12/10/11 Tis the Season for a Cross Country 5K, race #3

Back to Pioneer Park for the third race in the series.  Martinho and I are the only male runners to have completed the first two races.  Winner of the series wins a free pair of shoes from South Sound Running.  Martinho beat me by a few steps in the second race, he has an amazing finishing kick.  In the first race he took a bit of a wrong turn and that has given me a 39 second lead on him coming in to today's race.  There are more runners here today including some real fast guys so I know that I will not win the race.  My strategy is to not go out too fast and keep Martinho close.  As long as I do not fall or lose a shoe in the mud I should win the series.

It is cold and dry today.  Not as foggy as when we ran here in October, but much colder.  There has been some river flooding and the two wet areas are now much wetter than last time.  The puddle/pond that was waist deep in 2010 is only knee deep this year.  But it is so cold that it has frozen over top.  The mud obstacle is not too bad because it is partially frozen.  The field is lumpy with half frozen bumps.  Not a PR course or day today.

Start - I had a good warm up and feel ready to run.  As we head out I get in just behind Martinho, Heather and Terra.  It is fun and good to know other runners who are right at your level of ability.  Across the field on the well marked course with flagging to go around and painted arrows to follow.

Mile 0.3 - On the far side of the field I pass my three buddies but do not go off so fast.  I know that they are right behind me.  The first mud obstacle is not too sloppy and I only get one foot a little wet.

Mile 1 - 7:44 which seems fine to me.  Some back and forth with a couple of the High School kids.  One kid ahead of me has on a red shirt like I do and is running smoothly.  We get to the big water trap and he goes splashing right through the middle of it.  I take a less aggressive approach along the edge, but still the water is deep enough to soak and then freeze my feet.  The kid and two other runners will finish the race with bleeding cuts from the sharp ice in this pond. 

Mile 1.5 - Feeling coming back to my feet.  I can run faster on this one section so I turn it on and pass 4 who are all bunched up.  I hope that will put some space between me and Martinho.  But now I am back on some bumpy grass and I keep turning my ankles a little bit and I am slowing some.  Gradually each of the kids get past me again.  Water hazard is not so bad the second time as I know what it will be like.

Mile 2 - Faster trail again.  Martinho is right behind me, but there is no way that he can run the last mile 40 seconds faster than me, so it looks like I will win the series.  Still I would like to beat him.  Through the mud trap without much difficulty and now on to the soccer fields.

Mile 2.5 - Across one field and now he catches me, making his move.  I fall back a little, then pick it up and run even with him.  He passes me again and gets a few feet ahead.  I notice that one of his shoes is untied.  I tell him that he should stop and tie his shoe.  Of course he will not stop.  I feel like I have a little burst left so I turn it on and pass him again.  I wonder if those at the finish line can see how closely we are battling this out.

Mile 3 - I am ahead of him at the final turn and run as best as I can.  But he puts on an amazing finishing kick.  He encourages me to run harder but there is no way I can beat him now.  Run hard and then ease in to the finish line.  He beats me by 5 seconds and won two of the three races in the series, but I will take home the shoes.  I am happy with my finish time today, but place wise I am farther down than usual.  Lots of fast runners, who thankfully did not show up to all three races in the series.

24:12

15th of 27 runners

Race#257, 5K#67

*****

11/27/11 Seattle Marathon

My fourth time at the Seattle Marathon.  Looks like it will be the worst one yet as far as weather.  Rain and wind are predicted.  I am pleased to see that it is not raining as I begin the walk to the start line.  We stayed at BKs condo and it is about a mile and a half to the start line at the Seattle Center.  I take my time walking and pause to watch the early starters go by.  Hard to get a GPS signal with all the tall buildings.  Still trying to get a signal, I meander through a parking lot and along the street edge I find a $20 bill.  My lucky day, or was that it for luck for this day?  It starts to drizzle as I watch the half marathoners go by and then get ready for my race.

Start - Line up with Evil Triplet Ron and Maniac Jessica.  Some of my other usual running mates are running their 4th marathon in 4 days and will start farther back.  A couple of them will go on to pass me later in the race.  It is raining now and I have a trash bag over my jacket. Not too cold but it will be wet all day today.  Start right on time and I negotiate the crowds well.

Mile 4 - Into the I-90 express lanes bus tunnel.  Trash bag comes off and into my pocket. 

Mile 6 - Out of the tunnel, then on the long bridge over Lake Washington.  The wind is at our back and it is easy to keep pace.  I stop to tie my shoes and then head back across the lake, into the wind.  I catch up to two guys and draft them a little.  Soon I realize that one of them is Maniac Ken who I have run with at many races.  I feel like I should not draft on him so I ease up next to him.  We commiserate about the weather.  Although it is not hard to keep a steady pace, I know that this wind and rain are taking a toll and that I will probably be forced to slow down later.  Takao Suzuki is there to take a picture.  Thanks Takao.  Together Ken and I make it over the bridge and then I go ahead, expecting Ken to pass me later.

Mile 8.5 - Still running into the wind a little but not as bad.  Steady rain and some puddles to dodge.  A crow walks onto the course, picks up and empty gel pack and walks off to the side of the road.  Bob Dolphin sighting.

Mile 13.1 - I hit the halfway mark at 1:58 about a minute faster than I had planned. I take a little walk break just before the timing mat and then reset my watch.  Now I will try to go just a little faster to put a little time in the bank before the hills.  I feel pretty good and hope that the feeling stays for a while.

Mile 15 - Catch up to Maniac Jeff.  Run with him for a mile or so and then decide to go just a little faster.

Mile 19 - I forgot about that hill.  Tiring a little.  Right foot is aching some.  Doing OK though.  Less windy here, but still a steady rain.

Mile 20.5 - The left turn and instant steep hill.  Just like last year my calves start to tighten up.  Also my left quadricep which has never given me any trouble starts to present itself.  I am running but going at the same pace as two people who are walking.  At least it is a short hill, but next is a longer one that is less steep. 

Mile 22 - A little bit of foot pain, a little bit of overall leg tightening, a little bit of lightheadedness and a little bit of nausea. I find this low slow gear and I can trudge along.  I am able to pick up the pace any time I want, but then one of my symptoms tells me to slow down.  I am passing quite a few people who are hobbling with cramps of some kind and I wonder if this cold weather has something to do with it.  So I continue to pass walkers and limpers but many of the runners are passing me because I am going so slow.  I just do not have the willpower to tough it out today.  The 4 hour pace team passes me and when I realize that I will not make that time goal I really lose motivation.  But I am still having fun.  Joke with spectators and commiserate with fellow sufferers.  I will finish and it won't be a horrible finish time, but definitely an off day.  I wonder how much I can blame on the weather?  Maybe a 5 minute penalty and then my lack of determination will cost me another 5 minutes.

Mile 24.5 - So Happy to see the Space Needle in the distance, not so much farther to go.  But now crossing I-5 the wind has picked up again.  My hands start to get cold.  I put on my soggy gloves that I had taken off miles ago and that helps the chill.  Then the steep downhill and on to the finish.

Mile 26.2 - Finish and get my medal from Maniac Betsy.  Glad to have brought dry clothes to change into.  In the warm recovery area the chill soon goes away.  This was a tough one for me, but I managed to keep a happy attitude and enjoyed the time out there.

4:07:25

812th place of 2047

Marathon or Ultra #75

Seattle Marathon#4

Race#256

*****

11/12/11 Club Oly Tis the Season for a 5K at Millersylvania State Park

My 4th time for this 5K on this wonderful trail through old growth forest.  Nice to have Jody join me for this run through the woods.  23 runners is about double who came last year and also double the number at the first event in the series.  The guy who won the first race in the series is not here, putting me in the top spot to win the series and get a free pair of shoes.  Martinho came in just behind me at Pioneer park and he is here today, so I can not let up.  Feeling good after the marathon of six days ago.  Nice two mile warm up.  It is cold but not windy or wet.  Some mud on the trail but not bad at all.

Start - After the usual long course description by Rich we finally get going.  I purposely start towards the back.  There is a group from Shelton here and two cross country runners from Adna.  Across the bumpy field and onto the trail.  I get moving well, but not quite as fast as I often do at these short races.  Pass a couple of people including Martinho.  Short out and back and I get to see the fast runners.  Then I turn around and get to see Jody.

Mile 1 - Turn onto a muddier trail with lots of curves, and bumps to watch for.  Stalk and then pass Heather.  I pass her and another person where the trail is still wide, but now we are approaching the narrow section where it would be very difficult to pass.  I can ease up just a little bit here and then make the turn back onto the field completing the first loop.

Mile 2 - Back down the road, then the trail.  I can hear breathing behind me.  I am afraid that it is either Bill or Martinho, the only two runners in this race that I would prefer to beat.  Don't look back.  Try some surges on the muddy trail, feel like I should be breaking away but I just can not leave them behind.  Quick peek back at a turn but I can not tell who it is.  Now at the narrow part.  I must trust my kick and hope that when the path opens up, and then the field, I will be able to out sprint him, whoever it is.  I make the turn down the road and let it fly as best I can.  Still ahead of him. 

Mile 3 - Now turn for the short bit on the field and immediately Martinho and Wade leave me in the dust.  Disappointing but also amazed at both of their finishing kicks. 

Mile 3.1 - 3.08 on the GPS.  Finish as best I can.  Happy with my time, eleven seconds faster than last year.  I learn that the series is based on cumulative time.  I beat Martinho by 43 seconds in the first race (because he took a wrong turn) and he beat me by about 7 seconds today (have to verify that when results are published.  That gives me about a 36 second lead for race number 3.  December 10th, back at Pioneer Park.  In the meantime I plan to run the Seattle Marathon on November 27.


22:12
10th of 23
Race #255, 5K #66
*****

11/6/11 Bass Pro Shops Conservation Marathon

Jody suggested that I visit Caleb at College (Evangel University) and I suggested that I do so when there was a marathon in town too.  So here I am in Springfield Missouri.  Its going to be the 7th state in which I have run a marathon.  Bass Pro Shops is the world's largest sporting goods store.  My hotel is just across the street, but packet pick up is on the other side of the building and it is a long walk to get there.  Very nice long sleeve technical fabric shirt.  Just before bedtime I realize that I forgot my S!Caps electrolytes that I have taken in each of my last 50 or so marathons or ultras.  I'll try to drink more Poweraid and less plain water and hope for the best.  Would be great to beat 4 hours, but I am not going to stress about it.

Very windy and cool, but it is dry.  I will wear my jacket over a short sleeve shirt.  Tomorrow at this time it will be raining steady and I will be grateful for today's weather.  But this wind is strong and will probably slow me down.  Chat with a guy from Connecticut who I had sat next to on a bus some time ago at a previous race.  Other than that I do not know anybody here.  I line up with a Maniac, Tim from Wisconsin, and its nice to talk before the start.

Start - Frank Shorter says something.  Moment of prayer.  National Anthem by some country singers.  Start is delayed by five minutes.  The start is to be aired on the local news station at 7AM sharp but we get bumped to second story because of an earthquake in Oklahoma.  Soon enough we are off.  1,200 in the Half Marathon and 274 in the full.

Mile 1 - The Halfers split off and now there is plenty of room to run.  Nice to have the big festive start, but I prefer a smaller race.  This works out well.  Course is on roads, then a short bit on a paved trail, then all roads.  Not the roads I had driven on yesterday though.  I was not impressed with what I had seen of Springfield so far.  Just big busy roads with a tremendous number of fast food joints, and little city character.  But this course will show me much more of the town.  Mostly residential, but a pretty course.  Lots and lots of turns.  Well staffed with volunteers at almost every turn and road crossing.  Green arrows on the ground at each turn.

Miles 3 to 8 - Much hillier than I expected.  I feel good but not great.  Jacket comes off at mile 4.  I pass an older guy, later found out that he is 68.  We will go back and forth all race long.  He will draft off of me a few times when we are heading straight into the wind, but ask if I mind and I do not.  In the last mile he will pass me for good and beat me by less than a minute.

Mile 10 to 13 - More residential roads but flatter.  Some roads are open to traffic, maybe just in one direction.  The cars are not a problem, but I am not sure if it is OK for me to be running the tangents.  I will do so, but carefully.  Running is easier now, I am feeling very good, chatting a bit with two others.  Giant green mile markers can not be missed.  Well stocked aid stations with plenty of volunteers directly after each even mile marker.  A kid at the mile 12 aid station offers me a pack of peanut butter crackers.  Remembering my lack of salt intake, I take the pack and munch on two crackers over the next two miles. 

Mile 13.1 - Eight seconds faster than my planned 1:58.  In Victoria I ran a 1:59 first half and managed a negative split, so I decided to run a 1:58 first half today and see if I can still run a faster second half.  Now I set off just a little bit faster and leave the two other runners behind.

Mile 14 to 18 - Feeling great.  Still holding back and I have only increased my pace slightly, just hoping that it will last.  It is still early in this race.  Gradually passing people, but no one is passing me.  Looking forward to the mile markers, especially the even ones where I can walk through the aid station, get a drink, and also pour a little water on my head to help cool off.

Mile 18 - Marker is there, but where is the aid?  I start to fret and feel thirsty.  A couple more turns and there it is at about mile 18.5.

Mile 21 - Now I am starting to slow.  No nausea and my head feels OK, but I am tiring.  Slow the pace for a bit as I regroup.  Now make an effort to speed up a little and I am able to do so.  Get a bit of a second wind, then turn into the wind.

Mile 22 - Wind is as strong here as it has been all day.  Not nearly as bad as at Bellingham in September, but strong enough that I have a good excuse if my finish time is not what I had hoped for.

Mile 23 - Turn so the wind is crosswise and now the longest straight stretch of the course.  I like being able to look far ahead and see a traffic light that I can focus on.  Feel like walking, but I know that I won't beat 4 hours if I do.  Soon I am confident that I will beat 4 and I might even get another 3:56 if I can hold on.

Mile 25 - Bald Eagle.  It is the conservation marathon and there have been a few stuffed deer along the way.  The eagle is live and tethered to its keeper, so not quite as cool as the wild one that flew over my head at NODM two years ago.  The race has been getting more and more difficult, but gradually so.  No sudden wall, but eventually I realize that I am in tatters.  This close to the end I should be able to rally and run strong to the finish, but I really lose it at about mile 25.5.  Get passed by three or four people who I had just passed.

Mile 26 - Giant sign is sure welcoming.  I see 3:56 slip away but I am pleased with my performance today.  I will be 6th out of 20 in my age group and 71st overall which is a better position than usual.  I slog it in for a "sprint" to the finish, my named called by the announcer. 26.26 on the GPS.  Huge medal with an elk on it and a space blanket which is helpful in the cool wind and I am wet from dousing myself with water. Tons of post race food.  I take as much as I can carry on the long walk back to the hotel.  Soon I meet up with Caleb and we go off to explore the Fantastic Caverns.


3:57:44
71st of 274
Marathon or Ultra#74
*****

10/29/11 Club Oly Tis the Season for a 5K Cross Country Race at Pioneer Park

My third time on this course. Last year in December we had waist deep water and lots of mud, the year before I really took it easy to protect my injured heel.  Feeling good today, so I should have no trouble setting a personal course record.  Small turn out.  A couple of guys that I do not know and a few more women than men.  Cool and very foggy.

Start - Across the soccer field, a nice wide start and we are sorted out before the first turn.  Already one guy is way ahead of me and there is no way I will catch him.  The field is wet but in decent shape, not much mud getting kicked up.  Soon I am in third place.  Across the field I make a surge and pass Amy.  Based on recent marathon times and other races I should be fairly evenly matched with four runners here today.  Amy, Terra and Heather ran marathons this month in times that were a minute or two faster than mine.  Martino is here as well and he is always right up there with me.  Turn onto a trail and through the mud spot.  No standing water, just a little slippery.  Cherry guides us the way to go and I continue on the trail.  Flat but loose gravel, very hard to run as fast as I would like.  Try the grassy side of the trail but that is just too uneven.  Back onto the gravel.  I remember that I did the same thing last year.

Mile 1 - 7:11, Way too fast for this course.  I feel it in my legs and my breath.  Amy catches up to me and we run together for a bit.  I can not hold the pace though and she gradually gets out of reach.  Bill points the way at another intersection. Apparently I was just far enough ahead of the pack behind me that they did not see me make a turn.  Terra, Martino and Heather miss seeing Bill somehow and go off on the wrong trail for a bit.  They figure that it cost them 45 seconds to a minute before getting back on track.  That assures me third place and I will not have anyone getting close behind me to challenge me or give me inspiration to run faster.  The place with waist deep water is dry this year, runnable grass.

Mile 2- Second time on the loop through the woods.  My pace is fading, Amy getting farther ahead.  I feel good though, ankle feels fine.  Keep chugging along in good spirits.

Mile 2.75 - Back onto the field.  I can barely see Amy ahead, but lose her in the fog.  No one behind me.  Eventually I look back and see the pack coming out of the woods.

Mile 3 - Mile marker on the pathway that cuts to the right between the fields.  It looks like we are supposed to turn here as that would be about a tenth of a mile to the finish.  Plus now there are more soccer players on the field that we will have to run through.  Should I turn here?  Did Amy turn here?  I can not see her ahead with all the fog.  I continue straight and start to worry that I am going the wrong way.  If I am off and the pack takes the turn, I will end up in 6th or worse place.  O well, does it really matter?  I hit the turn at the end of the field and now head straight to the finish.  Oh good I am taking the right course and so are the others. (Although two runners will come the other way in a few minutes).  Cruise on in to the finish, beating last year's time by about 30 seconds.  As second overall male I get to pick one of the awards, a bag of candy and runner's fuel.  Great low key event.


23:19
3rd of 13
5K #65
Race #253
*****

10/15/11 Defiance 50K

Second annual event and my second time here.  Same course as last year except it has been lengthened a little.  And the new part that was added includes a big climb dubbed "Achilles Hill".  Three loops and not super hard or technical trail but this the hardest 50K course that I have done.  Since I ran the Victoria Marathon six days ago and put in a solid effort with both mind and heart, I have different goals today.  Just finish and enjoy the race.  I will try to do well but not feel bad if I have a hard time.

Loop 1 - 1:46:09 - cool and cloudy but dry.  Trails are in great shape.  More places with crushed gravel but it is well packed and soft.  I try to keep the pace slower than 10 minutes per mile.  Great to see lots of Maniac friends.  First mile is flat, then stairs, then a few ups.  Miles 2-5 are mostly flat but twisty and narrow in places.  Aid station just past mile 5.  Miles 5-7 are the tough part with narrow twisty trails and a couple of steep hills.  I walk some and the pace slows but I feel fine, just saving energy.  Around mile 7 the trail gets much wider and very flat.  I remember how last year I was so tired on the third loop, but actually felt better when I got here and was able to run all the way to the end.  Today I pick up the pace a little and enjoy the scenery.  Eventually we go out onto the "5 mile drive" road.  The course goes about a third of a mile on this road.  There is a sign that says to turn right at hydrant #25.  I see hydrant 23, then 24.  As I approach hydrant 25 there is a large pack (ten or more) fast runners coming toward me on the road and turning at the hydrant.  Am I supposed to keep going down the road for a little out and back? Did they add a section to the race here?  There is a volunteer on a bike here and I ask her and she says to turn, but apparently she told many runners that if they were in the 50K they were supposed to go straight.  I don't know how far they went until they realized they had been misdirected.  Good thing that pack beat me to the turn because they are all much faster than me and I need to take it slowly and carefully in this section.  Very narrow trail with logs and some steep step downs.  Then the real fun part, about a twenty foot steep drop with a rope to hold onto.  Down to the level wide trail where one can sprint and pass people if they want for the final 100 meters or so.  I take my time but try to be quick through the aid station.

Loop 2 - 1:56:47 - M761 was one of the misdirected runners so I have caught up with her and we can run together for just a little bit.  She has gotten way faster than me lately, so it would be foolish to try to stay with her.  I run alone for a while and then catch up to Pedro.  I am tiring and taking some walk breaks.  With Pedro though we run together and I keep going at places were I might have walked if I were alone.  Pigtails passes me about halfway through this loop.  Then the hills and it gets very difficult.  Then the flat and I am running again, low on energy though and the ankle is bugging me a little.  In the middle of  the road near the end of the loop there is a raccoon who shuffles away as I approach.  Down "Nellies Narly Descent" and loop 2 is done.

Loop 3 - 2:14:51 - Uh oh, I am walking and I am on the flat and have not even reached the stairs yet.  I envy those who ran the 15K or 30K race and are done.  Walk up the stairs and shuffle along the trail.  Can not hold a 13/mile pace.  Walking and shuffling and out of energy.  Ankle a little worse.  I don't care when runners I do not know pass me and I should not care when runners I know pass me, but it does bug me a little.  Ron, Reed and then Kimpossible pass me.  I knew that Kim was back there and might get me.  She also ran a marathon six days ago and her time was two minutes faster than me, so we should be evenly matched today.  She will go on to beat me by three minutes today and I am fine with that.  Now at the aid station.  They have some coke and it looks appealing.  I drink two cups (about 8 ounces) and it goes down well.  My stomach has done great today and now I wish that I had eaten more during the race.  At 5:45AM I had a bagel with peanut butter and orange juice.  It is now about 1PM and since that time I have had a GU gel, a honeystinger gel  (cleaning out the cookie/gel jar at home) three oreos, a couple of pretzels and a mini milkyway. Plus gatorade and water and S!Caps.  At the end of the race my watch will calculate that I burned over 3,400 calories.  Should have eaten more, but it is nice to not have nausea.  I also take an ibuprofen for the ankle and it does seem to help.  The pain never got as bad as at Victoria or Bellingham and after the race I was able to walk around fine.  Rest week coming up and I am less concerned about the ankle than I had been. 

But now I am on the tough hilly part.  Chanterrelle mushroom sighting.  There is a place here where the uphill course almost touches the downhill course.  It would be easy to cross trails here and cut off "Achilles Hill".  The thought of cheating enters my mind, but it is not a temptation.  I would drop out of a race before I would cut it short, but in my zonked out state, barely holding a 15 minute mile it does come into my mind as an option.  I quickly dismiss the notion and make the best of "Achilles Hill".  When things are this hard it is best to have fun with it.  There are three of us working our way up the hill.  I almost stop to rest halfway, but keep walking and I cheer as I get to the top. Down the narrow trail and I look forward to the flat last couple miles.

Around mile seven I hear "Is that you Andy?" behind me and it is my pal Maniac Betsy.  Another friend who will pass me, or maybe not.  We are on the flats and wider trail now and I think that the sugar from the coke is kicking in.  A conscious effort to pick up the pace and I am able to do so.  We will see how long it lasts but for now I am going much faster and feeling good.  I start passing folks who passed me earlier this loop.  About mile 27, nice wide trail, running strong and easy and then I hit a root or a rock and start to stumble.  Try to stay upright but I think that I may hurt myself worse if I try to keep my balance.  Instead I tuck my shoulder in and execute a perfect roll.  As if I have been practicing falling.  I am proud of how gracefully I went down and how I rolled over twice.  Plus the trail everywhere has some roots, rocks or at least fir cones, but I managed to fall on the one spot that was completely clear of debris and flat.  Soft packed earth, not muddy, like a firm mattress.  Back on my feet real quick and feeling fine, I start running fast again.  Pass two runners and really looking forward to the road and end of this race.  I think that I can beat 6 hours and I will know for sure when I reach the paved road, if it would ever get here.

At last I reach the road and I am able to run well all the way to hydrant 25.  Turn and look back and one guy is flying toward me and Betsy is not far behind him.  I thought that I had left her in the dust with my solid running the last couple of miles, but she also picked it up really well.  Now I need to be careful at this tricky part of the trail.  Let the guy pass me and as I work my way down the rope, Betsy is right behind me.  Race Director Tony is there to take a picture.  Now on the flat and I sprint to the end.  I don't want Betsy to beat me and she does not, but the joke is one me.  The race is chip timed and she started farther back and her chip time is quicker than mine.  O well, it is really fun to have friends who are evenly matched and we can encourage each other and commiserate with each other.  Glad that I was able to finish strong and have an enjoyable day. 

5:57:47
61st of 112

Race #252

50K #8, Defiance 50K#2

Marathon or Ultra#73

*****

10/9/11 Victoria Marathon

I have been wanting to do this one for some years now.  Nice get away weekend with Jody.  Up early on Saturday to catch the Victoria Clipper from Seattle.  Arrive in Victoria by 11AM.  Relaxing way to travel and customs was a snap.  Only staying one night so we did not have much to carry.  Short walk anyway to the host hotel, the Fairmont Empress.  Expo was very crowded, but I won a raffle, a cool natural fiber bag from the Rain Coast Conservation Foundation.  Tried to hook up with Club Oly folks for dinner but most places were full, so we split up and Jody and I went to the Noodle Box which was more than sufficient.

Really good weather on race morning.  Cool and a little cloudy but the sun will come out later.  Very little wind.  8K started at 7:15 and goes in a different direction from the other races.  Half Marathon start at 7:30.  I watch the race go by at about the half mile mark.  Then I have plenty of time to get ready and be at the start line for the 8:45 Marathon start.  Strange that the full starts so late compared to the other races.  They have a 5 hour 30 minute cut off time and this is my only gripe about this race.  Those who will be slower than 5:30 must take the early start at 6:30 AM and if they finish faster than 5:30 their time will not count officially.  Jody should be in the 4:45 range but she has a head cold and will have a bad run today.  She will make it in at 5:12 and will be one of the very last runners of over 11,000 who compete today and will run alone for most of the race.  Checking results later I see that there were quite a number of early starters who did finish in the 5:10 to 5:20 range and I wish that Jody had had more company.  At least they had plenty of post race food and support along the course for all runners, and I suppose that the staggered starts keeps the finish area from getting too congested at any time.

Start - At 8:40 I am lined up with Maniac Guy and we are ready to roll.  Canadian National Anthem and then we are off right on time.  Course is marked in Kilometers but I have my GPS watch set to miles as usual.  I have decided to run the first half in 1:59, one minute slower that in Bellingham two weeks ago.  I fell apart there in the second half.  I do not know how much of that was due to the strong winds, but that poor second half hurt my confidence.  I also have this wonky ankle issue, not sure what will happen after some miles.  If all goes well I will run the second half faster than the first and get in under 4 hours.  I am not confident of the negative split, and I will be thrilled if it happens.  Absolutely not going for anything close to a PR until I have my confidence back and can run a few races without hitting the wall.

Kilometer 0.8 - Pass Jody, somehow she started ahead of me.  It is very crowded but moving along and will open up soon I hope.  Feel like I have to pee though, even though I went just before the start and I did not hyperhydrate.

Kilometer 3 - Having to pee is such a distraction.  I have been looking for alleys or bushes to use.  Finally I see the aid station and a row of SaniCans.  No line, I am in and out very quickly and can now think about other things.

Kilometer 4 - Female runner up ahead falls to the ground, I-Pod skitters on the road ahead.  She is up and running quickly and says that she is fine.

Kilometer 8 - Catch up to Deb and Heike from Olympia.  We run together through a park.  Loop and loop, I am confused about the course but just follow the crowd.  Sometimes have fast runners passing the other way, then the slower ones.  I feel like we did a circle within a circle and I have no idea how we got out of the loop but eventually we are back on the road.  My friends are planning to run a little slower so I go ahead but not too fast.

Kilometer 16 - Along the water and then through residential neighborhoods.  Constant up or down but nothing at all steep or long.  Bagpipe player in kilt adds a nice touch.  Back to the water.  Feeling good.  Good support at the aid stations and lots of friendly spectators, fellow runners and volunteers.  None of the runners seems too serious, it is a nice morning.  This is a long out and back section.  Some half marathoners (Michelle Barnes sighting), and early start marathoners coming toward me on the other side of the road.  Roads mostly closed to traffic, or with traffic patrol, I feel safe and free to concentrate on running.  Up and down but all of it gradual.  Lots of turns earlier, now a long but windy road along the water.  I am careful to run the tangents and that gives me something to concentrate on.  I can't believe how some runners take the long side of the curves and I wonder how much distance they are adding to their race.  Now the full marathon lead runner comes by.  He will go on the finish in 2:14. 

Kilometer 21 - The halfway mark is up ahead.  I can see the timing chip mat.  I have been good at my pacing and my watch reads 1:58.  I get closer and it still reads 1:58.  I start walking and just before hitting the mat I see my watch roll to 1:59.  Perfect.  Now I tell myself to not get carried away and go faster yet.  At Bellingham and at other races I have picked up the speed right after the halfway point.  Common folklore divides the race into two halves, mile 1-20 and 20-26.2.  I will keep going at this pace, maybe just a second or two per mile faster and keep holding back until at least mile 20.  Committed to running with discipline and restraint today. Ulrike sighting.

Kilometer 24 - Reach the turnaround, nice to be heading straight back to the finish with the race more than halfway done.  Pass Bob Dolphin (early starter).  Get to see Jody and others still heading out.

Kilometer 30 - Ankle bugs a little but not so bad.  Otherwise very comfortable.  I am in the mileage zone now where I could hit the wall.  Every step forward where I do not feel more tired is a blessing and gets me excited for a possible strong finish.  Starting to pass others who are slowing or who were early starters.

Kilometer 32 - Close to mile 20.  They do have mile markers every five miles.  I look ahead to that sign.  Soon I see it and I hit the lap button on the watch.  Now it is hold a nine minute mile and I will beat 4 hours.  Immediately turn a corner and there is an uphill.  I have to work to keep the pace under 9, but I am able to do so.  Now level and then downhill.  Ease into an average just under 8:50.  I decide to keep the speed slower than 8:45 as there is still a long way to go, but really try to stay under 9 if I can. 

Kilometer 36 - Back along the water.  Now a very long gradual uphill.  This is not part of the course that we ran out on, new territory for me.  Passing lots of people and in great spirits.  But I do wish that this hill will end soon.  It levels, twists out of sight, then goes up some more.  I remember from the elevation chart that a nice downhill begins around mile 24 and I just wish it would get here.  Start pouring water on my head at the aid stations, and drinking "GU Brew".  Between that drink and the Powerbar gels, of which I have had two, my stomach has done great with these new to me fuels.  Finally, the downhill.

Kilometer 40 - 2KM to go.  Try to rally some runners who are taking walk breaks.  I can sense the finish and although I can not go much faster, I am not slowing and I know that I will finish without any walk breaks.  Tell those around me that we will beat 4 hours easy, if we do not walk. 

Kilometer 41 - Level now and just a few turns to the finish.

Kilometer 41.2 - Marker says 1KM to go.  Not looking at the watch anymore, figure I will be done in 5 minutes or so.  Really enjoying the moment, but also would like to be done.

Kilometer 41.4 - Sign says 800M to go.  800 meters is twice around the track, that's easy.  One woman goes flying past me and I compliment her, but she says that she just hopped in and is pacing a friend.  The friend comes past, a bit slower.  Other than that, I have not been passed hardly at all in the last hour.

Kilometer 41.7 - Sign reads 500M to go.  Come on!!  That was way too long.  Well it is really almost over now.  More and more spectators, a turn or two and then the finish line up ahead.  Billy, Tammy and Rich cheering for me and cruise on in to the finish.  Very satisfied, thrilled and a little emotional.  Accomplished everything that I set out to do and had fun while doing it.

Final GPS reading = 26.34 miles

Awesome event that I hope to run again.

3:56:25

646th place of 1678 finishers

Race#251, Marathon or Ultra#72

9th time running a marathon in 3:56

*****