Mothers For Clean Air (Earth Day) 5K

Ah yes, the PR streak ended today, but I still had a good run.

Probably the last time we'll have cool weather for a race till October (if we're lucky) so for that I was thankful. A nice 50 degrees at the start.

I loved the new course! Except for the fact that the last 800m was on the trail, and I'm sorry but that surface just slows me down. You have to work a bit harder to push off of the gravel and it really sucked.

Official time: 28:47

Splits:
Mile 1: 8:53
Mile 2: 9:19
Mile 3: 9:17

7th in AG, not sure of overall at this point; will have to wait till results are posted online.

I don't know...I was just a bit lethargic this morning, and even the warm up didnt help me feel like my legs were going to cooperate today. They did better than I thought, and I really didnt think that I was moving at that pace in the 2nd mile and I did show it to be a bit long, total distance on the Garmin being 3.17, but that seems to be the norm these days, at least the last 2 races that is; and I am always careful not to weave and to hug the turns so I dont know why the longer distance than what the race is supposed to be, but you take the course as it is I guess. And accept the time thats posted.

As I said, the last 800m were on the gravel path and thats the only thing I didnt like. Best part was picking off one by one the people in front of me and 'chicking' this one guy in the last 40 yards or so. I saw the clock time and all I know is that I passed him at what felt like 90 to nothin'. I heard Leno off to the side yelling at me...and right now I can't remember what he said but I remember at the time, that it made me smile. At least on the inside because honestly there was no smiling going on as I made my final kick to the end. I just wanted sub-29 again today.

Its all I cared about really.

I also now know this one woman who is always right there with me. I only know this because in all my race photos, I see her. Behind me. But close.

Today as we were coming up on the 1st water stop I heard a voice close behind me say "are you stopping for water?" I knew why she was asking. Before she said that, I had thought about taking water on the run, but knowing it would slow me down by a few seconds, it would also give her the opportunity to pass me if I did.

"No way" was my response.

I think she was disappointed. Thats when she was right next to me, I looked over and I recognized her.

See ya later alligator, I gotta get a move on now.. ;o) I never saw her again until I was running a cool down, we passed each other, said our nicey nicey's and went on our merry, albeit separate, ways.

Definitely will continue to do this race if they keep the course the same that is. Good stuff.

Peace.

Flying Owls 5K

I went into this morning just hoping for a decent time, not thinking a PR was in the cards today due to the course. As I mentioned previously it had 20 turns in it, and not only that but once I got there to get my number I found out the first mile was being run on the runner/walker path there around Rice, where we had to manuever the casual Saturday runners/walkers. And the path is only about 4.5 feet wide I would guess.

I was not happy. As a matter of fact, I almost bailed at that point. But I didnt, and boy am I glad I didnt.

At mile 2.5 I knew I had another PR in my sights. I just didnt know how much of a one I had.

Thats a :58 PR over last weeks chip time of 28:52 (and a SUB 28!!!). The course was a bit long, so the 'recorded' time for the course/race was 28:32 which is still a 20 second PR over last week at Bellaire Trolley 5K!!

The best part was as I was coming up on the final turn, there was Sam...waiting. I had no idea he had come over after the KW long run this morning, so I was excited to know he was there for this today. It was an awesome feeling.

There were no frills with this race, not even water anywhere on the course, so you just had to dig in and hope you had had enough hydration prior. They did have some awesome food and drink (including beer; which I didnt partake in because I knew I was running an additional 3 miles after). They only gave awards 1 deep in AG, and I thought I might have a shot, but I didnt. The girl who won our AG wasnt even there. I still dont know how I did in AG, but will once they send out the official sheet with times.

Splits were:
8:56
8:59
8:49

All freakin' sub 9's dawg!!!!

So I did my 3 miles after, averaging about 10 min miles even, so I again was surprised I still had gas in my tank.

Now its shower time, and I am off to see Mom, and spend the night with her. By the way, she got out of the hospital a week ago, and seems to be a-ok. Took 4 weeks to rid her completely of the staph.

Brooke ride those 100 miles today girl!! I will be thinking of you all day!! I had a blast last night!!

Bellaire Trolley Run 5K **UPDATED**

Well...well...well...

As previously posted, sub 30 went out the window today. I kinda figured I was going to get my 29:30 today...

But I knew from about 2.75 something else was going to happen. I couldn't be entirely sure...but just before I hit the 3 mile mark and I wasnt even at 28 min yet...

And then, there...the pace caller belted out at the 3 mile mark 28 minutes...Holy shit is what I thought.

So in the next .1 I hit it in 52 seconds.

I would like to say that I ran till I thought I was going to puke today, but honestly...I didnt feel like I was going to puke. Well till about 1 minute after I finished. Then I thought I might puke.

The splits:

Mile 1: 8:53
Mile 2: 9:02
Mile 3: 9:29
.1: :52

3.1: 28:52 A huge PR for me today...HUGE

Now I know...I wish I could have that Mile 3 back, but unlike the Resurrection Run...I opted to slow it back a bit in the first 800m, so that I had something at the end. And it worked out.

You know, in my bathroom, there on my mirror is a sticky note. Its been taped there for about 8 weeks now. On it, it simple says : 28:30

Now as I said, I was always going to be happy if I hit 29:30 but secretly...yeah, I wanted that 28:30 by June 1.

Will I get it? I dont know.

But I tell you one thing... I CERTAINLY didnt think I was going to go sub 29 today. No way. No how. I wasn't even contemplating it. Not even a little. But man o man...how happy was I? You have no idea.

So was it the shoes? At the most they would maybe take 8-10 sec off per mile ... I think it was a combination of hard work, determination, perserverance, training my ass off...and the will to get it done.

Its amazing what a person can do when they set their mind to it...

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What really sucks....Eh, you know never mind...It really doesn't matter. It just really doesn't matter.

You know, like in the movie....'things are never really what they seem..'

Boy ain't that the truth...

Its pointless really...pointless. Fighting a losing battle... eh, like I said....just anxious to get back to the running and the training...