I mostly train alone. That's not entirely true - I mostly train without human company. The only time I run with others tends to be my long runs or races. Occasionally there are others at track, but my easy runs are accompanied mostly by my dog, Sammy, which means for most runs, I don't get the chance to have conversations.
This morning, I ran from Laura's place in DuPont with the intent of running a loop around Haines Point which would have given me a solid ten miler. Within the first mile, a guy passed me on the left, but I kept pace, and we started a conversation. His name was David and he was visiting from Sacramento. He brought his camera with him as he had never been to DC before and was in town on business. When I traveled to London, I did the same thing and try to remember to do it in new cities. I even keep a list of cities I've run.
I changed my route to join David, which meant ditching Haines Point for the Mall. As we went by various memorials and monuments (Lincoln, Vietnam, Washington, American History, Natural History, Capitol, Air and Space, Smithsonian Castle, FDR, MLK, Korean, Watergate), I'd point them out and he stopped to take pictures. I ran with him up Rock Creek Park to the base of Calvert Hill and back to Laura's which gave me my ten. We went faster than the 7:30 I hoped for, but a 7:14 pace won't kill my half marathon on Sunday.
He was a friendly guy. 37, married, 5 boys, and works for the utility company there. He went to BYU and talked about how nice it was that Romney's Mormon faith wasn't really an issue. We spoke about religion and politics too - a couple of my favorite subjects - and parted at the base of the Calvert hill. It's not often I get to run with someone - so thank you David for the company and best of luck!
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Marshall University Marathon Race Report
While the NYC Marathon was canceled due to the hurricane, I did run in the Marshall University Marathon in Huntington, WV. With a fan club of Laura and Sammy, we had a good drive there and back. I bought an iPhone car adapter so we could keep our phones charged and listen to our iTunes rather than have to listen to 420 miles of country music. Also, I was asked by a friend to use a new photo and video site, mobli, to blog our trip. I've posted videos and pictures before, during, and after the race at:
I finished the race in 3:18:28. It was not my best and not my worst. The hotel room I stayed in was a smoking room - in the morning I reeked of smoke and my lungs likely were not operating at full capacity. I knew early on holding my 6:45 pace wasn't going to work, so I backed off until I found a decent pace. The half was run in 1:32. As the race wore on, I backed off some more and since I knew I didn't need a BQ and wasn't getting a PR, I just enjoyed the run. Plus, I have some other races on the calendar (5K on Thanksgiving, 10K first Sunday in December, and a half marathon the following week), so I didn't think killing myself was worth it. But, I'm pleased I am in good enough shape to consider 3:18 a "slow" marathon. The day after the race I feel a little sore, but I could run if my life depended upon it - that wasn't the case after my 3:04 last month.
I'm glad we ran this neat marathon. I can check off West Virginia and look toward 2013 and more states, races, and marathons.
http://www.mobli.com/kennyames
The race went well. I finished in 3:18 - the cool part about it was the final few meters as the finish line is inside Marshall University Stadium on the goal line - they give you a football to carry to the end. I was exhausted so I'm not sure I spiked the ball as much as it spiked me. The course was two loops around downtown Huntington with some running along a path and by a river. The volunteers were friendly, and it was cool to add my 13th state (CA, ID, UT, MN, OH, GA, VA, MD, PA, NY, RI, MA, and now WV) to my 50 state quest and finish my 21st marathon (my marathons are now old enough to drink!).
A Subway in West Virginia labelled our lunches for us.
Ready to race!
Laura and Sammy spot me crossing the 13.1 mile marker.
The final sprint to the finish. I've got the ball in my right hand.
Laura and Sammy pose at a scenic rest stop on the drive home.
I finished the race in 3:18:28. It was not my best and not my worst. The hotel room I stayed in was a smoking room - in the morning I reeked of smoke and my lungs likely were not operating at full capacity. I knew early on holding my 6:45 pace wasn't going to work, so I backed off until I found a decent pace. The half was run in 1:32. As the race wore on, I backed off some more and since I knew I didn't need a BQ and wasn't getting a PR, I just enjoyed the run. Plus, I have some other races on the calendar (5K on Thanksgiving, 10K first Sunday in December, and a half marathon the following week), so I didn't think killing myself was worth it. But, I'm pleased I am in good enough shape to consider 3:18 a "slow" marathon. The day after the race I feel a little sore, but I could run if my life depended upon it - that wasn't the case after my 3:04 last month.
I'm glad we ran this neat marathon. I can check off West Virginia and look toward 2013 and more states, races, and marathons.
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