Personal Bragging: My 50th Half-Marathon

[Rain Man]

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.

[Rain Man]

Maybe you weren't sweaty enough, seclark. Try sweating more next time.

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by Earthling

If he was wearing some Bronco gear I can understand his fast pace...

He would wear something Husker related so he probably blended in. lol

[seclark]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Maybe you weren't sweaty enough, seclark. Try sweating more next time.

well, as I was gimping through the crowd, a couple gals came up and gave me some free samples of some kinda bengay smelling stuff to rub on my knees...surely I had them fooled, cause I never asked for it.
sec

[The Iron Chief]

Very Nice Rain Man.
My wife just this past year convinced me to start running and I think I've done a fair job at it.
Tomorrow morning I'm in a 10k called the Turkey Trot and I'm hoping to average under 11 minutes a mile.
This will be my first bad weather race and I'm unsure how I'm going to dress for it.
High of 20 possibly light snow winds 10-20 gusts.
I hate running in pants so i'll probably just make sure my tops heavy and light gloves.

[-King-]

I wanted to do one but man.... 13 miles of running? I just can't imagine doing that. Most I ever ran at once was 3 miles during football off season in high school.
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[Renegade]

I did my first half this year. I was fine until mile 11 when the leg cramps set in. 50 is quite impressive RainMan.

[kepp]

Originally Posted by The Iron Chief

Very Nice Rain Man.
My wife just this past year convinced me to start running and I think I've done a fair job at it.
Tomorrow morning I'm in a 10k called the Turkey Trot and I'm hoping to average under 11 minutes a mile.
This will be my first bad weather race and I'm unsure how I'm going to dress for it.
High of 20 possibly light snow winds 10-20 gusts.
I hate running in pants so i'll probably just make sure my tops heavy and light gloves.

Layer your clothes. And I usually wear a throw-away sweatshirt while waiting for the start. For me, as long as my head and hands are warm, I'm OK. My legs usually don't stay cold for long after starting, but if my ears or fingers freeze, it really affects my running.
Posted via Mobile Device

[kepp]

Originally Posted by Renegade

I did my first half this year. I was fine until mile 11 when the leg cramps set in. 50 is quite impressive RainMan.

Proper hydration will prevent most cramping. There is cramping due to your body not having the nutrients/electrolytes replaced effectively, and cramping due to lactic acid buildup. Your lactic acid threshhold is a training thing, but the other cramping can be controlled easier.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Dave Lane]

Congrats dude you are an inspiration

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by The Iron Chief

Very Nice Rain Man.
My wife just this past year convinced me to start running and I think I've done a fair job at it.
Tomorrow morning I'm in a 10k called the Turkey Trot and I'm hoping to average under 11 minutes a mile.
This will be my first bad weather race and I'm unsure how I'm going to dress for it.
High of 20 possibly light snow winds 10-20 gusts.
I hate running in pants so i'll probably just make sure my tops heavy and light gloves.

Good luck to you.

Don't run in pants if you can avoid it. They'll chafe your legs unless they're really soft. As much as they make you wince for your manliness, running tights are great for cold weather.

My race last weekend was in Nevada. Nevada's warm, right? I brought a short sleeve t-shirt and shorts. As it turns out, they got a freak weather system and it rained for three days solid prior to the race. Fortunately, I had a light running jacket by coincidence, so I wore it. The entire race was low 40s in temperature with a steady cold rain. However, around Mile 5 I took the jacket off and carried it. It's amazing how you warm up when you're running. (Admittedly, in part I took the jacket off because it was soaked and just holding cold water on my skin.) So underdress for the starting line. You're better off freezing while you wait rather than carrying a sweatshirt or something for the whole race.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by kepp

I started running a few years ago with a local 5K and gradually progressed to half marathons. My fastest 5K is 20:46, but I'd really like to break 20 minutes. My fastest half is 1:41. I'd like to break 1:40, but at 41/42 years old, I'm not sure I'm going to get much faster at either distance.

You can get faster. I am 42 and we have the same PR in the 5K and I have run a 1:37 half.

I have done 2 fulls at a 3:32 and a 3:30. The last one was 3 weeks ago.


I ran a 1:40 on the front of my last full, was averaging 7:45 still at mile 20 then fell apart at mile 23.

My only advice is when you do the full don't set any goals except finishing. It will be much more enjoyable that way.

[The Iron Chief]

Thx guys a couple of very good tips.
It ended up being under 20 with snow and wind gusts 15+
I did end up getting some running tights for my legs..layered my top also I had a throw away sweatshirt for the wait at the start.

I had a good run smashing my hopes to stay under 11 minutes a mile and went 8.30 a mile.
800 people ran in it and I seem to do much better the bigger the herd.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by The Iron Chief

Thx guys a couple of very good tips.
It ended up being under 20 with snow and wind gusts 15+
I did end up getting some running tights for my legs..layered my top also I had a throw away sweatshirt for the wait at the start.

I had a good run smashing my hopes to stay under 11 minutes a mile and went 8.30 a mile.
800 people ran in it and I seem to do much better the bigger the herd.

You were targeting 11 and ran 8:30? That's beyond smashing.

Congratulations!

[bricks]

Hey Rainman,

I was wondering do you do anything in particular to try to enhance your overall endurance prior to preparing for these type of events?

And do you do anything in particular to slow down the fatigue process?

Please get back to me. Thanks.

*P.S. I may be able to help you out. I am currently studying an exercise physiology course and have some really valuable information that Im willing to share.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by bricks

Hey Rainman,

I was wondering do you do anything in particular to try to enhance your overall endurance prior to preparing for these type of events?

And do you do anything in particular to slow down the fatigue process?

Please get back to me. Thanks.

*P.S. I may be able to help you out. I am currently studying an exercise physiology course and have some really valuable information that Im willing to share.

I'm kind of lazy about training. My goal for 2014 is to be more disciplined about it. Some of the faster guys may think more about this, but essentially what I do is:

1. Go run around on weekends to train. I bought a book that recommends three paces for training - intervals, "race day pace", and longer slower runs for endurance. However, I haven't been following it. I plan to do that more in 2014, and am pondering adding a mid-week run as well.

2. I try to eat relatively light the few days before a race, and on race day for some reason I seem to do well if I eat a couple of slices of bread right before the race.

3. I have an energy gel or maybe two during the race.

If you have tips or tricks, I'd love to hear them. I want to do better this year since I feel like I've been kind of slow in 2013.