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CLOVERR1's Recent Blog Entries
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Thursday, November 26, 2009
I'm back home sipping a Starbuck's latte after meeting up with some friends and running the 5K Turkey Trot race over on the UAH campus.
It was nice to meet ZIRCADIA , who will be running her first marathon next weekend in Memphis! Dana-- you did GREAT for being under the weather and all; take it easy this week and you'll do fine in the St. Jude's race. And it was also good to see NOELLIEMAE again. I'm glad both ladies were able to spot my pink shoes and found me in the crowd of 1200 runners!
I'd neglected to preregister, and by the time I got to the race site this morning, they had handed out ALL the race numbers to a much larger field than expected! So, I wasn't officially registered in the race, but that's okay; race officials allowed everyone to run, it's not like I NEED another race t-shirt and it saved me spending the $20. :)
I think if Dana had been feeling well (and hadn't tweaked an ankle at the turnaround), we probably could have run together the whole way. (lol--looking like mutt & jeff tho, she's tall and I'm short!) But as it was I ended up finishing between her and Noelle. Noelle's got a bit of a quicker pace and a competitive spirit; I think I may have to beg her to run with me occasionally so I can get in some faster workouts!
Weather was cool but clear. Course was nice, with only one hill! *Puff with pride* Several runners commented on the Flying Monkey Marathon shirt I was wearing.
My time for the 3.1 mile course was 29:08. That's what, about a 9:23 pace?
However....(this is what one risks running even a short race 4 days after a marathon) I've strained one of my right hamstring muscles. Not badly, but...I'm going to baby it the next couple of days or however long it takes to recover.
Well, I've got to get busy and decorate a cake to take to Thanksgiving Dinner later with friends. Given my anti-family-holiday sentiments and the host's raunchy sense of humor, I'm making a "boob" cake.
Happy Turkey Day everyone! I'M THANKFUL FOR MY SPARK BUDDIES!!!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
--did a slow 4 mile walk this morning but still feeling creaky. (last week's total miles, including the marathon was 40.2 miles)
--weight this morning was 124.4 lbs. I gained weight (+2.6 lb) this last week? I'm trying not to feel guilty or worked up about that, as it wasn't because of binging. It's most likely a result of cutting back on exercise while tapering the weeks before the marathon, a bit of pre-race carbo loading, and then heavier eating the day after the marathon, and my body still readjusting, sorting itself out now, to the race effort and the food.
Monday, November 23, 2009
The Flying Monkey Marathon bills itself as "A TOUGH LITTLE RUN IN THE PARK"; 26.2 tough and memorable miles of winding roads in Percy Warner Park, Nashville TN, with a total of 3500 feet of elevation gain and loss.
Here's the elevation profile and topographical maps
http://www.harpethhillsmarathon.com/PWPm
aps/Elevation.JPG
http://www.harpethhillsmarathon.com/PWPm
aps/HHFMmarathon.jpg
No rain! Overcast and temps between 40-50 degrees. Did start drizzling just a bit afterwards.
No blisters or bruised toenails!
My goals were to finish under 6 hours and average better than training pace; I did that (and then some)!
Favorite mile: the Downhill between miles 6-7 (think I flew down that hill at an 8:00something pace)
Worst mile: The Uphill between miles 18-19 (no flying on this one, crawling but still moving forward)
Last time I did a marathon distance in a race was in the Delano Park Run last March; I was slower there with a 6:30 time for 26 miles (out of 46 total). Last time I ran a specific marathon race was in 2004 Rocket City with a 4:45 time; 5 years later and 14 minutes slower on a nonflat course--I'll take it!
My usual back of the pack ranking. Finished 160th place out of 231 registered runners and 205 finishers.
I didn't really run my smartest race, but that was a learning lesson. I took off too fast and ran a 10:09 minute pace for the first half of the race. I should have notched that back a bit, run more conservatively and had a bit more energy left for the end. (I didn't really "hit the wall or bonk out" but I was really fighting during about miles 18-22.) There were these two nice guys I kept passing-running with-getting passed by during most of the race; I kinda wish now I'd just stuck with them from early on. One was a seasoned older race veteran, running with and coaching the other who was younger and running his first marathon. They ultimately pulled away after the hill at mile 18 and finished 9 minutes ahead at me; I wonder if I'd settled in and run more at their back and forth pace throughout if I could have finished with them? Have to thank them anyway; they were the ones who told me I COULD go under 5 hours! :)
I wish I had a running and race buddy. :(
On the plus side, I now have an idea of what I can do for a decent Half Marathon race pace. And I think I've learned somethings, especially for my trail race in January--hills take energy; pace so you've got it. Also, this race made me feel better about being able to make the cut off times in the Mountain Mist.
I do think using the GU helped, but it also kind of made my gut feel heavy. Think I'll have to play around on my long runs with GU vs protein/energy bars vs gatorade. Have decided the fruit flavors agree better with me than chocolate, even if the blueberry-pomegranate GU turned my lips blue.
Lol...Hannah missed seeing me finish (because I told her not to expect me til a time of about 5:30) but she came bearing Starbucks Peppermint Mocha. :) I doubt I'll ever get her to run a race with me (come on kiddo...what about a 5k?) but she's a good supportive daughter.
So, today I am a little muscle achy, but not too badly so. Treated myself to a 4 hour nap this afternoon.
Next race? 5K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. :)
Monday, November 23, 2009
Full race report later after I recover some time and energy. :)
The weather was overcast and cool, but it didn't start drizzling until AFTER the race!
Finishing time: 4 hours 59 minutes
Overall average pace: 11:24
1/2 marathon (0-13.1 miles) 2:13 10:09/mile pace
(13.1-26.2 miles) 2:46 12:40/mile pace
Friday, November 20, 2009
Saturday is forecast cloudy; Monday is sunny; and Sunday is now showing a 70% chance of rain!!!
I wonder how much I'd have to bribe my daughter to get up early and meet me at the about the half way point of the race with dry socks and shoes if needed?
Lol...I think I'm cursed with rainy day races...last year's Delano Run, the Monte Sano 10K, the Shelby Bottoms 15k....
I'm still trying to be hopeful the weather ends up decent and dry.
2 DAYS!!!!!
Regardless of the weather though, I'll be out there running on Sunday and giving it my best effort. :)
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