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.
Showing posts with label gobbler grind. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gobbler grind. Show all posts
Friday, November 26, 2010
Sunday, November 23, 2008
The Evidence
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 Gobbler Grind
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.
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.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
The Packet Pickup
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!
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!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The Daily Log 11/13/08
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
The Waffle
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 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.
Monday, November 10, 2008
The Daily Log 11/10/08
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.
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.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
The Wrong T-Shirt
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.
Monday, October 27, 2008
The Grinders and the Grind
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.
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.
Monday, October 20, 2008
The Mentalist
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?
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?
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