Gettin' Lean and Mean in Twenty Fourteen

If you would go back in time and tell me that I would go into the year 2014 training for a 50K trail race in arguably the toughest trails in Texas, I would say you're crazy. But, as fate would have it, here we are…a few hours away from 2014…and just a few days away from that 50K. Why even do such a thing? I do it because I am inspired by my running friends…all of you. You inspire me to keep going, to keep improving, to keep "fighting to live," to keep pushing weakness out of my body. The big goal for 2014 is that darn Cactus Rose 50 miler.

In order to accomplish that massive goal, I can only dare to resolve that this new year I must take a serious stance on eating better. I can't promise you anything. I know I will make good and bad decisions along the way…bear with me. I do know that in order for me to do that crazy race, I need to be around 20-25 pounds lighter. I am determined, though, and with my family's help I can do it.

2014 promises to be a great year if we will face our personal challenges head on and reach for bigger and better goals in our running, cycling, and swimming.

Finally, a huge thanks goes to Kathy, my soulmate. Without you, none of this running and racing would even take place. You keep Montalvo Manor going strong while I'm out there on the road or on the trail doing long miles and crazy David workouts. Thank you Kathy for your support…I owe you BIG time.

2014 is just around the corner…what are YOU going to do? I say go for it and make it your best year yet. Happy new year!

Marathon #2…PR's and Such

From last time…
Today is December 1…and a start of another month of serious training. Interesting to say that I am using a marathon as a training run for an ultra. That's insane. but I guess that's just the way it is for a runner. See you out on the road or trail!

Now…today is December 16, a day after my second marathon at the McAllen Inaugural Marathon. Glad to announce I got my inaugural PR, too. (Did I use the word inaugural correctly, Donna?)
My first marathon time was 5:05…this time I finished in 4:24, and nowhere near as beat up as the first one. I DID lose around 5 minutes having to walk in to a convenience store to pee@mile 18 or so. Note to McAllen: more portapotties on the marathon route, please. Nevertheless, the weather was perfect yesterday, so I think that played the biggest role in my PR.
Interestingly, on my first marathon I relied heavily on Powerade, but none at the correct saturation was offered at the race, so bonk city, baby.

This training cycle, I did NOT use much Powerade at all in training and really only for post-run recovery. I fared much better with this technique, knowing that aid stations would either have diluted gatorade or none at all.

I also tried something new for nutrition: bananas. They actually worked well for me in training (even though my buddies made fun of me) and worked well at staving off the cramping in the race.
I managed to stick pretty much to German's plan for me and averaged the 10:00 pace per mile.
I still fell off pace at the last 3-4 miles, though. I attribute it to not really training much this time: I ran a 30K trail race just a few weeks ago.

The main training run that I found critical? The 18 mile long run with built-in tempo miles, 10K pace, MP, etc. that I did that one time with David, Cyndi, Ben and Jesse. I find that this technique on a couple of 20+milers will be my key to…gulp…a 4:00 marathon.

SO…Bandera in 4 weeks…no time to do those recommended marathon recovery weeks…gotta get back on the training! See you at Bandera!! 50K time!

Marathons and Ultramarathons…Am I Ready?

Within the next couple of months I will attempt something I NEVER thought I would ever do…or WANT to do…run another marathon and run a 50K ultra marathon. The 26.2 mile marathon is a road race on December 15 and the 50K (31 mile) ultra marathon will be a trail race in one of the toughest trails in Texas in Bandera, Texas. Actually, now that I think of it, these races are within a month of each other.

The big question is…will I be able to do this? I am really hoping that the weather for this marathon will be much better than the Fiesta back in October. The Valley is notorious for having a few of those weird 90+ degree days in December. I just pray it's not on December 15. Then I need to recover quickly and continue to train for the ultra on January 11.

It will be kinda strange to get a new group of students on January 8th for the new semester and on the third day of class need to be absent to travel to Bandera. Imagine their bewilderment when I tell them that I will be running a 50K trail race that Saturday. They'll probably think I'm weird…or crazy (probably both).

I gotta tell you that after this ultra, assuming that I finish, that I will probably tone down all this racing..at least until a few weeks before March for Nueces trail run. I want revenge on that tough little 25K course from last year's painful attempt at my first trail race. Then I may rest from it all for a month or so.

I am glad that I finally was able to break the cycle of weight gain during a Thanksgiving break. Due to the closeness of the marathon, I paid attention to portion control and kept training. I ran around 65 miles this week and lost just under 6 pounds.

Today is December 1…and a start of another month of serious training. Interesting to say that I am using a marathon as a training run for an ultra. That's insane. but I guess that's just the way it is for a runner. See you out on the road or trail!

Fiesta! My First Marathon

My first marathon is done. How did it go? Well, I have already written two play-by-play accounts of it, but maybe that’s a little too much information for this blog. Let me just narrow it down to the main points.

This Fiesta Marathon was a half-marathon loop covered twice. Of course, like most of you, loops bring a bad taste. However, I thought this would be perfect for me for two reasons: the second loop would be very familiar and this was close to home, so no travel costs.

I really DID do my homework for this race!

One major concern was going to be the weather. It is early October and South Texas is still under summer conditions. The morning would be around 80-90% humidity and the sun would be out early, bringing big-time heat (90+). I knew what I was getting into, I just didn’t realize the huge factor this would be late in the race.

Luckily for me, my wife Kathy would be out there around the 4 mile marker with gels , clothes, and drinks.

So, the beginning of this race was very calm for me because I wanted emotionally to treat this like a training run, so that I would not start too fast. I kept with the plan very well. I only was anxious about the aid stations. This was my first long run without my woobie (camelback). I worried about the quality of Gatorade at each AS (aid station) because I trained on full bore Powerade.

German's Pace Plan for Me

Any way, I drank a cup at each AS on the way out and ate one gel up to Kathy at 4 mile. I toweled off, drank some Powerade, and debated putting on my cap and shades, but was going to wait until I came back from the turnaround. Monte Cristo road was nice, I ran across my running friends who were already on their way back and this motivated me to pick up my pace just a little. I reached the turnaround and headed back with ease. The sun was in my face, though, and I regretted not bringing my cap and shades with me.

So far so good!

I reached Kathy at the 9 mile mark and picked up my shades and cap, drank powerade, toweled off, and kept on…but I forgot to reload my pocket with gels! Oh no! I would be calorie-free for 8 miles! I just thought it would be ok. I kept going.

Then I did the unthinkable…I broke from my pace plan. I was feeling really strong and decided to push the pace from miles 10-12 and get that first loop done with a strong finish. I reached the turnaround with ease and thought to myself that I would slow back down to 10 pace and redo the second loop like I did the first. But the sun was getting hot already and my body was feeling the depletion of calories. Oh well, nothing I could do but stay calm and easy until I get back to Kathy. Luckily Sami was at the mile 14 AS and was able to get me a donut, but I only ate half. It was great and I kept on, but my pace was starting to slow down.

Whoa! I look around me at mile 15 and there’s Cyndi on my left and David on my right. They decided to urge me onward and run alongside me. Wow! These guys are awesome. I never realized how amazing my running friends are until now. However, I am feeling it already: the bonk. I am not keeping pace, but we reach Kathy at mile 17. I drink a red bull and eat a bar. I’m a mess already. But David is with me (Cyndi moved on with another runner) and he is truly getting me through this with his knowledge and wisdom. We press on, but the sun, heat, humidity, and the lack of calories have already done their damage. I also developed a painful cramp in my diaphragm that forces me to walk for a while. I am also starting to get dizzy.

 Am stopping at every AS to get water, a drenching over me by David’s hand, and really, just to rest. The rest of Monte Christo road out and back felt like 6 miles, not three. German found us at mile 20 AS and gave me ice down the rear trick. It was awesome. I am out of it, though…and I’m really worried.

David...pulling me along!

David and I get to Kathy at mile 22, but I am really gone…dizzy…tired…and now I want to puke and pass out. NOT good. David and Kathy are worried. I can tell in their voices. I want to DNF.

But I remember waaay deep in my soul that I worked very hard for this, that I ran a lot, that I left behind my family many days and evenings to train, that I promised my students I would get the job done. So David and I press on. I finally get to mile 24 AS. The police officer wants to get me first aid. I’m almost too gone to fight it, but somehow David gets me going and we pressed on. I am walk-jogging at about 15 pace and walking more and more. I want to pass out.

Mile 25! I just keep dragging myself onward. Ben greets us at the corner of University and 4^th and somehow I am feeling better now. We take pictures at the last AS where Sami and Carly are really encouraging me. 

Feeling much better (because I am soooo close to the finish line)!

David and Ben jog with me on to the final stretch. Of course, I tell them they better not get in the way of my picture at the finish line!  I gather enough energy to run it in to the finish! YES! I did it!! I can't believe I made it.

Thank you Lord for air conditioning and comfortable chairs.

Lessons I learned in my first marathon:

1.    Get more training on tired legs.

2.    Pick a marathon with cooler weather.

3.    Learn to run without powerade.

4.    Stay on the damned pace schedule, no matter how good I feel.

5.    True friends don’t walk a mile in your shoes….they run 13.1 miles instead.

6.    Get more than one long run over 21 miles done in training.

7.    Get stronger and don’t overestimate my conditioning. I was probably in poorer shape that I should have been for this race.