Two Weeks is Enough!

It has only taken me two weeks, but I am starting to feel the urge to work out again. Part of the reason I haven't worked out so much, aside from the fact that I was tired, is that I had a lot of school work to catch up on, I haven't been feeling really well, and my wife came down with a bad case of the flu.

Hopefully getting back into the swing of exercise will help to motivate me to stop eating everything I deprived myself of over the past two or so months. I am starting to feel the effects of eating cookies on a daily basis.

I don't really have any race plans for the rest of the year, but I want to get into some sort of competitive shape in case a weekend pops up where I am able to get away. I would like to do three to four triathlons over the summer to keep me motivated.

Getting back into the swing of things!

Now that the marathon is behind me, I am focused on getting the rest of my life in order. I have more school work to complete between now and the end of April that I am not sure when I am going to be able to sleep. The thought of it makes me pretty sick.

Regardless, I know I will get the work done, and turned in on time, but I want to make sure that I am able to turn in my best work.

Already this week, I have an abstract due for a 30 page article I have to complete, a security devices midterm on Wednesday (that is as fun as it sounds), and about 100 pages to read in corporations for Thursday. Considering I only have about twenty free minutes a day anyway, it is going to be interesting.

I guess I will have to start setting the alarm clock at 4 a.m. instead of 5!

Austin Marathon Race Report

My co-worker (Kevin) and I headed to the airport at around 2 pm on the Friday before the race. Our flight was leaving at 4:45 and was scheduled to land in Austin around 6:30ish. Kevin woke up that morning with the chills and feeling the affect of a head cold. I was eager to get on the road and get this race over with. I was excited about the race, but I wanted to be in Austin around all the fanfare. There were a few other people headed up there, including Fred who was responsible for the training schedule I followed, and Laura who I was planning on running the marathon with.

The flight was pretty uneventful despite the horrible weather in both New Orleans and Austin. When we arrived we jumped in a cab to the hotel and Kevin went straight to bed. I headed out to dinner with a few friends that were up there to race and be spectators. I got to bed pretty early knowing that Sunday was going to come quick and I needed my sleep.

Saturday morning we woke up, ate breakfast, and headed down to the expo to meet up with Laura, who was driving in with her parents, and Fred, who had flown in that morning. The expo was very well organized and I was able to pick up a nice AT&T long sleeve tech shirt, something for the wife and kids, and grab some free schwag. We decided to listen to the race director talk about the course, its changes, and what to expect race morning. I don't normally sit around for that, but we had a few people who were new to the marathon, and to be quite honest, I enjoyed what he had to say.

After the expo, we piled everyone in to Laura's parents SUV to find a bite to eat. We ended up at the Italian Warehouse in downtown Austin, which was just what everyone was looking for. Great food at a reasonable price!

The rest of the day was spent resting in the hotel, doing some school work, and trying to get ready for what Sunday had to offer.

Race Morning:

We all decided, because of the different hotels that everyone was staying in, that the four of us in the Hyatt would walk across the Colorado River via Congress Ave. to the Radisson to meet up with Laura and her parents. The Radisson was right in front of the race start, so that would be a great place to hang out until it started to warm up a bit. Needless to say, we were not the only ones with that idea, which wasn't a big deal considering all the excitement in the air. The race was scheduled to start at 7 am so we decided to start walking over to our corrals around 6:30. It didn't take long for that thirty or so minutes to tick away because before we knew it we were singing the national anthem and high fiving everyone around us.

There is something about that moment that culminates all the work you have put into this race and thrust you into the spotlight. You suddenly realize that you are about to do this.

The plan for the race, at least the plan Laura and I had, was to try to tackle this course in less than 4 hours. I felt pretty confident that we would be able to do this considering all the training runs were in that time frame. I was equipped with my Garmin, and Laura was wearing a 4 hour pace band to keep us honest. We also had the benefit of the 4 hour pace group starting right behind us.

The gun went off, the fireworks starting to pop, and we were on the road to tackling the 2008 Austin Marathon. I have done enough of these races to know that you should take the first few miles easy because you will pay for it later, but that is much easier to do in principle than in practice. Nonetheless, our first mile was around 9:46, way off our pace, but still with the 4 hour group. Getting out of the congestion and onto the wide open roads of Congress Ave. we were able to put together a couple of 8:30-8:40 miles to put us 2 minutes ahead of schedule at around mile 5. By this time I had already used a tree in Austin as a port-o-let and had my hat and running gloves in my hand ready to toss to Laura's parents on the course. The course had warmed up quickly and the toughest part was yet to come.

The next few miles ticked along fairly quickly, as our pace was helping up put time in the bank. We spent some time discussing the course and runners with others and the rest of the time listening to the music on the course. I was reluctant to go too fast, although my heart rate at this point was already way too high, because I knew that the upcoming miles were going to get very hilly and I was going to be punished for my early effort.

By mile 13 or so, Laura and I made a deal with each other that we wouldn't leave the other unless it was going to jeopardize our goal to finish sub 4 hours. That goal was quickly put to the test as we started to approach mile 16 and could hear the 4 hour pace group catching us from the rear. Our pace band said that we still had some time in the bank, but I didn't want to loose touch with these guys. I struggled to stay in touch with them and Laura as we turned off of Great Northern Blvd. and past the 17 mile marker. I knew that with 9 miles to go I was going to have to relinquish some time eventually and figured that if I did it now I may be able to mitigate the damage. I wished Laura well and told her to do her best to reach her goal and to not worry about me; I was a veteran at this and would make it to the finish line.

Within the next two miles I lost sight of Laura and the pace group and started to settle into a more comfortable 9:40 pace. This meant running my normal stride, but walking the aid stations and some of the hills. I knew that if I kept this up I would get in at a reasonable time. I also knew that the next pace group was the 4:15 group and I didn't want those guys to catch me.

Those last few miles were brutal, and forced me to reach deep into my reserves to push through the pain. I thought about how much my boys missed me while I was in Austin and how much I wanted to make them proud. I thought about all the sacrifices I made to get to the start line and how I wasn't going to let a tough course take a respectable finish away from me.

The course winds through University of Texas in the last two miles, which got me moving a bit quicker knowing that the finish line wasn't far away. Making that last left turn onto Congress and seeing that finish line made me realize why I put myself through this.

Finish times in these races are irrelevant; they are only personal goals that we set inside of ourselves. Do I wish I was fast, hell yeah! Do I envy those people who are, hell yeah! Am I still proud of myself for finishing the Austin Marathon despite the fact that 34% of the field finished before me, hell yeah!

Marathons require individuals to dig into their soul to find out who they really are, and if they have what it takes to put in the work and get to the finish line. Whether it takes you two and a half hours or six, you should be proud that you reached your goal.

Enough of the sappy stuff!

When I finished the race I hobbled through the corral and picked up my medal, shirt, and some food. I gingerly walked over to the Saturn tent to congratulate Laura and tell her I was sorry I couldn't hang onto her pace. We snapped a few photos and waited a few minutes for Kevin to finish. He toughed out the course despite a head cold, bum hip, and inadequate training.

Laura and her parents headed out pretty quickly because they had to drive back to Baton Rouge that night. Kevin and I waited around for around for a friend and then walked back to the hotel. I was tired, disgusting, and ready to rest. I hopped into the shower and headed down to the Jacuzzi something I will never do again (keep reading).

It wasn't long after I got back from the Jacuzzi that I started to feel like I was dying. I was getting dehydrated and I didn't have the desire to eat or drink. Within an hour or so there were three paramedics in our room take my blood pressure and putting me on the stretcher. I opted to go to the hospital because I knew that they would force me to get rehydrated. I got my first IV in the ambulance and was feeling 80% by the time I got into the emergency room. A couple of extra IV bags later, and some heavy pain medicine, and I was being forced to stay overnight to observe my enzyme levels in my blood. The doctors wanted to make sure that the increased levels were caused by muscle breakdown and not something else.

The short version goes like this:

I spent the night in South Austin Hospital where I was fed like a king, poked with needled more then a person should be allowed, and allowed to go home in enough time to shower and catch the shuttle to the airport.

Summary:

Austin, and the race organizers, did a wonderful job putting on a top level regional marathon. Their organization is similar to the New York Road Runners who put on the NY Marathon. I will do this race again, but next time I will make that my family is with me and I train in the hills.

Thanks for listening!

I'm Back!

The race went fairly well. The hills started to punish me around mile 17, and the numbers reflect that (see my data below). Spent the night in the hospital getting rehydrated and got out in time to catch my flight home. I will post a complete race report later this week. Today I need to catch on what I missed while I was gone.

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/episode/view.do?episodePk.pkValue=5005821

Off to Austin

Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of time to day to provide you with any last minute wisdom. We have to hit the Chevy dealership on the northshore, to pick up my buddy's truck, run to Wal-Mart, and then make it across the bridge to catch our flight. One positive note; we have free drink tickets for the flight over.

If anyone is interested, you can check out my race at www.mychiptime.com (bib #1262)

Chiao!

The Marathon of Life

I think the thing that draws me to the marathon distance is the preparation necessary to get to the finish line and the intermediate goals that are achieved along the way.

As I sit back and reflect on the last few months of training and anticipate crossing the finish line on Sunday, I can't help but think of the similarities that exist between this race and the life I lead. My life can be compared, in part, to the marathon and the commitment it takes to finish the race.

The questions from others are always the same;

How do you run that far?
How can you go to law school, work, and raise a family? (Actually my wife raises the family; I just help pay the bills, shhh!)

Regardless of who asks the question, or in what context the question is asked, my answer still remains the same. I JUST DO! Partially inspired by Nike, I guess, but I just get up in the morning and go through the motions. Sometimes with a little more enthusiasm then other days, but for the most part I get done what I need to get done.

The majority of the time I have the inherent ability to not overwhelm myself, although that term is relative and up for debate, and there is the occasional day that I wish my life were not so complicated.

The marathon, in its simplest explanation, is just running. Yeah, you run long and far, but you are just running. Similarly, law school is tough, but it is just reading and studying. Looking back on both you tend to appreciate the body of work you have accomplished, but when broken down to daily activities, those things just keep me busy and moving forward. I tend not to focus on how far I have come, but what direction I am going.

As long as I am putting one foot in front of the other, I feel like I am progressing through life and making my contribution.

An Easy 3!!!!!!!!!!

It almost seems like a waste of time to put your shoes on and run three miles. Considering all the mileage you have put into your legs over the last few months how much can a few three mile runs really help. Thos miles probably do not help a whole lot, except that they tend to keep the muscle memory fresh and your metabolism flowing; two very important things to not forget about when the marathon is only five days away.

Two of the girls heading up to the marathon from this area are marathon virgins and eager to get to Austin. I have been happily fielding questions concerning nutrition leading up to the race and what they need to bring with them. I simply told them that you shouldn't change anything that you did during your training; including clothing, food, and weekly preparation. A marathon doesn't require a "nutritional" plan as would an Ironman. You are spending a reduced amount of time on your feet and subsequently do not need to prepare three days in advance of the race for carbo loading. Stick to what you know.

I am catching a lot of hell from the wife because this marathon falls on the same weekend as my youngest son's 2 year old birthday. I didn't pick this race or its date, and I am going because a friend wanted it to be his first. When I signed up for it I didn't think that missing the day of his birthday would be a big deal, but apparently it is to my wife. I am trying to convince her to wait until Monday night when I get home to celebrate it. As you might imagine, I am loosing that battle, but I am not giving up.

Tapering

Tapering involves the gradual decrease of running mileage, and subsequent increase of weight, in the weeks leading up to the marathon. A lot has been written about these last few weeks before the big race, but regardless of what the professionals write, this is the most rewarding part of the training. You have time to rest your nagging injuries, start preparing mentally for race day, and you get to spend time some with the people you have sacrificed their time for your training.

The majority of my time these last days are going to be spent checking the weather in Austin and trying to figure out what I am going to wear on race day. Lucky for us, we have some non-runners who will be at the race to help carry our pre-race clothing and return them to us when we finish. Temperatures are predicted to be in the 45-65 degree range on race. Perfect weather conditions for running a marathon. It also happens to be what I spent the majority of my long runs training in, which means I have spent many miles figuring out what clothing works best in what temperatures. It is always best to start a race of this length on the cold side especially since your body will be warming up considerably in the first few miles.

Mission Accomplished.

This morning culminated three months of marathon training; we ran our last Saturday morning training run on the Tammany Trace. This run was only six miles and it was nice to meet the group and not have to worry about an increase in mileage. Everyone just seemed a little big more chipper this morning and eager to enjoy the moment as opposed to dreading it.

I have often heard that good marathon runs only result from training that produced at least a few nagging injuries. I don't think this is always true, but those things nagging do make you feel like you are accomplishing something and you have pushed your body to its physical limits. Three to four months is a long time to commit to anything, let alone something that puts so much strain on your body. You have to deal with all the things that pull you away from your goal; family committments, sickness, injuries, and pure exhaustion. Getting through all that in relatively good shape is one of the best feelings in the world.

There is nothing quite like lining up to start a major physical event, whether it is an Ironman or a marathon (the two things I have the most experience with) and knowing that you have done the work required to get you to the finish line. Once you have gotten there you know that the hard work is behind you and this day is for your enjoyment.

That is what I will be dealing with all this week while I mentally prepare myself for next Sunday. I have a lot of people to thank for getting me to this point, and none are more important then my wife and kids who sacrificed the time with me to let me get in my runs.

I do my best to make sure they know that they are appreciated.

Late to bed, early to rise!

I have conceded the fact that I am going to spend the rest of my life trying to catch up on sleep. Between school and the boys, I am finding it hard to piece together a good week of getting eight hours of sleep a night. Last night I got home around 9:30 and found the entire house asleep. Right when I thought I would get in bed at a decent time I realized that I needed to finish a budget proposal for a publishing house for my law journal. I could have put it off till tonight, but that is not exactly the best medicine for getting a good night sleep. I know that I would have tossed and turned the entire night worrying about getting it done.

I was quickly woken up this morning at 5:30 a.m. by two boys who are eager to spend some quality time with their busy dad. I don't blame them at all, and I actually enjoy that time with them, but it would be much more fun at around 6:30 a.m.

Tomorrow morning is my last "Saturday" run while training for the Austin Marathon. It is kind of exciting because the run is only going to cover 6 miles, which is pale in comparison to the training schedule we have been keeping over the past few months. It is actually going to be nice to see people and now have to worry about running 3-4 hours.

This weekend expects to be as busy as usual; fish fry tonight at Luke' school, soccer, studying, birthday party and dinner with friends tomorrow, and Sunday is studying and a bridal shower for Kelly's friend. This is my life, and I am not sure I would know how to deal with it any other way.

Getting over the Magical Experience

The family just got back from their first trip to Disney World on Tuesday (Mardi Gras Day). The trip was excited, exhausting, and exhilerating all at once and I was glad to be home, but I am now having a hard time trying to grasp the reality that I won't be returning anytime soon.

It isn't like I don't have other things on my plate. I am running the Austin Marathon on the 17th of February and I am going to a law review conference in Miami in March. Those things, along with my family, school, and job, will keep me busy enough, but it isn't the same as being in the Magic Kingdom.

I wasn't sure how the kids would react, or even appreciate the experience, but they had a blast and Kelly and I really enjoyed being with them to see their expressions. The only hope now is to find the time/money to book a future trip within the next year or so.