Lighthouse Run 2017

I was hoping to challenge the 70-minute mark at the Lighthouse Run this year, but a fall in training on Monday, June 5th limited my ability to put in extensive speedwork leading up to race day.

The first half was pretty good, but I could tell that it was a bit quick for my fitness level. Perhaps conditions were a bit more difficult than I thought -- it didn't feel overly hot or humid to me, but several other runners thought it was tough.

Anyway, I kept it together and finished well in 74:18, good enough to lead the SCJ team to third place. Here's the full 10 mile corporate division results.

Mile splits:
6:57, 7:24, 7:03, 7:10, 7:23, 7:41, 7:51, 7:49, 7:45, 7:15

Until next year!

Wisconsin Half Marathon 2014 Recap

 

I should have posted this a long time ago. I ran this in May!

It was a little bit cool, but I had a great time at this year's Wisconsin Marathon / Half Marathon on May 3. The tradition of running the half in even years remains alive. My primary goal was to set a personal best. My secondary goal was to break 1:40. With the confidence of a 10-miler at 7:12 pace, I toed the line with a plan to run the race at 7:30 pace.

My friend, David, made the trip from Ohio to Kenosha to run with me for the fourth time in a row. There were a couple of factors that added to the fun this year. First of all, David's fiancee, Hilary, was also present. Secondly, both of them were running the FULL marathon. This gave me the rare opportunity to drive around the course after my half marathon was done and cheer on my friends. The experience gave me added respect for all the fans who do whatever they can and go wherever they can to encourage the runners.

I saw some other familiar faces at the start, mainly people I know from work. One of them was Colleen, who had the potential for a podium finish in the full marathon. I wished her and several others good luck as the race began.

Early Going (7:36, 7:25, 7:29, 7:29, 7:29)

I held my pace pretty well in the first part of the race, making sure to run my first mile at or slower than my goal pace. I've learned from so many marathons that starting too fast incurs the risk of a rough end. There were plenty of spectators in the downtown area, and I waved to several of them; some I recognized, but most I didn't.

As the runners headed north of the downtown area, I noticed Colleen not too far ahead of me. I gradually picked up the pace and caught up to her. She mentioned that she was planning to have a pacer for the first half but couldn't locate him at the start.

Me: "Oh? What's your goal pace?"

Colleen: "7:30."

Me: "That's what I'm planning to run. I can help you stay on track." 

And with that, I had extra motivation to stick to goal pace. Colleen and her husband, Dave, are excellent runners. They helped the SCJ team win the Lighthouse Run corporate division in 2012. The only way I could ever keep up with Colleen is if she's running twice as far as me.

Mid-Race (7:39, 7:38, 7:43, 7:30, 7:34)

The pace slipped just a little bit in the middle of the race due to walk breaks at aid stations, but I was feeling great through ten miles. After making the turnaround at Carthage and heading back south, I was amazed at how many runners were behind me. This race has grown quite a bit since its inception in 2009. It took a while, but I eventually saw David and Hilary making their way north.

Somewhere during mile 10, what looked like a little kid zoomed past me. Wow. I later learned that this was a ten year-old who set a world record for his age. He had been cruising along with his parents and then decided to take off for the latter part of the race, hence his ability to pass me like I wasn't moving. His record was just recently broken by another young upstart from Virginia, but I still felt like a part of history for getting passed by him.

Finish Strong (7:12, 7:21, 7:00, 0:39)

I picked it up as I got closer to the end. As I turned back north to finish the half marathon (roughly the 11.5 mile mark), I wished Colleen all the best as she continued south. She ended up finishing in 3:17:59 (about 7:34 pace) and was the third fastest woman in the full marathon. Congrats!

I was hoping to catch up to the ten year-old in the final stretch, but he finished about a minute ahead of me. I was still able to pass several runners in the last mile. I finished in 1:37:43, taking about four minutes off my personal best.

I didn't stick around for long after my finish. I walked back to my car, went home, showered, and made preparations to cheer on David and Hilary as they continued the full marathon.

I was blessed to have company with me during my time on the course as a spectator. My dad and my kids came along. I talked to David and Hilary via cell phone, and it wasn't long at all before we saw them moving right along around mile 15. I'm no expert, but it appeared that David was more tired than Hilary. It reminded me of the 2009 Air Force Marathon when I held back in the second half to stay with David ("I'm not leaving my wingman"). Though he was tired, David had plenty of smiles for us as we went by. I did my best to provide whatever food / drink I could to keep he and Hilary strong for the remainder of the race.

We saw them a couple more times before the kids got tired, so I took them home with my Dad before heading back to the finish line. Most of the spectators had gone by the time David and Hilary reached the finish, but there was plenty of excitement as their names were announced. They finished side-by-side with chip times of 5:59:03. I admire their perseverance -- only once have I had to run a race above five hours. Congrats!

We headed back home and feasted on pizza and many other things to celebrate our victories. We'll see when we can all get together again for another race!

There's a couple of photos above, but here's the full photo album.

Mom's Day 5K

I drove to North Beach in Racine for the Mom's Day 5K on Sunday, May 11. I gave myself plenty of time for the usual warm up.

I guessed (incorrectly) that the course was an out-and-back, heading north from the finish line and returning south. It was actually a loop course, and we started by heading south along a path near the lake. I realized a bit too late that I was in the back of the pack at the start, not the front, so I was weaving around lots of runners and walkers for the first minute or so.

I quickly made my way into the top ten. The course headed west and then north as I reached the first mile marker, and I passed more runners as I went. The adrenaline from the early mistake led to a quick first mile of 6:24, and I found myself in third place.

I could see the leader and the second place runner in the distance, but I was not able to bridge the gap quickly. The course meandered east toward the lake, and I logged the second mile in 6:30.

The last mile headed back south to the finish along a hilly path. I was now closing in on second, and when we reached a significant uphill stretch, I powered through it and completed the pass. There wasn't much of a response, so as long as I stayed strong, I would keep my position.

I tried to muster the strength to catch the leader, but he was too far out. I completed the third mile in 6:40, and I reached the finish 36 seconds later with a new personal best of 20:10!

I chatted with the winner after the race, who was about 20 seconds ahead of me. Had I surged in the final quarter mile, he probably would have picked it up, as he wasn't really pushed at all throughout the 5K.

I noticed that the course measured slightly short on my GPS. It should have been on the long side, considering I started in the back of the pack, some distance from the start line.

In any case, I was thrilled to take second overall and get a little bit closer to a 5K under 20 minutes.

Stuff the Sleigh 5K - New Personal Best!

On November 30 (my mom's birthday), I headed to downtown Racine for a small but well-organized 5K race. You can't expect comfortable temperatures this time of year, so I was thrilled that it was warm enough to keep the tights in the drawer.

A downhill start paved the way for a fast initial pace. After the dust had settled and I reach the 0.5-mile mark, I was in fifth place. As I slowly gained ground on the fourth place runner, I was surprised to see a runner pushing a stroller making significant gains on me. The stroller guy passed me and didn't even seem like he was pushing himself. I passed a runner soon after that, so I stayed in fifth place.

At the 1.5 mile mark, I passed by Lakeshore Towers, where my grandma lives. This is also where my parents and my kids were stationed. I waved to them as I ran by. At this point, stroller guy was in the lead, and I had moved up to fourth.

I wasn't getting that much faster, but I had the energy to overtake the third place runner with about a mile to go. I passed Lakeshore Towers again at the 2.5-mile mark, heading back to the finish line on Sam Johnson Parkway. In the last half mile, I solidified my position in third, allowing me to complete the uphill finish comfortably.

I finished in third place overall, setting a new personal best at 20:30. Because of the overall place, I did not qualify for an age group award. That's the first time this has ever happened.

The second place guy finished in 20:17. Could I have beat that? Probably not, but perhaps a super-mega-huge all-out effort could have done it. I don't think I ever could have caught the stroller guy. He finished  in 20:02, but I think he could have gone faster if someone had pushed him.

What a GREAT day to set a personal best and earn a place on the podium.

2013 Kenosha Firecracker 10K Recap

After averaging 7:12 / mile at the Lighthouse Run (10 miles) on June 15, a 7:00 pace seemed reasonable for the Firecracker 10K in Kenosha on June 30.

My previous 10K effort was a personal best 45:21 on Thanksgiving Day 2011, so I was optimistic about setting a new personal record.

For the most part, I was able to go at my planned pace. The first four miles were done in 7:03, 7:02, 6:59, and 7:00, respectively. I got just a little bit tired down the stretch, as mile 5 was a hair slower at 7:08. Motivated to keep my position, I clocked 6:57 for mile 6, and 1:37 for the final .22 miles to the finish, resulting in a finishing time of 43:46.

A couple of notes:

• The 5K and 10K finishers crossed the same finish line, so it got a little crazy at the end weaving around slower 5K runners
• The results page has me finishing in 21st place, 3rd in my age group. I'm pretty sure about my age group position, but I'm not sure there were 20 people ahead of me. Based on discussions with the folks who finished ahead of me, my guess is that some people entered in the 5K somehow slipped into the 10K results. Oh, well. Crazier things have happened at this race. 

2013 Lighthouse Run Recap

As I have in many years past, I joined the SCJ OFF! and Running team at the Lighthouse Run on June 15, 2013. It was a rainy morning, which can sometimes lead to fast times. I was fully in team spirit mode because one of my teammates (Jorge) and I were planning to run together. Our e-mail conversation went like this:

Me: See you at the Lighthouse Run on Saturday!

Jorge: We are running together right? 7:15 pace?

Me: Sure! 7:15 pace sounds perfect. See you then.

If I could manage 7:15 pace, I would finish in 1:12:30, which would be a personal best by about a minute. So how'd it go?

I wore my orange shirt and black shorts, which I wore when I slashed my marathon PR in Kenosha in May. Instead of my orange shoes, I wore my Saucony Grid Fastwitch 3s, also known as my fast shoes. I wore a light jacket to stay dry until the race began.

Mile 1 (6:57): Right from the start, Jorge surprised me by going faster than 7:15 pace. He was 20-30 feet ahead of me before I knew it. Rather than spend extra effort to catch up to him, I decided simply to keep him in my sights in the hopes that he'd settle in to a slower pace. I waved to my family, including Grandma Iz, as I zoomed by on Lake Avenue and headed north.

Miles 2-4 (7:10, 7:11, 7:11): The course changed this year. Instead of going north on Main all the way to Four Mile Road, we turned right onto Three Mile Road, bending north onto Lighthouse Drive, then heading west on Four Mile Road. Basically, we did the same loop as in past years, but in the opposite direction. Fine by me. Jorge slowed down a bit, but he was still going faster than 7:15 pace. I kept him in my sights, though, still planning to catch him later on.

Mile 5 (7:05): I grabbed a bottle of water from Aunt Sue. I didn't need much of it because the steady rain was keeping me cool. I was hoping that the rain would taper off to a drizzle, but I was still pretty happy with the conditions. I'll take this over 80+ degree heat anytime.

Miles 6-7 (7:13, 7:15): Jorge was not slowing down. From my perspective, I couldn't tell if he was speeding up or not, but he was getting further away from me. I noticed him look back a few times, and I waved to let him know I was okay.

Miles 8-9 (7:25, 7:31): Continuing south on Main Street toward the finish, I had to ease up. I had not expected to go this fast. Jorge was out of range, but I was glad that he was doing so well.

Mile 10 (6:59): I saved a bit for the finish. The reality is that I was ahead of personal record pace, and a solid final mile could get me a sub-72 minute result. I zoomed past the fun run / walk folks and cruised to a finish in a satisfying 1:11:57.

Let's check out the team results. I finished fourth on the team, good enough to get me a medal, as the team finished in second place. The InSinkErator guys had too much speed for us to win the corporate division. Maybe we'll get 'em next year.

An added bonus -- I finished fourth in my age group, so I actually got two medals. Woohoo!

Cree Cruise 5K Recap

I wasn't expecting much when I ran 5K in Sturtevant on June 1. It was six days after my return from a two-week vacation out west, and I hadn't been running much. Still, I put together a pretty solid performance.

Before the race, I took Eliana in the stroller for a warm-up to the Washington Highlands condominium complex where I used to live. I said hi to my old neighbor and the person who bought my place. It's been seven years since I moved out, so I think my neighbor was a bit surprised to see me.

I started out fast -- maybe too fast -- and turned in a first mile of 6:28. Had I been training extensively, that would be perfect to set a sub-20 minute PR, but it became pretty obvious that I couldn't keep that up. After a 6:59 second mile and fatigue setting in, I did my best to hold it together. Mile #3 was 7:09. Another 38 seconds to the finish, and I was done in 21:14, about 40 seconds off my PR. This was 30th overall and 6th in the highly-competitive M30-34 age group.

An hour or so later, Eliana entered the Kids Cruise, which was a very short run in the Cree parking lot. Despite my best effort to prepare her, she was a bit spooked by the person who yelled "Go!" and ran directly into my arms. I guided her around the course, and then she freaked out again when a volunteer tried to give her a ribbon. I'm sure she'll be a bit more excited about her next race. :)

For Pete's Sake 5K

You can't quite read it from the picture, but I got the blue bracelet when I registered on race morning for the For Pete's Sake 5K run in Kenosha on July 14. It was two weeks after a new 5K PR, so I wasn't expecting anything big.

The course headed north from the Southport Beach House and nearly reached the downtown area before turning back for the finish.

I set a pretty quick pace in the early going. I reached the first mile marker in 6:32, but my Garmin showed only 0.98 miles run. I stayed strong in the second mile, reaching the marker at 13:04. Again, my Garmin showed less than two miles run (about 1.97), so I wasn't quite at PR pace. There was no third mile marker, but I think I was there in about 19:45. I ended up crossing the finish at 20:39 on my watch.

My official time was 20:37 -- just three seconds off my PR -- and good enough for 15th place overall. I'll take it.

Freedom 5K 2012

It was a great day for a 5K run on the trail in St. Germain. This was my fourth time doing the Freedom 5K, having participated in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Though the course is on a trail through the woods, it's not too rugged, so fast times are possible.

For the first time I can recall, I ran the race without my GPS. I accidentally left it on earlier in our trip up north, so it didn't have the power. I couldn't pace exactly where I wanted, but I got help from watch-wearers around me.

My main goal was a personal best, and my stretch goal was to break 20 minutes. That would be a tall order, given my best 5K to date was barely under 21 minutes.

I pressed harder than usual in the first mile. I tend to ease back and let lots of people pass me in the early going of a 5K, but this time I was holding my own from the beginning. I felt okay, but not super-great after reaching the first mile mark. A nearby runner said '6:25', which is on pace to finish in 20 minutes. Whoa, could I actually do this?

I pushed it again in the second mile, and I was under 13:00 with a mile to go. I was feeling it down the stretch, and a few runners passed me with the finish line in view. However, I held it together for a finish in 20:34, which is more than twenty second off my personal best. I wouldn't call it a total victory, but I was very happy with my performance. It was good enough for third place in my age group. Woohoo!

Lighthouse Run 2012 Recap

At last year's Lighthouse Run, I broke the 75-minute barrier, cutting almost five minutes off my 10-mile personal best. With temperatures forecast to climb into the 80s for the 2012 edition, could I go even faster?

After consulting with some running buddies, I decided to start out a bit slower than PR pace, somewhere in the 7:45 to 8:00 per mile range. However, when I arrived at the start area, I felt a cool breeze off the lake. It was still warmer than optimum running conditions, but it was pretty good for a mid-June race. I decided to go out at PR pace (about 7:25/mile) and see how things went.

Mile 1 (7:19) -- As much as I try to tell myself not to start too fast, I was out in a flash. The first half mile was probably about 7:00 pace. I waved to Jenelle, Eliana, my parents, and Grandma Iz, who were a few blocks past the start. Eliana was very excited to see me, pointing at me and running towards me -- thankfully not getting too close. Having a 1.5-year old cheer you on is wonderful, and her cheers will probably get even more wonderful as she grows up. Anyway, I eased up a bit heading over the Main St. bridge and clocked the first mile just a bit quicker than I was targeting.

Mile 2 (7:20) -- I kept it going steadily through the zoo. I continued my tradition of saying to the runners around me, "Uh oh, I just heard there's a tiger loose." You don't have to outrun the tiger, just the other people in the race.

Mile 3 (7:25) -- I was once again wearing my Saucony Grid Fastwitch 3 shoes, also known as my 'fast shoes', for this race. They are 40% lighter than the shoes in which I train and run marathons, but they are not nearly as comfortable. My feet are a bit sore as I type this, but I made it through.

Mile 4 (7:25) -- I saw Aunt Lisa and Cousin Rachel at Lake Meadow Drive. It's always great to see relatives on the course. Thanks for the cheers! I'd also like to give a big thanks to everyone along the course who had sprinklers / mist sprayers set up for all the runners. It was a big help in my efforts to stay cool.

Mile 5 (7:27) -- Aunt Sue once again handed me a bottle of water as I headed east on 4 mile road. The heat was starting to affect my pace, but I tried to keep things under 7:30.

Mile 6 (7:36) -- As we turned back to the south, it seemed more difficult to maintain the pace I had held for the first five miles. The wind may have been against us, but I think it was more the heat and fatigue that gradually takes effect. I was also trying to save some energy for the last few miles.

Mile 7 (7:38) -- A lot of races have both water and some kind of sports drink at the aid stations. The Lighthouse Run has just water, which is why I carried an Accel Gel with me, gulping it down just past the six-mile marker. I followed it with plenty of water (from the bottle Aunt Sue gave me) so that I didn't cramp up. This required a bit longer of a walk break, but I was worth it to get the bunch of carbs and the hint of protein that accel gel provides.

Mile 8 (7:29) -- Back on Main Street, I felt pretty good, so I starting picking things up with about 2.5 miles to go. I didn't feel quite as good as I did last year, when my final two miles were 6:59 and 6:36, but I knew that I had something left in the tank. I might as well use it.

Mile 9 (7:14) -- Here we go! I zoomed by those in the four-mile race and those in the two-mile fun run/walk, as well as a few tired 10-milers. I caught and passed a member of the SCJ Off! and Running team, Juan, who I expected to finish way in front of me. Only the top four runners from each team contribute to the team's time. Not knowing how many other SCJ folks were in front of me, I had extra motivation to run fast, as every second counts in the corporate team competition.

Mile 10 (6:50) -- I picked off more runners as I tried to use every last ounce of strength in the final mile. The cheers of my family, about a quarter mile from the finish, were once again wonderful. Down the final stretch, I didn't have anyone to chase, but a few folks close behind me gave me the motivation to sprint for the line. I held them off and finished with a clock time of 1:13:46. My chip time was 1:13:43, which means I took 56 seconds off my previous personal record. YES!

As for the SCJ Off! and Running team, we won the corporate division! What made this especially exciting is that I was the fourth place finisher on the team. For the first time ever at the Lighthouse Run, I am going home with a medal. Sweet. The margin of victory was pretty big -- Juan's time would have been fast enough -- but it still felt great to be announced at the award ceremony and presented with a medal. I'll have a picture soon.

Next up -- the Freedom 5K on July 1. Can I set another personal best? I sure hope so.

Wisconsin Half 2012 - Flying in Kenosha

For the second year in a row, my friend David came in from Ohio to join me at the Wisconsin Marathon / Half Marathon in Kenosha. This year, we both ran the half. I felt confident that I could set a new personal record, as my last serious attempt at this distance was the same event in 2010.

The start looked a bit cold and dreary with drizzle and a sharp wind off the lake. I had a black long-sleeved base layer shirt, a yellow short-sleeved shirt over that, and my blue and gray rain jacket over that as I entered the start corral. Since David and I did not plan to run together, he was a bit further back in the pack.

As I started my 13.1-mile trip, I spotted my parents right away. My dad, recording me with my Bloggie camera, was full of his usual enthusiasm, and so was my mom. I handed off my rain jacket and made my way south with about 4,000 people in my party.

The Early Going
Miles 1-5: 8:00, 7:50, 7:40, 7:53, 7:44
Having run a 10-miler last summer at 7:30/mile pace and a 10K last fall at 7:19/mile pace, it seemed reasonable that I could complete a half marathon at 8:00/mile pace. In the first five miles, I felt pretty comfortable at a pace slightly faster than that. A wind from the north helped push me along a bit.

My only concern at this point was my choice to wear the black base layer shirt. With the rain subsiding and temperatures slightly warming, I attempted the somewhat complicated task of removing both shirts, separating one shirt from the other, and replacing the yellow shirt while maintaining my pace. I did fairly well, though I did drop the black shirt at one point, requiring a very quick stop, pick up, and restart. It was just my luck that I saw my parents less than a mile after I completed the stunt, so I wasn't hanging on to the black shirt for long.

The Midgame
Miles 6-10: 7:58, 8:00, 8:12, 7:58, 8:03
The course took a predominantly northward turn toward Carthage College, putting the wind in my face. I was still able to keep my pace pretty well. One of my aid station walks was a bit longer than usual as I pulled out a pack of sport beans and gulped down an extra cup of water. With the cool temperatures, I didn't need to drink all that much, but I still wanted to avoid cramping up after solid or semi-solid fuel intake, like the lime Accel Gel I downed at the 9.5-mile mark.

Before long, I reached Carthage and the turnaround point, excited for the mostly southerly journey to the finish that remained.

Zooming Home
Miles 11 to finish: 7:14, 7:18, 6:59, 0:38
Much like my effort at the Lighthouse Run last year, with the finish line getting closer and still feeling strong, I decided to 'drop the hammer' and make a strong push, not wanting to leave a bunch of extra energy in the tank at the end.

I saw my parents at the 11-mile mark. My mom offered me the bottle of blue accelerade that I had prepared before the race, but I didn't need it. I gave a thumbs-up sign, knowing I would see them again soon at the finish.

At mile 12, the half marathoners turn back to the north to the finish while the full marathoners continue south. While my final mile was against the wind, it didn't slow me down at all. I was passing runners left and right. A personal record was certain at this point -- it was only a question of by how much. The finish arrived quickly. I waved to my parents, raised my arms in triumph, and smiled for the finish line photographers as I heard my name announced over the loudspeaker. I'm not exactly sure what a 'runner's high' is, but it might feel something like I felt at that moment.

Finish time: 1:41:27

About half an hour later, I recorded David's finish. He crossed the line in 2:13:35. While that's not a personal best for him, it was an improvement of eight minutes from a half marathon he ran seven weeks ago. Way to go, David!

I am now super-excited for the marathon in Minneapolis in four weeks. Can I set another personal best?

Turkey Day Run Again

Last year was my first appearance at the Mayor's Turkey Day Run in Kenosha. I managed a PR (47:28, about 7:40/mile). Will this year be as fruitful?

I was very optimistic that I could set another personal best. The source of my confidence was my performance at the 10-mile Lighthouse Run in June, where I finished in 1:14:39 (about 7:28/mile). If I could keep that pace for only 10 kilometers (about 6.22 miles), I'd shave a minute off last year's time. So, I planned to go out at about 7:30 pace and see how I felt.

At the start, I was a bit too far back in the pack, so I had to weave around some walkers and slow runners. Oops. At least I didn't make the mistake of starting too fast. I quickly reached runners going at my target pace, and I cruised comfortably through the first mile in 7:29.

I continued to feel strong in the second mile (7:18) and kept fairly close to pace in the third mile (7:34). I once again counted the runners at the turnaround point. There were about 90 ahead of me.

Still feeling great, I picked off runners in the fourth (7:19) and fifth (7:27) miles. I hadn't sped up that much, but others were getting a little tired. With plenty left in the tank, I dropped the hammer in mile six (6:55) and kept it going through the last .22 miles to the finish (1:19).

The results show a finish in 63rd place in 45:21, taking 2:07 off my previous personal best. This also means that I passed more than 20 runners in the second half! I also improved my age group position from 13th to 8th.

I don't know if I'll even be in town next Thanksgiving, but if I can fit this run into my schedule for a third consecutive year, I'll try and break 45 minutes. Onward!

SCJ Turkey Trot 5K - 2011 Edition

Jenelle, Eliana and I ventured north to Armstrong Park in Racine for a 5K run/walk. This one is limited to company employees and their families, and there's no race numbers or official timing, but it's usually a good time.

Jenelle pushed Eliana in the stroller, near the back of the pack, while I ran near the front. Most of the crowd is out for a leisurely jog with their kids, but there are always some 'serious' runners. The 2011 edition was no exception. One guy in a red shirt and shorts darted away from the pack so quickly that I figured there was no way I could ever catch him. I was right. However, I was in the top ten after the first quarter mile. After the first mile, which I ran in 7:00, I was in sixth.

After a second mile of 7:17 that featured a few hills, I picked things up in the third mile (6:43), moving up to third place. I could see the second place runner in the distance. Even though I measured the official course at 3.28 miles (about .17 miles beyond 5K), that wasn't enough space for me to catch him.

I was thrilled to finish with a time of 22:52, an average of about 6:58/mile. I have run faster 5Ks before, but I was quite happy with the result. I think this served as a great tune-up for the Thanksgiving Day 10K in Kenosha.

Skeleton Skamper Recap

Saturday's half marathon in Mount Pleasant was a new kind of challenge for me. I ran 13.1 miles while pushing my eleven month-old baby daughter, Eliana, in a stroller. Overall, I think things went pretty well.

To ensure parking near the start, my mom arrived at the race site early and held a parking space for me. After I arrived, we had time to relax in the warm village hall. I fed and changed Eliana, and there was ample time and space for her to crawl around after that. With about fifteen minutes before the start, we made our way outside. A Journal Times reporter took our picture near the hall entrance, but we didn't make the paper. Oh, well. Maybe next time.

Eliana had a hooded sweatshirt, fleece pants, socks, boots, a winter hat, mittens, and a blanket to keep warm, and I was all set in my cheese cowboy hat, long-sleeved base layer t-shirt, yellow Wisconsin Marathon shirt, cape, and green shorts. And, yes, Eliana had her cape on as well.

Miles 1-3: 10:03, 9:40, 10:32

Things went pretty much as planned in the first few miles. The biggest issue was the limited amount of space on the side of the road. We were on the right side of the street, so I had to watch carefully behind me as cars went by, some of them a bit on the speedy side. I was also trying hard not to get in the way of other runners, as the whole race was a stop-and-go effort for me. Eliana would sometimes push the blanket so that it was dragging on the ground, so I had to pull over, adjust it, and get moving again.

Mile 4: 12:19

Eliana was getting pretty feisty at this point. I was more than comfortable, but she was crying loudly and flailing her arms and legs. Very unsettling. The mittens came off, and she had removed one of her boots as well. After several quick attempts to comfort her, I pulled over for about two minutes for a thorough re-bundling. I tried to give her some water as well, but she wasn't interested. Though she still wasn't overly happy with me, she settled down a bit as we continued down the road.

Miles 5-9: 10:14, 9:24, 9:29, 9:30, 8:59

Eliana finally fell asleep. With her resting comfortably, I kept moving as best as I could. A little sprinkle of rain here and there didn't slow us down at all.

When my parents stopped by to cheer us on, I had to tell them to keep it down because Eliana was sleeping. I also preemptively quieted aid station volunteers by putting a finger to my mouth. There weren't a whole lot of runners this far back in the pack, so they were happy to temporarily cease the chants of "GATORADE! WATER!" so that Eliana wasn't startled awake. Aid station volunteers are great people.

Make Sure They See You

During the fifth mile of the race, I noticed a police car with its lights on and another car just in front of it. I later learned that a car hit a runner at approximately the four-mile marker. Scary. I don't know the extent of the runner's injuries, but she was treated at the hospital and released. My thoughts and prayers go out to her for a quick recovery. I have two additional thoughts on this:

1) Whenever possible, the course should run on the left side of the street (facing traffic) if the street cannot be closed, rather than on the right side (with traffic). I'm sure the race organizers will take this into account for next year's race.

2) As I mentioned before, whenever I was running on the right side, I frequently looked behind me to ensure I was safe. Whenever you're out running, whether in an organized race or a training run in the neighborhood, never assume that a driver will automatically yield to you. If there's a vehicle about to cross my path, I usually don't proceed until I make eye contact with the driver. I certainly don't blame the runner in the above situation -- there was likely nothing she could  have done to avoid the collision except leap off the road entirely. All I'm saying is to take whatever precautions you can to stay safe. 

Mile 10: 11:18

With Eliana rousing from her sleep, I made a pit stop at a portable restroom at another aid station. A volunteer smiled and waved at Eliana, doing a great job of keeping her occupied until I was ready to keep going.

Mile 11: 16:26

Eliana's mittens had come off again, and her shoes and socks were coming off too. She was not happy with me at all. She was ready to be done with this crazy race. I pulled to the side of the road to discover I was missing one sock and one mitten. Eliana did not want to keep her hands under the blanket, so they looked a little pink. I resorted to giving her a pouch of food -- I think it was pear and mango -- in the hope that it would calm her down. As I was feeding her, several other runners went by, asking if we were okay. One runner had found the missing sock and mitten -- a big THANKS to her. After the food and some water, Eliana seemed more relaxed, but she was still whining. I bundled her up as best I could, and there was nothing else I could do but keep going. So that's what I did.

Miles 12, 13: 10:32, 9:01

Go, go, go!  "We'll be done soon, baby girl!"

Finish: 0:58

Eliana wasn't crying as we reached the finish. I wasn't overly tired, but I was thrilled to be done. My finish time was 2:18:25, which was about where I expected to be.

Bonus

I finished the race just as the costume contest was going on. I had just enough time to change Eliana and enter the group division, as we both had capes on. There were plenty of people in costume, so I didn't expect to win. I was thrilled when they announced, "Fifth place goes to the cheese cowboy and the cute baby." We got a $15 gift certificate to Georgie Porgie's in Racine. Yum.

Final Thoughts

I pushed Eliana to the limit at the race, both in terms of distance and temperature. To any other folks out there considering a run with a youngster, I recommend ten miles or less and 40 degrees or more. Still, we made it, and it was a great time.

Prairie Family Days 5K Recap

On Saturday, July 23, the weather was pretty nice for a 5K in Pleasant Prairie. Though I've reduced my training to about 20 miles a week, I was excited about the possibility of a personal record.

I clocked the first mile in 6:41 as I began to pass some of the runners who started too fast. I usually don't do this until the last mile of the race, so I was concerned that I would get passed later on. I completed the second mile in 6:51. I tried to push it as best I could in the final mile. With about half a mile to go, there wasn't anyone close to me. This is good because no one is chasing you down, but bad because you don't have anyone to chase, so I didn't have a ton of motivation. Still, I kept moving and clocked the third mile in 6:50, and the final .11 mile in 0:50 for a solid time of 21:12. I was hoping to beat my PR (20:59), but I'm sure I'll have another chance in the future.

2011 Lighthouse Run

Weather is always a question mark at the Lighthouse Run. When I first ran it in 2005, the conditions were pretty good, and I set a then-personal best of 1:24:49. The following year's run, in 2006, featured 80+ degree temps at the start and significant humidity. Though I was in much better shape, I was a tiny bit slower, finishing in 1:25:05. In 2007, it was still warm, but not as bad as in 2006, and I set another personal best (1:22:59) with the help of my friend Mark. Mark was alongside me again in 2008 when overcast skies and temps in the 60s brought me to the line in 1:19:20 -- my best 10-mile run ever.

Until today.

I skipped the Lighthouse Run in 2009 and 2010, but I was back in action for the 2011 edition. Rain was in the forecast, but it turned out to be a sunny but cool day, with temps in the low-to-mid 60s at the start.

My tentative plan was to run each mile in 7:54 or less to ensure a finish under 79 minutes. The wind was in my face at the start, but that was a good sign, as it would be at my back for the finish.

Mile 1 (7:21) -- Too fast! I guess the excitement of a beautiful day got my adrenaline going. I waved to Jenelle, Eliana, Grandma Iz, and my parents as I ran by.

Mile 2 (7:37) -- My pace was still a little bit quick, but I felt great as I made my way through the zoo.

Mile 3 (7:42) -- My heart rate settled into the 160s as I zoomed north on main street. It was a bit strange, but I felt perfectly comfortable running at less than 8:00/mile into the wind.

Mile 4 (7:45) -- At this point, I adjusted my goal a little bit. I felt so relaxed that I was pretty sure I could average 7:42 for the duration of the race, which would be a finish under 77 minutes. Given that I was a bit quicker than that for the first two miles, I attempted to run each mile at 7:45 or better.

Mile 5 (7:42) -- Thanks, Aunt Sue, for the bottle of water! It's become a Lighthouse Run tradition for my aunt, who lives on Valley Trail, to greet me at the 4.5-mile mark with a bottle of water. I actually enjoy carrying a half-liter bottle (with the cap), because I can more easily ration my water intake. I was now heading east on 4 Mile Road.

Mile 6 (7:39) -- The road turned south and became Lighthouse Drive. How appropriate. I tried to keep things as relaxed as possible for a potential charge in the last mile or so.

Mile 7 (7:39) -- With the wind at the back of the runners, several folks passed me, but I kept things steady in the hopes of passing the same people later on. I gulped down a raspberry Accel Gel as the course meandered west on 3 Mile Road.

Mile 8 (7:39) -- The course turned south, and we were back on Main Street, which would take us all the way to finish. In my last four races, I've had some energy left at the finish, which means that I paced myself too conservatively. As I neared the eight-mile mark, I decided to leave as much out on the course as I could. I finished my water bottle and dropped the hammer.

Mile 9 (6:59) -- Let's fly! My heart rate jumped back into the 170s as I passed runners one by one. On the left side of the street, the people participating in the fun run/walk seemed like they were standing still. A few of them recognized me and shouted my name, so I smiled, looked back, and waved at them. I was a tiny bit thirsty, so I grabbed one more cup of water at the last aid station.

Mile 10 (6:36) -- I kept it going, and then some, despite some slight inclines in the final mile. About a quarter mile from the finish, I passed a large group of runners that was clumped together. I had a feeling that one or more of them would have a strong finishing kick and challenge my position, but I was in the clear down the final stretch.

Finish -- I saw my parents, Jenelle, and Eliana, who were all smiles, knowing that I had achieved my goal. I was thrilled to see the clock below 75 minutes as I crossed the line. My clock time was 1:14:51, and my chip time was 1:14:39, good enough for 138th place out of 831 runners.

Other interesting notes:

• I donned my Saucony Fastwitch 3 shoes, which are 40% lighter than my other running shoes, for an extra edge. I usually don't wear my "racing" shoes for races above 10K, as they are tougher on my feet. However, I felt okay after a 10-mile training run in them, so I gave them a try today.
• My average heart rate was 168 bpm. During the final mile, my heart rate averaged 182 bpm with a maximum of 192 bpm. Exhilarating.
• I estimated that I completed the first 10K of the course in 47:27, which is about the same as my 10K personal best (47:28) from last Thanksgiving.
• I covered the final mile in 6:36. If I ran a 5K at this pace, I would finish in 20:32, which would be a new personal best.
• Congrats to my friend Paul, who finished his first 10-mile race ever in 1:47:50. He has pressed on in his efforts to become a stronger runner in the past several months. I'm impressed by his commitment and dedication. He will be running the Milwaukee Lakefront Marathon this fall, and I wish him all the best.
• I always run this race as a member of the SC Johnson "SCJ Off! and Running" team. Only the first four finishers of the team are counted in the final score. Usually, my score is nowhere near the top four, but this time, I was fifth.
• After the race, I took a shower at my grandparents' condo, as they live a short distance from the start/finish. After the shower, I realized that I forgot to put my boxers in my running bag along with my change of clothing. I can't remember the last time I went commando. To borrow a quote from Seinfeld's Kramer, I was "out there and loving every minute of it" while completing some errands after the race. :)

Lighthouse Run 2008 -- PR again!

For the second straight year, I set a new 10-mile personal best at the Lighthouse Run. Once again, I ran most of the race with my friend, Mark. Once again, Mark had a little bit more energy left at the finish, so he came in 20-30 seconds ahead of me. In any case, it was a great race for both of us.

The weather was overcast and in the mid-60s at the start -- the most comfortable conditions for the Lighthouse Run since I first ran it in 2005. Even though I haven't gone more than five miles at a time since April 26, I felt pretty confident that I could run a good race. I planned to break 80 minutes.

I ran a solid first half. I kept my pace just under eight minutes a mile. There were lots of friends and family on the course to keep me energized. I saw Jenelle, Heather (Mark's wife), and Caleb (Mark's son) shortly after the start. A few blocks further down the road, I saw my parents and grandparents. At mile 4, I saw Aunt Lisa and cousin Rachel. At mile 5, I saw Aunt Sue, who once again gave me a bottle of water. It would last me the entire race.

After mile 7, Mark and I took a walk break to gather up our strength for the final three miles. I started to tire, but only a little bit. Mark eased ahead, and I encouraged him to push for the finish. I managed to keep the splits just over eight minutes.

As I neared the finish, I knew that I would easily break 80 minutes. I picked up speed a little bit in the final 100 meters, but it definitely wasn't an all-out sprint. I crossed the line in about 1:19:20.1. Mark finished in an impressive 1:18:34.2. Nice work, buddy.

The mile splits, according to my Garmin, are as follows:
7:51, 7:55, 7:57, 7:56, 7:49, 7:57, 7:58, 8:01, 8:03, 7:53

PR at 10-mile Lighthouse Run!

It was a bit hot on June 16, 2007 for the Lighthouse Run. I ran most of the race with my friend Mark. We helped pace each other most of the way. With about three miles to go, I could tell that he had a bit more left in the tank than I did, and when he asked if he could go on ahead, I gladly gave him permission. :)

Overall, it was a great race. Mark finished in 1:22:19.7, averaging 8:14 per mile. I finished in 1:22:59.2, averaging 8:18 per mile. Here's the splits:
8:03, 8:11, 8:10, 8:09, 8:11, 8:14, 8:21, 8:31, 8:43, 8:26

Coming soon: Details on yesterday's Kenosha Firecracker 10K Run (which was also a PR).

Lighthouse Run 2006

After finishing in under 85 minutes last year, I trained for this year's Lighthouse Run hoping to finish in about 80 minutes (which translates to 8-minute miles, of course). However, the weather did not cooperate on race day. The temperature was already above 80 degrees at the start of the race, so staying hydrated was a constant challenge.

I ran the first part of the race with Ken, a friend and fellow SCJ employee. We were pacing at 7:30 a mile (possibly even faster) -- I soon realized that I would not be able to keep up with him. I slowed down by the water stop at four-mile mark for a quick break, and that would be the last time I was running alongside him.

I took several more walking breaks at various points in the second half of the race (more than I wanted to), but I still managed to finish strong. I didn't have anyone to chase in the final 200 meters, but I had a few people trying to catch me. I used up the last of my energy holding off the chasers, and I finished in 1:25:05. This is about 16 seconds SLOWER than last year. However, I finished in 327th place last year, and I finished in 182nd place this year. That's a decent improvement.

Overall, it was a good race, and it was a great learning experience. I'm not sure if I'll do any more races this summer, but I'll probably be in the Portland Marathon on October 1.

SCJ Off! And Running

This morning, I participated in my first ever Lighthouse Run. I ran ten miles in 1:24:49.1 (a new personal best). The official results are right here. Yeah, you'll have to scroll down a bit to see my name, but it's there. 327th place. Oh yeah! Special thanks to Mom & Dad for taking pictures and video, Grandma Iz and Grandpa Nick for their enthusiastic cheers, and Aunt Sue for a much-appreciated bottle of water at the halfway point.

Five Lighthouse Run Photos