Running madness
Medal Grab 2008 is two thirds complete.
#1 was the hardware from the 2008 Disney Marathon (which, by the way, is by far the most impressive in my collection). #2 was obtained yesterday.
Here's a list of my comments about the 2008 Fifth Third Riverbank Run:
- I'm still too complacent about training. I trained only so much that I knew that I could finish. I need to do more in the future. Of course, I say that about every race, so I don't know how well I'll do for the next race.
- The JW Marriott is an absolutely fabulous hotel.
- For some reason, staring 23 stories straight down makes my feet hurt.
- The local food critics don't know what they're talking about. I sought out my normal pre-race food --sushi-- and went to a highly recommended place in the downtown area. The portions were small and the rice was stale. There are at least 3 other restaurants in town where the food is better, both in portion sizes and in quality. However, I also know that the local critics aren't anonymous, so restauranteurs recognize them and can give them the best treatment. Having sampled sushi throughout the world (and the fact that I lived on the Kanto Plain of Japan for 2 years), I was so not impressed with the food. It poses a problem for next year, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
- Experienced my typical pre-race panic, waking at least once an hour every hour after 2:30 a.m. on race day.
- Saw the projected race temps and promptly overdressed for the race. This would come back to bite me.
- Became a slave to my stopwatch. I ran pure Galloway method throughout the race: 3:30 min run, 1 min walk. For the most part it worked, with a couple of exceptions.
- Exception #1: during the first mile, when I realized that I couldn't hear the timer beep over the iPod. I lost my new watch, which beeps louder, so I had to turn the music waaayyy down to hear the interval timer.
- Sunshine and 50 degrees = pleasant. Sunshine and 50 degrees while running 15.5 miles with almost no shade = pure torture.
- Sunshine and 50 degrees while running 15.5 miles in gear designed for 10 degrees less = formula for dehydration. This happened between mile 11 and mile 12. For me, it always starts with a right side stitch; next I get cramps in my shoulders.
- Exception #2: As a result, I had to walk for almost a mile until I got to the next aid station... which had run out of Gatorade. The water helped, but the cramps didn't completely go away until I hit the next aid station (a mile away).
- Previously, I'd only gotten emotional 3 times at races: at the finish of my first 25K, at the start of my first marathon, and at the finish of that first marathon. It happened at the end of this race: less than 100 yards from the finish, I spotted JT waiting for me while 'A Place Called Home' played on my iPod. Disney couldn't have written it any better.
- After the race, when you forget to take Tylenol for aches and pains, two mojitos make a great substitute!
All that remains is the fall marathon and I'll have finisher medal #3.
#1 was the hardware from the 2008 Disney Marathon (which, by the way, is by far the most impressive in my collection). #2 was obtained yesterday.
Here's a list of my comments about the 2008 Fifth Third Riverbank Run:
- I'm still too complacent about training. I trained only so much that I knew that I could finish. I need to do more in the future. Of course, I say that about every race, so I don't know how well I'll do for the next race.
- The JW Marriott is an absolutely fabulous hotel.
- For some reason, staring 23 stories straight down makes my feet hurt.
- The local food critics don't know what they're talking about. I sought out my normal pre-race food --sushi-- and went to a highly recommended place in the downtown area. The portions were small and the rice was stale. There are at least 3 other restaurants in town where the food is better, both in portion sizes and in quality. However, I also know that the local critics aren't anonymous, so restauranteurs recognize them and can give them the best treatment. Having sampled sushi throughout the world (and the fact that I lived on the Kanto Plain of Japan for 2 years), I was so not impressed with the food. It poses a problem for next year, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
- Experienced my typical pre-race panic, waking at least once an hour every hour after 2:30 a.m. on race day.
- Saw the projected race temps and promptly overdressed for the race. This would come back to bite me.
- Became a slave to my stopwatch. I ran pure Galloway method throughout the race: 3:30 min run, 1 min walk. For the most part it worked, with a couple of exceptions.
- Exception #1: during the first mile, when I realized that I couldn't hear the timer beep over the iPod. I lost my new watch, which beeps louder, so I had to turn the music waaayyy down to hear the interval timer.
- Sunshine and 50 degrees = pleasant. Sunshine and 50 degrees while running 15.5 miles with almost no shade = pure torture.
- Sunshine and 50 degrees while running 15.5 miles in gear designed for 10 degrees less = formula for dehydration. This happened between mile 11 and mile 12. For me, it always starts with a right side stitch; next I get cramps in my shoulders.
- Exception #2: As a result, I had to walk for almost a mile until I got to the next aid station... which had run out of Gatorade. The water helped, but the cramps didn't completely go away until I hit the next aid station (a mile away).
- Previously, I'd only gotten emotional 3 times at races: at the finish of my first 25K, at the start of my first marathon, and at the finish of that first marathon. It happened at the end of this race: less than 100 yards from the finish, I spotted JT waiting for me while 'A Place Called Home' played on my iPod. Disney couldn't have written it any better.
- After the race, when you forget to take Tylenol for aches and pains, two mojitos make a great substitute!
All that remains is the fall marathon and I'll have finisher medal #3.