::Goodlife Victoria marathon 2011…::

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Nathan

Felt like I was just writing and editing photos from this race last year. This year has gone by so fast, I guess when all you do is work, bike, work ,swim, work ,run, run , swim, and maybe a beer in there…things go by very fast. Mirroring last year, this would be my first race after the Ironman in Penticton. Traditionally this race has always been a bit of a fight for me, I had one of my worse marathon crashes here a few years back . After Ironman this year I really wanted to make up for a garbage marathon split. I was going after this race a little more relaxed with two really focused weeks of training three weeks before the race.

::This was at probably the best section of the race::

My plan was to go after the first 10km and hope to hold on for the rest of the race. This has to be the most controlled, relaxed, and enjoyable running race I have had to date. The whole race felt smooth, and just had a gel at the start and one at about 50 minutes with a few water splashes mixed in. I didn’t know my pace til about 5 km but knew I was goin pretty good and with my 10km split 38ish I felt I could set myself up for a pretty good time. Dropped about 2 minutes off my fastest with 1:21.5 , giving me a minute or two breathing room for a New York Qualifying time. I’ll be looking at getting under 1:20 mark in the new year.

As always this race is first class with a huge turn out and a good group of spectators. I am not a huge fan of the terrain but the ocean views and city streets make it one of the best for scenery. If you get a lucky, like we did this year without rain or wind, it’s pretty tough to beat.

::Finished::

::obviously the winners of the marathon::

::This guy was my favorite guy.::

::Training with Brooks running shoes::

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Nathan

Been grinding it out for the last 3 weeks on getting myself ready for August 28th. The long journey to Ironman Canada started way back around February after I finished up my Marathon in New Orleans. Its amazing how much the body can progress after a year. I used the winter to get my marathon time battered down but also slaved a lot of my winter riding in the basement watching tv. So on the theme of progression, I have also been trying out different types of shoes. Wanting to get a bit more out of my run, and just out of pure boredom of regular running. I thought I would doing a bit of looking around for my feet. Constantly looking for new routes and new areas to run, I thought I would let my feet in on some new things as well.

::Brooks Adrenaline number 9:: I have two pairs of this same shoe...I hate buying the same thing twice...

I’ve been running in a brooks shoe for about three years, and haven’t even considered switching shoes. I’ve primarily been trucking in adrenaline shoe since I believe #7. I bought my second pair of #10′s at Christmas of this year and I think they are on #11 now. This shoe has been my race and training shoe…but not for long!

::Adrenaline number 10:: not worn yet, but do have another dirty pair...once again...

I get a little tired of dealing with traffic, traffic lights, junkies, shit drivers, old people in their scooters, and lazy people in their scooters taking up the walkways soo….I’ve been mixing some trail running. I was using an old pair of Adrenaline number 7′s on the trail but after a few longer runs, I wanted to see how much of a difference a trail shoe would make. Obviously I stuck with the brooks, and heard nothing bad about the Cascadia shoe. Naturally I went out, bought it, and took it out for a 1 hour run along the river. It was like night and day, gripping and more command on the trail was amazing. I did find this shoe a little heavy but something I could deal with. It probably didn’t help that I was running in the Green Silence the day before.

::my Cascadia trail blazer:: Trying to be my favorite...probably will be in winter.

With all this hype of barefoot running and minimal shoe design I decided to give the Green Silence a go. The first run in this shoe was done at the track and man I felt like I was flying. Super light, like I didn’t have a shoe on my foot. With that said, my arch could tell as well. I’ve been having some arch swelling for a few months now and the first run in this shoe made me feel it a little more in the morning.

I have since ran in this shoe 20 plus kms and enjoyed the light design. I am sitting on the face about using this shoe for more then a half marathon race, but thinking about using it for my marathon at IMC. I’ll probably with decide a few days before and see how the arch feels. I have been running in this shoe almost 2-3 times a week, trying to get my feet use to the minimal design. Any questions…ok good.

::These are my favorite, they come stock in Green and Black but you can order a few different colours. Such as this red and royal blue.::

40th BMO Vancouver Marathon Pre-race :: notes

Posted on April 29, 2011 by Nathan

In 2006 BMO Vancouver Marathon was my first solo running race since high school. I went head first into the full marathon. When I finished I thought I would never want to do it again, just like a bad hangover. This will be my 5th year in a row but 4th actually running it. This has been my favorite race to date, and continues to be a race that sets me up for a solid racing season. It’s been a PR race for me for as many times as I have raced it.

I'm 501, shaved for this years race. My Best Buddy to my left is in the sun visor with the moose knuckle. Super stoked to be racing.

Last years goal was to go after Boston in the full distance, this year I’m going after a New York half time of a 1:23 or less. I hope the half course is as good much as the full course…

I'm the middle...this was when I was starting to really feel it. Thought I would sport the Stash that year.

Winner of the full gets 2,000 —winner of the half gets 1,000. I’m thinking that’s not a huge purse. (photos ripped from the BMO site…actual race photos from years back)

Crazy Races and a bit more…

Posted on March 11, 2011 by Nathan

This week has been a regular week with training and work, but have received some interesting emails for up coming races. I love the creativity that event organizers are using to get more people interested. It seems to become an increasingly competitive business to get people to take part in their event with the sport becoming more mainstream.

The first email was from the Rock and Roll series for their Vegas, December of 2011. I have done this race in 2009, the first year they took to the strip. Was a really interesting race, with a pretty early start but they did have the whole strip closed off for the race. I found it to be expensive then, and 2011 will be no different with early sign up being 120 bucks- ouch! The big twist to the whole thing is that in 2011 it will be at night, cool, maybe better…I think yes. I do a majority of my mid week running in the dark and think it would be something I would love to try. I guess I better work a few more hours this week to pay for the race though.

The Warrior Dash was the second email I received from being signed up with map my run. This race looks more like a round up your buddies and see who can get the most wrecked in both senses of the word. Looks pretty dam awesome though. Its in Whistler on August 6th, for 50 bucks you can race the 3.07 ” hellish ” miles. They claim it will be the craziest frickin day of your life.

Of course a pretty fun one would be the Disney World marathon. I know a few people have done this one, and they have done it more then once. They make this one a full weekend of racing, and if your feeling pretty good, do a few races while your down there. These ones are a few bucks too, with early sign ups at about 125 us. Make sure you get a picture of yourself giving Mickey a smash to the face. The Disneyland/ Disney World parks have multiple events and races going on throughout the year, Here is a link to their calender.

Mardi Gras Marathon wrap-up

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Nathan

Left from Seattle early Thursday morning for New Orleans to get away from the grey skies of BC winter, but mostly for a running race that had been marked on the calender for close to a year. The weather was great and the rest of the trip did not disappoint either, from bourbon street, the quarter, the hotel and most importantly the race.

Great morning for a long run...

I used a 16 week program mashed together with an ironman program that I used last year for the race back in August. At about week 12 of the running program, I figured it was extremely aggressive and extremely unrealistic. This was a pretty good example of finding something on the internet, and figuring out it probably is made by someone who doesn’t know what they are doing. Track workouts seemed good but build up times and half marathon goal times were a little insane. ( 2-3 minutes faster then what I thought was inline with a sub 3 hour training program.)

Started out with a long sleeve running shirt, then layered down. It was getting hot out. Think it might have gotten to 18ish.

After finishing up a half marathon three weeks before with a time 1:24.5, I figured I had more then enough speed to get under that 3 hour mark. (program was look for a 1:22 or better.) The only thing I was really worried about was if the travel would mess me up. A 2 hour time difference didn’t seem to matter and after getting to the hotel, I felt pretty good other then tired of travel. Saturday morning I got up first thing and headed down to the gym for a quick 20 minute run to loosen up the legs, and then a group of us headed down to pick up our running chips for Sunday morning. After walking the mile long convention center, we got our gear and wondered out of the crazy huge Brooks display. All things set and everything was ready to go.

7 am start with the sun beaming out, and thousands of people walking to the start. I think they cap out at 17,000 and about 14,000 raced with 3,200ish doing the full distance. Got there just in time for the start and away we went. First mile was congested but then I was settling in and after 5 miles we separated from the halfers. I thought the course was great, minus the pot holes. You really had to look down a some parts, almost felt like a trail run. As the race went on, I felt pretty good and was getting my target splits. At about mile 20-23, things still felt good, but could tell I forgot about how hard the old mental game comes into play on the last 5-10 kms. Fought through and came in felling pretty relaxed and got the goal time of 2:58. I can tell I still have room for improvement but was happy with the result.

did a 41 minute 10km, and my half split was 1:27, so I think I held on pretty good. Just need to keep getting the speed going.

I’ll add City pictures later on in the week. Great weekend, and thanks Darryl for letting me use your watch, saw mine sitting at the front door when I got home. ba.

BMO Race Round up.

Posted on May 5, 2010 by Nathan

the old bip

Nice wet Sunday but wasn’t too bad with over 13, 000 in the race and close to 1,900 doing the full distance. Once again the race was well put on, well marked and had more then enough water and gel stops. Enjoyed most of it but I think the last mile was the best, coming in the 4 minutes to spare and my legs still working.

This was the third time I have done the Vancouver, and it still has to be the one I like the most. There wasn’t as many people watching this year, but I think the weather had a very large part in that. Finished up with a 3:06.28 and made the top 100. Now I am thinking a sub 3 hour might be in the cards for the fall.

Went out at a crisp 41 minutes for the 10k mark and was wanting around the 43 range, so a bit fast, then clocked 1:29.11 for the half and was able to hold on for with a 1:37.2. Felt good and could have maybe pushed the second half a bit more but overall was happy with the result. Next up the run for water half marathon on the 30th, but not before a trip up to penny for a ride on the ironman bike course.

Nathan Veldhoen

::A Lifestyle blog of what I enjoy :: running, Triathlon, Art, Design, Photography, DIY and Building.::

Tag Archives: marathons

::Goodlife Victoria marathon 2011…::

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::Training with Brooks running shoes::

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40th BMO Vancouver Marathon Pre-race :: notes

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Crazy Races and a bit more…

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Mardi Gras Marathon wrap-up

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BMO Race Round up.

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