tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-181778212024-03-24T03:10:22.259-04:00Run with Perseverance<i>My thoughts about running and all things related.</i>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.comBlogger629125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-2421851614250936412022-11-07T17:26:00.004-05:002022-11-07T21:11:35.918-05:00Race Report: Indy Monumental Marathon, Nov 5, 2022<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>ORN</b></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">: 26.2 miles, 4:53:59, 11:04/miles; 35th of 55 M65-69; </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> R/W 5/1 thru 17, then 3/1 and 2/1; 63F and 25 mph wind</span></p><p><b id="docs-internal-guid-8f8972a1-7fff-b97b-9e3c-9e0e3b6cb743" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I enjoyed this marathon. It’s a big event and getting better </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">each year, a jewel for Indiana road running to be sure. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">15,000 runners in all events, including nearly 5,000 marathoners. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> It’s not the Chicago Marathon but it has a big city feel. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhpUTnfGe1deR7OUp3xqUjBmAfJ0SHPfNXpi6c38nvVw1k9EAZmbJ8bHqGRDHh5xTggNNEbxREIVmSrfWzB53rDPMyFz_eN_mAqZTJ-TGjg-YoVeTiBSpgyMhyvvGXK3c98QXwi6HvBPEGU2nyh2gxxFbyOXdjj2-FF5tZ1iPYM3uAKFarQ/s4032/20221105_061037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHhpUTnfGe1deR7OUp3xqUjBmAfJ0SHPfNXpi6c38nvVw1k9EAZmbJ8bHqGRDHh5xTggNNEbxREIVmSrfWzB53rDPMyFz_eN_mAqZTJ-TGjg-YoVeTiBSpgyMhyvvGXK3c98QXwi6HvBPEGU2nyh2gxxFbyOXdjj2-FF5tZ1iPYM3uAKFarQ/s320/20221105_061037.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMFJd9Zj545EqjxPEv7ZxK4gBjp5R6L8Q5y8_znhe4fxtcvPlSWgmPijHlqWzr6P81NB2klG2pxsox5jd6PJMiGBmtdEJB_BQhvh0EQ29erAFRdNlDqQf6-iZiozX4umMrpMIHZmVKuhs6ToDebobQjsjhjky7aBYjgaeQm5wsBxr7B06Qg/s3264/20221105_075047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiMFJd9Zj545EqjxPEv7ZxK4gBjp5R6L8Q5y8_znhe4fxtcvPlSWgmPijHlqWzr6P81NB2klG2pxsox5jd6PJMiGBmtdEJB_BQhvh0EQ29erAFRdNlDqQf6-iZiozX4umMrpMIHZmVKuhs6ToDebobQjsjhjky7aBYjgaeQm5wsBxr7B06Qg/s320/20221105_075047.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">It’s too bad this year’s event was dominated by the weather.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> A fierce wind directly from the south was the talking point, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">20mph at the 8am start and increasing all morning. Given </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">the course ran north and then back south, it meant a </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">monster headwind for 10 of the final 13 miles. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I was pleased with my run overall. I ran the first half </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">comfortably using a 5/1 run/walk ratio and hit my targeted </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">10:47/mile aggregate, as I shot for a 4:40 marathon. I </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">crossed the halfway mat at 2:18:27, clearly helped by the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">tailwind. We then turned south and I held onto that pace</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> through mile 17, near the Butler University campus. But, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">by then, it was obvious the wind would take its toll. So </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I backed off the pace, not having anything to prove and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">ran comfortably to the finish line. The final four miles, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">between tall buildings with a howling wind, were not much </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">fun but I got it done. Marathon #108 in the books.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7B2lzObWe3fVIK_yipnV4DDjkd8lS-ocjtBgm0Nt7nF9YWCdnUAhokGf4mzdnd7pTp23shwR31A43YwiNIvlOAEzwkZ9N6sz_HKy7a1NsdZnrfEBXvdKFedjRuaP3on0lSz2D9-nyS7RQDheaPOffobpDCOQAFIX1u2u7sqYBx57o164Kg/s2615/20221105_135532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2615" data-original-width="2064" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7B2lzObWe3fVIK_yipnV4DDjkd8lS-ocjtBgm0Nt7nF9YWCdnUAhokGf4mzdnd7pTp23shwR31A43YwiNIvlOAEzwkZ9N6sz_HKy7a1NsdZnrfEBXvdKFedjRuaP3on0lSz2D9-nyS7RQDheaPOffobpDCOQAFIX1u2u7sqYBx57o164Kg/s320/20221105_135532.jpg" width="253" /></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">And four other experiences were memorable...one truly </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">strange, one ironic in light of the strange event and two musical. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">It’s a given that a large road race in a city will disrupt traffic. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We’ve all seen it and you just deal with it. But I saw something </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">in this race I’ve never seen before and hope I don’t see again. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">About mile 8 or so, the marathon pack was still thick. We </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">approached an intersection, where a guy was trying to pull out </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">of his neighborhood but the stream of runners was steady. He</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;"> was OK with it, though, simply easing his car near the intersection, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">trying to look for a gap. Nothing aggressive at all. But, about </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">40 feet in front of me, I saw a fellow runner start to scream at </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">the driver, hurling obscenities his way and giving him the finger </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">right up next to his front bumper. As I pulled even with the angry </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">runner, I said to him “Come on, man, just leave it alone, that </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">doesn’t help, let’s go.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Wow, this wasn’t good. We went on running, leaving the driver </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">behind but my fellow runner then turned his anger on me. “I’ve run </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">this race 15 years in a row! How many times have </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">YOU </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">run it?” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I let him know this was 8 for me at Monumental. “You can’t say </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">anything to me then!” I looked at him quizzically and tried to </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">calmly point out “It’s not helpful to yell at a guy who’s just trying </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">to get out of his neighborhood.” “Oh yeah? I can yell at anyone </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I want to!!” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I put my hands up and walked, letting him continue on. Another </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">runner came up beside me, having seen the whole thing and we </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">both shrugged our shoulders...the guy had some issues. Yet it </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">didn’t end. Over the next two miles, he fell back and talked three </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">more times with me, each time justifying his anger and adding </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">more reasons to be angry (like not enough cups at a water stop). </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I just stopped talking to him and left him behind for good around </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">mile 10. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I’ve never seen such behavior. He clearly had other issues. But </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">it made me sad to see a runner be so rude and crude towards a </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">driver. I’ve seen anger the other direction but never by a runner. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Which made the second event both ironic and funny.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Around mile 15, running straight south along the right side on Meridian </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Street, the biggest and most famous surface street in Indy, we came </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">to an intersection with a line of northbound cars queued in the left </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">turn lane, hoping to turn in front of the stream of runners. Quite </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">spontaneously, another runner and I spotted a gap ahead of us that </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">would allow a couple of cars to turn. We both held out our arms, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">slowed for a second or two with the few runners right behind us, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">motioned for two cars to turn and then carried on. The drivers waved </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">and smiled, as we did in return. I gave a fist bump to my fellow traffic </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">director and laughed to myself about how different that was from the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">mile 8 driver-runner interaction. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">And then the music. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Shortly after I had decided to slow the pace and was regrouping for the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">new pattern, we came up to a garage band banging out classic rock for </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">the runners. They had just started playing the 1964 hit by The Kinks </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">“</span><a href="https://youtu.be/fTTsY-oz6Go" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">You Really Got M</span></a><span style="color: #1155cc;"><u>e . .</u></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">’s It's </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">a headbanger, for sure. I started singing with them and to my surprise, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">the lead guitarist saw me, walked into the street and stuck his mike out </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">to me...I joined in to sing the epic phrase “you got me so I can’t sleep </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">at night” along with him. Wow, what a moment. The band got a charge </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">out of it and we were all laughing, as were the spectators. Later, I realized </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">not only had the young guys in the band not been alive when the song </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">was released but likely their parents had not been either. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Then, around mile 22, a guy with just an acoustic guitar was singing and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">playing from the back of his pickup. He was attempting The Doobie </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Brothers’ “</span><a href="https://youtu.be/eIi_GbFa_nw" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Long Train Runnin</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">”. Great song but he didn’t quite have the instruments or volume to </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">do it justice. I tried to help him out a bit yet news of my earlier vocal </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">success had not reached him. Oh well, those pistons keep on churning. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_ac9mrIEjdmrvPG8Uc9IhFJdlIhDSFShzP6LfD-sUQQRLyZF1npeiREblR3clcNxXgIFukXzo8tJ_fMgHUIXS2x1ZGOgUIZszcGDSnezIBm98tE3-rNZPCndN9pPWWwdr2bajeN-65GWl6lSKQkY7D7R3yJlg2PCPwF9fW_PrjFqE_eQbg/s3264/20221105_071944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_ac9mrIEjdmrvPG8Uc9IhFJdlIhDSFShzP6LfD-sUQQRLyZF1npeiREblR3clcNxXgIFukXzo8tJ_fMgHUIXS2x1ZGOgUIZszcGDSnezIBm98tE3-rNZPCndN9pPWWwdr2bajeN-65GWl6lSKQkY7D7R3yJlg2PCPwF9fW_PrjFqE_eQbg/s320/20221105_071944.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Further thoughts, post race.</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">When I recorded the race results later, I noted my time was a mere 33 seconds </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">faster than the Carmel Marathon nine months ago, also in Indy, also on a </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">windy (but much colder) day. Despite the identical times, the Carmel race </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">felt truly miserable for me at the end, while this race was enjoyable and just </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">kinda long. I realized two key things that made a difference. First, and primarily, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I had many more training miles ahead of this race, averaging 150+ per month </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">all summer and fall, vs 120/month or so leading to the April race. Secondly, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I ran the first half of the Carmel race aggressively and paid the price on the back </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">half. Good reminder...get the miles in and take it easy early. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">That’s the story. And better to laugh with a garage band than yell at an </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">unsuspecting driver. </span></p><p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Persevere.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">.</span></p>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-30765582186367857302022-09-14T13:29:00.001-04:002022-09-14T13:42:53.822-04:00Race Report: Fair on the Square Half Marathon, Sept 10, 2022 <p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">ORN: 13.1 miles, 2:19:38, 10:40/mile, R/W 3/1</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; height: 201px; overflow: hidden; width: 381px;"><img height="201" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/JiOeYSYG79wamrhGOjBxcthL-cWFBWsWwKiuAt_0j7ywEmEeVFpPQwlrMmamY3h-ed7X54is-2oiJv5jv4NL2Q9A8C886yECTBYPQbguoXX4T4_V1CS8_fEFuz-U87rI2PaNtuXWByTcmqeilXN58G1R8VL5Jdkb5VLRWOhvajMSBHuGWsMb7DpwRw" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="381" /></span></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Brief Summary:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">It’s fascinating how an ordinary running event can yield </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">significant moments. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">Such was the </span><a href="https://www.faironthesquarehalf.com/" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;" target="_blank">Fair on the Square Half Marathon</a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">I was very pleased with my r</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">ace plus found other insights </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">along the way, most in a surprising fashion.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Gory Details:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Background</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">In early August, I had <a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2022/08/race-report-painful-elimination.html" target="_blank">an awful race</a>. On reflection, I modified </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">my autumn race plans significantly. I chose to reduce the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">number of races I would run and focus instead on being ready </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">for the Monumental Marathon on Nov 5 and the HUFF 50K </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">on Dec 17, two of my favorite races of the year. I realized I </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">simply needed more training miles, uninterrupted by races, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">to enjoy these two major events. I had registered to run the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">full marathon at the Fair on the Square but decided to cut it </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">back to half marathon and use it as a “workout with friends.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Most of August remained a running bust however, as a </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">long-lasting sinus infection made even modest mileage seem </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">out of reach. Only in the last week of the month was I able </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">to hit the daily/weekly mileage totals of Higdon’s Intermediate II </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">training program I’ve used for many years. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We went to Door County, Wisconsin starting the Labor Day </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">weekend for a marvelous nine-day vacation. The program </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">named 5 runs for the week: 4, 9, 4, 9 and 19 miles. Finally </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">feeling better, I clicked through the first four Monday thru </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Thursday and drove home Friday. The plan was to drive </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">early to the race site, run 3 miles to warm up, run the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">half-marathon and then another 3 to get in the 19 for the day. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Tire:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Up at 4:45am, I was out the door early to work the plan. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">There was an unexpected detour on the state road approaching </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">the race location, however. Shortly after getting back on </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">the main route, I got an alarm of low pressure on my left front </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">tire. Sure enough, I heard an odd sound from that tire, the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">car was pulling to the left and I realized I needed a safe place </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">to pull over. I found an abandoned driveway in the middle of </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">the country, got out, and experienced the deflated feeling of </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">looking at a tire going down. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Nothing to do but to fix it, so I pulled out the jack, spare and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">the one thing that made me smile a bit: a dedicated lug nut </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">wrench. Years ago, a friend suggested having a proper socket </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">wrench in the car rather than depending on the stamped-out </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">wrench supplied with cars. It worked. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">And then an angel showed up. A random guy had just dropped </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">his daughter off at an early volleyball practice, saw my situation, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">pulled in, positioned his headlights since it was still pre-dawn </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and helped me out. We got the flat off, the spare secured, a warm </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">handshake to my new friend Brook, and off I drove on the final </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">12 miles to the race site. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwDlSLJFiTzkdJEyt-kMj6iyNqHsWm-XFcLESCxMsFeHOa60IVYIk7wbR6HqMBAKf8FlZDuNRmJazrKIgYgGHi1dGeIDbVPhn1v3j7kYQL3yeR4geGXuD4lsOTB0oweUTAcb7yCTnVhtHqe5kTmJhr7RCVZKhY7hmaxm58p2gVOCixyw1-Q/s4032/20220910_104734.jpg" style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwDlSLJFiTzkdJEyt-kMj6iyNqHsWm-XFcLESCxMsFeHOa60IVYIk7wbR6HqMBAKf8FlZDuNRmJazrKIgYgGHi1dGeIDbVPhn1v3j7kYQL3yeR4geGXuD4lsOTB0oweUTAcb7yCTnVhtHqe5kTmJhr7RCVZKhY7hmaxm58p2gVOCixyw1-Q/w400-h300/20220910_104734.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Race:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I parked 18 minutes before the gun. Good thing it was a small event, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">as I grabbed grab my bib, made a trip thru the porta pot line and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">walked into the starting grid just as the National Anthem played. The </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">flat tire obviously wiped out my planned 3 mile warm up. I barely </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">stretched. And the race started at exactly 8:00am. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUyJt4dSBIv9p9K20AUWo74ymFtpdrHRox4lnmlc5b7F0J4lnyhapCuXasDf-kaPr4FTapjA3TVBiD6N84kQxBv2zukaH5kmkYOGKiOEgYyjb5o20_AAal11NtRIPVHWXyiic42ea7DwCr-6DekvY1j7deo7ufWaPUQEqN5xGfmHk9kFquRA/s1024/i-Q9RVhdv-XL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="1024" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUyJt4dSBIv9p9K20AUWo74ymFtpdrHRox4lnmlc5b7F0J4lnyhapCuXasDf-kaPr4FTapjA3TVBiD6N84kQxBv2zukaH5kmkYOGKiOEgYyjb5o20_AAal11NtRIPVHWXyiic42ea7DwCr-6DekvY1j7deo7ufWaPUQEqN5xGfmHk9kFquRA/w400-h265/i-Q9RVhdv-XL.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> I got rolling in the back of the pack.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGS4bsdQJ2MSoMyRrVmUK30ah7EywoM2gVFDUS7vrDDniIHNgP8XQaD_PhS6mNTExH0P-WRBtcI_2S3tGoG3LeFygXk0AChRnTKnxL2Grc70ex4nsgRqGN8lTNrSUIE1H9h6JE2hHhZhN3VFp7dLFeXPRrn6dTnqCVbdVbR66zCgtzsIjziA/s600/WRG_0081-L.jpg" style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="401" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGS4bsdQJ2MSoMyRrVmUK30ah7EywoM2gVFDUS7vrDDniIHNgP8XQaD_PhS6mNTExH0P-WRBtcI_2S3tGoG3LeFygXk0AChRnTKnxL2Grc70ex4nsgRqGN8lTNrSUIE1H9h6JE2hHhZhN3VFp7dLFeXPRrn6dTnqCVbdVbR66zCgtzsIjziA/w428-h640/WRG_0081-L.jpg" width="428" /></a></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I was glad I had previously settled in my mind to use this as a training run </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">with friends and not as a race. So, I didn’t push things early, focusing on </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">just getting loose. Early on, long-time friend Jen spotted me and we </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">had a great chat, not having seen each other since the pre-Covid days. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">That was a treat. We chatted a longer time post-race.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZD8jl_G_WIY-tFvMBOBk_6gJR0GW2nXVBThGz-NvbbVmXbaDs928ujAthievlCQyHW8yGxfV5zd30yVcarn_6S-h4C9STAZGDdTT75ZbEoCfmUvjY7J5Vwahet1ecs_0DjRdy23i2wj70B_NdnOaSfI6YAzYTybBDVCa82hTok_T9JG4NEQ/s3264/20220910_102713.jpg" style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZD8jl_G_WIY-tFvMBOBk_6gJR0GW2nXVBThGz-NvbbVmXbaDs928ujAthievlCQyHW8yGxfV5zd30yVcarn_6S-h4C9STAZGDdTT75ZbEoCfmUvjY7J5Vwahet1ecs_0DjRdy23i2wj70B_NdnOaSfI6YAzYTybBDVCa82hTok_T9JG4NEQ/w400-h300/20220910_102713.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></p><p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">By mile one or so, I was moving comfortably using a 3/1 run/walk ratio </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">for the day. Around mile 3, I was in a decent groove. We got to the far </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">west end of the rectangular course at about mile 5 and I was feeling good. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">People often ask me “What on earth do you think about when you run </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">for multiple hours?” It's a good question. On this day, the question “what </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">is my role in the world as a retired guy?” was big on my mind. This was </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">prompted by observing striking examples along the course of both rural </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">poverty and rural opulence. We were up close with both as the race </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">moved along. During my working career in manufacturing, I felt strongly </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">that a key contribution for me was creating jobs for which a person with </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">minimal education could succeed, make a very good wage with benefits </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and have the opportunity to progress. Folks living in rural poverty could </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">get a job with us and move ahead. So, now that I’m retired, how do I </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">positively impact those who are regarded less-well by society? That was </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">much on my mind this day and often while I run. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZwrbVBk8m77Htjm1FUCktYOB9xGaE4-A_O2w29n-bLj0Lm4pumALzpIULFmqYiJo5byoLgKu3vxv1VF1lNeLmaREFjFJ_A602t01hllxe0_vPUukBhyIJXC8q9iVlfoVnMOC-rhlOL0A0JCcf9RS6_BSqfmG2QG2Rxot3vX4HvV-MGW6Cw/s768/i-k4phqxK-XL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLZwrbVBk8m77Htjm1FUCktYOB9xGaE4-A_O2w29n-bLj0Lm4pumALzpIULFmqYiJo5byoLgKu3vxv1VF1lNeLmaREFjFJ_A602t01hllxe0_vPUukBhyIJXC8q9iVlfoVnMOC-rhlOL0A0JCcf9RS6_BSqfmG2QG2Rxot3vX4HvV-MGW6Cw/w426-h640/i-k4phqxK-XL.jpg" width="426" /></a></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Around mile six, I was surprised by a phenomenon I have seen many </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">times in the past but not much recently. I noticed I was gradually passing </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">people but not getting passed, even as I retained the run/walk cycles. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I laughed...years ago, I observed it was often about an hour into a half or </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">full marathon that I’d begin to one by one pass people with few passing me. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Such was the case again and it was kinda nice. By mile nine, I noticed </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I needed to tell myself to slow down the pace during the run cycle...I was </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">feeling better and better. It’s been a while. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Around mile 11, we were back into town, with some zigs and zags through </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">neighborhoods to get the mileage right. I did some quick math at mile 12 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and realized if I hustled, I could finish under 2:20. As I did the math, I laughed </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">out loud. What is it about us runners which drives us to try to get under </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">some arbitrary round number? I know I’m not alone. I don’t fully understand </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">it but the drive is real. I picked up the pace and with about a half mile to go, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">ran continuously to the finish line. Chip timing is great...I finished in 2:19:38. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxj1B6JD7QzH8aCf8rh6EgnhVmZrv0SVjBDmPVI4yDtC6fl577a9legLNVX6qIaL1iRCbZP5nwiH3rw_lmQaQNnjwbHa1YkR_xvbjnvyvu0qftC-9aCHmwQOy-jIZyF-piM5BbIT__R4QGaUWSpEwPsnvzcSMH-q_UQXtvvV42gpYiybFPRQ/s600/WRG_0932-L.jpg" style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="401" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxj1B6JD7QzH8aCf8rh6EgnhVmZrv0SVjBDmPVI4yDtC6fl577a9legLNVX6qIaL1iRCbZP5nwiH3rw_lmQaQNnjwbHa1YkR_xvbjnvyvu0qftC-9aCHmwQOy-jIZyF-piM5BbIT__R4QGaUWSpEwPsnvzcSMH-q_UQXtvvV42gpYiybFPRQ/w428-h640/WRG_0932-L.jpg" width="428" /></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Across the line, I chatted with a few folks, with a particularly pleasant </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">conversation with local running pal Hacene who had also driven down </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">for this HM. He too had a hard time on the detour but his tires stayed </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">inflated. He’s a great guy and also very fast. I can only chat with </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">him pre and post-race!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EhWEECEgT865S10XxyOm8ty8WbFkszgFHBDti0m2I1785iFdmPmzZTgNNYXiiiT4S5jpilNfaKO9Oq8BcECRU0iEqFPO15yOfmjcOfMqwHXNJWYurlvnm53fKQPcJzsNhTxYdPZxgmInB2UT8sPWYZ7GjwYKkA1CrZKHD5ZN25m1suSY2g/s3264/20220910_102851.jpg" style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1EhWEECEgT865S10XxyOm8ty8WbFkszgFHBDti0m2I1785iFdmPmzZTgNNYXiiiT4S5jpilNfaKO9Oq8BcECRU0iEqFPO15yOfmjcOfMqwHXNJWYurlvnm53fKQPcJzsNhTxYdPZxgmInB2UT8sPWYZ7GjwYKkA1CrZKHD5ZN25m1suSY2g/w400-h300/20220910_102851.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">They started the awards ceremony just after I finished. Amazingly, I came </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">2nd in the 65-69 Age Group and won another drinking glass. 2nd of 4, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">mind you, but second nonetheless. And my wife likes the size and heft of the glass. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQMr8dBr1eU4W1Y6WmWm-NQ-JGq6JY4RsgyXC1k6ZYntfFcTLgS4eVBZ1HIl5kSLl0DgfmBOIL9QWMnQmHa9xwzAib2IuZR0ANtHwXUw3iZS0SOKqzNdTxHBnHRaebLjV3-egjFB10Lw_tx-m-VVOXjHyV5K7O94zFX6k5RR3szn2cXGD9Q/s600/WRG_1041-L.jpg" style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="401" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQMr8dBr1eU4W1Y6WmWm-NQ-JGq6JY4RsgyXC1k6ZYntfFcTLgS4eVBZ1HIl5kSLl0DgfmBOIL9QWMnQmHa9xwzAib2IuZR0ANtHwXUw3iZS0SOKqzNdTxHBnHRaebLjV3-egjFB10Lw_tx-m-VVOXjHyV5K7O94zFX6k5RR3szn2cXGD9Q/w428-h640/WRG_1041-L.jpg" width="428" /></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Rest of the Miles</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Work remained, however. Since I didn't get three miles in pre-race, I </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">needed to do six post-race. I refilled my water bottle, walked back to my </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">car to drop off my medal and new glassware and ran the course backwards </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">to the ten mile marker, then back to the finish. I saw a few of the fast </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">marathoners finishing their second lap but was mostly by myself. The last </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">mile or so got hot but I finished the six. I walked back to the finish area, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">treated myself to a DQ ice cream bar, changed into some dry clothes </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and got on to even more work. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Tire Fix</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I didn’t want to drive the 70 miles home on the spare tire, so I located a tire </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">repair place nearby which was open, sat in their waiting room for an hour </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and got my tire back on for $15. Nice guys to help me out on a quiet </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Saturday afternoon. Home around 4pm, making it a much longer day </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">than I had imagined. Still, it was a surprisingly successful day.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">What do I take from all this? First off, training miles matter. I was finally </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">on a better weekly total and this helped. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Second, I gained some clarity on how I continue to approach retirement. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Reflection on this open course was helpful. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Third, I was thankful I had a lug nut socket wrench in my car. That </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">made the flat tire an annoyance, not a crisis. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCw3zsrvURczOoEzcmIByaGX3haTBSCHT81bz6CdshoRsHLSGa4qkFM2rSk4P3aB7qNS3fAt6WcYLWfBuTkcm_gxanL7JywI-x8sCh4arrf4UQNTuJEI2rBV8lJ7IFftwxTOBG-kkzUBZEPlxYFXi2VcFcrMbN7BsRLCydFSkcKlmBaM6xNQ/s4032/20220914_131958.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCw3zsrvURczOoEzcmIByaGX3haTBSCHT81bz6CdshoRsHLSGa4qkFM2rSk4P3aB7qNS3fAt6WcYLWfBuTkcm_gxanL7JywI-x8sCh4arrf4UQNTuJEI2rBV8lJ7IFftwxTOBG-kkzUBZEPlxYFXi2VcFcrMbN7BsRLCydFSkcKlmBaM6xNQ/w300-h400/20220914_131958.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Thanks for reading. Hope you can get your miles in and avoid </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">nails in the road. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Persevere.</span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /><br /><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /><br /><br /></p>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-25964720733294929792022-08-24T21:48:00.000-04:002022-08-24T21:48:04.031-04:00Race Report: Painful Elimination Backyard Ultra, Aug 20, 2022<p><b>ORN:</b> Officially- 8.2 miles in two hours. </p><p><b>Summary:</b> The <a href="https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=92730">Painful Elimination Backyard Ultra</a> was a new race and race format for me. Running on a poor training base with a head full of mucus, I didn't run well and wasn't sure I liked the format. </p><p><b>Gory Details:</b></p><p>I've read about <a href="https://backyardultra.com/" target="_blank">Backyard Ultras</a>, a devious invention of Barclays Marathon founder Gary Cantrell, a.k.a. Laz Lake. You start a loop of about 4.2 miles on the hour, every hour. If you don't get back in 60 minutes or you don't line up to start the next loop on the hour, you are out. Last Runner Standing...the winner is the final individual to finish a loop in 60 mintues. It's a format I've never run. This race landed well on my calendar, so I signed up. </p><p>The organizers offered free camping near the start/finish line, so I took advantage of that. I drove the 2.5 hours from my house to the site, just north of Bloomington, Illinois and set up on Friday evening. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3U5d28Tj-T0FQ-NsnVCgz0Uu_pS0Hly-ubr-LCz9Ffh3CDDf4jREtTn5JNWAYpLSJyjXo5MBmrS0Is9_1pBh4gruNo-6qj2saFCJLJTF-FWOGt_4t0Gwtca_4NfgY0Rp-3wx0A7zzKdGLJ-YAwNCqarttKY_y0SeqISbGriM48lya5uyjCQ/s4032/20220819_190159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3U5d28Tj-T0FQ-NsnVCgz0Uu_pS0Hly-ubr-LCz9Ffh3CDDf4jREtTn5JNWAYpLSJyjXo5MBmrS0Is9_1pBh4gruNo-6qj2saFCJLJTF-FWOGt_4t0Gwtca_4NfgY0Rp-3wx0A7zzKdGLJ-YAwNCqarttKY_y0SeqISbGriM48lya5uyjCQ/w400-h300/20220819_190159.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The clouds in the photo developed into some serious rain overnight. I was OK in my tent until it got heavy and I noticed my feet were wet...so around 3am, I moved back into my car until the alarm went off at 5. Not great sleep, to say the least. But I was up, had my usual race-day breakfast of two turkey and cheese sandwiches and a Diet Coke, and got set for the 7am start. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wadded up my wet tent and backed my car to a spot very near the start finish line, where my supplies would await me between each lap. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XgKOqXkGFU7YJyylHWPZCOjCm93fnpRpp5RFSkP0bUsaYdZ8_34LgHsixcb_D4tRzs5Oqujnynm0Rsmk10T9li_WdimmhbNPNyPaHb5z9fo5xSFDz4HOfW73QN24n6-bDTnfO_xjUo1eJPsdHnopBMxkplM8wTDEDVk_QEshvTSntzSNwQ/s4032/20220820_063649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XgKOqXkGFU7YJyylHWPZCOjCm93fnpRpp5RFSkP0bUsaYdZ8_34LgHsixcb_D4tRzs5Oqujnynm0Rsmk10T9li_WdimmhbNPNyPaHb5z9fo5xSFDz4HOfW73QN24n6-bDTnfO_xjUo1eJPsdHnopBMxkplM8wTDEDVk_QEshvTSntzSNwQ/w400-h300/20220820_063649.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My objective for the day was to run 9 laps, which would get me 50K of distance. Since I only had to beat a 14:21/mile pace to cover the distance each hour, I thought this was reasonable. We gathered for a brief pre-race meeting at 6:45am and at precisely 7:00am, we were off...56 intrepid runners. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Having never run in this park before, I wanted to use Lap One to gain a perspective of the course. It was exactly what the race organizers said it was...a surprisingly difficult route, especially for a Midwest trail. It was "lollipop" trail, with the "stick" being about a half mile of heavy grass...think "pasture" if you will. It was wet and heavy and absorbed a lot of energy from the legs. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We then entered the woods for the "loop" of the lollipop. It was very narrow, twisty, single track for 3+ miles along a forested area above a lake. Up and down and back and forth we went. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwNuoW2SFUuMPDdob6Gu9D9-MEdKWxyTdpXZXdMkyedRZ2fMX0sZxBTUAfU8y-yLqYBJr4CMTkMzZ1J6c2wrKzVSd2Akl48AMeVQmsgiR-RvS-EMOoSchQ_rS5kjlGNbiSoQlDOLbQQwBI19utqogn7ot_YLqLrakRuuFH72EHbZ_PpDV9Q/s960/facebook_1661220490260_6967663747181596391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuwNuoW2SFUuMPDdob6Gu9D9-MEdKWxyTdpXZXdMkyedRZ2fMX0sZxBTUAfU8y-yLqYBJr4CMTkMzZ1J6c2wrKzVSd2Akl48AMeVQmsgiR-RvS-EMOoSchQ_rS5kjlGNbiSoQlDOLbQQwBI19utqogn7ot_YLqLrakRuuFH72EHbZ_PpDV9Q/w300-h400/facebook_1661220490260_6967663747181596391.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was very little straight running and lots of roots, logs and trip possibilities, along with short bridges. The course was made more difficult by the overnight rains. The clay-based soil was quite "greasy". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbYpY4VyIZavRVzaf_mv72bIiTVclL9VoH1UOVlzpvkSK0bo5OWfOhGzyXD_Vuk5BSwOWqA8ai3R-iHgGmhwbOBZyU3QY1hjlPJQn6k2HcXvXQpFHR3P5ALD5CZ4fG-hJ-9bGu1sX70L67lr8qDtqpg6u_BD4ooaGIEFrWwO6wyOs0Jg8pw/s960/facebook_1661220344172_6967663134445651924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbbYpY4VyIZavRVzaf_mv72bIiTVclL9VoH1UOVlzpvkSK0bo5OWfOhGzyXD_Vuk5BSwOWqA8ai3R-iHgGmhwbOBZyU3QY1hjlPJQn6k2HcXvXQpFHR3P5ALD5CZ4fG-hJ-9bGu1sX70L67lr8qDtqpg6u_BD4ooaGIEFrWwO6wyOs0Jg8pw/w300-h400/facebook_1661220344172_6967663134445651924.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was glad I had my screw shoes which I normally just use to run on ice and snow. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wasn't running all that great but I had set up my Garmin to turn off autopause and autolap...thus, I knew I was well under 14 min/mile pace required. I was pretty sure I was dead last as I came across the final bridge out of the woods and back into the pasture to finish up. The RD snapped this. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8FP0dS2lNtczTOifAqOcAMEPSlbOKdWIGTSKKTXIQp7PFuKgoMiStdC0GNl37v7-GIavZc0C7BJpz4haOy6TzwaMV8X7F1AxVdsjZrEqIsGSU4X1eQ-rUNqeNUw454jNMwI6w1zUuj90jYTkNWoLigxs0e0XY2tJj-fvjDxNt66gx28Qvg/s2048/facebook_1661088232377_6967109017412292361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="996" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha8FP0dS2lNtczTOifAqOcAMEPSlbOKdWIGTSKKTXIQp7PFuKgoMiStdC0GNl37v7-GIavZc0C7BJpz4haOy6TzwaMV8X7F1AxVdsjZrEqIsGSU4X1eQ-rUNqeNUw454jNMwI6w1zUuj90jYTkNWoLigxs0e0XY2tJj-fvjDxNt66gx28Qvg/w312-h640/facebook_1661088232377_6967109017412292361.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thumbs up enthusiasm...even though I didn't feel so great. I finished the lap in 56 minutes, grabbed a water bottle, changed hats (rain was looming in the west) and lined up. Promptly at the top of the hour, out we went again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lap Two went better. I had a feel for where I could pick up a little time and a feel for where I just had to keep moving. I found I was running with the same people again...not surprisingly. I ran better and smarter and finished in 54 minutes. I didn't look all that vigorous as I came to the finish line, though...that pasture grass took it out of me. At least I wasn't dead last...I beat the 10 year old boy and his dad....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodAjEnb_jhnkM5rcBjNkyZGUOAFs1i_ukk8VD83SJaTc7V_bazw6pXu2qAwZkiLqofeToschadRdeZ_eq2BM6VGJnIgn3qS43ZYYpNpTVKVeh36FFIOu3bReb7GoZlqsUcIDwe1rKG1CdetrWplKVYpAgyeBU7RG3-_A3gIZD6jokwUAhFQ/s2048/facebook_1661088151222_6967108677024184574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="996" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodAjEnb_jhnkM5rcBjNkyZGUOAFs1i_ukk8VD83SJaTc7V_bazw6pXu2qAwZkiLqofeToschadRdeZ_eq2BM6VGJnIgn3qS43ZYYpNpTVKVeh36FFIOu3bReb7GoZlqsUcIDwe1rKG1CdetrWplKVYpAgyeBU7RG3-_A3gIZD6jokwUAhFQ/w312-h640/facebook_1661088151222_6967108677024184574.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With six whole minutes to rest this time, I swapped out my shirt which was soaked from rain and sweat and sat down for a couple of minutes. The off time just FLEW by though and the intermission seemed hectic. At the top of the hour, the same group reassembled and out we went again for Lap Three. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The third lap felt strange. I ran less-hard in the pasture grass, preferring to let people I knew would eventually pass me move ahead where we had some space, rather than stopping to let them pass on the single-track. I mostly ran by myself in the woods and wondered just how close it was going to be. I went through a low spot mid-loop and noticed my aggregate pace fell below 14:21/mile. I felt cruddy in my head. Was this it? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I kept moving though and tried to run faster in the few runnable sections in the woods. Whereas I had felt good doing that on Lap Two, the legs were balky this time. When I emerged from the woods, I looked at my watch and saw it would be close but I felt like I was on the wrong side of the clock. The pasture grass was still long and wet and ate up what energy I tried to put into the final half mile. I came down the final section and heard the group take off at the top of the hour...I had missed the cut off. As my new-friends headed out on their Lap Four, many recognized I was close but not good enough and empathized. I crossed the start-finish line with a lap time of 60 minutes, 38 seconds. Voted off the island. My day was done. Officially, I was credited with 8.4 miles. I had run 12.6 miles. I was so far short of the 31 miles I had hoped to cover it wasn't funny. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2BNRthkpBxf-H82OBhDtYRa_VolmJfoHm6Z0lYHNbneWufP1QX1tBta5F2nTYN_S0bFgP2X5tLlRJF8F8-G2tUocda3jA17GxY6ZP0QNk3eCvfB2zOISvdUh6Vr8_Ylby8f1Blzvv8CvnBc_ZpwaUcWIMh9pnknfQRr2i-OTfMTVVje2-g/s2048/facebook_1661088048759_6967108247262221309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="996" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2BNRthkpBxf-H82OBhDtYRa_VolmJfoHm6Z0lYHNbneWufP1QX1tBta5F2nTYN_S0bFgP2X5tLlRJF8F8-G2tUocda3jA17GxY6ZP0QNk3eCvfB2zOISvdUh6Vr8_Ylby8f1Blzvv8CvnBc_ZpwaUcWIMh9pnknfQRr2i-OTfMTVVje2-g/w312-h640/facebook_1661088048759_6967108247262221309.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the master score sheet from later in the day...you didn't want to be the runner under the orange highlighter...you were gone. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was disappointed in the moment. I plopped down next to my car, refueled and began to ponder just how the day had gone so very poorly. I slowly regrouped, toweled off, changed into dry clothes and decided to hang around to see runners return. The leaders returned in 39 minutes and the rest got in by 58 minutes. Quickly, the group reassembled before the top of the hour and out they went for Lap Five. I got in my car and drove home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Why did I run so poorly? Did I not enjoy the event because I ran poorly or did I not enjoy the format of the event? Three hours driving across the prairie gives you time to think. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I ran poorly due to poor training. I missed my scheduled long run two weeks prior because I was traveling. I had also missed a full week of training following that due to a monster head cold/sinus infection I was just recovering from. Had those two items worked, I would have likely run at least two more laps successfully. Yet the course was just as advertised and I hadn't fully grasped just how tough it would be. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My enjoyment was diminished by the format of the event, as well. It took me a while to figure out why but I finally put my finger on it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In traditional road races, the entrants gather at the start line, begin running and the field extends throughout the entire event. Whether the event is distance-based (won by who finishes fastest) or time-based (won by who finishes with the most distance), each runner runs the pace he/she can manage. On those good days, you push the pace and seek to run hard. On bad days, you come to grips with it, slow down and live to fight another day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A "last runner standing" event is neither, however, and that was disconcerting. Instead, it is a series of independent, 60 minute races. At the top of each hour, you start a new race. Everyone assembles and starts. Over the next 60 minutes, the field stretches out. Next lap, same thing. The same people, the same course, spreading out in the same way. It's much like the movie <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day_(film)">Groundhog Day</a>, yet without <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BERd61bDY7k">Sonny and Cher</a>. Each hour I ran with the same folks, hearing many of the same stories, until we gradually spread out at about the same spot each time around. I'm not sure how I would have felt had I done the nine laps I had hoped to do. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, that's the story. Good adventure. Race was as advertised. I'll probably pass on future formats like this. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But I will persevere. And I hope you do as well. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-44228793345496555922022-05-05T19:05:00.001-04:002022-05-16T16:55:22.947-04:00Race Report: Illinois Half Marathon, 5K and One-Mile, 2022<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Background</b></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-6f3fd04c-7fff-caff-26b7-c42e673797ca"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The plans for this weekend started one way, a long time ago, and then shifted and shifted....and it all worked out OK. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Last November, in my plans to see if I could run a 4:30 marathon this spring, I registered for two in April...the Carmel Marathon on April 9 and the Illinois Marathon at the U of Illinois on April 30. I guessed I’d have a better shot at decent weather by picking two, rather than depending on just one spring marathon. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Well, sometime over the winter, the Illinois Marathon organizers sent out a note saying they wouldn’t be hosting a marathon after all. It seemed they could not hire enough off-duty police officers to supervise all the street crossings in Champaign-Urbana for a full 26.2 mile event. Thus, the event became a Half Marathon on Saturday, April 30. They also offered a one-mile and a 5K race on the Friday evening before. I opted in. And, with the way the Carmel Marathon shifted my planning, it was just fine. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Race weekend weather was not favorable but it could have been far worse. The forecast called for high wind and rain on Friday night and most of the day Saturday. It turned out to be mostly just very windy, yet the meteorologist became a central figure. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here’s how each race played out. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Green Street Mile- 6:30pm, Friday, April 29</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Results: 8:14, 3rd of 7 men 60-69</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The utter flatness of the U of I campus allowed for a unique race; a straight-line, flat, one-mile run on Third Street, from north to south. Not many ran it, only 227 folks, and it seemed disjointed (in contrast to the perfect organization of everything else for the weekend). But we got started about 15 minutes late and I resolved to try to run it as hard as I could, hoping for a time with a “7” as the first digit. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I took off trying to find a pace I thought I could hold the entire distance. It was simple to look at the per-mile pace on my Garmin to see how I was doing. I was holding to a sub 8 well past the halfway mark. Then, it got a bit more labored. With about 200m to go, I was digging deep and the pace was still slipping. 30m or so from the finish line, I was simply out of gas and could only jog across the finish line. 8:14 on my watch was disappointing...bent over double, gasping for breath let me know I had given it my best shot. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxN1ME-mBmD15kCzy2tpl-g1h6Di8basbR-KRSwrVC9wrtvLlSn4itr0R9etCx9m-2i1aLzzR054-xAFHEKcpTPCMan0C1PV0UOj_CEXcvrfFcjcZ3S5yRzg1_sdZ6s5uLuTZxH_TLwK_i7nrQXqhSltIq7oHVIJetuKK7O70IZd3SHozaiQ/s4032/20220429_185128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxN1ME-mBmD15kCzy2tpl-g1h6Di8basbR-KRSwrVC9wrtvLlSn4itr0R9etCx9m-2i1aLzzR054-xAFHEKcpTPCMan0C1PV0UOj_CEXcvrfFcjcZ3S5yRzg1_sdZ6s5uLuTZxH_TLwK_i7nrQXqhSltIq7oHVIJetuKK7O70IZd3SHozaiQ/s320/20220429_185128.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was nevertheless encouraged to rapidly, within a couple of minutes, have my breathing back and my heart rate back down to normal. I ambled back to my car to get a dry shirt and run a 5K about 35 minutes later</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Illinois 5K, 7:30pm, Friday, April 29</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Results: 28:49, (9:17/mile), 526 of 2,696 overall, 7th of 34 Men 65-59</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whereas the one-mile race was small, disorganized and a flat-out effort for me, the 5K was very big, perfectly organized and a gentle jog. I can’t recall ever running a 5K with this many people...they stretched out for 200m behind the start line. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjpgs7PxwS-T2AbU5cy8lm3TVlmTxSeNjAkmWC0-tHkYoI7GRR2E798XT75BAVcitCmvaDhTE7KgcBOK3b9nUta6cgcrpfMwjZZ7HVVdFD6pFCInyXADgialgALSZHrqvFbAg_qiMJOvbQ3Rb429DOHNAYhsteA_RvFFBnL-S0LfeAU3YbA/s4032/20220429_192345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjpgs7PxwS-T2AbU5cy8lm3TVlmTxSeNjAkmWC0-tHkYoI7GRR2E798XT75BAVcitCmvaDhTE7KgcBOK3b9nUta6cgcrpfMwjZZ7HVVdFD6pFCInyXADgialgALSZHrqvFbAg_qiMJOvbQ3Rb429DOHNAYhsteA_RvFFBnL-S0LfeAU3YbA/w400-h300/20220429_192345.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One group of intrepid local charity runners did the 5K with Sousaphones...note the bibs on the bell!! </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNd9v-jUJb-c1pyhNegvFGEfsugf66bumRhCtf1FplQfTHiJo-YYYsGN8iVxOrEEeO1oabgS_RYq8d26e2XdZTeV9MSw8agP5MTefIheJc7v-wbh2aqPUhlV6aDTH3dHIXEFtlKaHPOVSH4KOesurYXVd8hHbeGXIdW7X4cBZG2mOSmqgzSg/s4032/20220429_185003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNd9v-jUJb-c1pyhNegvFGEfsugf66bumRhCtf1FplQfTHiJo-YYYsGN8iVxOrEEeO1oabgS_RYq8d26e2XdZTeV9MSw8agP5MTefIheJc7v-wbh2aqPUhlV6aDTH3dHIXEFtlKaHPOVSH4KOesurYXVd8hHbeGXIdW7X4cBZG2mOSmqgzSg/w300-h400/20220429_185003.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The sharp wind and low 50s temps made standing around in the grid quite chilly. We started on time and warmed up. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I just jogged this one at a pace that felt comfortable. It was a nice tour around the U of I campus and we finished at the 50 yard line of the venerable Memorial Stadium, one of the oldest stadii in the Big Ten. Perhaps a little cheeky of me to wear a Purdue shirt at an opposing university but no one really seemed to notice or care. </span></p><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibCLBEGqqYded7xd06DL8dt2tz7taqT0DcIibL_bvqExriH3sdel_NKVYZqJDeTxYYqaCdD1XlQ9Z3pS2VYF06BkL6SdT6PmC_AnwO0zer_Vtqo-vsTHww6K2Z8InDU-NPbNyJ65Wh8hDSYs7ThpStp6yv-zekk3l959ASDaaiXIRQdi60w/s377/Screenshot%202022-05-16%204.40.54%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="233" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibCLBEGqqYded7xd06DL8dt2tz7taqT0DcIibL_bvqExriH3sdel_NKVYZqJDeTxYYqaCdD1XlQ9Z3pS2VYF06BkL6SdT6PmC_AnwO0zer_Vtqo-vsTHww6K2Z8InDU-NPbNyJ65Wh8hDSYs7ThpStp6yv-zekk3l959ASDaaiXIRQdi60w/w396-h640/Screenshot%202022-05-16%204.40.54%20PM.png" width="396" /></a></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I actually ran hard at the end and the photos seemed to capture that a bit, albeit not very flatteringly. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was very windy but the rain held off. I headed to my motel and slept a bit.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Illinois Half Marathon, 7:30am, Saturday, April 30</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Results: 2:14:47 (10:17/mile), 1,388 of 2,384, 12th of 25 Men 65-69</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My objective for the HM was to run it in 2:15 and enjoy it. Walking into the Expo on Friday afternoon, I happened to meet a pair of pace group leaders, one of them leading the 2:15 group. I decided to see if I could simply hang with that group and get it done. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Up early on race morning, I scored a primo parking spot, about as near as I could get to the finish line exit from the stadium...parking spot planning proved a major topic of thought all weekend, with two different finish line locations and three separate start lines and blocked streets abounding. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Weather remained chilly, windy, grey, overcast, threatening of rain. We chatted in the start grid on the late, chilly spring...for an April 30th race, we all had hoped for better. We started in waves and got going on time. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I fell in with the 2:15 group and it seemed comfortable early. The course was quite serpentine, as the organizers had to get creative on how to snake a combined 10K and HM course all contained on or next to the U of I campus. Thus, we had the wind in our face, then at our side, then at our back and then in our face again all morning. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Around mile 5 or so, I was dismayed to find hanging with the pace group became more difficult for me. My breathing was more labored and the legs were heavy. Was this yet another disappointment like I saw four weeks earlier in Carmel? I was concerned. After some debate, I decided to shift from a steady run with the pace group to the more familiar 6/1 run/walk, using the same pacing I used in Carmel which could lead to a 2:15 HM finish. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I reset my watch and lumbered on, discouraged. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sRoYFj6EGVQc_ypVfJI7sIDrVwUANal1lSfA6eDr4i-fTNVqCOnt8E2mnXER830Cz9yPI4aI2lsUrpBlL4-TfSMDOoiq-bVJZXftLz1VZK21syJmoWV1b75roYvcZXmZdvYpZCvQ-wQDyZlFGac6_82kMiNbdybMkm7SfEXT5yBijKz2Jw/s468/Screenshot%202022-05-16%204.13.41%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="359" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sRoYFj6EGVQc_ypVfJI7sIDrVwUANal1lSfA6eDr4i-fTNVqCOnt8E2mnXER830Cz9yPI4aI2lsUrpBlL4-TfSMDOoiq-bVJZXftLz1VZK21syJmoWV1b75roYvcZXmZdvYpZCvQ-wQDyZlFGac6_82kMiNbdybMkm7SfEXT5yBijKz2Jw/w306-h400/Screenshot%202022-05-16%204.13.41%20PM.png" width="306" /></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some drizzle started, we took our first trip past the stadium to drop off the 10K runners, and we headed on a long, increasingly open trek through the prairie south of campus, home to many academic agricultural research projects, I’m sure. The wide open farm ground was a jarring contrast to the academic, commercial and Oxfordesque old residential areas. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was working the 6/1 and gradually felt my legs coming back. Some volunteers passing out orange slices added some citrusy zest. The local Corvette club had a dandy display of cars I’ll never be able to afford. There was no shelter from the wind in these open areas, though. The drizzle stopped but the sky was foreboding. I chatted with folks a bit to pass the time...a first-time half marathoner was feeling encouraged by mile 9. A fellow baseball fan and I discussed Albert Pujols’ return to the St Louis Cardinals. We plodded north, finally heading back to campus. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Around mile 10.5, I flipped my Garmin screen to see my aggregate pace. To my utter surprise, it was at 10:14/mile. The pace for a 2:15 HM was 10:18/mile...and I was just a tad quicker!! I was amazed...I didn’t feel like I was anywhere close to that pace, even though I had been trying to do just that all along, both with the pace team and with my own run/walk calculations. Really? Might I actually end up close to 2:15 after feeling so lousy about the entire deal?? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSV0FIw6DJlflXY-SY15K0seQO-6wSzOiqaHpV_OtKd00hvzqQyHFWL6tRBBojKNe8PfHbgHVXSLHdG_6oo0kHpscHNcSltyhPraE1N-A7lIUY8FVO97udL0IGnDrKp-_7_Mzih_VL0jVyxG4mGk85mzYJzDDzKNQfFH7cqSSfWoGiUZOacg/s468/Screenshot%202022-05-16%204.14.23%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="359" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSV0FIw6DJlflXY-SY15K0seQO-6wSzOiqaHpV_OtKd00hvzqQyHFWL6tRBBojKNe8PfHbgHVXSLHdG_6oo0kHpscHNcSltyhPraE1N-A7lIUY8FVO97udL0IGnDrKp-_7_Mzih_VL0jVyxG4mGk85mzYJzDDzKNQfFH7cqSSfWoGiUZOacg/w306-h400/Screenshot%202022-05-16%204.14.23%20PM.png" width="306" /></a></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Many turns remained, as the course continued to feel like the waiting line to ride with Dumbo at Disney World. Around mile 11, the rain started again in earnest. The wind kept pounding. I didn’t feel much better but my watch said I was still on pace. Zigging and zagging, we eventually made our final left then right turns to head into the stadium and the 50 yard line. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remembering my grimace at the 5K finish the night before, I decided to appear more positive in the free photos at the HM finish. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvv_R47UnzMHC54ZCEx6scW5QyHVFAnMTdfAVRVaEthXmvJHZE0DK9DfKO3IhWUb-pCIRwJHdNsePs2PpHaKAuMJcL4LcaR1XdPpjUjwSG2h8Vo9yB8shyS8bBsMDZRReWL0FlsyOCHXkhOHUZysyJaGHTUxjnrt5YzeApFhGAAJIRU7ecFA/s468/Screenshot%202022-05-16%204.15.15%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="359" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvv_R47UnzMHC54ZCEx6scW5QyHVFAnMTdfAVRVaEthXmvJHZE0DK9DfKO3IhWUb-pCIRwJHdNsePs2PpHaKAuMJcL4LcaR1XdPpjUjwSG2h8Vo9yB8shyS8bBsMDZRReWL0FlsyOCHXkhOHUZysyJaGHTUxjnrt5YzeApFhGAAJIRU7ecFA/w306-h400/Screenshot%202022-05-16%204.15.15%20PM.png" width="306" /></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Over the line, a look at my watch and I was thrilled to have actually beat the 2:15 target. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNwcOcW7WlppdfJJneerTecSNM9qxum955-gRpFwZVoODtKWHQtlcg-sPjWfkwE0k95kScbcCqnnq_Q70OWJqPC6xP0WL3lICe1gl6XDPZUHnew9si4kSxSbLgYP0856go8px7EscvT6P4lZfAanr9IBVWF09cg_2VFE0C_XBa0YyXW99MQ/s4032/20220430_102544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNwcOcW7WlppdfJJneerTecSNM9qxum955-gRpFwZVoODtKWHQtlcg-sPjWfkwE0k95kScbcCqnnq_Q70OWJqPC6xP0WL3lICe1gl6XDPZUHnew9si4kSxSbLgYP0856go8px7EscvT6P4lZfAanr9IBVWF09cg_2VFE0C_XBa0YyXW99MQ/s320/20220430_102544.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I found the 2:15 pacer who was still hanging out at the finish line. We chatted and she said “Yeah, I was a little quick at the start” but she was happy I came in under my goal. I had to have the photo...it’s nice to have my personal pacer, or so it appears. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLZWAG1E1MT3QtAJ1-cd_p8cVhV7smpeeB17nHYTSx59qVKSBfDNErrNnoeHxc9nCMao0Z0nOMCPvdOgxylnZNlDrLGfDL93FTCkDp1s4oImYe-NqNKSjuY9YSYEo4PFDHmrIDcaiL7uqnqG08ZMcQm270v8rBTC4rcEp6pwooUgvnpWYhw/s2785/20220430_103145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2785" data-original-width="2089" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLZWAG1E1MT3QtAJ1-cd_p8cVhV7smpeeB17nHYTSx59qVKSBfDNErrNnoeHxc9nCMao0Z0nOMCPvdOgxylnZNlDrLGfDL93FTCkDp1s4oImYe-NqNKSjuY9YSYEo4PFDHmrIDcaiL7uqnqG08ZMcQm270v8rBTC4rcEp6pwooUgvnpWYhw/w300-h400/20220430_103145.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></p><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZapESq-JkJ5kxNCg8h0mivAS7p5OldyLTqq9x9V6uMKYvnLaqnkrRbSMEkD9fqQLUPKzEUenVduhxqna_8NaoCDatsiuAtJ3NJK0LEzT90Fs3lWR_CdCUEdiJH5j2sHOT-LOHV3In1NJIdTPHgPURQgoY5tJCWzI6Mb4_P8zsMEjZ2OLbA/s460/Screenshot%202022-05-16%204.12.50%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="359" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZapESq-JkJ5kxNCg8h0mivAS7p5OldyLTqq9x9V6uMKYvnLaqnkrRbSMEkD9fqQLUPKzEUenVduhxqna_8NaoCDatsiuAtJ3NJK0LEzT90Fs3lWR_CdCUEdiJH5j2sHOT-LOHV3In1NJIdTPHgPURQgoY5tJCWzI6Mb4_P8zsMEjZ2OLbA/w313-h400/Screenshot%202022-05-16%204.12.50%20PM.png" width="313" /></a><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I quickly left the football field, knowing there was warm food, no rain, no wind and my drop bag waiting in the concourse. I wasn’t disappointed. Chocolate milk, Doritos and a slice of pizza tasted great. The dry shirt from my bag was even better. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErzBN5fgaTmbVudP-v_K6QjOf97wZOdrSXcaumwHtPLGlXCXs1vjq2CxcljfHx70M0Hw5ZQiJkUpQW8GGCeugpvnQtgVdBNAYSLEv4H2GhoQSV1jyGmHwDhG4cI_ToV574d4r6FXGFihzl_yIIatial-NnX5yIi2NPBOIV24p03mF8mkK1w/s4032/20220430_102303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErzBN5fgaTmbVudP-v_K6QjOf97wZOdrSXcaumwHtPLGlXCXs1vjq2CxcljfHx70M0Hw5ZQiJkUpQW8GGCeugpvnQtgVdBNAYSLEv4H2GhoQSV1jyGmHwDhG4cI_ToV574d4r6FXGFihzl_yIIatial-NnX5yIi2NPBOIV24p03mF8mkK1w/w400-h300/20220430_102303.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I made the short walk to my car and headed home. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ultimately, the most instructive moment from the HM happened later when I got a close look at my official pace chart from the various timing mats around the course. </span></p><div><span><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZz6l1o7rOcyycHYDixNCKbQXUWPRULshhZ9yLRvTqNhuiyHKCAk3hzxLFHkuPu_f3-Sb_IiFtMracp-lR0_-mphHUQhx3hZWajRfVMOnhM49bqMw17Z1szOBn5iRqyUz_Y_AjUMCVF0APBHbL791YQ5Xn9_hLHeWayHvLJoKtfzSEFIbdA/s1108/5508134474676727013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1072" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZz6l1o7rOcyycHYDixNCKbQXUWPRULshhZ9yLRvTqNhuiyHKCAk3hzxLFHkuPu_f3-Sb_IiFtMracp-lR0_-mphHUQhx3hZWajRfVMOnhM49bqMw17Z1szOBn5iRqyUz_Y_AjUMCVF0APBHbL791YQ5Xn9_hLHeWayHvLJoKtfzSEFIbdA/w388-h400/5508134474676727013.jpg" width="388" /></a><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Had you shown this chart to me before the race, I would have taken it in a heartbeat. Steady, consistent pace, all at the target pace. Yet, this consistency was in marked contrast to how I felt along the way...it banged all over the place. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was pleased with the three races in two days. Each was useful and I always enjoy race day. Moving on now to some summer ultras.</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Persevere.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-57425001509389827942022-04-23T15:38:00.002-04:002022-05-09T12:20:43.224-04:00Race Report: Carmel Marathon 2022<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>ORN</b>: 26.2 miles, 4:54:32, 11:15/mile; 6/1, then 3/1 R/W; 696 of 842 overall, 456 of 520 men, 6 of 10 M65-69</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">First 13.1: 2:13:28 Last 13.1: 2:41:04</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Summary</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Marathon proves, once again, it is a master teacher. The lesson this time? The six-month plan I’ve been on failed. Thus, I pivot my running trajectory. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gory Details</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I finished the </span><a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2021/11/race-report-indianapolis-monumental.html" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Monumental Marathon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> last November, I knew something had to give. It went poorly, I felt awful and didn’t want to repeat a marathon in that manner. 5:07:32, when I had targeted 4:45, just didn’t cut it. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I set out to discover if I could run a marathon at something approaching the qualifying time for the Boston Marathon one more time. The BQ for me, starting in the fall of 2022, will be 4:20; to actually get into Boston, I’d likely need 4:18. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to get to 4:18? How would I know? I set out a plan. Fundamentally, it was about a) increasing my weekly miles and b) building in speed work to those weekly miles. I set up a plan and started in mid November. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How would I test if it was going to work? It seemed wise to set intermediate milestones. The first of these was this race, the </span><a href="https://www.carmelmarathon.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carmel Marathon</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> on April 9, 2022. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMu-sgPvwQXGiXymOs36YcvxAgKum4TBo1uFFtwShIOzQHcaCKTTAjqPE0O-GAKbGu9gyhG68H3fe0mwjVPU_cBLPfYR36S9DjvY46jEpREyJpCpkPbbCEGiINCrNA6zuTywR5XjAwBBNnvMZO4cNEW4gNGokYV-MNKXCq7cwBSjHYbb3QTA/s4032/20220408_083326.jpg" style="font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMu-sgPvwQXGiXymOs36YcvxAgKum4TBo1uFFtwShIOzQHcaCKTTAjqPE0O-GAKbGu9gyhG68H3fe0mwjVPU_cBLPfYR36S9DjvY46jEpREyJpCpkPbbCEGiINCrNA6zuTywR5XjAwBBNnvMZO4cNEW4gNGokYV-MNKXCq7cwBSjHYbb3QTA/w300-h400/20220408_083326.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Logic said if I was to run 4:18 by this fall, I’d better be able to run 4:30 this spring. I worked hard through the winter weather and was encouraged by my weekly mileage and the speed sessions. Two weeks before Carmel, I ran a 2:08:50 at the Sam Costa Half Marathon...VO2 max calculations said that effort was equivalent to what I’d need for a 4:30 full marathon. So, I thought I had a shot but I knew the proof was in carrying pace through the final 8-10 miles of the marathon. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Race day weather was not kind. Temps steadily dropped in the days leading up and the forecast came true; temperatures in the low 30s at the start with a west wind increasing from 10mph at the start to nearly 20 by the finish. It was darn cold as we gathered and set off right on time at 8:10am. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">My aim was to run a 6/1 run/walk sequence, running at a 9:40/mile pace when I ran, which would yield an aggregate pace of 10:18/mile. This worked well for the full first half of the race. I felt comfortable and held up in the portions of the course that faced the wind head on. Around mile 6, we ran in full-blown snowfall for about ten minutes...yikes, springtime in Indiana </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIVhDmNAYzKKHIQ0agkI05YX-dEaMA7eaEGQxw8Dj116I6YCwjrFbNJKXADUXp8ec8I1OcWuuV4O6syBPu54VFp0wKSChJBAjbxgca8azY_dFHgCugV37d2UWKNhaK7KTzv2evLd5UK7VvJmL05FP9ptWXW88jpmyuFYA59U59Yvi51wKfw/s4032/20220409_091432.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgIVhDmNAYzKKHIQ0agkI05YX-dEaMA7eaEGQxw8Dj116I6YCwjrFbNJKXADUXp8ec8I1OcWuuV4O6syBPu54VFp0wKSChJBAjbxgca8azY_dFHgCugV37d2UWKNhaK7KTzv2evLd5UK7VvJmL05FP9ptWXW88jpmyuFYA59U59Yvi51wKfw/w300-h400/20220409_091432.jpg" width="300" /></a></p><p>Check the snow here on my sleeve</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsd7dYWOHbqCFq7lH_rlIJsK2HkS_46tzpLc4cECErZZzn52eIi-m3JV1Ihzt_oFnWGK7dpmgQRVNOsND_LPmgGjzGAYj2r3o1JeMDcfA1qUw5HY-bRH50LBJGf5jaxfenA01YioT6MOlBKyRYo8GbyfS7AYZRD9C2lgVdl5NRBF3uarK2w/s4032/20220409_091439.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsd7dYWOHbqCFq7lH_rlIJsK2HkS_46tzpLc4cECErZZzn52eIi-m3JV1Ihzt_oFnWGK7dpmgQRVNOsND_LPmgGjzGAYj2r3o1JeMDcfA1qUw5HY-bRH50LBJGf5jaxfenA01YioT6MOlBKyRYo8GbyfS7AYZRD9C2lgVdl5NRBF3uarK2w/w300-h400/20220409_091439.jpg" width="300" /></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I came across the half marathon timing mat in 2:13:28, about right for my 4:30 target. Mentally, though, it was tough to run through the finish area, zig-zag around the half-marathoners finishing and then head out for the second loop. It knocked my rhythm a bit but I regained composure and got going again, south on the Monon Trail. The wind was quartering from the right rear and the heavy tree cover over the trail broke it up. Visually pleasant, quiet, mild. It proved the “shelter before the storm”.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">We turned left and then north at mile 16.5 and entered what I knew ahead of time would be the determinitive portion of the race. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzWklKjN4YRWNsdm5UAMOboUHXs7NU0bjLImAtJq_4gXW38p6J6pdou_i0jvZa6JThZjqpxyvcsPA8BQJ6QsaoQ1aM2XGMa2gutYJS-Jz-qZWIKyUtuQk9f2W6JtlLiytfO0I85gRVw7Rxu1BSbhe7tvKTMHkLK5y5Vj75nmevf2Rn5zA2A/s768/Carmel22mile17.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="514" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzWklKjN4YRWNsdm5UAMOboUHXs7NU0bjLImAtJq_4gXW38p6J6pdou_i0jvZa6JThZjqpxyvcsPA8BQJ6QsaoQ1aM2XGMa2gutYJS-Jz-qZWIKyUtuQk9f2W6JtlLiytfO0I85gRVw7Rxu1BSbhe7tvKTMHkLK5y5Vj75nmevf2Rn5zA2A/w268-h400/Carmel22mile17.jpg" width="268" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Up through Mile 23 was in a wide-open commercial district with little wind break and commercial buildings and parking lots to observe. Into the teeth of the wind, I could feel my energy lagging. At mile 17.5, the 4:30 pace group caught up with me, showing me just how much I was lagging. I fell in with them for a while and that helped. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Until...</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">At Mile 19, the course turned west across a long overpass traversing busy US31. We went uphill, into the wind, completely exposed. And it broke my effort for the day. I was struggling and the attempt to stay with the pace group simply wasn’t there. I didn’t think that bridge would end. It did, of course, and we turned back north, 3 more miles of what felt like open wind tunnel. I admitted the 4:30 wasn’t there, backed off to a 3/1 run/walk and determined to just get the race done. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yet, further insult awaited. Around mile 22, I detected what we’ll delicately call “intense lower abdominal cramping and distress”. Yeah. In all my years of marathoning, I’ve never had this happen. I was looking around for trees or bushes, fearing I’d need an emergency stop before the next aid station. Thankfully, I made it to an aid station with an empty porta potty and resolved the issue. Yikes. And the clock kept ticking. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I finally made it to mile 24 when the course turned back south onto the Monon Trail. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DsgQ2F7PlGWrnUZOiMnK178igI_qlP1ETgrff7XFjTsxxiiYp6aLmMhxX6TwhYEKM_JB0JkKi5OUvf0YLJaRuaM8ppqgb_BYxBLt3j5lps91PHcRR4wTcDZ-azGg0ucxUovxnSa6LZhP0ejSXWEa8COC4VIJ5Gz1Q49czAu_OZC-GpvCUw/s768/Carmel22tunnel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DsgQ2F7PlGWrnUZOiMnK178igI_qlP1ETgrff7XFjTsxxiiYp6aLmMhxX6TwhYEKM_JB0JkKi5OUvf0YLJaRuaM8ppqgb_BYxBLt3j5lps91PHcRR4wTcDZ-azGg0ucxUovxnSa6LZhP0ejSXWEa8COC4VIJ5Gz1Q49czAu_OZC-GpvCUw/w266-h400/Carmel22tunnel.jpg" width="266" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The wind once more at our back and with the trees diffusing the wind, it was just a matter of getting back to the finish line. With a half mile to go, I allowed myself a look at my watch; I was relieved that I’d finish under five hours. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENkgxrLaKftGE_-CpY1G06EXbQ55e-73nJxyA9kF-_e41Idid-w00Za221mJBu2PRawz2SADqspgOj46s9x-8RG3wNabwj7T0sN8aBD6OVAbaaWQvKxfxLLeVgG4lL-fMfXXVeHyTGs69odmUWFXHS4cs4bjYk5GmykEAPAmfahKOZIiuKQ/s768/Carmel22finish.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="512" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiENkgxrLaKftGE_-CpY1G06EXbQ55e-73nJxyA9kF-_e41Idid-w00Za221mJBu2PRawz2SADqspgOj46s9x-8RG3wNabwj7T0sN8aBD6OVAbaaWQvKxfxLLeVgG4lL-fMfXXVeHyTGs69odmUWFXHS4cs4bjYk5GmykEAPAmfahKOZIiuKQ/w266-h400/Carmel22finish.jpg" width="266" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOD7tQ0nkVqHcy-WIAqVjja4vq1kKKrBkZnWUV7wsgT6ixct0alkZ1dCq-P1Qg1y9oxOa4T7uaMqEIjeHxU2fimR2KGfLIXI46ENXoutiHWEiI1Oqr-yxjZFF9kA-fSD7gZu4HyeBqp-hE3pjEHMFwYAO2W90Lr7dI2dfWyyc6lJ5f5t3jPg/s4032/20220409_131024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOD7tQ0nkVqHcy-WIAqVjja4vq1kKKrBkZnWUV7wsgT6ixct0alkZ1dCq-P1Qg1y9oxOa4T7uaMqEIjeHxU2fimR2KGfLIXI46ENXoutiHWEiI1Oqr-yxjZFF9kA-fSD7gZu4HyeBqp-hE3pjEHMFwYAO2W90Lr7dI2dfWyyc6lJ5f5t3jPg/w300-h400/20220409_131024.jpg" width="300" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Crossing the finish line, I collected my medal and observed how deserted the finish area seemed compared to most years at Carmel. The cold and wind was so gnarly very few people were hanging around. Yet, the key volunteers remained, I got some chocolate milk, some granola bars and some hot pancakes. I lugged them to my car, got out of the wind and started to process what had happened. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWU1zSY9tYyjkEEWJVsz2g5nyJl38UKHQvylaY8d--4R4yqE_EfcnlVk4Q86efDyH0Erfq7Tjsm0TfXa0CNMlixHCamrgK4Fvn-MaIWlREzmZVzs5-inEr4IITidoeSawL_JzNyO_qOq2eqgH7dy-iF5_f9uUtcaZ5ruNX6KuZNA0EAS-yCw/s769/Carmel22resultstable.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="769" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWU1zSY9tYyjkEEWJVsz2g5nyJl38UKHQvylaY8d--4R4yqE_EfcnlVk4Q86efDyH0Erfq7Tjsm0TfXa0CNMlixHCamrgK4Fvn-MaIWlREzmZVzs5-inEr4IITidoeSawL_JzNyO_qOq2eqgH7dy-iF5_f9uUtcaZ5ruNX6KuZNA0EAS-yCw/s320/Carmel22resultstable.png" width="320" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the one hand, it was disappointing to run so poorly and take so long to get through a familiar marathon on a familiar course. While the weather didn’t help, that wasn’t the reason...I just didn’t have it. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, I shift to simply enjoy running for the sake of running. But qualifying for Boston just seems a reach too far. Therefore, racing now means participating and enjoying an event, more than “needing” to hit a particular time. I can pivot to try more ultras and trail races. I’m getting comfortable with this. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reality can be jarring. But it is wise to understand it. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks for reading. Persevere.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-16565453842622245932021-10-02T11:15:00.004-04:002022-01-17T09:11:52.555-05:00Race Report-My Marathon/Ultra #100! Ely Marathon, Sept 25, 2021<p>ORN: 26.2 miles, 4:55:44, (11:17/mi), 102 of 125 overall, 6 of 10 Men 60-69</p><p><u><b>Summary</b>:</u> </p><p>Never would I have believed a lumpy guy like me could ever finish 100 marathons and ultramarathons. But it happened on September 25, 2021 at <a href="http://elymarathon.com" target="_blank">The Ely Marathon</a> in Ely, Minnesota. Joined by our two older sons, three Elys ran in Ely to celebrate the older Ely. It was amazing. </p><p><b><u>Gory Details:</u></b></p><p><i><u>Background for #100</u></i></p><p>I started running while living in Africa shortly after our oldest son, David, was born in 1978. Surprised by how much I enjoyed running, I ramped up to run two marathons in Africa; the first August 1980, just before our second son, Nathan, was born, followed by a second in January 1981. Circuitously, I came back to running in 2004 and ramped up to my third marathon in St Louis in 2006. And then a fourth and fifth and......</p><p>So, in the fall of 2020, with racing still hampered by Covid restrictions and stuck on 93 marathons, I began to look ahead to wonder how I’d get to 100. I wanted to make that milestone memorable in some way. But how?</p><p>By early 2021, a bit of optimism returned for the resumption of racing. It was then I realized, if I could work it out, I could make #100 The Ely Marathon, the race that carried my last name on it. How cool would that be? The race ticked all the boxes for a milestone event. I had run it before in 2019, so I knew the course and liked the entire set up. It made for a memorable story. In late September, 12 miles from the Canadian border in northern Minnesota, the weather would likely be reasonably cool. Nathan and family now live in Minneapolis and we could visit them going to and from the race. Having retired in December 2020, I had more control on my schedule to complete the necessary intervening marathons to make the Ely Marathon #100. I sat down with a calendar and race schedules and it became clearly possible. The plan was set. </p><p>In March, I shared the plan with our family. To my surprise, Nathan quickly replied “Can I run it with you Dad?” This was not unreasonable, as Nathan and I had run the 2019 Ely Marathon together, his very first marathon on his 39th birthday. He’d since run his second full marathon...so I knew he was capable and understood just how hard it is to prepare. While I didn’t want to ask him to make that deep commitment, I was thrilled and honored he wanted to join me. With a full spring and summer to train, I knew it was realistic. </p><p>So the plan was set...I knocked off six more marathons from February to July and was set for #100 on September 25 with Nathan. </p><p><i><u>The surprise of #100</u></i></p><p>And one massive, wonderful surprise awaited. </p><p>Nathan and I communicated all summer long about our training plus timing and logistics for our trip north. We decided that he and I would go alone as marathons are not a prime spectator sport for his 6 and 3 year old daughters. Thus, my wife and I would drive to Minneapolis, and Gretchen and Angela would have fun with the little girls while we drove north to run. Nathan bugged me to make sure I booked a hotel room. He asked me to find a replacement Purdue tank top, like the one above, since he had worn his so much it was tattered. He triple checked our arrival dates and times. All good. </p><p>We arrived at their house on Thursday afternoon ahead of Saturday's race and had a blast playing with our granddaughters. That evening, I reiterated with Nathan the plan to head north around 1pm on Friday. “Well, we ought to leave earlier, like 11am Dad,” he replied calmly. “You never know about construction delays.” I’m good with that. </p><p>Friday came and we loaded my car. “Let me drive up, Dad,” he continued. “I’ll want to sleep on the way home and that means you should drive then.” Made sense. I've learned Nathan's sleep habits over the years. We left on time and cleared the Twin Cities into the beauty of Minnesota’s north woods. At exits, he fussed quite a bit with his phone but I thought nothing of it. He did seem in a hurry, but then again, Nathan’s always been in a hurry. I was surprised, though, when he suggested we stop for a late lunch. More phone checks, but he’s busy with his job, right? </p><p>We were a half hour south of Ely by 2pm and I knew the packet pickup tent was open from noon. “Let’s stop and get our bibs now, since it’s on our way to the hotel” I suggested helpfully. “Oh, I dunno, Dad, I’d rather we relax a bit and then get the bibs later in the afternoon.” Seemed odd, but hey, we had time. So, we drove into Ely, laughing at the oddity of seeing our surname everywhere, went to the hotel and checked in. More texting. Business is busy in Minnesota, donchyaknow? We put our feet up. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLENcsPaTc-dgoFyN79r_UQGoXj1XcakOgzlGGe-8XDN5YIdOZw7a3V1dgNqEzZL1c707lDFD6P9WaTEluF4YMQXedQ9-eh3UPd0M1tIjioA1vtXCKVX1qho-2fOCR1-xCoF79/s2048/20210924_180222.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLENcsPaTc-dgoFyN79r_UQGoXj1XcakOgzlGGe-8XDN5YIdOZw7a3V1dgNqEzZL1c707lDFD6P9WaTEluF4YMQXedQ9-eh3UPd0M1tIjioA1vtXCKVX1qho-2fOCR1-xCoF79/s320/20210924_180222.jpg" width="240" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGNIh3_RPUPoi81Sj_m6rW9NBuZ4Kzl0BxiuXi9CTs27bDtyR-kkxa2dQ4FNFhkx9ewXOd62MJHaLzjKUdI46CfYIgMP-59JOeKK5SNZ1qC6oBm_hqHdxPtUmWVfOdX0BzRvs/s2048/20210924_160732.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGNIh3_RPUPoi81Sj_m6rW9NBuZ4Kzl0BxiuXi9CTs27bDtyR-kkxa2dQ4FNFhkx9ewXOd62MJHaLzjKUdI46CfYIgMP-59JOeKK5SNZ1qC6oBm_hqHdxPtUmWVfOdX0BzRvs/s320/20210924_160732.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p>Around 3:30, rather abruptly, Nathan said “OK, Dad, let’s go get our bibs!” Didn’t seem like “late afternoon” to me but I was game...it was a beautiful day. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppFpYUaHhQnv6siS6JpGMVmjXmuRwsczEpkIAaji_ipmyK_2oFIk4EtcQoA02d2ulg2N3VYWFQfsh6_XI8QdvhNXMZ-JXr_AqQ0-ACQIJCUrU-FR1NSCf4yrlhg2YBHTJi654/s2048/20210924_161814.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppFpYUaHhQnv6siS6JpGMVmjXmuRwsczEpkIAaji_ipmyK_2oFIk4EtcQoA02d2ulg2N3VYWFQfsh6_XI8QdvhNXMZ-JXr_AqQ0-ACQIJCUrU-FR1NSCf4yrlhg2YBHTJi654/w400-h300/20210924_161814.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>Packet pickup was in the Ely city park, next to the finish line of the race, underneath a large open sided circus-style tent. Nathan and I walked in and I headed to the registration table. “Hey, Dad, let’s go look at some of the merchandise.” OK, so we walked to the back, right-hand side of the tent and looked at vests, shirts and hoodies with the Ely Marathon logo. I had told him I wanted to buy something to remember the event. He encouraged this, showing me various styles, as if we were both browsing the latest fashions on Rodeo Drive. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JBJsnYDF4H5GyWz_op7DquxburnQ19DkJSVGINT9IrO_SF8x11vW3EXN5jeKWt4gVw4-NnPFc5RAyOjDKXHg54bMyXj9UGS6ZOlFF7_lk_1u-gmw6JhIo8NfjNJ3nG9HU9sr/s1440/118933504_3457185491008928_8321875695104014034_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1436" data-original-width="1440" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JBJsnYDF4H5GyWz_op7DquxburnQ19DkJSVGINT9IrO_SF8x11vW3EXN5jeKWt4gVw4-NnPFc5RAyOjDKXHg54bMyXj9UGS6ZOlFF7_lk_1u-gmw6JhIo8NfjNJ3nG9HU9sr/s320/118933504_3457185491008928_8321875695104014034_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p>And then it happened. </p><p>With my back to the outside of the tent, looking at a quarter zip tech shirt, a man approached me from behind and said “Excuse me sir, can you tell me where I can pick up my bib?” I calmly turned, answering his question, when I saw the man was our oldest son David!!!! Oh my!! I was stunned! Why on earth was he here???? “I’m going to run the marathon with you!” Are you serious???? </p><p>It was true. David was also going to run the full marathon to honor my 100th. The entire family knew about this and had been in on the planning since May. And not one person, my wife, my sons, my grandkids, not a one, leaked a single peep to me. I was totally unaware and completely surprised. David had driven that morning from his home in Evansville, Indiana to fly from St Louis to Minneapolis to Duluth where he rented a car to drive to Ely. Thus, all the texting with Nathan was to work out the timing for David to arrive at the Ely City Park just as the two of us were at packet pick up. And it all worked. The best surprise ever. </p><p>The three of us were yelling and laughing and hugging and smiling and talking and standing in amazement all at once. I then realized we were making a bit of a scene in the circus tent that others were curious about. So, it became the first of many opportunities I had to have one son under each arm and briefly explain how cool it was that three Elys were in Ely to run Ely. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-iiA0TAezcXDITsjSSiGyOUfhUBtkikTWGTlcWHSWMBHVvr6vib8vAscvI56Gs9REjGBJwQGM79FNdWoxYu8VMNOwyiL-roTqAnAOD6Pd5t7GJN8ULI233KZ6Z8DiGSA6ieS/s2048/20210924_164350.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-iiA0TAezcXDITsjSSiGyOUfhUBtkikTWGTlcWHSWMBHVvr6vib8vAscvI56Gs9REjGBJwQGM79FNdWoxYu8VMNOwyiL-roTqAnAOD6Pd5t7GJN8ULI233KZ6Z8DiGSA6ieS/w400-h300/20210924_164350.jpg" title="David, Joe, Nathan" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David, Joe, Nathan</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Nathan THEN allowed us to pick up our packets, all together at last. It was fun to respond when the lady asked us “So, what’s your last name?” “Ely.” “Yes, this is the Ely Marathon...and what is your last name?” So fun. Three bibs, consecutively numbered. We were set. </p><p>The remainder of the afternoon and evening was awesome. We hung out at the hotel, had a wonderful dinner together full of conversation about matters trivial and substantive. It was such a rich time, all the while being amazed at the surprise the guys had rigged and the depth of the gift they made by both training all summer to share one event with me. They told me the whole "My Purdue singlet wore out" was a ruse to get one for David to wear. Nathan's shirt was just fine! We laughed and laughed. We finally concluded we needed to get some rest as a marathon awaited in the morning. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWPYiJoaIzWiw-aAGoTrbdllaOMtio_FsqBxWpgbH9RS3HJmCuIzoAV8YihDqC6T47Xk0E0qc9eDYU_lOhSoNVndBnzfR8UR_KXp43t-iPT3kZy-ePFY60v11bqSDcOvdEHuA/s2048/20210924_204741.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWPYiJoaIzWiw-aAGoTrbdllaOMtio_FsqBxWpgbH9RS3HJmCuIzoAV8YihDqC6T47Xk0E0qc9eDYU_lOhSoNVndBnzfR8UR_KXp43t-iPT3kZy-ePFY60v11bqSDcOvdEHuA/s320/20210924_204741.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p><i><u><br /></u></i></p><p><i><u><br /></u></i></p><p><i><u>Running #100</u></i></p><p>Since Nathan and I had run this race two years ago, the logistics were familiar. A point-to-point course, the Ely Marathon required we show up around 5am near the finish line where we boarded a school bus for the 30 minute ride to the start line, deep in the northern Minnesota woods. The three of us were about the only ones talking on the bus at that hour!! Still dark, the bus dropped us off, drove away and it was striking at just how far we had to go to run back to town. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XZUFIxoeo3I901cg6MEM4inhol-rRI3fVWwORkPXEauiXzqvdRjD7OtVbB5V-YGngi_KXfJV8w7SMDYXeqGiL6GcX8vmso_AQDIWInfeUpPBFVeTtA2-5WWTuiRH1PIuhBQV/s2048/20210925_070007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XZUFIxoeo3I901cg6MEM4inhol-rRI3fVWwORkPXEauiXzqvdRjD7OtVbB5V-YGngi_KXfJV8w7SMDYXeqGiL6GcX8vmso_AQDIWInfeUpPBFVeTtA2-5WWTuiRH1PIuhBQV/w400-h300/20210925_070007.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsKLuPJrvxCFta2jDfhuS3kEwHNQAb8QcTjhfL2wt9alF7kLfnKq0V_WyRoCtOzbMxEtcNIl0qrlexEXjEh4OpwDq8HJ7QRmvn2Z1OiNSiUWw50OIi20dybbuG5R300rPayxN/s1819/244402689_4641349362592529_3276779877329896539_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1819" data-original-width="1213" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsKLuPJrvxCFta2jDfhuS3kEwHNQAb8QcTjhfL2wt9alF7kLfnKq0V_WyRoCtOzbMxEtcNIl0qrlexEXjEh4OpwDq8HJ7QRmvn2Z1OiNSiUWw50OIi20dybbuG5R300rPayxN/w426-h640/244402689_4641349362592529_3276779877329896539_n.jpg" width="426" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p>The three of us had decided over dinner we’d not try to run side by side during the race. Nathan had some very good training and his preparation indicated he had a real shot at a 4:10 to 4:15 marathon. David was confident he could finish but was figuring it would be around 5:40 or so. I had a modest hope of finishing under 5 hours and mostly wanted to enjoy the run. We were all OK with this plan. So, as the start time neared, we posed for one more photo side by side in our matching Purdue singlets. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vPO2xEHeKmC4-korDWA3zz_Ve_4Tj4NM3ecpy-FXxe2K1xm4qz1TOkaPUPWze6SNdfTv1cBTHj1xt2s37T1WuXH8ktslzu8dWBSGfksjtDsmRA6Vti74NksaR7P0BwCYcpTR/s2048/3+Elys+at+Ely+Start.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1598" data-original-width="2048" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vPO2xEHeKmC4-korDWA3zz_Ve_4Tj4NM3ecpy-FXxe2K1xm4qz1TOkaPUPWze6SNdfTv1cBTHj1xt2s37T1WuXH8ktslzu8dWBSGfksjtDsmRA6Vti74NksaR7P0BwCYcpTR/w400-h313/3+Elys+at+Ely+Start.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The gun fired at 7:00am and Nathan was off quickly. He's partially hidden in the second photo, in the blue visor and sunglasses...even with the 4:05 pacer and a guy carrying a canoe (more on that below). </p><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHt6ucbQ8vMq1bc70yywtj8Ms4KQc5zQmi6q90AiyYzSBimUG3khl75Gh88vNnwL2oCct2TiRXx5P_nOICTi-JaOB3zdDVjdD0cnV2jO1FFdfHNlg464rjFsNbZkBP-yLBbZ_I/s2048/244360683_4641349105925888_8453394785745652480_n.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHt6ucbQ8vMq1bc70yywtj8Ms4KQc5zQmi6q90AiyYzSBimUG3khl75Gh88vNnwL2oCct2TiRXx5P_nOICTi-JaOB3zdDVjdD0cnV2jO1FFdfHNlg464rjFsNbZkBP-yLBbZ_I/w400-h266/244360683_4641349105925888_8453394785745652480_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1S7NA7H7vudjKvhLpOWeqBRA4WVoiqkuxvIE13obifXglOzsJe8Gk-NNmvIzcz7Z1wIIHEyWBnUrvyIM8x2G5LVoD_pn8gtvziqW78KUFiV_zHi57XYz0wxl9fwzwJm_R0ij_/s1680/244439524_4641349652592500_409345102116938665_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1680" data-original-width="1120" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1S7NA7H7vudjKvhLpOWeqBRA4WVoiqkuxvIE13obifXglOzsJe8Gk-NNmvIzcz7Z1wIIHEyWBnUrvyIM8x2G5LVoD_pn8gtvziqW78KUFiV_zHi57XYz0wxl9fwzwJm_R0ij_/w426-h640/244439524_4641349652592500_409345102116938665_n.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>David and I ran the first couple of miles together, which allowed for this wonderful photo by a race photographer early on. The scenery was just this terrific all day. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsShlKyb16U9NhxF8sHuATsroVOC-jH8gciy3GeZvyxGq7XrfxgxJ7UOUe30gr96Pud4pr-GMmiE9sbTRZgaGZdb4u8aa2gwLUser6ZX0mrCNAzJ2F8zrbwqflS3Tnr0AetNQ-/s1100/1175660464528009135.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="1100" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsShlKyb16U9NhxF8sHuATsroVOC-jH8gciy3GeZvyxGq7XrfxgxJ7UOUe30gr96Pud4pr-GMmiE9sbTRZgaGZdb4u8aa2gwLUser6ZX0mrCNAzJ2F8zrbwqflS3Tnr0AetNQ-/w400-h266/1175660464528009135.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>The two of us fell apart around mile 3 or so as the race settled in. The weather was near-perfect for running, with temps in the upper 40s, sunny skies and very little wind. The course is quite hilly, which was a surprise two years ago. I was mentally prepared this time and was content to walk a lot of the steeper sections, knowing the distance remaining. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLOPI06qlRcb6z0H13gBE7LtZ9VfDYPcwOi_BoVF_fNcb9RU1sJ_SO1Y1Rko6LcFoDQv_SpylFPkUDhL-5EXOhmtAvR5EgLO7P0HRaB_1OBgGgsTzjA1ECOkuZyiBXyZrRu7T/s720/facebook_1633573599292_6851704281807440871.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLOPI06qlRcb6z0H13gBE7LtZ9VfDYPcwOi_BoVF_fNcb9RU1sJ_SO1Y1Rko6LcFoDQv_SpylFPkUDhL-5EXOhmtAvR5EgLO7P0HRaB_1OBgGgsTzjA1ECOkuZyiBXyZrRu7T/w400-h266/facebook_1633573599292_6851704281807440871.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>A unique element of the Ely Marathon is it’s “Portage Division”. Since Ely is well known as a starting point for canoeists exploring the Boundary Waters, it fits to have a category in this race for the rugged individuals who want to lug a full-size canoe on their shoulders for 26.2 miles. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLe9wSu-EXtzL3ZxMzJ4sodOhVILWRbeTXlz-yzMEXOteWO1zjHKCaFXTHom8R2B2duMKzuFsAjA3H1PCtHhyphenhyphenYGA944ZxfPp3qnvMTK2fQbj8BSoNYZvEH4pyclYLwJ0Xg6ry/s2048/68863302_2510522689008551_4437367568059072512_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1638" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLe9wSu-EXtzL3ZxMzJ4sodOhVILWRbeTXlz-yzMEXOteWO1zjHKCaFXTHom8R2B2duMKzuFsAjA3H1PCtHhyphenhyphenYGA944ZxfPp3qnvMTK2fQbj8BSoNYZvEH4pyclYLwJ0Xg6ry/w400-h320/68863302_2510522689008551_4437367568059072512_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMBgclN6-E_uPTZaT4VL7zJK3Hrkv2pSxhxH_GvRcjVW-q3_nCQqqZBu2ehWmhq7jwpMj1TEt-f-kikZAdvKXqkUKg6fzNu9EjbLrZ2iS2y1Q0xtyOdGhMAXEUQAZMOHmBl8Y/s1650/121776160_3614649545262521_6452705086133540776_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1320" data-original-width="1650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOMBgclN6-E_uPTZaT4VL7zJK3Hrkv2pSxhxH_GvRcjVW-q3_nCQqqZBu2ehWmhq7jwpMj1TEt-f-kikZAdvKXqkUKg6fzNu9EjbLrZ2iS2y1Q0xtyOdGhMAXEUQAZMOHmBl8Y/w400-h320/121776160_3614649545262521_6452705086133540776_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Yes. Many people paid good money to do just this. I fell in with two portage guys from around mile 4 to mile 9 or so. They were young, strong guys with excellent upper-body definition, having a merry chat with each other as they jogged along, their canoes bouncing on their shoulders. They welcomed me into the conversation but I really didn’t feel quite worthy. These two were ripped and quite comfortable under the load. Yeow. On a long incline in the 9th mile, I thought it wise to walk while the two of them jogged on up and over the top. They gradually pulled ahead and ended up beating me by about 30 minutes. That’s humbling. The winning canoe portage time?? A stunning 4:23:20. Amazing.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdTixzIVnHtcqNeGqOmkcto9dOylTc-fKi-flp_96bxQbaWtdndGhKJEPMqtgbnYUDvn4pm6Cgb4_hiFVZda9Scs4SIVPIVPkJS02cQjLh4jIj0N3ZYJTDfxodPJoYInIIfQB/s1794/243813667_4641307195930079_1245265543394331919_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1794" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdTixzIVnHtcqNeGqOmkcto9dOylTc-fKi-flp_96bxQbaWtdndGhKJEPMqtgbnYUDvn4pm6Cgb4_hiFVZda9Scs4SIVPIVPkJS02cQjLh4jIj0N3ZYJTDfxodPJoYInIIfQB/w400-h266/243813667_4641307195930079_1245265543394331919_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>Along with the canoes, there is lots of Scandinavian influence in Minnesota leading to this bit of running humor along the way:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Z013IgnguLJsEEL7adAxMkJVgcFiOJhjjcls6ZB0Vz87KNNwMr7S3zGHFlkmzQLClNA-CZSqu6uMlfQ6OSyXurqadKTtjCUMiDU8lW-whhCXc_3WmsUqR2GjYD0_eXA8IuLU/s2048/20210925_091440.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Z013IgnguLJsEEL7adAxMkJVgcFiOJhjjcls6ZB0Vz87KNNwMr7S3zGHFlkmzQLClNA-CZSqu6uMlfQ6OSyXurqadKTtjCUMiDU8lW-whhCXc_3WmsUqR2GjYD0_eXA8IuLU/s320/20210925_091440.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvkp2mXXUiTvkc5XXyJuNqq-AxLB6_VdysQkI-zg0wS06JFP6vWDx4XWOjOIwmyIHZsp0xvlIQU3OWyD7xdyucX3ulB0B1bRiF-CjbSOwNctUE-D4cNnIwqcoixkEnG224Gjw/s2048/20210925_091445.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvkp2mXXUiTvkc5XXyJuNqq-AxLB6_VdysQkI-zg0wS06JFP6vWDx4XWOjOIwmyIHZsp0xvlIQU3OWyD7xdyucX3ulB0B1bRiF-CjbSOwNctUE-D4cNnIwqcoixkEnG224Gjw/s320/20210925_091445.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKvrV1-OxWC_aJRjwB0bVAm3u-MtlS9785TNuxXYCxTUZLMIMAkNHIpj-OByZENDz1zxZxPS02CWbnzFQxYAv9KmBmRHl7DKlPpVUtxHTAXOgOtGFIMjnOpJCwxqXIMyCqchH/s2048/20210925_091449.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKvrV1-OxWC_aJRjwB0bVAm3u-MtlS9785TNuxXYCxTUZLMIMAkNHIpj-OByZENDz1zxZxPS02CWbnzFQxYAv9KmBmRHl7DKlPpVUtxHTAXOgOtGFIMjnOpJCwxqXIMyCqchH/s320/20210925_091449.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p>It actually made me laugh out loud. And do a few imitations of the Muppet's Swedish chef.</p><p>Around miles 14 to 19, the course had an out-and-back section during which allowed us to see runners ahead and behind us. Nathan and I saw each other on this section in 2019 and I was hoping I’d see both lads this time. Sure enough, I saw Nathan at about mile 17 for him. He was feeling strong and looked good...it was terrific to see him and snap a selfie. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhau0_6u06YfFrxbxxT6f9khMNi7EKorHiYy0ygSUkdwGm_uGfTy74lwfcFDNOIGuSyPRbrO_EGtMOcCfHtgc-eTUH5wDUomY_43l-9ISp9hbzyiz1HZkIl5oMn-oE77gsDPryI/s2048/20210925_101141.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhau0_6u06YfFrxbxxT6f9khMNi7EKorHiYy0ygSUkdwGm_uGfTy74lwfcFDNOIGuSyPRbrO_EGtMOcCfHtgc-eTUH5wDUomY_43l-9ISp9hbzyiz1HZkIl5oMn-oE77gsDPryI/w400-h300/20210925_101141.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>We encouraged each other and then carried on. I soon hit the turnaround at the end of a lonely gravel road. A little less than a mile later, I saw David running my way...he wasn’t that far behind me. It was a thrill to see him and learn he had also seen Nathan. I was very happy he was running so well and looked as if he’d be way stronger than his projected 5:45 time. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbFhGMDvEG8QisCdJv2BpHy3eMsLE6nu6NWMVhfSySh2R0uKutqzAIWR-6ztvAh7HUrTFdqw60TqKVtvZuUGOBgeeakbGpZEQeSt2ReUkp5gP9gdmp3l2vpL0P4y8lzq3LEHn/s2048/20210925_102847%25280%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbFhGMDvEG8QisCdJv2BpHy3eMsLE6nu6NWMVhfSySh2R0uKutqzAIWR-6ztvAh7HUrTFdqw60TqKVtvZuUGOBgeeakbGpZEQeSt2ReUkp5gP9gdmp3l2vpL0P4y8lzq3LEHn/w400-h300/20210925_102847%25280%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>In the "you can't make this stuff up" category, I met David next to a water stop. A volunteer at the water stop told us she had grown up in Lafayette, Indiana and was excited to see the Purdue logo. Then, she began singing a full blown version of "<a href="https://youtu.be/DKDU1Ta3nOQ">Hail Purdue</a>" our beloved fight song! I joined in full voice and David tried to not look too embarrassed. In the middle of nowhere...Go Boilers. </p><p>I was soon at mile 19 and on the final approach back to the town of Ely. While there had been a lot of runners to see on the out-and-back, the course was now just “back” and I was by myself again. I got great service from each aid station along the way, though, since they weren’t in a rush. There may even have been some dancing involved.....</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehc5zzKVAFirhE_GwC63xrCWpdOJLe09VCQEbdLi2mFk4nWpMD0L46vDh9nJUcUWpDpwFcDTf0xKBBJAI-c6VESgv7pcfozKZyooBUjbQx7monMtILsQyduhHeulQN0ID8gvW/s1760/244353373_4641348705925928_5420738828960172121_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1174" data-original-width="1760" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehc5zzKVAFirhE_GwC63xrCWpdOJLe09VCQEbdLi2mFk4nWpMD0L46vDh9nJUcUWpDpwFcDTf0xKBBJAI-c6VESgv7pcfozKZyooBUjbQx7monMtILsQyduhHeulQN0ID8gvW/w400-h266/244353373_4641348705925928_5420738828960172121_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p>The final three miles for me were slower. I didn’t “hit the wall”. But I was just out of gas and more tired than I expected. The lack of enough miles in the prior six weeks while I was on a consulting gig likely had the impact. Nevertheless, it was a pleasant time of reflection as I wrapped up a milestone race. </p><p>The course wound back through the heart of Ely toward the finish line in the park. As I saw the banner from four blocks away, my fatigue vanished and I was smiling like a kid. The race announcer was kind to mention as I approached the finish line that this was marathon #100 for me. </p><p>Across the finish line...done...it was great. </p><p>I got my medal and turned around and walked back out on the course, figuring David wasn’t that far behind me. Sure enough, I met up with him as he was entering those final four blocks, the finish line in sight. He was happy to see the finish line and happy to see me. We ran the final 800m together and it was an honor. </p><p>We then saw Nathan, who had finished and had changed clothes and was back at the finish line. It was so awesome to be together, all of us completing a marathon. No small task on any day and all the more special on this occasion. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejrCYoC2FGYR8JSuzFV7N2_xKp_xPkhrUwNZjzTkBvossb99_wx35NmRvdvxxgBfi7GK-J0ajO5eSJrMbrYhXHbCwhuKayrPdzqfzZyoJgFUnhdQdyCyubrIKceeq_lA2kwMi/s1879/20210925_124046.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1841" data-original-width="1879" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejrCYoC2FGYR8JSuzFV7N2_xKp_xPkhrUwNZjzTkBvossb99_wx35NmRvdvxxgBfi7GK-J0ajO5eSJrMbrYhXHbCwhuKayrPdzqfzZyoJgFUnhdQdyCyubrIKceeq_lA2kwMi/w400-h393/20210925_124046.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p>A guy with a video camera and microphone walked up to me, having heard I finished my 100th marathon and did quite an official-sounding interview with me. Here it is:</p><p> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qcbemd9FW4E?start=690" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Our official results of the Elys at Ely in Ely. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOxbTWYS9gUwaTerKIaLSYM8E3PhFc_XE0e2jpXoYFzt-A5k1NQWNgWehGlsJbOJItoKYlcek9mXKgC3fSqy8V93JiXhSqkzNL4_xSHZccMYp3H9JyZt02YIjbbGCFRreUPIm/s623/Ely+Marathon+Results+for+Elys.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="623" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOxbTWYS9gUwaTerKIaLSYM8E3PhFc_XE0e2jpXoYFzt-A5k1NQWNgWehGlsJbOJItoKYlcek9mXKgC3fSqy8V93JiXhSqkzNL4_xSHZccMYp3H9JyZt02YIjbbGCFRreUPIm/w640-h336/Ely+Marathon+Results+for+Elys.png" width="640" /></a></p><p>The three of us hung out and cleaned up after the race but then the time had to end. Nathan and I headed back to Minneapolis, while David was driving back to Duluth the next day. It was hard to have such a marvelous time end, but it did. So thankful for what these guys did to share a big event with me. It demonstrated love in a most tangible way. </p><p><i><u>Reflections on 100 Marathons</u></i></p><p>I would have never imagined finishing 100 marathons and ultramarathons to be possible. Yet, like any long journey, it happened through a series of single steps in a consistent direction. I’m thankful that God has granted me good health to be able to continue to train. I’m grateful for my wife’s whole-hearted support of my training and racing. I’m grateful for my entire family’s interest, shown most powerfully by David and Nathan joining me for #100. I’m grateful for the resources to be able to buy shoes and travel to interesting places. Yet, as much as I enjoy running, it is not who I am, it’s merely something I do. First things first. Getting to this milestone is a good reminder of that to me. </p><p><br /></p><p>Persevere. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>.</p><p><br /></p>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-34541668933902586712021-12-31T11:23:00.005-05:002022-01-03T11:47:21.181-05:002021 Year in Review<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Totals: 2021 -- 1,636 Miles
Since 2004 -- 24,565 miles
This year was quite a pivot point for me personally, as I retired from my day job and now have had a full calendar year to try to figure out what my life now holds. One component to that is running and the year contained a lot of useful learnings.
For the year, my monthly miles (the figure of merit, in my estimation, of running) left me with a “bleh” view...yet I learned from it. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnVg3nhv-UO9XLEDSi9OgfUhBdsiqWazPAG9tRSz3iRmInMjc4Fb_4XwTeFrsOJKD12Zs2yZtG6hyfkbCjhP-aU8bNA4tWjgQqNHiSjJsZF61hDgNBDeYdgEancWYAP_MO9RAPCL8a3Qw-gsL7rCfPhK4eU5f85byq1k38ufn_YD3RMk8xBA=s600" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="600" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnVg3nhv-UO9XLEDSi9OgfUhBdsiqWazPAG9tRSz3iRmInMjc4Fb_4XwTeFrsOJKD12Zs2yZtG6hyfkbCjhP-aU8bNA4tWjgQqNHiSjJsZF61hDgNBDeYdgEancWYAP_MO9RAPCL8a3Qw-gsL7rCfPhK4eU5f85byq1k38ufn_YD3RMk8xBA=w400-h234" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
<br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am not pleased I had only five months over 140 miles and only two over 150...I’d like to see all months at 140 at least. Yet, the low months came as I tried to figure out my new daily routines in retirement (I finally got that solidified in November...). August was super low as I took on an interim consulting gig and grappled with where and when to run in a different town. So, while I’m not impressed with the chart, I do have a much better grip on my daily running routine and my long-term running trajectory. Thank you, <a href="https://www.halhigdon.com/training-programs/marathon-training/intermediate-2-marathon/">Hal Higdon. </a>
Stepping back further, here are my annual miles since I started this era of running in May, 2004.
<br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCiDZHIP_jxT8VQzYQinvkwV7hW2bPrHeNmYYNeRpvQ5pLECsL9-OP2r78NLI5arCKpD0ge0-wFccAsnCspqN5Ee7I4pqTI9Ik93aNxLJUzMRQqL228MaF-r1ae9U2IzH5It2uUOfxJ-fjvVnRcKNt5XqX4g3_QTTjULyePCaMP9DPhFFOGg=s600" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="600" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCiDZHIP_jxT8VQzYQinvkwV7hW2bPrHeNmYYNeRpvQ5pLECsL9-OP2r78NLI5arCKpD0ge0-wFccAsnCspqN5Ee7I4pqTI9Ik93aNxLJUzMRQqL228MaF-r1ae9U2IzH5It2uUOfxJ-fjvVnRcKNt5XqX4g3_QTTjULyePCaMP9DPhFFOGg=w400-h234" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />
<br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whereas I felt “bleh” examining my monthly miles, I’m quite pleased looking at the total miles for the year...my first year over 1,600 miles since the excellent training year of 2017. In many respects, I think I “refound” my rhythm in running in 2021 and I’m very pleased it shows up in the aggregate miles for the year. I turned 68 this year and I feel no need to lower the mileage totals, despite what many would say. Given the further clarity on training plans I found late in 2021, I’m quite excited about what 2022 will hold.
Specifics of 2021 included 18 races of varying distances, including six marathons and four ultramarathons. I never get tired of race day! The camaraderie, the vibe, the competition with oneself and others, the ups and downs of each event...they just never get old. I’m so thankful to be able to still participate.
Clearly, the highlight of 2021 was finishing my 100th marathon/ultramarathon. This took place on September 25 in, of all places, Ely Minnesota at the Ely Marathon, made even greater by having two of our sons join me...three Elys, running Ely in Ely. Just amazing. It was a phenomenal experience alongside a major milestone. You can read my <a href="https://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2021/10/race-report-my-marathonultra-100-ely.html">race report</a> if you wish. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Onward to 2022.
Thanks for reading.
Persevere.
. </span></span></p><p><br /><br /></p>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-66194356552325536182021-12-28T23:49:00.000-05:002021-12-28T23:49:02.998-05:00Race Report - HUFF 50K Trail Race 2021<p><b>ORN</b>: 50km, 8:04:51, 15:33/mile, R/W 3/1, 142nd of 157 overall, 5th of 6 Men 60-69</p><p><b><u>Summary</u></b>: The HUFF 50K Trail Race is one of my favorite races of the year. This was my 11th consecutive start and tenth finish. Overnight rain and 34F temps made this year’s run a muddy one. It was hard to run on much of the course but I never tired nor doubted I’d finish. Nevertheless, this was the slowest of all my HUFFs. </p><p><b><u>Gory Details: </u></b></p><p>In my <a href="https://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2020/12/race-report-huff-50k-trail-race-2020.html">blog post</a> about last year’s HUFF, I noted the silly idea I had to sleep in my car near the start line the night before. Remembering that ill-fated plan, I booked a room in Columbia City and drove up on Friday, December 17, 2021 for the race. I picked up my bib, had dinner with a fellow runner and slept well. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWcxdH8Bsz2JoZ4gtkWuq7k6AvHn1vmuh9hvqQm4RPcdh3sc128yP_K6OCaT1gGJ58nHUae6Vr8pVjwkiQTGEXBVACpOlUbvmB72InO0usp-P2Qw93YPLg8n6PoOCktmI_1uAXG_HEfUthb-NCbQ7et68fXLs5H1AhoBuakNATaSaBU1hzsA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWcxdH8Bsz2JoZ4gtkWuq7k6AvHn1vmuh9hvqQm4RPcdh3sc128yP_K6OCaT1gGJ58nHUae6Vr8pVjwkiQTGEXBVACpOlUbvmB72InO0usp-P2Qw93YPLg8n6PoOCktmI_1uAXG_HEfUthb-NCbQ7et68fXLs5H1AhoBuakNATaSaBU1hzsA=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></p><p>Interestingly, the company who did race timing for this year's HUFF used a returnable chip on a Velcro ankle strap, as opposed to the now-more-common disposable chip on the back of the bib. Think mud on Velcro here...more later on this.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhQqamZ4BtIRnIGAwHIxvSxIQa-Z9k2PZzIinZ9Z9u0oOw5xkmxRiunwNLD-SK_17vpjMYlOWnJ0TYtnH1293ImVXgNA0KbEE5_kE4Tna25HvwyHukG4tMPDrQWFcnWwxDwwFIz0EnuMRm28JfTSQadyVKef64j3eKzgqmzZXM76YXX2-5bg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhQqamZ4BtIRnIGAwHIxvSxIQa-Z9k2PZzIinZ9Z9u0oOw5xkmxRiunwNLD-SK_17vpjMYlOWnJ0TYtnH1293ImVXgNA0KbEE5_kE4Tna25HvwyHukG4tMPDrQWFcnWwxDwwFIz0EnuMRm28JfTSQadyVKef64j3eKzgqmzZXM76YXX2-5bg=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></p><p>I was up early and scored a good parking spot at 6am of race day. I enjoyed breakfast and a nap in my car...I like an unrushed approach to race morning whenever possible. I was pleased to see the number of runners up from what we had a year ago...the 2020 HUFF was one of the very few live races a year ago.</p><p>The weather dictates the nature of each HUFF. This year the theme was “mud”. While it had been dry for most of the week, it began raining in the area around 6pm on Friday and continued uninterrupted through noon on Saturday. Overnight, it was often heavy...during the first portion of the race it alternated between a steady rain and a drizzle. But wet it was. </p><p>Off we went, right on time at 8am. It appeared 200 or more runners started th 50K. Another 150 or so would start the single loop race an hour later. </p><p>The first four miles were reasonably runnable. Once past the first Aid Station at the School House, however, we turned west and ran along the entire north boundary of the park. Easily 70% of this full 4 mile stretch was gooey. I slogged along, though, and felt OK. The Rally Camp Aid Station at Mile 8 was quite understated this year but marked the end of much of the mud and the start of the hillier portion of the course. Familiar territory all for me. It’s hard to describe the beauty of the final 7 miles of the loop. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnjWIuI-7X0QXI4bDqVkyuOCiiL5nqLPGZFme00RuOCmVipTbvgWg1n_sJw47KkJz3XKImIK7xoVSEZEEItfOVPm3QFIiAhxmeLgK6Uv0vfg-LGisc0hR1CyWRU5-1ye8fZwwcdGhCQUpISvmpNlKB15ovtmwWFzEiZAhGacI-_sBeN3VlCQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnjWIuI-7X0QXI4bDqVkyuOCiiL5nqLPGZFme00RuOCmVipTbvgWg1n_sJw47KkJz3XKImIK7xoVSEZEEItfOVPm3QFIiAhxmeLgK6Uv0vfg-LGisc0hR1CyWRU5-1ye8fZwwcdGhCQUpISvmpNlKB15ovtmwWFzEiZAhGacI-_sBeN3VlCQ=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p>Even with the leaves gone, the woods are full of life and scenery as the route criss crosses the long ridge winding through the park around each of the connected lakes. Photos don’t do it justice and I drank it in. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVhZW3am7grKCSwFA6he5uGeDwnjnkBbBLl9kQTn8MYIq_si470gfVLqgPfTREiU1UulmuLvr7EuS9lLjST-nJHoJEAb7V0Ug3Rq_crWNrWuserZuoavw06WdOWXkemdyrkZTfcUSIvxlQg0TieV-48BgrRb85JMqa9wcTAL12kpnLTbAwig=s3264" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgVhZW3am7grKCSwFA6he5uGeDwnjnkBbBLl9kQTn8MYIq_si470gfVLqgPfTREiU1UulmuLvr7EuS9lLjST-nJHoJEAb7V0Ug3Rq_crWNrWuserZuoavw06WdOWXkemdyrkZTfcUSIvxlQg0TieV-48BgrRb85JMqa9wcTAL12kpnLTbAwig=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></p><p>Finishing Lap One, I made a few gear changes at my car. The rain having stopped, I swapped my rain jacket for a windbreaker, swapped one soaked knit hat for a dry one, grabbed a pile of peanut butter filled pretzels and headed back out. I had contemplated changing into some dry socks too but decided it wouldn’t be worth the time. That was one good decision on the day. </p><p>I ran Lap Two almost entirely alone, encountering only two other runners in the entire loop. The rain was no longer falling from the sky but that which had fallen filled up the rivulets draining onto and through the trails. The 700 or so footfalls which had preceded me by this point had churned the mud into a muck often over the tops of my shoes. More than a few times I felt my foot begin to come out of my shoe as I moved forward. I carefully avoided that...retying a shoe over an even-muddier sock while sitting on the soaked ground didn’t seem a good idea. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisL7AJ97BW9RVrbsvRcKQUWNukIecMPwLy63-xVX1bMd66LQ62B4llUn7Rs3gcL7Avh1txp5fkZiszuhgf4Qt0RZt38Rg6x6DvKDi12XAUBWEtRySnoRVuZehO_qhOl7v0xlXHMzMXLCLzRjTxzvPbo_qBEzS4T6Nt_dOEI-XUIEJB_bUQHw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisL7AJ97BW9RVrbsvRcKQUWNukIecMPwLy63-xVX1bMd66LQ62B4llUn7Rs3gcL7Avh1txp5fkZiszuhgf4Qt0RZt38Rg6x6DvKDi12XAUBWEtRySnoRVuZehO_qhOl7v0xlXHMzMXLCLzRjTxzvPbo_qBEzS4T6Nt_dOEI-XUIEJB_bUQHw=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></p><p>As muddy as it was, though, I found the day very pleasant. Temperatures were flat at 34F / 1C all day, with very little wind in most of the woods. It was quite comfortable. It simply wasn’t very runnable. For much of the course to the Rally Camp Aid station, I just had to walk to avoid falling. </p><p>Experience may also have helped. During Lap Two, I thought repeatedly of my first running of the HUFF on this course in 2011 and <a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2011/12/race-report-huff-50k-trail-race-2011.html">my long blog post </a>on that race. I anguished over the mud that day....fell once...felt defeated mentally through it all. It all came back to me. On this day however, despite similarities in conditions, the mud was simply mud. The race was simply a race. I was grateful to be in the woods and doing an ultramarathon. I truly enjoyed the final 6+ miles on the hillier (and less muddy) portion of the loop and was grateful I could comfortably run a ridiculous distance like 50 kilometres. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2csS3obUUrYXXq0y3UpgqEj6zqfBNwIrnK-Gc3Nv1jhkVIU1syC_-y3TOWZyojqPepyxC7eEbjv_4JZtvhxhuUPz1FKu3flLrEAUhFeVtkRJX28QZEMQJWUctBhS2KeG2pJpt-WUcw1cvC1-zrJfJo-tmazIOnLprKxgZNJbEvH8YLzq0RA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2csS3obUUrYXXq0y3UpgqEj6zqfBNwIrnK-Gc3Nv1jhkVIU1syC_-y3TOWZyojqPepyxC7eEbjv_4JZtvhxhuUPz1FKu3flLrEAUhFeVtkRJX28QZEMQJWUctBhS2KeG2pJpt-WUcw1cvC1-zrJfJo-tmazIOnLprKxgZNJbEvH8YLzq0RA=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></p><p>The highlight of the last section of the race was the final aid station, a loud, fun event. I loaded up on flat Coke...an amazing elixir found only at ultramarathons. Man, the sugar and caffeine tasted good over the last couple of miles. Back to the main road, around the lake, through the Boat Ramp parking lot, up the hill and across the finish line. One more HUFF in the books. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheix-BRNHy4ClD7Vj0AMmUk0TyCpP_JYppUrkvtyzfeH-cXBJTTvtxWsCtMJcyVEl272AYsByXlWdwwilpLZRnFHgvi_sQtAxQN03Y2WiOII41wdYLruhA59BOMoZEFX1a3OiUFI0Px4lEt4rK41m1908gN2CJFRdd4qEnr37Z6JRDXNNtOQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheix-BRNHy4ClD7Vj0AMmUk0TyCpP_JYppUrkvtyzfeH-cXBJTTvtxWsCtMJcyVEl272AYsByXlWdwwilpLZRnFHgvi_sQtAxQN03Y2WiOII41wdYLruhA59BOMoZEFX1a3OiUFI0Px4lEt4rK41m1908gN2CJFRdd4qEnr37Z6JRDXNNtOQ=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwkDorzbDpOZ1bjUC8lnEPIKHGoHOkoy1pqI2r3fFYDoFz0O2GVBBHdsrUkKr4AF9kk6JEIsHwUHEO4uqjfdplujNQYoP9Xpn0PdQkzEgdwqSfFKu7TrF2lhVuO42kYdYQYUWLdayWVXQwtuqr3oOOBRjaWCKo9FlnltynG0qyYAe8nskdeg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwkDorzbDpOZ1bjUC8lnEPIKHGoHOkoy1pqI2r3fFYDoFz0O2GVBBHdsrUkKr4AF9kk6JEIsHwUHEO4uqjfdplujNQYoP9Xpn0PdQkzEgdwqSfFKu7TrF2lhVuO42kYdYQYUWLdayWVXQwtuqr3oOOBRjaWCKo9FlnltynG0qyYAe8nskdeg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p>I got the muddy gear secured in a bag. Those Velcro timing chips?? Volunteers at the finish line asked us to pull them off and put them in a bucket. Oh my...what a sloppy, stinky mess that looked. Glad I wasn't the one having to clean them to reuse!! </p><p>I didn't rush off, took care rehydrating with chocolate milk and more PB Pretzle Balls. I ultimately got on the road and slept very well that night. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidyG8x9sKQSd4is8INzq7gsGzQVp31MqkSLhrMITCImWqcL_biPnH1FNb25niFNyU5f9gcjzstFtoPRyCX7Hzid88r6--m8ESV6dssHpIWVwvl8RniQtFt1cJuklUhmH240hO53yq7rFyFgBf7MptbO6QxzzR32VaTnDNnPOrdm89Q4gcqjw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEidyG8x9sKQSd4is8INzq7gsGzQVp31MqkSLhrMITCImWqcL_biPnH1FNb25niFNyU5f9gcjzstFtoPRyCX7Hzid88r6--m8ESV6dssHpIWVwvl8RniQtFt1cJuklUhmH240hO53yq7rFyFgBf7MptbO6QxzzR32VaTnDNnPOrdm89Q4gcqjw=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></p><p>I was very pleased with how un-sore I felt in the several days following the race. The only surprise was a rash on the top of my feet, which I attribute to abrasion from the mud and grit that soaked my shoes and socks for eight hours. It cleared up fairly quickly, but I've never seen this before. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhD0IVDJcRErgVBvFLm-YmabXs1yV4Ii1es4OxUk6USRKOH8wf20kgZe8IxEguz6BPNKK10Ch7iGunzq3a8nHcM-3U2_9cbaorXgKHLOBMY-9e_w4WSvbyThZJeVYCl0kOku7m6vgB-fkfFyLa1l8ejhkICET9WdP_dAVNXM3WsSTt3PndTDg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhD0IVDJcRErgVBvFLm-YmabXs1yV4Ii1es4OxUk6USRKOH8wf20kgZe8IxEguz6BPNKK10Ch7iGunzq3a8nHcM-3U2_9cbaorXgKHLOBMY-9e_w4WSvbyThZJeVYCl0kOku7m6vgB-fkfFyLa1l8ejhkICET9WdP_dAVNXM3WsSTt3PndTDg=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p>Overall, my experience at HUFF served to confirm the choice I made after <a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2021/11/race-report-indianapolis-monumental.html">analyzing the Monumental Marathon</a> in early November and determining I just needed more miles to make this all work. </p><p>Thanks for reading. </p><p>Persevere. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5cMkeYmczlOP-4ohACTsQBACepCcvcL-7WHP7JqIcw2FBiM6Ram2lPuXOcUBlGzLGuNYsd3cGdCCN-v9-u22AF0Am7GrzBVkwZPeuI1u0PzuGJdHQz5Nwe6nDAoqhscZmzQ1iqOAH60g8rSI9PSDfLDwIY98lGHWUWRsBWqaxDptN5yuJHA=s2657" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1964" data-original-width="2657" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5cMkeYmczlOP-4ohACTsQBACepCcvcL-7WHP7JqIcw2FBiM6Ram2lPuXOcUBlGzLGuNYsd3cGdCCN-v9-u22AF0Am7GrzBVkwZPeuI1u0PzuGJdHQz5Nwe6nDAoqhscZmzQ1iqOAH60g8rSI9PSDfLDwIY98lGHWUWRsBWqaxDptN5yuJHA=w400-h296" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c36; font-family: "tahoma Trebuchet MS", lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><u>HUFF History</u></i></span></p><p><br style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c36; font-family: "tahoma Trebuchet MS", lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c36; font-family: "tahoma Trebuchet MS", lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I went back and listed all my times for HUFF...Clearly “Each year the course is the same; each year the race is entirely different; you have to always adjust.” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c36; font-family: "tahoma Trebuchet MS", lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c36; font-family: "tahoma Trebuchet MS", lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2011 7:33:44 High Water year <a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2011/12/race-report-huff-50k-trail-race-2011.html" style="background: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;">link</a> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c36; font-family: "tahoma Trebuchet MS", lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2012 6:36:49 <a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2012/12/race-report-huff-50k-trail-race-2012.html" style="background: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;">link</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c36; font-family: "tahoma Trebuchet MS", lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2013 6:32:01 <a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2013/12/race-report-huff-50k-2013.html" style="background: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;">link</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c36; font-family: "tahoma Trebuchet MS", lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2014 6:19:28 <a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2014/12/race-report-huff-50k-trail-run-2014.html" style="background: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;">link</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c36; font-family: "tahoma Trebuchet MS", lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2015 5:59:51 Course and 50K PR <a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2015/12/race-report-huff-50k-trail-run-2015.html" style="background: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;">link</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c36; font-family: "tahoma Trebuchet MS", lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2016 7:23:12 <a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2016/12/race-report-huff-50k-trail-race-2016.html" style="background: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;">link</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c36; font-family: "tahoma Trebuchet MS", lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2017 DNF...ran one lap only in near blizzard (and didn't write a report)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c36; font-family: "tahoma Trebuchet MS", lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2018 6:46:46 <a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2016/12/race-report-huff-50k-trail-race-2016.html" style="background: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;">link</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c36; font-family: "tahoma Trebuchet MS", lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2019 6:25:42 Best running conditions <a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2019/12/race-report-huff-50k-trail-race-2019.html" style="background: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-weight: bold; text-decoration-line: none;">link</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c36; font-family: "tahoma Trebuchet MS", lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2020 7:09:29 <a href="https://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2020/12/race-report-huff-50k-trail-race-2020.html">link</a> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c36; font-family: "tahoma Trebuchet MS", lucida, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2021 8:04:51 </span></p>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-26077624339173291152021-10-13T22:53:00.017-04:002021-12-05T15:26:42.434-05:00Race Report-Farmdale 30 mile Trail Race<p><b>ORN</b>: 30 miles, 8:31:51; 25th of 49 finishers (52 starters); 5th of 9 men 50+; Oldest runner in race by 5 years!! ; Lap times: 2:27:33, 2:54:08, 3:10:11 </p><p><b>Summary</b>: It was a rugged, steep, slow, humid, toe-busting, leg-straining event in the middle of the Illinois prairie. And it was how I chose to spend my birthday! <a href="https://noonecaresyourunultras.com/">The Farmdale Trail Race</a> was all of that. </p><p><b>Gory Details:</b></p><p>I’ve had the Farmdale race on my radar for years. It happens near Peoria, Illinois each fall on the Saturday BEFORE the Chicago Marathon. In many ways, it’s the opposite of the huge event in the city...this is a trail race, on narrow twisting trails for a handful of people who, for the most part, are experienced runners, happy to run alone on a demanding course. No glory in this one. Indeed, the group who now organizes the race calls itself “No One Cares You Run Ultras”. Yeah. That’s about right. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0urHrW268N4tnvNLATHilVE2cUYLcQtwHPEUmyvb7-BJ18tYeSluNidpKx_SPmTiyM7DSeGo0PN87jej_QQbmJEeMPr2A-_q8fZYG1ptfZpes5UZoKsyQtJS5FMCo9nuEBDW/s2048/20211009_062546.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0urHrW268N4tnvNLATHilVE2cUYLcQtwHPEUmyvb7-BJ18tYeSluNidpKx_SPmTiyM7DSeGo0PN87jej_QQbmJEeMPr2A-_q8fZYG1ptfZpes5UZoKsyQtJS5FMCo9nuEBDW/w400-h300/20211009_062546.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>This year, the race finally fell in my schedule. It took place exactly two weeks after my <a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2021/10/race-report-my-marathonultra-100-ely.html">100th marathon in Ely, Minnesota</a>. I was ready for a simple run by myself. Further, it fell on my 68th birthday and it seemed a great way to celebrate. </p><p>As fitting a proper trail race, the organizers allowed tent camping in the big clearing encompassing the star/finish area. I drove the 3+ hours to Peoria on a fine autumn Friday afternoon, choosing to take county and state highways rather than Interstate 74. I got a close-up view of modern farmers harvesting thousands of acres of prime American farmland. It was impressive in scale. </p><p>And flat. The Farmdale course, a 10-mile trail loop in a park near Peoria, is billed as “very hilly”. Driving there, it was hard to imagine a hill, anywhere. Once there, it became clear the park was part of a flood control project associated with the nearby Illinois River. And, shoot, no way you could raise soybeans on all those river bluffs. </p><p>I registered, pitched my tent, grabbed some supper and was looking forward to a night outdoors ahead of a trail race. No rain, the temperatures were mild, the air was calm, all set for a good night’s sleep, right?? Except...the organizers had the HQ tent lit all night (which wasn’t a problem) and the lights driven by a very loud portable generator (which was). Oy. I think I fell asleep around 2am until about 4:30am. </p><p>At that point, folks were stirring ahead of the 5am start of the 100 mile and 50 mile events. With the ten mile loop, multiple events were possible. I was happy to be up, to watch the group gather and head into the pre-dawn woods on their adventure.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fgQxUW7YUOkGzNeUUcvtPusGhOj1z_5mQXVahxe-9a0p0utHc1_3wU4o2FmDJyAHpoapRSQJk_B4gpPTi2YRCCaBFIod1nYbwFNaatcqnn8_F-7X-qKzX3JejTRfXZF22B4O/s2048/20211009_050004.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fgQxUW7YUOkGzNeUUcvtPusGhOj1z_5mQXVahxe-9a0p0utHc1_3wU4o2FmDJyAHpoapRSQJk_B4gpPTi2YRCCaBFIod1nYbwFNaatcqnn8_F-7X-qKzX3JejTRfXZF22B4O/w400-h300/20211009_050004.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHS2aNNpYuUrFQ-gZbfyTvZ_ooCV2nSzXNWf1M2M2wFDmrTc2qIeC1ek_G5D8IrZ-SPP94UZb0X-yQXNMMzz0bY1d_43k9YmIag3M-8DwSy_AhXvl84LEL9Xlpjfy8G0GTcOKG/s2048/20211009_050031.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHS2aNNpYuUrFQ-gZbfyTvZ_ooCV2nSzXNWf1M2M2wFDmrTc2qIeC1ek_G5D8IrZ-SPP94UZb0X-yQXNMMzz0bY1d_43k9YmIag3M-8DwSy_AhXvl84LEL9Xlpjfy8G0GTcOKG/w300-h400/20211009_050031.jpg" width="300" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Those folks gone, I had my usual race-day breakfast of two turkey-cheese sandwiches and got set for the 7am start of the 30 mile event. I had my car backed within about 20 feet of the course, set up my gear for the two pit stops I’d have and we got going right on time at 7am. Bib on my shorts, I got ready.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQngMz3ruJi2pg6Ey1NzqoWdlYP28ONrJnLRUOHNJTXbGUoUdCons9_BtpNMtwEpWfx0bMqOJ-HyZAAd9-ncFUyYOkghUuaWdfvHSxz3uYh-jj2IL_tS7rKkWua0JJp4AMvpY/s2048/20211110_164404.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1585" data-original-width="2048" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQngMz3ruJi2pg6Ey1NzqoWdlYP28ONrJnLRUOHNJTXbGUoUdCons9_BtpNMtwEpWfx0bMqOJ-HyZAAd9-ncFUyYOkghUuaWdfvHSxz3uYh-jj2IL_tS7rKkWua0JJp4AMvpY/s320/20211110_164404.jpg" width="320" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>As it was my first time ever running this course, the first loop’s focus was just figuring out what was going on. I had wondered how serpentine a course would be to fit a 10 mile loop into a mere 850 acre site. It quickly became obvious. The course was mostly single track, with a bit of time on some service roads and a very few open prairie, grass-covered crossings. Each loop had about 1,000 feet of elevation gain. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4axU7uXdg0coIPdJuhJJc9UqUgOBC2f4uhbOJtKpV6KZH2KRR7BlwkyPSUb0GfxrJ_rpbrgEbUFGXFea-WU4noqGLc5SOB96xBq1Esri-bPYHCn5-KWzOIGIlNSBiGGAFuVv/s2048/20211009_071725.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4axU7uXdg0coIPdJuhJJc9UqUgOBC2f4uhbOJtKpV6KZH2KRR7BlwkyPSUb0GfxrJ_rpbrgEbUFGXFea-WU4noqGLc5SOB96xBq1Esri-bPYHCn5-KWzOIGIlNSBiGGAFuVv/w300-h400/20211009_071725.jpg" width="300" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGvQBN5iI3p7etdbCFjYv81diZ_JehJXoYBv1gSQjD4hEUHq6qxol15F5jBF2QjqXCa3eZ_7OD0wjgKBb5RLLWE_LNcGyu60s2uVpQLreyazBln13APW0iR_dijK-uuM0Bvok/s2048/20211009_074751.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGvQBN5iI3p7etdbCFjYv81diZ_JehJXoYBv1gSQjD4hEUHq6qxol15F5jBF2QjqXCa3eZ_7OD0wjgKBb5RLLWE_LNcGyu60s2uVpQLreyazBln13APW0iR_dijK-uuM0Bvok/w300-h400/20211009_074751.jpg" width="300" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEoUOlYICE2sLaNKfRUUEbKZm53LUFaHCj1D3OuuNJN_sffXBu_WBn3dqKJWyFF1NhJL2u7aos3PoVRiTpylC_eFvQD7PSS95r39W5zHIY0-9dKuQva2fBXI9X2s2tDhO7H43/s2048/20211009_080221.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcEoUOlYICE2sLaNKfRUUEbKZm53LUFaHCj1D3OuuNJN_sffXBu_WBn3dqKJWyFF1NhJL2u7aos3PoVRiTpylC_eFvQD7PSS95r39W5zHIY0-9dKuQva2fBXI9X2s2tDhO7H43/w300-h400/20211009_080221.jpg" width="300" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>There were also about six stream crossings. Since the weather had been dry, these weren’t big obstacles. Only one got your shoes wet...here's a video of one of my traverses: </p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HkVF0mdwz0w" width="320" youtube-src-id="HkVF0mdwz0w"></iframe></p><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I did take two wrong turns as befitting a newbie on this course. The first during lap one when four of us all missed a quick right turn and the second on lap two when, like a teenager, I had my face glued to a text conversation while on a service road and I missed the trail jumping off into the woods. Duh. </p><p>The most significant event of the day occurred at about mile 7 of the race, on the first lap. I whacked a stub of a tree trunk hidden under some leaves with my right foot and caught it full on. I hopped around and was bent over in discomfort for some minutes. Lap One...good grief. How will this go? I walked a while to catch my breath and assess the damage. I chose not to remove my shoe. It became evident most pain was from my third and fourth toes. My big toe and pinkie toe were OK. I could push off reasonably with my right foot. There was no sharp pain, so I figured I didn’t break anything. But, man, it was there...I could feel it with every step. It continued that way the rest of the race but didn’t get any worse. So, I gradually got back to running and carried on. </p><p>I finished lap one, sat down, refueled with chocolate milk (yes, you can drink milk DURING an event, something my HS football coach would never have condoned) and got going again after about three minutes. Lap two had me entirely by myself, only rarely encountering other runners. And it became quite enjoyable, a long day alone in the woods. </p><p>By the end of Lap Two, it was early afternoon and temperatures on this sunny day were rising. I moved my pit-stop chair under a neighbor’s canopy to get some shade. I took a little longer to refuel and re-hydrate then headed out again. Lap Three was slower and warmer and had more bugs in the woods. The hardest portion was the super steep climb just ahead of the one on-course aid station about halfway around the loop. It was slick, steep, almost requiring all fours to scale the slimy, root-clogged climb. I got to the top, walked the 75m to the aid station and paused to collect myself while refilling my water bottle and having some salty snacks. That was the lowest point physically and mentally.</p><p>I carried on from there, with a little over four miles to go and regained some energy. Knowing the landmarks now, I was happy to see the final crossing of the dam, telling me only one mile remained. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaDMjjvjTlKBMVAQRUXFJdlos37hb4qiNxg4kTiHQNcrzm_0SBhGM-fEdYJYAj51oPMdAB3Y6sJYbpIr-B6sqKaxXsxsOm5Tov2of8-hEX6wjV6fLHCVdyVsQgkFRqmxNm08s/s2048/20211009_091653.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaDMjjvjTlKBMVAQRUXFJdlos37hb4qiNxg4kTiHQNcrzm_0SBhGM-fEdYJYAj51oPMdAB3Y6sJYbpIr-B6sqKaxXsxsOm5Tov2of8-hEX6wjV6fLHCVdyVsQgkFRqmxNm08s/w400-h300/20211009_091653.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Crossing the finish line, I was stunned to look at my watch and realize I’d been on the course for over 8 1/2 hours. It seemed like an awful long time for just 30 miles...but the course was just that difficult. </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkn3KMv9re3u7BfTSpO5KnXUgmiw8WpKb-anQrvsFp7EOACXqVKiLpo6nh0z23zaI0Pz4bfW_ZSjNPWzZ9Iy15jLSONyCeaQTJSWOLMFUgZbxd0CCD5MVsaiogpM6CvQMznqUf/s2048/IMG_20211009_153941_01.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkn3KMv9re3u7BfTSpO5KnXUgmiw8WpKb-anQrvsFp7EOACXqVKiLpo6nh0z23zaI0Pz4bfW_ZSjNPWzZ9Iy15jLSONyCeaQTJSWOLMFUgZbxd0CCD5MVsaiogpM6CvQMznqUf/w300-h400/IMG_20211009_153941_01.jpg" width="300" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Only then did I pull off my right shoe...what a sight that was.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLH0TPo9UFHOllXXFLZNptzfZTm_jKWA8UczVMAp9iUUKUou5YdTOWDsgysSoYdRVGzBeSwJI2Tqhry-F8orCQJNmK46jpONSvXXhDN81apQK5oKNpWUXzirzxdA0PojrrwDH/s2048/20211009_164031.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLH0TPo9UFHOllXXFLZNptzfZTm_jKWA8UczVMAp9iUUKUou5YdTOWDsgysSoYdRVGzBeSwJI2Tqhry-F8orCQJNmK46jpONSvXXhDN81apQK5oKNpWUXzirzxdA0PojrrwDH/w300-h400/20211009_164031.jpg" width="300" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Yikes...it was sore and looked awful. But my self-diagnosis had been accurate. I’m glad I didn’t quit. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIG_ggyvXdsSyZ6F2FkEERPK2lA0f1TylTXBMLEza21y6x2ykrq6cmxJEBBztiFz4A-ixt8CMjljFW86aZETS-oYb7VqNUb8D0YwXAdOXh88xoAhBAjHPi6r0PjmDGVjgpU_G/s2048/20211009_155513.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYIG_ggyvXdsSyZ6F2FkEERPK2lA0f1TylTXBMLEza21y6x2ykrq6cmxJEBBztiFz4A-ixt8CMjljFW86aZETS-oYb7VqNUb8D0YwXAdOXh88xoAhBAjHPi6r0PjmDGVjgpU_G/w300-h400/20211009_155513.jpg" width="300" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I spent a good hour or so just sitting and refueling after the run. The heat was up and I needed to collect myself before packing up the tent and driving home. The organizers had a great spread and the sub sandwiches were perfect. I polished off a full quart of chocolate milk and a lot of water. It was a nice drive home, with more corn and soybean harvest features. </p><p><br /></p><p>The next morning, my foot was even more colorful. But it didn’t hurt any worse. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJ67r-G5eF2VcOb7kbZVv0x81qh4P0tIXNjY9LsMZX6uABxxp2kpNN9fYGnkBW0-90jY_gb_GAyexG5aHI1PYTKdf-MdLiXvEqdOvCAaIWkHCWtRdke5puIBzUuPKbC4AjY-j/s2048/20211010_083355.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1574" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUJ67r-G5eF2VcOb7kbZVv0x81qh4P0tIXNjY9LsMZX6uABxxp2kpNN9fYGnkBW0-90jY_gb_GAyexG5aHI1PYTKdf-MdLiXvEqdOvCAaIWkHCWtRdke5puIBzUuPKbC4AjY-j/w308-h400/20211010_083355.jpg" width="308" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>It was a tough race. I don’t know if I’ll run it again...it really depends on my overall strategy of focusing on ultras or trying to get in some more good marathon times. I’m really glad I did run it though and had I camped somewhere else with better sleep, it would have been nearly a perfect adventure. </p><p>Thanks for reading. And persevere.</p><p><br /></p><p>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-69044015039168088142021-11-15T11:34:00.001-05:002021-11-15T11:41:53.264-05:00Race Report-Indianapolis Monumental Marathon 2021<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> ORN: 26.2 miles, 5:07:32 (11:45/mile); 3,441 of 3,947 overall; 30th of 37 M65-69</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> first half: 2:21:17 second half 2:46:15</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>Summary:</u></b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I started the <a href="http://monumentalmarathon.com" target="_blank">Indianapolis Monumental Marathon </a>on November 6, 2021 with high hopes of a clean run of 4:45, setting me up for a </span>winter<span style="font-family: inherit;"> and spring of solid training. During the 21st mile, those dreams crashed in a hurry. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>Gory Details:</u></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><u>The Race Itself</u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">This is about the eighth time I've run this event and it's grown to be </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">a major event in Indy, not just a major </span><span style="white-space: pre;">running event. The impact </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">on hotels and tourism is significant. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPXYaChNl-zRQdmkTbwAkBIbo0f-nyjurk_AuBdPyBIwQc9hp8d7oX8u5wVs6ukTwGAuLTLK7Qr4GAgzW4lvryrksqxRRlWermVb2wPxQWsCvChdFLtkm-cijLyRWIlFfYQvK/s2048/20211105_114051.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPXYaChNl-zRQdmkTbwAkBIbo0f-nyjurk_AuBdPyBIwQc9hp8d7oX8u5wVs6ukTwGAuLTLK7Qr4GAgzW4lvryrksqxRRlWermVb2wPxQWsCvChdFLtkm-cijLyRWIlFfYQvK/s320/20211105_114051.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">The drill is familiar now. Up at 4:20am, out the door before 5 and</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> in a good parking spot by 6am. I was able to walk </span><span style="white-space: pre;">around the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">early morning preparations at the finish line and get ready to go </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">with little rush. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHkuahNgzJ_51kqFVOLua7lrHJM3FyzHEX9ahzOyxsXTYoC6pK0w49k_Riq1ddiVII62Y7HxcxGMtC_R-g4vNUTV25qMxrffFHAO7phZ0vX67R2tu5HyMf12xn75xCPjaqiJa/s2048/20211106_070013.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHkuahNgzJ_51kqFVOLua7lrHJM3FyzHEX9ahzOyxsXTYoC6pK0w49k_Riq1ddiVII62Y7HxcxGMtC_R-g4vNUTV25qMxrffFHAO7phZ0vX67R2tu5HyMf12xn75xCPjaqiJa/w400-h300/20211106_070013.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqYvldSONX4d1WloOwo8hK7azX268NncZuVVWOoEigozGQXBEGGWlqyndzaPuG99eKvBa1wFbHBvX8gPIbnbNpr3dtz6ebMhckn9G8mIxbQ_vI_3IUnNpou-fySb1JhI1fTsE/s2048/20211106_070110.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqYvldSONX4d1WloOwo8hK7azX268NncZuVVWOoEigozGQXBEGGWlqyndzaPuG99eKvBa1wFbHBvX8gPIbnbNpr3dtz6ebMhckn9G8mIxbQ_vI_3IUnNpou-fySb1JhI1fTsE/w400-h300/20211106_070110.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">By 7:30am I was in the grid but not seeing the pacing group signs. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">Since my plan was to hang with the 4:45 marathong</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">group, this was a bit disconcerting. But, about 15 mintues before </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">the 8:00am gun, I spotted the pacers, </span><span style="white-space: pre;">well behind me in the packed </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">grid. So, as the field started to move out, I stood still and slid in </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">behind them. </span><span style="white-space: pre;">Better that way than trying to move up in the packed field. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">And that's how the race went. I settled in and stayed with the 4:45 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">pacers. I actually knew one of the pacers, </span><span style="white-space: pre;">as it turned out and it was </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">nice to see Heather again. Through mile 14, it was easy. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">At mile 14, though, I really needed to find a portapot. When one </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">appeared, there was a line but I had no </span><span style="white-space: pre;">real option. It took me about 2 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">mintues to wait but I then took off at the same pace we had been running. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">I lost sight of the pacing group but still felt comfortable all through the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">hills around Butler University, past </span><span style="white-space: pre;">the Museum of Art and down the </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">lonely stretch by the White River. I was encouraged. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">Until.....</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">Midway between mile markets 20 and 21, my race fell apart. Quite </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">literally, in 500m, next to some abandoned baseball fields, I went from </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">feeling </span><span style="white-space: pre;">fine and optimistic to being reduced to a mere shuffle interspersed </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">with much walking. My legs haven't </span><span style="white-space: pre;">hurt that much in a long time. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">I slogged to mile 23.5, made the right turn onto Meridian street, a major</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">milestone on the route and it didn't get any better. Especially discouraging; </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">the 5:00 pace group passing me </span><span style="white-space: pre;">at mile 24. Other than a nice conversation </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">with a guy from Iowa and </span><span style="white-space: pre;">a laugh with a DJ in front of the </span><span style="white-space: pre;">Murat, it </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">was a slow slog to the finish line. I was quite disappointed </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">with the 5:07 on my watch. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVzP_fkezrOc2I6loNOgUePYEDzyNLzZ_qfq550J_5Yv76hytzTdYjp6-eQp8Jv-BR123MeLfD3VyjNArqza5M1XVeNdmLY5U2LrQxAEctADCtfRR4vhppMNoFqH96AVfZvAR/s2048/20211106_133022.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVzP_fkezrOc2I6loNOgUePYEDzyNLzZ_qfq550J_5Yv76hytzTdYjp6-eQp8Jv-BR123MeLfD3VyjNArqza5M1XVeNdmLY5U2LrQxAEctADCtfRR4vhppMNoFqH96AVfZvAR/w400-h300/20211106_133022.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">My </span><span style="white-space: pre;">mood lifted somewhat with a nice chat with Carlton Ray, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">the race founder and Board Chairman of the </span><span style="white-space: pre;">race's </span><span style="white-space: pre;">parent organization, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">whom I've met several times now. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-jUrk00SJVaM5ISA9-8ludTy7r8_2OkohZ8xObs-FdL-aLQK8U3E3Rb_XZGnDK_CdcHw5-EaIjTCdIFEFLc8y1oUsCe7_YCItabtT8uTCJ7zFyIvkpYki4nXi9KquZ1umWdI/s2048/20211106_132639.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO-jUrk00SJVaM5ISA9-8ludTy7r8_2OkohZ8xObs-FdL-aLQK8U3E3Rb_XZGnDK_CdcHw5-EaIjTCdIFEFLc8y1oUsCe7_YCItabtT8uTCJ7zFyIvkpYki4nXi9KquZ1umWdI/w400-h300/20211106_132639.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I got the official printout of my splits, hard data which confirmed </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">what my legs felt. </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyd-UrNJ56TM3mAruTyHg0nlD2EidCrsDGzhoHFXsf2-hMHIUJ8jhxKmkkERZymOSXLrEoR_IAapRENPoF0W-ObwPYZeTVObLTIE-egNf0hu4f0V_Js6OTuNkjfIcMUqd5S1R/s2048/20211106_140102.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyd-UrNJ56TM3mAruTyHg0nlD2EidCrsDGzhoHFXsf2-hMHIUJ8jhxKmkkERZymOSXLrEoR_IAapRENPoF0W-ObwPYZeTVObLTIE-egNf0hu4f0V_Js6OTuNkjfIcMUqd5S1R/w300-h400/20211106_140102.jpg" width="300" /></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">But there were no triumphant whoops or euphoric embraces</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">this day. I just found some chocolate milk, talked with </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">a couple of guys from the race management company who </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;">I know, got in my car and drove home. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><u>My Analysis</u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I went into the race with a goal of running a 4:45 marathon by running with the 4:45 pacing group from the start to the finish of the race. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-abf15519-7fff-3c85-0d17-67b74475a044"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4:45:00 for 26.2 miles is a pace of 10:53/mile. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are my individual mile times from my Garmin: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-e5be6aab-7fff-19ee-73c3-0fa315a0a838"><br /><br /></span></p><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="100"></col><col width="100"></col><col width="100"></col><col width="100"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">mile</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Lap time</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Average</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">over miles:</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">1</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">10:34</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">2</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">10:39</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">3</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">10:41</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">4</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">10:29</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">5</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">10:36</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">6</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">10:39</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">7</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">10:44</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">8</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">10:12</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">9</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">10:31</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">10</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">10:52</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">11</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">10:57</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">12</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">10:49</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">13</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">10:44</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">14</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">10:52</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">15</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">10:46</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">16</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">10:17</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">17</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">11:02</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">18</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">10:12</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">19</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">10:26</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">20</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">10:36</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">10:37</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">1 to 20</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">21</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">11:25</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">22</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">13:09</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">23</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">14:16</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">24</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">14:39</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">25</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">14:03</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><br /></td></tr><tr style="height: 15.75pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">26</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">14:16</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">13:38</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); border-left: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-right: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #cccccc 0.75pt; border-width: 0.75pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 2pt; vertical-align: bottom;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">21 to 26</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-71c6af0c-7fff-a45f-3ae8-962f10c8fb1d"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Consistent through 20, in fact 16 sec/mile faster than required on average. Failed during mile 21. Pace fell to barely a walk for the final six miles. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, the race did not go as I had planned. The question now is Why? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stay with me a moment, as I provide background to how I’m trying to answer the marathon question. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve been doing a lot of specific reading and thinking over the past 10 months on predicting business performance. It’s been a general topic of interest to me, though, for many years now. How do we arrive at predictions? In my work experience, it seemed most often we made forecasts based on hunches, intuition and often unwarranted optimism. And we were seldom accurate, which bred skepticism and cynicism about both. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My thinking on the topic was first piqued about fifteen years ago, after I read and digested the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Moneyball-Art-Winning-Unfair-Game/dp/0393324818">“Moneyball”</a>. No surprise I liked this book, as it combines two of my favorite topics: Baseball and organizational change. The book sought to answer a predictive question, central to baseball; How do we predict if a player will be successful in the major leagues? The compelling answer--a scout or manager’s “intuition” was far less accurate than simply calculating how often a hitter could reach base (more is better) or a pitcher’s ratio of walks and hits given up per inning pitched (less is better). In addition, shockingly, the ability of most players to field their position defensively was irrelevant to their success. A few simple measures outperform human judgements. This really ticked off grizzled baseball veterans. And has ultimately changed the game, profoundly. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coming out of the 2008 stock market crash, I dove into another predictive question: How do you select stocks which will yield profits over the long term? Compellingly, I came to see that stock index funds outperform human picked stock funds. Index mutual funds are run by an algorithm, allocating any investment equally across the entire target index of the fund. Costs are nearly zero to administer such a fund, the performance of which mimics the market and, over time, the market rises about 6.5% to 7% per year. It works. And I’m retired based on that decision. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In fields as un-alike as baseball and stock picking, simple algorithms and metrics outperform human intuition or judgement. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was therefore with some interest that I picked up a 2010 book “<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Fast-Slow-Daniel-Kahneman/dp/0374533555/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1J4LERTLVYHU0&keywords=thinking+fast+and+slow&qid=1636668242&s=books&sprefix=thinking+%2Cstripbooks%2C214&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Thinking, Fast and Slow</a>” by the Nobel prize winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman last March. He cogently describes how our minds use both quick intuition and slower analysis to help us function. And how we get tricked by these two at times. He devotes over a fourth of the book’s 600 pages to the specifics of predicting business outcomes. He builds a nuanced logic that simple formulae will generally outperform human judgement in most business cases. Further, he describes how best to develop such formulae to specific issues...like how will a new product perform, or how might a marathon runner succeed. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Which brings me back to the question at hand; Why did I perform so poorly at the IMM? More specifically, why did I hit my target pace 20 miles in a row and then fall apart in the space of about 500m during mile 21?? </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My intuition (my quick thinking) on race day and the day after was a) blame myself for choosing to hang with a pace group which diminished my focus on hydrating or b) blame the organizers for having so few portapots on the course when I really needed to pee a couple of time (these two blames seem self-contradictory, don’t they ?) </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then, I slowed down and asked what is predictive of carrying through The Wall that hits at mile 18-21 for most normal humans in a marathon? I looked at my own data. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So here’s my chart of monthly mileage, going back to the start of 2017</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="border: none; clear: left; display: inline-block; float: left; height: 380px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; overflow: hidden; width: 624px;"><img height="380" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/hIc4lbEVuMtn0bcWh0keN2FoHWTB5fz2DEpIuWODqDu_1nJfUaH4nQHBNidNI4paLZnttLaT6FsVIzhRfxwLhLsRu-4jIKgRBOxarinDKitCo2O6zcw_u25ZdkdhLVZIVDXuoGb5" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" width="624" /></span></div></span></div><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-8f4e34f5-7fff-eba2-43e9-888d71ef2c20"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I worked hard all of 2017, leading up to my BQ in November 2017 at Monumental, this very same race, with average monthly miles in the 135 range. What have I done lately?? My monthly miles in 2021 is hovering around 115. 20 miles a month lower, 5 miles a week. Not shown on the graph above...the 2021 miles are also slower and less focused than the 2017 miles. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Looking further, I ran a lot of miles during the winter of 2018-19, leading to the <a href="https://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2019/04/race-report-boston-marathon-2019.html" target="_blank">2019 Boston Marathon.</a> While my 4:40 at Boston was disappointing, two weeks after Boston I ran a 4:09 at the <a href="https://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2019/05/race-report-wisconsin-marathon-2019.html">Wisconsin Marathon.</a> I’ve not come remotely close to that 4:09 since. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My conclusion? I have to add more miles and better (i.e. quicker) miles to my training if I want to get to even a 4:30 marathon. It’s just not complicated. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Secondarily, I need to learn to run a steady pace with long run intervals and short walk breaks. My training since Boston has been mostly at 3/1 or 2/1 run/walk ratios (3 minutes run/ 1 minute walk). I have to stretch that out to 8/1 or 9/1. The fact I ran solid for 21 miles tells me I can do the longer runs. Yet I need the walk breaks to eat, hydrate and adjust gear in a marathon. I really think it also helps preserve my legs. I will also need to adjust targets to allow for about 2 minutes per marathon to stop and pee. Ugh, my 68 year old bladder is not what it was at 48 :-). </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So that sets up my winter training plan. Can I get quicker through the spring? It's up to the process. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Persevere. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span></div><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><br /></div><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><br /></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><div><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /></p>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-52102435898642806972021-06-17T19:25:00.003-04:002021-07-15T15:25:51.964-04:00Race Report--Sandhills Marathon 2021<p> <b>ORN</b>: 26.2 miles, 5:41:05, 13:02/mile; 25th of 32 overall</p><p><b><u>Summary:</u></b></p><p>You've heard the old saying about that great vacation you had: "Yeah, you can never go back." It's often not the same the second time. Such was the <a href="https://sandhillsmarathon.net/" target="_blank">Sandhills Marathon</a> on June 5, 2021. I first ran this race in 2018 and, as <a href="https://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2018/06/race-report-sandhills-marathon-2018.html" target="_blank">I wrote at the time</a>, it was a phenomenal experience, indeed in the top 5 of my lifetime marathons. Weather and the course changed dramatically this year however and so did the experience. Nevertheless, it was terrific to run in my home state and have much time to be alone. </p><p><b><u>Gory (and hot) details:</u></b></p><p>The 2021 edition of the Sandhills Marathon became an anchor point of the first post-Covid, post-retirement road trip for my wife and me. We drove 2,800 miles in nine days making a giant counter-clockwise loop from Indiana to Minneapolis through South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, southern Illinois and back home. It was a fabulous trip and the two of us totally enjoyed the time together and all the scenery in the west. </p><p>We spent two days at Badlands National Park near the Black Hills of South Dakota. Amazing and beautiful. We did a good bit of hiking. How about this landscape?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOjqbu0tNKpyc5vzp93fB0yRBojvievzMqFo3lnASquM37J-WHPZcg7acoUOlhC30GTZ0vqVuR-9m84iCos6w_hCJqEtoEDtbRil9AmmmPbuBe4hvaaOdWyQl5o4bwgXRGDez/s2048/20210602_120350.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggOjqbu0tNKpyc5vzp93fB0yRBojvievzMqFo3lnASquM37J-WHPZcg7acoUOlhC30GTZ0vqVuR-9m84iCos6w_hCJqEtoEDtbRil9AmmmPbuBe4hvaaOdWyQl5o4bwgXRGDez/w400-h300/20210602_120350.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I shot a video along that hike...enjoy 90 seconds of prairie solitude. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y30cWHBsuo4" width="320" youtube-src-id="y30cWHBsuo4"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From the Badlands, we took a spontaneous detour to Rushville, Nebraska to visit a baseball field where, in 1970, my American Legion baseball team won the Nebraska state championship. That's a story in itself...it was a thrill for me to visit the same ball park again. I was the catcher on that team. Here I am behind home plate now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EHdFj36bRhWKBtYFelvo-XUbglGHKePNxzCAS4oGH3TOo8G09VBUr8Esyjz-0WsliphW6UeLICAumaB3t4zTp7jz1wXF2pKAERj1nr7gkxCwSzxHF0XyGG_L2irD8e6qHaZj/s2048/20210603_113716.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EHdFj36bRhWKBtYFelvo-XUbglGHKePNxzCAS4oGH3TOo8G09VBUr8Esyjz-0WsliphW6UeLICAumaB3t4zTp7jz1wXF2pKAERj1nr7gkxCwSzxHF0XyGG_L2irD8e6qHaZj/w400-h300/20210603_113716.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And here's our team photo in front of the same grandstand after winning the state championship in August, 1970. I'm the fourth guy from the left on the back row. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwKBwVtTkoMJORK9tnp-aYiPS24bOzD_wQ9KqakTC1yvnYwLE5jRZhZ_3HWTI0LqHwHT4q8XG7EqUvK9DkJPj_GerAO1FJAp2y-90PKbIGVCB8jbfLql7VoUiarYUEfxVRv7i/s1912/Baseball+State+Champs+1970.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1499" data-original-width="1912" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGwKBwVtTkoMJORK9tnp-aYiPS24bOzD_wQ9KqakTC1yvnYwLE5jRZhZ_3HWTI0LqHwHT4q8XG7EqUvK9DkJPj_GerAO1FJAp2y-90PKbIGVCB8jbfLql7VoUiarYUEfxVRv7i/w400-h314/Baseball+State+Champs+1970.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a treat. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I really wanted Gretchen to see the Nebraska Sandhills ( <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=nebraska+sandhills&rlz=1CAPPDO_enUS948&sxsrf=ALeKk00Z36p9SKJc6gUwS_1nlzDfSKySzg:1625949238742&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj_2bD2rNnxAhUKHs0KHRfRD_0Q_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1366&bih=617" target="_blank">image collection</a> ) such is its beauty and uniqueness. Like the Grand Canyon and other massive places of natural beauty, you have to see it in person to grasp it. She grasped it, getting what I had been talking about. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the day before the race, we were drove all over the area, took a hike to an abandoned fire tower built in the '30s by the Civilian Conservation Corp and generally bask in the stark beauty of the place.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To the race....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Pre-race, the organizers sent out very little information. One cryptic bit, however, gave me pause about the actual course...that's basic race information, describing the route and its surface. Yet it wasn't clear and appeared to be a different course from the one I had run three years ago. Further, from some photos, it appeared to be a gravel. Five days before the race, the RD answered a question I posted on FB about the route, confirming the route was different from 2018. The surface question remained unanswered until my wife and I drove it to see for ourselves. It was, in fact, asphalt. Yet, that remained a question mark for me up until the day before the marathon. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With only 35-ish marathoners and maybe 45 half-marathoners in the event in this emptiest part of a sparsely populated state (the Sandhills contain 4 of the 10 least-populated counties in the USA), race check the night before was simple. The start line was a 50 mile drive from the nearest hotel, so the 6:00am gun required a 4:45am departure which required a 3:45am alarm! I awoke on race morning, slipped out of the room to let G sleep and encountered four other sleepy runners noshing on toast in the hotel lobby. I had arranged a ride with a fellow runner and we had a nice chat on the drive in the dark. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We assembled in the small parking lot that was race HQ. Yes, this is the entire marathon field!! No loudspeaker required...the RD just spoke loudly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpX2r4d-rfzEwDEERdTOZVzYZGuY71PqrZ2f4rJcPozRhZSxQiuzK51g2ZWwpFXCVewT9-GVHaRm7u8u4jo1qKXy0WROF5sRZ9y-pIxvTv1dOfOLXY8p5XUlhILyrjwAkHMEb_/s960/192298285_10222837100387453_1097034683557732783_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpX2r4d-rfzEwDEERdTOZVzYZGuY71PqrZ2f4rJcPozRhZSxQiuzK51g2ZWwpFXCVewT9-GVHaRm7u8u4jo1qKXy0WROF5sRZ9y-pIxvTv1dOfOLXY8p5XUlhILyrjwAkHMEb_/w400-h300/192298285_10222837100387453_1097034683557732783_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At 6:00am, just before sunrise, we were off. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And, less than a mile into the run, I was by myself, the sky just starting to brighten. A fellow runner took this picture and I happened to be in it...pretty sure she was trying to capture the sunrise scene though :-) . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUz4NbCR-1eTgJ1MQscga5J9KuKY5NG38Hf58LxZyZ7VKbBouLgfdmrXF2x6O6erFGafJSKbcvHOPRjfAndL3-F0Bqsi_twEtJdq7z2qILv4lLtz2D-9I-tBg6DE3l-0ugek0J/s960/facebook_1623876175216_6811030337214372501.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUz4NbCR-1eTgJ1MQscga5J9KuKY5NG38Hf58LxZyZ7VKbBouLgfdmrXF2x6O6erFGafJSKbcvHOPRjfAndL3-F0Bqsi_twEtJdq7z2qILv4lLtz2D-9I-tBg6DE3l-0ugek0J/s320/facebook_1623876175216_6811030337214372501.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was the narrow road on which we spent the race. It was every bit this empty and amazing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLhxxD9weP0IrJNF2Oywm3XI2GGw3RLc76igeaal7PtuNxn4EzEdiWVsoDFlhD1AlF7eTDpV3jug8JRrGJMCGtuQG4nPKn27tKMnxICczjREK8pmeWrvcc4IPFCb8Fy10Z5_P/s2048/IMG_1195.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLLhxxD9weP0IrJNF2Oywm3XI2GGw3RLc76igeaal7PtuNxn4EzEdiWVsoDFlhD1AlF7eTDpV3jug8JRrGJMCGtuQG4nPKn27tKMnxICczjREK8pmeWrvcc4IPFCb8Fy10Z5_P/s320/IMG_1195.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The 6am temperature was around 70F but we knew it would go up sharply as the morning progressed. I was comfortable through the first nine miles, mostly by myself, though I chatted briefly with the three or four other runners with whom I leap frogged all day. The course was generally flat, with only a couple of rises, very much unlike the course I had run three years go, which had two massive inclines. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">By my mile 11, though, we were past 8am local time and I could feel the temperature rising. I had started at a 3/1 run/walk, but then dropped it to a 2/1. I hit the halfway turnaround at 2:23...not great but knowing how hot it was and was going to get, I was OK with it. I still had gas in the tank. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The field was long since stretched out...this shows what it did look like when runners were still within sight of one another. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_hiFavZFlJLqKRUfygOi2Hvx-L_h39LIACB23PB_7nwjpVY9yILu_DKNVudIs-rsq3fW7unZLa0UREBtfhXnrQKLTdi2F02tw0QhfbfbHn5YBKevrGpwjzr8rRhuCuJljMtx/s960/193540275_10222837100907466_7674323571133090675_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_hiFavZFlJLqKRUfygOi2Hvx-L_h39LIACB23PB_7nwjpVY9yILu_DKNVudIs-rsq3fW7unZLa0UREBtfhXnrQKLTdi2F02tw0QhfbfbHn5YBKevrGpwjzr8rRhuCuJljMtx/w400-h300/193540275_10222837100907466_7674323571133090675_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">An unfortunate thing happened after the turnaround, which took me a mile or two to fully grasp. The course angled generally southwest doing out. We had a small "headwind" running out which was helpful for cooling purposes. Turning around, though, those small breaths of wind were at our back: the effect was running with very little movement of air. Coupled with the rising temperatures, it was getting very warm. Around mile 19, I backed the run/walk to a 1/1...run a minute, walk a minute. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nevertheless, I continued to bask in the amazing scenery of the Sandhills...empty of people, full of cattle, wide open to all horizons. Moving through it on foot, slowly, only made the effect more striking. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSay_yWokFrquUyHvpakMyanotD_2lm3rVEwUy3Z8BUYNB7hr4R2xviAN97kfkZPdnWCo3HvZvb4OVI0Z14zNUDG84xxO4fB4NoCdXrTL1jCuS-AC5yVnCgoP_CkILg0MBJ5C_/s2048/20210604_120308.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSay_yWokFrquUyHvpakMyanotD_2lm3rVEwUy3Z8BUYNB7hr4R2xviAN97kfkZPdnWCo3HvZvb4OVI0Z14zNUDG84xxO4fB4NoCdXrTL1jCuS-AC5yVnCgoP_CkILg0MBJ5C_/w400-h300/20210604_120308.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Around mile 18, the cattle looked like they might have a better deal than the runners as they headed for the water at the windmill. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaiVxHRoTc4QTncEPmzMGmO9PYXb-e3S9jaVloSMwhs6q2fxtfw2xEfLD0WXCIwmSp5P-3ncS8aboPlP-HnX_v9OyTfRi9lvDIGgBj2jZLyDsHMqdy76UpqTinoIrMfN_ZRYD/s2048/20210605_081417.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaiVxHRoTc4QTncEPmzMGmO9PYXb-e3S9jaVloSMwhs6q2fxtfw2xEfLD0WXCIwmSp5P-3ncS8aboPlP-HnX_v9OyTfRi9lvDIGgBj2jZLyDsHMqdy76UpqTinoIrMfN_ZRYD/w400-h300/20210605_081417.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The organizers did a very good job for hydration support for such a small field of runners in this remote location. At every other mile marker, they dropped a large cooler packed with ice and 8 oz bottles of water and Gatorade. I carried my 20 oz water bottle and reloaded at each cooler. Cramming ice in my handheld bottle helped a lot just by simply keeping one hand cool. I popped a salt tablet each hour. I was never concerned about dehydration and had no symptoms of it nor any cramping. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was just hot. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By 10am, it was really getting warm. Mental math told me I'd be over 5 hours before I finished. By 10:30 am, 4 hours and 30 minutes into the marathon, I was only to mile 21 and the 1/1 run/walk was just too hard to keep going. I came to grips with that and chose to keep good health front and center and walk most of the time. As I felt my heart rate fall, I would pick out a post or a rock and run for maybe 50m before walking again. And so I did for the remainder of the event. </div><div><br /></div>I was still smiling, despite the heat. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGhVoEShBueJfCpQ3xnLmEupCzHc79mauBHcCjrfgKEejoHP3fjklP5llhZJwcTGszngasSMm-Ct5SPgzJ2-mJo6spvbB0L2QjmR64xjysj5sX4_WTosq3jgx-Qg7EnWrqdOg/s2048/20210605_094546.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGhVoEShBueJfCpQ3xnLmEupCzHc79mauBHcCjrfgKEejoHP3fjklP5llhZJwcTGszngasSMm-Ct5SPgzJ2-mJo6spvbB0L2QjmR64xjysj5sX4_WTosq3jgx-Qg7EnWrqdOg/w400-h300/20210605_094546.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Meanwhile, Gretchen checked us out of the hotel and drove to the start/finish line at a reasonable time. There was about a one-mile straight stretch leading to the finish line and with about a half mile to go, I could see her standing there, peering down the lonely road. My fluorescent yellow shirt let her see me before I saw her. And what a great sight to see her there. We walked the final 150m or so together and then I ran it in. It was good to be done.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjmsOKUeLY4EJ9QmtG5K_bjoXr58xiwCMLCkTbXLrlVM4HqEphrXtQ-TFzpfLUoR96oElD_wspgl00-Z9gWKbsEgVmVVFkrV4BU0PWYZV3eF_b17XesYPZ9pvxzAglw3kv1DB/s2048/IMG_8276.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjmsOKUeLY4EJ9QmtG5K_bjoXr58xiwCMLCkTbXLrlVM4HqEphrXtQ-TFzpfLUoR96oElD_wspgl00-Z9gWKbsEgVmVVFkrV4BU0PWYZV3eF_b17XesYPZ9pvxzAglw3kv1DB/w400-h266/IMG_8276.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A fellow runner who finished a little after me made a race video...he did a great job capturing the day. Enjoy it.</div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AdgBtSPG4L4" width="320" youtube-src-id="AdgBtSPG4L4"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>A hot day in the Sandhills, alone with my thoughts and persevering to finish another marathon. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for persevering to read this! </div><div><br /></div><div>. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-22293568015494620832021-07-12T15:39:00.000-04:002021-07-12T15:39:42.267-04:00Race Report-Dawn to Dusk 15.5 Hour Endurance Run 2021<p> <b>ORN:</b> 17.3 miles, 5:05:27, 17:36/mile; 42nd of 49 overall</p><p><b><u>Summary:</u></b></p><p>Seldom have I had such a total failure at a race but this one just went very poorly. My own poor planning amplified the impact of heavy rain. Here's the story...please learn from my mistakes!</p><p><b><u>Gory (and muddy) details: </u></b></p><p>The <a href="https://www.dawntoduskendurancerun.com/" target="_blank">Dawn-to-Dusk 15.5 Hour Endurance Run </a> has been a fixture of the ultra community around Green Bay, Wisconsin for ten years now. I only discovered it in mid May when a schedule change closed off one race weekend for me while opening up a chance to run on June 26. </p><p>As its name implies, the race extends from dawn to dusk and it is set annually near the summer solstice. In northern Wisconsin, there is a lot of daylight at mid summer! I was game and signed up, fully intending to see if I could last all day. I came up short in a <a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2021/04/race-reports-carmel-marathon-ruts-12.html" target="_blank">12 hour race in April</a>...I wanted to get back on that horse. </p><p>The drive north, in retrospect, may have portended a poor weekend. Three hours into it, in deep traffic getting around Chicago, I discovered I had left my wallet at home. No Drivers License, no credit cards, no cash. Oy. I called my patient and loving wife, who immediately located my wallet on our dresser and she drove north to meet me halfway to Chicago. I turned around, drove south again through the still-heavy traffic. I gave her a hug and, wallet firmly in hand, drove again through the (now later on Friday) Chicago car crunch. What should have been a six hour drive took nearly ten and it was a bit frazzly. </p><p>I had booked a room in the nearby town of Manitowoc, Wisconsin and checked in fairly late. The place was undergoing some renovation, so it was dusty and had lots of "loose edges". I slept ok but the 5:08am gun time meant I was up at 3:30am to get some food digested and drive the 25 minutes to the start. </p><p>The best move of the day was scoring a perfect parking spot...with heavy rain forecasted, I didn't want to leave my gear out doors. Thanks to a helpful volunteer in the pre-dawn darkness, I parked just next to the running path, making it simple to adjust equipment after each lap. Only later did I realize I didn't bring the right gear.</p><p>The organizers have their act together. We started right on time...even with the heavy cloud cover and light drizzle, we had enough light to make out the trail and off went our merry little band of 50 or so 15-hour runners. The course was a delightful and varied 3.5 mile meandering loop through the woods of a private camp. There was some up and down, with a couple of steep portions. Much was on a "Jeep Track" with the last 3/4 mile shifting onto single track. I completely enjoyed the first two laps. </p><p>As I headed out on the third lap, however, the light drizzle shifted to Real Rain. Not a downpour but steady rain. I noticed the wheel tracks in the route getting mushier and the lower spots filling with water. The single track was getting slick. </p><p>After lap 3, I did something "new on race day"...yeah, I know you're not supposed to do that. But it was raining so I shifted from my visor to my "<a href="https://www.tilley.com/" target="_blank">Tilley Hat</a>" </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Qj96E7BwRswdwERJF7g1R8OhEApvbtx9aprNhENlLE2zoLY-am65jr_NwiJyuFvMsnEkSdZ2D30HbDQQRP1FNvUYtguwgoSNtLvOWaOY3Ye_QbiPHBWm4SdI5B85nW7Q0kzY/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1599" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Qj96E7BwRswdwERJF7g1R8OhEApvbtx9aprNhENlLE2zoLY-am65jr_NwiJyuFvMsnEkSdZ2D30HbDQQRP1FNvUYtguwgoSNtLvOWaOY3Ye_QbiPHBWm4SdI5B85nW7Q0kzY/w400-h400/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>You've seen these...I have one too. But I've never run in it. I decided to try it, as it sheds water better than a visor or baseball cap. Amazingly, it worked great while. Not something you'll ever see in a running store...but it worked for me on this day. I'll likely use it again. </p><p>Unfortunately, on lap 4, the hat was the only thing working for me. The footing was getting muddier and slicker. The combination of the runners and the steady rain was chewing up what footing we had. My enjoyment was waning. </p><p>The fifth lap just got sloppier. Many inclines were difficult to move up, it was so slick. About 2/3 of the way around, I lost my footing and landed flat on my back in a large puddle. As so often happens in the trail running community, two fellow runners were there in a flash to give me a hand up and check on me. So grateful. My right knee torqued a bit in the fall but mostly it was only my pride that was hurt. I got my wits about me and kept going. Yet, on the single-track that finished the loop, there were sections on which I could barely stand, let alone walk, let alone run. </p><p>By the end of that lap, seeing it had taken me over 5 hours to cover a mere 17 miles, I decided to hang it up and head home. The rain had settled in for the day and I quit. </p><p>I didn't carry my phone around the course but did ask a volunteer to take my photo after I let the organizers know I was done. Here's the front of me, Tilley Hat and all...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgDDAtXEItanZBT_2OOOgGHSxeCIAew_e6Q0X4ydeNDh9yr1tsIzjWoqwj7SIOFmdtmnlTG6LD0y0dyW7Lr5CbHcrW-O6Yl-ramtGAnf3dnRKqdDcV87E3qS3r5wjtPVo8gIK/s2048/20210626_102131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwgDDAtXEItanZBT_2OOOgGHSxeCIAew_e6Q0X4ydeNDh9yr1tsIzjWoqwj7SIOFmdtmnlTG6LD0y0dyW7Lr5CbHcrW-O6Yl-ramtGAnf3dnRKqdDcV87E3qS3r5wjtPVo8gIK/w400-h300/20210626_102131.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And here's the back with the evidence of my kersplash in the puddle. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZfbUJKL5q6mOJq_IXTPlqAv2bPN8j0RGkuv1q589f7kMYEAC4g0w0qC2jAuKcqaGXZiwBuTcEDxElkbdCC7FmxyP0BEmy7jvXeZ7YV6_wtb3oa1Q8hnfr2DlZcojuc2xwNN0/s2048/20210626_102139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZfbUJKL5q6mOJq_IXTPlqAv2bPN8j0RGkuv1q589f7kMYEAC4g0w0qC2jAuKcqaGXZiwBuTcEDxElkbdCC7FmxyP0BEmy7jvXeZ7YV6_wtb3oa1Q8hnfr2DlZcojuc2xwNN0/w480-h640/20210626_102139.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As you'd expect, my shoes were very muddy, though they <a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2011/12/how-to-clean-really-muddy-running-shoes.html" target="_blank">eventually cleaned up</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7YNWHIXlCggKdC3fl8tq5TPIHiOyGvwso_bGeetCk9_WLnplrmihml7IR_NtZ3ejtRQjnPab0w-LI4gmQxFTM6dy9Nuc-F2QtnOFADCITOleDnrpMHPKN1P_Kh-vuG12R_pf/s2048/20210626_210319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7YNWHIXlCggKdC3fl8tq5TPIHiOyGvwso_bGeetCk9_WLnplrmihml7IR_NtZ3ejtRQjnPab0w-LI4gmQxFTM6dy9Nuc-F2QtnOFADCITOleDnrpMHPKN1P_Kh-vuG12R_pf/w400-h300/20210626_210319.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Each finisher did receive a nice coffee mug. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRG-ctVU4eNkq1p8k0DsVsS8reTiHXsIWSjhu3Lel6dd4eQ78GxsEaw3-bMk7dgmXke343lYD-_hH58uB8G-sygc2B7chEX2D1aI2ewRs7cLmIensrzzRlId26SgDF_BtF8Eqe/s2048/20210626_104300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRG-ctVU4eNkq1p8k0DsVsS8reTiHXsIWSjhu3Lel6dd4eQ78GxsEaw3-bMk7dgmXke343lYD-_hH58uB8G-sygc2B7chEX2D1aI2ewRs7cLmIensrzzRlId26SgDF_BtF8Eqe/w300-h400/20210626_104300.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was rattled, though, despite the good cheer and encouragement of the volunteers. I changed into dry clothes, walked to the cookout table and had a tasty burger while chatting with one of the RDs. The drive home was as woolly as the drive up, with heavy ran all the way, causing gridlocked Chicago traffic. Another nine hours in the car and I was pretty well "done" by the time I got home around 10pm on Saturday night. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The real lessons of this race only became evident later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The teaching started as I reviewed the <a href="https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=82654" target="_blank">race results</a> a couple of days later. While I thought in the moment that many other runners were struggling, I saw I placed 42nd of 49. In the same conditions, most just kept slogging it out. I was impressed and amazed and reflective. Why did I bail out when others kept chugging along, despite the tough footing? I had "toughed it out" in <a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2011/12/race-report-huff-50k-trail-race-2011.html" target="_blank">other trail races</a> ... so why not this day? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I finally realized why. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was not mentally prepared ahead of time for tough conditions. This is because, in my mind, northern Wisconsin is a place of bliss, happiness and marvelous summer weather. We've vacationed in Door County, Wisconsin for decades and summertime is perfect there. So, I drove north looking forward to a nice day in the woods, never imagining even the possibility of bad conditions. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As a result, I didn't take any of the gear that might have helped in rain and mud, even though I saw this was in the forecast. My fellow runners planned better for such a day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, I've made two changes to help me in future situations. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First, I made a new race-packing checklist for trail races. Equipment for a trail event is often different from a road race but I have never made this distinction. In particular, I need to have <a href="https://youtu.be/7637m8hXuW0">my screw shoes</a> on hand for muddy races. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Second, I noticed at least one fellow runner grab a set of trekking poles from his car as the rain increased. I've never used trekking poles but in this event, they would have been of huge benefit to maintain balance and progress on slick surfaces. So, I ordered a <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07ZFVDG5T?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details" target="_blank">basic set of poles</a> and have taken them on a seven mile trail run already. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_nUWF5qqMMk8dZEHro0Sri4lj7aCV9J_Ilu7bgglDdguRj7VU8GGzmnBL0JTtmj7V8A-0Mfr66uXxs7t1qnhtqv__WNZLpUgiOQB3jtcNA-g76lEtoWrklIRI8WdavpU00OV/s2048/20210705_090545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_nUWF5qqMMk8dZEHro0Sri4lj7aCV9J_Ilu7bgglDdguRj7VU8GGzmnBL0JTtmj7V8A-0Mfr66uXxs7t1qnhtqv__WNZLpUgiOQB3jtcNA-g76lEtoWrklIRI8WdavpU00OV/w480-h640/20210705_090545.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It took me 4 miles or so to get the hang of the poles but once I did I could see they really helped. Surprisingly, Strava told me I ran this particular bit of local trail faster than I ever have before. I'll keep working with them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, the race itself went poorly and driving through Chicago is seldom pleasant. But there were some good learnings, even in this. Not the least of which was finding this recipe for making a tiny, individual <a href=" https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/chocolate-cake-in-a-mug-3158576" target="_blank">chocolate cake in a coffee mug</a>. A dollop of vanilla ice cream on top...I'm good with that. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlR-aPVEhFnSrypNSOCLtmtxcwF52v5MMZ-hKjaWj5heCFgNMjlvKmXzvPIYHgxMd8H6CTo-daNKMiGETv-Hvk1DxBURgk2kmI1v8z0l0qj8MHz998F0RW94y2sm9QyckzdlH/s2048/20210704_183906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlR-aPVEhFnSrypNSOCLtmtxcwF52v5MMZ-hKjaWj5heCFgNMjlvKmXzvPIYHgxMd8H6CTo-daNKMiGETv-Hvk1DxBURgk2kmI1v8z0l0qj8MHz998F0RW94y2sm9QyckzdlH/w480-h640/20210704_183906.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks for reading. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Persevere. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-64750454747985267462021-04-13T15:13:00.043-04:002021-04-18T15:45:09.334-04:00Race Reports: Carmel Marathon, RUTS 12-Hour Endurance Race, April 3 & 10, 2021<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Race Reports-Carmel Marathon, RUTS 12 Hour Endurance Race, April 3 & 10, 2021</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">These races on consecutive Saturdays formed a planned experiment and the experiment was successful in that it showed me what I wanted to know. The question? Just what is my current endurance limit? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carmel Marathon, April 3, 2021</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve run this race maybe eight times now in it’s 11 year history. A flat-ish course through tony suburban streets on the north side of Indy, it was the first “real road race” I’d run in 18 months. Weather was chilly, with increasing winds all morning straight out of the south, getting to 20mph by the end. The atmosphere was great, though, as about 4,000 runners showed up for the combined 5K, 10K, HM and Marathon distances. It has been a long, long time since this has happened due to Covid and the collective spirit was great. People were very careful to wear masks pre-race and the grid was way spaced out. More than a few folks were there to attempt a BQ ahead of the April 20 opening of Boston Marathon registration. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was hoping to run with the advertised 4:35 marathon pace group. Alas, that pacing person didn’t show up. So, I fell in with the 2:15 half-marathon group to try to find a groove and this worked wonderfully through 13.1...hit the halfway mat at 2:14:23...spot on. Then, I was on my own.
</span></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHkvFBVKMGluU4T2E32rmEmOOeGsNhB-H9zBloqJC_IcUjExsWOeZ-8zBbBv3R9naN-rG9_BUMEYAhyreWsNZz_q3jxleo8COvvsgsaVGv3ELnuhXzygPoVcfRhy_-F7V9TYI/s600/Carmel2021mile16.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHkvFBVKMGluU4T2E32rmEmOOeGsNhB-H9zBloqJC_IcUjExsWOeZ-8zBbBv3R9naN-rG9_BUMEYAhyreWsNZz_q3jxleo8COvvsgsaVGv3ELnuhXzygPoVcfRhy_-F7V9TYI/w266-h400/Carmel2021mile16.jpg" width="266" /></a></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It soon became obvious my HM pace had been too quick. By mile 16, I was really feeling things and had to shift to a run/walk pattern and it was a slog through mile 23. It was striking to me just how long it had been since I had run a road marathon. I had forgotten about navigating runner traffic, getting in and out of crowded water stops and keeping my wits about me. Amazing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiHqyc7RzRHkju_rfdT2ItiNeTDLZZ7zKB2n9PRJzZzfvXbaZoBv7fQ_hnxPFwbYV2LUaT3KUOe1njm3pdqoXd5O7N-CJCpE1SJ0nmtyomYtMYtLFDXNvRb2UT7fhOhqXR3Ij/s2048/Carmel2021mile18.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiHqyc7RzRHkju_rfdT2ItiNeTDLZZ7zKB2n9PRJzZzfvXbaZoBv7fQ_hnxPFwbYV2LUaT3KUOe1njm3pdqoXd5O7N-CJCpE1SJ0nmtyomYtMYtLFDXNvRb2UT7fhOhqXR3Ij/w266-h400/Carmel2021mile18.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I had a treat around mile 23, though. Work colleague and running friend Michelle had run the HM, had to stick around Indy to get her Covid vaccination later on Saturday, so she ran out to mile 23 and ran in with me. It was a pleasant pick-me-up. We talked at length about several work-related topics of interest and it helped to take my mind off of my poor performance. Retrospective examination of my splits showed I ran faster too once she showed up. These final miles were directly into the wind, adding some extra work but the final two tenths measured at a 8:50/mile pace.</p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKyZKvhB9MNx_osPZ4irFYdiF1v20UMpYaCRmfs4V7SMys25t8MKnqP-y0s9OVZOrY0sa1XhALHbuzkVl_-zJug2G8tL3rE4fsps3cK0KpwUkUSQrCpi81ABSA4pflmRCiCkB/s2385/20210403_135917.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2385" data-original-width="1914" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqKyZKvhB9MNx_osPZ4irFYdiF1v20UMpYaCRmfs4V7SMys25t8MKnqP-y0s9OVZOrY0sa1XhALHbuzkVl_-zJug2G8tL3rE4fsps3cK0KpwUkUSQrCpi81ABSA4pflmRCiCkB/w321-h400/20210403_135917.jpg" width="321" /></a></div><br /><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Official time was 4:47:44, an aggregate pace of 10:59/mile. I was 839th of 1061 finishers, 538th of 661 </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">men and 10th of 18 in M65-69AG. Not really very good results...I had hoped to be much closer to </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">4:40 but I didn’t run a very wise race. </span></p><p><span><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre;">RUTS 12-Hour Endurance Race, April 10, 2021, Evansville, Indiana</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yeah, so you then ran even longer a week later? Indeed. That was the essence of the experiment. On “tired legs”, how long could I run?? </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">This race was a first-time event and happened to be in the town our oldest son and family now live. So, I could spend the weekend with them and run...a nice combo. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I ran a 12 hour race last June and enjoyed it. I had a modified strategy based on what I learned and </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I was keen to see how it would work. A simple plan...do a run/walk sequence of run a minute, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">walk a minute and see just how long I could maintain that pattern. I gave myself permission as well </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">to “recover while moving” which is a fancy way of saying “walk more if you need to”. </span></p><div><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVThLlJ6V3o_UXqblPR90MWpIdW5S_6y7Kek_3K5DJ_DBUR5pOWRHS2MXhoV99Q0UZbyjLeGQWntzKNKnpO4rKi2GqqjNrs1QPZBZtDhL09rvsun8WmSbS6KGlVY2GlDI_8hdh/s4032/20210410_071731.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVThLlJ6V3o_UXqblPR90MWpIdW5S_6y7Kek_3K5DJ_DBUR5pOWRHS2MXhoV99Q0UZbyjLeGQWntzKNKnpO4rKi2GqqjNrs1QPZBZtDhL09rvsun8WmSbS6KGlVY2GlDI_8hdh/w400-h300/20210410_071731.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The course was a 1 km loop in a new city park on Evansville’s east side. Yes, 1,000m...so round </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and round we went. I backed my car into a spot right next to the course and had all my fluids, PB&J, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">oatmeal/raisin cookies, Sun Chips, nine shirts, four pairs of socks and two types of jackets stowed there. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> And I needed most of that pile. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikv_eHebYLDMMwN2Z4amhCcrjoXUc5L8cRQd87z1JxgDKN1tunGNK88XpFQnqFgsn-FNpj0AMZtXdvjrVORDS4MN2lZqxfUEjgCA4n8kjk3yJJnDMWavpS_EpCh1i7by3BvxTa/s4032/20210410_073940.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikv_eHebYLDMMwN2Z4amhCcrjoXUc5L8cRQd87z1JxgDKN1tunGNK88XpFQnqFgsn-FNpj0AMZtXdvjrVORDS4MN2lZqxfUEjgCA4n8kjk3yJJnDMWavpS_EpCh1i7by3BvxTa/w400-h300/20210410_073940.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We started on schedule at 8am. 123 people paid registration fees for the three time frames offered </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">(3 hour, 6 hour and 12 hour). Only 71 people showed up and started, 53 of whom ran the 12 hour event. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Weather was quite the factor on this day. It was cool and cloudy most of the day with temperatures in the mid 50s. Being a new park with no large trees on a high spot, it caught all the wind...it steadily pounded us between 15 and 25mph all day. It drizzled much of the morning, a light but steady moistness. It dried off from about noon until 4pm, when we had a 20 minute heavy downpour and then the temperatures dropped into the mid 40s by the end...still windy. The wind was relentless and became wearisome over the course of 12 hours. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMZFP4qHV9BaSn8GAmYaNwt5tuXFtnvh-s-2iqGXpGFenUvh_Yqb-HFti7KohOhYD97SUy3_1wcVenAYhU4qFR0c5_qQV06663RvybvxzkLQAGamBH113ukbcpj-sAkT6cQIf/s4032/20210410_110159.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMZFP4qHV9BaSn8GAmYaNwt5tuXFtnvh-s-2iqGXpGFenUvh_Yqb-HFti7KohOhYD97SUy3_1wcVenAYhU4qFR0c5_qQV06663RvybvxzkLQAGamBH113ukbcpj-sAkT6cQIf/w300-h400/20210410_110159.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The run/walk strategy worked quite well for nine hours. I was comfortable and kept steady mile splits of around 11:30/mile through mile 21. Miles 22 to 37 were around 12:20/mile. From mile 38, it was more walking than running and the pace was from 14:30 to 15:30. I hit major distance marks, with the half-marathon in 2:38, Marathon in 5:27 and 50K in 6:34.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the midst, it was a treat when our son, wife, her dad and all three of their kids came out to watch me run for a while mid-afternoon...they managed to arrive during the most lovely 30 minutes of weather we had all day...fun to see them and sense their real encouragement! </span></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br /></div><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxCADYEGsOwgMDXy_6uDRJlCM-KyMIk8QN2I2Cm5mnIvw2nBWxcMLDLSGj98tsgyuGbb28reJkdsELx7PBURioZPCqKnkug_-vAUCx_ddwvY6seUbGmhT79kvr976wIsDPCch/s2044/20210410_160656.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Tinos; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2044" data-original-width="1887" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifxCADYEGsOwgMDXy_6uDRJlCM-KyMIk8QN2I2Cm5mnIvw2nBWxcMLDLSGj98tsgyuGbb28reJkdsELx7PBURioZPCqKnkug_-vAUCx_ddwvY6seUbGmhT79kvr976wIsDPCch/w369-h400/20210410_160656.jpg" width="369" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Somewhere around mile 46, near the 11 hour mark, 7pm, I felt fully depleted </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">for the first time all day</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I had really wanted to NOT stop at all but rather to keep moving for the entire 12 hours But the wind kept pounding and so I stopped for about 15 minutes, sat in my car out of the wind and collected my thoughts. I was pretty close to done but I really wanted to get in 48 miles. So I got back out and mostly walked for another couple of miles and when my Garmin hit 48, I finished that lap and called it quits, at about 11 hours and 25 minutes with 48.1 miles. In retrospect, I could have continued to walk for another 35 minutes but my mind was really done with it and I wanted to head back and see my family. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Results showed I finished 15th out of the 53 12-hour starters. I was very pleased with that position. Identical, proportionally, to my finish in the 12 hour race i ran last June.The top three men ran 73.6, 66.8 and 65.7 miles respectively. Those guys just never quit running. The top three women ran 51.1, 49.4 and 47.1 miles. It was impressive to be with all these amazing athletes Only about 20 of us were still present on the course for the final hour.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Results of the Experiment</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, class, what did we learn here? Since January, I had been seriously toying with the idea of entering a 100 mile race this coming autumn...there are several I can get to easily. So, I needed to see just how I would do, on tired legs, through 12 hours. Would I feel good enough to realistically think I could repeat it again, all night, in the dark, to get 100 miles done?? I had to try. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">And the answer is, no, that’s not realistic. And I’m fine with that. Because the answer is also, yes, on tired legs I can go 50 miles. And that’s nothing to sneeze at. All useful. Class dismissed. </span></p><p><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Thanks for listening!</span></p><p><br /><br /></p>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-17710114007051915212021-02-17T12:54:00.001-05:002021-02-17T18:20:15.827-05:00Race Report: Groundhog Day Marathon 2021<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">ORN: 26.2 miles, 5:48:11, 13:17/mile; R/W 3/1; 74th of 97 finishers overall, 1st of 2 in Men 65-69. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-8a61cc30-7fff-02c0-a6c9-0ba5467fc652"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u>Summary</u></b></span></p><div><br /></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://runsignup.com/Race/MI/Walker/GroundhogsDay">Groundhog Day Marathon,</a> Feb 7, 2021</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's no surprise Grand Rapids, Michigan has heavy snow and cold temps in early February; this described conditions for this six-lap marathon. Tough, powdery footing effectively turned it into a trail race. What WAS surprising was that decent layers allowed it to be surprisingly comfortable and a marathon in the snow was an enjoyable long run. </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u>A few details</u></b></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I ran this race for <a href="https://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2020/02/race-report-groundhog-day-marathon-2020.html" target="_blank">the first time in 2020,</a> which turned out to be the last big race we’d have for quite some time amidst the Covid pandemic. So, I decided to have a go again in 2021, wanting to get in some racing after so many cancellations. Running buddy Jon and I also had our first road trip in over a year; that alone was worth the trip. We drove up on Friday, got our bibs and slept reasonably well. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This race commemorates not so much Punxsutawney meteorological prognostication as it does the movie by the same name. The theme of the same thing, repeating, captured what the RD felt about running six equal-length laps for a full marathon. For me, I thought, “Only SIX laps? How stimulating!” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The course is in a city park along the main river of the city of Grand Rapids, conveniently named the “Grand River”. The first two miles are quite flat, directly above the river bank. The course then loops meanderingly over a few rises and dips for 2.4 miles back to the start/finish line. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is relevant since GR had had at least a foot of snow in the few days ahead of the race. And the parks do not plow the portion of the trail along the river, preserving it for cross country ski activities. Thus, the first two miles of each loop was running in a narrow, single-track path based on the footfalls of runners ahead of me. This improved for about a mile and a half of the loop back to the start/finish but then got more complex again as the final portion was in a windy spot that continued to drift from the 15mph west winds that picked up as the race went on. The entire course was thus run on 100% snow pack...it just varied a bit as to how deep and fluffy that pack was. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3Pnk0EgPvJpDdOQVMtV8UCvwT8_8uiRdJNjrKNutiGUXqwBsANH6Cj00HAuLQ2eR64XjcYYq7fX56TLfwUn4SnTuO4DzPcaHI1HoRC3Yc8Pl6qo1Sgc4-mAf1POqzYe5soYv/s960/Bridge+at+Groundhog+2021+snowplow.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3Pnk0EgPvJpDdOQVMtV8UCvwT8_8uiRdJNjrKNutiGUXqwBsANH6Cj00HAuLQ2eR64XjcYYq7fX56TLfwUn4SnTuO4DzPcaHI1HoRC3Yc8Pl6qo1Sgc4-mAf1POqzYe5soYv/w400-h300/Bridge+at+Groundhog+2021+snowplow.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The RD did a good job to allow the race to happen and still encourage social distancing. He communicated a lot with us and opened the start mats at 7:00am and allowed people to start anytime they wanted between 7 and 8am. Jon and I decided to start around the time we had daylight, 7:25am. The hardest part of the entire day was choosing to get out of the warm car into the windy, cloudy, dark 12F and start running.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0ymgdmWeId2n6Akn_REc2cyjMPDIRnQpjy1QGjBeiNjIGA9OqnozieqfZTK5qzeB3ijvhwSQotqZJ0QxkYkdzb7fFoSpYXP94MgogG40FGy8JwKJjBOjjELEBqaNQ9OUFbS2/s1600/634307963.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0ymgdmWeId2n6Akn_REc2cyjMPDIRnQpjy1QGjBeiNjIGA9OqnozieqfZTK5qzeB3ijvhwSQotqZJ0QxkYkdzb7fFoSpYXP94MgogG40FGy8JwKJjBOjjELEBqaNQ9OUFbS2/s320/634307963.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Off we went, though, Jon doing the HM and me the full. We wished each other well and took off. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wore my trusty <a href="https://youtu.be/7637m8hXuW0" target="_blank">"screw shoes"</a> and was really glad I did...that extra traction helped a lot, particularly where the snow was packed. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTN1Ik9DCMthuTRbUgwvAfeZ0-o6H1t4XViozizArau_rhC7XSTEs6x1_r2fwHYlBzZJktbk-Nd8O9qHbRmsScyvWla-KgJZdu2PKZtz5wCKZJP-89u32hHmOoljaQuzcIsJ65/s960/Start+Finish+Line+2021+Groundhog.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTN1Ik9DCMthuTRbUgwvAfeZ0-o6H1t4XViozizArau_rhC7XSTEs6x1_r2fwHYlBzZJktbk-Nd8O9qHbRmsScyvWla-KgJZdu2PKZtz5wCKZJP-89u32hHmOoljaQuzcIsJ65/s320/Start+Finish+Line+2021+Groundhog.jpg" /></a></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I immediately discovered the depth and bad footing of the deep portion of the path along the river. By a mile or so into the course, it was clear to me it would be best to regard this as a trail race, not a road race...the footing was everything we find on a trail event, as each step landed differently and you had to watch carefully to avoid doing a very cold face plant. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6qu-wxiLUKF6ALI_JRglhapDys3w9R0ZUMVd364eoMGNvUlSHy9nTvk7tGg0V7CV5ksZr9moy-ZVC5ou7UkDnv_zWchjvkNf2OOW0tcygppi_CLi2O6_si56bpWgPwyaYaJS/s2048/20210206_075903.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz6qu-wxiLUKF6ALI_JRglhapDys3w9R0ZUMVd364eoMGNvUlSHy9nTvk7tGg0V7CV5ksZr9moy-ZVC5ou7UkDnv_zWchjvkNf2OOW0tcygppi_CLi2O6_si56bpWgPwyaYaJS/w400-h300/20210206_075903.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, I modified my expectations, dialed back to a 3/1 run/walk and realized the day’s objective was to finish, enjoy it and avoid injury. Many of the portions of the wooded section were very pretty, with snow clinging to every twig. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ps1oSzUeJGPfoYRyxPiRwFlFAzMLYexrMey95iJbGuayPEAZYLub5SPQGX-LUOX1tyOOb3UOV0XafKm9hMv1nIdh4iOputxxFWiy-rEc1_i4tgGl4mktrz2jI1jBureIKpKD/s2048/20210206_090712.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ps1oSzUeJGPfoYRyxPiRwFlFAzMLYexrMey95iJbGuayPEAZYLub5SPQGX-LUOX1tyOOb3UOV0XafKm9hMv1nIdh4iOputxxFWiy-rEc1_i4tgGl4mktrz2jI1jBureIKpKD/w400-h300/20210206_090712.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And that’s pretty much the way the marathon went. Not much exciting to describe...just lap after lap. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLRXzlWzTsNvueUt4na8BW679kO5oxIp6h0JBFGqP2lZE1FZG8UnMzSrrYSXl2VdLrsjcb-HBjzOubcYRXYI-2aIhx1jmHKQ73ee2cL-D9X-3Vx0wvkIjBxzCbSNsrKiaFK5O/s1440/Snowy+view+of+Mile+4+groundhog+2021.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLRXzlWzTsNvueUt4na8BW679kO5oxIp6h0JBFGqP2lZE1FZG8UnMzSrrYSXl2VdLrsjcb-HBjzOubcYRXYI-2aIhx1jmHKQ73ee2cL-D9X-3Vx0wvkIjBxzCbSNsrKiaFK5O/w400-h300/Snowy+view+of+Mile+4+groundhog+2021.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was pleased to eventually get my lap times...they were consistent through the first four and at least the last two were equal, meaning I was steady from mile 18 to 26.2. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Laps/Pace (~4.4 miles/lap)</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1 54:32, 12:29/mile</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 56:25, 12:55/mile</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3 56:56, 13:02/mile</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4 57:30, 13:10/mile</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5 1:01:24, 14:03/mile</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6 1:01:23, 14:03/mile</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Much slower than a year ago but such were the conditions. "Run the best race conditions allow"...it still holds. </span> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSLKX5WF6IZKbZs10Pg5pCOW9tv9giJ4YK5z_W1n5JEr67pgIdS-aKQtFcz_iQmvOzIDZry1bHjlFF6Wf14Y5uWVSIe6aNxmYEmDYv4sZHG2CwOIY9Qe0DDdlHQiGqScMxRBE/s2048/20210206_085513.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSLKX5WF6IZKbZs10Pg5pCOW9tv9giJ4YK5z_W1n5JEr67pgIdS-aKQtFcz_iQmvOzIDZry1bHjlFF6Wf14Y5uWVSIe6aNxmYEmDYv4sZHG2CwOIY9Qe0DDdlHQiGqScMxRBE/s320/20210206_085513.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jon had the car well warmed up and we headed home right after I finished. I felt fine, not having the stiffness I usually feel after sitting the car ride home from a race. I’m not sure why, as the footing was so uneven. But I’ll take it. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Three running hacks were of minor note but I’ll mention here:</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>Cookies</u>: At the HUFF 50K, I noted how helpful a couple of oatmeal raisin cookies were to chow down during the event. So, I tried that again, making a tasty bunch of large, chewy cookies to eat rather than some gel. Winner...I ate one or two each lap and it was great fuel. I’ll keep doing this at races where I can stash them along the way. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>Running vest</u>; For years, I’ve tried to get a good system for carrying water while running. I’ve had several belt systems but I didn’t like the way they sat so heavy around my waist. I got a running vest with a water bladder but, man, that takes a lot of energy to such the water out of the bladder and, besides, it was only water you can put in a bladder. But, it occurred to me, I could still use the vest without the bladder and carry water in the front pockets. Boom...worked great at Groundhog. Made up my favorite electrolyte, put it in an 16oz soda bottle and that was all I needed...the weight was negligible on my shoulders and it was wonderful. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>The Cooler becomes a Heater:</u> With the lap format, I knew I could set up my own aid station. But how to keep fluids from freezing in the upper teens? I turned my small cooler into a “heater” by using no ice and tossing in a couple of hand warmers to raise the temp above freezing. Worked perfectly. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, that’s it. Don Kern and his crew do a great job organizing fun racing in the Grand Rapids area and we're all the better for their efforts. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks for reading</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-qAOaAcH8BBJl9PHyyWPPP7HmYiU7nviOE88pB4R3EdqjptUQCM8BGUatKCJd333c24BZN8Sg90h4YtFxFMEK3TwHw2SiMJdtvVQIn2g1B9BS7U86Hk3ieIxchg63GnRnHlL/s2048/20210207_082314.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-qAOaAcH8BBJl9PHyyWPPP7HmYiU7nviOE88pB4R3EdqjptUQCM8BGUatKCJd333c24BZN8Sg90h4YtFxFMEK3TwHw2SiMJdtvVQIn2g1B9BS7U86Hk3ieIxchg63GnRnHlL/w300-h400/20210207_082314.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Persevere.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-40737097613864123692020-12-31T15:19:00.011-05:002021-01-01T15:41:04.672-05:002020 Year in Review<p>My running for the 2020 reflected the general difficulty of this strangest of years. Then, I had an ill-fated experiment during August and September when I refereed High School soccer, seeking to replicate that role I held through the 80s and 90s. I had a bad hamstring and a minor quad injury in just a few weeks on the pitch and through the entire experience, I realized how much I missed distance running. So, no more yellow cards or whistles. Here's what the 52 week totals looked like....never consistently over even 30 miles per week. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOiK0PcIl6qk4ltp5IAz7JqvBTLVERHQPTu1LCGolTKwIcpvQ7f6mumUBEtqinSfB07_sGD-LdTwzl5yVRRYL2l-jMa5O3ZFPJeuw6buCbom1StIPaDxjgubbj1mczeTiXcTQy/s600/weeklymiles2020.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="600" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOiK0PcIl6qk4ltp5IAz7JqvBTLVERHQPTu1LCGolTKwIcpvQ7f6mumUBEtqinSfB07_sGD-LdTwzl5yVRRYL2l-jMa5O3ZFPJeuw6buCbom1StIPaDxjgubbj1mczeTiXcTQy/w400-h234/weeklymiles2020.png" width="400" /></a></p><p>This of course meant my annual mileage dropped off, the lowest since 2013. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0ZO9HPzH1CuoWix1r4-L3pOjQIRPx8d9a5WgMvSgvL_luasrlcK7kbT63LMBMXSb389qfeezNC0gZkoz_wpo9BusImWjuQYQXEIkHwzEKJmd2j5UbirBScpMyhK7Qmip55JQ/s600/annualmiles04to20.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="600" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0ZO9HPzH1CuoWix1r4-L3pOjQIRPx8d9a5WgMvSgvL_luasrlcK7kbT63LMBMXSb389qfeezNC0gZkoz_wpo9BusImWjuQYQXEIkHwzEKJmd2j5UbirBScpMyhK7Qmip55JQ/w400-h234/annualmiles04to20.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Races were few in 2020...my log shows only seven events...seven!! I typically run twenty or more each year. Such was the 2020, though and our necessary isolation. Three stand out...Ground Hog's Day Marathon on February 6, before we entered lockdown (and I won my AG), my first ever 12-Hour race in June, which I really enjoyed, covering 48 miles and then The HUFF at years end managed to happen, my tenth consecutive HUFF. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A lot happened personally over the year, most notably my long-planned retirement, today!! Wrapped up a career in manufacturing management and I've been very blessed. We will remain living here in Indiana (I never really wanted to move to Boca Raton...) and now I can do my training runs at any time of day I choose!! I will establish new routines and reflect on new purposes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Persevere...into the new year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-71973730892340609202020-12-20T20:48:00.023-05:002020-12-25T21:18:35.646-05:00Race Report: HUFF 50K Trail Race-2020<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">ORN: 50K, 7:09:29, 13:50/mile, R/W 4/1, 2/1; mid 30s, cloudy; 123rd of 163 finishers overall; 7th of 13 M60-69; lifetime marathon/ultra #94</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-72d411a3-7fff-64c7-b0ba-cbdaf4e4d4b5"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u>Summary:</u></b></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Around mile 10, a fellow runner who had also run HUFF numerous times captured the race and the day: “Each year the course is the same; each year the race is entirely different; you have to always adjust.” </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes...that’s the story of what has become a highlight of my running year. In my tenth start and ninth HUFF finish, each run depends on weather, surface, wind and preparation, making it a “new” event every December. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This year’s race was just tough for me...the first 15.5 mile lap had no rhythm and much malaise; the second lap was an exercise in endurance. It was not a good run. No glory, no breakthroughs, no drama. Perhaps, more empathy. One comic situation; one running hack; but otherwise, just a long, hard run.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u>Gory Details:</u></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><u>Lap One</u></i></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The HUFF 50K course is two trips around a 15.5 mile route winding over and through the scenic Chain O Lakes State Park in NE Indiana, near Fort Wayne. I felt ready and positive going into the event, almost pumped since we’ve had so few races this year. Yet, the early going was anything but smooth. I couldn’t find a groove, felt tight and generally clunky. It was a full six miles before I even felt warmed up; yet even then, it was work...not the enjoyable run in the woods I had hoped.. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Around mile 11, I felt an unfortunately familiar twinge in my left ankle. This has come and gone since mid October in training runs. I was wearing an elastic ankle brace over my sock which had helped before but the twinge returned. Feeling poorly, with an ankle twinge, I figured I’d drop out at the halfway point and live to fight another day. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This triggered two imaginary conversations in the four miles from the twinge to the end of Lap One. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first was with my work colleague and experienced competitive runner Mike. We’ve had many real discussions on race-day adjustments and I tapped into what I thought he’d say in this. His core quote: “Joe, it’s not a capital crime to just have a bad race. But quitting if you are not injured is bogus. Let’s make adjustments.” This conversation got me out of myself, giving me a mechanism instead to look at myself from the outside in. Many words followed in this chat with Mike, analyzing my condition from the soles of my feet to top of my head. We agreed on three adjustments with a specific place to assess them: </span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Remove my ankle brace to see if it was my ankle or the brace causing the problem</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Swap my knit cap for a baseball cap to cool off a bit in the mid 30s temps</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grab two bananas</span></p></li><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then, run four miles to the first aid station, where, if it appeared I was risking injury, the course layout allowed a short walk back to my car. </span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All very logical (Mike is a fellow engineer, mind you). Yet emotionally, I still wanted to bail. I can’t recall ever wanting to drop out of a race as much as I was at this running of HUFF. The logical argument alone couldn’t compete with my discouragement. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thus, the second conversation, this just with myself. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While I ran Lap One, I mentally scrolled through a too-long list of family and friends in a variety of tough settings. Recent Christmas cards only added to this list of concerns. Most were situations with little path forward other than just carrying on. Tomorrow would look much like today. Nothing was going to change rapidly; positive outcomes didn’t appear near or even likely. They were just in hard places. I ached for these people whom I knew well and cared about. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And it hit me in a strange way: symbolically, the rest of HUFF was, for me, no different. It wasn’t going to be a glorious race with a new PR or an age group award. No one would notice if I carried on or not. I would be alone the entire second lap. It was cloudy and the course was getting wet and muddy. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, if for no other reason than to identify with these people I love, I realized I needed to reload and get out and run the second lap. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><u>Lap Two:</u></i></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A covid-induced course change allowed me to come within 30m of my car as I concluded the first lap. I had laid out various supplies beforehand, so went to my car with a settled plan in mind and went to work. I opened a banana and started eating while I pulled off my ankle brace, reset the laces on my left shoe, ditched the MP3 player and ear buds, swapped my knit cap for a lighter cap with a bill, drank a large amount of water with electrolyte and even shoveled down a homemade oatmeal-raisin cookie. I grabbed a second banana to eat on the course, closed up the car and headed out with a new perspective. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Back on the course, I was completely alone, listening only to my footfall and curious as to how this would go. I slowed from a 4/1 run/walk to a 2/1. Two miles in, I noticed my ankle felt a little better...it seemed the abrasion of the brace was worse than any actual ankle discomfort. By the time I hit the first aid station, I realized I was on for the rest of the loop. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And that’s how it went the rest of the second lap. I never did really feel all that great and never felt smooth. One of the great joys of trail running is the sense of “gliding” through the woods, up and down the hills, splashing across creeks and mud holes. None of that happened at HUFF this year. What did happen though was 3+ hours to reflect on the particular concerns of these many people, offering prayers for each of them, making decisions on specific things I might do for each of them to help, a little. Just one stride after another, keeping moving, however slowly. In doing so, I sought to empathize in a small way with each of these dear ones who were also slogging through far more crucial experiences. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With about a mile and a half to go, I was jolted out of my private thoughts when I saw my local running pal and work colleague Michelle about a hundred meters ahead of me. I was stunned to see her. We drove separately to the race but we did meet up and talk in the starting grid. She’s had a strong fall of training and racing, is way faster than me and I fully expected she’d be half-way home by the time I crossed the finish line. She was walking, fighting an undetermined leg tightness. So, I walked with her quite a ways...it was nice to talk with a friend, though it hurt to see her hurt. With about a half mile to go, she urged me to run to the finish but I told her I’d wait at the finish. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Around the lake, up the hill and across the finish line it was. Michelle shortly finished. No trumpets or fireworks for either of us but we finished the race. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lBOi01GiPmaZeVp0UXXkEhR3m7m28TuN7etQQSLxYf9CkwXsi_CTMQTIS1tGHekDbpnv_CQzQNCnHb7kJYc484gfeXsEhbJBW1geqKad27NBh6hBEFTz_0Psk-YESx2Li_K2/s2048/20201219_152227.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lBOi01GiPmaZeVp0UXXkEhR3m7m28TuN7etQQSLxYf9CkwXsi_CTMQTIS1tGHekDbpnv_CQzQNCnHb7kJYc484gfeXsEhbJBW1geqKad27NBh6hBEFTz_0Psk-YESx2Li_K2/s2048/20201219_152227.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lBOi01GiPmaZeVp0UXXkEhR3m7m28TuN7etQQSLxYf9CkwXsi_CTMQTIS1tGHekDbpnv_CQzQNCnHb7kJYc484gfeXsEhbJBW1geqKad27NBh6hBEFTz_0Psk-YESx2Li_K2/w400-h300/20201219_152227.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u><b>Other Race Stories</b></u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u><i><br /></i></u></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><u><i>The Comic Moment:</i></u></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The silliest part of my HUFF experience this year was me thinking I could actually sleep in my car parked near the start. Ha!!!! While I certainly got a primo parking spot by showing up at 8pm the night before the race, I didn’t sleep. Had my inflatable car bed remained inflated, it might have helped but neither the back of my SUV nor the driver’s seat, fully reclined, was an adequate bed. I may have slept between 11pm and 3am but even that’s not sure. Here I was, optimistic, before I tried to rest. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_w0kka7l5Uo6tah4d-D09I6KyO7yfN41IsVMj94GYsx23nodN1LeyKaPC26ubEUO-DFTLP3BwwXZbvNSsKWZiacVvF8uOexSmV_Pcmh9f8asinY0WNNam3_-IpHK8i4Qcuhy/s2048/20201218_201240.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_w0kka7l5Uo6tah4d-D09I6KyO7yfN41IsVMj94GYsx23nodN1LeyKaPC26ubEUO-DFTLP3BwwXZbvNSsKWZiacVvF8uOexSmV_Pcmh9f8asinY0WNNam3_-IpHK8i4Qcuhy/w400-h300/20201218_201240.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><u>The Running Hydration Hack;</u></i></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nerd moment here, but those who know me will not find it surprising. I knew I’d need to stay hydrated during HUFF yet I really didn’t want to carry a hydration pack and I did want to use my preferred electrolyte drink. Plus, aid stations were understandably “light” and thus I needed to be responsible for myself. My hack took shape when I looked closely at the course map and realized it crossed the main road into the park twice, roughly dividing the course into thirds. So, as I drove into the park the night before the race (excited to sleep in my car...oy...), I stopped at each of the crossings and found a hidden spot to stash a 20oz bottle of fluid. Worked perfectly the next day, as I could reload my 10oz water bottle I carried twice on each lap and stay well hydrated. And, on the way out after the race, I picked up both now-empty bottles, leaving nothing behind. The things I get a charge out of....</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><u>HUFF History</u></i></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I went back and listed all my times for HUFF...Clearly “Each year the course is the same; each year the race is entirely different; you have to always adjust.” </span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2011 7:33:44 High Water year <a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2011/12/race-report-huff-50k-trail-race-2011.html">link</a> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2012 6:36:49 <a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2012/12/race-report-huff-50k-trail-race-2012.html">link</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2013 6:32:01 <a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2013/12/race-report-huff-50k-2013.html">link</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2014 6:19:28 <a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2014/12/race-report-huff-50k-trail-run-2014.html">link</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2015 5:59:51 Course and 50K PR <a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2015/12/race-report-huff-50k-trail-run-2015.html">link</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2016 7:23:12 <a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2016/12/race-report-huff-50k-trail-race-2016.html">link</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2017 DNF...ran one lap only in near blizzard (and didn't write a report)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2018 6:46:46 <a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2016/12/race-report-huff-50k-trail-race-2016.html">link</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2019 6:25:42 Best running conditions <a href="http://runwithperseverance.blogspot.com/2019/12/race-report-huff-50k-trail-race-2019.html">link</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2020 7:09:29</span></p><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks for reading!! </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Persevere. </span></p><br /><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-37902738446247310112020-07-19T17:04:00.001-04:002020-07-19T18:19:47.873-04:00Race Report: Eight Hour Endurance Race-2020<b>Summary</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">: 26.2 miles, 7:32:27...my slowest marathon ever. Weather: sunny, 95F, humidity 84%, brutal. 65th of 94 men. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">I managed to run the full marathon distance on Saturday in just plain brutal heat and humidity. It baked and was muggy and awful. Thus, the race was not about “racing” but rather “how long can you survive and keep moving.” And so I got 26.2 miles done and also logged the slowest marathon of the now 93 marathons/ultras I’ve finished. </span><br />
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<b>Gory Details:</b><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The event went from 10am to 6pm...the person covering the most miles wins. I’ve run it the past four years and learned the key to success in the event is staying out on the course and moving, rather than sitting and recovering. Knowing that and doing that are two different things, however, which was painfully obvious on Saturday. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The course had two options from the same starting point...a long loop of 5K and a short loop of 1.89 miles. Timing mats automatically counted which loop you ran and there are differing strategies based on shade, hills and temperament. That’s if you want to win. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">A brutal, single track trail included on both loops ...super steep, in the woods with little air. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><img alt="" height="400" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/109199457_10157262058112826_831043734083391375_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=7ZrXLLb0eZgAX_qyMJM&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=46d6fa2fdd7bf2dfe208b9510f81c604&oe=5F39A755" width="533" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">For me, it was just about staying out on the course. Here's a more typical portion:</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><img alt="" height="533" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/109289876_10157262057822826_3619796684205016605_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=fJMx7HPP83wAX-iya9_&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=d02adb5b4051a5c0c4181426173b5f7d&oe=5F3A750A" width="400" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">And regularly, just couldn’t. I had to stop and rest, get the HR down, reload fluids and ice. My running buddy Jon and I went together and set up our base camp underneath a shade tree just past the start/finish line</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><img alt="" height="400" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/115803157_10157262058247826_1123080976619457607_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=JrRLBaQ5-kQAX_EtaW6&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=1ba2d74e29f34dfee90b248ece5b319f&oe=5F392058" width="533" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Our set up</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><img alt="" height="400" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/114714067_10157262058312826_4881161893896103771_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=oMiyUkJF_-kAX8WTLI3&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=37a81fddf9119981fd7e45d61761e635&oe=5F3C3083" width="533" /></span><br />
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My ice chest. The Mountain Dew 2L bottle was just a container for electrolyte drink, not The Dew. Before you ask...<br />
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<img alt="" height="400" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/108943769_10157262058182826_834948427841168535_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=v2MF4KfR4o4AX_mF9x5&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=2ee3965141c45a47d98de92a9f5f2d21&oe=5F39F138" width="533" /><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">So I landed back in my chair after each of my laps...even though previous experience told me I needed to just keep moving...I just couldn’t. It wasn’t smart. So, the 8 hours progressed like that...do a lap, sit and recover, go do it again. I used a run/walk from the start...a 2/1 early and then a 1/1 for quite a while and then mostly walk for the final lap that got me to 26.2. Not much to write about, in reality...it was just a grind and I managed to grind out a marathon distance. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">We did get some rewards...all who covered a full marathon got was was touted as a “Trucker’s Hat”. When I got mine, I wasn’t quite sure what made this generic-looking head covering a “Trucker’s Hat” but, hey, that’s what they called it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><img alt="" height="533" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/109575757_10157262144417826_588166298158669760_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=rIaBgAS_4RAAX-66VHP&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=828929abe5792c8cfcaf620dbda66554&oe=5F396668" width="400" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The belt-buckle was nice though, big and with excellent detail. If you look closely, our base camp was underneath the tree in the foreground of the buckle. My problem now is I have way more belt buckles than I do belts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><img alt="" height="400" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/115740752_10157262144687826_8058270969227472078_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=9pHDvvCWNcUAX_ZZKlK&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=08f3e035b820d78e04a9f9a5c660117b&oe=5F3B3669" width="533" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">While I struggled mightily, others did not. The overall race winner was a 19 year-old female who covered 47.3 miles. She beat the men’s winner by a mile and a half. And the second place man was a 50 year old guy who had his base camp right next to ours. I saw him blow through regularly while I was recovering. And Jon did well...he has been fighting injuries for about two years and managed 20 full miles, a massive step forward for him. We had a good trip home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">There you have it. If I wasn’t so stubborn and didn’t like running so much, I would not have done such a crazy thing. But I did. And I was still sincerely smiling after it all with the </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Butler University Mascot:</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><img alt="" height="400" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/115735229_10157262057752826_1250707568348559547_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=mS5_ismmiq8AX_8QNEy&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=662ea1648a52251e69d29f1ab54934bf&oe=5F3C2E57" width="533" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Thanks for reading. And stay cool as you persevere.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span><br />
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<br />Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-30982513223523884452020-06-14T15:42:00.000-04:002020-06-16T18:08:47.495-04:00Race Report: Royal Beast 12 Hour Endurance Run 2020<b>Quick Summary: </b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> 12 hours, 48.3 miles, 2/1, then 1/1 R/W</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Coming out of the Covid-19 induced cancellation of so many races, it was fun to finally take part in an event again, even though the event was substantially reduced in footprint at the last minute. This was my first-ever 12 hour endurance run, setting a new PR for the longest time I've ever ran. It went well and I was pleased with the outcome. Here’s how it went.</span><br />
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The statistics...how far I went each hour and the important distance times:<br />
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<b><u>Hour </u></b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><b><u>Total Mileage </u></b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span><b><u> Segment Mileage</u></b><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">1</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">5.2</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">5.2</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">2</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">10.3</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">5.1</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">3</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">15.3</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">5.0</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">4</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">20.1</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">4.8</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">5</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">24.8</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">4.7</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">6</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">29.2</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">4.4</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">7</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">32.5</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">3.3</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">8</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">34.7</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">2.2</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">9</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">38.5</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">3.9</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">10</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">41.9</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">3.4</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">11</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">43.8</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">1.9</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">12</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">48.3</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">4.5</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Half Marathon: 2:33:21</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Marathon: 5:19:39 </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">50K:</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;"> 6:29:08</span><br />
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48 solo runners started the race. I was the oldest runner in the field. Amazingly, I placed 7th of the 48, was 1st of 3 in the men 60-69 AG and the oldest person ahead of me was 46 years old, who placed 5th. The race was won, outright, by a 33 year old female.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The numbers tell the story. And, in 12 hours of running, 7am to 7pm, much goes through my mind. I’ll spare you most of it. The day came down to two adjustments, though</span><br />
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<b>Gory Details:</b><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The race took place at <a href="http://funfinder.indy.gov/#/details/27">Southeastway Park</a>, a hidden gem SE of Indy. About 200 acres totally surrounded by flat, plain cornfields, this mature, well-planned and tended public park emerges....thousands of lush trees, open space, many picnic areas, three large, modern playgrounds, all tastefully tied together by a series of hard-surface, all-season walking paths. It was scenic and wonderful...in the middle of nowhere. Our race utilized a 1.93 mile loop along the perimeter of the park. It was a great setting for a race. I got there early and backed my car up to the path near the start/finish line. This worked perfectly to grab food and fluids as the day progressed every couple of miles.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6J4ZM54krqpk1pztNwtlDcg3NBr5yzcAxz82s0ZKfroIo3xmCif8rbitUGJCQhkFO4Ibxr8QSg0Z1R6LRcxZgOjr0KAWHsqnyTzsjuRMSI9TNy1J5F_hP7u1SM_eWa-xyxZBI/s1600/103894796_10157163701977826_8731842053356092796_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6J4ZM54krqpk1pztNwtlDcg3NBr5yzcAxz82s0ZKfroIo3xmCif8rbitUGJCQhkFO4Ibxr8QSg0Z1R6LRcxZgOjr0KAWHsqnyTzsjuRMSI9TNy1J5F_hP7u1SM_eWa-xyxZBI/s400/103894796_10157163701977826_8731842053356092796_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The first 50K went quite uneventfully and enjoyably. From the start, I did a 2/1 run/walk pattern, carried 10oz of fluids which I drank and then reloaded every lap and just settled in. No problem...just keep going and I hit the marks you see above. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">After getting through the 50K mark though, the wheels started to come off. I started cramping below the knees, not only the usual calf muscle culprits but my left foot and the tiny muscles running along the shin. Yikes. I was not yet to 7 hours and I really wanted to keep going but was not going to in that condition. I racked my brain for similar situations in the past and recalled the seemingly miraculous properties of chocolate milk, which I had in my car. But I’d never drank milk DURING a race, only afterwards. Would it work? I had nothing to lose. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">So, just after the 7 hour mark (2pm), I took a break. I got the cooler from my car and my food bag, found a nearby shelter with a picnic table in the shade with a pleasant breeze blowing through. I sat down (wondering if I could get up again) and, in 15 minutes, drank 20 oz of chocolate mile, a 20oz bottle of Diet Coke (the cold and fizz tasted really good), ate a full PB&J sandwich I had packed, changed into dry socks and donned compression sleeves over my calves. I could feel my heart rate come down, my core temp lower and a renewed sense of normal. I packed up and got back on the run, wondering what would happen. Amazingly, I was back to near normal. I logged only 2.2 miles that segment, as I had sat 15 minutes. But I bounced back and was moving, cramp free, feeling new again. I shifted back to a 1/1 run/walk at this point and continued in that way to the end. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">(Note: I named my compression socks "Alan Greenspan" years ago...but that's a story for another day. "Alan" was good to me yesterday, though)</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The second adjustment happened 3 hours later, just after the 10 hour mark (5pm). While I was still moving comfortably, a real sense of fatigue hit. No cramping or pain but the energy was gone. I decided I needed to rest a bit more, as the core temp was creeping up. Once more, I grabbed what I had planned as my post-race cooler and downed a second round of chocolate milk and Diet Coke, this time with half a PB&J and a whole bunch of salty tortilla chips. Again, the time seated in the shade, refueling and reorienting really helped. I took almost 25 minutes this time, as it had become evident it was more important to finish strong than chase down a fading hope of covering 50 miles. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">It seemed to work...while I only covered 1.9 miles in that segment since I sat so long, my final hour on the course was worth 4.5 miles, even at the 1/1 run/walk. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">As the time wound down, I crossed the start/stop line with 11 minutes to go, not early enough time to do another full 2 mile lap. But I didn’t want to stop, keen to see just how far I could go in 12 full hours. So I pushed with what energy I had left, using my own watch and Garmin. I smiled and truly enjoyed those final minutes and felt terrific. 48.3 miles...done and happy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span>People ask me "Why run?" and running for 12 hours is even more curious. For me, it's about figuring out how to keep doing this thing I enjoy. And this race captured the criticality of thinking, executing, adjusting and tweaking a plan, on the fly. The two adjustments at 2pm and 5pm made the day both successful and fascinating to me. Yeah, it's not everyone's cup of tea but I sure enjoyed it.<br />
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A good race. And a fun feature was having my wife and my three best running pals in a text group all day...I posted to them and they connected in such a fun way all day. Virtual fans...they helped urge me on!<br />
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Some inconsequential learnings from the day...which I post mostly for my own benefit...skip these unless you are fighting insomnia:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Food supply. </b>I packed quite a bit of food to take but realized that all carbs aren't created equal. The bananas were perfect, as they usually are. Easy to eat on the run, digest well and no waste. I had one gel which was unsatisfactory. I had some sweeter items...I ate a few Oreos but they didn't sit so well. Tortilla chips were a plus. Not only did I eat a bunch at 5pm but grabbed 5 or 6 on many laps. Licking the salt off my fingers when I was done with them didn't hurt either. Fluidized carbs via both Gatorade and <a href="https://liquid-iv.com/">Liquid I.V </a>worked very well. </li>
<li><b>A long sleeve tech shirt as sunscreen.</b> I really don't like the feel of sunscreen lathered all over me. Yet, being in the sun all day isn't smart. So, in anticipation of this event, I ordered a couple of lightweight, long-sleeve tech shirts with UPF50 ratings. But, wait, you wear long sleeves in hot weather? I tested them the last couple weeks on afternoon runs in 90F temps (remember...nothing new on race day...). Surprisingly, they worked great. They were big and "billowy", I wore it untucked and thus got a lot of airflow under and over the shirt. Surprisingly comfortable and zero sunburn. </li>
<li><b>Drinking big gulps vs sippy cups.</b> In trying to stay hydrated, I observed it was hard to get a big quantity of fluids as I drank from my handheld water bottle while I ran. I tried too modifications</li>
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<li>From my 10oz handheld, I would unscrew the cap and just gulp fluids, rather than taking the small stream through the lid. </li>
<li>When I refilled at each lap, I often drank from the handheld, refilled, drank again and then filled again to take off. </li>
<li>In short, I found just taking these big gulps really helped get more fluids down. </li>
</ul>
<li><b>Recharging batteries at a long event.</b> Total nerdness here, but I managed to figure how how to keep my phone, Garmin and bluetooth speakers charged all day. Too much to go into but having a reliable portable charger made all the difference. </li>
</ul>
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So there you go...a full, long Saturday. I was happy to be out racing again, even if the event was officially unofficial. A good 40-50 folks showed up anyway.<br />
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Persevere. And make adjustments to keep persevering.<br />
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.Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-64117451804689805222019-04-18T14:08:00.003-04:002020-04-15T21:38:31.943-04:00Race Report: Boston Marathon 2019<b>The Numbers:</b> 26.2 miles, 4:40:10 (10:42/mile); 22,546 of 26,632 overall, 12,823 of 14,662 men, 333 of 488 Men 65-69. <br />
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<b>Quick Summary:</b> Running the <a href="http://baa.org/">Boston Marathon</a> on Patriot's Day, April 15, 2019, will be a lifetime memory for me. The fame of the event, the aura surrounding it, the vibe of being in it, the utter difficulty of the course itself, the splendor of the finish, the welcoming across the entire city of Boston explains why this marathon is like no other. I didn't run as well as I had hoped, yet the entire experience went beyond my expectations.<br />
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<b>The Gory Details:</b><br />
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<i><u>Getting there</u></i><br />
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I first pondered running Boston while on the plane to run the Portland Marathon in October 2009. I wondered aloud, for the first time if I could ever qualify and run. Six serious attempts at qualifying finally resulted in a BQ time at the Monumental Marathon in November, 2017. Seventeen months later, it was a go.<br />
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In the week or two ahead of my departure, I was astounded at the outpouring of interest and support from friends, family, coworkers and fellow runners. Even though this would become my 86th marathon finish, this race was clearly different. <br />
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On the Friday before we flew out, my co-workers decorated my office door with 26 point 2 balloons (yes, a point 2 balloon...look at the little tiny blue thing below the yellow balloon in the foreground) and other Boston items plus a goodie bag. I was so surprised and moved.<br />
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I have some experienced runners with whom I work!<br />
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We flew to Boston early Saturday morning, April 13. The first order of business was to get to the expo and pick up my bib and go shopping for the obligatory Boston Marathon windbreaker. Amazingly, lots of other runners had the same idea! But we got to the convention center and it was a thrill to pick up my bib.<br />
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We then met up with our son David, his wife Susan and their oldest son Nathan who flew in just to be with us and see the race. We tromped all over downtown Boston on the Freedom Trail on a glorious spring afternoon and soaked in the vibe which was pre-race Boston. <br />
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On Sunday, I wanted to get off my feet and did so, kind of. While our kids went to see the Boston Red Sox play, Gretchen and I found a wonderful church with whom to worship on Palm Sunday, then took public transport out to the famous peak of Heartbreak Hill near Boston College. The trolley trip itself allowed me to preview the final five miles of the course. Seeing the hills themselves was quite helpful. We had dinner with our kids after they got back from the ball game and made final plans for how and where we'd meet up during the race. I got home, checked the weather for race day for the 147th time, made final adjustments and went to bed. Amazingly, I slept very well.<br />
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<i><u>Race Day:</u></i><br />
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I awoke and grinned...today was finally the day of the Boston Marathon. <br />
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Since the weather reports had been changing rapidly the previous five days yet still called for rain in the morning, I stuck my head out after waking and saw dry pavement and little wind. Nice, I think and proceed to get ready. By 6:50am, I was out the door to walk from our airbnb to the Davis T (subway) stop and got drenched on the way. A major thunderstorm rolling through...water over my ankles in the streets soaking my shoes and socks. In that 3/4 mile walk, I got drenched, my disposable poncho no match for the downpour. My throw-away sweats soaked up the rain. Not the start I had hoped for. Yet, others had advised me to wear throwaway shoes and socks too...so, my good shoes and dry socks were safe in a bag.<br />
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I was ahead of schedule and the train got me downtown more quickly than I had allotted. So, I modified my plan and found a bench on which to sit inside the Park Street T station for about 45 minutes collecting my wits and avoiding more water.<br />
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Apparently, I looked "safe" and ended up offering directions to lots of fellow runners on navigating Boston's public transport system while I sat there. Never mind I had less than 48 hours experience on it myself at the time :-) .</div>
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The time came to get to the Arlington T stop, where I rigged a better "umbrella" out of an old space blanket I had stuffed in my hoodie and I ventured outside again. The rain had lessened to a strong drizzle. I found bag drop and headed for the huge logistics operation to transport 30,000 runners 30 miles west.<br />
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What a horde of school buses assembled to move all of us!! As a logistics guy myself, it was fascinating and beyond me to explain briefly. They have good practice though and it worked pretty well.<br />
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<img alt="Image result for bus transport Boston marathon" height="200" src="https://media.nbcboston.com/images/1200*602/41519+boston+marathon+4.JPG" width="400" /><br />
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My sheer chance, I ended up with a great seat mate for the 45 minute drive to Hopkinton who was running his 3rd Boston and lived in a condo on Boylston Street..."Yeah, I woke up at 8:30 and just walked to the bus". We had a lot in common with three sons each and a lot of military connections. He helped me understand details of geography and the course as well. I appreciated his companionship.<br />
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Every race day has adjustments to make and my first one happened when our bus driver took a wrong turn in Hopkinton and dropped us off in the wrong place, near the start line not at Hopkinton High School's athletic complex. So, all of us on the bus ended up wandering a bit through a quiet, pleasant New England residential district, trying to find a high school we'd never seen before. We started hearing sounds, so followed that but, in the end, walked about a mile or so more than we would have needed. It worked out OK as I had enough time to get through the long portapot line and then change into my dry shoes and socks once my Wave was called and we were out of the muddy outfield grass of the baseball field. <br />
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We then did the walk BACK to the start line. And, man, it was great. Walking down there, thinking, hey, at long last, I'm actually starting the Boston Marathon. Had to almost pinch myself. Here's what it looked like, my only video of the day, with commentary.<br />
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The actual start was less organized than I expected. Because of the uncertain weather, the BAA had told us that our Wave 4 would start immediately on the heels of Wave 3 and not in corrals...just to get us on the road more quickly. And that's what happened. We just walked up to the start line and started running, corals 1 through 9, all jumbled together.<br />
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<img alt="" height="623" src="https://scontent.fnyc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/57313565_10156073193747826_8250493349388091392_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_ht=scontent.fnyc1-1.fna&oh=bd6bbda4056849eb407fd6ea32980e22&oe=5D459A04" width="467" /><br />
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And so, with little fanfare, we walked up the hill to the start line, crossed the timing mat and I was running the Boston Marathon at long last. <br />
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And the hills started immediately, the first mile a steep downhill. I focused on holding back and not getting carried away. Early on, I stopped to take a photo of a house formerly owned by a friend's aunt, where our friend remembered visiting on marathon day, amazed as a girl by people throwing perfectly good t shirts into the bushes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicboIjFFw7j9a-zKv5N4ELqfkYmDdcajz0LV6NDW9V3Q_Q5Fj6-1CCr3D7djFwYHgml8Sc5qvO7czzSHh9GVLAUNeYwFzXqXb4SzKrSN6whQErBH8zvl3aUK1xNtvtE1PTzMqO/s1600/20190415_111608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicboIjFFw7j9a-zKv5N4ELqfkYmDdcajz0LV6NDW9V3Q_Q5Fj6-1CCr3D7djFwYHgml8Sc5qvO7czzSHh9GVLAUNeYwFzXqXb4SzKrSN6whQErBH8zvl3aUK1xNtvtE1PTzMqO/s320/20190415_111608.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After years of marathoning, I have learned to relax at race's start and allow the day's rhythm to display itself during the first 4-6 miles. How am I feeling? What is the course like? How is the temperature? The wind? My legs, my lungs? Thirsty? Hungry? Calm? Uncertain? I almost always have that worked out by mile 5 and then execute the rhythm for another 20 miles or so. <br />
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Not so this day. And, ultimately, I would learn, only in the final 5 miles, not the first 5 miles, would I understand the day's running. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaAR6XSQcuQR58Ubc1I1pY8hjHEgCDZkBlMma9jRipXAfOfrpHqiceuPdhyphenhyphenKGea43oSfjZSCRQH75nouVdr-Vt3hE9JgGg5XdzDisvMU9upKwDD31boAgXYYmPLvUsK-SVS35/s1600/917703_287445053_XLarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1064" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxaAR6XSQcuQR58Ubc1I1pY8hjHEgCDZkBlMma9jRipXAfOfrpHqiceuPdhyphenhyphenKGea43oSfjZSCRQH75nouVdr-Vt3hE9JgGg5XdzDisvMU9upKwDD31boAgXYYmPLvUsK-SVS35/s400/917703_287445053_XLarge.jpg" width="265" /></a><br />
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The combination of the awe of the event and its logistics, the choppiness of my start experience, the newness of the course (to me) and variable weather combined into sensory overload. There was just so much to absorb and process! In particular, the weather was cloudy and cool at the start but by mile 5 was sunny and getting warm in a hurry, well into the 70s. I peeled off my arm warmers, took off my cap, stuffed the grey Buff in my waistband and generally tried to get adjusted to running in warm weather after doing all my training in winter cold. <br />
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I was very happy my family had made arrangements to see me the first time around mile 10. What a thrill to see them waving their Purdue signs and cheering! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43RPy5ZA2G3vG5XQ34u-NeViRINuzeKud91rTGYSlspBr3YOLEDSMkmVUxdREVIna04ynf0_JQtjY8TGQA3gbgdV3CGnC11D_pwIie_zqWqjf3RoGlZxWWhHr9nIq1PXS51Gv/s1600/57044293_10219545824861411_1080960890930462720_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43RPy5ZA2G3vG5XQ34u-NeViRINuzeKud91rTGYSlspBr3YOLEDSMkmVUxdREVIna04ynf0_JQtjY8TGQA3gbgdV3CGnC11D_pwIie_zqWqjf3RoGlZxWWhHr9nIq1PXS51Gv/s400/57044293_10219545824861411_1080960890930462720_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The T shirts they wore were a special treat and a story for another day. And, yes, we all like Purdue.<br />
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Immediately after taking this photo, I peeled off both shirts, handed the stinky black tech shirt, arm warmers and buff to my family and they chose to love me anyway. I wriggled back into the white singlet with the Purdue logo which was perfect the rest of the way. For fun, I took young Nathan with me and we ran about 200m of the course together...that was a hoot...I hope he remembers it.<br />
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What ultimately proved to be the hardest part of the run soon followed. This is totally unexpected on most readings I've ever made about the Boston course. I was surprised by just how flat portions of the middle section of the course was. I expected to simply slip into a rhythm and get through these "kind" miles ahead of the Newton Hills. Yet, that rhythm was elusive and it seemed the harder I tried to find it, the more hidden it became. I was knocking off the miles but it wasn't smooth. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkcPEaHI5XE4CRFK6rTD3pgTC4amG9EpLGJr37Epa85V72lLleisF5Ja1pps3e6WscNikiO3dx0PxW2aEO3ogPbxB68gsI-U8owfuzEt-69K3op01ItehjbUaa3nw0_XTR_gu/s1600/IMG_06811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWkcPEaHI5XE4CRFK6rTD3pgTC4amG9EpLGJr37Epa85V72lLleisF5Ja1pps3e6WscNikiO3dx0PxW2aEO3ogPbxB68gsI-U8owfuzEt-69K3op01ItehjbUaa3nw0_XTR_gu/s400/IMG_06811.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Our next family meet up was at mile 17, just before the start of the infamous Newton Hills. Wow, that was good to see all of them again. We paused and chatted and I said goodbye to the kids, as they had to head for the airport from there. We had a most enjoyable talk and a good goodbye. I was so grateful for them making the effort to be with me for the event!<br />
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At the very base of the hills, a policeman was watching. I caught his eye, smiled and said "So it begins!" He got it, smiled back and seemed quite content to stand guard at the base and not run the next five uphill miles. Yeah.<br />
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In contrast to my frustration and weak negotiation of the middle, flatter parts of the course, I was pleased with how I handled the Newton Hills. I knew it was not one hill, but rather a series of four steep hills, separated by flat sections, as if one is going up four flights of stairs with a walk between each. I had prepared during training, mentally and physically, and I found I actually enjoyed them. I felt as if I knew where I was...I ran or power-walked the steepest portions and ran the rest...one, two, three, four hills...arriving at Boston College, mile 21, done with the most challenging part of the course I felt fine and knew the rest of the course from our Green Line trolley tour the day before.<br />
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<img alt="Related image" height="224" src="https://www.boston.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/prd-meth01-idx-bg.boston-13-850x478.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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My quads felt great coming off Heartbreak Hill, so I hammered the downhills the rest of the way, letting gravity be my friend. Looking around me at other back of the pack runners, it seemed I was in better shape than many at this point. The weather, however, had also changed, again...it clouded up, we got a couple of cloudbursts of rain at 22, cooled off and the wind picked up but it was a tailwind for us runners. I learned later that my family actually saw me at mile 22.5...they had some extra time and came course-side for one more look. Unfortunately, I didn't know they'd be there and missed them, despite their yelling, such was the overall level of cheering. That was so nice of them, though.<br />
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The crowds were great throughout the entire 26.2 miles but really went over the top during the final three miles. I could scarcely hear myself think they were so loud. Many, many shouts of "Go Purdue, Boiler up!" along the way when people saw my shirt and recognized the "P" as the Purdue logo (though one guy said "Go Providence" and another guy said "Go P", to which I replied the portapots were a mile back and I had taken care of that already....).<br />
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We came into Boston proper on Commonwealth Avenue and then into the green park portion of that long street. Less than a mile to go, I felt alert mentally and was soaking in the atmosphere. Finally, I saw ahead the most famous pair of turns in marathoning.<br />
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Right on Hereford, left on Boylston. It was everything I had hoped it would be. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioP4lxMOBorObva9dVUSIeJkW0nGP9f4WOquCImJ_JRPWQJCIUzl8hnSqrJ6SKETSKqhyphenhyphenLUdI79dM4jnF67-PEV0DHiy0CMlIkqd10xgwSkv4eP9rJo1sjbhMpxhXAFwJ5v6H-/s1600/20190413_123518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioP4lxMOBorObva9dVUSIeJkW0nGP9f4WOquCImJ_JRPWQJCIUzl8hnSqrJ6SKETSKqhyphenhyphenLUdI79dM4jnF67-PEV0DHiy0CMlIkqd10xgwSkv4eP9rJo1sjbhMpxhXAFwJ5v6H-/s320/20190413_123518.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I made the turn onto Boylston and I was excited to be there. 600m to go.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBxe-D8pQztTzPkzqrMi3gk2uZu47FhyGl0ACns7TEcChjI92Znen0zgZrwZkt1moBlafhy2Z7wtebdI8arSUpaKKrO4OtSeNQcZt-1d171hLWClL9K2k_DFukGOtDa5o2AgP/s1600/917703_287969359_Medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="427" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBxe-D8pQztTzPkzqrMi3gk2uZu47FhyGl0ACns7TEcChjI92Znen0zgZrwZkt1moBlafhy2Z7wtebdI8arSUpaKKrO4OtSeNQcZt-1d171hLWClL9K2k_DFukGOtDa5o2AgP/s400/917703_287969359_Medium.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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I wasn't in tears but I was deeply moved. I chose to jog, not race, down Boylston, looking at the crowds, taking it all in. </div>
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In a wonderful, serendipitous moment, as I ran on the left side of Boylston, I noticed and paused for for several moments at the small memorial to the victims of the 2013 bombings...that was a somber but useful reminder that even though we were having a joyous time, life throws difficulties, sometimes deep difficulties, our way. Remember that, Joe. </div>
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And then I finished the race, crossing the finish line and done. Wow.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfR4PbGDLBSgkhQQs8_ZW7QqsQ5tQAZncLAojyk3Oh5nqdbObO55veZVwnwg8svb_XGmIEZZ_Gh7hD8_8iZ7nLekAioUHWPpnggkybX06XFHFrwUVu7sjv_IwXj4vTUxJkGJNN/s1600/917703_287949870_XLarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfR4PbGDLBSgkhQQs8_ZW7QqsQ5tQAZncLAojyk3Oh5nqdbObO55veZVwnwg8svb_XGmIEZZ_Gh7hD8_8iZ7nLekAioUHWPpnggkybX06XFHFrwUVu7sjv_IwXj4vTUxJkGJNN/s400/917703_287949870_XLarge.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
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I was grateful that the area just beyond the finish line was largely open by the time I arrived and no one seemed to mind I lingered a bit to soak it all in. I was grateful to have a guy snap a this photo which I'll always keep.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXwS81qxnuuojEsSgYyUitUBtASaKorb63UpUeSMrFpdewcw3fohGFOCO5r-2J8lA5Ee4M5hnsd8QXGpDTSivjNP2V0o7dm-0GpRmimjgn_1nt6Vd_8zORrnK7yH-RXRieAbQ/s1600/20190415_211054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1344" data-original-width="1008" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXwS81qxnuuojEsSgYyUitUBtASaKorb63UpUeSMrFpdewcw3fohGFOCO5r-2J8lA5Ee4M5hnsd8QXGpDTSivjNP2V0o7dm-0GpRmimjgn_1nt6Vd_8zORrnK7yH-RXRieAbQ/s320/20190415_211054.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Boom. How amazing. I got the medal which is a small thing yet a link to a big moment.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6e5NpP5CGTepeaPekmWYaz7nVJBnDCZgTv64M7CdNIvTTIkalvMRq2tfAinhiZVGrpMXeF-w2fKKoZrdHACCbcVcp0a7FJCII6lzqSyjoUeRjV2-P-pV_tJREIwOqg7X8str5/s1600/917703_288048504_XLarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1064" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6e5NpP5CGTepeaPekmWYaz7nVJBnDCZgTv64M7CdNIvTTIkalvMRq2tfAinhiZVGrpMXeF-w2fKKoZrdHACCbcVcp0a7FJCII6lzqSyjoUeRjV2-P-pV_tJREIwOqg7X8str5/s400/917703_288048504_XLarge.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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Gretchen missed the finish, as she was stuck on a train in gridlock traffic. But I got hold of her and while she patiently worked her way to the finish area, I chatted up some volunteers, got my drop bag, put on a dry shirt and met her at the Very Crowded Corner of Arlington and Boylston. How great to see her!! We headed back to our airbnb, grabbed a couple of carry-out sandwiches at Davis Square along the way and spent the evening recounting our day and talking with relatives on the phone. There it was...the Boston Marathon. Done.<br />
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Adidas did a cool thing and produced a 58 second video in which every runner featured for a few snippets. Here's mine:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyFWlnT2gLuUqB5m3HtHUxBC5VkDZHrW7u6qVDj-2LfcqNX99UgW5BUNcWXYhzIPAbt9Fhdii4wSr0' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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<i><u>Post-race Reflections:</u></i><br />
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In the few days following the race, a few solid reflections have floated to the surface.<br />
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Most importantly, I hit all my objectives in terms of enjoying the full event. I never hit The Wall. I felt strong and fully engaged, mentally, the for the whole race and drank it in. <br />
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I must say I was disappointed in my time of 4:40:10, though. On reflection, I never found a "groove" until I got passed Heartbreak Hill at mile 21. On the one hand, it's kind of cool to find a rhythm that late in a marathon. Yet, I'm still perplexed I could not find it earlier and struggled in the flat, middle portions of the course. But I'm fine with that, there was simply so much going on and the atmosphere was so stimulating, I'm not sweating it. Did I really "run the best race conditions allow"?? No, not really. I could have done better. I'm smiling and mulling if there is another Boston in my future. I don't know. But I am mulling. <br />
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I'll write in a few weeks about my observations on the Hanson's training plan which I used in this race. I'm pleased and feel I understand it better now. <br />
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My goodness, what an experience. I've run the Chicago Marathon three times and the crowds there are good but nothing to compare with Boston. It's the oldest, grandest and best of them all. The organization of the event is astounding...the sheer number of volunteers is amazing. Nothing to compare it to. I've heard so much about this world-class event and now have experienced it myself. It did not disappoint and I'm so happy to have been able to run it. Those of you who have done it know exactly what I mean.<br />
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If you've read this far, I'm impressed...that makes you a marathoner yourself! Thanks for your interest and support. It means far more than you know.<br />
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Persevere.<br />
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.Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-33892963320076269642020-02-02T10:17:00.003-05:002020-02-02T13:51:56.990-05:00Race Report: Groundhog Day Marathon, 2020<strong>Groundhog Day Marathon, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Saturday, February 1, 2020</strong><br />
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Essentials</span>:<br />
4:50:33, 11:06/mile aggregate pace<br />
60th of 96 overall<br />
1st of 3 in Men 65-69 AG<br />
Marathon/ultra finish #91<br />
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This was a fun race, set up on the theme of the movie Groundhog Day, where the same thing keeps happening over and over. Thus, the route was six identical laps in a big city park, each 1/6th of a marathon distance, about 4.4 miles. Weather was actually pretty good for early February in central Michigan...34F, heavy grey clouds, not much wind, and light snowfall for the final 3 hours of the race.<br />
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I ran it for two reasons; get in some winter miles and assess my fitness for the spring running season. In that sense, the race was a total success.<br />
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Race started on a narrow bridge, which was fun and kind of unusual.<br />
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<img alt="" height="400" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/85080407_10156765415852826_6853003032418844672_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_ohc=iGwzUcbkgE0AX-IhSr9&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=1dc78dec09cfe20c1c1dbd653847af3d&oe=5E916ABA" width="533" /><br />
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I'd guess about 400 runners total, with 3/4 running the half marathon option.<br />
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<img alt="" height="400" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/83245263_10156765415912826_6906517337084526592_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_ohc=O5JxK57NZooAX9zLmDj&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=e22770e367c25d12d15ff118b68256d8&oe=5ED8BA4E" width="300" /><br />
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We went off right on time at 8:00am. The running path was excellent, wide-enough asphalt which had been swept clean of earlier snowfalls. It looked pretty much like this all the way around.<br />
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<img alt="" height="300" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/84232476_10156765415787826_9087575543301275648_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_ohc=m6brZ_0j8ZEAX9XGPi7&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=b7d862f49a8cca5a0dc96232315fcafa&oe=5EC58277" width="400" /><br />
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The organizers had two aid stations set up and the volunteers did a terrific job. I fell fully in love with peanut butter filled pretzel balls...salty and tasty...every couple of miles...nice to grab. I also continue to like my option of wearing the hydration pack rather than a waist water belt. That all worked great and way more comfortable.<br />
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<a href="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p640x640/83515742_10157273672607983_4651984283521515520_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ohc=VMgfe2oG9ykAX-v-9Wz&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&_nc_tp=6&oh=cfcc0f62cf94ef271fa7bc634f20c85c&oe=5ECFB973" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="266" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p640x640/83515742_10157273672607983_4651984283521515520_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ohc=VMgfe2oG9ykAX-v-9Wz&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&_nc_tp=6&oh=cfcc0f62cf94ef271fa7bc634f20c85c&oe=5ECFB973" width="400" /></a></div>
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The race pretty much was just running and I just enjoy running. The tale of the race is captured in my individual lap times, which are helpful in this case as they are all exactly 1/6 of the total distance. Here is my time and pace for each of the six laps<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li> 41:09, 9:25/mile</li>
<li>45:46, 10:22/mile</li>
<li>46:24, 10:37/mile HM split: 2:13:19</li>
<li>50:39, 11:35/mile</li>
<li>53:52, 12:20/mile</li>
<li>53:13, 12:11/mile</li>
</ol>
I ran the first lap steadily and it felt fine but became quite clear to me by the time I finished the 4.4 mile loop that such a pace was never going to hold up all day. I backed off to a 4/1 run/walk early in Lap 2 and carried that on through mile 18, which was toward the end of lap 4. At that point, I realized the fitness was gone yet I'd have no trouble finishing if I just dialed it back and kept moving. So, I then shifted down again, this time to a 3/1 run/walk (i.e. run 3 minutes, walk 1 minute) and that held up over the final two laps, as the times show. 18 good miles, 8 lousy miles...given the total number of miles I've run in the past three months, that's a fair assessment of where I am at the moment.<br />
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I felt good as I wrapped up the final lap back onto the bridge and, boom, done, marathon/ultra #91 in the books.<br />
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<img alt="" height="400" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/84119386_10156765415707826_1693058082105458688_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ohc=zzbZOiNnE3kAX-I3QHd&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=f915509388192a496243e46b160cd8cd&oe=5EC6A58C" width="300" /><br />
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I walked back over to the nearby heated HQ tent to get my medal and official finish time. To my utter surprise, the man looked at his laptop, told me my (lousy) time and then informed me I had won my AG. I was incredulous...I really thought it was a cruel joke, having run so poorly. He assured me he didn't joke about such things and sent me over to the awards table. He made eye contact with the Prize Lady and she started digging stuff out for me. A coffee mug, a stocking cap, a couple of race-labeled neck buffs and, most significantly, a new pair of bluetooth sport speakers. They are designed to let you listen to music (or, in my case, top level soccer from England or podcasts of interest) while you are running while not blocking your ears. Safer, right? Nice prize, I'll see how it works.<br />
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<img alt="" height="538" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/s960x960/83799432_10156765546607826_3650383667982761984_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ohc=Dxk_n8sSOHoAX9bxXhJ&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=a4c74a54e62abe5573cf702c0d4813e2&oe=5ED82603" width="400" /><br />
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Two other nice parts of this race (many races, actually) are conversations along the way. On my lap 6, I caught up with a long-time running buddy, who had a tough day with a calf injury. We walked together for about six minutes and it was a great catch up with Mark, as we discussed retirement, running, Lean Manufacturing and how to fix the impeachment mess. Not bad for a short walk during a marathon. You're welcome. Then, after the race, I happened to have a wonderful conversation with a young couple who had both finished Western States 100 mile run in the past few years (this is why you read other people's t shirts). That was a treat...and they seemed to appreciate meeting someone who knew what "Rucky Chucky" was. And they paid me quite a compliment: "You're not walking like you just finished a marathon." I'll take that as a win.<br />
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So, the assessment from this race helps me know how to plan running for the rest of the spring.<br />
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Thanks for listening!!Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-68942122933021607672019-11-10T20:34:00.000-05:002020-01-27T20:35:00.277-05:00Race Report: Indy Monumental Marathon 2019<span style="font-weight: 400;">ORN: 26.2 miles, </span>5:15:27, at multiple paces. <br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">So here’s a summary of my experience in the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon on Saturday, November 9...it was Three-Act Play</span><br />
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<strong>Act 1: Start to mile 7.5</strong><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The entire focus of this (and the ultimate point of the entire day) was a running adventure with my oldest son and his oldest son, our first grandson. You may recall GS1, age 15, has gradually been running since about a year ago, first with spring track and then fall Cross Country. So my DIL suggested, strongly, earlier this fall he register to run this half marathon...and this was the day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The day was chilly, with temps in the upper 20s. I was slightly concerned the cold weather would cause him to bail but he was totally game. I met up with DS1 and GS1 a short ways from the start grid a half hour before the gun...from there we got in the back of the pack for the start. GS1 seemed to really enjoy the entire experience...he was laughing and observing and generally enjoying it all</span><br />
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<img alt="" height="400" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/74913823_10156544616767826_4870478413854408704_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&_nc_oc=AQlJfr1Z1wibsZtnik385ZOrVvgLkTC3OTYOtZqEygBfL7FjeGeo7s-3KQg_97efPW8&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=2c339c5eab8f1dc176b8b97575e80c49&oe=5E3EB1E5" width="533" /><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The race started and off we went. We quickly settled into a comfortable pace, as DS1 correctly wanted to take on a pace which would allow GS1 to finish. We agreed to take walk breaks as needed and generally enjoy the experience. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">So much fun happened, I don’t have time to bore you with all of it. Suffice it to say, though, the conversation was lively and steady. As a Dad and Grandpa, I was deeply pleased to see the wonderful relationship my son has with his teenage son. It was open and steady, without the edge which so easily can happen at that age. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">GS1’s longest single training run was just short of 5 miles...so once we got near that distance, he was in new territory. Around mile 5, he reported his right leg was getting pretty sore. We took some walk breaks and then ran but it was choppy. So, I asked him if he’d like to go to a regular pattern of running one minute and walking one minute. He was fine with that and it worked...we kept that pattern through the split point of the half and full. His spirit improved and the chatter was back and it was terrific. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">We stopped for one more pic at the break, with hugs and smiles all round. </span><br />
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<img alt="" height="400" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/74407601_10156544616827826_88214109954244608_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_oc=AQm6nZJqR3Cva2dEoHmzQeZKn25seGxcmiYeCEihFJ4qT4FjNndwQog_ysEt0Ff_L2s&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=a3fc39fb6b50e654d292860dcd94752a&oe=5E5D697E" width="533" /><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">They carried on and finished at exactly 3 hours for the HM with a good attitude...here’s a picture my DIL took of GS1 finishing, with the state capitol building in the background. </span><br />
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<img alt="" height="400" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/75462526_10156545867607826_432153562009567232_o.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_oc=AQnVxfbeCkki7hw7I0GlGltcx2sXg9NkNgYfdNnyegY1jmznBQ2mAAHomcBRewtvB40&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=4dd4b429a806babe9ae2d7ae136af886&oe=5E5A5B36" width="300" /><br />
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<strong>Act 2 Mile 7.5 to Mile 19</strong><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Bidding farewell to my son/grandson, I then set out to see what my own pace felt like on this day. It was quicker than what we had been running and I was steadily passing people. I felt comfortable, not pressing but just running. I hit the half way mark at 2:35 and it felt slow but that was due to the slow pace early on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Around mile 14, I caught up with the 5 hour pacing group. We were entering a narrow portion of the course so I just glommed on with them...the pace was fine and I figured it would be a five-hour race anyway. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">In this pack, I had some fun conversations, most notably with a guy a year older than me as we talked about “old guys who still run”. He was happy to hear I had run Boston this year and I learned he too had run Boston....in 1971, as a 19 year old, when he ran 3:15!! I asked how many ran and he said they were all thrilled it was the Humongous total of 1,200 runners!! What fun to talk to a guy with that kind of history, still out there running. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">We snaked through Butler University and the Art Park and down onto Fall Creek Parkway, when Act 2 abruptly ended.</span><br />
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<strong>Act 3: Mile 19 to Finish</strong><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">In a mere half mile, my race went from comfortable to painful. My left quad very quickly started seizing up. I couldn’t stop it...it ground me to a mere walk. Full blown cramping, leaving me looking like the Tin Man, stiffly moving along. With 7 miles to go, I wasn’t keen on having to walk it in so started thinking. I realized I had made a serious tactical error the night before in that I decided, given the cold temps, I didn’t need to pack the usual electrolyte tabs I always bring along. Dumb, Joe, very dumb. So, how to get electrolytes?? I started drinking from my handheld water bottle, which I had half Gatorade/half water. I gradually swallowed a Gu they had handed out, despite the fact it was mocha flavored and I hate coffee. I reloaded with more Gatorade and found another Gu pack in a spare pocket. I restarted running on a 1/1 ratio, just as I had earlier with GS1. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Gradually, the cramping subsided. I kept the 1/1 ratio to mile 23, when I upped it to 2/1. That held and I ran that way to the end. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Finishing the race was a new experience.. I think this is the slowest road marathon I’ve ever run and I was clearly in the back of the pack. Probably useful for me to know what that feels like to finish in 5:15:27. MInd you, two years ago at this race, I went 3:58 to BQ. But with sketchy training this fall and a 3 week flu bug hiatus, I pretty much expected it to be in the five hour range. I still smiled all the way down the final 100m...I never get tired of finishing marathons. But today was much more a day for reflection rather than celebration.</span><br />
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<strong>Epilogue: Post Race Conversations</strong><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">I crossed the finish line, hit the stop button on my watch and looked up and who should I see standing the but Deena Kastor, the Olympic Bronze Medalist who came in for the weekend. I struck up a conversation with her and she was totally delightful! We talked a lot about running, promoting the sport and paying attention. I thanked her for all she’s done for running and a lot more...it was a 10 minute chat with some substance. That was cool</span><br />
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<img alt="" height="400" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/74351461_10156544616912826_3742828587011538944_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_oc=AQk_suKWtO1707aa6wXl1YT-1ZIFOR6qNsCKpAcVFgSmlixricHSy1Q8jVyjypXyE7E&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=9ae143c2ac75c7e98b578fd15db59c94&oe=5E53319C" width="381" /><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Then, a little farther down the chute, I saw the Chairman of the Board of the race, the man who originally thought this thing up. I first met him about four years ago and we’ve talked regularly since. I told him about my three-generational run and he got very excited about that. He then pulled another Board member in for the conversation and we discussed elements of working with city authorities to pull off such a major event. So, even though my left quad was toast, it was nice my mind was working OK. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">So, there you have it. I think this is the seventh time I’ve run this marathon...it’s very familiar turf. I enjoy marathons so much because of days like this. The marathon is an exacting taskmaster...if gives nor offers any quarter. You can’t fake it...you pay the price or you don’t and the result shows how many coins you put into the machine. I never tire of it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Persevere.</span><br />
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<br />Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-18227215432600988462019-12-29T20:28:00.000-05:002020-01-27T20:29:57.927-05:00Race Report: HUFF 50K Trail Race, 2019<br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Race Summary</strong></span>:</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">50K, 6:25:42 (12:25/mile pace)</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;"> Lap 1: 3:02:47</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;"> Lap 2: 3:22:54</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Overall: 85th of 153</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;">M 60-69: 6th of 11</span><br />
Lifetime ultra/marathon finish #90<br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">I ran The HUFF 50K trail race on December 28, 2019. This is the ninth year in a row I’ve run this race and have 8 finishes and one DNF (in 2017, in scary cold temps, when I dropped after lap 1). It’s two laps of a 15.5 mile course in Chain O Lakes State Park, not far from Fort Wayne, Indiana. The park is a giant glacial deposit and has an amazing amount of up and down...one of the few places in northern Indiana on which to run Real Hills. (if you are interested, use the search function and you can find my other HUFF race reports)</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">I drove up on Friday afternoon, had a fitful night’s sleep in a mediocre motel but got to the race site by 6:15am and secured a primo parking spot well ahead of the 8:15am gun, with time to slowly eat some oatmeal, nap a bit and get set for a long day in the woods.. </span><br />
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<img alt="" height="400" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/80826512_10156673617162826_4039370175852576768_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_ohc=NufAJQEqqZ4AQlnBog1zc5-MWIU58OI47cpObw5vJxoULAK0gTpukPJfw&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=77571a035b3d93125e94b670e365b8c2&oe=5E9C35A9" width="571" /><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">I watched the day slowly enlighten and walked to the start grid. </span><br />
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<img alt="" height="400" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/82187809_10156673616747826_5046655197787455488_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&_nc_ohc=0NrwPGSnGlsAQmQduWKgaz-MlO-b97Axo8nXXTJxloxsO0PUmV4rVaJmA&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=12b3a0601b7ff4bd414d228168544636&oe=5E67CCE0" width="300" /><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The gun went and the day proved wonderful. The temp was just above freezing at the start, heading for the low 40s on the day, so I wore shorts and three layers on top with gloves...it worked fine, I was quite comfortable all day long. The trails were in near-perfect condition; firm but not muddy, not slick at all, very runnable. Even in some of the lower points where water drained across the trail, there was little mud, only some short spots that were moist. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Lap One was, as usual, quite social with the 50K runners chatting and enjoying the day. The aid stations are nicely spaced and well-stocked. I tried to not spend much time at the aid stations, I intended to simply reload and get going. This worked mostly, except for the time I saw the RD, whom I’ve known for a long time, and he’s the type of guy you can’t have a short chat with. But it was good to catch up with Mitch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Lap Two always stands in stark contrast to Lap One at the HUFF...once again, it was a solitary adventure. I think I only saw three or four other runners for the entire 3+ hours, so spread was the field by then. I enjoy this, of course, and just kept going. The winter woods were just beautiful, the scenes overlooking the lakes in the park were striking, the weather most pleasant. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">I only fell once Saturday...went down pretty hard around mile 6. Fortunately, I landed on soft dirt and while my glasses got dirty, I avoided a full face plant. Only damage was ripping up my bib on my shorts, which was easily re-pinned. I had a second near-miss around mile 19, one of those times where I caught my toe and then rumbled, bumbled, stumbled into the brush, struggling to stay on my feet. I did stay up but that near-miss took more out of me than the actual fall at mile 6. I gave myself a couple of minutes to collect my wits and carry on both times and neither had a lasting effect. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The Aid Station at Mile 24 is legendary around here for some terrific trail food. It’s a point in the race where mental and physical reserves are often depleted and they restore both. In prior years, hamburgers are the main attraction but this year, they upped their game and served bacon cheeseburgers with a pickle on a stick. Marvelous!! I downed one and it was a treat. Sorry for the fog on my lens but you get the idea.</span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;"><img alt="" height="400" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/80620910_10156673616802826_6087314980355440640_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_ohc=YlwTxSknQ3oAQnqYupjIV1oOq202a9ABCjmkabs2xynU4tZbwI6EbjSjg&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=44788733c9376d258f99baa33c2d9607&oe=5E6EF16E" width="533" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The final miles went reasonably well. Other than a low spot around mile 28 (when, on an uphill slog, I just wanted it to be over), I felt fine and enjoyed the chance to run. One runner I did see engaged in an interesting conversation, as he had just BQed a few weeks ago, was running his first-ever ultra and we talked about that process and anticipation at length. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">I finally popped out of the woods, ran the final half mile around a lake and finished. Nicely, my new friend finished about two minutes behind me and we got our photo together. </span><br />
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<img alt="" height="400" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/81230029_10156673616917826_837404174726463488_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_ohc=maJi39kQjj0AQncCzec74Hx0lDuZFCtTvpwWsGcqcV74iH9uDsHztyovQ&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=aaabcc377989f0cb99a6c3c9687a9d91&oe=5EA6A33F" width="533" /><br />
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<img alt="" height="400" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/81439158_10156673616997826_2132284866841018368_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ohc=alxfaXZwcQwAQnXs7tqbgsNZ8nS8uu8UScjD6qJpWtRGj5YHNyxx8WR5A&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=51686bd24fbc4cc5f2ead31dfecd4788&oe=5EAECA97" width="571" /><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Won another belt buckle, honoring a local cross country coach who passed away earlier this fall. </span><br />
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<img alt="" height="400" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/80817418_10156673617087826_8972985669815107584_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_ohc=fZ6P4DbcBB8AQmHq09CVaB1QhbAEILSnCHrVk1FqPQE-fyUn7Lhgz5HBA&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=13b7b03ca203ca3baff1916535d6b927&oe=5EB02FCE" width="300" /><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">One observation I made, having run this race so often, was how it is dropping in size. Only about half of the finishers we've had before. I could tell there were not nearly as many cars in the park or runners in the grid. Similarly about half the number of volunteers as in the past. I wonder if the organizers are tiring of this (it gets little publicity, perhaps relying on reputation?) or if runners are less interested? Just interesting to observe over time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">So, a good day. I ran well and that was the goal. Encouraged. Thanks for listening. </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">And, as always, persevere. </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span>Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-85203490381805971442020-01-27T20:21:00.001-05:002020-01-27T20:21:47.573-05:00Race Report: ONU Indoor Half Marathon 2020ORN: 13.1 miles, 2:22:28, R/W 6/1<br />
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I finished the Ohio Northern University Indoor Half Marathon on January 26 in 2:22:29. 105.5 laps on a 200m track. Some are put off by multi lap indoor events but I actually enjoyed it. I think this is my 9th such event. Took about 30 minutes or so to find a rhythm, but that came and settled into consistent lap times. With my current level of fitness and where I am in the training cycle, I was totally fine with the time.<br />
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<img alt="" height="338" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/C5BDf8GJIq1Z4YSSV1jAYLxGLHrDwSTqVRLMGruWCzPnJVrxlgKWqkM7r1SHOnwVlKFkB741MIZPd2enMGTbqdZ-1MGDZTDOzUdjeBD5i_boMmh2VIgAlWQ7sEl3IqneuYjY45-SRtB9_Q5-XcTtptMmnGgpGT1jZ6z6bJPYgOC3pVVFa7sE0X_2EZRiuNFsniAFH2oRKCmO59xKGkwOJdFsDa6vRxVFTf0wchJeKOwsw9BWfTn_d_7yN0e6kM4_ZDWRT4IGIgxar-_RBxcLUtaixwq7NdzCQ8u0DHIyKVzY4w76prQruS6sF4mcx7fLxXmQu8upQljWB4DzJTlJJFg4F_TK90SXYo5HHjJqzP5hTKle6z2jICSVrun9h2HqE30-nAcMgx3Ue32vGOxlcw9tqz_N7UIoPWy2B4ce_Qqz-DJrJVr-RjxODvsZ8dyQYzcH_6k0BQ3_hR4y9NbhH9xNexeuCXCw6U20SH1sUg_U0CmDdcKURJYPNdgYy5GBnihNJzN-Et7Gg6XBOcDq-c-jlnCgzALJG1iMQa6SS0TRWB--ev5sfmKXxwX2mIEhPoHj73YJ_ULbDlbI3xqKLEIbT5QjgThIBGR3Cws-R6_MS3D2rzLzf_lWado4pZMgk0xxe1PlCVOl-LQtSFyhSeL1-eMP6Oj9HaqPUHXcFksfEa_eiU4-Gwa85FdYJKJnYLlbHh0yx8xEtQuhwn29H4AwSbNLtHa9snPoKdWVvNgmSztC=w1182-h665-no" width="600" /><br />
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After 105 laps, I ran the final lap as hard as I could and was happy to hit the finish line:<br />
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<img alt="" height="394" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/J_uA1RHd0NXO1z75-bDsnegsDm6gUl3TTTR93Z0aPeTO0BLATFsWoTPGDcETRj7YaXwdx13Aw6TpHkAAFgYHMIJvxh86n7OhDWLQCPVcmQMT7WLX0BXni6LZLQGy3NMfypAq6kLvDc07sUPdXYS4-ydyqrQ5WbdyKFAGoT1O2HH86M5cwl8pU6-W0uWTfAJasN33HfP02CVBnP6v5FYAkJYJpCtwOII6G9p9KlvkCOXr6bLyKu3J6o8rW7ejxZU74VpoDclylv2ixNMaSAXtu_GvKQTPsdHtlzqMjxzzflQB3GkoGb2LZCHRPNj77IFc2zKh7ofsYPQ2J5FWQlrOltnbvtw0_HPIYfBkDyI9UylTve5Q-HGXXBVltrYxSeGvptlEWPLfoM2A1yq5A2R3D7g1cs3SGibQHFs_X5gfI0Ha46zAll2r8paqmEyGaDlfAkBo6gS2jlUVpfHqQ2KII0vEmNkU3QS5rp7ui2J2N937fcb0xyh5FMKSsjCsjFzxyfXarLqf7bO4bHQdaI7_MXj1plXbs7YCbcbQrvnkI6hwBGXyhSKE8E9-zhak1I7kWUXC2qiHHkzRledzJ8oehX3slctodKeKujRMQLGTl6ufXvc-Q2J0hF6J5knu7bx1n62AvtlvVY79n0qBLuurw--n6ybWkpV1EiXyfWsp-3YRZqON8BR26ymq1lniTSR9LjeR6HC9ytGbtEzQqc4t40SHpHuvsKx-SibZev7uhVq3dNGm=w1182-h665-no" width="700" /><br />
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<img alt="" height="300" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/83014411_10156746335022826_7696093507622010880_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_ohc=-E6mqwissGEAX8eZwYl&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=9adcb4775918f4bdcac9f3083e0b8251&oe=5ECE534B" width="400" /><br />
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The men's winner set a record at 1:24. First female finished the HM in 2:01. The full marathon men's winner went 3:29. In a loop marathon, you really see just how fast the leaders are as they zing by you time and time again.<br />
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The event was a fund-raiser for this small D3 school's XC and Track programs and evidently has been quite successful to raise funds for needed equipment. The deal for the team is they have to show up and manually count laps for each runner...a one-to-one connection between counter and runner. Each counter also had to make a poster for his/her runner and they had a contest on who had the best poster. I met my counter, Kameron, before the race. She was delightful. Here we are after the race, with the poster she made which I got to take home. Like anyone else would want it, right???<br />
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<img alt="" height="400" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/83243860_10156746334832826_3689452189450764288_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ohc=oRRgwU-wYD8AX9fUE1M&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=b01e78112dc9209087b585fd290779c6&oe=5EC60F5C" width="490" /><br />
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It also afforded a road trip with my local running buddy, Jon. The conversation there and back again was wonderful. Really appreciate this guy...good friends matter. <br />
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<img alt="" height="450" src="https://scontent.find1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/84312412_10156746334912826_457304800300630016_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ohc=1NCiHwkdivEAX-eWu36&_nc_ht=scontent.find1-1.fna&oh=8650283f7ae56f5b604a3b24732a48d8&oe=5ECB90F1" width="338" /><br />
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In addition to the HM, I did more running before and after the race just because I need the miles. Got a total of 16.2 miles done on the day and that felt good. And I just plain never get tired of Race Day, in whatever form it comes.<br />
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Persevere. Even when you go in circles.<br />
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.Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-48870357628265755452019-12-31T18:17:00.002-05:002019-12-31T18:17:59.679-05:002019 Year in ReviewORN:<br />
2019 distance run: 1,538 miles<br />
Total distance run since 2004: 21,538 miles<br />
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The year was an interesting one, with some real highs and some forgettable moments. <br />
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First, the numbers. My miles for each month in 2019. <br />
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Yikes! Look at those ups and downs. This captures the year. The first three months were in final preparation for the Boston Marathon...March's 200+ miles was an all-time monthly record for me. And I ran Boston on April 15. <br />
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And then looked what happened. A total falloff. <br />
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In retrospect, it's not surprising. I had shot for Boston for eight years. Finally making it, I fell into a strange sense of goal-lessness. I didn't even grasp it at the time but I really had a hard time dragging myself out of bed to train on way too many mornings through the summer and early fall. October really wiped things out as I ended up with a nasty flu bug for three weeks. <br />
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Remarkably, I re-calibrated in late November via a curious observation. I shifted a habit I've held since beginning this era of running in May, 2004, specifically getting up at 5:15am to train. This just got harder and harder. I started trying running in the afternoon, instead...taking running gear to work, changing around 5pm in our small locker room, heading out on our city's running trails which go right by our plant and getting in my miles. Remarkably, it seems to work. I got the miles in, ran a 50K trail race comfortably on December 28 and I may well continue with this through the spring. Summertime?? I'll need to get up early. <br />
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Amazingly, 2019 was an improvement in total miles over 2018.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uS4dfkcrucHpllvEdNPpW8dDIPqbO2ixFzyqB2adMrIswxZiiIRP8wWUTIIg_btSPvwTI9HtItG0aQckDmdO6hCXJdIVIuCDzc_4A50RN87nGQDXcLE1nkM1KoLqPgIIohpo/s1600/Screenshot+2019-12-31+at+5.15.11+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="775" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uS4dfkcrucHpllvEdNPpW8dDIPqbO2ixFzyqB2adMrIswxZiiIRP8wWUTIIg_btSPvwTI9HtItG0aQckDmdO6hCXJdIVIuCDzc_4A50RN87nGQDXcLE1nkM1KoLqPgIIohpo/s400/Screenshot+2019-12-31+at+5.15.11+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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2018 had a time of injury from Plantar Fasciitis. I'm pleasantly surprised 2019 improved over that. And I'm hoping for more consistency in 2020, for sure.<br />
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Without a doubt, though, the highlight of the year, perhaps the highlight of my running hobby all-time was running in and finishing the Boston Marathon. Two pix to wrap up the year of that special day. <br />
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Have a great 2020, folks.<br />
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Persevere. <br />
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.Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18177821.post-75157438631539644632019-05-08T20:11:00.000-04:002019-05-27T17:40:41.960-04:00Race Report: Wisconsin Marathon, 2019<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.5em;">
<b> The Numbers:</b></div>
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4:08:49, a 9:30/mile pace</div>
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155 of 339 overall</div>
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107 of 204 men</div>
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1 of 8 men 65-69</div>
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<b>The Story:</b></div>
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My focus all winter in training was the Boston Marathon on April 15. But I had the Wisconsin Marathon on May 4 in pencil all along, wanting to get in a second marathon if I could, given all the training I had done. On the Tuesday before race day, I checked the weather for Kenosha and it looked to be perfect, so I signed up.</div>
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I’ve run this race 4 times before, so I knew the drill. I drove up after work on Friday and picked up my packet pre-race. The weather was indeed perfect...about 40F at the start, maybe 50F at the end, hardly any wind, sunny. The course is flat and beautiful along Lake Michigan and through lovely neighborhoods of lake homes.</div>
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I decided to run the race on a perfect day with a hope to go sub 4 hours again, which is my race pace target (9:08/mile). I went out fine and was holding myself back all along. I hit the half marathon mark in 1:57:52 and felt very good. My splits were very consistent. How long could it hold, though??</div>
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The answer began to take shape soon. By mile 16, I knew I was working harder to hold on. I started taking one mile at a time. I hung on through mile 19, with a 9:22 pace but it was slipping, with miles 22 and 23 were 10:57 and 11:03 respectively, the slowest two miles of the day. That was pretty much it, having used up any time I had “banked” earlier.</div>
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I re-calibrated my thinking, doing enough mental math to realize if I kept working, I could still beat 4:10. So I did my best, with mile 25 in 9:41, mile 26 in 9:50 and the last bit to the finish line at a 9:03 pace. I slipped in just under 4:09. </div>
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It took me a while to come to grips with missing my sub 4 hour target with weather and course in my favor. But, on reflection, my training had targeted a race three weeks previous, I had run Boston, and a sub four-hour marathon is just a tough target for me. I enjoyed the race, knew I had given my best and I needed to leave it as that. Winning the AG with more than two others in the AG was a nice consolation prize. </div>
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A nice day and that’s the way it was. <br />
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Persevere...with or without cheese. <br />
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Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09405132833234395104noreply@blogger.com0