Seattle Rock N Roll...So Close...

At 4:00 a.m. this morning I was woke up by the Alarm Tone of my phone..."The Office Theme" Rolled over and could not believe it was time...So I popped out of bed and headed to the restroom to get ready for the race. I had set out all of my stuff the night before so that I could get ready in the restroom of our Sheraton Room and not wake Vanessa or the kids...

After 2 quick trips to the Throne(this is important) I was headed out to catch the shuttle to the starting line. The good thing about the Sheraton was that it is only 2 blocks from the Shuttle...So me and my fellow runners caught school buses for the 15 minute jaunt to the Starting Line...Wanting to get to the shuttle early because I was nervous that I may miss it, or would get to the race late ended up back firing but also being a blessing in disguise. The shuttle was earily quiet...Everyone, I am assuming, focusing on the race ahead...We would have plenty of time to focus later.

The shuttle, 1 among many, arrived at the starting line at 5:00 a.m. Yep, 2 hours of waiting for the race...Do you know all the things you can do for two hours...Well let me tell you a few..

-Eat half a bagel(Was a really good thing..Yep, I forgot to pack a breakfast...DUMB)

-Eat a Banana(See above)

-Check out all of the Ugly Ladies..Of course UGLY meaning..Not so much(Don't be pissed..I already told Vanessa....70% of this race were women.)

-Watched a guy with the ugliest stride I have ever seen...

-Stretched every muscle in my bosy at least 20 times....2 Hours to kill folks..

-Visited the Porta Potties...Wait for it....6 times...Yep...6...Holy @#$% ...literally...

At 6:45 as I was finally getting into the Throne for the last time it was time to proceed to my gate...Gate #7...This was the section for us that were going to try our asses off to finish the half in under 2 hours...There she was, the pacer...With the 2 hour mark held high in the air...All I had to do was stay in front of her...Thats all...

As I turned around and looked backwards, for the first time I saw the "Swarm"...25,000 Runners...It was amazing...and I must tell you...These guys know how to do this marathon thing..If you ever get the chance to run a Rock n Roll Marathon...Do it...They are professional and very organized...

7 o'clock hit and the gates started to creep towards the starting line...1,2,3,4,5,6 and then it was 7's turn...GO!!!!

I went out like a Catholic after the 99 cent Fish Sandwich from McDonalds during Lent...Feeling great...really great...and best of all, I was in front of the Pacer...

After 2 miles I was sitting pretty...or running pretty...Passed a few bands(there is one at each mile) and was really excited about the next 2 hours ahead...

At mile 5 I was still feeling good...Then I hit, 6....6.3...and then 6.55(the half of the half) and then it happened...I heard someone in the crowd say, "There is the 2 hour pacer for the Half" WHAT!!!!! WHERE???? It cannot be....Oh, no it can..There she was, with her sign over her head...At that time we hit a downhill and like that speedy Catholic I headed down the hill as fast as I could...I needed to build a cusion, if I could do that, she would not catch me...Right? Wrong...

My legs started to ache, the feet started to hurt and I started to feel a little naucious, or dehydrated...You choose the word...I pulled off for a second and stretched really quick, and took another trip to the throne...I may have been dehydrated...but I was still peeing like a race horse...and then it happened, she passed me by....for the next mile or so, I kept her in my sites...then I started to drift backwards...DAMMIT...For the next two miles I fought the internal mindgames that happen to all athletes..Is it worth it..Why even continue...but in the back of my mind, I kept hearing my little brother cheering me on...

You see he fought these same demons a few weeks ago(at a Half Ironman no less), and beat them...Could I beat them too...Damn skippy...

So I pushed on...At mile 11 I was at somewhere near 1:45 or so...Could I pull some crazy miracle and finish the last 2.1 in less than 15 minutes...Faster than I have ever run before..I was going to try..It was a steady downhill that teased you like an Underclassman in College(not that that ever happened to me)....It showed you Qwest Field, where the finish line was...Took you right up to it ALMOST, then WHAMMO...it took you another direction completely away from it and Up a Damn Hill....

I hit the 12 mile mark at approx 1:56 or so...So now it was just a matter of trying to break a time I would set in my head and change over the last 1.1 miles...Break 2:04, no 2:05, NO 2:07....and it was that number that I finally did break...Coming down the last 500 yards or so, I finally heard, thats right heard Vanessa yelling "GO CHRIS" There was Emma cheering loudly as well...I rounded the turn to bring it home....

At this time I would like to say that the people lined up for the last 300 yards were brutal..Unless they knew you, they just stood there twiddling their thumbs and looking at us with a look that said...Uhhhhhhhhh...I was so pissed...This is the time where runnners look for that last burst of help...at least I do...but it did not come... As I crossed the finish line and brought myself to a stop, I ached...I ached in the worse way...but I was Happy...not because I did not meat my goal...but rather because I had done it at all..I could have quit when the pacer passed me by...but I didn't...1 Reason was because of my little brother..The other...I have never quit anything in my life...and I am not about to start now. Oh and the Race Medal Kicked Ass...

Hopefully you enjoyed the recap...I enjoyed running it...even in the painful parts...

I will end on this...Back in 2003 before Vanessa and I headed to Japan, I ran the 5K in Cedar Rapids...My time 45 minutes....Yep 45 minutes...15 minute miles...HOLY CRAP....Today I hit the 5K mark in 27.38 or an average of 8:54...Next weekend I am running the same race I did back in 2003...Only now I am running the 8k...For that race 45 minutes will be acceptable...but I am shooting for lower...

"We take these risks not to escape life, but to keep life from escaping us"

Father's Day = 1 More Week till Seattle Rock n Roll

So today was an all around awesome day...Was woke up by the smiles of two fabulous kids at 6 a.m., treated to Cinnamon Rolls and a few gifts and headed to church. My wardrobe was amazing..I sported a t-shirt designed by my 4 year old daughter Emma...After church we headed out for some erands and then headed home for some chill action.

Finally at around 3 I decided to head out for my last long run before the Half-Marathon next weekend. As most of you know, I am trying to set a personal best by breaking the 2 hour mark...If my feelings today are any indication of how I will do next week, I am VERY EXCITED...

I hit the 6.6 mile mark at under 60 minutes for the first time in forever. Now the funny thing is, I tried something new...No music...Instead I listened to an Audio Book...No s#$%, a book...I thought for sure it was a risk...Who knew that I would be so engulfed in the book that I did not even notice my running...Less water intake, less concentration, but more success..and the worst of it...It is the book about the Dallas Cowboys...the tell all of the Championship years...Gotta say..Pretty good stuff.

So the question is...Do I try this approach for the race? Not sure...and the truth be told, there are going to be plenty of bands on the race route...Do I change my habits one week before the race...Any ideas...suggestions....So conflicted...If anything I am going to listen to the book on my runs this week and see how I feel...Then I can make the decision on Saturday morning...I will have a playlist and a book list ready to go int he trusty I-pod...Still...suggestions would be nice..Even if it just means that people are actually reading this...

I would like to finish by wishing all of you that are Father's or Father's to be...I know a few;)
a Happy Father's Day..We belong to an amazing fraternity...one that not all are a part of, but once you are, you understand how truly special it is to be a member...

I love you Emma and Camden...

That's more like it...

So after Church today, it was time for another 10 miler...The weather was a far cry from what it has been lately...60 degrees, a little bit of wind....and on top of that, I decided to take on a new route...The route took me through almost 3 miles of base before heading out the main gate. From the gate is was a pretty decent downhill followed by a slight uphill, both of which felt really good...Actually the first 5 of todays run felt really good..

The next 1.5 was a little rougher...the biggest hill I have done in awhile...I was supposed to do this hill last year during the marathon training, but had been injured during that week of training...It was pretty brutal, however I maintained a good pace...and it will definitely come in handy in Seattle.

The next 1.5 was a steady downhill...Which felt great...sometimes I struggle going down the hills, this one felt alright...My last 2 miles were part of my regular route...so these came pretty easy...

So after 10 miles, I felt good and was happy with my time...1:32....I am going to be cutting it close in Seattle for the 2 hour mark.. but I will be very much aware of my time...

Going into the finaly two weeks of training, I am very thankful that I chose to switch to the half....it could have been ugly...

I am really feeling like I am peeking at the right time with my training...and that is a really good feeling in more way than one.

Feeling Good...

So I looked at the posting date of my last Blog and realized that 12 days have passed....That does not seem at all possible....1st Off, and I doubt he will read this till later, but my little brother is competing in a Half Ironman this weekend...So proud of the kid and I know he is going to kick a@#....

So my training has been going really well, I have been averaging between 20-28 miles per week for the last 3 weeks...and am currently on pace to break the 2 hour mark for the Half. The knee is feeling great, and I have started to be smarter with taking days off and resting my legs...It has helped...

So with 2 weeks to go before the Half in Seattle, overall feeling great and cannot wait...Also cannot wait for the day after when the family will be hopping on the plane for Iowa...We are looking forward to two weeks of fun with our families, while also taking in a race...

Brutal with a CAPITAL B....

Well first off I have to say it has been a few weeks since my last blog...Have not really had that much to blog about....We have been extremely busy with Camping, Work, etc. Running has been going pretty well as I slowly try to get to that comfy zone where I was before...Definitely finding it harder lately to get out there as well as watch what I eat...So I am trying to kick myself back into it...Today may have been the kick in the ass I needed...

At about 3 p.m. I set out for a 10 miler...a distance that should take me less than an hour and a half...Today it took me almost two full hours...not two full hours to run but two hours to keep myself in shape to run...

When I was in Japan running, I routinely ran in 80-90 degree heat....stayed hydrated etc. In the NW we very rarely ever even get hot and hot here is different...The temp may be 80 and that feels hot, since we are almost always at 50-60, so it seems.

So today it was "hot" and at mile 4 I had already gone through my fuel belt and was dragging ass. Combine that with my crappy lunch and snacking...At the 6.25 mark I finally got to a convenience station and filled up with G2, Water and more water...Combined I drank over 64 ounces and then started up again...Lets just say I dragged ass for the last 4....Thankfully my legs felt great...it was more my hydration, and energy...plus the 64 ounces that were now sitting in my gut....

So here I am about 15 minutes after the run, still cooling down, and feeling slowly better....
Lessons learned...Stay hydrated, eat right and do not get cocky....

One month till the half and the goal of breaking my personal best....After today I have never wanted it more and know that I need to be prepared and smart to do so....