Sunday, September 30, 2007
Capital Pursuit 2007
I did Capital Pursuit today, a beautiful 10 mile run in downtown Des Moines and through the Drake University area of town. This was my first race since I began training regularly. I was a little nervous this morning, mostly because I knew this is typically a pretty fast field. The course was secured for a 12 min pace. Yikes....My paces lately have been pretty high, depending on the day, some in the high 12's, 13's and even some days I have been in the 14's with more walking. I've been joking about whether or not I needed to memorize the course. I knew I would finish with some walking, but I also wanted to have a decent race and get an official time. My husband encouraged me to treat it like any other long run and also just to have fun.
I felt pretty out-of-place at the start. I didn't really know anyone and they all looked like amazing athletes to me. I did strike up a conversation with another gal who had a water belt on -- we were practically the only ones. I felt like such a novice and joked, doesn't anyone else need water? I told her my fear was the stations would be closed when I came through. She laughed but I told her I was hoping for around 13 pace. She was so encouraging and nice and said a year ago she had 70 pounds to lose after her 4th pregnancy and could barely move. I told her she looked amazing. Then someone came by and congratulated her on her last HM pace of 8:30. GULP. I asked for her to cheer for me at the end!
Finally we got going and I felt pretty good. Most of the pack had left me by about .5 mile! The first mile seemed to take forever and I thought I must be doing a good job of conserving. 10:59? Uh oh. I kept moving and didn't seem to have any ill effects from the quicker pace. I found some other women back of the back of the packers. For the first 3 or 4 miles the course continued to be secured, and I tried to keep with the 12min cop car. I had to fall back alittle but kept it in my sights and only walked through water stations. Some gals were run-walking and I stayed with them somewhat.
At mile 5 we were all together and I saw my husband and kids. I said, "my babies!" and got a little teary. They had gatorade and a little cup of Sports Beans. They tasted awesome. I caught the walkers and each took a bean. Then I left them for good! What a boost. This was a strange part for me though. I was nearly maintaining a 12 pace, totally shocking myself (and I think my hubby too) and for all intents and purposes, having the run of my life, yet, I was behind the cop car and nearly last. I tried to tell myself not to be lonely or get down and just think of it as my normal run. It was a little hard, though, definitely humbling, but fun and I was so happy that I was running well and my body seemed to be holding up.
The water stop at 6 was out of water and packing up. After that, I struggled to stay with the pack up van! :) No problem, I had my own little crew. Hubby kept driving ahead and stopping. The kids would yell, "GO MOM GO!" Thank God, because I hardly saw anyone else!! One lady asked me, "what is this?" My smart alek reply: "the back of the pack!" I turned the corner at 7 and thought, 3 miles, all down hill, I can do this!! I continued to see my crew and then the pack up crew. I think 8.5 to 9 was maybe the hardest, but not that hard and I kept moving. I kept thinking that I couldn't believe how well I was still moving and feeling.
When I got back into downtown for the last mile, I started seeing people leaving with medals. I really was the only runner I could see looking forward. I never looked back though. I thought it might make me sad. Most people cheered and that kept me going. I could still see the cop car! I should have never looked at myself in the storefront windows, I thought I looked horrible but also was proud that I was finishing. My sweet crew was a few feet in front of the finish, they cheered me in and saw me get my medal. I walked over to the gatorade and then back to my crew. I remembered to stop Garmin at the gatorade stand and was astounded to see 2:04 for 10.24 miles ~ 12:10 pace !! I really hadn't looked that much and had originally thought I would be around 2:15 or even 2:30 possibly. I must have started Garmin a little early and of course, didn't shut it off right away, but I was still fairly amazed. ** official time** 2:00:58
We were standing there a few minutes when one of the gals I had passed (I think there were only 3 or 4!) came in, I cheered for her but I don't think she heard me. Right then, they started taking down the finish line!! It hit me then, that I should at least get an official time!! I walked back and saw Tom Green from Runner's Lounge and my shoe guy and spoke to both briefly.
For my first real race, I really don't think this could have gone any better. My hydration and energy were great and my body held up. Feet are a little sore but they were troupers. I never really was that winded, which I just can't believe at this pace. I am humbled by the 900 or so people that finished well ahead of me and wonder if I could've pushed myself a little more. I will update if/when I get an official time. My crew was the best. Thanks Curtis, Nate and Jay!
I felt pretty out-of-place at the start. I didn't really know anyone and they all looked like amazing athletes to me. I did strike up a conversation with another gal who had a water belt on -- we were practically the only ones. I felt like such a novice and joked, doesn't anyone else need water? I told her my fear was the stations would be closed when I came through. She laughed but I told her I was hoping for around 13 pace. She was so encouraging and nice and said a year ago she had 70 pounds to lose after her 4th pregnancy and could barely move. I told her she looked amazing. Then someone came by and congratulated her on her last HM pace of 8:30. GULP. I asked for her to cheer for me at the end!
Finally we got going and I felt pretty good. Most of the pack had left me by about .5 mile! The first mile seemed to take forever and I thought I must be doing a good job of conserving. 10:59? Uh oh. I kept moving and didn't seem to have any ill effects from the quicker pace. I found some other women back of the back of the packers. For the first 3 or 4 miles the course continued to be secured, and I tried to keep with the 12min cop car. I had to fall back alittle but kept it in my sights and only walked through water stations. Some gals were run-walking and I stayed with them somewhat.
At mile 5 we were all together and I saw my husband and kids. I said, "my babies!" and got a little teary. They had gatorade and a little cup of Sports Beans. They tasted awesome. I caught the walkers and each took a bean. Then I left them for good! What a boost. This was a strange part for me though. I was nearly maintaining a 12 pace, totally shocking myself (and I think my hubby too) and for all intents and purposes, having the run of my life, yet, I was behind the cop car and nearly last. I tried to tell myself not to be lonely or get down and just think of it as my normal run. It was a little hard, though, definitely humbling, but fun and I was so happy that I was running well and my body seemed to be holding up.
The water stop at 6 was out of water and packing up. After that, I struggled to stay with the pack up van! :) No problem, I had my own little crew. Hubby kept driving ahead and stopping. The kids would yell, "GO MOM GO!" Thank God, because I hardly saw anyone else!! One lady asked me, "what is this?" My smart alek reply: "the back of the pack!" I turned the corner at 7 and thought, 3 miles, all down hill, I can do this!! I continued to see my crew and then the pack up crew. I think 8.5 to 9 was maybe the hardest, but not that hard and I kept moving. I kept thinking that I couldn't believe how well I was still moving and feeling.
When I got back into downtown for the last mile, I started seeing people leaving with medals. I really was the only runner I could see looking forward. I never looked back though. I thought it might make me sad. Most people cheered and that kept me going. I could still see the cop car! I should have never looked at myself in the storefront windows, I thought I looked horrible but also was proud that I was finishing. My sweet crew was a few feet in front of the finish, they cheered me in and saw me get my medal. I walked over to the gatorade and then back to my crew. I remembered to stop Garmin at the gatorade stand and was astounded to see 2:04 for 10.24 miles ~ 12:10 pace !! I really hadn't looked that much and had originally thought I would be around 2:15 or even 2:30 possibly. I must have started Garmin a little early and of course, didn't shut it off right away, but I was still fairly amazed. ** official time** 2:00:58
We were standing there a few minutes when one of the gals I had passed (I think there were only 3 or 4!) came in, I cheered for her but I don't think she heard me. Right then, they started taking down the finish line!! It hit me then, that I should at least get an official time!! I walked back and saw Tom Green from Runner's Lounge and my shoe guy and spoke to both briefly.
For my first real race, I really don't think this could have gone any better. My hydration and energy were great and my body held up. Feet are a little sore but they were troupers. I never really was that winded, which I just can't believe at this pace. I am humbled by the 900 or so people that finished well ahead of me and wonder if I could've pushed myself a little more. I will update if/when I get an official time. My crew was the best. Thanks Curtis, Nate and Jay!
Labels: humble pie, PR, Race Report
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
My Old Standby Route
Today I did my old standby route, the route I have done off and on for years. I have used it to judge my readiness for 5k's in the past. It is 3.8 miles. If I can do this a few times before a 5k event, I am usually feeling pretty good! I may have mentioned that before this year, I have run very sporadically, never allowing much progress, and never staying with it for very long. By "judge my readiness" I totally mean, "get confident that I can run the whole thing." :D
I am really excited about where I am now (except for some whining that I could be further if my arches would cooperate.) I had been training for a FULL marathon in October but that has been altered to a HALF (yes, the feet) and I am doing a 10 mile race this Sunday. Hardly the same as "I hope I can run the entire 5K."
So I decided to run this route and see where I am. Thank goodness I wasn't disappointed. I can imagine all this buildup to find out I'm slower or something. I can remember past runs where I was doing good to make it to the 2 mile marker. Others, that the hill from 2 - 2.7 did me in. Today, I just ran it with confidence that I could do it, no games of "to the next corner," "to the next light pole".....
I am really excited about where I am now (except for some whining that I could be further if my arches would cooperate.) I had been training for a FULL marathon in October but that has been altered to a HALF (yes, the feet) and I am doing a 10 mile race this Sunday. Hardly the same as "I hope I can run the entire 5K."
So I decided to run this route and see where I am. Thank goodness I wasn't disappointed. I can imagine all this buildup to find out I'm slower or something. I can remember past runs where I was doing good to make it to the 2 mile marker. Others, that the hill from 2 - 2.7 did me in. Today, I just ran it with confidence that I could do it, no games of "to the next corner," "to the next light pole".....
3.8 miles ~ 44:37 ~ 11:38 pace. I have used Favorite Run for quite a long time so I think I can say with pretty good confidence that my previous best for this route was 46:27.
Another milestone I noticed is that since the "onset of planned, regular running" on May 25th, I have surpassed the 300 mile mark. Having a schedule has done wonders for me!!
Tomorrow, I am visiting a sports PT to see what he thinks about my dumb feet. Wish me luck.
Another milestone I noticed is that since the "onset of planned, regular running" on May 25th, I have surpassed the 300 mile mark. Having a schedule has done wonders for me!!
Tomorrow, I am visiting a sports PT to see what he thinks about my dumb feet. Wish me luck.
Labels: milestones, PR
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Practicing Run Walk
I was reading about how Wes ran his 5k over the weekend with 20sec walk breaks and had an awesome PR. I decided I was going to channel him and try this with my 5miler today. I went out pretty fast (for me!) and even decided to go up the gi-normous hill rather than walking up it and starting my run at the top. In retrospect this may not have been the best idea, expending myself so early, but it made for an interesting run.11:13 - last time I tried to run 5 hard, I started at 11:51. 11:13 made me happy and nervous although I knew I was going to do some walk breaks.
11:19 - nice downhill, some *older* ladies on the path thought I was an absolute goddess. Well I WAS having another COORDINATED run, this time in beautiful shades of green, complete with yet another Bondi Band. :O) And pretty much anyone would have been a younger goddess to them. Hee hee. I think this included the first 20sec walk break.
12:08 - Getting a little more difficult. I think this included 2 - 20sec walk breaks!!
13:05 - Yikes, getting tougher, I think I did a 30 sec, and 1 or 2 60sec walk breaks. I'm starting to get addicted to walk breaks... hmmm. I am still moving along pretty well in between.
13:02 - I'm dying but I'm still moving. 2 - 60sec walk breaks but these are allowing me to run faster when I am running.
1:00:49 PR !! What?? How do I PR with something like 7 walk breaks in 5 miles?? Well, the obvious answer is that I am still really slow, but this also means there is lots of room and time for improvement.
I know I am putting up a good front on letting go of the marathon because of my damn feet, but I am still pretty bummed. I was doing the miles and cardio was coming along, but my feet just can't do it. I'm sure the half is do-able since I have already done a 14. I don't know if this run technically qualifies as speedwork or some sort of intervals (I am totally ignorant in this department as I have mostly just been trying to put in the miles and don't really have a "race pace"), but I decided to shake it up and do something different. I do need to come up with a formal plan for the next 5 weeks before the half.
On the bright side, I can work on some things like this, get some more miles under my belt for more of a base and keep experimenting with the feet so that I put myself in the best light for a future marathon. Heck I might even get excited about cross-training to improve my running! :^)
Labels: PR, Walk Breaks
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