[BHV] Thanksgiving half marathon

[Brian Klotz]

Great report Bill!  You mentioned Dana in your log.  Did you go to see him?

Brian


William Lodico wrote:
> So, here is my report, for those interested in such things.
>
> The long and the short of it is that I finished, meeting my goal of
> doing just that.  I had set some informal time goals (informal,
> because Jeff Galloway* advised against setting time goals on first
> running a full or half marathon), first of ten minute miles, then of
> 11 minute miles.  I managed something like 11.8 minute miles, or 2:35
> for the 13.1 mile distance.   It was all a bit frustrating because I
> never really got my heart rate up, but the pace was about all that my
> thoroughly bike-accommodated legs could handle.  I won't say that I'm
> proud of myself, but I am satisfied with my effort and preparation,
> which took into account a lack of experience, a lack of innate
> ability, and a lot of competition from other things like work and
> life for my limited  energy and time; and I'm satisfied with my run(-
> walk).
>
> We arrived in Atlanta the evening before the race, anticipating temps
> in the low 60's at the race start, maybe a little drizzle.
> Immediately I was confronted with rumors of temps in the 30's and
> pouring rain, conditions that would almost certainly be disastrous.
> (First experience pointer:  bring plastic garbage bag for instant,
> disposable cold weather rain suit.) A quick check of internet weather
> indicated that temps would be in the 60's and there would likely be
> some rain, and the temps would drop ten degrees or so through the day
> rather than climb.   (Second experience pointer, don't trust the
> rumors about the weather.)   I packed a drop bag for the finish
> containing dry warm up suit, since I was sure that whatever the
> conditions, at 60 degrees or less it wouldn't take long to go
> hypothermic.  I had daughters and sons-in-law also running, and we
> congregated somewhere near the start.  Perhaps because I was
> surrounded by family members also doing the run, I was spared any pre-
> run nervousness.   There was huge a crowd, and when the gun went off,
> it was about three minutes before we got to the official start line,
> where our chips started recording our personal time.  It started
> raining just about when I reached the start line.
>
> Following Galloway's advice, my plan was three minutes running, one
> minute walking, and after the first six or so minutes of warm up at
> two-run one-walk, I settled into the 3-1 rhythm very comfortably.
> When I was feeling good the system kept me from running too long at
> too high a pace;  when I was feeling bad, it was a great consolation
> to look at the watch and see how little running time was left before
> I could walk for a while again.  Things went well until about the 6
> mile mark, when my toes started banging against the front of my
> shoes.   Apparently after 6 miles or so of pavement-pounding, your
> feet stretch out lengthwise as well as widthwise; running in cotton
> socks in the rain may have aggravated the problem.   I knew my toes
> were going to hurt for the next 7 miles.   (Third experience
> pointer:  wear size 13's -- a size and a half over my usual street
> shoes, a full size over my usual training shoe.)   So, I worked hard
> on keeping my mind off my toes:   focusing instead on things like my
> brief conversations with fellow runners (some of whom I saw over and
> over because of our slightly out of sync run-walk schedules), the big
> buildings in the far distance where we were headed, the fact that our
> fellow BHV'r Dana Carr was a mile or two away fighting a far bigger
> fight than I with my little half M, and the group of soldiers from
> Fort Benning running along next to me with big, heavy field packs,
> chanting, hollering, relieving each other through bad stretches by
> taking on a buddy's pack for a while (passing it from one to another
> to share the extra load), and generally demonstrating that however
> well I was dealing with my problems, they were dealing with theirs
> with a lot more esprit and pizzazz.  Pretty much raining throughout
> all of this, but with temps in the low 60's and with the running
> effort, no problem with cold; shorts and Big Horn Velo jersey, even
> soaking wet, were plenty.
>
> So, we ticked off the miles and the water stops, (and when I let
> myself think about it, my toes hurt like the dickens)  until in the
> far distance we saw the Olympic gate with its rings, and then we went
> under it, and then a little beyond that (way farther beyond than I
> wanted) we crossed the finish.  Rain pouring now.  Got my medal, shed
> my chip, headed to the baggage tent in a hurry, where I found my bag
> and a chair, and quickly traded as much of my soggy running outfit as
> possible for dry, and went from wet and warm to damp and warm without
> ever getting cold, then waited for the rain to slow down before going
> out to find food and family. (Fourth experience pointer, pack large
> towel, maybe two, in drop bag; and don't forget the umbrella.)  The
> rest of my group finished the run with good times, ranging from about
> 1:52 to about 2:05, but, lacking drop bags and dry clothes, they went
> through the shivers and blue fingernails stage before finding their
> way into warm cars.
>
> So, a lot to be thankful for:  two legs that work well enough, a
> ticker and lungs that work well enough, and an appetite ready to do
> justice to a wonderful Thanksgiving meal set out by our Atlanta in-laws.
>
> Epilogue:  a bad 20 hours for the hip flexors, some tender toe tips
> for a day or two, but that's about it in terms of post-run pain and
> suffering, not much worse than the typical 18- to 20-hour 400k
> brevet.  And now on the bounce-back I'm feeling very fit and strong
> and full of energy.  Tentative plan for next year is to shoot at ten
> minute miles (2:11) and see what happens.  Hopefully that will keep
> me motivated to keep up the running through the coming winter, and go
> into the 2008 spring biking season with a higher level of fitness
> than I have the last few years.
>
> Bill Lodico
>
> *  see http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/half_marathon.html
>
>
>
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