It’s funny the things you remember…
Many times while driving, I recall one of the questions I got wrong on a quiz in my high school driver training class:
Q: What is a signal light that has been green for a long time called?
A: A stale green light
ZOOM, ZOOM!
Training Journal – 3/27/12:
…and wearing that safety belt-clip thingy is advisable.
Training Journal – 3/26/12:
I could’ve sworn I heard someone yell “Run Forrest, Run!” on my morning run today. I looked around – no one. Must have been the voices in my head…
Training Journal – 3/25/12:
I was looking out the window of my Father-In-Law’s hospital room this afternoon and think I found the “problem patient” check out door…
Training Journal – 3/24/12:
I’m registered to run the San Jose Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon in October – have been since the beginning of November 2011.
Yesterday, I saw a comment about how the Rock ‘n’ Roll Series handles runners who don’t maintain the required pace in their races.
One option participants have is to:
“Board a “sag wagon” shuttle to move forward on the course, where they may continue to participate in the event, maintaining the minimum pace required.”
The person who posted the comment went on to state:
I guess I would have to agree with the poster. How is busing people forward so they can finish with (or ahead of!) someone who invested time and sweat in training (or even no training at all) right? Does that effectively mean that, short of a medical emergency (which is option 3) or picking up the pace (which is option 1), there are no DNFs (did not finish) at Rock ‘n’ Roll events? In looking at the 2011 results for San Jose, there are 104 people who finished over the 4 hour time limit and 92 in 2010 (assuming that the current limit of 4 hours was in effect back then.) Further, post-4-hour finishers can print a finisher certificate with their time and no indication of the post-time limit finish. I also didn’t note any asterisks indicating “use of ‘sag wagon'” near people’s names.
Anyway, no one from the San Jose RnR page responded to the March 18 comment and, prior to writing this post left a comment that reads:
“RNRSJ – Any response/comment to Bart’s post below? Is his interpretation of the “Board a “sag wagon” shuttle to move forward on the course, where they may continue to participate in the event, maintaining the minimum pace required.” option accurate? Does this option only get the runner a shirt or do they get to cross the finish, get a medal, and certificate?”
If “sag wagon” users get to run across the finish, get a finish line photo, get a medal, and a certificate, well, that’s just wrong. Even my non-running, Dennisyou’rekindafreakyaboutthisrunningthing-thinking wife agrees!
We’ll see if any RnR rep responds to Bart’s or my post – I will update this post if anyone does. I saw a few posts about this practice when I did a Google: here and here. The first post says that Disney gives medals to all runners and not just finishers – ouch…guess I won’t be running with mickey.
Now, to the “Conflicted Runner” part of this post…
Maybe I’m just overreacting and being nitpicky, but I’m seriously considering not running the San Jose Rock ‘n’ Roll.
I just started running (from couch-to-5K) in September 2011, so it’s not like I’m some ultra-skilled, widely-experienced runner. I’m just an average person who is now hooked and committing time and effort to training…and having a ball along the way. Running races is where the rubber meets the road: “The difference between a jogger and a runner is an entry blank.” (Dr. George Sheehan.)
The principle issue here is with an organizer even offering this option.
Certainly people don’t plan on sag wagonning their way to the finish – at least I hope not. I expect that when people (like me) register for a race like a half or full marathon (or any distance for that matter), they expect to finish and take the steps to prepare (some better than others, some not at all.) Personally, if I had to take a sag wagon, I wouldn’t feel right about getting the race benefits – even the complimentary shirt, certainly not a medal.
I guess for those reasons, I may just count the $70 registration as a loss and select another race in that general time period. I already found three good candidates – better read their rules and regulations.
What are your thoughts on this? What would you do? Am I just overreacting?
Training Journal – 3/23/12:
Sometimes, that’s all one can say…
I’m ready for tomorrow morning’s 5 mile run already!
Training Journal – 3/22/12:
A friend on Facebook just posted:
“Anyone else look at senior citizens and wonder what trials
they’ve gone through, what struggles they’ve endured?”
A person on Twitter recently tweeted:
“Behind every sweet smile there is a bitter sadness
that no one can ever see and feel.”
I often think something similar as I see people through my day:
“What’s going on in your life? Are you happy, hurting, sad, mad, …?
What’s the real story?”
Maybe people think the same thing about me…
I guess today rates a reflective and contemplative post.
On a lighter note, I did have a great run this morning!
Training Journal – 3/21/12:
This past Sunday, I ran the 29th Emerald Across The Bay up in San Francisco. The race was is 12K, point-to-point from Fort Baker, up to and across the Golden Gate Bridge, down around to Fort Point, and then on to the finish near the east side of Fort Mason.
I did notice one interesting thing that my Garmin had issues with. It got a bit confused on reflecting elevation when I ran across the portion of the bridge without earth under it – going from ~190′ to 0′ and back again:
As it was for last week’s 408K in San Jose, the day was PERFECT for a run. The temp was fine for shorts and long sleeves; and the sky had just a few clouds blowing through. The tailwind was also a plus as all 2,179 of us crossed the bridge! I mean come on – with a sunrise and sky like those below, who wouldn’t want to run – especially across the Golden Gate!
Anyway, The race was extremely organized and well run – from arrival, parking ($10 for 4 hours at Ghirardelli Square for racers!), transportation to the start, sweats check, starting line control, on-course management and directions, etc. – EVERYTHING was on point and made the race enjoyable.
Call me crazy, but I just can’t bring myself to stop mid-race and take pictures – even running up toward the Golden Gate from Fort Baker. Believe me, I looked at it, took it in, thought it would make a great photo, but just couldn’t take out my iPhone. So, here are some shots I did take (BTW, there were more people at the post-race expo, that shot was after most had left):
My Race
Like the weather, my race day – on a personal level – was all I asked for. I left home early to avoid any traffic and parking rush and got to Aquatic Park at about 0615. I parked at Ghirardelli Square, located a clean, flushing toilet(!), and took care of pre-race business. I headed to the bus pick-up zone and got my bearings – still with enough time to sit in Starbucks for a coffee. Just before 0700, I boarded the shuttle bus to Fort Baker with the growing mass of people. It was a nice ride and offered some good views of the bay and Bridge.
The bus dropped people off and the groups walked to the start queue area for pre-race sweats check, potty breaks, warm-ups, etc. It was great to see the wide variety of people running…and standing in the sun to keep warm.
I was part of the third wave start – which I signed up for back in November 2011. Given my current training level, I probably should have opted for the first or second wave, but at the time all this was an unknown. My goal time for the race was 68 to 69 minutes, based on a conservative, negative split pace plan ranging from 9:30 to 8:30 – not knowing how I’d do on the climb to the bridge deck or the final climb at Fort Mason.
Pffft – sixty-eight, shmixty-eight!
With a GOOD tailwind, locating and pacing some good, fellow runners, and, quite honestly, and my training (including my tempo and hill repeat sessions), I blew the 68 minute goal out of the water by five minutes with better-than-planned pacing (see below.) I ran all the hills (two: up [8.4 and 8.7% grade*] and down [5.1 and 7.8% grade*]), with a climb-to-the-deck pace of 9:20 and a climb in Fort Mason pace of 8:13.
This being my ninth organized race since starting to run last September: ME HAPPY!
Results:
Garmin time: 1:03:15 at an 8:24/mile pace.
Official time: 1:03:17 at an 8:32/mile pace.
Wrap-Up
As I wrote above – it was a great day. I hung around at the expo for a bit, watched the top finisher awards presentation, grabbed another Starbucks, and headed home. My post-race meal was a great one at El Burro, where I gorged on CHIPS…chased with a couple of tacos and a little bit of beans & rice.
I can really see and connect the benefits of training – especially with this race since it incorporated hills (up & down), wind, some trail, a lot of pavement, and other factors. I can’t imagine doing without the structure of a training plan.
I’m hooked and having a blast…
Next up:
Giddy-Up!
Training Journal – 3/20/12:
(*by my rise/distance calculation at least)
So my wife and I saw The Descendants a few weeks ago and I subsequently bought the soundtrack. The whole album is great, but I find myself humming, even whistling the final track – Ka Mele O Ku’u Pu’uwai – constantly!
The video below isn’t the version on the soundtrack – that one is by Sol Hoopii‘s Novelty Trio. It’s close, though it doesn’t seem to have the memorable effect that Sol Hoopii’s does. Enjoy!
[Translation of the lyrics here]
Training Journal – 3/19/12:
This morning’s run: Emerald Across the Bay – full report tomorrow…
Training Journal – 3/18/12:
DENNARR(dot)COM 