Arbuckles 2 Ardmore 20.6-mile run 2019/03/31--fast course.

Years ago Casey mentioned the existence of “another A2A.”  I added the event to bucket list.  I stumbled upon the race website again in 2017 looking for events with Raluca.  It conflicted with TIR.  A year later she raced 20.6-; I raced 26.2-mile; it was a good experience.  I was sad to learned 2019 would be the final year—so many friends would enjoy the run, but modern life priority is more obligation- than happiness-based.

_pre-race
Admore was much closer than OKC.  Oklahomans seemed nicer to strangers than Texans.  I went to dinner at Ten-Star pizza, the kinda pre-race dinner where I’d encourage Raluca to order red wine.

Hilton Garden’s wifi was comically difficult to get on.  The receptionist had to give me the “good wifi password.”  Speedtest.net refused to give me a number other than stating latency was too much.  I emailed Tom about his knee and Italian travel mates about the trip.

Drive to Noble Stadium was smooth.  Event parking was easy.  Toilet flushed solidly.  Bus ride was happy.  Pre-race activities were great.  It sucked such event had to end.

Lots of selfie activities at the start with Oklahoma's tallest water fall and comically short zipline.

[images from Turner Falls Park & Turner Falls Zipline websites]

_goal
Given the hill distribution, negative split was unrealistic.  I aimed for even effort.  Fast final 100-meter on stadium track.  Tailwind was forecasted but later than race start.

_race
I started fast to raise core temperature.  The above freezing tailwind accelerated.  By the time I finished the 5-mile out-and-back detour, I could feel the wind pushing me.  10 miles to go.

_tail wind
I started to pick runners off.  The legs told me to stay at 8:30 pace.
“forget the legs you once had; be grateful to what you have.”
This is race condition non-Barkley racers dreamed of: downhill, point-to-point, tail wind.  8:30 was a little hard to swallow.  I encouraged every runner I passed—feeling like a hypocrite.

I sweated wearing cycling base layer plus a T shirt.  I was tempted to give away arm warmers and gloves with air temperature in the 40’s.  Sunshine was beautiful.

The pace was hard to hold by mile 18.  I stopped the struggle.  I reminded myself DRC’s race was 6 days away.
“just hold your place.”
I felt unfit but was enjoying the moment.  The sky was gorgeous; I was passed by the sole port-a-potty-delayed racer; everyone was happy to see me.  Everyone appreciated my toilet humor when a guy headed toward port-a-potty.

_fast finish
With stadium in sight, a competitor came within breathing distance—I sat on him.  He accelerated with 400m-to-go.  I kicked at the final turn and easily took him before the line.

[11.12 sec 100-meter if I could hold 2:59 pace]


_#
Garmin 630
Distance: 20.61 miles
Time: 2:57:15
Pace: 8:36
Top Pace: 2:59

Official
Distance: 20.6 miles
Time: 2:57:15
Pace: 8:36
Placement: 12/46

[won socks as the fastest 50-year-old]

_downside of low body fat
I forgot I was still skinny despite being heavier than race weight; I didn’t get my coat before socializing, thanking volunteers, and accepting age-group award.  I was cold.  I rushed to my car as the 3:20 marathoner entered the track.
“That used to be my speed….”

My hands were shaking by the time I gave up on Starbucks line—didn’t expect it to be such happening place 11am in Ardmore.

Went to Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburgers next door.  Burger and fries stopped my shaking.  I skipped frozen custard—1 of my favorite foods.

2 days later, I failed to put on long-sleeves over wood dust covered arms from installing ceiling shelves.  I got cold and got sick.

The next day I learned Kisha injured her ankle; her spring race season was now in jeopardy.

Human bodies are fragile.

Blue Red Run Half 2019/03/23—unrecovered

The legs felt dead at the start of Trinity River Levee Half 3 weeks ago.  Today I anticipated a better 13.1-mile result given I had 7 instead of 6 days rest after 4+ hour foot race.  I acquired a Hypervolt massager to promote recovery and alleviate upper body pain.  Wishful thinking didn’t translate to reality.

_plan
Start at mid to high 7’s pace.  Accelerate at mile 8.  21-minute final 3 miles.

[Irving cops and I left the event at the same time.  This caused me having to drive at their speed on George Bush Tollway]

_race
The legs turned into jello around mile 9.  I lost ground to the dozen in front of me.  No one behind me presented a threat.

I stopped holding the pace at mile 11 to save the legs for 20.6-mile A2A in 8 days.  I watched my split went from sub- to mid 8’s. 

_#’s
GPS: Garmin Forerunner 630
Distance: 13.0 mi
Time: 1:44:23 (forgot to stop the timer)
Avg pace: 8:02

Official chip time: 1:43:19
Avg Pace:7:53/M

Ranking 13/160

_Post-race

Got lucky with weather: rain didn’t start ‘til 10 minutes into award.  A few Airbus employee let me take cover in their large vehicle.

Grasslands Trail Marathon 2019/3/16—plantar fasciitis

_short version
Plantar fascia acted up.  Jacket too thin for outdoor BBQ lunch.  Everything else felt pretty perfect.

Race postponed 30 minutes so racers had sunlight.
Made 2 wrong turns but recovered quickly.  Socks were wet by mile 13; no blister.
Kicked a rock: lost very little toe nail.
Weather was gorgeous.

_TLDR version
[photos by Catherine Chen]

I signed up for marathon despite of my drop foot.  This wasn’t a technical trail course.  I could ask a volunteer to save me.

It was weird coming to this event without Raluca.  Enabling her to participate was something she appreciated.

_logistics
7am start time meant 4:15am wake time before 80 minute drive.  I was afraid to oversleep at 3:30a.  I needed to learn to relax.

Event was chip-timed.  I debated whether to start 20 min after the gun to avoid darkness.  The decision was made for me.  The organizer postponed start 30 minutes.

_goal
I had no time or placement goal.  5-hour felt doable.  4.5-hr was possible.  It all depended on surface condition and how much I got off course.

_loop 1: white trail: slow start
I started mid-pack, not wanting to impede anyone.  The race quickly came to standing still to queue up for 2 flooded sections.  A real trail runner would’ve just skip over the water.

_negative progress
I was directionally challenged and decided to follow others.  Confusion developed the first couple miles.  Runners U-turned.  Twice.  It was funny watching how people reacted differently.  I followed a well-equipped guy—in worst case, his GPS will find the parking lot.

[end of loop 1]

Air temperature went from 37 to 50 the first 2 hours.  I left T-shirt, arm warmers, and gloves at the tree by the start.  The sunshine was gorgeous.


_loop 2: blue trail
The blue trail marks were very visible under 9 o’clock sun.  I came to a water crossing.  My brain couldn’t decide what to do; legs just stepped into the muddy water.  Both socks got wet.  That was my only dipping and permit me to step into mud.

Left heel hurt.  I sensed the limp and chose to ignore it.  There were limited numbers of these events left in this body; I hoped the knee damage I incurred wouldn’t be permanent.

I thought about Kelly Catlin’s suicide.  I remember my setbacks when I was a 23-year-old California grad student.  That was 2 lifetimes ago.

I stopped following others and went at my own pace.  I caught the first half marathoners.  Everyone seemed happy.

A girl caught me from behind with a lot of liquid in her Camelbak.  I kept up for a few minutes then decided I didn’t need to increase foot pain to hasten returning to the world of New Zealand mosque shooting and other disappointments.

[heel strike to set up air]

_#’s
Garmin 630:
Distance = 24.7 mi
Time = 4:34:31
Pace = 11:07 min/mile

7 water breaks: 3 input + 2 output +2 in queue to cross
2 wardrobe changes

Chip time: 4:38:00
Distance = 26.2 mi
Place: 15th/73 finishers

John wasn’t happy with his performance.  Even more disappointed was Valerie; she quietly ate BBQ next to me.  I didn’t know she DNF’ed and wish I inquired about it.  I wished I wore the thick jacket.  I wished I had larger comfort zone.

Javier finished 2nd in 50-mile under 8 hours.

Casey achieved his 10-hour goal.  Made me want to try the yellow loop.  He was an accomplish trail runner now.  Casey mentioned Salton Sea 2020.  I want to be on his team.

Trinity River Levee Half 2019/03/02—acceptance.

2014 I biked to this event to breakfast with Casey and Voon where we committed to enter Montreal 24-hour relay.  We played murderball.  It was a beautiful sunny day.

[event website featured Casey and me playing obscure sport]

2016 I skated with Mackowski then paced Raluca for 5k.  She just adopted Aiki.  Aiki is 3 now.

[the 2.17-month-old]

_unsure of state of the legs
Legs were unrecovered from 50k 6 days ago.  Hamstring aching.  I decided to start at 8:00 pace—felt like a good starting point.  I changed my mind at the start—I followed the 1:40 pacers.

[7:30 felt easy the first mile] (photo added to Facebook by Mark Olateju)

Side stitch started soon. 

[By mile 5, 7:30 pace was unrealistic.] (photo added to Facebook by Mark Olateju)

Middle half of the half involved dirt road.  I lost footing couple times—good practice for Grasslands in 2 weeks.  I let others go on short and steep climbs.  8:00 pace felt difficult by mile 9.  I felt lucky that ankle and hamstring were holding up.

[cadence changed when pavement ended at mile 6]

Inspirational Rob caught up to me.  He started late to maximize passing.  He eventually caught 1:40 pacer.

I didn’t struggle; I let legs do their thing.

Mile 12 intersection was a zoo.  I went the wrong way.  Served me right for not studying the course.  A very attractive Paige ran with me on the pedestrian bridge.  The forecasted rain never came, all body parts working.

[On Margret Hunt Hill Bridge.  I was in no rush.]  (photo added to Facebook by Mark Olateju)
I did not think about canines and humans entered and left my life.  I thought about Nataly Kogan’s book.  I let the moment last as long as it needed to.

_#’s
GPS: Garmin Forerunner 630
Distance: 13.18 mi
Time: 1:42:48
Avg pace: 7:48

[double 42; universe hints]

Official chip time: 1:42:42
Avg Pace:7:50/M

Ranking at splits:
5K: 49
10M: 47
13.1M: 47

Time takes to reach splits:
5K:23:24
10M:1:17:30
13.1M:1:42:48

Pace at splits:
5K:7:31/M
10M:7:45/M
13.1M:7:50/M

Cowtown 50k 2019/02/29; Fort Worth, Texas—rebuilding.

I skipped 2018 Cowtown because of family trip for Chinese New Year.

My run training diminished by 2018 summer.  I resumed running before Thanksgiving--3 months prior to Cowtown 2019.  I was unable to hold Oprah pace during weekly long runs—very humbling.  Plantar fasciitis came to left foot.  I learned to live with discomfort.

_Cowtown goal (as of Xmas)
10:00 pace.  Even split.  Couple pee stops.  Couple beer shot pauses.  5:15:00 finish.  5:25 if I stopped for mile-27 burger.  5 additional minutes if I drink entire can of beer with the burger.

_form
Fitness is a funny thing.  By mid January, my weekend long runs were slower than Thanksgiving.   Legs felt sluggish.  Plantar issue persisted.  I steadily ramping up mileage.  I barely biked and skated.

I approached fitness like 401k: it ain’t about faith in the method—I just lacked better alternative.

_3-week taper
2 weeks before Cowtown, legs show progress.  I became cautious optimistic.  I marveled at how my happiness was tied to fitness.

By race weekend, I decided to start with 5-hr pacer ‘til mile-9 climb.  I hung out with Casey and Voon the day before the race—vegan lunch and ice cream.  Casey was shooting for 4.5-hr finish the year after he finished Leadville 100.  It felt like full circle.

[Voon back from from Malaysia]

_race start
I had difficulty finding comfortable pace.  5-hr pacer Chelsea felt erratic; her partner Amy wasn’t within shouting distance.  My left hamstring hurt at mile 8; this was new to me.  I ran by feel.  Chelsea overtook me at every climb—at least one of us wasn’t running at smooth effort.

I passed Chelsea for the final time after the big bridge climb.  I stayed with 4:05 marathon pacer.  Met pacer Rick, who promised I could stay at his place if I run Oslo Marathon in next 2 years.

Mile 15.  I let legs move by their natural rhythm.  Hamstring and plantar both happy.  This was too good to be true.

_heavy legs
The wall didn’t come at mile 20; a short fence did.  I lost focus when marathoners around me slowed.  My splits consisted of more high-9’s than low-9’s.  I ran with 2 fading marathoner at mile 23.  We encouraged each other to keep up the speed.

I pass a dozen runners during the ultra-only 8k.  I saw Casey 10 minutes later than anticipated.  He hit the wall near mile 25 and missed his goal.  Maybe 10th time would be a charm.

_mile 25
5-hour finish was in the bag
I stopped fighting the urge to slow.  My feet were hurting slapping against concrete: could've used more shoe cushion.  I focused on enjoying the beautiful weather and energy.  I was grateful to regain running fitness.

[final  corner]

Last mile took exactly 8 minutes.

Late lunch: Korean tofu bowl tasted really good.


_#’s
GPS: Garmin Forerunner 630
Distance: 30.95 mi
Time: 4:48:03
Avg pace: 9:18

Official chip time: 4:48:14 (11 seconds longer)
Avg Pace:9:16/M

Ranking at splits:
5K:75
10K:72
15K:77 (5 runner passed me on Main Street bridge)
13.1M:74
30K:61
23M:59
26.2M:51
50K:41

Time to reach:
5K:29:03.0
10K:57:44.0
15K:1:26:33.0
13.1M:2:01:29.0
30K:2:52:22.0
23M:3:33:22.0
26.2M:4:03:47.0
50K:4:48:14.0

Pace at splits:
5K:9:18/M
10K:9:15/M
15K:9:15/M
13.1M:9:14/M
30K:9:14/M
23M:9:15/M
26.2M:9:17/M
50K:9:16/M

Irving Running Club Javier Vilchis finished 2nd in 50k averaging 7:02 pace
Over all winner averaged 6:00 pace

A2A 87-mile 2018/10/14

Kent and Sonic finished under 5 hours.

My lack of fitness reflected training volume and spine health.  Less fun this way.  I didn't enjoy some red-light decisions during race.

Eric Edwards crashed and broke facial skin.
Michael Garcia had an intersection accident and broke an ankle.
Made me think about risks.

87 mi@15.2mph

time: 5:43:30

place: 16th of 40 finishers

[always great to see Herb]

Northshore Inline Marathon 2018/9/15--muscle spasm

My lower back acted up 2 days prior to the NSIM.

I promised everyone tailwind <=

1. Duane weren't there
2. I couldn't straighten my back

at 3am the storm was so bad, I thought the race would be canceled.  The race condition turn out the 2nd best in 2 decades.

I set PR but missed out on a chance to go under 70 minutes.

The new sub-57 "event record" doesn't count <= course was shortened by 0.2 miles <= construction at finish line.  Chad's course record survives for the 20th year.

distance: 26 mi
time 1:19:44.08