Texas Road Rash. April 17, 2011

I started skating late this year and decided to make TRR a “D” race; it's an annual social trip.
TSX delivered 31 mpg to Round Rock. I stopped by a Ducati dealer in Waco. Had mediocre BBQ next door. David Sedaris audio books made the time pass fast.

_World class
Joey Mantia looked bulkier than last time I saw him. I fantasized multiple US long track medals at Sochi 2014 after watching his huge lead at Saturday elimination race.
Debbie Rice decided not to compete despite having many choices of mismatched boots. Bont brought its young guns.

I acquired new Texas Flyer jersey before dinner with teammates.

It was great to see Duane and Scarlett. How priority changed in a few years: Duane, Scarlett, Harris, and Ritter moved away; Demer never regained form after operation; Jason went to cycling; I focused on long events; Phil doesn't skate much after his first born; Mackowski is recovering from boating accident. Casey was the only one getting faster.

_Marathon
1 mass start this year. I couldn't hang with the lead pack beyond couple miles but started with them any way. I love watching a race unfold up close. Joey didn't start easy like his last appearance. The pack let him go; everyone was confident in his inability to keep up with superboy. The headwind was downhill this year; Joey needed no help breaking wind.
I redlined and stood up to wait for safe-looking skaters to pick me up. Randy and Renee invited me in. Randy was a TRR champion and by far the fastest in the pack that included Margo and Gene. I stayed behind Renee and watch her being delivered half marathon finish. It was good to see her recovering well from surgery.
Lap 4: Joey lapped us . He made the pros understand how I felt when I tried to stay with them.

_Plotting
I discussed finishing strategy with Gene; it reminded me of skating with Tom Demer at inaugural TRR.
Chris and Brenda showed up . I assumed they bonked; I didn’t notice the torn jerseys. They joined the pack. I switched to race mode--Margo and Brenda were both pro masters.
Brenda didn't show bouncy legs. I took the lead and slow the pack at the final head wind. I warned Gene of the impending attacks. I didn't ask him to help Brenda--I was confident Chris and I would deliver Brenda to the line.
The slow downhill made everyone antsy. Couple half-hearted breakaways initiated after turning to cross wind. I held a steady pace in front of Chris and Brenda--my job was to keep Margo within range. I assumed Chris was ready to take over.
Gene accelerated and took over the lead. Margo cracked. I let her dry for a bit before passing her. She was unable to latch on. It’s tough to be out-teammated.
3 TXF jerseys skated together like the old days. My 110mm wheels actually felt good for a change.

Brenda won the pro master jacket and shared her cash winning.

It's good to see Duane and Jason return to the sport. Casey improved his speed similar to his running progress. It was always good to see Toronto skaters. Standing on age group podium, Gene grinned like a necrophiliac in the morgue.


My veins pop to be like Morgan

_Perspectives (quotes from inlineplanet.com and other sources)
Joey Mantia: "I basically stood up for 45 seconds to let them catch up. But when I stood up, they took a break themselves.... So I just kept going."
Justin Stelly describes it as "a nice, easy pace" after getting 2nd place.
3rd place Harry Vogel claims he got 2nd because "Joey doesn't count" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSn4vMndj_E&feature=player_embedded)
Timo was happy with his time after spending more time golfing than skating, "big pack is the answer."
Brianna Kramer, winner of last year's NorthShore Inline Marathon, is on a break from the Wheels to Ice Program of the U.S. Olympic Committee. "This is the most exercise I've had in a month,"


Top female Brianna was tinier than expected

_Post TRR brick
I tripled the participation number by talking Timo and Casey into running. Timo suffered a DNF as Casey and I ran the course in reverse direction.

_Shopping:
I visited Austin's run, bike, and tri stores after lunch. I was disappointed by lace-less shoes. Zoot's marketing described the new blister inducing model as "designed for short-distance races." I scored 2 pairs of running shorts. My annual spring long run was coming up.
TSX averaged 34 mpg with tail wind after dinner with Jenny and Ray. I recalled my cancelled plan of racing as a pro master. I desired Candy to achieve her goal.

Long run 2011--Double Marathon. April 22

_Motivation: baby steps
Pursuing the illusion of closer to Badwater, I decided on annual PR on running distance. I did not find a good event that fit schedule. I picked Good Friday--weather was reasonable; no major injury; I got a day off work. The preparation included skipping Thursday Yasso 800 and post-Yasso beer.
I laid out 2 GPS and 2 skinning running belts for gels and cash. I unwrapped the big running belt holding 2 10-oz bottles. I anticipated returning to the house between 2 marathons. I laughed when discovering I put on cycling gloves out of habit. I took them off and locked the door. Goal: 52.4 miles in 12 hours.
I ran toward The Colony exploring new routes. Instead of music, I listened to Richard Russo's _Empire Falls_ and Murakami's _The Wind-up Bird Chronicle_. I had a hard time with 11:00 pace. I needed more practice with slow pace.

_Crash
Mile 15. I opened a pack of Jelly Bean in the unfamiliar reseal-able bag. I tripped over a concrete block 10 cm higher than its neighbor. The elbow dripped red liquid in dramatic fashion--it's mostly sweat. I had the bag in hand therefore left palm scrape wasn't deep. It was a hard 5.5-mph fall. I kept going and wished I kept the gloves on. For a few days, brushing teeth and using washroom would be left-handed--skills we acquire through sports.
Lots of little aches. Big toe was throbbing. I didn't feel like running any more but was too cheap to call a taxi and too lazy to plan the makeup run. I kicked couple more sidewalk blocks and cursed at the city's budget cut. I was glad I wasn't wearing minimalist shoes.


I'll probably lose that toe nail.

Kroger was a great rest stop. Walgreen's Gatorade was twice the price, but it's all about location. 4 hours into the run, I became more dehydrated than I felt. The stream reminded me of the Fukushima Plant.

_Bonk
I was dumbfounded when hitting the wall at mile 23. I lasted longer at Cowtown with more climb at faster pace. There's no negotiating with one's physical condition. Could be dehydration; I wish I know for sure. I accepted the slower speed and stopped at a Dickey's BBQ on 121.
AC and ice water did wonders to my mood. I did not blend into the Friday 2pm crowd. Everyone else spoke fluent Spanish and seemed capable of construction and other real-man activities. A friendly gentleman asked, "you're a runner, aren't you?" I smiled and nodded my head. What gave it away, Sherlock: bloody elbow, compression shirt, spandex, calf sleeves, salt stain, or the sun visor? I consumed a big cup of mashed potato and large quantity of water during the long break.
_2nd half
11:30 pace became a struggle by mile 30. I ignore the pace and ran slowly home. The pool looked inviting as I swapped running belts and water bottle.

_Insufficient form
I chose the familiar Plano routes for the remaining 20 miles. Running became difficult by mile 35. I wasn't hurt or hungry; heart rate was low; the body just didn't want to run. I walk-ran against sunset. It was demoralizing. How did the same body finish Ironman? I considered ordering a pizza.
I developed empathy with the protagonists in both novels. I wondered what it'd take to develop that level of writing skills. Trusting quality of sidewalks, my mind drifted. I reviewed my life decisions. Long run is one way to gain fresh perspectives.
I took my time in the dark and finished double marathon. 11 hours moving. 1 hour of resting. I was in no shape to run 100 miles in 24 hours. I was disappointed but glad to have learned my fitness level.
Dinner tasted great. I estimated 5000 calories deficit. I considered downing 1 kg of sugar with couple eggs and calling it good.
I slept badly after the run. Typical after a long event.

Rock n Roll Half Marathon 3/27/2011 Dallas

I was unsatisfied with erratic pacing at Cowtown and felt the need to redeem. I also thought it’d be nice to run with Casey, who wanted a sub-100 min half. At the rate he's improving, this could be the last race we'd run at similar pace.

_The Competitor Group
I was carded when getting my race number. I was unhappy being forced to make the downtown trip just to pick up the race packet but couldn’t blame a for-profit organization for maximizing the traffic when parking alone is $10.
The event was well executed: race number and chip pick up, water stations, gear bag check, start line bus, porta potties, course markers, finish area.... In comparison, Dallas Marathon was poorly run.
For additional $1000 in the form of fundraising, the participants gets "an exclusive start-line lounge, gear transport from start to finish, a Komen cheer station party on the course for your donors and family, and a VIP finish-line party tent." There was an attractive bouncer guarding the VIP area inside the velvet ropes. I visualized cloth towels in the trailer bathroom completed with an attendant whose sole job was uttering “have a good race!”

_Expo
Vendors wised up and stopped selling Gu Roctane for $1.
Garmin rep was unhelpful in answering the question “is there’s a way to normalize the course length based on mile marker.”
I quizzed a few booths about compression socks. I wasn’t trying to be confrontational by demanding data—I really wanted to believe the 5% improvement in the ad.

_Taking chances
I tried new things in this "C" race:
- 3-week preparation for PR pace while fighting spine issue.
- First race with race flats. Green Silence’s odometer says 5 miles per shoe.
- Calf compression sleeves. I wore it for 5 minutes while being convinced by the salesperson. Actually, Biff did most of the convincing in past 3 months.

_Setting PR
Stomach wasn’t happy after the 1st banana at 5am. I threw trash bags, towel, and extra change of clothes into the car. I prayed the liver had enough glycogen for the race. I gained another lb since Cowtown and actually felt lightened by the GI issue.
Weather cooperated --cold, cloudy with pending rain, no wind. I wore 2 layers of disposable shirt and no gloves.

I gave Casey a cap hoping that'd weigh him down

Casey and I ran alongside 95-min pace balloon at 5k mark. Side stitch started. I let Casey go. The plan was sub-100-minute finish and even splits.
The motivation signs on the course reflected our time. Charlie Sheen's tiger blood was winning for this Rock n Roll.

running with Adam's Apple

_Half way
At mile 6, body parts were stressed at expected level. Big decision: how much speed to bleed on the final 2 miles of climbs? I focused on arm swing and listen to my body. “Don't use up the quads.”
I stuck with the 7:33 GPS pace and was 100 feet behind virtual partner by mile 8, the highest point of the course. I aimed for 7:15 pace for the final 5 descending miles. I used runners around me to keep up with this unnatural speed. I was rhythm challenged.
Saw no barefoot runner, but was paced by a pair of Vibrams for a few miles.
I raced a big dude for the final mile. I lost the sprint by half a step. So much for my supposedly sprinter’s legs.




_Post race
The organizer didn't anticipate the cold front and ran out of silver blanket by runner 312 in this 10000 runner event. There was no finishers' shirt. I lend Casey leg warmers to warm arms. It felt good to be helpful to a friend by making him look silly. After dropping him off at the train station, I attempted Sunday morning stroll in Carrollton downtown. Shivering started as I locked the car. Insulation and lightness are difficult to balance. I gave up active recovery.
I worried weight obsession would lead to eating disorder. I thought of Peter Sagal's words: ''It's not about being fat. ... people of all shapes whose sense of self is blessedly untethered from their weight. It's about the terror of what we might become if we allow ourselves to let go, to get weak, to slow down."

After shower and soup noodles, I sat at fireplace sipping bubble tea. Midori was playing Mendelssohn through the recently repair Yamaha DSP A1.

Shishamos, shrimps, bacon and wrapped scallop were baking in the oven as pinot grigio chilled. For this afternoon, the most difficult decision would be chopsticks or silverware for my tapas.

result:
Casey Murrell
Overall: 312 out of 10969 • Division: 36 out of 810 • Gender: 264 out of 4159
Pace 5 Km 10 Km 10 Mi ChipTime ClockTime
7:23 22:54 46:19 1:14:21 01:36:40 01:36:56

Johnny Chen
Overall: 342 out of 10969 • Division: 50 out of 674 • Gender: 287 out of 4159
Pace 5 Km 10 Km 10 Mi ChipTime ClockTime
7:26 22:53 46:43 1:15:12 01:37:22 01:37:39

We beat Aikman
Troy Aikman
Overall: 1206 out of 10969 • Division: 138 out of 674 • Gender: 879 out of 4159
Pace 5 Km 10 Km 10 Mi ChipTime ClockTime
8:16 27:19 54:05 1:24:50 01:48:11 01:52:42