Friday, September 7, 2007
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
RnR half marathon race report
This past Sunday I ran the Virginia Beach Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon. There were 20,000 people plus a ton of spectators. The race was really well organized and there were a lot of people cheering and encouraging. The weather was great, starting in the high 60s. The sun wasn't an issue for the majority of the race either. It was a great morning for a run.
My goal and predicted finish time was 1:55. I finished at 1:56:30. I was able to maintain a 8:30/mile pace for the first 8 miles or so. At that point my legs started to tire. That's something to work on before the marathon. Still, I was very pleased.
My wife, Suzanne, hung out with me before the race and was a little tired and overwhelmed by the scene at the start of the race. 20,000+ milling about, all standing in line to use the toilet, warming up, sitting around, eating bagels, grabbing water and bananas.
After the race was not as well organized. As soon as you passed the finished it was very difficult to move. People were walking very slowly, which isn't good for recovery. It's better to keep moving for a while. After getting plenty of water and catching up with Suzanne, we bailed. All the runners and their families were descending upon the beach and it was turning into a madhouse.
Overall I had a good time. I wish I had scoped the city better for places to eat and celebrate. I am leaning towards doing the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon right around St. Patrick's Day next year as my spring marathon because it's close and because I'm familiar with a good part of the course. There is one overpass and that's the only elevation change which is really nice.
I will say that running on the boardwalk at VA Beach wasn't all it was cracked up to be. On the right was nothing but hotels and balconies. You couldn't see much on the left. The surface was really hard cement. And running past this huge statue of Neptune was distracting for me -- maybe I was the only one, but it was definitely surreal.
BTW, here is a picture of the mass of humanity.
My goal and predicted finish time was 1:55. I finished at 1:56:30. I was able to maintain a 8:30/mile pace for the first 8 miles or so. At that point my legs started to tire. That's something to work on before the marathon. Still, I was very pleased.
My wife, Suzanne, hung out with me before the race and was a little tired and overwhelmed by the scene at the start of the race. 20,000+ milling about, all standing in line to use the toilet, warming up, sitting around, eating bagels, grabbing water and bananas.
After the race was not as well organized. As soon as you passed the finished it was very difficult to move. People were walking very slowly, which isn't good for recovery. It's better to keep moving for a while. After getting plenty of water and catching up with Suzanne, we bailed. All the runners and their families were descending upon the beach and it was turning into a madhouse.
Overall I had a good time. I wish I had scoped the city better for places to eat and celebrate. I am leaning towards doing the Yuengling Shamrock Marathon right around St. Patrick's Day next year as my spring marathon because it's close and because I'm familiar with a good part of the course. There is one overpass and that's the only elevation change which is really nice.
I will say that running on the boardwalk at VA Beach wasn't all it was cracked up to be. On the right was nothing but hotels and balconies. You couldn't see much on the left. The surface was really hard cement. And running past this huge statue of Neptune was distracting for me -- maybe I was the only one, but it was definitely surreal.
BTW, here is a picture of the mass of humanity.
VA Beach, aka, Redneck Riviera
I figure more people are interested in the race report than my thoughts on VA Beach. So VA Beach comes first.
I have to confess that many of my tastes lean bourgie. I shop at Costco instead of Sam's so I don't feed the Wal-Mart beast. I like Target. I'm not a coffee shop kind of guy but I am a foodie. I prefer local restaurants to chains ("Hey, we're on vacation! Let's go to Applebee's! And Carrabba's tomorrow!").
How does this apply to VA Beach?
I have to confess that many of my tastes lean bourgie. I shop at Costco instead of Sam's so I don't feed the Wal-Mart beast. I like Target. I'm not a coffee shop kind of guy but I am a foodie. I prefer local restaurants to chains ("Hey, we're on vacation! Let's go to Applebee's! And Carrabba's tomorrow!").
How does this apply to VA Beach?
- I do not want to buy 5 T-shirts for $10
- I do not care that everything in your store is 50-90% off
- I do not need a T-shirt telling those that see me that I have an attitude, I like Harley's, and I really don't want a shirt with a drawing of a curvy woman with large breasts
- I do not want a paperweight full of imported shells to commemorate my visit
- While I appreciate attractive women just like the next guy, I do not want to see your hoochie butt hanging out of your shorts
- I think wife beaters are great in the gym or mowing the lawn, but not hanging out with 30,000+ of your closest friends
- I'm happy your store sells beer at 8AM. Really.
- I don't know if I want to go to a "sushi saloon."
Monday, August 27, 2007
Virginia Beach this weekend!
Woohoo! First big race since the last marathon! Suzanne and I are going to Virginia Beach this weekend. I'm running in the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon this Sunday. It should be fun. Hopefully the weather is nice.
There was one other race. Well, 2. I did the Race for the Cure in June but that was one of the hottest days of the summer. I did like 26:30 or something which is pretty good but it was just sweltering. On the 4th of July I did the Carrboro Four on the Fourth, running 4 miles in 32:41 or something like that. There was some great weather and that was probably the best race I've had.
Anyway, race report will be coming after the weekend. I won't be training with TNT this weekend. Saturday is TNT and Sunday is the race - need to rest.
There was one other race. Well, 2. I did the Race for the Cure in June but that was one of the hottest days of the summer. I did like 26:30 or something which is pretty good but it was just sweltering. On the 4th of July I did the Carrboro Four on the Fourth, running 4 miles in 32:41 or something like that. There was some great weather and that was probably the best race I've had.
Anyway, race report will be coming after the weekend. I won't be training with TNT this weekend. Saturday is TNT and Sunday is the race - need to rest.
Back to training
That's right, Team in Training and another marathon. This time Kiawah Island in December. My goal is to raise $2500 by then. The links on the right are updated. Expect letters and emails in the coming days.
I started a fairly intense 24 week program for this. I needed something to do between races and there was a lot of time between the last marathon and the start of this season. In other words, I needed something to do in the sweltering heat.
Let me tell you something. I have discovered that I hate summer. Hate it. I used to love the sun being out all the time, and I probably would in Minnesota. But getting up early to go running and the heat and humidity. Blech.
Anyway, TNT is up to 4 miles on Saturday. Yesterday (Sunday) I ran 17.5. This is "recovery week" which is good as you'll find out in the other post today.
I started a fairly intense 24 week program for this. I needed something to do between races and there was a lot of time between the last marathon and the start of this season. In other words, I needed something to do in the sweltering heat.
Let me tell you something. I have discovered that I hate summer. Hate it. I used to love the sun being out all the time, and I probably would in Minnesota. But getting up early to go running and the heat and humidity. Blech.
Anyway, TNT is up to 4 miles on Saturday. Yesterday (Sunday) I ran 17.5. This is "recovery week" which is good as you'll find out in the other post today.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
control
On April 20, 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold led the Columbine massacre. The church I was attending in Ohio was stunned. Here we were on the border of the Mid West and the North East, far from Colorado, and simply stunned. I think the nation was as well.
I remember vividly the sermon that day. Our preacher taught us that day that "God is in control." Despite the recent tragedy, God is ultimately in control.
I bought it then. I vehemently disagree now.
I have wondered since what God is in control of. Was He in control of the tsunami 2 and a half years ago? Earthquakes? Iraq? Sept. 11th? Katrina? When someone is raped? When a child is abused? When a drunk driver hits a car head on?
How is a family member of a victim of tonight's bridge collapse helped to hear that God is in control? I'm sure you would respond the same way: Then where was He tonight?
In my opinion religion does a service when it offers space for healing, grieving, community, and assistance. But let's face it. Whatever theology or understanding of God or Creator just falls short when tragedy strikes, for then the only thing matters is grieving and healing.
Where that leaves God, I don't know. I've wondered that for a while. I don't have good answers. Then again, Job didn't get any when he wondered these same questions.
I hope this is helpful. I hate watching news coverage of tragedies, but at times it's even more uncomfortable to understand why or how they could have occurred or how they could have been prevented.
I remember vividly the sermon that day. Our preacher taught us that day that "God is in control." Despite the recent tragedy, God is ultimately in control.
I bought it then. I vehemently disagree now.
I have wondered since what God is in control of. Was He in control of the tsunami 2 and a half years ago? Earthquakes? Iraq? Sept. 11th? Katrina? When someone is raped? When a child is abused? When a drunk driver hits a car head on?
How is a family member of a victim of tonight's bridge collapse helped to hear that God is in control? I'm sure you would respond the same way: Then where was He tonight?
In my opinion religion does a service when it offers space for healing, grieving, community, and assistance. But let's face it. Whatever theology or understanding of God or Creator just falls short when tragedy strikes, for then the only thing matters is grieving and healing.
Where that leaves God, I don't know. I've wondered that for a while. I don't have good answers. Then again, Job didn't get any when he wondered these same questions.
I hope this is helpful. I hate watching news coverage of tragedies, but at times it's even more uncomfortable to understand why or how they could have occurred or how they could have been prevented.
long time no post
More posts will be coming in the next few weeks. I'm running a half marathon Labor Day weekend in Virginia Beach, a half marathon in Raleigh in November, and a full marathon on Kiawah Island in South Carolina. The marathon will be through Team in Training again, for which I'm mentoring. You'll be asked for donations.
The bridge tournament was fun. We were eliminated early, but hey, we were there.
Part of this post is because the next post will be a little out of the blue, and the 3* of you that read this regularly deserve an update.
*estimate.
The bridge tournament was fun. We were eliminated early, but hey, we were there.
Part of this post is because the next post will be a little out of the blue, and the 3* of you that read this regularly deserve an update.
*estimate.
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