Running in Seattle last week
Thurs 7/12: 25 min. just to move my tired body after traveling 5+ hours.
Fri 7/13: 4.2 miles - from hotel through Capitol Hill nieghborhood. Hilly
Sat 7/14: 5 miles - from hotel through Queen Anne neighborhood and waterfront area
Sun 7/15: 6 miles - best run of the weekend; from hotel to over near Lake Union and onto University of Washington.
Awesome weather all days. 70-80 degrees, sunny and gorgeous
Friday, July 20, 2007
Friday, July 13, 2007
Venturing into the Unknown
"Don't ever accept anyone else's preconceived limitations. If there's
something you want to do, there isn't any reason you can't do it."
Amy Dodson, running amputee
I'm in. Holy Cow. I have no idea if i can do it.
But, of course, that is what my life is about...the trying, the effort, the risk.
I will give everything.
JFK 50 Miler
something you want to do, there isn't any reason you can't do it."
Amy Dodson, running amputee
I'm in. Holy Cow. I have no idea if i can do it.
But, of course, that is what my life is about...the trying, the effort, the risk.
I will give everything.
JFK 50 Miler
Monday, July 9, 2007
latest runs, etc..
Saturday: 27:15, 3 miler with buddy S.L.
felt good. started at 7:30 to avoid major humidity. got up and down some hills and flats.
Sunday: 51:16, 5.21 miles solo
another early start at 7:30. this time, it was a heavy rain for about the first 2.5 miles; it turned into a drizzle and then ceased altogether. how refreshing to be out in te pouring rain. it felt good. i had a cap on, but my glasses still got messed up. oh well.
what geek goes out at 7:30 on a sunday morning and deliberately runs in the rain? i do. and the rest...you know who you are!!
on a more of a bummer note: about 1 month ago, i purchased these cool-ass New Balance shorts for 40 bucks. They are soo cool and i just loved them. Well, I've lost them. LOST!! I think i left them in my hotel in Panama City Beach a couple of weeks ago. DAMN!!!
felt good. started at 7:30 to avoid major humidity. got up and down some hills and flats.
Sunday: 51:16, 5.21 miles solo
another early start at 7:30. this time, it was a heavy rain for about the first 2.5 miles; it turned into a drizzle and then ceased altogether. how refreshing to be out in te pouring rain. it felt good. i had a cap on, but my glasses still got messed up. oh well.
what geek goes out at 7:30 on a sunday morning and deliberately runs in the rain? i do. and the rest...you know who you are!!
on a more of a bummer note: about 1 month ago, i purchased these cool-ass New Balance shorts for 40 bucks. They are soo cool and i just loved them. Well, I've lost them. LOST!! I think i left them in my hotel in Panama City Beach a couple of weeks ago. DAMN!!!
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Peachtree #6
I ran my 6th Peachtree today. The first one in 1998 was definitely the best because everything was new and unfamiliar. Now, as a "veteran" of this famed race, I know what to expect and not to expect. Expect to be crowded for first mile. Expect hot/humid conditions. Expect to not post anything near a PR. Expect to struggle. Expect to hear a myriad of bands and see thousands of spectators.
As mentioned in earlier posts, i have not run this race for last 2 years and I think the absence made me more excited for the day. Maybe it's that whole things..."absence makes the heart grow fonder". I was really excited for the race and as such did not sleep well at all last nice. Excitement sure has a way of turning into anxiety. Sheesh...
Oh well. I calmed down enough by start time and son enough, my group was off and running. I had definitely expected it to be very tight at the start, but somehow it wasn't. I had room to get my stride going early on, which was a pleasant surprise. I felt naked without my water bottle and ipod, but i needed neither today. Funny how i felt so weird without both of them. I either have one or both of them with me on every run, so i definitely noticed it. Had I not had my Garmin Forerunner on, I would have REALLY felt weird. I digress.
Saw my buddy, S., right after i started. Great to see a friendly face. First mile was about 8:15. Too fast, i thought. By 2 miles, I was at 17 min. Still a little fast. I didn't want to crash after the hills. Between 2-3 miles, I saw 3 different folks from work which was also very nice. 2 of them, i expected to see, but the other was a bonus. Great!! Mile 3 was 26 minutes total.
I felt fine. Felt like i had a good pace and nothing was giving me any trouble. I was taking in enough H2O and about 4.5 miles, I sucked down my vanilla GU. At about 3.5 miles, I was sort of targeting an under 57 minute finish. By mile 4 with a 35 minute time, I knew i was gonna have to start pushing soon to be sure I was under 57 minutes. Miles 4-6 are very deceiving...they are a steady and long uphill to the corner of Peachtree and 10th. I figured if i could just stay solid and pick it up a little until then, i could make my that final push down 10th street for approx 1/2 mile.
What I want to say here is that i felt solid. I felt strong. I felt like i was having a good race and I was very happy inside. This race has kicked my ass in the past and really humbled me and today, i just felt like I was better/stronger. So.
I made the left hand turn onto 10th street and pushed past some folks until my feet crossed the finish line and crossed over the rubber mat recording my chip time.
Peachtree #6 = 55:26
This was not my best time for this race. In 2003, I ran 54:09. But, today i felt better and enjoyed it more.
Hope to have soome photos to share soon!!
As mentioned in earlier posts, i have not run this race for last 2 years and I think the absence made me more excited for the day. Maybe it's that whole things..."absence makes the heart grow fonder". I was really excited for the race and as such did not sleep well at all last nice. Excitement sure has a way of turning into anxiety. Sheesh...
Oh well. I calmed down enough by start time and son enough, my group was off and running. I had definitely expected it to be very tight at the start, but somehow it wasn't. I had room to get my stride going early on, which was a pleasant surprise. I felt naked without my water bottle and ipod, but i needed neither today. Funny how i felt so weird without both of them. I either have one or both of them with me on every run, so i definitely noticed it. Had I not had my Garmin Forerunner on, I would have REALLY felt weird. I digress.
Saw my buddy, S., right after i started. Great to see a friendly face. First mile was about 8:15. Too fast, i thought. By 2 miles, I was at 17 min. Still a little fast. I didn't want to crash after the hills. Between 2-3 miles, I saw 3 different folks from work which was also very nice. 2 of them, i expected to see, but the other was a bonus. Great!! Mile 3 was 26 minutes total.
I felt fine. Felt like i had a good pace and nothing was giving me any trouble. I was taking in enough H2O and about 4.5 miles, I sucked down my vanilla GU. At about 3.5 miles, I was sort of targeting an under 57 minute finish. By mile 4 with a 35 minute time, I knew i was gonna have to start pushing soon to be sure I was under 57 minutes. Miles 4-6 are very deceiving...they are a steady and long uphill to the corner of Peachtree and 10th. I figured if i could just stay solid and pick it up a little until then, i could make my that final push down 10th street for approx 1/2 mile.
What I want to say here is that i felt solid. I felt strong. I felt like i was having a good race and I was very happy inside. This race has kicked my ass in the past and really humbled me and today, i just felt like I was better/stronger. So.
I made the left hand turn onto 10th street and pushed past some folks until my feet crossed the finish line and crossed over the rubber mat recording my chip time.
Peachtree #6 = 55:26
This was not my best time for this race. In 2003, I ran 54:09. But, today i felt better and enjoyed it more.
Hope to have soome photos to share soon!!
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Pre-Race Notes
The last time I ran Peachtree was in 2004. A tough race that day. A tough year that year. I skipped 2005 race just because. I decided I would be a spectator that year and made my way to the finish line just as the elite were coming through. WOW. How fast there their legs were turning over. Amazing. It was great fun spectating, but I truly felt i was missing out on something.
2006 rolled around and I got my application in on time and everything, but I did not get in. No number! So, I went out of town to Denver.
2007, I got my stuff in and about a month ago, the wonderfully large envelope from The Atlanta Track Club came in the mail. YIPPEE. I was in!! If you submit a previous 10k time of 55:00 or better from a legitimate race, you can turn documentation in to get seeded near the front. I was able to do this and got placed in time group 1b. Here is the breakdown of the groups.
Seeded/Subseeded
Time Group 1a
Time Group 1b -- me. yeah!!
Everyone else
The first year I ran peachtree, I was number 55,???. When you are that far back, the winner is done before you even cross start line. That is how many people are out!!!
Tomorrow, I will be # 16637.
Weather looks to be cool. Should be about 70 degrees by race start 7:30am EST. about 75% humidity. It has been very overcast today and I would not mind at all that continuing until late tomorrow.
What's neat is that so many people in my office know I am a runner. Even people I never speak with. So, when a race like this comes along, people walk by and ask if I am running. It's neat. I like that. I think there are only about 3 other folks from the office running tomorrow. I wish them a great and fun race.
I am looking forward to it. The excitement is brewing. I am looking forward to rising early, in the darkness, making coffee and eating a bar and sitting quietly with my patio door open. I will listen to the quiet morning and watch the day awaken.
And then soon enough, it will be race time. game time. party time.
Cheers.
2006 rolled around and I got my application in on time and everything, but I did not get in. No number! So, I went out of town to Denver.
2007, I got my stuff in and about a month ago, the wonderfully large envelope from The Atlanta Track Club came in the mail. YIPPEE. I was in!! If you submit a previous 10k time of 55:00 or better from a legitimate race, you can turn documentation in to get seeded near the front. I was able to do this and got placed in time group 1b. Here is the breakdown of the groups.
Seeded/Subseeded
Time Group 1a
Time Group 1b -- me. yeah!!
Everyone else
The first year I ran peachtree, I was number 55,???. When you are that far back, the winner is done before you even cross start line. That is how many people are out!!!
Tomorrow, I will be # 16637.
Weather looks to be cool. Should be about 70 degrees by race start 7:30am EST. about 75% humidity. It has been very overcast today and I would not mind at all that continuing until late tomorrow.
What's neat is that so many people in my office know I am a runner. Even people I never speak with. So, when a race like this comes along, people walk by and ask if I am running. It's neat. I like that. I think there are only about 3 other folks from the office running tomorrow. I wish them a great and fun race.
I am looking forward to it. The excitement is brewing. I am looking forward to rising early, in the darkness, making coffee and eating a bar and sitting quietly with my patio door open. I will listen to the quiet morning and watch the day awaken.
And then soon enough, it will be race time. game time. party time.
Cheers.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Saturday ritual
“Happiness is different from pleasure. Happiness has something to do with struggling and enduring and accomplishing.”
-George Sheehan
The weekend prior to any 4th of july peachtree race is one in which runners get out on Peachtree Road and practice the course.
This humid morning, my pal S. & I headed out and did our part as well. We parked one vehicle near the end and the other at my office building across from the start.
The race organizers have already begun the logistical preparations even though race day is still 5 days away. Lenox Mall area has tons of port-a-potties already there; makeshift fences have already been put up in place around the starting line which extends about 1/2 mile or so. We are getting ready...gettin' ready!! YEAH!!
S. & I headed out and passed many folks running in opposite direction, which is typical. I noticed right away how heavy my legs felt. I wasn't quite awake yet..having only woken an hour prior to running time. I was pooped this morning and would have loved to have slept in more, but I decided to forgo sleep for cooler temps! It was 80 degrees when we began at 8am and very humid.
I figured there were some folks doing some marathon training and as we passed each other ... runners and walkers, i said "good morning" and cheered them on. I noticed the whole scene gave me a boost! There were volunteers out from Atlanta Track Club giving out water and at the main big hill of the course(I think it might be called CARDIAC HILL, there were volunteers handing out little towels that had Piedmont Hospital logos on them. Consequently, Piedmont Hospital is at top of hill, so, you know if you are feeling ill effects on race day, you can just go on in....
I gathered steam as we got up and over the hill and was able to cruise to just past the mile 5 marker feeling o.k. I decided to stop there and save a bit. I will probably get in a run tomorrow...maybe even some of the course again...just for the camaraderie alone!!
5.1 miles
48:19
-George Sheehan
The weekend prior to any 4th of july peachtree race is one in which runners get out on Peachtree Road and practice the course.
This humid morning, my pal S. & I headed out and did our part as well. We parked one vehicle near the end and the other at my office building across from the start.
The race organizers have already begun the logistical preparations even though race day is still 5 days away. Lenox Mall area has tons of port-a-potties already there; makeshift fences have already been put up in place around the starting line which extends about 1/2 mile or so. We are getting ready...gettin' ready!! YEAH!!
S. & I headed out and passed many folks running in opposite direction, which is typical. I noticed right away how heavy my legs felt. I wasn't quite awake yet..having only woken an hour prior to running time. I was pooped this morning and would have loved to have slept in more, but I decided to forgo sleep for cooler temps! It was 80 degrees when we began at 8am and very humid.
I figured there were some folks doing some marathon training and as we passed each other ... runners and walkers, i said "good morning" and cheered them on. I noticed the whole scene gave me a boost! There were volunteers out from Atlanta Track Club giving out water and at the main big hill of the course(I think it might be called CARDIAC HILL, there were volunteers handing out little towels that had Piedmont Hospital logos on them. Consequently, Piedmont Hospital is at top of hill, so, you know if you are feeling ill effects on race day, you can just go on in....
I gathered steam as we got up and over the hill and was able to cruise to just past the mile 5 marker feeling o.k. I decided to stop there and save a bit. I will probably get in a run tomorrow...maybe even some of the course again...just for the camaraderie alone!!
5.1 miles
48:19
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Peachtree #4
After running Peachtree Road Race as a resident of GA in 2000 & 2001, I had to fly into town again as a visitor in 2003 for my 4th go at this race.
Below is an excerpt from my jounal entry on June 29, 2003. I was in San Francisco at Peets Coffee.
“driving here, i thought about race day morning on Friday, the 4th. I will rise early, have coffee and a bit of breakfast. It will be an early rising on another race day of my life. I don’t even know how to put into words what that means to me...the early rising, the preparation, the morning reflection, the anticipation of what lies ahead. I’m guessing it will take me between 54-57 minutes, but the experience, of course, goes well beyond those minutes. The preparation began long ago and this will be my 4th Peachtree.”
I flew into town on July 2nd and was able to stay with friends i knew. It was my first trip back to Atlanta since i had moved away. I’ll never forget getting into town in the wee hours of my red-eye flight and picking up my rental car. The darkness surrounded me and as I drove into the city, I saw all the downtown buildings greet me. Soon, the dawn would come...
Here is another excerpt from race day morning, July 4th 2003
“Peachtree Morning! I’m awake and ready. I’m having a perfect morning after a very hot sleep - interrupted by this very hot weather. I sit in the loft, having a fabulous cup of coffee, listening to great music - in the morning darkness that sits outside..that rests outside...that will soon slowly awaken. So, here I am on the morning of another Peachtree, awaiting another challenge of this life and today, it is this course that i cannot stay away from. This course that challenges me, begs me to keep trying, to give my all ... through the travel, the heat, the humidity. “C’MON” it says, “GIVE IT. GIVE IT ALL. Don’t leave anything today. Walk away exhausted, spent, dripping in sweat, blood, effort.”
Today - again - another chance to be my own Hero
Thank you God for another opportunity.
Here I go -----
#4 Peachtree Finish Time = 54:09
more to follow...
Below is an excerpt from my jounal entry on June 29, 2003. I was in San Francisco at Peets Coffee.
“driving here, i thought about race day morning on Friday, the 4th. I will rise early, have coffee and a bit of breakfast. It will be an early rising on another race day of my life. I don’t even know how to put into words what that means to me...the early rising, the preparation, the morning reflection, the anticipation of what lies ahead. I’m guessing it will take me between 54-57 minutes, but the experience, of course, goes well beyond those minutes. The preparation began long ago and this will be my 4th Peachtree.”
I flew into town on July 2nd and was able to stay with friends i knew. It was my first trip back to Atlanta since i had moved away. I’ll never forget getting into town in the wee hours of my red-eye flight and picking up my rental car. The darkness surrounded me and as I drove into the city, I saw all the downtown buildings greet me. Soon, the dawn would come...
Here is another excerpt from race day morning, July 4th 2003
“Peachtree Morning! I’m awake and ready. I’m having a perfect morning after a very hot sleep - interrupted by this very hot weather. I sit in the loft, having a fabulous cup of coffee, listening to great music - in the morning darkness that sits outside..that rests outside...that will soon slowly awaken. So, here I am on the morning of another Peachtree, awaiting another challenge of this life and today, it is this course that i cannot stay away from. This course that challenges me, begs me to keep trying, to give my all ... through the travel, the heat, the humidity. “C’MON” it says, “GIVE IT. GIVE IT ALL. Don’t leave anything today. Walk away exhausted, spent, dripping in sweat, blood, effort.”
Today - again - another chance to be my own Hero
Thank you God for another opportunity.
Here I go -----
#4 Peachtree Finish Time = 54:09
more to follow...
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