10/1/06 Portland Marathon

Second time at Portland. Been training long and hard for this day. Stay with the folks and get out the door nice and early in time to find a good parking spot. Still dark, but promise of sun and slight breeze.

Start - Sit on the curb resting until just before the start, make small talk with those around me. Position myself in front of the 4:00 pace group. Smooth start, for 7,500 people, absolutely love those drums.

Mile 5 - Feel great, everything is smooth. Holding an 8:30 pace that neither feels too slow or fast.

Mile 7 - Boring industrial area. Watch for railroad tracks. Watch the fast runners back from the turn around.

Mile 9 - Turn around and watch the slower runners. Blinding sun here and for the next two miles. Getting warm, I start pouring water on my head.

Mile 13 - There is my brother Steve, snapping pictures. Feeling really good and holding the 8:30 pace

Mile 16 - No problem getting up the hill and passing some walkers. I am sure this hill is taking its toll on me, but its not so bad. On to the bridge.

Mile 18 - I remember getting tired here last year. I am doing much better than last year.

Mile 20 - Bring on the stomache ache as usual. I am at 8:38 pace, faster than last year, but I need to take some short walking breaks. It sure is nice to know that it is mostly downhill from here.

Mile 23 - More short walking breaks. My head is swimming a little and a volunteer asks if I am OK. That sort of deflated me more. I'd rather hear the lie "looking good" than see someone seriously concerned about me.

Mile 24 - Brother Steve takes another photo. Wow I bet I will not look as good in this one.

Mile 24.5 - Offered and accepted a small cup of beer. Drank the whole thing, it was actually pretty good.

Mile 25 - Here comes the 3:50 pacer with a small band of followers. One says that we have 12 seconds in the bank. This is great and I stay with them over the steel bridge.

Mile 25.2 - Water stop. I can not help but walk and pour water on my head. 3:50 group sails on by.

Mile 26.2 - PR by 3 minutes and 5 minutes off last year's time. Pleased with the effort and results. Four glasses of orange juice at the finish really hit the spot. I definitely plan to run this one again.

3:51:22
1,462 of 7548

race#100 marathon #9 Portland marathon #2
****

8/26/06 Rainier Round Up 10K

Really small turn out for this which ended up being the last Rainier Round up do to low numbers and the poor time of year for the busy Thurston County Parks and Recreation. Billy and Jody were doing a long run somewhere nearby on the trail, but I could not resist another race. Flat and fast on the Yelm-Tenino trail. Warm temps though.

Start - Always more relaxed doing a race I have dome before. I wonder how many are doing the 5K. Either way it is a small group.

Mile 1- Couple of people ahead of me.

Mile 1.5 - Looks like all but one has turned around.

Mile 3.1 - Yes, I am in second place. Too bad that guy in first is just a little to far out of my reach...actually a spec in the distance. Nobody close on my heels either.

Mile 5 - Getting hard to maintain pace and it is getting warm. This has been a record month for me in terms of total mileage and my legs feel tired. Not a ton of motivation either as I seem to be locked into second place.

Mile 6.2 - Second overall is very cool. I just won't tell anyone how many people participated. First in age group ribbon and at the raffle I won a pair of socks.

46:41
2nd overall of 13
race#99
****

7/22/06 Lakefair 8K

One of the great things about the Pacific Northwest is the moderate climate. Great running year round. In the summer it cools down every evening and does not warm up to hot until after noon. Except today. Mid 70s early in the morning. Humid and getting warmer at the start. New course this year, very flat out and back along Capitol Lake, then around the lower lake. Billy and Tammy running the 8K, Tammy and Jared running the 3K race.

Start - It is really warm for running.

Mile 4 - I am wilting, really slowing down

Mile 4.98 - Done. Shuffle back a few blocks to cheer on the others. Slow time can be blamed on the heat. Stick around forever for the awards ceremony.

36:47
80th of 328
****

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
****