Run Through The Roses 10K 2013

Results here

 

I didn't get even close to a PR today, but I still had a fun time in the race and enjoyed some great team camaraderie. 

 

Pre-Race

I like this race because it is the only one in my town of Madison, Alabama.  It is a few minutes from my house versus the 20-30 minutes most other races are from us in nearby Huntsville.  So today I enjoyed staying in the house until about 6:20 for a 7:00 a.m. start.  Just enough time to drive over, park, warm up, and hit the bathrooms.  The weather was a rainy 47 degrees, so I wanted minimal time just standing around.  Brrr. 

 

Just when I'd parked in the designated church parking lot nearby Bob Jones High School, a man started shouting at me and lots of the other people who were also heading to the race, "Hey!  You can't park here!  We have a meeting at 9:00!!"  He did not seem happy, and I am a rule-follower, so I obliged and got back in my car to move it.  The next closest lot was a little less than 1/2 mile away at Asbury Church, so I parked there and jogged to the start.  I was supposed to warm up with Julia, but that plan got messed up due to the reparking situation.  The good news was that everyone must have been inside staying warm and using the bathrooms, because there was no line for the porta-potties.  I took my time in there (It had a roof and was dry so why not?).

 

We waited an extra 10 minutes because there was a train along one of the roads that we ran on (we didn't cross the tracks but ran alongside it).  Usually delays are not a big deal.  In the cold rain, it was a different story.  We were all ready to get moving!

 

Team Unity

I just love the pictures below because they show me in between 2 of my favorite teammates!  On the left is Kylie Lemon, and on the right is Julia Clark.  Both of these women have meant a lot to me, especially recently since they have both become Fleet Feet Racing Team members.  I met Kylie exactly one year ago, at this race.  She was the overall winner and was brave enough to approach me and Julia after the race and ask us to go on a cool down with her.  I remember thinking as we talked, "This girl must think I am so old.  What can we possibly have in common?  She will not like me once she hears that I am a 34 year old mom!!!"  Well, that was not true.  Kylie saw me as a friend and a fellow runner.  In the passing months, we chatted at races and on facebook and eventually began doing training runs together.  SHE, one of the newest members of the FF Racing Team, took it upon herself to unite us teammates together through training runs.  Not me, a charter member of the team.  That humbled me a lot and it made me appreciate this team and the new unity I felt among us even more.

 

The other thing Kylie did before this race is make a statement that I just loved!  On a training run on the course last week, Kylie remarked, "I want us to have a 1-2-3 sweep.  Any order!"  It was so sweet to hear her add that at the end.  Kylie is a much stronger runner at the shorter distances than me, and she won the race last year.  But she never boasted or bragged that she was going to win again this year.  Yet with this challenge she offered us, I really wanted that "clean sweep."  Then when I got to the race and saw her and Julia there in our matching uniforms, outnumbering the guys from our team for once (this race does not draw many Huntsville runners for some reason), I felt like I belonged. 

 

We look like we are having so much fun talking in these pictures!

 

 

All pictures by James Hurley
Kylie, Katie, Julia

 

 

The Race

Mile 1 6:24 This mile felt good, probably because it is a totally flat mile along a usually busy main road for our city, Hughes Road.  It is fun to run in the middle of the road when I am usually on the sidewalk!  The rain had died down during this time, and it was great finally starting after the 10 minute delay.  Below you can see the girls in purple.  From right to left, this is the order we eventually finished in too.  The first place guy, FF Team member Eric Charette, was already out ahead of this picture.  The guy in white between Kylie and me finished 4th.  A guy wearing long black pants and an orange jacket pulled ahead of me in Mile 2 and eventually finished 3rd. 

 

Mile 2 6:29 Also another good mile for me.  I was pleased with the consistency.  This mile takes us through downtown Madison and alongside the train tracks.

 

Mile 3 6:54 This mile just started the miserable miles for me!  When I saw the time, I thought, "Wow, I really slowed down here.  I'll just pick it up in the next mile."  But then I just could not!  It had started to rain harder in this mile, and we hit some rolling hills as we headed onto Old Madison Pike.  I guess if I had to say why I slowed, it would be that I have not trained for this distance (and was running much faster than any of my recent training) and the rain bothered me.  But I think it was mostly that I have not been doing enough speedwork. 

 

Mile 4 6:51 Okay, I picked it up a tiny bit here.  Small victory for me!

 

Mile 5 7:08 This mile has some rolling hills along Crestview Drive and through neighborhoods leading up to Eastview Drive.  For most of the race, I was going back and forth with the eventual 4th place finisher, the guy in the white shirt in the start pictures.  I kept trying to pass him but then was getting passed right back.  It probably helped keep my pace up, to be honest.

 

Mile 6 7:19 This mile was very tough.  It has the Eastview Hill called "The Beast" towards the end of it.  I don't do many 10Ks, but I think putting a very steep hill near the end is brutal!  Today I contemplated walking it and felt extremely out of shape as I slowly crept up it.  I had seen Julia right behind me as I turned onto Eastview to begin the climb, and I knew she was closing in (I had long ago stopped even being able to see the first woman, Kylie--she finished in 39:05).  Julia ran a great race and ended up being only seconds behind me at the finish.

 

.2 1:19 I actually felt great as I went down the hill!  I was calculating in my head, thinking I could possibly still get a 41 something, but as I saw the Mile 6 marker, I knew I didn't have it.  So I ran hard and finished in 42:26---not even close to the time I got last year, but fine for me today.  It was raining, I haven't done enough speedwork to prepare for a 10K race, and last year I was marathon training at this time.  So it's hard to compare times from one year to another, even on the same course. 

 

overall 42:26 (6:51 pace)

2nd female overall

5th place overall

 

I would like to say that I felt great at the end and wanted to stay and cheer other runners on, but I actually felt chilled to the bone and a little cranky, so home for a hot shower it was!  Below is a picture of my family, who came to watch my finish.  Awards were over 2 hours later (after the 5K race at 9:00), and luckily for me, Julia was able to pick up mine so I did not stay.

 

End Result
As Kylie predicted, The Madison Fleet Feet girls did a 1-2-3 sweep this year at the Run Through The Roses!  It felt great to know that we had done it, and I was proud of teammates Kylie and Julia for representing our team so well. 

After not having run a 10K in months, I needed this one to get back into the swing of things and to get a feel for pacing myself for this distance and not a distance of a half marathon-50K (which is all I've raced since November).  And I have some knowledge about what I need to work on before Cotton Row next month.  Hopefully, this will be my only 42 minute 10K this season and I will improve my 10K time as the season progresses.

For all of the Run Through the Roses runners today, I think we should all feel tough in choosing to get out there and run in these conditions!  As a trail runner who has done trail races in the rain, I can say that road running in the rain in much harder!  Braving these elements was challenging.  I feel extremely happy that I am done, inside, and dry now after reflecting on the conditions of this morning's race.

Jogging Stroller Run to the Preschool





Delays in my posting come from the crazy pace of the end-of-school and a new school for my kids this fall!  We are embarking on a new adventure in private Christian elementary school.  My days and nights have been filled with applications, interviews, and prayer! 

In the middle of all of this, the bombing of the Boston Marathon happened.  While this event didn't personally affect me, it affected me deeply.  The attack was on my sport, on a race I have had the honor to qualify for and would one day like to run.  Every time I heard the words "Boston Marathon" in the days that followed, I was jarred.  Not only did I feel terrible for the victims and their families, but as a runner, I felt so bad for the people who ran, those who finished and those who could not.  I kept picturing how it would feel to be in either category.  I read many of their stories and am most appreciative of those who gave honest accounts and who revealed their true feelings.  I cried when reading many of the posts.  Now I am so encouraged by how we as runners are uniting against this evil act.

Onto a lighter topic---stroller running to the preschool! 

Today was a nice day for another attempt at this very fun "errand trip."  I attempted it once before, in the fall with my friend, Jane.  This morning I loaded my little girl into the stroller and tucked her school bag in the compartment below.  I checked my watch: 8:20.  That would give me 40 minutes to run the 4 miles to the preschool.  Instead of driving there for 8 minutes (leaving my house at about 8:40), waiting in the carline for 10 minutes, and driving back for 8 more minutes, I would use my time efficiently and be running that whole time!  I would be done with 8 miles by 9:40 when I normally can't start my run until I return home at 9:10! 

I am thankful that the weather is nice enough to do kind of a run, but today's weather was actually a little windy (though warm in the 60s).  My daughter did not complain, but I wish I'd brought a blanket.  I had no trouble getting over to the preschool in less than 40 minutes taking a route through some neighborhoods and along a main road with a wide sidewalk.  I was early enough to walk her in with the first crowd of parents waiting in the lobby.  We both were smiling like we had a secret as we walked into the school.  I told her we'd already had an adventure for the day! 

I headed out alone and with an empty stroller.  I can only imagine how sad I will be as an empty-nester because even leaving my kids on days like this make me feel lonely.  I kept looking down at the stroller and missing my view of her little curls and hairbow.  So I turned on my music really loud and tuned out.  I used the fact that the stroller was 40 pounds lighter to my advantage and did some faster miles on the way home (most miles with her were 8:45-8:50 pace, but I did 7:20s after she was out!).  As I was running past Jane's house, I happened to see her heading out the door for her run, so we were able to run 2 miles together to my house.  I told her good-bye at 9.11 miles on my Garmin, but then I decided to go back out and run to 10 miles on my own.  I used to not care if the Garmin miles weren't even, but Jane says I've come to the "dark side!" 

Here's my cutie as we headed out today.

 



Tomorrow I volunteer at packet pickup, and then on Saturday I race in the Run Through the Roses 10K.  More on my teammate training partners (and hopefully the other top women at the race!) in a later post!

NCAC Superheros 1-Mile Flash Run, 1-Mile Fun Run, and 10K Bike Ride

see Results here

see webpage here

 

If you are local and looking for a fun family event, you should check out the NCAC Superheros Bike-A-Fun-Run and Family Block Party next year!  This event kicks off Child Abuse Prevention Month at Huntsville's Child Advocacy Center.

 

This year, the event was held on Saturday, April 13, 2013.  My family came race day to register at 7:30 a.m.  We all registered for a family max cap of $55 for the 1-mile and bike ride events.  I registered for the Flash 1-Mile, my daughter and I registered for the Fun Run, and Rick and our son registered for the 10K Bike Ride.  We each got a registration packet with a water bottle and some coupons but no shirts since we were late registrants. 

 

1-Mile Flash Run

I really don't know why I registered for this event.  I hadn't trained for it or even done any speed work in weeks.  Well, okay, the real reason I registered for it was that I could.  It worked out since my family had already planned to be here anyway.  And I was a little bummed that I hadn't raced at all last weekend, even missing the 5K before Rick's 10K in Decatur, one of the few events we can both race like that.  So I looked at today as an opportunity.

 

It turns out that many men from the FF Racing Team had been planning for this event.  We don't have many 1-mile events in town, so this one was anticipated.  They were trained and ready to go and really push each other out there.  After finishing a quick 1-mile warm-up of the course, I lined up right behind the guys.  None of the girls from our team were there!  On one hand, no competition.  On the other hand, no one to push me along! 

 

(**Just so you have an idea of how prepared these guys were, this is from Rob Youngren on FB the night before the race: "Just got back from walking and marking up the NCAC Flash Mile course. Kathy Faulkner Youngren, George Heeschen and I used a GPS and two calibration wheels (#overkill) to mark the first and last 220 yard mark as well as the 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 mile marks with a short fluorescent orange stripe. We're good to go now and spread the word to get some more folks out there. See you in the morning!"**)

 



Race Start
Picture by Rick Maehlmann

Today was my first day to race in my new uniform and to see the men's uniforms.  They looked great!  I've worn the other uniform at every race for the last two years, so I was ready for something different.  Kathy picked out a nice purple color, and all of the girls love the new shorts (the last ones were pretty short with a big split!).  

 



All We Run Huntsville pictures by Gregg Gelmis

So, racing a 1-miler when you haven't trained for it or feel even halfway in shape for it is hard!!  I was dying out there, but 1-mile events are good because they are so short!  I just pushed as hard as I could for the whole time.  I really wanted under 6, but I was fine with just missing it with a 6:03.  

Picture by Rick Maehlmann

 

Picture by Eric Fritz

While we waited for the other events, Rick did a run and I took the kids to a bike obstacle course set up at the block party. 

 



 

Then it was time for the 1-Mile Fun Run.  This was the exact same course, but there was a bigger crowd with more little kids.  My daughter just took off when the race started.  I figured she would slow down, which she did after the first .25 mile.  I was able to run alongside her and slightly in front, cheering and encouraging her.  I was impressed that she wasn't stopping to walk.  Through checking my watch at the .25 splits, I knew she was doing really well and would exceed her previous 1-mile time of about 10 minutes.  She finished so strong---in around 8:30!  I later looked up the state age group awards, and she would have gotten a state age record for 5 year old girls if she'd run the Flash 1-Miler instead of the Fun Run (since this one was not scored).  But that's okay.  We were all so proud of her!  When I asked her how she did that so well, she said, "I prayed to God last night to help me not give up and to keep going, and He helped me." 

 

 

Then it was time for the 10K Bike Ride.  Rick and our son had a great time doing this together. 

 

I received a nice gift bag with food from from Earthfare, Fleet Feet gift cards, and 4 passes to EarlyWorks Children's Museum for my first overall win (if you look at the results you will that I didn't have much competition, so I felt a little silly accepting all of this nice stuff!). 

 

First Overall Female Prizes

The Block Party had a lot of fun games, bounce houses, etc. for the kids.  I liked this photo op where we all look like superheros!  What a great event for the whole family to enjoy!  I hope more people will hear about this event and come out to enjoy it next year.

My Super Family!

 

The Newest Fleet Feet Racing Team Member

I put the quote above as a reminder of the journey and happy success of my good friend, Julia Clark.  Julia had been wanting to get chosen for the Huntsville Fleet Feet Racing Team for a few years now.  The team is highly selective.  Our team chooses its members by invitation only, so in order to make the team you have to get noticed.  Last year Julia did not make the team, but she admirably said that she still planned to serve in all of the same volunteer capacities required by the teammates.  Two things also occurred: Julia made it a point to work at and lower her 5K time (to a 19:52), and she won 6 spring/summer 5Ks, a very impressive feat.  But she struggled in a couple of fall/winter marathons, and she still didn't make the team this year. Then in February 2013, she ran her PR marathon of 3:30:29.  After this, I knew she had gained the range of running (from 5K to marathon) that would help her to get noticed.  Having both the sub-20 5K and the 3:30 marathon really helped her stand out amongst Huntsville women.

I figured Julia would have a good chance of getting on the team in 2014 with those times, but the team had already been chosen for this year.  Well, Julia got the greatest surprise when she was asked back in March to be a late addition to the team!  She and I were both thrilled and shocked that they had done that!  

She is humble and grateful beyond belief to be on the team.  She is so excited and very gracious about all of the team's benefits.  And I have no doubt that she will prove herself worthy of being on the team this year. Below is a picture of Julia and me at her first half marathon as a FF Racing Team member.  Julia, I am proud to have you on the team, and I applaud you for not giving up on your dream in spite of the obstacles you faced.  

I hope Julia can inspire other runners to believe in themselves and to be patient and persistent when following your dreams.

Julia and Katie at the Scottsboro Half (3rd OAF and 1st OAF)

Read Julia's FF Racing Team bio here

Learn more about our team (Huntsville Fleet Feet Racing) and follow our races here

Our team's new uniforms have come in, and, for the first time in two years, I will be wearing something new at my races!  Stay tuned for pictures soon!

Continuing The Streak---Even When It's Hard

We live .43 miles from our neighborhood elementary school, so when my son started school this year, I decided to walk him there every day.  I knew that it would be good for him since he has a crazy amount of energy.  It would help him get some of that energy out before having to sit for much of the day in his classroom.

Enter the warm, sunny days of August and September!

Walking was a joy (well, once I figured out how to get everyone out of the the door by 7:20 a.m.!). We had the best time, walking and chatting with each other and lots of neighborhood kids who were also walking. We even started bringing the dog (our pug, Monte) along for some added fun!

Then a RAINY and cold winter hit (did I mention that it was rainy??).  Instead of just breezing out of the door, we required things like real shoes (so I switched from flip-flops to Crocs), jackets, hats, mittens, gloves, raincoats, and umbrellas.  Our walks required fortitude as we braced against the annoying elements. Our neighborhood friends quit walking.  Still we pressed on!  In the freezing temperatures, we noticed the frozen puddles and ice everywhere.  In the rain, we jumped around avoiding all of the worms and commented on how high the creek was.

In early spring, the vet told us our dog had lost a pound (we attribute it to his daily walks with us).  The kids started doing a "Kids' Marathon," where they have to run/walk 25 miles in the 2 months leading up to the race-day 1.2 miles.  They were happy that our walks would count towards that total. We faced a tardy since we couldn't locate the rain shield for the jogging stroller (a must for my daughter on the rainy days!). Rick stepped in to walk our son on the days when he was able to go into work late, a much-appreciated lightening of my load.

Picture from earlier this year

Today's walk was another rainy one.  My son donned raincoat and boots and carried his umbrella, while I wore his backpack on my front to prevent it from getting wet.  My daughter rode in the stroller with the rain shield, and the dog stayed inside.  I felt a little clumsy pushing the stroller while juggling my umbrella, and I groaned as my Croc-adorned toes hit yet another puddle, soaking my already cold feet (I never did get around to buying rain boots for me this year!).  But then I remembered.  I am a runner---and a trail runner at that!  I have spent hours in the rain, in soaking wet clothes getting filthy and muddy as I ran.  I could do this.  So we walked another day.

I am proud to report that we have kept this streak alive.  Rick or I have walked our son to school every day of his first grade year.  Through the hot summer days, the cool fall days, the frigid and rainy winter, days where I'd already run 10-20 miles before our walk, and even through my nasty stomach bug.  We are heading into a nicer and easier time.  We will keep this streak alive.

What will my son learn from all of this?  I hope he learns not to give up.  On the worst of the winter days, we would all give high fives once we made it to the school.  We would celebrate another day of walking.  We were meeting our goal.  He has learned about nature as we comment on the things we see around us in the different seasons.  He's learned to rely on his own two feet to get him where he wants to go.  He's learned that things may not always be comfortable.  Our car would have been much warmer and definitely drier than many of these days.  But where is the triumph in always living a comfortable life?

So here's to discomfort.  Here's to feeling annoyingly cold.  Here's to wet feet.  Here's to tired legs.  Here's to seemingly impossible goals.  Here's to using the body God gave you to the fullest.  Here's to not giving up when the going gets tough.  And here's to running, which taught me all of these lessons first.

Easter Bunny Ears and Peeps: The Scottsboro Half Marathon Race Report

See race website here

 

Pre-Race--the Week Before

We don't have many local half marathons, so when nearby Scottsboro opened up a new one this year, many local runners, including me, took note. 

 

Even though I had already registered a couple of weeks ago, I actually only decided to do this race for sure on Friday, March 29.  I knew that I was going to be able to run it, and I assumed that I could keep around a 7:00 pace given my recent marathon time (3:16 --7:30 average but first half was under 7:15 pace).  Plus I knew that McKay Hollow Madness (25K trail run last weekend) was a good training run.  But I hadn't trained specifically for the half at all.  I figured I could hope for a time somewhere around 1:32 or so. 

 

Last week was our Spring Break, so I opted to sleep in and run/workout later in the day.  I ran twice in the neighborhood (Wednesday and Friday) while the kids stayed at the house.  They are just getting old enough so that I can do this.  Wednesday's 7-miler (7:00 pace) was one of the days.  It was my first run since McKay Hollow, and I felt very good during and after the run. 

 

Rick picked up my packet for me on Friday.  It included a sports bottle, chapstick, and gum.  Pretty nice!  Finally, I decided---I would run it!  I was glad that the race was an hour away and that I would have some time to myself (after being at home with the kids all week through lots of cold days spent inside the house!).

 

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Pre-Race

I arrived at the race start after 7:30 a.m. with less then 30 minutes to spare.  Once inside, I saw a huge line for the girls' bathroom but a much shorter line for the guys'.  When some girls suggested heading into the guys' bathroom, I agreed to go too.  We made a separate line for the stalls (and avoided looking in the direction of the urinals) and took care of our business quickly.  I don't think the men minded too much (most seemed amused), and I am glad we did it because I would not have gotten to go otherwise.   

 

The Race

Before the race started, I looked around for familiar faces in the front.  I noticed several Fleet Feet teammates since some were leading pace groups today.  I also spotted the newest teammate, my friend, Julia!  We both noticed a girl in the front that looked pretty fast.  I know I could have just talked to her, but instead I checked out the pace bracelet that she had attached to her arm.  I made out the first mile--6:51.  "That's going to be first place," I predicted to Julia.  I looked at her number (300) and then down at my number (301) which I had assumed was a late entry high number, but then I realized that it was a women's seed.  So this girl was seeded to win. 

 

Then the race started, and I took off.  That girl was indeed in the front.  My first mile was 6:50.  I really had no agenda as far as pace--just to try to stay under 7:00 as long as I could.  I wasn't wearing a Garmin since ours is having trouble charging, so I had to rely only on the mile markers.  In Mile 2, I was approaching the first place girl and thought I would surge to see if she stayed with me or not.  I did, and she did not follow.  Mile 2 was a 6:24---too fast!  I'm not even sure where that came from, because I haven't run a mile that fast in training in a long time!  That is why competition is good for me.

 

I stayed in the front for the rest of the race, although that girl was very close behind me at times.  It helped a lot that another runner was right around my pace and we kept going back and forth.  The race was not too well marked, and there were a few places where it helped having someone else there to verify we were going the right way.  After not seeing the mile marker for Mile 11, I shouted back to that guy, "Are we going the right way?  Where was the mile marker?"  He assured me that we were and that we just missed it. 

 

Several spots on the course were places where we "doubled back" on the course, so we could see/cheer for other runners as we ran in the opposite direction.  I loved cheering for many of my friends and hearing them cheer for me.  It was a good distraction.

 

This course had many rolling hills that only slightly affected me.  As I said before, my concentration was thrown off a little by my having to think carefully about the course.  I think it could have been better marked.  The aid stations were fine, though, and I took water at each one and 3 packets of gel during the race (I had brought 2 but took 1 that was offered also). 

 

I had a complete "Katie" moment as I rounded the corner for the finish line.  I started sprinting for the finish (nice because I never feel like doing this in a full!), and I didn't see where we were supposed to turn, so I cut a corner short!  I went into a handicapped spot that was right before the corner we were supposed to turn at.  I instantly turned around and retraced my steps so that I could run the course.  But the little episode cost me a few seconds and happened with all of the crowd watching!  I managed to finish with two seconds off of my PR!  I was 11th overall and first female.

 

Post Race 

I wasn't planning to stay long after the race so that I could get back home to my family.  But then I ran into several friends and also stayed to see others finish.  All of the pacers ran in bunny ears, and I laughed as my pacer friend skipped into the finish while holding hands with another pacer!  Julia finished in 1:37 and was 3rd overall.  Many of my church friends had run today, and we all chatted for awhile and took a picture. 

 

Willowbrook friends
Picture by Jay Maher

At the awards ceremony, I talked with my friends, Jane and Julia. And I enjoyed eating many Peeps---a post-race snack offered at this race! I was surprised to be given a plate, free shoes, and $100 cash as a first place prize!  I imagine there will be more competition next year since they have a cash prize like that!

On the way up, I had joked with Rick about not having enough money for gas (I was driving his car, which was low on gas, and I had only brought $4).  After I texted him about my win, he remarked back as a joke, "Good! Gas $!"   Even though I was on empty, I really didn't want to use my new bill, so I bought $4 in gas and coasted home on that!

 

Ending Thoughts

I wasn't even planning to run this race, so winning the race and also PRing was a big accomplishment for me.  As I have said before, I really do wish I could train specifically for a half, but I just prefer the full.  And I really do want a break from the long distances now.  I enjoyed the drive today, the company at the race, and even the race itself.  I felt great at the finish (probably happens when you are more used to marathons!).  There were a few things I noticed today at the race that I hope they correct for next year, but all-in-all I think it was a great inaugural event.  I enjoyed the rest of my day getting ready for Easter (including shopping for a couple of hours in the rain for my Easter dress!). 

 

My prizes for first place

 

Easter 2013

Happy Easter!

 

Mile 1-6:50
Mile 2-6:24
Mile 3-6:56
Mile 4-6:49
Mile 5-6:55
Mile 6-6:54
Mile 7-7:04
Mile 8-6:59
Mile 9-7:01
Mile 10-7:05
Mile 11 and 12-14:10 (7:05 average)
Mile 13-6:55
.1-.47

Gun Time: 1:30:52
Chip Time: 1:30:51
Overall Place: 11
Gender Place: 1
Pace: 6:56

McKay Hollow Madness Trail 25K Race Report

Here is the race website.
Results can be found here.

Saturday, March 23, 2013 7:00 a.m.

Pre-race
Rick, the kids, and I headed up to Monte Sano Mountain around 6:15 a.m. in the pouring rain!  I wasn't too worried about me (as I am accustomed to running in the rain), but I was concerned for the kids.  I kept thinking back to this day when they were wet and miserable.  I had packed all of their rain gear in the hopes of keeping them dry today.  They would be helping Rick with the aid station at Mile 5.

We arrived at the race start with about 15 minutes to spare.  It was around 47 degrees and still drizzling rain.  A small pavilion housed the start/finish line spectators and was packed full of people trying to stay out of the rain.  Rick pulled me up as close to the pavilion as possible, and I hopped out and headed for the bathrooms.  I was cold from getting wet in just that short walk/jog. 

I was seeded 6th today and was hoping for another first overall female win.  I lined up at the start with Christy Scott, an amazing ultra runner who's training for a 100 mile event in a couple of months.  She's a fellow Fleet Feet teammate and a great girl.

Race number





Lined up and ready to start! (Dink Taylor, me, and Christy Scott)
All pictures from We Run Huntsville taken by Gregg Gelmis

I have to note that the guy on the left in the picture above is our local Fleet Feet store owner, Dink Taylor.  He is an insanely amazing runner.  Today in the race, he got 3rd place, but he missed getting 2nd because he had a nasty fall and cracked a rib and gashed up his leg!  He kept on running---through the pain.  He is so tough!

 

The Race 

Unfortunately, I was talking with another girl as the race started and missed hitting start on my Garmin until a quarter mile or so into the race.  So all of my splits don't compare "apples to apples" with last year's.  And there's no mile markers for this race!  Going only based on overall pace, I knew from the start that I was slower than last year.  I was okay with it because I haven't been on the trails since Mountain Mist and I've been recovering from an awful stomach bug.  I was happy to still be in first place for the women.

 

The rain and mist was intermittent (see picture below).  So visibility was not great.  I chose to wear a visor to keep the rain out of my eyes, but--oh man--I am not used to wearing a visor on the trails!  In Stone Cuts (a section of huge boulders that you have to walk through), we took a hard left and started a climb.  I could not see above me since I was wearing my visor, and I hit the top of my head---hard!---on a boulder above me.  This was in the 2nd mile of the race.  I remember thinking that I was glad no one was around me to see it!  I also took a spill in the Stone Cuts and had another almost fall on a steep downhill section (where I saved myself from a hard fall by grabbing a tree trunk).  Though I wasn't hurt from either event, falling like this blows my confidence to go fast.  Today was just too wet and slippery to push too hard out there.  I realized that early on in the race.

 

Race Start (I am in red near front to the right)

 

For some visuals, take a look at the mud and puddles today! 

 

 

I was relieved to see the kids were happy when I stopped at Aid Station #1 (Mile 5).  They told me great stories later of bumping along trails in our SUV as Rick hauled the tables, coolers, and tent needed for the aid station (it required the tailgate to be precariously left open!).  Apparently, there were lots of leftover Clif Bloks, so Rick and the other aid station volunteer were told to take many home with them.  What a nice surprise!  We plan to share these with our running friends.  Rick was also given a free taco meal at the end of the race (racers and volunteers ate for free).  Last weekend, I was given a $2 discount coupon for another HTC event.  It is refreshing to see how the race directors reach out and show appreciation to the volunteers in ways like these. 

 

Some free Bloks!

I made it to the 2nd aid station (Mile 10) without much difficulty.  I was enjoying trying to keep two guys (I called them "white shirt" and blue shirt") in my sights.  At the aid station, I passed them both, but they soon caught back up and we chatted for awhile.  After talking over their times and previous race experience, I realized that I could pull ahead of them and finally chose to do that with a couple of miles left to go. 

 

The Finish

Mile 15 (or so) was a slow steep uphill climb of 17:43.  I included the picture below of another runner crossing a section of stone that was turned into a small waterfall today!  This is right at the top of the hill.  You are very close to the finish line here.  I approached the finish line and thought it was strange because it was deserted!  I no longer noticed the rain, but it had started up again lightly.  Everyone was inside the pavilion gathered around the edges to watch the runners finish!

 

Waterfall finish!

I finished in 2:37:31, missing my time from last year by several minutes.  I am okay with that though.  Today I was 10/172, and last year I was 15/189, so I improved my overall ranking today.  I was first overall female today and won a pair of Solomon trail shoes and a FF gift card.  And a little snail puppet.  Gotta love the race director, Blake!

I warmed up in front of this awesome fire and enjoyed a brunch of a taco, chips, and salsa and a Coke!

 

Here are the goods!

 

Awards for first overall female

After Thoughts

Of course, whenever I finish a trail race I think, "If only I'd trained more on the course!"  But then it never happens.  We live over 30 minutes from the trails, and it's just easier to get our runs in from our house instead of adding in an hour drive.  I'd rather be with my family than spend all day on the trails.  

 

This year, I managed to win first overall female at both of the big local trail races--Mountain Mist 50K and now McKay Hollow Madness 25K.  Ultra runners use a website, Ultra Signup, as a way to gauge performances in ultra events.  Here is my data from there.  I see the runner ranking as kind of like a grade, and my "grade" for the 12 events that are listed here is 89.1%.  Previous Mountain Mists were a 76% and a 69%, and today's performance was a 100%.  Kind of an interesting way of looking at things, though it's only one way of evaluating your performance.  Basing your success on how well you "beat" others doesn't really tell you much about how you did in a race.  I prefer comparing myself to my performance in the previous year.  Given the conditions today, I feel like I did okay there.

 

Splits (again, these don't reflect the entire course.  I failed to start my watch until 1/4 mile into the race):

7:37

11:19

9:48

9:21

11:07

10:20

9:30

13:31

9:10

9:14

9:11

9:27

10:09

11:45

17:43

 

2:36:46 for 14.86 miles

10:33 average