I'm logged in from the hotel computer. Dad and I just got back from a
filling pasta dinner at Fazoli's. For those tracking online, my race
number is 5608. Marathon #13 is twelve hours away!
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Friday, January 11, 2008
Arizona Race Tracking
I don't plan on carrying a cell phone with me during the marathon this Sunday, but based on this message from the race web site, you can still track me:
"This year, your friends and family can follow your progress on race day with LiveResults. Your time will be recorded at the 10k, half marathon, 21 mile mark and at the finish line. Visit www.rnraz.com on race day to view Live Results."
I also realized today that there are a bunch of photos of me from the Gobbler Grind Marathon (in Kansas) available for browsing and ordering. I don't plan on purchasing any, but you might enjoy viewing them.
Wish me luck in Arizona!
"This year, your friends and family can follow your progress on race day with LiveResults. Your time will be recorded at the 10k, half marathon, 21 mile mark and at the finish line. Visit www.rnraz.com on race day to view Live Results."
I also realized today that there are a bunch of photos of me from the Gobbler Grind Marathon (in Kansas) available for browsing and ordering. I don't plan on purchasing any, but you might enjoy viewing them.
Wish me luck in Arizona!
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Grand Rapids Movie
I just uploaded a three-minute movie of Grand Rapids. Feel free to check it out.
In other news, I opened the other bottle of Accelerade (fruit punch flavor) this morning. I think it's much better than the peach mango stuff. I barely noticed the milky aftertaste.
One more short run tomorrow, then a day of rest, another short run Friday, rest on Saturday, and marathon #13 on Sunday. All systems are go.
In other news, I opened the other bottle of Accelerade (fruit punch flavor) this morning. I think it's much better than the peach mango stuff. I barely noticed the milky aftertaste.
One more short run tomorrow, then a day of rest, another short run Friday, rest on Saturday, and marathon #13 on Sunday. All systems are go.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Accele-what?
In preparation for this Sunday's Rock N' Roll Arizona Marathon, I ventured to the local Pick N' Save and bought two 20 ounce bottles of Accelerade, a fairly new sports drink. What makes this drink unique is that one serving of it has the same amount of protein as half a glass of milk. The cost was a bit steep - $1.99 a bottle. However, the peach mango flavor will be served at rest stops in Arizona, so I have to make sure I can drink it without any strange things happening.
There are allergen warnings on the bottle, because the protein in Accelerade is derived from milk. Lactose-intolerant runners beware! As for the taste, it's not too bad, but there's definitely a milky aftertaste -- it coats your throat a bit like milk does going down. I don't think it'll be a big deal once I get used to it.
Yesterday morning, I poured about eight ounces of it into a clear squeeze bottle and headed out for an eight mile run. Even though it's pretty warm for January (above 40 degrees), prior experience told me that I wouldn't need to drink too many fluids. By the time I had finished a mile, I noticed that froth (bubbles) had built up in the empty space of the bottle because of the constant up-and-down motion of the bottle. By the end of the run, the froth filled up the whole bottle, even though there was only about two ounces of drink left.
Accelerate on, my friends!
There are allergen warnings on the bottle, because the protein in Accelerade is derived from milk. Lactose-intolerant runners beware! As for the taste, it's not too bad, but there's definitely a milky aftertaste -- it coats your throat a bit like milk does going down. I don't think it'll be a big deal once I get used to it.
Yesterday morning, I poured about eight ounces of it into a clear squeeze bottle and headed out for an eight mile run. Even though it's pretty warm for January (above 40 degrees), prior experience told me that I wouldn't need to drink too many fluids. By the time I had finished a mile, I noticed that froth (bubbles) had built up in the empty space of the bottle because of the constant up-and-down motion of the bottle. By the end of the run, the froth filled up the whole bottle, even though there was only about two ounces of drink left.
Accelerate on, my friends!
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
When a marathon's not enough
Next year on April 5, I'm taking it up a notch. Let's try 50 kilometers, which is about 31.07 miles. Any thoughts from the readers? :)
Monday, November 19, 2007
Gobbler Grind Marathon Recap
On Saturday evening, Mom & Dad drove me to the Milwaukee airport, where I boarded a Midwest Airlines flight to Kansas City. Despite carefully watching my intake over the past few days, I ate one of the two baked on-board chocolate chip cookies I was given, saving the second for after the race. :)
For my pre-race meal, I went to a Fazoli's between the airport and the hotel. They offer "endless" pasta and breadsticks for under $6. I had two large bowls of penne marinara and five breadsticks, and I was quite satisfied. I checked in to the hotel just before 9 p.m.
The temperatures were in the low 40s on race day morning. I drove my rental car to the race site (half a mile from the hotel) at about 7:15 (45 minutes before start time). Quite a few folks took advantage of the race day packet pickup. I waited in a long but fast-moving line and got my race number, thanking the volunteers who quickly gave me everything I needed.
I walked back to the car so I could stay warm and make my final preparations. I had used the bathroom at the hotel at 7. While I would have preferred another trip right before start time, the lines were a bit too long, so I decided not to worry about it.
I arrived at the start a few minutes before race time. I was carrying two Clif bars, four packets of GU (energy gel), a cell phone, three paper towels, a digital camera, the key to the rental car, and a small 10-ounce plastic bottle of water. In addition to my "standard" race uniform (shoes, socks, RaceReady LD shorts, singlet), I wore my NB windbreaker, a dri-fit winter hat, and a pair of knit gloves from the Twin Cities Marathon. Yeah, I was definitely geared up!
Despite 11 previous marathons, this is the first 26.2-mile race in which I was running without having seen a course map. I quickly learned that everybody (5K, half and full) ran the first three miles together on paved roads. The 5K folks turned toward the finish as the longer-distance runners continued on a bike trail.
It was smooth sailing for the first ten miles. I followed what has become a standard habit for me -- munching on a Clif bar at miles 4-6 and washing each bite down with a little water. I was running at about 9:05/mile. This is slower than my personal record pace (8:54), but I wasn't overly concerned with a PR. We left the trail somewhere in the 6-8 mile range and headed up a gradual but consistent incline on a paved road -- no problem at all. I made a quick pit stop at a vacant portable restroom at mile 9.
I downed a packet of lemon GU at mile 10, still feeling comfortable. Soon after returning to the trail, we reached the point where the half-marathoners turn back toward the finish. Things got a bit lonely and quiet, but I was used to this type of atmosphere. I do most of my training runs solo. At mile 12, I called Jenelle to let her know I was doing okay. She gave me lots of encouragement and support, which kept me going strong. I reached the halfway point at about 1:59:30. Shortly after that, I called Andrew to let him know about my progress. He was out doing some errands with Holly, Ella, and Lily at the time, but he sounded happy to hear from me. :)
Looking for some extra energy in the second half, I did something that I hadn't done during any of my training runs -- I tried eating a second Clif bar. I only had a couple of bites before realizing that this was a far-from-optimal course of action. By the time I reached a turn-around point at mile 15.5, I was battling to keep stomach cramps from forcing me to walk. Drinking water little by little and slowing my pace, I was able to keep it together, averaging 9:45/mile for miles 16-20.
Starting at mile 20, the marathoners had to deal with several loops and turnarounds. There were volunteers posted in all the right places, and they always gave me clear and accurate directions when I needed them. I'm very thankful for their presence. The only error I noticed was that the mile 20 marker was placed at 20.25 miles. I worried for a moment that I'd have an extra quarter mile to run, but then the mile 21 marker arrived at exactly the right spot. My mile splits below are adjusted to correct the error.
I forget exactly when I took gels in the latter portions of the race, but I think I took at least two of them after my stomach cramps had subsided. During the last six miles, I walked the first minute or so of each mile in an effort to keep from feeling totally spent. I was at or above ten minutes a mile at this point, but I wasn't overly concerned about my time.
My last remaining goal was a strong finish. Thankfully, my walking strategy worked. After my last walking break ended (with about 1.1 miles to go), my stength was renewed, and I was able to zoom to the finish. I don't think I was going any faster than 9:00 / mile, but I felt like I was flying.
I passed two other runners shortly before reaching the finish area. I shouted to the assembled crowd, "Let's hear it!", as it seemed too quiet for a marathon finish. My encouragement didn't have much of an effect until I heard the DJ/announcer say my name. "Benjamin Isaacson, welcome home!" was his exclamation, and I smiled and crossed the line with a chip time of 4:08:25.
After calling several family members with news of my finish, I returned to the hotel for a shower. I checked out around 1:30 p.m. My post-race meal was a trip to CiCi's all-you-can-eat pizza buffet in Shawnee. I got my fill of pizza, cheese garlic bread, and cinnamon rolls before driving to the Kansas City airport for my return flight.
I landed just before 6 p.m. in Milwaukee, and I was back home around 7:30. It was a quick trip, but it was lots of fun.
Details:
For my pre-race meal, I went to a Fazoli's between the airport and the hotel. They offer "endless" pasta and breadsticks for under $6. I had two large bowls of penne marinara and five breadsticks, and I was quite satisfied. I checked in to the hotel just before 9 p.m.
The temperatures were in the low 40s on race day morning. I drove my rental car to the race site (half a mile from the hotel) at about 7:15 (45 minutes before start time). Quite a few folks took advantage of the race day packet pickup. I waited in a long but fast-moving line and got my race number, thanking the volunteers who quickly gave me everything I needed.
I walked back to the car so I could stay warm and make my final preparations. I had used the bathroom at the hotel at 7. While I would have preferred another trip right before start time, the lines were a bit too long, so I decided not to worry about it.
I arrived at the start a few minutes before race time. I was carrying two Clif bars, four packets of GU (energy gel), a cell phone, three paper towels, a digital camera, the key to the rental car, and a small 10-ounce plastic bottle of water. In addition to my "standard" race uniform (shoes, socks, RaceReady LD shorts, singlet), I wore my NB windbreaker, a dri-fit winter hat, and a pair of knit gloves from the Twin Cities Marathon. Yeah, I was definitely geared up!
Despite 11 previous marathons, this is the first 26.2-mile race in which I was running without having seen a course map. I quickly learned that everybody (5K, half and full) ran the first three miles together on paved roads. The 5K folks turned toward the finish as the longer-distance runners continued on a bike trail.
It was smooth sailing for the first ten miles. I followed what has become a standard habit for me -- munching on a Clif bar at miles 4-6 and washing each bite down with a little water. I was running at about 9:05/mile. This is slower than my personal record pace (8:54), but I wasn't overly concerned with a PR. We left the trail somewhere in the 6-8 mile range and headed up a gradual but consistent incline on a paved road -- no problem at all. I made a quick pit stop at a vacant portable restroom at mile 9.
I downed a packet of lemon GU at mile 10, still feeling comfortable. Soon after returning to the trail, we reached the point where the half-marathoners turn back toward the finish. Things got a bit lonely and quiet, but I was used to this type of atmosphere. I do most of my training runs solo. At mile 12, I called Jenelle to let her know I was doing okay. She gave me lots of encouragement and support, which kept me going strong. I reached the halfway point at about 1:59:30. Shortly after that, I called Andrew to let him know about my progress. He was out doing some errands with Holly, Ella, and Lily at the time, but he sounded happy to hear from me. :)
Looking for some extra energy in the second half, I did something that I hadn't done during any of my training runs -- I tried eating a second Clif bar. I only had a couple of bites before realizing that this was a far-from-optimal course of action. By the time I reached a turn-around point at mile 15.5, I was battling to keep stomach cramps from forcing me to walk. Drinking water little by little and slowing my pace, I was able to keep it together, averaging 9:45/mile for miles 16-20.
Starting at mile 20, the marathoners had to deal with several loops and turnarounds. There were volunteers posted in all the right places, and they always gave me clear and accurate directions when I needed them. I'm very thankful for their presence. The only error I noticed was that the mile 20 marker was placed at 20.25 miles. I worried for a moment that I'd have an extra quarter mile to run, but then the mile 21 marker arrived at exactly the right spot. My mile splits below are adjusted to correct the error.
I forget exactly when I took gels in the latter portions of the race, but I think I took at least two of them after my stomach cramps had subsided. During the last six miles, I walked the first minute or so of each mile in an effort to keep from feeling totally spent. I was at or above ten minutes a mile at this point, but I wasn't overly concerned about my time.
My last remaining goal was a strong finish. Thankfully, my walking strategy worked. After my last walking break ended (with about 1.1 miles to go), my stength was renewed, and I was able to zoom to the finish. I don't think I was going any faster than 9:00 / mile, but I felt like I was flying.
I passed two other runners shortly before reaching the finish area. I shouted to the assembled crowd, "Let's hear it!", as it seemed too quiet for a marathon finish. My encouragement didn't have much of an effect until I heard the DJ/announcer say my name. "Benjamin Isaacson, welcome home!" was his exclamation, and I smiled and crossed the line with a chip time of 4:08:25.
After calling several family members with news of my finish, I returned to the hotel for a shower. I checked out around 1:30 p.m. My post-race meal was a trip to CiCi's all-you-can-eat pizza buffet in Shawnee. I got my fill of pizza, cheese garlic bread, and cinnamon rolls before driving to the Kansas City airport for my return flight.
I landed just before 6 p.m. in Milwaukee, and I was back home around 7:30. It was a quick trip, but it was lots of fun.
Details:
| Miles 1-5 | 9:14 | 9:14 | 8:50 | 9:01 | 8:42 |
| Miles 6-10 | 8:56 | 9:12 | 9:12 | 9:11 | 9:28 |
| Miles 11-15 | 9:18 | 9:04 | 9:11 | 9:23 | 9:03 |
| Miles 16-20 | 9:55 | 9:48 | 9:13 | 10:18 | 9:29 |
| Miles 21-25 | 9:59 | 9:53 | 10:13 | 10:19 | 10:32 |
| Miles 26-End | 9:55 | 1:52 |
- Average Pace: 9:28/mile
- First half: 1:59:35 Second half: 2:08:50
- Fastest Mile: #5 (8:42) Slowest Mile: #25 (10:32)
- Despite some trouble in the second half, I was able to finish strong without feeling completely exhausted. Onward to Arizona and Austin!
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Gobbler Grind Marathon Complete
Ben here, logged in from the Kansas City airport.
It was a pretty good day today. I measured my chip time at 4:08:30. It might be a bit faster than that, but not by much. Here's a few quick bits of info:
1) I have never carried more stuff with me for a marathon than I did today. I was holding the following:
That's all for now. More details, pictures and video coverage as soon as I have some free time.
It was a pretty good day today. I measured my chip time at 4:08:30. It might be a bit faster than that, but not by much. Here's a few quick bits of info:
1) I have never carried more stuff with me for a marathon than I did today. I was holding the following:
- Two Clif bars
- Four packets of GU (energy gel)
- A cell phone (for calling family)
- A small digital camera (for taking video while running -- yeah, it's a bit shaky :)
- Three paper towels (for mid-race nose blowing)
- The key to the rental car (no other place to put it)
That's all for now. More details, pictures and video coverage as soon as I have some free time.
Ben Finishes 12th Marathon
Ben finished his 12th Marathon in 4:08:30. Congratulations to the Running Man!
-Andrew
-Andrew
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Carry on my running son
I didn't run at all this weekend, as I needed a little extra recovery time from Grand Rapids AND I was spending quality time with family. However, I ran three miles yesterday and six miles this morning, and I'm feeling pretty good.
My next race will be -- you guessed it -- ANOTHER marathon. After the big Twin Cities race (7229 finishers) and the sorta-big Grand Rapids race (1517 finishers), it's time for a smaller, scenic event. I'll be heading to Overland Park, Kansas for the Gobbler Grind Marathon on November 18. Yes, it is a little crazy to do a marathon three weeks after a marathon that I did three weeks before a marathon. I'm not planning to break any speed records -- those who know me well can see the alternating slow/fast pattern I have with marathons. Wish me luck!
My next race will be -- you guessed it -- ANOTHER marathon. After the big Twin Cities race (7229 finishers) and the sorta-big Grand Rapids race (1517 finishers), it's time for a smaller, scenic event. I'll be heading to Overland Park, Kansas for the Gobbler Grind Marathon on November 18. Yes, it is a little crazy to do a marathon three weeks after a marathon that I did three weeks before a marathon. I'm not planning to break any speed records -- those who know me well can see the alternating slow/fast pattern I have with marathons. Wish me luck!
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