"The Cheesiest Race on Earth"

TUESDAY, MAY 04, 2010

Short race report on last Saturday's Wisconsin Marathon in Kenosha:

Fellow Jim Spivey runner and neighbor Steve Hess and I drove up to Kenosha. Steve, former last man on the Marquette U. CC team and now 50 years old, was advised by Coach Spivey to keep his pace at 7 minutes a mile. But he told me on the drive he was going to try to run 6:40s. That's another world than the one I live in!

Small race, but it looked like maybe 1500 for the full and half; they said it was double the first year. Many folks wearing cheeseheads, cheese hats, cheese gard for "the cheesiest race on earth." Really, too much Wisconsin!

It was a beautiful day though it got a bit warm. I liked the course - not many turns, and we ran along Lake Michigan for many stretches and on gravel roads throuhg unpopulated areas in other stretches. However, a few miles in the first half actually were hilly, to my surprise.

I went out at a highly controlled goal pace (9's) and held that until I tightened up at 12, then I slowed, my legs feeling more and more wooden. However, unlike my recent marathons, I suffered no cramps, which was great.

I ran with a guy from a town that neighbors mine the last third of the course and the miles went by realtively easily, albeit slowly, with the company. We did pick it up a little the last 1+ miles for a stronger finish - but still really slow. 4:32.

I've had a great recovery from the race, probably because I did not push as much as usual, which was probably smart because being undertrained I think cramps would otherwise have been a certainty. (My long runs consisted of two 18 milers.) The Achilles was zero problem. So next time if I train more with longer long runs I should be faster.

In terms of sheer enjoyment, it was my best marathon in a long while. But it's racing, damn it, not a stroll in the park! I want to race... That's why my first place in the age group in a 10K two weeks earlier was so great. I put it all out there on the edge, did not blow up and raced! To really race a marathon is MUCH harder and therefore, though painful, even more satisfying.

And, oh yeah, 50 years young Steve Hess ran 2:54 and change and was 6th overall. I am sure he destroyed his age group - but they did not give any age group awards. That sucked for him...