Oh Chicago... Well Worth the Price of Admission..

A big part of me wishes that this blog entry would be all about how fast I ran in Chicago. A glorious finishing time. a mile by mile account of my first Boston qualifier. Unfortunately it's not. Or maybe it's not so unfortunate. Yeah I'd love to say that I ran a 3:08 marathon and that I've got Boston in my sights. That'd be great but what's wrong with running a relatively smart race and having a good time doing it? I should remind myself of that. Overall, the race was an amazing experience. The course, the spectators, the other runners. Everything was perfect. Well almost everything. The blistering wind coming off the lake was a bit much to take. I could have done without that.

The start of the race was freezing but I felt pretty good. My spirits were up, not too nervous, ready for what was coming. The warmth of the massive crowds crammed into the corrals helped some at the start, it was like a giant human blanket. I had neglected to sign up for the preferred start area so I ended up starting the race behind the 3:50 pace group. Everybody was so excited, and friendly, smiles all around. In the final seconds before the start, standing close to the corral edges we all laughed and made jokes as throw away jackets, t-shirts, plastic bags, and plastic bottles flew just over head on their way to the sidelines. The camaraderie was comforting. We made our way to the start line, first as a tight knit waddle, then extending our strides slowly to a comfortable walk. Finally, five minutes after the gun, my chip meets the mat and I am officially running in the Chicago marathon. Here are the splits and some thoughts as the race progressed.

Mile 1 7:53 The start of the race is awesome. The crowds, the noise, I know I'm not the only one who gets a little emotional going under that first tunnel.
Mile 2 7:41 Lots of traffic up front. I was worried that these first few miles would be quite a bit slower considering the traffic and the slippery conditions as the race got under way.
Mile 3 7:26 These first few miles were challenging as I tried to get to my goal pace and get around slower traffic. I was freezing cold but it felt great to finally be running the Chicago marathon.
Mile 4 7:00 A little too fast. Still trying to find my pace.
Mile 5 6:55 Oh Shit!! Lincoln Park is beautiful, but way too fast.
Mile 6 7:27 Somewhere around here I settle into the 7:15-7:20 pace that I was looking for. I alternate water and gatorade at every stop. First Clif Shot at mile six.
Mile 7 7:16 Pace finally feels right, and consistent. The cold is still bothering me a bit, but so far the race is a blast.
Mile 8 7:12 Legs feel good, cardio is great. It's cold.
Mile 9 7:13 Feeling good about keeping my pace while passing slower traffic. Somewhere around here I catch the 3:30 pace group.
Mile 10 7:20 I pass right by the restaurant where we ate the night before. A block from the place we're staying. Familiar streets are nice. Clark street has great spectators.
Mile 11 7:18 The view coming back into downtown is great. Sears tower is massive.
Mile 12 7:22 Pace feels good. Legs strong. Cold still bothering me. My ears and hands are warm but I can't seem to get my body temp up.
Mile 13 7:25 Coming up to the 1/2 marathon split I'm exactly where I wanted to be. 1:36. Clif Shot number two. Running close to the sidewalk I get lots of smiles and high fives. Awesome!
Mile 14 7:22 Running away from downtown and the protection of the buildings the cold really picked up around here. Strong crosswinds and missing the skyline, this part was a little tough. Pace still strong and legs still feeling pretty good.
Mile 15 7:22 It was somewhere around here that I first felt a little dizzy. Looking for friends at fifteen I noticed it. nothing serious, just a little dizzy as I scanned the crowds for my girlfriend's bright red coat.
Mile 16 7:28 Decided to ease the pace just a bit in hopes of feeling a little stronger later in the race. I settled in with the 3:20 pace group figuring that since I started five minutes back, finishing with these guys would still bring me in with a 3:15 time.
Mile 17 7:30 Cold and dizzy but keeping the pace and trying to keep my head in a good place. By 17 I knew things weren't going quite as well as I had hoped. But I was still pushing.
Mile 18 7:45 Coming up on the 30K mark I was well off my pace and starting to feel this thing slip away. The dizziness was getting worse and legs were getting stiff.
Mile 19 8:48 I started the internal dialogue to see what my options were. We're well into this race. Except for the last mile or so, the pace has been strong. Body feels relatively o.k. although frozen solid. Dizziness is a little scary. We've got a 10K left. What to do ? Somewhere around here I remembered what a fellow Gazelle said about running lots of Marathons. His fastest is in the 3:20 range I think. He runs Marathons every few months and although he's a strong elite runner he's not obsessed with a specific time. He runs how he feels and if it's not his day, he take just treats it like a long Saturday run. Sounds like a good plan to me. Enjoy this thing today. don't get injured. learn what I can, and come back stronger for the next one.

Mile 20 9:00 Pilsen neighborhood. In retrospect I think this was my favorite part of the course. The crowds were awesome. There were street vendors selling all kinds on Mexican goodies. At one point I thought one guy was giving stuff to the runners. Mmmm... atole... horchata....
Mile 21 9:42 Run.Run.Run...Walk...Run.Run.Run. Walk....... Dizzy... and stiff....
Mile 22 9:39 Somewhere around here Gilbert spots me walking and probably not looking too much like a Gazelle. He gets me moving.. running along side of me for a while... camera in hand.... screaming happy things... I think ? It put a huge smile on my face to see him.. and it pushed me along for the next couple of miles. We are so lucky to have Gilbert around. Thanks a million coach.
Mile 23 9:50 People were so supportive. China town was great.. I think I saw some dancing Dragons. or maybe that was just in my head. I think I put down a couple of whole oranges.. One nice lady gave me an entire half orange, chilled, peeled and ready to eat.
Mile 24 9:31 Still just coasting along. Legs have been really stiff for last four or five miles, and not really responding to any attempts to get them moving faster. I'm sure it's from the walk breaks and slow pace. Regardless I just push along, slowly but surely.. enjoying the crowds and the scenery the entire way.
Mile 25 9:47 I can't wait to come back to Chicago and zip throught this part of the course at some crazy sub seven pace.
It can happen. Maybe next year.
Mile 26 9:15 Finally... the finish line.. what a great home stretch. I saw the clock and picked it up to squeeze in under the 3:30 mark, if only by a couple of seconds.

So that was it.. Marathon number four. The fastest yet, but not a time I am

A day for running..

or so I thought. ACL is coming up this weekend and that pretty much means three back to back twelve hour work days, and not much time for running.. So today, Thursday, the calm before the festival, I was going to take the day off from work and have a nice long run. A day for running I thought. I was just going to run.... 10 miles or 15 or even more.. just lace up and go. maybe south, maybe north, maybe just around the trail. I got up late (that a relative term.. 8:00am) stumble to Runtex by 9:00, and just as I'm parking, I get a phone call from work. I know better than to answer. Ann Richards has passed away they tell me and you have to come in to do some kind of video.... Chit!!! I wasn't going in without at least a short run....So I click off an easy seven around town lake and, kinda frustrated, I go in to work... The whole time thinking about the long run I wanted to get in today. Hours pass, a video finally comes together and by 6:00pm I'm back on the trail, this time blazing around the four mile loop with a fellow Gazelle, then back to Mile marker zero for an easy couple of miles with Ashley and her dog Bey. So even though I didn't get my 'day for running' I did clock in a sporadic thirteen miles or so, some of it fast, some slow..but regardless I was out there. and I ran, and it felt good. The miles come really easy these days, recovery is quick, and the mental urges to stop or slow down, that have plagued me for so long, don't seem to be so strong anymore. I think the training is finally starting to pay off and Chicago is just around the corner !!

A Cool Seven.

A bit on the early side for me but the cool temps and good company made it worth it. Liliana, Ashley, and I ran the seven mile loop, in the opposite direction that I am accustomed to. I think it's a little longer that way. We finished so early that I went back home to sleep and when I got up the second time it felt like the morning run was the day before.

Live long and Prosper...

Isn't that Dr. Spock's famous quote. I think I saw him on the trail today. Pointy ears, thick brows, kinda stern,freshly dyed jet black hair.. that's the guy right. I'm not a Trekie so I'm can't be too sure, but he looked really funny in skimpy running shorts and tank top.. Anyway, today's run was a leisurely seven, eightish pace for the first couple of miles. 7:30's the rest of the way. I was hoping that the ominous clouds coming in from the West would reach downtown before I finished my run, but they just dissipated and left a giant rainbow just east of Downtown.

pushing the envelope.

We did a new route today for the sparkler run. A mini homage to the 2007 marathon. Thanks Google Maps. It's so easy to plan good runs with that thing. As usual we started at the Springs.. from there we took the trail clockwise to Congress Ave..then headed south on Congress to W. Annie. Mile two of the new marathon course. Seems like the brief downhill on Congress followed by a good uphill in the first two miles of the marathon really set the tone for the remainder of the course. It's gonna be tough. So by the time we reach Congress we were picking up the tempo and climbing pretty hard. Turning onto West Annie I was expecting a little break but that's a climb too. Maybe not so much as Congress, but after the first climb it was tough. Finishing that short stretch, we turned onto Bouldin heading North where we roll downhill all the way back to town lake. Then it's a quick mile or so back to the springs. Fletcher kept the pace 'brisk' and on the many occasions that I felt like getting off the gas he'd talk me through it. Each time I'd surprise myself by maintaining the solid pace, working through the urge to slow down and keeping good form in the process. I am taking great liberties here with the term 'good form'. The whole run was a huge confidence booster for me. I kept a strong pace, ignored the little voices in my head, and finished with plenty of gas in the tank. And all of this after a great 22 miler just two days before. Thanks Fletcher.

Job -vs- Running

I'm usually blessed with a job schedule that allows me an early morning or late afternoon run. Unfortunately UT football and Sept. 11 retrospectives at work have taken a front seat to running over the past few days. I'll complain a little but I know it's for the best. Last week I dropped my mileage substantially to take care of what may have been shin splints or a stress fracture. I didn't have it checked out but based on the high mileage and what everyone was saying it made perfect sense. So 40 ish miles last week helped tremendously.. this week I was hoping to get back up into the 60s, but UT football has thankfully kept me a little short of that lofty but not so intelligent goal. Wed. was an easy seven. Thursday a slacker like five.
I'll take Friday off and try to have a strong 22 Saturday. which should put me right over fifty for the week. Plenty considering how I felt just a two weeks ago. I've still got plenty of time for a couple of high mileage weeks before starting to taper for Chicago.

Recovery Run? Says who ?

Two things to I learned from today's run.

1. I am faster than I think I am.
It was an awesome run for me today. I originally wanted to go out for an easy ten, maybe finishing with part of the bouldin route at the end. I happened to show up at 5:30 as the Gazelles were leaving for Austin High. Fletcher and Rudy were both thinking about swapping the circuit workout for a easy recovery run.. I pitched the route I was thinking about and they liked it so we set off for an easy ten, 8 ish pace is what Fletcher said. Yeah right!! this bring me to point two.

2. Don't let your big mouth write checks that your legs can't cash.
That's exactly what I did. What an idiot I am! Talking trash with Rudy and Fletcher.. with nobody else around. That's like waving a loaded gun around. I can't remember all the details but I know the first mile was a sub 7, and the rest weren't much slower. Ouch! Somehow I managed to keep up with these guys. The cool crisp air is the only thing that saved my butt today. It felt great to run so strong for so long. Pushing hard through the hills, never letting them get too far ahead, and finally at the end, a nice kick to swallow up the 40 or so yards that they had on me. Awesome Awesome.. Thanks guys for a great run.. A real confidence booster.

a Cannonball Run..

Ahh Monday mornings.. I think I've always got some kind of disclaimer in my head for the impending doom that I'm convinced will eventually come on one of these Monday mini bomb runs. Today, it was all the Gazpacho that I had last night. Lots and lots of it. Much more than any one human should consume in a 24hours period. Ahh Gazpacho, anyway.. Stumbling to the springs this morning and seeing the speedy trio of Paul and Floyd and Fletcher convinced me that today might just be that day. The scene was playing itself out in my head as we ran towards mopac. We'd run an 'easy' three miles that would leave me totally spent, then trying to climb Bouldin the Gazpacho would start to flow.. first in little garlicy burps gently reminding me of last night's dinner, then creamy little geysers in the back of my throat, and finally, huddled over at the top of Bouldin Creek Rd, I'd spew bright red soup out of my nose and mouth like a giant tomato slurpee dispenser. Those were the images playing out in my head... but the legs.. the legs were loose.. feeling good, and never once did they complain. I'm not sure what the pace was but I know we picked it up a bit as we reached Bouldin. I stayed with Paul who was taking it easy, Fletcher and Floyd were just ahead of us, slowly increasing the gap. Dave V. and Pat behind us. Before I knew it we were heading down Robert E. Lee towards the finish line and a cold dip in the springs. Total distance was just over seven. A little shorter than the last time we did this run. Afterwards I felt great... Almost like I hadn't run. My only complaint was that I didn't push harder at any point in the run. This is supposed to be speed work for me.. Hard training.. Pushing some kind of internal envelope.. What the shit am I doing taking it easy. I didn't breathe heavy once today. I should feel totally spent right now as I write this, not contemplating a second run for the day. Maybe I'll wait until tomorrow and do a long one.. in the rain!

No thanks Grove..

I'm always excited about Saturday's long runs... Good pals, good times, But this week was the Grove route, I've never been a big fan. Grove always seems to leave my legs hurting alot more than they should for a 14 miler.. It must be all the cement. So leaving Runtex to the trail, the pack of Gazelles went right and a handful of us went left. Opting instead for a repeat of last week's Exposition and Speedway route. It was four in all, Kenny H., Ashley G, and Michael S. Michael left his legs at the Fila relays from the night before so was dragging a little, Kenny pushed a good pace early, and although it was a bit steamy at the beginning we got a little shower as we approached Shoal Creek. Midway into the run my legs were feeling pretty good so I thought I'd test them a bit. So coming south on Speedway I turned it on and leaving the gang behind I managed to keep my splits negative all the way back to Runtex. I think it was roughly 14 miles in all with some sub sevens at the end. Not as long as I should have run, but it was a good strong run. Taking it easy this week really helped with the mysterious pains plaguing my leg and helped more than I realized with some mental exhaustion that I didn't even realize was setting in. Final mileage for the week was in the mid-40s. Too low with Chicago just around the corner... but I'm so glad that I took it easy. Next week I'm building back up to some crazy miles. Hope the leg can keep up..

Thursday Fartleks

Ran a good Fartlek today. Started a little fast and erratic. But after the first couple of fast rounds the sporadic pace college guy left and Sarah and I settled into a good consistent pace. Ended up doing a full nine two minute speed intervals, the last six of which were steady and controlled running strong, good form, and controlled breathing. At mile six I detoured to the spillover at the springs for a quick dip, then a brisk run back to mile zero. Skipping the two-a-days and more ice has really helped the leg. Maybe it's all the time I've been spending in the springs. Next week I'll pick it up back to some serious miles concentrating on form and a little extra speed.