Race Report: Gresham Jazz Run 10k

I won overall today. It was a lot of fun. My sister asked me if this was the first time I had won a race. I promptly responded with, "No. I won the Middle School Mile." So It is the first time I have crossed the finish line first in about 16 years. I will take it. This year, the race's first, was very well organized and the course was tough. It was a mix of trail and neighborhood roads. Although there were not a lot of participants I can tell it will grow.

The competition was not outstanding. The Portland Marathon was last week accompanied by its family of races, consequently many of the runners who would have been at a race like this were not. My father quickly pointed out that on days like today you have little to gain, but much to loose. I am glad I didn't end up on the wrong side of that.

I wanted to run about 36 minutes, but after the first mile and its severe up hill, I knew it wasn't possible and attempted to settle into a nice rhythm. That first hill was a doozy. I had to shorten my strides to little pitter patter elf length. The last two miles were pancake flat and I just settled in and rode it home. Not much else to say.

Time: 39:54
Pace: 6:25

on record

Tomorrow is the big race on the Big Island. For the record, here are my predicitons.

Men
1. Crowie
2. Macca
3. Llanos

Women
1. Chrissy
2. Major
3. Csomor

open response

Daniel asked the other day for my thoughts on some things he had posted on his blog. I had neither the time nor direct inclination for the consideration he expects or the posts deserved. However, after some deliberation, I have decided to post not my response but the response of Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180).

What follows is ever so closely linked to what proceeds; it is not the procession of isolated events, merely obeying the laws of a sequence, but a rational continuity. Moreover, just as the things already in existence are all harmoniously coordinated, things in the act of coming into existence exhibit the same marvel of concatenation, rather than the bare fact of succession. (Book Four, 45)

Let it be clear to you that the peace of green fields can always be yours, in this, that, or any other spot; and that nothing is any different here from what it would be either up in the hills, or down by the sea, or wherever else you will. You will find the same thought in Plato, where he speaks of living within the city walls 'as though milking his flocks in a mountain sheepfold.' (Book Ten, 23)

One thing hastens into being, another hastens out of it. Even while a thing is in the act of coming into existence, some part of it has already ceased to be. Flux and change are for ever renewing the fabric of the universe, just as the ceaseless sweep of time is for ever renewing the face of eternity. In such a running river, where there is no firm foothold, what is there for a man to value among all the many things that are racing past him? It would be like setting the affections on some sparrow flitting by, which in the selfsame moment is lost to sight. A man's life is no more than an inhalation of the air and an exhalation from the blood; and there no true difference between drawing in a single breath, only to emit it again, as we do every instant, and receiving the power to breath at all, as you did yesterday at your birth, only to yield it back one day to the source from which you drew it. (Book Six, 15)

classic

Race Report: Portland Marathon 5 Miler

It was a perfect morning for running your guts out. In preparation for Clearwater I am doing a lot of speed work, which includes some shorter road races. My goals today were, first, to go under 30min. This I did not accomplish. Second, Finish top 5 in my age group. This I did. Third, and most importantly, go hard, push the limit. Achieved.

I knew this was not going to be my fastest day, after riding for three hours the day before, but I still felt like I had enough to go sub 6min pace. I was on this pace until about 300 meters from the finish. That is when I started to feel the heave reflex trigger. I knew the last minute was going to be painful, heaving every 10 or 15 steps. I was on the rivet the whole time, but luckily I did not barf. As those of you know who have done any run from downtown PDX, we had to run up the Front Street hill to Broadway. This is stupid and although it does create some separation, it does not make for a fun run. So here are the stats.

Total time - 30:17
Age Group - 2/49
Overall - 13/1239