The Season Is Closed

It is sad that I have no more real races left in this season.  I will be running a marathon in Florida, the Mangrove Marathon on 11 Dec 11, but I almost think of that one as a bonus and one that I'm not really focusing on; I think I have enough base to just enjoy it and the great weather that I should be blessed with at this time of year. 

Other than that I have a couple large Hash events upcoming the Pearl Harbor Day Hash in Milwaukee on 3 Dec, then the Anthrax Hash on 17 Dec. 

As for 2011 this is the line up so far

5 Feb John Dick Memorial Day 50K , WI - (will pay $15 at the door; bare bones race)
24 Mar - Kettle Moraine 50K, WI - (free event)
31 Mar - Clinton Lake 30 Miler, DeWitt, IL - (paid)
28 Apr - Jailbrake Marathon, WI - (paid)
5 May - Cornbelt 24 Hour, WI -  (not available yet)
2 Jun - Kettle Moraine 100K, WI - (not available yet)
3 Sep - Badgerland 24 Hour, IA - (not available yet)
7 Oct - Chicago Marathon, IL - (not available yet)
29 Oct - Lakefront 50 Miler, IL - (not available yet)

I may end up doing a few more,but these are the big ones.  As you can see I'm not taking on the 100 mile distance, but going for a 100K, two 24 hour races (less stress) and one 50 miler along with a couple other marathons.  I don't like to do the same race twice, but with the Kettle Moraine experience last year where I DNF'd makes me feel like I have unfinished business on that great course, and what can I say, I cannot pass up on a Marathon Major that is in my back yard, which is why I will probably do Chicago every year that I'm still living in this area.  Part of me is toying with making the KM100K a 100 mile effort, but I'm going to wait until at least May to see how my training is going before I sign up (it doesn't sell out), so just maybe I'll give it an effort, but I think I will need at least 1000 miles under my belt by 1 May before I think realistically that I can finish the task.  I'm actually looking forward to the 24 hour events and it training goes well that may be where I look to PR or possibly grab my next century.  I think I can easily top my 71 miles that I did in Sep, also NorthCoast 24 may be one more race that I sign up for, but I have to say I really hated that 7 hour drive out there and 7 hours back after the 24 hour effort; but the race was incredible and to spend it with the best in the nation is a hard one to pass up!!

Lakefront 50K Personal Record - 4:31:26 ave 8:39 pace

Who would have known that running extra miles and resting before a race would offer a better performance.  I pushed my miles up a notch to just over 300 miles for the month of October and as a result had a great 50K at the Lakefront 50K here in Chicago.  We had great weather and the flat course was just what I needed for a PR.  My time of 4:31:26 came without much pain and it was a very evenly paced event start to finish.  My splits are as follows:

8:43
8:11
9:51
8:19
8:14
8:45
8:15
8:17
8:13
8:14
10:04
8:17
8:23
8:30
8:35
10:10
8:04
8:24
8:13
8:15
9:05
8:20
8:51
8:22
9:22
8:43
9:05
8:47
9:11
8:40
8:10
2:51
4:31:26
ave 8:39

Chicago Marathon 3:47:24

I had a fantastic time at the marathon this weekend.  I swore that I would not bandit another race, but I just might do it next year.  This race is big enough that it will not hurt anyone; I'll start late and be sure not to take any water and stay way on any outside lane so not to hinder any of the competitors.  The race organizers had an area for "bandits" to exit the race course, so that will not be a problem.  The crowd was just incredible and I don't need another medal or shirt however, I couldn't pass up that experience and the feeling of over a million spectators out there pulling for you and the tour through the city was out of this world! 

My time wasn't the best, and I don't have an excuse.  I was having a hard time breathing after about mile 17 and just slugged it in for the last 10 miles.  I lost interest in my struggle and just focused on having a good time, so all in all I'm not too worried.  Maybe my fat gut that is sitting at 186 pounds is part of the problem.  I know that I have not trained seriously doing mostly junk miles; I'm sitting at 1687 for the year right now and that is only about half of what I need to preform at a higher level and I know that.  I'm a long way from qualifying for Boston again and I'm ok with my level of performance and I'm ok with the fact that I will probably take much of this winter off considering the cold weather that we will suffer in Chicago.  I'll see how it goes and have a 50K (John Dick Memorial; gotta love the name) that I'm thinking about signing up for in Feb, but we will see. 

Anyway, will I be a thief again next year for Chicago....maybe I will not be able to do it; all that negative feedback haunts me.  Don't cast your judgement yet, I'm just thinking about it; no thought crime.  If I do I will not be dumb enough to write about it; but hey I'm an outstanding American right and I owe it to Bank of America to pay the $140 to run on those city streets that I pay taxes for; and they need my money even though there is no opportunity cost lost on permits/protection; they will be the same.  If I don't bandit the runners will realize a lower cost, uhh no.  I will enjoy the benifits they get out of the race such as a t-shirt, medal, name in a lasting database, experience of going through the shoot, etc....oh I will get none of those, but still I will be very evil, I guess I will not do it because of what an evil guy I would be. Also, I will never post an electronic picture from a race that I didn't buy.  All those evil people who have done that and have them on their blogs are so un-American and thieves that should be rotting in jail; if they didn't do that the costs to us who pay for them would be so much cheaper; creeps.

Friday Night 50K - 32.3 miles in 6:49:43 ave 12:40 (day 39 taking train)

Friday night I did a nice 50K that started at 10PM.  It was in Warrenville, IL and on a nice flat groomed cinder trail which I really didn't need a flashlight.  Part of the trail was dark and you can see from this picture a little spooky as you went under the road "underpasses", so it made for an interesting race.  I'm happy that I stuck with it, especially just one week after posting 71 miles at NorthCoast.  The run was by no means fast.

2011/09/23
9:42
10:01
8:53
9:26
9:09
11:34
10:31
9:19
11:10
12:51
10:42
12:26
11:36
12:55
14:13
14:13
17:10
16:27
16:30
12:56
13:21
12:58
12:58
13:16
12:43
14:02
13:37
12:54
15:12
13:29
15:31
14:07
3:51
6:49:43
32.3 mi
ave 12:40

NorthCoast 24 Hour in the bag! Ave 20:16 for 71.1 miles

Had a pretty good time out in Cleveland this weekend.  I only bagged 71.1 miles, but pretty happy considering my terrible training this year. 

We had great conditions out there, and it was pretty social.  I had fun talking with Ric Munoz and Nathan while out there.  Also, got to see Connie Gardner almost break the American Record, with her performance of 144 miles!

I was really tired by the half way point and really wanted to pack it in, so I went into my car for some much needed warmth and sleep.  I slept for about 2.5 hours then felt guilty, because at that time I had not even gotten to my real goal of 62 miles.  So by 3:30 am I was back into the game walking slowly.  By 7 am I had my groove and was back to running.  The last hour I felt pretty good and broke through from 65 to 71 miles in the last hour.

The drive there and back was as tough as the race.  I left work at about 5 pm and drove through the night arriving in the bad side of town by 3:00 am and then tried to find a place to sleep in the car without getting killed.  I did end up at the park, which had parking restrictions, but I thought it was worth it.  After the race I was dead tired, but knew I had to get home.  I drove and slept taking almost 11 hours for what could be about a 6 hour trip.  Made it home took some muscle relaxers, vicodine and four beers later I was out cold!!  What an incredible weekend; not my best 24 Hour race, but I'm not ashamed of my performance.  I can say that I didn't quit. 

Off to North Coast 24 tomorrow!!!

Just returned from a short trip to Philadelphia, and ready for the long day tomorrow, epic weekend planned.  Big drive, 24 hour race followed by another almost 8 hour drive.

Fort 2 Base Race 11.5 Miles 79:50 ave 6:54 per mile // Day 36 taking train

Have been taking the train to work most days and settling in to that being my normal way of life.  I discovered there is a program that will help offset the cost, so that is a plus; I like money. 

Had a very meaningful race that I ran for Team RWB today.  The Fort 2 Base 10 Nautical Mile race 11.5 regular miles in 79:30, which was good for 19th place out of 413 and 8th place in my age group.  I felt pretty good and will feel good to rest the rest of the week before NorthCoast next week. 

I'll post my standings when the results come out.  I felt like about 80th place and if I'm lucky I might have gotten a third in my age group since they pull overall and special category people out of the age groups and since they are 5 year age groups!  I'll keep my fingers crossed; I like hardware (update; wrong way outside of the age group awards; even if I was 40 I wouldn't have placed; probably didn't help to have four beers the night before and stay up reading Michael Savage's Abuse of Power followed by an hour of Lost)! 

They gave out fantistic finisher medals!  I'll snag a picture shortly.