Well, I didn’t finish the Race for Pace in under 25 minutes, as I’d hoped. Still, I can’t be too disappointed. Running on a very hilly course just one week after running a grueling half marathon, I finished in 25:20. Not bad. 🙂
It was the best of races. It was the worst of races.
On September 28, I ran a PR in the Great Race, finishing in 50:49. That’s more than 3 minutes faster than last year’s 53:56. The only way I could have been happier is if I’d broken 50 minutes.
The Chamber Classic half marathon was a different matter entirely. I’d hoped to run the Ikea HM, but the blessed event of my son’s birth prevented that. I figured the Chamber Classic would be an adequate replacement race. My next HM opportunity won’t be until late March. Training has been going well, as have races. I’d hoped to break 2 hours and felt ready and able to do so.
I was wrong. I did terribly. The race started out fine and through 8 miles I was on pace for a 2:00:39 finish. Something happened during the 9th mile, though. I hit a wall…hard. I completely ran out of energy and my legs felt like lead weights. I jogged occasional and forced myself to run through the finish, but I had to do a lot of walking. I finished in a dismal 2:14:30. Hopefully I’ll be able to set a PR and break 25 minutes at the Race for Pace 5K tomorrow.
Surprise, surprise… I’m not the only one with a rant! I’ve had a number of folks contact me about wanting to contribute to a “WTF?! Wednesday” post, or to Reality 101 in general. Some aren’t comfortable yet with broadcasting their names all over the internet (Can you believe that? Someone uncomfortable with the thought of their name or information scattered all over the place… the nerve…), others want the lovely shield of anonymity (from? Who knows… family, friends, colleagues… hell, people can be judgemental, ya know?), and even others just want to let loose and rant. I say, “Have at it!”  (See the rules below)
Oops. I’ve neglected to report on my participation in the Race for the Cure 5K on Mothers Day. Well, my 26:59 finish (8:42 pace) wasn’t my worst, but it certainly wasn’t my best. I certainly haven’t been training as much as I should. In my defense, though, it should be noted that there were a lot of walkers blocking my way. I expected that for the first half-mile or so, but I was passing walkers for what seemed like the whole race. Why they don’t participate in the designated walk or at least position themselves at the back of the race starting line is beyond me. At least I didn’t have to dodge any strollers or dogs this year.
Like the Mothers Day 5K, my Us Too Fathers Day 10K was neither my worst nor my best 10K. Officially, I finished in 56:10 (9:03 pace), but the start wasn’t chip-timed, so I trust my stopwatch more. According to that, I finished in 55:55 (9:01 pace). It may seem like a small difference to non-runners, but I think fellow runners can appreciate the difference 15 seconds makes. Anyhow, considering I hadn’t run farther than about 5 miles (and that only a couple times) prior to this race, I can’t be too disappointed. I think I paced myself well for the first 2 miles, but near the beginning of the third mile my buddy, who’d kept pace with me, started to pull away as I battled the heat and sluggishness. He maintained the pace we’d been running all the way to the end, finishing in 49:45 (8:01 pace). If he’d stayed back with me, I’m sure I would have finished faster, but it would have been at the expense of his time.
I won’t be able to run the Brentwood Firecracker 5K this year because I’ll be at a baby shower my in-laws are throwing for us. I’d like to run the Run Around the Square 5K on August 23, but that’s just two days before my first child is due. Likewise, my participation in the Ikea Half Marathon on September 6 depends on whether my wife goes past her due date or not. At the very least, I’m planning on running the Great Race 10K on September 28. Of course, I’ll also be hashing on Mondays when I can. 😉
Am I the only Pittsburgher who doesn’t give a flying fart about the Pens?
Come to think of it, I’m not sure I care much for any team, or any sport for that matter. With each passing year I find it harder to get excited about watching people get paid too much to play games. I’d rather participate a sport myself (like ultimate) or watch amateur and unpopular, low-paying professional sports (like track and cross-country). The only popular professional sport I care much about any more is football, and even that’s losing my interest. Maybe I need to start watching soccer.
Anyone else feel like I do? Bueller?