On January 13, we welcomed a new little one to the family.
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| One day old |
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| At the hospital |
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| Meeting big brother |
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Happy Birthday
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
A Decade of Racing: 2018 and 2019
How fast the decade flew by. Here are some racing highlights from the last two years of the 2010s:
2018
I ran seven races not counting the Eagan parkruns, and paced two of them.
My first race of the year was the Pensacola Half Marathon in January. I ended up having to buy pants because it was so cold -- the windchill was 18 F. We did have a nice time visiting Laura's parents in Florida despite the unseasonably cold weather.
The little one ran his first race in April -- a 50 yard dash. Laura and I really enjoyed watching him, and it seemed like he enjoyed it too.
I ran Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon for the third time. It was the slowest marathon I've ever raced, and I'd planned to take it easy and not shoot for any time goal since I'd had several nagging injuries most of the winter and into the early spring. Instead, I ended up running with my buddy Dan. It was fun catching up with him, and I ended running an even split and pushing myself to the end to finish with him.
We did another Juliette's Race 5K to benefit the Down Syndrome Foundation. Laura pushed the stroller so I could race -- she's so sweet.
That's it for photos in 2018. Another racing highlight in 2018 was running the Afton Trail Race 25K that I ran much faster than I expected since I'd been hampered by injuries.
2019
I ran three races in 2019 besides Eagan parkruns. My nagging injuries continued, so I didn't feel like doing any races in the spring.
Another Juliette's Race 5K! I was proud of myself for this one. My goal for the year was to break eighteen minutes, and about a quarter of a mile left, I was almost certain I wouldn't be able to do it, so I thought about slowing down. I decided instead to finish as strong as I could, and managed an 17:58.
I ran the Twin Cities Marathon for my second time to celebrate the ten year anniversary of my first marathon, and I also raised money for Team World Vision. I was blown away by the generosity of friends, family, acquaintances, and even a few friends of friends.
So there it is, a decade of racing. This year, and probably for years to come, I won't be doing too many races. We're now a family of four, so there'll be two kiddos to focus on and more logistics to work out for races. I'm planning on doing another marathon this year and pacing another half marathon. I'll probably do a fair amount of Eagan parkruns and maybe a free MDRA race, but other than the fall marathon I settle on, I don't plan to pay for any races.
Thanks for following my ten years of racing.
My first race of the year was the Pensacola Half Marathon in January. I ended up having to buy pants because it was so cold -- the windchill was 18 F. We did have a nice time visiting Laura's parents in Florida despite the unseasonably cold weather.
The little one ran his first race in April -- a 50 yard dash. Laura and I really enjoyed watching him, and it seemed like he enjoyed it too.
I ran Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon for the third time. It was the slowest marathon I've ever raced, and I'd planned to take it easy and not shoot for any time goal since I'd had several nagging injuries most of the winter and into the early spring. Instead, I ended up running with my buddy Dan. It was fun catching up with him, and I ended running an even split and pushing myself to the end to finish with him.
We did another Juliette's Race 5K to benefit the Down Syndrome Foundation. Laura pushed the stroller so I could race -- she's so sweet.
That's it for photos in 2018. Another racing highlight in 2018 was running the Afton Trail Race 25K that I ran much faster than I expected since I'd been hampered by injuries.
2019
I ran three races in 2019 besides Eagan parkruns. My nagging injuries continued, so I didn't feel like doing any races in the spring.
Another Juliette's Race 5K! I was proud of myself for this one. My goal for the year was to break eighteen minutes, and about a quarter of a mile left, I was almost certain I wouldn't be able to do it, so I thought about slowing down. I decided instead to finish as strong as I could, and managed an 17:58.
I ran the Twin Cities Marathon for my second time to celebrate the ten year anniversary of my first marathon, and I also raised money for Team World Vision. I was blown away by the generosity of friends, family, acquaintances, and even a few friends of friends.
So there it is, a decade of racing. This year, and probably for years to come, I won't be doing too many races. We're now a family of four, so there'll be two kiddos to focus on and more logistics to work out for races. I'm planning on doing another marathon this year and pacing another half marathon. I'll probably do a fair amount of Eagan parkruns and maybe a free MDRA race, but other than the fall marathon I settle on, I don't plan to pay for any races.
Thanks for following my ten years of racing.
Saturday, January 18, 2020
A Decade of Racing: 2016 and 2017
After our first kiddo, I slowed down the amount of racing I did. I also have fewer pictures since Laura and I don't go to races together as often, Still, I had two pretty good years in 2016 and 2017.
2016
In 2016, I ran eleven races, including six that I paced.
In April, I ran the Mudball 4 Mile, the first race the little one spectated. I finished second, so the onesie my mom got Calvin that said, "my daddy can run faster than you," didn't work completely.
For the past few years we've been doing Juliette's Race to benefit the Down Syndrome Foundation. Laura and I ran the 5K in 2016.
In October, I ran the PNC Bank Milwaukee Marathon. It was a mess. Suffice to say I would have run a PR of under 2:50, but the course was mis-marked and measured long. You can read about the kerfuffle here: Milwaukee Marathon Race Report. There's three parts, but the first part will give you the gist.
I had a couple other racing highlights in 2016. I set a new PR in the half marathon, running 1:16:09 at the City of Lakes Half Marathon. I also ran the inaugural Zumbrota Covered Bridge Half Marathon in 1:35:00 as the 1:35 pacer.
2017
In 2017, I ran ten races including two that I paced.
When my parents came to visit, my mom found out about a free local weekly 5K called parkrun. As of this date, Laura and I have each done twenty parkruns. If you're interested in parkrun, you can check out information on the parkrun website.
I ran as a pacer in the City of Lakes Half Marathon. It was cool to have the Burnsville Cross Country Team volunteering. I volunteer with the distance runners in track and cross country and am a coach for the summer program, so it was fun seeing them giving back to the running community.
I gave the Milwaukee Marathon another shot. It most likely would have been another PR, but the course was short. You can read about it here: Milwaukee Marathon Race Report.
***
Another racing highlight of 2017 was running Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minn. I got to ride out to Duluth with a friend and her kiddos and stay at her sister's house with a lovely bunch of runners and their families. The race went pretty well considering I dealt with a gastrointestinal issue that curtailed my training. It was also the first and, so far, only marathon where I got sick to my stomach at the end.
2016
In 2016, I ran eleven races, including six that I paced.
In April, I ran the Mudball 4 Mile, the first race the little one spectated. I finished second, so the onesie my mom got Calvin that said, "my daddy can run faster than you," didn't work completely.
For the past few years we've been doing Juliette's Race to benefit the Down Syndrome Foundation. Laura and I ran the 5K in 2016.
In October, I ran the PNC Bank Milwaukee Marathon. It was a mess. Suffice to say I would have run a PR of under 2:50, but the course was mis-marked and measured long. You can read about the kerfuffle here: Milwaukee Marathon Race Report. There's three parts, but the first part will give you the gist.
I had a couple other racing highlights in 2016. I set a new PR in the half marathon, running 1:16:09 at the City of Lakes Half Marathon. I also ran the inaugural Zumbrota Covered Bridge Half Marathon in 1:35:00 as the 1:35 pacer.
2017
In 2017, I ran ten races including two that I paced.
I ran as a pacer in the City of Lakes Half Marathon. It was cool to have the Burnsville Cross Country Team volunteering. I volunteer with the distance runners in track and cross country and am a coach for the summer program, so it was fun seeing them giving back to the running community.
I gave the Milwaukee Marathon another shot. It most likely would have been another PR, but the course was short. You can read about it here: Milwaukee Marathon Race Report.
***
Another racing highlight of 2017 was running Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minn. I got to ride out to Duluth with a friend and her kiddos and stay at her sister's house with a lovely bunch of runners and their families. The race went pretty well considering I dealt with a gastrointestinal issue that curtailed my training. It was also the first and, so far, only marathon where I got sick to my stomach at the end.
Thursday, January 9, 2020
A Decade of Racing: 2014 and 2015
Over halfway through the decade. Here are my racing highlights from 2014 and 2015:
2014
In 2014 I ran twelve races, including six I paced.
January 1 I ran the Polar Dash Half Marathon, which was actually fourteen miles to celebrate 2014. It was really cold. I was glad to have a co-pacer to share sign duty with because my hand would freeze whenever I held the sign.
I don't have a picture, but ten days after Polar Dash, I ran the Yukon Days 3 Mile Snowshoe Race and won.
Securian Half Marathon was really cold -- three degrees in fact.
The Modesto Half Marathon in California was much warmer, and it was my twentieth half marathon. I managed to finish fourteenth overall and third in my age group.
In June, Laura, my mom and I ran the Laugh and a Half 5K (mom), 10K (me), and half marathon (Laura). I won the 10K, but only because the faster runners were in the half marathon (I think two of them had a faster half marathon pace than my 10K pace).
In October, Laura and I did the Chicago Marathon. I raised money for World Vision, and though I didn't run my fastest time, I was satisfied with a 3:03.
I don't have a picture, but in October I had my best performance to date as the 1:35 pacer at the Mankato Half Marathon, running 1:35:00.
2015
In 2015 I ran seventeen races, including six pacing assignments and one marathon pacing assignment where I dropped out (which would make eighteen races).
In March I raced the Lake Johanna 4 Mile and finished fourth overall and third in my age group.
In April, Laura and I ran one of my favorite events, the Earth Day Half Marathon.
In May, Laura and I did the Fargo Marathon and Half Marathon. We got to meet and chat with Olympian Deena Kastor before the race!
Also in May, I finally broke five minutes in a road mile, running the TC One Mile in 4:55.
This is a race I'll definitely do again, the Valleyfair Run and Ride Half Marathon. It was cool running through the park, and even though it absolutely downpoured toward the end of the race, we had a really good time.
Unfortunately, toward the end of May I started dealing with some bipolar symptoms. I wasn't sleeping well, and eventually my hypomania turned into full mania for a few days. It definitely affected my running, and it came to a head at the Med City Marathon weekend. On Saturday I ran way too fast in the first mile of the 5K and ended up having a poor race. The next day, I dropped out of the Med City Marathon, the first and only time I dropped out of a race I was pacing.
I didn't run much after Med City, and I was still dealing with bipolar symptoms when I ran the Afton 50K in July. Despite still sleeping poorly and dealing with some calf pain, I still managed to set a PR in 4:56:58 at a pace of 9:34 for 31 miles.
Two weeks after Afton, I ran a 1:29 at the Shoreline Half Marathon in New York. Laura and I used the backdrop of the race to take a baby announcement photo.
It was hot and humid, and the 1:29 was good enough for sixth place.
I ran several other races in 2015, including two 5Ks where I tried to break seventeen minutes, but only managed a 17:02 and a 17:19.
That does it for 2014 and 2015. Up next, 2016 - 2017.
2014
In 2014 I ran twelve races, including six I paced.
January 1 I ran the Polar Dash Half Marathon, which was actually fourteen miles to celebrate 2014. It was really cold. I was glad to have a co-pacer to share sign duty with because my hand would freeze whenever I held the sign.
I don't have a picture, but ten days after Polar Dash, I ran the Yukon Days 3 Mile Snowshoe Race and won.
Securian Half Marathon was really cold -- three degrees in fact.
The Modesto Half Marathon in California was much warmer, and it was my twentieth half marathon. I managed to finish fourteenth overall and third in my age group.
In June, Laura, my mom and I ran the Laugh and a Half 5K (mom), 10K (me), and half marathon (Laura). I won the 10K, but only because the faster runners were in the half marathon (I think two of them had a faster half marathon pace than my 10K pace).
In October, Laura and I did the Chicago Marathon. I raised money for World Vision, and though I didn't run my fastest time, I was satisfied with a 3:03.
I don't have a picture, but in October I had my best performance to date as the 1:35 pacer at the Mankato Half Marathon, running 1:35:00.
2015
In 2015 I ran seventeen races, including six pacing assignments and one marathon pacing assignment where I dropped out (which would make eighteen races).
In March I raced the Lake Johanna 4 Mile and finished fourth overall and third in my age group.
In April, Laura and I ran one of my favorite events, the Earth Day Half Marathon.
In May, Laura and I did the Fargo Marathon and Half Marathon. We got to meet and chat with Olympian Deena Kastor before the race!
Also in May, I finally broke five minutes in a road mile, running the TC One Mile in 4:55.
This is a race I'll definitely do again, the Valleyfair Run and Ride Half Marathon. It was cool running through the park, and even though it absolutely downpoured toward the end of the race, we had a really good time.
Unfortunately, toward the end of May I started dealing with some bipolar symptoms. I wasn't sleeping well, and eventually my hypomania turned into full mania for a few days. It definitely affected my running, and it came to a head at the Med City Marathon weekend. On Saturday I ran way too fast in the first mile of the 5K and ended up having a poor race. The next day, I dropped out of the Med City Marathon, the first and only time I dropped out of a race I was pacing.
I didn't run much after Med City, and I was still dealing with bipolar symptoms when I ran the Afton 50K in July. Despite still sleeping poorly and dealing with some calf pain, I still managed to set a PR in 4:56:58 at a pace of 9:34 for 31 miles.
Two weeks after Afton, I ran a 1:29 at the Shoreline Half Marathon in New York. Laura and I used the backdrop of the race to take a baby announcement photo.
It was hot and humid, and the 1:29 was good enough for sixth place.
I ran several other races in 2015, including two 5Ks where I tried to break seventeen minutes, but only managed a 17:02 and a 17:19.
That does it for 2014 and 2015. Up next, 2016 - 2017.
Monday, January 6, 2020
A Decade of Racing: 2012 and 2013
Time for more running down memory lane. Here are some of my racing highlights from 2012 - 2013:
2012
I ran twenty races in 2012 and did a ton of pacing.
I started out the year running an indoor mile PR at the Meet of the Miles in January.
Laura and I ran the TC Valentines Day 5K where I set a new PR of 17:01 and finished second.
Earth Day 1/2 Marathon was one of my favorite races to pace, and in 2012 I raced the 5K the day before the half marathon.
At the 2012 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon, I had the pleasure of pacing Laura to her marathon PR.
I ran the TC One Mile and tried to break 5:00. I ended up running a 5:02, but not breaking five minutes may have had something to do with running the Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon five days previous.
I ran a new PR of 16:18 at the Med City 5K, then paced the 3:25 group in the marathon the next day.
I did my first triathlon and counted it as a success since I didn't drown or crash the bike. Laura did have to stop me from wearing my helmet while I ran the 5K.
I managed a third place finish at Gopher to Badger Half Marathon in 1:16:36 -- a PR at the time and still my second-fastest half marathon.
In what will likely be my fastest marathon ever, I ran a 2:50:26 at the Whistlestop Marathon, finished sixth overall and second in my age group.
2013
A few weeks after running Whistlestop, I broke my leg playing basketball. Thankfully, it was at the end of the 2012 racing season, so I was able to salvage 2013 and get some decent racing in. I ran seventeen races, including seven that I paced.
My leg rehab wen well, and after breaking it in November, six months later I was able to pace 3:35 at the Med City Marathon on a rainy and chilly day.
Laura and I did the Rochesterfest Triathlon. After doing poorly in the swim and not much better on the bike, I decided I was done with triathlons -- I don't really like swimming, so why train for a triathlon. I may do a duathlon some day.
I did another Ragnar. My legs totaled 32.5 miles which I ran at a pace of 6:51 per mile. I was so sick to my stomach and exhausted afterwards I decided I was done running Ragnar -- at least on an ultra team.
Laura, my mom and dad, and I ran the Victory Labor Day races. It was special having my mom and dad running the 5K. I did the double-header, running the 10K and the 5K. I placed in my age group in the 5K and finished 7th in the double header.
Laura ran the marathon and I ran the ten mile at the Twin Cities Marathon weekend. I came close to a PR running 58:25 -- just 6 seconds off a PR.
I ran a 2:58:07 at the St. Louis Rock 'n Roll Marathon. I started out trying to set a PR and badly crashed an burned, running an eight minute positive split.
There are my racing highlights of 2012 and 2013. Next up, 2014 and 2015.
2012
I ran twenty races in 2012 and did a ton of pacing.
I started out the year running an indoor mile PR at the Meet of the Miles in January.
Laura and I ran the TC Valentines Day 5K where I set a new PR of 17:01 and finished second.
Earth Day 1/2 Marathon was one of my favorite races to pace, and in 2012 I raced the 5K the day before the half marathon.
At the 2012 Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon, I had the pleasure of pacing Laura to her marathon PR.
I ran the TC One Mile and tried to break 5:00. I ended up running a 5:02, but not breaking five minutes may have had something to do with running the Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon five days previous.
I ran a new PR of 16:18 at the Med City 5K, then paced the 3:25 group in the marathon the next day.
I did my first triathlon and counted it as a success since I didn't drown or crash the bike. Laura did have to stop me from wearing my helmet while I ran the 5K.
I managed a third place finish at Gopher to Badger Half Marathon in 1:16:36 -- a PR at the time and still my second-fastest half marathon.
In what will likely be my fastest marathon ever, I ran a 2:50:26 at the Whistlestop Marathon, finished sixth overall and second in my age group.
2013
A few weeks after running Whistlestop, I broke my leg playing basketball. Thankfully, it was at the end of the 2012 racing season, so I was able to salvage 2013 and get some decent racing in. I ran seventeen races, including seven that I paced.
Laura and I did the Rochesterfest Triathlon. After doing poorly in the swim and not much better on the bike, I decided I was done with triathlons -- I don't really like swimming, so why train for a triathlon. I may do a duathlon some day.
I did another Ragnar. My legs totaled 32.5 miles which I ran at a pace of 6:51 per mile. I was so sick to my stomach and exhausted afterwards I decided I was done running Ragnar -- at least on an ultra team.
Laura, my mom and dad, and I ran the Victory Labor Day races. It was special having my mom and dad running the 5K. I did the double-header, running the 10K and the 5K. I placed in my age group in the 5K and finished 7th in the double header.
Laura ran the marathon and I ran the ten mile at the Twin Cities Marathon weekend. I came close to a PR running 58:25 -- just 6 seconds off a PR.
I ran a 2:58:07 at the St. Louis Rock 'n Roll Marathon. I started out trying to set a PR and badly crashed an burned, running an eight minute positive split.
There are my racing highlights of 2012 and 2013. Next up, 2014 and 2015.
Friday, January 3, 2020
A Decade of Racing: 2010 and 2011
Back in October of 2009, I ran the Twin Cities Marathon. I'd only done one small race since racing in college (2003), and that race was a guess-your-own-time race which I barely trained for. Besides a couple of fits and starts after the guess-your-own-time race, I never got into a regular running routine until training for Twin Cities Marathon.
Now, I've been post-collegiate racing for just over a decade, so I thought it'd be fun to reminisce about my racing over the past ten years in the next five posts.
2010
In 2010 I ran ten races. Here are some highlights:
I ran my first half marathon, the Securian Half Marathon, in January. What I remember best is the unseasonably warm weather and tossing my gloves to Laura mid-race.
Then, in February, I ran one mile and three mile races on a frozen lake at Yukon Days, my first races on top of ice.
In May, I ran my first Boston qualifying time at the Lake Wobegon Trail Marathon near St. Cloud, Minn.
My first pacer duty was at the Minneapolis Half Marathon in June, which set off my pacing "career."
2011
I ran twenty races in 2011 in races ranging from one mile to 50K.
I kicked off my 2011 racing season with the Yukon Days Races. I managed to win the six mile snowshoe race and then dropped the three mile shoe race due to some IT band pain.
April of 2011 was a big highlight of my racing career: The Boston Marathon. Not only was it an amazing and memorable experience, it was also a trip where we packed in tons of sightseeing and activities.
Just eleven days after the Boston Marathon, I paced at the Brainerd Jaycees Run for the Lakes Marathon. I went up to Brainerd with a few running friends, and we had a blast in a chilly, rainy race.
Two months later, I ran my third marathon in two months when I paced the 3:15 group on a warm day at the Minneapolis Marathon.
My first 50K in July of 2011 took place at the Afton Alps due to a state government shutdown closing Afton State Park. The course was tough, and it was hot and sunny, and although it was my first 50K, I managed to finish ninth overall.
I had the "pleasure" of running the Ragnar Great River Relay on a ultra team, meaning we each ran around thirty miles in less than twenty-four hours. I also slipped and fell, cutting my arm on a guardrail.
That does it for the first two years of the decade. Stay tuned for 2012 and 2013.
Now, I've been post-collegiate racing for just over a decade, so I thought it'd be fun to reminisce about my racing over the past ten years in the next five posts.
2010
In 2010 I ran ten races. Here are some highlights:
I ran my first half marathon, the Securian Half Marathon, in January. What I remember best is the unseasonably warm weather and tossing my gloves to Laura mid-race.
Then, in February, I ran one mile and three mile races on a frozen lake at Yukon Days, my first races on top of ice.
My first pacer duty was at the Minneapolis Half Marathon in June, which set off my pacing "career."
2011
I ran twenty races in 2011 in races ranging from one mile to 50K.
I kicked off my 2011 racing season with the Yukon Days Races. I managed to win the six mile snowshoe race and then dropped the three mile shoe race due to some IT band pain.
April of 2011 was a big highlight of my racing career: The Boston Marathon. Not only was it an amazing and memorable experience, it was also a trip where we packed in tons of sightseeing and activities.
Just eleven days after the Boston Marathon, I paced at the Brainerd Jaycees Run for the Lakes Marathon. I went up to Brainerd with a few running friends, and we had a blast in a chilly, rainy race.
Two months later, I ran my third marathon in two months when I paced the 3:15 group on a warm day at the Minneapolis Marathon.
My first 50K in July of 2011 took place at the Afton Alps due to a state government shutdown closing Afton State Park. The course was tough, and it was hot and sunny, and although it was my first 50K, I managed to finish ninth overall.
I had the "pleasure" of running the Ragnar Great River Relay on a ultra team, meaning we each ran around thirty miles in less than twenty-four hours. I also slipped and fell, cutting my arm on a guardrail.
That does it for the first two years of the decade. Stay tuned for 2012 and 2013.
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