My Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon Experience

The new 10K route

Wow, what a weekend.  I had a different plan for this year's race.  I had run the full marathon in 2011 and 2012.  This year I am focusing on preparation for a Half Ironman in September and was not able to run the full.  Early on in the process, I made the decision to run the 10K and blog about different aspects of running.  With running a shorter race, this gave me a unique opportunity to participate and enjoy more of the events surrounding the marathon weekend.

The whirlwind weekend began with a quick 20 mile ride followed by the Cleveland Marathon VIP dinner.  This was my first year attending the dinner and I am really glad I went.  I enjoyed catching up with fellow runners I haven't seen in awhile and got to meet some of my fellow Cleveland Marathon Bloggers who were in town.  Everything with this dinner was top notch and I really appreciate the race directors for inviting me.

2013 Official Cleveland Marathon Bloggers

The fun didn't stop on Saturday as I had a busy day.  Things began bright and early with a 1 hour swim and 2 hour bike ride.  This weekend happened to be the beginning of my major brick workouts for Revolution 3 Cedar Point.  My plan was to run the 10K with tired legs and to focus on maintaining pace while fatigued.  Later that afternoon, my sister arrived.  She was staying the weekend and running her first Half Marathon.  We went to the expo, which I think was one of the better ones I've been too.  There were lots of informational booths and retailers with some great deals.  After dinner we met with friends Ryan and Logo for carb loading at Dewey's Pizza.

Sunday morning came early.  As in 3:45 early.  I have a 60 minute pre-race routine and we were out the door by 4:45.  Shortly on my trip.  I realized I left my ipod at home.  I had considered running without music as all music devices are banned from Triathlons and I need to get used to running without it.  Another perk of being a Official Blogger is VIP parking, which is right next to the start line.  We arrived early and relaxed for a few minutes.

About an hour before the race, we made our way into Cleveland Browns stadium.  Having access to the stadium is really nice on race day.  Plenty of clean bathrooms are very welcomed on race day and everything was clearing marked for bag checks and starting line.  After a few photos, it was time for the Cleveland Marathon and Half to begin.  The 10K starts 30 minutes later.

For 2013, the 10K was a new route.  We started up West 3rd into downtown and then snaked around West 6th and across the bridge into the Westside.  If any one has ran St. Malachi, you would be familiar with this route out of town.  We headed west down Detroit till about mile 2.5 then hit the technical part of the course snaking through a neighborhood back to the Shoreway.

Elevation profile

As we climbed back up the Shoreway, we hit mile 5 at the top of the bridge.  The next 1.2 miles were some of the most scenic I've ever ran as you could see the lake to your left and downtown was straight ahead and right.  We then joined back up with the other races as we made our way to E. 9th.  A quick left and we were on the home straight.

I really enjoyed this new route.  It was challenging, but not overly hard.  With a couple small hills, technical turns, long flats, and great scenery.  This course has something for everyone.

I had another great Cleveland Marathon experience this year.  I want to thank the Cleveland Marathon for the opportunity to be a Official Blogger for a 3rd year.  I'd also like to thank everything for checking out my blog.  Most of all, I would like to thank all of the volunteers this race weekend.  Without you, we wouldn't be able to race.

I also want to mention the security presence this weekend.  I think the city of Cleveland and Marathon directors did an amazing job giving everyone a sense of security.

Post race photo with my sister. 

The Time is Now

We are closing in on less than 48 hours to the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon.  Oh how time flies.  It just seems like yesterday that we were strapping on our shoes for our first training run.  There has been good runs.  There has been bad runs.  We've been rained on.  We've been snowed on.  We've ran headfirst into 40 mph winds.  We've battled pollen and humidity.  We've raced up hills and down.  Some of our journey's have been longer than others.  But that doesn't matter.  As we will all join together on Sunday to run.  Some will be there to reach goals.  Others will be raising awareness.  All will be awesome.

Its not going to be easy.  Anything this great never is.  Like your training, this race will be full of ups and downs.  Be strong...Be focused...its a long day.  Manage your day.  Run your race.  You're gonna pass people.  People will pass you.  Stay true and trust in your training.

Weather may not be on our side.  It won't matter as we will remain focused.  Step by step stride by stride.  Together we will run.  Focused on the end of our journey.

In every race there will be a turning point.  It will be earlier for some.  Later for others, but there will be a moment.  A moment a truth.  Embrace this moment.  We have all worked too hard to let down now.  The difference between someone who  achieves success and someone who doesn't is simple.   You have to be willing to hurt to that next level.  Its not easy and never will be.  Just know that the pain you will feel will be washed away with the joy of success awaiting us at the finish.

Pain is only temporary....the memories are forever.

So, join me on Sunday.  Willing to rise to the occasion.  Willing to hurt to that next level.  We are Cleveland runners and we will own this day!!


BEAL

I'm in Cleveland!!!! Now what??

So, you're in Cleveland for the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon and you do not know what to do?  Have no fear, Beal is here.  I've worked in downtown Cleveland since 2004 and recently moved to the suburbs last Fall.  I recently just got back from an out of town race and was thinking on the way home how I had no idea what to do when I was there.  Sure, there is Yelp and the internet but it would have been nice to have some advice from a local.  So, I thought I would list some of my favorite place to go. All these places are either downtown or within 15 minutes of the area.

Downtown

Winks is a new restaurant / sports bar located downtown at the Galleria.  The food is outstanding and focuses on ingredients that can be found locally.  It also has a large selection of craft beer with emphasis on beers created locally.

J. Gumbos  Like the sign says, its the best food you can eat for 7 dollars.  The focus here is a taste of New Orleans from mild to wild.  It is located on Euclid right by Public square and is my favorite lunch place downtown.


Panini's is located on east 9th and West 6th downtown.  It is a sports bar and the home of the Overstuffed Sandwich.  If it is your first time in the area, you can't leave without getting a sandwich.  My favorite is a double capicola with an egg.

Hodges  Most foodies agree that this is the place to be.

If you're looking for a good time.  I also recommend Great Lakes Brewery,  Market Garden, West 6th street, and West 4th.  There are a lot of fun places to check out in these areas.  Also, don't forget to checkout the Cleveland Indians who are in town and try you luck at the HorseShoe Casino.

Outside, but close to Downtown

Deagan's Top notch food and a top notch craft beer list can be found here.  Located in Lakewood, you will be happy you checked this place out.

Melt This is one of my favorite places to go.  The menu is exciting and portions are filling.  Make sure you check out the Buffalo Chicken Chowder.  The fries are so good, I think they may be laced with crack.

Happy Dog  It located just across the bridge and is just minutes from downtown.  You have a choice between a vegan sausage or hot dog.  Then you are given a list of 50+ toppings to get as crazy as you want.  These toppings are as simple as bbq sauce and as crazy as fruit loops.  Also, they have tater tots you can get topped with any sauce you want.

Harp Home of one of the best patios in Cleveland and sits along the marathon route.  You have to try once of their Boxty Cakes.

There are a lot of other area restaurants located in Tremont, Ohio City, and Lakewood.  These are some of my favorites that are listed above.  I hope this helps some of you how are here for the race and are not familiar with the area.  Chances are that you may run into me at one of these places on race weekend.

Beal

April Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon 10K Training Recap

I'm really sure if April's weather was that great or did it seem better because the weather this Spring has been horrendous.  We had some spot days this month that were pretty good, but most of them were rainy and very gusty.  It was hard to build any momentum.  Hopefully, May is much better.  Apart from the weather, it was a pretty good month for me.  I had my highest swim total ever in April and I should exceed my total swim distance from 2012 sometime next month.  I'm feeling pretty good about my work over the winter, but we'll see when I do my first open water swim in about 2 hours.  I'm  currently in Knoxville preparing for tomorrow's Revolution 3 Triathlon.  Since it will be raining all weekend, I decided to bring my laptop to catch up on my Cleveland Marathon Blogging and my blog reading.

I've been looking forward to May as it will kick off racing season for me.  This month I will be doing the Revolution 3 Triathlon on 5/5, Nordonia Hills Duathlon on 5/11, Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon 10K on 5/19, and Clays Park Triathlon on 5/25.  Hopefully everyones training is going as well as mine has been.

Greetings from Knoxville Tennessee 

Swimming:  11.11 miles

Running:  58.11 miles

Cycling:  297.80 miles

Total miles:  367.01 miles

Time training:  34 hours 41 minutes

Calories burned:  34,652

BEAL

Dress rehearsal: Getting prepared for the Rite Aid Marathon

As April comes to a close.  Most of you are probably making plans for your final long run before taper. This final long run can be very important.  Not only from a training standpoint, but for preparation.  I've always used this run as a test for gear I plan on using race day.  Especially if i'm planning on using new gear.  I try to simulate race day as much as I can.  I find that this helps calm race day nerves and trouble shoot any potential problems.  Below I listed some things I try during this time period.

1.  Shoes - I like to have a new pair of shoes for a big race day like Cleveland Marathon.  I've found that breaking them in with 50-75 miles prior to race day is the best.  I also do my last long run in them.  

2. Clothing - I always do my last big run before taper in my race outfit.  This will help identify any hot spots or rubs that may require Body Glide.  Also, you can gauge if the outfit will be comfortable on race day.  That last thing you want to deal with on your big day is clothing.  

3. Hydration - Before races I will check the map and make notes on at what mile the water, electrolyte, and GU stations are.  I will then start hydrating at those miles during training.  I've found that this will help get used to the hydration intervals that you'll need on race day.

4. Fueling - Fueling technology has progressed a lot the past few years.  There are plenty of choices between companies, flavors, and type.  It can be hard to choose between gels, chews, liquids, or bars.  My running favorite is peanut butter GU, but it was a lot of trial in error to find that.  My best suggestion is to try a few different ones on your runs to find which one you prefer.  Also, take them with water instead of an electrolyte.  Taking them with an electrolyte can be very hard on your stomach and cause it to be upset.

5. Route -  Try to mimic your race route.  If your lucky enough in the area.  Run a portion of the race route or scout out some of the hills.  This can help ease some of the nerves on race day.

I hope these tips help with the remainder of your training.  We are under the 30 day mark.  Keep up all your hard work and i'll see all of you on race day.

BEAL

Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon - March Training Recap

This month began with a lot of excitement.  The worst of winter was over and it was time for some warmer temps.  Well, that's how March usually is around here.  Instead we had another month of freezing temps and snow.  I had hoped to get in two "outside" rides a week, but only got out twice before last weekend.  Apart from the crappy weather, my training went really well.  I had my best swim month yet with just over 10 miles.   One interesting thing I learned this month was that my right leg was 10 mm shorter than my left.  My hips had gone out of alignment to compensate for the discrepancy.  I wasn't experiencing any pain and this was a complete surprise.  The good news is everything is back to normal with 2 visits to the chiropractor.  I do feel better now while riding and my stride seems to be much smoother when running.  I'll still go back for some follow ups to make sure everything is staying aligned.

Lots to look forward too in April.  My next big race of the year is May 5th.   I need to log some outdoor workouts to get ready.  I also need to focus on getting to my race weight by the 5th.
Hopefully we have some dry weekends.  So, far it looks like I will get some great work in the end of this week.

Swimming:  10.11 miles

Running:  47.03 miles

Cycling:  222.10 miles

Total:  279.24 miles

Calories burned:  27,598

Time spent training:  30 hrs 27 min.

BEAL

How to get better at running...without running.

I've been brainstorming this post for a couple weeks.  As you reach the halfway point of your Cleveland Marathon training.  The body can have a tendency to break down.  Running can be rough on the body.  People at SportsMed Hospitals often joke that their facilities are funded by runners.  I want to share how I fight against injuries.  I do that through cross training.

I'm a big fan of cross training and I think it goes a long way towards making me a better runner.  In 2013 I have been swimming, biking, and running.  Below are two samples you can implement in your training.  It will still provide a benefit to your fitness/running while saving your legs from the stress of running.

Swimming
Before you go into a I hate swimming panic (trust me, i've been there before).  It can help you improve as a runner.  I would like to suggest doing kick drills.  These will help promote hip strength and cardiovascular fitness.

Take a kick board (most gyms will have these for everyone to use).  Start off at one end and stretch out in a plank position.  You'll want to kick with you hips.  It's not easy, but kick the whole length (25 yards).  Take a 30 second or so rest and then do the same back.  Repeat this for 30 minutes.

I started incorporating these kick drills in October 2012 and it improved my running a lot.  I could feel the benefits of strong hips when running hills.  I think you'll enjoy this workout as a change of pace from running.

Cycling
It's not secret that I am a diehard cyclist.  I've ran some of my best races in the Fall.  Why?  because of my cycling throughout the summer.  Like swimming, cycling can improve your fitness level without the stress on the body from running.  During the offseason, I like to train with intervals.  If you haven't interval trained.  Give it a try.  Hard intervals during the offseason are like storing cans of whoop ass that you can use during the race season to inflict pain on those who try to keep up with you.

There's two ways to train on a bike.  Obviously, if you have one.  Then I suggest riding it.  No bike??  No problem, take a spin class.

A sample beginner's workout would be:  Start with an easy spin of 10 minutes.  This is easy and you should be able to carry on a conversation if needed.  Once you are warmed up.  Try doing 60 seconds of speed bursts.  When you do these, increase the tension and increase your cadence to 90-100 RPM.  If you're new to riding, take a 60 second break between intervals.  If not, take a 20 second break.  It is up to you if you want to take the tension off during the rest period.  Do these for another 20-30 minutes.  Then do a 10 minute cool down.  If you take a spin class, they will incorporate intervals into their class.


These are just two examples of many ways to cross train.  I'm a big believer in cross training and its benefits to your training program.  I hope these ideas help.  I think incorporating these into you program will not only benefit your running, but keep you from injury as well.

BEAL

Week 2 of training

Another week is in the books.  This week was pretty similar as the week before.  Except for my post swim run on Tuesday was increased from 30 minutes to 45 minutes.  The weather continues to not cooperate with my training as Friday was my only outdoor ride.  It wasn't a lot of fun with wind chills in the 30's, but I had no other choice.  My swimming went pretty decent this week.  I got some good tips from Westlake's swim coach and I swam a personal best of 3,000 yards during Sunday's masters class.  On Saturday I did the St. Malachi 5 miler in less than favorable conditions.  Overall, it was a decent week of training.  I'm starting to get antsy to train outside regularly.  My first big race is rapidly approaching and I'm still pretty far away from my race weight.

This coming week will be fairly similar.  Unfortunately, the weather will be similar too and I may not get out on the bike.  I'm looking forward to Saturday as I will be heading to Columbus for a  Retul 3D bike fitting on my TRI bike.


Monday:  20 mile ride. 

Tuesday:  1 hour swim / 45 minute run.
Wednesday:  10 mile ride.

Thursday:  1 hour swim / 30 minute run
Friday:  15 mile ride

Saturday:  St. Malachi 5 miler

Sunday:  90 minute swim 

BEAL

Week 1 of training.

This week kicked off my 27 week training program for Revolution 3's half ironman at Cedar Point.  For those of you not familiar with long course triathlons.  Its a 1.2 mile swim followed by a 56 mile bike and then a 13.1 mile half marathon.  So, i'll be pretty busy over the next few months preparing for this event.  Of which, i'm using the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon 10K event as training race.

Overall, things went pretty good this week.  I learned that doing a 30 minute run after an hour swim is absolutely no fun.  Those were probably the 2 hardest workouts of this week.  I'm still having issues staying high in the water on my swim, but I am thinking its because i'm not keeping my head down.  The hardest part of swimming is trying to do so many things correctly that its easy to focus on one or two things and let other things slack.  Its easy to pick up some bad habits.  We were pretty luck this weekend and finally had some warm temps.  I was lucky enough to get all my runs and rides in outside this weekend.  I'm really pleased with me bike speed this early in the year.  I was able to hold 25 mph on my road bike through several flat areas, but I am slacking on my climbing.  I'm still carrying my winter weight and need to get down to my race weight.  I'll be focusing more on diet this week.  I need to cut back on my eating out.

This coming week will be pretty similar as last week and I will bump my training time from 9 1/2 hours to 9:45.  Plus, I will be running the St. Malachi 5 miler on Saturday.  So, if you are there.  Make sure to say hi!

Monday:  1 hour swim / 30 minute run.

Tuesday:  25 mile ride.

Wednesday:  1 hour swim / 30 minute run

Thursday:  25 mile ride

Friday:  4 mile run

Saturday:  1 hour run / 1 hour ride

Sunday:  90 minute swim / 30 minute ride

BEAL

Its February...Welcome to the grind.

We are now 4-6 weeks into our training and most of us have or will be hitting a wall soon.  I call it the grind of February.  During January our training was new and exciting.  It was easy to be inspired by our New Year's resolutions and goals.  February is a whole different animal.  Our workouts/runs are getting longer and the weather isn't getting any better.  We dream of Spring and can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel.  These last days of winter seem to drag on for ever.

February can be a hard month.  I know I am always counting down the days till March.  Sure, we will still get a snow storm or two.  But its a small trade off for beginning to string a few days of decent weather in a row. Its important to remain focused during this month.  It can be easy to get discouraged and let your training or workouts slack.  Its important to keep strong both mentally and physically.  Most training plans just focus on the physical side of training, but the mental side is almost as important.  A couple runs in snowy weather or a long run on the treadmill will not only help physically.  It will also help you become mentally stronger and tougher.  These workouts will help you during those hard races or if the weather isn't optimal during the Spring.

To help get through these finals days of winter.  I've found that the following helps get through it.

1) New music - nothing helps me get through a workout i'm not excited about like new music.  It can quickly breathe some fresh air into a workout.

2) New music playlist - Sometimes I enjoy a new playlist or uptempo music to pass the time.  Also, try setting your mp3 player to shuffle.

3) Cross training -  Trying something new like a spin class, swim, or cross fit can still provide a physical benefit and break the monotony you may be experiencing with your training.

4) Change up your workouts - Sometimes rotating the days you training can help keep things fresh.

These are a few things that have helped me in the past.  I hope they are of some help to you as well.  If there is something you like to do or use.  Feel free to share them in the comments section for everyone to see and give a try.

Keep up the hard work everyone.  Spring is only 37 more days away and Punxsutawney Phil even said it will be an early Spring.  Plus, I heard Summer Shandy is out.  So, winter can't be too much longer.

BEAL

Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon: January Training Recap

Wow, that went by quickly.  Hard to believe we are already 4 weeks into our training for 2013.  Lets hope February goes by just as fast.  Overall, this was a pretty successful month of training.  I continued to build on the foundation that was built over the holidays.  I've settled into the following training schedule:

Monday:  Speed work - I warm up for 1.5 to 2 miles then do a series of 6 intervals of 800s.  My pace for these intervals are slightly faster than my 5K pace.  I rest for 400 in between intervals and then another mile cool down.

Tuesday:  Spin class at Psycle Therapy

Wednesday:  Swimming

Thursday:  Spin class at Psycle Therapy

Friday:  Swimming

Saturday:  Cycling / Run brick training

Sunday:  Swike!!  Swim / Cycling brick training

I'm pretty satisfied with the results i've seen in my riding and running this year.  We were fortunate to have a couple 60 degree days here.  It was a gift from Mother Nature to get outside and see where I was at and I was very satisfied.  Swimming was another story.  My form this offseason has improved dramatically.  Unfortunately, my endurance in the pool hasn't improved.  I've narrowed it down to not sitting high enough in the water.  Its been a struggle keeping my butt high in the water.  To help counteract this, I've been doing more work in the pool with a pull buoy.  I really didn't want to do this as I wanted to swim the bulk of my training without it, but in the long run.  Its not as big of a deal as i'm making it as I will be racing again this year in a wetsuit.  I'm a bigger guy, so its hard for me to stay higher in the water.

Thanks to Bryan @TriDocB for this photo.  I was having a swim panic meltdown about my training and this helped a lot.

Here's the totals from this past month:

Miles ran:  53.53

Miles ridden:  484.24

Miles swam:  8.38

Total miles:  526.16

Calories burned:  37,548

Time training:  40:01

I hope everyone's training is going as well as mine.  February will be much more of the same for me. I may even sprinkle in some 5k's and Indoor Triathlons!!

BEAL

Heroes - My thoughts on Lance Armstrong and other Athletes of my generation.

From an athletic standpoint all the heroes from my generation cheated in some fashion.  Cycling, Baseball, Football, and even the Olympics.  Sure, I bought into the dream that Lance was an American hero who beat cancer then went on to defeat the best athletes in the world for 7 years.  I don't agree with cheating in any way, but I do understand that it was part of the athletic culture back then.  I hope we as a society can learn from the past and promote clean competition in all sports.  

I also hope as a society we make better choices in our athletic heroes.  I'm guilty myself of looking up to athletes who achieve success.  But what constitutes success?  Winning? Championships?  Being the best at what you do?  In the past I used these attributes.  Lately, I've realized I was wrong.  We should choose heroes like ourselves who manage to promote healthy lifestyles while managing careers, families, over come disease, illness, tragedy and deal with the daily stresses of life.  All while doing the most with the talents we were blessed with.  We are the true heroes and we need to support each other in what ever path we decide to take.  Too often we choose to tear down instead of building up.  So, the next time you see someone choosing to be "their" best.  Cheer them on as they are the true heroes.  

Back in Black: My plan for 2013

I'm fortunate enough to be selected to as an Official Cleveland Marathon for a 3rd year.  I'd like to thank the marathon staff for giving me this opportunity to promote your race and share my training experience.  Each year I feel more pressure to be more inspirational than the year before and I hope I can continue to do that this year.

For those of you how are new to this blog, My name is Beal.  Beal is my last name and has been my nickname for as long as I can remember.  I started blogging about 26 months ago to meet new people interested in living a healthy lifestyle and share experiences in my weight loss journey.  I used to weigh over 300 pounds and look like this!!!  Yikes!!

I have since adopted a healthy life along with loosing over a 100 pounds.  During that time I have swam, biked, and ran over 20,000 miles including multiple 100 mile bike rides, 13 half marathons, 3 triathlons, and 2 Cleveland Marathons.  I now look like this....

For a more in depth look at my weight loss journey and how I was inspired, check out this post Welcome

Enough talk about the past.  Lets look to the future!!!!  This year I will not be running the marathon.  After running my 2nd last year.  I felt like I had finished that chapter in my life and it was time to take on another challenge.  That challenge is Ironman.  Last June I began my multi-sport training with a plan to complete a half ironman in 2013 and full ironman in 2014.

I will have 2 main goals in 2013:

1) To complete my first Half Ironman (1.2 mile swim / 56 mile bike / 13.1 mile run) at Revolution 3 Sandusky on September 8th.

2) To qualify for the Revolution 3 Age Group Championship race.
      - I will be attempting to snag one of the ten available Clydesdale division slots.  

With these lofty goals, my Spring will be centered around one word...SPEED!!!  I've been laying a foundation of training the past two months and will be specializing on speed training during the next couple months.  Since I will not be doing much distance running, I will be competing in the Cleveland Marathon 10K event this year.  By training for a shorter distance.  I will be able to better prepare for multi-sport events this May.  My Cleveland Marathon blogs this will be more focused on the benefits of cross-training, speedwork and how they can help your running.  I'm excited for this year and looking forward to a different approach to training, blogging and racing this year.  I hope everyone joins in on the hard work as we will punish those who try to keep up with our SPEED!!!!

BEAL

The good, the bad, and the ugly. A look back at 2012

With one day left in 2012, I decided to take a look back on the past year.  It ended up being very interesting and a mixed bag of results.  Things were good at times.  There were bad times and it got ugly sometimes.  In deciding if this year was a success or not.  It really depends on how you look at it.  I enjoyed some of the biggest successes in 2012 and I had some massive fails this year too.  I learned a lot from those fails and have been working hard the past two months so they do not happen again.

The good:  Coming in too 2012.  I had never won my age group or placed in a race.  Not only did I do that, but I placed first in my group 3 times this year.  Even winning my group in my first ever olympic distance triathlon.  Speaking of triathlons,  I completed my first ever Triathlon this year.  It had been a goal of mine for a long time and it was an experience i'll never forget.

The Bad:  The 2013 Cleveland Marathon.  This race was a complete debacle.  When I talk to anybody who ran this race.  We never mention our times.  This race wasn't about time, it was about survival and the will to not let the weather get to you.  I think everyone who ran this race looks at the their finish medal and considers it a badge of honor.  Still,  I was pretty crushed with how this race went and it was months before I did another road race.  I spent over 100 hours preparing for this race and it just wasn't my day.  I guess thats just a life lesson.

The ugly:  Rev3 Sandusky.  I really mishandled the preparation for this race and had a mild panic attack while thinking about swimming 1.2 miles in Lake Erie.  Doing your first ever Triathlon then your first half ironman 6 weeks later ended up being a bigger task than I anticipated.  I spent so much time getting my swim endurance, that my bike and run suffered and I made the decision to DNS.  The good news is that I learned a lot from this whole experience.  I get asked a lot if I regret my decision not to start the race.  No, I am not upset with my decision.  I tried my best to get ready and wasn't able too.  I'll never be ashamed of trying my best.  I'm looking forward to finishing what I started and returning to this race in 2013.  I'm already counting down the days and my official training will begin on 3/3/2013.

You'll notice that I haven't mentioned much about 2013 in this point.  Good news!!  I was asked back to be an Official Cleveland Marathon Blogger for a 3rd year!  Look for my first post next week in which I will discuss next year!


Training totals:

Swimming:  41 miles

Running:  1,029 miles

Cycling:  3,738

Total miles in 2012: 4,809

Hours spent training:  404 hours 39 minutes 49 seconds

Calories burned:  362,659


Races completed in 2012:

Pigskin Classic 5K
Twinsburg Turkey Trot 5 miler
Midtown 10K
Akron Marathon Relay
Vermilion Triathlon - 1st in AG
MS 150:  Pedal to the Point
Fairport Harbor Triathlon
Lorain Summer Sprint Triathlon - 1st in AG
CrossFit Duathlon - 1st in AG
Twinsburg Duathlon
Cleveland Marathon
Shamrock 15K
St. Malachi 5 miler
Twinsburg Indoor Triathlon

2012 Twinsburg Turkey Trot 5 miler

Ok, I have been a terrible blogger lately.  I am not only behind in my writing, I am behind in my reading as well.  I'll be working to get caught up over the next few days.

A couple weeks ago I went back to my old hood and ran the Twinsburg Turkey Trot 5 miler.

Competing in this race was a last minute decision and I am glad I did it.  How last minute??  After deciding to run, I had enough time to get dressed, grab a granola bar, and take a swig of Gatorade.  Needless to say, I had no expectations.

I arrived at the start with exactly enough time to register and run to the start.  Good thing I consumed my granola bar during the drive, but didn't have time to get any water.  I was a little worried as I had a small amount of adult beverages the night before.  

This race was probably the most interesting course I ever ran as it included road, trail, bike path, and sidewalk.  Not only was it interesting, but it was HARD.  There were several large hills and a couple long false flats.

I started off at a moderate pace and eased into the race.  On first few hills I kept things moderate and tried to save energy for the end.  I took it especially easy on the trail and sidewalk as I didn't want to twist and ankle.  My strategy paid off as I consistently got stronger as the race went on.

I finished in 43:16, which was good enough for 8th in my age group.  I couldn't be a happier with the results as this was a very hard race.  I highly recommend this race as it was very well organized, challenging, and a great deal.

Post race with Steve, Pam, Jill, and Steve

2012 Akron Marathon Relay: Beal's B*tches

Post race beers with Angela, Molly, and Steph

This past weekend I competed in the relay division of the Akron Marathon.  Akron is my favorite race of the year for several reasons.  Before I was a runner, I would always admire how fast the leaders of the race were as I would watch them run through my neighborhood.  The race also special to me as I grew up in Akron and my first road race was in the half marathon event 2 years ago.  I can not recommend this race enough.  It is very well supported by the town, has a challenging route, highlights the whole town, and is extremely well organized.  If you ever get a chance to run this race.  I highly recommend doing it.

This past Spring I met with my sister and some of her friends for happy hour and a little Melt.  They were forming a relay team for Akron and asked if I would be interested in joining.  How can you say no to a bunch of good looking girls who like beer, running, and Melt!  So, I joined the team.  Jokingly I said we should name our team Beal's B*ches.  They loved the name, except for my sister who would be running her first race with us.  Sadly, due to a work conflict.  My sister had to drop out.  With an open space, I decided to reach out to someone who would fit in with our team and that person was the Logo.  The Logo has been fighting injuries since April and I couldn't be happier that she was able to make her return to racing with Beal's B*tches.

Waiting at the finish with Jess and my buddy John (who crushed his 1/2 PR that day)

I was running the 2nd leg of the marathon.  This leg starts downtown and winds through lower Akron and Firestone park then ends at Akron U.  I spent most of the summer working on running after riding for Triathlons.  My comfort and speed had improved a lot.  I figured that I would immediately switch to running only and be faster since I wouldn't tired from the bike.  Well, this wasn't the case.  I struggled mightily in the week leading up to this race with my run.  My pace was about 1 minute off from my brick workouts.  I was really worried I'd hold my team back with a bad run and even considered riding to the race to help warm up.  I decided to rest as the more I tried to get my run straight, the worse I felt and hoped it was just due to fatigue.

My route was 4.9 miles and I felt good at the start.  After taking the slap bracelet from Jess, I immediately began a climb up the on ramp back into the race.  Yes, the first exchange was under a bridge.  Nothing like kicking a race off with a climb.  This route is mostly uphill.  You only get two moments to catch your breath around Firestone park and on Brown.  I felt pretty good on my run except for a little shin discomfort.  I had a great run by making it through the 4.9 miles in 40:37!

After passing off to Stephanie, Molly and Angela jumped in and rocked this course.  Our team finished in 3:41:03!!!!  Good enough for 183rd place out of 1,224 teams!!!  Needless to say....My b*tches are fast!!  I had a blast running with this team and hopefully we get the chance to do it again.

The logo leading us off with SPEED!!!

The man in black returns!!! 1st run only race since the marathon.

Stephanie flying into the Valley

Molly is literally floating out of the valley. 

Angela is making it look easy as she flies to the finish.  

You can find Jessica's race report here:  Akron Marathon Relay

You can find Molly's race report here:  Akron Marathon Relay

You asked, Siri answers.

I was lucky enough to be due for a cellular contract renewal and even luckier to be one of the first to get the new iPhone 5.  This will be my 4th iPhone, so it's safe to say.  I'm a big fan of them.  Since this will be my first with Siri.  To have some fun, I decided to let people on Twitter and Facebook  choose some questions for Siri.  Below is what you guys requested.

Question:  Where's the closet place to find bacon?

Siri:  I found 11 restaurants in your area whose reviews mention the word bacon.


Question:  Talk dirty to me?

Siri:  The carpet needs vacuuming.


Question:  What mile will Christian Heller puke during his marathon?

Siri:  Searched the web and found Christian's blog.


Question:  Where have you been all my life?

Siri:  There are 15 churches in your area.


Question:  Where is the meat?

Siri:  I found 4 restaurants in your area that mention meat.


Question:  When will the Cleveland Browns win the Superbowl?

Siri:  Sorry, even I can't predict the future.


Question:  Where do the cougars hang out in Westlake, Ohio?

Siri:  According to reviews.  Savannah Bar and Grill is a cougar hang out.


Question:  How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

Siri:  I imagine ground hogs would prefer a different question by now.


Question:  What is a cheater bike?

Siri:  According to reviews, the Specialized Shiv is a cheater bike.

Vermilion Harbor Triathlon

I competed in the Vermilion Harbor Triathlon this past Sunday.  It was my 2nd ever Triathlon and my first Olympic distance.  It consisted of a 1500 yard swim, 26 mile bike, and a 6.2 mile run.  That's double the distance of my first Triathlon and half the distance on my next race on 9/9/12.  I haven't said much about it, but since the Cleveland Marathon.  I've been training for Rev3 Sandusky Half Ironman on 9/9/12.  My plan was to train for the event and compete in a sprint distance as well as a olympic distance.  After surviving the Olympic distance, I would then register for the Rev3 race.  Well, that didn't work out so well as there was a price increase of $50 dollars on 8/1.  So, that kinda forced my hand a bit and I registered.  My worry all along wasn't the bike or the run as I've been able to ride/run that distance since completing the marathon.  My issue is swimming.  I've spent most of the summer in the pool and at the lake improving my swim.  I've made great strides and have come a long way, but still struggle at times.  Going into this race, I was very worried about swimming 1500 yards in race conditions.

This was my first trip to Vermilion and I never realized how far away it is from Stow.  Being roughly 60 miles away, made for a very early Sunday morning.  This race consisted of a variety of events to choose from including sprint and olympic versions of Triathlons, Duathlons, and relays.  My race was scheduled to start last, which was about 45 minutes after the first event.  I arrived extra early to ensure decent parking and a rack spot if necessary.  I made my way to the registration and to my surprise, they were already out of S,M, and L race shirts.  I was very disappointed as I was guaranteed a shirt for pre-registering and I was there 2 hours before the event.  They did say I will get it in the mail, but we'll have to see about that.  Still, very poor in my opinion.  Things continued to go South as I arrived at my assigned rack along with what seemed like the whole race in my row.  We were packed like sardines.  Everyone made the best of it and we worked it all out, but our row was by far the most crowded.  Once getting everything set up.  I tried to relax and finally got the courage to look at the Lake.  For those of you not familiar with Lake Erie.  Its a fickle beast and its truly like a box of chocolates.  You never know what your going to get.

Swim

From the beach the Lake appeared to be as calm as I've seen it in awhile.  The swim itself began on the beach.  From there we would swim out about a hundred yards make a left and swim about 400 yards or so then another left back to the starting area.  The sprint group would make 1 loop and I would make 2 loops.  I was a little nervous as this would be my first "you can't touch the bottom" race.  I was equipped with the security of my wetsuit, but this would be my first can't touch experience since the drowning incident a few years ago.  As I mentioned earlier.  I've come a long way and can easily swim over this distance, but if you compared it to running.  I'm still run/walking.  I need some breaks to calm down and reset.  Well, this wan't going to happen today.  I lined up in the back of my group, which consisted of clydesdales and men in the 30's.  My swim started out pretty good, but the swells were already throwing me off.  Making the left and heading down the backstretch.  I started to panic.  I wasn't ready for these conditions and not touching.  I tried to swim best I could making it to the next turn.  I took this part a little long, ensuring I could touch.  I felt tired and was not looking forward to the next loop.  At this point, I decided to quit.  I wasn't having fun and didn't want to be in the water any more.  After completing the first loop, I deciding to forge on as I didn't want to dnf my first race.  About half way through the 2nd lap.  I freaked!  I was tired.  My stroke was off and I got water instead of air a couple times.  To calm myself, I flipped over and did the backstroke.  I began to settle until someone started to swim of top of me.  I freaked again.  Swimming for my life.  I made the final left and headed back to shallower waters.  I was wore out and grossly underestimated the difference between swimming in an inland lake and swimming in Lake Erie.

Time:  27:49

Before things got crowded.

Transition 1

I managed this much better than races past.  I had no issues this time and even remembered to take off my Garmin before removing my wetsuit.

Time:  1:51

Bike

I went out aggressive on the bike.  I needed to make up for a crap swim and wanted to take advantage of the flat roads.  Or so I thought.  According to the race, this course was 386 feet of climbing.  Well, thats true if you were judging from the low point to the high point.  This course was full of rollers and it involved a lot of climbing.  To make things even more technical.  All the large descents had turns at the bottom.  This was a hard course and it took a lot of concentration.  A few roads were chipped and you had to search around for smooth parts.  Around mile 5, I had a major fail.  I recently purchased a aero helmet on eBay.  It was working out well, but a screw came loose and my sunglass shield separated on on one side.  I quickly move it behind me to save it, but only flapped around.  I had no other choice than unscrew it and toss it into someones yard and spent the next 21 miles riding with no eye protection.  I managed to ride pretty well.  Some riders tried to pass and then would squat right in front.  This was fairly annoying.  Luckily, I caught a second wind and rode away from everyone to the end.

Time:  1:17:12

Transition 2

The ride into transition 2 was really cool as it was a flat road surrounded by townspeople on each side cheering me on.  I had another great transition and even got my socks on with ease.

Run

The plan was to establish a nice endurance pace for the first 3.1 miles.  The route was a little annoying as it was on grass the first few tenths and I was paranoid about twisting an ankle.  I ran the first mile in 8:50 and felt pretty good.  I didn't realize how well I was doing until I started to get passed repeatedly by racers in team uniforms.  They were all really supportive and I continued to clomp along on my 9 minute per mile pace.  It was a fairly flat route and had a ton of water stops.  It was really nice to have.  I didn't have any issues until mile 4 when stomach cramps began to set in.  These cost me a few minutes towards the end.  Once arriving at the last turn, I saw my buddy Alex video taping the finish. As I turned, I almost made a Tosh.O moment as I tripped over a rock.  After recovering from the near disaster, I sprinted to the finish for a time of 2:46:21

Time:  57:48

Summary

This race was insane!  A lot harder than I had expected it be.  My thoughts were that it would be comparable to running a half marathon, but it was harder than that.  I can't say enough good things about Vermillion.  The town support was the best I have ever seen and there were more volunteers here than any race i've done.  It was really nice and allowed us to concentrate on racing.  I was pleased with my overall time.  It was good enough to win my clydesdale group.  Better yet, my time was good enough to beat all the groups that chose to race by weight over age!  The only problem was the swim.  I feel like I dodged a bullet on that one.  Being in open water with out the being able to touch is not fun for me.  That kind of ruined the day for me and I wasn't a happy camper after the race.  I'm not sure what I am going to do about Sandusky now.  I emailed them about doing a shorter event or deferring to next year and they said no.  Hopefully after another 3 weeks of hard swim training.  I'll change my mind, but right now.  I have zero desire to step foot in that lake again.  Its a shame I feel that way because I wish I could celebrate what was a great accomplishment, but I can't get over the fear and panic I felt.

Christmas Ale and my winner's medal!

My Liebster Post

Hey everyone.  I haven't blogged in awhile.  Mostly because I haven't raced since the Fairport Triathlon and I have been too busy training for Rev3 Sandusky.  This week, I got Liebstered by two inspiration friends of mine.  What does Liebster mean?  I am not exactly sure what it means, but I need to list 11 random facts about me.  Then answer 11 questions posed from Adena and Kristy.

While writing this blog.  I remembered I owe some answers to a few of my friends.  Over the winter, I asked if anyone had any random questions they wanted answered by Beal.  Ask and I would answer them in a blog.  Well, I got busy and never answered the questions.  So, I will try and find those questions and will be answering them soon.  Also, if you have a question, feel free to leave a comment or message me and I will answer them in a soon to be posted blog.

11 Random Beal facts:

1. I grew up refusing to eat vegetables.  As a baby I would scrape them off my tongue.  My mom spoiled my as I grew up by always cooking me a separate dish that had the vegetables taken out.  They still even do this today with certain things.

2. I was recruited while in college to train for being a professional wrestler in the WWE.

3. I'm a huge NASCAR fan and my favorite driver is Dale Earnhardt Jr.

4.  I hate when people sing out loud in public.

5. My favorite movie of all time is Smokey and the Bandit.  As a kid, I wanted to grow up and be a truck driver.

6.  My biggest fear is snakes

7.  I'm a big creature of habit and am not comfortable when my routine changes.

8.  Apparently, I tell good stories while training.

9.   I've lived in Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and Michigan.

10.  I struggle at choosing between two things.

11.  I'm left handed.

Adena's 11 questions for me:

1. If I gave you $5000 right this minute what would you do with it?

As tempted as I would be to spend it on some new Zipp 404 carbon clinchers and a new Sram Red drivetrain for my bike.  I think I would go on a killer vacation.  I haven't been on a vacation in awhile and I think I deserve one. 

2. What’s in your fridge RIGHT NOW?

Beer, Gatorade, steak, and lunch meat. 

3. Do you have any tricks to motivate yourself out the door on days when you don’t feel like working out?

I really don't need motivation.  If I am not really into it, I just tell myself the sooner I start.  The sooner I'll be finished. 

4. What’s your favourite meal?  

Duh, Chipotle. 

5. Have you always been athletic?  If no, what got you started?

I have always been athletic and have played sports since I was a little kid. 

7. Where is your favorite place to be?

Out riding my bike on a calm sunny day. 

8. Favorite song at the moment?  

It is Recharger by Fear Factory

9. What was the last thing that made you laugh so hard you practically (or did) cried?

I can't remember any specific instance, but probably something on Tosh.O

10. Starbucks or Tim Hortons?

I've never been to Tim Hortons, so Starbucks

11. What is your guilty pleasure? 

I have 2.  One is playing Call Of Duty online.  My other is watching the Jersey Shore. 

Kristy's questions for me:

1. How/Why did you start running?

I started running to lose weight.  

2. What is your reach goal (time, race or distance challenge)?

My goal is to complete an Ironman someday. 

3. How has running changed your life?

It has helped me lose weight.  It has also helped me meet some really cool people and i've made some great friends through running. 

4. Do you treat yourself for a great race or well done hard workout? If so, with what?

After a race I like to enjoy a few Christmas Ales and some Chipotle.  If its a long race, then I may get some pizza. 

5. Are you involved in your local running community/running groups?

Not at the moment. 

6. Do you prefer to run with a group or solo?

I prefer to train solo, but I enjoy group runs from time to time. 

7. What's your favorite race (event not distance) that you've run so far? and why?

Akron Marathon.  It is such a great event.  A fun yet challenging route, great crowd support, plenty of volunteers, finish inside a minor league baseball stadium, free beer at the finish, and its on a Saturday. 

8. Which ONE Olympic running event/performance inspired you the most?

Probably the 5K.  Watching them run a sub 4 minute mile after running 2 miles was truly amazing. 

9. If you could run one event in the Olympics, which would it be?

Which ever one is the shortest.  Lol.  Na, I would love to do the Individual Time Trial (cycling)

10. What do you think about the minimalist movement, and do you wear minimalist shoes?

I think it is good for the right people.  It isn't something you can just jump into, which most people do and get hurt.  I think when used correctly, minimalist shoes are great.  I do have a pair of Brooks Pure Cadence, which are a in between minimalist and standard shoe. 

11. If you could go on a run with any person, who would it be and why?

If you are talking famous people, I would say Miranda Carfrae.  Or I would run with my old Sunday run crew.  I don't miss the weather, but they were fun to run with.