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]

Originally Posted by kepp

Last week I started an 18 week training plan for a 50k in October. Starting your training in 90+ degree weather can be discouraging. I might run a full in September as part of my training...will have to see how I feel around then.

What type of calories are you carrying in a full marathon or 50K? I've never figured out how that works.

[kepp]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

What type of calories are you carrying in a full marathon or 50K? I've never figured out how that works.

In a 50k I have a 1.5L hydration pack with an electrolyte drink...usually Tailwind...and I usually carry Honey Stinger wafers and S-Caps. I've also carried Smucker's Uncrustables and they work pretty well. You just have to keep the calories rolling in.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by kepp

In a 50k I have a 1.5L hydration pack with an electrolyte drink...usually Tailwind...and I usually carry Honey Stinger wafers and S-Caps. I've also carried Smucker's Uncrustables and they work pretty well. You just have to keep the calories rolling in.

How many wafers and s-caps and stuff? That doesn't seem like much.

Maybe I should try an electrolyte drink. I just go with water and prefer it from a purity standpoint, but I wonder if it makes hot runs harder to not have electrolytes.

[kepp]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

How many wafers and s-caps and stuff? That doesn't seem like much.

Maybe I should try an electrolyte drink. I just go with water and prefer it from a purity standpoint, but I wonder if it makes hot runs harder to not have electrolytes.

I try to eat something solid once an hour...a couple hundred calories. The electrolyte drinks will also add calories. And it depends with S-Caps. The hotter the day and the more sweat, the more often you want to take them. Their directions say 2 S-Caps per hour for heavy sweating and 1 per hour for lighter sweating.

As for the purity thing and water...Tailwind has a "naked" version that doesn't have any added flavoring or color (actually, none of their stuff has coloring) and it dissolves completely. It's the best product I've found at being as close to water as possible. They sell a trial pack that gives you small packets of each flavor to try out.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by kepp

Last week I started an 18 week training plan for a 50k in October. Starting your training in 90+ degree weather can be discouraging. I might run a full in September as part of my training...will have to see how I feel around then.

Training in heat sucks but you are going to reap the benefits in the fall.

Is it a trail race?

[kepp]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Training in heat sucks but you are going to reap the benefits in the fall.

Is it a trail race?

Yeah...I keep telling myself that this will help come October. It is a trail race...all single track. I've come to prefer trail running over road. And it helps in the heat. You get into thicker woods and the temp drops 5-10 degrees from the shade.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by kepp

Yeah...I keep telling myself that this will help come October. It is a trail race...all single track. I've come to prefer trail running over road. And it helps in the heat. You get into thicker woods and the temp drops 5-10 degrees from the shade.

I really enjoy trail running as well. You aren't doing Flatrock by any chance are you?

[Mr_Tomahawk]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I don't even know what I would do in first place. You'd have to actually pay attention to the course instead of just following the people in front of you.

Funny you mention that...

...As I stated, this is a small run. Last year, the first year, it was even smaller. It is a fundraiser for a local church and they are doing good things with the money raised, but you could tell it was their first year marking a course.

The start and finish are in front of the church. On my way back, while I was leading, I made a wrong turn by turning into the parking lot to head to the finish. Made sense...right? Well I get about 30 yards deep when I notice people flagging me to turn around. I then have to turn around and run around the church....kind of odd, but I am guessing they were just short of "5"k. Luckily I had built enough of a lead that it didn't hurt me too much...just my time.

This year they send out an email making note, without naming names, for runners to run around the block before they cross the finish line. The race director pretty much told me that instruction was geared towards me after last year.

But you area right Mr. Rainman. It is a very odd feeling being alone in front. I am a very average runner, but this course just so happens to cover the course that I normally run in my leisure so I know where to exert my energy...so I may have a slight hand up on the competition.

The worse part, other than not knowing where the hell you are going, is periodically sucking down the exhaust fumes of the police motorcycle in front of you...

[Mr_Tomahawk]

BTW...what shoes are everyone running in these days?

I switched from a cheap cross-training Nike shoe to a runner Asics running shoe that I was "professionally" fitted for....and hate them. I get tremendous knee pain after about 8 miles.

Also....the gal who fitted me, although cute, said that you should be running in a whole size larger shoe than you normally wear.

For example, I wear a 10-10.5 and am running in a roomy 11.

Is that logic true? That was the first time I had someone tell me what shoe I needed to be running in. (I was given 3 options and choose the middle of the road one.)

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Mr_Tomahawk

BTW...what shoes are everyone running in these days?

I switched from a cheap cross-training Nike shoe to a runner Asics running shoe that I was "professionally" fitted for....and hate them. I get tremendous knee pain after about 8 miles.

Also....the gal who fitted me, although cute, said that you should be running in a whole size larger shoe than you normally wear.

For example, I wear a 10-10.5 and am running in a roomy 11.

Is that logic true? That was the first time I had someone tell me what shoe I needed to be running in. (I was given 3 options and choose the middle of the road one.)

I'm not a happy shoe buyer right now. I've always worn Asics Kayanos and they fit perfectly. But for some reason the last two pairs I've purchased fit perfectly on the left foot and feel like they're slightly too large on the right foot, which causes them to slide around. It's very annoying, and I know it's not me because I've had ten pairs before the last two that fit perfectly.

I'm about to the point of giving up and going Saucony. I feel like the Asics is more solid for the occasional trail run, but the lack of fit is becoming a deal killer.

I have one pair of short-distance Saucony shoes and love them, but they're ultra-light and I'm not sure I'd run 13 miles in them. I'm going to look into a heavier-duty Saucony, but just bought my second pair of imperfectly fitting Asics, so I'm out of the market for a while.

I was intrigued by some Hokas that I saw recently, but the shoe guy said he wouldn't recommend them for long distances. They were sharp looking, though.

I've tried out some others - Brooks, Mizuno, etc. - and they don't fit at all. I might try some Nikes at some point, but in the past they didn't fit as well as Asics. Now they may be my best fit, though.

[kccrow]

I once ran to my refrigerator 50 times in a 24 hour period for a beer.


All seriousness, you've ran more in those 50 races than I will run in my entire lifetime, so kudos man.

[Marcellus]

I wear Soucony Kinveras. I've also worn the Cortana.

My trail shows are Brooks Cascadias. Doubt they will ever wear out.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by Mr_Tomahawk

BTW...what shoes are everyone running in these days?

I switched from a cheap cross-training Nike shoe to a runner Asics running shoe that I was "professionally" fitted for....and hate them. I get tremendous knee pain after about 8 miles.

Also....the gal who fitted me, although cute, said that you should be running in a whole size larger shoe than you normally wear.

For example, I wear a 10-10.5 and am running in a roomy 11.

Is that logic true? That was the first time I had someone tell me what shoe I needed to be running in. (I was given 3 options and choose the middle of the road one.)

I'm running in my 3rd pair of Mizuno Wave Inspire 10s. I have 2 pairs I haven't even worn yet. I think I may need to try something different soon, though. I can feel my foot changing a bit.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by kccrow

I once ran to my refrigerator 50 times in a 24 hour period for a beer.


All seriousness, you've ran more in those 50 races than I will run in my entire lifetime, so kudos man.

Yesterday I walked about 0.5 miles in Brooklyn, NY from a long term parking lot to the AirBnB where my daughter is going to stay until she moves into a more permanent apartment and I had to stop 3 times to catch my breath. I'm not sure if it's my shoes or the lack of S-caps that were holding me back.

These guys are amazing.

[Mr_Tomahawk]

Anyone use the Stava app?