Race Reports/Encouragement/Kudos February 29, March 1st and 2nd!

[tiberius]

Good weekend WISH Team!

This weekend I ran the Spring Fever 5K in THe Woodlands, Texas.

Last year's Spring Fever 5K was my first organized running event since leaving the Marine Corps in 1991, and was only 9 or 10 weeks into my starting running after many years off. Being as I was not long into starting over with running, I was happy to finish in 38:45.
This year's Spring Fever 5K came on a nice morning, if still a bit humid. The race directors and sponsors put on the nicest 5K I have seen with lots of food and drink, plus other sponsor items. I had hoped to finish in 35 minutes or better for the race this year. Before the race I did not quite feel at my best, but early on in the run I knew I could do well today. My goal was max effort for max results for this run. Early on I seemed to be holding a decidedly faster than normal pace (for me a "fast" run pace is generally 11:30 - 12:00 minutes per mile). Mile 1 zipped by at a about a 10:21 pace, miles 2 and 3 were a bit slower, with walking breaks at the aid stations at mile marker 1 and 2. I finished in a time of 33:18, a time I was very happy to have (nearly 5 1/2 minutes faster than last year!).

Next year I will be going for sub-30 minutes!

 

[ironz]

Richard, nice work on the PR!

Xterratri...I just looked at your writeup on BT. Interesting race format, I guess it was by time. cool. Going hard and fast for a short time is almost harder than going long, except you're done quicker! Glad you're not in my AG. You're going to totally kick my booty at the 70.3. I'm impressed how you people in cold climates are even moving in the winter.

 

[thndrmatt]

Well, you can't have a good day every day.

Not really sure what it was that sent today to a place I really wasn't hoping for, but that's the way it goes sometimes.

There's just not a whole lot to say about this one, at least on the positve side. The uphill and long downhill of the first several miles took its toll on my legs, and by 10 I felt like I normally do at 20. I had a brand new muscle of my inner thigh on both legs start giving me a truckload of pain, and this led to walking miles 14-18. My 2:10 and 2:05 half marathons of less than a month ago seem a world away, as a 2:25 first half still left me totally thrashed. A stop at 18 to put on sunblock and finally take a painkiller led to my longest mile, but this allowed me to stick to somewhat of a walk .5 mile run .5 mile for a cluster of miles, and eventually more of a walk .25 run .25. The big walking chunk in the middle blew away any chance at a good time but I kept crunching the math and figured I could still get under 6 hours so I made that my new goal. I tell ya when you look at the splits though there's a huge disparity in the first half and the second, just like the 07 Disney race. I'm somewhat surprised by the consistency of the last several miles though, I guess I found the pace I was capable of with my body's current state and even though it was something I wasn't used to I was able to be consistent.

I should say something positive about the course, it was neat running by the Kodak Theater (home of the American Idol finale and various award shows), the Pantages theater (home of Wicked), running along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, turning at Hollywood and Vine and seeing the Hollywood sign, the LA Memorial Coliseum (home of the 1984 Olympic games), LA Convention Center, and the Staples Center. There were also some great view of the skyline itself, and the race finish right nearby the tallest building in the city.

So I've completed 3 marathons, but don't really feel like I've "run" any of them, with one jogged with my loving DW and the other two on my own involving massive blowups in the second half. Maybe this was too soon after completing the Goofy, maybe I didn't taper properly (having not run since sunday two weeks ago) or maybe the course and weather (not a cloud in the sky and pretty warm throughout) were partly to blame. In any case I'm dissatisfied as usual...

I must say though it was the thought of doing my WISH shirt and team proud that kept this from being a DNF even though the acute muscle pain made that a possibility even before the halfway point. Hope everyone else had a better day of it...

From here I don't know where I go, I'm thinking I should take a series of months off to let my legs/shins totally heal before easing gradually back into it hopefully stronger/lighter than befoer, while focusing completely on biking and swimming and maybe trying a century or something. I'll probably still do various tris but not any with any lengthy runs.

1- 11:12
2- 10:06
3- 9:33
4- 10:10
5- 10:29
6- 10:43
7- 10:50
8- 11:24
9- 11:06
10- 12:08
11- 11:29
12- 14:01
13- 12:16
14- 14:33
15- 15:48
16- 17:32
17- 16:09
18- 22:04
19- 14:23
20- 14:49
21- 13:46
22- 14:36
23- 14:43
24- 14:36
25- 14:55
26- 14:27
.2 (~.6 on my Garmin)- 7:10

Total chip time: 5:55:11

10457th out of 17011 total finishers. They claimed 24,000 started but that could have been just the amount that registered... Interestingly enough the time limit for this one was 9 hours instead of 7... Also interesting is the 20 extra pounds I carried this year led to me being just over 20 minutes slower... go figure!

 

[Cruella de mom]

Wow Matt!

You sound pretty down about your marathon. I think you did amazing considering all the injuries you have been nursing. I think some timeoff to heal up would be a very good idea. I know I am the last one who should say it, but perhaps some crosstraining would help while you are taking time to heal.

Meanwhile, try not to beat yourself up too much. You day will come and when it does it will be all the more sweet because you will know just how special it is. And your day WILL come.

Cecilia

 

[ironz]

Matt...way to stick with it on a tough day! That's so hard to do, but you hung in there.

Get your body recovered, like Cruella said, do some XT---maybe a little bike time.

I wonder if you start a little fast and that takes a little out of you for the end? They say that every ...oh I forget...like 30 sec/mile too fast at the start will cost you at least 1 min/mile at the end...something like that.
I'm about your speed...and I know for the faster runners, starting at a high 9 or 10 min/mile pace isn't much, but for me, it is too much. I HAVE to tell myself to dial it back early on, or I tank. Was finally able to manage that yesterday at the half.

Just some thoughts...maybe none of it applies. But you are STRONG for gutting it out, and I was totally thinking about you yesterday while I was running.

Plus, you get to count 52.4 miles!!

 

[IheartDL]

Matt, I'm the crazy DISboarder who said hello while you were on the phone at the start and then before the first bridge at mile 19-ish, where you were looking great I might add!
There's just something about this race in particular maybe--my husband ran his last one doing the goofy, the one before that at 4:42 in Las Vegas, and LA kicked his butt. He can't point to any one thing either. I think you just can't be guaranteed a result no matter how well you've planned, as frustrating as that is.

Hope you're feeling great today at what you've accomplished, which is wonderful!

 

[thndrmatt]

Leslie: That was pretty random at the start running into each other in a mass of thousands! And I'll have to admit I was somewhat delirious at 19 and wasn't even sure if you were the same person that I saw at the start since you were just standing on the side blending in to the spectators. Was that a stretch break for you? How'd the race end up going? You must have passed me somewhere in the middle before that...

 

[wtpclc]

tiberius - Congrats on teh great race!

Lynne - Way to go! OK, 1st in age group adn you'r estill kicking yourself for not pushing harder? Only you. Those darn short races are just too hard when you're used to teh long haul, though!

Matt - Sounds like your legs could use a break. I recall a rather hard taper run. But, sometimes there's just no real reason for a run not going how you'll think it will. Funny, I've done 3 fulls now too. Only felt like I ran the first one. DIsney 06. 07 was way hot. DOn't know where I got off wrong on this year's. The good thing is that you can always try again.

Congrats again to Betsy, Cecelia adn Matt!

 

[IheartDL]

And I'll have to admit I was somewhat delirious at 19 and wasn't even sure if you were the same person that I saw at the start since you were just standing on the side blending in to the spectators. Was that a stretch break for you? How'd the race end up going? You must have passed me somewhere in the middle before that...

Matt, I was coaching for TNT, so I shortcutted (even a word?) four miles in the middle and then ran/walked people in. I ended up doing 25 miles and being out for eight hours. As to how the race went, I loved being out there and my focus being on other people. I'll never forget one woman I took from 24 1/2 to 26 and got her around the corner. She cried for at least a mile of it, was so exhausted, and when I saw her later was all smiles. Great memories for me.

So my next full for me (not coaching) is either San Diego RNR or Anchorage. You can bet I wouldn't be passing you at any place on the course since I'm a slow run/walker

Ironz, Lynn, Tiberius, xterratri, great jobs out there!

 

[Big Vic]

Richard - WTG with the PR!

Matt - Sorry you had such a rough time, but congrats on finishing!

 

[escape]

Matt - you are still awesome in my book! WTG! So, how would you rate the LA marathon? Would you recommend it?

Betsy - congrats on a terrific run. 2:18 is quite impressive!

Lynne - WTG on your indoor tri. 1st in your age group! You go, girl!!!!!!!

Richard - congrats on your 5K and your awesome time! I don't think you'll have any problems breaking 30 minutes.

I participated in the Little Rock marathon relay yesterday. There were 4 of us on our team and I had the longest leg (7.8 miles - 3 miles of hills). I did better than I thought I would - 13:45 pace. All in all, it was a great race. Our team came in 1st in the Clydesdale division - if we don't get disqualified :sad2. We anticipated doing the race in 6.25 hours. For those needing more than 6 hours, we had the option of starting early - 6am vs. 8am. We ended up finishing the race in 6:03. We were told we couldn't finish before 6:04 (14:00 pace) or we could face being disqualified. My husband, Steve, walked the last leg thinking he finished in 6:05 but his watch was a little off. *sigh*

At 5:00pm last night, there was a big barbecue at a local art center for all race participants and guests. Free beer, wine, other liquor and oh, yes....food. It was WONDERFUL!!!! The barbecue was great and there was a live band to keep us entertained. I never would have thought this would be a fun place to have an event like this but I was quite wrong. Kudos to the organizers for this great event.

On another note, Steve and I got to meet and talk to Bart Yasso from Runner's World magazine this morning. He was very nice and approachable. I asked him if he participated in LR's marathon every year and he said this was his third year (out of 6 years). He said he alternates with the LA marathon and one other one (since they always meet on the same weekend) but that he really enjoys coming here and might be here again next year.

On a sad note, there was a young runner that passed away right after crossing the finish line yesterday. This young man (age 27, from Madison, Wisconsin) ran a 3:07 marathon and was smiling as he came across the line. Moments later, he collapsed, was taken to a hospital, and died shortly after. The medical team seems to think he had a degenerative heart disease but won't know for sure until an autopsy has been performed.

 

[wtpclc]

Susie - that you don't get DQ'd! SOrry about the tragic finish fro teh man frm WI. How awful. BTW, did teh race help your burn out? Hope so!

 

[wfloyd]

Matt - Great job. You poor performance is still better than I get most days.

Susie - Hope it works out but you can claim the best for a few days at least.

Lynne - Great job on the tri. That sounds like an interesting format.

Kevin - I guess we will let you miss this one but you have to do the next one twice to make up for it.

Betsy - Great job with keeping your pace.

Richard - Great job on beating your time.

Bill

 

[twoWDWfools]

Great job everyone!! Everyone here is an inspiration to this newbie.