posted Oct-07-2007 01:57 PM            

I feel for anybody in Chicago today...I hear it is a hot one out there!
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IN THE BOOKS:

Grandmas - 6/16
RunForFun - 2:47 2:50:00

Foot Traffic Flat - 7/4
bhearn - 3:12 3:20:31

San Francisco - 7/29
Dr. Wu - 3:35 3:48:08

Lehigh River Relay - 9/9
loopy - 2:59:59 3:02:50

Adirondack - 9/16
Dr. Wu - 3:35 3:39:14

Omaha - 9/23
Travis Hubbard - 2:45-2:50
tonya921 - 3:39:59 3:22:40

Akron 9/29
mrinertia - 3:59:59 4:52:02

Toronto Waterfront - 9/30
DanMoriarity - 2:59:59 3:00:10.3

Berlin
uli - 2:36 2:39

St. George - 10/06
Johnny J - 2:59:59

Chicago - 10/07
AndyHass - 2:28:38 - scrapped - life got in the way
jakey - 3:15
JSM - 2:22
jtv - 3:15
sack77 - 3:59:59
tramirez - 2:59:59
92heelgrad - 3:20

Lakefront - 10/7
RunForFun - 2:44 - out for injury

Mohawk Hudson Marathon - 10/7
Dr. Wu - 3:24:59

Portland (OR) - 10/7
Zoomharp 3:59
bhearn - 3:10

Sacramento - 10/7
GoDawgGo - 2:59:59

Steamtown - 10/7
runawayjesse - 3:25
willamona - 3:45
rootsrunner - 3:03-3:08

Twin Cities - 10/7
joplus - 3:09:59
runninlaw - 3:25
doctster - 3:15:59
Fast Like the Wind - training run
stepstep - 3:00
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UP NEXT:

Baystate - 10/14
joev9 - 3:15:59
Gazelle2007 - 3:10:00

Long Beach, CA - 10/14
DAVIDR262 -3:20
arc918 -3:20
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DOWN THE PIPELINE:

Newport - 10/20
wheaton - 3:10?
Penikese - 3:10

Columbus - 10/21
thereshegoes - 3:09:59
Mailbox Head - 3:09:59
eyates73 - 3:10

Des Moines - 10/21
bowulf - 3:42:00

Eurasia - 10/28
oguzkesimli - 3:05

Cape Cod 10/28
maratacious - 2:50

Grand Rapids - 10/28
corland14 - 3:40-3:45

Marine Corps - 10/28
Fast Like the Wind - 3:30
Shera2316 - 3:59:59
tss1202 - finish/TBD
gregw - 3:15:59

Dublin - 10/29
deco - 3:00
uli f - 2:36 - out - rocked a 2:39 at Berlin

Elyria - 11/4
cowardlylion - 3:15:59

Manchester marathon - 11/4
roadrunner262 - 2:30 - 2:40
cookie74 - 3:45

New York - 11/4
Warrior1971 - 2:27:59
teek - no goal stated

Richmond - 11/10
HOSS1961 - 3:50:00
goldpoint - no goal stated

Philly - 11/18
dzillas - 3:15
Schnakees - 2:55

Memphis - 12/1
spkoest - 3:08:00

California International 12/2
afletche - no goal yet - scrapped until London in spring

Tuscon - 12/2
Downhill Racer - 3:10-3:17

Huntsville - 12/8
tuscaloosarunner - TBD - scrapped due to injury.

Miami - 1/27/08
Hannibal Granite - 2:48

[This message has been edited by Gazelle2007 (edited Oct-07-2007).]

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posted Oct-07-2007 03:00 PM            

Big week for me, with over 60 miles for the first time ever. Had some really good mid-week runs, although work suffered as a result. The 23-miler yesterday was a 3 state run; I did a loop through DC, Maryland, and Virginia! Lots of fun. Unfortunately, I didn't look at the elevation before the run, and the hills in Virginia kicked my butt. Hoping to recover adequately for next Saturday's tune-up HM.

M: 5 (8:31)
T: 13.5 (8:12) - felt awesome
W: 5 (8:19)
Th: 9 w 4 tempo at 6:55
F: 5 (8:03)
S: 23 (8:29) - longest planned run with several painful hills
Su: off

Total: 60.5

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posted Oct-07-2007 03:41 PM            

Just finished my last tough week -- now the taper begins!

Mon: 12.42 @ 8:43
Tue: 6.53 @ 9:19
Wed: 11.32 @ 8:47
Thur: 3.53 @ 9:23
Fri: Off
Sat: 20.95 @ 8:36
Sun: Off
Total: 54.75

I am feeling good about Saturday's long run. I did the last 10 miles at an average pace of 8:10 minutes per mile. I am going into the marathon (my first) with a couple of goals:
1. Finish
2. Finish in under 3:40 (Boston qualifying time)
3. Finish in under 3:30 (prediction from half marathon)

This long run makes me feel more confident about goal #2 -- to achieve 3:40, I would need to sustain 8:23 per mile. If I was able to sustain 8:10 for the last 10 miles of my long run (while this wasn't easy, it was definitely not an all out effort), then goal #2 after a taper seems doable.

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posted Oct-07-2007 04:08 PM               

Then, as final confirmation, the race was actually cut short for the 4:00+ people. Yes, they shortened the Chicago Marathon due to the number of heat related injuries. After the end of the race I watched a guy talking on the cell phone literally pass out and face plant onto the asphalt in the finishers' corrale. I talked to a guy who just did Boston in 3:05 last April, he finished today in 3:28.

My 3:30 was a PR by eight minutes for me, but it would have been much faster on a normal 55 degree day. It's heartening to know I can gut it out like that, but also profoundly disappointing not to BQ when you know you have the right stuff for it.

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My Profile

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posted Oct-07-2007 04:26 PM            

* Mo - 4.2 (9:40/131 bpm) on grass field
* Tu - 11.1 (8:42/147) with 6x0.6 mile w/ .2 mile rest (10 laps per mile track). Intended to run 6:40 pace (4:00 per .6). Did 4:08, 4:00, 3:57, 3:59, 3:58, 3:59.
* We - 4.3 (8:59/134) on grass field
* Th - 13.5 (8:30/146) -- A progression run of sorts. 1st 6+ miles at 9:20, then following miles at 8:03 (147), 8:03 (153), 7:40 (158), 7:36 (163), 7:37 (163), 7:28 (158, -58ft), 7:56(169, +156ft).
* Fr - 4.5 (8:57/134) on grass field
* Sa - 4.2 (9:29/135) -- field was occupied so ran around the neighborhood on the road but followed a path at a dead end and discovered a trail along a creek that went for about a mile.
* Su - 20.0 (8:42/149) -- 5M splits were: 45:41 (9:08), 43:59 (8:48), 43:00 (8:36), 41:50 (8:22).

Week: 62 miles, 9:06:29, avg pace 8:50, avg hr 143 bpm

The plan was to maximize my rest between workouts to help my foot and calf, so I did very easy easy days (jog ~40 minutes) and I did it on grass to help my legs. My calf seems to be getting better but the foot is about the same. I was very happy about the 20-miler. My best 20M run (on the same route) in the spring before I ran 3:24 was 3:05:23 @148bpm average heart rate. Today was 2:54:19 @ 149 which is 6.0% faster and only 1 bpm higher. Temps in the spring were in the upper 30s compared to 60 - 76 degrees today.

tss1201, 20.95 @ 8:36? I'm going to be looking over my shoulder at MCM.

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posted Oct-07-2007 04:53 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by 92heelgrad:
I ended up finishing in 3:30:23, staying on target pace until mile 22 when the 90, yes, 90 degree heat and radiant sun finally had their way with me.

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That's incredible. Congratulations. In better conditions, I'm sure you'd have easily broken 3:20. The heat is just a killer. There's no way around it. If it's any consolation, I'll bet you'll place very well.

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posted Oct-07-2007 05:47 PM            

92heelgrad, that really sucks about Chicago. Great effort gutting it out. Personally I'm impacted if it's over 60. 90, I can't even imagine.

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posted Oct-07-2007 06:55 PM               

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posted Oct-07-2007 08:24 PM            

Twin Cities was also a nightmare. It was supposed to stay in the 70s due to storms and cloud cover. Nope. Quickly hopped into the 80s with radiant run. I went out with the 3:30 pace group. He went out way fast (more like 3:20 pace). I was actually thrilled - why the hell not?

At mile 17 or so I saw him running on his own - he had thrown off his balloons and was just surviving too.

Overall I felt great until about 15 and then the wheels feel off. No surprise as I went out like it was 50 degrees, not 78 and 87% humidity and all rising. But it was an awesome ride. Once things fell apart I decided just to take it in and enjoy it. I even doubled back to get a beer from some frat boys. Of course I could only stomach a couple sips, but it was fun. I ran/walked a lot at the end, but felt awesome so I came blazing through the last .5 at a 7:00ish pace. People were screaming and after several hours of nasty weather I felt like a rock star.

Time - 3:53 - just a few seconds faster than my first marathon!!

My husband did the 10 mile race and he had a woman collapse/pass out on him about 30 seconds before the gun!! Instead of starting his race he got to protect her from getting trampled and took her to a medic.

It was a crazy day out there. More later.

Oh yeah, and my time sucked, but my training rocked. I thank you all.

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posted Oct-07-2007 08:48 PM            

This week included my last speed workout and is all about getting loose and getting rid of some tendonitis around my ankle.

M- Rest
T- 5 @ 7:45/mi w/ 5 X 100m strides at :17
W- 7.75 @ 8:00/ mi w/ 3 X 1600m @ 5:55- 6:04
T- Rest
F- 5.25 @ 7:45/mi with 5 X 100m strides at :17
S- 5.25 @ 7:30/mi with 2 mi. at MP (7:15)
S- 11.25 @ 8:00 EZ

Total: 34.5 miles

Good luck folks and JoeV, let's try and meet before/after the race next week!

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posted Oct-07-2007 08:56 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by bhearn:
Full report later, but here's the salient number: 3:08:50! Goal was 3:10 at Portland. That's a PR by 3 1/2 minutes. Also, [b]finally, I beat my first marathon time, after 7 more tries.

92heelgrad, that really sucks about Chicago. Great effort gutting it out. Personally I'm impacted if it's over 60. 90, I can't even imagine.

[/B]

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Awesome. Well deserved PR. I look forward to the full report.

Awesome job heelgrad. I can't imagine. I also greatly look forward to hearing about your day.

Congratulations!!

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posted Oct-07-2007 09:00 PM            

Great time bhearn.

The race finish was also incredible. One to remember.

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posted Oct-07-2007 09:11 PM               

As for the race, it was my first DNF in a marathon. I averaged about 7:15 pace for 12.5 miles, never felt good, stopped to get a full cup of water down and realized how woozy and awful I felt. I decided to save myself a PW and a long recovery. I'm thinking about trying again in Jacksonville on Dec 16.

We're still in St Paul, and we just had dinner at a sidewalk cafe - it's still that warm out, even at night. runninlaw (and everyone else who ran in the midwest today), good job for holding on to the end in that weather.

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posted Oct-07-2007 09:24 PM               

My week again was marred by injury, and my marathon is in the air. I had three good slow runs after getting the walking boot off. This week was:
- Monday - 4 miles

- Wednesday - 2 miles @ 9:00 pace (then my first ever bout with post-run diagnosed ITBS led to very painful walk home)

-Rest for three days on anti-inflammatory drugs and ice

- Sunday - 4 SLOW run @ 10:00 pace to see what my knee would endure. It was tighter than normal, but there was none of the extreme pain of Wednesday night. I have an appointment on Monday with running-expert PT. I should get the news on what my future will hold or not hold as the case might be.

Good luck all those running Baystate and Long Beach this week. I hope your weather forecasts treat you better than the Twin Cities and Chicago runners had.

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Kent A
My Blog | My Gallery

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posted Oct-07-2007 09:45 PM            

I'd already pretty much decided to bag my 3:00 goal at that point, but I still felt pretty good through the first half, and made 13.1 in 1:32. But the wheels came off for me around the same time they did for runninlaw - mile 16. I'd been drinking like a fish at every aid station, and I came down with a stitch in both sides - yet I was also getting light-headed and dizzy, which is a clear danger sign of overheating.

At that point I decided to just ditch any thoughts about finishing with a good time and just get to the finish line in one piece, and I death-marched to the capitol in St. Paul in 3:28. Way, way off my goal, and my second-slowest time ever, but at least I made it to the end.

A friend of mine ran Chicago today and got to about mile 18 when they announced over a loudspeaker that the marathon was cancelled(!!). He was devastated, but he and the people around him decided to keep walking to the finish line, not really knowing what else to do, and when they got there they discovered the clock was still running. So he got an official finishing time, at least.

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posted Oct-07-2007 09:51 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by 92heelgrad:
My 3:30 was a PR by eight minutes for me, but it would have been much faster on a normal 55 degree day. It's heartening to know I can gut it out like that, but also profoundly disappointing not to BQ when you know you have the right stuff for it.

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I can't even begin to tell you how much I hear you on this one - especially since it happened to me twice this year! The good news is that you've got it in you. That really is more than most people can say. We can't control the weather......

With that said, this winter is the last block of time that I will have time to run like a maniac, so for my spring race, I am going to pick a popular race weekend, train my @ss off, then 3 days out, decide the destination based on weather on go!! He he!!

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posted Oct-07-2007 10:20 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by joplus:
Training this week was negligible - 39+ miles with a tiny workout Tuesday (3mi 7:07, 6:58, 6:58).

As for the race, it was my first DNF in a marathon. I averaged about 7:15 pace for 12.5 miles, never felt good, stopped to get a full cup of water down and realized how woozy and awful I felt. I decided to save myself a PW and a long recovery. I'm thinking about trying again in Jacksonville on Dec 16.

We're still in St Paul, and we just had dinner at a sidewalk cafe - it's still that warm out, even at night. [b]runninlaw (and everyone else who ran in the midwest today), good job for holding on to the end in that weather.[/B]

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Wow joplus - I hate to hear about a DNF. I told my husband today I was really hoping at least you could pull through since you have all that hot weather training under your belt. But hot, humid race day conditions are as they are! DNFing was very smart if you plan to redeem yourself. I was temped to do the same to run a race in northern WI next weekend (of course scheduled to have PERFECT weather). GRRRRR. All that aside, I have heard jacksonville is a good race. GOOD LUCK to you. I know you have it in you!

step step, sorry to hear you were in the same boat as the rest of us. Nice showing overall.

My husband and I stopped at a local fire station after the race to call a cab and they said they had 10 people down in the 10 miler alone. Crazy. I saw some crazy stuff out there today.

[This message has been edited by runninlaw (edited Oct-07-2007).]

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posted Oct-07-2007 11:05 PM               

Next up: Philadelphia marathon. One week of recovery followed by three weeks of mid distance (lots of 10 - 15 milers) and speed, followed by a two week taper. Hoping to get under 3:25 there, weather permitting.

To all of you who ran in the heat today: I can commisserate after doing Boston '04. I was very lucky to have picked the right race today.

Edited to add: ADD PHILADELPHIA MARATHON, NOV 18. Goal = 3:24:59.

[This message has been edited by Doctor Wu (edited Oct-08-2007).]

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posted Oct-07-2007 11:08 PM               

I support you 100% in your decision. Nobody can question your heart when we see the countless miles you put in during training. The great Paula Radcliffe dropped out of one only to come back to score one of the gutsiest front running wins I've ever seen on her way to winning the the World Cup Marathon.

You know you can finish, but that's not why you race. I would have done the same thing and let people think want they want.

"I decided to save myself a PW and a long recovery"

Yes!

Congrats on your recent 19:20, btw. Well done.

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posted Oct-07-2007 11:09 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by 92heelgrad:
It's heartening to know I can gut it out like that, but also profoundly disappointing not to BQ when you know you have the right stuff for it.

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Congrats and consolations to all you mid-west marathoners today. What a total inspiration you are.

I did not have the race I wanted, but I have much to be happy about. With a weak final 10K, stomach trouble and two bathroom stops (unheard of for me!) I still managed a 10 minute PR at 4:17. This is the second time this year I really had reason to think I could pull off a faster time but it was not to be. I have to remind myself that my average marathon time a year ago was more like 4:45.

I look forward to chatting with all of you again when I crank up training for the renewal of my sub 4 goal next spring. I'm thinking of implementing some of the "Fixing the Fade" advice in a recent Running Times issue, especially the "reducing delta." My pace really fell off those last miles, though I still passed more people than ever, and many more than the number passing *me*. Though my last 6 miles were pretty painful, I finished strong and it felt so good to continually pass people those last 6 miles.

I thought about you Chicago folks all day yesterday and all morning today. If it's any consolation, there's a stranger out here in Internet Land who thinks very highly of your courage and toughness. I was whining about my few minutes of sunshine that happened to coincide with ascending the St. John's bridge today (8-12% grade) -- it seemed to go up to 60 degrees! at just the wrong time. Go ahead, call me a wimp. You have earned it.

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posted Oct-08-2007 01:09 AM               

If it were only about training and running, we'd all have a lot more great race results. Unfortunately, it isn't. Lots of things we cannot control. Today, aside from the less-than-ideal weather, I dealt with fever and intestinal issues mid-race.

I'll write up a full report, but the story of the day is I started the race with a slight fever and scratchy throat, which I first noticed Friday and got gradualy worse Saturday and Sunday. Race time temp 62F and 90% humidity. 75F at the finish.

It felt like soup from the opening gun. I told myself that I'd run 5 and see how I feel. With the downhill start, not bad! Mile 5 in 35:00 flat and mile 10 in 1:09:55. At that point I started to think I could do something. I ran comfortably with another runner between miles 8-17, holding the 7min pace. By 18, I was going back-and-forth between shivering and heat flashes. My body was wacked. The other runner went on to finish 3:05.

Luckily, I had this heat experience before (Athens '05) I did today what I did then. I shut it down at 18 and jogged/walked it in. That year, I found another race 3 weeks later.

1:31:20
1:45:05
3:16:25

Not upset, but its still a tough pill to swallow after putting in the miles. I am encouraged that I think my goal, or even sub-3 is in me someday soon.

The cold is now worse, but the legs not entirely thrashed.

More to follow. Sorry to hear about Chicago and TC. Scranton was not that bad, comparitively.

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posted Oct-08-2007 01:46 AM            

Heelgrad92-- that is a tremendous result in the heat. I did Boston 2004 which was very similar to today's conditions in Chicago, but about 2-3 degrees cooler. It was ugly and the worst marathon for me personally ever. I persisted in my time goal and literally was done by mile 15 because of the heat. It still stands as a glaring PW for me, 20 minutes slower than any other marathon, and now almost an hour slower than my PR. So to post a PR in that heat really says something.

Joplus-- I have to say that was very smart. Is there not a race even sooner (say next weekend or two?) that you could turn around and do since you're all trained to race now? Either way, good luck if you do the one in December.

To all the rest who struggled through heat and illness-- great job!! That is the frustration of the marathon in a nutshell-- you spend a half year training hard towards a goal and then a lot of random, uncontrollable things happen at the moment of truth which ruin everything.

bhearn-- great race! you trained smart enough to stay healthy and sounds like it paid off.

I was lucky enough to get perfect weather, and if anything, a little cold. It was 35 degrees at the start, warming to 51 degrees by the time I finished. I ran a PR by 3 minutes, and was very happy with that considering my training hadn't been quite as good as last years was. I felt great the first half, had a few issues I worked through in the second (tight right hamstring starting mile 18 that fortunately didn't develop into anything worse), stomach/sideache/abd. muscle cramps mile 23.5-24.5 that passed, glycogen depletion mile 24, felt like mailing it in and coasting in, but someone I had passed around 23 struggling and encouraged them, telling them not to let me drop them, and to come on, returned the favor, so I pushed a bit and I was able to get past the worst of the feeling of awfulness and start counting strides, and got back in to a rhythm and maintained pace, then calves cramping last mile. They really locked up in the final 400 as I tried to push a bit. Was just able to hold off someone that was gaining on me in the last 100 yds. but the calves were absolute knots and I was flailing stiff-legged. Anyway--
Splits 1:24 first half, 1:20 second. 2:44. Also played a nice round of 18 that afternoon-- I took a cart! The legs took a major beating though as I can't walk today and am hobbled by calves, quads, even tendons on the top of my feet which I've never had before. I won't be running for 4-5 days even if I wanted to. Good times!

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posted Oct-08-2007 05:31 AM            

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posted Oct-08-2007 07:06 AM               

In any event I was at Twin Cities yesterday and planned to run it as my last long run for Marine Corps in 3 weeks. Needless to say it was way hot (was is July 7th or October 7th?). I was also coming back from a calf strain which had me running 30miles 2 weeks ago and 4miles in the week leading up the run. So, I took the shortcut to the capitol on a bus after a 2:01 half. Good time for a training run (for me) in the heat ... and the best news is the calf is feeling pretty good (not 100%, but about as good as it's going to feel until after MCM).

Good job to those that finished TCM and Chicago yesterday. Ugly, ugly conditions.

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posted Oct-08-2007 07:58 AM            

Heelgrad, amazing PR in that crazy heat - that is nuts! Bhearn and Johnny J great PRs too -- fantastic splits JJ!

Zoomharp, sorry you did not have the race you wanted, but great that you still PRed despite the stomach and other issues.

Dr. Wu great job with the sub 3:30 -- best of luck in Philly!

Joplus, sorry about the DNF, but sounds like you made the right decision -- best of luck with Jackonsville if you decide to give it a go. FastLiketheWind, sounds like you made the right decision too -- best of luck at MCM!

Runninlaw and stepstep, great job persevering despite the horrible conditions.

Rootsrunner, also great job despite the race day illness.

Phew, did I get everybody??? Great jobs all!

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