Thursday, March 31, 2005
I'm in for the half marathon-- I'm enough of a creature of habit that I can't resist spending some of my Memorial Day weekend out there. When Jim first proposed the biathalon I said that I can be talked into almost anything, and that appears to have been true-- I'll be cruising the schoolyards looking for a bike, I think.
I refered to KRAC as an "organization" this morning and I thought A. was going to choke. "It's not an organization," she said, "It's four guys in a bar." "Not always in a bar," I replied, "And we have a web site!"
I refered to KRAC as an "organization" this morning and I thought A. was going to choke. "It's not an organization," she said, "It's four guys in a bar." "Not always in a bar," I replied, "And we have a web site!"
Monday, March 28, 2005
"This album cover was made because not enough people in Tinos hometown hated him." 10 worst album covers of all time.
Friday, March 25, 2005
One more, just for fun. This was somewhere in the first 10k, I think, probably before we crossed the railroad tracks just ahead of the long, long freight train that cut off the people in the pack trailing us. (That's my glove on the left edge of the photograph.) The event is timed the way it is because they can't run it when the Seaway is open. A few years back a barge carrying emergency coal came down the Seaway as the race was going over the liftbridge, just like in a cartoon. It is not exactly clear to me how this race comes by the title "Oldest in North America"-- the event that it traces itself back to was run on Christmas Day, 1894,and the course has changed several times, as has the distance. When I pointed this out the Canadians I was running with all acted hurt, so I recanted. They are a sensitive bunch, and if things keep on in this country the way they have been, I may have to move there, so I don't want to upset them unnecessarily. (If you really want to waste time on this, there is a movie, which captures the event pretty well. Watch for the Bunny on the bridge-- I'm over to his left.
For the most part the other pix Brightroom took make me look even more like Captain Kirk than this one does. I guess that makes this one the keeper, although I kinda like this one too.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
As it turns out I finished about a minute behind the Pace Bunny I ran most of the race with, so I didn't get a chance to thank him. Geoff Carman, thanks, dude. You were a blast to spend under three and a half hours with.
Monday, March 21, 2005
I guess there aren't too many cities that are shown to best advantage in mid-March: certainly Hamilton isn't. The Utica of the Yukon actually is a lot like Buffalo, but not in a good way. The neighborhood where the convention centre and my hotel were situated is right in the heart of downtown, and is actually a little seedier than anything we have now-- more like Chippewa in the old days. The Expo where I picked up my packet was crowded, but there wasn't anything that tempted me particularly: sometimes I think I'd like some maple leaf running stuff, but I can never bring myself to pull the trigger, what with not being Canadian and all. A woman, obviously a runner, was chasing after her child. "Miles, you get back here," she said, and I immediately felt sorry for the kid's imaginary twin sister, Kay. I thought about driving the course after I picked up my packet, then thought better of it. I checked into the hotel instead, then went scouting around for someplace to eat. A. and I have been to a German place in Hamilton a few times in the past-- I happened on it, but thought that perhaps wurst was not the best plan.
The hotel was full of runners and a convention of Goth looking youth who apparently play at being vampires. It was an interesting collection of body types, and there was no confusing one for the other. I watched some hoops while I considered what to wear for the race. In an abundance of caution I'd brought a rather large selection, figuring that weather was going to be a pretty big variable. It had been surprisingly cold wandering around downtown, and the weather report was calling for snow or freezing rain. I got up a couple of times to stabilize my hydration status-- the wind was rattling the windows. When I woke up in the morning, the ground was white, and a heavy wet snow was falling. That decided me-- winter cap instead of billed cap, two base layers and the long sleeved grey tee shirt Golds was handing out at the Shamrock on to as a throw down.
There were pace groups all over the start: apparently the Canadian thing is to outfit them in caps with rabbit ears, and call them Pace Bunnies. The Pace Bunny I fell in with was a big Jewish guy, about 6'4", 280, with a chest length red beard. He looked like he could give Jacob a wrestling match, and made a point of running up on the sidewalk to goose every small dog he saw. He also ran like a metronome, and had a plan for the course.
The race is probably best thought of as three units: the first 10k runs through and out of the back of downtown Hamilton, the second runs more or less up to the QE then between the QE and the lake, and the third is what kills you. There wasn't too much to look at up to the halfway mark, just before the lift bridge: the neighborhood reminds me of the Old First Ward, working class, with the mills looming over it. At the halfway mark I thought to myself, "This isn't so bad. I could run at this pace all day."
At about that point, the hills begin. Really there is nothing so tough about the change in terrain to that point-- they sort of roll along, and for the first time the course becomes attractive, running through an upscale neighborhood, with the bay to our left, and the city on the other side. "These are just to soften you up," grunted one of the members of our group. There was one fairly tough climb, right after the half marathon point, and then it flattened out for about a mile. We were out of the wind, and it was flat: it felt glorious. We rounded a corner, and there it was. You could see the line of ants climbing it, and there was nothing about it that looked easy. We had a dip down into a valley, then over a wooden footbridge and up. I guess it is a little less than a full kilometer long, and about as steep as the Mother all the way up. I'd felt pretty strong going into it, but by the time I crested it I had nothing. I ran the final 2k on rubber legs, in a daze. It was like a body blow-- I don't think I've ever hit something quite like that before. I had been fine, and then I was wiped out. At the 28k mark a guy dressed as the Grim Reaper greeted the runners: "I'm ready for you!" The finish line bobbled in front of me, I grit my teeth, and pushed through. It was downhill at that point, or I don't think I'd have made it.
And then the toughest part of all: the four block walk back to the hotel. Wrapped in my space blanket like a big baked potato, I staggered along King Street. "Did you win?" asked the cigarette-breathed characters lurking in the doorways of the bingo parlors and adult bookstores. I had time for a shower, then drove back.
I'd do it again, but not by myself. I'd certainly recommend it. I was not as under-trained as I'd feared-- the challenge of the event is not the distance as much as it is the course.
The hotel was full of runners and a convention of Goth looking youth who apparently play at being vampires. It was an interesting collection of body types, and there was no confusing one for the other. I watched some hoops while I considered what to wear for the race. In an abundance of caution I'd brought a rather large selection, figuring that weather was going to be a pretty big variable. It had been surprisingly cold wandering around downtown, and the weather report was calling for snow or freezing rain. I got up a couple of times to stabilize my hydration status-- the wind was rattling the windows. When I woke up in the morning, the ground was white, and a heavy wet snow was falling. That decided me-- winter cap instead of billed cap, two base layers and the long sleeved grey tee shirt Golds was handing out at the Shamrock on to as a throw down.
There were pace groups all over the start: apparently the Canadian thing is to outfit them in caps with rabbit ears, and call them Pace Bunnies. The Pace Bunny I fell in with was a big Jewish guy, about 6'4", 280, with a chest length red beard. He looked like he could give Jacob a wrestling match, and made a point of running up on the sidewalk to goose every small dog he saw. He also ran like a metronome, and had a plan for the course.
The race is probably best thought of as three units: the first 10k runs through and out of the back of downtown Hamilton, the second runs more or less up to the QE then between the QE and the lake, and the third is what kills you. There wasn't too much to look at up to the halfway mark, just before the lift bridge: the neighborhood reminds me of the Old First Ward, working class, with the mills looming over it. At the halfway mark I thought to myself, "This isn't so bad. I could run at this pace all day."
At about that point, the hills begin. Really there is nothing so tough about the change in terrain to that point-- they sort of roll along, and for the first time the course becomes attractive, running through an upscale neighborhood, with the bay to our left, and the city on the other side. "These are just to soften you up," grunted one of the members of our group. There was one fairly tough climb, right after the half marathon point, and then it flattened out for about a mile. We were out of the wind, and it was flat: it felt glorious. We rounded a corner, and there it was. You could see the line of ants climbing it, and there was nothing about it that looked easy. We had a dip down into a valley, then over a wooden footbridge and up. I guess it is a little less than a full kilometer long, and about as steep as the Mother all the way up. I'd felt pretty strong going into it, but by the time I crested it I had nothing. I ran the final 2k on rubber legs, in a daze. It was like a body blow-- I don't think I've ever hit something quite like that before. I had been fine, and then I was wiped out. At the 28k mark a guy dressed as the Grim Reaper greeted the runners: "I'm ready for you!" The finish line bobbled in front of me, I grit my teeth, and pushed through. It was downhill at that point, or I don't think I'd have made it.
And then the toughest part of all: the four block walk back to the hotel. Wrapped in my space blanket like a big baked potato, I staggered along King Street. "Did you win?" asked the cigarette-breathed characters lurking in the doorways of the bingo parlors and adult bookstores. I had time for a shower, then drove back.
I'd do it again, but not by myself. I'd certainly recommend it. I was not as under-trained as I'd feared-- the challenge of the event is not the distance as much as it is the course.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
3:24:20.1. That works out to a 10:57 mile pace-- just about my pace in Chicago. I have to admit, I just took a look at marathons that are being run five or so weeks out-- Prague, and Copenhagen are at the end of May; closer to home the Flying Pig in Cincinnati or Cleveland. Of course, the Paris Marathon is April 4. Not this year. Around the Bay was a blast, a very interesting challenge, and a worthwhile thing to do as an end in itself. I'll have more to say when I can keep my head off the keyboard.
Friday, March 18, 2005
Reverend Horton Heat/Supersuckers, Tralf, May 4th. YEE-HAW!
Thursday, March 17, 2005
From Looka! a menu and recipies for a meal I am thinking might be fun to do....
Sunday, March 13, 2005
Is Runner's World racist? Or is it just that pictures of women in sports bras sells magazines? (Via "A Whole Lot of Nothing".)
Friday, March 11, 2005
I posted a query about Around the Bay on BuffaloRunners.com and got some chilling feedback. This is the best:
"I'll keep it simple for you. This is a course in which you have to experience at least two times before you improve on it. The first 15k is a free-bee. That's the way I look at it. You are practially given the first 15K. At around the 20K mark, you will get slow and gradually rolling hills as the course heads towards the residential area.
For the next four to five miles, you will be experiencing some impressive hills. None that cannot be handled if you let the first 15K serve its purpose. Mile 16 is the most difficult. You will have a very large downhill. When you are at this section, my best advice to you is to use every bit of what that downhill is worth. You will need the momentum to use for the final hill of Around the Bay.
This hill is a monster. It will test you for all that you are made up of and it will slow you down about 3/4's of the way up. My advice is to maintain leg turnover and shorten your stride at this point. Once you get to the top, there will be a left turn towards Hamilton, where the rest of the course will be downhill. It is noticable as well. Your legs will feel it. Just let gravity do the work for you at this point.
Hope that this helps."
Yeah, that helps.
"I'll keep it simple for you. This is a course in which you have to experience at least two times before you improve on it. The first 15k is a free-bee. That's the way I look at it. You are practially given the first 15K. At around the 20K mark, you will get slow and gradually rolling hills as the course heads towards the residential area.
For the next four to five miles, you will be experiencing some impressive hills. None that cannot be handled if you let the first 15K serve its purpose. Mile 16 is the most difficult. You will have a very large downhill. When you are at this section, my best advice to you is to use every bit of what that downhill is worth. You will need the momentum to use for the final hill of Around the Bay.
This hill is a monster. It will test you for all that you are made up of and it will slow you down about 3/4's of the way up. My advice is to maintain leg turnover and shorten your stride at this point. Once you get to the top, there will be a left turn towards Hamilton, where the rest of the course will be downhill. It is noticable as well. Your legs will feel it. Just let gravity do the work for you at this point.
Hope that this helps."
Yeah, that helps.
Saturday, March 05, 2005
It was really a perfect day for the Shamrock, clear, dry and sunny with a temperature that was probably in the mid 30s. Jim said, "I know I probably say this all the time, but all I'm looking to do is a nice training pace." This is, in fact, pretty much what we did, although that still meant that he smoked me. Jim was 802nd over all, 93rd in his age group, 42:38, 8:35 pace. I lagged behind, 95th in my age group, 43:10, 8:41 pace. We ran together for the first 3+ miles, then I slacked off. The beer at the post race tent was Genny Lite, and I think it was actually kinda old Genny Lite-- two was all we could force down. To Gene McCarthy's then, the bar at the turn for the last .8 of The Longest Mile in Buffalo. I hadn't been in there before, and mobbed was putting it mildly, but the potables were potable, and there was a band that played "The Unicorn Song" and just about every other Irish essential. A quality afternoon, even if I was pokey.
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Happy Dick Butkus Birthday to Dave!
It's weird to think I've known him for 30 years. And he still wears the same gym shorts.
It's weird to think I've known him for 30 years. And he still wears the same gym shorts.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Over dinner tonight (penne with a nice ragu sauce, and meatballs) I murmured that it is ironic that I am afflicted with the gout. CLA, the serpent's tooth, said, "It's not ironic at all! It's cause and effect!"
As if.
In an unrelated note, I picked up my Shamrock packet this morning. Chips will not be available until Friday, but going early meant I got my hoodie in my size. They're not bad this year: as Yogi would say, they come in either Navy Blue or Navy Black, and although they sport a "Support Our Troops" logo on the back, they are less garish than in some years.
As if.
In an unrelated note, I picked up my Shamrock packet this morning. Chips will not be available until Friday, but going early meant I got my hoodie in my size. They're not bad this year: as Yogi would say, they come in either Navy Blue or Navy Black, and although they sport a "Support Our Troops" logo on the back, they are less garish than in some years.
