Surfside Beach Marathon Race Report
It's been over a week and the race report is not finished. I don't know if it'll ever get finished. I don't have much enthusiasm to finish it. I can sum up the race in that it was great for the knees and ankles, bad for the quads and it may have been great for the quads if it hadn't been so hot. Either my stomach shut down, it was too hot and I underestimated the amount of fluids to take in or I'm just not cut out to go 26.2 miles in a short amount of time.
This was supposed to be my last marathon. I'm not saying never again but I will be looking at shorter running races this year and specifically in the ten-mile or half marathon length course. The marathon monster spirit may get into my head again but it's gone for now.
I worked the medical tent of the AT&T Austin Marathon yesterday and seeing the battered and fatigued marathoners just reinforced my decision to go with shorter distances from now on.
Labels: marathon, race report, Surfside Beach Marathon
Race Nutrition
Here's the breakdown of what I ate and drank during the race. Turns out that the total calories came in exactly the same as my BMR. Also interesting was the amount of sodium ingested at 4753 mg. I get sodium headaches real easy and not a hint of one during the day of the race. If I ate four small pretzels during a normal day that would be enough to give me a sodium headache. I estimate that 4753 mg is about double my normal intake.
See the race report below to see what form the food or drink was in and brands used.
- calories: 1754
- ounces: 101
- caffeine: 78 mg
- calcium: 223 mg
- fat: 10 g
- magnesium: 49 mg
- potassium: 904 mg
- protein: 33 g
- sodium: 4753 mg
- sugar: 179 g
Labels: breakdown, calorie, nutrition, race report
Austin Triathlon Race Report
Things didn't look good around 5:00 p.m. last night. The skies opened up, much like they did back on Memorial Day with the CapTexTri. That triathlon got cancelled and it was hard to believe this one was also in jeopardy of doing the same. The difference was the amount of rain. While there were strong showers they were brief, and while it would make for a muddy tri, at least it would go on. Luckily, I had wrapped the handlebars and seat.
The Austin Triathlon was using the same real estate as the CapTexTri. So it felt weird walking up to body marking this morning wondering if the weather would rob me of my first Olympic triathlon. It's a little strange doing my first triathlon of the season in September. I thought I would've been more excited but I was mellow about the whole thing. It could have been from lack of sleep, which was a first for any event. Normally, it'll take a while to fall asleep but eventually I do. Last night I didn't. Gathering my stuff felt like I was going through the motions. This held true all the way until the countdown to the swim wave start.
The expo had substance. The Hyatt Regency provided the venue and much of the same venders were there. The Austin Triathlon hit all the bases with the giveaways; a nice TYR bag, something to read (Triathlete Magazine), something to eat (Clif bar) along with some pretty good coupons and a great water bottle. Accelerade was the drink of choice at this race so I was extremely pleased. Oscar from Accelerade gave me a couple of temp tattoos so I ended up placing them on my upper arms above where my race number would eventually be inked. The only thing that was out of place was the color of my swim cap....BRIGHT PINK. I didn't get that one. I did buy a Bento Box for my gels, along with the Easy laces and some Clif Shots.
Last night at about 8:00 p.m. I checked the Austin Triathlon Web site and they had posted the official water temperature for the race. With the increased release from the dam, the water temp had dropped from 82 to 78 degrees, making the race wetsuit legal. I had a problem though. Both of my wetsuits were giving my shoulder problems. The constant pushing of the rubber material was causing shoulder tendonitis. I decide to chop the sleeves. After marking the cut lines, mirroring my Speedo tri-suit's lines, I took the scissors to the suit, knowing that if I messed up, that maybe the sleeves and legs could be used as arm and leg warmers on a cold, winter day's ride. The suit went back together just fine and my shoulders were free to move around which would free up my stroke.
Just before the swim start the officials announced a course change. Because of water currents, the course was adjusted from one bridge to another. No biggie. As I listened to Shawn Colvin sing the national anthem, and what an awesome job she did, there was a black swan at the end of the pier we were about to jump off of. I didn't know what to make of this. Was this a good omen? Was it bad? Did it not matter in the least?
It was our turn. Those that wore the pink swim caps. The last men in the water. There was supposed to be three minutes in between waves but it felt like 30 seconds. There was really no time to jocky for position. I put my head down in the water and started for the first buoy. The washing machine began with legs and arms hitting me from both sides. I looked up to try and move a little left. Systems check returned check on the wetsuit. It was working great. Check on the clear goggles. These were much better than my dark pair I'd worn many triathlons before. Check on the pink swim cap. Still there.
Following us oldtimers were the women's open wave, meaning the really, really fast women. I knew a few would come through our group, cutting like butter. Sure enough, a couple swam over me and kept going towards the first turnaround buoy. They were hauling ass. I tried to get behind and follow but they were motoring too darn fast. I settled back into my pace and kept going. Just after the second turn, oh maybe 700 meters into the swim I caught a large guy from the wave ahead of ours. A green capper. I accidentally swam up from behind and when he rolled and I kicked, I felt my left hamstring knot up. ARGH! Not now, I was just getting the feel of this swim. Relax. Relax the muscle. Tighter. Ouch. Ouch. OUCH!. The muscle finally gave a little and I started back into the stroke. I was a good thing I decided on the wetsuit so if the leg was going to be non-productive and I'd have to drag it, at least it'd float. And that's precisely what happened for the next 300 meters. It was a good thing the arms felt good. By the time I reached the last buoy the hamstring had calmed down enough to get some kick from the legs. I tried to make up for lost time and cranked it up a bit.
Looking back on it I don't know where that cramp came from. I mean it was early in the race, I'd taken in plenty of Thermolytes and salts before the race knowing it'd be hot and humid. The only thing I can figure out was the placing the leg in such a awkward position maybe caused it.
Transition one went well. I got everything and got on the road. However, in the first five minutes the handlebars had a problem. They weren't just loose, the bar ends would've dropped into the wheel if I didn't hold them up. CRAP!. I thought it wouldn't be so bad as I had planned to hold on for the entire ride anyway. The problem came with every bump or pothole in the road. They caused the allen bolts to come a little looser each time. I debated whether to go back to the bike mechanic, go back and get my allen wrench, stop on the side of the road and hope someone stops to help or throws an allen wrench my way.
The bike was getting hard to steer. Instead of only moving vertically, the bars were now moving horizontally and throughout 3D space. I debated what would happen if the bolts fell to the pavement. I knew what would happen. I'd hit the pavement so hard it'd make my wetsuit rubbed-raw area look like a mosquito bite. By the third lap I decided to stop and find something that I could use to brace the bars. Nothing. lesson learned. Carry the bloody allen wrench in the bag. ARGH! I hopped back on the bike and decided to make do for the remainder of the last lap. A couple of people said, "That ain't right" while looking at my situation. Somehow, I managed to get to the bike dismount line in one piece.
I was never so glad to get to T2 and then start the run. All of the emotions on the swim and bike legs exhausted my brain. I sat there in front of my transition equipment not knowing if I had everything. My heart rate was around 160 so I let it subside and drank some NUUN and Accelerade. Race number check, shoes, socks, check, hat, shades, check. Then get your butt in gear!
Given everything that had already happened, I decided the run would be uneventful. Run with a heart rate below 159 and enjoy the race and that's what I did. I stayed at about 153 and the legs felt surprisingly good, despite the earlier hamstring cramp. I could still feel the hamstring wasn't 100% so I just backed off of it a bit. It was just so humid (97%) and 75 degrees that I was losing a lot of fluids. Each water stop I grabbed one or two cups for the head. Some cold water sponges and the kids with cold water squirt guns were a big help.
The race ended with a little kick, cross over the timing mats and I was done. Put this to bed. Nothing left to do but grab a Fat Tire, some Accelerade and listen to the band on stage, while cheering some of the last few folks to cross the finish line. That's one of the great things about this triathlon. The spectators were given close access to the athletes and with three loops on the bike and two on the run, spectators could see all of the action.
Jack and Adam's really outdid themselves with this one. While I had my own problems, J&A did everything right, as did the volunteers. There wasn't anything lacking.
The end time was 3:06:35. I wanted to get under three hours and probably could have, not for the cramp and stopping on the bike, but it didn't matter. Next up, the Longhorn Half Ironman in about a month.
photosLabels: Austin Triathlon, race report
ATT Austin Half Marathon - Race Report
It was close but this race has become my favorite running race so far. It took a lot to unseat the 3M half marathon from last year but this year's AT&T Austin Half Marathon did it. I had a total blast before, during and after the race.
Before the race I got a chance to work on some articles for GoodHealth.com that increased my interest in the race but after last year's disasterous full marathon, I wasn't too psyched for this one. I wasn't running the full 26.2 miles and only going 13.1, but I couldn't get the motivation going. I hadn't really trained, running less than 15 miles per week and cycling most of the time on the trainer or lifting weights. My weight was up and I had lost quite a bit of aerobic fitness since October. I had only one goal at this point and that was to have fun. Actually, I had another goal and that was to run with Sydney and Da Fish. Da Fish got the flu the week before the race so he bowed out at the last minute.
The Expo proved to be enjoyable, except for the long line to pick up the packet. Last year they had good deals on running wearables and this year was true as well. I haven't been a big fan of my current running tights so I picked up another pair, a new top and something to cover the ears. Cha Ching! $100 left on the table.
Pre-event meals and prep went like clockwork. I rose without an alarm at 2:04 a.m. to drink my Boost drink. I had everything else ready and was out the door and over to Sydney's at 5:00 a.m. Her husband dropped us off as close as he could in the 30-degree cold, dark downtown morning. Drop off post-race clothing, a banner for work, and it was off for the ritual to empty the bladder.
By the time we got to the bridge for the start we were way in the back of the 12,000 racers. I spotted and 4:45 pace sign and made my way towards it. Like sardines packed in a can, we finally got compressed enough that there was no more forward movement. This seemed like a good seeding. It might have been a little slow but I felt we could always move forward. About that time the fireworks went off. It was a little unusual to see them in the morning, in the light. It was a nice touch though. It could've been disasterous if a breeze had been out of the north and had carried the smoke into the running crowd.
For the most part the race went, I won't say according to plan, as there wasn't a plan, but it went as I wished for. The first couple of miles were slow, the next eight were at a constant pace and the last two were fast. No issues with water, the one gel I swallowed, or clothing. The new tights were great, as was the rest of the stuff. I did at the last minute decide to wear the pair of Brooks, although they put big, fat blisters on my feet the last eight-mile run I ran with them. That last run must've broken them in a bit because they were great during the race. Come to think of it, the Asics did the same thing on a 20-mile run and then were my fave shoes from then on. I guess for me, the only way to break them in is to take them on a long run, no matter how many miles they were walked in.
There were more hills in this race and the downhills hurt worse than the uphills. Even today, I have some Tiger Balm on the quads. As the half marathoners split at the ten-mile mark with the full marathoners, I felt a great relief that I wasn't with the 26.2-mile group. The thoughts of the back pain, the quad and calf pain were ever present which then transferred into elation for having not to repeat that ordeal.
For some reason the heart rate monitor had a rough time getting started. Every time I brought the thing to my chest to change the time to heart beats, my other watch was hit on the lap button. This screwed up my first few splits. Eventually, I gave up and looked at the overall time, along with some good splits. Nah, the race was more for having a good time and not worrying about PRs or good splits. High fives with the kids, saying hi to the people that came out to cheer, yelling at the bands...that's what this race was about.
Sydney was like a clock. 10:34, 10:31, 10:44 for all of the middle miles. I asked her as we approached the capitol whether she wanted to speed up or slow down. She said the pace was good at 10:xx. Right after that moment, it seemed the pace picked up or people were slowing down. Mile 12 clocked in at 8:46. Yes, Sydney had picked up the pace and then some. As we approached Congress for the home stretch, people were lined up along the route. The first marathoners were coming in on the left. We were on the right. Sydney picked it up and started sprinting full speed towards the finish. I was right on her heels. We crossed the line and picked up our medals, a bottle of water and a bottle of Powerade. Great weather, great race organization, a great expo, great volunteers, great people to cheer and the list goes on and on. This race is my new favorite running race.
- number of HM finishers: 5133
- number of HM females: 3005
- number of HM males: 2128
- average HM time: 02:17:24
- my HM time: 2:17:17
- fun factor: 100%
Post race I chilled with Da Fish and his brother at the lake. Some of the Runner's World folks were in town, so we all grabbed burgers and beer on the deck of the lake. What a way to chill after the race. I had no problem downing fries and onion rings after running 13.1 miles.
Labels: Austin Marathon, race report, running
Motive Bison Half Marathon - Race Report
The folks at Motive really know how to put on a race. It's one of the best races in Austin and I had it on my list this year after having such a good time last year. The organizers leave no stone unturned putting this one together. They think of everything so all you have to do as a runer is show up and run.
This half marathon is not known for being one of the fastest. In fact, at mile 4.5 until getting to mile 5.5 is a 300 foot climb. Timing mats are placed at the start and finish and a race within a race is conducted. "King" and "Queen" of the Hill. Last year the hill kicked my booty and I walked a little and the hill affected my shins and calves the remainder of the race. This year, while I didn't make "King" I was able to climb the hill without stopping and it didn't affect the rest of the race.
We couldn't have asked for better weather. I woke up to 36 degrees but with no wind so it looked promising. And that's the way it stayed...no winds, no clouds with a gradual warm up making for 40+ degrees at race time. I raced in tights last year but went for running shorts and a long sleeved tech fabric shirt this year. With some gloves this was just the right thing to wear.
I had no real race strategy this time as I've been transitioning from base to strength training. I wanted to have a good time and enjoy the run. Having this as my goal seemed to work out the best and I should continue it in the future. I also hydrated a little too well the night before with Miller Lite watching UT fall to Kansas State. Eating burgers and sausage and downing suds was probably not the best pre-race food but I was lucky it didn't seem to affect me the next day.
I started out in the middle of the pack and took my time getting past people. In fact I didn't do my usual side-to-side-up-the-curb kind of thing. I just passed when laned became available. This caused the first mile to be a little slower at 9:55.06 but it also allowed my legs to get warmed up. I had shin issues last year and it may have been caused by going up and down the curbs zig zagging in between people. The second mile was relatively flat and the pace picked up to 8:33.33.
By the time we got to mile three we were getting into some rollers. Not big but enough to cause some slowdown or 9:28.84 for the mile. Between mile four and mile five was the big hill so mile four came in at 9:11.65 and mile five at 8:50.61. It took a couple of miles after that to get the legs settled again and try to get an even pace going. Mile six at 9:24.17 with some climbing and mile seven at 9:11.34. It was at this point I went back to a thought I had when I read about one coaches philosophy for the NY Marathon. He told his runners to act like they got dropped off at the wrong starting line for a 10K race and have to run effeciently, twenty miles and then start their 10K. I've always kept that in the back of my head but this is the first race I put it to work. I decided at mile seven to keep the even-paced miles going until mile 10 and then run a 5K.
Miles eight, nine and ten were pretty uneventful. Somewhat flat or with barely any climb I was able to increase the pace a tad to 8:51.00 for mile eight, 8:46.21 for mile nine, and 8:43.17 for mile ten. Once I hit the ten mile mark I started the 5K at an increased pace. From running a 7:40 pace at last week's 5K I wanted to see if I could do the same and also after running ten miles. Mile ten didn't reflect a quickened pace at 8:43.17 but mile 11 did at 7:51.45. Mile 12 came in at 7:46.12 and mile 13 at 7:38.24. Mile 12 was the roughest. Unlike last week where I didn't eat anything, this week I ate my usual yogurt, toast and Emergen-C. The stomach was fine for most of the race but mile 12 I seemed to loose a little energy in the legs. I hadn't stopped at any of the water/Gatorade stations and wondered if I was in need of some nutrition.
Mile 13 and the finish hurt a little as my legs felt spent, but it also felt like I had a kick. I was able to continue to pass people all the way to the finish line. I like how I felt during this race. It was almost four races in one or one with four phases. Start slow, find a good pace that can continue forever, then run a quick 5K and then finally kick for a 200 meters.
After the race there was plenty to eat and drink. Thanks go to Clif Bar, Sweet Leaf Tea, HEB Grocery, Jamba Juice and Accelerade for providing the refreshments.
Race Results
Time: 1:55:52.4 13 minutes faster than last year's time. 32 seconds slower than PR.
Position: 741 out of 1778 finishers
Age Group (male 45-49): 61 out of 110
Pace: 8:51/M last year it was 9:50/M
Labels: half marathon, motive, race report, running
