Back on My Feet 2013 - 20 in 24

Race got cancelled!

After driving all the way to Philladelphia, the following is the message we got. I'm not saying it wasn't hot because it was over 100 but we could have done it anyway. I ran about 20 miles anyway in protest to show them!

"Runners,

After developing a modified solution with our partners at the City of Philadelphia the afternoon of July 19, we were asked by the City at 5:00 p.m. the same day to completely shut down all races on both Saturday July 20 and Sunday July 21. 

No races will take place this weekend due to safety concerns.  We appreciate the City of Philadelphia's focus on health and public safety.   We recognize and are grateful for your enthusiasm in communications today. However, we ask that you honor the cancellation and not congregate or organize informal runs related to 20in24 this weekend.  We are working with the City to hopefully and potentially reschedule the race this year.

We greatly apologize for the changes today and will address all questions in an updated FAQ as soon as possible.  Please hold all questions and feedback until this information is available.

Additional information will be posted at philadelphia.in24race.com and on Facebook and Twitter.

With regret, concern for safety and appreciation for your support,
Back on My Feet

Link to City Letter:

http://philadelphia.in24race.com//media_center/documents/"

The North Face 50 Mile Challenge (Washington, DC - 2013)

Have you ever seen dead people? I can't say for sure but it was so hot at this race that I think I saw my dead grandpa. I carbo-loaded with bread and potatoes the day before and got my favorite gels at REI but as much as I wanted to go to sleep early it just didn't happen. I moved around under the covers, counted sheep and listened to an audiobook with no success. I finally fell asleep at 2 am., one hour before my alarm started going off.

The race started at 5 a.m. and I was already tired from lack of sleep but I was excited to run my first 50 mile race. There was a 13 hour limit so there was little pressure at going over 15:30 minute mile. The temperature at the start was 70 degrees and forecast called for 90+ degree weather by noon. I declined having my bag taken to the midpoint because I thought I had everything I needed, something I won't do again.

The first 21 miles was uneventful with lots of stretches of flat trails. Of course there were hills that had to be walked and risky downhills that had to be taken seriously (I've learned my lesson). I thought there was a lot more competitive runners at this race than at the previous 50K two weeks ago. After mile 21, there were 3 loops to be completed of about 4 miles each. As easy as that sounds, each mile had tough hills and the temperature was already in the 90s by 10 (at least it felt like it).

After reaching Great Falls (mile 21) there were three loops to be completed. The loops took you on nicer dirt trails and near the potomac river rocky side. A rocky area I won't forget since I went down twice around there, fortunately never hitting my head. The temperature at this point was already high and the humidity made you think about quitting. While I twisted my ankle twice during this time, it wasn't bad enough to stop and I just "walked it off" as someone behind me told me to do. After completing the third loop it was time to go back to the Algonkian Park, the start/finish line. I took some water and loaded my water belt with gatorade.

I tried walking for two minutes and then running for 10 minutes. It worked initially but then I was feeling the effects of the oppressing heat. I got myself together and reached mile 39 with no gas left in the tank and no liquids. I was just walking at this point but I was not alone.  I went by a lot of people just sitting on the side of the trail or just waiting for the medical team to arrive. We all had ran out of water and we were just walking to mile 42, the next water station.  I knew something was up with my feet because they felt like they were burning. I haven't had blisters in two years so it's hard to remember them but it was either that or rocks inside my shoes. I reached the water station and I just sat there for 5 minutes, got liquids, and got offered to be taken to the finish line. Of course I declined but I was a bit tired of the race already, I wanted it to be over.  I put myself together and made a determination to just run the whole thing until the end. "No walking, just run, " I told myself.  Fortunately, I had the energy in me and I managed to run until I reached the next water station, mile 45.5. I stopped for a minute and got more liquids and gels, I knew the finish line was just a few miles away.  I continued running and my body was already used to the heat, I found myself focus - in my zone. I kept running until I reached mile 49.75 where I saw one of my running friend, Rohan, from the gym. He asked me to stop for a pic so I had to do it! God knows I needed proof that I had reached 49.75 miles.  I kept running and I started hearing music so I thought okay, I know you are tired and I just want to sit on the side of the trail but how many times have I felt like this today and before. Many! I went by a few strugglers and we just waved at each other, I knew I wanted to finish in under 11 hours and I thought that was possible. I finished my first 50 mile race in 10:42 minutes, sweaty, smelly, hungry, and most importantly proud! Another race in the books, next up....100 miles this coming July!

Capon Valley 50K

I thought signing up for a 50k would be good training for my upcoming 50 Miler and 24 hour race.  It had rained the night before and they were predicting rain in the afternoon.  Unfortunately, that didn't apply to West Virginia and it started raining at 7 a.m. race start. The course involved going up and down a mountain while crossing a river/stream about 30 to 40 times.  The tough uphills needed to be done walking, there was just no other option. Coming down steep hills was sometimes dangerous because of the rain and mud. I managed to stay with a pack of runners from mile 10 to 19 and it was nice to have some support. Trail runners seem to be nicer and more supportive during a race than road runners. Maybe it's because middle of the pack people like me are just trying to complete the distance.  At mile 18 I took a bad step and I went down hard but fortunately it was a few steps from an aid station. I knew I was going down at some point so I was glad I had that out of the way. Well, I was wrong!

At mile 19 I was coming down a hill when I lost my balance and I twisted my ankle. I managed to regain my balance but I twisted my ankle again. I saw a tree and I grabbed onto this tree like if it was a teddy bear. Talk about a tree hugger! I stood for 10 minutes trying to see if it would get better...it didn't.

So now the decision - keep running or call it quits? No decision at all but an adjustment of how to deal with pain. I wasn't able to run anymore, I could only walk. There were 10 plus miles to go so I thought it was possible with the time remaining. Walking up hills was tough but I managed, however coming down a hill was so painful that I had to walk real slow. I actually looked forward to streams because the cold water made my ankle feel a lot better.

I saw my friend Raj at mile 25 and he looked alright. At mile 27 I saw a lot of people go by me and I thought I was probably the last one. Many asked if I was tired and my response was "No, sprained ankle." I went by the last water station and they offered to take me back to the finish. As tempting as that sounded I declined. At 2:10 p.m. I knew the deadline of 3 pm was approaching and I had to hurry. I was within a few yards of the finish line when I saw this girl just go by holding a strong 8 minute pace. She said good job and I just waved. I finished at 2:40 p.m and a little under 8 hours but I had completed another milestone, a 50k or 31 miles! 

I collapsed at the finished line. My ankle was bigger than a cantaloupe. I went to the doctor that night and I was out for two weeks with a sprained ankle. No medal...just a certificate of completion!

This picture says it all...  I NEVER QUIT!

2013 George Washington Birthday Marathon

I wonder how many people say I need to run 22/23 miles so I'm going to run a marathon this weekend.  Well, I was one of those people this weekend.  I signed up to do the GW Birthday Marathon in preparation to next month's Shamrock Marathon. Sure I thought about definately not racing this because I've never gone that distance in preparation to a marathon before. I got a ride from my friend, Raj, and we drove to Greenbelt around 8 a.m.  The day started with high winds on a biting cold February day, I knew it wasn't going to be good when I woke up and I could hear the wind moving my bedroom window.

Temperature at the start was in the low 20s and windy. There are three loops in this race at about 8 miles each.  I started trying to do 8 minute miles for the first loop and I was able to maintain that despite the excitement of running a marathon. During the second loop my body temperature had dropped and the wind was making this unconfortable for all the runnders.  My pace of low 8s was suffering because of the hills and I was becoming increasing tired.  Once I completed the second loop, I was ready to call it a day but I got some inspiration after seeing the volunteers cheering on us.  I don't know if I would have volunteered if the weather was going to be this bad.  At the start of the third loop, I tried to find gels at the first station but I couldn't find any.  I had Honey Stinger chews in my running belt but this was my first time trying them out on a long run.  At mile 21, it started snowing sideways and my body was definately colder than ever.  Yes, I like cold temperatures but this was unberable. I tried to follow this one kid with the sign "First Marathon Ever" and I was able to hang on to him until mile 22 1/5.  I noticed he was slowing down so I had to make a move, either go in front of him and let him follow me or slow down too.  I was feeling pretty good at this point and I was watching my watch because I wanted to finish under 4 hours.  I started speeding up a bit and most of my motivation was the chilli and hot beverages at the finish line.  At mile 24 1/2, there was the huge hill. Yes, thing was about a mile long.  Not anything you want to see at the end of a marathon.  I saw a bunch of strugglers up and down this thing.  I kept telling myself, "just keep moving forward, don't walk, don't walk." My watch said 3:35 at mile 25 1/2 and I knew I had the under 4 hours time wrapped up.  I went down a hill and then to a little trail and I could see the finish line.  This was unlike all the marathons I've done.  No huge sings or thousand of expectators, just a medal and great volunteers.  My time was 3:44 and I can honestly say that I didn't race this thing.  Sure I struggled when I hit the wall at mile 21 but I kept going and it was a great training day!

JFK 20K / MLK 5K - 1/2013

I got there at 8:50, parked, and headed over to the starting line. I asked this kid in the club if that was the 20k start and he says yes.  Some people had already started so I didn't bother to ask anyone else. Once I got to mile 1.6 there was a sign that said "5k turnaround" so I asked this girl there,"do I just keep going if I'm doing the 20k?"  She says, "the 20k starts at 10 a.m".  So I'm like why would that kid say that this was the 20k. It just didn't make sense. I ended up running back and getting some water and fruit before the 20k start.

So now the real deal. I started the 20k and like always I got a bit excited about the race. Yes, sure maybe I went a little bit too fast but what's a guy supposed to do. Yes, I know slow down but I just couldn't do it. Anyway, I was running like I was doing a half and since I had carbo-loaded at HH the night before I didn't think it was a big deal. Well, I carbo-loaded alright but I wasn't really trained to race a half plus I had just raced that 5k. It ended up being a disaster at the end, with some walking and running. I ended up doing 8:06 minute miles on average for the whole thing with a 1:41 time. This was definitely my worse race in months.  There was a lot of walking and soul searching.

Predictions and Resolutions 5k

I had hoped to race the Fairfax 4 Miler the night before but it was sold out before I got to Pacers. For being the first race after the holiday parties, cookies, dinners, and the seasonal adult beverages, I felt pretty good. My legs were fresh and I started the race at 7 minute miles. At the turnaround, I was getting a bit exhausted and the wind was pushing me back. I ended up with a PR for this course and a great feeling about 2013, the year of the Ultra Marathons!

5k - 21:28