Great prep run for a Spring Marathon. Goal = negative split. Very nice weather.
Start - Billy running the 20K. Hope he saves me some food at the end.
Mile 10 - Just under my goal pace of 9 minutes per mile. Joke with the race volunteer asking if this is the finish line. Turn around and pick up the pace to 8:30/mile.
Mile 15 - I really hate this boring course. Getting tougher but I am not slowing down.
Mile 20 - Always nice to hit the track at the end. Finished with an overall pace of 8:41/mile, very nice negative split. Great effort and results, but oh so tough group of runners in Steilacoom. Last in my age group of 9 runners.
2:53:33
50 of 63!!
***
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Saturday, March 4, 2006
3/4/06 Run for Luck 10K
This is becoming one of my favorite 10K races. I feel like I am on a home course here on the Chehalis Western Trail. Jody and Billy here. Nice weather, little breeze.
Start - Good small crowd. Always hard to know how many are running the 10K until we hit the 5K split off just a quarter of a mile into the race.
Mile 1 - Group has thinned out. I am running right beside Sean Sexton. We talk a little bit but with the fast pace it is hard to converse.
Mile 3.1 - Really running too fast and sure I will slow down, but holding steady with Sean.
Mile 5 - Still with Sean, we are feeding off each other and working hard.
Mile 5.5 - Sean starts to pull away from me. Good for him. I just can not keep up but I have run really well today thanks to him.
Mile 6.2 - Wow I got in under 45 minutes, way better than I expected. Congratulate and thank Sean for the good time.
44:56
25 of 83
****
Start - Good small crowd. Always hard to know how many are running the 10K until we hit the 5K split off just a quarter of a mile into the race.
Mile 1 - Group has thinned out. I am running right beside Sean Sexton. We talk a little bit but with the fast pace it is hard to converse.
Mile 3.1 - Really running too fast and sure I will slow down, but holding steady with Sean.
Mile 5 - Still with Sean, we are feeding off each other and working hard.
Mile 5.5 - Sean starts to pull away from me. Good for him. I just can not keep up but I have run really well today thanks to him.
Mile 6.2 - Wow I got in under 45 minutes, way better than I expected. Congratulate and thank Sean for the good time.
44:56
25 of 83
****
Saturday, February 25, 2006
2/25/06 Steilacoom 15 miles
Back again for another Resolution Run. Billy running the 15K. Cool, but no wind and dry.
Start - Had a short warm up, but the legs do not feel quite right.
Mile 1 - Significant discomfort in legs/shins mostly. Need to loosen up or it is going to be a bad morning.
Mile 4 - It took about the first three miles to feel comfortable, but now I am running smoothly.
Mile 7.5 - Turn around. On a 7:54 pace and feeling fine.
Mile 12 - It was a good 12 miles, starting to tire now, but not that much farther to go. Still have a chance at beating 2 hours.
Mile 15 - On the track, sprinting for the finish line. I can see the clock and the two hour mark just slipping away. Still an enjoyable run.
2:00:06
69 of 110 9 of 9 in age group!!
***
Start - Had a short warm up, but the legs do not feel quite right.
Mile 1 - Significant discomfort in legs/shins mostly. Need to loosen up or it is going to be a bad morning.
Mile 4 - It took about the first three miles to feel comfortable, but now I am running smoothly.
Mile 7.5 - Turn around. On a 7:54 pace and feeling fine.
Mile 12 - It was a good 12 miles, starting to tire now, but not that much farther to go. Still have a chance at beating 2 hours.
Mile 15 - On the track, sprinting for the finish line. I can see the clock and the two hour mark just slipping away. Still an enjoyable run.
2:00:06
69 of 110 9 of 9 in age group!!
***
Saturday, February 11, 2006
2/11/06 Friendship Run 5K
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
*****
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 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
*****
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