Category: race

Race: Step 4 Life 5K/10K Race

Place: Brighton, CO

Date: April 21, 2012

Time: 27:16

To quote U2: “EL-E-VATION!”

So…here it is.  I live in a river valley.  The Ohio River Valley here in Southern Indiana.  I’m so close to Louisville, Kentucky, I can see it from my apartment.  Yeah.  New Albany, Indiana sits at an elevation of 449 feet.

Now picture for a moment doing your first run ever in Colorado at 5,063 feet.  Yeah.  Elevation indeed!

Every April, I fly out to Denver, Colorado for a science fiction convention.  No, really…I do.  I love visiting Colorado.  It’s such a beautiful state and every time I go out there, I hate leaving.  I long for the next time I’ll be back.  That’s how much I love it.  This year, since I have taken up running and am pursuing a goal of running a race in all 50 states at some point, I thought why not run a race and cross Colorado off the list.  My roommate found one…the Step 4 Life 5K/10K race that benefited lung cancer research.  Awesome.

I really, really wanted to do the 10K, but after much thought and evaluation, decided it would probably be best when going from river valley to mountains to do a test run on the 5K.  So, that’s what I signed up for.  And, believe me, I had a lot of people concerned about how I would do at it.  For me…I was just going to take it easy and do what I felt my body could do.

So, race morning came around.  A beautiful 52 degree, sunny morning.  I got up, ate a light breakfast of some gluten-free cereal and got dressed for the race.  The drive from Denver to Brighton took about 25 minutes overall, and we got there right about the time we hoped to.  I went to pick up my packet…and unfortunately…they couldn’t find my name on the list.  YIKES!

But, they were very professional about it and simply handed me a number, had me write down my information, and let me enter.  I had the receipt showing I paid for it, but they didn’t even ask to see it.  Awesome.  So, now that I was officially part of the race with my t-shirt and all, I went to pick up my timing chip.

This was apparently the first year that they used chip timing.  So, this was going to be a new experience for anyone who had run this before.  As I am getting pinned up and put, what I like to call the “house arrest timing chip” around my ankle, I’m noticing the other runners in the race.  They are all super fit.  No surprise.  Colorado is the home of the two healthiest cities in the entire United States (Boulder and Fort Collins).  So, there were people who had run the Boston Marathon that year, and people who were just all muscle.  Lean, mean running machines.  I consider myself to be in decent shape (although I admit that I do love my ice cream and chocolate too much for my own running good, but it never stops me!), but I was really intimidated by these other runners.

I guess that’s just natural.  I usually try not to compare myself to others that are running with me, because no matter how fit someone is (or not fit) you don’t know how well they perform when running.  I have been bested by people I thought I would leave behind in the dust, and likewise I have blasted past people I thought I’d never even have a chance of passing.  It’s just one of those weird running quirks.

Well, race time was upon us and I was stretched out and as prepared as I was going to be.  I booted up my iPod Nano and went to line up.  In my head I was just reminding myself to breathe (which is what my headband for this race said, btw!).  The announcer said that the 10K people were to line up first as they would kick off the race.  Then the 5K people.  Most of us didn’t hear him say they would have a separate start, but thankfully he said this before too many of the 5K people set out with the 10K people.  After a two minute gap, they turned us loose on the course.

I did start off slower than I usually do.  I really just wanted to see how I would do with the change in elevation and the thinner air.  But, I felt good as I headed out and found myself running at a decent, though not normal, pace.  That was a good thing.  If I felt good, that meant I could push it a little more.  After my first mile, I decided to do just that.  And here is where we hit some minor inclines.  No big deal now.  I run on hills in my practice runs, easy and hard, so I pushed past them without any problem.  And hey…I was passing people.  Me!  The lowlander from Indiana.  The one not used to running at this sort of elevation.  Yeah…I was passing and pressing onward.

The race course had a turn around point and as I passed a water station, the first of the 10K racers were heading back in our direction.  Except they missed the turn, and when someone shouted after them, the guy in the lead just darted across my path, almost knocking right into me and pushing me over.  I don’t think he would have stopped if that had actually occurred.  But thankfully I was paying attention, pulled up to a quick stop and then continued onward.  The turn-around point was a bit of a choke point.  I was catching up to people as we were reaching the cone to run around and there was no room to maneuver past them, so I had to simply run their pace for a moment until the breakaway.

And breakaway I did.  Down the hill I had run up, and then toward the water stop.  Carefully I crossed against the people still coming the other way and made my way into the final leg of the race.  One mile to go.  The course was a mix of gravel, concrete, and then…grass.  Yes…grass.  I love running on grass, but I wasn’t expecting it.  By now, I could see the finish line.  It still felt miles away and I was starting to feel the effects of the elevation.  I was more tired than usual, but I wasn’t about to stop.  This race was so much fun and I was having a great time and not really worrying about what time I came in.  Just finishing it would be amazing and awesome.  And that was my goal.

Over a wooden footbridge and down the straightaway to the finish  line.  I was heading into the last stretch.  Here is where I normally put on the speed and dash all out for the finish, but I didn’t hear.  I couldn’t.  Not this time.  But I did put a little more speed into it…but only a little.  I was tired.  I admit that I was tired.

And I finished.  My GPS watch stated at 27:10, but the official race results says 27:16.  So, either way…a respectable time.

Here is where the Step 4 Life 5K stands.  I finished, as I said, in 27:16.  I was the I was 24/87 5K finishers overall and 6/41 women.  And, of course, I finished 3/19 in my division.  Being that this was my first race ever at altitude, I think that’s pretty rockstar.  Yeah…I’m proud of that.  And in the end, I felt great.  I had an amazing race.  And if it runs again next year, you better believe I’ll be a part of it.

Maybe I’ll even attempt the 10K.  Maybe.

(On a side note, the second song to come up on my shuffled running mix on my iPod that day was U2’s “Elevation.”  Perfection!)

Race: Tomorrow’s Children 5K Fun Run/Walk

Place: Frankfort, KY

Date: April 14, 2012

Time: 25:32

Races are supposed to be fun.  No pressure.  No expectations.  Just get out there and run.

That being said…this was the first race I ever revisited to date…although it won’t be the last.  Of course, this was also a race that I showed really well at the first time I ran it, so expectations were actually there.  In my head.  No one was putting them on me.  But, I wanted to prove that I rightfully placed last year and the bad weather wasn’t the reason I won first in my division (30-39).

No pressure.  That’s a joke.

I woke up that morning and got dressed for the race.  It was going to be a perfect 54 degrees out at race time, so I was in my shorts and a short sleeve t-shirt…and opted for fun rainbow socks.  I don’t know why.  I was just feeling all Skittle-ish that morning, I suppose.

The drive to Frankfort always seems longer than it is.  It’s not really all that far, but I didn’t eat breakfast at home.  I saved my cereal for the ride and broke into it around 7:30 a.m. as we were heading into the Frankfort area.  I didn’t want to eat too soon and risk being hungry during the race, but I didn’t want to eat too late either.  As it was, I think I got the timing down perfectly.

The drive in got a bit stressful as my roommate never can quite remember where to go.  I race in Frankfort often enough, but it seems she always turns too soon and we end up getting lost.  This did happen.  And then once we got turned around, the bridge we were supposed to take was closed.  So we followed some detour signs, spotted some runners, parked the car on the street and found our way to packet pickup via “Eye of the Tiger” blaring up the streets of Frankfort via a stereo system.

I got my packet.  Then got my number pinned on me…and went to use the bathroom once more before the race.  As there was a pancake breakfast (not gluten-free…so sad!) afterwards, we had access to the church’s bathrooms (huzzah for plumbing).  Then, it was time to stretch it out.  And I really wanted to stretch well as my Achilles tendon on my left foot has been giving me troubles since my roommate accidentally stepped on it and did some minor damage.  So stretching was very, very important that morning.  My tendon was a little tender as it was so I wanted to warm it up without putting any strain on it.  I’d be doing enough of that with the run.

And before I knew it, the runners were getting into the road to line up for the start.  There was nothing really to indicate the start line, so one of the organizers got out there and waved her arms to indicate where we should line up.  And so…we moved forward and took our spots.  And somehow…I ended up where I never do…the front.

I went ahead and started my iPod because it would be one less thing to worry about as the race started.  It was down low so I could talk to people if I wanted and could clearly hear the announcements.  They had a prayer just before the race and then once the Frankfort police that were assisting gave the thumbs up…they got us on our marks, getting set…and we were off.

To say that I was up front for the entire thing is a stretch of the truth.  Considering the winner finished 9 minutes before I did means that while I was up at the front, I was nowhere near the lead pack.  Between the start of the race and mile one, which included a steep little hill, I was the second female within range.  The only other one was just ahead of me and just after mile 1, I passed her…only to be passed by two other women running together.  One I recognized as the overall winner of this exact race last year.  As I came up toward the capital, the other woman I passed went by me on the uphill part as well as two other females, who I ended up passing and never saw again as soon as it leveled out.  Damn, time to work on hill repeats.  I have got to get stronger on those hills.

I passed up the other woman again on the downhill and managed to stay ahead of her heading into mile 2.  At mile 2 I was even closing the gap on the two other women who were just ahead of me.  I was struggling a little because I knew that I went out really fast on this race.  I always tell myself not to, and to save it for the end, but I really got caught up in this one.  Probably because I felt like I really had something to prove.  Not to anyone else…but to myself.  I felt good as I ran down the hill and headed back through the city toward the finish line.  As I turned a corner, I could see the finish line clock and I did my best to pick up the speed…but I really just couldn’t.

My roommate was standing at the front of the finish, I could see her screaming, then hear her screaming, telling me to push, to dig, to go faster.  The two women ahead of me crossed together.  My roommate was pointing, flailing her hands, screaming at me to run faster.  And I found out why a second before I crossed the finish line.  That other woman, the one I battled back and forth with throughout the course, blew right past me and beat me to the finish line.

By one second.

I slowed and went through the finish gate, feeling…a mix of emotions really.  The tag of my bib was torn off and I saw my roommate moving toward me.  “Shit!” I said, despite being at a church.  I wasn’t happy.  Not at all.  I had nothing left at the end and that was my undoing.  The other woman, Heather Drake (a name I will never forget!), proceeded to move to the side and throw up.  Well, at least I made her push hard enough to puke up her breakfast, right?

Shit.

Racing has never been about winning medals and placing for me.  I do it because I love it.  It means getting out to run with other people who love to run.  The vibe, the atmosphere…it’s all just amazing.  And it keeps me going back to races, no matter how short or how long.  And it challenges me…pushes me to do better.  But for some reason, being beat out at the last second by someone I passed and didn’t see again…stung.  It really, really bothered me.

I languished for a moment on the sidewalk as I drank down a bottle of water.  Then I remembered I never stopped my GPS watch, so now my time was all off.  So I cussed again, threw a little fit, and then took a few deep breaths and reminded myself that this was supposed to be fun.  My roommate helped with this too, telling me that I had a good race, that I ran well, and that while I still haven’t reached that elusive sub-25 minute goal, I ran well and finished.  And she was right.  Why was I being so petty?  Was it because I had placed first in my division last year and just felt I needed to do it again for this race to mean something to me?  Probably.  But it was the wrong attitude to have.

After taking a moment to reflect on this, I stood up and went into the church bathroom to get changed out of my running clothes.  I put one of my Icy-Hot patches on my tendon and headed up to the pancake breakfast, despite not being able to eat anything there.  That was okay though, I had brunch plans back in Louisville, so I just sort of took a seat, put my foot up and waited for the awards ceremony to start.

Once people were given time to eat, the awards were handed out.  For overall women, there was a tie for first (so it went first and second) and then Heather Drake (dammit!) took third overall.

One second.

But I knew that this also meant that I had, in fact, defended my title, which was the original goal in the first place.  My name was announced…first in my division, and I went to get my medal.  I was happy.  I really was.  I would have been even if I had taken second or third.  It was a good race for a good cause, and that was the important thing.  Defending my title just put a little extra pressure on me that I probably didn’t need to carry with me…and in the future, I’ll remember that.

I was quite proud of myself for accomplishing my original goal.  So, I was one second away from being one of the top female finishers overall.  ONE SECOND!  *cough*  So, I didn’t set a new PR.  What I did do, however, was run strong, run fast, and run well.  In the future, I’ll pace myself better.  I will save some push for the end.  And one day…I’ll see the results of this.  For now, I will call this a job well done and a race well run.

And I’m okay with that.  Even that one second.  Okay…maybe I’m not over that yet…but I will get there.

With all that being said, my official results of the Tomorrow’s Children 5K Fun Run/Walk are that I finished the race in 25:32.  I was the I was 17/108 finishers overall and 4/42 women.  And, of course, I finished 1/22 in my division.  All that being said, it was a damn good race with damn good results.

I can’t wait to run it again next year.

Race: Bunny Hop 5K

Place: Hoff Woods Park, Westerville, OH

Date: April 7, 2012

Time: 25:24

Cheer up sleepy Jean…Oh what can it mean?

Welcome to my tribute race to the late, great Davy Jones from The Monkees.  I know what you’re thinking…you’re probably wondering why I dedicated an Easter race to a member of the band The Monkees.  Well, there is no method to my madness this time.  The answer is simple…I wanted to.

Nothing bummed me out more than coming out of my lunch meeting at my office on February 29 and finding out about the passing of Davy Jones.  You see, I was one of those people who never stopped listening to The Monkees.  I owned the entire series on VHS…later DVD.  I have all the CDs.  I’ve seen The Monkees in concert twice.  I earned the nickname “Monkeegirl” in high school.  So, yeah, I was in a deep funk when I heard about Davy Jones.  I wasn’t prepared.  And it still saddens me.

So…an idea came to mind to dedicate a race to him.  My next race where this was a viable option (aka: not part of a racing series), was the Bunny Hop 5K in Westerville, OH.  Why was this a good choice?  Well, for one thing I’d be with two friends (my roommate and my awesome friend Jenn) who were also fans of The Monkees.  And…because it was a good, little race so nothing would really detract from the meaning of the tribute (despite the presence of the Easter Bunny).

With the idea now in my head, I signed up for the race and got my accessories ready.  What accessories, you might ask.  Well, my Bondi Band read “Daydream Believer” across it and I (and my cheering section) wore sashes that said “Homecoming Queen” on them.  And if you have never heard the lyrics for The Monkees song Daydream Believer, you have either been hiding under a rock or need to get more cultured in music.  The chorus is:

“Cheer up sleepy Jean…oh, what can it mean…to a daydream believer and a homecoming queen…”

Get it?  Daydream Believer.  Homecoming Queen.  Brilliant.

So, after work on Friday, my roommate and I hopped into the car and drove from Indiana to Columbus, Ohio, to hang out for the weekend with the amazing Jenn.  It was a long drive and we got there in enough time to eat Pink Salad (it’s delicious!), make signs for the following morning, talk, and hit the sack.

Morning came way, way, way too soon.  I was still a zombie when the alarm went off.  But, I got out of bed, and started to get dressed for the race.  Thankfully before leaving Indiana the day before I went back to my apartment on my lunch break to grab warmer clothes to run in.  It was freezing that morning and I had originally packed my running skirt and a short sleeve tech shirt.  No good on a morning in the very low 30s when frost is on the ground.  My pants and running jacket made the journey with me.  It had been awhile since I had to break out the jacket.  Then again, Columbus seems to know when I’m coming to visit and gets very cold just to tick me off (true facts!).

So, dressed and with a Blueberry Muffin LäraBar in hand, my friends and I headed out to scrape some frost off the car windows and head to the park for packet pickup.

It was an easy drive in, despite the need to turn around and grab a forgotten cup for the coffee that would follow the race.  Once at the park, we found a good place to park and I went and grabbed my packet.  Inside was a gourmet cookie (I gave it to Jenn as I can’t eat it with my gluten intolerance), a water bottle, bunny ears, my shirt, and my race bib (no chip timing!).  I got my sash pinned on and my number too.  And then I got a sign pinned to me that indicated who I was dedicating the race to.  Then the three of us retreated to the car for a little while to warm up.  I hate the cold.  With about 20 minutes to go before the race, we finally crawled out of the warm sanctuary and I set to stretching a bit before we were directed toward the starting line.

The starting line was over in another parking lot.  It was just a short little walk across a path.  There was a chalk line drawn across the pavement and a yellow flag was set up to mark the start.  Awesome.  I stretched a little more, spotted the cameo appearance by the Easter Bunny (it was, after all, the Bunny Hop 5K the day before Easter Sunday), and listened to the announcements.  Our lead vehicle was a guy on a “pink Easter bike.”  I don’t know what it is about me and park runs and guys on bikes.  This is the second one.  He was going to guide us on the path.  So, after the announcements and a warm up of bunny hopping (for real), I readied my iPod, my GPS watch, and soon, we were off.

Apparently the head of the pack was taking the Bunny Hop 5K pretty seriously because my roommate later told me that the announcer said, “Guys!  It’s only a fundraiser!”  But some runner types are so serious about every race.  And that’s okay.

So, the run was a good one.  We wound our way out of the park and down through some residential neighborhoods.  It was a relatively flat terrain, with only small inclines.  I was really doing my best to keep my usual 5K pace, but I was having some trouble with my Achilles tendon.  It was pulled earlier in the week and I’d been doing my best to baby it in preparation for this race, and the upcoming half marathon in a month.  So, I started off a bit slower and worked my way up to pace.

The run was fun.  At the point where we turned around, the guys directing us saw me coming and said, “Daydream believer and a homecoming queen.  AWESOME!”  I pumped my fist in the air and smiled.  YES!!  They got it without seeing the tribute sign attached to my back.

I knew I was making pretty decent time, mostly in part to my GPS watch.  LOVE that thing.  It really does help me keep on pace and push when I need to.  I didn’t push too hard though, not with the Achilles tendon screaming at me.  So, I just sort of stayed at my pace, and wound my way back through the neighborhood to the park.  We were directed into the last turn and there was the finish line.  The big inflatable arch was really hard to  miss.

As there was no chip timing for this race, when runners crossed the finish line, we were handed a card.  All we needed to do was put our name on it, and they would fill out the rest with our time.  Oh, and for the first 50 men and the first 50 females to cross the finish…we also got medals.  Awesome.

It was a fun race.  But I was cold, in need of my Caribou Coffee, and ready to get some actual food in my belly.  As Caribou Coffee has nothing for food that is gluten-free, I brought some gluten-free bread and peanut butter with me, and built a sandwich using pieces of overly-ripe banana on one slice and slices of apple on the other.  YUM!

So, the official results are that I finished in 25:24 (that sub-25 minute 5K still eludes me!).  On the official results page, my entry is out of order, so I’m adjusting the results to show my proper placement (for the record, they have me higher than I really am).  So, with that being said, overall I finished 24/154 finishers and was 9/83 female runners.  Not too bad.  Not bad at all.

This race was special.  I didn’t set a new record.  I didn’t run to my full potential.  But I had a good time.  And I found it to be a fitting and perfect tribute to a musical icon who I admired throughout my life.  And that’s what mattered to me that day.  Having friends at the finish line is awesome.  Having friends at the finish line holding signs with lyrics to Daydream Believer on them…is priceless.  My friends rule.

Davy Jones…I hope you appreciated the tribute.  Rest in peace.  You’re free.

Race: Papa John’s 10 Miler

Place: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, KY

Date: March 31, 2012

Time: 1:29:33

This was the big one.

Not only would this equal out to an amazing long run for my half marathon training, as well as really give me an idea of the pace I’m capable of, this also was the final leg of the Louisville Triple Crown of Running.  Before I go into the race itself, let me just say this…kudos to Louisville for putting on this amazing and very fun racing series.  I’ve enjoyed the build up to the Papa John’s 10 Miler, with the 5K to start it off, and the 10K in the middle.  This has been a great series to be a part of.  I loved every mile of every race and experienced a PRs at every single one.

How’s that for my first year doing this?

So, the morning started off in typical fashion.  I woke up at 5:00 a.m. to get dressed for the race, eat some Honey Nut Chex cereal and a slice of Udi’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Bread with a schmear of Wowbutter (nut-free peanut butter) on it.  Mmmm…gluten-free breakfast for the energy to get through 10 miles.  WOOT!  I was feeling good.  I slept amazingly well.  Apparently we had storms come through.  I heard some thunder around 10:30 p.m., but missed the rest of it.  I’m okay with that as storms usually wake me up and I really, really wanted to be well rested for this one.

I updated my iPod Nano and quickly mixed up my vegan chocolate protein shake for after the race.  That went into a makeshift cooler, my running bag was packed with a Lärabar (Apple Pie, for those wondering), a granola bar for my roommate, and I put some chunks of dehydrated papaya into a baggie to carry with me should hunger hit on the long run.  A quick brush of the teeth and getting my number pinned on and we were set to make the drive into Louisville.

And that went smoothly up until we hit a line of traffic on I-65.  BAH!  Apparently they are busting up the concrete barriers to, allegedly, put in taller ones.  But until that happens, it’s just a mess.  But we got through it and made it down toward the stadium, where we were now on a mission to find parking.  Our original route, it turns out, was blocked and we were directed to a very far-off lot that was not to our liking.  We basically had to hike toward Churchill Downs from there and it was not close.  So, we skipped parking there, turned around and headed back.  Where, somehow, we stumbled on side roads that got us around the road block and into a parking lot for the people in the race.  SWEET!!

The hike then started.  From our parking spot, we headed toward Cardinal Stadium, then through a parking lot, up a flight of stairs to a bridge that carried us toward our destination.  The start was near a Starbucks…which you know, caffeine and coffee are a runner’s best friend.  I never deviate from my pre-race food though so by-passed it, knowing I was going to a locally owned (and my favorite coffee shop around here) afterwards.

I had a little bit of time to stretch before finding a place at the starting gate.  I didn’t want to be too far back, but I didn’t want to be too close either.  I usually fall in the middle of the pack, but I got into that area before it got stupid-crowded, so I was near the front…so that it took me…just about 2 minutes to get there after the race kicked off.  Not bad, considering my roommate headed toward the stadium for the finish line wait and there were tons of runners and walkers still waiting to round the corner to even see the starting gate.  LOTS of people in this race.

Another important note I should make is that this was my very first time racing with a GPS watch.  You know, I swore up and down that I would never be one of those runners who ran with one of those watches…but I needed to stop running with my iPhone.  Seriously.  So, I treated myself to a Garmin 210 and absolutely love it.  I didn’t get to test it out pre-race though because the night I was going to go for a run, I ended up twisting my knee at work and thought it better to ice it and rest.  Good decision in the end.

So, the basic break-down is this.  The first mile went by quickly.  And I held a pretty steady pace throughout the entire race.  That is something I am very proud of.  The second mile was just as fast and soon we were rounding a bend heading toward Mile 3.  This is what I knew about Mile 3.  At Mile 3, we entered Iroquois Park, which, I have run before and I know the hills are KILLER!!  So, I was trying not to go out too fast because, I had 10 miles to run, and because I knew I would have steep hills to contend with.  This was a smart move.

The hills were just as I remembered them…long and steep.  And I did my best to push on at each one.  I never once walked.  My pace slowed…but only slightly.  I credit that to my practice on hills as of late while running outside.  I am off that treadmill as much as possible these days now that the weather is warming up.  Miles 3-6 were on hills, mostly going up, as the downward bits were not as long as the upward climbs.  Naturally.  But, my headband of choice today stated: “BEAT THE HILL” and that’s what I intended to do.  And I managed.  And finally, Mile 6 passed and out of the park we went.  And here is where I clocked my fastest pace on the entire race.  Yes…after running up hills.  After coming back to a flat track.  From Mile 6 to Mile 7, I was flying.  I didn’t even realize it until I plugged in my Garmin and uploaded the data.  Very proud that I can turn on the speed that late in a race.

At Mile 7, I knew all I had left was less than a 5K, so I tried to keep a good pace going, even though I knew I was starting to get fatigued.  I managed.  I powered on through Mile 8.  This was where we passed where we started.  I knew…the finish was getting closer.  I kept it going, loved that I was being told I was in the top half of runners in the race and then rounded the corner at Mile 9…to be greeted with yet another hill.  Oh, Louisville…curse you and your random hilliness.  This hill was the bridge we had to walk over to get to the start line.  I should have thought of that as we were walking it that morning that I’d probably be running up it later on.  But it didn’t occur to me.  Oh, miles 8-9 also meant running straight into the wind.  Of course.  So, hill and strong winds.  I can do this, right.  Yes.  Getting up the hill meant I was now heading into the finish.  Half a mile away and I could see the runners making the turn ahead to enter the stadium.  I had a corner to round, then a small straightaway and then…I rounded that corner to head toward the stadium entrance.  I rushed through the gate, hit the concrete, ran down the ramp, and then hit the turf.  Which, I wasn’t expecting.  And I had never run on that before so it was just a matter of getting used to it.

The finish line was on the opposite end of the stadium, so we had to round the field and head in toward the finish.  I knew I was doing better than my goal I had set for myself.  I didn’t realize how much better.  My roommate was on the sideline in the stands, cheering and clapping and telling me to GO!  I crossed the finish, smiling, and headed away from the finish area so other runners could come in and not run into me.

I found some stairs and got into the stands, found my roommate, and downed my vegan chocolate protein shake.  After that, we moved around and I drank up some water to rehydrate.  Then called my mom as I propped my feet up to get the blood rushing back to all extremities and out of my legs.  After talking to my mom, I went into the bathroom to change and prepare for the rest of the day, which meant a coffee stop, some shopping, lunch at P.F. Changs, and then the rest of the grocery shopping.

As it stands, my results for the Papa John’s 10 Miler are that I finished the race in 1:29:33.  I was 1599/6912 finishers overall and 79/573 in my division.  Let me tell you…I am way beyond thrilled.  All the hard training I’ve been doing for my upcoming half marathon has really been paying off.  I can tell with these results.  I’m right on par with where I hope to be for the half.  So, this is a great sign.

And with that…the Louisville Triple Crown of Running comes to a close.  And now I can’t wait to do it all again next year.  This was a blast.  I’m so glad I participated.

Race: Durbin Classic 5K

Place: Noblesville, IN

Date: March 24, 2012

Time: 24:59*

Yep, that’s an asterisk.

I don’t want to admit that that time possibly could be wrong. I really don’t…because this would have been my first sub-25 minute 5K race. And it fell perfectly into my half-marathon training program, which was to run a 5K at race pace. I was already going to be up in the area for the Celiac Awareness Tour, so this little race was perfect and not outside of my training regimen.  When doing any sort of training for a big event, in this case a half marathon in May, I try to stay within the parameters of my training program on my iPhone.  I definitely don’t want to get injured when I’m this close to my race.  For once, a race and the training distance coincided.

So, why might the time be wrong?  I’ll get to that.

It was a perfect morning for running…eventually.  You see, traveling to little races SUCKS.  I hate getting out of bed at 4:00 in the morning to eat something, dress, brush my teeth, pile everything into the car, and then drive for 2 hours to a little 5K race.  It just doesn’t seem worth it.  But, as there was actually an event I was attending going on…well…it wasn’t totally out of the question.  But sleep is very important as a runner needs to be well-rested.  I really, really would have liked those two hours to sleep, personally.  A runner has to do what a runner has to do.

I was going with a completely different race look on this one.  The night prior, I had found a pair of Superman socks that had capes hanging off the back.  Yes…I had to buy those.  There was no way I could walk away from those.  So, they were the base of the running outfit I put together.  My running skirt was a must.  And I actually, for the first time, wore a cotton t-shirt for this race.  When I graduated from college, my friend Amanda got me a Superman shirt…and it became my race shirt for the day.  In went my colored hair extensions (red and blue for Superman) and my headband (the bright yellow one).  I threw a couple of extra snacks into the race bag, tied on my running shoes, and called myself as ready as I was going to be.

My roommate and I left the apartment just as scheduled after eating a little something before hitting the road.  It was dark, and she was armed with Diet Mt. Dew…me with a bottle of water (HYDRATION!).  We set out toward Noblesville, Indiana, a good 2 hour drive from where we live, wanting to hit packet pickup around 8:00 a.m. or soon after.  The drive was dark, dull, but made better with the aid of my iPod and Bruce Springsteen’s new album.

We arrived at Durbin Elementary School pretty much when we needed to be there.  We found parking without a problem, grabbed my bag from the car and headed toward the gymnasium for packet pick-up.  There was a little chalkboard with the route mapped out on it and instructions for runners to turn right at the red cones and left at the blue cones.  Okay…I guess that shouldn’t be too difficult to remember…

I picked up my packet and went back outside to get pinned up.  After that, I started to stretch and just people watch.  This was a new area for a race for me and I could see a lot of kids were pinned up, two of which were in bright shirts that indicated kids running groups.  That’s awesome.  Lots of adults were around too, most running the 10K, although there were the few of us who were set on the 5K.  I would have done the 10K…but my training program said…5K at race pace.  No harm in a short run on a Saturday morning.

Without really any indication of where to go, my roommate and I ended up following a swarm of runners who suddenly started making their way down through the parking lot and out onto the street.  This was, apparently, where the race was starting.  Good thing we are lemmings and do what others do.  I got my good luck hug and went to find a good spot to start from, which I did, near the front on the right side.  Fantastic placement.  That was…until the children filed down and started to swarm in around me.  Granted, this is their race too, and some of them turned out to be damn fast runners, but…if usually it’s customary to line up by pace.  Eh…whatever.  I slid over to the left side, just a bit further back from where I was and let the kids have their place.  Fair is fair and they had just as much right to be there as the rest of us did.

The race organizer came down, whistle in hand.  And, with no real warning, he blew it and we were all off.  The race course wound through the roads, which were shut down for the race, cops monitoring the situation and keeping all of us safe during the event.  I started off at a good clip, without pushing too hard because I didn’t want to tire out too quickly.  Not only was I completely unfamiliar with these roads and the area, I was honestly out in the country.  No air pollution at all.  Crisp.  Clean.  Fantastic.  I was really feeling it.

Mile 1 came up and the lady with the stop watch ticked off our times as we passed.  Mine was at a flat 8 minutes.  Awesome.  I was going at a very good speed and I felt I was maintaining it, even over the, albeit, slight hills.  This course was mostly flat with only a few small inclines.  Good way to keep those legs engaged, yes?

Mile 2 came up next and all I totally missed the count on the minutes and only heard seconds being called out.  It was forty-six when I ran past, so…as usual, I just kept on going, focusing on posture, breathing, and the music going on my iPod.

I came around a corner and could see the red roof of the school in the distance.  That meant I was nearing the end.  I was in the last mile of the race and knew I’d need to start pushing it as I was getting close to the finish.  I rounded another bend in the road and could see the orange cones leading back into the parking lot.  As I went to run around the parked cars, the person with the stopwatch shouted off 23 minutes and some seconds.  Oooh…I was close.

So, I put on as much speed as I could as I made the turn in the parking lot and headed toward that finish line.  The announcer said, “And here comes Supergirl!” as I ran over the sensors and made my finish at a remarkable…first time yet…sub-25 minute 5K time.  Barely.  I mean…24:59 was almost 25…but technically…not.

I was thrilled.  I moved out of the finish area to grab a banana to munch on and some water to down for re-hydration purposes.  Then, I went to find a spot so I could watch other people come in and finish their race.  I love cheering people on and giving them motivation to just put on that last push.  Some of the walkers eventually started filtering in…just about the time the 10K was coming in for their finish.  This made for a little bit of finish line chaos, but everyone worked with it.

The finish line was filling up with racers and observers.  The kids sometimes got a little too close to the finish line sensor and their bibs would set off the buzzer again.  Finally the announcer asked for the kids to either move ahead of the finish line or to have their parents take off their bibs.  They happily complied and the excitement and spirit of a good race continued as happy finishers came in.

Save for one jackass.  Apparently early on in the race, he came in, made the turn in the parking lot and missed the sign that was set up that directed 10K runners back out and 5K runners toward the finish line.  He started to shout, “Where is the 10K?  Where is the goddamn 10K?”  First of all, dude, chill…this isn’t the Olympic trials or anything.  It’s a small, local race.  Second of all…you are around children…so please, cut the language and maybe act like a responsible adult.  Anyway…he came in and immediately just started bitching and complaining about everything to his wife, who sat there, nodding her head and encouraging him and agreeing with him.  I mean, he wouldn’t stop.  He was totally killing the mood.  For real.  So, we moved away.

The kids fun run was about to kick off and I went to go get changed out of running clothes and into street clothes to wear to the Celiac Awareness Tour.  As I got done changing and my roommate and I settled in at the gymnasium to watch the awards ceremony…even if I know I’m not winning anything, I love staying for these.  It’s good fun to praise the runners who really kicked ass on their run.

As the race organizers were getting things in order, my roommate pointed out that the results were posted on the wall.  So I hopped up and went to go check them out.  According to the 5K race, I came in 19th/185 overall and was 2nd/36 in my division.  I skipped back to my spot, texted my family and friends as is customary, and waited for the awards.

And this is why there is an asterisk by my race time.  The race coordinator started by announcing how great everyone did.  Then said that if it felt like we had really great times, it might be because he forgot to start the split times at the beginning of the race.  Oh…and the race course might have been just shy of the distance.  Everything in me fell because here I was with a sub-25 minute time, feeling like I finally managed that with all my hard work and running I’ve been putting into training…only to find out that two factors may have affected that.  UGH!  But, what can you do?  I got on MapMyRun this morning and mapped out the course, and if it is shy of the 3.1 miles, it is just shy of it.  Because I came up with a 5K distance when I mapped it according to the route.  Oh well.

So, the awards ceremony kicked off.  The coordinator had all the kids fun run participants come up.  We applauded and they all bowed, which, by the way, is adorable.  Then he invited up the two elementary school running teams that participated, and had them do the same.  More cheering.  And then, out went the awards.  Even those who won overall won their age groups, instead of how it is normally broken up with men and women.  Oh, and awards were not given out for those who ran in the 5K.  I’m sorry, but that’s sort of like saying a 5K isn’t good enough to award those who did really well in it.  I’m not looking for a medal, nor would I have gotten one, but honestly, whether running in the 10K or the 5K, I think those who excelled in each race should have been awarded.  But, it’s not my race and not my place to tell people how to run something.

So, with another race behind me, I leave this one with mixed feelings.  I’m a bit bummed that errors might have meant I didn’t run it as fast as my timing chip said I did.  Or that the race course might have been just shy of the standard 3.1 miles for a 5K race.  It bums me out.  Honestly.  Because I actually pay attention to my times.  I like to see how I improve, or where I struggle.  If I put in too much mileage in the days prior to the race, or if I rested appropriately.  And there is no way to judge that.  But, we’re all human and we all make mistakes.  Other 5Ks await…and I’ll just have to aim for the sub-25 minute 5K again…and again…until I properly, and rightfully achieve it.

If that isn’t motivation…I don’t know what is.

Race: Tri at the Y Indoor Triathlon

Place: Clark County YMCA, Jeffersonville, IN

Date: March 18, 2012

So…I’m a triathlete of sorts.

After a full day of running fun the day prior to this, I decided it would be fun to try my hand at a local triathlon.  Thankfully, however, this one was indoors and would not involve getting into the Ohio River, which I’m still pretty certain if I did, I would emerge a mutant.

That being said, this meant another early morning for me, though not as early as normal on race days.  My start time for the Indoor Triathlon event was 9:40 a.m.  So, I got up in enough time to at least have a good breakfast for energy without eating too late so as to give me cramps or make me feel sick.

I dressed…per instructions of the event…with my bathing suit on under my running clothes.  I ate a couple of scones and had some cereal around 7:00 a.m., giving my body enough time to digest it all.  My roommate hauled herself out of bed soon after that and she ate her breakfast.  Then, the rest of my morning prep and we were heading towards the Clark County YMCA in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

This was my first time at this particular YMCA.  I am always at the Floyd County one, as it is closer to where I live and work.  Let me tell you, the Clark County YMCA is sooooooo little.  It surprised me, really, as I’m used to the big YMCA I go to, where there are three levels.  This one was all ground level and the weights and fitness areas were put together.  The pools were little.  And there were only two lap lanes.  Now I understood why the 2 person heats were taking place.

I signed in and filled out a form before being told to wait and be called back.  My partner was supposed to be the Aquatics Director there at the YMCA, but she was sick.  So, I didn’t have someone to compete against…just myself.  That was enough given the state of my legs after the two races the previous day.

At 9:40 a.m., I was called back to the stationary bike.  Here, I was to pedal away, rack up the miles, and that’s what I attempted to do.  I adjusted the bike seat when I got there, but I think I should have gone down one more notch.  I was still a little higher than I liked, but I had already started.  Whoops.  Ah well, I made the most of it and just pedaled my heart out.  The guy monitoring the bike area was a lot of fun and kept me engaged with some discussion about travel and different places of the world to visit.  Including Japan.  I AM TRYING!!

Immediately after finishing the bike portion, I was sent over to the treadmills.  Here, I was told just to hit start.  These treadmills are so ancient compared to the high-tech ones at my YMCA.  So it took me a moment to get the speed adjusted, but I got it.  And I had to keep adjusting it because my legs were screaming at me.  But, I ran and ran and ran, because this is what I do.  And when I was done with that part, I went to change out of my clothes and head into the pool area for the last portion of the triathlon…the swim.

I had been dreading the swim.  My legs were tired.  I was tired.  And, while I love swimming, I’m not the strongest of swimmers.  Sometimes my roommate and I would go to the Y and we’d swim laps and I was tired after two lengths.  So, this was going to be my biggest challenge.  I got into the pool and away I went.  Yep…I was tired.  I took it slow and just paced myself as best I could.  I knew this would be, for lack of a better term, where I would flounder in the events of the triathlon.  But I got through it, and vowed that I would work more on my swimming because, damn, it kicked my ass.

With that done, I headed into the locker room to change, completely pleased that I had just competed in my first triathlon.  It was a lot of fun, but I am a long way away from being ready to do another one.  I’ll get there.  Now that I know what to expect, I can work on the areas I need to improve on.  And, maybe next time…I’ll take it outdoors.

However, this was a well-run, very fun event.  An Indoor Triathlon is a great idea for this area, especially in March.  Albeit, we’ve had a mild winter and it was 80 degrees that day, but it was a great way to be introduced to the concept of the triathlon.  Would I do another one?  Sure.  But only once I’ve trained properly for it.  Guess this means getting in the pool a little more often and working on my laps.

So, the results for the Tri at the Y were that I placed 7th in the bike portion, 3rd in the running portion, and 7th in the swimming portion.  Whew.  You know what?  That’s not bad for someone who ran two races the day prior and had never done a triathlon before.  I’m quite proud of myself and really understand what I need to do to prepare for the next time I decide to do three events in one race.  Triathlons are a lot of hard work, a lot of muscle power, a lot of willpower…but a lot of fun.

Maybe there is another one out there for me in the future…

Race: Run for the Gold 3K

Place: Frankfort, KY

Date: March 17, 2012

Time: 15:23

Second race of the day.  Second race series I entered.

While the Louisville Triple Crown of Running showcased it’s 10K race, the second in the series, the Frankfort Trifecta was about to kick off in Frankfort, Kentucky, the state’s capital, with it’s first race of the three race series.  I ran in the last race last year, not knowing it was part of a series until I got there, so I vowed to run it this year.  The first race just happened to fall on the same day as the second race of the Louisville series I was signed up for.  But, thankfully, the Frankfort race ran in the evening, kicking off at 6:30 p.m.

This isn’t the first time I have run two races in one day, but let me tell you…I need to learn to really, really rest between races.  My legs always suffer on that second one because I don’t know how to kick back and rest.  Not one bit.

After the 10K I ran in Louisville that morning, I was out and about in Louisville for a couple hours following brunch.  Shopping.  A few bookstore stops and then some couch shopping.  So it meant I was up and on my feet instead of letting them recover from the 6.2 miles I already ran in preparation for the short 3K race awaiting me.

A 3K is a bit of an odd distance.  It works out to about 1.86 miles.  So, very short, very fast race.  After a bit of shopping, my roommate and I headed into Frankfort, Kentucky.  I still needed to stop by and pick up my race packet, so when we got into town, that was the first thing we did.  After that…it was to find parking.

There was a basketball tournament going on in Frankfort, but parking wasn’t much of an issue despite warnings that it would be.  We found a spot.  I had been monitoring the weather all day, and as I was running in Frankfort (which always means rain), and we had storms moving in, I opted to wear my old running shoes in lieu of my new ones.  So, on they went (replacing my everyday walking shoes) and I went ahead and got my number pinned on.  We headed up the stairs and to the street level, where the beginnings of a street festival were being set up.

We occupied ourselves for a moment by ducking into what few stores we could find open.  A bookstore, but we never buy books new anymore…and a Celtic store.  The Celtic store clerk wouldn’t stop watching us…and I hate that.  Dude, I’m not hear to rip you off.  I respect the retail industry too much, but you staring at me isn’t going to make me want to buy anything from you.  So, we departed after a quick spin around the small store and headed to a café.  My stomach was beginning to rumble, so I snagged an apple and a bottle of water and we took a seat outside to feast on the pre-race snack.

And we still had about 2 hours before the race would run.  After we ate, we moved a bit further down the street to sit at a table and attempt to kill some time.  This was a long, long, boring wait.  Booths were being set up for the festival.  Some crazy sausage with oats in it booth was cooking away and people were scurrying along with White Castle sized sausage burgers of sorts from there.  More and more people were walking around with numbers pinned on now, so I didn’t feel so out of place.  Kids were setting up on stage with homemade drums to perform in a bit.  And my roommate and I were on my iPhone, looking up local restaurants and checking out menus and reviews.  You know…it’s never good when KFC is in the city’s top 10 restaurants.  *sigh*

It felt like an eternity of everlasting boredom just sitting there, so we took a short walk around the block and returned.  More performers were up on the stage.  A really good singer provided a bit of entertainment for awhile.  And finally, about 30 minutes before the race, I set out to stretch.  And…again, I couldn’t help but giggle at the people milling about, downing GU Energy Gel and Sports Beans.  Um…this is a 3K race, not a half marathon, yes?  I shook my head and finished off my stretches.

The announcement finally came to start lining up, so with that, I headed to the start area and got into what I figured was about my race pace.  There was a lot of fun energy among the crowd of runners, so that was awesome.  And then, before I could blink, we were off.

I’ve run Frankfort a few times (this was the first time not in the rain) and I know much of the normal race course.  It involves inclines at a few points, which is never a good thing on race-tired legs.  But I powered through them as much as I could.  There were some awesome volunteers and people out cheering as we ran through the town, made the turn just before the capital building, and headed back.  Thank goodness that when you go up a hill one way, you go down the hill another way.

I was hoping to come in at about 15 minutes.  When I rounded that final corner I saw the finish and powered it as fast as my very tired legs could carry me.  The announcers commented on with how I was powering it in for the finish, so that was encouraging.  But, I fell just short of getting done within 15 minutes…by 23 seconds.  But, on tired legs that never really got the chance to recoup…that’s not bad at all.  I’ll take it happily.

I love running in Frankfort.  It’s a race-friendly city and you always get to run up to or around the capital building.  This is why, when I have the chance, I race there.  After I crossed the finish line, I downed a bit of water and, since the storms were coming in, we didn’t hang around.  My roommate and I headed off to find the car in the parking garage and head back to Louisville.  We met the storm along the way.

It took a couple days for the race results to post, but they finally did.  The official standings for me for the Run for the Gold 3K, the first of three races I’m scheduled to run in Frankfort, aren’t what I hoped, but not bad at all.  I finished 7/122 in my age division and 104/793 overall in the race.  I’ll take that with a happy smile on my face.

But there was no rest for my tired legs yet.  The next morning would bring one more challenge before I could rest my weary legs.  But that’s the next post…

Race: Rodes City Run 10K

Place: Downtown Louisville, KY

Date: March 17, 2012

Time: 54:43

It was a warm morning when I got up to dress and prepare for the second race in the Louisville Triple Crown of Running.  Only two weeks prior, I had run the Anthem 5K Fitness Classic.  Now, the Rodes City Race 10K was here.  And, for once, I wasn’t feeling nervous about it.  I was having a nice morning.  I got dressed in a pair of shorts, without having to worry about wearing pants over them prior to the race.  I wore a hoodie for the time being over my shirt, but I was more than happy to hand that off to my roommate that morning before I went to line up behind the start.  It was a good day for a race.  The weather was cooperating.  So, I took my time, ate a light breakfast, brushed my teeth, and then my roommate and I headed down to Louisville to hopefully get some parking and head over to the race itself.

Luck was with us that day too, as we were able to park in the parking garage nearest to the starting line.  Awesome.  We got parked, grabbed our stuff, and headed down the stairs.  Packet pick-up was happening on the ground level, and that was a little hopping.  A news crew was there, filming some of the racers getting their packets, their shirts, and prepping for the run.

You see…the Louisville Triple Crown of Running is kind of a big deal.  The Rodes City Run 10K…it is too.

I had a bit of time to mill about before I began to stretch out a little.  I did my usual stretches, working my muscles as much as I could.  While I’ve done 6.2 miles and beyond before, it was already warming up outside and I wanted to make sure my body and joints were warmed up too.  I had just finished my stretching when I glanced up and saw the start area was already beginning to fill up with runners.  So I hugged my roommate, she wished me luck, and away I went to find a place in the chaos.

It was still early…but I got a decent spot.  Just standing there, the sun not even up yet, but the sky brightening, I could already feel it getting warmer.  I chatted with a couple of guys who were nearby, about running, about marathons, about the best cities to run.  They didn’t have numbers on, so I think they were running bandits in this one.  I don’t begrudge anyone their workout, but, register.  We have all paid to be a part of this…everyone should do the same.  Besides, it’s for a great cause.

The National Anthem played and soon the wheelchair racers were off.  They are amazing and inspiring for sure.  We were so close to the start now.  There were 200 runners who were seeded for this race, among them the winner of the Anthem 5K Fitness Classic, who would go on to win this race too, smashing the course record in the process.  The women’s course record was also smashed.  It was a good day for a run, despite the unseasonably warm weather.

All of a sudden…we were off.  This is where the walk to the start, then the initial push happens.  I love this part.  The thrill of crossing that starting gate and setting a good pace.  Today, we were hitting the streets of downtown Louisville, Kentucky, and the sun was rising as we were running right toward it, blinding us all until we were able to make our first turn.  It was already hot.  Very hot.

My first (and only so far) half marathon was run in Chicago in September in 80 degree heat.  It was hot.  And my pace was affected by it.  The same can be said for 60 degrees and rising temperatures in May in Louisville, KY.  The water stops were a godsend.  The water was refreshing, even for the quick sip I got before tossing the cup.  Best to stay hydrated when the heat hits.  The course was flat, beautiful, winding through the Highlands, around Cave Hill Cemetery, and just offering up a gorgeous setting for a hot, sunny race.

I felt good.  I felt better than good.  I knew my pace was slower than I would have liked, but it was constant, and that’s what matters.  Heat can take its toll on you in a number of ways.  I was just going to run this smart and I’d finish when I finished.

It was an amazing thing to watch those mile markers tick away as I was running those streets.  My legs were getting tired, I knew that, but I also had a finish line waiting for me.  Pressing on, I fought fatigue and the heat of the morning and rounded that last turn before sprinting with all I had left in me toward that finish line.  I crossed it, throwing my arms up in the air, feeling sweat just dripping from my neck.  Like I said…it got hotter and hotter on the run and I finished it in less than an hour.  I couldn’t have been happier with that time either.  I was aiming for a bit faster, but with the warm March morning, this was beyond what I thought I was going to get.  A 10K in 54:38 is nothing astounding, but for me, it felt like such an achievement.  I had a great run.

Finding my roommate after this race was much easier than at the 5K.  She paced me over to the recovery area, where I bypassed the offered goodies and grabbed my gluten-free, vegan vanilla protein shake instead from a cooler she kindly carried with her.  That and a couple big glasses of water and I was already feeling better.  The coldness was doing me good.  And we proceeded to the buses that would shuttle us back to the parking garage.  We had to wait though, because they needed more people to ride.  But eventually we were let on the bus and taken back to the stop…kinda.  The bus overshot the parking garage and let us off at another one, but the walk back and up the stairs was just what my legs needed.

We celebrated my achievement with brunch at North End Café, where I had a delicious (and gluten-free) plate of their Migas (three eggs scrambled with blue corn tortilla chips, jalapenos, and cheese (mine was soy cheese)), served with home fries.  I was getting some protein and carbing up for later that evening.

Why?  Because I was running in another race.  In fact…the second race I was heading to would be kicking off another series of race events in another part of Kentucky.  The Frankfort Trifecta was beginning that evening and I had a date with a 3K road race there.

But that’s for the next update.

As for the official standings of the Rodes City Run 10K, I was 118/665 runners in my age division and 1880/7453 finishers.  Not too shabby for my first time taking on the Rodes City Race 10K, and especially given the unseasonably warm weather in March.  Honestly, I was thrilled.

On March 31, the finale of the Triple Crown happens…with the Papa John’s 10 Miler.  Yep…a good long run is heading my way.  I’m nervous and excited all at once.  And in the meantime…I’m simply trying to do well in my training and make it to the finish when all is said and done.