In the past few weeks, I have really been working hard to get my new website, www.runpaulrun.com off the ground. It's been a great learning experience, and I am really excited about all of the things I can do with it. But I'm also learning how time consuming it all can be! Anyway, I think that it will make sense for me to keep a blog, not only to track my marathons, but also my everyday experiences in running, working, hanging out with my family, and whatever else is happening. I hope you'll check in often!
I also hope you'll check out my website and let me know what you think! I'm really looking forward to getting to know the community of other runners out there!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Olathe Marathon--Kansas
Time: 3 Hours 42 Minutes Place: 105 out of 476
Strong Kansas Head Winds Make for a Tough Marathon Finish
March 29, 2008
March 29, 2008
Olathe, KS –- Wake Up – It’s Race Day
As usual, before the start of any marathon, I wake up naturally, 30 minutes before my wake up call. It's 4:00am, and I start waking up a bit. Three hours before race time. I know that I need to make a "movement." Ten minutes later, it happens! How exciting, right? But all runners know that it is important to empty out prior to the race. Of the 15 previous marathons, I only had to go once during the marathon. Ironically, that was my best marathon. I keep reminding myself that it is not the end of the world if I need to go to the porta potty during the race. I just don’t like the interruption. Today, during the race, luckily I did not have to go. That would be one of the few good things during my race. After a quick shower, and some stretching, I down a Snicker’s marathon bar, and some Gatorade. I head down to the lobby at 5:15am, and meet Keith, another runner with a goal to reach all 50 states. He now has 29 states under his belt. I met Keith the night before in the lobby and decided to drive with him to catch the bus to the start of the race.
As usual, before the start of any marathon, I wake up naturally, 30 minutes before my wake up call. It's 4:00am, and I start waking up a bit. Three hours before race time. I know that I need to make a "movement." Ten minutes later, it happens! How exciting, right? But all runners know that it is important to empty out prior to the race. Of the 15 previous marathons, I only had to go once during the marathon. Ironically, that was my best marathon. I keep reminding myself that it is not the end of the world if I need to go to the porta potty during the race. I just don’t like the interruption. Today, during the race, luckily I did not have to go. That would be one of the few good things during my race. After a quick shower, and some stretching, I down a Snicker’s marathon bar, and some Gatorade. I head down to the lobby at 5:15am, and meet Keith, another runner with a goal to reach all 50 states. He now has 29 states under his belt. I met Keith the night before in the lobby and decided to drive with him to catch the bus to the start of the race.
Bus Ride
There are several school buses ready to leave to the starting line. Keith and I board the first bus. Twenty minutes later we arrive at the high school where the race starts. It is dark, windy, and cold. There is no where for us to go except for two small bathrooms. A bunch of us head towards the facilities that are just right outside the high school track. Great, stuck in a bathroom for an hour to keep warm. Well, at least I knew where I had to go.
It was actually pretty interesting talking with the other runners. The Olathe Marathon was actually a reunion for other 50 state marathoners. To be a member of this group, you had to complete at least 10 marathons in 10 states. I have done that, but feel that I don’t want to be a member until my day arrives where I cross the marathon line for my 50th state. Don’t want to jinx myself. I wish I knew many of there names. Next time I will make sure of that. One man stuck in my head. He was around 65 years old, and was running his 100th marathon. He ran his first 6 years earlier in Alaska. Amazing!
7:00am Start – We are off!
Adrenaline starts flowing as we sing the Star Spangled Banner. The cold weather does not matter right now. The wind was blowing, but I don’t notice. I am just jumping up and down waiting to get going. I down an energy drink called “5 hour Energy”. It tastes like lemon juice. Good thing it is just 2oz or so. I shout to other runners, “Is anyone shooting for 3:15?” A couple of people respond. I start talking to one of them, and I told him I failed 15 times. He responded that maybe I shouldn’t run with you, somewhat sarcastic. I did not think about his remarks then, but I will be using it for motivation down the road. I hooked up with a runner named Mike who said he had run 3:15 or better several times. The gun fires, and we are off! I stick with Mike for the first mile, and found out we were doing a 7 minute mile. I back off substantially knowing that I need to do 7:29 miles to have a chance to hit 3 hours 15 minutes 59 seconds. This is the time I need to qualify for Boston. No, I haven’t really tried 15 times for Boston, but more recently that time has been sticking in my mind. I will not give up until I hit this number. Numbers, numbers, numbers, sometimes I can not stand them. 50 states, 3:15:59 time, 26.2, and 36 years old. Maybe I need to play the lottery. Okay, back to the race. I let Mike slip by me, along with others. Trying to find my groove. Now, I wasn’t keeping time of my self, nor where there times at each mile marker. But I would look at my watch throughout the race to get a feel where I was.
Point to Point Marathon
I never ran a point to point marathon before. Usually marathons are big loops or out and backs, or several smaller loops. Olathe was a point to point. Start at one end, and finish at other. Remember Dorthy and the Wizard of Oz? That was Kansas, right? Olathe is in Kansas. Dorthy flew around a bit in her house. Well, I felt like I was running into the brick house. It was windy to say the least. You know the feeling as a kid. Walking or running into the wind, and the wind taking you backwards. You are just fighting away, and failing to take each step. Well, that was my experience in Olathe. Head winds approached 25 miles per hour. I was running into that for at least 60 percent of the race. To say the least, I was very disappointed. It would have been a great day for kite flying!
I end up running just under 7:30 per mile for the first hour, 8 miles per hour. I feel good and pass Mike up. I pass Mile 13.1, and I am on track to finishing in a Boston qualifier time of 3:15. I do feel fatigued and my mind is not helping. My attitude and motivation are suffering due to the wind conditions. My best marathon in Traverse City, May 2007, I was on pace for 3:15 until mile 21. I finished just over 3:22 or 7:42 per mile. I feel that I am conditioned better than I was last year, but the race conditions, your mind and body at race day help to determine your finish time.
Well, Mike passed me up at roughly the 15-mile marker. As he passed by, he said no 3:15 today. I agreed. At that point we were running straight into the wind. I would rely on “Gels”, to get blasts of energy during the race. I ended up taking 4 gels in the entire race. It helped a little. Nothing like having people pass you by in a race. It happens to all of us. Even my best times, people past me. I know things aren’t good when people pass me mid-way through a race. Early on and at the end are okay, but not mid-way. When I see who passes me, it drives me crazy. Nothing like having someone almost twice your age pass you by. It is inspiring though. It gives me something too shoot for when I turn 70!
Mile 21
A familiar face finds me. My brother in law, Eric aka “E”. It was good to see him. He offers me his sweat pants, of course I refuse. Who knows where those have been. He realized what a day it was, with the winds and the cold. I don’t mind the cold. Eric has joined me in several other marathons, Seattle, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis. He is a good runner, and will someday finish all 50 states too. He has run Portland and Seattle, and many half marathoners. He is a forest fire-fighter and will be leaving to Alaska in mid April. I will miss him and god speed to him. My legs are tired, and I have run close to 3 hours now. I am ticked off, but get motivated running with Eric. 5.2 miles left. I keep telling him I could go for some Krisy Kremes and a steak. As you run, you keep day dreaming of really good food to eat. As, mile 24 approaches, we enter a neighborhood, where one homeowner has a table full of goodies. I take a handful of M and M’s! I end up walking a bit around mile 25. It would cost me a sub 3:40 marathon, but I was mentally and physically drained.
A familiar face finds me. My brother in law, Eric aka “E”. It was good to see him. He offers me his sweat pants, of course I refuse. Who knows where those have been. He realized what a day it was, with the winds and the cold. I don’t mind the cold. Eric has joined me in several other marathons, Seattle, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis. He is a good runner, and will someday finish all 50 states too. He has run Portland and Seattle, and many half marathoners. He is a forest fire-fighter and will be leaving to Alaska in mid April. I will miss him and god speed to him. My legs are tired, and I have run close to 3 hours now. I am ticked off, but get motivated running with Eric. 5.2 miles left. I keep telling him I could go for some Krisy Kremes and a steak. As you run, you keep day dreaming of really good food to eat. As, mile 24 approaches, we enter a neighborhood, where one homeowner has a table full of goodies. I take a handful of M and M’s! I end up walking a bit around mile 25. It would cost me a sub 3:40 marathon, but I was mentally and physically drained.
Finish Line
We turn a corner out of a neighborhood, and I see the finish line less than a mile a way. More inspiration to run harder and finish this race. Thank god! I run hard with E until the finish. Cross the line just over 3 hours 42 minutes. Oh well, next time will be soon enough, and obviously I am thinking about next time as I sink my teeth into a bagel after the finish line. Not much food for the runners. Pretty disappointing.
All in all, a tough day for me. My first impression of the marathon was mixed. The scenary was dull, no times at each mile marker (some blown down), scarce crowd, lack of food at the finish line, and strong winds affected my mood. It would be nice if they change the course, but chances are I will not run this again since there are too many states to tackle. Running with my brother in law, and hanging out before the race will last a life time. Those are the memories I will keep.
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