Three 10k's, another 5k and an 8 mile race report



Photo by Jack Brennan - TRR Club



Taconic Road Runners St Patrick's Day 10k

March 17,2013

First Race I ran entirely with a friend.  Helped Beth attain a 10k PR.  No expectations just a fun race.  Nice cool conditions perfect for running.  This was my first race two years ago and of coarse I love the wearing of the green. 

MHRR Joseph McDonald/Bill Crusie 10k

June 1,2013

A marathon Day for my B man who ran the kids race, played his Soccer game, a baseball game, went swimming at a friends house and then to a Movie Birthday party in another friends yard.  How he stayed awake I do not know!

I ran the mile race with my boys and then when my husband brought them to B's soccer game I ran the 10k.  I really enjoy this race since it is in my backyard on one of my regular routes.  But it we were in the midst of our first humid spell here in NY and this race was brutally hot.  I knew there were hills and it would be a long 6.2 miles.  I ran half the race with a nice man named who kept my head in the game and running at a good clip.  It was nice to chat and kept my mind off the heat.  They had changed the route a bit to avoid the final stretch being a hill and in my opinion made it even hillier!

 I welcomed the ice and watermelon at the finish!  Made some small talk with a fellow runner who pushed me at the end and shared my refreshing ice with her. 

Club picnic always follows this race and I had to stay for awards since I had to accept the Age group awards for my boys who were already at the ball field for the day!

 

 

Putnam County Classic 8 mile run

July 4, 2013

A Hot and Humbling race around Lake Mahopac. TOTALLY Feeling both the heat and lack of miles run this past month. Slogged thru the entire race. Water stops were plentiful and I drank and dumped one on my head at each stop.  I was more than 15 min slower than I was last year.  Not my proudest moment but this was week one of my NYC marathon training plan and I could only improve from here right!!  I really appreciated the awesome fresh bagels and Fire truck with the open hose to cool off at the end.

Freedom 5k

July 6, 2013

Well I've heard of it but never been a part of a misdirected crowd.

I was feeling good despite the heat. This was a new race for the MHRR club and it started and ended on the beautiful campus of  Vassar College.   I ran the first mile in just over 8 min. I felt good about this and kept at it even in the beating sun.  I headed into what I assumed was 2 miles and then never saw a mile marker.  Suddenly people were running at me. I assumed it was an out and back section, even tho I didn't remember one on the course map.  Then people started to say turn around. It was very confusing. I finally turned around. I am totally guessing on the mileage since we apparently missed a turn somewhere and were turned around but not quite as a group. Near the finish someone near me said he went 3.4 miles and I know I turned around further than he did. Well my goal was to be faster than Thursday and get the run in despite the heat and both were accomplished.

Disappointing not to really know how I did and once again a 5k that was not really 3.1.  That is 3 out of 4 of my 5k's this year that measure LONG! Still not a 5k fan and this does not help. 

NYRR Queens 10k

July 21, 2013

I decided since I became a member of the NYRR club to get discounts on NYRR races I should run them.  And then I decided that I should try to gain guaranteed entrance to the NYC Half next year by running 4 out of 5 of the borough races.  I already ran Manhattan in January, The Bronx is in September and Staten Island would be my 4th in October.  I could not do Brooklyn in May because it was the same day as B's Communion. 

So here I was in Mid July driving down to Queens at the crack of dawn, by myself to run a 10k.  I live close enough to drive in the day of but not multiple times to pick up my bib on a separate day.  I got there in plenty of time but they had already run out of T-shirts! The girl told me I could pick one up the following week at the RR offices.  Yeah like that helps when I don't exactly live nearby. 


photo from nyrr facebook page

This race took place following 6 straight days of an oppressive heat wave in NY that  was just beginning to break.  I was hopeful that I would be done before the sun generated too much heat for the day.   Luckily the humidity had lifted a bit or else this race might have been cancelled.  I was running this race for one reason to get my 4 out of 5 races needed.  Running through Corona Park was at times ugly and at other times as pictured here, really pretty. 


I wish I had enlisted someone to run with me because there were plenty of picture worthy sights but none of me in them. If you have seen the movie Men in Black there are several scenes that supposedly take place at the site of the Worlds Fair in the 1960's

My favorite part of this race was the open water hose at which I believe I stood directly in front of for five minutes. 

Better planning next time I will bring a friend!

Running 2013 so far April and May 5k's

A good amount of time was spent
this spring as a baseball mom.

Running 2013 so far

As I mentioned in my Superhero Half race report my training was not strong in the first half of this year.  I ran when I had the time and thoughts of running did not consume me. I would think about it and in my head say "I really should run today".  But most times I did not.  There were many Sunday mornings when I simply just slept instead of running.  Perhaps this was a sign I needed a break or perhaps I just didn't mind if I didn't run.  I kept my race calendar full and enjoyed several small local runs despite my lack of training. 



5k's are not my thing but apparently this is the year I am to run a bunch of them. 

Healthy on the Hudson 5k
I was roped into a 5k by the AP at my school.  She knows I am a runner and there was no baseball game scheduled that day so it was hard to say I could not do it.  She had recruited a group of us to run as team knee socks.  I had absolutely no expectations for this race except to have fun and be a part of the school community that I work in.  This race was exactly that, plus it was not measured out correctly it was defiantly longer than 5k. Minor frustration, but the point is,I ran, I socialized and I wore my blue school spirited blue socks.  I left soon after the race to go to my son's baseball practice and did not stay for the booths and awards.  Apparently I should have because I received a text from a teacher friend who told me I came in third my age group!

Jailbreak for Home 5k
We live 5 miles away from both a Prison and Minor League Baseball Stadium.  For years I had been hearing about this race on the radio and this year on the Pitch for Kids facebook page.  It is a charity run that starts out just outside the prison gate and loops through some neighborhoods over to the ballpark warning track, down the third baseline with the finish line being home plate itself.  I was able to manage my kids morning activities in such a way that I could attend this event this year. 
It was a crazy hot day and again 5ks are not my fave.  But the atmosphere was great!  I met up with my new running friend Michele and we hopped the bus to the prison and hoped for the best.  I ran my heart out as the sun beat down on me and had a good time.  I had to hightail it out of there once again to tend to my normal Mommy duties.  I looked for picture on their facebook page and saw the distance issue.  Measured as 3.2 the day before.  Ooops once again a 5k that was too long.  As I checked the results later in the day lo and behold I once again place in my age group!  A week later I received an envelope in the mail with a medal and a $50 gift certificate for a salon!  Nice prize! This along with all the other freebies included in that race registration was well worth it. 

MHRR Woman's races 5k
There was no way I was going to run this race.  My son had his communion at 11am this day and the Superhero half was the next day.  I was bummed because I ran the inaugural race 10k last year and PR'd in a big way.  I During the week leading up to the race I was texting back and forth with Beth. 

H:I'm thinking about the 5k.  It would be less than a half hour.  Should be able to be home by 9:45
B: U r right.  should not take that long.  What time is the church?
H:  11. he needs to be there by 10:30.  No way I could do the 10k be cutting it too close
B: do it.  I will too. yes 10k too close. 
H: how long do you think it would take me to get dressed for the church
B: y'll b fine. 

And so it was that I found myself up and out the door on a harried morning to run another 5k. 
5k race out and back on part of my regular rail trail route. Got myself the pretty purple women's cut tech t-shirt and lined up to run.  We started out about 5 min late after the 10k began and man was I sweating that!  This race was measured out by the local Road runners club and I was pretty confident that it was in fact a legitimate 5k course.





All in all it was great and I made it to the church for my B on time!

Superhero Half Marathon

Superhero Half Marathon May 19th,2013

From the moment I registered for this race on New Years Eve I worried about the weather.  Any race in the late spring has the potential for crazy hot weather I worried it would be gross and I would be slow.  Well as it turns out my worries were not what I thought they would be.  Yes the weather would be less than ideal and by my standards I would be slower than I wanted. But nether for the reasons I originally thought. After the Manhattan Half my running crawled to a hault.  I ran the races I was registered for in February and March.  Was pulled into a 5k at work and added two more just to get running in April and Early May.  My running Motivation had gone. I never did register or commit myself to a spring Marathon so the miles were very low.  I never ran more than 55 miles in Feb-May.  This race was always on my mind but the excuses just kept creeping in.  Baseball season was in full swing and this year my boys were on separate teams.  That meant we were at the ball park at least 5-6 days per week.  It was hectic and running just didn't happen like it had in the past. 

 

 

My son received his first Holy Communion the day before this race.  So the whole weekend was crazy.  How would I do it? Well register for a local 5k three hours before the church of coarse.  (Only way to get the pre-half miles in right)? Two races in one hectic weekend for sure sounded exciting.  Sure to get me excited about running right?  Honestly I wanted to ladies cut purple race T that was associated with the race.  If I had the time I would have run the 10k distance that I PR'd at last year but time was short and I was happy I did something  before my son's big day!

 



Two Drown Rats Post race

But anyway back to the Superhero Half.  I looked forward to not only running but looking the part of the superhero.  I had purchased a batgirl dress at Walmart on clearance last Halloween.  It would be perfect over shorts and a sports bra.  But I needed something else.  Socks.  Socks with capes to be exact! I loved these things.  Well the day arrived at it was raining when  Beth picked me up at 5am.  Raining turned to pouring the whole drive down to New Jersey and it never stopped.  So I guessed it would not be too hot.  I never considered rain.  It would slow to a drizzle and then rain full force.  But what the hell it was going to be fun.  There were so many cool costumes and Superhero's everywhere!  How often do you run with Underdog and Mr. Incredible in front of you?  I had come to grips with the fact that I should have no expectations of a good time on this run.  Only that I run under two hours.  The course was a double loop through a nice NJ neighborhood and into a wooded trail.  the crowd support was great considering the weather and I enjoyed every minute of it.  I finished out with a little energy to sprint in the end and I finished one second slower that my first half marathon three years ago.  I was content even though it was a full six min slower that the Manhattan Half.  Just goes to prove you must work hard to be rewarded with good times.  I had not done that at all.  Onward to the summer and focusing on NYC for the fall.  Getting the motivation back is a must! 

 

Manhattan Half Marathon

Manhattan Half Marathon January 27th,2013

My first race of the year was the Manhattan Half Marathon.  I decided to run it to keep me motivated and on a plan in the new year. 

The winter was pretty bad here in New York.  I didn't get all of my workouts in during the six weeks prior to this race but I felt pretty good about it.  I was also participating in a planking challenge at this time where you did one minute of plank for each day.  I was going along pretty well.  Sneaking in planks behind my desk at work and all about the day.  As the month progressed my knee started to hurt during the planks. Not running but during the planks.  It was weird.  So on the 26th day of the challenge, just a day before the Manhattan Half I simply just stopped.  It hurt too much to get the 25 planks in the day before and I really was just not going to risk my knee and this Half in front of me.  So bright and early on the 27th my father drove me down to the NYRR offices to pick up my bib and T-shirt (wait til race morning and you only get the really large size).  Then he dropped me of near the start in Chilly Central Park.  I was wearing an assortment of throwaway layers and my best gloves and hat.  This weather was no joke cold. Snow and ice had been on the ground all month and today was no exception.  Like any NYRR event there were mobs of people.  Somehow the pace projected on my bib was in the 7 min mile range! so I ended up with a Yellow bib! that is way in front.  Don't know how that happened.  I must have reported my fastest 5k time on the registration.  No way that was going to happen.  That would be a total PR and I was not in PR shape AT ALL! 
 My plan was to run as best as I can and as always not do any worse than I had before.  We started out packed in the corrals and like I expected they never quite thinned out.  I was passed quite a bit since I started so far up but I felt pretty good.  The water stops were pretty dangerous since spilled water= ice in January!  This race was a double loop around the park which included some pretty big hills for NYC.  I always read about them but think hey I live in Dutchess county, how big could these hills be? But you know what they are pretty long.  I ran a respectable 1:51:38.  Felt great for the amount of training I had given it. 

I was disappointed to not receive a medal at the end of this race!  Apparently that is what happens with the Manhattan Half.  So I took my bagel and apple and wrapped  only in a space blanket I headed to Grand Central Station.
I should have planned better because who wants to walk 4 miles to a train in January after a half marathon? But I made my way bought my metro north ticket and then rewarded myself with hot coffee and Cannoli

NO Medal so I bought a Cannoli

Wordless Wednesday- The Rest of My break

 

 

 

 

Wordless Weekend

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank You

5k Run For the Children of Sandy Hook

I am a mother of two children ages 7 & 9 and a School Counselor.  To say Friday hit me hard was an understatement. We let the boys sleep with us on Friday night we were so happy to have them.  Yesterday I wrote an e-mail to my boy’s school because I thought they deserved Thanks. 

Hello,

I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for being a part of my children’s lives. Words cannot describe how we all have been feeling since Friday afternoon.  As I heard the news on Friday morning from my Assistant Principal I could not help but picture XXXXX School and the classrooms that my boys have been in. The first picture I saw on the internet had  a tall skinny boy with glasses in the middle of the line and it looked like my Mikey. It really hit me.   But at the end of that line I could see a teacher, someone those kids can count on when everything did not make sense. The teachers that brought them to safety.    

My entire career as an educator has taken place post Columbine.  At the high school level I have unfortunately run the scenarios in my mind countless times. Knowing there is always the possibility that a crisis might arise and a split second decision would have to be made.  I have thought about how many kids I could squeeze into my office and even under my desk.  Never have I thought about it happening in an elementary school.  I am a member of my school CERT team.  I have prepared and taken part of lock down, lock out, hold in place and emergency evacuation drills.  Most of the time I am annoyed that the young adults in this building don’t take them seriously enough. When my husband and I spoke to the boys this weekend, there were so many things that we worried about.   I was happy to hear that my boys knew what to do in a lock down and a number of other scenarios that have been practiced.  Xxxxx has been a wonderful place for Michael and Brendan. It means a great deal to me that my children feel safe while they are at school, and they do.  You are all to thank for that. 

Thank You for the teaching them to read and learn math.  Thank you for your call and emails of concern when they seem a bit off.  Thank You for the calls when erasers “fall” into someone’s ear.   Thank you for listening to a mom’s concerns.   But mostly Thank YOU for keeping my boys safe every day. 

I know so many teachers, administrators, nurses and aides that deserve the same thanks.  This could have happened anywhere. 

Knight of Columbus Holiday Run

After some dismally low miles in November I was determined to start December off and running again. 

ON December 1st, for the third year in a row I signed myself up for the Knights of Columbus holiday run.  It starts off just a mile away and is one of my regular routes.  The one I call "Five mile race the school bus" .   

This year the boys decided that they would like to run the kids race and I couldn’t be happier.  Mikey had recruited his BFF Dom to run with him and Brenny was going to be running his first one mile run ever. 

Pete placed a little wager in front of B.  He challenged him to beat his older brother and his friend.  The Prize was $5 from Daddy.   

Brenny in the Red, Mikey a Blur in Black out ahead early.

 

 

 The boys took off in a flash and headed through the neighborhood streets.  I handed off my jacket to Pete and took a loop to warm up and to meet up with the boys as they came into the finish.  Mikey’s friend was struggling a bit and they had slowed to a walk.  As soon as B saw me he ran to meet me and I knew he was determined to win the five dollars his father promised him.  He finished in less than 9 minutes!  First in his age group too. 

 

 

I had a nice run too. It was a nice cool day.  Perfect for running and I felt good despite very few miles in the past month.  Its always amazing how fast you can be in a race.  No PR but I did improve my time from the Turkey Trot by two minutes!  And then there is this picture of me flying along the creek.  It might be the socks.  I don't know.  Just sayin.
 

Photo credit Charlotte Kopp
 

Moving on

I did not run a marathon on November 4^th as planned but I took a week off anyway.  That’s right; I have not run in seven whole days! I just did not want to.  It feels weird.  I can’t say when the last time was that I went a whole week without running.  Two three days tops is the most I have taken off and most of that time I spent thinking of how to make up the miles I was missing.  I think I was physically and mentally exhausted.  I was ready to run NYC.  Well rested due to school being cancelled for the week after the hurricane.  The mental exhaustion was intensified in the days leading up to the marathon.  The continued coverage of the devastation on Staten Island, the realization that this race might be the wrong thing to do right now.  As the 5:00 news broke the news of its cancellation I was both crushed and relieved that it was called.  Sure my money and training were wasted but I was in my warm, lighted house with my family safe and sound.  Whole houses were washed away!  My parents were spending the weekend at my house because they along with thousands of others still did not have any power. 

I combed the house for clothes to donate.  My children do not need all the sweaters and sweatshirts that they have in their closets when they continually wear the same one over and over.  Same goes for me.  I went through my closet thinking about how people have nothing left.  It was something small I could do immediately.  It really makes you think about all the “stuff” we have in our lives that we really don’t need. 

I ran on Sunday the 4th.   

My dailymile entry from that day pretty much sums it all up. 

Dutchess Rail Trail 12 mi 01:57 09:44 pace

This was not the New York City Marathon and that is OK. Met Beth over at the rail trail wearing my Orange NYC Marathon shirt thinking about the possibility of running 26. Pete called me about three miles in and said he and Mikey were on their way home from camping. I made the decision then that I would finish whenever Beth did and get home to my family. They are more important things than another two hours out on the trail today. I am closing the books on this cycle and going to move forward content with today’s miles.



Silver lining: Halloween visit to my son's class party since my school was still out. 

So yes I did run a lot this summer and did NOT end up racing the full 26.2 in the end but it is what it is.  Moving on to better things.   I will lace up later on, grab a dog and enjoy this beautiful day out on the road.   

My turkey trot awaits in less than two weeks.  Maybe I should consider the 25k instead of the 5 mile this year? 

Who knows if a spring Marathon will be on my agenda or if I will wait until NYC 2013 to conquer 26.2 again.  The goal for the immediate future is to get back out on the road, learn to enjoy some cross training and most importantly stay healthy. 

New York?

I am a New Yorker.  I have lived my whole life in Suburban NY.  The Big Apple has always been just a short car or train ride away.   I do NOT Live Upstate Jim Cantore, just about an hour outside the city.  But after these past few days it is clear that I am not close at all.  We were extremely lucky after Super Storm Sandy.  We spent all day Monday glued to the Weather Channel watching the storm’s path, waiting to see where it would make landfall.  They kept saying this storm was not going to be about the rain but about the wind and the storm surge.  For us that meant the usual power outage that we were prepared for and to my husband’s delight we would hopefully not take on any water in the basement. 

 

We were glued to that TV watching the coverage in disbelief realizing the brunt was most likely going to go right around us.  We watched until the power went out at 10:30.  We were amazed it stayed on that long.  Waking up on Tuesday I was prepared for a long day of reading and stovetop gas cooking for me and DS playing for the boys.  But only two pages into my book, we heard a click, looked up to see the display on the cable box and it was displaying the time!  UNREAL.  How was this possible?  We always lose power and we usually lose it for days!  I think the boys were disappointed that there was power.  They were looking forward to unrestricted hand held video game playing.  They did not realize the potential devastation we had missed.  I was relieved to not lose any food and to be able to flush the toilet. Then we started to watch TV again. 

HOLY COW!   Roller Coasters washed into the ocean!  Subway system out.   Streets flooded all over the television.  The Surge for sure was the main issue!  Once again I was glad we live where we do.  Far enough from the coast and high enough over the Hudson River.  

 

Deserted station yesterday, just a mile from my house

My sister sent me a text that morning asking if we had power.  Then she said “What is going to happen with the Marathon on Sunday”?  I had not really thought about it.  It was Tuesday and this is New Your we are talking about.  The race does not take place in Lower Manhattan.   But then I thought about it further.  The subway system?  Parts of Brooklyn and Queens that are low lying.   Will it happen? Who Knows?  If you read any of the comments on the New York Times or even several facebook groups you will find that there are people with really strong opinions about this upcoming race.  Some say no way it should be run because resources are needed elsewhere.  Others talk about the need for the influx of money spent in the area because of the event.   It is disrespectful to the people of NY to run it.  It is disrespectful to the people of NY not to run it.  I live local.   Have the luxury of waiting and seeing what decision will be made about this now controversial race.   My plan was to take my son to his soccer game and then pick up my bib on Saturday, sleep and make my way to the start.  I can’t imagine having travel plans, hotel reservations and nonrefundable everything.  I understand that there are a lot of issues here.  I feel so disconnected from it even being so close.  Right now a third "snow" day from school feels weird since everything here in my immediate area is normal.   

I think I will be running on Sunday but it will certainly not be the same race it was expected to be. If for some reason it does not run I will be very dissapointed but putting it in perspective I really do not have the right. 

Wait and see. 

Frankenstorm Day

It’s Monday and I am not at work.  I am not writting letters for the November 1st Early college deadline.  I am sitting on my couch waiting for the Frankenstorm to hit.  I have canned food, water and candles ready.  I am watching the weather channel and waiting for the power to go out.  But I can’t help but notice the weather beyond this storm for Sunday is sunny and low 50’s !  (I am not weather stalking, I just happen to live just north of NYC and they keep showing the seven day forecast).  OMG could it be better in NY for me to run 26.2? I think not!

Oh but guess what?  My knee hurts.  it hurts alot. That’s fun with six days until the marathon! I see alot of ice in my future.  Not coming from the sky but in the form of ice packs on my knee.  Lucky for me I bought 8 bags of ice in preparation for this storm.  Hopefully the pain will go away when Hurricane Sandy does and nothing including my home and knee will be worse for the wear.  Until then I hope everyone in Sandy’s path is safe and you all have a Happy Halloween. 

Run the Farm 5 mile Trail Race

I will say it right up front.  I don’t know what I was thinking signing up for a trail race just two weeks before the New York City Marathon but I did. 

If you have not run a trail race it involves; running up rocky, rooty, leaf covered trails. There is mud, there are downed trees, there are boulders and single track paths.  Sometimes there are foot bridges, open meadows and hills that seem almost vertical.  It takes constant mental as well as physical concentration to constantly scan the ground ahead of you and quickly react to the inevitable trip and then perform the “catch yourself before you face plant dance or break something” move.  The amount of times this happens over the course of the run is amazing.  Standing at the finish line seeing bloody knees and limping bodies you can spot those who tripped and didn’t quite ”stick the landing”. 

So why the hell would anyone do this?  Well because it is SO much fun! 

I ran my first and only trail race last spring.  The leathermans Loop was a 10k with two waist high water crossings and a mud bog that claimed over a dozen sneakers and made you laugh as you tried to wade through the mess.  

I knew these possibilities going in and I did it anyway.  Run the Farm is the “Sister Race” to the Loop.  No river crossings, seemed much tamer when I heard about it.  I did not run it last fall because I did not know how I would feel one week after my first marathon.  I really wanted to do it this year.  So I registered.  It was a beautiful day.  Thankfully minimal mud and wet leaves. 

You start in the barn yard of the farm, running right past the animals into the woods.  There are no mile markers and water stops.  Instead there is bag piper playing by a lake and Deer and rabbits running right with you.   You run up and down the trail, looking for the opportunity to pass the person in front of you while not twisting your ankle.  You hurdle trees and carefully straddle rock walls.  Spectators only appear in the last half mile as you reenter the working farm and are greeted by the turkeys and pigs as well as the kids lining up to give you high fives.  You are happy with a ten minute pace for the first time in years, knowing that trail race distances hold PR times all their own.    

 Luckily I came out of the race without a scratch.  Hopefully I didn’t tempt fate and I get through these next two weeks healthy.  Trail running is on the back burner until after November 4^thbut I think it gave me that boost I need to get through these last two weeks before the marathon.   

 

 

The Poorly Executed Long Run That Went Wrong

I had every intention of running this long run in its entirety in one shot.  My last two long runs were broken up due to necessity and I really wanted to get 22 solid miles in as my last long run before NYC.  I even made a point of letting my husband know that I’d be taking longer on Sunday than usual so that he could move his usual 10am client to later.  We would be going to his mother’s house later that day and I would not have to cook after 20+ miles.  Nice plan.  Going into last week I felt good knowing I took care of that detail.    

I am busy.  I am sometimes scattered.  I like to “wing it” rather than plan too much.  I squeeze my runs in everywhere.  At times this backfires. 

Wednesday I ran from the church after I dropped my boys off at religion.  I pick up sweaty and disheveled but hey I’m not looking to impress anyone.  Thursdays plan was similar except the location was from the ballfield. I figured I had a good solid hour to run maybe more before I had to take one of the boys to scouts.   I felt good.  Not behind on any miles for the week at all.  But then things out of my control, namely my own flesh and blood started to mess with my planned time. 

It Sounded something like this:

Daddy: “Get ready for practice".

Five minutes pass Boys are in the center of the roomhalf naked, surrounded by sports apparel

Me: “Get you stuff together so we can go”. 

B: “Mommy where are my baseball pants”?

Me: “I don’t know, where did you take them off”?

MJ: “ I can’t find my cup”!

Me: “Well I know I didn’t wear that”!

Daddy: “ What the heck are you two doing?  Why are you not dressed”? 

Both boys: “I can’t find my…..”

Daddy:”Well it’s your loss.  The later we get there, the less time you have to practice”!

(Selfish panic moment set in, I want my hour to run!)

Me: LET’S GO COME ON!!!!!! GET DRESSED! WEAR THE OTHER PAIR OF PANTS!  I DON’T CARE IF YOU SOCKS DON’T MATCH YOUR SHIRT.  Check the hamper for your CUP!  THIS IS PRACTICE, NOT A FASHION SHOW!!!

I ended up only having a half hour!! I was pissed.  I ran out fifteen minutes and back fifteen.  I grabbed MJ from the field and headed out into traffic across town to his cub scout meeting.  When we arrived at his meeting he was grumpy and I was annoyed.  As the meeting went on they discussed the upcoming weekend trip.  I was excited to spend some one on one time with Michael.  At the end of the meeting I asked his leader what time we needed to leave on Saturday.  She looked at me and said “We are going on Sunday.  My son was so happy.   “Now I don’t have to miss my game”! 

Me, notsomuch  OMG!! WTF!!  How did I miss that?   How was I going to run 22 miles, be showered and changed and to our destination 40 minutes away by noon?  No way I could drive over to the trail to meet Beth.  Forget the ice bath, stopping at the house to refuel will take time too!   Aaack  !!  The sun does not rise until 6:45 am these days!! 

I’d figure something out.  Maybe Pete would go with him. 

Saturday was a long full day of sports followed by the visit to my mother in law that we moved to Saturday due to the trip.  She was making meatloaf and home fries.  Nice after a cold day on the baseball field but not exactly the carbo-loading I was looking for.  I hadn’t given what I’d eat too much thought throughout the day.  Not good.  So much for the “dress rehearsal “ aspect of the last long run.  I ate trying to convince myself it would have to do and I enjoyed the apple pie too

When my alarm went off at 6am it was pitch dark and pouring.  I snoozed a few times and hoped the sun would come up each time I opened my eyes.  By 6:45 I was up and getting dressed but it was still so dark.  By the time the dog and I got out the door it was 7:10. I ran and ran.  Self talk and chatter, Calculating my route in my head.  How far should I go before I head home with the dog?  Am I actually going to go far enough that I should take a gel this morning? How many can I really fit in?  I was home at nine miles, quick pit stop and dog switch and I was off on a shorter loop.  Wookiee can’t run as far as Calli so would have to go back to the house again.  Then what direction should I run?  Damn it I need to get sandwiches for today!  I will never have time.  What is this?  Almost twelve if I head home now.  Wait, 12 now and ten later could work right?  Yes that sounds good go home now shower and get what you need to get done and not run around late like a crazy person.   That works. Good it’s a plan.  At least I am more than halfway done right?  Not ideal but it will work. 

So I went out and helped my scout earn his Naturalist badge on a beautiful sunny October day.  I came home and made dinner.  It was dark by the time I was ready to hit the treadmill for some on demand episodes of Revolution and Parenthood. 

But guess who didn’t want to run for ten miles?  Guess who did not want to work at all?  MY TREADMILL!!!! What the HELL!!  It was on.  It was making a funny sound but that is it. 

I call a Do OVER!!! 

Now what do I do?  My husband the lapsed Strength and Conditioning specialist and non runner says it’s no big deal It’s not like I am going to be “graded on an assignment” and I have been running plenty.  He does NOT. GET. IT. 

I think I might attempt a do over tomorrow.   The boys have no scheduled activities.  Pete is home to get them off the bus. 

What would you do?

My third Dutchess County Classic

A half marathon located seven miles away just has to be run.  Its local, it’s cheap and this year they had ladies cut tech shirts.   But just like this past spring I found myself in a mileage dilemma.  My training schedule called for 22 miles.  This time through I am really committed to running my long runs as they are on the plan.  I want to run the full number not just two twenty milers.  I know it has been said that you can race a hard half and call it a day but this time I was determined. 

So on Sunday I got up at 5:30 and headed over to pick Beth up at her house.  Or as it is known on that day, “Mile Nine”.  We arrived early and headed in to pick up our packets and then back to the car to chat.  We had nearly two hours until the start. My plan was to do a three mile warm up, run the race and complete the remaining six miles after the race.  I headed over to the track to run for about a half hour and then back to the car to get Beth, hit the potties and jog around the start.  We squeezed our way between the 8 and 9 minute pace signs.  I told Beth she should have no trouble with her sub two hour goal and we were off. 

This year the race started with the 5k started at the same time.  This made for some initial congestion but was necessary as they had to temporarily close down a major roadway for the 1200 runners to cross.  Luckily it broke up sooner than I thought it would and after the first mile we split.

It’s funny how race adrenaline kicks in and makes your race pace feel right.  The two mile marker was the first one I saw and I was amazed to look down at 16 minutes exactly.  The miles clicked by and I found myself on the familiar shaded roads near the little league ballpark my boys play at.  I have run here many times during long practices.  I took a gu at mile 5 (really 8 for the day) I don’t usually take anything during a half but I kept my total mileage in mind.  With each mile marker my pace continued in multiples of 8.  I was maintaining my PR pace and I felt great.  Around mile seven I was in full sun.  I had decided to try to run without my fuel belt during this race because I knew there were plenty of water stops.  I was taking either water or Gatorade at each station.  So far so good.  No regrets about not wearing the fuel belt.   I kept thinking about my pace.  How am I able to maintain it?  How does my body keep it consistent?  How many miles left?  Just after the nine mile marker I looked up and saw Beth’s family.  All four of them decked out in their Sunday best; Jets jerseys.  I gave them a huge wave and soldiered on to the final four miles of the race.  I started to doubt my ability to maintain my pace.  I knew I had time in the bank but I really wanted that PR.  After the eleven mile marker we headed down a residential street for a short out and back to make up a bit of mileage due to the course change.  I found that annoying so close to the end of the race. 

Random thoughts like “why the hell do I do this”, popped in and out of my mind.  I could feel the salt from my sweat drying on my face. I gave the last two miles everything I had and kept telling myself that I had less than 15 minutes of running left. 

As I headed down toward the finish I saw that a PR was a possibility.  The reality was I was one second slower! I was kind of disappointed since I thought this course was not as hilly as Danbury back in April.  Was it the warm weather?  Was it my recent increase in treadmill running?  I did not let myself dwell on it but it is something to consider. 

A 1:46:58 Half finish is still a great time!

I collected my medal, downed some Gatorade and walked back to the car to send my family a text and get out of my sneakers.  I made it back to the finish just as Beth crossed the finish at 1:59:35! Mission accomplished!

 

We grabbed some food and then I dropped her off at home.  Back at my house the boys were up and ready to go.  I still had those six additional miles to consider and as it turned out I would find myself back on the race course just outside the ball field during Mikey’s practice that just a few short hours later.  A very choppy 22 miles but completed nonetheless!

Thank Goodness I work at a Public school and had the next two days off because man was I tired.  And my legs well, they were shot !