Three Days Off is Enough

Normally after running a marathon, I take a good five to seven days off to refresh and recooperate my mind and body, but after taking three days off since the race, I felt like my legs and mind were where they needed to be and I just had that itch to get outside and get in a little run. So after sleeping in a bit this morning, I strapped on the shoes and headed out for a leisurely five mile run. Although it was a little warm out this morning, it was overcast enough where it was very comfortable running. I was pleasantly surprised with how my legs responded to my first run since Grandma's. They were a touch achy but nothing like the soreness I had after taking five days off after the Napa Valley Marathon in March. That run was sheer torture. Today's, though, was very relaxed and after a warm up opening mile I fell into a nice rhythm and gait. Today's run was a good sign that my legs are getting a lot stronger and recovering a lot quicker than they used to. Hopefully that means that I have a lot of good running days ahead of me.

Today's workout: 5.1 miles > 39:11 > 7:41 pace

Miles this week: 5.1

There Are No Guarantees

In my post of last Wednesday, I wrote of how I was going into Grandma's Marathon with a different mindset... one of that I expected to qualify for Boston, not just hope to. I wrote of how my training had been so good and how all signs pointed toward me running a 3 hour and 15 minute marathon or better. Well, as this past weekend proved to me yet again, there are no guarantees in life. It's always good to go into a race with confidence, but marathons, being the cruel mistress' that they are, can at any given time take you down a notch or two and humble you in a heartbeat. Don't get me wrong... I ran a good race this past Saturday but it wasn't the outcome I had expected. The morning of the race started out with a bus ride out to the start in Two Harbors, MN. It was a nice bus ride out there but I was definitely getting antsy thinking about the race. The weather at the start of the race was pretty decent. It was sunny and clear (and too sunny for my taste) and the temp was about 59 degrees. There were just a ton of runners (close to 9,000) at the start so it was a pretty weird feeling being packed in there with so many people. The last time I had dealt with a throng like that was 2005 when I was at the starting gate with 20,000 other runners. When the gun sounded to start the race, there was a bit of a wait to get moving, but not soon after I was able to get my first few steps under me. The good thing about starting with 9,000 other runners is that you run a very controlled first mile... you really have no choice in the matter. The pace is pretty much dictated by the runners in front of you. That was ok with me, though. Too many times runners start off a race sprinting like their hair is on fire. To me that is not the smartest of strategies... especially when you've got 26 miles to run. My first mile clocked in at 7:24 and I was very happy with that. It felt very controlled, comfortable and relaxed. From there I just put the body on cruise control and enjoyed the beginning of the race. At about the 10 mile mark, I ran by a fairly famous spectator cheering on the runners... Al Franken, the former Saturday Night Live cast member, was out there hootin' and hollerin' and encouraging the runners as they went by. Al was out there trying to curry the favor of all the Minnesota runners since he running for a state senate seat. First Jesse Ventura, now Al Franken... pretty funny. Gotta give him credit, though. At least he was out there cheering everyone on. I went through the halfway point well on pace to qualify for Boston. I hit the 13.1 mile mark at 1:35:02, well below the 3 hour and 15 minute mark I needed. I was actually on 3:10 pace and feeling pretty strong. Miles 13 through 18 were a challenge for me though. My pace really didn't diminish, but mentally I was a little worn out because the open roads I was running on had very little to offer as far shaded relief went. It wasn't super hot out, but when the sun is beating down on the pavement of an open road, it can really take your toll on you. When I hit mile 18, the race got into more of a residential area so there was a bit of a respite for me but by that time I was starting to feel a tad worn out, especially with the head wind that had kicked up and slowed me down a bit. I was able to hold on to my pace though and went through the 20 mile mark at 2:25:17, still on pace to run a 3:10 marathon. I should have been feeling good knowing that I had 50 minute cushion to run the last 10k, but I wasn't. At the 20 mile mark, I heard the porta-potties longingly beckoning my name and I had to stop and have chat with them... a nice two minute chat... and it couldn't have waited until after the race. I felt much better my little talk with the portable toilet, but by that time, I couldn't get my legs back under me and my original pace back. The next three miles were pretty grueling. I more felt like I was walking than running and at one point, had to stop and walk for 45 seconds to get my bearings again. After that, I felt a bit rejuvinated. I don't know if it was the crowd, the finish line in sight, or it being a touch cooler, but I was able to run the final three miles with a little more pep and vigor, which is a rare thing when you had previously been feeling crappy. Despite my late surge, I could not make up the time from my two minute bathroom break and my 45 seconds of walking just past the 22 mile mark. I hit the 26 mile mark at around 3:15:40, Boston qualifying pace, but with .2 miles to go I knew my goal had gone up in smoke. I crossed the finish line at 3:17:19, one minute and twenty seconds short of reaching the time I had been expecting to run. I did finish the race in the top 4%, though. I was 317th out of 6,876 runners. Despite the high placement, I was still very disappointed... again. In March, I narrowly missed qualifying out in Napa Valley by running that marathon in 3:17:45. On Saturday In Duluth, I was 25 seconds faster, but still on the short end of the stick. As I said at the beginning, marathons are a cruel mistress and they will humble you. Despite being being humbled a bit, I remain steadfast and resilient in my quest to run under 3:15 again. I will go on with my training with even more fervor, and the next time I stand at the starting line of my next marathon, I will stand there like I did this past Saturday... not hoping, but expecting to accomplish my goal.

I want to say a special congratulations to my good friend David Dexheimer. Dave went up to Duluth with me to run Grandma's as well. This was Dave's 21st or 22nd marathon and by far his most challenging. Leading up to Grandma's, Dave was hampered with a hamstring problem and wasn't even sure on the eve of the race if he was going to run. He got on the bus the next morning, though, started the race AND finished it. Even though it was his slowest of all the marathons he has done, he said it was the most satisfying... That is the mark of a great runner.

Saturday's race: 26.2 miles > 3:17:19 > 7:30 pace

Miles last week: 40.9

High Expectations

This morning as I was out for a little five mile run, I was thinking back to 2003 as I was preparing for Quad Cities Marathon in September of that year. The Quad Cities was only my second marathon at the time, and I was going into it with the hopes of qualifying for Boston after having a somewhat disappointing first try at it a few months earlier in Green Bay. My training leading up to the Quad Cities was very stellar and I was feeling somewhat confident as my brother Pete and I drove down to Iowa on a Saturday to run in it the next day. I say somewhat confident because this again was only my second marathon and I still wasn't quite sure if I could hold a 7:15 pace for 26 miles or not. In Green Bay, I started off great and was right on pace to qualify thru 20 or 21 miles, but I hit that proverbial wall with four miles left and really "bonked" (as we marathoners like to say) and finished 8 minutes slower than I had hoped. At the end of the race I was so depleted that they had to hook me up to an I.V. bag to replenish my fluids. Despite the torturous last four miles, I was very proud of myself that I had finished my first marathon and had perservered through the mental and physical agony of the last several miles. Still, I left Green Bay with a bad taste in my mouth, knowing that I was right on the brink of qualifying in my very first try. Knowing that, I got back into training after a week long lay off, with a new purpose of succeeding the next time. I upped my training and fitness, and like I said earlier, I headed to Quad Cities somewhat confident that I was going to have a great race. I was still had some lingering doubts, though... Again, I didn't know if I could hold that 7:15 pace for 26 miles, and I was doubly afraid of hitting that wall again like I did in Green Bay. That was such an awful feeling and I really had no desire to relive that experience. God was with me that Septemeber day, though, and He didn't let me fail. The weather was nice and cool and course flat as a pancake. A little doubt crept in again at the 22 or 23 mile mark, as I headed towards the finish line in a pretty stiff head wind, but by that time I had padded my run in the earlier miles with such fast splits, it really didn't matter. I crossed the finish line at 3:06:52, averaging 7:08 per mile and surpassing the 3:10 Boston qualifier by over 3 minutes. I had exceeded all my expectations and was happy that my brother Pete and good friend David were there to share it with me. As I was reflecting back on this during my morning run today, I was thinking about how my mindset has changed since then. Back then, I was unsure, but hopeful that I could qualify for the big Boston race. Today... more specifically, Saturday... I expect to qualify for Boston again. That is a strange feeling for me. I am not of the ilk who goes through life being cocky or brash in anything I do, and the people who know me best will attest to that. This is not cockiness, though... just confidence. To me, in my mind, there is no reason why I shouldn't be able to go up to Duluth, and on Saturday morning, accomplish what I set out to do. The training I've done since March points to it... so does the races I ran in May. Now I just have to go out and do it.

Today's workout: 5.1 miles > 37:34 > 7:22 pace

Miles this week: 12.6

The Start of Marathon Week

Today marks the start of the countdown to Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, MN on Saturday, and I have to say that I am really looking forward to strapping on those orange racing shoes of mine and digging in at the starting line. Saturday's race is the culmination of a lot of hard work and training, and I am very hopeful that after I cross the finish line, I will have once again earned the right to race in one of the most prestigious marathons in the world... The Boston Marathon. To do that, I have to finish Grandma's in under 3 hours and 15 minutes. Nothing is a guarantee, but I definitely feel in my heart that my training since the middle of March has afforded me one of the best opportunities I have had to attain that goal again. Saturday's race will tell the tale.

With that, I started out Marathon Week with a nice mid-distance training run of 7.5 miles. The weather this morning was really nice and it helped the run to go pretty quickly. It was partly cloudy and cool with a fairly decent breeze blowing. Although I was in the mindset of just running relaxed and easy today, my pace gradually picked up as the run progressed and I averaged a nice 7:35 pace by the end. Will give myself a day of rest tomorrow and be back at it on Wednesday for another little run.

Today's workout: 7.5 miles > 56:49 > 7:35 pace

Miles this week: 7.5

Bad Brewer Loss... Great Nighttime Run

I was originally going to take Saturday off, but after watching the Brewers blow an extra inning loss to the stinky Twins on tv last night, I decided, what better way to blow off a little steam than to go for a late night long run. So after sticking my head out the door to check what the weather was like, I strapped on my running shoes and headed out for a run around the lake at 10:30pm. I'm so glad I did too. It was just an absolutely perfect night. The moon was out, it was clear and cool, and there was a really nice, gentle breeze blowing. When I was in my twenties, I used to do quite a few late night runs... I always liked the peace and serenity of the nighttime, plus I didn't much care for running in sun back then... I guess I would have made a good vampire;) Last night's run brought back a lot of good memories for me of when I used to run at night, and it made me realize maybe I should sprinkle in a few more here and there... especially since I felt so good, ran so effortlessly, and it was just so beautiful out. In my 14 years of living here in Madison, I had never run around the lake at night, and it was truly something to behold. With both the moon and the capitol dome reflecting its glow off the glassy mirror wake of Lake Monona, I grew to appreciate even more what a beautiful city and state I live in. Even though I finished my run at close to midnight, it was a run that I wish could have just kept on going... it was just that enjoyable, and the time just seemed to fly by as I soaked in all things I've seen in a million times before... but not at night.

Last night's workout: 11.1 miles > 1:19:56 > 7:12 pace

Miles this week: 39.4

Last Long Run Before Grandma's

When I planned out the weeks runs, I originally wasn't going to run today, but since I was overly tired yesterday morning and skipped my run, I decided to get in my last long run before next Saturday's marathon. It wasn't the most ideal of days to run, either. It was pretty warm and humid out this morning but at least there was a nice, little breeze at times. Despite the crappy temperature, I still turned in a good long run, averaging 7:25 pace for the 12 miles. It was a good way to finish up my last long run of the marathon training. Probably the most annoying part of todays run, besides the muggy weather, was that I could not hit a traffic light to save my life. Every time I approached one cars would be rushing by making it virtually impossible to cross. Usually I have pretty good luck when it comes to that, but not today... must be because it's Friday the 13th;)

Today's workout: 12.1 miles > 1:29:44 > 7:25 pace

Miles this week: 28.3

The Finish Line is in Sight

With a little over a week until Grandma's Marathon, the finish line is in sight. After months of quality training and a couple of good race results in May, I am looking forward to the competition marathon, the hopeful end result or a Boston qualifier, and the subsequent, and much need time off from running. With the warmer and muggier days of summer slowly creeping in and invading Madison's air space, the little respite from running after the marathon is complete is coming at a good time. If there is one type of weather that I truly can't stand to run in it would definitely have to be the heat and humidity of the summer months. I would much prefer to run in the 20 below weather that January and February usually ushers in, rather than the dog days of summer. At least in the winter you can dress appropriately to stay warm... In the summer, aside from running around outside naked, there is no way to dress to stay cool. Today was one of those warm and muggy days that I pretty much detest when out for a run. To make things worse, the wonderful summertime smell consisting of dead fish and green algae, was wafting in off the lake. Boy, is that a treat for the 'ol olfactory senses when you're trying to get in a good workout;) Despite the poor weather conditions and feeling a tad sluggish this morning, I pushed through it and got in my run. The finish line is sight!

Today's workout: 11.1 miles > 1:24:55 > 7:38 pace

Miles this week: 16.2