Updated 10/16/12
2012
This years technical shirt
for the events
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The Fiesta Bowl
Half Marathon
Scottsdale, Az
December 2nd, 2012
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The new medal for 2012 still
features the sunburst
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This year was the
25th running of this long time event. Weather was perfect, we
had low 50s at race start, and around 60 as I crossed the finish
line with clear blue sunny skies. We arrived at 6am to get the
parking spot near the start/finish line and the whole lot filled
up fast with over a thousand runners for both the Half Marathon
and 5k events crowding in. I had done several months of very
hard track and treadmill speed interval training for this one,
what I consider to be a stepping stone in my training for the
rapidly approaching full marathons in January and February.
As the starting
time for the Half approached, I warmed up for 15 minutes on side
parking lots, not knowing if Id even be able to finish the race
this year because of a bad cold virus I had been battling later
in the week and I was probably at my worst now on race day. The
warm ups felt good, and I would try to see how far I could get
this year at a 7:30 pace. 15 minutes after the sun came up, the
starting horn blew! We were off, and I started way up front to
try to get to my pace as quickly as possible. I soon fell in
with the 1:40 group, which were running a bit too fast for my
cold to handle. I kept up with them until mile 3 when I backed
off a bit and kept ahead of the 1:45 group all the way to the
finish line.
We headed north
on Scottsdale road, along all the small industrial buildings
and parking lots. Then we turn right and into a high end residential
district across Gainy Ranch and after a mile turned right back
down onto Hayden road through side walks, bike paths and on the
main road too. While this run has only 80 feet of elevation change,
the constant up hill, and hair pin turns in the parks made it
a bit slower than a pure road race. Five miles due south, we
turned right and headed toward the finish line through winding
turns and back streets. About a quarter mile or less from the
finish line, I found myself next to the 1:45 pacer! Where did
all his followers go? only one person was left from the dozens
that followed him at the start. I came in at the same time as
they did, crossing the line in 1:45 and a few odd seconds. For
comparison, last year I did 1:50 and the year before was my fastest
- 1:47:30. So this was a new PR for this event! I did not have
any hope of this from the start, and need less to say was ecstatic
as I crossed the line in great shape.
So this was my
fastest Fiesta Half I had ever run, chopping over 2 minutes off
my fastest time two years ago! The tons of fast repeats on the
treadmill during the week kept me going strong until the end.
Next year hopefully
Ill be running this without a virus, and be able to hold the
7:30 pace to at least mile six...
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Images of the Race
Runners gather at the starting line
before the race starts
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Ready to run!
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Seconds before race start
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The gun goes off, and we are off!
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I am in orange in center
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During the race, at the finishing area
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Rounding the last curve Im coming in
for the fastest finish ever!
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Right in, just as the 1:45 group catches up
to me. Funny how they started out with a
dozen runners, now look whats left after
13.1 miles...
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Finishing area scene
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Here Im in a line for food and drinks
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The food line, anything good?
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Finish line shot - my fastest Fiesta Bowl
half marathon ever!
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Commercial photographer images
during the race
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Commercial photographer
finish line shot
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Commercial photographer
coming into the finish
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Shirt for the
Mayors Walk
Dawn Participated in
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St. George Marathon
St. George, Utah
October 6th, 2012
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Shirts from the Marathon
- the right one is one they give you
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This was our first
time at running this event, located in southern Utah near the
border to Nevada. Listed as one of the most scenic in the western
US, many marathoners will jump at the chance to run this well
run top destination event. In fact, there are so many runners
that would like to run this event, that they have a yearly lottery
pick of only 7500 runners for the marathon, and there is normally
a one in four chance of getting in. In our case, I put in last
April, and found out by the end of May the I had made it in the
very first time! We started planning at that point and my training
was more geared toward running this event on October 6th.
The city of Saint
George is a smaller city, not quite as large as say Tucson and
situated in a very scenic area for its geology including red
and yellow cliffs and buttes that are Jurassic and cretaceous
in age. It is similar to our Sedona, but the rock is a million
years younger. We arrived on a wednesday evening and on thursday
and friday
visited the dinosaur track museum, and Zion national park, where
much more Jurrassic rock was to be seen.
Race Day, Saturday
The route takes
you through the geology on a mostly down hill route. You start
in volcanic basalts and black rock in the dark at 6:45am. They
have campfires at the staging site and there is food everywhere!
very well run at this end for sure. Once the very first glimmer
of daylight is seen, the race starts. It was so dark that I couldn't
see my pace GPS watch and had to see my running pace only when
we ran under a street lamp which was few and far between. Im
guessing I was running around and 8:30 pace but Im not too sure.
As the sun rose, the magnificent scenery unfolded. Red and yellow
buttes and a rich pine covered landscape. while this race drops
a whopping 2500 feet from start to finish, the route has very
long steep hills, miles long to drain your energy. A fast down
hill run to mile 7, then a few miles of a very steep up hill.
My pace at that point was slow as I slogged up the steep hill.
Then from mile 8 to 12 even more up hill, but slightly less steep.
By the time you get to the halfway point at mile 13, your pretty
dead and have the second half of the race to go. But its mostly
down hill, and while I missed my goal pace by 6 seconds per mile,
I had a great time, and it was time wise my second fastest marathon
ever. Dawn did the 2 mile Mayors Walk during my run, and we met
up afterwards at the finishing area where there was lots of food,
fun and things to see.
In retrospect,
this was a much harder race than I thought it was going to be.
We dont have such long and steep hills near our house I train
on, but if and when we do this race again, that will be the major
consideration!
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Before the Race Activites in the Area
(Chris Shots - Canon 10D)
Driving through St. George
Jurrassic cliffs on towns north
side has road on top
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Sandstone cliffs surround the area
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Hiking the back trails
Friday
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How can one resist the trail to
the "Emerald Pools"!
Youll see later what they actuall are...
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On the way to the pools
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Over look under huge cliff on the trail
Dawn is sitting on railing
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On the trail we got to the river for
a scenic shot
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Sandstone layers form fantastic
sculptures of Jurrassic rock
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Fossil sand dunes Jurrassic
in Age
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s
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Sunset Friday evening
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Driving the route Saturday we
had many golden oppourtunities
for stunning compositions
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At one of the lookouts along the route
we are on Tertiary basalt very young, that
sits on the Jurrasic sandstones
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s
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s
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Dawns Images - Panasonic Lumix
Zion Park Visitors Center
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The trail to the "Emerald Pools"
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River view in Zion
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This is why this marathon is a
main vacation destination for runners!
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Dripping water fall in the sun
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Waterfall
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Dawns shot of a damsel fly on the rocks
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Along the nature trail
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Zion visitors stop point
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View at the bus stop
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Waterfall you hike under. There is a
person at lower right for scale
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Shooting the rock layers
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Jurrassic rock layers along highway
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The big tunnel into Zion
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The Expo and Packet Pickup
At the Expo, picking up my race bib!
Im in green
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Shirt pickup
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Goodie bag pickup
Im in green here
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The inside of the Expo
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Expo view
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Leaving the Expo
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Huge illuminated map of the St. George area
that was in the hall way outside the expo
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The expo enterance
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Banners all through town
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Dawns Images - Panasonic Lumix
Driving the race route -
here is the starting line in the day
you can see the piles of wood they
will use for the campfires
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The Start Line!
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Starting corals
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Race start view, volcanics
very recent in age
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Volcanics
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Then the dinosaur trackway
museum
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Assorted example fossils
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The trackways on display
- right where they were made
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Dilophosaurus model in one of
its fossil tracks
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Dilophosaurus life size
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Im at the trackway look out
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The museum outside
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Race Day
Drop off time at the bus pick up point
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Camp fires at the starting line. There was
lots of wind to make it challenging and cold!
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Blazing fire
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Runners crown around fires at the
race starting line at 4am
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Starting area with cold runners trying
to keep warm
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Starting line for Dawns race walk
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Mayors Walk
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Mayors walk starting line
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Coming into the finish line of the
Mayors 2 mile walk
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Finish line area for all races
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Finish line area for all races
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Finish line area for all races
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Finish shoot waiting for the marathoners
to arrive!
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Waiting for the marathoners
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Finish line
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Here comes the runners! Im in Red in the
center
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Coming in for the finish
in 4:06
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The finish area after I came in
everyone here that is a marathoner came in
around the same time I did
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Relaxing after a greuling marathon!
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the Finish Chute Bag pickup
This is where you recover your gear you wore
at the starting line before the race started
that you dropped off.
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Finish Line shot
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At the finish line
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Table with the winners awards
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Last look at the finishing coral
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Going Home
At the airport, they had this fake
cake thing, with a runner at the top!
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Flying back
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Big Brother
Big Sister Half
Marathon
Flagstaff, Arizona
Aug 11th, 2012
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back roads and trail run through the woods and open meadows of
Flagstaff was in record attendance! Weather was perfect once
again, and we both did very well. Again this year, while I did
the Half, Dawn race walked the 5k. We both did well, I came in
at 2:08 and Dawn a very fast time of 42:04. Below is a photo
pictorial of the activities. Looking forward to next years race... |
Dawns Images - Panasonic Lumix
The tables before the race for last minute registrations for
the running events...
The race coordinator Neil gives preliminary instructions
David Bluestein and me talk racing, astronomy and photography.
Race Start!
Look for me in center with yellow hat:
I am in left center, yellow hat
Passing by Dawn at race start
The runners going down the street heading for the back roads and trails!
Just over 2h later, here I come into the finish
The final thrust to the finish line!
The finish line scene as I headed for the line!
The finish line shot
Dawn at the finish line!
Tons of yellow flowers up in the Flagstaff area on the way home
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Gaspin in the Aspens
Woods Run
Nordic Center, Flagstaff, Arizona
June 16th, 2012
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The T Shirt
Click to Enlarge
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This
years Event had great cool weather, no clouds and a big maximum
350 attendance. We both did very well, and had a great time in
this all woods race. No one was seriously hurt this year, and
I think many people PR'd this year from the nearly perfect race
conditions. I came in at sub 1:30 for the very first time - at
1:27 and Dawn did great in the 5k at 40 minutes.
After a 2h 15m drive from Payson that morning, we arrived before
7am to find the parking area filling fast. The average racer
in these events are a very different breed, most do a big percentage
of trail running, and agility rather than speed is the issue
here. With a starting elevation of just over 8000 feet, this
is also a challenging one for runners that live at lower elevations.
This year, I used my Nike zoom trail shoes for the first time.
While the were faster on the flats and down hills than other
trail shoes Ive tried here, the comprimise is they are less stable
on the rocks and tree branches that cover the trails here. So
you have to be careful not to twist your ankle but barring that,
your much faster overall.
I still think I can improve a lot on this one. I have not had
much opportunity to train under such extreme conditions. All
of my running is geared for light trail and mostly marthons.
I think If I can get in around 3 months of long steep up hills
in before next year, my times can improve an order of magnitude
more, since that is my weak spot here.
After the race which took us through the dense apsens and ponderosa
pines, we watched the other runners coming in and the awards
were given to the fastest runners in each age category. I think
Ill have to approach more like 1:15 before I can ever claim one
these! But then, there is always next year... |
Dawns Images - Panasonic Lumix
Before the Race at the Nordic Center
The winners will get the ultimate prize
Packet Pickup
The food table looks pretty good at this point!
Cars pile in for the races
Warming up me in yellow
Runners gather for the start of the 15k
Neil Weintraub on right
Here Im waiting for the start of the race
Timing by chips in the bibs
Start of the 15k! This is a great group of runners.
Look at all of us dissapearing in a cloud of dust!
You can just see me in the middle
Neil coordinates many of the other races up in Flagstaff, as he is a running icon himself...
The start of the 5k race!
Tim runs the event and does a fabulous job too!
after Dawn comes in she waits for me to come in. And HERE I COME. The final push to beat my old time...
I DID it! I beat my all time record of 1:31 which for years was my best. Now I came in this time at 1:27.
Dawn at the finish line after the race. She did very well too...
Tim now gives out raffles and awards for all the races
Womens winner 15k
Mens winner 15k - in under an hour!
The GPS data from the run
Click to Enlarge
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The San Diego
Marathon
San Diego, California
Sunday June 3rd, 2012
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The T Shirt
Click to Enlarge
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Finishers Medal:
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year the weather was close to perfection for running, low sixties
at race start and only mid sixties at the finish. A coastal fog
clouded the skies during the race keeping the sun from baking
the runners. I did well this year, making it within a mile of
the finish before slowing a bit. My final time of 4:04:07 was
a full 12 minutes off of last years fastest time - which at the
time was the fastest marathon I had ever run! And besides breaking
my PR, I set an all time marathon PR - a full 52 seconds faster
than my fastest marathon ever, which was this year at the Lost
Dutchman Marathon. We both had a lot of great fun this year,
and I came over the line feeling better than any of the other
years. Thats the whole idea, isn't it?! Here is a photo pictorial
story of our trip and even a few shots during the marathon as
well... |
Note:
SMALL SIZED THUMBNAILS ARE CLICKABLE TO LARGER 1024 SIZE
Before the Race and Expo
Dawns Images - Panasonic Lumix
The Expo is held at the huge San Diego
Convention Center
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Heading into the Expo
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On the floor of the Expo as you come in the door
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Packet Pickup! I am in green here
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Next you get your finishers shirt
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Then on to the main Expo where you
can spend a lot of money!
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Race Day / During the Race
Here I just got dropped off
at the line of busses that will
take us the long drive to the
Staring area for the race.
See other runners in the back
ground boarding the busses.
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Dawns nieces that live in San Diego
Genna and Alyssa
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The wheelchair race start and the Elites are coming.
Why are they always Kenyans?
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At mile 6.5 here I come - in yellow with orange
hat holding my pace...
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Mile 10 in the city
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The "Dragon". If you pass them and finish first
you are supposed to get a coupon for PF Changs
Asian resteraunt for a free meal food item...
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Mile 18 the run grinds on
You can just see min in the center
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Passing at mile 18
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The view of the runners from the
bridge at Balboa Park. We have taken
over the entire highway
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Another Bridge view
(Im not in this picture)
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Mile 21 - Here I come! The Bay is in the background
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Passing at mile 21
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Now heading out toward the evil loop around
Fiesta Island.
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Heading into the finish, this is what you see in the
last few miles as you approach Sea World.
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Screaming along at mile 24 on Fiesta Island! I dress in
bright colors so Dawn can spot me from a distance...
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Now leaving Fiesta Island. Im in the center.
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Heading for the last mile in the race. Still holding
a good pace, but starting to slow...
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T
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After the Race / Finish Line
Now this is what you look like after running
your fastest marathon ever!
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The support team:
Genna, Aylssa, Dawn
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This year was another
record turn out for this nationally known trail / off road event,
the 34th running of what has been referred to as one of the most
difficult marathons in the country. The weather was about as
perfect as you can get for a marathon - upper 40s at start and
just under 70 at the finish. While I ran the marathon - and took
the early start again, Dawn did the 10k in record time, and pulled
in a new PR for this event!
The day before
the Race
We left Payson
early Friday morning and headed over the Rim to Prescott. In
the morning before the packet pickup opened at the community
center, we were off to exploring the Riphearian area for wildlife
at Watkins Lake. This year we captured several new bird types
and had a great short hike around parts of the lake and surrounding
back trails. Afterwards we were off to pick up our race packets
and find our Best Western Motel.
Saturday races
are nice because you have the next day off to recover and get
some things done. For several years now I have taken the early
5am Marathon start in down town Prescott to run in wide open
uncrowded conditions, and to finish around the same time as Dawn
is coming in on the 10k. Works out very well indeed. This year
again the race was started with an air horn at 5am, and there
were around 30 of us at the starting line at that time. It was
almost so dark out we couldn't see the road surface! But by the
time we got to the dirt road section a few miles out, it was
plenty light enough and the sun would be coming up soon in the
pine forests.
It is VERY steep
and difficult running up to the top. While the first part is
steep paved roads that wind through subdivisions in the tall
ponderosa pines, soon the road turns to dirt and it gets very
rugged and full of rocks, potholes and ripples. My goal this
year was to get to the top same as or sooner than last years
pace, around 10:20 per mile average. It is not easy! So very
steep running up hill mile after mile. The last few miles are
very rugged roads with lots of huge rocks. but the views over
looking the valley and mountains around from that 7800 foot peak
are awesome. The turn around at 13.1 miles was a bit anti climactic,
with a few cones and a water station. But then back down the
hill at a fast speed. There are some terrible hills on the way
back which nearly cannot be run. but after that, we went very
fast hitting for the most part around 8:30 pace mile after mile.
Soon when we get closer in in the housing subdivision, I hit
the half marathoners going both ways, and found myself blowing
past nearly all of them. The faster ones were obviously ahead
of me. But it feels great at mile 20 to be blowing past most
of them and they cheer you on when they see your are A MARATHONER.
I did very well until maybe the last half mile when there is
a terrible hill to climb just before the finish line. Slow going,
but I came in my second fastest so far, around 4 minutes slower
than last year at 4:40 even. Dawn was waiting for me and had
done very well in her 10k in 1h 32 minutes.
After I came over
the finish line, I was really feeling those fast long miles of
steep down hills in my legs! The challenge of this prestigious
event is to handle the big changes in altitude, road and trail
surfaces and wide range in temperatures from warm at the bottom
to freezing cold at the peak and come through feeling great.
I did this and felt great about this run this year.
After getting through
the finishing area and taking more photos of the finish activities,
it was time to say fare well again this year to one of our most
favorite events each year. Maybe next year I can shave a few
minutes off!
Notes:
Get to start line
early
Vomeros were perfect for the speeds but picked up lots of rocks.
gaiters? for next time?
The water belt was too mobile on the fast down hills. Maybe a
chest pack?
Where to store ring hat and gloves?
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Note:
SMALL SIZED THUMBNAILS ARE CLICKABLE TO LARGER 1024 SIZE
Before the Race and Expo
Dawns Images - Panasonic Lumix
Friday Hike through the Riparian Area for Nature and Birds
Non poisonous king snake on the trail
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Heading down the trail next to the lake
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The trail
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Yellow "Butter and Eggs"
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Black Cormorants on tree
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The interpretive sign
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A view of the lake next to the trail
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Red winged black bird
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The Lake again surrounded by granite dells
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Ground Squirrel
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The old railroad bed
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Thumb Butte in the distance a
major landmark in Prescott
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The Granite ledges in front of
Granite mountain
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Cliff Rose flowers
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Rare yellow Meadow Lark in distance
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Chris Images - Canon 10d
The photographer on the trail!
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Reading the interpretive sign
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Close up of bee on purple NM Thistle
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Hiking the old railroad trail
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Close up of Meadow Lark
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The Cormorants with 300mm
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Red winged blackbird
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White faced Ibis stalking prey
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The best shot I got of the rare
white faced Ibis
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The swampy area next to lake had few
birds today
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Picking up the Race Packets at the
activities center
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Me in line to pick up race bib
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The sunset shot, our shadows with
full moon rising in distance
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Race Start/During the Race
The Starting line at 5am, early start
I am in orange shirt, red hat
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Starting line shot, I am left of center
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Start of the Marathon!
(Early 5am start)
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The Prescott Courthouse at first light
after I left
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Sun up in Prescott before the 10k start
Train Depot
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The starting area for the 10k/
Full.
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Professional photos along the course...
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3
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7
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During the Race - Stealth Cam Images on Marathon
The Road out of town toward the
trail
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Top of steep hill on the way up then
you turn onto a nearly straight up
run uphill!
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Getting near the top at mile 10
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The top of the first hill peak in sight
with an aid station
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The aid station is now visible
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The next few miles are steep down hill
the up another steep peak
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The final peak to conquer
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The long way up
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The steepest part has the most
amazing scenery! on the way back now
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The long torturous final up hill
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Finally at mile 23 back in town
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The Courthouse in daylight after Dawn
came in
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Here I come into the finish!
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The final thrust!
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Heading to the finish line
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Courthouse close up
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The post race courthouse shot
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After the Race / Finish LineP1070904.jpg
The tired but triumphant trail racer!
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Dawn after her fastest 10k yet for
this course!
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The sign near the finish line
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The Last Look at the events at the
finishing area
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This
year certainly qualified as a heat run, with temperatures at
the end of the race in the mid 80s. The sky was clear however,
and at the start of the Half it was around 63F. Despite not being
able to push it to the max near the end to avoid overheating,
we both did well and had a great racing experience.
We arrived around 6am and collected our race packets on the playing
field. This gave me time to warm up before the 7:30 start. Dawn
did the 10k again, and this started at 7:45. It was a record
attendance this year, and this was the first year a full marathon
was added which had around 75 runners. For me, it would have
been a bad situation on a full with the heat, but the half was
fine.
I settled into an 8:30 pace for the first half of the race and
slowed a bit on the scenic second half. This was the first race
I had ever poured water on my head and back at every aid station
for the entire race to stay cool. The race is about 2/3 road
and 1/3 scenic but rough trail. They added quite a large new
section of trail this year, making it maybe 5 mintues slower
overall. Because of this, the times cannot be compared witht
he old route, and this will be recorded as a new race with its
own set of times. I came in soaked in sweat in 1:53, fourth place
in my age division. Dawn came in at 1:32 and placed well within
the race walker groups. Next year I hope for cooler temperatures!
Maybe then I can consider that 2nd place medal again. |
Note:
SMALL SIZED THUMBNAILS ARE CLICKABLE TO LARGER 1024 SIZE
Before the Race and Expo
The Town of Jerome on the side of a
mountain can be seen from the
race starting area
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Starting line before the race
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The main gathering area for the race is
in a scenic horse ranch area. I warm up
on this field before the race
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The field looking the other way
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Shirt pickup
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As the sun came up, runners are
getting ready
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The race start. I am in the center
with the orange hat.
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Race Start/During the Race
The Start of the Race!
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Runners go by....
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No running cam on this race, which was a
challenging trail/road race.
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After the Race / Finish Line
The Finish line shot
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Leaving the Park
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The GPS data from the run
Click to Enlarge
Although the slopes here
looks quite steep downhill,
this graph takes place over
a distance of 13.1 miles. Still
This is one for making for
some fast racing times!
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The Phoenix Half Marathon
Mesa, Arizona
Saturday March 3rd, 2012
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Finishers Medal
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The T Shirt
Click to Enlarge
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Intro
This was the
first year for this event, and included a Half, 10k and 5k. Held
in north Mesa, this road race takes you desert back roads, housing
subdivisions and on a freeway. The weather was cold and windy,
but warmed up near the end. I think they are trying for a "Lost
Dutchman Marathon feel" to this event, since the staging
area was in the middle of the desert with campfires to warm us
while we waited for the race. Overall, Id give this race good
marks, and with lots of down hill action made for a very fast
one too!
Saturday, race morning
We left our
house in payson at 3am, and I was at the bus drop off point in
the Boeing parking lot by 4:30. I caught the first bus, and we
were driving out to the staging area far out into the desert.
When we arrived, they were just lighting up the fire pits and
the DJ was playing some unfortunate rap music. As we stood by
the fires, the wind started to pick up and was really blowing
cold air as we neared the starting time of 7am. Over a thousand
runners came in, one bus load after another and daylight started
to break. Lots of big cacti, and the surrounding big mountains
made it feel like the Lost Dutchman for sure! They lacked however
the good music and food which makes that other event more famous.
At 6:30 we were called to line up for the start, and we had to
strip down our warm clothes to what we were going to actually
run in. But once the race started, the sun started to warm it
up a bit and we were ok running. The race started with a canon
explosion! Wow, that was awsome. Took me about half a minute
to cross the starting line, but being chip timed it was going
to be accurate. A 12 year old wanted to have me pace him for
his second half marathon, so he could do better than his first
one a month ago when he came in at around 2 1/2 hours. I agreed,
and he ran with me the entire race, keeping up most of the time
even on the up hills. I told his mother and him Id be trying
to run an 8 min pace, which he had never run before, but was
willing to try. I actually did that for the first half mile,
then speeded up to a 7:30 pace for most of the race after that.
Near the end, the long hills slowed my pace a bit, but he kept
up.
The race took us past lots of beautiful desert scenery, back
roads (paved) and past houses and small stores. It was really
a great run, since we could reach some fast speeds for most of
the race. Crowd support was pretty thin, but I like races like
this once in a while to make it easier to concentrate on my pace.
In the last half mile, I told my shadow I was going to bolt for
the finish, and for him to do the best he could. I came in with
my fastest half marathon time ever at 1:43 and the 12 year old
not far behind. He won 2nd place in his age division, and came
in over 45 minutes faster than he had ever run a half before.
I chopped three minutes off my fastest time which was at the
last years PF Chang Half. It was my first sub 8 average pace
race ever too.
Dawn took photos of all the racing events this time, and will
certainly try this one next year! I like this one being held
on a Saturday, since you have Sunday to recover and get a few
things done. Next year I now think it might be possible to break
the 1:40 barrier for me. I never thought I could break 1:45 before
this race. |
Note:
SMALL SIZED THUMBNAILS ARE CLICKABLE TO LARGER 1024 SIZE
Before the Race and Expo
The Packet Pick up was at
Iron Gear Sports in Mesa
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Getting the Technical Shirt
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Getting Bibs and racing bags
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The Drop off where the busses are
waiting!
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The Starting area with campfires,
loud crazy music, and a bit too much
lighting...
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Walking toward the starting line
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Just before race start
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During the Race
Dawn was waiting at the Finish line after
I started in the morning twilight
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Sunrise over the mountains
It was going to be a cold, windy day
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Finish line area sales setting up
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The Finish line awaits!
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Sunrise warmth at the finishing area
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Finishing chute
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The Run to the finish line, my shadow
Daniel is just behind me
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At the Finish Line
The GPS data from the run
Click to Enlarge
At first glance, it looks
pretty easy, downhill. But
the up hills are brutal, and
especially the last 6 miles!
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The Lost Dutchman
Marathon/10k Events
Apache Junction, Arizona
Sunday Feb 19th, 2012
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Finishers Medal
On the left is the 10k,
on the right is the Marathon
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The T Shirt
Click to Enlarge
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Intro
With the threat of rain clouds looming in the forecast for Sunday,
we prepared cautiously for this event. While I ran the Full Marathon,
Dawn race walked the 10k. Well, it did not rain, and temperatures
were perfect for running during the whole event with little sun
to over heat the runners. We both did well, I blew 14 minutes
off last years time for a PR of 4:04.
The Race
Dawn dropped me off at the busses at Prospectors Park at 4:30am,
and drove to the starting area for the 10k. The long 45 minute
bus ride came to an end in Peralta trail head at the base of
the Superstition mountains with food and campfires to warm us.
Shortly hundreds of runners piled in and before long we were
at the stating line for a 7:00am start. No gun shot this year,
but we headed out in the dim twilight down Peralta road. the
scenery is beautiful and filled with desert life and rolling
hills. I maintained an 8:50 pace to the main road, 7 miles down.
After that a 9 minute pace as far as I could and we ran through
back streets, on the freeway twice and along more back roads
to the last bad uphill 6 miles. I came in with a fast 9:15 pace
and never hit the wall. My best race ever! Dawn did the 10k in
1:36 and we both had a great time. So much fun this one. We will
do this one next year!
|
Note:
SMALL SIZED THUMBNAILS ARE CLICKABLE TO LARGER 1024 SIZE
Before the Race and Expo
The Sunrise was spectacular
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Waiting at the finish line
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Bag pickup from the races start line
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The finish line banner/flag
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Runners gathering for the races
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The Half runners ahead
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During The 10K
The 10k starting crowd
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And the 10k is off !
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Runners coming the other way
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Me coming in at the end of the Marathon
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Crossing the finish line in 4:04:59
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During The Full Marathon (Stealth Cam)
The awesome marathon staging area
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Another shot by the race photographer
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Standing in line in the dark waiting
for the gun to go off!
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The race photographers shot of
the campfires
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Race photographers shot of the start of
the Marathon. Im with the yellow hat
looking down just under the start banner.
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Heading down the first 7 miles on
Peralta road
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The end of the dirt part is ahead
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Running on the highway
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Off the highway, and heading toward
the center of town
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The back streets of Apache Junction
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Running next to a bridge off road
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Mile 17. this is where a lot of runners
wipe out
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Mile 23, still running strong
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At mile 25 big up hills coming!
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At the Finish Line
Me at the finish line, after the fastest
full marathon I have ever ran!
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Dawn after a fast 10k performance!
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The GPS data from the run
Click to Enlarge
As marathons go, this one is
fairly flat, but has a total
elevation change around
700 feet from start to peak
at mid race. This wears you
down in the beginning so beware!
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The Arizona Rock and Roll
PF Chang Marathon
Phoenix, Arizona
Sunday January 15th, 2012
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Finishers Medal
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The T Shirt
Click to Enlarge
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Introduction
This
years PF Chang Rock and Roll Marathon and Half was different
in many ways, but with nearly ideal temperatures throughout the
race and mild winds, was my fastest full marathon I've done yet,
inching within striking distance now of my eventual goal of breaking
4 hours. The rains held off for the race, and while I was racing,
Dawn worked the Half Marathon aid stations along the route. We
both had a great time (Ok, that last mile was a killer!) and
will certainly do this event every year from now on.
The
Expo:
We left Friday at noon from work to attend the Expo at the Phoenix
Convention Center. There I picked up my race packet, shirt and
timing chip. A lot less people attend on Friday and it was very
nice to be able to go booth to booth without the crowds. No big
purchases this year, just kept up on the latest racing stuff
and info.
Race
Morning / Before the Race
Race start was 7:30 am in the center of Phoenix, with the marathon
route totally separated from the Half. This made for a lot less
crowded starting line corrals, but still it was jam packed with
tens of thousands of marathoners. This year, I was placed in
corral 3, much closer to the start because of my estimated finishing
time was far less than todays average marathon time of 4:35.
Dawn dropped me off at 4:30 at the starting area, and it was
still pretty empty, with hundreds of support personnel getting
everything ready for the runners. Around 5:30 is when the runners
started showing up on the light rail, they were smart enough
to get to the rail station early, and not wait till the last
minute like many did, holding up the race.
At
the starting line
Finally, at nearly 8am, we lined up at the starting lines and
were ready for the race to start! It was cloudy, but not raining
and a perfect 51 degrees. My goal on this one was to see how
far I could hold a 9:00 and a 9:10 pace. Thats the 4 hour marathon
pace. When I got to my position in the corral, I looked up and
saw David Bluestien and his wife about six feet in front of me!
We could barely talk the music was so loud. I didn't see anyone
else I knew, but thats whats great about big races, everyone
in your coral trains like you, and all have similar goals. It
is like we are one big super fit family!
Running
the Marathon
When the air horns went off, we were part of the very first group
after the elites to cross the line. We started off fast, I held
back to my pace while others ran way too fast past. I passed
them later on. The scenery along the route went from old buildings,
to new complexes and a few housing developments. Since it was
primarily along main streets, the it was more city scape and
less rural like some of the other rock and roll marathons I've
been on. But I was in it to do a PR on a somewhat flat course.
The new course was more up hill than I liked - nearly 700 feet
elevation change, but nothing severe like lost Dutchman! Plenty
of crowd support since it was along main avenues. You cant really
see the final finishing area until your right on it in the last
mile or so, and the bridge over the Tempe town lake was a very
welcome sight. When I came over the line in 4:10 I knew that
with a bit more work I was destined to break that 4 hours soon.
A very hard run, and worth nearly every fun mile! The finishers
medal is really different from last years, and a nice addition
to my marathon collection.
At
the Finish Line
After I came over the line and recovered a bit, I called Dawn
and we met up on the west end of the finishing area. We walked
around a bit to keep my legs from seizing up and as we left,
the rain started to sprinkle. it rained all the rest of the day
and especially in Payson through Monday.
Notes for Next Year:
- More
long runs to get that last few mile in easier
- Drop
off at start was a great idea!
- Can
be half a hour later on drop off
|
Note:
SMALL SIZED THUMBNAILS ARE CLICKABLE TO LARGER 1024 SIZE
Before the Race
The Expo at the Phoenix convention
center
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Entering the Convention Center
to attend the Expo on Friday
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T
Walking into the Convention Expo
much less crowded on Friday!
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Race packet pickup, thats me in green!
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Picking up the race tee...
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Inside the Expo
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Tons of stuff for sale
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Sunday Morning getting briefed
for the Aide station detail (Dawn)
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Aid station briefing
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Still dark out, waiting for the first
light of day
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Race coral detail - keeping them in line
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At the starting line for the half
Dawn has racer crowd control in
the coral. Here the light rail is
dropping off more runners
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Race Start - During the Race
(Stealth Cam)
Here I am at the starting area for the
marathon, brand new location this year!
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The runners start to gather as the first
light of dawn appear
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In my corral - 3 which is much nearer to the
starting line
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David Bluestien and his wife in coral
3
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The race is started! my corals projected finish
time is around 3:50 to 4h.
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The first aid station
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Heading directly toward Camel back
Mountain
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The rural part of the race
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Cheering squad
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Heading toward the city of Scottsdale
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Toward Camel back
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Aid station
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Cups everywhere!
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Down into 5th avenue shops in
down town Scottsdale
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Passing half way point now heading out
of Scottsdale toward Tempe
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Heading into Tempe - the final few miles
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The last few miles is always a killer!
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Finish Line Photos/After the Race
Dawn is waiting at the finish line -
Thousands of bananas!
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Waiting for the runners to come in at
the finishing area
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Dressed to kill...
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Finish line shot under the
solar array at the university stadium
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Dawn at the finishing area after her
long day working the aide stations and
helping the runners!
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The GPS data from the run
Click to Enlarge
A race that was not flat
making for slow going on
the outgoing trip, but
much faster in the
second half!
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The Sedona Marathon/
Half/10k/5k Events
Sedona, Arizona
Sunday Saturday Feb 4th, 2012
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Finishers Medal
On the left is the finishers
medal, which is 1/4 a com-
plete circle. The next three
years will be the rest. On the
right is my 3rd place
bronze I won for my
age division.
|
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The T Shirt
Click to Enlarge
|
|
The Sedona Marathon Event has returned again this year, and in
addition to the marathon, the half, new 10k, and 5k races were
all held on Saturday February 4th. Weather this year was cold
and windy, but at least it was not raining or snowing! Because
of the upcoming Lost Dutchman Full that is coming up in two weeks,
I elected to run only the 10k this year, rather than the usual
half marathon. Dawn race walked the 10k as well, still recovering
from a cold and both of us did fairly well and had a lot of fun!
Race Morning
We left Payson around 4:30am Saturday morning and headed over
the Rim over to Sedona, just under 2 hours drive to the west.
The parking area was the same, but you had to walk half a mile
down a steep hill to the race starting line much to arriving
runners chagrin. With the added 10k we knew it was going to be
a mad house this year, and nearly 2000 runners showed up for
the different events! The Marathon got off at 8 am, and the Half
followed some 10 minutes later. Then around 8:20 the 10k group
lined up at the staring line. There was over 400 of us running
this first time 10k this year.
The 10k Race
Not much fan fare at race start, but it was relatively flat for
the first few miles. Then lots of up hills! This is not an easy
race. The hills are challenging and like a roller coaster. But
the red rock scenery was nice, despite the dark cloudy conditions.
I was able to hold a sub 8 pace well past the turn around at
3.1 miles, then we had some really steep long up hills to deal
with. It was slow going, but as I neared the finish with its
long up hill side walk run and tons of 5k walkers to push through,
I knew I had done fairly well. I came in with a 51 minute time
which I didn't really think was too fast, but with the steep
hills it actually wasn't too bad. The final pace as I crossed
the finish line was around 8:15 average.
Dawn came in around 1:41 which was a great time considering the
hills. We then relaxed a bit, and walked around the finish area
and watched the other runners coming in. It was around 35 degrees
at race start - with a good cold breeze and by the time we both
came in, the temperature had only risen to 45 and more wind.
I took third place in my age division, and received a medal for
this first 10k I have ever run. This was one of the shortest
races I had run in a long time, 6.2 miles and I feel I will be
fully recovered for the marathon in a few weeks. We both got
a big quarter disk finishers medal, which was first in a 4 part
larger medal which they will give on successive years. Very strange
that all runners irrespective of their distance got the same
exact medal.
Notes for next
year
Get a medium shirt,
Run faster...
|
Note:
SMALL SIZED THUMBNAILS ARE CLICKABLE TO LARGER 1024 SIZE
Before the Race and Expo
The Expo was small and outdoors
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At the Packet Pickup
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Race morning, heading down to the
staging area for the start at dawn.
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The first rays of sun hitting the red
rock cliffs
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Sunrise
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Runners starting to gather at
sun rise
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The Starting area
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During The 10K
The marathoners leave first on
their long journey
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The next images taken during the 10k
while Dawn race walked the same route
I was running at the same time
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Back streets in town
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The Red cliffs of the
Schnebly hill formation
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Here I come (in orange) the other way
with all the other 10k Runners!
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The 10k
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Both directions since it was a to and back
course
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Road sign
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The photographers images of me
during the race
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The Photographers images of Dawn
during the race
| | |
Finish Line
In front of the
finish line!
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Dawn at the finish line
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HOME
|
The Whiskey Row
Full/10k
Marathon Events
Prescott, Arizona
Saturday May 5, 2012
