Recovery Week Number Two

I'm pleased to report that I managed to log 13 miles this week. That's ten more than the week immediately after the marathon. Starting this week I think I should be fully recovered in my opinion.

I'm sitting in my comfy chair right now pondering over what races I want to do this spring. One of the "secret" resources I've used to uncover Houston running races is the webpage for the Mayor's Office of Special Events. There's a link to a calendar that lists the events -- like parades and road races -- that will require street closures. Here's the first batch of my possible races; most of them are repeats from last year:

23 Feb -- Park to Park Run 5-miler or the Steps for Students 5K
This decision might come down to whether the family wants to make an attempt at "making up" for last year's rainout.

1 Mar -- ConocoPhillips Rodeo Run 10K
Already registered!

8 Mar -- Stride for Stroke 5K
Rice University -- especially Rice Stadium -- makes a pretty good race site. I might go back just for the hamburgers!

8 Mar -- Bayou City Classic 10K

15 Mar -- Lookin' Good Shamrock Strut

16 Mar -- K-9 Fun Run and Walk
I've been thinking that it would be fun to try a dog event....

12 Apr -- Pope John XXIII Safari Trail Fun Run
I actually got 3rd place in my age group last year. So I have to go back, right?

3 May -- Running for the Arts 5K

24 May -- Astros Race for the Pennant 5K
I see no formal announcement yet, but participation was strong last Memorial Day weekend and I don't see why they can't run it again. This is one of those I'd like to run every year if possible.

?? ??? -- Pearland Pear Run 10K
I haven't seen any announcement for this race either. But I liked running it in the past and hope they hold it again. Flat and shaded course means great PR potential!

Spirit of the Marathon

I was a bit peeved at the "one night only" nature of the screening, but Spirit of the Marathon turned out to be a great documentary for its intended audience -- runners, and the people that are willing to put up with them. The film explores the journey of six runners as they prepare to take on the challenge of the 2005 Chicago Marathon. Together they manage to represent all bands over the marathoning spectrum: male/female, young/old, elite/back-of-pack.

I will readily admit that much of the film rekindled feelings and experiences I had during my preparation and my race. I am so glad I watched this two weeks after my marathon, and not two weeks before, or it would have amplified the emotions of my taper madness even more. There 's some good music and visuals. My jaw dropped at the aerial shot that panned up the entire crowd of runners at the Chicago starting corrals; that was an amazing image on the big screen!

The story of Daniel (the elite male) losing family members and a house to thugs in Kenya was very touching. It's a nice reminder that these guys aren't just running machines from Africa; they have lives back home with concerns like the rest of us.

I would love to have the DVD of this when available; I just hope it's not priced much higher than the typical Hollywood new release.

Two out of three

Today was cold (40s F) and rainy. I can deal with cold, and I can deal with rainy but I hate to run when they come together. So my running shoes stayed on the rack today. (I'll rip up my application to the Hardcore Running Club now.) I was still productive, though, and infused four fresh quarts of Mobil 1 5W-30 into the CR-V. Next up, air filter, spark plugs, transmission fluids, and anything else I can think of as the car clicks over to 150,000 miles.

Returning to running, back in June I had set out three goals for myself: Maintain a 20 mile-per-week base, bring my weight under 200 pounds and break 2:15 in a half marathon. I managed to complete the two running goals, but my weight is still stuck on a plateau above the 200-pound mark. I think I need to practice what I preach and forget about the number on the scale. I'm getting into smaller clothes and I did just finish a freakin' full marathon. I'm going to just keep eating sensibly and stay active. If anyone is going to raise a stink about me still being heavy, it will not be me.

Wow, I just noticed that this is post number 100. I have an excuse to celebrate, and the ice cream in the freezer isn't getting any fresher....

Screen Time

When I ran the Aramco Half in '06 and '07, I managed to make brief appearances on the TV broadcast on Houston's ABC13 (KTRK). Would my full marathon debut get me screen time for a third consecutive year? I just played back the recording and the answer is, "Yes!"

The first picture is from the starting line. I'm white-cap-and-white-shirt guy with a Nathan waistpack. Yes, this shot is from the back. (I wish I had taped my name to my back as well!) But I knew that I had lined up just a few feet behind Felix-the-flag-bearer, so I'm positive this is me.


The second picture is from mile 4, where I'm in the background passing by a very perky Casey Curry, the ABC13 meteorologist.

Recovery Week Number One

Exactly one week ago, I was starting my 26.2-mile loop around Houston. Afterwards I was sore for a couple of days, but if you read my race report, you know I pretty much went back to my usual routine right on Sunday afternoon after the race. I think it finally caught up to me yesterday, because I felt so ill and wiped out that I took a nap in the middle of the afternoon . . . and didn't really wake up until an hour ago.

Other than the three miles on Wednesday, I haven't felt like running at all this week. I really hope it's a temporary thing, like turning away sweets after over-indulging on Halloween candy. I don't want to be that guy that trains for a marathon and then quits running forever after crossing that finish line. I am hoping that the past three years has proven that being active has become a permanent part of me.

I am already registered for my next race. Enticed by the offer of a Brooks tech running shirt instead of cotton, I signed up early for the Rodeo Run 10K. I've got so many cotton shirts from races that I probably should look into donating some to a worthy cause somewhere. So when a race gives me this option, you bet I'm going to jump on it. The retail price of the shirt is probably well more than half of the race registration.

Anyway, the race packet came in the mail yesterday. I had gotten cocky and ordered a MEDIUM shirt. Guess what? It actually fits! Yip-yip-yip-ya-hoo!

I think I'm going to change the way I'm logging workouts. I want to keep this blog purely for narration, so that's why I stopped posting my weekly running miles here at the end of 2007. Perhaps I'll start another blog dedicated just for daily workouts....

Medal Monday

Today was "Medal Monday" at work. My director and one of our system analysts had completed the Aramco Half course, so we took a moment out of our day to swap stories and take a couple of pictures of "Team I.T."

Chevron Houston Marathon

Before arriving downtown on race morning, I had done a most excellent job of pre-hydrating myself. I had done such an outstanding job that my bladder was screaming at full volume about being at full volume. I claimed a parking space in the first lot I found within reasonable distance to the convention center and immediately dashed off. A couple blocks later I entered the GRBCC, then started panicking a little when I saw porta-potty line dozens deep. Then my previous experience of running the Aramco Houston Half twice before paid off, because I remembered that there was another bank of porta-potties set up along the back wall, and they only had a line eight deep. Whew! Only after relieving myself did I finally return to the lot, which was directly in front of Toyota Center, and actually drop money into the pay station. I did want my car to still be there when I got back, after all. As it turned out, I got a little lucky as it turned out to be a $2 lot at the time.

I returned to the convention center, emptied my bladder a second time (I wanted to do everything possible to avoid the early porta-potty lines on the course) and then walked out to the corral just minutes before my wave was to start. Just like at the start of the Sugar Land 30K, I settled in right behind Felix-the-Flag-Bearer next to the 5:00 and 5:15 pace groups. The first rays of the dawning sun were now reflecting off the windows of the tall buildings above and illuminating the runners, who had been patiently awaiting on the dark pavement below. Then the air, which had been thickened with anticipation, was ruptured by a cannon blast and euphoric cheers went up along Crawford Street.

The starting line of the full marathon course is on Crawford Street, right in front of the home of the Houston Astros, Minute Maid Park. Three years ago, the first 5K I had ever dared to enter was the Astros Race for the Pennant. As I assumed my small role in the wave of runners shuffling past the stadium, I pondered about how my "race career" had now come back, returning to this same site. I took a deep, chilly breath of air and went on my way. As I crossed the mats, I thought, "Feet, let's get to work."

As the runners rose up and out of downtown on the Elysian viaduct, a father and son Elvis impersonator duo gave us the first smiles of the race. Since the half and full courses share virtually the same streets for their first nine miles, this part of the run played out like the opening refrain of an familiar anthem I had sung before. This year's two-wave start, in my opinion, was a great success, because it did cut down on the frenetic dodging and weaving among runners of differing paces that had characterized the Elysian merge previously.

The streets and boulevards of Woodland Heights have several dips and rises. Thankfully, this section was in the first five miles of the course, so I almost didn't feel any of it, not even when our path took us on underpasses beneath Interstates 45 and 10. My Sauconys were humming along the pavement, while I was humming Foghat's "Slow Ride" to help me keep everything at a conservative pace. It was hard to contain my enthusiasm, however, as one home was triumphantly playing John Williams' theme from the 1996 Olympics out of their window.

At mile 5, I consumed my first packet of GU gel. Right before the IH-10 underpass, the crowds started to thicken in numbers and excitement. I joked to the runners beside me, "Are they cheering for us, or are they cheering because traffic is actually moving on the Katy Freeway at this time?"

As far as sheer numbers was concerned, the biggest crowds I saw were on the Studemont/Montrose segment between IH-10 and Richmond Avenue. Spectators were solidly two and three deep along this segment for miles 6 through 9 of the course. I handed out countless high-fives to folks here, and some stereo systems and a couple of live musical performers had this street high on energy. Mile 8 had me smiling because I was running right past my alma mater, the University of St. Thomas -- GO CELTS!

Right after the UST campus, I saw the large inflatable pylon that marked the turnaround point for the half marathon course. As I watched runners around me pull away and start their return journey to downtown, it finally became real. There was no turning back this year. Remember when I said that miles one through nine were like the opening refrains of a familiar anthem? Well, if this was a musical score, this is where the sightreading begins.

Having separated from the half'ers, the course was suddenly a lot less crowded. My hydration levels were apparently still fantastic, because I found myself ducking into one of the porta-potties on Montrose Boulevard. When I shut the door, I think I must have whipped the latch back so hard that it bounced back open, and another runner popped the door open briefly while I was still in there, which was a little embarrassing.

Resuming my run on the course, I entered the Museum District. As I turned at the Mecom fountain, I caught a glimpse of the Sam Houston equestrian statue in Hermann Park and gave the general a salute. Now I was on Main Street and I had the towering edifices of the Texas Medical Center on my left. I thought briefly about some of the kids who are undergoing treatment at institutions like M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and Texas Children's Hospital and their families. At mile 10, I ripped open my second GU packet and swallowed its vanilla goodness.

As I made the turn onto University Boulevard, I could sense the nagging irritation on the inside of my foot that was a warning sign of blistering. I stepped off the street, leaned on one of the many trees on the edge of the Rice University campus, and took off my shoe briefly to adjust my sock.

Back on the boulevard, I ran past Rice Stadium. With a capacity of more than 70,000 seats, I believe this is still the largest stadium in Houston. Back in 1962, President Kennedy gave a famous speech on this football field. I swear I could still hear his words echoing with us:

"We choose to go for a run. We choose to go for a run on this Sunday, and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because we are hard-headed...."

I'm pretty sure that speech went something like that. Anyway, back on the marathon course, I had entered the enclave of West University Place. This neighborhood had turned out in force to cheer us on, and this section of University Boulevard was solidly punctuated up and down the curbs with American flags. I felt more like I was in a community parade than a race. My sister had come up to this point of the course to cheer me on, which I really appreciated. One of the more memorable water stops was here near the 13.1-mile point, with colorfully dressed Bolivian dancers moving to festive music.

A couple of turns later, we were out of West U and came face to face with the hill on the course that I lovingly dubbed "Mount Westpark." Now, I'm guessing that any of you who do significant hill training probably wouldn't even think twice about Westpark Drive's overpass of railroad tracks. But it looked intimidating enough to me to deliberately stop and take a walk break to the "summit" before continuing. On my way down, I ripped open my third GU gel.

At mile 15, I stopped to do a couple minutes of stretching underneath the Southwest Freeway while waiting for another porta-potty opportunity to open up. After the porta-break, runners got an extra impetus to run faster, because the air around the freeway feeder road was laden with what smelled like raw sewage. I couldn't get myself onto Post Oak Boulevard fast enough.

Miles 16, 17, and 18 on Post Oak, San Felipe and Tanglewood turned out to be the last really good miles I would run. I was thinking of the folks that were tracking my splits online as I hit the 30K chip mats. "There's your update," I thought. Little did I suspect that no one would be getting any pre-finish splits delivered. I drank the remainder of Gatorade that was in my Amphipod handstrap bottle and hung it on the back of my Nathan waistpack.

Soon after I crossed those mats, I started to struggle as I entered Memorial Park. Looking back, I do wonder if this was caused by going out too fast or not. Until this point I was averaging a quick (all things considered) pace right around eleven minutes per mile, but still my 13.1-mile split was 10 minutes slower than my half marathon PR time. Or perhaps I'm still not well-conditioned enough. Anyway, my running endurance was falling flat and fatigue started exerting its force on me here. I knew I was having issues when I passed by the belly dancers and failed to muster any enthusiasm.

I had reached another significant landmark in the park when I saw the red metal sculpture in the grassy median of Memorial Drive. Now I don't really care for the piece aesthetically. It looks pretty much like any lame piece of metal abstract art in Houston. What is notable about this piece is that the artist gave it the name "3/4 Time" and it just happens to sit near the Mile 20 point of the marathon course. None of my training runs exceeded 20 miles, so I knew I was in uncharted territory. I tore open my last GU gel and devoured the fake strawberry flavor within.

My legs were feeling weak, both of my forefeet were aching with every step and the finish line seemed very, very far away. Miles 21 through 25 were quite an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. I walked significant portions of these miles, as my emotions were a spinning wheel of anguish, determination, fury and cursing myself for thinking this race was a good idea. I would periodically look down at my right wrist, where I was wearing a baller band with the word BELIEVE on it. The first glimmer of hope returning was at the Westcott intersection, where I first spotted the tops of the downtown buildings above the treetops. I knew that if I could hold on for just three more miles I would be OK. I had "VINCE" in large letters taped to my shirt, and it paid off as I got some valuable words of encouragement from spectators on this stretch.

With two miles to go, I saw the 5:15 pace group pass me by. I didn't care. Not one bit.

At mile 24-1/2, I finally chugged into the beer station. At this point it took very, very little persuading to get me to stop for suds. The runner next to me spontaneously hoisted our glasses together. "Beer," he said, "makes marathons suck a little less." And who can argue with that logic?

As I crossed under the I-45 overpass, the return to the cool shadows of Houston's downtown skyscrapers re-invigorated me. Escaping the heat of the sun, knowing I was in the final mile and the rest of the way would be totally flat made a total difference in my mindset. I picked up my running cadence one final time, and would never drop it again. I made the last turn and I could hear my voice echo through the concrete canyons as I bellowed, "It's Rusk Street, baby!"

Gun Time: 5:32:20
Chip Time: 5:19:50

Finish line video on YouTube embedded below:



In the video I'm the way-too-excited guy in the white cap and white shirt.



After collecting my finishers medal, souvenir mug, and devouring my breakfast plate at the convention center, I took one more porta-potty break, but not before I opened the door on a guy that apparently had a latch malfunction as well. (These things are never-ending fun, aren't they?) They had run out of finisher shirts in my size, but I did get to meet a man named Cody Westheimer, who was visiting Houston for the first time to run the marathon in honor of his father who was afflicted with cancer. He also happens to be a descendant of the guy after whom they named Westheimer Road. I thought that was interesting.

I stepped back out onto the streets and saw that with a Rockets game preparing to start, the price for a space in the lot I was parked in had jumped to $20. Timing is everything, right? I drove down to my sister's place. I got a soothing shower and got treated to a nice bowl of yummy mandarin oranges. (Thanks sis!)

To prevent myself from stiffening up, I wanted to keep mildly active. So in the mid-afternoon, I proceeded to my regularly scheduled volunteer shift that afternoon at Ronald McDonald House down in the TMC. I came in wearing my finisher's medal and got some congratulations from the resident families and the House manager. After finishing up at "The House That Love Built" I treated myself to a indulgent dinner at Popeye's Fried Chicken and Biscuits, visited with my parents, then finally got some quality time on my Serta mattress.

Now that I've had some time to reflect on those final miles, I realize that what happened to me in 21-through-25 this year is virtually the same ordeal I went through in 10-through-13 at the 2006 Houston Aramco Half. So I consider it all yet another lesson learned during this "running thing."

So here I am, a newly minted member of "Club 26.2." It was a heck of an initiation rite!

It's Go Time

Someone once wrote that the marathon is 20 miles of hope followed by 6 miles of truth. What truths will be uncover today?

8 hours, 15 minutes until gun time.

Off to bed I go....

"Forum Encounter"

After picking up my stuff at the marathon expo, I drove the course. People claim this makes the race less intimidating. It took a full hour to drive the course in a car, and I still felt intimidated. In the early evening, I got to "carbo-load" at Spaghetti Warehouse with Ross (Ross33) and Glen (ZubenElGenubi) from the RWOL forums. Both have run marathons before, and it turns out that Ross has done more than 30. Wow!

Better list them before you've missed them

My sister emailed me an article from the Houston Chronicle that had a bunch of good last-minute tips for tomorrow's race. I've read all of them before, but it's nice to get them all in one place. This morning's mental exercise is to build a list of things I need to remember to bring/do.

• Shorts, shirt, socks, shoes, hat, clip-on shades -- Start with the obvious!
  
• Nathan waistpack -- will be called on to tote all my carry-ons baggage!
  
• Bring cash -- for both downtown parking and a little just in case I decide to dash into a convenience store for something.
• Body Glide -- chubby runners know why
• Garmin ForeRunner 101 -- I want a record of every mile split if possible.
• AAA batteries -- That ForeRunner doesn't work well without power.
• Amphipod handstrap bottle and Gatorade -- I trained with it and it was with me through the San Antonio half and the Sugar Land 30K. I know there are supposed to be fluids on the course, but you're supposed to go with what you know. And it will be nice to blow through all the early fluid stops where there should be massive crowds. When I need to take on more later, I think I can expect more prompt and personal attention at the later ones.
• GU gels -- I'm thinking four or five packets should be enough. I understand there will be a Clif Blok Shots stop somewhere in the later stage of the course, but who knows if the taste will be agreeable with me at that point?
  
• Short straw -- for slurping water cups on the go.
• Cell phone -- just in case....
  
• Pack something yummy in the car for the inevitable after-race munchies.
  
• On race morning, make a note of the name of the garage and/or the nearest downtown intersection. This is easy to forget by the after-race time comes around.
  

That's it for now. Today is Expo Day! Less than 24 hours to go now. Oh boy, oh boy.

The training is over.

Is that really it? I ran my final pre-race miles of the training schedule, 2.8 to be exact. Now there's just two rest days between me and Marathon Sunday.

I had been doing so well for the past couple of weeks, but the dreaded Taper Madness finally bit me today -- hard. If it was completely up to the thoughts in my brain, I'd be bouncing off the walls and ceiling by now. I'm excited, but at the same time I keep having thoughts that I'm still not prepared.

A post on the RWOL Marathoners board reported seeing race banners already going up on Louisiana Street (downtown, mile 25). I might swing by there to take a look when I go to the expo to pick up my race packet.

Is this a bad time for a "blah" run?

Today was the last "long run" of the taper. Eight miles. Only eight miles. Just a few weeks ago I was churning out eight miles on my midweek "short" runs.

And I was feeling pretty "blah" through all of it today. I didn't feel very enthusiastic. It was like I was just out doing a job.

Part of my problem was that I decided to try out new shoes -- Saucony Trigon 5 Guide. The verdict is that I will NOT be wearing these in the marathon. They felt as if they lacked cushioning and also triggered a blister on the top of my foot. I don't know if re-lacing them will help, but in the meantime, I've got a fresh pair of the tried-and-true Trigon 4 Guide I'll be putting in play instead. There's no way I'm experimenting with something as fundamental as shoes at this stage.

Just as with nearly every Saturday morning long run, my last stop before home was at Sonic Jog-In. The guy that takes my order loves asking how far I went. He was duly impressed when I told him about next week's race distance!

I really have no idea what the weather will be like next weekend. Just three days ago, I was in long pants and long sleeves and braced against cold winds. Today I was back in shorts and a singlet and I was wearing my hat not for warmth, but to keep the sun and sweat out of my face.

7 days, 17 hours, 30 minutes until gun time....

Halfway through taper, and I'm not mad (yet)

Brown Truck Man -- one of my favorite superheroes -- came by today and delivered a package containing two more pairs of Saucony Trigon 4 Guide. One of them will very likely be the race day shoes.

Tonight it was pretty cold (by our standards) and I went out for my first run of 2008 in long pants instead of shorts. Brrrr!

Finally, I got some better snapshots of the "THEY'RE COMING" posters on Memorial Drive with my actual camera last weekend:


I may contact the race organizers and see if I can get one of these as a souvenir.