Race day report

Part I - Pre-race

Looking out of my 11th floor hotel window, I see quiet downtown streets. A stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of yesterday’s activity. I look up to the sky and see nothing but blue. Not a cloud in sight from my viewpoint. Race doesn’t start until 10am. At that time yesterday, it was already pretty warm and a bit humid. Not sure of the temps at current time, but I know it is suppossed to be another hot day here in Philly. Thankfully, the race is in a park, so I am hoping for some heat relief from Mother Nature.

This will not be a race for time. This will simply be an adventure. I have no knowledge of the course. I have not been training all that hard, for various reasons. What I am looking forward to is the experience, a new race in a new city. And a TRAIL RACE! The have only done 2 other trail races; The famed Dipsea Race (3 times) and the Woodminster Cross Country Race 9 miler (once), both in the BAY AREA. Both of those are incredibly demanding and challenging. NOT for the weak of heart or strength or will.
I’m about to chow down a CLIF Bar, grab a taxi and head on out....

Part II - Getting to the Start

Using my printed directions, I reluctantly got into the taxi with the driver who really didn’t seem to know where we were going. I was going to have to help him a lot. What is it with cab drivers. Last week in Chicago, we had trouble there too? I thought cabbies were suppossed to know WHERE places were....
30 minutes and $30 bucks later, I finally get to the race start. Race directions were not the greatest & I had to help cabbie find all the streets.

Part III - The Race

The Wissahickon Trail Race was held in the northwest area of Fairmount Park
An incredibly beautiful, lush park. As mentioned, race didn’t begin until 10am, so after arriving at 9:15, I had plenty of time to register, drink H2O & hit the bathroom. Soon enough, the crowd had grown and it seemed like everyone was excited. It also seemed like there were a lot of younger runners out; early 20’s.
Total # of runners was 499. A good, small, dedicated group.
oh, yeah. The weather. It was pretty hot and very humid at the start.
After a simple, “Get Ready, Set, Go” from the race director, we were off and running. The trail was very wide for the first mile or so. Then, the hills came and the single track adorned with rocks, branches, stumps...any and everything that could possible cause one to trip.
The climbs were significant and by 2 miles, I was sucking wind pretty badly. Too bad there wasn’t any wind to actually suck since it was so damn humid. Yes, I do live in Atlanta where it is also very humid, but we have not yet had this kind of weather. So.
The down hills were significant and tricky and had to be carefully maneuvered. I tried to catch up on my time, but little progress was made. Trail running is so different in that you don’t ever really get into a groove; with the constant terrain changes, your body is alwasys adjusting and such. But, of course, this is part of the fun too.
On every steep uphill, there was just a single file line of us walking, panting, and some cursing beautiful mother nature. My quads were on fire. Heavy. Heavy. Heavy!! UUGGGHHHH. My head also felt like it was gonna burst because I felt so freaking hot. I cannot recall the last time I ever felt so out of breath for such an extended period of time. WOW.
Amidst all of this, I tried to just really take it all in...this was not a race for time or anything for me; I knew that weeks ago. Nevertheless, it’s a much harder thing to accept when in the competition, in the battle. And, I think any true competitor knows that. At 5.5 miles, a course marshall pointed us to the left and said, “downhill from here. you are almost there.”
Yeah! I did my best to scamper down and finish the last .2 miles with a sprint.

Finish time = 1:14
Slowest 10k ever
First Ever 10k trail race.

I thought of a quote while running that I’d like to share at this point.

“The difference between a jogger and a runner is an entry blank.”

George Sheehan

Every time out take courage, not matter who you are, no matter what level of fitness. And I give a shout out to all of those who competed yesterday. It was far from easy.

Here is the only photo I have -- not great, but a small piece of evidence I was there.

A Place to Breathe

I ran my first two marathons in Chicago in 2000 & 2001. I relished the flatland, the cool October temperatures and the stunning architecture.

This weekend, I made my fifth trip to Chicago. While, I have not run 26.2 miles during this stint, I have been been delighted to able to run in a city so beautiful, so open in it’s wide, welcoming streets, and so nourished by the surrounding water.

Yesterday early morning, my travel buddy and I headed out the door after a long night of drinks and laughter. I had 4 more drinks than my usual 1 and I was feeling it as we took our first steps out of our hotel lobby. Immediately, my buddy pushed the pace. She has always been quicker than I, but somehow I had forgotten what her pace feels like. FAST. I may be the one to endure longer, but she is the speedster.

We took a straight route on State St and headed what we thought was in the direction of the Lake. The wide street was active with lots of folks already out and about. We navigated our way through walkers and bits of contruction. I noticed it felt good to move fast and to keep moving fast. My leg turnover much more fast than usual, my heart thumping more loudly, and my legs burning a bit more than usual. We came to a place where we just turned around and headed back so we could pick up another friend along the way who had been walking. A perefect morning workout in the Windy City that was not so windy, just a bit drizzly.

time: 26:45
mileage: best guess = 3.2-3.4 miles

While at dinner with old and new friends Saturday night, I mentioned to one new friend, I may or may not run on Sunday. My body had been fatigued for some time and I had not felt physically very good at the moment. But, after only 1 drink and a much needed good nights sleep, I was woke and 7am and was ready to go. After coffee, banana and some H20, I soon headed out for a solo run on a quiet and sparsely populated Sunday morning. It was wonderful to see the blue skies emerge after 2 days of overcast and intermittent drizzle and rain. The air felt clean and the day felt bright and promising. After going to bed and not feeling very good physically and emotionally, the Chicago roads were one again my salvation, my church, my friends. I zigzagged my way across Michigan Avenue and down to Lakeshore Drive. A few more steps and I was running on the path with the lake on my right and the myriad of downtown buildings to my left. As I looked ahead and over to the massive body if water, I felt gratitude; gratitude for it’s size, it’s massive capacity to hold me, my emotions. I felt I could breathe deep and exhale big. I was thrilled to see others like me out there...the fellow runners, the cyclists, dog walkers & ...all those engaging in the simple activity of movement.





Give me shorts, shoes, & a t-shirt and I am happy and home.

Thank you, Chicago.

Thank you.

time = 45:00
miles = best guess, 4.7-4.8

Not the best week for me with my trainings. Slammed & stressed with job-related things. Nevertheless, here is what went down recently

Tuesday:
Treadmill
2x400 @ 8:00/pace
2x400 @ 7:53/pace
2x400 @ 7:47/pace

Friday:
32:00 run

saturday:
40:10 run

During each run, my legs felt tired. I think it’s all just an accumulation of the stress in my body. However, I was still glad to get out there and put some time in. I’m gonna stay of the bike for now as I get ready for the upcoming 10k in Philly.

On a Legend...

Bill Bowerman was, and is, and ever shall be a generous, ornery, profane, beatific, unyielding, antic, impenetrably complex Oregon original. As a freshman, I found him deeply disturbing. Once he bet me a case of Nutrament that I couldn't break 2.00 for the 880 on a freezing Saturday morning. I ran with control, hitting the 440 in 60. I could feel myself accelerating in the last lap. Near the finish I knew I'd done it. I slowed and turned, gasping to hear the time. "2.00,3" he said. "Good try." I leaped on him, screaming made insane with outrage. He allowed me to wrestle the watch away from him. It read 1.56,6.


-Kenny Moore



I absolutely love this. You can read more in "Bowerman and the men of Oregon" by Kenny Moore. A very good read.

catching up and then some...

"The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That's real glory. That's the essence of it."-Vince Lombardi

Mon:
26:00 - run, hills (on street shaped like a U)

Wed:
27:00 run - alpharetta greenway trail

36:33 - bike ride

Fri:
20:35 - run - (just to loosen up after being so freaking stressed @work)

Sat:
31:40 - 8.3 mile bike ride w/ hills
20:00 - basketball - non-stop dribbling & shooting

If you don't think playing basketball for this amount of time is a work-out, try it! It was also 80 degrees & humid.

I really enjoyed shooting hoops. I was working hard, but it was also very much PLAY for me. Especially after watching the Golden State Warriors last night. In my head, i thought, "there's Funtanilla..2 seconds left, fall away jumper..SCORE!"
It's great to be inspired!

Good short workouts these past days. Some more quality than others. But, I continue to like mixing it up. Tomorrow, I hope to get in longish run.

Next Race

My plans are in order. Flight is booked to Philadelphia for this race:

Wissahickontrailclassic

And while I am there, I will also get to see my favorite baseball team, SF Giants, battle the Philadelphia Phillies. BONUS!!

I will most likely also do the ROCKY run up the famous steps. How can I pass that up?

mixing it up

I'm continuing to mix up the training and still feeling good about it. However, I did not get in as much training as I would have liked this weekend. I guess i have to just acknowledge my body got some rest.

Here's the weeek in review:

Tuesday:

2 x 800 @ 8:00 pace/treadmill

4 x 400
(1st = 7:53 pace)
(2nd = 7:47 pace)
(3rd = 7:47 pace)
(4th = 7:41 pace)

weights

a good fast workout at gym! I'm getting better!
_______________________________________________

Thursday:

30:04 run through neighborhood. Not much exciting about this.

_______________________________________________

Sunday:

13 mile bike ride; 57:12

[Very hilly course! The hills were pretty brutal and mostly unexpected as I rode in unfamiliar territory. Felt very pleased though when it was done. A nice mix from last week which was all flat.]

19:02 - run

_______________________________________________

Like i mentioned, i would have liked to have gotten in much more, but at least my body got some time off. Now, I hope to get more in this week. Weather has been very nice, for the most part. Not too warm and very little humidity.

I am seriously thinking of traveling to Philadelphia first weekend in June for a 10k trail run. See the link at right. Looks fun!!

Train Hard, Train Strong