Running Disney

[Mr. Roz]

We went out for a local 8k this morning as part of a time trial. I was suffering from a little strep/cold or something. We discussed not going but I knew I was going to run that day any way, why not race.

I had two goals, both very high. Plan A was go out at 5k pace and hold it down for the next four miles and finish 33:55. Plan b was to go out at 5k pace for the first mile and see where I was and hold on to 7 min pace if I could while not coughing up a lung or anything else and finish 34:50

Weather was in the high 50's to start, beautiful day. Felt kinda queezy before the start. Told Robyn "I aint feeling it today" Mistake #1, My mind wasn't right.
There were a few familiar faces around so I knew who I could pace if needed.
Gun sounded and we hit it . First mile was a little tuff but hit it at 6:43, Saw this local Kenyan Kid who runs my pace(He's 9 years old). I paced off him the 2nd mile, hit mile 2 at 7:23. I figured he was having a bad day so I picked it up. At mile 3 I got passed by this guy in his 50's. He was built like drill instructor and looked like he would rip my face off if I tried to pass him. I tried anyway but never could catch him. I locked on to this other runner who was about a quarter mile ahead of me. I picked it up and hit mile 4 at 7:09. I closed the gap on him as much as I could. He must have heard me weezing and looked back and I was about 3 yards behind him. We both kicked it at the same time. My last mile time 6:35, but He ended up beating me by 2 seconds. My finish time 34:52. I ended up 11th overall and PEACOCK ALERt....first in my age group.

All goals accomplished,Had fun,didn't puke PR'ed and had my first place for my age group ever.

Can't wait for the Roz to post her report.....

[cloudnut220]

Congratulations Mr. Roz!! Awesome results--sounds like you were able to put your mind in the right place and run fast! Can't wait to hear from Roz!

I did do my 7 miler (7.5 really) yesterday. Legs were sore when I woke up but decided to go ahead. I was able to maintain my goal training pace the whole time and felt great! And the even better news? We wrapped up the house painting yesterday afternoon, and now today is free to relax! Nono-I was waiving over towards NJ last night...it was so clear on the beach we could see Cape May light.

[withdisneyspirit]

WOOHOO MR. Roz!!!!!!!

We have a King Peacock this weekend! That is awesome, Scott! Pretty amazing to pull out such a run while sick! I am always surprised when I have a good run sick too. You should post a pic of you in your medal. Now, the only problem I can see in your day yesterday was how many people you might have wheezed on, lol!!!

Very happy for you, CN that you got your 7 miler done without issue. You must have healed quickly

[nono]

Well done Mr. Roz -- esp. not throwing up at the end of it all! You are tough as nails!!!!!

Great news on the age group award!

[Rozzie]

Beth, great news about the run! I can't wait to crash at your place when we have a Rehoboth reunion. Seriously I am really enjoying reading about your progress. Very fun!

Jen, how are you feeling? Calf pain? Cold still there?

MM, congrats on the LR down in the happy place!! You are doing just what you need to do. You are going to be fine, and I got your PM. :-)

Well I usually don't do a long RR for these little local races so I will just (try) to give the highlights.

Got there and very first thing I saw this girl I ran with last race 2 weeks ago. She is very nice girl, 27, who ran CC for Union College. My goal is always to pace with her as we are about the same range. Also inside of me thinks it's way cool I can keep up with a former college runner. Who cares how long ago that they had been they were in college. It's always been a fantasy of mine to pretend I am on a college racing team. I love how she races. Anyhooo...she tells me off the bat she is still have ITB issues so she just wants to shoot for 7:30s. In the back of my mind I have warning bell ringing in my head...Robyn, you are only going for 7:45s today, to test my 10K pace for big 10K in 2 weeks. I tell her as much as we walk to the start. Then I saw her OTHER friend, remember the 58 year old that handed my arse to me at the 5K? Well she comes right up slaps me on the butt and says "lets pace together, I am going for 7:00-7:15s". FUDGE. She has haunted my runs for the last 2 weeks. So I, being the responsible adult knowing my limits says "you're on". Side note folks: my 8K race pace is NOT 7:00s, 7:15s or anything of the sort.

So off we go, older lady, young girl, and me. Rematch. Then mile 1 we hit 7:15 suddenly older lady says "I'm out". Come to find out she has medical condition that either grants her a perfect race day or a DNF if it strikes. No in between. She pulled up and went back to car. I hated it and was really worried, but younger girl who is friends with her said it happens every now and then and she will be okay. Also hated I didn't have my rematch and wasted a the first mile trying to keep up with her, now knowing I was going to have a positive split race, as 7:15 was too fast.

So mile 3 comes around and we are cruising now at 7:30s when all of a sudden I realize these 2 guys join us. One of them reports they have been trying to catch us since the start and we minded if they paced off us. Younger girl is all "come join us" but in the back of my mind I smell trouble out of one of them. Sixth sense?...I personally don't mind people pacing off me, because lord knows I pace off quite a few folks, but it's courtesy to take turns pacing. As you know is almost 50% more effort to set the pace than maintain it. Me and younger girl were taking turns, but boys let us do all the work. Younger girl and I eyeballed each other with a knowing look. They wanted for us to do all the work and then pop out a kick at the end with all the energy they reserved. It's legal, it how you train to race, I know, but to almost admit to it and never offer to pace, well, blah. I don't know maybe I am oversensitive about all of that.

So mile 4 comes and sadly younger girl has to back off, ITB. Now it's whipper snapper boy and me. The whole time I am trying to breath and pick it up and he is totally feeling me out. "What do I do my 5K in" "what did you do last 10K in" trying to see if I had it in me for the kick. Several times I told him to go on he was doing great blah blah blah but he kept saying he was staying with me as I had done course before and wanted to wait for my kick. So I knew it. It was going to come down to a horse race the last .5, did I have it in me? Was I strong enough to take on a boy several years younger? OMG, this is going to be a scene out of Once a Runner. (not read it yet? Go out and buy it today...great read) I was nervous but decided I will never know unless I tried. I kicked and went out about a stride ahead. Then he comes up and goes out in front. Then I go out inches in front, then he does. I never ever ever ran so hard in all my life. Full sprint, arms moving, blurred vision and all I hear everyone at finish screaming about the match race coming down to the chute. 1 foot before finish he is a inch ahead, but somehow, someway in my pain I find a way to pull in front. Mr Roz was screaming and said the look on whipper snappers face was one of pain and shock. (wish I could have seen IT! Ha! how does one look when they are "out chicked"?)

I ended up with 37:06 (7:30 pace), 3rd overall female and a new 10K pace for the race in 2 weeks. Hopefully I can walk by then!

Sidenote: Whipper snapper was all good spirits, and we had a good butt slap for each other. This middle distance road racing is ADDICTIVE!!

Crap, that was more than highlights!! Ha you just have to excuse me, on a endorphin high this morning.

[athenna]

Jen, how are you feeling? Calf pain? Cold still there?

Well first I want tio congratulate you and Mr Roz! Well done, you two!

I still have my cold, still have a bit of calf pain, but I said the hell with it and went to the track anyway. I did not stick to the 3/2 intervals. Mostly I walked 3, ran 1 and 1/2..sometimes less sometimes more but I did do the entire 4 miles in 55:53 But I don't feel great
I ddin't post any of that on FB like I usually do, because I promised a friend I would rest today and get better, don't want her know I ignored good advice

[cloudnut220]

Roz--AWESOME!!

You guys are totally welcome here for the RB reunion!

[Rozzie]

You guys are totally welcome here for the RB reunion!

I was kidding Beth! So no need to lose sleep over your beachhouse being raided by Peacocks.

Jen, if we always waited till' we felt 100% to go run, we would miss most of our runs! Kudos to you for trying to get out there and making the best of it. Yes our bodies need rest, but the only way to tell sometimes is to give it a try. I think you did great considering.

Lisa, great job on your LR! Are ya'll just doing Mickey this year, no Goofy right? Glad to hear Rick found him some shoes that worked out well. That's half the battle of running, finding dern shoes that our bodies like!

[athenna]

Jen, if we always waited till' we felt 100% to go run, we would miss most of our runs! Kudos to you for trying to get out there and making the best of it. Yes our bodies need rest, but the only way to tell sometimes is to give it a try. I think you did great considering.

Thanks Roz I did do great considering Even though I felt like crud after, lol. Today is either going to be a rest day or walk on treadmill. No attempt at running, that'll have to wait until tomorrow, I guess.

[nono]

Nono-I was waiving over towards NJ last night...it was so clear on the beach we could see Cape May light.

Did you wave?

Rozzie, super job on the race!!!!!!!!

Got 6 1/2 easy miles in yesterday and felt it the rest of the day! Today, was a bike ride on the boardwalk with Sir Wetshispants giving me an extra 30 lbs of ballast on the back. (He doesn't actually wet his pants, just frets that he will most of the time we are out riding....) Hope everyone has a great week!