Sunday, March 30, 2008

Friendly Sons of St. Patrick 10K Race Report

Today the Catholic boys were holding a race kind of in my neighborhood. I've been eyeing this one for awhile since I've never done a 10k (instant PR), it was close to home and pretty cheap, and I need the miles as I start to ramp up for Dam to Dam at the end of May (20k). How can you beat an 11am start and a t-shirt? Although I'm guessing they might have expected me to be in church beforehand. :P

I've been having some major GI issues the last couple of days. I'll spare the play by play, but suffice it to say that it was touch and go up until the end and heavy pharmaceuticals were on board. Thank you science.

Art heard I was running this and we arranged to meet up at registration. He told his group he was looking for a girl and they said, "well, maybe we can help, what does she look like?" Art said to look for red lipstick and one of them spotted me from across the parking lot. :D That's so much better than look for a girl with really wide hips. :P

I think the plan was loosely something like we'd love to run this in the 11's, but realistically we need to just keep each other going, and if someone is having a great day, don't be afraid to go with it. I secretly thought I'd be the lag behinder in the 12's.

We started out at a nice clip and did some chatting. I got a side stitch during mile 2 and Art had to one sidedly chat. After that, the gradual inclines started and kept going through mile 3, 4 and 5!! Those damn sons ain't so friendly. I was breathing heavier than normal but nothing hurt and we just kept going. I kept telling myself, this is a race, okay to push yourself and be breathing heavier. Art was really a dear, I know he could have gone a lot faster, but he claimed he really wanted to run about this pace and not over do it. He has been sick and was also concerned about breathing but he ran it seemingly effortlessly. Thanks, Art!!! You totally ROCK.

I had two pretty good lines for the sparse talking. "Jesus Christ!" (then, started thinking, is that weird to say J.C. during this race? It's probably not a very good thing.) My other one was, "I'd talk more, but all I can think of are cuss words." hee hee.

As we went on and we continued to keep it under 12, I was hoping to do it for every mile. You can see that the only water station during mile 5 kept me from that goal. Somewhere around 5.2, I set Art free and he moved out. He was yelling,
"run your race." ~ "you're doing great!" ~ "I'll be at the finish, you'll be right behind me."

1 ~ 11:02
2 ~ 11:34
3 ~ 11:50
4 ~ 11:37
5 ~ 12:01
6 ~ 11:56
.27 ~ 10:26
Garmin reads 6.27 miles ~ 1:12:49 ~ 11:37 pace
(wow - race site says 1:12:52 - for once my garmin trigger finger was right on.)

Once again it was one of those really bittersweet things. Absolutely great to be running, great to be running with someone, great to be running 6 miles and nothing hurts much, great to be running this pace for 6 miles, great to be experiencing improvement, beautiful day to be running. I'm still at the back of the back of the pack. (there were officially only 6 people behind me and I was 24th of 26 in my age group. Geez.) I just don't look back. I'm extremely pleased.

38 comments:

Stuart said...

OMG I am the first commenter!!! OMG!

Holy (well that's apt LOL) cow what race starts at 11am!!!

Great job on the PR, sorry to hear about the GI, but yes TMI!

Viv said...

I am sorry you are having some GI stuff goings on. I hope it flushes away soon. hehee ;-)

Awesome PR! Those are some fast miles, Nanc! I really think you are not back of the pack at all!! You can lead my pack anyday :-D I used to think I could run with you now you would be power walking next to me and I can't have that. LOL

HAHAHAHA at the lipstick and sayin JC at a saints run!!

Michelle said...

Hi Nancy,
Congrats on your 10K!! I remember those days when i could run 6.2 miles. No more...well i wouldn't say no more, i would say not yet! Getting there though, and you are a big inspiration to me! So, keep up the good work my friend!!
Michelle

Marcy said...

ROFLMAO Nancy!! I love this

""Jesus Christ!" (then, started thinking, is that weird to say J.C. during this race? It's probably not a very good thing.): HAHAHAHHAAAA

CONGRATS chica!! Awesome race, especially with GI issues. Dang you're a brave soul to run with that.

J said...

Nice job on the even run! And in the 11's!!! And see, it was even a PR... :)

RunnerMom said...

Great job, Nancy! Speaking of being at "the back of the back of the pack," I came in LAST in my first 10K on February 2. (I suppose someone has to be last. Sigh.) So, I had an automatic PR, last place finish, and actually won first in my age group (as the ONLY 35-39 year old)---so I left with a medal. Strange race!

I know you've run further (like 9 on the 9th), but doesn't a 10K race seem endless?

I'm enjoying your blog!

Kent said...

Wow - you are a racing phenom. You are doing some good work and good job @ setting a new PR.

jahowie said...

LOL!!! Saying JC during that race is priceless!! I once let a GD slip out during a Christian League softball game, and needless to say I was kicked out!! Great job on the race!!

Tri+Umph said...

Nice job Nancy!

Sonia said...

Great job on the PB despite all the GI issues! Well done anyway!! You kept away from the 12 min/mile!! =)

Wes said...

Yea, they put that water sto at mile five for the sole purpose of distracting ya :-) Great race, Nancy! You rocked it!!

Jamie said...

Loved this report; it was too funny. You did great! Congrats on the PR!

Deene said...

Good job - are you getting faster?
funny about the lipstick.

Nitmos said...

Great job and a PR to boot! Don't look behind you, look down at your wrist. You are competing against the your own personal goals as displayed on the Garmin.

E said...

Awesome job!

Michelle said...

Nancy, great job!!

That's a pretty fast field if there were only six people behind you. You should be proud of your time!

Bev said...

Great run! I bet you would have run in the 10s if you had gone to church before hand. Try it out next time.

Andrew is getting fit said...

Sounds like it was a great event. Congrats on the PR.

Bob A said...

Congrats on the race, Nancy. Where you place isn't important -- you ran a good race and kept a steady pace. You've also set a good baseline for your next 10K.

chia said...

Kudos :-)!!!!!!!!

Nat said...

Sometimes company makes all the difference! :)

Well done. Gastro issues. Oh I know them all too well.
Nat

J~Mom said...

I cuss a whole lot more when working out then in everyday life!!

NICE JOB!!!! You totally rocked that 10K!!

P.O.M. said...

Good thing you didn't drop the F bomb! Little baby Jesus would not be happy. But Little Baby Jesus is very happy that you ran and had fun.

Of course I wouldn't skip town without tellin' ya first. Just saving it for a little bit later.

RunnerGirl said...

Great job on the race!

Unknown said...

Yeah -- Nancy's no longer a 10K virgin! (Although I shouldn't talk; I've just run one!)

teacherwoman said...

Way to go on the race! You did awesome!

sRod said...

Great run Nancy! For going through some running hardships you still manage to crank out a race per month!

Unknown said...

Don't look behind you...the finish line is in front of you!!

I've been so near last so many times it doens't even phase me anymore.

Btw, I think your 11:30-ish pace was awesome. Great pace check as you prepare for that 20K in May!!!

Unknown said...

Great job! You kept a very even pace the whole way. Nice!

Bill Carter said...

Hi Nancy

It sounds to me like that race went absolutely fantastic. Congrats on the great sub 12 miles and doing it on a day that you had ummm... GI issues which is never a good thing for a runner.

BTW, speed is a very relative thing. I know that you are really hard on yourself and are always comparing yourself to other runners. Personally, I think that is a dangerous thing to do to your morale. I think you are fantastic and every time you lace 'em up, you win. As I have said so many times before, some people just like to take their time and enjoy the course more than others:-)

So..... CONGRATULATIONS on a great sub 12 minute/PR 10k!

Mendy said...

You ARE DA BOMB! Seriously, you did fantastic and your last paragraph sums it up perfectly! I'm so happy for you. Way to go on the 10K PR!

Jess said...

Great job on the race!

Lily on the Road said...

Awesome Run Girlfriend!!!!

You were great! Regardless of the GI and JC...good for you!!! LMAO.

I'm always dropping the Fbomb.....so good on you to only cuss JC!

Sam said...

Good job on the race. I really enjoy it when I'm able to run and talk with someone; it takes your mind off the run. I think people could make a living as a running partner. Kind of like a running caddie. They could scout the run, carry your water, etc..

zanne said...

ok: "although i'm guessing they might have expected me to be in church beforehand" had to be the funniest thing ever.

sorry about your GI issues. you know i've been there, done that. hope you get to the bottom of things. hee hee. bottom of things. some days, i just crack myself up.

great job on the race ... and i have a TOTAL potty mouth when racing!

Laura N said...

You *should* feel good--those are decent digits, Nancy. Look at how you have improved. And you ran that on an incline? And after GI issues? Those are definitely factors on your pace, so be proud.

You're such an inspiration. Great idea on the May 10th 10k. I'll be playing, as long as my half mary on the 3rd doesn't mess me up too bad. =)

Nibbles said...

You are so brave for giving it your all with these GI issues! Good for you!

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