I believe we can now say that Fall has arrived. Along with the "title" comes wind and cooler air. The air really makes it much more fun to get out and run. Last week was a good week and yet a not-so-good week. It started out with a challenge of the "hit-and-run" (see post below) long run with excellent times but ended with no running after Thursday. So many different things interfered with that as well as the fact that I had already exceeded my 10% increase. With that being said, I'd have to say the week as a whole was a success.
It looks like I'm well on my way to a great finish of another year. Can you believe that's just around the corner? I can hardly wait to see my year-end totals (as long as I continue the way I'm going). I already see where improvements need to be made and will be working on a better plan for next year. I've failed in some ways, but have done well in others. Well, folks, 2012 is around the corner. Keep steadfast, my running friends, and start planning for new goals in a new year.
Now, goal 4 it...I mean go 4 it!!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Hit & Run
I want to redefine the term "hit and run" because that was exactly what happened to me earlier this morning. Halfway through my long run, I saw a vehicle at the Hardee's exit going to turn into the highway. I watched and watched and watched and there was NO traffic for him to wait for but he continued to sit still. So, I thought he saw me and was waiting for me to pass on in front of him as there wasn't any other way around...his vehicle was close to the hedges in Hardee's driveway and my only way was to cross in front of him. I cautiously approached watching to see if he was going to move on out but he didn't. Then I decided he was waiting on me. As I got dead center in front of his car, he begins to pull out into the highway hitting me!! It caused me to fall against his car though I kept my composure as best as possible. I was shocked!!! Is this man an idiot, blind or totally unaware that the highways and driveways are for ALL people and not just for him?? I had not been able to catch his eye before this because of the glare off his windshield from my angle but he could see me perfectly. Coming from a stand still kept this from being a bad accident. When it happened, I looked up into his older face framed with glasses that had dropped down on his nose, and saw that he was wrapping his sausage and biscuit to hold while he drove...yeah, like THAT'S a good idea now!! Both hands, mister...at least! He hit my left side where my left knee has given me trouble since the marathon earlier this year. I was so angry that he was so incompetent AND with a license. I'm glad I am a defensive runner because I had been watching him. But even that was not on my side this time. If I had not been aware, as he was, I may have fallen into the road where traffic was now flowing.
I'm glad to report that after about another mile and half, I was able to regain my composure and run normal. My knee got alright and my fear level dropped, trusting drivers again. I was in the middle of a 14 mile run. At the end, I was able to maintain a better pace than I ever had for that distance. As a matter of fact, I beat my best half marathon pace by several seconds...even with all the hoopla of the hit. My watch kept running during this time so it recorded even those slow moments of my run.
All I can say is that angels DO exist and takes care of me when I can't do so. Thank you, Lord!! Words cannot describe how much You love us...us mere humans!
I'm glad to report that after about another mile and half, I was able to regain my composure and run normal. My knee got alright and my fear level dropped, trusting drivers again. I was in the middle of a 14 mile run. At the end, I was able to maintain a better pace than I ever had for that distance. As a matter of fact, I beat my best half marathon pace by several seconds...even with all the hoopla of the hit. My watch kept running during this time so it recorded even those slow moments of my run.
All I can say is that angels DO exist and takes care of me when I can't do so. Thank you, Lord!! Words cannot describe how much You love us...us mere humans!
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Running in the Streets
Yep, that's the name. We ran the Running In The Streets 5k in Fairhope, Alabama, on Saturday, the 24th. It was such a nice morning-really nice temps and hardly any humidity. A couple of weeks ago we miscalculated the time we needed to get to the Mullet 5k in the same area. By the time we got our pre-registration packets, put up our shirts and put on our bibs. We hardly got to the starting line before it began. We planned better this time.
I had gone to a Scrapbook Crop on Friday night from 6-midnight but left around 11:00 so I could get up early for the race. For those that know me, I do NOT stay up late at night so this could possibly not be a pretty picture come Saturday morning...hopefully, not until after the race and that it wouldn't affect my running. The alarm was set early but I continued to hit the "snooze" button, eventually dragging myself out of bed. But by the time we got to the race all was well.
We ran this race a couple of years ago and loved the shirts and the awards. Seems the little "icon" is a cat. We weren't as crazy about the design this year but it still had the little cat on it. Here's the shirt:
I felt great and remembered there were hills in it. Hills aren't bad but when they are long and steep, it adds to the definition of "hill". The Mullet 5k race a couple of weeks ago used some of the same streets. The nice thing is that this race didn't include the really hard hill the other race ended with. Okay...all about defining these things...I really enjoy running these shady neighborhoods. They are so pleasant.
The race began and off we went. I felt strong and, somehow, rested. Recently I began using my Garmin for information instead of pushing me so hard. I'm thinking this is helping me overall. With this new frame of mind, it made my running "free". I love it! The first of the race felt like I was flying! I mean I was running harder than I ever had before and it seemed with less effort than before. We began running downhill some but I was feeling great and maintained an even pace. Glancing at my watch, my pace was faster than I'd ever run a mile! I've never maintained this fast of a pace for this distance. Don't know how you gauge this. I mean, overall you can get a PR, but how do you record a section of a race?? Needless to say, I DID record it in my log. I maintained an 8 minute pace for this mile...woo-hoo!! If only I had known, I'd have pushed to get a 7:59 pace. Well, now I have a new pace to beat.
It wasn't until we got to 3/4 of the first mile that the hills began. It continued through the second and first half of the third mile but gave you some "leveling" moments when you could catch your breath and regain your strength. This happened off and on until just before the finish. Overall, I really enjoyed the race and look forward to running it again.
Kent and I both came out as winners. I received the GrandMasters Award and Kent received 1st Overall Male Racewalker. Great day for both of us. My Garmin recorded 27:05, 3.12 distance with that amazing 8:00 minute first mile pace. This is the 4th race we've done in a row that has been ladened with hills. I think I'm getting stronger...now to work on that pace. Kent came out with 38:58, a great time for a hilly race.
Going up to get my award:
My new haircut can be seen better in this picture. Yep, it's all gone. Had to show the expression on this cute little boy's face. I thought he was so sweet. You'd have thought I won an Olympic medal, the way he looked. Thanks, Sweetie! It made my day.
Here's Kent with his award:
Here's a close up of the award prints. I'm going to get these framed to go along with the other two we got a couple of years ago (we didn't run this one last year). Mine's the red one and Kent's the yellow one.
Most every race I've run in this area, Mo has run them, too. She has run over 140 marathons and several triathlons!! She is in my age group. So far, I've been able to outrun her but I think she is stronger than me. She works out every day and I need to do better. She said that she had done the Marine Corps Marathon for 24 consecutive years. Last year, her 25th, she had injured her knee and could not go. I felt so sorry for her because she had done so well for so long. She's going back this year to do her 25th. Go Mo!! And, thanks Kent for getting our picture.
That's all for now. Thanks for stopping by. See you on the run...
I had gone to a Scrapbook Crop on Friday night from 6-midnight but left around 11:00 so I could get up early for the race. For those that know me, I do NOT stay up late at night so this could possibly not be a pretty picture come Saturday morning...hopefully, not until after the race and that it wouldn't affect my running. The alarm was set early but I continued to hit the "snooze" button, eventually dragging myself out of bed. But by the time we got to the race all was well.
We ran this race a couple of years ago and loved the shirts and the awards. Seems the little "icon" is a cat. We weren't as crazy about the design this year but it still had the little cat on it. Here's the shirt:
I felt great and remembered there were hills in it. Hills aren't bad but when they are long and steep, it adds to the definition of "hill". The Mullet 5k race a couple of weeks ago used some of the same streets. The nice thing is that this race didn't include the really hard hill the other race ended with. Okay...all about defining these things...I really enjoy running these shady neighborhoods. They are so pleasant.
The race began and off we went. I felt strong and, somehow, rested. Recently I began using my Garmin for information instead of pushing me so hard. I'm thinking this is helping me overall. With this new frame of mind, it made my running "free". I love it! The first of the race felt like I was flying! I mean I was running harder than I ever had before and it seemed with less effort than before. We began running downhill some but I was feeling great and maintained an even pace. Glancing at my watch, my pace was faster than I'd ever run a mile! I've never maintained this fast of a pace for this distance. Don't know how you gauge this. I mean, overall you can get a PR, but how do you record a section of a race?? Needless to say, I DID record it in my log. I maintained an 8 minute pace for this mile...woo-hoo!! If only I had known, I'd have pushed to get a 7:59 pace. Well, now I have a new pace to beat.
It wasn't until we got to 3/4 of the first mile that the hills began. It continued through the second and first half of the third mile but gave you some "leveling" moments when you could catch your breath and regain your strength. This happened off and on until just before the finish. Overall, I really enjoyed the race and look forward to running it again.
Kent and I both came out as winners. I received the GrandMasters Award and Kent received 1st Overall Male Racewalker. Great day for both of us. My Garmin recorded 27:05, 3.12 distance with that amazing 8:00 minute first mile pace. This is the 4th race we've done in a row that has been ladened with hills. I think I'm getting stronger...now to work on that pace. Kent came out with 38:58, a great time for a hilly race.
Going up to get my award:
My new haircut can be seen better in this picture. Yep, it's all gone. Had to show the expression on this cute little boy's face. I thought he was so sweet. You'd have thought I won an Olympic medal, the way he looked. Thanks, Sweetie! It made my day.
Here's Kent with his award:
Here's a close up of the award prints. I'm going to get these framed to go along with the other two we got a couple of years ago (we didn't run this one last year). Mine's the red one and Kent's the yellow one.
Most every race I've run in this area, Mo has run them, too. She has run over 140 marathons and several triathlons!! She is in my age group. So far, I've been able to outrun her but I think she is stronger than me. She works out every day and I need to do better. She said that she had done the Marine Corps Marathon for 24 consecutive years. Last year, her 25th, she had injured her knee and could not go. I felt so sorry for her because she had done so well for so long. She's going back this year to do her 25th. Go Mo!! And, thanks Kent for getting our picture.
That's all for now. Thanks for stopping by. See you on the run...
Monday, October 17, 2011
Shrimp Festival Races
FINALLY...a Shrimp Fest Race I really enjoyed!!! Since we began running this race it has be conducted basically on a 2-lane road and no shoulder with you watching the traffic and eventually on the 4-lane to the finish where NO traffic was moved out of the way dodging in and out of their way and you not focusing on your race at all. It was soooooo dangerous and because of that I wasn't crazy about the race. As a matter of fact, last year we elected not to do it and just go down and watch runners come in; it was the absolute worse we'd ever seen.
This year it was done at the Sportsplex with the races run on the Back Country Trail. The run had almost the same course as the Kaiser Half Marathon last year but shorter. It is basically shady on a wonderful paved path!! Ahhhhh...beautifully peaceful. It made you "almost" not realize all the little hills you were running on; and there were a lot. I'm beginning to embrace these little foxes. And though it affects my overall time and pace, I'm reaching deeper and pushing harder than before. There were a little over 400 participants in the 5k/10k races.
Kent won 2nd Place Overall Racewalker (5k) and I won 3rd Place in my age group (10k). I'm pleased with mine as the second female to cross the 10k line was a 56 y/o woman!! She was great. As a matter of fact, out of the first 11 female runners four were over 50!! They were running paces of 6:54 and 7:18!! WOW...so I was pleased with my run. As a matter of fact, I was surprised that I had gotten anything. Winners received posters and the overall award winners received additional gift certificates and monogrammed hats. Kent really liked his hat. His gift certificate was $25 to Sports N More. He racked up! They did the 10k different from the 5k. The 10k awards were the usual top winners with age groups in 10-year incremements. Whereas, the 5k awards were 3 deep (even the overall winners) with 3 deep in 5-year increments. Kinda weird, but that's okay. Here are our pics:
Great job, Honey!
First race with my new hair cut. It felt great even though wind blown!
Food was wonderful. Three different kinds of pizza, chicken quesadillas, chicken pasta, broccoli salad, bananas and fruit drinks. Plenty and nothing ran out except for the fruit drinks. It was a beautiful day. We really enjoyed the race and look forward to it next year.
This year it was done at the Sportsplex with the races run on the Back Country Trail. The run had almost the same course as the Kaiser Half Marathon last year but shorter. It is basically shady on a wonderful paved path!! Ahhhhh...beautifully peaceful. It made you "almost" not realize all the little hills you were running on; and there were a lot. I'm beginning to embrace these little foxes. And though it affects my overall time and pace, I'm reaching deeper and pushing harder than before. There were a little over 400 participants in the 5k/10k races.
Kent won 2nd Place Overall Racewalker (5k) and I won 3rd Place in my age group (10k). I'm pleased with mine as the second female to cross the 10k line was a 56 y/o woman!! She was great. As a matter of fact, out of the first 11 female runners four were over 50!! They were running paces of 6:54 and 7:18!! WOW...so I was pleased with my run. As a matter of fact, I was surprised that I had gotten anything. Winners received posters and the overall award winners received additional gift certificates and monogrammed hats. Kent really liked his hat. His gift certificate was $25 to Sports N More. He racked up! They did the 10k different from the 5k. The 10k awards were the usual top winners with age groups in 10-year incremements. Whereas, the 5k awards were 3 deep (even the overall winners) with 3 deep in 5-year increments. Kinda weird, but that's okay. Here are our pics:
Great job, Honey!
First race with my new hair cut. It felt great even though wind blown! Food was wonderful. Three different kinds of pizza, chicken quesadillas, chicken pasta, broccoli salad, bananas and fruit drinks. Plenty and nothing ran out except for the fruit drinks. It was a beautiful day. We really enjoyed the race and look forward to it next year.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
State Record!!!
Just noticed that Kent holds the State Record for an 8k mile race. He racewalked and over the Ocean Springs Bridge. Here's the link. Woo-hoo...Congrats on your first state record. Don't it feel good??? Love you!!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Mullet 5k & More
Boy, where has the time gone?? It has been two weeks since I last posted; thanks for being patient. I'll start with the race report.
On October 8th, we ran the Mullet 5k in Fairhope. The temp could have been cooler but running entirely in the shady neighborhood made it great. We ran it a couple of years ago and it was absolutely just freezing and very cold strong winds. What a difference this time! Off we go leaving in plenty of time...we thought. When we got there, we almost didn't find a place to park. Once we did, we picked up our packets after waiting in a looong line. Time is running out. Pre-registered didn't receive "packets" as you would think (if you are a runner you understand) as they were in another line! All you originally got was your runner's number and t-shirt. When I got to the bucket that held the packets, the lady in front of me got the last one...the LAST one! I mean, they were just sitting out and no telling how many people picked one up that were not even running...come on, people!! They were stuffed and we were hoping for discounts or something like that. Oh, well...all for leaving "early". I thought I'd run to the bathroom quickly before it started but there were so many people I realized I wouldn't have time. Okay...no packet, no time for the potty, no time for a warm up or even a short, fast walk, and barely time to line up. What happened to us?? This is not our first run! All I can say is that from now on we WILL be leaving a lot earlier.
I was really excited-once I got over our inability to arrive in a decent time-to run this one again. Three quarters into the first mile was super and I saw some of the best times I've ever had. Really good running happening. Hard, wonderful pushing. Then it happened. We remembered there was a hill in it, so I was mentally prepared for it...UNTIL I got to it. My memory did not serve me well. Okay, we started up the hill...I'm okay...turned a corner...still okay and still going up...turned another corner...getting tougher...turned another corner...now it's getting harder to breathe and the grade is getting higher! This was one tough nuggie! Having run this before I did know that eventually it would level out. Then just before the third mile, it happened. Wonderful, fantastic level road!! It wasn't long before I regained my strength and was able to finish strong.
I am very proud of the efforts I made to do my best and not worry about anyone else's time. Sometimes we get hung up on "time" instead of evaluating the course, difficulty and ability at the moment. I finished in 27:26 with a pace of 8:46. I was so excited to get 3rd place in my age group. We did not have a camera with us because it was a Point A to Point B race. I was waiting for them to post the pictures taken but as with most all of the races we run in this area, they don't get posted only the results...which you can find here. So here's the photo Kent took of me back at the camper and a close up of my beautiful award.
The awards were made by children in the art community.
A lot of running has been happening and I'm gradually increasing my mileage each week. I'm afraid I have broken the 10% rule a lot in the last few weeks unintentionally. This bothers me because I've generally felt good and wake up each day wanting to don my shoes and shorts and hit the road. I can hardly get a run in that is less than 4-5 miles. I know that's not much for some but I'm loving my "base". Need to work on this and actually make a plan that I will stick to or follow one that a friend has shared. I do NOT want to get injured. I'm getting HUNGRY for another marathon...I can just taste it. Maybe that's too near to my thoughts and I must reign in and control myself...time will come.
I have more to share but will in a later post. Until later...
Run 4 It,
My Friends
On October 8th, we ran the Mullet 5k in Fairhope. The temp could have been cooler but running entirely in the shady neighborhood made it great. We ran it a couple of years ago and it was absolutely just freezing and very cold strong winds. What a difference this time! Off we go leaving in plenty of time...we thought. When we got there, we almost didn't find a place to park. Once we did, we picked up our packets after waiting in a looong line. Time is running out. Pre-registered didn't receive "packets" as you would think (if you are a runner you understand) as they were in another line! All you originally got was your runner's number and t-shirt. When I got to the bucket that held the packets, the lady in front of me got the last one...the LAST one! I mean, they were just sitting out and no telling how many people picked one up that were not even running...come on, people!! They were stuffed and we were hoping for discounts or something like that. Oh, well...all for leaving "early". I thought I'd run to the bathroom quickly before it started but there were so many people I realized I wouldn't have time. Okay...no packet, no time for the potty, no time for a warm up or even a short, fast walk, and barely time to line up. What happened to us?? This is not our first run! All I can say is that from now on we WILL be leaving a lot earlier.
I was really excited-once I got over our inability to arrive in a decent time-to run this one again. Three quarters into the first mile was super and I saw some of the best times I've ever had. Really good running happening. Hard, wonderful pushing. Then it happened. We remembered there was a hill in it, so I was mentally prepared for it...UNTIL I got to it. My memory did not serve me well. Okay, we started up the hill...I'm okay...turned a corner...still okay and still going up...turned another corner...getting tougher...turned another corner...now it's getting harder to breathe and the grade is getting higher! This was one tough nuggie! Having run this before I did know that eventually it would level out. Then just before the third mile, it happened. Wonderful, fantastic level road!! It wasn't long before I regained my strength and was able to finish strong.
I am very proud of the efforts I made to do my best and not worry about anyone else's time. Sometimes we get hung up on "time" instead of evaluating the course, difficulty and ability at the moment. I finished in 27:26 with a pace of 8:46. I was so excited to get 3rd place in my age group. We did not have a camera with us because it was a Point A to Point B race. I was waiting for them to post the pictures taken but as with most all of the races we run in this area, they don't get posted only the results...which you can find here. So here's the photo Kent took of me back at the camper and a close up of my beautiful award.
The awards were made by children in the art community. A lot of running has been happening and I'm gradually increasing my mileage each week. I'm afraid I have broken the 10% rule a lot in the last few weeks unintentionally. This bothers me because I've generally felt good and wake up each day wanting to don my shoes and shorts and hit the road. I can hardly get a run in that is less than 4-5 miles. I know that's not much for some but I'm loving my "base". Need to work on this and actually make a plan that I will stick to or follow one that a friend has shared. I do NOT want to get injured. I'm getting HUNGRY for another marathon...I can just taste it. Maybe that's too near to my thoughts and I must reign in and control myself...time will come.
I have more to share but will in a later post. Until later...
Run 4 It,
My Friends
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