C1R0 Flu

After PR'ing in the Fiesta Bowl 1/2 last weekend I was struck with C1R0, the so-called 'runner's flu'. This malady affects mediocre runners all over America this time of year. Especially runners who are East coast football fans and from 2-couch households. C1R0 runners often justify and attempt to mask their symptoms by working in the yard, hanging Christmas lights, and exclaiming 'naptime!' several times during the weekend.

Couch 1 Runner 0 is a serious flu and should not be ignored. Seek running websites immediately and cast a blog out there. Other remedies include purchasing running gear and watching a Pre video. In extreme cases, C1R0 afflictees are ordered to review their BMI and undergo a lengthy visual self-scan in a well lit mirrored bathroom.

If you, or someone you know, is ignoring the symptoms of C1R0, seek help immediately. Go for a walk in your running clothes, go for a ten minute run, call a running partner and set an appointment, eat a salad, volunteer at a race -any race. You are not alone. Get help.

2009 Fiesta Bowl 1/2 Marathon

That's me on the right after finishing in the 2009 Fiesta Bowl 1/2 marathon. My goal was to finish strong and under 2:30. Made it in 2:20 and some change and am supremely happy about it all. I ran the whole way with Lauren (in the middle) and got to meet fellow blogger Rio. Both are really nice, and both are terrific runners. Lauren stayed with me the whole way and was the only reason I was able to run in the last 1/2 mile.
The race started out really positive -lots of 5K'ers and 1/2'ies hanging out and enjoying the cold Phoenix air. It was around 35 degrees at the start and stayed pretty cool throughout the race. The gun went off at 7:30 and we took off shortly thereafter. We kept a moderate pace in the first couple of miles and ran through our scheduled walk breaks. I didn't say anything, but my ITB started to call out at mile 4 and I was wondering if I would be able to finish the race. I decided to do the medically appropriate thing and ignore the pain. It worked and I kept going.
At around mile 5 or so, I decided to eat my pre-purchased lemon gu gel. Yummy. It was really good and a far cry from the Vanilla Gingerbread they were handing out for free --I refused to even try that flavor. Discarded el cheapo gloves and tied my jacket around my waist. We were in stride and making good time. We ran along side two of Lauren's friends for a while and chatted. At mile 7 we met up with my wife and two year old. They both were yelling for me and took some photos. Thanks family! Love you both!!

Was feeling good at this point and this was helped by a fairly long downhill stretch. Got to Hayden road and tuned south for 2nd half feeling good.

As we worked our way through the second half, my legs began to wobble a bit, but I wasn't worried. Sometime around mile ten, I grabbed a Vanilla Gingerbread gu but swore that I wouldn't eat it unless forced by race officials. Thinking 'only 5K to go', I tried to up the pace a bit to check Lauren's reaction, but quickly learned that I didn't have any increase left and a quick check to the ole Garmin told me that I was losing pace and was now at about 10:30......and fading!! We got into some turns and underpass swoops and then were in the final mile. I could feel my left hammy starting to cramp and stopped a few times to try to stretch. I even took a few bites of the Vanilla Gingerbread gu and thought that my finish photo would be me barfing right on the Chronotrack while my left leg cramp-twisted backwards over my head. I was head down running at this point and Lauren had to remind me twice to lift my head so she wouldn't have to listen to my wheezing/gasping. Seeing the balloons of the finish line lifted my spirits, but as you can see from the photo, I was not doing so good.

Look at how happy Lauren is and look at me. But my wife and HJG were waiting for me and were yelling when they took this photo which made me feel good. I finished (20 minutes faster than last year's PF Chang 1/2 marathon!!), went off to stretch and feel pretty good today. My second 1/2 marathon!! A little crampy in the left ham, and quads are a bit sore, but I will run tomorrow. I love running in the rain. Besides, I have another 1/2 coming up in Jan and a full in June. Thanks for reading. I'd love it if you would follow my blog and give me feedback.

Checklist

Here we go. I will again be running 13.1 miles tomorrow morning. I've tried to convince myself that it's just a training run, but I'm in the mode no matter what I try to do. I'll be running with 'When I get a little run run run' Lauren, and we will keep each other in check. My family is going to try to meet us at mile 6 or 7 and again at the finish. Here's my stuff for tomorrow:

• ITB strap
• Asics Cummulus 11, and lucky race socks
• RRS Shorts
• Sweatpants to wear on the ride over -supposed to be 35 degrees at start.
• Long sleeve t, and short sleeve t over top
• gloves - $1 el cheapos from Walmart, could discard if needed
• warm skully and cooler skully to change into after mile two'ish. Running hat to wear over top
• Garmin FR 305 and HR strap
• nip bandaids and glide
• gu -more for free on the course
• in case inhaler

I'll have 1/2 bagel with PB and some coffee in am. I'm pretty damn excited. More after the race.

Uuuhhhhhhhh Half??

A half marathon this coming weekend. Right. The Fiesta Bowl 1/2 marathon is Sunday and I've been avoiding the reality, but my training really is going well compared to last year. In Jan., I ran the PF Chang 1/2 in 2:39, and had never run further than a 5K. This year, I've put in lots of miles, and I've had some long runs this past month and am getting faster.

But this was 3.93 (who stops at 3.93 without going at least 4?? I do, that's who. I was at my house and I always use the driveway as the finish chute. Crap. About 20 more strides... wimp.) Anyway, I'm going out Sunday to run the 13.1 as a training run. I really need to do my normal long run training plan of .9/.1 at about 10:00 and keep myself from getting injured. The itbs is feeling much better thanks to the foam roller and a knee strap.

Hope to meet up and run with a few bloggers, and my family will be at the 1/2 way mark and finish line to cheer. Let's see what a 1/2 is like after some training.

Fingers crossed, foam roller working?

Ran this evening after biking home from work. Is that a brick? I was worried about my right ITB, but it held up pretty good. I did get some pain, but ran anyway and clocked my PB for 5K. Finally made it under 30 minutes and felt like I could keep going. Had negative splits all the way and even ran sub 8 for the last 10th. But I had to get back home. Very happy with this run and with the foam roller.

I'll bike/commute again tomorrow, and hopefully get a run in with my wife and HJG in the BOB, and then its off to Colorado for T'giving. I hope to run while up there so I can log something different on the Garmin 305. We will be in Aurora. Have a wonderful and safe holiday with your families and run fast!

ITBS of course!

Got the ole' ITBS blues. Right knee killing me on today's 5 miler. I'm doing almost everything wrong in training. 7 day stretch between runs. Trying for long and fast without building up, running through the pain, etc...

You'll recognize this as my urban cityboy Asics commercial route, but a minute faster than last time because I followed my trusty .9/.1 interval (thanks Lauren). Cardio is great --feel like I could run a lot faster and longer, but knee just wasn't in the mood. During the last mile it felt like I had a knife sticking in my knee. The internet gives advice for ITBS in two categories: relief and remedy, with lots of product thrown in. I will try ice and ibuprofen and slow build up. On to breakfast and building a train set for my two year old who will play Godzilla

and destroy the only supply route leading into his room --but what he doesn't know is that his rampage will awaken other normally dormant creatures resting in the center of the Earth which will lead to a full-scale battle. Here we go again...........

Just got back from Sports Authority with a foam roller. Pain that hurts so good and feels like fire and is the very thing I need to help my condition and I'm glad I'm doing it but it huuuurrrrttts!

Early taper week

I took my taper week this past week in prep for the 1/2 in Dec and again in Jan (--that is sarcasm). Didn't run or bike once. Working too hard at the factory. HJG's b-day was today --#2-- and so this day is out of the question for working out. Plan to run the Camelback 5 miler tomorrow again and get back into the groove this week. Dec. 6 is the Fiesta Bowl 1/2. I want to finish in under 2:30 and think I can if I get busy even though it's a 'training run'. Maybe I gathered some more readers this past week thanks to RunLaur, but nobody is an actual follower. Looking back on my posts I can see why. Must develop life!!