Empty Nest Runner

Met up with BCHS crew for "k's".  They opted to do it on the track, as the weather looked a bit iffy.

After warm-up/stretching and pickups:

Did 8 x 1ks @ 6:44 with 1 min jogging break and one lap jog after 4.  Felt great and conversational.  goal was for the crew to do this at around tempo pace, just to get the legs moving.  brandon completed 10 and said he felt great!

Did mine with Dalton to get him ready for his Half marathon debut!  He plans to start out at 6:44 and just see how it goes.  I went to register only to find out that the Rock Canyon is SOLD OUT??  UGH!  I'm glad Dalton pre-registerd...looking for an alternative.

Just saw that Carlsbad is sold out for January as well.  I have not hit the sub-elite time yet, so had planned to just register (meaning pay) and just see how it goes.  Seems like my half plans are dwindling by the second.

Finished off workout with Core and med ball throws (mostly shot put).  Should be nice and sore tomorrow.

Ankle update (sprained 3 weeks ago tomorrow)-Forgot to calf stretch exercises and so annoying click was back all through workout.  not really pain, just clicking.  Danny explained that its the tight calf muscle + loose front ligaments forcing the calcaneous bone to jut, thereby causing ligs to rub--thus the clicking.  might have overdone the calf stretching later though as I am definitely sore.

Rest Day-not planned (had to go to JeffCoEd HR clear out in Golden to make sure that I got paid...)

Happy Week 3 B-day on the ol' sprain.  Stretched with the kids after practice and did some ROM exercises to loosen up the ankle.  3 more weeks and I get to try trails again (carefully!)

68 degrees??  Too nice NOT to run.

Met the BCHS runners in time for their "Game Day" prep.  They decided to play soccer this week, so no for me!  Couldn't justify trying to kick a ball with a sprained ankle, so headed to the track for some work.

Met an area master's Pentathlete that was getting some barefoot work in.  our track is all weather and new, but not the smoothest surface ever.  usually i have the kids do barefoot striders in the grass, but OUCH, not on the track.  He looked tough!

10 min warmup, stretches, drills, 4 strides

initially planned to kill time and get some easy work in while kids played soccer.  Started out with idea of doing 'straights and curves" but got bored real quick.  SO, instead opted to do a 5k progression run instead.

Started at 8:30 pace and dropped 10 sec/mile pace every quarter.  So went from 8:30 to 6:38 over the course of 12 laps.  kept me NOT bored and totally engaged in my pace and disciplined to start controlled and command the pace (instead of letting thepace command me).  had lots of fun adn the laps went by in no time at all!

SO, it's neat to see what the actual numbers tell versus what I was trying (and thought i was running).  Aided by my trustee garmin, i was able to check my pace throughout the lap.

Lap	Goal pace	Actual Pace
1	8:30	8:30
2	8:20	8:21
3	8:10	8:03
4	8:00	7:48
5	7:50	7:45
6	7:40	7:34
7	7:30	7:34
8	7:20	7:25
9	7:10	7:10
10	7:00	7:03
11	6:50	6:52
12	6:40	6:38

3.1 23:22 with 7:33 average

Pretty happy with the result.  Pace was a bit haphazard due to wind on one corner, but it is fun to "pick" a pace and not have that pace pick you.  Then it is really fun to buckle down a bit more on each lap. 

Can't wait to do this with the kids!  Every couple of weeks we do some sort of "Team Challenge", that is both fun and yet work.  (Last one was a donut mile-I'll enter a blog entry for the Tues before T'Giving about THAT one!)

With the kids, i will start at 9:00 pace and make everyone run as a group.  They will be split into random teams (kinda random, with the best possible matchup of varying paces on each team, boys and girls alike).  Each lap, we drop the pace like I did above--working as a group, until some of them start to fall off.  Their individual goal is to see how long they can hang, getting one point per lap for their team.  As we speed up (again as a group so no one can push the pace), we keep going until there is only one.  Each person earns a point per lap and the team with the most points wins.  The faster ones try to keep the others hanging on for as long as they can (instead of pushing the pace and tring to break the others), and when the others fall off, they continue to cheer on "their" team.

Good times are had by all AND they are getting in some decent mileage while building team.

Because I am a runner geek:  will be watching D2 National Championships at 9 am tomorrow via the web (though my son gets to watch it live as his team is the defending guys/gals champ!  GO Adams!!!!!!!)

Will run later this afternoon.  What an incredible weekend for running!  Dalton down in Rock Canyon for his first ever half (10 min to the gun and he just txted me!--if I get txtx during the race I am going to poke him in the eye when he gets back!).  Cali Inter marathon- wonderfully fast course with a bonus to anyone that runs an OTQ.  Lots of great Coloradans out there to include Dakota Ridge coach Mark-says he's pacing a friend and might not complete, but if he feels great, he will go on.  AND of course, D2 XC Nats in Louisville.  Guys race to sart in 6 minutes, so I'll be watching here:  http://www.ncaa.com/allaccess/?media=215213

YAY!

SO, my son's school wins another National Title!!  Watched vid feed and saw that (in the snowy conditions) my superfan son probably was not wearing a shirt...Tried to text him to put his shirt back on and was ignoored.  What's a mom to do?  Of course he is the designated "D" in ADAMS...without him, they just spelled A AMS...

Girls' put in a good effort, but lost their first title in 9 years getting closely beat by their greatest rival Western by 3 points (ouch!) for a solid 3rd place finish.

Nike Cross Nationals is also today as well as the North Face 50 miler (tried to get a comp...but didn't pan out...)  SO--it's almost like bowl games for running nerds!!  great weekend.

Will run later this afternoon at Bear Creek park.  Gorgeous out!

Oops!  Lost one...

So, it happened today.  I lost a runner.  It was an inevitability that sooner or later one of the slippery little buggers would get away.

Since I am not yet able to run trails (sprain day 25), I was not able to carefully track my HS'ers like I would normally do.  Throw into the mix that on Mon and Weds we have a very persistent and talented eigth grader that joins us for a jaunt.  Set up for disaster!

Mondays tend to be our long days, as most of my runners are in base building and do not run 7 days, or heck even 6 at this point in their season.  By default, mondays are the only safe days I know to get our mileage in, when I am not competing with family obligations on Saturdays.  Mondays also allow us the flexibility to change our plans due to weather or random animal invasions (don't ask).  That way we can front load our week and ensure that our long run is protected...

Our goal today was to run 1 hour for an "out and back", allowing each runner to turn back at 30 minutes regardless of how far they made it and allowing the faster runners to see the slower runners at least twice.  My primary function is to protect the pace and become the enforcer when the guys that went out WAY too fast realize that they still have the back of the out and back to complete.

Our designated pace for the last 3 weeks has been 7;20.  So, i let the guys go as fast as they feel they can manage, but I maintain the average pace so that they can't fall off too hard.  The youth select the routes and I merely go along for the "ride".  Always encouraging them to run trails whenever possible, to protect their precious and still growing joints and bones, it becomes a challenge for us to select routes where i can still cover the distance, but still be visible to them as a steady, metronomic reminder of what their pace is supposed to be. 

Having taken this into account, we selected to run Bear Creek trail heading East towards Kennedy HS, where there are a myriad of trails that run parallel to the bike path.  Missing practice last Monday caused a serious judgment error on my part, as I did not know that our young visitor did not quite make his 50 full minutes last week.  When he began to fall off pace, i recommended that he relax a bit and then turn around at 30 minutes to go back the way he came.  Of course, he did not tell me that he was not wearing a watch...

One of our runners competed at Rock Canyon over the weekend and therefore did not need the intensity that we were seeking.  When he turned back at his designated time, I requested that he take our young charge back to the school with him.  Adament little bugger must have politely refused, as the group, in fact encountered him shortly after our turn around, as he was walking.

So, herein lies the dilemma.  We are 25 minutes out and clearly 3 plus miles away.  I encouraged our young runner to try to stay up with the group's last runner, who was falling off the back OR to stay on the bike path with me.  He opted to stay on the bike path, but, as he is a boy and has yet to understand that this ol' bag of female bones can actually run, kept intermittently sprinting ahead with quick almost walking breaks.  When he tired of me catching up to him, he bounded off into the trails after his fellow gender specific buddies.  The story later suggests that he actually bounded fast enough to catch up with our lead pack, only to pay the price. 

By the time my path intersected the trail at the next juncture, no one could really tell me where he was.  We hoped that his boundless energy helped him Tigger all the way back to the school, but to be safe, I ran back and forth along my trail to flush the harrier out. 

When there was no sign of my young star, i returned back to the school to find out that he did not, in fact, make it back ahead of us.  The group gathered their phones and set off to reel our wayward wanderer home.  Luckily for all, my nerves were settled when within 5 minutes one group of 2 spotted our lost sole.  The group frantically texted one another to home base and the crisis was averted.

UGH!  What a day.  We reiterated the buddy system rules and I reminded the kids that I am much too old for that kind of stress.  In actuality, it is times like this, that I am reminded how immense the reponsibility is in mentoring young runners and praised the team for their willingness to immediately go back out and find their missing mate.  Next week, our young runner will wear a watch, communicate if he is unsure of the route and run an appropriate distance for the pace that we are setting.  A humbling and scary experience that helps to remind me to get back to the basics as a coach...slippery little buggers...

SO, goal was 60 minutes at 7:20.  First 4 were @ 7:20, but then pace slipped as I was running back and forth with our newbie.  Averaged 7:48 for the eight with worry stops and backtracking, adding on an additional mile while wandering on my search.

Lunge Routine and Myrtle with 5 Med ball exercises.  The kids opted not to lift as they were plum EXHAUSTED!  (And reminded me that both Chuck and Monday Night Football were on tonight...)

Ankle felt great!  Thinking about heading to Cali for the Santa to the Sea half as I was not able to get into Rock Canyon this past weekend....should be a great measure of where my fitness is at with very little speed work under my belt. 

Easy Day

Nothin' special...just slogged 5.25 today, but in my NEW racing flats!!  Like them very much.  Needed to break them in before my half this weekend...

Santa to the Sea

So, after being shut out of the Rock Canyon Half (sold out), it seemed like a good idea to fly out to LA this weekend and race in a small, quirky half marathon.  California typically is a great place to race due to cheap airfare, lower elevation and reasonably mild temps this time of year.

I left early Saturday morning, avoiding any security lines and  blessedly having a row of seats all to myself'-which makes for great napping!  Though I have flown a hand ful of times since my unfortunate frostbite incident (and ensuing neuropathy), I have yet to derive the courage to actually race after flying.  Most folks endure some swelling when flying, but WHOA!  My poor little piggies turn into tightly packed sausages that are ready to explode, causing extra pressure on my too sensitive nerves.  Thus the necessity for the early flight out...7 a.m. early.

Arrived in LA ahead of schedule, picked up the rental and headed to Oxnard, about an hour or so north of LA in Ventura County--apparently known for strawberries, onions and Santa !http://www.santatothesea.com/Santatotheseaweb2/sttsvid.html  Despising onions, I was sure that Santa and the strawberries would surely be worth the trip.

Went straight to the race expo at the host hotel near the finish...ok, well actually it ended up being packet pickup, no expo, but at least near the ocean.  Found out that there would be no "gel" type stuff out on the course, so obtained directions to the nearest "Gu" symposium.  the volunteers at packet pickup were extra special friendly, as was the race director.

Too early to check into the hotel, made my way tot he local mart to buy yummy treats and healthy items for lunch.  Pre-emptively bought mint choc covered oreos (post-race snack of choice) to help me visualize success.  Besides investing time and money into racing, the only guarantee that I will actually wake up and finish an event is the promise of these tasty morsels.  if you have not yet enjoyed them, you should.  But be warned--I am pretty sure they are laced with crack, as I can not stop eating them whne I have them, and I crave them when I don't.  Don't say I didn't warn you...

Checked into the hotel extra early and opted for a nap, as I was sure that the swelling would be unbearable tonight, and I wanted to ensure that I had at least some rest.  Napped wonderfully and went for a shakeout to explore just how far from the start line I actually was (rce brochure stated half mile, but in reality it was more like 1 mile).  Glad that I scouted this out, as crossing over the expressway was somewhat treacherous and a bit like frogger. 

Ran right past the start line...which is amazing, as you can see the giant Santa from the freeway--how did I miss that?...and explored the neighborhood.  This part of Oxnard is vivacious, though ruggedly poor.  Many migrant field workers have settled into this area, eventually bringing over families to join them.  The community was alive, as many parties were already starting to "jump".  Pseudo lawn areas were sprinkled with "jump castles" for the kids and fences were replaced by elaborate systems of tarps strewn to demarcate one household from the next.  Most dwellings were smallish prefab type tenements and, it seemed, that most of the inhabitants were outside enjoying the unseasonably warm weather and laughing at the strange gringo gal running past.

Pre-race bonus!  Found a hidden port-a-potty just about 200 m away from the start area on a construction site.  Oh happy day!

Ran back to hotel, showered and went to order takeout at a nearby Olive Garden.  Went to a store to buy a Christmas present, as the race doubles as a toy drive AND scholarship resource for the residents of Oxnard.  Enjoyed my meal back in the hotel, while watching Indiana Jones--ok, stayed up way past my pre-race bedtime to see the ending-whcih I have seen at least 1000 times before...

Woke up at 6 ish to eat oatmeal warmed with milk from my in-room microwave and banana, chased by several swigs of gatorade and water.  Played dress up in my race clothes and checked the cuteness factor.  Opted for bright pink racing shorts and white and pink singlet.  Covered self in layers and headed toward the lobby to meet up with strangers that might also be heading towrad the race. 

With no one to hitch a ride from, jogged over to the start with a visiting marine, and as payment for his escort, shared the location of my secret porta potty.  Jogged around from the start line to check out the "competition" (OK and the guys!).  Made several jaunts over to my private commode, even if I didn't need it, just to feel special.  Was already sweating...uh oh?!

Lined up in about row 5 to thwart off thoughts of taking out the race in a 5:30 pace (which would have lasted for 200m tops!) and made conversation with a gent wearing basketball shorts and talking himself up wonderfully!  He was very enthusiastic, as this was his first, and shared his training secrets with me.

Right before the start, a waif of a young girl stepped ahead of me.  That would be the last time I would see her, as she finished UGH about 10 minutes ahead of me...

Had fun dodging the locals that truly did not know that walkers were not supposed to start up front and watched the race unfold.  i was impressed that noone bad mouthed the walkers and joggers for starting out of place, as everyone was very jovial at the start.

Race plan was to just break 1:30, so set myself up for 6:44's.  had some difficulty finding my rythm for the first half mile, and as the temperature began to rise, was very happy that I went with summer racing apparel.

Ran with a few peeps here and there, but could not find any that really want to talk...

After mile 3 decided to start stretching the legs a bit, as there were a few lady gals ahead of me and I did not want to underestimate anyone--not knowing what the local talent might be.  Probably spent myself a bit, throwing in some surges to see if the competitive juices would start flowing, when I realized what was missing.  This was the first half marathon (post-frostbite injury) that I was actually rracing!  I have paced people in probably 20 halfs in various paces from 1:40 to 4 hours, but had yet to actually rce one for myself!  No wonder I was lonely and trying to make friends...

At some point, the spectators were at one block saying I was 2nd fe, and then 4th fe all at the same time.  i was very confused on my place and had settled into the realizing that the skinny waif was out of my league and thta 2nd would feel pretty good.  Right around mile 7 (following an overpass run), my legs started to tighten and the heat began to play tricks on me.  Up until then, 6;40's were very acceptable and I was toying with some faster paces coming out of turns to really try and stress my healing ankle a bit.  As I began to feel myself slow, I was intermittently passed by a couple of very fresh looking lady gals. 

I surged again, hoping to vamp some of their energy and use them to block the headwind that was directly hitting us from the ocean, but my legs (and probably more so) my mind were not fully responding.  opted to take a potty break and, worried that with the now 90 degree temps I was not taking in enough fluids, opted to walk the water stations to drink more (I really suck at drinking and running...).  More lady gals were closing in and I realized that there was no way I would not fight for at least a podium place.  i had my work cut out for me, as i slowed to a miserable jog at this point, but realized that if they were passing me when I was going this slow, they also must be going quite slow themselves.

Buckled down for the last 2 miles and passed a few more lady gals but was still confused by the fresh looking ones that had passed me around mile 7 (that I still could not see).  Passed and broke one poor gal and settled in behind a spandex covered dude that was wearing a santa hat.  Figured as long as I ran right behind him through his sprint, no one was likely to pass me near the finish.

Kinda picked it up near the end, accelerating to 5:50's (not a very big sprint at all...sigh...) and as I was finishing was announced as the 3rd fe to cross.  Smiled for the camera and immeidately went in search of chocoalte. 

I was perplexed as a few other lady gals surely were in front of me...but waited to see the results.  Finished in 1:33:58 (chip-gotta get credit for those 2 seconds right?) and proceeded to find an official to point out their counting error in the results.

Silly me--found out that there was a relay going on at the same time and that the few lady gals tht looked fresh, were just that!  At mile 7, they were merely half mile into their leg.  ALSO, silly me for surging with them and wasting what little energy was being sapped by the 90 degree weather...lesson learned!

Post-race analysis--I have lost my racing edge!  After several just barely winning finishes over this last year, i realized that I am a lazy competitor!  I merely have been running fast enough to place to get some schag, with as little pain as necessary.  When i pace folks in workouts, I back off and go to other groups just as things get interesting.  I have been using the excuse that I am afraid of the pain that will come later tht night in the form of my neurapothy, but in reality I am just weak minded.

I thoroughly enjoyed my racing experience, but realize that I could have gone much, much harder and kept backing off from the discomfort.  (backed up by the fact that some of my training runs are about this same pace...though in not so hot of temperatures).

Won some great race schwag to include a bright blue hoody adorned on the back with the running santa and with "1st place winner" on the front to denote my masters level win.

All in all a great weekend hwere I truly just had to worry about myself and no other runners that i coach.  I enjoyed both my alone time and my idle chatter with the many great strangers that I met along the way. 

Might return next year (as long as the Collegiate All American -Senior-that smoked me opts NOT to return...sigh...

Easy recovery run--sore from yesterdays race

UGH!  Pretty sure I am sick (though if I don't admit it, I'm not, right??)  Very difficult time catching my breath even when doing nothing, and coughing like crazy.  Body sore (though i chalked that up to my hypothermia induced spasms from the other night...)

SO, i'll take today off and try to get extra rest--load up on emergen-C, Cold EZE and chocolate.  hate to miss a day, as I will have a hard time running this Thursday (LONG car ride).  BUT...gotta get healthy.

Had our Holiday Party for the homeless at work.  We were blesed by the amazing amount of volunteers and food that we received.  Drew came along and was busy wrapping gifts, moving furniture (to accomodate all of our lovelies), taking out trash and generally entertaining the masses.  I am always so overwhelmed with how much he likes to do volunteer work at the clinic (and how much we miss him there, now that he is away at college..sigh...)

Besides the wonderful zany antics that only homeless addicts with mental health issues offer, we were also entertained by a barbershop quartet and one of our clients that brought his electric guitar and amp.  What a wonderful day!

EZ Run-Bear Creek Park

1 mi w/u + stretching and drills

Really tired today.  Picked Drew up from Adam's State last night, got home at 2:30 am (I let Drew drive for about 60 miles, so it was a bit slower going than if I had drove...but he did great!)

SO, just went out for super easy shakeout run today.  Was rather chilly and muscles were rather tight (possibly from the long drive yesterday).  Chocolate and sleep will help!

Talked to my marathoner "Matt" and found out he had food poisoning and was down for over a week...Will run iwth him some tomorrow and see how he is doing (training for Disny marathon which is coming up REAL soon!)

Invited to do a snow shoe race on January 8.  I think it is a 30k (YIKES), but hey, it's free!!  I love the challenge of racing in the snow as i continue to work to overcome the damage from my frostbite.  Will bring EXTRA chocolate that day.  Just found out my son will be able to race as well.  Double bonus!

Vista Trailhead near Eldorado Springs

Unbelieveably gorgeous weather out for a run.  Got to the trailhead to mee tup with our Sunday crew and Stephanie joined as well!  YAY--there are not many women in our group and I welcomed some amazing company.  It was so warm, we had to change into lighter layers.  Gotta love Colorado weather.

So, almost right away, i noticed that I could not catch my breath (phew!  Steph is speedy!!).  Last night, I got a tad hypothermic (related to my Reynauds...sigh...) and I must have been more affected than I was willing to admit. (Drew had wrapped blankets around me and set dogs on my lap as extra warmth).

Luckily, i had someone to keep me going, or I might have turned right back.  Got suprememly lost (not sure Stephanie will EVER trust me ont he trail again!),  and got to explore some of the trail that I had yet to see.

Ankle felt great (i think 5 or 6 weeks post sprain), no audible clicking, but then again, over my heavy breathing, who would have heard??

Snow shoe running for 2 miles.

Moderate 10 miles on hilly dirt roads near mom & dads.  A little muddy...

Pre-Race shakeout

Easy 4 miles + 4 x 100m pick ups

Resolution 8k (Flushing MI)

So, found out last night that the Flint Resolution 8k was moved to Flushing at the last minute.  Apparently, Flint liad off a ton of cops and was not able to support a small race...The race director from the Riverbend Striders luckily had access to Flushing HS and the race was saved!

The last few days, the weather here in Michigan (visiting Mom & Dad), has been steadily getting warmer and warmer.  Race morning, it was pouring rain, which meant at least the roads would not be icy. 

Dad chaufered Drew and I in the Hummer (mom could not go, as she has now caught the cold that Drew and I had...sorry mom!) and acted as our support crew.  It has been 20 years since he has seen me run, so this was really exciting.  AND, this is the first time he was able to see Drew (grandson) run-really, really neat!

The rain cleared up by the time we arrived at the high school (and scored a great parking spot right in front of the school, which was also near the start line).  Race was only 10$ with the late fee (without the sweatshirt option, wchih looked pretty cool, but I am cheap!).  Registration went really quick AND BONUS--Indoor plumbing!  We were able to utilize the HS bathrooms.  THAT was worth $10 alone.

Went out for warm up and, since the race was moved, had absolutely no idea where the course went.  Walked over to the timing mats to ask and the wonderful gentleman went into a narrative regarding the history of the race (really I just wanted to know the general direction so wee could warm up).  After the perfunctory nods and ohhs and ahhs, we finally found out that the race course would make 2 loops, a 5k loop, followed by a 3k loop, with the walkers starting slightly behind the runners (great idea!).  That meant that dad would see us twice!  Neat.

Jogged 2 miles and noted the slight incline marking the first mile of the race as well as the placings of the prominent puddles.  The first turn also would mean that we would be heading into the wind for about 3/4s of a mile as well.  Otherwise, the course looked like it basically went around some residential areas and was relatively flat.

Went back into the school and overheard some gals making fun of the few runners that were already down to shorts and singlets.  Sine I was also in shorts and a singlet AND they were standing right next to me, I felt it OK to do some educating.  Really, did they think I could not hear them.  They looked completely shocked in their wintry warm layers and cute matching ear muffs, when I told them when we run FAST we actually get a bit over heated.  I must have been speaking a different language...I even offered to show them my sheen from warming up, but they decided to move away...odd?

With a blamy 51 degrees at the astart, i was really thankful that we decided to pack our singlet (even if we won't be making the Flushing Fashion weekly...)  At the start, Drew had to ask a few folks if he could get in front of them (they were, of course, int heir full winter running regalia and did not at all looko like competitors...) I opted to start behind these same guys and gave a HS gal next to me a heads up that we would have to circumnavigate their corpulent beings in order to get a decent start.  But, hey, I was game...who knows, they really could have been contenders!

At the starting "GO", sadi guys got caught up inthe excitement and lokoed (at least for 10 steps) that they really were planning to race this baby all out.  At that point, the one on the right stepped off onto the grass, nearly tripping my new friend and I and told his friend tovaliently go on without him.  Actually very glad I started behind them, i was able to restrain myself AND get a good giggle at "Dan. DAN--are you OK?"

Saw Drew take the first turn in the lead and winced, as I remembered the next .75 was straight into the wind--but at least he had the lead bike to duck behind.  Went through the first mile in 5:35 and nearly screamed, but them we realized that that was the mark for the 5k walkers that would be a bit behind us.  The guy next to me asked what the time was and did not recognize that I was seriously breathing and probably could not talk.  As much as I would have liked to be friendly to the 20 something dude that clearly wanted his mile times but opted to not wear a watch himself running next to the 40 year old chick that was seriouslly trying her hardest to run FAST...needless to say, I could not give the sprtieful young man his split and was happy that someone else yelled it out (though I think he really was offended...I truly was not being rude, I was trying to BREATH!)  I again had a chuckle and thought that the youngster should have been running much faster with his jovial self.

Lucky surprise--the route looped in on itself at one point before the initial first loop and I was able to see that Drew was in a pack of 3 for the lead.  Tried to rally a "YAY" for the young buck, but with this chest cold, it sounded quite raspy and I ended up having to launch a loogey in his general direction instead.  I think he understood that it was a loogey of love as he gave me a head nod as he ran past.

By mile 2, we were traversing the extra little loop that Drew and gand just took and I could clearly see many FE's ahead of me.  I puroposely restrained myself in the beginning and was planning to try to hit 6:30's for the whle race.  Slowly I started catching some of the gals ahead and then found my HS friend right before the 5k mark.  I was finally in control of my rasping and was able to talk to her for asecond and give her some encouragement.  We noted that we went through the 5k mark at 19:40 and celebrated just a tad.  Saw my dad near the 5k mark, and even though I was jumping up and down, wearing a bright orange singlet AND waving, he apparently did not see me pass...oh well, I got plenty of waves from others that were watching...

As I entered the final 3k loop, I had to dig deep to keep returning to 6:30's. Going up the small incline, i caught myself in no man's land and was creeping up to the 7's--UGH!  I decided that I really needed to RACE.  I haven't felt the gumption to RACE in a long time (usually I pace someone in a race, or make friends and settle for a decent age group placing).  I was hoping to catch up to one of the guys ahead of me to try to draft as i was going intot he headwind, but no such luck, though I closed the gap considerably on the next pack.

Hitting the 4 mile mark, i purposely tried to give everything to test how deep the well was running today. Found myself dudes as I was nearing 6:00 fat pace and got a little bit scared about trying to hold that pace over the next mile.  Folkls were telling me that I was 3rd FE, but I could not see the top 2 at all...instead of settling for my 3rd place (which i felt was relatively safe unless someone was planning to close really quick), I decided to start picking off guys.  I pledged to not allow a guy to pass me in the final straight, and therefore knew that I would have to pass anyone that I was encountering with enough commitment that he would think I had more left (which I really did not...)  The tactic worked as my pledge gave me the last littel oomph to look like I was actually finishing kinda fast (I really wasn't but hey...)

Looked over at me dad who was standing near the finish and give him a big wave!  Drew missed my huge finish (he made friends with the guys he was running with...sigh...)--huge cuz I usually just crawl across the finish line...

Felt great through the finish and was happy with my race plan.  Ran 32:31 averaging 6:32.  Of course Drew ran 27: something and took 2nd.  So, not bad for two mucos-y visitors from Colorado!  Found out that Drew took 2nd to the D2 national Cahmp (or runner up) for the 800m from last year...not bad considering he was a senior last year!  Way to go buddy!

Cooled down with a gal from Saginaw Valley and her dad and headed in to the HS to pick up our plaques AND incredible brownies and cookies.  Giggled at the gals that were trying to dry their hair with the hand dryers (most of the runners had planned to go out directly after the race, since originally it was supposed to by at the YMCA with full shower facilities).  Again, I realized quickly that I was not going to make the Flushing Fashion pages as I tucked in some curls and scampered out in my bright orange singlet!!

Happy New Year everyone!