Weekly Recap-3 Weeks to Seabrook

Sunday.

Saturday.
3k with girls in am.

Friday
Off-rest sore foot.

Thursday.
Walked 3 during lunch and 3 at night. Resting foot

Wednesday.
2 Jack and soda quadruples. Took night off

Tuesday.
Planned 15, but left foot arch hurt so bad I had to quit at 6.

Monday
An hour on the bike.

Weekly Recap-4 Weeks to Seabrook

Sunday.
7 regular pace. Foot arch really hurting.

Saturday.
5k with girls in am. Another 6 when I got home.

Friday
No time to run.

Thursday.
7 during lunch. 20 on bike at night.

Wednesday.
Solid 6 during lunch.

Tuesday.
Wanted to do bike, but girls had mucho homework.

Monday
20 on the bike.

Galveston Marathon-Pics

Marathon #16

Galveston, TX

February 20th, 2011

Mardi Gras Marathon

 

After the Houston marathon, I assumed I would quickly recover by taking a few ice baths, then get in some 8-12 milers plus a 15, and then run a solid marathon in Galveston three weeks later.  When race week arrived, I had done only four 5 milers and felt all beat up.  I had congestion from a cold, my hip hurt, my left foot arch ached terribly, and I was ten pounds heavier (fatter is the proper word).   Monday morning I concluded I wasn't able to do it and decided to drop out.

 

However, I also planned it as a  mini-vacation with my family, so I was committed to the trip.  On Tuesday I emailed the race Director and requested a switch to the half marathon.   Accordingly, I didn't prepare at all.   I didn't carb-up or hydrate, and we didn't arrive in Galveston until 5:45 pm, just 15 mins to the end of packet pick up.

 

They couldn't find my packet. The Director said she would give me a new one.  At that point, my ego took over. "Well in that case, can you put me back in the full marathon?" I asked. "Done." she confirmed.  The family and I had a big seafood dinner at 8:30 (I ate two entrees), and we went to bed at 11:00.  I woke at 6:00, walked a mile and a half to the start, and queued up for the 7:30 gun time.

 

The weather was typical:  60 degrees, 100% humidity, and a fog so thick you couldn't see 50 yards.  The streets were soaked wet with dew.  This was my first marathon for which I had no goal, no set splits, no planned pace.  Basically I was going to do a 26.2 mile Sunday morning long run.  A minute before the start, my heart said to me, "Come on David! You can do it!  Go all out and set a new personal record.  You have it in you."  My mind agreed, "Dave, you're a solid runner, go out and be competitive."  Then my body interrupted, "Hey Dumbass! Go back to the hotel and get back in bed.  It's not too late; just walk away."

 

                The gun fired  and we were off.  There were 1,000 runners,  mostly half-marathoners.  I had lined-up in the top  50 and so within the first 100 yards it really felt like being out on a group training run.  I found myself, quite by chance, on the peripheral of a 6-8 man pack at mile 3.  By mile 4 it was just I and two other runners.

 

                We three fell into sink and began chit-chatting.  Both Matt and Don were Ironmen and more-or-less treating the marathon as a training run.  It was really quite nice; the group dynamics help pass the miles from 4-12.   As we came to the halfway mark, the fog had lifted, the sun was out, and it was getting hot. 

 

Don and Matt held the pace but I thought it best to drop it back a nick.  I hit the halfway point on exactly a 3:20 pace, though I hadn't even looked at my watch up to that point.  Don did mention he needed a 3:20 to BQ, so in substance I guess I'd been running with a non-official 3:20 pacer even if I didn't realize it.

 

With the course being two equal loops, only the marathoners continued on as the halfers finished.  I found myself completely alone at mile 14.   For the next five miles there literally wasn't another runner within a quarter mile.  At mile 19 I caught another runner who was barely shuffling along.  By his form and appearance, he looked to be a higher caliber runner than I, but clearly he was dehydrated.  As I passed by he fell to a walk.   I still felt strong in the legs but my form was deteriorating as the heat was wearing  on me also.

 

 I came on another runner at mile 21;  again based on his appearance, I imagine he'd beat me by a couple of miles on any other day.  But I know from experience that when you go out fast with hot and humid conditions, you can totally dehydrate and implode early.  As I went by I gave a word of encouragement and he replied with a single word, "Cramped."  I was starting to fall apart myself.

 

At mile 22 I slowed to walk through the water station, my legs had become so stiff I couldn't step forward more than 12 inches.   I was completely covered in salt and dehydrated.  What was odd is though I couldn't really walk, when I ran my form would take over and put me back on a decent stride. 

 

Between mile 22-25 I continued at a reduced pace while running, but every quarter or half mile I would have to stop and walk for 30-40 seconds to keep from overheating.  When I dehydrate I cramp, by my pulse also sky-rockets and makes it hard to breathe.  At mile 25 I entered the downtown district and the tall buildings blocked out the strong sun.  It's amazing how much difference running in a light shade makes;  I finished stronger the final mile.

 

As I covered the last 100 yards to the finish line enthusiastic cheers came from the spectators and volunteers.  I thought, "Wow, what amazing crowd support.  You'd think I was in the lead."  To my complete shock, I later find out that I kinda was.

 

When the official results were posted, I had crossed the finish in 3:28:59, but was totally amazed to see I had placed 9^th out of 147 full marathon finishers.   I received a plaque for placing 3^rd in my age division. 

 

Well considering I wasn't even planning to run the day before, I was ecstatic to notch another BQ and place in my division.  Not bad for a beat-up broken down fat guy.

Race Week-Galveston half marathon

Sunday.

Saturday.

Friday

Thursday.
Walk / jog 5.

Wednesday.
Off

Tuesday.
Off

Monday
5 during lunch
4 after work

Galveston-Was able to switch to half

Limped gingerly on my left side all morning as inflammation in hip and something in my foot arch have been hurting me for a while. 

 

But I know I have to put in some miles, so I tried a 5 miler during lunch.  First minute hurt, but five minutes in, no pain and did solid 5, though my chest congestion did make breathing off.

 

Took shower, sat down 10 minutes, and then had to limp around again.  Hip is very sore.

 

Well, if it's a dull and not sharp pain, and I can run comfortably, I got to keep training.

 

Race Director acknowledged my switch from full to half today.

Galveston Out

1) Bad weather-Forecast is low of 60, south wind, 85% humidity

2) Bad aches and pains-Pain in right foot arch still bad, hip bothering me, still down from chest cold

3) Bad timing-Tax Season blues.

Still have Seabrook in 5 weeks. Running this Sunday can't do any good.

Weekly Recap-2 Weeks To Galveston

Sunday.
Had 13 scheduled. Over-taken by life, didn't do it.

Saturday.
5k with girls in am.

Friday
Easy 5.

Thursday.
Off-sinus infection.

Wednesday.
Off-sinus infection

Tuesday.
Off

Monday
7.5 slow and low.

Weekly Recap-3 Weeks To Galveston

Sunday.
Off

Went to Chinese New Year Celebration Ate lots, lots, lots, and lots and lots and lots of junk food. Another full bottle of wine.

Wasn't easy, but literally gained 5 lbs this week. Moved out 1.5 full belt loops. But, it was worth it.

Saturday.
5k race with girls on a.m.

Ate lots, lots, lots, and lots and lots and lots of junk food. I've gained 5 lbs. But it stops now.

Friday
Off-Lots, lots, lots, and lots of junk food.

Thursday.
Walked 2-Lots, lots, lots, and lots of junk food.

Wednesday.
Off-Lots, lots, lots, and lots of junk food. Full six pack, and full bottle of wine.

Tuesday.
Off-Lots, lots, lots, and lots of junk food. Full bottle of wine.

Monday
Off-Plenty of cookies, candy, cake, and pizza at night. Bottle of jack to wash it down.