We have had some good long runs and some good track workouts. Everyone seems tip-top. What's next on our schedule? What do folks have planned for their next races? We need to put something on our calendar.
Don't forget that our new start time is 6:30. See everyone Sunday morning.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
When Things Are Not Going Well...
Everyone occasionally experiences bad moments or even periods in life when nothing seems to go well regardless of our efforts, commitment, and motivation. We've all been there at one point or another, and it sucks. It sucks to race poorly (look at my 5K/bad tempo today), and it sucks to get injured just before your biggest event of the year and not be able to recover and move forward. Sometimes these events are just incidental occurences. Sometimes they go on for an extended period of time, without a good explanation.
I am writing this post because I know we have folks in our group who have experienced all the above; some have temporarily lost their edge, but have come back stronger than ever. So, whatever your situation might be, just hang in there and look at the bigger picture-- there is something good out there for you and me waiting to happen. Just like life itself, running is not always a straight path of improvement and glorious moments; sometimes there are dark and troubling moments, but we can overcome them. I am going to buckle down to some serious running, and I will try try to find my mojo again.
But first, I need to recover properly. I will miss running with you tomorrow, but I will see you next weekend.
I am writing this post because I know we have folks in our group who have experienced all the above; some have temporarily lost their edge, but have come back stronger than ever. So, whatever your situation might be, just hang in there and look at the bigger picture-- there is something good out there for you and me waiting to happen. Just like life itself, running is not always a straight path of improvement and glorious moments; sometimes there are dark and troubling moments, but we can overcome them. I am going to buckle down to some serious running, and I will try try to find my mojo again.
But first, I need to recover properly. I will miss running with you tomorrow, but I will see you next weekend.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
6:30 Sunday Morning
Please note: our Sunday run will be moving back to 6:30 a.m. this coming Sunday.
The heat has been creeping up on us. This past Sunday was quite warm by the time we were done. Hope to see everyone at 6:30.
The heat has been creeping up on us. This past Sunday was quite warm by the time we were done. Hope to see everyone at 6:30.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Every Marathon you learn!
No doubt I'm disappointed but it was nice to be home. The weather was a little warm but no humidity. Felt good the first 15k but cramped a little before the half. After the half point I actually started feeling strong and tried to make up some time. Things were going well till about mile 21 when a bicyclist ran into me on the bike path going the wrong way! I tried to not let it get to me but about another mile down the bike path yet another cyclist collided with me! I was physically fine just kinda weirded out frankly...note to race organizers - need more marshalls. Once I got on the main drag I dug in but mile 24 and 25 were tough. Realized the PR was ticking away right when I saw my family but nothing was in the tank - ran about a minute slower than PR. Not the best race but sometimes coming home makes you realize there are more important things than a PR! Decided it's time to try to speed up on halfs, 10k's, and 5ks's before going for my 6th marathon. See everyone in next Sunday
Friday, May 14, 2010
Countdown to Mississauga Marathon
So, Georgia and Boston marathons are now past events, and even Swaz's ultra is now in our recent memory--and what a race Swaz had run.
Now Gordon is up for the challenge. Will he run the race of his life and BQ? We all wish him well. I can't wait to see the results and see Gordon in Boston next year! Go get'em Gordon. Have a great race!
Now Gordon is up for the challenge. Will he run the race of his life and BQ? We all wish him well. I can't wait to see the results and see Gordon in Boston next year! Go get'em Gordon. Have a great race!
Monday, May 10, 2010
A Passage through Enoree - Ver2
Only in trail racing can positions change without you even seeing the people passing you - or you passing them! One of the biggest challenges along this (actually 41 mile) course was staying on course. This passage of the Palmetto Trail is not very heavily travelled, so the course is not really distinctive. Add to this the RD's taste for orange marker flags and my red-green colour blindness and you have a frightfully easy recipe for a night alone in the boondocks!
I managed a pretty decent pace from the start over the surprisingly hilly course, passing 5 miles in 45 minutes in the second group (places 4-7) and 10miles in under 1:30 with what became the third group on the trail (places 6 and 7). My partner turned out to be David from Aiken, SC. Around 12 miles we both ran seriously off course. Fortunately I was carrying a map, we worked out where we had gone wrong and joined the race route again in about position 11 or 12 maybe losing 5 to 10 minutes in the process. By the time we got to the 15 mile aid station, manned by Jenny, my wife, we had clawed our way back to about 8th and 9th.
We would not be the only ones to get lost! I arrived at the turn (after a few false trails) at about 20.5 miles just a few minutes over 3 hours to find myself in second place! David and I fuelled up and set off back down the now more familiar trail. We were caught by one of the previous (now re-found) front runners after about 5 minutes and then passed by the eventual winner, Sean, through the 25 mile aid station (despite Jenny's best delaying tactics :), putting us in 4th and 5th crossing back over the Enoree River. The wheels started falling off climbing out of this valley, as the mileage and rough terrain took it's toll, although we did manage to reel in one more place before the 30mile mark.
I could no longer keep up with David on the steady climbs after the 35mile mark and had another little unplanned scenic diversion 3 miles from the finish, taking almost an hour to finish the last 5 course miles but eventually finished in 4th place overall, in 7hrs 2mins 12s - about 25 minutes behind the winner. Race Results here: ultrasontrails
Roxanne (remember Robin and Roxanne from Atlanta ?) would finish first lady in 7:15:32; Robin won the 30Mile race in 5:53:10.
Course turned out to have over 2100ft climbing over the official 40.11 miles - more tech info for you Garmin peeps kindly provided by Scott Brannam here: Garmin
Another probably more honest race report here: Psyche's_report
The usual crap that will eventually get updated one day here: http://www.swaz.net/
I managed a pretty decent pace from the start over the surprisingly hilly course, passing 5 miles in 45 minutes in the second group (places 4-7) and 10miles in under 1:30 with what became the third group on the trail (places 6 and 7). My partner turned out to be David from Aiken, SC. Around 12 miles we both ran seriously off course. Fortunately I was carrying a map, we worked out where we had gone wrong and joined the race route again in about position 11 or 12 maybe losing 5 to 10 minutes in the process. By the time we got to the 15 mile aid station, manned by Jenny, my wife, we had clawed our way back to about 8th and 9th.
We would not be the only ones to get lost! I arrived at the turn (after a few false trails) at about 20.5 miles just a few minutes over 3 hours to find myself in second place! David and I fuelled up and set off back down the now more familiar trail. We were caught by one of the previous (now re-found) front runners after about 5 minutes and then passed by the eventual winner, Sean, through the 25 mile aid station (despite Jenny's best delaying tactics :), putting us in 4th and 5th crossing back over the Enoree River. The wheels started falling off climbing out of this valley, as the mileage and rough terrain took it's toll, although we did manage to reel in one more place before the 30mile mark.
I could no longer keep up with David on the steady climbs after the 35mile mark and had another little unplanned scenic diversion 3 miles from the finish, taking almost an hour to finish the last 5 course miles but eventually finished in 4th place overall, in 7hrs 2mins 12s - about 25 minutes behind the winner. Race Results here: ultrasontrails
Roxanne (remember Robin and Roxanne from Atlanta ?) would finish first lady in 7:15:32; Robin won the 30Mile race in 5:53:10.
Course turned out to have over 2100ft climbing over the official 40.11 miles - more tech info for you Garmin peeps kindly provided by Scott Brannam here: Garmin
Another probably more honest race report here: Psyche's_report
The usual crap that will eventually get updated one day here: http://www.swaz.net/
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Note to Self!
Note to self - do not go down the YouTube 80's video Tunnel the night before a Sunday Run! Sorry I missed everyone Sunday I really slept in and then tried to knock out a fast finish run later Sunday morning...got caught in the heat and was sun burned to a crisp!! These last two long solo runs have made me realize how lucky I am to be with this running group...see everyone Sunday!
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