Go the Distance

Last year was the first year I recall the Boston Marathon actually filled up. This year, they are anticipating meeting the registration cap by January.

I re-qualified last year at Boston, running 3:36:08. However, I have my eyes on a big PR at the Rock and Roll Arizona race in January. I was conflicted; do I register now to ensure I get in, or wait until I have that faster time?

I contacted the BAA, and their response was as follows:

If you achieve a faster time, please notify us by February 13, 2009 so we may update your registration.

We cannot update qualifying times after February 13th.

So, I can go ahead and register to ensure the hotel I’ve already booked doesn’t go to waste!

I had a post all written up about how I was going to run Denver this year, prompted by the fact that I had to make a decision tonight to qualify for “non-late” entry pricing. You know, tonight, Aug 31st…

Except it’s the 1st of September, and the price is now at the level it’ll stay at til race day. Now I can sit and debate whether or not the race is actually worth $105… :-/ (even if it is listed by Runners world as one of the “marathons you should do in ‘08″)

A couple proofs from my latest race-

Running with Gene - my legs look weird!

Finishing Kick - I bet that girl didn't know we were racing at the end! I love how my front foot is almost out of the pic

I am back in my hometown visiting my parents, and got together with some old friends. N and I belonged to the same sorority 12 years ago, and G and I worked together 7 years ago. I was interested to speak with both of them, because they both participated in the Canadian Death Race a few weeks ago.

In addition to being the president of my sorority, N was also very involved with the Students’ Union and student services at our college. I met G when I worked for The Support Network, which was somewhat affiliated with some of the college student services. I didn’t actually remember if they knew each other from those days (they didn’t).

As they shared their adventures of their run, someone brought up the fact that I didn’t run when I still lived in Edmonton. This was true; I didn’t start running until I moved to the States. But equally, I didn’t remember N being particularly active in those days, and now she is off rock climbing and running and doing Soldiers of Fitness three days a week.

It just struck me how I first met them under very different circumstances years ago, and now we can reconvene to chat about this unconventional pastime. I don’t think it was something any of us were into at that time (G may be the exception, actually, he may have been close to training for his first marathon then), yet now we can get together and talk about completely crazy subjects like hallucinations and refueling.

The call to do the Death Race next year is certainly growing louder…

As he left, G mentioned he was running the Edmonton Marathon on Sunday. So we are actually going to meet and run together! Then I asked N about this “Soldiers of Fitness” group she mentioned, and she said it was actually buddy day on Monday, so I was welcome to join. Hmmm, a “comprehensive physical fitness program that combines the expertise and benefits of one-on-one personal fitness training with the camraderie and motivation of a military atmosphere”, the day after a marathon? Sign me up!

I find it very interesting how we can travel the same roads as people, completely without knowing so. After I moved to Columbus, I didn’t speak with G for years, until we reconnected on facebook sometime last Spring. We started talking about running, and it was really great to see him and his family tonight. While the situation that caused us to first meet is gone, we now share this different interest and are therefore renewed friends.

And I just know that if we chat for 4 hours on Sunday, I will be a death racer by this time next year!

Official finish time: 6:15:49

First finisher: 4:10:16
Last finisher: 9:36:38

185 starters, 156 finishers.
I finished 8/42 women, 49/156 overall.

I’m very happy with my performance Today my legs are a bit tight on stairs, but I’m making it work. My back was pretty sore earlier, but I popped some aleve and feel much better.

(Full results: http://www.verticalrunner.com/bt50k/bt50k_2008_summerresults.pdf

Hard to believe it’s come already! Tonight as I try to wrap up some work-related activities, I keep getting up to gather my things for my (ultra-)marathon road-trip!

After work tomorrow Helen and I will set out for yet another running trip together. I’ll admit that the experience of traveling someplace is all part of the joy of it. I have my cooler and the marathon toaster all ready to go, along with bagels, peanut butter, bananas and gatorade.

My goal is 7 hours for the 50K (I did notice that gmap-pedometer only shows it as 28 miles…). Judging by race results of past years, this doesn’t seem overly aggressive, but I don’t want to push myself too hard. When I attempted the Buckeye Trail Winter 50K several years ago, I finished the marathon distance in just over 6 hours. The only 50K I’ve completed took me 8:02. Therefore, I think that a one hour PR is a perfectly acceptable goal

I will assume that like the Winter version of this race, there will be pb&j sandwiches at rest stops. I’m also bringing along trail mix, gu, jolt energy mints (which I’ve never tried before…) and protein bars. I’ll have my camelbak to carry it all.

The weather on Saturday is for a high of 88F, so I’m already anticipating it will be a shorts and sports bra day. Especially with the camelbak on, I anticipate being rather warm. I did pick up sunscreen, bugspray and a disposable camera, so I think I’m set!

The one thing I’m trying not to think about too much is the lack of reference to drop bags. At the Winter run, we did loops and passed the starting point, so I dropped a jacket at one point and swapped shoes at another. For the Crown King Scramble, we labeled bags and they magically appeared at the point we requested. In this case with the course being an out-and-back, it seems I’m stuck with whatever I start with!

I have a lot on my mind lately with work and some other initiatives going on, and I’m really looking forward to the time outside. I anticipate I’ll be like a new person at the end of it — perhaps a dehydrated, slightly sore person, but a new one!

p.s. Edmonton marathon is exactly a month away!

Wow, hard to believe the Buckeye Trail 50K is this weekend! I’ll admit I’m nervous, but also excited. I know I haven’t done the distance in preparation that I could have, but I keep telling myself that this will make me fresh!

Had a great run with Mike K yesterday morning. We’re practically neighbours and the RI:Running group is all but disbanded with his heat, so we met at 6:30am. It was a great run, I think I’m also more energetic in the morning and we polished off an 8:15 pace (he ran 5miles, I ran 6).

Today I left the house and decided that 10 miles was a good distance. However, I then realized that that may not be smart, given the distance I have to run on Saturday. I should be tapering, right? So I did an easy three and called it a day.

I know I’ll enjoy this weekend. It’ll be great to do another road trip with Helen — I think our last one was the 7 hour drive out to Steamtown. And I know this isn’t a road race where I’m going to feel pressured to push it hard the whole way. I think it’ll just be a great excuse to enjoy the outdoors (for a long, long time….)

And then I know I need to set out my goals for the fall. I need to pull together a training plan. So far I’m going between a Pfitz plan targeting the Columbus full or trying to pull things together for a really strong half. I know the half would be harder for me, but it could push me through to that next level. Of course, the longer I put off deciding, the less time I’ll actually have to train.. :-/

First off, for those of you who were wondering, I did NOT break my running streak. I did a recovery run (HR < 153) of 6 miles on Sunday, to hit 40 for the week. My knee has been fine since. Go me!

So this week racing starts- Saturday is the Columbus Running Company One Mile Dash. I have a love-hate relationship with this race. Actually, it’s mostly hate-hate. This year I think I am particularly not ready for it, but we’ll see how it goes.

Then today, Helen posted on Facebook that she was thinking about doing the 15K in Hilliard on Sunday. Hmm… Helen always kicks my butt in shorter races but I’d love to try to keep up with her.

And of course next Saturday is our Buckeye Trail 50K. I’m looking forward to it, just today a guy at work was checking out list of races (yes, I have a map and a list of my marathon times in my pod) and happened to ask me about the Crown King Scramble. It got me even more excited about what’s to come!

I’ve mentioned before that my Mom is considering running a full marathon to celebrate her 60th birthday in 2009. She was speaking with some of her running friends about it, and someone mentioned that if they could only run one marathon, it would definitely be… NYC. My Mom trains out of the Running Room, and they offer guaranteed entry and hotel and flight packages. I think she’s seriously considering it.
Which of course leaves me with a dilemma. How do I manage to run the same race as her? I suppose I could also look into the guaranteed entry packages, although the price is absolutely horrendous. Or I could refocus my efforts (yes, again) on qualifying.

I feel that I’m doing well this year, and if Meredith’s coach ever lets her run with the gang again, I can only assume I’ll benefit from the residual effects of her enhanced performance. I suppose it’s a goal, right? And we all know I need goals to stay on track…

About a month ago, I tweeted that 40mpw seemed like a good average. Naturally, that statement was the kiss of death, and my weekly mileage has plummeted since then.

I could chalk it up to the ridiculous heat we’ve been having lately, or the fact that I’ve started having a social life again (which isn’t conducive to long runs on Saturday mornings), or I could just admit I’ve been slacking. I’ve always said I do better with a plan, and I’ve proved it yet again.

I did make it over 30mpw this week, which is good. I haven’t gotten over 40mpw since the Flying Pig, and the other day a friend expressed some mild concern that I have a 32 mile race coming up in less than a month.

I’ll admit, I just haven’t been totally motivated as of late, but I assume that will come around. This weekend is the Run for Pride 5K, which I participate in every year, so we’ll see how that goes. I had intended to try to get some speed work in prior to this race and the One Mile Dash in July, but that hasn’t quite panned out yet. I do know that after I hit the finish line on Saturday, my motivation will return. I just wish I’d be motivated BEFORE a race…