Onwards and upwards

After a few days off my feet, I'm ready to hit the road/pool/trails again! Follow my training at my new blog:

http://triharddavid.blogspot.com

and thanks for reading!

David out

Day 0: Race day!

I won my age group!

http://capitalroadrace.com/results/08_CTM_FULL_AG.HTM#%204

Distance: 26.44 miles

Time: 3:18:55

Avg Pace: 7:31

Ascent: 3047 ft

Calories: 3137

Place: 18/244

First place in age group M19-24

Race report:

At 5:45 am on Sunday, the alarm went off. I must be used to early race starts because really, 5:45 didn't seem all *that* bad. Especially considering that the race was only 15 minutes away and I didn't have a bike or wetsuit to take care of! 1 powerbar and 1 banana later, I smeared on my bodyglide, took my BCAAs, and tied my shoes.112 days of training had prepared me for this- I was so ready!

The weather on Sunday was beautiful. My worries that it would still be hot in Sacramento in October were literally washed away with some uncharacteristic rain on Saturday. As a result, the weather on Sunday was pretty much perfect- I'd estimate between 60-72 degrees during the race. We arrived at the starting line at about 6:30, plenty of time for a 7:30 race. The mood in the air was excitement mixed with anticipation. Everyone was checking gels and flasks while greeting old and new friends. A "quick" trip to the bathroom and to the gear check tent and I was ready to go. My warmup was pretty brief (I was going to run a good long while, after all) but I made sure to stretch out well. Five minutes before race start, I sidled up to the 7 minute mile pace mark, looked askance at the 3:10 marathon pacer (Boston!) and prepared to go. No anxiety- I was feeling too excited and a bit relieved to make it this far!

[Mark switch to present tense for added dramatic emphasis]

Buzzer goes off and the race starts. My first few miles are consumed by avoiding elbows and worrying that I'm running too fast. My first mile clocks in at 6:30 and I'm feeling great! I'm near the front of the pack and I'm surprised to note that my shins feel absolutely fine. We're winding our way through the park at the moment, all on hard surfaces. We shift to neighborhoods, then to the waterfront. I'm at at steady 6:45 ish pace by now. I'm feeling great, matching paces with half marathon folks and hitting up all the water stops for Cytomax (which I notice is mixed much less concentrated than at the SF marathon). Miles 4-8 find me hiding behind larger runners on the straightaway as we parallel the Sac River. I slam a gel at mile 7, make some quips at the nearby runners and forge on. As we wind through neighborhoods and return to the park, I'm feeling fine and pacing with the half folks. I cross the finish/2nd lap line at about 1:27. I am, quite frankly, amazed- my SF 1/2 time was 1:25:40 and I was quite shaky then. None of that today, though- this is my day and if I'm tired, I certainly don't show it to the crowds.

The number of runners drops to a handful after I pass the finish line. It's down to sparse bunches of high school volunteers...and I'm starting to feel it. I put another gel down at mile 15, but my legs are slowing and I'm definitely losing enthusiasm at this point. I estimate that I'm at or near the top 10 runners. It's at this point that the 3:00 train (this words) blows by me. The pacer gives me some much needed advice (short steps!) as I become very aware of the passage of time. I make sure to hit every cytomax stop- some even twice. I try to think of things to pass the time- lyrics, conversations, seeing how many times I can actually hit a trash can with my cup.

It's a losing battle. My times creep up in 10 second increments, but I can still make Boston. I think. I hope. I'm starting to lose it near mile 20. At this point, my pace has risen to about 8 minutes/miles and I'm starting to hate the world. I have to dodge in between folks walking the 1/2 marathon. This does not improve my mood any. At this point, I'm starting to cramp pretty badly in my legs and my confident stride has become a shuffle. This hits home at mile 23- I try to move faster, but my left quad and right calf immediately threaten to cramp. I have no juice left and my body is on strike- it cannot physically move any faster despite haranguing from my brain. This must be THE WALL. I briefly consider walking, but stubbornly keep shuffling. I watch the 3:10 pacer blow past me about 2 miles out (oh well, maybe next year) and then a good 7-8 folks who have much more juice than me (so jealous!) Finally I reach the 1/2 mile left sign- and I actually cramp, with a muscle spasm hard enough to stop me for half a second or so. Somehow I reach the end, limp past my loving girlfriend with a grimace, and haul myself across the finish line.

3:18:55- not bad. Not bad at all- and because I didn't stop and walk, I beat the next contender in my age group by about 2 minutes. Certainly doesn't feel like the glory of finishing- it feels like burning in my muscles. It takes me a few tries to get my leg up on a stool to cut off my timing chip, then I limp to get some recovery food. Woohoo! My legs took the main beating- I really wish in retrospect that I had taken that third gel. Oh well, PR and an age group medal are mine! The toll on my body: an upset stomach, sore, sore muscles, and a bloody toenail (but my shin splints feel fine!) Small price to pay.

A few days rest are in order, I think, then back to training. Ironman someday. Someday.

Thanks to everyone for your congratulations and support!

Things I wish I had done before the race:

Stronger base -> more mileage

Softer surfaces for running -> no shin splints

Things I wish I had done during the race:

Gone out slower

Taken a third gel

Day 1: Rest

FINALLY.

This is it. No more worries about training, taper, tapirs, injuries, ideal conditions, blah blah blah now all I have to do is run 26.2 miles. SWEET.

Jim: So what’s your strategy for this race?
Pam: Well, I’m going to start fast. Then I’m going to run fast in the middle. Then I’m going to end fast.
Jim: Why won’t more people do that?
Pam: ‘Cause they’re stupid.

David out

Day 2: rest

I ate 4 bowls of pasta thanks to Olive Garden and the Never Ending Pasta Bowl. We were getting weird looks by the end.

David out

Day 3: 2 miles

Distance: 2.32 miles
Time: 16:00
Avg Pace: 6:53

2 miles out and back. And...that's all she wrote. It's complete rest time. I'm most concerned about my shin splints and the temperature, but things should be just dandy come Sunday.

David out

Day 4: 3 miles

Distance: 3
Time: 20:56
Avg Pace: 6:58


Endgame territory. Another day, another run around the chip trail where it's nice and soft. Don't want to aggravate the shins.

One more left.

David out

Day 5: 3 miles

Distance: 3.00
Time: 20:29
Avg Pace: 6:49

Chip trail today. Just git out and git 'er done.

David out