Macon Tracks Running Club

In a little less than 10 hours I’ll be testing out the old injured left hip. It’s been 3 months since I raced last. That was also the last time I ran fast, except for a couple of mile repeats I sneaked in on Tuesday. I wanted to know what it felt like to run fast before I stepped up to a line to race again.

I have improved dramatically since my doctor diagnosed me with Osteitis Pubis (Wikipedia definition - inflammation of the pubic symphysis, which is the joint at the front of the pelvis between the two ends of the pubic bone).

He gave me a 30 day round of Mobic 15mg anti-inflammatory and sent me home. I have improved steadily each day since. Its been almost two weeks now. I took 30 days off straight from running but I haven’t really run well since the injury in mid December.

Now tomorrow I see where I stand from an overall fitness standpoint. I left off in December at the peak of my running performance. I was running 5k’s in Sub 18 minutes.

So what do I shoot for in the morning. I think I am going to go on the advice of a fellow runner who knows me all to well. He and I go toe to toe on many races. He thinks I can pull off an 18:30 - 18:45 min time tomorrow.

I don’t know if I can but if Andrew thinks I can, I have to at least give it my best to prove him right.

We’ll let you know. For now its off to bed to toss and turn all night.

Run Strong Friends,

Sam

If I think back over my 2 1/2 year running career I can think of two races where I ran my absolute best race, faced great competition and finished with a great sense of satisfaction knowing I left nothing on the course.

The first race was the 2008 Cherry Blossom 15K. See report here >> Cherry Blossom 15K Race Report . I ran this race with the lead pack most the race until the final surge. I led the race for a short while until Kurt Johnson came roaring back after pulling off the course with a side stitch. It was such an exciting final few miles as we swapped leads and came to a roaring finish. I was very satisfied to take 2nd that day.

 The Reindeer Run we just completed on December 6th immediately became my absolute favorite race. Here’s why:

 This was my 4th race in 5 weeks. I was coming off a pretty good race at the Footlocker Regional Cross Country Championships. My injuries from post Chickamauga Marathon recovery were getting better. The weather was clear and cold. I had a great 3 mile pre race warm up. For some reason I felt this was going to be a good race. Well the start went very poorly. To tell you the truth this was the 1st race I was in where I was facing the wrong way when the race started. I was turned around talking to another runner when the motorcycles took off and runners followed behind them. No instructions, no gun, nothing. So weird. Anyway I turned around and went after them. Once the “mile maniacs” had fallen back I was in the back of the lead pack consisting of 4 runners. I was feeling strong in that 1st mile. I started closing on the front two runners about halfway through the race. On the 2nd major hill on the course I caught and passed Jacob (the young man that finished ahead of me at Susan Komen Race for the Cure back in October. We finished 1, 2 respectively). I was still feeling strong when I realized there was only one runner left to beat. So I pushed as hard as I could and pulled up alongside my running buddy Geremy. Geremy’s coming off a great cross country season at Mercer U. and is in the best shape of his life. But I’ve beaten him once in a fast 5k so I thought I had a chance. I passed him decisively hoping to break his spirit. So there I was, leading in a big (for Macon) 5k race with less than a mile to go. The adrenaline was rushing through me as I did my best to hang on. On the final turn we had a 400 meter downhill sprint to the finish. I had a good 15 second lead on Geremy but he was closing fast. I could hear the crowd screaming, “here he comes!!!” He blew by me with 50 meters to go and beat me by 2 seconds. It was absolutely the best, most fun, most exciting race I’ve ever experienced Over the course of this race I experienced the thrill of near victory, the agony of defeat and the satisfaction of a race well run. I finished with a P.R. 17.12 in 2nd place overall to a great runner and friend. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday morning in Macon, Ga.

 What are you waiting for friends? Come join us and go head to head with a friend or foe and show them what you’re made of!

Run Strong Friends,

Sam

Photo taken by Donna at the finish. Can you tell who’s praying they live? I think we both were :)

Ok I’ve had two so far.

 #1 - Chickamauga 2007

• Hit the wall on mile 22
• tunnel vision
• almost fainted up the last big hill
• crawled to the finish line

#2 - Will Robinson Memorial 5K

This one is fresh on my mind. It came two weeks after my Chickamauga 2008 race. I thought I’d be recovered by then (wrong!!!). I was still nursing a sore right foot tendinitis injury and right lower calf strain. I tried to just ignore the negatives and go out and race a normal race. I knew it was going to be rough right from the start. I just wasn’t feeling it during my warm up. It was extremely cold (about 21 degrees) and I just could not get it going. That is a P.R. for the lowest temperature raced in.

It was an uphill start with a fast group this morning. I immediately started in about 10th place or so. The 1st mile split about 5:43. Next mile flattened out and was pretty scenic. Hanging on but pushing too hard to stay up with the leaders. 2nd mile split about 5:44.

 Then things got real interesting. Actually you can say the wheels fell off. I did not know there was a long uphill on the last mile. I was spent before I got there and had no lung capacity left to muscle up that hill. I crashed and burned and did the unthinkable - I walked!!!!! I know I am ashamed to say so. But it finally happened. I took about 20 steps, regained myself and motored to the finish line. Nice part was I was in the lead pack so I did not have to deal with being passed during this down moment. 3rd mile split about 6:03.

I ended up 8th overall with a 17:50 time. The time was good considering. The thing that makes it my worse race to date is the condition I let myself get into during the race. I know better. I should have familiarized myself with the whole course. I should have saved something for the last hill. I really should have taken that weekend off from racing and allowed myself to fully recover from the marathon. Oh well, lesson learned.

Run Strong Friends,

Sam

 P.S. One positive I take away from that day is watching my young buddy Andrew smash his P.R. right before my very eyes by running a very smart race. Can you say 17:22 - SWEET!!!! Oh yeah the after-race Waffle House meal was pretty awesome too

Well just got back on Saturday evening from the 30th Annual Footlocker Regional Cross Country Championship. It was cold, rainy, windy, muddy, and the most fun I’ve ever had at a race event. It was amazing seeing such a large pool of talented runners assembled in one place. These kids were simply the best running athletes in the Southeast. Watching all the different age groups compete was awesome. We were there to watch 3 of our own Macon kids compete. They each ran well in their respective divisions. We were very proud of them for sure. This is a big event worth going to if you enjoy watching or running cross country races.

 Us old folks also got a chance to race in the Open/Masters race. I’ve never run with so many fast runners in a single race. They ate my lunch. I was happy to be able to run a sub 18 on a muddy cross country course. I finished 7th Master and received one of the coveted gold medals which went to the lucky Top 10.

The 6 hour drive up and back was also a lot of fun as we just enjoyed each other’s company and sharing things about ourselves we seldom do unless you are trapped in a vehicle for long periods of time.

I wanted to share a few photos. Slide-show can be viewed here:  Footlocker Cross Country Championship Slide-show

 Do things like this with your kids. They will remember it for life.

Run Strong Friends,

Sam

It finally happened. A race, a goal, and a check mark by “break 3 hours” in my 2008 goals.

This has been a dream of mine since I ever contemplated running a marathon. There is just something magical about having a 2 in front of a marathon time. My first attempt was exactly 1 year ago at Chickamauga 2007. It was my 1st marathon and I was in no shape to sustain that hard a pace for 26.2 miles straight, especially on a hilly course. I hit the wall so terribly bad I thought I may never run a marathon again. The last 4 miles were absolutely the most miserable miles of my life. Recovery was exceptionally tough with lingering pains and aches in my legs for weeks.

2nd time was in Boston this past April. Once again the Newton Hills and especially Heartbreak Hill proved to much for this old boy. I cramped on my right leg which was gimpy from Achilles tendinitis that kept me from running the last two weeks before the race.

 Each time I missed the mark by over 10 minutes.

This go around was different. I was healthier. No injuries during my training. I was eating better and had raised my protein intake which has helped the way a feel tremendously. I was more focused. Training came easy. I was excited each day to get out and knock out my runs. Finally I was experienced. This was my third marathon and I knew how to taper, what to wear, how to start, how much fluids to take. After-all I was a marathoner now. A veteran with 2 races under my belt and a 3rd for the year.

 Things went very well through most the race. My half marathon split had me on a 2:55 pace. Things got a little hairy from miles 23 on, but I knew I could work through it. I hung on and felt incredibly happy that last 400 meters as I came around Barnhardt Circle on the victory lap. I knew the sub 3 hour was in reach. It was so satisfying to hear my family screaming their lungs out for me. They knew what this race meant to me. 2:59:24 was my time, good enough for 8th overall.

Another great high was watching my buddy David come in and make his sub 4hour goal with a smile on his face and plenty left in the tank. He worked very hard for this race and was rewarded with a very satisfying 1st marathon experience. He is now proud to join the group of “Marathoners”. Well done David.

Congrats to all the other friends that ran so well today also. Andrew with a new marathon P.R., Troy with a new half marathon P.R., Amy, Tim and Melissa also.

It’s been 7 hours since I finished the race and I am still riding a high. I feel pretty good and already know this recovery is going to be the best one of all. I am walking pretty good and am already thinking about when I may do my 1st recovery run.

Thanks for all the well wishes friends. It’s so awesome to belong to such a great running community.

Run Strong Friends,

Sam

Well the family and I rolled into Fort Oglethorpe around 4 pm for packet pick up. We saw the start and finish line and got our stuff. David and I drove the course. I had forgotten how hilly the course is. I got chills when I drove up the hill that I “Hit the Wall” on last year.

 I plan on having a better run at it this go around. I just have to keep my wits about me and know when I am starting to go too hard.

 We had a great meal at the pasta dinner. Tim & Mandi, David, Tommy and his family and myself all had a great time of fellowship. We met this really interesting fellow from the Twin Cities that had run about 130 marathons, including Pikes Peak, all since he turned 63 years old. He’s now 77.

 I hope I am in half as good of shape as he is when I get to be his age. That’s what I like about marathoning you get to meet people with interesting stories.

Anyway the ladies are turned in for the night, all my stuff is laid out and there’s nothing left to do but get a little sleep and show up at the starting line. Well Lord keep us all safe and may we be our best tomorrow.

Run Strong Friends,

Sam