Boston, Here I Come!

I ran the St. George Marathon on Oct. 4. It was pouring rain at the start, and poured rain the whole race, and poured rain after the race as well. But the cool weather kept me going. We started in the dark, and I couldn't see my Garmin for the first 6 miles, and I didn't dare try to turn on its light (which I never use) for fear I would accidentally shut it off. So, afraid that I was running too slowly, I ran too fast, and finished the first seven miles under a 7 min pace. I needed to maintain a 7:24 pace to qualify for Boston. I was a little worried that I had gone out too fast, but I also knew that I would need to bank some time for the Veyo Hill and others. The St. George course was more hilly than it appeared to be on the elevation map. People who had ran it before had told me that, but I kept thinking it would be all down-hill. It was, and it wasn't. After the so frequent, slight decline, even the level portions started feeling like hills at a fast pace. I felt really strong up through mile 16 and I was a few minutes ahead of pace. I thought I had it in the bag. So much so, that I even stopped and gave my sweatheart, Debbie, a kiss at mile 16 when I saw her.

Running in the Rain, St. George

But I started to get tired after that. My water-logged shoes felt heavier and heavier, even on the downhill. At mile 19 there was a small hill that killed my pace, and I really started to worry that I wasn't going to qualify for Boston. Mile by mile I grew more and more tired and more and more worried. Finally, at mile 24 I hade two miles left and only about 17 minutes to make my time. I knew I had to push myself hard to keep an 8 min pace if I was going to make it. Mile 25 took me 8:07, and I felt like I was going to die. My legs were really hurting, and it was all I could do to keep them going. "Stop" my legs were saying. "Go" my mind was saying. In the end, my mind won. I finished my last mile in 7:57, and completed the race in 3:14:10. I've never pushed myself as hard physically (and perhaps mentally) as I did for that last half mile. But the fear of coming so close and not making it was enough to keep me holding on. I was dizzy, and black spots appeared and disappeard on the perimiter of my vision as I crossed the finish line. My legs we cramped, aching, and didn't want to stand or walk. I found a chair behind the McDonalds orange punch booth, and a kid who was serving punch brough me glass after glass. It was still raining, and the post-race chills were awful. I hobbled to the clothing drop, eased into a sitting position on the grass, and put on my sweat pants and sweatshirt like a ninety-year-old man. Debbie, who had greeted me at the finish line and then gone to watch a friend finish, I couldn't find. And I shuffled around in the cold looking for her. When we finally found each other, she helped me to the car and we cranked up the heater. Ahhh. It was over. A warm shower. Clean clothes. An animal-style burger, fries, and a chocolate shake at In-N-Out Burger, a nap on the drive home, and I was feeling much better. I've never been so sore after a marathon, especially my calves. After a day or two of recovery it finally hit me--I did it! I qualified for Boston!

Swim, Bike, Run - My First Triathlon

On August 16 I did the Rush Triathlon in Rexburg, Idaho. Question: which is more fun, (a) running 26.2 miles or (b) swimming 1 biking 26 and running 6? The answer is (b). What a blast! It was a cool morning, so the water at Rainbow Lake felt warm. I was one of the few who didn't wear a wetsuit--I figured it would save me time on my first transision, and it did, which I needed because I'm not a fast swimmer. After the horn went off and we scrambled into the water kicking and splashing, elbowing and bumping. I have a hard time swimming straight and had to keep looking up to adjust, but I finished the swim in 33 min., which was good for me. Then I dizzily scampered to my bike, took of my goggles and cap, slipped on a shirt, and headed out. I didn't wear socks, but pedaled on top of my shoes until I could coast, then slipped my feet in. I really enjoyed the bike race. It was the first time I had ever raced anyone on a bike since I was a kid. I knew the course well since I had been training on it, so I knew where to excellerate and where to conserve my energy. I passed serveral people, and towards the end of the bike portion I was with a few who would pass me, then I would pass them, etc. About 100 yards before the transition area, I slipped my feet out and pedaled on top of my shoes, the jumped off and hobled to my transition spot. I slipped my running shoes on, my hat, grabbed a drink, and was off again. I averaged about a 7:00 minute pace on the run and finished in fourth place in my division at 2:41. Training for a triathlon was time-consuming, especially the bike/run days, but the race itself was a lot of fun. Much more intense than a marathon. It was a good goal to help me get in shape for the St. George Marathon in October, where I hoped to qualifay for Boston by runnning in under 3:15.

Three Marathons Later

I've run three marathons since my last post. Wish I would've stayed caught up so I could relate more of the details. But, basically, the Richmond marathon went great! The day was very cool, perfect for running, and despite a stiff breeze in the face crossing the Lee bridge, it was ideal conditions. The flat course and lower elevation contributed to help me reach my goal, and I slipped in just under three-and-a-half hours at 3:29. I was very happy with my time, and I felt pretty good. The outside of my right knee bothered me a little for the first half of the race, and at mile 14 I had to stop to urinate, and my knee stiffened up, and hurt badly when I started running again. But . . . miraculously . . . by the time the race was over, my knee didn't hurt at all, and never got sore during recovery. Go figure. I don't know how it healed, but it did.

Quite a party in Richmond.

The course was beautiful, especially along the James River.

It was fun to run with my cousin, Tyson.
It was difficult to train during the winter, but thanks to some Under Armour Cold Gear, some Yak Trax cleats, gloves, and a beanie, I was able to get in about two good runs a week during the winter. I also did some time on the tread mill, but the ones here shut off after an hour and I have to start over if I want to get in a ten-miler or longer (Oh how hard it is to start again at that point!) Sixteen miles was the longest I ran before the next marathon, but I ran it twice, and it was just enough to pull off a 3:46 at the Salt Lake City Marathon on April 19th. It was very WINDY that day. Very windy. And I pooped out at mile 18. When I saw that I wasn't going to beat my 3:29, I slowed down quite a lot. But it was fun to run in my old home town and have so much family there cheering me on. Both my knees felt great during and after the run. No pain or problems at all. My boys ran across the finish line with me at the end, which was the highlight for me.

Approaching the finish line in SLC.

My boys crossed the line with me.

I trained pretty consistently after that, until my left knee started hurting in the same place my right knee had. It was after making 8 minute miles on my 10 mile loop that it started to hurt. And then the next week, when I did my 20 miler, it really became painful. I tapered down a lot more than I wanted to during the three weeks before my next race. I was worried about it, but it went pretty well. It was my hometown race, City of Rexburg TETON DAM MARATHON, and marked the anniversary of my first marathon one year ago. The course was different from last year (more difficult, with an added hill), and perhaps a bit shorter (my Garmin measured it .4 mile short), but I managed to pull off a 3:47 finish, third place in my division, which was fun. The kids also ran a one mile "family fun run" after the race. They got their own bibs and medals, and were very excited. The downside, though, my knee hurt. I've since researched it and have decided that I have iliotibial band syndrome. So I've taken almosts two weeks off, and have been stretching and strengthening my IT band, and icing at night. My knee doesn't hurt anymore when I walk or go down stairs, so I hope when I start running again it will be okay. My next goal: under 3:15 at the ST. GEORGE MARATHON (I made the lottery!) to qualify for BOSTON. I'm going to have to work like crazy to shave that much time off. I hope I can do it!

Mile 22, I was pooped!