6th Guard Marathon-I’ll Take It!

This was, as I said, my 6th National Guard Marathon.  I trained super hard for the race this year, with my sights set on a sub 3 hour marathon.  As race day approached, I felt this may not be within my grasps, but I still focused on running as best as I could.  The end result:  A very, very well run race.

It was quite chilly on race morning, and I elected to wear a long sleeve shirt  with gloves and my Zensah recovery sleeves.  I took off the long sleeve shirt and stayed in my singlet, but the temperature proved cool enough to leave the gloves on.  I started off the marathon quite easily, doing the first mile in 8 flat.  I picked up the pace after that, but had trouble doing anything quicker than 7:30 pace, worried about dying in the second half of the race.  I hit the 5K mark in 24:48, quite different from last year’s 21:53 for the same split.  I did my best to run quickly and efficiently, but not to the point it felt like a tempo run.  I was enjoying the cool day out.  All the spectators were bundled up quite well this year.  I hit the 10K mark in 48:19, still over 3 minutes slower than last year, but but this time, I had “settled” into my pace and was running 7:30s consistently.  After mile 7 I hit a big hill and blasted down the other side.  As I continued through the first half, I wondered what my time would be.  Could I hope for a 3:05 or better?  I was running based purely on effort, and what I thought I could maintain for the whole marathon.  After the 1st 10 miles I noticed my left quadricep muscle was aching.  I hoped it wouldn’t cramp up later in the race.  Not too long after that, I hit the half marathon mark in 1:40:12.  I was quite off pace from last year (1:34) but I knew a solid performance in the latter portion of the race could more than make up for it.  Once I knew the time for the half, I simply sought to beat my time from last year, 3:13:58, but by a large margin.  I thought I could get close to 3:10 if everything worked to my advantage.  This was not to be, but I’ll continue the story.  Between the half marathon and the 18 mile mark, my goal was to maintain a 7:18 mile.  From there, I would bump the pace down to 7:08 if my body would take it.  Boy, did I surprise myself!  I ran the stretch between the half marathon and the 25K mark at 7:12 pace.  From the 25K mark to the 20 mile mark, I averaged 7:07.  I was really hurting by this point.  Nothing felt good, and my left quadricep felt like it was about to seize up on every step.  I hoped it would keep working.  From mile 20, it was guts or glory.  I aimed to run every mile under 7 minutes.  I paid dearly and nearly reached my pain threshold.  I battled my body, which craved mercy.  I do believe my experience of the course allowed my mind to push to the very end, a sort of subconscious effort, knowing exactly how far the finish was.  As I sped past my hopelessly failing competition, I pushed into overdrive.  I could see the stadium approaching, where I would soon be finishing at the 50 yard line.  I dropped my pace down to flat 6 for the last 3/4 of a mile.  I blasted into the stadium, setting a new Lincoln best of 3:12:20.  My legs collapsed from muscle failure after crossing the finish line.  I couldn’t even bear the thought of a massage, due to how much I hurt.  It was my absolute best.

I didn’t make the All-Guard Team again this year (I would have had to run a 3:04 marathon to do so),  but I did make the grade as an alternate, in case they need a spot filled for a race.  My race was perfect.  You can see my splits below, courtesy of MTEC results:

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Miles and Time Trials

I am on the verge of running my biggest training month-ever.  With the National Guard Marathon looming just 6 weeks away, I have hit official training season.  I wasn’t sure if I could do it.  Building to a 75 mile-per-week average without shin splints, over-training, or too much time away from wife wife and rapidly enlarging son Ethan, is a task I have mastered.  Now, I’m shooting to run over 100 miles this week, and really starting to feel like a road warrior.  I start off sore, but always loosen up and really take off after a few miles.  Here are the stats since February 3rd:

February 3-9:

  • 6 runs
  • 35.03 miles
  • 5:16:32 running time

10-16

  • 11 runs
  • 77.60 miles
  • 10:23:12 running time

17-23

  • 10 runs
  • 47.80 miles
  • 6:58:24 running time

24-Mar 2

  • 10 runs
  • 89.26 miles
  • 13:59:41 running time

3-9

  • 10 runs
  • 79.60 miles
  • 12:20:00 running time

10-16

  • 16 runs
  • 76.91 miles
  • 11:46:27 running time

17-23

  • 10 runs
  • 74.30 miles
  • 14:24:12 running time

Last 30 Days:

Count: 50 Activities
Distance: 346.76 mi
Time: 56:02:44 h:m:s
Elevation Gain: 13,407 ft
Avg Speed: 6.2 mph
Avg HR: 133 bpm
Calories: 33,275 C
Avg Distance: 6.94 mi

Oh Ben Blessing, what could be up your sleeve this time?

My desire to put on events that essentially, try and instill a sense of pride in our natural world has resulted in . . . another incredible ultra. Slated for June/July 2014, this tentative route for the Blue Mountains 50 Miler should be another favorite (I changed the name after I realized there was another Northwest ultra with a similar name).  Featuring a hilly roller coaster ridge (at 8K), I will either get a large crowd or a tough crowd.  The 50 miler will feature over 18,000 ft of climb, making it one of the hardest 50s in the world.  This was not the intent, however, but if any of you know, Ben Blessing has a penchant for mountainous races.  There will also be an “easier” 50K and a 15K for the kiddos.  Get your climbin’ legs ready. . .

Garmin Connect – Elkhorn Crest 50 Miler.

elkhorn 2

Elkhorn Crest Trail

elkhorn peak

Mount Ruth

mountain goat

Twin Lakes
 

->Lactic Acid<-

Training is finally starting to get up to par.  I’ve been running my legs off, with hopes of a sub 3:00 marathon at the Lincoln National Guard Marathon, as well as my last semester before graduating with my B.A. in Music Theory.  Hopefully I find a great job in today’s economy!  Also hopeful for a “w” at the inaugural Bryce 100.    But here are the stats:

Count: 28 Activities
Distance: 139.93 mi
Time: 23:23:33 h:m:s
Elevation Gain: 13,624 ft
Avg Speed: 5.9 mph
Avg HR: fast
Calories: 11,093 C
Avg Distance: 5.00 mi

I did 8x400m at a 77.78 average the other night, which is a new record for me.  Good racing coming ahead.  I wrote this little diddy Sunday night.

Wilson Creek Frozen 50K-worthy of the name finally

Last year’s Wilson Creek race featured a mudslide of a course, with a pace that rivaled my Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile PR.  I anticipated better course conditions this year, with lots of snow and essentially not a single day of weather going above freezing in the last month.  I carpooled to the race start with Tony Bunt, and we arrived with plenty of time to get ready (no line for the bathrooms yet!).  Upon my realization that it was too cold for my trombone slide to move, I had to keep my horn in front of a propane space heater until seconds before I needed to play.  I put my horn away, and we were all off.  It was below zero.

Within the 1st mile, I contemplated DNF.  My lack of warm socks cooled my feet down enough that I anticipated frostbite on my feet, which made me wary to continue on.  I told myself I would trudge on for a few more miles and hope the warmth of my body would reach my toes, which did happen.  I chatted with friends, enjoyed the beauty of the Owyhee range, and rocked out to John Adam’s “My Father Knew Charles Ives.”  As we climbed Wilson Peak, the only thing you could pick out from the dark, dense layer of inversion was the surrounding mountain tops, which was a rather incredible panorama of mountain magnificence.

The remainder of the race is a blur to me, from a slip-sliding descent down Pigeon Road back to the Start/Finish Line to the endless struggle of competition that envelopes me during the last 10 miles of any race.  Reynolds Creek Canyon was as splendid as always.  I pushed through the aid stations in a flash, only pausing to drink a glass of water here, a  handful of M&Ms there.  Hard sprint to the finish, and it was over before I knew it.  6:17, 12th, OA, 2nd AG, and a solid 49 minute improvement over last year.

Pickled Feet Ultrarunning does a fine job with its events.  I will continue to test my endurance, whether that be over a long run, or an uncomfortable climate.  I can now say I’ve raced in conditions spanning 120 degrees Fahrenheit, which I’m quite proud of.  Next up, a marathon PR at the National Guard Marathon in Lincoln, NE  the first weekend of May.

Late in the race, approx. 26 miles or so.  Thanks for the pics Antonio.

Late in the race, approx. 26 miles or so. Thanks for the pics Antonio.

 

Miles, Music, and Babies

Ethan gets a bath. Blackmail for 16 years down the road. Hehe.

It seems that I can’t get more than 5 minutes to myself with homework, “training,” composing, working, and being daddy. Juggling the 5 priorities are exacting their toll on my Keurig coffee machine and Walmart’s coffee supply. I’m barely getting 60 miles a month in right now, but when I do, it’s doing stuff like this or this.  IN OTHER NEWS,  my Senior Recital is coming up.  November 20th 7:30 PM, at the NNU Little Theatre.  I will be playing the Nino Rota Trombone Concerto.  And THAT, is the only piece on the concert I DIDN’T write.  I have a splendid concert band put together to play my contemporary works (some of which, could be inspired by my favorite weekend activities).  I hope you all decide to come and pack the place, because preparing has caused me to lose half my hair (as well as the effects of caffeine on my wrecked senior year body).  Ok, I know why you all are here.  Pictures of BAB-IES.  Well, there you go.

Our new baby

We went in Tuesday morning for a checkup, to find that the doctor (Dr. Timothy West) wanted to induce the baby, with Heidi’s kidneys saying “enough!”  So, we went in bright and early Wednesday morning, 6 AM, to start the inducement.  Labor was very hard, and I decided to get Heidi to take an epidural.  She did, and the rest of the day was peaceful.  We got naps in, and around 2 pm it became apparent it was time to deliver.  Heidi only had to push for 30 minutes before Ethan was born.  He doesn’t weigh a whole lot, but is very healthy.  Some pictures below:

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Grandmothers in anticipation

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It’s cold out here!

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Blackmail for later years :-)

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First time with momma’s chest.

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The whole family (minus two mutts).

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All I have to do is be cute?!

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There is nothing more beautiful than this in the world. Anywhere.

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