This morning as I woke up, I crawled out of bed as my body is killing me. I am very sore. I have not ever felt like this before. I hurt from my toenails to my hair on my head. I forgot how much torture your body goes through when running trail races. Rocks, gravel, roots, jumping small trees. It all takes the toll on your body when your done. But hey, it is fun.
I arrived with my wife at the forest around 6 a.m. to start putting things out and there was one runner who started before I got there. It was cold and windy. The wind was coming across the lake and I thought it was going to change to snow but it didn't. As we were trying to prepare the bags and goodies, runners were starting to pile in. This was great because we were not sure how people were going to show up. When the race started 5 years ago, there were only 5 runners. This year we had an all time high of 90 runners. Thank you for all who came out.
We had some changes in the course this year due to changes in the forest. Normally we had a figure 8 course but this year we had some small changes. For a 1st time runner at Bartram, it is a little confusing. It has taking me about 2 or 3 times before I have finally gotten comfortable with the course. We had some runners saying that they had gotten lost and that is normal. We are going to try and fix this problem next year with more signs and ropes. But one problem I can't fix is that we were told that some runners were cutting corners and making their race short. I told them that is between them and God. I can't do anything about that and they were NOT going to place in any awards. If we had to, I would look at their Garmin to see the total distance, but we did not have to do it.
I would like to thank all the volunteers who showed up yesterday. We could not have done it without yall. Their were so many that I can not thank everyone personally. Whether you brought something for us to eat, helped out in cooking and cleaning, sat at one of the aid stations to help with food/drinks, thank you to everyone. Yall are awesome and races could not go on without yall.
Today is going to be a day of rest and thinking of how the race could improve next year. I truly hope that everyone is o.k. this morning cause I know there were some that fell and twisted some ankles. Bartram Forest is a technical, off road course that will get you off your feet if you are not looking. Once again thank you to all who came out to help us with keeping the race going this year.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon 2010
I am finally getting around to writing my recap from the marathon. We met at the local high school on Friday to pick up our packets. I loved watching everyone for the first time gathering their stuff. This was a first for me. I was not only running the race, but also watching my running students running their 1st marathon. I was nervous for me and them. I wanted it to be a fun day but most of all, a day of no injuries.
We left from the expo and headed out to Logan's for a good dinner. I had plans to go to Fazoli's and get some pasta but everyone else had other plans. So I said "I will go where everyone wants to go". Well then we get there and we all have to sit in different seats. Bummer. I wanted to talk about the race. Well Mandie and I had a wonderful dinner and it was time to head back to the motel for some rest.
We got back to the Motel and I put my race number on my belt. I already had everything else laid out like I normally do before a race. I want to make sure I have not left anything behind. Now is when my nerves start to kick into overdrive but not tonight. I didn't know what was different. I guess I have told myself so many times that I finally listened and it was soaking in. I am going to do this and do it right. Well I tried to go to sleep early but I was not tired. I was not nervous, restless or shaky. I just could not sleep, until about 3 a.m. when I really HARD asleep. Then at 5 a.m. the alarm clock went off. I was up and starting to eat and drink my usual breakfast. Peanut butter and jelly with water and gatoraid.
We arrived at the race to gather with everyone under a large tent with heaters on. It was cold out. The temps were in the low 40's with no breeze. Everyone was dressed with throw away clothes on that they would shed during the race. I decided not to except for the arm sleeves and gloves.
We lined up and I kissed my wife by and told her I love her. We all get our watches ready and BOOM!!!! the canon went off. I love the start line. This is only race with a live canon as the start gun. I like to see every one's faces when it goes off. We were off on the first loop which circles back around for a 1/2 mile and you go past the start line again. I was feeling great. I was trying to watch my Garmin to make sure that we did not go out to fast. I wanted to hold a 12 min pace for the first 6 miles. Well we hit mile 6 and we were averaging 11:47. I was praying that we did not go out to fast and crash at the end.
I had fun running with our group. We started out with Don, Sean, Adam, Nicole, Karen, Stef and Melissa. As the race progressed, we feel into our own groups of speed. Don and Sean went ahead like I knew they would. Adam, Nicole and Stef ran with me and Melissa went by herself. We were telling jokes and laughing for the first half of the race. The hills were OK at first but later would HURT.
We went out for the second time around and I think I heard my name being called. I had told many people that the course was flat with rolling hills but now it was not feeling that way. The hills were getting harder. I was glad that we took the time to train on hills for 6 months prior to the race. There were times when I thought I was not going to make it. I even said to myself that I would like to have a PR and that's it.
Then I looked at my watch and saw I had 3 miles to go and about 36 minutes to do it. I told myself to average 12 min miles and I would do it. I struggled with it limping and running as much as I could. Tears begin to roll out of my eyes because I knew I was so close and did not want to miss it again.
Now I was at mile 25 and I had about 16 minutes to go. My legs were cramping and it HURT to run. I was telling myself to push as hard as I could. I did not want to give up and miss my goal by 1 second. I had let myself down before and it hurt. I pushed forward grabbing my legs and chewing on gu's and slurping power aid. Now I made it to the top of the hill at mile 26. I now have the dreaded .2 miles to go. I looked at my watch and I had 4 minutes to get my butt down there and cross the finish line. I could see it. I was so close. I had to do it. I pushed myself into tears and ran as hard as I could possibly go. I made the last turn down the final sprint and I heard Don on the sidelines yelling "You better do it".
As I crossed the finish line, I stopped my watch and looked at the official clock and it read 5:00:05. But wait, I then looked at my watch and my chip time said 4:59:02. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I finally did it. I bet the dreaded 5 hour demon that has plagued me for nearly 4 years. The last 6 months of training had paid off. I not only bet the 5 hour mark, I took 6 minutes off of my PR. I was 50 minutes faster at the race this year than I was at last years race. Training, training, training. That is all I can say. It pays off. I love me some Galloway training.
We left from the expo and headed out to Logan's for a good dinner. I had plans to go to Fazoli's and get some pasta but everyone else had other plans. So I said "I will go where everyone wants to go". Well then we get there and we all have to sit in different seats. Bummer. I wanted to talk about the race. Well Mandie and I had a wonderful dinner and it was time to head back to the motel for some rest.
We got back to the Motel and I put my race number on my belt. I already had everything else laid out like I normally do before a race. I want to make sure I have not left anything behind. Now is when my nerves start to kick into overdrive but not tonight. I didn't know what was different. I guess I have told myself so many times that I finally listened and it was soaking in. I am going to do this and do it right. Well I tried to go to sleep early but I was not tired. I was not nervous, restless or shaky. I just could not sleep, until about 3 a.m. when I really HARD asleep. Then at 5 a.m. the alarm clock went off. I was up and starting to eat and drink my usual breakfast. Peanut butter and jelly with water and gatoraid.
We arrived at the race to gather with everyone under a large tent with heaters on. It was cold out. The temps were in the low 40's with no breeze. Everyone was dressed with throw away clothes on that they would shed during the race. I decided not to except for the arm sleeves and gloves.
We lined up and I kissed my wife by and told her I love her. We all get our watches ready and BOOM!!!! the canon went off. I love the start line. This is only race with a live canon as the start gun. I like to see every one's faces when it goes off. We were off on the first loop which circles back around for a 1/2 mile and you go past the start line again. I was feeling great. I was trying to watch my Garmin to make sure that we did not go out to fast. I wanted to hold a 12 min pace for the first 6 miles. Well we hit mile 6 and we were averaging 11:47. I was praying that we did not go out to fast and crash at the end.
I had fun running with our group. We started out with Don, Sean, Adam, Nicole, Karen, Stef and Melissa. As the race progressed, we feel into our own groups of speed. Don and Sean went ahead like I knew they would. Adam, Nicole and Stef ran with me and Melissa went by herself. We were telling jokes and laughing for the first half of the race. The hills were OK at first but later would HURT.
We went out for the second time around and I think I heard my name being called. I had told many people that the course was flat with rolling hills but now it was not feeling that way. The hills were getting harder. I was glad that we took the time to train on hills for 6 months prior to the race. There were times when I thought I was not going to make it. I even said to myself that I would like to have a PR and that's it.
Then I looked at my watch and saw I had 3 miles to go and about 36 minutes to do it. I told myself to average 12 min miles and I would do it. I struggled with it limping and running as much as I could. Tears begin to roll out of my eyes because I knew I was so close and did not want to miss it again.
Now I was at mile 25 and I had about 16 minutes to go. My legs were cramping and it HURT to run. I was telling myself to push as hard as I could. I did not want to give up and miss my goal by 1 second. I had let myself down before and it hurt. I pushed forward grabbing my legs and chewing on gu's and slurping power aid. Now I made it to the top of the hill at mile 26. I now have the dreaded .2 miles to go. I looked at my watch and I had 4 minutes to get my butt down there and cross the finish line. I could see it. I was so close. I had to do it. I pushed myself into tears and ran as hard as I could possibly go. I made the last turn down the final sprint and I heard Don on the sidelines yelling "You better do it".
As I crossed the finish line, I stopped my watch and looked at the official clock and it read 5:00:05. But wait, I then looked at my watch and my chip time said 4:59:02. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I finally did it. I bet the dreaded 5 hour demon that has plagued me for nearly 4 years. The last 6 months of training had paid off. I not only bet the 5 hour mark, I took 6 minutes off of my PR. I was 50 minutes faster at the race this year than I was at last years race. Training, training, training. That is all I can say. It pays off. I love me some Galloway training.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
IT IS DONE!!!!!
I can now say that I have a new marathon PR and my demon of not breaking 5 hours is GONE!!!!!
4:59:02 is my official chip time
I am very sore this morning and taking it easy. Hopefully within a few days I will be able to write my race report.
4:59:02 is my official chip time
I am very sore this morning and taking it easy. Hopefully within a few days I will be able to write my race report.
Monday, November 8, 2010
The nerves are churning
Well it is now 1 week to go before the marathon. I am so excited and ready to go. My nerves are kicking into overdrive. I think I am going to run out of Zantac. We went out Sat. night for our last long run of 7 miles and it felt great. We then had our last meeting and went over the last minute details of the race. We recieved out race shirts that are cool
I am working on my list of what I need to take with my Friday. I want to make sure I dont forget anything. I am going to sign off for now. I will repost soon after the race and let everyone know how the results come out.
So long for now and God bless.
I am working on my list of what I need to take with my Friday. I want to make sure I dont forget anything. I am going to sign off for now. I will repost soon after the race and let everyone know how the results come out.
So long for now and God bless.
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