Race Reports/Encouragement/Kudos February 23rd and 24th!

[CarolA]

Oh, good. So I should at least get in group 3? I'll be sending in my Gobble Jog time of 1:08.

I bet that gets you in at least Group 2.

By the way, yesterday's AJC said the applications would be in the March 10th paper. So.....

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Congratulations Carol. You did quite well!


Congratulations Lynnda on doing better than you expected!

Yay WISH Team!

 

[wfloyd]

We made it back home today. The race was fun but I have to say the most memorable thing was the Texas Roadhouse armadillo giving a lap dance to a guy during his bachelor lunch. Yes, the guy did tip the armadillo properly.

This was the Five Points of Life full and half marathon in Gainesville, Fl (aka home of University of Florida). There were about 900 doing the half marathon today and probably 200 for the full. It started off with a little mist but that stopped by the time the race started. There was some miscommunication between people and the race started late and then someone set off the cannon before the speakers were done.

The expo was small and packet pickup was a little disorganized. I was able to get everything and they had me weigh in and write my weight on the back of the bib. They said this is so if you wind up at a med tent, they can weigh you and compare the numbers to find out if you have had too much or too little liquid before treating you. Made a little sense but I defiantely didn't like the number that popped up.

I violated one of the cardinal rules though. I did something new before the start of the race. They had Grandy's cinnamon rolls for anyone there and they are just too good to pass up. So I yielded to the temptation and ate one. I don't think it had any adverse effects so I may add that to things I can eat before hand.

The course had a lot of hills to it. So much for Florida being flat. The intervals I was doing actually had me walking up most of them and running down on the other side. I guessed that interval set fairly well this time, which happens to be a first for me.

Somewhere around mile 7 I saw a runner off to the side smoking a cigarette. I guess he needs some help if he can't go a couple of hours without smoking.

Course supprt was great. They had police at most intersections and volunteers at some of the smaller ones. The water stops were plentiful and they had Gu at 2 of the stops. One disappointment was we didn't actually get to run on the football field but wound up around the concourse part instead.

I was doing well on pace and about where I wanted until mile 12. Then my calf started cramping so I had to slow down a little for the last mile. I found Lynnda and crew just before the finish and was able to run it in for the last little bit. My time was 2:24 which is close to an 11:00 minute pace. Not bad since injuries and illness kept me from all but one long run which was only 7.5 miles. Most importantly, I finished about 5 minutes before the first marathoner crossed so I wasn't lapped by the full people.

After race food was great. Publix (local supermarket) provided the water, bananas and bagels and they had plenty of them. Domino's provided all the pizza you could eat (at least for about 5 hours). Starbucks had coffee and cookies. Ben and Jerry's had ice cream for people. Then there were some granola bars, crackers, and trail mix available as well. I got my registration fees worth of food here.

Afterwards I had enough time to get back to the hotel and clean up before having to leave. Missed being in the major accidents on the interstate/turnpike by a few cars so I was happy to be back home.

Bill

 

[lenshanem]

I bet that gets you in at least Group 2.

By the way, yesterday's AJC said the applications would be in the March 10th paper. So.....

Thanks for the heads up! So does this mean we can send them in earlier?

 

[Big Vic]

WTG - Lynnda, Carol, and FLBill!

Congrats!!

 

[TnTsParty]

Way to go WISH team

 

[Kewz1]

Congratulations!!

Kristen

 

[Kira G.]

Great job guys!

 

[Maherae]

Thanks for those great reports, Carol and Bill!

Carol, so proud of you for sticking with it! The mental thing is THE biggest obstacle in distance training/running. What you BELIEVE is what you ACHIEVE.

Bill, Wow, what a great spread at the end!!! You really did get your money's worth! I was shocked about the guy stopping to during the race! An 11 minute mile is FANTASTIC in my book!!

Congrats to Lynnda!!

 

[crzy4pooh]

Thanks ya'll! I'll keep my report short... I was at the campus of my arch rival... and I behaved myself (but only because Bill made me promise)

The course felt like it was all uphill, but I kept a good pace for me - 16:30 average with just walking (and dealing with PF issues still). I lined up towards the back and still had almost everyone fly past me at the start. However, I spent the last mile and a half passing those same people! I was only passed at the end by a couple of college kids who were sprinting up the last hill. All in all a good race for me (in spite of the location...)

I told DH before we started that I wanted to go to the "Homeland" (aka Tallahassee) next year to do their race. I changed my mind after the Gainesville hills - there is NO WAY I could manage the mountains in Tally!!!

Congrats to DH and Carol on their races!!!!


--Lynnda

 

[scoolover]

I have a rather lengthy report with some pictures here: It is on post # 40

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1303681&page=3

Here is the short version.

I ran a 10K at Hyannis, MA yesterday. I set a PR by about 3 minutes and finished second in the clydesdaye 226 lb + divison. I was only about 1:15 behind the divison winner. I could have run the half or full but I didn't feel like it. The weather was great considering the location and time of year. The food after was awesome.

The best part was meeting team Hoyt. I introduced myself to Mr. Hoyt and that was the thrill of my weekend, hands down. What an awesome guy. He is smaller than I thought. Perhaps 5'9" or so.

If you don't know the Hoyt story it is worth a look.

This is the news story about them. It's about 10 minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flRvsO8m_KI

This is a 4 minute clip that may make you cry. Sorry, will make you cry.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4B-r8KJhlE&feature=related

Oh yeah, they beat me.

 

[chimera]

Thanks ya'll! I'll keep my report short... I was at the campus of my arch rival... and I behaved myself (but only because Bill made me promise)

S'ok...they took the 12 foot alligator out of Lake Alice a few years ago. That dude could smell a 'Nole a mile away. Legend has it that's how he got so big

Congrats to both of you on your races! We thought about it but wimped out because of the hills Maybe next year!

Wtg on your race, Scott!

 

[WithDisneySpirit]

Way to go, WISH team