Med City Marathon.... YARGH!!!

So... for some silly reason SPHers like to think of themselves a fairly diverse lot. Marcus likes to go crazy predicting the weather and playing basketball with tiny little basketballs, Larry likes to stress out over every detail about events that we are a part of, Job likes to sleep, Eric travels the world, Elliott likes to.... ummmm... crochet?, and apparently since Jake and I signed up for the Med City Marathon, we like to run. Oh... Jake also LOOOOVES to slack line...

Anyways...

Since we're both such great runners we decided that doing tons of running leading up to the race would just be pure poppycock and a waste of time. Plus, what's more b-a than running a marathon when your recent long run is like 10 miles (or worse)? Am I right? (ok... Jake and I both had injury problems so were in doubt to even start up until a week before).

The morning started off nicely with a 20 minute wait for a bus. Then crammed three to a school bus seat out to Byron. A quick stop off to lighten the load literally seconds from starting and we were off!

Jake had mentioned that he wanted to cool it and run with me (he runs WAY faster than me) for a few miles to make sure all systems were go. That lasted about 1.5 miles until we got to the county road that goes from Byron to Rochester. I was all for him doing his thing (so I don't feel like an anchor) and he was off. I settled into a nice comfy pace. Amazingly this meant sticking to the 4:15 pacer like a remora. Note.... other than starting... this would be categorized in my head as mistake #1 for the day. I can't run a 4:15 pace for 5 miles let alone 26.2. I should have been back in the 4:30-4:45 from the get go (knowing that it was going to turn into a crapfest with the heat later... though maybe going as fast as possible early on was smart since the weather wasn't brutal until about 9 o'clock... anyway... I digress).

Things were going swimmingly as I saw our lovely wives out on the course at miles 3 and 6 (approx). But the heat was starting to ratchet up. At about mile 8 or so I passed a medical team strapping someone onto an ATV to cart him to get some medical attention. This was the only person being carted anywhere that I saw all day. Which almost is amazing considering. Anyway... I knew that at roughly mile 10.5 we'd pass by my brother's 'hood so I'd get a little sugary treat and would check in with Carly and Claire... Confidently I said "I'm doing pretty good... I'll keep going". After leaving the happy thoughts of seeing friendly faces reality hit me. I was at mile 10.5... they were going to meet up with me at mile 20. The thought of being "alone" on the course for ten miles, in the heat, with a somewhat questionable knee started to freak me out. Stupidly though the only thing that I could think of was, "I might not make it to mile 20 by the time Jake is finishing... I don't want to take that away from Jake...".

While hating the hot weather, I generally at least know my limits and drink enough to not have to really worry about heat stroke or really being in danger. After about mile 20 I was cramping when I tried to run. So while I tried jogging off and on, it was mostly walking. No one was passing me though, so EVERYONE hanging out in my snail pace was walking. The stretch of course that went around the golf course was the WORST!!! This is what it felt like:

I kept going... grabbing ice when I could. Walking slowly through sprinklers when I could. Getting ANY shade I could even if it meant walking sideways along a concrete wall. Nothing too dramatic really happened though from mile 24 to mile 26. Walking. Mixed with crappy attempts at running which would end in me shaking my head at my crampy calves. Then... the finish:

I figured it was a rule that you had to attempt to run into the finishing chute and across the line. So I did. Until I cramped HARD! The announcer thought I had a blister or something... really? A blister? GAH! So I just sucked it up and waddled/ran/hobbled across the line. 5:39 or something. Yippee.

Ugh. At least in this heat, never again. Should have just ran the 1/2. Especially stupid when the 1/2 split from the full at mile 12. Oh well.

Jake struggled but is always faster at everything that I am (even struggling) so he clocked in a very respectable 4:37 (approx).

Jake will be running another one (is it because he had fun, or because now I have TWO of them while he only has 1???) but I may just have to hang up my full marathon shoes.

Next up? Mt. Kato (I think)

BOOOO!!!! HISSSS!!!!!! yea?

I know, I know... it's been a long time. No excuses...

So... what has happened in the world since the last post? Eh.... I don't pay enough attention.... let's change the question....

What has SPH been up to since the last post?.... there we go. That's in my wheelhouse....

Well... Lar Dawg, the Madman, and Blackbeard all ventured down to Rochester for the Sandwich 50. We all had wildly diverging goals... Lar and I to get 5 laps in (out of 7) and the Madman had dreams of winning. (Ok... I think the goal was to finish, but I'm not certain that winning didn't cross his mind)

The night before the race was super wet, so the trails were a bit of a mud pit for the first couple of laps. That didn't help my singlespeeding one iota. When Brenden Moore laps you on your second lap, you just aren't very fast.

Things were going ok for all until I started to get a bit stiff in the wrists and lower back. Nothing a five minute break won't hurt... unfortunately during that five minute break I checked the radar on my phone and saw a storm of biblical proportions off in the distance. Using my engineer's brain I deduced that I had a little over two hours left until it was absolutely pouring. So I got on the bike and tried to blast out a quick lap so I could maybe get my five in. Alas my quick lap was slow as I was starting to feel the onset of slight cramps... oh well... I'll still be good I thought. After doing my lap I grabbed a little turkey jerky and checked the radar again. Big mistake. I talked myself into believing that I had no chance of beating the rain. So I was done after 4 fun but hard laps. Larry rolled in about 30 minutes later and did his awesome 5. Then the Madman of Seville rolled into the finish line. Doing his 7 laps and dominating this old timer. Nice work Marcus!

Next up for the crew (only Marcus and Elliott this time) was Afton. Larry and Isaac despise the course, so we sat it out. Elliott and Marcus took it on... and dominated! Actually I have no idea how Elliott did, but Marcus got 9th overall in his first comp race! so things are looking to be exciting this year for the green and orange!

Product Review: Northwest Knee Warmers

This is the first SPHreview and I'll be sure to post up all sorts of pictures when I get the chance to be thorough.

So. At the Ragnarok one of the riders brought some samples of her Northwest Knee Warmers embrocation. Being a generally sceptic person I was a bit skeptical(duh!) about it. I have read of 'crossers in Portland and Europe use the stuff when it is cold and wet, but in Minnesota it is either cold, or wet. Not both. At least generally.

As luck would have it, yesterday's weather provided rain and 40 degree temps. Normally I would just throw on some leg warmers but what would happen when they get soaked? Cold legs, that's what. So I put on my bins and wool under jersey. Jersey vest and arm warmers would have to do for the top.

Once dressed I leerily opened up the tin of "mild" Northwest Knee Warmers. I can't describe the smell that wafts up to your olafactory senses. I didn't find it totally unpleasant, but Carly did. Note: everyone else could smell me as well and that might not have been a good thing.

Applying the embrocation is different. It melts at a LOW temp. This is not something to forget on it's side in a hot car! I grabbed a big dab and applied liberally to my thighs, hamstrings and calves. I didn't really feel anything really, but smelled like a spring rose!

Hopping on the bike I noticed that my legs didn't really feel all that warm (maybe I should have used the medium strength stuff- I thought). I did notice the water beading on my legs. Not sure how helpful that is, but I would guess it would be a good thing. After 15-20 minutes my legs still weren't warm. But they weren't cold either. It must be working I thought. Powering up some climbs, I felt great.

On the slow buildup to the last climb I was starting to feel the wind and cold a bit more..... Felt good on the climb though and was really thinking that this stuff must be great! Then the descent happened. Ice cream headache, frozen hands, frozen feet, and legs finally getting cold. Hmmmm.

So. The ride ended with me wet and cold. I think most of that has to do with the lack of shoe covers and bad gloves. My legs were definitely warmer than uncovered legs should have been. So.... Will Northwest Knee Warmers be on my spindles next cold weather wet ride? I am not sure. For pure biking enjoyment? Then yes! Read on for why I am unsure....

Clean-up. Hopped right in a warm shower to warm up and wash up. Scrub with some soap..... and... it BURNS!!!!!! Like in front of a bonfire burns. And to pile on it just doesn't feel like it is being fully removed with the soap. Oh well. Gotta eat.

Piling into some jeans.... Man my legs are warm!!!! They don't hurt, or itch. Just VERY warm. A couple of hours later and the legs feel good. Then middle of the night? About 8 hours after initial application my legs caught on fire again! Waking up in a pool of sweat is no fun! Legs still really hot. Desperate I used some 409 or something sprayed on my legs. Aaaaahhhhhh. Relief.

So.... The final answer is --- cool product but needs research and patience to clean up well. Would like to try again with rubbing alcohol or something to remove quickly.

Testing testing

Hey! They make blogger apps for a mobile phone!!!!

Unfortunately I can't figure out how to post YouTube videos.... So close your eyes and imagine David Bowie dressed all weird and singing about Major Tom and crap...

IT'S BIKING SEASON!!!!!

Some music to waste time

Sitting here... waiting for the dryer to be done with a load of laundry... watching some Youtubes... enjoy!

The Winter Doldrums

Luckily we've been able to get out and cross it up still... we need more snow to get out and SPHski....

Still... trainer rides, core workouts, and the occasional 'cross race are not bad ways to pass the time in winter.

Ole Scraggs has talked me into the Med City marathon... I'm such a moron. Anyways... once February hits my running training kicks into gear. Not sure if I'll hit the Y or the slippery pavement, but I'll have to get my butt in gear.... that one is at the end of May... also looking to tackle (and complete) the Sandwich 50 again (if it is held).