2011 PF Chang's Rock N Roll Half Marathon

I didn't run this summer. Fitness wise I gave almost everything I earned over the past four years back. I gained 42 pounds. I lost the ability to even run a half mile. I went back on my cholesterol medicine.

Then in October I ran. I walked and I ran some more. 2 miles a day, six times a week. I got to the point I could run a mile non stop. In December I was up to run/walking 3 or 4 miles, five days a week. Slow progress. I dropped from 252 pounds to 242. Then, to 236 before the race.

The new year arrived, but I wasn't ready for a 5k, let alone a half marathon. I was resigned to skipping the PF Chang's Half Marathon. Four days before the race, the media started telling stories of some of the runners. A guy that lost 70 pounds and others. I wanted to run. I wanted to run with all the others in the half marathon.

Could I? My longest run was a 5 mile run/walk. No where near the 13.1 miles I needed. If I slowed down, could I run/walk the first half and walk the rest?

I felt I could do that. It didn't matter how fast.

Sunday morning arrived and off I went. I brought my cell phone and another camera so I could document the day. I was part runner, part spectator. I took the light rail down and got to chat with several runners heading the same way. I arrived at the race about 10 minutes before the elites would start. I've always wanted to see a race start, so I didn't get in a corral with thousands of other racers. Instead I was about 50 yards in front of the start line. See the youtube start.

I watched as corral 1 and 2 went. Then I decided that I didn't really need to get in a corral, I would just start running from there. I figured if my garmin didn't reach 13.1 miles, I would do a loop on the course before I headed into the finish shoot. Wouldn't that be a site to see.

I hit start on my garmin and followed corral 2. Saw a couple Elvi's running. Saw a homeless man with shopping cart cheering on runners. It takes about 2 miles to get out of the downtown area. I stopped to take some pictures along the way. The first mile was at an 11:48 pace. A few minutes slower than in other half marathons. I was hoping I'd do a bunch of 12 minute miles to start.

Mile 2: 13:08
Mile 3: 13:17
Mile 4: 13:51

The slower miles were due to me not being ready for a half marathon. It's like I did the four day Couch to Half Marathon plan. Just not a good idea. Now, I was taking lots of pictures and posting them on tumblr while I walked.

I was having a good time, enjoying the spectacle that is the Rock N Roll race series. I had no time goal.

Mile 5: 14:28
Mile 6: 14:08
Mile 7: 13:54
Mile 8: 14:41
Mile 9: 15:13

Since I started real early I found that a lot, and I mean a lot of runners were passing me. I think I might have seen 90% of the half marathoners. I saw two guys dressed as bumble bees. I saw two gals playing air guitar to the music as they ran with blow up instruments. I saw one girl fall on her face, but she quickly got up. I saw two different runners in extreme pain. I guess they should have done my four day training program. But, each mile was getting longer. I was getting a bit more tired.

Mile 10: 15:54
Mile 11: 16:49
Mile 12: 14:48
Mile 13: 16:20

But, I kept marching on. Actually, I saw a guy in army fatigues, boots and carry a pack soldiering on. The race organizers have UPS trucks at the start that you can put your extra stuff in. The trucks drive to the finish, so you don't have to carry your stuff. So, I went up to the soldier and as we ran I pointed to his pack and told him they had UPS trucks for that. We both laughed. I told him thanks for his service, gave him a fist bump and we parted.

Mile 13 was slow in part, because I was conserving my energy for running in front of the large finish crowd. And when I say conserving, I mean walking. I walked until I was close to the finish and then for the last 1/3 of a mile I ran in at an 11: 49 pace. You can see all my data at my RunningAhead.com site.

I finished 3:11 minutes after I started for a 14:38 pace. This was my 13th half marathon.

10/25/2008	Run	ymca half marathon - south mtn	Race	13.1 Mi	2:43:25	12:29
12/9/2007	Run	Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon	Race	13.1 Mi	2:27:41	11:17
10/27/2007	Run	ymca half marathon - south mtn	Race	13.1 Mi	2:49:30	12:57
10/7/2007	Run	Casa Grande Half Marathon	Race	13.1 Mi	2:34:49	11:50
3/18/2007	Run	Valley of Gold Half Marathon	Race	13.1 Mi	2:42:53	12:27
2/18/2007	Run	Lost Dutchman Half Marathon	Race	13.1 Mi	2:43:06	12:28
1/14/2007	Run	RnR Half Marathon Course	Race	13.1 Mi	2:47:54	12:50
/16/2011	Run	RnR Half Marathon Course	Race	13.1 Mi	3:11:33	14:38
1/17/2010	Run	RnR Half Marathon Course	Race	13.1 Mi	2:49:52	12:59
/15/2009	Run	Lost Dutchman Half Marathon	Race	13.1 Mi	2:19:47	10:41
1/31/2009	Run	Random Route	Race	13.1 Mi	2:27:15	11:15
1/18/2009	Run	RnR Half Marathon Course	Race	13.1 Mi	2:25:21	11:06
12/14/2008	Run	Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon	Race	13.1 Mi	2:32:36	11:39

It was my slowest half marathon. It was slower than my fastest by almost an hour. I had a blast. I would have loved it if I walked the whole way. I won't lie to you. I would have loved running a 2 hour half even more. But, I loved getting it done.

Now to lose some more weight and get ready for the next one.

Pictures:

Over 50 races completed

Here's a list of all the races I have done. I didn't realize that the Twin Cities Marathon was my 50th race completed since August 2006. Races 52 and 53 will be this Sunday at the Phoenix 5k/10k. I plan to run both.

Run for Brooke 5k(1)
Ghost & Goblins 5k (2)
New Times 5k (3)
Mesa Turkey Trot 10k (4)
Bumble Bee 5k (5)
PF Chang's RnR Half Marathon (6)
Run for the Islands 5k (7)
Lost Dutchman Half Marathon (8)
Ostrich Festival 5k (9)
Valley of Gold Half Marathon (10)
Summer Series (4 races) (14)
WRRC Summer Scamper 4M (15)
Remember 9/11 5k (16)
Casa Grande half Marathon (17)
Phoenix YMCA Half Marathon (18)
Race for the Cure 5k (19)
I Did A Run 5k (20)
New Times 5k (21/2)
New Times 10k (22)
Las Vegas Turkey Trot 5k (23)
Mesa Turkey Trot 10k (24/2)
Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon (25)
PF Chang's Rock N' Roll Marathon (26)
Beat the Heat 5k at Higley High (27)
Air Force Anniversary 5k(28)
Race Judicata 5k (29)
Chandler Challenge 10k (30)
YMCA Half Marathon (31/2)
Phoenix 5k (32/3)
Phoenix 10k (33/2)
Ironman AZ 5k (34)
Mesa Turkey Trot 10k (35/3)
Fiesta Bowl Half Marathon (36/2)
Paloma PTA 5k (37)
PF Chang's Rock 'N' Roll Half Marathon (38/2)
Run for the Islands 5k (39)
London's Run Half Marathon (40)
Lost Dutchman Half Marathon (41/2)
Goodyear Heart & sole 5k (42)
Ostrich Festival 5k (43/2)
Sunrise at Old Tucson 3.8m (44)
St. Pat's One Miler @ Kiwanis (45)
Sabino Canyon Sunset Run 7.4m (46)
Pat's Run 4.2m (47)
Jerome Hill Climb 4.5m (48)
Higley High 5k (49/2)
Twin Cities Marathon (50)
Santa Monica 5000 (51)

Upcoming Race Schedule

November 8: Phoenix 10k/5k. I'm running both races back to back.
November 26: Mesa Turkey trot 10k.
December 13: Tucson Marathon. 26.2 miles mostly downhill.
January 9: Kyrene de la Paloma 5k.
January 17: PF Chang's Rock N Roll Marathon.
January 30: ARR Desert Classic HM
February 14: Lost Dutchman Marathon
March 28: Bataan Memorial Deathmarch. A marathon.
April 17: Pat's Run 4.2 miles in Tempe

Tenative Schedule. I'll probably add some 5ks along the way. Who wants to join me?

P.F. Chang's Rock 'N' Roll Arizona Expo

I went to the Expo earlier today. I'm always amazed by how expensive the stuff at the expo is. I spent less than $10. Not gonna spend $24 bucks or more for a tee shirt. Not gonna spend $98 for a jacket. I'm just not gonna do it.
I did like the race tee. But, I wouldn't spend $24 for it. At the Expo I got to say hi to Bart Yasso. I haven't read his book, so I just had him sign my race bib and didn't talk to him much. I would have sat down for his talk, but I didn't want to bore Amy.

Did you know?

Did I tell you I won my age division at the Paloma PTA 5k? I beat the other guy by over 23 minutes. You gotta love small races. Yeah, I said the other guy, as in the only. other. guy. in. my. age. group.

Did a mile tonight in a little over 11 minutes. One mile gets my streak to 22. Even Ripken didn't play all 9 innings of every game.

Two teams in the Biggest Loser are from my neck of the woods. Cousins Sione Fa of Maricopa and Filipe Fa of Mesa. Dane and Blaine are BIL's from Mesa and Gilbert. Let's see if they can do what Ali Vincent did last season.

Race Checklist:

Current running shoes
running socks
Body Glide
Running shorts
Race shirt - I wear my TnT shirt from my first half.
Throw away sweatshirt (I got it for $2 at Goodwill).
ball cap
sunglasses
garmin w/ strap
Gu's, gels, nourishment

salt packet for pre race
fanny pack (on short runs I like to have my own drink, on long runs I use it to keep my gu's and cell/camera.)

money in fanny pack.
Race Bib, safety pins. I put it on the race shirt, as soon as I have it.
Place timing chip on shoe, asap
two sets of bandaids . one pair gets safety pinned to the backside of the race bib.
Race morning breakfast.
Slippers for after the race (I leave these in the car)
Sweat shirt for after the race
towel
change of clothes

Gatarade for pre race drink in large mouth bottle (in case I need to use it as a porta potty)
Gifts for my supporters (I haven't done this yet, but it would be nice if I had something small for my wife, kids or anyone else that comes out to watch me run)

Am I forgetting anything?

Running Schedule

Here's my tentative running schedule for the next few months:

September - the Run to Remember 5k on the 8th, I Did a Run 5k on the 16th, Montezuma Castle 10k on the 29th.

October - Cactus Cha Cha 3 mile Trail Run on the 13th, Race for the Cure 5k on the 14th, Ghost and Goblins 5k on the 28th. I know two of them are back to back days, but they're short races.

November - New Times 5k on the 11th, Dobson Ranch 5k on the 12th, Las Vegas Turkey Trot 5k on the 17th.

December - Half Marathon time. I am either doing the Fiesta Bowl Half in Scottsdale or the Tucson Half in Tucson.

and then in January I will be doing the Rock and Roll half marathon again.

Anyone want to come out to Arizona and run, I'd love to see you.

My Packing List

1. Current running shoes
2. Wear back up pair (you just never know)
3. running socks (I only wear these on runs of 7 miles or more)
4. Body Glide
5. Running shorts
6. Running sweats (if it might be cold)
7. Race shirt - I wear my TnT shirt from my first half.
8. Throw away sweatshirt (I got it for $2 at Goodwill).
9. ball cap
10. sunglasses
11. HRM and strap
12. or: garmin w/ strap
13. Gu's, gels, nourishment
14. fanny pack (on short runs I like to have my own drink, on long runs I use it to keep my gu's and cell/camera.)
15. Race Bib, safety pins. I put it on the race shirt, as soon as I have it.
16. Place timing chip on shoe, asap
17. two bandaids (I have them for my nipples, but I've never had that problem - yet)
18. Race morning breakfast.
19. Slippers for after the race (I leave these in the car)
20. Sweat shirt for after the race
21. towel
22. change of clothes
23. Gifts for my supporters (I haven't done this yet, but it would be nice if I had something small for my wife, kids or anyone else that comes out to watch me run)

I read Javamom's blog and having a list for race day seemed like a very good ideal. Some of these things I got from Lisa, Phil and others. If I missed anything, please let me know. I put it on my blog with a label, so I can easily find it for each race. If you'd like it on your blog, please feel free to copy and paste or link to my blog.