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105 Posts
Short version:<br><br>
Date: 2/23/08<br>
Location: Tampa FL<br>
Goal: Sub 45:00<br>
Time: 43:04<br><br>
Long version (sorry):<br><br>
This past year has been one of ups and downs for me. I came off a new half marathon PR of 2:10 in February (Gasparilla 2007) and immediately decided I should start training for my first marathon. Got injured and missed almost two months of training. So I bagged the marathon and decided to train smarter, build my base and strength, and then work on my speed work. Training went well for two months, and I was even able to knock off 5 minutes on my half time (same race). I had hoped for 2:15 because I just didn't know if the endurance was there yet. I had also lost about 60 lbs (down to 205 from Thanksgiving).<br><br>
Setting a new PR was a huge confidence builder, so I decided to see what else I could do. I had run the Bolt Run back in 2005. It's in Tampa, put on by the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Leukemia Society. It's small but still a good time. I showed up about an hour before the start and picked up my shirt and goody bag, warmed up a bit and got to the start line. I lined up way too far up front, because it seemed like everyone passed me at the start. Oh well, just keep plugging away, keep an eye on your splits, and see what happens. The only thing was, there were no mile markers.<img alt="huh.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/huh.gif"> What do I do now ? I knew I started out too fast in trying to keep as many people from passing me as possible, but not having any markers unsettled me a bit. Got out on the main part of the course, which runs along part of the bay. There's a slight breeze, but it's about 75 degrees and 95% humidity, and I'm already sweating and breathing hard. See the police officer in the distance at the turn around, and I tell myself to keep pushing til I reach him. This became the prevailing theme for the rest of the race...run hard to that street light, run hard to that turn, etc. Finally saw what looked to be a marker spray painted on the road. It said "4M". This race is run along part of the Gasparilla Marathon route, but this particular mark isnt' anywhere near 4 miles on that course. I look at my watch and it says 34:00. I've never covered 4 miles that fast, so I take it with a grain of salt. Keep putting one foot in front of the other as fast as possible I tell myself. Up the bridge over the river, down the hill, and up the slight incline back to the start line. Go down the ramp into the tunnel, and see the clock. It reads 42:50. The 4M mark I saw must have been 4 miles after all. Try to run hard to beat 43:00, but the finish line is 100 yards away. I've got nothing left, so 43:04 it is. However, it's a new PR for me (46:14 was the old one).<br><br>
Now with that over, the fun was really to start. My son wanted to run the 1 mile race. He's almost 7 (end of April), and he's been running at school during recess. For almost two months straight, he was running 2 miles a day, 3 days a week. I had no idea what to expect, but he was, right up front at the start. He literally took off. There were 3 or 4 other kids in front of him, but they were 12~15 years old. Here's this 7 year old keeping up with them for the first half mile. I couldn't keep up with him. He hit the turn around, and I snapped a couple of pictures of him. Total look of concentration on his face...no smile or wave. Just him and the road. I jumped back in with him and asked how he was doing. I'm fine he says, but he's breathing pretty hard. Get to the end, and there's his sister (4 years) yelling Go Matt Go ! We get to the bottom of the ramp and I tell him to sprint as hard as he can. He just looked at me like I was crazy. He clocks in at 8:27 and finishes 5th if I remember right (no results yet). This was his first ever race, and he has the bug. <img alt="banana.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/banana.gif"> He said he's ready to try a couple of 5k's that are coming up, even if he has to walk part of them.<br><br>
If you've made it this far, thanks for reading ! Sorry for the long windedness.
Date: 2/23/08<br>
Location: Tampa FL<br>
Goal: Sub 45:00<br>
Time: 43:04<br><br>
Long version (sorry):<br><br>
This past year has been one of ups and downs for me. I came off a new half marathon PR of 2:10 in February (Gasparilla 2007) and immediately decided I should start training for my first marathon. Got injured and missed almost two months of training. So I bagged the marathon and decided to train smarter, build my base and strength, and then work on my speed work. Training went well for two months, and I was even able to knock off 5 minutes on my half time (same race). I had hoped for 2:15 because I just didn't know if the endurance was there yet. I had also lost about 60 lbs (down to 205 from Thanksgiving).<br><br>
Setting a new PR was a huge confidence builder, so I decided to see what else I could do. I had run the Bolt Run back in 2005. It's in Tampa, put on by the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Leukemia Society. It's small but still a good time. I showed up about an hour before the start and picked up my shirt and goody bag, warmed up a bit and got to the start line. I lined up way too far up front, because it seemed like everyone passed me at the start. Oh well, just keep plugging away, keep an eye on your splits, and see what happens. The only thing was, there were no mile markers.<img alt="huh.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/huh.gif"> What do I do now ? I knew I started out too fast in trying to keep as many people from passing me as possible, but not having any markers unsettled me a bit. Got out on the main part of the course, which runs along part of the bay. There's a slight breeze, but it's about 75 degrees and 95% humidity, and I'm already sweating and breathing hard. See the police officer in the distance at the turn around, and I tell myself to keep pushing til I reach him. This became the prevailing theme for the rest of the race...run hard to that street light, run hard to that turn, etc. Finally saw what looked to be a marker spray painted on the road. It said "4M". This race is run along part of the Gasparilla Marathon route, but this particular mark isnt' anywhere near 4 miles on that course. I look at my watch and it says 34:00. I've never covered 4 miles that fast, so I take it with a grain of salt. Keep putting one foot in front of the other as fast as possible I tell myself. Up the bridge over the river, down the hill, and up the slight incline back to the start line. Go down the ramp into the tunnel, and see the clock. It reads 42:50. The 4M mark I saw must have been 4 miles after all. Try to run hard to beat 43:00, but the finish line is 100 yards away. I've got nothing left, so 43:04 it is. However, it's a new PR for me (46:14 was the old one).<br><br>
Now with that over, the fun was really to start. My son wanted to run the 1 mile race. He's almost 7 (end of April), and he's been running at school during recess. For almost two months straight, he was running 2 miles a day, 3 days a week. I had no idea what to expect, but he was, right up front at the start. He literally took off. There were 3 or 4 other kids in front of him, but they were 12~15 years old. Here's this 7 year old keeping up with them for the first half mile. I couldn't keep up with him. He hit the turn around, and I snapped a couple of pictures of him. Total look of concentration on his face...no smile or wave. Just him and the road. I jumped back in with him and asked how he was doing. I'm fine he says, but he's breathing pretty hard. Get to the end, and there's his sister (4 years) yelling Go Matt Go ! We get to the bottom of the ramp and I tell him to sprint as hard as he can. He just looked at me like I was crazy. He clocks in at 8:27 and finishes 5th if I remember right (no results yet). This was his first ever race, and he has the bug. <img alt="banana.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/banana.gif"> He said he's ready to try a couple of 5k's that are coming up, even if he has to walk part of them.<br><br>
If you've made it this far, thanks for reading ! Sorry for the long windedness.
