Beginners and Beyond

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Run For Alex 5M RR (Read 58 times)


Trail Monster

    This was the second year Shane and I took part in the Run For Alex, billed as the premier event of Washington County. It attracts a good number of runners and features a course that is 4 miles of rolling, mostly up, hills followed by a mile of sharp downhill grades. The proceeds from the race go to the From Alex With Love Foundation to provide scholarships for local kids in memory of Alexzandra Loos. Alex was killed by a speeding car on her way home from soccer practice in 2004. She was also a track runner and held the WPIAL record in the 1600m her first year on the team.


    Last year the weather was cool and fairly forgiving which allowed me to run a 50:43 despite being out of shape. This year the weather was hot and the pavement was baking. After Monday's 5k, running a fast-ish 8 miler mid-week, and then running hill sprints and doing back squats Friday my only hope was to beat that time.

     

    Elevation profile

     

     

    Shane and I woke up at 6am and got the girls and ourselves ready. Then we dropped the girls off at his parents house and made the 45 minute trip to Bentleyville. We arrived in plenty of time except for a small SNAFU where I realized I had $24 in my hand, not the $25 needed for race day registration. Thankfully they let me write a check and all was well except for my stomach. I'm not sure if it was the heat or the recent overhauls I've been making in my diet but my stomach was not happy this morning.

     

     

    I lined up at the very back of the pack this year with a plan of going out easy. I was aiming for 9:45 per mile for the most part. I found a couple of my friends and they had similar goals so we started out together but the heat, hills, and blowing allergens out in the country soon split us up. I started my watch late because I forgot there are no starting mats despite the large-ish field and chip timing.

     

     

    Mile 1: 9:46

     

     

    In mile 2 my stomach started to act up again. I started to consider bailing out at the water stop and just volunteering or dying in the grass until I could walk back down to the social hall. Right before the water stop my stomach eased up again so I dumped some water on myself and kept going.

     

     

    Mile 2: 10:00

     

     

    After that my stomach cramped every time I drank from my handheld so I gave up on drinking and just hoped to stay cool by throwing water on myself. We also encountered the largest hill portion here so I power walked up. Last year I jogged 2/3 of the way, today I didn't bother. It was shady and cool and I just didn't care to push.

     

     

    Mile 3: 12:33

     

     

    At the top of the hill there was a family with a hose. I sped up just to get to it faster. I've never felt anything so awesome in my life! And shortly after that was a sprinkler set up in the middle of the road! And then a family with water bottles misting runners! Oh, I was miserable but all that cool water felt amazing.

     

     

    Mile 4: 9:55

     

     

    From the last water stop to the finish is almost entirely downhill. I checked my watch and thought I could beat last year's time by a little bit if I really pushed. I let gravity have its way and I bombed down the hills ignoring the screaming in my dead legs. I passed tons of people on the way down and one girl latched on for the ride. At first my competitive drive kicked in and I began to push even harder. I even dropped her for a bit but then I realized I was being a bit of a witch. I wasn't out there to compete and I didn't feel well. I hadn't given it my all from the start so it wasn't really fair for me to out-sprint this girl in the final hundred yards just to improve one age group place. I pulled back and she blew by me.

     

     

    Mile 5: 8:20 (best pace 6:37 - yay downhill!)

     

     

    I crossed the mat and hit stop on my Garmin. I grabbed a cold water and chugged and then checked my watch. I saw 50:42 and I felt hope that I had actually beaten last year's time. Then I started to feel ill. I found Shane and got some fruit and more water and we sat in the shade but it wasn't long before I made a headlong dash to the nearest bathroom. Once it was over I felt mostly better. I was a little uncoordinated, dropping water bottles and such constantly, but not so icky.

     

     

    By then all of our friends had finished and we were able to get everyone in for a picture.

     

     

    Results were posted soon after and neither Shane or I had placed (knew I wouldn't). My official time was 50:45, so 2 seconds slower than last year. But when I think about the fact that it was hotter this year, I was nowhere near rested, and I lined up farther back than last year I am willing to bet I actually beat my time by at least a little bit. Good enough for me!


    Oh, and we won a door prize.

     

    It's a picture frame with a gift card to a local restaurant called the Spring House plus two coupons for a free appetizer and a free kid's meal at King's. Can't beat that!

    2013 races:

    3/17 Shamrock Marathon

    4/20 North Coast 24 Hour

    7/27 Burning RIver 100M

    8/24 Baker 50M

    10/5 Oil Creek (distance to be determined)

     

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    Caretaker/Overlook Hotel

      Congrats on hanging tough.

       

      I could feel the heat and the misery in your RR.

       

      Smile

       Randy

      Docket_Rocket


        Sounds like a great time, especially in the heat and humidity.  I am telling you, YOU and I need to plan a race together, as we run the same pace.  Of course, matching inknburn outfits are a MUST.

        Damaris

         

        As part of the 2024 London Marathon, I am fundraising for VICTA, a charity that helps blind and visually impaired children. My mentor while in law school, Jim K (a blind attorney), has been a huge inspiration and an example of courage and perseverance. Please consider donating.

        Fundraising Page


        Trail Monster

          Sounds like a great time, especially in the heat and humidity.  I am telling you, YOU and I need to plan a race together, as we run the same pace.  Of course, matching inknburn outfits are a MUST.

           

          Sounds like a plan? Have you run a PA race or am I coming to you? Or do we do a girls weekend escape?

          2013 races:

          3/17 Shamrock Marathon

          4/20 North Coast 24 Hour

          7/27 Burning RIver 100M

          8/24 Baker 50M

          10/5 Oil Creek (distance to be determined)

           

          My Blog

           

          Brands I Heart:

          FitFluential

          INKnBURN

          Altra Zero Drop

          Docket_Rocket


            We are both admitted in PA and were supposed to meet there.  If it wasn't for the NYCM I would be in for Philly. 2014 then!

             

            A girl's weekend sound like a plan.  Ultra!

             

             

            Sounds like a plan? Have you run a PA race or am I coming to you? Or do we do a girls weekend escape?

            Damaris

             

            As part of the 2024 London Marathon, I am fundraising for VICTA, a charity that helps blind and visually impaired children. My mentor while in law school, Jim K (a blind attorney), has been a huge inspiration and an example of courage and perseverance. Please consider donating.

            Fundraising Page

            LRB


              Tough course in tough conditions, that makes you a tough chick!


              Trail Monster

                Yeah ultra! Wanna do a 50 miler?

                 

                LRB, you are too kind. I'm not tough, just stupid. LOL.

                2013 races:

                3/17 Shamrock Marathon

                4/20 North Coast 24 Hour

                7/27 Burning RIver 100M

                8/24 Baker 50M

                10/5 Oil Creek (distance to be determined)

                 

                My Blog

                 

                Brands I Heart:

                FitFluential

                INKnBURN

                Altra Zero Drop

                Awood_Runner


                Smaller By The Day

                  Truly stupid people, don't know they're stupid.  I agree with LRB.  You're pretty tough.  With the week of training you had leading up to it, and the conditions I don't think I would have felt too good afterwards either.  Gotta love door prizes though.  I have some free movie tickets I have to use from a 5K in December...lol

                   

                  Yeah ultra! Wanna do a 50 miler?

                   

                  LRB, you are too kind. I'm not tough, just stupid. LOL.

                  Improvements

                  Weight 100 pounds lost

                  5K 31:02 Sept. 2012 / 23:36 Sept. 2013 (Same Course)

                  10K 48:59 April 2013

                  HM 2:03:56 Nov. 2012 / 1:46:50 March 2013

                  MARATHON 3:57:33 Nov. 2013

                  B-Plus


                    That sounds tough and your condition didn't help any. Congrats for hanging on and finishing.