My fourth time here. Very convenient and cheap race. Plus lots of maniacs. No great expectations. I want to work hard when the wall comes and hopefully continue to build endurance. My last couple of marathons have had serious meltdowns in the late miles.
Cold at the start but when the bright sunshine comes out it will be very nice. Hat and gloves for the first loop, the jacket will stay on the whole day.
Loop 1 (1:37) - I start way in the back to avoid a crowd at the giant downhill that gets things going. No problems today and in fact the trail has seen some serious work since I was last here two years ago. Very good footing and little mud. Most places we can run two or three across so passing is easy too. I settle in at a 10 minute mile, walking the uphills to keep my pace from getting too fast.
Loop 2 (1:36) Some runners go the opposite direction for loop two. This year I keep going counter clockwise, but it is fun to see friends. Going in my direction I run off and on with Mike Mahany and Ted Ekart. I am doing my own thing today, but it sure is nice to have company when I can. Runners are all spread out now. Pedro was with me at the start of loop 2, but he has gone ahead, though for a while I could see him in the distance. I pull ahead of Mike and Ted, expecting them to pass me when I hit the wall. Still feeling good I am able to take extended walk breaks and keep the pace at 10/mile. After the loop I drop the fuel belt and exchange it for my new Camel Back. That was a gift and I have only worn it a couple of times. It is time consuming to fill, so I had it ready to go for loop 3.
Loop 3 (1:39) - Pedro took a while at the aid station so we pull out of there together. I feel like I am seriously forgetting something with that fuel belt gone. It is a very nice change to have this form of hydration for the last loop. Pedro and I run together for about two miles and I enjoy it. Deb Evdemon sighting. I don't want to blow it here, so I continue my walks on the uphills and Pedro gets away. Not quite holding that 10/mile, it is more like 10:15 and I am tiring but not so bad. I take a GU gel and try to suck it down slowly, over the course of a mile, so that it will not affect my stomach too much. Mile 24 - Feeling it and walking more, I catch up to MMKUHL. He is having a terrific run but is tiring like me. We are able to run together, step in step, for about a mile before he starts walking on the uphill, a little before I give in. Farther on there is a horse looking at me, with his neck reaching over the fence from his field. I take the few seconds to go over to him, say hi and pet his long face. OK back to running. Now it is just a series of short bits and turns. I start thinking about what my finish time could be.
Final out and back (25:14) I was expecting a huge wall and a 5:35 or greater finish time. But as I leave the aid station at 4:53 I know that I should be able to get under 5:20. A 5:09 PR is impossible but 5:20 is great. I run more than walk and don't stress about the time so much. Fun to see the runners who have been 20 minutes or less ahead of me, now coming back from the turn around. As I reach that place and head to the finish I can now see who is right behind me. Then the final, super steep hill. I have 8 minutes to climb it and I know that I can do that. My left hamstring decides to cramp up, so I favor it and just enjoy the last bit to the finish.
Finish - 5:16:49 on my watch. My third fastest of ten 50Ks completed. Super happy about how it went. I change into sandals and walk over to watch runners come up the big hill for their finish. Love this course and event and will plan on running again next year.
5:16:49
22nd of 56
Race# 317, Marathon or Ultra#105, 50K #10
*****
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Monday, January 13, 2014
1/12/14 Roots Rocks Cinderblocks Race Series, Up and Over Rock Candy Mountain 5.5 miles
First of a three race series and I may or may not run all three. First year for this Guerrilla Running event. Back in 2008 I ran a Rock Candy Mountain race. That one was 8 miles long. Today's event is billed as 5.5 miles and I don't think it will take us all the way to the top. The course map looks like a nice lollipop. I won't have to worry about the fast guys screaming downhill toward me. I plan to work hard on the uphill and be careful to not fall on the way down.
This area is just a small part of the Capitol State Forest. So many trails and logging roads. I have parked at this area a couple of times in the past year to do some training runs and to figure out the trail system. I am excited about this race because it is another opportunity to get to know these trails.
For most people, the story of the race will be the weather. It is awful out. It has been stormy for two days now and it is particularly bad this morning. 39 degrees and raining sideways. I register for the race and go right back to my car. Just sitting in my car, it is rattling and shifting with the wind. I have shorts but decide to keep my running pants on over them. The pant legs will get wet if the puddles are deep, but I don't think that this material will hold much moisture. I stay with my heaviest rain jacket and wear a hat and gloves at least for the start.
I am hoping to get in 40 miles this week and I would really like to do 7 or 8 today. I had planned on an easy 2-3 mile warm up, just to get the miles in. But 20 minutes before the start it is all I can do to get out of the car and shuffle an easy mile. Now that it is near start time the wind and rain seem less. Probably snowing up top. I will keep all the gear with me. At least I don't need to carry water on such a short run.
Start - We line up and start right on time. I had thought that we would run up the road a little way to where there is a trail junction. But no, there is a trail right here that I have never seen before. Craig did point this out to me as I was warming up, so it is not a total surprise. What is tricky is where to position myself at the start. If it is a single track trail, I don't want to get stuck behind slower runners. I also don't want to hold anyone back. I think a wider start for a quarter mile or so would be a good idea. But I will deal with whatever and when we go off I am about in the middle of things.
50 feet - Onto the trail and it is a puddly muddy mess. As I feared some people are trying to pick around the puddles. I know that my feet are going to get soaked sooner or later and I have decided to not hesitate around water today. Splashing through gives me a chance to pass some folks. Start climbing. There are some social runners, and it is wonderful that they are out here. I just need to be patient and pass them when I can. I knock off 4 or 5, then move up to the next batch. Little did I know that most of them will finish ahead of me today. Just when I am wishing that I had started closer to the front, I get into a good groove with some runners at about the pace I want to be going.
Mile 0.5 - My mile marks are total guesses. I won't look at my watch much today. The trail crosses the road. Now we are on a trail that I took one sunny warm June day with three friends. It is muddy and steep. On that day, two of my friends just could not make it up and we had to turn around. No problem for me today, except that I am walking a lot more than running.
Mile 1 - Giant brown puddles. It is such a fun experience to slosh through a deep puddle. The water is so cold that my feet instantly feel frozen. But in a few moments I am comfortable again, just in time for the next puddle. One puddle surprises me with water almost to my knees. Now a raging rivulet where the trail should be. Relentless uphill. Wish I could run it, but I just have to grunt and walk. I pass a couple of people. Runners are thinning out now. More uphill. Course description said that we would climb 1,000 feet in the first two miles.
Mile 2 - Out of the woods. The trail ends at a logging road. There is a volunteer here who tells me to turn left and that it is all downhill from here. What great news. And now I have a wide road that is descending gently.
Soon my leg power comes back and I can run well. I see two runners way ahead and I lose them around a bend. I will see them one more time, but they are going as fast as I am. I am so cautious on the downhills, fear of broken bones. But this is wonderful. Other that the many sharp angular large rocks that dot the logging road, this is very runnable. I could turn an ankle for sure, but I am feeling good about this. I probably would not drive my little car on a road like this but I am enjoying the running.
Mile 3 - Still a gentle downhill on the road. Two things start to trouble me. One is that so much of this course is on a dirt road. I expected more trail. Also the course markers are a little flaky. I did see two blue ribbons recently, but are they there for some other reason? Oh, good news, here comes a runner catching up to me. She asks if we are on course. Well I think so. If I had seen a turn I would have taken it. Hmm, now she has me really wondering. We are still flying down this road. Now there is a junction with a steep downhill road. An orange flag there that might mean something. I think we should continue on, but oh, here come three runners up the side road. They report that there are no course markings there. The four of us, including a nine year old boy continue on.
Mile 3.5ish - The four of us reach a major intersection of logging roads. No markers of any kind. Clearly this is not right. Another runner joins us. If we were still on course there would be about 40 runners coming in to join us here as we are now standing still. Some discussion, but obviously we must turn back. I have decided to only turn down a road or trail if I am absolutely sure that it is correct. I will work my way all the way back to where the volunteer was and go back down the way I came up if needed. That would disqualify me I guess, but better that than getting lost.
Mile 5 - Two more runners standing in the road, shouting about whether we think that steep road turn off is the way to go. I say no. The kid is still with us. One woman and I are running pretty fast up this road trying to get back on course, we have left some of the others behind. Now a trail turn off that is labeled "Rock Candy Mountain Trail" and it is going downhill. But it is not race marked at all. This can not be right. I start to get thirsty. I can run 5 miles with no water, but how long am I going to be out here for?
Mile 6 - Another trail junction. Now we see a branch and an aluminum can in the road, sort of pointing that way. No other race markers. But just a few feet in it is clear that this is the way to go. Plenty of ribbons and an arrow. Trail is heading down and in the right direction. We wait until the kid and another runner catch up. We are all sure that this is correct. I will never know if the two runners that had been way ahead of me were part of the race or not.
Mile 7 - Rough muddy trail steeply downhill. Time to assign blame? Some runners were showing their frustration up there on the road. Yes the turn off should have been better marked. But really it is up to the runner to know the course. I was provided with a map on line a few days ago. I took a quick look at it, and I thought that I knew the route we were taking, but I was very wrong. After the uphill slog, I was in the zone blazing down that road going as fast as I could. I was also just plain unlucky that there were no runners right with me, there were two people way ahead who I blindly followed, and there was some random blue flagging along the road way past the turn off.
Mile 7.5 - Down a rivulet trail, so wet and muddy. Cinder blocks to prevent erosion perhaps. Lots of cinder blocks on this trail. My feet have good grip in these shoes and I never lose my balance. In no big rush, but it is fun to go fast on this trail. Finally catch up to two runners who are slower, but smarter than me. They took no wrong turns. Pass a couple more people, then a Dave Risvold sighting. He is all done and just waiting for someone. Must be close to the end now.
Finish - 8.56 on the GPS. I think that I kept an OK attitude, but it certainly was not what I was hoping for. Funny, I got those extra miles in for my weekly mileage. And it sure was an adventure. One woman wanderer and I finish together. The kid and another lostie had gone way faster on the downhill. Of the seven, there should be three behind me and another four that I passed near the end. In the results page there are another 8 people who finished after me that must have also missed the turn.
One runner created a video recording and it is fun to watch: http://vimeo.com/84013421
I am in that video at about the four minute mark.
I downloaded my GPS data to Google earth. That whole long tail at the bottom is the extra out and back that I ran. Clearly going off in the wrong direction.
Next race in the series is February 9th and I hope that I can run it. If I am there I will try to not take the scenic route.
1:38:39!!
67th of 82
race# 316
*****
This area is just a small part of the Capitol State Forest. So many trails and logging roads. I have parked at this area a couple of times in the past year to do some training runs and to figure out the trail system. I am excited about this race because it is another opportunity to get to know these trails.
For most people, the story of the race will be the weather. It is awful out. It has been stormy for two days now and it is particularly bad this morning. 39 degrees and raining sideways. I register for the race and go right back to my car. Just sitting in my car, it is rattling and shifting with the wind. I have shorts but decide to keep my running pants on over them. The pant legs will get wet if the puddles are deep, but I don't think that this material will hold much moisture. I stay with my heaviest rain jacket and wear a hat and gloves at least for the start.
I am hoping to get in 40 miles this week and I would really like to do 7 or 8 today. I had planned on an easy 2-3 mile warm up, just to get the miles in. But 20 minutes before the start it is all I can do to get out of the car and shuffle an easy mile. Now that it is near start time the wind and rain seem less. Probably snowing up top. I will keep all the gear with me. At least I don't need to carry water on such a short run.
Start - We line up and start right on time. I had thought that we would run up the road a little way to where there is a trail junction. But no, there is a trail right here that I have never seen before. Craig did point this out to me as I was warming up, so it is not a total surprise. What is tricky is where to position myself at the start. If it is a single track trail, I don't want to get stuck behind slower runners. I also don't want to hold anyone back. I think a wider start for a quarter mile or so would be a good idea. But I will deal with whatever and when we go off I am about in the middle of things.
50 feet - Onto the trail and it is a puddly muddy mess. As I feared some people are trying to pick around the puddles. I know that my feet are going to get soaked sooner or later and I have decided to not hesitate around water today. Splashing through gives me a chance to pass some folks. Start climbing. There are some social runners, and it is wonderful that they are out here. I just need to be patient and pass them when I can. I knock off 4 or 5, then move up to the next batch. Little did I know that most of them will finish ahead of me today. Just when I am wishing that I had started closer to the front, I get into a good groove with some runners at about the pace I want to be going.
Mile 0.5 - My mile marks are total guesses. I won't look at my watch much today. The trail crosses the road. Now we are on a trail that I took one sunny warm June day with three friends. It is muddy and steep. On that day, two of my friends just could not make it up and we had to turn around. No problem for me today, except that I am walking a lot more than running.
Mile 1 - Giant brown puddles. It is such a fun experience to slosh through a deep puddle. The water is so cold that my feet instantly feel frozen. But in a few moments I am comfortable again, just in time for the next puddle. One puddle surprises me with water almost to my knees. Now a raging rivulet where the trail should be. Relentless uphill. Wish I could run it, but I just have to grunt and walk. I pass a couple of people. Runners are thinning out now. More uphill. Course description said that we would climb 1,000 feet in the first two miles.
Mile 2 - Out of the woods. The trail ends at a logging road. There is a volunteer here who tells me to turn left and that it is all downhill from here. What great news. And now I have a wide road that is descending gently.
Soon my leg power comes back and I can run well. I see two runners way ahead and I lose them around a bend. I will see them one more time, but they are going as fast as I am. I am so cautious on the downhills, fear of broken bones. But this is wonderful. Other that the many sharp angular large rocks that dot the logging road, this is very runnable. I could turn an ankle for sure, but I am feeling good about this. I probably would not drive my little car on a road like this but I am enjoying the running.
Mile 3 - Still a gentle downhill on the road. Two things start to trouble me. One is that so much of this course is on a dirt road. I expected more trail. Also the course markers are a little flaky. I did see two blue ribbons recently, but are they there for some other reason? Oh, good news, here comes a runner catching up to me. She asks if we are on course. Well I think so. If I had seen a turn I would have taken it. Hmm, now she has me really wondering. We are still flying down this road. Now there is a junction with a steep downhill road. An orange flag there that might mean something. I think we should continue on, but oh, here come three runners up the side road. They report that there are no course markings there. The four of us, including a nine year old boy continue on.
Mile 3.5ish - The four of us reach a major intersection of logging roads. No markers of any kind. Clearly this is not right. Another runner joins us. If we were still on course there would be about 40 runners coming in to join us here as we are now standing still. Some discussion, but obviously we must turn back. I have decided to only turn down a road or trail if I am absolutely sure that it is correct. I will work my way all the way back to where the volunteer was and go back down the way I came up if needed. That would disqualify me I guess, but better that than getting lost.
Mile 5 - Two more runners standing in the road, shouting about whether we think that steep road turn off is the way to go. I say no. The kid is still with us. One woman and I are running pretty fast up this road trying to get back on course, we have left some of the others behind. Now a trail turn off that is labeled "Rock Candy Mountain Trail" and it is going downhill. But it is not race marked at all. This can not be right. I start to get thirsty. I can run 5 miles with no water, but how long am I going to be out here for?
Mile 6 - Another trail junction. Now we see a branch and an aluminum can in the road, sort of pointing that way. No other race markers. But just a few feet in it is clear that this is the way to go. Plenty of ribbons and an arrow. Trail is heading down and in the right direction. We wait until the kid and another runner catch up. We are all sure that this is correct. I will never know if the two runners that had been way ahead of me were part of the race or not.
Mile 7 - Rough muddy trail steeply downhill. Time to assign blame? Some runners were showing their frustration up there on the road. Yes the turn off should have been better marked. But really it is up to the runner to know the course. I was provided with a map on line a few days ago. I took a quick look at it, and I thought that I knew the route we were taking, but I was very wrong. After the uphill slog, I was in the zone blazing down that road going as fast as I could. I was also just plain unlucky that there were no runners right with me, there were two people way ahead who I blindly followed, and there was some random blue flagging along the road way past the turn off.
Mile 7.5 - Down a rivulet trail, so wet and muddy. Cinder blocks to prevent erosion perhaps. Lots of cinder blocks on this trail. My feet have good grip in these shoes and I never lose my balance. In no big rush, but it is fun to go fast on this trail. Finally catch up to two runners who are slower, but smarter than me. They took no wrong turns. Pass a couple more people, then a Dave Risvold sighting. He is all done and just waiting for someone. Must be close to the end now.
Finish - 8.56 on the GPS. I think that I kept an OK attitude, but it certainly was not what I was hoping for. Funny, I got those extra miles in for my weekly mileage. And it sure was an adventure. One woman wanderer and I finish together. The kid and another lostie had gone way faster on the downhill. Of the seven, there should be three behind me and another four that I passed near the end. In the results page there are another 8 people who finished after me that must have also missed the turn.
One runner created a video recording and it is fun to watch: http://vimeo.com/84013421
I am in that video at about the four minute mark.
I downloaded my GPS data to Google earth. That whole long tail at the bottom is the extra out and back that I ran. Clearly going off in the wrong direction.
Next race in the series is February 9th and I hope that I can run it. If I am there I will try to not take the scenic route.
1:38:39!!
67th of 82
race# 316
*****
Sunday, January 5, 2014
1/4/14 White Elephant 5 miler
Third time here. Last year I ran with Jared and we took it real easy to protect my healing foot.
I ran the Steilacoom five mile race just three days ago (37:41) but as I warm up, I feel pretty good. This is a tougher course, so I probably will not be as fast today. I ran 37:56 here three years ago.
Cold and foggy. So much fog lately for races. I was slipping on frozen fog while driving here but as I run my warm up, the ground seems safe enough. It is about 35 degrees.
Start - Nice to see familiar faces as always. Great little event put on by the Stevicks. We start on time and go roaring down the hill. We have been instructed to stay on the sidewalk as much as possible and this will lead to some sharp turns and slower times. I try to hold back a little on the steepest downhill to the Tumwater Historical Park. I can hear footsteps slap, slap, slapping behind me, but they do not catch up. In fact, no one will pass me from about a quarter mile in, all the way to the finish.
Mile 1 - 6:56. I sort of figured that a seven minute mile would be good and that I would lose enough on the uphill to average about a 7:30 pace. Catching up to Oliver (9 years old). Multiple times I get to be just behind him, he senses me and puts on a surge. He does not want me to get past him. I feel no need to challenge his surges so I fall back about 20 feet and then start gaining again. Four or five such surges and finally he relents and I ease past him at about mile 1.5
Mile 2 - 7:12 average pace. Catch up to Ariel. I think that she is the first place female and I ask if she is. But alas, she tells me that there is a state champion runner somewhere way up ahead. Not enough oxygen to chat so we run together for just a little and then I am able to move ahead. I gain on and then run with another youth (Ben). We stay together for a while but he starts to fade. I can see Loren, who has beaten me by quite a bit recently, far ahead.
Mile 3 - Up the horrible hill. By the time I am at the top my pace is at 7:28 average so I really need to hold on if I want to finish in the sevens. My stomach is starting to cramp up. Through the Capitol Campus, past the Winged Victory Statue, continue on a gradual uphill. Gaining ever so slightly on Loren but he is just too far ahead.
Mile 4 - Sharp turns and on to Capitol Blvd. Hold on for a fairly strong finish. The last two minutes I wonder if I can beat my time from three days ago, and I work hard to try to do so.
Mile 5 - Finish. 5.06 on the GPS. My watch says 37:44, three seconds slower than on the 1st. I always start the watch as I cross the start line and that cost me two seconds today. At Steilacoom I started 5 seconds back and all this is to say that me official times for these races ended up being equal. I also beat my personal record for this course so overall I am happy.
Raffle - I win a pair of socks, yay! I was attracted to the white elephant gift that I chose because of the cool guitar wrapping paper. Pick it up and man is it heavy. I should have known that it was an exercise ball. Terrific, I can use this. New year is off to a good start.
37:46
10th place of 69
Race#315
*****
I ran the Steilacoom five mile race just three days ago (37:41) but as I warm up, I feel pretty good. This is a tougher course, so I probably will not be as fast today. I ran 37:56 here three years ago.
Cold and foggy. So much fog lately for races. I was slipping on frozen fog while driving here but as I run my warm up, the ground seems safe enough. It is about 35 degrees.
Start - Nice to see familiar faces as always. Great little event put on by the Stevicks. We start on time and go roaring down the hill. We have been instructed to stay on the sidewalk as much as possible and this will lead to some sharp turns and slower times. I try to hold back a little on the steepest downhill to the Tumwater Historical Park. I can hear footsteps slap, slap, slapping behind me, but they do not catch up. In fact, no one will pass me from about a quarter mile in, all the way to the finish.
Mile 1 - 6:56. I sort of figured that a seven minute mile would be good and that I would lose enough on the uphill to average about a 7:30 pace. Catching up to Oliver (9 years old). Multiple times I get to be just behind him, he senses me and puts on a surge. He does not want me to get past him. I feel no need to challenge his surges so I fall back about 20 feet and then start gaining again. Four or five such surges and finally he relents and I ease past him at about mile 1.5
Mile 2 - 7:12 average pace. Catch up to Ariel. I think that she is the first place female and I ask if she is. But alas, she tells me that there is a state champion runner somewhere way up ahead. Not enough oxygen to chat so we run together for just a little and then I am able to move ahead. I gain on and then run with another youth (Ben). We stay together for a while but he starts to fade. I can see Loren, who has beaten me by quite a bit recently, far ahead.
Mile 3 - Up the horrible hill. By the time I am at the top my pace is at 7:28 average so I really need to hold on if I want to finish in the sevens. My stomach is starting to cramp up. Through the Capitol Campus, past the Winged Victory Statue, continue on a gradual uphill. Gaining ever so slightly on Loren but he is just too far ahead.
Mile 4 - Sharp turns and on to Capitol Blvd. Hold on for a fairly strong finish. The last two minutes I wonder if I can beat my time from three days ago, and I work hard to try to do so.
Mile 5 - Finish. 5.06 on the GPS. My watch says 37:44, three seconds slower than on the 1st. I always start the watch as I cross the start line and that cost me two seconds today. At Steilacoom I started 5 seconds back and all this is to say that me official times for these races ended up being equal. I also beat my personal record for this course so overall I am happy.
Raffle - I win a pair of socks, yay! I was attracted to the white elephant gift that I chose because of the cool guitar wrapping paper. Pick it up and man is it heavy. I should have known that it was an exercise ball. Terrific, I can use this. New year is off to a good start.
37:46
10th place of 69
Race#315
*****
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
1/1/14 Resolution Run 5 miler
40th annual event of the Fort Steilacoom Running Club and my 11th time here on January 1st. My 12th January 1st race. 9th time running the 5 mile race.
Fog and low 40s, good running weather.
Goal - 37:30 would be great, anything under 38 minutes is fine. OK warm up of 1.8 miles, but I do not feel super. Traditional lack of sleep before this event. Change into my racing shoes (Brooks Launch) and I feel a little faster.
Start - Smaller crowd than most years. Overwhelmingly composed of fast males. Three things about this race and series make it not the best for me. 1) Almost all fast men. People are friendly enough but there are very few slower/casual runners. 2) The same old course - it is good to run the same course every year so I can compare times, but I am just tired of the route 3) post race results/awards always take a long time to be announced. Still no place that I would rather be on January 1.
Line up near the front, but with plenty of runners ahead of me. Countdown and start on time. Fast on the track, I go out at about 7/mile pace and will gradually slow as the outbound hills challenge me.
Mile 1.4 - Lead 5K runners coming back. I am breathing hard but the legs feel alright.
Mile 2.5 - Turn around. Now an old running pal, Ron, catches up to me. I have not seen him in quite a while. But just like old times he gradually pulls away. There are others around me. Good incentive to run hard, but it is getting tougher. I can put on small surges, but haggard breathing keeps me from sustaining the pace. Catch one guy, run a short way with him, pass him, then he surges and leaves me behind. Another guy gets past me. I do catch one runner a few minutes before the end. Gary Cooper sighting and then it is down to the track and the final bit. Legs don't respond with speed until the very end.
Finish - 5.08 miles on the GPS. Even split. Feel like I ran well but a slightly off day. The five miles is farther than the 5Ks I have been doing as "fast" races, and the plan is to work up the speed races to 10Ks and half marathons while continuing to run a long race about once a month. I do a longer cool down run, to get the monthly/yearly mileage off to a good start. Hang around for a while but the results don't seem to be forthcoming any time soon. I will update here when they are available.
Next up - White Elephant Run in Olympia in three days. Hopefully today was a good tune up for this other 5 mile race.
37:41 (4 seconds faster than five years ago, but a little slower than most of these races)
36th place of 88
Race#314
****
Fog and low 40s, good running weather.
Goal - 37:30 would be great, anything under 38 minutes is fine. OK warm up of 1.8 miles, but I do not feel super. Traditional lack of sleep before this event. Change into my racing shoes (Brooks Launch) and I feel a little faster.
Start - Smaller crowd than most years. Overwhelmingly composed of fast males. Three things about this race and series make it not the best for me. 1) Almost all fast men. People are friendly enough but there are very few slower/casual runners. 2) The same old course - it is good to run the same course every year so I can compare times, but I am just tired of the route 3) post race results/awards always take a long time to be announced. Still no place that I would rather be on January 1.
Line up near the front, but with plenty of runners ahead of me. Countdown and start on time. Fast on the track, I go out at about 7/mile pace and will gradually slow as the outbound hills challenge me.
Mile 1.4 - Lead 5K runners coming back. I am breathing hard but the legs feel alright.
Mile 2.5 - Turn around. Now an old running pal, Ron, catches up to me. I have not seen him in quite a while. But just like old times he gradually pulls away. There are others around me. Good incentive to run hard, but it is getting tougher. I can put on small surges, but haggard breathing keeps me from sustaining the pace. Catch one guy, run a short way with him, pass him, then he surges and leaves me behind. Another guy gets past me. I do catch one runner a few minutes before the end. Gary Cooper sighting and then it is down to the track and the final bit. Legs don't respond with speed until the very end.
Finish - 5.08 miles on the GPS. Even split. Feel like I ran well but a slightly off day. The five miles is farther than the 5Ks I have been doing as "fast" races, and the plan is to work up the speed races to 10Ks and half marathons while continuing to run a long race about once a month. I do a longer cool down run, to get the monthly/yearly mileage off to a good start. Hang around for a while but the results don't seem to be forthcoming any time soon. I will update here when they are available.
Next up - White Elephant Run in Olympia in three days. Hopefully today was a good tune up for this other 5 mile race.
37:41 (4 seconds faster than five years ago, but a little slower than most of these races)
36th place of 88
Race#314
****
Monday, December 23, 2013
12/21/13 Pigtails Flat Ass Marathon
8th annual event. My 5th time here, plus I volunteered last year. Volunteering is a good thing to do, especially when injured. Volunteering can be fun, but I am so happy to be running this year.
Commemorative head band to go with my Pigtails beanie, arm warmers and gloves.
Small race but filled with my Maniac friends.
Start -A little slush on the trail for the first part. It will stay above freezing all day, but feel cold. The crowded half mile out and half mile back has people sploshing slush around and my feet get a little wet.
Mile 1 - Now on to the real trail. Room to run and my feet will dry out. It takes me a while to get up to a 10 minute per mile pace, where I want to stay for at least the first half. Frequent walk breaks and an easy pace, but it does not seem too slow. Bald eagle sighting.....3rd time in the past 4 marathons.
Mile 6 - First aid station. Catch up to Ashley. I had told her to go ahead as I was serious about going slow from the start. She also is wanting to take it easy so we fall in together. Just like old times on this course. We ran our first 50K here five years ago. Nice to talk for a while and then we slip into that comfortable silence that makes running with her so nice. Heavy fog. We are going faster than my plan but not by much and it is worth it even if I slow later.
Mile 13.1 - 2:08 on the watch. A little farther to the turn around. Ron, Andy, Susie, Mike, Kim, Mike M, Bill, Ted, Sabrina and others are all fairly close but ahead of me. Some of them are doing the 50K and will turn off the marathon course later. The fog has turned to drizzle.
Mile 14 - The plan has been to try to negative split. So I start going a little faster. My last marathon I went easy the whole way. Today I want to work hard for my medal. I don't care so much about finish time, but I do want to give it a good effort. I pull away from Ashley and gradually pick off the runners ahead of me.
Mile 16 - I catch up to one guy that I have not met before. His name is Andrew and he is running his first 50K. I don't know how he heard about this race, he is only vaguely aware of the Marathon Maniacs club. We run together for a while and it is nice to grind out the late middle miles with him.
Mile 21 - Happy to see that aid station. Quick stop and on I go. I think that I will push on for two miles and then take a walk break.
Mile 21.2 - Argh! I am walking and had not even told myself to do so. Sudden and harsh wall.
Mile 23 - Stiffening legs, some nausea, and just plain out of energy. Walk, shuffle, run, repeat. Get passed by many of those I passed earlier.
Mile 24 - Ron catches me. I am really struggling. I joke about dropping out and I think it is funny because the shortest way out of here is to keep going on this trail. Pigtails would make me walk it out anyway. No I am not serious about dropping. I will finish with a smile. I wanted it to be hard and that is what I got. Looks like I can beat 4:30.
Mile 25 - Start looking back for Ashley. It would be so typical for her to pass me in the end. Alas she is having her own issues and won't quite get up to me. I shuffle on to the end.
Mile 26.2 - 26.2 on the GPS. Got in under 4:30. Get my medal from Ray. Change into dry but cold clothes. Hot cider hits the spot. Watch some runners come in. Robert gets his sub 5 hr 50K. Others are not so happy with their finish times, but we all seemed to enjoy the day. Long run on the shortest day of the year.
4:27:29
21st of 52
Race #313, Marathon or ultra #104, Pigtails Flat Ass #5
*****
Commemorative head band to go with my Pigtails beanie, arm warmers and gloves.
Small race but filled with my Maniac friends.
Start -A little slush on the trail for the first part. It will stay above freezing all day, but feel cold. The crowded half mile out and half mile back has people sploshing slush around and my feet get a little wet.
Mile 1 - Now on to the real trail. Room to run and my feet will dry out. It takes me a while to get up to a 10 minute per mile pace, where I want to stay for at least the first half. Frequent walk breaks and an easy pace, but it does not seem too slow. Bald eagle sighting.....3rd time in the past 4 marathons.
Mile 6 - First aid station. Catch up to Ashley. I had told her to go ahead as I was serious about going slow from the start. She also is wanting to take it easy so we fall in together. Just like old times on this course. We ran our first 50K here five years ago. Nice to talk for a while and then we slip into that comfortable silence that makes running with her so nice. Heavy fog. We are going faster than my plan but not by much and it is worth it even if I slow later.
Mile 13.1 - 2:08 on the watch. A little farther to the turn around. Ron, Andy, Susie, Mike, Kim, Mike M, Bill, Ted, Sabrina and others are all fairly close but ahead of me. Some of them are doing the 50K and will turn off the marathon course later. The fog has turned to drizzle.
Mile 14 - The plan has been to try to negative split. So I start going a little faster. My last marathon I went easy the whole way. Today I want to work hard for my medal. I don't care so much about finish time, but I do want to give it a good effort. I pull away from Ashley and gradually pick off the runners ahead of me.
Mile 16 - I catch up to one guy that I have not met before. His name is Andrew and he is running his first 50K. I don't know how he heard about this race, he is only vaguely aware of the Marathon Maniacs club. We run together for a while and it is nice to grind out the late middle miles with him.
Mile 21 - Happy to see that aid station. Quick stop and on I go. I think that I will push on for two miles and then take a walk break.
Mile 21.2 - Argh! I am walking and had not even told myself to do so. Sudden and harsh wall.
Mile 23 - Stiffening legs, some nausea, and just plain out of energy. Walk, shuffle, run, repeat. Get passed by many of those I passed earlier.
Mile 24 - Ron catches me. I am really struggling. I joke about dropping out and I think it is funny because the shortest way out of here is to keep going on this trail. Pigtails would make me walk it out anyway. No I am not serious about dropping. I will finish with a smile. I wanted it to be hard and that is what I got. Looks like I can beat 4:30.
Mile 25 - Start looking back for Ashley. It would be so typical for her to pass me in the end. Alas she is having her own issues and won't quite get up to me. I shuffle on to the end.
Mile 26.2 - 26.2 on the GPS. Got in under 4:30. Get my medal from Ray. Change into dry but cold clothes. Hot cider hits the spot. Watch some runners come in. Robert gets his sub 5 hr 50K. Others are not so happy with their finish times, but we all seemed to enjoy the day. Long run on the shortest day of the year.
4:27:29
21st of 52
Race #313, Marathon or ultra #104, Pigtails Flat Ass #5
*****
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
12/7/13 Saint Martins Jingle Bell Run 5K
I have run three races on the Saint Martins University campus, but they were small events and the last one I did was in 2006. Last year this holiday race was started and I decided to join in the fun this year. Pricey but we get a long sleeved T-shirt and chip (bib) timing. Also much appreciated is the warm university gym/staging and finish area, directly next to the start/finish. Plenty of room inside for the large number of participants.The course is two loops of 1.55 miles. There is also a 1.55 mile walk that will start 30 minutes before the 5K race.
It is about 22 degrees and sunny. I decide to warm up with a lap around the course. Gelid looking volunteers are huddled together at each turn, ready to direct the walkers who will start soon. After a half mile, I feel colder than when I started. I have a head band around my neck and I use it to cover my nose and mouth which helps. Now the course takes an unexpected turn onto some gravel. This is different from how we did it in 06 and I am glad that I am doing this warm up lap. Next it is on to a frozen field. It is very uneven and I twist my ankle a little. Off the field, up a wide dirt and gravel road and down a rocky path. Then a narrow trail, out to the parking lot and a quarter mile to the finish. With the cold and this route, I push my expectations back. Anything under 23 minutes will be very good.
Start - With the 577 runners, and narrow course, I want to start near the front. Five minutes to the start I am near where I want to be, but hundreds are streaming out of the gym and coming toward me. The timing mat is still recording 1.55 miler finishers so we have to leave room for then. Finally we are told to line up in front of the mat. I make sure that James, Craig, Jesse, and other fast looking people are ahead of me. We are crammed in to the start area and I am more than ready to get going when we are set off.
Mile 0.05 - Smooth enough start. As soon as we get through the balloon start/finish structure we have the other half of the road to use as well. But somehow I am now behind four young women who are running OK, but not as fast as I would like to be going. And they are close and side by side. I am feeling very impatient but wait for an opportunity to get past them. Now it is a clear path ahead.
Mile 0.5 - After previewing the course I knew that I should make the most of the pavement and be more careful on the gravel and especially the field. I am going faster than I should, but I will relax soon on the trail. Some one is wearing a winter hat that looks like a cupcake.
Mile 1.55 - A cold first lap but I am starting to warm up. Pleased to see the finish clock has just hit 11:00. I am sure that I will slow on the second lap, but sub 23 should happen. I proceed past the finish, away from the mat as instructed and continue on to loop 2.
Mile 2.5 - After the initial sorting out, there has not been much passing or being passed. I do catch a girl, run with her a bit then challenge her to catch me. Pass the last place person, who is on her first lap. Soon there will be more. Only one person will pass me now. I sense her coming on strong. A look over and I can hardly believe it. Jenny, who I only know a little, but is a very fast runner. When I saw her before the race I did not think that she was running today. She has a big baby belly and is due in three weeks. Here at mile 2.5 she is all smiles, feeling great and leaving me in the frost. I tell her to be careful on the grass and I feel a little worried for her, but I also pick up the pace and try to stay with her. Alas she is just too strong. Up the dirt road she gets out of reach. Both of us are now negotiating around the slower runners. I have to pass 8 reindeer and Santa in a wheel chair. Other clumps of walkers and slower runners all the way to the end.
Mile 2.9 - Off the narrow trail, where slower runners did stay on one side, and on to the parking lot. Turn and sprint to the end.
Finish - 3.11 on the GPS a spot on 5K distance. 22:37 on my watch. Same time as two weeks ago on a slightly shorter and faster course. And with this weather I am very pleased. Everything feels good these days, no injuries at all to report and I am so happy for that.
Inside for refreshments and music by a brass quartet. Computers are set up to view results. They have me at 12 minutes something and a sub 4 minute mile. Still only good for 4th place overall. I tell the timing person who thinks that my chip must have registered at the end of the first lap. That would make sense if the time was right at 11 minutes. He then learns that many runners need to have the first lap "filtered out" and I can see that this will take him some time. I have things to do so I leave before the awards ceremony, as I suspect that might be a while. Checking the results later on the web site, I have been corrected to a 23:20 and 46th place. I am going to trust my watch on this one, and assuming that all the other times are correct, I should be in 39th place. Still just out of the top three for my 40-49 age group, so whatever they have me at does not matter. Except that when I do pay this much for a race, I expect accurate results.
I missed the Club Oly trail race today and I won't do the Reindeer Run tomorrow, so it is difficult to say for sure that I will come back next year. Great way to spend a cold morning though.
22:37
39th of 577
Race# 312, 5K#84
*****
Monday, November 25, 2013
11/23/13 One Last Point 5k! Run/Walk
The name of this race needs some explaining. The Pints Pavement Pounders Running Club (P3) has been very successful since being established here a few years ago. ( http://www.thurstontalk.com/2012/10/10/pints-pavement-pounders-p3-get-fit-be-social-and-enjoy-a-pint/ ) . They get quite a turn out for their weekly runs. Members earn points by group running and by running races. So many points earns you a club shirt and I have been seeing more and more of these shirts at the races. The club takes a break in the winter and some folks were so close to earning their shirts. Terra decided to host a race so that they could earn a point before the season is over. Since I am on the "need people less" end of the spectrum, a weeknight group run followed by beer does not really appeal to me so much. But call something a race, have it on a Saturday, and I am likely to be there.
Cold morning at Marathon Park in Olympia. Thick frost on the wooden bridge could be icy. I do a mile warm up. I have not been here since the Transcendence 12 hour race and the memories come back. I'll keep the hat and gloves on but stash the jacket and long pants before the start. Thirty minutes before the start and Terra is here, offering me a still warm fresh baked muffin. I had timed my breakfast to be more or less digested before the start, but I can not resist the muffin. With the cold weather, somewhat tired legs from workouts this week, and now a muffin in me, I don't expect to be so speedy today. I get my number and continue to warm up, gradually picking up the pace before the start.
Start - 40 people in the run. I know at least a dozen of them and it is nice to see them. Ron ran here from his house, three miles away. Joe put in 7 miles before getting here. I may be the only one who came here to actually race and/or run hard. Martinho is here and we elbow each other at the start line like we always do. He can beat me if he wants, but when we go out he says something about saving himself for a race on Thursday. Everyone falls back and I am in front.
Mile 0.25 - Since September I have run quite a few small races and each time I have looked at the competition and wondered if just maybe I could beat them. I am very used to seeing a couple of people ahead of me and one or two rabbits string out way in front with no chance of me getting them. At this point in the race I usually focus on someone ahead and gradually try to catch up, while listening for footsteps behind me. This is different today. I am in front and I do not sense anyone right behind me. Strange.
Mile 1 - 7:09 - Decent pace. I will slow down on the second lap I am sure. And I expect Martinho to come roaring up to me at any time. There is a guy, not in the race, running around the lake in the opposite direction and I am sure that he is going faster than me. No wind but it is quite cold. A few walkers with dogs but it is not hard to navigate around them.
Mile 1.55 - First loop done. There is a sharp right turn here and I can not help but look back. No one behind me, but as I turn my head back I catch a flash of neon that could be a racer not so far back. I have won two races previously, both somewhat dubious achievements. The last time was ten years ago at a Bob Green "Odd Distance Race". Multiple races started at the same time, so I did not know who all was in my race. One guy was dogging me and at the turn around of the 8 mile race he was feeling so good he decided to upgrade to the 11 mile race. Two starters, I was the lone finisher. In 1998 I won the Melody Miles fiasco race. Multiple issues with that one, including having to ask where the finish line was and finding out that I was already past it. But I did place first of 30 that day. But what am I doing! I need to focus on today. Bring the mind back to this race. Mild discomfort I acknowledge and push aside. Keep bringing the mind back to the form and threading the line at a sustainable level of discomfort.
Mile 2 - Another sharp turn and a chance to look a ways back. Nobody gonna catch me now. Memories of me watching winners come in and I tell them to relax, enjoy the moment. I ease up just a little but press on.
Mile 2.5 - That cold spot again. Right where it is hottest in the T12. Jody is meeting Niki here at 9:30AM for their run together. I hope she is here to see me finish. But alas I make the final stretch and cruise in without much fanfare.
Mile 3.1 - 3.06 on the GPS. 15 seconds slower than three weeks ago, with a marathon two weeks ago. Pleased with my time, how well I felt, and that no one faster showed up or tried very hard today. Nice event RD Terra. She even had some raffles and coffee with the muffins. Fun group of people.
22:37
1st place of 40
Race#311, 5K#83 Win#3
*****
Cold morning at Marathon Park in Olympia. Thick frost on the wooden bridge could be icy. I do a mile warm up. I have not been here since the Transcendence 12 hour race and the memories come back. I'll keep the hat and gloves on but stash the jacket and long pants before the start. Thirty minutes before the start and Terra is here, offering me a still warm fresh baked muffin. I had timed my breakfast to be more or less digested before the start, but I can not resist the muffin. With the cold weather, somewhat tired legs from workouts this week, and now a muffin in me, I don't expect to be so speedy today. I get my number and continue to warm up, gradually picking up the pace before the start.
Start - 40 people in the run. I know at least a dozen of them and it is nice to see them. Ron ran here from his house, three miles away. Joe put in 7 miles before getting here. I may be the only one who came here to actually race and/or run hard. Martinho is here and we elbow each other at the start line like we always do. He can beat me if he wants, but when we go out he says something about saving himself for a race on Thursday. Everyone falls back and I am in front.
Mile 0.25 - Since September I have run quite a few small races and each time I have looked at the competition and wondered if just maybe I could beat them. I am very used to seeing a couple of people ahead of me and one or two rabbits string out way in front with no chance of me getting them. At this point in the race I usually focus on someone ahead and gradually try to catch up, while listening for footsteps behind me. This is different today. I am in front and I do not sense anyone right behind me. Strange.
Mile 1 - 7:09 - Decent pace. I will slow down on the second lap I am sure. And I expect Martinho to come roaring up to me at any time. There is a guy, not in the race, running around the lake in the opposite direction and I am sure that he is going faster than me. No wind but it is quite cold. A few walkers with dogs but it is not hard to navigate around them.
Mile 1.55 - First loop done. There is a sharp right turn here and I can not help but look back. No one behind me, but as I turn my head back I catch a flash of neon that could be a racer not so far back. I have won two races previously, both somewhat dubious achievements. The last time was ten years ago at a Bob Green "Odd Distance Race". Multiple races started at the same time, so I did not know who all was in my race. One guy was dogging me and at the turn around of the 8 mile race he was feeling so good he decided to upgrade to the 11 mile race. Two starters, I was the lone finisher. In 1998 I won the Melody Miles fiasco race. Multiple issues with that one, including having to ask where the finish line was and finding out that I was already past it. But I did place first of 30 that day. But what am I doing! I need to focus on today. Bring the mind back to this race. Mild discomfort I acknowledge and push aside. Keep bringing the mind back to the form and threading the line at a sustainable level of discomfort.
Mile 2 - Another sharp turn and a chance to look a ways back. Nobody gonna catch me now. Memories of me watching winners come in and I tell them to relax, enjoy the moment. I ease up just a little but press on.
Mile 2.5 - That cold spot again. Right where it is hottest in the T12. Jody is meeting Niki here at 9:30AM for their run together. I hope she is here to see me finish. But alas I make the final stretch and cruise in without much fanfare.
Mile 3.1 - 3.06 on the GPS. 15 seconds slower than three weeks ago, with a marathon two weeks ago. Pleased with my time, how well I felt, and that no one faster showed up or tried very hard today. Nice event RD Terra. She even had some raffles and coffee with the muffins. Fun group of people.
22:37
1st place of 40
Race#311, 5K#83 Win#3
*****
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