| Marathon Training & Racing from Joe Bowman All 50 States & DC under 3:00 |
My first (and only) AR event to date is/was SOAR08...and it really didn't turn out as good as I had hoped. I was in
good shape but had not spent enough time on the bike. Combine that with a broken chain below Glenn Falls (a 5
mile bike push back to the transition) and it was a bit of a death march. The result was still good (3rd place and no
one passed me even after the chain break), but I knew I could do better.
Fast forward to 09. I wanted a Spring sub3 marathon and then a better effort at SOAR. I wasn't fat in February, but if
I lost about 10 lbs, I'd be better for both. At the same time I was having some right hip issues, so I hopped on the
spin bike (coupled with some yoga) to see what would happen. I also kept up deep tissue massage and found a
super great sports Chiropractor (Josh Glass). All combined and four months later, I was 13 or 14 lbs down with
good hips, pliable muscles and much better riding legs. The running legs too were good...2:57:12 in Delaware on
5/17 (4th overall, 1st master).
Highlands remains our weekend getaway, which means lots of trail / forest road riding and running. It also means
I can't help but learn the terrain; a slight advantage because SOAR will probably never have great maps. The maps
are OK, but course markings are needed to eliminate allot of racer frustration. The organizers see the race as a
great fitness tune-up / test (Main Street is the only flat street in Highlands) and not so much a mapping exercise. I'll
probably do a more orienteering race one day, but for now SOAR is exactly what I'm looking for...a speed, strength
and endurance event.
Check the right margin; it's a rough, light-hearted recap of the race. I really couldn't have felt better all day. My
transitions were terrible, but the legs were movin'. And below are some pics from the race. They're mostly of
me,Michael (last year's co-winner) and his race partner Steven. We spent most of the middle part of the race
together. Michael and Steven came over Friday night with their maps and we UTMed, talked some strategy and
maybe had a couple of brews (at least for me and Michael). It always helps having friends to 'run' a course with,
doesn't it.
good shape but had not spent enough time on the bike. Combine that with a broken chain below Glenn Falls (a 5
mile bike push back to the transition) and it was a bit of a death march. The result was still good (3rd place and no
one passed me even after the chain break), but I knew I could do better.
Fast forward to 09. I wanted a Spring sub3 marathon and then a better effort at SOAR. I wasn't fat in February, but if
I lost about 10 lbs, I'd be better for both. At the same time I was having some right hip issues, so I hopped on the
spin bike (coupled with some yoga) to see what would happen. I also kept up deep tissue massage and found a
super great sports Chiropractor (Josh Glass). All combined and four months later, I was 13 or 14 lbs down with
good hips, pliable muscles and much better riding legs. The running legs too were good...2:57:12 in Delaware on
5/17 (4th overall, 1st master).
Highlands remains our weekend getaway, which means lots of trail / forest road riding and running. It also means
I can't help but learn the terrain; a slight advantage because SOAR will probably never have great maps. The maps
are OK, but course markings are needed to eliminate allot of racer frustration. The organizers see the race as a
great fitness tune-up / test (Main Street is the only flat street in Highlands) and not so much a mapping exercise. I'll
probably do a more orienteering race one day, but for now SOAR is exactly what I'm looking for...a speed, strength
and endurance event.
Check the right margin; it's a rough, light-hearted recap of the race. I really couldn't have felt better all day. My
transitions were terrible, but the legs were movin'. And below are some pics from the race. They're mostly of
me,Michael (last year's co-winner) and his race partner Steven. We spent most of the middle part of the race
together. Michael and Steven came over Friday night with their maps and we UTMed, talked some strategy and
maybe had a couple of brews (at least for me and Michael). It always helps having friends to 'run' a course with,
doesn't it.
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