Welcome to my good friend B! We’ve decided to use this delicious life blog to check in on our respective running programs. Hopefully, L., who’s also running the Chicago Half with us, will join in too.
This morning I ran another 5K, this time in Grand Haven, as part of the kickoff for the annual Coast Guard Festival. My Uncle D. ran too, his first race in over 20 years. I can say with utmost confidence that this was the worst race yet! The race was not well managed, as no one really knew where the start was. And though we had champion chips to record our times, they only had the timing platform at the finish, which means the timing wasn’t entirely accurate. While the course was well marked with signage, there were no signs to mark off miles, and no one yelling out times along the way. My iPod battery gave out about halfway through the race, and the heat and high humidity, combined with about 5 decent sized hills (Grand Haven is, after all, a coastal town, filled with dunes and valleys), all conspired to make the racing experience so miserable.
I can’t write here what thoughts were going through my head, but you can use your imagination and ponder the kind of obscenities even a nice girl would be wont to utter under this set of dire circumstances.
Two small bonuses: water station midway through the race (a necessity even with a 5K on a day like today) and kind folks along the route who brought sprinklers to the edge of their lawns and directed them into our path--ahhh, heavenly!
My time according to the chip: 28.48. My official time? Who knows. I’m just glad I managed to run the whole thing and avoid medical intervention at the end! I’ve been pushing liquids feverishly all day, and am not as exhausted as I first thought I’d be.
My post-race treat of pancakes at my favorite breakfast spot, Morningstar Cafe, was a definite perk. I had one large oatmeal cranberry pancake, with cinnamon honey butter and genuine maple syrup; roasted redskin potatoes; and a dark roast coffee.
Good luck to B. on her race tomorrow...I’m sure M. will be proud of you regardless of your time. I don’t think he can give us much grief since he’s in retirement, right?!? Or is part of the support staff duty to harrass the runners? Hee hee!
okay, I do not understand how to set up an account. It asks me for my blog site? Do I have to set up my own page, or can I just comment on yours?
ReplyDeleteWell, congratulations on completing your race without needing medical attention. It sounds like it was tough. You had a good time though. The post-race meal sounded great.
I completed my 10K this morning and it was pretty hot also. They needed more water stations for the 10K racers. I missed the first station, so I thought I would just get a drink at the next, but it was 2.5 miles until I had another opportunity. I finished the race in 1:02:04. I was hoping to get just under a 10min/mile pace. I was close. I ended up being okay with my time though, because 1:02 was my backup goal.
After the race, we came back to the house and M. cooked breakfast for me and my friend (this was her first race). M. made a great breakfast of waffles with apples in brown sugar, fruit salad, and juice. It was a great breakfast, nice and light, after a long hot run.
I have to admit, I was pretty tired once we got home, and I was falling asleep at breakfast. So after my friend left I took a three hour nap. I do not think I have napped like that since I was 2 years old. I guess the heat and humidity really took it out of me. I have had a slight headache since I woke up from my nap, so I am trying to re-hydrate.
Well, when is your next race? I do not have anymore on the schedule, but I think I need to find some. It really helps me stay focused on my training.
B.
I have been doing short training runs this week, with one day of speed work. My short run yesterday, though was very slow. I just couldn't get going and was feeling pretty bad about my running. But today I triumphed and had my fastest short run yet. Running is a funny thing, one day you can be great and the next day you may be in the tank, without any apparent reason. Well, tomorrow I have a long run, seven miles. I haven't run that far in a long time, but I am excited for the challenge. The weather here is finally breaking. It is warm, but not very humid. This is my ideal running weather. Hopefully, I can make something out of my run tomorrow and it will be one of those seemingly random "good running days."
ReplyDeleteDid you get any results from your race last weekend? What are you up to this weekend?
B.