| Author |
Topic: Grand Rapids Half-Marathon RR |
rochrunner
Cool Runner |
 posted Oct-29-2007 06:51 AM
   
Short report: Perfect day for a race, and a half-marathon PR by six minutes.My DW’s favorite part about attending the Grand Rapids Marathon is staying at the Amway Grand Hotel, probably the finest hotel in the state, and which dates back to the lumber-baron era of the 1910s. It’s owned by the founders of Amway, whose names are on just about everything in Grand Rapids: VanAndel and DeVos. I wouldn’t say that this Dutch Reform area is conservative, but Mrs. DeVos chaired the state Republican party for a while, and her sister is married to Erik Prince, CEO of Blackwater. But overall, this is probably the most visitor-friendly large city in Michigan. My favorite part is a just-right-sized marathon and half-marathon, with enough entrants that you’re not alone on the course, but with all the trimmings like the laid-back pasta dinner at the Y the night before and a race director who shakes everyone’s hand after they’ve crossed the finish line. This year had a record turnout, with the original 2500-runner limit increased by 500 or so to accommodate the many refugees from the Chicago disaster of a few weeks ago. When we arrived on Saturday afternoon, the weather was grim: cold, gray, rainy, and a strong wind. But the forecast looked promising, if a bit cold, and everyone was upbeat about the prospects. So when I woke on Sunday morning to temperatures in the mid-30s and clear skies, I knew that it was going to be a good one. Being 10 minutes away from my hotel room door to the starting line was another good way to start out on race morning. FR: Black shorts, black Mizuno long-sleeve tech top over an old singlet, gray cap, Brooks Adrenaline 7s. Old throwaway black sweatshirt, double pair of light gloves at the start. Since the time-change is later this year, the sun was barely rising at the 8AM gun, and we started out with a bright moon above us and the steam from chimneys rising straight up in the cool air (a good sign: no wind!). I always say that it takes me about 3 miles to comfortably get up to speed, and that held true as I did the first three at 8:54, 8:45, and 8:41. After that, every mile was sub-8:30, a pace that I had never held since an earlier period of running when I was 30 years younger. As the sun came up I shed a layer and started feeling the warmth as we ran through some semi-deserted areas of land near the river and then wound through a park. At this point, miles 6-8, I felt very strong and ran off a string at 8:12, 8:13, and 8:15. The route then curved back around and dropped down to a narrow paved bike-path along the river, where the full-marathon runners split off to cross a bridge and run their extra miles. That left the path a lot less crowded, but the temperature really dropped again for that stretch under the trees. I was not sure about my finishing calculations, but passed the 10-mile mark about two minutes better than my PR time at the Crim and began to think I’d do better than my 1:55 target. The last couple of miles retraces the start, and I could see the finish line from a long way off. Knowing that I had a PR in the bag, I felt like I could ease off a bit for the last couple of miles, but it turns out that I really only eased off to an 8:28 pace, crossing the finish line with a 1:51:34 – a 6-minute PR over my Dexter-AA time last June and an overall 8:31 pace. For all that, I was only 9/17 in the 60-64 AG. Tough crowd, apparently! Maybe 231/850 overall sounds a bit better. My only disappointment was that with the darkness and larger than usual crowd I wasn’t able to find Mary (hopeful) before the race. But I did manage to catch her afterwards in the refreshment area after she had just finished her race. So a Boomer meeting did happen, even if it was way too short. Looking at my time, and considering how my legs feel this morning, I am sure that for once I didn’t hold anything back and left it all out there on the course. I think I ran exactly my kind of race and ran up to my present potential. And for that, I have all of you to thank, my good running friends!
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- Runnin' in Rochester Rochrunner
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johnmaas
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-29-2007 07:13 AM
Fantastic run, Rochrunner.
Way to go on smashing that 1/2 marathon PR!!
It does sound like you had pretty tough competition in the 60-64 AG.
Weather was perfect and you nailed this one!
Give yourself some needed rest, and bask in the success of this one.
John
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SueT48
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-29-2007 07:19 AM
Doug - excellent race!!! Congratulations on the PR!! Sounds like you couldn't have asked for better weather. I'll bet all of the Chicago refugees appreciated the cooler weather.
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Sue
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runrgrl1
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-29-2007 07:30 AM
Wow! A PR of 6 minutes is nothing to sneeze at! Congratulation! I sooooooooooo wish I could have joined you. Next year for sure  !
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"It's never too late to be what you might have been."
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Yoshiko
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-29-2007 08:06 AM
Congratulations on a solid race and 6-minute PR!!!!! I loved your report. I was there yeterday. It was just a gorgeous fall morning to run a race, wasn't it (though a bit cold)? We stayed at JW Marriott, which is not as grand as your hotel but what a great location! I should start hanging around on this forum more, now I am 40, to meet more CRers. My RR is in multisports forum.
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Dark Horse
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-29-2007 08:41 AM
roch, excellent run, but you didn't leave it all out there on the course unless you left your last meal out there, too. This is according to tallrunner and fredurie, and what better authorities could I quote.Dark Horse ------------------
I'm a dark horse, running on a dark race course [This message has been edited by Dark Horse (edited Oct-29-2007).]
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Spareribs
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-29-2007 09:19 AM
Really happy for you to have one of those days. I bet you have more PR's to come. Great race, and never mind anyone else: you trained, you ran it, you get all the credit. Spareribs
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RunsTheBitterroot
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-29-2007 09:20 AM
Hi Roch, Wow, great time in your half. Congratulations on a big PR! Larry------------------
"If you see a man running up a mountain trail in Montana with a fly pole attached to his back, you are probably lost. LDD
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Opie
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-29-2007 09:29 AM
That is awesome! Maybe you are 30 years younger.  I liked your reference to the Dutch Reformed-I had a friend that went to Calvin College there. Don't worry about the AG place-the PR is the important thing.------------------
My Profile
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Jim24315
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-29-2007 09:34 AM
Way to go Doug. The streak continues. And it seems I remember you being worried and bit skeptical about this race. Not only did you beat your PR, you smashed it!I have noticed in reading reports from you Michigan guys that the 60-64 catogory is pretty tough there. Your time would have gotten you 16th out of 103 entrants in the big HM we had here earlier this month. Congratulations on another fine race
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hopeful4ever
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-29-2007 09:36 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Dark Horse:
roch, excellent run, but you didn't leave it all out there on the course unless you left your last meal out there, too. This is according to tallrunner and fredurie, and what better authorities could I quote.Dark Horse
That is so funny - exactly what my husband was telling me yesterday after I finished! GREAT Job Doug! I am so happy for you and I am thinking it is now time for you to seriously consider that Marathon you've been contemplating. I see a BQ in your future. I wish we could have had more time to visit and I wish my husband was somewhere close so we could have had a photo op. Something to look forward to next time . . . . Congratulations! ~Mary
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perchcreek
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-29-2007 09:43 AM
Roch.. Excellent!!!! A 6 minute PR is fantastic. So you proved you can hold 8:30 for the 13.1 miles! That means you are better than you were 30 years ago... not bad! Congratulations!
Steve
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dshclio
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-29-2007 10:00 AM
Great job roch, Me thinks I should have ran GR instead of Detroit, the weather though cold was better to my liking. We'll see you later Marathon Derrick
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vista129
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-29-2007 10:24 AM
Great job Roch. That is fun to be in such shape that when you feel you are backing down a bit, your numbers remain good. Enjoy this PR and congratulations on getting to this stage in your running. Thanks for the report ------------------
vista129
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DaveinAA
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-29-2007 10:45 AM
Another really great race for you, Doug. The PRs just keep falling. (Bodes well for next year's 4x400m relay!) Nicely executed race and excellent RR. Thanks for not mentioning Dick DeVos.------------------
DaveinAA [This message has been edited by DaveinAA (edited Oct-30-2007).]
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tselbs
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-29-2007 10:54 AM
Outstanding race, Doug. A couple of years ago, I thought we were about equal in speed but you've sure gone flying by me. Those 3 years younger than me must be the difference (or maybe you've worked harder). Congratulations on starting fast and picking up the pace to get a hugh PR. It's neat you had a good weekend and a brief meeting with hopeful. A year and a half ago, when I did my marathon in Carrollton, I met the GR RD. I don't remember his name or what he looked like but he did impress me as one of the "good guys".TomS ------------------
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evryday
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-29-2007 10:59 AM
roch, great run and great report. 6 min. PR is outstanding! ------------------
Remember rule #6 read my running blog
My User Profile
My running log
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evanflein
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-29-2007 11:15 AM
Hey Doug, that's an amazing performance! Don't worry about the AG placing... you can't control who shows up at the starting line! Very nice PR for you this time around. I was wondering how much warm-up you do beforehand? You say it takes you awhile to get warmed up and into the race, same with me. I found a mile or so of light jogging just before the start really helps. Your mile splits were amazing once you got the bugs out...So nice you could meet up with Hopeful/Mary, sorry a camera was not part of the gathering! Maybe another time. Thanks for posting, and enjoy that PR glow! ------------------
evanflein
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MarkGuy
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-29-2007 11:17 AM
Doug, great job! A 1:51? That's very impressive. I would guess you have another factor to consider regarding the marathon: should you focus on the half and go for a sub-1:50? Really well done.Mark
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predawnrunner
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-29-2007 11:17 AM
Excellent PR on strong training and smart race pacing! Too bad there are so many other talented runners in your AG. You'll get 'em next time.Congratulations! ------------------
Predawnrunner, aka mrs W.R.F. Beer
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hollys4874
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-29-2007 11:41 AM
Roch – congratulations on your hugh PR! And I agree that you are in a tough AG up there, because that was an excellent finishing time you had. Well done!------------------
Holly
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CNYrunner
Member |
posted Oct-29-2007 11:42 AM
Congratulations on the awesome race and wonderful results. This sounds like a super race and I'll need to add it to my list of should dos....You Rocked it!
CNYrunner
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runninlaw
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-29-2007 11:47 AM
CONGRATULATIONS!! I was looking for you, but never did spot you out there.I too stayed at the Amway Grand and was very impressed. I originally wanted to get into the Days Inn (cheaper and closer), but once I got there I was so happy I was at the AG. It wasn't far at all from the start/finish and it was just an incredible place. It was a perfect day for a race and I am so glad you got a big fat PR. Recover well!! ~R ------------------
Toenails are for wimps
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smpankowski
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-29-2007 01:45 PM
Nice race Rochrunner. You're really smokin'. PRs rock. You didn't mention that GR has two Chuck E Cheeses. It's a great city.------------------
Have Fartlek - Will Travel, SteveP My User Profile
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corland14
Cool Runner |
posted Oct-29-2007 06:11 PM
quote:
Originally posted by MarkGuy:
Doug, great job! A 1:51? That's very impressive. I would guess you have another factor to consider regarding the marathon: should you focus on the half and go for a sub-1:50? Really well done.Mark
I'll betcha you could do both next year! Looks like you took a smart approach and ran a great race! Congrats on the huge PR! I'll see you at next years full 
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