Busy weekend completed!
This weekend was real busy and I am really glad it is over. On Saturday I got up early (5am) and caught a ride with my running partner over to Sea Isle City (NJ). We wanted to avoid the beach traffic so we got an early start. The 10-mile Sea Isle City beach run didn't start until 5:30p so it was a really long day of waiting and waiting and then doing some more waiting. We had a nice spagetti dinner at 3pm and headed down to Sea Isle City around 4pm to pick up our race packets and find some parking.
The race started right at 5:30p (the tide was low enough for them to start on time). This race is tougher than most that I do. The weather was outstanding altough there was a lot of headwinds. You run about a 1/2 mile on the boardwalk, then run down the soft sand to the beach (which is really a pain), then run the beach, I ran at a fairly good pace for the first half of run up to the turnaround. Luckily there is only one stop in the first six miles. The water at the stops is warm and foul tasting (city water). Water is the only option at the stops. At the four mile mark I plodded back up to the boardwalk through the sand (did I mention running in soft sand is terrible). The boardwalk was a welcome relief and I picked up my pace and ran the mile fairly comfortably. About halfway down the boardwalk, I looked to my left and saw the first runner (Ethiopian) crossing the finish line. Just before the end of the boardwalk, I started to get a burning sensation near the groin area (could be the repaired hernia acting up) and stopped at the EMT. Applied some ice, got the advice of the EMT guyand continued running. At this point I had lost 15-minutes but decided to finish the race. So it was back down the soft sand and running the beach to the other turnaround. These miles went a lot slower. I saw almost everyone in my running group heading down to the finish. Luckily they had given me the car keys (the only one with a zippered pocket), so I knew no matter how long it took me, they would have to wait for me. At 71/2 miles I hit the turnaround, a very welcome sight. I continued to slow my pace, and ran with a young guy named Flip for awhile. As we passed a group of spectators, I found out why he got his name. They yelled Flip! and he did. He proceeded to do about ten flips over the next two miles. I was tired jus****ching. At mile 9 I knew I would finish, and tried to pick up my pace a little, increasing it every quarter mile. I crossed the finish line feeling good, although my time was down from last year because of my unplanned EMT stop but at least I finished. So it was a mile walk to the car, and back to Ocean City to change and head back home. I wore some compression socks on the ride home so I didn't cramp up in the car. Got home just after 10p and proceeded to hit an ice bath for about twenty minutes. Legs felt sore but no pain. Which is good because Sunday was my next challenge.
I got to sleep at 11pm, and was up at 4am to load the bikes and pick up my running partner. I grabbed a quick bowl of oatmeal and headed out on the second challenge of the weekend. Picked up my running partner at 5:15a and headed down to Lums Pond for the duathlon. We arrived right around 6am and the lot was already packed. Luckily this race is well organized and I able to pick up my packet, get marked up, rack my bike, and hit the bathroom and still had plenty of time to chill. It was a bit humid, but by racetime the weather was improved. This duathlon is fairly short (2,20,5) but after Saturday night my legs were still sore.
We started at 7:45a and the 2-miles was tough. The course is easy, but I couldn't find my gait. I didn't have much wind, but plugged through, and got back to transition to grab my bike. I figured I would pick up some time but I still never got my wind. I averaged 17-19 miles but still never got my legs under me. A couple of the guys with tri-bikes talked me up a couple of the hills. Transition was quick. The run was extremely painful. I must have looked fairly pitiful, because all of the young guys would pass me and say "Great job". They must have been taught to be kind to the elderly. I kept a slow steady pace but just couldn't get into a faster pace, My feet were pounding. I finished the race and that is what I wanted to do, but I don't think I'll double up events anymore.
When I got home I took a 3-hour nap which I haven't done in ages (after icing down).
Just call me the TIN man. Thanks for reading.
Rob
The race started right at 5:30p (the tide was low enough for them to start on time). This race is tougher than most that I do. The weather was outstanding altough there was a lot of headwinds. You run about a 1/2 mile on the boardwalk, then run down the soft sand to the beach (which is really a pain), then run the beach, I ran at a fairly good pace for the first half of run up to the turnaround. Luckily there is only one stop in the first six miles. The water at the stops is warm and foul tasting (city water). Water is the only option at the stops. At the four mile mark I plodded back up to the boardwalk through the sand (did I mention running in soft sand is terrible). The boardwalk was a welcome relief and I picked up my pace and ran the mile fairly comfortably. About halfway down the boardwalk, I looked to my left and saw the first runner (Ethiopian) crossing the finish line. Just before the end of the boardwalk, I started to get a burning sensation near the groin area (could be the repaired hernia acting up) and stopped at the EMT. Applied some ice, got the advice of the EMT guyand continued running. At this point I had lost 15-minutes but decided to finish the race. So it was back down the soft sand and running the beach to the other turnaround. These miles went a lot slower. I saw almost everyone in my running group heading down to the finish. Luckily they had given me the car keys (the only one with a zippered pocket), so I knew no matter how long it took me, they would have to wait for me. At 71/2 miles I hit the turnaround, a very welcome sight. I continued to slow my pace, and ran with a young guy named Flip for awhile. As we passed a group of spectators, I found out why he got his name. They yelled Flip! and he did. He proceeded to do about ten flips over the next two miles. I was tired jus****ching. At mile 9 I knew I would finish, and tried to pick up my pace a little, increasing it every quarter mile. I crossed the finish line feeling good, although my time was down from last year because of my unplanned EMT stop but at least I finished. So it was a mile walk to the car, and back to Ocean City to change and head back home. I wore some compression socks on the ride home so I didn't cramp up in the car. Got home just after 10p and proceeded to hit an ice bath for about twenty minutes. Legs felt sore but no pain. Which is good because Sunday was my next challenge.
I got to sleep at 11pm, and was up at 4am to load the bikes and pick up my running partner. I grabbed a quick bowl of oatmeal and headed out on the second challenge of the weekend. Picked up my running partner at 5:15a and headed down to Lums Pond for the duathlon. We arrived right around 6am and the lot was already packed. Luckily this race is well organized and I able to pick up my packet, get marked up, rack my bike, and hit the bathroom and still had plenty of time to chill. It was a bit humid, but by racetime the weather was improved. This duathlon is fairly short (2,20,5) but after Saturday night my legs were still sore.
We started at 7:45a and the 2-miles was tough. The course is easy, but I couldn't find my gait. I didn't have much wind, but plugged through, and got back to transition to grab my bike. I figured I would pick up some time but I still never got my wind. I averaged 17-19 miles but still never got my legs under me. A couple of the guys with tri-bikes talked me up a couple of the hills. Transition was quick. The run was extremely painful. I must have looked fairly pitiful, because all of the young guys would pass me and say "Great job". They must have been taught to be kind to the elderly. I kept a slow steady pace but just couldn't get into a faster pace, My feet were pounding. I finished the race and that is what I wanted to do, but I don't think I'll double up events anymore.
When I got home I took a 3-hour nap which I haven't done in ages (after icing down).
Just call me the TIN man. Thanks for reading.
Rob
Wow Rob! You really put your body through its paces this weekend. I'm sure that beach run with the sand works the muscles in ways they're not used to. And those young guys, they just want to be like you when they grow up!
Great job!
Cassie
Great job!
Cassie
"Hard things take time to do. Impossible things take a little longer."
very impressive double race weekend! i have to get you hooked up with my father, he does most of the du's in south jersey/Deleware (he just moved from Cape May to Lewes). i think he's doing one in n. wildwood next weekend. his name is Bill as well (not a senior, we have different middle names) and usually wears one of the NJShoreRun.com jerseys at those events.
Where are we going?? And why am I in this handbasket??
right now. somewhere. somebody is working harder than you.
right now. somewhere. somebody is working harder than you.
I LOVE your race strategy... A lil half marathon warmup for the Du the next day!!!! Did you eat paint chips as a kid? (ME too)... You are the man Rob. Rest up and take it easy my friend, great job this weekend!
Your Friend In Health & Sport,
Dan Benintendi - OH Support Group Leader
www.trimywill.com
www.swimfromobesity.com
www.trimywill.blogspot.com
Support Group: www.obesityhelp.com/group/Post_Op_PRs/
Dan Benintendi - OH Support Group Leader
www.trimywill.com
www.swimfromobesity.com
www.trimywill.blogspot.com
Support Group: www.obesityhelp.com/group/Post_Op_PRs/
So things just keep getting better and better. Went to the surgeon's office for my annual checkup. Told him to ignore the weight since I knew I was down about 8 pounds from the weekend events. Some of that will come back shortly since it's mainly water loss. Blood work was excellent and I hit my seven year milestone in two months.
So I had my surgeon take a look at the good old groin after explaining my symptoms, and sure enough I have a hernia. Actually, I've had it for awhile, and I when I had hernia surgery four years ago, the other surgeon only repaired half of it. Still not sure why. Maybe he wanted to get paid twice. I'll have to have surgery but my RNY surgeon is concerned about how to work around my fall schedule. I may have to put it off till the first of the year. There is about a one-week recovery time and no lifting for a month. He didn't put any restrictions on me, except to use my own judgement and don't push through any pain cycles. Best excuse I've ever had to not do any doubles the rest of the year.
Good times!
Rob
So I had my surgeon take a look at the good old groin after explaining my symptoms, and sure enough I have a hernia. Actually, I've had it for awhile, and I when I had hernia surgery four years ago, the other surgeon only repaired half of it. Still not sure why. Maybe he wanted to get paid twice. I'll have to have surgery but my RNY surgeon is concerned about how to work around my fall schedule. I may have to put it off till the first of the year. There is about a one-week recovery time and no lifting for a month. He didn't put any restrictions on me, except to use my own judgement and don't push through any pain cycles. Best excuse I've ever had to not do any doubles the rest of the year.
Good times!
Rob
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