Tyler Hills and Heat 1, MB 1/2

MB lost to the hills and heat, but still met his minimum goal of "finishing" the Tyler Half Marathon in a plodding 2 hours and 24 minutes (2:24:00), a fraction under 11 minutes/mile thus achieving a 1/2 point for surviving. Although the hilly course and surprising heat did their damage, being old, underprepared, and slow of foot probably mattered more. I planned on 2:17:33 (10:30/mile), hoped for 2:11:00 (10:00/mile), and just knew that at a minimum I could do 2:24:06 (11:00/mile). I ended up doing the minimum.

The 10:30 a.m. Tyler temperature (minutes after I finished) was 74 degrees, about 14 degrees warmer than recommended for a 1/2 marathon. The normal temperature at 10:00 a.m. this time of year in Tyler is 61 degrees. The temperatures during my training the past month had been at around 60 degree temperatures and mostly before sunrise, so I was ill-prepared for the warm and sunny conditions.

I was worse prepared for the hills. The official USA Track and Field web site says that the race had 810 feet total climbs and 1634 feet total elevation changes, and is considered a "hard, hilly" course. By reference, the St.George, Utah Marathon, with 2200 feet in elevation change over 26.2 miles, is considered the hardest on knees in the USA. 95% of my training had been on fairly level trails, with only the "hills" at Dallas White Rock Lake (a few short climbs and descents of 20-50 feet) to train me for Tyler, so the constant rolling hills of Tyler and the steep climbs and descents sucked the life out of my frail limbs and started some hamstring tenderness and iliotibial band soreness in my right knee that forced some slowing and occasional walking. But for my son Steve plodding along with me for support (he could have easly taken off and blasted the course away), I might have done worse and walked more and more slowly. Yea for younger, stronger sons!

The race started well enough, with us easing through the first mile in 10:45, to be sure I did not run too fast at the start and fade at the end. We did the next 5 miles of rolling terrain at about 9:51/mile (10:10/mile overall) and, although I was feeling too warm, I felt strong enough to tackle the next hill.

Unfortunately, the hill tackled me. From mile 6 to mile 7 we climbed a killing 230 feet, followed by a rolling downhill over the next 1 1/2 miles. Not only did my pace slow, but I had to walk some short stretches. My hamstrings began to complain and my right knee began to sting. At this point, I knew my main focus had to be just finishing the last 4 1/2 miles. Fortunately, I had built up a little time cushion that would allow me to still meet my 11:00/mile minimum if I just kept plodding along at 10:00 - 10:30/mile pace, interspersed with some walking on uphills and at water stops.

The next almost 3 miles were a series of steeper, but shorter, rolling hills, with the following approximate mile (from about the 11 1/4 miles mark to the 12 2/10 miles mark) flat or slightly downhill. The next 3/4 mile was all uphill and I walked some more until reaching the flat to slightly downhill final 1/4 mile that allowed me to jog in looking fresher than I was -- finishing in an official 2:24:00. Funniest aspect of my result is that I offically finished 148th out of 205 offical finishers (about 25 people did not finish), but my son Steven (who could have beaten me by 30 minutes) officially finished 149th, 1 spot behind me.

My co-trainer Nadene was felled in her training by pneumonia and could not run the half marathon, but she was still bubbling with excitement for the next challenge. While I was still in post-finish anguish and pain, Nadene immediately tried to get me to confirm that I would do the Fort Worth Cowtown Marathon in February with her. In a stupor of weariness, all I could do was stare with vacant eyes.

My sore hamstrings have recovered fairly quickly, but my sore right knee tightened up and stung considerably for the next hour or so after the race, until I could ice it and then warm it in a wonderfully cleansing shower. I had soreness and stiffness all day Saturday and Sunday, but I did improve by the hour. Today (Monday) the knee (iliotibial band) is a little sore, but improving.

Having family and creative signs at the beginning and end of the race added some fun, although Steve could not understand why 1 family sign told us we were "standing at the gates of hell" -- until I explained our theme song.

My grandson Tristen made the pain worth it when he asked me who won the race between Steven and me and, when I told him Steven did, laughed and exclaimed, "Oh Grandpa!" as though I was kidding him. How nice to be viewed through children's eyes.

MB

The Sweet Smell of Success

This weekend WTR and co. traveled to Tyler, Texas to watch MB complete the Tyler Half and MM and Jen participate in the 5k. We had a blast. Hopefully, MB can post a run-down of the actual race.

MB, Karen, Jen, Liz and Tristen traveled down together. We watched movies and enjoyed the hour and a half trip.

After picking up our race packets and T shirts, we drove the Half Marathon course. It looked fairly ok with a couple long hills. Then we headed to dinner at Johnny Carino's. Yum.

Once back at the hotel we took a swimming trip and then played Farkel. This family loves games! Tristen beat us all!

Steve, Jaz, Matthew & Olivia arrived around 12:30pm and we finally hit the sack. Race morning we headed over to the site and watched Dad & Steve take off on the Half Marathon. It was exciting to see everyone take off and we got the first chance to show off our fun signs. After that, the 5k started and Nadene took off on her run. Jen, Jaz, Liz and the kids started the 5k walk.

MM ran down two girls at the finish - it was exciting! Then we all hung out and played cards and waited the two hours until the boys would finish. Tristen and Matthew were so fun copying all the runners and then racing from tree to tree. They had so much energy!

We had some fun signs. Since Steve wasn't running as many miles we had this fun one saying 'Practice is for Losers' with a picture of a doctor running and one that had our blog anthem 'Stand Me Up at the Gates of Hell - No I Won't Back Down'. Check out the pictures for more.

Because of the shape of the run course, we got to see Steve & MB three times before the actual finish and we had fun looking for them and yelling out when they passed.

Finally, at 2 hours and 30 minutes, Steve & MB finished the half looking good. Below is their finish video and our cheering group.

We are so proud of their accomplishment and steady determination. It was fantastic to watch them take on this challenge and complete it. And it was great to see everyone and have a fun family weekend.

3 Days to Go!

I find my aging frame all aquiver with anticipation for the big Tyler Half Marathon this Saturday. After 4+ months of building from a couch potato to 10 and 11 mile runs and 20+ mile weeks, I celebrate no more training. My goal is merely to finish the race at more than walking speed; probably somewhere between 10 and 10 1/2 minutes per mile (2:11:00 to 2:17:33), and to beat the last 200 entrants to the finish. This will be the farthest I have run at one time in over a decade, so speed is the least of my worries. Just surviving and enjoying the time is my focus.

I will be sad that the two women who encouraged me to do this in the first place, my daughter Jennifer and my niece Nadene, will not enjoy watching me plod the 13.1 miles as they speed away from me in quicker times. Each has suffered an injury (Jen with her torn knee cartilage) or severe illness (Nadene and her pneumonia) to unavoidably delay their running for weeks. However, they will enjoy the leisure of the 5K and my son Steven will putter along with me through the entire 13.1 miles, showing his extreme patience for my slumbering pace.

Today I did my last training run, a 5 mile "tempo" run @ a relaxed 10:03/mile pace, including 3.075 miles @ 9:33/mile. It was cold enough (50 degrees @ 6:30 a.m.) to wear long sleeves, but not so cold as to shiver. After the run, I had some slight soreness on the outside of my right knee (iliotibial band issues?) and the lower part of my right hamstring, but not enough to fret over for the 13.1 mile trek. Some rest and icing will put me in fine condition for Saturday.

With any luck, my next post will be celebrating the completion of the Tyler Half without walking, injury, or illness.

No Speed Left in MB's Old Bones

Today I tried to do some "speed" running to test how fast I might be able to run the Tyler Half. I did a 1.375 mile warmup at around 11:50/mile, 5 "sprints" of 1.025 miles @ an average of 9:00/mile -- interspersed with 1/2 mile jogs @ 12:05/mile, followed by a 1.5 mile cooldown at arund 12:05/mile. After comfortably doing my first 2 1.025 mile laps at 9:15/mile and 9:00/mile pace, I tried to somewhat "push" the 3rd 1.025 mile sprint (having run 4.425 miles to that point) and comfortably could only do 8:30/mile. Even worse, I was so burnt by that "fast" lap that my 4th and 5th 1.025 mile laps were at only 9:15/mile and 9:00/mile pace.

While it was cold (55 degrees) and misty wet conditions that made it hard for me to get warmed up during the run and somewhat frosty on my lungs, and I should have worn warmer clothes, I still should have been able to run faster.

Thus, I have discovered there is no speed in these old bones, and I will have to concentrate on just finishing the 13.1 mile Tyler Half rather than trying to run a quicker time. If I run too fast, I will likely slow to a crawl the last few miles and suffer for it. Besides, my time is going to be so slow anyway (even if I do a MB sprint) that an extra few minutes will matter to no one else but me.

My mantra is now: "I will finish!"