Cayman Islands Marathon Recap

Running in Paradise
Jenelle and I flew to the Cayman Islands on Friday evening to give me a little time to adjust to the weather before the race on Sunday. I ran two miles on Saturday morning at about 7 a.m. to get an idea of how it would feel on race day. I was sweating quite a bit, considering I had been outside for about twenty minutes. We went to a grocery store later on Saturday, where I bought plenty of fluids, including two 25 oz. sport water bottles that I used to make Accelerade, my drink of choice, from the powder mix I brought with me.

Rise and Run
The race started at 5 a.m., so I got up around 3. I "warmed up" just a bit, as it was already quite warm (over 70 degrees F), and I boarded a bus for the starting line at 4. Jenelle was able to make it to the start (in a rental car) about a half hour before the race began, so I got to hang out with her as I went through my usual pre-race routine. As the race started, I carried one of the Accelerade bottles along with plenty of GU and sport beans.

Away We Go
The Cayman Islands Marathon course is a double loop. I don't recall much of the scenery during the first loop, mainly because it was still dark out. The crowd gradually thinned out as we made our way along the course. I could tell that the warmth was increasing the effort required. My early mile splits were between 8:45 and 9:00, but my heart rate was in the mid-150s. My early pace was about the same in the double-loop Tybee Island Marathon two years ago, and my heart rate was in the low 140s. The other indicator was the hydration factor. Before I reached the five-mile mark, my Accelerade was gone, and I had also drank water and/or Gatorade at each of the aid stations.

Awesome Aid Stations
Considering the heat, I was VERY impressed by the amount of support at the aid stations. Volunteers were full of enthusiasm, and would do just about anything to help (besides run the race for you, of course). I think all the stations had cups of water and Gatorade, but some of them had bottled versions as well! I found this to be very helpful, as I could grab a half-liter bottle of water and drink it slowly over the course of a mile, capping the bottle in between swigs -- no spilling!

Loop One Continues
All of my mile splits for the first half of the race were at or below nine minutes. I felt pretty good, but I could tell that the heat was wearing me down. I ran into Jenelle at several spots along the course. She had my second bottle of Accelerade, which I picked up around mile 13, and lots more GU and sport beans.

Stay Cool
As the sun came up and temps rose into the 80s, I found a new way to use my race cap. I noticed that the aid stations with bottled beverages had large coolers of ice. At least three times during the race, I took of my cap, filled it with ice, and put it back on. I would occasionally have to remove and replace the cap to redistribute the ice a little bit, but other than that, the technique worked well. There were times that it didn't even feel like there was ice in my cap -- that's what running in the heat does to you, I guess.

Second Time Around
I finished the first half in about 1:57. The second loop of the course was a lot more lonely in between aid stations, as there were no half marathoners to keep us crazy 26.2ers company. Another discouraging factor was the sun beating down. It seemed like it took forever to get to the turnaround point of the second loop, even though I hadn't slowed down that much. Still, the enthusiasm at the aid stations was great, and cheers from Jenelle also lifted my spirits.

Am I There Yet?
Fatigue set in for the last few miles (as it usually does). I had done my best to drink fluids and consume plenty of GU and sport beans to stay energized, but perhaps my pace was too aggressive considering the weather. The good news is that I never cramped up, which means I was not dehydrated at all. I could definitely feel my quads getting sore, so I took quite a few walk breaks on the way back. I was hoping to stay below four-hour pace, but I couldn't quite keep that up.

The Final Stretch
I passed by Jenelle with less than half a mile to go. The course continued north for a bit, turned left, turned left again, and went back to the south to get to me to the finish. This worked out well for Jenelle, who was waiting to get a shot of me crossing the finish line. I picked up the pace a little bit as I reached the 26-mile sign. Which brings me to one of the few complaints I had about this race. My GPS measured a distance of more than 0.4 miles between that sign and the finish line. The sign seemed to be placed well relative to the 25-mile sign, so it's possible that the course was long. In any case, I had enough energy to keep running to the finish, and an announcer called out my name as I crossed the line in 4:04:28.

Post-Race Fun
I kept walking as the announcer interviewed me, asking how I felt and what aid station I thought was the best. Reviewing the video (which I'll eventually post), it looks like I'm trying to get away from him, but I was actually thrilled to be interviewed. I guess the familiar teaching to "keep moving" during the cool-down was well-ingrained in my post-race routine. The finisher's medal features a turtle, which I thought was pretty neat. Since I finished shortly after 9 a.m., my post-race meal consisted of breakfast with Jenelle at a restaurant near the finish line. The last time my post-race meal was breakfast was the Disney Half Marathon in 2007, at which I crossed the line around 8:30 a.m.

Final Thoughts
Though I had hoped to do a little better, I was satisfied with my time. And I still had enough energy to go kayaking the next day. My first international marathon experience was a great one. It's hard to say where and when I'll race next, but I can pretty much guarantee you it will be somewhere comfortably cool. :)

Race statistics:

Miles 1-5	8:56	8:44	8:43	8:51	8:59
Miles 6-10	8:44	8:44	8:59	8:47	9:00
Miles 11-15	8:59	8:47	9:00	8:49	9:04
Miles 16-20	9:06	9:18	9:17	8:56	9:32
Miles 21-25	9:11	9:49	9:33	10:39	11:02
Miles 26-End	10:47	4:12

• Finishing Time: 4:04:28
• Average Pace: 9:19/mile
• First Half: 1:56:56 Second Half: 2:07:32
• Fastest Mile: #3 (8:43) Slowest Mile: #25 (11:02)

Cayman Islands Marathon - Finished!

4:04:28 on a hot day in Grand Cayman. Time to rest for a while. :)

Let's Go!

If tomorrow morning is anything like this morning's trial run, it's going to be a hot one. I'm planning to drink plenty of fluids and hopefully not cramp up.

Also, there's an outside chance that real-time tracking will be available here. Once again, the race starts at 5 a.m. EST, which is 4 a.m. Central. Jenelle will be getting some pictures, which I'll share when I get back to the states.

I'll post my finishing time at some point on Sunday, but it might be several hours after I'm actually finished. Hang in there (and hopefully I can do the same!).

Cayman Islands Marathon this Sunday

I'm excited about my last big race of the year, which is the Cayman Islands Marathon, this Sunday at 5 a.m. local time (which is EST, so 4 a.m. for all you friends and relatives in Wisconsin).

I may be in the best shape of my life, but I'm not trying to get my hopes up too much. The temperature will hover between 75 and 80 most of the race, which is a bit too warm for a marathon. Still, I'll give it my best and run smart, and hopefully it will lead to a solid finish. A personal best is a stretch, but I still think I can go under four hours.

No real-time posting this race, as international calling and texting rates are through the roof, but I'll be sure to post after I get back to the hotel. Wish me luck! :)

Under 21 (YES!)

The official results from the "Run with the Turkeys 5K" in Pleasant Prairie are in. They show me finishing in 20:58, one second ahead of another runner. However, I remember the finish well, and I couldn't quite catch the guy in front of me. Even though the race volunteers correctly took the slip from his race number before taking mine, I somehow came out ahead of him. So, I'm giving myself a 20:59.

What does that mean? I FINALLY BROKE 21 MINUTES! An even bigger feat would be to break 20 minutes. Maybe someday. For now, it's time to celebrate a new personal best!

SEVEN THOUSAND

I ran 20 miles on Saturday, which is the last super-long run before the Cayman Islands Marathon on December 6. That same day, my personal odometer broke 7,000 miles. That's pretty far.

Today, I ran ten Yasso 800 repeats, finishing each in 0:03:30 or less. I felt pretty good, but I think trying to run a marathon in 3:30:00 is overly aggressive.

I'm running a 5K Saturday in Pleasant Prairie. After that, the tapering will continue.

Take My Breath Away

The Air Force Marathon Movie is up. Enjoy!

Ramping up

With just over a month to go until the Cayman Islands Marathon, I've ramped up my training. I ran 140 miles in October, which is more than I've run in a month since March 2008. I completed a 20-miler in 3:06:25 on the morning of October 31. Thanks to Mark for accompanying me about six of those miles.

November will feature increased mileage through mid-month. I'll get one more 20-miler in on either the 14th or the 15th, and after that I'll be tapering. It's still too early to tell if I am in marathon PR shape or not, but I'm feeling pretty good.

Over the sea

What happens when you combine the desire to go to a warm place in December and a need to run? The Cayman Islands Marathon! My registration form will be in the mail today.

I've ramped up my training. I don't know that I'll be in perfect marathoning shape by December 6th, but I hope to easily finish under four hours. I don't think a PR is out of the question, as the race starts at 5 a.m. to keep us out of the heat.

To make the training a bit more enjoyable, I purchased a new winter hat at the Northwestern University bookstore last weekend. Go 'Cats! It will definitely come in handy this weekend, when I'm hoping to boost my confidence with a solid 20-miler.

Air Force Marathon Recap

Check out the photos!

I made the six-hour drive to Dayton, OH on the morning of Friday, September 18. The drive was incredibly relaxing. I thought traffic might be bad, but it was smooth sailing on I-294 all through Chicago. Even though Google maps didn't give me the "easy" way to my friend Dave's house in nearby Kettering, I was able to find it. Dave was nice enough to pick up my race packet for me, so I didn't have to go to the expo. We had our night-before-the-race meal at a nearby Fazoli's, which has worked well for me several times in the past.

Ready to Go

It was a bit cool in the early morning hours, but the forecast called for things to warm up, so Dave and I were anticipating a great day of running. We hoped to finish in about 4:20 (about 10:00/mile pace), which would be a personal best for Dave. The start of the race was great, featuring a fly-by and folks parachuting right by the race site. The staging area, which was right by the Air Force Museum was full of planes (both old and new), which added to the excitement.

Warp Speed

We went out a bit fast, covering the first mile in 9:24. I didn't want to press Dave at all, so I stayed a bit behind him, letting him dictate the pace. The next two miles were the hilliest of the entire course, with a significant climb in mile two and a significant descent in mile three. Dave zoomed down the hill faster than I expected, but I kept him within sight as I negotiated the descent. Gravity helped us to clock the third mile in about 8:30, which was by far our fastest mile of the day.

Flyin' Along

The course took us around the base, close to Wright State University. We entered and exited the base a few times, and I always waved to the guards as we passed by. We continued to zoom along at a pretty good pace for the first ten miles. We were closer to 4-hour pace than 4:20. It was starting to get a bit hot, but nothing like Twin Cities two years ago. My black San Antonio Marathon cap was doing its job. There were plenty of aid stations along the course, and there was more than enough water, Gatorade, and GU energy gel for everyone. Kudos to the race organizers for this.

Smile

I managed to carry both my cell phone and my digital camera with me the entire race. I used the cell phone camera to send pictures to my brother and his wife, who were posting them online for me. I used the digital camera to take video along the course and to get some additional photos. Now that I have all this great footage, I just need to get to work on the race video.

Oh, oh! We're halfway there!

As we neared the halfway point, I started wondering if I would be able to stay with Dave for the duration of the race. Though my personal best is 3:43, I'm not quite in prime marathon shape. We finished the first half in just over 2:01.

Run Way

The course took us around the base's main runway until, for a moment at mile 16, we actually ran on it! I know it sounds really neat to be on the runway, but that feeling quickly dissipated as we felt the total lack of shade, combined with the sunlight reflecting off the concrete. I was thrilled to get to a wooded area at mile 19, as it helped us cool off a bit.

I'm Not Leaving My Wingman

The second half was a struggle. Dave started to feel it right around the time we reached the runway, and our mile splits were at or above 11:00. I still felt great, but I stuck to my original plan of staying with Dave until I was certain he would finish. We took some additional walk breaks, as we still had a ways to go. We might not have been flying, but we were slowly and steadily progressing toward the goal.

Grabbing the GU

After the last gel stop at mile 21, I noticed quite a few unused packages of GU energy gel on the ground. These run about $1 a piece online (more if you get them at a retail store), and clean-up folks would probably just throw them away, so I decided to pick some up. You'll notice in the finishing photos that one hand has my digital camera, and the other has about five gels in it. Yum.

To The Finish

We conserved our energy for the last few miles, until the point when we had less than three quarters of a mile to go. Dave looked great, so I knew he would be able to make it. I zoomed ahead and finished about a minute or two ahead of Dave. I waved to Dave's parents, who were waiting for us just before the finish, and I let them know that Dave would be coming shortly. I had enough time to cross the line, rest for just a moment, and then set up for a video of Dave crossing the line. YEAH! We did it!

Post-Race Fun

We were each presented a finisher's medal by Air Force officers. I don't know exactly what their ranks were, but their uniforms were well-decorated. This small gesture made the event a lot more meaningful to me. After getting an aluminum blanket and a custom-designed towel, Dave and I made our way to the food and drink area.

Chow Down

Usually, it takes me an hour or so before I feel like eating after a marathon. This time, I was hungry right away -- probably because I wasn't pushing myself in the second half. Luck was with me, as there was all the cheese pizza I could eat from a local chain called La Rosa. I had at least three slices, but I can't remember exactly how many. There was also Nestle Quik chocolate milk, which I think is a great item to guzzle after a race.

Heading Home

We met up with Dave's parents after exiting the post-race area, and we were back at his house in no time. A big thank-you to Dave and family for their gracious hospitality.

Race statistics:

Miles 1-5	9:24	9:36	8:28	9:06	9:12
Miles 6-10	9:04	9:25	9:11	9:09	9:06
Miles 11-15	9:19	9:23	9:52	10:05	10:25
Miles 16-20	11:05	11:19	11:40	12:14	12:28
Miles 21-25	13:52	17:09	12:01	12:29	11:16
Miles 26-End	12:00	2:14

• Finishing Time: 4:40:32
• Average Pace: 10:42/mile
• First Half: 2:01:14 Second Half: 2:39:18
• Fastest Mile: #3 (8:28) Slowest Mile: #22 (17:09)

Joe's Run 2009

Joe's Run took place on Saturday. The race was not officially timed / measured, but it was still a great time. I measured the course at 2.9 miles, and I finished in 19:43, which is about the same pace I've run in the past few 5Ks. Had the course measured a full 5K, I may have broken 21 minutes, but it's tough to say. The competition was a bit tougher this year, so I finished in 8th place (compared to second place last year). I was a part of team SC Johnson, which raised over $4,500 for United Cerebral Palsy of Southeastern Wisconsin. Everyone's a winner!

Air Force Marathon Results

The results from the race are in. I finished in 4:40:32, and Dave finished in 4:42:15. Marathon #19 (well, 21 if you include the ultras) is complete!

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About 441

Mile 23: Getting close to the finish

Dave is starting to feel it a bit and Ben is staying at his pace. They are currently at: 4:03:0.

(I have to leave for a soccer game so Ben will either try to post the final time from his phone or I'll do it when we get back. Sorry to leave you hanging...)

Mile: 19: Through the Woods

Ben and Dave are still running together. They are at Mile 19 with a time of 3:07:00. Ben says they're doing fine! They're enjoying the scenery.


19 3:07:00

Mile 16:Flying through the course

Ben and Dave are at Mile 16 with a time of 2:32:00. In the photo of the Mile 16 marker, they are actually running on a run way! (Ben said, "No planes though.") :-)

Halfway Point: And We're Runnin'

Ben and Dave are at the halfway point with 2:01:20. This picture is on a road that runs around the air force base. (Holly--Ben's sister-in-law--reporting here...Andrew is otherwise occupied with a round of golf). ;-)

Mile 9 - World Premiere: US Air Force Marathon

Ben and Dave just passed Mile 9. They are at 1:22:30.

Mile 6 - A Beautiful Day for Running

The boys have just passed Mile 6 at 55:00. Here is a photo at the entrance of Patterson Air Force Base.

Mile 3 - Flying Down the Center Line

Dave "Maverick" Hoskinson and Ben "Iceman" Isaacson have just passed Mile 3 at about 27:30.

And They're off!

Sunrise in Dayton. Here is Ben and Dave at the starting line. (Insert Top Gun soundtrack here)

Prepped and Ready

Here is Ben's racing gear for tomorrow: Hat, Shirt, Roadrunner, Camera, Clif Bar, Assorted Gels, Water, Shorts, Shoes, Socks & More. Sleep well, Benj!

Live Air Force Marathon Updates Coming Soon

This is Andrew, Ben's brother, and I will be attempting to make live updates for Ben's progress in the Air Force Marathon in Dayton on Saturday morning. Stay tuned.

Aim High

I'll be running a marathon in Dayton, Ohio in one week with Dave, a friend from Northwestern. I don't plan to go for a personal best -- just have a nice relaxing 26.2-miler that takes place primarily on an Air Force base. Should be fun.

Flying In My Former Home Town

It was a nice, cool morning in Sturtevant for the Iron Horse 5K on Saturday. One of the things that made this race so special is that my brother, Andrew, and his two daughters, Ella and Lily, were in attendance to cheer me on, as well as my parents. I lived in Sturtevant for five years, so I've run around the village more times than I can count.

The race began at 8 a.m. near Fireman's Park, just east of the corner of Charles Street and Wisconsin Street. We headed east on Charles all the way to 90th Street. The wind was at our backs, and it was also slightly downhill, so it was a very fast start. I attempted to hold back a little and let the rabbits zoom ahead. We turned left and went north on 90th all the way to the Educator's Credit Union parking lot. I clocked the first mile in a pretty speedy 6:38.

Heading west through the parking lot and then south on 92nd Street, I tried to stay fast, but not too fast, reserving some energy for the last mile. A right turn onto Rayne Rd. led us west past the DMV and to the mile 2 mark. My split was 7:04, perhaps a bit slow. Considering that the wind was in our face and we were heading back uphill, it wasn't too bad. While I let people pass me in the first mile, nobody passed me in the second mile.

After a left turn on Wisconsin St., I was heading back south. My strategy seemed to be working -- I was now passing runners and feeling energized. I turned on the afterburners with about half a mile to go, passing a few more runners before turning left on Charles St. and sprinting toward the finish.

Mile 3 was a speedy 6:47. I could see the finish clock in the distance, and breaking 21 minutes seemed like a possibility. However, there was too much ground to cover despite my full-on sprint. As my running buddy Jerry says, the clock waits for no one. Still, it was a great race for me, as I crossed the line in 21:10.6, about six seconds off my personal best (21:05).

The wait didn't seem too long for the results. I was the twelfth runner across the line, and the tenth male. The best news -- I enjoyed the thrill of victory as I came in first in the male 30-34 age group! Woohoo!

I didn't take a closer look at the results until today, and I noticed that the 2nd and 3rd place finishers in my age group finished in 21:27.5 and 21:29.6, less than twenty seconds behind me. The odds are that I passed them both on Wisconsin St. just before making the turn toward the finish. Now, if I can improve my 5K racing skills a bit, and conditions are favorable, I'll crack 21 minutes next time out.

My brother took a lot of video of the event, so I'll be putting something together soon. Until then, enjoy a photo of me with Ella, who happens to be wearing my dad's hat and my 1st place medal.

Iron Horse 5K

21:10

12th place overall
1st in the M30-34 age group

Details soon!

Wisconsin Marathon Movie

Here's a link to a movie from the Wisconsin Marathon in Kenosha on May 2:

Wisconsin Marathon Movie

Also, if you're interested in a DVD of my marathon races, let me know. I actually have two DVDs with ten marathons each.

Saturday Sizzle

After the rain passed over, I got out for six miles in 50 minutes today (about 8:20 pace). The weather reminded me of the 2007 Twin Cities Marathon -- muggy, a tiny bit windy, and you wish the sky would open up and give you a cool shower -- and then it doesn't. It was actually more comfortable running into the wind because the breeze cooled me off a little.

This run was followed by one of the most refreshing showers ever.

Pleasant Prairie Family Days 5K

It was a bit chilly for August 1 in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. But it was definitely comfortable for running. Jenelle and I arrived at the race site a little after 7:30, giving me almost an hour to warm up and get ready. We met up with several friends who were also running the race. Janet, who ran her first 5K in St. Germain on June 28, was looking to improve her personal best. Janet's neighbor and babysitter, Kelci, ran alongside her. Mary and Maryke, members of our weekly young couples gathering, also came out to run. To add to the fun, Jenelle signed up! Quite a party.

The course was basically a lap around Lake Andrea, with a bit extra to get the total distance up to 5K. We started at 8:30, heading west on a paved road for about a quarter mile before making a U-turn onto the trail right alongside the lake. As I made my way back east, I waved to Mary, Maryke, Janet, Kelci, Jenelle, and Mary's husband Steve (who was waiting at the finish). With a significant wind predominantly out of the west, I felt great, finishing the first mile in 6:44. Mile 2 took me north and eventually to the west, continuing along the lake path. The winds were now against me. I told myself to stay strong. The sooner I made it around the lake, the sooner the winds would be at my back. I reached the halfway point in about 10:36 -- just a little behind my goal pace (finishing in 21:00). My split for mile 2 was 6:58.

The first half of mile 3 was still against the wind. I tried to keep up the pace while at the same time saving some for the last quarter mile. There were two runners in front of me that I hoped to catch along the final straightaway, and nobody was close behind me. As soon as I made the last turn and had the wind at my back, I turned it on as best I could. I finished mile 3 in 6:45.

I was flying to the finish. I successfully passed one of the runners. I glanced at the clock as I reached the finish. No sub-21 time, but another personal record peformance -- 21:05. I covered the last .11 miles in 37 seconds, corresponding to a pace of about 5:22/mile. I wish I could run that fast the entire race!

After taking a short break and downing three cups of water, I walked/jogged back to Jenelle, cheering all my friends on as I passed each of them. I smiled and laughed as other runners informed me that I was running the wrong way. I sooned reached Jenelle, and I accompanied her for a mile or so, stepping to the side as she sprinted for the finish. It was her first 5K, and thus a personal best. Way to go, Jenelle!

I managed 13th overall and 3rd in my age group. Maryke and Kelci also won age group awards. Janet ran a new personal record, and Mary may have done so as well (I'll check on that). So, a wonderful day. Congrats to everyone!
Kelci (33:21), Janet (33:23), Mary (31:36), Jenelle (41:31), Ben (21:05), Maryke (31:41)

PR again!

I finished the Prairie Days 5K in 21:05, good enough for third place in my age group and another personal best. Details and pictures soon!

Another 5K on the horizon

I had a nice, relaxing 8-mile run today, even though it was a bit warm. I went north on the bike trail (into the wind) for four miles and came straight back. There were a lot of people out there enjoying the weather.

I signed up for a 5K in Pleasant Prairie (not far from here) a week from today (August 1). I've never done that course before, but if conditions are favorable, I'll try and break 21 minutes.

Freedom 5K Movie

Right here.

Freedom 5K Recap

About 150 runners toed the line for the Freedom 5K in St. Germain. Three friends of mine -- Mark, Jamie, and Janet, also ran the race. Cheering us on were Jenelle, Heather (Mark's wife), and our friends Rich and Maryke.

As usual, I was a bit too excited at the start, and clocked a very fast first quarter mile before easing into a steady pace. Mark was ahead of me, but I kept him in my sights. I ran the first mile in about 6:45.

The trail narrowed shortly after the first mile marker, and there was a logjam of sorts as runners in front of me eased up with not much room to pass. It eventually cleared up as the trail widened again. My second mile was done in about 7:00.

At mile three, I tried to speed up a little, and I caught up to Mark. He noticed me approaching and said, "If you've got it, go for it". I charged ahead, clocking about 6:51 for my third mile, on pace for a personal record.

I had enough left in the tank to sprint past one runner before the finish. I leaned across the line (as if I were in the 100-meter dash) to earn a time of 21:12, which is a new best by 27 seconds! Yeah! Perhaps I should have sprinted a bit sooner. A common theme of my races is me feeling like I could have gone faster right after I cross the line.

Anyway, Mark managed a solid finish at 21:33. Jamie and Janet crossed the line side by side in 34:01 -- it was the first 5K for both of them. Welcome to the running world!

Pictures and possibly a movie will be posted when I get a chance.

Freedom 5K Results

I'm still waiting for the official results, but it appears that I set a new personal best at the Freedom 5K in St. Germain, WI yesterday, with a time of 21:12 (about 6:49/mile). Details soon.

5K Planning

My next race is the Freedom 5K in St. Germain, Wisconsin on June 28. I'm doing more speedwork to get ready for it. I'm hoping to set a new personal best (my current PR is 21:39). I ran a "test" 5K race a week ago, and finished in 22:02. That was wearing my regular running shoes. When I actually run the race, I'll have my "racing" shoes on. That and the training between now and race day will hopefully be enough.

Shoes A-Plenty

I'm pretty much fully recovered from the Wisconsin Marathon. I've been running between 3-5 miles every other day, including a 4-miler today in a new pair of shoes, which leads me to the main topic for this post:

I now have FOUR pairs of running shoes in "active" status:

Saucony ProGrid Omni 6 Ultimate -- I've had these for a while, but since I alternated them with other shoes, they are still pretty comfortable. I ran the Wisconsin Marathon in these shoes.

Saucony ProGrid Omni 7 Ultimate -- I got these for Christmas. I haven't run any races in them yet, but they've been great for training.

Saucony Grid Labyrinth -- I got these trail shoes on clearance earlier this year for about $25. I've only worn them a couple of times. If I do more rugged trail running in the future, these shoes will be a big part of the fun.

Saucony Grid Fastwitch 3 -- I just got these yesterday. They are "racing shoes", because they are about 40% lighter than my other pairs. They're not as supportive, so I'm not sure I could do 26 miles in them, but I could definitely do a 5K or 10K without any issues. This is the pair I wore this morning, and I did feel a little bit faster. Perhaps I should find a 5K to run in the near future to see if I can challenge my PR.

Kenosha Recap

At about 6 a.m. on Saturday, May 2, my parents dropped me off at the start of the Wisconsin Marathon, about three miles away from my house. Had I trained more thoroughly for this race, I might have run from my house to the start, run the race, and then ran home afterwards. I'll save that stunt for another time.

The weather was just a little bit chilly and forecast to warm up as the morning went on -- just about perfect for marathon running. I donned my usual red singlet and black shorts, and I also put on my black warm-up jacket. Since this race was marketed as the "World's Cheesiest Marathon", I ran the entire race in a foam cheese cowboy hat. More on that later.

The race started promptly at 7 a.m. I got to be a little bit closer to the start thanks to my hat. There were about 20 of us in the "cheesehead corral". The elite runners were to our immediate left, and it took all of five seconds for them to zoom past us after the start. My parents cheered me on as I went by. As usual, my dad brought his video camera.

I started out a little bit too quick. Since my last run of beyond ten miles was in November, I should have paced between 9:15 and 9:30. The usual pre-race excitement pumped me up, and I averaged 8:37 for the first five miles. I handed off my jacket to my parents around mile 4. It didn't take me long at all to get warm -- especially because my foam hat was bottling in the heat.

After a loop around downtown, the race meandered north along the lakeshore towards Carthage College. I saw Jenelle a couple of times on the way. She got some great photos. I slowed down a bit during miles 6-10, but I was still a bit too fast to ensure an even split. The north turnaround point was at about mile 7.5.

Just past mile 10, a shack containing actual restrooms (not portable ones) was conveniently located near the course, so I made a pit stop there. I could tell that I was getting tired, so I tried to walk a bit more at aid stations. I also began eating sport beans and energy gel at regular intervals (one serving every couple of miles). I brought six servings along with me.

Even though I was getting tired, I was all smiles. I got a lot of compliments on my hat from spectators of all ages. At mile 11.5, the half-marathoners turned back north for the finish while the marathoners continued south toward the state line. I saw my parents again just after the halfway point (which I reached in about 1:57). Every time I saw my mom, she asked if I was getting too hot in the foam hat and if I wanted to hand it off. I politely declined and continued on my way.

At an aid station, several folks mentioned that I was the "first cheesehead" they'd seen. This led me to believe that most of the folks in the cheeshead corral were either (a) in the half marathon or (b) had removed their cheese gear at some point during the race. Upon hearing this, I knew that I would probably keep my hat on the entire time. As I continued south, my pace slowed to over 9:30 a mile, as I was trying to conserve some energy for the final 10K.

I saw my parents again after reaching the south turnaround point. I can't remember how many times I saw them throughout the race, but I think it was at least five. My mom once again asked if I wanted to give her the hat. I smiled and said, "Tell you what -- I'll tell YOU when I'm ready." My mom laughed and said she'd see me at the finish.

I was really feeling it in the last few miles. I think my limited training (and not the hat) was what prevented me from finishing strong. Though I was trying to finish in four hours or less, I knew that it wasn't a big deal if I came in a little slower than that. As I took some extended walk breaks, I looked behind me to see if any other "cheesehead" runners were approaching. None in sight. I took an extra walk break with half a mile to go, which allowed me to zoom past runners in the final 500 yards and gave the illusion that I was full of energy. Heh. I put my arms up in the air as I ran by Jenelle and my parents, crossing the finish line with a chip time of 4:03:25

After finishing, I checked with the race announcer to determine if any other cheesehead marathoners had crossed the line. While she wasn't absolutely certain, she decided to interview me. As soon as I edit all of the great video footage my dad got (including most of the interview), I'll post a link.

Besides the usual post-race food (fruit, granola, etc.), I also was entitled to free beer and bratwurst. So, there was plenty of stereotypical Wisconsin-y stuff throughout the day. :)

I'm not sure when my next race will be, but as soon as my legs have fully recovered, I'm going to try and do more speedwork to improve my times at shorter races.

Race statistics:

Miles 1-5	8:46	8:31	8:26	8:39	8:44
Miles 6-10	8:59	8:53	8:51	9:05	8:52
Miles 11-15	9:27	9:01	9:32	8:57	9:27
Miles 16-20	9:28	9:44	9:27	9:31	10:03
Miles 21-25	9:36	9:09	9:52	9:23	10:23
Miles 26-End	10:52	1:47

• Average Pace: 9:17/mile
• First half: 1:56:45 Second half: 2:06:40
• Fastest Mile: #3 (8:26) Slowest Mile: #26 (10:52)
• Race Photos (Shutterfly)

404'd

Hi, all!

After a solid 1:57 first half, I eased up a bit in the second half, finishing in four hours and four minutes (actually 4:03 and change). I managed to wear the cowboy cheese hat for the entire race. Details later!

Ready for K-Town Marathon

I ran an easy two miles this morning to ensure all systems are go for tomorrow's race. I'm feeling pretty good.

The two biggest uncertainties about tomorrow are:
1) I haven't run beyond ten miles since November. Will I be able to stay strong, especially in the second half?
2) What effect will the cheesehead cowboy hat have on my pace? Will it slow me down? Will it become too uncomfortable, causing me to hand it off to a friend / family member?

I don't plan on making any real-time updates, but I hope to at least post my finishing time shortly after it's over. Wish me luck!

Warming up

It's nice to finally be able to get outside without needing a bunch of layers to stay warm. I managed four miles yesterday morning -- right before the rain showed up.

Eight days until the Wisconsin Marathon, which has now reached capacity (2,000 runners between the half and full marathons). I didn't realize it until now, but the "out-and-back south" portion of the race comes within a tenth of a mile of the Wisconsin-Illinois border before heading back north. Getting to that turnaround point (and the long return to the finish) will likely be the toughest part of the race. I hope I can keep it together.

To ensure a place in the special starting corral, I plan to wear a Cheesehead Cowboy Hat, like the one seen on this page. I don't know how comfortable it will be after 26.2 miles of running, but it should add to the fun factor of the race.

If you plan to be out there watching, let me know, and I'll watch for you as I run by!

Tapering? Not exactly

If this was a usual marathon training cycle for me, I'd have run a 20-miler over the weekend, and I'd be slowly reducing mileage until race day.

Things are different this time. I ran 3.5 miles on Saturday and rested on Easter Sunday. I've averaged just over 10 miles a week since the start of the year. My longest run was a 10-miler on Saturday, April 4. My weekly mileage will probably stay in the 10-15 range right up to May 2, when I'll try and fly for 26 miles 385 yards.

Will the "less is more" plan keep me moving at the Wisconsin Marathon, or is this a recipe for disaster? Only time will tell.

Hometown Run Machine

I finally signed up for another race. On Saturday, May 2, I will be running the Wisconsin Marathon, which starts just a few miles from my house. This should be an interesting one. The race is organized by some folks based in Chicago. I think they're hoping to get a lot of Illinois runners across the border. There's going to be a special starting corral for anyone wearing a cheesehead or some sort of cheese-themed clothing.

I'm not planning to set a personal best, as I won't be increasing my weekly mileage much in preparation for the race. I hope to finish in about four hours.

If you're interested in coming to see me race, let me know! If you live anywhere near me, you won't have to drive far at all.

2009 Q1

With winter making a late appearance over the weekend, I ran four miles on the the treadmill today. This puts me at 119 miles for the year, and 6303 lifetime.

What have I been up to? While I haven't been racing, I think I'm in pretty good shape. My weight continues to hover in the 165-170 range. As a part of a "Healthy Lifestyle Challenge" at work, I've been doing some kind of cardio activity for 30 minutes five times a week. I also lifted weights three times a week, so I'm a tiny bit more muscular then I used to be. :)

I might find a race to run in the coming weeks/months, but it's tough to say how far it'll be. The longest I've run so far this year is seven miles.

Now that spring is here, I'll try and post a bit more frequently.

Back out there, the sequel

I ran outside this morning, which was the first time since my last post. After doing so many "hamster miles", it's quite a thrill to run and actually go somewhere!

I'm still taking it easy -- no more than five miles in a single run. Will the coming of spring give me a marathoning bug? We'll find out.

Back out there

With the temperatures in the 40s, I ventured outside this morning for my first outdoor run in quite a while. It was a bit foggy, so I brought along the portable light that I got for Christmas. I managed 3.5 miles in about 32 minutes.

I still don't have any racing plans -- maybe when spring rolls around.

Taking it easy

While I am continuing to exercise regularly, I have definitely cut back on running. I didn't go outside at all in January, but I did run 3-4 "hamster miles" 2-3 times a week. I've also been using the elliptical trainer in the spare bedroom. I am also lifting weights 2-3 times a week. My weight continues to hover between 165 and 170, which is where I want to be.

So, the odometer isn't rising as quickly as it has been, but I'm staying fit. I'm not sure when the desire to run another marathon will hit me, but when it does, I'll definitely write about it here.

2008 in Review

I finished December 2008 with a mere 42.8 miles. However, I've spent a lot more time on the elliptical trainer in recent weeks, so my fitness level is still pretty good.

Here's my total mileage since I started tracking it in late 2004:

2004: 120 miles
2005: 1417 miles
2006: 1618 miles
2007: 1740 miles
2008: 1289 miles
Total: 6184 miles

Though 2008's total is the lowest in four years, I'm not slowing down by any means. I ran 14 races this past year, and I set personal records at 10 of them.

What will I do in 2009? It's still too early to tell. I'll probably take it easy for the next couple of months at least, but I may pick things up once the weather improves. I just might run a 50-miler in the fall. As usual, I'll let my faithful readers know as soon as I sign up for another race. Until then, keep on runnin'!