Tearin' up the track, trail or treadmill 5/12/08-5/18/08

[micki]

just popping in to say hello. I need to get out there and do 4 more miles today.

[debbiedo]

Micki, I bet the weather is nice like it is here. Go enjoy your walk!!!

[Suzanne]

Micki, WOOT on 100+ days smoke free! And WTG on all the miles walked. I bet you feel fantastic!

Today was a bizarre exercise experience. I started off jogging with DS riding his bike. Then one of the training wheels fell off (lost a nut so I could not do road side repair). We walked home pulling the bike. At that point DS decided she wanted to go "running" but the sun was pretty high in the sky. We decided to go run laps around the marina, most of the shops have awnings and there are some big trees, so lots of shade. The goal was 3 laps around the marina. After one lap the kids were too hot and tired (just as we got to their favorite lemonade pit stop, what a coincidence!) Fortunately, there is a shaded archway with a stair case on each side. It gets lots of air flow and no sun. So the kids had lemonade and I ran up and down the stairs about 50 times. It was a great work out for me!

[Tate]

Originally Posted by Suzanne

So the kids had lemonade and I ran up and down the stairs about 50 times. It was a great work out for me!

Sounds like they got the better end of that deal----I's take lemonade over 50 flights of stairs any day!!!! Good job on the workout, though!!!

[Tate]

I played r-ball tonight---lost all 2 out of 3, but I had some good shots even on the 2 games I lost.

Micki---hope you had a good walk

Dean---GOOD LUCK on your race this weekend!!!

[debbiedo]

I ran 4.5 ish miles. Not sure because I forgot Garmin. Took 49 minutes. Back was sore and I went slow. On top if it the humidity was brutal. Raining now and supposed to rain on and off the next few days.

Have a great race Dean.

Suzanne, I can't run with my son, He walks most of the time. I am just glad he is doing some exercise.

Tate, You may have lost but you probably got really good exercise. I think it is great cross training. No racket sports for me. I lack hand eye coordination and depth perception.

Micki, hope you had a nice walk. The day was really nice out even if it was super humid.I am assuming Pittsburg wasn't much different.

[Tate]

Rest day for me today. Have a great Friday all!!!

[debbiedo]

Rest day here too. Well I am working but no exercise.

Happy Friday!!!

[Suzanne]

Tate, WTG on the good shots--it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game!

Debbie, enjoy your rest!

Got a late, late start today but still got in 5K before I ran out of shade. My butt is sore from the stairs yesterday! I need to do that more often.

[mrgarak]

Hi All - It was a rest day for Sunday's race and a perfect one for it. It rained all day. Sunday looks to be nice in the morning. The forecast is calling for temperatures in the late 50's/early 60's around 10 AM (Race time).

Dean

[debbiedo]

meeting a friend at 7am.Not sure if we are doing 6 or 8 miles. I think we will see how we feel. we both have injuries. she has hamstring problems and I have back pain and hamstring pain which is rearing it's head since last Saturday's race.

Dean, have a great race.

[debbiedo]

ran 8 miles this morning at 7am with my friend. did it around 10:45 pace which is right where I like my long runs to be.

No rain yet today. Weather started cool but really nice to run in and sunny now.

[mrgarak]

Deb - Glad you got out for your 8 miles and hope your back is feeling better.

Dean

[mrgarak]

I'm up early and hyped for my fourth Stillwater Stampede race. The weather looks to be nice with it being 50 degrees now. The hourly forecast calls for 61degrees and a chance of showers at race time (10 AM). I say bring it on!

The Stillwater Stampede is held in Swartswood State Park (course description will be in my race report). I first ran this race in June 2004 when it was a 5 miler. It was my fourth race in my comeback and was a massive success. My time was 35:17 (7:03 per mile) which solidified my return to racing. To date, this is my fastest 5 mile race. I've done 50 races since my first Stampede and only two have been 5 miles.

In 2005, the race was shortened to a 5K (probably to avoid being on the main road too long). One loop was cut that got rid of a second journey up big hills and the main road. I finished the 5K in 21:39 (6:58 pace) which was cool. I hadn't raced in 6 months due to a lot of personal things going on during the winter and spring of that year.

There was a lot of hype for me running the race in 2006. A friend wrote a newspaper article about my running career and how I was ready to toe the line in the Stampede a third time. However, my grandmother passed away and her funeral was the first Saturday in June (race day). With family obligations being more important, I had to bow out.

In 2007, I was more than ready to run the Stampede again. However, it would prove to be a difficult race. The weather got very hot and humid the morning of June 2nd. The air was heavy with the humidity. To add insult to injury, my breakfast (a Slim Fast Optima Shake) seemed to lay on my stomach. After a fast first mile, I felt like I was going to blow chunks and slowed down in the hilly second mile. Leg strength would help me pick it up in the flatter last mile, but I still felt like garbage. My time was 22:35 (7:16 pace) which was pretty good for not feeling well. Even one of my friends knew I was not feeling good when I crossed the finish line. However, I took it as a learning experience and avoid milk products before races. The most I may have is a little in coffee three to four hours before racing which doesn't curdle in my tummy.

Today's Stillwater Stampede was moved to before Memorial Day to avoid hefty State Park fees. After Memorial Day, the parks charge to get in during the day. They let all runners in for free, but last year took a cut of the race proceeds for all the people who ran. This took a chunk away from the funds raised. What's the point of raising money for a good cause only to have a greedy State Park system dipping their hands into it? With the race moved to May, this will be avoided from now on.

Well, there is my history of one of my favorite races. I'm off to shave, shower and head to the park. Thank you for the good luck wishes and have a great day!

Dean

[debbiedo]

Can't wait for the race report Dean. I will be working till almost midnight and won't see it till I get home unless work is slower then normal and I chek email.

I feel good today. I wasn't sure how I would feel after running and then doing yard work. I even slept pretty well so I have hopes for my back being just a few bad days. I will be fine. I think I am anxious because I start a new training program Wednesday and the miles will start to increase. I am going to try and stick to a 4 day scedule but may end up doing 5 to get my miles up as things progress.

I better go get ready for work.

[mrgarak]

Hi All,

I'm back from my fourth Stillwater Stampede race and happy to say it was a good one. Despite hills and high pollen counts that threw my allergies into overdrive, I ran my 2nd best of the 5k installments of this race.

The race starts near the pavilion at Swartswood State Park and heads up the driveway. A quick left takes the runners around a curve past the main building. The course then proceeds out to the park entrance/exit, crosses the main country road and heads along the Duck Pond Path. This is a paved path through the woods with beautiful view of a massive pond. This part is mostly flat with one slight roll. At the end of this path is the first mile marker which I got to in 6:42.

Right as the first mile ends, it is a right up a large hill. It was here that started to feel the effects of the pollen on my breathing (stuffy nose and harder to get air in), so I concentrated on effort. I didn't want to get bummed and die out like I almost did last year (from my stomach hurting). The nice thing about this hill is that upon reaching the top, a downward slope starts. This then turns into a nice downhill where I let gravity take me. Then the course flattens out to a nice area with a few houses.

The course stays flat for a little while, then it is a right turn on to the main country road. It is here that a long uphill trek starts. I again concentrated on effort as opposed to speed, but really started hating this hill. At one point it looks like it will flatten out, but then goes up again with a steeper slope. Reaching the top was a blessing and there is a small downhill which was appreciated. Not long after this was the second mile marker. I got to it in 14:32, so I slowed down quite a bit in mile 2. I ran the second mile in 7:50 and was averaging 7:16 for the two miles.

Not to feel outdone, I swung my arms and picked up the pace. The course is mostly flat in the last 1.1 miles and I pushed myself. After staying on the main road for a little while, it is a left turn back into the park, passing the main building and a right into the lower camp grounds. It is here where campers cheer the runners and there were a few (even though it is early in the season). Despite my breathing feeling somewhat labored, I kept pushing myself and reached the curve which takes the runners back towards the pavilion. As I was heading back towards the main building, I could see other people entering the park and coming into the campgrounds. A few cheers and waves were exchanged with friends then it was a right and a curve down to the main driveway. I poured it on down the straightaway to the pavilion and the cheers of the crowd fueled my resolve. The last leg of the race goes under the pavilion and ends on the grassy field near the lake beach.

I crossed the finish line in 22:06 (7:06 per mile) and was happy. I knew I would not make 21:30 with the way I was feeling, but pushed to break 22 minutes. Even though I didn't break 22, I was gratified that I came back strong after the difficult 2nd mile. I ran the last 1.1 in 7:34 which averages to 6:52 per mile, so I was close to the pace of my first mile.

After catching my breath, I ran for about 11 minutes to cool down. Then I watched the 1 mile fun run and toddler race along the grassy field. Then the awards ceremony started and I won 3rd in my age group (male 40-49). The results showed me 30 out of 183 participants. There were many walkers, but well over 100 runners, so I thought my stats were great.

Out of the four Stillwater Stampedes, this is my third best. Granted it was slower than 2004 and 2005, but way ahead of last year. I can't complain because pollen allergies have always been a pain for me. Twelve years ago, I would have struggled to break 8 minute pace. There were a few races in those days where I nearly dropped out. The fact that I can run early 7 minute paces in these conditions shows that one can get stronger with age.

Now I am off to the post race party. Hope everyone is having a great day!

Dean

[Tate]

DEAN!!!

Awesome job, my friend!!!!!

[debbiedo]

wtg Dean. I think you did really well!!!

great race report too!

[Tate]

New thread.


Tearing up the track, trail or t-mill 5/19/08-5/25/08