Running The Race

I know I’m a week late in writing this race report, but I guess better late than never.

Late Friday morning, Gayle and I headed westward toward Memphis. It was almost 4 PM when we finally got to the expo. It was a lot more crowded than last year but the vendors were not a good.

After working our way through the crowd, we headed toward the hotel.

We arrived in the lobby of The Peabody right at 5. Of course it was standing room only because everyone had come to see the ducks.

On checking in I was told that late check out was not available for Saturday morning and we had to be out of the room by 12. This was contrary to what I was told when I made the reservation in May.

We settled in the room before heading out for supper at Pa Pa Pia’s. This is the same place we ate last year with Joe and Darrell.

Saturday morning the temperature was in the mid-twenties and even with the sun, the forecasted high was only in the upper 30’s. So I decided to dress a little warmer than I did last year and wear tights.

Finish line and gear check was across the street from the hotel in the Auto Zone Ball Park which was very handy.

I check my gear and walked the three blocks to the starting corals. I found the 4:00 pacer and started making friends.

The thing that makes this race special is the cause, the St. Jude Children’s Hospital. This year they had an 8 year old patient sing the National Anthem. It was very touching.

Soon we are off. It was rather crowded for the first several miles. Shortly after mile 3, the course passed by the The Peabody and I saw Gayle.

About mile 5, we ran through the St. Jude campus.

I stayed with the pacers. I kept checking the splits and knew we were getting ahead but they kept saying we were right on pace.

I stayed the the pacers until about mile 20 and then let them go. I was slowing down and paying for the faster pace.

During the RRCA Coaching Training, the instructors said that for every 20 seconds too fast in the beginning of a race, it will cost you a minute in the end. That proved to be true. I crossed the finish line in 4:16.

Found Gayle and retrieved my gear. Lucky, runners could use the showers in the ball park locker rooms, so I was able to clean up before we went and got lunch.

The St. Jude Marathon is good race but I had forgotten all the rolling the hills and the course seemed to be more crowded than last year.

But all in all, it was a good day and a good race…I was pleased.

Tags: running, St. Jude Marathon, race report

Have spent the week recovering from the St. Jude Marathon last Saturday.

Took Sunday and Monday off.

Tuesday, I ran 3 on the treadmill at the Y.  I would have preferred to be outside but heavy rain pushed me to the dry Y. Legs were stiff so I only did 3 easy miles and then headed for the whirlpool.

Wednesday was another rest day.

Thursday, I ran 6.

Friday was another easy 3.

This morning, I slept in and didn’t leave the house until 8:30 and ran an easy 8 miles

That puts the total for the week at 20.

Spent some time this week planning out the Spring.

Bob left a comment last week asking if I was still around and reminding me that I had not posted anything for a while.

I am still here and still training.  In fact, I’m still on target for the St. Jude Marathon in Memphis in December.

I have been training using a custom schedule that I build based on the RRCA Coaching Certification I got this summer. 

The plan has a heavy emphasis on building endurance with slow mileage.  I have two more weeks in the “sharping” phase that includes speed work.  So for October, I logged 236 miles. I have put in five 20-plus mile runs and have two more to go.

There is always a first time for everything and today it was mine for a leg cramp.

Now I have had leg cramps before but never while running. They have always been after the run or race, until today.

This morning I ran the 10k at the Franklin Classic. It was a great morning to run. I was hoping for a sub-50 and was on pace until just before mile 4 marker.

It started as just a tightness in my right calf. But all of a sudden I couldn’t put any weight on my right leg and had to stop.

I walked best I could and it slowly loosened up, at least enough to finely start running again.

I was able to finish. But I lost about 5 minutes, rats!

Now I am home with ice on my calf. I can hardly walk because my calf is so sore. This not how I planned to spend Labor Day.

Here are the splits…

Today was another great afternoon to run.  It was a little warmer than yesterday but still very pleasant and low humidity.

I ran 10 miles with 4 miles at half marathon pace.  My splits were right on target, 8:05, 8:07, 8:02, 8:08.  Felt real good about the workout.  The last time I attempted a tempo run the temperature was in the 90s.  The 15 degrees really makes a difference.

August 31 is the end of the meteorological summer, but today felt more like Fall.  The humidity was low and with the wind from the North, it was a very pleasant 70 degrees. It was a great afternoon for a 5 mile recovery run.

Logged 192 miles this first month of training for the St. Jude Marathon.

Friday Gayle and I moved Sara and Laura Anne into their dorm rooms.  This is Sara’s junior year and Laura Anne’s first year. Our nest is now officially empty and the house is quiet.  I knew this day was coming but I guess some things you are never really ready for.

On the running side of things, training is going good.

I am following a training plan that I created.  Since I am now a “certified” RRCA coach, I figured I need to be the gennie pig the first time around.

Currently, I am building my base miles and put in a total of 46 miles this past week.

It is hard to believe that it is already August and time for school to start.  It is also hard to believe that no one in my family will be in public school this year.  Sara and Laura move in the dorm the end of the month.

Did a few races this summer but mostly kept up my base mileage around 35 to 40 miles per week.  So, I feel that I have a decent base going into the fall.  But with the heat, it has been slow going.

Currently, the plan is to return Memphis in December and run the St. Jude’s Marathon.

The recovery period is over from the last marathon.  I made it through the May races (GJCC Tri and Run4Kids 5K). So now it is time to settle in with the maintenance mileage of the summer.  The hard part right now is getting acclimated to the heat and humidity.

Had a solid week of training logging 37 miles.

Next up is the RC Cola and Moon Pie 10 miler this Saturday.

Looking to the Fall, this week I registered for the Middle Half in October and am making plans to go back to Memphis for the St. Jude Marathon in December.

I have been taking it easy as a far as running is concerned the past two weeks.  But when it occurred to me that the GJCC Tri on Memorial Day was fast approaching, I knew I could not rest for long.  I needed to spend some time in the pool and in the saddle.

This past week I rode once, made it to spin class once and was in the pool three times.

My mantra for the summer is to have fun and not worry about racing. But needless to say, I do want to be able to finish.  So, this past week on…

Sunday, Amy and I rode 12 miles.

Monday, I swam at lunch and ran 5 miles after work.

Tuesday, I made it to spin class.

Wednesday was a repeat of Monday.

Thursday was a rest day.

Friday, it was back to the pool and only 4 miles after work.

Saturday, I ran an easy 7 miles.