Yesterday I set out to run my 8.25 race as part of my 11 mile training run. (I plan to run 4 miles on my actual birthday. I will not be doing 40k, unless you want to add all my miles for the week together LOL)
It was supposed to be 63 degrees at 6:30 am, so I planned to get up early and run before church. Instead, my dad offered to run the last five with me if I waited and ran after church. I decided to wait.
After church, I ate a banana and headed out into the very sunny day with my handheld. My hamstring and ankle were feeling tight, so I ran a slow warm up mile.
I turned on to Main Street and picked up the speed a little. There was some shade in the downtown area, but I quickly ended up out in the sun. Mile 1: 9:36
I kept going until I ran out of town and sidewalk. (1.4 miles into my race LOL) I hit a few sidestreets to add some mileage and finish mile 2: 9:32.
As I turned around, I discovered I’d been running downhill the whole way. Ugh. I also got honked at by an old farmer (not sure if it was approval for wearing a running bra and shorts or disapproval for running like that on a Sunday morning. Gotta love small towns.) Mile 3: 10:00
By mile 4, I was dripping sweat and about halfway through my bottle of nuun. It was only about 82 degrees, but the sun was intense. The worst hill of the run was ahead of me. Needless to say, it was not pleasant. Mile 4: 9:57
Mile 5 was pretty flat with a little bit of shade. The only hill was going up over the railroad tracks and then cutting up through the church parking lot to my parents’ house. Mile 5: 9:50
First 5.1 miles done in 50:00. I ran in, used the bathroom, refilled my bottle, and headed back out with my dad. I’m pretty sure I would have stopped and not run anymore if he hadn’t been going out with me.
Mile 6 was ok. My stride and my dad’s tend to fall perfectly in sync, so I just let my dad set the pace for me. He did a good job of mixing up the hills and flats in their neighborhood, but their was absolutely no shade. Mile 6: 10:00.
I started to fall apart in mile 7, but just made myself stick with my dad. I focused on breathing and staying in sync with him and just let him lead me around. I had moments of being able to pick up the speed, but all in all, I was dragging. Mile 7: 9:52
Mile 8 was more of the same. I was counting each .1 mile and struggling to keep going. I managed it, but just barely. Mile 8: 9:59
The last .25 of my “race” was part of what was actually mile 10 of running. I was so done, but determined to at least finish 10 miles. It could easily be this hot on race day in September in Virginia. I finished that .25 in 2:30.
My overall time for the 8.25 was 1:21:20. Not my best time ever, but not my worst either. Considering the sun and the hills and the fact that my overall distance was the longest I’ve run since May, I’m pretty happy to average under 10 minute miles.
I kept going to the end of 10 miles of running and then decided to walk the last mile home. My dad headed off to do a faster mile and I turned back towards their house. Since I was a mile from home, I ended up deciding to just run slowly as far as I could. As I knocked off each .1, I made myself a new goal. Once I hit 10.5, I knew I’d end up making the whole 11. Surprisingly, even though it felt slow and awful, my last mile clocked in at 10:22. I finished the whole 11 miles in 1:49:13.
Glad today just calls for an easy recovery run.
(I’ve started getting emails of race reports. If you are running, please get your report to me by August 28th. Reports received after that date are not eligible to win any of the cool prizes.)
Way to go!Excellent run!
Way to go!Excellent run!
Congrats on breaking that distance barrier following the marathon again, that's huge!
Congrats on breaking that distance barrier following the marathon again, that's huge!
I hate the feeling of the sun pounding down on me. Way to push through a tough run! Big congrats on your longest run since May!
I hate the feeling of the sun pounding down on me. Way to push through a tough run! Big congrats on your longest run since May!
WTG! Congratulations, it was REALLY hot yesterday!
WTG! Congratulations, it was REALLY hot yesterday!
Way to get it done! I did my 8.25 saturday as well and my Garmin beeped "low battery" at me around mile 4. CRAP!!! Luckily I was able to finish before it died but it caused some anxiety along the way. I'm getting my 4 miler done tomorrow and have made sure to charge everything that needs juice.
Way to get it done! I did my 8.25 saturday as well and my Garmin beeped "low battery" at me around mile 4. CRAP!!! Luckily I was able to finish before it died but it caused some anxiety along the way. I'm getting my 4 miler done tomorrow and have made sure to charge everything that needs juice.
wohooo i have my race on my calendar even :)always awesome to push it especially when you feel like throwing in the towel
wohooo i have my race on my calendar even :)always awesome to push it especially when you feel like throwing in the towel
great to break up that distance in your mind like that – Congratulations!
great to break up that distance in your mind like that – Congratulations!
Ran mine this weekend, will be emailing you soon with a link to the race recap. Includes sheep and vomit – bet you can't wait to read that one! LOL
Ran mine this weekend, will be emailing you soon with a link to the race recap. Includes sheep and vomit – bet you can't wait to read that one! LOL
I love when someone volunteers to run part of my long run withe me… makes it so much better!
I love when someone volunteers to run part of my long run withe me… makes it so much better!
Sounds hot! How nice that you did part of it with your dad. I will do my 4 pretty soon but it will be slow slow slow due to my heel.
Sounds hot! How nice that you did part of it with your dad. I will do my 4 pretty soon but it will be slow slow slow due to my heel.
Race report is up!http://29goingon29again.blogspot.com/2010/08/mama-goes-masters.html
Race report is up!http://29goingon29again.blogspot.com/2010/08/mama-goes-masters.html
Nice job on the run, girl!
Nice job on the run, girl!
nice job with your hot run. and so very cool that your dad runs, too.
nice job with your hot run. and so very cool that your dad runs, too.
Great job! Nice run in that heat.
Great job! Nice run in that heat.
impressive run…especially with no shade..eek! i wonder if i'll ever be able to run double digits again. 🙂
impressive run…especially with no shade..eek! i wonder if i'll ever be able to run double digits again. 🙂
You did great! Congrats on 8.25 during an 11 mile run and how great of your dad to join you!
You did great! Congrats on 8.25 during an 11 mile run and how great of your dad to join you!
I'm so jealous your dad runs with you – my dad was a runner in HS and college but has no desire now, I think that is what happens to college peeps, they get burnt out.Nice job on finishing up that last mile – I know how ard that can be! And so very cool you got to run your "race" in your parents little town 🙂 Congrats on finishing strong!
I'm so jealous your dad runs with you – my dad was a runner in HS and college but has no desire now, I think that is what happens to college peeps, they get burnt out.Nice job on finishing up that last mile – I know how ard that can be! And so very cool you got to run your "race" in your parents little town 🙂 Congrats on finishing strong!
I'll be doing my 8.25 tomorrow. Woohooo
I'll be doing my 8.25 tomorrow. Woohooo
I will be running on Saturday… I have been setting up my classroom this last week and have not had a chance to really run but I will do the race on Saturday morning before I go into finish. Congrats on you 8.25 miles and good luck on your 4 miles tomorrow.. Happy Birthday!!!!
I will be running on Saturday… I have been setting up my classroom this last week and have not had a chance to really run but I will do the race on Saturday morning before I go into finish. Congrats on you 8.25 miles and good luck on your 4 miles tomorrow.. Happy Birthday!!!!
You are a rockstar!Here's my race report:http://runningdivamom.blogspot.com/2010/08/mcm-mama-goes-masters-virtual-race.html
You are a rockstar!Here's my race report:http://runningdivamom.blogspot.com/2010/08/mcm-mama-goes-masters-virtual-race.html
Nice job getting through a hot run! I hate when I think I'm running on flat ground and turn to realize it's been a long, steady downhill! Oops! I'm heading out to do my "race" today!
Nice job getting through a hot run! I hate when I think I'm running on flat ground and turn to realize it's been a long, steady downhill! Oops! I'm heading out to do my "race" today!
Here is my race report for a 4mile runhttp://myadventuresontheroad-stella.blogspot.com/2010/08/mama-goes-masters-virtual-race.html
Here is my race report for a 4mile runhttp://myadventuresontheroad-stella.blogspot.com/2010/08/mama-goes-masters-virtual-race.html