Running a Home Town Race - Willamette Valley Marathon

 During Covid I had some interesting goals. In June of 2020 I started a running streak of at least 2 miles a day. I always wondered what that would be like. So I ran 157 days in a row until I had to have hernia surgery, which I found out I had for over 4 years which every doctor but what thought was something else. It hurt most every time I ran so long training was super hard and painful. So a week after surgery I started another streak in December of 2020 that lasted 101 days. It was fun but I found my long training would be better without the streak at my age. So I became more focused on getting back to what longer events, which brings us to this blog.

I ran the Willamette Valley Marathon in the town I grew up in, Salem, Oregon. I had never run anything further than a half marathon here. Plus I would be running in some areas that I hung out as a kid, Minto-Brown Island Park. The interesting thing about this park is a lot of it is built over the 2 largest dumps in Salem's history. We lived in the country with no garbage service so every month off we would go to the dump with the family pickup. Who would have thought one day I would be running 26.2 miles over my old shoes, footballs, clothes and unfinished green vegetables that I refused to eat off my plate as a kid. You smell methane there?? That was me! 

We started at the Salem Riverfront park which is just a great area on the Willamette River in downtown Salem. (Trivia note: My over achieving mother was on the early development committees to bring this park to life in the 1980's and 90's). Race started at 8:30 which was nice as Gail and I drove down from Lake Oswego that morning. Detour was running the half as she is a world Pickleball Ace now and doesn't have much time for silly race training. We had about 120 runners at the start and the temperature was perfect in the low 50's and overcast skies. We had a 10 to 15 mph wind at times so that was a bit painful but not brutal.  I felt well trained for the event with mileage of 36 to 40 miles a week over the last 3 weeks and one 20 mile training run. I also had run the Vernonia Marathon back on April 10th so I had a good base. 

I settled in to a nice 10:15 pace or so. My goal was to run just under 4:30. I always start a bit slow as my heart rate is always elevated for about the first 20 to 25 minutes. For example I was at about 145 bpm and then settled into 125 bpm until about 2 hours, then fatigue elevates my rate slowly until the last 6 miles when I get back to about 140 bpm. (My resting rate is 52)

Around mile 2 ish we hit the dirt part of the course. It got a little muddy along the Willamette then it got real muddy, I mean ultra mud. Some runners you can tell are road runners and they were avoiding the mud at all cost. I tried to avoid of course but at times had to get dirty. This went on for maybe a 1/3rd of a mile. Then we got back on the very nice bike paths with lots of shade.

Around mile 5 we pop out of some road, it was very empty and was actually a nice change. Then back in the park and on the bike paths. With all the heavy rain Western Oregon has gotten this spring I new portions of this trail is prone to flooding. Sure enough, water running across the trail a nearly ankle deep. I just plowed through knowing wet shoes won't kill me. Both times I crossed this I saw people sitting down taking off their shoes and wringing out their socks. Really? I guess if you have never run for an entire race with wet feet it could freak you out. 

I didn't pass many folks the first lap and this was a two lap Marathon. At the split at the half I was at 2:14 so I was a bit surprised I had a chance for my 4:30 goal. I had some really bad leg pain just below my knee and on the side of my shin for about 3 miles. It was pretty intense and was really hoping this would settle down and go away. I took 2 IB's and sure enough 20 minutes later no pain the rest of the day. 

Nutrition was a 2.5 bottles of  Nuun and Salted Carmel Gels. I would take water from cups at most Aid stations which were 2.5 miles apart. I specifically thanked the RD's after the race for having cups for me to add to my nutrition. I am not for this no paper cup race policy and I will avoid most races under a 50k that follow this. I know its great PR for you to take a picture of your only 2 bags of garbage for your "green" race but it really sucks for me to have to stop and wait for someone to fill my bottle. Ultra Marathons, fine, seconds don't matter as much but when I am racing I want the best performance I can get (and yes I am paying you for!) and not stopping but grabbing that water on the run means a lot to me. A 10k or 5k, I can understand but you are not supporting the runner in the best way possible by forcing a runner to carry a cup and wait in line. Sorry...my blog my soapbox.

The second lap I actually felt better. Got into a bit of a groove and just kept nearly the same pace. I picked off 17 runners and was only passed by one runner who I passed back at mile 23. I did slow down a bit after mile 21 but only about 10 to 15 seconds per mile. 

I had a nice tailwind the last mile so I decided to kick a bit and see if I had gas left as I was tired but actually feeling semi strong. I increased my arm pumping motion which really seems to drive my legs when I am tired. I ran a 9:30 the last mile and had a couple small climbs to the finish. I never looked at my watch the entire last 13 miles until mile 25. I didn't think I could break 4:30 but the racer had to try. 

As I came up over the bridge I saw Gail ahead waiving. It was a great feeling to see her as often it is me cheering her on as I finish first.But she ran the half and got done this time before me. I kicked even a bit more but not a sprint. I crossed the line without slowing down. (Btw why do most runners slow that last couple of strides before the line? I see even the elites do that often. Don't get that.) I looked down at my watch and what do you know? I saw 4:29:38! Woo Hoo! Damn that feels good. I tried to run 4:30 at Vernonia but ended with 4:41. 

Got my medal and gave Gail Faux Hug (she hates sweaty/stinky old men). That was fun!

We hung out and had amazing free food, beer and wine. You could have Pizza, tacos and up to 3 beers or wine each. Probably one of the best finish line food events I have seen. 

 

 I ended up finishing 3rd fastest guy over 60, so got a nice wineglass as a prize. 2 women over 60 smoked the course and beat all the men over 60. 

After having beer and food we were walking back to the car. My sandals kept folding over in the front and I would stumble a bit. Sure enough, crossing the parking lot in front of a car I did a face plant on the pavment! Took off some skin on my foot and some bruises but nothing broke. Even dropped a stemless wine glass and it didn't break!

So I highly recommend this race for a couple of reasons. One the course is great, as it has a nice mix of dirt (probably 3 to 4 miles worth), and paved trails and road. And the finisher food is great and they had plenty go around even for the back of the pack crowd. So I will do this one again someday.

Whats next? Not sure? I would like to do another marathon in late June or early July. Maybe Missoula? Maybe Sauvie again for the ka-gillionth time? Maybe a few halfs over the next month. I just want to try and stay injury free and waddle til I drop. I hate running but I sure love racing, even if it is just against myself and the clock. Let the juices flow!

 

Life, Blogs and Running Goes On

 Blogging died but I didn't. I miss blogs. I like the detail. I am tired of our soundbite society. News is headlines, Facebook is short, twitter even shorter. Never did Instagram or Tik Tok or much of anything else.  We don't talk we just text because it is faster. Social media changed everything. But I want to read my fellow runners blogs and feel the pain and the happiness they feel. 

My last post was March of 2016, I thought it was last year. Oh well, I am 62 now and my blog laid dormant for 6 years. What have I done since then in the running world? Well as you know I had some major injuries then in 2017 a Brain Virus. Then had an mis-diagnosed groin hernia for about 4 years that kept me from running long. But all is fixed and I am doing what I can. 

I ran many a 10k and half marathon over the last 6 years. I did Vernonia Marathon in April of 2016. 27+ miles at Elijah Bristow in 2017, Marathon at Operation Jack in 2018 and 2019. 2020 covid killed the Marathon yearly streak I had going since 2000. 

In 2021 I decided at 61 my hard trail Ultra days were probably coming to a close. I always loved SOB 50K at Mt Ashland and so Detour and I decided to give it one more try while we had the legs. We trained pretty hard. Ran the "Light at the end of the tunnel" marathon as a training run. I did 4:25 which was great for not pushing on rainy day but a sweet gentle downhill course.

I was very excited for SOB, it was a beautiful sunny day with just a bit of smoke. The plan was just to go easy and finish well. At mile 6 or so you start a great downhill on soft trails. But I was getting severe knee pain out of nowhere! It wouldn't go away even when I slowed down. As soon as I hit uphills no pain. I also noticed I was getting a arch blister, at mile 7. Crazy as I had used silicon on my feet and have not had foot issues this early in a race. The knee recovered as soon as we start that big grind climb up the forest road and I was just power walking with local young guy I had met on the trail. Chatting is always a great way to hide the discomfort. At the halfway point we get some nice downs on gravel road then make the quick turn to go around Red Rock Mountain. I hit that trail and my energy died. I was walking much sooner than I expected. About two miles later I got severe sharp hip pain on my bad hip side. This was about a 8 on the pain scale. I tried stretching and even resting for 5 minutes. I could hardly even walk it hurt so bad. I think it took me about an hour to go the next 1 or so to the aid station. No way I could even run a step. I sat and thought of my options. Call it a day or just try. I figured it was a hard climb to the next AS so I might try. I got 100 feet out of the AS and was in agony. Never had pain like this in a race. I turned around to head back to the AS, went about 10 steps and said "F*** it!" and going to try. I don't think I ran a step to the next AS which was probably 5 miles or so. I got there and sat for maybe 10 minutes. I was exhausted and uncomfortable but I knew in my head I could probably walk it in. So out I went gimpy and limpy! After a while I could trot a bit on the downhills but was super slow. Many of the older runners were passing me know. Didn't really care, just wanted to finish this great 50k one more time. I finally finished in crazy slow time of 8:50, by far my slowest 50k ever. But I finished. Gail came in a bit after me and was exhausted too. She really is so tough. That night it was beer and trivia at a local pub. I was so happy to have been able to complete this dream one more time. I think my trail Ultra's are done as my body just can't hold up. But running road marathons and some 50k's I think should be fine.

                                                               2021 SOB Record Slow but Finished!
 

In October of 2021 Gail and I ran Autumn Leaves 50k. We were RD's for 8 years and due to Covid and injuries this was our first chance to run the event. It was a great sunny day with a bit of a breeze. Gail and I just ran together all day. What a way to experience an event you loved for the past 15 + years with your partner.  We finished in 7:37. Plus I had tons of great junk food at the aid stations!! Oh yeah, I tore my calf muscle 3 months earlier and couldn't run for 7 weeks, so I was woefully under trained. Damn that Pickleball :). 

In March I went to Longview to run Pacific Rim One Day Run or Pac Rim as we call it. I was going to do a 20 mile training run then just walk the 12 miles to get a 50k finish. I ran into my good old running buddy Sarah Duncan. She and I hung out for the last 15 miles or so. We ran the straights and walked the ends. I ran way more than I thought I could but as we have said, being with others makes it so much easier. Plus we caught up on the many years of life since we last chatted. I got my 32 miles in 6:56 and called it a Great Day! So fun to see friends on that 1 mile loop course. I think I could do this every year.

                                                                Old Friends getting Loopy!

 This April I ran Vernonia Marathon, such a great trail and nice course. But this year was cold, even snowed on us for a few miles. I really wanted to run sub 4:30 but speed has left my body. I ended up with a 4:41 which is fine but it's hard to see times slipping away when you are working just as hard as you did when you ran sub 4 hours. I was pretty much on track until the half way point, which marathoners know is 20 miles. My pace just went straight down every mile after that. The legs just didn't have the miles on them. Gail did the half and ran in the last half mile with me, which was fun. 

Well its late May now. I have another marathon this weekend in Salem. I grew up there so I have always wanted to run a marathon in town. This one runs out towards the area I grew up. I wasn't a runner when I lived there. I hope to run 4:35 this weekend. 4:30 would be a gift that I am not trained for but a finish and feel good is now my favorite goal. Thanks Blogspot for keeping this alive. I have missed you. Even if no one reads this I know I can someday.