Grand Rapids Mud Run 5K

3.1 Race Miles - 32:33 - 10:30 Pace

The Grand Rapids Mud Run, what a riot. This race was far more difficult, and far more fun that I had expected. I was aware that we would be crawling through barrels and trudging through mud pits and over mud hills. But I was not prepared for the shoe eating mud bog, there must have been a hundred shoes that got left in there, I lost one of mine....but went back for it.....never leave a man behind :-). Then there was the 7 foot wall we had to climb and jump over, the crawling under the net that was about 5 inches above a muddy water pit.

All in all, a great time. Only part that I didn't like, and this was minor, was that at the walls, there was a big traffic jam, and it was tough to get a good time if you waited. Some were pushing through the crowd, other went around...but what's the fun in that.

I came away with a sprained ankle, and the skin on my knee was torn to shreds and bruised, but mark me down for this race next year...and others like it.

Grand Rapids Marathon - DNF

How disappointing, I am not sure exactly how to feel right now.  I put in a lot time and effort for this race, and to have an injury bring me down.  Felt good this morning, it was a little chilly, but I was pumped and ready.  Started faster than I should have, which may have contributed to my issues.  Started at about a 7:08 Pace, why, who knows.  I need 7:15's to qualify for Boston......Temporary insanity, not sure.  I was still feeling good though.  But at mile 11 I started to feel my hamstring getting tight, it has been giving my problems for a little while, but just a small pain.  So I started to pull back a little to see if it would go away, I think I was doing 7:15's once I slowed down.  It just kept getting worst and worst, and at mile 18, it just went, my leg stiffened up and I could not longer run.

I sat down in the grass and stretched and stretched, got back up, tried to run, no way.  I hobbled along for a while trying to run now and then, I just had no shot.  Found a med station, they had no way to get me out, so I had to walk 4 miles out (I was able to bypass a 2 mile out and back) to get back to the finish......and I never crossed the line.  

Not sure what I want to do from here, this was my first marathon, I did make a mistake of going out to fast, not sure if it contributed to ending my day, but it couldn't have helped.  I will learn from this, and I will be smarted next marathon.  Right now I am thinking that Boston may not be in the picture next year, I just need to finish a marathon right now, and not worry about qualifying.

So, a massage tomorrow, take a couple weeks off to let my body heal from all the training and the hard 18 miles I did run, and start back at it slowly.

Reeds Lake 10K

6.2 Miles - 41:42

The Reeds Lake 10K, another great race on this years tour. The weather was a bit questionable, it was very humid first thing in the morning. But other than that it was a beautiful day. And we had about 8 runners in our group, so that made it much more enjoyable this year.

I felt a bit stale in the morning, I thought it was from not running for 3 days. Once the race got going though, I felt much better. I went out a little fast which hurt me in the end, but with this new watch, I found myself checking my pace more often, instead of just running at a pace I felt good at. The hills on the course got to me, I think partially because I went out too fast, but maybe I haven't been hitting the hills hard enough either.

Bottom line, I shaved about 6 minutes off last years time, and exactly 3 minutes off my best 10K time earlier this year at Saugatuck. So I know the training is still working, I just have to stick with it. I ran under my goal of 42 minutes and 6:45 miles. All in all I was pretty happy with this race. Now it's off to the Cherry festival 15K in a few weeks.

Fifth Third Riverbank Run 25K

15.5 Miles - 1:55:12

What an amazing race. This is by far the best race I have done thus far. Tons of runners, I think 14,000 0verall, even more exuberant spectators, all over the course, pep squads, cheer leaders, people just parking and cheering you on. It was great. Plus I had a lot of good friends running in the various races throughout the day.

As for the run itself......it's long...not too hilly....but long. My goal was to make the 2 hours club, which I did by almost 5 minutes. I was planning on running around 7:40 miles, I ended up running 7:26 miles, which blew me away. Didn't think I was going to be that strong today. My first mile was around 8:15 and I wasn't feeling too good. Thought I was in big trouble. Once I got though mile 2 I was feeling better, still not on pace, but gaining. I caught up with Pam and Hank around mile 3, Hank was packing Pam and he had a sign he was caring during the whole run (which is amazing) that said something like the Pam 2 hour club or something. After 4 miles I just took of at a good pace and was weaving around people. It was a pretty nice course, packed with runners though, I was running on the sidewalks and in the dirt to get around people.

At the halfway point I still felt really good, and at that point I knew I was running below 7:30 miles, but I kept at that pace with how I was feeling. Then the hills came, they weren't big, but after 8 miles, any hill is big. They slowed me down a bit, but I was always able to get back to pace after I made it to the top. It was at about mile 14 that I started to struggle a little, but when I made the last turn for the home stretch, and all those people were cheering, thousands of them, it was a great feeling. I was also able to out kick everyone I was running around at the end, which has not been the case in the past. All this turned into the best race of my life so far, but I feel like things will just keep getting better.

1st Race of the Year - Irish Jig 5K

3.15 Miles - 22:00

I felt better this morning so I decided to give the race a try. The Spectrum Health Irish Jig. It was chilly, 30 degrees I think. I didn't bring a hat or gloves thinking that I would stay warm running, nevermind the hour I had to wait for the race to start.......guess I forgot about that. Again, I felt so good at the start of this race, I decided to just take off and break all kinds of records......Mile 1, about a 7 Minute pace. So mile 2 was tough, Between that fast start and the flu, I didn't have a lot left. Mile two had a small hill in it, and I normally do well on hills, well, this on was tough on me today. So mile three I was wondering if I was going to finish.....

But I think in the end I was just phsycing myself of, being my first race and all. I finished with my best 5K time ever, 22 minutes flat which is a 7:05 minute mile average. So all in all, I would have to say a good start to the season.

Reeds Lake 10K

The Reeds Lake 10K, my first race of the year, and my first 10k. My goal was to run it under 50 minutes so I did accomplish that, I ran a 47:12. The weather was great, I even ran past Little Phil's band playing on the side of the road. I did wake up Sunday morning with a strange ache right around my right kidney, not sure what that is all about. I also got passed on the last third of a mile by a guys about twice my age.......