I have had several emails requesting this so here is the all the “nerd alert” stuff from my Garmin watch during the marathon along with today’s run in Midland. Going to have to say NY was a little easier on the eyes. Today the New York Road Runners are holding a 37.5 mile race consisting of 9 loops around Central Park. It is pretty in the fall but FT……
After the race
New York was awesome. It was definitely an experience I will never forget. I can’t imagine another marathon topping NY but I think I am going to keep running and see if there is something close. I might try White Rock in Dallas coming up on Dec 13th but I don’t know yet.
The actual route did in fact kick my ass with an upper-cut, the Queensboro Bridge, also known as the 59th St Bridge on mile 16. I was feeling good and on a decent pace but after that bridge…..I really had a struggle on my hands. Ten miles to go and hurting big time. I remember seeing a sign that read “pain is temporary” and that did seem encourage me as did the two million spectators. I lost Tommy before the start and Bruce was in a different wave start than me as well so each of us ran this thing on our own. After it was all said and done, Bruce and I were separated by four seconds on our finishing time. 4 hrs and 22 mins. I wish I would have had more time to spend in NY with Bruce and Michelle but they were without children on the trip so I didn’t bother them too much and let them enjoy their time together. Bruce and I didn’t do any of our training together before the event but we talked all the time after our long runs and kept up with how the other was progressing. I think we experienced many of the same thoughts and emotions regarding Robert throughout this whole ordeal. I think he would be happy knowing we pulled it off.
I really don’t think I can describe the feelings of running NY with a keyboard because I just don’t have the literary skills which I’m sure you are already aware of. I wish I could but there are so many cool parts to this event you must really experience it for yourself. There are many who would have absolutely no desire for this type of entertainment and I don’t blame them. I have expressed early on this site the reasons I chose to take on this challenge and looking back on it I would have to say that I am thankful I did. I did have to put in the hours but after the first month I really can’t call it work because I truly enjoyed it. I wish I could tell you only a few have the makeup to run a marathon and I was one of them but that simply is not the case. This is a sport where CAPABLE finishers are probably greater than eighty percent of the population. I get more joy out of seeing others start to run than I do when I reach certain milestones within my own running. I don’t know why that is but if you are a runner then you know what I’m talking about. If you are not a runner, what are you waiting for? There will come a time when we can’t run anymore. For Robert, with great sadness this holds true now. For us, today is not that day………
video (I don’t think you can play this on an Iphone)
Lance and Tommy
I ran this one a little better than the 10K I ran back about 5 months ago. I actually did what I planned and took it easy at the beginning and increased speed as the race progressed. Blue Ribbon for discipline, usually not the case with me. One big time buzz buster though. At the starting line I was exchanging good lucks and such to Tommy and his wife and proceeded to get the ipod ready to go. No such luck, I could not get it to turn on. Dead. I had grabbed my shuffle off the docking cradle assuming it was charged and I guess one of the children pulled out the USB cable on the back of the computer so I was musicless the whole way……. Anyway, 1:56 total time @ an avg pace of 8:55/mile. I still have no idea what I am going to do in NY as far as strategy goes. I know I want to try and run a sub 4 hr but have never gone that distance before so it’s hard to draw out a plan when
Finisher's Medal
I have no idea what to expect from the body after mile 20. I could totally flame out as I saw some participants at the full marathon yesterday that looked like they were having MAJOR issues with everything breaking down on them during the last 3 miles, so I don’t have a clue. You could very well see yours truly on TV in the middle of the street requiring medical attention Nov 1 in the Big Apple.
I also ran into Jennifer Kennedy who was running the half with her sister. That was pretty cool as I had not seen her in ages….
Jenny, Brandi, Lance and Tommy
Congrats to:
10/1 – 5
9/30 – 6 (only did 2.2 sick)
9/29 – 5
9/28 – 3
9/26 – 20 long run
9/24 – 4
9/23 – 4
9/22 – 4
Bruce did not run the half due to Hunter’s football game. He did call me let me know he ran 21 on Friday though…..
I am getting soooooo bad about this. I know all of my two readers are going to abandon this wonderful site if I continue to update at this pace. I am going to try and get a little better…..
The Crossroads Half is coming up in less than 2 weeks and I think Tommy and I are going to try and run it sub 2 hrs and see how we feel. Don’t know if this will transfer to a sub 4 hr marathon but we will see. On the 12th Tommy was in Midland for the weekend so we went on our 1st long run together. It was the first time I have ever run with anyone. It does make the time go faster. He ran 20 and I ran 19. I felt really good and didn’t have any problems at all. Now last Sat when I ran my 12 miles after a night on 6th St in Austin, that was a total different story. I considered it a major victory just getting out of bed so I did not concern myself with time at all. Austin running is a lot like running in Dallas. Very inspiring but always gives me the feeling of what I am doing is really not significant (and certainly not blog worthy) as a result of it seems like half the population of those cities are in the park training for a marathon…….
Austin was really nice. Went down on half business/half fun and the UT-TT game. Saw a good friend from Seattle that I had not seen in about a year who came down and stayed with us for the festivities (he’s the one by the clown). 
Lori had strep and the kids Thurs-Sun so my guilt meter was on high the entire time I was there. It was nice to get finally get home.
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Run Stuff:
I had decided long ago I am going to Sharpie certain names on my marathon shirt that have had the unfortunate experience of going to battle with cancer. It may seem a small thing but if you would like to add a name to cross the finish line with me, I would be honored. Leave a comment on the “Shirt” page and I will add it. If you would rather have it written on Tommy or Bruce’s shirt, I will let them know as well. Please forward this page to your friends who you think might want to add a name.
Training numbers
Email from Tommy (his progress)
Bruce ran 19 miles on the 19th
Just an update on what is going on. It has been busy and even I have to admit I have really let the posts slide these last 6 weeks. My DVR is full as well with neglected favorite shows. Well school starting has not helped but for the most part I have to blame it on the Rangers. As soon as everything is crossed of the “must do” list in order to maintain status in the “good parent” category, it’s Ranger time. (All you facebooking moms can relate to that I’m sure but would never admit it.) Anyway it is rare the Texas Rangers are still alive at this time of the year and I really enjoy watching them trying to sneak into the playoffs. I do DVR the games and manage to squeeze them in usually as soon as everyone is in bed but that leaves little time for the old Bloggy McBlog Blog. Now down to the running stuff….
The Crossroads Half-Marathon is coming up on the Oct 3 and I’m anxious to see how that one is going to go. I feel after the distances I have been training at, I should be able to handle it without major issue. I just need to really make sure I don’t get out there and act like an idiot and do something stupid. I should be fine but when you are dealing with the tools upstairs I have, nothing is easy. Since the last post, I did run a 16 miler last week and a 12 miler yesterday. Between those two runs I had some allergy issues that really knocked me down for a bit. I was scheduled to run 3 miles the next day after the 16, but either the 16 miles really took its toll on me or I was really just flat out sick. Either way, I didn’t do the 3 mile recovery run the next day following the 16. I did get in 5 miles on Tues and Wed of last week but then could only do 3.5 of the scheduled 5 (treadmill out of town) last Thursday. I had had enough and when I got back to Midland I went to the Doc for some repairs. Allergy shots and 3 prescriptions later and I am on the mend. I didn’t have any trouble with the 12 yesterday (9:22 pace) and just finished my 3 mile recovery run for today. Everything seems to be on schedule. Tommy and Bruce have each run longer runs than me so far but I think we are all where we need to be.
Coming up: I have an 18 mile run Sat morning and then a golf tournament that afternoon in Kermit, TX with the second round to follow on Sun. Don’t know how that’s going to go over. I am scared for my teammates like a lead balloon. The following weekend I am scheduled to run 12 and go to the Tech – Texas game in Austin on business (kind of). If I had my choice on that one, I would skip it and stay home. Then the next weekend is a 20 mile run (max miles I will run before the marathon) followed by the half-marathon on Oct 3rd. If I can make it through that stretch, I will be one month away from NYC.
We did attend the Midland Rockhound minor league games this weekend and got some pics of Jett with the Church’s Chicken. They hit it off until I told him we much prefered Popeye’s. Lori, Carter and myself are not in the picture. I just asked Jett if he wanted to sit by him and he went down about three rows and climbed in the seat.
Jett and the Chicken chillin'
T Wood (Dad) update. Since the last post my dad had a stent put in and is doing fine. He even said he wanted to get the clubs out. Might have to take the family out today for a round………………
I have been slacking on the updates. Lori has been getting ready for school to start so that usually leaves me in charge of munchkins. Konner has been at the lake all week and is coming home today so maybe we can get one more family golf session in before we are once again turned upside down with day-to day activities this season seems to always bring in tow. This summer was gone in a blink. Damn…….
Running has been going alright. I ran 15 miles last Sat at White Rock Lake in Dallas. I can’t tell you the difference between running in Dallas and running in Midland. It is so inspiring to see that many people out and at all different ages and levels . I wish I could run there everyday. Chris Jauz (as I typed the last sentence) just sent me a text about seeing U2 on Oct 12th in Dallas, so maybe I can work it out to run my 18 miler I have scheduled that day back at White Rock.
My brother Tommy is coming along nicely. I talked to him on Sat and he had just finished his 17 mile run.
Bruce ran a 10 miler last Sat as well and says he is on track. I wish he would get a watch and send me some info.
My runs (click the spilts tab once on the link)
71 days left until the big day and still some heavy training to go. Here is what I have left as far as training goes:
Not counting the actual marathon, I have 53 more training days and 315 miles to go. That made me tired just typing it.
Well now the the golf season is over (I think I have one more 2 day tourney in Kermit for the Volunteer Fire Department Sept 12 and 13th) so I can start to really concentrate on the meat of the training. I feel like I am getting some speed back but am still too scared to push it. We will see how it goes. Overall I feel pretty good. My older brother Tommy is coming down from Lubbock on Oct 3 to run the Crossroads Half Marathon as we are scheduled for training runs that day anyway of the 13 mile variety. I think his wife Allison is scheduled to walk it. She has a blog here that you can check out if you would like. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by that blog are not necessarily the the views and opinions expressed by runningtheboroughs.com and I can guarantee you that she would say the same about mine. I am proud of her for taking on this challenge and I hope she gets the same satisfaction we have so far. Good luck Allison!!
Brandi Hughes has also been running for awhile and I am officially starting to bug her to run the Crossroads Half starting now. Please send her harassing emails to do it here.
Here is a breakdown of the runs over the past week.
Chris beat me in the tournament this weekend. He ended up getting me by 3 strokes. The last day he shot 75 and I came in with a 76 while neither of us finished in the money.
The family made it back in last night from their trip to Dallas. They had a good time at the game and I did see them on TV once Sun night.
Well the United Fuel and Energy (plug) Men’s City Championship goes into the final round today and I have still not found my putter. I am the world’s worst putter. I caught some breaks playing the Road Runner course on Friday (+7, 79) but didn’t catch any on Quail today (+11, 81). I am all but out of the tourney tied for 14th in my flight but only 2 shots back of Chris so at least there is something to play for today. After seeing I was out of the tourney for all practical reasons, I went ahead and did my scheduled long run today. I wanted to go to the tournament dinner tonight so I started the run around 4:30 this afternoon and it was HOT. I walked half a mile at the 10 and 11.5 mark. So I really ran 12 and walked 1. I did use tons of Hammer gels and electrolyte pills along the way and I think that made the difference in getting me through. I might could have even done the whole 13 miles running if it were not for the bottle of wine Friday night at the card game. Now that the long runs are getting a little more intense I am going to put the alcohol on the shelf and return to a runner’s diet.
Wife and children are going to the Ranger game tonight in Dallas. Lori is going to have her hands full.
Tomorrow is the start of the tournament and it looks like I will be playing with my good friend Chris Jauz in the opening round going off at 11:45. He has had his hand in my wallet for the last couple of years on a regular basis but there is always a chance if I can figure out how to putt. Should be fun. The thing I like about this tournament is every single shot counts for three days. You don’t have your team there to bail you out if you have a bad hole making the pressure VERY HEAVY for all three days. I am addicted to that kind of pressure. I might not always come through but I really enjoy trying. We play in the President’s flight which is one under the Championship flight so in no way am I trying to imply that we belong with the best golfers in town. We don’t. Most of the tournaments out there are all team oriented for popularity reasons so there are not many tournaments formatted for individual play. It’s fun every year to go against Chris who I have known and competed with and against in almost every single sport since 3rd grade. Kids again. Robert loved this tournament as well and we will miss him tons this weekend. Lori is in Dallas this weekend with the kiddos to see some of her ACU friends so the house is quiet once again. John Ironside and Chris also have families away. A few years ago if this would have happened on Championship weekend we would have what we like to refer to as the “perfect storm”……. Now we are older and a little more responsible.
Started running: 1/4/09
