| Author |
Topic: Dexter-Ann Arbor HM RR |
MarkGuy
Cool Runner |
 posted Jun-03-2007 10:59 PM
   
Summary: 1:53:25, 97/195 AG, 752/2052 OA.The Dexter-Ann Arbor run is a longstanding Ann Arbor tradition being in it's 34th year. Most of the race is run along the heavily wooded Huron River on a winding two lane road. Last June this was my first "serious" race and I was happy to finish. Today I hoped to better last year's time while continuing my recovery from itbs. The start is staged at a middle school in Dexter. Runners are bused from the finish in Ann Arbor to the start in yellow school buses -- a rare treat. The morning was gray and held the promise of rain. At 8am it was 60+ with high humidity so I was secretly hoping for rain. I met rochrunner in the school and we talked a bit then split for warm ups. About 20 minutes before the start the RD announced a 20 minute delay: storms Saturday night had blown a tree across the course. The start was crowded and as I seem to do, I started too far back. It took me 1 minute to cross the start. The first mile was 9 minutes of trying to avoid a face plant. The second mile ends in Dexter with the first aid station. At that point the course opened up and I was able to get some room. In the third mile the course crosses the river and heads out onto Huron River Drive for the next 8 miles. Last year I really enjoyed the river, the woods and just being out on summer morning with 100's of other runners. This year I made an effort to run harder and concentrate more. With some help from CoachinAA I planned to go out around 8:50 for the first 3 miles then push the next 7 or so. How I executed that is open for debate, but it did feel good to push hard in a race for an extended period of time. My splits through 11 miles were: 8:57, 8:16, 8:35, 8:33, 8:26, 8:19, 8:29, 8:38, 9:03, 8:27, 8:37. Mile 9 was marked long last year and apparently again this year. The last 2 miles I was gassed. I had a few spots were I sped up but I couldn't keep it up. Mile 12 was 9:07 and the last 1.1 was 9:54. It was great to see Dave cheering about 300 yds out and dg9 at about 100 yds. I ran a 3 minute PR, if you can call beating your other time a PR. However, I'm satisfied because I ran this about as hard as my current conditioning would allow. Rochrunner came in right behind me and we talked with Debbie while we waited in the fruit and bagel line. After we got our bags and changed, Doug and I met DaveinAA for lunch at a local brew pub. A couple pints of their Red Snapper Special Bitter, a black bean burrito and I was feeling better. We worked on our plans for the first annual Michigan Boomer 1600m relay in August. That should be a hoot. Thanks for reading.
IP: Logged |
FlyingFinn
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-03-2007 11:20 PM
MarkGuy, it's great you are running so strong recovering from your itbs. I loved how you said it felt good to push hard for an extended period. Yes, you can call beating your other time a PR! 3 minutes is BIG! Black bean burritos...mmmmm! Looking forward to hearing about the 1600 relay.[This message has been edited by FlyingFinn (edited Jun-04-2007).]
IP: Logged |
roy c
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-04-2007 05:51 AM
Mark
I think you did brilliant to keep those splits right up to the last couple and even the last 2 were fast. You ran a greeat race and nice that you and Doug finished so close together. Lucky you meeting up with Deb's also your coach D'AA.
Well Done
Roy
IP: Logged |
runningindc
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-04-2007 06:24 AM
Nice racing Mark. Thanks for sharing the experience.------------------
Running in wellness Liz Lizs Profile
IP: Logged |
rochrunner
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-04-2007 07:22 AM
A really nice report, Mark, and a good performance too. But you might have downplayed the weather factor a bit -- it was definitely the worst conditions I have run in! So that time is even more impressive.Now I'm under pressure to get my own RR done, for a viewpoint from a more "senior" member of the Boomers team.  ------------------
- Runnin' in Rochester Rochrunner
IP: Logged |
SueT48
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-04-2007 07:58 AM
Congrats on the 3 minute PR - that's great! Sounds like a very nice course - wish I had been there with you. Thanks for sharing.------------------
Sue
IP: Logged |
tselbs
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-04-2007 09:04 AM
Great job, Mark. You had nice pacing and a big PR. Racing with roch, meeting up with dg9, and post race refreshments with Dave and roch all make for a fantastic day. Congratulations.TomS ------------------
My Profile
IP: Logged |
Dark Horse
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-04-2007 09:08 AM
Mark,Three minutes is a nice PR, and the main thing is, you felt good. Nice that you could share the occasion with rochrunner and CoachinAA.  Dark Horse ------------------
I'm a dark horse, running on a dark race course
IP: Logged |
rosecoloredglasses
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-04-2007 09:51 AM
MarkGuy!
What a fun day!
Congratulations on a new personal best and for having a plan and for running it and for meetin for lunch and beers with the best Michigan has to offer!Excellent!
IP: Logged |
timlooney
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-04-2007 10:47 AM
Nice job Mark. I saw you run by - you were looking good at that point (I was at the 13 mile mark).It was a pleasure to meet DaveinAA. I would have joined you for a beer if I would have known. Nice PR!! Count me in for the relay.
IP: Logged |
Fortunate One
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-04-2007 11:03 AM
WTG, Mark. Keep those PR's coming. I could really relate to the slowish start, since I experienced the same thing this weekend. At least you didn't have to worry about "going out too fast"? Your pacing was great, and the fact that you faded just a little at the end showed that you gave it all you could that day. Thanks for the great RR, and congratulations.------------------
Fortunate--a volleyballer with a running problem
Profile
IP: Logged |
Spareribs
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-04-2007 05:48 PM
Great job Mark, and really glad you got together with the others. Since that is Dave's home locale, I assume he paid for everything afterwards? Spareribs
IP: Logged |
Ileneforward
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-04-2007 07:53 PM
Very nice! I think you left out the information about the huge hills in the last 2 miles. Congratulations, you ran a great race in that kind of humidity.
IP: Logged |
DaveinAA
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-04-2007 09:36 PM
Congratulations on a PR in your second DxAA, under conditions that were tougher than last year. Your smart, steady comeback from ITBS is paying off, and you'll be running many more PRs this year I'm sure. Great to see you as always.Tim, we'll count on you for the relay--from the WS100 to the 400m, this will be a summer for you to display your versatility. quote:
Originally posted by Spareribs:
Since that is Dave's home locale, I assume he paid for everything afterwards? Spareribs
MarkGuy has lived here longer than I have, so by mutual consent we stuck rochrunner with the bill.
IP: Logged |
millbot
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-04-2007 11:16 PM
Congratulations, MarkGuy. It's good to see you on the comeback trail. It sounds like the ITBS did not bother you? That can be a frustrating injury, but it can be overcome!
IP: Logged |
Econo
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-04-2007 11:35 PM
MarkGuy, if you think riding on a yellow schoolbus is a real treat -- uh, I think you need to get out more often. I'm just sayin'
IP: Logged |
TwoLeftFeet07
Member |
posted Jun-05-2007 04:41 AM
Hi Mark,I ran Dexter-A2 and think I pulled the IT Band. What did you do to recover? I'm hoping to start training for Detroit Marathon and seek some recovery tips. Thanks. Y quote:
Originally posted by MarkGuy:
Summary: 1:53:25, 97/195 AG, 752/2052 OA.The Dexter-Ann Arbor run is a longstanding Ann Arbor tradition being in it's 34th year. Most of the race is run along the heavily wooded Huron River on a winding two lane road. Last June this was my first "serious" race and I was happy to finish. Today I hoped to better last year's time while continuing my recovery from itbs. The start is staged at a middle school in Dexter. Runners are bused from the finish in Ann Arbor to the start in yellow school buses -- a rare treat. The morning was gray and held the promise of rain. At 8am it was 60+ with high humidity so I was secretly hoping for rain. I met rochrunner in the school and we talked a bit then split for warm ups. About 20 minutes before the start the RD announced a 20 minute delay: storms Saturday night had blown a tree across the course. The start was crowded and as I seem to do, I started too far back. It took me 1 minute to cross the start. The first mile was 9 minutes of trying to avoid a face plant. The second mile ends in Dexter with the first aid station. At that point the course opened up and I was able to get some room. In the third mile the course crosses the river and heads out onto Huron River Drive for the next 8 miles. Last year I really enjoyed the river, the woods and just being out on summer morning with 100's of other runners. This year I made an effort to run harder and concentrate more. With some help from CoachinAA I planned to go out around 8:50 for the first 3 miles then push the next 7 or so. How I executed that is open for debate, but it did feel good to push hard in a race for an extended period of time. My splits through 11 miles were: 8:57, 8:16, 8:35, 8:33, 8:26, 8:19, 8:29, 8:38, 9:03, 8:27, 8:37. Mile 9 was marked long last year and apparently again this year. The last 2 miles I was gassed. I had a few spots were I sped up but I couldn't keep it up. Mile 12 was 9:07 and the last 1.1 was 9:54. It was great to see Dave cheering about 300 yds out and dg9 at about 100 yds. I ran a 3 minute PR, if you can call beating your other time a PR. However, I'm satisfied because I ran this about as hard as my current conditioning would allow. Rochrunner came in right behind me and we talked with Debbie while we waited in the fruit and bagel line. After we got our bags and changed, Doug and I met DaveinAA for lunch at a local brew pub. A couple pints of their Red Snapper Special Bitter, a black bean burrito and I was feeling better. We worked on our plans for the first annual Michigan Boomer 1600m relay in August. That should be a hoot. Thanks for reading.
IP: Logged |
MarkGuy
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-05-2007 07:35 AM
quote:
Originally posted by TwoLeftFeet07:
Hi Mark,I ran Dexter-A2 and think I pulled the IT Band. What did you do to recover? I'm hoping to start training for Detroit Marathon and seek some recovery tips. Thanks. Y
First you want to make sure that's what it is. Mine only showed up later, typically after running 2-4 miles. I never had pain otherwise. For me it was a combination of stretches targeted at the IT Band, exercises to counter muscle imbalance and orthotics. At times I've used a strap -- but this simply allows you to go further, it doesn't help you recover. Here are some of my links to stretches and exercises.
http://del.icio.us/markguy/itbs The best thing to do is peruse the medtent forum -- there are scads of people like us over there and normally a couple active itbs threads. Good luck, see you in Detroit. Tim: sorry I missed you. Let's have one after a relay practice. Econo: But our yellow school buses are Volvos!
IP: Logged |
Canfit
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-05-2007 07:42 PM
Great race, Mark! ...and PR! Great that you could enjoy the day with a lot of Boomers. Good luck with your ongoing recovery. Btw - what kind of a warm-up did you do?
PJ
IP: Logged |
choover
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-05-2007 11:15 PM
It makes me very happy to hear that you are doing well after your ITB problems. Congrats on the PR and for spending time with Boomer friends.P.S. I once had to ride all the way from MT to OR in a yellow school bus for a regional softball tournament. That was no treat. [This message has been edited by choover (edited Jun-05-2007).]
IP: Logged |
cajohnson5
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-05-2007 11:53 PM
Mark, hope the itb issue continues to improve. At 60+ with high humidity at the start of the race, I'm wondering if that PR would have been even bigger had the temps been a little cooler/dryer. I always enjoy reading your reports, and am happy that you were able to share some time with other boomers. Sounds like you had a good time. Good luck with your relay in August. cj
IP: Logged |
hollys4874
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-06-2007 04:45 AM
Mark - a 3-minute PR is nothing to sneeze at, especially in that kind of humidity - well done! Nice that you got to meet up with some Boomers, too.------------------
Holly
IP: Logged |
smpankowski
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-06-2007 05:05 AM
That was a very strong run Mark Guy. Thanks for the Race Report.------------------
Never regret anything that made you smile, SteveP My User Profile
IP: Logged |
hopeful4ever
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-06-2007 07:55 AM
Great job Mark! Sure glad that senior roch didn't beat you!! Nice PR and meeting the other boomer's is just a great bonus, especially with Doug buying too! ~Mary
IP: Logged |
rochrunner
Cool Runner |
posted Jun-06-2007 08:28 AM
I'm going to bump Mark's thread up by repeating the post-race picture. L to R, rochrunner, MarkGuy, DaveinAA: 
------------------
- Runnin' in Rochester Rochrunner
IP: Logged |
