Did another 5 k last Sunday.
Here is the report:
I did the Johnny Miles 5 k race last Sunday in New Glasgow. It was a beautiful day - no rain in sight. It was a bit warm in spots and about 23 degrees Celcius to start but I was quite ***fortable most of the time.
Once again, I was worried about my training because I still have issues with my feet - one turns in, the other turns out and I have had my orthotics adjusted three times as a result. But I had lots of time and not starting was not an issue from my point of view.
It was a little hairaising at first because I decided not to go down the night before and was scheduled to depart at 6 a.m. with a friend of mine. We got a little delayed and when I got there, I had five minutes until the start and could not find my coach, Jeanne, who had picked up my race pack the night before. No bib, no chip, no start!
Fortunately, my friend Sue located her and she put the chip around my ankle quickly while I pinned on the bib. Sue was there to hold my belongings and off I went.
The race actually starts in two waves - the 5 k and 10 k go first and then the full and the half.
The 5k folks start with the 10k but make a turn part way, go through a trail, and then turn again to go toward the finish - which is the same area as the start.
Anyway, once I sorted though the mass confusion at the start I turned a corner and guess what - a hill! Great, just what I needed. I was panting when I got to the top and, of course, all by myself. The course marshall (who looked so young, I wondered where his mother was!) looked at me strangely, but that is more than understandable. I sure don't look like anyone doing any kind of "fitness" thing. Guys, what can I tell ya, I just like to walk and I like to "race". I am getting good results, the weight is dropping (when I am consistent that is) and I am "hooked" without a doubt.
Next part of the course is a straight, relatively flat street. The street is not closed off but there are orange "pythons" as I call them blocking off a small section to the left. I try to stay out of the way by walking down the sidewalk instead of the road, but people join me there anyway.
I got many words of encouragement and some pats on the back. Such a wonderful running ***munity! It never fails to blow me away. Keep it up folks, I cannot tell you what that means to someone like me.
I make the 5k turn. Lovely trail, mostly flat (parts are wheelchair accessible) and lots of benches. Too many actually. My coach tells me she has to find me a course without so many benches (she jokes) because I sat too much - probably more than I needed to. Could not get my darn bib to stay on and I was just enjoying my music. ( I was even listening to Paris Hilton once - hey we were both climbing "hills" after all).
When I get to the end at the top of the hill, I really need a washroom, but alas none on the 5k route - my only criticism actually. I sit down at a picnic table as I hit my "wall" - I am dehydrated and starting to "bonk". I take a GU and powerade, chased by water and refuse to get up off the bench until "Hey Jude" finishes playing (see what Jeanne means about the benches?).
I get to the turn, another fresh face volunteer and I am on the home stretch. Too much stretch and not enough home though, I am really not doing so great. Some folks rigged up their garden hose to spray on the runners, feels wonderful but I am afraid of frying my tunes so I don't get too close.
Finally, I see Jeanne, and she joins me. By then, I am dehydrated and grumpy, absolutely certain, of course, that I am never doing this "race stuff " again. Jeanne tells me that I cannot make decisions like that on a race course and that I am almost there. I don't know how she puts up with me.
There is another garden hose, I get closer. It feels great and there is a nice cool breeze too. A few more doors down, a lady is passing out freezies. I get a blue one and start sucking on it when I spot the Finish Line - is that really the finish? Yes. I walk by the announcer plate, they announce my name and I am over the finish. The medal ***es on, the chip ***es off, the medic ushers me to a seat when I assure him I am fine (all I ever really need is a drink a seat and a bagel when I finish these things -never the medic tent).
They hand me a water and a cute little towel saying "Johnny Miles finisher" and I am basking in my "success".
The Stats
Well, still slow, but nearly twenty minutes faster than Bluenose in May. Actually, the Garmin says that I did it more than 30 minutes faster, but had more rest time. Too much time on the bench. Have to stop that.
I have another 5k set on July 8th at the "Rock and Run" festival in Miramichi, New Brunswick.
It would be less painful with more training and, of course, less weight, but we are working on the latter.
Except for a grumpy guy who did not want me to pet his little dogs and one fellow who barrelled right into me when running (I had moved as far to the side as I could) and got me wet because he was soaked, the whole experience was very, very positive.
Linda
P.S. I was not only faster, but, for once, was not DFL! There was a guy some 15 - 20 minutes behind me - walking on his hands perhaps, but still...
I am so proud of you, you rock!!!!! Call me if you & Judy need bailing out!
but he recently was on that new show "Pirate Master". If you happened to watch the first episode, his name is John. He was the first to be voted off. Not surprizing in the least
