I'll keep running....
Because it gives me perspective.
Now I realize my problems aren't so big.
My life is pretty great afterall.
And a mile is a lot longer than it seems in the car.
Middlebury Maple Run--The Sweetest Half (13.1 Miles) 01:49:51, Place overall: 179, Place in age division: 24
Total Distance
13.10
13.1 miles in 1:49:51 [8:23 AP]
179/485 Overall
56/284 Female
24/105 Female 20-29 (of course 2 VT college XC teams were in my age group!)
As the saying goes,
"Vermont Ain't Flat."
That was the course description for the Middlebury Maple Run--The Sweetest Half that I ran today.... they were not kidding! There weren't really any super steep hills but there were lots and lots and lots of hills, one after another after another for the entire race! That's about all I can even think to mention in the race report! It was a beautiful bright, sunny warm day in Vermont and I went out at 7:43 for my first two miles then slowed a bit because I knew that was too fast. What I remember being the steepest hill was at about mile 3 and I held my pace right up it and felt pretty good. Figuring it would be like most other races I've done, I figured that would be the only hill and I sadly I wasn't even close. I kept it together and got to mile 6 at 48:18 if I remember correctly which I was really happy with. Then the hills started to get me mentally, I was still getting up them fine and passing people on them, but it was up, up, up, down a smidge, up, up, up, up,up and you could see them all coming right in front of you. I felt myself slowing a bit but I knew I needed to. At about mile 9 (when you pass the finish line for a hilly out and back) I was done mentally, I didn't want to play anymore.....but I kept going and I think I was happier to see the 13 mile marker than I was the 26 marker in the marathon! Right at the 13 mile mark, there was a right hand turn and the 0.1 mile straightaway to the finish line. I saw a girl about half way between me and the finish line and I told myself now or never, beat her! And somehow my legs just went into full out cheetah sprint mode, and I beat her steps from the finish line, she never even had a clue I was coming!
I was so proud that I beat my best (and only) 1/2 marathon time by just seconds shy of 15 MINUTES on such a crazy tough (for me anyway since I don't really train hills much and certainly not that many in a row!) course! I can't wait to see what I can do on a flatter course!!
Westport Run for the Water (4.97 Miles) 00:38:36, Place overall: 3, Place in age division: 1
Total Distance
4.97
8K (4.97 miles) in 38:36 [7:46 pace]
17th Overall
3rd Female overall
1st Female 20-29
Beautiful day for a run on Horseneck Beach! Felt tight and slow right from the start and didn't think I was going to have a good race, but I did! I ran with last year's winner for the first 2 miles at about 7:16 pace.... as usual I went out fast, but I like making people pass me. Mile 2-3 felt crappy and I know I slowed a lot but I finished strong and left with a PR by over 4 minutes and cash prize!!
We only had 3 again tonight for playoffs because Craig is off buying a house in New Orleans or something.... but we played totally awesome and cruised through to the second round even down a player! Lost in the semi finals but not too bad considering. I think I played more defense tonight than I have played in the last maybe 5 years combined! I don't know where my passing came from tonight, but it was awesome... and well as usual I got compliments on my nasty hitting!
I had intentions of getting in a short run after playing but it was just too intense tonight so I decided to sleep instead
I think I underestimate the toll all this volleyball takes on my body. Taking today off after one heck of a volleyball night at playoffs last night. Resting my super tight hip flexors, and totally bruised knees, and sore abs, etc. etc......
Got my Nike+ sportband today and took it out for a quick test run before volleyball. Ran 2.24 miles according to it and 2.36 miles according to Gmaps Pedometer so I don't know which to side with. AP 8:19
4x 30 minute co-ed 4's.... this was the last week before playoffs! My body is ready for a rest, it is pretty banged up at the moment. Ready to take a bit of a break for the summer and do some more running
3.25 mile run to the charles river cleanup. spent 2.5 hours pulling weeds, mulching, cutting branches, and carrying big bags of organic trash up and down the stairs a million times. got home grabbed my kayak and met Mel back out on the river for a 5.25ish mile kayak trip. and now.....a nap!
Strawberry Stampede (6.2 Miles) 00:48:49, Place overall: 12, Place in age division: 2
Total Distance
6.20
Ahh! I have been so bad keeping track of runs lately and even worse at actually doing them! Slacking big time but I did this race while on vacation in Cali and it was really good! Sorta hilly to start but then pretty fast and flat for the last 3 miles through the broccoli and cabbage fields....stinky!!! Post race all the strawberries you can eat was awesome!!!! Liana and Rose ran too and I was so proud of them since they aren't runners and haven't been training! So nice to have family there to watch.... little Jane and Eve made it too!
