 hours home.
3:56:25 PR
1,645 of 7201
****
Sunday, September 11, 2005
9/11/05 Bank to Bay 10K
Back to downtown Tacoma for the third year in a row. Billy signed up just for the shirt that he had been admiring. He even bought the 2003 edition that they were selling at a discount. Chip timing this year, a very good addition with the large crowd. Cool and cloudy.
Start - Don't worry about position so much with the chip. So crowded though, but soon to spread out on the long downhill.
Mile 3.1 - Feeling strong and ahead of PR pace. Can I hold it on the uphill?
Mile 5.5 - Long uphill but I am holding my own. Much better and stronger than last year.
Mile 6.2 - Nice PR by 2 minutes!! Go back and cheer on Billy on one of his first races (57:45)
45:57 Course Record
134 of 697 race #83, Bank to Bay #3
****
Start - Don't worry about position so much with the chip. So crowded though, but soon to spread out on the long downhill.
Mile 3.1 - Feeling strong and ahead of PR pace. Can I hold it on the uphill?
Mile 5.5 - Long uphill but I am holding my own. Much better and stronger than last year.
Mile 6.2 - Nice PR by 2 minutes!! Go back and cheer on Billy on one of his first races (57:45)
45:57 Course Record
134 of 697 race #83, Bank to Bay #3
****
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