Friday, May 20, 2011
Potomac River Run Marathon Recap
Holy cow, sports fans! 3:00:30 three weeks after my toughest marathon. And a PR by almost a minute. Not bad for a 44 1/2 year old guy.
Sorry for the delay, but better late than never. Going in to the Potomac River Marathon, I wasn't sure if racing two marathons only 3 weeks apart was that smart. Would I be fully recovered from a very difficult Charlottesville? I had done 20 miles on my bike the week before (first time on the bike since last September) and my calfs had been a little sore during the week but were feeling fine race day.
Anyhow, race day came with perfect weather -- mid 50's, slightly overcast. Wore race readies and a singlet (no gloves or hat). My body must have known I did not want to repeat a mid-race pit stop: (pardon the TMI) but I went to the bathroom more times the day before and the morning of than I have EVER gone before. To quote Chris Elliott from Cabin Boy: these pipes are clean!
Moving on, the Potomac River Marathon is a pretty course albeit boring. Canal on one side, Potomac River on the other. Out and back twice along the C&O Canal towpath from Carderock south to just past Chain Bridge. A list of things I did not expect of the towpath: (1) it is harder than I thought -- lots of little rocks, lots of ruts (dried mud), lots of ruts (wet mud and water), (2) though there was little elevation change (only 30 total feet each direction), they occurred at each canal lock where the tow path would drop about 5 or so feet over only about 10 or so feet -- I'm used to the towpath much further upstream where the towpath does not experience such little drops at the locks. These little "hills" weren't so bad except there was loose gravel making the traction a bit awkward.
We started precisely 1 hour into the race -- they have a 6:15 am early bird start, the competitive race starts at 7:15. There is also a half marathon (with both a 6:15 and 7:15 start). The result is a lot of people on the canal at different points in their race and I never really knew who my competition was. Anyhow, off to the start...
Miles 1 - 6.55
I decided to run as flat as I could and I kept a pretty even pace to the first turn around:
6:48, 6:44, 6:46, 6:47, 6:48, 6:46
Not much to write about -- as I said, canal to my left, river to my right, dirt/gravel path in front. The Potomac was still high from the recent rain, so that was pretty neat. There were times when the towpath was on the edge of a little cliff over the raging water (in normal river levels, it would have been shore) so that was cool.
As I said, I had no idea where I was in the race place-wise. Did not know who was running just the Half. As I neared the turn around I started passing the some of the 6:15 starters. At around 4 or 5 miles, I passed my friend Jason (who was coming the other way having already made the first turn around). A 6:15 starter, this was his first marathon. We air-high-fived as we passed.
Anyhow, arrived at the orange cone with the volunteers saying "turn around" and began the second leg.
Miles 6.55 - 13.1
Now I get to do it in reverse and "uphill" -- canal on my right, river on my left/ same dirt/gravel path in front. As with the double loop in Charlottesville, the dual mile markers mocked me -- why could this not be mile 20 instead of mile 7?
From a perceived exertion perspective, I thought I was still running pretty flat: 6:46, 6:49, 6:58, 7:25, 6:39, 6:48, 6:47.
7:25?? WTF?? Between miles 9 and 10, I look at my Garmin. Wait, I can't be running that slowly now. I'm not even halfway. I don't feel like I'm slowing down. I speed up my pace. But my watch shows me getting slower. Now I'm running 8's, wait 10's, wait 12's. Crap - my watch lost signal. Now I have no clue how fast or slow I'm going. I quickly switch the watch to manual lap (for some reason I had decided to start the race with my watch on auto-lap). Anyhow, my Garmin did regain signal but credited me withh a 7:25. As you can see, the next mile was a 6:39 -- way too fast, but I thought I was running way to slow. I cursed the wasted energy I expended unneccessarily.
Anyhow, about halfway back (or maybe a bit more), I passed Jason again (this time paced by his wife Rahel who ran her first marathon last year at Marine Corps. She was running the last half with him. By the way, she was in Jordana's pace group).
I neared the second turn around at the halfway point, identified who I thought was leading from the 7:15 start, and determined I was in...wait for it...second place. Wow. That was an ego boost (as if passing more and more 6:15 starters wasn't ego boost enough).
I hit the halfway point at about 1:29, giving me about a minute to spare if I wanted to break 3 hours.
Miles 13.1 - 19.65
As I began the second out and back, I started to feel my legs getting tired. I started thinking maybe 3 weeks wasn't enough recovery time. Nevertheless, I still kept a pretty flat pace, although you can see a slight downward drift: 6:43, 6:48, 6:52, 6:55, 6:57, 6:58.
About half a mile before the last turn around, I was passed by two runners who I assumed were in the 7:15 start with me. I had already seen the first place runner, so now I was in fourth. I imagined a rope connecting myself with those runners and kept up with them as we rounded the final turn.
I knew I would need to hit that turn before 2:15 to break 3 hours. I think my watch read 2:14:30 or so, so my cushion was down to 30 seconds. I began to doubt whether sub-3 was doable given my depleting energy levels.
Miles 19.65 to the Finish
The invisible cord connecting me to the other runners got longer and longer. I felt spent. I struggled to keep pace: 6:46, 6:57, 6:59, 7:07, 6:51, 6:59, 7:03, and 6:25 (final quarter mile).
With about 4 miles to go, I passed Jason and Rahel: "Only 4 miles to go and you've run your first marathon" I shouted. "You're a blur, brother!" came the response.
I ate my last GU (literally my last GU, one had dropped off my race belt somewhere) passed a water station and felt much better. I also noticed that I was gaining ground quickly on the runner who I thought was in 3rd place. I looked at my watch and my tired brain calculated I was running a 3:01 or 3:02 marathon. I felt a second wind coming and decided I had to go for broke.
At the 23 mile mark, with little over 5K to go, I found another gear I did not think my legs had in them. I passed the third place runner and took his place in 3rd. From a perceived exertion, I thought I was flying. I dug down deep and just ran as hard as I could. Sub 3 was going to be close, running a PR would be close.
I passed mile 25 -- 1 and 1/4 mile to go. I kept pumping my arms and legs. My left calf started to twinge. "Not now" I yelled, and the twinge went away. Another 1/4 mile. My right calf started to twinge. "NO!" I yelled. Another 1/4 mile. My left calf started cramping. I kept running through the burning pain and the cramp stopped. I passed the mile 26 mark -- I could see the finish. Both calves were cramping but I was not going to stop. The pain dissipated as my weary eyes saw Jordana at the finish along with my middle kid. What a pleasant and unexpected surprise. I sprinted through the finish looked up at the clock, looked down at my watch. "Did you break 3?" I heard Jordana call as she ran to me. I shook my head, no. "3:00:30" I said "so close. But I PRed"
As it turned out, I finished 4th. There was another runner ahead of the runner I thought was in first. Numbers 1 and 2 both went sub-3. The other guy that passed me (but I never passed) finished in an even more tantalizing 3:00:05. The guy I re-passed finished around 3:01 something. But I did win the masters (over 40).
My friend Jason finished with a 4:13 -- excellent time for a first-timer. Jordana and I created another running couple in our circle of friends!!
Final Thoughts
To be totally honest, I am not at all disappointed with my time. I knew sub-3 would be a stretch that soon after the hills of Charlottesville. So I was totally floored that I broke my old PR by almost a minute. I finished higher overall than I ever placed before (4th out of 203, 4th out of 120 males, 1st place masters). And I'm on the cusp of sub-3. I ran a 3:05 on a tough course and three weeks later ran a 3:00:30. And this coming off a major injury. So I am totally pleased and very happy.
Next up...Eagleman 70.3 (half ironman) on June 12 (what the hell was I thinking??)
Next marathon? Marine Corps in October and maybe Rehoboth again in December. With Jordana coaching the first time marathon program, I'll be training with the XMP (experienced marathon program -- Jordana has done that one the past 4 years, so this will be another shared experience for us - yay!!). If Boston Bound got me this close to sub-3, I'm thinking XMP will carry me over the edge.
So there you have it, race fans. Until next post...
Monday, April 11, 2011
Charlottesville Marathon recap
Holy Hills Batman! That was one tough race!
Okay sports fans, as you may recall, back in December I said that the Rehoboth Beach Marathon was my easiest marathon yet. Charlottesville was my toughest marathon. Ever. I knew it was going to be hilly, but not THAT hilly. What part of 3400 feet of elevation change did I not understand? What part of the elevation profile (which did not show more than a 2 mile stretch that was flat) did I not get?
But I digress...What is also true is that the course was indeed one of the most beautiful and scenic courses I've done. And it doesn't hurt that I got to go back to Charlottesville, home of my beloved Cavaliers (double-hoo here).
My race experience started the day before when I left DC around 2 to head down to C'ville. Who would have thought that Friday afternoon rush hour started that early? Especially with the threat of a government shutdown looming? I-66 was a parking lot until close to Gainesville. But otherwise it was a pleasant trip down memory lane. Except what happened to the Atlas Iron Works, the Town and Country Restaurant, Steve's? At least Clark Brothers Guns & Ammo is still there.
Packet pickup was pretty smooth, got my number and race premium (nice short sleeve coolmax). Wonderful dinner with two fraternity brothers, Dan and Charlie, then back to Dan's where I was staying for the night. Had pleasant conversation with Dan and his wife (both runners), then set my alarm for 5:10 and hit the sack.
Race day came without the anticipated rain (I don't like cold rain, it reminds me of my hour in the medical tent after the 2007 Boston Marathon getting treated for hypothermia after running in 40 degree weather with 20 mph headwinds and rain). It was in the upper 40s, overcast, no wind. Decided on shorts, short sleeve shirt, gloves and hat -- good call. Took care of the bodily necessities or at least I thought so....(ominous foreshadowing here) then got in position at the race start.
Miles 1 - 3
Okay -- for those who have seen previous race recaps, I often put my mile splits in the sub-headers. So major gripe #1 -- many of the mile markers seemed to be mismarked. And this was not just me not running the perfect tangent so my garmin measured 1.01 or 0.98, this was 1.14 miles or 0.89 miles between mile markers. So I'm not sure what my true splits are. Oh well.
Anyhow, the race started on a downhill for about a hundred feet, we turned left and UP the first hill, turned again and continued going up but at a very low grade. We headed down main street, and approached the UVa Corner at mile 1. I had forgotten that this was an uphill walk, but as we passed the Rotunda and turned up Rugby Road past the fraternities I was reminded at how difficult this would be. Of course, the Rotunda in the early dawn light was quite spectacular.
We turned down Lambeth Lane (and when I say down, it was a nice steep downhill run), crossed the new footbridge over Emmet Street (at least it was new to me) just past mile 2. Ran past the new John Paul Jones Arena (I know, it's been a while since I've been in C'ville) and then up Massie Ave. Did some unexpected cross-country as the course cut down a nice mulch/dirt path putting us out on Old Ivy Road near mile 3.
My garmin gives me the following splits: 6:47, 6:50, 6:53. Using the course mile markers, my splits were: 6:40, 6:33, and 7:02.
Miles 4 -10
The marathon and half-marathon start together and run the entire first half together. I was near the front and would often check the bibs of runners I was passing or who were passing me. Red bib -- competitor. Black bib- half marathoner, let them go. The course passed over (or was it under, I forget now) the 250 bypass and left "metropolitan" Charlottesville.
Old Ivy Road is also nicknamed 21 curves. Anyhow, we rounded a curve and I was struck with how incredible the view really was. The trees were gone and the road was in the middle of horse country. Broad fields of grass on either side. To the right, an antebellum mansion (with columns and portico) perched on a hill about ½ mile distant. In the distance, the blue gray Blue Ridge Mountains with their dark green trees rose in the light. Above, a slate gray sky. It was one of the most beautiful scenes I've ever run through. After about a mile, the road went back into forest, complete with gurgling stream alongside the road. The course stayed in this forested area until around mile 6, where it turned onto Garth Road and the broad vistas returned.
Now Old Ivy was mostly downhill with a couple of steep climbs thrown in for fun from miles 3 to 6, and the beauty of the scenery was marred by my thoughts of what goes down must eventually go back up. Turning onto Garth Road I was snapped back into reality by one of the larger and longer and steeper hills of the day. I think it was about this time when my thoughts of running sub-3 hours evaporated. Just past mile 7 we turned around a cone and headed back. As near as I could count, I was 8th or 9th overall for the marathon (didn't catch the colors on all the bibs).
And the scene reversed itself -- a very nice long downhill back to Old Ivy Road, then mostly uphill with a couple of steep downhills thrown in for fun. The scenery, again, was simply gorgeous. As we passed mile 10, we left the broad vistas and forests and re-entered C'ville.
Garmin splits: 6:39, 6:43, 7:28, 6:54, 6:49, 6:49, 7:01
"Mile" marker splits: 6:37, 6:44, 7:12, 7:11, 6:50, 6:50, 7:12
Miles 11 - 13
Not much to say here, back past the basketball arena, over the Lambeth footbridge, the really fast downhill was now a really steep uphill (for those who did Boston Bound with me, think the hill repeats we did except a little bit steeper and a little bit longer). We turned left up Rugby Road and right onto Grady Ave. Now comes the worst part of the course -- we passed by my old fraternity house near mile 12. National, in its infinite wisdom, shut down the chapter two or so years ago, and our wonderful Pi House was now a dilapidated, boarded up shell. A bit of a downer, but I kept running on. Passed mile 13 where the half-marathoners kept going straight to the finish and the rest of us turned left for the first of two loops around the downtown C'ville area.
Oh yeah, Gripe #2. Around mile 10, I started feeling a rather unfamiliar rumbling in my abdomen. To put it bluntly, I had to go #2. There were no portajohns on the course. I figured when we neared the finish (which was the same place as the start) or neared downtown there would be portajohns. Nope. Luckily the urge subsided for a while.
Garmin splits: 7:05, 7:04, 6:30
"Mile" marker splits: 7:12, 6:52, 6:30
Miles 14 - 19 (first loop)
When I mentally prepared myself for the race, I thought most of the hills would be in the first half, thinking the downtown area (from my memory) was pretty flat. Of course, as a student I was rarely downtown or I would have known it was anything but flat. Lots of hills -- steep ones. Sometimes I got the benefit of the down, and sometimes I was not so lucky.
Meanwhile, the urge resurfaced with a vengeance. And still no freaking portajohns. Around mile 15 I was getting ready to knock on a door and ask a resident if I could use their bathroom. Mercifully, as the course entered the Rivanna Riverwalk park, there were portajohns at the trailhead. At Rehoboth, I had to pee for the first time during a marathon. At Charlottesville, I had to poop for the first time during a marathon. And it was the quickest poop I ever took.
Feeling somewhat lighter, I hastened my step hoping to reclaim lost ground. My overall pace before the bathroom break was 6:55 (slower than the 6:52 overall pace I needed for a sub-3) and my pace post-break was only 6:57, so I didn't lose that much ground. Plus, the runner I was attempting to overtake before the break, I eventually passed (I also passed several other runners who had passed me during my stopover).
Anyhow, the only truly flat part of the course was the about 2 3/4 mile stretch along the Rivanna River. And it was a beautiful stretch of course. The Rivanna as it flows passed C'ville is a lovely river -- broad enough to have body, fast enough to have a great sound, but not so fast to be a roar. Around mile 17, someone had chalked "naked cheerleaders straight ahead." I quickened my pace, only to be disappointed. Just an Elvis impersonator (I guy can always hope, right?) I asked "where are the cheerleaders?" "Out selling cookies" came the reply.
The river trail ended, we did another bit of cross-country over a soccer field then up a very steep hill and back onto the road. To be met with even more hills. And more turns that I have ever seen in any race of any size. We meandered up and down hills, left and right all between miles 18 and 19.5. At around mile 19.5 we turned left for the second loop.
One of the disheartening parts of the first loop was running past the second loop mile markers (why can't it be mile 22 now...) Also, the mile markers were really off.
Garmin splits: 7:13, 6:41, 7:49 (includes pit stop), 6:49 (much lighter), 8:01 (cruel hills), 6:54
"Mile" marker splits: 6:23, 7:02, 8:56, 6:05, 7:42, 6:57
Miles 20 - 25 (second loop)
Lather. Rinse. Repeat. All the ups and downs, lefts and rights, except no pit stop this time. The ups were more cruel the second time around, and I was not able to take as much advantage of the downs. Nevertheless, I did pass several of the runners who had passed me during my bathroom break, and even overtook three runners (two male, one female) who I knew were ahead of me before I stopped.
Funny, during the last part of a marathon, your brain often thinks you are running fast. Then you look at your garmin. No, you're not.
The best part of a two loop course: I joined in with the bulk of the runners who were only then doing their first loop. Now, I had a feeling of relief passing the lower mile markers and only caring about the higher ones. It was also very ego boosting to be passing them left and right.
Shortly after mile 25, I got to go straight (instead of left for another loop) for the final mile to the finish.
Garmin splits: 7:30, 6:58, 7:13, 7:22, 8:20, 7:24
"Mile" marker splits: 6:54, 6:48, 8:33, 6:30, 8:04, 7:15
Mile 26 to the finish
"Finish strong sweetheart" Sweetheart? Is that guy talking to me? Oh, it was the female runner right behind me. She passed me just as we hit the 26 mile mark. Now I'm no chauvinist pig, but I just did not want to finish right behind a female runner. More importantly, I did not want to be passed in the final 1/4 mile of a marathon. We were neck and neck down the final uphill grade. We turned left and (similar to Marine Corps) began the steeper uphill climb to the finish. "I don't think I've got anything left for that hill" she gasped and started to drop back. "Yes you do" I said "we'll take this hill together." Up the hill we went. I finished with a 3:05:15 clock time, she finished with a 3:05:17 clock time (as it turns out, her chip time was faster, so she beat me after all).
Garmin split: 7:29 (7:17 for the final 1/4)
"Mile" marker split: 7:06 (8:10).
Final Thoughts
Overall time: 3:05:12. 13th place gun time, 14th place chip time (out of 411 finishers). 2nd place in my age
group 40-49 year olds (out of 50). 11th place male (out of 263).
My fourth fastest marathon and fastest hilly marathon (much much hillier than Boston).
So all in all, I was quite pleased. I didn't run sub 3, but to be honest, I didn't really think this was the course to run sub-3. Not that I didn't try. I gave that course my all. My Achilles tendons were quite mad at me the entire drive home for subjecting them to that elevation change. But today they felt much better.
Much thanks to the Boston Bound Training Program and coaches Steve and Renee (and of course the late coach Mike) and everyone I ran with on Saturdays and at track. I trained so much smarter this time around. I know I would not have run as well as I did without putting in 50 and 60 miles weeks.
Next up -- a 3 week rest and then the Potomac River Run Marathon on May 1. That is a flat course (out and back on the C&O Canal towpath). If I can get my 44 year old legs rested enough between now and then, maybe I can squeak a 2:59???
Okay sports fans, as you may recall, back in December I said that the Rehoboth Beach Marathon was my easiest marathon yet. Charlottesville was my toughest marathon. Ever. I knew it was going to be hilly, but not THAT hilly. What part of 3400 feet of elevation change did I not understand? What part of the elevation profile (which did not show more than a 2 mile stretch that was flat) did I not get?
But I digress...What is also true is that the course was indeed one of the most beautiful and scenic courses I've done. And it doesn't hurt that I got to go back to Charlottesville, home of my beloved Cavaliers (double-hoo here).
My race experience started the day before when I left DC around 2 to head down to C'ville. Who would have thought that Friday afternoon rush hour started that early? Especially with the threat of a government shutdown looming? I-66 was a parking lot until close to Gainesville. But otherwise it was a pleasant trip down memory lane. Except what happened to the Atlas Iron Works, the Town and Country Restaurant, Steve's? At least Clark Brothers Guns & Ammo is still there.
Packet pickup was pretty smooth, got my number and race premium (nice short sleeve coolmax). Wonderful dinner with two fraternity brothers, Dan and Charlie, then back to Dan's where I was staying for the night. Had pleasant conversation with Dan and his wife (both runners), then set my alarm for 5:10 and hit the sack.
Race day came without the anticipated rain (I don't like cold rain, it reminds me of my hour in the medical tent after the 2007 Boston Marathon getting treated for hypothermia after running in 40 degree weather with 20 mph headwinds and rain). It was in the upper 40s, overcast, no wind. Decided on shorts, short sleeve shirt, gloves and hat -- good call. Took care of the bodily necessities or at least I thought so....(ominous foreshadowing here) then got in position at the race start.
Miles 1 - 3
Okay -- for those who have seen previous race recaps, I often put my mile splits in the sub-headers. So major gripe #1 -- many of the mile markers seemed to be mismarked. And this was not just me not running the perfect tangent so my garmin measured 1.01 or 0.98, this was 1.14 miles or 0.89 miles between mile markers. So I'm not sure what my true splits are. Oh well.
Anyhow, the race started on a downhill for about a hundred feet, we turned left and UP the first hill, turned again and continued going up but at a very low grade. We headed down main street, and approached the UVa Corner at mile 1. I had forgotten that this was an uphill walk, but as we passed the Rotunda and turned up Rugby Road past the fraternities I was reminded at how difficult this would be. Of course, the Rotunda in the early dawn light was quite spectacular.
We turned down Lambeth Lane (and when I say down, it was a nice steep downhill run), crossed the new footbridge over Emmet Street (at least it was new to me) just past mile 2. Ran past the new John Paul Jones Arena (I know, it's been a while since I've been in C'ville) and then up Massie Ave. Did some unexpected cross-country as the course cut down a nice mulch/dirt path putting us out on Old Ivy Road near mile 3.
My garmin gives me the following splits: 6:47, 6:50, 6:53. Using the course mile markers, my splits were: 6:40, 6:33, and 7:02.
Miles 4 -10
The marathon and half-marathon start together and run the entire first half together. I was near the front and would often check the bibs of runners I was passing or who were passing me. Red bib -- competitor. Black bib- half marathoner, let them go. The course passed over (or was it under, I forget now) the 250 bypass and left "metropolitan" Charlottesville.
Old Ivy Road is also nicknamed 21 curves. Anyhow, we rounded a curve and I was struck with how incredible the view really was. The trees were gone and the road was in the middle of horse country. Broad fields of grass on either side. To the right, an antebellum mansion (with columns and portico) perched on a hill about ½ mile distant. In the distance, the blue gray Blue Ridge Mountains with their dark green trees rose in the light. Above, a slate gray sky. It was one of the most beautiful scenes I've ever run through. After about a mile, the road went back into forest, complete with gurgling stream alongside the road. The course stayed in this forested area until around mile 6, where it turned onto Garth Road and the broad vistas returned.
Now Old Ivy was mostly downhill with a couple of steep climbs thrown in for fun from miles 3 to 6, and the beauty of the scenery was marred by my thoughts of what goes down must eventually go back up. Turning onto Garth Road I was snapped back into reality by one of the larger and longer and steeper hills of the day. I think it was about this time when my thoughts of running sub-3 hours evaporated. Just past mile 7 we turned around a cone and headed back. As near as I could count, I was 8th or 9th overall for the marathon (didn't catch the colors on all the bibs).
And the scene reversed itself -- a very nice long downhill back to Old Ivy Road, then mostly uphill with a couple of steep downhills thrown in for fun. The scenery, again, was simply gorgeous. As we passed mile 10, we left the broad vistas and forests and re-entered C'ville.
Garmin splits: 6:39, 6:43, 7:28, 6:54, 6:49, 6:49, 7:01
"Mile" marker splits: 6:37, 6:44, 7:12, 7:11, 6:50, 6:50, 7:12
Miles 11 - 13
Not much to say here, back past the basketball arena, over the Lambeth footbridge, the really fast downhill was now a really steep uphill (for those who did Boston Bound with me, think the hill repeats we did except a little bit steeper and a little bit longer). We turned left up Rugby Road and right onto Grady Ave. Now comes the worst part of the course -- we passed by my old fraternity house near mile 12. National, in its infinite wisdom, shut down the chapter two or so years ago, and our wonderful Pi House was now a dilapidated, boarded up shell. A bit of a downer, but I kept running on. Passed mile 13 where the half-marathoners kept going straight to the finish and the rest of us turned left for the first of two loops around the downtown C'ville area.
Oh yeah, Gripe #2. Around mile 10, I started feeling a rather unfamiliar rumbling in my abdomen. To put it bluntly, I had to go #2. There were no portajohns on the course. I figured when we neared the finish (which was the same place as the start) or neared downtown there would be portajohns. Nope. Luckily the urge subsided for a while.
Garmin splits: 7:05, 7:04, 6:30
"Mile" marker splits: 7:12, 6:52, 6:30
Miles 14 - 19 (first loop)
When I mentally prepared myself for the race, I thought most of the hills would be in the first half, thinking the downtown area (from my memory) was pretty flat. Of course, as a student I was rarely downtown or I would have known it was anything but flat. Lots of hills -- steep ones. Sometimes I got the benefit of the down, and sometimes I was not so lucky.
Meanwhile, the urge resurfaced with a vengeance. And still no freaking portajohns. Around mile 15 I was getting ready to knock on a door and ask a resident if I could use their bathroom. Mercifully, as the course entered the Rivanna Riverwalk park, there were portajohns at the trailhead. At Rehoboth, I had to pee for the first time during a marathon. At Charlottesville, I had to poop for the first time during a marathon. And it was the quickest poop I ever took.
Feeling somewhat lighter, I hastened my step hoping to reclaim lost ground. My overall pace before the bathroom break was 6:55 (slower than the 6:52 overall pace I needed for a sub-3) and my pace post-break was only 6:57, so I didn't lose that much ground. Plus, the runner I was attempting to overtake before the break, I eventually passed (I also passed several other runners who had passed me during my stopover).
Anyhow, the only truly flat part of the course was the about 2 3/4 mile stretch along the Rivanna River. And it was a beautiful stretch of course. The Rivanna as it flows passed C'ville is a lovely river -- broad enough to have body, fast enough to have a great sound, but not so fast to be a roar. Around mile 17, someone had chalked "naked cheerleaders straight ahead." I quickened my pace, only to be disappointed. Just an Elvis impersonator (I guy can always hope, right?) I asked "where are the cheerleaders?" "Out selling cookies" came the reply.
The river trail ended, we did another bit of cross-country over a soccer field then up a very steep hill and back onto the road. To be met with even more hills. And more turns that I have ever seen in any race of any size. We meandered up and down hills, left and right all between miles 18 and 19.5. At around mile 19.5 we turned left for the second loop.
One of the disheartening parts of the first loop was running past the second loop mile markers (why can't it be mile 22 now...) Also, the mile markers were really off.
Garmin splits: 7:13, 6:41, 7:49 (includes pit stop), 6:49 (much lighter), 8:01 (cruel hills), 6:54
"Mile" marker splits: 6:23, 7:02, 8:56, 6:05, 7:42, 6:57
Miles 20 - 25 (second loop)
Lather. Rinse. Repeat. All the ups and downs, lefts and rights, except no pit stop this time. The ups were more cruel the second time around, and I was not able to take as much advantage of the downs. Nevertheless, I did pass several of the runners who had passed me during my bathroom break, and even overtook three runners (two male, one female) who I knew were ahead of me before I stopped.
Funny, during the last part of a marathon, your brain often thinks you are running fast. Then you look at your garmin. No, you're not.
The best part of a two loop course: I joined in with the bulk of the runners who were only then doing their first loop. Now, I had a feeling of relief passing the lower mile markers and only caring about the higher ones. It was also very ego boosting to be passing them left and right.
Shortly after mile 25, I got to go straight (instead of left for another loop) for the final mile to the finish.
Garmin splits: 7:30, 6:58, 7:13, 7:22, 8:20, 7:24
"Mile" marker splits: 6:54, 6:48, 8:33, 6:30, 8:04, 7:15
Mile 26 to the finish
"Finish strong sweetheart" Sweetheart? Is that guy talking to me? Oh, it was the female runner right behind me. She passed me just as we hit the 26 mile mark. Now I'm no chauvinist pig, but I just did not want to finish right behind a female runner. More importantly, I did not want to be passed in the final 1/4 mile of a marathon. We were neck and neck down the final uphill grade. We turned left and (similar to Marine Corps) began the steeper uphill climb to the finish. "I don't think I've got anything left for that hill" she gasped and started to drop back. "Yes you do" I said "we'll take this hill together." Up the hill we went. I finished with a 3:05:15 clock time, she finished with a 3:05:17 clock time (as it turns out, her chip time was faster, so she beat me after all).
Garmin split: 7:29 (7:17 for the final 1/4)
"Mile" marker split: 7:06 (8:10).
Final Thoughts
Overall time: 3:05:12. 13th place gun time, 14th place chip time (out of 411 finishers). 2nd place in my age
group 40-49 year olds (out of 50). 11th place male (out of 263).
My fourth fastest marathon and fastest hilly marathon (much much hillier than Boston).
So all in all, I was quite pleased. I didn't run sub 3, but to be honest, I didn't really think this was the course to run sub-3. Not that I didn't try. I gave that course my all. My Achilles tendons were quite mad at me the entire drive home for subjecting them to that elevation change. But today they felt much better.
Much thanks to the Boston Bound Training Program and coaches Steve and Renee (and of course the late coach Mike) and everyone I ran with on Saturdays and at track. I trained so much smarter this time around. I know I would not have run as well as I did without putting in 50 and 60 miles weeks.
Next up -- a 3 week rest and then the Potomac River Run Marathon on May 1. That is a flat course (out and back on the C&O Canal towpath). If I can get my 44 year old legs rested enough between now and then, maybe I can squeak a 2:59???
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Training Update
Three days out from the Charlottesville Marathon - my (hopeful) return to marathon racing (as you will recall, I did not "race" Rehoboth). Feeling pretty good. I had my last track workout last night -- 2 mile warm up, 3 miles at marathon pace (although I really ran it at lactate threshhold pace, but don't tell anyone), then 3 miles of cool down (running circles around a track can be very addictive!!)
Anyhow, I've been training with the Boston Bound Marathon Program (which could be also called the spring marathon training program) so we'll see if organized training, and training smarter than I have in the past, pays off. Of course, I could have picked an easier marathon to run. According to their website, the Charlottesville Marathon has 3400 feet of elevation change -- I think mostly in the first half. At least, I've gotten a fair bit of hill training -- Leland Hills, Beach Drive, Mormon Temple Hill, and of course the good ole Rockville Millenium Trail. And several weeks ago, our track workout consisted of 16 x 200m hill repeats at VO2max.
Meanwhile, I am feeling pretty confident about Saturday. Several weekends ago I raced the MCRRC Piece of Cake 10K (definitely not a piece of cake course -- very hilly). Anyhow, I ran a 17 second PR -- 38:42 (or a 6:14 pace). I was hoping to run a 6:10 pace (predicts a sub-3 hour marathon), but a 6:14 pace is close enough for government work, no? I was 12th overall and 3rd in my age group. So I was pretty pleased. And the PR I beat was from 4 years ago -- not too shabby for a 44 year old guy!
Meanwhile, I continue on track for running WAY more miles this year than I've ever done. My March stats: I ran 245.14 miles over 25 days (running 80.6% of the month). My year to date mileage is 647.64 miles. My average run length is 9.1 miles. And I've run 73 days (or 79% of the year).
On the multi-sport front, I don't have as much to report. I only swam 5 times for a total of 13,800 meters. And the bike? Haven't ridden it since Naylor's Beach last September. And if Jordana wasn't using it, my indoor trainer would probably have cobwebs by now. Oh well, Eagleman 70.3 is not until June 12. I figure after the Potomac River Marathon on May 1, I'll start bike training. In any event, if I can run a marathon, I should be able to bike 56 miles. Right?
So there you have it sports fans.
Oh yeah -- if you haven't done so already, please consider joining me in raising funds for cancer research by visiting my donation page at the American Cancer Society: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/gregoryashe
Anyhow, I've been training with the Boston Bound Marathon Program (which could be also called the spring marathon training program) so we'll see if organized training, and training smarter than I have in the past, pays off. Of course, I could have picked an easier marathon to run. According to their website, the Charlottesville Marathon has 3400 feet of elevation change -- I think mostly in the first half. At least, I've gotten a fair bit of hill training -- Leland Hills, Beach Drive, Mormon Temple Hill, and of course the good ole Rockville Millenium Trail. And several weeks ago, our track workout consisted of 16 x 200m hill repeats at VO2max.
Meanwhile, I am feeling pretty confident about Saturday. Several weekends ago I raced the MCRRC Piece of Cake 10K (definitely not a piece of cake course -- very hilly). Anyhow, I ran a 17 second PR -- 38:42 (or a 6:14 pace). I was hoping to run a 6:10 pace (predicts a sub-3 hour marathon), but a 6:14 pace is close enough for government work, no? I was 12th overall and 3rd in my age group. So I was pretty pleased. And the PR I beat was from 4 years ago -- not too shabby for a 44 year old guy!
Meanwhile, I continue on track for running WAY more miles this year than I've ever done. My March stats: I ran 245.14 miles over 25 days (running 80.6% of the month). My year to date mileage is 647.64 miles. My average run length is 9.1 miles. And I've run 73 days (or 79% of the year).
On the multi-sport front, I don't have as much to report. I only swam 5 times for a total of 13,800 meters. And the bike? Haven't ridden it since Naylor's Beach last September. And if Jordana wasn't using it, my indoor trainer would probably have cobwebs by now. Oh well, Eagleman 70.3 is not until June 12. I figure after the Potomac River Marathon on May 1, I'll start bike training. In any event, if I can run a marathon, I should be able to bike 56 miles. Right?
So there you have it sports fans.
Oh yeah -- if you haven't done so already, please consider joining me in raising funds for cancer research by visiting my donation page at the American Cancer Society: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/gregoryashe
Monday, March 7, 2011
DetermiNation
This year I am dedicating my racing to the American Cancer Society. I do this in the memory of those I have known who have lost their battle to cancer -- my grandfather Fred Ashe, my cousin Harvey Laub, our running coach Mike Broderick, my uncle's siblings Ben Gautreaux and Doris Baggett -- I do this in celebration of those I have known who have won their fight against cancer -- my Uncle Max, my friends' son Avi, my former paralegal Brian. I do this for those I don't even know who are battling cancer this very minute.
My race schedule this year includes: the Charlottesville Marathon on April 9, the Potomac River Run Marathon on May 1, the Eagleman 70.3 Triathlon on June 12, Rocketts Landing Olympic Distance triathlon on July 24, and Marine Corps Marathon on October 30. Who knows, there will likely be even more races added to my calendar.
I ask you for your support in helping me meet my own personal of raising funds, but more important in supporting the American Cancer Society in meeting its goals of finding a cure. You can visit my fundraising site at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/gregoryashe to make your contribution.
The great sage Hillel said: If I am not for myself, who will be? But if I am for myself only, who am I? And if not now, when?
Thank you.
My race schedule this year includes: the Charlottesville Marathon on April 9, the Potomac River Run Marathon on May 1, the Eagleman 70.3 Triathlon on June 12, Rocketts Landing Olympic Distance triathlon on July 24, and Marine Corps Marathon on October 30. Who knows, there will likely be even more races added to my calendar.
I ask you for your support in helping me meet my own personal of raising funds, but more important in supporting the American Cancer Society in meeting its goals of finding a cure. You can visit my fundraising site at http://main.acsevents.org/goto/gregoryashe to make your contribution.
The great sage Hillel said: If I am not for myself, who will be? But if I am for myself only, who am I? And if not now, when?
Thank you.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Training Updates - January and February 2011
After an 8 year hiatus in group training, I'm participating in the Boston Bound Spring Marathon Training program. (As I mentioned, Jordana normally has done either a spring or fall marathon training program, but has decided to give coaching a try and is a pace coach for the MCRRC spring half marathon training program -- since their long run/track days are different from Boston Bound's, it allows me to try the group training). First off, I really like running in a group. I think I've been solo training for so long I forgot how much fun it can be to run in a group. To listen to eveyone's stories. To push each other when you're feeling tired. And to keep each other in check on those long runs when the pace starts drifting too fast.
Equally important, Boston Bound has shown me what I learned the hard way in 2009. I was training to fast. My problem is that I was running too few miles in the past (typically in the upper 30's/low to mid 40's). But to compensate for fewer miles, I was running everything faster than I should. Long runs at 7:30 or faster. Speedwork at 6:00 pace.
In Boston Bound, my miles are averaging just north of 50 miles a week (last week I ran 65 miles), but my pace is much slower. My pace group is the 7:45 - 8:00 group (which means I run my long run at 7:45). My speedword is mostly at lactate threshold pace (or 6:30) with only a rare track work at VO2max (6:00). My base weekly miles are rarely faster than 7:00 (I'll run one midweek tempo run at marathon pace - 6:50) but most are around 7:15 or even 7:30. And I've been doing a 4 mile recovery run on Sundays at 12:30 pace -- running with my 9 year old (which has its own benefits beyond running!!)
As I've talked with other runners (those who have cracked the 3 hour barrier), they are amazed that I've been able to run marathons as fast as I have with such low mileage. I think the reason why I've always crashed at around mile 23 in the marathon (that is, my overall pace usually crosses above the 3 hour pace around then) is because I just never had enough miles in the tank. While I certainly think I can still tweak my fueling and hydrating techniques, it's all about miles. As the late Mike Broderick would say - the key to marathoning is miles -- lots of them, at slow pace. So mileage is way up and my overall pace is down. We'll see how that plays out...
Oh yeah, the other great benefit of Boston Bound is that Jordana and I now have another shared experience. While we're both runners (and both marathon runners at that), we've never trained the same. She's always done either Boston Bound in the spring (in 2009 and 2010) or XMP (experienced marathon program) in the fall (in 2010, 2009, 2008, and 2007). She would toss out phrases like the Leland Hills, the Bingham Box, the CCT, Mormon Temple hills, and these were just words that meant nothing to me other than places she and her friends had done. Now I understand what she means. Sort of like Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra.
For her part, Jordana is seriously considering JFK 50 miler this fall and we're both planning on doing Rocketts Landing Olympic triathlon this July. Juliet on the balcony... (if you get Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra, you'll understand this as well)
It's also the end of the month, so I'll summarize my first two months of running in 2011. I ran 24 days in January for a total of 195.47 miles. I ran 22 days in February for a total of 207.03 miles. Total year to date mileage: 402.5 miles. Well well well on track to break 2000 miles this year.
Can't report as much for the other triathlon disciplines. I haven't so much as gotten on a bike since Naylor's Beach last September. I swam a bit in January, but took February off while Jordana was taking a coaching course. Resumed masters swim last Thursday (boy did my arm muscles ache). Once my spring marathons are over, I'll start swimming and biking with more discipline. Right now, I'm just enjoying running. Can you fault me?
So there you have it sports fans. 2011 is looking good. My mileage is way up and, knock on wood, everything feels fine.
Equally important, Boston Bound has shown me what I learned the hard way in 2009. I was training to fast. My problem is that I was running too few miles in the past (typically in the upper 30's/low to mid 40's). But to compensate for fewer miles, I was running everything faster than I should. Long runs at 7:30 or faster. Speedwork at 6:00 pace.
In Boston Bound, my miles are averaging just north of 50 miles a week (last week I ran 65 miles), but my pace is much slower. My pace group is the 7:45 - 8:00 group (which means I run my long run at 7:45). My speedword is mostly at lactate threshold pace (or 6:30) with only a rare track work at VO2max (6:00). My base weekly miles are rarely faster than 7:00 (I'll run one midweek tempo run at marathon pace - 6:50) but most are around 7:15 or even 7:30. And I've been doing a 4 mile recovery run on Sundays at 12:30 pace -- running with my 9 year old (which has its own benefits beyond running!!)
As I've talked with other runners (those who have cracked the 3 hour barrier), they are amazed that I've been able to run marathons as fast as I have with such low mileage. I think the reason why I've always crashed at around mile 23 in the marathon (that is, my overall pace usually crosses above the 3 hour pace around then) is because I just never had enough miles in the tank. While I certainly think I can still tweak my fueling and hydrating techniques, it's all about miles. As the late Mike Broderick would say - the key to marathoning is miles -- lots of them, at slow pace. So mileage is way up and my overall pace is down. We'll see how that plays out...
Oh yeah, the other great benefit of Boston Bound is that Jordana and I now have another shared experience. While we're both runners (and both marathon runners at that), we've never trained the same. She's always done either Boston Bound in the spring (in 2009 and 2010) or XMP (experienced marathon program) in the fall (in 2010, 2009, 2008, and 2007). She would toss out phrases like the Leland Hills, the Bingham Box, the CCT, Mormon Temple hills, and these were just words that meant nothing to me other than places she and her friends had done. Now I understand what she means. Sort of like Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra.
For her part, Jordana is seriously considering JFK 50 miler this fall and we're both planning on doing Rocketts Landing Olympic triathlon this July. Juliet on the balcony... (if you get Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra, you'll understand this as well)
It's also the end of the month, so I'll summarize my first two months of running in 2011. I ran 24 days in January for a total of 195.47 miles. I ran 22 days in February for a total of 207.03 miles. Total year to date mileage: 402.5 miles. Well well well on track to break 2000 miles this year.
Can't report as much for the other triathlon disciplines. I haven't so much as gotten on a bike since Naylor's Beach last September. I swam a bit in January, but took February off while Jordana was taking a coaching course. Resumed masters swim last Thursday (boy did my arm muscles ache). Once my spring marathons are over, I'll start swimming and biking with more discipline. Right now, I'm just enjoying running. Can you fault me?
So there you have it sports fans. 2011 is looking good. My mileage is way up and, knock on wood, everything feels fine.
Winter Wonderland or Out with the Old, In with the New
The close of an old year and the beginning of a new one provides such fertile ground...where to start.
Let's start with the end. 2010 is over and done. Thank God!! That year started out pretty damn crappy -- not running, depressed, dual pelvic stress fractures. But it ended on a high note -- return to running, venturing into triathlon territory, kick ass Army 10 miler, easy 3:12 at Rehoboth. So I guess all's well that ends well, or at least all's well that ends.
The last week of 2010 was perfect. The family headed down south to Virginia Beach for the New Years. Of course, they got a foot of snow while Potomac, MD got zilch. So, Jordana and I packed up our cross-country skis and off we went. Wednesday Dec 29 we went to Seashore State Park (excuse me, First Landing State Park). Spent about an hour and half skiing along the Cape Henry Trail and the Bald Cypress Trail. Beautiful. The cypress swamps with the spanish moss hanging, snow covered, was truly a sight to see. Thursday, Dec 30, we went to Bayville Farms Park and went skiing on the frisbee golf course -- still snow covered. Had to duck the occasional frisbee -- yep, a hardy band of three college kids were playing with bright orange and yellow frisbees. Jordana and I spent about an hour there, then drove back to my folks, changed from ski boots to running shoes, and did a very slippery 5.3 miles to Witchduck Point and back. The weather was getting warmer with each passing hour and by Friday Dec 31, the sidewalks along Great Neck Road (where my sister lives) were pretty much clear. So what better way to end the year (before the partying, I mean) than a nice 10 miler with Jordana? Certainly allows one to over-indulge in the sangria later that night?
And, of course, what better way to begin the new year than an easy 5 miler with Jordana on New Year's Day? Now, before you think we're crazy to be running 5 miles on New Years Day morning, let me tell you that we saw at least a dozen or so other crazyy folks out there running too.
So how did 2010 measure up, running-wise? Total miles: 1041.72 -- third lowest in the 8 years I've been keeping my running log (missed 4th by 0.7 miles). Ran 153 days or 42% of the year (the lowest percentage so far). Also one of my lowest racing years -- only 4 races (two tri's, Army 10 miler, and Rehoboth marathon). But I did pass the 10,000 mile mark in total running miles since 2003 when I started the log (although I guesstimate that my total lifetime miles is closer to 30,000 miles. But who's counting).
Moving to 2011. What's in store for me this year? Well, for starters, smarter training. I never want to repeat the end of 2009/beginning of 2010 again. Never.
So far I have two races definitely on the calendar: Charlottesville Marathon on April 9 and the Eagleman 70.3 (half-ironman) triathlon on June 12. I'm planning on Marine Corps Marathon in October (trying to finally join the 5 timers club) but registration is several weeks away.
And taking a page from the what's old is now new book, I signed up for a spring marathon training program. Normally, Jordana would be doing the Boston Bound spring marathon training program, but she's now on the A-list in the running club, having been asked to be a pace coach in the spring half marathon training program. Since they do long runs on Sunday and track Wednesday nights and Boston Bound does their long runs on Saturday and track Tuesday nights, we can both train. I'm actually very excited about doing Boston Bound. I'm hoping a professional training program will be what it takes for me to finally shave off those remaining 90 seconds and run that elusive sub-3 hour marathon at Charlottesville.
So what are my running/training/racing resolutions for 2011?
(1) train smarter -- more miles, but at slower pace
(2) try not to run alone so much
(3) hydrate better during races -- slow down if need be, but drink two cups per water station
(4) work on lowering my T1 and T2 times -- I'm sure I can put on bike/running shoes faster
(5) cycle faster by cycling smarter -- never going to get an age group award in a tri if I don't improve the middle segment
(6) and finally, run with Jordana any chance I can get. Not to get all mushy on you, but one of the benefits of my getting injured was being forced to run at a slower pace (for me at least) which meant running with my wife. For any of you that remember my earliest notes, Jordana and I used to run together before we were married and right after when we lived in Van Ness. I think we fell in love with each other way back when, partly on those runs. I wrote back in March 2009 about that time: "Those were great days. Jordana and I ran a lot together when we were in DC. I miss that now, but with each of us training for marathons and with three small kids requiring one of us to remain at home while the other runs, we rarely run together anymore." Now, I get to run with her again, not every time, but enough. It's like falling in love with her all over again. And I love it.
Life is good, friends.
Let's start with the end. 2010 is over and done. Thank God!! That year started out pretty damn crappy -- not running, depressed, dual pelvic stress fractures. But it ended on a high note -- return to running, venturing into triathlon territory, kick ass Army 10 miler, easy 3:12 at Rehoboth. So I guess all's well that ends well, or at least all's well that ends.
The last week of 2010 was perfect. The family headed down south to Virginia Beach for the New Years. Of course, they got a foot of snow while Potomac, MD got zilch. So, Jordana and I packed up our cross-country skis and off we went. Wednesday Dec 29 we went to Seashore State Park (excuse me, First Landing State Park). Spent about an hour and half skiing along the Cape Henry Trail and the Bald Cypress Trail. Beautiful. The cypress swamps with the spanish moss hanging, snow covered, was truly a sight to see. Thursday, Dec 30, we went to Bayville Farms Park and went skiing on the frisbee golf course -- still snow covered. Had to duck the occasional frisbee -- yep, a hardy band of three college kids were playing with bright orange and yellow frisbees. Jordana and I spent about an hour there, then drove back to my folks, changed from ski boots to running shoes, and did a very slippery 5.3 miles to Witchduck Point and back. The weather was getting warmer with each passing hour and by Friday Dec 31, the sidewalks along Great Neck Road (where my sister lives) were pretty much clear. So what better way to end the year (before the partying, I mean) than a nice 10 miler with Jordana? Certainly allows one to over-indulge in the sangria later that night?
And, of course, what better way to begin the new year than an easy 5 miler with Jordana on New Year's Day? Now, before you think we're crazy to be running 5 miles on New Years Day morning, let me tell you that we saw at least a dozen or so other crazyy folks out there running too.
So how did 2010 measure up, running-wise? Total miles: 1041.72 -- third lowest in the 8 years I've been keeping my running log (missed 4th by 0.7 miles). Ran 153 days or 42% of the year (the lowest percentage so far). Also one of my lowest racing years -- only 4 races (two tri's, Army 10 miler, and Rehoboth marathon). But I did pass the 10,000 mile mark in total running miles since 2003 when I started the log (although I guesstimate that my total lifetime miles is closer to 30,000 miles. But who's counting).
Moving to 2011. What's in store for me this year? Well, for starters, smarter training. I never want to repeat the end of 2009/beginning of 2010 again. Never.
So far I have two races definitely on the calendar: Charlottesville Marathon on April 9 and the Eagleman 70.3 (half-ironman) triathlon on June 12. I'm planning on Marine Corps Marathon in October (trying to finally join the 5 timers club) but registration is several weeks away.
And taking a page from the what's old is now new book, I signed up for a spring marathon training program. Normally, Jordana would be doing the Boston Bound spring marathon training program, but she's now on the A-list in the running club, having been asked to be a pace coach in the spring half marathon training program. Since they do long runs on Sunday and track Wednesday nights and Boston Bound does their long runs on Saturday and track Tuesday nights, we can both train. I'm actually very excited about doing Boston Bound. I'm hoping a professional training program will be what it takes for me to finally shave off those remaining 90 seconds and run that elusive sub-3 hour marathon at Charlottesville.
So what are my running/training/racing resolutions for 2011?
(1) train smarter -- more miles, but at slower pace
(2) try not to run alone so much
(3) hydrate better during races -- slow down if need be, but drink two cups per water station
(4) work on lowering my T1 and T2 times -- I'm sure I can put on bike/running shoes faster
(5) cycle faster by cycling smarter -- never going to get an age group award in a tri if I don't improve the middle segment
(6) and finally, run with Jordana any chance I can get. Not to get all mushy on you, but one of the benefits of my getting injured was being forced to run at a slower pace (for me at least) which meant running with my wife. For any of you that remember my earliest notes, Jordana and I used to run together before we were married and right after when we lived in Van Ness. I think we fell in love with each other way back when, partly on those runs. I wrote back in March 2009 about that time: "Those were great days. Jordana and I ran a lot together when we were in DC. I miss that now, but with each of us training for marathons and with three small kids requiring one of us to remain at home while the other runs, we rarely run together anymore." Now, I get to run with her again, not every time, but enough. It's like falling in love with her all over again. And I love it.
Life is good, friends.
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