15.5mi, 1:58:49 (7:43)
After getting a nice bit of rest for the first time in a little while, I headed out the same direction as yesterday but at a much more manageable pace. The bike route took me out a trail, through a town, on another path and another trail, through another town, up a hill on a road, and down a hill on a trail before I turned around at exactly one hour. Came back the same way, and even though I was pretty thirsty and hungry I managed to be just over a minute better on the way back.
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Friday, August 30, 2013
Luke - 6.8
6.8mi, 43:26(6:23)
On Thursday I went to the Zurich Diamond League track meet and gave Usain Bolt a high-five and did not run. So then today I took a train from Zurich to Saarbrücken and almost didn't have time to run again, so I squeezed in a faster, instead of longer, run before dinner. Went out a path in the forest behind my brother-in-law's family's place and then followed some signs to stay on a biking route. Went out reasonably fast, probably accelerated from 7:20 pace to start to 6:50 pace when I turned around, then really picked it up. Splits were 23:53 out and 18:33 back.
On Thursday I went to the Zurich Diamond League track meet and gave Usain Bolt a high-five and did not run. So then today I took a train from Zurich to Saarbrücken and almost didn't have time to run again, so I squeezed in a faster, instead of longer, run before dinner. Went out a path in the forest behind my brother-in-law's family's place and then followed some signs to stay on a biking route. Went out reasonably fast, probably accelerated from 7:20 pace to start to 6:50 pace when I turned around, then really picked it up. Splits were 23:53 out and 18:33 back.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Luke - 4
Didn't write down the time, but this was at about 5am, before heading to the airport. Went to a park, did a loop, came back.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Luke - 10
10mi, 79:20 (7:55)
I woke up at 2:30am, worked 4:00am-2:30pm, then drove straight from work up to Portland to collect my weight in beer from Widmer. It ended up being six 30-pound cases, so the packaging is included in the weight but they rounded me up to 180 pounds. After loading it into my car I drove over and parked at Forest Park and got on the Wildwood Trail, which I've never done before. It was pretty well-marked so I just stayed on the main trail instead of taking any smaller side trails, and I did an out-and-back (turned around at 40:50). A pretty fun trail and not too hard to get to, so I'll have to do that one again, and maybe explore more of the trails.
I woke up at 2:30am, worked 4:00am-2:30pm, then drove straight from work up to Portland to collect my weight in beer from Widmer. It ended up being six 30-pound cases, so the packaging is included in the weight but they rounded me up to 180 pounds. After loading it into my car I drove over and parked at Forest Park and got on the Wildwood Trail, which I've never done before. It was pretty well-marked so I just stayed on the main trail instead of taking any smaller side trails, and I did an out-and-back (turned around at 40:50). A pretty fun trail and not too hard to get to, so I'll have to do that one again, and maybe explore more of the trails.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Luke - 3.6
3.6mi, 29:26 (8:10)
I was getting things ready for my trip so this run was pretty late. Went and did a loop of Amazon, then started another and the lights turned off. Was going to head up to Rexius but I was having trouble breathing, and I was hacking up phlegm a lot and stuff. I think it could be something to do with allergies but I'm not really sure. Anyway I cut it short and walk/jogged home on the roads.
I was getting things ready for my trip so this run was pretty late. Went and did a loop of Amazon, then started another and the lights turned off. Was going to head up to Rexius but I was having trouble breathing, and I was hacking up phlegm a lot and stuff. I think it could be something to do with allergies but I'm not really sure. Anyway I cut it short and walk/jogged home on the roads.
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Luke - 17.25
17.25mi, 2:28:27 (8:36)
Worked 9-3 today, and after work I headed up and parked at the East end of Ridgeline. Took the trail West, went up and summited the Butte, came down and continued on Ridgeline to Dillard road. Went down the road and up the trail to the top of Mount Baldy, where I had a gel, then continued to Sping Blvd, came back around Baldy, down the fun trail, and over a short hill, where I stopped and ate a few blackberries off the bushes. Went over and did the stream crossing, went down to the road where there's a cooler of water and had a couple cups (and poured some over my head), then went hard up Fox Hollow (goal was sub-8 and I hit 7:55) and did as best I could over the last four miles back to the car.
The run went really well, and it was my longest since the marathon, I do believe. Afterwards I felt sore but full of energy, like I want to race someone because I feel like I'm in shape or invincible or something. When I got home I had two beers, and then went to Laughing Planet and got two burritos and a pint of cider.
Worked 9-3 today, and after work I headed up and parked at the East end of Ridgeline. Took the trail West, went up and summited the Butte, came down and continued on Ridgeline to Dillard road. Went down the road and up the trail to the top of Mount Baldy, where I had a gel, then continued to Sping Blvd, came back around Baldy, down the fun trail, and over a short hill, where I stopped and ate a few blackberries off the bushes. Went over and did the stream crossing, went down to the road where there's a cooler of water and had a couple cups (and poured some over my head), then went hard up Fox Hollow (goal was sub-8 and I hit 7:55) and did as best I could over the last four miles back to the car.
The run went really well, and it was my longest since the marathon, I do believe. Afterwards I felt sore but full of energy, like I want to race someone because I feel like I'm in shape or invincible or something. When I got home I had two beers, and then went to Laughing Planet and got two burritos and a pint of cider.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Luke - 8.5
Did the workout with the Flyers. We were on Hayward Field tonight--and next Thursday I'll be in Zurich for the Diamond League meet, so I will have been at two of the best tracks in the world within a week! Anyway: 16' w/u; 2500m of fast on the straights, easy on the turns; 800m in 2:36; 2:00 rest; 4x400m, 60s rest: 74, 73, 73, 74; 4x200m, 30s rest: 32, 33, 33, 33; 20' c/d.
Felt pretty slow on most of it, which makes sense since it's my first real interval workout in a long while. Also the rest got shorter the faster we went, which is mean.
Felt pretty slow on most of it, which makes sense since it's my first real interval workout in a long while. Also the rest got shorter the faster we went, which is mean.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Luke - 7.7
7.7mi, 61:01 (7:55)
1.4-mile loop of Pre's Trail in 10:53, 1.5-mile loop in 12:03. Very tired.
1.4-mile loop of Pre's Trail in 10:53, 1.5-mile loop in 12:03. Very tired.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Luke - 13.85
13.85mi, 1:51:44 (8:04)
The Butte. Was pretty tired right from the start, but as with any butte-conquering, there were fast parts and slow parts.
Splits: 13:02, 14:30, 8:31, 7:18, 8:03, 3:46, 3:30 (58:44) / 3:23, 2:36, 6:00, 6:06, 6:53, 14:38, 13:21.
The Butte. Was pretty tired right from the start, but as with any butte-conquering, there were fast parts and slow parts.
Splits: 13:02, 14:30, 8:31, 7:18, 8:03, 3:46, 3:30 (58:44) / 3:23, 2:36, 6:00, 6:06, 6:53, 14:38, 13:21.
Monday, August 19, 2013
Chris - 8
72:45 - 9:05 pace
I took almost 2 weeks off from running for the wedding and honeymoon, and with Hood to Coast coming up this Fri/Sat I really wanted to get in a run that was longer than my longest leg (7.68). Here is the course map. I am doing legs 5, 17, and 29. The last one is definitely the hardest - possibly the most difficult leg there is. I started out this out & back pretty easy because I just wanted to get in the miles (after doing 19 total last week). I picked it up on the way back though. I think my split was about 27:10 and 25:24. The route I did is pretty hilly too, so I'm happy with the 9 min pace. I figure that's good for 8 to 8:30 pace for my H2C legs. I'm planning on doing an easy 3 miler on Wednesday to shake out my legs before our first leg at 12:30pm at Timberline on Friday. Should be fun!
I took almost 2 weeks off from running for the wedding and honeymoon, and with Hood to Coast coming up this Fri/Sat I really wanted to get in a run that was longer than my longest leg (7.68). Here is the course map. I am doing legs 5, 17, and 29. The last one is definitely the hardest - possibly the most difficult leg there is. I started out this out & back pretty easy because I just wanted to get in the miles (after doing 19 total last week). I picked it up on the way back though. I think my split was about 27:10 and 25:24. The route I did is pretty hilly too, so I'm happy with the 9 min pace. I figure that's good for 8 to 8:30 pace for my H2C legs. I'm planning on doing an easy 3 miler on Wednesday to shake out my legs before our first leg at 12:30pm at Timberline on Friday. Should be fun!
Luke - 9.3
9.3mi, 69:05 (7:25)
Pre's Trail: 1.4-mile loop in 10:26, 1.4-mile loop in 10:20, 1.5-mile loop in 11:11.
Pre's Trail: 1.4-mile loop in 10:26, 1.4-mile loop in 10:20, 1.5-mile loop in 11:11.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Luke - 15
15mi, 1:43:22 (6:53)
Went out to a long gravel road next to a lake with about 7 others for a long run. The group I was running with on the way out started at about 7:20 pace and I felt good enough to go with them. We were down to 7:00 or better by the time I turned around, and on the way back we picked it up a bit more and were hitting 6:40s or so. Splits were 52:46 on the way out and 50:35 on the way back.
Afterward we went to a diner for breakfast where they have giant pancakes. I hadn't eaten breakfast with this group before so they predicted I wouldn't finish one pancake. I finished it (it had strawberries and whipped cream too!) and corned beef hash and eggs, and then the other person who had ordered a pancake couldn't finish it so I had the end of his, too. We were talking to the owner of the place and she said if I can eat three it would be the record and I'd get my picture on the wall, a T-shirt, and a pancake a month for a year...so I think we're gonna go back in a month or so and see if I can do it.
Went out to a long gravel road next to a lake with about 7 others for a long run. The group I was running with on the way out started at about 7:20 pace and I felt good enough to go with them. We were down to 7:00 or better by the time I turned around, and on the way back we picked it up a bit more and were hitting 6:40s or so. Splits were 52:46 on the way out and 50:35 on the way back.
Afterward we went to a diner for breakfast where they have giant pancakes. I hadn't eaten breakfast with this group before so they predicted I wouldn't finish one pancake. I finished it (it had strawberries and whipped cream too!) and corned beef hash and eggs, and then the other person who had ordered a pancake couldn't finish it so I had the end of his, too. We were talking to the owner of the place and she said if I can eat three it would be the record and I'd get my picture on the wall, a T-shirt, and a pancake a month for a year...so I think we're gonna go back in a month or so and see if I can do it.
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Luke - 7.6
7.6mi, 63:50 (8:23)
Worked 6½ hours today (and 6 yesterday) for some overtime, and drove straight from work up to the East end of Ridgeline. Ran to Fox Hollow and back. Felt okay.
Worked 6½ hours today (and 6 yesterday) for some overtime, and drove straight from work up to the East end of Ridgeline. Ran to Fox Hollow and back. Felt okay.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Luke - 6.7
6.7mi, 48:43 (7:16)
1.5-mile loop of Pre's Trail in 10:39. Felt quite peppy, surprising after running so hard yesterday.
1.5-mile loop of Pre's Trail in 10:39. Felt quite peppy, surprising after running so hard yesterday.
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Luke - 7
I wanted to do a workout today and had planned on joining the Flyers, but they were doing a hill workout instead of intervals and I do enough hills on my own, so I instead headed out to Dorris Ranch where there was a small 5k put on by the Oregon Track Club. They do an all-comers type race on the second Thursday evening of each month and I knew Jeff was going to be running it since I'd run with him a few times over the past couple weeks. I saw him about 5 minutes into my warmup and ran with him for a bit, then a bit later we saw Thomas, who was just going to be doing like 6:30 pace for it, and ran with him for a bit too. Our other friend George was also coming and neither Jeff nor I are 100% right now so we figured he'd win it.
The start was a nice big downhill that went past the finish line and into the woods. The course was partly on gravelly paths and partly through the hazelnut orchards. There were lots of turns and the flour put down to mark the course was a bit thin, but it was infinitely-better marked than the last 5k. Also for the first half of the race we were led by a bike. George and Jeff took it out pretty fast and I hung close behind and sometimes caught up to them. I was breathing pretty heavy for the first mile and it seemed very fast. We came through at 5:10, which seemed about right with the downhill start and the numerous sharp turns. A couple minutes later I took the lead with Jeff, and I pulled ahead slightly and he said, "Good job Luke." That's something you say when the guy you're running with is gonna take off, so I responded "I'm not going anywhere." He and I shared the lead for the next little while with George close behind. The bike pulled off as we went out a long straight path for an out-and-back. The 2-mile point was at the turnaround and we were at 5:30, slow only because of turns and tough footing. Jeff and I missed the turn after the out-and-back but the guy on the bike happened to be going past us at that exact moment and pointed us in the right direction. Pretty lucky. I had noticed that if I ever dropped back I was able to catch back up with a little effort, and figured that meant I should be able to give that sort of effort more continuously and build a lead. I did that most of the third mile and once I'd put a few seconds on Jeff I was running scared, which I think I do pretty well. I was expecting Jeff or George to come flying by me at any moment. I came through mile 3 in 5:26, and ran the last (uphill) tenth of a mile hard to be sure to finish first. My time was 16:40; Jeff came in 5 seconds later and we chastised each other for running too hard. I really hurt, and had for most of the race. I keep making myself forget how much a 5k hurts.
For the win I got a $25 gift certificate to Track Town Pizza. As I was cooling down the Race Director called me over and asked what size I was and then gave me a t-shirt, and I was a bit worried that was the prize and I wasn't getting my pizza...but then a little later they called out the names of the winners and gave us our coupons. George, Jeff, Thomas and I went straight from the race to the pizza and shared a delicious large "Decathlon" pizza and a couple pitchers of beer. As we were eating the female winner also came in, with all her siblings who were in town for a wedding. Runners love pizza.
It was a real fun time! Glad I happened to go out there.
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Monday, August 12, 2013
Luke - 11.2
11.2mi, 81:49 (7:18)
Yesterday was an unplanned day off because I didn't get back home from Seattle until 11:30pm. I had run 60 days in a row before that. I was really tired today, plus I barely had any food because I didn't have time to go to the store between getting home and going to work this morning. The day off acted as a bit of a taper, though, so my legs felt pretty fresh on today's run. Did the 1.4-mile loop of Pre's Trail in 10:33, the 1.5-mile loop in 11:03, the 1.5-mile loop in 11:10, and then the 1.4-mile loop in 10:06. The way home was about 6:40 pace without really pushing.
Yesterday was an unplanned day off because I didn't get back home from Seattle until 11:30pm. I had run 60 days in a row before that. I was really tired today, plus I barely had any food because I didn't have time to go to the store between getting home and going to work this morning. The day off acted as a bit of a taper, though, so my legs felt pretty fresh on today's run. Did the 1.4-mile loop of Pre's Trail in 10:33, the 1.5-mile loop in 11:03, the 1.5-mile loop in 11:10, and then the 1.4-mile loop in 10:06. The way home was about 6:40 pace without really pushing.
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Luke - 6.4
6.4mi, 50:11 (7:50)
I was in Portland on Saturday before heading up to Seattle for the weekend to go to a couple Mariners games, so in the morning I ran from my friend Patrick's house to a park and did two loops of it and came back. Splits were 16:22, 10:02, 9:23, and 14:22 (random distances, but the first and last are the same as each other and the middle two are the same as each other).
I was in Portland on Saturday before heading up to Seattle for the weekend to go to a couple Mariners games, so in the morning I ran from my friend Patrick's house to a park and did two loops of it and came back. Splits were 16:22, 10:02, 9:23, and 14:22 (random distances, but the first and last are the same as each other and the middle two are the same as each other).
Friday, August 9, 2013
Luke - 6.7
6.7mi, 50:51 (7:35)
1.5-mile loop of Pre's Trail in 11:34. Felt less sore than I expected after last night's hard run.
1.5-mile loop of Pre's Trail in 11:34. Felt less sore than I expected after last night's hard run.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Luke - 13.85
13.85mi, 1:45:20 (7:36)
The Butte! A quarter-mile longer than usual due to construction and I still managed to run 1:45! Really happy with how this one felt, especially since it's my longest run in (*checks archives*) about four months. 6:30s on Rexius on the way back, and then down to 6:15 pace for the last stretch.
Splits: 13:24, 14:37, 8:32, 6:59, 7:59, 3:33, 3:27 (58:34) / 3:21, 2:26, 5:31, 5:57, 6:51, 12:28, 10:10.
The Butte! A quarter-mile longer than usual due to construction and I still managed to run 1:45! Really happy with how this one felt, especially since it's my longest run in (*checks archives*) about four months. 6:30s on Rexius on the way back, and then down to 6:15 pace for the last stretch.
Splits: 13:24, 14:37, 8:32, 6:59, 7:59, 3:33, 3:27 (58:34) / 3:21, 2:26, 5:31, 5:57, 6:51, 12:28, 10:10.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Luke - 6.75
6.75mi, 49:40 (7:21)
Was on my way to do my 6.3-mile loop when Jeff drove by, and stopped and asked if I'd run with him. So I ran the couple blocks to his place and waited a few minutes for him to change, then we went down to Pre's Trail and did the 1.4-mile loop in 10:17, then came back through campus and did a couple loops in the cemetery before I headed home. It was like 20º cooler than yesterday and even rained a little, which was pleasant.
Was on my way to do my 6.3-mile loop when Jeff drove by, and stopped and asked if I'd run with him. So I ran the couple blocks to his place and waited a few minutes for him to change, then we went down to Pre's Trail and did the 1.4-mile loop in 10:17, then came back through campus and did a couple loops in the cemetery before I headed home. It was like 20º cooler than yesterday and even rained a little, which was pleasant.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Luke - 10
10mi, 79:29 (7:56)
Took the alternate way up Fox Hollow, then took Ridgeline East to Dillard, went down to the fun trail and went down it, and then took the road to Rexius and headed back the usual way. The large branches that used to be across the ravine at the bottom of the fun trail were gone, so I had to climb into the ravine (it's only like 5 feet deep) and back out. Someday I should smuggle a big thick board or something in there and see how long it lasts as a bridge. The rest of that trail is so nice and clean and runnable; it's a shame the whole thing is wasted for most people because of one little section.
I was pretty tired today, for one because I got up at 3:30 this morning, and for another because it was super-hot again today. The whole trail section of the run was pretty tough; I got a little bit of a second wind on Rexius on the way back, but just enough to get me near 7-minute pace--my legs weren't having any speed today.
Took the alternate way up Fox Hollow, then took Ridgeline East to Dillard, went down to the fun trail and went down it, and then took the road to Rexius and headed back the usual way. The large branches that used to be across the ravine at the bottom of the fun trail were gone, so I had to climb into the ravine (it's only like 5 feet deep) and back out. Someday I should smuggle a big thick board or something in there and see how long it lasts as a bridge. The rest of that trail is so nice and clean and runnable; it's a shame the whole thing is wasted for most people because of one little section.
I was pretty tired today, for one because I got up at 3:30 this morning, and for another because it was super-hot again today. The whole trail section of the run was pretty tough; I got a little bit of a second wind on Rexius on the way back, but just enough to get me near 7-minute pace--my legs weren't having any speed today.
Luke - 4.7
4.7mi, 41:55 (8:55)
Mile loops of 8:51, 8:46, and 8:46, at 3:45am. Track is closed for construction so had to take the long way around to and from the trail.
Mile loops of 8:51, 8:46, and 8:46, at 3:45am. Track is closed for construction so had to take the long way around to and from the trail.
Monday, August 5, 2013
Luke - 6.3
6.3mi, 47:05 (7:28)
1.5-mile loop of Pre's Trail in 11:14. Felt pretty good even though I was hungry and it was 90º and sunny.
1.5-mile loop of Pre's Trail in 11:14. Felt pretty good even though I was hungry and it was 90º and sunny.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Luke - 6.5
MLK Jr. I Have A Dream 5km, 16:35 (1st place)
Warmed up about two miles, and before heading to the start, tried to make sense of the course map. It looked like a fairly simple rectangular shape, but there were some question marks. For one, there was a 10k and a 15k in addition to the 5k, and the map made it look like we all started together in the park, went about ten feet, then hit a street, where the 5kers took a hard right and everyone else took a hard left. Also the course looked like it did 2 laps around a track, but I couldn't tell if it was for the 10k only or for everyone. So right before the start, they moved the big START archway out to the street, which meant we wouldn't have to turn at the very start, but it also meant that the 5kers would have to start directly facing everyone else if they wanted us to have the same start line. Instead they had us line up about 25m from the start, without a start line at all (just sorta spread across the street randomly). There were chips in our race numbers but we wouldn't be crossing a mat at the start.
There were a couple guys that looked like they might be somewhat serious but I'd have been surprised if they'd really challenged me. At the gun I went to the lead and maybe 4 people were right behind me in the first straightaway. There was a police motorcycle leading the way, so I figured I wouldn't have to worry about getting lost...but then about two minutes into the race he stopped and directed us onto the sidewalk (not all the roads were closed so a lot of it we were supposed to run on sidewalks). I started looking at street signs to hopefully see the road we were supposed to turn on, but the map was pretty ambiguous so I wasn't even sure which street that would be. I was just about across one street when everyone was like, "Is this where we turn?" There was a volunteer sitting on the curb eating her breakfast and I realized we were indeed supposed to turn there, so I led our group onto that road and yelled back to the volunteer, "Maybe stand up and tell people to turn here? Thanks!" A block or two later a more-alert volunteer directed us onto the high school track which was right up against the road. There were cones set up in between lanes 4 and 5 that did a pretty good job of showing us to stay in lanes 5-8. As I was finishing up a lap, there was a volunteer just standing there staring at me, and I put my arms out as I approached, trying to get him to point me in the right direction. When I was right at him I realized we were to do a 180 and go around the track in the opposite direction in lanes 1-4. (After the race I found out they had some people do one lap, some people do two, some people do zero, and some people none of the above.) We exited the track at the same place we'd entered and continued on down the street. There weren't any markings or volunteers, but I was pretty sure I knew where the next turn was. At one point, though, we had to take a right, go ~50m, and take a left, and in a couple other places the road was not exactly straight, so I was on and off the sidewalks the whole time, and all over the street. Finally at the next real turn there was a lane of road blocked off for us, and there were cones the whole way so I knew I was on the right track. I had put maybe 100m between myself and the next group of two runners at that point, and when I made the turn I picked it up with less hesitation. There was one more turn (and this road, again, had a lane blocked off with cones) and I looked back as I went around the corner to make sure I had enough of a lead. I stayed strong the rest of the way, and maybe had a slight kick at the end. I think the next couple guys came in at somewhere near 17:20.
I hung out at the finish, where a band was playing, and the lead singer was kinda talking to the crowd. I asked someone if there were awards and they said it would be a while, and to go grab a beer at the beer tent. I did so, and a little while later the singer guy said "Can I get the winners to the stage," so I headed over there. There was no follow-up so I stood around awkwardly for a while, and then a few minutes later he again said "Can I get the winners to the stage," and I just walked over to the other side of the stage and stood there awkwardly, and then a few minutes later someone who I think was the RD came over and told me the awards wouldn't be until 8:15, which was another half hour, and she wasn't sure why the guy kept asking for winners to come to the stage. I hung out in the park as the guy kept playing music and asking for winners to come to the stage. I talked with the winners of the 10k and the 15k, who were a lot faster than me (the 15k winner is a 2:12 marathoner) as 8:15 came and went. We talked about how terribly-managed the race was, but apparently it was even worse last year. This year the 15k was 9.85 miles instead of 9.3, but last year there were pretty much no markings anywhere and everyone just sort of ran around for a while and came back to the finish. So the singer-guy started doing the raffle, and anyone who has ever been at a race with a raffle before knows that 90% of people leave before the raffle, so you have to call out 5 numbers before you get to someone who is still there. This guy had never been at a race with a raffle before, so he called out the number, waited, called it out again, waited some more, and kept calling it out and telling us what the prize was, over and over for about five minutes before he finally gave up and went to another number. This happened with every raffle prize, so it took forever. At one point I went over to the beer tent and grabbed another beer, and carried it out of the beer tent, which you're not supposed to do but it's not like anyone in charge was doing anything. Finally at about 9:00 they did the 5k awards, and they called me up onto the stage and gave me a medal, and asked me what I thought of the course (I lied) and what I was thinking about when I was out there ("Running fast"). If I'd known they were going to hand me the mic I would have prepared a speech. Anyway they also told me I'd be getting my weight in beer for the win, so even though everything was pretty ridiculous it was so worth it. After I got off the stage the RD lady got my name and phone number and told me she'd call within the week to get me my certificate for the beer. I shall let you know if/when that happens (she also said to call the number on the race website if I didn't hear from her after a few days, so I will get my beer). I stuck around and talked to one of the fast guys for a few minutes longer before running back to where I was staying. Right before I left I talked to the 15k winner, who was still waiting for his award, since after the 5k awards they went back to the raffle.
Warmed up about two miles, and before heading to the start, tried to make sense of the course map. It looked like a fairly simple rectangular shape, but there were some question marks. For one, there was a 10k and a 15k in addition to the 5k, and the map made it look like we all started together in the park, went about ten feet, then hit a street, where the 5kers took a hard right and everyone else took a hard left. Also the course looked like it did 2 laps around a track, but I couldn't tell if it was for the 10k only or for everyone. So right before the start, they moved the big START archway out to the street, which meant we wouldn't have to turn at the very start, but it also meant that the 5kers would have to start directly facing everyone else if they wanted us to have the same start line. Instead they had us line up about 25m from the start, without a start line at all (just sorta spread across the street randomly). There were chips in our race numbers but we wouldn't be crossing a mat at the start.
There were a couple guys that looked like they might be somewhat serious but I'd have been surprised if they'd really challenged me. At the gun I went to the lead and maybe 4 people were right behind me in the first straightaway. There was a police motorcycle leading the way, so I figured I wouldn't have to worry about getting lost...but then about two minutes into the race he stopped and directed us onto the sidewalk (not all the roads were closed so a lot of it we were supposed to run on sidewalks). I started looking at street signs to hopefully see the road we were supposed to turn on, but the map was pretty ambiguous so I wasn't even sure which street that would be. I was just about across one street when everyone was like, "Is this where we turn?" There was a volunteer sitting on the curb eating her breakfast and I realized we were indeed supposed to turn there, so I led our group onto that road and yelled back to the volunteer, "Maybe stand up and tell people to turn here? Thanks!" A block or two later a more-alert volunteer directed us onto the high school track which was right up against the road. There were cones set up in between lanes 4 and 5 that did a pretty good job of showing us to stay in lanes 5-8. As I was finishing up a lap, there was a volunteer just standing there staring at me, and I put my arms out as I approached, trying to get him to point me in the right direction. When I was right at him I realized we were to do a 180 and go around the track in the opposite direction in lanes 1-4. (After the race I found out they had some people do one lap, some people do two, some people do zero, and some people none of the above.) We exited the track at the same place we'd entered and continued on down the street. There weren't any markings or volunteers, but I was pretty sure I knew where the next turn was. At one point, though, we had to take a right, go ~50m, and take a left, and in a couple other places the road was not exactly straight, so I was on and off the sidewalks the whole time, and all over the street. Finally at the next real turn there was a lane of road blocked off for us, and there were cones the whole way so I knew I was on the right track. I had put maybe 100m between myself and the next group of two runners at that point, and when I made the turn I picked it up with less hesitation. There was one more turn (and this road, again, had a lane blocked off with cones) and I looked back as I went around the corner to make sure I had enough of a lead. I stayed strong the rest of the way, and maybe had a slight kick at the end. I think the next couple guys came in at somewhere near 17:20.
I hung out at the finish, where a band was playing, and the lead singer was kinda talking to the crowd. I asked someone if there were awards and they said it would be a while, and to go grab a beer at the beer tent. I did so, and a little while later the singer guy said "Can I get the winners to the stage," so I headed over there. There was no follow-up so I stood around awkwardly for a while, and then a few minutes later he again said "Can I get the winners to the stage," and I just walked over to the other side of the stage and stood there awkwardly, and then a few minutes later someone who I think was the RD came over and told me the awards wouldn't be until 8:15, which was another half hour, and she wasn't sure why the guy kept asking for winners to come to the stage. I hung out in the park as the guy kept playing music and asking for winners to come to the stage. I talked with the winners of the 10k and the 15k, who were a lot faster than me (the 15k winner is a 2:12 marathoner) as 8:15 came and went. We talked about how terribly-managed the race was, but apparently it was even worse last year. This year the 15k was 9.85 miles instead of 9.3, but last year there were pretty much no markings anywhere and everyone just sort of ran around for a while and came back to the finish. So the singer-guy started doing the raffle, and anyone who has ever been at a race with a raffle before knows that 90% of people leave before the raffle, so you have to call out 5 numbers before you get to someone who is still there. This guy had never been at a race with a raffle before, so he called out the number, waited, called it out again, waited some more, and kept calling it out and telling us what the prize was, over and over for about five minutes before he finally gave up and went to another number. This happened with every raffle prize, so it took forever. At one point I went over to the beer tent and grabbed another beer, and carried it out of the beer tent, which you're not supposed to do but it's not like anyone in charge was doing anything. Finally at about 9:00 they did the 5k awards, and they called me up onto the stage and gave me a medal, and asked me what I thought of the course (I lied) and what I was thinking about when I was out there ("Running fast"). If I'd known they were going to hand me the mic I would have prepared a speech. Anyway they also told me I'd be getting my weight in beer for the win, so even though everything was pretty ridiculous it was so worth it. After I got off the stage the RD lady got my name and phone number and told me she'd call within the week to get me my certificate for the beer. I shall let you know if/when that happens (she also said to call the number on the race website if I didn't hear from her after a few days, so I will get my beer). I stuck around and talked to one of the fast guys for a few minutes longer before running back to where I was staying. Right before I left I talked to the 15k winner, who was still waiting for his award, since after the 5k awards they went back to the raffle.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
Luke - 6.5
Messed up on my watch so I don't have a total time. 1.5-mile loop of Pre's Trail in 11:14, then on the way back saw Jeff so I did some strides on the turf fields with him. Felt pretty good the whole run; hopefully I feel that way tomorrow.
Friday, August 2, 2013
Luke - 3.25
3.25mi, 24:56 (7:40)
Mile loops of 7:47 and 7:31. I was hobbling since I'm still sore from yesterday's steeplechase, so I wasn't expecting my times to be so not-godawful-slow.
Mile loops of 7:47 and 7:31. I was hobbling since I'm still sore from yesterday's steeplechase, so I wasn't expecting my times to be so not-godawful-slow.
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Luke - 5.75
OTC All-Comers Meet 3000m Steeplechase, 10:35 (5th place)
I'd looked up my posts from the last two years when I did this race, and both times I said I went out too slow...so I went out fast in this one. First lap was 73 or 74 I think, with three hurdles in it. Maybe slightly too fast, but not terrible. First water jump was pretty bad, landed with both feet pretty deep in the water. Couldn't even imagine how I'd do any better, either. You see people spring off the hurdle and land in stride, and I think I even have done it before...but once you're there it just seems impossible. Got passed by a few people on laps 2 & 3...felt okay for the most part but was constantly dreading having to do the water jump again. On the third water jump (4th lap, about halfway through the race) I landed on both feet pretty deep in the water, as usual, and when I tried to re-start running, the water held my feet and I fell forward. Sorta rolled out of the fall so I only lost a few seconds, and also I think the crowd enjoyed seeing a fall. Somewhere around lap three I felt my toe slipping over the sole of my shoe, and I thought the upper was just loose and that the shoe was falling over itself, but then I looked down and saw my toe. The shoe had come apart from the front around to the inside, so there was a hole an inch or two long. At some point it happened to the other shoe too, so for most of the race I was tensing my feet to keep them in my spikes. There was a guy not too far in front of me from about lap 3 on, and I really tried to catch him in the last 500m. I was picking it up as he was dying, and he was close enough that when I splashed into the water on the last water jump he heard it and looked behind him. I made up a little more ground on the last hurdle, but there was still a lot of ground to make up. I was able to kick pretty well and thought I'd catch him, but he looked back and gave a little kick of his own, which I might have been able to overcome but he also positioned himself in front of me so I couldn't pass. We were finishing in lane 4 because there were lots of people being lapped or double-lapped, so going to one side of him wasn't enough--I'd have to go around him and re-pass him, and there just wasn't enough room.
So I was 11 seconds slower than last year and the year before (both 10:24) and I fell and my shoes died and I was so sore I could barely jog home. Yay steeplechase!
Also there's video here, but since the race is so spread out they zoom way out and you can't really see anything ever, and they didn't even capture my water jump fall. (I'm in bright yellow and go right to the front.)
I'd looked up my posts from the last two years when I did this race, and both times I said I went out too slow...so I went out fast in this one. First lap was 73 or 74 I think, with three hurdles in it. Maybe slightly too fast, but not terrible. First water jump was pretty bad, landed with both feet pretty deep in the water. Couldn't even imagine how I'd do any better, either. You see people spring off the hurdle and land in stride, and I think I even have done it before...but once you're there it just seems impossible. Got passed by a few people on laps 2 & 3...felt okay for the most part but was constantly dreading having to do the water jump again. On the third water jump (4th lap, about halfway through the race) I landed on both feet pretty deep in the water, as usual, and when I tried to re-start running, the water held my feet and I fell forward. Sorta rolled out of the fall so I only lost a few seconds, and also I think the crowd enjoyed seeing a fall. Somewhere around lap three I felt my toe slipping over the sole of my shoe, and I thought the upper was just loose and that the shoe was falling over itself, but then I looked down and saw my toe. The shoe had come apart from the front around to the inside, so there was a hole an inch or two long. At some point it happened to the other shoe too, so for most of the race I was tensing my feet to keep them in my spikes. There was a guy not too far in front of me from about lap 3 on, and I really tried to catch him in the last 500m. I was picking it up as he was dying, and he was close enough that when I splashed into the water on the last water jump he heard it and looked behind him. I made up a little more ground on the last hurdle, but there was still a lot of ground to make up. I was able to kick pretty well and thought I'd catch him, but he looked back and gave a little kick of his own, which I might have been able to overcome but he also positioned himself in front of me so I couldn't pass. We were finishing in lane 4 because there were lots of people being lapped or double-lapped, so going to one side of him wasn't enough--I'd have to go around him and re-pass him, and there just wasn't enough room.
So I was 11 seconds slower than last year and the year before (both 10:24) and I fell and my shoes died and I was so sore I could barely jog home. Yay steeplechase!
Also there's video here, but since the race is so spread out they zoom way out and you can't really see anything ever, and they didn't even capture my water jump fall. (I'm in bright yellow and go right to the front.)
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