Sunday, December 26, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Got a new camera...just in time!
I just got my new GoPro Hero Helmet cam. I spent last night making a strap-on chest mount for it and I was going to show you all about it, but my HD camera broke. I've ordered a new one and it should be here Monday. In the mean time I'll post some of the bike cams footage. TTYS
Monday, December 6, 2010
The California International Marathon - 2010
I woke up at 3:30am. Couldn't sleep. I had a pretty bad cold so I took some medicine for it and hoped for the best.
The temperature was perfect and the weather forecast was for a 10% chance of rain till noon with only partly cloudy skies through the morning. You couldn't ask for better weather to run a marathon in.
My training hadn't gone very well. I was injured 6 weeks ago and as of last week had only worked my way back to 12 miles. Nevertheless, race day is here, I've paid the money and I'm going to give it my best.
Given my previous running experiences, namely a half marathon in 2:04:17 and a 10k in 56 minutes, I thought a marathon time of 4:30:00 might be realistic. I started with the 4:15:00 pace runners and almost immediately watched them creep away from me. That was OK. I knew they would. I just wanted to stay ahead of the 4:30:00 pace team...and I did...for twelve miles. They passed just before the half way point. My Half Marathon time was 2:15:56. Not as good as my last half marathon, but that one was flat and this one was hilly. I'm still recovering too.
Between the Half Marathon split and the 20 mile mark my pace dropped from 10:40 minute miles to 13:00 minute miles. It only got worse after that. Around mile 18, out of nowhere and completely unexpected came a friend of mine from the roadside. Mark had in hand a partially peeled tangerine and a bag of sport beans ready for me to eat. That was right on time! He ran with me for two miles. By mile twenty I was in pain. I had to stop at every mile and stretch my calves. My hips had been hurting for quite a while and my quads were like rocks. I knew the Hash House Harriers were ahead handing out beers and that was my first target of the run.
At mile twenty I saw several friends. Dave, Nichole, Carol and Noelle to name a few. I took a moment to hug every one of them.
With only six miles to go, the pain was increasing exponentially. Calf muscles threatening to tear. Quads hard as rocks and throbbing with pain. Hip joints feeling like they had been hammered upon. My knees weren't too bad...yet. Feet sore from the slight abrasion of my socks and the pounding against the pavement. I kept running. I was having to stop and stretch every couple blocks now. The end was getting closer and closer. The streets of downtown Sacramento are numbered. The Capitol is on 10th St. and I was at 29th St. when the pain became almost unbearable. Only nineteen blocks to go! Just zone out and keep putting one foot in front of the other. Pain is temporary! Accomplishment is forever! When I got to 10th St., I discovered that I had to run another two blocks to 8th St. so the finish would be running right into the open arms of the Capitol building. Ugh! Two more blocks I wasn't expecting! Just keep running.
I crossed the finish line with the clock reading 5:21:32. Forty-one minutes long of my target time. Twenty-one minutes long of my "reconsidered" target time. Corinne was there and got a picture of me. I was suffering, but I made it look good. I smiled at every camera I saw. Hopefully we'll get a couple good shots out of it.
That was my personal physical experience, but I want to mention another aspect of it. As I ran the course I saw the detritus of other runners. The cast off sweatshirts, gloves and hats. It was as though I was running through the leavings of a homeless camp. I was surprised by the exceptionally high quality of some of this gear. I saw $20 hats; $30-$40 base layer shirts; and Isotoner gloves. All just thrown to the roadside as if they had no value at all. As the morning wore on, the sun came out and I began to get hot so even my polyester base layer came off and was cast aside with the rest.
Then there were the spectators and volunteers. All along this route were total strangers cheering us on. A really great show of support from all the communities we passed though. People handing out snacks and drinks, playing music for us and cheering us on. I had seen this before, but it wasn't until my experience on the Death Ride and now here that I got a feel for what this kind of support means to an athlete. If I don't participate in these event, I'm going to start coming out to show support or volunteer for these events.
Speaking of volunteers, these people are great too. From something as simple as handing out water, to calling out pace times at each mile marker, these people are what make an event like this work. The bands and DJs that come out really rock the place too and since I can't thank each and every one of them, I plan to show my support for them by being one when I'm able.
I finished about twenty hours ago as I write this and I'm still in pain. What I thought was going to become a good sized blister on my foot changed it's mind. I ran a marathon and didn't get a single blister! I'll thank Fleet Feet Sports for that. I have a massage in 4 hours and need to get up and move because I'm getting stiff.
Thanks to everyone for your support!
The temperature was perfect and the weather forecast was for a 10% chance of rain till noon with only partly cloudy skies through the morning. You couldn't ask for better weather to run a marathon in.
My training hadn't gone very well. I was injured 6 weeks ago and as of last week had only worked my way back to 12 miles. Nevertheless, race day is here, I've paid the money and I'm going to give it my best.
Given my previous running experiences, namely a half marathon in 2:04:17 and a 10k in 56 minutes, I thought a marathon time of 4:30:00 might be realistic. I started with the 4:15:00 pace runners and almost immediately watched them creep away from me. That was OK. I knew they would. I just wanted to stay ahead of the 4:30:00 pace team...and I did...for twelve miles. They passed just before the half way point. My Half Marathon time was 2:15:56. Not as good as my last half marathon, but that one was flat and this one was hilly. I'm still recovering too.
Between the Half Marathon split and the 20 mile mark my pace dropped from 10:40 minute miles to 13:00 minute miles. It only got worse after that. Around mile 18, out of nowhere and completely unexpected came a friend of mine from the roadside. Mark had in hand a partially peeled tangerine and a bag of sport beans ready for me to eat. That was right on time! He ran with me for two miles. By mile twenty I was in pain. I had to stop at every mile and stretch my calves. My hips had been hurting for quite a while and my quads were like rocks. I knew the Hash House Harriers were ahead handing out beers and that was my first target of the run.
At mile twenty I saw several friends. Dave, Nichole, Carol and Noelle to name a few. I took a moment to hug every one of them.
With only six miles to go, the pain was increasing exponentially. Calf muscles threatening to tear. Quads hard as rocks and throbbing with pain. Hip joints feeling like they had been hammered upon. My knees weren't too bad...yet. Feet sore from the slight abrasion of my socks and the pounding against the pavement. I kept running. I was having to stop and stretch every couple blocks now. The end was getting closer and closer. The streets of downtown Sacramento are numbered. The Capitol is on 10th St. and I was at 29th St. when the pain became almost unbearable. Only nineteen blocks to go! Just zone out and keep putting one foot in front of the other. Pain is temporary! Accomplishment is forever! When I got to 10th St., I discovered that I had to run another two blocks to 8th St. so the finish would be running right into the open arms of the Capitol building. Ugh! Two more blocks I wasn't expecting! Just keep running.
I crossed the finish line with the clock reading 5:21:32. Forty-one minutes long of my target time. Twenty-one minutes long of my "reconsidered" target time. Corinne was there and got a picture of me. I was suffering, but I made it look good. I smiled at every camera I saw. Hopefully we'll get a couple good shots out of it.
That was my personal physical experience, but I want to mention another aspect of it. As I ran the course I saw the detritus of other runners. The cast off sweatshirts, gloves and hats. It was as though I was running through the leavings of a homeless camp. I was surprised by the exceptionally high quality of some of this gear. I saw $20 hats; $30-$40 base layer shirts; and Isotoner gloves. All just thrown to the roadside as if they had no value at all. As the morning wore on, the sun came out and I began to get hot so even my polyester base layer came off and was cast aside with the rest.
Then there were the spectators and volunteers. All along this route were total strangers cheering us on. A really great show of support from all the communities we passed though. People handing out snacks and drinks, playing music for us and cheering us on. I had seen this before, but it wasn't until my experience on the Death Ride and now here that I got a feel for what this kind of support means to an athlete. If I don't participate in these event, I'm going to start coming out to show support or volunteer for these events.
Speaking of volunteers, these people are great too. From something as simple as handing out water, to calling out pace times at each mile marker, these people are what make an event like this work. The bands and DJs that come out really rock the place too and since I can't thank each and every one of them, I plan to show my support for them by being one when I'm able.
I finished about twenty hours ago as I write this and I'm still in pain. What I thought was going to become a good sized blister on my foot changed it's mind. I ran a marathon and didn't get a single blister! I'll thank Fleet Feet Sports for that. I have a massage in 4 hours and need to get up and move because I'm getting stiff.
Thanks to everyone for your support!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Feeding the Hungry in real life.
I just got home from my weekly mountain bike ride at Lake Natoma. I ride 22 miles out to Lake Natoma, then ride the 12.5 mile dirt loop with friends and finish off the whole event with beers and brats at a local eatery. Then I ride the train back home.
Tonight on the train home a fellow got on with burlap bags full of cans and bottles. He asked me what time it was. I told him it was ten till five. His heart sank a bit, I could tell. I asked if he was in a rush to hit the recycling center. He said they closed at 5:00. I told him we would probably hit his station right at 5:00 and if he was lucky he could catch the guy before he leaves. Then I held up crossed fingers and he nodded acknowledgment. As the ride progressed, I watched him disassemble 15 cigarette butts and roll his own from the dregs. I felt bad seeing this and asked him what the value of his haul was. He told me $7.00. I knew if the recycling center was closed, which is very likely at 5:00 on Black Friday, he would have to tote that stuff back home unrewarded.
I don't usually give money away, but I asked him if he wanted a couple bucks. He said yes and I gave him what I had. My last three bucks. It was almost as though a load was lifted from him when I handed over those three bills.
I wish people didn't have to suffer and want.
Tonight on the train home a fellow got on with burlap bags full of cans and bottles. He asked me what time it was. I told him it was ten till five. His heart sank a bit, I could tell. I asked if he was in a rush to hit the recycling center. He said they closed at 5:00. I told him we would probably hit his station right at 5:00 and if he was lucky he could catch the guy before he leaves. Then I held up crossed fingers and he nodded acknowledgment. As the ride progressed, I watched him disassemble 15 cigarette butts and roll his own from the dregs. I felt bad seeing this and asked him what the value of his haul was. He told me $7.00. I knew if the recycling center was closed, which is very likely at 5:00 on Black Friday, he would have to tote that stuff back home unrewarded.
I don't usually give money away, but I asked him if he wanted a couple bucks. He said yes and I gave him what I had. My last three bucks. It was almost as though a load was lifted from him when I handed over those three bills.
I wish people didn't have to suffer and want.
Run to Feed the Hungry - 2010
Yesterday I ran a 10k. It was the Run To Feed the Hungry in Sacramento. Proceeds go to benefit Sacramento Food Bank Services. I was on a team, Meetup to Feed the Hungry, which was lead by my friend Kaybee. My time in the race was 56:17 which is not bad. 9:05 minute miles carried me to 43rd place. Right in the middle of my age group with the fastest person fifteen minutes ahead of me and the slowest nearly an hour behind me. Over half the runners in my age group were within ten minutes (plus or minus) of my time.
I'm running the California International Marathon in 9 days and I hope I'm ready. I'm a little worried because of the pulled muscle incident a few weeks ago. I'm planning on running 15-18 miles Sunday and resting for the next week.
Here's what I learned this day...
Start in the front! There's nothing I hate worse at these things than being held back by a bunch of slow-pokes. Today, I decided to be the slow-poke, and I'm glad I did. I started up front with the 7 minute milers. The result of doing this was that I was being passed for the entire length of the race. The waves of runners passing me induced a kind of anxiety and it pressed me on to my best 10k run time ever.
Something I do at these things to keep my pace is find someone who is pulling away just a little and try to keep up with them. They usually pull away and I have to find another. Today, the one I found at mile three was running the perfect pace. Hard to keep up with, but still achievable. At the end, I said to her: "You don't know this, but you carried me for the last three miles. Thanks!" She asked: "You do that too?" Apparently this is rather common. Focus on the hottest set of buns in front of you and try to catch'em. If you do, find a better set further ahead.
I'm running the California International Marathon in 9 days and I hope I'm ready. I'm a little worried because of the pulled muscle incident a few weeks ago. I'm planning on running 15-18 miles Sunday and resting for the next week.
Here's what I learned this day...
Start in the front! There's nothing I hate worse at these things than being held back by a bunch of slow-pokes. Today, I decided to be the slow-poke, and I'm glad I did. I started up front with the 7 minute milers. The result of doing this was that I was being passed for the entire length of the race. The waves of runners passing me induced a kind of anxiety and it pressed me on to my best 10k run time ever.
Something I do at these things to keep my pace is find someone who is pulling away just a little and try to keep up with them. They usually pull away and I have to find another. Today, the one I found at mile three was running the perfect pace. Hard to keep up with, but still achievable. At the end, I said to her: "You don't know this, but you carried me for the last three miles. Thanks!" She asked: "You do that too?" Apparently this is rather common. Focus on the hottest set of buns in front of you and try to catch'em. If you do, find a better set further ahead.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Marathon Training!
Back in September someone gave me the idea to run in the Urban Cow Half Marathon, I had just finished Eppie's Great Race with a good time considering the lackadaisical training I had put in, so I figured, what the hell. I'll do it! That's the answer I try to give unless I have a really good reason not to do a thing. I did it too! I did it 2:04:07! Not knowing any better, I just figured it was ok. The more jaws I saw dropping at my announcement of the time, the more I came to realize that was a pretty good time. Especially for a 50 year old fat man who had only run 8 times in preparation for both this race and the Great Race.
Filled with the confidence of my triumph, I decide to register for the California International Marathon! The CIM! It's one of the Marathons you can use to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I found this out when filling out the online registration. I saw the box asking if I was attempting to qualify for Boston, and in my inimitable fashion, I checked YES! I later found out I'll have to finish in 3:35:00 to do it. That's not realistic for me, but who knows? Stranger things have happened.
I had built up to running 8 miles 3 times per week when at mile 7 of one of my runs I felt like someone shot me in the calf. I could not believe how bad it hurt. I stayed off it for a week and tried to run again. It began to hurt in 500 feet. I stayed off it for another week and saw a doctor. Twentyfive days before the CIM, he told me I need to rest for six to eight weeks.
This marathon was not cheap. I'm not going to toss that non-refundable registration out! I decided to train the Army way. WORK YOUR WAY BACK!
A few days after seeing the doctor I ran as far as I could without pain. One mile that day. The next day I went two miles. Then 3 miles on stairs. Then four miles on stairs and finally five miles. I took a break for a day and ramped it up to seven, then eight miles. Today I added 50% and ran 12 miles without pain.
The CIM is in 14 days. We'll see how I do.
Filled with the confidence of my triumph, I decide to register for the California International Marathon! The CIM! It's one of the Marathons you can use to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I found this out when filling out the online registration. I saw the box asking if I was attempting to qualify for Boston, and in my inimitable fashion, I checked YES! I later found out I'll have to finish in 3:35:00 to do it. That's not realistic for me, but who knows? Stranger things have happened.
I had built up to running 8 miles 3 times per week when at mile 7 of one of my runs I felt like someone shot me in the calf. I could not believe how bad it hurt. I stayed off it for a week and tried to run again. It began to hurt in 500 feet. I stayed off it for another week and saw a doctor. Twentyfive days before the CIM, he told me I need to rest for six to eight weeks.
This marathon was not cheap. I'm not going to toss that non-refundable registration out! I decided to train the Army way. WORK YOUR WAY BACK!
A few days after seeing the doctor I ran as far as I could without pain. One mile that day. The next day I went two miles. Then 3 miles on stairs. Then four miles on stairs and finally five miles. I took a break for a day and ramped it up to seven, then eight miles. Today I added 50% and ran 12 miles without pain.
The CIM is in 14 days. We'll see how I do.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Hi there!
I just got a new HD Video camera and I'm determined to do something with it. Here you'll see me and my friends doing lots of fun and exciting things. Mountain Biking, running, racing. Who knows? I'm going to let it evolve into whatever it becomes.
I'll be posting video here and on my YouTube channel www.YouTube.com/MarshWildman
Stay tuned for some really cool stuff!
I'll be posting video here and on my YouTube channel www.YouTube.com/MarshWildman
Stay tuned for some really cool stuff!
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