The Tacoma Marathon is a super hilly marathon co-RDed by one of the founding Maniacs. We all team up to do various volunteer duties (I worked packet pickup) and even though it is a small race, there are Maniac-led pace groups. It was a beautiful day and so I decided to have some fun. To set the stage, I took last weekend off... but before that, I'd run 5 marathons and 1 50k in the previous six weekends. I PRed that 50k two weekends ago and came in 14th. My post-chemo marathon PR is 3:28, set on this weekend last year at Eugene. I had no hopes of pulling a PR on Tacoma's hilly course, nor was I going to try. That attempt will come in July, and as preparation for that, I needed to get some fast miles in a long run this weekend. So I decided to do something weird. And I declared this yesterday in facebook, so I'm not retroactively creating history with this report. I wanted to play one-man shuttle relay with the pace groups. I'd start with the slowest pace group (4:15), run a mile... then catch the next (faster) pace group, run a mile, etc. The rule was: minimum, one mile. And since I don't wear a garmin, what this meant was that I'd have to catch a group... run to a mile marker, then I'd be "on the clock" with them until the next mile marker... then I'd take off again. So I might have to run almost 2 miles with a group while the faster groups would be pulling farther ahead. I said in facebook that my goal was to work through 4:15, 4:00, 3:50, 3:45, 3:40, and hopefully touch 3:35. My secret hope was that I could hang with 3:35 for the rest of the race, but outwardly, I figured I might blow up and have to slow way down in the final miles. This would be ok... I'd still get in my workout. How did I do? Oh, I added one wrinkle at the start. I walked to the back and was the last person over the line. Mind you, this is a itty bitty race (less than 400 full marathoners), so it wasn't like this added much. Well, except for the psychology. As I started my day, I began to wonder how aggressive this plan would be. As I left one pace group in search of the next faster group, I certainly didn't want to sprint. It needed to be somewhat gradual. 4:15, check. 4:00, check. 3:50, check. 3:45, check. 3:40, check. I caught this group about M9 and stuck with them for an extra mile though M11. Oh. The race gets super insanely hilly at M10 through M18. I hit the half at 1:49. Onward. Onward. Couldn't find the 3:35 guy! After awhile, I started asking the people what happened to him. Turns out, he decided to pass 3:30 and run faster (???). M20. My ass hurts. Feels like a snake bit me. Onward. For awhile, I thought I could catch 3:30. I tried. By M23, I could tell it wasn't happening. I was running a faster pace than they probably were, but I was gonna hit the finish before overtaking them. My ass still hurts. Finish. 3:33. 1:49/1:44 split. So I ran the second half faster than the 3:30 folks. Fastest race since my 3:28 last year (exception: If I hadn't had stomach problems, I probably would have run a 3:30-3:32 at San Antonio last November). Still cool though, especially since I sandbagged the first half. I feel fine. My ass no longer hurts. Here I am at the finish looking extra bald. The weird cuffs are some of those arm warmer dealies, but it got too warm and those things are too expensive to ditch. I walked a couple miles after the race. Scorch the Earth. (yeah, I know that 3:33 is no great shakes for many of you. Still was fun as a stunt run) Fun workout.

You are a nut case. And I mean that in the best possible way. What a unique plan and a great race. Not many folks could pull this off. And I'm glad your pain in the ass is gone.

Great race -- a very interesting way to run. I like it!

Great job!

SRL, My first thought, "This is really weird." My second thought, "I wish I was a good enough runner to do this."

Hi Robert, There aren't many people who would think up a stunt like this. There are fewer still who would consider it after hearing about it. And there are even fewer than that who could have a chance of pulling it off! But you did a right fine job, and ran a great race (sore ass, not withstanding...)! Congrats on finding a unique way to run negative splits, and on your best marathon time in a year. Are you going to trademark the "Scorch The Earth" approach to marathons?? Jay

This is awesome and what a good way to mix it up and end up with a super time. As for the photo, I think you look great---bald? Not seeing that---I see a strong and younger looking than his ID says-- talented runner.

You're a very cool dude. Strange, but cool.