Asphalt Junkies CLOSED AND GETTING OUR FIX (Page 43)

I would like to request a quick prayer or some positive thoughts for my sister this morning.  Although she has never run further than 4 miles, she is attempting to complete a half marathon this morning in honor of US Navy SEAL Denis Miranda.  She and my brother in law have been fund raising for months for this race, in which my brother in law was going to run as part of Team Denis.  He couldn't do the race today as he was sent on a mandatory last minute training exercise.  My sister Jessie will need a lot of help to get this done this morning.  I have faith that she can do it.  Her plan is to jog a mile, walk a mile.  Unfortunately there is a time limit on this race, but she plans on completing it.  I couldn't be more proud of this effort.

If you feel so inclined, please donate.  But at least read this and watch the video.  The inspiration brings tears to my eyes every time.  ?http://donate.sandiegozoo.org/site/TR/HalfMarathon/HalfMarathon?px=2191285&pg=personal&fr_id=1220

Jonathan your sister is in my thoughts and prayers this morning. If she is half as touched and inpsired as I am after watching the video I am sure she will have much motivation to complete this half marathon in honor of Denis. I don't think we give it enough thought at how much the men and women of the armed services give and sacrifice for our country. I will be thinking about your sister today and I really hope she finishes.

JoAnne congrats on finishing you first marathon that is awesome and it must have been satisfying to have met your goal and running it all the way to the finish.

Dina sorry to hear about the rough ride yesterday. I hope you are feeling better and a have better today. Hopefully your next ride will be a much better one.

I watched the video... very touching.  I hope your sister is able to complete the half marathon!  Let us know how it goes.

Quick race checkin.  I ran well this morning, 1:47:28 (8:12/mile) - about a 4 minute PR.  I ran the whole race by RPE and checked HR occasionally to see where it was.  Did almost exactly even split - only 2 seconds difference!  The second half had a lot more hills and more into the wind miles, so I think my effort was a negative split for sure.

Still not Dirk, but improving.  I'll just have to keep running!  Thanks to all of you for your encouragement and especially Jeff and Dirk for your coaching.

Warren that's great, glad to hear you not only finished well but got the PR and it sounded like you really earned it today with the hills and the wind, congrats to you.

Just finished up my own run today got in an easy 10 miles and thought about everybody racing today so I was more than motivated to gett a little extra work in. I was only supposed to do 6 but the weather was perfect and I felt great so I put in 4 more and admit I really enjoyed being out there running today.

Thanks Tony, the course is actually pretty flat for around here, but what hills there were seemed to be on the second half.

That's a great run - it's still funny for me to see "got in an easy 10"!

Everyone great races and some great training going on.

Another day of some windy riding. Only 20-25mph winds today. This next week looks awesome for training. Weather is sunny and high 60's and 70's. I can't wait. Looks like spring is finally here.

I haver a group ride this week. We're talking about an 80-90 mile ride. I always feel like a kid getting ready for a fishing trip with gandpa the next day.

Everyone keep up the hard work. Proud of everyone!

I used your last race as an example to pace myself.  I didn't want to be tied to pace/time numbers, so I set my watch to only display heart rate.  As a data junkie, it was admittedly difficult for me not to see where I was along the way, but it was freeing in a zen kind of way and I just went by feel and checked the HR as a confirmation that I wasn't over or under cooking too much.  I actually think I left a little on the course, but I've had a few blow ups so I probably err on the safe side now.

I had gone to church by the time you posted this but I am quite sure you know my heart on this Jonathon. 

Our service members are the true heart and soul of this nation and when we loose one of these brave souls it seems to stir me deeply.  Your sister took on a task that is extremely honorable and profound.  Regardless of how well she ran, slow or fast, officially finished or kicked off the course, she accomplished her mission.  She was touching the lives of those around her through the memory of Denis Miranda, a life taken but not in vain.  "Non sibi sed patriae"

Please let you sister know that I consider her effort a profound one.  Her commitment is moving and her dedication to this cause in the absence of her husband is proof that she loves our military men and women.  Also let your brother-in-law know I appreciate his service.

Gels don't bother me but I have learned not to eat a lot of bananas before a long run.  Let's just say that I am very happy for tree cover and green leaves.

Matt,  How'd the brick turn out?  That's a big ride and run to go back to back with first one out of the gate.  I don't have that kind of guts to pull that one off yet.

Joanne,  That's an awesome level of commitment to complete a marathon.  Great job running all the way through too.  I personally know how bad that hurts.  You've earned a few days away from running.  But don't stop all activity.  Make sure you get some cycling in, very very easy cycling.  You need to flush the trash from your legs and cycling will help here.  Also get a massage from your salon and make sure you get the knots out.  It should hurt while it's going on but it will aid tremendously in your recovery.

Warren, no RR = no race!  Seriously.  Good job.  4 minute PR is a great way to start the season and see how much you have benefited from the winter running program.  BTW, I can't take credit for anything for your race.  You did all the work and mental preparation to succeed and I just provided a lot of harassment along the way.

Allison, you get credit for the race without a RR because you have an honest face.  Warren on the other hand........well never mind.  It sounds like they were trying to hide everyone's age to make everyone feel better.  I for one think that is childish.  As a 25 year old man, I think each person should accept their age and be comfortable with it.  anyway, I'm looking forward to reading your RR.

I'll post more later.  Here is the important info about my half marathon.

Course was long = 13.28 according to my Garmin and numerous other Garmins

Finished in 1:47:50 = 8:07/mi

Got 3rd in my age group and came home with a pretty pint glass.  (The beer that came with the pint glass didn't last long enough to make the trip home. )

Edit ----- Well, crap.....I got bumped to 4th in my AG.  I still get to keep my swag, though, because the awards went to the gun time winners.  Hmmmm....more on this later, as well.

Sounds like a really good race Tracy.  1:47:50 for an all climbing course is stellar in my opinion.  I can't wait to read the RR.

As the course goes, as long as it was a certified course the distance would have been right on.  Garmins can be pretty inaccurate for measuring distance in the type of conditions you were running in.  Trees, lots of turns, steep banks and other factors limit the ability of the GPS to accurately track you through these obstacles.  I've had similar experiences with my watch over certified race courses.  For instance:  My last marathon was a USAT certified course but my Garmin showed me at 26.46 miles.  For this race I tried to stay very close to the course tangents and middle to keep from running any longer distance than I had too.

Anyway,  I think a 3rd or 4th place finish is pretty awesome.

GREAT job on all the races this weekend.  I'm proud of everyone!!!!!  I really enjoy reading all the race reports, keep them coming.

JoAnne, and everyone, I 2nd that a good deep tissue massage is the cat's meow!!!  especially after a long race!!!

Congratulations Tracy and Warren!! Both of those are great times! Mine went well - My Dad and I finished together in 2:22 and some change according to the website. According to both our Garmins it was 2:20:13, so I'm not sure where we lost two minutes, but I don't mind!

I'll put together a RR a little later, but we were both still standing and mostly stuck to our plans of walking the water stops with only a few extra breaks after some of the tough hills. I COULD have gone faster (not much!), but we scheduled this race to do together and we crossed the finish line at almost exactly the same time. Considering he had been at a conference all week and I had spent the previous day tossing my horse around a polocrosse field, just finishing was the achievement.

I'm going to have to read back through everyone's posts!!

John

Tracy congrats on finisihing your HM in a great time near the top of your AG. I would take 3rd or 4th anytime.

John congrats to you and your Dad for being able to finish your HM together. That is pretty cool.

Thank you so much, Dirk!  This wasn't the hill climb, though.  That race is in August.  This was a road race.  Yes, it's a certified race, however, the mile marker placards for the marathon and half marathon kept getting further and further apart.  It was very strange.  The course was re-certified this year.  Something must have happened.  BTW.....the marathon course was pretty much right on according to those Garmin wearers.