Chip'n'Dale Runner: Go Nuts!

2015 Richmond Marathon Finisher!

I went through the “I’m a marathoner” emotional roller-coaster back in January when I completed the WDW Marathon as part of the Goofy Challenge. Earlier today, I completed my 2nd Marathon (YES, reread that statement) when I crossed the finish line of the 2015 Richmond Marathon.

I met up with a friend down in Richmond for the weekend. It’s a roughly 5 hour drive from home, a fairly scenic drive until you hit I-95 around DC. The expo held at the Sports Backers Complex was nothing impressive, the usual array of packet and shirt pickup plus vendors hawking any kind of running apparel or accessory. We headed out to Maggiano’s for dinner. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel great afterwards, and ended up with nausea and a major migraine headache to end my night. The Omni Hotel in downtown Richmond was my weekend home, and I ended up with a very nice room.

The first night sleeping in a hotel is always a problem, and this was no exception… probably got 3-4 hours total sleep if I was lucky. The weather on race morning was a bit warmer than predicted, with starting temps in the low 40’s. This would warm to mid-50’s by the end of the race. Overall, I took my time in this race and it paid off with no major problems on that side. However, two major issues come from out of nowhere. First, right after Mile 13 was a police controlled intersection. The cop stopped traffic, and motioned me to keep running through. Some idiot on a cell phone decided to not pay attention and nearly hit me. Thankfully he didn’t, but it was enough to make me jar my left knee, and the pain started from there on.

If that wasn’t enough, Mile 20’s junk food stop had one of those pop-up tents to protect the food. However, the volunteers failed to properly secure the tent to the ground, and when a gust of wind came, the side of the tent pole hit me square in the face. From that point forward, my face swelled up, I got a headache, and the last 6 miles were just miserable. I managed to cross the finish line in 6:51… not what I expected, but a PR from the WDW Marathon so I’ll take it.

I completed my second marathon! Never thought I would say that. Richmond was a beautiful city to run through. Lots of interested sights, including a lot of Civil War landmarks. The weather, minus the wind, couldn’t have been better. I wish the medical support would have been more prominent (as in, no medical tents along the course), but the post-race area was decent even though I was at the tail end of the finishers.

We hit the Capitol Ale House for dinner later that evening, and I got to toast with some champagne before bed. Another miserable night of not sleeping, up for an early breakfast, and then the 5 hour drive back home. Was it worth it? Yes. Would I run Richmond again? Maybe. The distance from home was about the max I would be willing to drive. There’s a big part of me that wants another crack at this to try and run the thing fully healthy without issues. But this race helped prove that I can survive more than just the race.

Wife taking a trip to an outlet mall, which just so happens to have an Asics Store… hmmm, might be time for a new set of shoes. A few hours later, and I’ve gone from Asics Nimbus 17’s to Asics Cumulus 16’s. A previous year model, but definitely a nicer shoe overall. I took it out for a short 2.3 mile run this afternoon and felt great. With the Richmond Marathon one week away and the tread on my old shoes starting to wear, it seemed like a good time to make the switch. Here’s hoping they hold up well for 26.2!

ASICS Gel Cumulus 16

My first ever point-to-point race, an interesting half marathon starting at Northern Lehigh High School in Slatington, PA, and ending in Northampton at Canal Street. Aside from a monster hill right between mile 1 and 2, the rest of the course was fairly flat and uninteresting. Add in some light rain before the start, and it was just a weird morning. Dealt with some hip and knee issues around Mile 9 which derailed my pacing, but managed to finish upright… then proceeded to walk 1.9 miles home rather than having a car waiting. Oh well, Half Marathon #11 in the books!

Ready to run the D&L Half Marathon (Erica, Nick)

2015 D&L Half Marathon Finisher!

For the second year in a row, I conquered the Runner’s World Hat Trick… 5K and 10K on Saturday morning, and the Half Marathon today! I’m definitely feeling the results of all that running, and I have a feeling the twinge in my knee is the beginning of tendinitis again. Thankfully, I have 2 weeks to rehab ahead of the D&L Half Marathon.

This race started out pretty cold, with temps in the low 30’s. By the end, the winds picked up and we were in the low 40’s. I got to catch up with a few people along the typically hilly tour of Bethlehem. Course support and signage was top-notch as is to be expected with Runner’s World events. The post-race spread was average (bagels, bananas, water, Ultima endurance drink, beer, pretzels, and raisins). Post-race, my only thought was getting into any warm area, like my car.

I’m really not sure if I’ll run this again next year. It happens on the same weekend as the Hersheypark Half Marathon, which is one of those races on my to-do list. This probably won’t ever be a PR-type race for me, and the temps never seem to cooperate. But overall, it was a nice weekend of running.

2015 Runner’s World Half Marathon (and Hat Trick) Finisher!

Add the 5K and 10K from the 2015 Runner’s World weekend to my list of completed races! Temperatures started in the 40’s, but warmed up to around 50 by race end. Great weather, great course support, and got to see a bunch of people during both races. Coworkers, and a bunch of kids from Bethlehem Area School District for the 5K… my sister and her friend and a former coworker as well. For the 10K, ran into someone from the runDisney Challenge Trainers Facebook group that I moderate. It turned out to be a really fun morning, although I was definitely sore afterwards, and not really looking forward to the half marathon on Sunday.17

2015 Runner’s World 10K – Nick, Kelley, Angela

2015 Runner’s World 5K – Julia, Janet, Nick, Danielle

Tonight, we kicked off the Runner’s World Festival weekend family style – both my kids rant he kids’ races. My son Alex took the 1/4 mile loop by himself (I started out with him, but he wanted to run alone), and then my daughter Elaina followed up with a solid 1/2 mile solo effort. Afterwards, we celebrated with a chicken finger dinner, the usual fare for these kids. Incredibly proud of what they did today, running with a bunch of other kids, but finishing with smiles as they got their official finisher medals.

My turn comes tomorrow (5K and 10K) and Sunday (half).

2015 Runner’s World Kids Race Finishers – Elaina and Alex

Knocked out a solid 10 miler today… my last distance run before the Runner’s World Festival next week where I am attempting to complete Hat Trick (5K, 10K, Half) #2. As usual, training has been all over the map due to a combination of things, but I think I should be ok. Hopefully, the weather holds up and we don’t have rain (or worse).

Both of my kids are running the Runner’s World Kids Races that weekend as well. Alex gets the 1/4 mile loop, while Elaina gets the 1/2 mile loop, something she’s already used to from cross-country. This will be a good prep for things to come at Disneyland Tink Weekend next year.

Went out for a 10K run this morning… weather was in the 50’s and breezy. This after a week of pretty much continual rain, which resulted in no outdoor running. I used the excuse of no outdoor running to just take a week off from running period, and I think it helped. Ran strong today, and felt a lot better than I have in a while.

Runner’s World Festival and Half is due up in two more weeks, and I’m still not sure on how the half will go. Hopefully, I can get in another solid long run before then, and then I should be ok.

The weather has quickly gone from warm and comfortable to some nights this past week with temperatures in the 40’s. Not sure we’re going to have any kind of Indian summer this year. The seasons may have changed for good.

My daughter continues to work at her cross-country meets, and has improved her times consistently since we started. One more XC meet, and then she’ll complete the Runner’s World Kids Race (same distance – half mile) the same weekend I knock out Hat Trick #2.

On my way to the Richmond Marathon in November, I need to seriously get my training in gear. I’m finally onto a 3x week running schedule, with the occasional 4th run in there for fun. Today, I think I overdid it just a bit… mowed the lawn this morning, daughter’s cross-country meet in the early afternoon, then added on a 6.5 mile run later in the day (and it was HOT)! Suffice it to say, I hurt… nothing some ice and foam rolling won’t cure, but I have a funny feeling I won’t be so happy tomorrow morning.

Also signed up for Runner’s World Hat Trick again this year – it’s a good prerequisite race for the 2016 Goofy Challenge. Back-to-back 5K and 10K in same morning, following by a half marathon the next day. Should be fun again…

My 7-year old daughter decided she wanted to join the school’s Cross Country Team. For her age group (K-2), they run 1/2 mile meets. Practice twice a week with a meet each Sunday. Today was her first meet, and she ran a respectable race. Finished middle of the pack, but learned some valuable lessons about keeping a straight line, not veering to the outside, and just to keep one foot in front of the other. Very proud dad today! Got us signed up for Tinkerbell Half Marathon weekend next year in Disneyland!

Elaina’s 1st X-C Meet GSCS (with her friend Hailey)