Sunday, January 20, 2008
In the meantime, I am really looking forward to...
The Spirit of the Marathon movie coming up this Thursday, January 24. This is a documentary movie about six runners preparing for the Chicago Marathon. I really loved NOVA's Marathon Challenge, so I have high hopes for this! It's showing in movie theatres across the country at 7:30 p.m. on the 24th, and I already bought tickets in advance. I have no idea if runners are going to flood the box office, so better off prepared, I say! (I see on the website that there is also going to be an encore showing on February 21, so there's a second chance for those who miss this one.)
Ski Story coming soon
I spent the last week skiing, and I am in the midst of writing a long, long post about my adventures. Since I had no internet access during the week, I am playing catch-up.
Of course, the whole trip could be summarized thus:
Get up.
Go snowshoeing.
Eat breakfast.
Go skiing.
Take a break and get a latte. Eat a snack bar.
Go skiing.
Take a break and have lunch.
Go skiing.
Another break and another snack bar.
Go skiing.
Stop skiing.
Eat dinner.
Watch TV.
Go to bed.
Repeat.
That pretty much covers it—but I can stretch it out into so much more!
So I'll put it up when I finally finish. Stay tuned.
Of course, the whole trip could be summarized thus:
Get up.
Go snowshoeing.
Eat breakfast.
Go skiing.
Take a break and get a latte. Eat a snack bar.
Go skiing.
Take a break and have lunch.
Go skiing.
Another break and another snack bar.
Go skiing.
Stop skiing.
Eat dinner.
Watch TV.
Go to bed.
Repeat.
That pretty much covers it—but I can stretch it out into so much more!
So I'll put it up when I finally finish. Stay tuned.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
In Search of Balance
Tonight, probably for the first time ever, I went to the Y and left again shortly without working out at all.
Obviously that was not my plan when I went there. My plan was to do a short 30-40 minute workout on the cross-trainer and get home by 8:00. But due to lingering at work, I didn't get to the Y until 7:10, which meant that I had to be on a machine by 7:15 to even accomplish 30 minutes in that time frame.
And, as is often common in the post-New Year's January crush at the gym, all the cross-trainers were occupied when I arrived. Checking the sign-up sheets, I saw that at least two of the machine users looked likely to finish in a few minutes, so I decided to wait for one to open up. So I stood around, periodically looking from one machine to the next, checking the signup sheets again, hoping that someone would feel guilty and abandon their machine (rather than continuing to hog it past the 30 minute time limit).
Unfortunately, the woman that I most expected to be finishing up, who had been on her machine for 40 minutes, was absorbed in a book and seemed to have no intention of moving. (She was also moving at a snail's pace. I know I am not the fastest on the cross-trainer--I go for resistance more than speed--but this was a little pathetic. She was fairly young and had no physical ailments that I could see, so I am not being that mean in making this comment!)
At 7:14 I decided this was pointless, so I crossed my name off the signup sheet--with a rather dark, angry line, I must admit--picked up my bag, and left.
Now, I had spent an hour on the cross-trainer this morning--with no one on the surrounding machines, or waiting, I must point out--so I didn't really feel like I was making too big a sacrifice by leaving instead of waiting around indefinitely to get on a machine.
By leaving early I was able to use that extra half hour or so to put out the garbage, make lunch for tomorrow, and also get my dinner ready by 8:00.
I am constantly struggling to balance my need and desire to spend significant amounts of time running and working out, with my need (if not desire) to spend appropriate time on other pursuits, such as work, housecleaning, rest and sleep, and some kind of social life. (I still do manage to work in adequate amounts of TV-watching time, so that's not too much of a problem.)
In the last few months I have made an effort to almost always go home after my evening Pilates or yoga class, instead of staying longer to work out. In order to make this work, I try to get to the Y 30-60 minutes before the class to work out in advance. If work obligations mean I only have 25 minutes on the cross-trainer, so be it. Sometimes I'll stay later, but most of the time I feel okay going home.
Last spring I switched from running five days a week to running four, using the other days for more low-impact exercise. Over the holidays, needing to spend time cleaning, decorating, and preparing for Christmas, I limited my evenings at the Y to two nights a week, the nights of my Pilates classes. (I also chose to forgo a number of yoga classes in order to spend extra time doing cardio in order to combat cookie eating. I'm not sure that's a great example of balance, though--it probably tends a little toward the obsessive.)
Sometimes I really do have to stay late at work instead of going to the Y. That's one type of balance. But most of the time I make myself leave work at a reasonable time so I can go work out, particularly to the Pilates classes, which are a challenge because they are early in the evening, but are so important for core and strength building. And I almost always take Friday evenings off. (During better weather I did like to go walk at Green Lake occasionally.)
I could have made this a rant about people who start going to the gym in January, hog the machines, then disappear in February. I could have worked myself up to that as I stood waiting for a machine to open up. (I have actually done that to myself in the past.) But you know, in a few weeks those people will probably be gone and I'll have my choice of machines back again.
Instead, I gave myself a little bit more of an evening. Maybe I'll get 15 minutes more sleep tonight because I had dinner at 8:30 instead of 9:00 and didn't have to put the garbage out during the commercials in my TV show. (As I said, I always seem to have time for TV.) Tomorrow morning I'll be out running; tomorrow evening I'll be back at the Y to work out and go to Pilates. And then, after Pilates class, I'll go home.
Obviously that was not my plan when I went there. My plan was to do a short 30-40 minute workout on the cross-trainer and get home by 8:00. But due to lingering at work, I didn't get to the Y until 7:10, which meant that I had to be on a machine by 7:15 to even accomplish 30 minutes in that time frame.
And, as is often common in the post-New Year's January crush at the gym, all the cross-trainers were occupied when I arrived. Checking the sign-up sheets, I saw that at least two of the machine users looked likely to finish in a few minutes, so I decided to wait for one to open up. So I stood around, periodically looking from one machine to the next, checking the signup sheets again, hoping that someone would feel guilty and abandon their machine (rather than continuing to hog it past the 30 minute time limit).
Unfortunately, the woman that I most expected to be finishing up, who had been on her machine for 40 minutes, was absorbed in a book and seemed to have no intention of moving. (She was also moving at a snail's pace. I know I am not the fastest on the cross-trainer--I go for resistance more than speed--but this was a little pathetic. She was fairly young and had no physical ailments that I could see, so I am not being that mean in making this comment!)
At 7:14 I decided this was pointless, so I crossed my name off the signup sheet--with a rather dark, angry line, I must admit--picked up my bag, and left.
Now, I had spent an hour on the cross-trainer this morning--with no one on the surrounding machines, or waiting, I must point out--so I didn't really feel like I was making too big a sacrifice by leaving instead of waiting around indefinitely to get on a machine.
By leaving early I was able to use that extra half hour or so to put out the garbage, make lunch for tomorrow, and also get my dinner ready by 8:00.
I am constantly struggling to balance my need and desire to spend significant amounts of time running and working out, with my need (if not desire) to spend appropriate time on other pursuits, such as work, housecleaning, rest and sleep, and some kind of social life. (I still do manage to work in adequate amounts of TV-watching time, so that's not too much of a problem.)
In the last few months I have made an effort to almost always go home after my evening Pilates or yoga class, instead of staying longer to work out. In order to make this work, I try to get to the Y 30-60 minutes before the class to work out in advance. If work obligations mean I only have 25 minutes on the cross-trainer, so be it. Sometimes I'll stay later, but most of the time I feel okay going home.
Last spring I switched from running five days a week to running four, using the other days for more low-impact exercise. Over the holidays, needing to spend time cleaning, decorating, and preparing for Christmas, I limited my evenings at the Y to two nights a week, the nights of my Pilates classes. (I also chose to forgo a number of yoga classes in order to spend extra time doing cardio in order to combat cookie eating. I'm not sure that's a great example of balance, though--it probably tends a little toward the obsessive.)
Sometimes I really do have to stay late at work instead of going to the Y. That's one type of balance. But most of the time I make myself leave work at a reasonable time so I can go work out, particularly to the Pilates classes, which are a challenge because they are early in the evening, but are so important for core and strength building. And I almost always take Friday evenings off. (During better weather I did like to go walk at Green Lake occasionally.)
I could have made this a rant about people who start going to the gym in January, hog the machines, then disappear in February. I could have worked myself up to that as I stood waiting for a machine to open up. (I have actually done that to myself in the past.) But you know, in a few weeks those people will probably be gone and I'll have my choice of machines back again.
Instead, I gave myself a little bit more of an evening. Maybe I'll get 15 minutes more sleep tonight because I had dinner at 8:30 instead of 9:00 and didn't have to put the garbage out during the commercials in my TV show. (As I said, I always seem to have time for TV.) Tomorrow morning I'll be out running; tomorrow evening I'll be back at the Y to work out and go to Pilates. And then, after Pilates class, I'll go home.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
In the Zone
I will admit, when I wake up in the morning before a race—whether it's a 5K, 10K, 15K or Half Marathon—I always wonder why I possibly think I could go out there and run a race, let alone run with any sort of speed. But I always manage to do it. Somehow when I start running the race my adrenaline kicks in and I run—perhaps not fast, but faster than I can ever manage to run by myself on the streets of Everett.
Of course, when I wake up on an ordinary morning and it's time to go out for a run, I just wonder why I possibly think that I could get out of bed and go running at all! Hence the liberal use of the snooze alarm, until I throw myself out of bed in desperation, throw on my running clothes, and rush out the door at least ten minutes later than I should have left.
Even on a Sunday morning like today, when thank goodness I had no need to go out at 6 (6:30) a.m., I still have to drag myself out of bed. But once I'm dressed, I muster up a little more energy and head out to the street.
Today I really let myself lounge, watching the Food Network (my favorite weekend channel) until after 11 a.m., and not getting outside until 11:30. I headed west with a slow warmup jog.
Since I had no time consuming commitments today, I headed for the waterfront route that constitutes one of my "long run" routes. The entire route (should I choose to complete it) is about 8.85 miles (painstakingly measured in my car). The weather was cool, but not cold; halfway between cloudy and sunny (with a few rain spatters by the end); and my legs and heel were a little sore, but not debilitatingly painful.
As usual, it took the first few miles to warm up and shake off most of the soreness. I took a bathroom stop down by the marina, and as is typical when I take a few minutes rest in a run, I came out feeling more energized and refreshed. There's something about a short stop that makes me run better when I resume.
There's a long hill up Marine View Drive as you leave the waterfront area. It's fairly steep, but not so much as to be impossible to run up. I think that it would be a good hill to run up and down if (when?) I want to work on hill repeats this winter/spring. But today, I was happy just to get to the top and back to level ground.
I took the long route along East Grand Avenue toward Riverside Park and Everett Avenue. This makes the run about a mile longer than if I had stayed on Walnut. The roadway is a little dicey, but I was careful watching for cars when I passed the freeway on and off ramps!
As usual in a long run, I was running at an easy pace that felt good to me but not overly difficult. "Slow" would probably be a good word for it.
When I was on the last stretch, heading west on Everett Avenue toward QFC, I thought (as I did in another past long run) how this was like the end of a 15K. I pictured myself up in Fairhaven approaching the finish line in that 15K. And then, somehow, the race adrenaline did take over and I found myself speeding up, breaking into that fast easy run that I am somehow able to sustain in long races like the Fairhaven 15K. It's different than the fast portions of my pace and tempo runs, because those usually feel forced and difficult. This was smooth, powerful. I was in the zone.
And then I got to the QFC parking lot and had to stop to avoid being run over by cars forcing their way in. Just like that, the magic moment was over.
But it wasn't completely over. I still had the triumphant feeling of finishing well, of being able to pick up the pace and run fast after already running eight miles or so. That's a skill worth having. It gets you across the finish line in style!
Of course, when I wake up on an ordinary morning and it's time to go out for a run, I just wonder why I possibly think that I could get out of bed and go running at all! Hence the liberal use of the snooze alarm, until I throw myself out of bed in desperation, throw on my running clothes, and rush out the door at least ten minutes later than I should have left.
Even on a Sunday morning like today, when thank goodness I had no need to go out at 6 (6:30) a.m., I still have to drag myself out of bed. But once I'm dressed, I muster up a little more energy and head out to the street.
Today I really let myself lounge, watching the Food Network (my favorite weekend channel) until after 11 a.m., and not getting outside until 11:30. I headed west with a slow warmup jog.
Since I had no time consuming commitments today, I headed for the waterfront route that constitutes one of my "long run" routes. The entire route (should I choose to complete it) is about 8.85 miles (painstakingly measured in my car). The weather was cool, but not cold; halfway between cloudy and sunny (with a few rain spatters by the end); and my legs and heel were a little sore, but not debilitatingly painful.
As usual, it took the first few miles to warm up and shake off most of the soreness. I took a bathroom stop down by the marina, and as is typical when I take a few minutes rest in a run, I came out feeling more energized and refreshed. There's something about a short stop that makes me run better when I resume.
There's a long hill up Marine View Drive as you leave the waterfront area. It's fairly steep, but not so much as to be impossible to run up. I think that it would be a good hill to run up and down if (when?) I want to work on hill repeats this winter/spring. But today, I was happy just to get to the top and back to level ground.
I took the long route along East Grand Avenue toward Riverside Park and Everett Avenue. This makes the run about a mile longer than if I had stayed on Walnut. The roadway is a little dicey, but I was careful watching for cars when I passed the freeway on and off ramps!
As usual in a long run, I was running at an easy pace that felt good to me but not overly difficult. "Slow" would probably be a good word for it.
When I was on the last stretch, heading west on Everett Avenue toward QFC, I thought (as I did in another past long run) how this was like the end of a 15K. I pictured myself up in Fairhaven approaching the finish line in that 15K. And then, somehow, the race adrenaline did take over and I found myself speeding up, breaking into that fast easy run that I am somehow able to sustain in long races like the Fairhaven 15K. It's different than the fast portions of my pace and tempo runs, because those usually feel forced and difficult. This was smooth, powerful. I was in the zone.
And then I got to the QFC parking lot and had to stop to avoid being run over by cars forcing their way in. Just like that, the magic moment was over.
But it wasn't completely over. I still had the triumphant feeling of finishing well, of being able to pick up the pace and run fast after already running eight miles or so. That's a skill worth having. It gets you across the finish line in style!
Thursday, January 3, 2008
The Vegan Experiment
I apologize in advance to all the true, committed vegans who embrace a vegan lifestyle for moral and ethical reasons.
I'm afraid I'm a little more shallow.
Not horribly so—the reason for my short term conversion is health and diet (as opposed to, for example, trying to impress someone, which would be quite shallow).
However, I can't say I've embraced a vegan lifestyle fully, except for the diet modification. This is perhaps illustrated by the fact that on my first day (January 2), I seriously considered whether I should wear a leather jacket to work, without any realization of the irony and perhaps even inappropriateness of that choice. (In the end, by pure chance, I wore something else.)
So anyhow, I'm doing this vegan diet for the next 10 days in an effort to recuperate from all the cookies and candy and various bad-for-me things I ate over Christmas. Yes, to lose a few pounds, but also just sort of purify my system with fresh foods, fiber, and a change of pace.
I saw this vegan-inspired mini-plan in a magazine a few weeks before Christmas and thought it would be a good change of pace after the new year started. I'm only doing 10 days because then I'm going on a ski trip and it would be too complicated to maintain. Also, I have no real interest in becoming permanently vegan (or vegetarian at all). I love my meat and dairy too much. Salmon, chicken, turkey, eggs & egg whites, yoghurt, and nonfat lattes are my life!
But the diet plan was pretty simple and very much like my typical diet, only with beans and nuts instead of meat, fish, eggs. So adapting has not been too hard (for all of two days). The most challenging aspect was giving up dairy and my beloved lattes! I am not too interested in soy milk so I have come up with a different alternative. In another magazine, I read about Almond Breeze unsweetened vanilla almond milk, with half the calories of skim mile (only 40 calories per 8 oz.). So I have been heating some up in the morning and carrying it in a thermos, then going to Starbucks to get shots of espresso and sugar free caramel syrup. I mix them up in the Starbucks cup and have my own almost-latte! It's pretty tasty—actually it tastes so rich and creamy I feel like I'm drinking whole milk. (I sure hope they're right about the calories.) I don't think I'd want it as a permanent substitute (it has less calcium than milk and it's just a pain to make my own lattes, really), but I think that almond milk may have a place in my diet even after I'm done being vegan. (Especially the chocolate unsweetened almond milk—5 calories more per cup but very, very nice in the faux latte!)
Last night I made a huge pot of vegetarian chili, which I expect I will be eating for days. I took this recipe I found on the internet and took it up a notch by adding extra onion, bell peppers (red and green), and a little more jalapeno and cumin. I did use part no-salt-added tomatoes and beans, because I don't like too much sodium in my food, but many people might find it a little flat that way. Also, I didn't bother with the vegetarian burger crumbles, and used a can of tiny black beluga lentils in its place. I ended up with so much chili that it almost overflowed my LeCrueset cookpot! Needless to say, I have been eating it for dinner every day since.
The best thing about this vegan thing, diet-wise, is that it creates an extra incentive to avoid cookies, chocolate, and other fattening treats (including various samples at the grocery store, like cheese, or salmon spread). Whenever I have the urge to grab a goody, I warn myself "it's not vegan!" Amazingly, it works. For some reason, it is more effective than just reminding myself that I'm avoiding sugar and such. Probably because I am able to rationalize the sugar. There is just no way to make products containing butter and eggs appropriately vegan! (There are vegan chocolates, but I'm not sticking with it long enough to seek them out. Except for the chocolate covered espresso beans that I bought at Whole Foods. The ingredients list seems to be appropriate—instead of confectioner's glaze they have something called "pure food glaze," at least I think that's what it is. I'm not asking too many questions there. My research on confectioner's glaze was distressing enough. And I have to have my chocolate espresso beans! I have a few every morning before I go running or to the Y.)
So I'm still waiting for the miraculous weight loss (all I ask is to shed the Christmas pounds plus a few extra). (And yes, I know it's only been a few days, but the Christmas pounds came on in a very short period, days really, and I don't think it's too much to ask that they go away equally quickly.) I don't really believe that this type of diet is really any better than my typical lean protein, good carb plan, but I think the the change of pace (and the strict vegan rules) is good to kick me out of the self-indulgent slump of the holidays. And beans (the main protein source here) are really very good for you, so this is a good opportunity to work them into my diet.
And now I think I've passed enough time to go have dinner (it's actually Saturday night, even though I started writing this on Thursday). So, vegetarian chili and salad it is! Yummo! (No really, I mean it. Although if I were not vegan I could top the chili with a little yoghurt or nonfat sour cream—I do love my dairy!)
But before I go, let me mention what I plan to have for my dessert/evening snack later on. Haagen Dazs has a new açai berry sorbet, which presumably has all the superfood properties that the açai berry is reputed to have. I'll have a scoop atop a bowl of thawed (previously frozen) mixed berries (raspberries, blueberries, and boysenberries). I had this last night, and it was scrumptious!
I'm afraid I'm a little more shallow.
Not horribly so—the reason for my short term conversion is health and diet (as opposed to, for example, trying to impress someone, which would be quite shallow).
However, I can't say I've embraced a vegan lifestyle fully, except for the diet modification. This is perhaps illustrated by the fact that on my first day (January 2), I seriously considered whether I should wear a leather jacket to work, without any realization of the irony and perhaps even inappropriateness of that choice. (In the end, by pure chance, I wore something else.)
So anyhow, I'm doing this vegan diet for the next 10 days in an effort to recuperate from all the cookies and candy and various bad-for-me things I ate over Christmas. Yes, to lose a few pounds, but also just sort of purify my system with fresh foods, fiber, and a change of pace.
I saw this vegan-inspired mini-plan in a magazine a few weeks before Christmas and thought it would be a good change of pace after the new year started. I'm only doing 10 days because then I'm going on a ski trip and it would be too complicated to maintain. Also, I have no real interest in becoming permanently vegan (or vegetarian at all). I love my meat and dairy too much. Salmon, chicken, turkey, eggs & egg whites, yoghurt, and nonfat lattes are my life!
But the diet plan was pretty simple and very much like my typical diet, only with beans and nuts instead of meat, fish, eggs. So adapting has not been too hard (for all of two days). The most challenging aspect was giving up dairy and my beloved lattes! I am not too interested in soy milk so I have come up with a different alternative. In another magazine, I read about Almond Breeze unsweetened vanilla almond milk, with half the calories of skim mile (only 40 calories per 8 oz.). So I have been heating some up in the morning and carrying it in a thermos, then going to Starbucks to get shots of espresso and sugar free caramel syrup. I mix them up in the Starbucks cup and have my own almost-latte! It's pretty tasty—actually it tastes so rich and creamy I feel like I'm drinking whole milk. (I sure hope they're right about the calories.) I don't think I'd want it as a permanent substitute (it has less calcium than milk and it's just a pain to make my own lattes, really), but I think that almond milk may have a place in my diet even after I'm done being vegan. (Especially the chocolate unsweetened almond milk—5 calories more per cup but very, very nice in the faux latte!)
Last night I made a huge pot of vegetarian chili, which I expect I will be eating for days. I took this recipe I found on the internet and took it up a notch by adding extra onion, bell peppers (red and green), and a little more jalapeno and cumin. I did use part no-salt-added tomatoes and beans, because I don't like too much sodium in my food, but many people might find it a little flat that way. Also, I didn't bother with the vegetarian burger crumbles, and used a can of tiny black beluga lentils in its place. I ended up with so much chili that it almost overflowed my LeCrueset cookpot! Needless to say, I have been eating it for dinner every day since.
The best thing about this vegan thing, diet-wise, is that it creates an extra incentive to avoid cookies, chocolate, and other fattening treats (including various samples at the grocery store, like cheese, or salmon spread). Whenever I have the urge to grab a goody, I warn myself "it's not vegan!" Amazingly, it works. For some reason, it is more effective than just reminding myself that I'm avoiding sugar and such. Probably because I am able to rationalize the sugar. There is just no way to make products containing butter and eggs appropriately vegan! (There are vegan chocolates, but I'm not sticking with it long enough to seek them out. Except for the chocolate covered espresso beans that I bought at Whole Foods. The ingredients list seems to be appropriate—instead of confectioner's glaze they have something called "pure food glaze," at least I think that's what it is. I'm not asking too many questions there. My research on confectioner's glaze was distressing enough. And I have to have my chocolate espresso beans! I have a few every morning before I go running or to the Y.)
So I'm still waiting for the miraculous weight loss (all I ask is to shed the Christmas pounds plus a few extra). (And yes, I know it's only been a few days, but the Christmas pounds came on in a very short period, days really, and I don't think it's too much to ask that they go away equally quickly.) I don't really believe that this type of diet is really any better than my typical lean protein, good carb plan, but I think the the change of pace (and the strict vegan rules) is good to kick me out of the self-indulgent slump of the holidays. And beans (the main protein source here) are really very good for you, so this is a good opportunity to work them into my diet.
And now I think I've passed enough time to go have dinner (it's actually Saturday night, even though I started writing this on Thursday). So, vegetarian chili and salad it is! Yummo! (No really, I mean it. Although if I were not vegan I could top the chili with a little yoghurt or nonfat sour cream—I do love my dairy!)
But before I go, let me mention what I plan to have for my dessert/evening snack later on. Haagen Dazs has a new açai berry sorbet, which presumably has all the superfood properties that the açai berry is reputed to have. I'll have a scoop atop a bowl of thawed (previously frozen) mixed berries (raspberries, blueberries, and boysenberries). I had this last night, and it was scrumptious!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Resolution Run
Resolution #1—Do not jump in the lake at the end of the Resolution Run (optional Trip & Drip) 5K.
Resolution accomplished.
Resolution accomplished.
But, me excluded, purportedly some 700 of the race entrants signed up for the Polar Bear portion of the event. A lot of bodies went into the water!
Luckily for them—and for all for us, actually—the weather cooperated as best it could on January 1. It didn't snow, it didn't even rain, and it wasn't particularly cold by the time the run started at about 10:40 a.m. I even felt a little too warmly dressed, stripping off my gloves halfway through the race and carrying them the rest of the way.
Luckily for them—and for all for us, actually—the weather cooperated as best it could on January 1. It didn't snow, it didn't even rain, and it wasn't particularly cold by the time the run started at about 10:40 a.m. I even felt a little too warmly dressed, stripping off my gloves halfway through the race and carrying them the rest of the way.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Wearing my new Skirtsports running pants (with skirt).
I'm sure the run was full of people who had stayed up late partying in the New Year last night. I wasn't one of them. The most exciting thing I did was read magazines and eat cookies. But for someone without a hangover, I felt surprisingly sluggish in the race. I was sure I was running unusually slowly.
So I was a bit surprised, but encouraged, when the person with a stopwatch called out nine minutes as I passed the 1-mile mark. 5K's are not my favorite length run—I like a longer run where you have a chance to warm up and hit your pace—so nine minutes for the first mile was not bad. Not all that sluggish after all.
I must have been running sort of hard because by the time I was in the last mile I was was breathing heavily (which I usually don't do running) and I was hot and sweaty (which doesn't happen so much in the winter). I could see by the clock as I approached the finish line that I was going to finish under 27 minutes, but once I did cross the line all my memory was wiped out and I had no idea what my time was (as I staggered off in search of water).
The chip times were posted later in the afternoon (fast!) and my official time was 26:17— a personal record for me in the 5K. Hurrah! Not too shabby. (Even if I didn't jump in the lake.)
I'm sure the run was full of people who had stayed up late partying in the New Year last night. I wasn't one of them. The most exciting thing I did was read magazines and eat cookies. But for someone without a hangover, I felt surprisingly sluggish in the race. I was sure I was running unusually slowly.
So I was a bit surprised, but encouraged, when the person with a stopwatch called out nine minutes as I passed the 1-mile mark. 5K's are not my favorite length run—I like a longer run where you have a chance to warm up and hit your pace—so nine minutes for the first mile was not bad. Not all that sluggish after all.
I must have been running sort of hard because by the time I was in the last mile I was was breathing heavily (which I usually don't do running) and I was hot and sweaty (which doesn't happen so much in the winter). I could see by the clock as I approached the finish line that I was going to finish under 27 minutes, but once I did cross the line all my memory was wiped out and I had no idea what my time was (as I staggered off in search of water).The chip times were posted later in the afternoon (fast!) and my official time was 26:17— a personal record for me in the 5K. Hurrah! Not too shabby. (Even if I didn't jump in the lake.)
Here are some of the early finishers going in and out of the lake!
2006 & 2007 Races
2006
6/15/06 - Race for the Cure 5K, Seattle - 29:19
7/4/06 - Yankee Doodle Dash 10K, Everett - 53:46
8/19/06 - Dog Day Dash 5K, Burlington
8/26/06 - Run-a-Muk 10K, Mukilteo - 52:54
12/10/06 - Jingle Bell Run 5K, Seattle - 32:48*
2007
2/11/07 - Love 'em or Leave 'em 5K, Seattle - 27:18
2/24/07 - Smelt Run 10K, LaConner - 54:30
3/3/07 - Invest in Youth 10.3 miles, Lake Stevens - 100 minutes
3/10/07 - Shamrock Run 15K, Portland OR - 1:26:55
4/7/07 - Tulip Run 5 mile, Mount Vernon - 42:37
4/15/07 - Whidbey Island Half Marathon, Oak Harbor to Coupeville - 1:54:30
5/27/07 - Wells Fun Run 5K, Wells, UK - 28:17
6/16/07 - Race for the Cure 5K, Seattle - 26:57
6/23/07 - Run with the Cops 5K, Redmond (untimed)
7/4/07 - Yankee Doodle Dash 10K, Everett - 55:02
7/28/07 - Anacortes Art Dash Half Marathon, Anacortes - 2:06:50
8/25/07 - Run-a-Muk 10K, Mukilteo - 54:51
9/15/07 - Fairhaven Waterfront 15K, Bellingham - 1:24:04
9/29/07 - River to Rails 10K, Arlington - 53:17
10/20/07 - Halloween Marathon 10K, Olympia - 57:20
10/27/07 - Trick or Treat Fun Run 5 mile, Marysville - 42:42
11/10/07 - Fowl Fun Run 10K, Mount Vernon - 54:37
12/9/07 - Jingle Bell Run 5K, Seattle - 30:04*
*The times on the Jingle Bell Runs are totally off due to the mob scene which causes excessive delay before crossing the start line!
6/15/06 - Race for the Cure 5K, Seattle - 29:19
7/4/06 - Yankee Doodle Dash 10K, Everett - 53:46
8/19/06 - Dog Day Dash 5K, Burlington
8/26/06 - Run-a-Muk 10K, Mukilteo - 52:54
12/10/06 - Jingle Bell Run 5K, Seattle - 32:48*
2007
2/11/07 - Love 'em or Leave 'em 5K, Seattle - 27:18
2/24/07 - Smelt Run 10K, LaConner - 54:30
3/3/07 - Invest in Youth 10.3 miles, Lake Stevens - 100 minutes
3/10/07 - Shamrock Run 15K, Portland OR - 1:26:55
4/7/07 - Tulip Run 5 mile, Mount Vernon - 42:37
4/15/07 - Whidbey Island Half Marathon, Oak Harbor to Coupeville - 1:54:30
5/27/07 - Wells Fun Run 5K, Wells, UK - 28:17
6/16/07 - Race for the Cure 5K, Seattle - 26:57
6/23/07 - Run with the Cops 5K, Redmond (untimed)
7/4/07 - Yankee Doodle Dash 10K, Everett - 55:02
7/28/07 - Anacortes Art Dash Half Marathon, Anacortes - 2:06:50
8/25/07 - Run-a-Muk 10K, Mukilteo - 54:51
9/15/07 - Fairhaven Waterfront 15K, Bellingham - 1:24:04
9/29/07 - River to Rails 10K, Arlington - 53:17
10/20/07 - Halloween Marathon 10K, Olympia - 57:20
10/27/07 - Trick or Treat Fun Run 5 mile, Marysville - 42:42
11/10/07 - Fowl Fun Run 10K, Mount Vernon - 54:37
12/9/07 - Jingle Bell Run 5K, Seattle - 30:04*
*The times on the Jingle Bell Runs are totally off due to the mob scene which causes excessive delay before crossing the start line!
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