Archive for the ‘Saturdays’ Category

• Running to Help, Chapter one…

  Date: 2010.08.23 | Category: foster, Saturdays | Response: 7

  Hey did you hear? I am a marathon runner! Yes that is right, I have finished my first marathon. I can say that I have gone the distance and 26.2 miles was defeated. Slowly, but still defeated.

  Marathon day was an interesting experience from start to finish. The night before, as was predicted, the sleep was not very good. I woke up continually on the hour, every hour. I guess I was thinking I was going to miss the alarm or something. Wasn’t like there was something big about to happen anyway. My little man woke up around 4:30 AM and was not at all ready to go back to sleep. That was OK, because daddy had already been awake for a while.

  We all got up and start getting ready. It felt like I was in slow motion and apparently my nerves were heightened. About 20 minutes before the race, right before we headed down to the starting line, my nerves couldn’t take it anymore and I experienced my first vomit attack before a major event. Lets just say if you need to throw up something, banana muffins and cold water, not so bad. The good thing about me vomiting, if you can consider that a good thing, was afterward I felt energized and pumped. I was ready to go. I was ready to get started.

  

  2010 Park City Marathon Pre-Race

  

  2010 Park City Marathon (Kevin's 100th)

  We headed down to the starting line. Found my Uncle and his son-in-law. Chatted a bit and snapped a few pictures. Then game time was on. The Star-Spangled Banner filled the quiet mountain air as the sun started to rise over the mountains. Very beautiful and peaceful, despite the energy of race anticipation circling about. 30 seconds to go, my Uncle tugs on my shirt and said these final words of encouragement, “We are in the front of the pack, a lot of people are going to pass us. Don’t worry, just keep running, it is OK.” The air horn blasted and the herd of people began what was my first marathon and my Uncle Kevin’s 100th. Yahoo, bring on the miles.

  

  2010 Park City Marathon - Race Start

  When I signed up for this marathon, on the first day of registration as early as I could, I really hoped I would get the bib number 1, to commemorate my first marathon. Well that didn’t happen. Kevin got 100 which was cool, but then my wife pointed out I got 262 which is exactly the miles of a marathon 26.2. So still a really cool way to honor my first marathon.

  The herd and I started heading down the pathway onto the first mile. We looked like a huge pack of cows or sheep running towards the corral. Mile one came and went and many people passed me. I ran about .1 mile of the first mile with my Uncle, from there we were on our own pace and would meet up at the finish line. Around mile 2, I had started the first hill climb. I was prepared and it ended up not being an issue at all. The trail twisted and turned its way up the hill and around the neighborhood just east of the starting line. It met up with highway I-40 and I ran through a hidden tunnel that went under the freeway that connected with a paved frontage road. I ran along this rolling road for a bit and then turned south onto a dirt path, “The Rail Trail”, it was a straight shot for several miles.

  One by one mile markers would pass, 7 miles, 8 miles, 9 miles. I am really doing this and I feel great. Then, I believe, I hit the wall that many people talk about hitting around the 20 mile marker. I don’t think it was the same kind of wall, but definitely a wall. My knee problem had returned and boy had it returned. Discouraged, I had to stop running and walked the next few miles, just to continue forward. At this point I realized I was making great time because when I stopped running and started the hobble-walking a lot of people passed me by. I must have been in the middle of the pack by this time. I was disappointed, frustrated and sad that I didn’t make it to the half way point before having to stop and walk. Nevertheless, I pushed on and slowly hobbled through it, after stopping to empty my shoes of tiny rocks of course.

  Luckily, two EMT’s on bikes peddled by me and I asked if they had some Ibuprofen. Yes, Excellent! Just in time, I had finally reached the half way point. I was thinking to myself do I bail out now or keep going. Either way I still have a long way to go back. I either do the walk of shame back, or move forward through the pain. I set my eyes forward and pressed on. I am in this for the long haul. Mentally I was in it, my knee just wasn’t letting me have it.

  The drugs kicked in right before the 2 mile hill climb through old Park City into the Deer Valley loop. I was able to run the entire 2 miles up. Yes, I was back in this, no turning back now. Once I was at the top, I walked a bit around the loop and starting running back down the hill towards the finish line. At this point in the race, I found myself wondering if I was the last guy. I felt alone, dang knee. But as I would turn corners I would see people in front of me which meant I wasn’t that far off. Right around mile 18 or 19, I forget which one now, there was this very steep incline. I found this to be the hardest part of the race, in regards to hills. What the heck was this too, I thought all the hills were done. This steep incline was probably about .1 mile and it sucked. I tried to run it, but only made it about 20 steps up and resorted to walking the rest.

  I had turned north at this point, ran/walked/hobbled through the streets of old Park City. Passed the hotels and shopping centers near the Alpine Slide area. Wound down the neighborhood near the golf course, turned east again and looky, looky what do we have here? Mile marker 20. YES! Finish line is a mere 6.2 miles away. Estimation 1 hour.

  Slowly, I worked my way down. Passed the barn, ran/walked/hobbled through another hidden tunnel and around the last mountain into the Swaner Nature Preserve. Mile 21, 22, 23, 24. I think I could start to see the finish line area around this point. My new race buddies, helped me along the way as we played leap frog with one another. Mile marker 25 and another small hill, WHAT!

  I made it to the top and thought to myself I can push through to the end. Jen, one of my new race buddies, suggested “Eye of the Tiger” for the iPod song. Funny and great suggestion. I turned up the music and started running. Was just about to turn a corner and who do I see? “This is Bill”, a.k.a. “Coach Bill”, my brother-in-law. I couldn’t hear what he was saying, because the music was up loud and I was focused. I turned the corner and worked my way closer and closer to the finish line. Eye of the Tiger ended, and U2′s “With or Without You” shuffled through. Not really a fast paced song. So I went back to “Eye of the Tiger” for one last time. Started running hard again, passed a few people, dropped the iPod, turned around picked it up, started the music again, turned the corner, 26 mile marker, .2 to go! Turned another corner and could hear the finish line. I came around the final turn and could see my support group smiling and cheering me on. I crossed the finish line in a run with a smile on my face. TIME: 5:46:49.0 Yes nearly 6 hours later, I made it across the finish line and I felt great. I finished 393 overall and 29 in my age group.

  Certainly not the fastest marathon, but a marathon all in all. I completed it running, walking and hobbling with my head held high.

  

  2010 Park City Marathon - Race Finish (Almost There)

  

  2010 Park City Marathon - Race Finish (Last Turn)

  

  2010 Park City Marathon - Race Finish (Just a bit more)

  

  2010 Park City Marathon - Race Finish (All Done - Medal in Hand)

  

  2010 Park City Marathon - Race Finish (The support group)

  

  2010 Park City Marathon - Race Finish (My first, Kevin's 100th)

  Thanks Jen from Wyoming and Nadine from St. George for being my race buddies. You gave me encouragement and goals to meet as we worked together to push and pull each other to the finish line. It was nice to get to know both of you and share in this accomplishment together. Congratulations to Jen on completing her first marathon and Nadine for completing her third marathon this year.

  Thanks to Dan Webster and the Utah Foster Care Foundation. Thanks to all my supporters, friends and family. Thanks to all those that donated on my behalf. The story is not over. The marathon was just the first chapter. Running to help… continues. After I recuperate that is. =)

  

  2010 Park City Marathon - Race Finish (Bonus Blisters)

• The BIG Day…

  Date: 2010.08.21 | Category: foster, Saturdays | Response: 2

  Marathon Day! Running to help… I just started, see you at the finish line 26.2 miles later.

• River Run Two…

  Date: 2010.08.09 | Category: Saturdays, training | Response: 0

  This past weekend, I enjoyed my second river run. This time the commercial jingle was not in my head like it was the last time. To read more about the first time see: River Run… River Run…

  This river run was in good company. I finally had the chance to run with my uncle for the first time. The trail we ran was one of his infamous runs, with an eating break somewhere along the way with a 2 mile run back to the car after we ate.

  He also coined it a “hot” run, because we were not able to start until 4:30PM. Hot was right! Actually it wasn’t too bad when we started out. There was a slight wind in our face and we had a light sprinkle to keep us cool. But as we ran further the rain disappeared and the sun came out from behind the clouds which just made it humid. The humidity got to me and I was starting to lose the mental game. I was going to bail out on him early, but with a little persuasion, I was able to keep pushing to his first drink break about a 1/2 mile from where I was going to start walking. We took a quick walking break and we were back at again.

  We joined up with our families for a bite to eat at a local sandwich shop along the trail. I wasn’t feeling up to eating much, so i just had a few fries and a bunch of water. Then we were off again to finish up the mileage. 2.3 miles back along the Jordan River Parkway, definitely a scenic run. Thanks Kevin for letting me tag along. I can definitely tell you are a seasoned marathoner. Thanks for the tips and tricks as well. I tried them out and they are helping. Definitely some great knowledge to have before the big day, which is less than two weeks away. Excitement is building. Oh, by the way I am still needing help with my marathon playlist.

• Help build my playlist…

  Date: 2010.08.03 | Category: foster, Saturdays, training | Response: 14

  The verdict is in.

  After trying some long runs with and without music, I have decided to have my iPod at the ready for the marathon, just in case I need a bit more motivation to get me through the miles. I have tried a variety of different musical categories and specific artist playlists, ranging from Metallica to Classical music. They all have their pros and they all have their cons, so what I am looking for now are suggestions from you.

  Help build my marathon playlist. Post a comment here on my blog with the song title and artist of a song or song(s) you think should be included in my marathon playlist. It can have a theme. It can be funny. It can be in a foreign language. It can be something you listen to while you exercise. It can basically be anything you like or would recommend, that can help motivate me to the finish line.

  I will round up the songs and create a playlist of all the suggested items to be used on marathon day. From the list of entries I will randomly select one lucky winner to receive a run2100.com prize. Entry deadline is Friday, August 13th, 2010.

  Thanks for your help and suggestions – have fun! Please don’t forget to donate to the Utah Foster Care Foundation.

• A Few Numbers…

  Date: 2010.07.30 | Category: Saturdays, training | Response: 4

  One interesting tidbit about me is that I like numbers. Whenever I see a number while driving around I like to add them up as quickly as I can. I multiply them, sort them and try to come up with patterns within the number sequence. There are times when I try to break them down into binary and I try to teach my wife how to as well. When I sing songs I usually count numbers as the words to the beat rather than the actual words. This drives my wife crazy and yes, it is a bit geeky, I know.

  To go along with this newly found insight of me, my faithful followers as well as the new ones stopping by, here are a few more numbers to consider. I have been thinking about them this past week and thought I would share.

  10k = 6.2 Miles – I participated in my first, the Deseret News 10k on Saturday July 24th. Total time to finish 55:49.5 = 8:59/M Pace.

  
  

  Finally completed my 18 mile run. Total time to finish 04:01:33.5 = 13:38/M Pace. The first 9 I did in 1:47:57 = 12:28/M Pace.
  1 huge blister after my 18 mile run in new shoes, but 0 foot pain. Thank you new shoes.
  Sold out crowd at the Rio Tinto Stadium Saturday night for the Real Salt Lake vs. Chivas USA soccer game = 19,624 fans, of which I stood in front of, on the field, to receive honors for the “Heroes Among Us” award.

  [jwplayer config="Posts" mediaid="230"]

  Thank you RSL and American Express for the recognition and support.
  
  2,800 = Number of Utah children in foster care.
  $1,000 = Bare minimum goal I have set to raise funds for those children from now until my marathon. If I can get 10 people to donate 5 dollars a day from now until my marathon that would be $1060. Using the widget to the right make a donation today!

  Thanks!

• 7 Miles Per Hour…

  Date: 2010.07.13 | Category: Saturdays | Response: 0

  No real big accomplishments this week regarding distance or some great tasting food.  Never mind – this is a big accomplishment, I am still sticking with the training.  Training equals marathon, training equals good for me.  Hill training however, is beating me up.

  This week was a 12 mile run.  Which I turned into a 12 mile hill run.  OK, maybe not exactly 12 miles up a hill, but a loop up a hill and down a couple of times that ended up being 12 miles.  Where I live, the main loop around the neighborhood consists of a pretty steep hill to climb and then a relatively gradual decent down on the other side.  This was the pathway I had chosen to face.

  First loop around full of energy, no music this time back to the basics, overcast clouds and a positive attitude.  Finished the first 6 relatively quickly.  Stopped off at the house for a quick energy boost (peanut butter) and cold drink of water. Second loop around energy lower, still no music, overcast clouds gone, heat setting in fast, attitude decreasing.  Hill much harder, but still made it to the top without stopping.

  On the way up the second time, I passed a man going in the opposite direction.  I gave my usual friendly wave and morning greeting.  Which was returned in the same manner and, “This way is easier” was added.  We had a good laugh about it and I agreed.  It looked like he had just set out and he was going down so of course it was easier, but I got the last laugh.  I passed him on my way down as he was going up on the other side and said, “look who’s got it easier now?”  All he could say was, “It is hot!”  Again I chuckled and agreed.

  Along this route I discovered a new game I could play while running.  No, not air guitar and air drumming.  It was see how fast you could go, within reason of course.  I came across one of those radar speed limit signs that post the maximum speed limit and then so kindly provides you an indication as to how fast you are going via radar right below the posted limit.  I find these to be quite enjoyable while driving in the car, but running gave me even a little bit more enjoyment.

  Having encountered this the first loop around, it gave me motivation to finish the second loop just to see how fast I was going.  The first loop around I posted a mighty 7 miles per hour, second time around I was either way too fast or way too slow for it to clock me.  Next time I will try to break the sound barrier and post up 8 miles per hour.  12 miles complete, next up 18.  Yikes!

• For Coach Bill…

  Date: 2010.07.06 | Category: Saturdays | Response: 2

  My last post was all about the delicious food my wife and I shared as part of the final celebration for our 10th anniversary.  It turns out that having skipped my 15 mile run to partake in the bounty of food, that my new found coach did not like it too much.   However, Coach Bill is wise in his words.  So as you said, I am back on or off the wagon, either way I did not skip my long run this week.

  Yes Coach Bill, that is right.  I did Go Run.  I ran 16 miles in 3:24:00:48, breaks down to 12.75 minutes per mile.  Not too shabby, considering this was my longest run yet.

  It started out on the same pathway of 10 miles, that is now easy.  This time however I ventured out on my long run with music.  I thought to myself that I may need a little company to keep me going.  Turns out it was a good decision, a little too good.  I found myself running to the beat and it was a nice distraction to keep me going.  However, if you recall the Friends episode way back when, The One where Phoebe runs, well if anyone could have seen me running they would have had a good laugh or thought I had some strange disease.  Running with Metallica equals air drumming, air guitar and lip syncing.  Yes, that is right,  I rock!

  The final four miles of my run was a hill climb around the neighborhood, this was by design and it was rough.  The Park City Marathon, you know the one I am training for, to run with my Uncle who is running his 100th, has a bit of an elevation climb.

  

  Park City Marathon Elevation

  I need to add a bit more hill running to my training plans.  I was going to run the hill portion of my 16 miles at first when I was fresh, but decided otherwise and made it my last 4 miles.  Yikes!  Metallica was no help either.

  After a long 16 mile run, Coach Bill, you were right.  Food does taste better and no I did not feel bad about the amount I ate, I was starving.

• Ragnar Father…

  Date: 2010.06.21 | Category: foster, Saturdays | Response: 1

  What better way to spend Father’s Day weekend then running for 188.2 miles? Yep, basically a 24 hour period of 12 people gathered together to Run. Drive. Sleep? Repeat. And it is an enjoyable experience full of sweat, laughter and running.

  The way it works is the team of 12 is split into 2 teams of 6. We each crowded into 2 vans or any other modes of transportation we could find. The first team of 6 met in Logan to start at 6:40am, but keep in mind they needed to be there at least an hour earlier for check-in and safety training. Then they were off and running. When all six runners completed their runs they handed off to van 2 and we started the process all over again. Repeat until the finish line.

  I ran leg 7 of the race, which ended up being a total of 12 miles. My first leg was a 4 mile run in the heat of the day between 12:30 and 1:30pm. I thought to myself 4.0 miles (easy), wrong! Something about the heat made it difficult. Which was the consensus from all the rest of the runners in my van as well when they finished running.

  We ran/drove through some very lovely country around Pineview Reservoir and the Snow Basin Ski Resort. I definitely will need to go back there again and enjoy it for a longer period of time. Snow Basin was the exchange point between Van 2 and Van 1 again. We switched and then enjoyed some lunch and shade for a couple of hours before heading off to my next run.

  East Canyon State Park and the climb to Hoback Summit. Time to try out my new head lamp and safety vest. I started running around 9:30 PM and finished 3.8 miles later up a hill to Hoback Summit. I ran from dusk to dark and this was a very interesting experience. My first real hill climb run and it was in the dark. All you could see was a line of people in front of you running in the same direction with blinking lights – very strange feeling. If the runners in front of me turned side ways for a brief moment I was not able to see them.

  The rest of my team spent the night running by Echo Reservoir and Rock Port Reservoir and at this point in the race I think sleep deprivation was catching up with us. Let’s just say my chest was burning from laughing too hard while the youngest member of our team was running through the darkness.

  At some point in the night I tried to get some sleep on the sidewalk next to a small store in Coalville, just so I could stretch out the legs from the cramped quarters of the van. I had it in my mind that I wanted to try to stay awake until we got to the next exchange place to switch over to van 1 runners so I could get more continuous sleep. This did not work out so well. By the time we got to the exchange place I couldn’t really get to sleep and once I did it was not continual and then it was time to get up and go meet the other van so I could start running again. Yahoo!

  This time my run was 4.2 miles through Heber up to the Deer Creek Reservoir. This was my last and final run of the race and it was nice and easy, except for the fact that I was trying to run on about 2 hours of broken sleep. When I finished I said goodbye to the rest of the team and headed off to the second big event of the day for me. So I was not able to officially cross the finish line with my team, but I was there in spirit and sweat.

  I rushed to get ready and down off the mountain to get to the Gateway Mall in time to receive my award of Utah Foster Father of the Year for the Salt Lake Valley region. This is quite an honor and I am very appreciative of this award. I stood on the stage with 4 other awesome men who were receiving the same award for their region. We were each introduced and a brief bio of our nomination was read to the audience as they presented the award.

  I was taken by surprise as they read my bio, because this was something that I had not heard yet and it was not part of the Foster Roster announcement. They read the nomination that was sent in by my little man’s birth mother. I was so moved and caught by surprise that I must admit I did get a little teary eyed.

  After the award ceremony we had pictures taken and I was interviewed by the news. There was a luncheon for all the winners and their families. This turned out to be another great surprise that my wife had put together. Just before we sat down to start eating, guess who showed up? Yep our first foster placement who we successfully reunited back with his mother. They both came to congratulate and show support for me. It was so great to seem them both and good to see Baby H again. He looked the same, just bigger.

  Video Courtesy of KSL.com

  After such a wonderful experience of running through the night, 12 miles in total, being awarded the Foster Father of the Year award and getting emotionally drained by all the surprises, it was time for some sleep and time to start preparing mentally for my next challenge. 26.2 miles straight through, bring it on.

• 12 Miles No Way! 13 – Um, Ok…

  Date: 2010.06.14 | Category: Saturdays | Response: 1

  A friend and I were talking about me running and such the other day. He asked, if I was crazy? Perhaps, was my answer. =) He went on to say that he does not run, because the further you run from home the further you have to run back. I understand this a little bit more now, I think that this thought was what may have got me last week. That along with not running my short runs during the week and having a way out (first time I ran with a phone.)

  After suffering my first mental defeat last week. Today, I finished a half marathon. Yes, that is right. 13 miles ran straight through. No walking, no crazy stop running thoughts came through my head and all this with a bit of light rain to keep me cool.

  When I made it back home to my sleeping family, my wife asked, “What is the longest you have ever run?” Continuously?, I said. That would have to be today 13 miles. Step by step I ran 13 miles and I think I could have kept going. I sort of just got into a robotic rhythm half way through that kept pushing me forward.

  So all in all 12 miles is difficult and unattainable. 13 miles however, no problem. Mental defeat consider yourself beat. Ragnar here we come.

• Mental defeat…

  Date: 2010.06.07 | Category: Saturdays | Response: 3

  My uncle once said, “That every person has three good running days in them a year and you just hope that one of those days falls on marathon day”. Today was definitely not one of my good running days.

  I experienced my first mental defeat. I was supposed to run 12 miles. It turned into a 5 mile run and a 1 to 2 mile walk/run. Not too good, I say, but it was bound to happen at some point.

  When I started walking for the first time, I knew it was going to be a total mental game the rest of the way. I thought I need to push through this and experience it because this very thing might happen during the marathon. I needed to test myself. I set a goal while walking, when I reached it I started to run, but it didn’t last for too long. Once again I found myself walking. I set another goal and tried again, same thing occurred. I was just not into it and decided to call the wife for an early pick up. No point torturing myself when clearly it was not going to happen.

  Time to refocus and overcome this new challenge. We will meet again mental defeat and I will run through you next time.