Papa John’s 10 Miler – Louisville, KY (March 31, 2012)

Me (in the pink) racing for the finish line of the Papa John's 10 Miler - Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, Kentucky

Race: Papa John’s 10 Miler

Place: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, KY

Date: March 31, 2012

Time: 1:29:33

This was the big one.

Not only would this equal out to an amazing long run for my half marathon training, as well as really give me an idea of the pace I’m capable of, this also was the final leg of the Louisville Triple Crown of Running.  Before I go into the race itself, let me just say this…kudos to Louisville for putting on this amazing and very fun racing series.  I’ve enjoyed the build up to the Papa John’s 10 Miler, with the 5K to start it off, and the 10K in the middle.  This has been a great series to be a part of.  I loved every mile of every race and experienced a PRs at every single one.

How’s that for my first year doing this?

So, the morning started off in typical fashion.  I woke up at 5:00 a.m. to get dressed for the race, eat some Honey Nut Chex cereal and a slice of Udi’s Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Bread with a schmear of Wowbutter (nut-free peanut butter) on it.  Mmmm…gluten-free breakfast for the energy to get through 10 miles.  WOOT!  I was feeling good.  I slept amazingly well.  Apparently we had storms come through.  I heard some thunder around 10:30 p.m., but missed the rest of it.  I’m okay with that as storms usually wake me up and I really, really wanted to be well rested for this one.

I updated my iPod Nano and quickly mixed up my vegan chocolate protein shake for after the race.  That went into a makeshift cooler, my running bag was packed with a Lärabar (Apple Pie, for those wondering), a granola bar for my roommate, and I put some chunks of dehydrated papaya into a baggie to carry with me should hunger hit on the long run.  A quick brush of the teeth and getting my number pinned on and we were set to make the drive into Louisville.

And that went smoothly up until we hit a line of traffic on I-65.  BAH!  Apparently they are busting up the concrete barriers to, allegedly, put in taller ones.  But until that happens, it’s just a mess.  But we got through it and made it down toward the stadium, where we were now on a mission to find parking.  Our original route, it turns out, was blocked and we were directed to a very far-off lot that was not to our liking.  We basically had to hike toward Churchill Downs from there and it was not close.  So, we skipped parking there, turned around and headed back.  Where, somehow, we stumbled on side roads that got us around the road block and into a parking lot for the people in the race.  SWEET!!

The hike then started.  From our parking spot, we headed toward Cardinal Stadium, then through a parking lot, up a flight of stairs to a bridge that carried us toward our destination.  The start was near a Starbucks…which you know, caffeine and coffee are a runner’s best friend.  I never deviate from my pre-race food though so by-passed it, knowing I was going to a locally owned (and my favorite coffee shop around here) afterwards.

I had a little bit of time to stretch before finding a place at the starting gate.  I didn’t want to be too far back, but I didn’t want to be too close either.  I usually fall in the middle of the pack, but I got into that area before it got stupid-crowded, so I was near the front…so that it took me…just about 2 minutes to get there after the race kicked off.  Not bad, considering my roommate headed toward the stadium for the finish line wait and there were tons of runners and walkers still waiting to round the corner to even see the starting gate.  LOTS of people in this race.

Another important note I should make is that this was my very first time racing with a GPS watch.  You know, I swore up and down that I would never be one of those runners who ran with one of those watches…but I needed to stop running with my iPhone.  Seriously.  So, I treated myself to a Garmin 210 and absolutely love it.  I didn’t get to test it out pre-race though because the night I was going to go for a run, I ended up twisting my knee at work and thought it better to ice it and rest.  Good decision in the end.

So, the basic break-down is this.  The first mile went by quickly.  And I held a pretty steady pace throughout the entire race.  That is something I am very proud of.  The second mile was just as fast and soon we were rounding a bend heading toward Mile 3.  This is what I knew about Mile 3.  At Mile 3, we entered Iroquois Park, which, I have run before and I know the hills are KILLER!!  So, I was trying not to go out too fast because, I had 10 miles to run, and because I knew I would have steep hills to contend with.  This was a smart move.

The hills were just as I remembered them…long and steep.  And I did my best to push on at each one.  I never once walked.  My pace slowed…but only slightly.  I credit that to my practice on hills as of late while running outside.  I am off that treadmill as much as possible these days now that the weather is warming up.  Miles 3-6 were on hills, mostly going up, as the downward bits were not as long as the upward climbs.  Naturally.  But, my headband of choice today stated: “BEAT THE HILL” and that’s what I intended to do.  And I managed.  And finally, Mile 6 passed and out of the park we went.  And here is where I clocked my fastest pace on the entire race.  Yes…after running up hills.  After coming back to a flat track.  From Mile 6 to Mile 7, I was flying.  I didn’t even realize it until I plugged in my Garmin and uploaded the data.  Very proud that I can turn on the speed that late in a race.

At Mile 7, I knew all I had left was less than a 5K, so I tried to keep a good pace going, even though I knew I was starting to get fatigued.  I managed.  I powered on through Mile 8.  This was where we passed where we started.  I knew…the finish was getting closer.  I kept it going, loved that I was being told I was in the top half of runners in the race and then rounded the corner at Mile 9…to be greeted with yet another hill.  Oh, Louisville…curse you and your random hilliness.  This hill was the bridge we had to walk over to get to the start line.  I should have thought of that as we were walking it that morning that I’d probably be running up it later on.  But it didn’t occur to me.  Oh, miles 8-9 also meant running straight into the wind.  Of course.  So, hill and strong winds.  I can do this, right.  Yes.  Getting up the hill meant I was now heading into the finish.  Half a mile away and I could see the runners making the turn ahead to enter the stadium.  I had a corner to round, then a small straightaway and then…I rounded that corner to head toward the stadium entrance.  I rushed through the gate, hit the concrete, ran down the ramp, and then hit the turf.  Which, I wasn’t expecting.  And I had never run on that before so it was just a matter of getting used to it.

The finish line was on the opposite end of the stadium, so we had to round the field and head in toward the finish.  I knew I was doing better than my goal I had set for myself.  I didn’t realize how much better.  My roommate was on the sideline in the stands, cheering and clapping and telling me to GO!  I crossed the finish, smiling, and headed away from the finish area so other runners could come in and not run into me.

I found some stairs and got into the stands, found my roommate, and downed my vegan chocolate protein shake.  After that, we moved around and I drank up some water to rehydrate.  Then called my mom as I propped my feet up to get the blood rushing back to all extremities and out of my legs.  After talking to my mom, I went into the bathroom to change and prepare for the rest of the day, which meant a coffee stop, some shopping, lunch at P.F. Changs, and then the rest of the grocery shopping.

As it stands, my results for the Papa John’s 10 Miler are that I finished the race in 1:29:33.  I was 1599/6912 finishers overall and 79/573 in my division.  Let me tell you…I am way beyond thrilled.  All the hard training I’ve been doing for my upcoming half marathon has really been paying off.  I can tell with these results.  I’m right on par with where I hope to be for the half.  So, this is a great sign.

And with that…the Louisville Triple Crown of Running comes to a close.  And now I can’t wait to do it all again next year.  This was a blast.  I’m so glad I participated.

March 31, 2012 | Categories: race, running, tales from the road | Leave a comment

Durbin Classic 5K – Nobelsville, IN (March 24,2012)

Crossing the finish line of the Durbin Classic 5K - Noblesville, Indiana

Race: Durbin Classic 5K

Place: Noblesville, IN

Date: March 24, 2012

Time: 24:59*

Yep, that’s an asterisk.

I don’t want to admit that that time possibly could be wrong. I really don’t…because this would have been my first sub-25 minute 5K race. And it fell perfectly into my half-marathon training program, which was to run a 5K at race pace. I was already going to be up in the area for the Celiac Awareness Tour, so this little race was perfect and not outside of my training regimen.  When doing any sort of training for a big event, in this case a half marathon in May, I try to stay within the parameters of my training program on my iPhone.  I definitely don’t want to get injured when I’m this close to my race.  For once, a race and the training distance coincided.

So, why might the time be wrong?  I’ll get to that.

It was a perfect morning for running…eventually.  You see, traveling to little races SUCKS.  I hate getting out of bed at 4:00 in the morning to eat something, dress, brush my teeth, pile everything into the car, and then drive for 2 hours to a little 5K race.  It just doesn’t seem worth it.  But, as there was actually an event I was attending going on…well…it wasn’t totally out of the question.  But sleep is very important as a runner needs to be well-rested.  I really, really would have liked those two hours to sleep, personally.  A runner has to do what a runner has to do.

I was going with a completely different race look on this one.  The night prior, I had found a pair of Superman socks that had capes hanging off the back.  Yes…I had to buy those.  There was no way I could walk away from those.  So, they were the base of the running outfit I put together.  My running skirt was a must.  And I actually, for the first time, wore a cotton t-shirt for this race.  When I graduated from college, my friend Amanda got me a Superman shirt…and it became my race shirt for the day.  In went my colored hair extensions (red and blue for Superman) and my headband (the bright yellow one).  I threw a couple of extra snacks into the race bag, tied on my running shoes, and called myself as ready as I was going to be.

My roommate and I left the apartment just as scheduled after eating a little something before hitting the road.  It was dark, and she was armed with Diet Mt. Dew…me with a bottle of water (HYDRATION!).  We set out toward Noblesville, Indiana, a good 2 hour drive from where we live, wanting to hit packet pickup around 8:00 a.m. or soon after.  The drive was dark, dull, but made better with the aid of my iPod and Bruce Springsteen’s new album.

We arrived at Durbin Elementary School pretty much when we needed to be there.  We found parking without a problem, grabbed my bag from the car and headed toward the gymnasium for packet pick-up.  There was a little chalkboard with the route mapped out on it and instructions for runners to turn right at the red cones and left at the blue cones.  Okay…I guess that shouldn’t be too difficult to remember…

I picked up my packet and went back outside to get pinned up.  After that, I started to stretch and just people watch.  This was a new area for a race for me and I could see a lot of kids were pinned up, two of which were in bright shirts that indicated kids running groups.  That’s awesome.  Lots of adults were around too, most running the 10K, although there were the few of us who were set on the 5K.  I would have done the 10K…but my training program said…5K at race pace.  No harm in a short run on a Saturday morning.

Without really any indication of where to go, my roommate and I ended up following a swarm of runners who suddenly started making their way down through the parking lot and out onto the street.  This was, apparently, where the race was starting.  Good thing we are lemmings and do what others do.  I got my good luck hug and went to find a good spot to start from, which I did, near the front on the right side.  Fantastic placement.  That was…until the children filed down and started to swarm in around me.  Granted, this is their race too, and some of them turned out to be damn fast runners, but…if usually it’s customary to line up by pace.  Eh…whatever.  I slid over to the left side, just a bit further back from where I was and let the kids have their place.  Fair is fair and they had just as much right to be there as the rest of us did.

The race organizer came down, whistle in hand.  And, with no real warning, he blew it and we were all off.  The race course wound through the roads, which were shut down for the race, cops monitoring the situation and keeping all of us safe during the event.  I started off at a good clip, without pushing too hard because I didn’t want to tire out too quickly.  Not only was I completely unfamiliar with these roads and the area, I was honestly out in the country.  No air pollution at all.  Crisp.  Clean.  Fantastic.  I was really feeling it.

Mile 1 came up and the lady with the stop watch ticked off our times as we passed.  Mine was at a flat 8 minutes.  Awesome.  I was going at a very good speed and I felt I was maintaining it, even over the, albeit, slight hills.  This course was mostly flat with only a few small inclines.  Good way to keep those legs engaged, yes?

Mile 2 came up next and all I totally missed the count on the minutes and only heard seconds being called out.  It was forty-six when I ran past, so…as usual, I just kept on going, focusing on posture, breathing, and the music going on my iPod.

I came around a corner and could see the red roof of the school in the distance.  That meant I was nearing the end.  I was in the last mile of the race and knew I’d need to start pushing it as I was getting close to the finish.  I rounded another bend in the road and could see the orange cones leading back into the parking lot.  As I went to run around the parked cars, the person with the stopwatch shouted off 23 minutes and some seconds.  Oooh…I was close.

So, I put on as much speed as I could as I made the turn in the parking lot and headed toward that finish line.  The announcer said, “And here comes Supergirl!” as I ran over the sensors and made my finish at a remarkable…first time yet…sub-25 minute 5K time.  Barely.  I mean…24:59 was almost 25…but technically…not.

I was thrilled.  I moved out of the finish area to grab a banana to munch on and some water to down for re-hydration purposes.  Then, I went to find a spot so I could watch other people come in and finish their race.  I love cheering people on and giving them motivation to just put on that last push.  Some of the walkers eventually started filtering in…just about the time the 10K was coming in for their finish.  This made for a little bit of finish line chaos, but everyone worked with it.

The finish line was filling up with racers and observers.  The kids sometimes got a little too close to the finish line sensor and their bibs would set off the buzzer again.  Finally the announcer asked for the kids to either move ahead of the finish line or to have their parents take off their bibs.  They happily complied and the excitement and spirit of a good race continued as happy finishers came in.

Save for one jackass.  Apparently early on in the race, he came in, made the turn in the parking lot and missed the sign that was set up that directed 10K runners back out and 5K runners toward the finish line.  He started to shout, “Where is the 10K?  Where is the goddamn 10K?”  First of all, dude, chill…this isn’t the Olympic trials or anything.  It’s a small, local race.  Second of all…you are around children…so please, cut the language and maybe act like a responsible adult.  Anyway…he came in and immediately just started bitching and complaining about everything to his wife, who sat there, nodding her head and encouraging him and agreeing with him.  I mean, he wouldn’t stop.  He was totally killing the mood.  For real.  So, we moved away.

The kids fun run was about to kick off and I went to go get changed out of running clothes and into street clothes to wear to the Celiac Awareness Tour.  As I got done changing and my roommate and I settled in at the gymnasium to watch the awards ceremony…even if I know I’m not winning anything, I love staying for these.  It’s good fun to praise the runners who really kicked ass on their run.

As the race organizers were getting things in order, my roommate pointed out that the results were posted on the wall.  So I hopped up and went to go check them out.  According to the 5K race, I came in 19th/185 overall and was 2nd/36 in my division.  I skipped back to my spot, texted my family and friends as is customary, and waited for the awards.

And this is why there is an asterisk by my race time.  The race coordinator started by announcing how great everyone did.  Then said that if it felt like we had really great times, it might be because he forgot to start the split times at the beginning of the race.  Oh…and the race course might have been just shy of the distance.  Everything in me fell because here I was with a sub-25 minute time, feeling like I finally managed that with all my hard work and running I’ve been putting into training…only to find out that two factors may have affected that.  UGH!  But, what can you do?  I got on MapMyRun this morning and mapped out the course, and if it is shy of the 3.1 miles, it is just shy of it.  Because I came up with a 5K distance when I mapped it according to the route.  Oh well.

So, the awards ceremony kicked off.  The coordinator had all the kids fun run participants come up.  We applauded and they all bowed, which, by the way, is adorable.  Then he invited up the two elementary school running teams that participated, and had them do the same.  More cheering.  And then, out went the awards.  Even those who won overall won their age groups, instead of how it is normally broken up with men and women.  Oh, and awards were not given out for those who ran in the 5K.  I’m sorry, but that’s sort of like saying a 5K isn’t good enough to award those who did really well in it.  I’m not looking for a medal, nor would I have gotten one, but honestly, whether running in the 10K or the 5K, I think those who excelled in each race should have been awarded.  But, it’s not my race and not my place to tell people how to run something.

So, with another race behind me, I leave this one with mixed feelings.  I’m a bit bummed that errors might have meant I didn’t run it as fast as my timing chip said I did.  Or that the race course might have been just shy of the standard 3.1 miles for a 5K race.  It bums me out.  Honestly.  Because I actually pay attention to my times.  I like to see how I improve, or where I struggle.  If I put in too much mileage in the days prior to the race, or if I rested appropriately.  And there is no way to judge that.  But, we’re all human and we all make mistakes.  Other 5Ks await…and I’ll just have to aim for the sub-25 minute 5K again…and again…until I properly, and rightfully achieve it.

If that isn’t motivation…I don’t know what is.

March 25, 2012 | Categories: race, running, tales from the road | Leave a comment

Tri at the Y Indoor Triathlon – Jeffersonville, IN (March 18, 2012)

The happy triathlete after finishing the 3rd Annual Tri at the Y Indoor Triathlon in Jeffersonville, Indiana

Race: Tri at the Y Indoor Triathlon

Place: Clark County YMCA, Jeffersonville, IN

Date: March 18, 2012

So…I’m a triathlete of sorts.

After a full day of running fun the day prior to this, I decided it would be fun to try my hand at a local triathlon.  Thankfully, however, this one was indoors and would not involve getting into the Ohio River, which I’m still pretty certain if I did, I would emerge a mutant.

That being said, this meant another early morning for me, though not as early as normal on race days.  My start time for the Indoor Triathlon event was 9:40 a.m.  So, I got up in enough time to at least have a good breakfast for energy without eating too late so as to give me cramps or make me feel sick.

I dressed…per instructions of the event…with my bathing suit on under my running clothes.  I ate a couple of scones and had some cereal around 7:00 a.m., giving my body enough time to digest it all.  My roommate hauled herself out of bed soon after that and she ate her breakfast.  Then, the rest of my morning prep and we were heading towards the Clark County YMCA in Jeffersonville, Indiana.

This was my first time at this particular YMCA.  I am always at the Floyd County one, as it is closer to where I live and work.  Let me tell you, the Clark County YMCA is sooooooo little.  It surprised me, really, as I’m used to the big YMCA I go to, where there are three levels.  This one was all ground level and the weights and fitness areas were put together.  The pools were little.  And there were only two lap lanes.  Now I understood why the 2 person heats were taking place.

I signed in and filled out a form before being told to wait and be called back.  My partner was supposed to be the Aquatics Director there at the YMCA, but she was sick.  So, I didn’t have someone to compete against…just myself.  That was enough given the state of my legs after the two races the previous day.

At 9:40 a.m., I was called back to the stationary bike.  Here, I was to pedal away, rack up the miles, and that’s what I attempted to do.  I adjusted the bike seat when I got there, but I think I should have gone down one more notch.  I was still a little higher than I liked, but I had already started.  Whoops.  Ah well, I made the most of it and just pedaled my heart out.  The guy monitoring the bike area was a lot of fun and kept me engaged with some discussion about travel and different places of the world to visit.  Including Japan.  I AM TRYING!!

Immediately after finishing the bike portion, I was sent over to the treadmills.  Here, I was told just to hit start.  These treadmills are so ancient compared to the high-tech ones at my YMCA.  So it took me a moment to get the speed adjusted, but I got it.  And I had to keep adjusting it because my legs were screaming at me.  But, I ran and ran and ran, because this is what I do.  And when I was done with that part, I went to change out of my clothes and head into the pool area for the last portion of the triathlon…the swim.

I had been dreading the swim.  My legs were tired.  I was tired.  And, while I love swimming, I’m not the strongest of swimmers.  Sometimes my roommate and I would go to the Y and we’d swim laps and I was tired after two lengths.  So, this was going to be my biggest challenge.  I got into the pool and away I went.  Yep…I was tired.  I took it slow and just paced myself as best I could.  I knew this would be, for lack of a better term, where I would flounder in the events of the triathlon.  But I got through it, and vowed that I would work more on my swimming because, damn, it kicked my ass.

With that done, I headed into the locker room to change, completely pleased that I had just competed in my first triathlon.  It was a lot of fun, but I am a long way away from being ready to do another one.  I’ll get there.  Now that I know what to expect, I can work on the areas I need to improve on.  And, maybe next time…I’ll take it outdoors.

However, this was a well-run, very fun event.  An Indoor Triathlon is a great idea for this area, especially in March.  Albeit, we’ve had a mild winter and it was 80 degrees that day, but it was a great way to be introduced to the concept of the triathlon.  Would I do another one?  Sure.  But only once I’ve trained properly for it.  Guess this means getting in the pool a little more often and working on my laps.

So, the results for the Tri at the Y were that I placed 7th in the bike portion, 3rd in the running portion, and 7th in the swimming portion.  Whew.  You know what?  That’s not bad for someone who ran two races the day prior and had never done a triathlon before.  I’m quite proud of myself and really understand what I need to do to prepare for the next time I decide to do three events in one race.  Triathlons are a lot of hard work, a lot of muscle power, a lot of willpower…but a lot of fun.

Maybe there is another one out there for me in the future…

March 23, 2012 | Categories: race, running, tales from the road | 5 Comments

Run for the Gold 3K – Frankfort, KY (March 17, 2012)

Crossing the finish line in the first race of the Frankfort Trifecta, the Run for the Gold 3K - Frankfort, Kentucky

Race: Run for the Gold 3K

Place: Frankfort, KY

Date: March 17, 2012

Time: 15:23

Second race of the day.  Second race series I entered.

While the Louisville Triple Crown of Running showcased it’s 10K race, the second in the series, the Frankfort Trifecta was about to kick off in Frankfort, Kentucky, the state’s capital, with it’s first race of the three race series.  I ran in the last race last year, not knowing it was part of a series until I got there, so I vowed to run it this year.  The first race just happened to fall on the same day as the second race of the Louisville series I was signed up for.  But, thankfully, the Frankfort race ran in the evening, kicking off at 6:30 p.m.

This isn’t the first time I have run two races in one day, but let me tell you…I need to learn to really, really rest between races.  My legs always suffer on that second one because I don’t know how to kick back and rest.  Not one bit.

After the 10K I ran in Louisville that morning, I was out and about in Louisville for a couple hours following brunch.  Shopping.  A few bookstore stops and then some couch shopping.  So it meant I was up and on my feet instead of letting them recover from the 6.2 miles I already ran in preparation for the short 3K race awaiting me.

A 3K is a bit of an odd distance.  It works out to about 1.86 miles.  So, very short, very fast race.  After a bit of shopping, my roommate and I headed into Frankfort, Kentucky.  I still needed to stop by and pick up my race packet, so when we got into town, that was the first thing we did.  After that…it was to find parking.

There was a basketball tournament going on in Frankfort, but parking wasn’t much of an issue despite warnings that it would be.  We found a spot.  I had been monitoring the weather all day, and as I was running in Frankfort (which always means rain), and we had storms moving in, I opted to wear my old running shoes in lieu of my new ones.  So, on they went (replacing my everyday walking shoes) and I went ahead and got my number pinned on.  We headed up the stairs and to the street level, where the beginnings of a street festival were being set up.

We occupied ourselves for a moment by ducking into what few stores we could find open.  A bookstore, but we never buy books new anymore…and a Celtic store.  The Celtic store clerk wouldn’t stop watching us…and I hate that.  Dude, I’m not hear to rip you off.  I respect the retail industry too much, but you staring at me isn’t going to make me want to buy anything from you.  So, we departed after a quick spin around the small store and headed to a café.  My stomach was beginning to rumble, so I snagged an apple and a bottle of water and we took a seat outside to feast on the pre-race snack.

And we still had about 2 hours before the race would run.  After we ate, we moved a bit further down the street to sit at a table and attempt to kill some time.  This was a long, long, boring wait.  Booths were being set up for the festival.  Some crazy sausage with oats in it booth was cooking away and people were scurrying along with White Castle sized sausage burgers of sorts from there.  More and more people were walking around with numbers pinned on now, so I didn’t feel so out of place.  Kids were setting up on stage with homemade drums to perform in a bit.  And my roommate and I were on my iPhone, looking up local restaurants and checking out menus and reviews.  You know…it’s never good when KFC is in the city’s top 10 restaurants.  *sigh*

It felt like an eternity of everlasting boredom just sitting there, so we took a short walk around the block and returned.  More performers were up on the stage.  A really good singer provided a bit of entertainment for awhile.  And finally, about 30 minutes before the race, I set out to stretch.  And…again, I couldn’t help but giggle at the people milling about, downing GU Energy Gel and Sports Beans.  Um…this is a 3K race, not a half marathon, yes?  I shook my head and finished off my stretches.

The announcement finally came to start lining up, so with that, I headed to the start area and got into what I figured was about my race pace.  There was a lot of fun energy among the crowd of runners, so that was awesome.  And then, before I could blink, we were off.

I’ve run Frankfort a few times (this was the first time not in the rain) and I know much of the normal race course.  It involves inclines at a few points, which is never a good thing on race-tired legs.  But I powered through them as much as I could.  There were some awesome volunteers and people out cheering as we ran through the town, made the turn just before the capital building, and headed back.  Thank goodness that when you go up a hill one way, you go down the hill another way.

I was hoping to come in at about 15 minutes.  When I rounded that final corner I saw the finish and powered it as fast as my very tired legs could carry me.  The announcers commented on with how I was powering it in for the finish, so that was encouraging.  But, I fell just short of getting done within 15 minutes…by 23 seconds.  But, on tired legs that never really got the chance to recoup…that’s not bad at all.  I’ll take it happily.

I love running in Frankfort.  It’s a race-friendly city and you always get to run up to or around the capital building.  This is why, when I have the chance, I race there.  After I crossed the finish line, I downed a bit of water and, since the storms were coming in, we didn’t hang around.  My roommate and I headed off to find the car in the parking garage and head back to Louisville.  We met the storm along the way.

It took a couple days for the race results to post, but they finally did.  The official standings for me for the Run for the Gold 3K, the first of three races I’m scheduled to run in Frankfort, aren’t what I hoped, but not bad at all.  I finished 7/122 in my age division and 104/793 overall in the race.  I’ll take that with a happy smile on my face.

But there was no rest for my tired legs yet.  The next morning would bring one more challenge before I could rest my weary legs.  But that’s the next post…

March 23, 2012 | Categories: race, running, tales from the road | 2 Comments

Rodes City Run 10K – Louisville, KY (March 17, 2012)

Me after finishing the Rodes City Run 10K - Downtown Louisville, Kentucky

Race: Rodes City Run 10K

Place: Downtown Louisville, KY

Date: March 17, 2012

Time: 54:43

It was a warm morning when I got up to dress and prepare for the second race in the Louisville Triple Crown of Running.  Only two weeks prior, I had run the Anthem 5K Fitness Classic.  Now, the Rodes City Race 10K was here.  And, for once, I wasn’t feeling nervous about it.  I was having a nice morning.  I got dressed in a pair of shorts, without having to worry about wearing pants over them prior to the race.  I wore a hoodie for the time being over my shirt, but I was more than happy to hand that off to my roommate that morning before I went to line up behind the start.  It was a good day for a race.  The weather was cooperating.  So, I took my time, ate a light breakfast, brushed my teeth, and then my roommate and I headed down to Louisville to hopefully get some parking and head over to the race itself.

Luck was with us that day too, as we were able to park in the parking garage nearest to the starting line.  Awesome.  We got parked, grabbed our stuff, and headed down the stairs.  Packet pick-up was happening on the ground level, and that was a little hopping.  A news crew was there, filming some of the racers getting their packets, their shirts, and prepping for the run.

You see…the Louisville Triple Crown of Running is kind of a big deal.  The Rodes City Run 10K…it is too.

I had a bit of time to mill about before I began to stretch out a little.  I did my usual stretches, working my muscles as much as I could.  While I’ve done 6.2 miles and beyond before, it was already warming up outside and I wanted to make sure my body and joints were warmed up too.  I had just finished my stretching when I glanced up and saw the start area was already beginning to fill up with runners.  So I hugged my roommate, she wished me luck, and away I went to find a place in the chaos.

It was still early…but I got a decent spot.  Just standing there, the sun not even up yet, but the sky brightening, I could already feel it getting warmer.  I chatted with a couple of guys who were nearby, about running, about marathons, about the best cities to run.  They didn’t have numbers on, so I think they were running bandits in this one.  I don’t begrudge anyone their workout, but, register.  We have all paid to be a part of this…everyone should do the same.  Besides, it’s for a great cause.

The National Anthem played and soon the wheelchair racers were off.  They are amazing and inspiring for sure.  We were so close to the start now.  There were 200 runners who were seeded for this race, among them the winner of the Anthem 5K Fitness Classic, who would go on to win this race too, smashing the course record in the process.  The women’s course record was also smashed.  It was a good day for a run, despite the unseasonably warm weather.

All of a sudden…we were off.  This is where the walk to the start, then the initial push happens.  I love this part.  The thrill of crossing that starting gate and setting a good pace.  Today, we were hitting the streets of downtown Louisville, Kentucky, and the sun was rising as we were running right toward it, blinding us all until we were able to make our first turn.  It was already hot.  Very hot.

My first (and only so far) half marathon was run in Chicago in September in 80 degree heat.  It was hot.  And my pace was affected by it.  The same can be said for 60 degrees and rising temperatures in May in Louisville, KY.  The water stops were a godsend.  The water was refreshing, even for the quick sip I got before tossing the cup.  Best to stay hydrated when the heat hits.  The course was flat, beautiful, winding through the Highlands, around Cave Hill Cemetery, and just offering up a gorgeous setting for a hot, sunny race.

I felt good.  I felt better than good.  I knew my pace was slower than I would have liked, but it was constant, and that’s what matters.  Heat can take its toll on you in a number of ways.  I was just going to run this smart and I’d finish when I finished.

It was an amazing thing to watch those mile markers tick away as I was running those streets.  My legs were getting tired, I knew that, but I also had a finish line waiting for me.  Pressing on, I fought fatigue and the heat of the morning and rounded that last turn before sprinting with all I had left in me toward that finish line.  I crossed it, throwing my arms up in the air, feeling sweat just dripping from my neck.  Like I said…it got hotter and hotter on the run and I finished it in less than an hour.  I couldn’t have been happier with that time either.  I was aiming for a bit faster, but with the warm March morning, this was beyond what I thought I was going to get.  A 10K in 54:38 is nothing astounding, but for me, it felt like such an achievement.  I had a great run.

Finding my roommate after this race was much easier than at the 5K.  She paced me over to the recovery area, where I bypassed the offered goodies and grabbed my gluten-free, vegan vanilla protein shake instead from a cooler she kindly carried with her.  That and a couple big glasses of water and I was already feeling better.  The coldness was doing me good.  And we proceeded to the buses that would shuttle us back to the parking garage.  We had to wait though, because they needed more people to ride.  But eventually we were let on the bus and taken back to the stop…kinda.  The bus overshot the parking garage and let us off at another one, but the walk back and up the stairs was just what my legs needed.

We celebrated my achievement with brunch at North End Café, where I had a delicious (and gluten-free) plate of their Migas (three eggs scrambled with blue corn tortilla chips, jalapenos, and cheese (mine was soy cheese)), served with home fries.  I was getting some protein and carbing up for later that evening.

Why?  Because I was running in another race.  In fact…the second race I was heading to would be kicking off another series of race events in another part of Kentucky.  The Frankfort Trifecta was beginning that evening and I had a date with a 3K road race there.

But that’s for the next update.

As for the official standings of the Rodes City Run 10K, I was 118/665 runners in my age division and 1880/7453 finishers.  Not too shabby for my first time taking on the Rodes City Race 10K, and especially given the unseasonably warm weather in March.  Honestly, I was thrilled.

On March 31, the finale of the Triple Crown happens…with the Papa John’s 10 Miler.  Yep…a good long run is heading my way.  I’m nervous and excited all at once.  And in the meantime…I’m simply trying to do well in my training and make it to the finish when all is said and done.

March 22, 2012 | Categories: race, running, tales from the road | Leave a comment

Shamrock 2 Miler – Jeffersonville, IN (March 13, 2012)

Crossing the finish of the Shamrock 2 Miler - Downtown Jeffersonville, Indiana

Race: Shamrock 2 Miler

Place: Downtown Jeffersonville, IN

Date: March 13, 2012

Time: 16:25

Wait?  What?

A road race on a Tuesday night?

You aren’t imagining things, it happened, friends.  Last night, Jeffersonville, Indiana hosted a great 2 mile run in fantastic 77 degree weather. Actually, after I got moving it seemed too hot for the run, but it was a beautiful night and a great night to run.

This isn’t the first time I’ve run a race that was hosted by the Fast Freddie people.  I ran the Fast Freddie Five Mile Foot Feast on Thanksgiving this year and absolutely loved it.  If there is anyone in this area who knows how to put on a race, it’s this group.

I actually heard about this race from the race flyer at the YMCA where I go to workout.  After some consideration, as it is also my roommate’s birthday, I decided to go ahead and give it a whirl.  Afterwards, we’d go home and celebrate with some gluten-free lemon chiffon cake (homemade by me!) and kick back the rest of the evening.  It couldn’t have been a nicer day.

The sun was out.  The March weather felt like summer.  And after a four mile run that morning, I was ready for a quick two mile road race.  And why not?  I mean…it was a great way to wrap up a Tuesday night for sure.  I changed at the office into my running clothes and we headed down to the race.  Packet pickup was in a little banquet hall, and the start and finish lines were just outside.  No confusion.  No problems.  Just a simple race.  And, as a bonus, the top 100 male and 100 female finishers received a medal.  Awesome.  I got my bib number, bought my t-shirt, and got pinned up so I’d be ready when race time came.

We were in town early, not knowing what the traffic situation might be like.  So, we killed a bit of time at a local novelty store before heading over to where some of the runners and walkers were milling about outside.  I was watching a couple of “running diva’s” (my own little name for them) begin their stretching routines an hour before the race.  While I admired quite a few of these stretches and could see the benefit of it…we’re talking two miles here.  An hour of stretching for two miles on a flat course seemed a bit…well…excessive to me.  In addition to the stretching, these two running divas had their trainer there, who was helping them flex and bend and stretch as well.  I remind me you again…this is a flat course and only two miles.  I was in awe.

But…with a shake of my head, I ducked inside to cool off and eventually start limbering up a little myself.  Before I could even start though, a coworker’s mom found us and introduced herself and her husband (my coworker’s stepdad) to us, and we talked a little bit about races.  He and I are both running in all three of the Louisville Triple Crown of Running races, so that was fun to discuss a little.  My roommate was asked where her sign was…which we had inadvertently left at home in our mega rush out the door that morning before hitting the gym and heading into the office.  It was her birthday, we had a lot of stuff going on!  So, we were sans sign on a beautiful day, but it was okay.

With about 20 minutes to race time, I went through a couple of quick stretches, just to get the leg muscles working.  And then we were all told to head up to the start line for the race.  I managed to snag a pretty close spot to the front.  I was just behind these two little preteen girls who were just running in the race because they wanted a medal.  Neither were runners and both were a little overweight, but they seemed determined.  It sort of made me happy to see them out and working towards something they really desired.

Before I knew it…the whistle was blown and we were off.  They weren’t kidding when they said that this was a flat, fast course.  No hills or anything.  The only hindrance I found, aside from the unseasonable weather, was the freshly cut grass, or lawn mowing going on during the race.  Nothing like breathing some of the worst allergens on a run.  Ah well…it happens.

I felt I went out slow…probably from my four miles I put in that morning.  But I picked it up as the race went on, and at mile 1 I was just past 8 minutes.  Not too bad.  I had made the turn at that point and was heading back toward the finish line.  As I’m making my way down the path, lo and behold, right there in front of me was the younger of the running divas.  Her sister was probably close to the finish…as I had seen her make the turn as I was coming around to that point.  As I’m running, I see her begin to slow down and then…she started walking.  And I passed her.  I know it is probably not very sportsman like of me, but I smiled a little as I did it.

Despite the music playing in my iPod, I could now hear the announcer near the finish.  I was getting close.  So, I pushed harder, digging in with each step to propel myself just a little bit faster.  My roommate was jumping up and down at the finish and I hurried in, a woman sprinting behind me trying to get ahead of me…which she didn’t…and finished my first 2 mile race in 16:25.  Not too bad considering I had run about 12 hours earlier.  I felt great and went immediately to grab some water because…yeah…it was a hot day to run.

I stretched out a little and downed a few bottles of water afterwards.  And as we were getting ready to leave, we spot one of the preteen girls, the one who desperately wanted to win a medal, sprinting with all she had in her, toward that finish line.  And she crossed it…and received one of the medals.  I went over and high-fived her.  She earned that.  That’s what the running spirit is all about.  Determination.

After that, it was time to head home for some birthday celebrations.  But it was a fun little race and a great way to spend a beautiful Tuesday evening.  I hope to run it again next year.

March 14, 2012 | Categories: race, running, tales from the road | 1 Comment

Hope for the Children 5K – New Albany, IN (March 10, 2012)

Me after finishing the Hope for the Children 5K - Sam Peden Community Park, New Albany, IN

Race: Hope for the Children 5K

Place: Sam Peden Community Park, New Albany, IN

Date: March 10, 2012

Time: 25:36

It was one of those mornings.  I don’t know what it was because normally on race mornings I’m out of bed like a shot and going through my routine of getting dressed, lacing shoes, eating a light breakfast and getting a couple things done before heading out the door.  But I was not in the mood to run this morning and it was really showing.

Reluctantly, however, I hauled myself out of bed and checked the weather.  Below 32 degrees.  I thought about wearing my shorts, then some sense kicked in and I decided on knee socks and my capri running shorts instead.  This turned out to be one of the smartest things I’ve done because it was bitter, bitter cold out in the park with nothing really to act as a windbreak.  I was cold.  No…I was freezing.

My roommate had told me she checked the race time the night before, saying it was 8:00 a.m.  So, I set my alarm for the appropriate time to allow me to wake up, get stuff in order, eat, and hydrate properly prior to the race, as well as throw something together for her to eat before we headed out the door.  I got up with my alarm, and, as mentioned, very reluctantly got moving.  Then, after I logged on line to catch up on some e-mails and the like, I checked the race information again and…I was almost fuming to see that the race started at 9:00 a.m.  So, when her alarm went off at 6:30 a.m. and she finally staggered out into the living room, I was quite cranky and informed her that the race time was really 9:00, not 8:00 like she said.  To which she informed me she didn’t actually find a time online the night before and just assumed.  So yeah…I wasn’t a happy camper going into this race.

We arrived for packet pick-up at about 8:30 a.m.  This gave me time to not only walk stuff back to the car, but properly stretch out as well.  I kept my jacket on for as long as possible because I was shivering and cold.  But the announcement soon came for all the runners and walkers to make their way over to the start line…which was a short walk up a path to a line painted across the road.  We made the short trek and I saw all the ‘elite’ runners at this race doing their jogging in place, knee lifts, butt kicks, and little sprints to warm up.  The organizers came over to kick us off with some course information, like how the roads were not closed to traffic, but there would be a police presence throughout.  How our lead vehicle was this guy on a bike with bunny ears.  And ran through the course.  Then, the National Anthem was beautifully sang and a little prayer was given.  I shed my jacket and gloves and shivered near the start with other runners.  Then, the starting gun was fired and off we went.

I took off faster than I intended.  This has been a trending cycle for me and one I am trying to break, but not being very successful at it.  I was in the front group as we headed out of the park and onto the streets.  I was behind these two little girls, maybe about 10 years of age, and they sort of kept me moving.  I mean, granted, there are plenty of 10-year-olds and younger who run faster than me, but I was just doing my best to keep up.  They were barely breaking a sweat.  And at mile marker 1, my time of 7:49 was called out and my immediate thought was, “Crap, I went out too fast.  I’m booking it.”  And I knew, from running these roads before, the hills and inclines were about to hit.

I have made it a goal of mine, with the exception of one race (which was the first one back from a bad foot and knee injury) that I would run every race and not walk.  So, despite the hills and my slowing pace, I pushed on, up the inclines, through the neighborhoods, waiting on cars to drive by or perhaps stop to let the runners through first.  Mile 2 came about just as we were about to reenter the park for the final leg.  The little girls had taken a bit of a lead, but I could still see them.  Through the park, around a turn, and onto the little paved track there and I was off into the last mile.  This was tough.  The hills weren’t as much, but they were there.  And I passed one of the girls, who fell off of her running buddy’s pace.  The other one was zooming on ahead.  One other person passed me, but that was it.  I knew as I was running around the little lake in that park that the finish was just another song on my iPod away.

Actually, I could see the yellow and blue flags of the finish area out of the corner of my eye.  Just a little more pushing, one more curve around the lake and it was straight on to the finish.  I gave it all I had left, which, after not feeling like running and with the cold, wasn’t much.  But I pressed on, and when I crossed that finish line, I knew I was so close to what my 5K PR was.  I either barely beat it, tied it, or came damn close to it.  It was the latter of the three, but I was pretty damn proud of that time, since there were rolling hills, some of which are pretty steep, and for using so much of my energy up at the start of the race, rather than holding it back for the finish.  In the end, I crossed the finish line 3 seconds shy of my PR, which was achieved on a flat course, the 36th finisher overall out of 147, and 3rd in  my age division.

I was cold.  The ladies at the finish wanted us to tear the bottom part of our number off, but I couldn’t feel my fingers at this point, so they helped.  I was given my medal for finishing and met with my roommate for a couple of pictures before being graced with my jacket, gloves, and some water.  Hydration is always important.  We stuck around for the awards, which I love to do even if I don’t place or receive anything, as well as the random raffle for prizes.  I walked away empty-handed, but I was okay with that.  I had a fantastic race and now I was riding high on that.

This week I have four races ahead of me.  One tomorrow, two on Saturday, and an indoor triathlon on Sunday.  I’m doing my best not to overdo it, but also keep up with my half marathon training.  With all these races I took on, sometimes that can be a task.  But I wouldn’t change any of this for the world.

March 12, 2012 | Categories: race, running, tales from the road | Leave a comment

Anthem 5K Fitness Classic – Louisville KY (March 3, 2012)

Sprinting through the start of the Anthem 5K Fitness Classic - Downtown Louisville, Kentucky

Race: Anthem 5K Fitness Classic

Place: Downtown Louisville, KY

Date: March 3, 2012

Time: 25:33

So, it finally happened.  I finally set a new PR for a 5K race.  And, believe it or not, it once again happened while running a race in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.  My previous PR was set at the Louisville Komen Race for the Cure back in October 2011.

It was, by no means, a large margin of time that I beat it by.  But it was a full 26 seconds, which, in a road race…is awesome!

During the week, the weather had been absolutely stunning.  We were in the 60s most of the days.  But then came Friday, the day before the race, and things got a little crazy.  That morning we were greeted with some heavy rain.  But it moved out of the area rather quickly.  That being said, on lunch, I darted down to Louisville Slugger Field to pick up my race packet so it was one less line to stand in on race morning and one less thing to worry about.  That was an easy trip.  Over and back in record time.

Then, that afternoon, a storm front moved through.  Crazy storms.  Strong winds.  Hard rain.  Tornadoes touched down in some areas.  Most of the people in my office scattered like leaves in the wind when they heard of the potential for tornadoes.  My opinion still stands.  If there is a tornado near where I live…why hop in my car and go toward it?  Myself, my roommate, and the receptionist stuck it out at the office during the worst of it.  We got strong winds and hard rain, but not much else.

Of course, the storm brought a nice cold front with it, which meant my mild weather was gone again.  Right in time for race morning.  Because that is Mother Nature’s mojo this winter.  Nice weekdays…freezing weekends.  Why?  Because I slip into running shorts and race.  It’s a cruel joke, really, since I hate cold weather.

That being said, it was in the low 30s that morning when I put on my running shorts and sat down to have a quick bite of Honey Nut Chex cereal before heading out to the race.  My roommate scarfed down a breakfast and got dressed in record time (for her).  I got my number pinned onto my jacket, which given the temperature I would be wearing, and we headed out.  We stopped off at the gas station for her to grab some much needed Diet Mt. Dew and I snagged a Smart Water for after the race.

Downtown we went, earlier than we needed to, but knowing that this race was a big freakin’ deal and parking might be hard to come by.  It wasn’t.  We got to Slugger Field and parked in their lot without an issue at all.  It’s nice to have the car so close when the race is done and the cool down is over.  My roommate grabbed my sign and we headed inside to where people were milling about, runners were stretching, or signing up, or getting their packets.  We found a clear space along the wall and took up residence there.  I stretched a little, then decided to go use the bathroom.  Good thing I decided that then because the line was stupid long and Slugger Field only opened up one of their bathrooms for the thousands of race participants there.  And the bathroom only had four stalls in it.  So it was a slow line, but I stuck it out.

Upon returning, I shed my long pants to acclimate myself to the cooler weather.  I had time for a couple more stretches, but then we decided to start toward the finish line.  We had about 20 minutes to race time, but my roommate wanted to get a good spot to cheer for me as I went through the start.  This, despite being freezing cold out, was also a good idea.  The start line was already swimming with runners lining up to get their spots.  Including a team from Kenya (of which one would walk away the winner).  It was craziness.  So, I found a nice spot under an overpass in the mid-front of the pack and took up residence there while music played, announcements were made, and the National Anthem was sung.  After that, we had about 5 minutes where the announcer went through some stats, like how over 9000 people signed up to participate in this race.  Amazing.  This was bigger than I thought.  And I absolutely love big races!

I got my iPod ready to go and just as I did, we were off.  It took about a minute or so to get to the start itself, despite not being that far away from it.  But as soon as I was through, I was off with the crowd, setting a good, but challenging pace, and taking part in the first race of my first ever Louisville Triple Crown of Running.

What I love about running in downtown Louisville is that it means the inclines are minor and the path is usually pretty flat.  Perhaps that has attributed to my fastest times being run on courses down there.  Whatever it was, I know my legs were stiff from the cold so my first mile I pushed, but not too hard, in an attempt to warm them up.  They finally got there, even in the cold weather and the very strong gusts of wind that met us as we churned through the course.  After what seemed like an eternity, mile marker 2 came into view.  My time said 17 minutes and some-odd seconds.  Wow.  I really did go out like a shot.  And between that and my body trying to compensate for the cold by using more energy to keep it warm…this is about where I started to get hungry.  So now, instead of focusing on my stride, my pace, my run, I was focusing on how completely empty I felt.

No.  Not this.  Not now.

I could feel myself slowing down.  I hated that.  I tried to shake it off.  Push more.  Knowing that at the end, a banana or apple would await me.  I rounded a corner, and I could see the finish line in the distance.  I was getting there.  I just needed to push through it all and really, really get there.  So, I dug deep, mentally noting that I need to work on race morning eats when it’s cold out.  My pace picked up slightly and I pushed hard…then harder…crossing the finish line as the clock ticked toward 27 minutes.  I figured my Race for the Cure PR still stood.  The difficult task of finding my roommate in the sea of people was now the important matter.  Thankfully, after a couple minutes of discombobulated searching, I found her on a sideline a ways down from the finish.  It was the closest she could get, which meant, no finish line shot.  She did say that we would by the professional shot from Brightroom of me crossing the finish though (except they didn’t get a picture of me at all in this race, so I’m more than bummed about that).  I told her to stick there while I went to go find some fruit to eat.  I snagged a banana and apple before heading back to where she was standing.

She had made friends with a nice lady whose husband was running his first 5K.  They were waiting on him to come in as well and throughout the race, Cathy was giving her race day tips and things she’s learned in her year-long journey of living with a runner.  After he came in, we all said our goodbyes and I went to change out of my running clothes and into some regular clothes so I could head to brunch at a local restaurant called Hillbilly Tea.  The restrooms in Slugger Field were not as crowded this time, but as they are outside it was a cold, cold change.  But I got sorted and I bid adieu to Slugger Field and the Anthem 5K Fitness Classic.

It was only later in the day that I got the results, which resulted in me doing a lot of squeeing in the car.  My official time was my fastest 5K time yet, at 25:33 seconds, which is by no means fast, but it feels good when you beat your previous best time.  As for the official standings, I was 52/724 in my age division and 1424/8496 finishers.  Considering the day before I had turned to my roommate and said, “My goal is to be in the top 2000, which doesn’t look likely, but hey…”

So, there it stands.  My first race in my first ever Louisville Triple Crown of Running and I’m off to a good start so far.  The Rhodes City Run 10K is up next on St. Patrick’s Day (followed by another race that evening in Frankfort, Kentucky, kicking off the Frankfort Trifecta Run/Walk Series).  I couldn’t be happier with how this race turned out.  Perhaps Mother Nature will give us some beautiful weather for the 10K on March 17.  Until then, back to training.

March 7, 2012 | Categories: race, running, tales from the road | Leave a comment

Making Tracks for Celiacs 5K – Hoover, AL (February 25, 2012)

Bryan, Me, and Armand at the start of the Making Tracks for Celiacs 5K in Hoover, Alabama

Race: Making Tracks for Celiacs 5K

Place: Veterans Park, Hoover, AL

Date: February 25, 2012

Time: 27:48

Sometimes there comes a time in your running career when a moment will forever be etched into your mind.  Something special happens.  Something clicks.  It means something to you.  It’s yours to treasure.

One of those moments, for me, is this race.

I’ve run countless 5Ks before.  In fact, for me a 5K is a walk in the park.  I could do them in my sleep.  Am I super-fast at them?  Hell no.  I’m not fast by any means.  I steadily fall in the middle of my age group at races.  But 5Ks are fantastic runs.  I love doing them.  They’re quick.  A wide variety of people run in them.  And they can still be a challenge at times.

The race at Veterans Park in Hoover, Alabama was certainly a challenge.  But that’s not why this race is special.

I signed up for this race when I was in Birmingham visiting my family for Christmas.  Why this race specifically?  Well, it gave plenty of time for training…for my brother-in-law, Bryan.  Bryan had taken up running a couple months before and was working his way through a Couch To 5K program.  I went running with him when I was there.  It was fun.  He kept up a good pace.  And we could talk about different aspects of the sport.  He could ask me questions, which he did.  So, we picked a race and it would become his first race.  I was already looking at participating in this one as it was attached to a Gluten-Free Expo in town, so it was ideal.  Perfect time for him to train properly.

The day before the race, my parents call me to let me know something else is going on.  My grandpa would be driving back through Birmingham from his trip down to Florida and he was going to be stopping by.  They mentioned to him that Bryan and I were participating in a race on Saturday and he opted to stay an extra day and come out for the event.  I was thrilled.  Beyond thrilled.

The trip down to Birmingham was easy.  That night, we went out to eat at a little diner, The Depot, in Helena, Alabama.  I brought my own slices of gluten-free bread and dressed it up with the lettuce, onion and tomato my dad got (on the side) with his burger.  A side of tater tots and we were in business.  I went to bed that night beyond excited about getting up the next morning and doing the race.

There was a chill in the air that morning in Alabama.  In fact, I had to scrape frost off my car windows.  But I pulled on my shorts and my Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bread t-shirt that was provided to me by the company and ate a light breakfast of Cinnamon Chex.  I split a banana with my grandpa.  He was already discussing with me walking the trail and picking up any discarded pieces of clothing to take to Goodwill.  Or, perhaps, he’d work one of the water stations.  SO cool!!  Sometimes I don’t think my grandpa realizes that he’s 90.  I’m okay with that because he doesn’t look or act 90.

We get to Veterans Park and manage to find parking.  The packet pick-up and registration was easy to spot, so I hustled on over to get my packet.  Sadly, they were out of my size t-shirt (!!!!), so I went a size up.  My goody bag was a reusable bag from a local running store, Trak Shak, which does a lot of races in the area.  Inside were some gluten-free goodies to enjoy (crackers, Larabars, etc.).  Bryan, my sister and their two boys showed up next and I showed Bryan where to go to get his bag.  They were out of his size t-shirt too (!!!) so he had to take one a size down.  Note to those putting on the race: Pre-registered runners should always have a guaranteed shirt in their size.  Just sayin’.

No sooner had we gotten pinned up, our friend Armand (who lives in Atlanta, GA), turns up for the race as well.  There were hugs (and a manly handshake between Bryan and Armand), and we got him registered for the race.  No t-shirt for those signing up on race day.  Which…is too bad.

The three of us spread out to get a few easy stretches in while we waited for the announcement on where the start line was.  There was nothing really set up for it…no sensor laid out on the terrain or anything.  As we are doing this, my grandpa decides that he is also going to be in the race, as one of the walkers!  Honestly, I was stretching and the next thing I know, he’s pinning on a number.  I was so excited.  I had talked about the course with my grandpa earlier.  I had looked at the park online and it seemed like a relatively flat course.  No one had really been over to the park to check it out, but every picture showed people walking or running along a level path.

The announcements were made that the race was to begin in five minutes and all participants should make their way over to the start line.  The problem was…no one really knew where the start line was.  People started moving off in one direction, so we kind of followed them, but it was more than a little confusing.  Finally, it was pointed out that the race would start on the grass, between two metal barrels that were positioned there.  Okay…

As we were heading that way, I spotted someone who sort of knew what he was doing, so I inquired as to what our route would be.  He said we had to run across the field to get to the path to get the .1 in for the 3.1 miles of the 5K.  Understandable.  After that, we would run the path that the cross country team runs.  That meant nothing to me, but as I am not ever in the lead, I figured that I would just go where everyone else goes as usual.  One woman overheard the directions and commented about the path being the ‘one with the hill.’  Uh oh.  Well, I figured we were in the middle of a field…how hilly could it be?  Flat paths in pictures.  Yes.  This wouldn’t be so bad.

And it wasn’t.  Except that this was more of a trail run than a road race.  The path was completely made up of loose gravel, little pebbles that made running on it more like running in sand.  Once you hit the path, you round a corner and you head into a wooded area where you round a lake, come back around, and head through a tunnel to hit up the other side of the park.  The entire time, you are cruising along on this soft gravel, feet sliding a bit, sometimes hitting roots and pine cones.  It was a challenge.  I never ran cross country in high school or college.  In fact, running was punishment in the sports I did play during my time in high school.  College?  I was too busy working full time and going to class to fit in any sort of sport.  This was completely new to me and, I’ll be honest, I wasn’t prepared for it.

Be that as it may, I still took the race as it came.  Instead of going with the downhill motion though, I found myself pulling back, so as not to trip on a tree root or slip on a pine cone.  It was a different sort of race.  A learning experience for sure.  I had left Bryan and Armand at the start line, so I was hoping they were doing okay with the terrain.  And, since the woman mentioned a hill, I found quite a few on this path.  More than I would have anticipated.  And every time I ran up one, I thought, “Okay…that was the hill she was talking about…”

WRONG!

I found the hill…about 1K out from the finish.  I round a corner where this massive, steep hill loomed, hidden from the cover of the trees.  I think I deflated upon seeing it.  Here I was…so close to the finish…and this beast was what stood between me and the finish line.

“Oh dear God!”

Yes, I said that aloud.  The runner behind me started laughing and as I started up it in a run, I heard him say, “Screw it, I’m walking it.”  Oh yeah…this was THE HILL.  No doubt about it.  And as I crested it to the leveled off area at the top and started back toward the tunnel to head in to the finish line, I thought about my grandpa, who was doing this race.  I had said flat terrain.  Here we had hills.  THAT hill to be specific.

After the pass back through the tunnel things got a little confusing.  Runners weren’t quite sure where to go.  Someone was waving in the distance to go straight, so the runner ahead of me and I did that, despite other runners having gone around the parked cars and through the playground to get back on track.  Guess I got to that point at the right time.  Next time…some cones to guide the way might be a good idea.  I could see the finish line, so on went the last bit of speed I could muster (thanks to THE HILL) and crossed the finish line.  My roommate, Cathy, and our friend Marc (who had moved to Birmingham last year) and was toting around his 1-year-old daughter, were there to greet me.  I wasn’t happy with my time, but I wasn’t disappointed either.  That was the first time I had run in those conditions so 27:48 was nothing to sneeze at.  Honestly, I had been hoping on setting a new 5K PR, but it will happen another time in another race.

Bryan flashing a thumbs up in the Making Tracks for Celiacs 5K

Now came the part I was most excited about.  Bryan’s finish.  He was still out there, but I knew he wouldn’t be long behind me.  Cathy went to go get my mom, sister, and the kiddliewinks to come to the finish line.  Marc and I stood around and talked for a bit.  It was great.  The excitement of the race was there.  And we had brought signs for Bryan.  Because every runner needs signs and encouragement during their first race.  Or any race.

The family got to the finish line and we busted out the signs.  Landon, who is five, was given a sign that simply said, “Run Daddy Run!”  My sister had a sign that said, “Bryan: Today you are my hero!”  Except she had pictures to take so I held that for her.  Makes sense.  And not but five minutes after we got everyone there…we see him.  He sees us.  His pace picks up and he runs down the final stretch to the finish line.  And he crossed at 37:57 seconds.  A great base to build on as he does more running.  I was so proud of him.  I went and gave him a hug and congratulated him.  And he said that he had a lot of fun.  I had been telling him that running in races is addictive because runners are awesome people and the atmosphere at these things is just…incredible.  I think he now understood.  He had a great time.

Bryan crossing the finish line at the Making Tracks for Celiacs 5K

Armand was about 10 minutes behind him.  When we saw him coming the cheer section kicked back into gear.  Armand finished the race in 46:03.  We congratulated him and talked for a bit about the run, about the path, about THE HILL.

And then…it was grandpa’s turn.  We could see him coming.  He was walking the race, but as we found out, was the oldest competitor in the event.  It was so much fun to stand at that finish line and cheer for him.  Chace, my 2-year-old nephew, scampered out to see grandpa as he was coming into the finish line.  And Landon went to walk with him through it.  Grandpa, at 90 years old, completed that 5K course, with THE HILL, in 55:12.  It was so awesome to be in a race with him.  He had to give up running a couple years ago, but walking he can do.  And he rocked this race.  At 90 years old, he finished a 5K in under an hour.  That is amazing.  How many 90-year-olds can claim that?  I was so proud of him.  There were more hugs and our race was done.

Armand had to go, and Bryan and my grandpa were going to head back to my parents house.  My sister and mom stuck around for a bit, as we were going to check out the Gluten-Free Expo.  But, it took awhile for the awards ceremony to start, and by then, my mom needed to get to the grocery store to pick up some items and get home because both Chace and Landon needed to eat by 11 a.m. and grandpa would probably want to take a nap after the exciting day.  So, off they went and Cathy and I went to check out the expo for a brief walk through.  It had been our intention to check out a few seminars, but my grandpa was in town, and I could go to other expos.  So, after working our way around the tables and through the crowd, we headed home for a light lunch and some down time before hitting up a birthday party for two of my brother’s kids.

Grandpa getting a high five from his great grandson, Chace, at the Making Tracks for Celiacs 5K

It was a busy, busy day.

Official race results weren’t posted until Monday, but once they were I found out that I placed fourth in my age division.  The woman who came in first, was only 30 seconds faster than me.  Wow.  Overall, I finished 19th.  Bryan was 13th in his age division and 59th overall.  Armand was 17th in his age division and 92nd overall.  And grandpa…he was 3rd in his age division (which consisted of a 67-year-old and a 61-year-old), the oldest competitor, and was 142nd overall.  After scanning the list, I found out 172 people finished, which means 30 people came in after grandpa did.  And the person who crossed the finish line last…was 26.  I am overwhelmed with pride for my grandpa.  He does things like this and I become the proud granddaughter and brag on him as much as possible.  And why shouldn’t I?  He’s amazing!

I hope that this race sparked a fire in Bryan to get him out and competing in other races.  Not only are they great workouts, but races are addictive and fun.  I hate when I don’t have a race to be in on a weekend.  I hope he does more of them.  I hope we can run more of them together.  I hope Armand gets back into running, because I’d really like someone to run the Chicago Marathon with me in 2013.

As for grandpa…what can I say?  The man is amazing.  He is my inspiration…my road hero…for a reason.  I love him dearly and thank him for being a light on this path to running.

Two huge things happened at the Making Tracks for Celiacs 5K race.  Bryan competed and finished his first 5K…and I was in a race with my grandpa.  I’m proud of them.  Really, really proud of them.

Grandpa crossing the finish line at the Making Tracks for Celiacs 5K

March 1, 2012 | Categories: race, running, tales from the road | Leave a comment