DaShaun

That guy that did that thing that one time

Archive for category Events

Groundhog 10k

Jan 30

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I wasn’t really feeling like I was going to have a good race. I have had some great workouts the weekends leading up to the race. I also had some serious pain-in-my-feet issue. I was pretty confident that I was going to get a PR but I didn’t think that I would get anywhere close to my goal.

I got up thinking that I would get there early enough to watch the 5k. Instead I woke up early and took Elizabeth to get breakfast for Jillian. I got to the event with just enough time to warmup and get in line.

One of the best parts of race day, is seeing all of my MTC friends and seeing all my peeps from work, outside of work.

My timing was pretty perfect in regards to warmup, breakfast, potty, and being ready to start. Since I wasn’t confident going into the race, I had a sausage McMuffin for breakfast. My energy and stomach felt perfect while they were doing the countdown for the start.

At the start I told myself that I just want to PR. My warmup mile was faster than PR pace so I felt like I could go out at an 8-minute pace. I would just do my best to hang on from there.

This is an underground race so my footpod was replacing the gps. I have learned to use the mile markers to mark my laps instead of relying on the footpod. It works great for most things, but not so great when trying to PR in a race.

My first mile was fast. I was just waiting for the bonk for every mile after the first and it never happened.

I finished ahead of my previous PR by 5 minutes. I finished ahead of my 10k goal for the year by over a minute too. I couldn’t be happier with my results.

Official results 48:30.9.

Jingle Bell 5k 2011

Dec 13

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Only the second race of the year that I didn’t PR. I went out hard, really trying to improve, but I just didn’t have it in me. In fact, after the race I puked, sweat, and hung out by the paramedics for 20 minutes. I guess I was sick and didn’t realize it. Read the comments on the activity to see how I was feeling the day of the race.

I would say that 2011 has been a pretty great year. After surgery and having the baby, I was still able to squeak out two more PR before the end of the year. I’m a little battle damaged, but I’ve had a good rest and I’m ready to move on.

Official time: 24:03.5
10th of 50 in my age group!!!

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Race schedule

Oct 25

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I’ve got a beautiful wife and newborn baby daughter.  I have to be very careful about scheduling stuff on the weekends.

Tonight I proposed a first draft of my schedule for 2012.  I say first draft because I’ve given my wife veto power and the ability to make changes without notice.

I’m doing one race a month, most of which are paid for by my employer.  I’ve also agreed to limit my training to Sunday morning instead of both Saturday and Sunday.  In order for me to keep my race schedule, I’ve got to keep my family happy.

I’m much more budget-aware going into next year.  I’m much more time-aware too. Getting my workouts done at work is the goal and limiting my need for new gear is up there too.

I’m still going to get my miles. I’m going to focus on quality workouts.

With approval from my wife, its time to run my schedule by coach Ken.  I’m hoping its doable because I’m not going to ask for additions from my wife.

Kansas City 13.1

Oct 17

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My goal from the beginning of the year was 1:53, and that was aggressive. I set that goal before we got pregnant, after finding out, I didn’t change it, I thought that would be cheating. Anyway, it was possible, if I had given myself a little bit more hill training, I might have done it. The day was beautiful and perfect for setting a PR. I’m definitely faster than I was a year ago.

My plan was to go out with the 1:55 group and if I felt alright after the last hill, give it all I had. Well, the last hill proved difficult. I did much better going up Gilham this year than I did last year though. I watched the pace group pull away. I kept them in my sights though and finished maybe 150 meters behind them. I finished 1:55:54 officially.

The best thing about this particular race day was my team. Five members of my team earned a PR at the race, including me. I just can’t explain how cool it is to have a group that pushes you and motivates you and encourages you everyday of the week, then joins you for a run on the weekend too. It was just great watching and running with my teammates. Jason, Kevin, Tim, Ron, David, Vivek, and Senthil all kicked butt. Vivek and Ron really weren’t trained-up for the race, but still had fun. Everyone else set a PR or surpassed their goal for the race.

I was using the race as a measuring stick. How I finished was going to determine how I wrapped up the year. If I had hit 1:53, I would have stuck to the plan and attempted a PR at Gobbler Grind. I think its all going to workout though. I’m saving some money for one. Work pays for the 13.1 at Gobbler Grind, but not the 26.2. The 26.2 is $99 too. I think thats just a little bit too much for running on the trail that I run on all the time anyway. Also, there is a 26.2 in Little Rock on March 4th. It gives me a little more time to do a real training plan and its a real race. AND, its voted best value by RunnersWorld magazine. It’s only $80 (if I register before the end of the month). I was hoping to make it a family trip since my father-in-law has family out there. The problem with that plan is that my sister-in-law is due on March 1st. Luckily for me, my good friend Steve has agreed to carpool and split expenses with me!

I’ll do my best at Gobbler Grind, shoot for a 1:52:59, and take a break. My life is different now. I don’t really know how to make plans anymore.

I’m rambling. A PR is a PR!

Olathe – Oz – Wickedly Fast Half Marathon

Apr 16

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I’m happy, so may things that I don’t want to forget.

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I took it easy this week. I really wanted a PR and I didn’t want to over train. Over training during race week has been a problem for me.

My team at work is awesome.  So may people that I work with participated and it really made a difference.  I feel more connected with my team every day.  Seeing them out on race day really was bonus.  I love my job and I love my team!

I finally think I’m figuring out how to dress for race day.  Having the removable running sleeves made all the difference today.  I got hot around mile 7, pulled off my sleeves, and everything was back to good!

The race packet was great!  I had everything I needed.  I looked crooked at the calendar they packed.  Now, post-race, I think the calendar was a great item to put in the race packet.  It had race information including course, parking and some race day tips.  On top of that, great pictures, tons of coupons, and some pretty cool ads for Garmin. (grin)  They added other local races to the calendar.  The coolest thing is they added start dates for training programs for next years race!  So, next November, when people are thinking about the race, they have a calendar to use to mark off miles!  I’m impressed, is that lame?

The volunteers were great.  Getting parked was easy, the aid stations were awesome too.  The course was also very very spectator friendly.  We saw a couple people at least 4 different times on the course.  I know they were there for somebody else (close to me) but it was pretty cool seeing familiar faces and the same signs multiple times.  To me that says a ton about the community and the event producers.  It was a really smooth running event, from my perspective.  Thank you Olathe!

I had my own pacer the entire race.  Jeff J. was with me from start to finish.  He’s also in the outdoor/fitness division at Garmin.  He really did a great job of keeping me focused.  He kept me slow at the start and eased me right into a personal record!  I’ve been pretty lucky with finding pacers so far.  It has made all of the difference, every time.  We had tons to talk about, and the fact that I was able to talk up until mile 11 really was a confidence booster.  He dropped some knowledge on me too.  I’ve got a couple of cool things to investigate this week.  I also think I might have added something to my birthday wish list.

After the race I felt good.  I didn’t push myself to any sort of limit.  It was a well executed race strategy.  My coaching has been great.  I feel like I get so much attention and I’ve learned so much.  Beyond all of the great coaching I’ve been getting from Ken W., I’ve got a huge supporting cast that keeps me moving in the right direction, keeps me motivated, and makes it all enjoyable.

I knew that Ultramax was doing the timing.  They always have the times available at the finish.  I totally forgot about that until I got home.  Unofficially, my time was 1:58:39.  Previous best was 2:02:52.  I’ll update as soon as I get an official time.

– Update –
Official time 1:58:36.70

Added bonus: I was top half of all men, that’s a pretty big milestone for me. I was also top half of my division.

Gobbler Grind 2010

Nov 21

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We couldn’t have asked for better weather this late in November.  It was in the mid 60s the entire time we were on the course.  We woke up before the sun and headed to the event early so we could pick up our race packets.

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Jillian was doing the 5k with her good friend Laurie.  We met Laurie in the packet pickup line.  After we dropped stuff off back at the truck, we ran into Jacqui. They all ran the first part of the race together.  Jillian had a PR last week at the Pilgrim Pacer.  Today, she beat that PR by 2 minutes.  I’m so proud of her.  She has been even more focused on fitness than I have lately.  She is seeing improvement in so many ways.  Its not that she ran 3.1 miles, its that she ran it better than she’s ever done it before and had fun while she did it.

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I got to see lots of familiar faces at the event.  Steve M. was running with his 11 year old daughter, Claire.  It was great to see.  They have been training for this for several weeks.  Apparently, she’s already setting new goals and looking forward to her next race!

I was planning on running with David C. again.  I started about 20 yards behind him and never caught him.  Ron H. from work was also there.  This was his first 1/2 in a while.  He’s done several marathons and really knows a ton about the sport.  Ron was shooting for a 2:15, so I was hoping to get in front of him and stay there.  Joe H from work was also there.  He ran the 5k and stayed for the entire race.  I think I saw him at 4 different spots on the course and at the end.  Jason D. and his wife both ran the 1/2 as well.  I saw Susanne, but didn’t get to see Jason.  I think everyone from work was happy with their race.  I’m sure we will exchange stories tomorrow at work.

I ran into Sarav K. from Runners Edge at the beginning of the race too.  He was going to be pacing another friend of his, but the friend backed out due to injury.  When I told him my goals, he said he would pace me.  I always run better with a pacer and this race didn’t have pace groups.  I took him up on the offer.  He followed the Runners Edge pace program perfectly.  Sarav was trying to prevent aggravating a nagging hamstring.  He talked to me the entire way.  He kept reminding me of the game plan.  I felt like I received top notch pacing.  I had my own pacer.  When I struggled, he slowed and waited for me and gave me words of encouragement.  When I started to fall off, he quickly changed my goals.  We started off pursuing a 9:09 pace.  I knew I was reaching, but wanted to at least try.  My main goal was a 10:17 pace, or 2:14:59.  Sarav made the event much better than it should have been and I’m very thankful for the individual attention and inspiration.

I am super happy with my performance.  A 2:15 was the goal I had set January 1st.  I had finished 2 other 1/2 marathons this year, 2;17:47 at Rock the Parkway and 2:17:54 at Hospital Hill.  My confidence was high because of last weekends 10k PR.  I pushed harder on this race than any race before.  I didn’t leave any gas in the tank.  I finished with 2:02:50 officially.  Very very happy.

I didn’t have much time to celebrate.  Immediately after the race, we had to shower and head to judging at the Midwest Cup cheer competition.  That was also a blast.  It was a very full day.

Official Results

Tags: GCDT, half-marathon, jillian, PR, runners edge