Houston Marathon Here I Come

It's official.  I've signed up for the Chevron Houston Marathon.  Now I just need my qualifying time verified and I'm in.  After 10 years without racing this distance I'm a bit apprehensive. The race "predictors" say I should be able to make sub 3:25 (7:45 pace).  I might train for near that, but depending on race conditions I'll probably shoot for 3:45 as my aggressive goal and sub 4:00 as my bare minimum goal.We'll just have to see how I make it through TransRockies, and where my training is come October/November.  A lot can happen between now and next January.

Looks like my running buddies (who are we kidding, these are my BFF girls) Liz and Rebecca are going to run the distance too.  Currently I'm debating on training with Houston Fit again.  It would definitely be a good thing for the girls as this is their first marathon.  Unfortunately, nobody can tell you, and nothing can prepare you for, the pain in the last 6 miles of a marathon.  My motivation is beginning to come back to me.

Motivation… or lack there of

Ever since the Woodlands Half my motivation for running has been low.  With low miles I skipped Hog’s Hunt which was probably a mistake.  I probably should have at least run the 25K since I need some trail miles.  Also, I dropped from 3^rd place to 9^th place in my 2013 challenge group which doesn’t really bother me too much, but I do really want the 2013 miles for the year.  The goal was to end April at 600 miles, but I’ll be just over 500.  Waaaay behind where I need to be to complete this challenge.  Taking roughly a month off has given me time for some other activities.  I started salsa lessons which is quite fun.  Taking improv workshops taught by Joe Bill at the Houston Improv Festival was amazing as were the shows.

TransRockies opened up a 6 day solo run division which I signed up for, bought plane tickets, and have now committed to.  I really need to find my motivation to get my training up to speed; the nerves are already on high.  No way to fake 3 marathons and 3 half-marathons in 6 days.  May needs to focus on getting to race weight and building my mileage back up.

My motivation is slowly coming back to me. The Boston bombing had great impact with me.  I had a dozen or so friends running Boston, and dozens of friends with friends running Boston.  Luckily it seems everyone, and their loved ones that traveled with them are ok.  It’s odd how that event was the trigger to getting my motivation back. 

This weekend I’m pacing Liz for her Houston Marathon Qualifying time at the Green 6.2.  Yesterday we did an untimed test run which went well.  I’m confident she can do it, of course then we both have to sign up for the Houston Marathon.  Time to get back into the swing of things.

Woodlands Half-Marathon Race Report

This might have been my perfect race, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.  If you read my last couple race reports you know I wasn’t very confident in my sub 1:40 (7:38 mile pace) prospects.  I guess I had the perfect storm of taking time off, perfect race weather, and the perfect course.  

Highlights

• Mile marker 1 must have been misplaced.  The timer said I ran in it in 6:47 but nobody’s GPS beeped.  When mine, and several others, chirped I was at a 7:37 pace.  Right where I needed to be.
• A group of about 10 of us all settled in about the same pace but spread out over 50 or so yards.
• Either a 7:25ish pace or a 7:50ish pace felt comfortable, anything in between felt unnatural.  I opted for faster as it’s almost always better to “hang on” than to “catch up”.
• Not sure why more people didn’t run the curves smarter.  Inside radius is much better/shorter than the outside radius of a 2-4 lane road.
• Negative splits baby!  7:29 average pace the first half, 7:24 average pace the second half.
• Fastest mile was a 7:19 at mile 9, after I had a cliff shot.  Several times afterwards I saw sub 7 minute pace on my GPS.
• That little voice that tells you to "slow down just a bit because it will be so much more comfortable and nobody will know the difference" never made an appearance.
• Finished in 1:37:47 (7:28 pace) destroying my old PR by over 5 minutes.  184^th overall (out of 3445); 141^st out of 1456 men; and 25^th out of 255 in my age/gender group.

Keys to success

• The weather; 40 degrees, clear sky, slight breeze makes for a frigid start, but an awesome run once you get moving.
• I had pretty low mileage in the 2 weeks leading up to this race.  The legs were well rested.
• Hitting the gym.  Box jumps, lunges, and core workouts had a noticeable positive effect on my running.  Still need to lose the 15 pounds I gained since I ran this race last year.
• The course.  With water stations every 1.5 miles and the mile markers at every mile, there was plenty of things to keep you motivated to the next small goal.

I’m ready to not race for awhile, but at the same time I really want to test myself in a road marathon.  It’s been over 10 years since I’ve ran one and I think I can get well under 4 hours at this point.  I haven’t signed up for the Hog’s Hunt 50K yet, but I’m pretty sure I will be doing it as a TransRockies training run.

Rodeo Run 10K Race Report

This race report is eerily similar to the Jingle Bell Run.  Met Liz down in the lobby and off we go to the rail.  Riding the light rail is always an interesting experience.  We arrive a bit later than anticipated and begin looking for Active Houston and The Icehouse runners.  Of course we find neither.  Oh well.

We line up directly under the 7 minute pace banner, only to hear the people around us discussing to “hopefully keep a 9 minute pace”.  It’s too late/crowded to move up much.  This start isn’t going to be pretty.  It does not help that the late arrivers are walking up the middle of the corral back to where they think they should be.  The first mile is like a game of Frogger, or maybe Pitfall, with constant dodging of walkers.  Mile 1 7:27 pace and lot of energy wasted weaving in and out of traffic.  One day I’ll learn to not have expectations of actually racing these big in town races.  At about the first mile mark I drop the thoughts of sub 46 minutes, and aim for a 7:35ish pace.  It’s finally starting to clear out when I hit the 5K timing mat 22:58.  Seems like sub 46 is still a possibility.  Shortly thereafter I start falling apart mentally.  My motivation for enduring the pain necessary is low.  A couple of times I caught myself “coasting”, but noticed when I did my pace was still a respectable 7:40ish pace.  I finished in 46:35 (7:29 pace),  388^th overall (out of 6310), and 54^th (out of 447) in my age/gender group.  Next up:  Sub 1:40 attempt 1 at the Woodlands Half-Marathon.

Notes:

• Bag drop was very well organized
• Light Rail is now my preferred way of getting to these downtown races.
• They needed to block off the start and force people to enter the corral from the sides
• I need to move up closer to the start line.
• Post race vendor tents were a mess.  Between the 5K and 10K starting at opposite ends and the sheer number of people it was difficult to get to the water/food tents.
• Watching a bit of the parade is always fun.
• First race I haven't bumped into someone I know.  Even finding Liz afterwards was tough.
• After Hogs Hunt I need to focus on getting my weight down.

Hot Chocolate 15K Race Report

As with all race reports, let’s start with the weather.  When we arrived it was a windy 50 degrees, which made for a chilly walk to bag drop off.  Luckily, bag drop off was indoors and plenty warm.  Unfortunately an hour or so later when we made our way to the starting line it was a windy 44 degrees.  Oh and I tripped jumping the barricade getting into the starting coral.  I thought I only hurt my pride until someone pointed out my left hand was dripping blood.  It really wasn’t that bad but I was bleeding like it was.

The first couple miles I was working a bit harder to maintain my goal pace than I thought should be necessary.  Only at the 5K mark did I realize we were running slightly uphill the entire time.  The 5K split was 23:33 (7:36 pace).  Right where I wanted to be, but working harder than I should have.  Just outside of the mile four water station was a pretty big hill (for Dallas standards) and my pace suffered accordingly.  Hit the 10K split at 47:13 (7:37 pace).  I felt pretty strong going into the final 5K.  The end was a bit tricky mentally.  At mile 8 you enter the fairgrounds, but it feels like you are done.  I constantly felt the end was just around the corner, even though my gps clearly said I had a mile to go, only to be disappointed.  I finished in 1:11:04 (7:38 pace).  Good enough for 173^th overall (out of 3759 finishers) and 20^th (out of 171) in my age/gender group.

Couple things of note:

• My little sister finished in an impressive 1:26:17 for her first ever race.  With even 5K splits and all!  I’m so proud of her.
• Gatorade in a cut doesn't feel good at all. 
• The little Dallas hills are going to be the flat sections of TransRockies, I really need to get better at hills.
  
• Treadmill hill intervals seem to be helping with recovering  on the flat / downhill sections. 
• I was right at my goal half marathon pace for this race, but there is no way I could have kept it up for another 3.8 miles.
• I’m only down 7 pounds; I need at least another 7-10 to make sub 1:40 possible.  I don’t think 3 weeks is enough time.
• Surprisingly, hot chocolate and bananas dipped in chocolate fondue both make great post-race treats.
• Not sure how I'm going to "race" the 10K; go all out, or practice half-marathon pace. 
• I really need to find my old race results, this may be my fastest 15K. 

Camping & Rocky Raccoon Volunteer Report

Originally I had planned to drive up for my noon to 6pm Rocky Raccoon HTRex aid station volunteer effort and drive back later that night. Then I went to a foam party with my improv peeps.  It turns out Joe is moving to LA in a month or so and we were discussing one last camping trip.  A couple of drinks later and the master plan was hatched.  We arrive Friday night, setup camp, and began the weekend of fun.

I’m finding volunteering at the races is a ton of fun, and a lot more hard work than it appears from the outside.  Trying to keep the food and drinks ready for the runners as they come in waves is challenging.  Just when you think you have things under control the next wave of runners comes through and you’re behind again.  I ended up staying until about 7:30 ending with traffic duty.  HTrex did a great job, everything was very well organized.  As a volunteer it is great to be able to shout out a runners request and be told exactly where something is, or on the odd occasion the request cannot be met.  It’s always great to hear things like “This is the best aid station” by many many runners. 

Joe went to Sam Houston State and is very familiar with all that Huntsville has to offer.  We headed to Zach's Bar & Grill for a beer (or two) and some fried pickles.  I know going out to dinner at a restaurant isn’t camping but this was a going away trip for Joe and he really wanted to show us some of his favorite local spots.  Joe wasn’t lying, the fried pickles were amazing.  We headed back to camp and smores were for desert.  

Overall it was great trip.  Remarkably I didn’t run at all while I was there.   If I don’t run the 50 miler next year (something I told myself I would never to again), I am definitely volunteering again.  I’ll make a  whole weekend of it either way.  I really want to see how crazy it gets out there at the midnight to 6am shift.  Next up Hot Chocolate 15K with my sister.  I can’t wait!