Chicago Marathon - October 12, 2008

We returned home last night from the Chicago Marathon after an experience I will never forget. There are many thoughts to share, so hopefully I won't bore you with my lengthy story!

A year ago last April, I began training for the Twin Cities Marathon as a onetime experience and retire from running again. What I didn't expect is how much I would enjoy running again despite several frustrating injuries that put my training on hold for up to 3 weeks at a time last summer. My injuries were rooky mistakes resulting from a poor training plan, but I carried on and ran the hot and humid Twin Cities Marathon in 4:36:47. Not a great time but I achieved my goal of running the marathon.  But I began to wonder what time I could run if I was properly trained. So, I decided to commit myself to a disciplined training program over the winter - a long term program to gradually build my mileage and avoid injury.

I decided to run two marathons in 2008; Fargo in May and Chicago in October. I wanted to spread them apart to allow ample time for recovery between races. I logged about 700 injury-free miles over the winter. I also set two goals for myself. The first was to run a sub 4 hour marathon which seemed possible at the time with proper training. But I also set a stretch goal to run a Boston Marathon qualifying time which would require me to improve my Twin Cities Marathon time by a little over an hour. The Fargo Marathon was warm (for May) and windy but I was able to reach my sub 4 hour marathon goal – just barely (3:59:53). Considering how diligently I trained over the winter, I really didn’t think I could improve my time another 25 minutes to reach my stretch goal. Then I made the best training decision of the year.

I began entering shorter races to compliment my regular weekly training to build my speed, tempo and endurance. In all, I ran 2 half marathons, a 5k, 10k, 10 mile and a 20 mile race in the span of June-September. Not only did it help improve my conditioning, but it really helped my confidence as I pushed myself as hard as I could in each race to see what my body could handle. My final race before Chicago was a 20 miler 5 weeks ago. The weather was cool and calm and I was able to maintain an 8 minute/mile pace throughout - the same pace I would need to run in Chicago to reach my stretch goal. At that point I knew I had a realistic shot to qualify for Boston. An 8 minute/mile pace would give me a 3:30 marathon and with a 5 minute buffer from my 3:35:59 qualifying requirement for Boston.

I was so excited and anxious for the Chicago Marathon I think I only slept 3-4 hours the two nights prior to the race. Chicago is one of the largest marathons from a participant standpoint and is one of the premier marathons in the world. Chicago reached the 45,000 registration capacity by June. The field of runners included the women’s Olympic marathon champion and a host of top male marathoners from Kenya.

Gail, Emily, and Arianne, a girlfriend of Emily’s who provided us a place to stay over the weekend, came along to watch the race, providing boisterous encouragement during the downtown stretches. We arrived in Grant Park where the race begins at 6:30am – 90 minutes before race time. It was still dark outside, but there were already thousands of runners entering the park in preparation for the race. I was absolutely amazed how well the race was planned and organized considering the sheer magnitude of the event. Over 10,000 volunteers lined the course from start to finish, ready to answer any questions as well as assist during the race at water stations, medical aid stations and with post race needs.

I felt confident and ready for the race, but the weather was again a concern. It was already 66 degrees at sunrise with a forecast high for the day in the mid 80’s with clear skies. Runners were seated front to back by qualifying times. There were 3,500 runners in front of me including the "elite" runners along with the top corrals "A" and "B." I was seated in the "C" corral and made sure I was near the front so I could avoid having to weave through slower traffic once underway. Behind me were close to 30,000 additional runners in coral "D" and the open coral.

A quarter of a million spectators lined the streets for the start of the race with another 1.25 million along the entire course. The start was an amazing experience as we shot down Columbus Drive and saw the spectators lining the streets and overpasses cheering on the runners. The entire race was filled with cheering spectators 2-4 rows deep on each side of the street. The constant encouragement was a huge help as the temperatures began to rise. I had already worked up a good sweat by mile 3, so I knew dehydration and fluid intake were going to be critical. Chicago took a lot of flack last year because they ran out of water at several stages of the race, but they did a fantastic job this year. There were more than enough water stations throughout the course every 2 miles. The only problem was that on hot days your body can’t process the water you drink as fast as you sweat it out, so dehydration was inevitable. I ran past a handful of water stations because the water in my stomach was still sloshing around from the last station, and there was no room to add more without feeling bloated and uncomfortable.

The marathon course winds through Chicago’s 3 major sports venues - north to Wrigley Field, west to the United Center, and South to US Cellular Field before heading back north to Grant Park and the finish line. All was going as planned and I was still on pace for a 3:30 marathon heading into mile twenty as we passed through China Town and turned south toward US Cellular Field. This was a tough stretch as the temperature was now in the low 80’s with no protection from direct sunlight. Many of the runners ahead of me began to fall way off the pace, and the race became somewhat of an obstacle course weaving through slower traffic – many even walking at this point. My pace also slowed to an 8:15/mile pace but I kept pushing on as I passed hundreds of runners suffering from the distance and the elements. I kept telling myself “you worked too hard for this to give in to the pain now.”

We reached the furthest point south (35^th Street) at mile 23 and finally turned north on Michigan avenue on the home stretch. As I saw the tall downtown buildings getting closer and closer, I knew the end was near, but the last few miles seems like forever. At this point, I knew I had lost my chance at a 3:30 finish, but more importantly I knew I still had a little cushion to work with to qualify for Boston. I ran mile 25 and 26 around an 8:45 pace which was the best I could muster before turning right onto Roosevelt Road just 0.3 miles from the finish line. Roosevelt Road is a strategically placed hill before making the final turn north on Columbus Drive. As I made the final turn left on Columbus Drive, I could see the finish line banner in front of me. The finish was lined with bleachers on both sides and thousands of cheering spectators. I crossed the finish line with a time of 3:34:16 - one minute 43 seconds better than the Boston qualifying time I needed to achieve. I finished 2,524 overall out of 31,401 finishers and 111^th in my age group of over 3,000 runners.

During my training runs, I often tried to envision what it would be like to cross the finish line knowing I had achieved a Boston marathon qualifying time. Would I pump my fist into the air and enjoy the moment like those amazing elite runners or would I be overcome with emotion? Well, it was neither. In fact, all I remember of the final stretch is a glazed vision of the finish line banner until I could no longer see it because it was behind me. I don’t remember hearing the crowd noise or the other runners around me. I do remember hearing an announcement over the loud speaker that the weather alert warning had been raised from yellow to red, but my race was over.

When you cross the finish line, they funnel the runners up Columbus to the far end of Grant Park where the family reunite area is located. It took about 15 minutes to reach this area, but during this walk everything slowly came into focus and I was overcome with emotion. The cold winter runs, wet summer runs, and lonely 20 mile runs had all culminated in this…a chance to run in the oldest and most prestigious marathon in the world – the 113^th running of the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 20th! I need to submit my application to the Boston Athletic Association for age and race time validation. This process apparently takes up to 4 weeks and there is a 25,000 limit to the number of runners accepted each year, so I will be submitting my application/registration today!

http://results.active.com/pages/searchform.jsp?rsID=71448

Ready to Rock 20 Mile - September 6, 2008

As a tune up for the Chicago Marathon next month I used this race as a gauge for what I can expect next month.  My long range goal is to run a Boston Marathon qualifying time in Chicago but I need to significantly improve upon my 4 hour time I set 4 months ago in Fargo.  My goal in this race was to see if I can maintain my Projected marathon pace of 8 minutes/mile for the full 20 miles of this race.

It was an absolutely beautiful morning for a long race.  Sunny but not warm with light winds.  The course headed south from White Bear Lake HS for a few miles and then turned north toward Bald Eagle Lake.  Two full loops around Bald Eagle and then back to the finish at White Bear Lake HS.

The first couple miles seemed very easy and I felt myself holding back.  When we got to the lake around mile 3 I felt good.  I had my own personal coach/trainer with me.  I brought Gail and her bike along.  Gail followed me along the course on her bike snapping pictures and providing me frozen banana slices every other mile or so.  This was my big experiment for the race.  I really struggle finding nourishment that doesn't upset my stomach during marathons.  The gels, bars and other products have not worked for me. 

One lap around the lake complete and only 8 more miles to go!  I help my pace at 8 minutes/mile - mile after mile.  The bananas were working as well!  No upset stomach and they did provide the nurishment I needed.  The only problem is I don't think they will let Gail follow me on bike in Chicago!

As the mile wound down my confidence that I could maintain this pace for a full marathon began to grow.  My final mile back to the high school was a 7:30 pace.  My overall time for the race was 2:39:02 (7:57/mile).  It worked!  I maintained my goal pace.  Yes, I will have 6.2 additional miles to maintain this pace in Chicago which won't be easy, but for the first time in my training I really feel like I have a good shot at it!

I finished 28th of 157 finishers and 5th of 13 in my age group.

http://www.finalstretch.com/results/ready_to_rock/2008_20_mile_overall.htm

Urban Wildland Half Marathon - August 2, 2008

This was my second and last half marathon of the summer taking place in Richfield. This race had a little bit of everything (gravel trails, paved trails and residential streets. The course was very scenic as it traveled through 4 different wild land areas - surprising to find in the middle of Richfield by the way. Apparently Runner's World magazine rated this race the 4th best half marathon in the country.

I was a little concerned about the weather which has been very hot and humid this past week. The forecast high today was 90, but the race started bright and early at 7am to beat the worst of the heat. Actually it wasn't too bad until the last 3-4 miles. Much of the course was shaded with residential trees and tree cover in the wild land areas.

Anyway, things went well. I ran a 1:48 half marathon in St Cloud in April and wanted to run under 1:40 today. I ran the first mile in 7:25 and simply held this pace through the entire race finishing in 1:37:20. I tried to pick up the pace over the last 3 miles but with the heat, my body didn't respond but I didn't fall off the pace either. Gail and Emily tracked me on the course providing encouragement along the way.

I finished 105th out of 1,104 runners and 8th of 73 in my age group.

Just two more races this season! A 20 mile tune up September 6th in White Bear Lake and the Chicago Marathon on October 12th. Will a Boston Marathon qualifying time be a possibility? Probably still a long shot this year, but with two more months of injury-free training, good health, determination/will power, nice weather in Chicago, along with a large number of spectators providing race day encouragement - who knows!

http://www.onlineraceresults.com/race/view_race.php?race_id=8486&relist_record_type=result&lower_bound=0&upper_bound=1105&use_previous_sql=1&group_by=default#racetop

Monticello Riverfest 5k - July 12, 2008

I ran my very first 5k this morning and just like my first 10k last month I was petrified about the pace.  This will likely be my shortest road racing distance and therefore my fastest race pace.  I have been dealing with a left achilles injury.  Nothing serious but it is very tight until I loosen up.  Made sure I warmed up thoroughly for this one.  I went into this race with a goal to run under 20 minutes.

It was a beautiful day.  The course was an out and back course which I later found out is not my favorite kind of race.  The sharp 180 degree turn at the far end slows you down momentarily and then you immediately need to push hard to get back into rhythm and pace.  Anyway, my heart was racing (over 110bpm) before the gun went off.

I ran a 6:23 first mile and was breathing heavily (gasping may be a better word).  On the way back I tried to maintain my form and just keep pushing.  as I hit the final straightaway I glanced at my Garmin several times and realized I was either going to just make my goal or just miss it.  I crossed the finish line in a time of 19:57 beating my goal by just 3 seconds!  My overall race pace was 6:25 so I successfully maintained my pace throughout the race.  I finished 21st overall among 299 runners and 2nd in my age group of 8 men.  This will be my only 5k for the year, but it was exciting!

http://www.myvira.com/

Time to Fly 10k - June 28, 2008

This was my first 10k ever and I was a little nervous knowing the pace was going to be much faster than what I have been used to.  This race took place on Harriet Island near Downtown St Paul.  The weather was nice although we had a brief shower rain shower after the start.  I wanted to run a sub 7 minute pace hoping my long distance endurance would allow me to keep my pace throughout.  I just didn't know what to expect.

My first mile pace was 6:52 and I was really breathing hard.  My heart rate was already thumping before the race began from my nervous energy.  I held my pace until mile 3 when it slipped to 7:04.  I was half way and returning to home.  I pushed harder to get back on pace.  The course went through a winding path in the woods that was partially unpaved and uneven.  Then we were back on the road heading to the finish line.  I had a mile and a half to go but was back on pace.  I was exhausted and the tenths of a mile were rolling by slowly.  I reached a crest in the road where the finish line could be seen to my left.  The final 0.3 miles were slightly downhill and I pushed with everything I had left.

My time was 42:43 (6:53/mile pace) and good enough for 26th place overall among 412 finishers.  I also finished 3rd among 12 in my age group.  I was thrilled but exhausted after the race.   

http://onlineraceresults.com/race/view_race.php?race_id=8279&relist_record_type=result&lower_bound=0&upper_bound=412&use_previous_sql=1&group_by=default#racetop

Northern Lakes 10 Mile Race - May 31, 2008

Ran my first 10 mile race around Bald Eagle Lake.  Wasn't sure how my legs would respond as I haven't run two races so close together before - particularly after a marathon.  With Fargo just two weeks behind me I decided to run a decent pace but not kill myself.  I ran a 7:40 pace the first few miles and then began to push the pace as my legs felt pretty good.  Ran a 7:25 pace for most of the 2nd half of the race with the final mile at 7:12.  I finished 25th overall among 197 runners and 3rd in my age group of 22 runners.  I really enjoyed the race and have decided to enter other small local races of varying distances.

http://www.finalstretch.com/races/northern_lakes_run/results/2008.htm

Scheels Fargo Marathon - May 17, 2008

We are back from our trip to beautiful Fargo where I ran the Fargo Marathon. Emily and Andrew made the trip with us and were a huge help to Gail in navigating the course as well as a huge help to me with their cheers and enthusiasm. Despite warmer than expected temperatures and head-on gale force winds during miles 20- 24, the weather was fairly nice. Race temp was 61 at the start and 70 at the finish, much improved from the tropical Twin Cities Marathon last October, but with the sun beating down all day and our unseasonably cool spring, it felt a bit warmer to me than it really was. The humidity was low which also helped.

It was a weird marathon in that it was 3 races in one.  2000 of us ran the full marathon but there were another 8000 who ran either the half marathon or the 4-person marathon relay.  But we all started the race together at the same time and same course other than the half marathon eventually broke off our course.  As we passed each leg of the marathon relay I would notice runners on the course looking fresh as a daisy and then I realized it was just a new runner several hundred yards into their 6.5 mile leg of the relay.

Anyway, my goal was to run my first sub 4-hour marathon and I did it just barely (by 7 seconds!). I also finished 439th among 1,440 who actually finished the marathon and 39th of 109 men in my age class (50-55). My finishing time was 3:59:53, which looks good on paper. I wish I could say I had to pick up the pace and finish strong to achieve this, but the truth is I was hanging on for dear life during the final 5 grueling miles - most of which were run into a strong headwind with fine pieces of sand in the air that tended to blind you if you didn't squint while you ran. My pace really fell off dramatically and I was literally running on fumes those last 5 miles.

Now the fun part of the race. The race began just outside the Fargo Dome. I felt great through the first 18 miles, running a consistent 8:35/mile pace which translates into a 3:46 marathon. I felt like I was on cruise control and could maintain this pace for the entire race. never felt like I was pushing too hard or wasting precious energy. Then I sensed one of my pistons was occasionally misfiring. The Fargo course was actually very interesting as we traversed through parks, golf courses, scenic river roads, quaint business districts and beautiful residential areas.

Since I already shared my actual time, you now know that my solid and consistent pace felt apart near the end.  I lost almost a minute/mile to my pace in miles 19-21, averaging about a 9:30 pace. Then I really hit the wall for the last 5 miles, running a 10:20 pace. My body wasn't terribly sore or hobbled, but I just had nothing left in the tank no matter how much water I drank or Cliff Bar bites I took to generate some energy. The wind and sun took their toll as well and it was all I could do to drag myself back to the Fargo Dome where the final 70 yards finished inside the Dome.

All in all, I am very happy to have achieved the sub 4 hour goal I set for myself, but also a little disappointed as I fooled myself during the race that I was going to cross the line around 3:50 or better based on how I felt through the majority of the race. This late race endurance thing is something I will need to improve upon this summer as I train for the Chicago Marathon in mid October.

http://www.onlineraceresults.com/race/view_race.php?race_id=7814&relist_record_type=result&lower_bound=0&upper_bound=1427&use_previous_sql=1&group_by=default#racetop

Earth Day Half Marathon - April 19, 2008

This morning I competed in the Earth Day Half Marathon in St Cloud. The weather was almost perfect running weather with the temp in the mid 40's.

This was my second race after completing the Twin Cities Marathon last October. I was dealing with a cold but it didn't bother me much. I finished the race in 1:48:41 - good for 533 place overall among 1,773 finishers of all ages. I had hoped to run in the 1:55-1:58 range so I was pleased and a little surprised by my time.

The thing that pleased me the most was that I was able to push my pace throughout the race. I ran the first 3 miles in a mid 8:30/mile pace, the mid-race miles in the 8:15 range, and my final 4 miles in 7:45 with my best mile - mile 13 in 7:31. If I maintained my half marathon pace for a full marathon, my time would be just 2 minutes short of my age group Boston Marathon qualifying time of 3:35:59. Trouble is, I could not maintain that pace today. But I have 4 years to try. Plus, when I move to the 55-60 age group, I buy an additional 5 minutes of qualifying time to play with.

Anyway, next stop on the race trail is Fargo on May 17th and the Fargo Marathon. My goal is to break 4 hours. I ran 4:37 at the Twin Cities last October so I think this is very achievable if the weather cooperates. Although tired, I felt strong throughout the race today. The 600 training miles I logged over the winter are definitely paying off. Next Saturday is my final long training run of 18 miles, followed by 3 weeks of tapering and hopefully fresh legs for the marathon.

http://www.onlineraceresults.com/race/view_race.php?race_id=7503&relist_record_type=result&lower_bound=0&upper_bound=1774&use_previous_sql=1&group_by=default#racetop