Greetings, this post is an update of the one written January 18, 2019. Part of that post detailed the training schedule that started August 5 in preparation for the Phoenix Marathon held 2/9/19. Am glad to report that did make it back to the mainland to do the race. Stopped off in the Pacific Northwest for a weekend to see Wendy and Josh and baby Luna before landing in Arizona. Brother John got me up to Prescott the day arrived for a short stay prior to getting to staging at a Tempe Hotel. Both Washington and Arizona were cold. The evening it snowed at Josh's my feet started to hurt. The same thing happened three months earlier when in Renton and also last summer while touring Canada.
More than likely that soreness is due to my osteoarthritis condition confirmed via an MRI two years ago as being present in the feet (earlier mri showed is in the knee too). Such is common, some would say expected as we age. At the time got that diagnosis was sort of freaked out though. Had been training for several months with the goal of doing the 2017 Phoenix marathon with what had thought was just foot soreness or some other type of temporary condition. OA though put that theory to rest. I had an inkling something was more wrong when it started to get difficult to walk, let alone run more than a half mile without pain. Sports Doc told me January 2017 to take a break and that afterwards would be best to keep mileage to less than 30 miles a week. Canceled the Phoenix trip and took two months off. Upon return stuck mainly to the elliptical machine and a few short weekly runs until late July 2017. During that time had 10 shiatsu sessions and tried a bunch of supplements including the standard triple X from trader joes. Also went through a bucket of organic dirt one mixes with water and is touted as a miracle product.
What seemed to help the most was getting custom orthotics. Physical Therapist friend Steve Avery with whom worked at camp 50 years ago highly recommended that I try them out.
Went ahead and completed the schedule anyway prior to taking two weeks off while in Japan because to do so knew wold prove to be a great assist to fit into the only pair of dress slacks owned for sons wedding.Upon return that March built mileage back up gradually and in early August started a 26 week plan for 2019 Phoenix. During that time did the following: 1162 miles; 296 at Marathon pace; 141 at tempo (10K); 39 at interval (5k) and 17 at repetition (fast as can run a mile) pace; 64 sessions over 90 minutes, 31 at two hours +. There were 18 runs of 16 miles or more including 9 over 18 and three over 20. Two weeks ran more than 60 miles, and covered 507 miles during the schedules final 10 weeks. By the time landed in Arizona was as ready as have ever been to do well in a marathon - except.
After injury free running since summer 2017 with no foot difficulty such kicked in six days before the big event. I was sort of freaking out that once again could end up bailing on the race. I called home to make sure Betty would let me back in the house if I came home without a medal. My hope was that once in Phoenix the warmth there would wipe out the foot pain. It didn't but after seeing Free Solo in IMAX our first day there figured if Alex could climb mountains ropeless with cracked ribs I could certainly at least give it a go. Got myself to the start with mole skin, thick bandages, tape, ibuprofen lining my pockets; desperation the throat.
Race day breakfast in the bathroom as not to wake up lumbering brother too early at 1:30 am of bagels and cheerios, followed by neosporin prep and other stuff till 3 am wake up call. At 4 was dropped off by the buses to go up to the start line right below the big phoenix sign on Usury mountain. Temp up there was low forties but plenty of fire rings were set up so didn't get too cold, and the smoke made me think of camp. Followed Coach Cory Smith's advice to wear old top and bottom sweats prior to discard after race start, He told me could keep them on even for first few miles but I threw such off shortly after the gun went off thinking it would soon get warm. It didn't.
The first few miles went well. They are downhill somewhat. I felt good but was thrown off by the pace signage. Fell in line with a pace group that per pace sign should have been averaging over 10 minutes a mile and was comfortable in that grouping but it felt like a faster pace than what the sign said. At the six mile mark stopped to use a porta potty. There was a line and as it turned out two of the four were out of order and that break took around 10 minutes. Time started running again was cramped up just as had been in NYC a few years earlier. Legs were stiff, could not run easily and soon after a sign holder came by for a much slower time than what started out with and I figured was going to have a tough time getting under the medal cut off point of 6 hours.
From that point on really focused on being able to finish rather than specific time goals and to do as Coach recommended to concentrate on getting to 16 miles. At 16 focused on getting to 21 and from that point worked really hard to get to the end. Ran every step the whole race except for the potty breaks. There were people doing the run walk run method that kept yo yoing with and they looked a lot fresher than I did but I figured if started walking the cramps would make it very hard to do any running at all. So just kept at it, took a lot of deep breaths off and on, threw arms over the head and all that seemed to help. Did get to chat a little with some other runners including a man my age doing the run walk run wearing a Canada jacket. He said would be easier to move there than it is for
Canadians to go to the States. At the 20 mile mark he moved over and sat down at a bus stop and a mile or so later I heard police on the radio saying Canada is out. So guess maybe he got injured or something. A middle aged woman had talked with at a fire ring was doing a marathon in her 37th state with the goal to hit all 50. She was walking around the 10 mile spot but am pretty sure she must have passed me up later. Her favorite marathon was Roanoke Virginia. Some youngsters while passing by gave words of encouragement. Guess they were happy had not keeled over yet.
The last mile was exceedingly slow. Some of the photos look like am hardly moving but I was running and know that was the case as did pass up a number of walkers. Hit the arch in a time of 5 hours and 21 minutes. I had not looked at my watch the whole event due to not wanting to fret too much so when saw the time at the end was happy to discover would get that medal. Picked it up near the finish to look like was doing at least a respectable shuffle for brother John to get a good photo. He tracked the whole race on the web and said that such indicated was moving at a little over a 9 minute pace for the first six miles. Then it took another 12 minutes to get to the 10 k point which makes sense due to the long potty line. After that the tracker showed that was moving 11 to 12 minutes the rest of the way until the last mile which took 20 minutes. I think that was probably off some and estimate the last mile took 15 minutes. Super slow for running but was all could muster. When age grade it out 5:21 for someone my age is equivalent to a 3:59. I was hoping that could get a time that would age grade out to be better than my 3:35 personal best from decades ago. Would have had to finish in 4:50 for that. Back in the day I never did near as much tempo or faster work during marathon training and don't recall ever going over a 2 and a half hours for a practice run or running for 18 months injury free. So was a little disappointed did not get a better time but upon reflection am satisfied.
Plus am more than satisfied with my training runs that did prior to the marathon. I heard or read recently and may have this misstated but think the gist was that what we remember the most are the things we accomplished and not the actual doing of those things. I don't think that is true all the time but for sure it is some of the time. The 26 week schedule as well as the one the year before brought with it a great sense of pride at getting it done as well as a fantastic runners high on several occasions which made me feel like was a kid. I experienced no runners high, however, while doing the Phoenix marathon. It was mainly just a matter of holding on from mile 6 while counting steps between aid stations. But the joy felt at the end of the event was real and that is what lingers.
Pictured below is a photo from the personal best Honolulu finish 1980 and the 2019 race.
Think now as to whats next is to train to determine if can run an 800 meters in less than 3 and a half minutes. 8 years ago did do a sub 7 minute mile but latest mile times are almost a minute slower so it will be challenging to try and reach the goal. If don't all is still okay will keep truckin on no matter the pace as long as can.
Such will help maintain the stamina as assist with granddaughter baby Rhea Jade who lives across the street.
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