Friday was rough but I made it through most of the day at work. After leaving work, I decided since those 4 days off hadn’t helped me feel better so why not try a little walk? I walk/ crawled 3 miles with my mom. That way if my stupid idea backfired, I’d have help nearby. See? Not so stupid. I know I wasn’t feeling well but man she walks fast! I had troubles keeping up. At our race next Saturday, I said I would go her pace. At this rate, I may have to run just to keep up with her walking pace!
Saturday was work and not so bad. It was a little busier than usual but that just made the day go by quicker. After work, I wandered around a few antique stores before heading to the gym with my mom. I still wasn’t feeling the greatest so I was just putting along on the treadmill when I glanced over to mom. This was only her third time at the gym so I was checking how she was doing. I thought I read the damn thing wrong; she had the incline at level 15!! I looked at her and said what the hell?! Her response was that she was training for next weekend’s race. I was like, its Valencia Peak, not Everest and we’re not even going all the way up! See what I mean? She’s going to leave me in the dust!
Ugh
So with Fridays’ slow miles and then Saturdays, I managed to make my goal for Week 1 of Pile on the Miles. Granted it was a small goal to begin with but I did it!!!
One of the reasons that I put in a few miles on Friday, maybe when I shouldn’t have, is because I have a race tomorrow! And could I have signed up for a nice, quick 5K? Nope, instead it is an 8 mile run for Operation Run. Operation Run is a charity event that that Operation Surf puts on Veterans Day. I was interested in it last year but didn’t sign up, so I made sure to this year. After the past week, not sure how it will go, but it’s for an awesome cause. Check this out-
Directly from the race site
Today, I just relaxed (slept in!) and took care of some chores. I now have a clean car and freshly cleaned bathroom and closet. Though I maybe used a little too much bleach in the bathroom, I am feeling a little loopy. 🙂 I also helped my mother with a chair purchase. She now has a new “comfy chair”. Can’t wait to hear what the pops will say when he sees it.
My gear is ready for tomorrow and I am in my comfy chair, sadly or awesomely, watching Battleship for the umpteenth time. I have no idea why I like this movie so much, even I know it’s cheesy. But at least the soundtrack is helping pump me up for tomorrow!
Hope everyone had an amazing weekend!
For anyone lucky enough to run the Disney Wine & Dine, I’m jealous!
As I had to work yesterday, I ended up getting off early on Friday. However this was not planned and as such I was unprepared. As I was driving past the lake path, I was cursing my lack of foresight, because I totally could have gone for a run. But all I had in my car was my old pair of Inspire’s and my belt and earphones. Think I could run in old shoes and a dress? I might have received some interesting stares. I also knew that being it was Friday I would lose the eagerness to run by the time I got home. And I did. So I ran errands and caught up on some reading instead. Slacker!
Driving to work on Saturday, the weather was perfect for a run. As evidenced by the numerous people that I saw running on the sides of the highway. My Saturday commute takes me along 2 rural highways, both with wide paved shoulders. There were quite a few people taking advantage of that that morning. I was so jealous. Even though rationally I knew that even if I didn’t have to work, I would probably be sleeping in instead, I was still jealous. Runner’s logic, right? It was interesting to see how some people were just running in shorts and shirts and others looked like they were wearing a parka. It was a lovely crisp 45 degrees. 🙂 Ha! I had the heater in my car cranked up. The fog never stays gone for long though and rolled in by 11:30 so I got to drive home in the fog, oh boy!
I did make it to the track for a good run though. I did 4 miles with an average pace of 10:07. Usually my track times are a little faster than this, but I was brilliant and ate a large lunch about an hour before running. I had been craving a hot dog as I hadn’t had one in almost a year. After yesterday, it will probably be another year before I want another hot dog. It was super yummy but it did not make my run fun at all. On the plus side, I still love my new shoes!
This weekend was the Harvest Marathon in my home town. It is actually the combo of what in previous years was 2 races: the Harvest Marathon and the Wine Vine Run. I had participated in both events in the 5K in years past. I really wanted to run the half marathon this year but since it was so close to the City to the Sea half marathon I was planning on extremely late registration. I figured I would to see how I felt. I felt great but my pocket book did not. It came down to shoes or the race and shoes won. Plus my left foot has been making itself known to me. It still doesn’t hurt, but something is not right. 😦
However, I did participate in a way. The race works as a fundraiser for the local high school’s athletic department. My mother is head tennis coach there and all sports teams had to volunteer. So I was up at 5AM to head out and help her and the team work a water table. We had station #4 which was at mile 8.7 of the marathon. The half marathoners had a different course. We had the table up and ready to go by 7:00. We had people to hand out water, a guy for traffic control and 2 athletic trainers. We were ready to go but the race started at 7. We had 40 minutes until we would see the first runner and it was so cold. 😦 I went and sat in my car until 7:35. So very social of me.
Mother and me 🙂 So damn cold!!!
The first runner came through around 7:50. Woo hoo!!! The first 5 people were men, then finally the first girl! Actually I think she was another blogger that I just started following but not sure. This was a hometown race so the marathon only had around 60 people registered, so there was a fair amount of time between people running by. I was surprised by how much the runners were drinking though. I have worked aid stations before and people always sipped and then threw the cups. These runners were guzzling water down. We started to think that we were going to run out of cups, most runners were taking 3 each! Also half of them walked the cups to the trash bag on the opposite side of the street, even when we said they could just toss it and we would pick up after. Also we were not a station that provided Gatorade but so many people wanted it. I felt horrible every time we said that we didn’t have it!
The runners and the course 🙂
In between the first pack and the second, the boys decided to play with branches they found on the side of the road. Really? I could see the runners coming so I told them to put the sticks down, that we didn’t need to have the approaching runners think we were going to pull a Tonya Harding on them. Every single teenager just stared at me. They had no idea what I was talking about. Am I really that old?!?!
Good group but man I feel old now 🙂
The last runner passed at around 9:00 and we were done! We packed up our stuff and headed out.
While I felt lazy that I did not run the half marathon this morning, I was also not inspired to run a marathon. They all looked so damn tired when they ran through and they still had 17 miles to go. Do I like that at mile 8 when I run half’s? No wonder people think runners are slightly crazy. Still it was rewarding to work the other side this morning and it’s probably not the last time I will do it. I may even put this race on the schedule for next year, but I may try for Nike in SF instead. 🙂
A little email alert told me that City to the Sea photos were ready. Yikes!!! I was really hoping for a good one this time 😦 Below is the least scary one, well, they were all pretty bad. And what is with my damn ponytail?! It is bouncing around like a dang cheerleader in every picture.
This morning, when I checked Facebook, I saw a familiar sight. Run The Edge had posted the following picture-
That’s my race! That is the same girl and the poster I was talking about during the race. That was the halfway point, leading up to the overpass, the bridge in the background. Not sure how it got to their attention, but woo hoo for a little local shout out! And if you have never checked out their site, you should! I am currently reading their book, too.
Didn’t get in a run today 😦 but enjoyed lots of yummy homemade Beef Stroganoff and birthday cake with the family. Happy birthday brother! Have to figure out how to run that off tomorrow!!
Today, I had a 2 part goal. Goal 1 was stated on this blog under my Goals, Gear, Stats page and what I publicly told people. I was aiming to finish at 2:10:00 or below. However, what I kept to myself was that the crazy in me wanted to try and hit 2:04:00.
So damn close!!!! Official time -2:05:53
Also because the course is flat to downhill for the first 5 miles before changing to hills, I was intentionally aiming for a positive split. So backwards I know, but I knew I could bank sometime in the beginning for when I knew I was going to slow down. It worked!
Elevation Map
It was dark when I left my house this morning. And cold. The start line is about 30-35 minutes away so I made sure to head out with plenty of time. Found a very nice Chevron and they were nice enough to let me use their restroom when I got into town. The starting line is literally in front of the Abercrombie and Fitch and I was able to get a parking spot 2 blocks away. I could see the starting line and crowd from my car. Since it was so close and cold and dark, I stayed in my car until the last possible moment.
Once I joined the masses (2500 runners plus spectators in a half block space) I tried to find the right pacer. Since I was aiming for 2:10, I figured between the 2:00 pacer and the 2:15 pacer would be a good idea. The pacers wear costumes so I figured they would be easy to spot. Spotted 2:15, he was a pirate, but couldn’t find 2:00. By then it was a little past 7 and only just starting to lighten up, and we were off!
We crawled over the start line and the next 1.5 miles were chaos. This pack of runners did not separate like usual. It was 1.5 miles of dodging left and right, falling back and surging ahead. The 2:15 pacer was about a block ahead of me, what the heck? Mile 1 clocked in at 9:08, so what pace was he running? Too fast. 😦 It had just started to even out when we hit the first water station at mile 2, time to dodge the obstacle course. I passed up the 2:15 pacer here. It got better after that but I have to say that course seemed more crowded than last year, or maybe it was just the difference in my pace compared to last year.
Miles 1-5 were what I had planned to be my fastest miles and by mile 4.5 I was on track. At this point, it was the first crossover, so under the freeway we went. Coming up the other side, there was the second aid station but I was feeling ok. Hit mile 5 and now it was rolling hills time and time to lose the arm sleeves. I just kept running. I told myself I could take a walk break at mile 8 if need be. After just shy of 2 miles, it was crossover time again, this time over the freeway we went.
Mile 7 was another aid station, this time I took some water. Now was the part of the race I dreaded, the out and back. Running down a street and then back up may add miles but it also bites when you see all the other runners coming back and they are so much faster than you. It should work in reverse when I am running back but it doesn’t. I thought I remembered the out and back only being ¾ of a mile… nope, it was 1.5! Ugh, mile 8 was part of that out and back. Normally mile 8 is my favorite mile. This is the point when I know that even if I have to crawl, I will be finishing the race, and there are just 5 miles to go. Having 8 hit in the out and back, just didn’t hold the usual excitement. 😦 This where I finally saw the 2:00 pacer, turns out he was behind me until that point. He was dressed as a cyclist. Passed the aid station on the way out and was heading towards 9. And I was still running!!!
Up a hill and across a wooden bridge and it was mile 9, time to lose the gloves. I was still running but slowing down. Mile 10 was at downhill slope and then it was the last crossover, back under the freeway. Here I picked up the pace a lot because I did not want to be stopped for traffic like I was last year. Powered through the intersection and was met with the last uphill.
This is also where I started wheezing. Um, what? I haven’t used an inhaler in years, not to mention, I don’t even have one. So I took a walk break. 😦 I was so close to running the whole thing!!! I told myself that I would walk for 2 minutes. I got my breathing under control, made it to the top of the slope and started running. My toes were hurting and my knees were cranky but I was so close! I just kept pushing. I hit mile 12 at 1:53:something. Hell yeah! Only 1.1 to go. 12-13 I picked up the pace. Then just the .1 left to go. I swear this race seems like the longest .1 ever.
The Finish
The finish line was crowded and people were cheering as I ran past. Not for me, but I can be in denial, right? Crossed the finish line and the clock said 2:06:54. Goal #1 done and done! Just shy of goal #2 and I knew that my chip time would be different than gun time since it did take a while to get across the starting line.
That’s me!
My mom and dad were at this finish line, so we took advantage of some photo opportunities and I took the chance to stretch. Since this was a point to point race, I was also very glad to have them there so I could hitch a ride back. It was really cold and my mom (race photographer) was not feeling well at all so we didn’t stay too long and chose to bypass the expo.
What you can’t see is that my legs are shaking!The pops
I am so pumped that I hit 2:05:53. It was something that I wasn’t sure I could do, and its great knowing that I succeeded. My next goal is to break 2:00, eek!!! That’s scary. I feel pretty good right now, just some pain in my knees. The real question will be how I feel tomorrow and Tuesday- always the worst day. 😦
Highlights-
Best race sign I saw today- I had just hit the halfway point and was beginning to drag. I saw some people standing to the side with a sign that read “Keep going, you’re running better than our government”. I don’t care what political affiliation you are, that was just the touch of smart ass sense of humor that I needed at that point. The liquid awesome ones were pretty good too.
Best improvement– My medal was handed to me ready to go at the finish line. Last year they handed it to me folded and wrapped in plastic. Thanks killjoy.
And– I ran all but 2 minutes of a half marathon!! I had no idea I could do that! 🙂
🙂 So shiny 🙂
Hope everyone had an absolutely fantastic weekend, and if you ran or raced- awesome!
Race day!!!! However, I was so comfy this morning; I had a very hard time getting out of bed. I pushed it as far as possible before getting up and ready to go. I ended up choosing to go with my new capris and a green running tank. I have a problem eating food before a race but I got one Belvita cracker down, grabbed my Gatorade and candy corns and was out the door.
As I wandered down to the starting line, it was so cold. My arms and toes were so cold but I had nowhere to stow a jacket, so I made sure to stand on the sunny side of street. Waiting to line for the starting gun, I always have a sudden moment of panic. A dizzying array of thoughts that all lead back to “oh my god, why am I doing this, I’m gonna fall on my face”. There was a little delay with the starting gun, had to wait for the police escort to get back! Another thing I like about this race- a motorcycle cop leads the way for both the 10K and the 5K. He arrived and we were off!
I normally start out too fast and slow from there. This time I wanted to maintain pace as best as I could. I had a goal in mind but wasn’t sure if I could pull it off, but I was going to try. So I focused on my breathing, picked someone in front of me to pace-stalk and kept going.
Mile 2 I was feeling good, hit the turn-around at 2.2 miles and headed back to complete the first loop. Here I discovered a new running fear. I have always been afraid of being the last to finish a race and yes I know that last is better than never started. However at 2.5 miles, the leaders with the lovely pace officer were heading towards their mile 5. Umm, what? Was I going to get lapped before I had even completed the first lap? Yikes!
Sprinting to the finish!!! 10K
It didn’t happen, whew. I rounded the corner to finish lap 1 and the Grizzly Academy in uniform was standing in a line over half the block, cheering runners on. Good pick me up! Now, here’s a question, does a 5k PR count if it’s during a 10k? When I ran passed the clock, it said 27:44… hell yeah! But now I had to maintain it, and I really wanted to take a walking break. No! This was partially practice for my upcoming half, so I pushed on. By mile 4.5, the person I was pace-stalking graduated from a 1 block lead to a 2 block lead. I was actually maintaining pace, so they must have been one of those people talented enough to pull negative splits. Finally mile 6 and the finish line was just around the corner. Just keep running, just keep running, just keep running and done! 55:57. Only by 3 seconds but still 55 minutes!!!! Part of me wanted to do a little jig but I was tired! And I had another race in 15 minutes.
Steady!
Met up with my mom (photographer) and C and her husband at the finish line. I was running the 5K with them. Took some photos and had a quick shirt/ bib/ chip change. I also refueled with some Gatorade and a few candy corns. Yummy, carbs and sugar. Ok, time to line up again. I told C and her husband that I would probably tire quickly and drop back. The gun rang out and we were off!
Wardrobe change!
I was able to stay strong with them for the first 1.5 miles. Plus it was kind of nice having someone to talk to while running. The halfway point was a little rough, but I hung in there and we kept running. Around 2.2 again, I really wanted to walk but forced myself to pick it up a bit. Yeah that lasted for like a block. Just before the 3 mile mark, C’s husband starts telling us to pick it up; we could do it, just run! Seriously dude? But we did, rounded that last corner and finished at 30:22. C and I managed to finish at the exact same time, he finished a few seconds ahead. I’ll take it!!! Way better than I was aiming for. I told him thanks because without his prodding, I so would have walked at least part of that.
We didn’t plan to match,we’re just good like that, hehe
Then I realized, I had just run a 10K and a 5k without any walking! Where did that come from! We took some more pictures and waited for everyone we knew to cross the finish line. I also ran over to the race truck to check the official finishing times, have to see it to believe it you know.
Then C and I lined back up. We were running the half mile with a co-workers son. Yep, another race. I think I lost my mind. He was so cute and so excited, though, I was hoping he would go slow. Starting gun sounds and he was off like a bullet. Woah, C and I had to bolt to catch him. He held strong till about the 3rd block, and then he needed a walk. Oh, thank you. So we walked half a block and then ran the other half. Rounded the corner and he slowed. It was piggy back time! C carried him for a block, then he ran/ walked another 2. 2 blocks from the end, we rounded a corner at the park and there was a park bench. Perfect time to take a seat! We got him moving with another piggyback ride before he ran the final block and collected his super cool dog tag. All in all a success! And fun, too.
I was so done then, but M showed with Baby G. I stuck around a little longer.
Cutest running partner ever!
Eventually it occurred to me that I really needed food and a chair, so I headed out. I met my mom for lunch and re- fueled with some amazing pizza! Later in the afternoon, I indulged in some racing of another kind. We went to the movies and saw Rush. It was seriously good. Very loud and very intense, but very good. Don’t hold the popcorn in your lap; you may tip it when you cringe! Not my usual cup of tea but I wouldn’t mind seeing it again.
Amazing goodness
Tomorrow should be an easy 3, but we will see how it goes.
Hope everyone had an amazing weekend! Any one run a race or see any good movies?
Slacker Runner 