Run for the Patch

My latest race was a total accident/spur of the moment type of thing. I went out for a run on Saturday morning and was about 2 miles into the run when I noticed a couple of runners. I decided I'd start running towards them and maybe I'd catch em and run with them for a while. As I was following them, I started to notice more runners around a church on 106th St. in Owasso. Incidentlally, this church (in coordination with Fleet Feet Tulsa) was hosting the Run for the Patch. I smoozed over to the registration tent and asked what was the deal. There was a 5K and a 10K race going on....AND "THE GREAT PUMPKIN CHALLENGE". The GPC consisted of running both the 5K and the 10K. I thought to myself "I've just been challenged". So I signed up.

I wasn't planning on racing that day or more specifically running fast, so I did a little extra stretching and the 5K went fairly well. I came in 4th place in my age group for the 5K with a time of 22:27. The 10K didn't go as well. I expended quite a bit of energy in the 5K and didn't have much steam left. In the 10K, I placed 2nd in my age group with a 51:25. My normal 10K is about 5-6min less, but again....not that I'm making excuses..... the 5K. I also started cramping at the end of the race. This was probably due to the spur of the moment race. I had a couple beers the previous night and may have been slightly dehydrated. In the GPC, I came in 16th place.

Overall it was a pretty good run or runs. I'd like to do it again next year and really just kill it. I'll be more prepared though. The only thing that sucked was I was hoping they'd give us a pumpkin for doing the GPC, but all I got was a little blue ribbon.....oh well.

Time for the Tulsa Run
~Kratos

Ram Run

On 7/7/07, I did the Josh Hatzell Memorial Ram Run. It's a 5K in Owasso and runs down 86th street, through a neighborhood, and finishes at the Owasso High School track. The run started off nice. The weather was around 70 degrees, but the temperature heated up quick through the race. It felt like within a 20 minute time frame the temperature raised about 20 degrees. I was totally sweat soaked by the end of the race. I also pushed myself too soon on the end of the race. My mistake was not knowing where the race ended. I started really pushing around the 3 1/2 Kilometer mark and was totally shot about 1/2 a kilometer from the end. My time ended up being 22 minutes flat which did get me 2nd place in my age group. I got a little mug as a prize. Kind of neat and lame.

Me and my Mug


Your jealous you don't have a mug...
~Kratos

Running on the Navy Base

I've been in Pensacola, FL for a couple weeks and had the chance to do some Florida running.  I'm on a Navy Base now and the weather is extremely humid.  Just walk outside and the humidity slams into you.  I've ran 3 times.  Last week I did about 2 and a half miles with a person in the class that I'm here for.  My classmate is training for a half-marathon and it will be his first.  I gave him some of my training plans to hopefully assist him to a successful finish.  He's more muscular than I am.  He does a lot of weight training.  I gave him some tips on how to increase your pace through speed work or upping your VO2 Max.

On Saturday, I wanted to go on about an 8 to 10 mile run, but the humidity was overwhelming.  I only ended up doing 6.69 miles (according to my Garmin).  I also met a ultra-marathoner who manages a restaurant about a mile off the base.  He gave me some tips to help prevent the cramping I get during the end of a marathon.  He noted that Gatorade is overrated (which I knew), but told me to try chewing on some regular salt packets to help maintain my sodium levels.  The salt packets I'm referring to are gotten at McDonalds, Sonic, fast food restaurants in general or pack your own.

Yesterday a storm came through and cooled things down a little bit, so I made sure to take advantage of the cooler weather.  I ran 5 miles today around the hotel I'm staying at.  It wasn't too bad though the sun came out towards the end of the run and started to warm things up quick.  Hopefully, I'll get to run with my classmate a few more times.
The picture was taken outside the hotel.

Running all over
~Kratos

Forerunner 205 by Garmin

I got my new Garmin today.  My last Garmin was the Forerunner 201 and it stopped working.  It would turn on, but after about a minute or so it would just shut off.  I'm not sure what the problem was, but it was time to upgrade on the technology anyway.  I bought the new Forerunner 205 on ebay for about $80 less than buying in a store.  Ebay always has cheaper stuff, but buyer beware.  Just make sure you get what you want and read all the information through.  I can't wait to try it out.  I'm working a lot more now so I'm going to try and post as much as possible.  The track nights at TU (made possible by Fleet Feet Sports) are a must attend, but I'm usually pretty worn out.  My 9 to 5 job is pretty physical.  I still have the strength to keep going.

The Garmin 205 has software with it that is Mac compatible so I can use my laptop.  I'll show some picture of the data which is produced from the runs I do.  I'll be in Florida and posting runs from there.  I'll run by some Disney stuff or something like that.  With my Garmin I can run anywhere and track my progress instead of running the same old dry cookie cutter routes.

~Kratos

OKC Marathon Convention

The day prior to the marathon we went to go pick up our race packets. Marathons usually have a one or two day convention prior to the day of the marathon. You can always pick up a lot of great stuff at a marathon convention. There's normally a lot of freebie stuff too. Last year, my bru and I got these sweet running hats. I somehow lost mine and was hoping to pick up another one this year. Unfortunately, the company wasn't a sponsor this year so no freebie hat. I ended up buying a hat which I didn't realize makes my head looks weird. Oh well....

So anyway, we're at the running convention looking around and we come across the table of celebrity runners. One of the runners at the table was Dick Beardsley. Beardsley is a professional marathoner and one of America's best. He is now around 50 but can still smoke you in a heartbeat. I got him to autograph a tee and I got my picture taken with him.
My autographed T and finisher medal. The medal with the yellow ribbon is for the half-marathon finish. The medal with the blue ribbon is for the 5K Memorial Walk which my wife did.

Me and Dick Beardsley.

The convention had quite a few treats. Mostly granola type stuff. We made out with about 20 Quaker Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Breakfast cookies. Those were good, but I don't think I'd actually buy them.

~Kratos

The OKC Marathon

On Sunday, I ran the Oklahoma City Memorial Half-Marathon. I started the run with 3 other runners whom my wife knew from her hometown. For the past 2 years I've done the full marathon, but this year I didn't have the time to train for a full. I figured well....I've never done the half so I'll give it a go. It was a plus that I had other runners to go with. The run started off with a cool fifty degree day. It would have been nicer if the temperature was about five to ten degrees cooler, but it was still nice.
Me getting ready to go run.


I wasn't looking to run a PR (personal best). My main goal was to keep up with the 3 other runners. They're main goal was to do the half in under 2 hours which wouldn't be a problem at all for me. To date, my personal half marathon best is a 1:40 in the Jenks Half-Marathon. The three of us stayed together for the first 5 to 6 miles. Around that time one of the runners started to fall back. This was mainly due to lack of training. I applauded him though because he hadn't ran over 3 miles in weeks and had never run a half-marathon....so hats off to him.....a true Spartan runner.

I managed to stay with the other two until mile 11 when I decided to break off and start turning up the juice. By the end of the run, I was really cranking it out and managed to finish with a 1:55. Not my best, but a good even pace and run. I meant to take more pics along the way along with some good footie shots, but I forgot in all the excitement. The other runners finished with their goal times under 2 hours. It's always a real treat to run with other people and I hope to run with them again.

~Kratos

Cool 4 (April 26th 2007)

The weather in Owasso cooled off yesterday which made the run very pleasant.  I ran a consistent but quick pace throughout the entire run.  I tried to keep the pace that I want to run the OKC half-marathon.  Ideally, I'd like to run around a 1:35 half.  My previous best half was in 2004 at the Jenks half-marathon.  My time there was a 1:40 and that was before I really started training.  My wife has a few friends which I'm hopefully going to run the half with.  I'm not sure of their previous times so I hope I'll be able to keep up with them.  If they're faster, I'll just do what I can to keep up with them.....if they're slower...well, I just like running with people so I'll just have fun.

The pic was taken around my neighborhood.

~Kratos

Monday 8 miler (April 23rd 2007)

Hello fellow runners!  
Well, I usually don't do a 8 miler on a Monday, but I was feeling hyped up for some reason.  I also wanted to get in a few extra miles because the OKC marathon is this weekend. I'm just doing the half-marathon, but more on this later. I took my run to Tulsa today.  I know a nice 4 mile out / 4 mile back route which starts around 41st and Riverside Dr.  I don't particularly like to run on Riverside Dr....mainly cause I've ran the trail many, many, many times.  The route starts around 41st and goes south to 51st street.  It goes slightly past 51st then I turn and start running a bike route.  If you were to run the full bike route you'd end up somewhere in Broken Arrow.  It's a very long route.  The bike route is always clear. In fact, I've ran the route about 20 times and I've never seen a bike on it.

The picture was taken along Riverside.  The marathon mural has been up for quite a long time.  I'm not really sure how long.  There's actually many paintings and graffiti writing to look at along different concrete structures on Riverside.  Riverside also tends to smell icky because of the river water.  It stinks and I never get used to it.

~Kratos

Windy run (April 22nd 2007)

Todays run in Owasso was a 8 mile run.  The conditions of the run were extremely windy.  When running into the wind I try to think of myself as a triangle wedge.  I think of the wind easily moving around.  It helps me easily move through the wind.  The most annoying thing is just the sound of the wind moving past my ears.  It's a tearing sound that gets quite annoying.  I've ran the 8 mile loop many times before.  It's kind of a drab route which takes me through a neighborhood park around 145th and 86th St N.

The conditions were too windy for a double footy shot.  I took it while on a bridge in the neighborhood park.  The park never has much traffic.  Most of the park patrons are walkers.  It's rare to see a runner.  I've got my eye out for other Owasso runners.

Lately I've been switching my shoe choice between a Saucony Triumph and the Asics Cumulus.  The AC is my main shoe.  It's more flexible than the ST.  However, the ST I have is an older version.  It has more cushion than the AC, but lacks flexibility.  The newer ST has more flexibility, but is more expensive when compared to the AC.  I'm also in the process of acquiring a Garmin Forerunner 205.  It's a better deal to attain one on ebay.  I had a Forerunner 201, but it stopped working for some reason.  I've been pleased with the 201.  The 205 is smaller, but has the same features. Most areas in Owasso and Tulsa are nice cause the sections are in square miles. A GPS device is nice if you want to run through neighborhoods or areas which aren't in perfect square sections or mapped with markers.

~Kratos

Dedication blog run

This blog is dedicated to running in and around Owasso, OK.  I am the official blogger.  I'll call my self, Kratos.  Kratos is a Spartan Warrior who dominates everything he does.  Hopefully, I'll encourage other people of Owasso who are curious about running.  I want to find other runners in Owasso and some good running buddies to go out on various runs.  I'll attempt to blog about every run I do and take a picture with anything fun that happened on the run.  I'll discuss running shoes, apparel, different gadgets I get, mileage, and anything else which is on my mind.  

Today was a short 3 mile run around Owasso to get in a little exercise and show the first picture. The pictures I take will consist of my and any other runners feet I happen to meet. Enjoy!

~Kratos