Ryan Hall's Blog, page 163
June 5, 2017
My First Ultra: If I Quit, I Would Regret It Forever
On the day after the 2016 New York City Marathon—my 33rd marathon—I began to think about what was next. Would I run another marathon? Would I wait until next November for the next NYC Marathon? I decided I needed a new challenge and next frontier. After completing 33 marathons and 3 IRONMAN competitions, I felt that the next logical physical challenge would be an ultramarathon.
Though I have never been a trail runner before, I felt I was up for it. So I began researching ultras in the U.S. and found a local one: The North Face 50 Mile, on the second weekend of May at Bear Mountain.
I had been thinking and talking about doing an ultra for years. Often procrastinating, I said I didn’t have time to train properly or maybe I would wait until my kids were older. But, given that Bear Mountain is only about 25 miles from my house and I was coming off a strong marathon, I figured now was good a time as any to attempt this kind of feat.
RELATED: 12 Tips For Moving From Marathons To Ultras
Once I signed up, I began committing myself to my training and race preparation. I logged an average about 50 miles per week for five months. I trained whenever I could find the time. I began to enjoy doing 5:30 a.m. runs several times a week—there is no better way to start my day and this always led to a very productive day at the office, filled with energy.
During most of my training, I had to sport a headlamp and reflective vest, as I often ran before sunup and after sundown when I got home from work. The weekends were the times I had the chance to run long, logging up to 25 miles at a time. Most of training was done on my own. When I’d have an urge, I just went, preferring not to be held up by anyone’s schedule.
Saturday, May 12, always seemed so far away, until it was finally here. At 5 a.m., the gun went off and I was on my way, wearing my headlamp, slogging through the woods in the dark pouring rain. I was confident that I could do it but knew it was going to be a long, hard day, especially since the heavy rain had started at 4 a.m. and was not forecasted to end until the evening.
I completed the first 12 miles at a 10-minute pace. As the miles wore on, the rain was relentless and temperatures were in the high 40s. I couldn’t have chosen a worse day to attempt my first ultra. During the first half of the race, nearly 50 percent of the field dropped out due to the horrendous conditions. At mile 25, I called my wife and told her I was hurting and not sure I could go on; she told me to continue to push, one foot in front of the other, and continue on—and if I quit, I would regret it forever.
It was the boost that I needed (and the change of clothes I was awarded at mile 29 helped). I felt strong the next 15 miles and passed the time thinking about my wife, kids and my colleagues at The Washington Post. I looked forward to the aid stations where my body was replenished with Coke and chicken broth. The footing was treacherous and terrain was very difficult as I navigated all of the elevation changes and river passes on the rocky trails.
RELATED: Worldwide Fuel—A Look at Aid Stations Around the World
At mile 48, the support crew informed us that we had 3 miles to go—the race was actually 51 miles (not 50)! At this point, I was running 15-minute miles, so the extra effort was both physically and mentally taxing. At 5:35 p.m., 12 hours and 35 minutes after I started my race, I crossed the finish line in 162 place in the field of 400 who had started.
The race was the most difficult thing I have ever done. It took all of my mental and physical stamina to finish. With my finish comes many victories, a great sense of satisfaction, achievement and confidence. It also has refined how I look at a “difficult” or a challenging task. To quote Sun Tzu: “Every battle is won before it is ever fought.”
I had prepared for this battle for months, physically logging miles and mentally preparing myself for what it would take to run more than 12 hours continuously over uneven terrain in the woods. I have learned that you should never wait for greatness. Do not wait to do things that are daunting as they are often the most rewarding. There is no time like the present to attempt a new feat and always finish what you started. May the wind always be at your back.
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What Racing Trends Are Showing Us About The Future Of Running
*Courtesy of Women’s Running
According to the 2017 Running USA State of the Sport Report there are several trends emerging in running and racing. For the third straight year the number of road race finishers has declined in the U.S., dropping to under 17 million for the first time since 2012.
Let’s take a closer look into why and what it means for the future of racing.
The Industry Pace Is Finally Slowing
Despite the decline, the finisher total leveled off from the 9 percent decline seen in 2015, while the 2016 finisher total ranks as the fourth largest in history.
Fewer Races But Higher Quality
As the industry continues to look for ways to keep runners racing and their events growing, the decline is also being seen as a check on disorganized, functionally unsound races, seeing those with unsustainable structures leave the marketplace, allowing better organized and structured events to strengthen their foothold.
“While finisher totals continue to fall, however slightly, there are a number of positive signs for the industry,” said Running USA CEO Rich Harshbarger. “As race directors react to declining participation numbers, what we’re seeing is more of them increase value and create better experiences for their runners, partners, charities and communities.”
The 5K Is Queen?
The 5K distance saw an increase in finishers in 2016, with 8,242,500 runners crossing the finish line. However, the 10K, half marathon and other various distances saw decreases of 4 percent or greater. The marathon finisher total remained flat.
RELATED: New Study Reveals Why We Keep Signing Up for Marathons
Females Dominate Finish Lines
Females account for 9.7 million finishers nationwide and continue to represent 57 percent from event fields. Males in 2016 represented 7.3 million finishers in U.S. races. Overall, there were 16,957,100 finishers in U.S. running events, down 1 percent from 2015.
Getting Better with Age
The 25- to 44-year-old age group continues to be the sweet spot for running, accounting for 49 percent of finishers.
Runners are demanding higher quality events and show their numbers when quality and organization is upheld. Females continue to dominate finish lines, coming out in droves to run longer and stronger…in age that is. The shorter distances remain the most popular perhaps because there are more of them or it’s easier to fit training for a 5K into a an already busy life.
RELATED: A 5K Training Plan For Beginners
With the sharp decline in obstacle and other themed races, it will be interesting to see where the trend heads next and how much more creative race directors can be without sacrificing our high expectations. Race on!
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Tarahumara Woman Wins 50K In Sandals Made Of Tire Rubber
Photo via facebook.com/AsuRunners/
Photo via facebook.com/AsuRunners
No doubt running is a gear-obsessed culture. Chances are your eyes and mouse hand don’t have to wander very far on your screen to find a link on Competitor about gear.
But sometimes the universe likes to remind us that for all of the tech and testing that goes into shoes and apparel, the actual act of running requires very little. That’s why the universe sent us María Lorena Ramírez.
The 22-year-old from Mexico’s Tarahumara indigenous community recently won a 31-mile (50km) ultramarathon wearing a shirt, skirt, scarf and … wait for it … a pair of sandals made from recycled tire rubber.
RELATED: 4 Secrets of the Tarahumara That Will Improve Your Running
Oh yeah, she hasn’t had any professional training, either. Ramirez finished the Ultra Trail Cerro Rojo in Puebla, Mexico on April 29 in 7:03, according to the BBC. She bested 500 other runners in the women’s division of the race, held in Central Mexico.
Those familiar with the Tarahumara shouldn’t be totally surprised by this. Marathoner Christopher McDougall outlined the Tarahumara’s distance-running prowess in his book Born to Run.
RELATED: Are We Really Born To Run?
Among the qualities that make the Tarahumara such efficient runners are that they drink corn beer (which is heavy on the carbs), they typically have to travel long distances to visit neighboring villages for trade and they see running as an art which is incorporated into religious ceremonies and games.
In her day job as a cattle herder, Ramírez can walk up to 10 miles per day.
“She carried no special accessories,” race organizer Orlando Jiménez said via womenyoushouldknow.net. “She didn’t bring any gel, energy sweets, walking stick, glasses or expensive running shoes that everyone wears to run in the mountains. Just a bottle of water, her hat and a kerchief.”
For her efforts Ramirez earned 6,000 pesos, or $320.
Last year she participated in the 62-mile category of the same event and finished second.
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June 4, 2017
What Went Down at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon San Diego
Jeffrey Eggleston and Bridie McCarey set a winning pace for a celebration at the 20th annual Synchrony Financial Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon San Diego.
“This is such a cool event, I feel like I am a guest at a birthday party,” said Eggleston, who ran away to victory as the men’s champion for the marathon by covering the 26.2-mile distance in 2 hours, 21 minutes and 18 seconds.
Both marathon winners had comfortable margins of victory. It was nearly nine minutes before men’s runner-up Brandon Messerly of San Luis Obispo finished behind Eggleston in 2:30:14.
Joining Eggleston and McCarey on the winners’ podium were half marathon champions Tsegay Tuemay of Eritrea and Biruktayit Degefa of Ethiopia.
The 20th anniversary event which started in Balboa Park and finished downtown attracted 18,000 half marathoners and 3,000 marathoners. A 5K race the previous day had 3,800 finishers.
Among the half marathon finishers was 94-year-old Harriette Thompson of Charlotte, N.C, becoming the oldest woman to finish a half marathon just two years after making history by becoming the oldest woman to run a marathon.
Harriette crossed the finish line in 3:54.16 to thunderous cheers from the thousands of spectators lining the finish chute along Ash Street.
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A Look At The 20th Annual Synchrony Financial Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon San Diego
Jeffrey Eggleston and Bridie McCarey set a winning pace for a celebration at the 20th annual Synchrony Financial Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon San Diego.
“This is such a cool event, I feel like I am a guest at a birthday party,” said Eggleston, who ran away to victory as the men’s champion for the marathon by covering the 26.2-mile distance in 2 hours, 21 minutes and 18 seconds.
Both marathon winners had comfortable margins of victory. It was nearly nine minutes before men’s runner-up Brandon Messerly of San Luis Obispo finished behind Eggleston in 2:30:14.
Joining Eggleston and McCarey on the winners’ podium were half marathon champions Tsegay Tuemay of Eritrea and Biruktayit Degefa of Ethiopia.
The 20th anniversary event which started in Balboa Park and finished downtown attracted 18,000 half marathoners and 3,000 marathoners. A 5K race the previous day had 3,800 finishers.
Among the half marathon finishers was 94-year-old Harriette Thompson of Charlotte, N.C, becoming the oldest woman to finish a half marathon just two years after making history by becoming the oldest woman to run a marathon.
Harriette crossed the finish line in 3:54.16 to thunderous cheers from the thousands of spectators lining the finish chute along Ash Street.
The post A Look At The 20th Annual Synchrony Financial Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon San Diego appeared first on Competitor.com.
94 Year-Old Woman Breaks Half-Marathon World Record
This morning, Harriette Thompson made history as the oldest woman ever to finish a half marathon. She crossed the finish line of the Synchrony Financial Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Half Marathon all smiles and waves. With her son, Benny, by her side, and streams of confetti raining down around her, we have to wonder: Is there anything this 94-year-old can’t do?
In 2015, Thompson set the still-standing marathon world record, becoming the oldest woman to finish a 26.2-mile race at age 92. Over the past two years, Thompson battled squamous cell carcinoma, a condition which prevented her from returning to the race in 2016. After immune therapy treatment and difficult skin graft surgery, Thompson recovered and eventually returned to running. She wasn’t able to get her mileage up in time to train for a full marathon, so decided to tackle the 13.1-mile distance–a feat that many people one-third of her age have difficulty achieving.
Leading up to the race, Thompson spoke with Women’s Running magazine, saying that she was happy to run for Team in Training and to motivate people along the way. Through running, the two-time cancer survivor has raised over $100,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma society and raised over $17,000 this year alone.
Thompson said, “It’s amazing to me that people are making such a deal about this. At age 94, I guess they don’t expect you to be able to do much, but I’m really thrilled that I can help Leukemia and Lymphoma.”
The retired pianist from Charolette, North Carolina, who has performed at Carnegie Hall, says it’s much more difficult to prepare for a concert than a race. And with a finishing time of 3 hours, 42 minutes and 56 seconds, she made the half marathon look easy, crossing the line with energy to spare.
Thompson’s not only fast and talented, she’s funny to boot. In a pre-race interview, when asked what she wanted to do after the race, she laughed, “sleep,” adding that she might get an ice cream cone that night.
Her world record may seem incredible, but Harriette Thompson brushes off the praise, “So many young people say ‘I’m running just because of you,'” she says, “I think, well I’m glad I’m good for something!” Not just good for something, Harriette, you are great.
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June 3, 2017
Meb Keflezighi’s Family Runs Rock ’n’ Roll San Diego 5K
Hometown marathon hero Meb Keflezighi is spreading the run love at Rock ’n’ Roll San Diego. The iconic and international running series—which started in 1998 with 20,000 runners hitting the streets of San Diego—has become synonymous with fun, so it only makes sense that the Olympian and winner of the Boston and New York marathons would pump up the volume.
In addition to usual expo appearances, Keflezighi is pacing the 1:30 group at the the half marathon on Sunday. Even more special, Keflezighi finished the Saturday 5K with his family, including daughters Sara (10), Fiyori (8) and Yohana (6). The proud papa ran close to her two older daughters, calling out splits and videoing them in action. He said this is the third 5K that they’ve done.
“They don’t train. They just wake up and do it,” Keflezhighi says with a laugh. “A 5K is good for fun. I’d like to see them do a mile or 2-mile, but a 5K is good. They’re not racing-racing, they’re just trying to get to the finish line, which is very crucial and important. They’re disciplined in hard work and perseverance, and they enjoy the outdoors. Both my wife and I try to encourage them to go outdoors.”
Keflezighi is also spending much of the weekend with one lucky fan. Kathleen Pettit of Rocky Point, N.Y., won the Ultimate Meb Experience through Rock ’n’ Roll, which includes a trip to San Diego and VIP race entries. Pettit and Keflezighi met at a Thursday dinner and their weekend will include an ElliptiGo ride and lots of fun freebies.
“I’m trying to help the spirit—it’s not how fast you get there, but sometimes the experience itself,” Keflezighi says. “I enjoy meeting people and helping them have that positive experience with the Rock ’n’ Roll and other marathons, that platform. It’s a running family.”
Keflezighi will connect with even more runners as he paces the half marathon. “I love pacing people,” he says. “I remember I was doing the Las Vegas Rock ’n’ Roll, and a woman said her husband was in the military, and he was hoping to come but got delayed again. She said, ‘Will you say hello to him?’ So I said, I think his name was Chris, ‘Thank you for all your service and what you have done for the freedom and liberty that we live in. I hope that you come home soon.’ She had tearing eyes. You hear those things: it’s not about the 1:45 or the 1:30 pace, but the stories that they tell.”
Meb himself also shares tales over the course of the 13.1 miles to keep those around him motivated and engaged. “I tell them stories from New York, Boston, the Olympics.…It eases their pain, hopefully, and makes the time pass by. Almost like having a coffee,” he says with a laugh. “I really try to get to know them; I might not know all their names by the finish, but at least I have interactions with them—and a lot of selfies.”
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Synchrony Financial Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Kicks Off 20 Years Running with 5K
Synchrony Financial Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego kicked off race weekend with the 5K on Saturday. Thousands of runners toed the start line, which took place in Balboa Park. Upon finishing, participants were treated to live music and a beer garden at the finish line festival. Immediately following the 5K start was the inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego Dog Walk presented by Canna-Pet. Sunday is the main event with the marathon and half marathon taking off at 6:15 a.m. in Balboa Park. This year the race is celebrating 20 years running since the inaugural race in 1998.
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June 2, 2017
Meet The Guide Dogs Named After The Boston Marathon Winners
Prior to the Boston Marathon, announced they would name two aspiring guide dogs from a future litter after the race winners. Well Edna and Geoffrey have arrived! The 6-week-old puppies are named for 2017 winners Edna Kiplagat and Geoffrey Kirui. And no surprise—these puppies are adorable.
Guiding Eyes For The Blind breeds and trains guide dogs for people who are blind or visually impaired and for children with autism. Some dogs are even trained to run with their owners. The training process to become a guide dog is just as rigorous as training for a marathon.
Edna and Geoffry will undergo an assessment by Guiding Eyes at 8-weeks-old. If they have the potential to become future guide dogs, they will then go to live with volunteer puppy raisers for about 12 months. These volunteers partner with Guiding Eyes to provide training and socialization for the dogs. Once they reach adolescence, Edna and Geoffry will return to the organization’s headquarters and training center to work with an instructor for at least 5 months. During that time, they will prepare to be matched with their new partner.
Thomas Panek, CEO of Guiding Eyes For The Blind, completed the Boston Marathon this year as well. A visually impaired runner himself, Panek raised over $10,000 for the organization. All services offered by Guiding Eyes are free of cost to blind and visually impaired applicants.
Let’s cheer on Edna and Geoffrey as they start their training.
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