Frisco Highline Boyscout Half-Marathon

  Everything fell into place today. I slept a solid 8 hrs last night....I mean slept! Woke up automatically at 6am, ate my waffles with peanut butter and honey! MMMM good!
  Was blessed in the natural realm....made it to the race site with about 1/2 hour to spare. 35 mile drive!
  Weather was perfect for me....a sultry 60ish with a light breeze and sunshine. A strong field for this area and considering there were two other races going on in the area...185 in the HM.
  I had three goals-Ultimate would of been 1:50, challenging 1:52.30 and acceptable 1:55.
  I did a short warm-up- talked with some friends-lined up middle right and off we went. I had my plan to hold back the first mile then kick it in to HM pace-around 8:27's.
  I was passed by dozens of people during this time.....common deal....bunches going out to fast.
  So I'm doing good...I kicked it in at 1 mile...I'm holding the pace clicking off some good miles...at around 5.5 miles I look at my watch and I am bleeding!
  My hand is covered in blood! What's the deal? My Garmin 305 was digging into the skin right behind my wrist! I keep running....I have to do something? So I take off the watch and decide to put it on my right arm....that isn't easy! As I'm making the change I must've accidentally stopped the time...messed up my splits! So.....at the turn I hit the lap so I could figure out time later....as it turns out I did the first half of the half in 55:22! I averaged exactly my HM pace to here!
  So I kept working at holding the pace....btw...I had been consistently picking off people and that continued all the way in with the exception of the finish.
  I had forgotten I had one gu with me and so I took it....felt like barfing it! Held it down though. I was losing the pace even though I strung together 3 8:42's! Very consistent pacing today. By mile 11 I was struggling a little but I was not going to slow into the 9's! Even though my watch was messed up I figured it was only off a few seconds (23)....I could smell a good time!
  I kept pushing...I thought about all the training I'd done, speed work, tempo runs, 25K race....Mile 12 was unbelievable! 8:27! Now only 11 tenths! Pass two more with confidence.....1/2 mile to go I hear someone coming....A guy I'd passed, I couldn't stay with him, around the bend about 100m and another person is closing....ain't gonna happen! I sucked it up and beat them to the finish! A 1:52.02! Official! The second half was a 56:40 or 8:39's.
  Needless to say I was elated!! The training is paying off! Now to the marathon!
 So I averaged 8:33's! By far the best HM I've run in years! I think the weight loss has something to do with this too....Oh, I met Jim Ryan today. Cool guy!
 Hope you had a great weekend....now a brief recovery and the 22 miler needs to get done! Breaking 4 hrs is a possibility!!:) Peace!

Mission Possible 5K race report

 All systems were go this morning, good sleep, fine weather, and wanting to race. I did a shorter warm-up this morning, but it was adequate. This race was very well run and the folks were great! There was plenty of water/juice/nanners...they even had these unreal Cinnamon rolls!! I had one after the race.
  The field was mixed with 5K and HM'ers. I opted to move up to the front seeing majority of runners were running the half. When the whistle blew I took off running 'bout as fast as I could! I was really serious about trying to get in under 24 minutes. I observed this guy who is 61 and runs consistent 21 minute 5K's. He's amazing! I tried to hold on to him! The course was on a asphalted trail, very nice, rolling and scenic. I was passed by a couple of guys running the half fairly early. I was feeling gassed and I looked at my watch and it said .47....I did the math and realized I was going to suffer in this race because I started way to fast! A 7:25 first mile. I tried to find places I could rest, little downs...but I was in debt...The turn must be coming because here came the winner...a 52 year old!!! Then the 61 year old a couple of younger fellas, and one really fast and strong Lady, She ran a sub 20. So there were only 5-6 folks ahead of me?! But reality hit at the turn...the watch said 12:10. Sub 24 was not possible. Not the way I felt, anyway. How's that for negative thinking? I shook it off and decided to keep pressing. I enjoyed seeing all the 5Kers behind me! Mile two was an 8:08 mile, 15:33 two mile split, here I calculated that sub 24 would be possible if I could speed up. Easy to think hard to do...my legs, body, was not handling the lactic acid worth a lick. I felt it pretty good on every little uphill yet I poured it on during the downs. I came on to the parking lot and saw 24:00 on my watch and I hadn't even tripped 3 miles....the third mile was an 8:38! So I died, but I tried! Hearing some encouragement I finished strong with a 25:15 unofficial. Get this....slower than last week? I ran a stinkin' hilly course last week, this was a sweet route with no big hills.....go figure?
  Because of the thin field I took home first in my age group 55-59. I still believe I can break the 24 minute barrier. I won't spend much more time chasing it though. I want to move to longer D. Watching the HMers got to me...I miss long distance.
  So I had time to think on the drive home my plan of action. I have the speed, I need the ability to hold on anaerobically. That requires training. Plus I need to lose weight! At least 8 more pounds! Is it all worth it? Why not? I will train all the way up to the target race, Oct 23rd, and let the chips fall where they may. Hope you are having a great Saturday! I'm helping a band out tonight, they are in need of a Banjo picker! Peace!

Bookin' it 5K Race Report

 It was just a wonderful morning! Fresh, moist, cloudy, windless, warm, I was wanting to race! I arrived with plenty of time to get my bib and chip, then warmed up with some easy jogging, visited with a real good runner, Ted, he is 60 yrs old and got second overall today!  The course was a new route but we are still running out of the square so it means hills!
  The race was well organized and the Director is a runner, so that makes a difference. He actually finished ahead of me....
  Of course I scoped out the field....only one guy I was sure of in my age group and he always beats me, by very little I might add, some others looked my age, grey, balding, wrinkled.....:)
  So we get instructions, line up, and we're off....
    My plan was to bust this first mile because it is down hill baby!!! Problem? We had to run a side walk over a bridge and some kids were running 3 wide blocking a group of us...but not a real issue...I felt real good and posted a 7:28 first mile. From here we had a rolling hills next mile, I was passed here by two fellows, later saw they were 1&2 in 30-40 age group.
  The field began to spread out here as we climbed a switch-back that brought us to the main drag in Ozark, I could see Ted up ahead.......I wasn't doing too bad! I was beginning to feel the hill though!
Another down hill and checked the watch....2 miles, 8:19...obviously I'd dropped it! I knew at this time my hope of breaking 24 was over because the last mile would be the toughest....it's uphill!
  No one passed me, or was really near me....ahead was a strung out field....a kid was hurting bad...he was holding his side, the dreaded stitch, he began to walk the hill, I did pass him but encouraged him, I saw the one guy I knew in my age group, I was closing!? 1/2 mile to go a big rise then the finish...the kid took the big rise and passed me:) The home stretch and I've a quandary....I felt like I had a kick in me...here's this kid gutting it out...he's being encouraged by the crowd...I'm telling him to not stop but finish! I could not pass him or else I'm going to be the jerk that beat a kid (in my mind).
  So I coasted in and finished with a 25:14. No where near a sub 24, but a 41 sec improvement over my last race. Btw...I got second in my age group, the Over-all winner ran a 22 minute race? So it was a tough course after all and I really liked it, I will run it again.
  I made some new friends, the Woman's winner in 30-39 was standing next to me, we chatted, I met her family and her husband and I exchanged contact info! Her name is Jill and she ran a 23:40 something?
   What did I learn? I could of suffered a little more, my speed work is paying off! My hill training also has improved my ability to stay strong on the hills. Now what? Stay on the current program, perhaps looking for a flat course to test myself again. Hope you are enjoying your weekend!! Oh, I also received a medal for second place! I thought that was cool. Peace!

10K race report

Finally! I actually pulled myself out of bed and raced! I have needed to see where I am with this training program! Got there early, registered. went for a two mile warm-up, drank a bottle of water while we heard the instructions, noted the field was not large, it was a 5k and 10k combined start. Maybe 70 people all together. My goal was to get under 50 minutes. I started out slow and in control because the start was uphill! This was an out and back twice! I am very pleased over all because according to my Garmin the splits were very consistent and that's good! I did not die! The course was long. My watch had it at 6.41, others with Garmins showed distances very similar. I knew there was a problem when we came to the 5k mark. Garmin said 3.2! O well, doesn't really matter. The volunteers were great! Not really much to tell. Tweaked left calf muscle? At the very last; as I was going downhill into the last stretch to the chute I saw a shadow! Someone was making a move to pass me!! That ain't happenin'! I said so!! I chugged on in holding my place. BTW, I got first in my age! Here are the splits-7:54, 7:44, 7:54, 8:06, 8:00, 7:59, last .41 in 7:35 pace! 6.41 miles in 50:48, 7:55's. ( I forgot to stop my watch so that's not accurate) I had some left? This is the first year for the 10k. I hope they get the distance more accurate, but it really doesn't matter. I'm encouraged because it's a solid pace for me, I held it well, I probably could have given a little more. I beat Goober.....that's always nice. Made some more friends. Finished the day with 9.2 miles total. I'm pulling for Marlene and Meg tomorrow! Hoping for good weather and strong legs and lungs! Peace!

JRA Race report

Ran the "Juvenile Arthritis Association's" annual race. It was a very nice course, basically flat and fast. Not a large turnout, probably 50-70 people. Lots of races in the area this morning. I planned on pushing hard to break 24 minutes but that didn't happen. A 7:38 first mile, a little crowded and a good little rise at first but nothing bad, noticed the sweat pouring out, the humidity was nearly 100% with temps already near 80 degrees.

A 7:52 second mile, and I began to note that the heat was taking a toll as some runners were walking, I passed one guy who was trying to maintain but he had to walk.

The mile marker was long according to the Garmin? I was cutting lines real well because I know this area, my old home roads. Mile three was a disaster, an 8:16! That really stunk! It was a flat stretch? I heard someone on my right shoulder as we came to the final turn, I wasn't about to let someone pass me! I held him off but he was close, wasn't anyone I'd passed either!

Finished with a 25:27-3.22 miles according to the Garmin, Gerald Glass and I compared

distance, his recorded 3.21 miles. So the course may of been a little long. Results came in and I won second in my age division. The overall winner is in my age division!!!

A good week of running-27.68 miles with a good trail run and a race. I made two new friends today, a guy named Donnie, he ran in the 22's, and a lady named Shannon. I also won a drawing!!! $10.00 at a coffee shop! Things are lookin' up!

Frisco HM race report

Well I did it....the elements were awful but the turn out was great. Probably 40 degrees, a strong, gusty Northeast wind, and, yes, the torrential downpour! The rain was cold!! Puddles every where!
I got in 1.6 miles before the race for warm-up,using a good parka for protection, then I joined the other runners inside. Finally it was time to go to the start and it was tough to go out in that rain!
Horn went off and we went splashing. This was an out and back course and we started into the wind. 8:33 first mile. I was good with it. I stayed with a guy for the next two miles and I miss read my watch at mile two I thought it said 8:16 so I thought I was too fast. Turns out it was 9:16! Too slow! Mile three came and it was an 8:40. Right where I was wanting to be. I could hear a group catching me and they finally did at four miles-9:14-I saw a 35:45 on my watch and said to myself this is too slow! So I tucked in behind this group of three runners.
Mile five 8:49, mile six 9:09, here the group broke up. I had decided as I was running that when we made the turn I was going to throw away the long sleeve shirt I had on and start racing! Thanks for the tip Bill. The rain had stopped and it was time to go!
I took off my hat in order to get the shirt off, threw it away put the hat back on and started pushing.
The next four miles were my best, mile 7-8:37, mile 8-8:32, mile 9-8:45, mile 10-8:31, I kept pushing, I passed several runners and was holding onto one that was probably 20 feet in front.
Mile 11-slowed 9:07, 12- 9:14, here I was passed by a very strong looking young lady. I tried to hold on to her. Mile 13-8:46, .1-43.81- Total: Unofficial 1:55:58-8:51's
Well, not what I'd hoped for. I wanted a 1:52. I spoke with one of the top finishers, a real nice guy. He said he was about three minutes slower than normal and he attributed it to the elements.
My feet got cold at mile eight! They were freezing and soaked! Otherwise I felt great. I jogged about 6/10ths after but the downpour came again so I settled for a total of 15.1 miles today.
Came home and thawed out in the tub with a super hot bath! I was really frozen. What a tremendous group of runners we have here! Amazing turn out and attitudes! I really enjoyed myself today, plus I got a cool medal and sweet tech shirt!
I'm somewhat concerned about my ability to break the four hour barrier now?
41.6 total for the week. The taper begins. Thanks for all the encouragement!

Race Report

It was a blizzard! I almost turned back home but realized I'd have to run today anyway so I went ahead and ran the race. As I warmed-up the snow accumulated on me! It finally let up as we lined up to start. The turn out was real good. I'd say at least a hundred hardy souls.

Although this week consisted of a long run and strides, I decided for an all out effort for a gauge of fitness.

The gun went off and the splashing began! The roads were slushy and slick! It didn't take long for the pack to spread out. There were no mile markers so I could only speculate as to my pace. It was strong but I could tell the weeks training had me slightly fatigued. I passed two fit looking college age girls and one old Goober, probably my age, apparently he didn't like being passed so he hung with me and then went ahead.

I didn't worry about it, I just kept steady. We made the turn and here I felt pretty good. I found that smart running, even pace, good economy, sharp lines, had enabled me to pass Goober again. He didn't like it!! He was really sucking air and hot on my heels but it was here I passed another runner. An extremely svelte young lady who was toasting. Then with about a half mile to go or less I passed a young guy who was playing rabbit and Goober was struggling to keep up.

It was time for a kick as I saw the finish line and here came ole' Goober but not a chance! I stretched it out and beat him solid! It was fun! The clock said 24:06 so I'm pleased with the effort. That translates into a 3:54.57 marathon prediction. So? Maybe I can break four hours?

As I was racing I noticed I could not get to the all out effort. Just too tired. The weeks training had an effect so I think I can still bring the 5k time down. 5.8 total warm up, race, cool down.

40.0 for the week. Peace!