Addendum: I'd like to thank the Academy...

2012-03-19

Here is some addendum to the Half Marathon race day, including the pre-race Expo and Dinner.

Big thanks to Pahla B. and her blog, Adventures of an Average Athlete, including some of the blogs I started reading after hers, like Sweat Once A Day by Sweaty Emily. They taught me more than a few things -not- to do before, during and after a race, especially the importance of training, consistent training, and injuries. (Oh, and also talking me off the proverbial ledge of trying to run a full marathon the same year I just started running for the first time in (25) years. Good call!)

Also thanks to Teri S. K. Both she and Pahla were using Voomaxer way back when, which also inspired me to get out and exercise, and keep records, to begin with.

Garmin for their products. My ForeRunner 305 GPS watch is essential for my training runs, and more.

2XU for making great compression gear. I really think wearing the tights and shirt during the half-marathon run helped minimize my recovery time and more.

Dick Beardsley for some inspirational words during the pre-race dinner.

Dick Beardsley just can't hold still.

ShadowChase Running Club for being there to sponsor and support local running events.

Fuzio Universal Bistro for their pre-race dinner (I had two [2] plates, but it was so good):

Chicken Marsala - pan-sautéed chicken breast, Marsala wine, and seasoned portobello mushrooms 

Rigatoni Alfuzio - home-made garlic cream sauce, pomodoro and hickory smoked bacon with Parmesan and rigatoni pasta, also served vegetarian (totally awesome!!)

Caesar Salad - chopped romaine, Caesar dressing, grated Parmesan, and seasoned croutons 

Mixed Green Salad - Mixed greens with tomato mix, seasoned croutons and roasted garlic vinaigrette 

Roasted Vegetables - Yellow squash, zucchini, carrots, red bell pepper, and roasted fennel marinated in herbed oil and oven roasted

Bread & Desert & Drink

I spent some time before the dinner browsing through the booths at the expo, but spent the most time looking at the selection that Go For It Sports brought with them from Atascadero, CA:

Go For It Sports had the largest display and selection.

Not really my color, but maybe I should get one in black, anyway.

Goody bag and bib pick-up. (ShadowChase)

See you next year, Modesto Marathon!!

-Lancer!!

Race Report: San Jose 408K Race to the Row

Today's plan calls for an (8)K run from the HP Pavilion to Santana Row!

The 408K: Dist. (4.92)mi. Pace-avg: (14:10). Speed-avg: (4.2)mph. Speed-Max: (6.3)mph. Burned: (501) Calories. 2XU L/S shirt and Tights.

Plan: Run (8)K, or (4.97)mi.
Actual: Run , bracketed by a (1.0)mi. warm-up walk, and a (1.x)mi. cool-down walk.
Fuel: Pre-run: 1x cup coffee, 1x Honey Stinger Waffle (Honey); Mid-run: (water); Post-run: late lunch.

Splits:

Mile (1): (13:30);

Mile (2): (14:08);

Mile (3): (14:35):

Mile (4): (14:42);

Mile (0.92): (13:59).

I woke-up on time, more or less, but did not feel too well-rested. Mainly because I wasn't. Note to self: Avoid Spring Forward race days in the future, or at least don't forget the sleeping pill. I brushed my teeth, took my antacid, got dressed and had some of the complimentary Motel 6 coffee with a Honey Stinger waffle for breakfast. after that I walked down to the starting line, which was only (0.5)mi. away.

Walking to the Start.

There's the starting line up ahead.

 And away we go!

Traversing the first dip in the course on W. Santa Clara where it becomes The Alameda, just past the HP Pavilion.

Watch your breathing.

Moving on down the road at good pace, and getting ready to enter The Rose Garden District.

Coming up on the Towne 3 Theater.

Passing the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum.

There goes The Rose Garden.

I actually dropped my camera in the street here, and it skittered across the road. It survived the experience, and kept on snapping pics for me. Next time I will wear a lanyard so I don't drop my camera while I'm trying to pull it out of my vest chest pocket.

Passing the 5K point at (46:55)min.

Approaching the 2nd dip in the course on West Hedding Street.

Coming off a switch-back in the course we headed west on West Hedding Street where we encountered the second dip in the course: an underpass that runs below Hwy. 880 and then leads us to Valley Faire Mall.

Mile 4 is in sight!

I managed to get at least one photo of the people behind me while running backwards, and I didn't even trip.

She's gaining on me.

The Mariachi Mile. No, seriously.

The Finish Line!!

So after all that I finally crossed the finish line in (1:09:40) hrs., which leaves my time of (1:08:29.0)hrs. in the Almond Blossom 8K as my 8K PR.

-Lancer!!

Sunday Long Run: After Action Report

Now that I have had a night of sleep and recovery I think I can talk a little about my Long Run from yesterday. In a word: Ow.

I'm still a little sore, but mostly my arms, shoulders, and upper back are sore from swinging my arms back and forth during the run, and the walk. Those same muscles are also still sore from my workout at the gym this past Friday. My legs have recovered somewhat, because I wore my 2XU compression tights for a couple of hours after I dragged myself out of the shower last night. I'm still waiting for the new ones I ordered in size MT (medium tall), so I am trying not to use the ones I have too much, otherwise I may not be allowed to exchange them. I broke down and ordered the 2XU long sleeve compression shirt off Amazon last night, so I should have that tomorrow; my local running store does not carry it. If the shirt can do for my arms and shoulders what the tights have done for my legs, it will be money well-spent.

I made sure to apply plenty of sun-screen before I left the house yesterday, but apparently I missed a couple of spots: I seem to be extra reddish around my neck and throat, though I was certain I had applied 'screen there, too. The temps got up into the mid- to high-70s yesterday, and since it has been so long since I ran in the "heat" I perspired far more than I anticipated.

V-shaped sweat/salt stain from Sunday's run.

It stands out more in black and white.

U-shaped sweat stain on the back of my running shorts.

The park I run in isn't all that big so I end up doing laps back and forth along stretches of the bike trail to make sure I get in my distance. I am often tempted to just try running on the surface streets around the perimeter of the park for its entire length, and then I remember pedestrians get run over in the street all the time around here. I will need to branch out at some point, however, because using the same running route all the time is getting a little bit old.

One of the high points of yesterdays run was seeing a friend out in the park pushing her daughter in a stroller. I had not seen her in, hmm, maybe a couple of years, and I have only seen her with her daughter on the FB. Anyway, that was cool, and totally unexpected. I seldom see people I know, or at least recognize, out in the park.

Back to the running part: I initially intended to run three (3) miles, then walk one (1) mile, and repeat till the end of my planned distance. That plan did not sit well with the added warmth of the day, nor did it work well trying to keep a (14:00) to (15:00) pace during the run portions. By the last half of the run I was alternating run:walk at a 1:1 ratio. I expect a better performance during next weeks Long Run, but especially during the Modesto Marathon on the 18th. Again, I am only signed up to do the half-marathon distance, and considering last night's performance in the park, I am damn glad I only plan on a measly (13.1) miles, after all. I expect to wear both the long-sleeve compression shirt and the compression tights for the half-marathon run so I will, *fingers-crossed*, be in better shape during, and after, the event.

Staggering my way towards the park exit last night I saw two (2) Modesto Police Department cruisers in the park next to the playground. I presume they were checking out one of the park "residents" for illegal activity, but I didn't take the time to check it out closely. I was far more interested in getting back home to a shower and a hot meal.

-Lancer!!