Race Report:
Before the race:
I had this race planned as soon as I spotted it, looking up races for New Year's Day. I like the idea of the post race polar plunge. Yep dive into the ocean, get a free mug. However I wasn't able to sign up until the actual race day. This made me want to take the plunge even more, I figured if I didn't get a shirt, I could at least get a mug.
Unfortunately I came down with a cold, this made me think the whole diving into the ocean thing, was maybe not such a good idea. I was already pushing my luck running.
Race day:
Sign up started at 9:30 and I wanted to be first in line, in hopes I would get a shirt. The race director said they're weren't any available. Another Lady ask why I was there so early (half hour before) I told her why, and she said to see her after the race.
I headed to the jeep to wait for a friend, on the way I talked with a lady who is on a team I think call the New England Spartans. They do a lot of obstacle courses. We wished each other good luck, and I began my long wait.
I met up with a friend, his girlfriend, and father. We made our way to the starting line at 11:15 and listened and laughed at the sound speaker asking the people to back up behind the starting line. No one could see anyone with a mic, so no one really new if they were on the wrong side.
11:30 came and the race started, like usual I started to far back, and ended up getting blocked in. As the crowd thinned out I was able to make it to the outside and start running a comfortable pace. The first mile nothing exciting, it was basically getting dealing with the crowd and finding a suitable pace.
The second mile I came up on the lady I was talking to on the spartan team. When I talked to her she sounded like she has been running for a long time, so I was really impressed with myself passing her. Then I started thinking she may be waiting for a certain time to kick it up a notch. I passed a few more people, I felt like I was still holding back.
The last mile had some action I passed two girls and a few seconds later one of them whizzed right by me. Right before the last turn there was a small incline the only one that was noticeable. I could feel it draining me. I made the last turn and passed three guys in a group, one of them in shorts no shirt, didn't let me stay in front very long. I could see the finish line, and a few people I could pass, I started to pick up the pace. I could here the guy on the loud speaker chant no pain no gain, it drove me into a sprint and I passed the few people I had marked, for passing.
I placed 81th
19th in AG out of 47
My time 23:51:07
Average pace 7:53
After Race:
As I came in the lady handing out the water, was the lady, who told me to see her after the race. She told me to go in and get a shirt!!! So Lucky :)
The biggest thing I got out of this race was, feeling comfortable in my tights!
5k North Reading Turkey Trot
I ran my first Turkey Trot!
Before I get into the race, let me tell you, the condition I was in. Two weeks earlier I stubbed my toe on one of my kids toys. It didn't bother me at first, but it woke me up in the middle of the night throbbing. I may of broke it, not sure, didn't go to the doctors. The toe nail became loose, I could deal with the pain, it was minor. So I continued to run.
The day before the race, I felt really good I knew I was going to have a new PR, if nothing made my toe bother me. It was still in rough shape I even stubbed it that night, and was on the ground holding in any scream, because everyone was asleep.
Morning came and it was a bit chilly, I decided to wear shorts and a long sleeve shirt. I also wore a sweatshirt and knit hat for the wait. 7:30 we started to line up the cold was making my toe hurt. This was upsetting because I have started a run while it was hurting. Luckily after the start I never thought about it again.
My plan for my PR was to use runkeeper and set it for cues every minute with a average pace of 7:40. I also use Nike+ but forgot to hit start :(
The race started and i began to run the crowd pushed my back, away from the people I was running with. I pretty much said enough, and just made my way back up weaving side to side. I thought about how much wasted energy I was using.
After I got back up to wear I wanted to be I started focusing on reaching my goal average pace. This was still the first mile and still crowded, but much easier to move. There were kids zig zagging fooling around, making it a little aggravating. I had to stop short once, not the end of the world, but when your on a mission for a PR, it plays a factor.
Mile 2 was my fastest mile I was taken full advantage of the small declines. I started to pick a person to battle. I passed her a few yards back, and she started to pass me. I easily passed her on the declines but she would pass me, when it leveled off. We stayed relatively close.
Mile 3 came and another battle. The previous lady and I passed this older man doing his thing. He just kept his pace, but it wasn't long before he started passing me. We got to a section were people were crossing the street, wear officials were yelling not to cross until you got to the next street. The lady I was battling crossed and she lost me. As for the guy he passed me. Once I made it to the street and crossed the finish line was insight, I did everything I could to keep a pace to keep up with the guy. I have been doing very well turning it up on the last 40 feet, this is what I did and passed him and achieved my PR.
My goal was 23 minutes, my time was 22:41 my fastest mile was 7:14
Before I get into the race, let me tell you, the condition I was in. Two weeks earlier I stubbed my toe on one of my kids toys. It didn't bother me at first, but it woke me up in the middle of the night throbbing. I may of broke it, not sure, didn't go to the doctors. The toe nail became loose, I could deal with the pain, it was minor. So I continued to run.
The day before the race, I felt really good I knew I was going to have a new PR, if nothing made my toe bother me. It was still in rough shape I even stubbed it that night, and was on the ground holding in any scream, because everyone was asleep.
Morning came and it was a bit chilly, I decided to wear shorts and a long sleeve shirt. I also wore a sweatshirt and knit hat for the wait. 7:30 we started to line up the cold was making my toe hurt. This was upsetting because I have started a run while it was hurting. Luckily after the start I never thought about it again.
My plan for my PR was to use runkeeper and set it for cues every minute with a average pace of 7:40. I also use Nike+ but forgot to hit start :(
The race started and i began to run the crowd pushed my back, away from the people I was running with. I pretty much said enough, and just made my way back up weaving side to side. I thought about how much wasted energy I was using.
After I got back up to wear I wanted to be I started focusing on reaching my goal average pace. This was still the first mile and still crowded, but much easier to move. There were kids zig zagging fooling around, making it a little aggravating. I had to stop short once, not the end of the world, but when your on a mission for a PR, it plays a factor.
Mile 2 was my fastest mile I was taken full advantage of the small declines. I started to pick a person to battle. I passed her a few yards back, and she started to pass me. I easily passed her on the declines but she would pass me, when it leveled off. We stayed relatively close.
Mile 3 came and another battle. The previous lady and I passed this older man doing his thing. He just kept his pace, but it wasn't long before he started passing me. We got to a section were people were crossing the street, wear officials were yelling not to cross until you got to the next street. The lady I was battling crossed and she lost me. As for the guy he passed me. Once I made it to the street and crossed the finish line was insight, I did everything I could to keep a pace to keep up with the guy. I have been doing very well turning it up on the last 40 feet, this is what I did and passed him and achieved my PR.
My goal was 23 minutes, my time was 22:41 my fastest mile was 7:14
Flutie 5k
This was my biggest event, in terms of racers.
Even with a rainy morning, about 1000 people ran. Really makes for a nice atmosphere.
I went to bed early, knowing I wasn't going to sleep well. I'm the type of person who gets nervous about, things like getting there on time, where to park, where to go, ect.. I got up a few times, checked the clock, and went back to bed. 7:30 came and it was time to get ready, shaved, showered, brush my teeth, and made French toast, with wheat bread.
After breakfast I noticed the rain was coming down hard. My running partner (Siri) begged me not to take her out in it. I needed her, so I made her a raincoat, with a sandwich bag and some tape! Lol
I arrived about 9:30 I had a hour and a half to spare. Walk around checking out the tents, talked with people, found out I'm not the only one who made a rain coat for there running partner. I also got another shirt, when I picked up my number they gave me a small instead of a large. Wasn't a big deal, but would be nice to actually wear it.
The time came to get in line, the staff had signs to help people get in their pace group, I was in 7-8 minute pace. I like to use 2 apps when I run Nike+ and Runkeeper. It's kind of tough getting them going, but I did rather smoothly maybe 20 seconds before the gun.
The first mile was the toughest, I had slight glitters, in my legs, I think I was nervous, I heard earlier it was a hilly course. I got to the first hill put it in high gear and went up it hard. After that I started feeling good and started picking up the pace. When it came to the down hill, I tried to take advantage of the momentum. The crowd thinned out and I was doing well, I did get passed by two little girls. I think they actually helped me by trying to keep up with there pace.
Right near the end I started to get passed by a few people flying. I know they just must of started in the back, but I did not like it one bit. They were going so fast, I couldn't even try to hold my place. I did push as hard as I could as I crossed the finish line. I grabbed a water sat down and viewed my Nike+ app, and was shocked, at my new fastest mile.
Also set a new fastest 5k!
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