tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52517990247597051992024-03-12T20:34:47.423-05:00Balls on the Tablescreaminzabhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519702001471982826noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251799024759705199.post-91318732295532325182013-10-12T23:23:00.001-05:002013-10-12T23:23:31.486-05:00#10<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the eve of my 10<sup>th</sup> Chicago Marathon, I wanted
to share a few thoughts that have been in my head the last few days and weeks.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love running. I love marathoning. It has taught me so
much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can honestly say I am a better
person because of it. Running has made me appreciate so many things from family
to friends to health. I can’t say how many friends I have made through running,
friends that live nearby and friends that live across the country and even around
the world. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll remain friends with some
of these people forever. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Runners are a special breed. We’re weird, we can be selfish, we like
to talk about ourselves and definitely like to drink beer and talk about
running. And talk about running some more. We wake up early to run, we put our
bodies through hell to see if we can run faster or farther than the last time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or sometimes both. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have had the honor of raising money for Families of Spinal
Muscular Atrophy in honor of little Cru. With the help of many, many people, we
were able to raise over $40,000 in 2008 and 2009 to help that organization try
to find a cure for that terrible disease.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have made running goals that I have not met and others
that I have crushed. It takes a great support system to be able to do this, and
I could not do it without the love and support of my wife Tiffany. She’s
everything to me. She’s there unwavering through the ups, the downs and the
in-betweens. She’s amazing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And our two beautiful children are awesome. Most of the
time. But they are so much fun. Don’t let anyone ever tell you kids aren’t a
lot of work. I run to be healthy. Several health conditions are present in my
family and that’s a huge motivating factor for me. I know what I don’t want to
happen to me. I want to be around forever for them and for Tiffany. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love the rush and the feeling of working hard and
accomplishing a goal. I remember the things that people say when they doubt
your abilities. I still have a list in my head. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t hold ill will toward any of those
people, it’s really great motivation. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway, I don’t know if there’s a real point to all of these
ramblings. I am grateful and thankful I have been able to run 9 of these in a
row. Tomorrow is number 10. After you’ve had success, it’s hard to get caught
up in not being in the best shape, not getting the optimal weather, or anything
else that may impede you from hitting your goals. This training cycle has been
all over the place and I have certainly been in better shape entering a
marathon. But I do know a few things. I am excited and thrilled to be running
tomorrow. The weather will be fantastic. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am happy I am healthy and will be toeing the
line at Chicago again. It won’t be a PR, but I will give it everything I have. I
can’t wait to hear the National Anthem and feel the goose bumps up and down my
arms and neck. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then the horn sounds to
start the race. It’s really amazing. I can’t wait to see the millions of people
lining the streets. They’re cheering on friends, relatives and strangers all
the same. The marathon is a celebration of life - those that are living it to
their fullest and those that are no longer here. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t wait to see Tiffany, Isla and Gannon
and my in-laws. I have said it before and I’ll say it again, there is nothing
better than seeing them on the course. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
will hit the finish line without any regrets.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here’s to tomorrow and making it as great as possible. I can’t
wait. </div>
screaminzabhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519702001471982826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251799024759705199.post-8697982531123853802013-09-23T23:27:00.001-05:002013-09-23T23:51:46.382-05:00Highlights from Yesterday's Run<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I headed in to the longest run planned run of the cycle, my
hamstrings and hip flexors were shot from the company softball game on Friday.
No lie. The important part is that we won both games, kept the undefeated
streak alive and held onto the Peapod softball trophy for another year. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 0.01 - Get the Garmin signal get about 10 steps in and
trip. And go down hard. I had my water bottle in my right hand and landed on my
right arm and shoulder. Holy shit. Peel myself off the pavement in the alley,
collect myself and decide to stop my watch. Was now sweating despite it only
being about 50 degrees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My knee is a
little bloody, my right arm is bleeding and I can’t lift my arm above my
shoulder. If I walk back in 5 minutes after leaving, Tiffany would probably
hit me over the head with a baseball bat. And Bosley would probably wake up the kids. Off I go, with
a throbbing shoulder, a bloody arm and knee. Only the second time I have fallen
in 9 years of running (not including a couple mishaps on some ice).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 1 – 9:12 pace. This is going to be a long morning. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 4 – After slowly working down the pace, I see the first
group of runners from the CARA Ready to Run 20 miler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here we fucking go. This training run
features bibs and supported water and Gatorade stations. And assholes. Lots of
them. Just because you sign up for a training run doesn’t mean you can run 10
wide across the lake path.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a couple
near misses, I finally yell at some of them when a biker passing these guys
nearly takes me out. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 5 – Witness a near collision between a biker and
runner. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Mile 6 – Finally work
my way running upstream the crowd and end up mixing back in with the fast
runners after they loop around. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who runs
a 20 miler at 6:30 pace? I am guessing this group is probably running too fast.
What do I know though?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 7- Try to lift my arm above my shoulder above my head. Can’t. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 8.5 – Chat with the volunteer at the Fleet Feet Gatorade
stand at North Ave. Thank him and tell him to get ready for the onslaught. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mile 10 – Clicking
away some potential MP miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pretty
much not seeing any bibs, so I found a sweet spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hamstrings, hip flexors, shoulder, all seem
to be working well. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 10.5 – I see a helicopter overhead, about a mile up.
Never a good sign.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 11 – Grab a Gatorade, exchange pleasantries with
another runner and he tells me he almost smashed into a dude who was on the end
of 8 guys wide, not paying attention, and shockingly, wearing a bib. See some
police lights ahead.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 11.40 – Is that a plane? Right next to the lake path?
WTF? It is a plane. And there are TV trucks everywhere. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>Mile 11.5 –
turnaround point. And someone is taking some professional<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>photos in their running gear. You look great,
lady. But there’s a plane next to you that apparently landed on Lake Shore
Drive a couple hours earlier. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 11.6 – God damn it. Running back upstream. I am at
Jackson. I need to get up to Fullerton or Diversey to make them disappear.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 12.5 – Of all the parts on the lake path, this is
probably the worst when it comes to footing and space. 75% is very cambered, so
a majority of runners run close to the edge of the path. The only thing about
this edge is that right over it is the lake. Really. Fall off, you’re in the
lake. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Needless to say, there's a pack of fools
coming at me, in addition to a growing number of regular people out for walks,
jogs, pushing strollers, walking dogs, etc. Have to yell at another guy not paying
attention as he’s barely giving enough space for one person to pass. My pace
starts slowing down as I am now more concerned about not falling in the lake than how fast I am running.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 12.7 – A warm “Good morning runners!” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>from one of the group leaders of the training
run. Who’s the asshole now?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 13 – Have a strawberry Clif shot. Makes me want to
vomit. Not sure why, normally I like these things. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 14 – Right shoulder now hurting. Hamstrings barking a
bit after the 10 second stop to grab a sip of water and throw away the Clif wrapper. Marathon pace pretty much goes out the window at the end of this mile. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 14.5 – Grab a Gatorade from the same guy from
several<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>miles ago. Wishes me luck. Tell him I can get away from the crowd in just one more mile. He laughs. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 15.5 – Decide to escape and take the inner path at
Fullerton. Sweet relief.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 17.1 – See a dachshund being walked on the path. He has a
golf ball in his mouth.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 17.3 – See a raccoon running along the tennis courts.
What the hell is going on?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 17.35 – The raccoon is running towards a guy who’s talking
to a guy on the other side of the fence. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should I say something? Not sure, it may be
interesting to see what would happen. The guy finally sees him. And starts
sprinting.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 18 – A guy passes me. I say hello, he says hi and asks
how I am doing. The negative energy has officially taken over and I say. “Hanging
in there!” I have now become a negative asshole. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some people may even say I have been a dickhead for a while. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get over myself, tell myself I should be happy
that I am healthy and out here doing something that I love. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 19 – Choke down a Gu. Or was it a Clif shot? Either
way, it sucked. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 20- Taking in water. Not drinking it. Taking it in.
Regretting that I decided to run 23 miles. Clearly the good vibes have once
again departed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Mile 21 - Why do people use multiple questions marks? I get it. You're asking a question. The only thing you are emphasizing is your ability to hit the question mark multiple times.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 21.5 – Receive a warm hello from an older lady. Faith
in humanity once again restored.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 22.85- Damn it. My tweaked route on the way back in has
left me short. Run another block past the house. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mile 23 – Done. Hobble up the stairs. Realize my shirt on my
side is also bloody for some unknown reason. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just shoot me. A fitting way to unceremoniously end a mediocre training cycle. </div>
screaminzabhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519702001471982826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251799024759705199.post-53449606933816068492012-10-11T22:00:00.002-05:002012-10-11T22:00:58.677-05:00The 2012 Chicago Marathon - The Great White HopeIs this thing on?<br />
<br />
I haven't fired this thing up since October 2010. Holy shit. There's also an unpublished race report from the 2010 Vegas marathon hiding behind the curtains here too. I just kind of refer to that like a diary entry now.<br />
<br />
<u><b>Background </b></u><br />
As a quick point of reference here's how we got where we are today:<br />
<br />
2004-2008 - Ran 7 marathons mostly for fun, usually improving about 6 minutes every 6 months to year. PR of 3:29 in 2008.<br />
2009 - Huge breakthrough after following Pfitz' <i>Advanced Marathoning</i> training plan with a 3:05.<br />
2010 - Three Sub3 attempts and three misses. Boston (3:03), Chicago (3:03), Vegas (3:04).<br />
<br />
Here are the last couple paragraphs from that unpublished Vegas race report:<br />
<br />
<i>I don't really know what's next. I feel like the next time - if there
is a next time - I attempt to go under 3 hours, I'll need to be 100%
all in - stronger, faster lead-up race times, better training (harder
tempos, MP runs), better endurance - you name it - I'll need to work
harder than I have in the past if I really want to do this. Basically, I
don't want to swing and miss again. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>That means I'd
probably want to be fit enough to run a couple minutes faster than 2:5959,
so there is more room for error. And if shit goes wrong, I can have a
stronger base that hopefully carries me home. And I realize I'll need
and want to hit the half in under 1:30 - something that only happened in
Boston of the 3 marathons in 2010. </i><br />
<br />
A little emotional there, obviously. Frustrated, too. I eventually got back on the horse, but it wasn't until 2012, because... <br />
2011 - Injured for the first half of the year, thought I may be done racing, got healthy, ran Chicago and Vegas for fun. <br />
2012- Ran a smoking 1:24:09 PR in a half before Boston. Put up a 3:20 in Boston as attempt #4 was aborted at mile 7 because it was way too hot.<br />
<br />
<u><b>This Training Cycle</b></u><br />
So that leads us up to this cycle. I knew I did the work for Boston, but was derailed by the heat. I swallowed my pride and disappointment and set my sights on Chicago. I used a plan very heavy with tempo runs for Boston. I decided to emphasize more miles for this Chicago cycle and hit 80 miles in a week for the first time. I ended up going over 80 miles in a week four times and had my first ever 300 mile month. I also carried over some clustering and power doubles from the Boston cycle. By clustering, I mean stringing together a few double digit runs, including twenty milers. Power doubles are 15AM/7PM-type doubles, which I did about four or five in the plan. In one four day stretch, I ran 64 miles. I have become a big believer of running long runs on tired legs. I still did a tempo or speed workout once a week, as well as 8x100 strides twice a week. I also mixed in a fair amount of marathon paced miles, including one 23 miler with 10 @ 6:52 pace four weeks out. I also ran my last 20 miler two weeks out, doing half mile in/outs where the middle 10 miles were split at 6:35-6:40 (the ins) and 7:00-7:05 (the outs). I also got down to race weight - 160 - on September 2nd and didn't step on the scale again. I always get there, it's just a matter of when. I'd rather not have weight mess with my head after that. <br />
<br />
My half marathon tune-up was scheduled too early at 6 weeks out. I knew I wasn't ready and didn't really taper for it. In fact, the week before I set a PR with 85 miles and my legs weren't fresh. The course was very tough for the Chicago area and it was a little warm, humid and windy. Anyway, I put up a 1:26:53, a really shitty performance. This result, while justified for the aforementioned reasons, still planted a little nugget of doubt in the back of my head. I thought I could go sub3, but failing at something a few times not only leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth, but also can leave you with some cracks in the confidence when you are looking for indicators that you're on the right track.<br />
<br />
The only other thing of note was I developed some exterior ankle/foot soreness about 5 weeks out. I babied it, but definitely felt it a little on most runs and really felt it on the long runs, especially the ones that included quality. I was counting on the taper making it go away. I averaged 69.9 MPW pre-taper. That was a 13 week plan starting at 51 miles. Everything else was 60 or higher until the week before the race.<br />
<br />
The taper was solid but unspectacular. The pain in the ankle/foot was still there. I mentally prepared myself to deal with it on race day. Also, I didn't want to make a big deal about it. I only told Tiffany and my pal Jay about it. Jay suggested adrenaline would take over. The other thing to mention was the forecast was solidifying and looked pretty close to ideal with temps in the upper 30's at the start.<br />
<br />
I also re-read the <a href="http://runningforcru.blogspot.com/2009/10/2009-chicago-marathon.html" target="_blank">2009 Chicago Race Report</a> the night before. It was my best race of all-time - it also gets me pretty pumped up. I was hoping it would inspire me and set the tone for Sunday's race. It also would reinforce that I can hit my goal and execute a race plan. <br />
<br />
<u><b>Race Day</b></u><br />
I woke up at 4:15, ate some peanut butter wheat toast, sipped some Gatorade and got ready. I taped two pace bands on - a 3:00 and a 2:58. I thought a 2:58 could possibly happen on a great day. I was going to do anything I could (short of dying) to make that 2:59:59 on any other kind of day. I took Bosley out and it felt pretty chilly. Perfect. The weather gods came through.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1AmG7i2HUNjvs3-93vzRjMM9FxpX3yvSFJCkXUDuPgU-7RVKlq0Ic2Hhhw3SE0FHbilIyjjz2E1MnQz0nO_u8EujpdbQ0UOIhhl41D97xXBZLJdRatSOzLSiQ5if6W3PnbQjI4cspoY/s1600/IMG_3263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1AmG7i2HUNjvs3-93vzRjMM9FxpX3yvSFJCkXUDuPgU-7RVKlq0Ic2Hhhw3SE0FHbilIyjjz2E1MnQz0nO_u8EujpdbQ0UOIhhl41D97xXBZLJdRatSOzLSiQ5if6W3PnbQjI4cspoY/s400/IMG_3263.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIz6XQVAfvONw3oFUXtCh9oqJS7f-08k7F2zRzhiyZVyRsCOWUYPkuGcchSdNoArorb40xZjSC8U-d4f2f_vU_RSfEUfMOXG8_Sxjiy4_8VYjZOYQIlS-pHwM1rYiVCKQMfJPiZ6y3ua4/s1600/IMG_3264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIz6XQVAfvONw3oFUXtCh9oqJS7f-08k7F2zRzhiyZVyRsCOWUYPkuGcchSdNoArorb40xZjSC8U-d4f2f_vU_RSfEUfMOXG8_Sxjiy4_8VYjZOYQIlS-pHwM1rYiVCKQMfJPiZ6y3ua4/s400/IMG_3264.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Tiffany and I talked a little more about the day and before you knew it, my pre-arranged cab arrived at 5:00 to take me a mile and half to the Brown Line. Got there just in time and grabbed a seat on a near-empty train. I turned on the iPod warm-up playlist and relaxed. The Brown Line stops at Belmont in the wee hours, so I hopped on the Red Line there. I was lucky enough to grab a seat. Shortly thereafter, I start eating a banana and notice the guy next to me was bundled up, chugging a gallon of water - on this balmy, 41 degree morning. Then I noticed his bib number was lower than mine. Maybe I am doing it all wrong.<br />
<br />
We eventually get down to Jackson and hop off the train. Most of us anyway. I am not sure why some runners stay on past that stop. I make my first port-o-john stop right at 6AM and she was a beaut. Unused, but it was so dark, I could barely see in there. I make my way to the Corrals and got comfy sitting next to a tree.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ59EffyBOt9TcnuxKrJwOzzayguwZPa5lIw3UqzrFTposog_TlwgCQ6fZGO4TjuIvMdPr3YlhtXTOfwCUTaEEJDUN1pyxWytQVQ2xXl8dEbQ1O3ueswy_QC3Fxl5car9JxKG_0My-mg4/s1600/1142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ59EffyBOt9TcnuxKrJwOzzayguwZPa5lIw3UqzrFTposog_TlwgCQ6fZGO4TjuIvMdPr3YlhtXTOfwCUTaEEJDUN1pyxWytQVQ2xXl8dEbQ1O3ueswy_QC3Fxl5car9JxKG_0My-mg4/s400/1142.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjul6IHKKwN6xqwTJgnojTjpEKP1EIyeQbEtePg5TWBFNIdfVKWx1H38RCQStJneWdfRehIlj7h-1BRKCMqi30IDWuz3IuridTGmNbe23waIXvObGYoDY43L8IiaCaMjNMozfKQYXq8PHM/s1600/suntimes2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjul6IHKKwN6xqwTJgnojTjpEKP1EIyeQbEtePg5TWBFNIdfVKWx1H38RCQStJneWdfRehIlj7h-1BRKCMqi30IDWuz3IuridTGmNbe23waIXvObGYoDY43L8IiaCaMjNMozfKQYXq8PHM/s400/suntimes2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
It was cold. Really cold. And breezy. I was wishing I brought a thicker layer on top. Oh well. It'd be go-time before long. I ate a couple pop-tarts and drink some more Gatorade at that point. I was really making sure I had enough food in my system. I then decided to walk around a little bit to try to get warmer. I was standing in one spot for a few minutes blowing into my hands, trying to warm them up. A photographer from the Sun Times snapped this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuZfaZKG5rRfemaqM94rKVrD2pAQf2ed-tA7LZFkcEC5o1NQ8fY5GuM3-DzRnmTs4IY7OfpUf6zbRXJmC0fag-HFhHy6q3xXnOy_mF_IWdaQ5gVQYArnDOki3S4_EAxXqsYa-OTHPJag/s1600/pk+pre-race.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuZfaZKG5rRfemaqM94rKVrD2pAQf2ed-tA7LZFkcEC5o1NQ8fY5GuM3-DzRnmTs4IY7OfpUf6zbRXJmC0fag-HFhHy6q3xXnOy_mF_IWdaQ5gVQYArnDOki3S4_EAxXqsYa-OTHPJag/s400/pk+pre-race.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I use a couple more unused port-o-johns and finally head into the Corral. Some nice dude from Richmond, Illinois strikes up some conversation. Really nice guy, told me I should be able to go under 3 hours easily. Eventually, I find Brian, Kevin and Jonas, the three guys wanting to start at the same pace. I ate a few Clif Blocks and took care of the last round of peeing in my empty 32 ounce Gatorade bottle and tossed off the extra clothes. Brian reminded me to take off auto-lap and before you know it, we're off!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWIrj0cuhQ1WOWVeHFvScHRJd-_cKHtOrWZxqU1sHFIPuSzUNg5aZsngbfdwaTWSIrt-ORiS0LbpS_ue11FaA41XduAM76XIG3-pZqGt42GKQrnlzd7uTFnKRMfjWP85dzF12ngbsaD8/s1600/1145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWIrj0cuhQ1WOWVeHFvScHRJd-_cKHtOrWZxqU1sHFIPuSzUNg5aZsngbfdwaTWSIrt-ORiS0LbpS_ue11FaA41XduAM76XIG3-pZqGt42GKQrnlzd7uTFnKRMfjWP85dzF12ngbsaD8/s400/1145.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian and me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTAN8SzAG3uW7ZqTRH_G90XZYRUk_eKGbQ20NJy3pKTzWCvaUcLchwNUXWAPQVIgu0XlHyPlR_qw632Xjxn5ybE-wH6BsCil0QBJKRV7AwvnL9qq0Jve_w-PqPhANgLGlnYff9lLahKU/s1600/1146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTAN8SzAG3uW7ZqTRH_G90XZYRUk_eKGbQ20NJy3pKTzWCvaUcLchwNUXWAPQVIgu0XlHyPlR_qw632Xjxn5ybE-wH6BsCil0QBJKRV7AwvnL9qq0Jve_w-PqPhANgLGlnYff9lLahKU/s400/1146.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kevin and Jonas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<u><b>The Race</b></u><br />
I wanted to hit the half in 1:29:00-1:29:30. That basically meant a 6:47-6:50 pace. Jonas was only committed to staying at that pace through the half as he had a faster goal than the rest of us. Brian was attempting to go sub3 on a balky hamstring. Kevin and I had spent a few mid- to latter miles of the 2009 marathon together. He seemed ready and was pumped.<br />
<br />
I broke the race into four phases mentally: The start-13.1, 13.1-20, 20-23.4, and 23.4-finish line. I always tell people the Chicago Marathon really starts at the Half. The first 13 miles are crowded and packed with spectators. The energy is amazing. The crowd propels you. It should feel free and easy and like you aren't working too hard. The half to mile 20 is a tough stretch. There are some decent patches in there, but there are several spectator-free areas and some tougher neighborhoods. Mental toughness is key. I broke the last 10K into two stretches. 20 to 23.4 and then 23.4 to the finish. 23.4 is the point where runners make the last left turn onto Michigan Ave. I thought it would make it more manageable and give me some solid mental checkpoints. I had never been a huge believer in this breaking up the race into parts, but I thought it was time to give it a go. I thought it would help me focus when the going potentially got tough. <br />
<br />
<i>Mile 1</i>- <i>7:02</i><br />
Crowded as hell. Seemed more crowded than every previous year. And we hit the starting line in just 21 seconds. Just navigating the crowds. <br />
<br />
<i>Miles 2 & 3- 6:41 & 6:49</i><br />
I am not sure which one of us felt the need to make up the lost time in mile 2, but we did. Felt it a little bit, but felt pretty free and easy. And still congested. Mile 3 was pretty much perfect as we were able to find the happy middle ground. Brian pulled in front and we could see him for the next several miles. Sidenote: I hit 2000 miles YTD at the 3 mile marker. <br />
<br />
<i>Miles 4 & 5- 6:40 & 6:44</i><br />
See the unstoppable and award winning support crew at mile 3.5. I can't say enough how awesome they are. This crew was lean and mean. No dead weight.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZ0Nl-KAhE4Hy_mmod7qph9U9JCOXwLQFPYQM5djqzpVpVm4I-z1ANYrkYufefEcWj78uKBzpzN8oivhVEQjRYd1sm7xuDeYiAg23YQVXujK9orMj3ZmFDsdl9BJdW0FlUXSxV3On8vM/s1600/IMG_3295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZ0Nl-KAhE4Hy_mmod7qph9U9JCOXwLQFPYQM5djqzpVpVm4I-z1ANYrkYufefEcWj78uKBzpzN8oivhVEQjRYd1sm7xuDeYiAg23YQVXujK9orMj3ZmFDsdl9BJdW0FlUXSxV3On8vM/s400/IMG_3295.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTW3rbK3z-3AnU0RujkcqT7q_SJas-afVRSKc-gFuyCheZNkJkYSk-ln8v51L6SjFPDdg-usPBcd0sKnyyfoPt-GjTp5kVPhPvipzWnxJuqRrVSsM9J12DyEkCGTUPfhjft3qnIa3wxYA/s1600/DSCF2361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTW3rbK3z-3AnU0RujkcqT7q_SJas-afVRSKc-gFuyCheZNkJkYSk-ln8v51L6SjFPDdg-usPBcd0sKnyyfoPt-GjTp5kVPhPvipzWnxJuqRrVSsM9J12DyEkCGTUPfhjft3qnIa3wxYA/s400/DSCF2361.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike, Tiffany, Lynn, Isla and Gannon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A little fast though. I stopped near the end of mile 4 to pull up my compression sock as I felt it was sagging. Took a Clif shot at the 5 mile marker.<br />
<br />
<i>Mile 6- 7:01</i><br />
Whoops. There may have been a slight effort to back in the 6:47-6:50 range here, but this was too much.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Miles 7 & 8 - 6:47 & 6:46</i><br />
Feeling good. We lost Brian for good here as his hammy isn't cutting it. Also lose Jonas here as he picks up the pace. Just me and Kevin left. Have a brief feeling of uncertainty on how this pace really feels. <i>May</i> be little fast. <br />
<br />
<i>Miles 9,10, 11 - 6:56, 6:54, 6:53</i><br />
Well. Gave back a little time here. Effort level didn't change and the Garmin seemed to be fine, but looks like I was a little off on tangents these miles. Take a Gu Roctane at the 10 spot and proceed to lose Kevin at that water station. For good. Time to crank up the Ipod. Made a note that we were 15 seconds ahead of the 3 hour pace band at the 10 mile mark. <br />
<br />
<i>Miles 12 & 13 - 6:42 & 6:46 </i><br />
See the support crew again here. They are looking great and Tiffany is holding Gannon as he's taking a snooze. Seeing them is always a shot in the arm and this is no different. Pick up a little momentum into the half. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RjL2P5uvkdKv7BzJ4GNyzECoccdX6reBL9m1MFJjNtCHOnJEdkSh1a1LmruLtarRGnCahY5Bc3Q0nmTUO5bQ29xS33FGKaICpFmgFXGMqPB8dLmz0UDw8OU5ea5kXfhzznwPZMBb99Q/s1600/Mile+12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2RjL2P5uvkdKv7BzJ4GNyzECoccdX6reBL9m1MFJjNtCHOnJEdkSh1a1LmruLtarRGnCahY5Bc3Q0nmTUO5bQ29xS33FGKaICpFmgFXGMqPB8dLmz0UDw8OU5ea5kXfhzznwPZMBb99Q/s320/Mile+12.JPG" width="219" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<i>Half- 1:29:28</i> - Right at the high end of the plan, but right on. 32 seconds ahead of 3 hour pace, feeling good and wrap up the first phase. Giving out some high fives and getting the crowd going. I'm ready to attack the second half, but not recklessly. I feel like I am very much in control, the pace doesn't seem too hard and my body feels great. No issues at all from the ankle/foot area. Just in case there was, I did have a couple of packets of Biofreeze in my arm warmer pocket. Remind myself to relax the shoulders, drop the arms and stay focused on Phase 2. <br />
<br />
<i>Miles 14, 15, 16, 17</i><i> </i>- <i>6:42, 6:46, 6:50, 6:47</i><br />
Workman-like as I navigate the western edge of the course. Feeling strong. Take another Clif shot at 15. Sits a little funny, but I just avoid the next Gatorade station to try to get it to calm down. A couple times in this stretch, my mind wanders about finishing, going sub3 and realizing that the hard work is paying off. Start getting a little emotional, so I reign myself in and bring the focus back to the second phase. Feel a little something here and there in my upper right hamstring, but nothing to worry about. I also remember passing a bagpiper playing near mile 16 in 2010 and knowing I was dead in the water. Not this year! 48 seconds ahead of the 3 hour pace band, 30 seconds off of the 2:58 paceband. <br />
<br />
<i>Mile 18- 6:55</i><br />
And the first sign of trouble appears before I hit the 17 mile marker. But not with the pace, not with the legs, and not with the ankle/foot. I develop a wicked side/back cramp on my left side. What the hell is this? It's the kind of cramp that you can get in a 5K when you are pushing too hard and running beyond your ability. It starts getting in my head a little. It didn't make sense because my breathing wasn't laboring at all. I changed my breathing to in through the nose, out through the mouth. It's not helping. It's still there. I am trying to work through it without sacrificing much pace. I don't feel comfortable letting it go slower than mid 6:50s. I have a little moment and realize that this is the race. This is the hurdle. I decide that I am not going to let this stop me and start mentally preparing myself to fight this off for the last 9 miles, if I have to. This is my day, I tell myself. But first, just get through Phase 2 and mile 20. The mental exercises I went through on many runs are now being put to the test. <br />
<br />
<i>Mile 19- 6:47</i><br />
Decided that backing off just a touch to try to help it go away didn't help, so I proceed to pick it back up and keep the nose-in mouth-out breathing going. I am loudly grunting on some of the outs now, but I don't care. The runners around me surely thought I was about to start to fade, or possibly die. I just kept powering through it, focusing on getting to 20 and to complete Phase 2. It's still pretty bad, but again, I tell myself, I am not going to be denied. The other crazy part is that my legs feel great and my ankle/foot are showing no signs of failing me. <br />
<br />
<i>Miles 20 & 21 - 6:50, 6:50</i><br />
Phase 2 complete and just before 20, wouldn't you know it, the pain goes away. Holy Jesus. Alright! Back in business. Phase 3 is only 3.4 miles long and I get to see the crew at 21.5 on the Chinatown turn. Start feeling a little fatigue in the legs here, but nothing too bad. Kind of like you've run 20 miles-type fatigue. I still felt fresh though and reminded myself to relax the shoulders and drop the arms again, keep the feet pushing out and not up. After I hit the 21 mile marker, I started to get pretty pumped knowing that I'll see the support team again and take my last Clif shot. At this point, I <i>knew </i>sub3 was happening<i>. </i>I made it through the shit with my side and back. I felt like I was picking up steam and had more left in the tank. Phase 3 was nearly over and it had just began. And the passing of people starts becoming more frequent. Without sounding like an arrogant jerk, I really was not going to be denied. This is my day. And I told myself that again. <br />
<br />
Before the race, Tiffany and I talked about the plan that I would just wave and say hi to them as I went by at every place they'd be. The only circumstance I'd stop and talk to them was if I fell off the pace. In the half mile after the 21 mile marker, I decide I was going to try to stop for a couple seconds. I had this thing. So I see my father-in-law Mike holding the sign, so I point and wave. I get over to them and I see Isla behind the fence. I crouch down and try to give her a kiss. She was pretty surprised and didn't really respond. At that point my mother-in-law Lynn and Tiffany basically yell at me to get out of there and go! 51 seconds ahead of the 3:00 paceband. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4dumsKpaeOf3zD2ynbXRpKNBUEiFU1m-RqVm2MfZF3V8CaVBhx8h1EbZDuaxw06Lzbfd-ZmhpUkLQR3hUm8KaIgUCmVh43z_zLqjx1Ap8kJWRVI6NrEHXyfDQ5NDwrt_IBPfwD7x2Tk/s1600/IMG_3303.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4dumsKpaeOf3zD2ynbXRpKNBUEiFU1m-RqVm2MfZF3V8CaVBhx8h1EbZDuaxw06Lzbfd-ZmhpUkLQR3hUm8KaIgUCmVh43z_zLqjx1Ap8kJWRVI6NrEHXyfDQ5NDwrt_IBPfwD7x2Tk/s400/IMG_3303.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiffany and Gannon, Gannon saying "Cheese!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqC42mEpQ5BLrsgkXD-WVGqWruhEf8QeZzgl-DPSwvD-HgCc68IScu1jAsTOHs7EsHSeuInlElgEY7gNyXtjy9zpBYYuYlqCiL2aPEG69hrSOXjzVrtaEXMFyYyvOjm-KQCYzMxCHApk/s1600/IMG_3311.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimqC42mEpQ5BLrsgkXD-WVGqWruhEf8QeZzgl-DPSwvD-HgCc68IScu1jAsTOHs7EsHSeuInlElgEY7gNyXtjy9zpBYYuYlqCiL2aPEG69hrSOXjzVrtaEXMFyYyvOjm-KQCYzMxCHApk/s400/IMG_3311.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right before I make the stop to talk to Isla</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<i>Mile 22 - 6:48</i><br />
The brief stop doesn't hurt my pace and I close in on wrapping up phase 3. Feeling strong. This spot along the Dan Ryan is very common to see people starting to crumble, and this year is no different. I am plowing through them.<i> </i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4L344iPrQV1jrIRPlOGlLe7zZwdRXazvxvBqRPMTwfBKBZ5N1P90BocaNJkgYW4vSaop0kICfkR6vlVpOG3TuAmWazC1ssBN0yfIzw3ydUKpqIREHgtUBbnmuW5OCIcOI-Zt3n1HHmOQ/s1600/smile+Chinatown2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4L344iPrQV1jrIRPlOGlLe7zZwdRXazvxvBqRPMTwfBKBZ5N1P90BocaNJkgYW4vSaop0kICfkR6vlVpOG3TuAmWazC1ssBN0yfIzw3ydUKpqIREHgtUBbnmuW5OCIcOI-Zt3n1HHmOQ/s200/smile+Chinatown2.jpg" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeling it </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<i>Mile 23 - 6:47</i><br />
Working it. Feeling it. Loving it. I see the beer stop just as you cross the Dan Ryan and figure, what the hell? This is my day after all, I may as well grab a beer. They have the cups out just like a water stop, expect it's beer. I don't see anyone else heading over to the left side of the street grabbing one. I know we're all motoring along at a sub 3 pace and all, but we're not professional. Don't forget to enjoy yourself out there. So I grab one, thank them and chug it on the run. Tasted much better than last year. 59 seconds ahead of the 3:00 paceband.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg223sbnpqqtZjiTUohWY-jcFKKGFuxc7rVm7a28qMNVIC82RgYChIwRtR0l2W2lsygN8lTy1KtAhf4T9arJLvs17tZGJNafMyT7_SoxNDqkA5eL2QYNy0teBOaHwEhBlxXemhXbRg-yUY/s1600/Mile22+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg223sbnpqqtZjiTUohWY-jcFKKGFuxc7rVm7a28qMNVIC82RgYChIwRtR0l2W2lsygN8lTy1KtAhf4T9arJLvs17tZGJNafMyT7_SoxNDqkA5eL2QYNy0teBOaHwEhBlxXemhXbRg-yUY/s400/Mile22+.JPG" width="290" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<i>Mile 24 - 6:46 </i><br />
Close out Phase 3 make the turn onto Michigan and Phase 4 starts. Time to relax the shoulders, drop the arms and get ready to make this push. Start picking up the pace and get prepared to go for it at the 24 mile marker. I think there was a pretty good head-wind here, but I really zoned in and got ready to go for the proverbial throat. I grab some Gatorade chews from the volunteers and eat a few of those over the next mile. I didn't want a full Gu, but figured a little something wouldn't be a bad idea.<br />
<br />
<i>Mile 25 - 6:33</i><br />
This is exactly what I visualized in training. Dropping the hammer in the last couple miles to hit that 2:59 so I could bring home the sub3. The 2:59 was in the bag at this point. I was surprisingly still able to do some functional math and thought if I really go after it, I may be able to come in right at 2:58. I slide to the very inside of the road and let it fly. I am passing people in droves. I will not be denied, this is my day, I repeat. I do have three songs left on my iPod and only have time for about one and a half. Sorry, Muse. You can be on the next one. I appreciate all you did for me in the weeks following the Olympics though. Now just 32 seconds off of the 2:58 paceband. Carry me home, Mumford. <br />
<br />
<i>Mile 26 - 6:24</i><br />
Boom! I just dropped a 6:24 26th mile. That was a second below my average pace in the half marathon in April. The ridiculous part is that it came in at a 1.03 on the Garmin, so I was showing a 6:13 pace before I hit lap. Still passing people like crazy as we make the turn onto Roosevelt. I have always wanted to be <i>that</i> guy. Today, I finally was. Seem to slow just a bit going up the "hill." I am going to go sub 2:58. The balls are out, on the table for all to see and appreciate. Trailing 2:58 pace by a mere 9 seconds.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>The Last .2 - 1:17</i><br />
I nearly get blocked by a couple people not running as fast as I make the final turn on Roosevelt. I pass them on the left and let it all hang out. There's guy laboring trying to get to the finish line. The crowd is getting louder and louder. I am not sure if they are cheering for me, the jerk in the argyle arm warmers blowing by everyone, or for the guy who really needs help to finish. I pretend it's me they are cheering for. I am pretty pumped as I close in on the finish line, pump the right arm and hit the stop button a few strides after I hit the mat. Garmin shows 2:57:59. I am pretty sure I was late on it.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJCDFw5p75qCeDyxke9CwbAIgMqWa3X7y1Uyml20pIklVzqe57IaOHycePg5t7_utPOAl142utXoY8GlFbWklhc6OdU3eNKzI3Z98XpAFLmQdPLgWxxjcT5GT74ShZbqC_sFXDjwM0bc/s1600/Flying.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJCDFw5p75qCeDyxke9CwbAIgMqWa3X7y1Uyml20pIklVzqe57IaOHycePg5t7_utPOAl142utXoY8GlFbWklhc6OdU3eNKzI3Z98XpAFLmQdPLgWxxjcT5GT74ShZbqC_sFXDjwM0bc/s400/Flying.JPG" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flying!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0glk2A5xFkzEuGZPMfYxDNsiUSF1AihMVFaIU9eJ2dSs4pC6CyN0UmgHvpUX4xpcboEr13AsMglzCGNgZZEjsKHXqGA7tFM2ESjFvoWu7I1fOvaf9LOu-QrOeq-nAbtF0IT_qGmqcCFc/s1600/Finish+line.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0glk2A5xFkzEuGZPMfYxDNsiUSF1AihMVFaIU9eJ2dSs4pC6CyN0UmgHvpUX4xpcboEr13AsMglzCGNgZZEjsKHXqGA7tFM2ESjFvoWu7I1fOvaf9LOu-QrOeq-nAbtF0IT_qGmqcCFc/s400/Finish+line.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Yes! It's a Sub3!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Official Time: 2:57:56<br />
Hell f-ing yeah! 1:29:28 first half, 1:28:28 second half. Exactly a one minute negative split, buoyed by miles 25 and 26. I make my way through the finishing corrals, take a few photos, grab a beer and some food and find my way over to the meeting spot. Tiffany runs and hugs me when she finally sees me. We were both so excited. I loved seeing her face and her excitement. I then see the rest of the team- Mike, Lynn and the dynamic duo of Isla and Gannon. We trade some hugs, takes some pictures and make the walk back to the L to go home.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXV9LJtxp3pVER26lz4gqeTuoldJXW5ml3O0TjVCyZiQPe2NAeCzmjOQcJgljvzSJAbIfkqsRTZ3trmaOn1tZ0QnxDvD8GJeGAvXFDodYFOMac3MOR6QlamLMlLyypiq3FTvAiD88nJw4/s1600/Finish1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXV9LJtxp3pVER26lz4gqeTuoldJXW5ml3O0TjVCyZiQPe2NAeCzmjOQcJgljvzSJAbIfkqsRTZ3trmaOn1tZ0QnxDvD8GJeGAvXFDodYFOMac3MOR6QlamLMlLyypiq3FTvAiD88nJw4/s400/Finish1.JPG" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheers!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4t0wEM5W33-CBS00iqF7CxCV_mcgGQwTA0Z6cNS3mgANOxbpoJjgwdbktieeAXksG-zJzTrO83vIHLxjfbv9-gprMCVhAb01Em8oi_4QhilpEgspAzkQNV-QJB0zh9BDJ5sC-H-lDHw/s1600/DSCF2408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4t0wEM5W33-CBS00iqF7CxCV_mcgGQwTA0Z6cNS3mgANOxbpoJjgwdbktieeAXksG-zJzTrO83vIHLxjfbv9-gprMCVhAb01Em8oi_4QhilpEgspAzkQNV-QJB0zh9BDJ5sC-H-lDHw/s400/DSCF2408.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great day!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFiXHF3MTJ1fa2J59Pff6LZHdiDON67yWQ9ut7_dv74NPa4DxKsi_afJSlJTnB5VIhP4AeKjcLl5vMINU2XGPvLSZef3cyMllFvZRqEiGNFC35WA6kre3WhkrZWL8AhkpwFu4lWGMbHqo/s1600/IMG_3327.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFiXHF3MTJ1fa2J59Pff6LZHdiDON67yWQ9ut7_dv74NPa4DxKsi_afJSlJTnB5VIhP4AeKjcLl5vMINU2XGPvLSZef3cyMllFvZRqEiGNFC35WA6kre3WhkrZWL8AhkpwFu4lWGMbHqo/s400/IMG_3327.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not sure who's more excited about this medal</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u><b>Other thoughts</b></u><br />
Honestly, I couldn't haven't dreamed it up any better. I have been in pursuit of the perfect race since finishing Chicago 2009 and often wondered if I only got to run it once. Aside from the side/back cramp, this thing went off without a hitch. The failed sub3 attempts hardened me up as a runner and did help me dig deep during this race when I needed to. <br />
<br />
I can't thank Tiffany enough for all of her support. She's a superstar and can navigate the hell out of spectating this event, which is saying something with a 3 and a half-year-old lady and a 14-month-old man. She's also incredibly supportive of me throughout training and believes in me more than anyone. Isla was super-pumped about the "Big Marathon" for the last three months. Her patience was paid off with the medal. And Gannon, while catching a few z's at one point during the race, was well-behaved and enjoyed himself. My love for my family inspires and motivates me. I think about them all the time during all of my runs. On race day, seeing them is easily the highlight of the race. Tiffany, I love you and can't thank you enough for all that you do. <br />
<br />
Tiffany's parents, Mike and Lynn have been there for every single Chicago marathon. They are awesome. <br />
<br />
To all my other family and friends, both of the running variety and non-running ilk, you guys are great. I truly appreciate the support, the well-wishes and the congratulations. Thanks for joining me on this ride that started in Boston in April of 2010. <br />
<br />
<br />
<u><b>Numbers - HR, 5K Splits etc.</b></u><br />
Placed 689 out of 37,315. 140th of 3502 in my age group. <u><b></b></u><br />
<u><b><br /></b></u>
AHR 170, Maxed at 195 in the .2<br />
Mile by Mile AHR - First Half - 131(?)/161/166/170/167/167/167/168/167/167/168/173/173<br />
Second Half - 173/169/169/171/170/172/172/175/175/178/180/183/188/192(last .2)<br />
<br />
5K Splits: <br />
21:15/21:11/21:16/21:13/21:00/21:15/21:17/20:52/8:37(last bit)<br />
<br />
Very solid HR and similar to 2009's numbers. Looking at that and knowing what I have done in the past, I think I may have been able to start the kick one mile earlier. Hard to say and probably not worth the risk though. I didn't look at my HR at all during the race.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading. That's 10 minutes you'll never get back. Maybe even 15.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaR8Qr9fRgCwvQzJKbljZzjrh2dzGfMcWrSUgebhGng3N2S9ea_-Wl68X2PqQWC2Fu1gCq9LO0ALAZ2m2GkpdC9hqDIKf15B-9zdfaYdBgC6G2IzunTrFKpRfY3WGXJDKXYhgTx58ab_c/s1600/IMG952707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaR8Qr9fRgCwvQzJKbljZzjrh2dzGfMcWrSUgebhGng3N2S9ea_-Wl68X2PqQWC2Fu1gCq9LO0ALAZ2m2GkpdC9hqDIKf15B-9zdfaYdBgC6G2IzunTrFKpRfY3WGXJDKXYhgTx58ab_c/s320/IMG952707.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlckxzifizbGIyUuAs4A0hdqCACXsjcztYNsAKlDbzLOsTxPXr_jxt0KaRT4u7PMRvMywmNYhZWNphtT7JIlmy3ZEDmWLCn4s8R_xQTmF9inXZ9raV4ZksH_R8xk7kgfu1Eq17qDwia-g/s1600/IMG953177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlckxzifizbGIyUuAs4A0hdqCACXsjcztYNsAKlDbzLOsTxPXr_jxt0KaRT4u7PMRvMywmNYhZWNphtT7JIlmy3ZEDmWLCn4s8R_xQTmF9inXZ9raV4ZksH_R8xk7kgfu1Eq17qDwia-g/s320/IMG953177.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
screaminzabhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519702001471982826noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251799024759705199.post-37987215824219209562010-10-12T12:15:00.048-05:002010-10-13T23:19:23.505-05:002010 Chicago Marathon: Willing to Beg, Steal or BorrowI have had about 48 hours to think about putting this race report together and I thought of a few different titles, but opted for the one you see above. The runners up were:<br /><ul><li>Chasing the Ghost</li><li>I Closed My Eyes and She Slipped Away (yes, from Boston's "More than a Feeling")<br /></li></ul>Those two are much too negative. I went with the one at the top because of that Ray LaMontagne song that I haven't been able to get out of my head for the last 6-8 weeks. And it sums up how bad I wanted to go sub3. Beg? Sure. Steal? Why not? Borrow? You bet!<br /><br />I make two promises before every race. The first is to my wife Tiffany that I will stop if something is seriously wrong with me. The other is to myself, that I will do everything possible to hit my goal, short of irreparable bodily harm.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Build-Up</span><br />I am not going to spend too much time on the lead up to the race. I had an 11 week cycle that was supposed to be 12 weeks long, but I got busy or sick or something in that first week. I honestly don't remember but I see I only ran 4 days that week. The cycle was fine, it included the usual ups and downs. I based the training plan off of Pfitz 12/70, but switched around some days, tried to run zero doubles and backed down mileage in race weeks. I had a crappy 10K where I ran off course that snapped a 13 race PR streak and then PRed at the Batavia Half a couple weeks later. I peaked at 71 miles (hitting that number twice), ran five 20 (or more) milers and tapered for three weeks.<br /><br />I was feeling pretty beat up throughout the taper and was having some right hamstring issues. I was pretty concerned so I took some time off race week. I took Monday off, ran a 5 miler on Tuesday, took Wednesday and Thursday off and then ran 4+ miles on Friday with my good pal <a href="http://gotlactate.blogspot.com/2010/10/it-aint-heat-its-humility-chicago-2010.html">Ron Abramson</a>. We spent the morning together with Isla and Tiffany and then hit the expo. I ran 3.6 miles on Saturday with a 3 minute burst for my Aussie Carbo-load. I felt the hammy in every run and hoped whatever it was wouldn't become a factor on race day. I have no idea where it came from. Anyway, total miles for race week before Sunday was 12.8.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Race Day</span><br />I got up and did the usual morning routine. This year, I had the company of Michael Kapellas, one of my older brothers, who was running his first marathon. We did our thing, Tiffany took a few pictures, we left and hopped on the Brown Line.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9S6ERAO2R9ocnCuUHPGclqLjdoFfjDU-AQCs9B0m3JQsuuHtBTUHLlLOfDltC_00w6Eec5VSNoADXkP3kxt6g8EVTYkQ1OTMgSxlf1zXOYEUYR-Z9fLB_GGGlezkhBl3k2Bawmvl4RBc/s1600/IMG_4471.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9S6ERAO2R9ocnCuUHPGclqLjdoFfjDU-AQCs9B0m3JQsuuHtBTUHLlLOfDltC_00w6Eec5VSNoADXkP3kxt6g8EVTYkQ1OTMgSxlf1zXOYEUYR-Z9fLB_GGGlezkhBl3k2Bawmvl4RBc/s400/IMG_4471.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527711858564873138" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-hVV9OTqnSeBlSctSDfy4OeCSxu9exxIowHhPd5eZ-YTS1vEyKDT3MuYmzvyOPBI285OlWIcowLv49rMlqGBuNrfJbSMnFSnhdl4SACjyEL75BT74p65VkFumeliknn__bMkhealx1A/s1600/IMG_4469.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-hVV9OTqnSeBlSctSDfy4OeCSxu9exxIowHhPd5eZ-YTS1vEyKDT3MuYmzvyOPBI285OlWIcowLv49rMlqGBuNrfJbSMnFSnhdl4SACjyEL75BT74p65VkFumeliknn__bMkhealx1A/s400/IMG_4469.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527711852832998018" border="0" /></a><br />Top: Michael and me<br />Bottom: Me rocking the short shorts<br /><br />After waiting about 10 minutes, we finally took off and eventually reached the area near the start. We walked a few blocks and finally got to the seeded corral gear check tent. I checked a bag and we headed over to the entrance to the seeded corral. It was a disaster. We packed in with hundreds of other runners trying to just get in the corral. We finally made it in just after 7. The race started at 7:30. We both had to use the port-o-john so we get in that line. Luckily we picked a good line and got out of that area by 7:15. I happened to bump into Melissa Fanaro here too. Crazy! We walked up the stretch to get in the corrals, said good bye and good luck at the entrance to his C corral and I took off for the A Corral. I started picking up the pace as I heard someone say they are closing the corrals soon. Oh shit. Now I am jogging to make it through the B checkpoint and into the A corral. I made it and looked down at my watch. Time: 7:20. Heart rate:148. Not a good sign. However, I am letting everything roll off my back. It's my day, damn it.<br /><br />I look for any familiar face as I am heading up closer to the front and to the left. Just as I am about to resign myself to not seeing or running with anyone I know, I see Jay T., Chad S. (who are both much faster than me) and then the living legend himself, Chad Gruett - who is already shirtless. We then see Chris H. and Nick P., more pals of mine. Chad says he's not going for sub3, but at least talking to him before the gun goes off helps me feel a little better after the clusterf*ck of getting there. Keep in mind this is my 7th consecutive Chicago Marathon and have been in the corrals for 5 or 6 of them. It was never ever even close to this bad. Oh - I take off my cap before the race starts sensing that the extra heat trapped on my head would be detrimental to the cause.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miles 1-3</span><br />6:55, 6:53, 6:58<br />I'm pretty much on my own here for 1 and 2. I can see Nick just ahead of me and pull even with him in the 3rd mile. Or was it the 2nd? Everything seems to be okay - not good, not bad. I don't feel like I am trying too hard. The hammy is a dull pain. I am having a hard time finding the sweet spot, but really want to make sure I don't go out too fast. I also meet Josh this mile, a really nice guy from Colorado Springs who is also shooting for a sub3. We'd be running next to each other for a good portion of the rest of the race.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mile 4</span><br />6:56<br />See the awesome "Zab for Mayor" support crew at 3.5. It's such a great feeling seeing them. I really think it gives all the runners around me a boost, because I always hear some laughs and see some smiles. I toss my hat to Tiffany and know I'll be seeing them again in about 8 miles. Also, Chad appears in this mile. He says, "Am I running fast or are you running slow?" I said I was in the mid 6:50's from the get go. He says "Uh-oh." I am taking at least one gatorade or water at every station, trying to stay ahead of the game.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnL4Zl4XrODdCVp6bLUf8-d3_Qn7clMKnayXZsJWH9jpsbkr_uyEFDJWgLDwLoBLNNC4RwgQJXLAHKwqtQB-RS6WxXCmntDKjA9baT80eeaaZGNs750wL15giG-RxO0ZurtdGc1WuPkU/s1600/IMG_4479.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGnL4Zl4XrODdCVp6bLUf8-d3_Qn7clMKnayXZsJWH9jpsbkr_uyEFDJWgLDwLoBLNNC4RwgQJXLAHKwqtQB-RS6WxXCmntDKjA9baT80eeaaZGNs750wL15giG-RxO0ZurtdGc1WuPkU/s400/IMG_4479.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527711859949059474" border="0" /></a><br />Isla and Tiffany<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDV152MYWjBPC2xeYejp6W0A5b4c807hbm3z73TcRuM51PASkk24IoPHGy7RhKlySXvgpg2VOfw1viN_eGh9YKNJCdcydKTZOsU7eduLQSRPDo7alJvZn3eQD9a7DSFTF57yjJn6QMlLY/s1600/IMG_4497.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDV152MYWjBPC2xeYejp6W0A5b4c807hbm3z73TcRuM51PASkk24IoPHGy7RhKlySXvgpg2VOfw1viN_eGh9YKNJCdcydKTZOsU7eduLQSRPDo7alJvZn3eQD9a7DSFTF57yjJn6QMlLY/s400/IMG_4497.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527711865079721602" border="0" /></a><br />Approaching mile 3.5 and the Mayoral support crew<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7p5OSnxT06GP08qvAK479QNVSw_AYUqaWTLJaCligj9U_99shl6aMHX57PpzoNP4Tq2QKd-lXXBpZAw99qD6mt6Rr2FAGbF8WzIfbht8sNZbqqBDla3XbFtv4jcqlKR2vDcGjEkOIwC0/s1600/093.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7p5OSnxT06GP08qvAK479QNVSw_AYUqaWTLJaCligj9U_99shl6aMHX57PpzoNP4Tq2QKd-lXXBpZAw99qD6mt6Rr2FAGbF8WzIfbht8sNZbqqBDla3XbFtv4jcqlKR2vDcGjEkOIwC0/s400/093.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527717596707098962" border="0" /></a><br />At Mile 3.5, L to R: Josh(shirtless in the visor), Nick (yellow and white top), me, and Chad (shirtless with the gatorade bottle)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYZB4-8Gk7ZLJzk6rrM7pm0AZqfrU7L14Np-mGE3Gvr-oiHkfTJncYPtGGeYkaGdAQRa9Zu95opE7Oy8SXVtgraQkxF7kw6ZHJwlIIWRe-MkbHR5P8tk_3jHviRRFbXeb9_RCl_VwsZ8/s1600/IMG_4498.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYZB4-8Gk7ZLJzk6rrM7pm0AZqfrU7L14Np-mGE3Gvr-oiHkfTJncYPtGGeYkaGdAQRa9Zu95opE7Oy8SXVtgraQkxF7kw6ZHJwlIIWRe-MkbHR5P8tk_3jHviRRFbXeb9_RCl_VwsZ8/s400/IMG_4498.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527711869615241410" border="0" /></a><br />Acknowledging the big group of supporters<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miles 5- 9</span><br />6:51, 6:52, 6:53, 6:52, 6:53<br />There we go. Pretty much right on here. We are about 15-17 seconds off of 3:00 pace, but we're laughing and joking around quite a bit. I take my first Gu at mile 8. Chad falls off somewhere in there and as far as I can tell it's Nick, Josh and me. I left the house with two pace bands - a 3:00 band and a band with straight 6:47's. I knew the 6:47's were out of the question by mile 4. I just wasn't feeling that good. But was I feeling good enough? I manage to rip off the 6:47 band in mile 8. No sense in having that thing weighing me down. I also start dumping water on my head in mile 6. Also Start getting a ton of "Zab" and "Zab for Mayor" yells. The shirt is a hit. As if there was any doubt, right?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkweQt4U3XK60Z_u5WagR3SV6XRaz1Q9O-KqZxZqAFxXRb_5ieuiOAvArXXIsBCrcclJ7yrTV7-jQrE2abZx7zWJMRLjRPaKJZfpMgEjQXN_wg2hukA-R8LMkf9Bi4N_EXpdmqH-F0kg/s1600/Flex1.bmp"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkweQt4U3XK60Z_u5WagR3SV6XRaz1Q9O-KqZxZqAFxXRb_5ieuiOAvArXXIsBCrcclJ7yrTV7-jQrE2abZx7zWJMRLjRPaKJZfpMgEjQXN_wg2hukA-R8LMkf9Bi4N_EXpdmqH-F0kg/s400/Flex1.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527707492424675154" border="0" /></a><br />This could be the funniest race photo of me ever. I have no idea why I flexed, nor do I know why it appears that I have muscles.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miles 10-13<br /></span>6:47, 6:49, 6:46, 6:50<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>I make a bit of an effort to pick up the pace here. I see my friend Jim at mile 11 and he offers some words of encouragement. I also see the Mayoral support team at 11.5. What a great looking crew! I have said it before and I'll say it again. Seeing my supporters is the highlight of my races.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZOLnxG3WrkVt4K21IRXyyD6DaTGmzc9-8CP63YsOg0jjPSqZmMk3JAG0TKbFvJ1qL5NeswEFGOZnWqqFPcA3jCObG7l-D7XZkoqhWH4nsF3yJ2RTDczCJujeq254duPXM3sjhIzUS3w/s1600/IMG_4503.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZOLnxG3WrkVt4K21IRXyyD6DaTGmzc9-8CP63YsOg0jjPSqZmMk3JAG0TKbFvJ1qL5NeswEFGOZnWqqFPcA3jCObG7l-D7XZkoqhWH4nsF3yJ2RTDczCJujeq254duPXM3sjhIzUS3w/s400/IMG_4503.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527713949859210162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAdfy_FOGnwOD6yFYHziCF1B3miS5L9dI0ku5snKWPlhjqOT2pz6LqAzqc5nDg40dZ7-O-UsntAwqqJii_PuR331k837dxSLvYyGw0ZMGtawUliYqcjnE4reUhCC6lSAKDxVHUrAHPLg/s1600/095.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGAdfy_FOGnwOD6yFYHziCF1B3miS5L9dI0ku5snKWPlhjqOT2pz6LqAzqc5nDg40dZ7-O-UsntAwqqJii_PuR331k837dxSLvYyGw0ZMGtawUliYqcjnE4reUhCC6lSAKDxVHUrAHPLg/s400/095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527717602167642962" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwWE6FlmZk6bCAXm3Cw6fd_kr2eoOflj_V6uu7OIbjVTNzd_dSqBrlzBrhC-qMiwMLyFtF36uGa5nvBgVRut29q5HSLP2_Zgcs7lRM01hZBMtP0J0dKWNZKoaMFWciZBOfoUQ69obwz4/s1600/IMG_4504.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwWE6FlmZk6bCAXm3Cw6fd_kr2eoOflj_V6uu7OIbjVTNzd_dSqBrlzBrhC-qMiwMLyFtF36uGa5nvBgVRut29q5HSLP2_Zgcs7lRM01hZBMtP0J0dKWNZKoaMFWciZBOfoUQ69obwz4/s400/IMG_4504.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527713955283685362" border="0" /></a><br />Here's a nice shot of the marathon going over the Chicago River just past the Merchandise Mart and mile 12.<br /><br />I wanted to be really close to 1:30 at the half and needed to pick up a few seconds per mile. I lost Nick and as I make the turn west out of the Loop, I get the crowd to make some noise. Josh is right next to me. It's pretty normal to chat with people throughout the race who have the same goal as you. I start making some more conversation with Josh at this point, as it looks like he's in it for the long haul.<div><br /></div><div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Half: </span>1:30:01. Alright. We're in business. Still not feeling good, but not feeling terrible. I'm thinking I am looking good. My hammy pain goes away somewhere in the last stretch. I also accidentally look at my HR on the Garmin here. I had made it a point to not look at it but I slipped up. The damaging news: 182 - 91% of max. Too high for the halfway point and 11bpm higher than last year at the half. Surely, it's mostly heat related, as the difference in temperature was about 40 degrees. I rationalize that I can still be okay if it goes up 1 beat per mile over the next 10 miles, putting me at 192 at mile 23. Pretty good and logical thinking, eh? I don't look at my HR again.<br /><br />I didn't realize it at the time, but Josh started about 15 seconds behind me and in the B Corral, so he hits the half under 1:30. And he's working off a 3:15 PR.<br /><br />I tell people the Chicago Marathon really begins at the halfway point. The first half is a party and there are people everywhere. The second half has some good stretches - namely Chinatown and Pilsen - but combine fatigue along with the lack crowds and the going gets tough. The killer this past Sunday would prove to be the sun and heat beating down on us in the second half.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miles 14-16</span><br />6:48, 6:55, 6:55<br />Good enough, I suppose. Starting to feel it in mile 16. Take the second Gu at Mile 14. Original plan was to take it at 15, but I am re-thinking everything at this point because I am still not feeling great. Take down the Roctane and motor on. In mile 16, I can see and hear a guy playing "Scotland the Brave" on bagpipes all by himself on the south side of the street. And right next to him is the first time I notice a yellow flag. I think a little part of me died. He may as well have been playing "Taps." Things really start getting tougher. Now I just tell myself, just hold the pace until 25 and I'll figure out how to bring it home. Yes, I was telling myself to hold the pace for 9 more miles. The best part about me telling myself this is that I really believed this was possible. Honestly, I really did. I am downing gatorade and water as much as I can and have continued pouring it over my head quite liberally. Deep down, I am thinking I really have a chance to do this despite A) not feeling I am at my best and B) the frickin' weather. I am basically putting my balls on the table and trying to steal a sub3.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Miles 17-20<br /></span>6:51, 6:55, 6:43, 6:54<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Still holding it<span style="font-weight: bold;">. </span> A spectator hands Josh a bottle of water. I ask him for a pull if he's not going to drink it all. He says sure and and the guy on my right also asks for a pull. We play pass the bottle and I give it back to Josh. I had originally planned to take the 3rd Roctane at 21. I opted to take the free Accelgel I grabbed at 19 and save the last Roctane for the 22 or so. It was a hot vanilla mess. Holy Lord. It stung my throat. Gross.<br /><br />I also pass my friend John King here. He was in front of me for the whole race, but things started going south for him a couple miles prior. I hated seeing that. I tried to pump him up a little bit, but he said his legs were "not good." I think I also told him I was going for it, even if I had to crap myself. Thinking very soundly here, obviously.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Miles 21 and 22</span><br />6:55, 6:52<br />Inching ever so closer to that 25 mile mark, but I am not sure how much longer I can keep at it. At 21, I keep telling myself, "You can do it, just get to 25." I reach the Zab for Mayor crew at 21.5 in Chinatown. I get a boost from them and tell myself, "It's there if you want it. How bad do you want it? Keep digging deep." I refuse to think that I can't get this sub3 even though I know I am running out of gas. I'll give up when my body gives out on me.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9c06eI2_KVWYa9Qhiwhhhf5hOiToHWuCTeDPCgRxwRH5PodEjfpziFflJVfjvtMqhsVvJE91qAlkBAj1nOPUK5SKtry0AbQwbcFsa0Yhgl_LXBFEzr_zQ0Z25cQKdoJffjm6mqhzpsU/s1600/IMG_4511.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9c06eI2_KVWYa9Qhiwhhhf5hOiToHWuCTeDPCgRxwRH5PodEjfpziFflJVfjvtMqhsVvJE91qAlkBAj1nOPUK5SKtry0AbQwbcFsa0Yhgl_LXBFEzr_zQ0Z25cQKdoJffjm6mqhzpsU/s400/IMG_4511.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527713963223197218" border="0" /></a><br />Kameron, Jaime, Mike, Uncle Paul and Lynn<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoU32C_6OXna1eVi_MIb9ZxlMCSKsuxg96iLGPEh2h-Rq6_tJIgFmINygxvCtfKtDoJX5HwyLs8GpPatKOPLymywLfSvBi_xV5FIR3bsHRt3EFentXgB3OqIkQzdseRS_RvLyvTpEaxgM/s1600/IMG_4516.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoU32C_6OXna1eVi_MIb9ZxlMCSKsuxg96iLGPEh2h-Rq6_tJIgFmINygxvCtfKtDoJX5HwyLs8GpPatKOPLymywLfSvBi_xV5FIR3bsHRt3EFentXgB3OqIkQzdseRS_RvLyvTpEaxgM/s400/IMG_4516.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527713965233533426" border="0" /></a><br />Making the turn at Chinatown (Josh is still on my left, in the top picture and on the right in the bottom picture)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToLIFLZMG8IYEStYUCu99U6acbXRblOhuI6zbN0IK8VEjqXOVMb1zMR4z_h_4fUSQ3a2du-Ye3DppDhfyJNPfW43ETHr2w_TRXRpEpZOatXk37hlThwkERyf67u4tJ7HiSioT_IpzKtk/s1600/Exiting+ChinatownR.bmp"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToLIFLZMG8IYEStYUCu99U6acbXRblOhuI6zbN0IK8VEjqXOVMb1zMR4z_h_4fUSQ3a2du-Ye3DppDhfyJNPfW43ETHr2w_TRXRpEpZOatXk37hlThwkERyf67u4tJ7HiSioT_IpzKtk/s400/Exiting+ChinatownR.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527704320540086242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mile 23 </span><br />7:11<br />Damn. There we go. Gut check time. Josh pulls ahead of me for good. The gut is there, but the legs aren't. Hip flexors are feeling it, as are the quads. Try to dig down and get into the 6's on last time for mile 24, but...<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mile 24</span><br />7:40<br />it's not happening. I feel like crap. Contemplating stopping for a walk. I don't give in though and keep my feet moving. I can feel blisters at the base of each big toe on the bottom of my foot. I have never had a blister there before, let alone on both feet.<br /><br />In my Boston race report, I referenced the point of the race when your goal no longer becomes attainable. It's damage control, it's hard to accept and it's a struggle. And I knew there were tons of people out there tracking me and pulling for me. I didn't get mad. Or sad. I didn't have to fight back tears. I knew this was always a possibility and I now knew I wasn't going to do it, I just wanted it over. And in a moment of weakness and frustration, I tell myself I am done running marathons.<br /><br />I also find myself behind a woman who has, um, messed herself. And it smells like it too. And it's all over her legs. But it's not stopping her. I do my best to get in front of her but can't. I am smelling the scent of her shit for the better part of the last three miles. I absolutely have no problem with someone crapping themselves. I now know that I'd rather not run behind them.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miles 25 and 26</span><br />8:04, 8:00<br />Just shoot me. Not much else to say here. Not feeling good at all. Hot and not running very strong. Still dumping and drinking water and gatorade for the duration of the aid stations. Still considering walking. Even though I am drinking 2-3 cups of water at each station, I am feeling like I want more as soon as I depart the end of the aid station. My math skills are terrible at best and I don't care what my time is, I just want it over. And I tell myself a few more times that I am done running marathons.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The last .22<br /></span>1.29<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Somewhere at either the last 800 or 400 meters to go (I don't really remember), I try to get the legs going to still snatch a PR. It works - briefly. I hit the gas over the Roosevelt Bridge and and hit the last left turn hard. With about 0.1 to go, I get my first ever race cramp, right where the hamstring goes into the butt in my left leg. I change my stride a bit to go with more of a glide, keeping my left foot much lower to the ground. It subsides the cramp and I use that technique for most of the rest of the way in.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Final time</span><br />3:03:36, a PR by 5 seconds. 830th place overall. 1:30:01/1:33:35 split<br />182 Average Heart Rate - numbers by mile (1-13):<br />165/170/167/172/173/174/174/176/177/178/180/180/182<br />(Miles 14-26)<br />181/180/181/183/185/188/189/190/193/193/191/186/185<br />The last .2 - 197AHR, peaking at 198.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_D0oq_zmE5NSCS_fgEWkRBnAlTwMSL95P8vHXwAZF-qyVrtPgJ5Ab8l-tayZViLtZeh2Y24ebq96OjPfl3dnaCXz3Z547tHyWmPmJgUBJdVs5wlsl0rbtWsf2jwiwQEFaJsQviruQg4w/s1600/Finishing+shot150.bmp"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_D0oq_zmE5NSCS_fgEWkRBnAlTwMSL95P8vHXwAZF-qyVrtPgJ5Ab8l-tayZViLtZeh2Y24ebq96OjPfl3dnaCXz3Z547tHyWmPmJgUBJdVs5wlsl0rbtWsf2jwiwQEFaJsQviruQg4w/s400/Finishing+shot150.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527702494785113506" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thoughts</span><br />There's no question I went for it and hung on as long as I could. I think given the conditions and that I wasn't ever really feeling it, I gave it a hell of a shot. Balls on the Table? Abso-frickin-lutely. I don't regret this strategy for a second. I honestly didn't care about my time if it wasn't a 2:59:XX or better. The fact that I PRed is gravy. After looking at the numbers, I can see that needing to run 16 marathon-paced miles at a HR of 90% of max or higher is pretty ridiculous. That's basically what I was attempting to do from mile 10 on. For a reference point, my AHR last year during this race was 173.<br /><br />I can't thank my wife Tiffany enough for all of the awesome things she did for me throughout training as I'd meet up with random friends to go running, run at odd times and I had her full support through the whole thing. It culminated with the amazing "Zab for Mayor" signs, buttons and perhaps best of all, Isla's shirt. I love you, TK.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDtTkbOWkkjt9ui1dNOw37AsXcGSuzj_w2tl-tHarVnixirlFSvBYDg2terq8GQvUmN52JrEI45SWiNlJ86ucmG2gtJO9FoF4XsDpeGONxGpEo2JIQRKGBuVtQu-6KIlgC2Oe0b2WPdk/s1600/IMG_4527.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDtTkbOWkkjt9ui1dNOw37AsXcGSuzj_w2tl-tHarVnixirlFSvBYDg2terq8GQvUmN52JrEI45SWiNlJ86ucmG2gtJO9FoF4XsDpeGONxGpEo2JIQRKGBuVtQu-6KIlgC2Oe0b2WPdk/s400/IMG_4527.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527718598159347410" border="0" /></a><br />Me, Tiffany and Isla<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvrbMk3SST9lZP1ppWM64BV27XeGdQOKIYXTH5x7EPkIWy4K1RGZA_u4mrM5Y7EIaPZuIPoCgdVktfA7qa0w6xQqpKDi94vnl62baiGnG3tRJ6TRRoiMby0gYMk-5Iot2YCOWZrvGGpo/s1600/105.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvrbMk3SST9lZP1ppWM64BV27XeGdQOKIYXTH5x7EPkIWy4K1RGZA_u4mrM5Y7EIaPZuIPoCgdVktfA7qa0w6xQqpKDi94vnl62baiGnG3tRJ6TRRoiMby0gYMk-5Iot2YCOWZrvGGpo/s400/105.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527717607167301746" border="0" /></a><br />Isla and me<br /><br />I had an amazing support crew out there for me on race day. A big thank you goes out all of you (Tiffany, Isla, Uncle Paul, Christine, Elliot, Elaine, Phil, Geovana, Mike, Lynn, Jaime, Kameron, Jenna, Cadence, the Fanaros) for coming out and supporting both Michael and me. I really appreciate it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1GTjJWESw3wp3ztZFSmaHlKOKWYR9pa_DZZG0sEEUg8_HIZb6x5FKPZWqkbKrh8LLTPYUIXfkDa0URNESh6xsNvToN8fjwqe9Hccw05Sr08_t5RWsoaxV6wSE7D_qA4qyAofWoktG7A/s1600/IMG_4529.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1GTjJWESw3wp3ztZFSmaHlKOKWYR9pa_DZZG0sEEUg8_HIZb6x5FKPZWqkbKrh8LLTPYUIXfkDa0URNESh6xsNvToN8fjwqe9Hccw05Sr08_t5RWsoaxV6wSE7D_qA4qyAofWoktG7A/s400/IMG_4529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527717590311625970" border="0" /></a><br />The crew (minus Lynn, the photographer)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVrld_ff2zSaXvYUjRmd_Pb0PkLnE2VQxqHq1TL4j7Pou72g8pEdovx9vHqJ0Wswu9UlUcCn7lL5Mr1dgQcU580zOVzr4Jq_3l4xHR7hL9cw49V1C_uRfzMUCIegzOFuIe9ep_YecGM4/s1600/IMG_4522.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVrld_ff2zSaXvYUjRmd_Pb0PkLnE2VQxqHq1TL4j7Pou72g8pEdovx9vHqJ0Wswu9UlUcCn7lL5Mr1dgQcU580zOVzr4Jq_3l4xHR7hL9cw49V1C_uRfzMUCIegzOFuIe9ep_YecGM4/s400/IMG_4522.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527713974539479666" border="0" /></a><br />Isla, Kameron and Cadence<br /><br />And a big thanks goes out to my friends both of the running and non-running variety for your support, advice and insight in helping me try to reach my goal. It was great to get to see many of you again. There's never enough time around these race weekends to see everyone. I have made so many running friends over the last couple of years, it really makes for a great time.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'd also like to thank all of people who tracked me and were watching me try to bring home the sub3. I could feel you rooting me on as the miles ticked by. I also know the text alert system was again a bust for most people. The people at the Chicago Marathon should really try to fix that.<br /><br />As far as the future, I haven't decided what will be next. I had really hoped this was going to be the sub 3 so I could back it down for a bit. But since it wasn't, I am bouncing a few things off of Tiffany to see what makes the most sense for us...and if it's worth it to keep chasing the sub3 dream. Right now I am 0-2 in my attempts. We shall see. 1-3 is a .333 average and that pretty much puts you on the all-star team in baseball.<br /><br />A few side notes on the others involved in the race report: Michael finished his first marathon in 4:11, Josh incredibly brought home the bacon with a 2:59, Nick ran a 3:05, Chad finished in 3:09 and John in 3:10. All of them were very impressive efforts and I am very proud of all of them. I could keep listing my friends times but that would take another 3-4 paragraphs.<br /><br />Thanks for reading.<br /><br />Here are a few pics from dinner after the marathon. I should note, I was absent from the group shot so you will not see it here. Thanks to the others: Chris, Chris, Stevi and Carl.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRS52rKTA5NtiuH8EsumkzORs61pQa-P7eSRTPKdLD5DAxG6dDbkD7qzQRj7_p0aYfWKPh4Qqudc882YILWk_zteF_Bxw-wxrC8YFcweS3R-ulnxq7U6uet1cjwDI2dbBdwNxcaN3Cm0/s1600/IMG_4541.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRS52rKTA5NtiuH8EsumkzORs61pQa-P7eSRTPKdLD5DAxG6dDbkD7qzQRj7_p0aYfWKPh4Qqudc882YILWk_zteF_Bxw-wxrC8YFcweS3R-ulnxq7U6uet1cjwDI2dbBdwNxcaN3Cm0/s400/IMG_4541.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527717612978857618" border="0" /></a><br />Isla<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1l9cSvRLXpEIOWqX1is51yFhHuF5JGjRKFASE74x7Ssw4RdrCRmNCfNZKea6cIp7KU78MiqXlGZ-A_jQ4FtxV0Go8nV5B3b2a7oIjupHPbPV0R2rzO4d3xyqqM7AT4eWhyphenhyphenifGNCMhzY/s1600/IMG_4554.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1l9cSvRLXpEIOWqX1is51yFhHuF5JGjRKFASE74x7Ssw4RdrCRmNCfNZKea6cIp7KU78MiqXlGZ-A_jQ4FtxV0Go8nV5B3b2a7oIjupHPbPV0R2rzO4d3xyqqM7AT4eWhyphenhyphenifGNCMhzY/s400/IMG_4554.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527718597192277986" border="0" /></a><br />Me and Nick<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IJQkxmw43ID_P3lxOh9wq7x26dctoyDmpVMqAt2C33bBuZHynVY1zlrjVAnqL_g1nPTqydTaQHuwOI8AMA8uvd8At927OC7o2_y_H274L9Ss15jvn9LUcxOJ1XYvQAJ40r-oHD0APBw/s1600/IMG_4553.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IJQkxmw43ID_P3lxOh9wq7x26dctoyDmpVMqAt2C33bBuZHynVY1zlrjVAnqL_g1nPTqydTaQHuwOI8AMA8uvd8At927OC7o2_y_H274L9Ss15jvn9LUcxOJ1XYvQAJ40r-oHD0APBw/s400/IMG_4553.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527718592663612994" border="0" /></a><br />Amy and me<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgOIgv25TYaq6E754sVseDSolmlSVpKs1HTiL0npBe0Ss0E-MdfYFQbrCNR9UCcJBGuqQaswAXv7nVHpxfDTbiUEiCxAgUTbG59l5reQ2wrkRjRz5l5vWkwYwWWJeRWVwKD_Pib4l-aw/s1600/IMG_4552.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJgOIgv25TYaq6E754sVseDSolmlSVpKs1HTiL0npBe0Ss0E-MdfYFQbrCNR9UCcJBGuqQaswAXv7nVHpxfDTbiUEiCxAgUTbG59l5reQ2wrkRjRz5l5vWkwYwWWJeRWVwKD_Pib4l-aw/s400/IMG_4552.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527718580999483730" border="0" /></a><br />Ron, Matthew and me<br /><br /></div>screaminzabhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519702001471982826noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251799024759705199.post-56707790845673240932010-10-09T22:20:00.006-05:002010-10-09T22:57:22.609-05:00I Need Your Vote!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXqzbbmy3Gy-9R5BmErcOF83IDscjnCgiMHa8v0_an-8S0K24ugQgEF20Buc3r_1Hr-haR7uwbGxpRxU47vdiFKi0M56H0cGCjPLR-XfuK7W63RZuMspR-f6zZIzpTqAycORSERp1GNU/s1600/ZabforMayor.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXqzbbmy3Gy-9R5BmErcOF83IDscjnCgiMHa8v0_an-8S0K24ugQgEF20Buc3r_1Hr-haR7uwbGxpRxU47vdiFKi0M56H0cGCjPLR-XfuK7W63RZuMspR-f6zZIzpTqAycORSERp1GNU/s400/ZabforMayor.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526252161101104418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYxKA9f4bhZNsvJ4uSkKgTsOHGMhugZgqJqoeu-fg7YDM5BlnyJ9kOKAnMi2LtF3_88WnQxeejIZsOqk6cCjZoJzakAAVZxzVaUK1iUuZ9_7t9_pQMUqWLuxdz1Bs4OFf5cnJ5QxbBOc/s1600/IMG_4467.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYxKA9f4bhZNsvJ4uSkKgTsOHGMhugZgqJqoeu-fg7YDM5BlnyJ9kOKAnMi2LtF3_88WnQxeejIZsOqk6cCjZoJzakAAVZxzVaUK1iUuZ9_7t9_pQMUqWLuxdz1Bs4OFf5cnJ5QxbBOc/s400/IMG_4467.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526258810569720610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQHYQZ_4Qfclth2fKNLdoZrmngAMWeAWpACtFP6RxaSjsLuZUyIjQmF4pVsFbGHNzDH3iOjK3PITE-OYtSDFv6EhbeTajOx0HMIOeTIEEFL9KKzNDekGSkQ5LSTOzVqq09uCw7EiksMEI/s1600/IMG_4459.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQHYQZ_4Qfclth2fKNLdoZrmngAMWeAWpACtFP6RxaSjsLuZUyIjQmF4pVsFbGHNzDH3iOjK3PITE-OYtSDFv6EhbeTajOx0HMIOeTIEEFL9KKzNDekGSkQ5LSTOzVqq09uCw7EiksMEI/s400/IMG_4459.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526258801228133378" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXqzbbmy3Gy-9R5BmErcOF83IDscjnCgiMHa8v0_an-8S0K24ugQgEF20Buc3r_1Hr-haR7uwbGxpRxU47vdiFKi0M56H0cGCjPLR-XfuK7W63RZuMspR-f6zZIzpTqAycORSERp1GNU/s1600/ZabforMayor.JPG"><br /></a>screaminzabhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519702001471982826noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251799024759705199.post-37650363699600769682010-09-24T22:45:00.001-05:002010-09-24T22:51:21.544-05:00The ShirtBack in 2004, I ran my first marathon. Someone told me to put my name on my shirt so the good people of Chicago could root for me as I ran by them. Since then, I have put something on my shirt for the crowd to respond to in some form or fashion. Some funny, some not so much, some idiotic, some borderline vulgar and of course, the 2008 and 2009 Running for Cru logos. Here's a look back at the shirts of yesterday.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />2004 Chicago</span><br />Front- Oregon, back - Zabfontaine<br />The photo is taken from mile 22 or so, chugging my way through Chinatown. Note the Zab headband.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1EG6kfOK6jmmbSe8e_unN6uYv372ahRxnjJGlwnZSPNaC_frc4a_tkkU-xI97cCsKBSV1RtW4n7V_965gNLo5CzB19R3qJ6r9BZnSWw_y9j_3m7mQJ_0Hw14wpS7jyVB0i-Yc4A067dE/s1600/pk2004Chinatown.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1EG6kfOK6jmmbSe8e_unN6uYv372ahRxnjJGlwnZSPNaC_frc4a_tkkU-xI97cCsKBSV1RtW4n7V_965gNLo5CzB19R3qJ6r9BZnSWw_y9j_3m7mQJ_0Hw14wpS7jyVB0i-Yc4A067dE/s400/pk2004Chinatown.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519812079454121394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />2005 Green Bay</span><br />Front- Chicago, Back- Ditka<br />I had bib number 189. What better way to celebrate former Bear great and number 89 Da Coach, Mike Ditka.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg513HFKYzsacw3n0GqB9QAamMF6FUJ24SKhxCI2mWuC1-WxLNdaWm4IdYJCwbeC9VnoN5hRmykAthaxsHDphjHaEdBpnMooHsoomwFG39qOBFlVc67istAzudwPrZk86hro9IFRptFjow/s1600/GB.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg513HFKYzsacw3n0GqB9QAamMF6FUJ24SKhxCI2mWuC1-WxLNdaWm4IdYJCwbeC9VnoN5hRmykAthaxsHDphjHaEdBpnMooHsoomwFG39qOBFlVc67istAzudwPrZk86hro9IFRptFjow/s400/GB.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520659063623252050" border="0" /></a><br />(L to R: Nick, me, Michael)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2005 Chicago</span><br />Front - Moustache Love, Back - Zab<br />I worked a pretty terrible moustache. Not that there is such a thing as a good moustache, even if you prefer to spell it mustache.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwehm8_ij3nIvtBAIhMChFRl-xaRXW51S3TXwCdwxAw-fHrTxFh3MtdG7x0cb-yLRY9KmzWeYaq3Q7THBDV_lCvnwSy6c9G1q3lHgwSlj2NLdDpjzPTClAPmxhzN6SfwWFDhDnKjaFqM/s1600/IMG_0019.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwehm8_ij3nIvtBAIhMChFRl-xaRXW51S3TXwCdwxAw-fHrTxFh3MtdG7x0cb-yLRY9KmzWeYaq3Q7THBDV_lCvnwSy6c9G1q3lHgwSlj2NLdDpjzPTClAPmxhzN6SfwWFDhDnKjaFqM/s400/IMG_0019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520659960564978482" border="0" /></a><br />Me and Tiffany, with a Jerry Austin sighting in the rear<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />2005 Las Vegas</span><br />Front - RIP Mr. Miyagi, Back - Zab<br />This may have been the biggest stretch of all the shirts. Miyagi was a Vegas native and died a day or two before the marathon. I'm including two pics because the second shot has always been one of my favorites. Tiffany took it in the last .2 miles of the marathon.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbzWw_wm-dvV7oquPdANIBc7JTTxGRXcosMkQKThddzRmWiHq0FxDRGGc2OzAagbZTiGv-VaueKAC8i0HPOThPGTO1E2UScL9Q9Gbvk_QgrACaaq6BUIUEynf1JQpQwrsKeNuTT5L6r4/s1600/IMG_0216.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbzWw_wm-dvV7oquPdANIBc7JTTxGRXcosMkQKThddzRmWiHq0FxDRGGc2OzAagbZTiGv-VaueKAC8i0HPOThPGTO1E2UScL9Q9Gbvk_QgrACaaq6BUIUEynf1JQpQwrsKeNuTT5L6r4/s400/IMG_0216.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520662604977300466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_HrY3_PPRd4MMrnGF-KSmneuY5nMsI2srZHrxGUv5gOCM_HOh_Fym4WheoZQMBJziWl7qiF_As8TeWocy1qZZkwzpkEUib1c96uCT3TFKiXbZM93VvlkgNuj6Q2KJYSNp5vkwK96uII/s1600/IMG_0223.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_HrY3_PPRd4MMrnGF-KSmneuY5nMsI2srZHrxGUv5gOCM_HOh_Fym4WheoZQMBJziWl7qiF_As8TeWocy1qZZkwzpkEUib1c96uCT3TFKiXbZM93VvlkgNuj6Q2KJYSNp5vkwK96uII/s400/IMG_0223.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520663216092758946" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />2006 Chicago</span><br />Front: Pants Party, Back: C. Monday<br />Do I really need to explain what "Pants Party" means?<br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZKgurjb8TCs?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZKgurjb8TCs?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />As for Carl Monday, click <a href="http://deadspin.com/5632853/deadspin-classic-the-most-brilliant-thing-youll-see-all-day">here</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Monday">here</a> to find out about him. This shirt also lead to <a href="http://deadspin.com/210021/get-away-from-me-marathoners">this</a> story on Deadspin about me.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyBZmyS8oAQFZizAZIAH1w64Ruj__6njTV7zeMjUMB-BUaI1ne2jpegjoGw7pIn53qOy6kQn4QLn5D1hmzqijMtPoQBy3nP6D1ztvr5GO4Tkkos5uNC85GJiOSPapK1Ba3Xt2N6jLxJQ/s1600/IMG_1756.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyBZmyS8oAQFZizAZIAH1w64Ruj__6njTV7zeMjUMB-BUaI1ne2jpegjoGw7pIn53qOy6kQn4QLn5D1hmzqijMtPoQBy3nP6D1ztvr5GO4Tkkos5uNC85GJiOSPapK1Ba3Xt2N6jLxJQ/s400/IMG_1756.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520664441003711138" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2007 Chicago</span><br />Front: Cock of the Walk, Back: G. Frenkle<br />This marathon sucked. It was damn hot. Damn. Hot. But this shirt was...awesome. For my money, this was one of the <a href="http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/719364/">best SNL skits ever</a>.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVRM8rU2OC3RDn45CfaaBhyphenhyphenVgenx19a4_7reGJBaWrhfabF-TSoi8oV773G_NocirCpTzceUInHflQvf-Vkr3m4iay0UEtq1THOdM9Neunh-O2yMHIDWXnOcLd55kS1oXqiDt8bEtQtQ/s1600/icepackcrop.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 355px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVRM8rU2OC3RDn45CfaaBhyphenhyphenVgenx19a4_7reGJBaWrhfabF-TSoi8oV773G_NocirCpTzceUInHflQvf-Vkr3m4iay0UEtq1THOdM9Neunh-O2yMHIDWXnOcLd55kS1oXqiDt8bEtQtQ/s400/icepackcrop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520668802850571458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2008 Chicago</span><br />Front: Running for Cru logo, Back: CURESMA.ORG<br />Amazing. If you are newer to this blog or my previous blog, please check <a href="http://runningforcru.blogspot.com/2009/07/story-behind-running-for-cru.html">this</a> out. To make a long story short, my boss and friend lost his infant baby boy Cru to SMA in September of 2008. In about 4 months, we were able to raise over $33,000 for the Families of SMA organization.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgXwwAF55VvUaMTqu-fkNTwdEFJggcUPI92BDvJOHAJ3ZxbvelvaVijhD5ahSAK8D66YLf7W9lTMo3S-LEJuOTMhwrg6OrjnGN-XVlu9e43Y_gJJLvMc5QrToUOwnSmqLgbB97oe38pw/s1600/10_12+031.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPgXwwAF55VvUaMTqu-fkNTwdEFJggcUPI92BDvJOHAJ3ZxbvelvaVijhD5ahSAK8D66YLf7W9lTMo3S-LEJuOTMhwrg6OrjnGN-XVlu9e43Y_gJJLvMc5QrToUOwnSmqLgbB97oe38pw/s400/10_12+031.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520680568921865490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEH9KU4aIfjh9NNeFLUJzuWgTPlcL37D0Fh83KZ4TxrKc53yPd0kcmq4O1qdiS5CtANvvnDv6CeuQjyl6rY_I8boDgnKHxLItvTBof_IIu1KGQz6_pAAwg0qqii-whGY21LyHHEIEpt4Y/s1600/10_12+034.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEH9KU4aIfjh9NNeFLUJzuWgTPlcL37D0Fh83KZ4TxrKc53yPd0kcmq4O1qdiS5CtANvvnDv6CeuQjyl6rY_I8boDgnKHxLItvTBof_IIu1KGQz6_pAAwg0qqii-whGY21LyHHEIEpt4Y/s400/10_12+034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520680563212435410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2009 Chicago</span><br />Front: Running for Cru logo, Back: Zab<br />Same set up as 2008. We raised over $9,000 in 2009. And I ran a 3:05 and qualified for Boston. Greatest race of my life.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIB1qxgpTjpghE1qXeMddVsqcdyuvLgFvJ8-BZ8BbZVPZYwBUbQdNsxzJScnCePztzZSdgJttmObA9eFi0e7JJOfeLRlnMqC9bIoqsW-tz2g5NsyzNk2Goq2gDgI6oqfm_MkifDwYHho/s1600/1+018.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZIB1qxgpTjpghE1qXeMddVsqcdyuvLgFvJ8-BZ8BbZVPZYwBUbQdNsxzJScnCePztzZSdgJttmObA9eFi0e7JJOfeLRlnMqC9bIoqsW-tz2g5NsyzNk2Goq2gDgI6oqfm_MkifDwYHho/s400/1+018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520683884438718610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6moljbTGFlNP_EHgTICh4LMbhN7cF7l1HMN9BYUcbUG5HTWrZ_dRWs_t7skaFbqrUcMM4n2ARfjNGwvHTIulF37aM47bT8GUW4kaM4pbIJGh1UFAsZH3gJ39fhmMXCIPKjYmS3LxD2U/s1600/1+045.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6moljbTGFlNP_EHgTICh4LMbhN7cF7l1HMN9BYUcbUG5HTWrZ_dRWs_t7skaFbqrUcMM4n2ARfjNGwvHTIulF37aM47bT8GUW4kaM4pbIJGh1UFAsZH3gJ39fhmMXCIPKjYmS3LxD2U/s400/1+045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520683898171220578" border="0" /></a><br />My friend Chad and me blazing through Chinatown<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2010 Boston</span><br />Front: Balls on the Table, Back: Zab<br />Nothing like going for sub 3 at the historic Boston Marathon. Great shirt. Great arm warmers. Great effort, but it wasn't enough as I brought home a 3:03.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLR-uQ_GjzFwwa9QCpiqM2Qyk-NCPK5q56xjnN5ZKkjtiQkGmdZW2zEEt7b89JWb7qdvxmM1MsOYID2t0kgGbfTImWhqrmiXVDAUu-HNVAEUMtpfCwjDNsmffHajHZbwzYnier1xvTFs/s1600/IMG_2727.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLR-uQ_GjzFwwa9QCpiqM2Qyk-NCPK5q56xjnN5ZKkjtiQkGmdZW2zEEt7b89JWb7qdvxmM1MsOYID2t0kgGbfTImWhqrmiXVDAUu-HNVAEUMtpfCwjDNsmffHajHZbwzYnier1xvTFs/s400/IMG_2727.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520689178083350434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkWTKBQyaD14SUx92cXA5rJUr6Ri5ZlT_UvTAy8PGdlYm88lAi0xJ6-mrouyPG2lFQ_VY7y9pkiTPpdQhLNlpF-LseZ7mm7OC9ii-32cm2ToI1sOV98tCS8rb3ryXq7oCvfw2z5lRI4s/s1600/IMG_2728.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkWTKBQyaD14SUx92cXA5rJUr6Ri5ZlT_UvTAy8PGdlYm88lAi0xJ6-mrouyPG2lFQ_VY7y9pkiTPpdQhLNlpF-LseZ7mm7OC9ii-32cm2ToI1sOV98tCS8rb3ryXq7oCvfw2z5lRI4s/s400/IMG_2728.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520690034983209794" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89zg-1gFTofb7ZxSTJ8TzOUVbKtJMPkWDuU5PJ0NGrjomCFlZVlUv43i81ErmECmh8DOt8ubKSpeeg13JbFhksbsGomcNVAPguwo5OqYlH-5bcpUnSXs2QZXyxw8oiqhXZ8m2LXzHJx0/s1600/boston.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89zg-1gFTofb7ZxSTJ8TzOUVbKtJMPkWDuU5PJ0NGrjomCFlZVlUv43i81ErmECmh8DOt8ubKSpeeg13JbFhksbsGomcNVAPguwo5OqYlH-5bcpUnSXs2QZXyxw8oiqhXZ8m2LXzHJx0/s400/boston.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520690025861000706" border="0" /></a><br />The last shot is somewhere around mile 22 if I recall correctly. My mind and legs were both fried at that point.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2010 Chicago</span><br />TBD<br /><br />I have a pretty good idea what this year's shirt will say, thanks to the brainstorming power duo of Tiffany and Mary Cantu. It's not set in stone, but it's going to be pretty damn tough to beat. I usually finalize and create the shirt a couple days before the race, so a dark horse candidate could still sneak in. Be sure to check back in regularly over the next two weeks. I'll do my best to get a few more posts up here.screaminzabhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519702001471982826noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251799024759705199.post-35810738416568922682010-09-08T21:58:00.003-05:002010-09-08T22:04:36.364-05:00Back In the Saddle Again<style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]-->After the shit show that was the Champions 10K two weeks ago, I was more than ready to race again to see where I was and am at this past Sunday. I'd be lying if I said a little doubt hadn't crept into my head. I just wasn't sure if I had gotten much faster since <st1:city st="on"><st1:city st="on">Chicago</st1:city></st1:city> last October and then <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Boston</st1:place></st1:city></st1:place></st1:city> this past April.<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></p> <st1:city st="on"></st1:city> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">I've been working as hard and running my tempo runs at a faster pace, but until you actually get a chance to see some results, it's really hard to tell. And my bombing of the 10K (although some of it was out of my control) didn't leave me with a ton of confidence that I was going to smoke the Peapod Batavia Half Marathon.<br /><br />I really needed to see a better time than when I ran the 1:26:57 in the Tom King Classic back in March. I thought I could run somewhere in the 1:25's. My strategy was to run in the mid 6:30's for mile 1 as there was a decent uphill right at the start. Then I'd go for low 6:30s for 2 and 3, pick up a little time in mile 4 as there was a sharp downhill stretch. Mile 5 was supposed to be in the low 6:30's. I'd give a little time back (6:40ish) in miles 6 and 7 as it was a steady climb of nearly 300 feet through mile 7.25 or so. After that, try to get as close to 6:30 as possible as I hammer the downhills and handle the rollers as best as I could. I also decided to not look at my HR monitor at all and just run. The night before, Tiffany told me she felt really good about my race and may have even mentioned a 1:24.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Michael, Jenna and I headed out west to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Batavia</st1:place></st1:city> just after 5AM and met up with my friend Charlie, who was kind enough to pick up our packets on Saturday. It was somewhere in the 40's at the start of the race, so it couldn't have been much better. I even broke out the argyle arm warmers that I wore in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Boston</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGg0T1nTsGREzwJsG8RiIoFz98pt2XJrH0tQ_-2ED68ylvuONWElr0oLmFEjNG56Hy075oRaCGUAf50Qnvvx_QoGygProWVbSJrQCBpL4r65cXW7fpTZL-spIvZbb7_iLd-I3iYHsz44/s1600/Charlie,+Paul,+Michael.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGg0T1nTsGREzwJsG8RiIoFz98pt2XJrH0tQ_-2ED68ylvuONWElr0oLmFEjNG56Hy075oRaCGUAf50Qnvvx_QoGygProWVbSJrQCBpL4r65cXW7fpTZL-spIvZbb7_iLd-I3iYHsz44/s400/Charlie,+Paul,+Michael.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514744117706346370" border="0" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">LtoR: Charlie, me, Michael before the race<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">We headed over to the start area shortly after putting our bibs and chips on. Michael and I got in a couple very easy warm-up miles and before you knew it, it was time to start the race. He had to make a quick run to the bathroom so I didn't see him again until he finished. Charlie found me in the corral and we wished each other luck and the horn went off a few seconds after that.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Mile 1: 6:38. Felt okay. I knew the hill right off the bat would be an interesting twist. I was fine with the time as I was trying to just get into a groove and find that sweet spot in the low 6:30's.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Mile 2: 6:38. Alright, I'm having trouble working the pace down to where I want it to be. The thought of a repeat of the Tom King Classic is now going through my head as I could never get out of the 6:38-6:40 range for most of the race. I was trying to find a guy to pace off and think I have one. He's wearing a long sleeve red shirt. I follow him.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Mile 3: 6:29. Nailed it. Feeling good and didn't feel like I had to work too much harder as I was hanging about 5 yards behind the guy in the red shirt. I also realize I need to start having fun when I'm racing. I was too tight and serious and loosened up with some waves and smiles to some of the crowd.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Mile 4: 6:38. Crap. Back at 6:38. I knew the upcoming mile featured a brief downhill screamer that I could try to have carry me through the mile.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Mile 5: 6:17. Giddy up. The downhill was steeper than I thought. I used that momentum for as long as I could. The red-shirted guy has pulled away and I latched onto another guy, this guy a little older and balding.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Mile 6: 6:29. (measured .98) I chat a little bit with the guy as we start the ascent up. We run into a couple other friends of his (one guy and a girl) and we all run part of 6 and all of 7 together. Take a GU here. Originally planned to take it at 5, but there wasn't water until 6.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Mile 7: 7:00 (measured 1.05) Oh boy. I knew it was a little slower as I could definitely feel it, but was really surprised to see the 7:00. I didn't feel gassed at this point, so I stayed positive and was ready to hit a solid mile 8 knowing the uphill climb was over.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Mile 8: 6:22. Nice. The girl drops off and the three of us start spacing out a bit, with the bald guy on my hip. A gentle descent here helps.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Mile 9: 6:28. There we go. Bald guy and the other dude are right with me and we're passing a few other runners.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Mile 10: 6:36. Damn. This featured another approximate 100 foot climb, followed by a 100 foot drop. Starting to feel it just a bit. Take the second GU, as I am starting to sense the water stops are every other mile and taking it at 12 would have been too late. Only took me 10 miles to figure it out. Bald guy passes me and I stay just a few yards behind him.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Mile 11: 6:28. There we go. Starting to try to do some math to see what my time could be. Definitely working harder. Bald guy opens up a 10 yard lead or so.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Mile 12: 6:27. Starting to run out of steam. Pass some guys fishing on the river. One of them is smoking. I yell to him, "Don't smoke right there!" as I run by. Nothing feels better than inhaling some second hand smoke in the 12th mile of a half marathon. Maybe mile 25 of a full?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Mile 13: 6:30. Starting to have a hard time getting the legs to turnover and I'm breathing like a 300 pound man doing a stress test chasing a double cheeseburger on a string that's a foot out of reach. I focus on my breathing most of the mile and hold it together as best as I can.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">The last .12: 0:37. See the mile 13 marker and hit the gas, legs be damned. Pass the 3rd place female in this stretch.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">Final time: 1:25:44, a new PR by 1:12, and most importantly, a well-executed race on a course much tougher than I am accustomed to racing. I hadn't executed a race plan since <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Chicago</st1:place></st1:city> last October, a span of 5 races. I needed to see two things - improvement and execution, and I achieved both. I lost a few too many seconds in the first 4 miles and then again on the long inclined mile 7 to go in the low 1:25's, but I'm not concerned with that. I really find the half marathon to be the most difficult of all distances, as I feel like you're trying to hold lactate threshold pace for 13+ miles. I am not saying a marathon is easy by any stretch, but I always feel like I'm on the verge of disaster in a half. When you blow up in a marathon, you blow up. It's pretty common and has probably happened to everyone that's run a few of them.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOfwA8aAP4-VsahU53W4ghOgxxJi7c02v0v9m1EXx5f9H4XPm5GLxBrBN6hGMGGuyx0fm-0h7taQYbjKOZ0VbQqyZGR6MsCvY6dmuWFDCSouIQnbEW_CNu_hl3fl280WPbgLvKT_fMP4/s1600/Zab+Finish.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOfwA8aAP4-VsahU53W4ghOgxxJi7c02v0v9m1EXx5f9H4XPm5GLxBrBN6hGMGGuyx0fm-0h7taQYbjKOZ0VbQqyZGR6MsCvY6dmuWFDCSouIQnbEW_CNu_hl3fl280WPbgLvKT_fMP4/s400/Zab+Finish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514744123772122098" border="0" /></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">Post race<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Anyway, I'm feeling good about where I'm at and should be ready to take down sub 3 on October 10th, even if <a href="http://www.mcmillanrunning.com/cgi-bin/calc.pl">McMillan</a> says I'm not quite there, predicting a 3:00:49. I still have a few more weeks of heavy lifting before I cut back on the miles.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><br /><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">For those interested in HR numbers it was an average of 183 with splits from mile 1 to mile 13.1 as such:<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="">170/174/176/176/180/182/184/185/187/189/190/194/197 and 201, peaking at 202 in the last .1<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Michael finished his second half marathon in a time of 1:40:15 (a PR of 3 minutes) and Charlie sand-bagged his way to the finish line in 1:36 (nearly a 5 minute PR). Both of them did an outstanding job and look primed to run great marathons on the 10th.</p>screaminzabhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519702001471982826noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251799024759705199.post-11934981641522154072010-08-27T23:20:00.000-05:002010-08-27T23:35:08.368-05:00The Streak is Over, Sucker!It was nice while it lasted. I'm no Cal Ripken, Lou Gehrig or even Brett Favre for that matter, but here was the streak:<br /><br />8/08 - Windrunner 10K - 43:54<br />9/08 - Chicago Half - 1:38:34<br />10/8 - Chicago Marathon 3:29:54<br />11/08 - Lincolnwood Turkey Trot 10K - 41:48<br />3/09 - Shamrock Shuffle 8K- 33:30<br />4/09 - Ravenswood Run 5K - 19:09<br />8/09 - Windrunnner 10K - 39:07<br />9/09 - Chicago Half - 1:28:25<br />10/9 - Chicago Marathon - 3:05:14<br />11/09 - Lincolnwood Turkey Trot 5K - 18:42<br />3/10 - Tom King Half Marathon - 1:26:56<br />4/10 - Boston Marathon - 3:03:41<br />7/10 - Bastille Day 5K - 18:32<br /><br />That was 13 PRs in a row. Wow. I wanted to get the streak up to 16 with a couple tune-up races before October 10th. Unfortunately, it came to an unceremonious end this past Saturday at the Champions 10K.<br /><br />I posted a 39:58, 51 seconds off of my PR. I was hoping to come in around 38:15 or so by running a progressive 10K that had me starting at a 6:20 pace and ending at 6:00 even. Here's how it shook down.<br />Mile 1- 6:20 Perfect. Felt effortless and I had to hold back a bit.<br />Mile 2- 6:18 Pretty damn close. Still feeling strong.<br />Mile 3- 6:50 - WTF? Somewhere around mile 2.4, I missed a turn and had to double back. It cost me a tenth of mile and broke my spirits. It was a poorly marked course that was open to the public at the same time the race was going on. I'm pretty sure some people did the same thing I did, but didn't go back and ran a short course.<br />When I saw the 6:50 at the third mile marker, I couldn't get through it mentally. I tried to stick to the plan, but as I kept doing the math in my head and it wasn't making sense to me to have to work that hard to run a 39:00.<br />Mile 4 - 6:16. I'm cutting corners on this crappy course, looking for any break I can get. But I'm still doing the math in my head and I am really pissed about the mishap back in mile 3. I basically mentally throw in the towel and run Miles 5 and 6 in 6:31 and 6:32. I see 38:50 on my watch as I hit the 6 mile marker and decide to try to give it all I have to come in under 40 minutes.<br />I run the last .2 in 1:08 and come across the finish line in 42nd place (out of 435) with my 39:58. My HR got up to a robust 206. What a shit show. My finish in the top 50 did net me a gift card for $45 at a suburban running store. Yippee!<br /><br />I didn't have my best stuff on Saturday as my HR was through the roof on my warm-up run to the race, but I'm pretty sure I could have muscled out a PR by 20 seconds or so if I hadn't blown the race by missing the turn. Oh well. I can't do anything about it now besides focus on my next race, which is in about a week.<br /><br />***<br />A couple of weeks ago, I was running a strange 18 miler when I ran 10 miles with 8 at GMP and then followed it up with 8 in the jogging stroller with Isla. I was about 2.5 miles from home when I was passing an old folks' living community. It's a pretty well-kept place, is right on the path near my house and sits pretty close to a Panera, Borders and Starbucks. Anyway, as I'm passing the building, I can see there's a woman going the same direction as me pushing some type of cart. It looked like one of those carts people in the city use to haul groceries around, but I can't really see what's in front of her.<br /><br />As I get closer and closer to her, I start to slow down a bit. There also happen to be some bikers coming towards us moving at a pretty good clip. They pass the old lady a couple seconds before me and wouldn't you know it, the lady has a little dog on a leash that starts chasing after these bikers. I immediately try to bring the stroller to a halt (I was running at about an 8:45 pace) so I don't run over this dog. I stop just short of it and push down hard on the handle to lift the front tire so the dog can run by. The old lady lets out a scream, as if someone just stabbed her in the back.<br /><br />"Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"<br />I am now even with her and am looking her in the eyes. "Are you okay?" I say.<br /><br />"You almost hit my dog! You need to be more careful," she angrily replies.<br /><br />I respond, "You need to get better control of your dog, lady. You're lucky I didn't hit him."<br /><br />Apparently calling her lady was the wrong thing to say because she's now livid.<br />"You don't talk to me like that, SUCKER!" she shouts.<br /><br />Whoa. This 70 or 80 something year old bat just called me sucker. Kind of awesome, kind of ridiculous. I haven't heard someone called "sucker" in a long time (circa the 1989 VHS release of "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka.") Check that. I have never been called sucker. And I certainly have never heard it uttered by an angry 80 year old woman.<div><br />I tell her she needs to pay closer attention to her dog and decide to keep going. At this point, I don't know what's going to happen next and I'm unsure of what this crazy lady might do or say. And I have a frickin' jogging stroller in front of me with my then 18 month old in it. As I am running away, she's still shouting at me saying something about an old lady. I give her a parting shout because I am now a little agitated as there are people in the parking lot watching this lady and me exchange pleasantries.<div><br />"Have a great day!" I yell. I am not going to swear at someone's grandma. Well, I probably would have if I had stuck around much longer because this woman was insisting I was wrong.<br /><br />I haven't seen her since, but I have tried to incorporate "sucker" into my everyday vocabulary. It's harder than you think.<br /></div></div>screaminzabhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519702001471982826noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251799024759705199.post-56273839151069566842010-05-16T22:01:00.005-05:002010-05-19T22:53:59.595-05:00Boston. That's it, Boston.Where to begin...<br /><br />I loved Boston. Loved the town, loved the people, I even started loving the Red Sox despite them sucking when we were there. As a Cub fan, there's kind of a bond you can share with Red Sox fans, minus the 2 World Series titles they have picked up in the last 6 years.<br /><br />Love the Boston Marathon...not so much. That's a little harsh. It's a great event. But it really kicked my ass. Here's how and why -<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Background</span><br />I know there may be some newer folks reading this so here's a quick recap. I ran a 3:05:18 in Chicago in October of 2009. You can read that epic race report <a href="http://runningforcru.blogspot.com/2009/10/2009-chicago-marathon.html">here</a>. It was a race that I'll fondly remember forever. Everything just seemed to click that day. I signed up for Boston shortly there after and had loosely set my sights on going sub 3 in Boston.<br /><br />I tried to just keep the fitness and ran just enough through the holidays. I prepared to start a 12 week training program at the end of January. I tried to get a nice base of all easy running in the three weeks prior and hit 40,44 and 61 miles the week before training really started. But those following 12 weeks of training were the most inconsistent I've ever had. Here are the miles by week: 51, 30, 60, 65, 70, 58, 36 (Half marathon was this week), 56, 70, 49, 46 and then a pre-race week total of 25. It seemed like things just kept popping up that made it really tough to get the running in that I wanted.<br /><br />After the 1:26:57 Half in mid-March, I kind of let the sub 3 dream go. But the next couple weeks (after taking it easy the immediate week after), I started making some gains with my heart rate. I saw enough improvement in my heart rate and runs generally became easier, so I figured I was close enough to going sub 3 that I may as well go for it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Trip</span><br />I am very lucky to have a supportive wife and daughter. We made the trip together and had a great time. Also joining us were my mom, brother Nick and sister-in-law Jaime. I can't thank all of them enough for their love and support of my marathoning. We went to the Red Sox game on Saturday night and just tried to enjoy the city the other days.<br /><br />I also got to see a bunch of my running friends - some new friends, some old friends and some in between. There really is a special vibe in Boston with all of these runners everywhere. I don't know if it's like that in Chicago or not, but I'd guess no. I have never stayed in any place but my own home for Chicago. There's a certain quaintness about Boston that's hard to put a finger on. You also get that feeling that the Boston Marathon is just as special to the people of Framingham, Hopkinton, Wellesley, Boston etc. as it is to the people actually running it. Most places we would go, people would ask if I was running the marathon. And every one of them would wish me good luck.<br /><br />I got a couple of runs in Boston in before the race. On Saturday morning I met Steve, Brian, Kevin and Kevin's dad as we ran along the Charles River. It was very cool and something I'll remember. On Sunday, I went out for a short shake-out run and ran through Boston Common. My legs were feeling okay. Not great, not terrible, but I have learned to never put too much weight into those last couple runs.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Race</span><br />Isla did great in Boston. However, she didn't sleep really well the night before. I think I fell asleep at 12:30 or so. Not really ideal, but I usually sleep like crap the night before anyway. I think I slept pretty well for 3-4 hours or so and my alarm was going off before I knew it. I showered and shaved down to a mustache. I looked at myself in the mirror and shook my head. No way. I looked like an asshole. One who liked to give candy to children or possibly even impersonate a cop. I shaved everything off at that point and proceeded to get ready. I said my good byes, grabbed my bag and headed down to the buses. After waiting a bit, we got on and make the long trip out to Hopkinton. Plenty of good, solid conversation on the bus, a lot revolving around race strategy as my bus buddy Chris was also shooting for sub 3. I also ate a half a bagel from my pal James. I think he had like 30 bagels with him.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbvZYQ2Yyia5rCQyqFYOcixFvLPyAGBPEWC4_6eAPsc-7t9J7EAwPquoKhVt_CUrGsoUELhVpakALoyibwshqlmDqK8lp-E5O9Zq9Yg5EHzjxKK2MD66efXm8YsfD4HU3nVltKg747Hc/s1600/IMG_2727.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbvZYQ2Yyia5rCQyqFYOcixFvLPyAGBPEWC4_6eAPsc-7t9J7EAwPquoKhVt_CUrGsoUELhVpakALoyibwshqlmDqK8lp-E5O9Zq9Yg5EHzjxKK2MD66efXm8YsfD4HU3nVltKg747Hc/s400/IMG_2727.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468389236914611282" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQFY4k_yfidNRgpj8-ZpyfZ_ccYFOXhBFKYgzrjnS5-r6JcYTPZpQXcnsiK0FliAd9c-Mc3Llkq9U1gZALsu7akzHxi3b3oCujqwvpcy0Xe5JGuFMOH03p5nZRG1i8-wqOyp-84eh19M/s1600/IMG_2728.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQFY4k_yfidNRgpj8-ZpyfZ_ccYFOXhBFKYgzrjnS5-r6JcYTPZpQXcnsiK0FliAd9c-Mc3Llkq9U1gZALsu7akzHxi3b3oCujqwvpcy0Xe5JGuFMOH03p5nZRG1i8-wqOyp-84eh19M/s400/IMG_2728.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468389243907527634" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We finally arrived in the Athletes Village and made our way to the tarps that Ron and Steve had laid out. Everyone joked around a bit, helped each get ready (taping pacebands, writing on arms, taking pictures) and before you knew it, it was go time. I was walking to the bag buses with my buddy Walter, a fellow Chicagoan. He was also shooting for a sub 3 and we were in the same corral. Somehow I lost him and before I knew it I was making the trek to the starting corral all alone. I struck up some conversation with some dude before I finally came up on some people I knew. We shot the breeze for a few and them it's off to Corral 3. I make my way up there and am looking for some familiar faces and come up empty. I settle in and out of nowhere comes John King, wearing his Macho Man sunglasses. We talk for a bit as we're inching closer to the gun going off. I brought along my empty 32 ounce bottle of gatorade in case I'd need to go to the bathroom. I get the urge, ask John for some coverage, he obliges and I take care of business. I get done and about 20 seconds after, some dude comes up to me and asks me if he can use my bottle. You know, the one I just put about 20 ounces of urine in. I said, "Sure, pal, it's all yours." John asks me if I knew the guy and I say, "Nope, do you?" He said no. That wasn't weird at all.<br /><br />With a few minutes before the race was supposed to start, Mike, another friend from Runner's World comes up. We introduce ourselves (he saw me because I had ZAB on the back of my shirt) and decided to give 2:59 a whirl together. Very nice. I was hoping I could find someone to pal around with for the next 3 hours. Shortly after that, the gun sounds and we're off!<br /><br />Miles 1-3 7:07, 6:43, 6:45<br />Everything I had heard was to not take the first mile too fast. Mike and I were on the same page, but we actually went a little too slow. It was pretty congested those first few miles. Things felt pretty easy early on as the downhills helped keep the effort level in check. Mike and I are just getting to know each other a bit here and keeping each other loose. I'm hearing "Balls" and "Balls on the Table" in some nice New England accents from the get go and it couldn't be any more awesome. This continues the whole way.<br /><br />Miles 4-6 6:50, 6:55, 6:41<br />More of the same. It's not feeling super easy, but it's not feeling tough. I was feeling pretty good with where I was at. Mike was wearing a Greg Maclin pace band (accounting for the terrain) and we were pretty close to that throughout. Our Garmins seemed to be a little off as sometimes his would be reading in the 6:30's and mine would be in the 6:50's. We'd just take the middle and go with it. Note to self: Boston's water and Gatorade stops are much shorter than Chicago's. Sometimes there were only a few people handing out Gatorade and I'd end up with water when I wanted Gatorade.<br /><br />Miles 7-9 6:51, 6:50, 6:52<br />There we go. Settling into a great pace. Took my first Gu Roctane at mile 8. I'm feeling pretty good at this point, but my heart rate is climbing a little higher than I'd like. I hit an AHR of 171 at mile 8, about 5 miles earlier than I was hoping to hit the 170 mark. I tried not to think about it too much and from this point forward, I think I will not look at my HR during marathons until the last couple miles. Mike and I are still having solid conversation and we're bumping into a few other guys hoping to hit 2:59's. I am not sure why, but they were asking us if we were on pace.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNl2iM0NyFWgfNAjljGaNlpVfXuRTVN6A_zWBSDOpWkhRw01-Q44ZLTYOIdQRuaW4F_e5vbM-yKAI-HlgukfH0ezCgZVzRgxpjBkwhkvFF6jFx-40qmIhXpIJxUrJCApt84nahqp6ZV8/s1600/mfoto2.bmp"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNl2iM0NyFWgfNAjljGaNlpVfXuRTVN6A_zWBSDOpWkhRw01-Q44ZLTYOIdQRuaW4F_e5vbM-yKAI-HlgukfH0ezCgZVzRgxpjBkwhkvFF6jFx-40qmIhXpIJxUrJCApt84nahqp6ZV8/s400/mfoto2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470223726436022978" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Miles 10-12 6:50, 6:51, 6:41<br />Great miles, but I start to feel like I am working too hard. AHR now in the mid 170's. If I was a little smarter, I may have started to back it down a touch, knowing the Newton hills are looming over me like an albatross. But, I don't. I think I can power through it and use my mental toughness to hang on.<br /><br />Miles 13-15 6:53, 6:46, 6:57<br />Still hanging on, holding pretty steady. AHR was 178, 179, 179. That's just about 90% of max with 11+ miles still to go. Oh boy. Here comes a downhill mile before the hills. I take my second Gu at 15.<br /><br />Miles 16-18 6:37, 7:04, 7:00<br />This actually wasn't too bad - time wise, anyway. I saw my support team just before 17 and it was a huge boost. I can't really say how awesome it is to see 5 people there rooting me on in Boston. This was actually my first marathon that wasn't in Chicago since December of 2005. It's definitely a different feeling not being familiar with every mile, where the mile markers are, etc. I knew my legs were pretty well trashed after the downhill on 16 followed by the first hill. But, I am thinking, you know what? If I can get through 21, I still have a shot. I'm telling myself, "Just...get...through...the...hills."<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQy1zB8AplBeDbdd5xA51BLv-9PQa3XAGiox-xfuSVUzVE6_JULk_sv-_MSvJTUKPovSWrlihlur2Vdcz33-iCjp3vHzfeSNrpsiyelykJU5FWfLqBuT688E1DTwD6MIe93TILp_j3-Ew/s1600/IMG_2750.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQy1zB8AplBeDbdd5xA51BLv-9PQa3XAGiox-xfuSVUzVE6_JULk_sv-_MSvJTUKPovSWrlihlur2Vdcz33-iCjp3vHzfeSNrpsiyelykJU5FWfLqBuT688E1DTwD6MIe93TILp_j3-Ew/s400/IMG_2750.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468389252837465298" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9xSYUSLBqFbVCTfW4AOW5tVoSXLoJjyXCCLiYIiFeY138AZU-tzKPQQpYr85iO0VD_tYqfKog1wkda9-5BKmTQXtV05-KA2lLR3hkQ28kafiypL_YBrIwrDcHT5WvuPoEmpra49EQ_A/s1600/IMG_2751.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9xSYUSLBqFbVCTfW4AOW5tVoSXLoJjyXCCLiYIiFeY138AZU-tzKPQQpYr85iO0VD_tYqfKog1wkda9-5BKmTQXtV05-KA2lLR3hkQ28kafiypL_YBrIwrDcHT5WvuPoEmpra49EQ_A/s400/IMG_2751.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468389261862535090" border="0" /></a><br />Mike (in the green) and me<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNu_pt2gi85pDgCtDheGuL-igEiWIYVcSLo1n4Xf704fwQ6aFeJwCAGbsQWTjg0hdMYd_aILJPvFJW2mUvJA7ZS_dq-fMIwbioyvjq6mGihVQW806qxN9I5bmnze0X5ulqS0EeEL7CN0/s1600/IMG_2752.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNu_pt2gi85pDgCtDheGuL-igEiWIYVcSLo1n4Xf704fwQ6aFeJwCAGbsQWTjg0hdMYd_aILJPvFJW2mUvJA7ZS_dq-fMIwbioyvjq6mGihVQW806qxN9I5bmnze0X5ulqS0EeEL7CN0/s400/IMG_2752.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468389270085935586" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Miles 19-20 6:43, 7:03<br />Solid. The downhill-ish 19th mile was a nice break. Still feeling it in a bad way, but pushing on. Just trying to mentally get through 21 and over Heartbreak so I can run again. But 20 was a struggle. AHR was a 189, 94.5% of max.<br /><br />Mile 21 7:31<br />I lose Mike in this mile. I can feel him pulling away and my legs aren't working like I want them to. I can see him looking over his shoulder for me and then yells, "Zab!" I yell back, "Go!" He gives me a fist pump and pulls away. I finally crest Heartbreak, see my split and know how my legs feel and know I'm toast. I'm pretty much out of gas. Damn. It's been a long time since I have felt like this in a race. I'm trying to mentally pull myself together because I'm a mess physically. My legs are shot. The point in a race where your goal slips through your fingers is tough to comes to terms with. In the back of my head, I am still thinking I'll get my legs back, I just need a little bit of time. AHR was still at 189. Also took my last Gu here.<br /><br />Mile 22 7:07<br />Wow! Not bad, but I'm running on fumes. And I am having fueling issues. I am starving. I'm grabbing anything and everything spectators are handing out to runners, namely water bottles and slices of oranges. Those oranges tasted amazing.<br /><br />Miles 23-24 7:36, 7:44,<br />I'm pretty sure I saw both wheels fall off and roll right by me here. I'm still grabbing all kinds of oranges and water bottles from the crowd. I'm just focusing on finishing and looking over my shoulder, hoping to see some of my pals that were shooting for sub3. I never saw them. Oh, and I'm getting passed like a son of a bitch. The crowd is cheering me on, but I'm just mustering thumbs up to them. In the back of my head, I'm thinking, come on, you can still PR and give the finger to those people who told you that you don't PR in Boston, let alone your first Boston. I'm also thinking how much I hate marathons and I'll never run this course again because I just got my ass kicked like it has never been kicked before. And I still have 2.2 miles to go.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD26S4aIdZqTW7JSsz5gS-5jsY8XgxG1oEB8SxOCLItjA328nfDMDq7_UoTxAJsxHBG-LFnP80U_E-oh32ytpVjlGZcMw7CziBAeeCKIG1zPCl4hgj5Tn3zFeN0JccgXq6apbUSvwU6-w/s1600/25603_1396629083333_1460400228_31012777_5281811_n.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD26S4aIdZqTW7JSsz5gS-5jsY8XgxG1oEB8SxOCLItjA328nfDMDq7_UoTxAJsxHBG-LFnP80U_E-oh32ytpVjlGZcMw7CziBAeeCKIG1zPCl4hgj5Tn3zFeN0JccgXq6apbUSvwU6-w/s400/25603_1396629083333_1460400228_31012777_5281811_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470216421931426178" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgtPmRNc9WsdLwk5QHekXQ4-KAH4aVpjun284ylkUErm6tGHmy2xBWBD5l-LY9P8fOV6AsmJnJj5EYDelIpj2ZNteTfMUROCfZNjIW_DpVU5TTsbawowGPcrxguDpL55I2ERyUgFQwvg/s1600/mfoto.bmp"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgtPmRNc9WsdLwk5QHekXQ4-KAH4aVpjun284ylkUErm6tGHmy2xBWBD5l-LY9P8fOV6AsmJnJj5EYDelIpj2ZNteTfMUROCfZNjIW_DpVU5TTsbawowGPcrxguDpL55I2ERyUgFQwvg/s400/mfoto.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470217504094606898" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Mile 25-25.2-26.2 7:38, 1:35, 7:19<br />I get a boost in between 25 and 26 near Fenway. I get a second wind and decide to embrace the crowd and I get them cheering like a bunch of drunks for me as I'm raising my arms up and down. I'm yelling, "Come on, get up!"And they are loving my shirt. I'm giving out high fives and feel like I am running freely for about a quarter of a mile. Oh, I see the one mile to go mark and I retardedly hit the lap button. Yep, the 0.2 comes after mile 25 in my race today. Anyway, I'm pretty much giving it all I have left (which is not much) and realize I'll be coming in with a 3:03 something. The crowd is really awesome here. I make the last couple turns and try to position myself for a good finish line photo. Seriously, that's what I am thinking about. I raise my arms, hit the mat with a 3:03:41, a PR by 1:37. Thank you, God. It's over. Quick side note: the ironic thing is there is no finish line photo of me on marathonfoto. Unbelievable.<br /><br />I am actually moving pretty well after I cross the line, unlike most of the people around me. I go over to the spot where they're handing out medals and I make eye contact with one of the volunteers. She tells me to come on "ovah." In her Boston accent, she says to me, "I have been waiting for you. Great job out there. You earned this medal." I am not sure why, but I almost started crying when she said that. Again, the kindness of the volunteers shining through. I told her thanks and I appreciated it very much as she put the medal around my neck. She said some more nice things and I went on my way through the corral.<br /><br />I am walking faster than everyone, grab my Mylar blanket, bag of not-so goodies and finally make it to the bag pick-up. I grab it and the the end of the finishing corral is right in front of our hotel and I finally see Tiffany, Isla and my mom. I give them all hugs and kisses and they were all so happy and proud of me. They also seemed to be concerned that I was going to be upset that I didn't go sub 3. The truth was that I wasn't at all. I was really happy to see them and I was just exhausted - and the 2010 Boston Marathon was officially in the books.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Post-race Thoughts</span><br />I am really proud of my time and I really did the best I could. I was really on the fringe of going sub 3 and if I knew then what I know now about the course, I would have called myself slightly crazy by going for it. My training cycle was far from ideal and I definitely made a few mistakes from fueling (how could I forget my breakfast staple- Peanut Butter! and the later start messed with my eating schedule) to a lack of hill training (not that I can truly simulate that here in Chicago). But if I would have run it a little more conservatively in the first half, I maybe still could have ended up with a 3:01 or 3:02. In my mind, who cares? I went for the 2:59 and ended up with a 3:03. I'll put my balls on the table every time when that scenario comes up.<br /><br />Garmin total: 26.43 miles, 3:03:42, 6:57 pace, 169 AHR (although my HR battery seemingly crapped out on me the last few miles, so I am guessing that number is closer to 175.) Splits of 1:29:41/1:34:00.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thoughts on the Rest of the trip</span><br /><ul><li>I'm really lucky to have such a supportive and loving wife and family. There weren't many other families from out of town that came to support their runners.<br /></li><li>Boston cabbies don't like it when you pay with your credit card.<br /></li><li>On the flight back home, we sat next to a guy that bandited the marathon. He claims to have taken the green line(D) out to mile 16 and cabbed it out to Hopkinton. He showed up 2 hours late and proceeded to still run it in 5 hours from when he started. The best part is that he was really impressed with my 3:03. He seemed to think I would have no problem setting a new "PBR" in Chicago in the fall. Yes, that's right a "PBR." The hybrid of a personal best and personal record is apparently a Pabst Blue Ribbon, so PBR me ASAP.<br /></li><li>The "T" is pretty solid, although it does get a little crowded at times.<br /></li><li>If you like Dunkin' Donuts, you'll love Boston.</li><li>Congrats to Mike for bringing home a 2:59. Great job and thanks for keeping me company for 20 miles.<br /></li><li>Boston is kind of like a smaller, cleaner version of Chicago...with awesome accents. Everyone was really nice. Tiffany and I definitely want to go back for a visit sometime. </li><li>Here's a <a href="http://kapellas.blogspot.com/2010/05/on-ya-mahkget-setgo-to-boston.html">link</a> to our family blog that features more photos from our trip.<br /></li></ul> That's about it. Thanks for reading and for your athletic support.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFf_BML6-SIZkSEVaOYxfzX26tuZh-6QMz583KTwvKSOvceWShxntXQXD9qlxVrSeOJz4tGnHr3GC4iCYs0lfXPY_yvSnrVFu5DXV7_KQVU7gfGGbgi2zviy_S3rp6lHlzX9VmtnO8yo/s1600/IMG_2761.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFf_BML6-SIZkSEVaOYxfzX26tuZh-6QMz583KTwvKSOvceWShxntXQXD9qlxVrSeOJz4tGnHr3GC4iCYs0lfXPY_yvSnrVFu5DXV7_KQVU7gfGGbgi2zviy_S3rp6lHlzX9VmtnO8yo/s400/IMG_2761.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468390719015488162" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIqaou4TaPMdfRYQ_t-OHmEC7Hh12z52Jct0R8asbc48BeRpSxZnyBY9iKxmTtyH7sfz_lefNXPHEDWpy6hrW8JGpE1utWsyIN-y3Z6WYye0MwF5rvjGL0DCwmhUtlGKYkQZpfPafiF4/s1600/IMG_2762.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIqaou4TaPMdfRYQ_t-OHmEC7Hh12z52Jct0R8asbc48BeRpSxZnyBY9iKxmTtyH7sfz_lefNXPHEDWpy6hrW8JGpE1utWsyIN-y3Z6WYye0MwF5rvjGL0DCwmhUtlGKYkQZpfPafiF4/s400/IMG_2762.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468390728093103010" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmWhEUHNETPHhbuKxMIB9BAtB4XGKl4XyuMvXS-WcUyJWbazAguffaCD8UfBcgSP8mHhYko-ACcw9t9OLZLm_UmsHm16UG3suh9i9Fxr30y13M9Mg4IqDyIos3gV6QNmR6hyphenhyphenWPMV9jMg/s1600/IMG_2763.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmWhEUHNETPHhbuKxMIB9BAtB4XGKl4XyuMvXS-WcUyJWbazAguffaCD8UfBcgSP8mHhYko-ACcw9t9OLZLm_UmsHm16UG3suh9i9Fxr30y13M9Mg4IqDyIos3gV6QNmR6hyphenhyphenWPMV9jMg/s400/IMG_2763.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468390733002918130" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgiYcdaOsyAIvUtea4WcDl3QumLDHhYeyCD0ROXCvQUv-47Mfl5nOXH0d_2w6D97rzC5fGum1_Yrfej3QjOWPWB1B7_Sk0o8gwu7GAL3qsRl7vEiJLK9__PgmeR8IQ_DkTbYLjzv6coY/s1600/IMG_2769.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgiYcdaOsyAIvUtea4WcDl3QumLDHhYeyCD0ROXCvQUv-47Mfl5nOXH0d_2w6D97rzC5fGum1_Yrfej3QjOWPWB1B7_Sk0o8gwu7GAL3qsRl7vEiJLK9__PgmeR8IQ_DkTbYLjzv6coY/s400/IMG_2769.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468390749225756626" border="0" /></a>screaminzabhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519702001471982826noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251799024759705199.post-91685527633516490472010-04-12T10:57:00.004-05:002010-04-14T21:40:08.027-05:00All Systems Go!We're now a week away from the big day and I have to say, I am feeling pretty good with where I'm at. I could continue to talk about how the training cycle didn't go exactly as planned, but I have decided to take my own advice and accept it. I can't change it, so I may as well embrace it for what it was/is and get ready to race.<br /><br />I have had a pretty solid last couple of weeks training. I was able to get most of my planned miles in and was pretty close to where I needed to be for my key workouts. I had been doing a lot of comparing of this cycle versus the last fall's Chicago over the last 12 weeks or so. Somewhere in the middle of those 12 weeks, I stopped doing it because I was just getting frustrated. Well, just for shits and giggles I looked at a few of my last runs and wouldn't you know it, it looks like I have actually made some gains. My HR the last three weeks has been slightly lower on comparable runs from last fall. And sometimes faster, too.<br /><br />Here are a couple comparisons:<br /><ul><li>10/4/2009 - 46 degrees, 13.44 miles, 8:24 pace, 137AHR</li><li>4/11/2010 - 48 degrees, 13.07 miles, 8:24 pace, 132AHR</li></ul>Basically the same run a week before the marathon in nearly identical conditions and I wasn't working as hard to do it.<br /><br /><ul><li>10/1/2009 - 45 degrees, 7+ miles with 3x1600 @ 6:00, 6:04, 6:07 with AHRs of 179,181,181</li><li>4/10/2010 - 56 degrees, 7+ miles with 3x1600 @ 5:54, 6:01, 6:02 with AHRs of 168,173,175</li></ul>Same run, with the more recent run being in warmer conditions, faster and a lower AHR.<br /><br />These are great signs. The biggest downfall in the last 12 or so weeks has been my inability to run as much as I wanted. My average miles/week is right around 56 versus 62 for Chicago. Not a huge difference, but I did have the luxury of an 18 week cycle last fall as compared to a 12 weeker this time. Anyway, as I said in the opening, it's done and let's get this sucker on.<br /><br />I have pretty much decided to give myself a shot at a sub 3 marathon in Boston, assuming the weather is agreeable. That means running the first 16 or miles in the 6:45-6:48 pace range, toughing it out out through the hills (miles 16-21) and going for broke/hanging on after the hills are gone. I'm interested to find out what I have left after the hills...assuming they don't kill me. I kid, I kid. It's pretty interesting to hear people's take on the Boston hills. Some make them out to be mountains, while others say they aren't a big deal at all. There's really only one way to find out.<br /><br />If my attempt at a sub 3 comes up short, I'll set my sights on beating my best time of 3:05:18 from Chicago last fall. And if for some reason it's really not my day and the shit really hits the fan for some unforeseen reason, Boston becomes a celebration of making it there. I am really excited to get out to Boston with Tiffany and Isla. Plus, I'll have a cheering section of my mom, Nick and Jaime (my bro and his wife), who are making the trip out to Beantown to enjoy the festivities.<br /><br />I can remember just a couple years ago people asking me if my ultimate goal was to run Boston. I always told them that I thought that there was a chance that I could make it when I was old enough to be in the 35-39 age bracket and slowly chip away at my time and run a 3:15. It's hard to believe that the fast forward button worked (along with lots of hard work) and I'll be toeing the line to run the Boston Marathon in one week from today.<br /><br />I'll try to get some pics of the race day gear on here before we leave for Beantown. I also weighed in yesterday at 159. That's 2 pounds lighter than I weighed four days before Chicago last year. I'll step on one more time on Thursday before we leave to see what the final number is. Good stuff!<br /><br /><br />Tracking info:<br /><span class="MainText"><strong>TEXT</strong> - Simply text the word <strong>RUNNER</strong> to 31901 using your US mobile phone. You will then receive an sms text response with instructions on how to submit a runner’s bib number. My bib is 3733</span>.screaminzabhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519702001471982826noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5251799024759705199.post-66024147514165592172010-03-21T21:35:00.005-05:002010-03-28T13:23:23.707-05:00What's Up, Tom King?<span id="edc84b75-3581-4310-8bb6-a2fa145a37db">This is not what I had in mind for my initial post on this blog. I had fully intended to document my Boston Marathon training, but things have been a little hectic the first part of the year.<br /><br />The title of the blog is a saying I have kind of adopted as my running mantra over the past 9 months or so. It's about going for it. Having confidence in your abilities, training and will power. Pushing yourself further when the shit is about to hit the fan. I could go on, but I am having a hard time finding time to write this as it is, so we'll get back to the idea behind balls on the table at a later date.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Trip</span><br />Two weekends ago, we took a trip down to Jackson and Nashville, TN. The half marathon was on <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT40">Saturday</span>. After a pretty successful 8 and half hour drive down, we pulled into Jackson. Isla got a little feisty the last hour to hour and a half, but all thing considered, not bad for a 13 month old being strapped in car seat for all but a half hour </span><span id="edc84b75-3581-4310-8bb6-a2fa145a37db">- when we stopped for lunch</span><span id="edc84b75-3581-4310-8bb6-a2fa145a37db">. Tiffany deserves all of the credit in the world for pulling out all the stops to try to keep Isla sane in the car.<br /><br />We basically relaxed <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT41">Friday</span> night. Isla decided she wasn't going to sleep in the Pack-N-Play, so she slept in Michael's bed with us. He was kind enough to sleep on the couch and give us his bed. She actually slept in it by herself until we came to bed. She was a little sick earlier in the week, so the sleep hadn't been good for much of the week as it was. Fun times!<br /><br /><span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT42">Saturday</span>, I went out for 3 miles with some strides by myself and then Michael joined me for another 2.25 with a few more strides. Jackson features some nice rolling hills, which would be awesome for training. However, the sidewalks and streets were a little rough, so you take the good with the bad, I suppose.<br /><br />We left for Nashville a little after 1 and got there in about 2 hours. We checked into the hotel. Our La Quinta room, a mere 3 doors down from Michael's would been more appropriately called La Crappa. I wouldn't have given Bosley a bath in that tub. His room was much nicer, complete with a microwave and refrigerator. Then we headed to </span><span id="edc84b75-3581-4310-8bb6-a2fa145a37db"> LP Field (home of the NFL Tennessee Titans) </span><span id="edc84b75-3581-4310-8bb6-a2fa145a37db">to pick up our race packets and spent a little time downtown along with thousands of drunken SEC fans. The SEC Hoops Tourney was in Nashville that weekend also. Great timing. After getting out of downtown, the search for food for dinner became a bit of a challenge. We eventually found a </span><span id="edc84b75-3581-4310-8bb6-a2fa145a37db">suitable </span><span id="edc84b75-3581-4310-8bb6-a2fa145a37db">place </span><span id="edc84b75-3581-4310-8bb6-a2fa145a37db">after some wayward driving</span><span id="edc84b75-3581-4310-8bb6-a2fa145a37db">.<br /><br />After dinner, we headed back to the hotel and took care of a few things. This was Michael's debut race. I had devised a training plan for him that started in early January and peaked around</span><span id="edc84b75-3581-4310-8bb6-a2fa145a37db"> 32</span><span id="edc84b75-3581-4310-8bb6-a2fa145a37db"> miles two weeks out from the Half. He was basically starting from scratch so it was slowly building a mile or so every week, typically on the long run. Throw in a cutback week every 3 weeks or so and hope for the best.<br /><br />I checked in on his race wardrobe selection and offered up a couple of spare items of mine I brought along for the trip. He said sure and wore the running shirt and shorts I gave him. Good move.<br /><br />The race started @ 8:30 on <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT43">Saturday</span> morning, so we headed downtown and got there in plenty of time. It was a little raw outside. It had rained the night before and was a breezy 45 degrees. Not great conditions, but not terrible. Shortly after that, we said goodbye to Tiffany and Isla and I got in about a mile and half warm up run. Legs felt fine and I made my way to the start line. I realized I forgot my Gu at this point also. I could hear some bagpipes for some reason, so I thought the race may turn out to be pretty good after all. Michael found me in the corral and I offered up a few last minute tips to him: Don't go out too fast, take it easy the first mile or two, and above all, have fun.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Race</span><br />The gun sounded and we were off. I saw Tiffany and Isla about a 1/4 mile in, gave them a wave and smile and began the trek.<br /><br />I had to pass a decent amount of people early on as we started about 30 seconds back. It wasn't bad at all though, because I had a pretty clear path on the left edge of the course. My idea of a goal for this race was if things broke right, to be somewhere in 1:25's, which is close to the 6:30-6:35 pace range. I wasn't really sure I was in shape to run that fast, but decided to see how the race was going to play out and just see how I felt. If nothing else, I wanted to PR which would have meant running better than 1:28:25.<br /><br />Miles 1-3<br />I wanted to make sure I didn't go out too fast, so I was pleased to hit the first mile marker at 6:39. I felt fine as we headed into a gritty mile of Nashville before hitting a path that ran along the river. Somewhere in this mile was the first water stop. Some dude who had clearly gone out too fast - arms were pumping quite a bit, cuts over from the right side of the course and reaches out for a water in front of me. Ok, no big deal, I can get around him. He proceeds to float back to right, slow down and start drinking his water. I give him a nice shove to the right shoulder and pushed him out of the way. I may have yelled "Heads Up!" to him also. Pretty sure there were no profanities used.<br /><br />There was a gradual hill in mile 2, so when I hit "lap" at the 2nd mile marker and saw 6:38, I thought I was doing pretty good with the hill thrown in there. We picked up the path/trail in the third or fourth mile. I hit mile 3 in 6:40. Okay. At least it's consistent. Maybe that's going to be <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT44">today</span>'s pace, I thought to myself. I thought I increased the effort a touch over the last mile. Didn't translate into anything on the Garmin though. The path went over a few wooden bridges. They were a little slick from the rain and a little bouncy. Had a brief inner ear/vertigo-type feeling near the end of the first one. More good times.<br /><br />Miles 4-6<br />I decide to try to pick it up a little bit in the 4th mile. To my delight, there's some Vanilla Gu being handed out there. Why not, Gu it up. I down the Gu and some water. Shortly after that, I hit the mile marker and I see another 6:39. Damn. Okay, let's try this again for mile 5 - 6:39. Hmmm. I guess this <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> the pace <span class="Object" id="OBJ_PREFIX_DWT45">today</span>. I am passing people with regularity during these miles, so I guess pacing is an issue for them. During mile 6, I can start to see some of the runners coming towards me after the turnaround. I yell a few encouraging words to a few of them, including a couple dudes wearing official Boston shirts. I hit mile 6 in 6:33. Better.<br /><br />Miles 7-10<br />I was trying to count how many people were in front of me. I stopped at 50, thinking it would be too hard to keep track after that. I would guess by the time I got to the turnaround around mile 6.5 or so, there were 70. I hit the turnaround and tell the volunteer I was going to take his Coors Light on the table. In his best Tennessee accent, he says "go fer it!" Mile 7 is a 6:36. I see Michael looking pretty good in the next mile and shout a little something to him. Mile 8 is a 6:37. Mile 9 is 6:35. I know I am working harder as my HR is now in the mid- 180's. I am still continuing to pass a fair amount of people each mile. Among them are two girls in mile 9, one with "Mudy" on her back. More on her shortly. I know the path essentially ends around mile 10. There's also more water, so the free Gu I grabbed back around mile 8 was calling my name. I down the Gu, the water and am late hitting "lap" by about 5 or 10 seconds. Mile 10 says 6:48, but I know it should be a 6:38 - 6:43.<br /><br />Mile 11<br />After the late lap button, I know 11 should be a good one. We hit the same hill from the second mile. For some reason, I am not getting good speed going down the other side. I was expecting to see 6:10's-6:20s on the downhill, but much to my chagrin, it was staying in the 6:30's. The wind had become a factor as we were now back in the open. That's not an excuse though. I was starting to break down. Mile 11 was a 6:48. But I passed a handful or more of people. They must have been slowing down more than me. Crap. Right around there Mudy flies by me. Flies.<br /><br />Mile 12<br />I try to pull it together, but the wind isn't helping and I am running out of steam. And I have no one around me anymore. A guy 50 yards behind me and a guy 100 yards in front of me. Damn. Mile 12 is a 6:38. With a good last 1.1 and just under 1:19:48 on my Garmin, I can still go sub 1:27.<br /><br />The last 1.1 miles<br />I decide to give it all I have. I feel like I am working hard. The course makes a couple turns outside the stadium before hitting the steep declined entrance. It was really steep. My quads were on fire as I am trying to figure what the hell I am supposed to be doing to make it hurt less. It goes away as it eventually flattens out and I run onto the field. As I exit the tunnel and hit the grass, I raise my left arm and point, as if I'm the guy everyone was there to see. Pretty funny, I know. I hit the grass and realize I am going to have to hit this pretty hard to come in under 1:27. The football field seems pretty small when you are running on it like this. I make the second to last turn and am humping it. I make the final turn (think - coming out of the end zone) and have 50 yards to go. I see the camera man while I am taking the turn and give him a solid point. With about 25 yards to go, I see Tiffany and Isla and give them a wave and a smile. I hit the finish line strong (7:08 the last 1.1) and the Garmin reads 1:26:56. An overall pace of 6:38 and some change. 7th in the Age Group and 44th overall (of 1120 something)<br /><br />Splits:6:39/6:38/6:40/6:39/6:39/6:33/6:36/6:37/6:35/6:48*/6:38/6:38/7:08(last1.1)<br />AHR: 168 /174 / 173 / 176 / 177 / 181 / 182 /183 / 184/ 184 / 184 / 187 / 191 (peaking at 197)<br /><br />I meet up with Tiffany and Isla and we see Michael come in shortly after that in 1:43:08, an awesome debut. He looked good making his lap inside the stadium.<br /><br />Mudy finishes as the third overall female, beating me by exactly 2 minutes, so she snapped off a couple of 5:30 miles to close out the race.<br /></span><pre><br /></pre><span id="edc84b75-3581-4310-8bb6-a2fa145a37db"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Some Post-race Thoughts</span><br />I don't know what to think of my performance. It was a PR by 1:29, so that was solid. The wind didn't help my abilities to turn it on the last 3 miles, as I had hoped to do. It could be a pretty accurate reflection of where I am at right now. My Boston training cycle has been very up and down and very inconsistent, due to a variety of factors. I didn't have a killer "I need to run a 1:25" attitude, so I just ran it by feel and tried to run the best race I could on that given day. I originally had intentions of cracking 3 hours in Boston, but I am not sure I have put in the work to do it. Perhaps my lack of confidence in my training made me hold back a little bit, knowing that blowing up in this Half could be far more detrimental for me mentally than playing it safe and running 6:38's most every mile. The irony is that in the first post of "Balls on the Table," I talk about a race in which I didn't put my balls on the table.<br /><br />I ran an 8K last year at this time in iffy conditions that netted me a 6:44 overall pace. So, it's all relative. If you would have told me </span><span id="edc84b75-3581-4310-8bb6-a2fa145a37db">last March </span><span id="edc84b75-3581-4310-8bb6-a2fa145a37db">I would run a 1:26 half in 12 months, I would have laughed in your face. I know and realize I have improved a ton and I am grateful for that. McMillan says a 1:26:56 equals a 3:03:21 full, which is about 2 minutes faster than my Chicago time.<br /><br />I am going to work my ass off these next couple of weeks before tapering 2 weeks for Boston. I wouldn't put my chances of going sub 3 in Boston very high. 20% maybe? I am not completely giving up hope on it, but at some point reality does call and you do have to pick up the phone. I am thinking of seeing how things go in Boston and if I am feeling good that day, than I'll give it a shot. That would mean a half time of 1:29. Boston's hills in the second half most likely set you up for a slightly positive split. This would also possibly mean running a type of race there that people say to avoid - don't go out too fast or the hills will kill you in the second half. If you look at a bunch of people's splits from last year, the second half is much slower than the first. I always tell people that when you set a goal that possibly overreaches your abilities, you have to come to terms with yourself that the result could end up ugly. If you accept that then by all means, go for it.<br /><br />I'll do my best to post weekly from now until Boston.<br /><br />To see more pictures from the trip, go <a href="http://kapellas.blogspot.com/2010/03/road-trip.html">here</a><br /></span>screaminzabhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08519702001471982826noreply@blogger.com7