Cali and Jet Leg and a Long Run

Last week I was amongst the Redwoods for a work conference. This was the kind of work conference where they actually expected us to work...lots. So, sadly, I was unable to meet up with a few runners/bloggers while I was out there.

I had to accomplish two runs out there, a 5M easy run and a 10M tempo run. So I awoke early on Wednesday and made my way from our resort to the beach, down one very steep hill. And it was long as well. The plus side is that it took me to the beach where I could enjoy some flat running.

I used this same route (just adding more beach running) for my tempo run as well. I think 10M tempo runs are big deals. I try to run them faster than marathon pace (mp) by about 15 sec/M. My last 10M tempo run was a disaster (as it fell only a few days after my 10M CRIM race). So I wanted this to be an excellent run. And hills increase the difficulty of running for time.

Regardless, I just planned on banking time the first 7M (I mean, I do have to go down that monster hill before I have to go back up it) and then hope the monster hill will equal me out.
Which is exactly what I did for the first 7M. Plus, because I couldn't resist myself, I did throw up my hands and yell "Yeeeeeeeeeee!!!!" as I went down the hill because the sensation was a little like a roller coaster.

After running up the hill, I was right on pace, and I buried the pace the last two. Tempo run done.

I arrived back home at 1:30am Saturday morning after flying most of Friday, and there was no way I was going to attempt to do my 14M long run that morning as the Redhead and I had a little catching up to do. I got up at 5:10am regardless to help set up for the MSU v ND tailgate. After staying up past midnight to see MSU prevail in OT, I slept in and didn't start my long run until about 10am. After my tempo run, and tons of travel, and a long day, I was not emotionally involved in my run. I didn't want to do it. I was only engaged during miles 7 and 8, and I was begging myself to keep focused through 10. At 10, I just wanted to hold on and not flop a bad mile. Somehow I managed to do both.

And, for your occuliar pleasure, below are a few pictures I took of the monster hill, which I nicknamed the Del Mar Download (in honor of nearby Silicon Valley).









But I did get to run along this, just like the runners in the picture below.

(Belated) Boston Breakdown

Part I: Pre-Race

Briefly, I want to thank a few people who made my first Boston experience amazing. Initially, I’d like to thank Buck & Bunny (my parents) as well as Mooney & Thor (my sister and her husband) for making the trip to Bean Town (or is it Beantown?).

Next, I want to thank the B.R.A., all of whom were excellent and fun. I can understand why the Redhead and B.o.B. love them so much. I have a man crush on them from hereon out. Plus, they (as you will read later) gave me the hook-up of all hook-ups by letting me hang in the pre-race house. Yep, while others were standing around or plopping their legs on the schoolyard grounds, I had a comfortable home with no bathroom line to speak of. Jealous? You should be.

After arriving on Friday night and taking the long way to the hotel, the Redhead and I made our way to one of what would turn out to be many amazing restaurant recommendations from Failed Muffins. Then, although rightly stuffed, the Redhead found a Taco Bell (I did say it was Friday after all). So good. So full.

We awoke early Saturday to navigate the T and make our way to the expo. As Sun Runner calls it; ‘porn for runners.’ I bought a lot of stuff. Lots of stuff. What can I say, it was my first Boston. Generally, the expo was good, but not great. Very crowded and a poor layout. But it was still the Boston Marathon Expo. And one of the best things was seeing the older Boston Marathon jackets, from 1998 and such. Next we headed to Harvard. There, I demonstrated my massive intellect whilst making fun of Harvard kids by reminding them that their football team sucks and that Elle Woods dated Luke Wilson…yeah, the guy doing TV commercials now. Then we met up with Buck and Bunny for some fine Boston eating. Finally, exhausted, we went home.

Sunday I watched the Redhead destroy her 5K pr. But I’ll let her tell you about that. Then there was the successful blogger meet-up. It was awesome to meet so many runner/bloggers. Sadly, I didn’t get a chance to spend as much time with as many of you as I would have liked; and I’m sorry. Shortly after the blogger brunch, we went to see Thor and Mooney for a quick hello.

Soon thereafter the Redhead and I joined the B.R.A. for a pre-marathon pasta dinner. There the fine members of the B.R.A. treated me as if I was one of their own. Something I’m sure they only did because of their profound admiration of the Redhead. They were so kind they didn’t even ask me why I had to excuse myself to the restroom 378 times.

No sooner had the plates been swept away than I was trying to get to sleep for my first Boston Marathon. Yay!!!

Part II: Race Day

Get on the bus Gus. Again, I would be lost without the B.R.A. Under the aegis of the B.R.A. I was able to avoid the massive lines for the plastic poop buckets and prepare for the race in a comfortable home which was right across the street from the athlete village. There is nothing like being surrounded by a 'one person deep' bathroom line and countless years of Boston running experience.

One thing you don’t know about until you are doing it is this, there is a bit of distance that must be covered from the athlete village to the stating line, maybe over half a mile. And it’s a little too crowded to really use it as a warm up—just a little something to store away. (My bus driver on the right)

Despite rain and cloudy weather up to that point, race morning was without a sun in the sky and 50 degrees at the start. Such running weather is ideal for most runners, but not for Spike. Spike prefers to run under Eeyore skies. The sun, unhindered by any clouds and streaking towards is apex, is not such a good thing for me to run a marathon under.

But I was there, toeing the line, and excited as all crap. Fighter jets flew overhead and we were off. I took it easy, didn’t get caught up with the rush down the first mile or the second mile. I was playing it smart, getting water at every mile. The sun remained a steady sentinel for the first half of the race.

As I was approaching the fabled Wellesley College, the amatory girls could be heard screaming like crazy. This part of the race was amazing, but I ran swiftly through the sea of sirens without stopping—my iPod serving as Odyssues' wax. Moreover, I knew my sweet reward awaited at the finish line.

Alas, despite the massive surge in adrenaline, it was around the half-way point where I had to take stock. I knew I had to slow down, or push forward and risk a disastrous result; also, I knew I was already beginning to cramp.

I slowed a bit, and cruised into the Newton Hill, where the cramps exploded at the first uphill. I pulled aside, tried to relax and stretch them out—but nothing worked. I started moving again and could run at a slow pace, but when I tried to push it, the calfs cramped up. I blame Nitmos.

This is where the weather and the hills bogged down my race, but not my spirits. I just kept smiling knowing Buck and Bunny were at the end of mile 22. I stopped to say hi, and continued to pick off the last few miles—making sure to walk through each water station and drink and entire cup of water (and sometimes some Gatorade).

When the legs cramped up, I walked a bit. I took the time to enjoy the entire experience and the crowd. The crowds were amazing everywhere, and even more so in Boston College. Nothing like drunken college fans ‘encouraging’ you on.

Finally, I turned the last corner and began my lookout for the Redhead—whom I noticed and kissed with great excitement. Then, I made my way down the last .2 miles (or so) and finished. Exhausted, battered, thrilled, and victorious.

I didn’t kill this course by any means, it was one of my slowest time I ever run; but I didn’t let the course kill me either. I took what I could from that day with the knowledge that I’ll be back again.

A New Year That Rocked

This past weekend I loaded up the eco-friendly and “great-mileage-getting” SUV and headed south to meet up with the Redhead. It was our plan to meet halfway, avoid zombies, and ring in the New Year together. And, because this is a running blog—and because we are both currently training for marathons—we decided to incorporate a long run into our little weekend tryst.

Unfortunately for us, the cold and bitter winds known so well by the upper regions of this country followed me down to Chattanooga, bringing a decidedly Midwest winter feel to that southern town. Oh, and in case you are just entirely unaware, there here hills in them there Mountains; hills we ran up, and down, and up again.

Our planned 16M was cut short to 10M after combating harsh winds, 25 degree temps, and a hill of death. I now understand the old saying: “We went uphill both ways.” I even met Boston’s Heartbreak Hill’s little sister, Chattanooga’s Punch-in-the-gut-Hill. She isn’t very nice—by the way.

But our long run misadventure aside, we had a spectacular weekend, filled with wonderful laughs, meaningful and warm words spoken on the Walnut Street Bridge—gapping a river attempting to freeze, and a most excellent post run nap.*

I’m extremely excited to see her again next weekend as I go down to cheer on my cuz as he runs the Disney Marathon. I’m hopeful he’ll have a good race, but I’m worried his injuries may make for a very difficult run.

*And of course we hit up Taco Bell on Friday, it was the first TBF of the new year!!!

The Other Weekend Runs

After waiting around for 45 not-stretching-minutes because I was too busy practicing my AG acceptance speech, I headed out for the remaining 6M on Saturday. I had no ‘official’ time goal for this run, I just wanted to keep everything in the 7:10 to 7:30 range. The first mile was brutal, as my body was utterly unwilling to regroup for another run. I was paying for cooling down. After a 7:20 first mile, I decided to turn it up to close to 7:10, and my last five miles went like this 6:54, 6:55, 6:54, 6:50, 6:37. Apparently there was still a little left in the tank. Average pace was 6:55/M.

Sunday I decided to run with the Cows and do my 12M in the fields and among the hills (well, as much ‘hills’ as we get around here). Instead of even pretending to try to run my long run pace of 8:05 to 8:30, I thought it would be fun to turn this into a ‘keep it around 7:00 per mile’ run. Given the elevation change in this route, this should make for a solid challenge.

The miles clicked by and I felt good, fighting each hill and trying to keep the momentum as I crested. My splits went: 6:47, 6:52, 7:00, 7:01, 7:00, 7:07 (Gu/H2O), 7:04, 6:50, 7:03, 6:54 (Gu/H2O), 6:51, 6:36. Yeah, that is a negative split second half by 44 seconds. Average pace was 6:55/M; equivalent to my pace run range (6:50/M to 7:10/M).

And with that I said goodbye to easy Week 9. Now I begin the difficult part of my Bayshore training—starting with 5 repeat miles tonight.