Birthday Run

 Saturday, Jan. 22nd... I went on my birthday run.  This year I was turning 48...so that meant 48 miles.  (I wish I was 20 again...not really).

My start was Lafortune Park at 8:45am.  I had planned on starting around 6am..but it was cold this morning.  Since I was going to be out all day... I thought a later start with sun shining might be better choice.  Temp was still in mid-20s...which was good.  High was to hit mid 40s by afternoon.  I decided to run in my bikilas.  My longest run with the bikilas had been around 15 miles.  Today, I was living on the edge.. since I will not be able to switch to my regular shoes til I get back to my start point.

I had to abandon my original route due to snow and icy conditions, which was going from Catoosa HS (finish of Mother Road 100, part III to Carl's jr (west tulsa) finish of Mother Road 100, part I) and back, plus 8 miles.  So now, my plan was to just wander the streets of Tulsa, with some running on Route 66.

mile 4

Running in five fingers on ice is somewhat slippery since there is practically nothing on the bottom.  There were times when I had to run on grass so that I didn't slip and fall.



Riverside Trail, mile 8

Riverside trail was in good shape.. no ice, but few wet spots.  The wet spots did play some havoc...my toes got wet..and at times they were feeling numb.  I did have an extra pair of socks if they were to really get soaking wet.

Finally getting on Route 66 at 11th and Peoria, I headed west from there. I continue west all the way to Carl's jr in west Tulsa near Turnpike entrance.  This was the finish line for Mother Road 100, part I.



mile 15, 11th and Riverside





mile 12, getting on Route 66 (11th St)





mile 19.. Ollie's Restaurant



mile 21...Carl's Jr (west Tulsa)

I was getting hungry..so I went across to McDonald's to eat.  I thought about trying Carl's jr.  But I knew McD kid's meal works for me on long run.  Coming back on Southwest Blvd, my legs were beginning to feel it.  I was slowing down somewhat...doing more walking now.  I was at marathon distance.



mile 25... southwest blvd



Will Rodgers sign



As I came back across 11th St. bridge, I made a detour into downtown Tulsa and follow Route 66 marathon course.  I got back on 11th St and made it to 11th and Peoria and back to Veteran's Park.  I was at 30 miles.  My legs were really feeling it now.  And my foot were beginning to ache now..after going 38 miles in my bikilas.



mile 30...Veteran's Park

I started back on Riverside trail.  It was getting late in the afternoon.  I had about 10 miles back to Lafortune, and it will be getting cold again.  The next 10 miles was going to be tough.  I was getting hungry, and getting cramps in my left leg.  I would walk to relieve the pain, then start jogging again.

I made it back to Lafortune at sunset.  Mileage is at 38.5  I thought I have to make it to mile 40.  I took off my five fingers and put on my regular shoes, drank some pedialyte (works wonders for me) and downed some smoothies.  I was off and did the 1.5 miles to make it to mile 40.  The sun was gone...I was getting cold, and my son called and said he wanted pizza... I thought that sounds great... I can finish the 8 miles tomorrow.

Sunday morning... it was hard getting out...it was colder than yesterday.  I took it slow at start...then finally got into a groove.  I was able to manage 11 min. miles on this 8 mile stretch.  That completed my 48 miles.  It's a good thing I didn't opt for the 48 hr b-day run.  Happy Trails!!

night run

route



stats

After about week and half of the cruds, I'm finally out for a short night run.  It was a tad bit nippy out...actually great for running.  Temp was probably in low 40s.

I felt great from start to finish.  I ran 8 miles, with average pace of 9:07 per mile.  It was great to be out again.  I just love night running.

Elevation chart looks like some where in Colorado mtns. Wish it was, but it's just scaled weird.  I did hit a few inclines though...but nothing like a steep mtn.

T-TOTs



photo TATUR

Sunday morning, 7:30, TATUR Training On Trails (T-TOTs) started group training runs at Turkey mtn.  Some 75 people showed up to test their abilities on dirt trails.  As for me, I was glad to be running some dirt again.

The morning started with a chill in the air..enough for light jacket and gloves.  But as the run progressed, it got warm.  There were about 3 or 4 groups divided, based on 5K times, or more like fast, medium, slow, and walking pace.

T-TOTS training group

After varying distances of 3 to 6 miles, the training groups were treated to pancake breakfast back at the start.  Flap-jacks were flapped by none other than the Head Tatur himself...aka Brian.


Head TATUR

While everyone was eating pancakes, I went on to cover some more distance on the snake trail.  I just couldn't stop at 6.  At the end, I finished with about 9 miles.  It felt great to be back in the woods again.


nice hill training

 

cruising flat section



nice climb

Happy Trails!!!

Route 66 Marathon



mile 16.25



nice bling


Nov. 21st was the Route 66 Marathon in Tulsa, OK.  My duty for the day was pacing people who wanted to finish in 5 hours, or basically be a guide along the course as to where a person should be if they wanted to finish in 5 hours.  To keep an even split (11:27 per mile) is pretty hard.

Today, the challenge was gonna be more with a strong south wind, and warm temps.  As the day progress, people were having issues from cramps to dehydrations.  Running in these conditions does take a toll on a person if not trained properly.  Drink, drink, drink...was the call from the beginning.

At mile 12-ish, people were given the option of taking a detour to the center of the universe...an extra .3 mile added to 26.2...thus making the total distance of 26.5 miles.  By this point, my group had fallen apart, and I opted for the extra .3 and went to the center of the universe.  Just had to make it an ultra :)  But as a 5 hour pacer, I had to make up time for the detour.  We made it up in the second half of the marathon.


Center of Universe medal

From mile 16 to the turnaround at mile 21, we had a strong headwind.  I was on pace at this point.  Coming back with the tail wind, I finished almost 9 minutes ahead of schedule.  I even tried to slow down, or walked at times.  I finished with 4:51:46.  It was a good run for me...totally relaxed run.  For others, I'm sure it wasn't one of their best times.

I'm ready for some dirt trails now.  Happy Trails!

Mother Road 100, part 3



start line



The last 100 miler of Mother Road series is done!  And it was a great race...from the race organizers to all the aid stations to the finish line.  Thanks to Thomas Hill and Bret Sholar for scheming these Mother Road 100 milers.  The 2006 MR100 was my first 100 miler, and been hooked ever since.



me and my brother



The start was Baxter Springs, KS.  The morning was very cool.  The rain had all but moved out.  There was slight northwesterly breeze..just enough to donn some light jackets.  My plan was to start out very slow the first half, and pick up time in the second 50.  My goal time was 20 hours or less.









mile 10





Mile 18, Miami

From start to Miami, OK is 18 miles, my pace hit 9 min./mile.  I was feeling very good.  But I was going too fast.  I knew I had to back down some if I was to maintain pace at halfway.  My fluid intake was good...everything was working great.  My crew was on schedule with what I needed.  One thing they always say is NEVER try anything new on race day...wellll...I broke that rule.  About a month back, when I was doing Heartland...I had bad stomach issues that forced me to drop at 67 mile...I think I took in way too much sodium.  This time...I was not going to take any salt sticks or endurolytes.  I was going with pedialyte..you know...lil kids drink.  And it worked!  (I learned the hard way at Badwater).

Coming into mile 26 (Narcissa), I slowed it down some...doing about 10:15 pace now..time is now 4 hours.  Good time...but still pushing abit than I wanted too.




Afton, mile 34.5

 

Afton weigh-in, mile 34.5

On some sections before Afton, we got on the old R66 road with gravel.  I was wearing a very lightweight shoe (7oz).  Racing flats just don't work well on gravel road.  Actually, it hurts.  I came into Afton (mile 35ish) about 5 hrs 45 min.  This would be the first weigh-in.  My weigh-in the day before was 180...mostly from water and carbo-loading.  My normal weight is 173.  My weigh-in at Afton showed 172.  I got a caution.  I told them what my norm was...and that suffice.  I took in some soup, and off I went again.  Up to this point, I hadn't sat down to rest.  My legs were feeling good.  Everything was going smooth.  But one thing started to bother me abit....almost 6 hours..and I haven't pee'd.  I was taking in fluids..water, pedialyte, perpetuem, ginger ale, but just not getting the urge to go.  I told my crew that I may need to take in more fluids and see what happens.

mile 40, drinking and drinking

For 10 miles, I slowed down more (12:15/mile)...so that I could drink more fluids and see if I could go pee.  7 hrs. 45 min., I was at mile 45...and still no bathroom break.  I was really concerned now.  I was hydrating enough, and sweating just fine.  I was feeling fine.

mile 45



mile 47, climbing small hill



At mile 48, nature finally called.  It was a relief to know the body is still functioning like it's suppose to.  From there, it got back to normal.  I had never gone 8 hrs without a bathroom break.

I came into Vinita aid station (mile 49.2) for another weigh-in.  This time it showed 171.  Again, I was told "you're borderline".  Again, I told them what my norm was.  It was all good.  I told my crew to stop at McDonald's and grab me a burger...I was really getting hungry.   I wanted some fries too..but I wasn't taking that chance.  I told the crew to meet me at 50 mile mark where we had to cross a timing mat.  I crossed the mat at 8 hrs. 51 min.  It was my fastest 50 miler.  I can't even come close to this when I do only a 50 miler.  That's one reason I'm not crazy about 50 milers...I'm never happy with my time.



mile 50, plain hamburger and drink



After a short break eating my hamburger and drinking a coke, I changed into my night clothes, and put on my headlight.  It was getting colder by the minute...temp was in low 30s.  Slowly, I got back into a shuffle, then running again.  I was getting ready for a good second 50 miler.  Under 20 hour mark was looking good.  Nighttime running is usually my best running.  And on this course, daytime was abit of a downer..because there were miles of long, flat stretches that seemed to go on forever.  I was looking forward to nighttime when I can pickup pace.  And the cold temps is my most efficient running.



mile 60, leg issues

Somewhere coming out of Vinita, I may have stepped wrong with my left leg, or something.  Between mile 55 and 60, my left quad just started to hurt really bad.  Every step was getting painfully.  I informed my crew that I needed something to wrap my leg with to keep it as stable as possible.  I left my ace bandage at home...dang it!  I had to wrap it with some pre-wrap spongey and tape it.  It seemed to work.



Coming into Chelsea (mile 67), I had lost alot of time.  My pace was about 20 min/mile for last 7 miles.  I took a short break at the aid station...ate some chicken noodles, pig in blanket, fruit cocktails...I was hungry.  I also took some tylenol.  My leg was still hurting.  I slowly got back on the road again.  68 miles in about 12 hours... I was still looking at a 20 hour finish.  I was still upbeat.

I passed Bushyhead aid station (mile 74.5) in 13 hrs. 15 min.  I was into a slow run again.  My pace was now around 16.5 min./mile...not what I had hoped for...but I was moving.



TATUR A.S. (mile 77)



I reached Foyil/TATUR aid station (mile 77) just under 14 hrs.  My energy level was going down.  I sat down for about 10 min., ate a sandwich, some soup, and headed out into the night again.  I had about 6 hrs to cover 23 miles to make 20 hour finish.  On a normal day, it's no biggy.  But this time, I was having doubts.  However, I was now just focused on finishing.  The 20 hour mark was out the door...just finish.



night time running

I hitted Claremore (mile 87) in 18 hrs.  I was still running slow, and throwing in some walking.  My pace was now around 14 min/mile.  I was beginning to think..I might still make 20 hours.  But I was really getting hungry.  I down some smoothies, ate a small turkey sandwich, and off into the night again.

For the next 2 or 3 miles, I was just walking...I couldn't get into a running mode.  Verdigris aid station (mile 93) was next.  I got there in 19 hrs. 15 min.  I had 7 miles left.  Could I make 20 hr mark in 45 minutes?  The answer was no..but I could still hit 21 hours.  I was completely exhausted, but I kept running slow and walking briskly at times.

At mile 97, I looked east and saw the break of dawn.  Now I was thinking..I have got to beat the sunrise.  With 1 mile to go, I told my crew to go head to finish line.  I was giving all I have.  I came into the track, circled the track one time, and into the finish line.  I crossed the line in 21 hrs. 38 minutes. 18 sec.,  and I beat the sunrise.

3 for 3 on the Mother Road!  what a blast!

My crew was every bit golden.  They were fantastic!



mile 23, drinking on gravel road



 

me and the crew



Finish!

Thanks to all race organizers, volunteers, and congratulations to all runners!



the bling!



The final week of preparation.  Taper week.  Next saturday is the last of the Mother Road 100 miler series.  or that's what they say.

Let's hope for some cool weather running...and chilly night.

"Get Your Kicks On Route 66"

Mock Marathon run

Last long training run for Route 66 marathon this weekend.  The run will on the marathon course, up to 22 miles of it.  It should be a great day to cover 20-22 miles, at a nice leisurely pace...11ish min/mile.  As for some of us Mother Roadsters 100, the taper will be all of next week.  Rest..Rest..Rest...then party hardy.