race report: medtronic tc 1 mile

This race report is kind of late considering it was nearly two weeks ago- and I just deleted my draft that I had started (on purpose) because it was getting a little wordy for a simple mile race.

So here's the abridged version, in bullets:

• I wore spandex shorts because they make me feel fast. It might have been a little early in the season (pale legs + winter weight) for them, a realization that came as I stripped off my sweats in the start corral. Oh well. 
• My only goal was to not go out fast and crash and burn. Therefore, I ran on feeling and didn't look at my watch at all. However...
• I caught a  glimpse of the clock as I was coming up on the half mile mark and I was well under six minute pace. I freaked out and slowed down. Still not sure why.
• I was feeling great and couldn't believe how quickly the race was going by (mentally speaking). Still, I didn't pick up the pace because I was scared that I would poop my tiny spandex shorts at the end. (Do people poop their pants in short races? Or is that typically reserved for longer distances? Either way, it was a very real fear.)
• I can tell I didn't run very hard because I was able to smile and wave to a few friends that were spectating along the course. I feel like if I was working harder, I wouldn't have been coherent enough.
• Finished.
  

  

   not great, but i can't complain

• Kat and I both marveled at how racing a mile is really not damaging to one's appearance the way distance running is. No runny makeup, no rat's nest ponytail... You hardly even break a sweat. 

post-race

• This was my favorite Corporate Team Challenge shirt that I saw, again from Ginger Hop. (They had my favorite last year, too.) Sorry for the pay channel language.

• Celebratory beers at Brit's. 
• While drinking aforementioned beer, we watched the elites run and marveled at their speed. I couldn't even take a picture of the men because they were too fast.

fast girls run in underwear

Finally, today I received an email telling me that I was one of 1,000 random finishers selected for entry into the Medtronic TC 10 Mile this fall. I've never run it and was so hoping I'd get in. We'll call it my 2013 Goal Race. Cue dramatic music.

PS- It has just occurred to me this has been the fourth consecutive year that I've been present in some way at this race. In 2010 I was there as a spectator, while 2011 and 2012 I was an employee. Go figure.

happy weekend

Okay, I'm officially a blogging loser. This week has been crazy busy for work and I've been squeezing in a bunch of evening yoga and QT with family, then going to bed early so I can get up early and run. Whew. 

I have about four drafts of posts in my folder so when I actually make time to write-write, expect an overflow of posts. Unless the weather keeps being amazing. Then I'll be outside and not on a computer.

But who really cares about any of that when there is Internet Awesome to be had! 

• Say so-long to the LSD run and hours in the gym. Science says we only need 7 minutes. 

• If you're a dessert fan but have trouble stopping after one bite, this is pretty genius.

• I usually buy organic whenever I can but these new Dirty Dozen are especially important. 

• Yes to everything about this farm to table engagement dinner. 

• I haven't seen The Great Gatsby yet, nor have I read the book. Which should I do first? 

• What's your stance on PDA? As a big fan of kissing pretty much any time, I'm going to say I'm Pro-PDA. (I'm also guilty of crying in public.) 

• This weekend in Minneapolis: Art-A-Whirl. 

And finally, a gratuitous photo from Mother's Day in which my family looks awesomely cute and I look like a giant ogre,  due to a combination of a weird camera angle, my blousy shirt, and the wedges I'm wearing.

happy weekend

I haven't done a post like this in a while, mostly because I've been too busy to read things on The Internet. However, with Google eliminating Reader this summer, I've been cleaning up the list of blogs I follow and going through all of my starred items. A little social media spring cleaning, if you will. 

My life, recently: Last night I ran the TC 1 Mile and it wasn't terrible. 

More to come about that, but first, links!

• My Oma used to eat apples like this.

• It's been a long-standing joke in my family that I will turn into a Cat Lady (despite the fact that I don't own, and have never owned, a cat) so imagine my relief when I found 5 Types of Old Ladies Without Cats you Can Become.

• My running name is "Shuffles Couchcrusher." Find yours here. 

• I saw this funny (and real) Craigslist ad for a yoga mat a few years ago but it resurfaced again via @PriorFatGirl.

• As someone that really loves gin, this cocktail sounds amazing! 

(source and recipe!)

Questions: 

• For all Reader users, what are you switching to?
• What's your running name?

catching up

I was told on Friday that I've been sucking at blogging lately (coughJuliecough) and yes, that's probably true. However, I spent the better half of last week sans voice due to my cold (the one from last weekend) becoming much, much worse, so laying low was my primary goal. As such, I didn't do anything blog worthy. (I suppose the argument could be made that I don't ever do anything blog worthy, but you're here reading so...)

May 1 marked the end of my self-inflicted sobriety but I didn't make my liver work until dinner on May 2 when I went to the new Burch Steak and Pizza with Colleen. Full report to follow. 

On Saturday I went to a Kentucky Derby party and won $190 on a random bet, so I'm going to consider that a major high point of my weekend. 

Sunday was also exciting: I went to Circus Juventas, which is the largest youth performing arts circus in the country. They had their spring show and it was pretty incredible. Think Cirque du Soleil with kids. And to think I only played t-ball growing up...

After the circus, I went on my long run in the most perfect weather. It was glorious. However, my weekend lowpoint came when I discovered my Garmin is on its last leg. It died about twenty minutes after a 70 minute run, having been fully charged beforehand.

In other news, I'm officially in a love/hate relationship with my bangs. And my apartment. What is it about spring that makes me crave change?

in heaven there is no beer*

For the past 30 days, I have not had a sip of alcohol. 

that was me, far left, white dress, kneeling and pointing (source)

Was it hard? Not really. 

There were a few times that I wanted a cold beer or a glass of wine when I was out for dinner, and yes, the thought of "cheating" crossed my mind (because how would you guys ever really know?) but I didn't. And aside from being in a few tempting situations, not drinking for 30 days was really not that difficult.

I thought I would maybe feel differently (better) or lose a little weight (alcohol isn't calorie-free!) but alas, there are no noticeable perks. To be fair, I wasn't a heavy drinker when I started alcohol-free April so I guess it's not surprising that I feel pretty much the same. 

In conclusion, it was a fun challenge... but I'm glad it's MAY!

Cheers! 

*My grandpa always sings this song. Do you know it?

race report: get in gear 10k

As of yesterday, my official 10k PR is 45:45, a 7:22 pace, which, incidentallly, happens to be my half marathon PR pace. 

Self-fulfilling prophecy. 

Yesterday I woke up feeling the worst I have in days. Without going into too much detail, it was clear my cold had turned bacterial. Lots of nose blowing, phlegm coughing, and water guzzling. 

I got to the race around 8, found parking a few blocks away and got the lay of the land. With twenty minutes until the gun, I went out for a warm up jog. When I got back, the corrals were packed and I tried to work my way up to the front but stopped when it got too crowded to move forward without pushing people. 

(source)

I spent the first mile bobbing and weaving through a ton of people. (My stats show I passed 498 in the first four miles.) I kept telling myself not to panic, that I had the whole race to make up for it. Besides, I wanted my first mile to be my slowest anyway. It was. 7:34. 

The road began to open up and I got a little over-zealous. I don't think I've ever been this happy to be racing. I forgot how much I loved the camaraderie of runners, and hearing the cheers of spectators. 7:07- or "making up for lost time."

After mile 2 (I think) I saw Colleen, Julie and baby Mae and caught a few strides with former TCM coworker Molly, who was running the half. We wished each other luck before I kept moving, settling in to a pace that felt good (without looking at my watch). 7:20

Between miles 3-4, you hit a hillier portion of the course. I did my best to stay relaxed and focused on keeping my stride short and using my arms to propel me. It helped knowing I'd be rewarding with a downhill after I made it up. 7:25 

Just after mile 4, two guys passed me that were talking about going sub-7, and one said that they'd have to go now to make it. The other replied that he was feeling okay as they were, but the pace they were moving was faster than what I doing. I debated if I should try to move with them but decided to hold where I was. 7:17

It was at that point that I was comfortably tired and began to dread the minimal, though very real, incline up and over the bridge. It's also the point on the course where the half marathon splits off and continues for their additional miles, and I began to think about my experience last year. 7:20  

I actually don't remember passing the 6 mile mark, or really anything besides seeing Colleen, Julie and Mae and seeing Colleen raise her phone to take a picture of me and knowing that it would probably be pretty terrible. I concentrated on moving my feet as fast as possible, and began counting down from 10 in my head, knowing that when I hit zero, I would be done. 6:50 (last .2). 

 

 

please notice that a 45 yr old is pretty much stride for stride with me

Some thoughts on my first 10k:

• I thought this distance would be terrible but I really love it. It's not as hard as a 5k and not as draining as a half.
• This is the most evenly paced race I've ever run. Aside from my first two miles, and  my finishing kick, my miles were all within 8 seconds of each other.
• I'm happy with where this puts me at, fitness-wise. With only five weeks of dedicated training under my belt, I feel like this was a solid effort.

So there it is, the story of my first- though not last- 10k. 

race week fever and some running talk

Fact: I "raced"once last year, my slowest 5k in years.

This weekend I'll race a 10k where I'll consider it a massive success if I can even hit my half-marathon PR pace for 6.2 miles. I say race because I plan on giving this my full effort but know I will not be able to run at the same level as two years ago. There is a little comfort that no matter what my time is, it will be my 10k PR (this being my first 10k and all).

The last few weeks of running have gone really, really well. I haven't missed a mile, which is huge. No skipping runs or cutting them short. And for the most part, I feel good, aside from a few sassy remarks from calves that haven't seen this much work in a while.

*not my calves (source)

Awkward side note: If you Google "women's calves" you will find that there are WEB PAGES devoted to them. Weirdos. 

Despite the snow we woke up to yesterday, 60's are predicted for the weekend. Don't worry, I'm compulsively checking the weather, which is a symptom of Race Week Fever. Other symptoms include obsessive use of race predictors, littering your floor with options for race day attire, religious study of course maps, and planning pre-race nutrition down to the last ounce you'll take in.

I'm currently exhibiting a few of these symptoms.