Race, Race, Race Update!

Been a bit of a slacker on the updates.  I've run 3 races since I last posted! Quick update....

Run Ballantyne 5K (road race)

This was went pretty well, I was SO close to a new PR.  Alas it was not meant to be....maybe next time.   It was nice to get back to a road race after spending time on the trails.   Hills? Not when you compare them to the trails. Also the temps have been going way up so I finally switched to shorts.  Ah...the white white legs!  Don't I look determined?

Riverbound 10K (trail race)

This race kicked my butt.   I was so nervous at the beginning my trainer said I looked like I had one big stress ball around me.   I even blew off my buddy Tom during warmup.   I did not prepare enough and clearly after mile 4 of 6.2 I lost all steam.    I finished and I wasn't last but it clearly shook me up as the 15K is around the corner.  Speaking of the 15K I decided to go check out parts of the WhiteWater Center  trails I had not seen that were expected to be part of the 15K.   Below is Goat Hill. 

Run for Peace 5K (greenway/road/trail race)

First time at McAlpine Park.   I keep signing up for 5ks for two reasons 1) Ensure that I get mileage in on a Saturday 2) Keep my confidence up.   I was crushed after my RiverBound 10K.   I arrived last saturday far more calm and relaxed, looking forward to having a good time.   There was a bit of a misunderstanding at the beginning, I was hoping to run at 8am with they guys but they pulled me out and made me start at 8:30 with the rest of the women.  It had indicated on their website women could start at 8am but clearly something was lost in communication.   By 8:30 I had cooled down from the warm up I did with Tom (this time I didn't blow him off ;-0).  Again, I missed setting a new PR.   But hey there's always next time.

James and I took the pups to the park the next day.   McKinley and Sophie were still going strong but Gracie was adamant she had enough walking and was DONE.   Much like me after the 10K trail.   

 

RaceFest aka RAINfest Update

Saturdays are race days....when I have one on the books I usually have a mixture of excitement and nervousness during week.  This week was no exception as I prepared for a 10K road race.  Normally I check up on the weather once or twice, this week, however I watched it like a hawk.   Charlotte has been hit by some rather nasty storms complete with golf ball size hail recently.   The weather peeps were not painting a good picture for the race.   The officials even came up with a backup plan and sent it out.  

Rain.  Ugh.   My last 10K road race had a steady rain.  I knew that I could do the race in rain, but possible gusty winds and hail?  What if that came in the middle of the race? 

Interestingly enough I had several people ask me if I was still going to run.  I must have crossed some invisible crazy person mark because it really didn't occur to me not to show up.  I found this interesting as I can assure you last spring when I saw a runner in the rain I would think to myself "idiot".  Hmm, actually when it is raining really hard I still think that.   In the case of the race though, hey I picked up the shirt, I HAVE to go.

It turned out the weather was about like it was for my Greenville race.  Wet but not too overwhelming.  When I crossed the finish line it let loose for a few minutes, then it went light again.  I did feel sorry for those half-marathon runners because I think they had it worse.

All in all my results were ok - I did not meet my target time.  I struggled after mile 4 and a lot of that was mental.   I do however need to carry my own water on these longer runs.  The water stops are killing me and I live too much for them.  I lose my rhythm (if i have it in the first place) and that's when that pesky voice is screaming WALK WALK I'm tired!  So next time around gotta take my own.  I also need to find better ways of beating that voice back with a stick!

Racefest gave us all medals which is cool because this is the only way I will get one.  ;-)

I am collect quite the little stack of numbers though....

Next race is the Riverbound series 10K trail run.  Lots of training before then....

Race, Struggle, Race

It has been a little while since the update.   Let's see if I can catch everyone up. 

I completed the first race in the RiverBound series.  It was an 8K trail and I did ok.  Not great but ok.    The weather was nice and there was no FACEPLANTing.  Remember the goals people!  After that race however I had to add a new rule that involved not passing out.   Hello hydration and a little problem with anemia.   Back on those supplements!

After the 8K trail I started to really struggle.  It seems I get off plan when I go out of town or when work life gets more intense.  I also was having a lot of allergy problems....and it was hard adjusting to the warmer weather.   This is important because I felt like I was sliding backwards.  Actually I was sliding backwards - numbers don't lie.   As these races increase in distance, the bottom line is that you either make the commitment or you don't.   According to Kelly the transition from 10K to the 15K is a huge step.  If I had stayed in my current mindset, things weren't going to look good for me.  I completed a 10K trail and wasn't happy with my time either.   There were a couple people that actually quit after the first trail section but at least I finished.

All in all I had to take a step back.   Last year at this time I was barely into physical therapy.  I could barely stand to walk a lot or sit for a long time much less run.   I have completed several 5k races, 8k races and even two 10K races.  Not bad compared to last year.  

Now is the time to commit to being serious about this RiverBound series. The next RiverBound trail race is in May- a 10K.  With Kelly and all my other runner friends (Tom, Paul, Dave, Kirk) I can find my way for improvement.  I'm armed wth a new training plan and am paying more intention to my diet.

Next up - 10K Racefest Road Race in Charlotte next Saturday.....Wish me luck.

Reedy River Race - I went, I ran, I conquered

Last Saturday I participated in my first 10K run.  I was VERY nervous about this race.  As you may remember, my little brother wanted me to join him as this was his first race.  I thought he was going to sign up for the 5K but noooooo  he wanted to do the 10K.

As the race got closer it was obvious it was going to be raining.  Ugh.  I had a bad training session on Wednesday.  Ugh.  Was I going to be ready?  Well I could not back out.  After all, little brother was counting on me.

He called me while I was driving down and told me he got his packet.  I asked him what he was planning on wearing to run in.   He said a Tshirt and gym shorts.  I stopped by the Nike outlet and got him a couple of dry wick shirts.  He was thrilled and immediately tried one on.

Race day came and so did the rain.  Lucky for us it was light but steady.  I could tell he was nervous but we when lined up he was focusing. Gone was the smack talk about how he was going to kick my ass.  I never claimed I could kick his just that I was going to run my own race and we would meet at the finish line.  Then we were off.....

I was determined not to stop at the first water station and once I went by it I got into a groove.  At 3.2 mark I was same time as my PR for a road 5K so I was on cloud nine.  The run was thru a park at that point and it was quite pretty.   I made it to the next water stop at 4.97 and walked it thru then started up again.   That last hill seemed like a mountain but when I saw the finish line for the first time I still had a little juice left and sprinted the last few seconds.  Yay me.

The next day our names were in the paper.  Little brother was so proud....even though we both were towards the back of the pack.  It didn't matter to me as I beat my target time and it didn't matter to him...cause he beat his big sister.  :-)

I leave you with a pic of little brother as he approached the finish line.

Now we train....

Last week we had a bit of a transition.  Kelly the Magnificent and I had just completed 3 miles on a trail and he turned to me and said "now we train".  Now we train? We just ran 2 miles on a trail, what the hell was that?  Apparently that was "going for a run".  Who knew?  Well now I know the difference.   After the 2 mile trail run then we moved over to 2nd trail and start the "catch the rabbit" training.   This involves Kelly running ahead of me and I run as fast as I can to catch him.   Did I mention this was on a trail?  During this process when I can't go any further I am suppose to give a shout out and then we walk....then the whole cycle starts over.   This went on for another 3 miles I think.  By the time we were done I was a little blurry.

Gone are the days of merely the 3 miles.....now the bar must be raise so I don't kill over on the long trail runs during the series I signed up for.....oh yeah...that makes sense.

Another new curveball was being introduced to spinning.    Wow.  Who knew that a weird bike apparatus could be that painful.  

This weekend is the 10K with my little brother.   I'm pretty sure walking will be involved but remember - the goal is to finish, right?

I leave you with a picture of my last trail race.  After the faceplant there was minimal dusting off - after all - I didn't want to be last.  And even with the faceplant I was determined not to look like a zombie. 

:-)

Trail Race #2

Ok so today's race had some good points:

• It was not subzero temperature like it felt in January
• It was not muddy on the trail
• A buddy was experience his first race (shout out to Paul)
• My work buddy coach (shout out to Tom)
• I was defiant and brought my ipod

A few lessons were learned:

• It is not really a bad thing if you have not seen the course.  It made the run enjoyable and exciting.
• When you FACEPLANT like I did, get your butt up check and make sure you can move, then start back up again.  Don't think about it too much otherwise you will wuss out.  Fortunately I did continue on and finish the race. 

Scraped up the knee and hands but all in all pleased with the progress. Definitely better than my first trail race.

Next week I go to Greenville, SC to join my brother in his first race.  I still can't believe he signed up for a 10K.    I wonder if I will be able to drive home. 

And my knee: 

Build the strength challenge

So it is official - I do have a new PR after completing the Cupid's Cup. Yay!

So about the other goal/challenge/whatever you want to call it.   A friend of mine posted about this not so long ago as he was debating it too.

Running and core strength building are suppose to go hand in hand.  Getting better at running but my strength building has been slacking a bit lately.  Remember unless someone is standing over me - sometimes I'm a bit of a slacker.   I come home and well, quite frankly with all the channels I have, how could I not want to become a couch potato.  Hmm potatoes...I'm hungry..oh wait that's not what this is about....

So...I'm debating.....the 100 Push Up Challenge....it is a six week program.

http://hundredpushups.com/index.html

Still debating....any takers out there?