Taper Madness

[KRob]

Having already planned an extended trip throughout the Northeast during July, Scuba's post about the Boilermaker 15K in Utica, New York encouraged me to add a little detour to my plans.

My trip started in late June with a two-day drive to Vermont, where I've vacationed with friends every year since college. Of course, now we've all got families, so the group is quite a bit bigger than it was 20 years ago. Before this particular trip, my brother's wife had mentioned that her only regret was that she would miss the Peachtree 10K in Atlanta. Without an organized road race nearby, I suggested that we organize our own 5K...and we did. On the morning of the race, I used my Garmin to walk off a course through the woods, mapped it out for everyone, then about 12 of us started off on a nice run...until...my sister-in-law was bitten by a dog!

I wasn't nearby, but luckily several of the others were. Apparently the dog came running from one of the houses on the lake and sunk his teeth into her arm. Not a deep bite, more of a scrape with his teeth, but definitely broke the skin. She was O.K., but it sure put a damper on the festivities. Anyway, we're thinking of making this an annual event called "The Rabies Run...For Your Life."

After Vermont, my family and I drove to Massachusetts where we spent a couple of days with relatives. My wife flew back to Omaha from there, and I left my daughters with my sister, and drove to a friend's house near Utica.

I left early on the morning of the Boilermaker (July 10) and made the half hour drive to the starting area. I didn't know exactly where I was going, but with about 10,000 people in this race, I was eventually able to spot the swarm and figure out where I was supposed to be. I parked about a quarter mile from the starting line and walked to the packet pickup area. On my way back to my car to get ready, I heard someone say, "Hey! I know that guy!" It was Kim, and she had spotted my V-Team cap! We visited for a little while, and I met her husband and several of their friends. We had previously planned a meeting point for after the race, which we reconfirmed, and I set off to start my prerace routine. By the way, while Christine got me to come to this thing in the first place, she wasn't able to make it after all.

The starting area was crowded but very well organized...and buzzing with excitement. The race started with a bone-shaking cannon blast, and the excitement continued throughout the race as the residents of Utica lined the streets to cheer us on. There were countless bands and DJ's set-up on people's lawns, three or four ice pop stands, and countless children handing out ice cubes and water. This was all in addition to more than twenty official aid stations along the 9.3 miles...and the free beer at the end!

With that many aid stations, I didn't think much about a hydration plan before the race, knowing that I could pretty much drink whenever I needed to. What I failed to realize, though, was that there was only water at the aid stations...no Gatorade. About 5 miles into the race, I wished I had eaten more carbs in the preceding week, but my travel schedule had wreaked havoc with my eating habits. In fact, despite the 5K in Vermont, my entire training routine had suffered in the two weeks before the Boilermaker.

My splits were as follows:

Mile 1:.........................7:52
Mile 2:.........................7:50
Mile 3:.........................7:53
Mile 4:.........................8:32 (All uphill. Approaching the 3rd mile marker, I heard someone nearby tell his friend, "The vertical mile is coming up.")
Mile 5:.........................7:14 (The downhill side of the vertical mile.)
Mile 6:.........................8:08
Mile 7:.........................8:32
Mile 8:.........................8:04
Mile 9:.........................8:25
Final 0.3:.....................2:12
..................................................
Total (Chip) Time:...1:14:42

I didn't spot the Gatorade at the finish, but I grabbed some Glaceau Vitamin Water. Whatever flavor I happened to grab contained ginseng. I then moved on to the unbelievable party in the Saranac Brewery parking lot. I figured I should try a beer or two (I'm normally a Scotch drinker), though I've never had alcohol immediately after running. I then found Kim and spent about an hour standing and talking with her. She had finished just behind me, but with a chip time of about 30 seconds faster. It's amazing how comfortable you can be with someone who you've only known online. Being otherwise alone at this race, and over 1,000 miles from home, it was great to have her there. But, as we were saying our good-byes, I suddenly started to experience a little tunnelvision...then it started to get worse. I tried to stay cool and not let on to Kim that I might be losing it, but I could tell I was going to lose that battle if I tried to stay on my feet. I told Kim that I was going to sit down for a minute, then got down on the grass. She sat down with me, and I remained conscious. After a few minutes, I was fine, so said goodbye again, and got some lunch before boarding the shuttle bus back to my car at the start area. I don't quite know what caused that near fainting experience...the beer? lack of carbs? ginseng? Kim's dazzling beauty? Probably a little of each.

I drove back to my friend's house in Hamilton, then continued on the next day as my travels took me to New Jersey. In keeping with the recent trend around here, I got a speeding ticket on the way (71 in a 55). I spent the rest of July in various places, doing various things, between the Jersey Shore and Boston, unfortunately missing an opportunity to get together with Dave Fried, as I drove right through his neck of the woods.

My marathon training slipped even further during that time, but I've picked it up again since driving back home in early August. I'll probably just do the half marathon in Omaha in September, but I'm ready for DWD (Note to self: Kim will be there...stay away from the ginseng.)
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- Kevin Robinson

ITMIYSOAYHTSM? SNaBT
"Run Like You Stole Something!"

[e]

Kevin, very nice race! Great time and added bonus of meeting some taper teamers.
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Marathon Maniac #712
28 marathons
8 ultras

[lori]

Kevin.. sounds like a perfect summer vacation, with a little running thrown in! The boilermaker sounds like a race everybody should experience. Thanks for sharing your report! As for losing it at the end of the race.. hopefully that was just a one time thing. Maybe during DWD you need to drink during the race.. so at the end you'll be primed!

[kent]

Kevin,

Welcome back, sounds like you had a nice trip! I love the idea of a homemade 5K, I just need to find 20 people that run slower than me.

In a previous job I used to compete against Glaceau, their Vitamin water is a consumer rip-off. We used to bump into them at conventions - their convention uniforms were baby blue satin track suits with their names embroidered in gold. They thought this positioned them as fitness focused, nevermind that all of their sales reps were 30 lbs. overweight and smoked!
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-k e n t

Running slow40 Hazelnut Butter Rutabagas Bulgur - the new tofu brussels sprouts ART Neti Pot 16 cool.
"I was a good kid, but it just seemed that most of the things I did were either stupid or illegal, go figure." - Evil Don

[k_hase]

Being in my presence often makes the males of the species weak...

See you Hell!!

[NicoleK]

Nice racing! I love the name of your 5K by the way.....

Welcome to the ticket club! Sucky isn't it?
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ITMIYSOAYHTSM?