2015 Recap

12.23.15

in 2014 I raced too much...I also drank too much beer.  My training was inconsistent, and, I was carrying a few extra pounds heading into 2015.  While I completed a record 43 events for the year, I wanted 2015 to be different.  I wanted to train more and race less.  I wanted to be mindful of my diet. I wanted to seek out race distances that would force me to train.

While my plan seemed solid, I failed in many ways...

January:

• I was still carrying too much weight.  I'd been off from racing for a month when I ran The Einstein 10k.   I had a decent race that day and it felt great to race.  
• My 1st 13.1 for the year was RnR NO.  Good race for me and a new PR.   This race would start a monthly 13.1 streak for me.  The PR built my confidence heading into the year.  Plus, a destination race with friends was awesome.  We signed up for 2016 whilst still in NO.  

February:

• 1 week removed from RnR NO, I had a train wreck of a race in Irving.  I did, however, continue my 13.1 streak.  I was 2 for 2.  
• I had a decent 10 miler and duathlon, but my training and diet were still inconsistent.  

March:

• My motivation was still lacking and I couldn't seem to get my training jumpstarted.
• I did complete 2 13.1's.  I had a rough day at cowtown, but, a decent day at RnR Dallas.  

April:

• 2 more 13.1's.  Meh.
• I did, however, get selected in the lottery to run the Chicago Marathon.  This could be just the motivation that I needed to jumpstart training.  

May:

• An ugly 10k, a postponed 13.1, and my 1st tri of the year.  Training still lacking.
• I did, however, begin a 30 day cleanse in late May.  That would change things for the better...

June:

• Things really picked up in June.  I was feeling good due to the cleanse, and was running a lot.
• I completed 9 events in June.  This is when I began the Cox Trinity 5000 series, which was a huge boost to my running and speed work.  
• My training was back on track, I was back on the bike for long distances, etc.  
• This month led to good training and some confidence for the next few months. 

July:

• 8 events completed 
• a new 5k PR : 24:27
• weight down to 193
• 2 more tri's  
• continued cycling
• 5k's getting faster

August:

• 7 events completed
• cycling continued, including HHH 100k
• 2 more tri's
• the 13.1 streak continued

September:

• 4 events completed 
• my running was picking up in preparation for Chicago
• I completed my 1st 20k, and had 2 30k days
• a new 5k PR:  23:24
• a new 15k PR
• another Tri.  My times continued to improve.  

October:

• 5 total events
• 3 more Tri's
• the Mf'ing Chicago Marathon!  my 1st 26.2.
• The recovery after Chicago was interesting.  I was fatigued and hungry for a few weeks.  I really had trouble picking my training back up after that.  

November:

• 5 total events
• USAT long course Du national championships - my longest multisport event to date
• PR's at the 10k, 15k, and 13.1 distances
• lack of training, and diet went south

December:

• 3 events
• a train wreck at Dallas Marathon due to lack of consistent training.  but, 26.2 #2 done
• a couple of Jingle Bell Runs

So...

clearly, I did not race less.  To date, I'm at 52 events on the year, including:

• 5 bike rallies of 40+ miles
• 13 5k's
• 1 6k
• 1 4 miler
• 4 10k's
• 2 15k's
• 1 10 miler
• 1 20k
• 2 duathlons
• 9 triathlons
• 11 half marathons
• 2 marathons

But, I did:

• complete my 1st 26.2 (2 total)
• set a 5k PR:  23:24
• set a 10k PR:  55:16
• set a 15k PR:  1:28:11
• set a 13.1 PR:  2:07:47
• improve at all Tri's over previous years
• swim more (mostly during summer)
• have success with some speed work
• commit to training for Chicago (it felt good to train for something)

while my total mileage for the year was down (yet again), I did put in more miles on foot this year than ever before, and my # of workouts was fairly consistent with previous years.:

Once again, I plan to race less next year.  I also plan to start a cleanse in January.  

My target for the 1st 3rd of the year is Galveston 70.3.  I need all racing to align with my training for that.  I'll likely target another destination 26.2, and, will seek out some longer distance options for the year...

here we go...

Dallas Jingle Bell Run 2015

12.22.15

take 4.

this race has become a staple on the racing calendar.  Each year, we check into the Anatole for a quick getaway, run this race, then hang with friends after.

This year, the Gossards and Butlers joined.

Lela was to keep the kids during the race...but, Griffin decided this was to be his 1st 5k.  We signed him up onsite.  Initially, I was a little hesitant, as this is a night run, with thousands of runners, but, I decided I'd run with him, so as to keep an eye on him.  Not a bad thing, I suspect, as a slow easy run was best for me after the mess that was the Dallas Marathon 9 days ago.

Our plan was to run the 1st mile in the 10's, and see how we felt.  As planned, we ran a 10:40 1st mile.  We slowed a little during mile 2, and took the 1st of several walk breaks at about 1.5 miles.  Butler was kind enough to stay with us until that point, and then took off to finish his race.   Griffin's belly was bothering him a bit (the mac and cheese pre-race was likely the culprit), but, he persevered. While each mile got a little slower, we picked up the pace at the end, and finished in 34:45.  Our goal was a sub 35.

The little guy did it!  It was fun to run with him.  I'm proud of him.

Lela kept the boys for a couple of hours post race, allowing us to socialize with the crew.

Good times!

skipped race

12.19.15

well, this is new...

today, I skipped a race that I'd registered for - the "Some Like It Cold 10k".

I've run this event the past 2 years and am familiar with the course.

My ongoing fatigue and soreness from Dallas, sprinkled with a fair amount of apathy kept me in bed today.

I'll run the Jingle Bell 5k next week and call it a year, racing wise.

I hope I can find some motivation soon...if Galveston 70.3 is going to happen, I've got to get my act together.

Dallas Marathon 2015

12.13.15

this is likely the last time I'll run the dallas marathon, but, more on that later...

I registered for this race when I was till on the marathon high from Chicago.

I went into this race undertrained.  Since Chicago, I've done little to no training.  I have however, had some good races, including PR's at the 10k, 15k and 13.1 distances.  But, the last 3 weeks or so I've felt "off" in races.  I've mismanaged several, and have felt slow.

Fortunately, I'm not carrying much more weight since Chicago, but, I've felt somewhat lethargic due to poor diet and lack of training.

I really had no clue how to plan for today.  I wavered between the idea of pushing a quicker pace than in Chicago, and, "just finish".

But...1st things 1st.

The Expo sucks.  After a great experience in Chicago (and, for that matter, many of the RnR events), I would have thought a marathon in a big city would have a little more wow factor.

and...$15 for parking at the convention center.  That means $30 between the expo and race day.  Really??

I arrived early today...sold a pint of blood to pay for parking, and prepped.  I saw a few folks that I know and visited for a bit.

when the horn sounded, I got off to a 11 min / mile pace.  I felt pretty good, even with the cold, wet conditions.

I continued at a steady pace until mile 12. At that point, we'd just left Swiss Ave, passed through lakewood shopping center, and were approaching the lake.  I began to feel a bit of a cramp.  uh oh.  It was early for that.  I made it to the 13.1 mark in 2:30.  I was running my planned race.  Then it happened.  apathy.  fatigue.  cramping.  general disinterest.  So, the 13.1 mile walk began.  It was cold and windy.  The conditions sucked.

My lack of training would keep me from running much over the last half.  I must have stopped to pee 5 times...at least I was hydrated.  Any time I tried to run a bit, my feet hurt, I felt some cramping, and I had blisters forming on my heels.

The crowd support sucked.  I suspect the weather had something to do with it, but, it still sucked.  Nothing like the energy in Chicago.

The best part of the day:  seeing the fam at mile 22 and again at the finish.  That truly brightened my day.

The roads towards the end were in terrible condition, and, I'd forgotten how much of this course sucks.  while some of the east dallas and highland park areas are neat, there is no shortage of crappy neighborhoods, etc.  course map here:

https://www.dallasmarathon.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/2015-Dallas-Marathon-Half-Marathon-Course-Map.pdf

Final time:  5:55:51.  Almost an hour slower than Chicago.

Glad to have this one done.  I doubt I'll be back.

tomorrow

12.12.15

well, tomorrow is the day.

It appears that the temps will be very similar to Chicago, although, winds will be slightly stronger and we may have some precipitation.

I'm still a little unsure about my plan.  I suspect I may try to maintain a 10:30 pace through the 1st half and see how I feel.  I'm not sure how my body will respond after the lack of training since Chicago.  My target pace for Chicago was 11 through the 1st half.

In order to run a 4:45, I'll need to average just under 11 min / mile for the race.

Nutritionally, I'll plan on a gel and endurolytes every hour, liquid at every aid station, and, a banana at about the 30k mark.

I'm hopeful that the familiar course, friends and family along the route, etc, will be enough to get me through tomorrow.  It has the potential to be ugly...

Race Week

12.6.15

In one week, I will toe the starting line at the Dallas Marathon.  Over the next 5 hours, I might die.

You see, when I prepped for the Chicago Marathon (detailed here: http://riderunrepeat.blogspot.com/2015/10/chicago-marathon-2015.html), I felt somewhat ready.  Although my training was not as thorough as I'd hoped, I felt pretty good about my fitness level.

Fast forward 9 weeks.  I've done NO training since Chicago.  None,  I've raced a bit, but, nothing during the week.  My last 2 races (10k and 5k) have been a mess, and, my nutrition has been terrible.

Additionally, Dallas will not be as forgiving a course as Chicago.  This could get ugly...

FW Jingle Bell Run 5k

12.5.15

Yuck.  That is all.