5/19 : Hope Run 5k

Date : 19 May 2013 (Sun) | Location : Kiwanis Park Tempe |Distance : 5km on the dot | Time : 27:09 | Pace : 5:25’/km | Condition : a warm morning race | Route : flat at the park | Satisfaction level : 4/5

The Hope Run was organized to support the missing children. Registered this race under Intel Team, with a 50% discount.

INTRODUCTION

The International/National Missing Children’s Day is observed in May of each year. It is a day to remember many thousands of small children who go missing or are innocent victims of abduction by strangers or by family members, worldwide. No matter what your run or walk speed is, come join us at the Kiwanis Park. Proceeds from this event goes to American Association for Lost Children, a non-profit organization that works for lost children.

http://www.4peaksracing.com/events/hope-run-2013

Met Dr Sim and May Ling with their baby Jonathan.
Wore Intel Involved tee-shirt for the run. Saw quite a number of Intel runners, as well as volunteers.
Have not been running much, so wasn't expecting a great timing.
I was there early@slightly after 6am, way too early.. LOL. Anyway, I did some own runs around the Kiwanis Park. The Park is along Guadalupe Road, around 13mins from San Cervantes, so pretty near. It has a lasrge lake for anglers, and nicely paved tracks around the lake. ! reckon a loop is ~0.7miles, if I recalled correctly.

The race started at 7.30am. I think there were <200 runners. For such a small race, they even used an bib-attached timing chip, pretty impressive.

Did 7:30 pace for the first miles or so before I kaputted. Was pacing a runner and gradually lost sight of him. The last loop around the Kiwanis lake was tough, more so under the warm morning sun. Managed to complete the race at 27:09. Was quietly hoping to do a 26mins but I will take this anytime..

No race in plan now, so will ust slowly build up my stamina and fitness back..

running tee (cotton) and the bib

Running for a cause

Finishing point

 

Results.. Mine is way down below..

The Kiwanis Park lake

Fitness level in poor state, next race 5/19 5km Hope Run

So I DNS the Whiskey Row Marathon as I went back to Malaysia for the Offsite (May 9/10) and also the GE13 voting on 5/5. On a hind-sight, it wasn't a bad thing to happen as I would have struggled badly on the hilly race..
Training has been so scarce and fitness level dropped as a result, not to mention the additional weight put up... Gotta do something about it in the next 3 months I am here !

Coming out with my own 3-month training plan towards the River Jungle Marathon on 1 September.

So far I am here:
- 3 full marathon - AZ RnR (Jan'13), IMS AZ (Feb), Phoenix (Mar)
- 3 DNS - Desert Classic Marathon (Feb - too far and still recovering from AZ RnR), Pat's Run (post-Boston bombing scare), Whiskey Row (went home to vote GE13)..

Next run is the 5km @ Hope Run (Kiwanis Park, Tempe)

http://4peaksracing.com/events/hope-run-2013

Some description:

The International/National Missing Children’s Day is observed in May of each year. It is a day to remember many thousands of small children who go missing or are innocent victims of abduction by strangers or by family members, worldwide. No matter what your run or walk speed is, come join us at the Kiwanis Park. Proceeds from this event goes to American Association for Lost Children, a non-profit organization that works for lost children.

Whiskey Row Marathon - signed up for my 4th in US !!

4th May @ Prescott !  Registered :-)

Full #7, US Full #3 - Phoenix Marathon

Date : 2 March 2013 (Sat) | Location : Usery Mountain Verrado-Mesa Riverview |Distance : 42.55km | Time : 4:48 | Pace : 6:46’/km | Condition : a cooling morning, ended with a super hot morning | Route : first 3rd running downhill, then mostly flat | Satisfaction level : 3/5

Wow.. never know it took me so long to write this Phoenix Marathon blog.. >1 month later !

This was my 3^rd marathon in 6 weeks, something I will cherish in a long time.. but a  bit insane to say the least !  The race swag was pretty good with loads of discount vouchers and a sleeve warmer. The race was to start @ Usery Mountain and we are supposed to park our cars at the shopping mall @ Mesa Riverview. There was a long queue turning into the mall area, I reached the school bus with 5mins to spare ! Pheww..

Here’s a description of the Marathon from the home-site : The Phoenix Marathon has a beautiful race course that begins below the large white Phoenix sign painted on the Usery Mountain. Marathon runners will experience nearly 1000 feet of net elevation loss in this fast Boston Qualifier. The race has thousands of parking spots available around the finish at a large shopping center in Mesa. Phoenix Marathon runners will enjoy the diverse scenery from cactus desert. The Phoenix Marathon has spectacular views of the Phoenix Valley from N. Usery Pass Rd”

This is a race of 2 halves - rolling for the 1st (did my best half in a full @ 1:58), reeling in the 2nd half with the super-hot desert sun. It must be one of the hottest  run in all my 3 runs here. Ambulance was kept busy, some runners threw up and fainted/taking a rest by the road-side. I was nearly one of the stats but luckily dug deep to stay alive !  Timing was 4:48. Not the best of the timing but really cannot complain. Just glad I survived !

Elevation Map

The race bib collection area @ Tempe Marketplace

The route

race result

Full #6, US Full #2 - IMS Arizona Marathon..

Date : 17 Feb 2013 (Sun) | Location : Verrado (Buckeye)-Goodyear-Pebble Creek-Avondale-Litchfield Park-Phoenix-Glendale |Distance : 42.6km | Time : 4:47 | Pace : 6:44’/km | Condition : a slightly warmer 7degC at startup (vs Arizona RnR) but the last 10-12km, still running under noon direct sunlight | Route : mostly flat (love the changing scenes and landscapes) | Satisfaction level : 4.5/5

First of all, this is a last minute race entry. I only signed up a day before the closing date after it became apparent that I will be in town during the long President Day holiday weekend. That was originally allocated for Las Vegas trip but since we pulled-in to CNY, that makes it possible for me to take part. Was toying with the idea of Lost Dutchmen and this IMA Arizona… But decided on this in view of an easier route and more readily accessible drive to the pick-up point.

Woke up at 4am on race day, took some quick bites, then drove to pick-up point at Westgate @ Glendale. Boarded the Full Marathon school bus and took us !30mins to reach Buckeye, Verrado. Managed to catch some naps during the bus trip. We were promised a warm preparation @ starting point and was not disappointed. The Verrado Tower Center  was opened to us for use to keep warm while waiting for the 7am start. Managed to make full use of the toilet 3 times before walking to the start point with 5mins to spare !  Alas, and I forgot to turn on my Garmin watch until during the count-down.. That explains why I missed ~first 900m of the race tracking. The race took us through some nice neighborhood @ Verrado, I would say some of them are luxurious. The first 7 miles or so were through Goodyear, wide open space, nothing much to savor. Once we hit Pebble Creek, we were greeted by residents who enthusiastically waited to greet the runners.. Some even said “ Thank you for running”.. Love the Pebble Creek area with its multiple golf courses and serene neighborhood. Things were doing OK then and I was able to run without much problem, though I am always worried of the return of the dreaded cramps.

I hit the half 21km @ 2:00 flat, a PB for my Full run. But things did not go well after that. My left knees started to feel sharp pain. After a few KMs, my right knee to feel one kind. I decided to take it easy and did some jog-walk-run after that. I am trying to avoid aggravating or cause any injury as my next run is 2 weeks away !  Did some photo taking with my iPhone along the route. Target was 4:15, and soon the 4:15 and 4:30 pacers passed me. The next target was to end the race with ~4:45. I did almost just that with a 4:45. The last 101-12km was running under the hot sun, so the bandana face mask came in handy to protect my neck.

Overall, a very scenic race, very well organized with lots and lots of drinks. Volunteers were superb – better than Arizona RnR, we do have cyclists who frequently ride past to ensure runners are in good shape. The mile by mile marker was a blessing as I used that to gauge my speed. Started with ~9mins/mile, then slowed to 10-10:30 before ending the last few miles with ~13mins/mile !

Now, some rest and a busy week to taper into my 3^rd and last full (for now) @ Phoenix Marathon @ Mesa.

At the start point in Verrado. Race starts at 7am.

3mins before start. Alas, I was slow in starting up my Garmin.Missed around 900m of tracking

25th mile marker

22nd mile marker

Finish point @ Glendale

Towards the finish point

University of Phoenix Stadium

The Monster Hill - our own version of Heartbreak Hill

Hot and lonely towards the 25th km !!

Medals

Combo picture of my run - didn't buy. 1 CD of all pictures cist $49.99.

Results published

A lost-my-way intervals ! What a 2/14 to remember....

2/14 - this was supposed to be a short run before coming home for dinner.. The cold and chilly weather has not been favorable for runs but I still need to prepare for my up-coming 2 FMs.. So I head to the Thude Park @ 6.10pm.. The sun has set @ 5.45pm during winter time..
I had wanted to do a short 5km interval, the usual Galveston-Dobson-Ray-Price 1 square loop.. Well, I ended up almost double the distance !! I was a lost-my-way intervals.
The 16deg C cold + strong chilly wind + dusk + hunger must have caused the hallucination.. I was too focused on my intervals and lost track of the number of roads I crossed.  I was doing great at 5:50 > 4:40 intervals at 1km each. When I hit into Warner Road, I realized I had taken the wrong route, and it was getting colder and almost dark.. Panic set-in. So instead of trying to take new routes, I decided to run back the same route and found my way to Dobson, and then Galveston.. I could feel my cold sweat broken out.. Pheww.. Else would have been dangerous with the temp dropping and me sweating away, a pneumonia risk !
Great run nonetheless.. avg ~5:50 > ~4:40 pace @ 1 min intervals..
I am now a masked runner - wearing a bandana to protect my neck and pulled up half way to cover my face in order to filter the cold air :-)

No more run for the next 2 days.. I hope I am ready for the IMA Arizona Marathon.. No cramps please, fingers crossed !!!!

The route..

Itching for marathons ! 2 in 3 weeks !!

So my itching legs wanted to run, and my itchy fingers went ahead and register for another run next week !  So my next 2 full marathons (6th and 7th) will be :

17 Feb (Sun) - IMS Arizona Marathon at Glendale area
2 Mar (Sun) - Phoenix Marathon

I must be getting nuts !

IMS Marathon Course Map & Eleveation Map

Phoenix Marathon Course Map

Phoenix Marathon Elevation Map