Akron Road Runner Marathon 2007

What a great day for runners; cool crisp morning followed by sunny day. My plan for the marathon was to run with the 4 hour pace group. I got to the start at 5:45am to get motivated, a parking spot near the stadium and first in line at a pot-o-potty. I mingled around talking to other runners, then I saw this guy speed walking to get something from the relay table. I reached over and socked him in the arm...He asked, "Hey!!!Do I Know You!?" "Jeff It's me Bill Bailey!" "Remember we worked together 15 years ago!!!" We chatted for a minute then he had to get going. I go a phone number to so I could call him later.
Mike Keller & I talked about running together with the 4 hour group....but there was a catch...We were not going to talk to each other during the race, so we wouldn't waste energy and focus on running.
(click on mike's name and read his blog).
We were off and running in no time. I started to stick with the pacer then I moved up to run with Mike, who was ahead by a little. Then I would move back to the pacer, thinking I was running to fast...I was confused!!! So I got into my own grove and ran my race with the same thoughts I had at the BT50K. I need to use it or loose it. Use the energy I had to keep myself going or loose it by running to slow. I got through the Y-Bridge, Firestone Park & Akron U on my own. Once I hit the towpath I was at a good pace and caught up with the Canal River Rats. They are a group of West Akron Guys who run the towpath & Sand Run. Who better to run with at this point of the race. I was 3-4 minutes a head of the 4 hour group. A nice cushion to have because of the "HILL" that was coming up. The Rats were great. They got me through Sand Run. I started to slow down a tad in the West Akron area near Firestone High School. I sucked down some Gu's. It got a little warm,but I was well hydrated. I stopped at every water stop. I took 20 seconds to drink and walk, then off and running again. Right before the HILL I looked to my side and there was a girl with a 4:15 pace on her back and next to her was a pacer. I freaked out. I was thinking I lost some time and was at a 4:15 pace. But the pacer was the 4 hour guy. Our pacer was awesome; I stayed with him up the HILL into Stan Hywet. Once we got to Portage I sucked down two GU's. I asked the pacer if we would continue this pace he said yes.
My thoughts were I got 4 hoursbeat!, but can I get sub 4? Let's see what Market Street brings me. My plan for Market Street is to let the street carry me to Main Street. Market Street has a nice long hill. "Gravity do your job."
I'm still with the pacer on Portage and as we come around to get to Market I make my move. Not all at once but I slowly move ahead, my music blasting, but I can hear the crowd, I can see Main Street then I look over and see Vince in his car (Stuck in traffic) He's cheering me on, I flash him the VR Peace Sign & a number 4 sign. Seeing Vince gave me more motivation to move ahead at a faster pace. I got to the bottom of Market and remember the little incline that was waiting for me right before Main Street. I slowed down to get up the hill, then running down Main Street my leg started to cramp. I slowed a little then seeing the crowd and having the stadium in sight I had to run through the pain. Run Bill Run....I'm focused on my time, I'm passing a bunch of pink relay tags, I almost knocked some lady over. I kept repeating SUB 4....SUB 4....SUB 4
Chip Time 3:57:47

Blog Slacker

Sorry I've been such a blog slacker lately. I've been really busy creating, buying ingredients, mixing and baking a new energy bar called PURE FUEL. I've also been busy training for the Akron Marathon, Sunday Brunch at our Church and two up coming catering gigs I have planned for next week. Then there are those little people, Tori & Collin, that take up space in my home. I have to make sure they eat sleep & fight without killing each other or flushing things down the toilet that shouldn't be flushed.
I will soon be back on track to blogging and soon I will get a new camera to get me motivated to blog more.

In Memeory of Sara

In memeory of my dog

Sara

Dec. 3 1998

Sept. 22, 2007

Sara's the Black & Sliver Schnauzer

Monet is the all Black Schauzer

5:30 AM Run

This morning Nick & I met in the Valley and ran the towpath. I called Nick and told him I wanted to be "The Fastest Man In The World" again. Nick's job was to pace me at a fast speed. Our workout; the first mile was our warm up, then 4 miles at 7.30 pace then a mile cool down. Our plan looked better on paper. We start our warm up to fast. We did hit some 7.0 min/miles for some of our laps. Our final time was 8:33 min./mile for 6 miles. Still very good pace for me at flippin 5:30 am.
Thanks for the run Nick see you later.

Bark At The Moon

Just wanted to post this note.....

One of my trail buddy's, 9 year old Sara (she's on the right in the picture), has been at the Vet's office since Monday morning. Thursday night she got sick, and the last day she ate anything was Friday at breakfast. They have her on IV fluids for now and are trying to get her to eat.

I don't want to go into all the vet and medical problems, but she' really sick and I'm hope she can come home soon to run Pine Lane with me & Monet (she's on the left in the picture).

FOR SALE

This morning I had to kill two birds with one stone. I needed to drive my car to an empty lot near Silver Lake. I'm selling my Honda so Rt. 59 is a great busy road to try and sell a car. I also had to get a few miles in today. So I drive the car the the lot and started to run. I could repeat my pace from Monday Night, but I kept a 9.26 min./mile for 3.6 miles. I'll get out later tonight to run another 3 miles.

THE FASTEST MAN IN THE WORLD!!!!

Monday Night 9/17/2007
Tonight I was the fastest man in the world!!!!
OK maybe not the fastest. The plan was to run 5-6 miles with Vince at his house(no trails until after Akron Marathon). Once there one of the gazelles (Arron) from the Sat. AM group run shows up. My thoughts..."Great I'll be running alone." Then I thought I try to keep up with them and see how far I get. I know the neighborhood so it doesn't matter if they loose me I'm just without and ipod.
The first mile I know I would be bailing out a 3 miles. But what really happened was I stuck with them.
I felt really good, no pain, no stomach issues, I drank(water) all day. I was right with them. I wish I would have brought my Garmin. Vince said I would have my PR for my 5k, 4 mile & 5 mile runs. At the end Arron was pushing & coaching me a long. I was determined to stick with them all the way. Vince's Street has a nice down hill run. I started to fad but thought I would run my hardest back to his house. I thought for sure I was gazelle material, and I was for a few seconds...then they reminded me why I call them gazelles to begin with. The hammer came down and they were strides ahead of me.
Vince said we were sub 7 min./mile coming down his street and avg. 7.3-8 min./mile for the run.
THANKS GUYS GREAT RUN, I NEEDED THAT....

running with knives & fire

Sat. 9/15/2007
Group run our last long run before the marathon. It looked like about 15-20 people running with us. I stuck with Melissa & her Dad John. I wore my garmin, I thought for sure it would stop working. Our route today was North on the towpath then loop carriage trail and back. 14 total miles. The garmin kept a signal the whole time. Our avg. pace was 9.30 minute/mile.

SOUZOUKAKIA (meatballs in wine sauce)

Akron's Greek Festival is coming up soon. I thought I would share one of my favorite Classic Greek dishes with you.

Chef Bill Bailey version of
Souzoukakia (Meatballs in Wine Sauce)
1 1/2 pounds ground meat (ground twice)
4 slices white bread, crust trimmed
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 cup dry red wine
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 egg
2 8-ounce cans tomato sauce
1 cup water
Salt and pepper to taste
Olive oil for frying
Soak bread in cold water and squeeze out the excess.
In a large bowl, thoroughly mix the meat, bread, garlic, cumin, onion powder, wine and egg by hand.
Shape into long meatballs (football shape), about 3 inches in length.
In a deep pot, add tomato sauce, water, salt and pepper. On medium heat, bring sauce to a gentle boil. Reduce heat.
In a large frying pan, heat enough olive oil to cover the bottom of the pan. Fry meatballs until brown on all sides. Remove from pan with a slotted spoon and place meatballs in the tomato sauce. Simmer until sauce looks thickened and meatballs are completely cooked.
Serves 6.
Note: Souzoukakia are typically served over long-grain white rice in Greek homes, but they can be also served on a hard roll with a little sauce.

Akron Marathon Training 2007

I'm still getting behind on my blogging. I'll see if I can get some time back in the computer room...I need a laptop that would make things easy. I think Santa reads my blog :)

Monday I ran with Hob-a-long Rucci. He was hobbling on sore legs from his 50K he ran on Sat. We ran a 5 mile loop around Silver Lake.

Tuesday I met Vince & Mike "the mailman" for an 8 mile run in Sand Run. Boy was it crowded. All the parking spaces were full. I said to Vince "what are all these ya-hoo's doing out here training for a marathon?" "Where are the all in January when were out training for BT50K?"
The Ya-Hoo's were all on the parkway path and we hit the trails.

Thursday AM I met Nick to run a 10 mile there & back route on the blue line from Sand run up to the west Akron neighborhood we will be running in the Marathon. I had some problems with my hip & IT. I got it stretched out after getting home seems to be OK.

Today I ran a 6 mile neighborhood run down around Mike (fitfromfat) & Tony's house.

FYI: Akron Life & Leisure write an article about VR Trainings running group. It's in the Sept. 2007 issue. There's a great picture of the group run and A few of us have some quotes. Pick up a copy or just read one while sipping a cup of joe at boarders book store.

Sat. will be a 14 mile long run with the group.