Trip Report
Korea
Mar 14 –20/07
Seoul International Marathon
Seoul, Korea
Sun, Mar 18/07
Marathon #283 – Country # 81
3:46:28
Note: Photos for this trip (and all Maddog’s trips) are posted to www.maddog.smugmug.com.
This marathon/trip was not initially included in my 2007 race calendar although it is one I had wanted to run for a few years. It was only in late 2006 when I learned that a good friend from NYC was planning to run the race did I become interested. I checked my calendar and figured I could squeeze another race into my schedule in March. In fact it would be right after my hometown marathon and I figured I would be in good shape? So I started planning – and immediately ran into a few minor problems. Registration was closed for the race! I contacted the race director and presented my credentials and asked if he could make an exception for Maddog? He quickly and kindly responded by welcoming me to visit his country and to run his race and assigned an English-speaking volunteer to assist me in the registration and to book a hotel near the start line.
Thus on Wed 03/14 I departed on the long trip to Korea – I left home at 5am and 28 hours later (Thu 10 pm) landed at Incheon Airport. It is a new, ultra-modern airport located about 50 km from the city and is very nice and efficient. By midnight I was through immigration and customs and dropped off near city hall in downtown Seoul. I had a map showing me that my hotel was about 3 blocks from city hall but I couldn’t find it – I couldn’t even determine which direction it was in? The guidebook had warned me that it was very difficult to find your way around Seoul – they didn’t lie!
Seoul is a big city with a population of 11 million that is 25 % of Korea’s population. When you add the suburbs the population increases to 21 million and 47 % of the country’s population – it is the most densely populated city in the world! Few of the streets have names or street signs. Buildings and homes do not have street addresses! The city is divided into 25 districts (gu) and 522 smaller neighborhoods (dong). A building is identified by a name or number and is located by knowing the district, neighborhood and number/name? Confused yet? My hotel was brand new and nobody knew where it was? I finally went to another hotel and asked for directions. They didn’t know where it was nor did two taxi drivers? Finally a kind local resident (on his way home from a bar) walked up to me and asked if he could help. He called my hotel on his cell phone for directions and then told a taxi driver how to get me there! It was indeed only 3 blocks from city hall! I made it to bed about 1:30 am and I had a tour guide meeting me at 8 am for a tour to the DMZ! Surprisingly I was awake and ready at 8 am!
I was the only English –speaking client for the DMZ tour so I had a private tour guide. As we left the city and drove north along the Han River I noticed double chain link fences topped with barbed wire on both sides of the Han River and the Imjin River that flows into the Han River from North Korea. As we got closer to North Korea there were military guard posts located every 500 m along the fences and manned 24 x 7 by the South Korean army! Then we started to drive through tunnels and overpasses that were filled with dynamite/explosives so the roads could be blown up in the event of an invasion. The South Koreans are very concerned/paranoid about being invaded by the North? The DMZ is 4 km wide and the only buildings located inside the DMZ are the JSA (Joint Security Area) that straddles the ceasefire line and two ‘propaganda’ villages that face each other across the DML. On each side of the DMZ there are two ‘Civilian’ zones that are 3 km wide. On the South Korea side there are a number of sites open to tourists and one farming village. We visited the Imjingak Tourist Pavilion in the civilian zone where we saw the Bridge of Freedom and the Dora Observatory (Observation Post) where you could overlook most of the DMZ. Then we boarded military buses and were escorted into the DMZ by the South Korean army because the DMZ is heavily mined and booby-trapped for tanks/vehicles, etc. We visited the Third Tunnel in the DMZ – a tunnel that was discovered in 1974. The North Koreans dug the tunnel through a granite mountain to provide an invasion route into the South. They obviously dug it for Korean soldiers because the height of the tunnel is about 5 ft 6 in. If I hadn’t worn a hard hat when exploring the tunnel I would have knocked myself out several times when I forgot and tried to stand up! It was an interesting tour but I guess I just don’t understand the fear and practicality of the North invading the South – at least today?
At the end of the tour my guide dropped me off in the Itaewon district that is south of downtown. This is where the US military base is located so the district has lots of shops and bars that cater to international (and English-speaking) tourists. I toured Itaewon and then tried to find my way home – and got hopelessly lost! I quickly discovered that the easiest way to ‘find’ my way around the city was to take the subway to a known or clearly marked location and venture off by foot from that point until I got hopelessly lost again and look for the subway. Fortunately the subway is modern, efficient, easy-to-use and cheap – 90 cents per trip! I can find my way anywhere in Seoul – via the subway! I finally found my way back to downtown Seoul and the hotel where registration was located. I picked up my race packet and got some final information from the race volunteer that I had communicated with. I was disappointed to learn that there were no age groups or awards in the race. I decided there was no incentive/reason to hurt myself and would run smart and easy!
On Sat I had booked a city tour and again had a private tour guide since I was the only English-speaking client? We visited many of the main tourist sites in the downtown area starting with the Cheonggye Stream – a stream that flows through the center of Seoul. It had been covered by roads and buildings for centuries but 6 km of the stream were uncovered and the stream restored in Oct 2005. Many fountains and waterfalls were added to the stream along with lights so it is a pleasant place to walk/jog in downtown Seoul. Then we drove past Cheongwadae (the ‘Blue House’) where the President lives to visit Gyeongbokgung Palace. Gyeongbokgung was the primary palace of the Joseon Dynasty and was built in 1395. It was burned down many times by the Japanese and many of the buildings have been restored in the past decade. There are several other palaces in the downtown area that have been restored. The only ‘original’ buildings or sites remaining after many wars and destruction are the four gates from the original fortified walls of the city! After visiting the Jogyesa (Buddhist Temple) built in 1395 the guide left me in the Insadong district where many souvenir shops are located. I tried to find my way (on foot) to the Seoul Tour south of downtown and again got hopelessly lost. After a few hours of wandering aimlessly I finally had to go down into the subway to find my way to the Hilton Hotel to meet my friends from NYC. We planned to meet again for dinner but I got so lost and pissed off (at getting lost) on the way back to my hotel that I decided to eat at my hotel. I had spaghetti Bolognaise that was excellent but the meat certainly wasn’t beef – and I was scared to ask what it was?
Sun was M-day! The race started in downtown Seoul and finished at the Jamsil Olympic Stadium in SE Seoul. The weather was milder than the freezing temps that had been forecast. It was sunny and 2 C when I lined up with 24,000 runners for the 8am start. I figured I was overdressed with tights and a long-sleeve T-shirt? Edson and I were both seeded in the B-corral which meant we had 4,000 runners in front and 20,000 runners behind us at the start. I looked for him but could not find him - in fact I only saw two ‘white’ runners during the entire race! I had already decided to go out at a 3:45 pace (5:20/km or 8:30/mile) and see how long my legs would last? The course was crowded and required lots of elbow swinging to maintain space for the first 15 km! I was surprised and concerned when I found myself following the 3:10 pace group for the first 5 km? When we passed 5 km in 26:52 I confirmed that I was on pace but they needed to speed up which they did. Then the 3:20 pace group passed me. I followed them to 10km in 52:23 and then the 3:30 pace group passed me? I concluded that the Koreans followed a strange (and difficult) race strategy. They started out slow and picked up speed and needed to run negative splits to attain their time goal? Not many runners can do that! Most of the 1st Half was run in downtown Seoul and about 10 km was along both sides of the Cheonggycheon Stream. I had been advised that there would be distance markers, clocks and water every 5 km. It was difficult to get water because of the sheer mass of runners. At 11km I noticed that there was in fact distance markers every 1 km and that helped me manage my pace better. When I passed 15 km in 1:18:35 the 3:40 pace group passed me and I kept them in sight for the next 20 km!
I passed the Half in 1:51:08 – a little faster than planned but I felt OK and decided to hold that pace until 30Km and re-evaluate? I reached 30Km in 2:37:47 and felt good. I thought about lowering my pace but decided to wait till 35km. The 35Km marker was on the Jasmil Bridge across the Han River. As I ran the gentle climb over the bridge and passed 35Km in 3:05:24 my legs started talking to me! That was the farthest and fastest I had run in four months and my legs were tired! I did not want to crash so I slowed down and let my tired legs set the pace as we jogged the final 7 km to the Jasmil Stadium. Only when I entered the Stadium did the old bod give me one final short burst of energy to let me sprint the final 200m on the track to cross the finish line in 3:46:28.
As soon as I crossed the finish line two sports reporters converged on me requesting an interview for the local papers. It took me five minutes to get through the finish chute and collect my finisher’s medal. And although the logistics of the race were well organized it was a long and confusing maze to navigate to find my drop-off bag and refreshments. Then the next problem was to find a subway station to get back downtown? Nobody spoke English but thankfully they seemed to understand “subway” and kept pointing in the same direction. Thirty minutes later I found a subway station and returned to my hotel for a much-needed hot shower! After the shower I evaluated my results: I was happy – I had finished close to my target time – I had run the entire marathon distance w/o any problems and w/o any cramps – and I had no aches or pains after the race! It was time to explore some more of the city and meet my friends for a celebration beer!
After a very tasty beer my friends wanted to eat an expensive (Western) buffet dinner at the Hilton but I wanted to enjoy a Korean dinner of BBQ beef so I set off on my own to find a good Korean restaurant. I enjoyed the BBQ but did not like the Kimchi (pickled and fermented cabbage and other veggies served as a side dish). Not my cup of tea – nor was the Korean tea they served with dinner. But the Korean beer was good!
Since Mon was my final full day in Seoul I figured I should explore more of the city and take more photos to share with my readers. I also had the hotel book me a ‘sports massage’. Although the masseuse didn’t speak English I managed to explain what I needed and she did a good job of ‘flushing’ my legs w/o any pain/torture – until she got to the left foot! When she dug her knuckles into the plantar fascia I almost flew off the table. She didn’t need to understand English to know “that hurt like Hell”! However she was able to fix the problem/injury in spite of my screams. I believe it is part of their universal training – to ignore screams/cries and pleas of mercy! But it worked! The legs and foot felt so good after the massage I was able to climb up Mt Namsan to the cable car station to take the cable car to Seoul Tower. Mt Namsan is located in the center of the city south of downtown and most of the mountain is preserved as Namsan Park with lots of trees and hiking trails. Seoul Tower is located on top of Mt Namsan and rises 360 m above sea level and offers a 360-degree panoramic vista of Seoul and on a clear day one can see the seacoast and mountains in North Korea. Travel tip: One of your first visits should be to Seoul Tower. After you see the physical view and layout of the city it is much easier to get your bearings and find your way around the city. I never got lost again after I left Seoul Tower!
My flight left Tue afternoon so I woke early and did an easy 10Km run along Cheonggyecheon Stream. I met two Kenyans trying to loosen their legs after the marathon and ran a few miles with them. After a shower and breakfast I returned to Insadong (w/o getting lost) to buy a few last-minute souvenirs and headed to Incheon Airport for the lonnnnggggggggg (another 28 hrs of travel time) trip home. I arrived home at 1 am on Wed!
Now I have only one week to recover from jet lag, write my trip report (finished!), and run some training miles to prepare for the next international marathon/adventure! “Where is that” you ask? Hint: the Sports manager and I are headed back to South America.
Stay tuned for the trip report!
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Monday, March 05, 2007
RR Sarasota Marathon 03-07
Race Report
Sarasota Marathon
Sarasota, FL
Sun, Mar 4/07
#282
3:59:14 – 3 AG
Since this is my hometown marathon and I won my Age Group and Senior Division in the inaugural race in 2006 I had no choice but to return to defend my title! Also I had run my best time (a blazing 3:22) in more than 8 years. Alas as most of you know I had been experiencing a lot of problems with leg cramps ever since my bout with DVT in Oct 06 and I figured that there was no way I would be able to defend my title!
Since it was unlikely that I could even finish without cramps let alone run close to 3:30 I volunteered to pace a good friend (Dr Chuck) to a sub 4-hr marathon so that he could qualify for Boston. After a very painful visit to my masseuse (Attila the Huness) a few days before the race my right calf was so sore that I wasn’t even sure that I would be able to get through the 26 miles?
Nevertheless the sports manager drove me to the start line on Sun for a 6am start in the dark near the John Ringling Museum. The weather was milder than forecast with a temp of 57 F that climbed to the low 70s by the time I finished. After I exited the car my ankles started to itch and felt like they were on fire. I stopped under a streetlight to discover that I must have stepped on an anthill because hundreds of the little buggers were enjoying breakfast on my ankles. It was not starting out to be a good day?
Then I couldn’t find Chuck at the start line. However I did find a couple of young ladies from Maddog’s Running Harem and started with them. They dragged me through the first mile in 8:49 and mile 4 in 34:34. At that point another friend from our running club passed us and informed us that Chuck was a few minutes behind us. I let the ladies push on and slowed down to wait for Chuck. When I passed mile 5 in 43:24 I walked for 1 minute because that was part of our race strategy – to walk for 1 minute every 5 miles. I figured that a scheduled walk would be good for my legs and Chuck needed a ‘rest’ because he always seems to crash around 20 miles? I jogged up the Ringling Bridge on mile 6 but still no Chuck? As I approached a turn-around point/loop at mile 8 I asked some friends to tell Chuck that I had slowed down and was waiting for him. I finally saw him as I was on the return loop and told him that I would slow down more so he could catch me. When I reached mile 10 in 1:29:42 I had to stop and wait for chuck and then we walked for another 1 minute. I was already becoming concerned that we were too close to the limit? At mile 13 we walked for another minute and passed the Half in 2:00:09!
I was really concerned because we would have to run the same pace in the 2nd Half and we planned to walk every 3 miles in the 2nd Half? I told Chuck that we needed to pick up the pace and took off hoping he would try to stay with me? When I reached mile 15 at the top of the Ringling Bridge (the highest hill in Sarasota) in 2:18:21 I had to wait for Chuck and we walked again. At that point I knew that Chuck would not finish under 4 hrs but I didn’t tell him that because I didn’t want to discourage him! Another running friend joined us that that point to help pace Chuck. I informed Chuck that we would have to push the pace to 20 miles and eliminate some of the planned walks. I told them that I was going to push the pace and guaranteed them that Chuck would finish under 4 hrs if he stayed with me! I took off!
When I passed mile 16 in 2:28:21 I figured that I had to run a 9-min pace for the last 10 miles with no more walk breaks to finish under 4 hrs. I was just starting to approach the danger zone with regards to distance and legs cramps so I had to be cautious! I passed mile 20 in 3:04:20! I had 55 minutes to run the last 10 Km! I figured that I did not have the luxury or time for any more walks so if I cramped I was in big trouble! However I did allow myself to stop for 1 minute to stretch and massage both calves in the hopes that this therapy would prevent any cramps.
Then it was time to get serious! I felt OK and wanted to lower the pace but was too scared of increasing the risk of cramps so I held the pace at 9min/mile. When I passed mile 23 in 3:22:30 I finally had some hope/confidence that I was going to make it to the finish line without cramping up? I even tried to lower the pace to 8:45s but at that point the old bod and legs were just too tired to respond and all I could do was hang on to the 9- min pace because I knew that would get me across the finish line under 4 hrs. Fortunately two lovely young ladies passed me at that point and I decided to follow the nice scenery and let them drag me across the finish line in 3:59:14!
I was pleased that I had achieved my goal of sub 4 hrs and especially happy that I had managed to run/walk the entire race without any cramps! Maybe there is hope?
I later learned of two disappointments:
1) Chuck didn’t stay with me and dropped out at 20 miles
2) My time placed me 3rd/23 runners in my Age Group. There was only 1:13 between the top 3 runners in our Age Group! Hell – I could have won the age group and defended my title if I had known it was that close!
But I am still happy with the results! And most importantly I felt good after the race with no serious aches or pains so I should be able to train hard in preparation for my next (international) marathon in 2 weeks. Maybe I will be able to push the pace in that race and get my times back down to a more respectable level (for Maddog)!
I will leave the destination for the next race as a surprise but here is one hint. It will be a lonngggggg 24-hr flight to Asia!
Stay tuned for the trip report.
Sarasota Marathon
Sarasota, FL
Sun, Mar 4/07
#282
3:59:14 – 3 AG
Since this is my hometown marathon and I won my Age Group and Senior Division in the inaugural race in 2006 I had no choice but to return to defend my title! Also I had run my best time (a blazing 3:22) in more than 8 years. Alas as most of you know I had been experiencing a lot of problems with leg cramps ever since my bout with DVT in Oct 06 and I figured that there was no way I would be able to defend my title!
Since it was unlikely that I could even finish without cramps let alone run close to 3:30 I volunteered to pace a good friend (Dr Chuck) to a sub 4-hr marathon so that he could qualify for Boston. After a very painful visit to my masseuse (Attila the Huness) a few days before the race my right calf was so sore that I wasn’t even sure that I would be able to get through the 26 miles?
Nevertheless the sports manager drove me to the start line on Sun for a 6am start in the dark near the John Ringling Museum. The weather was milder than forecast with a temp of 57 F that climbed to the low 70s by the time I finished. After I exited the car my ankles started to itch and felt like they were on fire. I stopped under a streetlight to discover that I must have stepped on an anthill because hundreds of the little buggers were enjoying breakfast on my ankles. It was not starting out to be a good day?
Then I couldn’t find Chuck at the start line. However I did find a couple of young ladies from Maddog’s Running Harem and started with them. They dragged me through the first mile in 8:49 and mile 4 in 34:34. At that point another friend from our running club passed us and informed us that Chuck was a few minutes behind us. I let the ladies push on and slowed down to wait for Chuck. When I passed mile 5 in 43:24 I walked for 1 minute because that was part of our race strategy – to walk for 1 minute every 5 miles. I figured that a scheduled walk would be good for my legs and Chuck needed a ‘rest’ because he always seems to crash around 20 miles? I jogged up the Ringling Bridge on mile 6 but still no Chuck? As I approached a turn-around point/loop at mile 8 I asked some friends to tell Chuck that I had slowed down and was waiting for him. I finally saw him as I was on the return loop and told him that I would slow down more so he could catch me. When I reached mile 10 in 1:29:42 I had to stop and wait for chuck and then we walked for another 1 minute. I was already becoming concerned that we were too close to the limit? At mile 13 we walked for another minute and passed the Half in 2:00:09!
I was really concerned because we would have to run the same pace in the 2nd Half and we planned to walk every 3 miles in the 2nd Half? I told Chuck that we needed to pick up the pace and took off hoping he would try to stay with me? When I reached mile 15 at the top of the Ringling Bridge (the highest hill in Sarasota) in 2:18:21 I had to wait for Chuck and we walked again. At that point I knew that Chuck would not finish under 4 hrs but I didn’t tell him that because I didn’t want to discourage him! Another running friend joined us that that point to help pace Chuck. I informed Chuck that we would have to push the pace to 20 miles and eliminate some of the planned walks. I told them that I was going to push the pace and guaranteed them that Chuck would finish under 4 hrs if he stayed with me! I took off!
When I passed mile 16 in 2:28:21 I figured that I had to run a 9-min pace for the last 10 miles with no more walk breaks to finish under 4 hrs. I was just starting to approach the danger zone with regards to distance and legs cramps so I had to be cautious! I passed mile 20 in 3:04:20! I had 55 minutes to run the last 10 Km! I figured that I did not have the luxury or time for any more walks so if I cramped I was in big trouble! However I did allow myself to stop for 1 minute to stretch and massage both calves in the hopes that this therapy would prevent any cramps.
Then it was time to get serious! I felt OK and wanted to lower the pace but was too scared of increasing the risk of cramps so I held the pace at 9min/mile. When I passed mile 23 in 3:22:30 I finally had some hope/confidence that I was going to make it to the finish line without cramping up? I even tried to lower the pace to 8:45s but at that point the old bod and legs were just too tired to respond and all I could do was hang on to the 9- min pace because I knew that would get me across the finish line under 4 hrs. Fortunately two lovely young ladies passed me at that point and I decided to follow the nice scenery and let them drag me across the finish line in 3:59:14!
I was pleased that I had achieved my goal of sub 4 hrs and especially happy that I had managed to run/walk the entire race without any cramps! Maybe there is hope?
I later learned of two disappointments:
1) Chuck didn’t stay with me and dropped out at 20 miles
2) My time placed me 3rd/23 runners in my Age Group. There was only 1:13 between the top 3 runners in our Age Group! Hell – I could have won the age group and defended my title if I had known it was that close!
But I am still happy with the results! And most importantly I felt good after the race with no serious aches or pains so I should be able to train hard in preparation for my next (international) marathon in 2 weeks. Maybe I will be able to push the pace in that race and get my times back down to a more respectable level (for Maddog)!
I will leave the destination for the next race as a surprise but here is one hint. It will be a lonngggggg 24-hr flight to Asia!
Stay tuned for the trip report.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
RR Fort Lauderdale
Race Report
A1A Marathon
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Sun, Feb 18/07
#281
3:53:27 – 2 AG
During the last (painful) nine miles of the previous marathon in Miami I thought that there was no way I would be able to run the A1A Marathon scheduled for Fort Lauderdale a few weeks later. But after more tests showed no problems in the circulatory system in my legs and I started to respond to PT (physical therapy) on the left calf and my back and - most importantly the memory of the pain decreased – I started to believe that the best thing to do was to run Fort Lauderdale as a test run/marathon.
My plan was to run the race very slow and walk 60 to 90 secs every five miles to give the legs some time to relax. If I felt OK at 20 miles I could try to race the last 10 Km? My only goal/hope was to run/walk and finish the race (all 26 miles) without suffering any more leg cramps!
Since the Sport Manager’s sister was visiting from Ottawa (TundraLand) I thought it would be a good opportunity to combine the marathon with a trip to S. Florida. She had never visited Key West or the Everglades. Thus we set off on Sat morning to drive to Fort Lauderdale via the south shore of Lake Okeechobee (a huge lake/swamp) in the middle of the state. On the way we drove through Lake Worth, FL so we stopped to visit my friend/mentor Wally Herman and his wife. Wally was planning to run the marathon also (#689?).
The packet pickup/expo was located at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center – not a convenient location because it is next to Port Everglades (where cruise ships depart) and security was tight and a bother! After I got my race bib we checked out the race start and finish. The race starts in downtown Fort Lauderdale and finishes about 3 miles away at South Beach Park. The 1st three miles are along Las Olas Blvd and the rest of the course is entirely on Route A1A along the Atlantic Ocean but you can’t see the ocean for condos!
Sun was M-day! There were 2000 runners lined up for the 6am start (500 in the marathon and 1500 in the Half). Because of the different start/finish I asked the Sports Manager to drive me to the start. It was dark, cloudy and a chilly 52 F at the 6 am start. The temp never rose above 55 F for the race! Not wanting to start out too fast I lined up in the middle of the pack and coasted through mile 2 in 17:50. By the time I reached mile 5 in 43:31 I had settled into a comfortable 8:45 pace and felt fine. However I stuck with the race plan and walked 90 secs. I was sad when I reached the turn-around for the Half near 7 miles because most of the lovely young ladies I had been following left me? I passed mile 10 in 1:26:51 – walked for 60 secs. At mile 12 it started to rain. It rained /poured for almost 45 minutes and the temps dropped below 50 F! It was miserable! I passed the Half in1:54:11. I felt good and I was confident that I could/would finish under 4 hrs! When I reached mile 15 in 2:11:32 I was soaked but I walked for 90 secs again and continued on. I felt good and wanted to push the pace. I had followed the 3:50 pace group from the start of the race and would close within a few hundred yards between my walk intervals. I wanted to catch and pass them but wisely told myself to be patient and wait till 20 miles.
I reached mile 20 in 2:55:25 – walked for 60 secs and did a ‘gut’ check. I felt good – I felt confident – I felt cocky – I was going to ‘race’ the final 10Km and pass the 3:50 pace group! I lowered the pace and was within 100 ft of the pace group as we approached mile 22. No WHAM! But I suddenly felt the right calf starting to cramp and recognized that it was going to lock up quickly so I stopped immediately – stretched and walked – and prevented the calf from locking up. It was tight and sore but I avoided the excruciating pain by walking/jogging the next two miles. I was frustrated and upset but consoled myself with the fact that I had avoided another serious problem/injury. Finally at mile 24 the calf relaxed enough that I could continue running at a 9 – min pace and crossed the finish line in 3:53:27!
Although I had not accomplished my goal (to finish w/o another problem/cramp) I was at least pleased that I had still managed to finish under 4 hrs and qualify for Boston for the 25th consecutive year! I later learned that I had finished 2nd/14 runners in my Age Group!
My support team was waiting at the finish line and after a customary finish line photo we returned to the hotel for a quick shower and continued our tour of S. Florida. We stopped in SoBe for lunch to watch the ‘pretty’ people and headed for the Keys. Unfortunately I had forgotten it was President’s weekend and there were no hotel rooms left for under $350 so we stayed in S. Miami and drove down to Marathon Key on Mon morning. Then we drove home through the Everglades.
I am disappointed that the problem with leg cramps persists and I don’t have a clue what to do about it – and neither do the doctors? I think I will try to train/run through the problem for the next few weeks as I prepare to run the Sarasota marathon – my hometown marathon. Unfortunately it does not look like I will be able to defend my Senior Title (unless a miracle happens)? If I suffer the same problem at that race I will go back to the docs and continue the medical tests!
Stay tuned!
A1A Marathon
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Sun, Feb 18/07
#281
3:53:27 – 2 AG
During the last (painful) nine miles of the previous marathon in Miami I thought that there was no way I would be able to run the A1A Marathon scheduled for Fort Lauderdale a few weeks later. But after more tests showed no problems in the circulatory system in my legs and I started to respond to PT (physical therapy) on the left calf and my back and - most importantly the memory of the pain decreased – I started to believe that the best thing to do was to run Fort Lauderdale as a test run/marathon.
My plan was to run the race very slow and walk 60 to 90 secs every five miles to give the legs some time to relax. If I felt OK at 20 miles I could try to race the last 10 Km? My only goal/hope was to run/walk and finish the race (all 26 miles) without suffering any more leg cramps!
Since the Sport Manager’s sister was visiting from Ottawa (TundraLand) I thought it would be a good opportunity to combine the marathon with a trip to S. Florida. She had never visited Key West or the Everglades. Thus we set off on Sat morning to drive to Fort Lauderdale via the south shore of Lake Okeechobee (a huge lake/swamp) in the middle of the state. On the way we drove through Lake Worth, FL so we stopped to visit my friend/mentor Wally Herman and his wife. Wally was planning to run the marathon also (#689?).
The packet pickup/expo was located at the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center – not a convenient location because it is next to Port Everglades (where cruise ships depart) and security was tight and a bother! After I got my race bib we checked out the race start and finish. The race starts in downtown Fort Lauderdale and finishes about 3 miles away at South Beach Park. The 1st three miles are along Las Olas Blvd and the rest of the course is entirely on Route A1A along the Atlantic Ocean but you can’t see the ocean for condos!
Sun was M-day! There were 2000 runners lined up for the 6am start (500 in the marathon and 1500 in the Half). Because of the different start/finish I asked the Sports Manager to drive me to the start. It was dark, cloudy and a chilly 52 F at the 6 am start. The temp never rose above 55 F for the race! Not wanting to start out too fast I lined up in the middle of the pack and coasted through mile 2 in 17:50. By the time I reached mile 5 in 43:31 I had settled into a comfortable 8:45 pace and felt fine. However I stuck with the race plan and walked 90 secs. I was sad when I reached the turn-around for the Half near 7 miles because most of the lovely young ladies I had been following left me? I passed mile 10 in 1:26:51 – walked for 60 secs. At mile 12 it started to rain. It rained /poured for almost 45 minutes and the temps dropped below 50 F! It was miserable! I passed the Half in1:54:11. I felt good and I was confident that I could/would finish under 4 hrs! When I reached mile 15 in 2:11:32 I was soaked but I walked for 90 secs again and continued on. I felt good and wanted to push the pace. I had followed the 3:50 pace group from the start of the race and would close within a few hundred yards between my walk intervals. I wanted to catch and pass them but wisely told myself to be patient and wait till 20 miles.
I reached mile 20 in 2:55:25 – walked for 60 secs and did a ‘gut’ check. I felt good – I felt confident – I felt cocky – I was going to ‘race’ the final 10Km and pass the 3:50 pace group! I lowered the pace and was within 100 ft of the pace group as we approached mile 22. No WHAM! But I suddenly felt the right calf starting to cramp and recognized that it was going to lock up quickly so I stopped immediately – stretched and walked – and prevented the calf from locking up. It was tight and sore but I avoided the excruciating pain by walking/jogging the next two miles. I was frustrated and upset but consoled myself with the fact that I had avoided another serious problem/injury. Finally at mile 24 the calf relaxed enough that I could continue running at a 9 – min pace and crossed the finish line in 3:53:27!
Although I had not accomplished my goal (to finish w/o another problem/cramp) I was at least pleased that I had still managed to finish under 4 hrs and qualify for Boston for the 25th consecutive year! I later learned that I had finished 2nd/14 runners in my Age Group!
My support team was waiting at the finish line and after a customary finish line photo we returned to the hotel for a quick shower and continued our tour of S. Florida. We stopped in SoBe for lunch to watch the ‘pretty’ people and headed for the Keys. Unfortunately I had forgotten it was President’s weekend and there were no hotel rooms left for under $350 so we stayed in S. Miami and drove down to Marathon Key on Mon morning. Then we drove home through the Everglades.
I am disappointed that the problem with leg cramps persists and I don’t have a clue what to do about it – and neither do the doctors? I think I will try to train/run through the problem for the next few weeks as I prepare to run the Sarasota marathon – my hometown marathon. Unfortunately it does not look like I will be able to defend my Senior Title (unless a miracle happens)? If I suffer the same problem at that race I will go back to the docs and continue the medical tests!
Stay tuned!
Monday, February 05, 2007
RR Miami Marathon
Race Report
Jan 28/07
Miami Marathon
Miami, FL
#280
4:08:37 – 6 AG
I signed up for this marathon one year ago for two reasons:
1) the race offered a 50% discount for the first 200 entrants to register
2) I finished in the same time of 3:33 in the two previous times I ran this race and wanted to go back in 2007 to break 3:30!
Unfortunately as race time approached I knew that goal #2 had no chance of happening because of the medical problems and injuries I suffered the last few months. After the disaster at Disney three weeks earlier where my left calf had cramped and locked up I had been undergoing medical tests and treatments. Although I had recovered enough to run a few speed workouts I had no confidence the leg would hold up in another marathon. There were many contentious discussions between Maddog and me about what the race strategy should be! I wanted to run smart and slow to test the leg and help my confidence by completing 26 miles without problems. Maddog wanted to go all out from the start to see how close we could get to 3:30!
The Sports Manager decided to go along to meet some friends from NYC and we planned to stop in Naples on the way home for a reunion with some friends and summer neighbors from the Ponds in CO. We enjoyed a nice pasta dinner with Edson and some friends from NYC. Both Edson and I complained about our injuries going into the race.
Sun was M –day. When I left our hotel in SoBe (South Beach) at 4:30 am it was drizzling and 68 F! By the time I had parked the car in downtown Miami at 5am it was pouring buckets and 70 F! It was raining so hard as I walked to the start line that I refused to stand in the lines at the Port-o Johns to take care of last-minutes duties. The weather became the deciding factor in the race strategy. I saw no sense in trying to kill myself in that crappy weather trying to run 3:30.
I lined up with 11,000 other nuts in the pouring rain. We were drenched and our shoes and socks were soaked! I lined up about 200 ft from the start line since there was no need for a fast start. It took me almost 4 minutes to reach the start line after the ‘official’ start – on time at 6:10 am. I started my watch to read ‘chip’ time. It continued to pour as we ran across the Macarthur Causeway to SoBe. I passed mile 1 in 12:45 (9:12 chip time). It stopped raining as we approached mile 2 but then the steam and humidity started to rise off the black asphalt. It was going to get ugly!
I continued to run slow and easy and enjoy the great views back in the pack. I passed 6 miles in SoBe in 53:33. At 8 miles I had to make a full-service pit stop to take care of those duties I missed before the start. Normally I wouldn’t do that but time was not a concern in this race. I continued to cruise smooth and easy – no problems with the legs other than a bit of tightness now and then in the calves. I passed the Half in 1:58:34. During the next mile I felt tired but then realized I wasn’t tired – I was feeling lazy and sluggish because of the slow/boring pace! So I lowered the pace to 8:30s and that felt much better. As I approached mile 17 in 2:31:51 I was feeling great and thought about lowering the pace some more but decided to hold that pace till 20 miles and then ‘race’ the last 10 Km. As I was congratulating myself and patting myself on the back for running so smart and feeling so good – WHAM! Without warning the left calf cramped and locked up in an instant! I was very disgusted and frustrated – but not surprised. I knew enough to stop immediately and spent a few minutes stretching and massaging the calf in an effort to get it to release. No luck! It would not release but I was able to reduce the excruciating pain enough to begin walking.
I considered dropping out of the race but had already passed the ‘no return’ line. Before 16 miles I would consider dropping out but after that point I would never quit or drop out unless it was a life-threatening situation or I could cause more serious damage to an injury. Thus I was forced to begin a long and painful 9-mile walk/crawl to the finish line.
I quickly determined that if I walked/limped/jogged no faster than a 12-min pace that I could manage the pain to a tolerable level. Maddog was extremely upset and embarrassed as we limped the next 4 miles. You see – he had his name on the race bib and everyone was shouting/cheering “C’mon Maddog – you can do it” “Pick up the pace”!
“Eat shit and die” was what he wanted to shout back as he hobbled along like a snail! It was humiliating! Around 21 miles the calf relaxed enough that I was able to keep jogging and lower the pace to a blazing 10-min. I continued to hold this pace with only minor/tolerable pain except for a few times when the calf started to lock up again. I struggled to the finish line in 4:08:37. I collected my finisher’s medal and soon as I stopped the calf locked up again so I limped straight back to the car and drove back to the hotel. I later learned that this pathetically slow time was good enough for 6th place/41 runners in my Age Group. The weather was a bigger negative factor than realized since my previous times of 3:33 would have won this year?
A long hot soak with self-massage finally got the calf muscle to release but then it was very sore and tight from the trauma. I could barely walk as we explored SoBe and applied a few cocktails for medicinal purposes. After several drinks and wine for dinner the leg did feel better?
On Mon we drove home with a stop in Naples to enjoy lunch with our friends.
On Tue morning I was back at the doctor’s office. I told him that I am sick and tired of being sick and tired and I requested a vascular test to check arterial circulation. I want to rule out all possible physiological reasons before I start exploring biomechanical reasons for all the problems/injuries. Haven’t got the official results back yet but the tech indicated that there are no clots/restrictions in the arteries so I have now confirmed that there are no circulatory problems.
Have an appointment with physical therapist to work on my strained back and will get him to work on my calf and check my biomechanics. I must have changed my gait or stride unknowingly? Or there are problems I am not aware of?
Stay tuned!
Jan 28/07
Miami Marathon
Miami, FL
#280
4:08:37 – 6 AG
I signed up for this marathon one year ago for two reasons:
1) the race offered a 50% discount for the first 200 entrants to register
2) I finished in the same time of 3:33 in the two previous times I ran this race and wanted to go back in 2007 to break 3:30!
Unfortunately as race time approached I knew that goal #2 had no chance of happening because of the medical problems and injuries I suffered the last few months. After the disaster at Disney three weeks earlier where my left calf had cramped and locked up I had been undergoing medical tests and treatments. Although I had recovered enough to run a few speed workouts I had no confidence the leg would hold up in another marathon. There were many contentious discussions between Maddog and me about what the race strategy should be! I wanted to run smart and slow to test the leg and help my confidence by completing 26 miles without problems. Maddog wanted to go all out from the start to see how close we could get to 3:30!
The Sports Manager decided to go along to meet some friends from NYC and we planned to stop in Naples on the way home for a reunion with some friends and summer neighbors from the Ponds in CO. We enjoyed a nice pasta dinner with Edson and some friends from NYC. Both Edson and I complained about our injuries going into the race.
Sun was M –day. When I left our hotel in SoBe (South Beach) at 4:30 am it was drizzling and 68 F! By the time I had parked the car in downtown Miami at 5am it was pouring buckets and 70 F! It was raining so hard as I walked to the start line that I refused to stand in the lines at the Port-o Johns to take care of last-minutes duties. The weather became the deciding factor in the race strategy. I saw no sense in trying to kill myself in that crappy weather trying to run 3:30.
I lined up with 11,000 other nuts in the pouring rain. We were drenched and our shoes and socks were soaked! I lined up about 200 ft from the start line since there was no need for a fast start. It took me almost 4 minutes to reach the start line after the ‘official’ start – on time at 6:10 am. I started my watch to read ‘chip’ time. It continued to pour as we ran across the Macarthur Causeway to SoBe. I passed mile 1 in 12:45 (9:12 chip time). It stopped raining as we approached mile 2 but then the steam and humidity started to rise off the black asphalt. It was going to get ugly!
I continued to run slow and easy and enjoy the great views back in the pack. I passed 6 miles in SoBe in 53:33. At 8 miles I had to make a full-service pit stop to take care of those duties I missed before the start. Normally I wouldn’t do that but time was not a concern in this race. I continued to cruise smooth and easy – no problems with the legs other than a bit of tightness now and then in the calves. I passed the Half in 1:58:34. During the next mile I felt tired but then realized I wasn’t tired – I was feeling lazy and sluggish because of the slow/boring pace! So I lowered the pace to 8:30s and that felt much better. As I approached mile 17 in 2:31:51 I was feeling great and thought about lowering the pace some more but decided to hold that pace till 20 miles and then ‘race’ the last 10 Km. As I was congratulating myself and patting myself on the back for running so smart and feeling so good – WHAM! Without warning the left calf cramped and locked up in an instant! I was very disgusted and frustrated – but not surprised. I knew enough to stop immediately and spent a few minutes stretching and massaging the calf in an effort to get it to release. No luck! It would not release but I was able to reduce the excruciating pain enough to begin walking.
I considered dropping out of the race but had already passed the ‘no return’ line. Before 16 miles I would consider dropping out but after that point I would never quit or drop out unless it was a life-threatening situation or I could cause more serious damage to an injury. Thus I was forced to begin a long and painful 9-mile walk/crawl to the finish line.
I quickly determined that if I walked/limped/jogged no faster than a 12-min pace that I could manage the pain to a tolerable level. Maddog was extremely upset and embarrassed as we limped the next 4 miles. You see – he had his name on the race bib and everyone was shouting/cheering “C’mon Maddog – you can do it” “Pick up the pace”!
“Eat shit and die” was what he wanted to shout back as he hobbled along like a snail! It was humiliating! Around 21 miles the calf relaxed enough that I was able to keep jogging and lower the pace to a blazing 10-min. I continued to hold this pace with only minor/tolerable pain except for a few times when the calf started to lock up again. I struggled to the finish line in 4:08:37. I collected my finisher’s medal and soon as I stopped the calf locked up again so I limped straight back to the car and drove back to the hotel. I later learned that this pathetically slow time was good enough for 6th place/41 runners in my Age Group. The weather was a bigger negative factor than realized since my previous times of 3:33 would have won this year?
A long hot soak with self-massage finally got the calf muscle to release but then it was very sore and tight from the trauma. I could barely walk as we explored SoBe and applied a few cocktails for medicinal purposes. After several drinks and wine for dinner the leg did feel better?
On Mon we drove home with a stop in Naples to enjoy lunch with our friends.
On Tue morning I was back at the doctor’s office. I told him that I am sick and tired of being sick and tired and I requested a vascular test to check arterial circulation. I want to rule out all possible physiological reasons before I start exploring biomechanical reasons for all the problems/injuries. Haven’t got the official results back yet but the tech indicated that there are no clots/restrictions in the arteries so I have now confirmed that there are no circulatory problems.
Have an appointment with physical therapist to work on my strained back and will get him to work on my calf and check my biomechanics. I must have changed my gait or stride unknowingly? Or there are problems I am not aware of?
Stay tuned!
Thursday, January 11, 2007
RR Disney Marathon
Race ReportDisney Marathon
Sun, Jan 7/07
Orlando. FL
Marathon # 279
3:52:37
Although I don’t even like this marathon – it is too expensive and the logistics suck – I had registered for it in early 2006 because I wanted retribution! I had run it twice before –in 02 and 06 and both times I had lined up at the start line injured/hurting or out of shape. This year would be different! The third time would be the charm! Right!!!!!!!
As you all know 2006 did not end well with the DVT. But I had run two training marathons in Dec and had some good training runs, including some speed work, during the Xmas holidays in Seattle. Thus I was confident that I could set a PR for the race! It wasn’t much of a challenge – I only had to run a 3:40! That should be feasible since I had finished the previous marathon (3 weeks earlier) in 3:44?
I checked the race results from the previous years and determined that I would have to run a sub 3:30 to place in the top three in my Age Group. I knew that wasn’t going to happen so I set a reasonable goal of 3:40. I drove over to Orlando on Sat to pick up my race packet and meet a good friend from NYC for pasta dinner. Unfortunately we were never able to hook up so I ate an early dinner alone and watched the NFL playoffs. Both my teams won! I took that as a good sign?
The race starts at 6 am on Sun and that is why the logistics suck! Because there are 13,000 runners it is necessary to get to the parking lot /staging area at Epcot by 5 am to walk one mile to the start line! Thus you have to get up at 4 am!
Florida had been enjoying (?) some unseasonably hot weather this year and the forecast called for more. It turned out to be the hottest weather in the history of the race - foggy and 71 F at the 6 am start with high temps forecast in the mid –80s!
I lined up with 13,000 runners. There were two corrals to handle the large start. One thing I will give Disney credit for is that the race is very well organized – a typical Disney event that is staged for profit!
Since I didn’t want to start out too fast I lined up about 20 rows from the start line in Corral A. That worked out well. By the time my corral merged with the 2nd coral at 3.3 miles I was averaging an 8:15 pace. I passed mile 10 in 1:22:49 and the Half in 1:49:27. I was averaging an 8:20 pace but I would have to hold that pace through the 2nd Half to beat 3:40? I wasn’t sure if I could do that but was determined to try my best. When I reached mile 16 in 2:14:00 the sun had burned through the fog and the temps started to soar into the 80s I figured it was going to get ugly for the last 10 miles! By the time I reached mile 20 in 2:49:09 my pace had slowed to 8:45. I still wasn’t worried because I felt good and figured that I could lower the pace to 8:15s for the last 10Km? I tried to lower the pace (thought I did) but my damn watch kept reading 8:40s for the next 3 miles?
When I passed mile 23 in 3:16:20 I calculated that I had to push the pace to sub 8s for the last 5 Km to accomplish my goal and decided I was willing to accept the pain to do that! It lasted about 30 secs - before my left calf started to cramp and then it cramped severely and locked up! Damn – it was the same pain and symptoms that I had suffered at the end of the Patagonia Marathon (before the DVT!). I became concerned immediately and wisely decided that it wasn’t worth the risk so I stopped and stretched and massaged the calf. The cramp would not release so I walked for a few minutes and tried to stretch the muscle several times. I tried to run again but the pain was too severe so I walked/limped. I was not willing to quit or drop out at 23 miles so I continued to walk/limp and tried to run a few times. It took 12 minutes to reach mile 24! By then I had figured out that as long as I jogged/walked/limped no faster than a 12-min pace the pain was tolerable so I continued and reached mile 25 in another 12 minutes! I was so frustrated and upset! All I could think was “This can’t be happening”? “How can I develop another blood clot when I am on blood thinners”? But the pain and symptoms (and even the location) were absolutely identical to those I had suffered in the right leg?
Somehow I managed to do a little more running on the last mile to reach mile 26 in 10 minutes and finally limp across the finish line in 3:52:37! The second I stopped the leg/calf locked up again and would not release. Thus I only stayed in the finish area long enough to take a mandatory finish line photo and headed back to the hotel. However there was a major problem! I could not get into the car! The left leg was locked up and in so much pain that when I tried to force it to bend to get into the car the right leg started to cramp! I screamed in pain and finally a kind volunteer arrived to help me lift my pain-ridden and useless legs into the car! When I arrived at the hotel the only way I could figure to get out of the car was to fall out on to the ground! Does it sound like I was having fun? Are you all enthused and eager to join me at my next marathon? I hope so!
After I limped into a hot shower the cramps eased a little and I was able to make the 2-hr drive back home and straight into the hot tub. First thing Mon morning I called my GP and went to his office and requested a venous ultrasound on both legs. I went straight to the lab and had the tests done. I was surprised (and relieved) when the tech informed me that there were no blood clots – no new clot in the left leg and the old clot in the right leg had dissolved and was gone! That was very good news! But it left a big mystery? What in the Hell had happened to my left leg and why was it still sore? I couldn’t even walk w/o major pain?
That condition lasted for 3 days – in fact both legs were in pain - so I wisely decided to just ‘rest’ until the pain disappeared. I was finally able to run an easy 10 miles 4 days after the marathon? I have no idea what caused the pain/problem or if it is really healed?
I am beginning to believe what I am thinking and what a few friends have advised –“my old bod is telling me that it is tired and worn out and needs a rest”! It has done this before – twice in the past 8 years. It will either completely shut down when I try to run or ‘invent’ a pain/injury that makes it too painful to run. The only cure when this happens is to take a complete rest from running for a minimum of 1 month! I don’t know if I have reached this point again? I am going to run the Miami Marathon at the end of Jan as another test marathon. If I experience the same problems I will know the answer!
However now I am obligated to go back to Disney again next year. I can’t let a race continue to beat my ass like that! I must go back and prove that I am better than my first three performances! Speaking of which I did check the race results on the Net – as expected the first 3 places ran sub 3:30. 1st place ran a sub 3:00! I would have finished in 4th place if I had accomplished my 3:40 but instead finished 10th /141 runners in my age group.
I will not be satisfied until I place in the top 3 AG in this race!
Stay tuned!
Sun, Jan 7/07
Orlando. FL
Marathon # 279
3:52:37
Although I don’t even like this marathon – it is too expensive and the logistics suck – I had registered for it in early 2006 because I wanted retribution! I had run it twice before –in 02 and 06 and both times I had lined up at the start line injured/hurting or out of shape. This year would be different! The third time would be the charm! Right!!!!!!!
As you all know 2006 did not end well with the DVT. But I had run two training marathons in Dec and had some good training runs, including some speed work, during the Xmas holidays in Seattle. Thus I was confident that I could set a PR for the race! It wasn’t much of a challenge – I only had to run a 3:40! That should be feasible since I had finished the previous marathon (3 weeks earlier) in 3:44?
I checked the race results from the previous years and determined that I would have to run a sub 3:30 to place in the top three in my Age Group. I knew that wasn’t going to happen so I set a reasonable goal of 3:40. I drove over to Orlando on Sat to pick up my race packet and meet a good friend from NYC for pasta dinner. Unfortunately we were never able to hook up so I ate an early dinner alone and watched the NFL playoffs. Both my teams won! I took that as a good sign?
The race starts at 6 am on Sun and that is why the logistics suck! Because there are 13,000 runners it is necessary to get to the parking lot /staging area at Epcot by 5 am to walk one mile to the start line! Thus you have to get up at 4 am!
Florida had been enjoying (?) some unseasonably hot weather this year and the forecast called for more. It turned out to be the hottest weather in the history of the race - foggy and 71 F at the 6 am start with high temps forecast in the mid –80s!
I lined up with 13,000 runners. There were two corrals to handle the large start. One thing I will give Disney credit for is that the race is very well organized – a typical Disney event that is staged for profit!
Since I didn’t want to start out too fast I lined up about 20 rows from the start line in Corral A. That worked out well. By the time my corral merged with the 2nd coral at 3.3 miles I was averaging an 8:15 pace. I passed mile 10 in 1:22:49 and the Half in 1:49:27. I was averaging an 8:20 pace but I would have to hold that pace through the 2nd Half to beat 3:40? I wasn’t sure if I could do that but was determined to try my best. When I reached mile 16 in 2:14:00 the sun had burned through the fog and the temps started to soar into the 80s I figured it was going to get ugly for the last 10 miles! By the time I reached mile 20 in 2:49:09 my pace had slowed to 8:45. I still wasn’t worried because I felt good and figured that I could lower the pace to 8:15s for the last 10Km? I tried to lower the pace (thought I did) but my damn watch kept reading 8:40s for the next 3 miles?
When I passed mile 23 in 3:16:20 I calculated that I had to push the pace to sub 8s for the last 5 Km to accomplish my goal and decided I was willing to accept the pain to do that! It lasted about 30 secs - before my left calf started to cramp and then it cramped severely and locked up! Damn – it was the same pain and symptoms that I had suffered at the end of the Patagonia Marathon (before the DVT!). I became concerned immediately and wisely decided that it wasn’t worth the risk so I stopped and stretched and massaged the calf. The cramp would not release so I walked for a few minutes and tried to stretch the muscle several times. I tried to run again but the pain was too severe so I walked/limped. I was not willing to quit or drop out at 23 miles so I continued to walk/limp and tried to run a few times. It took 12 minutes to reach mile 24! By then I had figured out that as long as I jogged/walked/limped no faster than a 12-min pace the pain was tolerable so I continued and reached mile 25 in another 12 minutes! I was so frustrated and upset! All I could think was “This can’t be happening”? “How can I develop another blood clot when I am on blood thinners”? But the pain and symptoms (and even the location) were absolutely identical to those I had suffered in the right leg?
Somehow I managed to do a little more running on the last mile to reach mile 26 in 10 minutes and finally limp across the finish line in 3:52:37! The second I stopped the leg/calf locked up again and would not release. Thus I only stayed in the finish area long enough to take a mandatory finish line photo and headed back to the hotel. However there was a major problem! I could not get into the car! The left leg was locked up and in so much pain that when I tried to force it to bend to get into the car the right leg started to cramp! I screamed in pain and finally a kind volunteer arrived to help me lift my pain-ridden and useless legs into the car! When I arrived at the hotel the only way I could figure to get out of the car was to fall out on to the ground! Does it sound like I was having fun? Are you all enthused and eager to join me at my next marathon? I hope so!
After I limped into a hot shower the cramps eased a little and I was able to make the 2-hr drive back home and straight into the hot tub. First thing Mon morning I called my GP and went to his office and requested a venous ultrasound on both legs. I went straight to the lab and had the tests done. I was surprised (and relieved) when the tech informed me that there were no blood clots – no new clot in the left leg and the old clot in the right leg had dissolved and was gone! That was very good news! But it left a big mystery? What in the Hell had happened to my left leg and why was it still sore? I couldn’t even walk w/o major pain?
That condition lasted for 3 days – in fact both legs were in pain - so I wisely decided to just ‘rest’ until the pain disappeared. I was finally able to run an easy 10 miles 4 days after the marathon? I have no idea what caused the pain/problem or if it is really healed?
I am beginning to believe what I am thinking and what a few friends have advised –“my old bod is telling me that it is tired and worn out and needs a rest”! It has done this before – twice in the past 8 years. It will either completely shut down when I try to run or ‘invent’ a pain/injury that makes it too painful to run. The only cure when this happens is to take a complete rest from running for a minimum of 1 month! I don’t know if I have reached this point again? I am going to run the Miami Marathon at the end of Jan as another test marathon. If I experience the same problems I will know the answer!
However now I am obligated to go back to Disney again next year. I can’t let a race continue to beat my ass like that! I must go back and prove that I am better than my first three performances! Speaking of which I did check the race results on the Net – as expected the first 3 places ran sub 3:30. 1st place ran a sub 3:00! I would have finished in 4th place if I had accomplished my 3:40 but instead finished 10th /141 runners in my age group.
I will not be satisfied until I place in the top 3 AG in this race!
Stay tuned!
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
RR Jacksonville Marathon
RACE REPORT
Jacksonville Marathon
Jacksonville, FL
Sun, Dec 17/06
#278
3:44:02 – 5th AG
My 26th and final marathon of 2006! This marathon was on my original race calendar but it was supposed to be marathon #30 for the year. How quickly things can change. I dropped out of one marathon in June because of a flu bug and then the DVT calamity happened in Oct causing me to drop out of the Breakers Marathon and skip two more races. However after I survived the Marabana Marathon five weeks later I had enough confidence to resume my original schedule and close out the year with the Jacksonville Marathon.
The Sports Manager decided to go along for the 5-hr boring drive to Jacksonville because she wanted to buy some cold weather and waterproof running gear at the Sports Expo. There aren’t any good running stores in Sarasota but I was sure that there would be some gear at discounted prices at the Expo. She needed some rain gear for our visit to Seattle over the Xmas Holidays. So we set off early and arrived at the registration and expo in time to pick up my race packet and buy her a Gortex running jacket.
We had arranged to meet my good friend and mentor Wally Herman for pasta dinner. Wally is 81 years young and has run 687 marathons and holds the world record with 99 countries. Maddog is a distant second with 80 countries. As usual we had a fun time during dinner trading ‘war’ stories from various countries around the world.
Sun. was M – day! The weather was good – foggy with a temp of 58 F and no wind as I lined up for the 7am start with 2500 runners. There were 1000 runners in the marathon and 1500 in the Half.
I had only two goals:
1) finish ALIVE
2) finish between 3:45 and 3:50
I didn’t want to start too fast so I lined up about 10 rows back from the start line. Didn’t work – the fast starters pulled me through Mile 2 in 16:05. Way too fast! As I was trying to slow down I passed an old fart who had to be a local runner since many spectators were shouting his name (Frank). I slowed some more and ran with him. He was in my age group and we both agreed we were going out too fast! We decided to slow down and run together. I knew a friend who was running the race and would break 3:30 and he said another local runner in our age group would also break 3:30 so that meant that we were competing for 3rd place at best? By Mile 5 (40:45) we had settled into a smooth/easy 8:20/8:30 pace and decided to hold that pace through the 1st Half.
We passed the Half in 1:48:53! Too fast! We knew the 2nd Half would not be as fast because we had started too fast and the temps had already climbed into the 70s! But we decided to hold the 8:30 pace as long as possible.
At Mile 14 I hit a ‘lull’ – a short period where you feel tired and out of energy and I watched Frank leave me behind. At mile 16 I passed Wally who had started one hour early. That lifted my spirits and got the juices flowing again and I was able to lower the pace to 8:15 and I passed Frank around Mile 18 (2:30:10). He couldn’t respond and I never saw him again. That burst of energy didn’t last long. When I reached Mile 20 in 2:47:30 I was already struggling to run an 8:45 pace. A quick calculation determined that if I slowed down to a 9:00 min pace over the last 10Km I could still beat 3:45 so I wisely slowed the pace to 9min/mile and tried to hang on. When I passed Mile 23 (3:14:49) in 9:04 I knew a 3:45 was in the bag as long as I kept the old legs moving. But I was hurting like Hell and had to result to ‘mind’ games. Runners know what I mean. I kept telling myself “just one foot in front of the other”; “just get to the next ¼ mile in 2:15”; “only another ½ mile to the next mile marker” and so on!
When I passed Mile 25 in 3:33:03 I figured I could crawl to the finish line in 12 minutes? At the same time I noticed the Sports Manager ahead and walking the last mile of the course? I had a gut feeling that for some strange reason she was walking the Half? I shouted encouragement and gave her a friendly pat on the butt as I ran by. I thought about stopping and walking with her but decided I was too close to achieving my goals so I pushed on. Soon I turned into the school stadium and on to the track for a final lap before crossing the finish line in 3:44:02. It wasn’t a pretty finish but I had achieved both goals!
About 10 minutes later the Sports Manager finished the Half. I congratulated her and told her she should be proud of herself. All I heard was cuss words and phrases like “I’m tired”! “ My feet hurt”! “That was a stupid thing to do”! “I will never do that again”!
I told her I was proud of her accomplishment and reminded her that I said the same things – 25 years and 278 marathons ago!
By then the results had been posted and I learned that my time of 3:44 was not even good enough to place in my Age Group! I had placed 5th/ 30 runners. A strange and humbling experience for Maddog but I was happy with both my time and performance. I had taken 13 minutes or 30 secs/mile off my previous time of 3:57 at West Palm Beach. I had accomplished both goals and more importantly had gained confidence that the worst of the DVT problems/fear were behind me and I am ready to start speed work in my training and push the pace in my next race.
After quick showers (and no need to go back to the awards ceremony) we headed back to Sarasota. We made a short detour through St Augustine to check out the oldest city in America. It was interesting and might be worth a weekend visit to explore?
Now I am eager to resume my training and start speed work so that I can get in better shape and be competitive in the upcoming race schedule in 2007.
Stay tuned for the next report!
Jacksonville Marathon
Jacksonville, FL
Sun, Dec 17/06
#278
3:44:02 – 5th AG
My 26th and final marathon of 2006! This marathon was on my original race calendar but it was supposed to be marathon #30 for the year. How quickly things can change. I dropped out of one marathon in June because of a flu bug and then the DVT calamity happened in Oct causing me to drop out of the Breakers Marathon and skip two more races. However after I survived the Marabana Marathon five weeks later I had enough confidence to resume my original schedule and close out the year with the Jacksonville Marathon.
The Sports Manager decided to go along for the 5-hr boring drive to Jacksonville because she wanted to buy some cold weather and waterproof running gear at the Sports Expo. There aren’t any good running stores in Sarasota but I was sure that there would be some gear at discounted prices at the Expo. She needed some rain gear for our visit to Seattle over the Xmas Holidays. So we set off early and arrived at the registration and expo in time to pick up my race packet and buy her a Gortex running jacket.
We had arranged to meet my good friend and mentor Wally Herman for pasta dinner. Wally is 81 years young and has run 687 marathons and holds the world record with 99 countries. Maddog is a distant second with 80 countries. As usual we had a fun time during dinner trading ‘war’ stories from various countries around the world.
Sun. was M – day! The weather was good – foggy with a temp of 58 F and no wind as I lined up for the 7am start with 2500 runners. There were 1000 runners in the marathon and 1500 in the Half.
I had only two goals:
1) finish ALIVE
2) finish between 3:45 and 3:50
I didn’t want to start too fast so I lined up about 10 rows back from the start line. Didn’t work – the fast starters pulled me through Mile 2 in 16:05. Way too fast! As I was trying to slow down I passed an old fart who had to be a local runner since many spectators were shouting his name (Frank). I slowed some more and ran with him. He was in my age group and we both agreed we were going out too fast! We decided to slow down and run together. I knew a friend who was running the race and would break 3:30 and he said another local runner in our age group would also break 3:30 so that meant that we were competing for 3rd place at best? By Mile 5 (40:45) we had settled into a smooth/easy 8:20/8:30 pace and decided to hold that pace through the 1st Half.
We passed the Half in 1:48:53! Too fast! We knew the 2nd Half would not be as fast because we had started too fast and the temps had already climbed into the 70s! But we decided to hold the 8:30 pace as long as possible.
At Mile 14 I hit a ‘lull’ – a short period where you feel tired and out of energy and I watched Frank leave me behind. At mile 16 I passed Wally who had started one hour early. That lifted my spirits and got the juices flowing again and I was able to lower the pace to 8:15 and I passed Frank around Mile 18 (2:30:10). He couldn’t respond and I never saw him again. That burst of energy didn’t last long. When I reached Mile 20 in 2:47:30 I was already struggling to run an 8:45 pace. A quick calculation determined that if I slowed down to a 9:00 min pace over the last 10Km I could still beat 3:45 so I wisely slowed the pace to 9min/mile and tried to hang on. When I passed Mile 23 (3:14:49) in 9:04 I knew a 3:45 was in the bag as long as I kept the old legs moving. But I was hurting like Hell and had to result to ‘mind’ games. Runners know what I mean. I kept telling myself “just one foot in front of the other”; “just get to the next ¼ mile in 2:15”; “only another ½ mile to the next mile marker” and so on!
When I passed Mile 25 in 3:33:03 I figured I could crawl to the finish line in 12 minutes? At the same time I noticed the Sports Manager ahead and walking the last mile of the course? I had a gut feeling that for some strange reason she was walking the Half? I shouted encouragement and gave her a friendly pat on the butt as I ran by. I thought about stopping and walking with her but decided I was too close to achieving my goals so I pushed on. Soon I turned into the school stadium and on to the track for a final lap before crossing the finish line in 3:44:02. It wasn’t a pretty finish but I had achieved both goals!
About 10 minutes later the Sports Manager finished the Half. I congratulated her and told her she should be proud of herself. All I heard was cuss words and phrases like “I’m tired”! “ My feet hurt”! “That was a stupid thing to do”! “I will never do that again”!
I told her I was proud of her accomplishment and reminded her that I said the same things – 25 years and 278 marathons ago!
By then the results had been posted and I learned that my time of 3:44 was not even good enough to place in my Age Group! I had placed 5th/ 30 runners. A strange and humbling experience for Maddog but I was happy with both my time and performance. I had taken 13 minutes or 30 secs/mile off my previous time of 3:57 at West Palm Beach. I had accomplished both goals and more importantly had gained confidence that the worst of the DVT problems/fear were behind me and I am ready to start speed work in my training and push the pace in my next race.
After quick showers (and no need to go back to the awards ceremony) we headed back to Sarasota. We made a short detour through St Augustine to check out the oldest city in America. It was interesting and might be worth a weekend visit to explore?
Now I am eager to resume my training and start speed work so that I can get in better shape and be competitive in the upcoming race schedule in 2007.
Stay tuned for the next report!
Monday, December 04, 2006
RR Palm Beach Marathon
Race Report
Marathon of the Palm Beaches
West Palm Beach
Sun, Dec 3/06
Marathon # 277
3:57:05 - 2 AG
This marathon had been in my 2006 schedule before the DVT problem struck in Oct. Then all bets/plans were off. But after I finished the Marabana Marathon ‘ALIVE’ and with no problems with the leg I figured it should be OK to resume my running/training. One of the best ways to train for marathons is to run a marathon so I registered a few days before the race and on Sat drove the ‘red rocket’ or Allante down to West Palm Beach. I went alone since the Sports Manager’s brother was visiting and they didn’t want to go?
I used to visit this area frequently during my work life but had not been there in 10 years? What a change! It has grown significantly. I found the registration and expo in CityPlace shortly after my arrival on Sat afternoon. I was not impressed. The registration was not organized well and the prices at the expo were indicative of West Palm Beach – expensive!!
I called my friend and mentor Wally Herman (81 years young – 684 marathons and the world record holder with 99 countries) who lives in Lake Worth and invited he and his wife to pasta dinner. We had a nice time reminiscing since I hadn’t seen Wally since last spring. We had to retire early since the race started at 6:30 am.
As forecast the weather was ugly – it was hot (78 F) and humid as I lined up with 4,000 runners – 1000 in the Marathon and 3000 in the Half. Both races started at 6:30 am in front of the Meyer Amphitheatre in downtown West Palm Beach. The course was flat and headed south for 6.5 miles before turning around and finishing the Half at the Amphitheatre. The marathon course continued north to Riviera Beach where it turned around at 17 miles and headed back past the finish line (again) at mile 21 and did another short loop south of the city before finally returning to the finish line.
I had 3 goals:
1) finish ALIVE
2) run the entire race
3) finish under 4 hrs
I started out at an 8:30 pace to take advantage of the ‘cool’ weather. I reached 10 miles in 1.25.07 so I was right on pace. But the sun had risen and the temps were already soaring into the mid 80s and my pace slowed to 8:45s. I passed the Half in 1:52:31 but I knew that the 2nd Half would not be as fast and would more likely be a game of ‘Survival’. I decided to slow my pace to 9:00 min. When I passed mile 15 in 2:09:48 my body/legs had slowed the pace to 9:15s. I decided to listen toy body and let it set the pace. With very little training and the high temps sapping our strength I wisely decided not to push the pace. By mile 20 (2:57:08) the heat was brutal and I was struggling to hold a 9:40 pace. A quick calculation determined that a 10 min pace would get me across the finish line under 4 hrs so I just had to keep the old legs running – no walking! An old fart passed me at mile 21 but I couldn’t respond – my legs were dead! I decided to keep him in sight and hope for a 2nd wind? I followed him through mile 23 in 3:26:57 – a 10:32 mile – my slowest mile of the race! I really, really wanted/needed to walk!
OK! That was enough of that nonsense and feeling sorry for myself because it was hot and I had little training! It was time to call on Maddog! He would know what to do!
He immediately reminded me that to get back into good marathon shape it was necessary to push the old bod and teach it how to cope with pain. He lowered the pace to 9:15 and passed the old fart around mile 25 and to make sure he didn’t respond lowered the pace to 9:00 min for the final mile. I crossed the finish line in 3:57:05! I had nothing left and was overheated but ALIVE! I had achieved my 3 goals so I was happy.
I had to return to the hotel for a quick shower and check out and then returned to the finish area for a finish line photo and to check the results. I didn’t really expect to win in a race that big (and with that slow time) but hoped to place? I confirmed that I had placed 2nd which was OK considering my poor shape and lack of training. The race did confirm that I still have an endurance base but no speed. I need to do speed work but am still concerned (afraid?) to push the old bod too hard until I get confirmation that the blood clot has dissolved or solidified? That may still be a month away so I guess I need to start some speed work but not make it too intense or too long?
I will probably run another Florida marathon in a few weeks to help improve my endurance base and capability to hold a faster pace. I have to beat the old bod back into good marathon shape before the winter/spring marathon schedule starts in Florida in Jan!
Stay tuned.
Marathon of the Palm Beaches
West Palm Beach
Sun, Dec 3/06
Marathon # 277
3:57:05 - 2 AG
This marathon had been in my 2006 schedule before the DVT problem struck in Oct. Then all bets/plans were off. But after I finished the Marabana Marathon ‘ALIVE’ and with no problems with the leg I figured it should be OK to resume my running/training. One of the best ways to train for marathons is to run a marathon so I registered a few days before the race and on Sat drove the ‘red rocket’ or Allante down to West Palm Beach. I went alone since the Sports Manager’s brother was visiting and they didn’t want to go?
I used to visit this area frequently during my work life but had not been there in 10 years? What a change! It has grown significantly. I found the registration and expo in CityPlace shortly after my arrival on Sat afternoon. I was not impressed. The registration was not organized well and the prices at the expo were indicative of West Palm Beach – expensive!!
I called my friend and mentor Wally Herman (81 years young – 684 marathons and the world record holder with 99 countries) who lives in Lake Worth and invited he and his wife to pasta dinner. We had a nice time reminiscing since I hadn’t seen Wally since last spring. We had to retire early since the race started at 6:30 am.
As forecast the weather was ugly – it was hot (78 F) and humid as I lined up with 4,000 runners – 1000 in the Marathon and 3000 in the Half. Both races started at 6:30 am in front of the Meyer Amphitheatre in downtown West Palm Beach. The course was flat and headed south for 6.5 miles before turning around and finishing the Half at the Amphitheatre. The marathon course continued north to Riviera Beach where it turned around at 17 miles and headed back past the finish line (again) at mile 21 and did another short loop south of the city before finally returning to the finish line.
I had 3 goals:
1) finish ALIVE
2) run the entire race
3) finish under 4 hrs
I started out at an 8:30 pace to take advantage of the ‘cool’ weather. I reached 10 miles in 1.25.07 so I was right on pace. But the sun had risen and the temps were already soaring into the mid 80s and my pace slowed to 8:45s. I passed the Half in 1:52:31 but I knew that the 2nd Half would not be as fast and would more likely be a game of ‘Survival’. I decided to slow my pace to 9:00 min. When I passed mile 15 in 2:09:48 my body/legs had slowed the pace to 9:15s. I decided to listen toy body and let it set the pace. With very little training and the high temps sapping our strength I wisely decided not to push the pace. By mile 20 (2:57:08) the heat was brutal and I was struggling to hold a 9:40 pace. A quick calculation determined that a 10 min pace would get me across the finish line under 4 hrs so I just had to keep the old legs running – no walking! An old fart passed me at mile 21 but I couldn’t respond – my legs were dead! I decided to keep him in sight and hope for a 2nd wind? I followed him through mile 23 in 3:26:57 – a 10:32 mile – my slowest mile of the race! I really, really wanted/needed to walk!
OK! That was enough of that nonsense and feeling sorry for myself because it was hot and I had little training! It was time to call on Maddog! He would know what to do!
He immediately reminded me that to get back into good marathon shape it was necessary to push the old bod and teach it how to cope with pain. He lowered the pace to 9:15 and passed the old fart around mile 25 and to make sure he didn’t respond lowered the pace to 9:00 min for the final mile. I crossed the finish line in 3:57:05! I had nothing left and was overheated but ALIVE! I had achieved my 3 goals so I was happy.
I had to return to the hotel for a quick shower and check out and then returned to the finish area for a finish line photo and to check the results. I didn’t really expect to win in a race that big (and with that slow time) but hoped to place? I confirmed that I had placed 2nd which was OK considering my poor shape and lack of training. The race did confirm that I still have an endurance base but no speed. I need to do speed work but am still concerned (afraid?) to push the old bod too hard until I get confirmation that the blood clot has dissolved or solidified? That may still be a month away so I guess I need to start some speed work but not make it too intense or too long?
I will probably run another Florida marathon in a few weeks to help improve my endurance base and capability to hold a faster pace. I have to beat the old bod back into good marathon shape before the winter/spring marathon schedule starts in Florida in Jan!
Stay tuned.
Monday, November 27, 2006
TR - Cuba
TRIP REPORT
CUBA
11-15 to 11-24/06
Marabana Marathon
Sun, Nov19/06
Havana, Cuba
Marathon # 276 – Country # 80
4:02:27 - 1 AG
Finally in late summer (after I returned from the trip to
Greenland in August) the Agency in Cuba replied to me! The agent had been sick
and off work for months and nobody else cared to pick up her work/customers for
her? I finally received a hotel confirmation in Sept. I tried to book the
flights. The schedule and prices for Nov travel had not been determined yet? I
booked the connecting flights and hotels to/from Nassau from FL and waited.
Finally in Oct I was able to book the flights from Nassau to Havana. I was
billed in Euros through a bank in Paris – and they weren’t cheap! $600 to fly
about 100 miles but there isn’t any competition! The flights on this trip cost
more than $1000.00 – just to fly from FL to Havana?
We had learned on the Net that Cuba levied a 20% tax on US
dollars so we exchanged $US for Euros in Miami en route to Nassau. We spent one
night in Nassau on the outward leg. Our hotel was located on Cable Beach, about
three miles from downtown Nassau so we had time to explore the town for our
return trip. The following day we departed Nassau as Canucks and arrived
shortly in Havana. The Agency was supposed to meet us at the airport but no
rep? After wandering around the airport for 30 minutes I finally found the rep
(who spoke no English) and he drove us to our hotel. We stayed in the Hotel
Plaza, a magnificent old Colonial hotel on the edge of the City Square and Old
Havana. The lobby was beautiful but the rooms were in desperate need of
remodeling (only $120/night for this luxury). We decided to explore the old
city near the hotel. It was very sad and depressing! The beautiful old Colonial
buildings are decaying and crumbling due to lack of upkeep. And people live in
these buildings! Most of the stores have been abandoned and boarded up due to
lack of merchandise. The few stores that were open had people lined up for
hours to buy the few pieces of merchandise (shoes, clothing, etc) that the
stores still had in stock.
While I was taking the course tour the Sports Manager tried
to find an Internet Café. Internet is only available at the tourist hotels and
each hotel is assigned a certain number of cards (or minutes of internet
access). Our hotel was out of cards and she had to go to another hotel. Locals
are not allowed access to the Internet! Later we were able to get a pasta
dinner at our hotel.
I
stuck religiously to my pre-race plan of run 10 min and walk 1 min and was
pleasantly surprised when I completed the 1st Half Marathon loop in 2:00:20? As
I started the 2nd loop I figured I could break 4 hrs if I was willing to
abandon my run/walk strategy but I was too concerned about increasing the
risk of complications/re-occurrence of DVT. Instead I stretched the run
interval to 20 min during the 2nd Half. I started to pass a lot of other old
farts – mostly Europeans who had succumbed to the heat and humidity.
When I passed 32 Km in 3:03 I figured I still had a chance but my legs
were starting to tire and the quads were starting to hurt due to the
lack of training. When I passed 37 Km in 3:30:48 I realized that I would
have to push the pace and accept pain to finish under 4 hrs but I wisely
decided not to risk it and instead slowed down and cruised to the finish line
in 4:02:27. This was much faster/better than expected/planned and I was quite
pleased. And more importantly I was still ALIVE!
Thursday, October 26, 2006
TR -Patagonia/Argentina
TRIP REPORT
Patagonia/Argentina
Oct 11-16/06
Race Result
Sun, Oct 15/06
Maraton Tres Cuidades Patagonicas
Gaiman, Patagonia, Argentina
Marathon # 275
3:30:46 – 1st AG
The previous report on our S. American trip concluded with Francisco, the Sports Manager and I flying from Uruguay to Patagonia. Patagonia is a large region in Argentina that stretches south of Buenos Aires to the tip of S. America and from Chile to the Atlantic Ocean. It comprises 9 of the 23 provinces in Argentina. Francisco and I had spent many hours in a cold tent in the Himalayas talking about a ‘neat’ marathon in Patagonia. The Maraton Tres Cuidades Patagonicas ran between three Welsh cities in Patagonia. Welsh cities? Yes! Francisco had explained how many settlers had emigrated from Wales in the 18th century and settled in a valley along the Rio Chubut. Because that area of Patagonia is so desolate and isolated the Welsh settlers maintained their Welsh heritage and language up to today. In fact Francisco related a story about the 1980s when Wales decided to reintroduce the Welsh language into their schools but couldn’t find any teachers who spoke the old, traditional Welsh. So they traveled to Patagonia and hired teachers in the Welsh cities to go to Wales to teach their teachers how to speak/teach the old language! I found that story very interesting and decided that I would definitely visit and run the Patagonia Marathon.
As we were flying from BA to Trelew the Sports manager and I realized we had been there before! We stopped at that airport on our way to Ushuaia in Tierra Del Fuego on our way to run the Antarctica Marathon in 1997. We remembered our comments/thoughts at that time: “Who would be crazy enough to get off here”? Us obviously! Most of that region is high desert plateau and very desolate – looks a lot like NV and NM. Fortunately Francisco had booked us into a hotel in Puerto Madryn located about 70 Km north of Trelew and on the Atlantic Coast. It was a pretty city that served both as a major port for the region and a tourist gateway for the beach and a National Park located about 80 Km north. However the city is 1500 Km south of BA and only 1200 Km north of Antarctica so it doesn’t exactly enjoy a lot of good beach weather!
We enjoyed a great seafood dinner that night and the following morning set out for the Park. There is a huge National Park located on Valdes Peninsula that is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Golfo Nuevo and Golfo San Jose. The Park and both Gulfs are land and marine reserves with abundant wildlife. We drove to Puerto Piramides on Golfo Nuevo where several boats offer whale tours. Golfo Nuevo is a marine reserve that protects several species of whales that migrate there each year to calf. We saw lots of whales - mostly Northern Right Whales (Ballena Franca Austral) and also a rare baby white whale that played with the boat and spectators. After the whale tour we had to drive another 100 Km through the Park to the Atlantic Coast. However there had been an unusual heavy rain in that section of the Park and the dirt/clay roads had turned to mud! It was a nightmare to drive! I told our driver (Francisco) that it seemed similar to driving in 12 in of snow – “don’t stop and don’t change direction or momentum suddenly”! He was stressed out and tired when we arrived at the Coast to check out a colony of Magellan Penguins. A few miles down the road we found several colonies of sea lions and sea elephants. The bad roads had delayed us and I had a 7 pm appointment back in Puerto Madryn for a massage and had given up hope of making it. But Francisco drove like a maniacal rally driver through the desert mud – I think we saw some wild lamas and emus along the road but can’t be sure – and we were only 10 minutes late after a very exciting ride!
Later that night we decided to enjoy a carnivorous dinner at a Padilla – an Argentinean restaurant that grills or BBQs several varieties of meat. It was delicious! The next day we drove back to Trelew to pick up our race packets and drive the 2nd half of the course from Trelew to Rawson. That section of the course was flat. That evening I wanted to eat Chinese food as I normally do two nights before a race but there was a slight problem – there were no Chinese restaurants in Puerto Madryn. I told Francisco we had found a business opportunity for him to retire in Puerto Madryn? We selected a close alternative – a seafood paella (lots of rice).
On Sat we left Puerto Madryn for Gaiman. The marathon started in Gaiman and ran through Trelew to Rawson. All three cities were founded by Welsh immigrants but Gaiman is the city with the strongest Welsh heritage remaining. There are several Welsh teahouses that attract tourists to the city and our B&B was one of the most popular Welsh teahouses in Gaiman. We explored Gaiman both on foot and by car as we visited some of the teahouses and many of the churches and old buildings built by the original settlers. One of the teahouses advertised heavily that Princess Di had enjoyed tea and cakes there on a visit in 1995. We really liked Gaiman - it was small and very quaint with a lot of history. We also visited a neighboring Welsh town called Dolovan. It was not as nice as Gaiman but had an old grain mill that was interesting. The mill equipment and building had been manufactured in KY and shipped there in 1880. The owner gave us a tour and turned the mill on to show us that it still operated. There is only one other similar mill in existence – in a museum in IL!
Sun was M-day! The race started in the city center of Gaiman. On Sat we had driven the course from Trelew to Gaiman and learned that there were two nasty/steep BAHs (Bad Ass Hills) – one at 5 Km and another at 9 KM. The rest of the course was flat. The course ran West to East and normally the prevailing winds blow in that direction. Thankfully the Weather Gods were smiling down on us. The temp was in the high 40s F at the 7 am start and the winds were blowing 20 to 30 mph –West to East- so we would have a strong tailwind for most of the race! My strategy was to run the first 10 Km at an easy 5:20/Km (8:30/mile) pace until I got through the BAHs and then push the pace. As we looped around the streets of Gaiman at the start Francisco passed me at 2 Km? He wasn’t even going to run the marathon but I convinced him he could do it since he had run an ultra only 4 weeks before. I passed 3 km in 14:56 and then started to climb the BAH out of Gaiman up to the desert plateau. I reached 5 Km and the main 2-lane highway to Trelew in 25:21. And became totally shocked and then amused with the crazy zoo/bedlam I encountered. The marathon course followed a major 2-lane highway that ran from the Atlantic Ocean to the Andes Mountains. One lane had been reserved for the runners. However every runner had an entourage of family/friends accompanying them on every type of vehicle – bike, motorcycle, car, truck, ATV, etc. Typically there would be one or more vehicles on each side of a runner so that any vehicles trying to use the highway were forced to drive in the ditches beside the highway! There were all types of vehicles going in every which direction – all at the same time! This crazy bedlam lasted throughout the whole race with no concern or control by the police? Francisco later told me that this is the only race in Argentina with such crazy bedlam. I quickly learned how to cope. As long as you stayed on course and ran straight ahead the vehicles would adjust to you. But if you foolishly made a sudden sideways move your life could be in danger!
I tried to slow down and follow a group of local runners through the 2nd BAH but I still passed 10 Km in 49:43. I decided that since we were enjoying a 20 mph tailwind I might as well take advantage of it and push the pace. I soon caught up with a group of local runners that included a female runner and a huge entourage. She had 4 male runners pacing her, and a bike, motorcycle and car on each side of the group. I figured I would be safer staying with that group and ran with them until 15 Km (1:14:49). There was a big advantage of being with a group because the cars blocked off any side winds, etc and all the supporters offered us water, Gatorade, etc. and protected us from other vehicles!
But at 15 Km I felt a strange burst of energy and decided to surge ahead on my own as I dropped my pace to 4:50s. We approached Trelew around 18 Km and ran about 6 Km through the city. I passed the Half in 1:44:49 and saw Francisco on a short section that looped back on itself. He was about ½ Km ahead and I figured I would never catch him unless he faded because I was pushing the pace as hard as I could. As I left Trelew around 25 Km the female runner and her entourage caught up to me and I realized that they were running a smooth/easy pace and it would be smarter to join and stay with them. I thought that she might be one of the lead women but then I heard a fan tell her she was in 5th place overall. I joined her group of pacers and took my turn pacing her at 5.00/Km.
We continued to hold that pace until we passed 30 Km in 2:29:20 and then a few of her male pacers including another old fart tired and dropped behind. When we passed 35 Km in 2:53:59 there was only her and I left in the group – but we still had numerous support vehicles! I was starting to tire but was determined to stay with her since we were on pace to finish the race in sub 3:30! She couldn’t speak/understand English so there wasn’t any communication but we had developed a silent bond to support and push each other to the finish line. Or so I thought? However when I slowed down at a water station at 37 KM to swallow my last carbo gel and wash it down with water she continued to push ahead and I was soon 100m behind her. I tried desperately to catch back up and lowered my pace to 4:50s over the next 3 Km but I could not catch her. When I passed 40 Km in 3:18:58 I figured a sub 3:30 was in the bag? But then disaster hit suddenly! My right calf started to cramp and at 40 ½ Km it cramped severely and locked up! The pain was so excruciating that I had to slow down and even stopped once to stretch it in the hope of getting it to release. It wouldn’t release but the pain decreased enough that I was able to jog and limp the final mile to cross the finish line in 3:30:46. That damn cramp cost me a sub 3:30 marathon!
After crossing the finish line I tried everything – massage, stretching, etc- to get the calf to release and relax but it was all in vain because it stayed hard as a rock and very painful. So I found Francisco and congratulated him on beating me by 3 minutes and asked the Sports Manager to take a finish line photo so I could retreat to a hot bath/shower. We had wisely booked a small hotel near the finish line in Rawson for a few hours so that we could enjoy a shower after the race. Unfortunately there was no tub so I couldn’t enjoy a much-needed HOT soak but the hot shower seemed to help a little. We then walked to the finish area to check for the results but were advised that the results would only be available at the awards ceremony in Trelew at 5 pm. Plan B – drive to Trelew and find some food and beer while we waited for the awards.
At 5 pm we arrived for the awards and (not surprisingly) they were not ready? We had a 7:45 pm flight back to BA. At 6 pm I told Francisco to skip the awards and go to the airport. He wanted to wait because he was sure I had at least placed in my Age Group. They started the female awards at 6:15 pm and finished at 6:30 pm. By then I was concerned that we would miss our flight and wanted to leave. They started the male awards at 6:30 pm and thankfully started with the oldest age group. My name was called to go to the podium to collect the 1st Place trophy for my age group. The trophy was HUGE – so huge that I figured that there was no way the airlines would let me take it on a plane? A few minutes later Francisco collected a similar trophy for 2nd Place in his age group and we threw them into the car and rushed to the airport. We made the flight and even more surprising was that they let us carry the trophies on to the plane! When we arrived in BA Mercedes was waiting at the airport and I gave her my trophy and asked her to keep it or donate it to a Charity for kids.
Mon was our last day in BA as we waited for an evening/red-eye flight home. We met our gracious hosts/friends Francisco and Mercedes for a farewell lunch in Recoleta to thank them for their hospitality and invite them to visit us in CO and /or FL. I do believe that Francisco was relieved and happy to be finished with his ‘babysitting’ duties? We spent the final afternoon in Buenos Aires sight seeing and completing last minute shopping for (more) souvenirs and finally we were on the long red-eye flight home.
It was a great trip! Three marathons and two countries in 8 days. We met a lot of new friends in both countries and saw a lot of interesting things/places.
FOOTNOTE:
It is usually at this point that I say, “Stay tuned for the next report”! But as most of my friends/readers know I left S. America with a ‘bum’ leg/calf. I didn’t think I had suffered a serious injury – just a minor strain that could be fixed with a good massage. After two massages and a week of rest I attempted to run the Breakers Marathon in RI but was forced to drop out of the race after two miles because of the pain in my leg. Then the nightmare truly began. I visited my orthoped on Tue morning believing that I might have a torn calf muscle or stress fracture in the tibia? An X-ray didn't show any problems with the leg as expected. So we scheduled a MRI because we both felt that there was a strong possibility of a stress fracture in the tibia?
After I left his office he called to ask me to play along with a hunch and go for a Venous Ultrasound Scan on the leg. I was totally shocked (as was the technician) to discover a DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) or blood clot in the lower right leg! I was ordered to proceed directly to the Emergency Room of a local hospital to begin treatments with anticoagulants and blood thinners! The doctors in the ER did not provide very good service or any information so I was eager to meet my GP the next day and ask a lot of questions.
Got answers to most of my questions but nobody can tell/guess what caused this problem/big surprise? I was aware of the risk of DVT and flying and was religious and cautious in my efforts to stretch and exercise on long flights to reduce the risk. I can only guess that the combination of 3 marathons in one week and the long flight to BA was the cause? Now that I know about that problem I am hoping that it is the sole reason for ALL the pain and I don't have a stress fracture? I can recover much quicker from the DVT. Will take another week before I meet with the orthoped again for the final results from the MRI.
At first I was feeling down/depressed about the whole injury thing but I had a long talk with Maddog. He reminded me that "Shit Happens" and that "this problem is just another speed bump on the road of life"! We will recover and continue on down the road at full speed!
My GP and many friends have advised/recommended that I "stop running"! That ain't going to happen - EVER! To 'stop running' or 'stop exercising' would be worse than a death sentence to Maddog! Sitting around on my fat ass and doing nothing just so I can continue to breathe (and be depressed and unhappy) for another 20 years does not appeal to me. Not my idea of a 'good life'!
So I will continue to run and write race reports and interesting stories as long as I can breathe and move my old legs!
So – Stay tuned for the next report!
Patagonia/Argentina
Oct 11-16/06
Race Result
Sun, Oct 15/06
Maraton Tres Cuidades Patagonicas
Gaiman, Patagonia, Argentina
Marathon # 275
3:30:46 – 1st AG
The previous report on our S. American trip concluded with Francisco, the Sports Manager and I flying from Uruguay to Patagonia. Patagonia is a large region in Argentina that stretches south of Buenos Aires to the tip of S. America and from Chile to the Atlantic Ocean. It comprises 9 of the 23 provinces in Argentina. Francisco and I had spent many hours in a cold tent in the Himalayas talking about a ‘neat’ marathon in Patagonia. The Maraton Tres Cuidades Patagonicas ran between three Welsh cities in Patagonia. Welsh cities? Yes! Francisco had explained how many settlers had emigrated from Wales in the 18th century and settled in a valley along the Rio Chubut. Because that area of Patagonia is so desolate and isolated the Welsh settlers maintained their Welsh heritage and language up to today. In fact Francisco related a story about the 1980s when Wales decided to reintroduce the Welsh language into their schools but couldn’t find any teachers who spoke the old, traditional Welsh. So they traveled to Patagonia and hired teachers in the Welsh cities to go to Wales to teach their teachers how to speak/teach the old language! I found that story very interesting and decided that I would definitely visit and run the Patagonia Marathon.
As we were flying from BA to Trelew the Sports manager and I realized we had been there before! We stopped at that airport on our way to Ushuaia in Tierra Del Fuego on our way to run the Antarctica Marathon in 1997. We remembered our comments/thoughts at that time: “Who would be crazy enough to get off here”? Us obviously! Most of that region is high desert plateau and very desolate – looks a lot like NV and NM. Fortunately Francisco had booked us into a hotel in Puerto Madryn located about 70 Km north of Trelew and on the Atlantic Coast. It was a pretty city that served both as a major port for the region and a tourist gateway for the beach and a National Park located about 80 Km north. However the city is 1500 Km south of BA and only 1200 Km north of Antarctica so it doesn’t exactly enjoy a lot of good beach weather!
We enjoyed a great seafood dinner that night and the following morning set out for the Park. There is a huge National Park located on Valdes Peninsula that is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Golfo Nuevo and Golfo San Jose. The Park and both Gulfs are land and marine reserves with abundant wildlife. We drove to Puerto Piramides on Golfo Nuevo where several boats offer whale tours. Golfo Nuevo is a marine reserve that protects several species of whales that migrate there each year to calf. We saw lots of whales - mostly Northern Right Whales (Ballena Franca Austral) and also a rare baby white whale that played with the boat and spectators. After the whale tour we had to drive another 100 Km through the Park to the Atlantic Coast. However there had been an unusual heavy rain in that section of the Park and the dirt/clay roads had turned to mud! It was a nightmare to drive! I told our driver (Francisco) that it seemed similar to driving in 12 in of snow – “don’t stop and don’t change direction or momentum suddenly”! He was stressed out and tired when we arrived at the Coast to check out a colony of Magellan Penguins. A few miles down the road we found several colonies of sea lions and sea elephants. The bad roads had delayed us and I had a 7 pm appointment back in Puerto Madryn for a massage and had given up hope of making it. But Francisco drove like a maniacal rally driver through the desert mud – I think we saw some wild lamas and emus along the road but can’t be sure – and we were only 10 minutes late after a very exciting ride!
Later that night we decided to enjoy a carnivorous dinner at a Padilla – an Argentinean restaurant that grills or BBQs several varieties of meat. It was delicious! The next day we drove back to Trelew to pick up our race packets and drive the 2nd half of the course from Trelew to Rawson. That section of the course was flat. That evening I wanted to eat Chinese food as I normally do two nights before a race but there was a slight problem – there were no Chinese restaurants in Puerto Madryn. I told Francisco we had found a business opportunity for him to retire in Puerto Madryn? We selected a close alternative – a seafood paella (lots of rice).
On Sat we left Puerto Madryn for Gaiman. The marathon started in Gaiman and ran through Trelew to Rawson. All three cities were founded by Welsh immigrants but Gaiman is the city with the strongest Welsh heritage remaining. There are several Welsh teahouses that attract tourists to the city and our B&B was one of the most popular Welsh teahouses in Gaiman. We explored Gaiman both on foot and by car as we visited some of the teahouses and many of the churches and old buildings built by the original settlers. One of the teahouses advertised heavily that Princess Di had enjoyed tea and cakes there on a visit in 1995. We really liked Gaiman - it was small and very quaint with a lot of history. We also visited a neighboring Welsh town called Dolovan. It was not as nice as Gaiman but had an old grain mill that was interesting. The mill equipment and building had been manufactured in KY and shipped there in 1880. The owner gave us a tour and turned the mill on to show us that it still operated. There is only one other similar mill in existence – in a museum in IL!
Sun was M-day! The race started in the city center of Gaiman. On Sat we had driven the course from Trelew to Gaiman and learned that there were two nasty/steep BAHs (Bad Ass Hills) – one at 5 Km and another at 9 KM. The rest of the course was flat. The course ran West to East and normally the prevailing winds blow in that direction. Thankfully the Weather Gods were smiling down on us. The temp was in the high 40s F at the 7 am start and the winds were blowing 20 to 30 mph –West to East- so we would have a strong tailwind for most of the race! My strategy was to run the first 10 Km at an easy 5:20/Km (8:30/mile) pace until I got through the BAHs and then push the pace. As we looped around the streets of Gaiman at the start Francisco passed me at 2 Km? He wasn’t even going to run the marathon but I convinced him he could do it since he had run an ultra only 4 weeks before. I passed 3 km in 14:56 and then started to climb the BAH out of Gaiman up to the desert plateau. I reached 5 Km and the main 2-lane highway to Trelew in 25:21. And became totally shocked and then amused with the crazy zoo/bedlam I encountered. The marathon course followed a major 2-lane highway that ran from the Atlantic Ocean to the Andes Mountains. One lane had been reserved for the runners. However every runner had an entourage of family/friends accompanying them on every type of vehicle – bike, motorcycle, car, truck, ATV, etc. Typically there would be one or more vehicles on each side of a runner so that any vehicles trying to use the highway were forced to drive in the ditches beside the highway! There were all types of vehicles going in every which direction – all at the same time! This crazy bedlam lasted throughout the whole race with no concern or control by the police? Francisco later told me that this is the only race in Argentina with such crazy bedlam. I quickly learned how to cope. As long as you stayed on course and ran straight ahead the vehicles would adjust to you. But if you foolishly made a sudden sideways move your life could be in danger!
I tried to slow down and follow a group of local runners through the 2nd BAH but I still passed 10 Km in 49:43. I decided that since we were enjoying a 20 mph tailwind I might as well take advantage of it and push the pace. I soon caught up with a group of local runners that included a female runner and a huge entourage. She had 4 male runners pacing her, and a bike, motorcycle and car on each side of the group. I figured I would be safer staying with that group and ran with them until 15 Km (1:14:49). There was a big advantage of being with a group because the cars blocked off any side winds, etc and all the supporters offered us water, Gatorade, etc. and protected us from other vehicles!
But at 15 Km I felt a strange burst of energy and decided to surge ahead on my own as I dropped my pace to 4:50s. We approached Trelew around 18 Km and ran about 6 Km through the city. I passed the Half in 1:44:49 and saw Francisco on a short section that looped back on itself. He was about ½ Km ahead and I figured I would never catch him unless he faded because I was pushing the pace as hard as I could. As I left Trelew around 25 Km the female runner and her entourage caught up to me and I realized that they were running a smooth/easy pace and it would be smarter to join and stay with them. I thought that she might be one of the lead women but then I heard a fan tell her she was in 5th place overall. I joined her group of pacers and took my turn pacing her at 5.00/Km.
We continued to hold that pace until we passed 30 Km in 2:29:20 and then a few of her male pacers including another old fart tired and dropped behind. When we passed 35 Km in 2:53:59 there was only her and I left in the group – but we still had numerous support vehicles! I was starting to tire but was determined to stay with her since we were on pace to finish the race in sub 3:30! She couldn’t speak/understand English so there wasn’t any communication but we had developed a silent bond to support and push each other to the finish line. Or so I thought? However when I slowed down at a water station at 37 KM to swallow my last carbo gel and wash it down with water she continued to push ahead and I was soon 100m behind her. I tried desperately to catch back up and lowered my pace to 4:50s over the next 3 Km but I could not catch her. When I passed 40 Km in 3:18:58 I figured a sub 3:30 was in the bag? But then disaster hit suddenly! My right calf started to cramp and at 40 ½ Km it cramped severely and locked up! The pain was so excruciating that I had to slow down and even stopped once to stretch it in the hope of getting it to release. It wouldn’t release but the pain decreased enough that I was able to jog and limp the final mile to cross the finish line in 3:30:46. That damn cramp cost me a sub 3:30 marathon!
After crossing the finish line I tried everything – massage, stretching, etc- to get the calf to release and relax but it was all in vain because it stayed hard as a rock and very painful. So I found Francisco and congratulated him on beating me by 3 minutes and asked the Sports Manager to take a finish line photo so I could retreat to a hot bath/shower. We had wisely booked a small hotel near the finish line in Rawson for a few hours so that we could enjoy a shower after the race. Unfortunately there was no tub so I couldn’t enjoy a much-needed HOT soak but the hot shower seemed to help a little. We then walked to the finish area to check for the results but were advised that the results would only be available at the awards ceremony in Trelew at 5 pm. Plan B – drive to Trelew and find some food and beer while we waited for the awards.
At 5 pm we arrived for the awards and (not surprisingly) they were not ready? We had a 7:45 pm flight back to BA. At 6 pm I told Francisco to skip the awards and go to the airport. He wanted to wait because he was sure I had at least placed in my Age Group. They started the female awards at 6:15 pm and finished at 6:30 pm. By then I was concerned that we would miss our flight and wanted to leave. They started the male awards at 6:30 pm and thankfully started with the oldest age group. My name was called to go to the podium to collect the 1st Place trophy for my age group. The trophy was HUGE – so huge that I figured that there was no way the airlines would let me take it on a plane? A few minutes later Francisco collected a similar trophy for 2nd Place in his age group and we threw them into the car and rushed to the airport. We made the flight and even more surprising was that they let us carry the trophies on to the plane! When we arrived in BA Mercedes was waiting at the airport and I gave her my trophy and asked her to keep it or donate it to a Charity for kids.
Mon was our last day in BA as we waited for an evening/red-eye flight home. We met our gracious hosts/friends Francisco and Mercedes for a farewell lunch in Recoleta to thank them for their hospitality and invite them to visit us in CO and /or FL. I do believe that Francisco was relieved and happy to be finished with his ‘babysitting’ duties? We spent the final afternoon in Buenos Aires sight seeing and completing last minute shopping for (more) souvenirs and finally we were on the long red-eye flight home.
It was a great trip! Three marathons and two countries in 8 days. We met a lot of new friends in both countries and saw a lot of interesting things/places.
FOOTNOTE:
It is usually at this point that I say, “Stay tuned for the next report”! But as most of my friends/readers know I left S. America with a ‘bum’ leg/calf. I didn’t think I had suffered a serious injury – just a minor strain that could be fixed with a good massage. After two massages and a week of rest I attempted to run the Breakers Marathon in RI but was forced to drop out of the race after two miles because of the pain in my leg. Then the nightmare truly began. I visited my orthoped on Tue morning believing that I might have a torn calf muscle or stress fracture in the tibia? An X-ray didn't show any problems with the leg as expected. So we scheduled a MRI because we both felt that there was a strong possibility of a stress fracture in the tibia?
After I left his office he called to ask me to play along with a hunch and go for a Venous Ultrasound Scan on the leg. I was totally shocked (as was the technician) to discover a DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) or blood clot in the lower right leg! I was ordered to proceed directly to the Emergency Room of a local hospital to begin treatments with anticoagulants and blood thinners! The doctors in the ER did not provide very good service or any information so I was eager to meet my GP the next day and ask a lot of questions.
Got answers to most of my questions but nobody can tell/guess what caused this problem/big surprise? I was aware of the risk of DVT and flying and was religious and cautious in my efforts to stretch and exercise on long flights to reduce the risk. I can only guess that the combination of 3 marathons in one week and the long flight to BA was the cause? Now that I know about that problem I am hoping that it is the sole reason for ALL the pain and I don't have a stress fracture? I can recover much quicker from the DVT. Will take another week before I meet with the orthoped again for the final results from the MRI.
At first I was feeling down/depressed about the whole injury thing but I had a long talk with Maddog. He reminded me that "Shit Happens" and that "this problem is just another speed bump on the road of life"! We will recover and continue on down the road at full speed!
My GP and many friends have advised/recommended that I "stop running"! That ain't going to happen - EVER! To 'stop running' or 'stop exercising' would be worse than a death sentence to Maddog! Sitting around on my fat ass and doing nothing just so I can continue to breathe (and be depressed and unhappy) for another 20 years does not appeal to me. Not my idea of a 'good life'!
So I will continue to run and write race reports and interesting stories as long as I can breathe and move my old legs!
So – Stay tuned for the next report!
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