Cool Running :: Dexter-Ann Arbor RR #2

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Dexter-Ann Arbor RR #2

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Author	Topic: Dexter-Ann Arbor RR #2
rochrunner Cool Runner	posted Jun-04-2007 08:03 AM Short story: Worst weather I’ve ever raced in, but managed to get to the finish line with my 2nd PR within a week and my 6th straight event PR. Fashion: Brooks Adrenaline GTS 7 shoes and socks, black shorts, red “Boomer Reunion” singlet. Long story: I won’t repeat the race details that MarkGuy has already described, but going to Ann Arbor is more of an adventure for us non-natives. I had to get up about 4:30 to be able to drive there, park, get my packet, and get on a bus. So naturally I was there even earlier than I had to be. Good thing, too. I’m not implying that Ann Arbor -- home of U of M -- tilts to the left, but the first lot I passed had a “Volvos only” sign. But I was eventually able to find a good spot nearby and parked for the day. The packet pickup was a bit chaotic, but I was really impressed by the bus service. They had to have enough busses to take 2000 runners way out to Dexter, plus the 5K and 10K runners who were starting from different points along the course. After trying to snooze a bit in the high school gym, I decided to see if I could find MarkGuy, and going out the door I literally collided with him. The first thing he did was mistake me for tselbs, but I’ll admit that Tom and I are getting a bit of that generic “fit 60s” look, and we soon figured out who we both were. At the race start, it was probably high-60s but 100% humidity. I took a short quarter-mile warmup jog, after which I started sweating a lot and began to get concerned about going 13 miles in this soup. So I set a target pace of 9:15 for the first couple of miles and figured if I finished in 2:05 I’d be content. This was definitely a Crim type of day, but the Crim is at the end of August when I’m a lot more conditioned to this carp. I’m more confident about belonging in the front half of the pack now, and did not have any particular crowd problems at the start. But by the first mile marker I was completely soaked through in sweat and was already wondering how I could possibly finish this. But that mile went by in a surprising 8:50. Entering Dexter I actually thought about looking for a sag-wagon to just take me back to Ann Arbor, but mile 2 came up at an 8:45 just as Mark passed me from behind, and I started feeling a little better and soldiered on. The run along Huron River Drive is very scenic, but a bit more rolling that I expected. Rain showers passed over occasionally, but nothing heavy, which I almost would have welcomed. Between the sweat, rain, and puddles though, my shoes and socks were wet to the point of squishiness, and my feet started bothering me a bit. But my pace stayed in the 8:45-8:50 range and I figured I should bank some sub-9s in hopes of maybe squeezing out a sub-9 overall. My biggest problem occurred somewhere around mile 9, and it cost me a good 30 seconds on my finishing time. I avoid drinking during a race as much as possible because I tend to get a problem where a swallow of liquid gets “stuck in my throat” as though it won’t go down. It’s not a choking hazard, but can be pretty painful. On this day, I felt I had to take fluid at every two-mile location, and the Gatorade at this stop got stuck to the point that I had to stop and walk. I tried to swallow some more to push it down, but it just got worse and gagged me to where I had to bend over and puke up what I’d just drank. That took care of it, and I actually drank the rest of the cup and started running again. This race is brutal in that the two big hills are within the last two miles. I ended up taking a walk break up the hill on mile 12 and again on the big hill up to the finish line. But I did see that I could still beat my previous HM PR of 1:58, and maybe even go under 1:57. I made the first goal but not the second, kicking to a 1:57:07 for a new PR with an 8:57 pace. Whew! I collected the really nice finisher’s medal and then met MarkGuy and dg9 outside the corral. As Mark has described, we met DaveinAA later and visited a local brew-pub for some burgers and beer. The worst downpour of the day was in progress when we left the pub. Dave had a big golf umbrella and the three of us navigated to the parking lot where we said goodbye and Mark and I made one last speedy dash to get to our cars. As I alluded to in the short summary, this was my 2nd PR within a week after my 5-mile run on Memorial Day. And starting with the Corktown Races in March of 2006, this is my 6th straight race PR at these distances: 4M – 10M – HM – 10K – 5M – HM. I was 14/32 AG on this one, 959/2050 OA. Now if it had been 10 degrees cooler and dry… ------------------ - Runnin' in Rochester Rochrunner IP: Logged
rosecoloredglasses Cool Runner	posted Jun-04-2007 08:51 AM "If wishes were horses, then paupers would ride..." Nice half marathon, Doug! Exciting and suspenseful, I like when you puked. Good one! Congratulations on a well planned and well run race. (Did supper stay down?) IP: Logged
tselbs Cool Runner	posted Jun-04-2007 09:17 AM Wow, Doug, you're really on a roll with all those PRs. It sounds like a tough day with the rain, humidity, and hills. Finishing the morning with dg9, MarkGuy, and DaveinAA sounds really good. Congratulations. TomS ------------------ My Profile IP: Logged
Dark Horse Cool Runner	posted Jun-04-2007 09:18 AM roch, Nice run and nice PR, and good job toughing it out on a high-humidity day. Even running in the gym on a treadmill, as I do, I've found my runs of 5 or 6 miles are more draining these days. The gym doesn't seem to have much AC, and the gym doors are left open to admit the merry little breezes, so I'm starting to run in summer conditions, too. Dark Horse ------------------ I'm a dark horse, running on a dark race course IP: Logged
UncleSteve57 Cool Runner	posted Jun-04-2007 10:09 AM Congratulations rochrunner on the new PR. Seems like you ran a very steady pace all the way, an major accomplishment in those conditions. WTG. Steve IP: Logged
timlooney Cool Runner	posted Jun-04-2007 10:52 AM quote: Originally posted by tselbs: Wow, Doug, you're really on a roll with all those PRs. It sounds like a tough day with the rain, humidity, and hills. Finishing the morning with dg9, MarkGuy, and DaveinAA sounds really good. Congratulations. TomS Yeah, nice job Doug. nice way to PR on a not so nice day. IP: Logged
FlyingFinn Cool Runner	posted Jun-04-2007 11:14 AM Very nice! Good job in the humidity.That's a great streak you have going with the PR's. Good puking technique, too...seems like you didn't waste much time. IP: Logged
Fortunate One Cool Runner	posted Jun-04-2007 03:26 PM Wow, that's a nice PR string you've got going there. Very nice race, considering the conditions. Thanks (I think) for the graphic RR. It's so nice when Boomers can get together for beer or whatever. ------------------ Fortunate--a volleyballer with a running problem Profile IP: Logged
Janet Carmody Cool Runner	posted Jun-04-2007 03:51 PM Way to go! Its a hard run even in good weather. I'm really impressed that you were able to PR given the conditions. Janet IP: Logged
Spareribs Cool Runner	posted Jun-04-2007 05:41 PM You are running very well, and despite the temps, that was 100% humidity and no picnic. Long as you get sufficient rest and recovery between races, you could stay on this roll for a while. Great job. Spareribs IP: Logged
Ileneforward Cool Runner	posted Jun-04-2007 07:49 PM Wow, one PR after another, you are red hot! Excellent racing, even the puking part. Although seeing you gag up some and then finish the cup off, would have been too much for me. Congratulations on a great job! IP: Logged
DaveinAA Cool Runner	posted Jun-04-2007 09:28 PM Very impressive running, Doug; I wilt in weather like that. You looked fresh as a daisy afterwards. Great to see you again. Keep up the outstanding training and racing--we're counting on a 400m PR from you at the Michigan Boomer relay in August! IP: Logged
MarkGuy Cool Runner	posted Jun-04-2007 09:28 PM Doug, nice to get a chance to hang out and chat. I'm glad you hung in at the 2 mile mark, it was definitely better under the trees and with a light sprinkle. Well done continuing your string of PRs. I am guessing that in the cool of Detroit you will go well under 1:57. I am sorry about the Tom thing (to you too, Tom!). I guess it was the hat and pre-race nerves. I have to say I remembered it a few times during the race, still feeling badly! IP: Logged
millbot Cool Runner	posted Jun-04-2007 11:34 PM Rochrunner, nicely done in tough conditions. That's a tough break in mile 9. I think you would take a few minutes off that time on a better day! IP: Logged
Econo Cool Runner	posted Jun-04-2007 11:40 PM holy moly, I'm betting on you next time! You mean you DON'T drive a Volvo? IP: Logged
hopeful4ever Cool Runner	posted Jun-05-2007 10:34 AM Wow Doug - 6 pr's in a row!! You are on a roll and I'm so happy for you!! Congratulations on a great race and to top it off having beers with fellow boomer's. Are there pictures somewhere?? ~mary IP: Logged
hollys4874 Cool Runner	posted Jun-05-2007 02:24 PM Roch – Congratulations on your latest PR, and especially with the heat, choking problem, and hills at the end. Well done! Six straight PRs – that’s quite a streak you have going there. You are definitely smokin'... ------------------ Holly IP: Logged
Dark Horse Cool Runner	posted Jun-05-2007 02:27 PM p.s. Good to know about the Volvo parking lot. We'll take my wife's car if I ever run this race. Dark Horse ------------------ I'm a dark horse, running on a dark race course IP: Logged
DaveinAA Cool Runner	posted Jun-05-2007 02:38 PM quote: Originally posted by hopeful4ever: Are there pictures somewhere?? rochrunner, MarkGuy, DaveinAA: IP: Logged
Dark Horse Cool Runner	posted Jun-05-2007 02:41 PM quote: Originally posted by DaveinAA: rochrunner, MarkGuy, DaveinAA: My military computer blocks out photos of weddings and Boomer goddesses, but these three lugs come through loud and clear. Dark Horse ------------------ I'm a dark horse, running on a dark race course IP: Logged
choover Cool Runner	posted Jun-06-2007 10:27 AM What a good lookin' buncha Boomer Gods. Thanks for adding the photo. Where was Debbie? Roch, congrats on a great race in what sounds like miserable conditions. Can't imagine puking along the route and then soldiering on -- I'd be calling it quits for sure. Have you checked with a Dr. about what causes that swallowing problem? ------------------ choover IP: Logged
Jim24315 Cool Runner	posted Jun-06-2007 10:48 AM Way to go, rochrunner What to you attribute this hot streak too? Your mileage doesn't seem to be enough to set PR's in these longer races, yet you continue to do it. Don't you only run about 20 miles a week? Congratulations on yet another PR, and you did it under tough conditions too. IP: Logged
rochrunner Cool Runner	posted Jun-06-2007 10:55 AM quote: Originally posted by choover: Where was Debbie? She met Mark and me in the finishing area, but couldn't stay for lunch. quote: Originally posted by Jim24315: What to you attribute this hot streak too? Don't you only run about 20 miles a week? I do maintain a long-run schedule before an event, but don't tend to run extra mileage during the week. I've also been doing a lot more bicycle mileage that seems to have helped the last couple of years. ------------------ - Runnin' in Rochester Rochrunner IP: Logged
roy c Cool Runner	posted Jun-06-2007 03:44 PM Doug Great race, report and PR in terrible conditions. Good you met up with Mark & Dave Roy IP: Logged
tomwhite Cool Runner	posted Jun-06-2007 03:56 PM .........consistently good racing and great pacing//.........you ran a Good One...... IP: Logged

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