The Giant Race Playlist

Tomorrow morning I'll be running the The Giant Race: Half Marathon. So what do I do the night before? Find music that gets my toosh moving, of course.

Here it is. It's a mix of songs that are certian to quicken my pace. Listed in alphabetical order and it will be on shuffle race day. Its about 2.5 hours, but I'm anticipating a sub-2 hour run. That should give me plenty of wiggle room to skip a song, if it just doesnt feel right. Enjoy. AND yes, it does have some guilty pleasure songs on there.

(Click to enlarge)

Feel free to share in the comments what you think of my super-speedy playlist... if there is something I'm missing that works for you, let me know, I may add it.

Fact: A friend recommended Miley Cyrus' Party in the USA, I thought it was a lame choice, but I added it, gave it a road test, and it has been on there ever since. Who woulda known?!?

Tweet

The Most Interesting Runner In The World

Just for fun, i decided to have fun with the DOS EQUIS commercials about "the most interesting man in the world." If you are unfamiliar with them, then this post really wont be that funny, but he is a YouTube Video if you are looking for one:



To put a running theme to it, I changed it to The Most Interesting Runner In The World and started sharing on my twitter feed. Here are some that I came up with and here is the hashtag if you want to join in on the fun. (Click here to read more)

#TheMostInterestingRunnerInTheWorld

Every marathon he runs is ultra, regardless of it's distance.

He's been known to win races, before he starts them.

He wouldn't walk a mile in your shoes, but if he did it would take him half the time.

He has been known to finish marathons in 10 kilometers.

He's allowed to tweet about running in more than 140 characters.

It is true that Runner's World was named after him.

Marathons follow a strict training program to prepare for him.

Runners register to be in his corral, regardless of pace.

If a bib could run a race, it would run with a picture of him attached to it's chest.

He qualifies for Boston, even when he jogs.

If you have some of your own, please share on Twitter and include the hashtag or add them in the comments below. They're fun to come up with. Thanks for reading.

Finished SF, Now run Oakland

There is something special going on across the Bay Bridge in Oakland and inviting you to come and experience it.

If you just finished running the San Francisco Marathon or Half Marathon, there is a 50% OFF coupon in your digital goodie bag.

THAT'S right, 50%. There is a link that directs you to the Oakland Marathon web site, fill out a short survey and BOOM. You are set to run the March 2012 event for under $40.

If you are looking for more of a reason, let me share this with you. Everyone that I know that has run Oakland in the past couple years, has LOVED it. Here are some other course highlights:

• Scenic Course, Lake Merrit, Jack London Square, Temescal, Montclair
  
• Finish Line strecth includes a run past the Historic Fox Theatre
  
• Unique Finisher's Medals (not your typical coaster medal)
  
• Raiderettes at the Finish Line
  
• Greenlight Apparel - environmentally focused finishers shirts
• Voted the Best Endurance Challenge in the East Bay
• 98% approval rating from participants

Oh, and you get to run through a gate of fire. 

Here is my (almost PR) 2010 recap and some FUN photos from my Incredible 2011 race.

Offer ends this Friday, so register today!

My "Shortest" Half Marathon

Want to take a journey with me on my shortest Half Marathon? It's quite an experience, I promise.

Here is a some very brief context: last Saturday, July 16, was the Davis Moo-nlight Half Marathon. I was rocking a super-fresh hot pink shirt in honor of wifey being pregnant with our daughter... and GO!

10 mins. after leaving the house: Should I bring my sunglasses? Nah, it's a night race, why would I need sunglasses?

10 mins. after arriving at the race: I should have brought my sunglasses. The race starts at 7 pm and the sun goes down around 8:40. Everyone else is rockin' shades and I can smell sun-screen on some people.

Mile 1 — 9:52: Pretty crowded at the start, lots of congestion and jockeying for position going on. I take it easy knowing more miles to follow. Oh, an incline.

Mile 2 - 9:07: Crowd starts to stretch out a bit along a straightaway. I throw on my headphones and get ready to test out my new "fast" playlist

Mile 3 — 9:32: Another incline, woo-hoo! Who said Davis was flat? Well, these are freeway overpasses, so at least we get a cool view.

Mile 4 - 9:27: Easing into my comfortable pace and hitting my plan of 9:30 miles for the first 10k.

Mile 5 - 9:28: Running through some nice neighborhoods and well shaded areas. Maybe I actually didnt need my sunglasses.

Mile 6 - 8:55: Why did I just pass a sign that says mile 7? I remove my headphones and hear other runner's saying they also have 6 on their watches. I decide to pick up the pace a mile early and move into phase 2 of my PR plan.

Mile 7 - 8:57: Pace feels really good. If I can keep my pace at just under 9 min. miles, I'll be putting myself in position for a sub 2-hour finish.

Mile 8 - 8:41: Took a shorter walk break knowing that if I can bank a few extra seconds, my sprint to the finish wont have to be so "run for your life" pace.

Mile 9 - 9:09: This is a new part of the course (the half consisted of 2 loops), maybe this is where we will pick up the extra distance. Maybe the signs were just places a mile early...

Mile 10 - 8:54: Sun is setting and sky is turning into some very pretty shades of pink... like my shirt. Run faster for your baby girl, ignore the fact that your legs are starting to feel fatigued. Oh, a glow stick. Cool. Thanks water stop volunteers!

Mile 11 - 9:04: It's getting close to crunch time, if I can run these last 3 miles in under 24 mins., I have a shot at a PR. That glow stick sure is bouncing a lot on my back (it was a lanyard that I placed backwards around my neck and is bouncing as I run, I ignore it.)

Mile 12 - 9:19: I am way to close to the finish line... is the course actually short a whole mile? It's getting really dark, glad I'm not having to carry those sunglasses. I can see the finish line with no indication of a hidden out and back mile to make it 13.1... I slow my pace a bit, knowing there is no need for a sprint to the finish.

Mile 12.2: ...and race is over. I debate running the extra mile, but I'm tired, it's dark and the extra mile wouldn't give me an official PR anyway.

So, I rock my super-cool cow medal, drink some water and chat with my running friends. We all seem to have had a fun time and aren't really too concerned about the missing mile. Luckily, we are race veterans and this wasn't our first, nor our last, half-marathon race.

In all honesty, I am probably the most disappointed out of our group because I felt like I had a chance at a PR. Although, at the same point, I had no right to be on pace for a PR. The last time I ran 13 miles was in March in Oakland and I was dressed as the Hulk having a good time fist-bumping fellow runners and fans. My training for this race essentially took place in one month, building each week with a further long run: 5, 7, 10, 12, race.

It would have been the perfect tale: Runner is inspired and energized racing at night in hot-pink future-daughter-inspired shirt. My mantra was: "Run faster for your daughter, you can be tired tomorrow." 

I slowed around 11.5 miles, knowing the course was off and I crossed the line at 1:51 and change. If I had kept my pace through mile 11 and into 12, my last mile would have had to have been closer to 8 mins., which is doable when facing the possibility of a PR and a sprint to the finish. I have a 4:29 marathon time to support how fast you can pick up the pace the last 2 miles if a PR is on the line. LOL.

I guess I'm left with a super-cool glow-in-the-dark cow medal, a super-cool glow-in-the-dark cow shirt and a giant "what if?" 2 out of 3 ain't bad. 

Thoughts?

Announcement

I'm not really sure how to start this post. Having a blog is a weird thing. It's sort of like an online journal or diary, I guess, but mine is categorized or partial to a specific audience. Sure some personal stuff sneaks in here and there, it's bound to eventually. I've always envisioned this as a platform to bring together the running community where we can share similar stories and motivate each other about what it is that we do: run.

Some of you that have met me in person at a race or an event have most likely had the opportunity to meet my wife. (If your guess was I'm getting married, sorry, I married my college sweetheart 6 years ago). She has been my staple for so many years and has stayed by my side as I entered the crazy world of endurance running 5 years ago. She may feel like there should have been a clause in the marriage that 4am wake up calls and running shoes lining the hallway could be a possibility. But, we've made some great running vacations that we might not have taken otherwise. And having a healthy husband is always a plus.

I wish there was some kind of big reveal like on reality shows. But I won't be handing out roses, or having you call in to vote, I'll just simply show you a photo and explain afterwards. Here's the photo:


Here's the explanation: I'm going to be a father. My wife is 6 months pregnant and we are both extremely excited and happy. She wasn't able to travel to the race to star as my lead cheerleader, so we decided to dedicate the run to my baby girl. (oh ya, IT'S A GIRL, thought the super pink shirt might have hinted as much). I had a custom shirt made online that says "Running for my baby girl" and rocked my fastest race to date.

I guess baby jogger reviews are in my not-too distant future....