I ran this course seven times between 2000 and 2007. Then it was called the Ghostmuster and was put on by the Thurston County Parks and Recreation. Too bad they got out of the community fun run business. I have fond memories here of battling it out with old rivals, one child of mine locking the car keys in the car, Jody running the 10K by mistake, fun T-shirts of which I still have a couple. Six years later I am back. It is the Pumpkin Dash now and a fundraiser for the PTA. Same course as previous years.
6th race in 6 weeks. Probably a first for me, I will have to check.
I arrive shortly after 7AM for the 8AM start. Uh oh, no one is here. Soon a couple of cars join me in the parking lot. Eventually we learn that although the web site says that the event starts at 8AM, the race is not scheduled until 9AM. Better to be early than late and by 8:30 there is a decent crowd and the people in charge know what they are doing.
Another cool, cloudy, and calm day. Perfect running weather. I have plenty of time to get my warm ups in. I will wear the Brooks Launch shoes since they make me feel fast and my feet have been fine lately. Nice to see Paul and his daughters, Mike, and Craig and Rachael. Timing by Guerilla Running.
Start - The 10K race goes out first. Now I can look around and assess the competition. Looks like a couple of speedy guys, but plenty of room for me to start at the front. Last time I raced a 5K with Coach Mike, he coached me all the way through, then beat me at the end. I should just stay behind him this time, but as we start I find myself ahead of him and I am not going to look back. I can see one young guy go out way faster than the others.
Mile 0.5 - Maybe four guys ahead of me and two women. One of the women is Rachael and I watch her pass the other. Fun to see her enter first place. I feel good and keep up the pace.
Mile 1 - (7:05) Way ahead I see the turn off for the 10K and I see the 5K leader take that turn. He is too far ahead for me to yell to him. He will go on to complete the 10K and come in second overall, despite the head start that everyone else had. Meanwhile Rachael is holding her lead on me but it is not growing. I push hard to catch up to her. Now we run together. Nice time, but its not like we can talk or enjoy the scenery. I think that I am more excited than she is about the good chance of her winning. We stay together for about a half mile. I still feel pretty good and am able to go ahead a little bit. One guy comes storming past me though.
Mile 2 - 7:11 overall pace. This is going to be a good one if I can just hold on. Some crunchy leaves make me think of Jody. Back to focusing on form which is falling apart. I would like to have a strong kick at the end, but I am losing it.
Mile 3.1 - Finish OK. 21:24! Way better than expected. But only 2.98 on the GPS. Another finisher's watch reads 2.99 miles. I do not recall this course being a little short, but maybe it is. I would have been happy with anything under 22:30 and I would have had that easy on an accurate course, so whatever I am pleased with the run.
I feel even more satisfied when I compare my finish times from the same course in previous years:
2000 21:40
2002 23:10
2003 23:00
2004 22:16
2005 22:00
2006 22:07
2007 21:21
2013 21:24
I was just three seconds off my best time here.
A short cool down. Run Paul in the last bit of his 10K Craig does a valiant job of getting the results in quickly. On the web registration they forgot to ask gender or age, so Craig had to find that out and manually input the data for many runners. I am sure that having two timed distances start at different times must make it more difficult too. Nevertheless, results are posted quickly. Age groups are given on the print out, but there are no age group awards. There are some raffles and I win a case of Poweraide, enough to get me through the Winter.
Fun to be back at the "Ghost of the Ghostmuster"
21:24
5th place of 71, 1st in age group
Race#307, 5K#80
*****
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Saturday, October 19, 2013
10/19/13 Club Oly Tis the Season for a 5K race #1 at The Evergreen State College
My 5th race in five weeks. New course for this race. It is only on trails and it will have some rooty single track and hills. I have never run out here before.
Park in the F lot as instructed and walk the quarter mile to the start/finish area, where most people have also found parking. Only 16 racers and plenty of volunteers so everything goes smoothly. My $35 annual membership in Club Oly gets me free entry for the race series and a nice long sleeve tech shirt.
Amy and I do a one mile warm up to scope out the course and turn around at the base of a steep hill. Better save it for the race.
The race - We start well and the first part is wide enough for passing. I don't need to pass anyone and I hit a good pace right away. In some places the trail is very runnable, I can go as fast as I like. Other places have lots of roots and most are painted so we know they are there. Up the steep hill that turned me back earlier. Now a nice runnable part. I pass Mia and then one guy, and I think that we may be the last two men. Now the trail twists and there are two logs to go over. I am not prepared for that and I step over them instead of jumping. A steep rooty downhill where I decide to not push it and injure myself. Hopefully I am gathering my breath as I pick my way down. Faster on the flat then I slow on the uphill. I can sense that the guy I passed is gaining on me as I climb uphill. Back through the well marked trail, with volunteers (Bill, Jeff, Heike, Tammy) to help direct us. Now that big hill for the second time. I can feel last week's race in my legs. I feel like walking. Why did I run those hills on Thursday? I am actually doing OK, but the guy behind me now catches up and passes me. On to the flat and downhill but I can not get back to him as he extends his lead. Sprint to the finish. GPS says 2.8 miles, but others read 3.2. I never did look at my watch during the race and with this new and difficult course I was not concerned about time.
I feel like I ran fairly well, but somehow I ended up as the last male finisher. Trying to not let that bother me, as everything else about this morning was fun.
26:32
12th of 16 (8th of 8 men)
Race#306 5K#79
****
Park in the F lot as instructed and walk the quarter mile to the start/finish area, where most people have also found parking. Only 16 racers and plenty of volunteers so everything goes smoothly. My $35 annual membership in Club Oly gets me free entry for the race series and a nice long sleeve tech shirt.
Amy and I do a one mile warm up to scope out the course and turn around at the base of a steep hill. Better save it for the race.
The race - We start well and the first part is wide enough for passing. I don't need to pass anyone and I hit a good pace right away. In some places the trail is very runnable, I can go as fast as I like. Other places have lots of roots and most are painted so we know they are there. Up the steep hill that turned me back earlier. Now a nice runnable part. I pass Mia and then one guy, and I think that we may be the last two men. Now the trail twists and there are two logs to go over. I am not prepared for that and I step over them instead of jumping. A steep rooty downhill where I decide to not push it and injure myself. Hopefully I am gathering my breath as I pick my way down. Faster on the flat then I slow on the uphill. I can sense that the guy I passed is gaining on me as I climb uphill. Back through the well marked trail, with volunteers (Bill, Jeff, Heike, Tammy) to help direct us. Now that big hill for the second time. I can feel last week's race in my legs. I feel like walking. Why did I run those hills on Thursday? I am actually doing OK, but the guy behind me now catches up and passes me. On to the flat and downhill but I can not get back to him as he extends his lead. Sprint to the finish. GPS says 2.8 miles, but others read 3.2. I never did look at my watch during the race and with this new and difficult course I was not concerned about time.
I feel like I ran fairly well, but somehow I ended up as the last male finisher. Trying to not let that bother me, as everything else about this morning was fun.
26:32
12th of 16 (8th of 8 men)
Race#306 5K#79
****
Saturday, October 12, 2013
10/12/13 Defiance 50K
My third time here. I missed last year so I have been using the same coffee mug at work for two years. Looking forward to getting my finishers mug. But first I have to run all day.
Same course, three loops. For some reason I think that I can run each loop in 1:50 and that is the pace I set out on. A little drizzle before the start and then just cool and cloudy.
Loop 1 - 1:50 - Lots of Maniac friends here. I start with Ashley and it has been so long since we have run together. After a mile she ducks into the restroom but I am sure that she will catch up soon. This 11 minutes per mile pace should be easy but after the stairs and now some more up hill I am going too slow. Plus the course is crowded. I am patient and wait for wider trails, but I do have to get around people to get to my pace. I pass way too many friends who I know can and usually do finish these races ahead of me. By the end of loop 1 I know that I have gone too fast and I dread that they will all pass me. Mile 3.5 I find myself with no one in front of me. Free and clear to run my pace, but I also have to make sure that I stay on course. Here is Maniac2TP walking toward me. I ask him if I am still on the course and is he familiar with the course. The second part was a joke, and he laughs, because he is the race director of this race. On to the aid station, and then some more hills. At about mile 6 I climb a wide trail, then go over the French woman's cables. Up some more and now there are more cables but they are a few inches off the ground. Someone could trip on those, they should be flagged. Now a huge tree and I am not sure which way to go around it. Then a cluster of people running toward me and telling me that we are off course. At the same time I can hear Pedro yelling my name and telling be to turn around. All in all I went about 30 feet off course, so no big deal. I good reminder though that this race is one where you can not zone out, so many turns, you really have to stay alert the whole time. Loop 1 ends without any more incidents. The roped steep downhill to the water is fun.
Loop 2 - 2:05 - I know that I will never hold this pace but I keep chugging along. Mostly alone. A few words with really nice people as we run together a bit and then go our own paces. Pedro catches up to me and for a minute I think that he is lapping me. No he is running a little slower than usual, 3 marathons in three weeks will do that. I get to run with him for a couple of miles before I start getting very tired. Suddenly I can barely run. My run is about a fast walk pace and I am doing a lot of walking. This race will not end well.
Loop 3 - 2:33 - Really sluggish and a few little pains that I do not want to make worse. I know that many will pass me now and at first I dread it. But then I think about the friends back there. Who will catch me? And won't it be nice to see them? Nobody is going to think that I am a loser or lame runner. Instead they will probably say something nice and encouraging. Yes this will be fun. I trudge along and when I hear footsteps approaching I wonder who it will be. First up is Katie. A quarter mile with Katie is way better than running alone. She is doing great and I am happy for her. Next up is the Rogue Wave. It only took her 4 hours to catch up after her restroom stop. Yay! I get to run with her for a little bit and then she if off. I have no sense of competition with her anymore, so it is just great to see her out there. Little Leslie is next. Strong run for her and this is her 200th marathon or ultra. I am also glad that she is running well. So well though that I can not even try to keep up. Andy Lin is next, also going very fast at this point. He will beat me by just a few minutes and it is fun to have the two maniac Andy's so close in many races. I have to ration my water but have enough to make it to the aid station at the halfway point. Fill it up and the second half of this loop is uneventful. Hills and then the long flat trail that just goes on and on. A couple of people pass me but no one that I know. So wanting to hit the turn at the pavement and finish this thing. Lots of very slow running. On and on. Past the spectacular white rock. Finally turn and get to the paved road. I look back at the turn off to the steep descent and there is no one behind me. I can take my time on the ropes, beat 6:30 and I will admit to being happy that no other friends caught me.
Finish 6:26:46
Other than my lack of energy/slowness, I had a very nice time. Hope that I can come back next year.
6:26:46
Race#305
Marathon or ultra#102
Defiance 50K #3
*****
Same course, three loops. For some reason I think that I can run each loop in 1:50 and that is the pace I set out on. A little drizzle before the start and then just cool and cloudy.
Loop 1 - 1:50 - Lots of Maniac friends here. I start with Ashley and it has been so long since we have run together. After a mile she ducks into the restroom but I am sure that she will catch up soon. This 11 minutes per mile pace should be easy but after the stairs and now some more up hill I am going too slow. Plus the course is crowded. I am patient and wait for wider trails, but I do have to get around people to get to my pace. I pass way too many friends who I know can and usually do finish these races ahead of me. By the end of loop 1 I know that I have gone too fast and I dread that they will all pass me. Mile 3.5 I find myself with no one in front of me. Free and clear to run my pace, but I also have to make sure that I stay on course. Here is Maniac2TP walking toward me. I ask him if I am still on the course and is he familiar with the course. The second part was a joke, and he laughs, because he is the race director of this race. On to the aid station, and then some more hills. At about mile 6 I climb a wide trail, then go over the French woman's cables. Up some more and now there are more cables but they are a few inches off the ground. Someone could trip on those, they should be flagged. Now a huge tree and I am not sure which way to go around it. Then a cluster of people running toward me and telling me that we are off course. At the same time I can hear Pedro yelling my name and telling be to turn around. All in all I went about 30 feet off course, so no big deal. I good reminder though that this race is one where you can not zone out, so many turns, you really have to stay alert the whole time. Loop 1 ends without any more incidents. The roped steep downhill to the water is fun.
Loop 2 - 2:05 - I know that I will never hold this pace but I keep chugging along. Mostly alone. A few words with really nice people as we run together a bit and then go our own paces. Pedro catches up to me and for a minute I think that he is lapping me. No he is running a little slower than usual, 3 marathons in three weeks will do that. I get to run with him for a couple of miles before I start getting very tired. Suddenly I can barely run. My run is about a fast walk pace and I am doing a lot of walking. This race will not end well.
Loop 3 - 2:33 - Really sluggish and a few little pains that I do not want to make worse. I know that many will pass me now and at first I dread it. But then I think about the friends back there. Who will catch me? And won't it be nice to see them? Nobody is going to think that I am a loser or lame runner. Instead they will probably say something nice and encouraging. Yes this will be fun. I trudge along and when I hear footsteps approaching I wonder who it will be. First up is Katie. A quarter mile with Katie is way better than running alone. She is doing great and I am happy for her. Next up is the Rogue Wave. It only took her 4 hours to catch up after her restroom stop. Yay! I get to run with her for a little bit and then she if off. I have no sense of competition with her anymore, so it is just great to see her out there. Little Leslie is next. Strong run for her and this is her 200th marathon or ultra. I am also glad that she is running well. So well though that I can not even try to keep up. Andy Lin is next, also going very fast at this point. He will beat me by just a few minutes and it is fun to have the two maniac Andy's so close in many races. I have to ration my water but have enough to make it to the aid station at the halfway point. Fill it up and the second half of this loop is uneventful. Hills and then the long flat trail that just goes on and on. A couple of people pass me but no one that I know. So wanting to hit the turn at the pavement and finish this thing. Lots of very slow running. On and on. Past the spectacular white rock. Finally turn and get to the paved road. I look back at the turn off to the steep descent and there is no one behind me. I can take my time on the ropes, beat 6:30 and I will admit to being happy that no other friends caught me.
Finish 6:26:46
Other than my lack of energy/slowness, I had a very nice time. Hope that I can come back next year.
6:26:46
Race#305
Marathon or ultra#102
Defiance 50K #3
*****
Saturday, October 5, 2013
10/5/13 Onalaska Apple Harvest Festival 5K
Six days post Bellingham Marathon. Legs felt good enough on Thursday that I decided to run this 5K today. I really like these small low key events. $20 day of race includes a stainless steel water bottle. Proceeds to charity. Easy parking and a nice course. An hour drive from home, but easy to get to, and now the fog has lifted to a beautiful Fall day
Start and finish at Carlisle Lake by the old mill site. The smoke stack is about all that remains.
I should have known that we would run around the lake. I like the big course map that someone made for display.
I warm up on the road and only peek at the trail. Nice and wide but gravelly here.
Single track and rougher here.
Start - 73 runners plus some two mile walkers. Kids run was held earlier. Great pre race announcements gets the walkers and those not concerned with time in the back. I think this is the 5th year of this race, but my first time here. Warm up went well, so I place myself near the front. We start smoothly and proceed onto the narrow and rough trail.
Mile 0.25 - Stuck behind a few folks. Going slower than I usually do at the start of a 5K, but that is fine. I dodge around a couple of people when I can and then I feel like I am going fast enough.
Mile 0.5 - Just a little mud. Then two small hills. Wider trail, but leaf covered and some places with large angular rocks. I squeeze between two runners. One will soon pass me again. The other will stay just behind me and be the woman's overall winner.
Mile 1 - Out of the lake and on to the smooth flat roads. I am trying to keep the guy ahead of me from getting too far ahead. Legs are OK but not great. I forget to check my mile split time, but I know that I am going faster now that I am on the road.
Mile 2 - Gaining on the guy ahead, but not enough to catch him. We run along the main street where the parade and fair will be later this morning. At times I am not sure if I should go onto the sidewalk or stay on the road. Soon enough it is back to the lake.
Mile 2.5 - Second time around the lake. The two little hills do me in. The guy pulls way ahead. I keep up the effort and wonder if I can break 24 minutes. Slowing and feeling tired but it is almost over.
Mile 3.1 (5K) - 3.09 on the GPS. In to the finish chute and pleased with how it went. No one passed me after the 0.8 mile mark, but I also did not catch anyone. Hardly a fast time for me, but I can blame it on the trail or last weeks race. At least I got in some faster miles today.
Cool down, cheer on the other finishers and then very quickly the results are ready. 1st in age group ribbon. Raffles. Hope I do not win the pedicure from the local Onalaska shop......hope I do win the shoes from South Sound Running. No luck today, I do not win anything. But a very nice event that I would do again for sure.
23:51
8th of 73
Race# 304, 5K#78
*****
Start and finish at Carlisle Lake by the old mill site. The smoke stack is about all that remains.
I should have known that we would run around the lake. I like the big course map that someone made for display.
I warm up on the road and only peek at the trail. Nice and wide but gravelly here.
Start - 73 runners plus some two mile walkers. Kids run was held earlier. Great pre race announcements gets the walkers and those not concerned with time in the back. I think this is the 5th year of this race, but my first time here. Warm up went well, so I place myself near the front. We start smoothly and proceed onto the narrow and rough trail.
Mile 0.25 - Stuck behind a few folks. Going slower than I usually do at the start of a 5K, but that is fine. I dodge around a couple of people when I can and then I feel like I am going fast enough.
Mile 0.5 - Just a little mud. Then two small hills. Wider trail, but leaf covered and some places with large angular rocks. I squeeze between two runners. One will soon pass me again. The other will stay just behind me and be the woman's overall winner.
Mile 1 - Out of the lake and on to the smooth flat roads. I am trying to keep the guy ahead of me from getting too far ahead. Legs are OK but not great. I forget to check my mile split time, but I know that I am going faster now that I am on the road.
Mile 2 - Gaining on the guy ahead, but not enough to catch him. We run along the main street where the parade and fair will be later this morning. At times I am not sure if I should go onto the sidewalk or stay on the road. Soon enough it is back to the lake.
Mile 2.5 - Second time around the lake. The two little hills do me in. The guy pulls way ahead. I keep up the effort and wonder if I can break 24 minutes. Slowing and feeling tired but it is almost over.
Mile 3.1 (5K) - 3.09 on the GPS. In to the finish chute and pleased with how it went. No one passed me after the 0.8 mile mark, but I also did not catch anyone. Hardly a fast time for me, but I can blame it on the trail or last weeks race. At least I got in some faster miles today.
Cool down, cheer on the other finishers and then very quickly the results are ready. 1st in age group ribbon. Raffles. Hope I do not win the pedicure from the local Onalaska shop......hope I do win the shoes from South Sound Running. No luck today, I do not win anything. But a very nice event that I would do again for sure.
23:51
8th of 73
Race# 304, 5K#78
*****
Monday, September 30, 2013
9/29/13 Bellingham Bay Marathon
Rain and wind, yet somehow we feel fortunate, because we are in the lull between two more serious storms. Happy to be back at what continues to be the best overall marathon experience that I have run. The rain will not dampen the spirits of the enthusiastic kid volunteers. Other than our bus taking a couple of wrong turns on the way to the start, everything goes smoothly today. But how will my running go?
Start - I have had very bad second halves here the past two years. I decide to set out even slower than last year and hope for a good split time. Rain, but the wind is at our backs for now. Bald eagle sighting, then its all seagulls along the water.
Mile 3 - Dan and Tom are running together and are ahead of me. I gradually catch up, then see that I am going faster than I would like and I ease off. Catch up again. This time we run together for a little while, before I slow back to my pace.
Mile 4 - Mel Preedy sighting
Mile 8 - Off the water, out of the woods and onto the flat farmland. Heavier rain and I consider putting the trash bag on over my jacket. Strong wind blowing sideways. Up ahead we will turn into the wind. Here it is. Strong wind right in the face. I am with Robert Jacobsen. We run side by side and close together to tackle the wind. It is not so hard, but I know that it is sucking my energy.
Mile 12 - Back with Tom and Dan for a while. I see the halfway marker ahead and know that I am a little ahead of pace. I let them go ahead, hoping that I will catch up later.
Mile 13.1 - 2:07
Mile 13.5 - Over the Nooksak River. High and brown with big branches and whole trees floating by.
Mile 14 - I have seen two runners with matching "Lost Dutchman" shirts off an on for the whole race. Now I am with them. One of my favorite parts of the course is coming up, when the large half marathon joins us and the race gets crowded and full of energy. I wonder if these two know what will happen soon? I ask the woman, "Have you run this before?" "Yes, every year", she replies. "Oh you must be Celina Coombs! I have been wanting to meet you!" She is surprised that I would know her name. And her running partner is Eric Stacy! These are the other two "legacy" runners. The three of us are the only remaining people to have run the full marathon here each year. We talk about the various year's T-shirts (the red one was the worst), how good this race is, racing goals, Boston, Lost Dutchman....and the miles and two large hills go by easily and then we hit the merge.
Mile 17 - The merge. At my slower pace this year I am now running with hundreds who are going 10 to 10:30 per mile. I stay relaxed and very gradually pass people as I get the chance. I lose Celina and Eric. Tom and Dan are so far ahead that I have lost sight of them.
Mile 21 - In to town. They have us mostly on the sidewalk, though I think it is OK to run on the side of the road. Feeling pretty good and holding back, hoping that I can make it last. Right leg is tightening up some. Quads are starting to feel it too. Uphill and a Nancy Szoke sighting (halfing). So fun to see a friendly face at this point. I keep chugging along. Now the section right by the finish line. My watch says 3:38 so I know that the runners zooming toward me are trying to beat 3:40. I yell to encourage them and it helps me forget about the fact that I still have 4.5 miles to go.
Mile 22 - On the crushed gravel with a little clay mud trail. All halfers around me. Still passing them gradually and hoping that I will not need a walk break. Quads getting worse. Rain has stopped. Hat comes off.
Mile 24 - Down to the water and onto the boardwalk over the water with a very strong headwind. I am in good spirits, especially since I have not had to walk yet. I have slowed but I am plugging along. The wind is so strong that we have to laugh. Now the sharp turn and steep uphill. One goal that I had was to run all of the hills today. I declare my goal and charge up the hill. Woman next to me says that she had planned pre race to walk up this hill and that is exactly what she was going to do. I don't think that I was much faster than her, but I am able to keep running and reach the top without much difficulty.
Mile 25 - A few more small hills here but we are close now. I am not going to break 4:20, but that is OK. New goal is to not take any walk breaks. Jacket comes off and goes around the waist. I can run, just not very fast. Still passing clumps of half marathoners and that makes me feel like I am doing well.
Mile 26.2 - 26.2 on the GPS. Good sustained effort to the end. No walking! Cupcake from PK
Finish time is better than last year, but not near what I would like. With the positive split again I really should not try going any faster. In fact I start thinking of a new strategy for pacing. I think that I will take my finish time from the previous race and make sure that my half point matches half of that finish time. So for my next road marathon I should run a 2:11 first half (since I ran 4:22 today). That should make for a strong second half and if I can negative split I can set out faster next time.
If I recover well I might run the Shuck and Run in Shelton next weekend. Otherwise I for sure plan on the Defiance 50K on October 12.
4:22:35
189th of 373
Marathon or ultra#101
7th Bellingham Bay Marathon (Legacy)
Race#303
*****
Start - I have had very bad second halves here the past two years. I decide to set out even slower than last year and hope for a good split time. Rain, but the wind is at our backs for now. Bald eagle sighting, then its all seagulls along the water.
Mile 3 - Dan and Tom are running together and are ahead of me. I gradually catch up, then see that I am going faster than I would like and I ease off. Catch up again. This time we run together for a little while, before I slow back to my pace.
Mile 4 - Mel Preedy sighting
Mile 8 - Off the water, out of the woods and onto the flat farmland. Heavier rain and I consider putting the trash bag on over my jacket. Strong wind blowing sideways. Up ahead we will turn into the wind. Here it is. Strong wind right in the face. I am with Robert Jacobsen. We run side by side and close together to tackle the wind. It is not so hard, but I know that it is sucking my energy.
Mile 12 - Back with Tom and Dan for a while. I see the halfway marker ahead and know that I am a little ahead of pace. I let them go ahead, hoping that I will catch up later.
Mile 13.1 - 2:07
Mile 13.5 - Over the Nooksak River. High and brown with big branches and whole trees floating by.
Mile 14 - I have seen two runners with matching "Lost Dutchman" shirts off an on for the whole race. Now I am with them. One of my favorite parts of the course is coming up, when the large half marathon joins us and the race gets crowded and full of energy. I wonder if these two know what will happen soon? I ask the woman, "Have you run this before?" "Yes, every year", she replies. "Oh you must be Celina Coombs! I have been wanting to meet you!" She is surprised that I would know her name. And her running partner is Eric Stacy! These are the other two "legacy" runners. The three of us are the only remaining people to have run the full marathon here each year. We talk about the various year's T-shirts (the red one was the worst), how good this race is, racing goals, Boston, Lost Dutchman....and the miles and two large hills go by easily and then we hit the merge.
Mile 17 - The merge. At my slower pace this year I am now running with hundreds who are going 10 to 10:30 per mile. I stay relaxed and very gradually pass people as I get the chance. I lose Celina and Eric. Tom and Dan are so far ahead that I have lost sight of them.
Mile 21 - In to town. They have us mostly on the sidewalk, though I think it is OK to run on the side of the road. Feeling pretty good and holding back, hoping that I can make it last. Right leg is tightening up some. Quads are starting to feel it too. Uphill and a Nancy Szoke sighting (halfing). So fun to see a friendly face at this point. I keep chugging along. Now the section right by the finish line. My watch says 3:38 so I know that the runners zooming toward me are trying to beat 3:40. I yell to encourage them and it helps me forget about the fact that I still have 4.5 miles to go.
Mile 22 - On the crushed gravel with a little clay mud trail. All halfers around me. Still passing them gradually and hoping that I will not need a walk break. Quads getting worse. Rain has stopped. Hat comes off.
Mile 24 - Down to the water and onto the boardwalk over the water with a very strong headwind. I am in good spirits, especially since I have not had to walk yet. I have slowed but I am plugging along. The wind is so strong that we have to laugh. Now the sharp turn and steep uphill. One goal that I had was to run all of the hills today. I declare my goal and charge up the hill. Woman next to me says that she had planned pre race to walk up this hill and that is exactly what she was going to do. I don't think that I was much faster than her, but I am able to keep running and reach the top without much difficulty.
Mile 25 - A few more small hills here but we are close now. I am not going to break 4:20, but that is OK. New goal is to not take any walk breaks. Jacket comes off and goes around the waist. I can run, just not very fast. Still passing clumps of half marathoners and that makes me feel like I am doing well.
Mile 26.2 - 26.2 on the GPS. Good sustained effort to the end. No walking! Cupcake from PK
Finish time is better than last year, but not near what I would like. With the positive split again I really should not try going any faster. In fact I start thinking of a new strategy for pacing. I think that I will take my finish time from the previous race and make sure that my half point matches half of that finish time. So for my next road marathon I should run a 2:11 first half (since I ran 4:22 today). That should make for a strong second half and if I can negative split I can set out faster next time.
If I recover well I might run the Shuck and Run in Shelton next weekend. Otherwise I for sure plan on the Defiance 50K on October 12.
4:22:35
189th of 373
Marathon or ultra#101
7th Bellingham Bay Marathon (Legacy)
Race#303
*****
Saturday, September 21, 2013
9/21/13 Cooks Hill Challenge 10 miler
Centralia WA, my first time at this event. A while back I was looking for a race on this date and found this one that I had not hear of. Apparently it has been run for some years, but is a small event. The 10 mile race is billed as a very challenging course with two major hills. There is also a 5K "fun run". I looked at the results from the 5K of last year and saw that the fastest person ran it in 21:51 and second place was over 25 minutes. If the 21:51 guy does not show up, I could have an easy "win". Except that it is billed as a fun run....but it is timed. This week I was reminded of the distinction between group run and race.....
.....On Tuesday I went to Priest Point Park for the Oly Trail 5K run. It was a fund raiser for a local family that has extraordinary medical bills to deal with. A 5K run though is not a race. In fact the City of Olympia will at this time allow races to go through the park but only group runs, not races may be held entirely in the park. The event was fun, despite the rain, and was a good fund raiser. No real time goal on the trails here. I started off well and picked up the pace. A couple of young kids were very hard to pass but I finally caught all but one of them. Martino was ahead of me the whole way. There was a clock (27 something I ran) but no record of times, otherwise that would be a race. I was in the top 50 and got an Oly Trail Runners bandana. Good hard run, but I will not count that as a race on my "official" list. It did make me want to run a real race today, so I signed up for the 10 miler.......
.......and then I looked at last year's results from that race. The winner was 1:33:21, second place in 1:35:11. That is over a 9/mile and three weeks ago I ran a ten mile race in 1:20 something. Unless the course is that hard, I have a better chance of winning this than the 5K. I should not get my hopes up, there is a very good chance that some fast people will show up this year. But until the race starts I can dream about it.
The course is billed as being challenging. Two hills, one of 200 feet and another "the hill to beat all hills" according to the race brochure, of 250 feet. Any of my ultra running friends who are reading this must be chuckling. As long as I do not go all out, these hills should be manageable. In fact after the hilly Narrows ten miler, I have been on a hill quest and this race is another part of it. Bring on the hills! In the past two weeks I have run up 2,300 feet at Mount Rainier, plus another 1,300 foot run there three days ago. I also did a tempo run that included a 400 foot climb. The hill out of the Narrows must be more that 250 feet as well. So this will not be a PR course, but I think that I can manage the hills.
$30 online registration two days before the race. No T-shirt but I don't need one. The 5K is a legit race with timing and finisher ribbons. For ten miles we will get a finishers medal. Everyone gets a goody bag with lots of fun items like glass cleaner, a toothbrush and numerous pens. The race is sponsored by the Rotary Club and is happening at the same time as a large Health and Wellness Fair. Proceeds from the race go to the National Rotary's fight to eliminate Polio worldwide.
Plenty of volunteers and a well marked and beautiful course. It is foggy and perfect running weather. Nice to see Barb Johnson. I will drive the course after the race and take some pictures.
Start - One fast guy that I recognize is here. He asks my predicted time (I tell him 1:22) and he says that I will win, but as soon as we start he is off like a rocket and dissapears into the fog, never to be seen again.
Mile 0.25 - So I hope for second, place but now another guy catches up to me. We chat a little and I am worried because he has no trouble talking and I am gasping for air. We both think that we are going to fast and will slow eventually and neither of us think that we can get to number 1.
Mile 2 - My running buddy decides to go a little faster and he takes off. He will get about 100 feet ahead of me quickly, but then stay that way for a long time. Now the first steep uphill. It is tough but manageable.
Mile 5 - The second place guy is gradually coming back to me. But now I hear a little talk behind me. I am by no means locked into 3rd. Nice flat road, feeling pretty good. Then the left turn and the biggest steepest hill. The hill has a little break in the middle. I make it up the first half OK, but the last part beats me. Near the top I am still pumping my arms and going as fast as I can, but I think that if I were walking I might be able to move faster. I really want to walk. I should not have made light of these hills. Fortunately the top of the hill arrives and the running gets easier.
Mile 6 - Running better now, but so are the two guys behind me. They pass me with ease and move ahead. One of them will take off from the other in a few minutes and really pick up the pace. In the mean time I am able to catch the guy who was number 2. He fades out and for the last three miles I pretty much have a lock on 4th place.
Mile 8 - Very welcome downhill, except that I am slapping on the pavement. This can not be good for my knees or feet. I need to relax and make it to next weeks race without injury. But if I can hold this pace I have a shot at getting under 1:20Mile 9 - About an 8:30 mile would get me in under 1:20. But there are some uphills and some 5K walkers to pass and the running is getting more difficult. When I see the finish clock and see that I will not beat 1:20 I relax some more and cruise on in.
Finish - 10.11 on the GPS. The course might be a little long, but not so off. The ten mile marker is placed well in front of the finish line too and I don't know what that means. Simple tag board timing and very fast results. A nice awards ceremony where the Mayor of Centralia presents me with my 1st in age group super sized ribbon. Very well organized, great course, good price and worthy cause. I must do this one again.
1:20:33
4th place of 18
Race#302
*****
Saturday, August 31, 2013
8-31-13 Over the Narrows Ten Mile Race
Fourth annual event and my 4th time here. I am a legacy runner. Last year I was having foot issues and took it nice and easy, having a fun time with some friends. Today I would like to run faster. Not PR fast, but hopefully in the 1:18-1:19 time frame. I surprised myself at the 5K two weeks ago, hopefully I can set it up here too.
Easy parking this year. Bright sunshine at the start. Martinho and I compare sunglasses.
Start - I know that the course will narrow down soon after the start, so I line up close to the front. Chip timing only at the finish is another reason to be near the front, but the race is not huge, so it really does not make much of a difference. Smooth start even with the turns in the parking lot.
Mile 1 - Gentle downhill in 7:15. Run with Martinho
Mile 2 - Still going downhill and running too fast. I do not feel at my best today. Working hard to keep this pace. And now the sharp turn and instant steep uphill. Steepest hill of the race and it gets me good. Hang on and keep going. Martinho gets ahead of me and I will watch him gradually extend his lead for the next 8 miles.
Mile 3.5 - On to the bridge. Bright sun and warm. Sweating and feeling the heat. Long down hill.
Mile 4.8 - Lead runner coming back. It is Miguel and he has a tremendous lead.
Mile 4.9 - No Pedro, no Ginger. Big uphill. Hills!! That last 5K was so flat. That 12 hour race was so flat. That speed work I have been doing was largely on flats. I need to get back to the hills. Well today will help.
Mile 5.3 - Here is the turn around. I had forgotten about the shorter way back. Great downhill but still not feeling so good. Worried about the last hills. Judy Fischer sighting.
Mile 7 - See the 5K runners coming toward me. They have a different start and finish area which must make logistics difficult. Still a well organized event put on by the Rotary Club. $30 with medal and chip timing and a no T-shirt option. Proceeds to aid school children.
Mile 8 - Holding on OK. Nobody is passing me though there are two guys on my tail and now after the steep downhill, we have a two mile climb. Both guys pass me and I wonder how many more will get me on this uphill. I have slowed a lot since the start, but I am not losing it completely. Keep working hard. I don't think that I will beat 1:20, that is a bit slower than I had wanted today.
Mile 8.5 - Wondering if anyone is behind me. I do not want to look back, as that is such a sign of weakness. A woman in a car is giving a "woot, woot, woot" for the two guys who are ahead of me. Now silence, then she gives me the "woot woot woot". Now I will be able to tell how far back the next person is without looking back. As I am running hard, I am also listening and waiting for it.....good it has been at least ten seconds....now "woot, woot woot". The next runner should not be a challenge for me if I can keep up this pace. In fact no one else does pass me as I cruise on in.
Mile 10 - 10.0 on the GPS. Not even close to 1:20 but I am happy with the workout. Just not my day, but not so far off from where I should/would like to be. I think that the lack of hill training did me in and I can work on that for the next races.
Maybe a 5K in the near future, then the Bellingham Bay Marathon on 9/29
1:20:43
47th place of 325
Race#301, Over the Narrows #4
****
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