two, two, TWO race reports in one [entry] !

Hills of Milltown 5K

Sunday, May 12

Ellicott City, Maryland

One of my coworkers is on the board for the Ellicott City Historical Society, and he suggested to me - and a few others in the office - to run the Hills of Milltown 5K Challenge, described justly: Even the down hill is up hill in this challenging annual spring 5K sharpener! The race route is scenic as well as challenging AND HISTORIC!  This 5K route proves a worthy challenge to even the advanced runner. With multiple hills along the way even the down hill is up hill in this scenic loop course which passes 13 historic sites. A challenge for beginners and a tough spring workout for those competing in longer distance or multi-sport races in the summer. The final approach to the summit climbs over-land to circle the beautiful ruins of the Patapsco Female Institute.

I understand that a race with the word HILLS in the title probably means I can't bitch about the course, but it's my blog so pffffft.

The race was on Mother's Day, but I didn't want to drag H and James out of bed so early (you know what's not a great idea? waking a sleeping toddler!) so we decided to meet for brunch after the race. I was probably the second racer there, and used that time to run a 2 1/2 warm up. I'm still undecided if a longer warm up helps or hinders or doesn't do anything at all. I've PR'd with warming up and I've PR'd without it. I've run good races with a warm up and bad races with a warm up.

Anyhow, I met up with a few coworkers (that's the last time I stand in the sun for a photo -- I'm so pale I'm practically see through!) pre race, so that was fun.

Then it was time to start.
And that, my bloggy friends, was not fun.

That first hill? BRUTAL.

Like oh-my-god-I-can't-breathe-my-legs-are-toast-no-jelly-no-jellytoast. My heart rate was skyrocketing.

And then it went down hill again. Hooray!

^^ coming up from the court house (behind the guy in the yellow)

And then back up. and then a nice long downhill and some rollers and then another long, tough climb. I let loose on the final downhill but my body was so spent I couldn't really pick up too much speed.

There were four women ahead of me (five if you count the woman who passed me at the end. I guess I should), so I didn't think I'd place. Based on my time (25:26.81) I didn't think I'd place.

... Imagine my delight and surprise when I got the emailed results the following morning:

31- 50 Female

1. G.S. F43 MD - 24:49.48

2. Tricia C. F31 MD - 25:26.81

3. K.O. F41 City MD - 26:25.68

Me? Second in an age group (and a large AG - 20 years)?? holy cow that's awesome!

Tell her what she won, Johnny!

Trishie, you've just won a Pandora bracelet and a charm!*

(charm I won: white with flowers on the right)
(*I already had the bracelet, so the nice folks at Pandora let me exchange it for two charms)

Time: 25:26
Pace: 8:12 (mile 1 - 8:11/ mile 2 - 8:06/ mile 3 - 8:23)
Overall: 28/ 175
Women: 87/ 175
AG (F31-50): 2/ 43

_____________________________________________________________________________
Following week...

Musical Madness 5K

Saturday, May 18

Fulton, Maryland

Friday afternoon I got a Facebook message from my friend Becky, another Ironman-turned-momma-shortly-after-Ironman. Did I want to do a 5K Saturday morning with her and another BT girl, Traci (another multi-sport momma)? My initial response was no, I couldn't, but after checking my calender (free!) and realizing I wanted to see if I could pick up another PR on a flat(ter) course, and after checking with James re: his schedule, I decided to do it.

Friday afternoon, after work/ daycare, H and I went to Feet First in Columbia to register. The race also had a 1K kids fun run, so why not?

We woke up and were out the door by 7am. Breakfast = frosted mini wheat for me and H. Coffee for James at the race start (bold move, James).

We met up with friends and H met Becky and Josh's little girl (one year younger than him and way cute). Neither would say hi but I think they got in a high five/ fist bump.

Lined up and we are off!

^^wow, a race photo were I don't look super awful! I mean, that's a win right there!

The race started and we were treated to a nice downhill (AHEM Hills of Milltown). I was running sub 7s holy crap that's fast for me. I finished the first mile in just under 7 minutes. Of course at this point I am all kinds of optimistic - I could break 21 minutes! I'm a superstar! I'm going to quit my job and become a professional athlete! - but that sunshine-y feeling ended as the course flattened out a bit and I realized that the downhill ... would be uphill on the way back. Okay, perhaps not a sub 21 but maybe a PR? As the race continued I was hurting - as you do with a 5K - and wondering why I thought this was a good idea, why would any sane person run fast for fun.... good god does this hurt. Made the turn around and headed back. I told myself to just HOLD ON. The last half mile was super painful and I was beat by a kid. Seriously, like a 10 year old. I saw James and H and made it to the finish. I wanted to puke but I didn't, so that's also a win.

I wasn't sure about my time - watch read 22:56 and I didn't look at the clock (not a chip race). Was happy with my time, although I'd love to go faster. New goal: sub 22.

H's race report: ran 100 feet. stopped. walked a little. tantrum. carried by daddy to the finish.
favorite part? MEDAL! POST RACE MUFFIN WITH THE SUGAR ON TOP! OPENING THE BAKERY DOOR!
least favorite part? the race. waiting for race results. taking pictures with mommy. not being able to run into the street. the door at the bakery was heavy.

And speaking of said race results ... I truly didn't think I'd place. There were a lot of women in front of me and the AGs were 10Y (30-39). And then I went over and checked the results. Out of the top three overall women --- two were in my AG, so they wouldn't count for AG awards. And then ... one... two.. three -- holy crap, that's me! I'm third! I counted again. And again. And then checked that the overall women wouldn't count towards the AG awards.

We stuck around and H came up with my to get my award -- a medal and a $15 to a local bar. sweet!



And then we had coffee and tea and bagels and the kids made giant messes with the muffins (we left a big tip and the boys cleaned muffin crumbs off of the floor - thanks guys!)

it's hard to get a get photo with three crazy toddlers and a baby ^^
Time: 22:54 - PR!
Pace: 7:22 (mile 1 - 6:59/ mile 2 - 7:32/ mile 3 - 7:39.... I think this is called a positive split.)
Overall: 43/ 198
Women: 12/ 91
AG (F30-39): 3/15

a(nother) PR ! woot! [pike's peek 10k]

April 21, 2013

 
My previous 10K PR was on this course -- wayyyy back in 2007, when I was still in law school, when J and I were living in a 500SF row house in Butcher's Hill, when I was driving my POS Chevy Cavalier, when I didn't have a toddler and did have considerably more free time. That year I ran a 47:50 // 7:42 pace.

I figured that based on my prior races this year I could PR this distance. And if there is ever a course to run fast -- this is it.

While there are a couple small uphills, this course is downhill/ flat. You park at Shady Grove Metro Station, run the course down to (the soon to be demolished) White Flint Plaza, and then take the Metro back to Shady Grove. Point-to-point. And fast. (so fast that the winner's average pace was 4:34. yeeps)

[yes, Pike's Peak is a crazy hilly marathon in Colorado. Pike's Peek is along Rockville PIKE. get it? ha. and almost all of it is downhill]

It was around 40*F at the start -- that weird temp where it's probably too cold for tights but maybe not and while a hat is probably overkill it doesn't feel like it at the start. I ended up in a long sleeved shirt and a running skirt. (I got really hot around mile 4 but it was too cold for short sleeves at the start so oh well).

My IronBuddy Deb saw these photos and said I think all those PRs are going to your head. Did you really start out at the very front? But no, Deb, no - just the front of my wave.

(that's me, in the middle - wearing a pink shirt)

I knew what pace I needed to maintain to PR, so natch I tried to run faster than that which always works out so well.

SPLITS:
1 7:24.0
2 7:26.2
3 7:25.3
4 7:25.4
5 7:33.7
6 7:27.6
7 1:22.2 

Around mile 4, mile 4 1/2 ish I started feeling super shitty. Like, I-went-out-way-too-fast-and-now-I-have-to-hang-on-but-it-really-really-really-hurts shitty. Fortunately, mile 4 was only 2 miles from the finish, so I told myself to just HANG ON and run this pace for 15 more minutes.

I did but it HURT.

I came down into the finishers chute (passing a girl that turned out to be in my AG, so score) and came in at 46:03/ 7:25 pace. And a 1 minute 47 second PR!


Overall: 384/ 2448
Women: 82/ 1277
AG: 18/ 216

And because I can't NOT check, McMillan puts this 10K effort at a 3:36 marathon and a 1:42:40 half. YUP.

crab run half marathon - a(nother) PR!

 

This race kind of sneaked up on me. B&A half was only three weeks before this race, and I spent the first week post race sick, the second week post race trying to keep up with my workouts but not really doing so because I was still recovering from the previous week's sickness, and the third week tapering for this race.

Let's just say I didn't get a lot of quality runs in between races.

Friday - the day before the race - I was in court. Fortunately, it was a quick day so I was able to come home a little early to pack and get my shit together before my iron buddy Deb picked me up. We drove to the eastern shore (hitting traffic, non beach weekend, it's just a bridge people, wtf) and arrived around 6.

Packet pick up was at the Y (a super nice Y) and OMG this is the shirt:

a bunch of little crabs and a bigger crab? YES PLEASE.

The Italian restaurant Deb eats at (used to eat at) apparently closed, so we followed her GPS to a random Italian place. It smelled like plastic fruit but my pizza was really good so it evened out. then to our Walgreens for toothbrushes, toothpaste, and clearance easter candy (chocolate covered marshmallow for $.025? awesomesauce), hotel, a couple episodes of TLC's "Four Weddings" (and my easter candy) and then to sleep.

We were up around 6:00 AM (no parade at 1:30 AM) and drove to the start.

I really wasn't sure how I'd race. I felt great for B&A --- solid training, good taper, but with the sickness, recovery, and taper (all in a three week period) I didn't have a feeling for my race fitness. My goal was to PR - I mean, that's almost always my goal - but I told myself that if I stayed under/ around 1:48 I'd call it a successful day.

I also made the mistake of looking at last year's result --- if I ran this race the in same time I ran B&A, and the same field showed up, and those people ran the same race - I'd place first (first!) in my AG. I should stop doing this.

The race is (basically) the run portion of the Eagleman HIM course only unlike EM, it's not 100 * and in the middle of the day, so hooray for that.

Pre race was uneventful - bathroom a couple of times, hung out in the gym, and then finally - go time!

I started running at around a 7:30 pace and again, told myself to slow down and run my own race. I told myself to stay within an 8:00 and 8:05 pace, and pick it up at mile 10 when/ if I had anything left. The beginning of the race went along the Choptank and it was absolutely beautiful. The weather was perfect -- low 40s, sunny, and I went with a running skirt, tank top, thin long sleeved shirt, and throw away gloves (that I almost tossed around mile 3 but tucked into my skirt .. glad I did, because I pulled them out later)

The race is pancake flat, but what it lacks in elevation change it makes up for with wind. I don't know how one can run into a headwind for 72% of a race (I made up that number but trust me, it's close ) but I did. Every time I hit a turn around I'd think oh thank god, a tail wind and then the wind was back in my face.

The race was really well run (ha! pun intended). Lots of aid stations, and while there weren't a ton of spectators (this isn't what you'd call a major city) the ones I saw were enthusiastic. The volunteers were great.

The worst wind was mile 10. I remember seeing the Columbia Triathlon Association flag whipping around in the wind and I thought oh good that's the right direction. However. It was mile 10 and I was delirious and it was actually blowing in the wrong direction. I felt like I was running so hard but barely moving.

I knew I was on track for a PR but I also knew it would be close and it would depend on the last 2-3 miles. I also knew that my finish place in my AG wouldn't change ... I realized this around mile 8 when I didn't see any women near my AG ahead of my or behind me. At one point I heard footsteps but it was a guy and I was like meh you're not in my AG.

Once I got to mile 11 I knew I could PR. I still felt good (well, good for mile 11) and I knew I had it in me to finish strong. And I did.

My mile times ranged from 8:04 to 8:18 and I ran the last mile in 7:43. hooray!

splits:

1			8:08
2			8:04
3			8:05
4			8:04
5			8:10
6			8:04
7			8:07
8			8:06
9			8:10
10			8:18
11			8:06
12			8:07
13			7:43

Finish time: 1:45:20
Average pace: 8:02
Overall: 42/ 224
Women: 10/ 127
AG (F30-34): 3/ 20


 I got my medal - from the mayor! - and it's a crab. wearing running shoes. fantastic!

and went into the gym to warm up (as soon as I finished I was sweaty and hot... about 2 minutes later my body temp dropped and I was shivering). I got half a doughnut (the spread was amazing but I couldn't really stomach anything). I stretched and waited for deb to finish. She did and then we waited for the finish times to post. Then I got more (a lot more) food ... homemade cupcakes, trail mix, cookie, brownie, yum.



Unfortunately, the AGs only rolled one deep, and the winner of my AG ran a 1:32:21 so yeah, not really that close (also jeez that's fast!). I finished THIRD in my AG so award or no award, that's pretty awesome. and also, a PR. second one in three weeks. sweet.

we back over the bridge(s), back home, to a napping H and a gardening James.

next up? Pike's Peek (yes, spelled correctly) 10K. And another PR. I hope. I think.

a picture is worth a thousand words --

and in these photos, those words are all synonyms of the word YUCK 

for real, what does a girl have to do to take a decent race picture?

The Year of the PR [b&a trail half marathon]

It's official.

I'm calling it.

2013 is The Year of the PR.

I admit it. I wanted to call it after the Penguin Pace 5K but I thought that might be premature.

But after today? Yes, it's officially official.

The day before the race (Friday) was an absolute shit show. It was an insane day in (and out of) Court, and as I was getting my stuff together for the race ... where's my wallet? Not in my purse. Not in my car. James, have you seen my wallet? OMGILOSTMYWALLET. James is, of course, the calm and collected of the two of us, and after asking if I shopped online (ME? lolwut? why would he think that?), suggested that it may be in my office. He offered to go but I didn't think he could get into the court house after hours.

I drove to the court house - while listening to the end of the Maryland/ Duke game ... GO TERPS! - and found my wallet under a pile of files (shows you how insane the day was - I never leave work without organizing my desk and office. cool kid right here). Came home. Found out a good friend (Hi Hilatron!) and a friend I hadn't seen in forever (Hi Sarsatron!) were driving to Silver Spring from Philly and asked them to stop by.

I debated what to wear. Weather.com said low 40s, feels like mid 30s, high likelihood of light rain. Decided on tights, tank top, thin long sleeved shirt.

Then, finally to sleep.

I was up at 6:00 to eat. Checked the weather again - low 40s, feels like low 40s, rain not likely until noon. Changed clothes: running skirt, tank top, thin long sleeved t-shirt. I drove to LA Fitness - possibly the nicest pre-race hangout! The race is usually at Severna Park High School but this year the RD had to move it and awesome I say. It was warm inside, lots of room to sit, stretch, indoor bathrooms (no port o potties hooray!).

Saw Colleen and we waited in the (long, ugh sometimes I hate being a woman) bathroom line. Found Deb, too, when I was dropping off my bag at bag drop. Perfect timing because Colleen and I are awesome -- left the building at 7:55 and waited for the race to start.

It was a chilly 41 (if that makes sense, and if it doesn't, oh well). And then.. it's GO TIME!

... except when you are a half marathoner and start - WHOOPS - with the marathoners.

"You're a half marathoner! You shouldn't have started!"
"Her chip crossed the mat - just run!"
"No, she shouldn't go. Go back!"

and I am FREAKING OUT because good god I am an idiot.

The RD kindly pointed me out to the chip/ clock/ timer guy and he reset my chip. Or something like that.

Okay, so 5 more minutes and THEN it's go time (for real).

I wanted to break my HM PR of 1:46:57 -- set in 2007 at the Baltimore Half. That's an 8:07ish pace. It seemed so fast but I knew I could do it. I've been training hard and smart, I'm injury free, and McMillan said so - so it HAD to be true. McMillan would not lie to me. I decided to keep it around an 8:00 - 8:05. Right away I was running a 7:45. People were passing me and as tempting as it was to keep up with them, I told myself myself to slow it down and run a smart race, my smart race.

And I did.

The race is on the Baltimore&Annapolis Trail -- not a rocks/ hills/ dirt 'trail' but a flat, paved trail that runs from the BWI Airport down to Annapolis. The race started at the LA Fitness, headed north towards Glen Burnie, turn around at mile 3.5(ish), then south back toward the start/ finish area, a short out and back off of the trail, then a turn around around mile 9.5, and back to the finish.

SPLITS:

1	8:04.4
2	8:05.8
3	7:58.8
4	8:05.7
5	8:04.9
6	8:06.9
7	8:05.5
8	8:03.9
9	7:57.1
10	8:03.2
11	8:01.4
12	8:06.2
13	7:47.3		woohoo !

14    1:16.7

(watch) finish time (still waiting on official time): 1:45:47 // 8:04 pace. 

Nice even splits and likely an overall negative split (too lazy to figure that out right now). All miles - with the exception of 13 - were within 8 seconds of each other. how's that for consistency?!

I felt pretty good during most of the race. Every so often doubt would creep in - am I going out too fast? can I hang on? - but I tried by best to dismiss those ugly little thoughts. I once read something about racing that I really like: Run the first third of a race with your head, the second third with your legs, and the final third with your heart. I divided up the race into third and tried to follow that mantra. Once I hit mile 10 I gave myself permission to pick up the pace (if possible) and told myself to push it hard for the final 3 miles. Oddly (or I guess not so oddly) pushing it hard and trying to pick up the pace at that late in the race meant that I was running my planned pace. Ha. Mile 13, though, was awesome. I felt like I was f l y i n g. I told myself that yes, it hurt, and no, I couldn't really breathe, but this was The End and I'd run a great race so far and I'd be damned if I didn't finish strong.

I saw the finish line and picked it up (to the tune of a 7:22 pace for the final .1 miles!) to kick it in. I'm sure my finish line photo is UGLY because I was pushing hard and for me, running hard =/= running pretty. I felt like I was going to puke but I managed to keep everything down.

I got my medal, got some Gatorade, considered pizza, felt horrible just thinking about pizza, cheered for the finishing runners, looked for Colleen and Deb, froze my tushie off, saw Colleen finish, saw Deb finish, got pizza, ate it, still not sure if pizza a good idea or bad idea, put on sweatpants, drove home with the seat warmers on and the heat on blast.

(and then we had a toddler birthday party, and then dinner out for a friend's birthday. w h e w I was so tired)

Today (Sunday, March 17) I am hurt-TANG and James laughs every time I walk down stairs. I may attempt a 2-3 easy recovery run to stretch out the legs... they are really tight. Still, the pride I'm feeling more than makes up for the fact that I can't really walk. I trained hard for this race and it paid off, and, well, that is just an awesome feeling.