March 30th, 2008 -- Posted in just because, race |
This race was one I THOUGHT was going to be a 5k then turned out to be an 8k. Oops, my bad!
The plan was that I would meet up with all the gang at the Starbucks near Grant Park and we would head over to the starting line to run together. I, of course, was running really late. I wanted/needed more sleep. So Ivan and I ended up driving down instead of taking the CTA.
We were cutting it close and in the growing crowd I didn’t think it wise to spend too much time looking for the group. I squeezed into corral D that I had qualified for in some other race I ran and was happy to be there. It was a PACKED course. I mean, it sort of looked like the marathon!
The gun went off and we made our way slowly to the starting line. I ran into Brad and he and I ran together. Bradly is incredible fast and it was great to run with him. We had to weave our way in and out of the runners that were slower than we were in order to keep our (Brad’s) target time. The goal was to do it around 8 1/2 minute miles…really, I just wanted to do the 5 miles in 45 minutes, if I achieved that I was going to be happy.
I saw Ivan at a couple of spots on the course which is ALWAYS kick ass awesome and I was happy to keep going strong even after I had trailed behind Brad. I kept going and was trying to keep a steady pace.
I walked a little through the water stations but pretty much ran straight through. When we got to Michigan Ave where we turn south to Roosevelt I saw Ivan again! SURPRISE!!! It was great to see him there because I was feeling a little tired, and that slight incline at Roosevelt REALLY kills me!
I made my way to the turn and forged ahead on that damn incline. MAN, I hate that part. The crowds were great, everyone yelling “GO RUNNERS” which is the coolest thing while running. I turned the final corner onto the straight away and let me tell you, my legs just wanted to stop!
I got about 400 meters away and felt like I was slowing down a little or at least not pushing forward really hard like I usually do. THEN, out of the corner of my eye, I see this guy to my left TRYING TO PASS ME!!! FUCKER! NO WAY MAN! Really that little bit of threat was all I needed to move my ass into motion.
I lifted my knees and pulled with my arms and left him in the dust of my speed. I was really pleased too because I ended up passing quite a few people right at the end.
In the end I was a little nervous because I thought I might have missed my goal time of 45 minutes. I was sad to have thought I might not have made it in my time goal but happy to have ended on such a strong note.
I am happy to announce that I did better than my goal time…MUCH better! My chip time was 42:22!!! WOO HOO!!! That’s an 8:30 minute mile. HELL YEAH!!!
All I can say is that I was so excited with my end time I forgot how COLD I was immediately following the race. I had sweat during the run then stood out in the 50 degree weather where I coughed a few times like a smoker!
All in all, it was a great race, great fun and I had a really good time doing it. OH YEAH, and a set a new PR for an 8k!!!
Mission accomplished!!!
March 2nd, 2008 -- Posted in race |
Today was my first race of the season, and it went GREAT! I’m not sure, but I think it might be my fastest 5K time since I started running two seasons ago, and considering that I’ve only run about 8 times total since last October, I think that is QUITE an accomplishment!
I’m really excited people. This race was a lot of fun. I woke up around 7 but stayed in bed until 8 when my alarm was set to go off, but then of course got sleepy again and snoozed until 8:40AM. I finally jumped out of bed and tried to get ready. I was running late and didn’t leave my apartment until 9:20 which had me pretty nervous about getting down to the loop in time and finding parking before the race started.
I got down there and was parked with about 15 minutes before race time (you do the math…basically I FLEW down LSD and then Wacker and then Madison…). I ran in and got my timing chip and was all ready to go. On my way into get my chip I ran into Christina (work associate) and her boyfriend Jeff (who’s a bad ass runner guy) but never saw them the rest of the day.
I got in the line up and felt pretty good. I had eaten a banana and granola bars and had some water. I felt a little hungry, but more or less good. The weather was PERFECT. Cool, so long sleeve under armor was great, and pants too, but I didn’t need lots of layers like I did for yesterdays run. The sun was shining but not making it too hot, perfect weather with little to no breeze.
The buzzer went off and we started moving. I crossed the start about 20 seconds into the race I figured but had no way of knowing because I DIDN’T run with my iPod or my watch. I felt so naked without knowing the time.
I had to just run it. And so I did, but I started out too fast. I think the first mile was at about 8:10 and then the second mile was a little slower. Once I got to mile 2 and saw the clock said 17 and change, I thought, well hell, maybe I can do this puppy in 27 minutes (which would have put me at 9 minute miles). I decided that was the goal and to just try to keep my pace even.
I didn’t walk at all this run, I just ran through the whole thing.
I was starting to get a little tired, but more from my adrenaline waring out than anything else, when we finally turned the last corner and I could see the finish line. I could ALSO see the official time clock saying something about the time being 25 minutes and change. I was VERY excited.
I knew I could make it in under 27 minutes and that had me feeling really good. I started to push a little harder at the end like I try to always do. Then I noticed some guy was trying to pass me and since I would have none of that I pushed it even harder (which I didn’t know I could have done until that moment) and wouldn’t let him get in front of me!!! When I crossed the clock said 26:20 or something. I was very pleased.
I don’t have my official time on me, but I think that I actually finished under 26 minutes which puts me at running 8:20 minute miles for the race.
AWESOME! That is a GREAT pace man! If I could keep that up for a marathon (not yet man…not this season, don’t think that is at ALL humanly possibly with my work & school loads) I would be able to do a marathon in 3:38:29 which WILL be bad ass…cause that’s Boston qualifying…but we’ll save that for later.
What I REALLY want to be able to do is run 9 minute miles for the marathon which would have me finish it in about 4 hours…which would be a good 41 minutes FASTER than my first marathon time. WOO HOO! And that would also put me 30 minutes faster than my second marathon time.
This is the year people! The goal is to run a marathon in 4 hours to 4:15:00. I would feel REALLY good about that. I think it’s possible if I get good about the cross training and keeping up with my maintenance runs.
BUT ANYWAY..I digress away from the Wacky 5K run today!
So I was pleased with my time and I felt REALLY good…had worked up a sweat, but wasn’t too winded, probably could have pushed it just a tab bit faster, but am glad that I didn’t.
I went inside to collect my goodies…oh yes, THIS RACE IS GREAT BECAUSE OF THE POST RACE GOODIES they give you!!! I got a bag and then I got to fill that bag up with a box of Rice Crispies, a box of Kellogg’s Granola with Raisins (yummy), about 6 various Kellogg’s snack and morning or protein bars, a huge Fuze sports drink, bananas, Keebler cookies (I got the fudge filled ones), a pack of Altoids wintergreen gum, a pack of Extra Cool Green Apple gum, Snyder’s of Hanover pretzels, a United Airline plush toy (I took one for the cats), PIECES OF PIZZA from some local pizza place (which tasted so awesome I almost went back and got a second piece) and finally a Nike DriFit baseball cap!
Dude, they talk about the swag you get at conventions…but THIS was awesome. Definitely one of the best grab bags I’ve seen. Not to mention that when you picked up your race packet you got goodies in there as well. I got tons of Propel powder drink packets, a long sleeve Wacky 5K t-shirt and a full sized bottle of waterproof SPF 15 sunscreen!
I’m telling you, for one of the more expensive races (this one was $30 if you registered before race day) it was a REALLY great deal. And the Blind Service Association was the benefactors of the race, so it was awesome to support a really great cause.
There is something so inspiring and utterly magical about seeing blind runners on the course (usually whizzing past me like it’s no big deal to run that quickly let alone being blind!)
I sat down to enjoy my snacks (yum) and met two other runners named Josh and Mark (with a K, not a C). Both of these guys were really cool and we had a great time talking. I was telling them how they REALLY need to run a marathon and it’s best if you train with a group…of course I put in my good words for the AIDS Marathon Foundation because WE ROCK SO MUCH, but really that any training group is better than none. They shared with me some awesome races that happen in the city that I am DESPERATE to get involved in! One is a half marathon with obstacles throughout it like running up the steps at Soldier Field and hurdling taxi cabs. AWESOME! Another one they mentioned has already slipped my mind, but it was like The Amazing Race only for one day in Chicago. I need to do that one as well.
ANYWAY…post race festivities were fun, I got to talk with some really cool athletes, munch on great snacks and watch tons of other runners win raffle prizes other than me! lol…I don’t think I’m EVER gonna win one of those ever illusive post race raffle prizes!
To wrap up…all in all, I’m very pleased with my performance for the race. I felt good, the weather was great and I just had a really good time from beginning to end (no pun intended, but clearly works as well!) I will post my official time as soon as I know it!
And for the record: I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS RACE!!!
March 2nd, 2008 -- Posted in Uncategorized |
I’ve got my first “race” of the season in a few hours…and I should be in bed…asleep…but I’m a littler nervous and have found procrastinating on the computer MUCH easier to do…so…
That’s silly and I know I should just GO TO BED, so I will…hopefully soon, and hopefully I’ll be able to sleep.
I swear, this past week has been so all over the place I’m just DRAINED…and it’s the freaken weekend! MY MY…what can a girl do right?! Hopefully the race will go well, be fun and I won’t be too slow!
Now, to get my clothes together for the race, figure out how to get there, pin my number on my jacket and go to bed. Oh yeah, and sleep…
Wish me luck!!!
March 1st, 2008 -- Posted in chicago lazyman, training |
Finally I’m getting back into the swing of at least doing my long runs.
It’s been hard this winter with the constant snowing and ice. Bleh, I’m SO BEYOND OVER IT. I’ve been in big time hibernation mode, but finally that had to end and I know with this lazyman thing, I’ve REALLY got to get my ass in gear. SO…today I ran with Jamie, Trisha, Jeremy and Lara at Foster Ave. 8 miles at 8AM (which really meant 8:35AM).
It was fun because Lara is doing this thing for Downy (which you should check out) and she brought her video camera along to get some of us running on tape with her. I didn’t want to be in FRONT of the camera, so I was really excited to take over the filming part of it. Sadly, it ran out of battery only about 5 minutes into taping. I was just getting into my groove, but it was still fun trying to video while running along side of them myself! So long as the Downy editors have a program like Shake (which I’m more than sure they do), they will hopefully be able to use some of the footage of her doing her OTHER thing (that other thing being running instead of her usual thing which is being a bad ass fashion designer).
So we ran in the cold, and yes, it was cold at about 20 degree F. BLEH. BUT we kept at a pretty decent pace. I wasn’t looking to run too fast knowing that I’ve got my 5K tomorrow and I don’t want to burn out for that, but I didn’t want to be running too slow either.
This was, after all, the longest run I’ve done in AGES. Fortunately, I did well enough. I only had one knee compressor on (because I can’t find the other one) but both knees did held up like champs! Which is, of course, GREAT news! Let’s keep that going eh?
I’m not sure how long it took us to run since none of us had watches on, but it felt good to get the lungs and legs working again!
Anyway, 8 miles today, 6 miles the past couple of weeks…I’m still the lowest on the Lazyman but I plan on at least COMPLETING my portion!!! I’m slow a steady baby…slow and steady!!!
Here’s to warmer weather in our near future so that running outside won’t be so painful!
