3/23/08 Easter Marathon

My first time not running a race that I was registered for. I had signed up for the 20 miler in Steilacoom, but when this marathon was listed I figured that this would be the easiest chance to get silver level in the Maniacs (6 in 6 months). I had planned on 20 miles today, what is another 6.2?

Double out and back route. Cold but sunny at the start, soon to warm up to nice mild temperatures with little wind, perfect running conditions. Small turn out for the early start, but some familiar faces. I decided to go out quickly and settle into a comfortable pace no faster than 8:15/mile.

Mile 1 - I am in third place overall ( of the early starters). The lead runner, all the way from Texas, plans to run a 3:10 and is way out in front, I hope he does well.

Mile 4 - I hear some clomping behind me, it sounds like two or three runners bearing down fast. Nope, just Stevie Ray Lopez. He appears to be on a mission and soon is well ahead of me.

Mile 6.5 - Turn around at the cone. I am at 8:11 pace overall. Really should slow down, but I have been holding back. If I go sub 8:10 I will take a walking break.

Mile 13.1 - Back at the park. Made a quick turn around and headed for lap 2. SR Lopez took a long break and I am ahead of him again.

Mile 15 - SR Lopez blows by. Nobody behind me. Another "Bob Green run by yourself until Billy shows up" race.

Mile 16 - Passed by a large biker gang. After about 25 motorcycles passed me I threw my hands in the air in salute. Got buzzed by a monster harley, so loud, but a nice distraction.

Mile 17 - Starting to slow a bit, but with so much time in the bank I let myself slow but kept moving.

Mile 19 - Still at about 8:25 overall. Right shoe is a little loose, might as well stop to tie it. Oh, there is SR Lopez back from the turnaround. He had seen me bent over and asked if I was alright. Since my severe dizzy spell in the ten mile race, I have been much more appreciative of fellow runners and sensitive to others possible needs. I think that I will always carry my cell phone with me on Bob Green races just in case one of us is found in the ditch. A benefit to running more marathons is that no one race is so all important that I would risk injury to myself or allow someone else to suffer.

Mile 20 - Slowing down. Play music on the cell phone, no one around that could be bothered. 4 Grateful Dead songs would get me to the finish. Oh, there is Billy, he checks on me, then tells me that he has tired legs and will join me at mile 22. I am about 2 miles ahead of the next runner.

Mile 22 - Running and taking walking breaks now, with Billy. My head feels good, stomache feels good with much less fluid intake, just getting fatigued and starting to feel some discomfort in the quads. I am in very positive spirits however, a much better mood than my last marathon.

Mile 23 - Darn quadriceps are not cooperating. They basically stop functioning every once in a while. My legs feel like noodles. I have to take some short walking breaks. Try to not look at my watch and just do my best.

Mile 24 - Spamroll

Mile 25 - Give the fuel belt to Billy. Why didn't I do that at mile 22? My PR has slipped away, but I am still in good shape mentally. Into the park with a half mile to go. Look at the watch and think that I could get under 3:54 if I can finish strong. Legs are not cooperating though and I cross the line in 3:54:06. Averaged about 9:45/mile for the last 6 miles.

26.2 -Marathon #17 is done. My second fastest time yet. Nice blister on my left foot that I had no idea I was getting. Hung around the finish area with some Maniacs for a while. Looking forward the Yakima Marathon in two weeks and a larger group of runners.

3:54:06

10th place of 34 runners

****

3\1\08 Run for Luck 10K

Flat and fast on the Chehalis Western Trail. Thurston County Parks and Recreation puts on a quality race. Another green t-shirt. Jody ran the 5K. Cool and dry with some breeze

Start - Good to see Bob Martin. Plan to stay behind him. A couple of other very fast runners.

Mile 1 - Out of the crowd and all alone again. Sub 7 pace will not hold.

Mile 3 - The two leaders are not that far in front of me. They also do not seem to be running very fast. Later I learned that they overshot the turn around and ran considerable farther that they were supposed to. They gave up on racing and just ran in together at a comfortable pace.


Mile 3.1 -No trouble for me seeing the turnaround with aid station and volunteer. At a 7:15 pace and feeling pretty good.


Mile 4.5 - Pass one of the fast guys who is walking. I think it is Andy Piercy. I ask if he is OK and he says that he pulled his hamstring. I told him to walk it in and not make it worse.


Mile 5.5 - No one ahead of me, or behind me. Jody and Jared are out to cheer and push me on. I like that last quarter mile to the finish.


Mile 6.2 - Bob Martin comes to congratulate me but I push him away thinking that I just might vomit. I recover pretty quickly and am pleased with the results. Ten seconds faster than last year.

45:24

8th place overall out of 50
****

2\23\08 Resolution Run 15 miles

Looking forward to a fast time and no disasterous dizzy spells. Bright sunshine and cold. Billy ran the 15K. Got to talk with Ashley a little bit. Since I beat her in the 5 mile and was ahead of her in the 10 mile, but she beats me in marathons, I was hoping for a close race with me in front. Also expecting to beat 2 hours and PR.

Start - first mile with Billy, comfortable 7:45 pace

Mile 3 - been running with Ashley. I feel a little tired in the legs on a minor uphill, but keep up the pace

Mile 4 - Ashley pulls ahead but I stay relatively close

Mile 6 - Fatigue sets in. This is not good. My legs are just plain tired. I did run a marathon two weeks ago and I realize that I am not fully recovered.

Mile 7.5 - Joke with the volunteer at the turnaround about whether this is the finish line.

Mile 8 - Mike tells me to catch Ashley - not going to happen today

Mile 10 - Start slowing, now averaging 8/mile. Ashley pulling away and I start suffering.

Mile 11-14 - This has got to be great training for running on tired legs. Keep running while suffering, this will make me stronger for future races. Still, no fun being passed by quite a few runners.

Mile 15 - Around the track and to the finish. Not a disaster but not what I was hoping for. I think I did the best I could given the level of fatigue. Billy ran great and I congratulated Ashley. Waited a long time for Nikkie and Holly to finish.

2:01:34

81st of 115 (tough competition in Steilacoom!!)
**

2/10/08 Valentine Marathon

Sleep in, in my own bed, nice breakfast, then a short drive to catch the 9:30AM early start at Millersylvania State Park. Bob Green is in the hospital, but the race will go on. Same course and many of the same runners as the Christmas race. Cool and windy with a good chance for rain.

Mile 2 - I have been running with Ashley but I tell her to go on ahead. My plan is to keep the pace around 8:40

Mile 4 - I have been running with Jessica Norton who I just met. She won the Whidbey marathon last year and is running the half today as a training run. Pleasant conversation - I don't think I have ever met anyone who has been on a box of cereal before. Sorry to see her turn around at mile 6.5

Mile 10 - Breezy but not as bad as Christmas. Running comfortably

Mile 13.1 - Turn around at 8:40 pace, aid station has just been set up but I've got my fuel belt stocked with gatorade. Approaching the turnaround I tried to yell hello to everyone that I knew. SR Lopez, Hope, Ashley, Ron, Jim, Jim.

Mile 17 - Starting to slow down. Wind is blowing in every direction. Ashley is a tiny red speck in the distance.

Mile 20 - Billy is waiting for me, to help me run in to the finish. What occurs next is the most difficult hour of running in my life.

Mile 21 - Stomache ache. Throw up a little bit in my mouth. Run past the water stop as there is no need.

Mile 22-25 Very short walking breaks as needed when quadriceps fail. Counting to 200 was effective in keeping me going as was looking at landmarks up ahead. Considerable suffering as I just wanted to stop running but forced myself to keep moving. Cry a little bit and get emotional as I see Tammy and Haley there to cheer for me. Not having fun at all.

Mile 26.2 - Quads feel like noodles, not working like they should. Shuffle across the finish in just under 3:57. Timer calls my time at 3:50 something and I try to correct her, she later adds five minutes to my time but not anyone elses

Very pleased to be back under 4 hours, but this one took a lot out of me. It is good to suffer and push it sometimes but I would not want all of my races to end like that.

3:56:59
20th of 59 runners
**

1/26/08 Steilacoom 10 miler

Worst race of my life so far (132 as of March 2008).

Well rested and pumped for a PR. The ten mile PR has stuck out as something that should be beatable since I ran it in 1997. There just are not many ten mile races out there. On this day I had confidence of lowering that record. Cold and dry.

Mile 1 - Nice fast start. I had a good mile warm up and everything feels good.

Mile 3 - Running great. Controlled fury.

Mile 5 - This is getting exciting. I am well ahead of pace, but running controlled and feeling strong. Some of the best running in my life. At the turn around I realize that if I hold this pace I will PR by two minutes. I will purposely slow down just a bit so as to save something for the end. This is so terrific, I just love running.

Mile 5.1 - There is Ashley, cool, I'll PR and beat her too!!

Mile 5.4 - The world is spinning like I just got off the merry-go-round. Within three steps I go from denial, to staggering, to being helped to the ground by two runners and hoping that I will not pass out. Not so faint, just extreme vertigo. I can not focus my eyes and I feel horrible. Runners are passing in both directions. I urge the two women helpers to go on, I will be fine, but they insist that they will not leave until I am on my feet. They offer me water, gu, and try to diagnose, did I eat breakfast (duh, this is race number 132 I think that I know how to prepare), and they ask if they should call 911 (no!!!!). The next three minutes seemed like forever, but my eyes adjusted, I did not pass out, the race staff van promised to keep a watch on me, and I did get up and keep going rather than take the ride back. The two women were slow runners and had been heading out, I urged them to continue and said that I would walk in.

Mile 6 - Mixed emotions, glad to be concious, embarrassed about the event, very mad about the race. I am feeling better every minute just a little wiped out and fuzzy headed.

Mile 6.5 to mile 9 - Walk and jog, actually do a little running now and then. Hook up with a few slower runners. It is interesting to be back here. I feel like I have to explain my situation to everyone. One woman is really struggling to get in at a 8:30/min pace. I encourage her and let her go on as soon as I feel a little tired. No sense in taking more risks. With the slow pace and cold temp I am getting chilled and feeling yucky.

Mile 10 - I walked in lots of the last mile. I want to see the two women that helped me, but I never got a good look at their faces. I finished the race and turned around to find them and thank them. I waited and waited. Bob Dolphin shuffled in. I got in my car and drove the course in reverse but could not find them. Perhaps I had just met my guardian angels. They really gave me the care that I needed at that time. I hope I can find them someday and properly thank them.


Epilog - Jody and fellow Maniacs make me go to the doctor. The heart is fine, EKG and echocardiogram prove it. I do have a tricuspid valve that is supposed to be bicuspid and have a small heart murmur, but we already knew that. Official diagnosis is "junk in the inner ear"

Epilog II - Billy calls me after his Wednesday group run. Two women at his group, Nickie and Holly, had a tale to tell about helping a dizzy runner at the ten miler last week. I am able to go to the group run the next week and express my thanks. It was great to meet my angels.


1:27:??
95 of 115
*

1/1/08 Steilacoom 5 miler

Back from two week vacation in Maui. Landed at Seatac at 11:30PM 12/31. Rang in the new year driving through Tacoma, in bed by 1AM. Up at 6AM, which is really 4AM with the jet lag.

Start - Great to see the NCHS team here. Sure is cold, but at least it is dry.

Mile 4 - Hey this is going great. I am not slowing down but I am running good and hard. Passing some folks and in very good spirits

Mile 5 - Surprisingly strong race. My favorite way to celebrate the new year. Now go home and rest.


35:33
60th of 143
Course Record
****

12/16/07 Christmas Marathon

I was due for a long run and decided to jump into this Bob Green race just for fun. My mistake was not having any real time goal other than to hope to break 4 hours. Talked Billy into running the full marathon. We could run together for a little while, should be a good time. Cold weather with threat of rain. I decided to wear tights, maybe my first ever race doing this. We also had Tammy positioned to give us water and aid as needed, especially since were were taking the early start.

Mile 1 - Nice easy 9ish pace with Bill. About 30 runners in the early group.

Mile 2 - Bill and I go our seperate ways as I pick up the pace ever so slightly. Meet Monty.

Mile 3 - Catch up to Ron and Jim. Its pretty windy and I try to draft a little but they are too small. The road is too unsafe for two across let alone three and I should be going just a little faster so I move on ahead

Mile 5-6 Running with a nice pack, off the main road. Meet a young couple and also a father and daughter (Mike and Ashley). How cool is that, running a marathon with your kid? Mike just joined the Maniacs and Ashley will soon. They seem to be very intent on the pacing and are going just a little slow for my pace, so I edge on ahead.

Mile 13.1 - Wind has been blowing hard. I hit the turnaround at 1:55. Someone asked what my goal time was and I honestly could not answer, but I knew that was bad. What would keep me motivated when it gets hard?

Mile 17 - Wind at my back but I am spent. Tammy is there to encourage me, but it is not looking good. I start taking walking breaks.

Mile 20-25 - Way too many long walking breaks. Billy's friend Chris stops by to encourage me. I pass some 1/2 marathon walkers and joke with them, I am barely running as fast as they are walking. I am making so many deals with my watch. I give up on 4 hours and that enables me to relax and slow even more. Ashley passes me, elf ears and all, looking very comfortable. She has my respect as a runner from that moment on.

Mile 26.2 - Crossed the finish line without much emotion. Good to be done, satisfied with the run but a little dissapointed in the time. Basically gave up and walked it in when it got rough. At least the rain held off.

4:05:47
41 of 85 runners

***