I know how stupid it is

I just noticed on my blog stats Ive had a lot of hits for that phrase.  "I know how stupid it is"

To add fuel to the fire... Here's another one.


I know how stuipid it is, but I have about 13.5 weeks before Oct 21 which happens to be the date of a marathon Im about to sign up for. I hope I have enough time. Mr Higdon and I are going to be close friends for a while. Ill do my first ever Half Marathon 15 days before I do my first Full. Is that how your supposed to do it?


Half Marathon High Trestle Trail Half
Full Marathon DesMoines IMT

***UPDATE***
High Trestle Trail was cancelled.  So I wont be doing a half marathon this weekend.  

From Woodward City council Mayor Pro TempThank you for your interest in participating in the High Trestle Trail Marathon on October 6^th.  A third party company was responsible for the event’s organization, registration, and execution. This company is not affiliated with the Community of Woodward, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, or the High Trestle Trail Authority. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, that company is no longer able to host the marathon, and the race has thus been cancelled.
 On behalf of the High Trestle Trail managers, I apologize for the event’s cancellation, and I want to assure you that you will be receiving a full refund of your entry fee via Active.com. Please allow 1 to 4 weeks for this refund to arrive.
 With that being said, the High Trestle Trail managers were excited about the idea of a trail marathon and even more thrilled by the response that it received. They are considering hosting a marathon in 2013 so please keep your eyes and ears open for future updates on that potential event.

2012 Iowa Speedway "Where the Rubber Meets the Road 8k"

Race Results

Todd and I

I had mentioned I was going to do this race and Todd said he run it the year before so we convinced one another to run it this year.   I was late and paid the idiot fee.  so I waited till the day before to register but I knew Todd would be there so I couldn't back out.  When I first got there I had no idea where to go and all the parking lots were empty.  No signage or directiosn to direct racers where to go.  I finally realized that we were supposed to drive our vehicles down into the infield of the race track.    Kind of cool driving my crappy car where high end race machines have driven. :)

I picked up my race packet.  Im Bib # 206 Yay even numbers!


Lots of people here way more than I expected.   I wasnt at all prepared for this distance but I wanted to do it and it was good to get back into my running which this race forced me to do.  I really only prepared by running the previous 2 weeks I was slacking big time.

WE all lined up out on the track and bang we were off!

The course was the draw of the whole race.  You run around the race track one time then out into the parking area and down the interior roads that are part of the grounds then out on to the highway back into the parking area and around the track again.

I felt sluggish and icky as I started that morning.  I knew it was going to be one of those runs where you just feel heavy like each foot fall is a million pounds.  As we get out on the roads the first down hill begins.  Going down a hill is great until you realize that what goes down must eventually come up.  Similar to the law in physics this is the law of running and cycling.  Coincidentally I think this may also be the law of late night partying in college.

Anyway as I trudge up the first hill I begin to feel better and by the time I reach the pavement I'm picking up my pace.  Its a good thing my attitude improved because I was about to head straight into the hill that is Very long and steep.  Every one was walking it.  I refused.  I would not walk this hill I swore to myself that no matter how slow I had to go I would maintain a jog and keep shuffling if it killed me.  I passed lots of people walking this hill.  Some even better runners then myself.   It seemed to never end it just kept going and going and going.  Eventually it did crest and you could see the track again and see the Really fast people already down on the track.  I still had more than a mile left to run.

I kept my pace up and tried to regain some of the slowed time I lost on the uphill.  Making my way through the parking lot and down on to the track again I begin to lose steam and then I got passed by a really old lady who obviously had run a marathon based on the shirt she was wearing proudly.  Still what could I expect from my lack or preparation.   As I rounded turn 4 and headed up the straight away for the finish line I put all the gas I had left in my tank into finishing strong and finished with my head high and my lungs empty.

Looks like my form is horrible!

Overall I had a good time and it was good for me to get back to running.  Had a great time meeting Todd and his wife too.

Proposed Race Schedule

Date	Race	Distance
16-Apr	Rubber meets the road 8K	8K
28-Apr	Drake Relay Half	13.1
20-May	Bluff Creek Triathlon	Sprint 500/15.5/3.1
JUNE	OPEN
8-Jul	Tri in july	super sprint
14-Jul	Warrior Dash	5k obstacle
12-Aug	Hickory Grove Triathlon	Sprint 500/15.5/3.1
19-Aug	Perigrine Charities Triathlon	Sprint 500/15.5/3.1
	OPEN
2-Sep	Hy-Vee Triathlon	Olympic
21-Oct	Dsm IMT Half	13.1

Here is my current proposed race schedule for this season.  As I was writing this I see that I missed the Jacob Krumm Trail run I like so Ill have to add that in there as long as it doesn't conflict with a date.   I'm sure I might throw in some other runs through out depending on scheduling.

Im a little afraid of an Olympic the swim is what is scaring me.   I'm not entirely sure about the half marathons either I just feel doubt about my abilities right now.  I need to get back into a more positive place.  Posting this  I hope is my first step.

Peregrine Charities 2011 Triathlon - Race Report

Sorry it took me so long to get this up here.  

Peregrine Triathlon photo album

Registration, Transition Setup, & Course Talks

Sat Afternoon I packed up all my "race junk", that's how my wife and I refer to the equipment I have spent all of our money on.   I loaded it all into the van broke the bike down and took out the back seat.  Not in that order.  We packed an overnight bag and all the stuff for a new baby and took off.  Despite speeding all the way up the drive took a lot longer then I thought it should, and in hindsight I cant explain why cause the drive home didn't take nearly as long.

We arrived at the lake at about 5 pm.  Lots of people milling about but I found my way to the registration table and got my race packet picked up.   Unpacked my gear and got my bike tagged and headed over to transition.  Transition area looked 1/2 filled with bikes.  I found a nearly empty rack and picked and outside edge.  I then realized they were going to shove 7 bikes on each rack.  these racks were not big enough to do that. Uggh!  I knew in the morning my bike was going to be crammed in hard.   I did what I could and put a garbage bag on my seat and handle bars and taped 2x GU packs to my repair kit bag I was not going to risk not having a GU pack because of clumsy hands or improperly secured nutrition again.  Stepped back and surveyed what was sure to be a mess in the morning.   I walked to the boat ramp and looked out across the lake.   I smiled to myself and in my head I thought "Tomorrow I would be a triathlete".  Then I looked at the posted water temp 63*.  "Well maybe next year I can be a triathlete."

Wife and I talked with Amber the race director for a few minutes.  She was getting ready to give a course talk which I was not sticking around for and she gave me a quick run down.  Nothing special I didn't miss anything.   We hopped back in the car and then went and drove the bike course.   It was going to be a good day tomorrow.  Nice bike course.

We headed over to the hotel and checked in then I made a crazy decision to eat pizza hut.  Ya Ya Ya I know not necessarily the best idea.  But man it was good I ate a half large Pan supreme with Jalapenos  It was divine!  I haven't had greasy pizza in a long time.  I know it was really stupid It could have ruined my race, but I didn't! :)

Back at the Hotel I prepped all my gear for the morning.  Fell asleep to the sound of my son crying.

Race Day

OMGIC - OMG Its Cold!  Wake up and WIN!   I showered ate apples and peanut butter and drank crappy coffee.

Got dressed and loaded my cheering section into the car.  I felt bleh! not great just OK.  I was getting race butterflies big time.  Im always astonished at pre-race traffic.  Its was still dark and 100's of athletes are making there way to the same place while others dream about pancakes and sleeping in another hour.   Ok I too was dreaming the same things.  No place to park...Im going to end up walking a half mile to transition.  I hope this doesn't count against my time.  I grabbed all my stuff and started trekking to transition.  

Really glad I covered my seat and handle bars.  Super Dewy!   There was an extra bike on our rack.  Already crowded with 7 bikes somehow we got lucky and some awesome racer decided they could fit there bike on too.  I set up my area and decided I needed a second shirt which I didn't bring.  I ran back to the vehicle and grabbed the long sleeve technical shirt that came with my packet.  Glad for that I needed it.  I ran over and grabbed my timing chip and barely made it back into transition before it closed.  I through my wet suit on and got ready for the waves to start.   

Swim 

Standing at the boat ramp a few of us ask about waves and no one really knows we keep getting told someone will tell us.  No one told us and All AG Men and Clydes took off at the same wave.  which is Ok but no one knew that so there was alot of confusion at the whistle  people standing on the boat ramp as half the swimmers took off.  Already nervous, blind, and not disorganized my swim start sucked!

As I waded out and dove in I literally felt my chest implode from the cold.  I immediately begin to have problems.  The water was so cold I couldn't keep my face down.  Every time I tried it would take my breath away.   It was horrible.  For all the swimming I did It seemed to not help at all I shudder to think how I may have reacted with less practice.  I was 200 yards out and began to panic... a combination of not being able to see not being able to breath and the cold caused me to freeze up and forget what I was doing.  I almost lost it.  I managed to get control and breath and I told myself.  "IF you stop you will sink and you will drown."  It was really the only thing that kept me going.  I felt so heavy and so slow.  People were passing me like crazy.   I just kept stroking knowing that I would eventually hit the shore again.  I was 100 yards from shore and I looked over and saw a kayak and thought momentarily about swimming over to it to rest but realized it was 50 yards to the kayak and only 100 to shore.  What a waste...so I kept going.  I'm glad I did I was only wimping out.   I hit the boat ramp and really felt like crap as I took my first 4-5 steps out of the water.  Then I kind of cleared my head and ran into transition.  I'm glad that's over.

Official time: 16:07.7

T1

I knew my swim time was slow but there were other green caps in transition with me and there were at least a handful of green caps coming out of the water still so I wasnt last.  I shucked off my suit and got my cycling gear on.  I knew my transitions was slow and I was really still trying to get my head clear from the swim.  I didnt realize how slow until later.  Wow time was standing still.  Oh...I forgot to put on my Chest Strap for My HRM.

Official time: 5:01.2

Bike



Running out to the mount line and I am off.  Its a little chilly and the wind is not strong but makes the temperature feel worse then it is.  I felt really good on my bike until about 6.5 miles.  I took my GU and instantly became acutely aware that my right foot felt weird.   Annoyingly weird.  I could not get it out of my head.  I couldn't figure it out.  was it numb from my posture? Or Just really cold?  I wasn't sure.  As I was mentally wrapped up in this I lost concentration during a small hill climb and geared my bike to far and Derailed my freaking chain.   I was really making good time too.   I stepped off my bike and my right foot hit the ground and I couldn't tell I was standing on it.  I think I was stopped for more then 2 minutes.  I could not get the chain unjammed from the derailleur.  I did finally manage to get it back on and then carefully pedaled up the remainder of the hill in a gear far to low.  I crest the hill and there is the turn around at halfway.  I try and make up time but my foot is jacked up.  Im convinced its the cold now as no other parts of my body feel numb or anything.  I must have gotten my sock wet.  As far as performance goes I dont feel im doing too bad.  I feel much better then Hickory Grove at halfway.  I come out of the rolling hills and only have a few small hills  left and all flat I decide to really crank and try and make up some lost time.  The wind is not quite at my back but it is helping me a little.  I pass few of the people who gained on me from the chain issue.  I know Im still down.  I make a turn as I'm approaching the intersections before heading back into the park and Im hit by a wall of wind.  I'm only 2 miles from the finish and I approach this poor girl completely in arrow wearing almost nothing.  A sports bra and some short Spandex Boy Shorts.   As I passed her I told her I felt for her cause I know she was way cold.   You could see how cold she was in her eyes.  I later found out she swam in the same outfit no wetsuit.    I hit the no pedal zone and preform a Perfect running dismount !!!

Official time: 52:45.2

T2
What do I do in transition?  Seriously  I have no clue how I managed to burn almost 2 minutes in T2.  I did have to move my Garmin from my bike to my wrist and I switched gloves and I grabbed a 2nd GU that I had to dig through my pack for OK I see BUT...I didn't have to switch shoes Or any clothes other then putting on a hat and gloves.

Official Time: 1:58.8

Run


Do you know how hard it is to run with only one foot?  Wow...My foot is jacked up! I was actually gimping along.  Im really struggling to get my pace down while my foot doesnt seem to exist.  The almost naked girls passes me.  I realize the stupid feeling in my foot is all in my head and push it out and just focus on being smooth, light, and easy.  I check my pace and breathing and try to get loose and stay focused.  Finding my groove actually came pretty quickly.  I felt however that I was struggling to maintain my pace.  My foot was warming up and feeling was starting to come back.    It was nice to see the groups along the way cheering people on and despite it only being 5K it seemed much shorter.   I managed to keep my pace at 10 Min or faster the whole way which was a feat all its own.  I have never until 4 days prior to this race ever done a sub 30 min 5K and it appeared as long as I could hold this pace I was going to pull this off in competition.  My goal was to just keep pace and finish.   I had put 2+ miles under my belt on the run when I began to realize my really was irritated.  If it hadn't been cloudy and zero sun all day I would have guessed my neck was sunburned.   Some girl had put a Lei around my neck and I thought Oh crap its causing the irritation so I pulled it off even though I only had it on for a few minutes.  I just focused on hittign my pace and pushing out to the end.
As I come around the curve I see the crowd, and the cheering is louder, the finish line is right there and try and give it a really good speed boost but just dont have a lot left and only manage a real minor surge.

Official time: 29:49.8

Race Summary and Results

Well there you have it my first Official Triathlon completed. 1:45:40.7
Im somewhat confused to my finish time because when I actually crossed the line the time above the finish read like 1:41 or 1:42 or something similar.  I was in the first wave of swimmers so Im not really sure how the time got off.  I know I wasn't penalized.  Meh whatever.

This graphic shows the comparison to the other guys in my AG  Its pretty obvious where my weak issues are.

Things for next year
Lots of swim training
Improve my 5k time to as close to 25 min as possible
Pedals & Shoes
Potentially a Gearing upgrade
Lose 15-20 more pounds by spring

Sept 17th, 2011 Jacob Krumm - 2011 Off the Beaten Path Trail Run

Jacob Krumm - Off the Beaten Path - News article about the winners

Sept 17th, 2011

I decided to do the 3K race even though I know the 6K would have been a breeze for me. I had my Triathlon the following weekend the so I didn't want to risk stressing my knee or my hip. So I stuck with the 3k ya short distance but I really wanted to see how much I improved from last year anyway.

I alos convinced my sweet daughter to run it with me. By "convinced" I mean forced. She whined about it the whole time..."Its so cold" It was a little cold.

We got her registered and then I took her out on the trail to show her the hill. She seemed unimpressed and cold. We wandered around mingling and talking to other racers a bit waiting for the race to start. I found there were about 3 other guys in my age group that would definitely give me some competition.

The race was getting ready to start so I grabbed a quick drink of water and got to the start line with my daughter.

Ready, Set, Go!

We start of carefully pacing and I watch my pace closely on my Garmin because going out to fast before the big hill ruins you. I had planned for us to be near the front but not in the front. So we were out in front with the majority of the crowd behind us. On our way up the hill we maintained a good steady pace and I had one of my direct competitors right beside my daughter and I. Man that hill just goes forever. We get to the top of the hill and I keep my pace the same and recover from the hill for about 100 meters before I increase my pace to a full min/mile faster. My Daughter pick right up with me like I didn't even make a change. We drop several people as we move out in front there really is only 1 or 2 guys in front of me as we merge with the 6K runners the path becomes filled with other runners we get passed and pass some others One Old man smokes my daughter and I man he was booking for a 6K pace. 7min/ mile maybe?

We are on the back side of the lake now and the rolling hills start short steep inclines one after the other. Nice run completely secluded by trees. I pick the pace up more and we settle in for the back half. I feel real good and My daughter is rocking it good too. I think she is hanging back with her Dad so she can run with him. We approach the last big hill and I slow down a little. My quads are burning Last year this is where I stopped and walked. Not this time!!! I did slow down though and I told my daughter not to wait on me Go ahead and push hard to the end. I told her to bring the speed now you have less than a 1K. She took off and left me in the dust. As I crested the Hill I see her making her way across the dam with only a few people ahead of her. She is moving pretty quick and looks good. I get up on the Dam and realize this is it. Its time to push hard I increase my pace to full speed, just as I see her cross the finish. I really power through the last 100 meters and finish hard. Coming in at a about a 6 min/mile pace. I cross the finish line and look at my Garmin...Im very happy.

As I wait for results I talk with my wife and daughter and the few other racers who have finished. Its a good sign when there arent many people at the finish line yet.


Results start getting posted.

Official time 16:49 w00t!!! 5Min and 10Sec improvement from last year.
My daughters official time 16:15

I took 2nd place in my AG and 3rd OA Male

My Awesome daughter took 1st in her AG and 1st OA Female

Male and Female OA Winners

Almost a Triathlete

"Almost" you say? Yes, almost.
On Friday the race organizers notified the entrants that the lake had high ecoli levels and to beware and to avoid swallowing water if possible.

On Saturday they emailed back and cancelled the swim.  Then later Saturday they emailed again with a further explanation.  See the excerpt below

For those of you who still wanted to swim I want to share some numbers with you so you might understand our decision a little better.

The DNR requires signs warning the public of ecoli levels in two situations.  One if the 30 day average rises above 126 ecoli colonies per 100ml of water.  Two if any single reading rises above 235 ecoli colonies per 100ml of water. The latest water test for Hickory Grove is 790 ecoli colonies per 100ml of water.  That is over three times the level consider safe by the Iowa DNR.  We hope this helps give you some understanding of our decision. In past years Hickory Grove has had readings around 20 colonies give or take.  We will be working with park staff to resolve this issue and return the water quality the park has enjoyed for several years. Thanks for your understanding. Alex and Steve

 Disappointed but understandable and glad I didn't swim in something that could have made me incredibly ill.

So they converted my first Triathlon into a duathlon ... 1mile run, 15.5 mile bike, 2.1 mile run.

Sat afternoon I drove up to pick up my race packet and then drove over to drive the bicycle course.  When I got there there were about 6 people swimming in the lake.  No signs posted anywhere.

Race Report Coming up next

No turning back now

I have lost my mind.  Since February, and my knee injury, I have been plagued with gettign back into a full swing of running.  I have struggled as you have seen on the pages of this blog.  But in the last 2 weeks I have had several good runs including 2 different 5+ milers that were further then my previous distances.  So I felt as if I was ready to actually do a race.  So this morning in a fit of idiocy I signed up for Hickory Grove Triathlon on August 28th.  

That's 24 days!!

I must be a fool.  I mean I know I have the ability to do this and I know I can finish that's no problem.  I just feel overwhelmed with incredible emotions of fear and failure.   Freaked out!  

On top of that I have verbally committed to doing the Des Moines IMT Half Marathon Oct. 16th.  Strangely I feel much more confident about the half marathon then I do about the Tri.  I have no idea why.  the furthest distance I have ever traveled a half marathon distance on foot was probably at the state fair while sucking down a corn dog over 8 hours.

I intend to work on my distance over the next 40 days leading up to the marathon and my swimming over the next 24.   

I felt I needed to pull the trigger on some races before I allowed a season to slip away.  The injusry set me back and has kept me from really making forward progress and I believe a hard date with no backing out will do that for me.   Plus I promised myself I would do the Tri this year.  The Half marathon is just a bonus!

I cant wait!