May 7, 2023
Flying Pig Half Marathon
And so I found myself doing another race because someone else was doing it. Last year at Thanksgiving my uncle asked if, at 75, I thought he could do a half marathon. Obviously, my answer was, YES! Suddenly the whole family blocked the weekend on the calendar and chose their level of participation. The Flying Pig Marathon weekend in Cincincinni is one of the best marathon weekends in the country. If you haven’t been there, put it on your list.
Going into the race weekend, I wanted to run a PR at the half distance but was not feeling much confidence. I had been feeling an odd pain and tightness in my hips and had shortened every long run for weeks. I was also feeling no pressure. The weekend was born out of the curiosity of my uncle so I was more excited about and focused on that. I think here lies a big key to athletic success.
The weather reports looked ominous and I wasn’t entirely sure if the race would even start or go on as planned. We drove to the start, and I was less than optimistic, which kept all race nerves at bay. I didn’t think we were going to run.
I had no time to think as I ran through crowds following Claire to the front of the A group. Turns out we were going to run. They are gritty in the city where pigs fly. Before I knew it there were flames in the air and we were off. I kept my eyes on the 1:40 pacer and just ran. We ticked off miles comfortably as we crossed the bridge into Ky and then back into Ohio. At mile 5, I heard yelling about a black flag and sheltering in place. 1:40 dude didn’t stop running so neither did I. It was pouring and the lighting was creating an epic atmosphere that made me feel adventurous and alive. I loved it!
We left downtown and headed up Mt. Adams into Eden Park. This part of the course is a never-ending climb. Fortunately, you meet Elvis along the way and are treated to some pretty beautiful views of the Ohio River. I didn’t stop to take it in because I was losing my pacer, but Uncle Jim, who is probably a little wiser than I, stopped for a quick look and some hydration.
I was shocked that up in the park the water was so deep that I had to jump over speed bumps that were covered in rushing water. Finally, at the top of the climb, you get a little reprieve before the final couple of downhill miles. I was grateful for the time to collect myself because I was now without a pacer and desperate to not see the 1:45 group sneak up on me.
The last couple of miles were hard. I was feeling hot and my quads were taking a beating as I tried to just fly downhill. The crowds were fantastic and I couldn’t help smiling at all the people dressed up as pigs. The very last mile was the hardest because my watch alerted me at 13 miles and I didn’t see the finish line. WTH? Finally, at 13.4 miles I crossed the finish with a PR and a huge smile. Some days you are prepared enough, relaxed enough, and distracted enough to put together a result that shows the kind of work you’ve been doing.
My day wasn’t even close to done, however. I was met by Kristen and Claire who immediately handed me a sweatshirt, a change of shoes, and a bottle of water, and told me I better head back out to finish with Uncle Jim and Robbie.
What a mess I was as I tried to hobble the course in reverse. When I got to them, they were happy and moving along with smiles and enjoyable conversation.
We finished the 13.4 miles together and at some point my Uncle said, “This is tolerable, I think I might do this again next year.” Pretty sure the calendar is already blocked, Uncle Jim. If you are in, I’m in.
If you haven’t been to Cincinnati for the Flying Pig, registration is open. There is something for everyone. You can run one mile, 5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Full Marathon, or all of them, which is what Jeff did! flyingpigmarathon I’m fairly sure we will be there, with Uncle Jim.
Next up: MATTS Kaneville TT
March 18 2023
The Forge Trail Half Marathon
Do you know that feeling you have when you just raced well? You feel proud and satisfied, confident and curious, and then it happens. Before you know it, your brain is swimming in a lethal cocktail of dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins, and then you find yourself wanting to secure the next hit.
We were driving home from the airport when Jeff mentioned his half marathon the coming weekend. I felt something but said nothing until Wednesday. “You know, if I’m not running, I’m not standing out in the frozen woods to watch you run 13 miles on Saturday.” He hesitated and said, “I can probably pick up your packet when I get mine this afternoon if you hurry and register.” Oops.
The Forge is an adventure park in Lemont, IL. They have a ropes course, zip lines, pump tracks, and trails for running and mountain biking. Although my experience was limited to an “off-road,” triathlon I had raced a couple of years ago, I felt like the course wouldn’t be overwhelmingly challenging. (Feelings are sometimes wildly misleading.)
Race Morning
We woke on race morning to realize that the weather people are sometimes correct. As predicted, it was -5 with the wind chill. Jeff and I layered and laughed at our stupidity. He insisted on pointing out, multiple times, that when he registered there was an equal chance it could have been 50 degrees on race morning. “What is your excuse? You checked the weather and then registered!” Damn you, happy brain chemicals!
The race started at 7:30 and we sat in the car until exactly 7:27 before heading to the start line. It was nice to run into a friend just before the national anthem was played. Start-line hugs from familiar faces are the best.
Running
The course was two loops. Initially, it was crowded, but it didn’t take long to get into a rhythm. We looped around and entered the single-track part of the trail. After about a mile, I started to wonder how many rocks, roots, twists, and turns were we going to deal with. I like trails, I just don’t run many of them and they are a totally different beast. My legs had also raced the weekend before and were starting to remind me. As I finished the first loop, I saw the sign that said, “second loop ahead, finish to the right.” Those signs. Ugh.
The second loop was far less crowded. It turns out that Jeff and I had the, “maybe one loop is ok,” thought, and yet we both followed the arrow pointing to the second loop. Although I enjoyed the parts of the trail that were on smoother crushed limestone, I dreaded dipping back into the woods. My bones were aching and suddenly my birthday the weekend prior felt like an assault on my youth instead of a celebration.
Around mile 10, I started to feel very cold. As a result of the temperature, it had taken some time to get sweaty, but now my own body was turning me into a popsicle. There was ice on my eyelashes and the sleeves of my coat. My gloves were totally solid and the hand warmers had become useless. I hate being cold so I took all the risks on the trails and moved as fast as possible. Thankfully the last mile or so is back on the limestone path.
Finally, I got to the finish line. I asked someone in the food tent if they had anything warm and immediately headed to the car. Luckily, I saw Jeff coming to the finish. He looked just about as miserable and his beard was totally frozen. I kept walking.
Thawing
After 25 min in the car trying to thaw and remove wet clothing, we walked to the awards. The wind was blowing so hard that I took shelter in the porto pot while Jeff went to look at the results. Knocking on doors to find me he stepped in and reported that I had finished 2nd in my age group and 4th overall. I just looked at him. “Do you want to go home?” he asked. “Yes, I’m super stupid, I’d like to go home now.”
Final Thoughts
Despite the freezing temperatures I enjoyed this race. The course is varied and provides the right amount of challenge for those who aren’t avid trail runners. It was well organized and although I couldn’t eat much there was beer and meatballs post-race. If you are looking for a real challenge you can do a double. This year the Cary half marathon was the next day. Hmmm, next year….
Next up: John Fraser Time Trial
March 12 2023
Clash Miami
When I realized that Clash had a race in Miami, on my birthday, I immediately registered. How could I not leave the Midwest, to race in the sunshine, on my birthday?
I love Clash races. Having raced Daytona in December of 2020, and again this past December, I was thrilled to support them in a different venue. Both races were well organized. The safety and enjoyment of the athletes were clear priorities among race officials and volunteers. Undoubtedly, having the CEO around all weekend giving out hi-fives and striking up conversations with sweaty athletes made the atmosphere special.
The race was held in Homestead, Florida, about 40 min from Miami, at the Miami Speedway. It was a weekend full of racing. First, the pro women and men raced on Friday. Saturday was busy with the sprint distance races, the kid’s races, and a new race called the Redline Relay which is a team cycling race. Finally, the middle or half-distance race was held Sunday. There was something for everyone.
Because I had put in a good training block, I was pretty excited to start the season and my new age group.
The Swim
Unlike Daytona, the water in the Miami Speedway was clear and pretty. It was also HOT. Because the temp on race morning was 84 it was not wetsuit legal. I was relieved as my wetsuit had been so uncomfortable in my last race. Seeing that most people seed themselves faster, I lined up at the very back of the 28-30 minute group. I was hoping for anything below 32 minutes.
It was a two-loop swim and I swam the first loop with long strong pulls focusing on rotation and body position. Everything felt good. The second loop was a little more crowded and I focused on a faster arm turnover to combat any fatigue. Typically, I don’t like two-loop swims but it was perfect in helping me focus on the plan. This might be one of the first times that I actively thought about swimming drills and balance while racing. I popped out of the water to see 30:xx on my watch. YES!
The Bike
I ran into transition feeling pretty good about my swim. So good that I had a mini conversation with a man who was filming. 😊Obviously, I had to tell him that it was my birthday! Clearly, I was not worried about the bike course. Jeff watched from the sideline wondering what the hell I was doing. Earlier in the week, Coach Steve and I had discussed power numbers that I felt were on the easier side, additionally, the course was closed to traffic which made everything feel relaxed.
After leaving Homestead, you ride out to Key Largo, which is beautiful, and then back to the speedway. It’s pancake flat except for the bridge and the roads were in perfect condition, dreamy almost. Around mile 45, I started to feel a little warm. It was going to get hot. I followed the hydration plan and reminded myself of the heat prep I had done in the sauna. I came into T2 mentally ready to run. My bike split was 2:31. Not bad.
The Run
Leaving T2, I felt a little sluggish. First, the run started on the track and then weaved around the property of the speedway. By mile two my thoughts turned to how warm it felt. I had planned to not force the suffering because I knew the heat would bring it to me eventually. Midway through the 13 miles I saw Jeff for the first and only time. Despite the fact that he tried to give me information about how the race was playing out, I gave him the, “no thank you,” wave. By now he knows that sometimes I can handle data and sometimes I can only handle myself.
I began the second loop knowing nothing and immediately regretted it. Whenever I felt “comfortable,” I threw in 1-2 min harder efforts. Each time I tried, I felt very hot. I spent no time at aid stations and refused to give in to the idea that a short walk break would help. It doesn’t help. It never helps. Instead, I kept reminding myself that it was my birthday. This helped a lot, so much so that it might be my motto for every race! Why not? Finally, I was back on the racetrack, and while it was fun, it felt like an oven. After I finished, I heard them announce that the surface temperature was reading 135. Run time 1:48.
Final thoughts
Racing on your birthday is fantastic. Winning your age group is amazing. Winning your age group on your birthday feels a little like a gift. Overall, I really enjoyed the course and would absolutely recommend it! Clash does an excellent job of making every athlete feel valued and celebrated. Last thing, if you are looking for a breakfast place the day before your race. Royalpalmhomestead.com (Don’t judge a book by its cover. I almost bailed)
Next Up: Forge Trail Half Marathon
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