The tortoise and the Pelican
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2015 5:10 pm
I originally decided to run here in Seabrook, Texas while browsing through Marathon Guide to see what events were available away from Ontario winters. Upon seeing the location of Seabrook, I decided to come here to run. This is where our own Spirit resides. When I logged onto the race website to sign up for a marathon, I noticed the Pelican Challenge which was two half marathons on the local trails on succeeding days. I signed up immediately and then shopped for an inexpensive travel package. I was successful and the challenge was on.
Bonnie and I flew down from Buffalo, through Chicago, on Thursday. The flight was fine but our VISA credit cards were declined when we wanted to pay for a meal in /Buffalo on Wednesday evening. A lengthy phone call determined that my card had been compromised. We were able to get Bonnie's VISA reactivated. I will be getting a new card.
Upon our arrival, we contacted Laura and arranged for her to pick us up on Friday morning. She spent most of the day driving us around while showing us her house, her place of work, and her favourite running locations. Then we had lunch at an Italian Grill and picked up our race packets. Laura was running the half on Saturday and the full on Sunday. ( Brave lady! ) Despite a favourable weather forecast, it rained in Seabrook most of Thursday and Friday. As the course is mainly dirt trails, mud was definitely in our future.
Saturday, March 14, 2015 - Half marathon for Laura and myself
Laura picked Bonnie and I up at our hotel at 6:05 and we drove to the race area. We parked at the nearby Library and walked tot he start/finish area. After a couple of introduction to Sprit's friends, I wished Laura well and did my usual warm up walk/jog. My target time for both days was 2 hours. I knew there would be mud and I knew the trail was double track in many places. Temperaqtures were quite good with my long sleeve Canada shirt maybe a bit too warm but not really a problem
I started out near the front as the first km or so is on a local street and I wanted to get past some slower runners before we het the narrow trail. The course is quite narrow in many spots and there were times when there was two way traffic and also trying to pass some 5K participants as we neared the end of the first loop. The course was two loops for the half marathon. I wanted to maintain a 9 minute or under pace for the Saturday race and was successful. There were a number of muddy spots and some delays while groups of participants tried to avoid the worst spots. I took one walk break just after the 12K mark to take a gel and some hydration. My TOM TOM died just after 18K as I had left it on NIGHT mode which uses up the battery. Thus I wasn't sure of my pace for the final 3 km. I likely picked it up a bit as I didn't want to slow down. I felt quite good at the finish.
Official Stats:
First Loop: 56:27 Second Loop: 59:39 Chip Time: 1:56:06
Age Group: 1/4 Men: 48/191 Overall: 66/ 437
My award was a nice glass mug with the race logo etched on it.
Sunday, March 15, 2015
As Laura was running the marathon and I was only running the half, Bonnie and I drove to the race ourselves. We arrived just before 6 AM just as Laura arrived and we parked in the same area as Saturday. The Sunday lead up to the race was similar to Saturday. There had been quite a bit of sun on Saturday so the course was drier. I wore my short sleeve Canada shirt and that worked well. Because it was mainly cloudy, the temperatures were a bit lower. High while I was running was about 17 C.
Today, I definitely started slower and tried to keep as near to a 9 minute per mile pace as possible. There were more runners on the two way sections due to the marathoners running the course. Also, as the marathon started 15 minutes earlier than the half marathon runners, we had to pass the slower runners. This was an ongoing situation throughout the race. I managed to be a tad under the nine minute pace until 10 miles and then held on to finish on a nine minute mile average pace exactly. It was interesting to note that my legs took longer to feel warmed up but then weren't a problem at all.
I finished strong and Bonnie and I headed back to the hotel. I had an Epsom Salts bath, we went out for lunch and were back at the finish area in time to see Laura shortly after she finished. Laura looked strong both days. She did very well.
First Loop: 57:59 Second Loop: 59:54 Chip Time: 1:57:54
Age Group: 1/1 Men: 44/122 Overall: 65/303
These races were very well organized. The route was in great shape considering the rain. I really enjoyed both days. The medals are superb and all three fit together to make on large medal when lying flat. ( See Spirit's thread for a photo of hers. )
I am also trying to work out the technicalities of claiming a sub 4 hour marathon, notwithstanding the 22 hour gap between the two halves!!
Overall a great weekend!
Bonnie and I flew down from Buffalo, through Chicago, on Thursday. The flight was fine but our VISA credit cards were declined when we wanted to pay for a meal in /Buffalo on Wednesday evening. A lengthy phone call determined that my card had been compromised. We were able to get Bonnie's VISA reactivated. I will be getting a new card.
Upon our arrival, we contacted Laura and arranged for her to pick us up on Friday morning. She spent most of the day driving us around while showing us her house, her place of work, and her favourite running locations. Then we had lunch at an Italian Grill and picked up our race packets. Laura was running the half on Saturday and the full on Sunday. ( Brave lady! ) Despite a favourable weather forecast, it rained in Seabrook most of Thursday and Friday. As the course is mainly dirt trails, mud was definitely in our future.
Saturday, March 14, 2015 - Half marathon for Laura and myself
Laura picked Bonnie and I up at our hotel at 6:05 and we drove to the race area. We parked at the nearby Library and walked tot he start/finish area. After a couple of introduction to Sprit's friends, I wished Laura well and did my usual warm up walk/jog. My target time for both days was 2 hours. I knew there would be mud and I knew the trail was double track in many places. Temperaqtures were quite good with my long sleeve Canada shirt maybe a bit too warm but not really a problem
I started out near the front as the first km or so is on a local street and I wanted to get past some slower runners before we het the narrow trail. The course is quite narrow in many spots and there were times when there was two way traffic and also trying to pass some 5K participants as we neared the end of the first loop. The course was two loops for the half marathon. I wanted to maintain a 9 minute or under pace for the Saturday race and was successful. There were a number of muddy spots and some delays while groups of participants tried to avoid the worst spots. I took one walk break just after the 12K mark to take a gel and some hydration. My TOM TOM died just after 18K as I had left it on NIGHT mode which uses up the battery. Thus I wasn't sure of my pace for the final 3 km. I likely picked it up a bit as I didn't want to slow down. I felt quite good at the finish.
Official Stats:
First Loop: 56:27 Second Loop: 59:39 Chip Time: 1:56:06
Age Group: 1/4 Men: 48/191 Overall: 66/ 437
My award was a nice glass mug with the race logo etched on it.
Sunday, March 15, 2015
As Laura was running the marathon and I was only running the half, Bonnie and I drove to the race ourselves. We arrived just before 6 AM just as Laura arrived and we parked in the same area as Saturday. The Sunday lead up to the race was similar to Saturday. There had been quite a bit of sun on Saturday so the course was drier. I wore my short sleeve Canada shirt and that worked well. Because it was mainly cloudy, the temperatures were a bit lower. High while I was running was about 17 C.
Today, I definitely started slower and tried to keep as near to a 9 minute per mile pace as possible. There were more runners on the two way sections due to the marathoners running the course. Also, as the marathon started 15 minutes earlier than the half marathon runners, we had to pass the slower runners. This was an ongoing situation throughout the race. I managed to be a tad under the nine minute pace until 10 miles and then held on to finish on a nine minute mile average pace exactly. It was interesting to note that my legs took longer to feel warmed up but then weren't a problem at all.
I finished strong and Bonnie and I headed back to the hotel. I had an Epsom Salts bath, we went out for lunch and were back at the finish area in time to see Laura shortly after she finished. Laura looked strong both days. She did very well.
First Loop: 57:59 Second Loop: 59:54 Chip Time: 1:57:54
Age Group: 1/1 Men: 44/122 Overall: 65/303
These races were very well organized. The route was in great shape considering the rain. I really enjoyed both days. The medals are superb and all three fit together to make on large medal when lying flat. ( See Spirit's thread for a photo of hers. )
I am also trying to work out the technicalities of claiming a sub 4 hour marathon, notwithstanding the 22 hour gap between the two halves!!
Overall a great weekend!
