April 30, 2012

When a PR is Not a PR


I guess it should be subtitled "The Squeaky Wheel Gets a PR."

At the First Flight 5k and Flying Pirate Half Marathon last weekend, both had a computer set-up at the end with volunteers printing slips of paper with your finishing time and place. It was the same printer that you’d see creating receipts for credit card transactions, so you got a nice little slip to instantly know how you did (and that slip instantly got wet from sweat or rain and fell to pieces).

On the 5k, my slip read 19:11, crushing my 2011 PR in that distance, but it later came up online in the official results as 19:12. Okay, no big deal, a rounding error or something quirky between the system on the laptop and the internet upload. Not going to lose sleep over that.

But for the half marathon, my slip of paper at the finish line read 1:34:50, which was better than my previous PR of 1:35:07 at the National Half Marathon in DC. However, when the official results showed up online, they read 1:35:23, a difference of 33 seconds. What could cause this? The laptop at the finish line was clearly reading data that my chip transmitted to their recording device, and 33 seconds is a lot of time to misplace between a couple data transfers. I started to get very curious what information the finish line volunteers were using and why it was so far off – I thought maybe it was gun time, but that didn’t make sense either because my corral started almost two minutes after the elites.

So I e-mailed the official timing company to inquire. They were nice enough to dig into it a little bit, and even looked at the video recording of the finish line area to see if there was a discrepancy. To their credit, they took the effort to research and e-mail me back the fantastic race face screenshot included (see image at bottom). Good news in the end, it was a confirmed PR, with them recording a 1:34:47. Okay, wait a second…1:34:47? So I’m pumped as can be about running a PR in the worst weather conditions, but now I’m really not feeling much confidence in timing companies. Somehow my “chip time,” which should be rock solid considering it’s controlled by software and technology designed for this purpose, has now changed from 1:34:50 to 1:35:23 to 1:34:47…?

Ultimately this one ended favorably for me; I ran the PR that I was hoping for. But really makes me wonder how many other “official” race times have been incorrect.


Video replay screenshot FTW!!


April 29, 2012

Race Report: Earth Day 5k


Another great day of weather for the Earth Day 5k. After raining most of the night, the morning in Silver Spring was cool, crisp, and clear. It was the perfect weather for a quick 5k.

It was my first trip up to this race, and after a fast 5k on Friday, I was looking forward to pushing the pace again and seeing what happened. Just like Friday's race, the check-in process was smooth and I had plenty of time to drop a bag and warm up before the event started.


Race Day

As this was my first run on this course and I didn't look at the course map, I really didn't know what to expect. But I knew I didn't want to get caught in early-race traffic like Friday, so I edged my way up to the front few rows for the start.

The course took a quick right turn and hopped over a small hill before hitting a nice open downhill. As the road continued to fall underneath me, I knew there would be a lot of incline on the way back. I was not purposely banking time, but with a solid mile of downhill, I was 15 seconds under my planned pace after the first mile. I stayed around the top 10, and after the course swung left and under some tree canopy, I passed a couple people to improve my position. My "memorable moment" came at the halfway mark, where the course did a sharp 180-degree turn back on itself and went from the roadway to an asphalt trail.


Road rash!
After a night of rain it was damp with loose dirt on the shoulder of the road...and my Brooks Pure Cadence I bought on Friday clearly didn't come standard with traction control. As I exited my u-turn, I slid and completely wiped out, executing a great home plate slide on my left leg. I actually slid straight off the trail and into the grass bank of a stream. Though a moment of disbelief, anger, and unintended humor...I bounced up and kept on running...I was pretty sure if I stopped I'd be in some pain. Who would ever imagine my first case of road rash would happen in a running accident and not a cycling accident?

As I righted myself, the two runners in front of me extended the gap from 20 yards to a distance a bit outside my comfort zone in pursuing them. So I spent the remainder of mile 2 wiping dirt and asphalt off my forearms and hands, making sure I wasn't passed by a surprise surge from behind, and rolling through the second mile about 7 seconds under my planned race pace. I knew the last mile would be a brutal uphill, so instead of pushing the PR, I just tried to maintain a steady pace and stick with what felt sustainable. But to be honest, with the mile-long hill, I shouldn't have been worried about a PR...even without the spill.



The Results

5k :   19:14  |  6:12/mile     (Overall 7th)


The Verdict

Bonus swag, arm warmers.
In the end, it was a fantastic race and a good time, although the course wasn't the fastest and my feet weren't the surest, haha. The TNC’s Chesapeake Bay initiative was the beneficiary; even though we were running for the Eastern oyster, I was secretly hoping for beer and oysters at the end (conservation by consumption?). The National Guard had some well-timed swag, giving out arm warmers on a morning that struggled to hit 50 degrees for a while.




April 27, 2012

Race Report: Crystal City 5k (#4)

Two 5k races this weekend courtesy of Pacers. The first was a great happy hour run at 6:30pm on Friday, the fourth race in their Crystal Run 5k Fridays. The second race was Sunday morning up in Silver Spring, the seven-days-after-official-Earth-Day-but-that's-okay Earth Day 5k.

Race Day

Colorful neon rows of the Shoe Lab.
After volunteering for previous Crystal Runs, I knew it would be a bit hectic as more people arrived from work, so I took off early and got down to the park with plenty of time to spare. As with everything, Pacers did a great job with logistics and it was easy to get in the right line and get my bib for the evening. After that, I headed over to the Pacers Shoe Lab; as noted in a previous blog post, the Shoe Lab lets you try out race flats and lightweight shoes from Mizuno, Brooks, and Newton for free. You run the 5k in the shoes, and return them with no catch at the end. I was hoping to try out a set of Newton kicks, just because I like the company story and values, but I put myself in the "shoe lab technician's" hands and asked her what she had with a little support. I didn't want to go from my 12.1-ounce GT-2160s straight into featherweight flats. So she fit me for a pair of Brooks Pure Cadence, which are only 8.3 ounces but still offer a little support. It was a nice bonus that they were black and green; not that there's anything wrong with the loudly-colored neon flats other people wear, it's just not my style.

After rushing through sign-up and Shoe Lab, I dropped my gear at the easy bag check and turned a few warm-up laps around the building. At exactly 6:30pm, we were off, and I was instantly trying to keep focused on my form and feeling out the new shoes. The first few turns of the course are sharp and come frequently, so I got bogged down in some traffic. As we hit the access road behind some office buildings, I opened my stride up and found a nice lane along the curb. The course is a simple loop, starting in the middle of the loop, with a turn back on itself around mile 1 and mile 2.5. But the course is flat, and it is fast! The line of runners was pretty solid through the first mile, with the U-turn at mile 1 slowing the pace a bit. As the runners approached mile 2, the traffic thinned out considerably, which may not have been so beneficial since it was at this time the wind started ripping down the street through the buildings. There was nothing and no one to hide behind, it was heads down running straight into the wind. After a quick turnaround, it was back towards the finish line; the race was going much quicker than expected, even with the wind. Seeing the mile 3 marker approaching, I had visions of PRs dancing in my head, so I kicked in some reserve and crossed the line a few seconds faster than last weekend's First Flight 5k finish.

Just like every other runner who convinces themselves that there's a magic pill for faster running, I saw the new PR as a sign I should continue the test drive of the Brooks Pure Cadence for the season. So I picked up a brand new pair at the Shoe Lab; just like cars, you test drive one car hard, and then ask for a new one to be pulled around for purchase. And the best part, the Shoe Lab price was 10% off the standard retail...which will make it easier to explain to my wife why I now have two pairs of Asics, a pair of trail shoes, a pair of cycling shoes, and a new pair of Brooks in the living room corner.

The Results

5k :   19:07  |  6:09/mile



Last two photos courtesy of www.Jeffsimmagini.com.

April 22, 2012

Race Report: Flying Pirate Half Marathon

After Saturday's 5k, Sunday's half marathon on the Outer Banks was just as successful. After missing out on some sold out March half marathons, this was my real distance race of the 2012 season, and though the weather was an epic disaster, it was still a fun time in the end. Saturday's 5k and Sunday's half marathon formed the Flying Pirate Challenge, and I ended up with two PR times, top 10/50 placements, and age group 1st/4th placings.

I wrote a previous blog post on Saturday's First Flight 5k race results, so following is a full race report on Sunday's Flying Pirate Half Marathon.

The Flying Pirate course is very interesting, even on a sunny day, but Sunday's weather was supposed to be an epic disaster, with thunderstorms and lightning a possibility. The race organizers even had county school buses located at strategic mile markers to actually pick up every runner off the road if lightning was imminent. Thankfully, the lightning stayed at bay, but that didn't mean it wasn't raining the entire day, sometimes in a torrential downpour. So waking up that morning, I picked out an old pair of high-mileage shoes and a tight shirt, the last thing I wanted was a lot of fabric in the rain. And oh yeah, massive use of Glide.

Race Day

Standing at the start line, I looked down and saw my watch completely blank. My cheap digital watch, survivor of over 1,700 miles, was staring back at me with nothing on the screen. So much for the '30M Resistant' logo on the front. Okay, so this was now going to be a real test of my inner-voice pacing. Starting in Corral A, one behind the elites, our group surged forward at the gun and we were off, starting on a wooded residential road for a few miles. I was continuously surprised by the number of residents who were standing in the rain and cheering us on; it was really well-supported by the communities we were running through. As we rolled through the first four miles on residential roads, runners naturally got into single file to run along the roadway lines and the raised portions of the streets as water rolled towards the edges.

Miles 4-6 were along the water, but no one had time to stop and enjoy the view because we were running through off-and-on standing water. Whereas puddles were avoidable before, there were now two inches of standing water on the concrete path and there was no avoiding it. If you've ever run in the rain and thought your shoes were wet, you have no idea what's it like to actually feel water flowing into and out of your shoes. The feet went from wet to completed water-logged and the shoes got a bit heavier. Mile 8 took runners around the base of the Wright Brothers Memorial and across a 20 yards of sandy grass to return to residential roads. It was finally at this time where I'd had enough of not knowing my pace; I was consistently passing people from the corral before the entire race, and I knew I was making decent time. So I asked a guy with a Garmin what his pace was and he replied 7:30 and since I was overtaking him, mine was probably around 7:15. That was a great moment of the race, as even without a watch, I had nailed my previous-PR pacing and still felt great.

Mile 10 the course turned into a nature preserve for the remainder of the race, and this meant running some hills on a dirt and mud road. As expected, the dirt road had become a mudslide in spots, and you couldn't see to the bottom of puddles, making foot placement difficult...especially since I hadn't seen clearly out of my glasses since the start. I've trained on trails, so I was prepared and started to kick in some reserves on the hills, overtaking several small groups of runners. At one point from mile 11-12.5, I was all alone, unable to see runners around the curves either ahead or behind. The rain was pouring through the forest canopy and the leaves were a bright green; it was a very serene and very beautiful run, and this eased the fatigue starting to set it from heavy shoes and a long race. At mile 12.5, the course turned onto a single-track trail, heading up a steep incline on a trail of pine needles and pine cones. I almost lost my footing several times and noticeably slowed on the incline, but I saw a small group of three runners ahead and was determined to overtake them before the end. Up and down what I assumed were pine needle and tree-covered dunes, it was a roller coaster and my legs were screaming. The trail finally crested a small dune and the finish line was 50 yards away, so I sprinted down the final stretch...on what could only be described as a mulch and tree debris-covered hill, my feet begging for decent footing as I stretched for the final 10 yards of pavement in the finishing chute. My wife was standing in the rain cheering, and my time across the finish appeared to be a personal best.

The Results
Whoa, watch the dagger.

Half Marathon (13.1 mi) :   1:34:47  |  7:14/mile
Placing: Overall 48th  |  Age Group 4th

After the injury and long winter rest to end 2011, I really didn't know what to expect in my first distance road race of the 2012 season. I had heavy legs and hip pain after my final shake-out run, and I just completed a 5k the morning before in a PR time. Add to that the rain, the muddy trails, and the lack of a watch, and I wasn't expecting much on this morning. So I was completely overjoyed to learn I not only ran it in a great time, but I ran it in a personal best. The entire weekend could only be described as a complete success.

The Swag

And the mutt got a frisbee!

Though the expo didn't have much to write about, the bounty was pretty impressive. As a Flying Pirate Challenge participant, I received a 5k cotton t-shirt and a half marathon tech shirt ("Arrrrgg We There Yet?"), all in a reusable grocery bag (nice extra). And since it was supposed to rain the next day, they had samples of anti-chafing cream and BandAids.

For running the 5k, every participant received a medal -- okay, a full-sized medal for a 5k? Not really hanging that one on the self-fame wall, so I left it as a decoration at the in-laws beach house. For winning my age group in the 5k, I received a gold pin of the Wright Brothers Memorial. The half marathon medal was well-designed, with a bottle opener on the side and a charm that pulled out of the back and attached to a necklace. And at the end of the finishing chute they were giving out pirate visors, a nice freebie that will come in handy on the beach. Finally, if you completed the Challenge, you also received a challenge medal.

Visor, tech shirt, and L to R: half marathon medal, charm, 5k age award, 5k medal, challenge medal.

The Verdict

It was a fantastic weekend, with great support from the community, the volunteers, and the runners. And it was small enough where I didn't have to worry about constant runner traffic on the half marathon, getting some space to open up and really run. It was a fun course, and I will definitely be back...and hopefully bring some sunshine.

Coming down the final stretch. Water pouring from my left shoe.

April 21, 2012

Race Report: First Flight 5k

Since this was just the first race of an Outer Banks weekend double-header, no time for a full race report, so I'll just give a quick recap and some pictures. The First Flight 5k was a warm-up to tomorrow's half marathon. Even though my hip hurt a bit last night, it was all systems go this morning and the race went much better than expected.

Going out fast, I hit the first mile marker in sub-6:00 pace, so I knew I needed to pull back a little bit, especially with the hill to come. I maintained a fairly consistent pace up the front of the Wright Brothers Memorial hill, cresting at around mile 1.25 and flying off the back side, moving into 4th place. I held that for most of the race, but slowly lost ground to the front three. Excited to be back on the road, I went out too fast and knew I'd have some trouble finishing strong. I was passed by a couple runners in the last quarter mile, too bad since I absolutely hate being passed with the finish line in sight.

In the end though, no real hard feelings on "what if" since I finished in 6th place and crushed my previous PR by 46 seconds...someone check the course distance. Not bad following a long winter layoff and injury woes.

Running past the Memorial. Jump for joy, a PR!

The Results

5k :   19:12  |  6:12/mile
Placing:    Overall 6th  |  Age Group 1st


1st place age group! That hill wasn't so bad.

April 20, 2012

Put Away the Sunscreen, Break Out the Snorkels

Looks like a cool, crisp morning for the 5k tomorrow, but Sunday's half marathon looks a bit dicey, no? Cape Hatteras area is showing 2-3" of rain. The last few miles of the half marathon (on a dirt road and trail) may turn into a mud run.

April 19, 2012

"Mostly Flat" 5k...Just One Hill


Wright Brothers Memorial on top of the hill.
It's going to be a beast 5k on Saturday morning heading up and over the hill of the Wright Brothers Memorial.

And then I'll be completing the double with Sunday's half marathon. Sadly, the beach weather is calling for severe rain and thunderstorms (with three miles of running off-road)...whooooo! Just hoping to avoid lightning.

April 16, 2012

Junk Miles - Week of April 16


Rather than bombard Facebook with my nonsensical thoughts and continuous sharing of other statuses and links that I, and probably I alone, find useful...I've thrown them all together in a random blog feature.

So on Marathon Monday up in Boston, I present another version of the Miles....

April 10, 2012

Training Fail

Starting to cut back and taper on Sunday, only to realize on Tuesday that the OBX half marathon isn't this weekend, but NEXT weekend. That's a training fail.

Never again will I mistakenly click on the wrong weekend of Google calendar, haha.

April 9, 2012

Junk Miles - Week of April 9


Rather than bombard Facebook with my nonsensical thoughts and continuous sharing of other statuses and links that I, and probably I alone, find useful...I've thrown them all together in a random blog feature.

Now the moment you've all been waiting for, April 9th's Junk Miles:

April 8, 2012

The Cobbles of the North

Easter Sunday in France is known by cycling fans not as not only a religious holiday, but also a sacred day of cycling...it's the '[Heck] of the North' or a 'Sunday in [Heck]' to those who know the event that unfolds. It's the annual Paris-Roubaix road race, a 257.5 km (160 mi), six-hour cycling race that crosses twenty-seven sections of cobblestones. Just imagine a 160-mile ride on your bike...with several hours of that going down train tracks.

Following are just a few thoughts on the results of this epic one day race.

April 5, 2012

Let's Go Thor!


I'm still not excited Thor is with BMC; I miss the 2011 Garmin-Cervélo roster that had most of my favorite riders: Hushovd, Tommy D, Farrar, Vande Velde, Dave Z...the last four being USA boys. They were only missing Jens Voigt (das German!) from being my personal dream team.

All that being said, new team and all, I want nothing more than Thor to win the Paris-Roubaix on Sunday, but I just don't think he has the form this year.

But I'll be watching and cheering for the God of Thunder!

April 4, 2012

Tempted to Try Out Racing Flats?


DC folks, if you've ever wanted to try out racing flats, check out the Pacers Crystal City 5Ks (held every Friday this month) and borrow a pair from Mizuno, Newton, or Brooks for free. Try them out during the race and return them.

This is a great opportunity and I'm definitely testing out a pair of kicks from Newton (can't buy right now; already own three pairs of Asics).