Armed Forces 5k, Bremerton

 

I paid for this race a few weeks ago, thinking its local, just a 5k, should be fun. But little did I know that HARDLY ANYONE KNEW ABOUT IT. I didn't want to run it alone, I mean, I wanted to run alone but not be hanging out all alone at the starting line and I really had a 10 mile run I needed to do today.

 

I asked Amanda if she wanted my entry since I was too lazy to find parking but she's in Tucson.

But Suzie saw that post and said she would meet me at the Safeway and we could ride together. Suzie was there to support Nancy, who was running/walking with her new prosthesis for the first time.

 

 

 

The reason I wanted to run this race is because the money goes to the Armed Forces and I would get to run through the tunnel that ferry traffic uses to exit our dock.

 

Somehow, toward the end of the race, they accidently put bleachers on top of the directional arrows and I cut my run short, from 3.1 miles down to 2.61. many people did it, I was just following the crowd. If they had all turned, I would have turned also. But I didn't know if the GPS had worked through the tunnel or not so truly had no idea where I was at.

 

But I finished the 2.61 in 25:55 and that made me happy. I was trying for a PR

(29:21, flat course, 12.3.2011)

but this was a bit hilly and since its cut short its all moot anyway. I might have gotten below 31 minutes though.

 

After the race Suzie and I talked each other into running 7.5 more miles, for a total of 10 for the day. We met up an hour later on Beach Drive in Port Orchard and along the way saw Lisa Madson with her friend, going the wrong way.

They were looking for a restroom, that's the sewage treatment plant right behind them.

 

Only a mile to two left. Suzie wasn't feeling too great, she's been fighting a few old injuries.

I felt GREAT.

 

After 1hr 23mins we were done.

Today was my longest run in a very long time, since Race For A Soldier on September 29, 2013. WOW, too long between races.

 

No wonder I got fat.

57 biking miles

Rode 57 miles today with a couple friends, one of which totally invited herself. Oh well, shes the right speed for us but she doesn't take suggestions well. Her arms don't sit in the aero bars well at all, her elbows aren't seated in the elbow pads. I think they are too close together. She says her boobs get in the way.
Mine don't get in the way and we are so close to the same size. but whatever.
there was an epic front tire blow out and after we changed the inner tube we noticed a bulge on the sidewall of the tire so undid it and slipped a dollar bill inside the tire. That worked for 4 slow miles so I raced ahead one mile to home, got my car and Lans front tire, went back and switched them out and after filling up with water and having a snack of snickerdoodles, we were on our way for the last 12 miles.
What a great day.

Old Farm Problems

I really wish the bastards stealing my hay, halters, brushes and all my other shit would just knock it off. I can't afford to be feeding their fucking horse and supplying their barn with everything they need to set up shop.

Oh well, Karma is a BITCH and it will come around to bite them in the ass.

I have suspicions and if it turns out to be that person then I only have one message for her:
I hope you lose your battle with depression.

Fiesta 5k Ole'

 

Today Linda and I traveled to Seattle for the Cinco De Mayo Fiesta 5k Ole' race at Volunteer Park.

 

OFFICIAL RESULTS:

 

Me:

635/1201 overall

13/27 age group

 32:21 chip time

10:26 pace

 

Linda:

794/1201 overall

30/60 age group

34:37 chip time

11:10 pace



 

When we got there, 2 hours early, we went & got our race packets & then went back to the car. We got a nice close parking space and by thinking ahead I got turned around and was at the end of a lane so it was easy to leave.

But first we had to change clothes before the race. Me, twice.

I didn't want to run in shorts if it was going to be cold but it was warming up and I was planning on working it so I put my shorts back on.

 

When we returned to the park it was a bit breezy and we were both chilled so we stood by this brick wall, which was radiating warmth from the sun and blocking that breeze. Warmed us right up.

 

When I signed us up for this race just 2 weeks ago there was a GREEN WAVE that was timed or the RED WAVE which wasn't timed. There was no additional charge for timed so I chose that. I'm glad I did, it gave me a reason to run a bit faster than I might have.

 

here we are with 10 minutes to go about 50 people back from the front of the green corral.

 

Countdown & we go. Stop. jog in place. stop. walk a couple feet. stop. Walk, jog slowly.

After about a quarter mile we were able to get into a steady pace, at about .75 mile I heard her phone say we were keeping a 10.09 minutes per mile pace and I knew I could go just a titch faster and have a slight chance to get a PR.

 

So I had to leave her behind. But it was ok, with 3000 people on course and it being a small course, there was no chance of getting lost. The roads were shit, I saw 3 people fall and another guy trip badly.

I was feeling good at a mile, keeping pace with 2 other girls who looked good and strong, just my speed.

At 2 miles I knew I had a little more in me and it was going down hill but I had NO idea of how the course went, its turns of hills or anything. So for the first half of the last mile it was gently sloped downhill and I went a bit faster, thinking I wish it would turn because we have to go back up this hill. The turn around was in the middle of the mile and on the way back I figured out Linda was about 30-45 seconds behind me. I handed her my small water bottle and kept going. I had no watch on myself so I had no idea of my time but I still felt good.

 

The hill was a bugger and it slowed a lot of people down but I stayed strong and passed many of the people who had passed me earlier. One couple in gray shirts who had jumped in front of me earlier & then slowed down and blocked me were now beside me again and I passed their asses and didn't look back.

With 1/10 mile remaining, it was still a bit uphill and we couldn't see the finish line. They had strategically placed it behind a sharp turn.

 

I finally saw it and was pretty glad and I didn't stop running until I was over the line, both blue lines. Most people were stopping before then but that's just stupid, the race isn't over until you cross it.

 

I was there in time to see Linda FINISH and got this cool picture and shes even smiling.

 

Then we went and ate bagels and tacos; there was a taco truck contest and you got to vote for them. And buy tacos, online they made it sound like you would get free tacos, but no, we had to buy really expensive small tacos from street vendors. I had a shrimp taco, it was OK. Just OK. But I was starved since breakfast had been 5 hours earlier and the bagels weren't enough. And the bagels were dry.

 

And finally the beer garden was open and both of us were BEER VIRGINS before today. Today we actually took advantage of the free booze being offered and we collected it.

We had strawberry 'Ritas.

Yum.

 

We didn't wait for the band of anything like that, we just decided to go home.

One the way back to the car Linda took a picture of the UW arena and I took a picture of her taking a picture.

 

I finished in about 32:40, that's the time on the clock. I actually was a bit faster than that because I crossed the start line about 30-45 seconds after the official start time.

And of course we forgot to check our results before we left. And of course they aren't posted online yet.

Run

Today was my long run day, as it is for most people. I went 8.5 miles in1:47:24, which for me is pretty good. It was 12 minute something miles.

I've run faster and I've run slower. Today wasn't about speed, in fact, I had to slow down because I started out too fast. Today was just getting some distance in.

I was able to run a lot of it, walked up a couple hills and walked down a couple.

Now, 12 hours later, I'm feeling a bit of a pulling in my hip. I need to use my foam roller tonight before I go to bed. Otherwise I feel pretty dang good.

I signed myself and Linda up for the Fiesta 5k Ole in Seattle next weekend, at the end you get a Margarita and tacos. She's always up for a good food run.

Then in June on the day before she does the Victoria 70.3, I'll run the Harstine Island Half Marathon. They are hoping to get 100 participants so I'm thinking since most of WSTC will be in Canada, I might have a chance for an age group award. Even if it's just a pat on the back. I know it's going to be self timed. That's ok too, it only cost me $40 to enter and having races to do will keep me going better.

Linda and I are doing SEE JANE RUN in July, we are both doing Irongirl in August and I hope to top 10 there.

I need to get signed up for Black Diamond Half Ironman because it's the right time in my training for a practice half. I know that course, or most of it and it's local enough. I could certainly do a practice one on my own like I have done in the past but it's fun to do it in real competition too.

Computrainer still isn't hooked up, I need to get that set up so I can sort of a feel for the Ironman Arizona course before hand.

Trail Run

Linda and I went on a one hour trail run yesterday and got lost, ended up going 6 miles in 2 hours. We walked a lot of that last hour simply because it wasn't on our training plans. But it was a super nice trail to be lost on.

 

 

 

FUN Run today

Today was the inaugural Bremerton Marathon, they started out running around Dyes Inlet, out to Chico and into Bremerton.

I started just before the bunch of hills on the right side

What was unique was that if you wanted to do a half then you started out running and half way around the bay you stopped (in front of Silverdale Cyclery) and handed off the bib to your partner and then that person did the second half.

Steve and Linda did that and when she got to the aid station I was working at slightly before mile 20 I started running with her.

start of my 6.5

She completed 13.1 miles and I ran 6.5. I felt great the whole way because I had to go slow, at her speed. With her RA she cant run fast any longer and she was getting really tired so I took her hand and pulled her up the hills. I was glad I could do that for her, she's done it for me before, more than once.

End of her 13.1 and my 6.5 miles

I feel great, since I had to go so slow. I couldn't go all out at any time and I didn't go twice as far either so for me it was a training day.

Before I started running with her I helped out at the WSTC aid station for 1.5 hours, I had so much fun and saw so many friends. Along the way I saw more friends and it was such a nice day.

Also, its Hagens 11th Birthday!!

We never thought she'd make it to her tenth last year since she had been diagnosed with that tumor on her spleen.  Tonight to celebrate Im going to make her a Pineapple Upside Down Cake. She loves that and I love her.