Start time: 3/17/12, 8:00am
Location: Washington DC
Distance: 26.2 miles
Finish time: 5:17:33
Average pace: 12:07min/mile
Total Miles For March: 58 miles
Total Miles For 2012: 246 miles
Current Shoes: 42 miles

(I"ve been putting this race report off, because of a slightly unresolved issue indirectly connected to the race. But the longer I put this off, the greater chance that I will never get around to actually writing it.)

After training for most of the winter, my running the Rock 'n' Roll USA Marathon here in DC almost got derailed entirely thanks to an ill-timed sinus infection. I got the all-clear from my doctor to run it, though, even though I still had four days of antibiotics to go.

Rock 'n' Roll bought what used to be the National Marathon and Half Marathon, which had started back in 2006 (and replaced the short-lived, one-time-only DC Marathon). From 2006 through 2011, I ran all but one of the National's half marathons, skipping 2010 only because some friends and I had gone down to Virginia Beach that same weekend to tackle the Shamrock Half Marathon. The National had been showing increasing signs of being in over their heads as the race grew, though, with outright incompetence on some aspects. So although it meant a much more expensive race when Rock 'n' Roll took it over, I looked forward to seeing how they'd handle the race administration. And, it seemed like a good a time as any to tackle a full marathon again, since my last had been in January 2010 as part of the Walt Disney World Goofy Marathon and a Half Challenge.

First, the actual putting on the race part? Excellent. Well marked mile points (unlike last year's race, where the first marker was at mile 9), lots of race support, a much better starting line situation, easier packet pick up... you name it, they handled it quite well. Worth the extra money.

As for my running of the racef? Well, there were some good parts and some not-so-good parts. I ran the first 21 miles with my good friend Ben, and doing that was a real joy. I've had a lot of marathons where I ran the majority or all of the race by myself, and I'd forgotten how nice it is to have someone else to keep you going. Charlie, Andy, Peter, and Joey all came out to cheer, and that was also greatly appreciated. I also got to see my co-worker Holly in our starting corral. So, all good stuff.

On the down side, the temperature spiked while I was out there from below 50 to over 70, and just like the Florence Marathon, that spells disaster for me. I end up slightly dehydrating no matter how well I've been hydrating before and during the event, and when you're cramping and feeling lousy it's not going to be a good race. For me, that started around the halfway point, but I put on a brave face and tried to push through. Around mile 19, though, I knew the back half of the race was going to be difficult, and told Ben that since he was feeling strong to please feel free to ditch me at any point. He decided that at mile 21 he was going to pick up his pace a bit, and did just that (and had a strong finish, hurrah!).

I actually ended up walking all the way to mile 23; I felt horrible, not just physically but mentally. My stomach was upset (a combo of forgetting to bring something solid to balance out the gels... hey, it's been over 2 years since my last marathon... and the antibiotics), I was discouraged, and my "running" with a minute walk break at the mile markers was barely faster than my speed walking. I did focus on another guy walking in the distance that looked quite fit, and managed to get most of the way up to him by mile 23. From that point I shifted over to a "run 5 minutes, walk 1 minute" pace, and that was a huge improvement, getting me moving at a much better clip that I'd been for about five miles. Still, a huge relief to finish. None the less, not counting Disney (where we stopped for photos twenty times and had run a half marathon the day before) it was much, much slower than my previous two races. A little disappointing, although it was under some adverse circumstances that were ultimately out of my control.

I'd also been having some shin pain on my right leg leading up to the race; I'd figured it was just a shin splint but right now we're doing some tests to make sure it's not anything else. So in the two weeks since the race I've run exactly nothing at all. There are quite a few possibilities, and some tests I'm having done today are hopefully ruling out the bad ones. I'll hopefully know more later in the week. Fingers crossed for just a lopsided shin splint (since they normally come in pairs), but we shall see.

Start time: 3/15/12, 5:51am
Location: National Mall
Distance: 4.53 miles
Average pace: 10:51min/mile
Total Miles For March: 32 miles
Total Miles For 2012: 220 miles
Current Shoes: 16 miles

So, after last Thursday's run... I got sick. Thought it was a cold. Then it was a sinus infection. Then came the antibiotics. Fun. Ended up with an unplanned week off. Ran on Thursday morning to make sure everything was working enough for Saturday's marathon. Not great, not bad either. Will take the race easy and life is good enough, right? Time for bed!

Start time: 3/8/12, 5:46am
Location: National Mall
Distance: 6.15 miles
Average pace: 9:46min/mile
Total Miles For March: 28 miles
Total Miles For 2012: 216 miles
Current Shoes: 12 miles

After multiple work trips plus a thrown out back, Steve was back this week, along with Ben. Was a pleasure to see him again.

Start time: 3/6/12, 6:10am
Location: North Arlington
Distance: 6.5 miles
Average pace: 9:05min/mile
Total Miles For March: 22 miles
Total Miles For 2012: 210 miles
Current Shoes: 6 miles

It was just me this morning, so I decided that since I wanted to hit the gym anyway, I'd just drive there and run through (more or less) my old route in the Ballston/Clarendon/Court House neighborhood of Arlington. It was a lot of fun to see the old sights again, as well as to see just how much new stuff's gone into Clarendon in my absence. Some hills had me huffing and puffing as much as before, and all in all it was a pleasant experience to head back through there for a change. Plus, new shoes. (Time to restart the clock!) The springiness in them compared to the old ones is startling.

Start time: 3/3/12, 7:00am
Location: National Mall, Mass Ave, Shaw, U Street, SW Waterfront
Distance: 10.41 miles
Average pace: 10:29min/mile
Total Miles For March: 16 miles
Total Miles For 2012: 204 miles
Current Shoes: 237 miles

Ten mile taper! Just me and Ben and John, and rain for about half of it. It was a nice run, though, especially when it wasn't raining. New shoes are en route. Looking forward to them arriving.

Start time: 3/1/12, 5:50am
Location: National Mall
Distance: 6.42 miles
Average pace: 9:50min/mile
Total Miles For March: 6 miles
Total Miles For 2012: 194 miles
Current Shoes: 227 miles

Shorts again! I sure could get used to this whole "spring weather" thing.

Start time: 2/28/12, 5:50am
Location: National Mall
Distance: 5 miles
Average pace: 10:38min/mile
Total Miles For February: 104 miles
Total Miles For 2012: 188 miles
Current Shoes: 221 miles

Met Ben this morning for an easy 5-miler. Upper right thigh is still a tiny bit sore from the impact of wiping out on Saturday, but other than that, not bad. Also ordered some more running shoes; there's a new model out so I was able to get the model I've been using for over a third off as they get rid of the merchandise. (So I bought two pairs! I'll use em.)

Start time: 2/25/12, 7:00am
Location: National Mall, Penn Quarter, Shaw, U Street, Mass Ave, Capitol Hill, RFK Stadium, Nationals Park, Waterfront, Rock Creek Park, Georgetown, Cap Crescent...
Distance: 23 miles
Average pace: 11:16min/mile
Total Miles For February: 99 miles
Total Miles For 2012: 183 miles
Current Shoes: 216 miles

Last long run before the race. John ran the first 13 or so miles with me and Ben, then we dropped him off at the starting point and hacked out the rest, or at least that was the plan. All we had to deal with was a sudden series of heavy flurries of snow, and then 25-30mph headwinds. Oof.

Ben's last long run had been 18 miles, so while we were doing the last 10-mile stretch (which would've been 5-out-and-then-back), he asked if we could turn around a mile earlier, so he'd only be jumping to 21 miles. Sounded more than reasonable to me, so we did just that and my plan was to run the last two on my own. I'd been having some stomach/internal problems at the start of the run in the morning, and they'd returned around mile 17 so I was having serious doubts about finishing the run myself.

Once we got back (21 miles in), though, I walked a quarter mile, my stomach settled down, and I finished up the run. Well, rather, first I tripped and fell at mile 22.5, then I finished the run. One small scrape on an arm, and what feels like a bruise on a thigh, but otherwise everything appears to be in working order despite my wipeout.

Not my most graceful long run—ok, it was agony for a lot—but it's done.

Hmmm. Perhaps it would be worth getting new shoes before the marathon.

Start time: 2/23/12, 6:00am
Location: National Mall
Distance: 4.24 miles
Average pace: 9:42min/mile
Total Miles For February: 76 miles
Total Miles For 2012: 160 miles
Current Shoes: 193 miles

On Monday morning (preparing to fly home) I found myself coming down with a cold, so I skipped all exercise for Mon-Wed, and did a shortened run on Thursday with John. Aside from a runny nose at times, no real problems. It's nice when a cold ends up being short-lived.

Start time: 2/16/12, 6:30am
Location: LAX Mariott Treadmill
Distance: 6 miles
Average pace: 8:57min/mile
Total Miles For February: 64 miles
Total Miles For 2012: 148 miles
Current Shoes: 181 miles

Start time: 2/18/12, 7:30am
Location: LAX Mariott Treadmill
Distance: 6 miles & 2 miles
Average pace: 8:42min/mile & 7:38min/mile (8:26 overall)
Total Miles For February: 72 miles
Total Miles For 2012: 156 miles
Current Shoes: 189 miles

Oops, time to catch up... was in LA for a convention for the second half of last week, so ended up using the hotel treadmill twice. For Saturday's run the plan was 8 miles, but I was getting bored with the treadmill and when I hit 6 miles (since the treadmill automatically shuts down at an hour) I figured, "Oh, good enough" and started the cooldown function. Then after about three minutes I thought, "Wait, I should really do the last two miles." So I turned it off, ran two more, and called it a day. I never really trust a treadmill's readings, but I was definitely working on my pace for that 8-miler.

Start time: 2/14/12, 5:50am
Location: National Mall
Distance: 6.35 miles
Average pace: 10:26min/mile
Total Miles For February: 58 miles
Total Miles For 2012: 142 miles
Current Shoes: 175 miles

Sort of last track of my run at the end when I was by myself and did a bit of moseying before I snapped out of it, but not a bad one. Will probably run while on vacation, but how much and where is still TBD.

Start time: 2/12/12, 7:00am
Location: National Mall, Capitol Hill, Navy Yard, Hains Point
Distance: 14.07 miles
Average pace: 10:45min/mile
Total Miles For February: 52 miles
Total Miles For 2012: 136 miles
Current Shoes: 169 miles

Just me, John, and Ben; a subdued but pleasant run.

Start time: 2/9/12, 5:47am
Location: National Mall
Distance: 6.36 miles
Average pace: 10:01min/mile
Total Miles For February: 38 miles
Total Miles For 2012: 122 miles
Current Shoes: 155 miles

John was back (yay!), but otherwise an unremarkable run.

Start time: 2/7/12, 5:50am
Location: National Mall
Distance: 6.14 miles
Average pace: 10:19min/mile
Total Miles For February: 32 miles
Total Miles For 2012: 116 miles
Current Shoes: 149 miles

Ran with Ben this morning and it wasn't bad, but I was definitely feeling Saturday's run in the second half. Oof. I cut back on today's rowing, so that's something.

Start time: 2/4/12, 7:00am
Location: National Mall, Rock Creek Park, National Zoo, Connecticut Ave, White House, Hains Point, Mt. Vernon Trail
Distance: 20 miles
Average pace: 10:32min/mile
Total Miles For February: 26 miles
Total Miles For 2012: 110 miles
Current Shoes: 143 miles

Oh 20 miles, how I've not missed you. Ran two routes strung together; first down to Rock Creek Park, up to the Zoo, and then back (at which point we refilled water bottles), then headed over to Hains Point, the Mt. Vernon Trail, and then back along the Mall via Memorial Bridge. And to keep things confusing, the line-ups were:

Miles 1-10: Me, Jim, Michael, Steve, Ben, Stephanie, Rich
Miles 11-20: Me, Jim, Michael, John

Originally Steve and Ben were supposed to run all 20, but Steve's coming down with a cold and decided to cut it short, and Ben at the last minute said he wasn't feeling up to the second half. As Jim, Michael, and John are all much faster than me (coupled with John also feeling rather fresh at the start of the second half) meant that I spent most of miles 16-20 falling behind, occasionally catching up when they slowed down, then falling behind again. Slightly demoralizing but ah well. Some days you can keep up with the others, some days... not so much.

Start time: 2/2/12, 5:52am
Location: National Mall
Distance: 6.2 miles
Average pace: 10:23min/mile
Total Miles For February: 6 miles
Total Miles For 2012: 90 miles
Current Shoes: 123 miles

A little pokey this morning, but it was also the second day of February and I got to wear shorts for a 6am run. No complaints here.

Start time: 1/31/12, 5:48am
Location: National Mall, Capitol Hill
Distance: 6 miles
Average pace: 9:51min/mile
Total Miles For January: 84 miles
Total Miles For 2012: 84 miles
Current Shoes: 117 miles

Rounded out January with one more run up and down Capitol Hill. Also realized I forgot to reset things like my auto-lap function every mile on the Garmin, but it didn't run out of power 45 minutes in and did what it was told to, so no complaints, right?

Start time: 1/28/12, 8:00am
Location: National Mall
Distance: 8.21 miles
Average pace: 10:21min/mile
Total Miles For January: 78 miles
Total Miles For 2012: 78 miles
Current Shoes: 111 miles

Another zap of the Garmin dying back on Saturday, but Steve gave me the overall distance and time from his watch. On the bright side, it is now fixed (or appears to be); the new firmware is in place, and after a couple of recharge cycles it appears to be back to normal.

Start time: 1/26/12, 5:46am
Location: National Mall
Distance: ~6.1 miles
Average pace: no idea
Total Miles For January: 70 miles
Total Miles For 2012: 70 miles
Current Shoes: 103 miles

Garmin battery died halfway through the run yesteday. Bah. Now having major issues with it getting recharged and following some advice from people on their forums (since this appears to be a known issue) but we shall see...

Start time: 1/24/12, 5:46am
Location: National Mall
Distance: 6.25 miles
Average pace: 9:57min/mile
Total Miles For January: 64 miles
Total Miles For 2012: 64 miles
Current Shoes: 97 miles

Scrubbed Saturday's run due to the ice/sleet, but happily it's all gone now. Think I pulled a calf muscle today, though. Time for the good kind of ice.