And I don't feel in PB shape. And I am lazy. And prefer not to be uncomfortable.
Monday, December 23, 2024
Toda 10k 2024 - Joy of running above "threshold"
Sunday, December 22, 2024
Lake Whatcom Triathlon - July 2024
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
LG Championship 10k
We schedule two races on consecutive weekends in Thailand as excuse for budget holiday. The 2nd race turns out to be much bigger than the small neighborhood park run we anticipated. 4,000 runners materialize at 4am for a 10k and 5k race around the historic center of Bangkok.
Fortunately we are staying right across the street at this amusingly antiquated hotel
Unfortunately the huge race means that my late entry and seeding in the B block puts me behind 1,300 runners in a narrow starting chute -- a disadvantage I only realize 10 minutes before the race starts. I exercise my “white privilege” (really “old, foreigner who recently clocked a 38 10k privilege”), and I cut under a barrier to move at least up into the middle of the A block runners.
Still it takes me a full 23 seconds to shuffle forward to the starting line chip mat, and 4:48 to first 1k mark.
This slow start actually seems to work out well though. I feel so much better than the previous week at Laguna as I move past other runners along the dark streets, even enjoying the spectacular Grand Palace as we pass by. Maybe I am enjoying the sights too much? I have a fair bit of kick at the end, enough to pass one ancient guy, but not enough to pass a grey-haired geezer 9 seconds ahead of me.
15 minutes later the results are posted showing me as the winner ->
Technically the gun time should determine the winner right? Races should strive to be direct, real-time battle between competitors – it is just more fun that way, any child knows this. And, scrutinizing the chip vs. gun results, I have to acknowledge that the 3rd place finisher (lacking foreigner privilege) had to fight his way past many more runners during the early part of the race. .
But I have no qualms accepting the first place trophy and the small cash prize money. Hey, I am not as acclimated to the 33-degree conditions as these guys who have been training in record 40-plus degree conditions in Southeast Asia this past spring, right?
The other old age group winners are so friendly and keen to chat and to celebrate. Especially the guy you see dressed up as Puma
I finish 128th out of 3,735 participants.
Tuesday, July 09, 2024
Laguna Phuket 10k
I return to Laguna Phuket, site of triathlon triumph and misadventure numerous years ago.
It is distressing to see that the roads around the sprawling resort, which were quiet and bike-able 10 years ago are now clogged with cars. Phuket is, of course, ground zero for the explosion of global tourism - what is surprising on this trip is the number of Russian speaking visitors. I seem to be the only non-Russian at the SkyPark condominium. The rooftop pool and terrace is packed with young Russian speaking families with the father constantly hunched over a laptop computer. I am very curious to learn the background story of these families, but it seems terribly inappropriate and intrusive to approach them.
The field for the 10k event is more internationally diverse, with a majority local Thai runners.
A gauge at the starting line read 29 degrees. It seems hotter. And the sun has not even risen.
I run first kilometer in 4:08, which is slower than my tempo / threshold training pace. Even this feels too fast for me. According to my heart rate I am already starting to struggle.
At around 9k my stomach cramps up sharply
and I slow to a jog. Fortunately the race is almost over, and I manage to struggle to finish line. Unlike the Laguna Triathlon in 2013 I don't throw up on the medical
tent.
In fact I feel OK, at least after confirming that I managed to hold on and capture first place in age group (out of 56 participants), and finish 25th of 854 overall.
My time of 44 minutes seems quite slow for the effort, even taking into account the heat. But you can see I am all smiles on the podium - in contrast to the Swedish guy who faded to a time of 48 minutes ->
Thursday, June 06, 2024
Spartan Obstacle Race 2024
My gerontologist is more of a marathon runner and seems concerned about the accident risks of a Spartan Race - when I suggest that more elderly people should sign up for Spartan events as a big motivator for maintaining an optimal exercise regime, reply is - "the Spartan race sounds like a recipe for injury"
Monday, June 03, 2024
5k - Hopelessly lost death spiral
The last couple years, I have become obsessed with my struggle with the 5k pace groups instituted at our monthly time trials — I repeatedly try to stay with aspirational pace group and then, when I (almost inevitably) lose contact with the group, I go into a "death spiral"
2) select proper pace group
- I get hopelessly lost on my warmup run to the venue and end up doing 8k of warmup - It was bad enough that I was so confident about knowing route and made a wrong turn, but then I double down and foolishly press on, ending up farther away than when I started.
- Running in the proper pace group is no longer available due to my late arrival. I join the 18;20 pace group at the back of the subsequent faster wave, instead of the 18:45 pace group in middle of the earlier wave I had signed up for.
- Upon losing contact with the 18:20 pace group and teammate Hannah at the 2k mark I go into a death spiral. I really try to maintain a positive mindset, but all alone now I fall farther and farther behind entire field and grow more discouraged and distracted*
Thursday, May 30, 2024
Togane half-marathon 2024
Sunday, February 18, 2024
Kanagawa 10k – Among best run races in my life
So I had finally reached acceptance with the reality of aging and that I am not as fast as 5 years ago. See post from Toda run in November where under ideal conditions I manage 39:30.
After blowing up on numerous 5k time trials and ParkRun trying to break 19 minutes, I had reconciled myself to running team 5k time trials with the 20-minute pace group.
Thus I had limited expectations at the February 4th Kanagawa 10k when the race starts. Freezing rain and struggle to even tie my shoes at the starting line further diminish my optimism.
Moreover my initial split – 4 minutes at 1k, 8 minutes at 2k cause me to despair about embarrassing myself. So I tell myself – “you are out here anyway, let's try to make this a decent tempo workout”.
The event is an out-and back on an elevated highway and I only feel stronger on return half speeding up to 3:45 on what would normally be toughest and slowest part of race. I hit 9k in just over 34:30.
Strangely I tie up on some twists at end and instead of my usual final kick, my last kilometer is back to 4 minutes. I am momentarily disappointed with final split, but then the realization of running 38:35 at my age sinks in. In almost all my races over the years I have felt a bit dissatisfied with time -- but not on this day.
I even improve on my recent 5k marks -shattering 19 minutes during the middle portion of 10k.
I win
I win by over a minute*
I look up my age adjusted time as I am waiting at award ceremony. It is fast - too generous of adjustment to even mention to others -- or here.
*All splits are slightly rounded - GPS not working under highway overpass and gloves too wet to hit split button on watch
* No more "humble bragging" I will just blatantly boast
Tuesday, January 02, 2024
Chiang Mai Half-Marathon 2023
old ChiangRai airport runway where throngs of local families gather to exercise at sunset --
The ChiangMai Half Marathon caps a positive comeback year for me in 2023. Back in January/February injuries prevented me from running at all and had me wondering again (like in 1983, etc) about having any future in the sport. In the spring I was grateful to be running again, and then by summer to be feeling stronger and enjoying interval sessions with teammates. At this point my thoughts turned to taking advantage of moving up in age group and frustration with lack of opportunity and race success. My 3 events at end of year (X-C, Toda, and ChiangMai) are particularly satisfying in this year-long context.