A10 in the monsoon

Well it was very wet race, but it was a PR for the A10.
1:25:40 or 8:34/mi
Overall: 996 of 3864
Age Group (M45-49): 117 of 350

I had a nice start and a great pace for the first three miles: 7:43, 7:42, and 7:42. Leaving the stadium and heading to Downtown Annapolis (DTA). This was awesome considered we ran thru the heaviest rain I have every ran thru.

Mile four takes you up to Navy Academy bridge and 5 miles takes you up Ritche Hwy...not fun and my time slowed with a 8:11 and 8:44...I picked up the pace in mile 6 with a 7:59.

Then comes my cramp...hit hit me hard in the right calf on mile 7, while I ways heading back down hill, still ran 8:18.

Mile 8 I ran thru the cramp the best I could, walked thru a water stop and got ready for the Bridge with a 9:45. Mile 9 has the bridge and knocked out a 9:14...

And finished the last mile back to Navy and Marine Corps Memorial Stadium with 8:24 pace....

I was happy with the race and my time...I was awesome to to have Bobbi standing in the rain cheering me in on at a couple spot along the way and at the finish...Thanks, babe.

Now I get 11 days off before I run again...Ireland here we come...

GO NAVY, Beat Notre Dame!

Old v. New

Here is the elevation for the new course of the A10 on Sunday....
The old course is the dotted line. I'll be cussing mile 4.5 to 6.5 but it is just 75 more feet elevation...
I got this...

I run 4 GR!

A10 is next week?

Just one week to go before the Annapolis 10 Mile Run.

They have changed the course so my previous PR will not be applicable. I'm not sure if it will be a easier or harder course...

My fastest 10 Miler was earlier this year in the the Cherry Pit 10 Miler, when at ran a fast 1:17:35 in South County. Yeah, that's like a 7:47/mi....

I have't been able to do a lot of speed work lately so we will see what happens next week...by previous best on the A10, although a different route, was 1:28:27...I should be able to drop that! This week just has me doing a couple short runs around Ft. Myer/Henderson Hall.

Also, after finding out some shocking news that my brother-in-law (GR) is fighting cancer, I have decide to dedicate the remaining of my races to him... I will be wearing a LIVESTRONG  bracelet for the rest of the season and I will be posting his progress as well as mine the rest of the way on here...

Ben Moore Half Marathon

So this morning was the Ben Moore Memorial Half Marathon. The website described the race like this....

"Ben trained hundreds of runners to successfully complete their first marathon. Those of us who benefited from Ben's inspiration and guidance want you to join us in a memorial run in his honor, on some of the same routes Ben led us on for 20 years.  Proceeds from the race will go to the Anne Arundel County Auxiliary Police who Ben was a part of for many years, Chesapeake Hospice House who provided compassion and support for Ben and his wife, Betty; the and Rude Ranch Animal Rescue. A new beneficiary this year will be the METAvivor organization for Stage 4 Breast Cancer awareness." (http://www.active.com/running/annapolis-md/ben-moore-memorial-half-marathon-and-10k-2012)

For this run, I did my first pre-race run...I went out two hours prior to start time and ran about 1.5 miles, not hard just a jog. This really helped my lingering bathroom problem. I went before we left the house and didn't have to go during the race. I also didn't eat  anything heavy after 3 pm the day before. I think the combination might be the way to go in the future. 

I was using this race as part of training...I was scheduled to run 12 miles today so this fit. It was not the easiest route...

Most of the course weaved in and out of some neighborhoods north of the Riva, MD area. I never could get into a rhythm...so I slugged along....

Official Results:

"There were 18 finishers in the Male 40 to 49 age group and 
175 finishers in the race. Your overall finish place was 44 and your age group finish place was 4.  Your time of 1:54:32.10 gave you a  8:44 pace per mile."

Get up that Hill

I ran Fort Whipple hill twice this morning. It is a nice long grade of a almost 150 feet acent over a half mile of distance.

Also ran over 2 miles before doing the hill twice... I had a good steady pace up the hill both times. The humidity this morning was really bad but I did hydrate before hand andhad no issues with the heat or the recent bathroon issues.

I have a short run tomorrow before I run the Ben Moore Memorial Half Marthaton on Saturday morning.

Do Do

I hate to start this blog out today with this...but I need help.

I can't figure out why I can't run more than 5 or 6 mile before I have to pooh.

I was have a good run this more and was trying to go at a good pace...

I don't know if it is when I eat or when I get up or what Id rink or eat the night before.

I really thought it was just my mind playing tricks on me. Trying anyway to get me to quit.

Below is a really good article by the Pre-dawn Runner on the mental prperation of running.

http://predawnrunner.com/2012/08/mental-toughness-running-long-straight/

But, I just think I don't know what I am doing..I really need some help on this one.