7/4/06 Steilacoom 4 miler

Another 4 on the 4th. Ran 18 miles a few days ago and i know my legs are tired. Running today more for fun and tradition.

Start - I see Wayne and Seth. Always nice to see them

Start - Down hill

Mile 2 - Lots of flat

Mile 4 - Struggle up the hill and try to finish strong

28:36
77 of 225
3rd of 9 in age group
***

6/10/06 Sound to Narrows 12K

Goal - beat last year's time. Warmish

Start - Took ten seconds to get to the start line from where I was in the pack. That is OK, I just time myself anyway and am not in the running for any awards.

Mile 2 - After a fast start it is tough to hit a steady pace with all of these hills and people running at all different paces. Go with the flow as much as possible.

Mile 7.5 - Uphill was not so bad this year, I definitely had some kick left and was pleased with my time.

58:27
383 of 2217
96th race, 3rd Sound to Narrows

5/21/06 Capital City Marathon

New course for 2006. Many will complain that it is too hilly, but I rather prefer it. Much more scenic and the hills though constant are not that steep. I have been doing long runs on parts of the course since the new route was announced in December. Goal = maintain an 8:46 pace and PR. Weather = cool but threatening to warm up.

Mile 1 - Race nerves I had been experiencing all week are now gone as I am running relaxed and having fun.

Mile 4 - Say hi to John Flemm and talk neighborhood stuff for about two miles. He is running his 60th marathon and plans this to be his last.

Mile 11 - Slap a high five with volunteer Dan Cole.

Mile 14 - Back to sea level at Woodard Bay. All uphill from here. Bad place for a water stop on this hill, hard to get back to running.

Mile 20 - Starting to tire but still on pace. My GPS watch however has me at 0.2 miles farther than the mile markers. Trusting the watch has put me two minutes behind schedule.

Mile 22 - Here is the dreaded long steep "Eastside" hill. This is not good. Race volunteer tells me to keep my head up. Hadn't noticed how my head was bobbing. A few fans looking on. I struggle up the hill and start staggering a bit. Really not good or a healthy way to be. I make the decision to not risk tumbling or passing out and start walking some. I am in a very bad way, but keep moving ever upward.

Mile 23.5 - The ground is leveling off, but the running is not much easier.

Mile 24 - Speed bump in the road is like a hill to climb


Mile 25 - Cross onto Capitol Way and get ready to head for the downhill finish. Billy runs the last leg with me.

Mile 26.2 - PR by a minute and a half. Seven minutes faster than last year and that on a much hillier course. Some regrets about how the last couple of miles went, but overall a good effort.



3:54:33 PR
182 of 455
Marathon #8
****

5/6/06 Public Agency 2 miler

Caleb has been running some track with the Barron Park Striders and decides to join me in the 2 mile race. This could be a close one as he has some quick legs these days. Cool with some wind.

Start - Super fast and strong up the hill. Caleb is right behind me. I sprint to shake him but it does not work.

Mile 1 - Only a few runners ahead of me here at the turn around. Caleb has obviously been instructed by Mom to stay directly behind me. Still running strong.

Mile 2 - Downhill to the finish. Caleb puts his kick on an and beats me by one second!! Smart race by him and I really am proud of him. I am also very pleased with my PR and fast time.

12:59
6 of 53, 1st in age group
****

4/9/06 Easter Bunny Marathon

Double out and back out of Millersylvania State Park. Very small turn out. Bob Green seems a little perturbed that there are not more runners. My first encounter with the Marathon Maniacs club. I mention to one runner that I am doing this as a long slow training run for Capitol City, he thinks that is a very reasonable idea. Clouds and sun, cool and warmish at times.



Mile 6 - All by my lonesome self. Listen to music on the MP3 player. Make myself go very slowly and take walk breaks. Keep reminding myself that this is about going the distance, not racing.



Mile 13.1 - Back at the park. 2:08 for the half



Mile 23.5 - Starting to tire but not a hard wall. Pull away from Billy and head for the finish.



Mile 26.2 - This is called the Easter Bunny Marathon so I get to the finish line and hop across. First negative split marathon. Maintained good spirits and kept plugging along when it did get a little difficult. Hope this works as a good training run.



4:11:52
3 of 9
***

3/25/06 Steilacoom 20 miler

Great prep run for a Spring Marathon. Goal = negative split. Very nice weather.

Start - Billy running the 20K. Hope he saves me some food at the end.

Mile 10 - Just under my goal pace of 9 minutes per mile. Joke with the race volunteer asking if this is the finish line. Turn around and pick up the pace to 8:30/mile.

Mile 15 - I really hate this boring course. Getting tougher but I am not slowing down.

Mile 20 - Always nice to hit the track at the end. Finished with an overall pace of 8:41/mile, very nice negative split. Great effort and results, but oh so tough group of runners in Steilacoom. Last in my age group of 9 runners.

2:53:33
50 of 63!!
***

3/4/06 Run for Luck 10K

This is becoming one of my favorite 10K races. I feel like I am on a home course here on the Chehalis Western Trail. Jody and Billy here. Nice weather, little breeze.

Start - Good small crowd. Always hard to know how many are running the 10K until we hit the 5K split off just a quarter of a mile into the race.

Mile 1 - Group has thinned out. I am running right beside Sean Sexton. We talk a little bit but with the fast pace it is hard to converse.

Mile 3.1 - Really running too fast and sure I will slow down, but holding steady with Sean.

Mile 5 - Still with Sean, we are feeding off each other and working hard.

Mile 5.5 - Sean starts to pull away from me. Good for him. I just can not keep up but I have run really well today thanks to him.

Mile 6.2 - Wow I got in under 45 minutes, way better than I expected. Congratulate and thank Sean for the good time.

44:56
25 of 83
****