If you read this blog hoping to be wowed by a spectacular marathon time, you’re probably reading the wrong blog. If you’re hoping to get some tips on how to qualify for the Boston Marathon, then you are definitely reading the wrong blog.
What I realized the most from my experience with the Diamond Valley Lake Marathon is that speed is not the end-all be-all to me. It isn’t.
Now, I will add this as a disclaimer up front: what I say from here on out isn’t necessarily an indictment on speed; nor does it mean that I don’t want to go after certain PRs at certain distances. On the contrary, I think for me those goals are healthy and important, to an extent.
But having a great time, setting a PR, knocking one out of the park is not the only thing I look for in marathons… races in general but particularly marathons.
I’ve compared and contrasted my two most recent marathons and came to that conclusion. For the DVL Marathon, my goals were to finish strong and to work on my mental state in the latter portion of the race (Miles 20-plus). I met those goals. My time suffered – 4:44:25. Yikes! It was a full 21 minutes slower than the PR I'd set at Surf City just nine weeks prior - 4:23:38.
There are factors as to why my time changed so dramatically, as I’ve blogged about already, but despite the disparity in time, I’m fairly certain I got more out of DVL than I did from Surf City.
Marathons are challenges. They truly are. Every one I’ve done has grabbed me, shaken me, picked me up my feet and slammed my head on the ground multiple times - and then they each proceeded to have their way with me. Consequently, my mind was in a pudding-like state while my muscles refused to act like normal.
And I think that’s what I enjoy about marathons. I like them precisely because they are tough, because they are challenging, because you can’t bullshit your way around one. Either you do it or you don’t. It’s the ultimate line in the sand and I’m one of the few foolish enough to cross it.
If I were to put all of my marathons in a bag, reach in and take one out – doesn’t matter which one – I could honestly say that that specific marathon was the hardest single physical thing I’ve had to endure in my life, bar none. They are each at the same level – on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the most difficult thing you could possibly do, they are all 10s (I know, dropping 100-plus pounds was tough but that was a sustained period of difficulty, versus one grueling act).
And no matter how much I train for my next one or the next five or 12 or 23… they will never cease being 10s. I know that full well going in, which is why I bust my butt and train hard for them. That’s why I get up at 5:30 on Sunday mornings and go run 10, 12, 15, 18, 20 miles; that goes to the no BS’ing your way around a marathon thing. That’s why I take care of my body (mostly), why I’ve all but stopped drinking, why I have my gym membership, why I spend so much money on shoes and gear in general… the list goes on and on.
Time is only a part of the marathon experience for me. What matters most to me is conquering the distance, slaying the beast, defeating the monster. Believe me, marathons are monsters. There’s no sugar-coating it. I’ve been in the belly of the beast, and it’s as dark and dingy of a place as you can imagine.
But that’s what concerns me, delving to the depths of the dungeon and climbing out, not so much how fast I was able to escape from the monster’s clutches.
And if the journey is what matters to you, then stick around.
I’ll have plenty of those tales to tell.
Showing posts with label marathon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label marathon. Show all posts
Monday, April 25, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
On The Topic Of Support
Support is a strange thing. I need it just like anyone else needs it. No matter what you're doing - running, going to school, living life - without support, things get complicated quickly.
I could not be the runner I am today without having had support from my running club, the Lopers; from my running friends I met with the Lopers; from the countless, nameless people who have helped out during all the races I've ever ran; and of course from all of you blog readers who take time every, uh, day/week/once-in-a-while to read my blog and peruse my thoughts.
The one person who has supported me the most has been Mrs. LB. Now, she hasn't pushed me to do all the races I've done; she's helped keep me grounded and has helped temper my zeal because otherwise I would probably have signed up for more races than I've run and that may have been a bad idea. But she supports me and I know that if I sign up for a race, she'll be behind me.
But the rest of my family... well, not so much. This actually sounds more harsh than it is, but that's the truth. Not so much. I mean, they all realize how much I run and how running has helped me do certain things previously thought impossible. But Mrs. LB has been the only one in my extended family even that has been to my races. She hasn't been at all of them but she's been to at least one of my 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons and has been to all of my marathons.
My brother Jesse was at my last race, at the Diamond Valley Lake Marathon. He jumped at the chance to go with us to the race and was cheering me and other runners on, supporting his brother and the random strange runner in front of him as well. And that was great, knowing he was in my corner and supportive of my racing.
Now, I'm not necessarily complaining. I'm not having a sob-fest here, nor do I want to change the name of my blog to Weepy Runner. But I do find it a bit curious that there's been such little interest in just going out to one of my races. Distance running is such a difficult thing, and if all it takes to support me and my efforts during a race is just showing up, why hasn't anybody done that?
I've seen fellow runners' race pictures, mostly on FB, of races and some of them have this huge contingent of people out there with them, supporting them, cheering them on with signs and such.
Now, I get why some races wouldn't be that fun to attend. Crowds, traffic, the time commitment involved. A race-viewing experience that consists of an hours-long wait to get one glimpse at a loved one and swim upstream amongst the other salmon to find them after the race doesn't seem so appealing. I understand that, and in fact I've told and will continue to tell Mrs. LB not to go to certain races, such as the Camp Pendleton Mud Run, because it would be a big hassle for her to go - the only exception is my marathons; she's stuck having to support me at my marathons whether she likes it or not :)
As with everything, it sounds a bit rough in writing. "My family doesn't support me - waaaa!" Look, they support me, they back me because they are my family and they love me (I think, I hope, maybe not if they read this...). But I'm just struck at the disparity in the support some runners get and others don't.
I could not be the runner I am today without having had support from my running club, the Lopers; from my running friends I met with the Lopers; from the countless, nameless people who have helped out during all the races I've ever ran; and of course from all of you blog readers who take time every, uh, day/week/once-in-a-while to read my blog and peruse my thoughts.
The one person who has supported me the most has been Mrs. LB. Now, she hasn't pushed me to do all the races I've done; she's helped keep me grounded and has helped temper my zeal because otherwise I would probably have signed up for more races than I've run and that may have been a bad idea. But she supports me and I know that if I sign up for a race, she'll be behind me.
But the rest of my family... well, not so much. This actually sounds more harsh than it is, but that's the truth. Not so much. I mean, they all realize how much I run and how running has helped me do certain things previously thought impossible. But Mrs. LB has been the only one in my extended family even that has been to my races. She hasn't been at all of them but she's been to at least one of my 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons and has been to all of my marathons.
My brother Jesse was at my last race, at the Diamond Valley Lake Marathon. He jumped at the chance to go with us to the race and was cheering me and other runners on, supporting his brother and the random strange runner in front of him as well. And that was great, knowing he was in my corner and supportive of my racing.
Now, I'm not necessarily complaining. I'm not having a sob-fest here, nor do I want to change the name of my blog to Weepy Runner. But I do find it a bit curious that there's been such little interest in just going out to one of my races. Distance running is such a difficult thing, and if all it takes to support me and my efforts during a race is just showing up, why hasn't anybody done that?
I've seen fellow runners' race pictures, mostly on FB, of races and some of them have this huge contingent of people out there with them, supporting them, cheering them on with signs and such.
Now, I get why some races wouldn't be that fun to attend. Crowds, traffic, the time commitment involved. A race-viewing experience that consists of an hours-long wait to get one glimpse at a loved one and swim upstream amongst the other salmon to find them after the race doesn't seem so appealing. I understand that, and in fact I've told and will continue to tell Mrs. LB not to go to certain races, such as the Camp Pendleton Mud Run, because it would be a big hassle for her to go - the only exception is my marathons; she's stuck having to support me at my marathons whether she likes it or not :)
As with everything, it sounds a bit rough in writing. "My family doesn't support me - waaaa!" Look, they support me, they back me because they are my family and they love me (I think, I hope, maybe not if they read this...). But I'm just struck at the disparity in the support some runners get and others don't.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Diminishing Marathon Returns?
I remember the first time I baked a bread.
I’d been craving some sweet potatoes something awful, but since Mrs. LB is not exactly a baker, I was left to fill that craving on my own. So I did and I made a fantastic loaf of Sweet Potato Bread. I was so excited. I showed it off to Mrs. LB and she was enthused (at least, she pretended to be enthused). I was still glowing a few days later when I made another loaf.
After awhile, though, it became less thrilling and more of an expectation. I wasn’t wondering what the bread would turn out like. I knew what it would turn out like and thus when it came out of the oven, I wasn’t saying “Yeah! Look what I did!” but rather “Looks good.” It was, and is, a much more subdued reaction.
The law of diminishing returns took effect. I mean, you can only draw from the well so many times before something loses its luster, right?
So far, that law has not affected my marathons but it has curtailed some of the excitement from my running feats.
The first time I ran outside? Nervous, but I did it! The last time I ran outside? My feet hurt, but you got it done.
The first time I ran 10 miles? Excited! What an accomplishment! The last time I ran 10 miles? Double digits, baby.
My first race? I can’t believe I’m doing this! Look at me, running a 5K! My last race? I can’t believe I’m doing this. I don’t like 5Ks, but eff it, let’s get a PR.
Will that happen with marathons? Will I change the way I think about my marathons? Well, how do I think about them now? Let’s see. I think they are the ultimate challenge for me, a true mental and physical test. I can’t hide anything during a marathon – either I’ve trained well and will rise to the challenge or I will crash and burn, probably shedding a few tears of embarrassment in the process. Finishing marathons, though, has been some the most thrilling, satisfying, rewarding moments of my life, period. And no matter what happens, nobody can ever take that away from me.
So… will those thoughts change?
I have this bad habit, see. When I do something or achieve something, it becomes like less of a fea. I didn’t have the greatest amounts of self-esteem growing up, so before if I were to, say, get an A on a test or in a class, to me it wouldn’t seem like that big of a deal because me getting an A meant the test or class was easy. How else would I get an A? If I can do it, then it’s not a big deal because I’m not special. That’s what I used to think like, but obviously that’s changed. Not everyone can drop 120 pounds, particularly with just eating right and exercising.
I suppose I do have that going for me. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about my weight loss. The law of diminishing returns hasn’t yet hit my weight loss.
I do fear, though, that if I run enough marathons that I will revert back to my old self and think “Big deal, another marathon.” And not only that, perhaps the joy of finishing one and having accomplished the task of running a marathon will be outweighed by the grueling training. It's one thing right now for me to be willing to sacrifice myself for so many Sundays in order to achieve that marathon glory, but what if at some point I'm no longer willing.
I don’t think that will happen.
I can’t imagine ever thinking of a marathon as just another distance.
But… what if?
I’d been craving some sweet potatoes something awful, but since Mrs. LB is not exactly a baker, I was left to fill that craving on my own. So I did and I made a fantastic loaf of Sweet Potato Bread. I was so excited. I showed it off to Mrs. LB and she was enthused (at least, she pretended to be enthused). I was still glowing a few days later when I made another loaf.
After awhile, though, it became less thrilling and more of an expectation. I wasn’t wondering what the bread would turn out like. I knew what it would turn out like and thus when it came out of the oven, I wasn’t saying “Yeah! Look what I did!” but rather “Looks good.” It was, and is, a much more subdued reaction.
The law of diminishing returns took effect. I mean, you can only draw from the well so many times before something loses its luster, right?
So far, that law has not affected my marathons but it has curtailed some of the excitement from my running feats.
The first time I ran outside? Nervous, but I did it! The last time I ran outside? My feet hurt, but you got it done.
The first time I ran 10 miles? Excited! What an accomplishment! The last time I ran 10 miles? Double digits, baby.
My first race? I can’t believe I’m doing this! Look at me, running a 5K! My last race? I can’t believe I’m doing this. I don’t like 5Ks, but eff it, let’s get a PR.
Will that happen with marathons? Will I change the way I think about my marathons? Well, how do I think about them now? Let’s see. I think they are the ultimate challenge for me, a true mental and physical test. I can’t hide anything during a marathon – either I’ve trained well and will rise to the challenge or I will crash and burn, probably shedding a few tears of embarrassment in the process. Finishing marathons, though, has been some the most thrilling, satisfying, rewarding moments of my life, period. And no matter what happens, nobody can ever take that away from me.
So… will those thoughts change?
I have this bad habit, see. When I do something or achieve something, it becomes like less of a fea. I didn’t have the greatest amounts of self-esteem growing up, so before if I were to, say, get an A on a test or in a class, to me it wouldn’t seem like that big of a deal because me getting an A meant the test or class was easy. How else would I get an A? If I can do it, then it’s not a big deal because I’m not special. That’s what I used to think like, but obviously that’s changed. Not everyone can drop 120 pounds, particularly with just eating right and exercising.
I suppose I do have that going for me. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about my weight loss. The law of diminishing returns hasn’t yet hit my weight loss.
I do fear, though, that if I run enough marathons that I will revert back to my old self and think “Big deal, another marathon.” And not only that, perhaps the joy of finishing one and having accomplished the task of running a marathon will be outweighed by the grueling training. It's one thing right now for me to be willing to sacrifice myself for so many Sundays in order to achieve that marathon glory, but what if at some point I'm no longer willing.
I don’t think that will happen.
I can’t imagine ever thinking of a marathon as just another distance.
But… what if?
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Proving My Worth
What a difference one year makes.
A year ago this time, I was getting ready to run my first marathon. In February 2009 I was (improperly) training for my first half-marathon. In February 2008 I'd never run more than three miles at once. In February 2007 I weighed 250 pounds and in February 2007 I weighed more than 300 pounds.
And now, February 2011 I'm getting ready to run my third marathon.
I'm excited about what I'll be doing on Sunday. Not all that excited about the pain I'll feel towards the end of the race and immediately afterward but it's a means to an end.
What end is that? Bragging rights? Pride? Ultimate confidence? All that and more.
Running is who I am, it's what I do, it's what defines me. It allows me to fit into my size 34 pants, it's what allows me to enjoy food and not worry that every bite I eat will add inches to my waistline, it's what allows me to feel good about myself and allows me to think "Hey, I don't look half bad."
I'm not quite sure where running will take me. I hope I still have the fire and the ability to run marathons in 5, 10, 20 years. I'm definitely laying the groundwork for such longevity but you never know... I could shatter my knee or some other gawdawful thing could happen to keep me from running.
Anyway, I'm a runner. I've earned the right to be called as much and I don't feel brash or arrogant or anything when I think that. On the other hand, I feel as if I need to constantly prove myself to maintain that status.
I'm a runner.
I'm a marathoner.
On Sunday, I'm going to prove it.
A year ago this time, I was getting ready to run my first marathon. In February 2009 I was (improperly) training for my first half-marathon. In February 2008 I'd never run more than three miles at once. In February 2007 I weighed 250 pounds and in February 2007 I weighed more than 300 pounds.
And now, February 2011 I'm getting ready to run my third marathon.
I'm excited about what I'll be doing on Sunday. Not all that excited about the pain I'll feel towards the end of the race and immediately afterward but it's a means to an end.
What end is that? Bragging rights? Pride? Ultimate confidence? All that and more.
Running is who I am, it's what I do, it's what defines me. It allows me to fit into my size 34 pants, it's what allows me to enjoy food and not worry that every bite I eat will add inches to my waistline, it's what allows me to feel good about myself and allows me to think "Hey, I don't look half bad."
I'm not quite sure where running will take me. I hope I still have the fire and the ability to run marathons in 5, 10, 20 years. I'm definitely laying the groundwork for such longevity but you never know... I could shatter my knee or some other gawdawful thing could happen to keep me from running.
Anyway, I'm a runner. I've earned the right to be called as much and I don't feel brash or arrogant or anything when I think that. On the other hand, I feel as if I need to constantly prove myself to maintain that status.
I'm a runner.
I'm a marathoner.
On Sunday, I'm going to prove it.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Marathon No. 3 Almost Here... Already?!?
One week from today is the big day. Marathon No. 3, Surf City Marathon in Huntington Beach, Calif., will be awaiting that day. To say that I'm nervous a week out is, well, a bit of an understatement.
My nerves haven't been too bad. I've been dealing with this build-up well. But after today's 10-mile run, there's not much standing in the way now. A few midweek runs, lots of carbo-loading and water, and that's about it.
It's sort of like stepping up to a high diving board at a swimming pool. From a distance, it doesn't look too bad. When you start walking to it, you're excited about the jump but the closer you get, the more nervous you become because, after all, you're going to jump this really high distance. Then you get there, look down and... YIKES!!
I'm walking up to that diving board now. Suddenly, 26.2 miles seems like... well, 26.2 miles.
The part that worries me the most is once I hit Mile 20. I think I'll be okay at Mile 20 and even Mile 21, 22 but after that, every step I take is just going to add to my pain and discomfort and I'm going to want tocurl up in the fetal position and die walk a lot, and while I am going to take walk breaks, I want to minimize those and not just stop because I'm in pain.
There's something I only feel when I reach the Land of High Mileage. My sides ache. It's like a slow burn on my sides and it makes the rest of me very uncomfortable. My feet also will be aching, I'm certain. The way I describe my marathon pain is that I feel like I've been hit by a truck, and next week an 18-wheeler's going to plow over me on Pacific Coast Highway.
I know come race day I'll be okay. My initial plan, well, part of it anyway, is to break the run up into three segments: Miles 1-10, Miles 11-20 and Miles 20-26.2. It's a lot easier to ingest when you think of it that way; 10 miles, 10 miles and a 10K.
It's funny because after all the build-up and all the nerves and anxiety and stress and jitters and what-the-hell-was-I-thinking feelings I'll have this week, once I get to the start line, I know I'll be fine. I'll be calm and excited and ready. But it's getting there that will be the challenging part.
My nerves haven't been too bad. I've been dealing with this build-up well. But after today's 10-mile run, there's not much standing in the way now. A few midweek runs, lots of carbo-loading and water, and that's about it.
It's sort of like stepping up to a high diving board at a swimming pool. From a distance, it doesn't look too bad. When you start walking to it, you're excited about the jump but the closer you get, the more nervous you become because, after all, you're going to jump this really high distance. Then you get there, look down and... YIKES!!
I'm walking up to that diving board now. Suddenly, 26.2 miles seems like... well, 26.2 miles.
The part that worries me the most is once I hit Mile 20. I think I'll be okay at Mile 20 and even Mile 21, 22 but after that, every step I take is just going to add to my pain and discomfort and I'm going to want to
There's something I only feel when I reach the Land of High Mileage. My sides ache. It's like a slow burn on my sides and it makes the rest of me very uncomfortable. My feet also will be aching, I'm certain. The way I describe my marathon pain is that I feel like I've been hit by a truck, and next week an 18-wheeler's going to plow over me on Pacific Coast Highway.
I know come race day I'll be okay. My initial plan, well, part of it anyway, is to break the run up into three segments: Miles 1-10, Miles 11-20 and Miles 20-26.2. It's a lot easier to ingest when you think of it that way; 10 miles, 10 miles and a 10K.
It's funny because after all the build-up and all the nerves and anxiety and stress and jitters and what-the-hell-was-I-thinking feelings I'll have this week, once I get to the start line, I know I'll be fine. I'll be calm and excited and ready. But it's getting there that will be the challenging part.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Marathon Monster Has Diminished (A Little)
I have a marathon coming up! I can't believe it. I guess why I can't believe it is because I'm not as nervous as I was last year. I have a load of confidence heading into Surf City 2010 - not necessarily confidence in that I'm going to run a really fast race or anything but confidence in that I'm going to finish, I'm going to run strong and I'm going to live up to my marathoner status.
It's a stark contrast to last year when I was a ball of nerves the weeks leading up to Surf City.
How have things changed in one year? Here's where my 2010 and 2011 experiences have differed so far.
WEATHER
2010: I checked the weather multiple times a day... okay, it was like multiple times an hour. The last thing I wanted was rain.
2011: On Wednesday I checked the forecast once. It called for rain on Feb. 6. Thursday I checked once and rain was on the forecast for Feb. 7. While rain will be an inconvenience, I'm not worried about it.
HOTEL
2010: We rented a hotel for two nights a year ago. The room wasn't that great but it was within walking distance and we (Mrs. LB and I) felt it was important to have a place to stay nearby so I can get up and walk to the start line, walk back after the finish, sleep after the race and recover on a bed instead of a car.
2011: We may get a hotel but Mrs. LB is going to drop me off. We still haven't figured it out but I'm not worried about those parts of the logistics.
GEAR
2010: In my final long run ahead of the marathon, I wore the outfit I wound up wearing at the marathon. I wanted to make sure that things worked out well and that I would be comfortable in what I'd decided to wear.
2011: I'm wearing my pink Loper shirt but beyond that, not sure. I have an idea of what shorts I want to wear but nothing's finalized.
FELLOW RUNNERS
2010: I decided that I wanted to run with my pace group and I ended up running the race with them. One fellow Loper and I did most of the course together.
2011: I'm going at it alone.
MUSIC
2010: I carefully constructed a playlist, divided it up into three separate playlists so I could skip ahead if need be. I wound up skipping the second one altogether because I didn't start listening to music until about Mile 8 or so.
2011: Four songs have officially made my playlist. I'm thinking of just throwing in about 4.5 hours worth of music and hitting shuffle on race day.
DISTANCE
2010: I knew what it was like to run 22 miles. But I didn't know what it was like to run 23, 24, 25, 26 or 26.2.
2011: I know exactly what it's like to be on Mile 25 of a 26.2-mile run. Every muscle in your body is aching, every step requires a huge effort, and you feel as if you are not moving any closer to the finish line. As a fellow Loper told me, the last six miles are all mental. Been there twice, survived twice. I wouldn't say I came out unscathed but I did survive. And knowing that I survived and lived to run another day has given me the confidence I have now.
It's a stark contrast to last year when I was a ball of nerves the weeks leading up to Surf City.
How have things changed in one year? Here's where my 2010 and 2011 experiences have differed so far.
WEATHER
2010: I checked the weather multiple times a day... okay, it was like multiple times an hour. The last thing I wanted was rain.
2011: On Wednesday I checked the forecast once. It called for rain on Feb. 6. Thursday I checked once and rain was on the forecast for Feb. 7. While rain will be an inconvenience, I'm not worried about it.
HOTEL
2010: We rented a hotel for two nights a year ago. The room wasn't that great but it was within walking distance and we (Mrs. LB and I) felt it was important to have a place to stay nearby so I can get up and walk to the start line, walk back after the finish, sleep after the race and recover on a bed instead of a car.
2011: We may get a hotel but Mrs. LB is going to drop me off. We still haven't figured it out but I'm not worried about those parts of the logistics.
GEAR
2010: In my final long run ahead of the marathon, I wore the outfit I wound up wearing at the marathon. I wanted to make sure that things worked out well and that I would be comfortable in what I'd decided to wear.
2011: I'm wearing my pink Loper shirt but beyond that, not sure. I have an idea of what shorts I want to wear but nothing's finalized.
FELLOW RUNNERS
2010: I decided that I wanted to run with my pace group and I ended up running the race with them. One fellow Loper and I did most of the course together.
2011: I'm going at it alone.
MUSIC
2010: I carefully constructed a playlist, divided it up into three separate playlists so I could skip ahead if need be. I wound up skipping the second one altogether because I didn't start listening to music until about Mile 8 or so.
2011: Four songs have officially made my playlist. I'm thinking of just throwing in about 4.5 hours worth of music and hitting shuffle on race day.
DISTANCE
2010: I knew what it was like to run 22 miles. But I didn't know what it was like to run 23, 24, 25, 26 or 26.2.
2011: I know exactly what it's like to be on Mile 25 of a 26.2-mile run. Every muscle in your body is aching, every step requires a huge effort, and you feel as if you are not moving any closer to the finish line. As a fellow Loper told me, the last six miles are all mental. Been there twice, survived twice. I wouldn't say I came out unscathed but I did survive. And knowing that I survived and lived to run another day has given me the confidence I have now.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Surf City Training (Almost) Done
I didn't get a medal or a t-shirt and there wasn't really any celebrating from any spectators, but I did something just as important as running a marathon on Sunday.
I finished my training.
Now, there are still two Sunday runs left before Surf City, but at 12 and 10 miles, these next two runs are mostly about getting the miles in and maintaining your form and fitness. All the hard work is over. All the grueling, mind-numbing, leg-killing, side-splitting, limp-inducing training runs are over.
It's something worth celebrating. I don't want to feel like the marathon will be a prance in the park because it won't. I've likened my past marathon experience as being akin to getting hit by a truck and I fully expect to be slammed head-on by an 18-wheeler somewhere in Huntington Beach on Feb. 6. However, it's just me and the monster now and I can stare at it head on with the confidence that I not only survived this training cycle but came through it strong.
Sunday, I ran 20 miles. It was my second 20-mile run in three weeks, which I think is a first. I ran 18 miles on Dec. 19. I've done several 13-, 14- and 15-mile runs as well over the last few months. So 12 and 10 now seem fairly manageable.
The hardest part about running a marathon is training for one. I've found that out with the two marathons I've run and trained for, and that's given me some calm now because that part is all but over.
The marathon itself will be hard. Challenging. Painful. Grueling. Torturous. But once I push past all that, there will be a medal on the other side, there will be cheers from spectators (and Mrs. LB), there will be glory.
And I've earned the right to be there and indulge in all that.
I finished my training.
Now, there are still two Sunday runs left before Surf City, but at 12 and 10 miles, these next two runs are mostly about getting the miles in and maintaining your form and fitness. All the hard work is over. All the grueling, mind-numbing, leg-killing, side-splitting, limp-inducing training runs are over.
It's something worth celebrating. I don't want to feel like the marathon will be a prance in the park because it won't. I've likened my past marathon experience as being akin to getting hit by a truck and I fully expect to be slammed head-on by an 18-wheeler somewhere in Huntington Beach on Feb. 6. However, it's just me and the monster now and I can stare at it head on with the confidence that I not only survived this training cycle but came through it strong.
Sunday, I ran 20 miles. It was my second 20-mile run in three weeks, which I think is a first. I ran 18 miles on Dec. 19. I've done several 13-, 14- and 15-mile runs as well over the last few months. So 12 and 10 now seem fairly manageable.
The hardest part about running a marathon is training for one. I've found that out with the two marathons I've run and trained for, and that's given me some calm now because that part is all but over.
The marathon itself will be hard. Challenging. Painful. Grueling. Torturous. But once I push past all that, there will be a medal on the other side, there will be cheers from spectators (and Mrs. LB), there will be glory.
And I've earned the right to be there and indulge in all that.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Day After Video
Well, the morning is crazy busy around here, which happens when the girls are home. No school this week for them so we're going to Mt. Rubidoux this morning. We haven't been in a while and the girls are happy to go, so off we go.
For your viewing pleasure this morning, here's a video that I've been meaning to share. It's pretty funny. I've been told that I'm like the last person.
I might check in later today. Until then, enjoy.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Four Questions
I was recently tagged by Tales From The Back Of The Pack to answer four questions about myself. Pretty cool questions so I figured I'd take the time to answer them. I was also tagged by another cool blogger for another set of, well, questions I suppose, so keep an eye out for that. Was going to include them both in same post but will post separately.
Anyway...
1. What is your favorite holiday and why? Any special traditions?
My favorite holiday is definitely Christmas. It's not so much the presents and things like that but being a dad, I really do get into the Christmas spirit. All holidays have either taken on new meanings or been re-born now since the girls have been a part of my life. Christmas is awesome because of them. Of course, they love the presents they get but they also love decorating the Christmas tree, enjoy making sugar cookies, enjoy the lights on all the houses, enjoy the Christmas carols (in both English and Spanish) and all the awesome food as well. And because they enjoy it, I enjoy it.
2. What songs are on your go-to playlist? Describe how or why the music motivates you.
We go from warm and fuzzy to this. Well, I'm not much of a soft music guy, so this is anti-warm-and-fuzzy. My playlist consists of Metallica and others. I've actually changed up my musical selections. Before I would load the last half of playlists with Metallica, figured it would give me a huge boost when I needed it the most. Lately though I've been putting their stuff throughout. Part of me realized that I wasn't getting to some of the good songs on my playlist because it would be over by then. I had a few just-in-case songs near the end, figuring that if I needed them they'd be there just in case I wasn't done, but more often than not I was done.
My top three runnings songs, though, have not changed.
3. Highwayman, Johnny Cash
2. Damage Inc., Metallica
1. Orion, Metallica
Orion is an instrumental and lasts about 8:30, so I know that when it starts to when it finishes is roughly a mile, give or take. The beginning has a bit of an ominous feel to it, which is cool, and once it gets going, it just totally allows me to get into a groove.
Lately I've been running to a lot of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club as well, and I also listen to a lot of Flogging Molly, but I think I had eight Metallica and eight BRMC songs on my Long Beach Playlist.
Highwayman kind of goes against the grain but that's just an awesome song. I can lose myself in that song. It's too bad it's only about three minutes long.
3. What is your dream vacation? Money is not an issue.
Tough question. I've been to and had a great time in Costa Rica, Montreal, Trinidad & Tobago and would love to go back to one or all three. However, I'd also like to visit new frontiers.
I don't know though, I like the idea of going to some far-off remote location. I don't really have a bucket list of must-visit places but one place I'd like to go to is Perth, Australia, simply because to me it seems like the most remote location possible. Australia is remote and far off, and Perth is remote and far off within Australia. Maybe just for kicks, Perth with visits to Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef and Ayers Rock while I'm at it. What sucks is my brother visited the last three places, not Perth, but the others. I mean that's good for him... so I guess I'll have to live vicarously through him.
4. Looking back at 2010 so far...what are you most proud of?
Running two marathons. I'm proud of having run my first marathon, the Surf City Marathon in February. I did that with a group, my beloved Lopers. I trained with a group and about 10 of us ran it together... for the first 12-14 miles anyway. But I'm proud as well for having trained and ran another marathon all on my own, the San Francisco Marathon. I'm also proud that it was San Francisco, "the race even marathoners fear." And I set a PR there! I beat my Surf City time by about five minutes.
Well, that's what I've got time for. I think I'm supposed to tag other bloggers but I've never been any good at that. Anyway, hope you enjoyed the answers.
Anyway...
1. What is your favorite holiday and why? Any special traditions?
My favorite holiday is definitely Christmas. It's not so much the presents and things like that but being a dad, I really do get into the Christmas spirit. All holidays have either taken on new meanings or been re-born now since the girls have been a part of my life. Christmas is awesome because of them. Of course, they love the presents they get but they also love decorating the Christmas tree, enjoy making sugar cookies, enjoy the lights on all the houses, enjoy the Christmas carols (in both English and Spanish) and all the awesome food as well. And because they enjoy it, I enjoy it.
2. What songs are on your go-to playlist? Describe how or why the music motivates you.
We go from warm and fuzzy to this. Well, I'm not much of a soft music guy, so this is anti-warm-and-fuzzy. My playlist consists of Metallica and others. I've actually changed up my musical selections. Before I would load the last half of playlists with Metallica, figured it would give me a huge boost when I needed it the most. Lately though I've been putting their stuff throughout. Part of me realized that I wasn't getting to some of the good songs on my playlist because it would be over by then. I had a few just-in-case songs near the end, figuring that if I needed them they'd be there just in case I wasn't done, but more often than not I was done.
My top three runnings songs, though, have not changed.
3. Highwayman, Johnny Cash
2. Damage Inc., Metallica
1. Orion, Metallica
Orion is an instrumental and lasts about 8:30, so I know that when it starts to when it finishes is roughly a mile, give or take. The beginning has a bit of an ominous feel to it, which is cool, and once it gets going, it just totally allows me to get into a groove.
Lately I've been running to a lot of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club as well, and I also listen to a lot of Flogging Molly, but I think I had eight Metallica and eight BRMC songs on my Long Beach Playlist.
Highwayman kind of goes against the grain but that's just an awesome song. I can lose myself in that song. It's too bad it's only about three minutes long.
3. What is your dream vacation? Money is not an issue.
Tough question. I've been to and had a great time in Costa Rica, Montreal, Trinidad & Tobago and would love to go back to one or all three. However, I'd also like to visit new frontiers.
I don't know though, I like the idea of going to some far-off remote location. I don't really have a bucket list of must-visit places but one place I'd like to go to is Perth, Australia, simply because to me it seems like the most remote location possible. Australia is remote and far off, and Perth is remote and far off within Australia. Maybe just for kicks, Perth with visits to Sydney and the Great Barrier Reef and Ayers Rock while I'm at it. What sucks is my brother visited the last three places, not Perth, but the others. I mean that's good for him... so I guess I'll have to live vicarously through him.
4. Looking back at 2010 so far...what are you most proud of?
Running two marathons. I'm proud of having run my first marathon, the Surf City Marathon in February. I did that with a group, my beloved Lopers. I trained with a group and about 10 of us ran it together... for the first 12-14 miles anyway. But I'm proud as well for having trained and ran another marathon all on my own, the San Francisco Marathon. I'm also proud that it was San Francisco, "the race even marathoners fear." And I set a PR there! I beat my Surf City time by about five minutes.
Well, that's what I've got time for. I think I'm supposed to tag other bloggers but I've never been any good at that. Anyway, hope you enjoyed the answers.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Motivational Mondays: My Race Bling
It's all about the bling.
Running marathons and half marathons, you are left with lots of things afterward - a feeling of satisfaction at job well done, some pain that will eventually dissipate and race pictures that may or may not turn out.
But easily the most rewarding benefit to running 26.2 or 13.1 is the race medal. There's something about the medal that makes you feel as if your efforts were worth it. Long after you've ran the race, after all the sweat and blood and pain has disappeared, a glance at the medal can bring it all back.
When I ran the Long Beach Half Marathon, I did so for the medal. Having already run Surf City Marathon and the San Francisco Marathon, I only needed to run the Long Beach Half Marathon in order to get my California Dreamin' medal and jacket.
Signing up for and running Long Beach was a no-brainer then. I had run two grueling marathons and felt that running Long Beach would help me complete my conquest of California.
After the Long Beach half, I was immediately given my race medal. But several minutes later I walked around looking for the place where I could get my CA Dreamin' medal. A helpful runner helped me locate the tent and pretty soon I was handed my bonus medal.
I know it sounds cheesy but when I put that medal on I felt like a champ. I was proud all over again of having run Surf City and San Francisco. Surf City was of course my first marathon and I broke my half marathon PR in Long Beach but I felt like I earned my medal in San Francisco. Long Beach was a breeze compared to that.
Regardless, each race was difficult and presented its own set of challenges, and to have them all brought together with one medal makes it special for me.
After the race I was lucky enough to spend time with Katie of One Run at a Time. We posed for celebratory pictures as she had done well in conquering her own half marathon.
I told Katie that since she did San Francisco and now Long Beach, she had to complete the series and run Surf City in February. Sadly, the California Dreamin series is going away, and Surf City is the final race in that series. I'm not sure why this is, but that's what's going on. I wonder if something new will take its place.
Anyway, the series for me also included San Francisco...
... and Surf City...
My beloved CA Dreamin medal
And the four medals I earned.
I like to think that I put a lot into running, into training for races, and into the races themselves. These medals will always serve as a reminder of the blood, sweat and tears that went into each mile out there on these respective race courses.
Running marathons and half marathons, you are left with lots of things afterward - a feeling of satisfaction at job well done, some pain that will eventually dissipate and race pictures that may or may not turn out.
But easily the most rewarding benefit to running 26.2 or 13.1 is the race medal. There's something about the medal that makes you feel as if your efforts were worth it. Long after you've ran the race, after all the sweat and blood and pain has disappeared, a glance at the medal can bring it all back.
When I ran the Long Beach Half Marathon, I did so for the medal. Having already run Surf City Marathon and the San Francisco Marathon, I only needed to run the Long Beach Half Marathon in order to get my California Dreamin' medal and jacket.
Signing up for and running Long Beach was a no-brainer then. I had run two grueling marathons and felt that running Long Beach would help me complete my conquest of California.
After the Long Beach half, I was immediately given my race medal. But several minutes later I walked around looking for the place where I could get my CA Dreamin' medal. A helpful runner helped me locate the tent and pretty soon I was handed my bonus medal.
I know it sounds cheesy but when I put that medal on I felt like a champ. I was proud all over again of having run Surf City and San Francisco. Surf City was of course my first marathon and I broke my half marathon PR in Long Beach but I felt like I earned my medal in San Francisco. Long Beach was a breeze compared to that.
Regardless, each race was difficult and presented its own set of challenges, and to have them all brought together with one medal makes it special for me.
After the race I was lucky enough to spend time with Katie of One Run at a Time. We posed for celebratory pictures as she had done well in conquering her own half marathon.
I told Katie that since she did San Francisco and now Long Beach, she had to complete the series and run Surf City in February. Sadly, the California Dreamin series is going away, and Surf City is the final race in that series. I'm not sure why this is, but that's what's going on. I wonder if something new will take its place.
Anyway, the series for me also included San Francisco...
... and Surf City...
My beloved CA Dreamin medal
And the four medals I earned.
I like to think that I put a lot into running, into training for races, and into the races themselves. These medals will always serve as a reminder of the blood, sweat and tears that went into each mile out there on these respective race courses.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Last-Minute Tips For First-Time Marathoner, Anyone?
What to wear? What to bring? What's the weather going to be like? Is it going to be okay? What if...
I'm sure these thoughts are racing through my friend tahoegirl, aka Anne, as she prepares for her first marathon.
Anne will be part of the large crowds in the Windy City on Sunday as she runs in the Chicago Marathon, her first marathon. I'm quite excited for her and honored to have been helpful to her along her way. I realize my help has been rather minimal but it's still fun to have been able to help out.
Anyway, her mind is probably racing faster then her legs ever have or will. I figured I'd see if readers would chip in with any last-minute tips and/or last-minute words of encouragement.
I'll start.
Anne, you are going to ROCK the crap out of Chicago! I'm so happy and excited for you! Sunday will be a day you will remember for the rest of your life so soak it all in. As for the race itself, pace yourself at the start. The last thing you want to do is to crash and burn midway through the race. Just know that you can get this race done no matter how bad the last miles might feel. I have faith in you!!
I'm sure these thoughts are racing through my friend tahoegirl, aka Anne, as she prepares for her first marathon.
Anne will be part of the large crowds in the Windy City on Sunday as she runs in the Chicago Marathon, her first marathon. I'm quite excited for her and honored to have been helpful to her along her way. I realize my help has been rather minimal but it's still fun to have been able to help out.
Anyway, her mind is probably racing faster then her legs ever have or will. I figured I'd see if readers would chip in with any last-minute tips and/or last-minute words of encouragement.
I'll start.
Anne, you are going to ROCK the crap out of Chicago! I'm so happy and excited for you! Sunday will be a day you will remember for the rest of your life so soak it all in. As for the race itself, pace yourself at the start. The last thing you want to do is to crash and burn midway through the race. Just know that you can get this race done no matter how bad the last miles might feel. I have faith in you!!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Tuesday Tidbits
Felt like a throwing together some short blog items together for you, probably because my mind was all over the place on Monday.
Land of High Mileage
Trusty blog reader and friend of Muddy Runner tahoegirl is the woman! She ran 20 miles on the weekend, her last run until the Chicago Marathon, and her longest run ever! She begins her first-ever marathon taper now and I'm excited for her!
I'm asking for a favor. If you aren't a marathoner, please send her your encouragement. I know it made a difference for me, having the support of as many people as possible. And if you are a marathoner, pass along some tips and words of encouragement as well.
Tahoegirl has been aggressive throughout her training and has overcome challenges to meet her goal. Her 20-miler was run in 50-degree weather. Yikes. Not sure how long I would have lasted in that.
Anyway, I'll be running 11 miles on Oct. 10 I think but I know I will have the Windy City on my mind that day.
Q & A
Remember the Q & A I had earlier this year with my uncle Jorge? Well, I'm bringing it back. One of my Loper friends has agreed to be the subject of the second-ever Muddy Runner Q & A. She has an exciting tale to tell and will be running in a marathon shortly.
More details to follow but I can assure you her story is one worth promoting and worth reading about.
Tuneage
This is one of my new favorite running songs - New Moon Rising by Wolfmother.
Not sure why I never got their CDs. I liked the songs I heard of theirs but just never got around to buying their CDs. Well, the local library has them in stock so I checked them out and lo and behold, their stuff is fantastic. I've got a whole slew of new songs to run to, and this one is probably atop that list.
It's hard but not like Metallica hard. I mean, it won't make you tense if that metal stuff makes you tense (right Kerrie?) and this song has a good rhythm and nice energy. I've ran to it a few times and will be part of my Long Beach Half Marathon playlist for sure. The only question is, will it be near the top or towards the end?
Land of High Mileage
Trusty blog reader and friend of Muddy Runner tahoegirl is the woman! She ran 20 miles on the weekend, her last run until the Chicago Marathon, and her longest run ever! She begins her first-ever marathon taper now and I'm excited for her!
I'm asking for a favor. If you aren't a marathoner, please send her your encouragement. I know it made a difference for me, having the support of as many people as possible. And if you are a marathoner, pass along some tips and words of encouragement as well.
Tahoegirl has been aggressive throughout her training and has overcome challenges to meet her goal. Her 20-miler was run in 50-degree weather. Yikes. Not sure how long I would have lasted in that.
Anyway, I'll be running 11 miles on Oct. 10 I think but I know I will have the Windy City on my mind that day.
Q & A
Remember the Q & A I had earlier this year with my uncle Jorge? Well, I'm bringing it back. One of my Loper friends has agreed to be the subject of the second-ever Muddy Runner Q & A. She has an exciting tale to tell and will be running in a marathon shortly.
More details to follow but I can assure you her story is one worth promoting and worth reading about.
Tuneage
This is one of my new favorite running songs - New Moon Rising by Wolfmother.
Not sure why I never got their CDs. I liked the songs I heard of theirs but just never got around to buying their CDs. Well, the local library has them in stock so I checked them out and lo and behold, their stuff is fantastic. I've got a whole slew of new songs to run to, and this one is probably atop that list.
It's hard but not like Metallica hard. I mean, it won't make you tense if that metal stuff makes you tense (right Kerrie?) and this song has a good rhythm and nice energy. I've ran to it a few times and will be part of my Long Beach Half Marathon playlist for sure. The only question is, will it be near the top or towards the end?
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Marathon Quiz
Just for kicks, here's a little quiz I formulated off a newsletter I got from Active.com. If you got the same e-mail and know the answers, oh well, but if you haven't then take a gander at this here quiz. You could take it even if you've never run a marathon before. Just fun stuff.
The newsletter was entitled "10 Biggest Marathons" so I took the lead... (by biggest, they mean the most number of finishers) and the actual stats come from Running USA.
1. What U.S. marathon had the most number of finishers in 2009?
A. Boston Marathon
B. New York City Marathon
C. Chicago Marathon
D. LA Marathon
2. What U.S. marathon had the second-highest number of finishers in 2009?
A. Boston Marathon
B. New York City Marathon
C. Chicago Marathon
D. LA Marathon
3. Which of these marathons made the Top 10 list?
A. St. George Marathon
B. Las Vegas (Rock n Roll) Marathon
C. Portland (Oregon) Marathon
D. Philadelphia Marathon
4. Which of these marathons did not make the Top 10 list?
A. Arizona (Rock n Roll) Marathon
B. Honolulu Marathon
C. Twin Cities Marathon
D. San Diego (Rock n Roll) Marathon
5. What was the only state to place two marathons in the Top 10 list?
A. New York
B. Florida
C. Illinois
D. California
6. Rank the marathons from highest to lowest
A. Boston
B. LA
C. Walt Disney World
D. New York City
7. Which of the following marathons had more than 21,000 finishers?
A. LA
B. Walt Disney World
C. Marine Corps (DC)
D. Honolulu
8. Which of the following marathons had the least number of finishers?
A. LA
B. Walt Disney World
C. Marine Corps (DC)
D. Honolulu
9. How many of the Top 10 U.S. marathons placed in the Top 10 list of marathons around the world?
A. 4
B. 5
C. 6
D. 7
***
I'll probably post the answers later in the comments section or in another post. What do you get if you answer all of them correctly? Why nothing, of course. Nothing except my thanks for playing along.
The newsletter was entitled "10 Biggest Marathons" so I took the lead... (by biggest, they mean the most number of finishers) and the actual stats come from Running USA.
1. What U.S. marathon had the most number of finishers in 2009?
A. Boston Marathon
B. New York City Marathon
C. Chicago Marathon
D. LA Marathon
2. What U.S. marathon had the second-highest number of finishers in 2009?
A. Boston Marathon
B. New York City Marathon
C. Chicago Marathon
D. LA Marathon
3. Which of these marathons made the Top 10 list?
A. St. George Marathon
B. Las Vegas (Rock n Roll) Marathon
C. Portland (Oregon) Marathon
D. Philadelphia Marathon
4. Which of these marathons did not make the Top 10 list?
A. Arizona (Rock n Roll) Marathon
B. Honolulu Marathon
C. Twin Cities Marathon
D. San Diego (Rock n Roll) Marathon
5. What was the only state to place two marathons in the Top 10 list?
A. New York
B. Florida
C. Illinois
D. California
6. Rank the marathons from highest to lowest
A. Boston
B. LA
C. Walt Disney World
D. New York City
7. Which of the following marathons had more than 21,000 finishers?
A. LA
B. Walt Disney World
C. Marine Corps (DC)
D. Honolulu
8. Which of the following marathons had the least number of finishers?
A. LA
B. Walt Disney World
C. Marine Corps (DC)
D. Honolulu
9. How many of the Top 10 U.S. marathons placed in the Top 10 list of marathons around the world?
A. 4
B. 5
C. 6
D. 7
***
I'll probably post the answers later in the comments section or in another post. What do you get if you answer all of them correctly? Why nothing, of course. Nothing except my thanks for playing along.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Regret?
On Sunday, several people I know and am close to are running the LA Marathon. There are 11 people from the Lopers' 11-minute-per-mile pace group running, plus several other Lopers who are in other pace groups, plus my uncle Jorge and a few other non-Loper running friends.
Needless to say, I could have been surrounded by friends all the way from Dodger Stadium to the Santa Monica Pier.
But I'm not going. I will be running 10 miles, maybe more, in the sleepy streets of Loma Linda.
So now that the day is so close, do I regret not signing up?
No. I don't.
I'm happy with what I did at Surf City, and am happy with what I've done since then. Not just last week's 5K PR, but with my runs and the quality of my runs, and how I've been feeling. Lately, I've just been feeling really strong, feeling like I can run all day. I like that feeling.
Maybe it's just being relaxed. I don't really have a big race to train for. I plan on signing up for the Run Through Redlands half marathon, and hope to do so soon. I do have that free 5K next weekend, and of course the Mud Run. But none of those races require the kind of commitment a marathon does. Now, that's not to say I'm slacking at all or not taking my training as serious. I feel I am as focused now on my running as ever, so not having a marathon hasn't affected that.
But I still think that LA would have been too soon for me. I still have pleasant memories of Surf City and had I signed up for LA, I would have pushed those out of my mind and would have had to have re-focused on another marathon.
What's best for me is to continue along the way I've been, with strong training runs and my weekly Sunday long run, and pick the right marathon, not the next marathon.
I'm still thinking about the Las Vegas RnR Marathon in December, but lately I've been more and more intrigued by the San Francisco Marathon. July would be a good time for me, in terms of having enough time to get properly pumped and prepared for it, and would allow me the chance to recover in time for my fall racing schedule. I don't have any races planned for August or September, but I plan on Ragnar and the Mission Inn Half Marathon in October and November.
Anyway, while those races are still far off, I don't feel like I'm missing out on LA. After all, next year my first marathon will probably be the LA Marathon, so I only have to wait one year to enjoy that one.
Needless to say, I could have been surrounded by friends all the way from Dodger Stadium to the Santa Monica Pier.
But I'm not going. I will be running 10 miles, maybe more, in the sleepy streets of Loma Linda.
So now that the day is so close, do I regret not signing up?
No. I don't.
I'm happy with what I did at Surf City, and am happy with what I've done since then. Not just last week's 5K PR, but with my runs and the quality of my runs, and how I've been feeling. Lately, I've just been feeling really strong, feeling like I can run all day. I like that feeling.
Maybe it's just being relaxed. I don't really have a big race to train for. I plan on signing up for the Run Through Redlands half marathon, and hope to do so soon. I do have that free 5K next weekend, and of course the Mud Run. But none of those races require the kind of commitment a marathon does. Now, that's not to say I'm slacking at all or not taking my training as serious. I feel I am as focused now on my running as ever, so not having a marathon hasn't affected that.
But I still think that LA would have been too soon for me. I still have pleasant memories of Surf City and had I signed up for LA, I would have pushed those out of my mind and would have had to have re-focused on another marathon.
What's best for me is to continue along the way I've been, with strong training runs and my weekly Sunday long run, and pick the right marathon, not the next marathon.
I'm still thinking about the Las Vegas RnR Marathon in December, but lately I've been more and more intrigued by the San Francisco Marathon. July would be a good time for me, in terms of having enough time to get properly pumped and prepared for it, and would allow me the chance to recover in time for my fall racing schedule. I don't have any races planned for August or September, but I plan on Ragnar and the Mission Inn Half Marathon in October and November.
Anyway, while those races are still far off, I don't feel like I'm missing out on LA. After all, next year my first marathon will probably be the LA Marathon, so I only have to wait one year to enjoy that one.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Marathon Training
It's been a few weeks now since I ran my first marathon, and I'm still quite excited about it. I know there will other marathons in my future, hopefully one more in 2010, and I know I will have great experiences but Surf City was really fantastic and unique.
It turned out well because of how I trained for it. Knowing what I know now about running and training for races, I know I was undertrained for several races before, namely the 2009 Run Through Redlands half marathon and the 2009 Seal Beach 10K, both in April of '09. I shaved 5:36 from my time in that 10K to the next one I ran, the Mission Inn 10K in November, and I know I can smash my time in the half marathon because I know I can train better.
In many ways, though, that's why I joined the Loma Linda Lopers. I wanted to make sure that I did everything right in terms of my preparation for my first marathon. I knew that I wasn't doing everything right and that to tackle the marathon by myself could have been suicidal.
But how did my marathon training help me cross the finish line in one piece? I figured I'd share some of the reasons how my training helped me get across the finish line.
No Surprises
I didn't have many surprises during my marathon. I had encountered a wall before. It wasn't the proverbial wall you hit in marathons but it was a wall nevertheless. During the Cedar River Run, the last two miles were just beyond challenging. They were probably the toughest miles of any I had to endure in my whole marathon training. I was alone, it was raining, I was wet and cold and fatigued and exhausted and just downright miserable, and mentally I was a bit of a mess too. That was an 18-mile run, the longest I'd done to that point, and I only had 18 miles in me that day, not one step more. But I met my goal, and that run gave me so much confidence.
At Surf City, I was still going strong at 18 miles. It came and went and I didn't even realize it.
My Halfway Point Was 22
I've heard that a marathon is divided into halves - the first half is Mile 1 through Mile 20, and the second half is the last six miles. I did not feel at all worn out at the Mile 20 marker. In fact, I was enthused at Mile 22. While I hit the wall at Mile 23, that was preferable than hitting the wall at Mile 20, or before. I had the confidence in myself that I could get to Mile 22 because I did just that during training. The last four miles were tough, sure, but it could have been much tougher had I only run 18 or 20 during training, or even worse, if I'd only gone to 15 or 16.
Used To The Pounding
I've kept track of my mileage since Jan. 1 so I know exactly how many miles I've ran this year. Through Wednesday, that figure stood at roughly 265 this year alone. I did not keep track of my mileage during marathon training but I ran double-digit miles every weekend from late September all the way through Surf City with the exception of Dec. 7, when I ran a 15K race.
Consequently, my feet were used to the pounding, used to the demands of a marathon. I didn't develop any blisters, didn't have any toenail issues (well, any more than I usually have), didn't have any nipple issues (taped them up, never heard from them at all during the race), didn't have any chafing issues. I bled a lot, and that was a bit odd since it was on my back, but that I think/hope was an isolated incident, and didn't bother me during the race.
I've heard horror stories about blisters developing during races and marathons, but I had no such misfortunes. My feet had been there and done that, save for the last four miles, which were uncharted waters.
Locked And Loaded
Before I joined the Lopers, I had no concept of Gu, fuel belts and how effective they could be. In fact, they are not only effective but necessary I believe. Sure, many runners out there did not have them, but to me my fuel belt has become an indispensable part of running when I'm out there doing 10-12 miles or more.
I got used to running with the belt, got used to drinking Gatorade every now and then, and got used to Gu. This all became part of my routine, so it was no surprise to me. The only thing I had to be aware of was not to drink all my Gatorade too soon and to time it so it wouldn't run out by Mile 12 or something.
Solid Foundation
Everything I did in training I did with Surf City in mind, at least all of my Sunday runs. I wanted to get into a routine and a rhythm, finding my pace and getting the miles in. Since I hadn't run more than 13 miles before joining the Lopers, and had only ran more than 10 miles a handful of times, a lot of what we did was new to me. I remember feeling nervous about our first 11-mile run, and actually feeling nervous and anxious before a lot of our runs.
But when start to run 15 miles and 18 miles, suddenly a 12-mile run is quite appealing. I cannot tell you how tiny the half marathon seemed to me when I was at the start line at Surf City.
I did fear the marathon distance but I knew my legs had it in me. And now, 12-milers are challenging, sure, but not the daunting monsters they once were.
It turned out well because of how I trained for it. Knowing what I know now about running and training for races, I know I was undertrained for several races before, namely the 2009 Run Through Redlands half marathon and the 2009 Seal Beach 10K, both in April of '09. I shaved 5:36 from my time in that 10K to the next one I ran, the Mission Inn 10K in November, and I know I can smash my time in the half marathon because I know I can train better.
In many ways, though, that's why I joined the Loma Linda Lopers. I wanted to make sure that I did everything right in terms of my preparation for my first marathon. I knew that I wasn't doing everything right and that to tackle the marathon by myself could have been suicidal.
But how did my marathon training help me cross the finish line in one piece? I figured I'd share some of the reasons how my training helped me get across the finish line.
No Surprises
I didn't have many surprises during my marathon. I had encountered a wall before. It wasn't the proverbial wall you hit in marathons but it was a wall nevertheless. During the Cedar River Run, the last two miles were just beyond challenging. They were probably the toughest miles of any I had to endure in my whole marathon training. I was alone, it was raining, I was wet and cold and fatigued and exhausted and just downright miserable, and mentally I was a bit of a mess too. That was an 18-mile run, the longest I'd done to that point, and I only had 18 miles in me that day, not one step more. But I met my goal, and that run gave me so much confidence.
At Surf City, I was still going strong at 18 miles. It came and went and I didn't even realize it.
My Halfway Point Was 22
I've heard that a marathon is divided into halves - the first half is Mile 1 through Mile 20, and the second half is the last six miles. I did not feel at all worn out at the Mile 20 marker. In fact, I was enthused at Mile 22. While I hit the wall at Mile 23, that was preferable than hitting the wall at Mile 20, or before. I had the confidence in myself that I could get to Mile 22 because I did just that during training. The last four miles were tough, sure, but it could have been much tougher had I only run 18 or 20 during training, or even worse, if I'd only gone to 15 or 16.
Used To The Pounding
I've kept track of my mileage since Jan. 1 so I know exactly how many miles I've ran this year. Through Wednesday, that figure stood at roughly 265 this year alone. I did not keep track of my mileage during marathon training but I ran double-digit miles every weekend from late September all the way through Surf City with the exception of Dec. 7, when I ran a 15K race.
Consequently, my feet were used to the pounding, used to the demands of a marathon. I didn't develop any blisters, didn't have any toenail issues (well, any more than I usually have), didn't have any nipple issues (taped them up, never heard from them at all during the race), didn't have any chafing issues. I bled a lot, and that was a bit odd since it was on my back, but that I think/hope was an isolated incident, and didn't bother me during the race.
I've heard horror stories about blisters developing during races and marathons, but I had no such misfortunes. My feet had been there and done that, save for the last four miles, which were uncharted waters.
Locked And Loaded
Before I joined the Lopers, I had no concept of Gu, fuel belts and how effective they could be. In fact, they are not only effective but necessary I believe. Sure, many runners out there did not have them, but to me my fuel belt has become an indispensable part of running when I'm out there doing 10-12 miles or more.
I got used to running with the belt, got used to drinking Gatorade every now and then, and got used to Gu. This all became part of my routine, so it was no surprise to me. The only thing I had to be aware of was not to drink all my Gatorade too soon and to time it so it wouldn't run out by Mile 12 or something.
Solid Foundation
Everything I did in training I did with Surf City in mind, at least all of my Sunday runs. I wanted to get into a routine and a rhythm, finding my pace and getting the miles in. Since I hadn't run more than 13 miles before joining the Lopers, and had only ran more than 10 miles a handful of times, a lot of what we did was new to me. I remember feeling nervous about our first 11-mile run, and actually feeling nervous and anxious before a lot of our runs.
But when start to run 15 miles and 18 miles, suddenly a 12-mile run is quite appealing. I cannot tell you how tiny the half marathon seemed to me when I was at the start line at Surf City.
I did fear the marathon distance but I knew my legs had it in me. And now, 12-milers are challenging, sure, but not the daunting monsters they once were.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Motivational Mondays (March 1)
What's beyond the mountain? Now that I'm on this side of the mountain, past the marathon finish line, what's here?
I expected to meet some depression, some down time. After all, I had set my sights on the marathon for quite a long time, had worked diligently and prepared the best I could have, and the moment has come and gone. I think I've fully recovered from it, so the only thing left are the pictures, my medal and the memories.
I was worried that the after-marathon would be similar to January and the post-Christmas letdown that comes along with it, for me anyway. Christmas is usually a fun time, and then New Year's comes, but then after that it's like, what now? I expected something similar after Surf City.
So far, no depression. Yeah, it is strange not having a big race to prepare for. I signed up for a free 5K (on March 13) but I haven't yet signed up for the Run Through Redlands half marathon (April 18) even though I intend to run it. The Mud Run is still a bit far away and beyond that, well, that's really far off.
In many ways though, what I've done and what I will do after crossing the finish line is just as important as what I did before. It's not easy, necessarily, to train for a marathon, but it's easier to find motivation before one than after. Every run - at least every long run - before Feb. 7 was with the marathon in mind. Now, the marathon is simply a memory. And while it is a great accomplishment, it is just one of many more things I hope to accomplish.
Having completed two monumental tasks in the last four years - dropping 100-plus pounds and running a marathon - I can draw some parallels between the two. However, I've not been able to maintain my disciplined eating habits as well now as before. I know it's not the healthiest but many times I have a sense of entitlement over food, as in "I just ran 12 miles, I think I can get away with eating a bit more." That doesn't work and I try and shoo those thoughts away almost as quickly as the little devil in my shoulder brings them to light. Still, I know my eating habits can be better.
I had hoped to not have a similar drop in discipline after the marathon. I had hoped to not have the attitude of "Well, I don't need to do all these little midweek runs" or whatever, to not get too relaxed with my training.
So far, though, so good. I consider myself a runner and I feel that I have to live up to that label. Runners run, no matter what race they have coming up. I want to have the attitude that the most important race I have in my life is my next race, and now that's the 5K in two weeks' time. I also want to have the attitude that the most important run in my life is my next run. I mean, if I'm not taking runs seriously, than why bother going on them? Why bother getting dressed and taking time away from my family, my work, my household duties to run, just to half-ass it?
When I run, I focus and concentrate on the task at hand. I try and figure out what purpose the run is serving (distance, tempo, interval, whatever) and then try to figure out what is the best way to meet that objective.
I used to be a lot like that with food. How does what I'm about to put in my mouth fit into my meal plan? How will it affect everything else I eat that day? But again, I've lost a bit of that discipline but lately I've been trying to re-focus and have had some good success in the last week or so.
Having successfully met and conquered my first three weeks of post-marathon training, I feel confident that my upcoming runs will again help me meet my objectives and maintain my mileage and fitness levels.
Because now I'm a full-fledged runner and marathoner. And I need to act like it.
I expected to meet some depression, some down time. After all, I had set my sights on the marathon for quite a long time, had worked diligently and prepared the best I could have, and the moment has come and gone. I think I've fully recovered from it, so the only thing left are the pictures, my medal and the memories.
I was worried that the after-marathon would be similar to January and the post-Christmas letdown that comes along with it, for me anyway. Christmas is usually a fun time, and then New Year's comes, but then after that it's like, what now? I expected something similar after Surf City.
So far, no depression. Yeah, it is strange not having a big race to prepare for. I signed up for a free 5K (on March 13) but I haven't yet signed up for the Run Through Redlands half marathon (April 18) even though I intend to run it. The Mud Run is still a bit far away and beyond that, well, that's really far off.
In many ways though, what I've done and what I will do after crossing the finish line is just as important as what I did before. It's not easy, necessarily, to train for a marathon, but it's easier to find motivation before one than after. Every run - at least every long run - before Feb. 7 was with the marathon in mind. Now, the marathon is simply a memory. And while it is a great accomplishment, it is just one of many more things I hope to accomplish.
Having completed two monumental tasks in the last four years - dropping 100-plus pounds and running a marathon - I can draw some parallels between the two. However, I've not been able to maintain my disciplined eating habits as well now as before. I know it's not the healthiest but many times I have a sense of entitlement over food, as in "I just ran 12 miles, I think I can get away with eating a bit more." That doesn't work and I try and shoo those thoughts away almost as quickly as the little devil in my shoulder brings them to light. Still, I know my eating habits can be better.
I had hoped to not have a similar drop in discipline after the marathon. I had hoped to not have the attitude of "Well, I don't need to do all these little midweek runs" or whatever, to not get too relaxed with my training.
So far, though, so good. I consider myself a runner and I feel that I have to live up to that label. Runners run, no matter what race they have coming up. I want to have the attitude that the most important race I have in my life is my next race, and now that's the 5K in two weeks' time. I also want to have the attitude that the most important run in my life is my next run. I mean, if I'm not taking runs seriously, than why bother going on them? Why bother getting dressed and taking time away from my family, my work, my household duties to run, just to half-ass it?
When I run, I focus and concentrate on the task at hand. I try and figure out what purpose the run is serving (distance, tempo, interval, whatever) and then try to figure out what is the best way to meet that objective.
I used to be a lot like that with food. How does what I'm about to put in my mouth fit into my meal plan? How will it affect everything else I eat that day? But again, I've lost a bit of that discipline but lately I've been trying to re-focus and have had some good success in the last week or so.
Having successfully met and conquered my first three weeks of post-marathon training, I feel confident that my upcoming runs will again help me meet my objectives and maintain my mileage and fitness levels.
Because now I'm a full-fledged runner and marathoner. And I need to act like it.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Marathon Ambassador
In an earlier post, I mentioned the Marathon Ambassador qualities that I now possess. Well, since I crossed the finish line I am now apparently a Marathon Ambassador, and as such I have duties and responsibilities to live up to, qualities and traits that I must display and things I must and mustn't do. This comprehensive list was on the back of our program at the Loper Banquet, and I felt it necessary to share.
Marathon Ambassador is an honorary title bestowed upon us the moment we take our first step over the finish line at our first marathon and receive that very first marathon medal around our neck.
All Marathon Ambassadors do everything they can to help the first-time marathoner become a fellow Marathon Ambassador. Marathon Ambassadors always lead by example.
Remember, the marathon is a distance - not a time. We always help our fellow marathoners go the 26.2 mile distance, whatever the finish time may be. Marathon Ambassadors always survive to run another day.
All Marathon Ambassadors know every completed marathon is a good marathon... even the ones that didn't quite turn out the way we planned.
Talk about marathoning to non-marathoners, as long as they show an interest. Remember, most people can't comprehend what we do and why we do it. Marathon Ambassadors are always considerate.
Heat, hills, high altitude, etc., are factors that make a marathon more difficult and slower. They are not excuses. Marathon Ambassadors never make excuses.
One foot in front of the other. All Marathon Ambassadors know that a slow marathon is better than no marathon. DFL (Dead Friggin' Last) is always better than DNF (Did Not Finish) which is still better than DNS (Did Not Start). Marathon Ambassadors know that showing up is 90 percent of the marathon.
No one likes a whiner, not even whiners. Marathon Ambassadors never whine.
All Marathon Ambassadors are created equal - some are just faster. The faster a Marathon Ambassador is, the less he or she talks about the finish time. Marathon Ambassadors are always humble.
Marathon Ambassadors make a commitment, at least once, to pace a new marathoner to their first finish.
Bring nothing less than your best, for the conditions and your training, to the marathon every time. Always set a good example. When you become a Marathon Ambassador, it's a lifetime membership.
All that is said on the road stays on the road. Marathon Ambassadors are always loyal confidants.
Share your experiences, during the marathon, when appropriate. Shut up and listen when necessary.
Show appreciation to all race personnel and volunteers. Marathon Ambassadors are always gracious.
Adapt, improvise, overcome. A Marathon Ambassador will always do whatever it takes to help others get the marathon done.
Does not matter if you run, walk or crawl. Marathon Ambassadors know that every 26.2-mile finish is a medal-worthy event.
One day, a Marathon Ambassador will no longer be able to do a marathon - but today will not be that day!
Remember your first marathon finish? Marathon Ambassadors do all they can to help as many people as possible experience that same pride, sense of accomplishment and pure joy.
Marathon Ambassador is an honorary title bestowed upon us the moment we take our first step over the finish line at our first marathon and receive that very first marathon medal around our neck.
All Marathon Ambassadors do everything they can to help the first-time marathoner become a fellow Marathon Ambassador. Marathon Ambassadors always lead by example.
Remember, the marathon is a distance - not a time. We always help our fellow marathoners go the 26.2 mile distance, whatever the finish time may be. Marathon Ambassadors always survive to run another day.
All Marathon Ambassadors know every completed marathon is a good marathon... even the ones that didn't quite turn out the way we planned.
Talk about marathoning to non-marathoners, as long as they show an interest. Remember, most people can't comprehend what we do and why we do it. Marathon Ambassadors are always considerate.
Heat, hills, high altitude, etc., are factors that make a marathon more difficult and slower. They are not excuses. Marathon Ambassadors never make excuses.
One foot in front of the other. All Marathon Ambassadors know that a slow marathon is better than no marathon. DFL (Dead Friggin' Last) is always better than DNF (Did Not Finish) which is still better than DNS (Did Not Start). Marathon Ambassadors know that showing up is 90 percent of the marathon.
No one likes a whiner, not even whiners. Marathon Ambassadors never whine.
All Marathon Ambassadors are created equal - some are just faster. The faster a Marathon Ambassador is, the less he or she talks about the finish time. Marathon Ambassadors are always humble.
Marathon Ambassadors make a commitment, at least once, to pace a new marathoner to their first finish.
Bring nothing less than your best, for the conditions and your training, to the marathon every time. Always set a good example. When you become a Marathon Ambassador, it's a lifetime membership.
All that is said on the road stays on the road. Marathon Ambassadors are always loyal confidants.
Share your experiences, during the marathon, when appropriate. Shut up and listen when necessary.
Show appreciation to all race personnel and volunteers. Marathon Ambassadors are always gracious.
Adapt, improvise, overcome. A Marathon Ambassador will always do whatever it takes to help others get the marathon done.
Does not matter if you run, walk or crawl. Marathon Ambassadors know that every 26.2-mile finish is a medal-worthy event.
One day, a Marathon Ambassador will no longer be able to do a marathon - but today will not be that day!
Remember your first marathon finish? Marathon Ambassadors do all they can to help as many people as possible experience that same pride, sense of accomplishment and pure joy.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Finish Line Etiquette
Well before I even got to the start line at Surf City, I thought about the finish line. My Loper pace leader had mentioned it once, almost casually, to not look down at your watch as you crossed the finish line of a marathon. She said that you don't want to have a picture of yourself looking at your watch as the finish-line pose of your first (or any) marathon.
Then, the week before the marathon, she stressed it to us.
"Don't stop your watch until a few seconds after you cross the finish line because you don't want to be looking at your watch on your finish line picture," she'd said.
First-time marathoner coming in all smiles
That's my uncle Jorge, who was also a member of our Ragnar Relay team. Check him out. He definitely looks happy, relieved and excited to be done with his first marathon.
another shot of Jorge
Of course, if I could finish my first marathon in 3:46:34, I'd be super happy too. Jorge, by the way, already signed up for LA and might run San Diego and/or Long Beach this year too. Dang overachievers...
Anyway, here's another marathoner, though not a first-timer (and I hope she doesn't mind me posting these pics here):
third time's a charm
Blog buddy Lisa kicked major behind on this marathon, her third overall. She finished in 3:57:17, nearly one full hour faster from her first marathon time.
job well done
Look at her? Doesn't she just look super-excited and overjoyed? That's a great shot.
This next one is of my fellow Loper Marilu. It's another great picture.
point to the skies
This one is awesome. I really love that shot of her. I haven't gotten the chance to ask about her reasons for celebrating this way, but it looks great no matter what. That's a picture worth framing... all of the ones I posted are, really. Well, the last batch anyway.
I'm not sure how many marathons I will run, but I'll make sure that after every one I'm happy or proud or displaying some other emotion because I like those kinds of finish line photos.
ADD:
Here's my finish line photo :)
crossing the line
Incidentally I ordered the pictures from the race site so I'll have a better picture of myself, without the watermark, once I get those shots.
Then, the week before the marathon, she stressed it to us.
"Don't stop your watch until a few seconds after you cross the finish line because you don't want to be looking at your watch on your finish line picture," she'd said.
So when I approached the finish line at Surf City, hitting stop on The Garmin was the furthest thing from my mind.
Maybe some people don't care about their finish-line picture. Or maybe they really do care about what their watch says. Regardless, there were some finish-line shots that, had they been mine, would have destroyed my great moment.
checking the time
more checking
Now, I don't mean to pick on those guys or anyone. They probably smoked my time, so I'm sure they know what they're doing. And maybe when you get to the point where you are running marathons to try and beat a certain time, you don't care about the finish line photo because you're there to compete. Who knows?
checking the time
more checkingNow, I don't mean to pick on those guys or anyone. They probably smoked my time, so I'm sure they know what they're doing. And maybe when you get to the point where you are running marathons to try and beat a certain time, you don't care about the finish line photo because you're there to compete. Who knows?
To offer a contrast, here are some pictures of people who had great finish-line shots:
First-time marathoner coming in all smilesThat's my uncle Jorge, who was also a member of our Ragnar Relay team. Check him out. He definitely looks happy, relieved and excited to be done with his first marathon.
another shot of JorgeOf course, if I could finish my first marathon in 3:46:34, I'd be super happy too. Jorge, by the way, already signed up for LA and might run San Diego and/or Long Beach this year too. Dang overachievers...
Anyway, here's another marathoner, though not a first-timer (and I hope she doesn't mind me posting these pics here):
third time's a charmBlog buddy Lisa kicked major behind on this marathon, her third overall. She finished in 3:57:17, nearly one full hour faster from her first marathon time.
job well doneLook at her? Doesn't she just look super-excited and overjoyed? That's a great shot.
This next one is of my fellow Loper Marilu. It's another great picture.
point to the skiesThis one is awesome. I really love that shot of her. I haven't gotten the chance to ask about her reasons for celebrating this way, but it looks great no matter what. That's a picture worth framing... all of the ones I posted are, really. Well, the last batch anyway.
I'm not sure how many marathons I will run, but I'll make sure that after every one I'm happy or proud or displaying some other emotion because I like those kinds of finish line photos.
ADD:
Here's my finish line photo :)
crossing the lineIncidentally I ordered the pictures from the race site so I'll have a better picture of myself, without the watermark, once I get those shots.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
More Marathon
Recently, I blogged about finding another marathon in 2010 to participate in. I know, I should probably wait until after my marathon in February to think about another one. I should probably heed some stuff I read about taking some time off after my first full marathon to rest up and recover. The last thing I want to do is get injured, of course, and maybe running a second marathon too soon might not be the best thing.
But Feb. 7 will come and go, and I need something to think about afterward. I've done some scouting and have found a few possibilities. I may do one or none but it's nice to have options.
March 21: Los Angeles Marathon.
Pros: It starts at Dodger Stadium! How grand would that be? Plus, you do get to run through numerous parts of Los Angeles. And it's televised. Certainly a huge big-city event, the biggest big-city event in this part of the country.
Cons: Probably too soon after Surf City. The cost (125) is also unappealing.
LB's thoughts: Not sure why but this does not appeal to me that much. Maybe it just seems like a too-big event, and since I've not run a marathon before, the thought of dealing with both the 26.2 miles and a big-city event like that is just overwhelming. But from what I've heard the Lopers will align their schedule for 2010-11 to run in the 2011 LA Marathon.
Odds: 100/1 (ie very slim)
April 17: Camp Pendleton Hard Corps Marathon
Pros: A relatively small race by comparison (capped at 4,000 runners); if the Camp Pendleton Mud Run is any indication, this event would be well-organized; route along the water and is touted as being the only marathon in the country to be run on a military base.
Cons: Sort of a drive, about 50 miles or so, so I'd have to get a hotel room down near the base; Mrs. LB and the girls are going to be at Surf City but having them come down for another 26.2-miler might be tough;
LB's thoughts: I've had favorable experiences with the Mud Runs down at Camp Pendleton, so there's no reason to think this wouldn't be an enjoyable, well-run, well-organized event. Sometimes, that's all that is necessary to decide between running races. It might come down to deciding between this and the Run Through Redlands (half-marathon) in 2010, which is the next day. Still, I might want to try other half-marathons so we'll see. Anyway, right now this is the frontrunner.
Odds: 5/1
May 2: OC Marathon.
Pros: Runs through three cities in the OC, including part of the route on the beach; close by my house, maybe 40 minutes away so I might not have to get a hotel room; weather would be nice.
Cons: I will have already participated in a marathon in Orange County so not sure if that part would appeal to me; Mrs. LB's birthday is two days later so that would hamper any sort of plans we'd make.
LB's Thoughts: This seems appealing because it is almost three months after Surf City, plenty of time to let my legs rest up before tackling another grueling 26.2 miles. But for some reason, the OC Marathon seems like it would be very similar to Surf City, even though it's not entirely in just one city. The first 10 miles of the OC Marathon are in Newport Beach but it also goes through Irvine and Costa Mesa. It's relatively close to my house (closer than Camp Pendleton) and if I needed to I could stay with family who live in Santa Ana (a lot closer to Newport Beach). Probably a close second to the Camp Pendleton Marathon.
Odds: 7/1
June 6: San Diego Marathon
Pros: Enough time after Surf City to relax and get back into training for another marathon; San Diego is a beautiful city that Mrs. LB, the girls and I don't visit often enough.
Cons: It'd likely be either this or the Mud Run.
LB's thoughts: If this were in May as it was in 2009, it might be more appealing. But since the Mud Runs and this coincide, and the potential for a Ragnar Relay in June, this might get squeezed off my calendar before it got anywhere near it. Which is too bad because I'd thought of this a while back.
Odds: 1000/1.
Anyway, those are the four I've looked at and decided to rank. I know, the thought of running one marathon might seem like a huge task (it does to me) and why burden myself with the thought of another run, especially within a few months of my first marathon? But as I mentioned above, I need something to train for and something to set my sights on. I can't just run Surf City and then take five months off from racing. I think now my backup plan is the Run Through Redlands, and try to best my half marathon time, if I decide against another marathon so soon. But if I want to tackle the beast once more, then I have some choices. Actually two, based on the odds above.
But Feb. 7 will come and go, and I need something to think about afterward. I've done some scouting and have found a few possibilities. I may do one or none but it's nice to have options.
March 21: Los Angeles Marathon.
Pros: It starts at Dodger Stadium! How grand would that be? Plus, you do get to run through numerous parts of Los Angeles. And it's televised. Certainly a huge big-city event, the biggest big-city event in this part of the country.
Cons: Probably too soon after Surf City. The cost (125) is also unappealing.
LB's thoughts: Not sure why but this does not appeal to me that much. Maybe it just seems like a too-big event, and since I've not run a marathon before, the thought of dealing with both the 26.2 miles and a big-city event like that is just overwhelming. But from what I've heard the Lopers will align their schedule for 2010-11 to run in the 2011 LA Marathon.
Odds: 100/1 (ie very slim)
April 17: Camp Pendleton Hard Corps Marathon
Pros: A relatively small race by comparison (capped at 4,000 runners); if the Camp Pendleton Mud Run is any indication, this event would be well-organized; route along the water and is touted as being the only marathon in the country to be run on a military base.
Cons: Sort of a drive, about 50 miles or so, so I'd have to get a hotel room down near the base; Mrs. LB and the girls are going to be at Surf City but having them come down for another 26.2-miler might be tough;
LB's thoughts: I've had favorable experiences with the Mud Runs down at Camp Pendleton, so there's no reason to think this wouldn't be an enjoyable, well-run, well-organized event. Sometimes, that's all that is necessary to decide between running races. It might come down to deciding between this and the Run Through Redlands (half-marathon) in 2010, which is the next day. Still, I might want to try other half-marathons so we'll see. Anyway, right now this is the frontrunner.
Odds: 5/1
May 2: OC Marathon.
Pros: Runs through three cities in the OC, including part of the route on the beach; close by my house, maybe 40 minutes away so I might not have to get a hotel room; weather would be nice.
Cons: I will have already participated in a marathon in Orange County so not sure if that part would appeal to me; Mrs. LB's birthday is two days later so that would hamper any sort of plans we'd make.
LB's Thoughts: This seems appealing because it is almost three months after Surf City, plenty of time to let my legs rest up before tackling another grueling 26.2 miles. But for some reason, the OC Marathon seems like it would be very similar to Surf City, even though it's not entirely in just one city. The first 10 miles of the OC Marathon are in Newport Beach but it also goes through Irvine and Costa Mesa. It's relatively close to my house (closer than Camp Pendleton) and if I needed to I could stay with family who live in Santa Ana (a lot closer to Newport Beach). Probably a close second to the Camp Pendleton Marathon.
Odds: 7/1
June 6: San Diego Marathon
Pros: Enough time after Surf City to relax and get back into training for another marathon; San Diego is a beautiful city that Mrs. LB, the girls and I don't visit often enough.
Cons: It'd likely be either this or the Mud Run.
LB's thoughts: If this were in May as it was in 2009, it might be more appealing. But since the Mud Runs and this coincide, and the potential for a Ragnar Relay in June, this might get squeezed off my calendar before it got anywhere near it. Which is too bad because I'd thought of this a while back.
Odds: 1000/1.
Anyway, those are the four I've looked at and decided to rank. I know, the thought of running one marathon might seem like a huge task (it does to me) and why burden myself with the thought of another run, especially within a few months of my first marathon? But as I mentioned above, I need something to train for and something to set my sights on. I can't just run Surf City and then take five months off from racing. I think now my backup plan is the Run Through Redlands, and try to best my half marathon time, if I decide against another marathon so soon. But if I want to tackle the beast once more, then I have some choices. Actually two, based on the odds above.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Mud Run Calendar Is Set
Camp Pendleton Races announced their 2010 race calendar last week, about five weeks earlier than they did a year ago. I remember last year waiting, wondering, hoping to hear about the 2009 race calendar. I suppose I was a bit eager since I ran my first Mud Run in Oct. 2008 and was quite anxious about signing up for another Mud Run.
There are three Mud Runs on the schedule for 2010: June 5, 6 and 12.
There is also one slight problem. The San Diego Marathon is scheduled for June 6.
San Diego Marathon? Where the hell did that come from?
Oh, well, I just haven't blogged about it but I've been thinking about running another marathon in 2010, well, more exact, thinking if I should run another marathon in 2010. It's a long year and I might get bored. And the San Diego Marathon would be great because I'd have enough time after Surf City to relax, rest up and then train for San Diego.
But if I did that, I could probably say farewell to the Mud Run. I obviously couldn't do it on June 5 or 6, so that would be out. Could I run the marathon one weekend and then the Mud Run six days later? Maybe a more experienced runner would be able to challenge that task, and that might be something that I'd be up for in 2011 or beyond, but right now, several months before my first marathon, is not the time to think like that. So unfortunately that would be out too.
The Mud Run is an awesome event. I enjoy it quite a bit, have enjoyed it since I did my first one, and it's becoming a bit of a tradition for all of us involved. I'm not sure if I'm willing to give that up.
I suppose one thing that would help would be to find another marathon in May that I could run, or at least, that I could potentially run should I decide to go for another 26.2.
I'm still not convinced that I will want to run another marathon so soon but I do think that I will need something to train for. I've thought about running another half marathon sometime in the spring, and that one is pretty much a lock at this point. Might do the Run Through Redlands again. Not sure.
I guess I have a couple of months to figure out whether or not I want to run San Diego or if running the Mud Run is and should still be the focal point of the early part of my summer.
And then there's this: some of the Tortoises might want to get together for the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay June 18-19 in Utah.
What??? Where did that one come from??
Aw, well, I guess I have a lot to consider for 2010.
Don't even mention South Africa.
There are three Mud Runs on the schedule for 2010: June 5, 6 and 12.
There is also one slight problem. The San Diego Marathon is scheduled for June 6.
San Diego Marathon? Where the hell did that come from?
Oh, well, I just haven't blogged about it but I've been thinking about running another marathon in 2010, well, more exact, thinking if I should run another marathon in 2010. It's a long year and I might get bored. And the San Diego Marathon would be great because I'd have enough time after Surf City to relax, rest up and then train for San Diego.
But if I did that, I could probably say farewell to the Mud Run. I obviously couldn't do it on June 5 or 6, so that would be out. Could I run the marathon one weekend and then the Mud Run six days later? Maybe a more experienced runner would be able to challenge that task, and that might be something that I'd be up for in 2011 or beyond, but right now, several months before my first marathon, is not the time to think like that. So unfortunately that would be out too.
The Mud Run is an awesome event. I enjoy it quite a bit, have enjoyed it since I did my first one, and it's becoming a bit of a tradition for all of us involved. I'm not sure if I'm willing to give that up.
I suppose one thing that would help would be to find another marathon in May that I could run, or at least, that I could potentially run should I decide to go for another 26.2.
I'm still not convinced that I will want to run another marathon so soon but I do think that I will need something to train for. I've thought about running another half marathon sometime in the spring, and that one is pretty much a lock at this point. Might do the Run Through Redlands again. Not sure.
I guess I have a couple of months to figure out whether or not I want to run San Diego or if running the Mud Run is and should still be the focal point of the early part of my summer.
And then there's this: some of the Tortoises might want to get together for the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay June 18-19 in Utah.
What??? Where did that one come from??
Aw, well, I guess I have a lot to consider for 2010.
Don't even mention South Africa.
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