I guess I'm in!

I received an email ...

Dear Arthur J. Martineau,This is to notify you that your entry into the 113th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 20, 2009 has been accepted, provided that the information you submitted is accurate.You can verify your acceptance into the field by searching the 113th Boston Marathon "Entrants" database on the B.A.A. web site, www.baa.org/2009/cf/Public/EntryLists.cfm. Additionally, an acceptance postcard will be mailed to you via US Postal Service mail.

... I guess I better start training! I guess I'll be burning up the running shoes.

Capitol Peak 50k, an intentional bonk

Why an intentional bonk?

I had a few reasons. My running partner Shela always slows down on the second loop. I ran hard last weekend and wanted to take it easy this week. I wanted to make my body remember how to feed off itself. I wanted to practice seeing the signs so I could prevent it. And I wanted to practice coming out of it and running through it.


I ran the first loop without any calories or salt, just Nuun. I ran pretty much the whole loop at a good pace but not fast. I finished the 1st loop in 2:16 still feeling strong but I could tell my energy was running out.


I started refueling right after starting the second loop because on the very first hill my legs were just dead weight. I took a few hits off my Gel bottle and had 1/2 bag of peanut butter sandwich pretzels. Shela ate the other half. I kept taking small hits off my gel bottle every few minutes and I finally came out of the bonk at the first water stop at mile 7. I cruised in easy from there except when I blew through a turn and did an extra 1/2 mile of bonus trail. It's a good thing I came across a mud hole with no footprints through it.

My final time of 4:55 wasn't too bad considering the pace of those first 7 miles on the second loop. I did learn a few things and/or were reminded of others. I can still improve on my ability to spot the bonk and coming out of it faster.

Bridle Trials

UPDATE: I just got passed by 3 people! The volunteers at the finish told me I finished 6th and possibly the first master but the results were just posted. Turns out I finished 9th, and the 2nd old guy. I don't know the guy who beat me (Robert Fortner) but I Googled him and he finished the Seattle marathon in 2:55 so I can't feel too bad about that. The Finish rate this year was 65%.


It was just another cold wet muddy night in Kirkland.


I ran a 4:42.

My loops were; 41, 43, ~47, ~48, 53, 50.


This was the first time I've been able to keep all of my loop under an hour. Last year loops 4 & 5 were 1:03 and 1:05. I don't run very efficiently at night so the 3:00 pm start makes this a great race for me to try to improve on that.


My goal this year was to finish in under 5 hours. I had no major issues and never really felt like I was pushing the pace. The first two laps were just crazy. It was so crowded I really had to hold back and then go all out to get around the long trains of runners doing one or two laps. Laps three and four I ran off and on with a young guy named Andrew doing his first 50k. He seemed like he was doing great but then he fell way back and I never saw him again. The last two laps I was totally by myself except when I'd pass somebody.


I felt really good after I finished.


I wore my Cascadia 4's and they did great. I felt comfortable and confident running through the mud. This was my 3rd long run in them (3:29, 4:40, 4:42) and I'm liking them a lot more than last years model. I only wish they were a lot lighter.


I drank 3/4 of a bottle on the first loop and 1/2 bottle on all the rest. I used a 50/50 mixture of Nuun and Heed. I had 1 gel loop.


Here's a picture that Jenn took at the end of my second loop. She did one loop and then waited around for me to finish my second before going to pick up the kids.