Well, despite the fact I have-ahem-not been dieting as well as I should be, and I also have not been running as much as I should be, I once again ran the Iroquois Hill Runners Thanksgiving Day Run today. It was a beautiful day to run, despite starting out on the cool side. So cool, in fact, that I decided to wear mittens, which by two miles in, were much much too hot. The event is a scenic run up the hill in Iroquois Park, around the top, then back down. I first ran it back in 1999, then again in 2000, and I can’t remember running it again until last year. But I hope to start doing it every year from now on out. A truly nice event.
Tag Archive for 'races'
I have gained a little weight (4 pounds over 2 weeks), getting slower on runs, and generally feeling crappy so I didn’t have high expectations today at the Anthem 5K. I did not get a PR, but looking back over race results I managed to save since 1999 (I took a multi-year hiatus from 2003 to 2007 while turning into a couch potato), there was only one 5K I ran faster, the Colgate 5K in 2000, at 25:06. So not bad for an old, still-overweight guy who just got back into running again:
Chip time: 25:49
Pace: 8:20
Numbers from my watch:
First mile: 7:55
Second mile: 8:20
Third mile: 8:10
On October 13, 2007, I participated in a running event, the first race since I started running again, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Louisville, KY. It was a 5K, and I ran pretty well for a guy who just three months before was huffing and puffing at 267 pounds. It was a beautiful day, and it felt great to not only be out there running, but running for such a wonderful cause. A few of my friends and I were on a team that participated in honor of a woman named Teresa, a friend of a friend, who is battling cancer. And we were also running for everyone who has ever faced and will ever have to contend with that same challenge. I did not know it then, but I was also running that day for a very dear, very wonderful friend of mine.
She and I worked together a long time ago, and we became close from that point on. She moved away to go to college, met a great guy, got married, had two wonderful children, and after that we sort of lost touch. Life takes us all our separate ways. But a couple of years ago, I was able to reconnect, and we have been touching base since then. Last night, I heard from her. Around the exact same time I was running the Komen, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a lumpectomy but they found more, and since then, she has undergone more surgery, and will be taking some chemotherapy treatments, to ensure a full recovery. The prognosis for her is good, but when I found out, it was a shock. She has good doctors, great family support, and a wonderful positive attitude. I know in my heart and soul she will be fine, and her life will continue to be blessed.
Today, in honor of her, I ordered some pink wrist bands from the Susan G. Komen site to wear. I had been wearing a yellow LIVESTRONG band, and now, I will wear pink.
D, if you are reading this, please know that I care, and like so many others you know and have touched, I will be sending you great vibes from miles away. And when I run the Komen later this year, and every year, from now until the time I can no longer take one more step on the planet, I will be running it for you.
Today I ran the Hangover Classic, a ten-mile run on a blustery, cold winter morning. About a month ago, I doubted I would be able to do the run, due to my injury. However, I have been doing stretching exercises and I have scaled back the amount of miles I have been running each week, which allowed me to do the run.
The first seven miles were a nice, meandering route near the Ohio River. Even though I was running into the wind, I felt pretty good. The last three miles back in were straight along River Road to the finish line, and even though the wind was at my back, those three miles were somewhat grueling. Overall, though, it was a nice flat route, which again played into my decision to run it, because hills are not what my hip flexor injury needs right now. I didn’t really push myself either; my goal was just to have fun, which I did.
I did a lot better than my last attempt at running it, which was back in 2002. At that time, I did not train well and should not have even attempted to run it. Like everything else in life, it was a learning experience. 
All-in-all, I am extremely thankful to have been healthy enough to run it today. It was exhilarating, and there were quite a few other crazies who had the same idea. It’s a fun run, and hopefully it will become a tradition for me. The official results are not yet posted, but my “Garmin” numbers are as follows:
| Total Time (h:m:s) | 1:34:41 | 9:22 pace |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (mi ) | 10.1 | |
| Moving Speed (mph) | 6.4 avg. | 9.6 max. |
| Elevation Gain (ft) | +412 / -423 | |
| Temperature (F) | 27.7F avg. | 28.4F high |
Despite some hip pain, I think I did pretty well. I hope I feel the same way in a couple of days.
