Houston Marathon 2022/01/16 detail—qualified for Taipei and Boston

_motivation

I was never tempted to run Houston pre-pandemic.  Dallas Marathon checks 80% of boxes with 20% of overhead.  

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.

[Taipei-bound]

_goal

A+: 3:23:48. PB from 2013.  

A: 3:25.  BQ 2023

B: 3:35.  BQ 2024 (it pays to be old)

C: 3:40.  Qualify for Taipei Marathon 2022, 2023

_Preparation

I used Stryd’s high-volume marathon program—it worked for me for Hachie 50k 7 months ago.

I resisted replacing easy runs with races for this cycle.

I put more effort into recover.  I bought massage after hard efforts.

Highlights:

I came to Houston less fatigue than at Haichie 7 months ago.  

The final tempo was the half at Dallas Marathon.  It went well.

I hit weight goal of 137.0 lb on the nose.

I qualified for corral A using the result from pacing Irving Marathon.

Lowlights:

I crashed on skates 3 weeks before race. 

[left knee]

I rolled left ankle 4 days before race and damaged race shoes.  My backups were half size bigger.

_drive to Houston

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.

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.

_Omicron

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.

[roomy packet pickup]

Instead of pizza dinner, I had instant noodle and fruits w/ Netflix.  I missed events as group activities.  I missed Texas Flyers.

_old man fashion

I finished last pair of jeans prior to the race.  

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.

_pacing

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.

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.

[snap this shot waiting for GPS’s to learn satellite signals;

I would stand between 7:30 and 8:00 signs race morning]

_location, location, location

I lost minimal time standing in cold.  National anthem, speeches, gun happened like clockwork.  Houston Marathon was a well-oiled machine.

[Magnolia hotel front door was 24 seconds to corral A entrance]

_unfamiliar ground

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.  

“Heck, maybe I’m fitter than I thought.” 

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.  

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.

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.

_trouble

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.

“But my training went so well….”

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.

_cloth

I dressed correctly for this race.  In order of coming off:

> disposable leather jacket

> disposable polo shirt

> disposable mask

> arm warmers

> gloves

> Oakley Flak Beta

> AlphaFlys

> tri shirt w/ back pockets for gels & arm warmers & gloves

> compression socks

> running shorts

Because of mask & arm warmers, I could be spotted on TV coverage

_chasing clock

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.

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.

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.

What prevented me from slowing was the thought of telling ChihYang my failure.

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.

I sprinted.  I wished I was lighter.

#’s

official:

   chip time: 3:23:24 (24 faster than 2013 PB at Irving Marathon) (palindrome if 1 second faster)

   pace: 7:46 min/mile = 4:49 min/km 

   distance: 26.22 miles

   racer count: 11237 half, 6250 full

[faster than 8:00 pace at each official chip sensor]

Stryd/Fenix 5+:

   Time: 3:23:26

   pace: 7:59 min/mile

   distance: 25.49 miles

   event average power: 220w

   critical power: 251w (4.01 w/kg) @ 138lb

US women half and marathon records were broken:

Sarah Hall (38 yo): 1:07:15—exactly 15 years after husband set Man’s record 59:43 also at Houston.

Keira D’Amato (37): 2:19:12

_aftermath

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.

_power meter

https://support.stryd.com/hc/en-us/articles/360044274654-Attach-the-Stryd-pod-to-the-Nike-Next-?source=search

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.

[requiring a zip tie wasn't mentioned in Stryd marketing ad]

_carbon plated shoes

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.  

I invested a lot in my running form since _Born to Run_.  Able to utilize the skill was gratifying.

[Nike owns the marathoners with 6:15 pace marathoners; photo from Jennifer's FB page]

Dallas Half Marathon 2021/12/12--dress rehearsal

This was a dress rehearsal for Houston Marathon 2022/01/16.

Goal: hold sub 8 pace in Nike AlphaFly.  Negative split.  Acquire power data to estimate wattage for Houston.

2 Garmins: Fenix left for Stryd wattage; FR630 right for electronic pacer.

Logistics:

Saturday

3pm: check into official hotel Aloft

4pm: packet pick up

7:30pm: Systemware Xmas party at Ritz

8:30pm: dinner starts: ate fancy foods not good for a race; no alcohol

11:20pm: bed time

Sunday

5:15am: breakfast

8am: gun time

Everything went great except my shaking hands accidentally deleted Stryd data.

#’s

Chip time: 1:37:03

10k pace: 7:38 mile/min

21k pace: 7:25

Cowtown 50k 2022/02/27--PB

_goal

A: 4:29:20 Oprah Winfrey marathon time (1994)

B: 4:34:40 PB Hachie 50 (2022)

C: 5:00:00 this would be a long training run for Hachie 50M

_highlights

Legs somewhat rested.  

Only 2 lb heavier than ideal weight.

_lowlights

Limited training after Houston Marathon 6 weeks ago.

I rolled an ankle a week before race.  Adizero Pro 2 is less stable than perceived.

Arrived start line 10 minutes later than planned.

Failed to utilize pacers against head wind.

Garmin GPS fail.

_pacers

I was stoked to learn Rob would pace 3:50 marathon group near 8:45 pace.  Almost perfect for my A goal.  

_plan

Start 3 minutes behind Rob.

Keep Rob in sight by mile-9 bridge. 

Tuck behind him by mile-21 headwind.  

Hold 8:37 pace through mile-27 U-turn.

Dig deeper for 4 miles.

8:37 pace would give me 4:32:53 finish.  The 3-minute-late start puts me at Oprah Line.

No after party.  I minimized social due to COVID, which was killing a big part of these events I loved.

_later than late start

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.  

By the time I got to the start, Rob’s pacing group was long gone.  

“No problem, I’ll just reel him in by mile 21.”

_pacing

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.  

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.  

"A” goal wasn’t completely out of question at this point.  I just needed to

1. Reach Rob around mile 25

2. Maintain sub-9 pace for the final 5 miles.

As much as I desired negative split, I did have my historical data.  

“Just fxcking enjoy this beautiful present, you dumb ass!”

_Pacer Rob

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.

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.

_losing time

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.

Gradually muscles refused to work together.  Alphaflies made it clear my timing was off but compensated for my poor form.  

“Thank you, expensive Nike.”

I was very aware of the $1/mile shoe cost.

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.”

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.

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. 

Life was good.

#’s

official:

   chip time: 4:27:03

   pace: 8:37 min/mile = 5:20 min/km

   distance: 31.069 mi = 50k

splits

   10K 8:16/M

   15K 8:19/M

   13.1M 8:22/M

   18M 8:28/M

   22M 8:31/M

   26.2M 8:32/M

   50K 8:37/M

racer count:

half: 4,924

full:  939

ultra: 174

[Garmin Forerunner 630 said I climbed 2000 ft at mile 9.  Haha.]

[Javier finally won this event; photos from FB]

[Madie Stier was only seconds behind Javier]

Houston Marathon 2022/01/16 summary

Pacing mistake due to electronic--Stryd's power reading was low on AlphaFly.

Good weather and easy final miles made up for pacing mistake.

PB by 24 seconds.

_goal

A+: 3:23:48. PB 2013.  

A: 3:25.  BQ 2023

B: 3:35.  BQ 2024 (it pays to be old)

C: 3:40.  Qualify for Taipei Marathon 2022, 2023

_highlights

I came to Houston less fatigue than at Haichie 7 months ago.  

The final tempo was the half at Dallas Marathon.  It went well.

I hit weight goal of 137 lb on the nose.

I was able to get a corral A spot after negotiation.

_lowlights

I crashed on skates 3 weeks before race. 

I rolled an ankle 4 days before race and damage race shoes.  My backups were half size bigger.

#’s

official:

   chip time: 3:23:24 (24 faster than 2014 PB at Irving Marathon)

   pace: 7:46 min/mile = 4:49 min/km 

   distance: 26.22 miles

   racer count: 11237 half, 6250 full

Stryd/Fenix 5+:

   Time: 3:23:26

   pace: 7:59 min/mile

   distance: 25.49 miles

   event average power: 220w

   critical power: 251w (4.01 w/kg) @ 138lb

US women half and marathon records were broken:

Sarah Hall (38 yo): 1:07:15—15 years after husband set men’s record 59:43 also at Houston.

Keira D’Amato (37): 2:19:12

[Nike owns the marathoners at 6:15 pace with Jennifer Pope; photos from FB]

A2A—49-mile race 2021/10/24

_goal

As of August 2021: 

(A) Skate 37 miles with Jessica.  Try to be the first of the pack to reach Dacula.

(B) Start with 49-mile racers.  

(C) Skate final miles with Luke and Nicolas.

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. 

Race director Anna Zuver was 5 when I skated my first A2A in 1999.

_main event

The skate was great.  Weather was nice.  Pavement improved.  Minimal Wind.  

I achieved my goal of skating w/ Jessica Wright before the course turns relatively flat.

No racers from Thailand, South America, and Canada.  No Francisco.  Kent and Sonic tied for 2nd place.

Nicolas achieved his time goal.  He made a wrong turn and complained Silver Hill to be insufficiently scary.

_#

GPS: 48.7 mi@15.7 mph

2694 ft ascent

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/7709998544

_after

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.

Air traveling was unpleasant, but all worked out in the end.

It was nice to see old friends.  

Hotter n Hell 50-mile skate 2021/8/28

50-mile skate was easier than expected: much of the chip n seal surface was improved.

People seemed even more encouraging this year.

Good visit w/ Ann and Wesley.

first 13 and last 16 miles had decent surface. 

The middle 20 miles were half skateable.

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.

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.

I skipped first and last of the 5 water stations.  20-oz bike bottle was enough for me. 

It was a great weekend in Wichita Falls. 

_GPS data

Distance: 48.93 mi

Time: 3:12:40

Avg Speed: 15.2 mph

Elev Gain: 768 ft

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/7385386569

Hachie 50k 2021/05/01; Waxahachie, Texas—Pandemic Fitness

_goal

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.

_COVID-19

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.  

Working from home gave me extra 5 hours a week + schedule flexibility.  I discovered morning runs helped w/ dinner and sleep.  

_preparation

I prepared for the 50k using Stryd’s 18-week marathon training program, which estimated 8:00 pace for 42k.  

I sought advice from Logan Sherman, who won 2015 Dallas Marathon.  

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.

Week 13.  My weekly volume was reduced to 49 miles.  Knee was less of a concern.

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.

I acquired Fenix 5 Plus to replace the FR 635 that always lost satellite signals during lap 3 at Hachie.

_feel-old trip

At check-in, multiple volunteers commented on how good I looked for my age.  (~ you're tall for a midget)

I barely trained for the race in 2017.  4 years later, I worked my butt off, and ended up marginally faster.

_pre race

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.

I was the only one wearing a mask at packet pick up.  

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. 

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.  

_start

I asked the intimidating guy at the very front: 

“how fast are u going?”

“6:30 pace.”

I ran with an overweight guy planning on 8:30 pace.  

By mile 3 there were 9 racers in front.  Half of them seemed incapable of holding their pace.

IRC Meghan wasn’t there due to sciatica.

[slippery road (photo off FB)]

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.

_20k

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.

_mile 20

Weakening started but not intensely.  I reduced wattage by 5, fearing bonk.  Quads felt stiff but were cranking out reasonable pace. 

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.

Alex’s legs also lost their bounce but was holding steady for his 50-miler.

[couldn't believe Alex chose Alphaflies (photo off FB)]

[another dude ran 50 miles without carbon inserts (photo off FB)]

_mile 25

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.  

[sprint finish]

_result confusion

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.  

[settled for 3rd and 4th (photo off FB)]

[few days later, this came in the mail]

I hung out with friends from WRCC and IRC afterward.  Pizza, beer, mud, sweat, sunshine.  Life was good.

_#

Garmin Fenix 5+
Distance: 30.72 mi
Time: 4:34:40
Pace: 8:56 min/mile
HR: 157/177 bpm (unreliable optical sensor)
Cadence: 181/232 avg/max spm
Stride length: 1.00 m
Power: 199w (Stryd)
Ground contact time: 252 ms

Official
Distance: 50k; 31.07 mi
Time: 4:34:40.22
Pace:  8:50 min/mile
Place: 7th overall.  6th male.