Just 7 miles ...

This morning's training run:


The 7 mile run was supposed to start at 7AM. Due to the Holiday, only about half the Group was there this morning. And, neither of the Group 7 pace leaders showed up. Chris had planned on running with Group 7 this week anyway, and now became the default pace leader.

We had gone about 1 mile when one of the women in the group said, "this pace seems really slow." Then Chris explained that no, the pace was NOT slow. It was the correct LD training pace for Group 7. Peeps were truly amazed. Everyone was saying things like, "Are you sure? We always run faster than this!" Chris then stated that the reason he was running with Group 7 was that he had been hearing over and over that this group was not running at the correct pace. He wanted to put a stop to the racing, and get the group back on track.

When we stopped for a water break, he told everyone to stop their watches. One VERY argumentative woman said, "No. We have to include all our breaks in our total time." Chris told us all that the breaks should NOT be included in the pace in a training run. She argued about it for awhile. She finally ended up saying that she was not going to do it this way. The other way was better and how was she going to get faster if she didn't run faster? He then explained about doing speed-work during the week; NOT during the weekend long runs. He even detailed a really nice speed workout which I will try on Monday. She was still visibly annoyed.

As we ran on, everyone was talking and enjoying the run more than this group ever has. At mile 4.5, I noticed that argumentative woman had disappeared. I told Chris she was missing. No one had seen her leave, and she hadn't said anything to anyone. So Chris told us to keep going at the correct pace, and he ran off to find her. After he left, all of us there were talking about how much better the run felt today. No one was tired at all. No one was pushing. Peeps were really surprised that running could feel this good.

Chris caught back up with us at about mile 5.5. He had not found her. We could only assume that she had taken off to catch up and run with Group 6. Or had just gone home mad. So, we ran on. It was a really really good 7 miles. The whole group really enjoyed it. The pity is that nether pace group leader was there. Also, other than that one woman, none of the really bad pace pushers was there either. So, I do not anticipate that anything in that Group will change. I won't be running with them for the 20 miler. No way.

And, I did ask Chris what he thought about my running the Half marathon on 12/21 and then 23 mile training run on 12/27. He said it should be fine as long as I run the half marathon at my training pace. He told me that I should not, under any circumstances, try to race it. I had a real deja vu moment when he said that. I had just asked Coach Ken the same question the day before, and had received the same answer.

I was hoping for a different one.

A Half-Marathon on Thanksgiving Day

Today was the Outback Distance Classic 1/2 Marathon. There were 3 races this morning. The half-marathon and a 6K which were to start together at 8:00, then split apart at mile one. And a one-mile "Joey" fun run at 8:05. Starting weather - 41 degrees, 71% humidity. Ending weather - 62 degrees, 42% humidity. Clear blue skies and brilliant sun throughout the race.


Jesse and me before the run.





Several people from my marathon training group arranged to meet up at 7:20 near the Port-a-Potties. Jesse was running with me; and we arrived at 7:16 and got in the Port-a-Potty line. It was a seriously bad situation. There were far too few potties for the thousands of people there this morning. We were in line for over 20 min; and the line stretched out forever behind us. Really bad planning.


Anyway, we met up with my friends and made our way over to the starting line. Jayne was nowhere to be seen. Just before the gun went off, we spotted Jayne through the crowd. She made her way over to join the rest of us. Patricia, pace group 8 leader, said that this run should be for fun, not time. I told her that I only had one time goal - to finish in under 3 hours. My official time at the Marine Corps half-marathon was 3:02:47.

Lauren: "I believe we could do this in 2:45."
Me: "You think so?"
Jayne: "Lauren, you are giving alcohol to an alcoholic here. Stop it before Linda pulls out her shot glass."

The Gun. We can't move. There are so many people crowded together, that forward motion is impossible. But, this race is chip timed, so we don't really care. Finally we cross the starting mats; and I start my Garmin. I notice we are almost 2 min behind the gun time.

The beginning of the race is the usual crowded mess of walkers and strollers who started out too far up front. We try to maneuver around them. And then, suddenly there is yelling coming from behind us. People are shouting, "get out of the way!" What? There is a group of bicycle riders out on a morning training run who made, let's assume, a logistical error and were riding right through the start of the race. They rode over the starting mats and were attempting to blast through over 2000 runners! Ridiculous.

Finally, we get to the mile one marker where the 6K runners turn right; and, we turn left. A collective sigh of relief as the crowd thins out. The 1st water table comes in view at 1.5 miles. During the Marine Corps half marathon, I became dehydrated. So, for this race, I was determined to grab a cup of water every water station on the route. And, I did here. There were also a few Port-a-potties here. Several in our group who did not stand in the long lines earlier, stopped. Jesse and I ran on.

Nearing mile 2, Jesse's knee started bothering him and he had to stop and stretch a little. I was worried that we may have to stop the race right there; but, he said he was fine and wanted to continue. Our group had fallen behind us a bit. I chose a pace of 13:30 for us; and we went on without them.

Somewhere between Miles 3 and 4


Nearing mile 4, we spotted a sign at the corner of a yard which read, "Run Linda! Go Jesse!" Then, I remembered we were passing by my work partner's house. He and his wife were out in their driveway. We stopped to say hello; and they gave us Gatorade and wished us well. Very nice!!!

Miles 5 through 9 were uneventful. Just 4 miles of cool running on a beautiful morning. At mile 10, I heard Jesse talking to himself. He was saying, "Stay loose, Jesse, stay loose." I asked if he was OK and if he needed to stop. He said he wanted to keep going. At mile 11, he said that his calves were cramping. We slowed down a bit for the next mile so he could loosen up a little. Mile 10

Then, all of a sudden we were passing the 13 mile marker and headed for the finish line! The clock had just turned to 2:59 as we got up close to the line. We kicked it a little just so that both our gun and chip times would be under 3 hours!!! WE DID IT!!!

After we got our finisher medals and some water, we went back to the finish line to cheer on the rest of our friends as they came in. Everyone fininshed smiling and uninjured! It was a great run, and a great start to the day!

Our stats this morning:


Mile ..................... Time
1 ......................... 13:55
2 ......................... 13:58
3 ......................... 12:59
4 ......................... 13:33
5 ......................... 13:12
6 ......................... 13:26
7 ......................... 13:12
8 ......................... 13:41
9 ......................... 13:29
10 ....................... 13:48
11 ....................... 13:36
12 ....................... 13:49
13 ....................... 13:31
0.13 ..................... 1:22

Total time(Garmin) . 2:57:38
Average pace ........ 13:28 min/mile

Official Time .......... 2:57:36

Thoughts on a short run

This morning's run was really my 1st experience with cold-weather running. The temperature was 31 degrees (that's F, not C) when we started, with a wind chill of 24!!!! For me, it was cold; really cold. And, it was windy too. OK, enough of that.

In spite of the cold, the run itself was good!!! It was 6.26 miles - starting at our usual place on the North Riverwalk. I ran with pace Group 8. The pace was well controlled. That was good, because at the beginning I could not even feel my feet. Too cold. When we went over the 1st bridge and the wind hit - YIKES!!!

By about mile 4, I felt warm even though the temp was only ~36 at this point. I was comfortable in just a short sleeve shirt + gloves. The gloves were a life-saver this morning. Learning how to dress for running in this weather will take some work.

Back to the run ...
6 miles is really a short distance and it seemed that in no time we were running back over the river (across my nemesis bridge - the Acosta), and back to where we started. Our average pace for 6.26 miles was 14:48min/mile. It was a very comfortable run. I enjoyed it. This is how running is supposed to feel, in my humble opinion.


After the run, I started thinking about that pace. There were about 8 of us running with pace Group 8 who should really be running in pace Group 7. We stopped running with Group 7 because they have not been running at the correct pace (14.5 - 15 min/mile). This morning we ran at that pace, and kept it there. But, in doing that we pushed the pace of Group 8. They should be running at 15.5 - 16 min/mile.


One man in our group suggested that we should start our own pace group (Group 7.5?) because he felt that no matter what, Group 7 would not slow down. I think this may be the best idea. Not just because Group 7 won't slow down, but also because we may be hurting other runners in Group 8 by running too fast for them.

It is really obvious to me now that we need to get this pace issue under control; and quickly.

Almost 18 miles (11/15/08)

In retrospect, I have to say this was a day of mistakes that ended badly.

To begin ....

This morning's run was scheduled to begin at 7:00. When I arrived at the starting site at 6:40, it was 72 degrees, 91% humidity, with light rain. Peeps were gathering and talking about an email our head coach had sent to all the pace group leaders this week. I had not seen it; but, apparently, the head coach came down VERY hard on all the group leaders about following the correct pace. He had heard some complaints during the week about paces being pushed too fast last Saturday.

Anyway, I went over to my assigned pace group to sign in (I am on their roster). The pace group leader was there talking about how today's run would be run at exactly 15 min/mile; no faster. Then the head coach spoke to all of us before we got started and said that he had emailed all the pace group leaders during the week and told each group what their pace needed to be. He went on to say that everyone should feel comfortable running in their correct group.

Mistake #1 - After the assurances, I decided to run with my assigned group. Yes, this is the group that pushed the pace too hard last Saturday.

This morning's route was a bridges run (3 bridges) early on bringing us back to our starting point at mile 5. There we would drop off the half-marathoners, then continue on for another 13. I rationalized that IF my group could not stick to the pace for the 1st 5 miles, I could ditch them at mile 5 and drop back to a slower group. Oh, and as we started, the light rain became a pouring rain.

First 5 miles:
1 ..........14:21 (not bad!)
2 ..........12:37 (here we go again)
3 ..........14:28 (this INCLUDES a 2 min water stop because the leaders of this group believe all stops are figured into the TOTAL pace. So, actual pace was 12:28)
4 ..........14:44 (yay!)
5 ..........13:46 (whatever)

At this point we were back at the parking lot to drop off the half marathoners. I looked for the slower pace group; but, they were nowhere to be seen.

Mistake #2 - I stayed with my assigned group.

6 ........15:03 (2 min in parking lot to drop off peeps and get water - actual pace 13:03)
7 ........14:13
8 ........16:57 (potty stop for many in the group - didn't stop the time; and, I don't know the actual pace here)
9 ........15:29 (I made a port-a-potty stop; kept watch running)

Mistake #3 - I ran hard to catch up with the group after the potty stop. Too hard. I am not discussing the pace.

By now the rain had ended, the sun was out strong, and the temp had soared into the 80's.

10 .......15:01 (water stop of 1 min - actual pace 14:01)
11 .......14:30
12 .......14:19 (at this point I was feeling light-headed, dizzy, and DONE)
13 .......14:39 ( a really weird thing happened - I started getting chills and actual goosebumps when I was in direct sun)

Mistake #4 - I KNEW that this was an early sign of heat exhaustion. I KNEW I should stop. But, I talked myself out of it and kept running.

14 .......16:18 (2 min water stop; actual pace 14:18)
15 .......15:29 (I was really done at this point - chills were worse, and my hands were swelling)

Mistake #5 - I kept running

16 .......15:00
17 ....... complete crash.

And that was it. One of my pace group leaders called for someone to come get me. I even let peeps pour ice water on me. I was feeling that bad.

I was feeling worse that I couldn't make it the last mile. Phil (former Marine Sargent, now a police officer and pace group leader of group 1) picked me up in his police car which was cool. And he told me about last year when he had the same thing happen to him on the 23 mile run. He said he made it 17 miles and that was it. That made me feel a little better.

This was my first experience with heat exhaustion. And, hopefully my last. The rest of the day was boring - hydration, ice packs, etc. Oh yeah ... the hand swelling thing? My kidneys had shut down.

BUT, now everything is back to normal (body temp, kidney function, etc). And, I still feel really bad about not making it that last mile.

Pushing the Pace ...

...hurts!!!!

It really does. This morning's run was proof of that. We were running just 8 miles this morning. I was running with the pace group I am supposed to be in. Our long distance pace should be between 14 - 15 min/mile. This is a training pace designed to keep us injury and exhaustion free.

This morning's numbers were like this:
Mile .................... Time
1 ........................13:03
2 ........................13:07
3 ........................12:55
4 ........................13:37
5 ........................13:29
6 ........................13:19
7 ........................13:22
8 ........................13:11

All those miles were run too fast! And now, I am hurting - right ITB, right hamstrings, right piriformis muscle.

But, what is worse than the injuries is that I am feeling tired and annoyed. Usually after a run, any run, I feel emotionally satisfied. Not today. Today I feel drained.

Next Saturday is 18 miles. I am not looking forward to it with this group.