Madison Marathon 2010

Photo by Kevin, modified on his Nintendo DSi

5:12:09 chip time... what? All my training runs had me aimed at a 4 to 4:15 marathon, what did me in was the weather.

Before I could run I had to pick my race packet up at the marathon expo. The expo was held Friday and Saturday at the Dane County fairgrounds. Once I had all my stuff we looked around and found two things worth mention. First was that the cool tech shirts that had a route map all said "half marathon" on the front, no sale. Second Jenny was able to try on a pair of Vibram five fingers Bikilas, sold.

I woke up at 4:45am unable to sleep. A quick breakfast of oatmeal and coffee while I checked the weather forecast one more time and it was time to get dressed and wake Jenny. The car was packed and ready with my gear plus Jenny's Cannondale mountain bike running slick tires. We hit the road around 5:45 and were parked by 6:15 a block from the starting line.

We got our gear sorted out and I hit the restroom line on the way to the square. After standing around for a bit I returned to the restroom line again then got lined up near the 4:20 pace group. Two times in the restroom might seem excessive but it kept me from being one of many guys headed for cover within the first few miles. The worst guy I saw ran off the street in the first mile to the hedge of an apartment complex, come on plan ahead or hold it!

I moved up to the 4:10 pace group deciding that would be fast enough and only slightly faster than my long training run pace. I was still in denial that the heat would do me in so on I ran. The first clue the heat and humidity was getting bad was my Headsweats hat started dripping on my neck after only 5 miles. Jenny was waiting along Breeze Terrace in the shade to take pictures and cheer me on. It was nice to finally find her, I knew what mile she planned to be in but not exactly where. She popped up again on campus at the corner on Charter St. and University Ave. I was two for two spotting her unlike when I missed her during the Lake Monona 20k.

The heat became more noticeable on the way out of downtown. I had taken a couple salt tablets followed by Tums long before I reached the route split at Tenny Park. Jenny and I almost missed each other as I ran by still with the 4:10 group. I'm not sure what happened but by mile 15 I was feeling terrible and questioning if I could finish. The aid stations and some spectators had ice and that kept me going in a ice, run, overheat, walk cycle back to Jenny at mile 20.

I had sent Jenny a text message that I was off pace and wanted to swap my Amphipod belt for my handheld bottle. She had responded but I had tucked phone away so didn't know where she was waiting. A quick gear swap and a few words and I continued on. The ice, run, walk cycle continued but the walks were getting longer and when I heard the clocks were stopped and was told to walk I was done running. Walking the last 4 miles took forever it seemed and when I went to run the last two blocks my legs were really against it. My parents along with Jenny and the boys were waiting just up the street. The boys jogged along on the sidewalk to the finish where I got my medal. A few pictures and we headed to the cars.

I was fried and glad to be done. The whole clock stopping thing turned out to be false which stinks because I would have pushed for a sub 5 hour had I known. Oh well there is always next time and I may have that race picked out already.

Jenny's Marathon recap

No, I didn't run the Marathon this last weekend. But I did attend to support Chad, so I have a version to talk about.

Chad was pretty nervous before the marathon. It was supposed to be hot out the day of the Madison Marathon, and since his taper began there were no long distances run in the heat. He wasn't going to smile for any pictures on the square in downtown Madison before the run, so I've got nothing to show you. It was a beautiful morning, still cool out and the sun was shining. I was riding my bike to various race points to catch glimpses of Chad and help support him along the route. I could not easily cross the course by the square since there were many barricades, so I headed away from the area before the start gun went off. I heard the announcer calling out runner pace groups as they left the square and headed onto West Washington, so I stopped to take a picture there.
My first stop was going to be between 7 and 8 miles in, but on my ride over to that area I thought I may be able to catch the group just before 2 miles so I diverted there. I just missed the group Chad was running in, but I still had plenty of time to make it over to Camp Randall Stadium where I was going to hang out and wait. The half marathon group started 20 minutes after the marathon group and came running on the same portion of route where I was waiting. I think they were only a couple miles in to their run. I was playing with my camera while waiting for Chad and took some "art shots", I like to call them.
Chad and the boys weren't impressed with them but I think they are cool. I like the blurred effect of the legs, which was better on the first sets of runners since the legs in the later pictures were not going as fast.

After spotting Chad, still smiling, at this spot I booked it over to mile 10 coming down from Observatory Drive on campus. I tried out a Gu from the sampler pack, the Jet Blackberry. The first taste was a little strange, very fake fruit tasting. I guess I was just used to the chocolate and coffee flavored gels, or maybe I was expecting something that tasted more like jam. I don't know, but it did get better after that initial taste and I finished it off. I had also been drinking that morning to stay hydrated and it was at this point that I realized I didn't have a lock with me for my sweet ride. I really could have used a restroom, but didn't want to chance having the bike taken from me, so a poor decision was made and I stopped drinking water for the day. I was pretty dehydrated by the time I returned my bike to the car before the end of the marathon.

I headed on to mile 12 by Tenney Park where I was going to station myself until mile 20 looped back to the same area. I almost missed Chad here, as I had just put the bike against a tree and looked for a pace group and there he was running past. I yelled so he knew I was there, but didn't get any pictures. I did have to walk my bike some on the sidewalk to get to the park since the streets were closed and there were people on the sidewalk, so that must have slowed me down enough to be late. I also had to avoid hoses stretched across the sidewalks providing water mists for the runners as well as the Free Beer and Bloody Mary stand providing nourishment(?) for passing runners.

I walked around the corner and found a spot in the shade to wait until Chad's return. Luckily there were no bugs that I noticed in the park, so I had an enjoyable wait. The runners crossed this bridge out and back on the loop. This was a tough part of the course for Chad and many of the runners. They didn't look so happy coming off this loop. It was by now pretty hot out and I think that loop was in the sun. After seeing Chad here and swapping his water belt for the handheld bottle, I took off to the parking ramp to put my bike away.

I met up with the in-laws and the boys up on the square for the finish. The 4:10 pace group was just crossing the finish line when I got there, but Chad had fallen off this pace and I didn't figure I missed him. I couldn't fathom that he had sped back up in the heat. I then learned that the race had been red flagged and the announcer said the clock was stopped, all further results were unofficial and the runners were being encouraged to stop racing and return to the finish. I didn't know what Chad's plans were or how far back he was so we just waited. He had told me the day before that there was no way he was not finishing no matter if they closed the course. By the way, closing the course is not a common occurrence. They did it once before in 2006, but it is not usually this hot in Madison at the end of May. I heard from Chad at mile 25 and he was walking. He finished strong and was smiling at the end.

5 days to go

In five days I'll be running the Madison marathon, it seems like forever since I started my training. I'm not nervous yet but expect sleeping Saturday night will be tough. My biggest concern for race day so far is being properly fueled without over doing it.

Yesterday I did 8 miles starting at 8:30am. I went out slow and never picked the pace up from just under a 10 minute pace. Turned out the temperature was 85 F when I got back in the house, I'm glad the forecast for Sunday is much cooler. I'll be resting and hydrating all week with only 9 more miles to run this week.

Once the marathon is over I'll be switching back to cycling more especially since the boys are asking to go ride. Zack made me commit to a date that we can ride into Madison again.

Short post today, gotta get the boys to school.

Porch Surprise

The doorbell rang this afternoon and I got a pleasant surprise when I opened the door. UPS had left me a package. I should clarify that it shouldn't have been a surprise, since I ordered it last week, but since I had forgotten, it was a surprise.

Here is my porch surprise: A Gu Energy Sampler.


I typically use flavors like Chocolate, Espresso, and the previous holiday special Chocolate Mint, but I wanted to try some fruit flavors. This sampler gives a wonderful way to try out all the flavors. And some extra Gu brand items to try as well. I think I will like the Jet Blackberry, so that will probably be one of my first choices to try. I'll post back with my favorites.


For those of you who may have already tried and love Jet Blackberry there is another special on the Gu website, a Jet Blackberry 24-pack with a t-shirt from American Apparel. I have many American Apparel t-shirts and love the fit and fabric. They are all made in the USA.

And here's a cute picture of Zack in front of a recent spring shower rainbow. It was actually a double rainbow, but this one was hard to capture.

20 Miles on Mother's Day

Setting my alarm for 6am sounded fine until it was midnight and I was just getting to bed. It was a fire call kept Jen and I up. Even a call that turned out to be nothing but drive out, sit blocking traffic, drive back to the station took an hour maybe more.

So at 6am I was up and out the door in 20 minutes even with a last minute gear change. It was 36 degrees but sunny so I went with shorts, a heavy short sleeve shirt, arm warmers, fleece hat and glove liners. Since I would be out for over 3 hours I took my Amphipod belt with a plan to refill at mile 10. Of course both my Garmin and iPod shuffle went along.

The run was an out and back on the rail trail, not much to say it went just as expected. I got out to my turn around point to find the water fountain missing. Okay I know it's all the same pipe but public bathroom sink water just makes me not want to drink, I topped up anyway and headed home.

Same trail different season.

I detoured once back in town to get the hours for the restaurant Jenny wanted to eat at for Mother's day brunch. I should have checked the menu, turns out they no longer have brunch type food. We bailed out heading instead to the coffee and chocolate shop for breakfast and hung out playing games on our iPod Touches. Very much not "doing it all outside" but we all had fun, some warmer weather would be nice to lure the boys back into outdoor activities. Zack is ready for a Planet Trek repeat after I pointed out the sign for Pluto was back in place near the trail.

All my runs now until the marathon will seem short by comparison. I'm confident I'll finish and am shooting for a 4:15 or better despite all the advice against time goals for a first marathon. Jenny will be riding her bike to meet me a few point along the marathon course so I hope to have better pictures for that post.

New Header Photo

Finally I'm getting around to putting up a new photo for the header on this blog. Seems like it's already out of date. We all went several weeks ago to Blue Mounds State Park and took pictures and hiked. The kids did well on the hike.

Then they wanted to climb one of the towers. On the way we spotted a shelter canopy that looked rather odd. After descending the tower we took a closer look and it was not only crooked, but really short. I don't know if this was a strange design or they ran out of lumber when they were making it. Did they not follow measure twice, cut once? It gave us all a laugh and we headed home after stopping for some snacks along the way.

Lake Monona 20K

So I guess Blogger hates me today so photos at the top.

Way back in December I saw an ad for this race, only $20 before end of 2009. I talked Jen into joining me and we signed up together. Jumping ahead four months last Saturday was race day. At 7:25 my alarm went off and panic follows, race time is 9am and I had 4 hours of sleep. Jen and I get the boys up, dressed and fed in record time. While Jenny went to drop them off with my parents I loaded her old Cannondale mountain bike on the Subaru. Due to a number of things Jen could not run, but she did ride most of the course in reverse to see me as I ran. Once we got rolling I calmed down as it was clear we had plenty of time.

We arrived with time to spare and made our way to the park. I needed a timing chip and restrooms. Jen was looking for a map of the route. I got my chip and we struck out on the rest, the lines at the porta-potties were too long it could wait. We made our way to the back of the starting area and then nerves sent me back to wait in line. I made it back for the race announcements and national anthem, and then we were off. There were 811 finishers and I think I had lined up behind 800 of them. No big deal chip timing evens that out right? Well it has in every other race but I guess "gun start" meant a single start time for everyone. This didn't really matter I had come to do a training run while I supported Jen in her first race over 10K.

So I didn't like the back row, I'm not fast but I'm faster than the back row. It took a bit for the pack to spread to where I could move up and I grabbed a few spots on every tiny hill that seemed to slow others down. Mile 1 went by in about 9 flat and I thought "too fast slow down", I was trying to slow down but continued to see my pace was in the high 8's on my Garmin. My big worry was I'd blow up before the end at that pace. I had skipped the first water stop since I was carrying my 12oz Amphipod bottle but stopped at mile 5ish to top it off. I passed by Jen without seeing her at the Monona Terrace. In my defense I thought she was only going to be at mile 10 and I was trying to maintain an even pace. At the 10K point I decided I felt fine and the near 9 minute pace would be fine. I stopped checking my watch and just ran. I also kept passing people which is way better than getting passed. At mile 10 I spotted Jen and swung by for a kiss as she was taking photos. Shortly after leaving the park Jen came by on her bike and yelled "looking good" which scared me since I didn't hear her approaching. At mile 11. something I thought I was done when the wind hit me but it ended quickly and I kept going. In the end I had passed about 475 people and was glad to be done.

We headed to the car to drop the bike and change shoes before heading for the food. We may as well have just stayed at the car because the line was too long and we bailed. Salad bar at Whole Foods and a quick stop at Berkeley Running Company instead to look for Five Fingers for Jen then we headed home.

I wrapped up my weekend with another run Monday morning. 14 miles in 2:11 to start my final big week of marathon training. Actually I never figured out if the long run begins or ends the week but it doesn't matter now. 20 miles this Sunday then taper until race day.