Running with data (and Dave and Ben)

Map and profile of Saturday's run

Recently, I received a GPS watch as a gift for anniversary #1 from Meg. It's been quite fun wearing the watch, downloading the data, and looking at the topography of each run. Even a quick 5 miler around the neighborhood features short climbs that I'd never considered. I look forward to gathering more data about each outing to get an even better feel for the terrain in and around Anchorage. In the future, I hope to know as much about the routes near home as other outdoor enthusiasts living in Alaska. Perhaps inspired by this video, I've become more intrigued recently about getting out and "mapping" the surrounding terrain via trail runs. The data featured here is from a trip over Powerline Pass with Dave and Ben this weekend.

Hatcher Pass Marathon

Passing Summit Lake at mile 24

Support crew Ben & Laura fresh off the Yukon River

The scenery was reason enough to run the course

After several weeks of training it was finally time to run the first annual Hatcher Pass Marathon on Saturday. With a course profile resembling a very difficult treadmill program, I knew I was in for a doozy on my first full marathon. I was aiming for an 8 minute per mile pace and kept on target for more than half the race, arriving at mile 16 in 2:08. Then the course really started to climb. With the help of my support crew - Meghan, Ben, and Laura - who provided plenty of feed options (Ben even ran alongside for a few of the steepest miles) I was able to hold off a late challenge from a fellow racer just below the summit. When I crested the pass the sun was shining on the last mile - a steep descent to the finish where I crossed the line at 3:50:45. Although I ran slower than my goal, I learned a lot about long distance racing . Like labor, I have nearly forgotten the most painful parts of the race (e.g., when my left hip flexor refused to flex at miles 17-20) and look forward to another long trail race.

First Half

The Mayor's Midnight Sun Marathon and Half Marathon brought nearly 4,000 runners from 49 states and several friends from Kodiak to Anchorage's trails on Saturday. A slight breeze and mostly sunny skies made for excellent race day conditions at the start. While the picturesque course offering million dollar views of the Chugach Mountains and Cook Inlet made everyone a winner. I ran the half marathon course (my longest race distance to date) and Meg ran race support - meeting me at the finish with comfortable shoes and a dry shirt. During the race I was able to keep a steady pace and finish right at my goal. this was my first major individual race and it was really fun to be at the start with thousands of other folks pumped about running. To me it's evidence that humans are hard-wired to run in groups. For instance I've noticed that my times are much faster when running with someone else. Perhaps it's a vestige of our ancestral persistence hunting tactic: running = survival.

Summah's here - Gotta run

David, Bill and I hanging out after work

Although there's still plenty of snow up high for getting turns, most of the trails in and around town are dry and begging for a run. Anchorage and the Chugach mountains to the east offer many (literally) breathtaking runs. Kincaid Park features a trail that runs along sandy bluffs overlooking Cook Inlet, Denali, and two volcanoes. There are many trails along the Turnagain Arm that traverse lush coastal forests and subalpine tundra. Not to mention the nearly 200 miles of trail in Anchorage proper where one might cross paths with moose, bear and the occasional wolf.
Friends and I have a few race dates circled on the summah calendar and we've been trying to get out as much as possible to prepare. Last night we tackled Bird Ridge south of town. The trail follows the shoulder of Bird Peak - straight up and straight down. We topped out at around 8p and hurried down for a beer in the parking lot, while fat mosquitoes swarmed our blood-rich limbs. Thanks to Dave for bringing along the camera.

Meg in motion

Meg has taken to the trail every day after work this week.