I figured it anything was going to go south, it was going to happen here (even though I was running East). Here in this zone that I had never been before.
Well I sorta was there. Once. But only to mile 21. After that I didnt know.
I knew ABOUT where mile 21.5 was but where I thought it was, it wasnt.
I was in a bit of pain. I was in a bad mental place. I kept trying to think. Think. Think. It was here that I started thinking of people. People I love. And those that I dont love too. Hey you pull inspiration where you can find it.
Sorta like throwing darts at a picture of a boyfriend who is no more. Yeah him. Oh and him too. And lets not forget the her's. There were a few of them.
I wondered "where are the Striders?" "How much farther can it be?" I dont remember alot of hoopla on this stretch before reaching Shepherd. I too remember the Clif Shot place and thought, big whoop. :o)
And then FINALLY I can see the water station, and I thought, oh thank God for the Striders. I had made it to 21.5.
Here is where I dont remember much at all. I remember passing Starbucks and seeing my car. I bet you know what I was thinking. Yeah, that. But I didnt have my keys. Good thing too.
After that I dont remember running till I got to Allen Parkway, and even now I wonder where that time went? Had I seen any people? Were there any bands? What? Where? When? How?
Had I just ran through "the wall?"
Had I been beamed up to Allen Parkway somehow? Then I realize that no, no I hadnt because if I had I wouldnt be hurting so much. I had definitely gotten there with my own two feet, and my own two very tired legs.
I was walking here. I asked a woman what time it was and she told me 11:50 I think it was, and I looked at the inside of my left forearm and next to 24 it said 5:11. That meant I had time. I had time to walk. And walk I did. Yeah I knew if I kept running I would have a shot at 5:20, but right then and there, 10 minutes just didnt seem all that damn important to me. What if I didnt walk and then something went wrong in mile 24 or 25?
As I walked down the first of the underpasses, I thought "you are gonna run up these two damn hills". I took deep breaths and then I ran up the first hill.
And I ran up the second one too. I then saw a water station somewhere in there. What I knew was to be the last water station. It was here that there was Christy. Jumping up and down and yelling my name. Oh my goodness I love you to death Christy. Seriously. She walked with me for a bit and asked me what I needed. I believe my response was M&M's. There were no M&M's. I really wanted M&M's.
The only other real thing I remember was the smell of beer. There was a lot of people trying to give you beer. I passed without flinching. And then there all by herself a woman with oranges. I took a piece of orange and I swear it was the best orange in my whole life.
It was time for me to close the door on this thing. I had 2 freaking miles to go by God and unless I was gonna drop dead there on Allen Parkway I was going to get there on time.
And I started running again....As I ran under I-45, the non-existent 5:30 pacer passed me, carrying his red, white and blue balloons. Oh THERE you are you sneaky little fart. I then realized I had stayed WELL ahead of that group even with my walking that 23rd mile.
I did good huh?
And as I entered downtown, following the man with the pretty balloons, I allowed myself to cry just a little bit...
to be continued...
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Monday, January 15, 2007
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (Miles 10-19)
I had been here before.
A few times. Most of them not on this particular course, but thanks to the Striders LLR I had indeed been through this section once.
And now, twice. Its a rough section to be sure, but in that rough section there sure was a lot of good stuff too!
In the beginning there, once I passed the turnaround I remember thinking how quickly the rest had come and gone. Literally. It seemed surreal to me that I was already at that part of the course that I had just done 3 weeks before. It was familiar to me, and anyone that knows me knows that I truly love a familiar course, even if it had only been once, it helps me. I like to know landmarks. I like familiarity.
As I said this section had a lot of the good stuff, and by stuff I mean the spectators! Oh my goodness! As I was running down Main, there in the median were the church go-ers with their palm leaves and a sign that said "Communion Ahead". Then there was the priest and his holy water. As I was running to the right more or less, I made my way across to the left because I figured "Hey it cant hurt, splash me with the Holy Water." Then I opted out of Communion, because well, I had never eaten a Communion wafer during a run, and you know the rule: Dont eat anything you havent tried before for fear of messing something up. Like your pants. :o)
So after running down University and all the frat parties going on outside, we crossed over Kirby and there it was that I saw a sight to behold. For blocks and blocks and blocks through that neighborhood each front yard next to the sidewalk were flag pole holders that held a very large American flag. It was an amazing sight to see.
But in the back of mind there was the ever-looming thought that soon I would turn on Westpark and immediately see "the hill".
Somewhere during this part was also the mariachis and the dancing Spanish ladies! That I loved!
And then it happened. I could see highway 59 just in front of me, and I remember distinctly as we came to the corner to turn I said to one girl next to me "here it comes" and then I heard her say "oh my God". Obviously she had never run this course, nor had she driven it.
There was a water stop there and as I did with every water stop I took Gatorade. I closed my eyes, took a couple of deep breaths and started up the hill. At the top there was this huge balloon like pylon blowing in the breeze. Must. Get. To. Pylon. And I did. At the bottom there was another water stop. Wow those were close together.
Once I got on Post Oak and closer to Westheimer I knew it wouldnt be long till I could see a familiar face. Eric. But it was also here that the Westpark Hill caught up with me. I began to feel very hot. And very nauseous. And tired. It was mile 16.5. This was the bad. I managed to reel it in and as I turned the corner I was searching the crowd for Eric. He was not there. I kept going, thinking first how I was going to kill him, 2nd how could he have let me down and 3rd how I was going to kill him. But then, there he was. A huge smile on his face and the biggest bottle of blue Powerade one could hope for. I stopped and said ok, heres the deal: you are going to take all this shit from me, as I took my waist pack off, took the money and the gu's out and my last 3 ibuprofen ( I had taken 3 before I left the house and then 3 more sometime um, I cant remember) which I quickly downed with the Powerade. I had my gloves in my pockets, and my arm sleeves and earband tied around the belt. Those 3 things had quickly come off before I even had hit mile 2.
And then I was off again. And it was time for Tanglewood and the longest mile I had ever done in the LLR. It was here that I saw alot of ugly. At the medic station there were ALOT of people down. Covered in mylar blankets, some with their shoes off, some laying in the grass and one of the cute A&M corp dudes puking on the side of the road.
To a runner, it looked like a war zone. I wondered how much longer before I might find myself in a similiar situation. And then I quickly put that thought out of my mind.
I also remember thinking how "pretty" the mylar blankets were. All shiny and silver. I like shiny and silver. Alot. But I know I didnt want one of those, because getting one of those meant I would end up with a DNF. You keep your silver, shiny, pretty blanket. I wanted a big shiny silver medal around my neck. I wanted BLING!!!
I kept going. And surprisingly the mile was not that long the second time around. I quickly got over the war zone I had just seen as I passed through what I call the "pink zone". Lots and lots of signs in pink with photos and messages for those suffering or who had died with breast cancer. I tried to read as many of them as I could as I passed by thanking God for my health and thanking Him for allowing me to run.
As I turned onto Woodway I briefly remembered that I had just run through a mini-wall I think back there at 16.5. And I have Eric to thank for that.
Then as I approached Loop 610, there were the belly dancing women.....
to be continued...
A few times. Most of them not on this particular course, but thanks to the Striders LLR I had indeed been through this section once.
And now, twice. Its a rough section to be sure, but in that rough section there sure was a lot of good stuff too!
In the beginning there, once I passed the turnaround I remember thinking how quickly the rest had come and gone. Literally. It seemed surreal to me that I was already at that part of the course that I had just done 3 weeks before. It was familiar to me, and anyone that knows me knows that I truly love a familiar course, even if it had only been once, it helps me. I like to know landmarks. I like familiarity.
As I said this section had a lot of the good stuff, and by stuff I mean the spectators! Oh my goodness! As I was running down Main, there in the median were the church go-ers with their palm leaves and a sign that said "Communion Ahead". Then there was the priest and his holy water. As I was running to the right more or less, I made my way across to the left because I figured "Hey it cant hurt, splash me with the Holy Water." Then I opted out of Communion, because well, I had never eaten a Communion wafer during a run, and you know the rule: Dont eat anything you havent tried before for fear of messing something up. Like your pants. :o)
So after running down University and all the frat parties going on outside, we crossed over Kirby and there it was that I saw a sight to behold. For blocks and blocks and blocks through that neighborhood each front yard next to the sidewalk were flag pole holders that held a very large American flag. It was an amazing sight to see.
But in the back of mind there was the ever-looming thought that soon I would turn on Westpark and immediately see "the hill".
Somewhere during this part was also the mariachis and the dancing Spanish ladies! That I loved!
And then it happened. I could see highway 59 just in front of me, and I remember distinctly as we came to the corner to turn I said to one girl next to me "here it comes" and then I heard her say "oh my God". Obviously she had never run this course, nor had she driven it.
There was a water stop there and as I did with every water stop I took Gatorade. I closed my eyes, took a couple of deep breaths and started up the hill. At the top there was this huge balloon like pylon blowing in the breeze. Must. Get. To. Pylon. And I did. At the bottom there was another water stop. Wow those were close together.
Once I got on Post Oak and closer to Westheimer I knew it wouldnt be long till I could see a familiar face. Eric. But it was also here that the Westpark Hill caught up with me. I began to feel very hot. And very nauseous. And tired. It was mile 16.5. This was the bad. I managed to reel it in and as I turned the corner I was searching the crowd for Eric. He was not there. I kept going, thinking first how I was going to kill him, 2nd how could he have let me down and 3rd how I was going to kill him. But then, there he was. A huge smile on his face and the biggest bottle of blue Powerade one could hope for. I stopped and said ok, heres the deal: you are going to take all this shit from me, as I took my waist pack off, took the money and the gu's out and my last 3 ibuprofen ( I had taken 3 before I left the house and then 3 more sometime um, I cant remember) which I quickly downed with the Powerade. I had my gloves in my pockets, and my arm sleeves and earband tied around the belt. Those 3 things had quickly come off before I even had hit mile 2.
And then I was off again. And it was time for Tanglewood and the longest mile I had ever done in the LLR. It was here that I saw alot of ugly. At the medic station there were ALOT of people down. Covered in mylar blankets, some with their shoes off, some laying in the grass and one of the cute A&M corp dudes puking on the side of the road.
To a runner, it looked like a war zone. I wondered how much longer before I might find myself in a similiar situation. And then I quickly put that thought out of my mind.
I also remember thinking how "pretty" the mylar blankets were. All shiny and silver. I like shiny and silver. Alot. But I know I didnt want one of those, because getting one of those meant I would end up with a DNF. You keep your silver, shiny, pretty blanket. I wanted a big shiny silver medal around my neck. I wanted BLING!!!
I kept going. And surprisingly the mile was not that long the second time around. I quickly got over the war zone I had just seen as I passed through what I call the "pink zone". Lots and lots of signs in pink with photos and messages for those suffering or who had died with breast cancer. I tried to read as many of them as I could as I passed by thanking God for my health and thanking Him for allowing me to run.
As I turned onto Woodway I briefly remembered that I had just run through a mini-wall I think back there at 16.5. And I have Eric to thank for that.
Then as I approached Loop 610, there were the belly dancing women.....
to be continued...
The Big Easy (Miles 1-9)
I am going to break this bitch down in manageable sections; mainly because I dont feel like writing for hours and I am sure that alot of you would rather have it this way as well.
Let me preface this by saying that the conditions werent perfect, but it could have been worse. It was about 50deg and um....yeah, about 90% humidity as the leading edge of the arctic blast was upon us. Thankfully it never did rain the entire time but running through that soupy mess was tough, and that was apparent by seeing those around me and what it was doing to them, and then learning later on just how badly it affected some of my dearest friends.
I must also say that no matter how many times you run 18, 20 or 21 miles nothing really prepares you for a marathon and the feelings that envelope you from time to time throughout the course.
At the start I lined up in the second corral smack dab in the middle of the 5:00 and 5:30 pace groups. I figured the 5:30 folks would eventually catch up to me and I would settle in nicely with them.
So here we go with the big easy, otherwise known as miles 1 through 9. Where you think ha ha ha, this is so easy, and so much fun. Its so cool. How much fun am I having?
I was most sad that when we started over the Elysian Aquaduct bridge (the first 2 miles) that I wasnt able to see the sunrise I had read about from others in years past. However I have run that sucker a time or two and with so many people in front, behind and beside you, you really forget you are going uphill. Its hard to actually see the hill almost...Then once you hit the top and are on the way back down, you see a sea of people below you and everyone just bob, bob, bobbing along. I took a deep breath and took all of that in. I was a part of something that I had only dreamed of.
Then you see all the guys running off to the leading edge of the woods to PEE and dart back into the masses. Jealous. I wish I could do that!
As you come down the bridge on the other side you find yourself smack dab in the middle of the barrio. A place where you dont go at night, at least I sure wouldnt. It was funny to see this one run down house with about 5 guys yelling spanish and drinking Bud Light. Go figure.
One thing about being at the back of the pack so to speak is that you get the full advantage of the crowds as they wake up and make their way to the place on the race course where they are going to cheer people on. I cant remember a time where there wasnt a group of people yelling and screaming for everyone as they went by. Then there were those groups of people that I saw time and time again as I suspect whoever they were waiting for at several locations were somewhere close to me. Behind me obviously.
Once we got into the Heights area, around mile 4 I had to pee. Already? I never have to pee!! I ran past some porta potties and the lines were only like 3 deep so I made the decision to do it now. I didnt think I could wait for the next ones and it was uncomfortable. I probably lost 2 minutes there and I was already still trying to catch up on the pacers who were still calling 13 something and I was trying to get to the point where I was at 12:30...I cant remember when that actually happened but it was probably around mile 6 or so.
As we went through the mat at the 6.2 mark and went down a slight hill, the overpass had a bunch of people dressed up like chickens and held a big sign that read: If you were doing the Conoco Rodeo 10K Run You'd be done by now!
Thanks.
Oh and to the guys dressed up like desperate housewives in the Heights you were HILARIOUS!!
As I was into mile 7 I started thinking where is that 5:30 pacer? Then when I thought about it I figured since I was clipping along at 12:27/12:30 they were still a bit behind me. I was managing to keep Felix Lugo and his big ass American Flag he carries in my sight and that gave me something to hang onto.
We were of course still merged with the half marathoners and that made it ok cause there were still alot of people around and you didnt seem so alone.
It wasnt long before I saw the huge pylon that said Half Turnaround, and it was there, the first time that I thought to myself..."crap. I wish I was doing the Half Marathon."....
and as I passed that pylon on by, it was there also that I thought, well here we go....its all up to you now.
to be continued....
Let me preface this by saying that the conditions werent perfect, but it could have been worse. It was about 50deg and um....yeah, about 90% humidity as the leading edge of the arctic blast was upon us. Thankfully it never did rain the entire time but running through that soupy mess was tough, and that was apparent by seeing those around me and what it was doing to them, and then learning later on just how badly it affected some of my dearest friends.
I must also say that no matter how many times you run 18, 20 or 21 miles nothing really prepares you for a marathon and the feelings that envelope you from time to time throughout the course.
At the start I lined up in the second corral smack dab in the middle of the 5:00 and 5:30 pace groups. I figured the 5:30 folks would eventually catch up to me and I would settle in nicely with them.
So here we go with the big easy, otherwise known as miles 1 through 9. Where you think ha ha ha, this is so easy, and so much fun. Its so cool. How much fun am I having?
I was most sad that when we started over the Elysian Aquaduct bridge (the first 2 miles) that I wasnt able to see the sunrise I had read about from others in years past. However I have run that sucker a time or two and with so many people in front, behind and beside you, you really forget you are going uphill. Its hard to actually see the hill almost...Then once you hit the top and are on the way back down, you see a sea of people below you and everyone just bob, bob, bobbing along. I took a deep breath and took all of that in. I was a part of something that I had only dreamed of.
Then you see all the guys running off to the leading edge of the woods to PEE and dart back into the masses. Jealous. I wish I could do that!
As you come down the bridge on the other side you find yourself smack dab in the middle of the barrio. A place where you dont go at night, at least I sure wouldnt. It was funny to see this one run down house with about 5 guys yelling spanish and drinking Bud Light. Go figure.
One thing about being at the back of the pack so to speak is that you get the full advantage of the crowds as they wake up and make their way to the place on the race course where they are going to cheer people on. I cant remember a time where there wasnt a group of people yelling and screaming for everyone as they went by. Then there were those groups of people that I saw time and time again as I suspect whoever they were waiting for at several locations were somewhere close to me. Behind me obviously.
Once we got into the Heights area, around mile 4 I had to pee. Already? I never have to pee!! I ran past some porta potties and the lines were only like 3 deep so I made the decision to do it now. I didnt think I could wait for the next ones and it was uncomfortable. I probably lost 2 minutes there and I was already still trying to catch up on the pacers who were still calling 13 something and I was trying to get to the point where I was at 12:30...I cant remember when that actually happened but it was probably around mile 6 or so.
As we went through the mat at the 6.2 mark and went down a slight hill, the overpass had a bunch of people dressed up like chickens and held a big sign that read: If you were doing the Conoco Rodeo 10K Run You'd be done by now!
Thanks.
Oh and to the guys dressed up like desperate housewives in the Heights you were HILARIOUS!!
As I was into mile 7 I started thinking where is that 5:30 pacer? Then when I thought about it I figured since I was clipping along at 12:27/12:30 they were still a bit behind me. I was managing to keep Felix Lugo and his big ass American Flag he carries in my sight and that gave me something to hang onto.
We were of course still merged with the half marathoners and that made it ok cause there were still alot of people around and you didnt seem so alone.
It wasnt long before I saw the huge pylon that said Half Turnaround, and it was there, the first time that I thought to myself..."crap. I wish I was doing the Half Marathon."....
and as I passed that pylon on by, it was there also that I thought, well here we go....its all up to you now.
to be continued....
Sunday, January 14, 2007
I. AM. A. MARATHONER. (First Marathon Basic Info)
10K - 1:16:27
Half - 2:39:53
30K - 3:50:05
Finish time - 5:33:10
Average Pace - 12:42
I was on target for a sub 5:30 but I walked ALL of mile 23 as I was ahead of the game and I felt like I needed the break to finish in the time that I wanted to. So I feel good that I came THAT close and even having walked all of that mile!
More details MUCH later...
Its time to relax a bit before I hit some beer with M!!!!
Half - 2:39:53
30K - 3:50:05
Finish time - 5:33:10
Average Pace - 12:42
I was on target for a sub 5:30 but I walked ALL of mile 23 as I was ahead of the game and I felt like I needed the break to finish in the time that I wanted to. So I feel good that I came THAT close and even having walked all of that mile!
More details MUCH later...
Its time to relax a bit before I hit some beer with M!!!!
Monday, October 30, 2006
So Here We Go....My First Ever Half Marathon
Yeah I'm a slacker blogger; but hey cut me some slack. I just ran a 1/2 marathon yesterday!
I am not even sure where to begin, or how much to say, or what not say. I even contemplated not writing anything but figured I probably couldnt get away with that.
In a nutshell though I do believe I did everything right. From eating all the right things and plenty of them on Friday, to two really great nights of sleep on Friday and Saturday. To not running since Wednesday (well I threw in a short 2 miler on Saturday morning), to not overthinking the situation.
Well I probably did overthink the situation a bit too much a time or two but thats to be expected. I was a bit apprehensive on Saturday evening. I hadnt ever ran 13.1 miles before.
I had done 12.2 though. Once.
But I had alot of 10 milers in me and the book (and many others) say 10 is enough.
So there ya go. Quit thinking about it.
I of course woke up extra early on Sunday morning but didnt feel the repercussions of that since we had the "fall back", so I was well rested. Had myself an oatmeal creme pie, a few ibuprofen and off I went.
As I walked outside I knew the temps were at 50 or so. I had secretly hoped for another cold front to push down and send the temps to 45 but I did not get that wish.
I met Vic at the parking lot near the Start/Finish and we picked up chips. We set off from there to store our stuff and walked over to the Koala tent for a professional to loosen us up. I had never stretched that well before and hoped that I wouldnt regret it. I hear some people dont like to stretch that well, but I must say I wonder if thats what helped me be so strong through the entire 13.1 miles or was it that I had just done everything I possibly could have and I got the job done?
I usually have a hard time the first 3 miles but not today. The first loop only took us down and up one of the "hills" on Allen Parkway and I was relieved when I saw the upfront runners going off to the right at Waugh...Yay!
Once I passed the area of the Start again and going into mile 4 lo and behold if it wasnt 3 of my dear friends standing in the middle of Allen Parkway! I had known that Renee was going to try and make it, but I didnt expect Allison and Meredith. They were screaming my name, holding up posters of some of the best looking musicians...From Reckless Kelly and Micky and the Motorcars! Pictures to follow. Off I went with a big smile on my face because now I knew I got to see them a few more times and I knew where they were and that kept me going.
I knew this stretch was going to be tough, but once I made the turn at Shephard going back towards Downtown I had numbers in my head. Every time I went by the pace callers I was always on target between 11:30 and 11:45. I was doing alright.
The temps were still low and there was shade still to be found. As I came up on the girls again, I was close to being on my last loop, coming up to mile 9 after them and I knew I had it. I wasnt sweating, I wasnt tired and I still had plenty of gas.
I stopped this time for hugs from them and a few photo shots as well. As I got back on my way I knew it was now or never to get a pee in. :O) I raced off the street to the ports and I swear that was the fastest pee ever. I came barreling out of those ports and caught the person that I had been running with before heading off. No time lost there. I had tried to go earlier but the ports were both occupied and I wasnt waiting around, no sirree Bob!
When I got to the end of mile 10 I saw the clock and it was at 1:54 which is a minute less than what I ran Clear Lake 10 Miler. Plus I knew that it had taken me a couple of minutes to cross the Start.
Thats when I started wondering can I do this in a sub 2:30??? That would be even cooler than me getting it done in 2:35 which was my goal, and I wasnt going to settle for anything over 2:40. It just wasnt going to happen like that.
The last 3 miles were all sun. Sun in my face. But I didnt give a damn. I knew the girls wouldnt be in their spot this go round but had gone up to the Finish line to wave me in... But once I did hit that spot where they had been I knew I was almost home. I didnt know where I stood on time at that point. I had the Garmin on but it was telling me pace and giving me my interval beeps of which I ignored about half the time and just ran slower through the 1's instead of walking the 1 minute that I was allowing myself every 6 minutes.
I knew that I had just run 13 miles of my first half marathon and that my legs were strong, my lungs were strong and my mind was very, very clear. I knew that I had .1 to go and I could hear the people cheering up ahead.
Then I saw the Finish line. I remember passing a few people. I remember Erica first...at the Finish yelling my name. I just love her! I remember the girls. I remember a poster I had not yet seen about "the strongest woman we know". I remember a male version of Go June, but not knowing who it was till long after that. Thank you BFG :O)
I remember the clock saying 2:33 and some change and I knew that maybe, just maybe it would come in under the 2:30....but it didnt. And thats ok.
Official Time: 2:31:13
It was over. Just like that 3 months of hard work had just paid off.
I had completely rocked my first half.
Visiting with everyone was so great afterwards, but my thoughts started drifting towards bed. And a shower. So I left the park that morning, posters in my arms, and a smile on my face. I made a few phone calls on the way home, to M, to mom with my success.
I slept like a lamb for a few hours and when I woke up my thoughts turned only to January.
Blister update: all is well. Its basically gone with absolutely no pain. I think that maybe BFG has something when he says that he thinks beer speeds recovery time...
I hope to post pictures sometime in the next day or so. Oh and before I forget, the Striders kicked some serious ass in organization on this race. Amazing! Gu's at loads of stops, water and gatorade at each...I mean really, they just outdid themselves and I am proud to be a member!
Sunday, October 15, 2006
(Not So) Clear Lake and a Distance PR - Space City Alliance 10 Miler
Well not really a distance PR in training, but definately a distance PR in official races. 10 miles at the Space City 10 Miler this morning in, as I said, (not so) Clear Lake.
Why the not so? Because well it was a very wet race this morning. I got to the race site just about an hour before the gun, and a couple of times the skies opened up and dumped alot of rain on us. Thank goodness for the Strider tent as we huddled up under as the rest of the crowd would run when the rain would start falling heavily. It was just a sprinkle as we headed for the start line about 5 minutes before.
At least we knew it was going to be completely overcast for the entire route and the rain was going to come again, sooner than later. I had watched Weather Channel before I headed out and it doesnt take a genius to see what was in store for us.
I dont really remember too many things about the race itself because while yes I had done 10 miles several times, this was different. I couldnt let anything get in the way of me doing well. This just wasnt a training run. Well, yeah I could have run faster, I know this, but I was too scared to do anything out of the ordinary for fear of bonking, and ending up with something that I couldnt live with.
Cassie found me before the start and she ended up running the first mile with me before heading on ahead to catch up to Sarah who was doing the relay. Later I found out that Cassie would only be several minutes in front of me the whole way, as was Jon. We all finished within a few minutes of each other. I had my watch set on 6/1's, but I ignored several of them, including the first one on mile 1. I had not ever done 6/1's for a 10 miler, but I knew it would be ok.
After that I dont remember much till I crossed the mat at the halfway mark. It was 58 and some change so I knew to take off a minute off of that since because of my starting point at the beginning. Ok I can take that, however I knew I was doing that during training runs and well this wasnt to be a training run. Well sorta, but not really.
I was always in a clump of people, the same ones off and on. Some would pass me, then I would pass them and so it went. Just after we started mile 8 I caught up with another girl in pink (I was in pink as well; thank you PG cap to match my pink shirt), and who I had seen off and on, all by herself. She was walking and I said to her "come on, lets go". And she did. Right about that time I heard a guy yelling from the back (who was pacing some girls in front of me) "here IT comes!"...and I heard this rumbling like the trees to our left were being pushed by something like wind...and then it hit.
A deluge of rain just freaking poured down! And poured. And poured. For about a mile or so. The girl in pink had no cap and she was having a hard time. Her longest run to date had been 6 miles and never had run in the rain, especially not the type we were getting at that time.
"Put your head down and just go". That was the only advice I could give her. And I did the same thing. As we made a right turn we were then running in water that was ankle deep as the rain was coming down so hard and so fast that the street on the right was flooding. Keep. Going.
Just. keep. going.
It was also during mile 8 where I started passing quite a few people. And they never would pass me again. I was even passing some men, and well sorry fellas, but that makes a girl smile when she passes you men! People were starting to bonk and to just be over the distance and the elements I suppose.
We were in last mile and the rain had let up and when I saw the 15K marker, I knew it was going to be close.
I wanted under 2 hours, but secretly I wanted 1:55. I didnt know my time so far as my intervals were just that, and didnt want to take the time to go through the buttons on the Garmin to see total time at that point. I did the math in my head going by the number of intervals I had completed and I knew I would be cutting it close. As it was I was off on my multiplication and I did come in at "unofficially" 1:55 and some change. (Update: official chip time 1:55:36)
Yes, I could have probaby shaved off a couple of minutes, but I just didnt want to chance it, which I should have a time or two to just put a little extra steam in my step, especially not knowing what my time was. I could have just as easily came in over 2 hours, but I got lucky this go round. :O) An average pace of 11:30ish is not something I want to do again for a 1o miler. Next time I will be going for a PR for sure. I will shave off those minutes (God willing and the creek dont rise :O)
So to all the bloggers and all the Striders (and to one guy at BCRR), thanks for a great morning.
Rain or no rain it was one helluva good time this morning!
Why the not so? Because well it was a very wet race this morning. I got to the race site just about an hour before the gun, and a couple of times the skies opened up and dumped alot of rain on us. Thank goodness for the Strider tent as we huddled up under as the rest of the crowd would run when the rain would start falling heavily. It was just a sprinkle as we headed for the start line about 5 minutes before.
At least we knew it was going to be completely overcast for the entire route and the rain was going to come again, sooner than later. I had watched Weather Channel before I headed out and it doesnt take a genius to see what was in store for us.
I dont really remember too many things about the race itself because while yes I had done 10 miles several times, this was different. I couldnt let anything get in the way of me doing well. This just wasnt a training run. Well, yeah I could have run faster, I know this, but I was too scared to do anything out of the ordinary for fear of bonking, and ending up with something that I couldnt live with.
Cassie found me before the start and she ended up running the first mile with me before heading on ahead to catch up to Sarah who was doing the relay. Later I found out that Cassie would only be several minutes in front of me the whole way, as was Jon. We all finished within a few minutes of each other. I had my watch set on 6/1's, but I ignored several of them, including the first one on mile 1. I had not ever done 6/1's for a 10 miler, but I knew it would be ok.
After that I dont remember much till I crossed the mat at the halfway mark. It was 58 and some change so I knew to take off a minute off of that since because of my starting point at the beginning. Ok I can take that, however I knew I was doing that during training runs and well this wasnt to be a training run. Well sorta, but not really.
I was always in a clump of people, the same ones off and on. Some would pass me, then I would pass them and so it went. Just after we started mile 8 I caught up with another girl in pink (I was in pink as well; thank you PG cap to match my pink shirt), and who I had seen off and on, all by herself. She was walking and I said to her "come on, lets go". And she did. Right about that time I heard a guy yelling from the back (who was pacing some girls in front of me) "here IT comes!"...and I heard this rumbling like the trees to our left were being pushed by something like wind...and then it hit.
A deluge of rain just freaking poured down! And poured. And poured. For about a mile or so. The girl in pink had no cap and she was having a hard time. Her longest run to date had been 6 miles and never had run in the rain, especially not the type we were getting at that time.
"Put your head down and just go". That was the only advice I could give her. And I did the same thing. As we made a right turn we were then running in water that was ankle deep as the rain was coming down so hard and so fast that the street on the right was flooding. Keep. Going.
Just. keep. going.
It was also during mile 8 where I started passing quite a few people. And they never would pass me again. I was even passing some men, and well sorry fellas, but that makes a girl smile when she passes you men! People were starting to bonk and to just be over the distance and the elements I suppose.
We were in last mile and the rain had let up and when I saw the 15K marker, I knew it was going to be close.
I wanted under 2 hours, but secretly I wanted 1:55. I didnt know my time so far as my intervals were just that, and didnt want to take the time to go through the buttons on the Garmin to see total time at that point. I did the math in my head going by the number of intervals I had completed and I knew I would be cutting it close. As it was I was off on my multiplication and I did come in at "unofficially" 1:55 and some change. (Update: official chip time 1:55:36)
Yes, I could have probaby shaved off a couple of minutes, but I just didnt want to chance it, which I should have a time or two to just put a little extra steam in my step, especially not knowing what my time was. I could have just as easily came in over 2 hours, but I got lucky this go round. :O) An average pace of 11:30ish is not something I want to do again for a 1o miler. Next time I will be going for a PR for sure. I will shave off those minutes (God willing and the creek dont rise :O)
So to all the bloggers and all the Striders (and to one guy at BCRR), thanks for a great morning.
Rain or no rain it was one helluva good time this morning!
Wednesday, October 4, 2006
#1002
That's my bib number for my first half marathon.
I tried and tried to figure out some significance in the numbers, but couldn't. I came close to one. If it would have been #1003 it would have been easy.
10/03 ... which was yesterday's date. A date which carries with it memories of my father. So its close enough that I will have thoughts of him on the day of the race. As if it would have been any different from any other day. But I like to find significance in everything, so there ya go.
Now I just have to get my people list in order. One mile of the race per person to thank or just commemerate the mile with their spirit.
That's my bib number for my first half marathon.
I tried and tried to figure out some significance in the numbers, but couldn't. I came close to one. If it would have been #1003 it would have been easy.
10/03 ... which was yesterday's date. A date which carries with it memories of my father. So its close enough that I will have thoughts of him on the day of the race. As if it would have been any different from any other day. But I like to find significance in everything, so there ya go.
Now I just have to get my people list in order. One mile of the race per person to thank or just commemerate the mile with their spirit.
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