Cincinnati Run Like Hell: 2008

  Well, with the number of hits this blog is getting for RLH searches, I thought I should help out.  This Friday, October 24th is the annual Cincinnati Run Like Hell, which is a benefit for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  I’ll be there.  In fact, I wouldn’t miss it for the world. 

  You probably won’t be able to pick me out.  I’ll give you a hint, if it’s not raining I’ll be wearing a Team for Life training shirt.  If it is, I’ll have a red jacket on.  Anyway, it’s a big party and an even bigger fund raiser for the CFF.  The last count I heard was 1783 runners and walkers.  That will bring in a lot of money for the CF Foundation. 

  So, here’s a challenge, I’ll buy you a beer if you meet these conditions:

1. Find me at the run.  (Good luck with that one)
2. Beat my time in the 5k. (Not too hard, since I’m just going to have fun)
3. Tell me what my latest race was this year.
4. Tell my what my Evil Plan is for next year.
5. Oh, yea, and be of legal drinking age.

  If you get them all right, I’ll buy you a beer.  Note: Beer is free.  But, I will try to recruit you to run with the team next year, or help me raise $4000 for my evil plan. 

  I hope to see you at the race, and really hope that someone (that doesn’t already know me, Mo!) gets me to buy them a beer.

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Learning to Breathe

  This past Wednesday was another trip to my pulmonologist.  My appointment was at 9:45, which is late for me.  I’m usually there for the 8:30 (first of the day).  It took forever, but that’s ok.  The first place I went was to my Pulmonary Functions Test (PFT).  I get one every time I go, and it’s almost always the same.

  Anyway, this time I did my first three and they were pretty good, my FEV1 was 2.56 liters. That’s about where I am when I’m not on Tobi, etc.  But, Susie, the tech, won’t let me finish on a test that is higher than the last.  But, as we talked and joked about it she says, “You’re trying too hard, and cutting off your airway.  This time, blow hard at first and then relax and let the air out!”  So, that’s what I did. 

  Five blows later and my FEV1 was 2.77 liters.  That’s almost a quarter higher.  As Susie told me, my trumpet playing days were hurting me.  See, when I used to play my trumpet (that’s right Jill, about 20 years now!), I would use diaphramatic breathing.  So, pushing from the diaphram to get all the air out.  It turns out that pushing that hard does cut off the airway.  It was very weird not trying that hard, but obviously it worked.

  I have a chart of my PFT’s up until about 2000.  I had a 76% FEV1 back in 1998.  I know I’ve have that or better since then, but it was cool to see.  Also, my doc wasn’t that impressed because three months before, while on Aztreonam, I hit a 2.86 liter value.  But, the 2.77 is impressive to me because I’ve been off aztreonam for six weeks, and off tobi for two.  So, this was a valid baseline test.  Kinda cool if you ask me.  I guess all the running is paying off.

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Race Report: 2008 Dayton River Corridor Classic

  Today, 10/12/2008, was the 2008 Dayton River Corridor Classic.  We’ve been training since sometime in July.  My longest run was a 13 miler, which I did in a little over 2:14:00.  My goal this year was to PR in the half marathon, which would be better than a 2:06:39, a 9:39 average pace.

  I had my plan set to hit my PR.  I was going to start out slow, in the 10:00 – 10:30 range for the first couple of miles.  Then pick up the pace to my goal of about a 9:40 or so.  I was running with Amye, Erin, Victoria, Ralph, and Ed.  The gun went off at 9 AM sharp.  We started off in one big group, but we split very quickly.  Ralph, Ed, and Victoria were in front, while Amye, Erin, and I stayed a little more conservative.  I was very concerned about the weather, as the forecast was for a 83 F high.  The start was cool enough, but I didn’t want to kill myself. 

  I was concerned for Victoria, as she was running with Ralph.  Amye, Erin, and I did the first mile in 9:43.25.  Ralph, Ed, and Victoria were at least 20 seconds ahead of us at the first mile.  I know Victoria and Ralph, and I know that she can’t stay with him.  I can’t either, it’s no knock on her, he’s just fast.  Part of me wanted to be up running with them, but I stuck to my plan. 

  The first few miles were uneventful, other than a wrong turn on the course.  We ended up going through a park, across some grass, and then over a downed fence.  As it turns out, it added about a quarter of a mile to the course, and it was very weird. 

  We continued on the correct course, which is basically a paved bike trail.  At about mile 5, I was zoned out, and a little ahead of Amye and Erin.  I figured as long as I could hear them, I was close enough.  Well, by them I realized I couldn’t hear them, I was well ahead.  I have no idea how far, but I know it was a good distance.  I really felt like I was in a great rhythm.  I was clicking off the miles pretty good.  Mile 1-6 were: 9:43, 9:43, 9:37, 9:57, 9:34, 9:18.  I decided at this point, it was time to keep my “move” going and to PR.  I hit 6 miles at about 58:00 even. 

  At this point, I started to pick off people.  I would set my sights on a person ahead of me, and reel them in.  I felt good, and just kept moving.  I hit every water stop, taking gatorade.  At mile 6 I did a salt capsule.  At about mile 6.75 I did my GU.

  At about mile 7, I saw Ralph and Victoria about a quarter mile ahead of me.  I decided to try to reel them in too.  By 7.5, I had caught them, as Victoria was starting to cramp on her left side.  I ran with her and Ralph for a little while, but she put her headset on and told us not to talk to her.  So, I left them behind. 

  I continue to pick people off as I could.  Mile 7-9 were: 9:30, 9:14, 9:33.  I kept looking for shade, but there was very little. I hit the only real hill at about mile 10, which was very little.  Not a big deal at all.  At mile 10, I had about 28 minute or so to hit my PR.  I decided to keep my pace as steady as I could, but not slow down.  At mile 11, I took some water but no gatorade.  I ended up dumping the water on my head, which really helped to push me onward.

  At about 11.5, I saw Ed ahead of me.  I told him “Come on Ed, pick it up, don’t let the guy with the chronic lung disease beat you.”  The two ladies in front on me looked at me like I was crazy.  When I reached Ed, he said that he was just feeling bad, cramping up, etc.  I ran with him for a little while, but ended up leaving him. 

  About 2-3 minutes later, I heard a “Hey, Ed, how’s it going?” behind me.  I thought, “Gee, that’s odd, who else would know Ed up here?”  Then, I saw Ralph next to me.  He said that Victoria started walking around mile 10, and told him to go ahead.  So, we ran the last 1.6 miles together. 

  When we hit mile 12, we had about 10:30 to go to break my PR.  I grabbed a cup of water, and dumped it down my back.  Then said “Let’s go!”  Off we went.  I pushed the pace, and Ralph stayed right with me.  That last 1.1 miles felt like about 3 or so.  It was hard.  We ended up running the last mile in 8:27, which is really fast for me.  In fact, at that point, I think it was all out. 

  My unofficial time: 2:05:17, for 13:29 miles.  There was a course error, so we were indeed about .2 long.  The are going to adjust times, but still a PR by 1:20 since last year.  I’m very happy with that considering the temperature and the way I ran the race.  I did have a negative split (1:03:19/1:01:53).  I think I ran a very good race.  I stuck to my game plan, I managed the heat well, and felt good the entire time.  I’m tired tonight, but that’s ok.

  Afterwards, I was worried about Victoria.  She ended up needing her rescue inhaler.  She was also acting a little weird.  I’m not sure if she was angry with me, that I beat her, angry with Ralph for leaving her, or just angry that she pooped out like last year.  I guess I’ll email her to find out.  I ended up driving home, because I was worried she was sick.  She seemed ok by the time we got to out meeting place. 

  Overall, I’m very happy about my performance.  My next race is the 2008 Run Like Hell for the CF Foundation.  Soon, it’s going to be time to start training for the marathons.

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