Sweet Sixteen

The last time I tried to run sixteen miles it ended with me in tears. And during the first part of my marathon training this time I totally skipped my sixteen mile run and went straight to eighteen. Fine by me.

But this weekend, when I originally thought I'd be doing 18 miles, I realized that if I'm supposed to be tapering then I probably already run a few too many miles during the week. So instead of doing 18 miles I figured I'd just try that whole 16 thing again. Plus, this way Kim could do the entire thing with me instead of having to ride her bike next to me for two measly miles.

I debated where I wanted to run but, in the end, it was back to the good old Des Plaines River Trail. Seems like most of my marathon training long runs have been on that puppy this year. Different parts of it, but at this point I think I've almost run the entire thing.

Anyway, we met up at the Half Day Forest Preserve which is about 40 minutes from my house (if you ignore the speed limit *cough*) at 7:30 AM on Sunday. The weather was drizzling and cool. Quite a few of my OPRC friends were running the Fox Valley Marathon or 20 miler so I hoped they were enjoying the decent running weather.

Kim and I tried out our race day outfits just to make sure they didn't chafe, bunch, or ride up. Success on all front!

Except for the minor chafing I get from my fuel belt. Someone remind me to lube up underneath that thing on marathon day!

Anyway, the first few miles felt rough. I'd woken up on Saturday with an incredibly sore left hip. After a day of ibuprofen, rest, foam rolling, ice, and some quality time laying on a tennis ball (you know, when the foam roller isn't punishment enough) it felt better but not 100%. Thankfully, it didn't really bother me while running. I just felt tired. I worried about what I'd feel like on marathon day. But around mile 5 I seemed to perk up. And then I think it was mile 8 or 10 when I took some of the Shot Bloks with caffeine. Then I REALLY perked up. Those things feel like cheating. I was chipper and felt strong for the rest of the run. I could have easily gone further. I was actually surprised when my watch beeped at mile 16. Done already?

I think that's a good sign.

Sixteen with Kim by snmnstrz21 at Garmin Connect - Details

Recovery Run Fail

If I learned anything about myself during the Madison to Chicago Ragnar Relay it was that my legs don't mind pumping out some fast miles when they're tired. Already did a fast, hard run less than 24 hours ago? That's okay. You can do another one.

So on Thursday I did. What was supposed to be a lunch time recovery run turned into another tempo run. I didn't do it on purpose! It's just that I was running with guys from work and they tend to be faster than me. Although, I think I was pulling one of them along at the end while our fastest guy forged on ahead.

It was a great day for running. I wore capris and a short sleeved top and was actually too warm. I totally could have gone for shorts and a tank top. It may have been in the mid 50s but the sun was out. And, yes, there was a breeze. More like a wind. At first I thought the fact that the wind was at our backs for the first 2.5 miles was responsible for my speed but I managed to crank out comparable miles on the way back even with the wind right in my face.

My knees were a little achy but everything else seemed fine. I was pushing myself but my legs didn't feel like they were burning and I didn't feel like I was gasping for air. Strange considering I just did speedwork the night before, right? You'd think my legs would be tired. Apparently that was just a warm up for them.

In the end, we did 4.9 miles at an 8:30 pace (with a few pauses for traffic and water). If I could recreate how I felt on Thursday at the 10Ks I'm doing after Milwaukee I will have a new 10K PR in the bag. Maybe I just need to do some speedwork the day before?

Lunch Run South by snmnstrz21 at Garmin Connect - Details

Math Fail

I've never been great at math. I graduated high school with a perfect GPA by the mere virtue of the fact that my high school didn't use the plus or minus system. Meaning a score of 90 was the same as a score of 100. So while I had a 4.0 GPA in math it wasn't without a lot of toil, tears, and our GPA system. And the fact that my freshman year geometry final exam didn't count toward my final grade. I didn't study and got a D. Lowest grade of my entire life.

In college the only final grade I ever got that was lower than a regular A was in my pre-calculus class first semester freshman year. I got an A-. So, I'm definitely not BAD at math. I'm just not great. Math skills don't come intuitively to me like so many other subjects.

But, counting usually comes easily. I mean, you learn that even before you're in school. At least you do when you watch a lot of Sesame Street, which I did.

Somehow, though, my counting skills abandoned me on the track last night. After our usual stretches we did a 12 minute warm-up. That was easy; just watch the time on my Garmin. 1.29 miles later I was all ready for the workout. And what was my workout? 5x1200 meters with 200 meter rest intervals. 1200 meters is three laps around the track, by the way.

I started and quickly found myself alone. Faster than the back of the pack, slower than the front. Fine by me. Let's me zone out. And zone out I did. I was supposed to be running between 10K and 10 mile pace. Since my 10 mile PR pace is faster than my 10K PR pace I figured I'd aim for between 8:30s and 8:40s. Yet I kept seeing 8:0X on my Garmin. Hmmm. Time to slow down.

But I was in a zone. I managed the first 1200 with little incident except for running an 8:03 pace. I walk/jogged my 200 rest interval and took off on the next 1200. I did my three laps at an 8:20 pace (better) and was feeling fine. The night was cool enough to necessitate capris and a short sleeved shirt and the humidity was low. Perfect running weather.

Which may be why the next laps got all screwed up. As I went past Coach Holly I yelled out, "I've lost count!" I had no idea what lap I was on out of 1200 and only a vague idea of what set out of 5 I was doing. So when my watch beeped a mile I realized I'd run 1600 instead of 1200. At an 8:33 pace. I guess I got one part right!

I did my 200 meter walk/jog and chatted with Coach. "I *think* that was my third set," I said.

"Do you feel tired?" She asked.

"No, not really."

"Then keep going."

So I finished my 200 and took off again determined to get it right this time. Cue the epic fail. I tried to keep count on my fingers but somehow thought I was on lap three when I was really on lap two. So I did 800 (at an 8:10 pace) instead of 1200 before I slowed to a walk. I realized I'd screwed up when I saw my lap time. 1200 in 4:11? I don't think so. I suppose I could have kept going but I figured I'd run longer on the previous set so I could make this one shorter.

Sigh.

After finally figuring out I was on set 5 I made sure to do 3 laps. At an 8:12 pace. Argh! Too fast! Why was I having such a hard time with this workout?

I guess that's what happens when I get in a zone. My legs just want to go and my brain doesn't want to think. Who cares about math and counting and pace when you're in your happy running place.

OPRC Track Workout by snmnstrz21 at Garmin Connect - Details

Weekly Workout Wround Up

September 5th - September 11th

Sept 5th

10 miles

Sept 6th

Rest day! Actually, it was our first "regular" running club meeting of the 2011-2012 year. Per tradition, we had the race director from the Chicago Marathon come speak to us. We also encouraged people to wear their favorite or oldest Chicago Marathon gear.

Can you find me in that photo?

We had shirts going all the way back to 1978, before it was even known as THE Chicago Marathon.

As always, a great meeting and I always learn a little something new about the marathon. This year I learned that the reason they run the course in the direction they do is so that they can get the busier streets north of downtown reopened sooner.

Sept 7th

4 miles of straights and curves.

Sept 8th

Rest day!

Sept 9th

I ran from my office to pick up my race packet for the Chicago Half Marathon and back for a total of 4 miles. Yes, there was a break in the middle but I still got some mileage in!

Sept 10th

Kim wanted to get in 22 miles but I didn't want to run the day before my half marathon. So what did I do? Well, I couldn't let her run 22 all by her lonesome. Especially not after how much of a help she was to me the week before. So, I hopped on my bike and pedal next to her the entire way.

Kim & Erin (on bike) 9/10/11 at Garmin Connect - Details

Just like me, Kim struggled toward the end of her run but I tried my best to distract her by talking about random stuff and telling silly stories. And then rubbing her back and force feeding her crackers when she felt nauseous after she got done. Hey, what are friends for?

Sept 11th

Chicago Half Marathon!

While I'm proud of my finishing time I'm a little mad at myself for running so fast so close to my marathon. My left quad is still sore and has a huge knot in it. When I woke up from my nap on Sunday afternoon my left shin hurt again like it did back in February. Some ice, rest, and ibuprofen seem to be helping but I know I was being stupid and reckless. Hopefully it doesn't come back to haunt me.

Total running mileage: 31.23
Total biking mileage: 22
Total strength training sessions: 0

I guess technically I'm sort of starting to taper for my marathon. I've got one more long (more than 10 mile) run coming up this weekend but then after that it's all on the downswing.

Chicago Half Marathon Race Report

Been awhile since I ran a half marathon. In fact, the last one I ran was in May and it was rough. But I'd signed up for the Chicago Half Marathon months and months ago. Even with the logistical nightmare that is getting to and from this race it has a special place in my heart as being the race where I knocked almost 9 minutes off my half marathon time last year.

Just like last year I went into this race with zero expectations. It's a training run, I kept telling myself. No need to blow it out of the water. In fact, I'd even considered not running with my Garmin! GASP!

But after we arrived at the race and met up with some of the OPRC group I sort of got suckered into being a pacer for another guy who wanted to run just under 2 hours. Still, I put on my headphones and a smile and said we'd start out together and see what happened.

We were so busy looking for a place to do a warm-up mile (never found one) and finding our corral that I never heard the 9/11 tribute speeches, never saw the NYFD truck that was at Ground Zero, and only barely heard the National Anthem. The runners were encouraged to wear red, white and blue and, to that effect, I saw some unique running outfits. Who knew they made running shorts with American flags all over them? I guess I'm lucky that our running club tops are red already!

This year we were preassigned to corrals although I don't recall telling them what my expected finish time would be. It must have been better organize than last year, though, because it only took us about 4 minutes to cross the start line and the crowds during the first mile were a little better. There was still a lot of dodging and that first mile was done in 9:22. I guess there's my warm-up!

The first few miles are kind of irritating because you have to make a lot of 90 degree turns. Once you get out onto Lakeshore Drive, though, it's pretty much a straight out and back. I decided not to wear my fuel belt and just use the aid stations. I almost regretted this decision after I skipped the first water stop and realized it was a lot more humid and sunny than I had anticipated. But, I grabbed water at the next station and was still able to keep up my pacer duties. We were running 8:40s which I worried might be too fast. I felt okay, though, so I just went with it.

I lost my pacee when I stopped at the next aid station around mile six for water and to take my first pair of Shot Bloks. He kept going and I walked for the length of the aid station. I honestly had no idea what mile I was at until I came upon the 10K sign at the end of the table. Ooookay, then.

From that point on I walked a bit at every aid station and alternated between drinking a cup of water and a cup of Gatorade. The turn around at mile 8 wasn't too bad (it's up and down a highway overpass) and at the 15K mark (9.5 miles?) I took another pair of Shot Bloks, this time ones with caffeine.

I was starting to flag at this point but I think the caffeine kicked my rear in gear. My left quad was starting to ache so I kept telling myself "This isn't your goal race. It's okay to slow down". And then I'd look at my Garmin and realize I was still running 8:30s. Even with the walk breaks I only had one other mile time (other than the first) that started with a 9. I tried to change my form a bit so that I was running more with my glutes and hamstrings as opposed to my quads. It made me go faster. Strange.

I distracted myself by looking at the form of the runners in front of me. I'm always amazed when the people in front of me look to have really inefficient running form. Actually, though, I was definitely passing people at this point. Quite a few, to be honest. At mile 11 I realized that even if I ran 10 minute miles for the last 2.1 I'd still most likely PR. Oops!

But once I realized that I couldn't shake the idea of getting a new personal best time. I caught back up with my former pacee and tried to encourage him to keep up with me. He couldn't so I went on ahead. My legs were tired, my quad ached, my shoulders were sore and I was thankfully for the last aid station near mile 12. Then the countdown signs started.

3/4 of a mile left! Just three times around the track, I thought.

1/2 mile left! Just twice around the track.

Then we rounded the last curve and crested the last small rise and there was the finish line. I crossed with arms pumping secure in the knowledge that I'd at least tied my previous half marathon best.

I got my medal and snacks (Rice Krispie treats, oh yeah!) and the best post-race swag ever: a pre-moistened individually wrapped washcloth. Perfect for wiping off the sweat.

When I finally exited the finisher's area I ran into part of the OPRC group. "How'd you do" chatter and guesses began until I realized I could just use my iPhone to scan the QR codes on our bibs....and that they took us directly to our own individual race results! Technology is amazing!

And what was my final result?

1:56:41

I managed a PR by 52 seconds, something I'd never set out to do.

I guess I'd better stop telling myself I run this race as a training run. My legs always have other ideas.

Chicago Half Marathon by snmnstrz21 at Garmin Connect - Details

Two Birds, One Stone

Sunday is the Chicago Half Marathon. Also known as the most inconvenient half marathon for most of the people who run it. It's definitely geared towards tourists moreso than the majority of people who actually live in and around the city. Why?

Well, the start line is not on any city public transportation. They have to arrange for special regional trains. If you drive to the start line you either pay $14 to park and walk a mile there and back or find street parking and walk even further. And risk dealing with Chicago Bears traffic on the way home. Packet pick-up is also not on a public transit line and it's $10 to park there. However, packet pick-up is two miles from my office. And I needed to get in another run this week.

So guess what I did? I strapped on one of those drawstring backpacks everyone seems to be giving away and after work I ran from my office to the Festival Hall at Navy Pier to pick up my packet. I was pretty sweaty when I got there but was able to get my stuff with little fanfare. I even ran into Coach Holly and Helen as I was leaving.

I didn't tie the bag right across my chest on the way back so it bounced more and made my shoulders ache but for two miles it didn't really matter. I got in my run and picked up my packet. I guess that's what they call running an errand!

Half Marathon Packet Pick Up by snmnstrz21 at Garmin Connect - Details

And when I got home I discovered my new running shoes had arrived!

New shoes always make me realize just how beat up my old shoes are. I guess that's what over 350 miles will do to a pair of shoes.

Straights and Curves

Image Source

The workout that we do at the beginning of each training "cycle" this summer is called "straights and curves". As I understand it, we do this to get our bodies used to running fast without jumping into the super speedy stuff too quickly.

A track is basically two parallel straight lines connected by shallow C shapes at each end.

When we do straights and curves workouts we do drills on one straight side and then strides on the other straight side. I explained strides last week and the drills consist of doing alternating laps of forward drills (high knees/butt kicks or skipping) and lateral drills (side gallops, karaoke). And then you jog (or walk) super easy on the curved parts. Last night we did 8 laps total.

Sound complicated? It's not, really. And it makes the workout go by quickly. Last night I ended up doing a total of four miles. One mile warm-up, 8 laps of straights and curves, and then a one mile cool-down. Holly also mentioned that I looked a lot better than last week. I'm telling you, it's the cool weather.

I foam-rolled both before and after running because my right IT band started feeling a little funky after my run on Monday. Not pain, per se, but just off. I've also been stretching and icing so that I can hopefully nip whatever this is in the bud. It didn't bother me while running, though, so that's a good sign. I need to stay on the straight and narrow and not get thrown any curve balls.

OPRC Track Workout by snmnstrz21 at Garmin Connect - Details

What a Difference a Day Makes

Well, technically it was a few days, but after the horrible mini heat wave that hit us on Thursday, Friday and Saturday the temperatures cooled down significantly. When I left my house late Monday morning for a run I wore a short-sleeved shirt and was actually cold standing in the shade waiting to cross the street!

Since I had the day off work I was able to get in a longer-than-usual weekday run. My original plan was to run 8 miles. Then I figured I'd do 8.5. Or maybe 9 miles. In the end I did 10. And it was wonderful.

When my Garmin beeped at mile 1 I was a little shocked to see I'd done it in 8:27! Oops. Better slow down. So I did. A bit. It was just one of those runs when your legs are moving independently and you feel like you're flying.

I thought that was a little odd considering my 30+ mile bike ride the day before but perhaps my body was just reveling in the cooler temps. Sure, there was a stiff breeze that seemed to be in my face no matter what direction I ran but I didn't care. A cool wind is better than stifling humidity.

So I ran and ran. My legs churned, my music blared, and I remembered how much I love running.

Solo Monday Long Run by snmnstrz21 at Garmin Connect - Details

Weekly Workout Wround Up

August 29th - September 4th

Aug 29

The long Monday night route, which is supposed to be 8 miles, somehow always ends up being closer to 7.8 for me instead. Strange.

Aug 30

I haven't been feeling the strength training lately. I think it's partly because my left leg is still acting a little wonky from time to time and I'm tired from running high mileage (for me). But Tuesday night when I got home from work Jason was heading down to the basement to do a workout so I decided to join him.

NROLW seemed too high speed so I settled for this Self magazine workout. I kept the weights light for the most part so that I wouldn't aggravate anything. Also because I've been slacking.

Aug 31

5 total sweaty miles on the track.

Sept 1

Rest day!

Sept 2

22 miles with Kim. The hardest run so far this year, I do believe. Oof.

Sept 3

Rest day! I actually felt pretty good, though, considering my long run of the day before.

Sept 4

Last week a coworker who lives in the western suburbs of Chicago like me told me about the Salt Creek Greenway. I've ridden the Salt Creek bike path that starts about 4 miles from my house but had no idea that this trail connected up with several other trails in the area to form a 26 mile long route that ends in a large forest preserve northwest of where I live. I found the idea intriguing so I downloaded a map and made it my goal to ride the entire thing. Sunday turned out to be the perfect day for it.

I instructed Jason to pick me up at the end and I packed my bike jersey with Clif Energy Shot gels and a granola bar, filled up my water bottle, and set out on my bike.

The ride went very smoothly and except for a few spots the trail was clearly marked. I wasn't going very fast and a few times I had to stop and check my map but I enjoyed every second of it. Including riding from my house to the trail head and then from the official end of the trail to where Jason was waiting in the car I rode a total of 32.83 miles!

I had some Garmin issues, though, so what the Garmin recorded is a little short and the ride may actually have been a bit longer than the recorded amount. Maybe closer to 33.5? Either way, it's still the longest I've ever ridden on my bike. I can't wait to do it again and maybe one day soon ride there AND back! And remember to take pictures. I was enjoying myself so much that I completely forgot.

Salt Creek Greenway Route by snmnstrz21 at Garmin Connect - Details

The only downside is that there are a few major street crossings where you have to wait for traffic.

Total running mileage: 34.79
Total biking mileage: 32.83
Total strength workouts: 1

Hazards of Summer Running

There are a lot of things that are less than perfect about running in the summer. The crazy tan lines are just one of them.

But the other, bigger issue is the heat. After dealing with a record breaking heatwave throughout most of July we thought we were in the clear. But the summer heat reared its head once again at the end of last week. And of course it decided to show up on the day I'd planned to run 22 miles.

Still, I really wanted to run with Kim and we figured we'd survived the brutality that was the heat of last year's Chicago Marathon. What's a little bit of running when it's 90 degrees outside?

I forgot how miserable it is to run long distances in that kind of heat. I was in denial.

Kim and I met at Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve at 7:15 AM on Friday. I'd taken the day off work so that I could run with her and get my long run out of the way and enjoy my long holiday weekend (yay for Labor Day!). Although Waterfall Glen is hilly, the crushed limestone path is a nice mixture of sun and shade.

We started out and the sun was still hidden by the overcast sky. The air temps were warm but not unbearable. We did one loop of the 9.5 mile trail, stopped at the car for some water, and the did a little bit more for a total of just over 12 miles. That's when Kim switched to her bike to help me finish out the last 10 miles.

I managed another three miles before my body and my willpower started to crack. By this point the sun had burned off the clouds and the temperature was rising. Although I'd been good about sticking to my run 2 miles-walk a minute strategy I had to walk a little bit extra at mile 15. And then I just kept walking more and more. I walked up the hills. I walked every half mile. Then every quarter.

When we finally made it to the water pump at my mile 19 Kim gave me a pep talk. I made a plan to run .9 and walk .1 of every mile. And walk the hills. That lasted less than a mile.

Then I started crying. And having trouble breathing. I think I freaked Kim out a little bit. It reminded me both of how I felt at the Chicago Marathon and when I did my sixteen miler last year. I underestimated just how much of an impact the heat has on me.

Kim hopped off her bike just before mile 21 and began running and pushing her bike. I couldn't even keep up with her! Still, she encouraged me to finish that last mile. I didn't really have a choice considering I still needed to get back to the car somehow!

Finally I hit 22 miles! All I wanted to do was collapse onto the grass. But, no, Kim made me keep walking while she got me some Gatorade and cold packs and a granola bar. I managed to stay upright long enough to swap my running shoes for my flip flops and then we went on a quest to find a creek in which to take a makeshift ice bath.

We stood in the creek for about 20 minutes before leaving for a late lunch.

This run was hard. Definitely the hardest one I've had so far this year. I think it was a combination of temperature, not enough rest between runs that week, and thinking about it too much.

Still, in the grand scheme of things, it wasn't a total loss! According to the McMillan Running Calculator I should be doing my long runs between a 10:30 and 11:30 pace. Even with all the walking (but subtracting the stops to refill my water bottles), I managed an 11:20 pace. That's still faster than my pace at the Chicago Marathon, too!

If anything, I learned that I'm a stronger runner than I think. And that having your best friend there as emotional support is key. I would have finished this run if I'd been by myself, but it would have been the toughest thing I've done in awhile. I'm much happier Kim was there!

22 Miles with Kim at Waterfall Glen by snmnstrz21 at Garmin Connect - Details

August Wrap Up

August was kind of a surprise month. I originally only had two races on the calendar but ended up racing every weekend!

August 6th - Just Book It! 5K
August 13th - River Run for Ryan "5K"
August 21st - Danskin Triathlon Relay
August 27th - DeKalb Corn Classic 10K

At least one of those was a bike race!

Other surprises for August?

*Totally skipping over doing a 16 mile run and doing 18 miles instead.

*Running every weekend with Kim.

*Having another awesome 20 miler.

*Running a total of 153.95 miles!

Holy carp, you guys! Almost 154 miles! That's almost double what I ran in July! And it's definitely the most I've ever run in one month. I'm pretty amazed with myself.

I give a lot of credit to Kim, though. Without her I probably wouldn't have run some of those longer weekend runs. We really do make a good team.

Multicolored

Ever wonder why most running shorts and pants are black or at least dark colored? Most of mine are black. I have a few exceptions, most notably my two pairs of pink shorts. I always wondered why exercise shorts trended towards dark colors. Until last night. Basically, this is what I saw when I got home:



Yeah. That's kind of gross. I guess black shorts hide the sweat absorption a little better.

Anyway, last night's workout was a little tough. It's been awhile since we've done our usual drills and it's definitely been awhile since we did strides. As in, on the straight part of the track you pick up speed until you're running all out as fast as you can for about 20 meters.

First we did a two mile warm-up, though. It took a mile for my calves to loosen up but even then my legs still felt like cement. I blame the weight lifting I did on Tuesday night. Or maybe I just didn't eat enough during the day. Or maybe it's that it was so freaking humid outside. Who knows.

What I do know is that when it came time to do my first set of strides Coach Holly was standing at the spot where we should be running all out shouting "You can go faster!" So, I went faster. And then she laughed at me. "You have so much more speed in you, girl." I think we agreed I might be the fastest person on the track....for 20 meters. Too bad that's not a standard race distance.

At one point, though, I hit that 20 meter mark and something just clicked. I felt like I was flying. "Holy crap," I said under my breath. Unfortunately I wasn't able to repeat it. Reminds me of the time I was taking singing lessons and I was able to really let go and a beautiful sound came out of my mouth. I'm still trying to recapture that feeling.

What I don't want to recapture is the look of two-toned shorts after a sweaty workout. I think I'll be sticking to my black shorts on humid days from here on out.

Revenge of the Roller

At my Monday morning PT appointment for my hip my PT spent a good five minutes "massaging" my left quadricep. Digging in and making me wish I knew Lamaze breathing is probably a better description of what was going on, though.

"Have you been foam rolling?" she asked. I shamefully had to tell her no. My little baby blue foam roller has two huge dents in it from all the IT band foam rolling I've done over the past year. It just doesn't cut it anymore. So Kim made me the photo above to encourage me to buy a new, firmer, black foam roller. Insert inappropriate joke here.

Anyway! I promised my PT that I would foam roll after my run on Monday night. During the run my calves felt so tight I though they would snap and my quad ached the whole time. I guess that's what I get for running 30 miles in three days.

Thankfully my calves loosened up and in spite of the quad ache the run felt pretty good. I ran the last almost-4 miles with a new gal I hadn't run with before so it was nice to have some small talk (what do you do, where do you live, how long have you been running) to keep us occupied. The first part of the run went well, too, as I learned about the tradition of charging non-temple members to attend Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashana services. See, running is educational!

And, yes, I foam rolled when I got home even though my foam roller is done. My quads were still screaming at me, though, so it's got enough oomph for that. Plus, I laid on a tennis ball to really get at the most painful parts of my hip.

And I'm planning to rest tonight. I'm looking forward to it.

Monday Night OPRC Long Route by snmnstrz21 at Garmin Connect - Details

Weekly Workout Wround Up

August 22 - August 28

Aug 22
8.68 miles. One of those runs when I was happy to be done.

Aug 23

Rest day. I had a running club board meeting, though, so we talked events and websites and Chicago Marathon water station volunteering. Speaking of which, if you're interested in volunteering at a Chicago Marathon aid station, let me know. I'm one of two people in charge of Gatorade at mile 18!

Aug 24

4.8 miles with some speedwork intervals thrown in there. Plus the usual bike ride to and from track for a total of 5.6 miles.

Aug 25

I managed to get in a nice, easy 4 mile run during lunch. I originally wanted to go 5 miles but we called it a day at 4. You'd think my legs would have been toast after doing intervals the night before but they actually felt nice and loose. Strange.

Lunch Run North by snmnstrz21 at Garmin Connect - Details

I had grand plans to come home from work, make dinner, run to the gym to get in that extra mile, lift some weights, and then have Jason meet me to go get ice cream. Yeah. I made dinner and then we went and got ice cream and walked around downtown Oak Park. No gym but a very pleasant evening anyway.

Aug 26

Rest day! Ate pasta for dinner and went to bed early in anticipation of...

Aug 27

The DeKalb Corn Classic 10K! Turns out I got in that extra mile from Thursday doing an extra mile during my warm-up on Saturday.

Aug 28

14.5 miles on foot and 5.5 on my bike.

After our run and after our dip in the lake and after stuffing our faces Kim helped me change the header on my blog. Now I've got a new photo up there! Check it out. She took that during our 18 miler in Iowa a few weeks ago.

Total running mileage: 40.43
Total biking mileage: 11.1
Total strength workouts: 0

Another running-heavy week. But considering I'm training for a running-heavy event I think that's okay. I may not hit my 100 strength workouts for the year but I'm strangely at peace with it.

In Reverse

This past weekend it was Kim's turn to run 20 miles. Of course I joined her since I needed to do my long run as well. Just because I ran a 10K the day before doesn't excuse me from my marathon training!

Kim and I have also been really lucky this year to be able to do so many of our long runs together. Good thing, too, since we're planning on running the Milwaukee Marathon together. Of course, at the marathon we'll be both be running the whole thing. No one will be hopping on their bike at any point.

Oh, you may notice in these photos that we're wearing matching tops. We didn't plan that. I showed up at her house on Sunday morning and when she opened the door I realized we were dressed identically. I love it when that happens.

Anyway, we drove over to Independence Grove which is this beautiful park where you can get on the Des Plaines River Trail. We met up with Bobbi who was finishing up her 20 mile run and kept her going for her last four miles. Then we were off to do what was supposed to just be another seven miles for me.

But Kim talked me into doing a total of 14.5 instead of 12. Why? Well, partly because we had to go further to get water than we had originally thought and partly because we figured out on Saturday that if I ran 14.5 I would have 40 miles for the week. I don't think I ever hit 40 miles last year. The allure of having a 4 in front of my mileage for the week was strong.

Doesn't mean I felt strong during that entire 14.5. Oh no. I felt like death for the last 2 miles. Kim was awesome, though, and kept me going.

And then I switched to my bike and encountered another first: first time falling off my bike. Luckily I fell over because I was going too slow and I fell into the grass. An abrasion on my left shin and exacerbating an already bruised toenail were the only damage. Well, and my pride.

Kim finished her last 5.5 miles strong! I don't think I was much help since I was still pretty out of it. I'd neglected to bring enough Shot Bloks and since I originally figured I was only going to run 12 miles I didn't take it all that seriously. Oops. Still, we finished!

The lovely thing about Independence Grove is that in addition to all the trails there's also a small beach on the lake. We went over there after our run to cool off in the water. Natural ice bath!

Okay, it wasn't THAT cold. Well, maybe a little bit. The sun that we wanted to go away while we were running waited until we were in the water to hide behind the clouds. Thanks, sun. Thanks a lot.

Regardless of my struggles it was a fun time and I'm happy Kim had such a good 20 miler. Now I'm really starting to look forward to the marathon!

Long Run with Kim by snmnstrz21 at Garmin Connect - Details

DeKalb Corn Classic 10K

On Saturday I was up bright and early (well, technically just early since it was still dark outside) to join the running club for a 10K in a town about an hour west of Chicago. I hadn't run a 10K since last year's Turkey Trot so I honestly had no idea what kind of 10K shape I was in.

So instead of having a time goal I decided I'd just try to run negative splits. That strategy seems to be working this year.

Also, sadly, my personal race photographer (aka Jason) was indisposed with his own event (and no desire to get up at 4:45 AM) so I don't have any photos!

I know, I know.

Anyway, I did my warm-up with John and we talked race strategy. This first two miles of this race include going up and down a freeway overpass and the last quarter mile of the race is up a slight hill. I only meant to do a one mile warm-up but ended up doing approximately 2.25 miles. Oops.

After working up quite a sweat just from the warm-up I waited for the 3K race to start and then positioned myself near the middle of the pack for the 10K. Off we went at a little before 8:00 AM. The first two miles felt great and I was passing all kinds of people even with the ups and downs of the freeway overpass. I just told myself to slow down and not kill myself on the hill.

Mile three felt good, too. My splits were nice and even and hovering around 8:50 minutes per mile. Pretty good, I thought. After getting off the country road and residential streets we went into some wooded parks and I enjoyed the shade and the scenery. We had to run across some grass at one point but even that felt okay. Nice and springy.

Mile four must have been all downhill, though. I grabbed a cup of water at the aid station just past the mile marker and slowed down to drink a bit. I passed Maribeth in here at some point and was able to cheerily ask her how we were doing. Mile 4 was definitely negative split territory coming in at 8:34. That might have been a tad too fast....

....Because mile 5 felt like death and mile 6 felt even worse. I think this is where the rolling hills began, too. I started to crash during mile 5 and even when I was just .2 from the finish and Holly and Helen were yelling at me to sprint it in I couldn't find any more strength. I managed a sprint for about a tenth of a mile before my stomach informed me that I had to slow down unless I wanted a return visit of the bagel with peanut butter or the Clif bar I ate before the race.

So I crossed the finish line with an official time of 54:51. My third fastest 10K time ever and good enough for 10th place in my age group.

I have high hopes that when it's cooler and flatter I'll easily beat my 10K PR and maybe even break 54 minutes. In the meantime, I'll enjoy going to races with my club friends, seeing them get medals, and enjoying breakfast together afterward.

Dekalb Corn Classic 10K by snmnstrz21 at Garmin Connect - Details

Four by Four

Last night was supposed to be a "straights and curves" workout on the track. What does that mean? Basically it means you go fast on the straight parts of the track and you jog easy on the curved parts of the track.

Unfortunately the track is still closed.

Well, technically it's open but since the university is back in session they were using it for a soccer game (or maybe practice?) last night so it wasn't open to the public.

So Coach Holly had to improvise. It had been awhile since we'd done any intervals or anything truly speedy so she started us out easy. Two mile warm-up with drills followed by four (or six) 400s. The sidewalks that form the boundary of the university are almost a quarter mile on each side so it's easy to do 400s on them.

My goal was to do them at between a 7:30 and an 8:00 minute pace since my legs weren't used to short bursts of speed. Granted, I did run the River Run for Ryan at an 8:11 pace, but still.

The warm up felt good and I was able to pick up a little speed at the end. The 400s felt tough. I wasn't sure how fast to go because I couldn't really see the "finish line" of each quarter mile. Still, I managed to hit my goal pretty consistently:

1st 400 - 7:37 pace
2nd 400 - 7:58 pace
3rd 400 - 7:53 pace
4th 400 - 7:29 pace

Okay, maybe not that consistent.

Anyway, I decided to only do four instead of six 400s since my legs have been feeling pretty beat up recently.

Instead of doing a fourth lap with speed intervals I just did a cool down mile for a total of 4.8 miles for the evening.

And then I rode my bike home (oh, did I forget to mention I rode my bike to the track) where I promptly forgot to stop my Garmin. Meaning I apparently had the most epically slow 3 mile bike ride ever. Not that I can show you, though, because my Garmin decided it didn't want to upload my run or bike data to my computer. Stupid technology.

Lead Legs

Last night I felt like I was running wearing a full suit of armor.

Gee, I wonder why.

My legs felt so heavy and the first few miles of my run I wasn't sure I was going to be able to make it the entire way.

This would have been a problem considering I ran to the running club meeting spot with plans to run the 5.5 mile route and then run home for a total of 8.5 miles.

I got a late start from my house, though, and ended up having to book it for the last half a mile in order to make it on time. I was really sweaty (and tired) by the time we started our group run.

It was deceptively warm outside. The air temps were only in the 70s but the humidity must have been high. I was drenched with sweat and feeling really out of it even though we were only averaging a 9:30 pace.

Thankfully I was able to finish the group run. I'd pretty much drained the handheld water bottle I'd brought, though. And I probably could have used a Clif Shot Blok or two. I guess I didn't eat enough at lunch. Too many cookies and not enough real food, I suppose. Damn those cookies our boss baked and put in the kitchenette!

At the finish of the group run there were two women from a local massage place giving free 5 minute stretching and massage sessions. It was glorious to have someone help me stretch out my hip flexors in such a way that I can't do on my own. And the rest break gave me the energy to run home. I had company for most of the way home, too. Big thanks to speedsters Helen and Steve for slowing down enough for me to hang with them for awhile.

It was dark by the time I got home (at 8:15) which makes me sad. Summer and the subsequent lighter evenings that come with it are definitely on the way out. I won't miss the heat and humidity for running but I will miss the daylight. Guess it's time to break out the blinking lights and reflective bits!

Monday Night OPRC w/run to and from by snmnstrz21 at Garmin Connect - Details

Weekly Workout Wround Up

August 15 - August 21

Aug 15

The long Monday night route is supposed to be 8 miles but for some reason my Garmin only measured it as 7.81 miles. Hmmm.

Also, I wore my black SkirtSports running skirt and got major chaffage on my right inner thigh. Guess that will teach me to get cocky about the Body Glide.

Aug 16

3.95 miles during lunch.

After work I was so tired it was ridiculous. Since I wasn't feeling up to a full-on strength workout a la NROLW, I went with a workout I saw linked on another blog awhile back:

Yoga and Kettlebells. Of course, I don't actually own kettlebells, so I had to use dumbbells

The workout left me sweaty and my legs a little shaky. It seemed too easy, though. I used 8 pound weights. I could have easily used 10 if I'd had them.

Although, to be honest, I was pretty sore later the next day and even some on Thursday. So maybe it's a good thing I only used 8 pounds?

Aug 17

5.42 miles in circles (or, really, squares) with a total of 5.75 miles on the bike to get me to and from the track.

Aug 18

Rest day!!

Aug 19

I rode the ~10 miles to work again. I'm still trying to figure out what to wear when I ride my bike. This morning I left the house in a short-sleeved shirt and capris and felt cold. But then I warmed up after awhile. I guess it's sort of like running? If you ride a bike, what do you like to wear?

Aug 20

20 mile run! It went great. My only concerns are that with our gas station water break and my bathroom stop my total time was close to 4 hours. Fingers crossed that I can hit mile 20 during the actual marathon in closer to 3:45 or 3:50.

Also, I hope that there aren't crazy mosquitoes on race day. Oh my god. I have so many mosquito bites it looks like I have chicken pox. On my butt. And that was WITH bug spray.

Aug 21

14 mile bike ride as part of our triathlon relay team. Well, plus another two miles that I rode from where we parked to the start line. However, I walked my bike back after the race since I felt guilty leaving Kim and Claudia walking while I zoomed off.

Total running mileage: 37.18
Total biking mileage: 31.75
Total strength training workouts: 1

Danskin Triathlon Relay Race Report

I think the above image perfectly sums up what it's like to participate in a triathlon relay. We are so very obviously a cyclist, a swimmer, and a runner.

A few weeks ago Kim offhandedly mentioned to me that a few women in her running club were trying to put together relay teams for the Danskin Women's Triathlon in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin on August 21st. I said it would be fun to do the bike portion of a triathlon relay so that I could get some practice riding my bike hard without worrying about saving myself for a post-bike run.

Next thing I know I'm on a team with Kim! And we were all ready to sign up when our swimmer announced she'd fallen off her bike and broken her wrist! Crap.

Thankfully, I know a pretty good swimmer. Enter Claudia, a member of the Oak Park Runners Club, who I happen to know swam competitively since the age of 4 or 5. She's signed up to do the Chicago Triathlon on August 28th so I figured maybe she'd want a practice swim in a race setting. She jumped at the chance and our team was born and christened "One Leg at a Time".

Kim has a great write-up over on her blog so I'll send you over there if you want all the details. Here are my thoughts in bulletpoint format:

Race volunteers were incredibly uninformed about all the logistics. This is supposed to be a race for beginners but I would have been so confused if I'd never done anything like this before. Or maybe I was more confused because I have done something like it before. The only person who seemed to know anything was a super-creepy woman who informed me that "body marking is optional!" Weird.

The bike course was beautiful but a little hilly. A lot of newbie cyclists and the fact that the relay team wave started almost last made it so I passed a ton of people. I gave up on calling out "On your left!" since I would have had to say it every 30 seconds.

I have no idea what various speeds feel like on the bike. My goal was to do 18 MPH. I managed 17.7. The last 4 miles or so were at 19 MPH. I need to figure out how to change my Garmin to display MPH when I'm cycling. That might help.

I was happy to see there were mile markers on the bike course but I didn't realize they were only every 2 miles. Imagine my surprise when I saw the Mile 8 marker but didn't recall seeing 5 (or 6) or 7! The ride went really fast!

The 20K course was actually more like 22K (14 miles as opposed to 12) even though I got distracted and started my Garmin late. That was fine with me but I guess some people were complaining about it. Hey, I was having fun and I didn't really want it to be over.

After I was done with the bike portion and had handed off the timing chip to Kim, Claudia and I went and stood by the finish line and cheer. Once Kim crossed the finish line we all got our medals and then I braved the crowd to see what our official finish time was.

We finished in a total of 1:29:03. 1/2 mile Swim - 12:29, Transition 1 - 1:37, 14 mile Bike - 47:51, Transition 2 - 1:01, 5K Run - 26:04.

I saw a "3" next to our finish time but wasn't sure what that meant. After wandering around trying to find someone who knew something, Kim finally discovered this meant we'd finished 3rd out of 33 teams! Sadly, only the 1st place relay teams got awards but 3rd is totally awesome!

It was a fun event that I'm glad I did with friends. I would definitely do another triathlon relay but maybe not this one. I suppose, though, now that I know it's very laid back I would be more prepared for the weird conflicting information and the lack of bike etiquette (lots of people riding two abreast, not staying to the right). Regardless, I'm thrilled that Kim mentioned it to me and that we were able to get a team together. I'd never done any kind of relay before this year and now I've done two. It really does combine the best of many worlds: friends, exercising, and racing.

Danskin Triathlon Relay - Bike Portion by snmnstrz21 at Garmin Connect - Details

Three and Twenty

When I looked at my total mileage for last week I realized that if I wanted to keep going with the 10% increase thing I was going to either need to add in another day of running or run 20 miles on Saturday.

Since my schedule was such that squeezing in another short run during the week was probably not going to happen, I decided I'd try for my first 20 miler of the season on Saturday.

Thankfully I had company!

Kim, Claudia (from the Oak Park Runners Club) and I were doing a triathlon relay on Sunday so we had to go up to Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin on Saturday to pick up our packets. We all had to do long runs, too, so we figured we'd do it together on Saturday. Kim directed us to the trail head of the Des Plaines River Trail. At first we weren't sure we were going to be able to run. Rain and thunderstorms followed us most of the morning. And having run my first 20 miler in less-than-stellar weather I wasn't looking forward to doing it again.

Thankfully the storms cleared up right as we stepped onto the trail. We also counted ourselves lucky that the air temperature was cooperating. Starting a long run at 11:00 AM in August is dicey but we tempted fate. Overcast and upper 60s/low 70s? Fine by me.

Claudia and Kim only planned to do 16 miles so we did an out-and-back on the trail. We took 1 minute walk breaks every 2 miles and I was feeling pretty good. Shortly before mile 8 I was running along, minding my own business, when Kim said, "Oooh, look! A snake!"

Cue my screaming.

I hate snakes. Even 12 inch long garter snakes.

I tiptoed around the snake and practically sprinted to the 8 mile marker. I was REALLY apprehensive about going back the way I just came but thankfully the snake had moved on to wherever it is that snakes go when they're not laying in the middle of trails.

Between miles 11 and 12 we took a short detour to a gas station to refill our water bottles. I took a caffeinated strawberry Clif Shot Energy Gel to supplement the non-caffeinated Clif Shot Bloks I'd been taking every two miles. It was surprisingly tasty! Unfortunately, I don't think my tummy liked it so much since I started having some GI issues toward the end of the run. Good to know.

Other than having to make a restroom pit stop when we finished the 16 miles, I felt pretty strong. I knew I had it in me to do another 4 miles. So while I used the facilities Kim and Claudia hopped on bikes so they could keep me company on the last bit of my run.

I finished my 20 feeling strong but tired. I was really glad Claudia and Kim were there and that Kim was entertaining us by using her phone to play upbeat music. Amazingly, nothing hurt post-run. My knees felt okay. My hip felt fine. My quads were tired but not painful. My GI tract was still mad at it me but it wasn't anything one more trip to the bathroom and some Immodium couldn't fix.

I plan to do another 20 miler in a few weeks but I'm thrilled to have already done this one. It's such a confidence booster to have a good 20 mile run and I'm thrilled I was able to share it with my friends.

20 Miles with Kim & Claudia by snmnstrz21 at Garmin Connect - Details

Steady as She Goes

Wednesday night we did another steady state run. Last week Coach Holly commented on my blog post to tell me I should speed up, not slow down during these runs. We input some conservative times into the MacMillan Pace Calculator and came up with a steady state run pace of 9:40. Meaning that the run should feel like an effort but not so much that I'm out of breath or my legs are burning.

I did my warm-up mile with another running club board member so we could talk "business". She is faster than me so I discovered that I accidentally ran my warm-up mile at the pace I was supposed to run my workout. Oops!

Warm Up by snmnstrz21 at Garmin Connect - Details

Then it was straight into the workout of 40 to 50 minutes at that 9:40 pace and I found myself alone. Somehow I'd lost all the people who were my pace. Okay. That will help me work on pacing myself, I thought.

I did pretty well the first two miles. 9:38 and 9:37, respectively. Except that if you look at my pace chart it's all over the place.

Steady State Run by snmnstrz21 at Garmin Connect - Details

I'm just no good at running the same pace for any period of time straight. I think it's one of the reasons I've always found running on the treadmill to be so much more difficult.

Or maybe my legs just wanted to speed up. I can't see how, though. They felt like ground hamburger. Sore, stiff, and heavy. Too many days of hard workouts, I guess.

In spite of the lack of a flat line on the graph, I am getting pretty good at saying what pace I'm going to run and then actually hitting it or getting within a few seconds.

Tricksy Weather

I swear yesterday the high was only supposed to be in the low 80s. I figured at noon it would still be only in the upper 70s.

I should have known better when I left my house wearing a cardigan and felt a little warm.

Still, I soldiered on and rallied the troops for a lunch time run. Kim was even able to join us!

We went south on the lakefront path because it's usually less busy and I like the scenery a little better. Did you know that 70,000 people use the lakefront path daily? That is a LOT of people!

Turns out the weather felt a lot warmer, too. That 9:25 average pace felt pretty rough towards the end and all we did was 4 miles. Of course, I was running on tired legs having done almost 8 miles just the evening before.

Kim and I stuck together, though, and I was even able to grunt out some answers to her conversational questions.

Afterwards, though, I was wiped. I know I just said that sometimes a run leaves me feeling energized. Yesterday, though, all I wanted to do was fall asleep at my desk. Doesn't help that the sun comes in my office windows in the afternoon and makes me warm and sleepy.

Regardless, it was nice to get out there and enjoy the day.

Lunch Run South by snmnstrz21 at Garmin Connect - Details

Energizer Running

Marathon training is tiring. I spent most of yesterday in a daze. I almost fell asleep on the table at the PT's office while she was digging her elbow into my glute that's how tired I was. And looking at my calendar for the next few weeks makes me even more tired.

But, strangely, a good run leaves me feeling energized. Yesterday I could have easily fallen asleep at the drop of a hat. But instead I laced up my shoes and went out with the OPRC for an (almost) 8 mile run.

It was a beautiful evening for a run. The humidity was low, the air temperature was warm enough to not be chilly but cool enough so I didn't sweat like crazy, and the sun stays up just long enough for me to get in those miles. Perfect.

For the first half I ran with one of my usual buds who informed me that he wanted to run fast so he could get ready for the 10K at the end of October. Okay. I picked up the pace after the first mile and we were flying at 9:00 minute miles and a little faster. It felt great to be running faster than usual and not struggling so much. Yay for fall!

I took the second half much easier. I ran with someone I'd never really run with before and who didn't know the 8 mile route very well. We discovered I'm not very good at giving directions while running. I just zone out and run by muscle memory, mostly. Oops.

Anyway, it was a great run and since it was our Run of the Month I followed it up by hanging with the crew and enjoying dinner at the local Greek restaurant outside on their patio. Perfect evening for running and a perfect evening for sitting outside. Both left me feeling way more energized than I was at the beginning of the day.

Doesn't mean I'm not tired now, though. Maybe I need to go for a run!

Monday Night OPRC Long Route by snmnstrz21 at Garmin Connect - Details

Weekly Workout Wround Up

August 8 - August 14

Aug 8

5.5 miles in the rain. 5.5 glorious miles.

Aug 9

Nothing. I had some intentions of lifting weights after dinner but ended up on the couch instead. Oh well.

Aug 10

5 miles around the perimeter of our usual track location. I didn't ride my bike to track either because I had some errands to run beforehand that were easier to do in my car.

Aug 11

Rest day! Actually, it was sit-in-the-car-and-travel day. After work I joined Kim for a trip to her family's cabins on the Mississippi River in Guttenberg, Iowa.

Aug 12

18 miles!!

But that wasn't all I did on Friday. Oh no. I also did this:

Water skiing! My very first time, actually. And, yes, I got up on my skis on my first attempt. On legs that just ran 18 miles. I can't stay up for very long (think in terms of seconds) but still. There may have been a lot of water up my nose, but was so much fun! I can't to try again on fresh legs.

Aug 13

2 miles to the start line and then a fun (and fast) 5K race.

Aug 14

Absolutely nothing. Unless you count sitting on the beach or using the current as a lazy river.

Total running mileage: 33.44
Total biking mileage: 0
Total strength workouts: 0

Well, that wasn't the most well-rounded week ever. But I actually managed the 10% mileage increase all the cool kids talk about. Last week I ran 30 miles so if you take 10% of that and add it together you get 33. Which is what I ran this week. Yay!

Hopefully this week, though, I'll be slightly more balanced.

River Run for Ryan 5K Race Report

A few weeks ago when Kim and I were planning our weekend trip to Guttenberg she discovered that while we would be visiting there was a local 5K taking place on Saturday morning. After getting our 18 mile run out of the way on Friday we decided to do the 5K on Saturday morning.

When we woke up the sky seemed threatening. Lighting and thunder and rain kept up until just before we needed to leave for the race. Then the rain let up and we were able to run the 2 miles to the race start. Yay for small town races!

However, not only did the rain let up but the sun came out and I swear the temperature rose by 10 degrees! I admit, I was looking forward to another rainy run. But when we arrived at the registration tent I already had sweat pouring off of me. At least it made the volunteer comment that we looked like "serious runners". That made us laugh. I was a little worried, though, because our warm-up 2 mile run felt rougher than I would have liked. My legs basically felt like lead.

Run to the River Run for Ryan by snmnstrz21 at Garmin Connect - Details

I decided to run in my just a running skirt and sports bra. Good decision. It was warm! But not as warm or humid as my last few 5K races. Thank goodness.

Anyway, this race was very low key. The purpose of the race was to raise money for the National MPS Society and to support the son of the race organizer. There were probably less than 150 people running and I think most of them were friends of the family. We started on the track at the town's athletic facility and after we lined up the race organizer gave us a description of the course.

He counted down from 3 and we were off. About 200 meters on the track, a brief bit across the grass, and out onto the streets for the first half of the race. I wanted to really get negative splits this time since I came so close the previous week. When my first mile beeped at 8:21 I thought "Crap. I went out too fast." I'd even warned Kim about going out too fast when we were still together at the start!

But I decided to see how well I could do. We turned off the streets near the halfway point and went up onto the walking path that borders the Mississippi River. There was a lovely breeze blowing in off the water. It would have been even better if it had been blowing in from the side instead of straight into my face, but I was still grateful.

The second mile ticked by at 8:16. Okay, I thought. Now to see if I can pull off an even faster third mile. I decided to try and pass as many people as possible. I picked out people ahead of me and tried to pick them off one by one. I don't think I got passed at all the entire race, but especially not towards the end. Even though I was dodging the 1 Mile Fun Walk participants I was still gaining on people.

There's a girl in pink who had taken off at the beginning. I wanted to pass her so bad. She wasn't in my age group but I still wanted to beat her. When I pulled up alongside her I looked over and said, "Don't worry. I'm not in your age group." And then I pulled ahead.

We had to run down a steep grassy hill and then practically come to a stop in order to squeeze through the gate to get back onto the track. But since I love me some track I was excited to sprint to the finish.

Instead of a race clock they used the clock on the football score board. I was pretty excited to look up and see my time started with a 24! But then I looked down at my Garmin and was disappointed to see the race was only registering as 2.99 miles! Boo!

Also, this race is so low key that they don't have a website and they don't use any kind of timing company. So for my "official" time I'm going by what my Garmin says. Which is 24:33. But I'm not counting it as a PR since the course was over a tenth of a mile short. However, I totally ran negative splits! Goal accomplished!

Then there was my not-so-secret goal of wanting to place in my age group. They did 10 year age groups instead of 5 year ones so I had no idea how well I'd do. Turns out I did well enough for second place!

Kim did really well, too. She came in a bit behind me but got a medal of her own....also second place!

Hooray for matching medals!

This race was such a different experience from so many other races I've run. No mile markers, no water stations, no chips or clocks or prize money. Just a community coming out to support one of their own. And it felt good to be part of that.

River Run for Ryan 5K by snmnstrz21 at Garmin Connect - Details