The Rowe Family Blog

It’s not often that I run a 5k.  I prefer longer races.  I like 15ks and half marathons a lot and I don’t mind 10ks but 5ks are too short.  Short races hurt the whole time.  Longer races feel good except perhaps near the end.  Prior to Saturday I had run 3 5ks since I become a runner (and 1 5k before I was a runner).  I’ve run 3 marathons — I’d rather run a marathon than a 5k!

One of my long term running goals was to break 20 minutes in a 5k.  At the Corporate Challenge this year I proved to myself that I could break 20 minutes.  I ran a pace there that would not only break 20 minutes but break 19 minutes. I decided to readjust my goal and shoot for a sub-19 5k.  The airport 5k was my target race. Read the rest of this entry »

Last night I ran my first 1 mile race. Running a one mile race was a great way to remind me that I don’t like running short races! They are more difficult than long races because you are uncomfortable for the entire race. In my last half marathon I was pushing close to the V threshold (Vomit Threshold) for the last 5k but for the first 10 miles I was pretty comfortable and really enjoying myself. At this one mile race I was uncomfortable .001 seconds after the gun fired.
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The course for the 2009 Rock and Roll Las Vegas Marathon was announced yesterday.  I’m pretty blown away by this course.  The entire half marathon route is on the strip!  That means that the strip will be closed to traffic for about 5 hours.  I’m really surprised, but excited, that the race coordinators were able to get the necessary permits to do this.  I applaud Clark County (the strip isn’t actually in Las Vegas) for allowing such a prominate course. Read the rest of this entry »

In 2007 the Corporate Challenge was my first race (even if I don’t consider it a real race).  In 2008 I ran it again and improved a lot.  This year I ran it again and had an incredible race. Read the rest of this entry »

For quite some time I was a contributor to Bianca2000’s Shark Attack map on Platial.  In early 2009 I decided I wanted to do things on my own.  Platial was slow, I didn’t like the way it looked, and I had to wait for Bianca (if that’s her real name?!) to update with my posts.  I found some excellent free software that would allow me to do just that.

I don’t update the blog as quickly as Marcus at Swim At Your Own Risk, nor do I cover as things as he does.  I’m focusing  only on shark attacks.  It’s a strange fascination that I have.

So check it out!  It has a global shark attack map that allows you to see where shark attacks are clustered around the world.  In some ways it’s a lot like Bianca’s shark attack map when I originally found it so many years ago.

I made an order from performancebike.com a short time ago.  The total was for $87.  I printed the receipt, two copies actually.  Then I noticed a 95$ charge to my credit card.  I called and they said they’d refund the difference to my card.  Many days later no refunds have come through my card.

I called them again today.  Today they said that I need to fax in my receipt.  In addition they said they had no record of me calling previously about their billing error.  Two phones call so far and no resolution.

This is the first, and likely last, time I’ve ordered from performancebike.com.  What a horrible experience.

Update (5/26/2009): After my third phone call and faxing them my receipt they have finally refunded the $8.40 error.

About a week ago I ran the Grand Island Half Marathon and exceeded my expectations.  I’ve been saying for quite some time that my short term goal is to break 20 minutes in a 5k and my long term goal is to qualify to run the Boston Marathon.  I haven’t run a 5k recently to prove it but I’m pretty sure I can break 20 minutes now.  I ran a 20:13 for the final 5k of the GI Half!  Read the rest of this entry »

On Saturday May 2nd I ran the Grand Island Half Marathon.  Once again John and I drove out to Grand Island for a very well managed race on a flat out-and-back course along the Niagara River.  My race last year blew my mind and this year I think it was blown even more. Read the rest of this entry »

I’m not sure what’s happened recently but I keep having amazing run after amazing run.   In 4 weeks I’ve had 3 of the best runs of my life.  Each run has been 16 miles which is longer than my typical 13 mile long run.  I’ve changed a few things but I don’t think these changes are significant enough to account for the dramatic performance improvement I’ve seen.

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Last night I did my first workout on a track — ever.  I am participating in the GRTC spring track clinic.  It is coached by Michael Reif and Carolyn Smith-Hanna.  It’s an 8 week program to help runners of all abilities improve.  I think I’m going to learn a lot through this experience. Read the rest of this entry »