Mercer Island Half Marathon

Last week I had a fabulous run on Mercer Island. Here are the results:

Mercer Island Rotary Half Marathon
Half Marathon Run
March 22, 2009 in Mercer Island, WA
Summary
Number of Finishers: 1,619
Number of Females: 799
Number of Males: 820
Average Time: 1:59:12
Chad Blanchard
bib number: 55
age: 35
gender: M
location: Seattle, WA
overall place: 160 out of 1620
division place: 31 out of 180
gender place: 132
time: 1:35:59
pace: 7:15
chip time: 1:35:01

I'm proud; that's my best run ever. I ran strong throughout and surpassed my own goals.

Official photography is by brightroom, and is, as usual for these things, vastly overpriced. There are a couple good ones of me in my endorphin haze, but I don't plan to splurge on the official versions.

Marathon Emotions

Running 26.2 miles is, on a whole, an emotional experience. It started half an hour before the race as I looked out across Memorial Stadium, and my mind drifted forward to the finish.

There were many more moments; since I tend toward the emotional in situations like this, when people lay it all out, give it their all, while others cheer for these, their temporary heroes.

During a long run, you have to be careful. The energy burst from a wave of emotion can drive you up and over the steepest hill, but it will also bury you if you let it. Trust me on this: I lived it during my 21 mile prep run two months ago.

The tallest roller-coaster high came around mile 17. I was fully in the long distance fragile haze of ups and downs, and had recently (a mile and a half prior) seen a friend while listening to “Flying High Now.”

Anyway, it was a period with a moderate number of spectators, and a mom had her four(ish) young kids lined up, watching the race. They were very interested; she coached them all to hold our their hands for high-fives. Excited, I angled over, smiled and delivered high-fives. I was careful to hit all their hands: it wouldn’t do to miss one, not at all.

A moment after, the “Stone Cold” Steve Austin kicked in; another moment later, I had tears flowing down my face, and I angled to the middle of the road, away from other spectators. It was too intense for me, I couldn’t be anyone else’s hero that day.

I don’t think I can properly express how honored I was to have four little fans who cared enough to get high-fives. I wonder if this is something they’ll talk about, or if they’ll even remember. Somehow, I don’t think that matters.

Seattle Marathon Pictures

More at http://chadsmarathon2008.shutterfly.com/

Quick Marathon Summary

I hope to write more later, below, I'll paste my twitters of the day. My race time was 3:47:27.

Home now, and bathed. I probably won't wear clothes for the rest of the day. This robe is comfy. Need to eat soon. My chip time: 3:47:00 about 1 hour ago from web
Finished! about 4 hours ago from txt
Mile 20! about 5 hours ago from txt
18 done 8 left about 5 hours ago from txt
Half way! about 6 hours ago from txt
Off we go! about 8 hours ago from txt
Clothes checked. Now to find start. about 8 hours ago from txt
Arrived Seattle Center about 8 hours ago from txt
Freaking out a little. In a good way. about 8 hours ago from txt
Buses work. Good start too day. about 9 hours ago from txt
Been through the checklist twice; nearly ready to leave. about 9 hours ago from web
I slept reasonably well last night; now I'm up having coffee before the final preparations. about 10 hours ago from web

Lessons from 21 Miles

Yesterday’s run was very difficult for a number of mostly unrelated reasons. I will list each difficulty along with what I suspect to be its root cause and my plan (if any) for countermeasure.

Problem: my back felt extremely tired and weak around mile 15.

Root Cause Analysis: I was wearing a long sleeved cotton t-shirt over a synthetic undershirt. While I didn’t get rained on, the sweat absorbed through the entire shirt and literally felt heavy. I believe the strain from running with that additional weight made my back sore.

Countermeasure: buy a better (synthetic and marathon ready) long sleeved shirt.
*******
Problem: general exhaustion for the last third of the run (approximately 10 miles in).

Root Cause Analysis: 1) While running up Holgate, to reach the spine of Beacon Hill, I hit a phase of good music. My pace was brisk, and eventually I passed a bicycle. While I felt great on my way up, once I hit the top, I thought my heart would explode. I was especially tired after that.
2) I didn’t eat much the day and morning before my run. It’s very likely that my overall nutritional status wasn’t where it should be for a 20+ mile run.

Countermeasure: 1) don’t sprint up hills; remember that there are many miles to be travelled.
2) Eat and drink well the day before.
***********
Problem: my toe bled some during the run. There appears to be no overall negative affects here.

Root Cause Analysis: This could have been caused by my socks and/or shoe fit. I have three different kinds of socks that I typically wear, and only one kind of shoe.

Countermeasure: use different, higher quality socks. I already own some that I think will work better.
**********
Problem: I experienced knee soreness less than halfway into my run. This led to inflammation, during and after the run and some weakness after.

Root Cause Analysis: Root cause unknown. This possibly has to do with my running form and mechanics. My shoes are good and well within their life span.

Countermeasure: none for now. I expect to be able to run again tomorrow, as scheduled. If problems persist, I may need medical attention.

The End

The iPod is dead. Like I've heard of the recent bank and financial institution collapses, the decline was slow, then it was fast.

The good news is, I had a relatively short run today, and the silence gave me more time to think about God and how God and the Tao are the same. Harmony in the world is often inharmonious seeming. Some days belong to the oak, others to the reed.

Marathon Miscellanea

I registered for the 2008 Seattle Marathon today. On the application, there’s a blank for projected finish time: I entered 3:41:24, which, I believe roughly corresponds to an 8 ½ minute mile. Barring illness or injury, I think that’s reasonable, especially when the passion of the day catches me.

The iPod is going to be a photo finish. The battery swap that I wrote about earlier has shifted the machine into a new and different phase of unreliability. The battery, once charged, seems to last for several hours. That’s the good news. It seems to last around the same amount of time whether it’s playing or dormant. It also has developed a habit of spontaneously turning itself off. That’s the bad news.

Random Run Bits

My iPod is circling the drain, so I've had a few relatively short runs without podcast or musical support.

As a consequence, "I've Had the Time of My Life" from the Dirty Dancing Soundtrack weaseled its way into my brain and wouldn't go away.

******
I've mentioned before that I almost always wave at other runners. Most wave back, or nod; some are too wrapped up in their run to notice me. Occasionally, people get really excited, like we're long lost friends. A flash of almost excitement shows in their face, and they typically say, "Oh! Hi!"

I wonder if, in their endorphin soaked brains, they're confusing me for someone else. Or maybe they really enjoy the brief connection with a fellow runner.

Crazy Thought of Today's Run

"What does a god care about the requests of mortals?" The god in question was, yes, myself, and the mortals were the construction workers. They had some streets blocked off and I was weaving in and around it all.

This thought came to me without irony. It only took a moment for me to regain my perspective... At best I'm a demigod.

Sunday

Five miles are very easy after having run twenty miles a couple days before.

Twenty

I ran twenty miles today.  According to my schedule, that leaves two (I think...could be three) super long runs before the marathon in November, with a smattering of runs in the ten to fourteen mile range.

I've learned to load my ipod's playlist with more song, and fewer long podcasts.  Music provides a significant boost that can push me through some of those tough miles.

I started by listening to a podcast about "Erotic Integrity".  This got me thinking fondly about the state of my own marriage.  We're in a fun phase and it feels like we're almost reshaping our marriage, but not because anything was broken.  We're sharing some adventures (such as a trip to couple's night at The Little Red Spa last Sunday), and it seems like our communication is easier and smoother than ever.

As I crossed the Montlake Bridge, I entered familiar territory:  I lived in the U-District for a few years, and went to school at UW.  I did my share of running on the Burke Gillman trail, and it was nice to revisit that old stomping ground in an old familiar way.  I spend a fair amount of time in that area nowadays, but I haven't run there for years.

On the Trail, I started crossing runners and bicyclists, not surprisingly.  I always wave at runners, if they make the slightest amount of eye contact.  I feel like it's an exclusive club, and everyone who is running belongs.  I don't care if they're barely jogging for a quarter mile, or in the middle of a megamarathon.  It's a cool club that I have tremendous respect for.  I even nod and wave at people running with their dogs, who are taking up the whole walkway.

It annoys me when other runners don't make an effort to acknowledge my existence.  Really, how hard is it to glance over and nod your head?

I ran all the way to the end of the trail; right at the edge of Ballard, by Fred Meyer.

A hippie chick on a bicycle was singing as she passed me.  At the time, it annoyed me because she was riding slowly, and when I know someone's behind me, I have to monitor them.  I don't want to be obstructive, and I don't want to get run over.  I've probably already mentioned here somewhere that I already start with something of a prejudice against bicyclists.

In retrospect, that hippie chick was fine.  She was doing her thing, I was doing mine, and there was no conflict.

My own sanity started to slip just a little on the way back.  It was nothing serious; a little sleep deprivation makes you way crazier.  I derived an unusual amount of satisfaction by crossing against the light in sight of a police car while the theme to the Dukes of Hazard played in my ears.  I had a whole non-defense ready, should I have been stopped:  "Yes, I know the law.  Yes, I broke it intentionally.  Yes, I'll do it again.  I've already run 12 miles, and I'm not concerned with laws like that.  Go ahead and give me the ticket."  But my rebellious attitude was wasted.

As I crossed the Montlake Bridge, this time on the way back, I saw a Children's shuttle.  I'm pretty sure the driver recognized me.  She kinda did a double take and smile.  I waved, and I think she waved back.  I was kinda hoping I'd see a shuttle, and I kinda hope folks I know were riding and saw me.  No exhibitionism here, no way.  I'm too humble for that.

I think it was then that Fred Eaglesmith's "Angel of the Lord" came on, which filled me with profound thoughts of humanity's decline.  I agreed with Fred:  if Jesus is coming, he better come quick, while there are still those who worry and wait.  At least it seemed profound to me then.

Bill Maher was dising on Sarah Palin when within a handful of blocks two, not one, but TWO, women in cars rolled in front of my passage.  I was not amused, and I ran my fingers along both cars as I squirted by.  Both were dusty.  Maybe that will give them a reminder to drive right, and not block sidewalks.  A little later a guy in a truck backed a few feet up, out of the line of the sidewalk.  I assumed that he did that so as not to block my path.  I waved and smiled at him, and he waved back.

A few miles later a guy who had seen me on the way out (over two hours prior!) cheered at me.  That was cool.  Somewhere in there Bonnie Tyler's "I Need a Hero" played.   It's really the music that makes me a little less sane while I'm running.  Not in a bad way, mind you.  You're already crazy to start a thing like this, so it's good to harness the crazy just a little.  I felt like a god walking (er running) on Earth, the white knight she was asking for, the hero.

A Battlestar Galactica podcast took me the rest of the way.  That's good, because you can't stay crazy and arrogant the way Bonnie Tyler can make you for too long out there.  It wouldn't be safe.

You can find the map to my run here.

There Can’t Be Too Many of These Left

I can only remember a couple other times when I can say, “I’m in the shape of my life.”

The first was in the fall of 1991, right after basic training (though I was also in quite good shape after running Bloomsday in 1 hour 23 minutes earlier that year). I’d put on thirty pounds of muscle and was a monster. Ironically, I couldn’t do all that many push-ups or sit-ups, which are the units by which I was measured at the time.

There were a few other peaks during that three year period; after I lost some of that basic training weight, the running, push-ups and sit-ups came easier. It was an active time of life when I bicycled a lot, ran a lot, and did my share of other exercise.

The next very notable period when I was ‘in the shape of my life’ was during my year with Oom Yung Doe. My flexibility, balance and overall strength was more impressive; this all peaked around March of 2001. Then I realized how unethical the operation was, learned that it was led and founded by a criminal.

Somewhere in there was the first ‘Run Up Colville Mountain.’ That may have been in 1999, or even earlier. I trained specifically for hill running during that go-around. Hmm, I remember my adversary’s (now ex) wife was pregnant with his first child at the time, so that must have been... eight years ago?

I was also in pretty good running condition during the first summer living in South Seattle. I had a new neighborhood to explore, and not a whole lot else in the way of hobbies. That was 2005. I was also in training for our third race up The Mountain (which I won), and I ran the 5-mile course during the Portland Marathon (in which I received an age group award).

This year, however, I’ve eclipsed all of my life’s running related conditioning. I’ve run over 8 ½ miles for the first time in my life. And over 10, and 12 and 14... In a little over a week, I plan to run 20 miles for the first time in my life. Of course, this should culminate in 26.2 on November 30th.

Looking back, the end of basic training, the end of my Oom Yung Doe year, and now, as I wind toward the latter phase of my marathon training, are all notable as different, yet equal ‘shape of my life’ periods. Only then have I exercised an hour or more per day, most days.

Now I need to convince my wife to take some naked pictures of me in order to commemorate this phase (no, they won’t be posted here). There can’t be too many of these periods left in my life: it takes a lot of time and energy to be this awesome!

New Personal Distance Record

I just ran 14 miles.

My pace was a little slow, but that's a-okay.

I don't enjoy my encounters with dog walkers and people with small children. Stay out of my fucking side of the path. It's annoying.

On the other hand, I give runners who are with their dogs or pushing their children the full nod and wave of respect that I have for all runners / joggers.

I was passed today, for the first time this year. While I want to chalk it up to the fact that I was working on my 14th mile, this guy was grooving along pretty quickly, and looked in exceptionally good shape. He also had a mohawk, which still annoys me.

Marathon?

We've caught some good weather this weekend, and I had a delightful 'long run' of nine miles. My pace was 8 minute 40 sec/mile which is most reasonable for that distance. I usually hover around eight minute miles, and I should go a little slower on those long runs.

Since March, I've been working my way through a training schedule. It increases my weekly mileage gradually, and builds in lighter weeks. Overall, I've responded really well to this sort of regimented schedule. In the past, I haven't had much of plan, aside from increasing my distance and time gradually (or not, depending on my mood).

I pulled up the next phase of the training schedule, the one that takes me from 'long runs' of 10 miles up to a full marathon, and compared it to a calendar. It synchs up nicely with the Seattle marathon in November. I'm afraid to commit to anything, I'm afraid to actually say, "I'm training for a marathon." Instead, I'm going to keep plugging away at my schedule, and see where I am at the end of the summer.

I'm basing my training on the information at marathontraining.com

The Unrepentant Asshole in Me

Today while running, I spit on two cars that were blocking the sidewalk. Well, the second one was only blocking 3/4th's of the sidewalk. I debated that one for a moment, but I had a mouth full of saliva when I reached it and let her rip.

Also, I flipped off a guy in his truck when he didn't stop for me, as I was standing in a crosswalk. He was driving too fast. He flipped me off in return: I was generally satisfied with the exchange. I'm glad he didn't stop and try to kick my ass, 'cause he probably could have: I was tired.

In further news of my descent into barbarism, I've come to prefer to blow my nose out-of-doors, or in a sink at home, to using a tissue.

Which reminds me, the Claritin has quit working. I've become a human snot machine, and need to blow my nose a lot these days. Maybe the Zantac will help. That pill bottle advises one to avoid alcohol while taking the pills. I'm not sure it's worth it. I also can't help but wonder if it's the 'destroy your liver' kind of avoid alcohol, or the 'you may feel double drunk' version.

Summertime

Summer is visiting Seattle and that means summer outfits.

It also means sunbathing girls with their bikini tops undone.

I love that in a way I can't even describe.

I went for my longest run in memory today: 8 miles, and those summer outfits and sunbathing girls helped keep me going.