A Big Day

It's kind of dreary, hot and muggy today. My next marathon is 5 months away. But today is the day I officially start my 3rd career. I've signed up for the Texas Real Estate License required courses and plan to complete all 5 sections by the end of May. The rinks are being managed by the best group ever and things run so smoothly I only hear from them maybe twice a month. I plan to put the energy into this endeavor that I once put into building the rink business. Energy yes, hours no! I've come to really appreciate the time spent with my family and I won't give up my running and this direction should give me the flexibility to keep those priorities and still make a decent living. Know anyone looking to sell their house in June?

Pawing my way back to you

Hmmm, that sounds kinda weird. Anyway, I've decided that the only way to gain the additional speed I need to run 3 hours is to concentrate more effort into the pawback part of my stride. I'm gradually improving the ease and comfort of it and the results are pretty amazing. Today I clocked my 10 mile run with 5 mile splits. Easy 2 mile warmup then I began to focus on the pawback motion. Out bound 5 miles in 36:20 = 7:16 pace, in bound 5 in 33:53 = 6:46 pace. Overall 10 mile run in 1:10:14 = 7:01 pace. In addition to the pawback effort, I am focusing on easy breathing, loose stride and light footfalls.

I had thought I might join up with the BSSW this morning, but decided that another 2 weeks of breakfast with Ruth Anne and Eileen were more important. Not to mention another hour of sleep!

Street Closure Ordinance and another 10 miler

This morning Ruth Anne needed to return her rental car and I needed a run, so I followed her in her new Honda Insight to Enterprise then ran home. I didn't look at a map and tried to estimate a 10 mile run. When I got home and mapped it out, it came out to 9.72 miles in 1:11:36 for a 7:21 pace. If you are curious, here was my route.

In the bigger picture, I wrote my letter to our city leaders regarding the Street Event Closure Ordinance being considered this week. The last one I wrote was pure rant. I tried this time to express my opinion in a more positive manner in hopes that it will not be disregarded or discarded. Here is the text of that letter:

City of Austin Mayor and City Council Members:

I have been closely following the work of the Street Event Closure Taskforce and the now proposed Street Event Closure Ordinance 14-8. In the past 5 years I have participated in many races in Austin from 5K to the Marathon. I have participated in the Austin Marathon as a spectator, participant and coach for the past 5 years. I have also participated in marathons in Boston, Sacramento, St. George Utah and Wynne Arkansas. These cities range in population from 4,400,000 in the Greater Boston Area to 8,364 in Wynne, Arkansas. Each marathon has a unique atmosphere associated with it that reflects the host community. I can tell you in two words what each of the other marathons I have run have that Austin does not: Community Support.

This community support is not the result of a greater percentage of runners in these communities than in Austin. This community support is not the result of a better or bigger race management group. This community support is a direct result of LEADERSHIP. Leadership that recognizes the value of hosting events capable of bringing a community together. Leadership that recognizes the value of hosting events that can elevate the stature of the community on the national and world stage. Leadership that recognizes the positive financial impact of events of this size.

Can you imagine a 26 mile race through the 5 boroughs of New York happening without the active support of city leadership? The New York marathon gives each community the opportunity to show its pride through enthusiastic support of the race as it passes through. Can you imagine the Boston Marathon starting in the town of Hopkinton and passing through Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton and Brookline before finishing in downtown Boston without overwhelming support of the leadership in each of these communities?

I am embarrassed to live in a town that bills itself as Fit City whose current leaders seem to be openly hostile to a vibrant segment of its own population. Austin clearly needs an ordinance to reduce the negative impact of street closures for events including races. I am fairly certain that Boston, New York, Sacramento, St. George and even little Wynne Arkansas have ordinances governing such events. But the one thing that Austin needs even more than a new ordinance is leadership. Leadership that emphasizes the importance of these events to the community. Leadership that seeks to build consensus instead of confrontation. Please take this opportunity to show YOUR leadership and vote no to the current ordinance before you. Please take this opportunity to show YOUR leadership by asking for a new ordinance built on the premise that community events are COMMUNITY events. I can assure you that MY vote in upcoming elections will be based on YOUR vote on this matter.

Sincerely,

Charles “Geezer” Collins
Austin native, voter, runner, coach

A Wet One

10 miles, light rain, slight breeze.

Building miles

Ran 10 miles this morning with hills. Looking for long downhill sections to simulate St. George. Of course what goes down must come up. Ran down Ladera Vista - Up Taylor Draper, down and up on Floral Park, down and up Raincreek Parkway then cruised home. At Boston, I overheard Steve and Larry (after a few beers) talking about Larry's running style. Steve was making a big deal of Larry's paw back. I tried last week to pay attention to that part of my stride and realized that I haven't really put effort into the paw back portion of my stride. So today, I focused on my stride, controlled speed on the downhills with soft foot strike and relaxed legs. Relaxing on the uphill with shorter stride and pushing off with my quads instead of my toes. On the flatter sections working on the paw back portion of my stride. I averaged a 7:03 pace. The last time I did this run I was very happy with a 7:30 pace. As I headed out, I passed Rich Yavorsky in my neighborhood. I'm going to have to run him off, I like being the fastest guy in my little neighborhood. Alternatively, I could just run faster than him. Hmmmmm.

Barefootin' Again

We are trying to make a habit out of our Sunday Barefoot Run. Today was 5 miles at IMF. I started my watch kind of by accident so I went ahead and recorded my laps: 7:30 7:19 7:09 6:35 6:28. I love a good barefoot run! On a sour note, Ruth Anne's foot is hurting today and barefoot didn't help. She is really bummed about it. I'm hoping that this is adaptation pain not injury pain. For the week, I put in 58 miles, including the marathon. That puts me over 1,100 miles for the year. I plan to be back to my 90 MPW schedule in 2 weeks. Starting then, I will begin lowering my average training pace until I am running easily at a 7:15-7:20 pace for most of my runs.

Found Him

EFRAIM MANZANO, 45, a cook at the Westin Moana Surfrider in Waikiki, will do Boston as just his third marathon anywhere. He has done two in Honolulu. In 2007, he did it in 3:44 — 14 minutes slower than Boston's qualifying time for his age group. Feeling the challenge, he came back in 2008 to zoom to 3:16. Manzano, who came to Hawai'i 33 years ago from the Philippines, has drawn laughs in Honolulu wearing the traditional baag, a loincloth "which undeniably exposes my cheeks." No matter, he plans to wear his baag in Boston — and to wear Crocs as his footwear. Running shoes, he says, "look awkward with the baag."

Final time: 3:47:04

Boston Story #4

Another stomach training run. 6oz of Carbo-Pro 10 minutes before my 10 mile run. I didn't wear a watch but looking at the kitchen clock when I left and returned I averaged 7:15-7:20 miles. I am feeling the fluid in my stomach but it is not sloshing and I haven't yet triggered a side stitch. Another week and I will up the intake to 6oz prior to the run and 6oz during the run.

Boston Story #4: On the first climb of the Newton Hills, I was still maintaining a relatively solid pace but was working pretty hard. I was passing a lot of runners at this point. I noticed one in particular way over on the side of the road. His head was shaved and he was wearing a necklace of bright beads. I glanced back at him a moment later and noticed he was wearing a ornately woven bright red loin cloth. AND RUNNING IN CROCKS! I desperately want to find a picture of this guy and find out his story. This was NOT a costume. I think he is a native central or south american used to running barefoot.

Boston Story #3

This morning I drank 3oz of Carbo-Pro and water about 30 minutes before running and another 3oz right before leaving the house. I attempted to run a 7 minute pace but without the watch I could have been anywhere from 6:40-7:30. I'm happy to report that during the run I had no ill effects. I had a major stomach upset after lunch but that could be from the red onions in the salad I had at the volunteer appreciation lunch at Eileen's school.

Boston Story #3: After finishing the marathon, getting my medal, finding a space blanket, grabbing a food bag and locating my clothing drop bus (the very last bus on Boyelston St.), I headed over to the Jury's Hotel to get a drink and hopefully meet up with Ramon and Sandra. Sure enough, they were there and we headed into the lower level bar for something to drink and eat. We had a great visit, talked about the race and our upcoming plans. (Sandra took full credit for my PR since she suggested the fish instead of chicken for my Sunday dinner!) As we were finishing up, a finisher came in and sat on the fireplace hearth near our table. After a couple of minutes he leaned over and called me by name and asked where my daughter was. Turn out we had met in that very bar 2 years ago after my first Boston when we took Elizabeth with us. His name is Kevin and he says he will be back next year. I told him that I would also and that I would wait for him in the same place as I expect to finish under 3 hours next time! You gotta love Boston!

Carbo-Pro

I have mixed a flask of Carbo-Pro and water to try out tomorrow. Since I won't be running hard or long, it will not be a real test. If I do OK tomorrow, then I will try the same mixture on a slightly longer run on Saturday. If things are good on Saturday, I will try adding some thermolyte to the mixture for electrolyte intake. I am prepared to sacrifice a few runs to find a means of hydrating and fueling. Just some of the symptoms I've endured that I attribute to hydrating and fueling during runs: tingling in my right hand moving up to my shoulder, dizziness, side stitches, nausea and tunnel vision. I have a 100% symptom free record when I run without eating or drinking anything. Of course I have run out of gas and gone into hypothermia likely due to my reluctance to eat or drink.

Boston Story #2

5 mile easy run this morning. Most of the time thinking about the folks going to Nashville this week. I wish there was a better forecast for them but it is what it is. I know that some of these folks will still knock it out of the park.

Back to Boston. Another running I met at the starting line asked my advice on how long to keep his second shirt on. I told him that I planned to ditch my shirt only after crossing the causeway at mile 7 (It turned out to be mile 10) unless it really heated up first. He looked at my shirt and said if I was planning to ditch it, he wanted it. I was wearing an Ironman 70.3 that I got for delivering snow to the Longhorn tri last fall. He even offered to trade me right then for some goodwill cotton thing with a zipper. I said no thanks. I can't remember exactly when I ditched the shirt, but I looked around first to see if he was anywhere around. Once I was sure he was nowhere close, I tossed the shirt. It wasn't even 2 minutes later he runs up beside me and wants to know where my shirt was. What a goof. Trying to catch me to get a shirt for a race he didn't even run. I'm going to see if he shows up in any pictures and get his name.

Boston Story #1

This week will have some recovery runs but no serious training. I ran 5 miles this morning stopping several times to chat with neighbors who wanted to know about the BRIGHT YELLOW shirt I just happened to wear ;-)

Boston Story #1

When I arrived at corral #8 runners were introducing themselves and discussing race strategy, weather strategy etc. I struck up a conversation with four runners about how many layers and when/what we would be tossing. One of them was Allison from some little town in Tennessee. Just before the gun sounded I asked her what time she planned to run and she said sub 3:10. Same as me. I told her my plan to run NO FASTER than 7:10/mile as we were walk starting. At mile 1 we were side by side so I began talking to her a little more. She said that she owned a running store. At mile 5 I told her we were dead on pace and she said it felt good to her. At a water stop around mile 10 or 11 I lost her. I looked around a couple of times and again at the finish but no luck. Today I decided to see if I could track down an Allison from Tennessee who started in corral #8. There she was, Allison Pastorek, 32 from Jonesborough TN finishing in 3:23:29. I looked up her picture to confirm it. When I tried to find her running store I chanced on to the State Running Records site for Tennessee and found she holds the age group record in the 30K for 27, 28 and 30 year olds. Her husband Steve holds 2 age group records for the mile AND 2 for the 30K. I think that is pretty cool.

Boston Initial Thoughts

My marathon PR is 3:18:31 set at Boston 2009. 3:18:31 is not what I had hoped for. 3:18:31 is not what I will settle for. However, I still won several battles yesterday that will serve me well in my war for sub 3. First and foremost, I listened to Steve, adjusted my goals and executed the race plan perfectly. My objective was sub 3:10 with even splits. An easy pace to target was 7:10 per mile or a 3:08 pace. No matter how much I felt like taking advantage of the downs, I was determined to keep myself in check for the first 15 miles. Here are the splits:
7:41 7:09 7:04 7:04 7:13 7:05 7:08 7:10 7:08 7:12 7:11 7:08 7:12 7:12 7:12 7:15 Average pace for 15 miles: 7:11 per mile. For Geezer, that folks is HUGE.

So what happened next? I was determined to NOT slow down during the hills but to actually pick up the pace. At the start of the hills, I began to push and immediately felt nauseated. I tried relaxing my stride, opening up my breathing, but my pace slipped to 7:25 7:26 7:36 7:29 7:53 for the Newton Hills. My goal was in danger but still attainable. I was on a 3:10:50 pace with 6 miles of down or level roads ahead. After topping Heartbreak Hill, I began to gather for a push. One, two three dry heaves. I had to back off. Steve joined up with me somewhere along here and he could tell I was in deep shit. There wasn't much he could say as he matched my pace for awhile. I told I was going to throw up. I told him I needed to be able to drink. He let me go. I knew now that my goal was out of reach but I was not going to stop. I was not going to walk. I was going to push as hard as my GI system would allow and finish this thing out. 8:28 8:05 8:38 8:17 8:36 and a final time of 3:18:31. A new PR.

So what now? I have done the same thing before every race since October 6, 2007. Small coffee 2 hours before the start and NOTHING else. I blew up at CALI but I think that was greed. With the 10am start at Boston, I chewed on several bites of bagel and sipped water while riding the bus and waiting at the start. I wish now that I had simply stopped with the small coffee and run hungry. Going forward though, I am going to keep a detailed log and begin introducing foods and water into my pre-run and during-run routines. Then I am going to renew my assault on 3 hours.

Race Morning

It is now 3:49am on Patriots Day in Boston. I'm awake and visualizing
my run today. Our official team plan is even splits to 21 then see
what is left in the tank. This is counter to my running nature but
maybe it's good to have something to occupy the brain during the
earlier parts. I am going for 7:10 min/mile. 7:10 7:10 7:10.

Sent from my iPhone

The Final Five

The weather here in Boston is beautiful this morning. I ran along the
Charles River on Memorial, crossed on the Harvard Bridge, ran out
Commonwealth to the Citgo sign by Fenway Park. Ran the final mile of
the marathon course then took Charles St. crossing the Charles on the
Cambridge Bridge back to the hotel. Headed for the expo now. Getting
excited!

Sent from my iPhone

Lets get down to business!

Just finished my 10 mile run. It was HOT, HUMID, DARK and STICKY. After a mile or so it occured to me that it is now time to get down to business and Eminem popped into my head: "Let's get down to business I don't got no time to play around, what is this? Must be a circus in town, let's shut the shit down on these clowns; can I get a witness? (HELL YEAH!)" Ruth Anne is now out on her 10 mile run in the hood. With a plastic baggie on her finger. I'm packed, eating breakfast and generally ready to go. Whooo Hoooo!

7 mile break in the rain

Watching the radar, it looked like I had time to get my 7 miles in. Grabbed a hat and jacket and headed out. Decided to stay close to the house in case it did get bad. 7.1 miles, 48:43, 6:52 pace. Hot, humid, windy but no real problems. Tomorrow 10 easy miles, fly to Boston. Sunday 5 easy miles, expo, team meeting and dinner. Monday my 3rd consecutive Boston Marathon. It looks to be my best so far.

Casey Jones

Yep, that Casey Jones. As in "Casey Jones you'd better watch your speed." We stayed up late last night so I elected to sleep in and skip the group run this morning. I saw that the workout was a warm up, 4 miles at MGP and a cool down so I headed out to do it on my own. First of all, I AM NOT A METRONOME. The only race I have ever logged consistent mile splits is the Congress Ave Mile. In a typical marathon my pace can vary by as much as a minute per mile with most of the miles within a 30 second range. So what is my MGP (marathon goal pace)? I plan to run between 3:05:00 and 3:10:00 at Boston. Even paces would be would be 7:04 and 7:15 per mile. Even effort on the Boston course predicts a pace spread of 6:43 to 7:40. So, in practicing MGP what should I run? I decided to just try to run 7:00 miles for the 4 mile MGP segment today. My splits for those 4 miles were 6:35 6:48 6:42 6:38. Casey Jones, you'd better watch your speed.

7 miles, Boston Bound

7 miles, no watch, no pains, no worries. Just me, my Boston glory daydreams and beautiful sunshine. Eileen is very sick this morning so I'm off to run errands all day. Not the least of which is to mail the dreaded tax return extension request with a big check.

Are we there y... Shut up and focus!

I'm scared. I'm scared because I have not felt good going into a marathon since February 1996. I'm scared because there will be no excuses this time around. I will either run a smart race and post a big PR or I will run a stupid race and post who knows what. Today was our 10 mile progressive pace run. Steve's instructions: "No faster than 1/2 Marathon pace unless you feel like a million bucks." I intended to comply but when Steve joined me at the start of mile 9 I had just posted a 6:23 mile 8 and was still dropping the pace. He backed me off what felt like 15-20 seconds, breathing more relaxed, open stride 6:26 mile. Huge eye opener. All he really did was get me to relax. The difference between the "effort" of 6:23 and the "ease" of 6:26 is inexplicable to me. Something to focus on at Boston. Today's splits: 8:07 7:40 7:15 6:48 7:02 6:46 6:29 6:23 6:26 6:29.

Are we there yet? Are we there yet?

7 miles. No watch. No pain. No worries. Progressive pace run tomorrow. Haircut Wednesday. Boston Marathon Monday.

1 week out

This time next week I will be settling in for a movie before having my midnight supper on Boston Marathon eve. I have no desire to cut my mileage back but know that I should. This morning, Ruth Anne was making waffles when I left the house so I cut my run to 7 to get some while they were still hot. I guess I'll make my Mon/Wed/Fri runs 7 this week instead on the usual 10.

I'm finding myself already looking beyond Boston. I'm not going for 3 hours because I have plateaued at a maximum sustainable pace of about 7 min/mile. I need at least a 6:52 pace to break 3 hours. I've started thinking about how to find those 8-10 seconds per mile before my next marathon without inviting the kinds of injuries that sideline runners (including me) for extended periods. I made my last jump in speed by picking one shorter run each week and running it at my desired MGP every time until it was easy. At the time that was my 5 mile Monday run and I was aiming for 7:15 pace to break 3:10. My Monday runs are now 10 miles and I plan to try running a 6:45 pace for 8 of those miles every Monday after a couple weeks of recovery. I was realizing today that I never got my core work incorporated into my routine this time. That could be a possible source of a few seconds per mile too. Another aspect that I plan to revisit after Boston is my race nutrition/hydration. I have trained myself to run the distance without eating or drinking. Can I find a way to introduce some hydration and nutrition into my running again without the GI distress I was experiencing 2 years ago? I can't help but think that some added energy late in the race would help me hold the faster pace longer. So, I basically have plan A and plan B for my post Boston training. If Ruth Anne and I make the St. George lottery then I will take two weeks off running, start a core workout routine and pick up the high mileage training where I'm leaving off adding a fast day during the base phase. If we don't make St. George then we will be aiming at a November marathon. In that case, in addition to adding core work and a fast day, I am going to drop my mileage back to half and start a base building phase adding hydration and nutrition intake from the beginning. There must be something out there I can eat during a race that won't create hell with my stomach.

Words for Geezer

10 days until Boston. Runs start to take on a surreal quality now. You know that you can't do anything at this point to improve your fitness but you need to run enough to maintain fitness and sharpen focus. You don't want to run too fast and strain something. You don't want to run too slow and feel lethargic. You feel confident in your training and ability but you haven't yet PROVEN either to yourself. I tend to daydream/visualize on these runs. They are always great dreams. My personal demons at this point are NOT lack of confidence or fear of failing. No, my demons are the voices asking why I'm settling for a 3:05-3:10 goal when 3 hours is THE GOAL. 10 seconds per mile. That's it. The difference between 2:59:59 and 3:05:00. Surely on this ONE day you've got 10 seconds per mile. Success for me at the 2009 Boston Marathon will not be measured by the finishing time but by my ability to take control of my actions, constrain my impetuous nature and run a good race. After our workout yesterday, Steve was chatting with us about our goals. He congratulated me (and himself) on my conservative approach to Boston this year. Steve, save your congratulations for the finish line. I haven't done it yet. Don't get me wrong, I want to do well and execute the plan but...

That's done

9 miles, 7:19 overall pace. Exactly 1 year ago today on one of our final easy runs before Boston I experienced some moderate foot pain and limped in from the run. I didn't know it at the time, but foot pain was going to be my story at Boston. Today, no problems. Bruce and I ran most of the 7 mile loop on LLT together at a 7:00 pace. With the poor traction on the trail, the effort equates to about a 6:50 on the roads. Since my actual race plan calls for going out at a 7:12 average pace through 15 miles, I think my only difficulty will be holding back until time to start pushing at 15 or so. I seem to be the only one in the group seriously attempting to negative split on the clock. Maintaining a constant pace at Boston FEELS like a negative split from an effort perspective but I am going to try to push the pace starting in the Newton hills. I am thinking that I will not print a pace band and just give myself a 10 second range to stay in for each section of the race. Miles 1-15: 7:05-7:15 pace range. Miles 16-20 6:50-7:00 pace range. Miles 21-26 are whatever I have left to give. Nutrition plan will be to eat my final meal at midnight Sunday. I will have some shot blocks to nibble on waiting for the start. I want to see if I can figure out a coffee 1 hour before the start.

Not ouch but owie

Had a great easy run going this morning until the 8.5 mile mark. That little blister I got at Zooma must have suddenly rubbed raw and boy does it hurt. I stopped and retied my shoe, didn't help. I had to take off my socks and run really slow back home. I'll get a couple of toe condoms today and should be able to keep up the mileage while it heals. Before my toe blew, I was thinking of the folks in our group who have suffered injuries this training session. Having been one of the fallen on several prior occasions, I am telling myself that I can't feel guilty for feeling good. I can sympathize and console but I've worked hard to get back from my injuries and need to stay focused on my race. That little bit of guilt just keeps nibbling at the back of my mind though.

CV Workout - 13 to Boston

Today was 1 mile repeats at CV pace (6:20) x 5. I had anticipated doing this on the track and had 1/4 mile splits in mind. I had some doubts after racing the 1/2 this weekend but planned to hold the pace if possible. Steve changed it to a road workout due to recent injuries attributed to running on the track. The entire 3 hour train was present so all I had to do was keep up. On the warm up my legs felt heavy but nothing hurt. The markers were off on the first mile and we ran too fast. 90 second recovery and we nailed the second mile. In fact, we nailed the whole workout. I was a few seconds slow on the last mile but happy that I completed the workout and had no pain or stiffness left from the race. I am feeling confident and relaxed about Boston. The last time I felt this relaxed was before the '06 Freescale and that was a good race for me. I think it's a good sign.

Zooma Weekend Wrapup

Ruth Anne had been disappointed that there were no rooms available for Saturday after Zooma but when we checked Friday there was an opening. So we made a weekend of it. Since CALI, I have been eating whatever my mom has fixed for Friday Night supper before long runs, even Soul Busters. I decided to take my chances at the Firewheel Cafe and ate two full plates of salad, Mahi Mahi, grilled zucchini and fruit. I followed that up with a full plate of deserts. Back at the room we split a small bottle of wine and called it a night.

Race morning I did my normal coffee, black w/3 sugars, took care of business and we headed out. Race start was scheduled for 7:30 and at 7:12 I headed out for a 2 mile warmup. I barely made it back for the start. Maybe 45 seconds after I got in the chute they brought the runners to the start and sent us off. In those few seconds I looked around and picked the young guy (he's 37) in the bright red flats to win it. Several of the women up front looked like they could tear it up so I kind of figured a top 5 finish would be about right. When the gun went off, I found myself running stride for stride with Mr. Red Shoes. At the 1/4 mile point I asked him what he planned to run and he said a sub 1:18. I asked him if he had driven the course (we had the night before and I knew it was going to be a bitch) he said he hadn't. He told me he flew in from El Paso for the race and he trained in the mountains around El Paso. I told him I couldn't match that pace and wished him good luck. In the back of my mind I thought I might find him in the gutter later. He crossed the first mile marker at 6:00 so he was on pace then. I saw him later and I had nearly been right. He cramped up at 11.5 and even walked a bit. He finished in 1:21:51, impressive on that course but he paid the price. At the 2 mile water stop I heard the cheers for Mr. Red Shoes as he approached, then a lull then a cheer for me in 2nd, then a shorter lull and a cheer for 3rd. I could tell from the volume that it was a woman behind me. At the 3 mile water stop I heard the cheer for Red Shoes and a longer lull, a cheer for me and a much shorter lull and a cheer for 3rd. Shit, she was gaining quickly. I had maybe 200 meters on her. When the course finally went into a freefall at mile 5 I pushed the downhill hard posting a 6:28. I figured that would put some distance on her but at the 6.5 turn around she was only 100 meters back. Shit Shit. I gave her a high five as we passed and then noticed the head wind. I gave every thing I had but that screaming downhill now looked like Pikes Peak and the wind was stiffer than I expected. I put some serious effort into the first mile of the hill and then slowed significantly posting a 7:26 mile 8. By the time we reached mile 9 I could hear her breathing and her bicycle escort passed me. Shit Shit Shit. We were on Hwy 71 and had a pretty good climb ahead and I decided to see if I could mount a surge. I went as hard as I could for maybe a 1/3 mile and heard her yell something as I made the turn onto Pope Bend Rd. I never looked back, kept my head down and pushed as hard as I could hoping to get back some of the minute I lost on mile 8 and still PR. When I went through the water stop past 10, I listened for the next cheer but didn't hear one. Hmmm. I knew the course was mostly downhill from here with 3 or 4 good rollers. Kind of like southbound Exposition on steroids. At mile 12 I had it licked. I glanced back but couldn't see 3rd place and pushed it in. I think the crowd had fallen asleep between Mr. Red Shoes and me and was disappointed I wasn't a woman. After finishing I stayed in the chute to congratulate 3rd when she finished. She came in 18 seconds later and got a huge cheer. She thanked me for setting a good pace and when I asked what happened at 9 she said she got a side stitch. I thanked her for pushing me since I might have backed off if I were back in the pack after the big climb. I later looked her up, Julia Hooks, age 28, beat me by over 6 minutes at the '05 Pervasive 10 miler. I'll take a little credit for giving her a stitch with my surge!

After finishing, I grabbed a water and a banana and headed back out to catch up with Ruth Anne and run her in. It was about then that I noticed I had blisters on two toes but I kept running. Met her about 2 miles out and she had slowed some but still looked strong. There were young runners blowing by her on the downhills but Ruth Anne passed most of them on the next climb. I escorted her in and she actually dropped me near the end. We hung out for a couple of hours eating, drinking and chatting with finishers. Around noon the last shuttle left for Austin and we headed to the room for showers and naps. We modeled our finisher's necklaces for each other and agreed they look stunning on both of us!

After napping, we headed for the pool, ate a burger and had the bartender make us a couple of 1800 Anejo Smash drinks. We had another great dinner, 2 bottles of wine and a good nights sleep.

This morning I got up and ran 5 miles. The power had gone out at the resort sometime in the early morning and was still off. They ran out of hot water just before I finished my shower! We tried to check out and get some breakfast but that was a fiasco. On the way home we checked out the McKinney Rough trail head and decided we should bring the horses out for a trail ride soon. I'm actually looking forward to it. All in all, a great weekend of running and related fun.

Next up Boston! Zooma splits: 6:45 6:55 6:55 6:44 6:37 6:28 6:55 7:26 6:53 6:57 6:39 6:43 6:37 0:38 (6:20 pace). 1:29:20 time, 6:50 average pace, one bitch of a course.

Zooma

New experience for Geezer. After a 2 mile warmup I had 1 minute before race start and lined up at the front. After a 1/4 mile I asked the guy next to me what he planned to run. He said sub 1:18 so I wished him well and tried to find my rhythm. At each water stop a cheer would go
up for the leader, then me then the woman in 3rd. Each mile the lag after my cheer got shorter and shorter so I knew she was gaining. At the halfway turn around I saw her for the first time and gave her high five. My lead was 100 meters or so. By mile 9 I could hear her breathing and decided I would surge on the next up section. At 11 she was nowhere in sight. I kept pushing hoping for a PR. Final result, 1:29:20 2nd place 16 seconds off a PR on a brutal brutal course. Whoo Hooo!

Sent from my iPhone