The Training Continues

Ok, so I’m pretty much done with the fund raising (for this year) and other than a 10k on Thanksgiving day and the Flying Pig half in May, I’ve got nothing on my schedule. This does not mean I will stop training though. I’m setting my sights on beating my last 10k time of 54:45, and hoping to post a 53 minute or less time in four weeks. Which, if I can do that, I should be able to post a sub-two hour time for the Pig - but the training must continue. If I stop now I run the risk of losing all that I’ve built thus far, and that is something I am not willing to sacrifice.

But I’m not the only one in the house training now. This past weekend my wife decided that she too would join the foray and tighten up her laces. Her decision to do so came not by coercion on my part, but she came to this on her own. Saturday I ran 4.3 miles, caught up with her, and walked another 2.75. Sunday our paths did not cross and she beat me back to the house! After this week her work schedule will allow us to train together (sort or) at least on Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sundays. I’m really looking forward to this because it not only gives me that much more time with my wonderful and beautiful wife, but it gives us something we can do together as long as our legs and lungs will allow (hopefully into our aged years).

And, coming after the first of the new year we will have another person in training in house. Yes, my oldest has already (at the age of 12) completed a 5k. Next May he wants to try a 10k. He is planning on joining the track/cross country team in the spring, so he will get extra training outside of dear old dad pushing him. This means, however, that I will be running the Flying Pig 10k the day before the half marathon. But wait, there’s more! Our oldest daughter likewise, wants to start earning hard ward & soft ware (medals & shirts for you non-runners). In addition to the 13.1 Pig and the 10k Pig, I also get to run the 5k Pig. That’s right, three races in two days, two of them (10k & 5k) will be back to back (about 20-30 minutes rest between races). Crazy? Maybe, but I’m already looking forward to getting it done. It’s still less mileage than a full marathon!

Where Do I Go Now?

After giving it a few days thought, kicking ideas around in my head, I still have a nagging question: Where do I go from here, and what will I do?

Part of the answer is easy to answer because, in about 10 days, I will resume my classes to finish the bachelor’s degree. The remainder of the questions, the larger majority of the answer anyway, is much more difficult. Will I continue to run long distances, or do I go more for the shorter races and work on speed? I really like the 5k and 10k distances, but even now the half marathon seems a pretty comfortable distance to run. For weeks I was running at least 12 - 13 miles on longer runs, and now, having completed a marathon, that distance seems short. When I reached the half point in Chicago I felt great. By comparison, when I finished my first two half marathons in 2009 I was a disaster for about 2 days; and after those races I didn’t run for at least a week! Here now, I am six days out from a 26.2 mile run and I have already run 3.2 and am contemplating another run as I type this.

My choices are: a) take a break for a while and do not run, b) run, but only short distances (5 miles or less), c) keep the endurance level relatively moderate (7 - 10 miles), or d) keep the mileage up at 13 or above.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and last year I ran the 100th Thanksgiving Day Run in Cincinnati. I am seriously contemplating this race again, in hopes of shattering my last 10k time of 54 minutes. In order to do this I must maintain a minimum of 6 - 7 mile medium range runs at least twice a week. Anything less than that would pretty much be a waste of my time and would not net me any closer to a better 10k finish time. If I keep the endurance level slightly above that, say in the 7 - 10 mile range, this would make my target a bit easier to achieve.

Another thought that keeps bouncing through my head is the fact that my wonderful wife wants to try to do a half-mary in May. Granted, we wouldn’t start training for the Flying Pig in the next two months, but if I maintain a higher level of endurance (13 and above), running that half would seem like a walk in the park, and I might even be able to finish under 2 hours!

So many things to think about and decisions to make. I’m open to suggestion, so if you have any thoughts please feel free to share.

Last, Important, Best

I have made many acknowledgments thus far, but there are some really important people I have left out. There have been motivational friends online, organizations, volunteers at the race, and the cheering crowds that lined the streets of Chicago. A particular group has not been mentioned yet.

You see, when a person such as myself takes on the lifestyle change of endurance athletics (i.e. distance running, cycling, triathlons, iron man, etc.) there are many sacrifices to be made. Lots of time and effort go into it. Money can also be a factor. One sacrifice that often gets overlooked though is the family. Wives, husbands, parents and children are too often neglected so that, for the purpose of individual pride, glory, or athletic success, the individual can have the needed time and resources necessary to be successful. In this regard, I am no different.

This year alone I have gone through 3 pairs of shoes, 4 pairs of dry fit socks, gallons of water, gel packs, whey protein, shirts, shorts and much more. During my longer runs I would be away from the house for up to four hours, typically on a Saturday morning. I endured plantar faciitis in my left foot and gout in my right foot, and had to pay for the medical expenses for those. And what did my wife and kids get from all of this? A condensed trip to Chicago where they got a glimpse of me as I ran by a couple times.

Yes, I made a lot of sacrifices and made some drastic changes to the way I live, but my family, my wife especially, gave up much more than I. While I was out running, Tina was taking care of things at the house, our four kids, and trying to keep me on track and in order. I had the easy part here, I just had to run. She is the real trooper here, and her sacrifices are immeasurable to me.

I don’t find it ironic, but funny that she found a woman standing in the crowd on race day with a shirt that said it all. "I survived my husband's marathon training!"

Without the help of my wonderful, wonderful, loving, caring, completely awesome wife, I would have never been able to do what I did. Even during the race she was there to help. When my body started to get fatigued I started texting her about every mile, giving quick updates as I could while running/walking. She was providing me with motivation, love and support the whole way. She also had some of the things I needed and met me at a couple places along the route to make sure I was fed and getting the nutrition my body desperately needed. I’ll say it again, without her, this would have been far more difficult, or near impossible, for me to have done.

As for my kids, they were awesome too. They knew they wouldn’t get to see much of me while I ran, but they were as good as they could be for their mother. Even an autistic nine year old found it in himself, despite the vast crowds, to maintain order in the confusion. They too deserve a debt of gratitude I can never fully repay. As it turns out, Noah actually got a medal too. Thanks to the folks at OAR, I gave Noah the medal they presented me. After all, it was for him that I started this anyway - he did great, and so, he deserved a medal of his own.

My family has been wonderful through this entire thing and I know that as my journey continues, they will continue to hold me up, lift me up, and carry me when necessary. Thank you, and I love you!

People (It's In The Little Details)

Chicago is such a cool city. Not only is it a big city, but an extremely diverse city. A race such as the Chicago Marathon brings out all kinds of people, and many more types line the streets throughout the course. Before the race began I was nestled up against a fence, surrounded by, no, packed in like sardines with, thousands of other runners. Started talking with a guy next to me only to find out he had traveled from Toronto to Chicago for the race. And I thought coming from Cincinnati was a long haul?

Once the race began the crowds that lined the course carried all kinds of signs, banners, noise makers, drums and just about everything one could carry. A series of notable signs read, “Chuck Norris never ran a marathon!” Whether or not that statement is true, it was funny. And I wasn’t the only crazy runner celebrating a birthday, there were tons of people holding signs for other birthday runners. I even shared a few words towards the end of the race with a guy who would be celebrating his birthday the day after. There were tons of other interesting signs along the route, but I’ll save the best for last.

Back to the people. Throughout the weekend, nearly everywhere we went, there were people that were going to be in the race; or at least helping or volunteering. With so many charity organizations around today it is often hard to figure out which would be a good fit for any given runner, and I was no exception to that rule. It took some time and a bit of research to find the right fit, and I did just that and got in touch with a wonderful person named Lily at OAR. It was great to finally meet her after months of e-mails and a few phone conversations. She was one of the people that made the weekend even better. Why? Because she cares about people. Lily, Mike and Chelsea, thanks for what you did over the weekend of the Chicago Marathon! You three really made things easy from beginning to end and I look forward to working with you again next year.

And since I’m on the Run for Autism thing, there were a good number of team runners along the course. Each time one would pass me there was usually a high-five, a pat on the back or at least a word of encouragement. Me, being a marathon virgin, needed every bit of help and encouragement I could muster. I know there was one runner in particular that said had it not been for me giving a pat on the back and word of encouragement, “I wouldn’t have made it. I was ready to give up.” And that made it worth while even more.

I think by this point most people on the planet that have access to a computer know about Twittter, Facebook, and MySpace. But, how many know that there is a social network sight for athletes? Indeed there is! DailyMile is the place where I have friends across the country (and a few out of the U.S.) who, for the most part, are runners. There we keep track of our exercises (running, walking, biking, swimming, etc.) and can share that with fellow athletes. It’s a great place for encouragement, tips and challenges. One friend I have been following for several months has been shedding pounds, and it is often amazing to see/hear of his results. While running somewhere between miles 7 and 10 (don’t quite remember where) I ran into Brian. It was great running with someone I have only had online interactions with prior to that meeting. He was easy to recognize because I had seen many pictures of him, and as I approached from behind and his left, I knew for sure it was him and so I introduced myself. It was great to share a few moments with someone who has been an encouragement to me online, in person.

I would be remiss to not mention two other important people that helped to make this possible. Last September three guys got together to run the Air Force Half Marathon in Dayton, Ohio; I just happened to be one of those three. Bobby (Lucky) and Tim (Sasquatch) have continued to be both inspirations for me and subtle reminders to me in this whole running endeavor. Without these two fine men I might still be a sedentary lump on the preverbal couch of laziness, thanks guys! I can’t wait to run the Flying Pig with you next May (even though I’m only doing the half there).

Saving the best for last . . . there were, as I mentioned, some really interesting signs along the way. I believe it was somewhere around mile 22 or 23, a place where many people began to fall from the heat, that I came across the most interesting sign of the day. Mind you, marathon runners push their bodies to extremes, so be prepared. I’m not kidding, there was a sign that actually read, “It’s Okay To Crap Your Pants!” You see, when you have to go, you have to go and I have heard stories of people going mid-stride. While running Sunday’s marathon I saw people peel off from the group as early as the first mile, finding any space they could to take a leak. I’m used to this by now having run a few half mary’s, but it is usually only the men. Yes, even women have to go to the bathroom and do it in the open. As I said, I wanted to save the best for last.
So those are some of the more memorable people from my marathon weekend. I know there are many others, but for now, this short piece on people will suffice.

The Chicago Marathon 10-10-10

So yes, I was well fed, well rested, and I thought, well prepared in many ways. Mentally I was more than ready to take this on. Sure, it was going to be a physical challenge, but most of it is a mental thing. In that regard I was well prepared - I was determined to finish by my own strength and power on my own two feet! Physically I felt pretty good about this. I had trained for 18 weeks and ran distances up to 21.2 miles. I felt I could take on an additional 5 miles without too much struggle. I had packed everything early in the week and triple checked to make sure I had what I needed - or so I thought. Of all the things I did not remember to pack, the one thing I thought my body might need the most during the race, I did NOT remember to pack.

After about two hours of continuous exercise the body begins to break down things like fat and muscle tissue to provide the fuel necessary to continue. As a way to negate my body cannibalizing itself I usually take a protein shake with me and begin drinking it around mile 13. However, this one thing I DID forget - and it is probably something that would have enabled me to stay below pace for a longer period than I did.

So, I got as close behind the last seeded corral as I could stand to. Even still, I didn’t cross the starting line until 7 minutes after the elite runners had left. By that time they were nearing the second mile of the course. Thankfully thought, there were not too many walkers towards the front so I didn’t have to swerve in and out like I’ve done in races before.

The course was awesome. Having lived in the Chicago area for six and a half years, I knew many parts of the city, but the course opened my eyes to many places I had never seen before. I had my iPhone ready to play music, but I did not use it until well into the race - there was so much to see and take in I really didn’t want the distraction of the music; and so I just ran. I didn’t think about pacing, I just ran.

By the time I realized it I had caught up with a friend who gave me a Garmin reading of 2.7 miles - I had already missed a mile marker? And when I hit mile three and realized the pace I was running at I was a little surprised, and slightly worried at the same time. Took a 45 second walk break at mile three, grabbed some Gatorade and water and went back at it. Before I knew it I was at mile 6 and my pace was still about the same. (as an aside, I ran my last 10k in 54 minutes and change, here at this point in the marathon I was below that pace!) I knew I needed to slow things down, and so I did.

Coming back south into the city I knew I would be seeing Tina at 13, so I began sending her text messages of my location on the course. She informed me of her location and I kept running. Saw my beautiful wife at 13 and continued on. When I looked at the race clock at that point I knew I would be able to reach goal number 3 for the race, a 4 hour 30 minute or less time. I was at 2 hours 8 minutes for the first half - it was going to be a cake walk! Saw my wife again between 16 and 17, grabbed my gel pack and continued on.

At this point I was still feeling pretty darn good. But then the buildings began to disappear and the heat began to rise, and rise quickly. There was nothing to hide behind on the south side of the city except a few trees here and there, but for the most part it was full sun and over 80 degrees. One sign I saw said 95 degrees, and I knew it was going to be a rough finish. I knew that if I didn’t slow down a bit more I could become a victim of the heat and not finish. And then mile 19 came.

My hips started burning. Not my feet. Not my legs. Not my back. My hips! Holy crap did they hurt. I pulled off the side around 21 to stretch, then back at it. The same at 22, 23 and 24 - stretch and run, stretch and run. From about 22 through to the finish I noticed many runners hitting the aid tents, and even some runners fallen in the middle of the course - the mind games began in my head. Would I be able to finish? This is my first marathon, I’m sure some of these people have done this before, and they can’t make it. How am I supposed to be able to get through to the end?

The walk breaks became more and more frequent, and I was hitting every water and Gatorade station I could find, sometimes grabbing two of each and walking to finish it all. I was not going to be a heat victim, not this day, not this race. I was going to finish. And from mile 22 on all I could think about was getting to the end to see Tina and the kids - that was all I wanted. I wasn’t concerned about a silly medal, or even my time, I just wanted my family.

And as I headed north on Michigan I knew I was almost there. I started seeing signs that said 800m, 400m, and it was at that point that I knew I was going to finish my first marathon. I made it up the bridge that leads to the Field Museum, turned left, and headed down to the finish line. I had done it. I had completed a marathon. I can now say I am a marathoner. As I crossed the finish, somewhat in a running fashion, I felt elated. I was tired, yes, but not defeated. I had completed a marathon in 5 hours, 37 seconds. 30 minutes off my target time, but I'm not going to complain. I made the long walk through the gauntlet of space blanket, water, Gatorade, medal, food and then on to the hospitality tent for OAR where they too gave me another medal, more liquids, encouragement and a cool place to sit until Tina and the kids got there.

It’s a strange emotion, finishing something of that magnitude. I was physically high, mentally drained, physically wiped, emotionally wrenched, and happy like never before all at the same time. I wanted to laugh and cry. I wanted to scream, but had no air to force out. I was done. Even now, just thinking about it brings back a little of that feeling. What more could one ask for on a birthday?

I have much more to tell of this race, but for now, this is it. There are people, places, and things I need to tell about, but not today. This post has reached it’s climax, and with that I will draw this to a conclusion.

Marathon Weekend (not the race report)

Sunday, October 10th, 2010 (10-10-10) I celebrated my 36th birthday. However, unlike most people who would celebrate a birthday with a party, cake, ice cream and possibly gifts from friends and family, I celebrated by running 26.2 miles in the Chicago Marathon. But before I get to that, there is a lot to cover before I actually ran Sunday morning.

Friday, October 8th: 5 a.m. wake up, 5:30 departure, 6 a.m. meet and hit the road in a two vehicle caravan. Gained an hour by hitting the Central Time Zone and arrived at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and the Hilton Hotel before noon! Since I had packed nearly everything that wasn’t nailed down during the week, I was pretty sure I had everything we needed for the trip - and then some.

We got a really good rate at the hotel through one of those online price things, but when we arrived we found out that it would cost almost as much to park our minivan as it would for the three night stay! Yes, nearly $50 a day for parking. We banged heads, unloaded vehicles and headed for lunch to discuss our options. Hitting an old favorite we dined at Portillo’s in Schaumburg - and it was a little slice of heaven. We even made plans for parking that would cost less than $10 a day; you guessed it, we didn’t park at the hotel! All was well.

We hit the race expo before dinner and then I took the family out west to visit some dear old friends. It was a long day that ended when we got back to the hotel at 1:35 a.m. Saturday morning!

Saturday proper went quite well. Slept in a bit, got everyone ready and headed back into the city for some time at the Field Museum. It had been nearly 10 years since we last visited, so there was a lot to take in. And, after walking ourselves silly in the museum we headed back to the hotel to get ready for dinner at Buca di Beppo. Had a great meal with everyone then back to the hotel for a night of sleep before the race.

And so everything was set for a great race day. Lots of food and well rested . . .

One Week Away

This time next Friday my family and I will be on the road, heading towards Chicago. I think it has been a little over three years since our last visit to the windy city, and I am truly looking forward to getting back. We lived in the west suburbs of Chicago for just over six years and we have so many friends there; friends we all want to see again. But this trip, while we plan on visiting friends, is about a race.

To date, my longest run has been 21.2 miles with a lot of hills involved. The Chicago Marathon is 26.2 miles of pretty flat, city terrain. I am familiar with most of the course as I worked in the downtown area for a few years, and the course even goes near where I worked. The excitement is starting to build, and during yesterday’s run that is all I thought about. If you have never been to Chicago I would recommend it highly. The people are friendly, the city is something to behold visually, and the food is incredible!

While planning for this weekend food has been our number two priority, second only to the race itself. With so many great places to eat we had to make some tough decisions as to where we would go. I won’t go into detail here, but I will say there will be a post race entry here that will include our food stops - especially what I’ll eat right after the race!

Now, about yesterday’s run . . . I set out to put in a casual pace, but close to my marathon pace of 9:45 per mile. It was about 55 degrees with 90% humidity, so I figured that would be a safe and comfortable place to be. My body was telling me a different story though. I hit mile 1 at 9:20, and mile 2 was an 8:51! I felt like I was slowing down, and I even tried to slow it down, but I stayed in that range for all 8.77 miles. I averaged a 9:22/mile overall and felt really good after the run. I’m not looking to break any land-speed records in Chicago, but I am looking to finish this race. As I’ve said, I have never run any distance further than 21.2, so there will be an element of challenge to those last four to five miles.

My goal? I have three goals in mind for this race; 1) finish the Chicago Marathon, 2) finish the race in 4 hours 30 minutes or less, 3) finish the race without injury. While I want to perform decently I do not want to risk injury to my body. I have a life outside of my running and it includes being a husband and father, holding a full-time job, being a student, a son, and a hunter - returning to my regular life with an injury would hinder almost all of these roles and that is something I cannot sacrifice. So, if at mile 15 my body says to slow down, I will slow down. But the flip side to that is if my body says we can do this all out at mile 23, then I will pick it up. Regardless, I will finish this race and finish strong. I will be glad to know that I have accomplished something that only one-tenth of one percent of the population has accomplished. I will be glad to know that I have a small cheering section along the course. I will be glad to know that I have helped raise funds for autism research. And I will be glad to know that I have finished this endurance trial without injury so I may try it again some day.