6/27/07 Inna Gadda Da Vida Race

Now for something different. Support the local high school track team by racing on the track and seeing how far you can go in 17:11 while the Iron Butterfly classic Inna Gadda Da Vida is blaring through giant speakers. Wayne and Seth. Mid week evening race, we need more of these. Hot.

Start - Serious runners with counters line up at one corner. The rest of us are allowed to start at any corner so we are not all bunched up but we need to count our own laps. Announcer tells us that we may consider making a surge during the drum solo.

Verse 1 - Had a good warm up and running well. Seth and other fast guy go thundering past me, but I expected that.

Drum solo - It is hot out but I am able to keep the pace at about 6:50/mile. This is really really fun.

Organ fades out - Finish. Stop at the nearest corner. I'm calling it 2.4 miles. Pace was 6:51 and I am pleased with that. I get a certificate of achievement and then win a pair of running shoes at the post race raffle. It does not get much better than that.

2.4 miles
never figured out my place
*****

6/16/07 Swede Days 5K

Glad to be back here after a few years off. Billy tags along and lots of other familiar faces. Lengthy warm up and ready to roll. Just hoping for a sub 7 pace. Sunny and nice.

Start - Pretty good turn out for this Thurston County Parks and Recreation event. New race director, but she seems to have everything running smoothly. Speaking of running smoothly, its time to take off like a shot.

Mile 1 - Nice flat course, running well, 6:40 first mile

Mile 3 - Hang on, hang on, hang on, almost there.

Mile 3.1 - Very close to wretching. So glad I did not vomit. Quick recovery and happy with my time, 6:49 overall pace.

21:13
16th of 100
****

5/20/07 Capital City Marathon

Second year of this rolling course. Set a PR here last year. I have done enough training and expect a fast time. In the week before the race I keep thinking about how according to the running tables I should be able to run closer to a 3:30. Perhaps a new strategy where I actually go out quite a bit faster and with confidence will work. Sitting in the car as long as possible before the start. Passing shower, cold and wind.

Start - Find Billy at the last minute. Start off together. Also running with Angie who ran Tacoma last week (that is insane, you would have to be a Marathon Maniac to do that)

Mile 2- "OK Bill, I am going to make my move now. Do not try to stay with me." Kick it into higher gear and quickly start passing folks.

Mile 4 - Run with John Flemm for a little while. He is running his 50 something marathon.

Mile 6 - Run with Ron Fowler. Talk about my new strategy.

Mile 10 - Feeling great, no worries, love this course.

Mile 12 - Stop quickly to tie my shoe, but I have trouble unknotting one of them. Get a little frustrated, but laugh when someone passes me and asks if I need a lesson.

Mile 17 - Who built this wall here? Very quickly turning into a hard time.

Mile 20 - Big clock shows the time and I am ahead of PR pace but really suffering. Who's idea was it to go out so fast. I am being passed quite a bit now.

Mile 21 - Nice downhill.....

Mile 22 - Aweful uphill. I remember training runs where I drove here just to repeat this hill and practice it, imagining it was race day. Walking now, I am not going to let myself stagger like last year. Angie passes me and tells me to get moving, but I tell her I am done.

Mile 24 - Nice to be on flat surface again, wondering if I will beat 4 hours.

Mile 25 - There is Kathy. Toss her my hat and jacket, weather is getting worse but it is all downhill from here.

Mile 26.2 - Friends and family cheering for me. Strong finish and another CCM done.

3:56:07

139th of 324

****

5/5/07 Public Agency Challenge 8K

Another local race with a good crowd and lots of more casual runners. Could not get Caleb to do the two mile race this year, so I will do the 8K without him. Nice tune up before the marathon with good strong legs. Great weather

Start - Running around the lake this year. Downhill start and it is a fast one.

Mile 3 - Doing good on the uphill, not losing much steam. Might get in right at 7min pace

Mile 4.81 - Strong surge to the finish. I love making that last turn and giving it my all to the end. But as I look at my watch I am sure that the course is short. Watch says 4.81 and I know that my pace was not as fast as they would list. That really irks me. I would have PRed for sure if it had been proper length, now what do I do. Calculate my pace and adjust the PR accordingly? Still a fun time

33:41
24th of 124
****

4/21/07 Bulldogs Unleashed 5K

Second time running this little race. Fundraiser for the Middle School arts programs. Directors do not have tons of experience but they try hard and care. I was the first person to arrive at the school and had plenty of time to warm up, 3 miles and sign up. Nice weather and T-shirt.

Start - small crowd, trying to guess the age group of those around me. Looks like a good shot at another dog bone award.

Finish - Gosh these 5Ks are short. Just barely made it under 7min pace. Very pleased with time and 2nd place in age group bone is a fun treat.

Fastest 5K in 6 years
21:36
10th of ???
race #109 5K#38
****

4/7/07 Easter Marathon

I like the idea of a training run of 26 miles about six weeks prior to a real marathon race. Time for a low key Bob Green race as part of CCM training. Problem is though that I taper a bit and think about the race and feel like I could run well, so why not go for it? Light rain.

Start - Small group. Who are these people in funny yellow shirts? Marathon Maniacs? What is up with that?

Mile 1-17 - Might as well be on a solo training run. See photo. Nice to have Billy and Tammy drive by a few times to cheer.

Mile 18 - Uh oh, getting tired. I did run 55 miles last week.

Mile 21 - Give up on PR and shoot for staying under 4 hours.

Mile 26.2 - Hop across the finish line. Always satisfying.

3:56:48

6 of 22

race #108 marathon #10

****

3/3/07 Run for Luck 10K

Third consecutive Run for Luck. Pretty sure that I will not be able to out run last years time, but looking forward to this great little race. Perfect weather

Mile 2 - Been doing some training on this trail, this is familiar territory

Mile 4 - Losing my form. I can tell that I am falling apart. Just hang on to the turn off the trail to the finish

Mile 6.2 - Done, a little slower than last year, but I'll take it. Now eat some food and wait for the results. Sweet - third in age group ribbon. Post race raffle goes well too as I bring home a Seahawks sweatshirt.

45:34
12th of 57 runners
Race #107 10K#16 Run for Luck#3
****