2/28/15 Miles for Music benefit 5K

A benefit race for the family of Dan Sorrell who was a music teacher in Thurston County.  The race is being organized by a friend of the family, Anna Brooks.  This is also her High School Senior project.  Before the start of the race it was announced that they had raised over $3,000 so far.  That is amazing considering the $10 registration fee and that there will be post race pancakes!  Donations and raffle tickets had most people paying more than the minimum I am sure.

Cold but so bright and sunny.  A little windy too.  Race is twice around Capitol Lake.  I am so burned out on racing here, ( I have raced at least 172 loops here at ten races in the past five years) but I really wanted to do this one.  Good sized crowd, mostly from NCHS.  A few hard core runners here.  The super fast NCHS boys and girls are here so I have no chance of being near the front.  Lots of people are walking one loop.

Good 2 mile warm up and I am ready to go.  Some people still signing in, so it is announced that we will start at 9:15.  More time to warm up.  By race end I will be at 45 miles for the week. Near the end of January I decided that a fun goal for the year would be to average over 40 miles a week.  The most I have ever averaged for an extended period is about 35 miles and that is very low for a marathon runner.  If I can increase the miles, and stay injury free, it should help my endurance and finish times.  For these shorter races I will not taper my mileage and I know that I will be slower than possible.  Feeling pretty good though here at the start.

Start - Start is on the grass and the finish will be off away on the grass to add the 0.1 miles for a true 5K.  My watched had almost timed out of GPS mode but I saved it.  Now right as the start is announced I go to start my timer and see that I have timed out of GPS mode again.  Frustrating aspect of this cheaper Garmin.  I start running and my watch starts searching for satellites.   On to the crushed gravel path and then I am good to go and I start my watch. There will be a clock at the finish, although all finish times might not be reported as an overall results table.  Jody is here to cheer me before going off on her long run.

Mile 0.5 - Round the lake we go. Pass the super fast little kids who are now hitting the wall. Dodge one kid who is looking back and staggering across the sidewalk.  Sort of running with a woman, we dodge walkers and dogs and push the pace with each other.

Mile 1 - Through Marathon Park and now into a strong wind.  Colder and blowing at us in this shaded section.  Still with the woman.  Volunteer with a radio is sayting (into the radio) "number 708, number 708".  I remember that I have number 707 and I had seen this woman I am with warming up and noted that she has number 708.  "Why is he calling in your number?" I ask.  She has no idea.  I wonder if she is in first place.  We round back toward the start and hear the announcer say that our second place female, number 708, has just completed the first lap.  First place woman must be way ahead of us, we do not see her.  Photos by Walt Dale.

Mile 1.5 - I like my new running buddy.  When she gets a little ahead I am able to get even and even get ahead of her.  I feel like I am running strong, but also as fast as I should be going.  Watch says 7:27 pace but I don't know if that is right.  Have to dodge a dog and I jump a little but avoid disaster.  Passing most of the event walkers and others enjoying the morning.  I let 708 pick the best way around walkers and I follow behind her.

Mile 2.4 - Jody again, waiting on her friend.  Telling me that #708 is getting away.  She is now 10 feet in front and my surge to catch up only gets me half way.  She keeps getting faster as I start to slow a bit.  She will go on to pass Steve from Elma.  I get closer to him but can not pick it up enough.  Round to the finish on the grass and have decent power left, but am tiring for sure.

Finish - Cup of water from Kay.  Congratulate Steve and #708.  Pancakes are ready and hot.  Coffee too!  Music by Mr. Sorrell's former students.  Short wait for raffles and age group door prizes.  Alas I do not win, but that is OK.  Really well done event Anna!


23:21
race#349
5K#89
*****

2/14/15 Woolley Trail Marathon

My third time here, 6th annual event.  Best weather by far.  Stayed in Bellingham with my Valentine, so it was easy to get to the 9AM start.  Maniac friends that I could run with, but with the 50Ks and trail marathons I have not had a good 26.2 mile course in a while. This is trail, but nice crushed gravel and very flat.   I will run my own pace and see what happens and run with someone if it is meant to be.  I would like to see how long I can hold a 4 hour pace and then how well I can keep moving when I do slow down.  More of a test to see how far I am from 4 hours, I am not really expecting to be there yet.

Start - Nice to see Tracy, Mica, Dan and Suzanne.  I could end up running most of the race with any of them.  I do start off with Tracy.  After about two miles I move ahead, maintaining my 9:10/mile pace.  It feels fine, but faster than I know I should be going.

Mile 3 - Bald eagle in a tree, not so high up, right along the trail.

Mile 5 - Here is that little muddy section from previous years.  RD Terry had said that there was about two inches of water a few days ago.  I have run this course twice before and this section always has some mud.  But my oh my, this year it is bad.  There is a much longer section with super MUD on the side and a clear shin deep creek in the middle.  I am following a woman along the mud way when a runner comes splashing through the water.  My feet are soaked and heavy with mud and water after this section and I decide that on the way back I will just go through the water.  At least my shoes will be cleaner.

Susan Hui brought her camera so here are a few photos of the trail:

Other than this one section, there was no mud.  Some small branches a rocks to look out for, but very runnable the whole way.   Most of the trail is open to the farmlands, but I like this tree lined section:

 Mile 6.6 - Half marathoners turn around at the second aid station.  My socks and shoes are wet but feel OK.  Course thins of runners and I head out along the Skagit River.  Pigtails is about a quarter mile ahead of me and I ever so slowly gain on her.

Mile 11.5 - Feeling good and still approaching Pigtails.  Rather than run right behind her, and not wanting to pass this master of pacing, I decide to catch up and run to the marathon turn around with her.  I assume that she is doing the 50K, which she is.  MM27 was one of the first Maniacs, whose career I followed and inspired my to step it up and see what I could do.  It has been almost ten years now and today it is a treat to be able to run aside her for a mile.  We cross Highway 20 together.  I slow a bit before the turn around, to get organized and so my split time will not be so horrible.  At a 9:12 pace, 2:02 for the half.  Pigtails goes on and I turn around at mile 13.1

Mile 13.2 - Dan and Suzanne right behind me.  They will stalk me down but it will take a while.  Tracy not far behind.  "False Dan" far ahead of me and I gradually gain on him.  A bit of a head wind, but nothing too bad.  Prez and Krez sighting.

Mile 17 - I like the long straight sections where I can see so far ahead.  Tell myself to not look at the distance until I get up to some landmark and it must be more than a half mile away.  Realize that my ankle/foot is not giving me any problems.  Really happy about that.

Mile 19 - Start to tire.  Pace is gradually slowing but not so bad.  I passed one guy who was falling apart, now I catch "False Dan"  At the aid station I look back and see the real Dan, and Suzanne are close behind.  I keep running, to the mud.  Plow right through the water and it is so cold.  It feels great on the feet.  I could really stomp through it, lifting my knees, but instead I take my time and keep moving as I have been.  Out with clean feet and back on the trail.  My socks feel a little bunched up in the front.  If this were a 100 mile race I would want to change them for sure, but I am almost done now.  Post race I will find three small blisters on the tips of toes.

Mile 22 - Aid station.  Ditch that extra water bottle from my pocket and just go with my small one.  Long straight open sections and I am counting down the miles, but trying to not look at my watch too much.  Able to run a full mile, then a very short walk just to have a drink and another S!Cap.  I have felt a little fuzzy headed in the second half and have taken more salt pills that I thought I would need.  They really do help and very quickly too.  Back to my slow run.

Mile 24 - Dan and Suzanne finally pass me. I try to keep up, but just can not hold one.  I am not walking other than to have a drink, just my running keeps getting slower.  I find a nice short stride and everything feels good for mile 24 of a race.  I know that if I go faster I will fall apart, so I am content to jog it in like this.  Wondering if I can beat 4:10.

Mile 26.2 - 26.23 on the GPS.  4:11:36 on the watch.  Five minutes faster than last year. No real wall, just a gradual slowing and I am happy with the results.  In the second half I passed two people and was passed by two others. 

No post race cold and shivering.  I dry my feet and put on sandals, then hang around for some food and to watch the others come in.  Really nice to sit in the sun and cheer for the finishers.

$20 entry fee, parking at the start, great aid stations.......a great February race option.  Especially if the weather cooperates like it did today.

4:11:36
16th of 55
Race#348, marathon or ultra#121, Woolley Trail Marathon#3
*****

1/31/15 Lake Youngs Nuts Run 50K

My 5th time here, so after today I will have 15 laps around the hidden lake.  It is supposed be be a nice day but it is cool and foggy at the start and will stay cool and foggy all day.  Hat and gloves on for most of the race.  It is dry though and the trail is in great shape.  Very little mud.

Loop 1 - 1:44
I try to start near the back and be patient on the steep downhill start.  A couple of dogs almost cause serious problems, but no one falls and soon we are level with room to pass.  Mile 1 I find myself behind Katie, Leslie, Linda, Jill and two others.  I decide to stay with them for a while.  Nice visit and good way to keep from going out too fast.  Walking the hills (there is a hill around every corner says Rikki) and holding around 11 minutes per mile.  Mile 5 I move ahead but not much faster.  Very familiar with the course and it is nice to be back here.  Maybe there is more crushed gravel in the first two miles that I am not a big fan of, but now a variety of surfaces. Easy going and a take a minute or two to get organized for loop 2.  Past races I have been 1:33-1:35 for loop one, so this is a lot slower, but it feels like a good pace for today.

Loop 2 - 1:40
Run with and leapfrogging Daniel Sherman and also Rikki. Daniel moves ahead and I am mostly alone.  Race is really thinning out.  Feeling good.  Trying to eat and drink enough and at this slow pace it is easy to do so.

Loop 3 - 1:44
Catch up to Ted who says he is tiring.  We go back and forth a little.  When he is ahead of me, it gives me something to pursue.  Still feeling pretty good.  I see Ted walking most of the hills, so I run at least halfway up them, and stay close to him.  Catch early starter Deb.  More than a half mile with Deb is so nice, the time and distance go by so fast and it is easy to forget that I have been running for four hours.  But ted is getting away so I move on.  About mile 20 my right foot/ankle starts to give me bother.  A little too much twisting on the rocks and it hurts in a place where I have had issues before.  By mile 26 I am taking walk breaks to rest the foot.  Too bad because my legs feel great and I have pretty decent energy.  Mile 28, a big mouse sitting in the middle of the trail.  Very odd.  I look back and there is Rikki who has been stalking me all of loop 3.  I point to the mouse, hoping she will see it and she does.  She catches up and we finish the loop together.

Out and Back - 26 minutes
I am so tired, I want to cry when I think of leaving the aid station,, but there is one more bit to do.  My finish time will be way slower than previous years.  Not sure what happened.  I took it slower in the beginning, now I can not step it up.  Tired and the foot is still a bother.  Down the hill.  It always seems so far.  Finally Ted, then Rikki  coming back.  I am not close to anyone, just keep plodding along.  At one point it hits me, the wall.  I feel really tired all of a sudden.  It passes and I am running OK.  Now the big steep hill and it will soon be over.  Pick it up for the very end and happy to be done.

Finish 5:35:10 - I am getting a little tired of this course, but I still love this event.  So cheap and friendly but well organized and on a Saturday not too far from home.  Rikki wins a bag of peanuts for her age group and two hours later it dawns on me that it is why it is called the Nuts Run.  I stay at the finish longer than usual and it is a nice time, but eventually I get chilled, start shivering, and decide to warm up and head home.  I would run it again for sure.

Sunday - easy five miles and the foot feels fine.

5:35:11
20th place of 47 finishers
Race#347 Marathon or Ultra #120
Lake Youngs 50K #5
*****

1/24/15 Resolution run 10K

Back to Steilacoom for another race.  I choose the 10K over the 10 miler, so I won't be one of the last ones out there.  Also been having fun with speed workouts.  That plus added mileage has my legs tired from the start today. No aches or pains, nothing stiff, just a little sore in the big muscles and hard to get moving fast during warm up.  This is the price I will pay for the added miles (third week in a row of at least 40 miles) and hopefully it will pay off in future longer races.  Today I will be happy with whatever speed as long as nothing hurts.

Roads are a little wet with some puddles, but no rain right now.  Warm for January and I will run in short sleeves for the first time in a long while. CCM 2002 T-shirt, but no one comments on it.

Start - Lots of familiar faces.  I try to not line up too close to the front, and we are off on time.

Mile 1 - I stayed with Ron for a while, but he is just too fast for me.  I can see Ron, Martinho, Mike and Erik ahead of me.  Crowded field too, but room to run.  Feeling it in my legs and not going as fast as I would like.

Mile 2.5 - Just passed Erik, the others are farther ahead now.  The course splits with 10 milers to the left and 10Kers to the right.  I have done these races so many times, though I usually do the miles and it has been a few years.  I am surprised by the split and now I am running on roads I don't think I have ever been on.  The course is well marked, but I was really expecting to be on a different route.  Lots of turns and small hills here.

Mile 3.1 - Longer than that on the GPS.  Top of a hill and Yannick is there to make sure we turn around.  He gives me a split time of 25:10, which is somewhat discouraging.  I will need a negative split to get under 50 minutes.  Well it does have some nice downhills, but boy do my legs feel tired.

Mile 4 - With a long straight way ahead I see a guy in a purple shirt, then Mike, Ron and Martinho.  I might be gaining on Mike and Ron.

Mile 5 - Pass the purple shirt guy and I still see Mike, Ron and Martinho ahead.  Not going to get them though.  Every once in a while I am able to speed up.  I really like this new gear, it feels so fast.  But of course I can not hold it long.  My overall pace is getting quicker and now I am thinking of going sub 50 minutes.

Mile 5.5 - One guy passes me with strength.  So in the second half I will have passed one and been passed by one.  I'll take it.  Push hard to get to the track.  Round the last bend and see that I will get that negative split easily.  Keep at it and soon it is over.

Finish - 6.37 on the GPS.  We compare GPS mileage and agree that the course is long.  In fact, a couple of people who ran it last year are sure that the turn around should have been halfway up that hill, not at the top.  I suggest that we have a do over, but no one really wants to run it again right now, and of course I was joking.  I was not close to a PR, so I don't mind the bonus mileage, and it was not super long.

Jog a little to cool down and get that 40 mile week in.  Cheer in the other runners.  Fun to see the fast 10 milers come in.  Pedro sighting.  Ricki sighting.

Then inside for a baked potato and awards.  Results are quickly posted, much faster than in past times here.  I get a ribbon for third in my age group (out of four). 

I plan to take a couple of extra days off this week and have better legs for the Lake Youngs Nuts Run 50K next Saturday.  If I complete that race, this month will be about my 3rd highest mileage ever.  So easing back this week seems like the right idea.


49:30
29th place of 110
Race #346
****

1/10/15 Run For Faith 10K - Elma WA

My third time here, but first since 2011.  Previously I have run the 5K but today I will run the 10K.  Great little event put on by my running friend Barb, with proceeds going to church missions.  Only $20 day of race, with the no T-shirt option.

Mike Henderson and Ron Burford are here, but running the 5K.  They will finish 2nd and 3rd just behind the winner.  It would have been close and fun to have run that race.  There are just a few of us doing the longer event.  Band-tailed pigeons sighting.

Start - 10AM start and we get going right on time, after I have a decent mile and a half warm up.  Loren is here and thinks that I might be close to him, but he is way faster than me these days.  From the start, he and a woman go out super fast and I will never get close to them.  This leaves me in a pack with 5Kers.  On the sidewalk and a few quick turns.

Mile 1 - More turns.  One guy passes me.  Some 5Kers are ahead too.  Pass the bank where I see that it is 41 degrees.  Light rain and a little wind.  Up and over the Highway 12 overpass.  Down, past the off ramp and to the 5K turnaround.

Mile 2 - After those streets and turns it is nice to be on the little used road at the Vance Creek ponds.  Flat and a long straightaway.  I am in 4th place of the 10K and gradually catching up to number 3.  It takes a long time to get to him.  Then I say hi and run alongside him for a bit.  If I were to try to pass him quickly I would be in trouble.  I am going about as fast as I think I can hold.  Not sure what pace I should be going.  Hoping to not falter in the second half, doubt that I will have saved too much energy.

Mile 2.6 - We see numbers 1 and 2 come at us, then the turn around at mile 2.9 on my GPS.  No volunteer here, but I think it was marked well enough on the road. I get just a few steps ahead of Brian, my new running pal.  Just in time I see a chalk mark with a left turn and we do a short out and back.  From looking at the hand drawn course map before the race, I thought that we were supposed to stay on that road and then make two turns to get back to the main road.  But it is a dead end and the arrow clearly shows us where to go.

Mile 3.5 - Ahead of Brian but I am afraid to look back.  I know that he is close.  I intend to stay on the road, past a volunteer but at the last minute he yells that I am supposed to turn into the park.  Ah, this is the little off road bit that Barb had shown me on the map.  Now on the paved trail in the park and trying to hold my pace.  Have to kindly shout to a couple walking side by side that a racer is coming through.  Now I see the volunteer who points me back to the road.

Mile 4- Start to feel tired.  I have put in more miles than usual in the past days, including a 50 mile week and a seven mile tempo run yesterday.  I expected it to affect my time today and I think it is showing now.  No pains though, so I am running happy.  Just a little scared of Brian behind me.  Third place overall sounds so much better than fourth, plus I think he might be in my age group.

Mile 5.5 - Over the Highway, on the Main Street.  Then the turns.  Finally past the school and a quick look back starts to give me confidence that I will hold my place.  I have slowed a little but and still running OK.  Passing a couple of 5K walkers.  Right turn on the gravel road and I have to swing wide on the uphill to pass two walkers.  Now it is a straight shot to the finish.

Mile 6.2 - Done!  Only 6.01 on the GPS and I suspect that the course is a little short.  Hard to say for sure. My GPS pace reads 7:54 per mile.  If it was a true 6.22 miles, then my pace was 7:39/mile.  Either way I will take it.  Simple bib tag tear off and the volunteer puts it on the board. Awards and finish times are easy for them to calculate with this system and the small number of runners.

I forget to do a cool down run.  Instead I put on a dry shirt and go into the church.  So nice to have a warm and dry area.  The church reception hall is full of food including sandwiches.  Hot coffee too!  Chairs for everyone.  The wait for results is not bad at all.  There are also so many random prizes that everyone gets two items.  The pies are gone by my first pick, but I get a jar of home made jam on my first selection.  A bottle of Tampico pop for my second pick.  Then I get my age group ribbon.

I really like the relaxed vibe, yet quality organization of this event.  I would like everyone to run this one, but if it gets too popular it will cause problems.  Hope it stays small and good like this.


47:31
3rd place of 9
Race#345
*****

1/1/15 Resolution Run 5 Miler

41st annual event. My 12th time here for either the 5K or 5 miles, 13th New Years Day race. Took it easy in the past week, but also felt really slow.  Time of year, diet, cold weather......who knows.  I am actually afraid that I won't be able to run 9/mile today if it goes like the last couple of runs.  Well I have eaten better the past two days and am well rested by not going out last night so we shall see.

25 degrees and sunny.  No wind, so while it is freezing, I have run in worse.  Shorts, but two long sleeves and  a Defiance vest.  Pedro also has his blue Defiance vest on, so you know it must be cold.

Warm up for almost two miles.  Feeling OK.  With four minutes to the start I line up on the track.

Start - Smaller crowd than previous years.  Lots of fast runners as usual.  I activate the foot pod that I got for Christmas but have not tried yet.  The green light flashes, but I have no idea how to use it.  It did sync to my phone but I do not carry that phone while running.  All the instruction say is that I tap it and run.  I have my Garmin GPS watch too.  We start right on time.  Pedro in front of me, and I had hoped to stay with him for a while.  But he is so fast, I have to let him go right from the start.  I am pushing it faster than I should.  Round the track, now up the hill out of the stadium and the hill feels like hitting the wall.  Must figure out a better pace once I get on flat ground.  Doing a five mile race once a year does not help with pacing.

Mile 1 - 1.04 on the GPS and 7:48 on the watch.  Keep reminding myself that this is 5 miles, not 5K and I should not be going all out.  I am OK with my pace and I trust my endurance, but it is right on the edge.  Legs feel slow, but not nearly as bad as earlier this week.  Breathing is hard.

Mile 1.55 - The 5K turn around.  I have enough breath to make my joke about is it too late to switch the the K race.  Two runners just in front of me, 10 steps past the turn around, look back and ask if that is the K turn around.  I thought it was marked alright, but they blew right past it.  I convince them, in fact shout out, "yeah, turn around if you are doing the Ks!" and they both head back. 

Mile 2.25 - Two people that I did not recognize shout out "Go Andy", and I think that the guy on my tail might also be an Andy.  I sort of want to ask him, but I just can not talk and run at this pace.  Legs and breath are equally uncomfortable.  Gary Cooper sighting.

Mile 2.4 - Tony and Christie sighting.  Looking great.

Mile 2.5 - 19:27 on the watch.  Need an even split to beat 39 minutes.  Now the runners behind me are coming towards me.  Only a couple and then some long gaps.  Is that it?  One turn and then another turn and I am relived to see a large clump of runners coming on.  OK, I won't be that close to the last.

Mile 3 - All thinned out.  There won't be much passing or being passed.  I am going a little faster with a small downhill, but barely holding on.  Try to focus on the running, but my mind keeps wandering. 

Mile 4 - 31 minutes.  I need an 8 minute mile.  Not sure I can do it as I am struggling now.  Pass a couple of 5Kers.  Really tough now, but still in a good mood and happy to be out here.

Mile 4.5 - Rough patch.  Hope I can make time up on the downhill and track.  Two people pass me.  Now down the hill and pick it up as best I can.  I have no finishing kick. I can see the clock at 38:45 with 100 meters to go.  I know that super fast sprinters can do the 100 meter in ten seconds.  Can I do it in 15?  Nope.....I watch the clock hit 39 and a few seconds later I am in.

Mile 5 - 5.07 on the GPS.  Foot pod never registered.  Disappointing to be 84 seconds slower than last year.  Second slowest time of ten 5 milers here.  But not so far off, and better than I was afraid of.  Cool down mile and hang around for results.

Still a fun way to welcome the new year.

Feeling like if I want to get faster I need to either pick marathons and train for them, or just do short stuff.  I love all distances so I continue to not reach my potential at any of them.  For now I am OK with that.

39:05
42nd place of 77
6th of 6 in age group!
Race#344
****

12/20/14 Pigtails Flat Ass Marathon

5AM, dark, rain pounding on the roof. I don't really want to get out of bed. 7AM, dark, rain splattering on the roof of my car. I don't really want to go get my race number.  But I do.  Back to the car to get organized and wait for daylight and the 8AM start.  My sixth time here so I know the routine, and I have described the course previously.

Start - Yay, the rain has either stopped or is very light.  Mostly Maniacs here and I know many of them as usual.  We set out on the rougher trail, dodging a few puddles.  I stay near the back as this is a good way to hold my pace early.

Mile 0.5 - MM111 sighting, playing the human traffic cone, at the turn around.  Thanks volunteers! RD Van (pigtails), Jill, and others.  Back to the start line, watching my footing and happy to see myself at about a 10:20 mile.

Mile 1.5 - Past the finish line and onto the real trail.  Plenty of room now to run how I feel.  In fact we are already getting spread out.  Some super fast runners here, and some slower ones too. I am not with anyone and free to run as I please.  Lately I have enjoyed starting slower and being able to hold on better in the last miles.  I should not go faster than 9:30/mile, but I feel good and soon that is my pace.

Mile 2.5 - Catch up to Rikki.  I have not run with her much but now we do.  We chat and it is a nice time.  This takes us all the way to the first aid station.

Mile 6 - After the aid station I can see that Rikki is all warmed up and ready to go a little faster than I should.  We are with Dean now and I let the two of them go on ahead.  For the rest of the race I will see Rikki's pink fluorescent Defiance vest, get smaller and smaller as she gets farther ahead, then come back towards me, off and on.  That vest is one bright spot I can focus on, on this drab day.  Raining a little bit more now.

Mile 8 - The long "lame" section.  River crossings are done.  Now it is paved and along route 169.  With the rain, the cars are so much noisier.  I am running fine and gradually catching up to "Crockpot".  I am going a little faster than I should, so I make the tactical decision to catch her and then stay with her for a while and see how that goes.  We end up spending the next ten miles together.  Its a really good time.  I don't know her well, but have followed her running career for a few years now.  She has about double the number of marathons as I do and her finish times are close to mine.  Today we click off the miles in a clock steady pace.  Surprise, new this year,  a staffed aid station.  I will not have to carry this second small water bottle the whole way.

Mile 13 - MM#1 Prez sighting

Mile 13.6 - The turn around.  2:08 on the watch.

Mile 15 - A little heavier rain.  Some headwind, but not too bad.  Half drowned worms trying to cross the paved trail.

Mile 18 - I am fast through the aid station and leave Crockpot behind.  She is doing the 50K so I was going to leave her soon anyway.  Pass Rikki and Dean too.

Mile 20 - Now the heavy rain.  I have been slowing a little.  Mostly from walking a little more as I try to consume gels, S!Caps, and drink enough water.  Tiring a bit, but not so bad.  I do now walk to put on my stylish trash bag.  Not sure I need it.  It is warmer and not as windy as my last marathon, where I really did have to be careful about hypothermia.  Crockpot, Rikki and Dean pass me as I gear up.  Rikki is taking more walk breaks than I am, but when she runs, she is faster than me, so we stay close but not often together.  Push on to the last aid station.

Mile 21.3 - Aid station. Thanks Betsy and Matt!!  3:27 on my watch.  I remember that last year I finished in 4:27, so all I need to do is run the last five miles in an hour to beat last year's time.  That should be easy, if I do not hit the wall.  It is good to finally have a goal for this race.

Mile 23 - Mostly behind Rikki and Dean.  I would like to catch and stay with them.  I see them walking the bridges and I gain on them, but then I get tired legs and just want to walk the bridges myself.  Happy that I  am able to run for long sections, though my pace has really slowed.  I know that if I just don't walk too much I will beat 4:27.  Every mile closer to the finish and I am sure that my goal is too easy.  It is good to have something to push for as it is a real mental game now.  I do the math and maybe I can beat 4:20?

Mile 25.5 - No mile markers so I am going off my GPS and I can't remember if the course is a little long or not.  I think that I have passed all the landmarks and there is not much farther to go.  Tired, but able to trudge along, I finally catch Rikki and Dean.  I feel a little cheap passing them.  For so many miles I followed them, hoping to stay even and just cross the finish line together.  I pictured myself being a gentleman and slowing at the very end so Rikki could place ahead of me.  But now I cruise past them, don't look back and don't let up the pace.  Getting under 4:20 would be really awesome today and I still have a chance.

Mile 26 - I think this is the last bend in the trail.  Then I can see, through the trees, a car crossing the bridge that is past the finish line, so I know that I am very close.  Make the slight turn and I can see the finish.  I watch as the clock ticks past 4:20.

Mile 26.2 - 26.15 on the GPS.  Happy to be done and seven minutes faster than last year.  No pains, but both calf muscles start cramping a little after I stop running.  I really want to watch the others come in, but now I start shivering.  Put on dry clothes.  Get some of Betsy's famous soup and a slice of pizza.  I am still cold though and don't want to get these clothes wet, so I head home soon after finishing.

This race ends the year on a good note.  I have work to do to get back under 4 hours and every marathon continues to be an adventure so I hope to keep on running them.

4:20:37
19th of 74
Race#343
Marathon or ultra#119
Pigtails Flat Ass #5
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