Active Community : Popular Threads - Marine Corps Marathon

RR: JFK50

DCtoPgh — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:04:33 GMT

It was an epic day. I hope all the ups and downs are reflected in my race report

JFK50 Roll Call..

pmo8 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:48:38 GMT

Who else is running this weekend? It's definitely going to be warmer than last year! I can't wait.

Saturday Runs

Jimmy_D_Jarhead — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:14:58 GMT

Okay so I decided to do some different kind of running before starting my official marathon training. I wanted to get the Philippines behind me and get in the groove with speed and distance and overall running more defined and also did not want to commit to an 18 week program. With that being said I went to work yesterday and a friend said he was going to run 24-30 miles this weekend I told himo call if he wanted company and he did. At 6 am I am laying in bed after staying up late with a beer in my hand and the phine rings. Hey many I am about to start lap 2 of 4-5 (6 miles each) do you wanna run with me this morning. Of course I said yes. Jumped up posted on facebook and then met hima mile up the road to run 2 laps with him. I went out but was upset because I was ion the run all day zone and instead had to duck back in and get ready for an opning ceremonies at for flag football. I would have more then likely bailed on that but I am the coach so I had to go. It was good to just go and run and run pretty fast. It was somewhat cold out and I hammered some good times. 14 total mile s ran but wanted to go at least one more lap before quitting, I wish he had called before the first lap.

Jimmy

Monday runs

MCM Ron — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:47:15 GMT

Been a while since I started one of these! I ran a quick 3.1 on the treadmill this morning. This first mile was barefoot (Thanks, Nita!)

Happy running!

RR: Warda Cardiac 50 Miler, Nov 21, 2009

Stevemustangred — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:54:14 GMT

Our 23rd Marathon/Ultra of 2009 was held on Bluff Creek Ranch, outside the town of Warda, about halfway between Austin and Houston. The course is single track mountain bike trail winding through forests, hills and pasture. Temps were 55-65 all day with an occasional slight breeze; humidity was 90-100%. The area received 2 inches of rain Friday/Saturday morning. There was MUD. It continued raining during the first two loops. The sun tried to come out during the fourth loop but changed its mind and went back behind the clouds.

The 50 Mile race began in the rain at 6AM. The first loop was 5 miles in the dark. Then we had to repeat six 7.5 mile loops. There was an aid station at the start/finish and at mile 3.5. Parts of the course were quite hilly with a few switch backs. The entire course was very slippery. It was nearly impossible to go up at least four very muddy hills. I couldn't lift one foot without the other one sliding back down. Sometimes I had to pull from tree to tree to get up the hills. Eventually ropes were strung on a couple of dangerous hills so we could pull ourselves up. In one spot I had to literally crawl up the hill through the mud. Falling was not an option as the drops off the sides of the hills were 50+ feet. The slippery mud was worse every loop. When it finally stopped raining the mud became sticky and only came off my shoes while crossing a flooded swiftly moving creek. Going down the slippery hills was more challenging than going up because it was hard to navigate some of the switch backs while maintaining balance at a high rate of uncontrolled descent.

In the pastures and in some of the forest sections we had to navigate around numerous moistened cow pies while avoiding slipping up against an electric fence. In many places puddles were over our ankles and ensured that our feet remained wet for the duration.

I changed socks every 15 miles to relieve my feet of pebbles. I wore my trail shoes and that probably limited my falls to just one during my second loop. I took two Advil following that event. The shoes aren't very comfortable but they help protect my feet when I kick rocks and roots. I tripped more times than I can remember. When we started the race in a light rain a lead group headed out pretty fast. I was lead runner of a large group until morning light started breaking. I guess they mistakenly thought I knew which way the trail was supposed to go. My head lamp worked well and I never got lost on the well marked trail.

Quitting was never an option. I started walking the extremely slippery parts while running whenever I could get traction. The mud probably added at least an hour to our times and certainly required an extra amount of concentration and energy. At some point something with thorns gave me an 8 inch cut down my right shin. I was covered with so much mud that I didn't notice the cut until the day after the race.

Different parts of the trail had cute names like Sidewinder, Spaghetti Bends, Bidet, Roller Coaster, etc. Roller Coaster was one of the last sections the trail with only 5 ups and downs. I was so happy to see that sign for the last time that I started singing Roller Coaster of Love. Parvaneh was somewhere ahead of me in the tangle of trails and unfortunately could hear me “singing”. It is not something about which I am proud, but it was really funny yesterday when she told me she could hear my bellowing.

A 50K and 25K were also run on the same loop. 54 dedicated runners finished their races. Aid stations were well supported. They BBQ'd hamburgers for us at the finish. It was tough running past the grill on each lap without being able to stop for a bite.

14 runners started the 50 mile race. 3 did not start and 2 DNF’d. The first 50 miler finished in 8:18. Parvaneh, who waited for me to catch up several times, finished in 11:05. I clocked in at 11:12. That was good enough for fifth male, seventh overall, and I finished about 30 minutes before it started getting dark. Surprisingly, I was still running easily at the end and probably could have kept running. My average pace was a blazing 13:27 per mile! Two days later and I am still a little sore and tired, but I don't feel any worse than I do on those rare occasions when I PR a marathon.

Next up: Double Decker Marathon, Austin, Texas, December 6.

Dealing with Giant Blister on Arch?

Jeff Le — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:49:45 GMT

Hi All, so I'm less than two weeks to go until the California International Marathon. I've survived the tendonitis and the foot doctor decided to give me some new orthodics just in case. I tried them out on my last real long run and I developed a pretty big blister on the center part of my arch.

Do you have any advice on what to do with the blister? I'm nervous that it will derail the last few days of training. At least I'm in the taper.

Thanks again for your wisdom in advance,

Jeff

Locked Thread?

Stevemustangred — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:54:05 GMT

Why was the thread about the Newsweek photo of a runner locked?

I wanted to post a pic of my favorite runner's legs.

What part of that discussion was out of bounds? It seemed civil and reasonable.

Thanks.

You can always tell a "real" runner by the tan lines at the ankles.

RR: Dizzy Fifties 50K

RunDaddyRunx4 — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:47:58 GMT

Ok, so here’s my RR. Dizzy Fifties 50K (3 times around the North and South loops passing through the central and only aid station after each loop)

Started off with bad news, something came up and Immer had to back out two days before the race. Left work early on Friday and went over to Fleet Feet to pick up my race packet. Ending up spending a boat load of money, (no wonder why I don’t go that often). I purchased some full length CRX compression pants, a case of Gu’s and a few of the Honey stinger gels. I used them on my race and by far the most palatable gel’s I’ve tasted, a must try.

My wife and kids are out of town visiting family and so my daughter can go to the movie “New Moon” with our cool Aunt up in Lynchburg, VA so I was a bachelor for the weekend. Came home Friday, rented Pelham 123 and ate a nice big bowl of pasta and still got o bed early. As anyone knows, a good night’s rest before a big race is non-existent. Got up at 4 am, fed the dogs and chickens, checked on the puppies and left for Monte Sano Mountain in Huntsville and got there about an hour before the race. No warm up run, I figured that since this is my first Ultra and the furthest distance I’ve ever ran I didn’t need the warm up, plus this was a trail race so I raced to finish, not time.

6:30 am, we started. I hung in the middle. First up was a 2.3 mile pre-loop. No problem, perfect weather (wish it was a bit colder [40’s to 50’s]). Next loop was the dreaded North Loop (4 miles), all the horror stories I heard about it were ALL TRUE. It was true trail running. I actually think my time was slower down the steep hills because of the rocks and grade of the hills. The back side was no picnic either, ended up walking just a portion of the hill due to the grade. I was thinking that I have to run this loop 3 times today. By this time I was starting to get passed by the more experienced runners so I kindly stepped to the side as they passed. (I’m a rookie at trails). Next up was the South loop, 5.6 miles of semi-flat trails. I made up some time and tried to keep my pace. My goal was to try and match my co-workers time of 5 hours (9.39 pace). Reached the Aid station/start line/finish/line and on pace with a few minutes in the back to use later. Wow I though, I can actually do run this thing in five hours.

North Loop again, this time the hills seamed steeper and longer, walked about a total of .5 miles. Legs still felt great but the bottom of my feet were starting to hurt. It was here where I gave up hopes on finishing in 5 hours. So what if my co-worker can smoke me, this was my first ultra and I was going to enjoy it. Reached the aid station and grabbed a handful of M&M’s. They lasted about 15 seconds then I spat them out and grabbed a PB and banana sandwich I packed for the run. Started on the South loop with sandwich in hand and water in the other. At this time was when I was passed by the race leader, I just stepped out of his way and honored his speed. He finished in 2 hrs 31 min., wow. ¾ of the way into this loop I hit a tree root and took my first and only fall. Got up and brushed off the dirt and leaves and kept going.

Last time through the North loop, I thought of quitting and wondered why I wanted to run an ultra, shoot, I even registered for 2 more over the next two months. Am I crazy, I should get checked out, what was I thinking? Hooked up with some of the local runners and was talking to them on the South loop. (I may be crazy but they were insane) They ran the first loop of this race, then drove to the Krispy Kreme race in town (run 2 miles, eat a dozen donuts then run 2 miles back) and were now back on the course finishing the race. I heard all the horror stories and they regretted it but still trucking along. I came across the finish line in 5 hours 30 minutes 25 seconds. My first ultra! Finished 23rd of 69 runners. I thought this was pretty good because these were all true runners, who else would spend their Saturday morning running 31 miles up and down a mountain. Since I am trying to do the Fleet Feet Grand Slam my next race is Huntsville Marathon on 12/12 then another 50K on 12/31 and end up with Mountain Midst on 1/23. It is labeled as the toughest trail race in Alabama with some pretty strict cut-off times. I just hope I can make it.

A crop of marathoners

Immer treu — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 02:28:30 GMT

Thoroughly and selfishly bummed at missing out on this weekend's planned off-road adventure and the second race missed this year because of work needs, I am relieved to find Omi among the folks who beat Boston's registration closing. My MCM veteran niece, knowing my thoughts about a potential Comrades journey, calls and says "not this year," (there was almost no chance anyway) having her wedding that weekend (What a great excuse not to consider a race!) By the way, there will be a relative and friend run at Umstead that morning. A relative without longer race times in years ran a qualifying time Saturday, making him eligible to sign up for National if his wife approves, his DNF in his only prior marathon attempt being a source of some concern; would I run with him if he does? Elder daughter calls up this evening, having run two miles less than planned because of an event today. "Planned? After what you ran earlier this week? That sounds like a marathon schedule." She's done halves but "confesses" she's looking at a a spring marathon; would I run with her? Suddenly the old geezer has to wonder how the weekend has gone from wallflower nonrunner to a spring of social marathoning. It does raise the question of just how much time I'll need to have between events and how fast they're wanting to go........So much for pity-partying! What a great weekend!

Great Quotes

Jimmy_D_Jarhead — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 02:39:34 GMT

"You only ever grow as a human being if you're outside your comfort zone."

PERCY CERUTTY

I get a daily quote from Runner's World and this was today's. Just about the best I have seen in a few weeks. What do others have in the arsenol?

Jimmy