6/21/09 Elma Fathers Day 10K

Running a race at the same location with the same race director can lead to complacency and the opportunity to overlook important changes such as start time or course changes. With Bob Green races I know the questions to ask as I arrive. Is the race I am planning to run actually happening? Which course are we running? When will it start? Today's races include a sprint distance triathlon, a duathlon, a 10K, 5K and 2 mile race. The registration page included a 15K which is what I wanted to run but is not being offered. So I will run the 10K. Typically we turn right out of Vance Creek Park for shorter races and when there is a triathlon. Bob says that we will turn left out of the park. That is the route used for the marathon and half marathon I have done here. I prefer the "right" course as it is a very deserted scenic road. Left is busier, but either way is much better that racing out of Millersylvania State Park. We will do the 5K out and back twice. All races will start at the same time. Weather is nice but breezy as I do 1.5 miles warm up then a few strides before the start.

Start - We line up and I survey the small group. I actually have a chance of winning one of these races (in fact I did win the Odd Distance Run 8 miler some years ago) if nobody fast shows up. I have learned that it is impossible to tell how fast someone is by looking at them. One guy does look very fit and he and I are in front at the start line. Brian from Montesano and yes he is doing the 10K. I mention that as we are running the swimmers will finish and start biking and will be passing us on their bikes and that could be distracting. Some guy behind me disagrees, stating that we are turning right out of the park and will not see the bikers. I start to tell him that I am fairly confident that we are turning left when - bam - unexpectedly the start gun goes off down by the swimmers and that is our signal too, so off we go.

Mile 0.1 - Three people in front of me and we all turn left. There is a chalk arrow and I am sure we are going the right way.

Mile 0.5 - At 7:15 pace and Brian is pulling farther ahead. No way I can catch him if he holds that pace. Teenager behind him and next to a woman.

Mile 0.6 - Bikers passing us. Wait how can that be? Nobody could swim and transition and catch us in 6 minutes. 5th biker goes by and I see that he looks all dry. But if they started at the same time as us, they should have not been behind. Mystery.

Mile 1.0 - Aid station and something written in chalk on the ground. I see the woman stop and ask something, then look on the ground before moving on.

Mile 1.1 - Woman has turned around and asks me if I am doing the duathlon (run/bike/run). Too bad, she overshot her turn around by a tenth of a mile. That does put me in third place. I have no idea how many are behind me.

Mile 1.55 - Aid station and turn around. I will not catch the front two unless they totally fall apart.

Mile 2.5 - Turn onto the road to the park. Strong headwind and even a little drizzle. Hey if both of the guys in front of me are doing the 10K, I could just quit here at 3.1 and win the 5K. No I signed up for ten I better do that.

Mile 3.1 - Watch says 3.2. The teen runner is done, he was only doing the 5K. I have a lock on second place.

Mile 4.1 - Stop at the table for some gatorade and I place my cup in the trash bag so that it will not blow away. Feeling good. If I can hold this pace (about 7:26) I will be pleased. Turkey vultures swooping low.

Mile 5.5 - Second time turning into the headwind. One spectator yells for me and I start to dig it in when a strong gust almost knocks me over. Stagger on, regain my form, then get blown back again. Push on and finish well.

Mile 6.2 - Done. Congratulate Brain. Cheer for number three who is a ways behind me. Bottle of water and Swiss Rolls. My time seems slow for the pace I felt like I was running and the GPS reads 6.4 miles, so I am not going to feel bad about the finish time. Good relaxed run today.

47:21

2nd place of 3

****

6/13/09 Sound to Narrows 12K

My fifth run at this race and so far each time I have gotten a little faster:

2002 - 1hr 20 seconds
2005 - 59:08
2006 - 58:27
2008 - 57:21 (7:35 per mile)


Since I ran a solid marathon just six days ago I am not expecting a super fast time today. I feel very relaxed and am just happy to be out here. Keep seeing old and new friends. Talk a little with Patty, Brett, Billy, Tammy, Debbie, Sabrina, Pedro, Jaymie, Kristi, Judy, Mike and probably others I am forgetting. Plus plenty of nods and waves to other familiar faces in the distance. Jody is here too, for her first Sound to Narrows. This is a big one, with tons of runners of all types streaming in to Vassault Park in Tacoma. It is cloudy and cool, great weather for running.


Although I do not have much of a time goal, I should be able to get in under one hour. I am wearing a yellow bib, representing the second wave (7:30-8:30 per mile pace). Four of my friends who are a little slower than me most days have selected green wave starts (sub 7:30) which is too fast for them. I do not quite understand or agree with their reasoning and decision, but this does set up a wonderful challenge. My wave will start five minutes after theirs. Can I catch and pass them? They will wisely start near the back of their wave and if I go off near the front of mine I could start off about four to 4 and a half minutes behind them. I think that I have a pretty good shot of catching them on the long uphill in the last mile.


Course review - almost 1.5 miles downhill, then 5 miles of twisting mostly uphill through the old growth forest of Point Defiance Park (same as miles 10-15 of the Tacoma Marathon), followed by a good mile of uphill. Very tough course and in some ways more difficult than running it during the marathon because I am going much faster.


Start - I had a nice one mile warm up and feel ready to go. Watch the green wave leave and take my place near the start of the yellow wave. The five minutes goes by very quickly and soon we are running. With so many runners it is great to start off on this wide street. Down down down we go. Really quiet group, no chatting, everyone running hard. Plenty of room around me, I do not feel boxed in at all.


Mile 1.5 - Turn into the park and onto the more narrow road. Steep uphill and now the fun is over. I slow, but I feel fine. Legs feel great, breathing is the tougher part.


Mile 2 - Total time is 14:10, sure that I will be slowing but hope to hold a good pace. I hit the lap button, it will be interesting to see how much I slow here on the ups and downs and again on the long uphill to the finish.


Mile 3 - Passing some green wave runners now, some of whom are walking. I try to run fast through the water station and end up getting some water up my nose. Follow the curve of the road, take the shortest curve each time. Feeling good and pleased for it to not be so crowded. The uphills make my breathing ragged, but at each downhill or level section I am able to regroup and find my rhythm. I wonder if I can hold a 7:30 pace through this section? Ripe Rubus spectabilis berries draped over the road. I could grab one without even slowing, I will leave them for Jody though.


Mile 4 - Catch a runner and then I realize it is Sabrina. Now I see Debbie up ahead. Debbie is my marathon equal these days but she was not planning to race especially hard today. I sneak up and tap her on the shoulder, but did not startle her. She says that Billy and Tammy are far ahead, but I can see Bill, only about 40 yards up the road. I press on and it takes some effort but soon I am even with Bill. Tammy, the last of my prey is in site now, but farther ahead. I keep her in my sites as best I can and move on at my steady pace.


Mile 6 - Out of the park and a sharp turn to a steep hill. The hill is short and anyone who has been here before knows that at the top of the hill is another turn to the giant down and up steep dip, some are now calling the "toilet bowl". I catch Tammy and grab her hand at the top and we turn to face this challenge together. Steeply downhill we run. Trying to not let my feet slap on the pavement, trying to stay smooth. Hard to not go too fast and possible damage something. Soon enough we are at the bottom of the bowl with only a very steep up hill, turn to a flat area, then long steep uphill followed by less steep uphill to the finish. I am tempted to stay with Tammy, but I am still feeling strong and I charge up the hill. Going so slow now because it is so steep. I am next to another woman and I remember about swinging the arms. I tell her that we need to swing our arms and she does so with me. It gets us to the top.


Mile 6.5 - Long straight uphill. I can see the flashing light. I think that I am on PR pace, but not sure because I had hit the lap button. I could push a few buttons on the watch and do some math, or I could just keep running hard. I am in a good mood and have felt positive and relaxed all race.


Mile 6.7 - This has been a really good race. I caught my prey. I should beat one hour. I can just coast in and not struggle much and still have a decent finish time. Some spectators line the street now. Music. Familiar music blaring. Usually it is "Born to Run" or "The Eye of the Tiger" but no this is different. One of the great all time classic bits of rock, right at its most awesome moment. And in a span of two seconds this is what goes through my mind: "Funny just yesterday my friend Lin (no da) mentioned her birthday buddy Pete Townshend. Neither Lin nor Pete would want me to ease up now and especially not at this moment in the music. It would be a shame to not give it my all right at this time. This is just the perfect moment for this song. I dig deeper and run this in honor of Lin. I am now directly next to the speakers, Rodger Daltry howls and it is "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss" and a surge of energy and emotion wells up from within and drives me forward. To suffer here and run my best is the right thing to do.


Mile 7.2 - Turn to the park is up ahead. Look at the watch and realize that I have a significant personal best time in the bank. Hurry around the turns then finish strong but do not sprint to the death on the grass at the very end.


Mile 7.5 - Finish. Really psyched. Do a little uncharacteristic fist pumping. Start bragging a bit. Celebrate the moment anyway because they do not come so often. I have been hearing more and more runners say that their best times come when they are relaxed and not planning for it. Last week was a bit of a let down because I thought I had peaked for that run and carefully ran a well planned out race only to come up short of the PR. Today with no expectations I took 40 seconds off last years time. That on very little speed work, certainly way less than last year.


We all meet up and exchange stories. Jody also ran well and enjoyed the course. I think that having my green wave prey helped me focus during the middle stages and having The Who kick me up the last hill at just the right moment were instrumental in the PR. Positive attitude, beating the tough course and finishing strong makes this one of my all time best ever runs. Amazingly awesome day.

56:40 12K PR
255th place of 2,507
*****

6/7/09 North Olympic Discovery Marathon

Last three marathons I had good excuses for being slow. Cap City was running with Jody, Tacoma I had a miserable cold and Easter I had just run Yakima the week before. Yakima was a fast time for me and if I count the last three marathons as training runs, then I should be able to do well at NODM. Anyway I tried to come up with an excuse for not being my best and just could not find one, so I will set a PR pace and really work to beat 3:48.

I have wanted to run this one since it first came out some seven years ago. I always had a commitment on this date until this year and was thrilled to be able to sign up and have Jody come for the weekend getaway. She will run the half. I have heard some great things from Maniac friends and not so great things from other runners. Very interested in seeing and running this course for myself.

Start - Get on the bus at 6:45 for the ride to Sequim and the start of this point to point race. Arrive in plenty of time. It is cloudy and cool with little wind, very good conditions. I like this start area at the Carrie Blake Park. A large indoor community center with tables and chairs. I eat my breakfast and chat with fellow Maniacs. Lots of them. They keep coming in with each busload and filling the hall. I usually do not stick around after races and we are seldom so congregated before a race. It is fun to hear tales of maniacal accomplishments. Three at my table raced a marathon yesterday!! At 8:30 it is time to use the bathroom, drop off my extra clothes at the gear drop and find the start line. Everything goes smoothly and soon we are racing.

Mile 1 - I was not expecting a long gradual uphill right out of the gate. It is not steep at all, just a little long.

Mile 4 - We have completed a loop and are back at the park and start area. Been running with a woman from Wyoming for a bit. When I told her my time goal she asked if I minded if she ran with me. I thought that was nice and she is good company.

Mile 6.5 - Still waiting for this supposed beautiful scenery. Now we are on the main street in Sequim with many orange cones protecting us from the open to traffic road. At least it is flat and I am running at my planned pace. I am behind and a rather large pack though and do not like the crowded feeling. I decide to move ahead and I work my way past them. Ms. Wyoming does not stay with me and I do not see her again.

Mile 7 - Finally onto the Discovery Trail. This is an almost completely paved rails to trails bike path through farm land, across a river and couple of creeks and finally down to the waterfront for the last four miles.

Mile 8 - Gorgeous heavily shaded long wooden bridge over the Dungeness River. Running here is worth the price and effort of the whole event.

Mile 10 - Mile marker at 9 was off now it is off in the opposite way at 10. If correct this means I am running slower that my GPS has recorded. I pick up the pace to get in sync with the mile markers.

Mile 12.5 - McDonald Creek, the first of the dreaded "creek beds". Steep downhill, cross a bridge then steep up and out. Not bad at all.

Mile 13 - Aid station with cool balloon structure to run through. The different groups that volunteer for the aid stations have a competition and we get to vote for our favorite after the race.

Mile 13.1 - I am just a minute ahead of schedule so I take a short walk break. So far so good. Also I reset my watch which is reading 13.2, so I can follow this lap and continue to pace myself accurately.

Mile 15 - Running smoothly and on pace.

Mile 16 - Seibert Creek. Steep down and steeper up. Now we get into a series of little hills, somewhat steep. Any one of them are no big deal, but compared to the first half of this race, the second half is proving to be hillier. Sharp left turn and I let out a yell of dismay at the steep but short uphill. Mile 16-20 will take its toll on me.

Mile 19 - My favorite aid station. It is set up like a fine French restaurant. Kids are all dressed up formally. In front is one girl at a podium and she is obviously the Maitre d' of this establishment. Then comes tables with white linen and candles, with a crystal bowl of pretzels. Finally the water and Heed drink station. Such a nice surprise in the middle of this forest trail.

Mile 20 - Bagley Creek. Last of the creeks and toughest of the uphills on the other side. Catch a guy who is walking and I decide to do the same. We agree that it is strategic walking here. Stretch out the legs and really we are not going much slower than we would be running. Finally at the top, but my pace says 13:30 as I had reset the lap button at the mile 20 marker. Doing some math I know that I need the last 6.2 miles to be run at just under 9 minutes per mile in order to PR. Starting off at 13:30 is no good, but we have a nice long gentle downhill to go.

Mile 21 - Making up time and I get the lap pace down to 8:59. Long gradual downhill. Paved trail is a little sticky for some reason. I should be able to go faster but I am tiring.

Mile 22 - At sea level now. Trail runs along the water with nice views. Still cloudy but no fog and just a little breeze in my face. I catch up to Maniac#56 who I have not met before. He tells me to kick it in, but I am really starting to feel tired. Should have had that second gu, don't think I can down it know as I have some nausea and a little light headedness. I have been taking my S!Caps but still have just a touch of my old problems at this point.

Mile 23 - Do the math and see that a PR is very unlikely.

Mile 23.5 - Sure that I will not PR now. Take a little walk break.

Mile 24.5 - Course takes a short detour around the old paper mill. Surface is dirt trail with some large rocks and uneven surfaces. I take a few short walk breaks. It is disappointing to not PR but I have had a good run today. This will be one of my faster times, just no record.

Mile 25 - Difficult going, want to walk but keep plugging along.

Mile 25.5 - Head down, not in decent shape at all. So ready to be done.

Mile 26 - Large pack of walkers in front of me. I dodge around them, see Jody taking pictures and finish as best I can, but there is no sprint. Photo make me look like I am leading the way.

Mile 26.2 - One neat feature of this race is that every finisher has their own personal attendant to take care of you. As soon as I cross the line there is a volunteer there to make sure I am OK. He puts the finisher's medal around my neck, hands me a bottle of water and leads me to the timing chip removal station. From there he gets me my drop bag and walks me to the spectator area where Jody is waiting. Jody (2:02 half marathon PR) is very happy with her race and we get some finisher food before I shower and we drive home.

Great race, good run. Tough last four miles but emotionally I stayed in good spirits. Lots of post race stiffness and a few aches here and there but I should be running again soon. In fact it looks like I will run an easy Sound To Narrows this Saturday.

3:53:35 5th fastest of 33 marathons

96th place of 310 runners, 6th of 20 in my age group
Race #165
****

5/17/09 Capital City Marathon

Three special things about today's race. First is that it is the hometown race, and I have many friends running the full or the half. Really too many people to try to mention them all. We had 31 people at our house on Friday night for pasta and strategizing. When I combine my local running buddies with my Maniac friends I see friendly familiar faces everywhere I look. The second reason that today is special is that one of those local runners, going for her first marathon, is Jody. Jody has been doing long runs with Nicky and Nicky is running her first marathon too. Nicky is one of the two angels who offered me aid at my dizzy episode over a year ago. So great that we are now friends. The third special thing is just my own goals for today. I have decided to run the whole race with Jody and Nicky and encourage them and celebrate with them. This will mean running closer to 5 hours than 4 hours. About a week ago I decided to not taper at all, to turn this race into a long training run for my next marathon (NODM) where I can try to be faster than usual. Instead of resting, I piled on the miles last week. I ran double workouts on Wednesday and Thursday and had a chance to beat my all time miles in a week, but had a total meltdown on Friday afternoon. I am still lingering with a head cold, and on Friday I thought I might be getting really sick again. I definitely hit a breakdown point on Friday and was not sure that I would even start today. But two days rest has me feeling better. If I finish today I will have 58 miles for the week and that is a lot for me, especially considering I ran the Tacoma marathon just the week before.

We picked up our numbers and timing chip last night. Number 33 for my 33rd marathon or ultra. Jody wants some fan support so we have the kids and her Mom meeting us at the start. They will drive around and cheer for her at various locations. Also Saki, Billy and Tammy....and I really should not try to list people today, I know I am going to leave someone out. We get to the start in plenty of time. But then Jody decides to go back to the car to get some water and I do not see her for a while. Everyone is moving to the start area and I go with the crowd. I have lost both Nicky and Jody before the race even started but I am sure they will turn up soon enough. Help a stranger with her Garmin, then Paul and I see that it is 6:58 and we are going to start very soon. Aha there is Jody and right away we are off. I am in my singlet and worried about the heat. Sunny and going to warm up for sure.

Mile 0.5 - Bob Dolphin sighting

Mile 1 - 9:55. Only thing I am going to insist on today is that they go no faster than 10 minutes per mile. So we slow down a bit and settle right in at 10:00

Mile 3 - Meet Maniac Marie. She is trying some run 3 minutes then walk one minute routine. It has us repeatedly leapfrogging. Since the crowd has thinned out this is not a problem and it is nice to put a face to a name and continue to meet new club members at every marathon I do. Lots of yellow shirts here today.

Mile 6 - I can see Maniac Betsy and Maniac Mike up ahead. Would be nice for them to meet Jody but they both get going a little faster and get out of reach. Right achilles tendon is bugging me. That is a new one.

Mile 9 - Meet a new Maniac father/daughter combo. Nice distraction on that long uphill. I can feel a little tiredness in my legs. The achilles is about the same.

Mile 11 - Happy horses

Mile 12 - We have been slowing ever so slightly. Now Nicky seems tired and wants to walk. Potty stop ahead and both ladies take a quick break. Nicky seems better and we continue on. Warming up but not excessively hot. We like the shade and the gentle breeze now and then.

Mile 14 - Woodard Bay - sea level; then the steepest uphill with some walking.

Mile 14-19 - Long straight fairly level section. Mostly open sunshine. Cows, a donkey, "farm dogs" and an emu. I am really pleased that Jody and Nicky are still running. We are even starting to pass a couple of runners who are struggling, walking, limping.

Mile 20 - Jody is tiring now, Nicky seems to have perked up. Short walk breaks. I try to not set the pace. My achilles is worse, but runnable. At every CCM I have run they have handed out wet sponges. Welcome on a day like today.

Mile 21 - Nice crowd of spectators sitting on lawn chairs in the shade at a turn on the course. I see an empty chair, run ahead and plop down to rest. This gets some good laughs and a smile from Jody. But they are getting away too fast and I need to hop up and sprint a little to catch them.

Mile 22 - Jody struggling down Legion hill, how will the next 1.5 mile uphill treat her? Jared joins us and he and I find it strange to be among people who are suffering so much, barely able to jog up the hill. Jody says that she loves the encouragement of her family and friends who came to cheer for her today, and that I am a good Sherpa. Lots of short walk breaks gets us up the longest hill and it looks like we will beat 5 hours. Hot.

Mile 23.5 - The two cutest little girls ever are offering "free water" from a table in their driveway. I have to stop, take a cup and thank them. And the water is much colder and better than the warmish stuff at the aid stations.

Mile 24 - Cups of cold beer. I will take anything cold at this point and the beer tastes really good. At this pace I have had no upset stomach and I ate a granola bar a while back there. My achilles hurts and I am worried about it, but everything else is fine. Unique perspective being in the race, running along for almost 5 hours and certainly getting a great workout, but not nearly struggling like everyone around me. I have to remind myself of what they are going through, what mile 24 was like the first twenty or so times I ran it. Jody and Nicky are both doing great, keeping up a great attitude and have been a pleasure to run with.

Mile 25 - Capitol Blvd. All down hill. Billy in a skirt to run a half mile or so with us. Then Tammy, Sabrina and Jennifer join us for the final leg. They keep saying what a great job Jody and Nicky are doing and right when I am about to say "hey what about me?", Tammy says "and Andy too".

Mile 26.2 - We did it. A little emotional for Jody. Walk off to get our water bottle. Jody gets the last one, I guess that we really do not need two. No medal this year. Just a piece of paper into which you can slip your souvenir disposable timing chip, that is "suitable for framing". Running jacket is pretty nice, matches the pants from last year. We eat. Fun to see Jody experience how delicious oranges are at the finish. I opt for a slice of pizza (only for full marathoners). After some socializing and recovering we hobble off to the car. The question that many are asking remains unanswered, will she do this again?

4:54:32

2:17/2:37 split (ouch)

33rd marathon or ultra

6th Capital City Marathon, 9th Cap City race of any distance

****

5/3/09 Tacoma City Marathon

Sometimes I have a great experience doing something for the first time. I go back to the event or activity a second time, expecting it to be awesome again, but often the second time is a bit of a let down. I know that I suffered a lot at Tacoma last year, but I also thought the course was spectacular, the race well organized and a whole lot of fun. Getting ready to race today I can not help but compare to last year. I am suffering with a fairly bad head cold or sinus infection and hope it does not significantly zap me. That I can not control and I am OK with the probability that I will be slow. My most important goal then is to keep smiling and enjoy the day. Sun is rising and although I am shivering at the start line, It is going to warm up and be a nice day for running. Wonderful to see the sun after heavy rain last night and more rain coming later today.

Start - Pacers arrive by limo, a reverend lifts up prayers for us who choose to join his circle, and a nice rendition of the National Anthem (with screaming seagull joining in near the end) are the preliminary events. RW and I line up with the 3:45 pacer, Steve. Same as last year. I plan to run with them only until Ruston, then ease back to the 3:50 group a much more realistic yet ambitious goal. Not the smartest strategy, but this way I get to run some with a friend. Today is more of a social event than a quest for some specific time goal.

Mile 1 - 8:18 - seems fast but we are going gently downhill. This is a tough course to be a pacer on with all the hills. Steve plans to bank a little time and that works for me.

Mile 2 - Course is different than last year. Not a major change, but I was expecting a turn that did not happen. Our little pack is close together and I would prefer some space ahead of me. These old Tacoma roads have potholes and cracks and other tripping hazards. I would hate to take a tumble or see anyone fall. Small adjustment gives me some space. I remember feeling sort of blue here last year, just not motivated and not getting into the groove. Today I feel fine and am enjoying the start of this day.

Mile 6 - Down to Ruston Way. Now we will have a three mile flat section, except the big curvy bridge we go up and down. I am thankful for my sunglasses. The over shirt comes off as I am warming up.

Mile 9 - Say goodbye to RW and purposely ease off the pace. I assume that the 3:50 pacer is not far behind me and I will soon join them while I am still able to keep up. Its somewhat humid out and my sunglasses are fogging up. I wipe them dry but do not put them on as I am entering the Ruston Tunnel. So short compared to the last tunnel I ran through.

Mile 10 - This has got to be the hardest hill on the course. It is short but very steep. Nice spectator encouragement, then we turn into Point Defiance Park.

Mile 11 - Fellow runner comments on how fortunate we are to live and run here. Towering old growth trees provide shade on a sunny spring day.

Mile 12 - This is the hardest hill on the course. It is about a mile long gradual twisting turning up up up through the forest.

Mile 13 - Maniac Matt catches me and we talk a bit. He is running well for someone with a possible broken rib. I should not complain about having the sniffles.

Mile 15 - Out of the park, down and up the big dip. Marci Martin sighting. New course variation takes us over to Vassault street so this will mimic the Sound to Narrows race almost entirely. Look for the traffic light at the top of the hill. Focus on the light, that is what we all do at StN. This is the toughest hill on the course by far.

Mile 16 - Top of the hill. How to celebrate? I know, I will use a precious tissue and blow my nose. Thick dark green snot spattered with red blood. Bloody nose would be cool if I kept running and it dripped all over. Nose is OK though and my head feels clearer. 3:50 pacer finally caught me. I have been running conservatively and not looking at the watch, expecting them to pick me up some time ago.

Mile 17 - Holding with Kurt, the 3:50 pacer.

Mile 18 - Short section turning through a neighborhood. 3:50 is getting away. I am tired. Not the usual tired. Legs are fine for this stage in the race. I am not light headed, like I was last year before I learned about S!Caps. I just feel like I have a cold, which I do, and it is dragging me down.

Mile 20 - Bridge over Highway 16. I remember getting almost dizzy here last year and it is nice to be able to run across this with no symptoms. Now the "trail" that parallels the highway. This was a horrible spot last year. Tough today, but not in a negative way. Maniac B sighting. Bright sunshine. I can see a good half mile ahead, all uphill, 3:50 still in site not too far off. Top of hill. One lone volunteer yelling most enthusiastically. Her car doors are open and she is blaring music. Bob Dylan - Tangled up in Blue. Very nice. Some more music and more spectators would be good here.

Mile 21 - Walking breaks have started. Leapfrogging a red shirted Maniac. Once I start walking without making the decision to do so. It just happened. Keeping the breaks short and moving along as best I can. Not too disappointed and not beating myself up over it.

Mile 24 - Finally that grand downhill. Before I make the turn I look back and see the 4:00 pacer disturbingly close. If I keep up what I have been doing I will be passed by him very soon. Hope this hill helps. Steep downhill. If my legs ever give way here this will be considered the worst hill of the course. It is a little too steep to fly and I maintain control.

Mile 24.5 - Another downhill, this one nice and gradual and long. Running with a young yellow shirted maniac. Both of us would like to beat 4:00. It seems doable and I think I have a chance of besting last years 3:58:10. But we need to keep moving and THIS IS HARD!! Difficult but enjoyable. Tough but fun. This is what keeps bringing me back to the marathon. See what I am capable of, challenge myself and somehow keep smiling. If I thought I was going to collapse or something I would walk or stop for a while, its not that important. But suffering and struggling are not necessarily bad things.

Mile 25 - Thank you Tacoma police for help at all the street crossings. Guy who looks like a street bum asks how far we are running. I tell him. He swears. I agree with him.

Mile 26.2 - Slightly different finish from last year. I like it. We duck in just under 4 and are satisfied. 30 seconds slower than last year, but I have a good excuse. Not as emotionally up and down as last year (S!Caps help the mind too and keep me from saying some stupid things) but I think that I had more fun today and enjoyed the beautiful course more than last year. I plan to come back for sure!!

Big shout out to the Rogue Wave for having such a good run today. I am happy for you and glad that I did not try to keep up.

3:58:49

104 of 271
Marathon 31, marathon or ultra 32, Tacoma Marathon #2
****

5/2/09 YMCA/Public Agency Challenge 2 Miles

My sixth consecutive year doing one of these races. With a marathon planned for tomorrow I select the two mile race over the 8K. Jared has been running some and I encourage him to join me. Maybe I will hold back and run with him. Tacoma is my priority this weekend, but I do like this race. Lots of state agency folks get out of their cubicles for this one. I am not usually motivated by ribbons and trophies but they do have very nice awards here and with all the fast runners doing the 8K or resting for other races, I usually place pretty well. Jared and I arrive in plenty of time to register. It is drizzling so we go back and sit in the car till closer to start time. I am suffering with a head cold, but it feels a little better today. In the past I have run with "stuffiness" with little problem, but I wonder how it will affect my race today and tomorrow.
Start - Eventually we make our way down Capitol Blvd for the start line. We watch the 8K start and then line up for our race. Uphill a half a mile, then flat to the turn around. Downhill finish, turning left onto the road that takes us to the winged victory statue at the Capitol building. Here at the start there are a few kids eager to get going, toes to the start line. Also I see Brad Hooper who should win. Jared and I are right behind the front row, but there really is not anyone in front of me. I might as well toe the line and know that my watch time will be the same as my official time. Jared does not seem to care if I run with him or not, so I guess I will just do my own thing.
Mile 0.25 - Breathing a little hard. Uphill climb. I did not warm up much at all, saving precious miles for tomorrow. How fast should I be going? Gonna play this one by feel.
Mile 0.5 - Hill is leveling off. Passing the kids and a few others.
Mile 1.1 - Heading back now, looking for Jared. There he is, doing fine. We hand slap and I refocus on the task.
Mile 1.6 - Not going to catch the kid in front of me unless he fades big time. I do not need to be running as hard as I am. Slow down a little to protect my foot/stride on the downhill. Not going to go all out today but I am going much faster than planned.
Mile 1.8 - The sound of footsteps behind me. Someone trying to catch me. Since I had slowed some I feel the ability to speed up and decide to not let anyone pass. We have made the turn to the statue and I can see the finish line ahead. Pick up the pace and get the job done.
Mile 2 - Strong finish but no gasping for air or feeling like I am going to vomit. I head directly back to watch Jared make his final kicks. He comes in strong. We get some snacks and watch the slower two milers and faster 8K runners finish up. Cheer for some friends. Now it is raining a little harder so we go to the car to dry off before the award ceremony. We each take first in our age groups and get identical trophies.

14:28
7th of 49 1st in age group
6th YMCA/Public Agency Challenge race
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4/11/09 Easter Marathon

My fourth year in a row running this race. This year it is being held in Elma out of Vance Creek Park. I have run shorter distances here and know the course to be flat and out on country roads. Today will be a double out and back. I don't mind that. With so few runners in the marathon it will gives us a chance to see each other a few more times. I am also concerned about the weather. Supposed to shower and it is awful cloudy. I don't want to wear my rain jacket. This way I can towel off and grab it at the 13.1 mile mark if needed. Since I ran Yakima just last week I am not concerned about time goals. Actually I don't seem to be too concerned about anything. Getting ready, gathering my stuff this morning and driving to the race was about like going to work on any given day. I guess I have the routine down and since I have no great expectations for this race I am totally calm. Parking and registration are a snap and soon I am lining up with eight others who will take the early start. I decide to go off at a 9min/mile pace and see what happens. I will not dig deep today and I will just enjoy the run.





Start - Good to see Evil Triplet Jim, Maniac Jim and Maniac Lesa. Good to meet Maniac Sue and new Maniac Keith down from BC. Only two people here that I do not recognize. Bob Green marks our numbers as early starts and off we go.

Mile 1 - Running with Jim, Jim and Lesa. I could stay with these guys all race and it would be fun. Here I am in elite company. For those who think that what I do is a bit much: one Jim is running his 293rd marathon, the other Jim is running his 177th and Lesa is running her 72nd and is in the middle of completing 13 in 12 weeks. Nice chatting, but just a little slower than I planned so I move on ahead.

Mile 2 - Keith and one other guy are way ahead. I knew he was fast and did not expect to be near him. Maniac Sue and another woman are ahead of me and extending their lead. Sue's times are usually a little slower than mine so I think that I will catch up to her later.

Mile 3 - Road kill rough-skinned newt. I feel sorry for the little guy. It is drizzling. My rain hat and Maniac jacket keep me dry enough.

Mile 4 - Hmmm. Chalk mark for mile 4 on the road but my watch says 4.1. If the road mark is correct than I have not gone as far as my watch indicates and my pace is off. I need to go a little faster to match my pace to the official mile markers. Light rain. Farm country. Cows being fed come jogging to the farmer and start up a big mooing.

Mile 5 - Rut Ro. Watch says 5.3 miles. I am starting to question the road markers. Time is 46 minutes. Too fast if I am at mile 5.3 and too slow if I am at mile 5. Gosh those two women are little black specs in the distance. I may never catch up to them.

Mile 6.55?? - This is the turn around so I am calling it 6.55, but that was a short mile and a half. In fact my watch now says only 6.4 miles. By both accounts I am now running faster than planned. Aid stations are now set up so I do not need to rely on my own water bottle. Rain has let up.

Mile 7 - Small stone works its way down the back of my shoe and nestles under my foot. Would hate to have to stop for a stone. But now I really can not feel it so maybe I will not have to deal with it.

Mile 10 - An hour after we started there was the start of the half marathon, ten miler, 10K, 5K , one mile and the regular start for the marathon (although most runners seem to take the early start). These runners doing all these races are now running toward me at all different speeds. Hard to tell who is doing what race. Very little traffic on the road so I have been crossing now and then to get the inner curve. Runners are on both sides of the road. One cow is munching hay by the fence and there is some hay spilled on my side. I am tempted to stop and see if he will eat out of my hand. But I keep moving.

Mile 13.1?? - A little loop through the parking area and right past my car. No need to stop. Tap the watch to set a new lap and note that the distance reads 12.8. Also I am at 1:53 about the same time as I was at last week. I think we have a short course here and it will be interesting to see what the GPS reads for the second loop.

Mile 15 - Starting to tire. Not sure what pace I should be running. The two women in black were about a quarter mile ahead of me, but now appear to be closer. Looking ahead at a long straight stretch. I decide to pick up the pace and chase them down, without going too fast.

Mile 16.5 - Caught them. Nice to have some company. Shelly from Oregon has a much faster PR than either Sue or I. They have run together the whole way and seem to be out for a fun run. I remind them that one of them could be the overall female winner, but neither one seems very competitive.

Mile 18?? - Its the mile 5 or 5.3 aid station. I sped up a little prior to the stop and then had a quick drink and moved on. Now I am ahead of the women and going at my own pace, whatever that is.

Mile 20ish - The dreaded wall. All of a sudden this is much harder. Muscles tighten, energy feels low. This did not happen last week. I am in good spirits though and I am doing the math to see about getting in under four hours. Looks like I could do 11 minute miles from here and get there. That would be really great. As long as I do not take walk breaks.

Mile 22 - Pace is now at about 9:40/mile. Still running.

Mile 23 - Several vultures circling overhead and swooping lower. Do they know how tired I am? Still running.

Mile 24 - I need to cross the road. I can not hear any vehicles behind me. I should look back but it is hard to turn the neck and keep running. Actually if I got hit and killed here I would be all done running. OK, maybe I don't want to be killed, but if I got clipped a little, maybe knocked to the ground, then no one would expect me to keep running. I could just walk it in. Oh I better look back. No cars, but Sue and Shelly are not far behind. If I melt down any more they are going to pass me.

Mile 25 - Still running and feeling a little stronger. Not going to be passed. Going to beat four hours easy.

Mile 25.5 (road marker for the one mile race) - Turn into the wind (not that strong) and long straight shot to the park. Keep moving, nothing dramatic, and cruise in to the finish.

Mile 26.2 - Mile 25.54 by my watch, mile 25.7 by Jim's watch. At least I did not PR or I would feel a little guilty. Pigtails would run another half a mile, but I am not doing that. If I had gone another half mile I think I still would have beat four so I am pleased. I'll call my time what my watch said rather than the two minutes faster the officials recorded. Sue and Shelly cross the line together. Try to eat. Socialize for a while. Watch the start of the triathlon. Wait for the regular start marathoners to come in so that I can know my place.



3:53:09

5th of 15 runners

31st marathon or ultra, 4th Easter marathon

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