~The BOT Battalion~ BOTS On The Run

[KeenHo]

Cindy~ I hope you have a great race! Best of luck! I hope the weather cooperates and you get a nice 2 hour (or less) pocket of dry conditions.

Mike~ Man they are sure piling on the FB peer pressure, huh?

Check this out... http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30254926&l=87f9dc437b&id=1087104676

Jen, Colleen, Jodi, and Sara~ Hi!

Chester~ If you happen to stop by to post or lurk, please drop me a note. I'd like to firm up a date for us to get together for dinner while I am down in St. Pete's Beach in a few days. I obviously won't be able to run with you. Dinner one evening would be great if you still have interest. (keenho@aol.com) I hope things are going well/better at your place of employment.

Enjoy your weekend!



Howard

 

[Optimator]

Did you all see the great Nashville pictures on FB?

Too funny, wasn't that a hilarious story?

Really glad I read Matt's amazing ironman report and see all his China pics on FB!

I hope the Minnie girls have fun this weekend!

Jodi I see you are still not feeling well. Get better.

Sara, love all your pics!

Did you all see Lynnda's photos of her boys, arn't they adorable??

Jodi, it was great talking to you last night ..on FB.

Oh, I guess most of you already know all this, EXCEPT Mike!

Hardy-har-har! You are soooo funny.

 

[CynthiaCindy]

Not a PR, but 1:59:45 (per my watch). I honestly didn't think I was in good enough shape to get a sub 2. Does this mean I have to admit that Jodi's less is more theory is correct?

 

[msblrobs]

Not a PR, but 1:59:45 (per my watch). I honestly didn't think I was in good enough shape to get a sub 2. Does this mean I have to admit that Jodi's less is more theory is correct?

Let's hope so because I'm seriously considering blowing off another LR this weekend Already posted the same on FB but congrats on the sub 2

 

[CynthiaCindy]

Dave – Thought about you while I was running this morning. I’m sorry that you didn’t get to do your half this morning but hopefully you will feel 100% for the Muddy Buddy next weekend.

Howard – I’m glad to hear that you deferred. That way the temptation to try and run it at the last minute is not even an option. I do hope that this is the last of the injuries that you have to deal with.

Jodi – Did you do the 5k?

Mike – It’s funny that Frederick was your first marathon. Doing Disney as your first half to that as you first full (only a few months later) must have been quite the change. I liked the race well enough and thought it had some nice touches. I think the course may have been a bit different than when you ran it. We started and finished at the Fairgrounds. I think I heard that this was only the 2nd year for that.

Sara – Thanks! Long runs are apparently overrated.

 

[CynthiaCindy]

I guess I’ll do a little race report.

Just checked the official race results – 1:59:39

Since Matt and I decided to stay in a hotel the night before the race b/c of the 6:30 start, we decided to go up early yesterday so that we could explore Frederick a bit. This seemed to end up involving lots of walking, food, and alcohol. None of which seem to be predictors of a good race. I won’t say what I ate (to spare Sara) but lunch was at a BBQ place and dinner was at the Ruby Tuesdays near the hotel (the Olive Garden was too crowded). I also ended up having 4 beers (1 was a 20 oz) and doing a wine tasting at the downtown wine bar. Oops!

Last night we went over to the Fairgrounds to cheer for the 5k runners. That was fun. There was live music. The band was named Danger Barbie.

So, this morning at the start, I decided to run with the 4 hour marathon pace group for as long as possible. I was able to run with them for 10 miles and then they got a little ahead of me. At that point, I knew it was going to be close and, after pushing myself for 10 miles, I really did want to break 2 hours. I guess I kept up the pace enough. There was a horrible, long and kind of steep hill right before the 13 mile marker. I’m surprised I didn’t pass out - I was working so hard to get up that.

I’m very surprised that I was able to run so fast today. I don’t think I could have done it without the pace group. I just wouldn’t have pushed myself to run that fast from the very beginning. It allowed me to not focus on how hard I was running and instead on keeping up with the group.

The course was ok. Lots of it was through residential neighborhoods, but then part of it was in strip mall area (one of the “you must be here by x time or you can’t continue” locations was the Wal-mart parking lot) and then past some rural areas (cows) to the Fairgrounds where the start and finish were. The finish was on the track at the Fairgrounds in front of the bleachers, so it was nice to be able to go up and sit (and stay dry) to cheer for people for awhile before we went back to the hotel to shower and change.

As for the rain, it was not raining for the start of the race, but started lightly raining about 4 or 5 miles in. By the 9 miles, it was raining pretty hard. It was warm enough that it didn’t really bother me, but I did see one guy with the worst case of bloody nipple that I have ever seen.

Matt ran a 1:46. Not a PR for him either, but he's happy.

Now I have to decide how to prepare for my next half in 7 days - more beer the day before, perhaps.

 

[Jodi]

Does this mean I have to admit that Jodi's less is more theory is correct?

Uh...duh! Nice job on the sub 2 hour . You rock! Don't think I'll be doing that again anytime soon.

Sara - LR?

Dave - Hope you're enjoying your weekend in Pitts., despite not running. Let's turn toward the MB now!!

Mike - Where are you? Busy signing up on Facebook? Or MyFace, as my mom would say .

Chester - I know you're out there.....

Howard - RU behaving on your own? When does CAm come back?

Colleen - How're the allergies in the house?

OK, drum roll, please...i ran that 5k today & took 2nd in my old-hag age group . I ran it in 24:03...which apparently works out to 7:45 mm avrg. Personally, I don't believe it 'cause my Garmin said I only ran 3 miles...but who am i to argue. What did I get for a prize? A bag of different coffees & a travel mug . The first (and last) time I win anything & the prize is killer LAME! I don't even drink coffee! Couldn't they have given me like, $5 or something?

 

[KeenHo]

Howard - RU behaving on your own? When does Cam come back?

OK, drum roll, please...i ran that 5k today & took 2nd in my old-hag age group . I ran it in 24:03...which apparently works out to 7:45 mm avrg.

Jodi~ I am being a good, at least that is the story I am putting on the streets.

Cam is enjoying her trip. She is sending me notes from time to time to remind me that she is in paradise/WDW walking around with six babes. All the while, I am enjoying rainy weather, chilled to the bone and sitting at home in an aircast. She flies home on Tuesday evening, after I get through with work.

I am very impressed with your 2nd place in your youth group time earlier today. You have done well! Congratulations!

Cindy~ The Caesar Rodney Half I ran a couple of years ago was a 1:59:37 finish. Pretty close to your efforts today. That is an awesome time... I know what it takes to go sub two. Those days seem like years ago. I have a lot of "rebuilding" to do once I am healthy. I am looking forward to the challenge.



Howard

 

[deekaypee]

'Ohana Monday Mixer

Responses to this week's prompt can be posted on the 'Ohana team thread, and starts here.

Free advice, it's worth what you paid for it. Then again, sometimes the best things in life are free. You decide in this week's mixer prompt.

Share with us some memorable advice you've received.

Your advice can be related to training or races. It can focus on healthy habits or be "life" advice. It can be the best advice you've ever received, the worst, or the most profound. It can be helpful tips that helped you as a WISHer and athlete. Or it can be simply the funniest, most useless, or totally inappropriate for a situation. Just so long as it's memorable.

And just like M & Ms, don't feel restricted to just one piece....

 

[Optimator]

Jodi - Hey Hey! All that speedwork seems to be paying off. Nice job on the 2nd place. Sorry the prize wasn't to your liking. Did you get a margarita?


Cindy - Great job on the sub-2! I'm thinking I like your pre-race routine.

When I ran Frederick the races started and ended at the Key's Stadium. I thought it was nice but I guess they didn't have enough parking at the start and had some issues with shuttle buses from remote parking.


Howard - Hang in there bud. You'll be knocking off the miles in no time.


I got my lazy behind out in the rain this evening for 6 miles.

 

[lourodrigis]

BROAD ST RUN - RACE REPORT
Well, the goal for the spring was to finish with a PR at the BSR and the end of the story is I accomplished that. Last year's time was 1:12:51 (7:14 Garmin pace) and I finished this year at 1:11:26 (7:08 Garmin pace).

I was running with Nicole and Jim (Nicole's BiL). We all geared up with Rodriguez Consulting shirts and got to the Sports Complex around 6:45. It was raining hard when we got there and the temp was around 50-55. We took a free subway ride north to the start area. The subway was PACKED to the gills. This race is getting way too big.

By the time we made it to the start it was 7:45 and the rain had basically stopped except for a slight drizzle/mist. Nicole decided to attempt a porta-potty stop which took over half hour because of massive lines. I opted not to go which was a mistake because I had to deal with that decision for the first few miles (see below).

We split up and headed for our corrals. I was in the corral right after the seeded runners which was nice. Nicole and Jim were in the back. After the gun 23000+ runners exploded down Broad St. Shortly after the gun the rain kicked in slightly. For the first 4 miles I had to deal with a Jodi-stop sensation that I should have addressed before the start. I kept up a good pace but kept thinking about where I would bail out if necessary. I managed to hold it but I had to avoid most of the water stops because the water was increasing the need to stop.

By Mile 5 I was under a 7 mpm pace and contemplated trying to go for under 1:10. However, that would have been easier if I could have run without thinking of stopping.

Around the midway point the rain picked up but it wasn't too bad because the temp was okay (b/w 55-60). After passing City Hall I got to high five Governor Rendell in front of his office at the Bellvue. It was basically a non- eventful last 5 miles. I knew I was in a good position to PR the course because I was about 1:00 ahead of pace. I actually down shifted slightly for Miles 5-9 and just enjoyed the run through my old neighborhood of South Philly.

Mile 9 is at the Sport Complex and when I hit it I decided to try to pick it up for the last mile. Once inside the Navy Yard there was a large crowd, surprisingly since it was raining hard. I hustled up through the Navy Yard and finished with a time of 1:11:26. They gave out 30th Anniversary medals which was a nice touch.

I hustled back to the car, changed, and made it back with plenty of time to spare to see Nicole and then Jim finish. It was flat out pouring when they came across the finish line. Nicole actually power walked/ran without hardly training. Afterwards she was struggling with a groin pull.

Oh yeah...the shoes made the difference. Wow, they are made of this adiPRENE material which is light as a feather. It was like running with padded slippers.

That's it. Here are the details...

Time..........Distance...Split time....Split distance
0:06:51..........1..........6:51..........1
0:13:34..........2..........6:42..........1
0:20:40..........3..........7:06..........1
0:27:51..........4..........7:11..........1
0:35:03..........5..........7:12..........1
0:42:16..........6..........7:12..........1
0:49:36..........7..........7:20..........1
0:56:52..........8..........7:15..........1
1:04:14..........9..........7:21..........1
1:11:17..........10.........7:03..........1
1:11:31..........10.03......0:13..........0.03

Lou

 

[jbucci]

Cindy: Congrats on the sub 2 hour time there may just be something to the less is more approach...

Lou: Sounds like you had a great race. I tried to look for you, but your speedy self was way ahead of me

Dave: Sorry you couldn't run this weekend. Hopefully you had a nice visit anyway and will be in great shape for Muddy Buddy. How long will you be in WDW after the race?

We had a good time at Broad Street. I actually did pretty well for me (nothing to equal the rest of you speedy Bots but...). I was hoping for sub 2 hours and managed to finish in 1:58 so I was pretty happy. Butch did well too with 1:31 although he is a bit frustrated because he wanted sub 1:30. The only flaw with the race was the rain. I didn't really mind running in it and was really glad it held off on pouring until after the start so we weren't freezing waiting to go. The started in waves so I stood around for a while waiting for my corral to start.

I carried my phone with me to be able to locate Butch after the race. Well, it worked ok at the end of the race but by the time we got to our car-- easily another mile walk in the pouring rain away from the end of the race the phone was totally soaked and shut down. It still won't turn on today, so I think I killed it My Garmin also got really unhappy at mile 8ish from being so wet-- if I were a little faster I would have been done before the heavy rain and would still possess functional electronics.

It took us forever to get out of the parking lot (close to 45 min) and making it to my meeting was seeming doubtful. I would up changing into dry clothes in the local mall bathroom and forgoing the shower in favor of tons of deodorant . I made it there only a bit late and my friend claimed I smelled ok. It felt really good to come home and shower afterwards...

 

[lourodrigis]

Dave - Sorry about the back and the missed race. That stinks. You must have been pulling out tree stumps to get hurt like that. Rest up.

Cindy - Nice job on the 1/2 marathon. Looks like we had the exact same weather for our races.

Howard - Good decision deferring and letting someone else get into the race.

Cam - Hope you enjoyed your time in WDW!

Jodi - Speedwork? 2nd place at 5Ks? You are getting serious now. Looks like you'll be challenging Mike for a spot at Boston in 2010.

Mike - Nice job with the rainy 6.

Hey Sara, Colleen, Chester (where r u?)!

Jen - Jen my BiL's Garmin got water inside to. I think he fried it. We parked at Lot W over by the Phillies stadium and snuck out the side entrance and got right onto the WWB. I heard a lot of horror stories about jammed up lots on 610 WIP on the way home. Glad you guys enjoyed the race. Next year we'll have to try to get some BOTs to make the trip because this is really a nice race to run.

Okay, what's next? Got to run the PDR in Sept. Anything this summer? Waiting to see if I get lucky and get in NYC. If not, then I plan to run Balt and maybe Philly again.

Lou

 

[Optimator]

Lou - That's a whopping fast race. Man, you are on fire! You need to take advantage and go run a marathon somewhere soon!

I made it there only a bit late and my friend claimed I smelled ok. ...

Obviously, a good friend. Or maybe not so good a friend as to tell someone they are a bit funky?

Really though, congrats to you and Butch. Sorry that you electronics are shot. Hopefully another day of drying out will bring them around.

 

[lourodrigis]

Lou - That's a whopping fast race. Man, you are on fire! You need to take advantage and go run a marathon somewhere soon!

Mike - My problem is that I burn out somewhere between 18-21 miles. Over the summer I plan to try to work on losing some weight because I know it would help with those later miles in a marathon. I have 10-15 lbs I could shed that would make running in the fall a lot easier.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Good Morning Everyone: No races for me to report, except for being in Pittsburgh on the sidelines for the race there. It's OK, I'm over it, and am using my Pittsburgh Half Marathon shirt as motivation to be in shape and healthy for the full marathon next year. May 2, 2010 - here I come!!! My back's feeling better, thanks to the muscle relaxants I got from the Doc, and I am looking forward to the Muddy Buddy. In all honesty, I think I could have run the half on Sunday. I was feeling better by then. However, I didn't want to hurt myself for the Muddy Buddy. That race has become a really big event for me, and I really want to be there.

I just want to say WOW, we had some smokin' fast Bots out there this weekend. You did us all proud.

Jodi- Really nice job on your 5K. Congrats on placing in your age group - even if you didn't like the prize. I'll take your coffee.

Cindy- Great job on your half marathon. You had an awesome race going sub-2 hours. I'm so impressed. Matt had a good run too.

Lou- WOW, 7 mpm average for 10 miles. You're my hero! So I noticed in your siggy next up is Goofy 2010. What about Baltimore? Are you running that one? As far as pulling stumps out, yeah that's essentially what I was doing. I was transplanting a full grown 7-8 foot tall forsythia bush from behind our garage to beside our driveway where we could actually see it. I needed to yank on it to move it into the hole I dug, and that's when I pulled my back. Stoopid, stoopid, stoopid...

Jen- Nice job on your Broad Street run. WTG on the sub-2 hour too! As far as WDW goes, the race is on Saturday, and we're flying back on Sunday. I'm pretty much pulling a Jodi for this race.

Howdy Mike- thanks for keeping the thread alive while we were all gone.

Howdy Howard- How was your solo-bachelor weekend? When does Cam get back?

Hey Sara- So, how'd that LR go this weekend?

Hi Colleen- Let's chat on FB soon, OK?

Chester- Looking forward to seeing you again this weekend.

And seriously, I'm over Pittsburgh. I've learned from my mistake, and one thing I've learned is I really, really need to work on my upper body/core strength. I'm going to make an appointment with a trainer at the gym to get a plan. I'm ready to get Muddy!!!

There's a great big beautiful tomorrow...

 

[CynthiaCindy]

Happy Monday. It's miserable and rainy here.

Jodi – Congrats on the 5k! Nice pace. At least you actually got something for your age group award. The one and only time I won an age group award, I got a stupid certificate.

Howard – As soon as you are 100% better, I’m sure you will be back in top form before you know it.

Mike – Are you planning on doing any shorter races over the summer?

Lou – Great time! You are super speedy. I’m glad you liked your new shoes!

Jen – Congrats on making your goal! Sorry to hear about your technical difficulties.

Dave – I’m glad to hear that your back is feeling better!

After this weekend, I kind of have the itch to do a marathon. Matt has already started his 24 week training program for Baltimore. Maybe I will follow it with him and then see what happens in the coming months? I’m guessing I could switch from the half to the full up until pretty close to the time before Baltimore. I guess I'll look into that.

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

After this weekend, I kind of have the itch to do a marathon. Matt has already started his 24 week training program for Baltimore. Maybe I will follow it with him and then see what happens in the coming months? I’m guessing I could switch from the half to the full up until pretty close to the time before Baltimore. I guess I'll look into that.

Really? Matt's started his training for Baltimore already? What plan is he using? Is it the Advanced Marathoning book again? I need to get moving if I want to keep up with Matt (at least for a little while).

 

[CynthiaCindy]

Really? Matt's started his training for Baltimore already? What plan is he using? Is it the Advanced Marathoning book again? I need to get moving if I want to keep up with Matt (at least for a little while).

Yup, he started last week with the 24 week plan from Advanced Marathoning. I guess it is just 23 weeks until the race!

Speaking of Baltimore - I know someone (I think Sara) mentioned booking a hotel room - which hotel?

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Yup, he started last week with the 24 week plan from Advanced Marathoning. I guess it is just 23 weeks until the race!

Speaking of Baltimore - I know someone (I think Sara) mentioned booking a hotel room - which hotel?

I have no idea. I'll be staying with my sister. I bet Jodi knows.