Happy Father's Day

The first race I signed up for this week was the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge. In December, the startup that I was working for was bought by BNYMellon, with fields a team of 250 runners for the event. Unfortunately, the "Challenge" in "Corporate Challenge" was very different than I expected. My race number, chip and t-shirt were sent via inter-office mail, and were hopelessly lost. I did what I could to find the package, but veteran employees tipped me off that my chances were not good. I could have showed up and run "for fun", but somehow I just wasn't inspired to run a timed race without being timed...

Instead, I turned by focus to today's Father's Day 5 miler in the park. I felt good for this one, but the weather was looking a little warm. My PR was from Jan 2009, which meant I should be able to beat it, but January was probably a bit cooler weather...

The start went smoothly -- for me, anyway. About 50 yards or so into the race I heard noise, and looked to my right in time to see a runner hit the ground hard. The noise that I had heard must have been contact between runners before the fall. Somehow it didn't turn into pile up, although I have no idea how. The guy was on his back, and perpendicular to traffic, which at that point was still very dense. I looked like it really hurt. I redirected my attention to my own position and hoped the runners around me did the same. It would have been easy for rubber necking to have caused another collision.

Continuing on, I saw Flyer JF not to far ahead, and I seemed to be keeping up, or even catching him. JF is very fast, and I normally don't see him until after the race. This meant one of 3 three things: 1] I had suddenly become super fast (dream on), 2] He was having a slow day (more likely) or 3] I was going out WAY too fast. (bingo!).

I hit the mile 1 marker at 6:17. Given that my PR pace was 6:37, this may have been juuuuuust a tad too quick. I tried to relax and settle in, resulting in splits of 6:24, 6:40 (uphill mile), and 6:30.

Right before the mile 4 marker, I came up on a runner who looked my age, or probably older. We greeted each other with the secret exchange of two older guys congratulating each other on being up there with the young folk. He pulled into a water stop, caught back up with me, and offered me one of the two cups he had snagged. This, at a point in the race when most folks were really starting to hurt. What a guy. After a bit, I moved ahead, but I had the feeling I had not seen the last of him. With about a quarter mile to go, the heat and aggressive running caught up with me, and I thought for a moment that my race might end prematurely. I held steady and got through that moment (whew). With about 100 yards to go, the guy who had offered me water went flying past. I thought about trying to catch him, but only briefly. After the finish I congratulated him on the awesome hot weather kick, and we talked for a while. He coaches High School track in CT, and I really enjoyed chatting with him. He made references to his retirement age, which made me realize that he was older than I had thought -- even more impressive. I just checked the results, and he is 9 years older than me, finished 4th in his age group (in a points race!), and had a 80% AG. That's who I want to be when I grow up.

I ended up with a 32:30 (6:30 pace), a PR for 5 miles. I was 15th of 380 men in my age group -- much better than usual for me in a points race. I'm very pleased with this result, especially given the heat, and I'm really looking forward to continuing my focus on these shorter distances.

Fantasy Run

I was looking forward to the Brooklyn Half Marathon today, but I was also worried.

Last year, I found the course to be very challenging. The first half is run in Prospect Park and is quite hilly. The second half, in contrast, is a flat, straight line down Ocean Parkway. It is this second half that intimidates me. With no turns, no elevation changes, and nothing to see on the side of the road, the only landmarks are the mile markers and the sound of feet hitting the street. With no hills, there is also no reason to change your stride. You just have to keep going and going and going.

Over the last few days I tried to think of a strategy, but came up with nada. Then, today, as I exited the park and passed the mile 7 marker, a plan suddenly came to me. With six miles to go, I decided to pretend that I was running a Central Park loop.

I imagined myself starting with the 6AM group at West 72nd, and running down the hill onto Park Drive. For the next mile and a half I was running the rolling hills on the West Side. Then came the steep incline up Harlem Hill. I shortened my stride (really!), and told myself that it was natural to feel tired at this point. After I topped "the hill", I opened my stride up for the downhill, and told myself to let the speed come.

Believe it or not, this really worked. The miles flew by. Before I knew it, I could see the boardwalk, and the race was nearly over. I had held pace, and I had more in the tank.

I crossed the finish line completely pumped up, in 1:30:50 (6:56/mile) -- a 2:38 PR, and meeting my 3rd 2010 goal -- to run a Half Marathon at a sub 7:00 pace.

Something in the air....

I went into this morning's Mother's Day 4 Mile race not sure exactly what to expect from myself. I was not targeting this race, but it seemed like a good chance for a post marathon speed check. Before I left home, I checked my current PR at this distance, and was surprised to find that it has come 3 weeks after the NYC Marathon. Hmm... so much for that excuse...

I felt very good off the start, but soon my lungs began to burn. I haven't had this feeling in a long time, and I couldn't figure out why it was happe

ning. The first mile marker came up at 6:29. Knowing full well that miles 1 and 3 are the slow ones in this course, I felt good about my start. Mile 2 was in 6:24, which put me right on PR pace. Mile 3 took 6:33 (no surprise). All I needed was a quick downhill last mile to get the job done.

At this point though, not only were my lungs burning, but I was starting have problems with phlegm build up. I to frequently clear my throat in order to avoid inhaling fluid (sorry if this is TMI). Still I was able to pull out a 6:15 for the last mile, PRing by a couple of seconds. I was feeling good about the results -- all I needed was some water to put out the fire. As I walked down the line of water cups, I was dismayed to find that each and every cup had a layer of schmutz floating on the surface. Eventually, I just grabbed one and poured some out, hoping for the best.

Afterwards, PL mentioned that he had the same issue with his lungs, and we, along with DG, tried to figure out what it was. It took a while, but eventually we realized that the pollen in the air was as thick as snow in a blizzard. The gusty wind was probably shaking loose every last bit of pollen in the park. The intense pollen also accounted for the schmutz layer on the water. At least it was organic schmutz...

Official results: 25:43 (6:25/mile)

114th of 4765 overall

5th place of 207 men ages 45-49

74.3 AG%

Run Faster

Today, I ran for the first time since Boston, and it felt great. I did a nice loop with the Saturday 7AM group, and it seemed like a fresh start.

It's now time to put Boston, and marathon training to bed for a bit, and look forward. Let's review the goals that I set out for 2010:

1. Re-qualify in Boston (3:30:59) - AG: 65.51 **DONE**
2. 3:20 Marathon (7:38 pace) - AG: 68.77 % **DONE**
3. Half Marathon at sub 7 minute pace. (1.31) - AG: 72.67 %
4. Sub 40 minute 10K. (6:27 pace) - AG: 76.16 %
5. Sub 19 minute 5K (6:07 pace) - AG: 77.07 %

Taking them in order the Half Marathon is next, and what better excuse to target the Brooklyn Half, which is on May 22. It is very lucky that my training and racing goals are pointing me toward this race, which is one of my all time favorites. All the miles that I've put in for marathon training should set me up well. As I get back into training, I'll shift the focus toward speed work a bit, and I should be in a good position to go for my goal.

If I hit my goal in Brooklyn, I'll gradually target short distances, and increase the focus on speed. The last two goals (10k and 5k) will be tough, but I've got all year, right? I'll just have to run faster.

Boston Marathon 2010

Short story -- I had a blast in Boston. I PRed, and checked two of my 2010 goals off the list (requalify, and run a 3:20 marathon). The event lived up to the hype, and my family came through in a big way.

Here are some photos that tell a small part of the story.

At the Expo with fellow morning runners.

On my way home from pasta dinner the night before, I walked right into this bad omen on the streets of Cambridge.

The worlds biggest and best pre marathon breakfast (thanks Sis). Eggs, chicken sausage, oatmeal with raisins, bagel, juice and coffee.

With the folks after the race.

Boston in 3:20:06
:)

Ready, Set

Central Park is a runner's paradise. The Cherry trees are blooming, and I'm tapering. That combination makes for some very enjoyable runs.

The weather for the Boston Marathon on Monday looks promising, and I have never felt this prepared. It's going to be a blast.

I ran a full 26.2 with four weeks to go, and 20 miler with two weeks to go. When it was over, I felt fine. No soreness. No exhaustion.

Since then, I've toned it down gradually. I feel more healthy than I ever have.

Unless the weather takes a serious turn for the worse, it looks like I'll be really going for it on Monday. Of course, there's a good chance that I'll crash and burn, but for some reason, that prospect doesn't bother me.

I'm looking forward to seeing my sister and her family in Boston, and my parents will be there as well. After the race, there will be a get together of Flyers. It's going to be a fun trip.