3:33:39! Yeah!

The results are in. I finished in 3:33:39, taking nearly four minutes off my personal best. While it would have been nice to get 3:33:33, I am still extremely thrilled with my performance. Woohoo! More details soon!

Runmeter Run May 4, 2013, 7:02:09 AM

Battery low. Finished. Unofficial 3:33:48 (new personal best)!

Finished Run: May 4, 2013, 10:42:26 AM
Route: Wisconsin Marathon
Run Link: http://runmeter.com/19bfd39732fac2da/Run-20130504-0702?r=e
Import Link: http://share.abvio.com/19bfd39732fac2da/Runmeter-Run-20130504-0702.kml
Run Time: 3:10:33
Stopped Time: 0:00
Distance: 23.17 miles
Average: 8:13 /mile
Fastest Pace: 5:13 /mile
Ascent: 686 feet
Descent: 627 feet
Calories: 2871

http://www.runmeter.com

Runmeter Run May 3, 2013, 6:26:55 AM

All systems go for tomorrow!

Finished Run: May 3, 2013, 6:47:41 AM
Route: Bradford Loop
Run Link: http://runmeter.com/19bfd39732fac2da/Run-20130503-0626?r=e
Import Link: http://share.abvio.com/19bfd39732fac2da/Runmeter-Run-20130503-0626.kml
Run Time: 20:33
Stopped Time: 0:00
Distance: 1.98 miles
Average: 10:23 /mile
Fastest Pace: 6:15 /mile
Ascent: 98 feet
Descent: 115 feet
Calories: 267

http://www.runmeter.com

Kenosha 2013: Real-Time Tracking (Start 7:00 a.m. Sat. May 4)

Thanks to the RunMeter app and my iPhone 3GS, there will real-time tracking of my progress this Saturday. The race begins at 7:00 a.m., and I just might challenge my personal best of 3:37:30 (8:18/mile pace).

When I start the race, after each mile, and when I finish, updates will be posted as follows:

• Facebook status created or updated
• Post created on this blog. You can see the format from my training runs earlier this week (on April 28th and 29th).
• E-mail updates sent to those who have asked to be subscribed. So far, this includes my parents, my brother, and a few friends. If you would like to be included, please let me know your e-mail address.

Each of the methods above should give you access to a map that gives you a rough idea of my current location.

There are a few things to keep in mind:

• The distance tracked by RunMeter is based on GPS information, not on the course's official mile markers. While it should be close to accurate, it's still an estimate. I use the lap button on my Garmin to obtain my splits for race recaps.
• GPS tracking should be fairly good in Kenosha, as the run doesn't go through any heavily-wooded areas. However, I may lose it at some point -- this happened in Minneapolis last year at about the halfway point. Runmeter first showed me running faster than 6:30/mile, and then it lost me entirely.
• Based on previous efforts, my battery will probably last through the end of the race. No guarantees. If posting stops as I near the finish, the battery is the likely cause.
• As with past RunMeter uses, comments and likes made on Facebook will be read out loud to me. However, I will not be wearing headphones, so I may not hear them clearly from the iPhone speaker.

I plan to do a final training run on Friday morning, and I'll have tracking activated for that as well. Wish me luck!

Runmeter Run Apr 29, 2013, 11:07:41 AM

Finished Run: Apr 29, 2013, 11:55:10 AM
Route: Work Five Miler
Run Link: http://runmeter.com/19bfd39732fac2da/Run-20130429-1107?r=e
Import Link: http://share.abvio.com/19bfd39732fac2da/Runmeter-Run-20130429-1107.kml
Run Time: 45:06
Stopped Time: 0:00
Distance: 5.03 miles
Average: 8:58 /mile
Fastest Pace: 6:48 /mile
Behind Best Run: 0:57
Ascent: 233 feet
Descent: 243 feet
Calories: 647

http://www.runmeter.com

Comparing GPS trackers

I have two devices that I use for tracking my distance and pace when out running.

The first is my Garmin Forerunner 305, which I got for Christmas in 2007. Its first official race was the Rock N' Roll Arizona Marathon, and I've used it for every major race since then. It's very reliable. The battery lasted through all fifty miles of the Door County Fall 50, though it did have a warning indicator by the time I was done.

The second is my iPhone 3GS, which I got in March 2012. I checked out a few different running apps, and I decided on RunMeter. It's got great features and a lot of flexibility. One of my favorite perks is that it posts updates and a tracking map to Facebook in real time, and comments left are read to me while I am still out running. I've found the tracking ability to be a lot less reliable than the Garmin -- it totally lost me during last year's Minneapolis Marathon. Still, I recommend this app. You can't blame the app developers for the GPS issues, which are a part of the iPhone.

Yesterday morning, I used both tracking devices for an eight-mile training run to do a side-by-side comparison.

It's hard to say which is more accurate, but the Garmin paces me a bit faster than Runmeter.

My current plan for this Saturday's marathon is to use both devices, as I did in Minneapolis. I like using the Garmin because I can manually track when I cross each mile marker. I like using Runmeter because it keeps race fans informed. This time, I do not plan to wear headphones, so I probably won't hear any Facebook comments unless I happen to hear the iPhone speaker while on a quiet part of the course. In any case, I'll read them all after I'm done.

Runmeter Run Apr 28, 2013, 5:49:45 AM

That's enough for today.

Finished Run: Apr 28, 2013, 7:02:54 AM
Route: Eight Mile Training Run
Run Link: http://runmeter.com/19bfd39732fac2da/Run-20130428-0549?r=e
Import Link: http://share.abvio.com/19bfd39732fac2da/Runmeter-Run-20130428-0549.kml
Run Time: 1:12:21
Stopped Time: 0:00
Distance: 8.20 miles
Average: 8:49 /mile
Fastest Pace: 6:34 /mile
Ascent: 312 feet
Descent: 315 feet
Calories: 1027

http://www.runmeter.com

Come on out for #30

On Saturday, May 4 (in eleven days), I'll be running the Wisconsin Marathon in Kenosha. This will be the 30th time that I run an organized race of 26.2 miles or greater. I think I am in great shape, but I won't know until race day if I can challenge my personal record from Minneapolis last year.

Some may wonder how I am feeling about this race, considering the events that occurred in Boston earlier this month. While the possibility is remote that something could happen in Kenosha, I still feel concern for all the runners and the spectators. I pray for everyone's safety, and I encourage all those in attendance to keep a watchful eye for anything that seems out of the ordinary.

With the above in mind, I would love to see lots of friends and family members out on the course on Saturday the 4th. The race starts at 7 a.m. in downtown Kenosha. If you plan on checking out the race, please let me know. You could potentially hang out with Jenelle and the kids, or with my parents, all of whom plan to be in attendance.

My friend, David, is also running the race. You are welcome to join the two of us and my family for a post-race meal. Again, let me know if you're interested.

Heading Out - FINALLY

It seems like forever since I've had the opportunity to run outside. With highs in the 50s today, it's the perfect chance to join some work buddies at lunchtime and get in a few miles.

Since my last post, I've been averaging 35 miles a week, thanks to a treadmill in my basement and the treadmills at the company fitness center. With two young kids at home, I'll go running just about whenever I can fit it in. A supportive wife is key, and mine is beyond wonderful. Last weekend's 20-miler was a late Saturday effort (9:00 p.m. - 12:15 a.m.). I've got a number of things to keep me entertained while logging the miles, including free movies / TV shows via Amazon Prime and a Playstation 2. Yes, I can play while running. :)

Things are looking good for the Kenosha Marathon on May 4. The mileage is slightly reduced this weekend, and then I'll get in one final 20-miler next weekend, hopefully outside. I should be in good shape to break four hours, but it's hard to tell if I can challenge my PR from Minneapolis last year (3:37:30).

I have a twitter account now. I don't put much on it beyond the mile counts, but who knows when I'll put more interesting info there. http://twitter.com/marathonbenj

Finally, here's some exciting news. I have now reached 12,000 miles on my lifetime odometer! That's almost half way around the world! Onward!

Paavo Nurmi Recap

Here is the long-awaited recap from the Paavo Nurmi Marathon than I ran nearly five months ago. This race was more about the destination and the people than it was about my finishing time.

With a then 21 month-old daughter and a son on the way, Jenelle was kind enough to let me pick one more marathon to do before we would quickly become busy with two kids. I considered a number of races, including the Chicago Marathon, the Air Force Marathon (Dayton, OH), and some smaller races in northern Illinois. What drove me way up north in Wisconsin for an early August marathon?

1. I have never completed a marathon in August before. In the past seven years, I've managed to hit all the other months at least once.
2. I have family somewhat close to Hurley, so they could join Jenelle and Eliana to cheer me on.
3. Our son's due date was in November, so this gave me plenty of time after the race to focus on preparing the house for his arrival.

It took us about six hours to get to my aunt and uncle's cabin on Long Lake, which is in Mercer, WI.  They made a lovely dinner for us, and Eliana had lots of fun playing with them. Their cabin has plenty of space for visitors, so I got a great night's sleep before the race.

I woke up a bit early and drove myself to the finish line. It was interesting to travel on roads where I was more concerned about deer than other cars. I eventually reached the main highway (51) and headed north to Hurley, where I parked the car. The weather was just about perfect for running. I boarded a bus that took us to the start line in Upson, about thirteen miles to the southwest.

On the bus, I realized that I had not left my wallet in my car as planned, so I had to stow it away in my gear check bag. This is where someone gave me some extra help. One of the race official offered to lock my gear check bag in her vehicle to ensure it would not be stolen. What a wonderful gesture -- I sent her an extra e-mail of thanks after the race.

The race started right on time, and I had both my Garmin GPS and my iPhone tracking on, just like I did in Minneapolis in June. I didn't expect much in the way of reception in this part of the state; I figured the Garmin  would work okay, but real-time race tracking would be spotty if it worked at all. As it turns out, RunMeter tracked me perfectly until my phone's battery died. I even got one early comment on Facebook read back to me, though later comments never got through. Yay for technology.

The course headed north for four miles and then east for three miles before reconnecting with the highway (77) that the bus used. We passed through several small towns, including Iron Belt at mile 7.5 and Pence at mile 10. I kept things nice and easy in the early going, enjoying the scenery and averaging about 8:50/mile for the first ten miles. My plan was to pick it up in the second half, and I predicted I could finish in about 3:50.

We went through Montreal (that's Wisconsin, not Canada) at mile 12 and headed south to Gile at the halfway point, which I reached in 1:55:47. The course was not flat, and I remember a few substantial hills, but it didn't seem like anything that would dramatically affect my performance.

We traveled back to north and then northeast on highway 77 for a couple more miles. At this point, I realized that I might not have quite as much gas in the tank as I was hoping, but I still felt pretty good. At the 15.5-mile mark, we were less than a mile away from Hurley, but I had much further to run. We headed south on county highway C, which we stayed on for about six miles.

Somewhere around mile 16, I spotted Jenelle, Eliana, and my aunt, who were full of cheers and encouragement as I ran by. I recorded a movie of them while Jenelle recorded a movie of me. Yay again for technology. It was wonderful to see all of them, especially Eliana. They cheered me on at several points on highway C, which was great after being on my own for the first part of the race.

Shortly after seeing my family, I discovered that I recorded an 11-minute movie of the inside of my pocket. Whoops. Not a big deal, except that it significantly drained my battery. It probably would have lasted the whole race were it not for that mistake. Still, it made it all the way to mile 23, which is pretty good for my iPhone 3GS.

At mile 20, highway C turned left, directing us east. At this point, I realized that I was not going to be able to pick things up in the last leg of the race. I wasn't super-tired, but I certainly did not have the speed that I had in early June in Minneapolis.

At mile 21.5, we reached highway 51 and turned north. There was a wind in my face. Combine this with some hills, late-race fatigue, and the tension from cars passing by at 55 mph, and you have an interesting finish. We had a decent amount of space on the side of the road to run, but I still get a little bit nervous in these kinds of situations. I did my best to relax and ensure that I finished somewhere under four hours.

Before I knew it, I was in Hurley, turning left on to 'historic' Silver Street, passing by my family and hearing my name announced as I crossed the finish line with a time of 3:58:10. Woohoo! Later that day, I enjoyed some tasty pizza at Liberty Bell Chalet.

We got to spend a lot more quality time with my aunt and uncle before we headed back home the next day. It was a pleasant and enjoyable mini-vacation in the beautiful northwoods of Wisconsin. I'm not sure if I'll ever run this one again, but it was certainly a unique experience.