tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14266751917619842032024-03-19T06:34:04.505-07:00long distanceJohnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.comBlogger164125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-40599645043619649372024-03-16T03:30:00.000-07:002024-03-18T13:24:22.442-07:00Grasslands Marathon; 2024-3-16This is my annual long training run before Hachie 50. Moving pace of 10:00 translates to sub-4.5 hr finish on the 25.5-mile course.
John Lai warned me 2024 course was lengthened.
Weather forecast: 50% chance of rain by noon.
<p/><p/>
The course was prettier this year with the unusal warmth and rain in Feburary. Body functioned according to plan. After the 11-mile White loop, I left the singlet near start and became the least dressed marathon runner. Acceptable risk: I would be unable to hold the body temperature if I walked or stopped, but I felt confident on this cloudy day. I didn't need the sweat to increase my hydration needs.
<p/>
The sun came out by mile 20. Ultraviolet felt good on the skin. The world felt right. I wondered how Yama did at Andy's. I was thankful the planet aligned for me to enjoy that very moment.
<p/>
Brian McKenny volunteered at the final water stop. I congratulated him on Western State. 28:18 was more than respectable--just getting in was impressive.
<p/>
Thunder started at mile 23. I figured I was just fast enough to avoid mud; I was wrong. Footing got harder. Each minute I made 100's tiny decisions between mud and water with unknown depth. I was soaked and elated--finally got to experience a proper wet Grasslands.
<p/>
The course was 1k longer than 2023. I managed to stay upright the entire way.
<p/>
Official time: 4:33:05
<p/>
GPS
26.23 mi @10:25; 180w
<p/>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIFZcKLPrSXDut2ewO5r8im8irT-DpliIIXtON1J_IDB8IVS53IAtYd_CYvhPueS-WSEyTKFKqgdkidzyFgtcnCdtG4B12hLPOSW94hB7KSAerCBHFzowbeQnNVUUQdvuhZFhwuH6hdl9G6bKQ9SWsglmZKKdvRHWtP_3zgRDbgcyO1id26aSzIQv2RY/s1600/muddy%20legs.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIFZcKLPrSXDut2ewO5r8im8irT-DpliIIXtON1J_IDB8IVS53IAtYd_CYvhPueS-WSEyTKFKqgdkidzyFgtcnCdtG4B12hLPOSW94hB7KSAerCBHFzowbeQnNVUUQdvuhZFhwuH6hdl9G6bKQ9SWsglmZKKdvRHWtP_3zgRDbgcyO1id26aSzIQv2RY/s320/muddy%20legs.jpg"/></a></div>
_legs of an ultra runner
Johnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0Wise County, TX, USA33.2895861 -97.6982271999999914.9793522638211556 -132.8544772 61.599819936178847 -62.541977199999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-66317844476869639242024-01-21T03:30:00.000-08:002024-01-24T20:24:37.207-08:003M Downhill to Downtown; Austin 2023 result: 244w avg, 6:52/Mi, 1:30:29.
2024 result: 255w avg, 6:58/Mi, 1:31:22. upgraded Stryd foot pod with metal clip
2024 pacing strategy was based on Stryd wattage and perceived discomfort—as opposed to mile split.
I chatted with the 90-minute pacers who admitted going too fast during first 9 miles in 2023.
Plan: 250~255w first 10k. Expect pace = high 6’s. Adjust wattage as necessary. Ignore GPS pace.
Things felt good ‘til 10k. Glutes experienced sharp pain—low enough intensity to ignore. left hamstring felt stiff. Took more effort to hold 250w. My pace dropped, I hanged on to 250w, believing I was on track for sub 90-min.
I felt I executed the race well until I saw the result--aimed to improve on last year's result by 30s but ended up 53s slower. condition was good but slower than 2023 tailwind.
Total Pace 6:58/M
5k Rank 247
21:03
6:46/M
10k Rank 263
42:28
6:50/M
15k Rank 277
1:04:32
6:55/M
Finish Rank 290
1:31:21
6:58/M
disappointed but feel blessed about sub-7-min-mile.
Maybe look for an even faster course like Mount Charleston.Johnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0Austin, TX, USA30.267153 -97.74306081.9569191638211549 -132.8993108 58.577386836178846 -62.586810799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-89725068063394702222023-12-10T04:00:00.000-08:002024-01-25T20:37:20.267-08:00Dallas Marathon 50k; 2023-12-10Given the dismal showing 5 weeks prior, I made this event a long training run.
Goal: stay around 9:00 pace.
chip time: 4:34:52
GPS: 31.24 mi@8:48; 210w; 4:34:57
Johnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0Dallas, TX, USA32.7766642 -96.7969878999999914.4664303638211535 -131.95323789999998 61.086898036178845 -61.640737899999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-36672693104528624332023-11-05T20:43:00.000-08:002024-01-25T20:34:16.135-08:00DRC Half 2023-11-5Prep race for Dallas in 5 weeks. Still unrecovered from Paris 100k
hamstrings felt like lead. took focus to catch and stay with James Allen's 100-min pace group.
5 min slower than previous year. Disappointed.
chip: 13.1 mi@7:37; 1:39:49
GPS: 13.14 mi@7:36; 138w; 1:39:50
Johnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0White Rock Lake, Dallas, TX, USA32.828066 -96.72531644.5178321638211543 -131.8815664 61.138299836178845 -61.5690664tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-4166287813236154282023-09-23T03:30:00.000-07:002024-03-18T17:12:06.983-07:00Paris Pair 100k 2023-09-23 ; drama100k in 10:54:30
<p/>
chip pace = 10:32
<p/>
Stryd: 58.08 mi@11:16; 164w
<p/>
=> actual dist 94k<p/>
above was the fact when I received 3rd place award.
<p/>
Few days later, the director informed me the 2nd place Popcorn and I made the same wrong turn that lead to skipping 6k.
We were graciously invited back for 2024.
Johnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0Paris, TX, USA33.6609389 -95.5555129999999915.3507050638211524 -130.711763 61.971172736178843 -60.399262999999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-76417782703656474992023-07-30T05:30:00.000-07:002024-01-24T20:43:14.861-08:00Jack & Jill Downhill Marathon; BQ 2023-07-303:23:39
chip: 26.2 mi@7:46. BQ by 11.4 min
GPS: 25.97 mi@7:51; 226w
The race didn't go as hoped. PR was realistic on this fast course even with incomplete preparation. I missed PR by 16 sec.
I started 1 hr after the gun <= the event bus driver missed the exit to race start. Had to pass many runners.
A nice surprise to see Harsha and Simon pacing
Seattle trip was good.
Biff is fighting battle multiple fronts: housing, work, endocrino, family, fitness. I hope he stays above water.
the weather was a nice break from Texas heat.
Johnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0North Bend, WA 98045, USA47.4956579 -121.786777519.185424063821152 -156.9430275 75.805891736178836 -86.6305275tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-10085582273017024632023-06-04T15:39:00.006-07:002023-06-05T08:31:27.561-07:00Hachie 50 30-mile 2023/04/22Data from taper week was clear: 3 weeks weren't sufficient to recover from half marathon PR attempt for this body.
The adjusted goal beating my 50k pace: 8:37.
<p/>
Despite weaker fitness, I thought I had a realistic shot of winning the undercard event before Javier switched his event from 50M. I told IRC friends I didn't want to win: that'd mean Javier had a terrible day. You don't win Cowtown 50k if you're only capable of Johnny speed.
<p/>
Race director Paul Box made my mission clear: be positive & happy for others, especially all the non-racers that put this event together. I was inspired more by Paul's getting to the start line than by his 3rd place finish at the World Marathon Challenge (7 marathon, 7 continents, 7 days)
<p/>
First of the 3 laps went as expected--averaged at low-8 pace. Javier & a woman went a lot faster. She held the pace; Javier slowed by lap 3. I also weakened but moved faster than Javier. He stopped at the farthest water station as I approached the turnaround near half way point--I had a good chance if I just held the pace.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDxwJkMrsHkDxJWQES6m6IuqoZlIZLKoykmzNVnjl_W2m2rBaHyIL59maUHOHQ9ZzZ7uqY7KWoXC8NldZvh453d-6AvsSJE5PpHlWFicIVy3sjg4aN2xE_ZyX6_WnwbR0-P6iRKD6lT0JZzQqHLM7t3WQ_wrBfEo3nL3leJRQFjrhZbYcMc-dHMfP/s900/Hachie2023.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="600" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDxwJkMrsHkDxJWQES6m6IuqoZlIZLKoykmzNVnjl_W2m2rBaHyIL59maUHOHQ9ZzZ7uqY7KWoXC8NldZvh453d-6AvsSJE5PpHlWFicIVy3sjg4aN2xE_ZyX6_WnwbR0-P6iRKD6lT0JZzQqHLM7t3WQ_wrBfEo3nL3leJRQFjrhZbYcMc-dHMfP/s600/Hachie2023.jpg"/></a></div>
I failed to hold the pace--it was maddening. I felt the good will & energy of everyone on the course. I knew I was unlikely to get another chance to beat Javier. I couldn't will my legs to go sub-8.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuLftHYIsfkC8D6wM5H_LGT-Hb2ozHXl7cmAO7Xkaq0Qg972PjabUkJF3co8MGqYFjhxjUZh62ox26uPbT6wbUyQL2zbm54FiQAZiRJuXRaqtSzFfglpO7zvQ9FRURQDW3q1xHz6_qEu3QtPSTJ1qGl5vj6CInMWw9Qt-5e6cZB8qoUWiQ6MaT526/s960/Javier%20won.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuLftHYIsfkC8D6wM5H_LGT-Hb2ozHXl7cmAO7Xkaq0Qg972PjabUkJF3co8MGqYFjhxjUZh62ox26uPbT6wbUyQL2zbm54FiQAZiRJuXRaqtSzFfglpO7zvQ9FRURQDW3q1xHz6_qEu3QtPSTJ1qGl5vj6CInMWw9Qt-5e6cZB8qoUWiQ6MaT526/s400/Javier%20won.jpg"/></a></div>
I saw Javier 2 more time at the next 2 out-and-back points. Javier squeezed just enough to stay ahead.
<p/>
I ran out of road and finished 1 minute behind Javier.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8xIJPkVRFInx7pK7VzaaiPymWiWMeEXYDk-fiTQ_H7KeL_OP-Nwbx_11M0qElIQ9iwS-FfpKayMxnMO283SHrl_4DnMamtjWy6WbgZAbyRa5vch3wQWyNY41FkPTJSaKENKqKrdMY4GwL3PvqK8-cknBOK7RmN32YWhxxtw_6x6SdjhHbryCVmN9r/s2008/30M%20result.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="600" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="2008" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8xIJPkVRFInx7pK7VzaaiPymWiWMeEXYDk-fiTQ_H7KeL_OP-Nwbx_11M0qElIQ9iwS-FfpKayMxnMO283SHrl_4DnMamtjWy6WbgZAbyRa5vch3wQWyNY41FkPTJSaKENKqKrdMY4GwL3PvqK8-cknBOK7RmN32YWhxxtw_6x6SdjhHbryCVmN9r/s600/30M%20result.png"/></a></div>
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Johnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-38552279825377673812023-04-01T05:30:00.002-07:002023-06-05T08:34:47.467-07:00Irving Marathon Half 2023-04-01This was to be an "A" event before realizing I already qualify to apply for 2024 NYC using Austin Half.
Despite running Grasslands 2 weeks prior, I aimed to PR (1:32:14)
<p/>
Legs weren't 100% despite a week of prep and nice weather. I finished in 1:33:06.
<p/>
I manned mile-17 water station w/ Jung Lee, Sam Cotton, Stef Taniguchi. Helping marathon runners brought me out of sulking state.
<p/>
I have 3 weeks to prep for Hachie 30-mile.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0NFweoFTmbVJb0YCP1DU6vHc9-BuCtdBKLlq-k19gDhyj7sP1QEl6JQ4K3eAPNIuZjoTyBGe_Ni-YH9tcGdzjKK5EpYDTG8xcL58fzE064rASq0foLLU4YX5MUKf31YpPSF91pzus4VfRJmSUKqgCpcNRjx7vhYd6QJN-GEmva86yuH6qwFkOy0e/s1000/1.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0NFweoFTmbVJb0YCP1DU6vHc9-BuCtdBKLlq-k19gDhyj7sP1QEl6JQ4K3eAPNIuZjoTyBGe_Ni-YH9tcGdzjKK5EpYDTG8xcL58fzE064rASq0foLLU4YX5MUKf31YpPSF91pzus4VfRJmSUKqgCpcNRjx7vhYd6QJN-GEmva86yuH6qwFkOy0e/s400/1.jpg"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip07MF-jiFo884iamWIWWYucb1TRX859blPMmAEe3R7EJOI8wqierWrDq2i12kI8vqLcv34zmqHSkqJB0YZbtRE-u2ermbYwO_048CxsbNhCJe-4B9igWmVG3KF1XdW91gD9myqZFDir0lRUCSHvGb2Hvmyi7lKu4IxMs9SPxftFL-N5krR-szOqNU/s1000/4.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="668" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip07MF-jiFo884iamWIWWYucb1TRX859blPMmAEe3R7EJOI8wqierWrDq2i12kI8vqLcv34zmqHSkqJB0YZbtRE-u2ermbYwO_048CxsbNhCJe-4B9igWmVG3KF1XdW91gD9myqZFDir0lRUCSHvGb2Hvmyi7lKu4IxMs9SPxftFL-N5krR-szOqNU/s400/4.jpg"/></a></div>Johnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0Las Colinas, Irving, TX, USA32.8958605 -96.95882294.5856266638211522 -132.1150729 61.206094336178843 -61.8025729tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-19669769970316902962023-03-18T05:30:00.005-07:002023-06-05T08:40:07.281-07:00Grasslands Marathon 2023/03/18--long training run at Oprah pace
it's easier to take first lap easy this year: I didn't have Mark Seeley, Mike, and Shaheen's pace to match.
I started with Amy Clark who disappeared for a bush break as I trip over something after 5k. I was left alone.
<p/>
It was cool watching how most front guys made the point to say hi to Amy first couple miles. They all expected Amy to win today <= no real competition.
<p/>
I felt pretty unmotivated/non-strong after lap 1. Oprah pace felt natural.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOP-ImT2R7-9MSzeVGD2JorR_JorZlZtS5SKIbSbndeqqWU4qbXUdVuzfC_hcTWkh42IL2mq2eieIsNg-Xb2MzU8yAwd1-wKDFBk8dQotu5PQSzeAE-jCz13Ae7RIet53mkPZwA1d3PY54u1PHi2l7uVMPBPwx3VhxQQ_maKQr5r8B2KjITzkYtxB7/s1200/337531906_2329583477224277_5160916902615962120_n.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOP-ImT2R7-9MSzeVGD2JorR_JorZlZtS5SKIbSbndeqqWU4qbXUdVuzfC_hcTWkh42IL2mq2eieIsNg-Xb2MzU8yAwd1-wKDFBk8dQotu5PQSzeAE-jCz13Ae7RIet53mkPZwA1d3PY54u1PHi2l7uVMPBPwx3VhxQQ_maKQr5r8B2KjITzkYtxB7/s400/337531906_2329583477224277_5160916902615962120_n.jpg"/></a></div>
<p/>
#'s
<br/>
official: 4:25:26
<br/>
GPS: 25.6 mi@10:23; 181wJohnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0Decatur, TX 76234, USA33.2342834 -97.58613934.924049563821157 -132.7423893 61.544517236178848 -62.4298893tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-21291479673841008242023-02-26T05:00:00.005-08:002023-06-05T08:45:05.331-07:00Cowtown Marathon 2023/02/26--BQ_objective
<br/>
1. Qualify for 2024 Boston
<br/>
2. Able to recover to peak for 4/1 Irving Marathon half.
<br/>
3. Negative split.
<p/>
_goal
<br/>
A: 3:30 stay with the official pacer. I never achieved this time without full taper.
<br/>
B: 3:33 easy number
<br/>
C: 3:35 qualify for Boston 2024
<p/>
_highlights
<br/>
Legs somewhat rested at start.
<br/>
Only 1 lb heavier than race weight.
<p/>
_lowlights
<br/>
In middle of a training block.
Using half- instead of full-marathon.
<p/>
_pacers
<br/>
Alex was pacing for 3:35; James Allen for 3:30. It’s comforting to be between friends.
<p/>
_race plan
<br/>
Stay near 8:00 pace for opening miles.
<br/>
Stay comfortable mile 5~18 between 3:30 and 3:35 pacers.
<br/>
Lose 30~90 seconds at mile-9 bridge. (even effort—ignore spectators)
<br/>
Reel James in before finish.
<br/>
No complaining. Bring positive energy to others—especially if legs feel like shit.
<p/>
_travel logistics
Took Yama to Aunt Sherry at 3pm. Aunt wasn’t feeling well. I worried.
<br/>
I skated to Expo to avoid parking fee.
<br/>
The hotel was new and quiet. The assistant manager was friendly and gave me late 1:30pm check out. I was happy despite the sink drain & kitchen plug issues.
<br/>
For the 2nd race I have a mini kitchen for dinner. I could get used to this.
<p/>
_conservative start
<br/>
Sticking to script wasn’t hard for 2 hours. Weather turned out nice.
<br/>
Some guy cussed, “you cut me off, a hole.” I decided not to waste energy explaining running tangent & lines.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7f70VzwRv9owzGHuNqB763IAXLPk1g9ZVHxpLb-J3LK-oxG_qZNDmUOZfVkdaCHXTZ8xhj-xcFAJb0CxBuqaUnNo8rbtRyJXbcNF3kmjU0oU4BnDFHezMpapkf5y0da-956Qpb5xOTE_qNKidVNg1mJQStu_2_RAfHv9B9scbIsAvu7piAj0YRYIg/s1119/2-37%20pace.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="1119" data-original-width="1102" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7f70VzwRv9owzGHuNqB763IAXLPk1g9ZVHxpLb-J3LK-oxG_qZNDmUOZfVkdaCHXTZ8xhj-xcFAJb0CxBuqaUnNo8rbtRyJXbcNF3kmjU0oU4BnDFHezMpapkf5y0da-956Qpb5xOTE_qNKidVNg1mJQStu_2_RAfHv9B9scbIsAvu7piAj0YRYIg/s400/2-37%20pace.png"/></a></div>[GPS lost signal at underpass—I claims I went sub-3 min/Mi]
<p/>
_biding time
<br/>
8:00 pace got old by mile 14. Legs wanted to slow, cardio wanted to up the effort.
<br/>
IRC cheered me on.
<br/>
Couldln’t wait to mile 18. Reminded me of 2015 Heart break Hill—a lifetime ago.
<p/>
_running free
<br/>
I lifted speed at mile 18. The pace felt natural.
<br/>
I saw 3:30 pacer at mile 23--I went faster. I felt I had even more to give. It was glorious.
<br/>
I held back on the climb and resisted digging for the final mile.
<p/>
#’s
<br/>
official:
<br/>
chip time: 3:29:00
<br/>
pace: 7:59 min/mile
<br/>
distance: 26/2 mi = 42k
<p/>
splits
<br/>
10K 8:00/M
<br/>
15K 8:00/M
<br/>
13.1M 8:03/M (1:46:00)
<br/>
18M 8:03/M
<br/>
22M 7:40/M
<br/>
26.2M 7:59/M (3:29:00)
<p/>
Both halves ended in 00 seconds—1 in 3600 chance.
<p/>
racer count:
<br/>
half: 4,924
<br/>
full: 1263
<br/>
ultra: 174
[Garmin Forerunner 245 said I was supersonic at the underpass]
<p/>
Felt great—best executed marathon to-date. 1:46 then 1:43 for each half: overly positive for PR. Good enough when primary goal was to BQ.
<p/>
Didn't go too deep—need to peak on 4/1 for Irving half.
<p/>
bonus: Strava thinks my pace was 2:37/Mi at mile 10.5. Take that, Kipchoge. Haha
Johnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0Fort Worth, TX, USA32.7554883 -97.33076584.4452544638211577 -132.4870158 61.065722136178849 -62.174515799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-3972833545056798752023-01-22T05:30:00.006-08:002023-01-29T16:59:06.214-08:00Austin 3M Half Marathon (downhill to downtown) 2023/01/22
_goal
“A”: 1:29:59
“B”: 1:30:29 = 6:52/mile
“C”: 1:32 = 6:59/mile
_downhill course
The website made it sound like an easy and smooth course.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eKAXSXl7HGJThlKwwfvTGcSDXLjPOFddLYiIO_QMRLkmFaKF7uS5ARvZ6iW9IHahcDJDG6zCTO78ZJXNfck7LnVV-vL3A62YcKcV6TEL0Yq7qn2FWdWWUfbtQbMwcTsv_QyOPLn9AheoZFkRAvcEy6BHev8NtFoyJW5fuXH0l6w1E6v8miKl78cJ/s1530/elevation%20website.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eKAXSXl7HGJThlKwwfvTGcSDXLjPOFddLYiIO_QMRLkmFaKF7uS5ARvZ6iW9IHahcDJDG6zCTO78ZJXNfck7LnVV-vL3A62YcKcV6TEL0Yq7qn2FWdWWUfbtQbMwcTsv_QyOPLn9AheoZFkRAvcEy6BHev8NtFoyJW5fuXH0l6w1E6v8miKl78cJ/s400/elevation%20website.png"/></a></div>
[elevation map on the site looked impossibly smooth].
I arbitrarily decided it’s a good course to try sub-90-minute for the bragging right. I’m vain that way.
The “B” goal was such that I could say I ran the half in 90 minutes—vs. 91 minutes.
I sought info on how fast the course was.
Kisha: lots of downhills but there are some uphill to slow you down.
Logan: it’s not really that fast.
Jim: it’s smooth and flat but couple climbs. Tail wind would’ve mattered more.
An experience pacer: Maybe 30~45 seconds faster than a flat course.
As expected, the elevation change wasn’t homogeneous as suggested by the website.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocIhyvRZo_AKJpsvFp_Fl_Bg-1FSdxN62uUBYhsdkV28qvq9qGW6XuHdfD6EMVSFKprDCV977cBnGq3cjCIMibsGciHxjvP-_gJ-U3yLKKbowxVV0w2kXvJSggzUI1XWu78ZjgFit92WSWxpeF7F4eittXTnkr-ZqhQMdZSLZOK040imV1k-gDCV2/s2206/elevation%20Garmin.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="2206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocIhyvRZo_AKJpsvFp_Fl_Bg-1FSdxN62uUBYhsdkV28qvq9qGW6XuHdfD6EMVSFKprDCV977cBnGq3cjCIMibsGciHxjvP-_gJ-U3yLKKbowxVV0w2kXvJSggzUI1XWu78ZjgFit92WSWxpeF7F4eittXTnkr-ZqhQMdZSLZOK040imV1k-gDCV2/s400/elevation%20Garmin.png"/></a></div>
[elevation per Garmin]
Half the course was functionally flat. The 1.5-mile long climb section was mild. 1/3 of the course was fast downhill.
The sun was on my face a lot. I wished I had sunglasses until I learned how close I was to the goal.
_race plan
Knocking 2 minutes off PB sounded impossible, but I didn’t dwell on the details. Course and weather were outside of my control. I’d start with the 90-minute pacers and play by ear.
_race
Weather was great: sunny, dry, low 40’s F, net tail wind.
Stryd splits were on the nose at mile 1, very short at mile 2, but recovered after mile 2.
I stayed close to the pacers around 6:45 pace. The gravity-assisted effort felt right; the shock wave traveled higher up my limbs than I was accustomed to. I stayed smooth at the expense of holding constant distance to the pacer. I ended up ahead of the pacers halfway.
Hamstrings tightened at mile 7. 7:00 pace was manageable. Sub-90 was reachable if nothing else went wrong.
Side stitch started at mile 8 before the climb. I slowed more, helplessly watching the pacers getting away. I felt I was struggling at 8:30 pace—Garmin said I was faster than 7:30.
Runners passed me left and right. It was maddening I couldn’t match their speed. The climbs after mile 10 disrupted my rhythm. I ignored Garmin--just tried to stay with runners passing me. I managed to pass couple runners at the final climb before the finish line came mercifully at the bottom.
GPS: Garmin 245 with Stryd
13.17 mi@6:52; 244w
Time: 1:30:32
Official chip time: 1:30:29 = 90.48 minutes
Johnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0Austin, TX, USA30.267153 -97.74306081.9569191638211549 -132.8993108 58.577386836178846 -62.586810799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-78787284040190389992022-12-11T06:30:00.025-08:002023-01-29T16:38:25.140-08:00Dallas Half Marathon 2022/12/11--missed opportunity_goal
“A”: 1:31:59: sub 7 pace.
“B”: 1:32:13: 7:02 pace. PR
_mistake
With family visit and holiday preparation, I stopped monitoring body weight.
I ignored the mild fainting spells, forgetting it could be the symptom for low body fat. Calf cramped 1 morning. I finally stepped on scale --3 lb lighter than race weight.
_race weekend logistics:
3:30pm: check into downtown hotel; hotel parking full; pissed
4:45pm: packet pick up before rain
8pm: Systemware Xmas party at Ritz Carlton
5:15am: breakfast;
hotel lobby coffee ran out
8:30am: gun time; air temperature = 52F
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQk1cFOxp9Xzo-zvUGJVuiQ7BbHH-1HHiDPNUjdNJ4JIvIXFHrjAV18yhpL51UqJIKomrkcGrgEI8GqJDvh8SaITGD1AKdjCbqIwIVlYd7XL39xmvEGxIsHJMcV0L1WpLS_ZuSafZQqAQtV1Lu4HoUp03BhghD_ueNG7Y9GFCONr16oKBxXMLp5LYp/s4032/2022-12-11%207%2030%2049%20AM.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQk1cFOxp9Xzo-zvUGJVuiQ7BbHH-1HHiDPNUjdNJ4JIvIXFHrjAV18yhpL51UqJIKomrkcGrgEI8GqJDvh8SaITGD1AKdjCbqIwIVlYd7XL39xmvEGxIsHJMcV0L1WpLS_ZuSafZQqAQtV1Lu4HoUp03BhghD_ueNG7Y9GFCONr16oKBxXMLp5LYp/s400/2022-12-11%207%2030%2049%20AM.jpg"/></a></div>[hotel room with a view]
_race plan
More climbs first 7 miles. I’d hold constant wattage just over 7:00 pace. Hold the same wattage for final 10k. Averaging 7:00 pace overall.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9eGeLRUPdaWzLysvLeG9MivHg7zSIb6edVrNKUtg70qw7G2T1wc1X3yROCTsaDDI0IDpb83Y3KYdfUt9f0szn8A9_OcvcxyPKBDNmj2EiMmNywgF9x_xq6E3YhhPib2aXQ6d_NXud5X2eB2wpTky-oqJucIdt1zSFgqDMIGj0XzvPPHkI3baxDMQ/s4032/2022-12-11%2011%2018%2002%20AM.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9eGeLRUPdaWzLysvLeG9MivHg7zSIb6edVrNKUtg70qw7G2T1wc1X3yROCTsaDDI0IDpb83Y3KYdfUt9f0szn8A9_OcvcxyPKBDNmj2EiMmNywgF9x_xq6E3YhhPib2aXQ6d_NXud5X2eB2wpTky-oqJucIdt1zSFgqDMIGj0XzvPPHkI3baxDMQ/s400/2022-12-11%2011%2018%2002%20AM.jpg"/></a></div>
_race
Weather was good but not great.
Stryd splits were close to the mile markers. I lost a little ground at first 7 mile checks. I wasn’t concerned—I just needed to increase wattage for the final 10k.
I stayed in comfort zone for too long and ended up 1:32:48—49 seconds behind “A” goal. I felt I wasted the training by poor execution. For several hrs, it was hard to swallow.
I felt I could've raced faster if I invested more:
skipped company Xmas party;
asked a friend to pace me;
weighed myself daily;
practiced racing shoes more.
I had no problem walking post-race—I just didn’t run hard enough.
by 3pm, I was back to daily grind: puppy Yama and family activities.
Monday I woke up with sore legs and felt blessed to have first-world problems.
I wanted to celebrate the first sub-95-minute half since February 2015.
Previous day no longer felt like a screw up: just a "B-" result when other parts of life took priorities.
GPS: Garmin 245 with Stryd
Time: 1:32:50
Pace: 7:02
Official chip time: 1:32:46
Johnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0Dallas, TX, USA32.7766642 -96.7969878999999914.4664303638211535 -131.95323789999998 61.086898036178845 -61.640737899999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-262487218777457822022-11-08T14:07:00.002-08:002022-11-08T14:08:05.819-08:00DRC Half 2022/11/05--dress rehearsalFor once everything worked as planned—extra 1 hr from Daylight Saving time helped.
_Plan
run by feel for 9 miles then go hard without digging too deep. Anticipating 95~98 min.
The 95-minute pacers were in sight through out the run; I couldn't resist chasing them down for the final mile.
Brand new Nike AlphaFly felt faster than 300-mile AlphaFly from last wk 10k. Stryd foot pod distance was spot on.
With a little more training and a lot more rest, hopefully I could shave 15 sec/mile in 5 weeks at Dallas Marathon half.
Chip Time: 1:34:54.9
pace: 7:15/miJohnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-87513593125912044752022-10-02T05:00:00.013-07:002022-10-08T15:40:25.401-07:00 A2A 38 + 49 mile stroll 2022/10/02--full circle<p>My default A2A plan: </p><p>Part 1: skate w/ Jessica for 38 miles. </p><p>Part 2: be an utility vehicle for 49-milers ‘til check point 4 or when Luke shows up. </p><p>Part 3: skate with Luke to Atlanta. Meet old and new friends.</p><p><br /></p><p>_Preparation:</p><p>My foot race season ended in April. I intended to start long skates in July to prepare for February 24-hour solo in Miami, I would do just enough hills to get through A2A.</p><p>A chance encounter led to my acquiring puppy Yama. 10-week-old puppy was incompatible with high-volume training. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVd74aFA9ZDqLCpkBvCor1o7niUabeMyv7i4wDnt_QCc_JR1ltVcoHCDC8XvNzdZTTq4kJ4fw7DYno_-sdaaOklAcv-Y3yKBZjDdNWm2kjmmgYqp6cqRr6b99VQi0jZM8L9IbIqWMyKWlR3j_82Sq1DCdOe_qXH2YaZoLZx8Fd5LuTQFhl0DE1LHQ/s4032/2022-06-17%2009.39.48.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFVd74aFA9ZDqLCpkBvCor1o7niUabeMyv7i4wDnt_QCc_JR1ltVcoHCDC8XvNzdZTTq4kJ4fw7DYno_-sdaaOklAcv-Y3yKBZjDdNWm2kjmmgYqp6cqRr6b99VQi0jZM8L9IbIqWMyKWlR3j_82Sq1DCdOe_qXH2YaZoLZx8Fd5LuTQFhl0DE1LHQ/w400-h300/2022-06-17%2009.39.48.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />[He was 5.97 months old when I left home for A2A]<p></p><p><br /></p><p>Between puppy, work, running, and aging, my training plan turned out unrealistic.</p><p>I skated little hill based on wheel completion count.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPho1F9XXAgBRRlLrUgBooSY52yiT60MlgkCwqhtB_ZyjMzBSfkNBb0Zlyk8jamld32_P38OOIkR0w045Kv1_DjX5px4PksslLcLZxwJYo1DszidPpPmu7Xnv7HeM5tpMyoRnaZeFiLW2eW69vyj2fyImkYjtAURbshNHs3NdgVGdaEMxzt5iJ66N4/s4032/Photo%20Nov%2006%202021,%204%2041%2027%20PM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPho1F9XXAgBRRlLrUgBooSY52yiT60MlgkCwqhtB_ZyjMzBSfkNBb0Zlyk8jamld32_P38OOIkR0w045Kv1_DjX5px4PksslLcLZxwJYo1DszidPpPmu7Xnv7HeM5tpMyoRnaZeFiLW2eW69vyj2fyImkYjtAURbshNHs3NdgVGdaEMxzt5iJ66N4/s320/Photo%20Nov%2006%202021,%204%2041%2027%20PM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />[2021 finished wheel]<p></p><p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69_cpek1gXYtvzpACvrctPMRRRTWl6Dun5fdbswcW9VTxBkKyZcGVaqK_VDYUEqAgjM7496GtGAFAQmnAVf5SLmvNTKtNdC_rUcFX1gRJRd29SDzpZ_z0MwZNs2rre2BG1MuHQQnFdO08KB3Ko6q_GlXWWUOqPxN4yoLmGdvDOoks1-F6YukFzzpN/s4032/Photo%20Oct%2008%202022,%204%2041%2049%20PM.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69_cpek1gXYtvzpACvrctPMRRRTWl6Dun5fdbswcW9VTxBkKyZcGVaqK_VDYUEqAgjM7496GtGAFAQmnAVf5SLmvNTKtNdC_rUcFX1gRJRd29SDzpZ_z0MwZNs2rre2BG1MuHQQnFdO08KB3Ko6q_GlXWWUOqPxN4yoLmGdvDOoks1-F6YukFzzpN/s320/Photo%20Oct%2008%202022,%204%2041%2049%20PM.jpg"/></a></div>[2022 finished wheel; motorcycle was sold during A2A]</p><p><br /></p><p>Body weight control was the only aspect of prep that went well; Sonic still made me feel fat.</p><p><br /></p><p>_the day before A2A</p><p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtXbojCz5bmDBxmO4FPzK7arNS1bsDhAZ3qO6ORsLyJGRJrlTCBZjq8dM6F9beqlgbwyfIHXNHdwxfon0hI6fHPenbyEddet7Qohl83uKZAo1CLCdC_FPh7i68Xe7OiOKQG53EqvkLr614fdeDxBG9D3zUMmdyJP2twAsCUOJ3l5m6FhDfnh4-mIu/s3823/2022-10-05%202022,%206%2005%2058%20PM.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="2135" data-original-width="3823" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXtXbojCz5bmDBxmO4FPzK7arNS1bsDhAZ3qO6ORsLyJGRJrlTCBZjq8dM6F9beqlgbwyfIHXNHdwxfon0hI6fHPenbyEddet7Qohl83uKZAo1CLCdC_FPh7i68Xe7OiOKQG53EqvkLr614fdeDxBG9D3zUMmdyJP2twAsCUOJ3l5m6FhDfnh4-mIu/s320/2022-10-05%202022,%206%2005%2058%20PM.jpg"/></a></div>[renewed license arrived just in time; photos taken 12.3 years apart]<p><br /></p>Flying Delta was more pleasant than American Airline, but I had to pay for upgrade to avoid checking in skates.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYx2R26HVOrGp1tXlFBiCflEUj-0NTBlctmZMIWbAh2ZCAvKyc_8MC6TnBU-C2CGT1OatN-6FFdyj9lhe_oTGmI65yq0WwX3a9H7xrMXIKOmuB9k33wTmjhph4cv2hmNnL12HXHaKoJOPovk99qY_QXY0fyS29Grf1W45xU4miDY7WIvJPfzvMqM7/s4032/2022-10-01%202022%20Delta%20Comfort+.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYx2R26HVOrGp1tXlFBiCflEUj-0NTBlctmZMIWbAh2ZCAvKyc_8MC6TnBU-C2CGT1OatN-6FFdyj9lhe_oTGmI65yq0WwX3a9H7xrMXIKOmuB9k33wTmjhph4cv2hmNnL12HXHaKoJOPovk99qY_QXY0fyS29Grf1W45xU4miDY7WIvJPfzvMqM7/s320/2022-10-01%202022%20Delta%20Comfort+.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />[my left neighbor had more leg room than my cheap middle seat]<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_lIucqSXCgADVWc2UjulWl10a2bltQcWGnWOjorU1HRAdBvbPZyGblhJlZCzI31FGDRZvgaR1CP_z9jI1xHkiRP9R1W6J6IheL9DJeKTgTyoGKpoycxKQr6lbn4Hxiqp0GhgGSYQw8MoCBet2lxxKKOQN6VUZFXsDh7ZMI35VKwiCMv-JacHkPfE/s2048/roommate.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_lIucqSXCgADVWc2UjulWl10a2bltQcWGnWOjorU1HRAdBvbPZyGblhJlZCzI31FGDRZvgaR1CP_z9jI1xHkiRP9R1W6J6IheL9DJeKTgTyoGKpoycxKQr6lbn4Hxiqp0GhgGSYQw8MoCBet2lxxKKOQN6VUZFXsDh7ZMI35VKwiCMv-JacHkPfE/s320/roommate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />[Herbinator, first Canadian sighting since COVID]<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZC3iYSDd200pDqXvTQcML7hPoU7V2k2smGlCjs_C0knAO48EtcOwX-MEoKyZ6X3sJq7vYtjnW0OhKU8XzwCdRN58KchoWvnE6mku01K1vLLblqtP0wYynjdxwIR681vbVbBuLSkZgIw7BIyCDswy9hThsKrqAqX3qhn024z6yn6MuWqoxyE06s1Dg/s458/Mellow%20Mushroom.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="365" data-original-width="458" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZC3iYSDd200pDqXvTQcML7hPoU7V2k2smGlCjs_C0knAO48EtcOwX-MEoKyZ6X3sJq7vYtjnW0OhKU8XzwCdRN58KchoWvnE6mku01K1vLLblqtP0wYynjdxwIR681vbVbBuLSkZgIw7BIyCDswy9hThsKrqAqX3qhn024z6yn6MuWqoxyE06s1Dg/s320/Mellow%20Mushroom.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />Dined at 3pm. Mellow Mushroom didn’t disappoint.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>The opening ceremony was often an Olympian’s event highlight. That’s how I felt about A2A packet pickup: friends, organizers, and my skate heroes. I soaked in newcomers’ enthusiasm. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_DsJsiz90Jg4btcYI_DHTZThC30D5Qx00_8NTtOMUsjXkKydfiPk3ba0kfR61AaJ25oVFXTAj6aSNeDUMliRrXHyjmPHPjJ9vveEeduvzCrV962HbOqp-B3NtMiqBfVuM-U5qRssOFjPIT_tRUfhfFQgSFS8HkOi8wsTAcg7M_9lOW2xZ18vPOeL/s4032/2022-10-01%202022%20rant.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM_DsJsiz90Jg4btcYI_DHTZThC30D5Qx00_8NTtOMUsjXkKydfiPk3ba0kfR61AaJ25oVFXTAj6aSNeDUMliRrXHyjmPHPjJ9vveEeduvzCrV962HbOqp-B3NtMiqBfVuM-U5qRssOFjPIT_tRUfhfFQgSFS8HkOi8wsTAcg7M_9lOW2xZ18vPOeL/w640-h339/2022-10-01%202022%20rant.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Without A2A, my sports life would’ve taken a different path.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>_part 1: race</p><p>I stood at start having no confidence holding Jessica pace. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAzCXTpL5g0qIbyoHdd58uO1sZSL_yHNwjrxg1NLFIZAGRvJxvH2BwRbEV526ZQA6mUsQ5rfO0S7I0hPDdZcR3af01jWnDFk4w5HX475pXh5i3YXh9Z-eN4qny_um3EIbkdM83kvUqZKUP4gVlPkAXREt6Kffp31aUzOmJjvynX0IjqZ_oNKUJFT6/s2048/start.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAzCXTpL5g0qIbyoHdd58uO1sZSL_yHNwjrxg1NLFIZAGRvJxvH2BwRbEV526ZQA6mUsQ5rfO0S7I0hPDdZcR3af01jWnDFk4w5HX475pXh5i3YXh9Z-eN4qny_um3EIbkdM83kvUqZKUP4gVlPkAXREt6Kffp31aUzOmJjvynX0IjqZ_oNKUJFT6/w640-h285/start.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I moved to the left, so others wouldn’t have to get around me. I latched onto Jessica and Lenny at first turn. <p></p><p>I told Lenny I didn’t have the legs for that wattage. He kept the pace civil, despite the lead pack seemed only spitting distance away (world record = 25.81 meters). </p><p>I led the chase pack through a red light on a long descent when a cop decided to pull us over as gravity sped us up. I wondered whether 4 of us would fit in the cop’s backseat; I supposed there were worse things than sitting on Herb’s laps. I turned into a parking lot and was surprised no one was behind. I waited—this would be the first time I reached Dacula missing 49-mile start.</p><p>“Let’s go, Johnny. We’ll wait.” Lenny rolled passed the lot entrance. </p><p>I jumped the curb, ran on grass, and chased Lenny down at 28 mph while he took zero stroke. </p><p>We were 7 strong: Lenny, Jessica, Herb, Mario, Aaron, and an energetic Jen 秋雁. Mario looked closest to Super Mario among my Mario friends.</p><p>Herb was the first to drop, consequence of inactivity from knee surgery. I heard Jen flirting with her red line; she fell off the train. I didn’t notice when Mario disappeared. Aaron’s pulls felt too long; I silently accepted his gift.</p><p>Prior to the race, Jessica voiced concerns about frame positioning and edge control; I looked for but observed no symptom. Suddenly, she tripped; her rear wheel flew toward my nose. She regained balance before I could react. I developed appreciation for having a backup nostril.</p><p>I was among friends doing something I loved. Sky was big and beautiful; wind reasonable. During Hurricane Ian, I was unsure if I’d see Florida skaters. I looked forward to skate w/ Luke like the old days. </p><p>I was disappointed missing the 49-mile start.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2Oq8mONg-u7YOUXRoKbYdB-Sq8bjokE-Ndq0v-Ax4zFBVBUXJYyJ7Lkcy92F4JuMvXzeSE2qbD0flC6OK4aiG8CakREntDLjt3NsVVihlkNwFfE0WjEyJWnw5dGpondGWiWo1xBHAzrkfIJkcOfwHsV3iAkxbK4tpW78_HgbNhNKC7Bsx8MVjV2y/s1024/Dacula%20race%20start.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm2Oq8mONg-u7YOUXRoKbYdB-Sq8bjokE-Ndq0v-Ax4zFBVBUXJYyJ7Lkcy92F4JuMvXzeSE2qbD0flC6OK4aiG8CakREntDLjt3NsVVihlkNwFfE0WjEyJWnw5dGpondGWiWo1xBHAzrkfIJkcOfwHsV3iAkxbK4tpW78_HgbNhNKC7Bsx8MVjV2y/s320/Dacula%20race%20start.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />I urged myself to stay in the present.<p></p><p>4 of us made mile-38 Dacula without further drama. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QH-KC32lspTnVcyMzDCKL-PEOQHF26-3_7uzHK_G4yBNv35dJBvdgbf9gJA6PI-sfdBw5RkcSJ2UpYf3xPL34K3fG5KVEwGsCAb9o539qfaMS9Ihmf1k26rCWA4W3w3Ocf8b1lHT4lO-EKKJwFgj_6N2Pywyj0nNWRw0nSU6lgfsIPvy0s-LrNJh/s1024/Dacula%20crew.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7QH-KC32lspTnVcyMzDCKL-PEOQHF26-3_7uzHK_G4yBNv35dJBvdgbf9gJA6PI-sfdBw5RkcSJ2UpYf3xPL34K3fG5KVEwGsCAb9o539qfaMS9Ihmf1k26rCWA4W3w3Ocf8b1lHT4lO-EKKJwFgj_6N2Pywyj0nNWRw0nSU6lgfsIPvy0s-LrNJh/w400-h400/Dacula%20crew.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>After annual hug from Valerie, I added weight to my pockets: phone, Allen wrench, Gu blocks, and bottled water. I ate bananas and chatted with 2nd place Brian Geisel. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMq4QKfl_RdcR71oMRl3Awoh2iPBW4yJTG7mDTmtzdS409SB2pzTmRG5otH2_yltOuSz8Dw8tDNvd_p_bcDYDdcjXCd2qgxwRr_zWogikeRrRL7RtQXsjh3XD-y_-FPHCcdIMTu0b0nFdLPMwjryeLKIdZEWzJSUHSN5BXcSKd-CVOSSS3nfWCOcNR/s750/Dacula%20zip%2030019.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="750" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMq4QKfl_RdcR71oMRl3Awoh2iPBW4yJTG7mDTmtzdS409SB2pzTmRG5otH2_yltOuSz8Dw8tDNvd_p_bcDYDdcjXCd2qgxwRr_zWogikeRrRL7RtQXsjh3XD-y_-FPHCcdIMTu0b0nFdLPMwjryeLKIdZEWzJSUHSN5BXcSKd-CVOSSS3nfWCOcNR/s320/Dacula%20zip%2030019.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br />18-yo Graeme Holland arrived 26 minutes ago when I was in a different zip code. I expected to see Luke & Naomi; instead, Jen rolled through, looking less lively than an hour ago. <p></p><p>_part 2: water boy</p><p>I caught up to Jen and offered to carry her nutrition before check point 4, intending to pace her to find her second wind.</p><p>Earl & Thomas skated by as Jen stopped to water plants. 4 of us rolled together and caught a spent Aaron who stayed too long with Lenny and Jessica; we spat him out as Jen found her rhythm. </p><p>_part 3: mission</p><p>I decided to pace Jen through her first full A2A. For my first 87-mile in 2003, Branda Harris made it so all I had to do was to follow the pack. This was my opportunity to pay back.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVtEiSg9jDtMeT_1G5URpbKrk8xWRvkVioj7LmoE-1Bl3q-SlL7v2d9Z7ygMgdhxqUFZ3dooNy9buWbdTb_pfDLfxLf2GnHYP46fhM4wksfLuXZkJj2pCxbiCxybbXT8j526RtlqwxIfz6ugmwJ_gmVxO29lyoROz6ApuGxOhoYgXcbDwAOylGO-C/s3051/Henry%20drive.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1374" data-original-width="3051" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVtEiSg9jDtMeT_1G5URpbKrk8xWRvkVioj7LmoE-1Bl3q-SlL7v2d9Z7ygMgdhxqUFZ3dooNy9buWbdTb_pfDLfxLf2GnHYP46fhM4wksfLuXZkJj2pCxbiCxybbXT8j526RtlqwxIfz6ugmwJ_gmVxO29lyoROz6ApuGxOhoYgXcbDwAOylGO-C/s320/Henry%20drive.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />[yellow arrows were extra clear this year—Thank you, Henry] Getting lost with Herb and Bob in 2008 was a fond memory I preferred not to repeat.<p></p><p>Staying in slipstream became challenging as Jen’s muscles fatigued. I didn’t force her. I adjusted my pace while listening to her cadence and breath, a little surprised her cussing was English only. I urged her to resist digging too deeply into reserve.</p><p>“Is this Silver Hill?” Jen asked hopefully.</p><p>“Not even close.” I crushed her hope as each climb felt more endless.</p><p>Jen reached into her bag of tricks: conscious breathing, mantras, self-talk. Earl and Thomas turned marginally less stoic. </p><p><br /></p><p>_”all for one, all for one”</p><p>Earl and I discussed Jen’s fighting chance. I didn’t explain Jen’s accomplishments; Earl could form his own opinion about her grit. Earl offered to stay with us if I didn’t take stupid chances at intersections. </p><p>I lost focus and left Jen behind. I felt I fell asleep on the job as I waited at T-intersection. </p><p>“This ain’t about you. Keep your eyes on the goal.”</p><p>Legs turned Jell-O by Silver Hill. We went down separately. I missed Luke.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewodtnm9LADhjjuXuTyI4eKCo6CIqt7evkByY2b9LkrGsSxdboKllv6-tWJ51IOhoMwadfS2HfcWAeAsOIJ8Isg6qYrYUf8gq4o6Jh3CnQSXTyTWThDEjq2fUzcjBVxPLpKN9xsA0UyzzGW_Ys8nJii4Q-DgkcR9xPL9D3PiOi-b39Yqj0MjUgdfk/s1741/Silver%20Hill%20speed.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="1741" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgewodtnm9LADhjjuXuTyI4eKCo6CIqt7evkByY2b9LkrGsSxdboKllv6-tWJ51IOhoMwadfS2HfcWAeAsOIJ8Isg6qYrYUf8gq4o6Jh3CnQSXTyTWThDEjq2fUzcjBVxPLpKN9xsA0UyzzGW_Ys8nJii4Q-DgkcR9xPL9D3PiOi-b39Yqj0MjUgdfk/w640-h124/Silver%20Hill%20speed.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br />[slowest Silver Hill in memory].<p></p><p>I was ecstatic to see Jen stayed persistent on the long climb to check point 5. I urged her to get out of CP5 as she wanted to extend her stretching session. </p><p>“Stretching is less efficient than lowering wattage. Plenty of climbs left.” I was the bad news bearer. </p><p>I made Greg running back and forth to fetch us Gatorade from the cooler while denying Jen unnecessary comfort.</p><p>The short stop did wonders to Jen’s fast-twitch muscles—but only for few minutes. </p><p>“A2A is 70 miles of hope before 17 miles of reality.” </p><p>The remain climbs were short but numerous, fuel tanks low. The street crossing became frequent, zapping average speed. I was encouraged seeing Jen finding her 3rd wind.</p><p>Earl and I had incompatible street-crossing style; I backed off. Earl’s strides reminded me of Win Hughes: milking every drop out of slow twitch muscles. He adjusted the pace to keep everyone in; I was grateful for safety in number.</p><p>Jen grabbed a bottle of water at CP6. Soup-Nazi-like, I took it from her and made her drink CP5 Gatorade instead. There wasn’t enough time for both bottles to enter bloodstream. A2A was about weight and energy management while delaying gratification.</p><p>My legs were frustrated by unfamiliar final miles; my feet ached. </p><p>“How much discomfort does one need to endure before stumbling on happiness?”</p><p>Jen carried her fatigue well--consistent with her 24-hour race results. I denied her additional nutrition—keep it simple; hold the momentum; get it done. I desperately wanted her to succeed. </p><p>We passed long-hair Peter and was buoyant by his positivity.</p><p>Earl led us through final turns and intersections—I was happy not having to navigate. My quads lost responsiveness with each turn. Finish line eventually came. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9DX12N5Eoiu9Rj38FI21kqGHNGDuskIJp-rkSRTstG2YRSmTIuVGOimO8KJQNimYcAddH4Acmz0BrrEWAdLxghERgKqKHQSwLNi948Y2T0XzzQAufyRMC0HwznoYWsO5rtcvCwyacEem7Ltuzb1M44YrdwoERgwbl_1MZh_UZlTmjl_4icfCdh6U/s1239/cross%20finish.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="1239" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9DX12N5Eoiu9Rj38FI21kqGHNGDuskIJp-rkSRTstG2YRSmTIuVGOimO8KJQNimYcAddH4Acmz0BrrEWAdLxghERgKqKHQSwLNi948Y2T0XzzQAufyRMC0HwznoYWsO5rtcvCwyacEem7Ltuzb1M44YrdwoERgwbl_1MZh_UZlTmjl_4icfCdh6U/w640-h232/cross%20finish.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>_#’s</p><p>Athens to Dacula: 2:32:16 </p><p>Avg/max speed: 15.1/37.5 mph</p><p><a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/9716861315">https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/9716861315</a></p><p>Dacula to Atlanta: 3:55:21</p><p>Avg/max speed: 12.7/37.8 mph</p><p><a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/9716878442">https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/9716878442</a></p><p><br /></p><p>Karen from Switzerland stayed w/ Sonic and was the top lady.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQHKaf5xHqOQt7Gj3iCanXKIUAIyyFEGaVAgXOtndR0J4UpAy3l2Maoqcc2MiO3BdaZvszo8g6uTC9UZV6CsvEoIuCA9hGf-qvvN66BfFn2Vl4ys0E1FKOx5NV4SRteBPymrMr-eeauo2vgZi7bKiwa_wF958LBOr57mgW9bb9gbzvNs9QmgkrmtT/s2048/top%20women.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQHKaf5xHqOQt7Gj3iCanXKIUAIyyFEGaVAgXOtndR0J4UpAy3l2Maoqcc2MiO3BdaZvszo8g6uTC9UZV6CsvEoIuCA9hGf-qvvN66BfFn2Vl4ys0E1FKOx5NV4SRteBPymrMr-eeauo2vgZi7bKiwa_wF958LBOr57mgW9bb9gbzvNs9QmgkrmtT/w640-h480/top%20women.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />[Karen, Jessica, Jen]<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4cx7iZ4ixtT6nGLbHsPZf5GGFrSfQqKNYgaJD1-vrqPvSD_Fz2Mi9DSFP9mRKts7l6ayJrjAWukX6KIoB61Hh-GimMDVbxOHNABQ2322mBQ8QGcWw1rdQ5Rz1_aAURATmSdmumZwFhfu8ByJdoLEQ3s2fwUpAvBpvTPQqOLn4Ija5WMtJrQ_NyhJ/s2048/top%20men.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4cx7iZ4ixtT6nGLbHsPZf5GGFrSfQqKNYgaJD1-vrqPvSD_Fz2Mi9DSFP9mRKts7l6ayJrjAWukX6KIoB61Hh-GimMDVbxOHNABQ2322mBQ8QGcWw1rdQ5Rz1_aAURATmSdmumZwFhfu8ByJdoLEQ3s2fwUpAvBpvTPQqOLn4Ija5WMtJrQ_NyhJ/w640-h480/top%20men.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />[Francisco, Eddy, 21-yo Edgar Meneses]<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMy2EP45wuwAYBcvQxWQnl12UWUbC9uC4uRWM61zBqaTiSYe5DlgPvY-7HXOHqHq9sCEnfoYybYauTMp2zptRIUcN_zTGZ7gaNc60kLHExcEVkkh0tnhBDwY4j8tnAO97doSJfYGz8cvSQ0B8Hwf778ofI-re3ZQ4izKbTENG-NlJWhfrrf6CCA8g/s2048/peachy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1271" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMy2EP45wuwAYBcvQxWQnl12UWUbC9uC4uRWM61zBqaTiSYe5DlgPvY-7HXOHqHq9sCEnfoYybYauTMp2zptRIUcN_zTGZ7gaNc60kLHExcEVkkh0tnhBDwY4j8tnAO97doSJfYGz8cvSQ0B8Hwf778ofI-re3ZQ4izKbTENG-NlJWhfrrf6CCA8g/w249-h400/peachy.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><br />I won a peach. It was delicious.<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18KKXhxK2MCexLebavqRzoecVQ5Ep_cDsv6lPwC_KKw_LCnU_kZi-5EWlOEmbvrsDdJQSdINjTQi8ii8NkLVnAXLrl05tXGpUmrnaVGGkBpuoRp5OixEyhs9WG5sT6cPm2-DmsSzuPtFg4tkzpEUVjYZQxA5FiUVx3ry9J_Jv_NMzDyU-aX5JEqC9/s1758/311078808_5193825800740753_586050365084613338_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1758" data-original-width="1641" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18KKXhxK2MCexLebavqRzoecVQ5Ep_cDsv6lPwC_KKw_LCnU_kZi-5EWlOEmbvrsDdJQSdINjTQi8ii8NkLVnAXLrl05tXGpUmrnaVGGkBpuoRp5OixEyhs9WG5sT6cPm2-DmsSzuPtFg4tkzpEUVjYZQxA5FiUVx3ry9J_Jv_NMzDyU-aX5JEqC9/w374-h400/311078808_5193825800740753_586050365084613338_n.jpg" width="374" /></a></div><br />10 and 13-year-olds tied for the 49-mile gold.<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAPU-R3jSf2Rhdrb8jODUepcFaBotRcaHhx9oPOdDWXIuU81HmoDY5A8VtbaWzYSqZj8b6ZHC-0sYflwndGXBLL9gj3xrCeTnkCBxvSYQaQirKI_c1O6XKaZW8Z2xw2rU5CpRaQ3gN4BHEGsn0m-M18ibwHGaSx9wxlrKesa4AIJrUAk-B3w4Tsjf/s2048/Blake.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="996" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheAPU-R3jSf2Rhdrb8jODUepcFaBotRcaHhx9oPOdDWXIuU81HmoDY5A8VtbaWzYSqZj8b6ZHC-0sYflwndGXBLL9gj3xrCeTnkCBxvSYQaQirKI_c1O6XKaZW8Z2xw2rU5CpRaQ3gN4BHEGsn0m-M18ibwHGaSx9wxlrKesa4AIJrUAk-B3w4Tsjf/w195-h400/Blake.jpg" width="195" /></a></div><br />Blake chose to go the whole distance as a last-minute decision. I admired him.<p></p><p>_after</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1MRTMrdRLdlz94lfaBOkEouO3ldC3wz4KKQee-Z3sYvOotIxn6Nst02nQolbxBdmwnwfFOYhT9-UMsFfHGY7HPibNhcO6QK6O9AqG6Jc9lX_cl2Py_iJYz7WXkNuB4fa4wUKr7Tfa_6H_Fg0gc2JfZjN6lo8YTsUepxEzA8MGPuzCaUKZ2iSD073/s2048/Lulu%20&%20mom.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1367" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1MRTMrdRLdlz94lfaBOkEouO3ldC3wz4KKQee-Z3sYvOotIxn6Nst02nQolbxBdmwnwfFOYhT9-UMsFfHGY7HPibNhcO6QK6O9AqG6Jc9lX_cl2Py_iJYz7WXkNuB4fa4wUKr7Tfa_6H_Fg0gc2JfZjN6lo8YTsUepxEzA8MGPuzCaUKZ2iSD073/s320/Lulu%20&%20mom.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br />I met Earl’s lovely family; we talked about skating techniques. I hope Yama would grow up happy and calm and Lulu.<p></p><p>I didn’t skate with Naomi but got to catch up with her and Tinneys at Park Tavern. Jen bought me dinner. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AGV8LO9CJB3u08QV8xGf4XGWS09e7QT9-XduH3rlZ91Rk5W8CIHuP0biTkhEMEA61Xl-o-h0vLPU5E5E6FDVUpw7UliGibs5ZFRg_0-4VR57oPhv2NSvQJrWq1eyY7v8DQII4nZPfd7ZKKozm683JmmikEJisw1YAoQF820VqtxEp_yJlu3OTK4i/s900/burger%20tatertot%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="900" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AGV8LO9CJB3u08QV8xGf4XGWS09e7QT9-XduH3rlZ91Rk5W8CIHuP0biTkhEMEA61Xl-o-h0vLPU5E5E6FDVUpw7UliGibs5ZFRg_0-4VR57oPhv2NSvQJrWq1eyY7v8DQII4nZPfd7ZKKozm683JmmikEJisw1YAoQF820VqtxEp_yJlu3OTK4i/s320/burger%20tatertot%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Burgers earned are tastier than burgers bought<p></p><p>-------</p><p>photos were mostly lifted off Facebook. Apologies for not tracking photo credit.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Johnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com1Dacula, GA 30019, USA33.9887165 -83.89795735.678482663821157 -119.0542073 62.298950336178848 -48.7417073tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-21220739107880924932022-04-23T04:00:00.097-07:002022-10-07T18:05:58.474-07:00 Hachie 50-mile 2022/04/23; Waxahachie, Texas—first 50-mile since 2008<p>_goal </p><p>8 hours 6 minutes.</p><p>Alex’s 2021 9:40 pace seemed within reach. Alex wouldn’t be back to defend his podium due to conflict with Boston Marathon.</p><p>Reference paces and finish times</p><p> 9:15 pace => 7:42</p><p> 9:30 pace => 7:55</p><p> 9:43 pace => 8:06 (Alex Barrientos 2021-05-01)</p><p> 9:54: pace => 8:15 (Tuan Nguyen 2021-05-01)</p><p> Amy Clark 7:14:38 (2017-05-06) women course record</p><p>in 2008 I changed my distance from 50k to 50-mile 14 hours before race because they were the same price but different finishing jacket. The impulse decision led to DNF and shin split. I never raced 50-mile since.</p><p>_conflicting advice</p><p>Javier Vilchis (reigning Cowtown 50k champion): go by feel. Take your time sit down and eat between laps.</p><p>Amy Clark (female course record holder): Start at 9:30 pace. “Definitely a negative-split course.”</p><p>Logan Sherman (2015 Dallas Marathon winner): Start at 9:00 pace then see what happens. [Logan tended to forget not everyone could run 2.5-hour marathons]</p><p>Shaheen Satter (8th place at Western State): Go by feel. Just do it.</p><p>Alex Barrientos (4th place 2021): even split at 2 minute/mile slower than marathon PR pace => 9:40/mile pace for me.</p><p>Paul Box (race director and 7:05:38 finisher 2016): “hold the ‘forever speed’ for as long as you can…. Going slower would use different muscles.”</p><p>Me: “how long could u hold that pace?”</p><p>Paul: “about 35 miles” [shrug]</p><p><br /></p><p>_lowlights</p><p>Furniture accident 1 week prior. Left knee and a stool collided in the dark. I was at fault.</p><p>Feet felt banged up after pacing a half marathon at the uncomfortable 9:55 pace in Irving.</p><p>Giving up final week diet due to family dinners.</p><p>Tight left glute Monday. Released after massage Wednesday.</p><p><br /></p><p>_gear</p><p>Nike Alphafly to start. Hoka Clifton 5 as backup.</p><p>Singlet first lap. Shirtless 4 laps.</p><p>Oakley Flak Beta. It somehow bothered me during lap 2 & 3 under cloudy sky.</p><p>Garmin 630 right wrist: average pace, electronic pacer at 9:45 pace.</p><p>Garmin 245 left wrist: Stryd power, lap pace, total time, total distance. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LlZIJ__QAySwh67oWLYojZvuKEWMOKQyp7qAicO2j2FCzReO6pwxpXXZsxU3bqXbENk--MEMg0T8ejm_XHS7iGz76ds7L4P0mwxSWFyRcae98PAZLW6q5Z24732af1PSOxynlvL5GJ-Qx2etn7NdxUvwG_BoBMFSgFiLgM88q76VxuNkEuNKjvF5/s4032/gear.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LlZIJ__QAySwh67oWLYojZvuKEWMOKQyp7qAicO2j2FCzReO6pwxpXXZsxU3bqXbENk--MEMg0T8ejm_XHS7iGz76ds7L4P0mwxSWFyRcae98PAZLW6q5Z24732af1PSOxynlvL5GJ-Qx2etn7NdxUvwG_BoBMFSgFiLgM88q76VxuNkEuNKjvF5/w400-h300/gear.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>_nutrition</p><p>Perfect Amino + Endurolyte + Red Bull () before lap 4, 5</p><p>8.4 fl oz Red Bull was difficult to consume without stopping. I was unable to follow Javier’s advice to take my time.</p><p>2~3 Hammer gels/hour from water stops.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xD6pO-eA7vbVGxnlJEEi-RmzyEYIAi-xQefDY_-onwi9f01D6ttiXveDBkNHG3FZytrsN562ZWtbVuz-EKesQq8AD2ERrH7EgxFGA_Ky2noNn6CfzjhTK9vcephsuxV0sROTzYwcR4I3yBF3bzqZowlBi3TgeAiXJAk8S19mShXZLh0s2pVGi03_/s4032/chair.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xD6pO-eA7vbVGxnlJEEi-RmzyEYIAi-xQefDY_-onwi9f01D6ttiXveDBkNHG3FZytrsN562ZWtbVuz-EKesQq8AD2ERrH7EgxFGA_Ky2noNn6CfzjhTK9vcephsuxV0sROTzYwcR4I3yBF3bzqZowlBi3TgeAiXJAk8S19mShXZLh0s2pVGi03_/s320/chair.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />[each 50-miler gets his own spot for his gear along the course]<p></p><p><br /></p><p>_racers</p><p>Erika Silva and I chatted for our opening miles at 9:45 pace. She projected finish time of 11~12 hours and stressed the importance of patience. </p><p>“Then why are you running this fast?” </p><p>“….” She let me run ahead.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielh7DVAZkW4D5DKTHKA3s0d9fLMtNg0jf_ZzJ-L7BZjDl9BMMLygbRV4kQvFtR97X7sLhuChZvHQGIIs2hNMtFUY70fc-Hef3PfkEjLwWMI5dEpI3JkqqqfvH6D0PGnK09lZKytkQbVFFJH3XebTG6EvVOZVVz6FWpSxGoiGPLAe8LmiNpreEqfY8/s900/dehydrate%20not.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielh7DVAZkW4D5DKTHKA3s0d9fLMtNg0jf_ZzJ-L7BZjDl9BMMLygbRV4kQvFtR97X7sLhuChZvHQGIIs2hNMtFUY70fc-Hef3PfkEjLwWMI5dEpI3JkqqqfvH6D0PGnK09lZKytkQbVFFJH3XebTG6EvVOZVVz6FWpSxGoiGPLAe8LmiNpreEqfY8/s320/dehydrate%20not.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />[easy early laps]<p></p><p>Before marathon started, Javier looked most relaxed and fastest, jogging at sub-8 pace. He encouraged me every time we crossed path; I felt starstruck. He led 50k race start to finish.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwo_4omi8v8-ELj9a6AMDmgtk9dFPDaHxneHG0KDL1pXzWALMfEU2N2SXl86jYcs55UR5wMfi7eI3kR-1Y7OB1JeA5SJTOzzLTYXRqXKRFZElolt4BNhkaPlw-tNHNZkXfKzEdF0v_0XPUZCA7hHxUtGJQLO3cPju6-6n_lfBPzAoC5aKTQhpKp6Zc/s1500/Jung%20Javier.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwo_4omi8v8-ELj9a6AMDmgtk9dFPDaHxneHG0KDL1pXzWALMfEU2N2SXl86jYcs55UR5wMfi7eI3kR-1Y7OB1JeA5SJTOzzLTYXRqXKRFZElolt4BNhkaPlw-tNHNZkXfKzEdF0v_0XPUZCA7hHxUtGJQLO3cPju6-6n_lfBPzAoC5aKTQhpKp6Zc/w300-h400/Jung%20Javier.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>Jung also raced 50k and encouraged me each time. Her posture & pace dropped during 2nd half but held together for 2nd female.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYKnStvrKeDP0J3s-Zl4vA_AmIcYKGfmMpt_7Nwv4fla9bsxdp83uhmPrsuoaEkscpojQukjh7Dh9_XZICztTknDEEbHz5XpPiUIPw_olp8V7Ie74ydGmH1e3f-L6VgSUSjRl0f3z93tzcDZVaPyPrF9yi1YnMKRzyrZUsbric80RJDzpLoG0vSF0/s1440/Meghan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYKnStvrKeDP0J3s-Zl4vA_AmIcYKGfmMpt_7Nwv4fla9bsxdp83uhmPrsuoaEkscpojQukjh7Dh9_XZICztTknDEEbHz5XpPiUIPw_olp8V7Ie74ydGmH1e3f-L6VgSUSjRl0f3z93tzcDZVaPyPrF9yi1YnMKRzyrZUsbric80RJDzpLoG0vSF0/s320/Meghan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Meghan showed her usual determination soloing 50k. I admire her.<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFMoJalMOwZYaBNCF7qbRVpLfWoYbd-nxaHiRF26r8il29zE8hpFL5VSML_m7v5QW8ooAIhLSRACZj_h6tShbuPFnrMRlH8anmBqGsYFDDovyKWO6KDYPjRzK4J0zsRQ7_mk_2UCmIbw5bJZh3Wc_Vg9BsaZlZe6v45XQnsKb6u4rjmXfKZg5BZti/s2048/Harsha%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFMoJalMOwZYaBNCF7qbRVpLfWoYbd-nxaHiRF26r8il29zE8hpFL5VSML_m7v5QW8ooAIhLSRACZj_h6tShbuPFnrMRlH8anmBqGsYFDDovyKWO6KDYPjRzK4J0zsRQ7_mk_2UCmIbw5bJZh3Wc_Vg9BsaZlZe6v45XQnsKb6u4rjmXfKZg5BZti/w480-h640/Harsha%202.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />Harsha was a burst of energy.<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBFm0bJEIP2MmF28lTt5fCB74SRReU6pTfo7KX5RbuOTZu28xjhl_fB8VI5Q8XUNjTOrlV2-_ArdPFNqpD5h5DA9ctbujNisbmbCnkUP1oldxlHA9mAE_-o-0_g3yYYBPHwzm4NYtOi3DycMXStb1WFiutM8Akh8SUif_2fufLK9VB2cersDTJ37r/s2048/Voon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBFm0bJEIP2MmF28lTt5fCB74SRReU6pTfo7KX5RbuOTZu28xjhl_fB8VI5Q8XUNjTOrlV2-_ArdPFNqpD5h5DA9ctbujNisbmbCnkUP1oldxlHA9mAE_-o-0_g3yYYBPHwzm4NYtOi3DycMXStb1WFiutM8Akh8SUif_2fufLK9VB2cersDTJ37r/s320/Voon.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />Voon was the last IRC runner I saw on the course. I tried but failed to catch her—I was unable to average sub-10 during final lap.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>_decline</p><p>Legs stiffed expectedly by mile 27. </p><p>“Keep up. It’s only 23 miles to go—not even a marathon.”</p><p>I was able to convince them to hold 9:45 pace through lap 4.</p><p>Mile-32 cooler stop, I again forgot to drop sunglasses off. My focus shifted to the sugary drink the moment I saw the cooler. I was happy to see Timo getting ready at relay zone; I handed Oakleys to him, holding Red Bull in the other hand.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPfWT36GfPjFgvxHs-PDy2MpB6or0KWNJHckFhtt-S_WaxN9nCCZidH-g61wNg5ntWSfyESWBL9el94b21YQ30W15wayMDx5_TjOG0FBUldbgaPmpqBLzEIyl-s81UctzeAyhPdKG_pFPcaHHPRhXiogxvg7ayUdgln3VQn6eLyW29b_VcfNcls7u/s900/Timo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPfWT36GfPjFgvxHs-PDy2MpB6or0KWNJHckFhtt-S_WaxN9nCCZidH-g61wNg5ntWSfyESWBL9el94b21YQ30W15wayMDx5_TjOG0FBUldbgaPmpqBLzEIyl-s81UctzeAyhPdKG_pFPcaHHPRhXiogxvg7ayUdgln3VQn6eLyW29b_VcfNcls7u/w266-h400/Timo.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>Before his relay start, Timo ran a bit with me starting lap 4. <p>I learned Red Bull can’s tiny hole made it difficult to consume while in motion. I almost ran into a light tole. I reeled Maria in shortly after Red Bull. Lap 4 took effort to hold steady power. I became afraid of running the final 10 miles. Carl Jung warned me not to go down that rabbit hole.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEsCQU2IaoxJWaIekf-3xda5RjnrZsXrFWQu_EyN0TYuSDVADGszocDJcMisrSXnc-3m-Y95qc5n5EUdHQYuYE80LpCTbT3OGQM2m5DCZxk8ejIHXmIIK7Eqf3QjwTMFBucWsbbx2vgCEXlgYLiptbtaQ5SJU5Ez8jhwnouuVeyfYGNPSU4hLfmi1/s1000/thumbs%20up%203.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEsCQU2IaoxJWaIekf-3xda5RjnrZsXrFWQu_EyN0TYuSDVADGszocDJcMisrSXnc-3m-Y95qc5n5EUdHQYuYE80LpCTbT3OGQM2m5DCZxk8ejIHXmIIK7Eqf3QjwTMFBucWsbbx2vgCEXlgYLiptbtaQ5SJU5Ez8jhwnouuVeyfYGNPSU4hLfmi1/w300-h400/thumbs%20up%203.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>[dehydrated]<br /><p>_final lap</p><p>I had difficulty controlling the fancy tall Nikes at mile 42; too late to change to backup shoes. I lost 50 seconds/mile but was happy just to stay upright. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2Hd1oC1KsaAyfLFMulMABNfHpIaeODRp5tG4_-RcAnNRHQVtPKa7gOeQVrI7uq8Yz_VwQAfLvaIzoa55WO_Yq5JCcA1DSoPg4UPwLyzA82AWEocvI0Zq5XueZ4o6kgeiR-MF2LKdFdlnmzBigoIlGIcOhX-Wgp7T5d3J6nYy3Ru_fbDZguAz9sN3/s900/Tyler%20Thorne%2024yo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2Hd1oC1KsaAyfLFMulMABNfHpIaeODRp5tG4_-RcAnNRHQVtPKa7gOeQVrI7uq8Yz_VwQAfLvaIzoa55WO_Yq5JCcA1DSoPg4UPwLyzA82AWEocvI0Zq5XueZ4o6kgeiR-MF2LKdFdlnmzBigoIlGIcOhX-Wgp7T5d3J6nYy3Ru_fbDZguAz9sN3/s320/Tyler%20Thorne%2024yo.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />24-year-old shirtless leader way ahead but ran like someone just handed him a piano—I knew how that felt. Maria dropped to another zip code behind me. I tried to hold Alex’s 9:40 pace but was mentally exhausted. <p></p><p>“Just don’t walk. Don’t stop. Don’t trip yourself.”</p><p><br /></p><p>Timo welcome me for the final stretch. I was happy and sad to find I had plenty fuel in the tank. I crossed the line at su- 8 pace.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx7gq_VVAnJ1Tu1W3JUotFA8NHdCNHkok0XORh_BVgrKAqYQ3Ycy7czsjpeFAvnsV1U-WbWABtaGxpKTwKzew' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />[Cloudy humid morning favored skinny topless Asian]<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TSFnqYu6Nxhy_2W4hNu7w4CY6Bzg3Wx3_LU1Hf_sfLTr9dXiRbPfB2lTdfkbWNUyVaiB5D_qOmYzfpM3A7T63LzH8wk1eCBq87WQeVytU3GcAEjBQPl572NdI-Ah3zmgvKnTXzOd6orn-o2dt_CohKgE_hwXlF_k2vHUXo2TwurHG4IfgSScWVv5/s674/split.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="674" data-original-width="281" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8TSFnqYu6Nxhy_2W4hNu7w4CY6Bzg3Wx3_LU1Hf_sfLTr9dXiRbPfB2lTdfkbWNUyVaiB5D_qOmYzfpM3A7T63LzH8wk1eCBq87WQeVytU3GcAEjBQPl572NdI-Ah3zmgvKnTXzOd6orn-o2dt_CohKgE_hwXlF_k2vHUXo2TwurHG4IfgSScWVv5/w266-h640/split.png" width="266" /></a></div><br />[I was happy my splits were less positive than my competition]<p></p><p><br /></p><p>_#</p><p>Garmin 245</p><p>Distance: 49.97 miles (from Stryd)</p><p>Time: 8:11:22</p><p>Pace: 9:50 min/mile</p><p><br /></p><p>Stryd foot pod</p><p>Moving time: 8:10:18</p><p>Elevation gain: 4135 feet</p><p>Pace: 9:49 min/mile</p><p>Cadence: 178 spm</p><p>Power: 181w (Stryd)</p><p><br /></p><p>Official</p><p>Distance: 50.00 miles</p><p>Time: 8:11:21.6</p><p>Pace: 9:50 min/mile</p><p>Place: 2th overall</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDXpNtjM-_TOOeBZN4FzX8GoY00x8884wOxo1j4hMCgOLURsch8V9WpFiT7xn6S0-TOdFErGxi_m11Z5tja14Cu1lbohA67gG3G9eVmC786i4w24-PAviRHfMMNIbk9tG8MQKcAHv-1Yu9uXBd2DTizzDamv_bdLRi-PpkgrwyeInuTgKrVZSqRR4/s4032/prize.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDXpNtjM-_TOOeBZN4FzX8GoY00x8884wOxo1j4hMCgOLURsch8V9WpFiT7xn6S0-TOdFErGxi_m11Z5tja14Cu1lbohA67gG3G9eVmC786i4w24-PAviRHfMMNIbk9tG8MQKcAHv-1Yu9uXBd2DTizzDamv_bdLRi-PpkgrwyeInuTgKrVZSqRR4/w400-h300/prize.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhVzJmi57XquWmqsjzLSBnMTPEzwEbWQH-prcfgfB2TF41JsdbI7-v0RxxVnNNw8hZz19UBPESJNIzuk4gV6_JAEfcdaEtw7PyZ4liuRt2vrSIk3TJNhoMUZjgEHDFFPh4hOjAJYE0aNdjNDnk5hA50_eRfCGacVjMCvov1Kfv32ImWNkGC-eRsZ2/s900/Tyler%20Thorne%20dead%20legs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhVzJmi57XquWmqsjzLSBnMTPEzwEbWQH-prcfgfB2TF41JsdbI7-v0RxxVnNNw8hZz19UBPESJNIzuk4gV6_JAEfcdaEtw7PyZ4liuRt2vrSIk3TJNhoMUZjgEHDFFPh4hOjAJYE0aNdjNDnk5hA50_eRfCGacVjMCvov1Kfv32ImWNkGC-eRsZ2/w400-h266/Tyler%20Thorne%20dead%20legs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />24-year-old Tyler Thorne beat me by 40 minutes 16.6 seconds (9:01 pace). I wished I was twice his age.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>_races other side of the world</p><p><br /></p><p>ChihYang ran half at KinMen Marathon wearing a continuous glucose monitor.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-7NnoshU-pS4gux2_CS8j_nXtWj9QS5o6ZGgp8Vct1Ii-JgLdG5cMR6SE7nftJ4W2d95Xc0fWqSSWZs-uRnD6LUE2b_taGXNwqTGA4-65HQjX2zpoE2KEkzFpLjz7N4Kqt6GDwG2X9fwnP5fw1Y6rLJNc4A_rJdarPdTAJspjA4R1FJKOevIOCQ4/s1280/Jack%20Kinmen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="855" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU-7NnoshU-pS4gux2_CS8j_nXtWj9QS5o6ZGgp8Vct1Ii-JgLdG5cMR6SE7nftJ4W2d95Xc0fWqSSWZs-uRnD6LUE2b_taGXNwqTGA4-65HQjX2zpoE2KEkzFpLjz7N4Kqt6GDwG2X9fwnP5fw1Y6rLJNc4A_rJdarPdTAJspjA4R1FJKOevIOCQ4/w428-h640/Jack%20Kinmen.jpg" width="428" /></a></div><br />[mom made ChihYang go to the barber before the race]<p></p><p><br /></p><p>On the same day at Centurion Running Track in Bedford, United Kingdom, Lithuania’s Aleksandr Sorokin set a new 100K World Record in 6:05:41! (Pace: 5:53/mile / 3:39/km). </p><p><br /></p><p>_after</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyPlERgtJLNfra3ot2dnw2Kgs1TMzMVckBccyU0TxM2-PK5gfm6MRek6ZDicU_STSPhM0vPIIOUP8n_p8AXFv_twaESxaun8Pwv6hvvQUA8_ejSycnaLJB0PWap1WcKP9DKy7uz1QeyG8YpXbQ12PEz05eLcgpeMvjdbESd1VPUII2xa66UzoNaI9/s1440/IRC%204.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyPlERgtJLNfra3ot2dnw2Kgs1TMzMVckBccyU0TxM2-PK5gfm6MRek6ZDicU_STSPhM0vPIIOUP8n_p8AXFv_twaESxaun8Pwv6hvvQUA8_ejSycnaLJB0PWap1WcKP9DKy7uz1QeyG8YpXbQ12PEz05eLcgpeMvjdbESd1VPUII2xa66UzoNaI9/w640-h640/IRC%204.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I felt special hanging out w/ IRC after the race. COVID took much of socialization away since 2020.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinmUiAVLYhTHDa0hwm5DAKm3OnoV5elD2DZRNw2zjs8WPeb-EwZNNhI0_f7YVxotOOwNAJhSBGDCE-qENncsG9ukqRUcFKLpHFF2HHVa3At3IYS-sGmNbIyLeMV1OoC_Hea9ZFJNPXCTuwJGfA4rEAKAqyA36HLyAB0qECmk4Ck7vvq6ToRAWNmkA8/s2048/IRC%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinmUiAVLYhTHDa0hwm5DAKm3OnoV5elD2DZRNw2zjs8WPeb-EwZNNhI0_f7YVxotOOwNAJhSBGDCE-qENncsG9ukqRUcFKLpHFF2HHVa3At3IYS-sGmNbIyLeMV1OoC_Hea9ZFJNPXCTuwJGfA4rEAKAqyA36HLyAB0qECmk4Ck7vvq6ToRAWNmkA8/w400-h300/IRC%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1laMdMCekyvWtujo09sYEhIfRLnFKUB48NqS7g5PcuD5Y8jq_0smhzExVWMezAzInsxAKf1vCWU0cNtXBvTDyjjOZx8u0vdtmUBgQZUL3YiggxPl4lo70bcemlWL6Tb7iihxbTfDjmXkan8SC15A7Y4TcweHtNsjU8D7f6Wq7zErp_JVI0ik6G3oz/s2048/knee%20scrape.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1laMdMCekyvWtujo09sYEhIfRLnFKUB48NqS7g5PcuD5Y8jq_0smhzExVWMezAzInsxAKf1vCWU0cNtXBvTDyjjOZx8u0vdtmUBgQZUL3YiggxPl4lo70bcemlWL6Tb7iihxbTfDjmXkan8SC15A7Y4TcweHtNsjU8D7f6Wq7zErp_JVI0ik6G3oz/w300-h400/knee%20scrape.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />[Jung is my knee body]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZf0qsq5pjMRmb4cr79a_vXqSAW8talzmWtyCf167RxmcyzJL-WlPiqJ5dmevF4-_Kud-fs25C_fdhgBl_a3VR17ULY4RBXXam_wGNFDOLei3S1ofDMBh71tJ78-XjXEO297EvrCU200G2F9PaDukvdBKYHHRwOeoQ02oYlUCQCXOfDDUVYOFGahzd/s2048/Stef%20Taniguchi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZf0qsq5pjMRmb4cr79a_vXqSAW8talzmWtyCf167RxmcyzJL-WlPiqJ5dmevF4-_Kud-fs25C_fdhgBl_a3VR17ULY4RBXXam_wGNFDOLei3S1ofDMBh71tJ78-XjXEO297EvrCU200G2F9PaDukvdBKYHHRwOeoQ02oYlUCQCXOfDDUVYOFGahzd/w300-h400/Stef%20Taniguchi.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />[Stefanie ran the last leg of the 5-lady relay]<br /><p>I recovered unexpectedly well. I raced Plano Pacer 3k a week later at my 5k PB pace. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixH2OVdeMHKXC_KzbXcnqROw9eo1zhQ-pjmIq_0erbZa5CsyHKIi75S0Le5b0VytQmkt-IbhPhOwHxG2RFx6915RomoIWfiTYSlSm-11hrHO_l_Q50RKa9naDwRbcyDoMGLLNxrYb0BQ-EBY-Z8TyVlOlq35rkTt3XHBMP-wnBM7C0tuHsvI9R4OKO/s1570/20220430.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1570" data-original-width="1120" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixH2OVdeMHKXC_KzbXcnqROw9eo1zhQ-pjmIq_0erbZa5CsyHKIi75S0Le5b0VytQmkt-IbhPhOwHxG2RFx6915RomoIWfiTYSlSm-11hrHO_l_Q50RKa9naDwRbcyDoMGLLNxrYb0BQ-EBY-Z8TyVlOlq35rkTt3XHBMP-wnBM7C0tuHsvI9R4OKO/w285-h400/20220430.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><br />[photo by Steve P]<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Johnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0Waxahachie, TX, USA32.3865312 -96.84833114.0762973638211548 -132.0045811 60.696765036178846 -61.692081099999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-21012027680718642262022-04-02T05:30:00.000-07:002022-04-06T06:15:27.024-07:00Irving Marathon Half 2022/04/02—Oprah pace. 3 weeks before Hachie 50<p>Meghan invited IRC’ers to pace. I signed up. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipai3SqroXX3Yw7_N4Ay39LC-L4o916Bg7AKl1KmD81zTgORi3NAe6h0p6zRYgCZWMB3Ph42cEsx4O9CqTQVdB9g1bSlinrYbYUJu7OBXXurBl0otycqzqPBTn_6z2tzfejS_O5QyH0awuhJFOMn0HxLDjZES-wheehiqsIUoGkWWyoCGjPbJmvF03/s2048/pacers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipai3SqroXX3Yw7_N4Ay39LC-L4o916Bg7AKl1KmD81zTgORi3NAe6h0p6zRYgCZWMB3Ph42cEsx4O9CqTQVdB9g1bSlinrYbYUJu7OBXXurBl0otycqzqPBTn_6z2tzfejS_O5QyH0awuhJFOMn0HxLDjZES-wheehiqsIUoGkWWyoCGjPbJmvF03/w480-h640/pacers.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />I wanted 1:50 or 2:00 but accepted the
remaining 2:10 slot. 13-mile is a little
short for 3-week-out long run. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdgY9VdUb2Kg4JcE87Et6p3AdKN7Lb1WOjU04XpoGDftD6oUDc_EpzLbRGKIYBJSg57k2x_5vC4Mutu3bOD0I6LwkkRIAjEA5Sl9UTbvAbkbDZZcfUofq8tPIFIY3Vib6yIPPIoZE0364bZKkNQOEwVsDosS3lb6yw-2raIfUb2wFGpQboestj_Gk/s1440/277522732_4721262437982066_7571985912349349104_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdgY9VdUb2Kg4JcE87Et6p3AdKN7Lb1WOjU04XpoGDftD6oUDc_EpzLbRGKIYBJSg57k2x_5vC4Mutu3bOD0I6LwkkRIAjEA5Sl9UTbvAbkbDZZcfUofq8tPIFIY3Vib6yIPPIoZE0364bZKkNQOEwVsDosS3lb6yw-2raIfUb2wFGpQboestj_Gk/w400-h400/277522732_4721262437982066_7571985912349349104_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>[I ran
extra after celebratory breakfast buffet in VIP lounge]</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">_unexpected<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fenix 5+ on left wrist showed very different distance fist 9
miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I accidentally paused FR 245 on
right wrist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, I also had
mile split band.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">_#’s<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Official: 2:09:17.9<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Distance: 13.109 miles<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 7.5pt 7.5pt 0in 7.5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 1100px;"><thead><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"><td style="padding: 0in 22.5pt 0in 0in; width: 81.0pt;" width="108"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Split<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 22.5pt 0in 0in; width: 81.0pt;" width="108">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Time<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 22.5pt 0in 0in; width: 81.0pt;" width="108">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Pace<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 22.5pt 0in 0in; width: 81.0pt;" width="108">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Place<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="padding: 0in 22.5pt 0in 0in; width: 81.0pt;" valign="top" width="108">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">4M<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 22.5pt 0in 0in; width: 81.0pt;" valign="top" width="108">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">40:12<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 22.5pt 0in 0in; width: 81.0pt;" valign="top" width="108">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">10:03<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 22.5pt 0in 0in; width: 81.0pt;" valign="top" width="108">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">423<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="padding: 0in 22.5pt 0in 0in; width: 81.0pt;" valign="top" width="108">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">8.3<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 22.5pt 0in 0in; width: 81.0pt;" valign="top" width="108">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">1:23:06.9<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 22.5pt 0in 0in; width: 81.0pt;" valign="top" width="108">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">10:01<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 22.5pt 0in 0in; width: 81.0pt;" valign="top" width="108">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">394<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="padding: 0in 22.5pt 0in 0in; width: 81.0pt;" valign="top" width="108">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">11.3<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 22.5pt 0in 0in; width: 81.0pt;" valign="top" width="108">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">1:54:22.9<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 22.5pt 0in 0in; width: 81.0pt;" valign="top" width="108">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">10:07<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 22.5pt 0in 0in; width: 81.0pt;" valign="top" width="108">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">317<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="padding: 0in 22.5pt 0in 0in; width: 81.0pt;" valign="top" width="108">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">13.1<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 22.5pt 0in 0in; width: 81.0pt;" valign="top" width="108">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">2:09:17.9<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 22.5pt 0in 0in; width: 81.0pt;" valign="top" width="108">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">9:52<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="padding: 0in 22.5pt 0in 0in; width: 81.0pt;" valign="top" width="108">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #555555; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">326<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fenix 5+: 2:09:19<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Distance: 13.43 miles<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTfRi_HOcDIiQbbZet01l_POfKPG-HJjS3-X_CRKxvCHbshfS1YEqqpi6uPh31jTk_4mOBqt-hLWbrChldldgXljd-CFeGwhdcA8OHgLFYXExq-KUzs5HV_UPD2WY76hwmbquHf87VBl7j5LQCnU-s1ZpJuU8jt8zD2psLNHjtgul_FOsskOMEUmW/s2048/Javier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1988" data-original-width="2048" height="622" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTfRi_HOcDIiQbbZet01l_POfKPG-HJjS3-X_CRKxvCHbshfS1YEqqpi6uPh31jTk_4mOBqt-hLWbrChldldgXljd-CFeGwhdcA8OHgLFYXExq-KUzs5HV_UPD2WY76hwmbquHf87VBl7j5LQCnU-s1ZpJuU8jt8zD2psLNHjtgul_FOsskOMEUmW/w640-h622/Javier.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><o:p>[</o:p>Javier won half master]<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIJRT44qEPcfCPIZ0WxC6b99e_Vq3kfuy3lKuYSQAz4TfyTu1RHKkuN9v7RZddBb4a7sGQY2lgnHyr-uV8u0-S0nlQf54ecHBt6F3g_Td-G9Piw_b8exlmt3ULFTxZ2AsonxP3P2Xpjq3M9IyVEQaFhuoG8mMqQnf7i_VIIOMXIU1vG50o4V_hkZy/s2048/participation%20trophy%20Dan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIJRT44qEPcfCPIZ0WxC6b99e_Vq3kfuy3lKuYSQAz4TfyTu1RHKkuN9v7RZddBb4a7sGQY2lgnHyr-uV8u0-S0nlQf54ecHBt6F3g_Td-G9Piw_b8exlmt3ULFTxZ2AsonxP3P2Xpjq3M9IyVEQaFhuoG8mMqQnf7i_VIIOMXIU1vG50o4V_hkZy/w400-h400/participation%20trophy%20Dan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />[IRC won most participation]<p></p>Johnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0Irving, TX, USA32.8140177 -96.94889454.5037838638211554 -132.1051445 61.124251536178846 -61.792644499999994tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-7779311983189795782022-03-19T05:30:00.001-07:002022-10-08T15:18:34.156-07:00 Grasslands Trail Marathon 2022/3/19—long run before Hachie 50<p>_short version</p><p>This marathon was my final long run to prepare for Hachie 50-mile in 5 weeks.</p><p>Mark Seeley and his friend Mike Czarnik joined. We ran with Shaheen for open miles.</p><p>Shaheen hit the wall; Mark passed her and finished in 4:00:08. I came in 23 min later.</p><p>Left foot plantar fascia lingered after 3 years. </p><p><br /></p><p>_TLDR version</p><p>It’s the long run 5 weeks before “B” race Hachie 50-mile. Gorgeous cool sunny day.</p><p>A dozen guys took off at seemingly unnecessarily hard pace. I led the chase pack, amused at how quickly they disappeared. I offered to step aside; Shaheen said she was happy behind me. Mike was talkative.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPLebg2YW0eXc5ZtSv8d7hhF13nqYyMZvNOZcBnhzsOR25AIvLlbN8HPbnT4bZnIUrzYbklBiXJgRvDLSFYaVDqwMM4y-xe6ecVbnD2LxH0TP2nBfM_aKcsJjCnWJjL4zBcpQvAyicPZH4aeFR0w-KGIn6Pv8ahJepktvU1E_h_m80ljpDxML3HLz/s2048/Shaheen%20Henderson.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWPLebg2YW0eXc5ZtSv8d7hhF13nqYyMZvNOZcBnhzsOR25AIvLlbN8HPbnT4bZnIUrzYbklBiXJgRvDLSFYaVDqwMM4y-xe6ecVbnD2LxH0TP2nBfM_aKcsJjCnWJjL4zBcpQvAyicPZH4aeFR0w-KGIn6Pv8ahJepktvU1E_h_m80ljpDxML3HLz/w400-h266/Shaheen%20Henderson.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I dropping a gel pack. The new race belt’s center loop appeared defective. Shaheen took over before expectedly leaving us. Mark dictated the pace hovering 200w. I wondered how reliable Stryd was on such surface. My 2 Garmins showed wildly different paces.</p><p>Mark took a potty break 200 meters before 8-mile aid station Windmill 2. Jung came out of the tent to hug—I felt like a rock star. Mark blew by us without washing hands. I chose not to chase. We had different missions.</p><p>I took my time after white loop (mile 12.8): took off T-shirt and arm sleeves; refilled bottle; ate a packaged chocolate. I was in no rush on this beautiful day. Mike chose to skip the stop.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJaI9aLQTpzIkAZTq9yyCNP4MHbKvsXk49CbJjuEXpGBHl7fDERqbLkqoXwcIUOMSoBFaQB2bENhTH03oTOMf6lDLgpDnsk-NfNPYqaQrvh46kqQh5MYH-Aew0xEr8EmZLdFQyISB0LV0Zjp6_Kkbb1kq9Ibi6P63XO6Pmz_ID7-SjjcfzcDokPQ3/s2048/Amy%20Clark.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilJaI9aLQTpzIkAZTq9yyCNP4MHbKvsXk49CbJjuEXpGBHl7fDERqbLkqoXwcIUOMSoBFaQB2bENhTH03oTOMf6lDLgpDnsk-NfNPYqaQrvh46kqQh5MYH-Aew0xEr8EmZLdFQyISB0LV0Zjp6_Kkbb1kq9Ibi6P63XO6Pmz_ID7-SjjcfzcDokPQ3/s320/Amy%20Clark.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Amy Clark caught me at Outback Gate aid station (mile 16.9). Her greeting was efficient when I walked a tiny climb:</p><p>“Are u OK?” </p><p>“Yeah” </p><p>then she left me, clearly having no memory of my visiting ice cream shop on the photo day.</p><p>My power steadily dropped as miles added up. I wasn’t concerned—just letting legs do their thing. </p><p><br /></p><p>_#’s</p><p>Official</p><p>Distance: 26.3 miles</p><p>Chip time: 4:23:32</p><p><br /></p><p>Garmin Fenix 5+</p><p>Distance: 25.49 miles</p><p>4:23:27</p><p>Stryd: 175 watts</p><p><br /></p><p>Garmin forerunner 630</p><p>25.42 miles</p><p>4:20:13 (with auto pause)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8xOZHTolzEc4l_0LonziTNDzGnTYgDcsrkxLw1VAu484bIsEuOMBewY6476upkb-rh2rYVBTb0nxz4LLF7oqPI8YKvd3gZ--tXTTE5GM1edzGigHDoDX3I2MhdBjTGXCN2GOzPYzRk1o0hAO8BmXgv71ek_LAjHt7FbWsPB88TxDc_V8jH6Dpsvn/s640/barefoot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="640" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8xOZHTolzEc4l_0LonziTNDzGnTYgDcsrkxLw1VAu484bIsEuOMBewY6476upkb-rh2rYVBTb0nxz4LLF7oqPI8YKvd3gZ--tXTTE5GM1edzGigHDoDX3I2MhdBjTGXCN2GOzPYzRk1o0hAO8BmXgv71ek_LAjHt7FbWsPB88TxDc_V8jH6Dpsvn/w640-h424/barefoot.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p>[shoe-less 31yo Chris Bonner ran half in 2:04:03]</p><p>_after</p><p>Amy was Hachie 50-mile’s record holder. She gave me practical advice:</p><p>1.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Start slow: "like 9:30 or slower pace"</p><p>2.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Stay slow first half</p><p>3.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Shoot for 9:15 pace</p><p>4.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Negative split</p><p>5.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Eat water melon</p><p><br /></p><p>Shaheen advised me to ignore my age, pointing to her husband.</p><p>"He won the half, and he's 59."</p><p>Mike had man-crush on Shaheen’s husband Steve Henderson, who graciously posed with Mike for the fan photo.</p><p><br /></p>Johnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0Decatur, TX 76234, USA33.2342834 -97.58613934.924049563821157 -132.7423893 61.544517236178848 -62.4298893tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-79054274467439083722022-03-16T05:00:00.000-07:002022-04-06T06:19:22.885-07:00 Houston Marathon 2022/01/16 detail—qualified for Taipei and Boston<p>_motivation</p><p>I was never tempted to run Houston pre-pandemic. Dallas Marathon checks 80% of boxes with 20% of overhead. </p><p>Pandemic hit. I became race deprived. I wanted to pace for ChihYang for his next Taipei Marathon. Of the 4 qualifying marathons in the US, Houston was the most practical.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh40AKU6CkUEa5Tgnekk3sH-hvXUBZiyoDItL8WHnpV32RxdeglMlBReNrMTelqIcRD4PchHj0r10rZqdA257FzerS0WfiDFcCWJUTOccwH3JcOFbfTVDcy2A9cx6SjSZPZlG2OAWfqIfQ6eqxFaa--oJRo1jQrOOWWdT2vcXRxW1qTQ2fnWgrf6mt0=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh40AKU6CkUEa5Tgnekk3sH-hvXUBZiyoDItL8WHnpV32RxdeglMlBReNrMTelqIcRD4PchHj0r10rZqdA257FzerS0WfiDFcCWJUTOccwH3JcOFbfTVDcy2A9cx6SjSZPZlG2OAWfqIfQ6eqxFaa--oJRo1jQrOOWWdT2vcXRxW1qTQ2fnWgrf6mt0=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">[Taipei-bound]</span></div><p>_goal</p><p>A+: 3:23:48.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>PB from 2013. </p><p>A: 3:25. BQ 2023</p><p>B: 3:35. BQ 2024 (it pays to be old)</p><p>C: 3:40. Qualify for Taipei Marathon 2022, 2023</p><p><br /></p><p>_Preparation</p><p>I used Stryd’s high-volume marathon program—it worked for me for Hachie 50k 7 months ago.</p><p>I resisted replacing easy runs with races for this cycle.</p><p>I put more effort into recover. I bought massage after hard efforts.</p><p><br /></p><p>Highlights:</p><p>I came to Houston less fatigue than at Haichie 7 months ago. </p><p>The final tempo was the half at Dallas Marathon. It went well.</p><p>I hit weight goal of 137.0 lb on the nose.</p><p>I qualified for corral A using the result from pacing Irving Marathon.</p><p><br /></p><p>Lowlights:</p><p>I crashed on skates 3 weeks before race. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhk7UN7wu3XuLwOFcb8y5hugQyi5Nu-KkLKM1u8MYnkNWV9P3ozEnKFhExD_zGOnLD168nssnGEt1WnB4KlOUmTax1Zl8mB0PSXTbXDcvigoMYOd8gh_pS-K6PQIvftG41sp_oYwRrAT0hJ9JQaV3QDPmBkpwQp6n9wtBmymGcEy43N8q98esIWyu5X=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhk7UN7wu3XuLwOFcb8y5hugQyi5Nu-KkLKM1u8MYnkNWV9P3ozEnKFhExD_zGOnLD168nssnGEt1WnB4KlOUmTax1Zl8mB0PSXTbXDcvigoMYOd8gh_pS-K6PQIvftG41sp_oYwRrAT0hJ9JQaV3QDPmBkpwQp6n9wtBmymGcEy43N8q98esIWyu5X=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br />[left knee]<p></p><p>I rolled left ankle 4 days before race and damaged race shoes. My backups were half size bigger.</p><p>_drive to Houston</p><p>I left house 10 minutes late unable to get either radar detector to turn on. Bad omen on electronics. Wireless charging mount also acted up while Waze and Audible apps interfered with each other. I missed the simpler days listening to audiobooks on cassettes.</p><p>I listened to the Nike Oregon Project book "Win at All Costs" by Matt Hart. It reminded me Tyler Hamilton’s “The Secrete Race” before 2012 Dallas Marathon. It’s human nature to punish the ones who play by the rule—and for the fans to feel innocent despite creating the demand. I was no longer surprised how Micky Mouse the doping practices were.</p><p>_Omicron</p><p>I promised mom social distancing. This become the only race I actively avoided friends. The only one I talked to was Kisha at half-full split. I shouted encouraging words; she didn’t hear me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPqwzD6Fl74KqNQMYJgurWeB8Lbj4wOn1Fb_lI6kSgIZETalxFsRxnqCP5dHkpFgpIefEVjahfrXmSdjwFJjadXyrnU10yMD9kBptFgUYfRnQqeHVwd7sL1nI79XeF1FIiwU7OrIhu_y8MdCBBG5k1MDJnRyCdxMKRKwgJwoAXyjAuk0hxUoyupvxO=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjPqwzD6Fl74KqNQMYJgurWeB8Lbj4wOn1Fb_lI6kSgIZETalxFsRxnqCP5dHkpFgpIefEVjahfrXmSdjwFJjadXyrnU10yMD9kBptFgUYfRnQqeHVwd7sL1nI79XeF1FIiwU7OrIhu_y8MdCBBG5k1MDJnRyCdxMKRKwgJwoAXyjAuk0hxUoyupvxO=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div>[roomy packet pickup]<p>Instead of pizza dinner, I had instant noodle and fruits w/ Netflix. I missed events as group activities. I missed Texas Flyers.</p><p>_old man fashion</p><p>I finished last pair of jeans prior to the race. </p><p>Anticipating zero social interaction, I decided on sweatpants to postpone jean shopping. Soon I’ll pull pants to armpits and tell kids to get off my lawn.</p><p>_pacing</p><p>I planned on setting Forerunner to 7:50 pace; Fenix to monitor Stryd power at 219w. I’d end up between 3:25~3:30 finish time.</p><p>11 hours before the gun, I chose to skip Forerunner. I recalled mistakes at Dallas Marathon with multiple Garmins that led to losing the foot pod’s data.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj90hb3XyjTzE5ZVrZX1aQqdNkCKjBKN_xAB5yWlyV_kBkJH3_myop2AoIbpyO5Cba__uODFPrCBca_BZuux8sx-Wqv5HK3fV9wAU_2CM4WCCp0ZfGzl0hcf126NPqX1QKxJ8a-wS9GkW3QfV2FNl9mqIhqFsvbkt9WQOyNFuKAWnkZcpz5KiDmZfhz=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj90hb3XyjTzE5ZVrZX1aQqdNkCKjBKN_xAB5yWlyV_kBkJH3_myop2AoIbpyO5Cba__uODFPrCBca_BZuux8sx-Wqv5HK3fV9wAU_2CM4WCCp0ZfGzl0hcf126NPqX1QKxJ8a-wS9GkW3QfV2FNl9mqIhqFsvbkt9WQOyNFuKAWnkZcpz5KiDmZfhz=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>[snap this shot waiting for GPS’s to learn satellite signals;</p><p>I would stand between 7:30 and 8:00 signs race morning]</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>_location, location, location</p><p>I lost minimal time standing in cold. National anthem, speeches, gun happened like clockwork. Houston Marathon was a well-oiled machine.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFiMP0fD-sAAUzTq47OC8dexQoN7MZFxx2POp2ZvL8Ie_FY4JrrZjXYU9ztBP-dgkiTYBfOkgCj7tsKuRD_7XEFZp8rQyeo9Zw_YE9PcCcTG40kdwQj0FAUkU8o2zBAT6nR0dxwoZDt_BsZN3fhhPPK--eO5lYEXsv_7BhoRCIGwiY-1WPTBK9Ykbc=s958" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="958" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiFiMP0fD-sAAUzTq47OC8dexQoN7MZFxx2POp2ZvL8Ie_FY4JrrZjXYU9ztBP-dgkiTYBfOkgCj7tsKuRD_7XEFZp8rQyeo9Zw_YE9PcCcTG40kdwQj0FAUkU8o2zBAT6nR0dxwoZDt_BsZN3fhhPPK--eO5lYEXsv_7BhoRCIGwiY-1WPTBK9Ykbc=w400-h290" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>[Magnolia hotel front door was 24 seconds to corral A entrance]</p><p>_unfamiliar ground</p><p>Stryd’s 219w kept me at an uncomfortable but manageable pace. I stayed with 3:20 pacers. Too fast. I felt strong and hung on. I didn’t have enough experience in AlphaFlys to know how legs were supposed to feel; I felt the carbon plate bouncing. </p><p>“Heck, maybe I’m fitter than I thought.” </p><p>Stryd’s projected finish time was closer to 3.5 hrs. I wished I had the extra Garmin to confirm pace, but the outdated FR630 might be insufficient to overcome downtown buildings. </p><p>I let 3:20 pacers go after turning into headwind at mile 9. I felt more fatigue than expected. Wished I was more familiar with these shoes.</p><p>The buildings slowed the cold wind. I tailgated taller runners when practical—easy to do on this flat course. We ended up with net tailwind.</p><p>_trouble</p><p>For past successful marathons, I felt strong first 18 miles. This time legs started to fade climbing to the highest point at mile 12. I had difficulty reconciling the wattage, pace, and perceived fatigue level.</p><p>“But my training went so well….”</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhms9zELmt4aH-jm8L7MIhyPuMYkktPPACMP0oijKRYhtZjJr05hQgVtrXriJXqYngLg4uz2jU_ZOno4M3DBXghkSVjPdo33nt_8TB8W2LCc94lNnMz3B3_q7sYQFurzSU56VYjriipxGSF92NrelAg3gKJ6XNRzAZ9CyUzxvVLFKEnocm390WaJDb9=s1702" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="1702" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhms9zELmt4aH-jm8L7MIhyPuMYkktPPACMP0oijKRYhtZjJr05hQgVtrXriJXqYngLg4uz2jU_ZOno4M3DBXghkSVjPdo33nt_8TB8W2LCc94lNnMz3B3_q7sYQFurzSU56VYjriipxGSF92NrelAg3gKJ6XNRzAZ9CyUzxvVLFKEnocm390WaJDb9=w640-h228" width="640" /></a></div><p>Confidence and fatigue were irrelevant halfway into the race. I focused on staying below threshold. I was still ahead of Taipei qualifying pace. Stryd showed pace in the low 8’s. I didn’t dwell on where things went wrong.</p><p>_cloth</p><p>I dressed correctly for this race. In order of coming off:</p><p>><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>disposable leather jacket</p><p><span>></span><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>disposable polo shirt</p><p><span>></span><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>disposable mask</p><p><span>></span><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>arm warmers</p><p><span>></span><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>gloves</p><p><span>></span><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Oakley Flak Beta</p><p><span>></span><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>AlphaFlys</p><p><span>></span><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>tri shirt w/ back pockets for gels & arm warmers & gloves</p><p><span>></span><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>compression socks</p><p><span>></span><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>running shorts</p><p>Because of mask & arm warmers, I could be spotted on TV coverage</p><p>_chasing clock</p><p>Wall came early but was manageable at mile 14, climbing out of an underpass. Garmin told me I never went sub-8 again. Very discouraging. I thought I was too self-absorbed to notice 3:25 pacers passing me. I anticipate a 2nd and taller wall that never came.</p><p>I was passed by 3-hour pacers before mile 16. Corral B started 15 minutes later. Yet 3:25 group started in corral A. Corral assignment was the only negative aspect of the race organization I perceived.</p><p>Final 8 miles were mostly tail wind and downhill. Fenix showed me disappointing but not disastrous numbers. Official clocks conflicted w/ my Stryd pace. I focused on Taipei qualifying time. I couldn’t believe how beautiful the weather and how dead my legs were. I was in awe and in pain.</p><p>What prevented me from slowing was the thought of telling ChihYang my failure.</p><p>Houston did a great job separating half and full runners during the final section to avoid zigzagging among walkers. I flirted with cramping last 5k. No longer able to bounce off the fancy shoes, I focused on cracks, manholes, and rails. Mile 26 clock said 3:23:xx. I was confused. Maybe my poor sight misread 3:28, which reminded me to ride Ninja 1 last time to pick up the prescription glasses before selling the organ donation machine.</p><p><br /></p><p>I sprinted. I wished I was lighter.</p><p><br /></p><p>#’s</p><p>official:</p><p> chip time: 3:23:24 (24 faster than 2013 PB at Irving Marathon) (palindrome if 1 second faster)</p><p> pace: 7:46 min/mile = 4:49 min/km </p><p> distance: 26.22 miles</p><p><br /></p><p> racer count: 11237 half, 6250 full</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZ-NxXPAAbVs-eXKiUD-gl02-smyl1o5pEU25iBnA58Ii0SLDA59PMvX4DwTRtWu9DZFWSh8pemShgYMV1KBfArR1Vuz4pgdbp3325NbJI5X23rbcfL6z0jQ0Ehimm70dL_pFyHTHQB79Rj7g3wkQa7hvHjblQHIFJtvaXMXrbsnaNwk1tanacde92=s629" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="463" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhZ-NxXPAAbVs-eXKiUD-gl02-smyl1o5pEU25iBnA58Ii0SLDA59PMvX4DwTRtWu9DZFWSh8pemShgYMV1KBfArR1Vuz4pgdbp3325NbJI5X23rbcfL6z0jQ0Ehimm70dL_pFyHTHQB79Rj7g3wkQa7hvHjblQHIFJtvaXMXrbsnaNwk1tanacde92=w295-h400" width="295" /></a></div><br /><p>[faster than 8:00 pace at each official chip sensor]</p><p><br /></p><p>Stryd/Fenix 5+:</p><p> Time: 3:23:26</p><p> pace: 7:59 min/mile</p><p> distance: 25.49 miles</p><p> event average power: 220w</p><p> critical power: 251w (4.01 w/kg) @ 138lb</p><p><br /></p><p>US women half and marathon records were broken:</p><p>Sarah Hall (38 yo): 1:07:15—exactly 15 years after husband set Man’s record 59:43 also at Houston.</p><p>Keira D’Amato (37): 2:19:12</p><p><br /></p><p>_aftermath</p><p>I had difficulty with street curbs walking back to hotel—reminded me why I was more afraid of marathon than longer events. I asked the same dead legs to hold race pace for the final 10k.</p><p>_power meter</p><p>https://support.stryd.com/hc/en-us/articles/360044274654-Attach-the-Stryd-pod-to-the-Nike-Next-?source=search</p><p>Stryd support informed me I “likely” didn’t mount their pod properly: sending me to a website with inexact procedure for a different model of Nike. I would not renew my monthly subscription.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3Qds2eUD62FhLkiGojQsZYBt-SflZ798GpdDeG8-FtcBhJ-FVO50-PPmP2zRROYmufri6JaD7Asm0RrP1ZpHTcsUEAejYT1l8evWELC5kFJ7oQgS3JNhqJMhMR-DTQtfobMJqnaCxoiAIj5p4kbccLNi5sANDf8okO7bW6PRZzJexhsLjMIuu-VS4=s830" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="456" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg3Qds2eUD62FhLkiGojQsZYBt-SflZ798GpdDeG8-FtcBhJ-FVO50-PPmP2zRROYmufri6JaD7Asm0RrP1ZpHTcsUEAejYT1l8evWELC5kFJ7oQgS3JNhqJMhMR-DTQtfobMJqnaCxoiAIj5p4kbccLNi5sANDf8okO7bW6PRZzJexhsLjMIuu-VS4=w352-h640" width="352" /></a></div><p>[requiring a zip tie wasn't mentioned in Stryd marketing ad]</p><p>_carbon plated shoes</p><p>Without a control group, I couldn’t quantify the difference. At race speed, the shoes shift failure points to different body parts. Alphafly shortened my recovery cycle and seem to improve my half and full time by minutes. </p><p>I invested a lot in my running form since _Born to Run_. Able to utilize the skill was gratifying.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGn5yBxFyxiODRmo5_BvWYs80i5fSSWqYD8CBXm4pHQtUCSh9x1MlRwKXybS0gMQv7-OWD3JIrlLQ73i-TawlqYUXeinYpc6OA3c5x9pNgZ7-J3TpGB_Hg_r8S2oT-CSN-jIQfMi_lK3--l8x3MGjhkKV2VaaCbfdn4C3WhJuzSOBS77OIYz0zkyFb=s1440" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="1440" height="507" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiGn5yBxFyxiODRmo5_BvWYs80i5fSSWqYD8CBXm4pHQtUCSh9x1MlRwKXybS0gMQv7-OWD3JIrlLQ73i-TawlqYUXeinYpc6OA3c5x9pNgZ7-J3TpGB_Hg_r8S2oT-CSN-jIQfMi_lK3--l8x3MGjhkKV2VaaCbfdn4C3WhJuzSOBS77OIYz0zkyFb=w640-h507" width="640" /></a></div><p>[Nike owns the marathoners with 6:15 pace marathoners; photo from Jennifer's FB page]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Johnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0Houston, TX, USA29.7604267 -95.36980281.4501928638211545 -130.5260528 58.070660536178849 -60.2135528tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-42245462989635782052022-03-13T06:00:00.000-07:002022-04-06T06:20:02.384-07:00 Dallas Half Marathon 2021/12/12--dress rehearsal<p>This was a dress rehearsal for Houston Marathon 2022/01/16.</p><p>Goal: hold sub 8 pace in Nike AlphaFly. Negative split. Acquire power data to estimate wattage for Houston.</p><p><br /></p><p>2 Garmins: Fenix left for Stryd wattage; FR630 right for electronic pacer.</p><p><br /></p><p>Logistics:</p><p>Saturday</p><p>3pm: check into official hotel Aloft</p><p>4pm: packet pick up</p><p>7:30pm: Systemware Xmas party at Ritz</p><p>8:30pm: dinner starts: ate fancy foods not good for a race; no alcohol</p><p>11:20pm: bed time</p><p>Sunday</p><p>5:15am: breakfast</p><p>8am: gun time</p><p><br /></p><p>Everything went great except my shaking hands accidentally deleted Stryd data.</p><p><br /></p><p>#’s</p><p>Chip time: 1:37:03</p><p>10k pace: 7:38 mile/min</p><p>21k pace: 7:25</p><p><br /></p>Johnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0Dallas, TX, USA32.7766642 -96.7969878999999914.4664303638211535 -131.95323789999998 61.086898036178845 -61.640737899999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-59539749832769369982022-02-27T05:30:00.024-08:002022-04-10T10:25:44.790-07:00Cowtown 50k 2022/02/27--PB<p>_goal</p><p>A: 4:29:20<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Oprah Winfrey marathon time (1994)</p><p>B: 4:34:40<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>PB Hachie 50 (2022)</p><p>C: 5:00:00<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>this would be a long training run for Hachie 50M</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3Qz6s09_ShaDLnpPF3WtoB_6CgmzrTNSWPuvFXdRbR_tA2UJ0yfBixmdyXEUbQY57DKB4i9MWE5REcYXUD1VPWZzHr6DXD9xhxiaxlRMWj7uOHadbbCvRsEmBM9YG9Ho_QDTLmKQA1kCb13XbJduMjzFrm6nB9iEVcV-EX1qjk_F4eY4auw6vchk/s610/result.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="473" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP3Qz6s09_ShaDLnpPF3WtoB_6CgmzrTNSWPuvFXdRbR_tA2UJ0yfBixmdyXEUbQY57DKB4i9MWE5REcYXUD1VPWZzHr6DXD9xhxiaxlRMWj7uOHadbbCvRsEmBM9YG9Ho_QDTLmKQA1kCb13XbJduMjzFrm6nB9iEVcV-EX1qjk_F4eY4auw6vchk/w310-h400/result.PNG" width="310" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>_highlights</p><p>Legs somewhat rested. </p><p>Only 2 lb heavier than ideal weight.</p><p><br /></p><p>_lowlights</p><p>Limited training after Houston Marathon 6 weeks ago.</p><p>I rolled an ankle a week before race. Adizero Pro 2 is less stable than perceived.</p><p>Arrived start line 10 minutes later than planned.</p><p>Failed to utilize pacers against head wind.</p><p>Garmin GPS fail.</p><p><br /></p><p>_pacers</p><p>I was stoked to learn Rob would pace 3:50 marathon group near 8:45 pace. Almost perfect for my A goal. </p><p><br /></p><p>_plan</p><p>Start 3 minutes behind Rob.</p><p>Keep Rob in sight by mile-9 bridge. </p><p>Tuck behind him by mile-21 headwind. </p><p>Hold 8:37 pace through mile-27 U-turn.</p><p>Dig deeper for 4 miles.</p><p>8:37 pace would give me 4:32:53 finish. The 3-minute-late start puts me at Oprah Line.</p><p>No after party. I minimized social due to COVID, which was killing a big part of these events I loved.</p><p><br /></p><p>_later than late start</p><p>Parking changed this year. This led to significant delay. Then I was misdirected 3 times to the bag check-in. I wasted more time waiting for the checked bag for the forgotten sunglasses. </p><p>By the time I got to the start, Rob’s pacing group was long gone. </p><p>“No problem, I’ll just reel him in by mile 21.”</p><p><br /></p><p>_pacing</p><p>GPS told me I was going slower than I felt. It reported each mile longer than the mile marker. The trend reversed at mile 5, I was losing ¼ mile at each mile mark. Yeah, I lost satellite signal and had to pace by feel. 4.5-hour finish was unlikely without precise pacing—glad it wasn’t an “A” race. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcut6R-ff1OAdQ1N6vp4LLCo0C35D6KYQAiJ41YtV4VRv9CzoAM3LsOOnYuK4LtUpEKSr9P3fC31MLEN7SxVlaX4tIy6b9A2uPLC_e_uE1kE1fJ1TQPRS3qHt-UYFzvHyIIiMrItVNczA7eLVn129unRRc_ZRiqGs2Fv_qIsjUfDGaQYRkpOw5T4zE/s1033/TNSR%20pacer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="1033" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcut6R-ff1OAdQ1N6vp4LLCo0C35D6KYQAiJ41YtV4VRv9CzoAM3LsOOnYuK4LtUpEKSr9P3fC31MLEN7SxVlaX4tIy6b9A2uPLC_e_uE1kE1fJ1TQPRS3qHt-UYFzvHyIIiMrItVNczA7eLVn129unRRc_ZRiqGs2Fv_qIsjUfDGaQYRkpOw5T4zE/w400-h303/TNSR%20pacer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I caught Kan Meng’s 3:55 group at mile 9 climb. To bridge Rob by mile 21, I’d need to go faster than 8:30. It was difficult to crunch numbers without electronic devices. I accepted having to be my own windshield. <p></p><p>"A” goal wasn’t completely out of question at this point. I just needed to</p><p>1.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Reach Rob around mile 25</p><p>2.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Maintain sub-9 pace for the final 5 miles.</p><p>As much as I desired negative split, I did have my historical data. </p><p>“Just fxcking enjoy this beautiful present, you dumb ass!”</p><p><br /></p><p>_Pacer Rob</p><p>Rob burst out of a porta potty within spitting distance; I accelerated to match but gave up after 5 seconds; he was too fast. I desperately wanted to be behind him before the turn.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhd7HHV2xTkZsvkJRCXELjhc7uYcnqmrFIXz27VFE5HtZD9EfnIuVEEfHEP0kWhfIBVZ-h1HPj377dpyEeNXe0Sn3UMIZpyanXaqO-7Kkz0oGjGESMp8u6Fi9vW4tdbe02NYwbayGTlM-LnQ_8L5HKZRrKzaYrhQHyTzlIzcgVpE_EKbPqEComWXw/s2048/Rob%20Buwalda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhd7HHV2xTkZsvkJRCXELjhc7uYcnqmrFIXz27VFE5HtZD9EfnIuVEEfHEP0kWhfIBVZ-h1HPj377dpyEeNXe0Sn3UMIZpyanXaqO-7Kkz0oGjGESMp8u6Fi9vW4tdbe02NYwbayGTlM-LnQ_8L5HKZRrKzaYrhQHyTzlIzcgVpE_EKbPqEComWXw/w300-h400/Rob%20Buwalda.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />I could see Rob holding the pacing sign entering the river trail, 60 seconds ahead. I was closing < 15 seconds / mile. There’d be no wind blocker for this run. So close yet so far.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>_losing time</p><p>I looked for but failed to spot the sign for full-ultra marathon split. I shouted the question to the sole volunteer; she ignored me. I yelled louder and closer. She finally took her eyes off her phone and point at the fork I missed. 20 seconds lost. I was bitter.</p><p>Gradually muscles refused to work together. Alphaflies made it clear my timing was off but compensated for my poor form. </p><p>“Thank you, expensive Nike.”</p><p>I was very aware of the $1/mile shoe cost.</p><p>North wind was getting old at this point. But air was dry, sun beautiful, course familiar. I soaked up the discomfort and reminded myself, “you asked to do this.”</p><p>Cramping started. I reminded myself how blessed I was to have this struggle. I urged the legs to do what they could. Things got easier after I reached the north tip of the river trail.</p><p>I had learned to project finish time without GPS by now. I would beat Oprah’s time by holding Oprah pace for the final 5k. I encouraged every ultra runner entering the out-n-back extension. </p><p>Life was good.</p><p><br /></p><p>#’s</p><p>official:</p><p> chip time: 4:27:03</p><p> pace: 8:37 min/mile = 5:20 min/km</p><p> distance: 31.069 mi = 50k</p><p><br /></p><p>splits</p><p> 10K 8:16/M</p><p> 15K 8:19/M</p><p> 13.1M 8:22/M</p><p> 18M 8:28/M</p><p> 22M 8:31/M</p><p> 26.2M 8:32/M</p><p> 50K 8:37/M</p><p><br /></p><p>racer count:</p><p>half: 4,924</p><p>full: 939</p><p>ultra: 174</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_W-_EBZ0gr9gNrwXhwMZBdBOmTZqAhFo8D5kNOewrW6rUiW61hV7HeTCuTxRSIQzIciP3JLMYJFBu9-MdGlqSdgttxhf7VuB0l6s406-u2KUSw1p6JsWrmBpfqIXqNe5lgG7aYsOAxIvRysgaDNQxhwk3ysN2Wt3wF-QKTa6udm4GfWu9TnKi1JhM/s1023/Garmin%20screenshot%20hilite.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="1023" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_W-_EBZ0gr9gNrwXhwMZBdBOmTZqAhFo8D5kNOewrW6rUiW61hV7HeTCuTxRSIQzIciP3JLMYJFBu9-MdGlqSdgttxhf7VuB0l6s406-u2KUSw1p6JsWrmBpfqIXqNe5lgG7aYsOAxIvRysgaDNQxhwk3ysN2Wt3wF-QKTa6udm4GfWu9TnKi1JhM/w640-h272/Garmin%20screenshot%20hilite.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br />[Garmin Forerunner 630 said I climbed 2000 ft at mile 9. Haha.]<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcQ2LECo2ttjHLiNUFE56xuQTKNipKtkdGYVSdvtC4ldNg74ND0917ftdKeuMhEcDLPC43gpBSIYTPWOmaj-4FvL1A2cHtf6Nu1m50eLl2x-uS0QvYPf8hbN41ZuM1mQDtjKzEHAcxBcSYzF4jgZxKEyNq_wndgESMKciV6slg7O93cduBkBFwz-_/s1178/Javier%20finish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1177" data-original-width="1178" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKcQ2LECo2ttjHLiNUFE56xuQTKNipKtkdGYVSdvtC4ldNg74ND0917ftdKeuMhEcDLPC43gpBSIYTPWOmaj-4FvL1A2cHtf6Nu1m50eLl2x-uS0QvYPf8hbN41ZuM1mQDtjKzEHAcxBcSYzF4jgZxKEyNq_wndgESMKciV6slg7O93cduBkBFwz-_/s320/Javier%20finish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />[Javier finally won this event; photos from FB]<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9kpT-905LSgCSpLkPfA08frlTP7D-m0ZCDE1SI-Nl-a5nPjLLdKJ4frUYRIfpL678znZxURgwbvQ8QwmaDzaKtL9caQT9asvdsgWx2M0IZdb3YBjEul_8RaXdu_bd3SF1TvzSTX1EPRqRE1C2TQzlbFedDox-ZbshmFz90kzEqcromq0JYSjWZRO/s1440/50%20winner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU9kpT-905LSgCSpLkPfA08frlTP7D-m0ZCDE1SI-Nl-a5nPjLLdKJ4frUYRIfpL678znZxURgwbvQ8QwmaDzaKtL9caQT9asvdsgWx2M0IZdb3YBjEul_8RaXdu_bd3SF1TvzSTX1EPRqRE1C2TQzlbFedDox-ZbshmFz90kzEqcromq0JYSjWZRO/s320/50%20winner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />[Madie Stier was only seconds behind Javier]<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Johnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0Fort Worth, TX, USA32.7554883 -97.33076584.4452544638211577 -132.4870158 61.065722136178849 -62.174515799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-48299472718262601272022-01-16T05:00:00.000-08:002022-04-06T06:18:44.008-07:00 Houston Marathon 2022/01/16 summary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_cqJhP2ELmGCsERg_jkJ4PSuXGPvHKlGwx3lu2XjtAEOfZRRc8mclFfpwckWFCxPyzfcqGNzmwfoered48UAmxlmS8C0NW5knJpnHI689XlKXU6WQnWrypp1Ksn6reuVMB43wuBcwBWlVsGUJm6g34W_j6dFufOfdoINjUejraM9FY30mvzQAJLv2=s360" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="360" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_cqJhP2ELmGCsERg_jkJ4PSuXGPvHKlGwx3lu2XjtAEOfZRRc8mclFfpwckWFCxPyzfcqGNzmwfoered48UAmxlmS8C0NW5knJpnHI689XlKXU6WQnWrypp1Ksn6reuVMB43wuBcwBWlVsGUJm6g34W_j6dFufOfdoINjUejraM9FY30mvzQAJLv2=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Pacing mistake due to electronic--Stryd's power reading was low on AlphaFly.</p><p>Good weather and easy final miles made up for pacing mistake.</p><p>PB by 24 seconds.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPVDMLVixWHFvGWQcNsfRAG3mbUz79_EJuTkNxhxM4kRRjYsfdt4SyTRgwu03dFvklsYT3KAMq2eFksOLkIqnYFWTA-YhSK1Mb_QImgfmuWF5gbXRVEjFgaxy4axHnkhi0QQeVTqwCIVYfq4CLl-E6avJ0bhID3IR7Kpheje7WeMjRAKDqd18Pm7df=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPVDMLVixWHFvGWQcNsfRAG3mbUz79_EJuTkNxhxM4kRRjYsfdt4SyTRgwu03dFvklsYT3KAMq2eFksOLkIqnYFWTA-YhSK1Mb_QImgfmuWF5gbXRVEjFgaxy4axHnkhi0QQeVTqwCIVYfq4CLl-E6avJ0bhID3IR7Kpheje7WeMjRAKDqd18Pm7df=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>_goal</p><p>A+: 3:23:48.<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>PB 2013. </p><p>A: 3:25. BQ 2023</p><p>B: 3:35. BQ 2024 (it pays to be old)</p><p>C: 3:40. Qualify for Taipei Marathon 2022, 2023</p><p><br /></p><p>_highlights</p><p>I came to Houston less fatigue than at Haichie 7 months ago. </p><p>The final tempo was the half at Dallas Marathon. It went well.</p><p>I hit weight goal of 137 lb on the nose.</p><p>I was able to get a corral A spot after negotiation.</p><p><br /></p><p>_lowlights</p><p>I crashed on skates 3 weeks before race. </p><p>I rolled an ankle 4 days before race and damage race shoes. My backups were half size bigger.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhs0tSD9xP00BDDZRwVPbgU-foEvEk_gPhogp47B_Ib4nEddTvtLE0ZSNBrE8pvqmgyz1KvlHuGJHmGZfFo5_kA-kJfd4GC9p0NDe0uuBqsF273AEaMPgL-jKWqqkpl5TckQH6DDRWMwn17eeHLFMl86_VkyDrF-VZWciCMGgwbxt2spwERfAB-8UOe=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhs0tSD9xP00BDDZRwVPbgU-foEvEk_gPhogp47B_Ib4nEddTvtLE0ZSNBrE8pvqmgyz1KvlHuGJHmGZfFo5_kA-kJfd4GC9p0NDe0uuBqsF273AEaMPgL-jKWqqkpl5TckQH6DDRWMwn17eeHLFMl86_VkyDrF-VZWciCMGgwbxt2spwERfAB-8UOe=s320" width="240" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>#’s</p><p>official:</p><p> chip time: 3:23:24 (24 faster than 2014 PB at Irving Marathon)</p><p> pace: 7:46 min/mile = 4:49 min/km </p><p> distance: 26.22 miles</p><p><br /></p><p> racer count: 11237 half, 6250 full</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiejWD1Sf4A0E6YKBUT9DEov0Kof9M7FLlbAK9UgAEq3AEc78JQJ5EYQCk1XkpZU8XkjRgE6Aq1UfPwrsR0mwclT0SiZR0djzmOLoz4QYbYHDLyDUEqJtPdiGUC0U5deJoBAfEJV1Aa59n29VzZM_mAixnrVJF1rx7A9FBiKyYznA4UMRwD6fw_H7Vh=s629" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="463" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiejWD1Sf4A0E6YKBUT9DEov0Kof9M7FLlbAK9UgAEq3AEc78JQJ5EYQCk1XkpZU8XkjRgE6Aq1UfPwrsR0mwclT0SiZR0djzmOLoz4QYbYHDLyDUEqJtPdiGUC0U5deJoBAfEJV1Aa59n29VzZM_mAixnrVJF1rx7A9FBiKyYznA4UMRwD6fw_H7Vh=w472-h640" width="472" /></a></div><br /><p>Stryd/Fenix 5+:</p><p> Time: 3:23:26</p><p> pace: 7:59 min/mile</p><p> distance: 25.49 miles</p><p> event average power: 220w</p><p> critical power: 251w (4.01 w/kg) @ 138lb</p><p><br /></p><p>US women half and marathon records were broken:</p><p>Sarah Hall (38 yo): 1:07:15—15 years after husband set men’s record 59:43 also at Houston.</p><p>Keira D’Amato (37): 2:19:12</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiW9bEzRb3piFBbS0SX3mzujAmdU914IktYm77ZSaM77JH_QaZShm9cm4uwqnkjMsURKrByM-_0qDdR6HtPTm1CpWrMq-zph27DxLle-VaYf2UHKFiKLtBbybf8qd7STva4uW8ovC7JQZeIProw3PpYI1Vuc6YjI6jGTc2Rxhnkcs8Oa5U7QhYjaEBT=s1440" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="1440" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiW9bEzRb3piFBbS0SX3mzujAmdU914IktYm77ZSaM77JH_QaZShm9cm4uwqnkjMsURKrByM-_0qDdR6HtPTm1CpWrMq-zph27DxLle-VaYf2UHKFiKLtBbybf8qd7STva4uW8ovC7JQZeIProw3PpYI1Vuc6YjI6jGTc2Rxhnkcs8Oa5U7QhYjaEBT=w640-h508" width="640" /></a></div><p>[Nike owns the marathoners at 6:15 pace with Jennifer Pope; photos from FB]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Johnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0Houston, TX, USA29.7604267 -95.36980281.4501928638211545 -130.5260528 58.070660536178849 -60.2135528tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-72239900706222408182021-10-24T04:00:00.006-07:002022-01-26T10:29:16.313-08:00 A2A—49-mile race 2021/10/24<p>_goal</p><p>As of August 2021: </p><p>(A)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Skate 37 miles with Jessica. Try to be the first of the pack to reach Dacula.</p><p>(B)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Start with 49-mile racers. </p><p>(C)<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Skate final miles with Luke and Nicolas.</p><p><br /></p><p>The 38-mile race was canceled; Athens city disallowed the race. The big dogs wouldn’t show due to pandemic. I was unlikely to keep up with Sonic and Kent, I aimed to skate with Jessica through Check Point 5. I reduced training accordingly. I needed to stay within the boundaries for Houston Marathon training. </p><p>Race director Anna Zuver was 5 when I skated my first A2A in 1999.</p><p>_main event</p><p>The skate was great. Weather was nice. Pavement improved. Minimal Wind. </p><p>I achieved my goal of skating w/ Jessica Wright before the course turns relatively flat.</p><p>No racers from Thailand, South America, and Canada. No Francisco. Kent and Sonic tied for 2nd place.</p><p>Nicolas achieved his time goal. He made a wrong turn and complained Silver Hill to be insufficiently scary.</p><p><br /></p><p>_#</p><p>GPS: 48.7 mi@15.7 mph</p><p>2694 ft ascent</p><p>https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/7709998544</p><p><br /></p><p>_after</p><p>Bantam Pub had the comically clueless waiter on his 2nd day. I had the slowest restaurant service in memory. Oswald’s can of cider took only an hour.</p><p><br /></p><p>Air traveling was unpleasant, but all worked out in the end.</p><p><br /></p><p>It was nice to see old friends. </p><div><br /></div>Johnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-26496610916687061832021-08-28T05:00:00.001-07:002022-01-25T08:36:34.395-08:00Hotter n Hell 50-mile skate 2021/8/28<p>50-mile skate was easier than expected: much of the chip n seal surface was improved.</p><p>People seemed even more encouraging this year.</p><p><br /></p><p>Good visit w/ Ann and Wesley.</p><p><br /></p><p>first 13 and last 16 miles had decent surface. </p><p>The middle 20 miles were half skateable.</p><p><br /></p><p>The dreaded 5 miles of Hwy 44 is mostly repaved with smooth stuff. Headwind was brutal, but it felt good exceeding the expectations of cyclists who were unqualified to judge my performance. I was vain.</p><p><br /></p><p>A steady cyclist picked me up with 8 miles to go. We were the fastest thing in sight against south wind to finish--it was glorious.</p><p><br /></p><p>I skipped first and last of the 5 water stations. 20-oz bike bottle was enough for me. </p><p><br /></p><p>It was a great weekend in Wichita Falls. </p><p><br /></p><p>_GPS data</p><p>Distance: 48.93 mi</p><p>Time: 3:12:40</p><p>Avg Speed: 15.2 mph</p><p>Elev Gain: 768 ft</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/7385386569">https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/7385386569</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Johnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0Wichita Falls, TX, USA33.9137085 -98.49338735.603474663821153 -133.6496373 62.223942336178844 -63.337137299999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-50069430825878027782021-05-01T04:00:00.000-07:002022-01-25T09:07:21.212-08:00Hachie 50k 2021/05/01; Waxahachie, Texas—Pandemic Fitness<p>_goal</p><p>9:00/mile pace for 50k. Similar to my PR set at 2017 Hachie 50 when I traded my run fitness for a different lifestyle.</p><p>_COVID-19</p><p>I struggled when the US shut down. Mentally too weak to bike solo at needed intensity, weekly skate and daily run saved my fitness and sanity. </p><p>Working from home gave me extra 5 hours a week + schedule flexibility. I discovered morning runs helped w/ dinner and sleep. </p><p>_preparation</p><p>I prepared for the 50k using Stryd’s 18-week marathon training program, which estimated 8:00 pace for 42k. </p><p>I sought advice from Logan Sherman, who won 2015 Dallas Marathon. </p><p>10 weeks into the 18-week training, I ran 55 miles/week. Body protested as I replaced an easy 70-minute run by the Plano Pacer 15k race. Next day, my fatigued ankle failed to clear a curb and crashed. I started skipped/shortening sessions. Knee pain started. I integrated massage into routine.</p><p>Week 13. My weekly volume was reduced to 49 miles. Knee was less of a concern.</p><p>Week 16. 45 miles. Long run at 2-hour. Body back to equilibrium. Felt the load was low but still hopeful for 9:00 pace goal, which would be enough to win the undercard race in the past but not this year. Each distance was sold out.</p><p>I acquired Fenix 5 Plus to replace the FR 635 that always lost satellite signals during lap 3 at Hachie.</p><p>_feel-old trip</p><p>At check-in, multiple volunteers commented on how good I looked for my age. (~ you're tall for a midget)</p><p>I barely trained for the race in 2017. 4 years later, I worked my butt off, and ended up marginally faster.</p><p>_pre race</p><p>I missed the highway exit driving to pick up bib as I talked to Voon about lymphoma. Casey had big plans for long races just a month ago. Now pumping poison into body was the priority.</p><p>I was the only one wearing a mask at packet pick up. </p><p>Start time confusion in 2018 was a unique memory as I faced a small apology queue. 2021 I watched Director Paul Box going through a micro-panic over another time change due to weather. </p><p>Marriott did not have their shit together. I followed the emailed info to use the phone app. The physical hotel staff did not follow the chain’s protocols. I went with it, very glad being fully vaccinated. </p><p>_start</p><p>I asked the intimidating guy at the very front: </p><p>“how fast are u going?”</p><p>“6:30 pace.”</p><p>I ran with an overweight guy planning on 8:30 pace. </p><p>By mile 3 there were 9 racers in front. Half of them seemed incapable of holding their pace.</p><p>IRC Meghan wasn’t there due to sciatica.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uivmzR9hRmEQ0xUOkOyt5ILdIF5SbIeLPPf80qRzhrQl8N8_Os0JwCc-iY5DhpGeQR_dOgrwbxSNuXdRdWiectoI08g89hffbXoMSaBxOONCqv2Jd4-3HGeQgeITJbZo_IkiB-RvZKY/s1080/mud.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uivmzR9hRmEQ0xUOkOyt5ILdIF5SbIeLPPf80qRzhrQl8N8_Os0JwCc-iY5DhpGeQR_dOgrwbxSNuXdRdWiectoI08g89hffbXoMSaBxOONCqv2Jd4-3HGeQgeITJbZo_IkiB-RvZKY/s320/mud.jpg" /></a></div><br />[slippery road (photo off FB)]<p></p><p>Stretches of mud sections were fun: I raise the cadence and tiptoed through them, leaving my pack behind. Relatively low crash risk as long as no one was immediately in front.</p><p>_20k</p><p>Calves lost their bounce as expected. Something didn’t change. Mud felt slicker at normal cadence. I was mostly alone by this time. I ignored pace, focusing on holding 190~200 watts.</p><p>_mile 20</p><p>Weakening started but not intensely. I reduced wattage by 5, fearing bonk. Quads felt stiff but were cranking out reasonable pace. </p><p>The 6:30 guy no longer ran like a god for his final lap; his limping was still faster than my marathon pace. I laughed. I felt blessed for the event to utilize my modest talent. Everyone was positive.</p><p>Alex’s legs also lost their bounce but was holding steady for his 50-miler.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwNrIeqqRV-NbWr5_WoWAThOyr10evjb2CxQPQbCWZlJlnFQub2PIz7KH-__jb7NNzAjNGVXLxdMaqQLTge0uybAq7TqfKbw3KNheYAMSHs50YTpIFKKNW8LvdlukMIA80b91cm5Vcto/s960/Barrientos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="924" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwNrIeqqRV-NbWr5_WoWAThOyr10evjb2CxQPQbCWZlJlnFQub2PIz7KH-__jb7NNzAjNGVXLxdMaqQLTge0uybAq7TqfKbw3KNheYAMSHs50YTpIFKKNW8LvdlukMIA80b91cm5Vcto/s320/Barrientos.jpg" /></a></div><br />[couldn't believe Alex chose Alphaflies (photo off FB)]<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeFXfIjvsALaWE1TjDeVxgge0tkAS_nNCV29IVf2vuvtvZcTVfOtaNB3SqJ3VVBRfA800WFGgdlxWMiM3tl2QC0xIm0cFNbR02wjMwwVqApBrp2x_JyhNr6bk9A3WEhObH0NADdbWCLzY/s1440/muddy+Vibram.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeFXfIjvsALaWE1TjDeVxgge0tkAS_nNCV29IVf2vuvtvZcTVfOtaNB3SqJ3VVBRfA800WFGgdlxWMiM3tl2QC0xIm0cFNbR02wjMwwVqApBrp2x_JyhNr6bk9A3WEhObH0NADdbWCLzY/s320/muddy+Vibram.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />[another dude ran 50 miles without carbon inserts (photo off FB)]<p></p><p>_mile 25</p><p>I was stoked to feel equally weak as mile 20. I experiment w/ little surges, no disaster. I pushed above 200w. Electronics working. Legs held. Relieved. Happy. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBpdKijkK_3xqwMUFGrjXi7DrOyh7eHlwgjP4zkC_aHQcmYtb5fj3iWME3DANqKDQHgPFiwIFqkUDhErlvaiLEZizAes6pg_RTe4Vp0iIC1ptTjQCcwX2f-fa509KUfUjldP5xtlW35Y/s901/final+mile.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="901" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBpdKijkK_3xqwMUFGrjXi7DrOyh7eHlwgjP4zkC_aHQcmYtb5fj3iWME3DANqKDQHgPFiwIFqkUDhErlvaiLEZizAes6pg_RTe4Vp0iIC1ptTjQCcwX2f-fa509KUfUjldP5xtlW35Y/w617-h237/final+mile.png" width="617" /></a></div><p>[sprint finish]</p><p>_result confusion</p><p>The timer told me I got second. That couldn’t be right. James joined the argument; he also disagreed 2 of us got the top 2 prizes. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRs9sxIT9jZ0wdB9Ve0C5YhHH-PkoRxPifN4z8sa_FqrhlLwQJc-hJi4KFGlSNbS15OtJDsmLsyO3yTb1UJPtg28lh_mLTb29vWIf5eDegw0RpOql6jUKEfux3tNDHvTXQUtl6avOO1k/s1080/with+James+Allen.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRs9sxIT9jZ0wdB9Ve0C5YhHH-PkoRxPifN4z8sa_FqrhlLwQJc-hJi4KFGlSNbS15OtJDsmLsyO3yTb1UJPtg28lh_mLTb29vWIf5eDegw0RpOql6jUKEfux3tNDHvTXQUtl6avOO1k/w640-h640/with+James+Allen.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />[settled for 3rd and 4th (photo off FB)]<p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3d5eUm1ygfCb_GP291PbkVfCwW9ku5l5HntQM45DIsEhmSYqVrklX9_LPgtXbcLezVrTr64E4QoG3emndENgIdp3RE4oSsS4BqxejHB2HKFSdh8_PYjUBpLZPQsYmbZMnMyNXltt02-E/s2048/2021-05-22+16.21.46.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3d5eUm1ygfCb_GP291PbkVfCwW9ku5l5HntQM45DIsEhmSYqVrklX9_LPgtXbcLezVrTr64E4QoG3emndENgIdp3RE4oSsS4BqxejHB2HKFSdh8_PYjUBpLZPQsYmbZMnMyNXltt02-E/w400-h300/2021-05-22+16.21.46.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />[few days later, this came in the mail]<p></p><p>I hung out with friends from WRCC and IRC afterward. Pizza, beer, mud, sweat, sunshine. Life was good.</p><p>_#</p><div style="text-align: left;">Garmin Fenix 5+<br />Distance: 30.72 mi<br />Time: 4:34:40<br />Pace: 8:56 min/mile<br />HR: 157/177 bpm (unreliable optical sensor)<br />Cadence: 181/232 avg/max spm<br />Stride length: 1.00 m<br />Power: 199w (Stryd)<br />Ground contact time: 252 ms<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Official<br />Distance: 50k; 31.07 mi<br />Time: 4:34:40.22<br />Pace: 8:50 min/mile<br />Place: 7th overall. 6th male.</div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Johnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0Waxahachie, TX, USA32.3865312 -96.84833114.0762973638211548 -132.0045811 60.696765036178846 -61.692081099999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1426675191761984203.post-71781216374911599722020-03-01T05:00:00.000-08:002020-03-17T13:36:12.524-07:00Cowtown 50k 2020/03/01; Fort Worth, Texas—Coronavirus2019 was to be my rebuilding year. 2019 Cowtown marked a promising start, then body never recover from accumulative fatigue. My race performance declined through next 6 weeks. I took the summer off. Life continued to happen; worthwhile things decreased asymptotically. Coronavirus eroded lives the week of Chinese New Year. Hotel business was worrying. Existence fragile.<br />
<br />
_Cowtown goal (as of 2019 Xmas)<br />
target A: 4:48; 9:18 pace for course PR.<br />
target B: 5 hr moving time + bathroom & beer shots. 5:10:00 finish.<br />
target C: 5:30: full burger at mile 27. 5 additional minutes for each can of beer.<br />
<br />
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[discouragingly windy]<br />
<br />
_logistics<br />
Pre-race: big lunch pizza was good. Forced noodle dinner was too much. I felt bloated after just 1 gel.<br />
<br />
Altra Escalante turned out a good decision for 2020. 2019 I wore One v2: too little cushion for my fitness. It’s hard to accept the plantar fascia was still angry 16 months after the fateful 10k race.<br />
<br />
_faster than planned start—never a good sign<br />
I stayed with 3:55 marathon pacer for 7 miles before hiding behind a tall stranger from the wind. The big dude slowed to 11 min/mile pace for the climb—perfect for me. I ran by feel. I was surprised how few people passed me on the hill.<br />
<br />
_miscalculation<br />
I reached half marathon line with clock showing 2:02—exact pace I wanted, failing to notice the chip time was 5.5 minutes quicker. The damage was done by the time I realized my mistake. I went into denial and grew hopeful I’d hold sub-9 for entire 50k. <br />
<br />
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[Irving Running Club]<br />
<br />
_outsource pacing to pacers<br />
Cara and Danielle were solid at 8:55 pace. I turned my brain off and follow them. I was lucky to have help. I wished they were larger windshields.<br />
<br />
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[photo by Tory, 4 seconds behind 3:55 marathon pacer]<br />
The legs wanted to go faster. The brain knew better.<br />
<br />
Weather turned nice. Beautiful sunshine. Everyone was encouraging. I skipped beers and gel; GI didn’t feel great. I missed 2014 fitness. I was more hopeful about life in 2014 in general. I thought about eating the durian with Celine in Montreal.<br />
<br />
_weakening<br />
Inevitably, legs didn’t feel great when marathon pacers and I parted ways at mile 25. Shaheen smiled and waved to me; she’s only 4 miles ahead; this gave me hope. I hanged on to Oprah pace, reaching 26.2 in 3:55. Then muscles refused to fire. They were doing so well just 3 miles ago.<br />
<br />
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[falling apart after marathon]<br />
<br />
_disappointment<br />
A simple decision: "do I fight to hold 11 min/mile, or do I save the legs to shorten recovery." I wanted to do well at Hachie 50k. Giving up 5 minutes means little for Cowtown at this point.<br />
<br />
This was the right condition to finally stop for burger after years of telling the cook "next year". I thought of what to say to express my gratitude. The grill guy ain't there. <span style="font-family: "ms mincho"; font-size: 12pt;">花開堪折直須折,莫待無花空折枝. My heart sank.</span><br />
<br />
I walked the hills. 7 runners passed me before finish line--difficult to swallow.<br />
<br />
_#’s<br />
Rank:46th, 3rd in age group<br />
4:52:55<br />
Pace:9:25/M<br />
<br />
5K Rank:59<br />
5K:27:37<br />
5K Pace:8:51/M<br />
10K Rank:53<br />
10K:54:59<br />
10K Pace:8:49/M<br />
15K Rank:52<br />
15K:1:22:38<br />
15K Pace:8:50/M<br />
13.1M Rank:50<br />
13.1M:1:56:17<br />
13.1M Pace:8:50/M<br />
30K Rank:45<br />
30K:2:45:56<br />
30K Pace:8:54/M<br />
23M Rank:41<br />
23M:3:25:31<br />
23M Pace:8:55/M<br />
26.2M Rank:39<br />
26.2M:3:54:52<br />
26.2M Pace:8:57/M<br />
<br />
Javier and Shaheen each won 3rd overall in gender.<br />
<br />
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[3D finisher meal, Guinness not included]<br />
<br />
_feeling down<br />
I was pleased with finish time but disappointed by the final 5 miles. I was disappointed Irving friends weren’t running. I felt helpless against Coronavirus.<br />
<br />
A thoughtless act put me in a world of hurt for past 3 weeks. I was unable to put it out of my mind. I was angry I let it pollute the morning. I desperately tried shifting to celebration mode: “Dude, there ain’t that many sub-5-hour 50k left in your legs. Cheer up!”<br />
<br />
_Surprises<br />
After swallowing vegi soup and ice cream, I felt resigned and went through the motion of visiting Kimbell. An impossibly elegant young girl behind the gift shop counter smiled at me. I recalled friends who looked that way decades ago. Humans don’t age gracefully. “What’s with you geeks' fascination with long straight hair?” I tried to recall the year I was last asked that question.<br />
<br />
A few walls later, I saw the unfamiliar Monet on loan.<br />
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[“Water-Lily Pond” Thank you, Sotheby’s]<br />
My mood changed. I recalled the emotion first time I heard “<span style="font-family: "ms mincho"; font-size: 12pt;">未來的街頭"</span> in Firebird on Interstate 95. Things turned out differently than I anticipated 3 decades ago. “van Gogh Cezanne Picasso” I went to the paintings in the order in the song, thinking of how Monet handled Paris Salon’s rejection.<br />
<br />
A day after race, tornado came to Tennessee<br />
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[Asphalt Beach Skateshop]<br />
<br />
<br />Johnny Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730227569240931798noreply@blogger.com0Fort Worth, TX, USA32.7554883 -97.330765831.901301300000004 -98.62165929999999 33.609675300000006 -96.0398723