It ain't Chinese algebra!

Prefontaine Memorial Run

Previous MonthRecent EntriesHomeJoin Fast Running Blog Community!PredictorHealthy RecipesLittle Bad Legs's RacesFind BlogsMileage BoardTop Ten Excuses for Missing a RunTop Ten Training MistakesDiscussion ForumRace Reports Send A Private MessageWeek ViewYear View
Graph View
Next Month
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
15% off for Fast Running Blog members at St. George Running Center!

Location:

Portland,OR,

Member Since:

Nov 02, 2005

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

5K: 15:41-Portland Track Festival 2010

10K: 31:34-Linfield College (Track) 2012

10 Mile: 51:57-Pear Blossom 2009

1/2 Marathon: 1:10:42-Foot Traffic Flat 2010

Marathon: 2:29:35-Newport 2013

50K: 3:48:06-Weiser River 50K 2021

Short-Term Running Goals:

Next Race:

12-hour race, sometime in 2021

100 mile race, sometime...

Long-Term Running Goals:

Sub 1:10 Half Marathon

Sub 2:30 Marathon

Favorite Blogs:

Click to donate
to Ukraine's Armed Forces
Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 0.00
Total Distance
360.00
Type A Miles: 48.00Speedstar (White) Miles: 66.00Max Moto 7 Miles: 89.00LunarGlide (White/Red) Miles: 52.00Five Fingers Miles: 41.00LunarRacer Miles: 8.00
Total Distance
12.00

12 miles around the Tigard HS loop.  I ran 6 tempo miles and my lower abs didn't love it.  I've got to do better at stretching each day.

Type A Miles: 12.00
Comments(3)
Total Distance
12.00

12 miles.  Same loop as yesterday, ran in reverse.  Felt pretty beat down at first but then seemed to feel better after a couple miles.  I stretched quite a bit last night and rolled out my legs before going to bed and I'm sure that helped.

Cumulus (495)

Add Comment
Total Distance
20.00

20 miles this morning; about 8 more than I'd planned.  I'm not sure if I felt so good because of Utah's great football game last night, because I was back in Medford or because I simply didn't have to work today.  Either way, I left the house with the intent to run 12-14 miles but I was feeling good and decided to keep going and get 20 in today so tomorrow would be a little more casual.

I ran west on McAndrew's and onto the Pear route, then returned via Stewart and past Rogue Valley Hospital.  Finished off the run by running into the hills of east Medford--a brutal way to finish but I'm sure it'll pay off down the road.

The only water I drank was at mile 13 and I was very thirsty by the time I finished.  So it goes...

Speedstar (White) Miles: 20.00
Comments(2)
Total Distance
13.00

13 miles on my favorite route in Medford.  Quite possibly my most favorite route in all of Oregon--it makes me miss living here.  In the 12 months I've lived in Portland I just haven't found anything that compares to North Phoenix Rd here in Medford.

Anyway, I ran from the Walkers to the golf course, then south on North Phoenix past Home Depot and to the grocery store in Phoenix.  I used the restroom, drank some water, then returned on the same route.  I love the rolling hills, the cool weather, the little traffic and to top it off, I loved finishing my morning by jumping in the Walker's pool to cool off.  Great weekend.

Max Moto 7 Miles: 13.00
Comments(1)
Total Distance
22.00

AM: 15 miles around the hospital and then the HS cross country course.  I felt fantastic this morning, although a little hungry after missing a couple meals yesterday.  I plan on running a few more tonight before the Boise State/Virginia Tech game.

Cumulus (510)

PM: 7 miles on Ryan's loop.  Broke in a pair of new shoes; Nike LunarGlide.  I've used this model before and although I don't love them, I can get them for cost at the Nike employee store so it's worth it.

LunarGlide (White/Red) Miles: 7.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
10.00

10 miles on Ryan's loop (most of it anyway). It's getting harder to get up in the morning as the clouds have started to roll in and the sun isn't seen until 7 or so. Blah.

Type A Miles: 10.00
Comments(2)
Total Distance
13.00

13 miles on the Tigard HS loop, plus Home Depot.  The crisp morning felt good and my legs felt even better after rolling them out last night.  I hope the next few days of driving doesn't trash them to bits.  We'll see...

LunarGlide (White/Red) Miles: 13.00
Comments(2)
Total Distance
20.00

Brutal run.  Just brutal.  First off, I ate WAY too much last night for dinner. Ugh.  And like always, the food at Great Pacific is too salty, but I don't notice it until I'm hanging out in my hotel room and drinking cup after cup of water.  Secondly, I never seem to sleep good the first night in a hotel.  2nd night is no problem, but first is always a bit rough.

I was out the door at 5:30 to rain in Pendleton, OR.  Temps were fine though--mid 50's.  My gut still seemed to be full from dinner and I was wishing I hadn't eaten so much.  The first 6 miles were okay and I thought I'd pick up the pace for a while.  It didn't happen.  I felt like I was sprinting and I look at my watch and see 6:44/mile pace.  Not cool.  I found a bathroom after 7 miles and then ran mile 8 easy.  Picked up the pace (figurative term) for the next 2 miles and barely hit low 6:00's (6:12, 6:14).  My mind was telling my legs to go and nothing was happening.  Blah.  I gave up around mile 11 and settled in to a normal pace (7:00ish) for the remainder of the run.  So either my garmin was off...or I was.  I'm guessing the later.  I feel fine throughout the day, but then I go to run and my body just doesn't want to respond.  Who knows.  I keep telling myself 'just 3 more weeks' and then I can taper for Portland.  Hopefully I can put together some halfway decent training between now and then.

Anyway, 17 miles back to the hotel and then 3 miles on the treadmill to make it an even 20.  Lots of driving tomorrow and limited time on Saturday, hence the higher mileage today.

Max Moto 7 Miles: 20.00
Comments(2)
Total Distance
10.00

10 miles in La Grande.  Weather.com said it was going to be 43 degrees when I started and I hadn't packed clothing for cooler temps.  I started with my extra pair of socks as gloves that covered up to my forearms but I warmed up pretty quick and took them off after just a couple miles.  The last 3 miles took me around the campus of Eastern Oregon University.  I ran past the football field and track and was startled by 2 deer that scampered along side me.  I think I scared them as much as they startled me.  Always fun to run in a new town...

Speedstar (White) Miles: 10.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
15.00

15 miles in Bountiful, Utah.  I arrived at my grandparents at 11:00 pm--after spending roughly 14 hours behind the wheel of my car.  Blah.  I got up at 6:00 and ran in Bountiful around my grandparents house; 6 by myself and then 6 more with my Dad.  After dropping him off I ran 3 more to make it an even 15.  Solid week.

Now it's off to watch Utah and UNLV and then eat In-N-Out for dinner. Does it get any better than that?

Max Moto 7 Miles: 15.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
10.00

Back home in Tualatin.  What a long weekend...  I drove for just under 13 hours to get home yesterday.  It was exhausting and I didn't want to get out of bed this morning.  Somehow I managed 10 miles around the Tigard HS loop.

Cumulus (520)

Add Comment
Total Distance
20.00

AM: 11 miles in the park in five fingers.  From now on (at least through the winter months) I'll have to use these on double days in the PM.  It was dark for the first 20-25 minutes and I couldn't see much for footing.  It made for slow moving at times.

PM: 9 miles with Ryan.  Nothing special but glad I got some extra miles in.  This will be the only day this week I'll have time to run a double.

Five Fingers Miles: 11.00LunarGlide (White/Red) Miles: 9.00
Comments(1)
Total Distance
14.00

14 miles this morning on a combination of a few different routes.  I ran along Tualatin/Sherwood Highway and then south through the Desperate Housewives loop, around Tualatin HS and then around the hospital loop and home.  The first 7 miles were ran at an easy pace and then I picked it up for the next 5 miles.  Final 2 were very easy.

For the first time in what seems like forever, my legs finally agreed to pick up the pace and I was able to get some good turnover going.  It was a nice change.

Type A Miles: 14.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
15.00

Two days in a row of feeling good.  My legs felt snappy again and I was wishing it was race day.  It's a relief to feel that way after 2-3 weeks of legs feeling dull, tired, and non-responsive.  I ran the Tigard HS/Home Depot loop with a little added on at the start and finish.

Heading to Coos Bay for the weekend for a family reunion and to run in the 31st Prefontaine Memorial run.  Should be fun but the course looks a little rough.

Speedstar (White) Miles: 15.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
10.00

10 miles in Charleston, OR, about 10 miles outside of Coos Bay.  I ran with Jason for 10 miles in the rain.  Lots and lots of rain.  But that's to be expected on the Oregon coast this time of year.  It was a beautiful run with some amazing coastal scenery.  Hopefully the rain slows down for tomorrow's run.

Max Moto 7 Miles: 10.00
Add Comment
Race: Prefontaine Memorial Run (6.2 Miles) 00:32:51, Place overall: 1
Total Distance
21.00

Very cool run.  Verrrrry cool.  I'll write more later.

My brother-in-law traveled to Coos Bay, OR for the Steve Prefontaine Memorial 10K each year between 2006-2008.  He suggested that, as there are many runners in our family, we have a family reunion in Coos Bay in conjunction with the race last year, the event's 30th running.  It didn't work out in 2009 but we all made it this year for the 31st annual race.  We rented a beach house in Charleston, OR, about 10 miles southwest of Coos Bay so for a warm up I ran from the house to the starting-line in downtown Coos Bay.  Rain.  Lots and lots of rain.  I was soaking after running 9 miles to get to the starting area (3 of which were miles 3-6 of the race course) but I was able to meet up with the group and change every piece of clothing; socks, shoes, shorts and shirt. 

My intention before the race was simply to run 6 miles at tempo pace.  Nothing fancy, just get a good workout at the end of a 90 mile week.  I had looked at past years winners and I didn't think I stood a chance at crossing the line first.  Top 5 seemed right, but not 1st.  The race draws in over 1,000 runners, many of which are from HS and college teams from around the state (they announced over 23 HS teams and just 2 college teams at the starting line).  Also, the course is a beast.  It's basically an out and back run with the final kilometer leaving the original course as you finish on the track at Marshfield HS, the same track that Steve Prefontaine set the US HS 2000m record back in the day.  What makes the course tough is that it seems every step is either uphill or downhill and the entire first mile is uphill so it makes for a slow start.

After changing my clothes I made my way to the starting line where music was blasting and hundreds of runners were lined up despite the crummy weather.  Immediately I was reminded why I love to run.  TO RACE.  Excitement was in the air.  Pretty corny statement but I was just happy to be there; no pressure to hit a pr on such an unfriendly-pr course, no care about placement and no nerves whatsoever.  It was a good feeling for sure.  About 5 minutes to start I ran a couple strides and on the last one I saw JJ Moses, a talented runner from Medford.  He and I have had some good races together--in fact, it was against him that I pr'd my last 10K @ Gold Hill in 2008.  We chatted for a few moments and he explained the course a bit before we lined up for the gun.  The race director thanked everyone for attending, announced that Pre's mother and sister were at the start and then gave a quick countdown before firing the starter's gun.

I'm not sure what happened, but with my very first step (literally--the first step I took off the line) my left hip-flexor seized up for the first time in my life.  They've been tight every now and then, but never like this.  My 3rd and 5th steps were tight but manageable and my mind raced through the decision process of whether to run or not.  It didn't seem to get worse and I thought I might be able to work out whatever 'kink' was in that area during the slower first mile.  I quickly decided to press on and push my luck.  Despite the hitch in my step, I went out quick, but not as quick as 15 or so high school runners.  JJ had warned me of this; for many of them it was a race within a race--who can lead for the first 3 city blocks before the climb begins?  After they fell off the pace there were 6 of us remaining.  I settled into the middle of the pack for the climb out of town.

First mile in 5:32.  We clearly weren't setting any land speed records but we were moving along pretty good given the terrain.  My hip flexor tightness/pain wasn't getting any worse and I didn't seem to notice it much from this point on.  The leader (some shirtless college runner) began to separate from the group as we reached the crest and began the decent on the downhill.  No one seemed too inclined to go with him.  While I'm not a strong downhill runner, I wanted to maintain a bit of contact and not give up on 1st place within the first mile.  I asked JJ if he knew who the leader was (he didn't) and told him we should be patient.  He wasn't increasing the gap and I was betting that I was a stronger uphill runner so I wanted to save something until the turnaround.

Between miles 1 and 2, JJ and a few of the others fell back, leaving the shirtless leader, another guy and myself in 3rd.  Everything went according to plan from that point forward; I didn't let either of them gap me on the downhill and I cut into their lead on the uphill.  For the next 2 miles I ran much cleaner tangents than them as well and I'm sure that helped.  Every little bit does, right?

I missed mile 2 but got a split of 10:35 at mile 3 (16:07 for 3 miles).  I passed 2nd place just after the aid station around mile 2 and then passed the leader on an uphill right before the turnaround near mile 3.  I was feeling great and hit 5:02 for the 4th mile, giving me a more comfortable lead on the chase pack.  Mile 5 is a climb nicknamed "Agony Hill." I'm guessing because "Heartbreak Hill" was already taken?  I managed a 5:38 (yikes) but seemed to have increased my lead a bit because I could no longer hear the crowd cheering for those behind me.  The first half of mile 6 was downhill before turning off the main street and running south toward the HS.  The crowd support was fantastic throughout the race, especially for it being a smaller sized town, and the cheering was loudest as I approached the HS track.  The cop that guided me along the course lead me onto the track where I ran the final 300 before finishing in front of the bleachers.  They announced my name as I rounded the final turn and the cheering got even louder.  I had a big smile on my face and enjoyed every last step of the run.  Final 1.2 in 6:02.

My PR is 21 seconds faster but I earned that on a pancake flat course in ideal weather conditions.  The course is not pr-friendly in any way, shape, or form so to just miss my best mark is a huge confidence booster heading into the Portland marathon in 3 weeks.  It wasn't the greatest time in the world, but I'll take it.  I'm blown away by times that have been run here.  Last year's winner (a guy from Australia) won it in 31:27.  Incredible.  It also goes to show that it's all about who else shows up to race--i.e. my time today would have taken 4th place in each year from 2005-2008.  I guess the guys from past years don't like running in the rain. :)

I ran 6 more miles for a cool down to reach my weekly goal of 90, then made it back to the stadium for awards.  The award was one of the best I've ever received.  Not sure how to describe it--I suppose it doesn't matter, but suffice it to say that it was worth the entry fee/pain/wet clothes/etc.

After a shower and some lunch, we finished off the day by visiting Pre's graveside, the monument placed in his honor at the Coos Bay Visitor Center and finally the Coos Bay Art Museum where there is 2 cases full of Pre's HS, College, AAU and other various medals/awards.  Also in the case was the pair of spikes that he wore when setting one of his numerous national records.

Coos Bay is out of the way to say the least, but this is a race that I highly recommend running, especially for a fan of Steve Prefontaine.

The End. ;)

Max Moto 7 Miles: 9.00Type A Miles: 12.00
Comments(7)
Total Distance
0.00

Major hip flexor issues today.  Didn't even make it 5 steps before turning around and going home.  Not cool.

Add Comment
Total Distance
0.00

Hip pain still there.  Something isn't right from the race on Saturday; specifically from when I took off at the starting line.  I'm getting a massage tonight and hopefully that helps.  I've been icing and eating ib like candy.  That's got to do something, right?

Add Comment
Total Distance
18.00

AM: I ran today! Sweet...  8 miles at the park in five fingers.  Feeling better.

PM: 10 miles with Ryan.  No issues

Five Fingers Miles: 8.00LunarGlide (White/Red) Miles: 10.00
Comments(3)
Total Distance
19.00

AM: 11 miles around the Tigard HS/Home Depot loop, all of it virtually pain free.  Hopefully it stays that way...

PM: 8 miles after work.  I ran on the bike path trails in the parks of Tualatin and Tigard to break in a new pair of shoes.  They felt okay, but not great.  We'll see how they feel after Saturday's long run, then decide which to wear for the marathon.

Max Moto 7 Miles: 11.00LunarRacer Miles: 8.00
Comments(2)
Total Distance
18.00

AM: 12 miles on the Tigard loop, counterclockwise.

Cumulus (532)

PM: 6 miles in the park in five fingers.  Feeling really good.  Maybe it was a blessing in disguise to have some hip issues on Mon-Tues of this week.  It gave my body some time to recover before one final push to race day.  Either way, I'm feeling fresh and ready to race.  Can't wait!

Five Fingers Miles: 6.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
21.00

Final long run.  I thought it was closer to 22 miles but after mapping my route, I was a mile short.  Guess I slowed down quite a bit there at the end.  I felt solid through 2:15 but the final 18 minutes were slow--it was getting hot and it had been nearly 90 minutes since I'd drank any water.

I ran into Lake Oswego; great hill work on the south road and again leaving town towards Lake Oswego HS.  I stopped at 8 miles for a bathroom break at a L.O. Starbucks and also to take a Gu and drink water.  That was the first Gu I've eaten in a looong time.  I don't miss them.

I continued on out of Lake O. along Kruze Blvd, north to the temple, south to Trader Joes, then onto my normal morning loop to Tigar HS.  Throughout the final 60 minutes I slowly chewed on Jelly Belly Sport Beans which my stomach seemed to handle just fine.  All in all, a solid run at then end of a shortened week.  Let the taper being!

Speedstar (White) Miles: 21.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
13.00

13 miles this morning before work.  Same route as usual; Tigard HS and Home Depot.  I seem to be running the same route every morning these days...  I don't mind, but it doesn't make for very exciting entries on the blog.

LunarGlide (White/Red) Miles: 13.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
13.00

AM: Overslept this morning.  That left me with only enough time for 6 miles at the park in five fingers.  I should be able to get a few more in tonight.

PM: 7 miles with Ryan.  The weather has been amazing in Portland for the past few days.  Nothing beats living in the NW.

Cumulus (539)

Five Fingers Miles: 6.00
Add Comment
Total Distance
11.00

11 miles on the hospital loop.  Exciting stuff...

Max Moto 7 Miles: 11.00
Comments(2)
Total Distance
10.00

10 miles at the park in five fingers.  I had planned on only 6 but I was feeling good and wanted to keep running.  Temps were a little lower (52) but it felt good.

Five Fingers Miles: 10.00
Comments(3)
Total Distance
360.00
Type A Miles: 48.00Speedstar (White) Miles: 66.00Max Moto 7 Miles: 89.00LunarGlide (White/Red) Miles: 52.00Five Fingers Miles: 41.00LunarRacer Miles: 8.00
Debt Reduction Calculator
Featured Announcements
Lone Faithfuls
(need a comment):
Recent Comments: