PALM BEACH MARATHON - 12/4/2011

How can a race be so much fun and enjoyable, yet suck at the same time?  The answer is to surround yourself with good friends (and food) while you are trudging through the tsouris.

The Palm Beach Marathon is a race that has been on my radar for a few years now. Living in South Florida, you are pretty much limited to this race, the Miami Marathon and the A1A Marathon.  I decided that this would be the year that I would enter, especially since I’m totally over doing the A1A Marathon.  I was hoping that between Elaine, Jen and Pam, I would have a running partner.  Despite my constant nagging and begging, all three of them decided to take a pass.  I wasn’t going to bail out, but I really didn’t want to run another marathon “lone wolf” style.  Pam told me that Chuck, one of the members of the Turtle Running Club of Ocala, was entering the race.  This would be the 300th marathon of his career, and some of the Turtles would be running as well to help him celebrate.  I put a posting up on the Turtle’s Facebook page to see if I could run with them; Lisa and Terri entered the full, with Robin and Toni taking on the half.

During my run with the Turtles (in Ocala) the week before the race, Terri decided that she was okay with my pace and agreed to run with me.  Later that week, she told me that Chuck was having a dinner celebration the night before the race, and invited me to attend.  Since I was planning on being in West Palm Beach to pick up my race packet at the expo, it was a no brainer (not that I needed an excuse).

I started out the weekend by running the Jingle Bell Jog 5K with Rachel on Saturday morning.  It was a good last minute warm-up for the marathon on Sunday, and it’s one of the few 5K races that Rachel and I run together.  After about a three hour power nap, we got dressed and made our way up to West Palm Beach.  The packet pickup and expo was at The Harriet Himmel Theatre at CityPlace.  This is a really beautiful area, with lots of amazing shopping (if you’re into that kind of thing).

The excitement quickly turned to disappointment as I picked up my packet.  The race shirt was made out of cotton.  REALLY???  REALLY???   A cotton t-shirt for a full marathon?   REALLY???  Fortunately, they were selling commemorative tech shirts for the race, which actually had the course map on the back of the shirt.  Sadly, joy turned to despair, as I needed a shoe horn to squeeze into a double-XL.  The expo itself was pathetic, but I did have a nice conversation with the iFiteness girl (see my previous post “26.2 With Donna – 2/13/2011”).

After some power shopping with Glenda and Rachel, it was time to meet the group at the restaurant.  Chuck had chosen Il Bellagio at CityPlace for us to dine, which specializes in Italian cuisine.  I had never met Chuck before, but recognized him instantly.  Then Lisa, Robin, Toni, Terri, and Sharon rolled in with the rest of Chuck’s friends and family.  There were eighteen of us in total, and the food and conversation was excellent.  We probably could have hung out all night, but we needed to get what little sleep we could squeeze in before the race.  Chuck then presented us with t-shirts he have printed up to celebrate this milestone in his running career, which blew away the shirts they gave out for the race.  We agreed to put the shirts on before Chuck crossed the finish line, and then take a group photo.

I woke up 3 a.m. and rolled out of the house around 4:15.  I got the parking garage at 5:15, and met up with the Turtles shortly after that.  There were 2,106 runners entered into the race, with 532 competing in the full marathon.  This was down 763 from last year (2,869), probably because of the crappy t-shirt.  We took some pre-race photos, and were now ready to get down to business.  It was very windy, with the temperature around 73 degrees when the gun sounded.

The first part of the race was really pretty, as we ran on the beach and through some really upscale neighborhoods.  I took my one and only potty break at the three mile mark, and Terri decided to walk with Chuck for a little bit.  I continued to run with Lisa, who is considerably faster than me.  She can probably complete a marathon in four hours, but decided to do a slower pace and keep me company.  It was all good for about the first seven miles, but the flaws of the race became glaringly obvious after that.  As we approached one of the water stops (which are stationed every 1.5 miles), we were shocked to discover that they had run out of water!  REALLY???  REALLY???  With runners depending on hydration to get them through 26.2 miles, how can that happen?  Fortunately for me, I always carry a water bottle in my running belt; this would not be the last water station to come up bone dry.

Around mile marker eight, we were now out of West Palm Beach, and running in “crack town” Lantana (no disrespect to any residents of Lantana).  Even worse, the police were having a little trouble keeping drivers off the course itself (I guess the cones they put up weren’t a strong enough message).  Physically, I felt fine, but I was starting to get a little winded.  I was having trouble keeping up with Lisa around the seventeen mile mark, and it was at that point where she took off and left me in the dust.  I really appreciated her staying with me for as long as she did.

The last eight miles seemed to take forever, but it was obvious how much the extra training I’ve done this year has paid off.  The temperature was now up to 79 degrees, and a lot of the participants were walking it in.  As I crossed the finish line, Robin, Sharon, Toni and Lisa (among others) were there cheering me on, and I felt great physically.  My time was very respectable, and I was thankful to receive my medal.  Why you may ask?  As if the bogus t-shirt, lack of water and poor scenery weren’t enough to discourage you from entering this race again, how about the fact that they actually ran out of finisher medals!  REALLY???  REALLY???  Our running buddy Chuck was about to complete his 300th marathon at age 73 and get interviewed by the local television station.  Oh, by the way…he wasn’t going to receive a medal.  REALLY???  REALLY???  On top of that, the medal itself looked more like one you would give a finisher of a 5K race (just like the t-shirt).  Toni and I gave one of the race officials the business about it, but they promised to mail the medals out to those who did not receive one within a few weeks.

As Chuck approached the finish line, we quickly threw on the t-shirts he gave us and prepared to take our group picture.  Terri finished shortly after that, and she was equally pleased to find out they did not have a medal for her as well.  We hung out for a bit after that, but the Turtles had to get back to Ocala, and I had an appointment with an ice bath.

Overall, hanging out with some amazing people totally overshadowed how poorly organized the race was.  I was pleased on all levels, but doubtful if I’ll ever enter this race again.  That is…unless they up the level of the t-shirts.

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TAMARAC TURKEY TROT 11/24/2011

Like the Masters, the Turkey Trot is a tradition like no other.  Okay…That’s probably a pretty big exaggeration, but the Turkey Trot holds a great deal of sentimental value for me.

If you have ever seen the award-winning documentary “I Am a Runner” (and let’s face it, who hasn’t seen it by now), you know that this is the race that spring-boarded my running career.  Although a 5K is for the most part beneath me in terms of distance, I always have a place in my heart (and my racing calendar) for this run.

Since 1996, the routine has been the same:  Doug picks me up at my house; we compete in the race, go back to his house and visit with his family, and make our way back to my house.  As the years have rolled on, we have picked up other runners along the way, most notably Doug’s two daughters Britney and Brooke as well as my daughter Rachel.  This year, my good friend Cyndy from Jacksonville decided to run with us.  Doug has experienced some medical issues over the years, and this is the only race he enters.  It’s a shame, since he was way faster than me, but now he is just a shell of the runner he once was.  Despite his physical issues, his enthusiasm for this race never dampers.

With the Palm Beach Marathon looming on December 4th, this race came at a perfect time.  Since I am tapering off before the marathon, my running schedule had me do seven miles Wednesday, the Turkey Trot on Thursday, five miles on Friday, and an always exciting eleven mile run with the Ocala Turtles on Saturday.  With over 1,500 participants, this race is always well attended.  As the gun sounded, I wasn’t really sure how I was going to attack this run.  Because the race is so short, you have no room for slacking if you want to PR.  I had a pretty good pace in the beginning, but I’ve gone out quicker in previous races.  I did have a negative split, which made me very happy.  As I crossed the finish line, I was 45 seconds off my targeted goal.  This may not seem like much, but it’s an eternity in a 5K.

Doug told me that he was within 30 feet of me in the last mile, but then felt like he was carrying a refrigerator on his back.  It was sad for me to hear that, and reminded me how fortunate I am to not have any serious physical ailments. 

As Cyndy and Rachel crossed the finish line, we grabbed a bagel and bottle of water and make our way to Doug’s house.

Let the festivities begin!

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PAL HALF MARATHON 11/6/2011

This is a race that I don’t always have the pleasure of participating in on a regular basis.  It is typically scheduled right after the Florida/Georgia game (Halloween weekend) or Homecoming weekend.  Since the Gators game was a noon kickoff, we drove home after the game with plenty of time to get some good quality sleep before the 6:30 am start time on Sunday.

This race takes place in Spanish River Park, which has been discussed in previous blog posts.  It was the end of Daylight Savings Time, so I was able to cop an extra hour of sleep.  Of course I had to screw up my alarm clock, but lucky for me, I set the alarm on my cell phone as a backup.  I parked in my usual spot, only to find out that they moved the check-in table to a new location.  In addition, I totally forgot to bring my water bottle.  Fortunately, I brought a bottle of Gatorade with me, which fit into my running belt.  As I made my way back to the car to put in my contact lenses, it started to pour big-time!  Then, I had major issues putting in one of my contacts.  Can you tell the morning was shaping up just peachy keen? 

With all of the pre-race festivities now out of the way, it was finally time to run.  Since this race takes place right on the beach in Boca Raton, you can always count on some extra wind.  Today was no exception, especially with the rain coming down intermittently.   I got off to a very fast start, and it only rained for the first two miles or so.  It had been a while since I’ve entered a race of this length, and it felt great to be back on the circuit.

I could tell I was going to PR this race, but then the bottom dropped out a little bit at the end.  I started to get winded during the last three miles of the race, which caused me to lose some time; the wind gusting in my face didn’t help matters either.  They had changed the course a bit, so you actually run through the park itself more than in the past.  I don’t know if this race was a PR or not, but it was still one of my better times in a half marathon.  I was happy to see that all of the extra training I’ve been doing this year is paying off.

The real test will be December 4th…The Palm Beach Marathon.

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GATOR GALLOP 2011

Although it is technically not a race, Gator Gallop is without a doubt one of my favorite runs to participate in. Not because of the distance (it’s only two miles) and not because of the course (it goes down University Avenue). The excitement is the kickoff to homecoming weekend at the University of Florida.

The weekend starts on Friday morning with the traditional homecoming parade. The parade starts at 11:30 am, with Gator Gallop leading the way before the floats come through. Later that evening is Gator Growl, which is the largest student produced pep rally. If that weren’t enough, the weekend concludes on Saturday with the football game (although this year is not the best of times).

We typically drive up Thursday night and make our way to our “spot,” which is right in front of Leonardo’s around 10 am. When I got up in the morning, I was surprised to see the temperature was a brisk 43 degrees. No worries; I brought a long sleeve shirt and a jacket to run in. Lindsey’s roommate Marisa and her friend Hannah decided to run with me, so we picked up the whole clan at her apartment.

The race…I mean run (old habits are hard to break) begins in front of Percy Beard Track, which is about one mile from Leonardo’s. As the three of us made our way to the start, the crowd was already out in full force. All the schools in Gainesville close for homecoming, and parents love to bring their kids to the event. We picked up our shirts and bibs, and did some pre-race stretching. There are about 1,500 people who enter the run, including parents pushing strollers, skaters and lots of walkers. There is no real official timing of this run, but they do give a modest cash prize to the person who finishes first (not me). Since I don’t typically run a distance this short, my only measuring stick to set a PR is the Gator Gallops I have run in previous years.

As the run starts, it’s very cool seeing all the ACRs (Alachua County Residents) lined up in the street. They are very enthusiastic in cheering everyone on. I was a little sore at first from my eleven mile run on Wednesday, but there is no time to relax when you’re only running two miles. When I got to Glenda and Lindsey, I had loosened up and was ready to take it home. I had Lindsey shoot some video of me running instead of taking still pictures. I crossed the finish line strong, setting a new PR and ready to sit for two hours as the parade was starting.

The only thing missing was my daughter Rachel, who was at a convention this year.

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IT'S A CRUEL, CRUEL SUMMER

It has always been my steadfast policy to never complain about the heat or humidity in any of my postings on dailymile or Facebook.  This seems to be a common theme of my running friends, but I refuse to join in.  It is Florida people…it is summer people…deal with it!

That being said, I’ve decided to dedicate this blog to piss-and-moan about just how hot it is out there.

Although there are races scheduled throughout the entire year, you would be hard pressed to find anything longer than a 5K scheduled during the summer months (especially in the south).  Although the majority of races begin between 6am and 7am, it’s still too hot and humid for competitive racing conditions.  With that in mind, the “unofficial” race season typically starts in October, and runs (no pun intended) through April.

In years past, I have used the summers to do most of my intensive training for my upcoming races.  My philosophy was that if you can run through the extreme heat of the summer, you would be totally prepared to run in milder weather conditions of fall and winter.  In fact, I would actually start out running around 10am, trading the intense heat for the extra sleep.  It worked out pretty well, although I finished up pretty late (which ate up a good portion of the day).  However, something happened two summers ago that changed everything for me.

My best guess is that the ozone layer just totally fell apart.  I can remember running on one particular Saturday, and could not believe how brutal the heat was.  I had to cut the run short, which is something I very rarely do.  When it happened again the next week, I knew I needed a new game plan.  I actually started setting the alarm to get up earlier in the morning in an effort to beat some of the heat, but it only helped marginally.  Running as much as I could before the sun came out was the best option, but it really takes commitment to set your alarm for 5am on a Saturday to go out and run; fortunately, I have that kind of commitment.  The early runs have helped in terms of avoiding a total beat down from the sun, but the humidity does you in as well.  I have found myself gasping for air, but my heart rate is not accelerated.  The air is so thick, it’s just been impossible to push myself more than 17 miles on any given day.

Hydration of course is another issue.  I carry two 24 ounce water bottles on my belt, but of course that’s not enough fluid.  Many runners will go out in their cars before their runs and stash drinks in the bushes along their routes.  I am fortunate, as I run past my mother-in-law’s condo around the 10 mile point of my run.  She hooks me up with a couple of bottles of Gatorade and a bucket of ice water.  I also take my gels every 45 minutes, and my Endurolytes every hour.  I’m sure they help, but there are some days that it’s all I can do to finish the runs.

I have had to rethink my training strategy for the summer months.  I have been running more after work, which doesn’t seem to be as humid.  I’m not a big fan of running at the end of the day, but it’s a great way to escape the heat.

Not that I’m complaining…

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FALLING FOR YOU

Sometimes, it’s the simple things in life that make you happy or motivate you.  As silly as this may seem, getting a new running shirt or a new running belt can get you “jacked” for your next run.

I had just received an early Father’s Day gift from Glenda…a Garmin Forerunner 305 running watch.  Among some of the features of this watch include reading a satellite as you run, monitoring your heart rate, and allowing you to run with a virtual partner (which is good if you’re a “lone wolf” like me).  When you are finished, you can upload your data to your computer, Garmin’s website and/or dailymile.  This allows you to share your routes with other people, and helps you keep better track of your training.

I already have a Garmin Forerunner 201 running watch, which is the equivalent of the Zack Morris cell phone.  It can’t upload your data because it’s so “old school,” but it serves my purposes nevertheless.  Lately, it’s been acting squirrely, and I wanted to replace it before it totally freaks out on me.

I decided to christen the watch this past Wednesday night.  I was about one mile into my run, and decided to take a brief moment to admire my new prized possession.  Then...out of nowhere...FUMBLE ALABAMA!!! I was doing the tango with the pavement. After a quick blood transfusion, I was back on my feet running strong. In all the years I've been running, this is only the third time I’ve gone rumbling, bumbling & stumbling.  Coincidentally, that is the same number of times I watched Pam fall during the Croom 50K last year.

Just sayin'.

P.S. No watches were harmed during the making of this blog.

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GUMBO LIMBO GREEN TURTLE GALLOP 10K - 4/3/2011

I know what you all are thinking.  A 10K???  REALLY???  REALLY???

I hadn’t entered a race since the marathon in Gainesville this past February.  Now that my foot was completely healed, I was “jonzing” for a race with some sustenance.  With spring now sprung, warmer temperatures usually produce shorter races.  There is a half marathon in Pensacola I could have entered (Pam & Jen signed up for this race), but that’s quite a schlep…even for me.  There was a half marathon in Port St. Lucie last weekend, but the course didn’t look that appealing, considering I would have to drive about two hours to get there.  My next best option would be to enter a 10K.

The Gumbo Limbo Green Turtle Gallop took place at Spanish River Park in Boca Raton.  I have run this course many times before, and I enjoy it very much.  The race begins right in front of the park on A1A.  After about two miles, you run into a residential neighborhood with old houses that are worth in the upwards of a million dollars.  You circle through, back out onto A1A, and finish out doing a lap in the park.

As I entered this race into my dailymile calendar, I noticed that a few other runners using this social media site had entered as well.  I extended a friend invitation to some of them, and we agreed to look for each other during the race.  I was excited about the prospect of actually bonding with someone at a race not named Pam, Jen or Elaine.

I did a 12.6 mile run the day before, and was pretty tired when I woke up at 4:45 on race day.  There were 602 entrants in the race, which is a very nice crowd for an event now in its second year.  I started out pretty quick (for me at least), but I got very tired two miles into the run.  I was able to suck it up and finish strong, but not really the time I was hoping for.

After the race was over, I spotted my new running buddies Elizabeth, Damaris and Michelle.  We spoke for a while, and they all told me they enjoyed the award winning documentary “I Am a Runner,” which is currently playing on my dailymile page.  It also turns out that Michelle works at FIU with me, and I went over to speak to her today.  We made tentative plans to run on Wednesday night with the Gold Coast Runners Club.

Look at me being sociable…Pam would be so proud.

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