**Below is the note included on this Garmin Uploaded Profile of my run on Strands.com http://www.strands.com/RunPyles/posts/17997107
Race Articles: http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/story/1456584.html
Half Marathon Results: http://results.active.com/pages/searchform.jsp?rsID=89091
The half marathon was dominated by Team Strands, which took eight of the top nine men's places, led by Justin Young of Bloomington, Ind., in 1:05:57. The women's winner, Meghan Armstrong (1:17:50) also runs for the team that shares training tips on teamstrands.com, a sort of Facebook for athletes. The elite members of the network receive financial backing to train for the Olympics from Strands, a technology firm. -http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/recreation/fl-miami-marathon-lead-0201-20100131,0,310245.story
Friday: Went to the local airport 10am on Friday for 2 flights and to arrive in Miami around 3pm. Well the trip started rough when out first flight was delayed then canceled. After much waiting around we we're told that are new flight would leave Charleston at 3pm. So we went home and came back a few hours later to that flight being delayed as well. Things at this point weren't looking good. But luckily it was only a 30minute delay which still put us in Charlotte in time to catch the connector to Miami. But as we got to Charlotte we sat on the run way for close to 45minutes. When finally getting into the airport we sprinted across the airport. 10minutes of running to arrive at the gate with 2 minutes to spare but the doors closed. The lady let us on and said run! We did!! we got on the flight knowing we we're almost to Miami but then we sat on the runway for another 2 hours for de-icing. We finally arrived in Miami around 10:30 and got to the hotel around 11. I hadn't eaten anything but 2 bowls of oatmeal a longg time ago. So I paid the 15 dollars for a turkey sandwich/2 Gatorades ate it and we went to bed closer to 12
Saturday: We woke up around 6am feeling dehydrated and tired. But after some fluid we decided to get our shakeout runs out of the way not knowing what all to expect with plans for the day. We walked out to great conditions (a little windy but felt great). A local runner told us some places to explore and we took off for light runs. I ran for 43minutes looping around mostly water front running places and found a nice gated neighborhood that had a cool little running loop that had many runners and very tall trees/shade. We got stuck by a draw bridge while walking back to the hotel which was neat! We quickly got some breakfast in the hotel restaurant. After all this it was time for me to head over to work the expo. Kendra drove me to the convention center where I walked into the 2nd biggest expo I have personally seen (Chicago is by far the biggest, I’m sure Boston will blow that away this spring). I quickly got to meet @Mattdownin again. Mostly we just have talks on the phone so meeting him in person again was good! Soon @mwreneau was there as well and 6 of us was setting up and working the expo. I was quickly introduced to Arturo Barrios-The first man to break an Hour in the Half Marathon!! I got to meet Michael Sandrock who writes for the daily Camera in Boulder and wrote one of my favorite training books “Running Tough”. Sandrock was running the half barefooted to raise money for Haiti, he also his over the One World Running that collects used shoes to ship to those in need (http://oneworldrunning.blogspot.com/)! I worked the expo from around 10 to a little after two and was on my feet the whole time but thanks to the free pair of recovery socks that @cptdave777 had given to us, Dave Walters was another very nice guy. I left the expo with elite athlete coordinate Miguel who’s driving is a little scary but he got me back to the hotel safely around 3. Quick sandwich and lots of fluid plus a nap and I was back moving around for the 4:45 athlete meeting in the hotel lobby. This things can be sort of intimating but for me knowing I was running anything from just MP to even dropping back to pace Marian I wasn’t too anxious but I could sense Marian was not use to this stuff. The meeting was fairly long but by 6:30 it was time for dinner. Very good past/bread for me, I just want to say @joshglaab plate of food and then 2nd plate of food was the note of the day…the guy was shoveling it in, but it’s much needed running as much and as fast as he does!! Hearing @Elva share some stories made for a great dinner. Around 8:30 we went back to the room to get ready to go to bed. By 9:30 we we’re out!
Sunday: The alarm was set for 2:45 but the safely lock box in the room wanted us up at 2am! The things started going crazy out of nowhere and we couldn’t get it to stop so we laid for 45minutes of beep…beep beep…beep beep beep over and over! 3am we went to the lobby for breakfast which ended up not opening until 3:30. Coffee(only workouts and long runs for me these days) and bagels. By 4:45 we headed back to the lobby to walk with the group to the staging areas. I got to talk with @michaelaish who shared lots of Marathon training advice with me to use for Boston. Very nice guy who has ran in the Olympics so the advice was very nice of him to share with us. The warmup and staging area was the Miami Heat’s arena. But trust me the area we went to is not where D-Wade prepares before games. ONE toilet for about 15 or so guys! Warm up was not needed to warm up it was already 70’s and horrible humidity by 5am. I shuffled around for 15minutes thinking even running Marathon Pace would be rough today. After a while we were in the start area listening to the national anthem and Ryan Hall who was in town gave a quick talk to all runners. Chatted with Micheal Wardian who was running the full(probably his 50th straight weekend of Marathon or longer races)
ING Half Marathon: Well hot/humid from the get-go! I was sweaty crazy amounts by mile 1. That happens when you leave under 20’s and then run in over 70’s and humidity over 90%. But to my surprise (long travels, little sleep for me, on feet at expo, little amounts of food/fluid then needed, etc, etc) my legs felt ok. The plan was simple if I could run my April 19th Goal Marathon Pace of 5:30 I would be more then happy even if it was hard to do. Through 5 it was very easy but feet were burning (sockless racing in Musha equals no-no!). By 10miles I still felt really smooth and honestly easy like it should feel like when I’m fit which I’m not right now but I did see I’m strong from base. I passed the last few runners around mile 11 and then had no one in front of me(that I could see). Looked at the watch and saw 5:28 avg so sub 1:12 for a MP workout in hot conditions! I was happy knowing things haven’t been smooth lately with the workouts I have done. I feel like I have been easy base miles for 10 weeks now! I could have kicked in really hard had I been racing but instead with the feet burning and blood being seen coming through my shoes I figured I’m perfect right now so just finish like this. That actually turned into slowly somewhat as I lost my goal focus and it felt more like just running. Got to 13.1 (by the Garmin) and still had to continue running! So yes I messed up. So in the end I wanted to run 1:12(5:30) my watch showed 5:28-29 but I didn’t think about it being off which I should have known it can be and will be if not running the tangents. So I finished slower then I thought I was on pace for which I’m kicking myself about. I should have known and not lost focus the last 2 miles. I would rather look back and see 1:11.59 for this even though it was just a long/hard workout effort. But anyways here is the stats 1:12.38 for 8th place(6 of top 7 was Team Strands runners) there was 11,257 finishers in the half which makes this by far the largest half marathon I have ever ran in which is cool. Looking at times a head of me makes me feel pretty good that I felt good running this workout, lots of guys that really went for it had rough races. So I’m lucky this was just a hard workout and not a race or I’m sure things might have not gone so smooth for me. (http://results.active.com/pages/searchform.jsp?rsID=89091)
After Race: it was a rush to get out of Miami for early return flight. Long story short since this is a long journal. 10+ hours in airports or in the air and lot’s of junk food (the day to do it). I feel very blessed to have this trip and to get to experience it was Marian and meet great people. Very thankful to God every day for running and all the great places it has taken me and all the great people I have met through it all
The Plan: After a week to regroup and recovery (mostly from travel/lack of sleep) I will have 10 weeks to start hitting the training hard! Not just miles but solid workouts now. I want to run a half marathon tuneup in 4-6 weeks and really go for a big one. Something 1:07-8ish would be the goal so around my PR time. The focus is Boston Marathon but a good hard half is still needed in my book before hand.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Team Strands.com partners with Mizuno!
1st of many updates on new things happening with Team Strands.com!
Team Strands.com announces 3-year partnership with Mizuno USA
Corvallis, Oregon, January 17, 2010--Strands.com has announced a partnership with Mizuno for the sponsorship of Team Strands.com—a team of world-class and developing national class athletes through 2012.
Team Strands.com will include Olympians Elva Dryer and Kate O'Neill, and Olympic Trials Qualifiers in every distance ranging from the 800 meters to the Marathon. Some new names added to the 2010 roster include Josh Moen, Michael Kilburg, and Andrew Ledwith, among others.
Moen was the runner-up in a closely battled 2009 USA 10-mile Championships where champion Abdi Abdirahmin and Moen posted the fourth and fifth fastest times ever run by an American in the 10- mile (46:35 and 46:38, respectively). Michael Kilburg brings 28:20 and 13:51 2-time NCAA All-American track credentials to the team, and Ledwith was the fourth-place finisher in the 2008 NCAA Cross Country Championships and 2009 Irish National Cross Country Champion.
Team Strands.com Roster:
Meghan Armstrong
Matt Downin
Elva Dryer
Josh Glaab
Zoila Gomez
Matt Hooley
Eddie Ernest-Jones
Mike Kilburg
Andrew Ledwith
Josh Moen
Seamus Nally
Kate O'Neill
Jason Pyles
Marian Pyles
Jon Rankin
Mike Reneau
Mike Sayenko
Chris Siemers
Justin Young
Mizuno USA Inc. offers a complete line of high performance running and track & field footwear and apparel. "We at Strands.com are thrilled to be partnering with a leader in the specialty running category," said Matt Downin, Director of Marketing at Strands.com. "This partnership ensures that our athletes will be training and racing in the highest quality shoes and apparel available.”
“Strands.com is committed to providing the best online tools for athletes to get the most out of their training, and Mizuno shares that same commitment to quality and excellence for the athlete, so the partnership was a natural fit.”
Team Strands.com announces 3-year partnership with Mizuno USA
Corvallis, Oregon, January 17, 2010--Strands.com has announced a partnership with Mizuno for the sponsorship of Team Strands.com—a team of world-class and developing national class athletes through 2012.
Team Strands.com will include Olympians Elva Dryer and Kate O'Neill, and Olympic Trials Qualifiers in every distance ranging from the 800 meters to the Marathon. Some new names added to the 2010 roster include Josh Moen, Michael Kilburg, and Andrew Ledwith, among others.
Moen was the runner-up in a closely battled 2009 USA 10-mile Championships where champion Abdi Abdirahmin and Moen posted the fourth and fifth fastest times ever run by an American in the 10- mile (46:35 and 46:38, respectively). Michael Kilburg brings 28:20 and 13:51 2-time NCAA All-American track credentials to the team, and Ledwith was the fourth-place finisher in the 2008 NCAA Cross Country Championships and 2009 Irish National Cross Country Champion.
Team Strands.com Roster:
Meghan Armstrong
Matt Downin
Elva Dryer
Josh Glaab
Zoila Gomez
Matt Hooley
Eddie Ernest-Jones
Mike Kilburg
Andrew Ledwith
Josh Moen
Seamus Nally
Kate O'Neill
Jason Pyles
Marian Pyles
Jon Rankin
Mike Reneau
Mike Sayenko
Chris Siemers
Justin Young
Mizuno USA Inc. offers a complete line of high performance running and track & field footwear and apparel. "We at Strands.com are thrilled to be partnering with a leader in the specialty running category," said Matt Downin, Director of Marketing at Strands.com. "This partnership ensures that our athletes will be training and racing in the highest quality shoes and apparel available.”
“Strands.com is committed to providing the best online tools for athletes to get the most out of their training, and Mizuno shares that same commitment to quality and excellence for the athlete, so the partnership was a natural fit.”
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Getting Boston Ready!
*This pic of Marian and Marshall getting in a nice medium long 13miler Tuesday appeared in the Charleston Daily Mail newspaper. Below is the link(picture 3 of the link) and the text that appeared with the picture.http://dailymail.com/News/Kanawha/201001060179
"Training no matter what the weather or occasion, Marian Pyles and Marshall Spradling, keep up a brisk pace to get ready for the Boston Marathon Tuesday along a snow covered Quarrier Street. Even though Spradling turned 34 today, even that was enough to keep him away from training. 'Only nine miles to go,' Spradling said as he and Pyles hoofed it downtown. Bob Wojcieszak/Daily Mail"
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Humbling Marathon for reasons I wouldn't have guessed
6thplace-2:29.34
Below copied from my Strands Page so here is the rambling breakdown http://www.strands.com/RunPyles/posts/14301752
Try to keep this short(it won't be though). Leg wise race was going really well, maybe went out too slow but felt great at the half running in so-so conditions (cold, good wind in the face). Hit half at 1:12.47 and other then a pain that was building in my stomach knew I was going to negative split and felt like this would be my race and huge step. Ran my fastest splits from half to 16 but stomach got bad cramps, still ran a good 17 but the stomach was more then a cramp and I hit the porta potty right after 17split was in/out in 1:12, knew I could make it up and still get 2:24's. But it ended up being the end of the day, every time I tried running 5:25-30 pace I had to go. Stopped again at 19(very mad now), didn't get a bathroom split but it was one of those you wish you could just start the day.(In there longer then first time 1:30-2 probably, doesn't matter). After that I couldn't do it, almost felt like crying because it was out of my hands and legs it was just plain bathroom issues. But hard running made the urge continue to come in. Had to find pace that just got me home, then with 3.2 to go I saw it would only take 18 minutes to still sneak under 2:28, tried one last time and it was same old thing so jogged in for a whopping 19:40ish last 3.2. The worst feeling to run from 19 on at a jog feel when the legs wanted to go. The guy that I had almost caught at 17 finished in 2:25.32 and I had caught him leg wise ready to keep attacking. At the end of the day no matter what happened I finished in 2:29.34 and it has me wanting so much more now. Training will stay the same, the changes I will make is just basic changes to always be slightly different from build to build like some really long runs that I was scared to do this build because I just wanted to stay healthy and put down 2:22-2:24 on paper and start thinking I could one day reach my goal. Boston is the plan, won't rule out a early winter Marathon though. Now it is mental thing that I need to put it down. Last year 1:07 was a mental step the same way close to 2:22 would be a mental thing. (Not so short but after something like this you just want a redo tomorrow) Very blessed to just have the ability to start a race, I don't take that for granted and SOOO excited to see Marian have a solid day and place(2nd overall 1:21.09 PR), she wanted much faster but she will get another half Jan/Feb to prove what she can do. Thanks for all the comments and trust me I don't need to hear this was a good time, I know it wasn't but i do appreciate the nice words people have texted/messaged. Now time to move on, that was my rant...tomorrow starts next phase(rest or possible mini 4 more weeks to see if I can mentally bounce back for something shorter 10k/or Half)
Below copied from my Strands Page so here is the rambling breakdown http://www.strands.com/RunPyles/posts/14301752
Try to keep this short(it won't be though). Leg wise race was going really well, maybe went out too slow but felt great at the half running in so-so conditions (cold, good wind in the face). Hit half at 1:12.47 and other then a pain that was building in my stomach knew I was going to negative split and felt like this would be my race and huge step. Ran my fastest splits from half to 16 but stomach got bad cramps, still ran a good 17 but the stomach was more then a cramp and I hit the porta potty right after 17split was in/out in 1:12, knew I could make it up and still get 2:24's. But it ended up being the end of the day, every time I tried running 5:25-30 pace I had to go. Stopped again at 19(very mad now), didn't get a bathroom split but it was one of those you wish you could just start the day.(In there longer then first time 1:30-2 probably, doesn't matter). After that I couldn't do it, almost felt like crying because it was out of my hands and legs it was just plain bathroom issues. But hard running made the urge continue to come in. Had to find pace that just got me home, then with 3.2 to go I saw it would only take 18 minutes to still sneak under 2:28, tried one last time and it was same old thing so jogged in for a whopping 19:40ish last 3.2. The worst feeling to run from 19 on at a jog feel when the legs wanted to go. The guy that I had almost caught at 17 finished in 2:25.32 and I had caught him leg wise ready to keep attacking. At the end of the day no matter what happened I finished in 2:29.34 and it has me wanting so much more now. Training will stay the same, the changes I will make is just basic changes to always be slightly different from build to build like some really long runs that I was scared to do this build because I just wanted to stay healthy and put down 2:22-2:24 on paper and start thinking I could one day reach my goal. Boston is the plan, won't rule out a early winter Marathon though. Now it is mental thing that I need to put it down. Last year 1:07 was a mental step the same way close to 2:22 would be a mental thing. (Not so short but after something like this you just want a redo tomorrow) Very blessed to just have the ability to start a race, I don't take that for granted and SOOO excited to see Marian have a solid day and place(2nd overall 1:21.09 PR), she wanted much faster but she will get another half Jan/Feb to prove what she can do. Thanks for all the comments and trust me I don't need to hear this was a good time, I know it wasn't but i do appreciate the nice words people have texted/messaged. Now time to move on, that was my rant...tomorrow starts next phase(rest or possible mini 4 more weeks to see if I can mentally bounce back for something shorter 10k/or Half)
Saturday, September 5, 2009
2009 CDR Result
Quick result finished 8th overall, 3rd American, and top WV. Came out with $350(250 for top WV and 100 for special Bob Fleming WV award). Marian was pay out wise top WV money $250 so a nice pay day for two poor part time job workers..lol
Ran 1:22.22 which is 5:29 pace for the tough 15miler. Lost lots of time in the hills(did not run them like I thought I would, ran almost the pace I would run up them in training runs) and beat myself up with a 5:04 fall off the mountain 8th mile. I knew for that mile you have to run closer to goal pace to save the legs and I didn't and I couldn't turn over under 5:20 in the last 7miles of flats. I still think this is close to Marathon Pace type race or since I'm just now bringing in specific workouts I'm hoping it is 5 or so seconds a mile slower then what I run a Marathon at some point this next year or two.
Time was 25th fastest WV time of all time(although it is 4 fastest WV time of the 90's and 2000's). So missed top 20 which I wanted(next year with more earlier workouts under my belt) but mainly missed time goal I had sub 1:21 and sub 1:22. I think I'm strong enough for 1:21 but not enough longer tempo work that makes you tough and fast. #1 goal is Fall Marathon and now it is time to make sure I continue off this solid base I have and turn it into true fast fitness!!
**I had the worse blister problem of my life today. Started feeling them at 10ish, they never got too bad in the race. Nothing that messed with pace just changed my foot landing around a few times the last 5 miles. But huge blood filled blister right below both big toes and running down close to mid foot. Painful now that is for sure.
**Official Results: http://wvgazette.com/Sports/200909050187
**Splits: 5:15, 5:14, 5:29(bridge), 5:35(last 400 UPHILL), 6:13(nasty hill still) (27:47@5miles), 5:48(hill), 5:24, 5:04(dropping off a mountain), 5:21, 5:26(54:54 @ 10), 5:22, 5:22, 5:25, 5:32, 5:47
Ran 1:22.22 which is 5:29 pace for the tough 15miler. Lost lots of time in the hills(did not run them like I thought I would, ran almost the pace I would run up them in training runs) and beat myself up with a 5:04 fall off the mountain 8th mile. I knew for that mile you have to run closer to goal pace to save the legs and I didn't and I couldn't turn over under 5:20 in the last 7miles of flats. I still think this is close to Marathon Pace type race or since I'm just now bringing in specific workouts I'm hoping it is 5 or so seconds a mile slower then what I run a Marathon at some point this next year or two.
Time was 25th fastest WV time of all time(although it is 4 fastest WV time of the 90's and 2000's). So missed top 20 which I wanted(next year with more earlier workouts under my belt) but mainly missed time goal I had sub 1:21 and sub 1:22. I think I'm strong enough for 1:21 but not enough longer tempo work that makes you tough and fast. #1 goal is Fall Marathon and now it is time to make sure I continue off this solid base I have and turn it into true fast fitness!!
**I had the worse blister problem of my life today. Started feeling them at 10ish, they never got too bad in the race. Nothing that messed with pace just changed my foot landing around a few times the last 5 miles. But huge blood filled blister right below both big toes and running down close to mid foot. Painful now that is for sure.
**Official Results: http://wvgazette.com/Sports/200909050187
**Splits: 5:15, 5:14, 5:29(bridge), 5:35(last 400 UPHILL), 6:13(nasty hill still) (27:47@5miles), 5:48(hill), 5:24, 5:04(dropping off a mountain), 5:21, 5:26(54:54 @ 10), 5:22, 5:22, 5:25, 5:32, 5:47
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Top All-Time Best WV Performances at CDR
The Charleston Distance Run 15miler:
These results show 5:20s pace for CDR is a great time!
Charleston Distance Run
1-Steve Taylor 1:14:31, 1987
2-John Dotson 1:15.57, 1982
3-Carl Hatfield 1:16:43, 1978
4-Dave Tabor 1:16:43, 1987
5-Mike Dodge 1:17:30, 1985
6-Mark O’Neal 1:17:45, 1984
7-Jerry Dotson 1:18:04, 1982
8-Bill Carney 1:18:32, 1999
9-Tom Cherchuck 1:19:13
10-Bubby Dent 1:19:30, 1989
11-Tod Kaufmann 1:19:34, 1982
12-Larry Taylor 1:19:48, 1982
13-Jeff Trump 1:20:16, 1987
14-Josh Simpson 1:20:38, 2005
15-Frank Lewis 1:20:41 1985
16-Tim Coffman 1:20:44, 1985
17-John Frazier 1:20:54, 1985
18-Dave Kline 1:20:50, 1986
19-Rich Watts 1:21:39, 1982
20-Mark Bailey 1:21:56
My best CDR: 1:22.23 (lifetime goal to get under 1:20 on that course)
Click on this link to see the 1976 results and the 1975 results. Crazy some of the legends that ran those year's! This is how deep the field was back then, Don Kardong Oly Marathon Team Member finished 18th...crazy! Also great CDR stuff at this link plus lot's of other good stuff: TALLMAN TRACK CLUB (Click on the index to see what each link contains).
These results show 5:20s pace for CDR is a great time!
Charleston Distance Run
1-Steve Taylor 1:14:31, 1987
2-John Dotson 1:15.57, 1982
3-Carl Hatfield 1:16:43, 1978
4-Dave Tabor 1:16:43, 1987
5-Mike Dodge 1:17:30, 1985
6-Mark O’Neal 1:17:45, 1984
7-Jerry Dotson 1:18:04, 1982
8-Bill Carney 1:18:32, 1999
9-Tom Cherchuck 1:19:13
10-Bubby Dent 1:19:30, 1989
11-Tod Kaufmann 1:19:34, 1982
12-Larry Taylor 1:19:48, 1982
13-Jeff Trump 1:20:16, 1987
14-Josh Simpson 1:20:38, 2005
15-Frank Lewis 1:20:41 1985
16-Tim Coffman 1:20:44, 1985
17-John Frazier 1:20:54, 1985
18-Dave Kline 1:20:50, 1986
19-Rich Watts 1:21:39, 1982
20-Mark Bailey 1:21:56
My best CDR: 1:22.23 (lifetime goal to get under 1:20 on that course)
Click on this link to see the 1976 results and the 1975 results. Crazy some of the legends that ran those year's! This is how deep the field was back then, Don Kardong Oly Marathon Team Member finished 18th...crazy! Also great CDR stuff at this link plus lot's of other good stuff: TALLMAN TRACK CLUB (Click on the index to see what each link contains).
Friday, June 5, 2009
WV 5K Championship Links
*Here is all the links that Pat has put on his site. Crazy how much support this race is getting!
6/5/09 Huntington holds 5K Championship Saturday
The radio is getting in on the event! Check this out to listen to Race Director Pat Riley, Jason Pyles, and Chuck Angel talk about the race!
6/5/09 Nearly 400 Signed up for 5K in "Runnington, WV"
God bless the Herald-Dispatch for running all these article HYPING up the WV 5K Championship tomorrow!! We have a surprise or two for everyone that comes down tomorrow morning.
Don't forget to stop by tonight at the Pullman Plaza Hotel from 4-8 PM and pick up your packet! You get a free pasta dinner from Frankie D's Italian Chophouse.
6/4/09 Hundreds Signed up fro WV 5K in "Runnington, WV!!!"
Ha, how cool is that, Runnington, WV!!!! I love it!!! Another correction to the article, we are well over 375 runners and more coming in every day!
6/3/09 Couple and Co-Workers Train For WV 5K
Another great article about the WV 5K that is coming up this weekend!! This is going to be the biggest race in Huntington!!
6/2/09 Pyles Appreciates a Home Run!
One minor correction to the article, there are well over 300 pre-entered now!! This run is going to be HUGE!
6/1/09 WV 5K Race Committee Posts Street Closures and Packet Pickup Information
This is a must-see if you plan on coming to Huntington on Saturday morning. It is important to say that those who are wanting to take advantage of the free Pasta Dinner at Frankie D's will need to pickup up their packets at Pullman Plaza Hotel from 4-8PM on Friday June 5th!
5/31/09 Huntington Prepares for West Virginia 5K Championship
This week is going to be AWESOME!!! We have so many good runners coming down and more are contacting us everyday!! One more thing, we have a surprise or two for all the runners on June 6, but you have to be there to see it!!
5/27/09 Friends training hard for 5K run coming up
Another great story about people in our area getting ready for the WV 5K Championship Run/Walk on June 6th!! We are thinking that activities like these may make Huntington "Running Town, WV"!!!
5/20/09 Huntington to host first 5K race in more than 10 years
Nice profile on Jason and Marian Pyles, who have committed to running the WV 5K Championship!
5/13/09 It's Time to Step Up and Support the WV 5K Championship Run/Walk
Great article from the man behind the Create Huntington Group. This is a wonderful group who gets together and creates ideas and actions that make the Huntington, WV area better!
5/1/09 WV 5K Championship posts Prize Money List
With a little over a month away from the biggest race to hit Huntington since the Huntington Distance Classic of the 80's and 90's, the entries are starting to come in. The prize list has been posted on the site. Make sure to get your entries in soon!
6/5/09 Huntington holds 5K Championship Saturday
The radio is getting in on the event! Check this out to listen to Race Director Pat Riley, Jason Pyles, and Chuck Angel talk about the race!
6/5/09 Nearly 400 Signed up for 5K in "Runnington, WV"
God bless the Herald-Dispatch for running all these article HYPING up the WV 5K Championship tomorrow!! We have a surprise or two for everyone that comes down tomorrow morning.
Don't forget to stop by tonight at the Pullman Plaza Hotel from 4-8 PM and pick up your packet! You get a free pasta dinner from Frankie D's Italian Chophouse.
6/4/09 Hundreds Signed up fro WV 5K in "Runnington, WV!!!"
Ha, how cool is that, Runnington, WV!!!! I love it!!! Another correction to the article, we are well over 375 runners and more coming in every day!
6/3/09 Couple and Co-Workers Train For WV 5K
Another great article about the WV 5K that is coming up this weekend!! This is going to be the biggest race in Huntington!!
6/2/09 Pyles Appreciates a Home Run!
One minor correction to the article, there are well over 300 pre-entered now!! This run is going to be HUGE!
6/1/09 WV 5K Race Committee Posts Street Closures and Packet Pickup Information
This is a must-see if you plan on coming to Huntington on Saturday morning. It is important to say that those who are wanting to take advantage of the free Pasta Dinner at Frankie D's will need to pickup up their packets at Pullman Plaza Hotel from 4-8PM on Friday June 5th!
5/31/09 Huntington Prepares for West Virginia 5K Championship
This week is going to be AWESOME!!! We have so many good runners coming down and more are contacting us everyday!! One more thing, we have a surprise or two for all the runners on June 6, but you have to be there to see it!!
5/27/09 Friends training hard for 5K run coming up
Another great story about people in our area getting ready for the WV 5K Championship Run/Walk on June 6th!! We are thinking that activities like these may make Huntington "Running Town, WV"!!!
5/20/09 Huntington to host first 5K race in more than 10 years
Nice profile on Jason and Marian Pyles, who have committed to running the WV 5K Championship!
5/13/09 It's Time to Step Up and Support the WV 5K Championship Run/Walk
Great article from the man behind the Create Huntington Group. This is a wonderful group who gets together and creates ideas and actions that make the Huntington, WV area better!
5/1/09 WV 5K Championship posts Prize Money List
With a little over a month away from the biggest race to hit Huntington since the Huntington Distance Classic of the 80's and 90's, the entries are starting to come in. The prize list has been posted on the site. Make sure to get your entries in soon!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
The Magical Mile (The start of my life as a runner)
**A look back at the event that made me start to love running and how I decided that running was what I wanted to continue to do for a long time!
Back in Middle/High School all I cared about was the MILE(actually 1600m)! I would be entered into 3-4 different events and I could win them all except the Mile and I would be very upset! In middle school without much competition it was actually pretty easy to win the 800, 1600, 3200, and 4x400 each meet. I think I lost a total of 1 time between all three(800,1600,3200) my 8th grade year. But the time I lost it was in the 1600 to Larry Atkins who would win the state meet 1600 state title our jr year of high school(I was third in that state meet 1600). I revenged that middle school lost in the 1600 to Larry at our last meet that season with my middle school PR of 5:03! It was the revenge factor that carried me to what was a 2 second best time because I couldn't lose in what my mind thought was "my event"! My best times that year were 2:15, 5:03 and around 10:40's if I remember correctly and what was cool about it was the only training done to prepare for races were 100m sprints at practice!(Training of Champions we figured..lol)
On to high school I felt the same all I wanted to run was the Mile(1600), I even have some funny stories of winning the mile at meets then fighting(all in fun) with the coach to get out of the 3200 when we ran at single session meets. In two session meets the 3200 was before the 1600 so he was always in agreement that there was no need to get tired for "my event". My progression was strong and smooth until my Senior year. I went 4:45 as a freshman(broke my ankle the day before regional playing basketball so missed a good chance to run faster), I ran 4:34 as a sophomore to finish 5th in the region where top 4 got to go to states, 2nd-4th were also 4:34 in that race as we had a blanket finish. The worse thing was my time was faster then the other 3 regions winner, so I had to stay home during the state meet although it was the 5th fastest time of the year at that point. I was heart broken but determined that it wouldn't happen again the next spring.
My junior year started out like every track season for me in high school. I didn't run a single step of training until the first day of practice. I did however play year around basketball which for as much as we played I think it kept me in pretty good shape speed wise. During the junior season I had an early season setback when I rolled my ankle playing basketball(during the AAU State 17-u tournament, where I had back to back 55point games against Beckley and Parkersburg and was on top of the world I thought for playing big time college basketball) but my ankle healed and before you knew it, my time was dropping faster then ever 4:40(last regular season meet)..4:35(conference champ)...4:32(regional champ)...and then bam 4:25 at the state meet to finish third in one of the faster years of the 90's. It was a race I led in usual fashion out in 60, 2:06 at 800, then hang on(passed with around 600m to go) and hanging on always hurt so bad I told myself every single race I'm going to stop, which I never did.
So my senior year starts after the ending of our regional basketball tournament lose. That year unlike other's we decided to train differently in order to get that State Title Mile Crown, I was very naive when it came to running. In the past 3 year's all we had done was 300m repeats almost every day. I ran probably a total of 10miles a week and most of those came from meets. It wasn't easy training though, we ran the 300s as many as 15 all-out. So basically our training was fast running, all the time. So the senior year we decide I need to run mileage, which we had read is the way to go. Only problem was I tried doing 6mile runs right off the bat. Being that over the years a 3200 race was the longest I had ever ran, so this wasn't a good approach to reaching the goal of being the state champ. What happened was a ache in my shin from the first week that got so bad I would limp around all day then try running at practice and meets. It never happened for me that year due to what was later found out to be a stress fx. I ran the entire year on it not knowing and only got down to 4:44, 1 second faster then what I had ran as a freshman.
Most would think that would be the perfect way to say I'm done with this running stuff and sign to play basketball(had offers from Winthrop, Liberty, Old Dominion(Va), Coastal Carolina, and many D2 or smaller schools and even a walk-on invite to Iowa) Most of my basketball recruitment was being helped by Donnie Jones(Florida assistant at the time and current Marshall head coach) that had contacts at most of those bigger schools and was always helping me out.
But all I could think of was running. The turning point that it was the way I wanted to go was when Casey Batey put his arm around me at the state meet and said "we still want you to join us man" after I think I limped to a 5minute 1600 and dead last place finish at the state meet. With tears in my eyes that meant a lot to me and it was the main reason I decided to try and become a runner. Along the way it didn't hurt that Marshall University Basketball Head Coach offered me an invited walk-on to play basketball while I ran at MU. I knew going in though that I would play(sit the bench) for one year and then devote myself sporting wise to running 100%.
Some might wonder what made me think about sharing my Magical Mile past well one it was the event that made me like running and I was reminded of that this past Thursday when I did a fast finish mile at the end of my 55minute run. I ran 4:36 which at the end of a run isn't to bad but it felt really good to being pushing a mile again.
It makes me think I wish I had the chance to run the mile more when in college. I ran a total of 1 year of track due to playing basketball my first year, being hurt the next few seasons(indoor and outdoor) and then the program getting dropped while I stile had two years left of eligibility. My best college time was 4:26 which I ran a total of 4 times that indoor season along with a 4:27 and 4:28 DMR split. I always thought I would run between 4:15-18 if I had those last 2 years and would have stayed healthy. But of course I will never know that for sure. I have ran 2 hard miles since college both being more for fun and while training for longer races, they were 4:26 and 4:32(solo time trial).
My time to run fast for short stuff probably has past, but with the chance to attend many indoor/outdoor meets with our University of Charleston women over the next few year's I won't be surprised if I give the Mile one more go and see if I can do something that would be Magical for my ability and bring a smile to my face knowing it was the reason all my running ever started in the first place!
Back in Middle/High School all I cared about was the MILE(actually 1600m)! I would be entered into 3-4 different events and I could win them all except the Mile and I would be very upset! In middle school without much competition it was actually pretty easy to win the 800, 1600, 3200, and 4x400 each meet. I think I lost a total of 1 time between all three(800,1600,3200) my 8th grade year. But the time I lost it was in the 1600 to Larry Atkins who would win the state meet 1600 state title our jr year of high school(I was third in that state meet 1600). I revenged that middle school lost in the 1600 to Larry at our last meet that season with my middle school PR of 5:03! It was the revenge factor that carried me to what was a 2 second best time because I couldn't lose in what my mind thought was "my event"! My best times that year were 2:15, 5:03 and around 10:40's if I remember correctly and what was cool about it was the only training done to prepare for races were 100m sprints at practice!(Training of Champions we figured..lol)
On to high school I felt the same all I wanted to run was the Mile(1600), I even have some funny stories of winning the mile at meets then fighting(all in fun) with the coach to get out of the 3200 when we ran at single session meets. In two session meets the 3200 was before the 1600 so he was always in agreement that there was no need to get tired for "my event". My progression was strong and smooth until my Senior year. I went 4:45 as a freshman(broke my ankle the day before regional playing basketball so missed a good chance to run faster), I ran 4:34 as a sophomore to finish 5th in the region where top 4 got to go to states, 2nd-4th were also 4:34 in that race as we had a blanket finish. The worse thing was my time was faster then the other 3 regions winner, so I had to stay home during the state meet although it was the 5th fastest time of the year at that point. I was heart broken but determined that it wouldn't happen again the next spring.
My junior year started out like every track season for me in high school. I didn't run a single step of training until the first day of practice. I did however play year around basketball which for as much as we played I think it kept me in pretty good shape speed wise. During the junior season I had an early season setback when I rolled my ankle playing basketball(during the AAU State 17-u tournament, where I had back to back 55point games against Beckley and Parkersburg and was on top of the world I thought for playing big time college basketball) but my ankle healed and before you knew it, my time was dropping faster then ever 4:40(last regular season meet)..4:35(conference champ)...4:32(regional champ)...and then bam 4:25 at the state meet to finish third in one of the faster years of the 90's. It was a race I led in usual fashion out in 60, 2:06 at 800, then hang on(passed with around 600m to go) and hanging on always hurt so bad I told myself every single race I'm going to stop, which I never did.
So my senior year starts after the ending of our regional basketball tournament lose. That year unlike other's we decided to train differently in order to get that State Title Mile Crown, I was very naive when it came to running. In the past 3 year's all we had done was 300m repeats almost every day. I ran probably a total of 10miles a week and most of those came from meets. It wasn't easy training though, we ran the 300s as many as 15 all-out. So basically our training was fast running, all the time. So the senior year we decide I need to run mileage, which we had read is the way to go. Only problem was I tried doing 6mile runs right off the bat. Being that over the years a 3200 race was the longest I had ever ran, so this wasn't a good approach to reaching the goal of being the state champ. What happened was a ache in my shin from the first week that got so bad I would limp around all day then try running at practice and meets. It never happened for me that year due to what was later found out to be a stress fx. I ran the entire year on it not knowing and only got down to 4:44, 1 second faster then what I had ran as a freshman.
Most would think that would be the perfect way to say I'm done with this running stuff and sign to play basketball(had offers from Winthrop, Liberty, Old Dominion(Va), Coastal Carolina, and many D2 or smaller schools and even a walk-on invite to Iowa) Most of my basketball recruitment was being helped by Donnie Jones(Florida assistant at the time and current Marshall head coach) that had contacts at most of those bigger schools and was always helping me out.
But all I could think of was running. The turning point that it was the way I wanted to go was when Casey Batey put his arm around me at the state meet and said "we still want you to join us man" after I think I limped to a 5minute 1600 and dead last place finish at the state meet. With tears in my eyes that meant a lot to me and it was the main reason I decided to try and become a runner. Along the way it didn't hurt that Marshall University Basketball Head Coach offered me an invited walk-on to play basketball while I ran at MU. I knew going in though that I would play(sit the bench) for one year and then devote myself sporting wise to running 100%.
Some might wonder what made me think about sharing my Magical Mile past well one it was the event that made me like running and I was reminded of that this past Thursday when I did a fast finish mile at the end of my 55minute run. I ran 4:36 which at the end of a run isn't to bad but it felt really good to being pushing a mile again.
It makes me think I wish I had the chance to run the mile more when in college. I ran a total of 1 year of track due to playing basketball my first year, being hurt the next few seasons(indoor and outdoor) and then the program getting dropped while I stile had two years left of eligibility. My best college time was 4:26 which I ran a total of 4 times that indoor season along with a 4:27 and 4:28 DMR split. I always thought I would run between 4:15-18 if I had those last 2 years and would have stayed healthy. But of course I will never know that for sure. I have ran 2 hard miles since college both being more for fun and while training for longer races, they were 4:26 and 4:32(solo time trial).
My time to run fast for short stuff probably has past, but with the chance to attend many indoor/outdoor meets with our University of Charleston women over the next few year's I won't be surprised if I give the Mile one more go and see if I can do something that would be Magical for my ability and bring a smile to my face knowing it was the reason all my running ever started in the first place!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Eugene Build--Training Log Recap
*Had 27 week build into TCM, then took off only 4 days before started what was planned to be a 24 week build into the Shamrock Half Marathon. In late December I got the call from Matt Downin with the offer to join Team Strands, by January I was on Team Strands and booked a early test race to see where I was at off base training. I went to Austin, Texas and didn't run the race I really wanted but still came out with a huge PR of 1:07.48. Since that race and even some signs during that race things haven't felt 100% again. That was 14 long weeks ago, along the way I have had some solid workouts and jumped into 3 races using 2 (Shamrock 8K and Adam Johnson Run) of them as workout efforts and having to drop out of the one that I tried to race(Sea Ray10K). All signs point to I've went too long without a recovery break and it is showing now with all the ups and downs in training, constant sore throat, mentally worn out, and having troubles sleeping through the night. The combination of getting sick over the winter and rushing back and not planning better recovery were the mistakes. My hopes are still to finish off this long build with one last race this weekend and hope to manage something solid. Most likely this week I won't do any workouts now and just run really easy to try and recover enough for that one last crack at racing!
Some running stats from the past 52 weeks:
52weeks-4018 miles ran
Days missed-33 (16 of those were planned and never more then 4days straight)
Crazy thing is I usually miss between 12-20weeks a year due to injuries so this past 52 week Stretch I'm really proud and happy about. Just made the mistake of not taking a planned 1-2 week recovery break of little to no running and I have put my finger on that as the reason for my past 8-12 weeks having many ups and downs in training.
Past 30 weeks of training recap:
1: 14miles (4days off after TCM)
2: 40miles
3: 60miles
4: 59miles
5: 75miles *4mile Steady-State(5:27avg), Stride Wkout(15x20sec), LR 1:45
6: 79miles *6mile Hilly SS (5:28), LR 1:45
7: 80miles *SW(12x30sec), 5K Race (15:20), LR 1:45
8: 72miles *8mile Hilly SS (5:29), LR 1:45
9: 76miles *SW(12x30sec), LR 2HR
10: 87miles *8mile Hilly SS (5:27), LR 2HR
11: 84miles *10mile Hilly SS (5:26), LR 2HR
12: 73miles *6mile SS (5:21), 15mile LR Progression
13: 89miles *Hill Wkout(10x90sec), Fartlek (4x8min on/3 min easy rec), LR 2HR
14: 90miles *Fartlek (15x1on/off), 5mile Tempo(5:10), LR 2:05
15: 80miles *SW (20x30sec over hills), LR 1:50 (Calf Issue forced missed wkout)
16: 80miles *5xMile, Fartlek(10x1on/off), 3m Half Marathon(1:07.48/5:10avg)
17: 80miles *Two 2hour LR's, most running inside due to snow!
18: 95miles *HW(10x90sec), Fartlek Hilly(4x80n/3off), 19mile LR
19: 84miles *HW (12x90sec), 10K Tempo (5:12), LR 2HR
20: 62miles *Fartlek(20x1on/off), (Sickness started)
21: 90miles *Fartlek(10x3 on/1 off), LR 20miles
22: 58miles *LR 2HR (Missed days with Flu)
23: 96miles *CI 800s, 7mile Tempo(5:19), SW(15x35sec), LR2HR
24: 90miles *CI 800s, Shamrock 8K (25:09), LR 20+pacing Marian
25: 85miles *4xMile(4:50avg), Adam Johnson Run(15:09), LR 1:30
26: 75miles *Fartlek(14x10n/0ff), Tempo Intervals(3x2miles), LR 1:45(w/surges)
27: 80miles *CI 1000s, Sea Ray 10K(DNF 6400 @5:01), 17mile LR Porgression
28: 95miles *CI 800s(+hill sprints), 2x4mile Tempo (5:08/5:14), LR 2HR
29: 68miles *Fartlek (10x1on/off), 8Mile SS (5:18), (Started feeling run down again)
30: Eugene Half Marathon Week (Looks to be nothing but easy running now)
Some running stats from the past 52 weeks:
52weeks-4018 miles ran
Days missed-33 (16 of those were planned and never more then 4days straight)
Crazy thing is I usually miss between 12-20weeks a year due to injuries so this past 52 week Stretch I'm really proud and happy about. Just made the mistake of not taking a planned 1-2 week recovery break of little to no running and I have put my finger on that as the reason for my past 8-12 weeks having many ups and downs in training.
Past 30 weeks of training recap:
1: 14miles (4days off after TCM)
2: 40miles
3: 60miles
4: 59miles
5: 75miles *4mile Steady-State(5:27avg), Stride Wkout(15x20sec), LR 1:45
6: 79miles *6mile Hilly SS (5:28), LR 1:45
7: 80miles *SW(12x30sec), 5K Race (15:20), LR 1:45
8: 72miles *8mile Hilly SS (5:29), LR 1:45
9: 76miles *SW(12x30sec), LR 2HR
10: 87miles *8mile Hilly SS (5:27), LR 2HR
11: 84miles *10mile Hilly SS (5:26), LR 2HR
12: 73miles *6mile SS (5:21), 15mile LR Progression
13: 89miles *Hill Wkout(10x90sec), Fartlek (4x8min on/3 min easy rec), LR 2HR
14: 90miles *Fartlek (15x1on/off), 5mile Tempo(5:10), LR 2:05
15: 80miles *SW (20x30sec over hills), LR 1:50 (Calf Issue forced missed wkout)
16: 80miles *5xMile, Fartlek(10x1on/off), 3m Half Marathon(1:07.48/5:10avg)
17: 80miles *Two 2hour LR's, most running inside due to snow!
18: 95miles *HW(10x90sec), Fartlek Hilly(4x80n/3off), 19mile LR
19: 84miles *HW (12x90sec), 10K Tempo (5:12), LR 2HR
20: 62miles *Fartlek(20x1on/off), (Sickness started)
21: 90miles *Fartlek(10x3 on/1 off), LR 20miles
22: 58miles *LR 2HR (Missed days with Flu)
23: 96miles *CI 800s, 7mile Tempo(5:19), SW(15x35sec), LR2HR
24: 90miles *CI 800s, Shamrock 8K (25:09), LR 20+pacing Marian
25: 85miles *4xMile(4:50avg), Adam Johnson Run(15:09), LR 1:30
26: 75miles *Fartlek(14x10n/0ff), Tempo Intervals(3x2miles), LR 1:45(w/surges)
27: 80miles *CI 1000s, Sea Ray 10K(DNF 6400 @5:01), 17mile LR Porgression
28: 95miles *CI 800s(+hill sprints), 2x4mile Tempo (5:08/5:14), LR 2HR
29: 68miles *Fartlek (10x1on/off), 8Mile SS (5:18), (Started feeling run down again)
30: Eugene Half Marathon Week (Looks to be nothing but easy running now)
Monday, March 23, 2009
Marian @ Shamrock Marathon
RESULTS: http://results.active.com/pages/searchform.jsp?posted_p=t&sort=convert(p_chip_time)&rsID=75881&state=WV&queryType=arbitrary&page=1&numPerPage=25*Marian ran her debut Marathon yesterday in Virginia Beach, VA at "The Yuengling Shamrock Marathon". We had some mainly private goal times but the most important goal was to gain the experience of what the marathon feels like. I have only done one marathon and I can say that if you haven't done one you have no idea what it is really is about to "race" that distance. By that I only mean that it is a totally different event compared to all the shorter distances including half marathon-15mile races, so the feedback gained from running one goes a long ways for your future plans of marathoning.
She came out of the weekend learning so much and she gained that experience. She saw what it is really like to bonk and still have 8 or more miles to go(not fun or easy to do). But as for the race she finished 3rd overall female and 43rd overall out of 2,555 finishers with a time of 3:00.27 which is 6:53 per mile pace for 26.2 miles. Now that the race has past I will come out and say we really felt anything from 2:50-55 was where she could finish around.
The race was a blast as I was able to pace her for the first 17miles and the last 3.2 miles. I can't explain how special it is to be able to run and help your wife, the person you love with all your heart. We do a few runs each week together and they are always my favorite but there was something about pacing her in the marathon that will always stand out to me and make it extra special.
As for some splits: 5miles(33:08), 10miles(66:25), Half (1:27.02), 15miles (1:39.53) and then slowly the wheels started to turn slower with the next 2 miles I was with her at 6:48, 6:56. At this point I knew she was running out of gas. I waited at mile 23 then and she covered the next 6miles in 43:09(7:11 pace) before I jumped back to running with her the last 3.2 in 7:22, 7:26, 7:18, 1:26.
The conditions turned out to be very, very nice. Sunny, cool and light wind(the day before while I run the 8K gust were 20-25mph).
Bottom line she learned a lot, she finished 3rd overall female at a well known marathon, she picked up some cash($400) which was the least of her concerns, she would have traded top 3 and cash for 2:50 any day but still nice. SHE WILL COME BACK MUCH STRONGER AND FASTER.
From here she will take some days off before jumping back into some training for the Eugene Half Marathon, which will be a quick turnaround(only 6 weeks away) but a very fun big event for her to focus on with less pressure.
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