This morning I woke up to a surprise – rain; steady rain, not a light mist or drizzle, real rain! Rain will drive some runners to the treadmill, or worse back to bed, but not this runner. This runner loves to run in the rain.
There is this wonderful metamorphosis that happens between the start and finish of a rain run and it never ceases to make me giddy to go through it.
Stepping out for a run when it is raining is a tremendous act of willpower. People run to get out of the rain; watch any city street or store parking lot while it is raining and everyone is running for cover. I am fighting those instincts when I purposefully step out in to the rain and that first step is a deliberate act of defiance. I will not give in to the urge to find someplace safe and dry and hunker down until this rain passes. However, there is still that first moment when my shoulders scrunch up to my ears and my eyes squint under the brim of my hat, which I pull down further on to my head. I know it is raining but I still want to fight it.
Then that moment passes and I take off on my run.
An autumn rain can be confusing because it isn’t quite as cold as I expect it to be but then again, it isn’t exactly warm like a late summer sprinkle. Although I’ve purposefully defied the rain by stepping in to and remaining in it to run, I still gingerly avoid the puddles. I jump over them. Shuffle from one side of the trail to the other around them. Rain is falling steadily from above and yet I still try to avoid it from below for as long as I can. Why?
Who knows? Who cares? Leaping over the puddles is fun and it quickly becomes a game. Can I make it over this one or should I run around? How high can I jump this time? “Weeeeee” is the sound going through my head as I sail over them and by the time I hit the turn around point, 2.5 miles out, I am thoroughly and completely soaked through and through, including the beginnings some very wet socks.
Up to this point, about three miles, I manage to keep my feet relatively dry. I navigate the puddles and the rain is steady but not hard. That all changes as I run up the twisty-turny hill around mile 3. It starts to pour as I run up the hill. Harder and harder it rains as I work harder and harder to get up this hill and by the time I make it to the top, every inch of me is not only wet but soaking, dripping wet. My socks are squishing inside my very wet shoes.
As I approach the next big puddle, assessing it for depth, length and circumference I realized that my efforts are futile. I may as well accept my wet fate and run through the puddle.
Once you give up on one puddle and run through it, the change is instantaneous and the next thing you know, you’re splashing through all of the rest. Two more miles of running, splashing, splishing, sploshing, and kicking up water. No, giving up isn’t correct. It is better described as giving in.
I gave in to the rain this morning and had a great time.
I finish my run with pools of water gathering in my rain shell (it stood no chance against this steady rain) and forming in my shoes. Peeling off my wet clothes as soon as I get in the house, I am truly happy to have been a part of this rainy morning.
Plus it feels pretty bad-ass to be out in the rain running an easy 5-miler. I bet all the people in their cars that I passed along the way thought I was absolutely batty.
Daily Dozen:
5 easy miles in the rain
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Jonas Cattell Run, Ten Mile Race - Haddonfield, NJ
Dreams aside, the Jonas Cattell Run, a ten-mile race in honor of Jonas Cattell’s October 22, 1777 run to warn American troops of the Hessian troops advancing on Fort Mercer, is an unlucky race for me. Two years ago I had to drop out at the four mile mark because of an injury I had going in to the race, possibly a stress fracture in my right foot, and admittedly I shouldn’t have even started the race. This year, I went in the race injury-free but everything seemed to be pitted against me – lack of sleep, lack of food, a rushed start, heat, and uneven pacing. I hated nearly every step of this race!
Some background on why I run this unlucky race (and why I’ll continue to run it): 21 years ago, my father and two of his brothers made a bet – the three of them would run the Jonas Cattell Run and the one who came across the finish line last would buy the other two a steak dinner. Nineteen years after than run, at a cousin’s wedding, memories of this race and this bet were discussed, dissected, shouted about, laughed about, and likely shouted about again. It was decided that the following year, 2008, on the twentieth anniversary of my Dad and Uncle’s run the next generation would take up the cause and some how I got involved in a bet as whether I could beat my oldest cousin – a Navy Reservist with a smoking habit. I was not the one who instigated this bet and I even fought against it initially but I admit that I got caught up and did some trash talking as the year went on. Leading up to the 2008 race, there was quite a bit of speculation as to how this would turn out. Unfortunately, I had to drop out of the race and my cousin went on to finish declaring himself the fastest in the family. (This is not quite true as every one of the original three racers beat his time twenty years prior but facts such as this do not stand in the way of people in my family making such proclamations).
And so, I faced all of this family history on race day 2009 with a lot to live up to (one cousin told me that she was expecting me to medal…gah! I just want to finish the darn thing this year) seeking revenge on a course that did me in the previous year. I hate having that DNF (Did Not Finish) on my running record and over the past year, whenever I thought about the race while I was out on a run I would unconsciously start running faster and faster, getting to a near full out sprint by the time I realized what I was doing and got my pace back in check.
On top of this history, and maybe because of it, I did not sleep well the previous evening. On my way to the race, I realized I had forgotten to bring a water bottle and a sandwich. The race wasn’t until 1 in the afternoon and I left the house at 8:30 with only a bowl of cereal in my stomach! Then, I got stuck in traffic and barely made it to Red Bank Battlefield, the finish line of the race, in time to jump on the bus to the start (however, the bus ended up being 40 minutes late so it was a hurry up, wait, hurry up situation which is never a good way to start a race).
All of this was on my mind at the start line - the family and personal history with this race, the lack of sleep and food, and the pressure to live up to the hype. The starting horn went off and like it or not, this race was finally going to happen and I had nothing left to do but run.
Based on my last race, a 51 minute 10K, I was aiming to run this race in 85 minutes, maintaining an 8:30 pace per mile. On a good day I am confident I could do this but this wasn’t anywhere in the realm of a good day. The best way to review this race is to go mile by mile:
Mile 1 – 8:12
The starting gun goes off, I wished my cousin good luck (not the cousin who I was supposed to race last year, another cousin who also ran last year), started my watch and started running. I thought a lot about my 85 minute time goal and whether I was at the correct pace. I was actually worried my pace was too slow because the course was still crowded though it would quickly thin out. The race brings less then 100 people out each year and it doesn’t take long to spread out. I hit the first mile marker, checked my watch and was surprised at the split – 8:12. I guess I better slow it down just a smidge.
Mile 2 – 8:26
Good steady pace. My legs aren’t exactly gliding along and I feel like I am working much too hard this early in the race but I was willing to chalk it up to the lack of warm up before the start and hoped I would find my stride soon. If I have to work this hard the entire time, this race is going to suck. 8:26 – now that’s more like. Eight more miles exactly the same way
Mile 3 – 9:58
Still working hard; still haven’t found my stride and then people start passing me. What the !?&*! This isn’t supposed to be happening in Mile 3. About 10 people pass me during the mile but I keep telling myself to just run my own race, at my own pace. If these people are willing to go out too fast, don’t let them take me along for the ride. Steady pace, I tell myself. This mile had a gradual incline and I blamed this for letting myself get passed by so many people. Also, the temperatures were up in the low 60s and the course had little shade. I am used to much cooler temps since I run in the morning. I hit the lap button at the mile marker and was caught completely off guard when it read 9:something. I thought I was going steady and it turns out these people had every reason to pass me; I was slowing down!!
Mile 4 – 7:19
I hit the water stop just after Mile 3, grabbed water (note to race organizers: Styrofoam cups are the worst, please don’t use them) and gulped down a half a cup. I was hoping to save the packets of Sports Beans I had with me for the halfway point but I was so hungry and needed the fuel so I munched on them. Refueled, I started focusing on my pace. I tried to keep up with the people who passed me, keep them in sight. I would not let this course defeat me again. I hit the fourth mile marker and could not believe I ran a 7 minute mile. Oh crap! I have to slow down. The people who passed me be damned, I can’t keep this up.
Mile 5 – 8:09
Passing Mile 4 and the spot where I dropped out last time was a huge boost. I gained a little bit more confidence and let the people ahead of me go. If I caught them later, great. If not, good for them. Mile 5 brought another water stop and the halfway point. My watch read 8:09 – better than the 7 minute mile before but still too fast. I gotta let this pace go!
Mile 6 – 9:36
I am really feeling it by this point. I tell myself to stay calm and get to Mile 7. Once I was to Mile 7, I could assess my pace and get a good idea of how this would end. Mile 6 went by quickly. I was bummed about my pace but knew that it had to be slow in order to make up for the previous two if I was going to finish this thing in any sort of respectable manner. Surprisingly, on Mile 6, I also started to catch up with a few of the people who passed me. Slow and steady I repeated to myself over and over.
Mile 7 – 8:53
On passing the Mile 6 marker, I realized I had under 9 minutes to the one hour mark and I made it my goal to push a little bit and get to Mile 7 in under an hour. Seven miles an hour! That practically makes me Speedy Gonzalas, right? I ran by the Mile 7 marker and my watch read 1:00:xx – not quite “under an hour” but certainly an hour! I’ll take it. This provided a huge boost and I passed a few more people shortly after the marker.
Mile 8 – 9:30
I’ve made the final turn of the race. I just have to keep running straight and I would get to the finish line. At this point, I knew I wouldn’t make it in 85 minutes but I was confident I could do better than 10 minute pace for the remaining three miles so sub 90 was within reach. 1:27:xx is my ten mile PR and I would have to fight to beat it. At this point, I really wasn’t sure if I had that fight in me. At Mile Marker 8, I saw 9:30 and I was content.
Mile 9 – 7:59
However, this feeling was short-lived because I got hungry (not “hunger” hungry – I was passed that stage – but rather hungry for a fight) and I was determined to put it all on the line. My legs were feeling the miles especially because they were run at such a crazy, uneven pace, I never found my stride out there but I knew if I pushed, if I wasn’t afraid, I could give my PR a run for the money. I had 17 minutes to bring it in under 1:27:00 and two miles to go. That’s 8:30 per mile – just the pace I had been looking for the entire race but couldn’t ever find. I set my sights on the people ahead of me and pushed to get passed them. Seeing that 7:59 at the mile marker felt good. Nine minutes and one mile to go.
Mile 10 – the Finish line
I pushed but legs were so tired. Honestly, I just wanted to quit. If I could have willed that course to be shorter, to end at 9.2 miles, I would have. There was a woman ahead of me with a blue shirt on. I didn’t think I had a chance to pass her but I stayed focus on simply keeping up with her. Then, with about a quarter mile to go, with the finish line just barely in sight I started to gain on her. Maybe, just maybe I could catch her if I pushed. So, I pushed. I ran. I just ran with the little bit I had left and it honestly felt good. Actually, if felt great…it was the best I had felt on the course all day. Just before entering the cones leading to the finish line, I passed her. I kicked it in. The clock read 1:26:xx and I crossed the line. Damn! That felt good!
After the race
Much of my extended family was in attendance and running by them in the finish line with them cheering me on was fun. My uncle walked me over to the runner’s tent to grab water and food and then I went back to wait for my cousin to cross and to cheer on the rest of the runners. Almost immediately, the trash talking started with my uncle acting as the ring leader! I am told the cousin I was supposed to race last year had already been informed of my time (10 minutes faster than his time last year) and supposedly he is ready for a rematch. I wish we could just run it for fun…but I know that isn’t going to happen. It will end up being a duel. It always is with my family. We’ll see. That’s next year. Let’s stay focused on this year.
Last year, the cousin who ran it again this year placed third in her age group so we were eager for the awards ceremony this year to see how she did. She ran this year’s race one minute faster and came in second in her age group. Yay! Next up, my age group and my uncle was convinced I had place. I was not so optimistic. However, they did call my name as the 3rd place finisher for the 25-29 age group, female. Holy crap! I never thought I would win hardware (hardware = medal).
I have to say, everything was stacked against me having a good race on that day but I pulled it off. I’m still a little shocked but receiving that medal felt good.
Pros:
-Family tradition
-Small race size
-Neat to finish at the battlefield
Cons:
-Awful course – boring highways the whole time-Course isn’t closed to traffic, cars are whizzing by the whole time (there are wonderful volunteers – police, fire and EMTs – at the intersections to hold off traffic as the runners go through)
- Not chip timed – my watch says 1:26:10, the official time posted was 1:26:44 – where did those 30 seconds go?
Yes, I will run it again – only because it is a family tradition. I actually wouldn’t recommend this race to anyone. (And next year, I believe it will conflict with the Army Ten Miler…bummer).
This is a picture of the race shirt and my 3rd place medal (sorry for the blurry image, I snapped it with my iPhone). The image on the medal is the same as the image on the shirt.
Here's a picture of the back of the medal:
Some background on why I run this unlucky race (and why I’ll continue to run it): 21 years ago, my father and two of his brothers made a bet – the three of them would run the Jonas Cattell Run and the one who came across the finish line last would buy the other two a steak dinner. Nineteen years after than run, at a cousin’s wedding, memories of this race and this bet were discussed, dissected, shouted about, laughed about, and likely shouted about again. It was decided that the following year, 2008, on the twentieth anniversary of my Dad and Uncle’s run the next generation would take up the cause and some how I got involved in a bet as whether I could beat my oldest cousin – a Navy Reservist with a smoking habit. I was not the one who instigated this bet and I even fought against it initially but I admit that I got caught up and did some trash talking as the year went on. Leading up to the 2008 race, there was quite a bit of speculation as to how this would turn out. Unfortunately, I had to drop out of the race and my cousin went on to finish declaring himself the fastest in the family. (This is not quite true as every one of the original three racers beat his time twenty years prior but facts such as this do not stand in the way of people in my family making such proclamations).
And so, I faced all of this family history on race day 2009 with a lot to live up to (one cousin told me that she was expecting me to medal…gah! I just want to finish the darn thing this year) seeking revenge on a course that did me in the previous year. I hate having that DNF (Did Not Finish) on my running record and over the past year, whenever I thought about the race while I was out on a run I would unconsciously start running faster and faster, getting to a near full out sprint by the time I realized what I was doing and got my pace back in check.
On top of this history, and maybe because of it, I did not sleep well the previous evening. On my way to the race, I realized I had forgotten to bring a water bottle and a sandwich. The race wasn’t until 1 in the afternoon and I left the house at 8:30 with only a bowl of cereal in my stomach! Then, I got stuck in traffic and barely made it to Red Bank Battlefield, the finish line of the race, in time to jump on the bus to the start (however, the bus ended up being 40 minutes late so it was a hurry up, wait, hurry up situation which is never a good way to start a race).
All of this was on my mind at the start line - the family and personal history with this race, the lack of sleep and food, and the pressure to live up to the hype. The starting horn went off and like it or not, this race was finally going to happen and I had nothing left to do but run.
Based on my last race, a 51 minute 10K, I was aiming to run this race in 85 minutes, maintaining an 8:30 pace per mile. On a good day I am confident I could do this but this wasn’t anywhere in the realm of a good day. The best way to review this race is to go mile by mile:
Mile 1 – 8:12
The starting gun goes off, I wished my cousin good luck (not the cousin who I was supposed to race last year, another cousin who also ran last year), started my watch and started running. I thought a lot about my 85 minute time goal and whether I was at the correct pace. I was actually worried my pace was too slow because the course was still crowded though it would quickly thin out. The race brings less then 100 people out each year and it doesn’t take long to spread out. I hit the first mile marker, checked my watch and was surprised at the split – 8:12. I guess I better slow it down just a smidge.
Mile 2 – 8:26
Good steady pace. My legs aren’t exactly gliding along and I feel like I am working much too hard this early in the race but I was willing to chalk it up to the lack of warm up before the start and hoped I would find my stride soon. If I have to work this hard the entire time, this race is going to suck. 8:26 – now that’s more like. Eight more miles exactly the same way
Mile 3 – 9:58
Still working hard; still haven’t found my stride and then people start passing me. What the !?&*! This isn’t supposed to be happening in Mile 3. About 10 people pass me during the mile but I keep telling myself to just run my own race, at my own pace. If these people are willing to go out too fast, don’t let them take me along for the ride. Steady pace, I tell myself. This mile had a gradual incline and I blamed this for letting myself get passed by so many people. Also, the temperatures were up in the low 60s and the course had little shade. I am used to much cooler temps since I run in the morning. I hit the lap button at the mile marker and was caught completely off guard when it read 9:something. I thought I was going steady and it turns out these people had every reason to pass me; I was slowing down!!
Mile 4 – 7:19
I hit the water stop just after Mile 3, grabbed water (note to race organizers: Styrofoam cups are the worst, please don’t use them) and gulped down a half a cup. I was hoping to save the packets of Sports Beans I had with me for the halfway point but I was so hungry and needed the fuel so I munched on them. Refueled, I started focusing on my pace. I tried to keep up with the people who passed me, keep them in sight. I would not let this course defeat me again. I hit the fourth mile marker and could not believe I ran a 7 minute mile. Oh crap! I have to slow down. The people who passed me be damned, I can’t keep this up.
Mile 5 – 8:09
Passing Mile 4 and the spot where I dropped out last time was a huge boost. I gained a little bit more confidence and let the people ahead of me go. If I caught them later, great. If not, good for them. Mile 5 brought another water stop and the halfway point. My watch read 8:09 – better than the 7 minute mile before but still too fast. I gotta let this pace go!
Mile 6 – 9:36
I am really feeling it by this point. I tell myself to stay calm and get to Mile 7. Once I was to Mile 7, I could assess my pace and get a good idea of how this would end. Mile 6 went by quickly. I was bummed about my pace but knew that it had to be slow in order to make up for the previous two if I was going to finish this thing in any sort of respectable manner. Surprisingly, on Mile 6, I also started to catch up with a few of the people who passed me. Slow and steady I repeated to myself over and over.
Mile 7 – 8:53
On passing the Mile 6 marker, I realized I had under 9 minutes to the one hour mark and I made it my goal to push a little bit and get to Mile 7 in under an hour. Seven miles an hour! That practically makes me Speedy Gonzalas, right? I ran by the Mile 7 marker and my watch read 1:00:xx – not quite “under an hour” but certainly an hour! I’ll take it. This provided a huge boost and I passed a few more people shortly after the marker.
Mile 8 – 9:30
I’ve made the final turn of the race. I just have to keep running straight and I would get to the finish line. At this point, I knew I wouldn’t make it in 85 minutes but I was confident I could do better than 10 minute pace for the remaining three miles so sub 90 was within reach. 1:27:xx is my ten mile PR and I would have to fight to beat it. At this point, I really wasn’t sure if I had that fight in me. At Mile Marker 8, I saw 9:30 and I was content.
Mile 9 – 7:59
However, this feeling was short-lived because I got hungry (not “hunger” hungry – I was passed that stage – but rather hungry for a fight) and I was determined to put it all on the line. My legs were feeling the miles especially because they were run at such a crazy, uneven pace, I never found my stride out there but I knew if I pushed, if I wasn’t afraid, I could give my PR a run for the money. I had 17 minutes to bring it in under 1:27:00 and two miles to go. That’s 8:30 per mile – just the pace I had been looking for the entire race but couldn’t ever find. I set my sights on the people ahead of me and pushed to get passed them. Seeing that 7:59 at the mile marker felt good. Nine minutes and one mile to go.
Mile 10 – the Finish line
I pushed but legs were so tired. Honestly, I just wanted to quit. If I could have willed that course to be shorter, to end at 9.2 miles, I would have. There was a woman ahead of me with a blue shirt on. I didn’t think I had a chance to pass her but I stayed focus on simply keeping up with her. Then, with about a quarter mile to go, with the finish line just barely in sight I started to gain on her. Maybe, just maybe I could catch her if I pushed. So, I pushed. I ran. I just ran with the little bit I had left and it honestly felt good. Actually, if felt great…it was the best I had felt on the course all day. Just before entering the cones leading to the finish line, I passed her. I kicked it in. The clock read 1:26:xx and I crossed the line. Damn! That felt good!
After the race
Much of my extended family was in attendance and running by them in the finish line with them cheering me on was fun. My uncle walked me over to the runner’s tent to grab water and food and then I went back to wait for my cousin to cross and to cheer on the rest of the runners. Almost immediately, the trash talking started with my uncle acting as the ring leader! I am told the cousin I was supposed to race last year had already been informed of my time (10 minutes faster than his time last year) and supposedly he is ready for a rematch. I wish we could just run it for fun…but I know that isn’t going to happen. It will end up being a duel. It always is with my family. We’ll see. That’s next year. Let’s stay focused on this year.
Last year, the cousin who ran it again this year placed third in her age group so we were eager for the awards ceremony this year to see how she did. She ran this year’s race one minute faster and came in second in her age group. Yay! Next up, my age group and my uncle was convinced I had place. I was not so optimistic. However, they did call my name as the 3rd place finisher for the 25-29 age group, female. Holy crap! I never thought I would win hardware (hardware = medal).
I have to say, everything was stacked against me having a good race on that day but I pulled it off. I’m still a little shocked but receiving that medal felt good.
Pros:
-Family tradition
-Small race size
-Neat to finish at the battlefield
Cons:
-Awful course – boring highways the whole time-Course isn’t closed to traffic, cars are whizzing by the whole time (there are wonderful volunteers – police, fire and EMTs – at the intersections to hold off traffic as the runners go through)
- Not chip timed – my watch says 1:26:10, the official time posted was 1:26:44 – where did those 30 seconds go?
Yes, I will run it again – only because it is a family tradition. I actually wouldn’t recommend this race to anyone. (And next year, I believe it will conflict with the Army Ten Miler…bummer).
This is a picture of the race shirt and my 3rd place medal (sorry for the blurry image, I snapped it with my iPhone). The image on the medal is the same as the image on the shirt.Here's a picture of the back of the medal:
It reads:
Gloucester County, Parks and Recreation, 3rd place, 25-29 years
Sunday, October 25, 2009
A Bad Dream
I am running a race today. I just woke up and I had a dream about the race. It did not go well.
I am hoping by putting it down in writing I can exorcise the bad dream and avoid repeating it real life in a few hours.
Everything seemed to be going wrong. Everyone was milling around and didn't know where to start, when to start or even who was running the race. Suddenly someone yells go and we all take off. After I fight my way after the start line and struggle with the buttons on my watch, trying to start the timer, I realize I still have on my long sleeve shirt and decide to ditch it. I peel it off only to discover that I actually have on two other long sleeve shirts. I keep taking off shirts and taking shirts until finally I am free.
Needless to say, the race is not going very well for me. I am already starting to struggle with my pace and feel absolutely sluggish. Free from the entrapment of the shirts, I think to myself, "great now I can finally start to really run" but I am so far behind I can barely see the back of the pack. I'm having a hard time even passing the walkers.
I trip and stumble across intersections, clawing at the ground in hopes that it will be help me find a smooth pace.
I then realize that I have been running with my backpack and start looking for a familiar face in the crowd to hand it off to. I scan the crowd over and over and finally see a former coworker. I throw my backpack at her feet and take off. I can see the middle of the pack - I'm catching up! Yes!
The course goes through this weird turn about, a short, weird almost maze-like out-and-back, and I get lost in there. When I come out, thinking I'm going the right way, I've actually managed to cut a significant portion of the course. I'm a cheater and I don't know what to do. Keep going? Turn around? What do I do?
...and then I woke up.
Dear Running Gods, please don't let this happen in real life. Many thanks, Becki
I am hoping by putting it down in writing I can exorcise the bad dream and avoid repeating it real life in a few hours.
Everything seemed to be going wrong. Everyone was milling around and didn't know where to start, when to start or even who was running the race. Suddenly someone yells go and we all take off. After I fight my way after the start line and struggle with the buttons on my watch, trying to start the timer, I realize I still have on my long sleeve shirt and decide to ditch it. I peel it off only to discover that I actually have on two other long sleeve shirts. I keep taking off shirts and taking shirts until finally I am free.
Needless to say, the race is not going very well for me. I am already starting to struggle with my pace and feel absolutely sluggish. Free from the entrapment of the shirts, I think to myself, "great now I can finally start to really run" but I am so far behind I can barely see the back of the pack. I'm having a hard time even passing the walkers.
I trip and stumble across intersections, clawing at the ground in hopes that it will be help me find a smooth pace.
I then realize that I have been running with my backpack and start looking for a familiar face in the crowd to hand it off to. I scan the crowd over and over and finally see a former coworker. I throw my backpack at her feet and take off. I can see the middle of the pack - I'm catching up! Yes!
The course goes through this weird turn about, a short, weird almost maze-like out-and-back, and I get lost in there. When I come out, thinking I'm going the right way, I've actually managed to cut a significant portion of the course. I'm a cheater and I don't know what to do. Keep going? Turn around? What do I do?
...and then I woke up.
Dear Running Gods, please don't let this happen in real life. Many thanks, Becki
Monday, October 19, 2009
These Runs Are Real
Five miles in the cold, early morning – this is my bread and butter run. This run is my base, my confidence boost I cherry-pick each week, knowing I can easily complete the distance. I let myself just run it at the pace that felt right, leaves crunching under my feet, past the quiet, dark houses. It was just me a few other runs and some cyclists. We were the only ones in on the secret.
These runs can feel a bit surreal at times. I get home, stretch, grab some water or strawberry milk if I’m starting to get hungry, and then jump in the shower. By the time I’m walking to work an hour later – when the sun has come up and the neighborhood is collectively on its way to work – it can feel like the cold, dark morning run wasn’t really a part of the morning, it feels like something that happened a long time ago, something a dreamed.
As I cram myself on to the train, make my way in to the city and get to my desk, there is no evidence that I even ran this morning. The sweat has been washed off and the tangles brushed out my hair. My running clothes are drying in the hamper, my shoes put away neatly and my Garmin is recharging in its dock. All of those things are at home and here I am part of the morning commute in to the city without any proof that this morning’s run was real.
The only reminder that I didn’t make it all up is the wonderful tired feeling in my legs as I walk up the stairs in the metro station or get up to make a copy at work. I love that feeling – not soreness or pain or fatigue, just the feeling you get when you know you’ve had a good run. My legs feel tired but ready for more. It is the little love note I leave to myself to make sure I remember the run was real.
Daily Dozen:
5.07 miles easy (10:03 pace)
Core work @ lunch hour (planned)
These runs can feel a bit surreal at times. I get home, stretch, grab some water or strawberry milk if I’m starting to get hungry, and then jump in the shower. By the time I’m walking to work an hour later – when the sun has come up and the neighborhood is collectively on its way to work – it can feel like the cold, dark morning run wasn’t really a part of the morning, it feels like something that happened a long time ago, something a dreamed.
As I cram myself on to the train, make my way in to the city and get to my desk, there is no evidence that I even ran this morning. The sweat has been washed off and the tangles brushed out my hair. My running clothes are drying in the hamper, my shoes put away neatly and my Garmin is recharging in its dock. All of those things are at home and here I am part of the morning commute in to the city without any proof that this morning’s run was real.
The only reminder that I didn’t make it all up is the wonderful tired feeling in my legs as I walk up the stairs in the metro station or get up to make a copy at work. I love that feeling – not soreness or pain or fatigue, just the feeling you get when you know you’ve had a good run. My legs feel tired but ready for more. It is the little love note I leave to myself to make sure I remember the run was real.
Daily Dozen:
5.07 miles easy (10:03 pace)
Core work @ lunch hour (planned)
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Fun Runs
I am bouncing back from the cold I was fighting and the break from running it forced me to take. Actually, I am more than simply bouncing back…I have had so much fun the past three days.
Monday, since I had the day off of work I slept in for a little bit, took my time getting ready for my run and didn’t leave the house until after 9:30. I was aiming for 12 miles that morning and decided to add a little twist to the run – push ups!
I set my Garmin to beep every 30 minutes of the run at which point, I would stop running and do 10 push ups followed by 10 reverse crunches and then 10 more push ups. Over the course of the run I would take a mini strength training break 4 times and do 80 push ups. I was excited to be doing something a little different on my long run.
The plan worked great and was so much fun. I looked forward to the push ups and it broke up the long run nicely. I had something to look forward to. I wanted to see how far I could get in those 30 minutes before I had to stop. The last two stops, on the way back, I could only manage 5 push ups in the second set but I felt strong and tough.
Ok, and a little silly doing push ups as people walked, ran and biked past me but it was silly and buff blended together. It really had me pumped and I definitely ended the run with a smile on my face. Since I’m not training for anything at the moment, I’ve decided to break up all my long runs in a similar fashion – keep the running fresh and build some strength in the process.
Tuesday morning before work I ran 8 miles and I loved every minute of it. There is something about running that far, that long before work that makes me happy for the rest of the day. It was a crisp and cool, almost cold, morning and the lower temperatures felt good. It is the first time I’ve been able to see my breath as I walked to the trail. The summer heat was behind me for good; welcome fall and winter
Running in the heat and humidity of summer feels wrong when I compare it to how natural it feels to glide along the bike trails on a fall morning. It just feels right. Tuesday morning, I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be on that morning; like all the pieces were in place and as long as I kept going they would remain in place forever and ever.
As I hit the final mile of the run, I cam upon a group of women – four or five of them – running along the path. They were going just about my pace and I probably should have just tucked in behind them and finished my run at the intended effort – easy; and, that is exactly what I did for about a minute and a half. Then, I just couldn’t take it.
The desire to pass them; to show them just how smooth and effortless and easy it was for me to pick up the pace, pass them and then keep going, even when they were well out of sight, it was too much for me and I gave in. I picked up my pace, swung around them – Ah, running fast felt great – and kept going until I got home.
Today was a planned short recovery run – only 3 miles. I did manage to hold down the pace, taking it nice and slow but I couldn’t help myself and extended the run just a little. I didn’t want it to end so quickly.
As I took my time this morning, I thought about the past couple days of running and how lucky I am to have found something I enjoy this much. I thought about my future running plans – the base building months ahead of me and how I’m hoping it will put me in a good place to start training for a marathon in April, the possibilities for a race next fall (maybe finally doing Richmond or *eek* an ultra?), my hope to make 2011 the Year of Maryland marathons – Frederick and Baltimore in one year, and maybe just maybe one day running a sub-4 marathon…and then a faster marathon to qualify for Boston, could I do it in 3:40.
But those things are long range goals, plans, hopes, dreams. I kept running and reminded myself of my new mantra – Just Run. Well, if the future is too far away and too complicated, what about tomorrow? What can I do tomorrow to ensure running remains fun?
Answer: Hills!
Daily Dozen:
3.9 miles @ recovery pace
Core work @ lunch break
Monday, since I had the day off of work I slept in for a little bit, took my time getting ready for my run and didn’t leave the house until after 9:30. I was aiming for 12 miles that morning and decided to add a little twist to the run – push ups!
I set my Garmin to beep every 30 minutes of the run at which point, I would stop running and do 10 push ups followed by 10 reverse crunches and then 10 more push ups. Over the course of the run I would take a mini strength training break 4 times and do 80 push ups. I was excited to be doing something a little different on my long run.
The plan worked great and was so much fun. I looked forward to the push ups and it broke up the long run nicely. I had something to look forward to. I wanted to see how far I could get in those 30 minutes before I had to stop. The last two stops, on the way back, I could only manage 5 push ups in the second set but I felt strong and tough.
Ok, and a little silly doing push ups as people walked, ran and biked past me but it was silly and buff blended together. It really had me pumped and I definitely ended the run with a smile on my face. Since I’m not training for anything at the moment, I’ve decided to break up all my long runs in a similar fashion – keep the running fresh and build some strength in the process.
Tuesday morning before work I ran 8 miles and I loved every minute of it. There is something about running that far, that long before work that makes me happy for the rest of the day. It was a crisp and cool, almost cold, morning and the lower temperatures felt good. It is the first time I’ve been able to see my breath as I walked to the trail. The summer heat was behind me for good; welcome fall and winter
Running in the heat and humidity of summer feels wrong when I compare it to how natural it feels to glide along the bike trails on a fall morning. It just feels right. Tuesday morning, I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be on that morning; like all the pieces were in place and as long as I kept going they would remain in place forever and ever.
As I hit the final mile of the run, I cam upon a group of women – four or five of them – running along the path. They were going just about my pace and I probably should have just tucked in behind them and finished my run at the intended effort – easy; and, that is exactly what I did for about a minute and a half. Then, I just couldn’t take it.
The desire to pass them; to show them just how smooth and effortless and easy it was for me to pick up the pace, pass them and then keep going, even when they were well out of sight, it was too much for me and I gave in. I picked up my pace, swung around them – Ah, running fast felt great – and kept going until I got home.
Today was a planned short recovery run – only 3 miles. I did manage to hold down the pace, taking it nice and slow but I couldn’t help myself and extended the run just a little. I didn’t want it to end so quickly.
As I took my time this morning, I thought about the past couple days of running and how lucky I am to have found something I enjoy this much. I thought about my future running plans – the base building months ahead of me and how I’m hoping it will put me in a good place to start training for a marathon in April, the possibilities for a race next fall (maybe finally doing Richmond or *eek* an ultra?), my hope to make 2011 the Year of Maryland marathons – Frederick and Baltimore in one year, and maybe just maybe one day running a sub-4 marathon…and then a faster marathon to qualify for Boston, could I do it in 3:40.
But those things are long range goals, plans, hopes, dreams. I kept running and reminded myself of my new mantra – Just Run. Well, if the future is too far away and too complicated, what about tomorrow? What can I do tomorrow to ensure running remains fun?
Answer: Hills!
Daily Dozen:
3.9 miles @ recovery pace
Core work @ lunch break
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Playing Catch Up
I haven't run since Wednesday of last week.
I 've been sick - started as a sore throat and generally feeling like I was fighting something off, then on Friday I had terrible sinus congestion and the pressure was awful. Friday night I ended up sleeping for 11 hours and I've been recuperating the rest of the weekend.
Tomorrow I'm gonna play catch up and go out for the long run I should have done this weekend - 12 miles nice and easy. I'm looking for to it since I have the day off (thanks Columbus). I'm feeling much better and I am starting to feel a bit like a slug.
I'll report back....
I 've been sick - started as a sore throat and generally feeling like I was fighting something off, then on Friday I had terrible sinus congestion and the pressure was awful. Friday night I ended up sleeping for 11 hours and I've been recuperating the rest of the weekend.
Tomorrow I'm gonna play catch up and go out for the long run I should have done this weekend - 12 miles nice and easy. I'm looking for to it since I have the day off (thanks Columbus). I'm feeling much better and I am starting to feel a bit like a slug.
I'll report back....
Monday, October 5, 2009
Army Ten Miler - Race Report 2009
I’ve run the Army Ten Miler or ATM three years in a row. It is a race I look forward to each year because I run it with a college friend, Katie, who comes in from out of town for the weekend. We get to catch up before the race and often, during the race until we start to get tired in the last few miles. This year was no exception!
Since I am a local, I took advantage of the Friday evening packet pick up in order to avoid the Saturday crowds. I was in the National Armory through security, with my packet, bib, t-shirt in hand and completing a lap around the room to check out the vendors in less than 10 minutes. Some people really enjoy the expo prior to a race but since I am never there to spend money, it can be nearly useless to me.
Saturday night I invited Katie, her boyfriend and two friends of hers over for dinner so they could see the new house and we could partake in some homemade carbo-loading. I made Parmesan Chicken, Marinara Sauce and Angel Hair pasta for the main course along with a simple salad of mixed field greens and grape tomatoes, followed by peanut butter bars with chocolate chips for dessert. Yum!
After they left, I cleaned up and was in bed by 9:30 since I had to be up early, the alarm was going off at 5:45, to meet up with them before the race.
Sunday morning ended up being a near-perfect running morning. As I walked to the metro, the air was crisp and they sky was clear, with temperatures around 50. I meet up with Katie near the Pentagon where the race starts. Since their hotel was close to the start, we were able to take care of all the overactive bladders and stay warm before heading to the start line about 10 minutes before the gun. It was a nice way to start the race – without the worries of port-a-potty lines and pre-race chills. (However, we did miss the Golden Knights parachuting over the start line and the helicopter fly over but we’ve seen those twice before).
The gun (more like a canon) went off but we were stuck at the back of the first wave of runners so it took us over 10 minutes to get across the start. Once we were running though, we were able to dial in to a pretty good pace.
One of the reasons I enjoy this race so much is because I run it at Katie’s pace which is about a minute per mile slower than my all-out, balls to the walls 10 mile pace. I don’t feel any pressure or desire to race when I’m running with other people (unlike the few times I’ve tried to approach a race as a fun run and always end up blowing it by deciding at some point, ‘Oh, what the heck – why not race it”). We chatted for the first few miles – told stories, talked about other races, training.
The ATM follows a good DC sight-seeing course – starting at the Pentagon, running by Arlington National Cemetery before crossing the Potomac at Memorial Bridge, swinging by the back of the Lincoln Memorial, over to Watergate Hotel and then back around to go under the Kennedy Center before running by the Washington Monument and up the length of the Mall, looping in front of the Capital Building, coming back down the Mall, and finally over the bridge (the only boring bit) to the Pentagon and the finish line. It really hits all the highlights!
As we headed over the final bridge with a slight incline, Katie began to tire but she hung on to the pace and we finished in good time – 1:36:12. Last year we did 1:38:33 and 1:52:56 the first year we ran it, 2007. We set a PR for this race by over 2 minutes.
After we finished the race, we met up with Katie’s boyfriend, hit their hotel to change and then her Dad (who also ran the race…finishing 3 minutes behind us) treated us to lunch.
As always, it was a fun race and I look forward to running it again next year.
Pros:
Running with friends
Tons of crowd support (except for the final mile and a half across the bridge to the finish)
Getting to see DC sights en route
Nice race packet – long sleeve cotton t-shirt, hat, cup, etc.
Cons:
Crowded (25,000 people to celebrate the races 25th year…however, the wave start and pace corrals do a decent job eliminating the worst of this problem)
Not the course you’re going to set your ultimate 10 mile PR
Since I am a local, I took advantage of the Friday evening packet pick up in order to avoid the Saturday crowds. I was in the National Armory through security, with my packet, bib, t-shirt in hand and completing a lap around the room to check out the vendors in less than 10 minutes. Some people really enjoy the expo prior to a race but since I am never there to spend money, it can be nearly useless to me.
Saturday night I invited Katie, her boyfriend and two friends of hers over for dinner so they could see the new house and we could partake in some homemade carbo-loading. I made Parmesan Chicken, Marinara Sauce and Angel Hair pasta for the main course along with a simple salad of mixed field greens and grape tomatoes, followed by peanut butter bars with chocolate chips for dessert. Yum!
After they left, I cleaned up and was in bed by 9:30 since I had to be up early, the alarm was going off at 5:45, to meet up with them before the race.
Sunday morning ended up being a near-perfect running morning. As I walked to the metro, the air was crisp and they sky was clear, with temperatures around 50. I meet up with Katie near the Pentagon where the race starts. Since their hotel was close to the start, we were able to take care of all the overactive bladders and stay warm before heading to the start line about 10 minutes before the gun. It was a nice way to start the race – without the worries of port-a-potty lines and pre-race chills. (However, we did miss the Golden Knights parachuting over the start line and the helicopter fly over but we’ve seen those twice before).
The gun (more like a canon) went off but we were stuck at the back of the first wave of runners so it took us over 10 minutes to get across the start. Once we were running though, we were able to dial in to a pretty good pace.
One of the reasons I enjoy this race so much is because I run it at Katie’s pace which is about a minute per mile slower than my all-out, balls to the walls 10 mile pace. I don’t feel any pressure or desire to race when I’m running with other people (unlike the few times I’ve tried to approach a race as a fun run and always end up blowing it by deciding at some point, ‘Oh, what the heck – why not race it”). We chatted for the first few miles – told stories, talked about other races, training.
The ATM follows a good DC sight-seeing course – starting at the Pentagon, running by Arlington National Cemetery before crossing the Potomac at Memorial Bridge, swinging by the back of the Lincoln Memorial, over to Watergate Hotel and then back around to go under the Kennedy Center before running by the Washington Monument and up the length of the Mall, looping in front of the Capital Building, coming back down the Mall, and finally over the bridge (the only boring bit) to the Pentagon and the finish line. It really hits all the highlights!
As we headed over the final bridge with a slight incline, Katie began to tire but she hung on to the pace and we finished in good time – 1:36:12. Last year we did 1:38:33 and 1:52:56 the first year we ran it, 2007. We set a PR for this race by over 2 minutes.
After we finished the race, we met up with Katie’s boyfriend, hit their hotel to change and then her Dad (who also ran the race…finishing 3 minutes behind us) treated us to lunch.
As always, it was a fun race and I look forward to running it again next year.
Pros:
Running with friends
Tons of crowd support (except for the final mile and a half across the bridge to the finish)
Getting to see DC sights en route
Nice race packet – long sleeve cotton t-shirt, hat, cup, etc.
Cons:
Crowded (25,000 people to celebrate the races 25th year…however, the wave start and pace corrals do a decent job eliminating the worst of this problem)
Not the course you’re going to set your ultimate 10 mile PR
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