Let's Play Two!!

A Double Header Weekend

I thought it would be an interesting idea to do a double this past weekend so I registered for the Mason Mini 15k on Saturday and Buckeye Classic 10k on Sunday. I had to do the 10k because it was the last race of the 2008 Columbus Grand Prix and just crossing the finish line would secure a podium finish for the season for me. While I have quite a few finishers’ medals I don’t have a lot of awards for my Kenyan like (ok, not so much) speed. Here’s how it went:

Mason Mini:

I did this race two years ago and thought it was quite a bit of fun! They moved the course and changed the starting time from 8 to 9am so I made the 90 minute drive from home that morning. It was a brisk day in the upper 30’s with overcast skies and a bit of a breeze. The start of the race was a few minutes late and the national anthem singer was a elementary school (I think) student in the area. I never really mention the pre race singers but she was more of a yeller than a singer and really belted it out! The runners were definitely appreciative of her getting us started!!

The course turned out to be a double out and back with rolling hills throughout. My plan was to take it pretty easy and save something for Sunday. I may have never said this but I don’t really know how to do that!! The first mile was about 30 seconds faster than I wanted it to be but I felt really good. The next few miles were also significantly faster than expected and by mile 5, I knew there was no “taking it easy” in my future because I was on pace to potentially set a personal best. At the 5 mile mark we made it back to the start line (or near it really) and went to the other loop on the course. Fortunately it was down wind and a little down hill so I picked up the pace. When I hit the 10k mark, I knew if I just relaxed and didn’t think about it, I’d be close to a PR! Despite nature’s calling just before 7 and the hill right at the 7 mile marker, I wasn’t slowing down very much and was happy to have a guy right in front of me who seemed to be pacing me. Because I was running a little harder by the last water stop around 8, I could feel fatigue setting in. There was no way I was stopping because I knew if I just kept running, I’d be done very soon! The finish was 2/3 of a lap around the track and I tried to take it easy finishing but had some guy try to motor by me around the corner. I picked up the pace and finished just ahead of him in my new personal best!!

It was a fun day and I actually made a few new friends before and during the race. I’d recommend this race if you feel like mixing it up with a 15k!

Buckeye Classic 10k:

This race was held at Highbanks Metro Park on the north side. I had driven by the park countless times but had never actually been inside! I also had no idea the course was going to by 90% or so trail. A pleasant surprise for sure!!

The day was a little more brisk than the Mason race but we were shielded by all the foliage. I knew pretty early I was going to struggle as my body wasn’t happy with me trying to hit the trails and some semblance of a pace! Around 1.5 miles we started getting into some significant elevation changes and near the top of the hill, I completely lost focus. I spent the next few miles trying to motivate myself to push but it was only near the 4 mile mark where I called myself a few names and picked up the pace. I hit the finish line some 59 seconds slower than my expected finishing time but was reasonably pleased with my last few miles. Everyone I spoke with post race said the course was very difficult but all said it was a ton of fun. Despite being pretty tired from Saturday, I’d tend to agree on both counts!!

This weekend is an off weekend from racing but I’ll be back in force for the 11/23 running of the Philadelphia Marathon, Half Marathon and 8k. I’m doing the half and it will mark half #40 in my “career.” Here’s hoping to a new personal best!!!

Until next time!!!!

The Indianapolis Monumental Half Marathon

I got home from Phoenix on Thursday and left Friday evening for Indy (about 2 ½ hours from my house). I didn’t get there until about 10:30 because I had forgotten about beggar’s night in my ‘hood so I really didn’t expect much out of my race on Saturday. Fortunately the hotel was a suite (a sweet suite we'll call it!) and it was pretty comfy!!

I woke up extra early on Saturday (about 5am) because I needed to register for the race. I typically pre-register but because I had been traveling I completely forgot. Fortunately I got there a few minutes before late registration closed (I was told I “just made it”).

The start of the race is the same place as the Indy Mini (the half which part of it is a lap around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway) but the course is far different. It was a warmish, Indian Summer like mid 50’s at the start. From the beginning I felt like I was running in wet cement. At the first mile we ran around Lucas Oil Stadium (where the Colts play) and were greeted by a bunch of fans standing in line for something. I’m pretty sure they were surprised at the 4,000 or so runners whizzing, walking and wandering by but they were seemingly into it. The course ran through a few neighborhoods through the first half of the race and was visually pretty pleasing and more importantly flat. I hit the 5 mile mark about 90 seconds slower than I wanted but realized I needed to gut it out because I just couldn’t get comfy with my pace or running in general. Simply put, I wanted to be not running! By mile 8 I didn’t feel much better but was managing to be consistent. Slow, but consistently so. The mile markers from 9-11 were all significantly off as 9 and 10 were about .9-.93 each and mile 11 was 1.1 or so miles. Fortunately I continued my slow and steady so my usual slow down really didn’t happen. By mile 12 I realized I could be a few minutes faster than Hartford and my 2nd fastest time of the year if I pushed a little. I tried to focus on the IHOP I was going to have on the way home rather than anything else. I crossed the finish line about 2 minutes slower than Columbus a few weeks earlier but 5 minutes faster than New Mexico just 6 days earlier. I was pretty spent!! I came away from the race pretty much in tact except for some unexpected chafing in the chest region (damn band-aid fell off!) so the shower wasn't very much fun post race. Man that stung!!! haha!!

All in all this has the potential to be a really good race! It was a nice course with only small elevation changes throughout. The crowds were somewhat scarce but the people were great and the water stops plentiful! Assuming I don’t get into New York in 2009, I may just do this one again!

Speaking of New York, congrats to all my friends with finishes in the Big Apple last Sunday! Great work!Next week is a double. 15k in Mason, Ohio on Saturday with a 10k at Highbanks (north of Columbus) on Sunday. The weather isn’t supposed to be that great but we’ll see how it goes.

Trail running season is approaching. Time to break out the trail shoes!!Until next time. Keep running!!