9-12-15 Beat the Blerch Half Marathon

Jared gave me the running comic book by the Oatmeal guy a while back and then he sounded excited to run the Beat the Blerch race.  I was curious to check it out, so I signed us up.  Then Jody and Nickie joined the fun.  Just before race day Jared decided to drop to the 10K (beaten by the Blerch) so I am free to run my own pace, but fun to have the others there.  I can't remember what I paid.  A lot.  But it includes a shirt, medal and free digital downloads of photos.

I got our numbers on Thursday and with a 9:30AM start it was easy to pick up Jared on the way and get to the start in plenty of time.  Paid a little extra for premium parking.  Avoid the grilled cheese and bacon wrapped marshmallows before the start. 

Tolt Park near Carnation WA.  Its supposed to get hot later, not too bad at the start.

Start - So crowded.  Lots of costumes.  I hope I beat Gumby.  I am close to the front but not as close as I would like.  The race is on a trail that should be wide enough for 3-4 people, but there are lots of groups here.  Off we go......but wait......after a small wave goes out, we are stopped by a rope.  Instant corral and a very good idea.  Now a volunteer moves a rope right behind me, putting me at the very back of the second wave.  Chip timed of course.  Count down from 10 and off we go.

Mile 0.15 - All different speeds.  Tough  to get moving and I need patience.  I have a full slate of races coming up and no desire to go all out today.  Taking this as a training run, I would like to run about 8:30 pace which should be comfortable.  Still this is a little frustrating, but I pass a bunch of people as I run on the grass on the side of the trail.

Mile 0.5 - Much more room to run, but now we have lost our pavement and the trail is super rocky.  Small sharp loose rocks.  Hard to find a solid path.  Most runners are moving about trying to find good footing, as am I.

Mile 1 - Over the river on a large bridge, then back onto gravel, but better this time. Why had I assumed that the trail was paved?   SVT trail (Snoqualamie Valley Trail).  I have run farther south here at Mout Si 50K and the Tunnel races.  I wonder if we will overlap at all?  Nope, well maybe with Mt Si, that was so long ago.

Mile 3 - First aid station.  Running 8:35/mile and feeling OK.  Now better trail and a long gradual uphill.

Mile 6 - Second aid station.  Drink up.  Its getting warm.  Decline the cake.  Not tempted to rest on the sofa.  Big Blerch guy is running after me, telling me to slow down, take a break, don't work so hard.  He is actually a little annoying, but its OK.  Marilou sighting.  She is running the full and started earlier.  I finished passing the slower halfers who started ahead of me, now I am passing some marathoners.  A couple of guys pass me too.

Mile 6.55 - Turn around.  Now face the mega crowds.

Mile 7 - Aid station.  I do take some cake.  And water.  It is OK in she shade but it is warming up.

Mile 10 - Last couple of miles were very nice.  Gentle downhill, I picked up the pace a little.  Warmer.  Last aid station.  Wish I had brought an s!cap.  Hot in a patch of sun.  Mass of 10K walkers to get around now.  Just when I was done facing the halfers coming toward me, now I really have to dodge around a lot of people. 

Mile 11 - Terra Perkins sighting off and on. In a bee costume.  She is way faster than me today but is also having fun and some wardrobe malfunction let me catch up to her for a bit.  Meanwhile my legs are stiffening up.  Other than the legs, I feel OK, but they are slowing me down.

Mile 12 - On to the bad gravel.  Almost want to walk.  Looks like the GPS is reading a little short, so with a sustained effort I can still get that 8:30 pace and a negative split, but it wont be easy.

Mile 12.5 - Terra catches me again, after veering off to jump in the river.  Her shoes are squishy but she is running strong.  Here is where I should pick it up and finish strong.  But I just maintain.  Legs are tired and I am dehydrated.  Save myself for the coming weeks.  Cruise in to a decent finish.

Finish mile 13.1 - 13.06 on the GPS.  Watch says that I ran 8:35/mile out and 8:25 back, but it was not easy and it seemed slower on the way back.  Glad to be done.  

So many new runners here, my overall place sure looks great.  Find Jared and we feast on nutella and other treats while we wait for Jody and Nickie.  The finish and we take our time enjoying the post race festivities.  Nice event, that I don't need to do again.  Wish they had another water station or two.  Clock in the photo must be timed for the 10K.

1:51:20
77th of 825
Race#362
****

8/22/15 Run Like a Dog 5K

5th time here, the race that is closest to home.  10th annual event and it has really grown.  But the price is right and everything is well organized.  $25 pre registration includes a T-shirt, string back pack full of mostly dog related items (will give to Saki) finishers medal, and chip timing.  Lots of corporate sponsors so the race remains cheap, but raises a lot of money for the humane society.  Picked up my swag yesterday.  Left the house after 8AM today, in no hurry, with plenty of time for a long warm up before the 9AM start.

Start - Warmed up with Martinho.  Nice to see Christie, who will run with her dog.  Comfortable in short sleeves, it is cooler than it has been, great for running.  Most of the dogs are in the back, a few competitive ones near me, so as always I need to be careful with the start. Ten second count down and we are off.

Mile 0.05 - Smooth start but sudden surprise.  Instead of the left turn along the parking lot, we all go straight and take a little gravel bit to the paved trail.  For an instant I am sure that everyone is going the wrong way and I almost make the turn, but decide to follow the crowd.  Left turn on the paved trail, then across the road and continue on.  Same distance as every other year, now the course will be the same as I have previously run.  Hazard of running the same races year after year and thinking that you know it all, not checking for changes.

Mile 0.5 - Christie has gone past me and looks strong.  I am keeping up with one other dog.  Brown fir needles all over the trail.  The dog is the same color as the trail.  My legs feel good.  These days I never know which right foot is going to show up.  It will not be a problem today.

Mile 1 - 7:20

Mile 2 - On the road and looking forward to looping back to the trail.  Been back and forth with a couple of guys.  Now a kid that I passed early on has caught me.  I encourage him and note that I am slowing a little.  Stay with him and we run together.  Not as fast as I would like, but everything feels good.  I can accelerate, but when I do, my breathing gets ragged and I know that I will not be able to hold it.  So I slow down to a more sustainable pace, but continue working hard.

Mile 2.7  - Up that little hill on the trail.  Kid still with me.  Then he takes off and leaves me way behind.  I also start a final push, just not as fast as him.

Mile 3.0 - Almost to the finish, and here comes Martinho.  The man with the finishers kick catches me.  I go even faster and he stays even.  Then I realize that he does not care about beating me, he thought it would be nice to finish together.  We do so, but the chip time puts me a few hundredths of a second ahead of him

Finish - 3.07 miles on the GPS.  My slowest of five times here, but I feel good about today.  If I want to get faster 5Ks I need to race them more, plus the speed training work.  Too bad the Fall is going to be full with long races. 

Nice post race time, but no raffle wins for me.  Lap tops to check results.  I get third in my age group (40-49) but they do not have age group awards to give out.  Really good 5K option for this time of year.


22:44
31st of 357
Race#361, 5K#93
*****

7/18/15 Lakefair Half Marathon

First race since June 14.  The Tunnel Marathon was the culmination of 6 months of hard work, and many training miles.  This year my marathon times went down and I finally got back under 4 hours twice.  Ran some good 5Ks too.  But it all fell apart after the Tunnel.  Recovery was hard so I took extra days off.  New discomfort below my left knee meant resting a little more.  Temperatures in the 90s, then a trip to Spokane where it hit 106F one day.  Week long trip to Springfield Missouri, where humidity was added to the heat.  My easy pace of 10/mile became difficult.  Knee/shin gradually getting better but everything feeling slow and sluggish.  Back to WA 4 days ago and the running got better.  But I have done no speed work in a month, have not run longer than 8 miles at a time since the Tunnel and have not run a half marathon in almost a year.  Low expectations for today.

On the bright side, my friend and one of the few people who actually reads this blog, Allen George, is here.  I went to college with his wife Amy.  They now have 4 kids and are medical missionaries (on sabbatical) in Peru.  USA home base is Nebraska.  No trouble picking up 4 race numbers at SSR yesterday.  The Georges got in last night and we stayed at Hood Canal, so that meant a longer drive to the race this morning.  Two of the kids are racing the 8K and Allen will run the half with me.  We get there with just enough time for a little warm up, bathrooms and find the start line.  Sunny and will be warm, so now that I am here, I am glad about the 7AM start time.

Hometown race, so lots of familiar faces.  Super S and Maniac Jill sightings too.  Allen and I line up with a few minutes to spare.  We are going to shoot for sub 8:30 miles, hopefully closer to 8 and hopefully pick it up later.  Being undertrained I am relying on hope.  Allen is faster than me, but he is happy to stick with me and we are not treating this competitively.

Start - Because of the new trail overpass on Pacific, the start has been moved closer to the finish line and the 8K start.  Nice change.  Chip timed we start off well.  About a half mile in I see that I am at 8:20 pace and am happy because it does not seem that hard.

Mile 1 - On to the shaded paved trail.  Passing groups and being passed, but not too crowded.  Settle in at this pace and happy that it all feels OK.  No desire to go much faster.  First water station is not overwhelemed as in previous years.  I have my large handheld anyway, extra water can go on my head later.  Judy Fisher sighting up ahead.  I expect to catch her eventually.

Mile 4 - Nice running with Allen.  He seems very comfortable and it is I who is a little worried about maintaining the pace.  He is talking more than me as I try to focus on keeping up the pace.

Mile 6 - Real familiar territory on the Chehalis Western Trail.  Nice gentle downhill, now a long flat bit.  Feeling tired though.  No pains, which I am thankful for.  Tired legs and sluggish.  Keep pushing, but it is not the funnest time for me.

Mile 7 - Out onto the roads.  This road is not only open to the sun, but has been freshly tarred.  Glad it is only 8AM.  This patch would be miserable in true heat.  It does wear me down though.  Martiho and Jenny pass us.  Longing for the section in Priest Point and the East Bay road to the end.

Mile 10 - Out of Priest Point and now a gradual downhill to town.  Was hoping to be screaming fast here, but now I can pick it up just a little.  Going to end with a fairly even pace, a slight positive split.  Feeling better now.  Judy Fisher still a quarter mile ahead.  I will not catch her.  Allen is doing great.  I should not have worn a black shirt. 

Mile 12.4 - Rich Brown sighting, so I have to try to go faster.  Now merge with the 8K and then the finish.  Allen is my guest and he clearly had an easier time than me, so I try to get him to cross the finish line ahead of me.  He has none of that and we both slow down at the end trying to be nice. We finish together, but the clock put me ahead.

Finish - 13.15 on the GPS.  Allen's son ran an 8K/5 mile PR and his daughter won third in her age group.  Nice food options and plenty of water at the finish.

Next race will probably be on August 22.  But should I do the Redmond Watershed marathon, or the Run Like a Dog local 5K?  Leaning towards the 5K at this point as I would like to get some speed back.


1:50:24 chip time
88th place of 364
Race#360
Lakefair Half#3
Half Marathon#31 including 15-20 milers
****

6/14/15 Light at the End of the Tunnel Marathon

My 5th time here, though it has been a couple of years.  This event now has grown to about 500 runners and sells out on the first day of registration.  I remember not being thrilled with the high registration fee, but that was so long ago I don't miss the money anymore.  I will get a T-shirt, nice medal and bus transportation to the start as well as a bus ride from the finish to the new parking area a couple of miles away.  Aid stations have gotten larger and staffed with volunteers.  Lots of helpful volunteers all over the place and it really is a well done event.

Up at 4AM and out of the house by 4:20.  Gets me to parking and the bus in plenty of time.  Cool at the summit, but I have a winter hat and long sleeves.  As soon as the sun rises above the mountains, it warms right up.  Hat and shirt go in drop bag to the finish.  Maniac Central, most of the cool people are here.

Tracy and I have the same plan, to follow the 3:50 pacer and hold on as long as we can.  I have run conservatively in marathons lately and I think it is time to try to be faster.  I feel like I am in shape to beat 4 hours, maybe do much better.  I won't know unless I try.  I ran 3:48 here one year and that is one of my 3:48 best times.  Tracy needs sub 4 for her BQ so she has real incentive.  We have been very close in times recently, so we will run together to start, but then do our own thing as the race unfolds.

Start- Last time I was here the race was chip timed but only at the finish.  Now I think that we have a new system, it is above us and will scan our bibs, so no mat.  But there is a scanner at the start.  I start my watch right away and it is about 15 seconds to get through the line, so that will hopefully be subtracted for my chip time.  Crowded out and back on the pavement, then dusty, rocky path.  Lisa Woods sighting

Mile 0.5 - Knuckle lights are on and into the tunnel we go.  Hoot for the echo.  Pace is so fast.  Trying to stay with 3:50.  Crowded and dark.  Really have to watch the footing.  Other than here, I have never done anything like this.  Trying to run safely.  Tracy is getting ahead, finishers reflective cape flapping into the dark.  I wait for an opening and move ahead when I can safely do so.

Mile 2 - Behind Tracy but ahead of the 3:50 pacer.  Running way faster than usual, almost out of breath. Maybe it is the altitude, or low levels of oxygen in the tunnel?  The light is getting bigger now but there is still a long way to go.  The light at the end of the tunnel gets bigger and bigger but takes so long to get through.

Mile 3 - Out at last.  Into the bright sun.  Fast transition here.  Knuckle lights off and into the bag that I carried through the tunnel.  Hand off to the the Prez, get a quick cup of water.  Tracy is still ahead but I catch up to her.  Two track dirt road.  Lots of stones in the middle and too many stones in the tracks.  It is really better to stay in a track.  Still crowded but eventually it thins out and we can run side by side.

Mile 5 - Running way too fast.  About 8:35/mile pace.  9:10 is a 4 hour finish.  8:40 is my 3:48 PR, 8:35/mile is a 3:45 finish.  But the 3:45 pacer is way ahead of us, so maybe my watch is off.  Then as the real 3:45 pacer passes us, I realize that I have been following the 3:40 pacer.  3:45 (MM Scott) goes past us quickly and we are left between 3:45 and 3:50.  We probably should slow down and get behind 3:50 since that was our aggressive plan, but we don't.  Running so fast that we can barely talk.  We pretty much just quietly push on.  Gentle downhill the legs are warming up and although it seems fast, it is not hard to go this pace.

Mile 8 - Tracy has to make a quick stop.  We are now averaging 8:31/mile, though still a ways behind the 3:45 pacer.  I slow a little bit and then go faster again.  Tracy does not catch back up and I have no idea how far she has fallen back.

Mile 9 - Sock rubbing on my right big toe.  Its feeling warm and I am probably getting a blister. It is not painful, so I just keep running.

Mile 13 - Take a little walk break and when I reach 13.1 miles I am just under 1:53.  That would mean a PR of 3:46 and I start thinking that it just could happen.  But I am probably fooling myself as there is a long way to go.  And it is getting warmer.

Mile 15 - 8:31/mile pace, catching up to the 3:45 pacer.  But my left foot is starting to hurt.  Plantar pain like I have not had in a few years.  Gradually gets worse.

Mile 16 - Left foot is a real concern now.  Right foot blister is doing fine.  Mostly running alone, friendly people though that I pass or get passed by.  Amazing scenery.

Mile 17 - Left foot has settled down.  Does not hurt nearly as much.  Just a little bother, but very runnable.

Mile 19 - Catch Scott at 3:45 pace.  I am smart enough to not pass him.  Enjoy patches of shade much more than the sun.  Start to tire and let Scott slip ahead.

Mile 21 - Tiring for real now.  Happy to make the turn off the trail.  Jill Hudson sighting, just when I am most discouraged and taking a walk break.  No PR for me today.

Mile 22 - The long flat sunny slog to the finish.  Been calculating that 10 minute miles will get me in at 3:54 and that is what I seem to be doing.  When I run I am going OK, but there are too many short walk breaks.  Leapfrogging others doing the same.  Some folks are really struggling.

Mile 23 - The 3:50 pacer passes me.  Would I be right here now if I had just stayed with him as was planned.  I can not say.  Anyway I just need to keep tromping along and I will have a decent finish time.

Mile 24 - It is warm now, but not oppressive.  Glad that I have the big water bottle and can pour water over my head with it, while drinking at the aid stations.  After a walk break it it harder to get running again.  Legs are stiffening up.

Mile 26 - Under Highway 90 and there is the finish.  Do the best I can to finish strong. Photo by Kay.

Mile 26.2 - 26.23 on the GPS.  Chip time will get me just under 3:55, my 14th fastest marathon.  Second best out of five times on this course.  The volunteer drapes the medal around my neck and then Tracy taps me on the shoulder.  She finished just a few steps behind me and got her BQ with 5 minutes to spare.

Take my time at the finish area.  Fun to recover and relax with fellow finishers.  Kay is here and she can text Jody, so I don't feel like I have to hurry back to my car.  When I do get back to my car I peel off my socks and am surprised at how large the blister is on my toe.  It is huge but has not popped.  Also my left foot/plantar is acting up again.

Monday - Wearing sandals all day and the blister is still intact.  I have been icing the other foot and am less worried about it than I was last night.  I think that I might not run the 5K scheduled for this Saturday.  It would be smart to give up on the mileage game I have been playing, at least for a while.  The warning signs are there that I need to protect my foot.  Good thing I don't have any marathons planned until September.  Next race might not be until Lakefair in mid July.  If so, this was a good way to finish off the racing season.


3:54:59
201st place of 495
Race#359, Marathon or Ultra#127, LatEotT #5
*****

6/6/15 Run for Rett 5K

Third time here at this 6th annual event.  I really like this little race. It is a fundraiser, but also raises awareness about Rett Syndrome.  There are Rett families and Rett girls there and it is a fun sunny atmosphere. Tumwater Historical Park is a good place to stage a small race. $30 Day of race includes a T-shirt, a sturdy shopping bag and a wrist band for my collection.

Lots of sun today.  9AM start and it is warming up.  I get here early enough to jog the whole course.  Joe Schrum sighting.  I checked my times for previous years (22:21 in 2010) and I think 23:01 on this new tougher course in 2013.  I feel like I should be able to be in the 22 something range.

Martinho is here, saying that he has done no speedwork lately.  Should be a good race, but I expect him to beat me on the uphill after mile 2.  There is a clown here with giant clown shoes.  I tell her that I like her shoes and she says that she got them at a big shoe sale.

Start - Small group of regular racers, a couple of people who will be way ahead of me.  Lots of slower runners and walkers.  There is also a 3K run and walk.  The start is on the wide part of the parking area and we have a good tenth of a mile before we skinny down to the paved path.  I go out fast.

Mile 0.5 - With Martinho.  Around the bend then onto Deschutes Parkway sidewalk.  Surge to pass a couple of people.  Really going too fast.

Mile 1 - 7:09  Not feeling great but the speed is there.  Keep trying to go fast and this is not great fun.  Martinho a few steps ahead of me.  Two people I had passed now get past me, looking comfortable.  Slow for water at the turn around.

Mile 2 - 14:49 - Gradually catch up to two women who are just out running, not part of the race.  Wow, they are going fast for a training run.  Huff and puff past them, right on Martinho's tail.

Mile 2.3 - But now comes the hill and more open sunshine.  Martinho gets farther ahead and I will not be able to keep up.  Manage to get up the hill and make the sharp turn.  Now shaded but a little too steep down.  Start looking at the watch and wondering if I can beat 23:00.  Doubtful but I don't give up.

Mile 2.8 - Onto the gravel path in the sun.  It is just too far around this field.  I am determined to beat 23:00 and I work really hard.  It is so hot though.  And just too far.  I make the final turn to the finish and realize that I won't make my goal.

Mile 3.11 - 3.11 on the GPS (certified course too) As I cross the finish I see my watch says 23:07 but I don't get it turned off until 23:11.  I will have to wait for my official time.  I should have asked Craig who is doing a great job of timing as usual, but I guess that I will have to wait for results to be posted.  I feel disappointed with my time and I should not be, with this heat and somewhat tired legs.  Later I recheck my previous results and see that I ran 23:19 in 2013.  So today is a course record and that makes me feel better.

Kids run is fun to watch.

I win second in my age group for the 5K and get a $5 card to Twisties froyo.


23:08
14th of 96
Race#358, 5K#92, Run for Rett #3
****