My Running Blog and Other Stuff

Just got back from my race….. my goal was to get a PR.  MY previous PR for a 5 miler was 51:40 (EONS ago),  so anything under that was going to be a PR, and I wasn’t really worried about the final time, but I wanted a PR and knew that I could do it with very little, if no effort.
 
The weather turned out to be a lot warmer than predicted (sorry, guys up north)—about 72 at race start with high humidity (so high, you could cut the air with a knife…).  The race was sponsored by TNT with proceeds going to them.  So there was a TNT table where dave hung out while I ran.  LOTS of my teammates were there for support, running and the like.  I can’t tell you how cool that is to know tons of folks shouting out for you while running…   but I digress.
 
It had to be one of the most depressing race starts ever.  Not whistle/gun… nothing.  I was just chatting with folks and then we saw people moving.  Lots about 45 seconds with that, and it was tough getting my groove back.  I saw my coach at the turn around point and he urged me on.  At the second water stop, I saw our TNT office leader and he told me that one of my fellow teammates was 50’ away… I pushed a little to catch up with her, and eventually passed her right before the finish.  The time, 47:52…..  When I turned off the garmin at the finish line (I turned it on a the painted start line), the route was .23 long.  Can I venture to say that I did the race in slightly over 45:00?  Can my sub 53:00 10K be far off?  We’ll find out at my next race… the Shamarock Run.

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OK, so I’m back from Day Two.  I’m didn’t get my goal of a PR in the half, BUT my finish time was 2:02 faster than any half i’ve done in the past 2.5 years.  So there is hope for me yet.   Gorgeous weather, great scenary.  GREAT race.  Gasparilla still remains one of my favs in the area, and is a must do for anyone who wants to visit the Tampa Bay area in February away from the cold and snow…..
 
I’m already thinking GOOFY thoughts for next year.  I might step it up to do the Mic Ultra Challenge—the15K, 5K and full marathon on two days…..  but we’ll see.  I have time to decide on that one. Otherwise, I’ll do the same challenge again, but I’m leaning very much towards the harder of the two.  Not sure about two marathons within a month of each other, but I know I can do it…..
 
OK, off for my post race nap.  Then off to the TNT victory party this afternoon…......

Well, my so-called Bayshore curse has been broken…. lemme explain.  For the past 5 years, i have been doing at least ONE Gasparilla event. Last year, I did two.  This year, I am going for THREE.  I usually have some sort of bathrrom issues or the like somewhere on the course.  This year was going to be different, and ya know… it was.
 
I got a PR in the 15K—by almost 6 minutes…..  the 5K was a little more slow, and there were tons of people in the event (despite the ‘new’ stroller event!!), so I was reduced to lots of walking and dodging around.  That is OK, but you know I would have likeed to do better.  Now, based on that time in the 15K, I’m thinking PR in the half tomorrow morning.  PLUS its gonna be a really nice day.  Today, was 62 at race start, and 67 when I was done…..   tomorrow, they are saying high 40’s/low 50’s at the start.  That is OK with me too.
 
Now, off to take a nap (now that i’ve been fed….) and relax for tomorrow….  

Worked the TNT table today, and got my stuff for the race.  Got to say hi to Slow Twin and Christine.  Slow Twin is about as excited about this weekend’s series as me.  AND we are both SO psyched about Twin Cities.  Both of us just have to register for the race (on April 18) and have flight arrangements made.  We are both staying at the same hotel.  Dave is a little more comfortable knowing that Slow Twin and a few others are staying at the same place as me since I’m doing this alone.  Same deal as when I went to Chicago a couple of years ago alone.  He knew the folks I was hanging with, so it made the 1200 mile separation easier… and knows I’ll be in good hands… and that I wouldn’t worry about him… jsut about making my time goals….

Oh, man.  What a great run today.  Felt really, really good.  I was WAY ahead of a bunch of folks today at TNT.  You cannot imagine how incredible that feels.  A bunch of teammates are going to be at Gasparilla next weekend.  I WILL PR at each distance, esp if the weather works out for me….. There’s more, but I can’t think right now…. All I know is that I may have even been faster if there was no wind…..  no wind, on Tampa Bay… I think not, but hopefully, no rain.

GREAT kick off last night.  My mentees are really nice, and I’m SO excited about this.  I made some really great friends last season, and I think that its gonna happen again.  Schedule looks a little light this time around, but i’ll tweek as need be.

Gasparilla is going to be lots of FUN I have some other thoughts but time to take my nap before heading to work in 20 minutes.  4 days until a day off. I need the day off badly.   Real last day off until vacation in May.  Dunno if i can last that long.  may need to take a day or so off in April…..