35, 5, and 2

Even the best plans of catching up get derailed.

Monday, August 27. 8.08 miles, 1:47:36, 13:18 pace, avg hr 134 bpm, max HR of 147 during miles 3 and 4.

1. 13:53, 123 bpm
   
2. 13:09, 132 bpm
   
3. 13:03, 136 bpm
   
4. 13:14, 137 bpm
   
5. 13:09, 136 bpm
   
6. 13:32, 135 bpm
   
7. 13:19, 135 bpm
   
8. 13:10, 138 bpm
   

Looking at the splits and considering the morning temperatures for August, this wasn't too bad!

No, that's not bad at all. You had a bit of HR creep, but not much. Good work!

Well, I should've written down the temperature, although it was for sure in the upper 70's. I do remember thinking that my times for the 8 mile runs were sure a lot better than the long run times.

**

Wednesday, August 29 was a hill training workout, where I ran about a mile and a third to the parking garage nearby. I'm doing this to help build up the legs a bit more. Odessa is suppose to be pancake-flat, so it certainly isn't for the course.

Friday, August 31 proved to be the absolute worst long run of the summer. It was a 15 mile run where the starting temperature at 3:30 a.m. was 83 degrees with a dewpoint of 76 degrees. After the run was over, and during the morning TV news, they said the heat index was 94 degrees. Yeah, felt like it. Nothing hurt, but it just was so long of a run.

14.95 miles, 3:39:09, 14:39 pace, 149 avg HR, 163 max HR during mile 13

1. 13:51, 128 bpm
   
2. 13:32, 139 bpm
   
3. 12:48, 148 bpm
   
4. 14:03, 149 bpm
   
5. 14:11, 146 bpm
   
6. 14:24, 145 bpm
   
7. 14:29, 147 bpm
   
8. 14:36, 149 bpm
   
9. 14:41, 149 bpm
   
10. 14:49, 152 bpm
    
11. 15:02, 153 bpm
    
12. 15:21, 152 bpm
    
13. 15:49, 154 bpm
    
14. 16:06, 156 bpm
    
15. 16:14 pace, 159 bpm
    

I'm really startled at how high my heart rate was, while running so slow. I guess the body was really working hard to try to cool the body under such conditions.

Tuesday, September 4, the day after Labor Day. This week would prove to be the last week of really bad (>75 degree) morning temperatures. This run, I imagine was a limbering up run and I think I was still a little spooked by the last hot, long run that I didn't want to go to far and risk continuing discouragement.

6.69 miles, 1:28:43, 13:15 pace, 134 avg HR, max HR of 151 during miles 3 and 4.

1. 13:16, 122 bpm
   
2. 13:16, 130 bpm
   
3. 13:22, 134 bpm
   
4. 12:56, 139 bpm
   
5. 13:17, 139 bpm
   
6. 13:20, 138 bpm
   
7. 13:20 pace, 136 bpm
   

Relatively nice times for the temperature it probably was. We haven't seen any morning lows below 72 degrees since May. The weather folks were threatening drier air for the coming Saturday and cooler temperatures by Sunday morning.

**

Wednesday, September 5, was the 2nd week of hill training at the local parking garage. 4.32 miles in total.

Friday, September 7, is the 2nd to last long run of the training cycle as a 18 mile run. High 70's morning temps at 2 a.m. The goal in the past has been to keep the heart rate around 130 and negative split the second half. But with all the slower times on long runs, I decided to just run on heart rate, regardless of time. If nothing else, it might improve my attitude. After all, last Fall and Winter when I was training for a January marathon, it was anywhere from 15-35 degrees cooler, thereby much easier to run faster.

I used that logic to just run the 18 as aerobically easy as possible.

17.75 miles, 4:15:17, 14:22 pace, 134 avg bpm, 159 max HR.

1. 14:10, 118 bpm
   
2. 13:46, 125 bpm
   
3. 14:07, 127 bpm
   
4. 14:30, 129 bpm
   
5. 14:29, 132 bpm
   
6. 14:37, 127 bpm
   
7. 14:41, 127 bpm
   
8. 14:12, 127 bpm
   
9. 14:38, 128 bpm
   
10. 14:45, 128 bpm
    
11. 14:22, 136 bpm
    
12. 14:09, 140 bpm
    
13. 14:03, 143 bpm
    
14. 14:21, 140 bpm
    
15. 13:31, 147 bpm
    
16. 14:50, 141 bpm
    
17. 14:53, 145 bpm
    
18. 14:47 pace, 148 bpm
    

This was certainly a more relaxing run that prior runs, when the goal was different. Easier on the body, too.

Just about caught up on the runs. Monday, September 10, and it's COOLER outside! The air temperature was 65 degrees with a dewpoint of 59 degrees. I was SO looking forward to the run. And this was to be the last week before tapering for the October 6 marathon in Odessa. 38 miles was on the docket for the week, including a rare Saturday 20 mile run. Today's run was 10 miles.

10 miles, 2:10:39, 13:03 pace, 131 avg bpm, 144 max HR during miles 9 and 10.

1. 13:25, 123 bpm
   
2. 13:19, 128 bpm
   
3. 13:25, 129 bpm
   
4. 13:20, 131 bpm
   
5. 13:10, 131 bpm
   
6. 13:04, 131 bpm
   
7. 12:55, 131 bpm
   
8. 12:38, 133 bpm
   
9. 12:25, 138 bpm
   
10. 12:53, 135 bpm
    

Very nice times, even if I do say so myself. I believe my 1st half time was 13:13, which would make my 2nd half time 12:53. Saturday's weather will be warmer, as cooler days in September don't last very long at all in Houston. Indeed, the first bit of cooler weather usually comes around the 23rd or so.

So is Odessa not happening? Or are you just behind with your blog still. Anyway, things look good, Doug.

I was unable to run the 8 mile pace run on Wednesday, due to life getting in the way of running. I don't regret missing the run, as it wouldn't have contributed a lot to my overall training. So, this post is about the last 20 mile run of the training cycle that I ran yesterday, or Saturday the 15th.

First off, the weather. It was 70 degrees with a dewpoint of 70 degrees and a light north wind. The north wind told me it would only get drier. Very welcome news as I could envision a possible negative split plus a faster time at 130 bpm. Presuming the body was going to cooperate. And why shouldn't it? I last ran on Monday, the 10th, so I'm running on 4 days rest.

I ate 3 and a 1/2 carbo loading meals. I took 2 S!Caps before leaving and 2 S!Caps at mile 15. The S!Caps have been pretty transparent as far as noticing anything better, faster, or brighter for ingesting them. I've determined that I won't need to bring enough S!Caps for the race, as races have Gatorade and I can supplement that way, as well. Enough drivel. Let's see the numbers.

20 miles, 4:30:18, 13:30 pace, 142 avg bpm, 164 max bpm during miles 19 and 20, 13:37 1st half pace and 13:23 2nd half pace.

1. 13:19, 124 bpm
   
2. 13:28, 129 bpm
   
3. 13:43, 130 bpm
   
4. 13:51, 131 bpm
   
5. 13:46, 131 bpm
   
6. 14:08, 129 bpm
   
7. 13:43, 131 bpm
   
8. 13:11, 132 bpm
   
9. 13:12, 142 bpm
   
10. 13:49, 140 bpm
    
11. 13, 145 bpm
    
12. 12:59, 151 bpm
    
13. 12:55, 157 bpm
    
14. 13:34, 152 bpm
    
15. 13:18, 155 bpm
    
16. 13:32, 151 bpm
    
17. 13:24, 151 bpm
    
18. 13:31, 154 bpm
    
19. 13:48, 156 bpm
    
20. 13:54, 156 bpm
    

There were so many positives on this run, with a few negatives, but I'll learn from them. First, 4 days rest really helps. The temperature, especially the light north breeze, really helped. Even though it was a Saturday, I started at 3:30 because I had a 9:45 platelets donation appointment. I had not slept well earlier in the week, but I caught up on that Thursday night and Friday night.

My routes will usually equate to an out 'n back of sorts. For this run, I ran 10 miles, turned around and came back. About a 1/2 mile into the come back, a girl running a bit faster than me passed me and we had a quick conversation. At one point a couple of minutes later, she changed her direction to go down a paved walkway where I kept going on the dirt. The dirt was on a construction area, but I came that way just 15 minutes prior and knew the ground was fine and dandy. I encouraged her to come with me, but she kept going her way. So I wanted to speed up to see if I could get ahead of her on different paths. I never quite got there, but I kept most of the additional speed for about 5 miles (miles 11-15).

I started slowing down a bit. Then, I wanted to not have any 14 minute miles (I didn't know I had one at mile 6). So, I scared myself into keeping the pace going. NO 14's. Keep GOING. I'm going to have to do this for the marathon, so get used to it!

Looking at the 2nd half heart rates, I'm curious as to why I stayed at 154 +/-3 bpm for the last 10 miles? I was trying harder the last 3 miles to stay at pace (specifically <14/mile) or maybe I was just so focused, but my heart was saying, "My heart rate is sufficient for you." I think the pair of Vomeros I was wearing are no longer a long run pair. My left arch was starting to whine a bit, which it never does unless I'm wearing a pair of Asics. And I haven't done that since 2006. That pair of Vomeros was a great pair of Vomeros. I PR'd at Houston in those. I"m keeping those for a long time. Sentimental value.

Well, it's Taper Madness time. I don't get all wound up in it. I've done it too many times. I just make sure that my foot placement 24/7 is such that I don't turn an ankle. My first marathon of five is in 3 weeks at Odessa, a 525 mile drive from Houston, on Saturday, October 6.

Thank you for stopping by over the past few months, or 10 pages, to read and/or comment about what I've done. Some of which is or was unorthodox (low carbing comes to mind), but it's part of the process. I'm not ending this blog, but the training is over and the racing/recovery/racing/recovery/racing/recovery/racing/recovery & racing/collapse begins. A most complex past few months, both for running and for life itself.

I'll take all 3 weeks of tapering. I could do 2 weeks, if I was in my 40's or younger, but I'm not and I need the time.

And Michele...still on for Odessa. With only 58 marathoners finishing, last year, my only concern is the manning of the water stations in the last stages of the race. I believe this race will guarantee me my first top 100 finish! Thanks for your time.

Well, sorry I'm not local to bring you water. Of course, who is local to Odessa besides tumbleweeds and oil derricks. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to hearing about the race.

Congrats on the 20 miler....looked really solid. Good luck in Odessa.

Michele "1L" Keane wrote:Well, sorry I'm not local to bring you water. Of course, who is local to Odessa besides tumbleweeds and oil derricks. Keep up the good work. Looking forward to hearing about the race.

True, Michele, but the movie and TV show "Friday Night Lights" was based on Odessa Permian High School. So, Friday night, there should be some high school football going on in both Odessa and Midland.

Joel H wrote:Congrats on the 20 miler....looked really solid. Good luck in Odessa.

Thanks, Joel. Felt solid.

**

So, I was reviewing the marathon's website and I was re-reading some things and this statement caught my eye:

"The course will be officially open for 7 hours: from 5:30am until 12:30pm. The Finish Line closes at 1 pm."

When I read the first part of the sentence, I stopped. I thought, "Cool. Course is open 7 hours and it starts at 7 a.m. I can run it in 7 hours on my worst days." But this time, I read the whole sentence. The course is open until 12:30, which means an official time has to be 5 hours and 30 minutes. I'm not capable of a 5:30 marathon. In October. In Texas. So why in the hell do they state the course is closed for 7 hours, but you have to finish in 5:30?

Options...options...options. I called the race director and confirmed that's what it meant. So, what are the odds of me starting the race before 7 a.m. and still have an official finish? After she checked with the timers about them being there early, they said that I could start as early as I want as long as I don't wear the chip and keep track of the time myself. Then, tell them my time when I finish so it can be recorded. Nobody has ever asked to start the race early, the race director told me. Always a first time.

I checked on another marathon that weekend in Tyler, Texas, about 80 miles SE of Dallas. The elevation chart looks like the stock market the past 2 years. Looks like I'll be running Odessa. With a sunrise of 7:30 or so, I'll be covering some of the first miles in the dark, which is fine with me. The average morning temperature in early October is 55 degrees, only 15 degrees cooler than this morning's temperature. I'll just have to get up earlier.

Thoughts appreciated about what I may have missed in the thought process.

**

This morning's run was 8 miles and the first run in the taper process. The temperature was 70 degrees with a dewpoint of 70 degrees. Cooler, buuuuuut no breeze made it not one of those sparkling mornings with fast run capabilities. I felt a little flat, but I wasn't pushing it, too.

8.08 miles, 1:49:55, 13:35 pace, 125 avg hr, 142 max HR during mile 6, 13:38 1st half split, 13:32 2nd half split.

1. 13:14, 122 bpm
   
2. 13:25, 125 bpm
   
3. 13:52, 123 bpm
   
4. 14:04, 123 bpm
   
5. 13:33, 124 bpm
   
6. 13:29, 129 bpm
   
7. 13:37, 129 bpm
   
8. 13:30, 127 bpm
   

Pretty fricking interesting that I ran some 13 minute miles and my average HR was never above 130.

I really would appreciate y'alls input on the starting time for the Odessa race. I'm thinking of starting at 6:15 or 45 minutes before the race starts. I know the water stations won't be ready until after the race starts, but I've run 5 miles with no water, so I'm not too concerned. AND I might even consider bringing some water. I'll be the rabbit! I think last year's winner had a 3 hour 2 minute time. thanks.

I would start about an hour before the official race and I would carry some water, just in case.. Just let the RD know your plans. You will be surprised though as I bet many of the water stops will be set up when you get there. When the Atlanta Marathon was on Thanksgiving Day, the ATC used to allow back of the packers an early start with self timing as well. It worked out positively for them and I know the water stops were open because the volunteers had to be there by 5:30 and an hour early was 6 am.

Pretty cool that you can start early like that. I think you should start at 6:00 because it is a nice even number.

I agree 6am works probably the best. You still have 6 1/2 hours to complete the race and the water stations should have at least someone there by the time you get to the first one. It would be 6:20-30 depending on where they are on the course and by then they have to be setting up for the other runners. You could also carry a small water bottle if you thought you needed it.

That's a poorly worded statement on the website. Bummer. I agree with starting early, and I don't think its that uncommon in smaller racers. I know I have passed early starters a few miles into the race and haven't thought twice about it.

Here's my two cents: Start a full hour early (it'll be easier to keep track of the time that way), but carry some fluid with you in case the aid stations aren't ready by the time you go by. Buy something disposable so you can toss the bottle without regret once the aid stations are up and running.

Sure, you can run an hour without fluids... but running an hour without fluids and then continuing on for another five or six hours would be a very unwise idea. Better to lug a bottle for an hour and keep your hydration balanced.

I thank each of you for your comments. I shall carry a bottle with me for the early miles. I don't like carrying a bottle, but I see the long range idea.

I've written the race director with my request to start at 6 a.m. I rather like the idea of running 90 minutes during the coolest part of the day, before the sun rises. The mile markers are supposed to be in place before midnight and I am really studying the map because there are lots of turns in the first 7 miles. I'll try to drive the course on Friday to see if there are street lamps, etc.

If I really get to Odessa early enough, I might drive the 10 miles or so over to Midland and take a picture of Bush family home, just for Kevin.

Thanks again, y'all.

Well, I forgot to report yesterday's morning run. It was the parking garage hill training piece. I can report that after I run a set of uphills, that I just turn around and come back down, rather than stopping...let the HR come down a bit, then come down.

Tomorrow, I run a taper week 1 14 mile long run.

On a completely different subject, it may not have made the news where y'all live, but the space shuttle Endeavour spent the night in Houston, last night, on its way to Los Angeles to be a museum piece. Prior to landing at Ellington Air Field, near NASA, it made a low altitude flyover of the Houston area as a nod and a thank you to the city for all its help over the past half century. If you want to see some really pretty shots of Houston with the Endeavour and its 747 under it, just go to chron.com.

This morning, it was going to be flying to LA, with a flyover in Austin. So, it had to go west to do that. I live on the west side. The parking garage I do my hill training at is on the Katy Freeway (I-10 west). So, I got ready for work and drove to the parking garage and went to the top floor to get ready for a flyover. The sun was barely up at 7:10 and the iPhone takes crappy videos because it doesn't adjust for lower light. But I got as beautiful as the iPhone could take with the Endeavour, the 747, and the NASA chase jet going by at about 1,500 feet and about a 1/2 mile away. I've always enjoyed the space program, starting with Gemini. So, it has a special place for me. Thanks for your time.

Have a good weekend, if I don't see y'all before Monday.

Ooo! You lucky duck! I would have loved the chance to see the shuttle fly, even if it was piggyback on a 747.

I hope you post the photo.

I wish it was good enough to post. The lighting a few minutes after the sun has breached the horizon isn't bright enough and the iPhone doesn't zoom or adjust for the light. But the Chronicle's pictures were almost magical. I was surprised at how quiet it was as it flew by with its chase T-38 jet.

***

Friday morning's run was a 14 mile run that marks the end of the first week of tapering. It was the coolest morning since April at 60 degrees, with a dewpoint of 59 degrees and calm winds. No surprise that I set out to run the first half at or around 130 bpm and try to negative split.

I felt good and felt loose, except the last 2 or 3 where my hip socket was tightening. I'll just have to work on keeping it loose the next couple of weeks. I really enjoyed the cool weather.

13.99 miles, 3:04:41, 13:12 pace, 135 avg bpm, 156 max hr during mile 12, 13:18 1st half pace, 13:06 2nd half pace.

1. 12:54, 125 bpm
   
2. 12:55, 130 bpm
   
3. 13:29, 128 bpm
   
4. 13:27, 130 bpm
   
5. 13:26, 130 bpm
   
6. 13:17, 130 bpm
   
7. 13:39, 128 bpm
   
8. 13:15, 131 bpm
   
9. 13:01, 137 bpm
   
10. 12:56, 141 bpm
    
11. 13:02, 142 bpm
    
12. 13:13, 142 bpm
    
13. 13:00, 147 bpm
    
14. 13:13 pace, 147 bpm
    

I had 1.5 carbo loading meals. I felt I was going faster in the early miles and it was all due to the weather being cooler. And it was great to finish a longer distance run with out squishing in my shoes.

After a couple more emails with the race director at Odessa, she's going to look at the website she inherited to clear up some inconsistentcies for next year's race. I hope so. It's a very small race (58 marathon finishers and 140 or so half marathon finishers), but the FAQ's and other information should project what the organizers intend to deliver.

Taper week 2, run 1. Probably should've been 6 miles, but I felt like doing 8. So, 8 it was. No concern for time or HR, just want to execute it without getting hurt.

I was running through my mind the upcoming race with its unique starting time of an hour before the gun. Running through my mind the 525 mile drive to Odessa. I've checked the road construction schedule and it appears that nothing will be going on that's organized by the State.

I estimate an 8 hour drive +/- 30 minutes, including stops for gas and food. Between Houston and San Antonio to Kerrville (250 miles), the speed limit is 75 and west of Kerrville it's 80 mph. Out where it's 80 mph, the troopers will pull you over for 85 and 80 is fast enough. I enjoy driving, so it's a great journey for me. I'll spend Friday night in Odessa, then after the race, I'll drive to Kerrville on Saturday night, in order to be just past halfway for the Sunday journey home AND to visit one of the Texas Monthly magazine top 50 BBQ joints in Texas.

8.10 miles, 1;54:47, 120 avg bpm, 140 max HR during mile 6, 1st half 14:06, 2nd half 14:14

1. 13:54, 118 bpm
   
2. 13:55, 120 bpm
   
3. 14:11, 119 bpm
   
4. 14:27, 118 bpm
   
5. 14:31, 116 bpm
   
6. 14:07, 120 bpm
   
7. 14:08, 123 bpm
   
8. 14:06, 122 bpm
   

Ta-dah! When I don't care about time.

80 mph is the speed limit - wow! Of course, some folks in Georgia think it is 80 mph around Atlanta, but alas, in Ohio, everyone thinks it is 50 mph. Enjoy your last week of taper.

Of course, even going 80 mph, it takes way to long to get the heck out of Texas.

Have a good drive!

Michele "1L" Keane wrote:80 mph is the speed limit - wow! Of course, some folks in Georgia think it is 80 mph around Atlanta, but alas, in Ohio, everyone thinks it is 50 mph. Enjoy your last week of taper.

Mark B wrote:Of course, even going 80 mph, it takes way to long to get the heck out of Texas.

Have a good drive!

Thanks, y'all. On I-10, El Paso is aorund mile marker 10 and I think crossing the Sabine River from Louisiana is around mile 860.

You've been quiet lately, Ounce. And in taper, no less. You don't have to leave this early to get there, do you?