Running and stuff

Free State Trail Marathon

2011-04-26T20:23:00.000-07:00

In the six weeks leading up to the Free State Trail Marathon by Clinton Lake in Lawrence I managed to sprain an ankle on three successive trail runs. Two (both the right ankle) were within five yards of each other on two different occasions out at Wyco. The third (left) was done on a training run out at Clinton Lake itself and was the worst of the three, putting me on crutches for a couple of days and preventing me from running for ten. When I did get back to it, I stuck to roads, not wanting to risk another twist before race day.

So it had been three weeks since I'd run on any kind of trail and the injuries had also prevented any long runs over about 15 miles since Run Toto Run in February. My overall mileage had been pretty decent though (40-50 per week), so I wasn't as worried about being undertrained so much as I was about another nasty sprain which had me quite anxious by the time the race arrived. The Clinton Lake trails, while nowhere near as hilly as Wyco, are just as technical, possibly more so in some sections, and require a great deal of concentration. My goal was to finish, pure and simple, and to do so without confining myself to crutches once again. Maybe that wasn't a lofty goal, but it seemed plenty challenging enough.

Both my ankles taped up, Jill and I arrived at the starting area at about 7:20pm and milled around for about 40 minutes while other marathoners and half-marathoners gathered. The 100k and 40 mile runners had left an hour earlier. I had toyed with the idea of up-sizing to the 40 miler at one point, but the ankle turns put paid to that, and at that moment, even the marathon seemed quite an optimistic goal. Some of the usual crowd, including Ben, Dick Ross, Sophia, Puccini and assorted nerds were there. The weather was great; cool with a slight breeze but warm enough for t-shirt and shorts.

At 8, the gun went off and me and my fellow marathoners set off on about a half-mile stretch of road before we turned right into a field. The first 5 miles or so weren't in the woods on the single track, rather were cross-country type trails, mostly grass covered. I really felt good and thoroughly enjoyed this section. It thinned out the line of runners, basically eliminating traffic concerns right away, not to mention it was probably the best smelling run I'd ever done, with the sweet Spring scent wafting over everything.

Finallly we returned back near the start line, ran down a small hill and entered the woods for the first time. The first few miles of single track I had not run on before, and, while not the most technical portion, I was immediately on high alert for ankle gremlins. I trod very carefully during the rockiest and rootiest bits and kept my stride length short and careful everywhere.

For the most part, I was on my own to the extent that I couldn't see anyone in front or behind me at all, but occasionally I would catch up with someone or they'd catch up with me. One particularly chatty Michelob Ultra rep was running in front of me and seemed half the time to be talking to himself, no other runners being immediately visible. I passed him after a couple of miles and he jovially informed me of the beer that would be waiting for me at the end.

The aid stations were perhaps more spaced apart than at Wyco, and several were unmanned and just contained water, so it was quite an insulating experience, but other than the slight anxiety regarding my ankles which never entirely left me, I was relaxed and feeling strong. Almost without realizing it, I'd been running for almost 2 hours when I hit the shoreline trail. This is an extremely rocky mile or so of trail right on the banks of the lake. It's almost impossible to go full out here, even on a perfect day, but I was particularly careful on this occasion because of the multiple opportunities for sprainage. It made it rather rhythm-ruining, so I was quite glad when it finally ended and found myself at a big aid station in a clearing that was probably pretty close to the half way point.

I'd had a gel already, but I stopped for a few seconds, drained a little cup of coke and ate a packet of Gu Chomps which gave me a bit of a lift. I headed back into the woods for a relatively flat stretch of trail that I was pretty familiar with from my training runs. I Godzilla-posed for a picture a couple of miles later, then soon after found myself on a steep uphill section of road. A quick dip back into the single-track, then around an aid station, where I was told I had 9.5 miles to go, and I was heading down the same asphalt hill and back into the woods for the final time.

'Final time' meaning I still had 9 more miles of single track trail of course. A fairly technical stretch, fatigue was by now playing its full part. I felt I was keeping a good rhythm, but apparently either I had slowed down quite a bit or those behind me had perked right up because I was caught by maybe five or six people during the next few miles and didn't catch anyone myself. My ego was unaffected, however. I was too concerned with not blowing it by face planting so close to the end to care.

I was checking my watch and felt I was probably on about 4hrs 20 pace, but when I reached the same aid station as I'd passed at 13 miles and they told me I had 3 miles left, I realized I was further from the finish than I realized and had no shot at that. My feet were hurting by now; I knew I had at least two blisters (turned out to be three), which I figured were probably partly caused by me not having run a trail in 3 weeks. These last three miles seemed to last forever, but finally, I made it to the same hill I'd entered on some three and a half hours earlier and climbed it, turned a corner and there, like a soothing warm bath, waited the finish line, Bad Ben, Dick Ross and of course Jill. My final finishing time was 4:47:00. 42nd out of 88. A solid middle-of-the-pack finish, which I was more than happy with given the joints-that-shall-not-be-named that had cursed my previous few runs.

I was absolutely spent, but really pleased. As tough as the last few miles were - and believe me, there were times when I was asking myself why the f**k I'd chosen this sport for a hobby in recent years - it was all worth it. The trails were in terrific shape - very little mud - the weather was perfect, and I had another marathon under my belt. Most happily of all, the crutches weren't needed. This also undoubtedly goes into the books as by far the best smelling race I've ever done.

Wonderful work as always performed by the Nerds at the aid stations and the finish line areas, Bad Ben, Sophia, Dick Ross, Puccini the wonder dog made this another great, low-key and friendly event. While right now I am in awe of those that did the 100k and 40-miler, I have to admit, that pewter belt buckle you get for the 100 would look pretty good on me, so who knows, maybe next year I'll really go psycho. Then again....

Run Toto Run 50k - 2011

2011-02-12T16:12:00.000-08:00

It's been about 10 days since the big dump of snow, and about five since a smaller dump, so you might say I was somewhat concerned when I lined up for my first 50k, and second Run Toto Run experience. Would it be, as they say, "runnable", or would it be 50 kilometers of running through sugar? I did a loop of sugar running just last weekend and knew that if it were anything like that today, I'd be doing more swearing than running.

Fortunately, I'm not that fast, and those that were did a fine job of clearing a bobsled path before me, so in fact, the trail ended up being really rather excellent, although as time went on and the sun did what the sun does, it got a bit slushy and muddy in places. I pulled my groin playing the idiotic sport that is kickball a few months ago, and I was just waiting for something like that to happen again, but happily, the area made it out relatively unscathed.

Hmm. I sound like quite the pessimist there. Alright, enough of my yapping, on with the race report.

Arrived at 7:30 or so and headed to the starting area. It was pretty crisp. In the 20s, and my plan to wear shorts seemed a bit misguided, so I kept on my longies, pinned the number to my fleece, slapped on the Trail Nerds beanie and at 8am, I lined up somewhere near the back and a horn sounded the off.

You have to cross a field to get to the trail, and, while it had been cut up, the path wasn't smooth, so it was a tricky little opening. Added to that, 250 or so other 50k and 20 milers were jockeying for position with screwed shoes so progress for the first couple of miles was fairly slow. Fortunately, I didn't fall prey to any testosteronic need to blast through the sugar to pass anyone and contented myself with hanging back, knowing that I had a long way to go and a slow start probably couldn't hurt me in the long run.

The early miles passed uneventfully enough, with the line of runners gradually thinning out. The most notable moment was when a runner behind me announced that he was getting a bucket of Chick-Fil-A chicken later that night as a reward for completing the race. His friend (and I) felt that 1 mile into a 31.1 mile race was quite early to be making poultry plans contingent on finishing successfully, but each to their own.

I had resolved to make sure I got plenty to eat this time as I bonked like no-one has ever bonked at about mile 13 last year, but unfortunately, awesome me forgot to wear my belt that had all my gels in, so I contented myself with a couple of handfuls of my running crack, jelly bears, at the aid stations and made sure I kept drinking like an addict, knowing that eventually, Jill would show up with the necessary vittles.

By about mile 5, I was feeling pretty good, ate a salt tablet, and made my way slowly up the road section and back to the trail. My time, despite the slowish start, was about where I wanted it to be. I was on pace for about a 2:10 first loop. The "broken leg" hill after re-entering the trail was a bit treacherous, but I found that a good tactic was to engage in complete denial about it and ran my way down it pretty fast.

The rest of the loop, up to the final mile, which contains the notorious "Three Hills" section was pretty uneventful. The Hills (I capitalize "Hills" not because I'm making a veiled reference to the stupid reality show, but because their might and power deserves such an honor) were, as always tough, especially Hill#1, or as I call it, "The Bitch", but I realized I was feeling pretty dang good and made it through with only one minor swear (I think it was "bugger" for those that are interested).

One thing I thought was absolutely awesome this year was that there were mileage signs on the second half of the loop telling you how many miles there were till the end of the loop. These were posted every half mile and they were outstanding motivation for me. Definitely hope this idea is retained in the future.

OK. Pealed through the finish line - this year right at the end of the trail - another good idea - and Ben was there. He said something about a Union Jack and clueless me didn't realize until after the entire race was done that he'd posted a big British flag right by the finish line just for me. I suppose if I had looked up and seen it, I might have wiped out on the trail, so I can't be too hard on myself. Eyes on the trail always, you know... My time was 2:07, so I'd made up a little on the second half. I stripped off my long pants (my fleece came off about 2 miles later), filled my bottle and I in-a-while-crocodiled the finish line.

Loop 2. Infinitely better than last year. Unlike 2010, when I was ready to lay down in the star position, pray to Scott Jurek and call it a day at the Wyco Triangle, this year I was not only holding my own but actually catching people in front of me. I put this down partly to better training, but also better nutrition and hydration. Experience really tells when doing long trail runs; I'm finding this more and more. On top of everything else, the trail was even better now because of the 400 or so 10 milers that had, since my last loop, smoothed it out some more.

It wasn't until about mile 18, when I saw Jill - who was even more a trooper this year than last, meeting me at many of the trail openings to give me gels from my forgotten belt, salt tablets and force me to pose for photographs - , that I started feeling pretty tired. I suppose we all get to that point eventually during a long race, but it's a mental issue as much as a physical one, and it's certainly possible that the psychological idea of running another loop was a bigger hurdle than the physical one.

Oh well, enough of my complaining, I got up the Hills, and after a brief scare when I almost pulled a calf muscle going up a small incline, ran through the finish line for the second time and once again Ben was there to tell me I was looking good. In truth, I did feel quite strong, but still, that voice was telling me that I still had one more loop before I could call myself a trail Man. Until then, I was still a trail Boy, albeit one with a bald head and a penchant for gourmet beer. My time was about 4:15, some 25 minutes quicker than my time over the same distance in 2010. I was keeping a pretty even pace, but suspected that was going to be a tough thing to achieve three times in a row.

Things had really thinned out as I trudged towards the trail for loop 3. By this time, I was separated by a good distance from those in front and those behind and it was a good two miles before I saw anyone. When I did, it was now people passing me and not the other way around. This (he said in overly dramatic fashion) was the dark time.

The Wyco Triangle came upon me for the third time and I stopped for aid for a little longer than at the other stations to gather myself. It's not that the triangle is hard per se, it's that it seems like you're running to stand still. You emerge just ahead of where you went in, basically advancing about 10 feet in 12 or 13 minutes. The aid station position is cleverly positioned, perhaps partly to make sure people don't "cut" the triangle, and by this time, I could see where that would be really damn tempting.

In the triangle, I caught up with Randy from Wichita and my mental and physical fatigue made me think I could really benefit from some company at this time in the race, so I tagged along with him for the next few miles. If there was a moment where I at least saw a wall if not outright hit it, it was then. Having someone to chat with and keep me occupied was a Godsend.

I mentioned to him my observation about the trail being like a bobsled track, and he returned with something I thought was an even better description. He said it was like skiing every discipline... cross country, slalom, downhill and moguls, complete with epic falls and the occasional injury. Perfect.

Jill kept appearing when I needed sustenance, though I have to say I was getting a bit tired of the all-gel, banana and jelly bear diet by this stage. On the other hand, I didn't want to upset my stomach by introducing something else at this point, and besides, nothing else sounded good. I did start drinking coke at the aid stations though, which was a surprisingly tremendous pick-me-up. The sports drink was rather diluted (perhaps from ice) by this stage, so it was really good on the old taste buds.

At broken leg hill, I decided I had bounced back enough to go on ahead, so I passed Randy and another guy just in front and set off on my own for the last 4.5 miles. I observed to myself that at this point, every step I was taking would mark the new furthest distance I had ever run. You'd think that was an encouragement, but, you know, eyes on the trail lad, eyes on the trail. Concentrate.

Checking my watch, I knew that it would at this point take a major meltdown for me not to finish in under 7 hours, which was a goal I actually thought might have been a bit optimistic, so I was pretty pleased with myself. I passed a couple of other people, including some 20 milers, at around this time, and finally reached Jill for the last time with about 3 miles remaining. I think this was the first time I started thinking about how I'd feel when this was all over. Relieved probably, but also elated, and, yes, maybe slightly boastful. But, still, eyes on the trail.

1 mile to go and the Hills looked at me with all the evil of a Real Housewife of Atlanta. The first, as always was the real son-of-a-mountain, and I could feel myself veering close to "E" on the gas tank. I just had water in my bottle at this point, and probably should have had one more little bite to eat at the previous aid station than just an orange segment (they were all out of jelly bears). Still, I knew the end was near, inched up the other two hills, and summoned the energy to hurtle down the final little stretch through the finish line in 6 hours 42 minutes dead. I was really pleased with the time and with Ben's observation at the end that I'd looked strong throughout, something Jill also echoed, comparing it to my disheveled look from a year ago when she had been "really worried" about me.

Needless to say, a few minutes later, I was walking like Herman Munster and EVERYTHING started to ache. Here's the list... Headache. Face sunburned. Shoulders sore from carrying the waterbottle. Chest, back and hips sore. Hams tight from the uphills. Quads burning from the downhills. Calves shot. Ankles twisted. Big toe bruised. Knees seem to be the only thing that escaped relatively unscathed, but I'm betting they'll be tons of fun tomorrow...

However, I look at these not as ailments but battle scars. This was my first 50k and it wasn't an entry-level one. I got through it and I was proud of myself. There, I said it.

As always, a first class event was run by Ben, Sophia and all the Nerds that contributed time and energy. Big ups for the mileage signs and the new finish line. Dick Ross was his usual jovial picture taking self. Jill was awesome as she always is, and thanks also to Randy from Wichita who, perhaps without knowing it at the time, helped me through my toughest, and most pretentiously introspective miles.

One final "magnifique" to Ben (again) for finding what had to be the biggest Union Jack in the Midwest. Rule Britannia!

Gobbler Grind

2010-11-26T19:32:00.000-08:00

In November 2008 I lined up for the Gobbler Grind Half-Marathon. At the time it was my first race of that distance and my longest run ever. Since then of course, I've covered that distance many times in training and have completed five races of that distance or longer, including the full marathon at the same event in 2009.

November 21 2010 saw me line up for the third straight year, this time, as in 2008, for the Half. This year, Jill and my two daughters were in attendance also, to run the 5k (a separate race at the same event, effectively covering the first 5k of my run).

Here was the problem with this year. First of all, I was, I felt, undertrained. I've seemed to develop a knack of twisting my ankle over the last few weeks and this has slowed me down both in speed and volume. On top of that, I've been eating like I'm doing a universal junk food audit, and yesterday topped it off when we celebrated Thanksgiving early and I anti-carbo loaded with turkey, potatoes and the usual trimmings. More like preparation for a bigger pair of pants than a Half Marathon.

Still, I love this race. After the first 5k around a corporate complex, paved trails weave in and out of wooded areas and under and over bridges until two or three more miles of road and then a return on the same trails to the finish line. I wouldn't say the course is overly challenging, but it's not slam dunk piss easy either. There's no major hills except for a long steady incline on the road section in the middle, but it's rare that you encounter a truly long flat area. Plenty of little bumps. Added to that, while this year was by far the warmest of the three "Grinds" I've done, it was also far and away the windiest.

My youngest was going to walk-run the race with Jill, who's been fighting allergies and flu and wasn't up to a full run. My oldest daughter's a cross-countryer so she started with me (and soon pulled away - she would later finish 4th in her age group, and probably could have finished higher but she thought she'd missed a turn and double backed to me, costing herself probably 30-45 seconds at least in the process).

Really, almost immediately, I knew this was going to be a tough race. My goal going in was 1:45, much slower than my PR, but all I felt capable of. I knew even that was going to be pretty difficult, but I muscled around the first 5k in about 8:10 pace, not too far off. I kept expecting things to start to ease up, but my lack of energy, somewhat bloatedness for the ill-advised turkeyfest the day before, and the incessant wind meant it never really did. The incline on the road mid-section I found far more challenging in years past too. True, I was actually running faster than I did the last couple of years, but I'd run faster in training over 10-11 mile distances, so it was rather frustrating to know that I didn't quite "have it" on this day.

Still, the miles did tick slowly but surely by and as always I was encouraged when I returned to the trails with about a 5k still to run. Somehow, I passed people still on their way out, some 5 miles behind. It made me think back to my first marathon in Arizona when I had to walk almost half of the distance. Seemed to last forever then, and it was nowhere near as windy. Poor them I guess, but they seemed happy enough, so who am I to speculate.

My legs were out of steam and I was absolutely ready for the race to be over, and thankfully, finally it was. I managed to keep going the whole way and even put in a little kick at the end - though was once more blown away by a fellow competitor in the home straight, a rather deflating pattern.

My final time was 1:46:59, about 2 minutes outside my goal, but I was relatively satisfied. A perusal of the finish times revealed times were slower in general than the last couple of years, probably because of the wind. I should have prepared better, but all in all, it was still a respectable time and I held my pace of 8:10 the whole way so it was nice to power through and stay consistent. I have to say it was also great to run with Jill and the kids even if I only really saw them at the beginning and end. The kids were proud of themselves, and with medals and tech shirts given out to all participants, even the 5kers, everyone was a winner. My guess is I'll be back for Grind #4 in 2011.

Fall Fell Trail Race

2010-10-18T14:34:00.001-07:00

I'd been looking forward to this run for a while. Haven't actually run an honest-to-goodness trail race since February's Run Toto Run, and indeed I was off the trails entirely for a while in the Summer after spraining my ankle. I've been back on them the last few weeks, mixing up trail and pavement and slowly easing back up to 25-30 miles/week. Still, although I did run an enjoyable Wyco loop recently, almost all of my trail-ing has been at Shawnee Mission Park, which has some fine trails, but ones that were becoming very familiar. As the Fall Fell Trail Race was at Kill Creek Park in Olathe, this seemed an ideal way to try out a new spot. At the bargain price of $8, it was much cheaper than the KC Marathon the day before too. Count me in.

Unfortunately, on Wednesday, while running in SMP, I managed to twist both ankles several times. Nothing hugely serious, but enough to stretch out the tendons and make me just a little nervous coming into this one.

Kill Creek Park is quite a way out there, very quiet, very low key, rather like the event. There are two major trails. One, called Hank, Bad Ben told us is named after Dr. Henry Jekyll, the other, Eddy, after Mr. Eddie Hyde. It wouldn't take a Dr, or even a lowly Mr, to figure out which was the apparently more challenging then. Overall the race is about 7 miles, so a good way to start the day without blowing every gasket for the next three weeks.

I paid up, got my number (99) and people-watched for about 45 minutes with my support crew (Jill) until the race began at 9.

The weather was sunny and warming as we started, and I bolted out way too fast and headed down a little road into "Hank" in probably around 9th or 10th place (there were a little over 70 runners total). The frustrating thing is that I think my fitness level probably would have been enough to keep me there, but my confidence on the trails was a little shot after the ankle twists and soon, people were passing me.

The funny thing was, I would reflect later that even though Eddy was no question the more technical of the two trails, I actually had a harder time with Hank, perhaps because although generally smoother it occasionally would surprise you with a small root or rock, sometimes hidden under some fallen leaves, that would be just enough to turn what was already a weak-ish left ankle. I counted at least four times that I gave it a significant twist. One in particular caused me to yelp like a surprised dog.

Still, I managed to keep going and soon I was on another little stretch of road and then down towards a stream and photo op. Jill and the "official" photographer were stationed here with a few spectators, and it was great fun galoshing through about four or five inches of water for a few steps. Also did a good job of cleaning off my rather muddy Brooks Cascadias, so practical as well as refreshing.

While Hank was fairly flat to downhill with occasional rocky and rooty patches, Eddy was very rocky, requiring a bit more skill and concentration. Maybe it was this focus, or maybe I was warmed up, but as I said, I actually didn't have too many ankle problems during this section and I'd settled into a comfortable pace. Running largely on my own for long stretches by now, I thought I was probably still in the top 20 or 25 or so and as I bent around a little lollipop and doubled back I started passing some of the runners still heading out. This was a relief because I realized I probably was still going the right way. Mind starts playing tricks when you're out in the boonies on your own sometimes.

Before long, I was back over the stream and really splashed through it this time (see pic for my hero shot). Confidence in my ankle was better by now, and I returned to Hank with a better rhythm and although passed by one more guy who literally seemed to appear from nowhere, I had enough left for a decent finish.

My final time was 1:01:06. Good for 21st place. Would have been a nice cherry on top to break an hour, but all in all, I was pleased with how I ran and most of all glad to have found a new trail I can add to my rotation. As always, the race was impeccably put together by Ben and his peeps, and the donut at the end was very welcome. Hopefully I can keep my ankle in joint long enough to run further and - well, probably not faster - in February.

Run For The Polar Bears

2010-10-01T07:47:00.001-07:00

For the third time, on September 18, Jill and I lined up, with Jill's pal Kim and her husband Adam, for the Kansas City Zoo Run, this year in aid of the Polar Bears, the poster children for environmental activists and cute but deadly food chain toppers in the Arctic.

Conditions at the zoo were anything but arctic of course. The brutal summer may have lost some of its sting, but it was humid and still warm as we lined up on Swope Parkway and readied ourselves for the off. Hoping for a better performance than my previous two runs here, we lined up closer to the front of the pack. The race gets bigger every year but some of the running lanes are very narrow in this twisty turny event. I didn't want to get held up in traffic.

My goal was a relatively modest one. 30:00. (4 mile race, this would be a 7:30 pace). Some 4+ minutes slower than I ran the Trolley Run in April, but my fitness level isn't as high as then due to a busy summer (got married, went to Europe, put on weight) and the sometimes dangerously hot conditions keeping me from running as much as I was in the winter.

After one of the better National Anthem renditions I'd heard at one of these things - an a capella group - the gun went off and we shot down past the entrance and into the zoo. I was out of breath almost immediately and wondered what in the hell was going on. I think in the past, I'd started so far back, the runners around me were much slower than I was, but this time, lining up near the front, they were all as fast or faster and I found myself surprised by that to a certain extent. There seemed like a lot of people in front of me, which made me wonder if I was really running that fast, or if I just wasn't as quick as I was back in the Spring.

After a quick out and back, we reached the first mile marker and a glance at the watch showed a 6:44 first mile. Much quicker than I'd gone in several months, so I felt better mentally, if not physically. Adam was just a little behind me at that point, which surprised me a little as he'd not really done any training, but I decided not to worry about it and moved on into "Africa".

Much of this section was on gravelly trails and wooden bridges, comprising a loop around the outdoor African exhibits. Usually I don't really notice the animals, but I did see one fairly curious looking hippo wondering what was going on just outside his enclosure. I felt pretty comfortable at this point, but knew that on the way out of the loop, I'd be running uphill over a bridge, something that kicked my ass last year, so some of what I was doing was preparing mentally for it.

It worked, apparently. For whatever reason, it wasn't nearly as daunting or challenging as it had been last year when it sort of snuck up on me. However, my recollection that this was the last real challenge was less accurate as the mile and a half remaining through "Australia" seemed to be a constant maze of uphills, downhills, sharp turns and narrow pathways. Fun course, no doubt, but hard work in the warm wet air.

I turned one final corner and into the home straight I went. I had enough left for a kick and passed a couple of people, feeling pretty good about myself until a 12 or 13 year old boy shot past me like I was standing still. Apparently he had mailed in the first 3.9 miles because he certainly had a lot more left than I did. Still, I crossed the line in 29:03, after adjustments, ahead of my goal, at 7:16 pace, not too bad for the course, conditions and my level of fitness.

Adam was a few minutes behind and finished in 32 minutes and change, not bad for someone who probably hasn't run in months. If he trained, he'd leave me in the dust.

Jill and Kim finished in just over 49 minutes, and after a donut and a drink, we all headed over to the brand new Polar Bear exhibit, which featured the brand new MVP of the KC Zoo, Nikita, the 500 pound Polar Bear "baby". Rarely do animals do what you want them to at a zoo. Most of them prefer to just laze around occasionally looking at you. This guy was the exception. Belly flopping and backstroking his way around the pool, he was an absolute star. Hopefully he doesn't pork out and get lazy as he grows older, but right now, the millions of dollars it took to bring him there appear to have been well spent.

Later, I checked the results, and I finished 66th out of about 1,500 or so. 6th in my age group. Not too bad, though I think if I was in Spring form, I could have been close to the top 20, and maybe the top 3 in my age group. Oh well, I'll take it. It's still one of my favorite runs and marks the third year in a row I've gone faster. Moving on...

Trail Gremlins

2010-04-29T07:22:00.001-07:00

I'd been looking forward to a nice long trail run at Wyco for a week or two but heavy rains last week and the race at the weekend delayed my trip until now. Although I knew it probably wouldn't be 'perfect' trail conditions (I'm starting to wonder if that unlikely situation is as elusive as Sasquatch), I was tired of waiting, so filled up my new $19 Wal-Mart special backpack water hydration device (you can just say 'bladder' -ed) and headed out.

The trail was actually quite runnable, but there were still some very stodgy mud pits. It was also quite different from the last time I'd done it because of all the foliage and Spring growth. Unfortunately, I wouldn't have too long to enjoy it. About 2 miles in, my right leg got caught in the mud, my ankle turned and I heard/felt some clicks and I knew my day on the trails was destined to end early.

I was kind of in the middle of nowhere, so had little option but to limp on for a while and even started back up with a slow, careful jog. As it started to feel better, I even thought about continuing around the loop, but after another 2 miles, the jog was becoming more of a skip, common sense finally prevailed and I headed for the comfort of asphalt and a slow, somewhat painful walk back to my car.

My guess is it's sprained. It's pretty bruised and swollen this morning, and there's considerable pain when I move it certain ways, but I can more or less walk on it, and I've done the "classic" tests for broken ankles, and I don't think it's that.

So, a forced absence from running, my first since Arizonagate. Hopefully it will be a week to ten days; no more. Frustrating as that will be, I will take the occasional minor acute injury over a chronic complaint like shin splints or plantar fasc any day. Plus, with no races coming up and, as mentioned, a house to paint, hopefully it will be no (lasting) harm, no foul.

Trolley Run

2010-04-26T07:58:00.000-07:00

Jill's bridal shower was this weekend, so the kids were here for a couple of days. This meant a 9 hour drive to pick them up from Kourteney's track meet on Friday afternoon/evening and also a 9 hour dropoff on Sunday. This was after a business trip earlier in the week, so I was already running on only partial power, and finally, sandwiched between the two drive-a-thons was the 22nd Annual Trolley Run. Yeah, it was always going to be a pretty long weekend.

The Trolley Run has a kind of special significance to me, though I had never actually run it before this past weekend. It holds the distinction of being the first organized race I watched, as I think I might have mentioned in an earlier post. Jill ran it two years ago, and I found myself fascinated with the spectacle of it, and thus my running "career" was reborn. Last year, I was still injured from Arizona at this time, so was once again a spectator but this year I was healthy and ready to try to set another PR. Jill meanwhile was set to run her third straight, though first without her running partner Kim.

The course is a point-to-point starting in the Waldo neighborhood of KC and ending on the famed Country Club Plaza. Plotting an old trolley bus route, it's flat to downhill and probably the fastest 4 mile course in the country. It is home to the national 4 mile record and attracts top tier talent and 10,000+ other runners and walkers each year.

We dropped the kids off at the Plaza near the finish line, then took a race bus to the start area. It was a nice day for running, but not particularly pleasant for standing around. There was a healthy breeze in the air and a few spots of rain. I was wearing a long-sleeved shirt under my short sleeved shirt, a last-minute decision, but we found ourselves wandering from place to place in an effort to keep warm.

The race is so big, they segmented everyone into corrals based on projected finish time. I was in the red corral (sub-30 minutes), blue was next, then green (Jill's corral), yellow, orange and white. One of the biggest problems with larger races - the KC Marathon is a good example - is that the fun runners and walkers tend to have no idea on race etiquette and are perfectly content to line up way too close to the front, then block the entire street while they chat with their six friends or call someone on their cell phone, with no regard paid to runners trying to get around them. For the most part, corralling stops this from happening, so it works out well.

A lone wheelchair racer went first, then a couple of minutes later, the red runners were told to get ready. Jill lined up on the other side of the fence until the start then I told her I'd see her at the finish and the gun went off.

It was kind of new to be running with a bunch of other runners at approximately the same speed as me right at the start. Usually there's such a mixture of paces that it's several miles before you end up with people of the same pace. I started fast, picking as my target a woman with broad shoulders that I remembered passing in the last mile of the Rock the Parkway.

The first mile went by quickly - in retrospect too quickly. I was surprised to see the first mile marker and a check of my watch showed I'd powered through in 6:10. I felt good, but had a feeling I was going to pay for it later. The only two inclines I can remember were next, in quick succession and I knew from having run part of the route before that after I'd crested the second, I wouldn't see another for the rest of the run, a comforting thought as I was already breathing pretty heavily. I also felt rather warm. The long-sleeved shirt had been a godsend at the start, but I could easily have done without it on the run.

We ran through the trendy Brookside neighborhood across 63rd street with it's red and blue striped awnings and down a residential portion of Brookside Blvd that I'm pretty familiar with. I passed the two mile marker and checked my watch. 12:33. Second mile in 6:23, but with the two small hills, I felt I was probably keeping a reasonably even pace over the flat parts. However, my fast start was certainly catching up with me already and another 2 miles felt like a pretty long way to go.

I finally passed broad-shouldered-girl near this section and didn't see her again, so maybe she too started a little too briskly. An older guy was holding his hamstring on the side of the road at this point also, probably not the last casualty of the day.

It seemed to take forever for the 3 mile marker to arrive. My breathing was becoming very labored and my legs heavy. My fast start was biting back hard and I was afraid of a big slowdown over the final mile. I checked my watch. 19:00. Somehow I had run the last mile in 6:27, only 4 seconds slower than the previous one, but it continued the trend of running slower with each successive mile.

People that had paced themselves better started passing me at this point. Possibly they'd sped up, and/or I'd slowed down. I didn't know and I didn't care. I just wanted to see the finish line. I heard the sound of cheering and figured I wasn't far away, but then I realized it was just a small group of cheerleaders and I found myself slightly annoyed at them for fooling me into thinking I was closer to being done than I was.

It had been pretty breezy the whole race, but the trees had for the most part sheltered us from the worst of it. This all stopped when we headed out onto a bridge crossing that would take us to the final turn into the finish line chute. Completely exposed, the wind pounded us full on here and for a couple of minutes it felt like running into an invisible wall.

At last, we were across and I turned into the final hundred meters or so to the finish line. I had very little left for a big finish but when I saw the clock at 25:40, 41, 42, I did manage a final mini-burst to get across in under 26:00. After adjusting to chip times, the final time was 25:49 (avg 6:27/mi pace). My last mile was by far my slowest. 6:49. Still, better than I could ever have imagined even a few weeks ago, but probably a combination of the windy conditions and going out too fast took away the potential for something even faster.

Overall then, a good race, a new PR on an albeit lightning fast course, and I even had my kids cheering me on at the finish line (though I only saw one of them and only one of them saw me). I finished 148th out of 7,500+ timed participants, and 23rd out of 515 in my age group, so a respectable spot. It was a good time, though I have to admit that despite being glad I'd finally run the race that "started it all", it wasn't really my favorite. Nothing bad about it, per se, but maybe I'm just starting to get snobbish about enjoying the smaller, more intimate events. This one was so huge, it was some 30 minutes later before Jill crossed, her corral having started a good 10 minutes or so after mine. Her time was 41 minutes and change, 10:30/mile, not quite as fast as last year, but her best effort of 2010.

I would like to have had a bit longer to relax after the run, but the 9 hour drive beckoned and now, just a day later, it already seems like it happened a long time ago.

After two shorter distance races, I'm looking forward to a few weeks off from racing and getting back to running slower for longer. The next event I'm eyeing is the Psycho Wyco Summer Run Toto Run in July. If training goes well, I'm going to try for the 50k. (WHAT? -Ed.) In the mean time, I have the small business of a house to paint and a wedding to plan for so if you'll excuse me.....

Braden's Race for Life and Miracle Mile

2010-04-19T12:15:00.001-07:00

Braden Hofen is a five year old boy/warrior that has been struggling with neuroblastoma for some two years. Aggressive treatments initially led to the disease entering remission, but just a few months later it returned and now the prognosis is unfortunately not optimistic. Despite this, Braden's fighting spirit has endured and the hope is still there that he will respond to the treatments and can somehow beat the odds.

I don't personally know Braden, nor his mother Deliece, she also now struggling with recently diagnosed breast cancer, father Brian or brother Zach. However, it emerged that Jill's sister knows Deliece, a school principal, having worked with her previously, and it was she that suggested we take part in the inaugural Braden's Race For Life and Miracle Mile, put on by Ben and Sophia of the Trail Nerds. Although the idea for the race only came about two months ago, signups exceeded expectations, buoyed by the cause and the spirit of the Hofens, and by Sunday, a remarkable 1,600+ were signed up to run or walk in one of three events; a mile, 5k and 10k. Jill and I signed up for the 10k.

The information on childhood cancers is tragically limited. 'Hope' was the key theme of the day and, written in block letters on the event t-shirts that almost everyone seemed to be wearing, it undoubtedly applied to Braden's particular case. However, there's no doubt it also had a broader meaning. The long-term hope will be for diagnosis and treatment options to be adequately funded and recognized moving forward. Deliece, in one of several speeches made to the gathered crowds, mentioned how within 2 days of being diagnosed with breast cancer she had a firm action plan, but for Braden, not only did it take a long time for him to even be correctly diagnosed, the treatment options were in many cases either limited or experimental, a gulf that has to be addressed.

Many, if not most organized races are for a good cause, and power to them all. For some reason, though, this one, to me, seemed closer to home, more intimate, more real. It could have been the fact that the Hofens were on hand, including the pint-sized star himself, to speak with passion and conviction about their son and his illness. It might have been the fact that almost everyone seemed to know them, or know someone that did. It might be that everyone knew someone with cancer. It might even be as simple as everyone knowing someone with a child.

Whatever the combination of factors, it was a moving, inspiring, and, yes, life-affirming occasion. It was also an extremely well organized one. The food and refreshments were great. There was a very extensive silent auction (Jill and I managed to win a weekend at the Crowne Plaza, which will work out great as our wedding hotel), and even a raffle for a guitar signed by KC American Idol David Cook. No-one would have held it against the race directors if there were problems, given the compressed time frame with which they had to work, but as far as I could tell, other than a somewhat congested race course (again, they hadn't anticipated such a big response), everything seemed to go flawlessly.

It's funny, but the atmosphere was so good that in the end, the races, particularly the 5k and 10k, almost seemed beside the point. Still, after the parade-like stroll of the Miracle Mile was done and dusted, Jill and I, along with about 90 other 10k-ers and 400 or so 5k-ers, lined up near the front of the pack for our race, Ben blew a horn and off we went.

The run was an out and back, mainly on trails, that reminded me a lot of those I ran on for the Gobbler Grind, though they were a little more challenging, with a few short, but relatively steep bumps. I started fast - for a while I thought maybe too fast - and settled into something of a rhythm as we rounded a field and entered the trail portion. I figured I was in about 7th or 8th place at this point, but also knew that at least some of those in front of me were most likely running the 5k so my actual position was probably a little higher.

I told Jill going in that my hope was that I could crack the top 10 for the first time, and after the 5k-ers ahead of me had turned around I knew I was well into that and was actually pretty certain I was in 4th. Once again, I feared I'd set off too quickly and my legs felt rather heavy for a while, but I managed to run through it and by mile 3 and the turnaround I felt pretty good. I wasn't closing on the guy in front of me but I had seemed to pull away from those behind. I grabbed a cup of water and headed back.

I started passing the 10k-ers still on their way out. There was a decent gap between me and 5th place, and as I ran on, many of those I passed shouted encouraging words as I went by, including Jill, who looked pretty comfortable herself and confirmed that I was in 4th. Not long after, the line of people going the other way thinned out, then it was just me and some open trail, perhaps my favorite part of the run. I felt the most comfortable at this point and a glance behind told me I had a good lock on 4th place. I also realized for the first time that I was gaining on the guy in front.

A bridge was followed by a quick turn and then, almost without being conscious of it, I was on the 3rd place guy's shoulder. I stayed there for a while, gathering myself for a burst, then after maybe 20-30 seconds went past and upped the speed a little, hoping I had enough left in the tank for the finish. A third of a mile later, and I was back at the 5k turnaround point.

Lots of 5kers, mainly walkers, were still on the course, and the next mile or so was a challenging weave through crowds. I shouted 'Scuse me' as I approached, but mostly I had to do the dodging. I think perhaps in my haste to get through without injuring myself or anyone else, I actually was forced to speed up a bit, so it might not all have been a bad thing. Still, I was running right at my limits, so the finish was certainly not going to come a second too soon.

Finally, I could hear the crowd at the start and I popped out of the woods and into the open where I rounded the field back to the start/finish. I was pretty much out of gas, but managed to drain the last of it to propel myself into the final stretch and across the finish line. I was well behind 2nd place, but well ahead of 4th; a solid 3rd; my first "placement", and a PB of 41:51; 6:44 pace. I even won some prizes - another first.

I waited at the finish for Jill, who came in at 1:07:32, some 10 minutes faster than at Rock The Parkway! She was well pleased. We hung around for a good hour or so afterwards, listening to Deliece, Sophia and others tell stories, both heartwarming and heartbreaking, and enjoying the weather and festivities.

All in all, a great race, but a greater cause. Braden's future is uncertain, but the race seems destined to become a key event in the fight against childhood cancers. Backed by the first-rate organization of the race directors and sponsors, year one, at least from what I could see, couldn't have gone much better. Doesn't that show you that all things are possible?

Hope.

If you wish to make a donation, you can do so here.

Rock The Parkway

2010-03-29T12:50:00.000-07:00

The Inaugural Rock The Parkway was this past Saturday. Offering the three classic distances, 5k, 10k and Half Marathon, I opted for the Half. It's probably my favorite race distance, sitting as it does between the zoom ze bop bang of the 5 and 10ks and the long sappery of the longer distances. Jill meanwhile lined up for the 10k.

Despite it's virginal status and cold rainy conditions, 4,000 runners turned out to run one of the three distances. The course, while certainly considerably more challenging than the website pretends, isn't Hospital Hill or Psycho Wyco hard, and is a treat on the eyes, comprising tree-lined streets and some of the nicest residential areas of the city.

I think this race is an example of what an excellent marketing campaign and solid organization can achieve. To get this many runners in the first year requires some clever positioning, and from the very good website to the constant, interactive facebook updates and finally the execution of the event itself, the directors really got a lot right.

I arrived in plenty of time, leaving the warmth of the car a little while before Jill, whose race started 15 minutes later. A quick meander through the starting area, and I was able to find a spot right where I wanted, next to the 1:35 pace group leader, Tony. This was my goal going in, and I felt I had a decent shot at getting it, even though it would be quite a bit faster than my current PR. Training had been going well, and the trail work has really boosted my speed and core strength over the last few months.

The gun went off and within just a few seconds I was across the start line. The first couple of miles flew by. We were a little behind pace, which was intentional. The pacers were adopting a smart-technique where the first few miles are treated as a warmup, the next few are faster, and the last few are basically "hang in there".

I remember thinking during almost all of the first half that for a "gently rolling" course, much of the "rolling" seemed to be uphill with only a few scattered downhill moments. I felt Tony pick up the pace appreciably as we hit the 5-6 mile mark and indeed one quick stop at a water station and I had to work pretty hard to catch back up. I feared this might come back to bite me later.

Most of the route is on the famed Ward Parkway, but there's a middle loop through some residential sections near Loose Park and it's probably the best looking part of an already very scenic course. Jill and I had driven it the day before when it had been bathed in sunshine. The scenery wasn't quite as impressive through the gloom of the rain, but on the flip side, it was cool and not overly windy, so I wasn't complaining.

I think around 7.5 miles was when I started to feel it a bit, the seemingly constant, albeit fairly gentle, uphills starting to take their toll. Then I careened (almost out of control) down a quick steep downhill and realized I'd left my pace group behind. I figured I could slow down and wait for them, but kept going and whether I'd quickened or was just getting tired, I started to wonder if I was going to regret the move.

Fortunately, what goes up must come down, and the back side of the course as we re-entered Ward Parkway was almost all downhill with just a few little bumps along the way. It couldn't have come at a better time and I found myself working less hard to maintain my pace and my energy began to return.

At about 10 miles, I passed a very enthusiastic spectator with a flower power shirt and bright white pants for the second time who was yelling something about holding onto our "chi", bringing a brief, if somewhat confused, smile to my face. I started feeling tired again, and this time decided to take evasive measures by swallowing the energy gel I'd brought along before grabbing a cup of water at an aid station.

Half a mile later and the gel had kicked in and I was ready for my big finish. Very few people actually passed me after I left the pace group, but I caught up with a fair few, as well as some of the 10k and 5k runners still out on the course (they started later than the Half-ers).

Finally, using up the last of the gas in the tank, I crossed the finish line in 1:34:09. 7:11 pace, knocking 14 minutes of my previous race PR. Later, I found out I'd finished 86th out of 1,450. 16th in my age group. Getting faster anyway.

Jill was waiting for me at the end, having just finished her 10k, and we went to the post-race area which we breezed quickly through. Rattle and Hum were playing - and playing well - but the weather was just too cold and wet to stay long, so off we trotted.

It's weird to think this is only the third actual Half-Marathon race I've done. I think I've probably run the distance (or further) 20 or more times over the last year and a half, mostly in training obviously, but I've managed to lower my time each of the three times, so hopefully that trend can continue.

All in all, this was a great race. Very impressed, as mentioned, with the organization, giveaways (the tech shirts and medals were great, as well as the post-race refreshments and entertainment) and atmosphere. Next year's is already set; hopefully the rain will hold off next time, but other than that, couldn't really ask for too much more. I'll be back.

Run Toto Run

2010-02-16T19:16:00.000-08:00

February 13 2010. The 6th Annual Run Toto Run, run, totoed, run again, and otherwise MCed by the Trail Nerds, and led by the intrepid duo of Ben and Sophia, who enjoyed their last day of non-engagement the same day. (Congratulations, felicitations and other iterations to you both).

In actual fact, this was a course I was quite familiar with, having run it first at the Alternate Chili Run - also put on by the Nerds - and several times thereafter. What that meant was that I knew that I didn't know what to expect. Snow, ice, mud, yetis, and of course the ever present threat of spider monkeys.

So... to start at the top..

Jill drove me in at about 7:30am straight past the already full parking lot and into a probably illegal parking space on the side of the road. We ambled down to where the party was already beginning. A little snow was on the ground in places, enough to where I decided I needed to screw... my shoes for extra traction. A station was set up where a couple of people were very helpfully screwing everything that was sent their way, so I joined the queue. I asked the guy who did them - my Swiss cheese brain has forgotten his name - if he was running. He said no, he was going to do some sweeping later, but the 100 miler he'd completed the week before had apparently led to some very mild fatigue. Imagine...

I'd signed up for the 20 miler, but the little devil on my right shoulder was telling me I should go for the 50k if I felt good after the first two 10 mile loops. I asked Sophia if this was doable and she said "Yeah, just make sure we know" so I pottered off to Jill and told her it might be a long day for both of us. She was a good sport about it considering my inevitable slowness and her fondness for not being cold.

Ben and Sophia loudspeakered a few instructions - basically saying if you get lost you're an idiot (they were right; the course was excellently marked) - and with no further ado, we were at the start line and the (metaphorical) gun went off..

Miles 0-3ish. Across a field, a few yards of pavement then up into the first section of the bridle path. The ground was pretty hard and a bit slick, so I was glad I had screwed right before the race (OK, that's enough -ed). Most of this is a gradual uphill, with a couple of steeper bumps and a few short downhills. The path's been torn up by horses in a few places, so footing's fun there. I came out a couple of times onto some grassy clearings, but otherwise was in the woods the whole time here. I actually find this quite a challenging segment, mainly I think because it's the first thing I do, and I'm not yet warmed up properly. Lots of traffic in the early going, both human and canine, a couple of pukers, and the occasional f-bomb. One guy told me he liked my shoes (he had the same ones). I ran across him a couple more times when we strangely found we had more gear choices in common every time.

Miles 3-4ish. First aid station, and, I think, the only one I skipped. I took a right here onto the Wyco Triangle section of single-track. This is one of my favorite parts of PsychoWyco. It's not overly challenging, the trail's pretty smooth, and although there are times when you're sure you're just running in circles, there's something kind of 'yeah, I'm still alive' about completing it. Someone told me that there are people that can do it in 7 minutes. There are also non-superbeings like me who are usually just pleased they didn't get too lost. I've been 'triangled' for 30+ minutes before. No such problems here. Those little pink flags were like runway lights.

Miles 4-5ish. After I popped back out onto the bridle trail (on the other side of the same aid station you saw on the way in), there's a flattish section leading up to a road crossing and back into the woods. I think this was the first time I saw the guy cheering us on who I swear had seven or eight clones scattered at various spots around the course. He (and his doppelgangers) were a welcome sight, and his enthusiasm was impressive. Down one hill, then up what was one of the steepest on the course, and definitely the most challenging part of the first half of the loop. The highly motivating signs "It's OK to puke" and "It never only gets worse" greeted me towards the summit, and I considered both at length. Afterwards, I was rewarded with a fairly steep downhill section of back and forth, then you take a left and a sharp right and all of a sudden you're in the middle of a giant field.

Miles 5-6ish. The field seems to take forever to cross, and is the most exposed part of the course, so is really the only time you really feel much wind. I'm always relieved to get past this and onto the brief uphill section of road, past an aid station - where I gratefully had my bottle filled with Succeed. Back into the woods for a couple of very steep downhills where signs warned us to "SLOW DOWN" which all of those in my pace range certainly took heed of after Ben had regaled us before we started with stories of the broken legs of those who'd gone too fast.

Miles 6-7ish. It may not be, but this part always seems to me like the longest part of uninterrupted running in the woods without coming out at a field, road or parking lot of some kind. Lots of up, lots of down, a little flat, and a slightly muddier track that warned of things to come. I think this was the area I started to get passed by 10 milers that started 30 minutes after me - always an ego boost - including one very fast, (and very young) kid who made the hills that were burning my quads with every microstep seem like minor speed bumps - I later found out he came 2nd overall in the 10 mile race. Overachiever. Across another field, back into the woods, out by some boats, back in again, then one more aid station before the infamous "Three Hills" section.

Miles 7-10ish. Dominated by the aforementioned hills, the first of the three might be the worst because it's so dang long. Just as you think you're at the top, you turn a corner and it KEEPS GOING UP. I didn't even try to run this one, and all I could think was how in the frig was I going to do it again with 10 more miles on my legs. The second is a bit shorter, then the third is another real bugger, though at least you know it's the last main obstacle before the end. Finally, I heard noise that resembled the unmistakably lively chatter of finish line peoples and sure enough, I ran down one final hill and into the back of the parking lot where I'd started. A jovial guy took a picture as I crossed the finish line for which I managed to muster a smile - of all the pictures taken, it was the only one where I didn't look like I was about to keel over.

Round 1 complete. Jill snapped pictures and looked suitably concerned as I was somewhat disheveled already. My time was just over 2 hours; a PR for me, which probably meant I was going too fast.

Miles 10-13ish. Starting to feel a bit iffy. Jill was now meeting me whenever I emerged from the woods, with food and drink, and she told me after that this was the period she was most worried and that I looked "terrible". I was definitely starting to feel it. I took a salt tablet and ate some gummi bears at the aid station.

Miles 13-15ish. Definitely the worst part for me physically. The triangle was a bit muddier than the first time but mostly I just felt like I was about to pass out from exhaustion at this part. The idea of going 6 or 7 more miles didn't seem realistic. I slowed to a walk, even on the flat areas, and prepared myself for doom. To think, a couple of hours earlier, I'd been full of vinegar asking about "up-sizing" to the 50k. What a foolish child I can be. Also, somehow my stopwatch got stopped here, so it added to the feeling that I wasn't making any progress, time itself having apparently stood still.

Miles 15-17ish. Against all odds, I started to bounce back. The salt and food kicked in and all of a sudden I actually felt fairly comfortable again - oh, I still wasn't attempting to run up the hills, but I was pretty solid on the flats and downhills. Mud was really a factor by now, the product of melting snow and 500 runners tearing it up. Plp plp plp. Some were trying to run around the edges but I just charged through it for the most part. I still managed to fall flat on my face, side and butt four or five times, but at least it was a soft landing. I'd done this course in a foot of snow, and although I'll take the mud over the snow, it might be interesting to actually do this one day without either. Of course, then there'd be snakes and ticks, so, you know, every silver lining has its cloud.

Miles 17-20. The three hills were, if anything, not quite as painful as they were in the first loop (though it has to be said I took my sweet time with them), and were one of the few areas where the mud hadn't completely taken hold, so in some ways they were almost welcome. Plus I knew the end was in sight.

Finally, I saw the parking lot and, as if someone had injected me with an elixir of everlasting energy, I suddenly bounded out heroically and shot over the finish line in near average pace. A very brief thought of going for the 50k flashed through my head, then equally quickly went away. The second loop had taken me 2hrs 37 minutes, about 35 minutes slower than the first. The mud was getting worse, and I was spent. I'd put in my day's work. It was time to go home and caress my blisters.

At the end, Ben was there to greet me (see pic), and told me I looked a little pale and needed some food. I didn't reveal that I am the twelve time runner up at the whitest man alive contest behind only Conan O'Brien, but followed his advice anyway and had a bowl of hot soup and an awesome cookie.

I'm the pale one on the left

So, was it fun? Hell yes. I had mud up to my knees, I spent almost 5 hours running in the woods in February, and I got a medal with a dog on it. What more could you ask for?

A special thanks to...

All the Nerds at the aid stations. They were attentive and kept the bar well stocked. The variety of food was impressive (though I personally mainly stuck to gummi bears which I found to be like happy pills for me that day).

The mud

Ben and Sophia for putting on a first class event and for the really impressive amount of stuff you got for your money (long-sleeved tech shirt, mug, medal, soup, cookies - the list goes on)

The guy who screwed my shoes. Good luck on your next hundred miler.

Jill for being there at every corner on the second loop when she probably would rather have been at Banana Republic or David's Bridal. That's my girl.

Anyway, that's it for now. This post ended up being almost as long as my race. But slightly cleaner. See you at the next one!

The Winter

2010-02-16T10:56:00.001-08:00

What a winter. Gary Lezak said it's been 27 days since the last day of 45 degrees or above here in the metropole. I've never known anything like it in the 15 years I've been in this hallowed land. We've also had 28 or so inches of snow through the season, including one that kept us inside on Christmas Day. Average is 12 inches, and it's only just now mid-February!

Hasn't stopped me running though. In fact, I've used the runs as my way of showing the proverbial middle finger to the elements. I remember the 15 mile run I did in 7 degree weather when my chin was so numb you could have stuck a needle in it and I wouldn't have known. I remember the 7 mile run I did in -2 degree weather (I wore a scarf that time at least) - and I remember slogging through 10 miles of snow in yaktrax, with their signature crunch the only noise - even drivers stayed home that day.

But most of all I remember the trail runs. After the marathon in November, I was looking for a fresh challenge. Trail running became it. I figured one of the best ways to prevent stress fractures was to mix up the surfaces on which I ran, and head to softer ground. Sure, you can run on the little grassy areas you see on some streets, but that's not really "roughing it" - plus you get weird looks.

Then I found the Trail Nerds. These nutty folks, led by "Bad" Ben Holmes, run in the snow, rain, ice, 100 degree heat and the pitch black through rough single-track, mountain bike and bridle trails throughout KC. I was intrigued, and joined them for a 10 mile trek at Wyandotte County Park up north, which was the running equivalent of being dunked in an ice bath. It was a shock to the system, and possibly one of the hardest runs I can remember in my life. I was immediately hooked, and not long after, signed up for a 20 mile run over the same trails in February - a run I just completed (more info to follow).

So I've mixed my runs. Short, faster runs during the week on the roads, long hard slogs up and down hilly trails at the weekend. I've run through a foot of snow when even deer are giving me weird looks (not that much fun), and I've ended up lost, flat on my face or with a shoe full of icy water more times than I can count. When running alone, it's one of the most isolating experiences I can think of, but it's also one of the most intensely focusing, and, ultimately most rewarding.

So, with that, I have decided to start this ole blog back up - as before, it's really just for me to keep track and keep motivated. I'll post race reports, maybe the occasional interesting (to me at least) vignette and that, as they say, will be that. We will start with the race I just completed last weekend, the Trail Nerds signature event, and 6th Annual RUN TOTO RUN.

One year (and a bit) on

2010-02-16T10:37:00.000-08:00

OK, so I think it's time I started this back up again.

It was 3 months before I stopped limping after the Arizona marathon, and almost 6 before I could run again. Initially diagnosed a muscle tear, it was actually a stress fracture - apparently quite a bad one given how long it took to recover. Still, once I got back into it, I soon got back into rhythm, and was even able to finish a marathon (this time both legs intact) before the end of the year. Below are the events I competed in.

September 19, 2009 - 4 Mile KC Zoo Run "For The Chimps". 32:24. 8:06 pace.
Took 2 minutes off last year's time. I was pleased with the run; was really the first time I'd tried to push the pace since "coming back"
October 17, 2009 - Kansas City Half Marathon - 1:49:21. 8:21 pace.
Really attractive course. Early traffic slowed me somewhat, but was able to complete the last 10 miles in 8:02 pace for a PR race time at that distance.
November 22, 2009 - Gobbler Grind Marathon - 4:06:36. 9:25 pace.
So, finally, the do-over. Felt very comfortable for about 19 miles, then bonked hard at a vicious little hill around mile 20. After that, it was a walk-run into the finish. I probably was a shade undertrained or I think I could have cracked 4 hours. Obviously pleased I didn't have to make a beeline for an ER this time though.

That brings us, more or less, to 2010, and on to the next challenge...

The Future

2009-01-22T17:02:00.000-08:00

It's now Thursday January 22, 4 days since marathongate. I am still on crutches, still able to put very little weight on my right leg, but there are some signs of improvement and I'm confident that a few weeks of rest should set me straight.

Jill has already decided to do the Olathe Half-Marathon, in Olathe, KS, a neighboring town to Overland Park at the end of March, along with several friends. She's been universally congratulated at work ever since the race, and has become a pied piper of sorts, inspiring those around her to attempt what she has already accomplished. Her long-term goal is a full marathon of her own, though she thinks next year might be more realistic than later this, where Chicago had been eyed as a potential destination.

I of course will not now be able to do the same race, but will, I think, enjoy being on the other side of the wall cheering her and her pals on. Obviously I'd prefer to be competing, but as I enjoy the whole atmosphere of a race, I'll take that as the next best thing.

As for me running again, assuming I can once more take to the streets in 6-8 weeks, my first race will be the 4-mile trolley run in late April, here in Kansas City. It's the largest 4 mile event in the country, with over 15,000 competitors expected to line up. Jill did the run last year, and I met her at the end, and for me, this was perhaps the biggest reason I finally completed my first marathon a few days ago. It was the first time I'd been at a race that large and the atmosphere, the faces on the finishers, the joy on Jill's face as she crossed the line, even the free food at the end, made for an atmosphere that I found intoxicating, and led me down the path I've been following ever since.

I've told those that are interested that I will one day run another marathon, though I suspect it will be an occasional event, a once a year or once every couple of years type thing, just to prove I can, and to keep it as the special distance. I'm not looking to dilute these ultimate experiences by doing too many, nor am I looking to render myself lame by the age of 45. The marathon is both terrific and terrible, and I'm committed to treating it with the necessary reverence.

I do however think that running races is something I will continue to keep in my life for the foreseeable future. I'm officially addicted. Whether it be a 5k, 4-mile, 10k, Half-Marathon or something more exotically measured, you'll see me regularly lining up and exorcising demons with hundreds, if not thousands of others. At 35, I've rediscovered something beautiful.

That, and the t-shirts are useful souvenirs.

The Aftermath

2009-01-21T07:35:00.001-08:00

Jill was waiting for me at the finish, a very welcome sight, but her face told of her own sufferings. She finished her Half in 3 hours and change, and was rather disappointed with how it had gone. Personally, I don't think she had anything to be sad about. She got her medal too, and did something that she'd never done before. I wished she were happier, but as the day went on, I think she did start to realize the achievement more and feel better about it.

Also, she was in much better shape than me. I somehow made it back to the car and drove back to the hotel, but after a few hours of leg stiffening, I simply couldn't put any weight on the right leg at all. Fearing I would have a very hard time making it through three airports and two flights the next day I finally decided I had to seek help. An urgent care facility was open close by, so we went and spent two and a half very long hours in a soulless facility filled with coughing children and bored orderlies. The doctor, who it must be said didn't exactly do a thorough examination, determined it was "probably a torn muscle", said he saw it in marathoners all the time, and sent me on my way with a prescription for hardcore ibuprofen and a pair of crutches.

The crutches certainly helped keep weight off the leg, so they were a relief, and finally, at around 11pm, we got back to the hotel room and went to bed, knowing we'd have to be up, for the second night in a row, by 5am the next morning.

Here's a tip for you. If you want to get through an airport quickly, go on crutches. Fake it if you have to, but seriously, take note. I had been dreading the trip, but it was just about the smoothest travel experience I'd had. Assistants were only too willing to provide wheelchairs, which, in addition to getting through the airport quickly, also get through such nightmares as security lines in double quick time. No-one cares when a person in a wheelchair jumps the queue. On top of that, the check-in woman upgraded our tickets to give us free TV on the flights, and even changed our seats on the first flight to the first row, making it easier to disembark. It was awesome.

So I made it home, damaged but alive. I fulfilled my dream, though not quite in the way I'd hoped, and yes, I think in time I would like to try again, good health permitting. I won't run another one unless I feel 100% at the start line though. It's now Wednesday, three days later, and I can still put almost no weight on the leg. In fact, if it doesn't improve in the next couple of days, I will seek a second opinion on the extent and cause of the injury.

That doesn't mean I regret pushing through and finishing. As I've mentioned before, I might do more marathons, but I'll never do another first marathon, and it has been my experience that mental scars are more difficult to recover from than physical ones. If I'd dropped out, I'd be forever regretful. The way things did go, while I have allowed myself to occasionally second guess some of the decisions I made during training, I'm satisfied that I did everything I possibly could have done on the day of the race and pushed myself beyond the limits of which I felt capable.

I think with the passage of time, and after my leg heals, I will grow to cherish this experience every bit as much as if it had gone perfectly and I'd registered a sub-4 hour time. I've proved I can do it the hard way. I've proved that I have the character to complete a bad marathon as well as a good one. I've proved that it means more to me to hurt myself succeeding than protect myself failing. I believe it has been a life changing event.

I will probably post another one or two entries with some final thoughts, then likely will wrap this blog up. Writing this, like running, has been a very personal experience that I expect few, if anyone else, will have been interested in, but on the off chance someone did stumble across this at some point, I'd be curious to know what you thought and if you'd shared any similar experiences in your own life. If not, well, as with the running itself, it's something I think I'll enjoy looking back over and remembering what turned out to be a very cathartic time of my life.

The Marathon - Part 2

2009-01-20T17:23:00.001-08:00

A lot of thoughts were going through my mind at this point. In no particular order, here were some...
1. What would my friends and family think?
2. What about all the people who'd donated money for charity?
3. If I did somehow make it to the finish, would I be dead last?
4. Finish or not, how would I make it home, through two flights and three airports the next day?
5. What would I do if the left leg went out too?

The last question was a big one. Up until now, leftie was doing almost all the hard work, but there's only so much I could ask of it. Would it hold out?

I hauled myself up and kept going, resolving that I would not stop again for any reason. I knew I might not be able to start again if I did.

The next few miles ticked by slowly, but the ice bags and tylenol did help somewhat. It also illicited some sympathetic words of encouragement from onlookers. I ate my GU, went through the Scottsdale Art District I'd ambled so comfortably through only one day earlier - I was a little sad that I hadn't got to enjoy this part running. I'd been looking forward to that section ever since I'd done the drive through. Limping painfully through it wasn't how I envisioned it back then.

At mile 20, I started picturing myself back in Overland Park doing one of the routes I'd been running for the past few months. I always ran loops of 10k or less, so I knew exactly how far I had to go, and though I hadn't done it walking, I was at least vaguely aware of the fact that I'd never gone further at one time, walk or run, in my life than I had completed then.

The sun became a factor over the next few miles. I was by this stage at peace with the fact I was going to finish in a much slower time than hoped for. I started picturing myself as a heroic warrior with some serious injury, perhaps a gunshot wound, heroically making his way back to base camp to present news of the war to the General lest the battle would be lost. As my skin turned red and my eyes squinted, I walked down a wide open highway in an increasingly sparse crowd of runners and spectators.

At mile 24, I could feel the leg start to deteriorate more, but knew that with only 2 miles to go, it would basically take something like it falling off altogether for me to stop. Nevertheless, it slowed me down even more, and I started wondering what exactly I had done so wrong to deserve this.

At mile 25, another runner came up on my shoulder and said something - I don't even know what, but it was enough for me to strike up a conversation. He too was carrying an injury - a bad ankle - and seemed to come at the perfect time for me, being quite willing to keep me company the whole way in. We passed the last water station and grabbed a drink, and all at once, we saw the last turn into the Sun Devil stadium parking lot ahead. We turned, then turned again, and there it was... the oasis in the desert - the arch representing the culmination of 4+ months of hard slog in the cold, the heat, the rain and the snow.

Determined that my finish line picture would be of me running, I tried to break back into a run for the last few steps, but instead managed only a strange skipping motion, my right leg now able to take almost no weight at all.

My finish time, 5:46:07, was slower than I would have considered possible, yet I was far from last, with runners, walkers, joggers, and crawlers still coming in. I said goodbye to my new friend and headed straight into the medical tent for more ice, my biggest regret later that I hadn't secured his email address.

I had done it. Everything that I'd feared came to pass, and yet, somehow, I'd fought through it and finished my marathon.

The Marathon - Part 1

2009-01-20T16:56:00.000-08:00

It's now Tuesday. I'm back in KC, and my marathon experience is over. I was going to write about it right after the race, but the truth was, I was too exhausted, mentally, physically and emotionally. Yesterday I have less of an excuse for, but the travel home and the usual "getting home" type errands (picking up the dogs, getting food etc) got in the way then. So finally, now, here's the full account, and needless to say.... actually, enough of my yapping. Let's boogie.

The Rock n' Roll Arizona Marathon
Before the race, I was quite nervous. My leg was still causing me some concern, but I figured I surely wasn't the only one with a last-minute niggle. I needed to just shut up and run. If I'm honest, I knew that I was probably playing with fire a little by risking it. It simply didn't feel like my other aches I've encountered through training. It wasn't even that it was more painful. It was just different somehow.

I resolved to ignore it, and give it my all. My theory was that if I made it to the first major turn, at about mile 5, and felt OK, that I would probably be able to get through the run and then I'd deal with any injury afterwards, safe in the knowledge that I'd banked my first marathon successfully.

The gun went off right on time, and off we trotted. As I crossed the start line, I saw John Bingham standing with Bart Yasso and some others on a little balcony type thing a few feet off the ground. I took my hat off and waved it as I passed, and was pleased to see him recognize me, as he shouted "Hey man, looking good!" while I ran by.

The first mile or two went by uneventfully enough. Off to one side, I saw what might well have been the first person to drop out. He was stretching, and looking in some pain. Rather selfishly, I said to myself "Well, worst comes to the worst, I won't be the first person to drop out". My leg was feeling OK. I could certainly feel some pain, but it was confined to the inside shin and I didn't think it would restrict me too much if it stayed at that level.

Perhaps the most comfortable segment of the race was from about mile 5, when I made that all important turn, to mile 9. I started to feel very comfortable. I was maintaining an easyish pace of around 9:30/mile, but gradually speeding up as I found my groove, and I had some fun with a group of runners dressed in Foot Locker outfits who were giving out beads. I took their picture and received beads in return. I wore these for the next mile or two before they began to be a distraction, and so I took them off and presented them to a young girl who was watching from the side of the road.

Up until now, my biggest issue was my shorts. The elastic lining had long gone, and I think a combination of my weight loss and me having two GU packets in the back pocket made them very loose. I ended up having to hold the GU packets in my hands to avoid having to constantly adjust it. I peed in a bush at around mile 8 - every port-a-pot seemed to have a line - and motored on.

We went up a very slight incline at around mile 9 and a woman said to me "I guess this is the hill, huh?" - I told her there was another one at mile 24 to look forward to and sped off.

It was mile 11 when the problems started. I'd almost forgotten about the injury altogether but found out very quickly at that point that it had absolutely not forgotten about me. The pain started on the inside, suddenly becoming much sharper, and then the dreaded outside shooting pains started and my leg began to buckle. I tried running through it, but soon I was limping quite badly. At mile 12, with no improvement, I started to accept for the first time that I might not make it. I felt tears begin to accumulate behind my eye, and tried to tell myself that this too would pass.

It didn't.

I somehow managed to get through another three miles before the reality hit me. I walked through a water station and this time, couldn't start running again. My right leg simply had nothing left. I had completed the first half in just over 2 hours, but I knew I had only one chance of making it through the second half and that was to walk. In all the training runs and tune-up races I've done for this thing, from a 1 mile jog to a 20 mile long run, I've never onced stop to walk other than to get a drink, and now, here I was, finally at the race I'd been working to the whole time and I was walking with 11 miles still to go. It was disheartening and disappointing.

Initially I didn't feel too bad. I was limping, but mainly able to keep propelling myself forward, but by about mile 18, which seemed to take an eternity to come, I was badly struggling, my limps becoming more pronounced by the step. I began to fear the overcompensating would soon take its toll on my left leg. A medical tent was set up at this point, and, seeing my discomfort, a volunteer offered me ice, which I gratefully accepted. I sat down for a second, they attached two ice bags to my leg and gave me two tylenol. I told another woman I wanted to get back out there and she said "For sure", in a very certain kind of way, but I knew there was a chance I wouldn't even be able to stand back up, let alone walk another 8 miles to the finish line.

The Courses

2009-01-17T20:23:00.000-08:00

We decided a while back to drive the routes. The website advertised the course as "fun, fast and fantastic" or words to that effect. Yesterday we drove the marathon course, today, the Half, to see if they were telling the truth.

One thing we've noticed about Phoenix and the surrounding area is how wide open it is compared to Overland Park and Kansas City. The trees are usually tall, thin palm trees and there's very little shade anywhere, even in some of the built up areas. I'm loving the weather right now, but I have a feeling it would be too oppressive for me to handle in the summer. KC can be almost as hot as Phoenix in the summer, but it's much easier to find shade, and the heat is at least broken up by a few milder moments.

The marathon course is definitely flat, of that there's no doubt. The only bump I remember seeing was a short slope at around mile 23. It's hardly a hill at all but placed where it is on the course, it could be a little irritating. I wouldn't call the course hugely scenic, but it is kind of pretty in an old-west kind of way, with dusty colored roads and mom and pop businesses interspersed with fast food joints and the occasional residential section. Camelback mountain is in view for a lot of the course, and the last few miles are quite interesting, with the pleasant Art district of Scottsdale, a bridge crossing over the Salt River and a finish in the Sun Devil Stadium parking lot. I loved it.

The Half-Marathon course is just as flat as it's big sister, but takes a much more direct route to the stadium, a good percentage of it all on one road (McDowell). It shares part of the first mile or so with the marathon, but other than that is completely separate. There are a couple of little segments that almost seemed desert like in spots, with dunes and cacti dressing the sides of the roads for good stretches. These were my perhaps favorite areas of this course. It also passes by the Phoenix zoo, and affords a decent view into where the animals might potentially be milling about. There's no doubt it's less varied than the full, but that's probably as it should be. The full-marathoners pay more after all. :-)

The next post will be me telling you whether I succeeded, failed, or landed somewhere in between. That's if I can physically type at that point. What another fine mess I've got myself into.

The Eve of the Marathon

2009-01-17T20:05:00.000-08:00

In about 10 hours, give or take a few minutes, I'll be sweating my first few steps on the Phoenix streets. I'm expecting a painful first mile or two, though I have to say my leg has felt better today than it has in a while, which is encouraging. As long as things loosen up by mile 4 or 5, I'll be happy.

Today went quicker than I expected. Jill and I drove the Half-Marathon route (having done the marathon route yesterday), attended the Scottsdale Artwalk, enjoyed a relaxing swim in the OUTDOOR pool, and ate at the ever-reliable Olive Garden. Finally we came back to the hotel, pinned our numbers on our shirts, attached our tags and laid out tomorrow's gear. So, not much down time, though it wasn't overly taxing physically.

The nerves are well and truly here. I can feel the old ticker going double time already. Sleep might be hard to come by, though I do actually feel quite tired, so I might get lucky. Either way, we'll need to be on the road by about 5am, so it's not like I'm going to get that many hours anyway. To be honest, I'm grateful for the early start. Anything to reduce the tossing, turning and fretting.

The Surprise

2009-01-17T08:56:00.001-08:00

Jill's inability to keep even the smallest secret is legendary. I find it endearing, personally. It's an almost childlike excitement that leads her to almost burst at the seems with the weight and responsibility of guarding any treasured information.

Therefore I was totally blindsided when she announced last night that she had a surprise, and proceeded to present me with a file folder full of cards and emails from friends, family and the like that she had covertly requested and gathered without my knowledge over the last few weeks. In addition, not only had she managed to keep quiet, but everyone who contributed were similarly silent, a remarkable feat given the range of personalities and ages of those involved. I am usually alert to underground dealings and like to think of myself as having a good nose for this kind of thing, but I was utterly in the dark.

The cards and emails were all good luck wishes and messages, and some were remarkably thoughtful, frequently hilarious and invariably touching. I had just told Jill how I was slightly jealous of the amount of good luck cards and so on that she'd received for her race, which she posted all over the hotel room when we arrived, and then she uncovered this little treasure trove.

Without wishing to be cliched, sometimes I feel I've grown quite cynical and perhaps a little too worldy-wise over the last few years, so when something like this happens, it's hard to even know what to say or do, but it's rare I'm so moved, and, whatever happens tomorrow, I'm a better person for knowing the people I do, and especially for having the partner that I have.

The Day Before The Day Before

2009-01-17T07:50:00.000-08:00

Breakfast at the hotel consisted of pancakes, bacon, and a discussion over the nationality of the waitress, which we finally agreed was an Eastern European nation of some description, then it was time to head to the Health and Fitness Expo in downtown Phoenix to pick up our numbers and goodie bags.

This was not the "Gobbler Grind Packet Pickup". A huge convention hall was packed with booths, apparel and other merchandise and celebrity guests signing books and giving speeches. I thought that the KC Marathon's expo was a decent size, but this one was easily three times as big, and although I'm sure we went during one of the less busy times (noon on Friday, when the Expo would be running for two solid days until the end of Saturday), the place was hopping.

First things first, we picked up our numbers and timing chips. I liked that the backgrounds are different colors for the marathon and the half. Jill said that was probably because that made me think I was cool and more of a badass for doing the full, and, well, she's probably right. My number had a yellow background, Jill's blue. The chips were actually Chronotrack disposable tags, rather than those plastic Championchips that a lot of races have. So that'll be an extra souvenir when all's said and done. One thing was immediately apparent. There are far, far, far more people doing the Half than the full. There were probably thirty different lines for half marathon packet pickup, and maybe ten for the full. (Stop it, you're a badass, we get it.)

The t-shirts were next, and they were pretty good, again different for the marathon and half - this is the first race I've been to big enough to have two different t-shirts for the different races. Not race shirts; they were 100% cotton, so just a souvenir, but nevertheless, I'd read some comments in the past that they were a bit lame, so either those people were extra-picky or they'd upped the quality this year.

We meandered through the booths, picking up free samples (the freebie of beer was perhaps my favorite of these), and eyeing clothing and shoe. Jill actually ended up buying a very nice pink New Balance shirt she's decided to wear for the race, which she tried on in a booth made out of curtains and velcro.

We passed by a celebrity signing. The Olympic gymnast, Shawn Johnson, even tinier in real life, was dutifully signing for a long line of people, a lot of whom were clearly too young to be marathoners, or even, I'd venture to suggest, half-marathoners.

Finally, we sat in on a Q&A with a panel of experts, including former marathon champions, running legends, and writers Frank Shorter, John 'The Penguin' Bingham and Steve Scott. I was particularly pleased to see John Bingham there, whose column I've found frequently hilarious and often inspirational. At the end of the Q&A Jill and I actually introduced ourselves to him and picked his brain for about 10 minutes or more. He's as pleasant in real life as he seems in his columns and very funny. He gave us tips on shin splints (my topic du jour), marathon recovery and pacing. He's also completed the London Marathon seven times, counting it, with Chicago, as his favorite of all, so was quite interested in the fact that this was my home town.

After, we listened to Bart Yasso, the Runner's World editor, runner, and inventor of the now-famous "Yasso 800s" - an interval training workout that has been used for years as a way of predicting marathon race times. Jill was keen to buy his book, so after the talk, we went to his booth and bought one, having him sign it for us right there. Great stuff.

After the expo, we decided to drive the marathon course. I'll talk more about this - and the Half-Marathon course that we're going to drive today - in another post, but for now, I will say just one word.... "flat".

The phrase "We're not in Kansas any more" resonated time and time again in my head as we headed home (via Dick's Sporting Goods and Ikea, which Jill badgered me into checking out). Not only is Phoenix as different to KC as knives are to jelly, in terms of both terrain, infrastructure and landscaping, but the marathon is clearly big time. The organization, the quality of the goods on sale, the people hired to talk, the sponsors. This ain't your momma's marathon. Well, it ain't the Gobbler Grind, anyway.

I ran a mile on the treadmill, which I documented in the finaly daily log, then another unhealthy dinner, this time at the Cheesecake factory, followed, and we were once again spent. I've been happy to get two good nights of sleep, because I have a feeling tonight won't be as smooth. I woke up nervous and part of the reason I'm blogging now, before Jill is even awake, is so I can get rid of some of that energy. This might be one of the longest days of my life. :-)

The Journey

2009-01-17T07:27:00.000-08:00

I'm posting this a couple of days after the actual events described. Sue me, it's hard to motivate myself to write a blog while I'm on a quasi-vacation. Be grateful you're getting one at all.

We left the house at around 7:15am into a -2 degree Kansas City day and dropped Olive off at Jill's place where she would later be picked up by the dogsitter (Jill's mom), Meadow having been safely delivered to my pals the night before. A drive to the airpot and economy parking followed which allowed us another delightful opportunity to stand outside in sub-zero temperatures while we waited for a shuttle to the airport.

Did I ever tell you I hate to fly? It's an irrational fear of course. I'm more likely to die driving a car or, yes, running a marathon than I am in a plane crash, but naturally that fact is no help whatsoever when a bout of turbulence decides to pepper the plane. Oh, I'll do it. I'm not paralyzed by it. I don't break out in a cold sweat and hyperventilate, but I do waste a proportionally greater number of my allotted total of heart beats inside those tin tubes.

Despite my massive build up, in an equally vast anticlimax, the flights were both pretty smooth (still hated them), and I was pleasantly surprised that although we went through the notoriously choppy skies around the Denver area, where we connected, today's air was calm and virtually turb-free. We arrived in Phoenix about 40 minutes late, still dressed in jackets and scarves, and headed to the rental car shuttle where we tasted open Arizona air for the first time, and led to the first 3-4 hours of our stay being dominated almost entirely by weather-related conversation. It's remarkable to me as a native Brit used to pretty similar conditions throughout the whole country, that one place can be so huge as to be able to wake up in negative temperatures in one area, and then step off a plane to 70 degree temperatures in another.

The drive to the hotel, located in the suburb of Chandler, was a breeze and we arrived, starving hungry, at around 5ish. A quick trip to PF Chang's later, our appetites satiated, and we were back in the hotel watching a news story about - would you believe it? - a plane crash. "Miracle in the Hudson" it was already being dubbed. A heroic Captain, both his engines taken out by, of all things, geese, managed to land his plane in the Hudson river in New York, saving every single one of the crew and passengers, almost all of whome escaped with either minor injuries or no injury at all. It's funny how news stories can act as bookmarks to an event in your own life sometimes. I will always associate this event, and Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, with my first marathon. I'm just pleased it was a happy ending. I have no time for bad omens at this stage.

I know. Me, me, me. Right?

The Final Daily Log 1/16/09

2009-01-17T07:17:00.000-08:00

Distance: 1.00 miles
Time: 10:00
Pace: 10:00/mile
Weight: 193lbs
Terrain: Treadmill, 0% incline
Temperature: Indoors
Gear: Adidas Climacool Shirt, Adidas Running Shorts, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Right Shin
Recovery: Stretches
Shoe Mile Count: 302.55 miles
Days until Marathon: 1

I actually ran last night, but was too tired to post then, plus I wanted "Days Until Marathon" to read "1" :-)

What can I say? My leg still hurts, and will hurt on race day. Was it bearable? Yes. Was it unpleasant? Slightly, but somewhat improved over the other day, though one mile isn't really a long enough distance to truly test it. Of course, I didn't want to go further, obviously, and risk exacerbating it, so this last little jog would have to suffice as a measuring stick.

I do wonder if part of it is mental. Is it my mind making it worse than it is? Suddenly I am feeling a lot of pressure to make this a success, and that has to be adding to the feeling that not all is as it should be. I really just want to get out there, get to mile 5, and start feeling good. It certainly feels real enough, but I'm sure all "phantom pains" do.

I am going to wear the old shoes on race day. They feel fine, and I trust them.

So, my training is complete, and I've even driven the route (see subsequent post). There's one thing left to do and one thing only. Run fatboy, run.

The Final Total

2009-01-14T19:41:00.001-08:00

Barring any surprise last-minute donations, the final total is in for the fundraising. My friends and family came through and we've managed to raise $1,250 for cancer research; more than double the original target. I might do another marathon one day, but I will never do another "first marathon", however it goes, so I really felt it was key to capitalize on the uniqueness of the event and make it about more than just a personal indulgence. I'll be able to look back with pride that I wasn't the only one to benefit from my race. If I fail, that fact will be of great comfort to me as I lick - or maybe ice - my wounds. If I succeed, the combination of the realization of a dream I've had since childhood and the fact that I raised a significant sum of money for something truly worthwhile will surely rank as one of my life's finest experiences.

The Night Before

2009-01-14T19:23:00.001-08:00

The bags are packed. The errands are done. The documents are printed.

Tomorrow, I will fly to warmer climes with the purpose of running the 6th annual Rock n' Roll Arizona marathon. It was September when I came up with the idea, and I have to admit that at that time, I thought the chances of me actually lining up race day were no better than 50-50 given my history of trying (and failing) this task. Only four days to go now, and as of this moment I'm still fully intending being there. Yes, I'm hobbled, but all in all I should probably count my blessings I've made it this far and stop whining.

That being said, my leg was still very sore this morning, though it improved considerably as the day went on. I read that new injuries are not uncommon during the taper, because of how the body begins to heal from the weeks of building mileage. Maybe I'm grasping at straws believing that, but I'll take what I can get at this point. I'm not thrilled about the timing of this most recent roadblock, obviously, but am hopeful that if I rest up and am sensible about the remaining time that I will be able to muscle my way around come Sunday. It might not be pretty, but I'm not pretty to begin with, so who cares, right?

The flight leaves KC at 10:17am tomorrow and, after a brief stop in Denver, I'll arrive in Phoenix at around 2pm local time. The plan is to just head for the hotel, take it easy and try to get some sleep. It might not be glamorous, but I'm not glamorous to begin with, so.... well, you know.

SEE YOU IN ARIZONA!!

The Daily Log 1/13/09

2009-01-13T14:44:00.000-08:00

Distance: 4.10 miles
Time: 37:20
Pace: 9:05/mile
Weight: 193lbs
Terrain: Rolling
Temperature: Very Cold
Gear: Long-Sleeved Gobbler Grind Tech Shirt, Adidas Running Fleece, Under Armour Running Hoodie, Adidas Long Training Pants over Under Armour Compression Pants, Reebok Stocking Cap, iPod Shuffle, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Right Shin
Recovery: Stretches, ice, Aleve
Shoe Mile Count: 301.55 miles
Days until Marathon: 5

Not great. My shin hurt pretty much the whole way through, which in itself was frustrating, but the pain also seemed to transfer to the other side of my leg on the high calf. My guess is it's all related. While the pain was an annoyance, what was more unsettling was the fact that the anterior pain made my leg feel very weak, like I had no power to push off on my steps. Yikes!

Compounding the misery was the fact that it was extremely cold, which meant I had to wear my rather heavy hoodie the whole way through. That always makes for a heavy run, and I even one-upped that by selecting a new route, though it was over somewhat familiar streets. Idiotic probably, though I don't really think it was the route that was to blame for my woes.

The weather and terrain of course shouldn't be a barrier to success on Sunday. Forecasts are exactly as the race directors have predicted. Starting in the 40s, finishing in the mid to high 60s, and over a pancake flat course to boot. So the only thing I really have to worry about is this annoying injury. Yes, I've probably only got myself to blame, but I mean, come on, it couldn't have waited a week to kick in?

Other notes: Surprisingly, given my lack of leg energy, my pace was pretty respectable, probably close to what I'm planning on running on race day. Also, I went back to the old shoes today and they felt pretty good, so I'm leaning towards going with those. That being said, I am probably going to take both pairs and decide when I'm out there which to use based on how good (or not) my shin feels. The better it is, the more likely I'll go with the old ones. If it still feels really weak, I might run in the new ones and risk some foot pain to give me some extra cushioning.

Given today's struggles, I've decided to skip tomorrow's 3 mile jog and might not even run again before Sunday, though I'd like very much to at least do a mile or two on Friday or Saturday so that I can test my leg and assess the damage.

Last minute complications aside, nothing short of a tsunami is likely to keep me from lining up on Sunday, and unless I just can't even stand up, I'll run through whatever pain comes my way, even if I have to go slower than I'm hoping. I've told everyone I'm doing this now, so if I fail, everyone will know, and that's more of a fear than any injury.

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Daily Log 1/11/09

2009-01-11T17:43:00.000-08:00

Distance: 8.39 miles
Time: 1:19:54
Pace: 9:31/mile
Weight: 193lbs
Terrain: Gently rolling first half, moderate up and down second half
Temperature: Colder as the run went on
Gear: Short-sleeved Adidas Climacool Shirt, Nike running shorts, Road Runner Running Cap, iPod Shuffle, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: Water
Fuel: None
Medical: Right Shin
Recovery: Stretches, ice, Aleve
Shoe Mile Count: 18.84 miles
Days until Marathon: 7

One week from now, whether I succeed or fail, my journey will be over. I might have mentioned that I've already targeted my next run - a half-marathon in late March in a neighboring town - but I must admit, I am a bit worried that, having been at this for more than four months now, I will feel somehow empty like something I've been living with has been taken from me. The bigger fear is that this feeling will cause me to stop running and revert back to my lazy ways, undoing the good work I've done to this point. Hopefully not, but still, it's like anything. You get used to it, and whether it's hard or not, you miss it when it's gone.

That being said, I'm still a week away, and today marked the last significant run. Between now and the race, if all runs go as scheduled, I'll run 4 on Tuesday, 3 on Wednesday, and then a little 2 miler on Friday in Arizona. In fact, I could probably skip all three of these and still feel fine about the work put in so far to line up on Sunday. Knowing my history, that's unlikely, but still... my point is that I was keen to get this run in because I knew it was probably the last time I would run a long enough distance to a) test my shin and b) test my new shoes.

The first half I ran with Jill at a slow pace (10:40ish per mile), then I sped up in increasingly cold conditions (considering what I was wearing) to an 8:15 per mile pace. My shin was mostly fine; probably slightly better than Friday even, though it was quite sore before I set out. I don't foresee this going away, but neither do I see it being a particular issue on race day, either as something that might stop me from competing, nor even as something that will slow me down to any significant degree.

As for the shoes, I'm still a bit torn. The heels feel great, but I have always bounced a little when I run. The balls of my feet are where I "spring" and tend to correspond with the parts of the shoes that wear down first. As I'm used to "worn down" with the old ones, the new ones being built up feel like they are digging in. My strategy is therefore this... on Tuesday I will run my 4 miler in the old shoes. If they feel more comfortable, I'm sticking with them through race day. If not, I'll probably take my chances with the new ones.

While we're on last minute dilemmas, this weekend's NFL playoffs transpired in such a way that the usually beleagered Arizona Cardinals will host the NFC Championship game the very same day I'll be running. I don't know anything about Phoenix, where the stadium is, or how everyone gets there, but it would be a novel twist if I spent longer driving back to the hotel because of football traffic than I do running the race.

Am I a glass is half-empty kind of guy all of a sudden?

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Intolerable Odor

2009-01-10T13:56:00.000-08:00

Mapmyrun.com has added a new feature to its training log application. In addition to being able to register the quality and effort level of your workout, you are now able to track your "odor level". I have to admit, this did encourage the corners of my mouth to set a northerly heading. Is this something people are keen to look back on and reminisce about? Ah yes... that was the day I smelled like a dead cat. Ah, that was before I'd discovered this thing the natives call deodorant.

Maybe I shouldn't kid. These websites listen to their subscribers, so possibly they'd been getting a lot of requests for ming-tracking. I don't know. I'm not saying I smell like a pine forest after a heavy rain when I come in from a hard seven miler, but I have this new-fangled contraption called a "shower" that seems to remedy the issue. Perhaps I'm missing something, or unaware of some odorific condition that afflicts people only when they run.

The options you can select for your level of poopypantsia ranges from "no odor" to "intolerable". Full disclosure: there have been times on a run where I've been aware of being less than lemony fresh, but intolerable? Can you really picture someone throwing up their hands half way through their run and yelling "That's IT. I can't take one more step. The smell is simply intolerable." I want to know who's marking their run odor this way. Are they taking a dip in a bath of rotten milk before they set out? Do they wrestle hogs? Clean Johnny-on-the-Spots?

Anyway, you can probably tell I'm a bit restless. Only 8 days left, and I suspect this week will be a slow one. My odor and me will be back on the roads tomorrow, but don't be surprised if I post again before then. You've been warned.

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Daily Log 1/9/09

2009-01-09T12:24:00.000-08:00

Distance: 4.24 miles
Time: 42:05
Pace: 9:55/mile
Weight: 193lbs
Terrain: Gently up and down
Temperature: Warm; intermittently breezy
Gear: Hospital Hill Tech Shirt, Adidas running shorts, Gobbler Grind Running Cap, iPod Shuffle, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Right Shin
Recovery: Stretches, ice, Aleve
Shoe Mile Count: 10.45 miles
Days until Marathon: 9

I've talked on and off about how the right shin has been the devil I know, and from my tone, I'm sure you've taken that to mean that it doesn't concern me as much as possibly it should. I said in the last long that barring a broken leg I'm doing this race, and that still holds, but it's somewhat frustrating that I'm having this pain this late in the day after many weeks of next to none.

All that being whined_I mean said, despite the fact that my shin has been rather sore all week, I made a last minute decision to head out onto the roads and log a few more miles on the new shoes. Partly this was because the alternative was the exercise bike, which has been great for warming up for my runs, but is one of the most boring contraptions known to man when it's the centerpiece of a cardio workout. Partly this was because it was in the mid-50s outside - it's been an extraordinarily mild January so far - and I have a hard time resisting short-sleeved shirt and shorts weather. Partly it was simply because I'm stubborn.

So was it a bad decision? Well, early signs are that no, it wasn't. I was conscious of the injury throughout, but I can't honestly say it was painful. I ran slow, careful mile loops figuring I could easily stop at any time and still be able to tell exactly how far I'd run, and as the pain never escalated, I managed to complete all 4 scheduled miles. I finished a few hours ago and if anything my leg feels a little better now than it did this morning, but this could be the ice and Aleve kicking in.

I really hope that everything holds up for the planned 8 miler on Sunday evening. While it's probably not imperative that I complete it in terms of fitness, it will be an important gauge of how the new shoes are breaking in, and if I don't feel entirely confident, I'm going to switch back to the old ones for the last week of short runs and the race.

Less than a week till my Arizona adventure begins, and only 9 days until the race. It almost looks like a misprint to me to read that. Seems like only yesterday it was still 80-something days away. Doesn't time fly when you're having fun?

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Daily Log 1/7/09

2009-01-07T14:20:00.000-08:00

Distance: 6.21 miles
Time: 57:47
Pace: 9:18/mile
Weight: 194lbs
Terrain: Rolling Hills
Temperature: Cold and calm
Gear: Long-Sleeved Gobbler Grind Shirt, Adidas running fleece, Adidas long training pants over Adidas running shorts, K-State Stocking Cap, iPod Shuffle, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Shins
Recovery: Stretches, ice, Aleve
Shoe Mile Count: 6.21 miles
Days until Marathon: 11

As you can see from the shoe mile count, I stepped up and bought a new pair last night. I figured even if I could get by without them until the marathon I'd need them soon after anyway, so might as well see if they'll do me any good right now. The verdict? Well, it's not in yet. There's no doubt they felt softer, and my shins - which were sore again - appreciated it. On the other hand, my feet, particularly around the ball on the left foot, were in a certain amount of discomfort. I will run in these again tomorrow (or Friday) and on my 8 mile run at the weekend. If they don't feel a bit more broken in after that, I'm going to switch back to the old ones for the last couple of runs and the race. It's possible I left it too late to change, but no big deal if so. The old ones are still serviceable and it'll keep at least a few extra miles off them by cycling in the others.

My shins were sore for good portions of this run, particularly the right one, and were it earlier on in the training cycle I might be more concerned. Thing is though, at this point, barring a broken leg, I'm doing this race. I've worked too hard to give up now because of some fairly mild shin splints. So although it was, like yesterday, a tad uncomfortable, the injury didn't concern me overly.

I did however feel very tired on this run, and even a little burned out. This could be just a hang over from Sunday's long run (and the 20 miler the week before), along with perhaps not hydrating as well as I should have, and even wearing clothes that were a little warm for the conditions, so I'm trying not to read too much into the ennui. Still, there's a certain amount of relief that the race is now just around the corner. I'm ready for this to be done. Sure, I'll keep running (I hope), and do other races, maybe even another marathon one day, but at this moment, I'm feeling the mental and physical grind.

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Daily Log 1/6/09

2009-01-06T12:11:00.000-08:00

Distance: 4.04 miles
Time: 35:48
Pace: 8:52/mile
Weight: 194lbs
Terrain: Rolling Hills
Temperature: Cold and calm
Gear: Long-Sleeved Adidas Climacool Shirt, Adidas long training pants over Nike running shorts, Reebok Stocking Cap, iPod Shuffle, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Shins
Recovery: Stretches, ice, Aleve
Shoe Mile Count: 297.45 miles
Days until Marathon: 12

After two days of rest, I had a bit of cabin fever. Yesterday was a bad day, with Meadow figuring out how to escape from the back yard. Might not sound like a big deal, but she has the energy of a nuclear power plant, so the yard had been a life saver; now I need to figure out a way to keep her in it. In addition, my work computer crashed which obviously slowed me down work-wise too, so it was rather stressful all around.

My point in sharing these apparently trivial events with you is that I've realized how much running balances me out. I'm usually more mentally relaxed the days that I run, and the longer it's been since the last one, the more tightly wound I feel, so I was really looking forward to logging a few miles today.

All that being said, much as I was grateful to be back out there, this wasn't the most comfortable run. My legs felt worn down, and both shins were sore (the right one in particular). It wasn't dreadful. I ran at a pretty good clip and by the time I was done, I was feeling pretty good, but it caused me to start questioning once again whether a new shoe purchase might not be such a bad idea after all. It's difficult to feel the decrease in cushioning when you run frequently with the same shoes, but I do feel somewhat more aware of the impact of the steps now. Of course, this could just as easily be explained by the buildup of the mileage itself as any deterioration in footwear. We'll see.

Six more training runs left. Only two of those will be longer than four miles; a 6 miler tomorrow, and 8 miles on Sunday. My heart wants me to do more. Fortunately, my brain and my legs aren't listening.

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Destination - Part Two

2009-01-05T14:26:00.000-08:00

Scottsdale...

Has a population of around 240,000.
Was described by the New York Times as "The Desert's version of Miami's South Beach", with plenty of night life and a buzzing hotel scene.
Was once a village called Vasai Svasoni, which means "rotting hay"
Boasts the highest number of destination spas per capita of any town in the USA.
Is home to the corporate HQs of P.F. Chang's, Godaddy.com and Cold Stone Creamery.
Will be where I'll run some of the middle portion of the race on January 18, 2009

Tempe...

Has a population of around 174,000.
Contains the corporate HQ for US Airways.
Is the home of Arizona State University.
Is the most densely populated city in the state of Arizona.
Was named after the Vale of Tempe near Mount Olympus, Greece.
Will be where I will hopefully stumble over the finish line on January 18, 2009.

Chandler...

Has a population of around 240,000.
Is noted for its annual "ostrich festival"
Is home to several major manufacturing plants of the computer chip maker Intel.
Counts among its sometime residents the rapper Ice-T, and (American) football players Donovan McNabb and Brian Urlacher.
Is often considered a "bedroom community" for those working in the Phoenix area (and for Jill and I, who will also be resting our heads there for four nights next week.

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Destination - Part One

2009-01-04T11:57:00.001-08:00

With 2 weeks until race day, I thought I'd look into the destination cities a little. I'll discuss the specifics of the race, including the course, closer to race day, but in brief, it actually covers three separate cities. The race begins in Phoenix proper, then passes through the suburb of Scottsdale and finishes in Tempe near Sun Devil Stadium, home of the Arizona State University Wildcats. Jill and I are staying in another suburb, Chandler, a little south of Tempe.

So let's start with Phoenix itself. I'll do Scottsdale, Tempe and Chandler in a subsequent post.

It is the 5th largest city in the US, with a population of around 1.5 million. The Phoenix Metropolitan area has a population of around 4.6 million.
Phoenix enjoys an average of 300 sunny days per year.
Average annual high temperature is 85 degrees.
January's average high is 67 degrees.
Since 1896 it has only snowed 7 times in Phoenix.
Famous Phoenicians include Dan Quayle, John McCain, Steven Spielberg, Alice Cooper, Barry Bonds, Phil Mickelson and Mike Tyson.
Before it officially became Phoenix, the town was called Pumpkinville due to the large pumpkins that grew in fields by canals.
Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport is the 18th busiest in the world.
The Phoenix area is home to over 200 golf courses.

Though I once caught a connecting flight in Phoenix, other than that, this will be my first trip to Arizona. Hopefully I won't slip on any left over pumpkins.

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Daily Log 1/3/09

2009-01-03T11:41:00.000-08:00

Distance: 13.11 miles
Time: 1:44:30
Pace: 7:58/mile
Weight: 194lbs
Terrain: Gently Rolling
Temperature: Warm and overcast, gradually turning sunny. Intermittently breezy
Gear: Hospital Hill Tech Shirt, Adidas running shorts, Gobbler Grind Running Cap, iPod Shuffle, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: Water, Gatorade
Fuel: None
Medical: Minor right shin, tight right hamstring
Recovery: Stretches, ice, Aleve
Shoe Mile Count: 293.41 miles
Days until Marathon: 15

I honestly wasn't planning such a blow out, but a combination of the weather and the knowledge that this would be my last truly long run before the race sent me out quickly and I simply never let up. It's the fastest pace per mile I've done during my whole training cycle, over any distance, even the short runs, and without wishing to sound show-offy, I think I could have run even a few seconds faster... at about 10ish miles in, a dog broke away from its owner and chased me a little way down the street. This led to my hamstring tightening up, so I had to back off for about a mile until that loosened up again. And yes, it was a big dog - a German Shepherd - not a miniature poodle thank you very much.

I actually was initially planning to run tomorrow but it's forecast to be some twenty degrees cooler, with winds 10 mph faster, and with my shin feeling OK, it was a fairly easy choice to move that up a day and instead take my two days off after the long run. The shin held up pretty well; it was much improved over Thursday, though still a little sore for the first mile or two. Other than that and the aforementioned dog-induced hamstring, the run was comfortable over a relatively gentle course (though I certainly did feel the inclines there were). The weather was insanely warm; almost like a mild summer day. The longer I was out there, the warmer - and sunnier - it became, until I was almost too warm despite wearing shorts and a short-sleeve top.

I mentioned the other day that I've stopped obsessing so much about my pace, and though I was probably somewhat reckless going this fast this late, part of it is a mental thing. I want to push myself from time to time. I'd like to say I won't do it again before the race, but I've broken that promise before, so I suppose this time I'll just say that I'll see and leave it at that.

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Daily Log 1/1/09

2009-01-01T15:41:00.000-08:00

Distance: 4.14 miles
Time: 35:07
Pace: 8:28/mile
Weight: 194lbs
Terrain: Rolling
Temperature: Cold and calm
Gear: KC Royals wicking shirt, Adidas running shorts, Road Runner Running Cap, iPod Shuffle, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Right shin
Recovery: Stretches, ice, Aleve
Shoe Mile Count: 280.29 miles
Days until Marathon: 17

It's January 1st and I ran in short-sleeves and shorts. It's as if the weather wants me to succeed - or maybe it just wants me to stop going on about it all the time.

As is often the case, this last run of the week was a bit sore, with the shin acting up a little. Part of the reason I ran today was so that I could rest for two straight days before my long run on Sunday, and I think I'll need it. I've only taken one day off since Sunday's 20 miler, and have already put 16 more miles on my legs. It's time for some r n' r. (that's rest n' relaxation... the rock n' roll is later in the month ;-) )

Other than the achy shin, it was a pretty pleasant stroll. I ran quite fast, but not recklessly, and I zoned out to my music and imagination for good stretches. These days, 4 miles feels like little more than a warm up, and with two more weeks of gradually decreasing mileages, I have a feeling I'll be chomping at the bit by race day.

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Monthly Log 12/31/08

2008-12-31T16:05:00.000-08:00

Number of Runs: 17
Total Distance: 151.22 miles
Total Time: 23:43:12
Longest Run: 20.04 miles
Avg Distance: 8.90 miles
Avg Time: 1:23:42
Avg Pace: 9:24/mile
Medical: Calves, right shin, sore nipples
Events: None

Another month comes to an end; my last full one before the big day. No races, but plenty of distance records, and despite some weather reschedules and some minor niggles, I only missed two short runs.

The month started with a 15 miler, a challenging run in the early morning cold. A minor calf strain resulted, but an extra day off seemed to do the trick and it hasn't flared up in a while now despite the continual building of mileage. The right shin has been iffy on and off, but any pain hasn't ever increased to a worrying level, so the "devil I know" is still just that and nothing more. I noted the sore nipples. At one point, they actually bled, so I finally took them seriously and bought some medical tape. The last few runs, including Sunday's 20 miler, I've taped them up and they're no longer an issue.

Ice and snow were intermittently factors, but in fact, I've been fairly lucky. All my major long runs are in the books except for one 13 miler this weekend (and early reports are that the weather will be fine then too).

In many ways, I'm struggling to come up with anything interesting to say, and in marathon training 'uneventful' is almost always good. My pace was solid, slightly faster than November, again despite longer average run distances. My shoes held up well. I learned that GU tastes way better in the heat of the run than it does as an impromptu dessert food. Not exactly riveting stuff eh? Good.

The highlight was probably the 20 mile run. 20 miles is something that requires concentration, application and a certain stubbornness. At the beginning, you feel good, but there's so much in front of you it's almost something you don't want to think about. About half way, there's the aspect of knowing that as far as you've already run, and with fatigue already somewhat of a factor, you still have that same distance ahead of you. Towards the end, the challenge is simply to keep going and try as best you can to ignore all the signals your body is sending you to stop. It's an episodic, phase-like progression, and one that I'd imagine closely replicates the marathon experience itself. For me, getting through it, and getting through it healthy was essential. Having run twice since without repercussions, things look good on that front, so now it's simply about staying on my feet and not doing anything stupid.

I think it was about mid-September the first time I really thought about doing the Arizona marathon. At that time, it was 110-120 days away. I knew I'd tried before and failed, and I knew that I was two years younger then even. I knew my shins were already slightly tender, and I knew I was too heavy. In other words, best intentions notwithstanding, I really had no idea if I'd make it to the start line. Now, that 110-120 days is down to 18 (and only 15 before I fly to Phoenix). I've done eight runs of 10+ miles (having done zero before then), and I'm virtually pain free. I've raised $705 for charity, with more expected. I've got my race number... this thing... it's really going to happen!

Happy New Year!

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Daily Log 12/31/08

2008-12-31T13:43:00.000-08:00

Distance: 8.09 miles
Time: 1:10:30
Pace: 8:43/mile
Weight: 194lbs
Terrain: Rolling
Temperature: Cold and clear
Gear: Gobbler Grind Shirt, Adidas Long Running Pants over Adidas Running Shorts, Adidas Running Fleece (discarded after first 2 miles), Reebok Stocking Cap, iPod Shuffle, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: Water
Fuel: None
Medical: Minor right shin
Recovery: Stretches, ice, Aleve
Shoe Mile Count: 276.15 miles
Days until Marathon: 18

I went to Garry Gribble's yesterday to see about some new shoes, but after inspecting my old ones and checking to see if I had any trouble with them, the guy said I'd probably be fine with the ones I have and since he's an expert and turned down an easy sale, I decided to trust him and go with it. At $125, I don't want to buy something I don't need yet.

So I laced up the old guys and headed out for my mid-week middle distance run of 8 miles. It was another great day for running. Much colder than yesterday, but no wind and sunny skies. After warming up I didn't even need the fleece and completed the last 6 miles without it.

My legs felt strong. Very minor right shin ache, but no worse than yesterday, and everything else felt stronger and more recovered from the weekend. My pace was fairly brisk, but I've stopped obsessing too much about that. As long as I don't feel totally spent afterwards, as far as I'm concerned I haven't overdone it, and I felt fine today.

So another month is over and I'm still mobile, healthy and strong, with just 18 days left until the payoff. Of course, tomorrow will also mark the first day of 2009. I'll give you one guess as to what my main New Year's resolution will be.

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Daily Log 12/30/08

2008-12-30T11:33:00.000-08:00

Distance: 4.08 miles
Time: 45:16
Pace: 11:05/mile
Weight: 194lbs
Terrain: Mostly uphill first half, mostly downhill second half
Temperature: Warm and windy
Gear: Gobbler Grind Shirt, Adidas Running Shorts, Gobbler Grind Running Cap, iPod Shuffle, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Minor right shin
Recovery: Stretches, ice, Aleve
Shoe Mile Count: 268.06 miles
Days until Marathon: 19

Jill's off work this week so she asked if I wanted to run with her today. As it was important I take this one easy, I thought this was an ideal way to keep my pace down. As an extra precaution, I also lined up a pretty soft music selection so I wouldn't get too pumped up and start sprinting off to some Slipknot or something. Really, it was a great recovery over the old Santa Fe trail. The weather was great, and although tired, my legs were basically fine except for some very minor right shin pain - I almost didn't even note it above, but I wouldn't want you to think this thing was too easy now, would I?

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Official Stamp

2008-12-30T09:41:00.000-08:00

I received final confirmation yesterday from the marathon organizers. Most of what they sent was on their website, but the one thing new was that I received my race number. I am #5546. Nothing particularly dazzling about that, but I suppose it adds a certain official stamp to proceedings.

One thing I'd forgotten was that I'd put down 4:15:00 as my predicted finish time. If the race goes as well as some of my long training runs have, that should actually be quite conservative, but that's alright. I'll be lined up in a corral with a similar speed of runner, and that will hopefully curb any temptation to go out too strong. The 20 miler has given me a lot of confidence, but I still have no clue what it is to run further than that, and I've read many articles that claim that a marathon doesn't really start until mile 20. Yikes.

Going to try to get back out on the roads today. My legs are still plenty tired, but I think a slow 4-miler should be doable. The weather's way too nice to pass up.

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Shoe Reality

2008-12-28T17:07:00.000-08:00

It seems almost unbelievable to me that a pair of shoes I wore for the first time a little over 2 months ago already have 260+ miles on them. If I complete my final training runs as planned, another 60 would go on them by the race. Opinion is divided as to how long a pair of running shoes should be worn... the weight of the owner, the economy of the person's stride and the quality of the shoes themselves are all factors. What seems clear however is that mine will have many more miles on them than is advisable for a race of 26.2 miles. After doing some research, although not everyone agrees on the optimum wear to have on a pair of race shoes, I haven't found a single one that said you should run a marathon with more than 150 miles on them, so I'm going to have to bite the bullet and buy a new pair.

Given how successful the current pair are, I intend getting the exact same ones again, and will wear them for my middle distance and long runs from now until the race, keeping my old ones for the shorter distances. That should break them in without wearing them down, and leave me in good shape. Pains me to spend the money, but it would pain me more if my legs were to break down at mile 15 because I'm running in worn out shoes.

Who was it said that running was a cheap hobby? Give me his address so I can T.P. his house.

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Daily Log 12/28/08

2008-12-28T15:34:00.000-08:00

Distance: 20.04 miles
Time: 2:59:35
Pace: 8:58/mile
Weight: 194lbs
Terrain: Moderate inclines and declines over first half, gently rolling second half
Temperature: Cool, sunny and breezy
Gear: Adidas Long-Sleeved Climacool Shirt, Adidas Running Shorts, Gobbler Grind Running Cap, iPod, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: Water, Gatorade
Fuel: Tri-Berry GU Energy Gel
Medical: None
Recovery: Stretches, ice, Aleve, menthol rub
Shoe Mile Count: 263.98 miles
Days until Marathon: 21

And so it's in the books. 20 miles.. the Mount Everest of the training portion. My legs are sore and I feel like I want to hibernate, but I got through it and now can start tapering for the race. The home stretch, if you will, is finally here. If my training were itself a marathon, I'd be at around mile 24. The hard work is done, now I just need to stay upright and I'll make it.

So, where to begin... I feel like I want to tell a big long story. After all, I just dedicated almost 3 hours of my life to the thing. These posts might be dry and repetitive, but so is training for a marathon (except when it rains). I suppose I will spare any random viewers from rambling on all night about it, but you know... give me a little rope, it's not every day you run 20 miles (thank God).

How about I confine it to some bullet points?

Weather: Perfect. Unlike the trying conditions for last week's 18 miler, it was relatively warm, the roads were clear, and although a little breezy, I really couldn't have asked for much better conditions in late December.
Course: Intermittently hilly over the first half, the second half was, by design, pretty gently rolling with only a couple of inclines. It certainly wasn't as flat as Arizona will be, but even Jill (who ran her first 10 miler today over a similar second half route) liked the course, which definitely should tell regular readers something about the terrain.
Injuries: None really. My shin was just a little sore for the first mile or so, but I didn't notice it after that. Little niggles cropped up here and there, but nothing that persisted, and although everything hurt at the end, early signs are that it's simply a result of my legs hitting hard ground God knows how many thousands of times. My primary goal for today was to make it through without getting injured and, knock on wood, I think I pulled it off.
Pace: 8:58/mile was certainly faster than I was aiming for, but when I finished, I knew if my life had depended on it, I probably could have muscled my way through another few miles, so I will take that to mean I didn't overdo it. I never felt like I was going too quickly. I wore an iPod today (until the batteries annoyingly went out about 45 minutes from the end), and was singing along with the tremendous songs I'd selected, so I clearly wasn't overly taxed.
Energy: Through about 15 miles, I felt fine, but by 18 I was definitely struggling. I waited too long to take my gel this time and although I finally did (at mile 18), it took about a mile to kick in, so the 19th mile was without question my slowest and hardest. It's possible I'd hit the infamous "wall", although I've always assumed that hitting the wall was like falling in love - if you're not sure, it hasn't happened. So maybe not. Anyway, once the fuel had taken effect, I was able to pick it back up again on the final mile, and a quick check of my watch revealed that a slight uptick in pace would get me in under 3 hours, so I went for it, and succeeded by 25 seconds.

The longest run remaining will be 13 miles next Sunday, and that will be the only remaining occasion between now and the race that I'll run more than 10 miles. Only just over a month ago I ran that distance for the first time ever, and now it's part of my "warm down". The ability of the human body to adapt, even one as doughy as mine, is really quite remarkable.

Special shout out to Jill. Her first 10 miler happened by accident today, thanks to her peerless lack of directional sense which led her to go a mile and a half off course, but she's naturally thrilled to have managed the distance, regardless of how it happened, and should now be well prepared for the Half.

3 more weeks!

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Devil I Know

2008-12-26T14:16:00.001-08:00

How was your Christmas?

Mine was pretty good. Good food, some decent photos, and my favorite present, a pair of TempurPedic slippers. Billed as the most comfortable slippers in the world, they may just be. I've hardly taken them off since I got them. Great for aching feet which I seem to have a lot lately - go figure.

My right shin's actually been rather sore the last couple of days. Although I'd toyed with the idea of running yesterday, a combination of the injury, the slick roads, and Christmas spirit kept me inside. Today the decision was harder. The temperature inexplicably shot into the 60s, and it took all I had to resist wearing a short-sleeved shirt and shorts, and getting in my scheduled 5 miles, but when I failed the back yard test, good sense won out. The last thing I need is to risk exacerbating something now, particularly on a pretty meaningless short run. The shin is the devil I know, and experience tells me that caution must reign supreme with a huge Sunday just around the corner.

When I started this thing, there were several landmarks before the race that I had in my head that I felt like I had to get through successfully in order to make it to Arizona.

KC Marathon Relay -- I was already signed up for this, so it was the first thing on my to-do list. It also, obviously, was my first marathon experience, so it gave me a little insight into the atmosphere of such an event, and even into such minutiae as race etiquette.
10 mile run -- As well as being a "double-digit" run, this would also mark my longest ever distance covered, 9 being my previous record. Occurring on the same day as the New York Marathon, completing this was probably my second-proudest training accomplishment so far, behind the....
Half-Marathon -- I initially thought this would occur in training, but it of course ended up being an actual race, and so far has been the unquestioned highlight.
15 mile run -- First time I'd covered more than half the marathon distance. My early morning canter in the cold wasn't my most comfortable run, but coming when it did, in the middle of a stretch of nine weeks of double-digit long-runs (assuming the next two longies go according to plan), getting through it was all that was really important.
40 mile week -- This wasn't actually a goal starting out, but for whatever reason, many training plans call for the peak week to be 40 miles, so it's a notable distance. Although it sort of happened by accident, a result of rescheduling a couple of runs, I managed it twice, the second time getting as high as 48 miles.
100 mile month -- Fell just three and a bit miles short in November, but had no trouble surpassing it in December. In fact, I have a shot at ending the month with about 140 miles in the bank.

Only one still remains.

The infamous 20 mile run. Part of me is honestly amazed that I've even made it to this point, but now, here it is, my very next run, set for Sunday, only 40-odd hours from now. Yes, I've done 18, but is it just me, or does 20 sound like a lot more than that?

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Christmas Eve Log 12/24/08

2008-12-24T12:31:00.000-08:00

Distance: 9.39 miles
Time: 1:26:17
Pace: 9:10/mile
Weight: 195lbs
Terrain: Rolling Hills. Thin layer of snow with occasional clear stretches
Temperature: Cold and calm
Gear: Adidas Running Fleece, Long-Sleeved Nike Shirt, Adidas Long Running Pants over Under Armour 'Compression Pants', Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes, Reebok Stocking Cap
Hydration: Water
Fuel: None
Medical: Mild right shin, left ankle
Recovery: Stretches, ice
Shoe Mile Count: 243.94 miles
Days until Marathon: 25

Quite a pleasant day for a run. The air was certainly fresh, but very little wind and clear, sunny skies meant I could leave the heavy hoodie in the car and just run with the light fleece. There was a thin layer of snow on the ground, but footing wasn't really a problem and it actually made for a softer landing, so really not too terrible for the old legs.

My right shin was a bit sore starting out, but eased up after a couple of miles. It's been the one recurring ache I've had during training, which in some ways makes it less worrying when it comes up. If it hasn't escalated to this point, as long as I don't take any unnecessary risks, I think it'll be OK. I also have a good basis for comparison with this one. I've had some painful runs because of it. Today didn't come close to being like one of those, so I barely paid it any heed.

The other issue was when I landed awkwardly and twisted my ankle at about mile 3. Obviously, at the time it was a bit stressful - I almost fell over - but I kept going and after a half mile or so, it felt fine, so I don't think I've done any damage, though some ice might be a good idea to limit any minor swelling.

The pace was around my intended marathon speed again, and really I felt like I could have run a lot faster were I not a) trying to keep myself fresh and b) concentrating on not slipping in the snow. Just about perfect. Over 9 miles - before this began, my all-time furthest distance run - being able to say I had plenty left in the tank at the end gives me a lot of confidence that I'm doing this the right way. Good job really. With only a little over 3 weeks left, it's a bit late to change things now.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Daily Log 12/22/08

2008-12-22T12:23:00.000-08:00

Distance: 5.30 miles
Time: 48:28
Pace: 9:07/mile
Weight: 195lbs
Terrain: Up and down
Temperature: Cold, slightly breezy
Gear: Under Armour Running Hoodie, Adidas Running Fleece, Long-Sleeved Nike Shirt, Adidas Long Running Pants over Under Armour 'Compression Pants', Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes, Reebok Stocking Cap
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: None
Recovery: Stretches, ice
Shoe Mile Count: 234.55 miles
Days until Marathon: 27

Yesterday was brutal - with wind chill, the coldest December day in 5 years in KC - so Saturday ended up being the right choice for the 18 miler. Today was still very cold but the wind was significantly less brisk, and with snow and freezing rain possible tomorrow, I was keen to get back out on the roads. Now I have all the gear I need for winter running, as long as I wear the right combination of clothes, and protect my exposed skin, the cold simply ceases to be much of an issue. Sure enough, once I got started it was fine, and I might even have been a little too warm with the hoodie. (I decided to keep it on as it was only a relatively short run).

My left calf was a little tight starting out, and my right shin ached slightly, but after I was properly warmed up, nothing bothered me. As has been my tendency on recent short runs, I didn't look at the clock until I'd finished, and instead concentrated on simply running at a comfortable rate as my mind wandered. 9:08/mile was the perfectly satisfactory result.

This week's running will be dictated partly by the weather and, yes, partly by good ole Saint Nick. The plan is to run a 9 and another 5 miler over the next three days, then take a couple of days off before the big two-oh on Sunday. It's probably a slightly awkward time for my training to be peaking, but then, there's always something, right?

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Daily Log 12/20/08

2008-12-20T12:30:00.000-08:00

Distance: 18.11 miles
Time: 2:50:20
Pace: 9:24/mile
Weight: 195lbs
Terrain: Moderate rolling hills over first half, slightly more gentle rolling hills over second half
Temperature: Very cold and fairly windy
Gear: Adidas Running Fleece, Long-Sleeved Nike Shirt, Adidas Long Running Pants over Under Armour 'Compression Pants', Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes, Reebok Stocking Cap
Hydration: Water, Strawberry-Kiwi Vitamin Water, Acai-Blueberry-Pomegranate Vitamin Water
Fuel: Tri-Berry GU Energy Gel (During), Banana (Recovery)
Medical: None
Recovery: Stretches, ice, Aleve, menthol rub
Shoe Mile Count: 229.25 miles
Days until Marathon: 29

Who was it who said they liked hills again? Maybe they're fun on a 5 mile run on a perfect day, but they are energy sapping behemoths on an 18 mile long run in 20 degrees fahrenheit with the wind blowing in your face.

If you want to run successfully in the winter, you have to sort of become a weather tracker, and having reviewed the (admittedly not always accurate) forecasts for the weekend, I decided Saturday morning looked like the optimum time to avoid the worst of the cold and wind. Jury is still out as to whether I managed that, but even if I did, it was very cold and quite windy, and that and the aforementioned hills were without doubt the biggest challenges today.

The sidewalks were icy, so I had to stick to the roads, which were clear, more or less the entire time. This required an alertness to traffic throughout which precluded the possibility of wearing an ipod. I don't usually anyway, but on a run this long, with nothing going on around me, it would have been sort of nice to have some kind of distraction; it was as mentally draining to keep pounding away for almost 3 hours as it was physically exhausting.

I had a surprisingly comfortable run from an injury standpoint. A few minor niggles here and there, but nothing that stuck around too long and although I'm still in zombie-phase right now, I think I've made it through another long run without too much damage being done.

This was the first time I'd eaten anything during a run. GU is the energy gel that the marathon is providing, so I figured I would buy a couple of each of the flavors they have (vanilla and tri-berry), so I knew what to expect on January 18th. They have the consistency of a very sticky chocolate pudding, and quite frankly, taste like syrupy snot. The tri-berry is at least almost bearable if chased with a healthy gulp of water, and because it had been out in the cold by the time I ate it, it had hardened up, which made it slightly less gelatinous - a good thing. (The less said about the vanilla, which I tried the other day, the better). Flavor notwithstanding, I was amazed at how much it helped. I took it at around mile 13, and within half a mile I could feel a difference. While my legs were just as fatigued, I really did feel an energy boost and it gave me enough to get through the 18 without feeling like I was about to pass out.

My pace was respectable and consistent. Over a flat course in better weather, I think I'm probably capable of a little faster, but even if I run this exact pace, I'll come in at 4hrs5mins, which isn't too shabby for an old fatty like me.

As I looped back to the house at mile 17, I knew I just had one more mile loop to go, but the effects of the GU were wearing off and a small voice told me to stop right there, but an extra swig of Vitamin Water - without question my absolute favorite sports drink - gave me just enough to get back out and complete the last loop as a few flakes of snow started dancing in the wind.

Because I ran on Saturday, over the last 7 days, I've put 48 miles on my legs (plus I'm already over 100 for the month) which will likely make it the highest volume week of my entire training schedule. However, with a 20 mile run coming next weekend, I'm not exactly on the downhill just yet. After that, I might allow myself a small sigh of relief as I start tapering for the race, now less than a month away.

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Headliner

2008-12-18T12:58:00.000-08:00

The Rock n' Roll Marathon Series lives up to its name by stationing bands at every mile of the course for both the marathon and half (if both are being run). Mostly these are local cover bands and comprise a wide range of musical styles, not just the eponymous one. In addition, each Rock n' Roll Marathon - currently there are eight with several more in the works - puts on an evening concert after the race, usually featuring a relatively popular band. Participants are given free entry and of course tickets are sold to non-participants.

In Arizona, previous bands have been, quite frankly, rather drab in my opinion. I'm sure there are fans of the Goo Goo Dolls, Jason Mraz and... yes... even Kool and the Gang out there, but had it been one of those this year, I'd have been quite happy to apply balm to my bunions in the hotel room and skip the evening festivities.

However, they recently announced this year's headliner, and I was pleasantly surprised to see it was the popular rockers Smash Mouth. No, they're not someone I'd sell a kidney to go and see. It's not Metallica circa the Black Album, nor is it Guns n' Roses before Slash left and Axl went nuts. But it is a band with more than one hit whose music I like enough to limp down to the stadium to watch. However, as I said to Jill, I doubt I'll be doing too much 'Walking on the Sun'. I think at that point, I'll almost certainly rather 'Sit on my bum'.

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Daily Log 12/18/08

2008-12-18T12:31:00.000-08:00

Distance: 5.20 miles
Time: 47:30
Pace: 9:08/mile
Weight: 196lbs
Terrain: Rolling Hills
Temperature: Fairly cold
Gear: Adidas Running Fleece, Long-Sleeved Adidas Climacool Shirt, Adidas Long Running Pants over Adidas Running Shorts, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes, Reebok Stocking Cap
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: None
Recovery: Stretches, ice, Aleve
Shoe Mile Count: 211.14 miles
Days until Marathon: 31

Despite ominous forecasts, to this point at least, today's weather has actually been rather mild, at least compared to the last few days. The snow-packed roads of yesterday were slushy or clear today and it was warm enough that I was able to run without the extra layer of tights (please use the term "compression pants" from here on out; it sounds tougher - ed).

No major challenges, other than chafed nipples. Obviously, this is more hilarious than harmful, but on a slightly more serious note, they were sore enough to distract me, and it occurred to me that running in or near snow and sludge requires a greater level of concentration. It's therefore something I shouldn't neglect when preparing, particularly for the longer runs, or I could find myself slipping on some loose snow or tripping over a pothole. It's a pretty simple fix. Cover them in tape, or at least lube them up with some Bodyglide (calm down, that sounds way sexier than it is), and the issue is nullified.

Off tomorrow, then I'll be shooting for 18 miles this weekend. Depending on the weather, I might have to switch to Saturday instead of my preference of Sunday, but we'll see. The forecasters haven't exactly been spot on to this point.

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Daily Log 12/17/08

2008-12-17T12:26:00.000-08:00

Distance: 7.64 miles
Time: 1:14:02
Pace: 9:41/mile
Weight: 196lbs
Terrain: Rolling Hills, some snow-packed segments
Temperature: Cold but calm
Gear: Adidas Running Fleece, Long-Sleeved Nike Athletic Shirt, Adidas Long Running Pants over Under Armour Running Tights, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes, Reebok Stocking Cap
Hydration: Gatorade
Fuel: None
Medical: None
Recovery: Stretches, ice
Shoe Mile Count: 205.94 miles
Days until Marathon: 32

The thought of running some 8 miles on a treadmill sounded less fun by the second, so I thought I'd test the roads outside and see how slick they were. Also, this gave me an excuse to try out the new gear (the running tights).

The sidewalks were under about three inches of snow, which made it difficult to find a rhythm, so I kept almost exclusively to the roads themselves. There were areas of slush and some snow-packed segments, but most of the time I was able to find some bare asphalt to run on, and as I kept to quiet roads, traffic didn't really present too big of a problem. Traction was a little difficult on some of the snow-packed areas, which meant I was using some muscles not usually troubled on a normal run, so it was like running and cross-training at the same time during those stretches, but I slowed down where necessary and adjusted my center of gravity, and never really had any fears about losing my footing.

The temperature was cold, but far warmer than the last time I ran, and I didn't even need my hoodie, just my fleece and a stocking cap. Also, the tights definitely did their job, my legs were probably the warmest part of my whole body today. Finally, no injuries to speak of, and an even pace meant that the only thing I did wrong was forgetting the end of the route. As a result, my total distance was a third of a mile less than the 8 I was planning on, but that's OK, they'll have people pointing me in the right direction in Arizona. ;-)

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Daily Log 12/15/08

2008-12-15T19:55:00.000-08:00

Distance: 5.30 miles
Time: 49:03
Pace: 9:15/mile
Weight: 196lbs
Terrain: Up and down with a thin layer of snow
Temperature: Very cold
Gear: Under Armour Running Hoodie, Adidas Running Fleece, Long-Sleeved Nike Athletic Shirt, Adidas Long Running Pants over Adidas running shorts, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes, Reebok Stocking Cap
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: None
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve
Shoe Mile Count: 198.30 miles
Days until Marathon: 34

I am a winter warrior! For all my whining about the upcoming weather, I realized that I was missing an opportunity to run before the snow began, so I wrapped up warm and headed out, and while certainly very cold, unlike yesterday there was no wind and I was appopriately dressed, so felt far less chilly. My biggest fear, as alluded to earlier, was slipping on ice, but all I ended up having to deal with was a light covering of dusty snow on the sidewalks, the asphalt roads having been salted earlier in the day. Neither surface caused me any bother.

My legs felt surprisingly great given the fact I put twelve miles on them yesterday. I really can't think of a single area of discomfort, except they were perhaps a bit cold. I went out later and bought some (manly) running tights that will hopefully provide some extra warmth for future runs in these types of conditions.

I need to remember to put lotion on my face in this weather. It was the one exposed area and my face is now so red I look like I've been drinking hard alcohol from birth. Also interesting... the condensation from my breath actually froze my moustache and a) turned the whiskers into pine needles and b) formed tiny freezer pops that I actually was able to pick off after the run. Ya learn something new every day...

Usually this would be a recovery run and I'd shoot for a slower time, but I decided to just ignore the clock and run at a comfortable pace without worrying about trying to hit a certain rate. It worked out well. The pace was reasonable without being too swift. I felt very fresh at the end, but also felt like I'd completed a good workout. Great run.

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Pot Pourri

2008-12-15T11:33:00.001-08:00

It was so cold last night, some pipes froze, and I'm unable to do any laundry. Although I hope the careful application of space heaters and pleas to the laundry gods will rectify that situation, a more substantial challenge looms. I have 70+ miles scheduled for the next two weeks, the highest volume for any two week period in my training, and as (bad) luck would have it, the forecast is for two straight weeks of freezing temperatures and intermittent snow and ice. Wonderful. Replacing two or three outside runs with treadmill ones won't particularly bother me, but I absolutely need to do my long runs outside, and while I can dress for the cold, the ice makes me very nervous. A running track might be another option, if I can find one that's been cleared of ice, though running 75-80 laps might make my head explode.

----------

I had a brief discussion last night with Jill about hills, specifically uphills. She hates them. They appear to her like a huge enemy army amassing on the horizon. Personally, I enjoy the different challenge they bring. Yes, they slow me down like they slow everyone down, but the extra blood pumping and the feeling of accomplishment as I reach the top of one is when I feel like I'm doing myself the most good, even if that isn't true. Of course, after 10-12 miles, each hill is a big fat injury waiting to happen, so I take care to pay them the necessary respect and never power up them like a cyborg, but nevertheless, after long dull flat sections, there's nothing I like more than a gentle incline to keep things interesting. Here's a hastily assembled haiku on the subject...

Oxygen filled lungs

Hamstrings burn, calves and tendons

What a living hill

----------

I wrote in a prior blog about a guy who'd run every day for 20 years. Turns out he's not alone. In fact, the active streak record holder has hit the road every day for 40 years, 41 days and counting (as of 9/1/08). As I whine about the weather and whether I can get my paltry four runs in this week, I feel rather sheepish when compared to these guys who've undoubtedly battled far worse. I notice one guy high up on the list that lives in Minnesota. What is he, a polar bear? Also interesting, at #9 on the list, a guy from my home town of Overland Park. I suppose luck must play a part in these things to a certain extent. Yes, staying clear of major injuries is impressive enough, but also avoiding non-running accidents and illnesses for that long is as extraordinary. Then again, maybe these people are making their own luck. The very reason they have been able to run every day might simply be because they do run every day.

----------

So far I have managed to raise $555 for 'Make Cures Happen'. As symmetrical as this number might be, I'd really like to shoot for $1,000 by race day, so if you do happen to stumble upon this blog, I'd be indebted to you if you visited my fundraising page and made a donation for research into lymphoma, leukemia and myeloma.

The Daily Log 12/14/08

2008-12-14T13:33:00.000-08:00

Distance: 12.14 miles
Time: 1:53:52
Pace: 9:22/mile
Weight: 196lbs
Terrain: Rolling Hills throughout
Temperature: Cold and very windy
Gear: Long-Sleeved Adidas Climacool Running Shirt, Adidas Long Running Pants over Adidas running shorts, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes, Gobbler Grind Running Cap
Hydration: Water, Strawberry-Kiwi Vitamin Water
Fuel: None
Medical: Left calf
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice
Shoe Mile Count: 193.00 miles
Days until Marathon: 35

When I took the dogs out after getting up, it was windy but mild. However, I knew cold weather was coming. Predictions were for the temperature to drop some 40 degrees during the latter part of the day, but I figured if I went for my run earlyish, while I'd still have the wind to deal with, at least I'd miss the cold front.

I was wrong.

By the time I went out, at around 11:30am, it was cold enough that I immediately went back in to put on my long training pants, and when I began by running straight into the wind, I knew I was still underdressed for the occasion. I kept going, figuring I'd warm up enough to get by, but never really did. At least most of the route was relatively sheltered, but there's no doubt a fleece and stocking cap would still have been much appreciated, even miles later. Although it was just about bearable most of the time, there were certainly some very unpleasant stretches whenever I was running west.

Weather notwithstanding, this wasn't the most comfortable of runs. Nothing was causing me undue concern from an injury standpoint - perhaps the biggest issue was the left calf which was a little sore during the middle portion of the run - but I felt very heavy legged and lethargic compared to most of my other recent runs. I soon figured out why... I spent a good four hours on my feet yesterday doing Christmas shopping, and also went out in the evening, so with hindsight I was probably asking for trouble. I won't be doing any more of that before my long runs. 12 miles is one thing, but I'll be tackling the daunting distances of 18 and 20 miles this week and next. They're both close enough to the marathon distance that I'll need to prepare for them like I will for the race itself ie no Christmas shopping and late-night bowling the day before.

Despite the weather and fatigue, I kept a pretty consistent pace throughout, and 9:22/mile was a good speed. I was ravenous at the end, and would have needed to get some food if I'd wanted to go much further. Usually I can go longer before getting to that point, but again, I think a combination of fighting the elements and poor preparation were factors there.

I've now run 10 miles or more six times and am due to run three more biggies (18,20,13) before finishing with an 8 miler a week before the race. Five weeks till game time. It's not long, but with the weather beginning to turn ugly and the mileage piling up, it sure ain't short.

Odd coincidence of the day... Today, on 12/14, I ran 12.14 miles. What symmetry.

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Daily Log 12/12/08

2008-12-12T11:30:00.000-08:00

Distance: 4.08 miles
Time: 35:43
Pace: 8:45/mile
Weight: 196lbs
Terrain: Mainly uphill first half, mainly downhill second half
Temperature: Cold and sunny
Gear: Long-Sleeved Adidas Climacool Running Shirt over short-sleeved CoolMax shirt, Adidas shorts, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes, Road Runners Running Cap
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: None
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice
Shoe Mile Count: 180.86 miles
Days until Marathon: 37

Another perfect day for running. Cold, but calm and sunny, so once again I was able to wear shorts in December.

Some new gear came in today - the charity I'm running for sent me a Coolmax shirt that's actually a lot less ugly than it looked in the brochure. I wore it under my Adidas long-sleeve to give it a test run, and it was pretty comfortable, so I think there's a good chance it will be part of my race attire in January.

I ran the 'Santa Fe Trail' for the third or fourth time; it's become one of my regular routes. Although it's rather hilly, most of the inclines are early, and there's not a lot of turns, just one big loop, so I like it. It's not overly taxing and works well for midweek recovery runs.

Both calves were a little tight, but the right one was much improved over yesterday and with an off day coming up, I should be set for Sunday's 12 miler. Pace-wise, I was surprised I'd come in at 8:45 pace. It didn't feel that fast. This could simply be that I'm getting faster I suppose - wouldn't that be nice?

I've logged about 31 miles this week, and 56 over the past two weeks, so the mileage is definitely building. My training will peak two weeks from Sunday with (weather and health permitting) a 20 mile long run. If I'm still on my feet and relatively injury free after that, I'll genuinely feel like I've put in the work for this insanity.

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Daily Log 12/11/08

2008-12-11T14:31:00.000-08:00

Distance: 7.20 miles
Time: 1:04:22
Pace: 8:56/mile
Weight: 196lbs
Terrain: Rolling Hills
Temperature: Cold and calm
Gear: Long-Sleeved Adidas Climacool Running Shirt, Adidas shorts, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes, Gobbler Grind Running Cap
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Right calf
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice
Shoe Mile Count: 176.78 miles
Days until Marathon: 38

Typical Kansas weather. Two days ago, I was stuck indoors watching snow come down sideways. Today I was out running in shorts - other than a few slushy patches I had be careful with, it was just about a perfect day for running.

No major issues other than at around mile 5, when it felt like I tweaked my right calf. I kept running and the pain dulled, but it did remain a little stiff, so I will reassess in the morning and if need be skip tomorrow's short run so I'm fresh for the long one at the weekend. Nothing else significant to report.

I purposely went a little faster today; I wanted to try a tempo run. My goal pace for the marathon is going to be about 9:09 pace, so I shot for that on this one as it was a significant enough distance for me to make some kind of determination on how realistic that might be (all other things being equal), but not long enough to where I was going to totally wear myself out by doing so. As you can see, I ran slightly faster(8:56/mi.), but felt very relaxed and full of energy even at the end, so that was encouraging. A good run.

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Daily Log 12/10/08

2008-12-10T11:26:00.000-08:00

Distance: 4.00 miles
Time: 40:00
Pace: 10:00/mile
Weight: 196lbs
Terrain: Treadmill, Incline 1.0
Temperature: Indoors
Gear: KC Royals tech shirt, Adidas shorts, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Right calf
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice
Shoe Mile Count: 169.58 miles
Days until Marathon: 39

In the end, it was far warmer than predicted today, so I probably could have waited a while and run on the roads, but that's OK. A treadmill run wasn't the worst idea for a recovery. Running on a treadmill is not as harsh on your legs as the roads, obviously, because the machine is padded so the impact isn't as great. Also, running with no incline is the equivalent of running a little downhill outside because of the movement of the belt, so to counter that I set a small incline of 1%. I didn't mess with it after that; no point pushing things on a short run. Finally, I set the pace at an easy 10:00/mile. In the end, it was perhaps the least taxing run I've done throughout this entire endeavor.

My right calf felt somewhat tight for a while, but other than that, I really felt no ill effects from Sunday's biggie, so pretty encouraging there.

Although I had a nice view of a snowy landscape topped with sunny skies outside, and Anthony Bourdain on TV drinking caipirinhas in Sao Paolo inside, I'm a clockwatcher when it comes to treadmills, and, accordingly, every second seemed to drag. Signs are good that the weather will continue to be stable over the next few days, so hopefully this will be the only time this week that I have to resort to "plan B"

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Bloody Weather

2008-12-09T15:05:00.000-08:00

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...

The snow started right around the time I was planning on heading out for a 4 mile recovery run, and it wasn't long before it had gone past the point of no return. It's not that I'm totally against running in the snow per se - I will probably have to do it at least once or twice in all likelihood - but when it's coming down sideways and even Meadow is having trouble keeping her feet, there's not a lot of point in fighting an impossible battle. I can dress for the cold, but losing my footing and twisting a knee this close to the race just so I can stick to a schedule is obviously not worth the risk.

It's odd being grounded by something other than injury or fatigue. It's a little frustrating, but shouldn't ultimately be a big deal as long as I can get back out in the next day or two. I'll do some cross training tonight instead, then tomorrow I have a contingency plan in place in case the roads are too slick - a treadmill run at Jill's apartment complex - and that will continue to be my backup from here on out. Certainly better than nothing, despite the fact that running on a treadmill makes watching paint dry seem riveting.

One other thought that occurred to me, while we're on the subject of the bloody weather, is that almost all of my training for the race will have been completed in cold weather, but the race itself will likely be far warmer, with temperatures projected to be in the mid-60s by the finish. The experts say you should train for the conditions you'll race in. Unfortunately, I'm more or less doing the opposite, training in cold weather over rolling hills for a warm weather race over a flat course. Not much I can do but soldier on though I suppose; after all Overland Park isn't getting any warmer (or flatter) any time soon.

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Long Run

2008-12-08T01:49:00.000-08:00

4am on Monday morning and I can't sleep. Once again, I paid the price for drinking a late night cup of tea.

Here are some of the things I've learned about myself regarding long runs.

- I've learned that however comfortable my running shoes when I start, by mile 15, it feels like I'm running in clogs
- I've learned that there's no such thing as a pain-free 2 hour run
- I've learned that the long run is the one I dread the most during the week
- I've learned that the long run is the one I look forward to the most during the week
- I've learned that the long run leaves me physically exhausted but mentally exhilirated
- I've learned what it is to crave ice even while running in winter
- I've learned that it takes about 2 hours after a long run before I'm able to stop walking like a zombie
- I've learned that when you tell friends you're about to go on a 16 mile run, they don't believe you
- I've learned that the same hills double in difficulty after about 12 miles
- I've learned that after about 15 miles, doing basic arithmetic in your head is as foreign a concept as advanced string theory
- I've learned that a hot shower after a cold run is something worth defying medical opinion over

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Daily Log 12/7/08

2008-12-07T20:01:00.000-08:00

Distance: 16.04 miles
Time: 2:35:45
Pace: 9:43/mile
Weight: 196lbs
Terrain: Mixed. Plenty of up and downs with some flat sections
Temperature: Cool
Gear: Long-sleeved Adidas Climacool shirt, Adidas running shorts, Gobbler Grind Running Cap, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: Water, Strawberry-Kiwi Vitamin Water, Gatorade
Fuel: Nutri-Grain during warm down
Medical: Plenty of aches and pains, but nothing overly serious
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice
Shoe Mile Count: 165.58 miles
Days until Marathon: 42

Originally planned for early tomorrow morning, the weather was so great, I couldn't resist going out this evening instead. For the first time in several weeks I was able to wear shorts on the run, and although I'm not a huge fan of running in the dark because of the risk of tripping, Christmas lights actually served to illuminate the roads quite well in most areas.

This was a far more comfortable run than last week's 15-miler. It's not that it was pain-free - I'm not sure it's possible to run 16 miles without some aches - but now, some two hours after the run, there's nothing causing me undue worry, unlike last week where the left calf was quite painful.

That being said, pretty much every part of both legs hurt at least a little on the run. Early on, most of the issues were on the right leg, with the main issue being the calf, which was like a milder form of last week's tweak in the other leg. Eventually however, it became less acute and I began to find a really nice rhythm. As I got tired towards the end, my left calf caused some issues again, in the same place as last week, but it was far less restrictive and painful and didn't really flare up at all until the last mile or so.

I started slowly, but sped up as I warmed up and finished with a very similar pace to last week. I was low on energy at the end and wolfed down a Nutri-grain right after stopping, but other than that, again I felt far fresher than last Monday. This was likely due as much to the weather and my attire as anything else I suspect, but it was nice not having to limp around on my warm down.

With each new run, I learn new things. I now know that 15-16 miles is about as long as I can go without eating something. This means I will probably need to take at least one gel or food item with me in Arizona. They don't serve any gels until mile 20, and although it's flatter, and therefore less energy-sapping, I doubt I can make it that far without getting some fuel in me before that point.

As I ran on Sunday, that means over the last 7 days, for the first time in my life, I have crossed the magic 40 mile threshold in one week. Although I measure my weeks from Sunday-Saturday, meaning that I won't "officially" count it as a 40 mile week in my training log, it's a confidence-builder to know I've done that at least once on the way to the big race without completely ruining myself.

Next up is a step-back week. My long run next Sunday will be "only" 12 miles, then I'll try 18, and finally 20, before beginning my taper. I'm certainly pleased with how things are going to this point, but I have to admit, I'm looking forward to an easier week.

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Daily Log 12/5/08

2008-12-05T10:11:00.000-08:00

Distance: 5.14 miles
Time: 51:09
Pace: 9:56/mile
Weight: 196lbs
Terrain: Bumpy
Temperature: Cold and windy.
Gear: Long-sleeved Adidas Climacool shirt, Adidas Running Fleece, K-State stocking cap, Adidas long training pants over Adidas running shorts, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Right shin, knee, foot
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice
Shoe Mile Count: 149.54 miles
Days until Marathon: 44

...left, right, left, right... I'll give myself this, I believe in giving equal opportunities to all of my lower extremities when it comes to pain.

Kind of a weird run. The left calf was a total non-factor; it's as if it was never hurt. (I shouldn't count my chickens obviously, but there was no pain at all on this run, which I found very surprising). On the other hand, my right leg was rather sore in several places. In order of occurrence they were...

Shin: sore but bearable, it's felt a lot worse. No major surprise there.
Knee: tight for a while at about 4 miles around the ITB, but I think a certain amount of runner's knee is inevitable when you're logging a lot of miles. If it progresses from "tight" to "painful" or continues to be sore after the run, I'll be more concerned.
Foot: This was a new one, though I suspect it's probably related to the other hot spots. The top of my right foot became rather painful at around 4 1/2 miles and actually made me decide to cut the run about a mile short of where I had planned. It did loosen up a little after a quarter of a mile or so, but I erred on the side of caution and stopped anyway. Hopefully this is another of those temporary injuries I seem to have picked up consistently during training and not something that lingers.

I call this run the Santa Fe trail because the mid-section is run on a road called Santa Fe (such imagination --ed). It's rather hilly with few truly flat sections, but I took it pretty easy and came in with around a 10:00 pace, which was ideal. It was windier than yesterday, but still pretty great running weather and I felt like, were it not for the foot pain, I could have run for hours. The extra day off has left me feeling very fresh. Assuming my foot feels better after a couple of days rest, I feel very good about my 16 mile trek Monday morning.

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Daily Log 12/4/08

2008-12-04T10:40:00.000-08:00

Distance: 4.24 miles
Time: 44:06
Pace: 10:24/mile
Weight: 196lbs
Terrain: Up and down
Temperature: Cold but sunny.
Gear: Long-sleeved Adidas Climacool shirt, Adidas Running Fleece, Reebok stocking cap, Adidas long training pants over Adidas running shorts, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Left calf, right shin
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice
Shoe Mile Count: 144.39 miles
Days until Marathon: 45

I felt my calf right away and was immediately concerned that I hadn't waited long enough before running again, but I took it nice and easy and after the first half mile or so, it loosened up. After that, occasionally my foot would plant in a certain way and I'd feel some stiffness, but this happened less and less as time went on, and it also didn't flare up after the run. A few slower paced runs might be called for, particularly Monday's 16-miler, but I'm definitely encouraged with the progress so far.

The infamous right shin was a little sore for the first mile or so, but it too faded. If anything, I was most concerned about overcompensating because of the calf injury and inadvertantly causing that to flare up, but I kept things slow and made adjustments, and all felt fine afterwards.

It took a certain amount of self-discipline not to run a few extra miles, particularly in what was simply wonderful weather for running. Fortunately common sense and experience told me that would almost certainly be unwise given the events preceding, and so I contented myself with getting through the first run post-injury without any setbacks. If things feel good tomorrow, I'll probably run another 4-5, then rest for another couple of days before going for yet another distance record on Monday.

Please visit my 'Make Cures Happen' fundraising page and make a donation for research into leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Also, check out my blog entry for more.

The Cause

2008-12-04T07:16:00.000-08:00

It's occurred to me several times during training that it might be a nice idea to make my first marathon mean a little more than simply my own wish fulfilment. I did a little research into various causes that I could perhaps look to raise money for, but generally found myself stymied by the fact that the cause simply wasn't something that resonated with me. Don't get me wrong, most charities are highly worthwhile, but I think for me to embrace the idea of fundraising would require on my part a certain emotional investment.

I then received a packet in the mail from "Make Cures Happen", where the process is simple, and most importantly of all, was for a cause I really felt strongly about. Specifically, it raises money for research into the deadly trio of leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. One of my friends died from multiple myeloma a few years ago. It's a vicious, aggressive and painful illness. So it wasn't difficult for me to set up a fundraising page and get the ball rolling.

I know this blog is rarely traveled by any but me, but if any of you happen to stumble upon this while looking for blogs about string theory, Obama's White House puppy choice or Ramen Noodles, I'd like to invite you to check out my fundraising page and make a small (or large) donation. The address is http://www.active.com/donate/mcharizona/halkysmarathon. All donations are tax deductible, and you would earn my undying gratitude.

I will be posting this link at the bottom of all my subsequent posts, along with a link to this blog entry. I have set a $500 goal, which I hope to reach by race day, so again, anything you can do would be very much appreciated.

The Alternate Realities

2008-12-03T13:17:00.000-08:00

No running today, as planned, but I think signs are pretty good that I'll head back out tomorrow. The calf seems more or less back to normal, aside from a slight stiffness, but I thought an extra day's rest was still probably a good idea, and the blustery weather made the decision even easier.

I watched a program last night on the Science Channel where presumably intelligent individuals posited on the theory that there exist multiple dimensions where we are all living out our lives at the same time as this one, and are subject to some or all of the same laws of physics. As the number of dimensions are potentially infinite, that would suggest that in one, I am the President of the USA (the constitution presumably containing an amendment that allows an unqualified Brit to assume such a position). In another, I'm a serial killer, and in still another, I'm *shudder* Richard Simmons.

That being the case, it would be nice if I could steal one of my equivalents for this current task. Perhaps the one who's the fastest marathoner alive, or the one who never gets injured would be a good place to start. I wouldn't want to be them forever you understand. I like hamburgers, alcohol and free time too much. It'd simply be nice to borrow them from time to time; check out one of the alternate Halkys like a book from a library and return it before the late fee comes due (right after the marathon).

If I can't do that, maybe for the next few months I could transport myself as I am here to one of the other dimensions... make myself the library book in other words. I could head to one where I'm living in California so I could winter train in 60-70 degree weather, or one where junk food is full of complex carbohydrates instead of saturated fats.

And before you say "well, where's the challenge in that?", I think that mastering the space-time continuum would rank as challenging enough and therefore should pardon me for taking a short cut with my running, don't you? No? Well, you run 15 miles on a freezing Monday morning before work and get back to me. You can reach me in Hawaii where I'll be hanging out in one of my alternate realities, drinking a Pina Colada and getting a sports massage from Halle Berry.

The Morning After

2008-12-02T08:01:00.000-08:00

The morning after a long run is a bellweather to how well training is going. If you can barely walk, you might have bitten off more than you can chew, trying too much too soon. If you're skipping up and down stairs, you might want to ramp things up.

Myself, on this cold Tuesday morning, I'm cautiously optimistic that my injury isn't serious. It feels much improved already, and while I will probably need at least two or three days rest so as not to push it, at this point, it's looking reasonably good that Thursday or Friday I'll be able to return to the roads and get in at least one, maybe even two short runs before I try for 16 on Monday. I looked up the injury online (an inexact method of diagnosis, admittedly), and all signs point to it being a minor calf strain. As with most running injuries, rest and ice is the main cure, with an expected recovery time of 3-5 days.

Other than that, I'm feeling pretty good. My shins and heel are fine. The blister on my toe is a minor irritation, but should harden over soon enough, and I'm obviously a bit tired in general - my neck and shoulders are particularly sore and fatigued - but were it not for my calf, and the wind outside, I would possibly have considered doing a short recovery run today, so all in all, it could certainly be worse.

It's one of the hardest things for a runner training for a marathon to take a few days off because of injury. You always feel that each day lost is a day you'll pay for on race day. It's a mental nightmare, and one of the hardest aspects of taking on such a brutal challenge.

The thing about it is, I think, that we are conditioned to believe that pain is something that can, and indeed should, be overcome. Professional athletes are always "playing through the pain", and are often mocked and belittled when they don't. When you see football players taking the field with dislocated shoulders, severely sprained ankles, arm casts, knee braces and concussions, the temptation is to say to yourself, well, if they are able to continue to soldier on with that kind of injury, why shouldn't I, as a lowly runner, ignore the shin splints and ignore the knee pain and simply keep running? That's what Brett Favre would do, if he were a runner, right? It's this 'hero lore' that has led us to the erroneous conclusion that athletic injuries are simply an occupational hazard to be endured, and not a barrier to performing at all.

Of course we're not professional athletes. We aren't blessed with their physical skills and conditioning, nor do we have access to the kind of medical treatment they do. We don't have to worry about losing our job or getting a pay cut if we're hurt either. Ultimately though, whatever our situation, we still want to be them. They are the modern day gladiators; superheroes for the masses.

Marathoning is somewhat unique in that it's a sport that allows us to unleash our own inner hero. We complete the same course the superstars of the sport do, run in their footsteps, drink the same water, and cross the same finish line. We're slower, but we run as far, and the same fans that cheered them are now cheering us. So, you can see, when injury strikes, and that dream is threatened, everything within us tells us to simply ignore the pain and hope it goes away.

But it doesn't go away. I found this to my cost in 2005 when training for the following year's Chicago marathon. Shin splints, shin schplints, I said. I can handle it; all I have to do is keep running. So run I did, even when it felt like knives were being stuck in my lower legs every time my foot landed on the concrete. Finally, I did stop, but not until way too late. I now think it's likely I had stress fractures in both legs. I remember taking two weeks off, then trying to run a mile, and barely making it. It was over, and would be weeks before I felt right again, by which time I'd missed my window.

Looking back through this diary at some of my logs and I can see that I've not come all the way around. I've still run a couple of times when I shouldn't have, and I've still run faster than I should have from time to time. I still hate missing a day that I'm scheduled to run. I don't like not being able to cross that day's mileage off on my calendar and not being able to blog about it here. Still, some lessons have been learned. I have taken an extra day or two off here and there, I have backed off on my training pace, I've warmed up and stretched, and I've built my mileage more steadily.

It's ironic. You would think that it's getting out and running that takes the self-discipline, particularly as the weather gets worse, but that's the easy part. It's the not-running when you know you should, that's the real challenge. These next few days of rest will be hard for me - no-one will ever say practicing patience is a joy - but what I have to keep telling myself is that they will likely be as crucial as any of my upcoming long runs. After all, if you go up for a jump ball too early, you simply come down with nothing to show for it while another guy runs off with your prize.

And that, as a wise poet once said, would suck.

The Daily Log 12/1/08

2008-12-01T09:19:00.000-08:00

Distance: 15.23 miles
Time: 2:27:16
Pace: 9:40/mile
Weight: 196lbs
Terrain: Mainly flat, but some moderate inclines
Temperature: Very cold, somewhat breezy in less built up areas
Gear: Long-sleeved Adidas Climacool shirt, Adidas Running Fleece, Under Armour Running Hoodie (first 5 miles only), Reebok stocking cap, Adidas long training pants over Adidas running shorts, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: Water, Strawberry-Kiwi Vitamin Water
Fuel: None
Medical: Left calf
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice
Shoe Mile Count: 140.15 miles
Days until Marathon: 48

Unlike last Sunday's race, where the miles seemed to fly by, I felt every minute of this one. It was very cold, somewhat windy, and eerily silent, at least for the first hour and a half or so before pre-work traffic picked up. I wouldn't say I didn't enjoy it at all, but it was definitely a slog.

The first few miles were OK, though yesterday's snow and a cold night had left a few icy patches that I had to weave around and I almost slipped a couple of times, which was rather stressful. At around mile 6, the underside of my left knee began to throb, and continued to do so, on and off, for the remainder of the run. Afterwards, I determined it was positioned more in the high calf, though it could still be related to knee ligaments, I'm not sure. Whatever the specific area, it's somewhat tender now, and will require some careful monitoring for a few days. I don't think I've actually pulled anything, but certain types of motion are proving a bit painful, so it's certainly possible I've picked up a minor strain of some kind. Obviously, tomorrow is an off day, but if it hasn't entirely cleared up by Wednesday, I might skip the recovery run that day to give it a little extra time to heal.

The good news is that, aside from that and a little blister on one of my toes, there were no other areas of concern. The two "usual suspects" - right knee and left heel - were virtually unnoticeable, so I suppose every cloud....

Pace-wise, I started very slowly, logging the first mile in just under 11 minutes. I was amazed I'd run that slow, but I think a combination of me wearing a lot of clothes, trying to get used to the cold, and also purposely attempting to rein myself in were the main reasons. The first five miles I ran with my hoodie on, and while I wasn't heating up too much, it was very heavy and I finally discarded it when I looped back to the house, a good move. I felt a lot freer only wearing the much lighter fleece over my running shirt, and I think my pace picked up as a result. By the end, I'd come in right on target (9:35 to 9:45 pace was the goal).

I ran a familiar 4+ mile loop 3 times, with two 1 mile loops to make up the distance, and although the course is good for long runs because it isn't too terribly hilly and is reasonably pretty, there was certainly an element of monotony by the third loop, and that lack of concentration led me to perform one of my patented "tripping over a paving stone" manoeuvres. Once again, I got lucky. A stumble and a swear word were all that transpired, but again, a pulled muscle or heavy fall were only narrowly avoided.

On the Spirit of the Marathon movie, one of the runners profiled said "these things really beat you up". Now I'm doing truly lengthy training runs, I am really starting to see what he means. I was just exhausted at the end of this one, and slightly discouraged by the fact that it's still 11 miles short of what I'll have to run in Arizona. I know all the training programs say that's perfectly normal, that with slow buildup in mileage, by the time you race, you will be prepared to run that far, but right now, it seems very daunting.

Anyway, 15 miles is a heck of a distance, I'm happy I completed it, and perhaps most importantly, I will only have to run further three times before the race. So while I'm not on the downhill portion yet, I am at least getting to where I can see the peak.

The Monthly Log 11/28/08

2008-11-28T17:30:00.000-08:00

Number of Runs: 16
Total Distance: 96.11 miles
Total Time: 15:11:55
Longest Run: 13.11 miles
Avg Distance: 6.01 miles
Avg Time: 57:00
Avg Pace: 9:29/mile
Medical: Shins, calves, tight hamstrings, left heel
Events: Gobbler Grind (1/2 marathon 11/23), Thanksgiving Fun Run (5k 11/27)
Days Until Marathon: 49 (from Sunday 11/30)

A big month full of new distance records, two races, and generally good health. I was half-tempted to go out and run an extra 4 miles just to get over the 100 mile barrier, but good sense prevailed. Were I running my long run as usual on Sunday, I'd surpass that mark easily, but as previously noted, that's not going to be possible, so I suppose I'll get a jump on December instead.

In terms of injuries, I feel better now than I did at the end of October. Back then, my right shin was quite painful and I was concerned shin splints were knocking at the door, but due to proper stretching, ice, Aleve and (most of the time) common sense, it has remained mostly a dull background pain. My calves and hamstrings have suffered from occasional tightness, but here too, they have remained mostly minor niggles that haven't escalated to anything more serious.

My average pace is thirty seconds quicker than it was a month ago, which I expected. I did run quicker than I probably should have a few times, including a PR over 10k, and of course, the pretty swift Gobbler, but I feel like I sprinkled in enough recovery runs to offset that. I was, on the other hand, quite surprised to see that my average run time was almost an hour. I'd only run for an hour or more a few times in my life before this past month, and now that's simply my average. I've yet to crack the 2 hour mark however, a landmark I'll hopefully add to my collection on Monday.

Race-wise, this was my biggest month ever. The Gobbler Grind was a high I have revisited in my mind many times since, and has stoked the fires for Arizona. The only possible downside to the race was that first mile with all the people cutting across and making it hard for me to find my rhythm. While that didn't amount to anything this time, Arizona's 10 times the size of this race, so I'm a little nervous that it will be even crazier. I'm just hoping the wider roads and better organization will offset the larger number of runners. However great the marathon ends up being though, what the Grind did more than anything was make me realize that I'm someone who will be equally happy running smaller races as big ones, which will give me a lot more flexibility for my future running endeavors. It also, of course, provided me with the confidence that I'm capable of running, and running well, over significant distances.

The 5k at Thanksgiving, by contrast, was quite a different experience. This race made me thankful (sic) I have a partner in this running lark. Jill got me into running again when she suggested I run the Komen 5k with her, and the fact that she is not only coming with me, but competing herself (in the half) while in Arizona adds to the anticipation. I enjoyed helping her attain her PR and seeing her reaction when she realized just how fast she had actually run. She is already suggesting it become a Thanksgiving tradition for us.

Most importantly, I am 7 weeks from the marathon carrying no major injuries. Although I rearranged a couple of runs, I didn't miss a single planned training run this month due to either injury or the weather, and, in a nice bonus, since August I have now lost some 14 pounds. There's a lot to be thankful for.

Hopefully the next monthly log will be as positive as this one(it better be, I'll only be 18 days from race day by then!)

The Daily Log 11/28/08

2008-11-28T11:36:00.000-08:00

Distance: 6.21 miles
Time: 1:02:21
Pace: 10:02/mile
Weight: 197lbs
Terrain: Rolling Hills
Temperature: Cold and calm
Gear: Long-sleeved Gobbler Grind tech shirt, Reebok stocking cap, Adidas long training pants over Adidas running shorts, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Mild right shin
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice, Biofreeze
Shoe Mile Count: 124.92 miles
Days until Marathon: 51

Well, I felt fresh, what can I say?

I usually will do a test to see how my legs are feeling. I put on my running shoes, go into the back yard and run a few yards a couple of times. If there's no pain, I take that as a sign that I am good to go. While hardly scientific, it's been surprisingly accurate. If I'm sore on that tiny jog, I know that running anywhere that day is probably unwise. The times I've ignored the test, I've paid for it.

Anyway, I "passed", and decided I'd head out. It was another surprisingly mild day for late November, and I didn't even need my fleece, something that pleased me as I'd been looking for an excuse to proudly sport my Gobbler shirt on a run. Once again, the test proved accurate. My right shin was its usual self, but the best it has felt since Sunday, and overall I definitely felt stronger and less fatigued than on the last couple of short runs.

My pace was slower than I was aiming for by about 30 seconds, which was a little frustrating. It's not, obviously, that I'm not capable of running faster - this was the same course I ran at 8:01 pace a couple of weeks ago - it's that I seem unable to ever nail my pace goal. I'm either too fast or too slow. Don't get me wrong - 10:02 pace is, in all honesty, just about perfect for a regular training run for someone of my speed. It's just that I'd like to be able to say to myself, "OK, today I will run 9:30", and then get within 5-10 seconds of doing just that. I'm not sure how the elite athletes do it; I suppose it's like anything else. Experience experience experience.

I think this is my favorite of all the routes that I run. This has to be the 7th or 8th time I've done it, and I still love it. The neighborhoods are beautiful, the hills are challenging, and the distance is enough to provide a test without totally burning you out. I'm sure it won't be the last time I run it.

The Race Log 11/27/08

2008-11-27T09:03:00.000-08:00

Distance: 3.11 miles
Time: 31:50
Pace: 10:15/mile
Weight: 197lbs
Terrain: Rolling Hills
Temperature: Cold to start, but warmed up
Gear: Long-sleeved Adidas Climacool shirt, Adidas Running Fleece, Reebok stocking cap, Adidas long training pants over Adidas running shorts, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Race Number: 227
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Left calf and foot, right knee and shin
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, post-race refreshments
Shoe Mile Count: 118.71 miles
Days until Marathon: 52

As noted previously, my goal here was to get Jill across in a PR, and she was ecstatic to see that she'd done that by a considerable distance, crossing the line in 31:50. What was really good was that she managed to run negative splits. Although our first mile (which was a grind because of all the slow runners, children and walkers we had to weave around) was completed in 10:40, we still finished with a 10:15 pace, the last mile ran in under 10 minutes. Although it was a different kind of experience from other races I've done, I have to say I was quite pleased with myself for being able to nail the pace I was going for and help her manage that at the same time.

As for me, while the pace wasn't particularly challenging, most of my lower half was rather sore. My right knee stung a bit for a mile or so, though this didn't last too long. Elsewhere, both calves were tight and my right shin was a slight factor. I'm not overly concerned; while everything was rather more sore than on Tuesday, it still felt more like I simply had a lot of miles on my legs than an actual injury. Only my left calf was still painful after the race, and I'm hoping that stretches and possibly some ice will reduce any inflammation there. I am toying with the idea of cross-training tomorrow instead of doing the planned 6 miles, particularly as I have a big run Monday morning and will need to be fresh for that. At this point I don't see much to be gained from pushing it on a mid-distance run, but I'll see how fresh I feel tomorrow.

This was my last race before January. From here on, it will be an entirely solitary endeavor (except for the occasional recovery run with Jill). My focus from here will be completely geared towards getting to the start line healthy. 52 days until January 18th. That's not long, but plenty of time to screw everything up, so caution needs to be my raison d'etre from here on out.

The Turkey Run

2008-11-27T08:45:00.000-08:00

The communications company Sprint has its worldwide headquarters in Overland Park, and this year, their campus played host to the 19th annual Thanksgiving Day 5k Run and Family Stroll. Jill and I signed up some time ago, figuring it would be a novel way to start the holiday, and so here we were, at 9am on a cold Kansas morning, lining up with some 5,000 other runners, walkers, kids and dogs to run a few miles and pre-empt the inevitable weight gain that would surely follow over the remainder of the holiday.

Although there were signs that indicated where competitors should line up (7:00 pace, 8:00 pace etc), it seemed like as many people ignored these as paid attention. The first mile or so was frustrating and difficult as we wove in and out of traffic. It reminded me a little of the Gobbler Grind start, except at that race, there were far less runners and it settled down a lot quicker. Also, while the Grind had its share of slow runners, there were few walkers, and no kids or strollers to manoeuvre around.

It took about 5 minutes to cross the start line. Unusual for an event this size, there was no chip timing system in place. You could either time yourself, or try to do the math based on the start and finish clocks. I of course had my trusty $12 stopwatch, not that it was hugely important. I had agreed to run with Jill for the entirety, so I had no personal pace goal. Jill however was looking for a PR, so I decided to act as her pacesetter. This was good, because it meant I still had something to work towards, albeit a quite different task than usual.

The course was so-so; rolling hills throughout, with some decent downhills to finish. There wasn't a lot to see unless you have a thing for parking garages or office buildings, but, after the early chaos, it was a pretty stress-free run. The weather, while cold at the start, warmed up appreciably and was rather warm by the end. The finish line provisions were surprisingly good for such a short race, with donuts, several different juices and pops, fruit, yogurt and bagels all available. Finally, we were more than pleased to be given excellent long-sleeved shirts at packet pickup yesterday, and, as two of the first 500 entrants, we also received a black embroidered stocking cap each, so all in all, it was well worth the effort, and the relatively low entry fee. ($18 each).

As usual, I'll talk about stats in a log blog (outstanding poetry --ed), but the experience was relatively smooth and, I'd say, a successful outing. As for Jill's PR? Well, I'll just say that if I ever decide to change careers, pace-setting apparently might be an option.

The Daily Log 11/25/08

2008-11-25T19:30:00.000-08:00

Distance: 3.96 miles
Time: 46:48
Pace: 11:49/mile
Weight: 197lbs
Terrain: Mainly flat
Temperature: Cold
Gear: Long-sleeved Adidas Climacool shirt, Gobbler Grind Running Cap, Adidas long training pants over Adidas running shorts, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: None
Recovery: Stretches, ice, Aleve
Shoe Mile Count: 115.60 miles
Days until Marathon: 54

The first run after a race is always tough, both mentally and physically. The physical aspects, particularly if the race was a long one, are perhaps more obvious. Fatigued legs, tight knees, sore back, cracked skin. You name it really. Yet the mental can be an equally, if not more challenging barrier to overcome. The race atmosphere, which is an addictive high, is gone, and you are once again left to trudge the quiet streets, avoid traffic, with no-one but a couple of people walking their dogs left to acknowledge your presence, your start/finish line simply your front door.

Hangover or no, though, sooner or later, you have to get out of bed and go back to work, and tonight, that's what I did, running 4 easy recovery miles with Jill at a slow pace. Yes, my legs were a little tired, yes, I wasn't buzzing with race day nerves and excitement, but other than that, I don't think it could have gone much better. There were no injuries to speak of, my pace was as slow as it should have been, and I was back on the wagon. It was the essence of a "recovery" run, in short.

I am running a 5k Thanksgiving Day fun run on Thursday. Jill is running it too and I told her if she was my roadie at the Gobbler Grind that I would run with her on Turkey day. It'll be my 5th official race, and the first time I've not increased the distance. A few months ago, I would not have considered a 5k to be a relaxing "short run", but of course now I'm running longer than that 3-4 days a week, so it won't carry quite the anticipation that the opportunity to conquer a new distance does, and as I won't be running for time, a PR is also out of the question. Regardless, I'm still looking forward to it. It'll be an uncommonly healthy way to start what might otherwise be a rather unhealthy holiday, the atmosphere should be light and relaxed, and Jill will be there to keep things entertaining (when she's not telling me to 'slow down!')

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Evidence

2008-11-23T17:02:00.000-08:00

I checked the official results for today's race. My time was a second faster than my watch had recorded (I waited a second before stopping the clock so that my finish line picture would be of me with my arm in the air, not checking my watch).

I finished 251st out of 865 half-marathoners, 170th of 377 males, and behind 81 females (out of 488). I was 29th out of 64 in my age group (probably 35-39).

What does that all mean? I'm just on the right side of average. Still, considering it was my first time, I'm more than pleased with that. There'll be plenty of time to set new PRs.

Here's some pics that Jill took.

The Race Log 11/23/08

2008-11-23T14:04:00.000-08:00

Distance: 13.11 miles
Time: 1:52:39
Pace: 8:35/mile
Weight: 197lbs
Terrain: Gently rolling asphalt trails and streets, and a longish uphill section at midpoint
Temperature: Cold and breezy
Gear: Long-sleeved Adidas Climacool shirt, Gobbler Grind Running Cap, Adidas long training pants over Adidas running shorts, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Race Number: 945
Hydration: Water, Powerade
Fuel: Bananas, yogurt, chocolate milk (all after race)
Medical: Tight hamstrings, minor left heel pain for first two miles
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve
Shoe Mile Count: 111.64 miles
Days until Marathon: 56

For a full synopsis of the race experience, you can see the previous post. In terms of the nuts and bolts, the story is as follows...

I started at an easyish pace, content to let people pass me (although the sheer numbers that were doing so actually caused me to look behind at one point just to check I wasn't suddenly at the back of the pack). There were a great number of people on a thankfully wide road, and I was shoved and bumped a number of times before the crowd began to thin and I felt safer.

My left heel was the main concern over the first couple of miles, but I felt confident it would fade as I got deeper into the race. It's an ailment I've had to deal with more or less all the way through my training, so I know the pattern, and sure enough by about the 5k mark, it had loosened up sufficiently to where I no longer noticed it. Other than that, I had to be a little careful on the hills at the mid-point because my hammies were tight, but I don't think I slowed appreciably during these segments, because it seemed here like nowhere before or after, I was passing a lot of runners having a much harder time with the inclines than me.

I was about 9 seconds behind my target pace after mile 2 (I missed the mile 1 marker), and about 8 seconds behind after mile 3, which was right where I was aiming for, but what I didn't plan on was speeding up so much afterwards. By mile 4 I was 20 seconds ahead of my pace goal, and by about mile 8 I was several minutes up. My finish time of 1:52:39 was a full 7:21 faster than my 2:00 target, and my pace identical to what I ran in the KC marathon relay segment of last month. I really felt pretty comfortable until the last mile when I did start to feel it, but while I would probably have had to slow down had the race been longer, I am confident I could have run for several more miles before the tank would have been completely empty.

That being said, I realized that if I'm tiring at mile 12, I'm still a way off being ready for a 26.2 mile event, and there will be plenty of work to do over the next 8 weeks. On the other hand, the fact I was able to maintain an 8:35 pace for 13.1 miles makes me realize how far I've come from where I was just a few weeks ago when I started this crazy trip.

Everything is sore now, particularly my calves, but nothing feels "hurt", just tired. This is good, because, despite this being my longest run of any kind, let alone in a race setting, I'll only have a week to savor it before I run even further (15 miles next weekend). Whose idea was this again?

The Gobbler Grind

2008-11-23T13:20:00.000-08:00

I got up at a little after 6:15, took the dogs out, made a cup of tea and a bagel, and got dressed for what would be my first half-marathon, the 12th Annual Gobbler Grind of Overland Park, Kansas.

A perfect day for running, the temperature was in the high-30s when we left (Jill took me to the start line). There was a light breeze, and a slight chill in the air, but pleasant enough to where the biggest question for me was whether to wear shorts or long pants for the race. Ultimately I went with long pants, but I probably could have worn shorts, and had I been running the full, I would likely have changed at some point.

I warmed up a bit in the parking lot while Jill waited in the car. The only concern was that my hamstrings felt rather tight, as has been the norm over the recent week or two. Still, after a little jogging around and some stretching, I felt like as long as I didn't set off like a steam engine O.D.ing on coal, they would most probably warm up and no longer be too worrying.

I took off my fleece and gave it to Jill, who told me she'd see me at the finish, and headed out to the start line, about 10 minutes before the 8am start. As I waited, I noticed that almost everyone seemed to be wearing more than me, many with two shirts on, and long pants tucked into thick socks. This seemed a little strange to me, given the weather, but I had enough confidence from my training to know that I was probably appropriately dressed, and waited for the race to begin. The race director was babbling something into a loudspeaker that was completely unintelligible, but when the National Anthem was played, I knew we were close to liftoff, and at 8am on the dot, the gun went off.

The first mile or two were rather chaotic. It seemed like a lot of people were passing me, but I resisted the temptation to go after them and kept an easy pace. I noticed two guys dressed (for some reason) in St. Patrick's Day outfits. One had a silly hat on and had a costume that was presumably meant to be some sort of elf, and the other guy had an all-over green lycra bodysuit, which made him look like he was about to be shot out of a cannonball.

I was bumped a few times in the early going, and had to have my wits about me as people cut across, slowed down, sped up, and performed several other obnoxious manoeuvres. Fortunately, it wasn't too terribly long before things thinned out a little. The fast runners were safely ahead of me and the slowpokes safely behind. None of this was a huge surprise; I knew it would be a dodge for the first 5k.

We hit the asphalt trail right as the 5k runners peeled off towards their finish line. I didn't immediately notice a sudden lightening of traffic, but after a while, it became more apparent. The trails were very narrow, but, at least for me, it didn't present a huge problem.

At 4 miles, I took water, which wasn't as straightforward as it might have been. The volunteers were trying, but were rather overwhelmed, and I ended up having to line up for about 20 seconds before I received my drink. Fortunately, it was really the only time that happened; future aid stations were better prepared.

At 5 miles, an upsetting sight. The runner in the green lycra suit was lying flat out by the side of the trail, with a muddy mark on his knee and writhing in some pain while his elf-dressed friend attempted to comfort him. Apparently he had fallen and had done some significant damage. Another runner stopped to help. This made me pay particular attention over the next few miles, fearing a similar fate.

We hit the roads again at about 6 miles and remained on them for the next mile and a half before rejoining the trail. Most of this period was uphill and it was here I really began to pass runners struggling with the incline. From this point on, I'd say I probably went by several hundred runners, while I myself was only passed by a small handful. Used to the hills from my training, I didn't find them particularly difficult in terms of steepness, though they were admittedly lengthy.

This was perhaps the most well supported section, other than the finish line, with groups of supporters dotted around and providing enthusiastic support. 1st Avenue in New York it was not, but I appreciated it nonetheless.

Shortly before mile 10, I was relieved to see the marathon/half-marathon split very well marked, with volunteers vociferously directing traffic also. Clearly they had read the comments from previous years where this was a big issue. Also at this point, Jill and Olive were standing by for support, and a photo op.

As I went by the 10 mile marker, a lone full-marathoner was coming the other way. Apparently (don't ask me how), he had missed the split and had to double back almost a mile. That would be such a downer, though to be honest, he must have been totally zoning out to have missed it, so I'm not that sympathetic.

I'd felt strong the whole race, and that continued right up until the final mile when I began to significantly tire. The lightly rolling course became more challenging, and on one little bump, I felt my legs stiffening up quite a bit. I managed to hold my pace, knowing that the race was almost over, but I doubt I could have for too much longer.

Finally, I turned a corner, and about 1/5 of a mile ahead I saw the finish line, and a crowd of people lining the trail, and heard some muffled Christmas songs. It gave me enough juice to speed up just a little (one particularly fresh woman shot past me about 100 yards from the finish, which was a bit of a dent to the ego, but otherwise, I held my spot, and put my right arm in the air as I crossed the finish line. I was thrilled to see that I'd beat my goal time by some 7+ minutes, and Jill and Olive met me with smiles and a snort (I'll leave you to guess which did which). A volunteer quickly cut off my timing chip and another gave me a medal. I was very grateful, because I would definitely have forgotten both.

It all hit me at that point, and I quickly grabbed a banana and wolfed it down, suddenly ravenously hungry. Another quickly followed, along with a (very good) peach yogurt and I began to feel better.

And there it was! 13.1 miles through the streets and trails of Overland Park. The course was pretty, if you like trees and grass (I do), and despite the comments about previous runs, it was excellently organized. The atmosphere at the finish was light and loose. Olive enjoyed some banana and yogurt of her own, so for her it was a highly successful outing, and Jill looked almost as pleased as I did with the result.

I'll post the stats shortly, and maybe follow up with some more post-race thoughts, and also some photos but I wanted to get the synopsis down while everything was still fresh in my mind. Also, for anyone wondering if it's worth the aches and the fatigue, I have only one thing to say... yes it is.

The Packet Pickup

2008-11-22T15:34:00.000-08:00

When you run in an organized race, you're usually required to attend a "packet pickup" a day or two before. Packets usually consist of your race number, some sort of timing device (usually a chip or an electronic tag), a few flyers for racing products or future events, some product samples, and the official race t-shirt, which these days is pretty much a staple of any reputable run.

For bigger events, packet pickup is usually accompanied by an "expo" where multiple vendors try to sell you run-related gear at booths and stalls, and guest speakers are hired to motivate and advertise. The bigger the event, the bigger the expo, and the bigger the venue. The Arizona marathon has a convention hall booked for two or three entire days to accomodate the traffic.

For something like the Gobbler Grind, while not miniscule in size (between the three events, I believe there will be something in the region of 2,000 entrants), packet pickup is basically just that. No frills. It was held in a hotel corridor and meeting room, and the "goody bag" consisted of the usual stuff; no more, no less.

Still, while the ra-ra extravagance of the big-marathon expo may not have been there, the process was efficient and well organized. The t-shirt which, happily, I had no trouble getting in my size, was a bright yellow long-sleeved tech shirt I was fairly impressed with. The chip-test went fine, and I even got a couple of bonus items - A Gobbler Grind running cap, which I received for bringing a toy in for a toys-for-tots charity program; and, as reward for adding my email to a mailing list, a Hospital Hill Run tech shirt from the one and only "booth" present. It proudly states that "I conquered the hill" in 2008, when I don't even know what hill they're talking about, but if it wicks sweat, I don't care if I misrepresent myself.

So there it is. I am trained, I have my t-shirt, and tomorrow I will line up as runner #945 for the 12th Annual Gobbler Grind. I will admit that, even though this race is just the "opening act" for the main event in January, I am nervous and excited. I've never run 13.1 miles in any setting before, nor have I ever run for two straight hours, which, even if things go perfectly, I will come very close to doing. It's a brand new experience, and has all the butterflies and anticipation that the unknown brings with it.

Wish me luck!

The Daily Log 11/20/08

2008-11-20T10:05:00.000-08:00

Distance: 3.01 miles
Time: 25:46
Pace: 8:34/mile
Weight: 197lbs
Terrain: Moderate rolling hills
Temperature: Cold and windy
Gear: Long-sleeved Nike training shirt, Adidas running fleece, K-State stocking cap, Adidas long training pants, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Right shin after the run
Recovery: Stretches, ice, Aleve
Shoe Mile Count: 98.53 miles
Days until Marathon: 59

A cold November day with plenty of wind made this more challenging than I was anticipating. I also inadvertantly ended up on a main road with no sidewalk and, nervous I would get run over, I sped up for a short period so as to return to the quieter streets as quickly as possible. Also, for the third day in a row I tried a new route, although on familiar streets and, as has been the pattern this week, it was far hillier than I'd expected.

Still, I ran pretty fast - hopefully not too fast - and wasn't overly tired at the end, though my right shin was rather sore (it wasn't a factor during the run, but immediately after it did throb somewhat). I won't be running again until the race, and, knock on wood, I feel like I've put in the work for it to be a successful endeavor.

Barring a race cancellation, or some catastrophic injury (nothing like thinking positive huh?), 72 hours from now, my first half-marathon will be in the books, and I will be eating my favorite post-race meal of French toast and bacon at First Watch. Now there's a reason to run.

The Daily Log 11/19/08

2008-11-19T09:58:00.000-08:00

Distance: 4.08 miles
Time: 35:18
Pace: 8:39/mile
Weight: 197lbs
Terrain: Fairly hilly
Temperature: Warm and sunny
Gear: Long-sleeved technical shirt, Road Runners running cap, Adidas long training pants, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Mild right shin
Recovery: Stretches, ice, Aleve
Shoe Mile Count: 95.52 miles
Days until Marathon: 60

This might have been an even hillier course than yesterday - another new one - and I ran it even faster. Still, it was in some respects a more disciplined run because unlike yesterday where I sped up trying to hit a pace goal that I might have hit anyway, I started at a reasonable pace and simply kept going.

I experienced a little aching in my right shin, and my left hamstring was slightly tight for the first mile and a half, but injuries weren't really a factor. The hills were tough, but as I've mentioned before, it's impossible to map out a flat course near my house, and I'm simply used to them as an inevitable element in my training. In fact, while I'm always cognizant of the extra stress they put on my legs and have to be wary of powering up them too much, I have to admit to enjoying the challenge of a good incline.

60 days until marathon Sunday. It sounds like fifty years away, and tomorrow, all at once. Fifty years away because who knows what body part will hurt between now and then... and tomorrow, because I haven't even run half the distance I'll have to on that day yet.

The Daily Log 11/18/08

2008-11-18T09:29:00.000-08:00

Distance: 4.08 miles
Time: 35:59
Pace: 8:49/mile
Weight: 197lbs
Terrain: Mostly uphill for first two miles, mostly downhill after
Temperature: Cold and calm
Gear: Adidas long-sleeved Climacool Shirt, Adidas running fleece, K-State stocking cap, Adidas long training pants over Adidas running shorts, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: None
Recovery: Stretches, ice, Aleve
Shoe Mile Count: 91.44 miles
Days until Marathon: 61

My goal today was to run at 9:09 pace, as that will be my goal for the Gobbler Grind, so after I mapped everything out at mapmyrun.com, I noted where the mile markers would be, and tried for that. Unfortunately, my efforts were scuppered by two things. Firstly, this was a new course, and the first mile was almost completely uphill, which wasn't ideal for a tempo run. Secondly, although the total distance is, I think, correct, mapmyrun seems to not quite get the mile markers right. When I got to where it said mile 1 was, my watch read 10:50. I've run that pace with Jill before, and I was amazed to be running that slow, it certainly didn't feel like it. I sped up as a result, but at mile 3, I was at almost 30 minutes, so, apparently still only at 10:00 pace. However, my finishing time was 35:59. Unless I did the last mile and a bit in sub-7 minute pace, which I assure you I did not, the mile markers were clearly somewhat off. I wasn't going that slow at the beginning, or that fast at the end.

So ultimately, this wasn't the most fruitful of runs in terms of pace control. I came in at 8:49 pace but certainly ran a couple of miles quicker than that, and it didn't really help me from a tactical standpoint. I don't want to experiment again before Sunday, it's simply too close to take those kind of risks any more... so I'll just have to wing it and hope I don't go out too fast or slow.

On the plus side, basically no pain at all in either leg; my hamstrings felt better, my shins didn't hurt and even my left foot was comfortable, so, big picture-wise, everything's on track.

The Peace of Running

2008-11-17T15:18:00.000-08:00

I told a friend recently of my marathon, and he asked me what was fun about running that far. He's not unathletic or out of shape, yet he saw no appeal in the sport that he could fathom.

This is not a character flaw on his part. Endurance sports of any type will never be for the masses. Sure, when you see 30,000 people lining up in New York or Chicago, it's perhaps tempting to view it as something that has reached the populace. The fact is though, that while the marathon is certainly growing in appeal, I'd venture to guess most of those that do complete one don't do so because of any great love for distance running, but more to simply prove to themselves and others that they can, and have done something not many others have.

I haven't run for this sustained a period of time since I was a kid, so I don't feel I can sit here and say I have a true "love" of the sport. At least not yet. If I am still running four times a week three years from now, I'll feel more qualified to make such a statement. I will say though that having been doing this for three months, and having completed over 50 training runs, I can see both why there are those that hate the thought of running for anything more than the bus, and those that have a true passion for the sport.

Distance running is a brutal sport. No, it's not football or boxing... it won't shorten your life. But it's high impact, it can hurt, it's often too hot or cold and, ipod or no, it's quite simply too boring for most people. I get that.

I think though, why I'm coming to appreciate it so much is that whether I'm running alone near my house, or in a 5k with 20,000 people, I'm really just there with my own mind. I find it extremely cathartic. For the time I'm out there, the only thing that matters in the immediate domain of my life is keeping up the rhythm, putting one foot in front of another, moving ever onward.

That's not to say that thoughts don't occur to me, or that my mind doesn't wander, but when I think of something that's going on in my life during a run, I'm watching through a prism. The emotions are somehow more muted - not absent, just dampened. It allows me a clarity of thought and an objectivity that I find it hard to replicate when at rest. With my physical being preoccupied, my mental arrives at a moment of zen, except it's more than a moment; it's a consistent focus, a state of mind.

I don't think this is the same thing as a "runner's high". That suggests a state of euphoria that I've never experienced during a run. I have sometimes felt exhilirated after completing a run, if it was a race, if I've run further or faster than ever before, or have completed another heretofore unconquered challenge, but never while I'm still out there on the streets. What I alluded to above I consider more like a "runner's peace". Physically I'm pushing my body to new extremes, but mentally I'm as relaxed as I ever am.

Not every run is like that. An injury, foul weather or frequent traffic interruptions create interference like static on a radio, ruining the broadcast. But hey, that's why they have reruns, right?

The Daily Log 11/16/08

2008-11-16T18:05:00.000-08:00

Distance: 8.41 miles
Time: 1:19:11
Pace: 9:25/mile
Weight: 197lbs
Terrain: Moderate inclines through first half
Temperature: Sunny and breezy
Gear: Adidas long-sleeved Climacool Shirt, Adidas running shorts, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: Water
Fuel: None
Medical: Left shin, foot. Tight hamstrings.
Recovery: Stretches, ice, Aleve
Shoe Mile Count: 87.36 miles
Days until Marathon: 63

Because of the race next Sunday, and because it's a good idea to periodically back off on mileage every few weeks to avoid burnout and injury, my long run this week was only 8.4 miles. On top of that, I spent most of yesterday out and about with friends drinking, let's say, the wrong kind of fluids, if hydration is a goal.

My left shin and heel were sore for a few miles, but nothing that particularly upset my rhythm. About six miles in, my hamstrings became rather tight and I was a little concerned that something might go wrong there, so I eased up a little for a while, and thankfully they loosened up. I suspect that the slight dehydration may have had something to do with that. Probably shouldn't make a habit of doing a long run the day after letting my hair down in the future.

The pace was identical to last week's 11 miler, although the terrain was somewhat hillier. 9:25 seems to be a comfortable training pace for me apparently. In fact, I've done half a dozen recent runs at or very near that speed in recent weeks. I will have to run about 16 seconds per minute faster than that to get to my 2:00 goal at the Half on Sunday. I think that should be within my capabilities, but I won't risk a pulled hammy to do it, so we'll see how I feel on the day.

My mini-taper will continue this week. I will probably still try to get three midweek runs in, but 4ish miles will be as far as I'll run on any one of them.

Nine weeks until marathon Sunday!

The Links

2008-11-13T18:40:00.001-08:00

I thought it might be useful for me (and anyone else who one day stumbles upon this blog) to list some of my favorite running links. So here goes...

marathonguide.com is probably the best source for marathon news, including schedules, calculators and results information.

runnersworld.com is the online version of the popular running magazine.

If you want to figure out how far you're running during training, or map out a route, mapmyrun.com is an awesome tool. You can also track your mileage and calories burned on a calendar, and search for runs designed by other runners.

Here's a Running Times Pace Equivalent Calculator that allows you to predict your race performance at different distances based on your existing time at one.

Create a pace band that you can cut out and wear around your wrist here.

This is my favorite first marathon story. It's long and detailed and is a very well written and lively account.

Hal Higdon has the most detailed free online training program for marathons, and several other distances, that I've found. Very good site worth spending some time at.

If you subscribe to the run/walk approach - especially good for beginners - Jeff Galloway also has an excellent program.

You can obviously buy running gear at a bunch of different places, but I like Road Runner Sports for a good one-stop shop.

Of course, I've spent a lot of time here at the Arizona marathon's own site. It's a good example of a big marathon website, with well organized info about all aspects of the race.

That will do for now. I might add more as we go. Enjoy.

The Daily Log 11/13/08

2008-11-13T12:37:00.000-08:00

Distance: 4.06 miles
Time: 40:41
Pace: 10:01/mile
Weight: 197lbs
Terrain: Rolling hills
Temperature: Cool and breezy
Gear: Adidas long-sleeved Climacool Shirt, Adidas running shorts, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: None
Recovery: Stretches, ice, Aleve
Shoe Mile Count: 78.95 miles
Days until Marathon: 66

Pretty good recovery run. I ran nice and slowly in windier conditions than yesterday over similar terrain and came in a full 2 minutes slower per mile than yesterday, just as I intended. No major injury-type pain, but my legs were definitely fatigued and I am glad I have a couple of days to relax now before Sunday's 8-9 miler.

Friends are coming to town this weekend, which means I will be "off the wagon" for a couple of days. I mentioned a couple of weeks ago how consuming this running thing can be, and with the Gobbler Grind now only 10 days away, I'm already full of anticipation for it. Going out to drink beer may not be ideal race prep, but at least it will be a mental distraction, something I think I could definitely use. I've come a long way, but there's a long slog ahead. The runs will be getting longer and the weather colder.

The Waffle

2008-11-12T18:20:00.000-08:00

So far so good. No injuries to speak of. I might have got away with my 10k "sprint".

The Gobbler Grind people emailed me a map of the course yesterday. Looks pretty flat, except for a few hills around the 6-8 mile mark. Most of it is on asphalt running trails, which is good. Asphalt is slightly easier on the legs than the concrete sidewalks I usually run on, plus there shouldn't be too much of a slant or camber.

In 2008, a little over 1,300 people competed in the Gobbler Grind, with about 700 doing the Half-Marathon, 300 the full, and about another 300 the 5k. It's actually a decent size then, although not on a level with Arizona of course, or even Kansas City. I'd imagine, given the terrain that the crowds will be fairly sparse too.

On that, I watched Haile Gebrselassie set the world record in the Berlin Marathon yesterday (A rerun of course; the race itself was a couple of months ago). Great course, and of course, the first ever sub-2:04 marathon time. My goal in the half-marathon is 2:00 if that gives any perspective. What struck me most though (and the commentators) was the amazing level of crowd support over the entire course. It occurred to me that although the Kansas City marathon was well supported, I ran by next to no spectators. My leg was mostly residential, and although extremely pretty and relatively flat, was definitely missing that element.

So then the question presents itself... what's the most essential element to a first-marathon experience? Crowd support? A flat course? Pretty scenery? Good organization? Simply being well trained? I don't know. In fact, there's a lot I still don't know. I did purposely pick a big marathon for the experience, but time will tell as to whether that's a good decision or whether I should have picked something like the Gobbler Grind where I don't have to worry about other runners getting in my way, finding parking on time and having to take a flight to get there (and I hate flying).

Just some waffly thoughts on a Wednesday evening. Sweet dreams.

The Daily Log 11/12/08

2008-11-12T11:04:00.000-08:00

Distance: 6.21 miles
Time: 49:51
Pace: 8:01/mile
Weight: 197lbs
Terrain: Moderate rolling hills
Temperature: Cool and calm
Gear: Adidas long-sleeved Climacool Shirt, Adidas long training pants over Adidas running shorts, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: None
Recovery: Stretches, ice, Aleve
Shoe Mile Count: 74.89 miles
Days until Marathon: 67

I know, I know. Way too fast for a training run. You'd think I'd know better by now. The problem is, I'm innately competitive, even against the clock, and it is just not natural for me to run at any pace below what I am potentially capable of. I've been quite disciplined for the most part up until today, but I was full of energy, the weather was great and I simply started fast and kept it up, ending with a personal record at this distance almost 4 minutes faster than my previous best, only just (to my dismay) missing a sub-8:00/mile pace.

I do solemnly swear that I will not run this fast again over this distance between now and January 18th. I know I won't get unlimited mulligans pulling this kind of stunt, and that sooner or later I will pay for it. I had no pain on the run today, but tomorrow and the day after will be the real test of whether I made a disastrous decision or not. I'm a little nervous, given my history.

All that being said, mistake or not, this was a lot of fun in weather that was absolutely tailor made for distance running. It was also by no means a flat route, with several fairly lengthy inclines, and rolling hills throughout, leading me to suspect I am capable of even faster over a less hilly course.

The Daily Log 11/10/08

2008-11-10T10:42:00.000-08:00

Distance: 3.63 miles
Time: 34:05
Pace: 9:22/mile
Weight: 199lbs
Terrain: Rolling
Temperature: Cold and breezy
Gear: Adidas long-sleeved Climacool Shirt, Adidas long training pants, K-State Stocking Hat, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Left foot and lower shin
Recovery: Stretches, ice, Aleve
Shoe Mile Count: 68.68 miles
Days until Marathon: 69

Ordinarily I wouldn't run the day after a long run, but my legs felt strong, and the weather is expected to take a turn for the worse tomorrow, so I decided I'd get in a short one and change my rest day to Tuesday.

It was pretty comfortable, though I often found myself running on cambered sidewalks that put uneven strain on the inner part of my lower left leg. The pain was fairly mild, but perhaps a little more pronounced than on previous runs in that spot, so I'll need to take care to not overextend there. On the flip side, my right shin caused me almost no discomfort, so I suppose I should take the good with the bad.

The pace was comfortable, and although I could feel a little fatigue in my legs, they were still fresher than expected, and I had plenty left in the tank at the end. I might not look it yet, but I'm starting to feel very fit, leg soreness notwithstanding. In fact, the hardest days now, in many ways, are the days I don't run. I know that rest is extremely important, but running has become part of my routine and something I now honestly miss when I'm on an off day.

13 days till 13.1 miles of Gobbler Grind. 69 till Arizona. Time marches on, and so do I.

The Daily Log 11/9/08

2008-11-09T07:35:00.000-08:00

Distance: 11.37 miles
Time: 1:47:10
Pace: 9:25/mile
Weight: 198lbs
Terrain: Flat
Temperature: Cold but calm
Gear: Under Armour winter running hoodie (removed after first mile), Adidas running fleece, Adidas long-sleeved Climacool Shirt, Adidas running shorts under Adidas long training pants, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: Water during run, Strawberry-Kiwi Vitamin Water for recovery
Fuel: None
Medical: None
Recovery: Stretches, ice, Aleve
Shoe Mile Count: 65.05 miles
Days until Marathon: 70

Ten weeks until marathon Sunday and my longest run yet. It will also be my longest run until the Half in two weeks; I'll only be running 8-9 miles next Sunday as part of a mini-taper for it.

I'm out of town in western KS this weekend, and although I'll be home tonight, I didn't want to run that long in the dark, so I got up very early and ran here. I picked a route covering an area I knew well, running three loops of a little under 4 miles each.

It was very cold but after the first mile I discarded my new winter running hoodie because I was just way too hot. Should come in handy as the temperature continues to drop though. I did keep the thinner Adidas fleece on for the whole run, though if I'd run much further I think I'd have removed this also.

I kept a very even pace for the first two laps, completing each in about 37 minutes. I then picked things up and ran the last loop in 33 to come in at just over 1:47, so a good time, but not so fast to where I overly stretched myself. Pretty satisfied with the effort level.

Nothing major in terms of injuries. My right shin was fine with just some very mild background soreness; if anything my left foot was the main area of concern starting out, but it too faded after the first few miles, and then it was just a question of keeping things ticking over as the miles passed.

The biggest scare was actually when I stumbled on a crack in the road at around mile 4. I was lucky first of all to keep my feet, and second of all to not pull every muscle in my legs as I tried to stay upright. My quads burned as it was happening and my left one hurt for about the next quarter of a mile, but it faded, to my relief. I was glad later that had happened at mile 4, not mile 10, when I'm sure my legs were weaker and probably more susceptible to injury.

Two new issues. One: full bladder... Note to self: When not running near home, make sure route goes by a gas station. Two: Sore nipples... It wasn't so much that they hurt really badly, but at around 10-11 miles, I started to become aware of them, so I'm sure it will be an issue for longer runs. Some extra body glide, and perhaps some bandaids might be called for. Weirdly, I was almost happy about the sore nipples. I'd read about them being a factor for marathon runners, but up until today had never run far enough for it to be an issue.

Yep, I'm running with the big boys now.

The Ultimate Goal

2008-11-06T19:09:00.000-08:00

As of yesterday, I am officially signed up as a participant in the 6th annual PF Chang's Rock n' Roll Arizona Marathon. Jill also signed up for the half.

I read that they are expecting 34,000 total runners. I knew it was a big marathon, but am actually quite surprised it's that huge. I think only Chicago and New York are bigger in the US. This almost certainly means I won't come dead last, which is a nice bonus.

It cost $112.50 including the booking fee, and another $97 for Jill. The bigger marathons do cost a little more, though this is rather high, even for them. The fee does include a concert in the evening, headliner to be announced later. (Past acts include Kool and the Gang and the Goo Goo Dolls), and of course, the usual t-shirt, medal and gift certificates.

Whatever's in the goodie bag though, it might be a bit odd to running skeptics to understand the thought process behind paying a significant sum of money for the right to beat up your body in such a way. I suppose it's like heavy metal music, quantum physics, or 30 Rock. Either you get it or you don't. Myself? I'm one of the weirdos who's more than a little excited at the prospect. Training's going pretty well, I'm losing (a little) weight, and the days are ticking by.

The Daily Log 11/6/08

2008-11-06T09:41:00.000-08:00

Distance: 3.08 miles
Time: 26:49
Pace: 8:41/mile
Weight: 199lbs
Terrain: Rolling hills throughout
Temperature: Cool and gusty
Gear: Gray cotton Red Sox shirt, Adidas shorts, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: None
Recovery: Stretches, ice
Shoe Mile Count: 53.68 miles
Days until Marathon: 73

Told you I'd been known to change my mind. Woke up feeling very comfortable, so I thought, why not? I thought about running 4, but sirens started to go off at around 3 miles. That's not a metaphor; actual sirens started blasting. It was very windy, but the sky was clear, so maybe it was in another part of the city. Regardless, I figured I'd better not risk running bang into a tornado, so I called it a day.

Mild right shin pain, but on a level with last Sunday's long run, so basically barely noticeable. Polar opposite to last week's third midweeker.

After a couple of slow runs, I felt like a quicker one today. 8:41 may have been a little too quick for a training run, but over this short distance, I doubt I did myself much harm, and now I have two days rest (for real this time).

I think, with over 50 miles on them, that I can now officially declare the new shoes a success. My injuries haven't increased, and in fact, in general have improved. They are more comfortable than the old Asics ever were, even when new, and assuming they pass the stamina test and hold up for 300+ miles, I think it's safe to say I will stick with this model in the future.

The Daily Log 11/5/08

2008-11-05T15:08:00.000-08:00

Distance: 7.15 miles
Time: 1:21:31
Pace: 11:24/mile
Weight: 199lbs
Terrain: Rolling hills
Temperature: Cool and breezy
Gear: Dark green wicking shirt, Adidas running shorts, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Right shin, left foot
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice
Shoe Mile Count: 50.60 miles
Days until Marathon: 74

I ran this with Jill. The original intention was to only run around 10k, but Jill was keen to run 7 miles, which was a personal distance record for her, so we ran an extra mile. It was cold and breezy with a little rain in the air, and that made for a fairly comfortable run in some very nice neighborhoods. The pace was of course very slow, but more comfortable than last Thursday's nightmare, so no complaints this time.

My right shin was sore, perhaps more than yesterday, but after the first couple of miles, I didn't really notice it. My left heel and arch were very painful for a short period at around the 3 mile mark and for a while I even thought I might have to stop, but it too seemed to pass. So, hopefully nothing too concerning.

Jill was pretty happy with her new record, and it underlines what I was talking about the other day. There will be good days and bad days. Sunday was a bad day for Jill, today was a good one. It was very encouraging for her I think.

This might be my last run until Sunday. I don't see the point in risking injury on a short run, so unless I feel great on Friday, I'm going to cross train on the bike instead and rest up for the weekend where I'll be shooting for 11 miles. Of course, I've been known to change my mind, so....

The Daily Log 11/4/08

2008-11-04T10:28:00.000-08:00

Distance: 4.23 miles
Time: 42:04
Pace: 9:56/mile
Weight: 199lbs
Terrain: Some rolling hills
Temperature: Warm and sunny
Gear: White cotton t-shirt, Adidas shorts, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Right shin
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice, menthol rub
Shoe Mile Count: 43.45 miles
Days until Marathon: 75

My right shin was a little sore this morning, which was no major surprise. I considered skipping the run and doing some cross training on the bike instead, but figured I'd run a little way and see how it held up. The pain was pretty minor, so I went ahead with the planned 4 mile recovery run, and felt pretty good.

I ran a shade faster than I was intending. I was aiming for around a 10:15 pace, and came in at 9:56, but that's still pretty easy, so I'll take it.

My mind meandered onto a few different things during this run, including today's Presidential election, another marathon quest. It's the first time in a while I haven't been entirely focused on the 'next step', as it were. I actually take that as a good sign, because it means that I'm not in much pain and am comfortable enough to start thinking about other things.

The New York City Marathon

2008-11-02T18:22:00.000-08:00

My countrywoman, Paula Radcliffe, won the New York City Marathon today, in a time of 2:23:56. I hoped this was a good omen for my long run, and, given how it went, it was. Marilson Gomes dos Santos won the men's race in 2:08:43

Arizona works out for me as a first marathon because of the timing, but there's no question that of all the marathons, New York is the one with the most mystique about it, at least to the regular slow-mo like me. Boston has more prestige, Chicago sets more records, London is what I remember as a kid, and Kansas City is where I live, but there's something about New York's 5 borough trot, it's historic bridges, frenetic crowd atmosphere, remarkable scope and all-star cast that is singular.

I recently watched "Run For Your Life", a documentary about Fred Lebow, the architect of the New York marathon. A Jewish immigrant, Lebow was a slow, but passionate runner when the sport had nowhere near the mass appeal it does today. From humble beginnings, what started as four six-plus mile loops around Central Park expanded, thanks to Lebow's tenacity and the city's need for something to uplift spirits given the economic gloom of the era, to all five boroughs in 1976. 32 years on, 39,000 runners would line up in front of the Verrazzano Narrows bridge with the same goal, and the vast majority of them would cross the line in Central Park several hours later.

Lebow would wait at the end of every marathon, shepherding people to the correct finish area, urging them on with words of encouragement, as enthusiastic with the average joes as he was with the Alberto Salazars and Grete Waitzes of the world. After he was diagnosed with brain cancer in 1990, he was given only a few months to live, but survived long enough to run the New York marathon himself in 1992, for the very first time, with Waitz, the 9-time champion, by his side the whole way.

He died in 1994, but a statue of him checking his watch stands near the finish line in the park, still with his eye on the race, still invested in every runner, still providing inspiration to everyone who competes.

The Daily Log 11/2/08

2008-11-02T15:09:00.000-08:00

Distance: 10.41 miles
Time: 1:39:52
Pace: 9:34/mile
Weight: 198lbs
Terrain: Mainly flat, with a couple of moderate inclines
Temperature: Warm and sunny
Gear: Adidas Climacool t-shirt and shorts, Road Runners Cap, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: Water
Fuel: None
Medical: None
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice, menthol rub
Shoe Mile Count: 39.22 miles
Days until Marathon: 77

You'll notice that the distance was longer than the planned 9 miles. When I totaled up the mileage on the route, it came to about 9 1/3 miles, so I decided early that if I felt good at that point, I'd make it up to 10. I did, so added a little loop that ended up being close to an extra mile, so there's the total. My longest run ever, and my first of over 10 miles.

Right away I felt good, and this was without doubt my most comfortable run since the marathon relay. I've learned not to get too happy when I run well. I suppose what this tells me is that, given how much I struggled on Thursday, I should try not to get too down when I don't. My right shin was strong, the lightning storm of pain the other day was just a distant rumble of thunder today, and nothing else hurt at all.

Jill joined me for the middle couple of miles but struggled in the heat and with the hills and ended up heading for home while I continued on. I had to slow and walk a couple of times while she was with me, and catching up, and so this was a slower section, but I regained my rhythm soon after and ran some of my faster miles afterwards to finish with a pretty good pace.

I was glad I chose a route I was very familiar with. After doing a new run on Thursday and facing unexpected hills, I didn't want any surprises today. In addition, I knew more or less where my mile splits were, so strategically it made for a much easier time.

One thing that I do need to be cognizant of during these longer distances is fluid intake. I drank a bottle of water at around the 4-5 mile mark, but I could definitely have done with another one, particularly on such a warm day. As the mileage increases further, that will become increasingly important.

Jill was disheartened over her struggles and I felt bad for her, knowing exactly how she felt. However, as I explained, running's a bit like golf. There, nothing makes you feel better than a good shot, and nothing makes you feel worse than a bad one. It's the same with runs. I was on a high today, for sure, but was very worried and unhappy after Thursday's. Jill will have better runs than today and I will have worse ones, but as long as there's enough of the good ones to keep us going, we'll make it to Arizona ready to go.

The Monthly Log 10/31/08

2008-10-31T15:01:00.000-07:00

Number of Runs: 17
Total Distance: 78.54 miles
Total Time: 12:58:12
Longest Run: 8.09 miles
Avg Distance: 4.62 miles
Avg Time: 45:36
Avg Pace: 9:52/mile
Medical: Shins, calves, left heel
Events: Kansas City Marathon Relay - 10/18 (7 miles)
Days Until Marathon: 79

It's Halloween. Olive is dressed as a bumble bee and Meadow has the bee's antennae around her neck, something that's causing her great frustration, and us some amusement. It's also the end of a month, so here's my first monthly log.

17 runs, and you can probably add about 5 additional days of cross training to that total (exercise bike and swims), so 22 workouts in total. That might not make me the next Olympic decathlete, but it's not bad for an old fatty like me. More than a run every two days. I also competed in my first marathon, albeit only a little more than a quarter of it. I went to my first expo, stood at my first finish line, was given my first medal, and ate my first post-marathon meal. Yep, October was a big month.

Through the course of this month, pretty much every part of both of my lower legs has hurt at one point or another, but now, on October 31st, only my right shin is causing me any significant discomfort. Today and tomorrow are rest days, and it does feel somewhat better today, but I won't know for sure until I run again. It could go either way.

I've been training for almost 3 months now, and there's almost three more until I run. I've come a long way, but still have a long way to go. In marathon terms, I'm just about at the 14 mile marker. I'm kind of sore, but I'm still running and I'm still hopeful.

The Daily Log 10/30/08

2008-10-30T15:34:00.000-07:00

Distance: 4.0 miles
Time: 44:58
Pace: 11:14/mile
Weight: 200lbs
Terrain: Hilly
Temperature: Warm and sunny
Gear: Adidas running shorts, KC Royals wicking t-shirt, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Right shin
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice
Shoe Mile Count: 28.81 miles
Days until Marathon: 80

Rough run. My right shin was as painful as it's been on this go around. One of the patterns I've seen over the last few weeks is that I've often followed a very comfortable run with a rather painful one. Don't ask me why that is.

It didn't help that this route, a new one, was far hillier than I was expecting, including a very long incline over the first mile and another a mile or so after that. Flat courses are far easier on tender shins, naturally, so in retrospect, this turned out to be something of a mistake. I ran with Jill, and she too struggled with the course, and as a result, we ran very slowly. I was quite frustrated because the pace was so slow, I couldn't maintain a natural gait, not to mention that I was in some pain. All in all, a very low quality run.

I am not running again until Sunday. After that, I am going to switch to running every other day to give my legs longer to heal between each run, instead of doing the midweek trifecta. Something always breaks down by the third day, so I think that a change of strategy is called for. There's still 80 long days till Arizona, so caution has to be the name of the game at this point.

Two positives. No left leg pain, and my right calf caused me no discomfort either. All the pain was in one spot today. I suppose that means it could be worse, but, you know, would it be too much to ask that I have one pain free run? Or am I just too old and fat?

The Wrong T-Shirt

2008-10-30T08:43:00.000-07:00

Today I signed up for the Gobbler Grind Half-Marathon next month (see picture). Usually, with these online sign-ups, I am very meticulous, but for some reason, I rushed through this one, and inevitably made a rookie mistake.

I maybe many things, but a small-sized t-shirt wearer I am not. Personally, I think large should be the default, but that's another issue. I messed up, and now might end up with a t-shirt that will make me look like a pickle in a straw wrapper. I emailed the race director, so hopefully it can be changed, but these small races aren't the most reliable, so I might end up with a useless item of clothing for my troubles. Ordinarily I wouldn't care that much, but these are long-sleeved technical tees, which means I could actually wear it on runs during the winter, so it would be quite useful.

Leaving aside my idiocy, I am pleased that I have another tuneup on the books. It will, as I have mentioned before, fit in quite well with my training schedule, and should give me some more good experience.

The Daily Log 10/29/08

2008-10-29T12:52:00.000-07:00

Distance: 5.1 miles
Time: 47:04
Pace: 9:13/mile
Weight: 200lbs
Terrain: Several inclines over first two miles, mostly flat after
Temperature: Warm and sunny
Gear: Nike shorts, Adidas Climacool t-shirt, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Right shin and calf
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice
Shoe Mile Count: 24.81 miles
Days until Marathon: 81

My right calf was the main concern over the first couple of miles. After that, everything seemed to loosen up and although I could feel a dull background pain in it and the shin, this was generally a pretty good, comfortable run, in surprisingly warm conditions. My left leg was pain free, even the heel didn't hurt this time. Long may that continue.

I have, with the help of www.mapmyrun.com, mapped out a number of runs that start and end at my house, and just like with any workout, variety is essential to avoid burnout. Some of the runs I do just once, some I do a number of times, but I never do the same run twice in a row, and I regularly map new routes out to keep things fresh.

This was the second time I'd run the first 4 miles of this route (I also added a mile loop to the end to get to the target distance), and it's one of my favorites. Quiet roads allow me to run on the asphalt instead of the harder concrete, and I can even run in the middle most of the time, to avoid the challenges of the camber. The neighborhoods are tree-lined and pleasant, and aside from a fairly long uphill section about a mile in, it's pretty flat.

I was aiming for around a 9:30 pace, so I ran a little faster than I intended, but at least I didn't go too crazy. My schedule (barring injury or weather concerns) essentially calls for three slow runs (two short, one long), and one tempo run at a slightly faster pace, per week, with two days of cross-training. So far so good this week.

The Daily Log 10/28/08

2008-10-28T19:18:00.000-07:00

Distance: 4.28 miles
Time: 44:27
Pace: 10:22/mile
Weight: 200lbs
Terrain: Mainly flat, few gentle hills
Temperature: Cold and calm. Perfect conditions
Gear: Nike shorts, Long-sleeved Adidas Climacool t-shirt, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Right shin and calf, left heel
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice
Shoe Mile Count: 19.79 miles
Days until Marathon: 82

I ran a mile on my own, then three more with Jill. It was overall a pretty good recovery run, made more enjoyable by perfect, crisp weather.

My right leg was sore, particularly over the first couple of miles. Both my calf and shin were aching, and towards the end my left heel hurt for a short time. However, other than the heel, my left leg was basically pain free which I found interesting since at one time, that was the one that was causing most of the trouble. If the right leg cycles through its pain in the same way, that will be awesome.

During my run, when I feel pain, I ask myself if I've felt worse on any of my previous runs. It's a bit difficult to compare runs looking back, but I'd say the worst run I've done, in terms of pain, was perhaps the run to and from CVS on 10/15, and I've found myself measuring the pain level relative to that run. That was almost two weeks ago now, so I'm cautiously optimistic that I've correctly managed the issue. It should also be noted that even that CVS run was a cakewalk when compared to 2005, when I was training for the marathon that never happened. That time around, both of my shins felt like they were being kicked, hard, with every step I took, and finally, one day, I just couldn't run any more. Nothing has been close to that this time around, so I remain cautiously optimistic.

I've added another stat to the daily logs; a countdown to marathon day. 82 days and counting.

The Grinders and the Grind

2008-10-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

My right calf feels like it might have a minor strain, it's a little painful and feels very tight. Oddly, this is not the same leg that felt tight during yesterday's run. I don't think it's anything serious. I'm not running today, and am planning just a slow 4 miler tomorrow, so hopefully it won't be anything that slows me down. Nothing else is sore today, which is encouraging. My shins don't hurt at all, and the plantar fascitis in my left foot feels pretty good. The new shoes may be just what I needed, or perhaps I'm just learning to manage my injuries better.

Regardless, I continue to marvel at the people who can seemingly run forever without having to take a break. How do they do that? Check out this guy, who ran every day for twenty years, or 7,768 straight days. Or how about this guy, who does all his runs barefoot, regardless of the weather or surface. The latter I actually saw run by a relay point during the KC Marathon earlier this month.

Most remarkable of all is the famed ultramarathoner, Dean Karnazes, whose achievements include a 350 mile non-stop run, and a 135 mile run in 130 degree temperatures. A marathon for him must feel like a sprint.

I wouldn't exactly say that I'm inspired by these people. I can pretty much guarantee I will not run for 7,768 straight days, run a marathon in barefoot, or run 350 miles anywhere at all, so it's not like these people give me something tangible to aspire to. That's not to say these achievements aren't amazing, just so far beyond what most people are capable of, or driven towards, that they are more like spectacles to be admired, than reasons to compete oneself. I think that's why I'm more drawn to first marathon stories such as the ones here. This is a forum to which I feel I can contribute.

One piece of news I found out this weekend is that I will now be free the weekend of November 23rd, which means competing in the Gobbler Grind Half-Marathon is now feasible. The distance fits in very well with my training schedule. The only thing I need to be wary of is not overextending myself by treating it like a big race instead of a tuneup. To an extent I think I did that with the relay, and that led to this past week where I had to back off a little. So we'll see.

The Daily Log 10/26/08

2008-10-26T20:00:00.000-07:00

Distance: 8.09 miles
Time: 1:25:44
Pace: 10:34/mile
Weight: 200lbs
Terrain: Mainly flat, few rolling hills
Temperature: Cold and windy
Gear: Adidas running shorts, Long-sleeved Adidas Climacool t-shirt, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: Water
Fuel: None
Medical: Mild shin pain, tight calves, sore feet
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice
Shoe Mile Count: 15.51 miles (a new stat for me to track the wear on the shoes)

If all goes well, 8 miles will soon seem like a walk in the park, but as of today, it's the second longest run I ever remember completing. It was rather cold and windy, and after I got going, I realized I probably had underdressed for the occasion. Fortunately most of the run was somewhat sheltered by real estate, but when I hit more open stretches, I was given quite an assault.

Pretty much every part of my lower leg ached at one point or another, but in actual fact, it was all pretty mild, and nothing Aleve and ice couldn't fix after the run was over. Perhaps the biggest worry was the fact that my left calf was still tight, particularly over the first few miles. It wasn't painful, but I was a little concerned I could injure it if I pushed myself too hard.

The new shoes held up well. It has taken a couple of runs to get used to the heels which I feel are the biggest difference between these and the old ones - they still seem more built up. Nevertheless, despite a little surface foot pain towards the end that I attributed to me still breaking them in, I can't complain about the results so far.

Jill ran the second half with me and that helped me keep my pace easy. I ran the first half in around 9:45 pace, which was about right, then I slowed down to probably 11:00 pace or so for the second half. Ideal overall.

It's quickly getting cold. I might need some more winter gear before too long. Also I really had to watch my step. Lots of leaves hiding cracked paving stones, and I nearly tripped over fallen twigs a dozen times. Ah, nature. Will I conquer thee?

The Daily Log 10/23/08

2008-10-23T10:31:00.000-07:00

Distance: 3.18 miles
Time: 29:43
Pace: 9:20/mile
Weight: 200lbs
Terrain: Fairly flat, gentle hills
Temperature: Cold and calm.
Gear: Adidas long training pants, Long-sleeved wicking t-shirt, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Sore right shin, tight left calf
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice, menthol rub

Back to the roads today. I thought about doing 4 miles, but ultimately decided 3 was enough. I warmed up for 10 minutes on the bike before the run, and warmed down for another 6 or so afterwards. It certainly helped me acclimatize quickly to the colder weather outside, and also aided my legs somewhat, which didn't feel as bad as I thought they might.

My right shin was still sore though, and my left calf has been tight the last couple of runs. I'm not going to run again until Sunday night, where I will attempt my long run of 8 miles. That should be a good measuring stick as to how well I'm going to hold up, or if more time off is going to be necessary. These next few weeks are crucial. If I'm going to rest, now is the time to do it.

Leaving aside the injuries, I felt a bit heavy in general today. Mentally this is a challenging time. I have no confirmed races any time soon, other than the Thanksgiving 5k which I will probably just jog around with Jill on - the Gobbler Grind Half is very much up in the air due to prior commitments that weekend - and with my legs already hurting, it just seems like such a long road to January. The bike will help me keep fit but it's not going to be enough to just bike all the time and then hope I can run 26 miles. That and the weather starting to get unpleasant is going to make all runs more difficult, and, as importantly, less enjoyable.

The Investment

2008-10-22T19:32:00.000-07:00

Shins were still sore today, though much better than yesterday. Still, I didn't feel it was worth risking them, and nature apparently agreed. It poured down with rain all day.

I decided that in order to protect my shins, and also to keep up with the cardio that I would make an investment and today I went out and bought an exercise bike. ----->

Cost me two hundred bones, so it's a cheapie, in exercise bike terms, (though not in Halky terms) but does seem very sturdy, which is good. It has a fan, a display that shows your calories, distance, time etc, 8 presets and even some speakers. The one issue I had with it on my inaugural 'pedal' was that my knees kept hitting the bar, so I reversed the bar's position and now that's not a problem.

When people think of running, they think of it being a cheap sport, at least for amateurs. I suppose it could be, but the more I get into taking it seriously, the more it's costing me. :-). Exercise bike. $200. Shoes $125. Race fees. $200+. Medications, rubs, anti-chafing stick $30. I haven't even bought any additional "gear" this go around, but I know I'm going to need a decent coat for winter runs at the absolute minimum and I could use another pair of running shorts too. That'll be another $100+ I'm sure. All this so that I can spend 4+ hours pounding the streets of Arizona. That's about $25 per mile! For a t-shirt, a medal and a gift certificate!

The Demon Shin Splints

2008-10-21T19:20:00.001-07:00

No running today. My right shin has been sore all day, and I'm starting to worry it's the onset of shin splints. It's not anywhere near as bad as the last time I had them, but I could well be on a slippery slope if I don't take action, so I'm going to take each day as it comes for a while.

Of course, rest is the main treatment, so a few days off might be warranted, but on the other hand, I still need to train, so it's definitely a balancing act. What I really want to keep doing is my weekend long runs, even if I miss some of the shorter ones mid-week.

One thing is for sure; the article I read saying that it's harder to get to the marathon start line than it is the finish line is proving more than prophetic.

Jill and I are going to start a diet on Thursday. I've never had much luck with diets. I've lost weight before, but usually because of working out, or, sometimes, stress. Problem is, these injuries make me think that unless I drop some poundage, they're going to continue to pop up. So despite my cynicism, I am willing to give it a whirl. Maybe having a "partner" will be the impetus I need.

In fact, how about I document my weight loss progress on this blog? Would you like that? Oh, you're not listening are you? Fine, my imaginary friend, but here's the goal anyway.... 20 pounds by race day. 12 and a half weeks. 89 days. 1.7 pounds per week. 0.22 pounds per day. Possible, yes. Probable?

Jill is going to bring her accurate scale over on Thursday, so in my usual nerdish fashion, I'll begin the stat-keeping then.

The Daily Log 10/20/08

2008-10-20T18:48:00.000-07:00

Distance: 4.24 miles
Time: 42:10
Pace: 9:55/mile
Weight: 200lbs
Terrain: Fairly flat, gentle hills
Temperature: Cold and calm.
Gear: Nike Shorts, Long-sleeved wicking t-shirt, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Sore shins, minor left heel pain
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice

I was going to take today off, but Jill needed a running partner, so I figured I'd run today and take tomorrow off instead. My legs were more sore today than yesterday in general, probably still residual from Saturday's race. It took me a good two miles to feel comfortable, and even then, it wasn't the most enjoyable experience. It reminded me a lot of the first training run I did after the "race for the frogs" a few weeks ago. Everything was sore physically, and mentally it was a tough one to get up for. I was glad to get it out of the way.

The new shoes got their first real workout today, and they're very soft and spongey. I hope they will work out, but it's going to take a little getting used to, they feel quite different from the old Asics. The heels in particular seem more built up. That could be as much a result of the shoes being newer as them being a different brand. Time will tell.

Can I just say that Aleve has been a life saver over the last couple of weeks? I've not had much luck with it as a headache medicine, but as a muscle pain reliever, it is awesome. I was quite sore when I finished my run, but within 20 minutes of taking it, everything was ten times better. It seems to last for hours too. No, they're not paying me. But they are welcome to if they want.

The Mentalist

2008-10-20T09:36:00.000-07:00

Down day yesterday. I did go for a brief walk/jog to road test the new shoes. They are very springy. We'll see how they do on a real run tomorrow, I'm taking today off too.

I have been debating whether to throw in another tuneup between now and January, specifically the Gobbler Grind Half-Marathon in late November, right here in my home town of Overland Park. Problem is, I am supposed to be out of town that weekend, so there may need to be some juggling.

I am finding that running, particularly when you have set goals in mind, such as races, can be rather consuming, mentally. I'm not sure if this is a novelty thing that will gradually wear off or if this is how it always is, but I've found myself lying awake at night thinking about the 'next run' quite a lot recently, and Jill and I seem to be constantly talking about one running related topic or another. I'm already trying to fit this Overland Park race in, and I'm even looking past Arizona and wondering what the next challenge should be if that all goes as planned.

In the back of my mind, I'm also aware of how one overuse injury, or one step in a pothole could derail my attempts indefinitely. I consider how I really need to lose 20 or 30 pounds to give myself more of a runner's frame, and reduce the strain on my knees, calves, shins, feet etc. etc. Then I find myself wondering, if I do lose some weight, and training continues to go well, how fast could I be? If I really start taking it seriously, could I one day qualify for Boston? What would that be like?

All these thoughts go through my mind, some of which I act on more than others (obviously). I suppose it's a better obsession than some, but still... it's not like I'm going to be an Olympian any time soon. Maybe some perspective?