Happy New Year! It is time for our annual New Years Day run in Battleboro, NC. If you are geographically challenged, this is 10 minutes from the Harris Teeter. For this year's run we will start at Gerry's house. We know that many of you will be celebrating the night before, so we pushed the start time back to 8:30 instead of the normal 7:00 am.
If you are like most runners, you are pretty proud of your races, but you are even more proud of the work you put in to get there. It is easy to look up past race results online, and remember that day, but it is difficult to remember your training runs.
Saturday is 2011. This is the perfect time to start keeping a training log. A training log is a way to keep track of all of your runs for the year. You can also track any cross training, and weight training you do. There are multiple benefits to a training log:
Track your progress - see how you have improved, and get motivated by reviewing the miles you have accumulated
Prevent injury - by noting how you feel during and after your runs, you can detect injuries before they become severe and cause you to miss a race
Follow a plan - if you have a training plan, a training log will give you a way to track it.
Shoes - training logs will let you know how many miles you have on your shoes, so you know when to replace them
Graphs - get a graphical view of your training progress
There are countless ways to have a training log:
- Paper - Lots of runners still use a notebook and a pen to track their runs. Gets the job done just fine. - Spreadsheets - There are lots of spreadsheets available online, or you can create your own. Here is one you can download. - Garmin - Most Garmin watches will download your data to he Garmin site. If you don't do this yet, I highly recommend it. - Online - Countless sites now have tools to track your progress online. Here are a few:
There are even lots of phone "aps" out there now that you can use as well. It does not mater what you pick. Find the one that you like the best. This is the time to start! January 1 is on Saturday. . . get in a run, and start your log!
RMEC I need your help. The registration for the Sweetheart 5k presented by Dental Care Center is going great. In fact this is the best it has ever done. Unlike all of our other races, the Sweetheart can handle virtually an unlimited amount of runners. I really would like to see the race grow into something special over the years to come. So how do I need your help?
Sign up for the race ("RMECMEMBER" gets members a discount)
Send an email to a friend (runners know runners)
Call a friend
Post it on facebook
Sign up you kids for the Fun Run
We have 70 registered members in the RMEC. If each of you can just get one person to sign up it would have a tremendous impact on the race. Seriously take five minutes right now and get someone to sign up. The race is only six weeks away.
It really will is a fun event. The 5k is at 9:00, and the 1 Mile Family Fun Run is immediately following. The entire day including awards should be wrapped up by 10:30 am. We will once again have custom medals for award winners and gift certificates from Raleigh Running Outfitters, a Couples Division, and a diamond giveaway from Wade Designs. All runners get a race shirt and a free sling pack as well. The first 100 to register get a technical shirt. There are about 30 of these left right now.
It is a pretty safe bet that no one will show up for regular Saturday group run this weekend. I have a funny feeling that you will all be busy. That does not mean there is still not plenty of chances to get a run in. This post will be a "catch-all" for the Christmas weekend. All runs will be BYOB unless someone posts about fluids.
Friday AM: Several have discussed a Christmas Eve morning run. Time and location is TBD.
Friday Nooner: Some of the regular "nooners" will be running from the YMCA at lunch time.
Sunday AM: Sunday morning could be a nice snowy run. If you haven't run in the snow before, don't miss your chance!
Sunday 11:30: Frank and others are running a 12 mile loop at Umstead on Sunday starting at the Reedy Creek entrance. This would be a beautiful run for anyone who is interested. Email Frank for details.
Monday: Many of you are off on Monday, so if you plan to run, let people know.
PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO POST A COMMENT. We have over 60 registered members, and we love to see you out on a run. Posting a comment lets people know who is going to be there, and encourages others to come out as well. I have seen times when five people will post and 15 show up. This is great, but probably others would have come out if they knew you were coming too.
Happy running!
Also. . . would love to have our traditional New Year's Day run in Battleboro if that works out!
If you have followed our blog for long, you know how much I like the trailer below. I think this is the third time I have posted it. With so many new people following the blog now, and with 2011 just days away, I figured this was a great time to post it again.
This video clip honestly gives me chills every time I watch it. It was the 6-minute trailer for the movie, Spirit of the Marathon.
If this video does not get your heart pounding, butterflies in your stomach, and maybe even tears in your eyes, I will be surprised. After watching this clip, I always feel ready to throw my shoes on and burst out the door for a new PR! The film documents five marathoners on their quest. They range from first timers to elites. Get ready for some goose bumps!
Turn up your volume.
Make sure the clip has loaded at least 50% (so it is not choppy).
Hit play.
Sit back and enjoy!
"When you cross that finish line, no matter how slow, no matter how fast. . . it will change your life forever."
The registration for the 2011 Rocky Mount Endurance Club will close on December 31. We will order a RMEC item (still TBD, but it will not be another shirt) for all people who are registered before the end of the year. This is the roster that will be sent to the Road Runner Club of America for the RMEC.
It is only a $25 membership fee, and it will get you discounts on the Sweetheart 5k, Roanoke Canal Half Marathon, Golf Club at Rocky Mount 5k & 10k, and the Medoc Trail Races. So help support local running and join today!
To use a running reference, the RMEC is really hitting it's stride right now. It may be hard to tell in the cold winter months, but our membership is as strong as it has ever been. Once the holidays pass, you will start to see some of the biggest crowds we have ever seen on Saturday mornings. Don't be left out!
Every year when January 1st comes around we all set resolutions for how we are going to improve in the new year. Often we start late, and/or fall short. That is why I am posting this now. Don't wait until January 1, 2011 to decide your next goal. Decide now, and start to make a plan for your success.
Run my first marathon. . . Set a new PR. . . Drop 15 pounds. . . Run an Ultra. . . Run my first 10k. . . Run four days a week. . . Convince a friend to run. . . Run a half marathon. . . Become a RMEC Member. . . Run one race a month. . . Start to cross train. . . Do my first sprint triathlon. . . Become an Ironman. . . Run a 200 mile relay. . . Run my first trail race. . . Qualify for Boston. . .Start running on Saturday mornings with the group. . .The opportunities are limitless!
There are so many different goals that you can set for 2011. It is time to pick yours and work towards it. From the outside looking in the RMEC may look like a group on elite runners who have no interest in newcomers. If you join us for a run, you will find out we are a down-to-earth group of people who simply stay dedicated to our goals. In fact, four years ago the RMEC was originally built based on a beginner marathon training program. At some point we are all beginners.
So what do I do now?
Step 1: Pick a goal (or two). Make it a big one. If it doesn't scare you at least a little bit, you should reach higher.
Step 2: Tell people your goals. Your true friends will motivate and encourage you every step of the way. If you fall short they will be there to pick you back up, not to laugh.
Goals can also be internal and personal, but if you are comfortable sharing, please post a comment on the blog, and let the RMEC know what extraordinary things you are going to do in 2011! Remember goals are relative to the person setting them. Running your first 5k can be a giant goal for you. Be proud of that and let people know.
Happy New Year! It is time for our annual New Years Day run in Battleboro, NC. If you are geographically challenged, this is 10 minutes from the Harris Teeter. For this year's run we will start at Gerry's house. We know that many of you will be celebrating the night before, so we pushed the start time back to 8:30 instead of the normal 7:00 am.
This is always a fun morning of running. It is the one day when you can honestly say "I have not missed a day of running this year".
Right now I just have the 8.4 mile loop posted. Because of where we are running, the shorter route will probably be an out-and-back (these are long country roads). Gerry will have some recommendations for those that want to go longer as well.
So start the year off on the right foot, and join us at the RMEC New Year's Day Group Run!
I am overdue on posting some race results. Life has been pretty busy, so this took a back seat. I am always happy to have someone else collect race results if they are interested. Just write a short summary and email it to runrmec@yahoo.com (hint. . . hint).
18 runners (that I could find) ran at the Dash for Cash two weekends ago, and had some very impressive performances. With this many running it would take too long to write details about everyone, so I will stick with a list instead:
10 Mile Results:
6th - 1:01:22 Ashley Bass (6:09 pace) 1st Age Group
10th - 1:04:09 John Batchelor (6:25) 2nd AG
16th - 1:05:51 Derek Hurdle (6:36) 2nd AG
33rd - 1:12:09 Emily Bass (7:13) 5th Overall Female and 1st AG
39th - 1:13:39 Tim Shea (7:22) 2nd AG
63rd - 1:18:53 Levi Moore (7:22)
64th - 1:18:57 Greg Delbridge (7:54)
68th - 1:19:58 Wayne Painter (8:00)
5k Results:
7th - 19:32 Zack Shea (6:18) 1st AG
99th - 25:35 Tom Thurman (8:14) 2nd AG
100th - 25:37 - George Mount
117th - 26:03 Jon Shingleton (8:24)
144th - 27:28 Amber Shingleon (8:51)
162nd - 28:09 Arthur Bennett (9:04)
176th - 28:34 Margaret Bentley (9:12)
197th - 29:07 Eric Ghiloni (9:23)
399th - 38:46 Brandie Ghiloni (12:29)
416th - 40:37 Alane Floyd (13:05)
Team Competition:
In the 10-Mile Ashely (Ageless) Bass took 6th overall. He lead the RMEC relay team (Ashley, John, Emily, and Tim) to a third place finish. The Kenyan team from Chapel Hill put together a team that was untouchable (they won by over half an hour). 2nd place went to the Greenville team which happened to have a team member with a very strong resemblance to Derek Hurdle.
In the 5k team competition, Zack Shea (Tim's son) lead the RMEC to a second place finish. The team consisted of Zack, Tom, George, Jon, and Amber. They beat the third place team by over three minutes. The other RMEC team consisted of Margaret, Eric, Brandie, and Alane. The powerful rookie team posted a combined time of 1:36:27.
It was great to have som many from the RMEC out supporting local racing, and supporting each other. Great job everyone!
Sorry for the late RSVP post! Life has been busy lately. We will plan for a 7:00 am cold run tomorrow morning from the Teeter. To keep things simple I have used the old standby 6.67 mile loop. It is easy to adjust, and supplies two fluid stops every time. Run Details:
Remember, even though it is cold, you still need fluids. You will not sweat out as much as you do in the summer, but it is still important to stay healthy. Bring gloves and a hat to keep your warm!
This is a post I have used several times, but it is a good one. Some of you already know this, but being reminded never hurts:
Wear Layers - You can always take extra clothing off as you warm up. If you however start with just your base layer and a heavy jacket, you have no "middle ground". You are likely too hot or too cold. If you have layers, you can peal them off little by little.
Be Technical - Be sure to keep technical clothing as your bottom layer. It is fine to throw an old cotton t-shirt on as a middle or top layer, or a sweatshirt. Just keep some wicking clothing on as a base layer. This will pull the sweat away from your body.
Head and Hands - Do not forget to keep your head and hands warm. If you don't have one, go buy a cheap stocking hat. An ear warmer is fine too, but with temps in the 20s and 30s you will want to hold in the heat. As for gloves, go cheap. My recommendation is going to the kids department in Target. You can buy a two pack of kids gloves for $1.49. They are super stretchy, and you can put on both pair at once. If your hands get hot, peal off a single pair. These gloves fit my hands in case you are wondering how stretchy they are.
Band aides and Body Glide - Don't forget this! Guys, protect your chest. Cold weather can make you chafe badly. You do not want to finish your run with a bloody shirt. Also when you are not seating, your clothing does not have a layer of moisture to glide against. This can mean chafed thighs, legs, etc.
Get Warm - When you finish your run get warm! Have something in your car to put on. Once you stop running, your body will very quickly get a chill. Don't take a chance at getting sick. You may even need to take of wet clothes and replace with something dry.
Eric has a friend that runs a company called TrailHeads. They are currently running a special that has a 25% discount code. When you order type in KENT25 (in all capital letters) and you will get a 25% discount and free shipping.
Eric has used the products before and says it is good quality stuff. Also, a portion of sales go to National Sports Center for the Disabled, Guiding Eyes for the Blind and The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Back in September the RMEC put together a 6-man team for the Blue Ridge Relay. Just in case you do not know, the BRR is a 208 mile relay race through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Three months later I finally got around to making a video of our trip. This squeezes 28 hours of running into a 10 minute video. The video takes a while to load, so I strongly recommend pausing it and letting it buffer for a while before hitting play.
[Mild Warning on the video. . . we missed a turn that added 12 miles to our run, and the emotions show just a wee bit]
So why am I posting this video in December? I am trying to fire people up to want to do a relay! If this video does nothing to get you excited, then a relay is probably not for you. If it got your heart rate up just a little bit. . . give it a try! You do NOT need to be some super skilled experienced marathon to do this.
The RMEC currently has two teams that are running the American Odyssey Relay on April 29-30. This 200 mile race starts in Gettysburg, PA and finishes in Washington, DC. Although the distance is roughly the same as the Blue Ridge Relay, the course is far less challenging in regards to hills.
Team 1 is Ryan, Dave, John, Dennis, Michael, and Derek. Team 2 is Scott, Greg, Steve, Eric, Levi, and Ron. We would LOVE to have at least one more team join us. There are several women who have mentioned putting together a team (Kinnie, Tracy, Liz, Ursula, Emily. . .)
There are several options to pull off another relay team. . .
Option 1: A six person Ultra team (everybody runs 6 times and takes one van)
Option 2: A nine person team (everybody runs 4 times and you could take one big van or two mini vans)
Option 3: A 12 persion team (every body runs 3 times and you take two big vans)
If you do option 3, you could easily put together a team that had 6 guys in one van and six girls in the other. There are lots of options. We just need people to commit. Prices go up on January 1st. We are mailing our application in this month. If we get a third team, we can work out a discount too.
This is more about an accomplishment, and less about speed. Don't wait for others to say they want to do it before you chime in. It will take some people committing to get the ball rolling. . . So, who is in?
I am posting a RUN RSVP for the weekend, but am not sure if we will have a big group run. Please use this post to let others know when, where, and how far you plan to run. Even if you plan for an afternoon run, let us know. You may grab a running partner.
This evening several from the RMEC will be enjoying so Christmas celebration late into the evening. For this reason, I do not expect an early start for. In addition about 15 of you are racing on Sunday afternoon at the Dash for Cash in Greenville, so you may not be planning for a Saturday run. Add those two things together, and a small crowd is expected.
Good luck to Ted and Liz at the Dallas Marathon this weekend, and good luck to all of the Dash for Cash runners (even that traitor Derek).
There is NOT a group run from the Teeter tomorrow. Jump in the car and come join us at Medoc for the Great Medoc Rerun on 2010! This is a fun fall run with over 40 people already planning to run.
Run Details:
Where: Saturday, 8:00 am @ Medoc Mountain State Park
Routes: 5k loop, 10M loop, or 26.2 Mile (or anything in between)
We will have a cooler at the main shelter, and also have GUs, pretzels, and jelly beans. Bring your own water bottle, because you will be away from the shelter on the first 6+ mile loop. Even though it is cool, you still need to hydrate.
If you are coming, please register online. It is FREE. We just want to know who is coming so we can plan properly. This is open to EVERYONE, so bring friends. It is a great way to be introduced to trail running. With some leaves still on the tree, it will be "raining leaves" the entire run. Don't miss out! If you want to carpool from the Teeter, post a comment. Medoc is only 20-25 minutes away.
REMINDERS:
TOBACCO ROAD MARATHON AND HALF MARATHON: Register today with the code
trm_black_friday2010 and save 10% off your race entry. This only works until midnight. THIS WILL BE THE BIG SPRING RACE FOR THE RMEC. Sign up now, and get committed to a new goal. We will have training runs that build everyone up for a successful race. Sign up today! I expect over 20 RMEC members will be racing. It will be a blast!
DASH FOR CASH: Please register today for the Dash for Cash if you plan to run. At one point we were going to have six teams for the race, but people are backing out. Right now we only have two that I know are running the 10 miler. There are still about a dozen racing, but most are in the 5k. Would like to so see the RMEC put together a 5-person coed team. Please let me know if you have registered so I can tell them about our teams ASAP.
Monday, November 22, 2010
A few runners from the Rocky Mount Endurance Club went to Wilson this weekend to compete in the Nash Street Mile 10k. This shady and scenic course has several turns throughout some of Wilson's prettiest neighborhoods.
John Batchelor took 3rd overall in the race with a time of 38:00. A 6:07 pace would be quick enough to win most races in our area, but the small race had two other strong runners to compete against. John's other half Jeanette also ran posting a 57:51 and taking 7th in her age group.
Larry McKeel took 22nd overall and 8th in his age group with a 49:41. Tom Thurman had another strong performance taking 1st in his age group with a 54:11. Right on the heels of Tom was Jon Shingleton finishing in 54:53. Arthur Bennett also took on the 10k challenge and posted a 58:03 finishing time.
Complete results are available online. You can also view age groups awards. Great job everyone! Please keep supporting local racing. As always, we welcome any race reports.
Looks like most of the fall marathoning is done for the RMEC after a big weekend of racing. I am hoping you will all want to come out to the group run and share your stories on the road with your fellow runners. Run Details:
It will be cold once again. Please dress in layers. I have family in town this weekend, and am doubtful for the group run, so please post a comment if you can bring fluids this week to the tracks. New runners are welcome!
REMINDERS:
NASH STREET MILE 10K: If you are interested in racing, please make the short drive to Wilson and race in the Nash Street Mile 10k. Kind of an odd name, but it is a 6.2 mile race. They have had limited registrations, and they have ordered custom medals as awards. This is a great chance to take how some age group "bling". The race starts at 8:30 am. You can register from 7:30 - 8:15 race morning.
GREAT MEDOC RERUN: We currently have over 30 people participating in the Medoc Rerun next Saturday, and are expecting 40-50 to show up. This is a FREE event. You only pay if you plan to take home some extra swag. Even if you are just doing the run, please sign up online so we can plan accordingly. This is open to everyone, so please tell your friends, and help us get rid of extra merchandise.
DASH FOR CASH: Please register today for the Dash for Cash if you plan to run. Price goes up this weekend. Once you register, comment on the post below so we can put you on a team.
As a reminder, The RMEC is putting together multiple teams for the 2010 Reindeer Dash for Cash in Greenville. Hard to believe, but the race is just around the corner. After this weekend, it is Thanksgiving, and the next weekend is the race!
Remember, the is a 5k and 10M option. The race is held on 12/5, which is a Sunday afternoon. I need to know ASAP who is running so I can put you on a team, and increase your chances of winning a prize. Each team is made up of 3-5 runners, and will run the race independently. The three fastest times from your team will be used to determine your teams place.
Here are the names that have show interest:
10-Miler:
Tim Shea (Registered)
John Batchelor (Registered)
Ashley Bass
Cliff Amos
Kevin Boudreau
Mike Barnhill
Dennis Crossen
Kinnie Pruden
Tracy Proctor
5k:
Zack Shea (Registered)
Jon Shingleton (Registered)
Amber Poole (Registered)
Margaret Bentley (Registered)
George Mount (Registered)
Alane Floyd (Registered)
Eric Ghiloni (Registered)
Brandie Ghiloni (Registered)
Mary Frances Bush
All ability levels are welcome. I know several of you have registered, please post a comment if a) you plan to run, b) you have already registered, or c) your name is above but you are not running. I am turning in a list of our teams next week. YOU NEED TO REGISTER ASAP so they have you in the database. Thanks!
Below is a thank you note I received from an individual in my pace group. I think this note does a nice job summarizing my experience as a pace leader. I would say it ranks right up there with the feeling I had after the my first BQ. I was on cloud 9 on Sunday and then as so often happens you go back to work and get in a rut-and then I received this email out of the blue.
I had a fellow pace leader for the 3:45 group (those who stayed with him got behind pace) and then I was ahead of the pack. I can't tell you the feeling I got as I was running over the Lee Bridge to turn around and see nearly 100 people running behind me. I really wish I would have had a camera at that point.
I had individuals coming up to me before the race asking advice and begging me to help them reach their time goals. By mile 24 I told the other pacer to take the pack home I was going to stand and wait for a minute to try and "rally" all the runners I could. I suspect I got another 10 or so under 3:45 because I waited (albeit they had to pick up the pace and run 7:45 from mile 25-26 to get it).
Check out this letter as mentioned Ryan was my fellow pace leader . . .
Derek and Ryan:
I don't know if you'll remember me, but I asked Ron for your email addresses to THANK YOU for helping me through the Richmond Marathon.
I was the one who was asking all the questions before we started running! This was my first marathon and I was so nervous. You guys made it look too easy!
I got slightly ahead of you from about mile 6 to mile 21. I think I started running to fast. I was running with a guy named Steve and another named Matt and Steve's watch said we were running 8:19 minute miles, which was probably too quick for me. Steve had to slow down due to a muscle ache but Matt and I kept going. You came up beside us at about mile 21. Derek, thanks for trying to keep me motivated and going! I know you kept looking back to see where I was after mile 21, but I was really out of sorts. I had never run more than 20 and I think that, coupled with the fact that I didn't hydrate as well as I should have the day before, made my legs feel like rubber.
Also, at about mile 22 I took a big fall and landed on my face! I have a big bruise from it and I'm pretty scraped up. But I got back up, determined to finish. I found the course to have a lot of potholes and even in one place there was a missing manhole cover!
My time was 3:48:37 which was great for me. Matt, who you may remember because he was from Paris and had a strong French accent, ran right over with both of you and I was really happy for him. We got to know each other along the run.
It was great to see both of you at the finish line! I don't know if you were waiting on purpose for those of us who were trying to finish with you or not, but either way, it felt great to see you both there and get to give you a hug of thanks! I know you may not remember me, but I will never forget either of you. Thanks for making this marathon a great experience for me!
Thanks!
Many in our group were first time marathoners others trying to hit Boston, others just trying to PR. I heard so many stories, got to meet so many people that I felt vested into their success. The only downer was not being able to slow down and make sure every person hit their goal. While a good amount fell short of their time goal they were just as ecstatic as they crossed the finish. I got to stand and watch most of them finish at the finish line and get hugs, handshakes, and thank you's, The most rewarding running experience I have had yet.
Exactly one year ago I began running. It has been a journey that has taken me to places that I could never have foreseen. I began the Couch To 5K Training program last November in an effort to reach my weight loss goal. I had been doing Weight Watchers for a few months and had lost a great deal of weight, but I knew that I needed to step-up my workouts to get through the weight loss plateau. I had never liked running...in fact, I loathed running! Looking back, this must have meant I was very serious about getting fit.
I stuck with the C25K Program and pretty soon I was challenging myself to run faster and farther. I had officially been bitten by the "Running Bug." Along the way, I began to meet other runners, including many RMEC members. Every time that I had a question about running, an RMEC member was around to answer it, encourage me, give me advice, and even invite me to runs. You guys will never know how much your encouragement has meant to me, and I appreciate every person who took the time to answer my "dumb questions."
Staying Warm.
A few weeks ago, I ran my very first Half Marathon in Greensboro. Although it was a hilly course, I finished with a 2:08 finishing time and felt good about the race. After all, I had just hoped to finish! It was really just a practice run for the OBX race coming up.
This past weekend I ran the OBX Half Marathon with the obvious goal of beating my previous time of 2:08. The day prior I drove the course. For some reason, I still have a hard time believing that I can run that far. After all, I still don't consider myself a "runner."
Running the 13.1
The race itself was so exciting! It was such a fun experience to be among so many runners and in such a charged atmosphere. I ran with a friend of mine and was so worried that I would hold him back. We had a great race and we ran faster than we thought we would. At mile 12, I knew I had to "give it all that I had" and told him that I would see him at the Finish Line. Silly me, I thought he would leave me and now here I am leaving him behind! At this point, I knew I was going to finish right around the 2:00 mark and could not believe that was even possible! The excitement of that challenge drove me to a dead sprint the last half mile. I finished strong with a time of 2:01:18. I was very pleased with my time and I knew that I had given my best that day.
Proud finisher
I am still riding the high of the race, but I am not only celebrating that race day result. This week I celebrate my 1 year Anniversary of running. I cannot even tell you how running has changed my life for the better. Not only have I lost the weight that I wanted to lose and have become a healthier person, but I have also been transformed within.
Running has helped me regain the confidence that I had lost somewhere down the road, and now I am ready for anything that life may throw my way!
Okay RMEC, it is time to try to bait you all into some more crazy race ideas. Life is about stepping out of your comfort zone, and trying something you never thought you would do. . . now is your chance!
I am realy excited about this race. Many of you have read about the RMEC team that completed the Blue Ridge Mountain Relay in September. It was a 200+ mile scenic adventure that took about 28 hours. It was tough, it was frustrating, but once the exhaustion was finally gone, I realized it was one of the best experiences I have ever had. Five of the original six-man team from the RMEC are putting together another effort this Spring. We want to see more RMEC teams on the race course.
THE RACE: The American Odyssey Relay is another 200+ mile race that travels from Gettysburg, PA to Washington DC. The course is far less hilly than the Blue Ridge race, but equally as scenic. Runners will go through State Parks, Civil War battle grounds, country roads, national forests, beside rivers, and ultimately finish running into Washington DC. . . sounds pretty cool doesn't it?
THE DATE: The relay starts on Friday 04/29 and finishes on Saturday 04/30.
THE TEAMS: Relay teams are made up of 6-12 members, and run a total of 36 legs. The shortest leg is 3.5 miles, and the longest is 8.8 miles. If you have a 6-man ultra team, each runner would run six times and total an average of about 33 miles. A 12-man team would run three times each and total about 17 miles. It is a challenge, but worth it.
THE OASIS: The Odyssey Relay has something that is pretty unique. They have included what they call the "Odyssey Oasis Festival" in Boonsboro. Leg 16, 17, and 18 are a variety of out-and-back loops. This allows for the van to stay parked for a short while. They have food, showers, music, and massages available. It allows for both vans (if you are a 12-man team) to hang out. It also allows a chance to meet the other teams. It is a chance to recharge before heading out for the second half of the race.
THE LOGISTICS: It is really not the hard to do a relay as long as you a) have directions, and b) follow those directions. 6-man teams rent (or borrow) a van. Runner A starts to run, and the van drives to the next exchange zone. When Runner A arrives, Runner B leaves, and the van drives off again. You repeat this another 34 times. 12-man teams use two vans so one van is a "racing-van" and the other is a "resting-van".
THE START TIMES: Teams start at various times on the first day of the relay. The faster the predicted time, the later your start. This way teams stay as closely grouped together as possible. So if you are concerned about being the last team on the course all by yourself, there is no need to worry. With well over 200 teams of all ability levels you will be in good company.
LEARN MORE: This is lots of information on the American Odyssey Relay website. You can learn about the course, check out each relay leg, and check out the FAQs.
If anyone is interested, please post a comment. This is not just an event for fast runners, or marathoners. Remember that at no time will you run more than nine miles unless you make a wrong turn, which never happens :-). Don't wait for someone else to take charge. If you are interested in running the relay SPEAK UP! You will not regret doing this!
Time for the final race results update for the weekend. Did I mention I would love some race reports yet? We had four Rocky Mount women racing at the Beach2Battleship Triathlon this weekend. One was racing the Half Iron Distance solo, and three others were relaying the full Iron Distance.
Patti Miller has training long and hard to prepare for the Half Iron Distance. To say she is in the best shape of her life right now would be an understatement. She has been swimming at the Y, flying on the bike, and running a pace on the roads that is a blur. The only way Patti would not rock the Tri would be if something truly went wrong. . . and it did.
Patti heading out for the run!
Patti, came out of the 1.2 mile swim 4th out of 51 women in her age group. On the 56 mile bike she average just under 20 mph and posted a 2:52 ride, the 5th fastest in her age group. Coming into the final transition Patti was looking strong but told Jeff she has having some back pain. Assuming it was just cramping from being in the same bike position for three hours she sucked it up, and went out on the run. Within the first five minutes of the run, she knew it was not normal cramping.
At this point Patti began to race-walk hunched over in pain. Her kidneys were torturing her with every step. Jeff joined her around mile five and did everything he could to get her to pull of the course. . . no luck. Patti continued her hunched-over-race-walk for virtually all of the 13.1 mile run. Despite the pain and the bad form she still managed a 2:53 half time. No doubt this was far from her goal, but impressive that she pushed through the pain and never gave up.
What started out looking like a top 3 age group performance eventually landed Patti in 28th place with a time of 6:34:24. Patti has a score to settle with the Beach2Battleship, and she will be back next year to show this race who is boss. Great job gutting through Patti!
Team Steelwomen
RMEC members, Kinnie Pruden and Tracy Proctor teamed up with Yvonne to form an Iron Distance relay on Saturday as well. Yvonne kicked things off for the "Steelwomen" team with a 1:19:34 in the swim.
Kinnie was next on the course where she posted an amazing 5:29:05 on the 112 mile bike ride. This time was only beaten by two elite women in the race! Tracy Proctor was next to take the virtual baton in the final leg of the race. . . a marthon. She headed out in daylight and finished the 26.2 miles with the setting sun. Her overall time was 4:16:01.
So, if you add it all up this steel tough group of ladies won the relay in the women's division! Their overall time of 11 hours and 10 minutes was nearly 20 minutes ahead of the 2nd place team. Great job ladies!
As mentioned below in the Richmond Marathon post, the Rocky Mount Endurance Club was loaded up with people racing this weekend. We had 10 race at Richmond, and an additional nine more at OBX Marathon and Half Marathon. So glad to see the RMEC getting to enjoy the near perfect race conditions at both events.
Ryan passing a Half Runner
In the Marathon, Ryan Bullard takes top honors from the RMEC with an impressive 3:23:18. This fantastic time earned him 107th place out of 1,660 finishers (top 7%). Abe Cox was the next to cross the line from the RMEC with a solid 3:49:11. Despite limited training (new dad) Abe ran within seven minutes of his marathon PR. Well done Abe!
Abe looking focused
Sean Epps and Julian Martinez were both taking on the challenge of the marathon distance for the first time on Sunday. Julian also had his brother join in the adventure as well. All three did fantastic in their debut finishing is 4:24:00. As the pictures show, they looked strong even in the final few miles!
Almost Done!
Mike Votava snuck down to OBX for the marathon as well. Where he posted a 5:07:11 finishing time. Not 100% certain, but pretty sure this was also Mike's first marathon. Fantastic work guys! We look forward to seeing you race again (and again) at more marathons. Complete results of the marathon can be found online.
No longer Marathon Virgins!
We had some equally impressive performances in the Gateway Bank OBX Half Marathon race. This well sponsored race brings in a crowd every year. On Sunday 3,752 finishers cross the line. Jeff Hartney took 41st place overall and 2nd in his age group. Wow! This puts him roughly in the top 1% of all finishers.
Levi Moore had a fantastic race as well finishing in 1:54:03. Close on his heals came Mike Barnhill with a 2:01:56. Based on their Facebook pictures of late night Jenga and enjoying some ice cold PBR it is safe to say all three had a good time.
Levi, Abs, & Mike
Fresh off her half marathon debut just a few weeks ago, Elizabeth Fuson knocked 7 minutes off of her original PR. She ran a 9:16 pace for the 13.1 mile course and clocked a 2:01:18. This was only Elizabeth's second half marathon. Great job Elizabeth! Complete results of the marathon can be found online.
Hopefully all of the PRs, awards, and debuts over the weekend is inspiring others to get out and race. You have to keep challenging yourself with new goals to push your limits. It could be a longer race, a faster time, or just trying to see how many you run. What ever your motivation. . . keep running, and keep racing!
There are so many from the RMEC racing this weekend that I am going to break it up in to multiple posts. Everytime I thought I knew everyone racing, I would find out about another. I think there were close to 25 of us out their racing.
Richmond is always a popular race for the club. In case you did not know, training for the Richmond Marathon is what first created our group. We were just the "Marathon Training Team" back then, but adopted the name Rocky Mount Endurance Club after the marathon.
Laura and Tracy!
This year in the marathon, Amber Poole ran a fantasic race and was our first female finisher. Her time of 4:33:19 is a big PR too! Jeanette Batchelor finished with a 4:40:51. Just 40 days ago Jeanette had never run a marathon, and now she has two medals.
Tracy Hicks and Laura Haynes were quietly training throughout the summer, logging countless miles around Rocky Mount (and Spain). The hard work paid off. Both ran every step together and finished with a 4:51:36! Tracy had the privledge of seeing her friend complete her first marathon. Great job Laura! Welcome to the very addictive marathoning club.
John might actually be smilling
John Batchelor and Derek Hurdle took a new approach to the marathon on Saturday. Both elected to be pace group leaders. John took on the 3:15 pace group, and Derek the 3:45. Running a marathon is already stressfull enough, but knowing that other people are counting on YOU can make it more challenging. Both executed their job flawlessly. John brought his group in at 3:13:53, and Derek brought his group across the line a 3:44:58. Great work guys! Would love to hear about your experience as a pace group leader (hint. . . race report).
Derek & John done
The RMEC also had three racing the half marathon. Arthur Bennett returned to Richmond where he ran a 2:19:36. Jon Shingleton has been fighting injuries all summer and fall but still was able to cross the line is 2:26:07.
The star of the half marathon was Jeannie Kerr who ran a 2:25:59 in her half marathon debut. Jeannie got the running bug last year when she ran the 5k at Disney and her friends did the Princess Half Marathon. . . it is safe to say that Jeannie has bigger goals for 2011. Great job Jeannie! The other half of the Kerr family was running an impressive pace in the 8k at Richmond. Brad stayed well under an 8:00 pace and clocked a solid 38:43 finishing time. Well done Brad!
As always, plesae consider writing a race report. It does not have to be long. Just write a paragraph if that is all you want to do. You may think that no one wants to hear your story, but you are wrong. Personal stories about races (both good and bad) are what motivates people to run. People love to hear things in your words.
Even though the time has changed, I will still start the run at 7:00 am. This gives us all an extra 30 minutes of sleep, and a little more time for things to warm up. Most everyone has (or will) run their fall marathon, so I am just picking a single route. No one is building up miles or tapering right now. We are just running. . .
It will once again be cold, so please dress accordingly. There are lots of ways to cut this route short. So please adjust to meet your needs. I an not certain if I will be at the run in the morning or not, so for tomorrow, please plan to bring your own fluids unless someone wants to volunteer.
It is very possible we will have a small crowd because of the number of people racing. So if you are considering running, please post a comment. Often people don't come out to run because they think no one will be there, but then six people show up who did not post a comment.
I am sure I will miss lots of people but good luck to. . .
the Richmond crowd: Laura, Tracy H, Arthur, Amber, Jon, and Derek.
the OBX crowd: Ryan, Mike, Sean, Jennifer, Julian, Levi, Elizabeth, and Jeff H.
the Beach2Battleship crowd: Patti, Kinnie, Tracy P.
With this many people racing I really hope we get at least one race report. Good luck everyone!
PICASSO RUN 10K: Our friends in Roanoke Rapids held the inaugural Picasso Run 10k on Saturday. Wayne Painter tore up the new course with a 40:25 finishing time. His pace of 6:31 was fast enough for 1st place overall! Margaret Bentley made the short drive to race as well. She just missed breaking the 1-hour point when she finished with 1:00:05. An impressive 9:41 pace! Overall results are online.
NC HOLIDAY FLOTILLA 5K: Also racing this weekend was Jeff Hartney. Jeff was getting in a final training race before this coming Saturday's half marathon so he entered the NC Holiday Flotilla 5k. If he was trying to gauge his speed, I think it is easy to confirm that things are going well. Jeff ran an 18:17 5k. . . and WON THE RACE! Not too shabby for a race with 200 participants!
CITY OF OAKS: The RMEC had a good day this past weekend at the City of Oaks. It was a chilly start, but this usually helps produce some good race results. If you are not familiar with the Oaks race courses, they are pretty hilly by most runner's standards. It is certainly not the most challenging marathon you will find, but it is also not a first choice for a PR. The course is a beautiful mix of urban, back roads, and trails.
After a successful run in the Medoc 10-Miler, Eric Seale decided to raise the bar and sign up for the City of Oaks Half Marathon. Eric continues to drop weight and focus on his triathlon training which has turned him into quite the runner. His half marathon debut was a 2:18:50. Gerry Felton also ran the half and proved once again that he is ageless. He finished with a 1:43:46 and took 14th out of 70 in his age group. This was a new PR for Gerry.
Frank Lilley was running his second marathon in seven days. As expected, Frank showed no ill effects from his "double" when he finished with a 5:32:05. Also doing a "double" of sorts was Eric Pate and Ursula Forrester. Both ran the Steamtown Marathon four weeks ago. Eric was first to cross the line in 4:15:56, and Ursula finished in 4:38:02. Two strong performances by both!
After upgrading from the Half Marathon less than 24 hour before the race, I had low expectations and planned for just a long training run. The good weather, the nice course, and a good pace group leader added up to a 3:25:51 finishing time. Not a PR, but I am very pleased.
The star of the day was Ralph Willey who ran his first marathon. Ralph picked a tough race for his first, but ran an amazing 4:21:38. In case you don't know Ralph, he is 61 but has the heart of a person half his age. His time was 257th among 443 male finishers, and 6th in his age group. Wow! Great job every one. Learn more at the race website.
Happy New Year! It is time for our annual New Years Day run in Battleboro, NC. If you are geographically challenged, this is 10 minutes from the Harris Teeter. For this year's run we will start at Gerry's house. We know that many of you will be celebrating the night before, so we pushed the start time back to 8:30 instead of the normal 7:00 am.
