A Long Workout - Ironman Austria 2012

Finally! (see previous post...)

The day was upon us. July 1st, 2012.

We arrived in Klagenfurt on Thursday evening (June 28th). We checked in at registration and headed to dinner. Well, we tried anyway. As we had found a couple times before on the trip, very few places were open all day (i.e. lunch, close, dinner). Luckily we got to the host hotel restaurant just as it was opening. A nice fish dinner and we were much happier.

After dinner we went out to drive the bike course. It was getting dark, so we didn't get to take as much time as we would have liked. It did, however, give us a good feel for the hills and the beauty of the landscape!

 

We got a practice swim in on Friday. Good thing, too. The forecast was for it to be warm, so we decided to do the practice swim sans-wetsuit just in case. As soon as we took off I couldn't breathe and freaked out. Obviously I had done this before, but I guess the anxiety about the race and realizing how real it was becoming got to me. I settled myself down a little and was fine after that initial panic. The pre-race pasta feed was in a gigantic tent, which featured food, instructions, encouragement, and an "energy team" (which was amazing).

I slept surprisingly well the night before. Not a lot by any means, but I didn't expect to sleep much at all! I guess maybe it was the weary traveler in me. The race started at 7am local time, so we got up nice and early and were on our way!

It was a beautiful morning. Just a tad warm. They had announced the night before that the temperature of the water was too warm for wetsuits, so they would not be allowed. Having somewhat expected this, it wasn't a surprise, but I was still nervous about it. Not only would it slow me down (and I'm not any kind of fast in the water), and put me in danger of missing the first cutoff (which would have been crushing), but it was a huge comfort for me since with a wetsuit I could almost just float in the water without doing anything.

We shook things out, stripped to our swimsuits, and made our way to the start. The anticipation itself was incredible. The cannon fired, the music blared, and the crowds cheered. It was time.

My sister and I started towards the back so that we could avoid some of the crowds and not get mauled too much at the beginning. I made it through mostly unscathed. I stayed calm and collected most of the way. We went out in a square loop, eventually making our way back towards shore and into a canal that flowed into the city. That was kind of neat, to have everyone on the sidelines cheering so close by, but it was also rather plant-filled. At that point, however, that was the least of my worries. I got frustrated just before that trying to FIND the canal! We were swimming into the sun and there didn't seem to be any large markers to tell us where to go! I don't swim straight to begin with, so I expect that when it was all said and done I had certainly gone at least 2.5 miles instead of the 2.4 miles. That all exited my mind when I emerged from the water a happy and tired, but excited man in just over 2 hours, coming in about 15 minutes before the cutoff.

 

 Transition 1 (T1) went as I expected. I didn't really care about my time, but wanted to make it reasonable at least. It almost worked...ha! Everything went smoothly and I don't know how people get through those so quickly. Anyway, off to the next adventure - 112 miles on the bike!

It started out as a nice change of pace. The breeze from the ride felt nice and we started out along the lake. It was beautiful. The crowds at the aid stations and support places were great. HUP HUP HUP! ZUPA! OOH ESS AH! About a third of the way in, the heat and sweat started making the saddle a little uncomfortable and I soon wished it would go much more quickly. The second loop was much more lonely than the first. There were fewer people out cheering since I was towards the back, but just enough I'd say. I was still eating and drinking well, which was one of my major concerns for the day. The pretzels did get a bit dry though, and I don't think I'd quite say I was excited to eat...

I couldn't get myself to pee on the bike, so I made a pit stop. It felt so good to get off the bike for a minute! I got back on and trudged my way through the rest. There were a few very tough hills on the latter half of the loop that were even tougher the second time around (I know, surprise surprise). I passed my sister on one of them, though she doesn't remember ;) As soon as I was coasting down those and knew I only had a few more miles to go, I started feeling good again. I knew step two was just about done - and I was going to make the cutoff! T2 was shorter, but again, I knew that "all" I had to do now was run a marathon.

My sister caught me at the beginning of the run. Actually, I caught her. She must have passed me in T2! The temperatures at this point were well into the 90's. I'm very thankful to the race and the volunteers for the copious amounts of water, Gatorade, sponges, ice, and hoses that were provided along the way. I would have literally not made it if it weren't for all of that. The run was more of a shuffle anyway. I didn't think the run course was all that exciting at the time, though as I look back, I think it was better than I first thought. Thankfully, it was nearly pancake flat. My brother and brother-in-law had commandeered a spot at a cafe/bar in the city right along the course and cheered us on as we went by. On my final lap I jumped up to ring the bell they had along the way. Then I went back and actually rang it, since I missed it on the first attempt :)

I did a fair amount of walking. That didn't surprise me too much, since I had to sacrifice a little of my training while injured. I managed it without the knee brace though (which I put in my Special Needs bag)! It got dark before my last loop, so I did the last part in the dark - again, as expected. I was surprised at how much energy I had for the end of the race. It was obviously adrenaline. Things were flowing. I couldn't believe I was about to finish and I was super pumped. It was a party at the finish line and I was the star. For a few seconds, at least! My only regret from the whole thing is that instead of "sprinting" to the finish line, and proceeding to trip up the ramp (fitting for me), I would have liked to take it all in a little more - go a little slower. It was amazing nonetheless. I AM AN IRONMAN!

All I wanted to do was lay down, drink something, and eat real food. I still remember the song playing at the end and the walk to the food tent - and the salty goodness that awaited me there... I felt terrible and I felt amazing.

Thank you to everyone who made this possible through support and encouragement - and put up with me for 6 months and beyond! It was the longest - and shortest - day of my life.

Ironman Austria 2012: Precursor

This entry is a long time coming (who doesn't wait until a year and a half later to post about a race...right?) and here it goes:

The Beginning
I always knew I was a little crazy. I didn't know what it was until high school. In college, I thought there was no way I would ever be able to do one. Then, for some strange reason, I had to know if it was possible. Like any good distance runner or thrill-seeker, I wanted to challenge myself and find my limits. I think I found my limit. It was hiding somewhere in the city of Klagenfurt, Austria.

I have lots of people to blame...I mean thank...for putting this idea in my head, or perhaps feeding it. It was 2010 when I first considered the possibility. I started meeting people who had done one and people I already knew started doing them. A group of running friends put together a challenge to do the Ironman Florida (IMFL), and before I knew it, I was part of it. Then my sister threw a new card in the mix. Her friends were training for Ironman Austria (IMAT). Done. The decision was made. I had a year and a half.

Step One: Learn to Swim
This is the part that scared me the most. Considering my idea of swimming was sitting in a hot tub or playing frisbee at the beach, I had a long way to go. I took swim lessons as a toddler, but that's almost like saying I loved my tricycle as a kid, and then entering the Tour de France. My favorite line was that "I knew how not to drown." I shopped around for a gym specifically for the pool. I found one I liked (and my wallet begrudgingly agreed) and I jumped in.

Step Two: Buy a Bike
The bike I had certainly wasn't getting me anywhere. It had a lopsided tire from lack of use (2+ years) and broken gears thanks to drunken Bucknellians. I knew that to be serious about this (and make it easier), I had to get a decent road bike (or hybrid). After some shopping around, I narrowed it down to a Cannondale or Trek. The hardest part was finding one my size! I went with the Trek 2.3 - now all I had to do was not fall over ;)

Step Three: Run, Run, Run
This was the easy part. Right? I've been running since 7th grade and I certainly am built for running. I had run 16 marathons. I had it down. Oh right, this will be AFTER a 2.4-mile swim and a little 112-mile bike ride. Still, I can't drown on the streets.

Training
I thought that I would at least have the cardio down from all the running. Wrong again. Completely different. After a couple of April jaunts in the pool loaded with flailing and gasping, I decided to sign up for eight one-hour individual sessions with a swim coach. I could get across the pool once. It was the next 179 lengths that presented a problem. I figured not only would I get feedback and taught the right techniques, but also some training tips and drills. Best move ever. I struggled early on, and backstroke seemed to be easier (because I could breathe more normally), but as I spent more and more time in the pool, things improved. All you have to do is get in the water and do it.

Meanwhile my bike had come in around the end of May and I was learning to use clip pedals and maneuver a significantly lighter bike. Finding shoes was as difficult as I expected (for having very wide feet due to my extra toes). I'm still not sure if they're big enough. I went for some short rides on the BWI bike trail and practiced clipping and unclipping. Mounting and dismounting. Eventually I felt caged in on the trail and decided it was time to be a big boy and hit the streets.

Start small. I wasn't about to jump straight to an Ironman distance triathlon, so I found a sprint in nearby Virginia. The (first) big day was July 31, 2011. I was excited and nervous. I was about to embark on a new adventure. Read about it HERE.

I had so much fun that I didn't stop training right then and there! I signed up for a Half (70.3) in PA. To help ease my mind, and add some buoyancy, I purchased a wetsuit. I didn't have much of a chance to practice in open water, so going straight was not a strength of mine. September rolled around soon enough - read about my half HERE.

I was halfway there and there were nine months until the big (big) day. It was time to devise a plan. I looked up training plans, read articles, and asked for advice. Pre-made training plans are great, except that unlike a pro triathlete, most people have to work and all that crazy stuff. Don't get me wrong, there's still time to do other things, but you have to arrange and re-arrange things to make it work. My six-month plan began in January 2012.

It started out great. I was running really well, with cardio boosted by the swimming and legs boosted by the cycling. I had purchased an indoor bike trainer to do some riding in the winter and even went to a few spin classes at the gym. Then, in the first week of February, I came down from a jump shot at basketball (why was I playing basketball this year???) and felt something above my left knee. Pushing off the wall in my next swim led to some knee pain. Fearing the worst (ACL or meniscus tear), I shut down and got an MRI. The results were good - no tears, just some chondromalacia, which basically is saying I have a sore knee... I did have a slight tear in my quad, which is probably what I felt. Luckily I could still bike some and swim with arms only and the pull buoy.

Slowly but surely, after a month off, I worked my way back into training. Things were starting to get better. I was able to run. I was biking well. I was making progress in the pool. I met a cute girl on St. Patrick's Day (who recently said "yes!"). I started playing kickball and softball. As should have been expected, I had some tweaks and aches from those too. Nothing major, though, luckily. I completed my second half in May (Lake Anna, VA). I had a pretty annoying flare up of my ITB at the tail end of the run, but I was able to work that out. Before I knew it, it was June. Only a few weeks to go.

Most of our trip plans had been devised, and I finally decided how to transport my bike. The logistics were a little more difficult than I first expected, since I was on business travel in Utah the week before we left for Europe. Then I went straight from there to New Hampshire for a family wedding, and we flew out of Boston from there. I had my local bike shop pack it for a small fee and I shipped the bike to my uncle in NH, and then we carried them as checked luggage (I bought a soft travel case). It was under the 50-lb limit, but if the person checking it knew it was a bike, they charged about $200 (which we found out on the way back - got away with it on the way!). I did one last run in New Hampshire before heading to Munich. Go time.

Heartbreak Hell

[This obviously is a tragedy for all of humanity. I offer thoughts from a runner's perspective. Thoughts that were hard to put to words until tonight, and even now, are a struggle.]

I walked out of work yesterday wearing my Boston Marathon jacket, carrying my drawstring bag from the race. I hadn't brought those things because it was Marathon Monday. I usually have them these days and I am very proud to wear the jacket. But it wasn't a usual day anymore. I left work an hour early, fighting back tears. I couldn't concentrate. I couldn't comprehend it all. Explosions at the end of the Boston Marathon just didn't make sense.

Boston is our Mecca. When you tell someone you run marathons, they inevitably ask if you've run Boston. It's a finish thousands upon thousands of runners aspire to one day achieve. One for which people put in countless hours, days, weeks, months, even years, of hard work. Of pain and agony. Of highs and lows. Of hope and dreams.

I was lucky enough to run two years ago. My Boston story was not unlike any other. Several attempts to "BQ" (achieve a Boston Qualifying time) came up short. One race I missed the time by just a few seconds. In Fall of 2010, I collapsed at the finish line in New Hampshire, having qualified by a mere 3 seconds. And in April 2011, I was blessed enough to celebrate all the way from Hopkinton to Copley Square, and raise my arms in exultation crossing the finish line.

Then yesterday I heard the news, saw the pictures, watched the videos, and read the accounts. I recognized the places immediately, as if it was yesterday. While I wasn't there this year, this hit very close to home. I could have been running. My family could have been there watching. If my dad had qualified, it would have been about where he would finish. It could have been my sister. I knew people that were running this year. As runners, we are part of a community. A big family. And, by extension, so are the volunteers and spectators who support us every step of the way. They selflessly take time out of their schedules to support us, put up with our running talk and overall nuttiness, and at races, encourage complete strangers. It was all too real. It was my running family. Emotionally, it shook me hard.

When I got home I was compelled to go for a run. Courtney came over for some company and brought her running shoes, apparently knowing I might want to run. I ran 8+ miles (longest in a few months) on Sunday, so my legs were tired, and on top of that still recovering from various injuries. It didn't make sense to run. But then, it was the only thing that made sense to do. It was all I could do at that point. I wore my Boston shirt, of course. The run helped. Having Courtney's company helped. I called my dad and my sister, and that helped.

Still, today I was in sort of a daze. I worked (until the power went out in my area) and was semi-efficient. I wore my Marine Corps Marathon shirt (now that Boston's was dirtied). The questions are all still fluttering around upstairs, but the biggest is always "Why?" Patriot's Day, Marathon Monday. A day celebrating the fight and perseverance in Americans. 25,000 people that stop at nothing to get there. Hundreds of thousands more supporting them and enjoying all the festivities on a beautiful day. A celebration of the human spirit.

Instead, an 8-year old boy, waiting for his father, now waits for him in Heaven. Two others lost their lives. Nearly 200 with injuries, many serious. I can only imagine the pain and suffering that those directly affected by this can be experiencing, and my heart goes out to all of them, their families, and their friends.

Through all the horror and devastation, we have to find a way to see that human spirit. That it cannot be broken. We have to see the hundreds of first responders, EMTs, volunteers, and civilians who rushed to the aid of those injured in the blasts. We have to see the runners who continued running straight to the hospitals to give blood. We have to see the people who opened their business and homes to those in need of food, water, heat, or somewhere to stay. We have to see the outpouring of support from the community, Americans, and those around the world.

Does this mean that I will never run again in Boston if I am fortunate enough to qualify again? Does it mean that I don't plan to run New York? Or Chicago. Not a bit; it ensures I will run them. We will not be beaten. We must continue to see the spirit that marathons embody. The spirit of the people of Boston, the people of America, and the human race. And that spirit cannot be broken.

Strengths & Weaknesses

As a tall, skinny dude, I always like to joke that my weakness is my strength. After typing that I realized that it could mean that I'm really strong and that is a weakness, or how strong I am (not) is my weakness. While I consider myself athletic, it's the latter...

As with anything you do, strengths and weaknesses are an important factor in Ironman training. You have to plan your training accordingly, and both sides can affect your training a great deal.

I think everyone knows that the best things to work on are your weaknesses. As a veteran marathoner I figure that my strength will be the run. Therefore, what I need to work on the most is the swimming and biking. While I knew how to basically not drown, I started learning how to swim for real last Spring. Seems like that is going pretty well, and I think the lung capacity and cardiovascular endurance I've built has certainly come in handy. That didn't come right away though. Breathing while running is COMPLETELY different from breathing while swimming! As for the biking, I have strong legs from running, so the back/shoulders and butt are likely going to be the problem spots :)

One of my biggest weaknesses is my lack of will-power to STOP doing things. Like when I don't take enough time off for an injury. Or, the latest problem: I couldn't say no to playing basketball this year (where I get at least one injury a season) even though I'm training for an Ironman - which is the most important goal right now. So after a good first month of training I proceeded to "tweak" my knee at last week's game, ever so slightly, when I was coming down from a jump shot. Hopefully a tweak is all it is, but I've tried swimming and biking and now I'm resorting to time off. The worrier in me is concerned about the medial meniscus. Keep your fingers crossed for me that I heal up quickly...

[Just signed up for kickball this spring - that seemed pretty harmless...]

Lastly, I'd say I have a lot of heart, will-power, and grit. Those things have gotten me through a few races in the past - including most marathons, probably. There's a part of that which scares me. I know that I can push myself past my limits. That's great for an Ironman, and perhaps even necessary, but then where's the line? I don't plan on quitting if I feel like crap, but I sure as hell am not doing this all to not finish the race.

Time Management 101

Well, here it is. The first post of the year. Didn't think it would take this long, but I guess you could say I've been a little busy...

January 2nd was the "official" start to my 6-month training period for the Kärnten Ironman and it didn't take long for me to realize that my time management skills were not quite up to snuff for an undertaking this big. Trying to sandwich in 3 or 4 runs, 3 swims, and 3 bike rides every week is not the easiest thing I've ever done. Go figure. I knew it would be tough, but I didn't realize how much more planning I had to come up with; more than just the workouts.

When you start training for an Ironman triathlon, I think you learn pretty quickly that you need to be more careful about how you schedule your training, meals, sleep, and the remainder of the day. Oh yeah, and you should probably figure out how to throw some rest days in there too! Right now I'm shooting for a rest day once every two weeks, depending on how things go (I might need one every week).

I always have considered my time management skills to be above average, but often I feel like I'm lying to myself and I know it. Time to get back to basics. Or maybe these are not-so-basics?

Thus far, I have been successful in my desired improvements on the sleep factor. Last year I averaged about 7 hours per night, and am nearly up to 8 hours per night so far this year. Yes I keep track, I'm a nerd like that. Next step, getting that sleep at the right hours! Getting up at 10 on the weekends is just not cutting it. For example, yesterday I had planned to get up at 8 AM for an easy swim, go to church and then do my long run after church. Guess what? I heard my alarm at 8, and then mumbled myself in and out of waking consciousness until about 10:30. Well there goes that plan. Throw in a full-time job, IM basketball and trying to have a life, and you got quite the full plate. I can't imagine what people with kids do! Or people with lives already for that matter ;)

I was going to post about food and meal times, but I think I'll save that as the topic for the next post.

Also, I'm starting to regret living on the third floor.

Top Songs of 2011

Happy New Year to all!

As noted by my "seven facts" blog entry, I love making lists - and music. So, combining the two, I did my best to compile my top 31 (20+11) musical "finds" for 2011 (note some might be older songs that I've only until recently discovered). Now I know why people say it's hard to come up with a list like this...

1. World Spins Madly On - The Weepies
2. Poison & Wine - The Civil Wars
3. Options - Gomez
4. Something Inside - Jonathan Rhys Meyers
5. Someone Like You - Adele
6. When My Time Comes - Dawes
7. The Understanding - Jones Street Station
8. Everybody - Ingrid Michaelson
9. This Time - Jonathan Rhys Meyers
10. Faster - Matt Nathanson
11. Barton Hollow - The Civil Wars
12. Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise - The Avett Brothers
13. Horchata - Vampire Weekend
14. Baby We Were Young - The Dirty Guv'nahs
15. Rolling In The Deep - Adele
16. Better Be Home Soon - Crowded House
17. Marathon - Tennis
18. Little House - Amanda Seyfried
19. No One's Gonna Love You - Band of Horses
20. Bushwick Blues - Delta Spirit
21. In Sleep - Lissie
22. Jejune Stars - Bright Eyes
23. Animal - Neon Trees
24. Great Escape - Sister Hazel
25. Honey, Let Me Sing You A Song - Matt Hires
26. Song For My Beloved - The Dirty Guv'nahs
27. Adelaide - Chadwick Stokes
28. One & Only - Adele
29. Bottom of the Sea - Matt Nathanson
30. Used To Did - J Roddy Walston & The Business
31. Lost In My Mind - The Head & The Heart

And some "honorable mention" songs because it was too hard to choose only 31...

Sister Hazel: Shame / Mandolin Moon / At Your Worst
Colbie Caillat: Brighter Than the Sun
Reina Del Cid: Stay Away From Me, Love
The Bridge - Big Wheel

Hope you found some awesome new music this year too!

Seven Come (Two Thousand) Eleven

So two months ago I was "tagged" on a seven random facts blog entry. I figure it's about time I paid my dues.

1. I love making lists. I think this is self-explanatory (see this entry, next entry, and several others). I also am kind of a pack rat. I call it "collecting" not pack-rat-ism...

2. Over the last 2-3 years I've become a genealogy geek. I've spent countless hours on Ancestry.com, Google and yes, even Facebook, finding distant relatives, locating old documents and learning about where my ancestors lived and came from. One of the coolest discoveries? My great-grandfather arrived in the United States on my birthday 105 years ago - at the port of Baltimore, where I now reside.

S.S. Neckar - The ship on which my great-grandfather immigrated to the U.S. in 1906.

3. Apart from running, music is one of my biggest passions. I sing and play (acoustic) guitar, and am trying to re-learn piano. My music collection crosses all corners of the Earth, from Sinatra to Incubus to Bublé to Guster to Groban to Adele to Dashboard to James Taylor... you get the idea... I also would love to learn many other instruments including violin, tin flute and harp, and want a uke to play with!

I played/sang at my sister's wedding. This picture is from my cousin's wedding.

4. I still have no idea what my "dream job" would be. I graduated from Bucknell with a BSEE (Electrical Engineering) and currently work as an engineer in the defense industry, but part of me would rather be in the (bio)medical field or something where I can help people more directly. That is, apart from being a professional musician/runner combo...ha!

5. I enjoy mostly fantasy-fiction books and most epic movies (think Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Wheel of Time, Golden Compass, etc). It's the escape from everyday life to a fantastical world full of mythical creatures and awesome architecture that I love. Guess I should move to Europe...

I don't read much, but when I do, I prefer Fantasy-Fiction.

(www)

6. I also love anything sports-related. Of course playing is better than watching, but most of my TV time is spent watching sporting events. I grew up playing basketball, baseball and soccer. In middle school, I played basketball and ran track (in addition to rec soccer and baseball). I pitched on my high school baseball team (and played first base, and a little outfield early on), and ran cross-country. In college I played a little bit of club baseball, did various intramural sports, and played amateur baseball in the summer. After college I have played in leagues of volleyball, basketball and softball. And now I'm doing triathlons!

High school cross country (county meet)

7. While I have traveled quite a bit domestically now, I have a desire to see the world. Next summer, sandwiched around doing the Kärnten Ironman in Austria, I'll be traveling with a few others around Central Europe. A couple of other places I'd like to visit include Australia, Rome, Egypt, Kenya and South America. All this trip planning for Europe has added a new trip I'd like to take: hiking in the Swiss Alps.

Hiking in the Alps? Yes, please!

(www)

Oorah!

So I'm finally getting around to my post about the Marine Corps Marathon (ran October 30th)!

Leading up to MCM I had decent training, supplemented by swimming and cycling (i.e. triathlon training), so I felt pretty good going in. I didn't have any high expectation of running a PR, but it wasn't out of the question. My family flew in a couple of days early and I had Friday off (due to my work schedule), so we hung out Friday and then left for DC on Saturday afternoon. We stopped for breakfast on the way, where I also picked up some girl scout cookies for myself (yum), as they were selling them outside Bob Evans.

When we got to the expo at the armory it was really crowded and the weather left a lot to be desired. It was cold and rainy, so my dad and I (my sister and brother-in-law had gone to the expo Friday) wanted to get inside quickly as possible. However, due to security (I guess because it's an armory?), we waited in line for a few minutes outside - and then once inside we learned that we had to go across the drive to the tent to pick up our numbers first! When we got out of the tent it was sleeting. Needless to say it wasn't very fun waiting outside another couple minutes in the security line again. Finally we did the whole expo thing, I took a picture with the Geico Gecko and we were ready to leave. Except my mom was driving around and couldn't find her way back :)

Eventually she did find her way back and we made it to my mom's cousin's in VA, our gracious hosts for the night. We visited for a little bit before the pre-race dinner, and noted the comical situation - it was SNOWING outside...and sticking!

Luckily, it didn't stay overnight or anything, but it was quite amusing. Speaking of amusing...we went to this Italian place for dinner (duh), and we must have gotten there right when it opened for dinner because the place was completely empty and they were all putting up Halloween decorations. After we had been seated we heard some Christmas music and then learned that they serve Bolivian food for lunch. What a strange place. But not a bad meal.

Race morning came quick and we got in our "taxi" (my mom's cousin drove us) and headed to the start, which was near the Pentagon. We drove around to get closer, but actually ended up getting out on the other side of the Pentagon, so we had to walk all the way around! The crowds before, and the walking, were a little bit of a pain, but at least the crowd is to be expected for this size of race (20,000+). They did a flyover of some military helicopters (cool and different, since they usually use jets!) Since we had to walk so far, we were a little late getting to the start, so after a "quick" port-a-potty stop, we shed our sweats and handed them off to my brother-in-law, who wasn't running due to injury (Thanks Alberto! Hip better yet??), and ran off to the start. My sister and I didn't get quite to where we should have started, but sort of close I guess. I had to do a little weaving the first couple miles, but not an exorbitant amount (am I allowed to use that word if it's not money-related?).

I started off gunning for that 7:15 pace and PR because I knew that if I didn't give it a shot I'd be upset with myself. It was that or run an 8:00 pace pretty consistently. I felt great through the first half and barely noticed the couple little hills in the first half of the course. The next couple miles went well too, but by Mile 16 I knew that the PR wasn't happening. I really started to hurt around 21 and the last 3 miles or so were pretty painful, but oh well. I ended up averaging an 8:00 pace anyway (go figure), and finished in 3:29:34. All-in-all, not bad.

It was inspiring to be running around, past, and up to some of the different monuments in DC, and to have the whole Marine/military "aura" around the race. It's a flat, fast course and has a fair share of both natural scenery and monumental (?) scenery, which starts at the Pentagon and ends at Iwo Jima. They do throw in a tough (steep) little hill at the very end. And I mean very end. The crowd support was fantastic, as was the overall support. The logistics are not great, as usual with a large marathon it seems, particularly the expo (I think they may have had to move it to a smaller place this year for some reason?) and the mile you had to walk after the race to get to your bags and meeting spots. The medals are great! Very attractive and unique - and my first spinner! Bonus is that a Marine puts it around your neck and shakes your hand. One of the other advantages of MCM for me was that it was nearby and I didn't have to spend money traveling. I took Monday off anyway to spend time with my family. I'd say it's a "do once" type of marathon, at least for me - but then, most of them are I suppose, given my goal...

Congrats to my sister and dad and friends, and all the other finishers! No plans on the next one yet... 15 down, 35 to go!

Taper Madness

Unusual extra energy. Somehow still tired. Lots of time to waste. No more wasting time. Resting up. Kicking butt in gear.

Feeding Frenzy!

To round out my trio of races is the Ragnar DC Relay: 12 people, 198 miles from Cumberland, MD to Washington DC. Straight. Overnight. FUN! So the story starts when I asked around to find a skydiving buddy, and my roommate countered with the offer to run Ragnar with his team. I couldn't say no :)

Ragnar Relay: Washington DC
Cumberland, MD to Washington DC
FRI/SAT September 23-24

He was the only one of the other eleven that I knew, and I was in Van 1 with five other girls - wasn't sure if that would be good or bad, haha. We met down in DC last Thursday night for a "team dinner" of sorts in DC's Chinatown. It was a place called Vapiano, and it was an interesting setup - you swipe your card that they give you and runs you a tab. Then you pay on your way out. Anyway, good food and I got to meet the rest of the team. I stayed over at a teammate's house because 5am comes nice and early.

Our wave started at 11am, so we left with enough time to get us there by 9am. Stopped at a Dunkin' Donuts on the way - their hash browns were not good. We got there, checked in, went through the safety instructions and then we decorated the van! I should clarify here that our "vans" were really SUVs, but I'm going to call them vans anyway. Our team name was "Feeding Frenzy" so we kind of had the whole shark/Jaws theme. We had dorsal fins and teeth. It was awesome.

I was our second runner, so my first one was Leg 2 from Rocky Gap (where the start was - Leg 1 just circled the lake) to Flintstone. It was raining lightly and was basically 2 miles up and 4 miles down (6.3 total). Managed to run it at a 7:08 pace - good start. Then it was time to cheer on the rest of the team for a while. Legs 3, 4 and 5 were especially hilly, and 4 & 5 were on the gravel/dirt roads that had since become mud. That made running and driving on them very difficult. In fact, they ended up having to cancel Legs 4 & 5 for teams after us at some point because vans were getting stuck! Hooray 4-wheel drive! Props to Laura, Amelia and Sarah who championed through those legs. Laura even got a belt-buckle for conquering the toughest leg on the course - pretty cool.

Finishing up Leg #2

At Exchange 6 we handed off to Van 2, who got to sleep in a little, and headed over to Exchange 12 for some food and rest. Exchange 12 was at a local high school, so they had spots to sleep inside, food at the cafeteria and showers for $1. I chose not to shower and just cleaned up. We had a good meal including spaghetti, apple sauce and cake! Didn't really sleep due to the noise and hard ground, but I wasn't all that tired yet either. We learned at the exchange that Van 2 had downloaded the Jaws theme and were circling other vans in the parking lots :)

My second leg (Leg 14) came around 11pm. The night legs were interesting because of the dense fog and rural areas - made it a little creepy! I tend to run a little bit faster in the dark, and that was no different. I averaged 6:32 for 4.6 miles. We met Van 2 at the creamery (Exchange 24). Who doesn't love a breakfast sandwich from a creamery at 3:30am? Mmmmm, bacon... and tasty chocolate milk!

I started to get a little tired toward the end of my van's legs, so it was a good thing we decided to split a hotel room for...a few hours...haha (checked in at 5am, left around 7:30ish). Nice hot shower, nice quiet power nap on a bed... refreshed me enough for the next day, but my stomach didn't seem too happy before my last leg.

 I used the disgusting port-a-potties at Exchange 24 before my last leg (Leg 26) around 8:45am. My stomach actually settled down during the run and my legs responded better than I could have asked for. The annoying thing was the red light RIGHT before my finish! GAH! So weird stopping at a red light during a race... 4.35 miles (book said 4.2) at 6:44 pace. It was sure nice to be done! The last leg was easiest to cheer since you get to tell them they're almost done :)

We handed off to Van 2 at Exchange 30 (after we found out we had gone to 31...haha) and headed to the finish line to await the team. We explored a little, had a snack, and watched other teams come into the finish. Our team came in after about 29 hours, 18 minutes of running - placing 78th of 261 teams and 24th of 115 teams in our category (open mixed). Go Feeding Frenzy!

Overall, it was a great experience and a lot of fun. After my sister did Hood to Coast a few years back, I've kind of wanted to do a relay like this, so I guess thanks to my ex-roommate for inviting me to the team! Looking forward to doing another one. Learned a few things and what to bring next time. I want to do Wasatch Back Ragnar at some point. Legs surprised me (yay). I need to sleep a lot afterwards though, as I got sick this week!

Ole!