As some of you may know, I am training for the Jacksonville Marathon (December 11th), so as a training run/race, I ran the Hilton Head Half Marathon last weekend (November 6th). This was my first actual road race since the Lynn Sutter Memorial 5K in Bethel Park in 1994.
Since moving to Hilton Head, I have had trouble finding people to train with. However; in the last 6-8 months, a group of “like minded runners” has formed and we get together twice a week. Sunday mornings, long runs (15-24 miles) and Wednesday mornings, track work (6-8×800 or 3×1600 ect.).
I have Al Olivetti to thank for putting these groups together.
Our group consists of mainly 4 guys, with 5 or 6 more who make “appearances”. Myself, a 57 year old has been, Mike Withrow, a 37 year old sub 3:00 marathoner and former triathlete, Ron Maver a 45 year old ultra marathoner with six buckles to his name, and Alex Campbell, 27 years old, former college baseball player.
We started training with a purpose sometime around the beginning of June. Mike was running the Chicago Marathon (October 9th), Ron had two ultras on his docket (September 30th and October 29th), Alex and I are preparing for Jacksonville. It was great to get back on the track, June 23rd, (3×1600 with 3 minutes rest, 5:59, 6:04, 6:08) and every week except a Wednesday in early September when my right foot decided that it would be a day off that day, and the next two days. Our Sundays would alternate between long, slow distance and a long (12-15 mile) tempo run within the 20 miles.
In mid to late September, Mike was finishing a mesocycle, getting ready to taper for Chicago. Alex and I did the workouts that Mike was doing to get him ready, the problem with this was that we were also ready for a marathon in three weeks instead of two and a half months. I backed off intensity and distance for a few weeks so our “peaking” would be delayed.
During October, my Hilton Head Prep cross country guys were getting ready for the Region and State meets, so I devoted my time and focus towards the team. I guess it worked, they finished 2nd in the state (SCISA AAA)!
After the season (Wednesday, November 2nd), I hammered a track work out. We did a 3 mile warm up, 3×2400 with 3 minutes rest (8:53, 8:49 and 8:51) with an 8.5 mile cool down run. After stretching, walking back to the car, my right foot gave out. Went home, immediately, two 15 minute ice baths (foot only), 800 ibuprofens, and DMSO/ibuprofen paste overnight. No running for three days. Ice baths, DMSO and ibuprofen. I decided that I would warm up Sunday morning (race day) and see how it felt. I did an ankle wrap with self adhesive tape to strengthen the ankle joint and tendon. Two miles into the warm up, I had to stop to remove the tape. I finished the warm up, changed into my singlet and racing flats (old guy termanology) and decided to give it a shot.
The gun went off and Alex, Mike and I ran the first mile a little too quick. The plan was 6:40 miles for the entire 13.1, we ran the first mile in 6:18. Shit! After that, we settled in to a consistent 6:32-6:41 pace. Mike dropped back about 6 miles in, it was amazing that he could run that 4 weeks after his marathon. At between 9 and 10 miles, Alex took off and I couldn’t go with him. I still was maintaining the pre race planned pace though. I finished in 1:26:23, which was 4th overall.
Post race, there was a beer truck…enough said.
N of 1 Running 