40th annual event of the Fort Steilacoom Running Club and my 11th time here on January 1st. My 12th January 1st race. 9th time running the 5 mile race.
Fog and low 40s, good running weather.
Goal - 37:30 would be great, anything under 38 minutes is fine. OK warm up of 1.8 miles, but I do not feel super. Traditional lack of sleep before this event. Change into my racing shoes (Brooks Launch) and I feel a little faster.
Start - Smaller crowd than most years. Overwhelmingly composed of fast males. Three things about this race and series make it not the best for me. 1) Almost all fast men. People are friendly enough but there are very few slower/casual runners. 2) The same old course - it is good to run the same course every year so I can compare times, but I am just tired of the route 3) post race results/awards always take a long time to be announced. Still no place that I would rather be on January 1.
Line up near the front, but with plenty of runners ahead of me. Countdown and start on time. Fast on the track, I go out at about 7/mile pace and will gradually slow as the outbound hills challenge me.
Mile 1.4 - Lead 5K runners coming back. I am breathing hard but the legs feel alright.
Mile 2.5 - Turn around. Now an old running pal, Ron, catches up to me. I have not seen him in quite a while. But just like old times he gradually pulls away. There are others around me. Good incentive to run hard, but it is getting tougher. I can put on small surges, but haggard breathing keeps me from sustaining the pace. Catch one guy, run a short way with him, pass him, then he surges and leaves me behind. Another guy gets past me. I do catch one runner a few minutes before the end. Gary Cooper sighting and then it is down to the track and the final bit. Legs don't respond with speed until the very end.
Finish - 5.08 miles on the GPS. Even split. Feel like I ran well but a slightly off day. The five miles is farther than the 5Ks I have been doing as "fast" races, and the plan is to work up the speed races to 10Ks and half marathons while continuing to run a long race about once a month. I do a longer cool down run, to get the monthly/yearly mileage off to a good start. Hang around for a while but the results don't seem to be forthcoming any time soon. I will update here when they are available.
Next up - White Elephant Run in Olympia in three days. Hopefully today was a good tune up for this other 5 mile race.
37:41 (4 seconds faster than five years ago, but a little slower than most of these races)
36th place of 88
Race#314
****
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Monday, December 23, 2013
12/21/13 Pigtails Flat Ass Marathon
8th annual event. My 5th time here, plus I volunteered last year. Volunteering is a good thing to do, especially when injured. Volunteering can be fun, but I am so happy to be running this year.
Commemorative head band to go with my Pigtails beanie, arm warmers and gloves.
Small race but filled with my Maniac friends.
Start -A little slush on the trail for the first part. It will stay above freezing all day, but feel cold. The crowded half mile out and half mile back has people sploshing slush around and my feet get a little wet.
Mile 1 - Now on to the real trail. Room to run and my feet will dry out. It takes me a while to get up to a 10 minute per mile pace, where I want to stay for at least the first half. Frequent walk breaks and an easy pace, but it does not seem too slow. Bald eagle sighting.....3rd time in the past 4 marathons.
Mile 6 - First aid station. Catch up to Ashley. I had told her to go ahead as I was serious about going slow from the start. She also is wanting to take it easy so we fall in together. Just like old times on this course. We ran our first 50K here five years ago. Nice to talk for a while and then we slip into that comfortable silence that makes running with her so nice. Heavy fog. We are going faster than my plan but not by much and it is worth it even if I slow later.
Mile 13.1 - 2:08 on the watch. A little farther to the turn around. Ron, Andy, Susie, Mike, Kim, Mike M, Bill, Ted, Sabrina and others are all fairly close but ahead of me. Some of them are doing the 50K and will turn off the marathon course later. The fog has turned to drizzle.
Mile 14 - The plan has been to try to negative split. So I start going a little faster. My last marathon I went easy the whole way. Today I want to work hard for my medal. I don't care so much about finish time, but I do want to give it a good effort. I pull away from Ashley and gradually pick off the runners ahead of me.
Mile 16 - I catch up to one guy that I have not met before. His name is Andrew and he is running his first 50K. I don't know how he heard about this race, he is only vaguely aware of the Marathon Maniacs club. We run together for a while and it is nice to grind out the late middle miles with him.
Mile 21 - Happy to see that aid station. Quick stop and on I go. I think that I will push on for two miles and then take a walk break.
Mile 21.2 - Argh! I am walking and had not even told myself to do so. Sudden and harsh wall.
Mile 23 - Stiffening legs, some nausea, and just plain out of energy. Walk, shuffle, run, repeat. Get passed by many of those I passed earlier.
Mile 24 - Ron catches me. I am really struggling. I joke about dropping out and I think it is funny because the shortest way out of here is to keep going on this trail. Pigtails would make me walk it out anyway. No I am not serious about dropping. I will finish with a smile. I wanted it to be hard and that is what I got. Looks like I can beat 4:30.
Mile 25 - Start looking back for Ashley. It would be so typical for her to pass me in the end. Alas she is having her own issues and won't quite get up to me. I shuffle on to the end.
Mile 26.2 - 26.2 on the GPS. Got in under 4:30. Get my medal from Ray. Change into dry but cold clothes. Hot cider hits the spot. Watch some runners come in. Robert gets his sub 5 hr 50K. Others are not so happy with their finish times, but we all seemed to enjoy the day. Long run on the shortest day of the year.
4:27:29
21st of 52
Race #313, Marathon or ultra #104, Pigtails Flat Ass #5
*****
Commemorative head band to go with my Pigtails beanie, arm warmers and gloves.
Small race but filled with my Maniac friends.
Start -A little slush on the trail for the first part. It will stay above freezing all day, but feel cold. The crowded half mile out and half mile back has people sploshing slush around and my feet get a little wet.
Mile 1 - Now on to the real trail. Room to run and my feet will dry out. It takes me a while to get up to a 10 minute per mile pace, where I want to stay for at least the first half. Frequent walk breaks and an easy pace, but it does not seem too slow. Bald eagle sighting.....3rd time in the past 4 marathons.
Mile 6 - First aid station. Catch up to Ashley. I had told her to go ahead as I was serious about going slow from the start. She also is wanting to take it easy so we fall in together. Just like old times on this course. We ran our first 50K here five years ago. Nice to talk for a while and then we slip into that comfortable silence that makes running with her so nice. Heavy fog. We are going faster than my plan but not by much and it is worth it even if I slow later.
Mile 13.1 - 2:08 on the watch. A little farther to the turn around. Ron, Andy, Susie, Mike, Kim, Mike M, Bill, Ted, Sabrina and others are all fairly close but ahead of me. Some of them are doing the 50K and will turn off the marathon course later. The fog has turned to drizzle.
Mile 14 - The plan has been to try to negative split. So I start going a little faster. My last marathon I went easy the whole way. Today I want to work hard for my medal. I don't care so much about finish time, but I do want to give it a good effort. I pull away from Ashley and gradually pick off the runners ahead of me.
Mile 16 - I catch up to one guy that I have not met before. His name is Andrew and he is running his first 50K. I don't know how he heard about this race, he is only vaguely aware of the Marathon Maniacs club. We run together for a while and it is nice to grind out the late middle miles with him.
Mile 21 - Happy to see that aid station. Quick stop and on I go. I think that I will push on for two miles and then take a walk break.
Mile 21.2 - Argh! I am walking and had not even told myself to do so. Sudden and harsh wall.
Mile 23 - Stiffening legs, some nausea, and just plain out of energy. Walk, shuffle, run, repeat. Get passed by many of those I passed earlier.
Mile 24 - Ron catches me. I am really struggling. I joke about dropping out and I think it is funny because the shortest way out of here is to keep going on this trail. Pigtails would make me walk it out anyway. No I am not serious about dropping. I will finish with a smile. I wanted it to be hard and that is what I got. Looks like I can beat 4:30.
Mile 25 - Start looking back for Ashley. It would be so typical for her to pass me in the end. Alas she is having her own issues and won't quite get up to me. I shuffle on to the end.
Mile 26.2 - 26.2 on the GPS. Got in under 4:30. Get my medal from Ray. Change into dry but cold clothes. Hot cider hits the spot. Watch some runners come in. Robert gets his sub 5 hr 50K. Others are not so happy with their finish times, but we all seemed to enjoy the day. Long run on the shortest day of the year.
4:27:29
21st of 52
Race #313, Marathon or ultra #104, Pigtails Flat Ass #5
*****
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
12/7/13 Saint Martins Jingle Bell Run 5K
I have run three races on the Saint Martins University campus, but they were small events and the last one I did was in 2006. Last year this holiday race was started and I decided to join in the fun this year. Pricey but we get a long sleeved T-shirt and chip (bib) timing. Also much appreciated is the warm university gym/staging and finish area, directly next to the start/finish. Plenty of room inside for the large number of participants.The course is two loops of 1.55 miles. There is also a 1.55 mile walk that will start 30 minutes before the 5K race.
It is about 22 degrees and sunny. I decide to warm up with a lap around the course. Gelid looking volunteers are huddled together at each turn, ready to direct the walkers who will start soon. After a half mile, I feel colder than when I started. I have a head band around my neck and I use it to cover my nose and mouth which helps. Now the course takes an unexpected turn onto some gravel. This is different from how we did it in 06 and I am glad that I am doing this warm up lap. Next it is on to a frozen field. It is very uneven and I twist my ankle a little. Off the field, up a wide dirt and gravel road and down a rocky path. Then a narrow trail, out to the parking lot and a quarter mile to the finish. With the cold and this route, I push my expectations back. Anything under 23 minutes will be very good.
Start - With the 577 runners, and narrow course, I want to start near the front. Five minutes to the start I am near where I want to be, but hundreds are streaming out of the gym and coming toward me. The timing mat is still recording 1.55 miler finishers so we have to leave room for then. Finally we are told to line up in front of the mat. I make sure that James, Craig, Jesse, and other fast looking people are ahead of me. We are crammed in to the start area and I am more than ready to get going when we are set off.
Mile 0.05 - Smooth enough start. As soon as we get through the balloon start/finish structure we have the other half of the road to use as well. But somehow I am now behind four young women who are running OK, but not as fast as I would like to be going. And they are close and side by side. I am feeling very impatient but wait for an opportunity to get past them. Now it is a clear path ahead.
Mile 0.5 - After previewing the course I knew that I should make the most of the pavement and be more careful on the gravel and especially the field. I am going faster than I should, but I will relax soon on the trail. Some one is wearing a winter hat that looks like a cupcake.
Mile 1.55 - A cold first lap but I am starting to warm up. Pleased to see the finish clock has just hit 11:00. I am sure that I will slow on the second lap, but sub 23 should happen. I proceed past the finish, away from the mat as instructed and continue on to loop 2.
Mile 2.5 - After the initial sorting out, there has not been much passing or being passed. I do catch a girl, run with her a bit then challenge her to catch me. Pass the last place person, who is on her first lap. Soon there will be more. Only one person will pass me now. I sense her coming on strong. A look over and I can hardly believe it. Jenny, who I only know a little, but is a very fast runner. When I saw her before the race I did not think that she was running today. She has a big baby belly and is due in three weeks. Here at mile 2.5 she is all smiles, feeling great and leaving me in the frost. I tell her to be careful on the grass and I feel a little worried for her, but I also pick up the pace and try to stay with her. Alas she is just too strong. Up the dirt road she gets out of reach. Both of us are now negotiating around the slower runners. I have to pass 8 reindeer and Santa in a wheel chair. Other clumps of walkers and slower runners all the way to the end.
Mile 2.9 - Off the narrow trail, where slower runners did stay on one side, and on to the parking lot. Turn and sprint to the end.
Finish - 3.11 on the GPS a spot on 5K distance. 22:37 on my watch. Same time as two weeks ago on a slightly shorter and faster course. And with this weather I am very pleased. Everything feels good these days, no injuries at all to report and I am so happy for that.
Inside for refreshments and music by a brass quartet. Computers are set up to view results. They have me at 12 minutes something and a sub 4 minute mile. Still only good for 4th place overall. I tell the timing person who thinks that my chip must have registered at the end of the first lap. That would make sense if the time was right at 11 minutes. He then learns that many runners need to have the first lap "filtered out" and I can see that this will take him some time. I have things to do so I leave before the awards ceremony, as I suspect that might be a while. Checking the results later on the web site, I have been corrected to a 23:20 and 46th place. I am going to trust my watch on this one, and assuming that all the other times are correct, I should be in 39th place. Still just out of the top three for my 40-49 age group, so whatever they have me at does not matter. Except that when I do pay this much for a race, I expect accurate results.
I missed the Club Oly trail race today and I won't do the Reindeer Run tomorrow, so it is difficult to say for sure that I will come back next year. Great way to spend a cold morning though.
22:37
39th of 577
Race# 312, 5K#84
*****
Monday, November 25, 2013
11/23/13 One Last Point 5k! Run/Walk
The name of this race needs some explaining. The Pints Pavement Pounders Running Club (P3) has been very successful since being established here a few years ago. ( http://www.thurstontalk.com/2012/10/10/pints-pavement-pounders-p3-get-fit-be-social-and-enjoy-a-pint/ ) . They get quite a turn out for their weekly runs. Members earn points by group running and by running races. So many points earns you a club shirt and I have been seeing more and more of these shirts at the races. The club takes a break in the winter and some folks were so close to earning their shirts. Terra decided to host a race so that they could earn a point before the season is over. Since I am on the "need people less" end of the spectrum, a weeknight group run followed by beer does not really appeal to me so much. But call something a race, have it on a Saturday, and I am likely to be there.
Cold morning at Marathon Park in Olympia. Thick frost on the wooden bridge could be icy. I do a mile warm up. I have not been here since the Transcendence 12 hour race and the memories come back. I'll keep the hat and gloves on but stash the jacket and long pants before the start. Thirty minutes before the start and Terra is here, offering me a still warm fresh baked muffin. I had timed my breakfast to be more or less digested before the start, but I can not resist the muffin. With the cold weather, somewhat tired legs from workouts this week, and now a muffin in me, I don't expect to be so speedy today. I get my number and continue to warm up, gradually picking up the pace before the start.
Start - 40 people in the run. I know at least a dozen of them and it is nice to see them. Ron ran here from his house, three miles away. Joe put in 7 miles before getting here. I may be the only one who came here to actually race and/or run hard. Martinho is here and we elbow each other at the start line like we always do. He can beat me if he wants, but when we go out he says something about saving himself for a race on Thursday. Everyone falls back and I am in front.
Mile 0.25 - Since September I have run quite a few small races and each time I have looked at the competition and wondered if just maybe I could beat them. I am very used to seeing a couple of people ahead of me and one or two rabbits string out way in front with no chance of me getting them. At this point in the race I usually focus on someone ahead and gradually try to catch up, while listening for footsteps behind me. This is different today. I am in front and I do not sense anyone right behind me. Strange.
Mile 1 - 7:09 - Decent pace. I will slow down on the second lap I am sure. And I expect Martinho to come roaring up to me at any time. There is a guy, not in the race, running around the lake in the opposite direction and I am sure that he is going faster than me. No wind but it is quite cold. A few walkers with dogs but it is not hard to navigate around them.
Mile 1.55 - First loop done. There is a sharp right turn here and I can not help but look back. No one behind me, but as I turn my head back I catch a flash of neon that could be a racer not so far back. I have won two races previously, both somewhat dubious achievements. The last time was ten years ago at a Bob Green "Odd Distance Race". Multiple races started at the same time, so I did not know who all was in my race. One guy was dogging me and at the turn around of the 8 mile race he was feeling so good he decided to upgrade to the 11 mile race. Two starters, I was the lone finisher. In 1998 I won the Melody Miles fiasco race. Multiple issues with that one, including having to ask where the finish line was and finding out that I was already past it. But I did place first of 30 that day. But what am I doing! I need to focus on today. Bring the mind back to this race. Mild discomfort I acknowledge and push aside. Keep bringing the mind back to the form and threading the line at a sustainable level of discomfort.
Mile 2 - Another sharp turn and a chance to look a ways back. Nobody gonna catch me now. Memories of me watching winners come in and I tell them to relax, enjoy the moment. I ease up just a little but press on.
Mile 2.5 - That cold spot again. Right where it is hottest in the T12. Jody is meeting Niki here at 9:30AM for their run together. I hope she is here to see me finish. But alas I make the final stretch and cruise in without much fanfare.
Mile 3.1 - 3.06 on the GPS. 15 seconds slower than three weeks ago, with a marathon two weeks ago. Pleased with my time, how well I felt, and that no one faster showed up or tried very hard today. Nice event RD Terra. She even had some raffles and coffee with the muffins. Fun group of people.
22:37
1st place of 40
Race#311, 5K#83 Win#3
*****
Cold morning at Marathon Park in Olympia. Thick frost on the wooden bridge could be icy. I do a mile warm up. I have not been here since the Transcendence 12 hour race and the memories come back. I'll keep the hat and gloves on but stash the jacket and long pants before the start. Thirty minutes before the start and Terra is here, offering me a still warm fresh baked muffin. I had timed my breakfast to be more or less digested before the start, but I can not resist the muffin. With the cold weather, somewhat tired legs from workouts this week, and now a muffin in me, I don't expect to be so speedy today. I get my number and continue to warm up, gradually picking up the pace before the start.
Start - 40 people in the run. I know at least a dozen of them and it is nice to see them. Ron ran here from his house, three miles away. Joe put in 7 miles before getting here. I may be the only one who came here to actually race and/or run hard. Martinho is here and we elbow each other at the start line like we always do. He can beat me if he wants, but when we go out he says something about saving himself for a race on Thursday. Everyone falls back and I am in front.
Mile 0.25 - Since September I have run quite a few small races and each time I have looked at the competition and wondered if just maybe I could beat them. I am very used to seeing a couple of people ahead of me and one or two rabbits string out way in front with no chance of me getting them. At this point in the race I usually focus on someone ahead and gradually try to catch up, while listening for footsteps behind me. This is different today. I am in front and I do not sense anyone right behind me. Strange.
Mile 1 - 7:09 - Decent pace. I will slow down on the second lap I am sure. And I expect Martinho to come roaring up to me at any time. There is a guy, not in the race, running around the lake in the opposite direction and I am sure that he is going faster than me. No wind but it is quite cold. A few walkers with dogs but it is not hard to navigate around them.
Mile 1.55 - First loop done. There is a sharp right turn here and I can not help but look back. No one behind me, but as I turn my head back I catch a flash of neon that could be a racer not so far back. I have won two races previously, both somewhat dubious achievements. The last time was ten years ago at a Bob Green "Odd Distance Race". Multiple races started at the same time, so I did not know who all was in my race. One guy was dogging me and at the turn around of the 8 mile race he was feeling so good he decided to upgrade to the 11 mile race. Two starters, I was the lone finisher. In 1998 I won the Melody Miles fiasco race. Multiple issues with that one, including having to ask where the finish line was and finding out that I was already past it. But I did place first of 30 that day. But what am I doing! I need to focus on today. Bring the mind back to this race. Mild discomfort I acknowledge and push aside. Keep bringing the mind back to the form and threading the line at a sustainable level of discomfort.
Mile 2 - Another sharp turn and a chance to look a ways back. Nobody gonna catch me now. Memories of me watching winners come in and I tell them to relax, enjoy the moment. I ease up just a little but press on.
Mile 2.5 - That cold spot again. Right where it is hottest in the T12. Jody is meeting Niki here at 9:30AM for their run together. I hope she is here to see me finish. But alas I make the final stretch and cruise in without much fanfare.
Mile 3.1 - 3.06 on the GPS. 15 seconds slower than three weeks ago, with a marathon two weeks ago. Pleased with my time, how well I felt, and that no one faster showed up or tried very hard today. Nice event RD Terra. She even had some raffles and coffee with the muffins. Fun group of people.
22:37
1st place of 40
Race#311, 5K#83 Win#3
*****
Saturday, November 9, 2013
11/9/13 First Call Veteran's Day Marathon
9th race in 8 weeks (10 miles, marathon, 5K, 50K, 5K trail, 5K, 5K, 5K, marathon). After this I will rest. And today I am not motivated to try to be fast and risk falling apart in the last miles. I want to take it nice and easy with walk breaks and I am so happy that my third favorite Canadian (after Atsk'ia and Bruce Cockburn), Maniac Tracy is here with the same attitude.
Double out and back on the paved Sammamish River trail that I have described before. My third time here, but first on Veteran's Day weekend. Lots of maniac friends, many take the early 7AM start. 50K, half marathon and the full. Some people running the half and adding extra training miles. Some arrive late for the early start and take a "medium" start. One starts, runs for a while, then goes out to do an errand for an hour before coming back to finish. Maniac Betsy celebrating a special birthday by running her age in miles and running right through our race with her entourage. All this means is that I will see people all day long and have little idea where they are in the race.
Cold but dry and once we get running it will be fine. Bathrooms at the park are locked until after the start, but I won't complain since it is a free race (donation funded) with a huge aid station at the start/finish.
Start - Off we go at 8AM. Immediately there is a bald eagle swooping low over us and landing in a nearby tree. What a great site. I will see two more eagles in trees a few miles later. Tracy and I fall into step with her friend, Maniac Mica. Now I have a new friend. We keep it around 10 minute miles, running faster than that, but taking some long walk breaks. Have to watch for bikes on this trail, and can not always run three together. But we stay close and it is a nice time. Tracy ran the NYC marathon six days ago. She has a new goal, to run her 118th marathon at the 118th Boston Marathon next year. That sounds like something I would try to do. Alas, I am looking for a goal. I have really enjoyed the 5Ks recently and perhaps I won't run so many long races for a while. I will need to build up the trail and hill work as I plan some good adventures for next Spring.
Mile 6 - Bob Dolphin sighting!
Mile 6.55 - Takao's turn around rainbows.
Mile 13.1 - Mica will run the half today. Tracy needs to get something from her car. I grab a big cookie and start the second half by walking. I tell Tracy to not rush, I will just keep moving and walking.
Mile 14 - Still walking. I guess that I am walking quickly and I am just beginning to wonder if Tracy will catch up, when she does. It will be a slower second half, but not because I am tiring. Just enjoying the day. We run a few miles and then start catching some of the early starters. It is fun to see them up ahead and slowly gain on them. Then we walk or run with them for a while. First up are Rick and Monte. They have a very fast walk. I can not keep up with them if I walk. But if I run, I get ahead. I decide to keep running slowly and when Tracy is done conversing, she catches up to me.
Mile 20 - Run with Betsy's entourage. There is video of her and you can see me in my Manic Jacket in the background at the start of the clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXXfA1gUzsw&feature=youtu.be
Mile 22 - Chalk writing on the pavement; I am reading it upside down and it says "this got you". Discouraging words at this point in the race, but then I see it the way it was meant to be read.
Mile 24 - Feet are hurting some. Legs are a little tight. Otherwise I feel good and I guess I could pick up the pace if I want to, but I don't. Tracy and I run a long stretch with no break. Then we catch up to Marie and Deb. We run and walk and run with them all the way to the end.
Mile 26.2 - I hit the wrong button on my watch and will have to wait for official finish time. Overall a good day and nice time.
4:37:33
18th place of 35
Race#310, marathon or ultra#103
*****
Double out and back on the paved Sammamish River trail that I have described before. My third time here, but first on Veteran's Day weekend. Lots of maniac friends, many take the early 7AM start. 50K, half marathon and the full. Some people running the half and adding extra training miles. Some arrive late for the early start and take a "medium" start. One starts, runs for a while, then goes out to do an errand for an hour before coming back to finish. Maniac Betsy celebrating a special birthday by running her age in miles and running right through our race with her entourage. All this means is that I will see people all day long and have little idea where they are in the race.
Cold but dry and once we get running it will be fine. Bathrooms at the park are locked until after the start, but I won't complain since it is a free race (donation funded) with a huge aid station at the start/finish.
Start - Off we go at 8AM. Immediately there is a bald eagle swooping low over us and landing in a nearby tree. What a great site. I will see two more eagles in trees a few miles later. Tracy and I fall into step with her friend, Maniac Mica. Now I have a new friend. We keep it around 10 minute miles, running faster than that, but taking some long walk breaks. Have to watch for bikes on this trail, and can not always run three together. But we stay close and it is a nice time. Tracy ran the NYC marathon six days ago. She has a new goal, to run her 118th marathon at the 118th Boston Marathon next year. That sounds like something I would try to do. Alas, I am looking for a goal. I have really enjoyed the 5Ks recently and perhaps I won't run so many long races for a while. I will need to build up the trail and hill work as I plan some good adventures for next Spring.
Mile 6 - Bob Dolphin sighting!
Mile 6.55 - Takao's turn around rainbows.
Mile 13.1 - Mica will run the half today. Tracy needs to get something from her car. I grab a big cookie and start the second half by walking. I tell Tracy to not rush, I will just keep moving and walking.
Mile 14 - Still walking. I guess that I am walking quickly and I am just beginning to wonder if Tracy will catch up, when she does. It will be a slower second half, but not because I am tiring. Just enjoying the day. We run a few miles and then start catching some of the early starters. It is fun to see them up ahead and slowly gain on them. Then we walk or run with them for a while. First up are Rick and Monte. They have a very fast walk. I can not keep up with them if I walk. But if I run, I get ahead. I decide to keep running slowly and when Tracy is done conversing, she catches up to me.
Mile 20 - Run with Betsy's entourage. There is video of her and you can see me in my Manic Jacket in the background at the start of the clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXXfA1gUzsw&feature=youtu.be
Mile 22 - Chalk writing on the pavement; I am reading it upside down and it says "this got you". Discouraging words at this point in the race, but then I see it the way it was meant to be read.
Mile 24 - Feet are hurting some. Legs are a little tight. Otherwise I feel good and I guess I could pick up the pace if I want to, but I don't. Tracy and I run a long stretch with no break. Then we catch up to Marie and Deb. We run and walk and run with them all the way to the end.
Mile 26.2 - I hit the wrong button on my watch and will have to wait for official finish time. Overall a good day and nice time.
4:37:33
18th place of 35
Race#310, marathon or ultra#103
*****
Sunday, November 3, 2013
11/3/13 Turn Back the Clock 5K
Three years ago I ran the Puddle Jump 10K and the Turn Back the Clock 5K on back to back days. This year it will be a 5K double. I decided to enter this race just yesterday afternoon. It is now organized by Club Oly. $25 day of race entry is good. Fundraiser for local track programs.
Weather is colder but much better than yesterday. Nice turn out with many familiar faces. I see Rachael and also Mike who were right with me at the Pumpkin Dash last week. We should all be close again.
I take more time to warm up today, putting in two miles plus some strides. Soon enough it is time to race.
Start - Lots of fast people here, I line up a few rows back. It is a wide start line with plenty of room to pass people later. 10K and 5K start together. Out of the park and on to 45th street. Traffic cones along the way and police at every intersection. Feeling good and in the middle of a large pack that is moving quickly. Ulrike says hi. Always pleasant to run with her, if only for ten seconds. She is doing the 10K and just getting up to cruising speed.
Mile 0.5 - With Rachael and now but I feel OK so I push a little harder. This is how I am going to play this race: every time I feel good I will put on a little more speed, to get to that uncomfortable/can not quite sustain pace. Then I ease back just a bit until I am feeling good again. I tell myself that if I feel good, I am not running hard enough. The 5K is not meant to be pleasant.
Mile 1.2 - Made the right turn onto the paved trail and now I am racing at the exact place that I was racing yesterday. I catch up to 9 year old amazing Oliver, who does not want me to get by and puts on his own surge. I do get by him eventually. Soon I see a much older (13?) Dylan coming back in about 5th place. He has been beating me for a couple of years now. One woman up here, so Rachael will have to settle for second place overall.
Mile 2.5 - Uneventful return trip. Keep working harder if I feel at all at ease. The gut is better than yesterday but does seem to be the thing that is holding me back. Finally now the legs start to tire and my pace slows. Crossing College Street I can tell the the police are letting traffic through behind me, so I know that no one is very close. Now I start to wonder if I can beat yesterday's finish time (22:22).
Mile 2.9 (mile 6 of the 10K marker) - Doing the math in my head, I think that I have a chance to beat that time. No one has passed me since about mile 1.3.
Mile 3.0 - Wow it is going to be close, but I need to get sprinting! I run as fast as I can, cross the line and stop my watch right at 22:22
Finish - 3.13 on the GPS. Yesterday's chip time was 22:22.5. Today is not chip timed, but I did start very near the front. Rich has me clocked at 22:22.3. A slightly longer course today (according to my GPS, but both are close enough to be called accurate and today's course is certified). The better weather, the better sense of competition and a better stomach helped me match yesterday's time.
At the awards I get a first in age group ribbon with a packet of Gu
Next up - First Call Veterans Day Marathon. Plenty of speed work in the bank, but no run over 7 miles in 4 weeks time. The 50K from 4 weeks ago will have to do. I have enjoyed these small short races of late, and if I have taken an endurance hit, I am willing to pay that price.
22:22.3
8th place of 120
Race#309
5K#82
*****
Weather is colder but much better than yesterday. Nice turn out with many familiar faces. I see Rachael and also Mike who were right with me at the Pumpkin Dash last week. We should all be close again.
I take more time to warm up today, putting in two miles plus some strides. Soon enough it is time to race.
Mile 0.5 - With Rachael and now but I feel OK so I push a little harder. This is how I am going to play this race: every time I feel good I will put on a little more speed, to get to that uncomfortable/can not quite sustain pace. Then I ease back just a bit until I am feeling good again. I tell myself that if I feel good, I am not running hard enough. The 5K is not meant to be pleasant.
Mile 1.2 - Made the right turn onto the paved trail and now I am racing at the exact place that I was racing yesterday. I catch up to 9 year old amazing Oliver, who does not want me to get by and puts on his own surge. I do get by him eventually. Soon I see a much older (13?) Dylan coming back in about 5th place. He has been beating me for a couple of years now. One woman up here, so Rachael will have to settle for second place overall.
Mile 2.5 - Uneventful return trip. Keep working harder if I feel at all at ease. The gut is better than yesterday but does seem to be the thing that is holding me back. Finally now the legs start to tire and my pace slows. Crossing College Street I can tell the the police are letting traffic through behind me, so I know that no one is very close. Now I start to wonder if I can beat yesterday's finish time (22:22).
Mile 2.9 (mile 6 of the 10K marker) - Doing the math in my head, I think that I have a chance to beat that time. No one has passed me since about mile 1.3.
Mile 3.0 - Wow it is going to be close, but I need to get sprinting! I run as fast as I can, cross the line and stop my watch right at 22:22
Finish - 3.13 on the GPS. Yesterday's chip time was 22:22.5. Today is not chip timed, but I did start very near the front. Rich has me clocked at 22:22.3. A slightly longer course today (according to my GPS, but both are close enough to be called accurate and today's course is certified). The better weather, the better sense of competition and a better stomach helped me match yesterday's time.
At the awards I get a first in age group ribbon with a packet of Gu
Next up - First Call Veterans Day Marathon. Plenty of speed work in the bank, but no run over 7 miles in 4 weeks time. The 50K from 4 weeks ago will have to do. I have enjoyed these small short races of late, and if I have taken an endurance hit, I am willing to pay that price.
22:22.3
8th place of 120
Race#309
5K#82
*****
Saturday, November 2, 2013
11/2/13 Puddle Jump 5K
I ran the 10K here, the first year they had it, 3 years ago. The course was a half mile long and there were some other things that I did not care for so I did not rush to come back. But now I am back, for the 5K and everything will be well organized.
Thankful for the indoor staging area. It is very stormy out. Colder than it has been and oh so windy. Sideways rain off and on. Fortunately the course is somewhat protected from wind gusts and it will not rain much while we are racing.
Amy is here to defend her title. Terra shows up at the last minute. Lonnie is here to run and win the 10K and he says that he will be running the 10K at tomorrow's Turn Back the Clock race. I tell him that I am not racing tomorrow.
Start - Both races start at the same time. The course goes about 30 feet before turning onto the paved trail, so it is a little crazy at first. I yell at Terra to get out of my way....I hope she knows that I am joking. Plenty of time to settle in to a good pace.
Mile 0.1 - Room to run as I wish. Fun to see a 0.1 mile marker. No, there is not one every tenth of a mile.
Mile 1 - 7:03 - faster than last week but it feels sustainable
Turnaround - Amy is first woman. She will go on to win again. Terra is right behind me, as are a couple of others.
Mile 2 - I can not hear anyone behind me and those ahead of me are just too far to try to reach. I am holding pace as best I can but my stomach is starting to bother me. I need to slow as I feel a combination side stitch and possible vomiting or worse about to happen.
Finish - I slowed some to keep things under control and quickly recover and feel fine after running. 3.06 on the GPS. A slower finish time than last week, but a faster pace according to the GPS, due to the longer course. Ghostmuster/Pumpkin Dash really must be a short course.
Chamber of Commerce races usually make for good raffle chances. I do win, a large pizza. TAG trophies is also a sponsor so we all get finisher's medals. And there are trophies for the age group winners. Amy and I make sure that we get a photo together, to share with our benefactors at Brooks Running.
That makes 8 races in 8 weeks. A shame to miss the Turn Back the Clock race tomorrow. My legs feel fine.....maybe I could go run the 5K tomorrow.........
22:22.5
6th place of 141
Race# 308
5K# 81
*****
Thankful for the indoor staging area. It is very stormy out. Colder than it has been and oh so windy. Sideways rain off and on. Fortunately the course is somewhat protected from wind gusts and it will not rain much while we are racing.
Amy is here to defend her title. Terra shows up at the last minute. Lonnie is here to run and win the 10K and he says that he will be running the 10K at tomorrow's Turn Back the Clock race. I tell him that I am not racing tomorrow.
Start - Both races start at the same time. The course goes about 30 feet before turning onto the paved trail, so it is a little crazy at first. I yell at Terra to get out of my way....I hope she knows that I am joking. Plenty of time to settle in to a good pace.
Mile 0.1 - Room to run as I wish. Fun to see a 0.1 mile marker. No, there is not one every tenth of a mile.
Mile 1 - 7:03 - faster than last week but it feels sustainable
Turnaround - Amy is first woman. She will go on to win again. Terra is right behind me, as are a couple of others.
Mile 2 - I can not hear anyone behind me and those ahead of me are just too far to try to reach. I am holding pace as best I can but my stomach is starting to bother me. I need to slow as I feel a combination side stitch and possible vomiting or worse about to happen.
Chamber of Commerce races usually make for good raffle chances. I do win, a large pizza. TAG trophies is also a sponsor so we all get finisher's medals. And there are trophies for the age group winners. Amy and I make sure that we get a photo together, to share with our benefactors at Brooks Running.
That makes 8 races in 8 weeks. A shame to miss the Turn Back the Clock race tomorrow. My legs feel fine.....maybe I could go run the 5K tomorrow.........
22:22.5
6th place of 141
Race# 308
5K# 81
*****
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)