Run Raleigh Half Marathon 2013 Race Report -- AKA The Beast of Ashe Ave.

I hadn't panned to run this race because of it proximity to both the Tobacco Road Half and allergy season.  However, Hiroko's former employer's were one of the sponsor and were were able to a free entry while she was still employed with them, so I decided to run. 

 

Pre-Race: 

 

Prior to the Tobacco Road Half Marathon on March 17th, I was fighting injury and worrying about finishing the race.  Following that race, things got really hectic, and I decided to just give myself a bit of a rest until this race.  I ran some shorter runs, but nothing more than five miles.  I biked to work, and began stroller runs with Kaito, who would be turning 6 months old on the day of the race. During the Tobacco Road Half, I stayed with the 2 hour pace group in hopes hitting that mark and not pushing my injured calfs too much.  After the race, I felt like this might have been a mistake and that I could have run harder earlier in the race without really effecting the end of the race.  So going in to the Run Raleigh Half Marathon I had it in my mind that I might just run at whatever pace felt good and not worry about fading at the end.  This decision was aided by the knowledge that there a big fat hill  sitting right on the 12 mile mark that I was planning to walk up unless I just felt amazing when I hit the hill.

 

Start of the Race:

Start of the Run Raleigh Half Marathon: I am 759

Mile 1-3: I started behind the 2 hour pace group, but worked my way up to them by the end of the first mile.  I attempted to do as little waeving and dodging as possible before the everyone thinned out.  Luckliy, this race is still on the smallish side and run on pretty wide streets so I was able to keep on a fairly straight line.  Shortly after the 1 mile Mark, I passed the 2 hour pace group and decided that regardless of the outcome I was going to push myself and run at a pace that felt right.

 

Mile 1: 8:57

Mile 2: 8:48

Mile 3: 8:57

 

Miles: 4-6:

 

By the end of Mile Six, I was really enjoying myself, we were running in the morning sun and the weather was perfect.  Miles 4 and 5 had felt much better than they had a Tobacco Road and despite this race being run on concrete rather than the ultra forgiving compacted gravel of the Tobacco Trail, I was feeling really strong.  I had decided to wear my I-pod, and I found some serious motivation from Journey, Incubus, the Beastie Boys, and Massive Attack.  I took on a nice little hill a the end of the sixth mile without feeling any real strain and was beginning to have a good feeling about this race, if I could survive the Beast of Ashe Avenue.

 

Mile 4: 8:54

Mile 5: 8:55

Mile 6: 9:04

 

Mile 7-9:

 

At the end of Mile 7 Kanye West's Jesus Walks provided me with a nice boost along with Massive Attack's Teardrop.  Right around the 8 mile mark we left the roads and dropper down onto the Raleigh Greenway system, which we would stay on until just before Mile 12 and the Beast of Ashe Avenue.  I felt really dialed in and focused at this point.  I love when your running and get that point where your mind just kind of switches off and you feel like your body is just on auto pilot.  That is how I felt through these miles, like some kind of  running Buddha.

 

Mile 7: 8:58

Mile 8: 8:55

Mile 9: 9:06

 

Mile 10-12:

 

The time of struggles -- Mile 10 was mostly up hill.  I kept trying to convince myself that I wasn't slowing down, but I knew the truth.  As soon as I hit the 10 mile mark all of my mental focus kind fell apart and all that I could think about was that stinking motherless whore of a hill on 12 that was going to kick my ass.  Music wasn't helping, nor was Gu.  That hill was all I could think about.  Yeah, it's not really the best way to keep it together, but at this point.  I wasn't really keeping it together.  I knew that the 2 hour pace group was gaining on me, and I was sure that I wouldn't be able to fight them off.  As soon as I got off of the greenway I could see the beast, I decided to try to run up it, and got about a quarter of the way up when I just knew it wasn't going to work.  I needed to walk it.  I could see the two hour pace group gaining on me, but I knew I could get over the Hill before they caught me.  Just as I crested that beast, I made myself a promise to run this race again next year and run up that mofo!

 

Mile 10: 9:20

Mile 11: 9:32

Mile 12: 10:10

 

Finish:

 

I would love to tell you how I was able to rally and fight off the 2 hour pace group, but it wasn't meant to be they caught me with less than half a mile to go as I struggled to run/walk my way to the finish.  I was able to muster up a small kick for the last two tenths of a mile that nearly caused me to puke but helped to secure a brand new shiny PR by 22 seconds!

 

Time: 2:01:18





Tobacco Raod Half Marathon Race Report

Pre-Race Goals:

1. Sub- 2 hours -- Not yet, but soon!
2. Beat My PR of 2:03:33  Race time of 2:01:40
3. Not get injured and run the whole race No injuries to report.

Background:

Going into this race, I was on edge because I hadn't run a race since November, and my last Half Marathon was in May of last year.  I had been on a race hiatus since Hiroko entered her third trimester of pregnancy.  After Kaito was born I ran in our local Turkey Trot because it is next to my house and one of my favorite local races.  I kind of promised that I wouldn't run anything until March just because the logistics of a family with two working parents and a newborn living in area with no family support, just doesn't really need race day stress added to it all that often. 

However, I was able to train for the race fairly well by getting up at some ungodly hours and fitting in lunch runs and home workouts.  In fact, I was feeling rather good about the prospects of a PR until I went for my 12 mile long run three weeks before the race and ended up limping home with a calf strain.  From that point on my nerves were on edge and I was going a bit taper crazy.  However, by race day, I got myself to a point where I thought that I had worked out my leg issues enough to carry me through the race.


The Race:  The Tobacco Road Half Marathon is an out and back race run mostly on the American Tobacco Trail, which is a rails to trails project here in the Triangle and is Shalane Flanagan's favorite place in the world to run.  The course is pretty tight, and is a series of long slow inclines and declines, and is run on a very forgiving compacted gavel surface.  Some people don't like the cramped feeling of this race or the out and back nature of the course, but these aspects really appeal to me.  Plus, I having everyone bunched so closely together helps to balance out the lack of crowd support.  The only thing that I don't really like about the course is the up hill at the very end of the course as you enter the USA Baseball training facility.

My plan was to find the 2 hour pace group and try to stick as close to them for as long as possible.  I knew that the nature of the injury I was carrying into the race would allow me to run pretty much pain free until around eight miles.  After the eight mile mark, I had no idea, but I hoped that a lot of taping and the softer surface than the pavement I had trained would make a difference and keep my calf from acting up.  Luckily, I was right.  I got a little tight, but nothing worse than you would expect from a half marathon.  The weather was all you could ask with temps in the mid 50's, and aside from a little cross wind at the end of the race, the day was just perfect.

Most of the first three miles were run with the Full Marathon folks and were on paved roads.  During this portion I just tried to avoid getting caught up in the crowd and boxed in .  I'm no fan of the first miles of any race and this one is no different.  Personally, I find the first two mile of this race a bit of a drag, but that is only because I just can't wait until we hit the turn onto the ATT.

Mile 1: 9:01
Mile 2: 9:12
Mile 3: 8:52

Miles 4,5,6: saw the course get a bit more cramped as the faster runners began to make their way to the turn around and come back past us.  I like this part of the race because I get to lose myself in a bit of in race spectating.  A few times I did have to work my way through groups of runners, and water stops are always an adventure.

Mile 4: 8:53
Mile 5: 9:09
Mile 6: 9:21

Mile 7,8,9: I was dreading this portion of the race.  I knew if I were going to have injury issues the would happen here, but the only thing of any real interest to happen was a near fight between two guys.  I'm not sure what happened, but a guy and a girl got tangled up just past a water stop and another guy didn't like it.  I started puffing ups his chest and trying to start a fight.  Other people shouted him down and everyone kept running.  My take is if you got that much energy to start a fight.  You're not running had enough.  The whole thing was just dumb.  I have no idea if he said something or what, but that is not what anyone came out to see.

Mile 7: 8:52
Mile 8: 9:05
Mile 9: 9:08

Miles 10, 11, 12:  The slow incline began to take a toll and I had to watch the pace group slip past me.  But, I did my best to keep them in sight, knowing that I was still heading for a good sized PR, regardless.  I hooed that I would be able to real them in, but as much as I struggled to keep up, I just couldn't find the gear that I needed to pull them in, so I just tried to stay focused on running the race that I had in me. 

Mile 10: 9:26
Mile 11: 9:34
Mile 12: 9:30

Mile 13 and .1:  I wanted to give a kick, but there was no kick.  It was just time cruise in and be happy with my finish.  The last portion of the race on the road was just punishing and I was glad to get through it.  But, I had no complaints at all considering I was PR-ing by nearly 2 minutes.

Mile 13: 9:45
.1: 1:52 (9:33 pace)



Hiroko's co-worker Paul and I at  the finish

Run Green 8k 2012 Recap & Pictures

What Do You Mean "I have the Wrong Holiday?"

I ran this race last year and have wanted to run it to run it again this year to see how I have improved.  All I can say is what a difference a year makes!  The Run Green 8k is a hilly race that twists its way through the historic Oakwood neighborhood of Raleigh.  Most of the hills are not too bad, but they are mainly one after the other.  I realized that I would have to run a smart race in order to avoid an early flame out.

My week leading up to the race had been rather stressful due to two days of internet issues, some major storms traveling through the area, and a medication change for my asthma that did not go well.  However, the race had a 3pm start time, which allowed me to relax a bit before the race.  And Honestly all you really need to know is that I ran well and set a new 8k PR of 42:58, which is nearly 2 minutes faster than I ran this course last year and eclipses my 8k PR from the Ridgewood Turkey Trot in November by 62 seconds!  

Since Hiroko came with me and took lots of pictures, I'll spare you the details of my time on the course and just share with you some images from the race.

All smiles before the race

Hiroko & I

Fast Kids.

Some fast people and some people in for a rough race

More Fast people

Me heading out for a great race!

He carried it proudly the whole way.

Fast Kid comes back fast!

More Fast people

The Fast and the Festive -- much better than any Vin Diesel flick!

First Female (maybe?)

Lot's of great support at this race!

He carried that damn thing the whole way!

On my way to a new PR

The Drum Line Lined the Finish and was awesome motivation at the end of the race!

Feel Great and can't wait for 2013's race!

They just lifted you up as you approached the finish

Add caption

Hiroko Loved them too!

I wish they were at ever race that I ran in!

Of course, we have to have some Bag Pipes!

2012 Run For Young 5k -- Race Report

Past 5k Frustrations: The 5k has been a major source of frustration for me since I began running in June of 2010.  It is my longest standing PR and has served as nagging reminder of a race that I would like to forget.  In the 2010 Autism race, I went out way too fast, got a side stitch in the second mile, and had to stop running three different time over the last mile.  The race was also the only time that I attempted to organize a charity team for a race, which was also a major failure.  Somehow, I managed to Pull a 25:45 out of the wreckage, but it was bittersweet because the race was a train-wreck.  Following that race, my running increased, but my overall weight and fitness were never really near the the level they need to be at to challenge that time.  I was able to establish new times at other distances through pacing and increasing endurance, but the 5k is a different animal that requires you to maintain a sustained push throughout the race if you want to bring down your best times.  I was never able to sustain the intensity of effort over 3.1 miles because I just wasn't in the right shape.  Carrying an extra 10 to 15lbs around a 5k course is just a recipe for some sub par efforts that go like this: 25:59, 26:16, 26:19, 26:12, 26:10, 26:44, 26:37, 29:15 (ouch), 27:03.  And, after so many flame-outs and busts, I really began to question if I would ever be able to challenge that old PR.

The Change: After running the Neuse River Run Half Marathon this October, I had to face up to the fact that I just wasn't going to become the runner or person that I wanted to be if I didn't change the way I ate and trained.  Since that race, I have worked hard to better my eating habits and work harder at the gym.  I have also been more accountable and not skipping workouts or avoided things like push ups and abs just because I hate them.  The results have been fairly dramatic and visible in my clothes, the scales, and my energy level.  The first indication that things were changing in my running came at the Ridgewood Turkey Trot where I shaved 39 seconds off of my 8k PR.  Following that result, I decided that I would hit the gym even harder during the month of December, avoid all races, and do everything in my power to avoid holiday slacking and weight gain. 

The Plan and the Change in Plans:  My plan was to not enter another race until the Miami Half Marathon on January 29, workout or run six days a week, and focus on making healthy choices.  I stuck to the plan until Noon on Friday January 6th, when the pull of a race became too strong and I decided to do a late registration for the Run for Young 5k that was being held the next day.  I needed a race.  I could feel it.  And I was afraid the if I didn't run a warm up race that I would get over excited in Miami and red line the race.

The Race: I've run this course so many times in the past two years, and I always think that my knowledge of the stretch of Hillsborough street that runs from the NC State Bell tower to the Capital is going to work in my favor come race day.  But, time and again it has crushed me.  It looks so flat when you drive it, but anyone who runs it can tell you that stretch  it is not at all flat at all and is a series of deceptive long and short inclines and declines that will sneak up on you if you not careful. The section of road between the Morgan Street traffic circle and the Bell Tower Traffic circle is my own personal running waste land.

Desiree Davila -- The X-factor: Right before I left for this race I read the first half or Desiree Davila Can Do It! - Runner's World and it put me in the mood to go out and crush something.  I decided that I would leave my i-pod at home and just focus on running this race.  By the time I reached the starting line I felt dialed in and focused.

Mile 1: Along Edenton Street right along side the Capital to until it merges with Hillsborough.  There would be a nice down hill portion followed by a small up hill.  I got out well and was able to avoid having to weave around at the start.  I started out a bit slow, but fell into the pace I wanted within the first quarter mile.  I didn't let myself get out of control during the downhill and kept my pace from falling off on the up hill.  I reached the mile mark right near near the Morgan Street Traffic circle feeling great.  I went right through the water station without even thinking about getting water.  Mile 1: 8:06

Mile 2 -- into the wasteland: As soon as a passed by the Morgan street traffic circle, I knew that this part of Hillsborough street would either make me or break me.  If I let my pace drop off or my stride shorten up as I made my way up the long slow incline to the Oberlin Rd. and Bell Tower traffic circles another race would bite the dust in the wasteland.  As I approached the YMCA, I saw my pace beginning to slow, but my legs still felt great, so I passed the people near me who I had been pacing myself off against.  They were slowing down on the incline, but I didn't feel the need to slow down.  As I approached the turn on to Oberlin Rd and headed toward the smaller traffic circle, my calves felt a little tight.  Nothing to worry about, I was wearing a new pair of shoes with a slightly lower heel than my old pair, but everything was still going really well.  As I rounded the Oberlin Circle and headed into the Hillsborough Circle, I knew that I had a great chance at a PR because I hit the 1.5 mile mark in right around 12 minutes.  The way back through the my wasteland was like it had never been before.  It felt AWESOME.  The YMCA was playing Kenny Loggin Footloose out the window as I passed by, I picked up my pace just a bit more.  Mile 2: 8:07

Mile 3 -- planning for the kick:  This is how good I felt going into the third mile: I knew that unless I had a breakdown, I was getting a PR.  The question was just how big of one.  I shot straight through the water station, said thanks the the volunteers, but didn't touch the water.  My legs felt better than they have in a long time, and my breathing was doing well.  A woman had huffed her way past me just before the water station, and I could hear the stark contrast in our breathing and knew that I would catch her on climb up Edenton street.  As I made my way down Hillsborough Street the incline leading to St. Mary's school was nothing, the stretch of road past Char-Grill and Snoopy's was cake.  All I could think about was once I went down the hill at Edenton Street, I need to maintain until the end of the climb just before the Capital, then pick up my pace, and kick the last 10th of a mile.  I stayed in control on the down side of the hill, passed the huffing lady mid way up the hill, then picked up pace on the second half of the hill.  There was no tightness in my legs and I knew that this was going to be a good day.  Mile 3: 8:05

The Result--  I open up my stride and went headlong for the finish.  I wanted an new PR.  And, I wanted it to be a big one.  The Gun time was 25:20 and my chip time was an AWESOME 24:43!  62 seconds off of my old PR!  I would like to thank Desiree Davila

and Kenny Loggins

 for all of their assistance in this race!