Texas Independence Relay 2017/03/25

The 200-mile 12-person relay involved a lot of sitting in van with some runs in between.  We decided to sign up for the TNSR team instead of running the Oklahoma A2A marathon.  Chances were Arbuckles and Ardmore would still be there in 2018.

Raluca and Captain Cindy handled the logistics.  Laura did most of the driving for van #2.

_behind schedule
The rental didn’t have the vehicle ready at promised time.  Fortunately my seat wasn’t too filthy with beach towel as seat cover.  We still went through everything on schedule, including Kolache Czech Stop in West.  Everyone had faith in our captain and stayed happy and relaxed.

The restaurant wasn’t ready for the rowdy crowd of this annual event—they ran out of margarita glasses.

[Dinner at Mr. Tacos in Gonzales]

Our dinner took over an hour to come out.  We missed the runners’ party, but everything worked out.  The motel was clean.  Continental breakfast had fresh coffee.  We arrived for Saturday 10:10am start.

After sending off leg 1 and leg 2 runners, van #2 decided to visit Shiner.

_logistics
Each of 1000+ runners all started at Gonzales with his team.  Teams started 5 minutes apart for a short group run before leg one starts.  The van would stop on the side of the road to wait for the runner every mile or so for supply and support before next check point to hand off baton (slap bracelet).

The van transport runners for 5 or 6 legs before rotating vans.

_hilly run
As requested, Captain Cindy gave me the hilly leg.
4:20pm leg  9: 6.4 mi@7:52 159/178 bpm

Some teammates made a big deal of “superhot” 80F air despite Texas routinely experience 100F days.  During the afternoon, the van would stop for the runner frequently for ice sponge and cold water.

Steak wasn’t anyone’s first dinner choice but was what’s available.  I had pork chop and couple shrimps.  Food was unexpectedly good for the price.

_midnight run
Casey gave me an awesome torch that worked great for the run.  I held it between index and middle fingers, running at 8:00 pace.  Some tall guy caught me from behind; it was Jon Cotton from Trishop.  His endurance improved since I ran with him in 2014.  He completed Rocky Racoon 100 few weeks prior.  We chatted a bit before I let him go.  I held mid-aerobic effort and enjoyed the night.

11:51pm leg 19: 6.8 mi@8:06 149/162 bpm

_aim the torch at the eye ball
I gave Raluca the baton then ran with her.  She forgot to take off the jacket.  I volunteered to bring it to the van.  I ran back to the checkpoint and was unable to identify which of the 30 white vans was ours.  I gave up and accelerated to catch Raluca.  I uncapped the coconut juice; now I had 4 things in my hands while running 7:30 pace in darkness.  I raised my head to down the liquid, ending up pointing the mighty flashlight into my left eye ball.

Vision returned after a few seconds.
12:46am leg 20: 5.0 mi@9:52 129/152 bpm

_difficult hours; 4am Sunday
Van 2 shift ended.  We drove to high school for $5 shower.  The 5 girls weren’t impressed with the facility; I didn’t bother getting in the building—baby wipe was my best friend.  It was difficult to sleep in the van waiting at check point 28.  Pork chop dinner wasn’t sitting well.

_getting lost at Captain’s leg
I missed the first turn w/ another TIR runner despite the energy studying the map and turn sheet. I expected the orange cone; the turn was marked by painted yellow arrow.  Fortunately the leg was along Allen Parkway from Houston Inline Marathon.  I ran an alternative route from memory, which was half mile longer.
10:39am leg 32: 5.1 mi@8:12 157/174 bpm

_running through maze
I kept Raluca company for her leg through busy park and kite festival.  The bulk of it involved concrete trail along the river, including an unexpected construction detour.  She complained about “super hot”
12:05pm leg 34: 4.8 mi@10:49 130/143 bpm

_running toward the statue
I made Raluca run hard for her final mile with fatigue legs.  She shaved a minute off her struggling pace.  Very cool.
4:00pm leg 40: 4.1 mi@9:43 136/154 bpm

_leg assignment
Prolouge Everyone!
1 Cindy
2 David
3 Mike B.
4 Jennifer
5 Rob
6 Mike T.
7 Gaana
8 Liliana
9 Johnny
10 Hilary
11 Laura
12 Raluca
13 David
14 Rob
15 Jennifer
16 Mike B.
17 Cindy
18 Hilary
19 Johnny
20 Raluca
21 Gaana
22 Laura
23 Mike T.
24 David
25 Jennifer
26 Mike B.
27 Cindy
28 Rob B.
29 Liliana
30 Gaana
31 Laura
32 Johnny
33 Hilary
34 Raluca
35 Mike T.
36 Cindy
37 Mike B or Jennifer
38 Hilary
39 Liliana
40 Laura/Raluca/Johnny
Epilogue Everyone!

_“Come and Take My Beer” team roster with 10k pace
Cindy Hallo (captain) 8:15
David Recker 8:45
Hillary Owen 12:00
Liliana Torres 8:30
Laura Osentoski 9:30
Mike Beck 8:00
Rob Buwalda 7:00
Mike Thames 11:00
raluca moucha 8:45
Jennifer Ancheta 8:45
Johnny Chen 7:30
Gaana Nagaraj 9:30

Met Michellie Jones 2017/03/18 at Trishop

I didn't know the subject of the seminar when I saw the ad but signed up immediately for the chance to meet the Ironman legend.

I didn't expect a hug upon entering the room.  I was over the moon.

She brought both Olympic medals.

The Paralympic medals make sound when shaking.

Remembering tongue-tied with Mark Allen at RBM, I prepared questions with this Ironman champion.  Michellie avoided answering specifics about weight control--figures.

It was a great day: Grasslands Half, Kula lunch, meeting an icon of our time.

Grasslands Trail Half Marathon 2017/3/18

Casey and I talked about this race for years.  It’s usually the same weekend as Rock n Roll half marathon that marked end of my run race season.  In a blink of eye Casey had become a trail runner, and I no longer tried to PR at Rock n Roll.  Casey invited me to his first Grasslands 50 miler.  My drop foot limited trail run distance.  I compromised and signed up for 13-mile.

_goal
Raluca consistently talked about wanting to run trail but couldn’t act on it.  It's draining.  I decided to nudge her.  The barriers were mundane: dog arrangement, early wake up time, long drive, need for coffee.

My performance goal: safe finish + negative split.  Mostly I didn’t want Raluca’s first trail race to end in tears.

_the run

We started with Voon, Raymond and Stef on the sandy tail.  I made sure Raluca didn’t overexert early.  The course wasn’t technical: few roots and rocks.  By mile 3 she seemed confident about the course.  I raised the heart rate and let her run her own race.

I kept HR 140~160 for next 7 miles before raising the pace for 2-hour finish.

passing a runner who started too fast.

_#’s
Garmin 630:
Distance = 12.44 mi
Time = 1:57:21
Pace = 9:19

Official:
Distance = 13.1 mi
Time = 1:57:19

_mission accomplished
Raluca finished in 2:33:10.  She ran out of water but toughed it out.  She helped and received support from other runners.

She had a happy run and post-race sushi lunch.

[pace & HR]

I wondered if I could run the marathon in 4 hours.  This is a relatively simple trail course: perhaps I could try another 50-miler.

_live to fight another day
Casey and John’s bodies didn’t thrive on this hot March day and were pull off the course after 41 miles.