Froggie Ted Distance Runner: Double The Challenge, Double the Fun

Well this week was a first for me. I participated in two races and they could not have been more different. On Friday, February 21, I drove out to Wickenburg Arizona to run as part of the Speedie Sportie Sproutie: Wasted Away in Wickenburg Ragnar relay team. And on Saturday, March 1, I ran the Phoenix Half Marathon. The best part was that in both cases I ran really well and had a blast. I guess the training I have been doing for the 2014 Boston Marathon is really paying dividends.

The Ragnar Del Sol started in Wickenburg, AZ and finished at Tempe Town Lake. The race was my 6^th Overnight Relay Race. I really enjoy these crazy races. In this race I was runner #9 and my first leg was the longest leg in the event -- a 13.6 mile run uphill the entire way. We left Scottsdale at 5:00 am to get to the starting line area by 6:30 so that we could check in and get ready for our 7:30 am start time. We made it a little later than expected but had plenty of time to check in and be at the starting line for our 7:30 am start time.

The gun went off at 7:40 am and our first runner headed out for an 8.6 mile run. Since I was in Van 2, we headed into Wickenburg to grab breakfast before heading over to Exchange 6 where we would meet Van 1 to start our first set of legs. It was already starting to get warm when we got to the exchange area. We rested as best we could so that we would be ready to run our legs. Van 1 finally arrived at a little after 1 pm. Based on our predicted pace, I would be running my first leg at 3:00 pm. I knew it would be warm.

Our runners #7 & 8 did really well and I got the hand off at 3:08 pm. It was already 78 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. I knew it would be a tough run. But as my Dad said, I finished the Boston Marathon on an 85 degree day. This would be a piece of cake. I was able to hold a pretty even pace throughout my run averaging about 8:30 per mile. As I approached mile 12, I started to feel the effects of the heat and had to slow my pace so as to not overheat. I wasn't feeling too bad when I finally reached the "One Mile to Go" sign. It seemed to reinvigorate me. I picked up the pace and made it to the exchange finishing in 2 hours and 18 seconds (an 8:49 pace). I got my finishers medal which was nice and then jumped in the van to head to the next exchange.

My next run was going to be around 2 am. I love running in the middle of the night. It is so peaceful and the night sky was going to be spectacular because there were no clouds. I took the handoff at 2:04 am and headed out for my 4.7 mile leg. The temperature was a perfect 58 degrees. There were not many runners around me which made the leg very enjoyable. I was feeling really rested and pushed the pace a bit. I finished my second leg in 39 minutes 43 seconds (an 8:27 pace). I was a little amazed at the pace because I was still a little sore from the first leg. But it was extremely satisfying. We all jumped back in the van and headed to the next exchange.

My 3rd and final leg would again be in the heat. Based on our current pace, I would be taking the handoff at around noon. Our runners did better than expected and I took the handoff at 11:35 am. It was 72 degrees and sunny. I took off and wanted to finish fast since it was only a 3.2 mile leg and along the same street I run on from my home for all of my training runs. As I was passing one of the runners, he seemed to be struggling. I checked in with him and he said he was really beat. I decided to run with him for a little while. We got to chatting and I finally asked if he wanted me to hang with him. He said that it would be great. So we ran the balance of the leg together and crossed the finish line at the same time. We shook hands and I thanked him for a great time. Despite slowing down a little, I finished the leg in 28:07 (an 8:42 pace).

Now all we had to do was get to the finish line. Our last 3 runners were pumped up and ready to really finish strong. When our last runner headed out to run the Green Belt Trail to the finish line, we headed over so we could run across the finish line together. Sara came running across the pedestrian bridge with a great big smile on her face. We fell in behind her and crossed the finish line at 2:31 pm. We had finished the 203 mile race in 30:53:58 (just under 31 hours) which was a 9:07 per mile place. We came in 69th out of over 300 teams and 38th in the Mixed Open Division. It was a really fun race despite the heat and all of the Speedie Sprouties said they wanted to do it again next year.

Next on Saturday, March 1, I got up at 3:00 am to head down to the Mesa Riverview Shopping Center where I would catch the bus to the starting line for the Phoenix Half Marathon. The race is one of 3 runs on the same course. There is a 10K, the half and the full marathon. I got to the starting line at 5:15 am and had to wait until the 6:30 am starting gun. It was 66 degrees but for some reason I felt cold. I was joined by my friend and fellow Sproutie Donna Egan. She had run in the Ragnar as well. We were both questioning our sanity but since the rain had held off we were going to run the race.

The gun did go off on time and I decided to run with Donna for the first 1.5 miles. I figured I was not going to be able to run a PR since I had had a hard training week for Boston and a bit of a racing hangover from Ragnar. We finished the first mile in 9:35. After another 1/2 mile Donna told me to head out and she would see me at the finish line. I finished the second mile in 8:50. Then I decided to pick up the pace to a comfortable one and started to pick off those runners who were ahead of me. It rained for a few minutes a couple of times but it didn't seem to faze me at all.

My next miles were 8:18, 8:21, 8:24, 8:18, 8:33, 8:26, 8:24 and 8:26. I was at 10 miles and averaging under an 8:30 per mile pace! The best part was that I was feeling great. I saw a guy who seemed to be running at the same pace and decided to let him help me get to the finish line while holding this pace. I was surprised that I was not feeling any fatigue. Perhaps the first slow mile helped me. I finished Mile 11 in 8:29. But, I felt I was starting to slip.

I could see the guy in front of me starting to pick up his pace with 2.1 miles to go. I quickened my pace as well. I stopped looking at my watch and just ran after him. I wanted to try and come in under 1:50:00. I crossed the finish line at 1:50:48 (official) which was an 8:27 per mile pace. I was ecstatic. I had run an unexpected PR and felt great! When I got home and checked my last 2 miles I had clocked them at 8:09 for Mile 12 and 7:36 for Mile 13! Wow! After leaving Donna, I had run the last 11.1 miles at an 8:22 pace.

I thanked the guy who I had chased for helping me hold onto the pace. He said he always saw me back there which helped push him as well. It is a fact that competition brings out the best in us. If you had asked me on Saturday morning if I would run a sub-2 hour half, I would have said no. But with the easy start and another runner running at my "comfortable pace" I was able to PR.

It is hard to believe that at 52 1/2 years old, I am still able to set new PRs. I know a good portion of the credit goes to the fact that I have been relatively injury free which allows me to train hard. It is also due to the fact that I am training smarter. Whatever the case, I am really happy with the results I delivered the last two weekends. Who knows, maybe there is another PR on the horizon in Boston. But I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself. I still have a lot of training to do between now and April 21st. Until then I am going to bask in the glow of my new PR.

Feb. 17 – 6.10 miles (56:42, 9:14 pace)

Feb. 18 – 3.50 miles (26:32, 7:36 pace) – Speed Work

Feb. 19 – 8.50 miles (1:00:00, 8:12 pace) – Tempo Run

Feb. 21 – 13.60 miles (2:00:18, 8:49 pace) – Ragnar Del Sol - Leg 1

Feb. 22 – 4.70 miles (39:43, 8:27 pace) – Ragnar Del Sol - Leg 2

Feb. 22 – 3.30 miles (28:07, 8:42 pace) – Ragnar Del Sol - Leg 3

Feb. 24 – 8.10 miles (1:15:02, 9:14 pace)

Feb. 25 – 9.50 miles (1:21:14, 8:34 pace) – Mile Repeats

Feb. 27 – 8.50 miles (1:09:03, 8:07 pace) – Tempo Run

Feb. 28 – 7.10 miles (1:03:30, 8:57 pace)

Mar . 1 – 13.10 miles (1:50:48, 8:26 pace) – Phoenix Half Marathon

Mar. 2 – 10.10 miles (1:30:46, 8:57 pace)