Flying Monkey Marathon #6

My first, and only, road race of the year, was the biggie - The Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey. This year's theme was THINK MONKEY - it was a spoof on the old Apple commercial "Think Different".









There were lots of hills (duh)

There was lots of rain.













There was mud at the finish line...   and beer.
















Finished 30 or so seconds ahead of last year, pretty consistent. Great finisher shirt and got a "Silipint" which is a silicone cup that will not break or shatter.

Here is what the RD said after the race:
"Yes. You did it. You ran Monkey the year it rained. You fool.

At least you now have bragging rights. Then again, the line between courage and foolish is faint. Whichever it was, perhaps now your legs are starting to recover, and your white hot hatred for the sufferfest the Monkey put you through is beginning to fade. Soon, the nightmare that was Monsoon Monkey will pass from your mind. Even though the scars will likely last a lifetime.

And then, perhaps you will crave more. Perhaps. Think Wet Monkey."

As for this year, I ventured into triathlons. I completed 2 sprints and 1 duathlon. I am not much of a swimmer and hope to improve next year. I've kind of got the urge to get back into racing next year, and am looking forward to doing a few 1/2 and one whole marathon in the fall. But my biggest goals are to complete 2 sprint, 1 Olympic and 1 70.3 half Iron. Stay tuned.

Flying Monkey Marathon #5

This is going to be more of a "random thoughts" blog, instead of the usual race report/recap.

First things, first. I finished my 4th Full "Mary" in 4:21. Nice to know it's one of the 5 toughest Full Marathons in the country. Very pleased with that time, as my overall training was laughable for the past 4 months. The 4-5 times I did get out to Percy Warner to run the course, was very beneficial. I was able to run up hills that were only walk-able 4 weeks ago. YES, I did walk up on a few occasions ( 3 mile hill, back-side of 3 mile hill, "not a hill" at mile 23, etc) but these are more like 8% incline (or so it seems when running).

Nice day for a Marathon during the first half for the runners, and a nice day for a Marathon for the spectators during the last half. Temps were in the 50's to start, but by noon (when I finished) it was in the upper 60's/low 70's.

If any deer would have been at the finish line, I would have made for a great "salt-lick". I've never been covered in salt like I was at the end. Arms, legs, those little spaces right there in your eyes. OUCH that stings, trying to wipe away the sweat with salty fingers, elbows, etc.

Ran with Melanie, Matt and Amy during the first 3 miles. Somehow I got a little bit ahead of them, and like normal, started running by myself. I saw them a few times on the out-and-back, and they all had good finishes.

One of the signs at the top of the first big incline said "300 feet up, 3500 more to go" - thanks for the encouragement !!!

Saw Trent, the race director going up 3 Mile Hill, and asked him "Why did I PAY you to do this to myself?"

Old Man was out doing some pacing in the "rainbow Afro" wig. Funny.

Felt the familiar calf cramps around mile 22, and they slowed me for the last 4 miles. It's a weird feeling having your calf's knot up and start running like a stick man.

The park is beautiful and the race is really awesome. The volunteers are fantastic and very encouraging and make things fun on the course. The after race food is the BEST because everyone brings a little bit.

Running down to the finish line was AWESOME. My family was there to greet me and I had a wonderful sense of accomplishment. The race is tough, and my quads and calf's are still sore, but I had the best experience EVER at a race event. I wasn't feeling very well, so we didn't stay long after the race was over, and I wished we could have. Free massages and Beer. Enough said.

It took me around 4 hours to start feeling well, I guess my electro-lytes were really low. I didn't realize I had sweated that much. I took 4 GU's at mile 6,12,18 and 24 and drank plenty of water and Gatorade.

It's one of those Marathons that you dread doing, but when you have finished it, you feel so good that you conquered it, that you start planning for it next year. It doesn't hurt that the Swag and after race are top notch.  I hope to get another Monkey next year. Better start training now.

Of Monkey's and Madness

With such a topsy-turvy, mind-numbing, serial-apathy towards any kind of training over the past 4 months, I find myself on the eve (so to speak) of my 4th Marathon. The 5tth annual Flying Monkey is set to start at 8:00am on the 21st of this month.

I'm quoting from the Marathon web site here "it is a marathon that is about running. Running hard. Running over big and memorable rolling hills and through dense woods. Running with other like minded athletes. The Harpeth Hills Flying Monkey Marathon is about the joy and pain of running a unique, and uniquely challenging--some would say beastly--26.2 mile course in the beautiful and historic Percy Warner Park, nestled among the Middle Tennessee Harpeth Hills... 26.2 tough and memorable miles, with a total of 3500 feet of elevation gain and loss."

On some of the running message boards, I hear stuff like: "training run", "hope to finish in 7 hours", "someone pace me, I'm going to run 12 minute miles",  "God help us all".

Mostly, I'm thinking about the 3  Yazoo Beer kegs that Trent (the race director) is tapping at the end of the Marathon.

Trent caps the runner limit to 250 folks, and although it is a very hilly and tough coarse, the marathon sold out in 32 minutes. Sounded like "fun" to me, so I went for it.

Stay tuned for more thoughts and how my training jogging has gone in preparation for this "training run."