MCM 10K

I ran the Marine Corps Marathon 10k yesterday. Just a few quick thoughts.

- To answer the obvious questions: Why run the 10k and not the marathon? (A question I was frequently the pre-race events.) Well, in essence I'm a wimp. Seriously, as I think I've mentioned earlier I'll choose shorter run and happy marriage over the alternate any day.

- "Bundled Races" are interesting (i.e. a marathon bundled with a 10k and a kids race in this case). It really makes you feel like a slacker when there are 25,000+ (or what ever it was) people running the marathon and you're there checking in for the 10k. Oh well. I had fun. (Looking at some of the people running the marathon, I probably could have given it a shot.)

- Our pre-marathon events went pretty well. It was refreshing to see so many people running in support of a cause, or in someone's memory. Being the Marine Corps Marathon, there were many runners out there in memory of a loved one or friend lost in Iraq or Afghanistan. It really brings a bit more of a sober feeling to the race. Not all 'party party party' like some of the other races. It was worth it though, as I was one of those running in honor of a cause. I know it helped me, and I'm sure the marathoners felt it even more, to have some one cheering for you as you ran by, even if they had no idea who you were.

- The course I. The MCM 10k course starts at the Pentagon, joins part of the marathon course, then finishes at the marathon finish line. This is fine, except I was nearly blown off the road by siren blaring motorcycle police escorting the wheelchair athletes as they blew through the 10k field at about mile 2-3.

- The course II. (Maybe this is because I'm used to running in Europe.) I didn't think my time would be that great because of my training gap, but I wanted to break 1hr. Doing the quick mental gym: 1hr = 60min. 10km....okay I need to beat 6min per km to get in under 1hr. So as I hit the first marker: 8:47 (or there abouts). In my head: "Okay, so that means....WHAT! I know I didn't want to start too fast (like I did in London) and end up cramping in the middle of the race again, but 8:47! yougottabekiddingme!" ... ... "Oh, that was 1 mile not 1 km." So I spent the next mile or so doing the mental gym to figure out where I needed to be each mile. Gave me something to think about. But really. It's a 10k, not a 6.2m.

- The course III. I'm sure this isn't news to anyone familiar with the race, but the last 1.25 miles or so of the race (both the 10k and the marathon) are uphill.

Oh, that's right, it's the Marine Corps Marathon. Sadists.

I did manage to pull a personal best out of the race though. Beat the previous one by 1:23. Weather was much more cooperative this time. The London 10k (previous PB) was much warmer. It was only about 61F in DC and while there was wind, it was not too bad. London was also much bigger. As I recall I nearly stopped in one spot because the course was so densely packed with runners.. But I'm still happy. It left me with a desire to run a marathon though. Maybe that's the real reason for the bundling? Anyone have any good marathon training plans?

p.s. Thanks for the pictures Dad.

Added: Our group even made CNN: watch the video here.

No Gutters Please

This is for my wife. No symbology. Keep your minds out of the gutter. She knows what it means.

All (Flying) Creatures Great and Small

So, through a comedy of errors I was forced to run later than usual last night.


ORM: There is a nice footpath that runs along the river, it's relatively well lit. I only need to cross two low-traffic roads that are well illuminated. I need the speed work before next weekend's race and I probably won't run too much this weekend. Call it a taper if you will. Or call it lazy if you won't.


So off I went in the waning day light/dusk/almost dark. No problem. At the outset. Upon arrival on the footpath all continued per the plan. I even manged to pass another runner (something I very, very rarely do). Only one thing. If you had been watching me run, I would excuse you for thinking I have a tick or that I just have to wipe each bead of sweat from my brow as it forms. But no, that wasn't it. It was insects (little green ones, but I'll get to that later). Under every light and near every tree was a swarm of insects.

As the run went progressed I tried several tactics to deal with this airborne menace. I ran on the far edge of the footpath, as near as I dared to the slippery slope into the river. I tried shading my eyes as I passed suspicious trees. I tried turning my head to the side and squinting my lead eye. (I imagine quite an interesting site.) Nothing really worked and I figured I'd just have to deal with it. Towards the turn around point of my out and back run it was really bad. Must have something to do with this areas swampy past.

It got worse.

The little green ones weren't the only ones flying last night. Our friendly neighborhood jarheads decided it was time to go flying. So just after I turned back I was buzzed by a large green one. So as I shielded my ears from the infernal noise - obviously distracted - a little green one decided it was time to strike. Right into my left eye. I was none too pleased. I tried every trick I could think of to get it out, blinking, squinting, you name it. Eventually I just had to stop for a bit and try to get it out. Eventually, all in order, I continued.

As I was stretching in my room post run, my eye started bugging me again. Figuring something was afoot I took a look. What do you know, the little bugger was still in there. Green, winged, certainly dead, but still in there. I think he looked something like this.

I guess I shouldn't complain too much. I seem to recall my Dad catching a bee in the mouth while running one time.

My apologies to James Herriot.

More Reasons to Run

So, I'm back at school for a little while. This is besides the point, except that it explains a couple of things: 1) I'm away from the family for a while, 2) I have to fend for myself for food and my lodging only has a micorwave. Needless to say, I've been eating out a bit for lunch.

How, my dear reader you may ask, does this apply to this blog? This is how. This one location may single-handedly destroy my fitness plans! Why? Because this is the only chain restaurant I have found on the east coast that comes anywhere near In-n-Out for burgers.

I have a a running joke with my Mother and Father-in-law that the only reason I really want to come out to visit is to get an In-n-Out burger. Now, whether that's true or not is irrelevent ;-) But they are great burgers.

The two restaurants have a lot in common. Their menus are very simple: basically, burgers, fries and little else. But, do they ever do it right! They're both pristinely clean and very friendly (not your typical "ya want fries wit dat?" kind of place). What sets them apart? Well aside from a continent you can get a hotdog from 5-Guys and a grilled cheese from In-N-Out. You can eat fresh peanuts in the shell while you wait at 5-Guys and you can order a milk shake at In-N-Out. In-N-Out also has the ultra-cool secret menu.

Today I managed to put away a Bacon double cheese burger and fries, and it was just magnificent.

So, whats the bottom line? I'm pretty sure the fries are better at In-N-Out. But the burgers? It's close. It's really close. But I think the burgers at 5-Guys might be a bit better. (That could of course be because I just ate one.)

Comments please!!! (Especially those who contend that there are other burger places that can compete.)

Goals

This is in partial response to Sagey's comment(s) to my last post. I have been running, just not writing about it every time. Just look to see why. I've taken to tracking my running on line using the on line training log offered by Runner's World.com. I've been doing this for a while, I just haven't been advertising it. The early runs aren't necessarily complete, but they are all I could rescue from my old method of tracking runs.

As you can see if you look, there's a glaring hole from mid-August through mid-September. This is what happens when you move. So I've tried to get back into the running again. I think I've done a reasonably good job over the past week.

There were a couple of things to get over. I forgot my watch (as mentioned in an earlier post). That wasn't too hard to overcome, and the lovely wife has sent ti to me, which I really appreciate. The bigger difference is the weather. Having just moved from England, this has been a huge change. England had a really wet summer this year. The temperature usually averaged at most about 24 of 25 (that's about 75F for those who don't do C) at the time of day I was running. When I got here to DC it was a touch warmer. About 32 (90F) the first day. It took a bit of getting used to to run in that weather. I think I've gotten over it though. I ran last night and it was 30 (87F) and I didn't think it was that hot. I guess that's a good sign.

I've managed to start working some different speeds back into my work 0uts as well. This is a good thing as I do have another goal to look forward to: The Marine Corps Marathon 10k. I had some initial intentions to try the Marathon. If, however, you look at the work I was able to put in during the summer, this would have been a huge mistake. I've never done a marathon before, and I think to try one without a real training plan would have been a bad idea. So I'm going to do the 10k, and for a good cause. The marathon will have to wait.