I'm retired from racing. Really.

Striders 1/2 marathon

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Location:

Greenville,SC,

Member Since:

Feb 24, 2007

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

I also maintain a blogspot running blog. Check it out.

5k- 16:01, 1/2 marathon- 1:11:37, marathon- 2:34:16, 50k- 3:58, 100 mile- 15:19

Former World Record holder in 100 x 5k relay

Ultra history:

8-100 mile, 1-100k, 9-50 mile, 2-40 mile, 14-50k-ish

12 wins, 5 CR's, plus four 2nd, five 3rd, 4th, 4th, 5th, 5th, 9th, 16th, 20th, 28th, 38th, and 62nd place, with 1 DNF

Short-Term Running Goals:

Goals

Enjoy running, stay fit (and maybe lose a few pounds). Play ultimate frisbee.

4 year coach of Langston Middle School- love it

Long-Term Running Goals:

Unretire at some point

Run a sub-6 hr 50 miler

Win a 100 mile ultramarathon

Personal:

I have five cute kids. And I have some rockin short green racing shorts- I wear them mainly because it embarrasses my wife so much. I like ultimate frisbee, trail running, reading, and cheering for the Denver Broncos! And I have the absolute best wife in the world. And I used to run for the now-disbanded national Team Pearl Izumi- Ultra!

Favorite Blogs:

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to Ukraine's Armed Forces

Miles:	This week:	3.00	Month:	28.00	Year:	537.50
Fastwitch Lifetime Miles:						82.50
Trail M2 Lime/black Lifetime Miles:						299.00
Road N2 Purple 2 Lifetime Miles:						222.50
Road N2 4 Grey Lifetime Miles:						104.50

Sat, Apr 05, 2008

Race: Striders 1/2 marathon (13.1 Miles) 01:20:55, Place overall: 12, Place in age division: 5

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Crosstraining miles	Total Miles
4.40	0.00	13.10	0.00	0.00	17.50

I had no idea what to expect at this race- I was real sick this week, sick enough that I took a day off work (first sick day in 2+ years) and went to the doctor (first sick visit in 3+ years). Fever off and on all week, plus painful sinus infection. No fun. I just wanted to finish the race. It was tempting to run with some of the other bloggers (Walter, Chad, and Cody are all competitive), but I let them go right from the start. Temp was ok, but there was a strong head wind the whole way.

Mile 1 was was 5:43, then miles 2-6 were all 5:56-6:05. Then I did 7 miles between 6:13-6:29, with a finishing kick of 34 sec. I got caught in no-man's land at mile 1 and thought of catching the FRB group for wind aid, but then I started having trouble breathing at mile 1.5. It was a sort of runner's asthma that normally I get after marathons, and made it difficult to take any deep breaths. I had to really concentrate on breathing the whole way. Was in 15th place at 2 miles, including behind Emily Jameson. Caught Nate Pollard at mile 3 and we traded breaking wind for 1/2 mile each for 9 miles. I'm not sure I would have finished if he hadn't been there and we didn't work together, honestly. We caught Emily at mile 10 or 11, then caught one other guy at mile 12. Nate was hurting at this point and didn't take his lead, so I tried to burn him. He caught me with ~1/4 mile to go, but then I think he ran out of gas and I started a decent kick and beat him. But I'm so glad we helped each other- very helpful.

Awesome sight at the finish- there we 6 FRB singlets standing around, and only maybe 2 other guys. Logan, Clyde, Walter, Chad, Steve, and Cody all ran great races, and there were a bunch of other bloggers not too far behind.

I was exhausted when I finished and could not have gone any faster. Can't ask more than that. Bad time compared to normal, but it is a heck of a lot better than a DNS or DNF.

It is unfortunate that I got sick, but not much to do about that. Chad beat me by 5 minutes, Cody by 3.5, so my lead in the series is gone. There is no way I can make up 4+ minutes on Chad in the 30k. I'll do my best to get better before then, and then hopefully secure 3rd place and maybe give Cody a run for second. Should be fun. I'm also looking forward to finally closing on my house this week (knock on wood) and getting rid of that major stress from the last month of my life.

Tangent- 165

Weight: 0.00

Comments

From Superfly on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 19:36:14

Jon I'll have to be honest you didn't look too good today. Good job getting out and doing it under such a bad fever and stuff. Get better soon.

From Kim on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 19:42:34

I think it's amazing how all you speedsters can say you had a "bad" race and still have such awesome times! You've got a great attitude for doing your best given where you are in the series! After all, "sick" is so out of your control.

From Adam RW- on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 20:42:08

Jon, Way to stick it out and run a hard race considering... Now to the 30K.

From Cody on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 21:49:13

Bring it on!

Glad you survived the drive to Idaho. Get better soon, because we have got our work cut out to catch Chad. Way to gut out that race. Crazy (or crazy stupid, but definitely crazy)!

From Tom on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 22:07:38

Good job on the gutsy performance with being sick and all. It was nice to chat with you a bit today. I'm sure the green shorts will be working there magic again soon.

From Mik'L on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 22:56:00

You were nuts to be running today. You did look pretty trashed! Great time under those conditions. Maybe you should make up with Marci so you don't have to keep a bed at Cody's. ;)

From Mik'L on Sat, Apr 05, 2008 at 22:57:11

PS You've got some work to do so you don't get "Cody'd" in the series!

From jtshad on Sun, Apr 06, 2008 at 08:31:08

Gutsy run out there coming off a bad sick week. Way to run a smart race my friend. Get well soon so you can rock the 30K.

From Walter on Sun, Apr 06, 2008 at 09:53:23

Hey Jon, Excellent gut check on the race! You looked like death warmed over from the start. Im glad you pushed through it though! I was exactly in your shoes for moab and if it werent for logan pushing me I would have slowed down for sure. All my photos from that race look like I had down syndrome. Its definately not fun doing a race like that but you will benefit from it. You are a great guy! Good luck on the house! I dont know why banks are dragging their feet so much? My builders all have people like yourself just waiting for the banks to help them out.

From josse on Sun, Apr 06, 2008 at 10:38:51

I ran this race sick last year and it wasn't fun. I feel for you, hope you get better soon. Great job though. I think finishing is alot better than a DNF, that is what I had to tell myself in Moab.

From James on Sun, Apr 06, 2008 at 15:05:51

Sorry about the being sick, but I understand. I haven't been healthy since we went to the cabin. It was smart to stay back because I pushed it at Del Sol and it knocked me out for three weeks. You can still make up some good ground in the 30k.

Did you ever get into your house?

From Brent on Sun, Apr 06, 2008 at 16:43:42

Jon, too bad about not feeling good. Did you wear your lucky green shorts? Make sure you have them for the 30K. Very smart racing when sick. I am sure others would have had a better time had worked trading the wind. It seems like almost everyone was in no man's land.

Stay Kool, 30K will be interesting, B of BS Rools out

From dutch on Mon, Apr 07, 2008 at 10:49:08

Good work, my man. I think I was a little under the weather last time I ran this course too...I remember some chilly, drizzly weather. You guys all humble me, man. Sheesh.

From Jeff on Mon, Apr 07, 2008 at 11:21:42

Way to hang tough Jon. Hope you get better soon.

From Chad on Mon, Apr 07, 2008 at 12:34:58

Jon--when I saw you cross the finish line, it was clear to me that you ran as hard as anyone out there on Saturday. You had to overcome a lot more than just the wind to finish as well as you did. A really gutsy race. I'm looking forward to more fun at the 30k. I don't count you out for a minute!

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