Looking forward to USA Duathlon National Championship

Its been quite a while since I posted anything, but I'm stating to get excited about the 2019 Duathlon National Championships.  Last year sucked big time due to freezing temps, but hopefully the weather will be better this year.  Also, that was a very difficult time for me coming so soon after my mom passed away.  This year things are looking and feeling a little better. 
    Yesterday was the 2nd indoor tri and I felt good.  Looking to do some kind of hard bike-run combination workout in March as a prelude to Du Nationals. Likely I'll try riding to a 10 K or half-marathon, then riding home at a brisk pace to try and simulate race conditions.  Hopefully I'll also put in some very hard bike rides next month. That is what was lacking last year.   

Schaumburg Half Marathon Turkey Trot

Ran the Schaumburg Half Marathon Turkey Trot on Saturday. Not sure if this is my 4 or 5th race there, but it went "ok".  I probably went out too hard in retrospect. Ran the first 4 or 5 miles around a 6:30 pace, but then struggled to hold onto a 6:50 pace the rest of the way.  Finished in 1:27:40, an  average of  6:45 pace.  Still I won my age group by nearly 15 minutes!  But the weather was cool and wet, but not terrible.  Now so real off-season training with a focus on cycling for the next few months. 

Election day, 2018

So much trepidation about today.  Will we as a nation continue to support fear-mongering, hatred and corruption, or could this be a turning point?  I was the happiest I've ever been to vote on election day to make a small statement by voting against all republicans on the ballot for their implicit or explicit support of the Trump administration.  Go blue wave!   

Thinking about my mom

Last week I went to the Arboretum and walked around the area where we did a lot of birding with my Mom back in the late 90s.  On the west side there is a little bridge over the stream when you first come out from the tunnel under rt 53.  It was there that I recall we had the best birding.  We saw Yellow Warblers, Red Starts, Palm Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers, Baltimore Orioles, Indigo Buntings and lot of the other migratory birds that spring. It was Meme, Stuart, Diana and I and we had a really nice time together.  I miss my mom!  I looked out at those trees, the bridge, the bushes and the stream and tried to recall details about her: what we said and how we laughed. If I could only go back there for just a moment!

What worked this year in the marathon

This was one of my slower marathons, but at 60 years old, it was kind of remarkable because I felt great through the whole race and never hit the wall. Some years, like 2017, I've barley made it to the finish line and this year I ran my fastest splits at 25 and 26  miles. So why was it better this year?  Here is what I think went right:

1) better carb loading the night before. Pounded down pasta!

2) better fueling up in the morning. Downed a can of Ensure when I first woke up and then ate my usual pre-race breakfast on top of that.

3) right at the start I downed a small bottle of Gatorade that I had added a salt tablet to and one extra strength Tylenol.  Obviously the salt was to stave off cramps and the Tylenol was for pain.  I didn't have a single cramp in the race and that is the first time that's happened ever!  I probably didn't need the Tylenol, but last year was so painful that I was expecting the worst.

4) ran with my friend Bob from miles 3-18 and that really helped to keep my spirits up and also helped us run an even pace.  Bob's GPS is more accurate than mine and he held us at a 7:10-7:15 min/mile pace for that whole distance. Even after he dropped back, I kept that same pace until mile 24 when I realized that I would be able to finish stronger. 

5) did a good job taking in gels every 30 minutes and drinking Gatorade at every aide station.

6) not sure how much this helped, but I think a lot: wore the new Nike Vapor Fly 4% marathon shoes! Those things are awesome. Super light weight, but still provide support and some "bounce". They seem to decrease the stress on your feet as well as preserve your leg muscles a little.  Best marathon shoes, ever!

7) patience: I usually hate holding back and can't keep myself from going too hard in the early part of the race. But this year I told myself I had to have patience and it worked.  I focused on watching the crowd and other runners and thinking about what they were experiencing. As always, the crown around miles 9-10 is the best. The synchronized gay drill team and cheer leaders.  But all the water stops were supportive and fun. 

8)  thinking about my mom for inspiration.       

End of the racing season

As usual, at the end of a good racing season, I'm feeling a little down.  I've checked off all of my goals this year and I'm having that realization that nothing has changed in my life as a result of triathlons and running. Yes, everything in life is changing, for better or worse (mainly worse).  But racing doesn't alter that other than provide a temporary fix. I guess the most important thing to come out of this season is that to a degree, I was able to rekindle an old friendship with RB. Here we are drinking coffee after the North Shore tri last month.  I know this is just a hobby, like any other, but I need this OCD hobby to keep from slipping into a negative mindset so I guess it serves a purpose.

Chicago Marathon 2018

My first marathon at 60-64 was a success.  Ran a 3:08 yesterday is the rain. The temperature was steady in the mid 60s for the whole race with on and off rain that was hardest in the middle section of the race.  But the rain felt good because it kept us cool, I can't recall ever feeling that good at the end of a marathon. I'm not sure if it was these racing flats, my carb loading or just a nice even and reasonable pace, but I actually felt stronger after the half marathon point and was able to push hard right through the last mile.  No wall or bonk!  Plus this was my first ever top 10 age group finish at this race. Yeah! 

Last long run before 2018 Chi Marathon

Ran 12 miles at a good clip today with the GER. I'm feel excited but also nervous about the race. Hopefully I'm fully recovered and ready to go next Sunday! 

10 days and counting to end of this racing season!

Wow, this has been a very long racing season for me!  Starting in January I began training for my first race, the Duathlon Nationals in early April. Then I just kept it going with a race in June, July, August and September. Now one more, the Chicago Marathon in 109 days.  I did my last long run on Sunday and looking forward to an easy 10-12 miles this Sunday and then a deep taper! 

Last Tri of 2018!

Yesterday was the North Shore Tri and my last triathlon of 2018.  This was (likely) my best season ever!  I'm very happy with my time and finishing place from this race:

My friend and long time racing buddy, Rich "RawBone" Hill also made an amazing come back to triathlon racing!  Fun day all around.  On to the Chicago Marathon.