RACE REPORT!

Here it is! My first race report!

Well to start out with what you really wanna know -- Finish time: 35:43 (11:32/mile)


I got to the race pretty early - the registration info said registration was from 7:30a - 8:45a and it was about 8:10a when I got there. I didn't "warm-up" per se because I felt kind of dumb, but I did walk around quite a bit and stretch my calves and shins as much as possible. I also had to walk a few blocks to use the bathroom. haha.

There were a total of 32 runners plus 7 walkers - I thought there were more than that but I guess not. I took off too fast, hoping I could stay with the group a little, but there was no way that was going to happen. I probably could have done better had I not started off fast out of vanity. It was immediately evident that I was waaaayyy in the back of the pack. Actually I thought I was dead last and about to get passed by walkers but that didn't happen (thankfully).

I realized after 3 or 4 minutes that I forgot to start my watch so I just went off the assumption that we started right at 9 (it was probably a minute or two after) but I don't remember the split times anyway. I started out pretty even with a guy who was run/walking but he picked it up after the half-way point and beat me by about a minute and a half (speaking of the half-way point I almost choked on my water). I ended up running the rest of the race more or less even with another woman although her walk breaks took over after the two mile mark and she never recovered her pace - I ended up coming in almost 3 full minutes ahead of her. I took several very short walk breaks. Seeing my time now I'm kind of annoyed because I probably didn't need those breaks. Oh well - that's what next time is for.

The race organizers were great - for less than 40 people competing, there were probably at least that many volunteers directing traffic at turns/intersections and cheering us on. There were also a decent number of front-yard spectators. And there were a bunch of cookies, watermelon, bananas, and water afterwards. I just thought all the "amenities" were really thoughtful for such a tiny race. I love small-town Indiana.

I'm pretty happy overall with the race experience - it wasn't as embarrassing as I was anticipating and 3.1 miles wasn't really hard to cover at all. I think running in an unfamiliar place was helpful in that regard. I had no idea how far I had to go between not starting my watch and not knowing my way around the city.

Oh yeah - I almost forgot. I placed second (out of 3 - haha) in my age group - last time that's gonna happen until I run this race next year!! I did get a trophy however. And I was 13th out of 19 women overall (not counting the walkers - thankfully I beat every one of them)

Day 2

At least of running. I guess Day 4ish of my new daily fitness regime. News: Pilates HURTS. I have some muscles aching today I forgot I had. Most notably: neck & obliques. This made the running a little uncomfortable today but still totally doable. I'm still not sure what I want to do about the speed. Today was the same as before - 11:00 pace for the running intervals and about 18:30 pace for the walking.

The treadmill's not forever of course, just until the sun is out either before or after work - right now it's complete darkness. Also I would prefer not to spend a lot of time running out side when it's below freezing. I didn't particulary like the quarter mile walk to the treadmill in the snow this morning. But it is winter and I might have to get over it. We'll see.

I've invested in the Nike+Ipod system. I've heard good things about it. And I figure even if I don't want to run with music on any given day, I can still wear the Nano and get some feedback about my runs.

I think I've decided to stick with my original plan for training up to 30 minutes. Hopefully I can sustain the 11:00 pace easily so that it's only a matter of shaving off 1 minute from each mile (probably not as easy as it sounds, but definitely easier than shaving off, say, 3 minutes per mile).

I'm considering the Komen Race for the Cure 5K for my first race and also as my qualifying race for Half-Fast's Shave Your 5K Challenge which I recommend all of you take part in. (The way I see it, I have to get faster between my "I hope I can run the whole thing without stopping 5K" and a 5K in Nov. or Dec. -- right?)