Wednesday, August 23, 2006
The skirt and Little Miss with her "My Mom is a Rockstar" tshirt on :)
Break Away 5k Old Orchard Beach, ME
It's Gotta be the Skirt or a Maine Thing
Loaded up the fam in the van for another trip up north for a race. In the past this weekend has been a weekend of friends, competition and a small pub crawl in Old Orchard Beach but this year because of new jobs, new babies and babies on the way it was just me and my family for a weekend of relaxation, some back to school outlet shopping and a 15 mile long run with a 5k race tucked in the middle.
We arrived late Fri night and ordered pizza for convenience but not the best prerace dinner or a long run for that matter, but it sure did taste yummy. I got to bed early and as I set my alarm I went over my prerace plan that I developed on the advice of the Running Chick. Run to the race 3miles and then the 5k leaving 6 miles along the beach and 3 miles back to the camp ground.
Everything went as scheduled, I had a nice easy run to start area, met up with some race day friends and lined up at the front of the midpack. As the gun went off I was off like a dart and had to slow myself down in my head. Mile 1 starts with a up a big hill with a turn around at the top. As I came down I spied my cheering squad and a high five from my Little Miss cruised me to a 7:44 first mile. Mile 2 was nice and flat with a water stop that I took advantage of, 7:49 and Mile 3 the home stretch, 7:46 and the .1 was 41 sec for a finishing time of 24:02 and 2nd place for my age group.
The last of the 15 were uneventful with great people watching and wondering if a lot of the beach goers had looked in the mirror before heading to the beach :). The outlet shopping was washed out by the rain that took out power in downtown Freeport so we were forced back to the campground to listen to my sad Red Sox get beat again by the Yanks. As if the rain wasn't depressing enough!
So I continue to ride the wave of excitement in my new level of running and am actually looking forward to the 17 miles on the schedule for Sat followed by a swim and lounging on the new deck!!
We arrived late Fri night and ordered pizza for convenience but not the best prerace dinner or a long run for that matter, but it sure did taste yummy. I got to bed early and as I set my alarm I went over my prerace plan that I developed on the advice of the Running Chick. Run to the race 3miles and then the 5k leaving 6 miles along the beach and 3 miles back to the camp ground.
Everything went as scheduled, I had a nice easy run to start area, met up with some race day friends and lined up at the front of the midpack. As the gun went off I was off like a dart and had to slow myself down in my head. Mile 1 starts with a up a big hill with a turn around at the top. As I came down I spied my cheering squad and a high five from my Little Miss cruised me to a 7:44 first mile. Mile 2 was nice and flat with a water stop that I took advantage of, 7:49 and Mile 3 the home stretch, 7:46 and the .1 was 41 sec for a finishing time of 24:02 and 2nd place for my age group.
The last of the 15 were uneventful with great people watching and wondering if a lot of the beach goers had looked in the mirror before heading to the beach :). The outlet shopping was washed out by the rain that took out power in downtown Freeport so we were forced back to the campground to listen to my sad Red Sox get beat again by the Yanks. As if the rain wasn't depressing enough!
So I continue to ride the wave of excitement in my new level of running and am actually looking forward to the 17 miles on the schedule for Sat followed by a swim and lounging on the new deck!!
Friday, August 18, 2006
Oh What a Feeling
The feeling that you are entering the next stage of your running:
- when you are trying to eat better and eat more.
- when you are passing up the beers on a Fri night
- and getting to bed earlier for your Sat. morning long run
- when you have the running high even if it's not race day- when you finish an awesome track workout and flew through the 5x 1200s on the schedule, or running up a street appropriately named Stearns Mtn
- When you don't mind the hills because it's making you a stronger runner and tightening up the fanny.
- When you no longer feel "geeky" about wearing a fuel belt (AA).
I'm excited about the new phase I am entering. Tomorrow, is the OOB Breakaway 5k in Maine and I'm hoping for a PR and a day at the beach to complete a "Beautiful Day". Enjoy the weekend everyone, Labor Day is creeping up on us!
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Beach to the Beacon 10k Report
Friday afternoon, Hubby, Little Miss and I loaded up the minivan for our weekend getaway to Maine so I could participate with 5,000 others in the TD Banknorth Beach to the Beacon. The ride up wasn't as dreadful as I had envisioned as we enjoyed some shopping in Kittery outlets to break up the ride. Then it was onward to the race expo to pick up my packet and to the campsite to get ready for bed.
I've been training hard for the MCM so I was curious to see if it was going to pay off in in the 10k. I went to bed early and even abstained from having a local microbrew, the Shipyard Summer Ale and chanted in my head that I was in training!! I had my race bag packed, my racing outfit laid out which included my new Running Skirt that I got for Mother's Day and my new IPod Nano that I got for being such a good girl.
At the race start there was a buzz in the air. There were plenty of people around so many in fact that I couldn't get up any where near to the start and had to line up closer to the walkers which I knew was going to call for a lot of weaving in the first couple of miles (one of the reasons I like my smaller, yokel local races). I found my old running partner John that had recent knee surgery... We talked race strategy and upcoming races and then we were off.
Mile 1 and 2 were just as I predicted- felt slow and like I was exerting way too much energy trying not to trip on some and pass others but I was feeling my music and the scenery too much to care. At Mile 3 we ran under too ladder trucks holding the American Flag and just as I went under U2 Beautiful Day came on and I couldn't help get a chill. Then we were running through the center of town and the cow bells were ringing and I thought this is why I do this- It is fun!!! I hate to admit it but I was having fun and my my mile 3 split was a sub 8! With half the race behind me I knew I could come in with a PR and kept the pace steady. I powered up the last miles hills and crossed the finish line with a huge grin! After finding the fam, having some pics of my skirt we headed down to the beach for a relaxing day of digging holes, jumping waves and lots of sun.
On a side note I loved my new IPod and the 10k mix I created was perfect getting me through the different spots on the course. It's about 52-54 minutes of music.
Clocks Coldplay
Naked The Goo Goo Dolls
In the End Linkin Park
Naughty Girl Beyoncé
Ii seen different days DJ Icey/Jen Lasher
Typical Situation Dave Matthews Band
Beautiful Day U2
Too Funky George Michael
Vertigo U2
Discotheque U2
LET'S GET RETARDED Black Eyed Peas
Sex Machine James Brown
I've been training hard for the MCM so I was curious to see if it was going to pay off in in the 10k. I went to bed early and even abstained from having a local microbrew, the Shipyard Summer Ale and chanted in my head that I was in training!! I had my race bag packed, my racing outfit laid out which included my new Running Skirt that I got for Mother's Day and my new IPod Nano that I got for being such a good girl.
At the race start there was a buzz in the air. There were plenty of people around so many in fact that I couldn't get up any where near to the start and had to line up closer to the walkers which I knew was going to call for a lot of weaving in the first couple of miles (one of the reasons I like my smaller, yokel local races). I found my old running partner John that had recent knee surgery... We talked race strategy and upcoming races and then we were off.
Mile 1 and 2 were just as I predicted- felt slow and like I was exerting way too much energy trying not to trip on some and pass others but I was feeling my music and the scenery too much to care. At Mile 3 we ran under too ladder trucks holding the American Flag and just as I went under U2 Beautiful Day came on and I couldn't help get a chill. Then we were running through the center of town and the cow bells were ringing and I thought this is why I do this- It is fun!!! I hate to admit it but I was having fun and my my mile 3 split was a sub 8! With half the race behind me I knew I could come in with a PR and kept the pace steady. I powered up the last miles hills and crossed the finish line with a huge grin! After finding the fam, having some pics of my skirt we headed down to the beach for a relaxing day of digging holes, jumping waves and lots of sun.
On a side note I loved my new IPod and the 10k mix I created was perfect getting me through the different spots on the course. It's about 52-54 minutes of music.
Clocks Coldplay
Naked The Goo Goo Dolls
In the End Linkin Park
Naughty Girl Beyoncé
Ii seen different days DJ Icey/Jen Lasher
Typical Situation Dave Matthews Band
Beautiful Day U2
Too Funky George Michael
Vertigo U2
Discotheque U2
LET'S GET RETARDED Black Eyed Peas
Sex Machine James Brown
