Red, White and Boom goes the dynamite!

It's been a while! The last month and a half since Fargo I've been pretty laid back. Probably enjoyed more of the beer aspect than shoe aspect of life, but eventually I had to race again, and what better day than the 4th of July. Ahhh, 4th of July. America's Independence Day. The day to celebrate America's freedom by drinking crappy beer, cooking meat over an open flame, blowing stuff up and for me, waking up before 5 am to run a half marathon. The Red, White and Boom Half takes place every year on the 4th, which is just that perfect time of year to run. You know, when it's 90 degrees and humid. Who doesn't like that? Actually, this year was pretty decent, unlike last year when they turned it into a 5 mile race, which was plenty.

Having not trained for this race specifically, and just tried to maintain some semblance of fitness, I had absolutely no goal going into it. Figured I'd just run, hope to feel good, and not die. Managed to pull two of the three, because honestly my legs did not feel good race time. I didn't die though...sorry to disappoint some. I won't do a mile by mile, because there wasn't much entertaining going through the industrial area of Northeast Minneapolis. I ran a 1:20:54, which is not a PR, nothing spectacular for me, but solid enough I was happy and enjoyed it.  The few highlights. Passing the guy running "barefoot" within a mile of the start. I don't mind you wear Vibrams, but if you are going to start, on the line, you better be able to back them up. After mile 6, there is an awful hill. My Garmin had it as a 120 foot gain over half a mile....oh I think I just heard some people in San Francisco laughing at me. Finally, the finish line is pretty solid. Grilled hot dogs. Popsicle. Ice cream sandwiches....what's that? They are vanilla frozen yogurt sandwiches? This race sucks.

With that done, my legs actually felt really good for the first time since the marathon this morning. Guess I just needed a race to get me going again. Oh, and you got some sweet glasses for the race too.

God Bless America. And all that jazz.

Fargo Marathon Report: Run White Boy Run!

Pre-Race: After months of training, long runs through snow, speed work through rain, one easy run in 99 degree temps, the day of the Fargo Marathon finally came. Drove up to Fargo Friday morning, which is a thrilling drive, nothing but fields and......well fields the whole way. Got to the Fargo Dome, which technically isn't a dome, it's an arena, I feel like they lie on purpose, and picked up my fancy Adidas drawstring bag, shirt and chip. Also, was made aware that the Bismarck Marathon is using the worst picture of me on their booth wall. I can't even find a copy of it which is probably good, but I'll be amazed if anyone signs up for the race with my face plastered up there. After a pasta dinner, headed back to the hotel for a good nights sleep.
Up and at'em the next morning headed back to the Fargo Dome for the start of the race.  Waited inside in a weird time warp to 1997 as they kept playing Sugar Ray and Lou Bega. Luckily for me I had my iPad and basically played Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' "Can't Hold Us" on repeat. 100% sure I got some looks doing  my warm up stuff while rapping to myself, but as he says, "we came here to live life like nobody was watching."

Race Time: Headed up to the start line just as the rain was finishing up. A few sprinkles but nothing that would matter. Temperature was hovering around 60 at the time which wouldn't be bad, but the humidity was 90%. Based on previous years, I figured I'd finish around the top 10-15 so I went ahead and walked my way up to the start line. After the required playing of Eye of the Tiger, we were off. Like everything in Fargo, the course was flat outside of a few underpasses which provide the only thrill along the course. Tried to go out at 6:05 pace which would put me a little fast than my goal of sub 2:40, but where I thought I felt comfortable, apparently my body had other ideas. Mile times based on the Garmin which was off right away do to all the turns:
Mile 1-6: 5:59, 6:02, 6:01, 5:56, 6:00, 5:59: Ok, going a bit fast. There was a group of 4 other guys who I overheard were looking for a 2:40 marathon but I couldn't get in a rhythm running next to them. Was nice to have a group to block the wind, but at about mile 4 I pulled ahead and just kept going. Luckily for me I didn't stick with them as none finished faster than 2:45, spoiler alert I know.
Mile 7-13: 5:56, 5:55, 6:00, 5:55, 5:56, 5:54, 5:59: Still going too fast. I hit the half marathon point in 1:19:00 which is a new half marathon PR for me. The sun started to come out. Humidity was still in the upper 80%. My legs were feeling fatigued. I hit the mark thinking one of two things would happen: I'm either going to crush my goal or I'm going to blow up at some point and it's going to be a harsh reality check and long slog back to the Dome. Either way, I trained to give it my best shot and that's what I was going to do.
Mile 14-20: 5:55, 5:54, 6:02, 5:57, 5:54, 6:04, 6:00: At this point, I had completely separated myself from anyone behind me and the person in front of me kept pulling away. I was absolutely in no mans land. The fan support was limited, though the water stops were great, I hit mile 19 going into a park absolutely feeling shot. My body was wanting to stop. My breathing was completely out of wack. A had a stupid side stitch creeping in. I thought I was about as done as could be. Swung around a corner though and a biker was calling a paramedic for another runner that was ahead of me, 50 feet later there the runner was face first on the ground, barely responsive. My first thought was I hope he's alright. My second thought was, don't let that be me. The humidity was still high, the temps were rising, despite people saying I looked good (which let's be clear, I did look good) I was feeling like crap.
Mile 21-26.2: 6:03, 6:19, 6:14, 6:29, 7:11, 6:41, plus something for the .2 miles: And there it is. The wheels were off. Well, at least wobbling. My body was ready to stop. The side stitch had left but the energy was gone. I kept looking for each mile marker, and when I hit it, I gave myself a 10 second walk break to see if i could just catch a spark, but sadly it didn't come. My goal slowly slipped away. No matter how hard I wanted it, my body had different thoughts. Little after mile 25 a course marshal on a bike came back to me and lead me to the Dome. I wish he would have shown up 3 miles earlier because as soon as I chatted with him some, learned about how the winners finished, it kept me busy and I "cruised" on through to the finish. My body felt good but I had no energy to sustain myself those last few miles. Made the turn into the Dome and sprinted to the finish. Official time: 2:40:49. OA: 6/1643. 2nd in my Age Group and an 18:20 PR.

Post Race: After chugging a carton of chocolate milk, a slice of pizza and some cookies, slowly made it back to the hotel for some more pizza and a much needed Surly Overrated, because what are goals if not overrated right, and a Fargo Brewing Cmpany Wood Chipper IPA. The Wood Chipper is a solid IPA from a newish and only brewery in Fargo from what my limited research provided. Not overly hoppy or bitter. One I could easily sit and have a few of at a time. After a hot shower, resting in the hotel and watching Too Fast, Too Furious (I have a theme of watching Fast and Furious movies in crappy hotels after long runs), headed out for some more post race beers including Rogue Dead Guy Ale, Widmer Brothers Drifter Pale Ale, Coors Light and Bud Light. The Drifter was a pretty solid beer. Not sure I'd have that over a Summit or Furious but hit the spot. During all that also watched Pop Rocks, a fun cover band and then American Music Award's Best New Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Band of 1991, Firehouse! They were surprisingly awesome! They are more than just their one hit, "Love of a Lifetime," they're not much more, but they are definitely more. Seriously, the lead singer sounds just about the same as their albums back in the early 90's and the drummer had the same long permed hair from the early 90's.

Though I didn't hit my goal of sub 2:40, I came close, I left it out there and I walked away gingerly with a 18:20 PR. Training 18 weeks on the Advanced Marathoning program, I definitely feel I had the fitness for sub 2:40. I ran more miles in those 18 weeks then I ever have before. More long runs. More speed work. More everything and it paid off. Maybe if the weather had been a little better. Maybe if I wasn't running by myself for pretty much the entire race. Maybe if I had gone 5-6 seconds slower those first 20 miles. Maybe a lot of things, but that's why you run the race. One thing is for sure, I'll be giving it another shot. Philly? CIM? Some other random city? Doesn't matter, and this time the goal may be reset. Another 18 minutes? That might be excessive. 2:35, I see you.

TC 1 Mile

Last night I ran my 8^th TC 1 Mile. This has gone from a small race to kick off training for Twin Cities Marathon to a huge race which has hosted the USA Road Mile Championship a few times.  Typically I run the first wave which is the non-competitive Friends and Family wave for two reasons. One, because I in fact have friends and family, and two, as it’s the first wave and therefore I can get to Brit’s sooner to have a beer. For a quick reminder, the last two years went like this.

Me running in 2011

Me Running in 2012

This year I ran with the Twin Cities Track Club so I ran in the Team Circuit wave which meant I’d have a lot of people in front of me. No breaking the tape this year. Got downtown, ran my warm up to pick up my packet, drop off my bag and then back to the start line. Did some strides, a little stretching and it was time to go.  My main goal was not to kill myself. 10 days out from Fargo Marathon I didn’t want to do anything stupid, blow up a muscle and be out for next week, but I did want to test myself so I was going to try to run as comfortably as I could while pushing myself. The course goes straight through downtown on Nicollet Ave which provides random people to watching and think, "what the hell are these people doing?"  Last year was a bit more fun as there was a country concert going on and the wannabe cowboys/cowgirls were really confused. Overhead one asking their friend if I had just run a marathon. Shortest marathon ever! No pacers. No water stops. Hell, I didn't even get a medal! Anyways, first quarter is right up a hill but probably the most aided stretch by the wind. Was hoping to hit about 5:00 minute pace and went through in 71 seconds, just ahead of goal.  At that point everyone had spread out and I just focused on not being passed and trying to pass as many as I could. Crossed the ½ mile mark in 2:25 so still ahead of pace and was actually feeling good. For the first time in these race my legs felt fresh, quick turnover and I didn’t feel like I was going to cough a lung up.  Missed the time for the ¾ mile marker but was focused on just pushing down the last hill, making the turn and pushing to the finish. Had one runner from Run N’ Fun right ahead of me who was not sounding great, so obviously I made it my goal to pass him, which I managed in the last 100m or so. Ignore the 10 other Run N' Fun guys that beat me, TCTC for the win! Kept looking at the clock thinking, "that can't be right, no way I'm going to finish that fast." Could read the time at about 4:30 but was completely unable to gauge how far I still had to go so I didn’t know what I’d come across in. Last mad dash and I crossed t he line feeling good. Watch time was 4:53 but official chip time was 4:51:3. Placed me 51st overall. 6^th in my age group and was somewhere between a 3-5 second PR from my best high school mile.  It’s finally official, 30 year old Mike is faster than 17 year old Mike, and an added bonus is 30 year old Mike then was able to go to Brit’s to have a Furious and watch the elites run by, which is impressive to say the least. Sadly, my “horse” for the TC 1 Mile Derby Garrett Heath finished 2^nd behind Nick Willis. Had Heath won I would have won a pair of socks. Guess I'll have to just buy my own socks. Gambling fail.

Boston

It's been 7+ hours since the bombings at the Boston Marathon, so everyone knows what happened. Between this and the New York Marathon being cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy major marathons in the US have had a rough go it seems, but it's a reminder of how lucky I am to be able to run and take part in these events. To spend time not worrying about the bad things. When I was in New York people had lost their homes, power was still out to part of the city, tempers flared as people waited hours to get gas.  Thousands were there to run the marathon, and when it was announced the race was cancelled, completely understandable too, runners were disappointed, but bonded together to help in anyway they could.  Groups popped up to run in central park and donate clothing, food, whatever else could be spared. Now after the attack in Boston people are stepping up again. The Red Cross is turning people away to donate blood because of the influx of donations. There are people opening their homes for runners and families needing a place to stay. Heck, watching video of the explosion you see volunteers running towards the danger along with first responders helping in anyway they can. This is not something unique to runners, just to good people. There is still good out there and it's amazing to see in this tragedy. Too often we forget about that until something big like this happens. In November, the NYC marathon is going to take place, and I expect it to be bigger and better than it's ever been and the third Monday of April next year, on Patriots day, there will be another 27,000 runners in Hopkinton toeing the line to run the Boston Marathon. As of now, I want to be there. I thought it'd be a while until I ran Boston again, but now it feels like it's more than just running a marathon. It's going to mean something not just to me, but to all those cities from Hopkinton to Boston, to all the spectators who go out to cheer, all the volunteers who again give up their time to help a bunch of privileged runners, in their fancy shoes, their wicking shirts and short shorts do something silly like run 26.2 miles, but also to me, to be part of that group that says screw you! You won't stop us.

Beer number two

Once again, after weeks of waiting, my second batch of beer is complete! This time I  used a Black IPA kit from Norther Brewery. This one didn't require me to sit around with a bunch of grains feeling like I'm making oatmeal since it comes with an extract, that's basically the sugar needed for that good old yeast to chew up and spit out alcohol. Anyways, finally bottled and waited for it to carbonate it and it's actually pretty good. Just look at it! It's actually carbonated. There are little bubbles. You can see them, right there. Plus there isn't a bunch of stuff floating around in it like my last batch. Overall, it's a success. I'll probably keep brewing even if logically it makes no sense. Cost about $10 to get the kit and 3 hours of my time and I get 10 bottles out of it. Not the most cost effect way to get beer. I can go to the liquor store, grab a 12 pack of something professionally made and pay $12 bucks or so, but there is less fun in that. The logical thing would be to get a bigger kit and I can brew 5 gallons at a time, but I'll hold off on that.

Shut up and take my money

Saucony released a picture of the new Kinvara 4.  This is the limited edition Boston Marathon colorway which will be at the expo and I want it. Which is odd as I'm sadly not running Boston this year, I don't wear the Kinvara and I don't really need new shoes, but look at them! Well, look at what you can see. They look sweet. They generally look more Irishy than last years New Balance 890 limited edition shoes that I did buy and don't have the traditional blue and yellow colors for the marathon, but they are still awesome. Probably because they are new shoes, look different and I'm pretty much a shoe whore.




  
Though, not enough of one to accept Adidas' latest offering which is this lovely shoe. On pure looks, it's not a bad shoe. I like the red, black and yellow look. There is a weird gap in the midsole at the arch, but generally it's pretty cool. My problem with it? The fact it's called the Crazy Fast Runner Shoes. Really Adidas? Who is this for? Crazy people who like to run? Who is defined as a Crazy Fast Runner? There should be some sort of qualifying standard for the shoe. "Oh, so you'd like these shoes? What's your 5k PR? 15:26? I'm sorry, that's fast, but it's not "crazy fast."

Touring the tap rooms

I managed to make it to four different tap rooms this past weekend in the Twin Cities. Dangerous Man, 612Brew, Indeed and Fulton. Here is a quick run down.\

Dangerous Man: Do you like Vampire Weekend and Arcade Fire? And I mean did you like them before they got all popular and stuff...Vampire Weekend is popular right? Well, then this is the brewery for you! Seriously, their logo is a guy with a big beard, there was more flannel there than the Annual Pacific Northwest Lumberjack Convention and more thick rimmed glasses than Buddy Holly's place. I might be exagerating a bit, but of the ones I went to. On the plus side, the Chocolate Milk Stout and the Cream Ale were tasty, sadly you have to go to the tap room to get it since they don't sell it in stores or bars. Lame.

612Brew: Want to see what the place you'll eventually be murdered at looks like? Go here.  Turning into the parking out, outside of the cars, you'd think you were talking the slow walk to your death. Nothing but an overpass and empty warehouses. Then you get inside and you have been transported to a dance club. The lights were low and the music was blasting. I'm trying to recall which beer I liked from there but honestly, none of them stood out much.  The mural was pretty sweet though.

Indeed Brewery: Not sure how to describe this place. Imagine a big Vikings hall, and I mean the Norse Vikings from Scandinavia, not the Minnesota Vikings, otherwise a sex boat scandal would have broke out or Randy Moss would have gotten angry about the food or something (There was no food). Big space, a lot of wood and while some interesting beers not the best beers. The Day Tripper sounds like everything I should like. A beer that is ridiculously hoppy, but it's just too much. Then there is the Hot Box Imperial Smoked Porter.  Ever wondered what it might be like to just suck down a camp fire in liquid form? This is it, and it was not good.  Of them all, the least favorite.

Fulton Brewery: I've been here before, but not since they updated their place. By updated I mean they tore out their bathrooms and just had Bifs inside. Easily the most industrial and stripped down of the tap rooms.  Just a big empty space, a couple of tables and the bar serving up beer.  These guys went to St. Johns so I feel like I should like them more than I do.The beer isn't bad. Sweet Child of Vine is actually a really good IPA, though a little sweet.Outside of that nothing really does much for me.

All in all, I learned that there are a ton of beers you can have locally in the Twin Cities area, but not all of them are that good. To be fair, not all the beers made by anyone is good. Some places don't make any good beer. I am worried how long any of these places will manage to stay open. There really is only so much beer people can drink right? Maybe I'm wrong.