sunday, 9/7

[dan]

while all of you were in harrisburg (what mile mark after all?), theresa volunteered to join me on the bicycle and we went from frostburg to cumberland on the rail trail. i was supposed to do 16, but we started from the lower lot, so i am guessing it was 15.25-15.5 or so.

i didnt start paying attention to the mile marks until 13, but we were as follows:

15.xx to 13: 16:15
13 to 12: 6:07 (22:22)
12 to 10: 12:33 (34:55)
10 to 9: 6:03 (40:58)
9 to 8: 5:43 (46:41)
8 to 7: 5:55 (52:36)
7 to 6: 6:09 (58:45) stopped to pee/stretch after brush tunnel
6 to 5: 5:47 (64:32)
5 to 4: 5:42 (70:14)
4 to 3: 5:48 (76:02)
3 to 2: 5:44 (81:46)
2 to 1: 5:51 (87:37)
1 to Canal Place Lot: 6:34 (94:11) stopped where we normally park

so it was one of the better runs ive done in a long time. aside from miles 12 to 10 coming down, i ran between 5:45 and 6:10 the whole way and felt entirely comfortable until i hit the blacktop sections. then, it was just annoying and my form started to break. it was great to have theresa there on the bike. it really helped a lot because she was able to keep a good pace and still force me to try and talk. i am happy she was able to come along.

i saw the results of the half on runhigh.com and it looks like you guys had a solid workout effort for the day and i think things will be rounding nicely into form for you here in the next few weeks. see you soon!

DAN

[Justin]

Good run Dan.

On a related note about this particular run, what do you guys think is the conversion from this course to a normal (flat) run? I did this run and pretty easily stayed under 7:30's the whole way, where my normal longer runs right now are more like 7:45-7:55.

[frojoe23]

That is a a very nice run - I wish that I could say the same for my Sunday experience. It didn't go as anticipated. "Disaster" is the term tnat I would associate with Harrisburg. There was nothing in my legs at all - felt like I do on our last long run when we turn around and hammer the last 10 or 11. I ran about the same pace I would for that. It just felt way too taxing!

[baldisbetter]

Not the best and not the worst. My goal was to run comfortable at 6:20 to 6:30 pace. I felt in control the entire race and ran 6:30 pace. I would have preferred the 6:20. So, I feel ok about hitting the bottom end of my goal. The biggest disappoint was the race management. It was very different than last year. There were several events tied to the race including a walk. The race is out and back and the walkers use the same course. This made the course, for the most part, very congested. It was hard to push the pace when weaving in and out of oncoming runners and walkers. This was not an issue last year. Sum it up, my injury is behind me, I won’t run Harrisburg again because of poor course management, and I finally have a little confidence moving in the final phases of the training cycle.

[kevinspradlin]

Good to hear, Rob. Haven't looked at the times yet - didn't know until Dan's posted that you guys had competed - but you guys all know you're in shape. It's a shame factors out of your control (such as course congestion) helped lead to an off day.

Better days are ahead, I'm sure of it.

[woody]

Dan you should have let us know you were in. Mertz, Denny, and I ran at 8:15 Sunday morning for about 15 miles.

[frojoe23]

Thanks Kevin. Yesterday didn't show what kind of shape I think we are all in. There were so many factors that contributed to a bad day that when I think about it - it just makes me feel like an idiot. I've been to races so many times and hence no how to prepare leading up to it, but everything that I knew I had to do, I didn't! And it bit me big time!

[kevinspradlin]

Given that the Mountain Maryland Marathon Club is putting on Allegany County's inaugural marathon and half-marathon on April 19, 2009, I'd like for everyone who went up there this weekend to PM me comments about what was "wrong" or "runner-unfriendly" about the course and logistics.

Your comments will remain confidential but your sentiments would be noted and taken as "lessons learned" from one event to another as we move forward with planning the events from Cumberland to Frostburg.