Lewis-Clark Half Marathon race report

Since I began running in 2007, I have run 7 marathons and 15 ultramarathons.  Surprisingly, until Saturday's Lewis-Clark Half Marathon in Clarkston, WA, I had never attempted a half-marathon.

The race is put on by the Seaport Striders, a club about 30 miles south of where I live.  I've participated in a couple of their races this year and I really enjoy them -- they're low-key and low-fee.

When I woke early to the thermometer reading 30-degrees F, I took a deep breath and finally admitted to myself that summer had gone.  And what a great summer it was.  But no time to waste, autumn is here and it won't wait for me.

Sadie and I drove down with my buddy, Joe.  No dogs allowed for this event, though, so Sadie had to wait for me until post-race to get some running in.  It was a bit warmer down in the Lewiston-Clarkston valley, with a temperature in the low 40's for the start.

The course is a flat out-and-back along the Snake River.  I seemed to remember that I had hit the half-marathon split during my Foot Traffic Flat marathon in July at around 1:25, so I thought that was a good aiming point for this race.  I hadn't done much speed work since then, and even less since my Run Across Idaho in August.  But I knew I could run a sub-1:25, I just didn't know if I had it in me for this particular morning.

A group of about 10 shot out like a gun.  Our pace was pretty quick and I settled in behind another guy at the back of the lead group for the first mile.  A 5k fun run was attached to the half-marathon and they started at the same time as us.  My impression was there were only a few people doing the 5k, but when we reached the 5k turnaround there were about 6 or 7 guys ahead of me who made the turnaround.  I found myself in third place about 50 meters back from the leader, Joe, and a guy tailing him.

I hit the turnaround point at 42:30 (6:29min/mile) and still in third place.  However, the fourth and fifth place guys were close enough (maybe within a minute or so) that I had a bit of incentive to pick up the pace a little for the second half.  I fought the urge to glance back to see if they'd gained ground on me until about mile 11 when my wheels felt like they were going to come off.  I looked back and saw no one behind me.  Not sure what I would have done if I had.  :)

There was a very small (but very noticeable!) climb up to the finish line, and I rolled across in 1:24:09 (6:25min/mile) for third place overall.  My buddy Joe was overall winner.  Full results.

Half-marathon #1 in the books.  :)

Sadie wondering where her treat is

Look, Mom! I got a trophy!

I'm very excited for this weekend.  I'm traveling to southern Utah to run the Goblin Valley 50k.  Other noteworthy runners who will be toeing the starting line include:

-Dad (he'll probably opt for the 25k...still not fully recovered from his quadruple-bypass)

-Melanie (sister; her first 50k)

-Adam (brother; his first 50k)

-Jen (sister-in-law; her first 50k)

-Lisa (sister; her first 50k)

-Travis (brother-in-law; 25k or 10k)

-Sadie (my dog; her 3rd ultra this year)

-other family coming to spectate and support

It should be an absolute blast.

Finally, I am now officially entered into the 115th Boston Marathon scheduled for April 18, 2011.  Let the countdown begin.  :)

Keep running!

-Scott

Coloring the Air

Sometimes the success of a run should only be measured by the smell of the air.

Spokane Marathon 2010 race report

After taking much of September off (Run Across Idaho recovery, Costa Rica trip), I am using October to slowly build my training back up as I get ready for my epic adventure in Chile this coming March.  

The race in Chile is all about running while tired -- there will be 4 consecutive days of marathon distances followed by a fifth day of an ultra distance -- so my training for the next few months is going to be focused on running long distances on consecutive days.

Saturday a friend I and went for a tough 15.5 mile run in the North Idaho mountains.  My legs were tired and heavy by the end of the run, and when I woke up early Sunday morning for the 1.5 hour drive to the Spokane Marathon, my legs were still tired and heavy.  Running a marathon on tired legs is good training.

I ran this marathon a couple years ago (3:49:12) and it was in the 20's at the starting line.  It wasn't nearly as cold yesterday, but the air was wet and brisk.  I didn't set a goal for this race as much as I tried to guess how I'd do on tired legs.  I figured I could finish semi-comfortably in the 3:30-3:45 range.

Gearing up

Nipple protection is key

Start of the 2010 Spokane Marathon

The course is scenic, with spectacular views of the Spokane River during a good chunk of the route -- but it's tough and hilly.

Doomsday Hill looms around mile 22.

Even though my legs weren't ever feeling great or fresh, they didn't feel too bad.  I settled in at around a 7:30 min/mile pace for the first 15 miles knowing that I wouldn't last at that pace for the entire course.  But as I've learned from earlier marathons this year, sometimes it's worth shooting a little higher than what you think you can do, because you might surprise yourself.  

And I had this waiting for me at the finish line:

What's better than a carrot on a stick?...

So though I didn't think I could keep a 7:30 pace, I decided that there was no harm in trying.  But by mile 22 I realized that I had been wrong and that there really was harm in trying, because my legs were hurting.  Bad.  To add insult to injury tired legs, this is about when the course throws Doomsday Hill at you.

I was toast after that, and cruised into the finish line at 3:24:57, which (to my surprise) was still good enough for 10/183 overall and 3/18 in my age group. 

I'm running so fast that no one even sees me.

Glad it's done.

This is a great marathon.  It's about as cheap as you'll find a marathon that provides aid ($25 if you don't want the t-shirt), it has great volunteers (and aid stations every 2 miles), great organization, and it's a beautiful course.  This year they even had a medal for the finishers.  It's a good one.

I'm going to give a go at a half marathon this coming weekend (I've never actually run a half marathon before) and then I'm headed down to Utah in a couple weeks for the Goblin Valley Ultra.

-----

And last but not least, a HUGE shout-out to my sister-in-law, Jennifer, for completing the Chicago Marathon yesterday.  She scared us last year when she was in, and thankfully survived, this accident.  But after a long stint in the hospital, she made it a goal to run a marathon.  And she did it!  I'm very proud of her.  Jennifer inspires me more than any 2:10 marathoner out there. 

And isn't that what's great about runners?  We come in all shapes and sizes, with different speeds and abilities, and with different life stories, goals, and motivations.   

I'm a runner.  

You're a runner.

Let's all keep running.

-Scott

Costa Rica

Rode a bus through the clouds. 

Swam under a half-lit Caribbean ocean moon. 

Woke up in a hammock to a snake crawling across me. 

Hiked with monkeys and sloths. 

Drank cerveza and Nicaraguan rum and guaro. 

Kayaked through a jungle. 

Took surfing lessons at sunrise. 

Pedaled a bike over pavement and dirt from village to village. 

Taught two teenage boys who spoke no English how to body-surf. 

Played chess with an Italian expat.  

Ate jerk chicken tacos and gallo pinto and fresh fruit pastries and fish drenched in coconut sauce.

Smelled leather in skinny market corridors.

Walked with kids in an independence day parade.

Ran barefoot on a deserted stretch of beach. 

Showered in the rain.

 (snake slithering across me and the hammock)

(check out the entire photo album on my facebook page)

Moscow Mountain Madness 2010 (a mini race report)

I initially planned to skip this race, but my legs have been feeling better the last couple days, so I decided to get in one more good run before I leave for NYC/Costa Rica/SF.

Moscow Mountain Madness is a 12-mile trail run on my favorite local trails.  I ran this last year and finished in the top-10.  Even with heavy legs this year, I figured I could beat last year's time simply because I'm in much better shape than I was last year.  My legs weren't in racing mode, but my plan was to push them to the limit.

The crowd thinned out within about a mile and by two miles Sadie and I were by ourselves, just like a regular weekend run for us.  Except this time it cost me $15 more than usual.

My legs ended up feeling very good for the second-half downhill, so I let loose and blasted down.  Sadie was feeling strong too, and we crossed the finish line in 1:22:00 and another top-10 finish.

Lining up for the start

Almost feels like summer again

I love these trails

Sadie loves them too

I like running

I'll probably be offline for a couple weeks, but you'll hear from me soon.  :)

Keep running!

-Scott