Race Report
Copperman Marathon
Copper Mountain, CO
Sun, July 9/06
#266
4:15:33 - 4th OA – 1 AG
After the disappointing collapse and DNF in my last marathon at Estes Park in June I had mixed emotions going into the Copperman Marathon. It was a new/inaugural marathon for Summit County and since it is the only marathon in the County I must consider it my hometown race for Colorado. Thus I wanted to do good but had concerns:
a) Was I truly over the strange virus/bug that had knocked me on my butt?
b) Copperman was advertised as a very tough high-altitude race.
The marathon started in Copper Mountain, Co (elev 9600 ft) and climbed 1500 ft over 7.5 miles to the top of Vail Pass (11,100 ft) then dropped 2000+ vertical ft over the next 6 miles to a turn-around point where the course returned to Copper Mountain on the same route! The whole course was either up or down – very few flat sections – with a total elevation change of more than 8,000 ft and an average elevation higher than 10,000 ft!
The weekend before the race I ran the last 6.5 miles of the course from the finish line to the top of Vail Pass and drove the middle 6 miles from Vail Pass to the turn-around point.
It was indeed a tough course as advertised. There were 5 miles of paved bike path that climbed gradually from Copper to a dirt 4X4 road called the Shrine Pass Road that climbed steeply for 1.5 miles to the top of Vail Pass. That was the easy section of the course! The next 6 miles dropped 2000+ ft on the Shrine Pass Road through the Sawatch Range and the Holy Cross Wilderness Area. Around 13.5 miles the course turned around and returned to Copper Mountain. The scenery was beautiful including spectacular views of the Mount of the Holy Cross (14,005 ft) a 14er that brought back vivid memories of the day that I inadvertently hiked down the North Face in haste to escape a dangerous thunderstorm – only to find myself trapped at the bottom of the mountain! As many of you will recall I was forced to spend the night on Holy Cross (dressed in shorts and T-shirt) and hike back up the mountain and finally out to safety the following morning (see ‘A Night on the Mountain – Aug 2003’).
Since I completed my ‘practice’ run in 2:12 I set a target of 4:30 for the race but expected to finish closer to 5 hrs? As race day approached I became concerned about the weather. The July monsoons had moved into CO and it was raining every day. The weatherman was forecasting sunny and dry weather for the weekend – he was wrong! It rained steady for the two days before the race. This is unusual for CO – we normally only get afternoon thunderstorms and rain but the rain wouldn’t stop? Now it was forecast to rain all weekend. The race would be miserable!
However as I drove over to Copper Mountain early Sun morning the skies were overcast - but no rain! The bad weather had scared away many runners and only 15 runners lined up at the start line for the 8 am start. The temperature was a pleasant 50F and never warmed up above 58F – great weather for racing! I was concerned about water on the course so I checked with the race director. He advised that me that there would be water every 3 miles except for the bike path that had a 4-mile stretch w/o water. I decided not to carry water with me – that turned out to be a bad mistake!
The race started about 1 mile East of the finish line in Copper. This meant a longer run to the top of Vail Pass and a longer run down Shrine Pass Road to add the extra mile to the 2nd Half. My plan/strategy was to run a 10-min pace on the 1500 ft climb up the bike path to the top of Vail Pass so that I could conserve energy and hopefully run the whole course? When I passed the 1st place female (half my age) at mile 5 in 47:57 I decided to make her chase me through the race. I reached the top of the bike path at 6 miles (58:32) and started up the Shrine Pass Road. The 4X4 road was muddy and slick from all the rain but the footing was still much better than a trail. I passed a male runner near the top of Vail Pass and calculated that I must be in 5th or 6th place Overall. I reached the top of Vail Pass near 7.5 miles in 1:16 and was forced to stop at the water station because they did not have any water ready. From that point on I ran the rest of the race alone except when I passed runners coming in the opposite direction!
I started down the 2000+ ft descent on Shrine Pass Road. I wanted to run an easy 8-min pace but my first mile was a blazing 6:59 – way too fast especially when I was still above 10,800 ft! I tried to slow down but still averaged 7:30s over the next 3 miles. And no water! I had run over 4 miles and no water! I was so focused on my pace and concerned about the lack of water that I didn’t even notice the spectacular views of Holy Cross as I screamed down Shrine Pass Road – probably saved me a lot of painful memories? As I reached mile 12 in 1:50:40 I passed the two lead runners returning on the course. They informed me that there was a water stop at 12.5 miles. At that point they had a 3-mile lead on me and were running smooth and easy up the 2000 ft ascent on Shrine Pass Road so I knew I would never see them again! Turned out that they ran across the finish line together and tied for 1st place in 3:35.
Thankfully there was a water stop at 12.5 miles but that was 5 miles from the last water stop. I stopped and washed down a carbo gel with 16 oz of water to make sure I stayed hydrated. I also took time to ask the race volunteer to contact the race director and demand that he add another water stop in that section of the course. Unfortunately she had no way to contact the race director so that meant there would be no water stop on the return leg! I passed a 3rd runner around mile 13 and he informed me that I was in 4th place Overall. He had a 1-mile lead on me so it was doubtful I could catch him unless he crashed?
I passed the Half in 2:00:27 – much faster than expected/planned. But I had no false illusions/fantasies of running the 2nd Half that fast. I was hoping to ‘run’ all of the 2nd Half but really didn’t believe that was going to happen? I reached the turn-around point near 13.5 miles and began the long, grueling and painful climb back up to the top of Vail Pass. I met the lead female shortly which meant I only had about ½ mile lead on her and near mile 14 I met three more runners. I had a 1-mile lead on them but I needed to ‘run’ the ascent up to Vail Pass if I wanted to stay in front of those runners!
I stopped at the water station to guzzle down another 16 oz of water to prepare for the long climb back up to the top (w/o water). I was really concerned about the health of the slower runners who might take 2 hrs to complete that section w/o water? I managed to keep the legs churning/running until mile 15 (2:21:02) but then I hit a very steep hill and the lungs just couldn’t suck in air fast enough to keep the legs churning. Time to revise my strategy. I decided to ‘walk’ all the steep sections and run everything else! Using this strategy I managed to run/walk a 12-min pace over mile 16 but then the lungs started having difficulty supporting the legs after 2 to 3 min of running. Revision #2 required! I decided to run until the lungs couldn’t keep up with my legs and then walk for a minute to recover – except for the steep sections where I would walk the whole section! Using this strategy and process I was able to maintain a 12-min pace over the next 4 miles except for two very long, steep sections where I slowed to a painfully slow 13-min pace! I was going so slow that I kept looking over my shoulder fully expecting to see the lead female and even other runners closing in on me. But I never saw a soul on that 6-mile climb up the mountain? I assumed they were having as much fun and difficulty with the hills and altitude as me?
Finally I reached the top of Vail Pass again at 20 miles in 3:22:34. I had to stop at the water station and wake the race volunteer up because she was sleeping in her car? After washing a carbo gel down with another 16 oz of water I was ready to tackle the 1500 ft descent over the final 10K to the finish line. Still no sign of any runners behind me!
I wasn’t sure how much was left in my legs after that grueling climb but I knew that I had to give my legs a chance to recover so I tried to run an easy 8:30 to 9-min pace on the steep section down Shrine Pass Road. I reached mile 21 in 8:32 and the legs stared to feel better. When I reached the water station at the entrance to the bike path I stopped again for water and to request that the volunteer contact the race director and advise him to get another aid station out on the course.
I still couldn’t see any runners behind me so I started down the bike path at an easy 9-min pace. I passed mile 22 in 3:40:51. Still no runners behind me and I was starting to hurt and wanted/needed to slow down so I began to calculate. My target/goal of 4:30 was in the bag even if I crawled – if I slowed down to a 10-min pace I could finish close to 4:20.
I tried to slow down and was thus surprised when I reached mile 23 in 8:32? But then I stole a glance behind me – I could see the lead female and she was closing on me – fast! Where in the Hell had she come from? The answer was obvious – she was hauling ass down the bike path and would catch me if I also didn’t haul ass! I needed to haul ass to keep my 4th place position but wasn’t sure if there was any ‘haul ass’ left in my legs - especially for another 3 miles?
There was only one answer! Call on Maddog! I handed control over to him knowing that “Hell will freeze over” before he would allow a woman to pass him at the end of a race!
He responded immediately by lowering the hammer and pace to 8:15s over the next two miles. Our luck with the weather finally gave out around mile 24 and it started to rain. When I reached mile 25 in 4:06 it was pouring but I couldn’t see the lead female behind me anymore – but I knew she was still coming and hauling ass – because that is what I would do! I was hurting so badly and desperately needed to slow down to let my legs recover. I wanted to cruise to the finish line – but not Maddog! He started screaming one of his favorite phrases “Quit whining – any old fool can hurt for a measly 8 minutes”! And that is exactly what he did – he lowered the pace to 8:01 over the final mile while I used every last once of willpower to block out the pain and hang on for the ride! As I passed mile 26 in 4:14:01 and crossed a covered wooden bridge into the village center of Copper Mountain I could hear the race director announcing my name and I thought I heard someone shouting my name? But I was so focused on blocking the pain and reaching the finish line that I couldn’t see anything or anybody – except the finish line!
Only after I crossed the finish line and stopped to allow my aching/burning lungs to suck up some much-needed air/oxygen was I able to look up and notice my neighbors, Stinky and Karen - standing in the rain and cheering for me. Stinky is a minister and had told me that he would be in Copper Mountain on Sun morning for a sermon so I asked him to be near the finish line around noon in case I needed ‘last rites’ administered? Thankfully there was no need but I did thank them for their support and cheers. Perhaps I should consider hiring them as ‘new’ sports managers – after all the regular sports manager was not standing in the rain cheering me across the finish line? She was still home in bed – claimed she never heard me get up and leave at 7am?
Ummmmm! Maybe it is time for a new sports manager?
I finished the marathon in 4:15:33 – much faster then expected. Results were never posted at the finish area but I confirmed that my time was good enough for 4th Place Overall. The 1st place female finished 3 minutes later. I also won 1st place in my Age Group and because it was an inaugural marathon have the honor of holding the course record for at least one year. After collecting my award(s) – running gear that I consider a useful award - and granting a brief interview to the local press I was ready for the best reward of the day – a long, hot soak in the hot tub with a few Colorado microbrews!
I have no more races scheduled before my trip to Europe and Greenland in late July but I may slip in a Half Marathon in Vail in a few weeks as a tune up race before I leave.
Stay tuned for the next race report.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Saturday, June 24, 2006
RR - Slacker Half
Race Report
Slacker Half Marathon
Loveland Ski Resort, CO
(elev: 10, 630 ft)
1:41:55 - 2AG
Maddog is Back!!!!!
After the total exhaustion and collapse I suffered in my last two races I wasn’t sure or confident if I would ever race again? I did not know if the collapse was due to:
a) A strange virus/bug that attacked and kicked my butt for about one week
b) Over training because of Maddog’s ‘Suicidal High Altitude Training Program’
c) All of the above
However by the Tue following the unfortunate DNF at the Estes Park Marathon I started to feel much better. When I started a normal 10-mile training run along Lake Dillon I felt so good/strong that I decided to try some mile intervals – managed to run four 1-mile intervals at 9,100 ft @ sub 8-min pace! And felt good even at the end!
Maddog was ready to declare me healthy and fit to race again! But I wasn’t so sure and on Wed morning I ran a hard/fast 10-mile run on my favorite hill loop on Red Mtn – a 500 vertical ft climb over two miles! I felt amazingly strong during the run so I decided that I was ready for a tougher test on Sat. I would run (note I was careful not to use the word ‘race’) the Slacker Half Marathon since Maddog had already registered me for the race as part of his program.
Thus on Sat morning I found myself lined up on the start line at the Loveland Ski Resort at 8am with 800 runners. The weather was great – sunny and a temp of 49F. The race starts at 10, 630 ft (two miles above Sea Level) and climbs for the first ½ mile. The course then drops 2100 vertical ft over 11 miles of rolling hills to finish in Georgetown at 8,500 ft. My plan/strategy was to run smart – start slow and easy and if I felt OK I would pick up the pace. Thus I was a wee bit surprised/shocked when I passed the 1st mile in 8:01 sucking desperately for air. Still sucking for air at mile 2 in 15:37. By mile 3, I had settled into a smooth and easy 7:30 pace although my lungs were having difficulty keeping up with my legs.
The course emerged from a dirt/gravel road and trail in a National Forest around mile 5 and dumped onto a paved service road along I 70. I hit a ‘lull’ on mile 6 as it climbed gradually for about 1/2 mile. At first I thought, “Oh NO – it is happening again” as I began to feel very tired and an old fart passed me and I couldn’t respond! But when I crested the hill at mile 6 I seemed to recover and picked up the pace again on the downhill. I didn’t think the old fart was in my age group so I decided to just keep him in sight. I passed mile 10 in 1:17:45 and began a very steep downhill on a paved bike path. This is the steepest part of the course – drops about 600 ft over 2 miles! I stretched out my stride and let gravity carry me down the mountain while trying to reserve some energy for the final mile that is flat with several short, steep hills!
I passed mile 12 in 1:32:22 – much faster than I had expected. I had closed on the old fart but we were both struggling to push our tired legs through the hills on the tough final mile.
Maddog wanted me to make a final push but I was afraid that I might crash if I pushed any harder. I struggled to follow the old fart across the finish line in 1:41:55.
As we walked through the finish chute I learned that he was only 56 years young! I was very glad that I had not tried to kill myself passing him!
My time of 1:41:55 was 2 seconds slower than last year and unfortunately only good enough to win 2nd place in the Senior Division! Damn – I failed to defend the Senior Title I had won the previous two years because there was another (60 year old fart) in front of me! I should be a wee bit disappointed because I am in much better shape this year than last year when I was still recovering from the knee surgery. But I am too happy/thankful to confirm that the main cause of the exhaustion/collapse does appear to have been a virus and not over training - or just Old Age! And more good news – the pain/problem with the right hip that plagued me on the 3 previous races is gone!
Thus I am confident that I can resume Maddog’s ‘Suicidal High Altitude Training Program’ including the next race he has scheduled – a very challenging and brand new/inaugural marathon in Summit County on July 9/06. The race starts at Copper Mtn @ 9600 ft - climbs to the top of Vail Pass at 11,100 ft. – then runs 15 miles through a National Forest @11,000 ft before returning to Copper Mtn. The average elevation of the course is more than 2 miles above Sea Level!
Anyone care to join me – still time to sign up?
Stay tuned for the race report!
Slacker Half Marathon
Loveland Ski Resort, CO
(elev: 10, 630 ft)
1:41:55 - 2AG
Maddog is Back!!!!!
After the total exhaustion and collapse I suffered in my last two races I wasn’t sure or confident if I would ever race again? I did not know if the collapse was due to:
a) A strange virus/bug that attacked and kicked my butt for about one week
b) Over training because of Maddog’s ‘Suicidal High Altitude Training Program’
c) All of the above
However by the Tue following the unfortunate DNF at the Estes Park Marathon I started to feel much better. When I started a normal 10-mile training run along Lake Dillon I felt so good/strong that I decided to try some mile intervals – managed to run four 1-mile intervals at 9,100 ft @ sub 8-min pace! And felt good even at the end!
Maddog was ready to declare me healthy and fit to race again! But I wasn’t so sure and on Wed morning I ran a hard/fast 10-mile run on my favorite hill loop on Red Mtn – a 500 vertical ft climb over two miles! I felt amazingly strong during the run so I decided that I was ready for a tougher test on Sat. I would run (note I was careful not to use the word ‘race’) the Slacker Half Marathon since Maddog had already registered me for the race as part of his program.
Thus on Sat morning I found myself lined up on the start line at the Loveland Ski Resort at 8am with 800 runners. The weather was great – sunny and a temp of 49F. The race starts at 10, 630 ft (two miles above Sea Level) and climbs for the first ½ mile. The course then drops 2100 vertical ft over 11 miles of rolling hills to finish in Georgetown at 8,500 ft. My plan/strategy was to run smart – start slow and easy and if I felt OK I would pick up the pace. Thus I was a wee bit surprised/shocked when I passed the 1st mile in 8:01 sucking desperately for air. Still sucking for air at mile 2 in 15:37. By mile 3, I had settled into a smooth and easy 7:30 pace although my lungs were having difficulty keeping up with my legs.
The course emerged from a dirt/gravel road and trail in a National Forest around mile 5 and dumped onto a paved service road along I 70. I hit a ‘lull’ on mile 6 as it climbed gradually for about 1/2 mile. At first I thought, “Oh NO – it is happening again” as I began to feel very tired and an old fart passed me and I couldn’t respond! But when I crested the hill at mile 6 I seemed to recover and picked up the pace again on the downhill. I didn’t think the old fart was in my age group so I decided to just keep him in sight. I passed mile 10 in 1:17:45 and began a very steep downhill on a paved bike path. This is the steepest part of the course – drops about 600 ft over 2 miles! I stretched out my stride and let gravity carry me down the mountain while trying to reserve some energy for the final mile that is flat with several short, steep hills!
I passed mile 12 in 1:32:22 – much faster than I had expected. I had closed on the old fart but we were both struggling to push our tired legs through the hills on the tough final mile.
Maddog wanted me to make a final push but I was afraid that I might crash if I pushed any harder. I struggled to follow the old fart across the finish line in 1:41:55.
As we walked through the finish chute I learned that he was only 56 years young! I was very glad that I had not tried to kill myself passing him!
My time of 1:41:55 was 2 seconds slower than last year and unfortunately only good enough to win 2nd place in the Senior Division! Damn – I failed to defend the Senior Title I had won the previous two years because there was another (60 year old fart) in front of me! I should be a wee bit disappointed because I am in much better shape this year than last year when I was still recovering from the knee surgery. But I am too happy/thankful to confirm that the main cause of the exhaustion/collapse does appear to have been a virus and not over training - or just Old Age! And more good news – the pain/problem with the right hip that plagued me on the 3 previous races is gone!
Thus I am confident that I can resume Maddog’s ‘Suicidal High Altitude Training Program’ including the next race he has scheduled – a very challenging and brand new/inaugural marathon in Summit County on July 9/06. The race starts at Copper Mtn @ 9600 ft - climbs to the top of Vail Pass at 11,100 ft. – then runs 15 miles through a National Forest @11,000 ft before returning to Copper Mtn. The average elevation of the course is more than 2 miles above Sea Level!
Anyone care to join me – still time to sign up?
Stay tuned for the race report!
Saturday, June 10, 2006
RR - Run The Rockies
Race Report
Run The Rockies
13.1 Miles
Frisco, CO
June 10/06
1:49:44 – 1AG
UGLY! PAINFUL! PATHETIC! DISGUSTING!
Those 4 words sum up the race! In hindsight I should have listened to a good friend who advised me to skip the race because of the problems I was suffering with my neck and legs! But NO – OH NO! Maddog would never skip a race he has signed up for unless he had a broken – or missing - leg!
So at 8:30 am on Sat morning I found myself on the starting line of “Run The Rockies’ Half Marathon at Copper Mtn (elev: 9600 ft). At least the weather was nice – sunny and a temp of 52 F. There were about 500 runners in a 10K and Half. The 10K is downhill and fast – the course drops 500 vertical ft to finish in Frisco, CO at 9100 ft. Everyone takes off too fast because the decline is gentle and it is possible to haul ass. The biggest problem is trying to suck up enough air/oxygen to keep the legs moving!
My plan was to run smart – a 7:30 pace for the 1st 10K and then slow down to an 8- min pace for the final 7 miles through rolling hills including 4 miles of very nasty BAHs (Bad Ass Hills). Plan didn’t last long! By mile 2 my lungs were burning and my right hip was killing me. By mile 4 my lungs were on fire and I was struggling to run an 8-min pace. I knew right then – that soon- that it was going to get very ugly and painful!
I managed to struggle past the 10K finish line in 47:39 but I was hurting! I wanted to quit and call it a day but knew there was no way to convince Maddog to quit a race once he had started so I pushed on. I crashed (hit the WALL) at mile 8 as I started into the BAHs. My legs were wasted and the right hip was really hurting! At that very moment an old fart passed me – and I didn’t care! There was just no energy left to sum up any willpower or desire to compete. I figured the only thing I could salvage out of this race was an opportunity to train the old bod to cope with the pain and fatigue. Somehow I managed to keep the wasted old legs moving – refused to walk – at a 9:30 pace through the BAHs. When I finally emerged on the return loop through the BAHs at mile 12 in 1:40:41 I was surprised to see the old fart was only ¼ mile ahead?
I was lucky – I had been granted a reprieve – an opportunity to redeem myself! I decided to quit feeling sorry for myself – to quit whining – to dig deep – to ignore the pain – to regain the willpower and desire to win - and to lower the hammer and pace back to sub 8-min! I caught the old fart around 12 ½ miles! I knew there wasn’t enough left in the wasted old legs to get into a pissing match so I wisely and quietly dropped in behind him and followed him until there was about two minutes left to the finish line. Then I made my final move! I blew past him and continued to sprint until I crossed the finish line in 1st place (AG) in a very slow and totally pathetic and unworthy time of 1:49:44! Sad News – the old fart I beat by 13 seconds turned out to be only 52 years young!
Nevertheless my time and performance was so pathetic and disgusting that I was embarrassed (once again) to go to the podium to collect the Gold Medal for 1st place in my age group. But I figured I earned it for perseverance and pain!
The only good thing to come out of that race was a clear – VERY CLEAR – realization that my legs are wasted and my old bod is tired from Maddog’s relentless and intensive ‘Suicidal High Altitude Training Camp’! I don’t give a SHIT what Maddog says – I am taking a few days off next week to let my wasted legs and tired old bod rest and relax to get ready for a challenging race next weekend. The Estes Park Marathon – ‘the highest paved marathon in the world’!
Stay tuned for (hopefully) a better race report!
Run The Rockies
13.1 Miles
Frisco, CO
June 10/06
1:49:44 – 1AG
UGLY! PAINFUL! PATHETIC! DISGUSTING!
Those 4 words sum up the race! In hindsight I should have listened to a good friend who advised me to skip the race because of the problems I was suffering with my neck and legs! But NO – OH NO! Maddog would never skip a race he has signed up for unless he had a broken – or missing - leg!
So at 8:30 am on Sat morning I found myself on the starting line of “Run The Rockies’ Half Marathon at Copper Mtn (elev: 9600 ft). At least the weather was nice – sunny and a temp of 52 F. There were about 500 runners in a 10K and Half. The 10K is downhill and fast – the course drops 500 vertical ft to finish in Frisco, CO at 9100 ft. Everyone takes off too fast because the decline is gentle and it is possible to haul ass. The biggest problem is trying to suck up enough air/oxygen to keep the legs moving!
My plan was to run smart – a 7:30 pace for the 1st 10K and then slow down to an 8- min pace for the final 7 miles through rolling hills including 4 miles of very nasty BAHs (Bad Ass Hills). Plan didn’t last long! By mile 2 my lungs were burning and my right hip was killing me. By mile 4 my lungs were on fire and I was struggling to run an 8-min pace. I knew right then – that soon- that it was going to get very ugly and painful!
I managed to struggle past the 10K finish line in 47:39 but I was hurting! I wanted to quit and call it a day but knew there was no way to convince Maddog to quit a race once he had started so I pushed on. I crashed (hit the WALL) at mile 8 as I started into the BAHs. My legs were wasted and the right hip was really hurting! At that very moment an old fart passed me – and I didn’t care! There was just no energy left to sum up any willpower or desire to compete. I figured the only thing I could salvage out of this race was an opportunity to train the old bod to cope with the pain and fatigue. Somehow I managed to keep the wasted old legs moving – refused to walk – at a 9:30 pace through the BAHs. When I finally emerged on the return loop through the BAHs at mile 12 in 1:40:41 I was surprised to see the old fart was only ¼ mile ahead?
I was lucky – I had been granted a reprieve – an opportunity to redeem myself! I decided to quit feeling sorry for myself – to quit whining – to dig deep – to ignore the pain – to regain the willpower and desire to win - and to lower the hammer and pace back to sub 8-min! I caught the old fart around 12 ½ miles! I knew there wasn’t enough left in the wasted old legs to get into a pissing match so I wisely and quietly dropped in behind him and followed him until there was about two minutes left to the finish line. Then I made my final move! I blew past him and continued to sprint until I crossed the finish line in 1st place (AG) in a very slow and totally pathetic and unworthy time of 1:49:44! Sad News – the old fart I beat by 13 seconds turned out to be only 52 years young!
Nevertheless my time and performance was so pathetic and disgusting that I was embarrassed (once again) to go to the podium to collect the Gold Medal for 1st place in my age group. But I figured I earned it for perseverance and pain!
The only good thing to come out of that race was a clear – VERY CLEAR – realization that my legs are wasted and my old bod is tired from Maddog’s relentless and intensive ‘Suicidal High Altitude Training Camp’! I don’t give a SHIT what Maddog says – I am taking a few days off next week to let my wasted legs and tired old bod rest and relax to get ready for a challenging race next weekend. The Estes Park Marathon – ‘the highest paved marathon in the world’!
Stay tuned for (hopefully) a better race report!
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
RR Steamboat Springs
Race Report
Steamboat Springs Marathon
Steamboat Springs, CO
Sun, Jun 4/06
3:38:06 - 38 OA - 2 AG
This marathon was the first of a tough racing schedule that Maddog had established for the month of June. I looked forward to running the race because it is rated in the ‘top ten’ scenic courses in the country and I had run it and won my age group the past two years.
I had two goals:
1) Win my age group for the third straight year and defend my senior title
2) Beat my course PR of 3:44:50 (2004)
However as race date approached a few circumstances beyond my control arose that could seriously impact my goals:
1) Weather – the forecast called for hot weather with highs in the mid 80s on race day
2) Health – a few days before the race I was suffering severe neck pain. I believe it was the same problem I experienced last summer when inflammation settled in my neck. Any movement of my head caused severe pain. Of course the pain got worse on Fri night which meant I could not visit my orthoped until Mon for the Steroid Pack needed to cure the problem. In desperation I started taking Ibuprofen in spite of the high risk and history of internal bleeding that it causes to my stomach. The drug enabled me to control the pain enough to get to the start line on Sun.
On Sat the sports manager and I drove over to Steamboat Springs – an old western mining town that has been converted to a ski and summer resort for economic survival. After picking up my race packet we did our usual stroll along Main St. and bought a few more Indian artifacts to decorate our house. After a traditional pasta dinner and a few more Ibuprofen I retired to bed for the early start on Sun. I had to take two more Ibuprofen on Sun morning (on an empty stomach) to get me to the start line – and I carried two more through the race in case I needed them. However once the race started and the endorphins kicked in I felt no more pain in my neck. Those endorphins are wonderful little buggers – and you wonder why I run??
The marathon course is point-to-point so we were bussed 26 miles northwest of Steamboat to the start line at historic Hahns Peak Village at the base of an extinct volcano. The race starts at 8128 ft – drops about 100 vertical ft over the first mile and then climbs to the highest point of the course –8178 ft. at mile 2. The course then drops 1400 vertical ft over the next 18 miles although there are several rolling hills. At mile 20 the course climbs about 300 vertical feet over three miles and three BAHs (Bad Ass Hills) before dropping back down to 6728 ft at the finish line in Steamboat.
There were two races and both reached their entry limits – 500 in the Marathon and 1000 in the Half. The race started at 7:30 am. It was sunny and a warm 56 F! Knowing it would get hot I dressed in shorts and singlet and for the first time started the race without my usual garbage bag for warmth! The past two years I had gone out too fast and ended up struggling (painfully) through the BAHs and the last 5 Km. I was determined to run ‘smarter’ this year! My strategy was to run 8:15s for the first 20 miles – try to run a 9- min pace through the BAHs and then back to 8:15s for the final 5 Km. That should get me across the finish line under 3:40. If I had a good day I might try to break the course record of 3:35?
I lined up on the start line with the BIG Dogs so I could check for old farts that might be in my age group. I let them pull me through the first downhill mile in 7:50. I knew that was too fast so I started to slow my pace down but still passed mile 5 in 40:02. There were at least two ‘old farts’ in front of me and two more passed me at mile 5? Decision time! I decided to slow down and not worry about the old farts in front of me. I was running an 8-min pace and nobody in my age group had ever finished this race at that pace because of the hills and the altitude. Since those old farts were running a sub 8-min pace they were either in the 50+ age group or I would see them later (hopefully)? By the time I reached mile 10 in 1:20:30 I had settled into a smooth and easy 8:15 pace.
I passed the Half in 1:46:00 – about two minutes faster than planned/desired but I still felt good. I knew that there would not be another 1:46 in the 2nd Half because of the BAHs and the temps were starting to soar but I still managed to hold an 8:15 pace through mile 20. As I passed mile 20 in 2:43:31 and started up the 1st BAH I spotted one of the old farts that had passed me at mile 5! I couldn’t tell if he was in my age group but I had to make the assumption that he was so I decided to chase him down. I thought it would be easy because he was walking up the BAH. But he was looking back over his shoulder (for me I later found out) and when he saw me closing on him he started running and surged ahead to increase the distance between us. That didn’t concern me initially because I figured that if he was already walking he would soon fade or crash? On the 2nd BAH the same scenario evolved. He started walking up the BAH and I closed within a few hundred yards before he looked back – and immediately took off like a scared rabbit? I couldn’t understand/believe how he could run so damn fast after walking? If I start walking in a race it usually means the race is over for me?
It was getting very hot – temps near 80 F and I was beginning to get frustrated because I was holding a 9-min pace through the BAHs and yet I was not catching this guy! I decided to make my move on the 3rd and baddest BAH at mile 23. As expected he started to walk and I pushed up that BAH and mile in 8:53 – but as soon as I closed within a few hundred feet he took off again! When I crested the BAH at mile 23 in 3:10:33 I made my move. I lowered the hammer and dropped my pace to sub 8-min over the next mile! But that son-of-a gun responded and increased his lead on me! I had used a lot of energy in that push/move and I realized by then that even if I continued to push and catch him he would undoubtedly respond and we would be in a serious (and painful) pissing match to the finish line! I decided to wait for the final mile because I knew there was a short hill around 25 ½ miles. I continued to close on him slowly and when he started to walk on that hill I made my move. Son-of –bitch! He saw me closing and accelerated again! With only ½ mile to go I figured the only way I could catch him would be to push my pace to the point of crashing and if he responded when I passed him (as expected) I would have nothing left to respond.
Instead I continued to push the pace as hard as I could (w/o crashing) and followed him across the finish line in 3:38:06. After we passed through the finish chute he collapsed on the lawn of the courthouse and I walked over to congratulate him on a good race and asked his age. Damn – 61 years old! Then I was even more upset when he reminded me that we had done the same duel (with the same results) last Feb in the Orlando Marathon!
He had recognized me when he passed me at 5 miles and was expecting me to chase him down by the end of the race! Shit! I had been so focused on my pace when he passed me that I did not look at him closely and failed to recognize him!
Thus for that painful duel through the BAHs and the last 10Km he knew whom he was competing with and I wasn’t even sure he was in my age group! If I had known it was he I would have changed my strategy over that last 10Km! But I have to tip my hat off to him and pay him respect. He is a good runner and he sure can ‘gut it out’ in a race when needed! I truly hope that we meet again at another race and I recognize him – Maddog will not let him beat me a third time!!!
After the sports manager took the obligatory finish line photo we returned to the hotel for a quick hot soak and shower and then went back to the finish area to check the results. I had finished in 2nd place in our age group so all those other old farts had been in the 50+ age group. I had finished 28 seconds behind the 61-year old runner (from NJ). I had also finished 38th Overall, which is the best finish I have had in this race. I had beat my previous PR by almost 7 minutes but that was not good enough for Maddog! He was very upset that I had lost 1st Place by a mere 28 seconds! I fear that there will be a lot of extra hill work added to my training program over the next few weeks to toughen and speed me up in the hills?
Now I have to start preparing for the next race/challenge – a tough/hilly Half Marathon next Sat. The Race – called ‘Run The Rockies’ starts at 9600 ft and finishes at 9100 ft in Frisco, CO.
Stay tuned for the next race report.
Steamboat Springs Marathon
Steamboat Springs, CO
Sun, Jun 4/06
3:38:06 - 38 OA - 2 AG
This marathon was the first of a tough racing schedule that Maddog had established for the month of June. I looked forward to running the race because it is rated in the ‘top ten’ scenic courses in the country and I had run it and won my age group the past two years.
I had two goals:
1) Win my age group for the third straight year and defend my senior title
2) Beat my course PR of 3:44:50 (2004)
However as race date approached a few circumstances beyond my control arose that could seriously impact my goals:
1) Weather – the forecast called for hot weather with highs in the mid 80s on race day
2) Health – a few days before the race I was suffering severe neck pain. I believe it was the same problem I experienced last summer when inflammation settled in my neck. Any movement of my head caused severe pain. Of course the pain got worse on Fri night which meant I could not visit my orthoped until Mon for the Steroid Pack needed to cure the problem. In desperation I started taking Ibuprofen in spite of the high risk and history of internal bleeding that it causes to my stomach. The drug enabled me to control the pain enough to get to the start line on Sun.
On Sat the sports manager and I drove over to Steamboat Springs – an old western mining town that has been converted to a ski and summer resort for economic survival. After picking up my race packet we did our usual stroll along Main St. and bought a few more Indian artifacts to decorate our house. After a traditional pasta dinner and a few more Ibuprofen I retired to bed for the early start on Sun. I had to take two more Ibuprofen on Sun morning (on an empty stomach) to get me to the start line – and I carried two more through the race in case I needed them. However once the race started and the endorphins kicked in I felt no more pain in my neck. Those endorphins are wonderful little buggers – and you wonder why I run??
The marathon course is point-to-point so we were bussed 26 miles northwest of Steamboat to the start line at historic Hahns Peak Village at the base of an extinct volcano. The race starts at 8128 ft – drops about 100 vertical ft over the first mile and then climbs to the highest point of the course –8178 ft. at mile 2. The course then drops 1400 vertical ft over the next 18 miles although there are several rolling hills. At mile 20 the course climbs about 300 vertical feet over three miles and three BAHs (Bad Ass Hills) before dropping back down to 6728 ft at the finish line in Steamboat.
There were two races and both reached their entry limits – 500 in the Marathon and 1000 in the Half. The race started at 7:30 am. It was sunny and a warm 56 F! Knowing it would get hot I dressed in shorts and singlet and for the first time started the race without my usual garbage bag for warmth! The past two years I had gone out too fast and ended up struggling (painfully) through the BAHs and the last 5 Km. I was determined to run ‘smarter’ this year! My strategy was to run 8:15s for the first 20 miles – try to run a 9- min pace through the BAHs and then back to 8:15s for the final 5 Km. That should get me across the finish line under 3:40. If I had a good day I might try to break the course record of 3:35?
I lined up on the start line with the BIG Dogs so I could check for old farts that might be in my age group. I let them pull me through the first downhill mile in 7:50. I knew that was too fast so I started to slow my pace down but still passed mile 5 in 40:02. There were at least two ‘old farts’ in front of me and two more passed me at mile 5? Decision time! I decided to slow down and not worry about the old farts in front of me. I was running an 8-min pace and nobody in my age group had ever finished this race at that pace because of the hills and the altitude. Since those old farts were running a sub 8-min pace they were either in the 50+ age group or I would see them later (hopefully)? By the time I reached mile 10 in 1:20:30 I had settled into a smooth and easy 8:15 pace.
I passed the Half in 1:46:00 – about two minutes faster than planned/desired but I still felt good. I knew that there would not be another 1:46 in the 2nd Half because of the BAHs and the temps were starting to soar but I still managed to hold an 8:15 pace through mile 20. As I passed mile 20 in 2:43:31 and started up the 1st BAH I spotted one of the old farts that had passed me at mile 5! I couldn’t tell if he was in my age group but I had to make the assumption that he was so I decided to chase him down. I thought it would be easy because he was walking up the BAH. But he was looking back over his shoulder (for me I later found out) and when he saw me closing on him he started running and surged ahead to increase the distance between us. That didn’t concern me initially because I figured that if he was already walking he would soon fade or crash? On the 2nd BAH the same scenario evolved. He started walking up the BAH and I closed within a few hundred yards before he looked back – and immediately took off like a scared rabbit? I couldn’t understand/believe how he could run so damn fast after walking? If I start walking in a race it usually means the race is over for me?
It was getting very hot – temps near 80 F and I was beginning to get frustrated because I was holding a 9-min pace through the BAHs and yet I was not catching this guy! I decided to make my move on the 3rd and baddest BAH at mile 23. As expected he started to walk and I pushed up that BAH and mile in 8:53 – but as soon as I closed within a few hundred feet he took off again! When I crested the BAH at mile 23 in 3:10:33 I made my move. I lowered the hammer and dropped my pace to sub 8-min over the next mile! But that son-of-a gun responded and increased his lead on me! I had used a lot of energy in that push/move and I realized by then that even if I continued to push and catch him he would undoubtedly respond and we would be in a serious (and painful) pissing match to the finish line! I decided to wait for the final mile because I knew there was a short hill around 25 ½ miles. I continued to close on him slowly and when he started to walk on that hill I made my move. Son-of –bitch! He saw me closing and accelerated again! With only ½ mile to go I figured the only way I could catch him would be to push my pace to the point of crashing and if he responded when I passed him (as expected) I would have nothing left to respond.
Instead I continued to push the pace as hard as I could (w/o crashing) and followed him across the finish line in 3:38:06. After we passed through the finish chute he collapsed on the lawn of the courthouse and I walked over to congratulate him on a good race and asked his age. Damn – 61 years old! Then I was even more upset when he reminded me that we had done the same duel (with the same results) last Feb in the Orlando Marathon!
He had recognized me when he passed me at 5 miles and was expecting me to chase him down by the end of the race! Shit! I had been so focused on my pace when he passed me that I did not look at him closely and failed to recognize him!
Thus for that painful duel through the BAHs and the last 10Km he knew whom he was competing with and I wasn’t even sure he was in my age group! If I had known it was he I would have changed my strategy over that last 10Km! But I have to tip my hat off to him and pay him respect. He is a good runner and he sure can ‘gut it out’ in a race when needed! I truly hope that we meet again at another race and I recognize him – Maddog will not let him beat me a third time!!!
After the sports manager took the obligatory finish line photo we returned to the hotel for a quick hot soak and shower and then went back to the finish area to check the results. I had finished in 2nd place in our age group so all those other old farts had been in the 50+ age group. I had finished 28 seconds behind the 61-year old runner (from NJ). I had also finished 38th Overall, which is the best finish I have had in this race. I had beat my previous PR by almost 7 minutes but that was not good enough for Maddog! He was very upset that I had lost 1st Place by a mere 28 seconds! I fear that there will be a lot of extra hill work added to my training program over the next few weeks to toughen and speed me up in the hills?
Now I have to start preparing for the next race/challenge – a tough/hilly Half Marathon next Sat. The Race – called ‘Run The Rockies’ starts at 9600 ft and finishes at 9100 ft in Frisco, CO.
Stay tuned for the next race report.
Monday, May 22, 2006
RR Colorado Marathon
Race Report
Colorado Colfax Marathon
Denver, CO
Sun, May 21/06
Marathon # 264
3:58:39 - 1AG
Thank goodness. The third and final marathon in the past week!
As I mentioned in the two previous reports this brilliant idea originated with Maddog as a test of my marathon shape/condition prior to starting his ‘Suicidal High Altitude Training Camp’ this summer.
After running my old legs into the ground on Sat trying to win my age group at the Fargo Marathon I was not sure how much energy was left in them? And logistics didn’t help. The flight was late getting out of Fargo and arriving in Denver so it was 10 pm by the time I drove to the west end of Denver. I ate a late pasta dinner and checked into a hotel at 11 pm. I managed to get four hours of sleep since I had to wake at 3:30 am to drive to the finish line to catch a bus to the start line of the Colorado Colfax Marathon.
This was a brand new/inaugural marathon for Denver. The race started in Aurora, CO and ran along Colfax Avenue through Denver to finish at the Colorado Mills Mall in Lakewood, CO. All 26 miles of the race (except for a 1½ mile loop through Denver City Park at the mid-point) was run on Colfax Avenue – the longest continuous street in the country! The three cities had closed down all six lanes of Colfax Ave for 6 hours for the marathon! The race ran from east to west so that the runners always had a beautiful view of the Rocky Mtns to the west. The street is as straight as an arrow and the elevation starts about 5400 ft in Aurora and drops about 100 vertical feet over the first half and then climbs about 400 vertical feet in the second half – most of the elevation increase is in the last 8 miles!
As I was riding the bus to the start line I began to suffer severe stomach cramps and nausea? I figured it was the late meal, bad food or just too much stress in the past 24 hours? By the time I lined up on the start line for the 6 am start I was hoping that I would throw up and get whatever was bugging me out of my system.
I met a good running buddy (Edson) from NYC at the start line and we started the race together. The weather was sunny with a temp of 62 F and forecast to warm up to the mid 70s by the time we finished. There were about 2,800 runners in the Marathon and Half with 800 runners in the marathon. I started slow because my legs were a wee bit stiff and I needed to warm/loosen them up. We passed mile 1 in 9:00 minutes and were both sucking for air. I had hoped to average an 8:30-min pace till mile 18 and then expected to slow down as the course climbed the hills over the last 8 miles. However by the time I reached mile 5 in 43:07 I was struggling to average 8:45s and I had already left Edson behind.
I realized already that there was nothing left in my poor old legs and it was going to be an ugly/painful day. I decided to take GU gels every 3 miles in the hope that I could get some much-needed energy to my legs during the race. The stomach cramps and nausea had ceased by that time because the body had shut down all organs and systems that were not needed to survive and to run! Our bodies are pretty smart!
I realized that only experience and sheer willpower was going to get me to the finish line so I focused everything I had on blocking/ignoring the exhaustion and pain and keeping my wasted old legs moving. I passed the Half in Denver City Park in 1:53:55. Any thoughts/hopes of a 3:45 finish that I figured was necessary to win my age group were gone. I wasn’t even sure if I could hold on for a sub 4–hr finish since I still had to face the hills in the 2nd half? Somehow I managed to keep clicking off 8:45s until I reached the hills and the start of the 400 ft elevation climb to the finish. Mile 18 was a slow and painful 9:25!
I continued to climb to mile 20 in 2:57:53. I only had one hour to run the last 10K and mile 20 had been a 9:38 pace. By mile 22 I was struggling to run a 10-min pace. Mile 23 was a painfully slow 10:39 – my slowest mile of the race. Time 3:28:17! I had already conceded any chance of winning my age group but if I continued at that snail pace I wouldn’t even break 4 hrs! Fortunately Maddog took over. He did not consider it acceptable or respectable to finish slower than 4 hrs so he ignored my pleas and cries of pain and lowered the pace back to 9:30s! I knew it was pointless to argue so I just hung on and went along for the ride while trying to block the pain and feeling of total exhaustion! Thankfully mile 25 was a gentle downhill that gave the old legs a chance to recover while running a blazing 9:15 pace to pass the marker in 3:47:40.
I had 12 minutes to run the last 1¼ miles. Even though they were uphill there was no way Maddog was going to be denied his respect and he pushed my wasted old bod across the finish line at the Colorado Mills Mall in 3:58:39!!
As I walked to the car in the parking lot of the mall the stomach cramps and nausea came back and I wasn’t sure if I could make it to the car w/o another swan dive like I did in Boston a few years back? So I laid down in the parking lot for a few minutes and recovered enough to walk to the car, get my camera and walk back to the finish line for the customary finish line photo. The results weren’t posted yet so I decided to go back to the hotel for a long hot soak and to get some coke and chocolate (sugar) into my system because I knew my blood sugar level was alarmingly low!
The hot bath and sugar made me feel much better but the stomach cramps would not go away? I wasn’t really keen on going back to the finish area to learn how badly I had done but I figured I should stop and check. I was totally shocked (almost embarrassed) to learn that my time of 3:58 won 1st place (out of 17) and established the course record for my age group! At first I felt like I didn’t earn/deserve it but then I remembered how much pain I had suffered and endured to get to the finish line and decided that maybe I had earned it for perseverance? But next year I plan to go back with fresh legs and run a better and more respectable race. I know I can take at least 15 minutes off my time!!
The stomach cramps and nausea worsened after the race and robbed me of a much-anticipated reward – a few Colorado microbrews in my hot tub!
I am now back in Paradise/High Country. The stomach cramps and nausea lasted until Mon so I don’t know what caused that problem and I hope it never returns? I can’t say that I am happy with my performance on this 3rd marathon. I was happy just to finish alive! Maddog was disappointed and furious! He did not give me high marks for my marathon shape/condition based on his test of three marathons in the past week. I guess that two –1st places, one course record and one – 2nd place do not meet his high standards/expectations? I fear that my training program has now become harder? And Maddog’s ‘Suicidal High Altitude Training Camp’ starts this week. Anyone care to join me? I have to get ready quickly for four mountain/high altitude races in the Rocky Mtns in June – one each weekend! Nothing but 1st place in each race will appease Maddog!
Stay tuned for the race reports.
Race Review:
A good race for an inaugural marathon.
Good website.
Expo was well organized and had some good deals on running gear.
The course was well organized. Good traffic control (we had 3 lanes of Colfax to ourselves with no cars). Water stops and digital clocks every mile. Lots of spectators along the course.
Only a few minor negatives – poor course control at the relay exchange points – had to fight our way through relay runners at some exchanges!
Award ceremony was held at 4 pm in Denver and they would not give out any awards at the finish area to those who could not go to the ceremony. Hope they mail my award to me?
Colorado Colfax Marathon
Denver, CO
Sun, May 21/06
Marathon # 264
3:58:39 - 1AG
Thank goodness. The third and final marathon in the past week!
As I mentioned in the two previous reports this brilliant idea originated with Maddog as a test of my marathon shape/condition prior to starting his ‘Suicidal High Altitude Training Camp’ this summer.
After running my old legs into the ground on Sat trying to win my age group at the Fargo Marathon I was not sure how much energy was left in them? And logistics didn’t help. The flight was late getting out of Fargo and arriving in Denver so it was 10 pm by the time I drove to the west end of Denver. I ate a late pasta dinner and checked into a hotel at 11 pm. I managed to get four hours of sleep since I had to wake at 3:30 am to drive to the finish line to catch a bus to the start line of the Colorado Colfax Marathon.
This was a brand new/inaugural marathon for Denver. The race started in Aurora, CO and ran along Colfax Avenue through Denver to finish at the Colorado Mills Mall in Lakewood, CO. All 26 miles of the race (except for a 1½ mile loop through Denver City Park at the mid-point) was run on Colfax Avenue – the longest continuous street in the country! The three cities had closed down all six lanes of Colfax Ave for 6 hours for the marathon! The race ran from east to west so that the runners always had a beautiful view of the Rocky Mtns to the west. The street is as straight as an arrow and the elevation starts about 5400 ft in Aurora and drops about 100 vertical feet over the first half and then climbs about 400 vertical feet in the second half – most of the elevation increase is in the last 8 miles!
As I was riding the bus to the start line I began to suffer severe stomach cramps and nausea? I figured it was the late meal, bad food or just too much stress in the past 24 hours? By the time I lined up on the start line for the 6 am start I was hoping that I would throw up and get whatever was bugging me out of my system.
I met a good running buddy (Edson) from NYC at the start line and we started the race together. The weather was sunny with a temp of 62 F and forecast to warm up to the mid 70s by the time we finished. There were about 2,800 runners in the Marathon and Half with 800 runners in the marathon. I started slow because my legs were a wee bit stiff and I needed to warm/loosen them up. We passed mile 1 in 9:00 minutes and were both sucking for air. I had hoped to average an 8:30-min pace till mile 18 and then expected to slow down as the course climbed the hills over the last 8 miles. However by the time I reached mile 5 in 43:07 I was struggling to average 8:45s and I had already left Edson behind.
I realized already that there was nothing left in my poor old legs and it was going to be an ugly/painful day. I decided to take GU gels every 3 miles in the hope that I could get some much-needed energy to my legs during the race. The stomach cramps and nausea had ceased by that time because the body had shut down all organs and systems that were not needed to survive and to run! Our bodies are pretty smart!
I realized that only experience and sheer willpower was going to get me to the finish line so I focused everything I had on blocking/ignoring the exhaustion and pain and keeping my wasted old legs moving. I passed the Half in Denver City Park in 1:53:55. Any thoughts/hopes of a 3:45 finish that I figured was necessary to win my age group were gone. I wasn’t even sure if I could hold on for a sub 4–hr finish since I still had to face the hills in the 2nd half? Somehow I managed to keep clicking off 8:45s until I reached the hills and the start of the 400 ft elevation climb to the finish. Mile 18 was a slow and painful 9:25!
I continued to climb to mile 20 in 2:57:53. I only had one hour to run the last 10K and mile 20 had been a 9:38 pace. By mile 22 I was struggling to run a 10-min pace. Mile 23 was a painfully slow 10:39 – my slowest mile of the race. Time 3:28:17! I had already conceded any chance of winning my age group but if I continued at that snail pace I wouldn’t even break 4 hrs! Fortunately Maddog took over. He did not consider it acceptable or respectable to finish slower than 4 hrs so he ignored my pleas and cries of pain and lowered the pace back to 9:30s! I knew it was pointless to argue so I just hung on and went along for the ride while trying to block the pain and feeling of total exhaustion! Thankfully mile 25 was a gentle downhill that gave the old legs a chance to recover while running a blazing 9:15 pace to pass the marker in 3:47:40.
I had 12 minutes to run the last 1¼ miles. Even though they were uphill there was no way Maddog was going to be denied his respect and he pushed my wasted old bod across the finish line at the Colorado Mills Mall in 3:58:39!!
As I walked to the car in the parking lot of the mall the stomach cramps and nausea came back and I wasn’t sure if I could make it to the car w/o another swan dive like I did in Boston a few years back? So I laid down in the parking lot for a few minutes and recovered enough to walk to the car, get my camera and walk back to the finish line for the customary finish line photo. The results weren’t posted yet so I decided to go back to the hotel for a long hot soak and to get some coke and chocolate (sugar) into my system because I knew my blood sugar level was alarmingly low!
The hot bath and sugar made me feel much better but the stomach cramps would not go away? I wasn’t really keen on going back to the finish area to learn how badly I had done but I figured I should stop and check. I was totally shocked (almost embarrassed) to learn that my time of 3:58 won 1st place (out of 17) and established the course record for my age group! At first I felt like I didn’t earn/deserve it but then I remembered how much pain I had suffered and endured to get to the finish line and decided that maybe I had earned it for perseverance? But next year I plan to go back with fresh legs and run a better and more respectable race. I know I can take at least 15 minutes off my time!!
The stomach cramps and nausea worsened after the race and robbed me of a much-anticipated reward – a few Colorado microbrews in my hot tub!
I am now back in Paradise/High Country. The stomach cramps and nausea lasted until Mon so I don’t know what caused that problem and I hope it never returns? I can’t say that I am happy with my performance on this 3rd marathon. I was happy just to finish alive! Maddog was disappointed and furious! He did not give me high marks for my marathon shape/condition based on his test of three marathons in the past week. I guess that two –1st places, one course record and one – 2nd place do not meet his high standards/expectations? I fear that my training program has now become harder? And Maddog’s ‘Suicidal High Altitude Training Camp’ starts this week. Anyone care to join me? I have to get ready quickly for four mountain/high altitude races in the Rocky Mtns in June – one each weekend! Nothing but 1st place in each race will appease Maddog!
Stay tuned for the race reports.
Race Review:
A good race for an inaugural marathon.
Good website.
Expo was well organized and had some good deals on running gear.
The course was well organized. Good traffic control (we had 3 lanes of Colfax to ourselves with no cars). Water stops and digital clocks every mile. Lots of spectators along the course.
Only a few minor negatives – poor course control at the relay exchange points – had to fight our way through relay runners at some exchanges!
Award ceremony was held at 4 pm in Denver and they would not give out any awards at the finish area to those who could not go to the ceremony. Hope they mail my award to me?
RR Fargo Marathon
Race Report
Fargo Marathon
Fargo, ND
Sat, May 20/06
#263 – State #43 (2nd loop)
3:31:45 - 2 AG
This marathon was the only race I had scheduled for May (to run the 43rd state on my 2nd loop around the 50 States) until Maddog decided to add two ‘surprise’ marathons – one before and one after Fargo but all in the same week – to test my marathon condition.
I researched last year’s race to find the winning time for the 60(+)-year old runners – 3:37. Thus I figured I needed to run between 3:30 and 3:35 to win my age group. On the way to the airport in Denver on Fri morning I had to stop in downtown Denver to pick up my race packet for the Colorado Colfax Marathon on Sun.
I arrived in Fargo on Fri evening in time to pick up my race packet at the Fargodome and then eat a traditional pasta dinner before retiring to bed. Sat was ‘M’ day. The race started at the Fargodome at 8am. The weather was overcast with a temp of 52 F. There was a brief rain burst about 10 minutes before the start but it stopped and never rained during the race. The biggest negative factor was a strong wind blowing at 20 to 30 mph from the North. It was a bigger race than expected – about 2600 runners with 1000 in the Marathon and 1600 in the Half.
The course headed south through the campus of North Dakota State University and the old historic downtown area of Fargo so the wind was behind us for the first 10 miles. With the aid of a tail wind I passed mile 1 in 7:45 but at that point was passed by another old fart. I decided not to push the pace any faster but to keep him in sight and see if he was ‘for real’? I passed him back as I reached mile 3 in 23:30 – but then a 2nd old fart passed me. I kept him in sight as we passed mile 10 in 1:18:52. He was not slowing so he was ‘for real’. At that point the course turned 180 degrees and headed North to Moorhead, MN – directly into the wind! It was brutal! I decided it was necessary and smarter to find a pack of young runners to follow and draft behind rather than waste energy fighting the wind on my own. I would draft behind a runner (or runners) for a few miles but then they would tire and I would have to surge ahead and find another pack to hide behind. I passed the Half in 1:43:37. I was ahead of schedule but figured the wind would definitely slow the 2nd half. I passed mile 15 in 1:58:56 – still under an 8-min pace and the old fart was still in sight but he was not running smart. He was fighting the strong headwind on his own!
I was starting to tire but had dropped behind a group of three young runners who were running a steady 8-min pace and I figured it was smarter to continue to draft behind them rather than slow down and fight the headwind on my own. By mile 19 my wind blockers had decreased to one runner and we had closed on the old fart in front of me. I reached mile 20 in 2:39:43 and passed the old fart as we crossed a timing mat. But it cost me dearly! To make sure he didn’t try to respond or drop in behind us to draft I surged ahead for the next ½ mile and left him behind. But now I had no wind blocker. I couldn’t find a runner to draft behind and my pace dropped to 8:30s as I struggled into the gusting wind!
I tried drafting behind a young female runner. The scenery was nice but she was too small to block much wind. As we passed mile 23 in 3:05:04 I asked her when we would finally get to turn back south again and have a tailwind? She said around 24 ½ miles! So I struggled on by myself but decided not to push the pace back down to sub 8s because I figured I was probably in 1st place in my age group and didn’t want to use up any more energy than necessary because I needed to save as much as possible for the race on Sun.
Finally the course turned south at 24 ½ miles and I was able to drop the pace to 8:15s with the tailwind and cross the finish line inside the Fargodome in 3:31:45.
The university had set up a bank of computers for the runners to have immediate access to the results. I was very happy with my time until I learned that it was only good enough for 2nd place (out of 35) in my age group! I couldn’t believe the results until I discovered that the age group was unusual/non-standard – 58 to 63 – and I had been beat to the finish line by a 58-year old youngster. When I had researched last year’s results I had naively (and mistakenly) assumed the age group was the usual 60 to 64? Maddog was pretty upset! I was frustrated that I had wasted so much energy for an unsatisfactory result that could have been better saved for the race on Sun. At that point I was more concerned about how much was left in the old legs for the marathon on Sun?
After a quick hot soak and shower I decided to explore Fargo while I waited for my evening flight back to Denver. That took about two hours including lunch – there is not much to see or do in Fargo! So I decided to go back to the Fargodome for the awards ceremony at 5 pm. Unfortunately they did not start on time and I had to leave before collecting my award. I really didn’t want a ‘2nd place’ award but they did look nice – etched glass. Although I hadn’t succeeded in my goal of winning the age group because of the stupid/unfair age categories I had run a smart race and was pleased with both my time and performance.
But now it was time to catch my flight to Denver and get ready for the next marathon – and the final race of Maddog’s test!
Stay tuned for the next report!
Race Review:
The race is well organized.
The website is good and informative. (it was probably my own fault that I didn’t realize the strange age group categories)
About 50% of the runners are 50+ years old so old farts should expect lots of competition
The course is flat and fast but has a lot of turns. Traffic control was good. There were lots of water stops and the volunteers were very supportive.
It appears that there is always a North wind in Fargo at that time of year so be prepared to run against a strong wind!
The finish inside the Fargodome is nice. No waiting around in the cold or unpleasant weather.
The computer access for race results was great.
Only two minor complaints:
a) the unfair/stupid age group categories
b) the very late award ceremony ( I believe in the hope that most runners will stay an extra night in Fargo?)
Fargo Marathon
Fargo, ND
Sat, May 20/06
#263 – State #43 (2nd loop)
3:31:45 - 2 AG
This marathon was the only race I had scheduled for May (to run the 43rd state on my 2nd loop around the 50 States) until Maddog decided to add two ‘surprise’ marathons – one before and one after Fargo but all in the same week – to test my marathon condition.
I researched last year’s race to find the winning time for the 60(+)-year old runners – 3:37. Thus I figured I needed to run between 3:30 and 3:35 to win my age group. On the way to the airport in Denver on Fri morning I had to stop in downtown Denver to pick up my race packet for the Colorado Colfax Marathon on Sun.
I arrived in Fargo on Fri evening in time to pick up my race packet at the Fargodome and then eat a traditional pasta dinner before retiring to bed. Sat was ‘M’ day. The race started at the Fargodome at 8am. The weather was overcast with a temp of 52 F. There was a brief rain burst about 10 minutes before the start but it stopped and never rained during the race. The biggest negative factor was a strong wind blowing at 20 to 30 mph from the North. It was a bigger race than expected – about 2600 runners with 1000 in the Marathon and 1600 in the Half.
The course headed south through the campus of North Dakota State University and the old historic downtown area of Fargo so the wind was behind us for the first 10 miles. With the aid of a tail wind I passed mile 1 in 7:45 but at that point was passed by another old fart. I decided not to push the pace any faster but to keep him in sight and see if he was ‘for real’? I passed him back as I reached mile 3 in 23:30 – but then a 2nd old fart passed me. I kept him in sight as we passed mile 10 in 1:18:52. He was not slowing so he was ‘for real’. At that point the course turned 180 degrees and headed North to Moorhead, MN – directly into the wind! It was brutal! I decided it was necessary and smarter to find a pack of young runners to follow and draft behind rather than waste energy fighting the wind on my own. I would draft behind a runner (or runners) for a few miles but then they would tire and I would have to surge ahead and find another pack to hide behind. I passed the Half in 1:43:37. I was ahead of schedule but figured the wind would definitely slow the 2nd half. I passed mile 15 in 1:58:56 – still under an 8-min pace and the old fart was still in sight but he was not running smart. He was fighting the strong headwind on his own!
I was starting to tire but had dropped behind a group of three young runners who were running a steady 8-min pace and I figured it was smarter to continue to draft behind them rather than slow down and fight the headwind on my own. By mile 19 my wind blockers had decreased to one runner and we had closed on the old fart in front of me. I reached mile 20 in 2:39:43 and passed the old fart as we crossed a timing mat. But it cost me dearly! To make sure he didn’t try to respond or drop in behind us to draft I surged ahead for the next ½ mile and left him behind. But now I had no wind blocker. I couldn’t find a runner to draft behind and my pace dropped to 8:30s as I struggled into the gusting wind!
I tried drafting behind a young female runner. The scenery was nice but she was too small to block much wind. As we passed mile 23 in 3:05:04 I asked her when we would finally get to turn back south again and have a tailwind? She said around 24 ½ miles! So I struggled on by myself but decided not to push the pace back down to sub 8s because I figured I was probably in 1st place in my age group and didn’t want to use up any more energy than necessary because I needed to save as much as possible for the race on Sun.
Finally the course turned south at 24 ½ miles and I was able to drop the pace to 8:15s with the tailwind and cross the finish line inside the Fargodome in 3:31:45.
The university had set up a bank of computers for the runners to have immediate access to the results. I was very happy with my time until I learned that it was only good enough for 2nd place (out of 35) in my age group! I couldn’t believe the results until I discovered that the age group was unusual/non-standard – 58 to 63 – and I had been beat to the finish line by a 58-year old youngster. When I had researched last year’s results I had naively (and mistakenly) assumed the age group was the usual 60 to 64? Maddog was pretty upset! I was frustrated that I had wasted so much energy for an unsatisfactory result that could have been better saved for the race on Sun. At that point I was more concerned about how much was left in the old legs for the marathon on Sun?
After a quick hot soak and shower I decided to explore Fargo while I waited for my evening flight back to Denver. That took about two hours including lunch – there is not much to see or do in Fargo! So I decided to go back to the Fargodome for the awards ceremony at 5 pm. Unfortunately they did not start on time and I had to leave before collecting my award. I really didn’t want a ‘2nd place’ award but they did look nice – etched glass. Although I hadn’t succeeded in my goal of winning the age group because of the stupid/unfair age categories I had run a smart race and was pleased with both my time and performance.
But now it was time to catch my flight to Denver and get ready for the next marathon – and the final race of Maddog’s test!
Stay tuned for the next report!
Race Review:
The race is well organized.
The website is good and informative. (it was probably my own fault that I didn’t realize the strange age group categories)
About 50% of the runners are 50+ years old so old farts should expect lots of competition
The course is flat and fast but has a lot of turns. Traffic control was good. There were lots of water stops and the volunteers were very supportive.
It appears that there is always a North wind in Fargo at that time of year so be prepared to run against a strong wind!
The finish inside the Fargodome is nice. No waiting around in the cold or unpleasant weather.
The computer access for race results was great.
Only two minor complaints:
a) the unfair/stupid age group categories
b) the very late award ceremony ( I believe in the hope that most runners will stay an extra night in Fargo?)
Monday, May 15, 2006
RR Lake Geneva Marathon
Race Report
Lake Geneva Marathon
Lake Geneva, WI
Sat, May 13/06
Marathon #262 State # 42 (2nd loop)
3:48:17 - 22 OA – 1 AG
This marathon was not on my 2006 Marathon Schedule. My first (and only) marathon in May was scheduled for May 20th in ND. However Maddog decided to add a surprise marathon in Wisconsin for two reasons:
a) to add another state to the list of 50 States completed for the 2nd time (# 42)
b) to test my marathon condition prior to starting the summer training program in the Rocky Mtns by running three marathons in one week
So three days after driving from Florida to our summer home in the Rocky Mtns I found myself on an airplane flying to Chicago where I rented a car and drove 75 miles northwest to Lake Geneva, WI. I had never been to Lake Geneva. It is a very pretty area. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate. A huge storm front had stalled over the central states and it had been raining for 2 days and continued to rain for the 3 days I visited.
I arrived in Lake Geneva around 8 pm on Fri night – just in time to collect my race package and enjoy a traditional pasta dinner before retiring to bed for the marathon on Sat morning. The race started on the Lakefront Bridge in downtown Lake Geneva at 8 am. The biggest dilemma was what to wear? The forecast called for rain and temps in the low to high 40s F. It was 43 F at 8 am with only a light drizzle. I decided to wear a long sleeve T-shirt and shorts but soon regretted that choice as I was overheated by 3 miles!
The race information described the course as very hilly and challenging? I talked to a few local runners at the start line who informed me that there were hills throughout the entire course and some very steep BAHs (Bad Ass Hills) from miles 14 to 18! I decided that my strategy would be to run an 8:30 pace until I got through the BAHs and then see how I felt for the last 10K?
There were several different races and the Marathon and Half Marathon started together at 8 am with about 800 runners (maybe 200 runners in the marathon)? The course started at lake level and immediately started to climb hills along the south shore of the lake. I passed through the 3-mile mark in 24:42 - a bit too fast! Also problems with the course started to appear. There seemed to be two sets of mile markers at some places and no markers in others? I figured there was an old and new set. Not being sure which was correct I just decided to use the first ones I passed? I slowed my pace and passed 5 miles in 41:29. At 7 ½ miles the marathon and Half split off. The half marathon runners ran a straight tangent along the lake while the marathoners turned south and ran an extra 2 miles before everyone rejoined about the 12 mile mark of the marathon (10 mile mark of the Half). Although the turn-off was marked there was no race marshal or official confirming that the marathoners made the turn. It was easy for a runner to take 2 miles off the marathon?
I did make the turn and suddenly it got very lonely? I could only see 5 runners in front of me and I passed 4 of them before we rejoined the Half marathoners. It seemed strange when I rejoined the runners in the Half because those runners were running a 10-min pace and I was blowing by them at an 8:30 pace? I passed the (marathon) Half in 1:49:50. It started to rain at that point and continued to rain for the remainder of the race but it didn’t really have any effect since we were already soaked. I felt comfortable because I was just under an 8:30 pace. The BAHs started around mile 14 as promised but they were mostly downhill as the course descended to the finish line of the Half marathon at lake level in Fontana. After I passed the finish line of the Half (15 miles in the marathon) the confusion and race got worse! I must have passed that 5th marathon runner by mile 15 because all of a sudden I was completely alone! I couldn’t see any runners in front or behind me? This was not good because now I would really have to concentrate on looking for the course markings that were almost non-existent. And the course started to climb hills from lake level along the north shore of the lake. And they were very steep BAHs! I refused to walk and struggled to keep the old legs moving as I climbed several BAHs! I had to focus on blocking pain and keeping my legs moving - not looking for course markings but I did manage to find some markings but no mile markers until mile 17 which I passed in 2:21:56. However about 5 minutes later I had still not seen any other runners and no course markings and became concerned that I had missed a turn and was lost. I stopped and was on the verge of retracing my route when I finally noticed an arrow/marker on the side of the road and decided to continue along that road? Fortunately as I approached a very steep BAH near mile 18 I saw another runner which made me happy for two reasons:
a) I must still be on the marathon course or we were both lost
b) He looked like an old fart and he was walking up the BAH
I charged up the BAH and as I passed him I figured he was not in my age group –probably 55-59? He tried to respond and stay with me but I continued to charge the hill and buried him! Shortly after I crested the BAH I reached a water stop at mile 18 in 2:29:55. I was still on course but all alone again!
The next 3 miles were confusing and course markers were scarce. There were no race volunteers and I resorted to asking people walking along the streets if I was on the marathon course. Some didn’t know – others confirmed that I was and I just had to trust that they were right. I finally found another mile marker at mile 21 (2:55:14). I figured even if I slowed to a 9-min pace I should finish in 3:40? But at that point the confusion and course went from bad to worse as the course turned off the paved roads on to a ‘phantom’ path along the edge of the lake! I say ‘phantom’ because it wasn’t really a well-defined or public path? It was a path along the edge of the lake though the lawns of private homes on the lake. The path was a few feet wide and made of bricks or flagstones or crushed stones and in some places just grass? After running along this phantom path – with absolutely no course markings for about a mile - the path abruptly ended? I figured I must have missed a marker or turn? I decided I had no choice but to turn around and retrace my steps and look for a turn? Fortunately I had only retraced about 100 yards when a kind homeowner realized that I was confused (or lost) and came out to tell me to turn back around and continue across the lawns where the path ended and I would find the ‘phantom’ path again. He was right. This guessing game continued (with much concern) for another few miles. I was lucky that each time I became concerned that I was indeed lost I would come across a homeowner who would verify that I was still on the marathon course and to continue along the edge of the lake.
Since there were no course or mileage markers on this long section of ‘phantom’ path I had no idea how far the finish line was? After 30 minutes of running on the ‘phantom’ path I figured I must have passed the 24-mile mark? WRONG! About that time I finally did reach a race volunteer who directed me to make a turn off the ‘phantom’ path up to a paved road. He informed me that I had about 1-½ miles to the finish line. However after running for a few minutes on the paved road I reached a mile marker – mile 24!!! Time – 3:27:25! It had taken 32:11 to run from mile marker 21 to 24??? That was not possible unless:
a) the markers were wrong
b) I had indeed got lost and ran extra mileage along the phantom path
c) That section of the course was long – about ½ to ¾ mile long??
It didn’t matter. Even if I ran an 8:30 pace for the last 2 miles I would not break 3:45! I was so disgusted with the race and the course at that point that I decided it made no sense to try to push the pace to make up time! There were still no runners in front or behind me so I decided to jog/cruise the last 2 miles and save my energy for the races next week. Shortly after I began to catch up to walkers? They were walking the marathon course and had started 2 hours early. At least I confirmed that I was still on the marathon course. I passed several walkers in the next mile and at mile 25 the course turned back to the lake - and the ‘phantom’ path! I didn’t care at that point and anyways there were some spectators along that section who kept assuring me that I was on the marathon course.
I crossed the finish line – wet and very pissed off in 3:48:17! At first I wanted to find the race director and kill him - or at least tear a piece off his incompetent ass but I figured that was a waste of my time and energy.
Instead I walked back to my car to get my camera for the obligatory finish line photo and wait for the results to be posted. I talked to several runners who finished before and after me and they all had the same complaints. “The course was poorly managed and marked – they had gotten lost- the course had to be about 1 mile long because they finished about 10 to 15 minutes slower than expected?” After waiting 30 minutes in the rain and cold for the results I decided that they weren’t going to get posted in my lifetime so I retreated to my hotel for a much-needed hot soak to soothe my legs and warm me up. I later returned to the finish area for the awards ceremony. Surprisingly they had posted the results? I had finished 22nd overall and won my age group! The old fart I had passed was indeed in the 55-59 age group and had placed 1st. However he must have crashed or got lost because he finished 16 minutes behind me? I was shocked to learn that 2nd place in my age group finished 50 minutes behind me? Obviously everybody had a bad day on that poorly managed course.
I did collect one of their lame awards – a choice of a baseball cap or a portable 6-pack cooler. I took the cooler!
I am trying not to let myself get upset about this bad experience! It was one of the most poorly organized races and the worst managed course I have ever had the displeasure of running! I will never run it again and I strongly advise/warn all runners to avoid this marathon! There are many other marathons in WI that are better!
Maddog keeps reminding me that there is always an upside to every case of misfortune or adversity. In this case the good news is that since I ran smart and slow my legs were not tired or trashed at the end of the race and should be in good shape for his next challenge: back-to-back marathons next weekend. And the toughest part of the challenge is that he expects me to win my age group in both races!
Stay tuned for the race reports!
Lake Geneva Marathon
Lake Geneva, WI
Sat, May 13/06
Marathon #262 State # 42 (2nd loop)
3:48:17 - 22 OA – 1 AG
This marathon was not on my 2006 Marathon Schedule. My first (and only) marathon in May was scheduled for May 20th in ND. However Maddog decided to add a surprise marathon in Wisconsin for two reasons:
a) to add another state to the list of 50 States completed for the 2nd time (# 42)
b) to test my marathon condition prior to starting the summer training program in the Rocky Mtns by running three marathons in one week
So three days after driving from Florida to our summer home in the Rocky Mtns I found myself on an airplane flying to Chicago where I rented a car and drove 75 miles northwest to Lake Geneva, WI. I had never been to Lake Geneva. It is a very pretty area. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate. A huge storm front had stalled over the central states and it had been raining for 2 days and continued to rain for the 3 days I visited.
I arrived in Lake Geneva around 8 pm on Fri night – just in time to collect my race package and enjoy a traditional pasta dinner before retiring to bed for the marathon on Sat morning. The race started on the Lakefront Bridge in downtown Lake Geneva at 8 am. The biggest dilemma was what to wear? The forecast called for rain and temps in the low to high 40s F. It was 43 F at 8 am with only a light drizzle. I decided to wear a long sleeve T-shirt and shorts but soon regretted that choice as I was overheated by 3 miles!
The race information described the course as very hilly and challenging? I talked to a few local runners at the start line who informed me that there were hills throughout the entire course and some very steep BAHs (Bad Ass Hills) from miles 14 to 18! I decided that my strategy would be to run an 8:30 pace until I got through the BAHs and then see how I felt for the last 10K?
There were several different races and the Marathon and Half Marathon started together at 8 am with about 800 runners (maybe 200 runners in the marathon)? The course started at lake level and immediately started to climb hills along the south shore of the lake. I passed through the 3-mile mark in 24:42 - a bit too fast! Also problems with the course started to appear. There seemed to be two sets of mile markers at some places and no markers in others? I figured there was an old and new set. Not being sure which was correct I just decided to use the first ones I passed? I slowed my pace and passed 5 miles in 41:29. At 7 ½ miles the marathon and Half split off. The half marathon runners ran a straight tangent along the lake while the marathoners turned south and ran an extra 2 miles before everyone rejoined about the 12 mile mark of the marathon (10 mile mark of the Half). Although the turn-off was marked there was no race marshal or official confirming that the marathoners made the turn. It was easy for a runner to take 2 miles off the marathon?
I did make the turn and suddenly it got very lonely? I could only see 5 runners in front of me and I passed 4 of them before we rejoined the Half marathoners. It seemed strange when I rejoined the runners in the Half because those runners were running a 10-min pace and I was blowing by them at an 8:30 pace? I passed the (marathon) Half in 1:49:50. It started to rain at that point and continued to rain for the remainder of the race but it didn’t really have any effect since we were already soaked. I felt comfortable because I was just under an 8:30 pace. The BAHs started around mile 14 as promised but they were mostly downhill as the course descended to the finish line of the Half marathon at lake level in Fontana. After I passed the finish line of the Half (15 miles in the marathon) the confusion and race got worse! I must have passed that 5th marathon runner by mile 15 because all of a sudden I was completely alone! I couldn’t see any runners in front or behind me? This was not good because now I would really have to concentrate on looking for the course markings that were almost non-existent. And the course started to climb hills from lake level along the north shore of the lake. And they were very steep BAHs! I refused to walk and struggled to keep the old legs moving as I climbed several BAHs! I had to focus on blocking pain and keeping my legs moving - not looking for course markings but I did manage to find some markings but no mile markers until mile 17 which I passed in 2:21:56. However about 5 minutes later I had still not seen any other runners and no course markings and became concerned that I had missed a turn and was lost. I stopped and was on the verge of retracing my route when I finally noticed an arrow/marker on the side of the road and decided to continue along that road? Fortunately as I approached a very steep BAH near mile 18 I saw another runner which made me happy for two reasons:
a) I must still be on the marathon course or we were both lost
b) He looked like an old fart and he was walking up the BAH
I charged up the BAH and as I passed him I figured he was not in my age group –probably 55-59? He tried to respond and stay with me but I continued to charge the hill and buried him! Shortly after I crested the BAH I reached a water stop at mile 18 in 2:29:55. I was still on course but all alone again!
The next 3 miles were confusing and course markers were scarce. There were no race volunteers and I resorted to asking people walking along the streets if I was on the marathon course. Some didn’t know – others confirmed that I was and I just had to trust that they were right. I finally found another mile marker at mile 21 (2:55:14). I figured even if I slowed to a 9-min pace I should finish in 3:40? But at that point the confusion and course went from bad to worse as the course turned off the paved roads on to a ‘phantom’ path along the edge of the lake! I say ‘phantom’ because it wasn’t really a well-defined or public path? It was a path along the edge of the lake though the lawns of private homes on the lake. The path was a few feet wide and made of bricks or flagstones or crushed stones and in some places just grass? After running along this phantom path – with absolutely no course markings for about a mile - the path abruptly ended? I figured I must have missed a marker or turn? I decided I had no choice but to turn around and retrace my steps and look for a turn? Fortunately I had only retraced about 100 yards when a kind homeowner realized that I was confused (or lost) and came out to tell me to turn back around and continue across the lawns where the path ended and I would find the ‘phantom’ path again. He was right. This guessing game continued (with much concern) for another few miles. I was lucky that each time I became concerned that I was indeed lost I would come across a homeowner who would verify that I was still on the marathon course and to continue along the edge of the lake.
Since there were no course or mileage markers on this long section of ‘phantom’ path I had no idea how far the finish line was? After 30 minutes of running on the ‘phantom’ path I figured I must have passed the 24-mile mark? WRONG! About that time I finally did reach a race volunteer who directed me to make a turn off the ‘phantom’ path up to a paved road. He informed me that I had about 1-½ miles to the finish line. However after running for a few minutes on the paved road I reached a mile marker – mile 24!!! Time – 3:27:25! It had taken 32:11 to run from mile marker 21 to 24??? That was not possible unless:
a) the markers were wrong
b) I had indeed got lost and ran extra mileage along the phantom path
c) That section of the course was long – about ½ to ¾ mile long??
It didn’t matter. Even if I ran an 8:30 pace for the last 2 miles I would not break 3:45! I was so disgusted with the race and the course at that point that I decided it made no sense to try to push the pace to make up time! There were still no runners in front or behind me so I decided to jog/cruise the last 2 miles and save my energy for the races next week. Shortly after I began to catch up to walkers? They were walking the marathon course and had started 2 hours early. At least I confirmed that I was still on the marathon course. I passed several walkers in the next mile and at mile 25 the course turned back to the lake - and the ‘phantom’ path! I didn’t care at that point and anyways there were some spectators along that section who kept assuring me that I was on the marathon course.
I crossed the finish line – wet and very pissed off in 3:48:17! At first I wanted to find the race director and kill him - or at least tear a piece off his incompetent ass but I figured that was a waste of my time and energy.
Instead I walked back to my car to get my camera for the obligatory finish line photo and wait for the results to be posted. I talked to several runners who finished before and after me and they all had the same complaints. “The course was poorly managed and marked – they had gotten lost- the course had to be about 1 mile long because they finished about 10 to 15 minutes slower than expected?” After waiting 30 minutes in the rain and cold for the results I decided that they weren’t going to get posted in my lifetime so I retreated to my hotel for a much-needed hot soak to soothe my legs and warm me up. I later returned to the finish area for the awards ceremony. Surprisingly they had posted the results? I had finished 22nd overall and won my age group! The old fart I had passed was indeed in the 55-59 age group and had placed 1st. However he must have crashed or got lost because he finished 16 minutes behind me? I was shocked to learn that 2nd place in my age group finished 50 minutes behind me? Obviously everybody had a bad day on that poorly managed course.
I did collect one of their lame awards – a choice of a baseball cap or a portable 6-pack cooler. I took the cooler!
I am trying not to let myself get upset about this bad experience! It was one of the most poorly organized races and the worst managed course I have ever had the displeasure of running! I will never run it again and I strongly advise/warn all runners to avoid this marathon! There are many other marathons in WI that are better!
Maddog keeps reminding me that there is always an upside to every case of misfortune or adversity. In this case the good news is that since I ran smart and slow my legs were not tired or trashed at the end of the race and should be in good shape for his next challenge: back-to-back marathons next weekend. And the toughest part of the challenge is that he expects me to win my age group in both races!
Stay tuned for the race reports!
Monday, April 24, 2006
RR France to Germany Marathon
Race Report
France to Germany Marathon
French Lick, IN
Sun, Apr 23/06
Marathon #261 – State # 41 (2nd loop)
3:36:01 1AG
I decided to run this marathon in order to continue my quest to finish the 50 States for a 2nd time. As a side note I finished the 1st loop of the 50 States in Indiana – the Hoosier Marathon - in Ft Wayne on June 11/95. It took me 4 years to run the 1st loop - I am now approaching my 11th year on the 2nd loop and I figure it will take me at least another year to finish. I am beginning to get frustrated/bored with this quest (see how careful I am not to use the word ‘goal’ because then I would become obsessive about it!) because it really doesn’t interest or motivate me! “Been there – done that!”
This trip and race also had some unfortunate/unplanned similarities to the 1st loop. I had initially planned the trip as a one-day trip with a late return on Sun night to give me lots of time to run the race and drive the 120 miles back to Indianapolis to catch a plane. However the airline advised me about three weeks before the trip that the flight was changed from 6 pm to 2:45 pm! Crap! The race started at 7 am - that meant if I ran a 4-hr race I would only have 3:45 to shower/change/check out and make the 120-mile drive and catch the plane. I decided it would be tight but I could do it? It reminded me of the ‘good old days’ of the 1st loop when I would leave work on Fri night – fly for three hours and arrive in some strange city/state around 10 pm – and check into a hotel at midnight. Then get up at 6am - run a marathon and scramble for the airport to return home. Since I had my ‘previous’ bod in those days I could plan on running a sub 3:10 marathon and then rush to arrive at the airport about 30 minutes before flight time! I often scheduled my return flights 5 hours after the start of the race! Boy – are those days ever over!
But back to Marathon #261 and State #41 – the ‘France to Germany’ marathon. Why is it called that? The race starts in French Lick, IN a small town established by French traders in the 1800s and runs to West Baden, IN another small town established by German settlers in the 1800s. Both towns are located in the southern part of the state on the border of the Hoosier National Forest. Both towns were settled on natural springs and during the late 1800s huge resorts and a casino were built in both towns. It was a very popular resort destination for the rich and famous in those days but both the resorts and the towns have suffered from economic malaise. However the state has granted the towns a license to reopen a casino and both resorts are being restored and a new casino is being built. I believe everything is scheduled to open in 2007! It should (hopefully) make a big difference to the towns and that region? Maybe next year runners won’t have to stay in a $40/night motel that should be demolished!
But on to the race. As I drove into French Lick on Sat night after dark I was concerned about the hills on both sides of the highway? The marathon website had said there was only one major hill near the finish line? The race started at 7 am on Sun at the Rail Museum in French Lick. The weather was a chilly 51 F with no wind. It was a small town race with only 200 runners in both the Marathon and Half. I had looked at the runner’s/entry list and determined that there were six runners in my age group – a strange category – 58 to 65? Only two of us appeared to have the capability to run a 3:30 marathon! I decided to line up on the start line and stay with anyone who looked like he was in my age group. The first few miles ran from French Lick to West Baden and through the West Baden Resort before returning to French Lick. I stayed behind the front group of runners as they pulled me through 5 miles in 39:35 – faster than I wanted to run!
I was trying to stay behind another old fart and the lead female. I didn’t think he was over 60 but he could be 58?
Most of the course ran south of French Lick along Interstate 145 on the shoulder of the highway. The shoulder was contoured so I ignored the rules and ran on the highway because I did not want to risk an injury to a hamstring or ITL Band by running on a slope! I followed the old fart and the lead female though 10 miles in 1:19:30 in spite of a number of gentle rolling hills. (Only one hill?) When we passed the Half in 1:44:37 I was pleasantly surprised because I still felt OK. I thought that pace was too fast for my training (or lack of training due to recent injuries) but I felt I needed to stay with those two runners as long as I could? We passed mile 15 in 2:00:21 and I realized that my pace was slowly creeping above 8 min/mile. Didn’t matter! The next mile was a long continuous climb up a BAH (Bad Ass Hill) and then we hit a series of very short/steep BAHs that were even worse! I was almost relegated to walking on a very nasty hill near mile 17 but Maddog wasn’t willing to consider such nonsense! Words like ‘wimp’, ‘sissy’, ‘loser’ started to be mentioned/shouted so I somehow kept the old legs churning – but they seemed to be moving in slow motion as I crested the last BAH at mile 17 in a 9:27? I kept thinking, “we have been climbing for two miles – when do we get to go downhill”? It quickly became one of those “be careful what you wish for” scenarios as the elevation we had gained was all given back over mile 18!
That downhill was so steep! I tried to lengthen my stride and take advantage of gravity but the hill was just too steep. So I screamed all the way down the hill as I was forced to put on the brakes and tore my quads to shreds! By the time I reached mile 18 my legs were trashed and I decided to ease the pace to 8:30s for a few miles to see if they could recover. I reached mile 20 in 2:43:38. I had lost almost 4 minutes in the hills – but I could again see the lead female in front but the old fart was gone? The course had returned to the highway that was flat so I tried to lower my pace. My old bod refused – the legs were too trashed and tired! I decided 8:30s were good! I followed the lead female through mile 23 in 3:09:21 and observed that she was fading – obviously the hills had beaten her up badly too? I decided that I would try to pull her in and dropped the pace to 8:15s. I passed her at mile 24 and gave her some encouragement. Bad mistake! I don’t know whether it was my pep talk or she just didn’t want/like to be beat by an ‘old man’ but she rallied and tried to stay with me.
Shit/damn! – you guessed it! I now had a pissed-off female trying to pass me back and a Maddog screaming at me that there was no way in Hell that he was going to let a woman pass him at the end of a race. If you recall I have had a long string of races lately where I have followed the winning female across the finish line by a few minutes or less. “Not today” screamed Maddog as he lowered the hammer and pushed the pace back to sub 8s! I knew I had no choice but to hang on and go along for the ride! It hurt like Hell but since there were only two miles left I figured I could handle the pain for a measly 16 minutes? We pushed each other for the next 1½ miles and thankfully at 25 ½ miles she ran out of gas and stopped to walk! I had her! Finally I was able to relax and cruise the last ½ mile to cross the finish line in 3:36:01.
I had gained a few precious minutes on my hectic/stressful schedule to get out of town and catch my flight so I took some time to talk to the old fart who beat me. He finished in 3:31 but was upset because he had to walk the last hill at mile 17! (He musn’t have a Maddog?) The good news was he was only a (young) old fart – 53 years young! Thus I was pretty sure that I had won my age group but couldn’t stick around to confirm it. I called the race director on Mon to confirm my finish time and position.
I did make it back to Indianapolis in time to catch my flight but have resolved never to do that to myself again. There is no need to put stress on myself and rush like that when I am retired?
As for the race itself I was not impressed. The race is organized by the Chamber of Commerce – not runners. They are friendly but do not understand the needs of runners. The course was very confusing in many places and not well marked. The 2nd place male runner took a wrong turn at mile 21 that cost him 10 minutes and dropped him to 6th place! And there was definitely more than “ONE HILL”! I could have run that race much smarter if I had known about the BAHs! I won’t be going back – even to see the new casino and restored resorts.
However I was still pleased with my time and performance. I finished faster than I thought I could and most importantly I had no problems with any of the nagging injuries I have been suffering the past month. I believe I can begin speed work again before I leave for Colorado in a few weeks. I am excited and motivated about the prospect of going to Colorado healthy and injury-free for the first time in six years! I always get stronger in the mountains so this summer I am excited/confident that I can kick some serious ass in the mountain races!
Stay tuned for the next report!
France to Germany Marathon
French Lick, IN
Sun, Apr 23/06
Marathon #261 – State # 41 (2nd loop)
3:36:01 1AG
I decided to run this marathon in order to continue my quest to finish the 50 States for a 2nd time. As a side note I finished the 1st loop of the 50 States in Indiana – the Hoosier Marathon - in Ft Wayne on June 11/95. It took me 4 years to run the 1st loop - I am now approaching my 11th year on the 2nd loop and I figure it will take me at least another year to finish. I am beginning to get frustrated/bored with this quest (see how careful I am not to use the word ‘goal’ because then I would become obsessive about it!) because it really doesn’t interest or motivate me! “Been there – done that!”
This trip and race also had some unfortunate/unplanned similarities to the 1st loop. I had initially planned the trip as a one-day trip with a late return on Sun night to give me lots of time to run the race and drive the 120 miles back to Indianapolis to catch a plane. However the airline advised me about three weeks before the trip that the flight was changed from 6 pm to 2:45 pm! Crap! The race started at 7 am - that meant if I ran a 4-hr race I would only have 3:45 to shower/change/check out and make the 120-mile drive and catch the plane. I decided it would be tight but I could do it? It reminded me of the ‘good old days’ of the 1st loop when I would leave work on Fri night – fly for three hours and arrive in some strange city/state around 10 pm – and check into a hotel at midnight. Then get up at 6am - run a marathon and scramble for the airport to return home. Since I had my ‘previous’ bod in those days I could plan on running a sub 3:10 marathon and then rush to arrive at the airport about 30 minutes before flight time! I often scheduled my return flights 5 hours after the start of the race! Boy – are those days ever over!
But back to Marathon #261 and State #41 – the ‘France to Germany’ marathon. Why is it called that? The race starts in French Lick, IN a small town established by French traders in the 1800s and runs to West Baden, IN another small town established by German settlers in the 1800s. Both towns are located in the southern part of the state on the border of the Hoosier National Forest. Both towns were settled on natural springs and during the late 1800s huge resorts and a casino were built in both towns. It was a very popular resort destination for the rich and famous in those days but both the resorts and the towns have suffered from economic malaise. However the state has granted the towns a license to reopen a casino and both resorts are being restored and a new casino is being built. I believe everything is scheduled to open in 2007! It should (hopefully) make a big difference to the towns and that region? Maybe next year runners won’t have to stay in a $40/night motel that should be demolished!
But on to the race. As I drove into French Lick on Sat night after dark I was concerned about the hills on both sides of the highway? The marathon website had said there was only one major hill near the finish line? The race started at 7 am on Sun at the Rail Museum in French Lick. The weather was a chilly 51 F with no wind. It was a small town race with only 200 runners in both the Marathon and Half. I had looked at the runner’s/entry list and determined that there were six runners in my age group – a strange category – 58 to 65? Only two of us appeared to have the capability to run a 3:30 marathon! I decided to line up on the start line and stay with anyone who looked like he was in my age group. The first few miles ran from French Lick to West Baden and through the West Baden Resort before returning to French Lick. I stayed behind the front group of runners as they pulled me through 5 miles in 39:35 – faster than I wanted to run!
I was trying to stay behind another old fart and the lead female. I didn’t think he was over 60 but he could be 58?
Most of the course ran south of French Lick along Interstate 145 on the shoulder of the highway. The shoulder was contoured so I ignored the rules and ran on the highway because I did not want to risk an injury to a hamstring or ITL Band by running on a slope! I followed the old fart and the lead female though 10 miles in 1:19:30 in spite of a number of gentle rolling hills. (Only one hill?) When we passed the Half in 1:44:37 I was pleasantly surprised because I still felt OK. I thought that pace was too fast for my training (or lack of training due to recent injuries) but I felt I needed to stay with those two runners as long as I could? We passed mile 15 in 2:00:21 and I realized that my pace was slowly creeping above 8 min/mile. Didn’t matter! The next mile was a long continuous climb up a BAH (Bad Ass Hill) and then we hit a series of very short/steep BAHs that were even worse! I was almost relegated to walking on a very nasty hill near mile 17 but Maddog wasn’t willing to consider such nonsense! Words like ‘wimp’, ‘sissy’, ‘loser’ started to be mentioned/shouted so I somehow kept the old legs churning – but they seemed to be moving in slow motion as I crested the last BAH at mile 17 in a 9:27? I kept thinking, “we have been climbing for two miles – when do we get to go downhill”? It quickly became one of those “be careful what you wish for” scenarios as the elevation we had gained was all given back over mile 18!
That downhill was so steep! I tried to lengthen my stride and take advantage of gravity but the hill was just too steep. So I screamed all the way down the hill as I was forced to put on the brakes and tore my quads to shreds! By the time I reached mile 18 my legs were trashed and I decided to ease the pace to 8:30s for a few miles to see if they could recover. I reached mile 20 in 2:43:38. I had lost almost 4 minutes in the hills – but I could again see the lead female in front but the old fart was gone? The course had returned to the highway that was flat so I tried to lower my pace. My old bod refused – the legs were too trashed and tired! I decided 8:30s were good! I followed the lead female through mile 23 in 3:09:21 and observed that she was fading – obviously the hills had beaten her up badly too? I decided that I would try to pull her in and dropped the pace to 8:15s. I passed her at mile 24 and gave her some encouragement. Bad mistake! I don’t know whether it was my pep talk or she just didn’t want/like to be beat by an ‘old man’ but she rallied and tried to stay with me.
Shit/damn! – you guessed it! I now had a pissed-off female trying to pass me back and a Maddog screaming at me that there was no way in Hell that he was going to let a woman pass him at the end of a race. If you recall I have had a long string of races lately where I have followed the winning female across the finish line by a few minutes or less. “Not today” screamed Maddog as he lowered the hammer and pushed the pace back to sub 8s! I knew I had no choice but to hang on and go along for the ride! It hurt like Hell but since there were only two miles left I figured I could handle the pain for a measly 16 minutes? We pushed each other for the next 1½ miles and thankfully at 25 ½ miles she ran out of gas and stopped to walk! I had her! Finally I was able to relax and cruise the last ½ mile to cross the finish line in 3:36:01.
I had gained a few precious minutes on my hectic/stressful schedule to get out of town and catch my flight so I took some time to talk to the old fart who beat me. He finished in 3:31 but was upset because he had to walk the last hill at mile 17! (He musn’t have a Maddog?) The good news was he was only a (young) old fart – 53 years young! Thus I was pretty sure that I had won my age group but couldn’t stick around to confirm it. I called the race director on Mon to confirm my finish time and position.
I did make it back to Indianapolis in time to catch my flight but have resolved never to do that to myself again. There is no need to put stress on myself and rush like that when I am retired?
As for the race itself I was not impressed. The race is organized by the Chamber of Commerce – not runners. They are friendly but do not understand the needs of runners. The course was very confusing in many places and not well marked. The 2nd place male runner took a wrong turn at mile 21 that cost him 10 minutes and dropped him to 6th place! And there was definitely more than “ONE HILL”! I could have run that race much smarter if I had known about the BAHs! I won’t be going back – even to see the new casino and restored resorts.
However I was still pleased with my time and performance. I finished faster than I thought I could and most importantly I had no problems with any of the nagging injuries I have been suffering the past month. I believe I can begin speed work again before I leave for Colorado in a few weeks. I am excited and motivated about the prospect of going to Colorado healthy and injury-free for the first time in six years! I always get stronger in the mountains so this summer I am excited/confident that I can kick some serious ass in the mountain races!
Stay tuned for the next report!
Monday, April 03, 2006
RR Martian Marathon
Race Report
Martian Marathon
Dearborn Hgts, MI
Sat, April 1/06
Marathon #260
State # 40 (2nd loop)
3:42:30 - 1AG
I planned this marathon during Maddog’s spring training program in the expectation that it would help to keep me in marathon shape until we moved to our summer home in Colorado in May. Since there are no more marathons this season in FL or close enough to drive to I realized that I would have to travel out of state. And if I have to get on a plane then I might as well run a state than I have only run once before as I work my way around the 50 States + DC for a 2nd time. The Martian Marathon in the suburbs of Detroit, MI fit the bill! I had mistakenly thought that this marathon would be my 39th state but I was pleasantly surprised later when I checked the list and discovered that it was actually state #40! Only 10 more to go! However I think it may take me at least two more years to finish the task unless I make it a ‘goal’ and become obsessive about it. And remember I said, “there would be no more marathon goals”!
Unfortunately I had also made the assumption that I would be healthy for this marathon and as most of you know that wasn’t the case. I have been struggling with injuries to both hamstrings and my right knee since the Sarasota Marathon. I would have been happy to skip this marathon but had prepaid the travel expenses so I decided to go.
I had to travel to Detroit one day earlier than desired in order to obtain cheap air tickets so I figured I would visit downtown Detroit. It had been several years since I had visited the downtown area. It was as bad as expected! If GM closes their HQ it will become a ghost town? On Fri night there were severe thunderstorms and the forecast for Sat morning was ugly – cool, rain and strong winds. Fortunately the rain did not materialize but the temps were 46 F with blustery winds blowing from the west at 20/30 mph at the 8:30am start. The marathon course was on a 9.5-mile road through a park in Dearborn Heights so it required multiple loops. There were 2000 runners in the Marathon and Half that started together at 8:30 am. In addition there was a 10K run and a 20-mile training run. All runners had different color race bibs but everyone used the same road/course so it got very confusing?
Because of my injuries I wasn’t sure if I should just try to jog/run an easy 4-hr marathon like I did last weekend in Washington or should I let the Maddog loose and try to win/place in my age group. The weather actually became the deciding factor! I didn’t see any sense in trying to push a fast pace into a 30 mph headwind! I started a few rows back from the start line and let the crowd pull me though the 1st mile in 8:30. The first 9.5-mile loop was into the wind so I drafted behind the half-marathoners and let them pull me through 5 miles in 42:28. The 8:30 min pace felt comfortable and my legs felt OK so I decided to hold that pace. Easier said than done when the half-marathoners turned around at 6.5 miles and I found myself all alone with nobody to draft behind. The wind was tough for the next 3.0 miles to the 1st turn-around point but I managed to pass 10 miles in 1:24:48. Finally the wind was behind us and my pace dropped to 8:10s with the same effort. My right knee started to hurt around 11 miles so I had to ease off the pace and focus on my gait/stride and fortunately the pain disappeared after one mile and I passed the Half in 1:50 flat! I tried to determine who my age group competitors were but it was too confusing with so many runners at different stages of the various races? I just decided to stick with my 8:30 pace and not worry about position.
At 16 miles we had to turn back into the wind for another 4 miles. It was really gusting! How come it didn’t feel that strong when it was at my back? With nobody to hide behind I struggled just to run an 8:45/9:00 min/mile pace! I reached the final turn-around at 20 miles in 2:50:41. The wind was at our backs for the final 10K! This time it did feel strong and I let it push me along at an 8:00 min pace for a few miles but then fatigue started to set in and I slowed to 8:30s. I passed mile 23 in 3:16:23 and also passed two grayhairs/seniors who looked like they could be in my age group. I pushed the pace for the next mile and then slowed again to cross the finish line in 3:42:30.
Since the race had started so late and I had to check out of my hotel I rushed back to my car without checking the results. With a late checkout time I was able to enjoy a much-needed hot soak and shower before returning to the finish line to check the preliminary results. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I had won my age group!
So it was a satisfactory time and performance considering the weather and the injuries. Other than the few minutes my right knee had hurt around 11 miles both legs felt OK throughout the race. However the right knee was very sore following the race?
Fortunately I do not have another marathon for three weeks and no important marathons until this summer so I have wisely decided to take one week off from running to let my legs heal and recover. I will do some cross training for a week and then ease back into running. If my legs are OK after the next marathon than I will resume speed work to get ready for the summer races?
Stay tuned for the next report!
Martian Marathon
Dearborn Hgts, MI
Sat, April 1/06
Marathon #260
State # 40 (2nd loop)
3:42:30 - 1AG
I planned this marathon during Maddog’s spring training program in the expectation that it would help to keep me in marathon shape until we moved to our summer home in Colorado in May. Since there are no more marathons this season in FL or close enough to drive to I realized that I would have to travel out of state. And if I have to get on a plane then I might as well run a state than I have only run once before as I work my way around the 50 States + DC for a 2nd time. The Martian Marathon in the suburbs of Detroit, MI fit the bill! I had mistakenly thought that this marathon would be my 39th state but I was pleasantly surprised later when I checked the list and discovered that it was actually state #40! Only 10 more to go! However I think it may take me at least two more years to finish the task unless I make it a ‘goal’ and become obsessive about it. And remember I said, “there would be no more marathon goals”!
Unfortunately I had also made the assumption that I would be healthy for this marathon and as most of you know that wasn’t the case. I have been struggling with injuries to both hamstrings and my right knee since the Sarasota Marathon. I would have been happy to skip this marathon but had prepaid the travel expenses so I decided to go.
I had to travel to Detroit one day earlier than desired in order to obtain cheap air tickets so I figured I would visit downtown Detroit. It had been several years since I had visited the downtown area. It was as bad as expected! If GM closes their HQ it will become a ghost town? On Fri night there were severe thunderstorms and the forecast for Sat morning was ugly – cool, rain and strong winds. Fortunately the rain did not materialize but the temps were 46 F with blustery winds blowing from the west at 20/30 mph at the 8:30am start. The marathon course was on a 9.5-mile road through a park in Dearborn Heights so it required multiple loops. There were 2000 runners in the Marathon and Half that started together at 8:30 am. In addition there was a 10K run and a 20-mile training run. All runners had different color race bibs but everyone used the same road/course so it got very confusing?
Because of my injuries I wasn’t sure if I should just try to jog/run an easy 4-hr marathon like I did last weekend in Washington or should I let the Maddog loose and try to win/place in my age group. The weather actually became the deciding factor! I didn’t see any sense in trying to push a fast pace into a 30 mph headwind! I started a few rows back from the start line and let the crowd pull me though the 1st mile in 8:30. The first 9.5-mile loop was into the wind so I drafted behind the half-marathoners and let them pull me through 5 miles in 42:28. The 8:30 min pace felt comfortable and my legs felt OK so I decided to hold that pace. Easier said than done when the half-marathoners turned around at 6.5 miles and I found myself all alone with nobody to draft behind. The wind was tough for the next 3.0 miles to the 1st turn-around point but I managed to pass 10 miles in 1:24:48. Finally the wind was behind us and my pace dropped to 8:10s with the same effort. My right knee started to hurt around 11 miles so I had to ease off the pace and focus on my gait/stride and fortunately the pain disappeared after one mile and I passed the Half in 1:50 flat! I tried to determine who my age group competitors were but it was too confusing with so many runners at different stages of the various races? I just decided to stick with my 8:30 pace and not worry about position.
At 16 miles we had to turn back into the wind for another 4 miles. It was really gusting! How come it didn’t feel that strong when it was at my back? With nobody to hide behind I struggled just to run an 8:45/9:00 min/mile pace! I reached the final turn-around at 20 miles in 2:50:41. The wind was at our backs for the final 10K! This time it did feel strong and I let it push me along at an 8:00 min pace for a few miles but then fatigue started to set in and I slowed to 8:30s. I passed mile 23 in 3:16:23 and also passed two grayhairs/seniors who looked like they could be in my age group. I pushed the pace for the next mile and then slowed again to cross the finish line in 3:42:30.
Since the race had started so late and I had to check out of my hotel I rushed back to my car without checking the results. With a late checkout time I was able to enjoy a much-needed hot soak and shower before returning to the finish line to check the preliminary results. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I had won my age group!
So it was a satisfactory time and performance considering the weather and the injuries. Other than the few minutes my right knee had hurt around 11 miles both legs felt OK throughout the race. However the right knee was very sore following the race?
Fortunately I do not have another marathon for three weeks and no important marathons until this summer so I have wisely decided to take one week off from running to let my legs heal and recover. I will do some cross training for a week and then ease back into running. If my legs are OK after the next marathon than I will resume speed work to get ready for the summer races?
Stay tuned for the next report!
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