Markemmanuel

Hard work and persistence paid off.  I broke the two hour barrier at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago Half Marathon.  I missed qualifying for corral D for the 2010 Chicago Marathon by eight seconds.  It doesn’t matter.  I slipped below two hours, a new personal best.

Doubt crept into my mind early in the morning.  I didn’t train well a weak prior due to a cold I was getting over.  After picking up my race packet, I drove to Naperville, IL to attend a wedding reception.  I did a little dance, had a little fun, and indulged in some alcohol.   I left the reception at 10:30 and returned home by 11:30.  I didn’t crawl into bed until midnight.  “Great,” I thought to myself. “Four hours of sleep.”

I woke up early enough the morning routine I follow each long day, Cheerios with skim milk, coffee, and water.  I protected the nips with moleskin.  I woke Matthew up.  I learned a great deal at the Soldier Field 10 and the Toughest 10k in Texas about morning preparation.  Matthew and I left early to give us enough time to stretch and warm-up in Grant Park as well as anticipate any travel problems.  I hydrated on our way to the race and ate Jelly Belly Sport Beans for immediate energy.  Good thing we left early.  The garage was backed up with cars trying to get in.

The doubt ended as soon as we began stretching.  We were in the corral.  The only thing between me and my time to myself and the course.  It was familiar.  Matthew, on the other hand, felt unsure about this race.  A couple of times he mentioned not running the race.  I believed it was post-injury recovery jitters.  Later, I found out he was pretty in tuned with his body.

Matthew pulled me through mile 6 at an 8:06 pace.  It was much faster than the pace I aimed for (due to a hot and humid day.)  He either believed in our training  or he wanted to see if I can keep up with his pace.  I saw him adjusting his knee brace.  He told me he needed to stop.  His calf blew up after we crossed the 10k mark.

I ran solo on the remainder of the course. My pace increased above 8:30.  Without a partner, the negative chatter grew in my head.  The energy drinks upset my stomach every time I consumed it.  I had to slow down to recover from each drink.  I switched to water and began dipping into my energy gels.

By mile 11,  a disconnect occurred between my mind and body.  The jockey no longer had command of the horse.  The slowed from the burden of the chatter and negative thoughts pulling it down.  The jockey could only encourage it from afar.  No matter what the jockey did or said, my body went on its own pace, a pace slower than the previous miles.  Was it to protect itself from breaking down or did it need the encouragement?  During the final mile and change, I ran it in just over ten minutes.

I waited for Matthew under the Lincoln statue in Grant Park.  I stretched, drank my energy drink, and ate the Larabars they gave out.  Much later, I saw him limping towards me with his calf and a bag of ice encased in plastic.  I thought he ran a slower pace.  I discovered that he calf cramped up.  He DNF’d.  I saw the photo a few days later.  His attempt to run through it looked painful.  I’m bummed that he didn’t cross the finish line for he’s the one that taught me what I know about running, guided me through the process, and helped me get faster.  On the other hand, I’m glad he didn’t continue.  He could have injured himself to the point that he won’t be able to participate the half marathon trail run next year.

Something inside me tells me I can get 1:45:59.  I don’t know what I could have done different.  Maybe I could have carried emergency water.  Perhaps I should have partied at the wedding longer.  I scheduled another half marathon to chase that time and a 5k to continue my speed training.  I also hope to find more magic as I run.  I don’t want to miss my marathon goal by a few seconds.

***

There were a lot of improvements made at this year’s Rock and Roll Chicago Half Marathon.  I am happy to see that they change the course so runners don’t have to run on the portion of the Lakefront Trail that narrows between the Chicago Museum Campus and Monroe St.  It didn’t provide enough room to pass a slower runner or to help injured runners.  Another change I loved was the large number or corrals.   The corrals help spread us apart on the course so we have more room to run.  I was extremely happy that I had room to get around runners trotting four wide and runners to run around me.  My only concern was the lack of first aid volunteer.  Last year, I saw so many first aid volunteers with their red back packs ready to help.  We only saw a few first aid tents and my brother was disappointed by their ability to help him.  (He limped to the closest station to get help or at least ice.  Because he was able to ambulate, they could not help him.  Really?!)  Every race is a learning experience for both the runners and the race organizer.  If my schedule allows it will be on my calendar for next year.

Run sexy my friends and until next time, run free.

The Chicago Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon is coming up in a few days. I’ve been thinking about it a lot the past few days. I think a lot before a big race. I guess it’s a good think that I over think now so I’ll be on automatic Sunday morning.

I haven’t been able to get back into my training routine. I’ve been feeling very sluggish since I started running again. Matthew lost a bit of confidence since the beginning of July due to his knee getting tweaked. He claims he feels slow. In the long run, the lack of confidence might be good for his body and training. He has a couple of more races this year and I’d rather have him turn this into a training run with a massive concert at the end.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Chicago half marathon (RnRChi) will give me solid numbers to assess my training. Between the two 5k races I participated in, I’ve improved my time. I think the training is working. I hope it’s working.

My fastest official time is 2:03:42 at last year’s RnRChi. My fastest unofficial time occurred during last year’s Chicago Marathon. I clocked in at the half way point at 2:01:55. At this year’s RnRChi, I hope to get under two hours. With everything that happened this past month, I don’t know. Should I play it safe and run conservatively? Maybe I should come into the race planning for a 1:49:59 finish and adjust it accordingly based on the weather and what happens the night before.  If I shoot for a big goal, I might blow up during the race.  At least I’ll blow up trying to go big instead of wondering if I could have done more.

It’s going to be a super early race. The half marathon begins at 6:30a. I have to get there at least 5:30a. That’s insanely early especially for a guy that will be at a wedding reception the night before. The biggest thing I need to do now is get to bed early, wake up early, and get quality rest. I will say this. It will be quite an interesting day for Matthew and I.

I’m looking forward to the race good bag t-shirt (they had a great shirt last year), the race, and the post-race concert. As long as I don’t injured, I’ll be happy what the day brings. I’ll be running with my brother, in a city I love, and celebrate finishing with a concert. What more can a dude ask for? Oh yeah, my friend O is having a graduation party that afternoon. It’s going to be a good Sunday.

They assigned bib number 1799 to my name.  My weight going into the race was 193lbs.  My right buttock didn’t fully recover on time.  I didn’t received the quality sleep that I wanted.  I arrived to the event extra early to alleviate race day stress, to properly warm up, and gauge what the day will be like for me.

The day started humid, cloudy, and cool. I jogged to the starting area after stretching.  Unfortunately, officials delayed the start because people still floating around on the 5k course.  The race started around 7:47.  Conditions were good at the start of the race.  The clouds fought back the sun. Running a 9:32 pace felt comfortable.  None of the students at the first water station was passing out water.  The volunteers at the second and third station scrambled to pour cups.  A line formed for fluid. (Ugh… I hope they correct this next year.)  After mile five water stations went pretty smooth.

Throughout the first half with the pace group, the group leader warned us that it’s going to be a hot and humid one and we should reconsider out goals.  Ultimately, he was right.  As the day went by, the clouds parted and the heat toasted the coarse.  Tree lined neighborhoods protected us from the scorching sun.  New subdivisions issued beatings.  My heart rate was higher than I wanted.  The pain in the right buttocks was minute.  I felt good through the first eight miles. The pace group leader warned us around mile ten that he didn’t plan for the weather to be the hot and humid and feared he won’t be maintain the 9:32 pace to accomplish our goals.

We reached the halfway point on schedule, 4:05:28. I lost my security blanket afterward.  The pace group leader stopped leading the group.  It ended up being a mental blow for me.  I had to pace myself.  This is when I notice it fall apart for me.  I went out too fast at mile 14 and 15.  I noticed that my cheeks stopped sweating at around mile 16.  My left hamstrings and calf started cramping around mile 18.  Every time someone blasted past me, I had to look at their ankle to see if they were part of a marathon relay team.  I secretly hated them and wished I had that energy (to trip them up. just kidding!)  I slowed things down so I can tend to my issues.   I attempted to run for two minutes and walk for one minutes and repeat.  I wasn’t able to restart my engine.  I  walked  the  majority of the way back trying to reignite anything within me.  My feet cried after  every time I attempted to run.  The pavement was too much for them at this point.

I sparked something during the final mile to trot the final mile.  As soon as my feet touched Memorial Stadium’s turf, they rejoiced.  The plush and bouncy turf allowed me to use my energy to kick to the finish instead of absorbing the shocks of the pavement.  I didn’t want to destroy myself before the Soldier Field 10 so I was content with the results,  4:50:47.  Tim Borbely wrote, “Far from my best. Far from my worst. On a day when the male WINNER came in at 2:30:20, the female WINNER came in at 3:00:23, and nobody in my large posse hit their goal time (some came closer than others!) , I’ll TAKE it.”  I’m happy with my time.  I’ll take it.

There’s a lot to learn from this race.  Hydration issues need to be addressed.  I need more fluids than what the water tables provide.  We lose fluid when we sweat, breathe out, and through our kidneys.  More water is required in my case because I’m a slow runner.  I’m out there sweating longer.  It’s time to invest in something that carries water.  I joined a pace group so I didn’t have to think about my pace.  I just follow the person with the sign.  From this experience, I learned that learning how to use my watch for pace splits is essential.

Will I do this race again?  Most definitely.  I’ll run it on a cooler day.  The finish at Memorial Stadium is epic.  People cheered and waited in the stands and along the finish chute.  The pizza, Hawaiian rolls, pasta, bananas, and other food was a delight.  (I LOVE Hawaiian rolls!)  Eating my food on the 20 yard line with Danielle was a delight. Visiting the U of I campus inspired me in ways other places have failed to do.  The next couple of years will be quite interesting.

At the end of the month is the Soldier Field 10.  It’s rest and recovery time!

Time and time again, the final week of tapering proves to be the most frustration week of training.  Tapering requires a lot of patience.  Training shifts from physical training to mental training.  With less physical training, the mind begins playing games with my confidence.

It requires a lot patience.  I finished my last long day on Sunday, eight miles.  I want to run more.  I sternly tell myself not to run farther than what is required. The body the time to recover from repeated strains of training.  Muscles heal.  Glycogen stores build.  The longest of the long day arrives in less than four days.  My body needs to be ready.

Tapering requires trust and faith in the months invested training.  Training conditioned the body to run this distance.  It gave the mind the fortitude and experience.  I need to trust that my training has been ingrained in me.  Actions become automatic, instinctual.

Each day, I study the course.  It reassures me.  I provides a few minutes of peace. I begin falling into a routine each day that mimics marathon morning.  It relieves some of the uncertainty of race day preparation.  Although I participated in marathons in the past, taper week never changes.  Past marathons become another long day to learn from.  Everything is new.  Nothing is taken for granted.

I won’t finalize my goals until Thursday.  I consider this a maintenance marathon to remind my mind, body, and spirit what the marathon is.  Therefore, my minimum goal is to at least match the time I earned in Philadelphia.

The Illinois Marathon starts in less than four days.

A lot happened during the first week of the Easter season.  I ran my fastest 5k.  A rain storm dropped in halfway through my long day on Easter Sunday.  I’ve had a images of grandeur the past few nights.

Bunny Dash 5k

I ran the Bunny Dash 5k in 24:46.45.  If I properly warmed up and wore fresh shoes, I could have ran it faster.  I’ll warm up properly for the Skirt Chaser 5k in June.  I promise!

It was nice that someone recognized me.  A volunteer at the chip timing tent recognized me from the Shamrock Shuffle Expo.  She volunteered for a bit until her work called her in.  I didn’t remember her at first.  Then I recognized her cute eyes and curly blond hair.  Yeah, my mind works that way.  I wish I asked her name and see what her story was.  Everyone has a story to share.  Everyone.  Maybe I’ll run into her again when I volunteer for another race.

Baptism

At Easter service, we renewed our baptismal promises before communion.  The sun shined when I left church.  The sun continued to shine when I started my long day.  Around mile three, clouds engulfed the sun.  It began to drizzle around mile five.  GOD baptized me at miles six.  Rain washed over me and cleanses my spirit.  Instead of feeling burdened, I felt free because I knew that most people would have stopped and turned back.  I kept on singing and dancing in the rain until i saw a curtain of lightening.  It wasn’t safe for me to be outside.

A rainy long day is a runner’s baptism directly from GOD.

Boston

Give me a year and I’ll take you guys to Boston.  Maybe I contracted  Boston fever from the usual April hype surrounding it.  Maybe I’m delirious from losing weight and depriving my brain from much needed glycogen.  I don’t know what it is but I have a feeling that I can qualify for the 2012 Boston Marathon.  Give me 365 days from April 19th and I’ll do it.  I want it.  I need to be determined, dedicated, and focused.  As I wrote before, there only a handful of things will hold me back.  I don’t want to die with a lot of regrets.  The two restraints I have right now are my financial situation and myself.  I can do it.  I need to believe and have faith.