I Probably Should Make My Blog Public again

I started with a 2.21 warm up.  I was running with a couple of kids, so we were running faster to start out with, but it wasn't a difficult pace--I could still carry on a conversation.  That makes me wonder if I should try to keep my easy pace closer to 9 min, but I think I should probably just go by feel.  Anyway, the kids didn't want to run as much as I did, so I left them after about 1.5, when they turned back to go towards the start.

I conned a kid into starting with me.  I wanted to have some incentive, you know, to save face if I felt like I was going to fall behind.  Actually, he ended up eating my dust after about 1.5 miles.  Apparently he's out of shape.

So I have bittersweet feelings about this race.  My time was 22:08, which is a PR.  But I had sorta hoped that I would break into the 21s, and I can pinpoint the exact 1/2 mile where I lost my mojo.

The start was 11 minutes late.  That was kinda annoying because I had pretty much lost my heat.  I took off my outer layer and left it in the car, and that would have been fine if I had started on time.

We started off fast, but it felt good.  The first mile was 6:49, which was probably too fast.  (But I struggle in small races where I don't have much time to warm up-- I just start fast because I don't really feel like I have time in a 5K to work into a progressively faster race.  I could be wrong, though.  Maybe I should try next time to start slower).  Second mile, where I ditched my racing partner, was 7:15.  I started to flag right before the end of this mile and then struggled into the third mile.  Third mile was 7:24.  Last .11 was 7:12.  I wish I could have gone faster on that last bit--maybe I could have dropped at least a few of the 8 seconds.

Then I did 2.13 to cool down, but I did the course backwards and stopped for about 30 seconds to chit chat with the water table people while I took the water that I shunned on the way over the first time.

I didn't stick around for results, but one of the kids brought my age division medal--2nd place.  I don't know my official time, but if it's any different I'll update my entry

I have been sneezing pretty much since then.  I think that the air is pretty dry--that's probably why. 

So, to sum up: I'm happy with my performance, but would have been ecstatic if I had just finished 9 seconds earlier. 

Update: 

My official time was listed at 22:07 and I was the 7th female out of a little over 100.

I ran some errands before I was planning on running and it didn't seem too bad out.  A light rain was falling and it was windy, but not ridiculous.  Then as I was leaving the store, the rain picked up, so I opted to run indoors on my gazelle.  Not really running, but I'm going to go ahead and count it anyway.  I worked out during the Illini game--they looked good out there!

I got a nice gift from my XC runners.  Part of it (just part, isn't that crazy?  there was a lot more) was a $100 gift card to my favorite shoe/running store.  So I went yesterday to get new shoes.  I also bought a pair of running tights, but this was a total impulse buy and I'm going to return them.  I'm a dork.

Anyway, as soon as I walked in, one of the salesmen that I always talk to when I go in (his name is Van, and it always takes me a minute to remember that.  I usually tell myself, "I know it's something unusual," and I rack my brain and can't come up with it.  And then I remember it when we are done talking) asked me, "Did you get your run in today?"  I laughed and told him that I was running inside when I got home, and he said that was everyone's response.  The wind was ridiculous.  Gusts up to 50 mph.  Driving on the interstate was touchy and slow.  

So when I got home I "ran" on my gazelle again.  I don't always feel like I get a good workout, but my heel has been bothering me anyway (probably because I needed new shoes), so I guess it has been good for the low impact.  I will not be running outside till Saturday, probably, but not because of the weather.  My husband has supervision stuff tonight and tomorrow.  So my mileage this week will be okay, but some of the miles will be not real running miles.  

And I have to admit that while I was running, I was flipping through the channels and I totally got sucked into--brace yourself--a Liza Minnelli performance.  Maybe it was her raspy voice.  Or her boyishly handsome tuxedoed backup dancers.  Or perhaps it was her red-sequined off-the-shoulder jumpsuit.  I don't know.  But I watched the last 20 minutes of the show and I could not change the channel for some reason.  And I was caught when my husband came upstairs.

After that was over I started watching NCIS (much more socially acceptable).

Then I needed to help with bath time, and I just ran out of motivation to get back to it after putting the kids to bed.

Another boring "run." 

Right after I started, Eli took his diaper off.  No big deal.  He's interested in the potty, but we have our countdown to no more diapers for next Saturday when break starts.  So when he said he wanted to go, I put him on the toilet and went back to working out.  He flushed.  He flushed again.  Then he comes out saying there was something wrong with the toilet.

When I went in there, he had tried to flush an entire roll of toilet paper. 

So I kinda lost track how long I was on.  I did some before the kids went to bed, but I was interrupted.  And then I did some after they went to bed.  Altogether it was at least 80 minutes, but I went a little longer to be sure.  I'm just counting it as 8 miles.  I have no idea.

Another day inside tomorrow, then it's outside again.

Tomorrow it's back outside.  

Had a decent run until the end.  Some cramping at around mile 5, and then it hit me pretty hard right around the start of mile 8.  Was running at 9min average and then the last mile or so was mostly a run, but I had to walk a couple times to ease the cramp.  Made it inside just in time.  Now life is good.  I did, though, forget to stop my watch at the end of my run, so while I know my last registered mile was 9:44 (combo run/walk), I don't know my overall avg.