Other Sports Personal Bragging: My 50th Half-Marathon - Page 15

**Rain Man** · 01:17 AM

Last Saturday's race (in 42 degree temps in the rain, I might add) was my 50th half-marathon since I started my hobby in June of 2009.

My vital statistics are:

Completed races in 12 states so far (AK, HI, CA, NV, UT, WY, CO, TX, LA, FL, OH, and WI)

Median pace = 10:15 per mile
Median pace in flat, sea level races =9:37 per mile
Fastest pace = 9:04 per mile (Beaumont, TX - flat and sea level)
Slowest pace = 29:36 per mile (Pike's Peak Ascent - 7,800 foot climb from 6,300 ft to 14,100 ft and I was not good at it.)

14 have been at elevations between sea level and 3,000 feet (Median pace = 9:52)
21 have been at elevations of 3,000 to 6,000 feet (Median pace = 10:06)
9 have been at elevations of 6,000 to 9,000 feet (Median pace = 11:08)
9 have been at elevations of 9,000 feet or higher (Median pace = 15:29)

26 have been more or less flat with total hills < 300 ft (Median pace = 9:50). Three were net downhill.
12 have had moderate hills with total hills of 301-1,000 ft (Median pace = 10:43)
6 have had strong hills with total hills of 1,001-2,500 ft (Median pace = 12:10)
9 have had major hills with total hills of 2,500 ft or more (Median pace = 15:29)

The 9 with major hills are the same 9 that were over 9,000 feet in elevation.

3 races were run in the rain and 1 in snow.

I've only fallen once, and it wasn't in the rain or snow. (Tripped on a trail rock.)

24 were primarily on pavement or asphalt
6 were primarily on dirt roads
20 were primarily on trails

I've gone the wrong way on trails 4 times but only twice did it for more than 30 seconds. The worst mistake added 3/4 of a mile.

I've also had 2 10-mile races and a 10K in there, so that's 53 races in 54 months.

**DaKCMan AP** · 06-19-2015, 01:38 AM

I need to start training next week when I get back from Italy. Next race is first week of October.

kepp · 09-02-2015, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

I need to start training next week when I get back from Italy. Next race is first week of October.

What race?

Mine is Oct. 3rd. I have my longest training run this weekend...26 miles of singletrack. Its gonna be rough.

**Rain Man** · 09-02-2015, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Thats damn impressive. I only have 4 states to my credit. May get to add Alaska this year though.

Where in Alaska? I did one in Juneau to mark Alaska off my list. It was an easy flat paved course, not exactly what one thinks about in Alaska.

**Rain Man** · 09-02-2015, 03:26 PM

I had a horrific race in August. It was hot and somewhat high-altitude, and I don't know if I got dehydrated or something, but it about killed me. After three miles I was not feeling good at all, and it just got worse from there. I'm usually in the bottom 20 percent of mountain runs, with a goal of beating 20+% of runners. It was a weird loopy course, so I could count how many people were behind me. I thought I was still ahead of 7%, which would have qualified as a disaster run, but it got worse. Apparently every single person behind me dropped out. Dead last, 89th out of 89. That was pretty humiliating.

**DaKCMan AP** · 09-02-2015, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kepp

What race?

Mine is Oct. 3rd. I have my longest training run this weekend...26 miles of singletrack. Its gonna be rough.

Maine Marathon - I'm doing the half, fiance is doing the full.

Where's your race?

kepp · 09-03-2015, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

Maine Marathon - I'm doing the half, fiance is doing the full.

Where's your race?

It's the Rock Bridge Revenge 50K in Columbia, MO.

kepp · 09-03-2015, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I had a horrific race in August. It was hot and somewhat high-altitude, and I don't know if I got dehydrated or something, but it about killed me. After three miles I was not feeling good at all, and it just got worse from there. I'm usually in the bottom 20 percent of mountain runs, with a goal of beating 20+% of runners. It was a weird loopy course, so I could count how many people were behind me. I thought I was still ahead of 7%, which would have qualified as a disaster run, but it got worse. Apparently every single person behind me dropped out. Dead last, 89th out of 89. That was pretty humiliating.

But you didn't drop

If that many people dropped out, you know it wasn't just a bad day for you. There were extenuating circumstances.

**Rain Man** · 09-03-2015, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kepp

But you didn't drop

If that many people dropped out, you know it wasn't just a bad day for you. There were extenuating circumstances.

Yeah, I'll count that as a pyrrhic victory.

When I finally staggered across the finish line, it was apparent that I was being treated with pity. I said, "I'm not the last person out there. There are still others." They said, "No, there aren't." 10 percent of the field dropped out, which I'd never heard of before (10 of 99). I think the issue is that it was hot and the first three miles were tougher than expected - loose gravel trails on hills - and then Mile 4 looped back directly across the starting line. I've never given up, and when I came back through and was already struggling, even I briefly thought, "Maybe it would be best to just stop here." The course made it a really easy race to quit.

I still don't get why it was that hard, though. It was high, but I've done way higher. And the trail was rough, though probably not the roughest I've run. And since it was high, it was still only in the high 70s, so it's not like it was Death Valley out there. But man, it was brutal.

Oh, well. I'm off to The Hungerford Games in Michigan for my next race. http://www.hungerfordgames.com/Hungerford_Games.html A nice sea-level race will be a pleasant change.

kepp · 10-05-2015, 08:40 AM

So not a good experience for me this weekend for my 50K. I go through 4 months of training and things are looking great...then I get sick Thursday night with some sort of intestinal virus. I spent most of Friday in the bathroom. I knew going into it that it was 50/50 whether I'd be able to finish, but I decided to give it a shot. I actually felt great for the first 13 miles or so (probably adrenaline), then I felt like death. I dropped out at 22 miles. I'm unsure right now whether I'm going to try that again.

**Rain Man** · 10-05-2015, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kepp

So not a good experience for me this weekend for my 50K. I go through 4 months of training and things are looking great...then I get sick Thursday night with some sort of intestinal virus. I spent most of Friday in the bathroom. I knew going into it that it was 50/50 whether I'd be able to finish, but I decided to give it a shot. I actually felt great for the first 13 miles or so (probably adrenaline), then I felt like death. I dropped out at 22 miles. I'm unsure right now whether I'm going to try that again.

Oh, bummer. That would have to be disappointing, but there's not anything you can do about it. It was unrelated to your training and just an unfortunate fluke.

I'm surprised how many people are sick right now. I was sick last week and keep hearing about others who are sick. Some sort of October virus is kicking humanity around.

A month after my last place finish, I actually won my age group in a race. First time I've ever come in first place in an athletic event. It was a small race and there were only seven people in my category, but still ... first out of seven was a good feeling after my disaster last month.

Hog's Gone Fishin · 10-05-2015, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Oh, bummer. That would have to be disappointing, but there's not anything you can do about it. It was unrelated to your training and just an unfortunate fluke.

I'm surprised how many people are sick right now. I was sick last week and keep hearing about others who are sick. Some sort of October virus is kicking humanity around.

A month after my last place finish, I actually won my age group in a race. First time I've ever come in first place in an athletic event. It was a small race and there were only seven people in my category, but still ... first out of seven was a good feeling after my disaster last month.

If it makes you feel any better about that last place finish ,it's only because I wasn't racing.

kepp · 10-05-2015, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Oh, bummer. That would have to be disappointing, but there's not anything you can do about it. It was unrelated to your training and just an unfortunate fluke.

I'm surprised how many people are sick right now. I was sick last week and keep hearing about others who are sick. Some sort of October virus is kicking humanity around.

A month after my last place finish, I actually won my age group in a race. First time I've ever come in first place in an athletic event. It was a small race and there were only seven people in my category, but still ... first out of seven was a good feeling after my disaster last month.

Nice job! I think the closest I've come is 4th in my age group at the 10k I ran last month for training.

**Rain Man** · 10-05-2015, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hog Farmer

If it makes you feel any better about that last place finish ,it's only because I wasn't racing.

I'm not so sure about that.

seclark · 10-05-2015, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

A month after my last place finish, I actually won my age group in a race. First time I've ever come in first place in an athletic event. It was a small race and there were only seven people in my category, but still ... first out of seven was a good feeling after my disaster last month.

good job...the wife runs next weekend in the Springfield, Il marathon.
sec

**Rain Man** · 10-05-2015, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seclark

good job...the wife runs next weekend in the Springfield, Il marathon.
sec

I wonder if there'll be runners in Lincoln costumes. I hate it when I get passed by a runner in a costume.

11-27-2013, 01:09 AM
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3338491 VARSITY	Personal Bragging: My 50th Half-Marathon Last Saturday's race (in 42 degree temps in the rain, I might add) was my 50th half-marathon since I started my hobby in June of 2009. My vital statistics are: Completed races in 12 states so far (AK, HI, CA, NV, UT, WY, CO, TX, LA, FL, OH, and WI) Median pace = 10:15 per mile Median pace in flat, sea level races =9:37 per mile Fastest pace = 9:04 per mile (Beaumont, TX - flat and sea level) Slowest pace = 29:36 per mile (Pike's Peak Ascent - 7,800 foot climb from 6,300 ft to 14,100 ft and I was not good at it.) 14 have been at elevations between sea level and 3,000 feet (Median pace = 9:52) 21 have been at elevations of 3,000 to 6,000 feet (Median pace = 10:06) 9 have been at elevations of 6,000 to 9,000 feet (Median pace = 11:08) 9 have been at elevations of 9,000 feet or higher (Median pace = 15:29) 26 have been more or less flat with total hills < 300 ft (Median pace = 9:50). Three were net downhill. 12 have had moderate hills with total hills of 301-1,000 ft (Median pace = 10:43) 6 have had strong hills with total hills of 1,001-2,500 ft (Median pace = 12:10) 9 have had major hills with total hills of 2,500 ft or more (Median pace = 15:29) The 9 with major hills are the same 9 that were over 9,000 feet in elevation. 3 races were run in the rain and 1 in snow. I've only fallen once, and it wasn't in the rain or snow. (Tripped on a trail rock.) 24 were primarily on pavement or asphalt 6 were primarily on dirt roads 20 were primarily on trails I've gone the wrong way on trails 4 times but only twice did it for more than 30 seconds. The worst mistake added 3/4 of a mile. I've also had 2 10-mile races and a 10K in there, so that's 53 races in 54 months. Last edited by Rain Man; 11-27-2013 at 01:17 AM..
Posts: 141,338

06-19-2015, 01:38 AM	#211
DaKCMan AP Beloved & Awesome CP Celebrity Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Florida Casino cash: $6764952	I need to start training next week when I get back from Italy. Next race is first week of October. __________________
Posts: 35,694

09-02-2015, 03:26 PM	#214
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3338491 VARSITY	I had a horrific race in August. It was hot and somewhat high-altitude, and I don't know if I got dehydrated or something, but it about killed me. After three miles I was not feeling good at all, and it just got worse from there. I'm usually in the bottom 20 percent of mountain runs, with a goal of beating 20+% of runners. It was a weird loopy course, so I could count how many people were behind me. I thought I was still ahead of 7%, which would have qualified as a disaster run, but it got worse. Apparently every single person behind me dropped out. Dead last, 89th out of 89. That was pretty humiliating. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,338

10-05-2015, 08:40 AM	#219
kepp MVP Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $5379212	So not a good experience for me this weekend for my 50K. I go through 4 months of training and things are looking great...then I get sick Thursday night with some sort of intestinal virus. I spent most of Friday in the bathroom. I knew going into it that it was 50/50 whether I'd be able to finish, but I decided to give it a shot. I actually felt great for the first 13 miles or so (probably adrenaline), then I felt like death. I dropped out at 22 miles. I'm unsure right now whether I'm going to try that again.
Posts: 14,492