Photos from Mount Angel

Jeff McKay after "one of my toughest marathons."

Jean Cordova (with Cooper and coach) after her 30th marathon finish.

Jeanine Miller at Oktoberfest after her half.

Rhonda Zimlich with her king-sized medal.

Sisters Sara and Emma Tepfer were our first marathoners to finish.

Oregon Marathon and Half Results

It was a great day for a half-marathon -- good weather, nice course, fine support. Trouble was, it also included a marathon -- where the runners weren't as lucky.

Still, all of the runners who trained with us this summer finished. That's the first level of success, without which none of the higher goals can happen.

Thanks to all who came to Mount Angel to cheer for our runners on this summer-like day. It started cool enough but rose into the 80s by the time we greeted our final finisher.

TODAY'S OREGON MARATHON

(with official time and per-mile pace)

Jean -- 26.83 miles in 5:26:05 (12:09 pace) missed a turn but still completed her 30th marathon
Chris -- 5:57:19 (13:38s) faster than longest training run's pace
Jeff M. -- 4:29:40 (10:17s) ran through hip and back troubles
Sara -- 3:53:31 (8:54s) finished with sister Emma, who set a PR
Russell -- 26.6 miles in 4:01:15 (9:04s) missed a turn

Jerry, who guest-trained with us -- 4:47:00 (10:57s)
Gene from our spring team PRed with 3:58:33 (9:06s)

TODAY'S OREGON HALF-MARATHON

(with official time and per-mile pace; * = faster than longest training run's pace)

*Neal -- 2:13:45 (10:12 pace)
Stephanie -- 2:15:49 (10:22s)
Brian -- 1:43:12 (7:52s) personal record
Jeanine -- 2:23:08 (10:55s)
*Jake -- 1:51:11 (8:29s)
*Jeanette -- 2:32:44 (11:39s)
*Don -- 2;00:11 (9:10s) personal record
*Rhonda -- 2:13:28 (10:11s)

Oregon Marathon and Half Previews

Our countdown to Mount Angel numbers in days now. Soon it will be down to hours.

Topic A is the weather forecast. As of Tuesday it’s calling for a 90-degree high on race day. The morning won’t be that warm, of course, with a starting temperature in the delightful (and deceptive) 50s – but rising quickly.

FRIDAY. Packet pickup is at the Grand Hotel Bridgeport, off I-5 at the Lower Boones Ferry exit, between 2:00 and 8:00 P.M. I plan to be there for an hour or so in late afternoon to get packets for our runners who request them. (Jake, Don and Russell already have; anyone else?) Unclaimed packets will be available near the start area Saturday morning, starting at 6:15. But I recommend against waiting that long.

PRE-RACE. Parking can be found at the Festhalle. It’s free if you show a race bib; otherwise $5. Walk from there to the start at Church and Garfield Streets. I’ll be in that area by 6:30 and should be easy to find; it’s a small town and an uncrowded race. I won’t be able to carry your keys and extra clothes, so make other arrangements for those.

MID-RACE. Hydration stations – with Nuun Tri-Berry as the sports drink – come every two to three miles. Each stop has a portable toilet. I won’t be on the course to supply personal drinks. I previewed the course in an earlier message. If you missed it, ask for another copy.

FINISH. Both races end on the Kennedy High School track (also the halfway mark for the marathon). I’ll stand as close to the finish line as the officials allow, to greet you there. A shuttle bus will take you back to the parking lot.

Text or call me at 541-953-7179 if you have problems.

HALF-MARATHON LESSON 7: YOUR POTENTIAL

Question: What can I expect my half-marathon race time to be?

Answer: The best predictor of the final race result, I’ve found with previous Marathon and Half Teams, is the pace of the longest training run. For a half-marathon, for instance, a runner who trained at 9:00 per mile (for the 11 miles at which our program peaks) can expect to finish the race at very close to that pace. Nearly all of our runners come within 15 seconds, plus or minus – or 8:45 to 9:15 in this example. As with any reliable gauge, this one isn’t based on what you dream of maybe doing someday but instead on what you really have done lately. I don’t say this to drain any of the mystery or surprise from your racing. Mainly I want you to know going into the race what a smart starting pace for you will be. Running at that rate early will assure a better finish.

MARATHON LESSON 18: YOUR SUCCESS

Question: How can I judge how well I run in the marathon?

Answer: A great beauty of running is that it gives everyone a chance to win. Winning isn’t automatic. You still have to work for success and risk failure, especially when the event is a marathon. But unlike other sports there’s no need to beat an arbitrary standard (such as “par” or an opponent’s score). You measure yourself against your personal record – which you might be setting for the first time in this marathon. To the runner, the personal record, or PR, represents one of the greatest advance in the history of this sport. The invention of the digital stopwatch worn on the wrist turned everyone into a potential winner. Here was a personal and yet objective way to measure success and progress. No one can set a PR but you. No one can break a PR but you.

Sunday Results

I keep saying the Oregon Marathon/Half is "next week." But it's closer than that -- coming this Saturday. You'll get a full preview on Tuesday. 

Confirm this week if you need me to pick up your race packet. I'll be near that site on Friday, staying with my daughter's family.

Also let me know (if you haven't already) if you're planning to train for the EWEB Half with us. That program will begin on September 21st.

Thanks to Tonya and Max for help on the course today. Safe and smooth travels to our Thai guy as he goes home for vacation this week.

TODAY'S RELAXED ONE HOUR

(no exact times, distances or paces recorded; target was to relax and finish lose together; these teammates ran)

Neal
Jean
Jeff D.
Amy
Chris
Dan
Jeff M.
Sergio
Rose
Jake
Jerry
Max
Jeanette
Don
Russell
Rhonda

Sunday Preview

We're down to this: one last run as a group before the Oregon Marathon and Half, one hour in length. We go by time to de-emphasize distance and pace on what should be relaxed running, and so everyone finishes close together.

The route, from the Eugene Running Company with a 7:30 start: Oakway and Coburg Roads to Ferry Street Bridge. Turn left onto bike path, to Alton Baker restroom and onto Pre's Trail. Follow woodchip path along water past Autzen Stadium and toward I-5 until 30-minute mark. Then turn AROUND and come back the same way.

Bring a drink for delivery at stadium footbridge, going out and coming back. Weather forecast: starting temperature in high 50s and sunny.

LESSON 6 (FOR HALF) & 17 (MARATHON): YOUR TAPER

Question: How much should I run the last week before the race?

Answer: You’ve already been tapering since the longest run. In the final week, run as little as your conscience will allow. It’s too late now, with the marathon just days away, to do anything that will make the race go better. But it’s never too late to make a mistake – most commonly running too far or too fast – that will come back to bite you on race day. Take at least as many rest days as you would before a weekly training run. Take nothing longer than you would on a normal week’s easy run, and ideally shorter. You won’t forget how to run now, and you’ll race better the more rested you are.

Starting Here

I'm back where this all started, in my car parked on the corner where my first Iowa home once sat. I've paid my respects at the cemetery, but that didn't seem the right place to write. My best memories don't live there, only the sad ones.

Instead I sit as close as possible to my starting points. My family moved into a house here, across from the Methodist Church, when I was three.

At 10, I ran my first timed mile from this corner, four laps around this block -- and four years before joining the track team at the high school, two blocks away. At 16, I wrote my first lines at home in a diary that continues to this day. At 17, I typed my first published article in the old house.

That house is long gone, as is the original church. But the memories live on, going with me no matter how far I roam from this starting point.

A boy of 14 among young men, posing at our high school building in 1958. I did my first training that spring on the field where we stood.

The school and field as they look today, both long abandoned.

This Week's Run

Team run this week: one hour for all, from Eugene Running Company at 7:30 a.m... Next half-marathon training begins September 21st... New UO 5K/10K class starts Septmber 30th.