I DID IT!!!

I can now finally post that I have officially completed a Marathon! With 47 years on this planet I've finally achieved a goal that I have longed to accomplish for well over 25 years. Just cannot fully explain how great it feels to survive 26.2 miles. I can honestly say that it was by far the hardest thing I've ever done physically. All those hours and miles of training were worth it. My breakdown of the event mile pace time follows.

START: Great morning for a race, USAF B52 flyover, a kiss from my wife and the starting gun sounds.

Mile 1: 9:13

Mile 2: 8:47 (hardest uphill section of the race but still feeling good, feeling fine!)

Mile 3: 8:35

Mile 4: 8:56 (rolling hills, still feeling good, not feeling rushed)

Mile 5: 9:04

Mile 6: 9:07 (headed onto WPAFB, again pace feels just right)

Mile 7: 9:04

Mile 8: 9:03 (I head past my home and am cheered on by my parents and dogs, outstanding!)

Mile 9: 9:03

Mile 10: 9:08 (run through the town of Fairborn, crowds everywhere, oh what a feeling!)

Mile 11: 9:00 (start the perimeter road run, nice static aircraft display to the left)

Mile 12: 9:09

Mile 13: 9:09

Mile 14: 9:04 (flyby overhead by the Wright B Flyer, truly inspiring)

Mile 15: 9:18

Mile 16: 9:09 (onto the WPAFB taxiway, sun is up and things are starting to warm up)

Mile 17: 9:24

Mile 18: 9:26 (headed down the tree lined corridor to Huffman Prairie, starting to feel a bit tired)

Mile 19: 9:39 (my pace is slowing)

Mile 20: 9:37 (the 4 hour pace group passes me and for some reason my left hamstring is starting to hurt)

Mile 21: 10:41 (BONK! I hit the wall and finally must walk, my left hamstring continues to scream at me, must push on!)

Mile 22: 11:05 (uphill stretch onto Highway, difficult, I vow to walk, run, walk, run...)

Mile 23: 12:08

Mile 24: 13:43 (now mixed in with half marathoners, I continue my run, stagger, walk, run, pace, I am in pain and the word "tired" doesn't even come close!)

Mile 25: 12:42 (last downhill stretch before the finish, people dropped off the course left and right, god, can I make it to the finish, quick stretch of hamstring)

Mile 26: 13:48 (back onto WPAFB and to the finish, I tell myself "you can do it, whatever you do, you must run to the finish line!)

Mile 26.2: 10:10 (Finally, I made it, YIPPIE!!!)

Finishing Time: 4:20:31

I cross the finish line and am awarded my finisher medal by one of America's finest, a USAF Security Police Colonel. I finally locate my wife and am so filled with emotion as I see a sea of tired, injured yet happy runners all around me. I must say that I am somewhat discouraged with my time. I had trained that I would keep a 0900 to 0910 per mile pace so I could cross the finish in less than 4 hours. Unfortunately a certain WALL got in my way sometime around the 21 mile mark. Immediately following the race I tell myself "this was my only and final Marathon, I hurt like hell and the word tired just doesn't describe how I feel!"

But a few hours of rest later, I am going over the race in my head. What could have I done differently to get less than 4 hours? Why did I bonk? To end this post, there is a nagging voice in the back of my head saying "you can do less than 4 hours, oh yes you can!"

As you can tell, this story will continue.

Coming In On Final!

Wow, less than 5 days til my first marathon. Hard to believe the big day is right around the corner. Excited, worried, jazzed, questioning, feeling good, just so many things going through my noggin at this point. Rest assured I feel ready.

I started this conquest many months ago but more recently around May is when I decided to put the hammer down and not look back. It is hard to believe the number of hours and miles I've put into this endeavour. So many hot or hot and humid mornings I would rather stay in bed but instead I got out and put the training in. So many Sundays I thought about how long I'd be out on the road, not in terms of minutes, but hours. So many long runs where I returned home with pain in my legs, blisters on my feet and chaffing all over my body. But as I ran my last long run on Sunday I could feel my body telling me, you've put in the hard work required and it will all pay off this upcoming Saturday.

Back in May I decided to utilize the Hanson Brother's "Something of Substance" Marathon Training program http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=4447, in short, it emphasizes more mid distance runs and nothing over 16 miles for a long run. Being a newbie to the Marathon but with many Half Marathons under my belt I thought it would be the right program. I must say that I did approach it as an experienced runner but unfortunately after a few weeks I felt my legs just couldn't take it. Too many consecutive days of longer runs and only one day off a week. It is probably a great program for some but for this runner at this point in time, not so much.

Instead, thankfully, the July 2010 issue of Runners World arrived sometime in June and there it was, the "Break 4:00 or Bust!" marathon training program http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-517--13533-1-1X2X3X4X5-6,00.html. The program has a wide range of different types of running, sprints, tempos, long distance, easy, etc. Many weeks later and I am pretty sure that this program has set me up for a PASS on my first marathon. Granted, I want oh so dearly to get in under 4 hours but I approach this race with an open mind, if I don't have what it takes to cover the distance in under 4 hours I will have what it takes to finish.

I had to throw in the photo above because during my last long run before the Marathon I did an easy 12 miler on the perimeter road around Wright Patterson AFB's runway. As I was coming up on 10 miles an F-16 came into view over my right shoulder, gear down, final approach, outstanding! As he zoomed past me, the noise was loud and intense, he then touched down, and before the wheels had been on the tarmac too long, he powered back up. With a loud deafening roar and flames pouring out the backside of his Viper he was off again in a flash. The whole experience was exactly what this runner needed, the power, performance and intensity of this event just added to this run and gave me the nod that I've got the power and endurance to get through 26.2 miles in less than a week. Hang on, this journey ain't over yet! Keep on smiling, keep on running.

Ohhhio, ohhhio, ohhhio!!!

Wow, it has been how long since the last post, geeze, life just seems to pass by in a flash.

Well, the reason for the lack of posting is pretty simple. Loaded up the family and we moved to Wright Patterson. Gone, thank god, are those oven roasting summers of Arizona that I just loved so much. We are now back into the humidity community. The boxes are unpacked, the house almost settled and yes, the training continues. Ohio has turned out to be a pleasant surprise to this runner. Very green, rolling hills, friendly people, geeze, the exact opposite of Arizona. So far, really enjoying this move.

We now live at or in where the home of the US Air Force Marathon takes place. Heck, the offices for the race are right down the street from me and I pass them on every run. In fact the race passes right near our house, very cool. I am now at t-minus 17 days and 17 hours away from my very first marathon. The training for the past few months has been difficult, exciting, painful, gratifying, and the list goes on. With fingers crossed, no injuries this far into the game and I feel like I am coming into the final home stretch. More about my training and agony of the da feets, later.

Want to keep this one, short but sweet. Keep smiling and keep on running.

http://www.usafmarathon.com/

http://consumer.discoverohio.com/

Good Day Sunshine!!!

Unfortunately, for at least the next month, I live in the Valley of the Sun (Phoenix, AZ). The sun is a big player here in the southwest. The furnace type conditions we will be facing as the days go forward towards summer have already had an effect on this runner.

I've never been a real early riser, 0600 bright and early was typically my earliest rising time during the past 45 years of my life. That all changed when I moved to Arizona. The sun here is to be respected. Like extreme cold, I can't stand extreme heat, blame growing up in the pretty much consistent temperatures state of California. I learned early on here in Arizona, come June, if your ass ain't out the door by 0500 you are going to eventually sizzle on any run over 6 miles. Numerous times I have had the unfortunate experience of heading up the hill towards an 8 to 10 miler and looking to my right into the Valley of the Sun to see an early morning sun, shining bright and soon to be scorching down on my noggin. Right now the sun rises around 0515 and I have now learned to set my alarm clock for any time between 0400 and 0430. And unfortunately my crash time gets earlier also, just like around the old folks home, lights out around 9pm for this runner, geeze.

Lessons learned here living in this Sand Trap come summer time...

Thou shalt be out the door by 0500
Thou shalt bring hydration
Thou shalt wear a white hat or thou's noggin will get burned
The thinner the running shirt the better
As your run progresses, it doesn't get any better, it just gets hotter and more miserable
Stay on the running path, the plants here are tough, they cut and they do it quite well

Next time around, what I did last summer for fun as a runner in the Valley of the Sun

Off We Go Into The Wild Blue Yonder!!!

My, my, how the time goes by. Well over a month since my last post but life has been busy. After an extended visit to the wonderful state of California this month it is time to get typing and running again.

Well, Big Sur came and went and unfortunately minus me. So where do we go from here? Our Air Force family is going to be on the move again. Next stop, much to my disliking, the state of Ohio and Wright Patterson AFB. Must be some sort of sign, but the Air Force Marathon is held every September here. Hmm, let me see, I am in a quest to run a marathon and we are moving to where the Air Force Marathon is held, yeah, I see my next attempt at completing a Marathon. I have been following my wife around (she's the one in the Air Force) for over 17 years and as mentioned, we are an Air Force Family. So I've officially put it on my race calendar, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, September 18th, 2010. Let the planning begin.

http://www.usafmarathon.com/

And the Beat Goes On...

Been a bit o' time since my last post and with time comes change.



I ran into the above Brooks shoes video and just felt it hit the nail on the head in regards to my life. You run, things change, you continue to run, things change, just keep on running!

Well about a month back I finally had to make a Big decision. Should I run Big Sur, or not run Big Sur. Unfortunately I had about two months left til the starting gun went off. And yes, I was still sick with my upper respiratory tract infection and the lower back issues were slowly, very slowly getting better. Then add the fact that I hadn't completed 16 miles at that time. And I ran a 10K in a coughing hacking condition and was not thrilled at running it 4 minutes slower than the previous years' attempt. I finally had to ask myself, will it be worth it to cram in as much running as you can in two months and then possibly show up to Big Sur's hilly course not in top form. After much, and I do mean much debate with myself and family I made a decision.

Running is something I tremendously enjoy. Sure there are days when I don't want to run or look at my Garmin and think, god, what an awful pace. But more times than not, running represents freedom, happiness and joy to this runner. So I decided back in March that pushing myself to run at Big Sur wasn't going to make me happy and it would go against what running represents to me. So as the Big Sur clock ticks on the right I'll think about next year.

So where do we go from here? I am kind of at a gray area right now in regards to running because I have no races on the horizon. My wife and I just learned that the military will be moving us soon so I am trying to get an idea of where I'll be, what races will be available, etc., etc. As much as I've NOT liked Arizona (dry, hot, brown, dusty, windy) we will be headed to Ohio which unfortunately I am not at all thrilled about. So stick around and see what is coming up on the horizon. And the beat goes. Keep smilin and keep running.

Brooks Life video was created by...
http://greatsociety.com/

A Fork In The Road!

Changes, discouragement, happiness, uncertainty, progression, digression, all words that sum up the past two weeks for this runner. I've had many things to deal with during the past few weeks, changes in my life, changes in my career and unfortunately or maybe fortunately changes to my running habit.

For a number of months I've hung in there at my job with the false thought that things would get better. I've never really been happy with management whose job in my opinion is to lead, mentor and motivate. At my previous employer I was fortunate enough to work in a family like atmosphere with a boss who really cared for me as both a nurse and a person. I finally decided it was time to bow out gracefully from my current job and hand in my two week notice. This of course is an action not taken lightly by this nurse/runner so there have been stressors involved with making such a decision. In the big picture, I made the right decision and I couldn't be happier. Unfortunately I am contemplating my future as a nurse. So I am now asking myself, "is this now my chance to either tackle another area of the nursing profession or start something completely new?" I think changes open new doors and allow you to experience things you've never seen or done before. So I see good things on the horizon, but just like the graphic above, which road or path should I follow?

I am a firm believer that when the brain must deal with stress it will shuttle that stress to another part of the body. Your body releases all kinds of chemicals to deal with stress and unfortunately things like increased muscle tension, a rise in blood pressure and heart rate are just the beginning. If you've been keeping tabs on this blog you'll note that two weeks ago I was hit with a debilitating lower back injury. So my running has suffered to the point where I have run less than 10 miles in over two weeks. And to make things worse this past weekend I was hit with an upper respiratory tract infection. Thankfully the back is healing slowly and the upper respiratory infection seems to get better with each passing day. But again, these two events have reeked havoc on my running which depresses the hell out of me. If I can't run, I am not happy. I know the body will heal but it is going to take some time to get back to where it was say a month ago.

So I am also at a fork in the road in regards to the Big Sur Marathon. That clock on the upper right of this page is now clicking down to around 50 days till race day. Can I pick myself back up next week? Doubtful I can pick up my training program where I left off. I am suppose to be running an 18 miler on Sunday and sadly my last long run was three weeks ago at 14 miles and it was a difficult 14 miles at that. I have a 10K scheduled this Saturday and I don't know if I will be feeling better by then. Should I start contemplating not running at Big Sur? Should I look an easier walk/run program like the Jeff Galloway method? As in my life and my running I have a lot of questions to ask myself at this fork in the road. Stay tuned, I'll get through this. Really, now is a great time to keep smiling and keep running.

A great page that discusses what stress is all about - The Powerful Impact of Stress and Calm on Health, Behavior and Learning
http://www.newhorizons.org/spneeds/inclusion/teaching/tennant.htm

A short article on the Run/Walk Method - Better Running Through Walking
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/02/health/02well.html?_r=2&ref=health