Friday, November 30, 2012

Turkey Trot 5 Miler (Race Recap)

The Race:


The Conditions:
30s, low 40s--- frigid cold!

Results:
Official Time: 38:31- 7:43 pace
Overall Finish: 787/7279
Sex Place: 166/3901
Division: 5/458


 I ran this exact race 2 years ago with Eric on Thanksgiving-- this was also one of my first 10 or so blog posts- I can see my rambling is still just as bad so I'll try to cut down this time around. 

This year Mark came home for Turkey day to meet the family, as well as spend time with his extended family who also happen to live in Dayton. Seeing as he is a runner as well, he joined Eric and I for the torture fun!

Super excited about the cold weather. 

Not exactly matchy matchy- but both in skirts and minamalist black shoes-- that counts for something. 

Although the race has over 7,000 participants for the 5 miles, and a few thousand for the 1 mile walk, it really is a no frills race. Due to the size of participants for both distances, parking can be hard to come by, so unfortunately we had to get up super early and leave the house at 630 for the 8am start.

Parking ended up being a breeze so we had time to kill and took shelter / warmth in the Baum Opera House until 15 min prior
Me, Mark, Eric

Only other time I've raced the 5 mile distance was the 2010 for this race, so literally my only goal was to just break that time and go sub 40 which I knew would be possible. I know I'm capable of running consistently (once upon a time) in the 7:50s for half marathon, so I was hoping 7:40s wouldn't be too big of a stretch.

I lined up in the first (of 3 corrals) which was open to "Elite runners expecting to finish under 40" haha. The guy that was guarding the entrance questioned if I could run that fast wearing my skirt (he was kidding of course)
It must be really if I don't take my jacket off!

When the gun went off people were FLYING like crazy past me. I was too busy just trying to keep a steady pace and run 'appropriately' that it wasn't till 1/2 mile in I realized I was running 7 min pace. I know myself and know that I cannot keep that up so I backed off a bit and clocked in my first mile right at 7:21 (same time as last year)

Because this course is extremely flat with MAYBE a 10 ft elevation, it was hard to have an advantage on hills by opening my stride, so I was consistently getting slower. Around the 2 mile mark my left calf and achilles tendon were getting tight from trying to modify foot strike in different shoe. I decided to just run normal and although it felt weird feeling my feet hit the pavement hard, it at least made the tightness more bearable. 7:46

Right at mile 3 we were passing everyone in corral 2 (started 5 min after us) on the back portion of the out and back- I kept scanning for Eric, but no such luck (darn)
I finally got hot enough to take off my jacket, normally I get rid of extra layers by mile 1, but today my fingers were frozen and I could see my breath so the additional 2 miles was necessary. Just like magic I picked up my pace with the "extra layer removed" 7:56 (yes i realize its slowest mile, thats how bad my leg was hurting)

Not a lot of exciting or memorable things happened at mile 4- 7:52

Last miles is all guts and unfortunately I was running next to a lady named Carol who everyone and their mom knew. As we were passing corral 3, 6 different people had shouted some form of "way to go Carol" - we kept doing indian runs with one another so finally I had a new goal "beat Carol". I remember last time I ran this race the finish line was deceiving and I kicked way too early- this go round I was going to wait till I actually saw finish line in distance. I never really had a "full kick", more of just picked up the pace the entire mile so I could shave some time off.- 7:35- 38:31 total time

Finish line was anti-climatic- walked to get some water, banana, and a cookie and went to find Mark (he finished in 35:22). We cheered on my brother who also beat his previous time by 2 min (41:xx) and then we went home. Yay!

Race itself is a boring, flat, nothing to look at out and back, however its a fast course and makes you feel good to get in a run on Turkey Day. They did improve from 2010 by having the timing chips on back of bib vs. have to tie them on your shoes and wait in line at end to get them clipped off (I hate that).

Eric, myself, and Mark all surprised ourselves by our times and I'll definitely do it next year. (will break 38 at that time, so it is written, it must be done!)

As a side note, as FREEZING as it was in the morning, it warmed up to 66 degrees during midday--- crazy sauce!!

Friday, November 16, 2012

5 for Friday



1. In an attempt to get back into doing a New to me Cross training every month I decided to give "Just Dance" a whirl--- I'm mildly obsessed and do it every day after work. Here is a video on day 1--- unfortunately, my dancing skills aren't the greatest. I'll have my roommate take a video of me doing the russian hard one for my actual recap.


2. Last weekend I went to Catalina Island since Mark was running the marathon there. Did you know its the 6th hardest marathon in the WORLD (according to runner's world) It's a trail marathon and one of the girls we were stay with was going on and on about her minamalist trail shoes. Since she was over 6'0 and had more weight to carry (for her height, not her frame) I decided to try on her shoes. Loved the feel of them so I decided I want a pair. Wouldn't you know it when I get back to Nashville the next day Mark found a site that was doing a 1 day sale on them---- for $30. They came in yesterday and I ran in them today. I'm inlove

Not the most stylish looking and unfortunately they are really just designed for trails so running on the road will wear these puppies out FAST since its a lightweight foam that makes up the deep blue part. 

3. I'm going here tonight--- so excited!

4. I just found out that I have way more PTO than I thought I did and I have to whittle it down to just having 40 hours to transfer over to 2013... that means if my calculations are correct I'll be off a few days before Christmas all the way into the New Year---- YES PLEASE!!!

5. Favorite photos from Catalina- unfortunately my phone says i have no sd card, so these are more of my favorite photo's from Mark's camera.
Our House

Night out with all the roommates

During marathon

After race touring island via golf cart

Part of course
Wiki wacked! 

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Wordless Wednesday

Yesterday I redeemed my free flight I won at work





so I could check state # 36 off the list and run this with B and Mark. 



Guess I should start running again huh?

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Tuesday Tangent--- the last 3 weeks.

I haven't blogged in awhile so here are the highlights:

Running / Fitness
  • Up until this past weekend, I hadn't ran since New Jersey... that was Oct 14th-- call it a combo of travel + stress / busy at work + didn't feel like it, + lost my ipod shuffle charge and my roommate broke my garmin charger. 
  • I gained 6 lbs in those 3 weeks--- sigh
  • I did run 5 miles on saturday- it sucked and I realized how quickly not running for 3 weeks takes a toll on stamina--- my avg pace for the run was 9:40 haha. I ran the same 5 mile route on Sunday and something just clicked and avg pace was 8:12--- that is more what I like to see. 
  • Only paid for and planned races are Turkey Trot 5 miler with brother and Mark. Becca's debut back into half marathons by doing New Mexico, and our annual rudolph downtown 5k to kick off the Christmas parade. I need to fill up 2013, so state suggestions are welcome :) 
Work

  • Work has been SUPER busy, but that is expected with open enrollment season. I have to take it home every night and on the weekends. 
  • What has been my SAVING GRACE is a little website I've been meaning to share with you all--- www.mobilevids.org . My brother told me about it a month ago---- pretty much ANY tv show you can watch on this site. Different from hulu because the show gets uploaded right after it airs, and its every season. I don't have a tv so I've been able to catch up on Revenge, Once Upon a time, Pretty Little Liars, True Blood, Gossip Girl to name a few. I just pull this bad boy up on my personal lap top, pull up work on the work lap top and plug away... its been a sanity saver. 


Personal / Social
  • I went to San Diego- got to see the Running skirts store mecca in real life (it was super dooper tiny and they only carry the current season in stock

  • saw a seal in person for the first time EVER. 

  • Went whale watching and saw a TON of dolphins for the first time EVER (no photo proof)
    • got sea sick and had to take meds--- i was one of the lucky ones that didn't vomit... there was a  LOT of that going on
  • Found out I was 4 pumpkins tall

  • Had a last minute visit with my cousin Chad while passing through in L.A.- he moves to Saigon next week. 


  • Cried for a total of 9 hours in week... yup 9, it was fantastic. 
  • Scored last minute tickets to see Alanis Morisette live--- she was good, her opening rapper husband.... not so much. I sang the entire "head over feet" song as she belted it out. 


  • Went as warrior girl for Halloween on the weekend (costume was free so no choice there)


  • Then I channeled my inner sex good and went as SNL character Gilly for work Halloween

I got her dance moves down too 

  • I decided to take the plunge again and got full front bangs- pic later
  • Gearing up to go to Catalina Island this weekend--- Mark is running the marathon, I will be shopping, eating, and talking with his mom while he runs the tough hills. 

So that has been my life over the last 3 weeks. Hoping to blog more as well as catch up on the 300+ posts sitting in my reader!!