The Cowtown

Writers note: I haven't updated my blog in almost 4 months. Much has happened since then. This Post was started in April and finished in August.

So I was trained. I did the plan, the best I could. I ran the miles. I stretched, I lifted, I rode the bike. And it was finally the last week. That's when Mother Nature hit us. Hard.

Snow. Lots of it. We had to close school and stay home with the kids for the Monday and Tuesday before the race. And the forecast for the race was sketchy at best. We were supposed to get more snow later in the week. This is an oddity for North Texas. We get snow, sometimes ice. But its a sometimes. Not the foregone conclusion of winter weather when you live north of the Mason Dixon Line.

This pushed much of my last week of running inside. I did Tuesday and Wednesday on the treadmill and was lucky enough to do my last 2 mile run outside. I was focused on the weather during this time, I was also in the throws of Taper Madness. This, to me, was a lot of focus on my plan. How I would run out of the gate and what I needed to think about during the run.

The roads got better and the temp was back in the 40's by Wednesday. But the forecasters called for more snow on Thursday. It didn't come. Nope. It came on Friday. During the day at work, the rain slowly changed over to snow. And it kept coming and coming and coming.

At this time, the Cowtown was making decisions about weekend races. For the Cowtown, the 5K and 10K go off on Saturday Feb. 28 while the half and full marathon go off on Sunday March 1.

There was already talk of cancelling the races when the cowtown started putting out notices that they were working with local authorities and the weather service to determine whether or not to cancel races and the expo.

I tweeted on Thursday that I had completed my last run and was resting for Sunday's Marathon. Then on Friday, an NPR Reporter contacted me and I did a phone interview for a story on the weather and its implications on the marathon. I spoke eloquently for 10 minutes waxing philosophical about the ups and downs of watching the weather during this time and hoping they make the best decision for the safety of the runners. When the time came, they took a 5 second soundbite. Thats it. 5 seconds.

We listened to it that evening as the snow came down and we ran out to the new Pizza Hut in our neighborhood to get dinner. My wife couldn't help but laugh as I sounded so dam pompous like I'm a seasoned veteran runner who's been at it for years. But that's what you get when they take a 5 second clip from 10 minutes of talking.

The Cowtown people did cancel the 5K and 10K on Saturday and they also delayed the Expo opening. The temp was supposed to get above 32 sometime on Saturday which was our only hope for a Sunday race.

On Saturday morning, the snow didn't look like it was going anywhere and we had a birthday party to get to around 11. The party was only about 25 minutes away, so naturally we left an hour early. Took our time and got there safely. The roads were melting and I was more hopeful. The eternal optimist never gives up. Eyeing the roads and temperature and forecast, I was sure it would go on.

After the party, the roads were much, much better. I was able to go the speed limit, the roads were mostly fine, just real slushy.

We ran other errands and it was while we were stopping in at Old Navy when the news hit. We got the e-mail that the Marathon was cancelled and that the Half would go on. I was destroyed.

The journey began in June last year. It started off as a journey of self-improvement. Then it turned into a journey of challenges. First with the half-marathon in Dallas, then with the focus turned to getting into that elite club of runners who have run the full. I was ready to break that barrier and jump feet first into the realm of the less than 1% of runners who actually run a marathon.

Nope. Not yet. Devastated, I stayed in the car as the madness set in. Frantically searching for other races to join so that the 20 weeks of training didn't go to waste. They didn't cancel the half marathon. The thing is, I understood. It was the logical decision to make. The 2nd half of the course winds through parks and neighborhoods. There is a lot of shade in that part of town, snow takes longer to melt in the shade.  And They were still letting the marathoners run the half. So, at least, there's that.

We finished our errands and headed home. I laid out my things for the early morning rendezvous with my friend so that we could park together and meet up with other running friends.

Starting at Will Rogers, we parked the car in the garage and headed up to the expo which was open early since it was about 35 outside and many runners were hanging out in there talking about the weather. We met up with others we knew were running, one of them, my friend from Houston. And with about 15 minutes left, we headed to the corrals.

The Fort Worth Marathon sets its corrals up a little different from Dallas. In Dallas, it was one long corral set into 3 parts and it felt like they were all let go at the same time. In Fort Worth, for the Cowtown, they had more of a wave start. Every corral started in waves. The first corral, then the 2nd five minutes after the first, then the 3rd Corral 5 minutes after the 2nd. I like this way to start as long as you're with the correct group. I was assigned to  Corral 4 and my running mates were assigned to corral 5.

As I inched closer to the start, it occurred to me that I would start about 5 minutes ahead of them and our time would be off. All of my work to this point had prepared me for a Full Marathon and I felt as if there was no accomplishment for me to earn today. I had already run a half and I had been running distances greater than 13 miles at least 5 times since then.

I did want to run a 10K in 51 minutes to see if I could qualify for the Houston Marathon. Or I could run the half in 2 hours. So I set my mind to that and was off. The first trouble I had was that I was at the back of my corral, which meant I was behind everyone and I had to bust out moves like Barry Sanders running down field. That made it difficult over the first 5-10 minutes. We hit the Trinity Trails and there was a lot of snow still on the ground. As runners, we attempted to find the wet spots instead of the snowy spots and keep our traction.

Knowing I needed to run about 8:15/mile, which I had never done for a long run, I was at my first mile with 8:15. This was even with all of the traffic dodging I was doing. So I kept on, found my sweet spot and pushed forward. Miles 2 and 3 were at 8:06 and 8:00 respectively, so I was feeling good about my time, but starting to wear thin on strength. I knew this wasn't a good idea. To go after a time I hadn't trained for, but all of this energy was pent up in me, I felt like it had to get out. I needed to release it. Taper Madness had gotten to me the week before as I was running short distances and watching the weather hoping for the best.

Miles 4 and 5 were 8:23 and 8:21. Still respectable and with the other miles, I just needed to hold pace to reach my goal. Again, as in the other race, I realized my mapmyrun app was off with the mileage compared to the race. I hit mile 6 in my app at 49:15. But I hadn't gotten to the mile 6 marker for another minute. I knew it was going to be close. Crossing the mile six marker I knew I had to push for another 2 tenths of a mile to get a time. I did. 52:17. So I didn't reach my goal. But I did get a Personal Best on a 10K here. Remember, 7 Years ago, I ran the 10K at Cowtown and ran 1:10:00. I was in much better shape now.

After I crossed the 10K line, I took off the push, caught my breath as I ran through the scenic stockyards and headed up Main Street. I could see the huge hill that led into downtown. And it was daunting. I was running along calculating my finish time would be under 2 hours which was still real good. Then it happened. The Train.

As running events go, I know there is coordination with the city, the medical staff, volunteers and so forth. I never really thought about needed coordination with the Railroad. I guess they didn't have it. Because at mile 8.2, there is a train track and I could see the train coming. I was about a tenth of a mile away. I sped up briefly before realizing it was futile and hit the breaks to walk. Hoping I could walk up to the track and as it passed, I could take off again without actually standing around. That didn't happen, and all of us were just standing around. As the train passed and time ticked on. This was crazy.

Then I saw one of my running friends. And we promised to meet up at the end. He took a pic of me in front of the train.

Hey, whats up, we're in a race and stuck at the train.

As the end of the train approached, I jockeyed for position as I felt like I was one of the first runners here and I deserved to get out first. For those who brought up the rear, they didn't have to wait as long. All in all, according to map my run, this train cost me approximately 5 minutes on my half-marathon time. So, no matter what, there would always be an asterisk on this race.

The hill into downtown was brutal. I started the hill at 8:00/mile and finished it at 10:00/mile. Got through downtown and was computing the times in my ear and realized, it would be close to a 2 hour half-marathon for me, but I needed to keep pace. Damn train!

I spotted the tower at the Will Rogers Complex and knew I wasn't far. We made it back to University, then the course kept going, wrapping around the entire complex to the finish. I finished strong and coming up right behind me was my running buddy who started in the corral behind me. He clearly didn't get stuck by the damn train.

Got the shirts, and obligatory pictures, we headed back to the expo to regroup.
When I finally checked my time, 1:59:45 was my official time! I did it, broke 2 hours for a half cutting about 5 minutes off my time from Dallas.

We walked the expo a little, got the coupons for merch at Lukes Locker, And had a beer. Ran in to all my other running friends, swapped stories, and headed home.

But something was missing. I mean other than that extra 5 minutes I lost due to the train. I didn't get to run the full. What I trained for was still ahead of me.

Me and my Training buddy and running partner

Me and my friend who took the pic of me at the train

Me and my Running buddy from Houston.

Now What? More Training.

Following the Dallas Half-Marathon, I was exhausted. How were people running twice the miles? Inconceivable! Pain. I had pain. And lots of it. I saw this video following the half, and although it illustrates the stiffness and soreness after a full marathon, I resonated the feelings. 

Luckily, I had asked for the following day off work to recover. I had also planned on volunteering at the girls school with the WATCH D.O.G.S. This program encourages dads to get involved in their kid's schools. They had me moving all over the place, on my feet most of the day, this was good for my recovery to keep moving and not sit too much. If I had been at work, I would have been immobile much of the day.

I had made it through the day well enough. My wife, who ran the half with me, got back to her normal running routine the Tuesday following our half. I was impressed because I still didn't feel ready. I had sustained very minor injuries. I wouldn't even call them injuries. But my nipples. Dear Lord, my nipples! They hurt! Sore from the chafing that occurs when they are unprotected and the shirt rubs up and down, left and right all over those things. The only advice I had was to wear a dry-fit, moisture wicking shirt. That wasn't working. I had purchased some Glide. I had used it before the race, but the race was too long, and the Glide didn't last. I had experimented with band-aids during some long runs, but the sweat usually leads to those things pealing off. 

Not Bad for Nipples. Great for other areas. 

The second minor injury I had was my toenail. It felt bruised. But didn't appear so. Turned out as the week went on, the bruise began to appear. Its called Black Toe and I'll save you from the picture. I had to google it to find out what to do. It lead me to Jeff Galloway's site. Jeff is another highly regarded long distance running coach who has made a name for himself for coaching the back of the pack runners. He has some great systems to learn how to haul long distances if you are used to sitting much of the day and haven't lead an active lifestyle. My favorite advice on his site has to do with Running Clothing for the weather. I picked up some great tips for what to wear when its cold outside. 

Ultimately, there was not much I could do about the toe, except favor it, and get some new shoes and/or socks. 

I did return to running on Wednesday of that first week after the Half. I ran 3 miles. It stung a little, but it wasn't too bad.  After that run, my legs loosened up and I began feeling normal again. I got two more runs in that week, 3 miles, and 2 miles. Then on Sunday, I did 8. It sounded good at the time. Since I had no real direction, I wasn't sure what I should be doing. After a 12 week program preparing for a big race like the Dallas Half-Marathon, I desired to have a plan again. Since my recovery lasted only 3-4 days, I decided to begin considering the Marathon again. I could perhaps parlay my training for the half and turn it into Full-Marathon Training and be ready in time for the Cowtown Marathon, which would take place on March 1. That gave me 10 weeks to prepare and get my workouts in. Noticing that Hal Higdon's Novice 1 Marathon Plan is an 18 week plan and by walking back 10 weeks, he had "Half Marathon" in his plan, this sounded like it could work. So, I sat at my computer one evening and wrote down every distance I'd have to run on every day between Christmas and March 1. It all fit. I could do this, I told myself. 

Maybe. Maybe I could do this. 

I was feeling good and strong and healthy. The toe pain had largely subsided and with the holidays coming up, it would be kinda hard to get some workouts in, and sure enough, I wasn't able to run much that week. I hit the gym a few times on the elliptical, because the treadmills were used, but I did get a 7 mile run in the day after Christmas and a 3 mile run in the day after that. With a break on Sunday, I did 10 on the Monday after Christmas.

Christmas was good to me this year for running gear. I got several gift cards and several other items of note. I got some cold running gear. (Long pants and long sleeved shirt) I got gift cards to Run On!, Academy, and Luke's Locker. I also got...

My Nipples thanked Santa

I am now a believer and proponent of Nip Guards. These things work. And I don't run anything 5 miles or more without them. They are small, but they stay on and they protect very well. 

Gaiam Restore Hot/Cold Foot Massage Roller

I also got a foot massage roller that you can stick in the freezer and roll your foot. This has been an added help for recovery after long runs, too. 

Throughout the past few months, many friends supported me as I talked about my goals, what I had accomplished and what I wanted to do. People in the neighborhood, work, and of course, at church. It was at church that I was able to talk running with some people who had run marathons. One of whom, was planning on running the Cowtown. When I mentioned I might do it too, I was invited along for a 15 mile run the next weekend. This scared me. I wasn't sure I could do 15, I had only done 13.1 once and had been off my constant training cycle for a few weeks between recovering from the Half and the week of Christmas. But 15 was the mileage for the next long run, so I decided to give it a go. 

Keeping an eye on the weather, I knew I'd need some more equipment. I got myself to Luke's Locker with my Gift Card and scouted out a few items. First, some gloves. It was cold, and having lost my gloves during the Turkey Trot was a bummer, but it was time to invest again. I got a pair of Asics Gloves and a water bottle. 

Keeping hands warm is a good idea. 

Quenching my thirst

The gloves needed to be able to touch an iPhone. In order to do that, they use special fabric on the fingertips. This has really helped. The water bottle has a little clip to wear on your shorts or belt. I was too cheap at the time to buy the full water belt as I didn't see the need yet. 

Saturday rolled around and I drove to my friend's house so we could meet up with others near Lake Grapevine. This run was good for the first 11 miles, then I got a text from my daughter about my dog choking. I had to take the call and walk for a little bit. It appears my youngest had been eating an apple and fed the core to the dog. My wife was running her 6 mile run and I wasn't home. Once I determined that my dog would live, I got back to running, but the walking had taken its toll. I had about 3 or 4 miles to go and it was starting to hurt. I was also no longer with my running partners. They had kept running.  

Then the Thirst hit. Oh, dear! The thirst. The one water bottle wasn't enough. I had filled it up before we started, and topped it off twice along the way, but I was out again with 3 to go. Looking for another fountain to fill it up at, I came across the Grapevine running club's station where they had put water or Gatorade out for their players.  I filled the bottle up with the blue drink (whatever it was and kept going) I was so thirsty I didn't care. I struggled through the last miles with low energy, but made it. My longest run yet, 15 miles. Maybe I CAN do this marathon thing!

The recovery was a little rough. I got home and realized I had gotten dehydrated as I cramped up several times.  It also sounds bad, but the tip I read is that your urine should look like lemonade, not apple juice. That would explain my thirst. I would need a new plan for hydrating. 

Tablets for your water

I picked up some nuun tablets. These disolve in your water and make it flavored water. The good thing about these is that it makes your water taste good and therefore you tend to drink more. And then your hydrated. I use these on my long runs now. 

The week after the 15 miler was one of the coldest to date. I also felt like I was coming down with something. And sure enough, I got the flu. Even though I had my flu shot. That kept me from running for a five days. But I was back on it by January 13 with my midweek runs. I did have to skip a 16 mile long run, which concerned me, but the next long run would be only 13 miles. Since the Marathon was still 6-7 weeks out, I wasn't overly worried about it, there is still much racing to be done. 

After the 13, I finally got to get some new running shoes. I still had my gift card to Run On! They were very helpful and I picked out some brooks. 

I was ready to run like a champion

After my mid week runs, I had to travel to Baltimore. So I spent some time trying to find a good route for my 18 miles since 18 miles was on the schedule for the Saturday I would be there. It turned out, the weather and scheduling prohibited my running while I was there, I ran the 18 after I got back. I ran it at about 1 in the afternoon. After church. This was a departure from my normal routine. As you know, I usually run in the morning, there isn't a lot in my stomach, other than gu. So I planned on eating a small amount of food before this run, but no meals. 

It was a sunny, windy day. Temp was in the upper 50's and I had to find a new route. I determined that I could run to the wal-mart and keep running. There were some trails in Highland Village but I had never run them. I found they were great....for hill training. 2 very big hills. Big ones. I made it with a focus on my water and nuun tablets and gu, I was able to make it and stay mostly hydrated stopping at Corner Bakery and Barnes and Noble for extra water. Then I hit mile 15 when we were in new mileage territory. I started feeling hungry. I already knew I was thirsty.  I got close to home and when I finished, I called my wife to meet me with a banana and some water. It was that bad. I had taken my body farther than I ever had. I had to learn about extra nutrients and my body for super long runs. My knees really bothered me for the first time too. I didn't know if it was the hills or the length of the run. 

The next long run was 14 miles. But I had to take my wife's car to the shop to have the a/c looked at. So my plan was to take it to the firestone and then run home. But by doing so, I would be about 6 miles short of my prescribed distance. So I ran 3 miles out and back, then ran home. I always seem to enjoy finding new trails and running in new areas. It keeps the mind fresh. 

The next week would be the week with the most mileage on my plan. Midweek runs of 5, 10, and 5 and the week's long run at 20 miles. The 10 mile long run was a little hard to squeeze in before work, but we got it done. I left the house at 5AM and got back a little after 6:30.  Still got to work by 8:15.  

For the 20 miler on Saturday, I got back with my running buddy and we were going to meet up and run in Fort Worth along the Trinity Trails. This is a system of trails along the Trinity River which extends from just south of the stock yards, all the way down past Colonial. We met up and got started early. I had learned from my earlier runs and decided to eat a banana before I start. I had also decided to give salt tablets a try and take those before and during my run to prevent cramping.

This run went well too. I have found that running with friends is much easier and relaxing than running by oneself. I enjoy the conversation and it keeps my mind off other things and makes the time go by faster.

The food, salt tablets, nuun, and gu all helped. It was all falling into place. I didn't cramp. I wasn't dehydrated. I didn't crash like after the 18.  If I could do 20, surely I could do 26. This would be the longest run we do before the Cowtown marathon. We ran it in 3:13 which means that even if we ran the last 6 miles in 10 minutes/mile, we would still finish in under 4:15. This was my new goal and all I could think about over the next few weeks. 

The training plan was downhill after this. The intent is to rest the muscles and have them in tip top shape the day of the marathon. I had 3 weeks to go. And I believe I'd be ready. With long runs remaining of 12, and 8, and no mid week runs longer than 8, I knew the hardest was behind me. I just needed to taper off and rest up because the Cowtown was still ahead for me.

A Tragedy and a Half

Disclaimer: This blog is not intended as Coaching Advice or for Medical Advice. Please consult a real Running Coach or licensed Physician for actual advice. I'm not the perfect runner, nor do I claim to be. Don't sue me if you get hurt. For me, this blog is an opportunity to share experiences and things I've learned over the last 6-7 months. 

During the week leading up to the Turkey Trot, I started to notice something funny in my foot. It was a sharp pain, most noticeably when I woke up and started walking on it. It was occasionally occurring when I was getting about 4-5 miles into my Long Runs. It was a very difficult pain to run with. But worse, it was beginning to stay with me all day.   I knew that runners, especially those new to the activity were prone to injury and I wasn't sure what to do. My biggest fear was that this would be a tragic season ending injury and I wouldn't be able to run the Dallas Half.

So I asked Google. When I found an adequate description, I realized it was Plantar Fasciitis, or at least the early stages of this injury. The advice I got was to stop running. Or at the very least, avoid pushing myself so hard in my workouts, stretch the leg muscles better, and ice down after long runs. I hadn't been icing down after any runs. This was the best advice to avoid injuries to the feet. I learned from a RunOn clerk that the feet tend to swell after a run. I hadn't thought of it until now, but this made sense to me.  I also bought a small massage ball for my foot. I keep it next to my bed and massage my foot in the morning and evening. 

Sometimes I want to take my ball and go home

This hurting was going on much of the week leading up to the Turkey Trot. I began icing down after long runs by putting ice and water in a bowl and soaking my feet. I also used an ice pack on the bottom of my foot for a few minutes then use the massage ball. The symptoms subsided shortly after the Turkey Trot and I was ready for the last 2 weeks of training for the Dallas Half.

Having Run 9 miles as my long run on November 23 and an 8 mile race on November 27, I stepped back my long run for November 30 to 7 miles. This worked well with Hal Higdon's plan since he prescribes a 10-K race around this time as warm-up for a Half.  This 7 mile run was a good run as I learned the days after a race are critical to recovery. Its important to allow your muscles to heal. The rehydration process should start with some water after the race and the muscle recovery should start immediately too. 

The first week of December was shaping up good. I got my mid week runs and weight lifting work outs in and then the long run was scheduled for 10 miles. I hadn't done 10 miles yet. I didn't even have a 10 mile route. I wasn't sure where to go. I could do two 5-mile loops. Or I could a 6 and a 4 or a 7 and 3. Whatever I did, I'd be re-looping. Which,for some reason, I had determined wasn't fun or preferable.  But I noticed one day driving from my home in Lantana to Highland Village that there is a sidewalk that was added as they expanded F.M. 407. Therefore, I could legitimately, and probably safely, run from my house to Highland Village. I clocked it in my car several times and came to the conclusion that It was approximately 4-4.5 miles to the Stoplight at FM 407 and FM 2409 (Long Prairie Road). I could probably make this work. When in doubt about distances, walk out your door, run 5 miles away, then turn around and run 5 miles back. 

So I attempted this. The weather was perfect this day. It was about 50 degrees with a little sun peaking through. I found myself running along side cars traveling past me at 50 mph. And I made it all the way past the Wal-Mart as I was on my way back when I got to the 5 mile mark. The only tricky part is crossing 407. There is a stoplight at Copper Canyon Road which is easy enough, but the sidewalk on the south side of the street ends where the Sidewalk on the north side of the street begins and there is a tricky street crossing you have to do. Its not that hard, you just have to be paying close attention to the traffic at this point. I imagine as the area improves with commercial development, the sidewalks will go all the way to the light at Chinn Chapel, but until then a hasty J-Walking episode occurs often. 

As I made it back to the Lantana Neighborhood, I was super thirsty. I hadn't been running with a water bottle. When I run in Lantana, I am never very far from restrooms on the Golf Course, or the neighborhood Gyms and I started bringing the gym key with me. This allows me to use the restroom or grab some water if necessary. This 10 mile run was the first time it was necessary. I had to stop at the golf course restroom on the way in to get some water.

I was at about mile 8 when I figured out that I was going to be about a half mile short if I ran back to the house. If I ran back to my starting point, I would have a 9.5 mile run. Since I was feeling good, I tried to make it the 10 my program regimen recommended.  By doing so, I ended up running 11 for the day and was damn tired when I finished.  I was definitely feeling good at 9.5 miles, but something got switched off at 10 miles while I was still a mile from my house. I pushed through the hard part and made it back in one piece but learned not to over push yourself too much.   I was excited to finish my last long run before the half-marathon. 

The week leading up to the Half was pretty easy. A run of 4, 3, and finishing up with 2 on Thursday. On that day, I ran to the gym, worked out with weights, and ran home. These three days followed by 2 days of rest would have me primed and ready to run the Half. The foot problem had worn itself off and wasn't bothering me any more. I truly felt good. I had my plan for the race. I knew I'd walk through the water stations and try to use the restroom before the race. 

The weekend was going to be messy. My youngest has a birthday in December and her party was scheduled for the day before the half-marathon at Chuck e Cheese. I've also learned that each runner must pick up their own packet at the expo. The Expo is at the Dallas Convention Center.  Since my beautiful bride is running the half with me, we'll both have to go to the expo to pick up our things. We also have to secure babysitting for the girls throughout the race and, if possible, figure out how to meet up with my Houston friend at the expo.  Did you get all that?

First off, if not mentioned an earlier post, my wife is going to run the Half with me. This was a show of support for me, and I was delighted to have her do this with me. Since she normally runs about 21 miles/week, she really wouldn't have too much trouble with this. However, her max run every week is about 6 miles. So the only real work she had to do is increase her long run every week. She did that in the 5 weeks prior to the race, increasing to 7, then 8, 9, and finally 10, the week before the race. Just like all of Hal Higdon's half-marathon training programs, maxing out at 10 and allowing the adrenaline take you to the finish line of the half marathon would probably be just fine.

Here's the plan we put together for Saturday. The youngest has a party in Grapevine at 10. Done by 12, Pack up the presents, and head to the Expo, we'd meet my friend somewhere from 12:30 to 1. Get our packets, walk the expo and then head up to North Park Mall to meet my mom. She would take the kids for the evening and the morning until after the race. If she could, maybe even bring them to the race to see us.  After the race, we would have to get them back quick and make fast to church since both girls have a Christmas pageant rehearsal. 

Once the kids would be dropped off with mom at the mall, we could do some quick Christmas shopping, have dinner and head home for some much needed rest. What could possibly go wrong?

The party was on time. It went well, all of her little friends showed up and they had a great time.

Does anyone else get creeped out by people in character costumes?

On to the Expo! Headed to Downtown Dallas, making sure our arrangements were in place, we texted my friend, who was already there, and texted my mom to be sure we were still on for meeting up for the kid swap. All was good. But Parking wasn't. 

Downtown was mad. Trying to get close to the convention center the day before a race was a tad difficult. The closest lot we could find was going for $15. That was a little pricey for me to run in, get my packet and spend 30 minutes walking around. So we drove around. The wife was not amused. Even the lot I had parked at for the Turkey trot was closed. Most lots were full or asking $12-$15 because of an "event."  Yeah, my event. Luckily, I know my way around a little. Behind city hall, there is an old "horseshoe" shaped parking lot with a bunch of meters. I know because I used to park there a lot when I went to city hall to see my dad. And City Hall was right next to the convention center. The lot was barren. Easy peasy. $0.65 to park for an hour and 5 minutes? We're good. We went in a propped open door so we didn't have to walk all the way around and got our packets. Met up with my buddy who showed us the wonders of the Marathon Expo.

The marathon expo is a wondrous place. Free stuff and discounts. Lots of it. As a runner, I love the expo. Its a great place to shop if you are in the market for running gear. Or are willing to try something new. The better expos have stuff for kids too. My buddy showed us the Luke's Locker area where everything was 20% off. He also recommended the brilliance of Thorlo Socks, padded socks that are light weight and perfect for running. I wasn't into all the products and services everyone was offering, and we were having to get going, but I definitely enjoy the expo. Luke's is great because they even hand out 20% off coupons for their other stores, one of which is in Highland Village where I ran past for my 10 mile run. 

On to the mall where my mom was waiting. Parking was a hassle since this was the 2nd to last Saturday before Christmas and North Park is a nice mall. So nice, the only way to park was to valet. Cause you wouldn't find a spot otherwise. I waited about 20 minutes to park. Made the swap and we went shopping. Keep in mind, at this point, I had been on my feet pretty much most of the day. The birthday party, the expo, now the mall. My dogs were barking, that's for sure. But we knocked out a lot of the girls shopping. About 5PM, we decided we'd had enough and went to find something to eat. Maggiano's was a reasonable choice. I had chicken parm with a side of pasta. This is my new pre-race tradition, I thought. Perfect, light, yet heavy on the carbs. 

Left at 6, home at 7. What I failed to mention is that my Friday night sleep was terrible. I was up half the night and I was up early on Saturday getting ready for our day. So all I wanted was to get to bed. But I knew better. I had read somewhere that many racers, gather all their things and lay them out the night before so that there are no missing items the day of the race. That's exactly what I did. We had kept an eye on the weather all week. We were anticipating 50 degrees at start. Cloudy skies, getting up to about 60. Increasing chance of drizzle and rain as the day went on. And with rain in the forecast, my mom wouldn't be bringing the kids to see us run.

Bib. Glide. Shirt. Shoes. Socks. Shorts. Headbands. Wristbands. Phone charged. Armband for phone. Gu. I was ready. I went to bed. 

Sleep was great. We woke up at 5. Got ready. Got in the car and were on our way at 6. Got to downtown a little before 7 for an 8 o'clock start time. I had learned from the turkey trot not to over worry about parking, so we found a nice little lot that was almost full just south of the McDonalds downtown. I paid for the day and we were set. Went back to car, got geared up. I kept a safety pin inside my shorts and safety pinned my key in my pocket so I wouldn't lose it.  I put the gu in my pocket and with phone in hand, we made our way to the corrals. 

This was way more crowded than the turkey trot. But was able to hook up with my Houston friend. And we got to catch up for a while. He was running with his cousin.  

Pre-Race Selfie

Can you tell this was with an iPhone 4s?

Pre-Race Photo with my Friend

We quickly realized we were in different corrals. And for the first time, I learned how a big race corral system works. When you register, they ask how fast you're gonna finish. When I registered back on September 30, I didn't know. I've never done a race like this before. I took a guess. 2 hours 30 minutes? Sure! What the hell did I know? From the Turkey Trot, I learned that being towards the front was great because you could go you're own speed, so I knew I wanted to be at the front, and my friend agreed. Then we realized we'd be in different corrals. My friend is much faster than I. He's been running longer. He was in corral 2, my wife and I were in corral 3. So after some time catching up, we went our own ways. 

His Pre-Race advice was the following. 1. Get as far up in your corral as you can, if you're running 9 minute miles, you don't need to be like Barry Sanders and dodging everyone doing 11-12 minute miles. 2. ALWAYS get water. Don't get the gatorade stuff they like to hand out. Get the water, even if you think you're not thirsty. Just take it. Getting dehydrated isn't fun. We agreed to find each other after the race, and we parted. 

The wife and I got to our corral with about 15-20 minutes to spare, but felt like we were the last people there. They funnel you in the back of the corral and then you have a cattle situation. Nobody wants to upset the heard, but some people really want to get to the front. 

Corral 3

We did our best, and the race had approximate times per mile posted so you could try to get near the one you thought you'd run. We only made it up to about 11:00/mile or 11:30/mile. Immediately, I knew we'd be with the slow of the pack. 

8:00 AM -- National Anthem. Countdown. START! but not us. We're corral 3. There were two other corrals that get to go first. We didn't quite start until about 8:08. But we slowly walked towards the starting line like cattle. Just before we got there, I let it all go. Mentally. Telling myself, this is not a competition with others. It's not even a competition with myself. It's a celebration of the work I've put together over the last 12 weeks. The last 24 weeks really. Since June 30, when I made a promise to myself to lose weight. Since my birthday, when I knew I had made a lifestyle change to lead healthier lifestyle. Since the following week, when I decided to do this race. To do it for my dad. Again, this race started and stopped very near City Hall, the place where, as a kid, I would visit him at work when he worked with the City Auditor's office and his boss, Daniel Paul, would give me a pen with his name on it. Those events from 25 years ago, burned in my memory today, but without my dad here to root me on, instead....in my heart. 

We crossed the starting line, and we were off! Again, the race started down Young Street. I wanted to run with Meredith for at least the first mile. She made sure I knew I didn't have to since she knew my pace was faster than hers. No worries, I had warned her, however, that after the first mile, I might be off like Usain Bolt. My legs were very rested and ready to be used. I didn't want to deny them that opportunity.  Of course, I felt like I was walking at the beginning. I'm used to running a 9 min - 9:30 mile. Our first mile was about 10:18. But we ran it together because that's what we do. We're a team. She had made the commitment to run with me in this race to support me and as a team in life, we do things together. So I was going to run with her.   

We made the left turn on Cesar Chavez and were approaching the first mile marker. Once we made it, I kissed my wife goodbye and told her I'd find her at the end. I stretched my legs out for the stride they desired and began running like an NFL running back dodging blockers and trying to score a touchdown...12.1 miles away. I was flying. At least I felt like it. The 2nd mile took us up main street into Deep Ellum and through the Baylor Hospital district. I did this mile in 7:48. I was back on pace already. 

Dodging people really was difficult. Some people wouldn't move as they were running with a friend and were running shoulder to shoulder. I found myself on sidewalks, curbs, and criss crossing traffic. At one point during mile 3, I had to stop and tie my shoe. Of all things, You'd think I would have learned to tuck my laces in. But I had forgotten. All that prep work the night before, but I forgot to tuck my laces in this morning?

My third mile was in 8:44, and I crossed the 5K marker when I spotted some restrooms. Of course, I had to pee. There were about 12 port-a-potties lined up on Caddo Street and a line. I got in line, this one moved faster than the one I was in at the turkey trot. In and out, I was back on the road. At this point, the field started stretching out. The slower runners were still behind me and the faster ones were in front. I was with my pace group mostly. Even with the pit stop, I still did mile 4 in 9:42. As Lemmon approached Turtle Creek, signs were directing runners who were participating in the marathon Relay to the right. I stayed to the left and made the turn. Coming up on Mile 5, I saw a few runners with fresh legs hit the pavement and running fast, they all looked like they had to catch up with someone, but not me. I had my tunes in my ear and I was cruising at my pace. 

Mile 5 was in 8:42 and Mile 6 was in 9:16. This was the part where we were on Drexel. Drexel was important to me because my former boss lived on this street. She had passed away 2 and a half years before.  My memory of her was quite fond. She brought me into my current profession and coached me along the way. She was a very kind person and always knew exactly what to say to make you feel better about whatever ailed you. At this point of the race, my thoughts turned to her as we ran through Highland Park. I was sure that if she were still with us, she'd be outside supporting me with all of the other runners. 

After a while you start to ignore them.

During mile 7, I saw a former co-worker who is also a trainer. She works events like marathons or athletic tournaments to be on hand if anyone needs medical assistance. I got to give her a high five and then regretted it later when I didn't get a pic with her. But in the heat of running, your mind starts to wander and we don't think clearly. Only thinking about feet and not tripping. Mile 7 was in 9:03.

We crossed over central expressway (US 75), made it to Greenville Ave, and headed south. Mile 8 was in 9:25. Greenville was a fun street to run down. Lots of people out watching. Lots of bars. Tons of stuff going on. So much so, that I found myself in the middle of the street trying to take it all in. That's where I tripped on one of the lane markers in the middle of the street. I nearly fell on  my face. But recovered and kept running like nothing happened. Suave. 

Mile 9 was in 9:10.  During Mile 10, the race people began preparing the racers for the split. We headed down Munger and this is where the marathoners make the turn towards the lake and us half-marathoners make our turn for the finish line. I made mile 10 in 9:08.

Mile 11 was approaching the farthest distance I had run in my life to this point. And that was just last week. I felt like I had some gas left in the tank too. I was tired, sure, but I was going to make it...I thought. Mile 11 was in 9:07.

Then there was mile 12. This is the mile where all self-doubt laid it on me heavily. You know that little voice that says, "WTF, man!"  Well, it was screaming in my ear. I knew I could do it though. We had made the turn back towards downtown and I was back on Main street. Headed back towards deep ellum. Mile 12 was 9:24. 

Last mile, I could see downtown clearly. It had started to rain a light drizzle a few miles back. I had made all my intended water stops. I knew, according to the app on my phone I was running a good pace. I actually caught up with the pacer for a 2:10 half marathon. I thought there was a chance I could catch up with the 2 hr half-marathon pacer, but wasn't sure. So my goal time was in sight. But my music was off.

I had planned this for months. If you read my last post, you know about my running music and my affinity with the choral version of Barber's Agnus Dei. I wanted Agnus Dei to play for me as I finished mile 13, so I could roll into the finish line thinking about my dad and how he did so much for me growing up. Like coaching my baseball teams and being at every concert and every football and baseball game for me even if he couldn't be here today.  But it was still a few songs left. I quickly messed with my phone to cue it up. And I had it playing. 

It carried me. On wings. My legs were beat, but still moving. I could make it. I wasn't out of breath. I was running. I was accomplishing another goal in my life. The streets were lined with spectators, anxiously waiting to catch a glimpse of their runner.  Maybe a dad, son, mom, sister, or just a friend who is running. Maybe they were waiting for the winner, who coincidentally was probably about to finish. But I felt like they were all there for me. Finishing my half-marathon, the ultimate achievement in my running odyssey thus far, was a magical experience. And then it was over. 2:05:01. Just over 2 hours. When I had filled out the registration a few months before, I thought It would be more like 2:30. I was ecstatic for the time to be this good. 

As soon as you cross the line, they hand you this space ship blanket and your medal. 

Fear the beard. Post Race selfie.

They have photo opportunities available, but all I wanted was a banana and some water.They wrapped the maze around forever, but I found them. Energy bars, fruit and water. I took several. Checking my phone for my friend's status, he texted me, and we met up. He was so proud of me! He thought I had a great running time in my first half. 

As we waited for my wife to finish, we shared experiences as I got a stretch in. I had signed up for alerts to know when she'd be finishing. She finished not long after me in 2:23.  

It was a whirlwind of a weekend. Topped of with an accomplishment I thought was pretty fantastic. The roller coaster of emotions of running a Half-Marathon turned out to be worth it. Having friends and family near was really very special for me. But my legs were beat. I could barely walk, let alone drive. Sitting in the car going to get the kids, my legs barely worked. I couldn't believe some people actually wanted to do what I just did TWICE in the SAME DAY! That is just crazy talk. I had considered at one point trying to train for the Cowtown Marathon, but after today's race, I put that on hold. I was no longer sure. 

We got the kids to their pageant rehearsal and sat in the back while they went through everything. Which probably wasn't a good idea. We just sat there. Our legs were stiffening up. After this experience I did some reading up on proper post race activities, and sitting down and not moving isn't one of them. Its best to keep moving just to let the blood in the legs get back to normal. We didn't eat lunch until after the pageant and treated ourselves to some Sonic. I got the Bacon-Cheeseburger because, well, I wanted it and didn't worry about the calories. It was the best damn burger I'd had in a long time. 

My future for running at this point was uncertain. I wasn't sure about a marathon. Maybe I could be one of those people who runs a bunch of half-marathons. Maybe I could just slide into a weekly workout routine for fitness. Like back on my birthday, when I felt lost with no goal, something was missing. I wasn't sure what was next for me. Achieving a goal is so great, but where does that lead a person? What's next? I don't know.

Jason is an avid Dallas Cowboys fan and a wicked BBQ cook best known for his brisket.

The Playlist (Part I)

As mentioned in a previous post, one of the things that keep me moving is the music pumping through the buds in my ears. I just get so pumped when I hear it. My wife prefers the radio. But when I run, I'm the DJ. I get to choose. So its important to pick the right stuff that makes you feel your best to get you to your peak performance. In this case, it's music which can induce emotions suitable to get you through rough spots.

As a freshman at the University of North Texas. I pledged Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a fraternal music organization.  The Fifth purpose of the fraternity was to "Instill in all people an awareness of music's important role in the enrichment of the human spirit."  I justify this post for that purpose. The national organization has many notable alums including, John Phillip Sousa, Fred Rogers (of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood), Andy Griffith, Burl Ives, and Oscar Winner J.K. Simmons.

So I thought I would share a little about my playlist so that you could get a glimpse into what I run with.

My addiction to working out with music started with the cycle classes, some call them spin class. Spin Class is basically a bunch of people on stationary bicycles with loud music pumping and a trainer yelling at you to pretend you're riding up a hill or on a flat road in big bicycle race.  As I was regularly attending these classes at the YMCA, the music selection was always an integral part of my workout.  It was always great to pedal to the beat of the music. As a musician, it's hard not to find yourself pedaling, tapping, or running in step to the tempo. When the Mrs. and I run on treadmills together when its raining or snowing, I always catch her smirking at me when I play the air drums. I'm not gonna apologize, its what I do. 

I'm gonna go through Some of my favorites in my playlist and give you some info on each song. Links provided go to YouTube for a listen. 

The Distance 
By: Cake 
Favorite Line: Reluctantly crouched at the starting line,
Engines pumping and thumping in time.
The green light flashes, the flags go up.
Churning and burning, they yearn for the cup
What I like about it: There is a reason this is my first song of the running playlist. This is what I'm listening to on the starting line before the gun goes off or as I'm walking down the street to my starting line, which is the playground on the end of our street. It just gets me amped up.  I also like Cake for their use of the trumpet in their songs. 
Approximate Distance: 0 miles

Turn Down for What

By: DJ Snake and Lil Jon

Favorite Line: Actually this song is pretty dumb. I don't listen to the lyrics. 

What I like about it: The beat and the tempo. 
Approximate Distance: First mile

All Mixed Up
By: 311
Favorite Line: You've got to trust your instinct, and let go of regret. 
What I like about it: Tempo. This is a good tempo run. I've got my best tempo runs at the beginning. It sets my 'race pace' I know that if I'm in step with these, I know I'll be good for the run. 
Approximate Distance: 2nd 

Grace is Gone
By: Dave Matthews Band
Favorite Line: I could never love again, so much as I love you.
What I like about it: This is a little more chill of a sound. Not a pace song, just reminds me of where I am. You'll notice a lot Dave Matthews Band in my playlist. This is the first one.
Approximate Distance: End of my first mile. 

The Best of What's around
By: Dave Matthews Band
Favorite Line: I don't really have a favorite line in this. Recorded in the mid-90's its vintage Dave. 
What I like about it: This gets me back on pace again. This is the song 
Approximate Distance: Crossing mile one  +/- 0.1miles

Lose Yourself By: Oscar Winning rapper, Eminem
Favorite Line: Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity, To seize everything you ever wanted. one moment Would you capture it? Or just let it slip?
What I like about it: This tempo is about 172 bpm. It is my perfect running pace. It paces me at about 8:30/mile depending on my stride length. 
Approximate Distance: This is playing as I cross the 2 mile mark. If the first 2 miles are warmup. I'm warm at this point. That's why this song is places where it is. I'm warm. I set my pace to this song and I do my run. It is literally perfection. Also, like he says in the song, I Lose Myself in the music, the moment, I own it. The same goes for my race. I think about a lot of motivations I have for my running and this song brings out the emotion in many of them. 

Empire State of Mind By: Jay-Z (featuring Alicia Keys)
Favorite Line: The chorus talks about New York being a concrete Jungle. That's how I feel when I'm running along the streets and sidewalks. Although, Not a real concrete jungle. I am, in fact, running on concrete. 
What I like about it: 174 BPM. I'm able to set my pace throughout Mile 2. 
Approximate Distance: 2nd half of Mile 2. 

Get Up offa that thing By: James Brown
Favorite Line: None. I don't listen to this one for the lyrics. I just dig soul, man.
What I like about it: James Brown. My mood at this point, is that I got up off my ass back in June 2014 and started working out. Now I'm running. Every morning, when I'm up before 5 AM to do a run, I have to get up offa that thang.
Approximate Distance: Starting Mile 3. 

Stay (Wasting Time) By: Dave Matthews Band
Favorite Line: N/A
What I like about it: Uptempo Dave Matthews Band 
Approximate Distance: During Mile 3


There are 62 songs in my current running playlist. When I hear one on the radio I think would be good, I add it. Can't really have too many, can ya?  I generally start my playlist with my long run and pick up where I left off from the last run, making it through most of my play list throughout the week. 

There is one song, however, that is the most powerful for me. I don't know why. I've always enjoyed its chords. Its an expressive piece of choral music that I happened to be listening to at a very memorable point in my life. And for that reason, I have vivid imagery come to mind when I hear it.  The tune is Samuel Barber's Agnus Dei.  This is the choral version of Adagio for Strings. The version I listen to is based on the version heard in the movie "Platoon" which sounds totally random, but makes  a little sense when used in context.  You can listen to a portion of that version here. 

The imagery I have is based on the final minutes of a man's life when he is dying. Of Course, I think about my father as this is the song I was listening to in the car when I was on my way to see him for the last time. 

The Latin being sung is 

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.

which means:

Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.

Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.

Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

I am very particular about this song. In my runs, I want it to be played at an exact moment, and for races, I will be sure to use a best estimated guess to be sure it plays when I need to hear it most. It plays for 6 minutes and 15 seconds. Its not long, but its enough time to gather up all my strength and finish strong. For my dad. 

Music is a part of me. It always has been. Not every runner uses a playlist. But if you're trying to put one together, you just have to find the music that moves you. These songs move me. I'll have another playlist post in the future to share