Monday, January 7, 2013

2012 Review

Mileage Total: 3971
Weekly Mileage Average: 76.4
Mileage Previous 3 years: 2011(4239), 2010(3822), 2009(4147)
Days Ran: 366/366
*Second straight year without missing a day.
Highest Mileage Week of the Year: 109
Races: 21
PR's: None (unless you count running my first 15K)
Prize Money(with incentives from Sponsors): $4700
Best Race of the Year: Myrtle Beach Marathon-2nd Place-2:30:49

2012 Races (season best race in bold)
Winter Series 5K--15:42--2nd Place (12/9)
Drumstick Dash 5K--15:52--1st Place (11/22)
Nick Caldwell 5K--16:03--2nd Place (11/17)
Columbus Marathon--2:34:10--13th Place (10/21)
Twin Falls 5K--16:02--1st Place (10/15)
Wine Cellar 10K--32:50--1st Place (9/22)
CDR--1:27:43--5th Place (9/1)
Pineville 5K--16:22--1st Place (8/26)
Racing Hearts 5K(short course)--13:55(15:39 finish pace)--1st Place (8/18)
Glade Springs 10K--33:01--1st Place (8/11)
Oceana 5K--16:20--1st Place (7/7)
Reds 10K(Long Course)--33:23--3rd Place (6/2)
Mullens 5K--16:08--1st Place (5/20)
Poca River 15K--50:13--1st Place (5/12)
Susan Komen 5K--16:15--3rd (5/5)
Joker 4-Miler--21:54--1st Place (4/1)
Run for Adam 3-Miler(short course)--14:33--1st (3/30)
Arts in Action 5K--16:22--1st (3/10)
Myrtle Beach Marathon--2:30:49--2nd (2/18)
Tallman WS 10K--32:20--2nd (2/5)
Tallman WS 8K--26:04--1st (1/8)

Recap: I was pretty happy with the 2012 year. Although other then MB Marathon I never ran fast this year, it was the best year of my life as we welcomed our little Clara into the world. It was a challenge to train and race with all the life changes. I even had some well respected friends who are fast dads say I should avoid racing much during this adjustment period. Against that advice I still toed the line and raced a solid amount. Although the results weren't great I learned a lot and enjoyed every minute of it. Most importantly I also figured out I need to make some serious changes if I want to get back to racing my best. So far so good with the changes as I'm actually feeling recovered and not so worn down again as I train and race. Early 2013 results (25:48 WS 8K) show I'm heading back in the right direction so that is a huge positive. My 2013 goals are pretty simple, have fun, train hard but smart, PR at every distance but most importantly the Marathon and at CDR, and last but not least run fewer races. I need to get back to not being so open to run every race that someone asks me to do and put the main emphasis on racing all-out when I do toe the line. My goal is to cut down from 20+ races to more in the 10-15 range. I feel like with 10-15 races I can go just about all-out for current fitness in 5-10 races a year and still have another 5 or so races that are mostly workouts to either win some prize money or support a friends race. I'm looking forward to the upcoming 2013 race schedule. I have a feeling it's going to be a fun and fast year!

Monday, December 10, 2012

2012 Racing Pictures/News Links

Winter Series 5K

Result Link

WOWK -- Charleston - Huntington, Working For You

15:52

38th Annual Wine Cellar 10K

Results

Charleston Distance Run

Racing Hearts 5K

The Resort at Glade Springs 10K/5K

Results: Link

Newspaper Story: Link

Oceana Heritage Festival 5K

July 7th, 2012

"ALL GLORY TO GOD"

Tallman WS 10K: 32:20/2nd Place
2012 Winter Series Champion
Race Story (iplayoutside website)

Monday, February 20, 2012

15th Annual Myrtle Beach Marathon Recap

Feeling very blessed and thankful to God for the weekend result!
Mile-by-Mile Breakdown:
Pre-Race warm up 45minute before Start Gun 2x5minutes slow + Gel #1
1- 5:51 Out relaxed, chat w/eventual winner(Stuart Moran) then watched him go!
2- 6:11 A bit too relaxed..Ran w/friend Brian Floyd who was doing the half
3- 5:45 Time to start cutting down
4- 5:43 Passing runner after runner from the half marathon field
5- 5:39 (29:10) I'm in 3rd Place in the Full Marathon Field
6- 5:35 Gel #2 through Market Square Loop...good crowds
7- 5:39 Get to see many faces heading in as I head out, lots of encouragement!
8- 5:36 Onto Ocean Blvd, headwind is very light
9- 5:34 Constantly reeling in lots of half marathon guys
10-5:46 (57:24) Slowed to get down Gel #3 and extra water
11-5:35 Caught 2nd Place marathon guy
12-5:40 He is hanging tough on my shoulder
13-5:36 See Marian and get a water bottle..she says leader is 2minutes ahead
(Half Marathon Split 1:14.55)
14-5:36 3rd Place on my shoulder is helping push me
15-5:42 (1:25.35) Prettiest section of the course, really focused..I want sub 2:29!
16-5:40 Gel #4 Starting to get hot on the course but I'm feeling strong
17-5:43 Dropped 3rd Place guy on gradual incline
18-5:41 Off the Ocean Blvd, out/back add on section
19-5:37 See the leader at a turnaround..I'm 3+ minutes back...
20-5:43 (1:54.02) Gel #5 (last one), I can run sub 2:29 and PR!
21-5:44 My first sign of trouble, spasm in my right hammy
22-5:50 Hammy is wanting to cramp..have to slow down..
23-6:01 Neg split, sub 2:29 and PR slipping away..keep fighting smartly..
24-6:04 Spasms like crazy it wants to grab bad..avoid major blowup
25-5:59 Fighting for every second between hammy spasms!
26-5:56 GET TO THE LINE!
Finish-69 (2:30:49/5:45pace) 2ND Place Overall
Half Splits (1:14.55 and 1:15.54)

All and all I'm very happy! You always--ALWAYS--want better but I wouldn't change to much. I feel like I'm extremely close to a huge breakthrough in the marathon now. The confidence is back for the event. I'm not 100% sure I'm made to perform my best at the distance but I still think sub 2:25 isn't far off.

I think my best long term plan is to wait anywhere from 12-18 months until running another marathon to be fully ready to reach that breakthrough. I need to get 5K-10K fit again and then try to get under my half marathon PR(1:07.48) before really attacking the marathon. I just need patience, hard work, and of course Gods guiding hand but I will reach my marathon goal!

Such a wonderful event and time in Myrtle Beach. So many friends and support out there this weekend. The list is too long to name everyone that was there to help me along the way before, during, and after the race but THANK YOU again!

(I finished 2nd Place Overall in the Myrtle Beach Half Marathon (1:10.38) last year. Maybe a return trip in the future to try and break through with a WIN at one of the weekend events!)

Marathon History:
2:29.34- 2009 Columbus Marathon (6th place)
2:30.49- 2012 Myrtle Beach Marathon (2nd Place)
2:31.32- 2006 Chicago Marathon

2:31.59- 2011 Cleveland Marathon (3rd Place)
2:35.10- 2010 Boston Marathon

"ALL GLORY TO GOD"

Friday, January 6, 2012

2011 Review

Mileage Total: 4239 (*All-time personal high and 2nd time over 4000)
Weekly Mileage Average: 81.5
Days Ran: 365/365 (First time running every day for the entire calender year)
Highest Mileage Month of the Year: September (406)
Highest Mileage Week of the Year: 102
Races: 22
Wins: 11 (I would rather race bigger events with deep competition then win locally. I try to make that the goal every year)
PR's: None
Prize Money(plus Incentives money from PB): $7,575
Comp Hotel/Entry/Travel Races: (Columbus, Parkersburg, San Fran, Clarksburg, Cleveland, OBX)

Online Training Logs: Calender Workouts Summary

2011 Race Results: (Season best times in bold)
Tallman WS 5K--15:29--1st (12/11)

Off-Road Trail 5K--18:50--2nd (12/10)

Jingle Bell 5K--15:29--1st (12/3)

Nick Caldwell 5K--15:42--1st (11/19)

Teays Spooktacular 5K--15:27--1st--$75+Free Massage (10/22)

Columbus Half Marathon- 1:10.08--12th (10/16)

Twin Falls 5K--15:46--1st--$500 (10/9)

Beckley Half Marathon--(Big lead 7+ miles in when hit by car) (10/1)

Pineville 5K--17:31--1st--$250-(9/4)

CDR --1:26.57--5th(4th USA)--$350- (9/3)

Parkersburg Half Marathon--1:12.30--11th(4th USA)--$290-(8/20)

San Fran Half Marathon--1:14.17--(7/31)

Oceana 5K (3miles)--15:08--1st Place--$300--(7/9)

WV 5K Champs(Huntington)--15:39--5th--$50--(6/25)

Clarksburg 10K(WV State Champs)--33:46--8th (2nd WV)--$500--(6/18)

Varmint Half Marathon--1:18.45--1st Place--$300--(6/11)

Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon--2:31.59--3rd Places--$300--(5/15)

Mullens Dogwood 5K--15:47--1st Place--$300--(5/1)

OBX Flying Pirate Half Marathon--1:11.15--2nd Place--$150-- (4/10)

Joker Run 4-Miler--20:12--1st Place (3/26)
Myrtle Beach Half Marathon--1:10.38--2nd Place (2/19)
Tallman Winter Series 10K--32:07--1st Place (2/6)

Also Marian had a very successful racing year hitting PR's on the roads in the 4mile distance(23:13/5:49avg) and 10K(37:27/5:52avg). She placed third at Myrtle Beach Half (1:22), won the Varmint Half and biggest running honor of the year came when she WON the Cleveland Half Marathon in (1:21.11 /6:12avg) (her 2nd fastest half). She ran the very hilly San Fran Marathon with a very bad foot and extra fatigue which we later found out was due to the most exciting news of the year.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

2011 Racing

WS 5K

STORY LINK (Iplayoutside)

*Chasing the stud (Matt Schiffbauer) up the first hill of the race.

Trail Race Map/Recap: Off-Road Trail 5K

Race Video

Columbus Half Marathon

Beckley Half Marathon

http://www.register-herald.com/todayssportsfront/x597290364/Runner-survives-encounter-with-vehicle

Parkersburg Half Marathon

Pre Race Article: Pyles to Chase Simpson

RACE VIDEO Pretty Cool Video Coverage

HD Pic Link

Google Pic Link

WV 10K Champs--Clarksburg, WV

Iplayoutside Article

Varmint Half Marathon

Article Link: PYLES OF FUN Good and long race article!

Article Link (2): SWVA

Cleveland Marathon

Video

Interview by Running Network (starts about 5minutes in and runs to a little past 10minutes)

Marian Post Race

Articles

1 (general with Marian quote at bottom)

2 (general with Marian quote in middle)

News (news station marian)

News 2 (news station top 5 results)

Examiner (brief story with both of us mentioned)

Mullens 5k

Joker 4-Miler

2011 MB Half

*Picture Link to roughly 30 race pictures of Marian and myself

https://picasaweb.google.com/RunPyles/MyrtleBeachHalfMarathon2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCLiP6ZixirOLgwE&feat=directlink

Jingle Bell Pictures

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

CDR Articles (Pre and Post event)

Defending champ said Distance Run making a comeback

Returning champion wants win, better time in Distance Run

TriStateRacer Preview

Metro News Preview

Robert's Running Shop feature in Daily Mail (with Pic's)

Post Race Gazette with some of my quotes

2011 Results

Previous CDR experience(this year will make my 6th):

2011--1:26.57--5th Place (2nd WV, 4th USA)

*Toughtest CDR conditions in history of the event from all reports!

2010--1:25.44--1st Place

2009--1:22.23--8th Place (TOP WV, 3rd USA)

2008--1:25.47--4th Place (Top WV, 2nd USA)

2006--1:23.30--11th Place (Top WV, 3rd USA)

2005--1:23.48--9th Place (3rd WV, 4th USA)

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Charleston Gazette feature on "why I run"

Even on the worst of days, his running feels good
By Mike Whiteford

http://www.wvgazette.com/Sports/201106291278?page=1&build=cache (article link)

RUNNING great distances is one of the fun activities of Jason Pyles' life. But it can be painful. He knows it and is wonderfully indifferent to it.

He especially remembers running a marathon in Cleveland. "The last four miles were pure pain,'' he recalled recently, noting that cramps in his calf unleashed knife-like sensations through his leg.

As he crossed the finish line that day, he shouted out in agony.

But the rewards far outweigh the occasional discomforts. He not only enjoys the competition but finds it exhilarating to run through Kanawha State Forest at sunrise every day, not missing a single day in 2011 and averaging between 80 and 100 miles a week for the last 10 years. Even on days he describes as "easy,'' he runs 10 miles.

When he begins work as a substitute teacher this fall, he plans to arise at 3 a.m. each day to do his running and get to school on time. After all, he's a morning person and running is a priority.

"It's hard for me to imagine not running,'' he said. "It's something you can feel so good doing. It's just the enjoyment of doing it and how good you feel afterward. Sometimes even in the hardest workouts, that feeling of pushing, pushing, pushing feels good in a way.''

Pyles' passion is something that others shun. Athletes in the more traditional sports generally do it only as a mandatory part of their conditioning and, given a choice, would rather lift weights and stretch. Health specialists continue to emphasize the wondrous benefits of vigorous exercise, but most folks yawn.

The 5-foot-9, 138-pound Pyles, 30, is a Point Pleasant and Marshall graduate who was the University of Charleston's track coach for the last two years but expects to work in Kanawha County Schools in the fall.

Last September, he won the 15-mile Charleston Distance Run in one hour, 25 minutes, 44 seconds and expects to run the race again in September and for many years to come.

He once ran the Columbus Marathon in 2:29 and usually runs two or three marathons a year, as well as five or six half-marathons and races of other distances. He looks forward to them, despite the inevitable pain.

"The last 10 kilometers of a marathon are no fun. It hurts,'' he said. "That last mile of any race is going to hurt. And really the last half of a race may really hurt.''

But he's found ways to cope.

"A lot of it is mind over matter,'' he said. "If you're out there thinking that this hurts or this is hard, it won't be as enjoyable. But you have to keep a positive mindset, even on the roughest days. I just tell myself how truly blessed I am to be able to do it. I pretty much love every moment of it. With running, a lot of it is just staying positive. That's not to say there aren't rough periods and rough times. On the toughest days, not a single step feels good. I have those days where I just put one foot in front of the other.''

The rough times, he said, may be the result of fatigue.

"It might be pushing the envelope a little too much with training and getting a little too worn down,'' he said. "And you can hit periods where it's not enjoyable because your body is really, really worn out. And if you're really competitive, it sometimes can kind of play with your mind a little bit and you start wondering, What's going on.''

On workout days, he often sings songs in his head. On race days, he closely monitors his running pace on his high-tech stopwatch, knowing that running a few seconds too fast or too slowly per mile can have a big effect on his performance. He also knows that falling the slightest bit short of optimal fluid intake can cut two to five minutes off his marathon time.

Growing up in Gallipolis Ferry near Point Pleasant, Pyles showed an aptitude for running at an early age. Instead of riding his bicycle to the basketball court a mile away, he would run, either carrying or dribbling the ball. When the students in his grade school were required to run the fitness mile, he took pride in beating the older kids.

He plans to run the San Francisco Marathon on July 31. The air will be cool and the humidity low. He expects to have a great time.

Reach Mike Whiteford at 304-348-7948 or mikewhitef...@wvgazette.com.