Endurance Activities Social Calendar, THU 10/22

Running Event at Lululemon (logan circle): Motivational speaker, marathoner and former GRC racer Dane Rauschenberg will be available for setting race goals & book signing from 6:30-9 PM. In 2006 he ran 52 marathons over 52 wks. That IS motivation: http://danerunsalot2.blogspot.com/

Ironman Seminar: A panel of DC Tri Club ironmen will share their experiences and answer all of your questions at the Cleveland Park Bar and Grill at 7pm.

Race Across the Sky, Leadville Trail 100: a documentary covering the 2009 Leadville Trail 100 bike race is playing nationwide at 8 PM. A panel discussion including Lance Armstrong, Chris Carmichael, Dave Wiens (6x Leadville 100 winner) will be broadcast before/after the film. participating theatres

Report: Bain 2nd at Grand Rapids

2:37:12

One of Bain's top 5 fastest 'thons...1:16 at halfway

Matt Ernst has an "off day"...refuses to speak to press at time of posting and issues a "no comment"

Developing...

Grand Rapids Marathon Looms

Will THUNDER strike thrice this year? Chris Bain looks to tackle 2:30 (and possibly win??) tomorrow at Grand Rapids. The last time the unassuming, Stella-drinking Harvard grad ran a marathon he had the race of his life (see report). It won't be easy - yesterday Bain arrived back state side from England before boarding a jet bound for Detroit this morning.

Matt Ernst plans to attack the 3 hour barrier and better his PR of 3:06 from Philly.

Shannon O'Neill will make a game day decision whether she'll race the entire 26.2 due to lingering leg pain.

Bobby JARRIN is leading a +/- 3:30 pace group

RESULTS - Available HERE tomorrow

Photo - Grand Rapids Marathon in 2007

Sunday Run

I originally proposed running at Northern Virginia Regional Park on Sunday but I am now withdrawing that suggestion due to the heavy precipitation the area has received. Those trails do not drain well. Instead, I suggest Riley's Lock or Duel Ferries at 10am. Anyone else going 20+?

An Event We Should Support

A Marine Corps Marathon celebration and a fundraiser for the Wounded Warrior Project will be held from 9-11 p.m. Thursday Oct. 22 at George (in Georgetown), 3251 Prospect St., Washington, D.C. 20007. At the door, a $10 donation will get you a wristband and drink specials.

The event is hosted by Doug Eldridge, the president of DLE Sports in D.C., as part of the 10-12-100 campaign. In 2009, Doug has pledged to run 10 marathons in 12 months and raise $100,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project. MCM will be his 9th marathon this year, and he has truly raced every single one.

It would be cool if we could get some GRCers out to this.

I interviewed Doug, shortly after Memorial Day, for a Competitor Magazine Q&A article ... I will post it below.

Doug Eldridge is halfway there. After gutting through five marathons in four months, he now has seven months to complete the “10-12-100” — 10 marathons in 12 months to raise $100,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit group raising awareness about injured veterans of war.

The son of U.S. Army Col. Gary W. Eldridge, Eldridge was raised in a military household in which “duty to God, country and family” was firmly ingrained. His steadfast desire to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project, in turn, stems from his visits to Walter Reed Army Hospital. He was there with father, who died of cancer in 2001, and also to visit his mother, who was there three years ago for a procedure.

Eldridge, the founder and president of DLE Sports Management, started his company with an emphasis on serving endurance athletes. He completed two Ironman triathlons in law school. Around 2005, though, he was ready for a new challenge. Eldridge was also thinking about the men and women at Walter Reed, and trying to figure out a way to raise awareness for his current cause.

His “10-12-100” journey began at the ING Miami Marathon, where he finished in 3:30.18, an 8-minute mile average he will attempt to maintain the rest of the way. Thus far, he has been successful at it: His last race, May 3’s Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon, where he ran 3:33.15, came just two weeks after clocking 3:30.21 in Charlottesville. The second half of Eldridge’s campaign will include his favorite race, Marine Corps Marathon, before he wraps it up Dec. 6 in Las Vegas.

Eldridge recently spoke about his mission at his office in Washington, D.C.

Q: Memorial Day was only a couple days ago. The holiday reminds me of the Wounded Warrior Project in that both get such bipartisan support. How did you spend the day?
A: My Dad was a Cobra pilot in Vietnam, and while he never became [part of Rolling Thunder] there were not many Memorial Days that we did not come down to The Mall. … [This year] you talk about just a poignant atmosphere: You had the guys that started off as our fathers, then down to us and our colleagues, who are these guys 10 years our junior who are now coming back, who for better or for worse are now the newest members of the club — and then all the way down to what I would consider the young Doug Eldridges holding their dad’s hand, not really knowing what’s going on but being just awestruck by the spectacle.

Q: How are people finding out about your campaign? You are performing brilliantly in the running, but how is it going raising the money?
A: It’s good, but as type-A and as hard as I am on myself, when I set a goal, I want to destroy it. It’s coming along, but I knew from the start it was the back half where people were really going to come out and say, “Wow, he’s really going to do it.” Because a lot of people, when I told them what I was doing, they thought there was no way I was to going to be able to do this … As the campaign has progressed, we have been far more deliberate in spreading the word and spreading the message.

Q: Tell me a little bit about your training leading up to these 10 marathons.
A: Last fall I was trying to race myself into shape for Marine Corps [Marathon]. I had had an incredibly busy cycle at work and I was not getting in my training miles; I wasn’t doing my long runs. But I am not a quitter, and that’s just the mindset that I have: If I commit to doing it, I am going to do it. To be real honest with you, I was trying to mitigate any damage I would do to myself going into the training when I basically signed up for four races in the five weeks leading up to the race, with the weekend right before off … So I did Marine Corps, took some time off and then I really started a base fitness boot camp. I was getting on the bike trainer at 4 a.m. and doing that for an hour and a half and then I went down to Florida for about seven days. I packed a pair of jeans and two shirts and the rest was running clothes. I trained really hard, did long slow painful runs on undulating dirt roads. Ran in the driving rain, ran in the heat. Put the work in.

Q: Do your clients ever give you advice?
A: Rest. Take it easy. I will say that the common concern among my clients, irrespective of the sport, is, “Brother, you’re burning the candle. Because we’re getting text message responses from you at 4 a.m. and we’re calling you on your BlackBerry at 11:30 the night before a marathon and you’re still answering.”

Q: Do you wish the Marine Corps Marathon was the last race rather than the ninth?
A: There would be a certain poetry or symbolism in that. How fitting that the Marine Corps ends with the climb to Iwo Jima. There’s part of me that would like that, but on the same token, if you look at the course of the schedule — starting in the glitz and Ferrari and bikini- clad Miami and bookending it in Las Vegas with the glitz and glam of the Strip, I think it is an appropriate finish. … This was a very deliberate campaign, and now we are in the process of working on the celebrity component for the tenth marathon. It is going to be a very big event, because what good would any of this be it if it didn’t generate awareness and conversation?

Q: What do you think your father would think of this?A: I hope my father would be proud. I have no question he would be supportive, and I know he would understand why I am doing this better than anyone else. There are not many runs that I do not think about him.

Billy's Last Run

The architect got a job and will be moving to the Big Apple to join his wife. Billy's last run from the Store will be on Saturday morning. Come out and see him off. I don't even like the guy, but I'll be there...

Track work

How is it looking for this week? Can we get to BCC or a track on Wednesday?

800s?

More Results

Dickson takes the silver at the Lower Potomac River Ten-Miler this morning with a time of 53:51...

Columbus Day Run

Anyone down for a Monday morning run from THE LINE? 9:30am?

Matias in Kona

Matias finished the IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS in 9:49, finishing 29th in the 25-29 AG. Way to represent!

Hey Ladies

I know you are out there, reading this blog--so come run with us. Have questions? Post 'em here.

I also wanted to take some space to make special mention of recent performances by GRC women present and past: Emily ran PR in the Baltimore half on Saturday, where she took 4th place in a superspeedy 1:22.19, and Caroline ran a mindblowing marathon, detailed below...way to go.

Here's to more fast running this fall, by more of us womenfolk!

Kona Update

Matias right around top 100 @ Kona after swim (58 min) and bike (5hr 2min)!! Wow, but the conditions are very tough, hot and humid, and a marathon in those conditions will be brutal.. more updates soon!

Wilson Runs 2:26 in Charm City!

UNOFFICIAL: Finishes 10th at UNDER ARMOUR BALTIMORE MARATHON...

GRC on Vacation

That picture of Snizow breaking tape is incredible. What a race report.

GRC is taking the show on the road to the big island on Saturday. 140.6 miles of swim/bike/running, no better way to spend a day.

MIGHTY JAKE AND CO

who plans on running from the store manana?


also, i need to get in a 2hr45min run on sunday. is anyone game at 830am. great falls or the line.

Max

Caroline White's Race Report

Family and Friends,

So here you have it; the long anticipated Twin Cities Marathon race report! It’s been a tough, exhilarating journey, and I’m excited to share the story with you.

Upon reviewing this and on the verge of sending, I need to say; yes, the race is obviously important. But this email would lead you to believe success is all about race day. It's not. It's about all the hard work leading up to the marathon, and there is NO WAY I could do any of this without your love and support. It's the understatement of the century to say, but I couldn't do this without you.....so thank you for what you've enabled.

At the beginning of each 4 year Olympic cycle, the Olympic Committee determines a standard potential athletes must meet in order to compete in the Olympic trials. 2:47 was the standard for the Beijing trials (which were held in Boston in April 2008). Shortly after Bejing, the Olympic Committee set 2:46 as the standard for the 2012 trials. So to compete in the trials, one must run a marathon in 2:46 at a USATF certified event. The first opportunity to qualify (and only opportunity in 2009) was in the Twin Cities Marathon, held on October 4th.

In February 2009, I competed in and won the Armed Forces Cross Country Championship. This win served as a leverage point for me to be assigned to the Air Force’s World Class Athlete Program (WCAP). Initially, after graduation from University of Maryland, I was scheduled to start pilot training right away. However, the Air Force agreed to delay my start date and let me train in Colorado for the Twin Cities Marathon. When the Air Force allowed this opportunity, I was very grateful, but understood the reality that this was an opportunity to qualify for the trials, and it would take some serious, grueling training to meet this goal.

Explaining the goal to friends, I frequently heard “ohh I’m sure you can do it, you always do what you set your mind to!” I would respond with, ‘I don’t think you quite understand how ambitious this is.’ Running a 2:46 is no small feat. It would require a big PR from my Boston marathon in April, giving me 6 months to drop 10 minutes. But I had my heart set on qualifying, so my tenure in Colorado consisted of running, running, and some more running. I averaged between 80-100 miles a week (my peak week was 114), plus core strengthening and cross training.

WCAP also allowed me the opportunity to race in the national road racing circuit, where high caliber athletes compete for national titles and large prize purses. This was great because one, I love racing. Two, I got to travel to misc places like Michigan, Connecticut, and Ohio that I would not otherwise be exposed to. Three, I got to spend time with some running legends (including individuals who competed in Athens and Beijing in various distance races). And four, it was great to be the military’s representative. When toeing the start line, athletes wore jersey’s for their various sponsors (Asics, Nike, etc.) and it was pretty cool to be the individual chosen to wear the Air Force’s blue and white jersey.

At my first race in Iowa, I met Magdalena Boulet, who ran the marathon for the US in Beijing. When shaking her hand, I couldn’t believe the situation…wow, I’ve been tracking your progress and watched you race on TV (in addition to the rest of the world), but I’m actually shaking your hand. Woah. Of course, all of this can out as, “hmmner nerm caroline white …”

But the races went well and I made some serious progress. For instance, in Michigan I ran the 10 mile race in 59:36, which was a big mile stone to break an hour. It was also sweet to spend quality with my running idols…the night before my Flint race, I ran into Magda in the hotel lobby, “Hi Caroline!” (oh my God, you actually know my name) “What are your dinner plans? You want to grab something with us?”....(with huge eyes and a gaping mouth) ‘uhhhh, YES…err, I mean, okay.’ When recounting this experience to a friend, I told him dinner was like watching running celebrities walk out of Runner’s World magazine and into this restaurant. His response to this was, “Caroline, you’ve got to understand that your idol is quickly becoming your peer,” which was an inspiring notion to me.

My Colorado training went fantastic, and generally injury free (with a few foot problems here and there, but nothing too serious). Before I knew it, taper week came and a message in my inbox read “United Flight 387; prepare for your upcoming trip”…..I hope I’m prepared! I put in a ton of hard work in over the summer, and it’s time to cash out.

My parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all traveled to Minneapolis for the event. I was grateful for the support and love being with my family (well, not so much with Uncle Mike), but at the same time, it built up the pressure of this event. In fact, the night before the marathon I was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been….I’ve competed at high levels before but nothing had such a black and white outcome. For instance, before the World Ironman Competition in Kona, I was nervous yet had a reasonable goal; to give it my best and see what I could do (and I achieved that, 12th wasn’t to shabby). With this race though, it’s really all or none. Not only had I set my own expectations, but I’d feel bad for having everyone travel to witness a let down. I didn’t want to dwell on this….or the fact that this is the only shot I have to qualify before or during pilot training…no, I need to shut out these thoughts, stay positive, and get to bed. Easy enough, right?

Well I did make it to sleep, went through my morning routine, and got to the start line. For this race I was considered an ‘elite athlete,’ so I got to start in the very front and not fight the masses. The race plan my coach and I created was to run 6:17-6:20 miles throughout the first 20 miles, and push it to the max for the last 6. The Boston marathon taught me the importance of not going out too fast and sticking to your strategy, otherwise it will (painfully) catch up to you in the end. So I was fixated on the number 6:17. My coach also warned me, “there will be a group of women trying to qualify just like you, stay with the pack if it works, but they are probably going to go out too fast and fade. Remember, your well trained and can do this, but you have to run it smart.” Okay, stick with you plan…6:17’s…stay calm.

The gun went off and I tried to keep my nerves under control, and find my pace. I tried to feel out my rhythm and waited for the first mile mark….6:03. Okay, your fast, the first mile is always tough but slow down…

Mile 2—6:07…Slow some more.

Mile 3—6:27…not so much!

Mile 4—6:04….Find the middle.

Mile 5—6:02…Nope.

Mile 6—6:48…Holy Hell, that’s not good...at all. Is my watch broken??

Mile 7—6:00….*$%#$**! What is going on?? In retrospect, it’s pretty obvious what was going on…my nerves were totally throwing me off. And it’s not as though I’m incapable of pacing a 6:17. Two week before TCM I ran a half marathon at goal marathon pace and was spot on….but the difference was the gravity of this event. So, I had a little heart to heart with myself, forget the last 7 miles, find your groove, you KNOW you can do this.

After that self talk, I found my efficient, effortless rhythm. I was nervous that I’d screwed the race with that initial nonsense, but got back to the plan and felt good. No, I felt great. Off in the distance I could see the pack of women hoping to qualify that my coach warned me about, but I didn’t chase them and stuck with my groove. (note: it’s not advised to find your groove this late in a race)

During races, I try to block out distractions and focus on my strategy. Despite this, two spectators seem to stick out in my memory...2 nuns dressed in traditional black habits holding a poster which read “Kick Ass, Sinners!” (since it was Sunday, and not being in church, I guess runners are default sinners). At no other city then St. Paul would you witness this...The sight made me smile; well I guess I’d rather laugh with the sinners then cry with the saints, because sinners are much more fun.

There was a race clock posted at the ½ way mark, which I crossed in in 1:21.22…A little fast, but this race is salvageable…stick with the plan. So I continued to knock out the miles at my goal pace and pressed through. Sure enough, the pack of women was thinning out; one by one, women were peeling off and out of my sight picture. When passing the faders I felt boosted confidence—I'm not going to die off like her, in fact I feel great, keep knocking out the 6:17s and you’ll finish strong.

Mile 15-19 directed us NW, back to toward Minneapolis and into a 10-12 mph headwind. Up until now, it had been negligible or a crosswind, but when I turned the corner at 15 the blast to the face wasn’t encouraging. Your doing fine, just push through it. Coincidentally, I found a broad shouldered male around mile 16 who was running right at pace. Perfect. This is my guardian angel. It was really nice to have a break, but short lived. Just past mile 17 my angel send stopped and literally sat down on the side of the road. Hmmm, someone seems to be sending me mixed signals.

About mile 18 the entire remaining pack of women was slowing down. I ran with them for about quarter mile and was tempted to use the massive wind block, but had to let em go to stay on pace, don’t sink with that ship, keep moving.

I made it through the headwind with a few miles just slightly behind pace. Soon enough, the turn East towards St. Paul at mile 19 relieved me of the headwind, and I was feeling strong.

When questioning TCM veterans, invariably you will hear “it’s a pretty good course, until you get to the end. There’s a substantial hill to deal with.” This hill had been haunting me all summer. The elevation profile indicated it was a gradual climb over three miles with varying grades along the way. I was curious how it would compare to the Colorado training, and how my body could deal with it so late in the race. Well, there’s one way to find out. The first mile of the hill (mile 21) I was exactly on pace—6:17. Perfect! Keep it up. But unfortunately I couldn’t; the next mile of hill took its toll on the legs—6:43. Uh oh, push it out. At this point, I also realized my destiny relied in the next 1.5 miles…if I can make over the hill feeling strong, I would have this thing in the bag. But if the hill drained me….good bye qualifying. Mile 23—6:37. Your almost there, just push over this last bit of hill.

My coach and I planned on not holding back the last 6 miles of the race and going all out. No more pacing, just 100% to the end. I knew some of the wind section and hills slowed me down, and I could not drop much below the 6:17 pace. But the last portion of the hill left me feeling tired, and there was just a smidge left in the tank. I hit the 24 mark in 6:23—you’ve got 2.2 miles left , and not much margin (if any) to spare.

Come on legs, take me home.

I was trying the best I could to keep my form through mile 24, but couldn't find my normal efficient rythm. It was getting harder and harder to get smooth leg turn over. I know this hurts, but you’ve got to push.

I ran mile 25 in 6:30. Next to the 25 mile marker was a race clock reading 2:37.47 Ohhh no, I better make this. I’ve got 1.2 miles left, so this next mile needs to be…..uhhh ……(turns out I’m not the greatest at mental math, particularly when my brain is oxygen deprived). After struggling, and loosing, to 3rd grade math skills I came to conclude it doesn’t matter what the margin is, continue to give 100%, but you can’t run another 6:30 and qualify. YOU HAVE GOT TO PUSH.

I made the final turn of the course and could see the finish line in the distance about ½ mile out. I couldn’t read the race clock, but kept on pushing through the escalating pain. I had no idea what is going on with the crowds, other runners, winds, scenery, etc. It could be midnight in the arctic for all I know….I was entirely fixed on the finish line and the illegible race clock. After what seemed like an eternity, I passed the 26 mile marker in 6:13 and could read the clock…2:44 and change. Oh my God, I’m actually going to do this. I’m going to qualify.

I’d like to describe that last minute and twenty seconds, but I can’t give the moment justice. Running the final .2 miles will stay with me forever. I crossed the finish line in 2:45.21 (6:18.66 mile average), and with 39 seconds to spare I met my goal. I qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials.

My family greeted me at the finish line shortly there after. Dad was shouting “YOU DID IT! I CANT BELIEVE IT!” and mom was speechless, gushing with tears. After barely surviving my parent’s jaws of death hugs, my dad told me being at the finish line was one of the most nerve wrecking moments of parenting. Apparently watching the clock tick pass 2:43 and no sight of Caroline about killed mom. “Well what can I say dad? I wanted to make your day interesting.”

My coach and I could not be more excited about future racing. A few things to consider; most every elite runner I’ve met raced in college; I competed in my first road race less then 2 years ago; I am 24 years old; and women tend to peak in the marathon in their mid 30’s. Basically, there’s a future in these legs and I can’t tell you how motivating the idea of finding their potential is.

So what happens next? Tomorrow I leave my Colorado utopia for Sheppard AFB, TX to start the next chapter of my life; pilot training. Leaving Colorado is unfortunate, but I’m excited to start the next challenge. Pilot training will be 13 months, and I look forward to find what the future holds, because right now possibilities seem endless. But the few things I know with certainty,

1) I only have one way of operating; go big or go home. And this mentality applies to pilot training. It’s exciting to have the chance to earn my wings and I hope to excel at Sheppard. Does success in athletics indicate an aptitude for being a pilot? Who knows….only time will tell.

2) I truly love running and want to see what I can do with it. I will continue to train as much as the demands of pilot training allow.

3) The Olympic Trials are scheduled to be held in New York City in November of 2011. Mark your calendar.

Track Workout...on Thursday?

It appears B-CC is not available on Wednesday, but the track will be free on Thursday. I've spoken with a few of you, but in general, are people game for meeting on Thursday at 6:30pm at B-CC (THIS WEEK). As darkness sneaks up earlier and earlier, B-CC is a good option because half the track is lit by the adjacent school.

Caroline White Qualifies for Olympic Trials!

FLASH: Former GRCer Caroline White runs the race of her life and qualifies for the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials with a time of 2:45:21 at the Twin Cities Marathon this morning...

...places 28th (unofficially)...a 10 minute personal best.

...6:19 pace

...peaked at 114 miles per week

LEAD UP ARTICLE: http://www.schriever.af.mil/news/story_print.asp?id=123163803

RIO 2016!!

Patapsco on Sunday?

Fall is here and the weather is ideal for running...and there is no better place for a fall run than Patapsco State Park. Karl and I were toying with doing our Sunday run here. This was my training ground in college and I can promise a great run. Karl or I could drive folks from Grosvenor. Start time at 10am?

Any takers?

Over HEER

Dirk de Heer of the Netherlands coming out of transition at the ITU Duathlon World Championships.

YO

if anyone wants to run a five k downtown on sat let me know. our store is sponsoring the aids run. nice flat course.

michael wardian is running twin cities this weekend and wants to run 2:17. i have given him strict instructions to not run at all this week with the hope that 5 days of rest will shave 5 minutes off of his usual 2:20 with no rest.

i met this guy at the store yesterday who home schooled his kids and both got their PhDs by the age of 18. they were on dateline sometime back.

lesson here is home school your kids if you want them fastracked


peace out

Pickin up Dudes

On Monday, I met up with JARRIN at Hains Point.

Yesterday, I ran into this dude

http://wbenpackard.wordpress.com/

We met near the national monument and took him to HP. He'd been on his bike for 3,200+ miles so a few more wouldn't hurt. The guy sure can write.

Then I saw Lindsay J, it was a good day. I feel like Max.

Wednesday workout

What are our plans? Will BCC be available?

Congrats again to Matias and Dirk for their great performances!

Dirk takes 12th @ ITU World Duathlon Championships pro race...Matias finishes as 7th amateur

Not too shabby gentlemen...way to throw it down against an international field.

12th and 7th in the world is very respectable, to say the least.

1.	Jarrod Shoemaker - USA	1:49:02
2.	Damien Derobert - FRA	1:49:02
3.	Jurgen Dereere - BEL	1:49:09
4.	Sergio Silva - POR	1:49:26
5.	Victor Manue Del Corral Morales	1:49:28
6.	Raphael Baugh - AUS	1:49:33
7.	Richard Hobby - GBR	1:49:44
8.	Alessandro Fabian - ITA	1:49:50
9.	Lino Barruncho - POR	1:49:52
10.	Morimichi Iihoshi - JPN	1:49:53
11.	Yuya Fukaura - JPN	1:49:56
12.	Dirk De Heer - NED	1:50:00
13.	Philip Wylie - GBR	1:50:02
14.	Antoine Duvivier - BEL	1:50:03
15.	Tiago Silva - POR	1:50:07

1.	Matthew Sheeks - USA	1:43:30
2.	Justin Harris - USA	1:43:34
3.	Dirk Heinze - USA	1:45:24
4.	Rocha Jonas - BRA	1:45:28
5.	Frank Silvestrin De Souza	1:45:44
6.	Ian Cardy - GBR	1:46:34
7.	Matias Palavecino - USA	1:46:55
8.	Nicholas Sterghos - USA	1:46:59
9.	Kevin Oconnor - USA	1:47:23
10.	Todd Wiley - USA	1:47:32

Sunday Run

Dylan has proposed meeting for a Sunday long run at Difficult Run. Any takers? Let's plan to meet at 9.

MARINE CORPS MARATHON LOVE

Please confirm that you are signed up tonight. Sloan, Murphy, etc. Dylan, you should run it so I can run with you and beat you at the end:) Seriously, some of you guys can run it as a tempo without too much stress.

FYI--Mike Wardian came into the store today to buy ZOOT compression tights to sleep in and help with recovery.

Run with a smile

Max

Magical Mystery Track Workout

As part of our adventures in discovering new fun places to do track workouts, Wednesday evenings' fun will take place at Tilden Middle School. It is 1.6 miles from the Grosvenor metro stop on the red line. Time is still TBD, but right now I am thinking of meeting anyone coming by metro just outside the station and running from there (drop bags in my car nearby if need be).

LOCATION

Workout will most likely be some moderately paced mile repeats mixed with 400's or 800's between the miles to simulate lactic acid buildup, unless someone has got a specific workout in mind.

Post in comments......with comments.

-Dylan, Dwight, and Dwayne

FINAL MARINE CORPS MARATHON

ALL

So far Chris Sloan, Dirk, Nate, Natalie, Myself, Will Knox, and Pat Murray are on the team. We need two more to make up the two teams. I can get these three people in for the team so you do not need to be registered. Chris Bain, Karl, Dickson, Shannon, Young Dylan, Murphy, etc? let me know today as I need to have you sign up via a link.

According to the Marine Corps Marathon, nobody is signed up yet so please go to this link and sign up.

let me know this is done.

FYI--we are the defending champions and cannot be left out

Here is the link

http://www.active.com/framed/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1709557

the Dirk, Chris, Will, Patrick and Natalie are on the Chevy Chase team

Myself and Nate are on Gtown so far. need three more.

the password for Chevy Chase is Gtownchevy and the one for Georgetown is GTOWNDC

this is urgent so get back to me today.

Max

BREAKING BREAKING NEWS: OFFICIAL PDR Results

Official GRC results:

Jake Klim: 1:09:32 (26th overall)

Dickson Mercer: 1:10:14 (36th)

Dylan Kieth: 1:13:47 (78th)

Chris BAIN: 1:14:20 (88th)

Shannon O'Neill: 1:29:31 (77th female)

RUNNING LORE/WATER BELTS AND THE FALL

For a few years in the ealry 2000s i used to wake up at the crack of dawn to meet with the DC ROAD RUNNERs at the IWA JIMA memorial every saturday for their long runs. they are well organized and the running leaders hand out sheets of paper with the route so that all are taken care of and nobody gets lost. on a typical sat in the summer or Fall they get 70 runners of all abilities. All I remember is that we would run and run and then there would be juice at the end.

Nobody wore water belts in those days.

Today I opened the store for a DC ROAD RUNNERS Army ten mile training run and there must have been 30 of them. All of them had water belts and little pouches for gu and other things.

Times have changed.

the fall is here and the air is cooler and the leaves will soon change.


Peace out

GRC Sends Army to Philly

Dickson, The Man with Three Names, Silent Thunder & His Woman, and I, the Red Fox, will venture to the City of Brotherly Love this weekend to battle the streets of Philly. For most of us, this is the first big race of the fall season. Army Ten Miler, Marine Corps Marathon, New York Marathon and the Philly Marathon will follow.

The PDR begins at 7:45am on Sunday. Results are forthcoming...

Group running this weekend? Little long, but interesting.

DATHAN RITZENHEIN, one of America's most talented runners, was in a slump. He had been a national star since high school but, starting several years ago, he felt as if he had reached a plateau. He wasn't improving the way he'd hoped, and had been suffering stress fractures, repeatedly breaking a small bone in his left foot.

He and his coach tried to figure out what was wrong and seized upon the idea that perhaps it was the altitude training. He had been living and training in Boulder, Colo., hoping to take advantage of the thin air, which can increase the red blood cells that help deliver more oxygen to muscles. But maybe, Mr. Ritzenhein and his coach reasoned, training at Boulder's elevation (about 5,430 feet) was putting too much stress on Mr. Ritzenhein's body.

So Mr. Ritzenhein, his coach and his family moved to Eugene, Ore. (430 feet). "It didn't work," Mr. Ritzenhein said. He did not improve and, to his dismay, suffered another stress fracture.

In June, Mr. Ritzenhein joined a running group, a team of elite runners coached by Alberto Salazar, winner of three consecutive New York City marathons in the early 1980s. It made all the difference, Mr. Ritzenhein said. He was re-energized, excited about running again. And, he said, most important, he trained with fast runners who pushed him to work harder than he ever could alone.

At a track meet in Zurich on Aug. 28, Mr. Ritzenhein, 27, broke the American record for a 5,000-meter race, finishing in 12 minutes 56.27 seconds — a pace of 4:09 a mile in a race that is 3.1 miles long. The American record before that, 12:58.21, had stood for 13 years.

Mr. Ritzenhein is convinced his success is because of running and training with a group. Running alone, he said, "You can't push yourself as hard — you feed off the energy of other people."

Mr. Salazar said in an e-mail message that he is a firm believer in group training. He had trained with a group himself, he said, and group training "helped develop our great runners of the '70s and '80s."

Group training is an aspect of performance that has never been scientifically studied. Exercise physiologists say it can be impossible to demonstrate its value because usually too many things change simultaneously when people start to run in groups: the coach, the location, the training regimen. To do a proper study, it would be necessary to assign athletes at random to train alone or with a group, assessing their performances after a period of time — something that would be extremely hard, if not impossible.

But despite the lack of solid evidence that group training helps, more and more athletes are starting to think it does. And, they say, there are lessons for amateurs who want to run or swim or cycle faster. The right workout companions, they say, can make all the difference.

"In sports, you need to train at race pace," said Edward Coyle, an exercise physiologist at the University of Texas at Austin. "To do that, you need a coach and you need teammates to push you."

Recreational athletes can benefit, too, Dr. Coyle said. Many run by themselves or without a specific program. "They probably underestimate their ability," he said. Group runs "would help them tremendously.

"

Many amateurs already train with groups — masters swimmers, competitive road cyclists and runners who join clubs or groups that run together regularly.

And there can be drawbacks. Slower athletes may try to push themselves beyond their abilities, and faster ones may not be challenged enough.

Michael Berry, an exercise physiologist at Wake Forest University and a competitive cyclist, said he just can't ride with his group on his recovery days, when a workout should be easy. He always finds himself riding too hard.

Before he started cycling, he was a runner, and he had the same problem. "Say Monday would be a recovery day, an easy five-mile run," said Dr. Berry, 53. "Someone would show up who hadn't run all weekend. My competitive urge was such that I said to myself that I didn't need to recover." But, he added, "As I get older I realize that, yes, I do need to recover."

Kevin Hanson said he and his brother got the idea for the elite team when they began asking why American performances had declined so much in the 1990s from the golden days of the '70s and '80s.

"Frank Shorter, Bill Rodgers, Greg Meyer," who, in 1983, was the last American man to with the Boston Marathon, "all trained in groups," Mr. Hanson said.

But in the 1990s, distance runners began training on their own, with the guidance of a coach. And Americans were no longer among the best in the world.

"We started to see a decline in the sport," Mr. Hanson said. The countries whose distance runners were the best — Ethiopia, Kenya and Japan — all emphasized training in groups, he noted.

"You say: `Wait a minute. We were most successful in the U.S. when we trained in groups. The three most successful countries in the world are doing group training,' " Mr. Hanson said. There must be a message there.

So he and his brother started recruiting runners for their elite group. Its advantages, he said, are that athletes have "shared motivation, a shared sense of ideas." And they encourage one another.

"So often it may be hard to drag yourself outdoors," to go for a training run, Mr. Hanson said. "But when you have 8 or 10 or whatever number of teammates counting on you, then you're there."

That's also what Kara Goucher says. She ran her first marathon last year, in New York, and came in third among women. Her time, 2:32:25, was the fastest ever for an American woman running her first marathon. Ms. Goucher attributes her success to group training.

She graduated from college in 2001 and ran on her own, coached by her college coach, for three years.

"I really struggled," Ms. Goucher said. "I kept getting injured." She had multiple stress fractures, a knee injury and shin splints. Her husband, Adam Goucher, was also running alone, coached by his college coach, and was also struggling, she said.

In the fall of 2004, the Gouchers moved to Oregon and joined Mr. Salazar's team. It made all the difference, Ms. Goucher said.

"I think it's possible to train on your own, but I do think it is better in a group," she said. "You see success in each other. Everything seems more in reach."

"And it holds you accountable," she continued. "Instead of waiting all day to do my run, I have to go out and meet the girls."

Kevin Hanson adds that when one person in a group has an outstanding performance, others gain confidence that they might be able to do it, too. They know how hard everyone works, they know they can run with that person in practice. If that person did it, if they ran that fast, then, team members think, why not me?

That happened this year when Desiree Davila, one of his team's members, ran the Berlin marathon in 2:27:53, finishing 11th. She was 26 years old; Mr. Hanson said the only other American woman to run a marathon that fast that young was Joan Benoit Samuelson in 1983.

"It was a huge motivating factor for all of our women," Mr. Hanson said.

===========================
Jamie Carruthers
Wakefield, UK

Draft-legal Duathlons, great for runners!

Next saturday the 26th are the world duathlon champs in Concord, NC, where Matias and I will compete!

As prep, last week I did a draft-legal (like LJ regularly does in tri's) duathlon in France, which was quite an experience! It was about 2.9M run-12M bike-1.5M run. I ran the first 2.9M in 14.21 and was in a group of 4. One guy was fast in the exchange and got away, while the other 3 of us got caught by a group of about 12 guys. The drafting is fun, exciting (a bit dangerous at times) and a lot better for runners than the time trial rides! The group stayed together til the end of the ride, but I changed terribly and started the run in 11th. Luckily the differences were small and I was able to move back to 3rd. Quite and experience and good preparation for the worlds, where it will be drafting for me as well, even though the distance is longer 10k-40k-5k.

Definitely a recommendation for any runner that enjoys a change!
results: http://www.chronopro.net/COURSES/2009/nancy%20Duathlon/OPEN_SENIOR.pdf

Sunday Run

Anybody interested in heading to Greenbelt for loops x 3 (or 2 or 1)? For Sunday long run, in prep for all those fast marathons and 1/2s everybody is going to run.

Wednesday Workout

Dickson and I were planning to run 3 miles on the track or on the CCT at half marathon pace. There was some talk about others joining in on this workout and then hitting some 400s afterwards. Anyone interested? I am leaving work at 5:45. Metro-pending, I should be at B-CC at 6:30pm. If not, commence the warm-up without me and I'll warm-up on the track.

Track Workout

For the Wednesday night B-CC workout crew, it looks like the track will be closed off to us again this week as there will be field hockey on the field. Tuesday and Thursday are also both no good (soccer). Anyone know a good alternative? Landon is nearby on Wilson (here), but I don't know if we can get on the track. (Klim, you've worked out there before, haven't you?) It looks like all of their athletic events should be done by 6:30. Or we could run on the CCT again, since several of us are going to do 3 miles at 1/2 marathon pace. My vote is to keep it on a track if possible.

TIME CHANGE: 8:30am at THE LINE

FLASH: Dusen tops Smits at McGrath 5k

BALTIMORE, Maryland

Karl Dusen ran away from Kyle Smits in the last 600m to win the first annual Ryan McGrath Invite.

15:06 - Dusen

15:14 - Smits

15:35 - Mike Smith

15:52 - Ben Ingram

Jeff Gaudette dropped out per calf pain

Splits - 4:49, 9:40

REPORT FROM RACE DIRECTOR McGRATH (reprinted withOUT permission):

In heat #1, Barf took things out and led a small group composed of Mellow Mike, Kristen Till and Eileen. They came through 4 laps in roughly 5:43 it looked like, which is definitely a quick pace. Ultimately Eileen and Kristen opened a gap and came through 3200 in 11:33. With Kristen in hot pursuit, Eileen just kept burning up the track and crossed the line in 18:08 with Kristen at 18:18. Mellow came through in 18:51 and then Diane was 3rd lady to cross the line at 19:12 (a post-collegiate PR!). Alex made a return to running for this special occasion, running 19:39, and Barf faded but got under 20 (19:55). Lisa and Lauren ran close together for most of the race, finishing in superb times of 20:15 and 20:34. Chrissie and Claire were both out enjoying the Saturday chill run, going 22:02 and 22:09, and then Alix Ruth with a 30 second all-time PR came through at 23:49.

Heat #2 was pretty stacked. The collective resumes of the field boast quite a few sub 30min 10k guys, some 2:20 marathons - basically a pretty awesome group. The race was on from the start with a pack of 5 (Karl Dusen, Kyle Smits, Mike Smith, Jeff Gaudette and Ben) leading the charge. After a fairly relaxed 74 second first quarter the speed increased and the leaders split the 1600 somewhere between 4:48 and 4:50. Jeff, winner of last week's KOC 10k, was having trouble with his calf and made the wise decision to drop out. This left Kyle and Karl on the front, switching the lead and coming through 3200 in 9:40. Not far behind, Ben and Mike were doing battle. With a little over a lap to go, Karl put a little gap between himself and Kyle to solo to victory in the impressive time of 15:06. Kyle was 2nd in 15:14 and Mike gritted it out for 3rd in 15:35. Ben held on for 4th at 15:52. 4 people under 16 is a pretty sweet day.

Jake had the unenviable task of running a solo 16:41 effort, which, given his new workload, is quite impressive. Joel Brusewitz managed to get under 17 (16:57) with a great last lap, and Jeff Rumbaugh was next through in 17:48. John Blatz ran 18:14. He pointed out to me that normally he would place top 5 in races around here with that kind of time, but it's good to be reminded sometimes. Final finisher in this heat was Tank at what I've got as an unofficial 21:5x.

Awards will be sent out to top 3 finishers and I'll try and do that this week as I continue couching it up in NJ.

Many thanks to my dad, who drove me down here last night (and we were back in the car right after the race).

Next year hopefully we can call it the RM Classic as I will try to be out there running myself.

FINAL MARINE CORPS MARATHON

SQUAD AS OF TODAY

so far I have the following

Dirk
Chris
Nate
Nate's girlfriend(name escapes me)
the new kid BILL
Maybe me
this kid Brandon who works for the store
Will Knox(hired gun)


I need two more. i have a few entries through the store team. Bain, mighty Sam, interested?

Max

Sunday Run - The Line?

Anyone interested? We could mix up the route like last time (ie - not Zoo Loop). I know JARRIN wants (needs?) to run 18 and he is bringing someone new to the group.

I'll also be at the Gtown Store on Saturday.

Boston

Online registration for the 2010 Boston Marathon (April 19, 2010) opened today, September 9. The popular event has strict qualifying standards to enter the marathon. This year's field size will be limited to 25,000 athletes; the entry fee for USA residents is $130 by February 1, 2010. The Boston Marathon is one of five races in the World Marathon Majors series offering a $1 million prize purse to the top male and female marathoners in the world. Running USA reports that John Hancock's 2009 Boston Marathon Fundraising Program raised $3.7 million for non-profit and community service organizations during the 113th running of the Boston Marathon. As the marathon's principal sponsor for 25 years, John Hancock provides select non-profit organizations with invitational marathon entries that enable funds to be raised for their organizations. See the Boston Marathon Web site for details.

Track Workout

Any thoughts on emphasis of workout tomorrow night? I am good with speed, strength or both. Some ideas I will throw out.
1. 4 sets of 600, 400, 200. 200 rest b/w reps (400 b/w sets)

2. 16 x 400 (4 sets of 4) getting quicker each set.
100-200 rest b/w reps (400 b/w sets)
3. 2 mile tempo (400 rest),
400 (200 rest)
400 (200 rest)
600 (200 rest)
600 (200 rest)
400 (200 rest)
200


Let me know what you all are planning... I am flexible. Just happy to have people to train with

Joe

But Taking Time Off Ain't Easy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7thlIcJGUZ4

TAKE A WEEK OFF JAKE

Hey Jake, i read some of your recent blog posts. Take a week off and chill. let the leg fully heal. play hooky from running. You have been running hard and well for two years. You have tons of fitness in the tank. a week or two(not two days) off will help heal the micro tears and other damage done. get some massages, hang out at a spa and let some TLC just take over man. integrate massage or some form of PT into your running regimen while you are still not too beat up(wish I had)

you have nothing to lose but the fear of losing(on the roads)

Love Max:)

Page's Run - Oct 4

A couple of my friends put this race on to raise awareness for Cystic Fibrosis which claimed the lives of someone in their community. The USATF certified 5k is run through the streets of Potomac.
New for 2009! Cash prizes for top finishers!

Elite Runners
Page's Run welcomes elite runners and offers cash prizes for top finishers!

1st place overall for male and female finishers – $300
2nd place overall for male and female finishers – $150
3rd place overall for male and female finishers – $75
In addition, anyone who sets a new course record (male or female) will automatically win a $100 bonus!

Current Records:
Male: Steve Crane 15:06 (2008)
Female: Melissa Tanner 18:00 (2008)

Additional info can be found here - http://www.pagesrun.com/

More Results: VA Beach Half

Chris Sloane - 1:15
Nate Timm - 1:20

Kentlands 5K Results

REPORT: Dusen takes 3rd at Kentlands...15:09. Wiggy takes 5th (15:30) and Blasiak takes 7th (15:51)

SAT RUN

Is anyone planning on running from the Georgetown store tomorrow at 9am? Please let me know. Max

GRC SPONSORED SNAPPLE® TRIATHLON TEAM ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 2010

Snapple Triathlon Team

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 12, 2009 – Snapple LYTeWater, a new electrolyte-enhanced water source for the active, is pleased to announce that it is currently accepting applications for its 2010 squad. The Team is comprised of top-flight professional and amateur athletes dedicated to promoting the multi-sport lifestyle.

While not all 2010 sponsorship agreements are in place, members of the 2009 team received:

* Champion Systems Apparel including tri kits, cycling kits, cycling jackets, arm warmers, leg warmers, and vests.
* Xterra Vendetta Wetsuits
* Spiuk helmets, shoes, and eyewear
* Discounts and shoes from the Georgetown Running Company
* Crocs Sandals
* Discounts on service, fittings, and products from Elite Bicycles
* Snapple LYTeWater and Snapple Antioxidant Water
* Accelerade, Endurox, and Accel Gel
* Headsweats Visors
* Media Bonus Policy
* Pro Discounts and additional product from sponsors

2010 athletes will be required to race and train in team apparel and with team gear. In 2009, athletes wore Champion Systems Apparel (w/ GRC logos); helmets (cycling and TT), shoes, and eyewear from Spiuk; and Xterra wetsuits. While additional apparel and gear is available at discounted prices, athletes are not required to make any purchases.

Before joining, athletes must agree to race and train in sponsors’ apparel and gear and to make periodic posts on the Team’s blog and calendar. Depending on their location, athletes may be asked to participate in 1 or 2 clinics or events during the year.

Interested athletes should email the below information to snappletriteam@gmail.com by September 30, 2009. Finalists should expect a brief phone interview in October.

Additional information is available at www.snappletriteam.com

Name:
Email:
Address:
Phone number:
Current Sponsors (we accommodate existing sponsorship if possible):
Top 5 results in past 3 years:

Tentative 2010 Race Schedule:

Goals for 2010 Season:

Club and Team Affiliations:

Do you hold an official position in any of these organizations?

Multisport Accomplishments (e.g., USAT All American, Kona qualifier, etc.):

Do you currently maintain a blog?

If you were to race on Team Snapple, are you willing to write on the Team’s blog?

Why do you want to be a part of Team Snapple?

Sunday run

Any interest in meeting at the line Sunday morning?

MARINE CORPS MARATHON

So far I have Dirk and Chris on the store team. We need a bunch more people. please let me know in the next few days if you are game.

remember, we are defending our title from last year. Pacers and Potomac are fielding teams.

Mighty Chris Bain, Klim, Billy, Dylan big Sam, etc. you all can run a 245 marathon as a long run.

Where is the love?

M

More race results

PReaves was back in town- 4th at the annapolis 10M in 54.47, fastest ever on the course in a week of 94Miles! PMurphy followed in a respectable 57.14. Nice job guys!
Winner was Matt Llano from University of Richmond in a very fast 49.32 (he's a 29.06 guy).

http://results.active.com/pages/searchform.jsp?rsID=83120&orgID=234639&pubID=2

Dickson was 4th in his alumni XC meet I heard, any more info anyone?

THIS WEEK

First off, congrats to Matias and Dirk for great racing! I can't wait to race with you guys soon. As far as this week goes, I'll be at BCC tomorrow for the track workout at 6:30. Who else will be there? Any ideas for the workout?

Also, I will be making my racing debut for the GRC this Saturday at the Kentlands 5K. Any one else racing there? I might need one of your old Brooks jerseys to race in if any of you guys have a medium one.

-Karl

Out of Town

I am out of town (again) starting tomorrow. I won't be at the workout or around for runs this weekend. I am game for a Monday (Labor Day) run, however. I defer to the GRC community to come up with running plans in my absence.

As a parting gift I leave you with this website address.

http://offroadrunners.com/