Give Thanks 8K

I spent part of my Thanksgiving morning being a course marshal at the Give Thanks 8K here in Athens. Proceeds went to help Meals on Wheels, so I was eager to pitch in however I could.

It wasn't like prepping for a race, but it felt like it. The Atlanta weather types talked about it being the coldest turkey day morning since 1911, so I started the day with a shake of the head, knowing I was about to stand out there in mid-20 degree temperatures. I vividly remember being cold while marshaling February's Tuscaloosa Half, and even shared the story, so I bundled up. Tights underneath jeans, hoodie, heavy coat, etc. I overdress all the time because I hate being cold out there.

The way things played out, a lot of my concerns were non-issues.

For one, marshaling an 8K is different than it is for a half, for obvious reasons. I was at mile 2, so it took about 30 minutes for 300 runners to go by. Plus, I drove to the meeting point and then to my designated spot, so I sat in the car, drank coffee, played with my phone, and only stood my post when the race actually started. When I ran the spot in February, all three of those options didn't exist-- I was cold and bored.

The race directors did a good job of making me feel important, as well. They went out of their way to thank us, and my instructions and where to be were very clear on the Google map that was printed for me. They even indicated how long I'd be out there, and the times they wrote down were spot on.

My friend Dustin, who owns a local running shop, was in third position as he passed by. The leader wore his race shirt. Some folks wear their race shirts during the race, and that's fine. But I consider it a bit tacky and a minor faux pas. The thing is, if you aspire to win, as this guy did, uh-uh. Culture violation, five-yard penalty. Dustin said the guy wound up taking fifth.

Once the last of the runners passed, I drove back to base camp, which is our Saturday morning postrun coffee shop. Great crowd and great energy. I didn't stay long, because by now I was tired and hungry, and still had to get my own run in for the day.

So it was a good race to be a part of and help with. A good cause, too.

What I Don't See

The weather we've had in Georgia is nothing like the winter weather the rest of the country has seen, but it was cold and rainy most of the day, meaning I went out for today's seven-miler at about 5:15 this evening. This comes with a confession-- I drew motivation from the First Lady, who suited up and went to her group event in the same conditions.

The sun was on its way down for the evening, so there was daylight for the first two miles. That was helpful because I ran through a parking lot and behind a strip mall, so I could see where to put my feet and avoid puddles.

Darkness had set in by the time I headed for the golf course subdivision, my 'home course' where I usually run. Typically I'm pounding during the day, but this was the first time I'd been there after sunset. I saw a lot of things I typically don't, and it was a great experience. I never knew where the street lamps were previously, and I always seemed to be underneath one when a quarter-mile split came up on my watch.

The houses I run past just look large and spread out in broad daylight-- sort of like a casino in Las Vegas for how immense they seem. At night they seemed a little creepy. A few porch lights were on, a bedroom was lit, maybe a few Christmas lights as well. This was in contrast to the Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations that are cute and fun to see during daylight runs. There was enough chill in the air tonight to inspire the first hickory-wood fire of the season. I smelled the same one on the way out and on the way back, and it was remarkable.

There's a small lake in the middle of the subdivision where I've seen a flotilla of five ducks swimming, as well as ten thousand pinpricks on the lake during a light rain shower. This time, the fountains in the lake were lit up and in action.

And deer. Early on, I saw a car that didn't seem to be making any progress. The reason became clear, as three deer were either in the street or grazing in a yard. The driver's tactic was a smart one, and one I would have followed. But as a runner, deer make me a tiny bit nervous. Call it a natural aversion to things/creatures that are bigger than me. Thankfully it didn't take long for the deer to scoot back into the wooded area nearby.

As for the run, it took a bit to get pace dialed in, but I did run my seven at 8:53 pace after a first mile of 9:30. But I'll remember what I didn't normally see as much as anything.

Race Report, Alert 10K

During my most recent purge, I donated some old race t-shirts to Goodwill. I know there are groups that will make quilts out of old ones, but we really don't need one, and we live in small enough quarters as it is.

What I did do is take pictures of the shirts I gave away. My plan is to tell you about the races they represent, and where I was as a runner at that point in time. 

First one:

The radio station I worked at publicized the race,
and I wrote the ad that we played. The back of this light-brown shirt
 has a scripture verse and a list of sponsors.

This shirt is the first of three I earned from the Alert 10K Road Race, hosted by the Alert Covenant Church (with help from the Manhattan Track Club) near my old stomping grounds of Clay Center, Kansas. Alert is a small community between Green and Randolph, and the church that hosted it is on the aptly-named Green-Randolph road. I believe proceeds go toward their youth programs. 

It was fun because Joe Moore attended this church, and he was a standout track and cross country guy for nearby Clay Center Community High School and later at Kansas State. Joe would run this race every year and bring along some of his KSU running buddies and put up race times in the mid-30s. Yikes. 

The race was very close to home, so I rolled out of bed, had a bagel and maybe a sports drink, and drove the seven or so miles to the event. I ran this race in 2003, and I was not really a racer at this point in my life, plus this may have been my second race ever. Six miles still seemed a little daunting, and I knew nothing about pacing or upping tempo or anything. I was more concerned about finishing with my legs still attached.. 

Following a brief prayer, the race was run along the Green-Randolph road in front of the church, and then turned onto the dirt/gravel roads behind the church. The late-April weather was a little cool but still very pleasant, so it was a great day for a run.

I do not remember any hills as I have come to know them-- this course was mostly flat with one sort of incline around mile 5. If I had known any better, I could have run well and put up a good time. Instead, I was happy for a time of 58+, which was an improvement over my first 10K (1:02:10). 

This was the fifth edition of the race, so the support was excellent. I would go inside the parish hall and get some of the excellent church food (casserole, anyone? yum!), and enjoy the morning with friends who also came out. The kids had a one-mile race (thus increasing the chances they would go home tired), and we would go out to support them. 

The best I ever did, age-group wise, was maybe sixth a few years later, so there were no Shiny Metal Objects for me this day. Definitely a good race-- they held the 15th annual event this past April, so it's still going strong. 

Shoe Review, Nike Pegasus 30

I just realized I didn't do a product review on my newest pair of kicks, the Nike Pegasus 30, or these guys here:

Nike Pegasus 30 that went out for a test drive

We got to try these dudes out when the Nike rep showed up at Monday running group about two months ago. I had only walked around the running store in older versions of these and they felt different than the shoes I already had, so I was a little skeptical. But it was a chance to run a five in free shoes. I'm not sure how it works, but I think the shoe company gets to donate the gently-used shoes and get a tax write-off or something.

Anyhow, we took off on our normal route, and they were incredible. Lightweight, spongy, comfortable, and barely noticeable on my feet. I ran briefly with the rep and told her as much. I had never worn shoes like this before. Ever. This was a great five-mile run, and I didn't want to take them off.

These were the shoes I picked up a few days later.
 I've switched the red laces for the black elastic version.

As it turned out, the happiness was not over, since they put everyone's name into a hat (a little over 20 folks) and drew for a free pair. Now I never win drawings, but I threw my name in there. What the hell, right? So I was as surprised as anyone when they called my name as the winner. My two previous shoe purchases cost me $90 combined and I thought that was pretty good until this happened.

I ran the Athens Half Marathon in these shoes, and I am up to about 60 miles total. There are five pairs of shoes in my rotation, and they are all comfortable and take care of my feet. However, it's a good day when I get to wear these out for a run, so my level of satisfaction remains very high.

I know Nike has a reputation, what with their business practices and everything. But these shoes are incredible and are causing me to rethink my status as a non-Nike customer.

Product Review, Brooks Adrenaline GTS 14

This evening featured my Thursday running group. Fun folks, most of whom are different than the people I see on Monday nights. A nice, easy run of 5.4 miles, 8:50 pace. Good stuff.

There was a bit of a plot twist, though. The Brooks shoe rep stopped by with a supply of these:

New Brooks Adrenaline GTS 14

I am a Brooks guy-- I ran in the Adrenaline 11 and 12 (marathon shoe), but scoring some free and some inexpensive shoes from other brands means that I haven't bought from Brooks in a while. That being said, they are outstanding shoes, and I enjoyed my five-miler. My buddy got the size 9.5 just ahead of me, so I ran in a 10 and had no complaints.

As far as shoe reviews, I can't tell you what's different, though I read the breathability of the fabric is improved. So I am no help when it comes to advanced technical stuff. What I do know is that this shoe is as comfortable as I remember them being, and I loved running in them, even though my shoes were a half-size too big. If you're out there running and you aren't thinking about your shoes, then you've got good rubber on your feet. That's what happened to me. I wouldn't even know they are stability shoes just by the way they felt. I guess that's why Brooks calls them their go to shoe. I'd definitely recommend them.

They had a good beat and they made my feet feel like dancing. 4.5/5 stars.

Running swag included a couple of blue Brooks headbands and this decal:

Born to Run

A few weeks ago, I finished reading Born to Run, by Christopher McDougall. I had to return it to the library and check it out again a few weeks later to get the job done. Nice knowing I'm not the only one who wanted to check it out.

I think most of you know the basic premise of the book-- McDougall wants to run without pain in his foot. He comes across the Tarahumara Indians and learns they can run seemingly forever without injury in sandals. So he heads down to the dangerous Copper Canyons of Mexico on the field trip of a lifetime. I won't bore you with plot lines and connective tissue, but I'll share my thoughts on an excellent read.

For the record, I haven't tried minimalist/barefoot running-- no need. I have been blessed with outstanding health the last several years, with my last big ding being a pulled calf muscle about seven years ago. The standard shoes I wear, stability then and neutral shoes now, have not caused injury. I am not a hard heel striker, but the one thing I have done is pay attention to my per-minute stride count, which has stayed right around 176 for the last several years. This seems to have me making first contact right around the heel-midfoot area, without problem.

McDougall does an excellent job of painting a picture throughout the book. Whether I'm in the Copper Canyons with Caballo Blanco, in the bus on the way south, racing in Colorado, or partying in El Paso (my hometown, though I could've found them something better than a hotel bar), I felt like I was in the moment with these people. Even during the big race, I was just as thirsty as they were. I could see the sunshine and feel the chill of the Copper Canyons when they went out for early-morning runs.

The book also gets into the reasons of why man has been running for thousands of years, and why our bodies look the way they do. Fascinating discussion.

I particularly enjoyed the tail end of the big race. Serious effort has been spent, and now there is a serious after party. Sitting in the background, cold beer in his hand and with a feeling of satisfaction on his shoulders, Caballo sits and surveys his creation. This is what happened when he hoofed it into town every once in a while to use the spotty dial-up Internet to generate interest in his idea. Some of the greatest runners on the planet ran an insane course and are now sharing the experience.

This is the brother/sisterhood vibe I get amongst fellow runners-- the common enemy and experience bonds us and brings us together. It's what I feel in the coffee shop and in the parking lot before and after my group runs. Sometimes we talk about the run or running, other times it's about the Georgia game, or whatever. It's such a feeling of unity, and it's no small part of why I head out there myself.

Born to Run is definitely worth your time.

Race Report

I ran my third half marathon earlier today-- the Athens Half Marathon.

First thing was 5:05 am. I'm always afraid of sleeping through an alarm and being late, so I got up even before the coffee pot started. Two cups of pumpkin spice java, one slice of peanut butter toast and a banana, and we got parked a little before 7:00. There was an Athens Road Runners group photo to show up at, at which time I discovered crisis #1-- my Garmin locked up. Swell. 

I somehow pushed the right buttons and the watch reset, and we were fine. No luck in finding a port-a-hooter, so I had to pee the whole time. But things worked out OK on that. 

I found my way into corral #2 with ten minutes to spare (a record) and took off. Temps were in the upper 40s, so I kept my wind pants on over my shorts, and I wore my red, long-sleeved ARR shirt, and Nike Pegasus 30s completed the outfit. My only fuel was a pack of sport beans and my water bottle, which I hardly notice anymore. 

The course was very tight, with cones marking off one lane of traffic throughout, so a challenge was to accelerate and pass and then return to base pace, without losing too much energy. My first mile was 8:53, so it didn't take as long to find pace as it usually does, and I felt good early on, but I was wary of going out too fast. Early quarter-mile splits were very good, 2:07 and below, so I was under goal pace. I felt good through the first half of the race, so I decided to keep the pace up and see how long it would last, and I passed halfway at 55:00, which is right at 1:50 pace, but I knew my first mile was a tiny bit slow. I even passed the 1:50 pace group at about mile 5.

However, the first half was also the flat half. Hills near mile 6, 10.5 near Sanford Stadium, and 12.5 (ouch) were all challenging. I focused on steady effort, since I felt good about my ability. 

I also want to talk about the First Lady, who got up at 6:00 on a Sunday morning to support me and lug my stuff around. She is my biggest fan, and I was very happy she wanted to come. 

The volunteers and crowd support were also awesome. Race proceeds go toward music/arts programs in Athens, so there were musicians at every mile. Much of the race was either on the Georgia campus or through town, so the townies were out in force. Let me be very clear about something-- supporting runners like that cannot be underestimated. The signs (including my favorite, Pain is Temporary, Pride is Forever-- I well up just typing it), the cheering, the drink stops, even the Methodist preacher working a drink stop at mile 2, all mean so much to those of us who are in our own little purgatory. I know it meant a lot to me.

I also became more of a Georgia Bulldog fan, since members of the men's basketball and gymnastics teams manned the final drink stop, on campus. College kids, up early on a Sunday. I was wowed by their show of support. I've marshaled at mile 12 of a half, and I was there by myself for 4+ hours, so I know those kids were there for a while. I plan to repay it by wearing red at some UGA games and meets.

Meanwhile, my quarters were drifting close to 2:00, even under it a few times, so I chose to continue at this pace until I couldn't anymore, as I realized I was going to put a good number on the board. I even allowed myself to do math on beating 1:45, but the numbers and my body wouldn't allow it. The suffering began at about 8.5, but I felt reassured, since everything we ran was familiar-- we ran nearly every inch of the course during group runs. This gave me a lot of confidence. 

After the hill/hairpin turn at 10.5, I could start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Mile 12 took us past the opposite end of the stadium, and I couldn't run past here without a smile. Amazing support. Mile 13 (after a high five from the First Lady) got us into Sanford Stadium and onto the jumbotron, as we ran around the field near the famous hedges. My last two miles were 7:57 and 7:48, so I finished well, even with that last hill at mile 12.5. The finish area was very tight, as it was right outside the UGA student union building. All I wanted was to keep walking, but it wasn't really possible, because of the mass of humanity all crammed into such a small space. I also saw some of my running friends at the end.

My watch said 1:47:52, so that's what I'm going with until I see something official. Average mile pace was 8:15, or :09 per mile slower than last year's Huntsville Half, and on a much more challenging course this time.

Though it wasn't a PR, I am very, very pleased with the time and the effort. I look forward to building on this effort.