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5ksandcabernets: To run Cowtown, or not run Cowtown

5ksandcabernets

Saturday, January 10, 2009

To run Cowtown, or not run Cowtown

When I tell people I'm training for the Cowtown Marathon on Feb. 28, I get the same response from most: Oh, man, that's hilly. You won't enjoy yourself. Why don't you rest up and train to run Oklahoma City in April.

And sometimes, I think about doing just that. But then I do my weekly long run _ today was 16 miles _ and I think, maybe I can handle the Cowtown hills.

I was supposed to do the last 13 miles of the Cowtown route today with a group at 6 a.m. But I couldn't get out of the bad (or out of the bathroom) in time, so I ran four miles by myself, then did 12 miles with another group that was meeting at 7 a.m. (I like running with others - its the only way I can get in my weekly social hour).

Anyway, it was 35 degrees and wind gusts were over 20 miles an hour (Think my White Rock Lake Marathon - only 35 degrees cooler). And the first few miles I felt real crappy. My legs were just dead. By Mile 10 I was starting to tighten up and thought, 'Yeah, maybe Cowtown isn't such a good idea.'

But the last five miles, I extended my stride and decided to pick things up and felt great. I finished each of the last five miles in under 8 minutes, including three of the five in under 7:40. I guess I can call it a nice little tempo run at the end of my long run. At the end of the run, I was back to thinking, 'Yeah, Cowtown is on!'

I finished the entire run, 16.16 miles in 2:13:45, a pace of 8:16 min/mile. The best thing is I didn't take any GUs or Jells and I only drank gatorade when I was done. I had a little Endurox shake an hour before my run, but that was it. I'm teaching my body to burn more fat when I run so I don't hit the dreaded 20 mile wall. Who knows if its working.

This run put me at 45 miles for the week and I must admit, my legs are dead. I'm going to drive to Austin to spend a few days with my son and will not take my garmin or my running shoes with me. That's two days of forced rest. I need it.

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12 Comments:

Blogger Tom Grant said...

Why not do Austin, there is still space? Some hills at the end. But hey it's Austin.


Tom

January 10, 2009 at 4:44 PM  
Blogger Victoria said...

Hills are what make you strong. Do a hilly marathon.

January 10, 2009 at 6:41 PM  
Blogger fraizerbaz said...

"Just do it."

(Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

January 10, 2009 at 7:58 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you ever want to do Boston, then you have to deal with them hills.

I think the important thing is: if you think you are ready, run Cowtown.

January 10, 2009 at 10:01 PM  
Blogger Billy said...

What goes up, must come down - make it up on the other end.

Do it Kev.

January 10, 2009 at 11:45 PM  
Blogger Marci said...

Cowtown is a fab course!

January 11, 2009 at 3:11 PM  
Blogger rodney said...

I think you can handle it. You just seem to be getting better and better. I'm still a slow white guy. Not that being a slow white guy is all that bad. It's always an excuse I can fall back on.

January 11, 2009 at 8:04 PM  
Blogger A Plain Observer said...

it is a personal thing, I guess. Some people run a marathon every other week or once a month. I did one 6 weeks in between and I added long runs AMA, the result...I was tired by mile 8 even though it was supposed to be a fun marathon at a relaxed pace (is there such thing as a fun marathon?). It is a personal thing, what works for you works for you. Good Luck! We'll follow your progress

January 11, 2009 at 8:06 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It was soo windy in Austin on Saturday too. But hey, we know from White Rock that it's important to train in wind anyway.

January 12, 2009 at 4:10 PM  
Blogger J said...

I think it's good to run one close to home - you would probably like running Cowtown since it's "your turf."

Thanks for the congrats on my race!

January 13, 2009 at 7:24 AM  
Blogger RunToTheFinish said...

FOr what it's worth, OKC is a fantastic race!

January 13, 2009 at 8:42 AM  
Blogger Lindsay said...

i'm just now catching up from my long weekend of running/mini-vacationing, so i'm sure i'll find out in a few minutes what you decided... but i hope you signed up! glad this long run went well :) thanks for all the good lucks and kind messages over the weekend!

January 15, 2009 at 8:10 PM  

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