10K RacePR and FFFK and pics

Phew..What a busy day! Started out early and ended late. I had a 10K race, car shopping,Valentines dinner and a hockey game all on the schedule today.
I'll start with the car shopping. I finally received my settlement from the insurance co. today after 2+ weeks after my wreck. I didn't buy anything, but I got the chance to look at quite a few vehicles and figure out costs. Due to the economy, car prices are down and rebates are up which is good for me! Went to 5 car lots - argued with 2 salesman, punched out another, and entered into hostile negotiation with the other 2. Just kidding, but real darn close. I hate cocky, know-it-all, lying salesman. Why can't buying a car be as simple as buying bubblegum? Needless to say, I will only be visiting the last 2 before I buy a car/truck on Tuesday.

Today I had a 10K race on the schedule and I dedicated it to Nancy as did a multitude of other runners. Poor girl needs surgery due to a torn labrum caused by basic running. You never know when the "injury gremlin" is lurking!

I ran the StrawPlains 10K. This was the same race that I ran last year in 1:02:35 and injured myself by my inexperience(2months running.)
This race is a challenge due to its elevation changes(big hills), but I still had a goal to break an hour. My previous 10K was 59:42 on a flat course. I couldn't have run this race any better. I finished in 58:59 clock time and 58:50 chip time(9:29 avg). A new PR by a full minute on big hills!! My long run days have been on hills for the past 2 months and boy did it make a difference. I surprised myself on this one.

The last part of my day finished with Dinner and a hockey game with the fam.

Very busy day it was - 1AM as a blog this. Happy Valentines to you ladies because we know that this holiday is not for us..
I will try to catch up on yall's(TN slang) blog this weekend.

10 mile race report

But Dave, I thought you were running a 15K race(9.3 miles)? Yes so did I - sneaky shitz...10 miles?
I arrived on scene about an hour early to get a good parking space and to survey the route. When I walked down to the race site, the directors were packing up the race gear. Oh great!, I'm thinking they cancelled the race due to the cold. Come to find out that a water line busted and they are moving 3/4 mile up the road. The site was on a hill and the water ran down and iced the starting point and everything else for a 1/4 of a mile. That's what 18 degrees will do for you. It was miserably cold!! Heres a pic of a cool statue at the original starting point. Anyone recognize who he is?

I wore underarmour as a base layer and 2 coolmax shirts over the top, basic running pants, hats, gloves, and earmuffs. I froze my a** off! I had a very loose plan of keeping my 5k splits @ 32 ish. I set my watch with parameters to alarm if I ran too fast or too slow. Race started, and my damn watch wouldn't stop chirping for the first mile -too fast. I eventually slowed down to shut my watch up and managed to run the first 5K in 32:30. By this time, I was sweating and had to yank of my hat and ear muffs. Only I can sweat in 18 degree weather...
The course was beautiful, it was run on the greenways through Knoxville, TN. There is some 40 miles of greenways, who knew? My watch started beeping(too slow) quite often through the 2nd -5K portion. It was the hillier portion around the University of Tennessee campus and I just couldn't keep pace. I clocked 1:06 @ the 10K(33:30). Blah!! The positive was that noone passed me after the 4.5 mile mark -  meaning that the faster runners had blasted through.
My 10K time really dissapointed me. I picked up my pace and set my eyes on people that I was going to pass. I passed 36 people(yes I was counting!) after the 10K mark until the finish line. I clocked 1:35:30 at the 15K mark(29:30 15 k split!) Backing up - The 8 mile mark was gut check time. I was tired! I was nauseous! My body said slow down!!!!! So my last 15K split was 4 minutes faster than the previous!
After I passed the 9.3 mile mark(15K) and knowing how badly I knew I was going to vomit, I couldn't help but to be quietly cussing the race people for pushing the start line back another half mile! I managed to pass 2 people in the final 30 feet and jump into the chute before them, we were all sprinting. I kind of felt bad for getting by them because they didn't know I was that close. Ok not really- ahahaha!!!
Final time -  1:39:21   -   9.83 miles     -   (10:09 pace)  NEW PR!  (this era...)
Cold and windburn face after the race.

Sadly I have no more pics than this due to no one wanting to get out in the bitter cold and snap photos.

I'm glad that I was able to run this race and I hadn't planned on running a long race until next year, the race "popped up" at the last moment. Minus the 10K split, I ran according to my plan. Not too bad for not knowing the course. Heck if I ran my 10K split faster, I may not have had the ability to "kick" at the end. Races are fun and exciting and I'm a sucker for a free tshirt, but the cold and nausea can stay away! And yes I would do it all over again...

Peace.

Need a shot

Haven't been able to post in a while. This time of the year is "sick time" and requires many long hours, so the first thing that goes is the blogomatic. Hope everyone is doing well and if I get the chance I will try to visit others. Time,time,time..If only there was more of it.. :)

Speaking of sicknessess or at least prevention. Have you got your flushot for the year? It's that time! If you have never had the flu before, I pray you never see it, Nasty bugger! Wash those hands too - #1 prevention.

I finally got a day off and decided to rest. I did manage to find time for a run though - 5 miles in 48:45 ( 9:45 pace.) The temperatures are definitely cooler which is very nice for running, but cool + wind = suckola! haha. It's gonna take all my will to get me out the door this cooler season. I mentioned in a earlier post than I am running a 15K Sat. Nov 22nd. I'm not going to get much chance to log miles before the race, so I decided to just run at a leisurely pace instead of race it. I think it'll be more fun that way, but we'll see.

Thanks for all the well-wishers out there. Stomach is back to normal. Yes, I tend to push myself way too hard - stubborness , but then again I am a man and stubborness goes with the territory.. (I see all you gals shaking your head up and down. ) :)

Have a great week everyone!!

I've lost my

Hope everybody had a great Halloween! My youngest had a blast!
Man, I haven't blogged in 4 days. Getting killed at work, so no chance to browse "what's happening." Don't know what's worst, my running addiction or my blogging addiction. haha. Any blogger anonymous meetings...
I had a good week of weightloss with 3.5 lbs down. Probably due to ,"no chance to eat" the past 2 days. Honestly, I've been watching my food intake, and staying away from crap - especially all that darn Halloween candy. My coworkers will be happy because I'm dumping the rest @ work.
Has this happened to anyone? (I can't believe I'm admitting this..) Went to Walleyworld today (aka Walmart) to catch up on some shopping, walked to the parking lot to unload my groceries. Can't find my car! hahaha Damn if I didn't walk around for a couple minutes looking for it. A ton of cars were there and I had a "brain-fart." This old man says, "Lost your car?" Chuckling, " I thought just us old people do that." Thanks for making light of my situation you old -fart, now take a jap *slap*
haha If you tell me that that's never happened to you, I'll die. Oh My Gosh - I'm losing my mind....
Playing catch-up on running this weekend. I got in 5 miles today after the "someone moved my car" incident. *wink* *wink* I decided to tackle the hills since I haven't run in 3 days. Overall the run was at an easy pace and I tried to concentrate on good form and even tempo as I ascended the hills.
5.0 miles in 52:19 (10:27 pace)
I have those transient running pains again. Left achilles sore again at the start, felt better after 1 mile in. After the run, my left outstep of my foot began throbbing. Unfortunately running on hills on the roads means "banking" curves in the road. For about a mile, I had to run with one foot higher than the other around a curve. I'll be sure not to run that route again...
I signed up for another race. My hospital is sponsoring a 5K fun walk/ 15K race. This will be my longest race ever @ 15K (9.3miles.) I'm nervous just thinking about it....

Worldwide Festival Of Races

Today I ran a 10K race for the Worldwide Festival Of Races, formerly the "The Zen Run 10K." On the weekend of 11-12 October 2008 runners from around the world will 'virtually' come together to celebrate their passion for the sport they love by running The Worldwide Festival of Races Half Marathon, 10K and 5K distances.

I really wanted to run the half marathon distance, but didn't have anyone else to run it with, but the 10K was fun anyway.

My goal was to beat my previous 10K and the "1 hour" barrier. I ran my first 10K back in February in 1:02:35 in a hobbling mess. I started out @ a 9:45 pace and stayed consistent with my 5K split @ 30:10. I felt very good at that point and fought the urge to run faster and "tanking." I would have to pick up the pace "a little" though on the last 5K in order to beat 1 hour. The run and race went great, with me finishing in 59:42 (9:36 pace). A new PR!!! Never felt that I was killing myself throughout the entire run. You are supposed to be dying in races.. haha. So the cool thing is maybe, just maybe I am getting "into shape."

First 10K Race

I was able to check off another running mark off my "to do list." I ran my first 10K today @ the Strawberry Plains 10K/Half Marathon race. This was my most enjoyable race to date. Along with the friends that participated, I met a few more along the way. As far as I am concerned running is fun by itself, it is even more fun running with friends and colleagues.
I want to congratulate Kate for finishing first in her age group, she finished in the 54min range ; which is freaking awesome in my book. The were handing out awards after the race, and she didn't get into the gym until after her name was already called. One of her friends looked at the race board and noticed that she finished first. After she found out, she was pumped!! We " high 5'd" many times .LOL! GJ Kate..
Good event, good turnout. The 10K//1/2 marathoners all started out at the same time. The usual jumbled mass of people at the starting line ensued and "creeping" up to the first quarter mile. Out and back course. My plan: was to start @ 10min/mile and do neg splits the rest of the way. Yes, that WAS the plan. Try to finish around 60mins. Realistic goal: 1hr 2mins = 10min/mile. 1) 9:57 2) 19:48 3) 29:45 Felt great @ 5k mark. Wasn't pushing it at all(smiling and talking to others), but the first half was flat to downhill. Turnaround and back. " I know you can read between the lines" on this one. You never pay attention to how much the downhills are until you have to run back up them. 2 flat areas about 1/2 mile total, the rest was uphill! The smiles and talking disappeared, and the heavy breathing and grunting ensued.
4) 40:15 5) 50:20 Final) 1hr 2mins 35secs. One thing I can honestly say is that I gave everything I had !
Was it slower than expected? Yes. Am I dissapointed? A little.. Did I have fun? ABSOFREAKINLUTILY!!!!!
You like that word, huh? hehehe

Post Race and WIR

I ran my second 5K, a new PR of 29:20. Slow, but good for me. This was the hilliest course I have ever run. After the 1/4 mile start, we hit a huge hill; which was just the first of 5 significant hills. It was a tough test, but I was able to beat my best time by a minute. I was encouraged that I beat my previous time, since the first race was flat and this was very hilly.

The race was fun with lots of entertainment and fellow friends running. No more 5 K's planned until March. I 'll just keep up my long/tempo/speed work runs.
I ran 4 times this week equaling over 16miles and biked >12miles. I don't feel tired, so I keep it going. I do have a sore throat today and hope that I can fend off cold/sickness.