Eugene Marathon 2011

My name is Ed Clarkson (aka Indigo Montoya) last year you, Eugene Marathon, killed my dreams of a sub four hour marathon. Prepare to die!

At the age of 40, I sought out to do what I have only done once before in 2009…a sub four hour marathon. I figured this would give me a good stepping-stone of confidence for my Vineman 2011 training. Two years ago I completed the Eugene Marathon with a total time of 3 hours 53 minutes and 35 seconds. This was my second marathon and the sub for hour marathon gave me the big shot of running addiction. I have now spent the next couple years trying to repeat this achievement. However, my "eating like a teenager on vacation" diet lead me to gaining about 20 pounds every winter. Last year I tried the four hour marathon again, only to be reminded that a 200+ pound person with my chicken legs does not make for good running. I finished my 2010 Eugene marathon in OVER five hours. I was ok with that. I had been battling high blood pressure and meds were making me cramp and have very limited energy. I left that experience feeling happy with my accomplishment, but disappoint in my time. My training was not good. I vowed that year to not let it happen again.

I tried for the sub four hour dream again in Portland 2010, only to get a 4 hour 16 or 19 minute result. I remember walking quite a bit towards the end of the run. Disappointed again, I agreed to keep running through the winter and not gain those extra pounds.

Late 2010 progress was going well. I joined weight watchers (for a few weeks), lost 15 or so pounds, trained, then ran a great 1 hour 46 minute half marathon. I was very excited. I knew that I was progressing in the right direction.

Then December 20^th I would get the scare of a lifetime. Paige, my wife, went to the Doctor’s office to be diagnosed with having a stroke. The next day, after several tests, her diagnosis was changed to Multiple Sclerosis. Over the next week the illness progressed and she lost control of her left leg and arm. Merry Christmas! It was a tough time. My lurking dream of possible qualifying for Boston (far out their dream) was dead. But that was ok. I have always tried to make my running 2^nd to my family. That’s why I am out there running at 5 AM on Saturdays. ...hoping that my family stays awake while I run. Long story short, my sympathy appetite (I tend to eat a lot when times get tough) lead me to gain the 15 pounds I fought so hard to lose. My energy to do any exercise at all was drained. I was watching my hopes of a sub 4 marathon and quest to become a Vineman dwindle away.

Paige fought back, ate an incredibly healthy diet, gave herself (I helped when I could) shots three times a week and sought out as much advice as possible. In mid February she gained control of her leg and started walking again. Later she regained use of her arm. As her progress led her to be stronger, I took that as my cue to get back out there and start training again. Then, Paige lost her mom to cancer in March. I find strength in Liz now as I run! She is missed greatly, but leaves a legacy of endurance, strength and perseverance that helps many!

With Vineman looming in the distance I got back in the pool, got on the bike and started running again. Little by little I was getting faster, stronger and losing a bit of weight. I’m still about 3 pounds from where I was in November, but am satisfied with progress. I hope to lose another 10 or so. Every pound lost makes for easier long runs. I owe a lot of my training success to three things: my family for tolerating me (although I still try to schedule most of it while they are asleep in the early AM), the Smart Coach application from Runner’s World and the Triathlon Magazine TriathlonTraining Plans book. From day to day I knew what I had to do, as the plans we tailored to my experience and needs.

Today, as a 40 year old, I sought out to improve on my marathon personal record. The first half was easy. I was excited. I was turning out low 8 minutes per mile pace times. I was running quick enough to catch up to the 3 hour and 40 minute pace team. I now see that as a sign that I was running too fast. ..but it felt so comfortable. I later slowed down a bit in order to hold some for the finish. At the half way mark, I calculated that I was about five minutes ahead of my 3 hour 50 minute pace time. I was now running in the 8 min 30-50 second per mile range. At mile 17 I lost my 8-9 min per mile pace and succumbed to muscle fatigue. I started to put down low to high 9 minutes per mile. Argh! …and I was slowing down. At mile 22 the 3:50 pace team passed me. I hate it when that happens! I was soo far ahead. I thought I had them. Quads and buttocks were burning in pain! At mile 24, with two miles to go, I had to walk! I was very calculative, though, and I saw that I had enough time “banked” that I could walk and still pull out a time good to accomplish a personal best. …I walked for two minutes, even that hurt. I got back to running. I thought to myself, “It’s now just a run to the local school track and back.” But that was not enough, and with 1.5 miles to go, I walked for another minute. Looking at the watch, I now had 12 minutes to cover about 1.4 miles. …a 10 minute per mile pace may do it. …and it sooo short. But it’s sooo painful. Would I have to walk again? Thinking of all that had happened in the last 6 months, Paige recovering from M.S. and losing her mom to cancer, I dug deep and limped a half mile at 8 min 46 sec per mile pace. Now seeing historic Hayward Field, I “sprinted” a sub 8 minute mile... and finished at….3 hours 52 minutes and 3 seconds. A NEW PERSONAL RECORD…at 40 years old!

I am slower than some, faster than some. But today I was MY best! ..and to me, that’s what it is all about.

I owe a lot to my family and hope that I don’t bug them too much with all my training.

I can now say that I am in the best shape I have ever been in (at least for my adult life). I hope this will help me to my accomplish my ultimate goal of completing the Vineman with just under 100 days to go.

Next up

Sprint Triathlon with Quinlan on 5/21

Newport Marathon (my marathon birth place) 6/4

Half Ironman Triathlon 6/25

Vineman Triathlon 7/31

P.S. Are you motivated to be in good physical condition? Today I was motivated by a 48 year old man who ran his first marathon at 3 hours and 53 minutes. Awesome for him!!!

Mental Victories

Training for an Ironman distance triathlon and a marathon requires a delicate balance. While I have never completed an Ironman distance triathlon, I have complete a few marathons. In two weeks I hope to complete what I have done only once before: finish a marathon in under 4 hours. Typically, I gain 20 pounds over the winter and the rest of the year trying to lose it. Then there is a marathon in there somewhere. So, while training for both the triathlon and marathon my body is finding itself tired very frequently....especially this weekend. With the day off on Friday, I took advantage of the opportunity and spent 5 hours on the stationary bike (estimated 100 mile equivalent on the road, 12 miles short of Ironman distance). Later, I completed the next part of my triathlon training program and completed a 2000 yard swim (about 1.2 miles, half the Ironman distance). Then today, my marathon training called for 20 miles. Funny, because triathlon training plan only called for 45 minutes. This is where training for two different events gets difficult. Having just finished a long bike ride and a medium length swim, I felt cautiously optimistic about my 20 mile run. But as I started my run (5 am), I felt the trouble early. I dressed for an early cool and possibly rainy morning - tights under shorts, long sleeve shirt under bike shirt (convenient for carrying food). Within 5 minutes of run I was overheating in the 50 degree weather and there was no rain. As I got to the Willamette river, 4 miles into run, I felt a small reprieve from the warmth and felt the cool breezes off the river. I finished a small loop in West Salem. Then, at mile 6 I started feeling the pains of my bike ride from yesterday. My pace started slowing down and my legs felt heavy. My body was yelling at me to stop. I agreed. With 6 miles completed and about 3 miles to home, I figured 9 miles was good enough. I decided to continue my run, then as I got closer to home I would see how I felt. At about that 9th mile my body slightly woke up and I decided I would extend my run a little bit and go for about 5 more miles, finishing at 15 miles (of the planned 20, not bad). Then, at mile 12ish my body really woke up and I started improving my pace by about a minute per mile...EVEN UP A HILL. I was excited. I was focused on the road ahead of me. Then, SPLAT!!! A couple feet in front of me a large white blobby puddle appeared right before my next step. That bird just tried to crap on me! I laughed. Nice try. Mental victory number 1! I continued my run, I found myself looking for hills to climb so that I could get some downhill to "coast" down. At this point, I was 15 miles into my run. Now on Kuebler Blvd. I could turn down one path and finish with 18 miles (respectable, right?). But that was not the plan. I told myself no, and continued on the path that would add enough miles to make it a complete 20 miles. ...and I was continuing to get a little faster. Funny thing that endurance. It seems like it takes me about 1.5 hours to wake up and start running. Finishing the run with a quick and steep Pringle Rd. hill I felt satisfied that I told running devil on one shoulder "No, I will continue with my plan," several times. Take that Ironman training plan!!! Mental victory number 2 or 3 or 4. I lost count.
I got my mental victories today. Now, go get yours! Every little one counts.

This is the week that I've been concerned about

I am now entering week nine of my Ironman distance training, and this is the week that I’ve been worrying about. Some six weeks ago I started looking into my future plans and one thing about this week concerned me. I knew I would be training into winter, I knew I would be doing a lot of runs in the dark, rainy mornings. I planned to do most of my swims during Quinlan’s (nine year old daughter) swim practices. However, I was not prepared for the length of bike riding I am required to do this week. Here in Oregon, it’s wet and dark much of the winter. This week sunrise is at about 7:30 am and sunset is at about 4:30 pm. This makes it difficult to do actual road rides on the bike. So, last year I got a Cycleops bike trainer. This allows me to clip my road bike into the trainer. The trainer has a resistance wheel that allows me to ride stationary and use the gears to allow even more or less resistance. …back to my worries. This week I am supposed to do a training ride of 3 hours and 15 minutes!!! …on a stationary bike!!! On the road, at least there are times when you can coast, stretch the legs a little bit, stand up and get out of the saddle. The views are ever changing. The wind cools you off. Not so on a stationary bike. I’ve been working my way up to two hours, and I seem to be getting better at handling the saddle soreness and boredom. I look foreword to see if I can accomplish this new milestone in training.

Also this week, I am supposed to do a 2,600 yard swim. This includes a 300 yard warm up, 2000 yard foundation swim and a 300 yard cool down. While I received a huge confidence boost this last week by swimming my first 1500 swim (non-stop, no fins) in a very long time, I am extremely nervous about accomplishing this goal too.

All these goals seem large and insurmountable. However, I have faith that they will strengthen me and prepare me to become a Vineman next year.

Listen to My Playlist

Nervous Beginning

Nervous Beginning

November 14, 2010

Yesterday I completed my 5^th week of training for the Full Vineman 2011. The Vineman is similar to the Ironman distance triathlon. It has the same distances; 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and a full marathon run of 26.2 miles. A total of 140.6 miles. The only differences are the franchise name and cost, the Vineman is almost half the cost. (BTW Thanks to my parents for giving me an early Christmas and Birthday – my entry fee.) However, I have never been to a Vineman or Ironman event, so I am certainly not the expert in the differences.

I am nervous. Yesterday I completed planning out my training for the next 18 weeks. At that point I will determine my level of fitness an increase the difficulty (hopefully) of training for the next 18 weeks, to be ready for the Vineman on July 30, 2011. The good news is that at the end of the 1^st 18 weeks I will be on spring break, so I can do a mock Ironman of my own. I am nervous because I see things like a 5 hour 45 minute training ride, in the same week as a 2 hour 40 minute training run. I am nervous because I see a 2.4 miles (4224 yards) swim that I am to do, when I can barely swim 500 (a little of a quarter of a mile) yards without using fins or without stopping. I am nervous because I will have to do all three together in one day. …and there are time constraints. Each course will be closed at specific times. I am N-E-R-V-O-U-S!!!

This all started a few years ago when I was very nervous. I was signed up to donate blood, like I usually did. I sat waiting, knowing that my blood pressure was usually high 140/95. This was marginal, but I was still allowed to donate. I sat down for the tests; my iron was good, I lead a pretty healthy life – no smoking, alcohol, nor drugs. However, when they tested my blood pressure it was something like 165/105. Obviously they denied me for donating blood and sent me on my way. They suggested going to the doctor. I shrugged, denying that it was “White Coat Syndrome.” When I see someone in a white coat (doctors, nurses, anyone about to take my blood pressure) the blood pressure goes up. So, I went home and checked my blood pressure on my own machine. At home I was more comfortable and I usually had decent readings. I strapped on the blue cuff and started up the machine. I took some deep breaths to calm me down. 170/110! Crap! I knew I could be in some kind of trouble. I was nervous. Thoughts of family without a dad or husband rushed through my mind. I called the doctor and made my way there. I thought I could be having a heart attack at any moment. I was about 35 years old and very nervous!!! At the office, I was checked again. …approximately the same readings. I was hooked up to an EKG. I was convinced I was in trouble. However, the heartbeat and patterns looked ok. Being overweight, stressed and a bad eater had caught up to me. I was placed on medications and encouraged to lead a healthier life. So, I started running. Running for my life.

Running felt good, but at first I could really only run for about half a mile without stopping. I kept going. Little by little I got up to double-digit miles. Once you get up to 10 miles, it seems easier to add a few more. I eventually got up to 15 miles. I enjoyed the relaxing feeling of the run. All stressors seemed to go away. I wasn’t nervous when running. Eventually I would run a marathon. The fear of having to run 26.2 miles caused me to get in shape. I would also lose numbers in blood pressure. However, winter would arrive and I would stop my training, only to pick it up again in the spring. So, I would gain 20 pounds in the winter and lose it in the summer. It has been that cycle for the past 4 years. Now, I am going to try something new.

I know that having to complete an Ironman distance triathlon will require me being in the best shape ever. So, there will be no chance for me to slack off this winter. I will continue my training as long as I am healthy. I have seen the results in a few short months I have lost 20 pounds, I have seen my blood pressure this week at 120/76 and I can now sit on a stationary bike for more than 2 hours. There’s progress, but there has to be so much more, and that makes me nervous.

I am starting this blog for a few reasons. One, I want to track my progress. I need to see tangible results. I am training in faith. I do most of my trainings alone and am following plans from a book. I hope that by tracking my feelings and progress I can rely on those during tough times. I feel that a written form of my progress holds me accountable and that motivates me as I train. I also hope that my experiences can motivate others. I am fairly normal, although my family may tell you differently. I do believe that if I can do this, there are many more out there that could do this stuff too, even better than I can. I hope that by seeing the joy I receive by training, completing and conquering the full triathlon, maybe I can inspire others to conquer their fears, whatever they may be …to conquer the nerves through hard work and dedication.

Good luck to us!

-Ed

Last weeks totals…

Bike: 8.5 hours – mixture of warm up, tempo, sprint intervals, long rides and cool downs. All done on Cycleops (mount that allows me to use road bike at stationary bike)

Run: 2.5 Hours – Mixture of sprints, tempo and long runs.

Swim: 6000 yards (3.4 miles) mixture of fins/no fins

Max distance without fins = 500 yards at a time.

Weight: 183.4

BMI 25.6

Goals for this week:

Bike- build strength by doing hill intervals (increased resistance for short periods)

Run - build strength by doing sprint intervals (increased speed for short 30 second bursts)

Oh, yeah and a half marathon (13.1 miles) – Goal time 1 hour 50 minutes (8 minutes 23 seconds per mile pace)

Swim – increase time without fins. Book plans call for interval trainings (no distance longer than 300 yards) on Monday at Wednesday. I plan on leaving the fins in the bag. The challenge here is that high school swim teams start up this week and I do not know how packed the lap lanes will be. Friday’s book plan requires a 1650 yards swim. I will try to do half without fins.