2008 BRR Wrap-up #1

All Smiles - no miles...

I won’t even try to wrap this event up in one email as my mind is only now starting to think cohesively again about it.  208 miles, 4 runners, 2 drivers for a 2nd year in a row in the books.  Stairs the day after were not to be taken lightly – I planned my day around the “must-have” trips up and down them.  At one point I walked around the entire house to remove 2 stairs from my path.  It wasn’t pretty.  Things are starting to improve today as I traversed stairs nearly all day without the use of the rail.  Tomorrow, I vow to take a full step per leg vs. stepping both legs on each step.

I won’t get into large-scale reviews of this race at this point other than to say that it was flawlessly managed by the organizers and the volunteers were all wonderful (well, except that one at 1am in the Ingles parking lot who insisted I was missing a flashing red light).  It is 1am in Ingles, is it really a top priority?  I am almost over it.  More on the race in a later post.  This post is about pictures, results, and more pictures…The picture above will get you to our team galleries or click here for a slideshow.  The links at the bottom will get you to about 15 galleries from all kinds of race organizers, sponsors and participants – thanks to Teams Vac-n-Dash and Changes in Altitude for their pics.  The spreadsheet of our deterioration is also documented and compared to last year’s slow breakdown.  Results are not accurate nor official.

The BRR Race Pictures

Team Changes in Altitude Pictures

Graham K’s Race Pictures

Vac-n-Dash CEO’s Race Pictures

Wassim’s Race Pictures

Wes’ Race Pictures

Whitney’s Race Pictures

Winding Down and Remembering Goals

I enjoyed Jason S.’s earlier post today and thought to write my own.  I am winding down as well – 2 runs this weekend and I am probably done until leg 4 on Friday morning.  Between now and then, I will get some yoga and stretching sessions.  I am also eating multiple bananas a day and will bump up the protein and carbs later in the week.

I am also reminded of my primary goal for this effort – to finish.  I would like to best some of my leg times from last year but am sure that I cannot beat all of them.  Above all, our team just wants to finish.  Well – also we want to take more pictures from 8pm – 8am than last year.  If you look at the posts and pictures from last year, you will notice a huge gap in time.

Last Minute Stuff with a Dash of Anticipation

Even though this is the 3rd year running this race I find myself consumed with anticipation and nerves.  The nerves plus feeling the ‘phantom’ soreness, twinges, and muscle pulls that aren’t really there is doing a great job keeping my mind completely occupied.  Less than 4 days out from the Team 4Tunate start.  Team 4tunate running shirts are in hand.  Food is being purchased.  Vans are secured.  2 hurricanes are tempting the fates of good weather gods.  My goal is to hit some 9:30pm bedtimes this week, rest completely (no more runs), hydrate reasonably and eat some serious carb and protein calories.  Dairy will be eliminated from the diet as of Wednesday at noon.  From here on out it will be adrenaline, rested legs, fresh history of training and shared pain to the finish…

The race organizers posted 3 additional doc which I have published via Google Docs:

1)  Pre-Relay Notes and Logistics

2) Food and Gas Logistics

3) Condensed Cue Sheet for the BRR Legs

The packing has started.  I can’t wait for Friday morning!

Team 4tunate Starting Time Update

Ok – spoke with the race director and we are now in the 7:30am starting slot.  Closer to home for us than the previous 10:30am slot.  I did tell him we were absolutely flattered with his confidence in us and if he wanted to setup a 4-person ultra category (vs. a “6 and less” ultra category) we would certainly not complain. 

 

On another note, sometimes I wonder if it is just you and I talking to each other Jason M.  If so, it is a pleasure to do so with such modern formality.  If others are watching/reading please note the updated links…Jason M. – thanks for updating the planning spreadsheet.

Multi-Run Weekend – Take 4

With Jason S. playing golf this weekend, I’ll post my running update for the week.  I am fairly happy with the weekend but took a big break from Saturday morning until Sunday afternoon.  While that doesn’t replicate the actual event, I still feel good about it.  Besides, running can’t always get in the way of real life.  

 

Run 1: Fri @ 7am – 7 miles
Run 2: Fri @ 4pm – 5.5 miles
Run 3: Fri @ 9pm – 8.5 miles – tough run, lots of hills
Run 4: Sat @ 5:15am – 7 miles
Run 5: Sat @ 6:30am – 4.5 miles (including run home)
Run 6: Sun @ 4pm – 8.5 miles

Run 5 was a bad one – had the feeling of being light-headed and just generally felt bad.  I took it easy for the rest of the day on Saturday and ate more carbs and protein.  Need to be sure I eat up the week before.  It was good to have Dave back for a run this weekend.  Plan from here on out is solid runs, a little cross-training, and lots of rest.

Can’t wait to hear how the golf / run weekend went for Jason.  A team meeting is planned for this week to review the team’s initial draft of logistics and supply plan.

Multidays Take 3!

Left, right, left, right, left, right…  One foot in front of the other.  37 miles for me in 6 runs over 48 hours but more importantly, a strong reminder on calorie intake.  During the 2nd leg of our Saturday morning run I was hurting for energy.  Stopped in to the Harris Teeter grocery and purchased some expensive soy milk drink and a banana to supplement the Powerbar and water I was carrying.  I proceded to sit down to a hearty meal.  Without thinking I ate it all.  The next 9 miles were spent with wrap-around side stitches and all the fun of undigested food in my belly while exercising.  Martin and I put in 18.3 on Saturday in total up some pretty rough hills in the Ballantyne area.  Here’s the breakdown

• Friday 1pm:       5.0 mile run – hilly neighborhood perimeter run.
• Friday 6pm:       5.0 mile run – hilly neighborhood run
• Sat 5:30am:       3.4 mile run – Rea/Ardrey Kell run
• Sat 6:30am:       6.0 mile run – Colony/Rea/Providence area
• Sat 8:10am:       9.0 mile run – Providence/Ballantyne Common/Rea     
• Sun 11:00am:    8.0 mile run – hilly Fort Mill run

I fully expect Martin to have put in near 80 miles last weekend.  I am proud that I hung in with him for just over 18 miles of it.  Next weekend the goal is to get 7 runs and 40 miles in…going to have to fit it in between golf rounds which might be tough on the handicap.

The official starting times…

Good news, bad news on our start time.  The race organizers must really have more faith in our training regimen than we do as we have a 10am start time on Friday morning.  Good news:  1)  The larger teams will be fearing our 7:30 pace 4-man team.  2)  we get to sleep in on Friday morning compared to year’s past.  Bad news, we may need night gear not just for Friday night but also Saturday and we may have to draw our own finish line at the end!

In all seriousness, I am working with the race organizers to see about getting us back in our sweet spot – 9 min/miles.

The Official 2008 BRR Handbook is out, our shirts are at the printer and Jason M. is working on setting up our pre-race meeting…

Lastly, 5 runs down this weekend – 2 more to go…

Multidays Take 2!

Another weekend of lots of running.  John, Jason and I met up on Saturday for 2 runs in the Fort Mill/Baxter area.  Lots of hills!  John shows up with over 20 under his belt from Friday alone!  Martin wasn’t far behind.  I slacked again for 4.6 in the heat of the day.

• Friday 4:30pm:  4.6 mile run – neighborhood perimeter run.
• Sat 5:30am:       8.5 mile run – Dam Road Loop – monster hill!
• Sat 7:30am:       6.5 mile run – More Fort Mill hills.
• Sun 7:30am:      4.0 mile run.
• Sunday 2:30pm: 4.6 mile run in the neighborhood.

Now Jason M. ran something like 65 miles and about 40 into it he ran a 1/2 marathon at 1:34 pace.  Unbelievable.  Maybe this is why the BRR Race organizers think we deserve to be seeded with a 7:30/mi pace.  As of now we start at 10am.  Hoping the 7:30 pace was a mistake and we can get moved closer to where we averaged with 4 last year (9:00+ min pace).  Oh well, if not at least we get some extra zzzs.

Next weekend we plan to add at least 1 run and another 5-7 total miles and the following weekend looking to run fit in 6-7 runs across 2-3 days nearing 35-40 miles.

Somehow during a gold weekend I need to figure out how to get like 8 runs in between the 4 rounds we are playing…Might be running from shot to shot at this point.

Multi-days Take 1!

Not speaking for the rest of the team but I kicked off my first weekend of multi-day training last weekend and I am glad it is done!  If I am honest, I admit that I pushed it out on the first weekend I was planning to do this as fatigue from Grandfather was still quite apparent.  Feeling the pressure from teammates and some not-so-positive memories from my 7th, 8th and 9th legs last year I decided to get it in gear this past weekend.  Here’s the run-down:

• Friday 7am:       4.6 mile run in the neighborhood.
• Friday 1:30pm:  6.5 mile run – bottom of the dam loop.
• Saturday:           I thought about it but couldn’t muster up a run.
• Sunday 7:30am: 5.0 mile run in the neighborhood.
• Sunday 3pm:      5.5 mile run – abbreviated bottom of the dam loop.

The afternoon runs were in 95+ degree heat and the last few miles I had to remember not to underestimate the impact.  Of course light calf and quad cramps helped keep me honest.

John ran 4 runs in 2 days with near 20 miles and Jason I believe topped us all with 4 runs in 2 days at around 27 miles.  We expect Dave to come back from the wild west looking like the track star he once was – nothing but time, nature and crisp air on his side.  His progress is being kept close to the vest.

Next weekend we plan to add at least 1 run and another 5-7 total miles and the following weekend looking to run fit in 6 runs across 2-3 days nearing 35 miles. 

Only 3 more weekends worth of multi-days to go before rest, rest and more rest.

Lessons Learned and Best Practices

Team 4tunate has received a number of queries recently about our best practices from previous Blue Ridge Relay efforts.  That is not to say we are the experts….in fact, I would suggest following these items only if you are not expecting to win.  We enter this race for a variety of reasons:  fun, challenge, story-telling, and friendship.  Please notice that “winning” is not on that list – it’s more about personal challenge.  Now – onto the list:

(Jason S., John, Dave – feel free to add.  Olivia / Mike – would be interested in your thoughts from a driver’s perspective…after all, you are the reason we are able to have fun and run this race)

• Read the instructions carefully – When Ken says that reflective vests are required on the Blue Ridge Parkway, he means it.  Don’t drive your van or support vehicle on the Parkway, pick up your trash, be kind to volunteers, etc. 
• Create little maps for every runner – it’s important that each runner have a small map with the turns and elevation map.  This will help reduce the number of times your runners get lost.  The course is fairly well marked but maps are needed.  Also, get the maps laminated to account for sweat and general destruction in the van.  Team 4tunate will be reusing their maps from last year.
• The night before – since Team 4tunate is based in Charlotte, we drive up the morning the race.  While this does cause an early wakeup call (we usually leave Charlotte by 3am), it is worth it since there are not many hotels/motels near the start.  Also, be careful about trusting Mapquest or Google maps to get to the start.
• After the race – Enjoy!  I saw on the “New This Year” that the organizers received agreement from the local YMCA to allow runners to shower after the race.  Great addition to the race!
• Get your van organized – Understand who will drive which legs and who gets to sit in which seats or benches.  If you can get one bench per runner, it will work a lot better for sleep and general comfort.  Also, organize your van so the coolers are easily accessible (we put ours at the front of the van).  Finally, limit the number of personal bags per person to one medium bag.
• Get the van routes organized – This is especially important if you have more than one van, which is presumably every team with more than 6 runners.  Understand when the vans will meet up.
• Take advantage of the food offered on the route – Last year, there were sandwiches in the middle of the night and pancakes in the morning.  The $5 per serving was the best money spent as the food was fresh and good.
• Bring newspaper to help dry out wet shoes – This is a Jason S. suggestion and does help to dry out shoes and keep the van smelling (relatively) ok.  Speaking of which….
• Bring air freshners to keep the van from smelling like a broken sewage plant – Mike/Olivia – threw this one in for the both of you….I promise we will do better this year
• Decorate your van so people know who you are!

Above all – just have fun with the race!  Feel free to add some of your own best practices.  Also, check out Jason S.’s post immediately following last year’s race.