When we last left you, Batman….ooops wrong script,I had just completed Ironman Augusta. I had also learned that my bid to run the Boston marathon was denied! This due to many runners much faster than I who choose to race, so at that time I decided to switch my focus to re-qualifying with a fast time and was going to try at the second annual Newport News, One City Marathon.
As we flash forward, I learned that I have been selected as an ambassador for Nuun and have been enjoying spending time and racing with the folks on another new team I have been lucky enough to be a part of the Point2Running company and Flat-Out Events ambassador team.
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| Colonial Half |
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| Game Day 5 & 10K |
Since the start of 2016, I have had a few races to help with my build towards One City. It started with the Game Day 5K, which really help build my confidence with an age group win and finishing not too far off from a PR. A few weeks later I ran the Colonial Half Marathon in Williamsburg, VA. This race has a tough hilly course (hills suck!) and I was putting a lot of stock in my results since my training build had been limited due to some lingering injuries and some big changes in my personal life. The race went well, I was able to execute Coach Adam’s plan and set a 4 minute PR.
The rest of the build towards One City was OK, I could never put together two consecutive weeks
Race day was approaching and as things were going well and starting to come together. My body was recovering well and thanks to Heidi at the Warriors Retreat Annex in Yorktown, I got a great sports massage that helped keep me stay relaxed and calm going into race day.
As the morning approached my Snapple and Otstot hotshots teammate Craig picked me up threatening to blast theme music as he pulled into me development because of my newspaper stardom (his words). Thankfully his phone locked up and my neighbors were not pissed off by the sounds of the Imperial March!. Craig and his buddy Scott were racing as well and it was a fun ride over the start. They were both nice enough to play race morning Sherpa for me with my gear bag as I headed out for me warm up.
I got back from said warm up and they announcer was calling everyone to the starting corral. At this point my nerves got to me a bit. Once I settled down a bit and moved over to the start line I started to seeing friends all around. Talking with everyone helped calm the nerves and I just tried to keep my mind on the plan. The start was almost here, was I ready, did I do enough, do I have a 3:10 or better marathon in me. To help keep myself calm I started to remember the lyrics from Linkin Park, Somewhere I Belong. (this is my tri theme song, long story) “I want to heal, I want to feel, Like I’m close to something real, I want to find something I’ve wanted all along, somewhere I belong” These lyrics sum up racing to me, how ever long that race lasts, I’m where I belong!
The gun goes off!
The first few miles I was a bit stiff, I kept thinking of the race plan, don’t push the pace, be smart and soon things start to come around. I was feeling good, strong, I got this! (stay within yourself Frager!) just about mile 2 I cross over Jefferson Avenue and there is my friend and training partner Steve Smith and his wife Kelly. It’s not a race if they are not there and it was awesome to know they were on the course.
About mile 3 I realized I was running a little hot, miles 1 and 3 were on target but mile two was over 30 seconds faster than planned. (stay within yourself!) Shortly after mile 3 I notice a few friends, Carter, David and Eric were running together up ahead. Not getting away from me or closer, they are running my pace. I knew talking with them in weeks leading up to the race we all had similar goals.
By this time I still have 21 miles of possible running alone so I decided to pick up the pace and run with them. Once I caught up to them, the next 10 miles flew by. We ran in a pace line to break-up the wind and work together, drafting does work in running like in other sports. Also, just like last year Carter had me laughing the whole time. I have to say it was one of the best times I had in a race. Someone was calling off our mile splits as each clicked by and in hindsight by mile 5 I should've back off the pace but by that time I was not thinking much about the race plan and as such I was not staying with in myself. We running around 10 to 15 seconds faster than I should have been at that point in the race. I was feeling good and strong so what could go wrong, right!
By mile 13, our group had broken up, David had to stop at an aid station for a bio break, Carter and Eric had moved ahead and I was struggling to hold pace. By mile 14, I was coming back around but reality started to hit. I realized that I had screwed up but let's see what’s left, I slowed the pace a bit and was able to keep Eric in sight. As we moved through CNU my left ankle started to hurt and my right quad was getting sore, all this causing the pace to falling off. I popped a salt pill hoping the electrolytes would help what I thought was muscle cramping. Then just after mile 18, I had to walk. $#!T!!!!
I developed a pain in my right quad that was no muscle cramp. I know muscle cramps, been fighting them on the run of almost every tri I have done since the fall of 2014. This pain was different and my knee had started to hurt as well. After walking a bit, I tried to run and the knee and quad instantly started to hurt. I made it maybe a quarter of mile. At this point Carter and I had caught up to each other. The heat had become and issue and after talking we both knew our original goal was out of reach but we still could put up a respectable time. We started to run together again and as before after a quarter mile I had to walk. I wished him luck and resigned myself to the situation.
At this point I started to give serious consideration to abandoning the race. Whatever was going on with my leg was worrying me and if I kept pushing it could I put the rest of the year in jeopardy? Is it worth it? Than it hit me, I had about 6 miles left, you can still walk relatively pain free so time to put on you big boy pants and finish!
I tried to run again, this time I made it about a half mile and when I started to walk again another local runner JP had come up and was nice enough to walk with me a bit, offering some much needed encouragement before heading off. I really appreciate this and it help reinforce I made the right call to push on to the finish. Shortly after, I saw Steve and Kelly again and I decided to stop and tell them what was going on. Again, it was their encouragement that helped keep going. I ran another half mile after that and kept repeating the process. Walk for as long as I felt I needed and run until the pain became too much to handle.
I think around mile 24 one of my fellow Point2/Flatout ambassadors Karen came up on her bike as she was riding race support. She kept with me while I was running and walking, really helped me get through that part of the race. I was angry at myself and was fighting the feeling I let a lot of people down. Reality is I had not, there was no expectation from anyone but me but talking with Karen really help keep my head straight.
As I came down Washington Avenue towards the final turn to the finish I could see the crowds up ahead. I decided to walk to the last traffic light before the crowds and no matter what would run to the finish. I was not walking, no way in hell! I took off and the crowd support was electric, the pain started to back off. As I approached the final turn I saw some friend and fellow ambassadors cheering and the rest of the pain went away. I could see a few of them running with me towards the finish, then as I got closer I saw a few of my Snapple and Ostothotshot teammates, all that encouragement was amazing. It totally embodies what I love about racing and the community!
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| Point2/Flatout Ambassadors |
I crossed the finish line and saw Jason Todd with Flatout events, we spoke briefly and he asked if I was OK, I think I said no before he finished as the pain rushed back in my right leg almost immediately. Before I knew it, there was someone with a wheelchair behind me and off to the med tent I went!
So class, what did we learn here? Running at the pace on the first half of a marathon you should be running during the second half, leads to a bad day. Trying to run at a pace for 26 miles your body was not prepared for, leads to a slight muscle pull. Heat and humidity in March can ruin race plans. Lastly, LISTEN TO YOUR COACH! I let my feeling that I was stronger than I was as well as a desire to run with people get in head and I knew better. This will help enforce that as this season goes on.
It did turn out a lot of people had a great day, Coach Adam Otstot, took second Overall in the 8K and Jason Bridges was 6th. The Point2/Flatout athletes either in the marathon, relay or 8K all did well and Craig put up a nice PR. I was so excited for everyone.
Thank you to everyone for all the awesome support while I continue to live the dream. A big thank you to Primal Sports Mud, Nuun, and the folks at Point2 Running Company and Flatout events. I also want to thank Snapple tri club and all their amazing sponsors. Thank you again to Heidi at Warriors retreat and Stan at Destress express. Both help to keep me moving before and after my races. A big thank you to Coach Adam Otstot and all my teammates, training partners and friends. Lastly thank you to my family in VA and back in NJ.
Next up, I am going to have some fun being part of the Flatout Fierce team during the Colonial 200 relay, than the Chick-fil-a 10k in May followed by the start of my tri season, the Jamestown International in Williamsburg.
