BLOGGER TEMPLATES AND TWITTER BACKGROUNDS »

Monday, March 8, 2010

Recovery run?

2010/03/08 --- 6.82 miles in :59:46.40 on: road
(Pace: 8:45.9/mile)

I was just going to do a short, easy recovery run since I did the half yesterday, but I was feeling good and did the 6 mile route. I tried keeping it slow, but it didn't turn out that way. The new shoes, Nike Vomero's, felt really good too and I'm happy with them so far. I got back to the studio and realized I had another half hour so I hit the resume button on my Garmin and took off again, but the trip around the block only lasted 4 minutes so I just quit after that and figured I'd save it for tomorrow.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Hooters to Hooters Half Marathon 2010

March 7, 2010

ME
1:51:26
8:30 pace
8th out of 35 Age Group
186th overall

CHELSEA
1:58:12
9:01 PACE
2nd out of 15 Age Group
269 overall

I was a little nervous about Chelsea doing this one with me. She has never run over 5 miles at one time but wanted to try it anyway. Not feeling to smart letting her do it either.
It was in the mid-30's when we got down there, but warmed up to the mid-40's by the time the race started. This was a much smaller race which I was looking forward to.
I broke a cardinal rule in running and that is to never do anything new before or during a race. First, I wore brand new shoes. I just couldn't run in those Saucony Triumphs anymore...too many odd and different pains every time I wore them. I tried them out for 100 miles and took them back to the store and exchanged them, knowing I would have to use new ones because I didn't want to wear my Asics either (hate last years Nimbus model but the new ones come out next week!!). I actually loved the shoes and didn't have a problem with them at all. The other thing I did which shouldn't have is used the GU Chomps. I've used GU gel before and it didn't always agree with me and people told me the chomps didn't upset their stomach the way the gel does so, I DON'T KNOW WHY, but decided to try them out, of all days, TODAY! My stomach was TORN UP the entire race and I couldn't get my mind off it. I guess I tried them because I was concerned with the fact that I don't drink anything on runs up to 18 miles. That's not good and wanted to give myself something.
I planned on trying to stay around 9 minute miles and wanted to beat 2 hours, so I kept looking at my Garmin and I stayed in the 8.5 minute miles for the whole race. I don't know how that happened. I never run that fast in any training runs. Maybe I should! It's funny how you can drop a whole minute/mile or more during a race. I've never even actually run full out. I never push myself too far past "comfortable" because I worry about pulling something, overheating, or overworking myself into some major problem. So I consider myself a recreational runner who isn't too concerned about times and I like it that way.
I did like this route through the Ft. Myers neighborhoods this morning and over the bridge. There were a couple rock bands set up and one was in a quiet little neighborhood and they were just BLARING at 7:30 in the morning. I'll bet the neighbors weren't happy. The bridge was a little steeper than I thought and I was worried about Chelsea, but I'm used to training on a steeper one all the time. There were quite a few people standing in their bathrobes that came out to clap and cheer us on. I tried to smile and wave at every one of them.
Chelsea took off again at the starting line and I kept her in view, but around the 3 mile mark, she had slowed down to me and was walking, I pointed at her and pointed forward and off she went again. I did not want her to stop and had told her to walk if she has to, just try not to give up. A few miles later she did the same thing but I had to just pass her and keep going and was so hoping she would continue. On my return over the bridge, I was so happy to see her coming down and we gave each other a smile and thumbs up. I was relieved!
I think it was a nice run for me. I did better than expected. I'm really proud of Chelsea and she can't wait until the next one. She also won a nice engraved beer (gatorade) mug for coming in 2nd place in her age group.

Gasparilla 2010

0:25:53 was my official chip time. 22 out of 642 in my age group and 986 out of 9647 people. 47 degrees
Chelsea got 0:24:06, 32nd in her age group and 579 out of 9647 people. She also won a Gasparilla mug with top 10% on it, but we didn't know she won anything and left, so one of her track team members picked it up and brought it home for her.

I haven't written in a while, but wanted to go back and mention the Gasparilla 5K that I ran with Chelsea. Her track team was there also.
It was freezing cold and drizzling when we got up there. I had my shorts on with pants that were two sizes to big over them and then just a tank top and my jacket. I didn't know what I was going to do once the race started, but Chelsea just stood out there with a pair of shorts on, tank top and a sweat jacket. We went to the starting line 45 minutes early and probably a good thing because it was packed. This was the highest registration they have had for the 5K yet, 9647 people for a 5K! There was a special section in the front for the elite runners and once they were in, the man called for people with yellow bibs. Chelsea told me we had yellow bibs and she was right!! I don't know how that happened and why we had them, but we went up with the elites. =) The National Anthem started and so did the RAIN! It had been just a drizzle, but when she started singing, it started pouring!
Gun sounded and off we went. Chelsea took off immediately which I was really happy about and me with my huge pants and shorts still on. I was dying of heat within the first t minutes, but left them on. The course was alright except those damn brick roads I keep having to run across in these 5K's lately and this time it was wet and slippery so I slowed way down. I'm so afraid of tweaking my ankles just right and not being able to run at all for weeks. Been there and it drives me crazy!
All in all, the race was good. I've decided that, as I have been my whole life, I'm a longer distance runner. The 5k's make me feel like I have to sprint the whole way and I can't sprint for nothing. The 5k's are over just when my muscles are getting warmed up and I get comfortable. They are probably good for me though so I'll keep doing them.