Wednesday Night at Eisenhower Park

The 12th saw my return to running at Eisenhower Park. The Long Island Road Runners Club does a series of Wednesday night 5k's over the summer. I never ran in one of these events before, but I have had the opportunity to run through Eisenhower Park many times in the past.

When I was getting ready to go to Officer Candidate School back in 2000 my Officer Selection Officer was stationed at Garden City. I would roll out of bed at 5:30 in the morning three days a week so I could meet with the other Officer Candidates waiting for the Winter Class in Quantico to begin. We would all gather at Eisenhower and do a three mile run consisting of four laps around the softball fields and then endure whatever other activities the recruiting staff had lined up for us.

I don't know what a perfect score on a Marine Corps PFT is these days, but back then you needed to do 20 chin ups, 100 crunches in two minutes and a three mile run in 18:00. While I never scored a perfect I managed to come close on my last PFT.

These days all of the above are lofty goals.

The 5k at Eisenhower was a small and very fast field. The bulk of the runners were high school or college level XC runners or club runners. Taking this into account I decided that lining up toward the back of the pack was the greatest courtesy I would be able to give.

Before the race started I noticed a group of Poolees running that same old lap around the softball field with their recruiter. They were calling out cadence as they slogged along. The Corps goes on and on.

Back to the actual race. My friend Kevin joined me on this one. I thought Kevin was in worse shape than I was. I was soon to be proven wrong.

I told myself that I was gunning to finish in under 30 minutes. I went out after the horn sounded and ran what I thought was probably a ten minute even pace. Crossing the first mile marker I realized I had gone out too fast when I saw 8:55 on the clock. While it is nice to know that I have a sub nine minute mile left in me, I knew I did not have a sub nine minute mile plus 2.1 more miles in me.

Sure enough my pace dropped like a rock. I did not even bother to check my split at mile two. I wound up finishing at 32:10.

This entire race I had been occasionally checking over my shoulder to see where Kevin was. I had not seen him since about a half mile into the run. Imagine my surprise as I cross the finish line and I see Kevin waiting beside the chute for me. I was still mentally unwilling to accept the fact that he had finished before me and I clung to the slim hope that he had gotten a cramp and dropped out somewhere along the way.

Sadly for my ego this was not the case. Kevin finished in 23 and change placing 64 in the field. I represented at 144. I am reasonably certain there were at least 145 people who ran this race, so it was not last place. Congrats to Kevin on a great race.

Status:

26.1 miles into my goal of running 50 miles by the 17th. Maybe I will reset the goal for thirty miles. Then I am all good.

Upcoming Races:

10/3 - RunAmuck - as fun as this one seems I can't pull road trips for running events multiple times a month. So slogging through mud and rivers may have to wait until next year since the relay marathon in Asbury is higher on my list of things to do.

10/18 - Asbury Park Relay Marathon - team members thus far - Dori; Chewbecker; Kevin; Me. team name - undecided.

2/14 - Austin Half Marathon (?)

Sayville Summerfest 4 miler

It has been a while since my last post. A busy few weeks at work have translated into a lack of free time. Of course it has also translated into a lack of time spent out on the roads.

"The hardest part of running a race is lining up at the start. That requires guts. The actual running is all about being too stupid to slow down."

On August 1st I ran the Sayville Summer Fest 4 miler with Dori and my brother Marc.

The race started at Sayville Running Company on Montauk Highway, down Main Street in Sayville, down to the ferry, along the water and back up to Main Street. Running down Main Street was a kick since the crowd had already started to gather for Summerfest and was very vocal in cheering every runner on.

I did the first mile in about 10:25. I hit mile two at around 21 and change. I have to apologize for Andrea for not recognizing her at the ferry terminal water station. Still not used to her being a brunette I guess. I wish could remember what my split for mile three was, but I was more focused on running through the shower of water spraying out of the fire truck than looking at the timer. Crossing the finish at 44:20 was a great feeling. I had hoped to be close to 10:30 splits, but I will happily take an 11:05 pace on this one.

Very proud of Dori for kicking butt and finishing in 51:40. Marc finished in 49:00 flat.

Later that day we brought Aidan to the carnival at Gillette Park. He saw a Ladybug ride and seemed like he wanted to go on it.

I buy a few tickets and hand one to Aidan. I tell him to hand it to the carnie as he walks through the gate and he does. Dori and I strap him in and step away. He seems okay, possibly even excited. Then the ride starts to move. He screams a scream I have never heard before. Each time he passes by Dori and I he puts his hands out as if to say "get me the hell off this thing." The carnie stops the ride to take him off and hands his ticket back to him. This has filled me with confidence for our upcoming trip to Sesame Place.

Status:

22.5 miles into my goal of running 50 miles by the 17th. Really need to put some serious miles in over the next few days. This may call for the treadmill.

Upcoming Races:

10/3 - RunAmuck - 5k obstacle course and giant mud pit.

10/18 - Asbury Park Relay Marathon - eight loops around Asbury Park, up to eight members per team. Sweet.

2/14 - Austin Half Marathon (?) - before I got hurt and stopped running ten years ago I was getting ready to run the Marine Corps Marathon. I am nowhere near ready to put myself out there for 26.2, but I think I am ready to punish myself with 13.1. Run a half marathon and get in a visit with the folks, my sister and nephew in one shot. I am just that efficient.