New Orleans 5150 RR

First class race with more than enough police support, organization, volunteers, aid, instructions, and I NEVER saw a line for the port-o-lets. After the race there was gumbo, red beans, and jambalaya with rice, along with all the normal fruits, cookies, soda, and sports drinks. Also an Abita trailer with plenty of cups and about 8 taps for serving your own beverage. Never saw a line there either! ...if you are into that sorta thing.

About my race... The day started with finding out that the water temp dropped enough over night to be wet suite legal for age groupers, but not for the pro's. That news was followed by notifying us they were delaying the start 30 minutes to allow placement of a buoy in a different location. They were planning on shortening the swim from 1500m to 200m due to the rough conditions now allowing kayaks to get in the water. Finally, they decided we would run 2 miles instead of swimming at all.

This swim was supposed to be a test for me. Since I don't swim in a pool, it's difficult to judge my performance. Guess I'll find out next week when I do the 5k swim.

I wouldn't say I was excited to run 2 miles, but I was a little curious. It's been a long time since I ran that distance, and I started to wonder how fast I could be. Despite my improvements in longer distances over the last 10 years, it appears I won't be posting a 2 mile PR. That might be obvious to everyone but me that knows I haven't done crap for speed work in about 10 years. It surprised me. It wasn't until today that I realized I shouldn't start a 2 hour race with an all out 2 mile pace. Newbie mistake.

Bike was painful, windy, and slower than I expected. The course had ideal out and backs to see who was close to you, which was nice for both seeing the competition, and for checking out the pro's. Athletes doing the race are able to see the pro's more times than spectators.

What I never realized about a duathlon is that as people pass you on the bike, you have a really good idea how good of runner they are. In a triathlon, if someone blows by me a mile into the bike, I know he was right behind me on the swim, but I have no idea how good of a runner they are. In a duathlon, you can run slower than your ability, but it's really tough to run faster than you are capable of.

My main goal for the entire race was a sub 40 minute 10k. In the first mile I ran about 10 seconds slower than my goal pace, which was the plan. It was not the plan to keep going that pace the entire run. Ended up running 6:35 to 6:40 every single mile.

Stats:
May 15th, 2011
Low of 63 and high of 75 with 15MPH winds and gust up to 25
40/321 overall (12th age grouper)
4/24 in age group
2 mile run - 11:59
T1 - 1:38
40k bike - 1:08:12 (21.8mph)
T2 - 1:07
10k run - 40:48

Boston 2011

Why run Boston:
First of all, everything is so well organized. I'm sure mistakes are made, but heck if I ever found out about it. Plenty of pre race Power Bars, coffee, bagels, bananas, and port-o-johns. In addition that that, the city revolves around the race for that week. Billboards, subway ads, hotels, vendors, everything and everyone knows why you are visiting, and they show it. They want to know how many times you ran Boston, where you came from, and what time you expect to run.

Crowds were encouraging those that looked like they were struggling, and cheering and
congratulating everyone. These people were not your typical family and friends that usually line the crowded parts of a race. These were professional marathon spectators. They had music, noise makers, cold sponges, orange slices, and bananas. I heard a dad yell, "Get those cups of water out there, these runners are thirsty." Right outside of Hopkinton there is a huge biker group (not the ones with spandex, the ones with leather) making all kinds of noise and blairing Highway to Hell. Kids are out of school for Patriots Day, so what better thing for them to do but but come out to and party along the course.

If you enjoy sports, last weekend was the time to be in Boston. Besides the marathon, the Bruins and Celtics were both playing home playoff games between Saturday and Wednesday (the days my family was there), and of course the Red Sox are always in town during Marathon week. Playoff tickets are too expensive for my blood, but we did get to Fenway for a Red Sox game.

About my race:
On Thursday before the race, someone told me that the Boston Marathon starts at mile 17. With that on my mind, I got excited entering the town of Newton. One year earlier, the hill after the fire station took a lot out of me, and the other Newton hills really killed me.

I waited 52 weeks to run the last 10 miles of Boston. As I crested the bridge that went over I-95, I felt ready to start my race. That feeling lasted all the way to mile 24 when everything caught up to me at once. I tried to walk, but my legs just wouldn't do the walking motion, so I kept shuffling. The race was beating me mentally, and I was looking for excuses to slow down. At mile 25 I needed to run the last 1.2 miles in 6 minutes for a sub 3 hour time. Obviously that was NOT going to happen, so I relaxed and told myself to enjoy the last few minutes of the race. Unless I slowed down to a 10 minute pace, I'd still get a PR.

Looking back I wonder if I was mentally tougher, could I of pushed the pain aside and not
lost two and a half minutes over the last 2 miles? Is it just me, or does everything think
that after just missing a goal? Even if I could of broken 3 hours, I'm still equally proud
of my training and execution. Running 3:02:14 at Boston is something I never thought
possible just a few years ago. I remember running around 24 minutes for a 5k back in 2007. Good grief have I come a long way.

Numbers:
average weekly miles 14 weeks before race = 49.5
5k Splits: 21:24, 21:03, 21:09, 21:10, 21:01, 21:36, 21:48, 21:56
15k race 10 weeks before marathon 56:14
5k race 5 weeks before marathon 18:07
consumed during race:
gels - 4
cups of water - 25
Hammer Endurolytes - 15
1 orange slice (best thing I ever tasted)
1/2 banana (took it because I thought it was wet sponge. ate it anyway)
Race morning:
2 power bars
48 oz water
1 banana
2 Endurolytes
Gatorade Prime (it was free, and I always try something new on race day)

Spring Fever Chase 10k

3/19/11
2nd Overall
37:44

McGuire's 5k Prediction Run 2011

Predicted 17:59
Ran 18:07

Double Bridge Run 15k 2011

Back in December, I thought if my legs responded to some speedwork, a 55 minute 15k would be possible. My assumption was that Mark and Stephen would run a time close to this. As for speedwork, after reading some of the Jack Daniels book, I settled on doing a session of intervals each week, along with a tempo and long run.

Week one of 800's with Johnny did not go well. Weeks 2 was mediocre 800's at Disney, then weeks 3 - 5 the 1000's felt great. One last session of 800's the week before the race did not happen. I tried, but the bike ride earlier that day had me wiped out.

By the time the race came around, I knew 5:55 pace was beyond reach.

At the starting line I found Chuck, Mark, Stephen H, Rusty, Jeremy, Steve C, Lee, and Tim. Not only was it cool to be around so many friends, but a many of them were very close to my pace. Last year I ran side by side Jeremy and Steve C for a perfect race.

This year I didn't plan ahead to run with anyone, but I figured some of those guys would be around. Of the 8 people I mentioned, about 4 were with me at mile 1. 6:12 was slower than I expected, but this race is too far for me to go out too hard. Over the next 3 miles, Stephen and I pulled away from most of the group, and Rusty started to pull away from us up toward Tim. We had just run 3 consecutive miles at my goal pace of 6:05, so if the next mile, which included the hill on the first bridge slowed us down, it wasn't a big deal. We actually ran that mile 3 seconds faster than goal.

It was after the hill at mile 5 that I told Stephen he better take off if he wanted to catch Rusty and the guys up ahead. Just 2 weeks ago he had run just under 1:22:00 half marathon, which I figured was well beyond my fitness. He did pull away by a few meters, but at mile 7 I was back up next to him.

Instead of continuing my 5:56 pace that I caught him with, we both held on to 5:50 for the next 2 miles. Both of those miles included challenging hills. At the bottom of the last hill we caught Tim, who had kept at 6:00 pace the entire race. Here I was in a race with 2000 people, and the only ones within 100 meters in either direction were 2 guys I train with every week.

Not that I expected to beat Stephen, but I knew that in order to, I would of needed to separate around mile 8, and I didn't. Right around mile 9 I heard footsteps and knew it must be him. I put on a small surge, but didn't expect to keep it, or separate from him. Not long after that he hit his finishing stride and coasted in 8 seconds before me and 4th in our age group. :( Rusty was 3rd.

All the times I pictured the last few miles of the race, not once was it as cool as the actual finish. Of course the end of a race is painful, but it's a lot easier when you are in good company.

Pensacola Beach Run

January 15, 2011
About the race:
Out and back along Pensacola Beach. What it lacks in variety, it makes up for with scenery. There are portions where you can see water on both sides. What sets this race apart from other races is that you don't have to pick a distance. They just record the farthest timing mat you cross, and that's what you get scored for. 5k, 10, or half marathon.

As great as the race was, first all the stuff it was NOT:
...not a challenge to find my inner warrior and dig deeper than I ever have.
...not a break through performance.
...not a day when I was the best athlete that showed up.
...not a glamorous race venue.

All that being said, it was near the top, if not the most satisfying race to date. Started off like any other race. Felt far too easy, and there were probably 20 people well ahead of me. Mile one was 6:05 to the second. I pumped my fist and loudly showed my excitement. I wanted to brag, and I knew Steve was in range to hear me. Before the race he asked what my pace was going to be, and I told him 6:05.

Shortly after mile 1, the 5k runners turned left and were quickly out of sight. I was too far back to know how many people turned. What I did know is that there was more people than I could accurately count in front of me. One by one I passed just a few people, including "Awkward Running Guy" in his white McGuires cotton t-shirt and sweat flinging off his face as it sharply turned from side to side. He has been a staple in many races since last year at Double Bridge Run when I thought he was injured. Unlike the Pensacola half marathon, he was not carrying his shirt in one hand while leading the race at mile 3.

The thought of position did not cross my mind until I saw the turn around, and only one person turned. He was about 150m ahead. Up until now I ran exactly in the range that I planned. 6:05, 6:03, and 6:01. I don't remember looking at my watch at all for the next mile. My goal was to catch that dude, then figure out what to do from there. It was really close to the 4 mile marker when I did catch him, because I remember pointing it out to him. Garmin read 5:45. I pulled ahead by a few feet and asked if he was going to run sub 6:00 for the last 2 miles. He didn't reply, so I slowed down to get closer and asked again. He nodded and said yes. For whatever reason, I was happy to have company, and not at all worried about coming in 2nd vs 1st. However, his next mile was at least a 6:10, because I ran it in 6:02 and created a sizable gap. Well, nothing left but to push the last mile... alone. 5:58 according to Garmin, and it felt good. The rush from being in first place, even if it wasn't the half marathon, was cool.

In the chute I saw 2 coworkers that did the 5k. I was completely rude and didn't even ask how they did. Then a strange girl came up to me and said she was Tristan. When I look as confused as possible she said she was Steve's girlfriend. Oh, nice to meet you, I'm leaving now for a cool-down. Another totally rude move.

My plan was to jog out and run the last part of the half marathon in with Steve. Not once did I do the math that told me after my 6 miles, he still had 7 miles to go. I made my way to the 1 mile marker (mile 12), and he must of been around mile 8. After waiting for 15 minutes the first half marathon guy went by, and another few minutes until I saw Steve in 4th place. He crossed the 1 mile marker in 1:15:30. This was my first indicator to how his race was going. Out loud I said "if we bring in the last mile in 6:30, you are sub 1:22:00!" He seemed good with this, so we dialed in the pace and knocked it out. He seemed happy with the result, and why not, a 1:21:58 is great. On most days I'd trade a 1:22 half for a 37:37 10k, but today it meant I got a BOTTLE OPENER for winning!

Kaiser Half Marathon

Found this race when I was looking for a 10k. Since my family was already staying in a condo on Orange Beach, it was only a 5 minute drive. Even if I didn't hammer out a hard run, it seemed like a good fit.

After another beautiful sunrise over the gulf, I sat down to figure out my pace. 2 weeks ago I ran 1:26:43. It was a time I was proud of, but I knew there was a faster time in me. Also, in the back of my mind I knew that Steve ran a 1:22:35 two weeks ago, and I wanted the pace to be fast enough to give myself a chance at beating him. 1:24 sounded good, which is 6:25 pace.

The race itself was absolutely beautiful. All except about 2 miles was twisting through the woods on a trail. Bright sun peaking through the trees. Temps were in the 40's with a constant breeze. A better setting could not be scripted.

During the race I was having a great time. Looking back, someone would think it was boring. No crowd along the race, and I was in 4th place from before the 2 mile mark to the finish. Steve was between 15 and 20 seconds ahead of me up until mile 12, and 5th place was more than a minute behind me.

Other than mile 11 when I took a shot at closing the gap on Steve, I was locked into my goal pace. Unfortunate for me, Steve also picked that stretch to reel in 2nd place, and my 6:15 did not close a single second. Finished 4th overall, but the results show 1st in AG since Steve took the 3rd overall prize.

Scored another pair of Stuffitts Shoe Savers, an aluminum bottle from Fuel Belt, and some coasters with the race logo on it. Combined with a 12oz Nathan water bottle in the goody bag, it was a good bit of loot.