There's No Place Like Home

If there was any worry that I wouldn't be motivated to run after my extended layoff, the past hour has extinguished that idea completely. I showed up early to the CIM finish line to watch the elites finish before starting my shift at the Chips chow tent. I've never really been a spectator before, so I didn't really know what to expect.

Watching the top men finishers approach the finish, soaked and in obvious pain from the cold, wet conditions, have me the strangest feeling. I got an incredible urge to be soaked, achy, and an hour from finishing marathon number six.

That intense desire is more for the incredible feeling at the finish line. That combination of pain, sweat and accomplishment is unrivaled by anything else. Watching the elites finish CIM with the most agonized race faces on gave me that peculiar, teary-eyed longing for my own finish line.

In a word, I'm an addict. There's no place like a marathon finish line!

Top male (back) and male relay (front) finishers approach the finish line, at 2:13

The Day of Reckoning Has Arrived

Tomorrow, thousands of people will run the California International Marathon. I won't be one of them. It is still surreal that something I was so excited about, working so hard towards, is going to come and go so easily.

I haven't been biting my nails all week watching the weather reports of an upcoming "stormageddon," and neither have I been carefully planning and executing a pre-race-week meal plan. I haven't been making sure I get extra sleep, and I haven't been checking and re-checking my gear and race fueling plan.

I worked the Expo today, staffing the Buffalo Chips booth where we weighed in the Clydesdales and Athenas, and sold Chips gear and memberships. I started off by picking up my race packet and turing in my timing chip. I perused the booths, feeling much like an interloper, only recognizable as such from the waist down (and not recognizable when in front of a table).

The fact remains that it'll be a while before I'll be as well-trained, as ready to make a BQ attempt, as I was the day before I broke my leg six weeks ago. Fresh from three nearly-back to back marathons in a year, I was handling milage well and really making strides toward achieving my speed goals. Maybe it won't take as long as I think to get back to that place, but I don't want to assume it will be easy. Maybe I shouldn't be a pessimist, but I really don't want to have my hopes up and just be severely disappointed when I can't run a sub-1:40 half or a sub-3:50 full in the next six months.

On the plus side, tomorrow's CIM brings an opportunity to support my team. I'll be at the finish line Buffalo Chips booth feeding our finishers, hearing their race stories. I have quite a few friends with high goals for tomorrow, and I'm excited to see how they do.

Tomorrow also brings the Buffalo Bash, our annual holiday/awards banquet. I didn't attend last year,  since I didn't feel like a "real" Chip yet, which makes me all the more excited to attend this year.

Next year, I know I'll run the San Francisco Marathon in June. I know I'll be able to finish in under 4:00, and I hope I'm able to PR. Aside from that, who know. Maybe I'll be able to run a spring half, but I doubt I'll run a spring full marathon like I'd planned. I very unlikely to both complete my 10 marathons by 30 goal, and qualify for Boston. Qualifying for Boston seems more likely. 10 by 30 was an arbitrary, Monk-ish goal anyway...

Again, (it) Goes Unnoticed

Okay, throwback music references aside, I have been out of town on and off for work for the past week. The resulting insanity on my schedule caused me to forget to update last week, and cut into my running as well. Okay, those are excuses. I don't have any room for those. I'll say it here so I have to stick to it: I will keep up with my training, and I will update my blog!

I did a fantastic Tempo Thursday with the group two Thursdays ago. It kicked my butt, but I felt faster than ever. I am super excited to do these workouts every week, and was bummed to miss last week because I was driving to San Francisco. I got in an abbreviated tempo workout that morning, but it wasn't the same.

I did an appauling job over the weekend of getting runs in. I've been doing a good job on the long runs thus far in CIM training, but this weekend I let it go a bit. I had a fun time Friday night, slept in until pretty late on Saturday, and didn't run until around noon. I got to run the Los Gatos Creek Trail, which was pretty (no American River Parkway, but nice enough).

Photo Courtesy http://www.sjparks.org/Trails/LosGatos/LosGatosPhotos.asp

Long story made short, I did a ten miler. I'd been prescribed a 17 miler, and I would have been happy with 15. I did a fast 15 the weekend before, even increasing speed over the last few miles. I'd never done that before! I'll get back to business this weekend, with the Buffalo Stampede 10 Mile Race, then a few extra at the end.

Tempo Thursday is tomorrow, and to prove my commitment and bad-assery, I will be going to Tempo Thursday, then jetting to my office for a 7:30 meeting. For the sake of the folks in my meeting, I hope I'm done in time to change. It would be even better if I can employ baby wipes first...

Here are my updated stats. I'm just doing annual, since I had two weeks in there:
Total Miles in 2012: 968

San Francisco Marathon Training: Kicking Off With a Race!

I just signed up for a race to kick off my San Francisco Marathon training: the Fair Oaks Sun Run. During the hill workout on Saturday, several people talked about this notoriously hilly race, which is supposed to be a very beautiful course, and a very challenging one. I don't expect to set any records, and I'm glad that this race is a non-standard distance (5 miles) so that I don't feel the need to achieve a certain time. I think finishing this race will help mentally prepare me for training for a (somewhat) hilly marathon, and show me that I can actually run hills in a race without dying. Or at least I hope I can, or I wont be running SF after all! As an added benefit, the race is through Old Fair Oaks, which is near where my mom grew up. I love that part of the CIM course, because I feel that in some way, she is watching me. It will be nice to be out there, thinking of her, while doing this race. Marathon training officially begins Monday, but I will call this race my unofficial start!

Race Report: CIM (or, another one bites the dust)

What can I say about the 2011 California International Marathon, my third attempt at the distance? "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." No, that has been used before. How about: "I left it all on the field"? Nope, not that one either. Let us try this one (from my not-so-favorite, Woody Allen): "Eighty percent of success is showing up." Yep, that is a good start.

As I mentioned in my last post, I woke up Saturday with a cold. Or the beginnings of a cold. My throat was tight, but I didn't yet have a fever, headache, cough, etc. So it would still be fine if I ran the marathon, right? On Sunday morning, I was not so sure. I didn't sleep very well, and was near delirium when I got up at 3:30AM. I couldn't decide what to eat, I felt awful, I was tired. But I went anyway. On the bus to the start in Folsom, I wasn't sure how much longer I could stay awake. When we finally arrived at the start, it was so cold I thought I might freeze.

But at 6:55 or so, I took off my jacket, packed it in my gear check bag, and lined up at the start. I felt better, at least a little bit. And ready to run.

The first half went pretty well. I got through Folsom, the outskirts, and Fair Oaks just fine. I kept a stead 8:35-8:50 or so pace, well within my goal of 8:45 overall (for a 3:50 finish). I felt good. At the hour mark, I forgot to take my Day Quill, but I remembered about twenty minutes later. I kept taking my Gu and drinking water about when I should.

My average time for the first 5.9 miles was a too-fast 8:25 per mile, well under my goal pace. I figured this was okay, due to the downhill of the first few miles. I got to the halfway point at 1:53, for 8:37 average to that point, which was well within my goal of finishing in 3:50.

Things went downhill from there, pun intended. By the 20 mile mark, I was at 2:58:14, or 8:54 average pace. At that point, it was still possible to come in within a good range of my second goal, around 3:55.

Well, the last 10k was not my friend, to say the least. I really started to feel the effects of my cold, and just couldn't get back to my goal speed of 8:45, or even the slow end of my speed range, 9:00 per mile. I was checking my watch, seeing my speed slowing, and trying to pull it back in, but I just couldn't seem to maintain. At the H Street Bridge, the 3:55 group came and went, though I did stay with them for a mile or so. I was fine with that. I don't need to PR every race, especially with a cold.

John made a good assessment of my running issues yesterday after the race. I am a bit of a quitter. I can go out a train and get a good time in a race, but usually just when conditions are right. At CIM last year for example, I felt sick, and I just couldn't mentally come to terms with the ten miles I had left to run, so I walked them. I probably could have physically run, but mentally I gave up. Yesterday, this was not the case. I didn't quit, for once.

I haven't looked at my Garmin results, but I know that I did the last half much slower than the first, and I ran the last 10k well below my goal. But I kept running, and I made sure that I kept enough speed up that the 4:00 pace group wouldn't pass me (or that I could hang on to them if they caught me). Once I saw the park, I picked it up, and that really made the difference. I don't know how much faster I ran in that last half mile or so, but I know that it helped me come in twenty seconds under the four hour mark. And that 20 seconds is everything!

The bottom line is, I could have done better, had I not been sick. I actually was pretty well prepared. But I was sick, so I didn't get a PR. But I also didn't quit, which helped me at least finish under four hours. I call that a victory.

For the books, here are my results:
Chip time: 3:59:40
Average Speed: 9:09/mile

Race Strategy, Race Prep

Race Strategy
Ah, the all important time when I figure out what the *$#@ I'm doing in the race! I have been ignoring the fact that I have a marathon coming up for the most part- I've done my miles, but I've been taking it easy on pre-race strategizing so far. It is time for that to change.

Of course, I would like to PR tomorrow. Who doesn't want to PR in every race, right? To do that, I would need to finish in under 3:56:44. That means better than 9:01 per mile. But I really don't want to have that number in my head. I want a more ambitions number, with 9:01 as the top of my pace range.

The questions is, then, what is a goal that I would like to achieve, that isn't far from  reality for my training and my recent 2:55 finish (8:45/mile) at the Clarksburg 20? If I go with my Clarksburg pace, I would finish in 3:49:24. That would actually be fantastic. I would love to finish in under 3:50. I wasn't completely dead at the end of Clarksburg, so perhaps 8:45 is an achievable pace for CIM.

So here we go with goals:

Goal 1: Finish under 3:50 (8:45/mile pace)
Goal 2: Finish under 3:56:44 (new PR- 9:01/mile)
Goal 3: Finish under 4:00 (9:09/mile pace)

Are those goals ambitious enough? My gut feeling is yes. When I add in the fact that I could hardly swallow when I woke up this morning (which resolved with a full dose of DayQuill), I think those goals are just fine.

Here are splits for Goal 1.

Race Prep
Tomorrow will have a high of 60, low of 39, and it should be sunny. Shorts, short sleeve shirt, hat and sunglasses. I'll still have to figure out how to see in the morning, and have sunglasses with me (too dark to wear before sunrise), but I will manage I think.

The pre-race food plan is to eat when I get up- maybe toast or a waffle. Take a pre-cooked portion of  oatmeal with me, plus a banana. Eat that "real" breakfast around 5:45, when I should be just getting to the start on the bus. I think I'll take coffee with me on the bus, but I will need to find disposable cups to accomplish that.

During the race, I will have Gu at 2 miles, Gu Chomps at 7 miles, Gu at 12, Chomps at 17, and Gu again at 22 miles. I'll keep those in my water belt, which I'll use most of the time. Since it only holds 20 ounces, I'll use the aid stations as well.

Okay, I think I'm ready! Marathon 3, here I come!

Spectator Guide- You Know You Want To!

I compiled and shared this information last year, so I figured I might as well do it again this year. It may be silly, because I doubt anyone reads this blog but me, and John doesn't need spectator information since he is doing the relay tomorrow. Anyway, here goes.

First off, here is a map of the entire course:

Credit: RunCIM.org

Next, a link to road closure information. Very important.

The list of CIM-recommended spectator locations is on this page. On the list, Oak Avenue and Fair Oaks, Old Town Fair Oaks, Fair Oaks and Manzanita, Loehmann's Plaza, and the finish at the Capitol. Plus, of course, anywhere on J Street before Alhambra, or L Street from Alhambra to the Capitol.

Of course, the CIM provides live runner tracking again this year. It is available here. My bib number is 1022.

Last Week of Workouts (Week 18 Summary)

Tuesday, I ran with the trusty Buffalo Chips. Our workout was 15 min easy, 4 x 20 sec strides, 8 x 300 min fast/1 min easy, 15 min slow jog to cooldown.

Thursday, John and I ran 3 miles slow down Stonegate, after a large pasta dinner.

Friday, John and I ran 3 miles slow down Stonegate, before breakfast. Only one person tried to run us over!

Saturday, I'll practice sitting on my butt and watching TV/reading, in anticipation of Sunday afternoon's grueling program of recovery.

Before CIM, here are my totals:
Miles this week: 10
Miles in 2011: 957 

Taper?

I'm officially in full-taper-mode, but for some reason, I just feel like I'm taking a break from running. Sure, I went to Buffalo Chips yesterday and did six miles (strides, 2-1000s hard, and 2 miles at Marathon Pace), but with the shorter weekday runs, and very short "long" Sunday runs, I just feel like I'm not training.

I have almost forgotten that CIM is the Sunday after this one. Yikes! I have to remind myself of it constantly. Maybe it is my hectic schedule at work, or the fact that I'm not going for a PR this time, just trying to finish under four hours. I don't know what it is, but I am having trouble thinking of this as a taper- it feel more like a break.

In other news, I'm in full holiday baking mode. Good thing I have a carb-load week coming up!

Race prep

On Sunday, I'll be running the Urban Cow Half Marathon. It is supposed to be a race prediction/tune up race for CIM. The problem is, I've been a bit light in my speed training. I did well at Buffalo Chips last week, but was pretty slim in the speedwork department for the month or so of training before.

What does this mean? My first guess is that I won't achieve a PR, or perhaps even match my time from last year's race (my current PR of 1:43). After considering my training last year versus this year, I'm not as certain.

Last year, I took most of the summer off, and started the CIM training in early August at very low mileage. Plus, I had done a few half marathons and no marathons. I'd never done speedwork before.

This year, I've trained consistently (aside from March and April), run two marathons in the past year (December and March), and consistently kept up my weekend long run mileage at at least 10 miles. Plus, in the past two months I've done much more mileage than I had at this point in my training last year.

So am I better prepared, or worse? Only the race will tell.

Race Goal 1: Break 1:40
Race Goal 2: PR (Under 1:43:13)
Race Goal 3: Under 1:45

Bottom Line: Understand where I am in training, and how hard I need to work for the next two months.

CIM Training Week 8-ish Summary

I did a pretty good job this week! This was one of my easier weeks in my training plan (6 miles easy four time), but I didn't pay attention to that- mostly because taking it easy this week (before the Urban Cow Half) makes more sense. Here is what I did:

Monday: abs
Tuesday: 5.5 speed work with Buffalo Chips (warm, 12x200 at ~6:15/mile pace with 1 minute recovery, jog 5 minutes, 1 mile at marathon pace ~9:15, cool)
Wednesday: weights and legs
Thursday: off
Friday: 8.5 on the Parkway (in 85-90 degree heat)
Saturday: off
Sunday: 10 on the parkway

Miles this week: 24
Miles in 2011: 676

And as for my goal of running 1000 miles in 2011 (before CIM)... That means about 300 miles plus the CIM by the first week of December.Ten weeks, average of 30 miles a week will do it, and my training plan will get me there before CIM! Yes!

Weekly Summary

At the end of what is loosely termed "Week One" of marathon training, I did a somewhat respectible 20 miles. I hope to have it closer to 30 in the next week or two.

Monday: Strength/cross train
Wednesday: 5 miles
Thursday: 5 miles- Tempo
Sunday: 10 miles (slow, because I donated blood Friday)

Miles this week: 20
Miles in 2011: 520

There are 17 weeks until CIM. If I average 30 miles a week for the 16 weeks before the week of CIM, I will hit 1000 for the year by the week of CIM. 

Training Plan

It is that time again! I need to get by butt in gear and find a training plan for the CIM. I don't think I'll follow my plan from the group last year, since I'm better trained starting training than I was then.

I've run a few SmartCoach plans with different inputs, and haven't decided which to choose.

I've been doing around 20 miles a week for the past few months. But I want to start doing more, and I don't want my training program based on lower starting mileage. I'm tempted to tell SmartCoach that I'm running 26-30 or so, so that I will have a more challenging program.

Whatever route I choose, I started today with a quick 5 mile run. My legs somehow hurt less while running than they do when walking.

I have big news!

Made anxious by the impending deadline for early bird (read: cheaper) registration, and in dire need of some direction and a goal, I made a big decision last night. I signed up for the California International Marathon, again.

Do I want to run another marathon this year? Do I want to do CIM again, after what happened last year? Those questions floated in my mind, making a decision difficult. The fact that prices went up by around $20 this morning made the decision much easier.

Another consideration- cost of travel. I've been looking into other races out of town this summer and fall, and have been taken aback by the cost of hotels, flight or gas, and race registration. Plus, dinner out the night before and lunch after the race. I like racing out of town, but I can't plan on every race being a big adventure. Doing the CIM will cost far less than say, the Portland Marathon. Portland may be fun, but I did already do a travel marathon this year.

So, I will have to start planning for the fall. Do I want to join the Fleet Feet Training group again, to keep me on track? How will the training program that I am running this fall interfere? What races will I do to prepare? When should I start training?

I am excited to finally have a real goal race to look forward to, and excited to be able to have a re-do at my hometown marathon.