Philippians 4:13

Surf City USA Marathon

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15% off for Fast Running Blog members at St. George Running Center!

Location:

Idaho Falls,ID,USA

Member Since:

Apr 21, 2007

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

2007 St. George Marathon 2:32:06 (marathon PR)

2014 St. George Marathon 2:32:45 (close to old PR...7 years later!)

2014 Boston Marathon, 2:39:00, 298th OA, 8th AG, 1st Idahoan

2013 Lake Lowell Marathon, 2:48:34 (Course Record), 1st Overall (#6)

2012 Boston Marathon, 2:43:26 (HOT!!), 114th OA, 9th Master OA, 1st Idahoan

2010 B&A Trail Marathon (MD), 2:40:18, 1st Overall (#3), Master's Course Record (still!)

2010 Mesa Falls Marathon, 2:48:55, 1st Overall (#4)

2009 Pocatello Marathon, 2:37:22, 1st Overall (#2)

2011 The M.A.D. Marathon, 2:55:14, 1st OA (training run) (#5)

2006 Teton Dam Marathon, 2:50:48 1st Overall (#1)

2015 Hood to Coast Relay (195 miles), 1st Masters Team (6th OA), 19:59:57, 6:03 avg pace for the team

2008 Ragner Relay Del Sol (182 mile relay) 1st place team 17:04:37, 5:38 pace avg for the team

50,000 lifetime miles from spring 2000 to October 2019.  Computer logged 50,000 miles from Jan 2005 to September 12, 2020. 

Logged (on computer) 49,802 miles (2 x circumference of the earth) in ~5,700 days (8/23/20)

Logged (on computer) 24,901 miles (circumference of the earth) in 2,889 days (11/29/12) http://jeff.fastrunningblog.com/blog-My-alarm-went-off-I-got-up-eventually-/11-29-2012.html  

Short-Term Running Goals:

Keep on running, enjoy it for the sake of running, relax and enjoy life...de-stress.  Stay fit as I enter retirement in < 4years.

No racing, retired.

Long-Term Running Goals:

Keep running until this old body says no, running for fun.

Personal:

 I started running competitively in 2005 and ran my first marathon in 2005. Now retired from competitive racing.

Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer;

answer me, for I need your help.
Protect me, for I am devoted to you.
Save me, for I serve you and trust you.
You are my God.
Be merciful to me, O Lord,
for I am calling on you constantly.
Give me happiness, O Lord,
for I give myself to you.
O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,
so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord;
hear my urgent cry.
I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble,
and you will answer me.  - Psalm 86:1-7

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Miles:This week: 16.00 Month: 157.50 Year: 484.55
Runs With Moxie Lifetime Miles: 12491.60
Vibram Five Finger Bikila Lifetime Miles: 137.80
Saucony Xodus 2011 Lifetime Miles: 982.61
Saucony Fastwitch White 2019 Lifetime Miles: 1960.23
Saucony Guide Yellow 2019 Lifetime Miles: 1187.00
Brooks Launch 6 Red 2020 Lifetime Miles: 2227.00
Zoot Solana Tigers Lifetime Miles: 877.00
Nike React Infinity Black Flyknit 2021 Lifetime Miles: 960.90
Nike React Infinity Blue Flynit 2021 Lifetime Miles: 602.00
Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 38 Lifetime Miles: 667.00
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
47.6029.200.000.0076.80
Saucony Cortana Miles: 26.20Saucony Ride 2 2011 Miles: 33.60Saucony Xodus 2011 Miles: 11.00Runs With Moxie Miles: 5.00
Race: Surf City USA Marathon (26.2 Miles) 02:46:27, Place overall: 7, Place in age division: 2
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
0.0026.200.000.0026.20

First off, Congratulations to Gray who did awesome running a negative split for a 2:37 and second overall!  He just took off from me at the half point and sucked up runners and ran a strong race to the finish!  Look out, he is a force in the marathon to come.

Now the rest of the story...

Gray and and I awoke around 3am and made our way to Huntington Beach around 4:30am to get a close parking spot.  As we were leaving the hotel, two guys who were at the hotel for a Fox convention that we had seen on Saturday were just stumbling back in from a hard night of partying.  When the saw us and found out we were heading out to run, one guy blurted out a loud "WTF!".

We chilled in the car for a bit and went down to the start to use the facilities and check out the logistics.  We waited in the lobby of the Hilton for about an hour to stay warm then worked out way to the elite starting area and met a few other runners and did an interview with a Podcast guy (MarathonRadio).  Due to the fuel for this race, I wore a fuel belt with 5 PowerBar Gels...glad I had them as I would really need it later in the race!  PowerBar is the best!  I hated wearing the fuel belt and it frustrated me all day.  Around mile 6 as we were running through a park and past an aid station, some young girls started laughing.  Another runner (Martin) indicated that due to all the messing around I had been doing with the belt to get it to ride right, my split shorts had hiked up and my buttcheek was full hanging out...so I was flashing the crowd!  Hope you liked the view girls!

Started off well and had a great group of runners through mile 11 just running easy and chatting alot.  This section ran you along the beach for 3 miles then turned inland and uphill for a bit to a big park which we circled then headed back to Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) which was totally closed down for the race.  At 11 miles we turned north on PCH and ran about 2.5 miles then did a 180 degree turn. 

Gray and I and a 2 other runners were right together at the half (around 1:19).  Gray and Craig started to pour it on here and I let them go as I was feeling a bit fatigued but not running too bad.  Martin also started to pull away around mile 15.   I ran ok through 17 miles, then after that my left hammy started to get that crampy feeling so I dialed it back a bit which I hated!!  At the 16.5 mile mark you do another 180 degree turn and head north again on the boardwalk adjacent to PCH.  I was running solo here and it was lonely fighting the wind plus the cramping was starting to hurt. 

At 21 miles, the last of the 180 degree turns to head south to the finish on the boardwalk.  Still fading a another runner (Ben) who was with us early passed me.  But, I also passed Craig who went with Gray at the half way mark (he was fading bad, poor guy).  At mile 23, my left knee twinged a bit and just another issue to cause me to slow down.  A runner passed me at mile 25 and I just couldn't go with him.  I tried to push with all I had to hold off 2 more runners who were coming on and just made it to the finish ahead of them. 

Overall I am pretty happy with the race as it taught me what I need to work on for Boston (longer progression runs with Gray!).  I felt mostly good through 18 miles then just started to feel it in my legs.  I was shooting for a few minutes faster but will take a top 10 result and notching a marathon in my 10th state. 

I wore the Cortana's for the race to see how they would work as a replacement marathon racer.  They were ok but my forefoot kept getting really sore (starting around 11 miles) so I had to change my stride periodically to a heel strike to wake my foot back up.  For Boston I will definitely stick with the Tangents and keep my search up for the replacement (probably the Saucony Mirage).  I think the Fastwitch or Mirage will be the next go to marathon racing shoe.

I also had a recurrence of something that happened right after St. George.  While standing in line for the massage, I suddenly and for a short period of time had a hard time taking a deep breath and talking, like I had a touch of exercised induced asthma.   I might have this checked out this year.  I did ask a doc about this issue and he indicated is was likely just a bronchial spasm which are not uncommon after hard exercise..whew!

Gray and I hung around the expo afterwards for a while, got a massage a beer and our awards  (they only went 1 deep in the marathon for OA but 3 deep in the half, what gives?  So Gray got second place but only an AG award).  Drove back to the hotel, showered and hit the road for the airport. 

We had a great trip and will try to the get our IF running group to put this on the calendar for a destination race for everyone in the next couple of years. 

Splits:  6:08, 6:09, 6:04, 6:08, 5:45, 6:02, 6;00, 5:58, 5:58, 5:54, 6:07, 6:19, 6:07, 6:10, 6:19, 6:10, 6:14...crash 6:36, 6:36, 6:50, 6:49, 6:29, 6:44, 6:56, 7:02, 0.2(0.31) - 1:54.

Post script:  Now after running Boston in April in my Tangents in horrible heat, I know that wearing the Cortana's affected my running ability and time for such a long run. My feet were great after Boston in much worse conditions.  The pronounced forefoot strike and low heal drop on the Cortanas are great for training but not racing marathons.  I think I lost 3-5 minutes just due to the impacts the shoes had on my feet and stride.

Saucony Cortana Miles: 26.20
Comments(20)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
1.000.000.000.001.00

I slept in and am taking today as a rest day.  Hard to be back in chilly Idaho Falls after 4 days in So Cal...but seening my family certain makes up for it.

One mile powerwalk around the park just to get outside and in the nice weather.  Left hammy still a bit tight so I will continue to rest it.

Comments(1)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
3.501.000.000.004.50

An early morning flight. After arriving at the hotel I drove up to the Hanson's running store in Utica, MI to check it out. Nice store but nothing on Teton Running! 4.5 miles on the nice TM at the hotel in 30 minutes before beers and dinner. (Ride)

Saucony Ride 2 2011 Miles: 4.50
Add Comment
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
8.100.000.000.008.10

I slept in and felt a bit stiff but managed to get to the TM before breakfast and a full day of meetings for a 5K in 21:30.  Nice start to the day. (Ride)

After a great day of meetings, we drove to the hotel by the airport and I ran 5 miles on the TM in 34 minutes before drinks and dinner with the guys.  A good day (besides being away from home) and feeling mostly recovered from the race on Sunday. (Ride)

Saucony Ride 2 2011 Miles: 8.10
Add Comment
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
5.002.000.000.007.00

7 miles on the hotel TM in 48:20.  A nice progression run (6:58 - 6:15) early before breakfast and heading home.  A good trip, but it will be nice to be home for a while (before the next business trip!).  (Ride)

Saucony Ride 2 2011 Miles: 7.00
Comments(1)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
16.000.000.000.0016.00

11 miles with Curt in 1:22 early this morning.  We ran through SRL to Broadway and back then down Sunnyside for a bit.  A great run with a great friend having a great time.  We ran into Marlin and Andrea out on the run...good to see people out on this warm snowy morning. 

Kami convinced me to go to spinning with her, so I did 25 km (~5 miles equivalent at an easy pace) in 55 minutes.  THEN she had us lift for about 30 minutes...I am tired!

Saucony Xodus 2011 Miles: 11.00
Comments(2)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
14.000.000.000.0014.00

I got up early and went out for an untimed 5 mile run with Moxie.  I got home and started to get ready to take my son to his swim meet, but he woke up feeling pretty sick, his throat so sore he had a hard time breathing...so no swim meet. 

I was able to then meet up with the group on the corner and ran with Curt, Andrea, Lynette and another for about 4 miles.  They kept going on around the river, I turned around at Broadway and headed back home through SRL.  I ended up with 9 miles in 1:09 for a good 14 miles for the day. (Ride)

Time with the family today and a get together with the running group at The Cellar tonight.  Yesterday my son and I played some chess and he was very close to beating me so he wants a rematch today.

Runs With Moxie Miles: 5.00Saucony Ride 2 2011 Miles: 14.00
Comments(3)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTotal Distance
47.6029.200.000.0076.80
Saucony Cortana Miles: 26.20Saucony Ride 2 2011 Miles: 33.60Saucony Xodus 2011 Miles: 11.00Runs With Moxie Miles: 5.00
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