2014 El Paso Marathon Race Report

Race Date: 23 February 2014

I had registered to turn this race back in 2013, but lack of training and a nagging IT band injury after the January Harbison 50k led me to skip that race. I would not do another race that year. This time around – things worked out. I had not thought about this race until I was making plans to go to Juarez for work. I checked to see the race date and it worked out perfectly. I could fly Saturday, race Sunday, and work in Juarez Monday and Tuesday. My training was only slightly better for this than the Harbison race 7 weeks earlier. Instead of one double-digit training run (10 miles), I had two! I had a 10 miler, and then a steady 15 miler 2 weeks before the race.  That was encouraging. Of course the week after my longer run, I had a cold and it snowed enough for it to be too slippery to run. My expected plan was to run as far as I could, then walk it in. I was only in it to finish and didn’t care about a time.

Race morning began with a short walk from the hotel to the expo center area/finish line where we boarded buses for the ride up the mountain. We began on top of Franklin Mountain (Transmountain Rd) and the 1^st 4 miles were downhill. It was brisk and breezy up top, but most people stayed on the buses as long as they could. Once the sun came up, it was just fine out.

We started right at 7am and got into our paces. The real downhills began about mile 2, but by then I could already tell I was working harder than I should have been. The views were nice, the road was wide, but cambered. I skipped the aid stations as I had my water bottle. Once we wound down the mountain and came into town, we still had a few hills before it flattened out completely.

1^st eight splits:

 1-9:27 2-9:28  3-8:40  4-8:27  5-8:05. Yeah – that last one was fast.

6-8:28  7-10:35 (uphill/water stop) 8-8:44

At this point, we were running thru the edges of El Paso past shops and stores. It was about to become flat. I was laboring already, the sun was overhead as it had been since we came off the mountain and there was no shade whatsoever.

Miles 11-17 were on the same road…mostly straight, with nothing but sand to the left, and alternating walls and (abandoned?) houses for much of it. I started taking walk breaks about mile 12 or 13 and had little enthusiasm or desire to run much at all after that.

Splits:

9- 9:31  10-9:35  11-9:58  12-10:14  13-10:53. I hit the halfway in 2:12:49 (and already my slowest ever).  14-11:56  15-11:04  16-11:23  17-11:47

So 9 more miles and I was at 2:47. We were just heading into Ft. Bliss for a bit and I was getting to the point where I was about to start walking the rest of the way. Mile 20 was the best mile – right beside the parade grounds and the officers quarters. As I grew up a military brat – I appreciated this area. Also – it was the most “green” area on the course! One wonderful volunteer (could have been a resident for all I know) was giving out frozen Gatorade slushies. I had low energy at this point and was hungry. I missed the aid station fare that ultras provide – and I missed the bananas at the previous aid station. There were a few hills, up and down thru here, and I was only walking by mile 22. The glazed donut gave me a little spike of energy just before then.

Splits:

18-14:31  19-12:31  20-11:37  21-13:29  22-13:00  23-14:10  24-14:12  25-14:25

It was good I walk as fast as I do as I knew going thru the base that I would end up with a sunburn. I had a couple to walk with for a little bit as we hit the downtown area. Nothing too exciting in terms of buildings, but we knew we were getting closer.

I was finally getting to familiar grounds near the hotel/expo center and I knew the finishing chute was around one more corner…so I started a jog. As soon as I crossed the first mat, I walked. I guess the photographer was taking pictures as you crossed the three mats (so the pictures look a bit odd as I went thru the chute).

Last 1.2 miles: 16:30.

Finish time: 4:51:37

Almost exactly an hour slower than my fastest time and 40 minutes slower than my typical time. But as I said – I was only in this to finish – and I did.

I was sore for a few days and walking up/down stairs was difficult, but I recovered and got right back to training. That's one other good thing from walking so much of the course.
PHOTOS:

I ran.

So I woke up early and decided I wanted to run, try to do 3 miles and at least hit 15 for the week. Was feeling so much better than yesterday, not even close to 100% though. Felt good after 3, so decided I'd do 8 and hit 20 for the week. I did it. Got done early (pool was Still full of kids). Of course I've spent the rest of the day on my butt resting, drinking fluids and trying to do nothing. I've accomplished that! Plans for next week are two more treadmill runs before flying home. If I can muster myself into doing some yoga in my hotel room - I'll throw that in there on an off day. If I don't feel up for my next long run - I am planning on next weekend to be 14 instead of the 6 scheduled - I may strongly consider not doing the May marathon I want to. I'm still not convinced I could get a work trip out there - things keep changing at work. I'm 13 weeks out and I've only done over 10 once (did 12.6 four weeks ago). Now that I look - at this point for NYC, I had only been doing one a month of 12-15 miles for the preceding 4 months and only slightly more weekly mileage. I guess I'm doing ok then. Oh remembered something else, but I think I'll put that in my Next post (it'll be about other sports!)

Travel, 20 miler?

So I had to travel last week, got in a 3 miler recovery run after the half before I left, did 3 on a treadmill while in Juarez, MX, then a nice 8 miler in the Nice cooler morning back here Friday. Today was my long slow run (after going to Atlanta Saturday!), scheduled for ~20 miles. After the first 18 I did weeks back - I was not feeling that great afterwards, so I was really going to be happy with hitting around 18 this morning. I was also able to sleep in a little due to the cooler temps, so up at 6:20 to start out at 6:45 worked nicely. Got my 2 chocolate (I was out of Vanilla) Gu's, water, fruit punch gatorade and set off on my ~0.9 mile loop. (It's probably closer to 0.85, but I go with 0.9!). Side note - the NYC marathon provides Power Bar Gu's, so I picked some up this afternoon to test next weekend. Also - lemon-lime gatorade, which I still need to pick up. I've only really done water during a run, except for those few occasions where that is the only option!
Anyway - ran a Very consistent 8 minute/lap pace. 40:00 thru 5 laps, 79:51 thru 8, 119:43 thru 12, 159:51 thru 16, 239:58 thru 20, 255:57 thru 22. 13 laps between 7:55-8:04. Walked one extra lap to cool down - so total time out was 3:09:58 for 21.7 miles. Felt great too...and very happy to have done it. NYC is 6 weeks away, so if I can maintain this - I'll be ok!

Work) Travel and Exercise (Mexico, Philly & Spokane)

Since I am traveling for work quite a bit over the next 3-4 weeks, I thought I'd ramble about exercising while I am gone, out of my routine. The first part of planning is making sure I am in a hotel that, at a minimum, can keep me occupied with a treadmill and/or stationary bike. Ones near trails or parks are even better. A last resort is having a road outside that is "safe" to run by. Sadly - sometimes you have No choice. My 1st trip - to Juarez Mexico - I will be in a hotel. Just being in Mexico makes it much more difficult to get outside and do anything, no car, poorly maintained roads, dirt/dust and a few crazy drivers. So I am relegated to stay indoors. Instead of my daily runs outside - I will hit the treadmill a few days. This of course has to be arranged so I can still "be a team player" and do dinner with the hosts and my other travel companions. (I don't always do this, but try to be social every so often). I'll alternate days with the stationary bike. Both of these means either early mornings or late evenings (after my food settles). Anyway.

My 2nd trip this month is to just outside Philadelphia. I've been there enough to know what websites to look at for upcoming races, etc in the area. I've also found a great State Park (Tyler State Park) with excellent trails and even a covered bridge. It is frequented by area cross country teams too - so there is plenty to keep you company. Also - plenty of deer! Doubt I'll make it up there this trip as I am only there 2 nights, the first of which is when I arrive).

The last of my planned work trips is to Spokane, WA. The Centennial Trail runs right behind the hotel I stay at. Enough to satisfy any distance run. Good for running in the snow or sun. When the snow is gone - there are bikes to borrow to ride also. Didn't quite make it to Idaho (2 miles short), but considering I hadn't been on a bike in quite a while and I still had to go back, I'd save it for another trip. I'd suggest Riverside State Park to go a little further off track. I know there are Plenty of other trails in WA, ID and MT, but I've only made 3 trips out there so far. Sadly - will miss the annual Bloomsday Run in May. Look it up - reminds me of the Cooper River Bridge Run, but More popular. 12k distance I think, so if I do it - I can have a new PR. Maybe in 2009!

Well - I'll make the best of it, and will have most of the weekends upcoming back here for my long slow runs. One long run in Spokane, but I at least know the trail there.
Until I get back...