Race Reports for March 31 - April 1 and Encouragement/Kudos!

[hoosmi]

Thanks for everyone's replies. The WISH group is such a lifesaver. I called my mom after the race and told her the results and she started saying things like, "they've probably been running longer" and "they probably have older children than you and less baby weight." It cracked me up because I knew she meant well, but she didn't get that I was pleased with finishing last because it was speedy for me. I remember during the race thinking "ok, I'm going to finish, and that's better than not starting!"

For the record, here's my description of a fried Oreo-- They dip the Oreo in some sort of batter that tastes like funnel cake. Then it goes into the deep fryer. It comes out like a really mushy Oreo covered in funnel cake. The final step is a layer of powdered sugar.

Ok, Baby Harry just started eating a purple crayon. Guess that's a sign I need to go.

Thanks again everyone

Jen in GA

 

[chimera]

Vic...congrats on your age group finish! I did a 5K once with only 4 in my age group...guess who didn't get an award

Jen...you did great! That was a fast field in your race. My best 5K time is just under 35 min.

Good luck Kristi and Dave!

 

[cdn_gal_eeyore]

Congratulations Vic and Jen! You guys did great this weekend.

I can't wait to read everyone else's race report from this weekend. Way to go for everyone racing!!

 

[solotraveler]

Vic-- Great job!!!

Jen-- Sub-31 minutes and you were LAST for a 5K?!?!? Holy cow, that's a FAST race. According to my math, that's under 10:00 miles!! GREAT JOB!!!

Can't wait to read the other reports!

Kevin

 

[jam217]

Coming in with race report #3 on this thread...I did the "Spring Chicken'' 5K this morning in Allentown, PA. Up until an hour before the race I wasn't sure I was even going to run it because I'm having problems with my right foot. I kept stretching it all morning and it felt a little better so I figured I'd give it a try. The race was a combination run/walk so I thought at worst I could stop and walk if the pain got too bad.

The field was very small -- only about a 100 runners -- and they got off to a fast start. I tried to stay toward the front and did really well until I hit a very long gradually sloping hill at the end and that did me in. I did walk a few steps then began running again....slowly but I ran. At that point, I could see the finish line. And even though I ran with a bum foot I posted my best time ever - 28:13. It's the first time I've broken 32 minutes in a 5K so I'm really, really pleased. Obviously all the training is paying off!!

 

[cdn_gal_eeyore]

jam217 - Awesome time - Congratulations!

 

[Big Vic]

Way to go Jam! Congrats!!

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Greetings TEAM:

OK, here's my race report. I did my 15K in 1:24.20 min/9:04 mpm pace. I was shooting for a 9 mpm pace as training for race pace at the Flying Pig 1/2M - so I was pretty happy with that time. I came in #237 out of 328 runners, and 37 of 39 in my age group - can you believe that!! The race was sooooooo hilly, but I thought that was good practice for the Flying Pig too. My booty was a little sore but all and all OK.

Here's an image of the topography of the course, if you're interested. It was all hills from start to finish.

 

[Big Vic]

Great job, Dave!

Hilly is right.

 

[Kristi1357]

Dave - awesome pace! AMAZING!!!

And today must have been the day for hills. And more hills.
Did I mention HILLS???

Quick rundown:
- wanted to quit by mile 5
- not enough water stops and I was thirsty (too lazy to bring my own water)
- everything hurts from my waist down
- this inaugural half was extremely well organized!
- I did get a PR, but not the sub-3 hour I planned on. I finished around 3:03. I am too tired/sore, etc. to get up and find my Garmin right now for an exact time.
- got a cool new tech t-shirt.
- Mom & I kept asking each other why exactly we do this.

I had to try really hard not to cry around miles 5 & 6. I got it together until Chad passed me in mile 9 (runners started 1/2 hour after the walkers). I was telling him about all my pains, the hills that sucked, etc. and I started to hyperventilate since I was trying hard not to bawl. I never have hyperventilated before - it was weird & a little bit scary.

Mom & I did manage to run across the finish line. We got our Powerade and some oranges and went to the minivan to stretch since I had to keep moving. I tried to do my quad stretch and couldn't get my foot up to my hand. That's when I cried. I must have really been tired, sore, etc. since I hate crying in front of people!

I thought about Dave and his booty pain during the race since I now have alot of booty pain of my own!

I kept thinking of Cam too. She's lost 70+ lbs. and finished a gosh darn marathon! If she can do that, I can finish a silly half marathon!

I aslo was thinking of Christa in hilly NC and how she would do so well on this course.

So, even with all those crazy huge hills and hating the race the entire time - I did get a PR. Not the one I hoped for, but I will take it!

I have pics - might take me a bit to get out of this chair and go get the camera though...

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Dave - awesome pace! AMAZING!!!

And today must have been the day for hills. And more hills.
Did I mention HILLS???

Quick rundown:
- wanted to quit by mile 5
- not enough water stops and I was thirsty (too lazy to bring my own water)
- everything hurts from my waist down
- this inaugural half was extremely well organized!
- I did get a PR, but not the sub-3 hour I planned on. I finished around 3:03. I am too tired/sore, etc. to get up and find my Garmin right now for an exact time.
- got a cool new tech t-shirt.
- Mom & I kept asking each other why exactly we do this.

I had to try really hard not to cry around miles 5 & 6. I got it together until Chad passed me in mile 9 (runners started 1/2 hour after the walkers). I was telling him about all my pains, the hills that sucked, etc. and I started to hyperventilate since I was trying hard not to bawl. I never have hyperventilated before - it was weird & a little bit scary.

Mom & I did manage to run across the finish line. We got our Powerade and some oranges and went to the minivan to stretch since I had to keep moving. I tried to do my quad stretch and couldn't get my foot up to my hand. That's when I cried. I must have really been tired, sore, etc. since I hate crying in front of people!

I thought about Dave and his booty pain during the race since I now have alot of booty pain of my own!

I kept thinking of Cam too. She's lost 70+ lbs. and finished a gosh darn marathon! If she can do that, I can finish a silly half marathon!

I aslo was thinking of Christa in hilly NC and how she would do so well on this course.

So, even with all those crazy huge hills and hating the race the entire time - I did get a PR. Not the one I hoped for, but I will take it!

I have pics - might take me a bit to get out of this chair and go get the camera though...

Kristi- Good for you for sticking with it, finishing, and getting a PR to boot. You've done your team proud. WTG! I can't wait to see pictures.

 

[Kristi1357]

Me & Chad before the race:

Me & Mom (Debby) before the race:

Race start for walkers:

Me & Mom in crowd at start:

Do you see that guy in that red hat behind us in the above picture? What an inspiration! He had on a hat for the stroke association, and he had a stroke himself. You could tell his right side was paralyzed. I saw him at the beginning of the race and then again at the end - he finished before us! It was just too awesome!

Me & Mom coming up to the finish:

Me & Mom finishing:

Me & Chad after:

New medal for the collection:

My Garmin says 3:03:47. Official results are not up on coolrunning yet.

Chad's ex-girlfriend was there. She beat him at Applefest and beat him again today! I don't think he finds that as funny as I do. Speaking of Chad, he finished in 2:19. He wanted 2 hours, but again - those HILLS!!!

Ok, off to lay on the couch awaiting the Dominos pizza delivery person's arrival...

Dave - no pictures???

 

[cdn_gal_eeyore]

Kristi - so sorry to hear about all those hills, but congratulations on your PR!! It sounds like a tough race, but way to go for powering through it. Terrific pictures too, BTW.

Dave, congrats on your great 15K today at such a great pace. Your elevation map was scary!!! WTG!!

 

[Big Vic]

Way to go Kristi!

Congrats!!!

 

[scoolover]

Vic - 3rd place in the 30-34 division. Way to go.

Jen - Heck with the race. Send me some Oreo's. DLF, well you and my son have something in common.

Jam - 4 min PR. Wow, great stuff.

Dave - quite the course. At least the last 2/10 was down hill. Nice time.

Kristi - Congrats on the PR. Sorry about the misery.

My report:
I ran the Danbury, CT half. Short version, 2:07ish and now I am very sore.

Longer Version:
The kids race started at 10:00 and my family came to watch it. My son just turned 5 and was really looking forward to the race. He loved the Disney kids race. It was a 1/2 mile and about 100 yards in, he starts crying. "I can't do it, it's too far". "I want mommy". I took it in stride but was thinking, lets go Sally. The 65 year old lady with the one year old kid beat us. As did the lady carrying two kids. He was pathetic but I did not want to look like some crazy dad pushing his kid too hard. Anyway, DLF in 8:11.

The half started about 15 minutes later. I decided that I had to pick up my pace because most of my long races have been really slow. I had a goal of 2:10.59 which is sub 10 minutes. My first 6.2 would have been a 10K pr. That made me nervous. I ran the second 10K in about the same time which pleased me. My official time was 2:07 and change. That would put my pace in the 9:45 range. My garmin told me that I ran 13.55 miles at a 9:21 pace. I was real happy about that.

The course went up for the first 11 miles. I kept wondering when we would go down. The 12th mile was a steep decline. I ran a sub 8 minute mile for that one. A guy sprinted by me at the finish like I was standing still. I felt like tripping him Best of all was that the post race party included pizza and doughnuts. It's 5 hours since I finished and I am more sore than either marathon.

In summery:
My son is a whimp and running faster hurts more.

Scott

 

[Big Vic]

Great report Scott.

Congrats!!

 

[TXAng]

Jam – WTG!! Congrats on the new PR!

Dave – Wow, look at all those hills! Great pace!

Kristi – Sorry that the race was so rough. Great job on the PR!! Love the photos.

Scott – Awesome job!

 

[TiffJ]

Kristi-Awesome job! PR with all those hills I was wondering earlier today how your race was going. And tell Chad that I agree with you. Ex beating him twice is pretty funny

Scott-good job!!! My DS6 would have done the same thing. He has wisely decided to just stay out of our whole family racing scene. I think that is wise for now.

Dave- for the booty

 

[Kristi1357]

Scott - fabulous job! And my 3 year old is like your son. Suffice it to say that we will not be signing him up for the Disney kids race again this year.

Tiffany - Chad doesn't know I think that his ex beating him is funny. I just know he hates it (then I chuckle behind his back!).

 

[nucpharm29]

Dave--WTG and wow on that elevation map--Looks like you're set to go for the Pig!

Kristi--I can remember having those "WTH am I doing" thoughts about mile 14 into my marathon--almost crying and wanting to quit--Your strength shows through your determination to finish!! WTG!!!

Scott--WTG!!! And yea on being fast, even if it did hurt a little!!

Jam--WTG on your race--woohoo on a 5K PR!!!