Monday, November 23, 2009
Post Race Vegging
Since the NYC Marathon, I've taken the week off with no exercise at all, except walking. They for the past 2 weeks, have run 3 times a week, slow and low milage. Have been playing golf and lifting weights/core workouts. Looking forward to resting my body for the rest of the year. Upcoming road trip to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon will include some runs and definitely some hiking.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Race Day 11/1/09 New York Marathon
I slept well. Made my 2 english muffins, got dressed and walked down some very dark streets to the 77th street station. Along the way, I saw dozens of people finishing up their Halloween celebrations with an early breakfast. Caugh the 6 train to 59th street to meet the W or R train to the ferry building. While I was waiting, I had a good conversation with a runner from upstate New York. We continued our conversation all the way to the ferry, while standing in line to enter the starting area and while sitting together to wait for the race. He had to go to the bathroom and I had to leave for the start, so no parting words. I hope he did well.
Waiting for the start on the bridge was much better than at Boston although it was pretty cold, I was dressed for it. Being in the first wave, I felt pretty good about not having to dodge too many people to maintain a decent pace. As it turned out, I had plenty of room to run my pace. Going over the bridge was not as hard as some people make it out to be. But then, I train on Mt. Diablo and in San Francisco, so running on hills is normal for me.
Brooklyn was a very long and loud haul. The crowds were so loud that I could not hear myself breathe, making keeping a steady pace difficult. Checking the milage markers, I saw that I was on a quick pace. I felt good and decided to just keep it steady. Queens was the halfway point and I hit at 1:38, a time that was a little quick. My left quad started acting up and I had a tylenol that I had brought with me, drank plenty of fluids and had some jelly beans.
Going down 1st ave was an experience I will never forget. As loud as Brooklyn and Queens were, this was even louder. The street was so wide, I could run right down the middle and there wern't anybody with 20 feet of me. It was perfect. I left it to the other runners to high five the spectators. Miles 20-25 were very tough, it was pretty painful, but not nearly the sufferfest that Boston was. Mile 26 felt fast, but looking at my splits later, it was the slowest one, almost 9 minutes. Still I tried to finish strong. My time was 3:31:20. I was very happy with that.
Post race note. Ended up for various reasons, having to walk through the park and back to my daughter's place. Along the way, at least 50 people congratulated me on finishing the race. It was really nice. Took a very nice and long shower, had some pizza and watched more of The Office with my daughter. A very nice ending to a very nice day.
Waiting for the start on the bridge was much better than at Boston although it was pretty cold, I was dressed for it. Being in the first wave, I felt pretty good about not having to dodge too many people to maintain a decent pace. As it turned out, I had plenty of room to run my pace. Going over the bridge was not as hard as some people make it out to be. But then, I train on Mt. Diablo and in San Francisco, so running on hills is normal for me.
Brooklyn was a very long and loud haul. The crowds were so loud that I could not hear myself breathe, making keeping a steady pace difficult. Checking the milage markers, I saw that I was on a quick pace. I felt good and decided to just keep it steady. Queens was the halfway point and I hit at 1:38, a time that was a little quick. My left quad started acting up and I had a tylenol that I had brought with me, drank plenty of fluids and had some jelly beans.
Going down 1st ave was an experience I will never forget. As loud as Brooklyn and Queens were, this was even louder. The street was so wide, I could run right down the middle and there wern't anybody with 20 feet of me. It was perfect. I left it to the other runners to high five the spectators. Miles 20-25 were very tough, it was pretty painful, but not nearly the sufferfest that Boston was. Mile 26 felt fast, but looking at my splits later, it was the slowest one, almost 9 minutes. Still I tried to finish strong. My time was 3:31:20. I was very happy with that.
Post race note. Ended up for various reasons, having to walk through the park and back to my daughter's place. Along the way, at least 50 people congratulated me on finishing the race. It was really nice. Took a very nice and long shower, had some pizza and watched more of The Office with my daughter. A very nice ending to a very nice day.
10/31/09-New York Marathon notes and thoughts
Today was pretty relaxed. had breakfast at the Yorkville Diner, one of my favorite places. Went with my daughter to where I thought I was supposed to take the bus to the start on Staten Island. (more on that later) Then we went over to Central Park and I pointed out where I would meet her after the race. After getting back to her place, I started reading the race guidebook and realized that I wasn't taking the bus, but the ferry which was all the way down southern Manhattan. Going onto the website, I figured out which trains I would have to take. Whew! dodged that bullet! Imagine going to the site for the buses and being turned away and having to make a mad dash on the subway to catch the right ferry! After solving that problem, while my daughter was out celebrating Halloween with her friends, I wandered over to this Japanese restaurant that was actually owned by a Chinese couple. The food was excellent and I was happy to be able to stick with my race routine of chicken and rice.
During dinner, I finally decided on a plan for the race. I had been wavering between sticking to the exact pace that would get me a 3:25 to 3:30 time and the more riskier plan of going out on a pace for 3:20 and trying to hang on. I had tried the former plan at the Boston marathon and it had not worked out. Mostly because of a very painful back and two pit stops because I drank a lot of water/gatorade before the race. I decided to try for the 3:20 pace from the start and to see if I could hold on for a decent time.
During dinner, I finally decided on a plan for the race. I had been wavering between sticking to the exact pace that would get me a 3:25 to 3:30 time and the more riskier plan of going out on a pace for 3:20 and trying to hang on. I had tried the former plan at the Boston marathon and it had not worked out. Mostly because of a very painful back and two pit stops because I drank a lot of water/gatorade before the race. I decided to try for the 3:20 pace from the start and to see if I could hold on for a decent time.
10/29/09 to 10/30/09 Road to the NYC Marathon notes
It's the evening of my flight to New York. As usual, I worry about forgetting something and won't be able to relax until I get on the plane. Dropped some cash for the usual flight junk-magazines, water, candy and a pen. Yes, I did forget two things. A pen and my prescription strength ibuprofan. As usual, the Virgin boarding process goes smoothly and we leave on time. I manage for a change to get some sleep. It was mostly a half hour here and there. But, when we arrive, instead of feeling exhausted, I feel pretty rested.
10/30/09 Friday
Take the E train down to my daughter's office and drop off my fairly heavy backpack. Lightened up, it's an easy walk down 35th street to the Javits Expo. Short lines for my number, chatted a bit with the guy about the race and as usual, when he learns I live in the Bay Area says how much he wants to come out for visit. Despite the obvious temptations, I limit my buying to a pair of Mizuno shorts for the race and a cool Mizuno backpack that was on sale. I also got to talk to Anthony Edwards about his charity Shoes4Africa and told him about Hope Runs. He is a nice guy and it was interesting to hear what he had to say.
After that, I picked up the backpack and took the train to my daughter's apartment on the upper east side. Took a nice long hot shower and then read and napped until she came home. Then we went out to eat, watched her favorite shoe The Office and crashed.
10/30/09 Friday
Take the E train down to my daughter's office and drop off my fairly heavy backpack. Lightened up, it's an easy walk down 35th street to the Javits Expo. Short lines for my number, chatted a bit with the guy about the race and as usual, when he learns I live in the Bay Area says how much he wants to come out for visit. Despite the obvious temptations, I limit my buying to a pair of Mizuno shorts for the race and a cool Mizuno backpack that was on sale. I also got to talk to Anthony Edwards about his charity Shoes4Africa and told him about Hope Runs. He is a nice guy and it was interesting to hear what he had to say.
After that, I picked up the backpack and took the train to my daughter's apartment on the upper east side. Took a nice long hot shower and then read and napped until she came home. Then we went out to eat, watched her favorite shoe The Office and crashed.
10/19/09 Pre-Race thoughts and Goals
After completing my last 3 hour run before tapering for the race, I decided to jot down my thoughts and goals for the NYC Marathon.
THOUGHTS
1) Get a good start at 7:40 to 7:50 per mile pace.
2) Remember to hydrate after mile 10, bring the Sport jelly beans
3) Focus on maintaining pace, especially after mile 15.
GOAL
1) Run a sub 3:30 race.
THOUGHTS
1) Get a good start at 7:40 to 7:50 per mile pace.
2) Remember to hydrate after mile 10, bring the Sport jelly beans
3) Focus on maintaining pace, especially after mile 15.
GOAL
1) Run a sub 3:30 race.
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