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Location:

San Antonio,TX,

Member Since:

Dec 13, 2009

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

5K PR - 18:01 - Nov '14

10K PR - 38:37 (workout) - Oct '14

Half-marathon - 1:22:43 - Jan '14

Marathon - 2:58:43 in Boston! - Apr '13

50 mile - 7:49:30 (2nd) - Nov '15

Short-Term Running Goals:

- Balance

- Run more trails, volunteer, more social running, run with a team

- Race a lot more.  learn.

Race results / possible schedule:

Apr 2 - Hells Hills 25k trail - 4th

Apr 9 - Toughest 'n Texas 20-mile Trail - 2nd

May 7 - Paleface - Trail Marathon - 3rd

May 29 - American Hero road 25k - 2nd

Jun 25 - Pedernales Falls 30k nighttime Trail - 5th (sick)

Jul 16 - Muleshoe Bend 30k nighttime Trail - 3rd

Jul 23-24 - Fossil Valley 9-hour nighttime Trail - 2nd

Aug 6 - Colorado Bend 30k nighttime Trail - 4th

Aug 27 - Reveille Peak 30k nighttime Trail (entered)

Sep 10 - Franklin Mountains 50k (entered - not all-out effort...I hope)

Sep 17 - Lighthouse Hill 20-mile trail (entered)

Sep 24 - J&J 50 mile trail

Long-Term Running Goals:

Compete in a few more ultras without going off course (again)

Sub-18 in a 5k

One.  Good.  Marathon.

Personal:

I started running at age 30, in late 2009.  I have 2 daughters (10 and 8 yrs old).

  

 

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Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Saucony A5 Lifetime Miles: 1054.70
Kinvara 2 - Gray/red Lifetime Miles: 1551.08
Kinvara 3 - Gray/red Lifetime Miles: 1244.23
1160s Lifetime Miles: 888.70
Saucony A5 Red Lifetime Miles: 565.10
Saucony A6 - Yellow Lifetime Miles: 214.00
Saucony A6 - Red/blue Lifetime Miles: 61.50
NB MT101 Trail Lifetime Miles: 302.00
Fastwitch 6 Red #1 Lifetime Miles: 286.50
Fastwitch 6 Red #2 Lifetime Miles: 267.00
Race: Houston Marathon (26.2 Miles) 03:00:10, Place overall: 123, Place in age division: 24
Slow milesFast milesTotal Distance
0.8026.2027.00

49-58F.  Another bonkathon unfortunately.  Although I was in good spirits after a couple good workouts, I knew this was a possibility based on the lack of any buildup or decent block of training.  It's now been almost 2 years since I've had a solid buildup before a marathon - no surprise, that was also my last PR.  Even so, this one still kind of stings.  I wasn't really close to 2:55 shape after all.

3 sentence race report:  In the first half I'd originally planned to let the 6:40 guy get ahead of me but I kept up with him instead, to my detriment, hitting the half in 1:27:30.  Then stupidly led the 2:55 pack (6-7 guys) into the wind the next 4 miles and the wheels came off from there.  Missing sub-3 at the end was the cherry on top.

I'm starting to wonder if maybe it's time to find a new challenge in running.  I do think I owe myself one more shot at the marathon with a real training cycle.  But I was pretty inspired by the ultra runners at Bandera last weekend.  Cowtown 50k could be a good intro, and a way to dip my toe in the water a bit.  One of the things I fell in love with about running was reaching new distances, taking chunks of time off my PRs, etc.  Not saying those days are over with marathoning, but they are certainly few and far between.  I don't know, maybe I'm not being patient enough?

Tentative short-term plan is to just put in miles.  And more miles.  Have fun in the 50k with no expectations.  Fewer track workouts and more long runs for fun.  Next running season will probably have a marathon and maybe a 50-miler, we'll see.  Excited to shift gears a little.

Saucony A6 - Yellow Miles: 27.00
Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Tom K on Sun, Jan 18, 2015 at 18:38:37 from 174.58.54.215

I was watching the splits, and everything was fine, then I had to go to church. So, obviously, I need to change churches.

You ran a great race. Sorry it didn't turn out the way you had hoped.

Wait until the end of the week before you turn into UltraSlowJoe.

From seeaprilrun on Sun, Jan 18, 2015 at 19:49:07 from 205.172.12.210

Ultras are fun! You can still be a marathoner too. And, in an ultra, if it all goes to crap, you still have a beautiful run and nature and an adventure. Sorry this didn't go as planned. :( You really know how to barely go over 3, dangit!! excited for

Cowtown for you!

From Jake K on Sun, Jan 18, 2015 at 20:07:58 from 98.202.128.218

Tom - You mean "ULTRA SlowJoe" as opposed to "Ultraslow Joe", right? :-)

You definitely should follow whatever path stokes your passion, but from an outsider perspective - you haven't been able to really nail the last bit of preparation for the marathon... you tend to have bad luck stuff come up, and that makes it very, very hard to nail that last 10K of the race.

Doing a few longer races will, if nothing else, enhance your endurance - which theoretically help with dang marathon distance.

From Burt on Sun, Jan 18, 2015 at 22:51:01 from 174.17.89.12

Return of the what??? Oh well. Still a fantastic time. Nice job!

From Burt on Sun, Jan 18, 2015 at 22:53:57 from 174.17.89.12

Also, if you're feeling bad about this race, you might want to stay away from my blog this week.

From I Just Run on Mon, Jan 19, 2015 at 09:53:44 from 67.79.11.242

I too was watching your race through the race tracker. When I saw the 6:41 5K, then the 6:40 10K, then the 6:41 Half...I was thinking, "he's nailing this!". Then I saw the 6:43 30K and though, "I hope there was just some hills or something...he'll really push at the end". I was surprised to see the 3:00:10 at the end. I told my wife (she know Joe) and she said "That's still a really good time" but I had to say to her "I'm sure he's pretty disappointed that he didn't at least break 3:00:00. Sorry Joe....! I know you eventually go way beyond your current PR...you're young!!!

From Russ on Mon, Jan 19, 2015 at 11:20:57 from 74.114.3.253

Nice race, sorry about the 11 seconds. I say go for longer distances. I've done 50K a couple times plus paced 34 miles with a 100 miler and ultras are a lot of fun. Not near as much stress as the marathon, the camaraderie is amazing, and the further distance is an extra notch in the belt. And like Jake says, the endurance is a great addition. Marathons + ultras are a great combo.

From SlowJoe on Mon, Jan 19, 2015 at 13:35:55 from 104.51.208.13

Tom - so you're the reason I started slowing down...I knew it couldn't be MY fault!

April - yeah a little of both for awhile I think will be good for me.

Jake - there is definitely some unfinished business with the marathon and I'll get some revenge...eventually.

Burt - I'd unfriend you on facebook if I wasn't so flattered.

IJR - I need you to teach me how to pace a marathon properly!

Russ - I noticed the same thing with the camaraderie, and they weren't all weirdos like I thought they'd be! I was in several packs yesterday and no one said a word for miles.

From allie on Mon, Jan 19, 2015 at 14:48:59 from 24.30.41.119

good job out there yesterday. you say it was stupid of you to lead out the 2:55 pack, but i like the way you raced it. you were targeting ~2:55 and you were on pace deep into the race -- nothing wrong with rolling with it if you are feeling it. you never know if/when the wheels are going to come off. you have to take chances in the marathon -- sometimes it's a PR and sometimes it's a major bonkathon torture festival.

ultraslowjoe -- i like the idea of mixing things up a bit. good luck.

From I Just Run on Tue, Jan 20, 2015 at 08:12:17 from 67.79.11.242

Joe,

I'll pace you but you'll probably fall asleep before we hit the 10K mark.

From derhammer on Tue, Jan 20, 2015 at 21:42:17 from 24.55.24.67

Good job Joe. I know you are disappointed but don't lose the faith. You can always take a couple months and get the 18:00 5k monkey off your back.

I am helping pace a buddy at the Rocky Raccoon 100 on the 31st. I get lap 4 - it's 20 miles - should be fun.

From SlowJoe on Wed, Jan 21, 2015 at 15:23:50 from 12.182.148.249

Allie - thanks. I think i knew at the half that I wouldn't be able to hold the pace but got a little stubborn.

DH - sounds like fun...you might be tempted to try an ultra after pacing one though!

From Derunzo on Wed, Jan 21, 2015 at 18:20:00 from 24.218.179.128

You're still the man..... man.

From flatlander on Sat, Jan 24, 2015 at 07:37:08 from 76.31.29.220

Sorry I'm late to chime in, but this is still a great race, even for a fast guy. I think it's just a bit of bad luck. Seems like for me most of the elements come together only about once every 4 or 5 marathons.

From Jason D on Sun, Jan 25, 2015 at 12:51:32 from 68.80.27.222

Sorry things didn't go better, Joe. In terms of what to do next, go where you energy and desire is. Just keep running.

I think mixing it up on some trails can be beneficial. I did a 16+ miler on the trails this fall. Took me 2.5 hours and it was as tough as a long run/long tempo.

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