Irving Marathon 2016/04/17; Irving, Texas

_goal
4:29
Run with John for a few miles for his first marathon (John’s guesstimate pace 9:00min/M).
Save enough legs for OKC Marathon following weekend.

_race
John was feeling good and seemed to run a little faster than he should.  I felt OK at 9:00 pace.  The elevation change was barely noticeable.  Casey volunteered and handed us his private energy gummies.  Yummy.

_cramp
John’s longest run prior to the race was 17 miles.  John cramped near half marathon.  We started to walked small sections.

The course has several out and back U-turns.  We re-passed the same runners several times

_ flirting with the Oprah Line
In-trouble runners tend to bunch up near the Oprah line after mile 22.  We averaged just below 10:00 pace by now.

The girl from Mexico felt discouraged and required a human pacer.
The Baylor kid also lost motivation to run.
The big-bicep guy in neon looked about to pass out.
Everyone seemed ready to quit, but our cars were parked at finish line.  We continued the march.

I was proud of John's maintaining sense of humor.

[happy and skinny.  I need to eat more.]

It felt good to be part of John’s athletic milestone.

_#’s
GPS Garmin Forerunner 910XT
Distance: 26.29 mi
Time: 4:23:23
Pace: 10:01
Heart rate: 144/169

Chip
Distance: 26.2 mi
Time: 4:24:30
Pace: 10:06
Place: 83/205

_afterward
Indian buffet at Our House was delicious.
Signed up for OKC Marathon in 8 days.

Big D 2016/04/11; Dallas, Texas; my slowest marathon

_motivation
After watching Barkley the documentary, I felt I shortchanged my running life by craving too much comfort.  I decided to run more marathons.

_nutritional experiment
After years of learning from Maffetone and others, I liked to think I was fat-efficient at lower heart rate.  I tested running a marathon with minimal carbs.

I made a point to minimize carb intake 48 hours prior to race.  I skipped the usual jelly bean at the start line.

“How bad can it be?”  I mentally go through the worst case scenario: passing out after mile 20; the runner behind me or a spectator would alert volunteers or law enforcement.  But chances are I’d just walk during final 10k—like Ben Greenfield’s 2013 ketosis for his farewell Ironman Kona.

My past emulation of Greenfield’s experiment: minimizing electrolyte intake at Montreal 24-hour.  I ended up with sever cramp and a story to tell

_goal
Go easy enough to recover for next 2 marathons.

_race
Pace Raluca for 5 miles at 9:30 pace.  We ran with Tanisha for a few minutes.  It was great to see her.  The twin from Cowtown passed me.  They looked serious.

I pace a 6’6” 25-year-old Mark at northern bridge.  His long legs were awkward at the pace.

_dehydration
The twin stopped after out-and-back.  One was puking against a tree.
I didn’t feel too great myself.  I felt dehydrated and lacked energy.  I tapped out planned pace but felt weaker with each mile.

_hypoglycemia
I started to crave sugar.  This hasn’t happened in years.  I came to water station near mile 14, “anything with sugar?”  “Sorry we only have water.”  Can’t say I didn’t ask for this.  This would be a long day.

Help came at next stop at mile 16.5.  It had banana.  I foolishly assumed calories would also be available at upcoming rest stops.  The remaining calories came from spectators.  I didn’t expect I’d beg for food.

_4:15 pace group
I was caught by the pacers after half way mark.  They shielded me from wind for couple miles before I let them go at a climb.

_walking
I started to walk all the climbs.  My brain urged me to stop running but legs jogged at comfortable pace—this was Ironman all over again.  I ran-walked and waited for 4:30 pacer.

_ flirting with the Oprah Line
4:30 pacers were 2 Japanese ojisans.  They made it clear the most important thing at marathons and life was post-race cold beer.  Their enthusiasm was contagious but not enough to make me chatty.  I focused on tapping out 10:30 pace.

_#’s
GPS Garmin Forerunner 910XT
Distance: 26.37 mi
Time: 4:29:11
Pace: 10:12

Chip
Distance: 26.2 mi
Time: 4:29:51
Pace: 10:17
Place: 184/546 (491 finishers)

Oprah’s 1994 Marine Corps time: 4:29:20
My April 2014 Irving Marathon time: 3:23:48

_aftermath
I felt dizzy walking toward the car and went to the ambulance to measure glucose—it matched how I felt.  Coconut water + Starbucks Frappuccino resolved the immediate medical issues.

We left Fair Park on schedule.  Garden Restaurant was out of lobster—of all the emotional up and downs during last few days, missing out on cheap lobster felt the most tragic.

Picked up Aiki from her first boarding after hot tub.  Seeing a happy Aiki was so gratifying.

Order too much food at Sichuan Folk dinner.  Very tasty.

Walking wasn’t too difficult after the satisfying meal.  The immediate challenge was to get enough sleep before work.  Mazda and Amex projects continued passed their deadlines—life is a constant stream of little and big struggles.

Rock n Roll half marathon 2016/03/20

_ preparation
Before 2015, Rock n Roll was my annual PR attempt.  92-minute within reach—sub-90 if I made it "A" event.  Then organizer changed the course that made 90-minute unrealistic.
After running Boston in April, I decided I didn’t need to run fast again.  Speed work didn’t start ‘til 2 weeks before race.  Then I caught cold.

My options to enhance performance were limited.  I focused on resting and reducing body weight.

_initial goal
95~100-minute finish.  Beer with Kurt and laugh about how old and slow we become.  I ran 1.25-mi tempo 4 days before race.  Body didn’t respond well to sub 7:00 pace.  Kurt couldn’t race due to illness.

_revised plan
Sub-8:00 pace.  Shoot for 100-minute finish.  Go harder after mile 8 climb.

I set GPS to 7:45 pace.

_starstruck
Logistics went perfectly: parking, Omni hotel ballroom no-line bathroom, bag check in, national anthem, disposable cloths.  I waited in corral 1, casually hanged my donation Big Dog fleece on the barrier, looked up, the guy in the thick jacket was recently retired Ryan Hall.  I tapped his shoulder, but the horn sounded before I could say I was a big fan.  We made eye contact a minute into the run, what came out of my mouth was “holy shit, I’m running with Ryan Hall.”  Not my smoothest moment.

[Ryan slightly taller than Meb]

_smooth start
Ryan was smaller than the “white giant leading Kenyans” image in my head.  He was in no rush and wasn’t in conversation mood.  I was too excited to hold his pace and left him behind.  I promised I wouldn’t pass 95-minute pacer before mile 9. 

I hadn’t raced this fast for 12 months.  The weather was beautiful though a bit windy.  I was somewhat rested and mostly injury-free.  I felt 9000 runners behind me.  Green Silence were light and bouncy.  I loved racing 21k.

Mile 4, Ryan caught me from behind, still wearing the jacket.  Only 1 of his groupies hanged on.  I chased.  Heart rate rose quickly.  I let go.  “I run with Ryan Hall twice today!”  I laughed as I watched the 2:04 marathon man jogging away.

_”If Trump can run for president, you can run a half marathon”_
That was the most interesting celebrity-related poster on the road.  Charlie Sheen and Kim Kardashian seemed harmless now.

_going off script
I stuck to race plan up to mile 8.  I wasn’t confident and bled speed through the climb.  I struggled to hold 7:30 pace after the incline, unable to capitalize on short down hills. 

My quads softened after the long downhill at mile 12.  I hemorrhage speed.  I failed to hold 8:00 pace half mile before finish when I expected to go anaerobic at sub 7:00.  I was grateful my body did this well with poor preparation.

_#
GPS Garmin Forerunner 910XT
Distance: 13.28 mi
Time: 1:42:21
Pace: 7:42
Starting temperature: 39F (It felt like mid 40’s)

Chip
Distance: 13.1 mi
Time: 1:42:20
Pace: 7:49
Place: 509/9538

Winner Benson Chesang: 1:08:37
Ryan Hall’s US record: 0:59:43

_aftermath
Inner quads were unhappy immediately after the race.  I walked it off. 
One toe nail bled.  Serves me right for wearing narrow shoes.

I had mixed feeling about the result: sub-8:00 pace was more than I deserved given poor preparation—yet I somehow I had my identity tied to 7-minute-mile.  I looked up definition of "ego."

2 days later I watched Barkley Documentary with Irving runners and started to feel I shortchanged my running life by needing too much comfort.  At the same time I felt I should take a long break from running for proximal hamstring strain and other injuries.

The end maybe near.

Cowtown 50k 2016/02/28; Fort Worth, Texas

_getting to race
Took up Raluca’s hotel offer to stay Courtyard downtown Fort Worth Saturday night.  The staff was pleasant, toilets powerful, valet parking awful.

Vivo 53 pizza dinner was tasty.  Met Gina Hendrickson and husband from Edmond, OK.  She aimed for 4-hour 50k.  Her husband helped making my expectation realistic.

Jetlag woke me up at 4 am.  I retrieved the hybrid SUV to park in front of Courtyard entrance before going back to bed.
My iPod Touch was still in Taipei time zone; alarm failed to go off.  Fortunately traffic and parking were easy.

_goal
Undertrained and unrecovered from previous 50k, for once I was unconcerned about the extra 3 lb body weight.

It was warm and humid.  I decided to start with 9:30 pace for first 9 miles, walk the bridge, and then go by HR or feel.  With luck, I would finish around 5 hours.

_deficit
Couple miles into the race, the blue runners passed me.  The 2 girls wore identical outfit and beautiful triceps definition.  Side by side, their synchronized steps were hypnotic.  I followed them and went sub 9:00.  My HR went up 15 beats.  “What the heck, this is a fun run.”  The speed increase sealed the positive split.

_nutrition experiment
I tested magnesium lotion and extra Endurolyte.  I also took MAP (Master Amino Pattern) before mile 3.  Stomach inform me of its unhappiness with the supplements.  It settled after a few cups of waters.  It’s easy to recover at this pace.

By Stockyard, I sweated excessively.  The body seemed to be retaining water.  It’s hard to isolate all the causes.  “Just focus on finishing.”

I felt great and could go faster.  I also knew the strength was illusory and would be gone before mile 23.

[climbing out of Stockyard]

_out of juice
Legs quit around mile 20 after averaging 100 second/mile slower than my Boston qualifying pace.  Being unfit was unsurprising yet depressing.  I swallowed pride as 5-hour pacer passed me.

I started to high-five little kids.  I drank extra beers.  The sun came out.  It was a beautiful day.  Runners passed me left and right, which didn’t bother me this time.  I thought of the Chinese New year trip.  I focused on celebrating the moment in front of me.

_extra 8k
I didn’t reach the out-and-back loop in time to see Gina and Tiffany.  My toenail started to hurt.  “Should’ve wore bigger shoes.”  I left the larger Altra in Taiwan.

[black toe]

Saw Casey on the other side of the road.  Ben paced him.

Heel striking started before 26.2 line, 6 years after I changed my running form.  Time flew.

I was mentally done by ultra U-turn party station.  For the first time I was compelled to stop for burger and beer.  Remembering my car pool obligation, I signed the giant guest book in Chinese and moved on.

My pace felt similar to walking though GPS said sub 12:00.  Tired and slow runners pass me every few minutes.  Plenty runners were behind me, struggling and smiling.  Suffering never gets old.  I accepted what my body had to offer.  I ignored the toe pain.  I relaxed and appreciate the weather.

[finishing photo by John L]

_#
GPS Garmin Forerunner 910
Distance: 31.15 mi
Time: 5:20:12
Pace: 10:17

Chip
Distance: 50k
Time: 5:20:25
Pace: 10:18
Place: 116/383

Winner Bryan Morseman finished in 3:01:44
Josh Cox’s US record is 2:43:45

_post race
Kimbell Museum.  Hot tub.  Osaka Sushi.  Great day.

IRC runners.

Pinlin50k 藍鯨坪林<戀山海>超級馬拉松2016/02/21, Taipei, Taiwan

 

ChihYang asked if I want to race the last day of my Taiwan trip:

“坪林起跑 估計1600前可跑完 1730前回到家 1920前開車出發到機場 2220飛機:

I never raced a course this hilly.  Timing conflicted with Cowntown 50k and annual half marathon PR attempt.  I seized the rare chance to do an endurance event with my brother.

Light rain came and went for this course near the cloud line.

_supply station every 5k

Many runners carried their own plastic cup to minimize environmental waste.

I ate star fruits, banana, and cherry tomato.

Hot food was delicious: rice noodle soup, congee, and mung bean soup. 

_negative split

ChihYang and I walked many climbs and took most downhill easy.  Rain frequency and intensity increased half way and motivated higher heart rate.

Continuous running didn’t start 'til 35k.  I matched Jack’s pace at unfamiliar grades.  It felt weird braking every step at 7:00 pace.

# per Gamin 910 XT

distance = 31.2 mi

time = 6:12:25

pace = 11:57 min/mi

elevation gain = 6873 ft

starting temperature = 59 F

_post race

A big bowl of 控肉飯.  Pretty cool.

Mom prepared a big dinner at home before ChihYang took me to the airport formerly known as Chiang Kai-shek International.

Duty-free seemed to imply 30% additional markup.  I window-shopped for expensive and inaccurate wrist watches.  I thought of the Tissot that lead to this ridiculous hobby.  It was the year of iPad 1 when the downward spiral was already in motion but yet hopeful.  I need to learn accepting things out of my control.

Boarded the plane to Houston 7 hours after the race.

   

Dallas Marathon half 12/13/2015

Official hotel Omni.

Nice bathroom.

TV in mirror.

Expo to pick up packet.  $30 Sketchers.

Dress up.

Ritz.


Pancake art.
Good hotel coffee +  Clif.

Trash bag vest.
Long and slow walk to the start.
Gun.
11:00 pace first mile.
Greet Pinsukajanas.
Negative split.

Level headed librarian.
Diluted Coors.
Voon hug.
Good luck from Casey.

Waive to camera.
Free gels.

7:30 pace final mile.


Fireplace.

Laundry.
Yard work.
Edamame, fried pickles, jalapenos.
Hot tub.
Sushi, crab legs, fire pot.
“Snatch”

Isle du Bois 14mi trail run 12/05/2015

I spent 0 time preparing for this race.  I have three 50k runs scheduled in February.  It seemed like a good idea to do start running.



the lake was a little flooded from the rain.

It turned out to be a fun event.  Not too cold, not too long, not to muddy.

I struggled with direction and footing.  Others helped me by leading and conversation.

I didn't feel too tired, but kicked lots of the rocks during last couple miles.


Toes weren't too bruised, though left big toe nail separated a bit.

distance: 14 miles
time: 2:35:45.3

Casey got the full experience: crashed at mile 7; losing then recovering a shoe in mud; even split; finished 52k under 6 hours.  Very cool.  Very proud of him.