Saturday, January 8, 2011

Freeze Your Thorns Off 5K


Ever so anxious to get my first race of the new year in the books, without hesitation I signed on the dotted line for Adam's "Freeze our Thorns Off 5K" virtual race - and today was THE day!

I put it off.  All day. 

But I had reasons.

Like a devoted, loyal friend I am, I told Tara I'd meet her at the gym at oh eight hundred this morning for weight lifting class.  First, I had to take Ryan to meet the track team as they headed up yet another insanely steep mountain, so I got to get up at crack-of-dawn o'clock to get him there and then the PLAN was to run the 5K after drop-off.  Didn't happen.  Spent too long in the parking lot waiting for his group to show up so not enough time to squish the run in, though the thought did occur to me that maybe I'd run faster if I had less time to run it, but my flannel sheets for another 20 minutes were more inviting. 

Get to weight lifting class, smack on the 8 o'clock dot for an hour (bailed on the stretching section, why the heck would I want to stretch my overly-tight hamstrings and glutes for anyway??), got home in time to take Brendan up to school (this makes 2 trips to the school all before 10a.m. on a Saturday), the band was going out to beg solicit businesses for donations to an upcoming band silent auction.  By the time I got home from that, all I had time to do was shower before I HAD to go meet a friend for lunch. 

But it wasn't just any old friend, this was my buddy, Tommy O ("tosuperstar" for you few RW souls out there who read my blog) who I have had the pleasure of training for many months (aka: Bubble Boy (because I put him in a bubble before Chicago Marathon so he wouldn't get sick, and Super Glue Boy because he had all sorts of leg problems prior to his recent 1/2 in New Orleans and I was trying to hold him together in one piece for the race).  He lives in Nebraska; his daughter had an audition here in Denver to a performing arts college out east, so they made a very quick, less than 24-hour, trip to my neck of the woods and since I've never met him before, I couldn't run the 5K after wt class, I had to meet Tom before they headed back home.  Tommy, his beautiful daughter, and I all met at a really cute little sandwich shop called Pajama Baking Co and we chatted for well over an hour, and had so much fun (I think I could sit there and talk to Tom for days; he's been running even longer than I have, we both lived in Alabama, and just have a lot in common to chat about).

Thanks, Tom!
I tried to eat a light lunch so as not to upset my stomach for the pending 5K, but I was famished from driving my kids all over creation and that kick-my-ass weight class, so I devoured half my chicken sandwich and to top that off, Tom gave me some chocolate covered strawberries, which I inhaled half of before I even walked in my front door.

Soooooooo, I got home from my awesome lunch and the daughter was home and I hadn't seen her in a few days so had to catch up with her, and major sidetrackness happened and before I knew it, I had a splitting headache and I had to take a nap.  Now it's 5:30 and my diet's all out of whack to run (I have no problems running in the evenings, I do it all the time, but I need to be pretty meticulous what I eat, and when, before) so I ate some noodles, let them digest and FINALLY, it's time to race.

Start time: 7:33p.m.

Location: Why, same locale as the ever-so-popular "runwithjill Turkey Trot 5K" - my basement treadmill (No eyerolling.  Me and my treadmill are pretty intimate - and I got to watch a good half hour of Pretty Woman to distract me, who cares if I've seen it 58 thousand times in my life, I still love it :) ).

Strategy: Don't suck. But second thought, maybe suck just a little because 1) the piriformis decided it has been neglected for a few weeks so wanted to let me know it has joined heel pain's party and 2) I have a long run for Sunday and my top priority right now is to see if the heel will let me build some long run miles.  I'm not exactly in top running shape right now so running a 5K before a long run could potentially kill the long run. 

Footwear: My brand spanking new Brooks Launch (thanks, Meg - love 'em!)


Find the right upbeat music on the iPod, turn it up 10 octaves louder than considered safe, and I'm off.  I just set the pace to whatever feels good at the time, trying not to kill myself the first mile, which I notoriously famous for.

I don't know what each mile pace was, it's really not conducive to wear my Garmin while on my treadmill (ok ok, yes, I HAVE done it before.  Hush!) but I did pick up the pace every few laps and finished the last 800 around 7:30.  The race photographer managed to capture that last speedy lap:
Would you look at that SPEED!?!?!  Wow!   Best race pic of me EVER!

Finish Line Time:  24:03 (7:46 pace)

Not my fastest, but I didn't overly push it AND I had no heel issues AND no glute pain.  Double yay.  Now, let's see if I can run tomorrow!

Thanks, Adam, I had a blast.  Do I get a prize for latest of the day run?  More importantly, I WANT one of those finisher medals, those things ROCK!! 

47 comments:

The Green Girl said...

That bib rocks, too!

Congratulations on your virtual race run on a treadmill! I still have to put together my race report.

Anonymous said...

Great job, girl! I just love that the blog world does virtual races! It is such a great idea! Good luck on your long run tomorrow!!!

Amanda@runninghood said...

Oh yay! This is so awesome. Yay for no heel pain and I need to look into getting me some Brooks...I hear so much about them. :) And, are those keens that you are wearing in your pic with your friend???! They look just like my red Keen Mary Janes.... I knew we would be fast friends...the f word AND Keens! Great taste. If they are not Keens then I still like you. :)

I think I am going to sign up for my first 5k since college (in March)...I'm already nervous. The 5k is not my fav....hurts soo much. But I think it is time. Hoping to have my husband to push me a bit.

Great job Jill! Hoping for a great long run for you tomorrow. Stay away heel pain!

Staci said...

Well done on getting it done so late in a very busy day. I don't think I would've done it. If it was my race, I would give you the prize for being the latest runner (assuming you are, of course). Good luck for the long one today.

Kim (Book Worm Runs) said...

Nice getting it in!! I did my race on a treadmill, too...I wimped out in all the snow :) I hope your long run goes well!

Kate Geisen said...

Way to go, Jill! Your "take it easy" time looks awfully good to me. I have to say, 7:30 would be early for me...for my virtual HIM I was doing runs and rides at 11:30. Ugh. But that's bc I do my kid running late rather than early, and I'm waaaaay to lazy to be at a weight lifting class at 8. Look at you already meeting people from afar...the 2011 video will be feature film length! :)

Caratunk Girl said...

Way to get that in - fun race too! I think you get the record for meeting the most bloggers, btw!

And it looks like it was really warm in CO in that picture. I am kind of jealous.

Run Jess Run said...

Love the new shoes!

Anonymous said...

That was GREAT JILL! Gave me a big smile on my face, great job!!!!

DRog said...

Nice race photo!

better news on the glute and heel:)

good luck on your long run today I really hope it goes well would = super start to 11'

Derek

Molly said...

I thought of taking a photo of my running legs on the TM, but you know I would have ended up tripping and flying off of it.

hope your headache is better!

LOVE Pretty Woman, I went to see it in the theater, and met my future husband on the ticket line : )

Mark said...

Hope the long run goes well. Loved your post!

Happy Feet 26.2 said...

Jill - that is really impressive for a 5k on the dreadmill, heel and boo-tay issues, and you were "not pushing it". Go Jill! I'm liking those shoes.

Hope the AL conversation was filled with good memories.

ajh said...

Yeah to no heel pain. You had a seriously busy day and still got the race in! I also love Pretty Woman. I pretty much love all those movies with Richard Gere. Hope you have a good long run today. My run today was just 5 miles. Now I am procrastinating all the things I need to get done.

KovasP said...

Nice job. So you watched Pretty Woman AND listened to the Ipod? That is some serious multitasking.

Black Knight said...

24'03" on the dreadmill is a fast pace!
Pretty woman song and movie: both beautiful. You won't believe but this morning I ran listening an Orbison's cd with that song (I also like "I drove all night").
I like your new shoes.

Jennifer said...

Flannel Sheets, oh the Devil invented them I am sure! Excellent "race" on the TM! Keep it going Jilly!

A Prelude To... said...

Good job getting it done!!
I'm not sure I would have gotten around to it once 7pm hit. Aren't the finishers medals awesome!! Makes me wish I had been a NON-virtual runner.

Chris K said...

Wow Jill, you might be in the wrong profession, you are quite the photographer. You frigging smoked that "race". Wait 'til you read my race report. I was a big fat slacker, a term unfamiliar to you.

Andrew Opala said...

Awesome Jill - I hope you will teach me to be faster than my slow self. I am a patient man, but I can't make my feet blur like you when I run (will there be enough time in my life to learn?)!

:)

You deserve a medal after meeting up with half the planet before hiding out in the bat cave to get the run in!

Detroit Runner(Jeff) said...

Great run. Yes, I love those finishers medals too!

Anonymous said...

Just think how fast you would have ran without the dark choclate strawberries! But great run even with the strawberries, probably more enjyable too. I too could have talked another several hours. Thanks for taking time out of a busy day, it was enjoyable to say the least!
Bubble Boy

ShutUpandRun said...

I love the goal to "not suck." I also love that your heel didn't hurt. Rock on sister!!

Nathan said...

Congrats!

Sounds like you are on a comeback! Love the new shoes, too! =D

misszippy said...

Fantastic on the heel (and the newly misbehaved pirformis). I hope it's a sign of good things to come in 2011!

Kate Geisen said...

In answer to your question, no, it never goes above 3 days a week, which is interesting bc the half marathon training plan DID. Go figure. So I guess we'll see how it goes. And the jacket does have pit zips...I think it's going to be a matter of choosing the clothes under it wisely.

Melissa said...

You know what stuck out to me on that post? Chocolate covered strawberries! lol
Good for you meeting a friend for real. Thats great!
Great time on the 5K!

Laurie said...

Love the race pic! Great job on a speedy race, especially after the marathon of a day you had leading up to it! Hope your heel behaved for you on you long run today.

Keeley said...

You met Tosuperstar!! How cool is that? =) Congrats on the speedy race! No pain and fast - YAY!

TutuRunner said...

yeah, ROLL TIDE!!! what part of alabama? i'm mostly from b'ham (growing up and the last part of college and grad school spent there) but basically from all over north alabama (florence, jacksonville/anniston, winfield)

Tara said...

Your race photo makes me want to puke I'm so dizzy. Good job girlie, glad you FINALLY got the run in and w/o heel pain. :)

Thanks for meeting me, it was good for you even though you didn't stretch your hurty butt/glutes.

BTW-chocolate covered strawberries aren't bad for you! (except the chocolate, but hey...you did do all that weight lifting and the 5K)

HappyTrails said...

Ok, those Brooks Launch shoes look mighty fine on your tootsies. Being the shoe fiend that I am, I might HAVE to go try those on! I have to disagree with Tara - chocolate is NOT bad for you-it is loaded with antioxidants!!! :-) Isn't this weather crazy??? Sun and 54 degrees yesterday and THIS today? It's not so bad, though. We burn more calories in the cold. Bring it on!

Aimee said...

Hooray for an awesome 5k treadmill run without any pain!!

P.S. I like your new blog header picture! And, I've never heard of the PBC before, but I'm definitely going to check them out sometime! It looks like such a cute place!

Anne said...

Are your days always like this? Goodness, it was non-stop and then you end it with an amazing 5K run! ...and no heel pain...yippee!! You are awesome and totally deserve a medal :)

Unknown said...

Nice thorny race, Jillie! Yipee on the Launch, the rep, who is a mom at our school, said they are close to being Brooks' #1 shoe!! Aren't they SUPER light? Steve wants to steal mine, I'm glad they're too little for his feet.
Big hugs for the week, hope the heel is doing well. I can't wait to hear about the shock wave therapy story, I did tell you the doc said it was not good, right??!!
Write when you can!!

Rose @ Eat, Drink, and Be Meiri said...

You're fast! Nice job!

gary said...

dang, you and superstar are adorable!

C2Iowa said...

Nice. Brooks? I had no idea that you were sporting them. Those are sweet.

Kovas asked it before me - tv and ipod? Serious multi-tasker.

Race photo is A1

Teamarcia said...

Oooh maybe the Launch is just what you need for that ornery heel! Very nice speedy race, especially after a full day.

All Things Jaime said...

Wow, busy day! I'm the same way if I run in the evening, though! That's funny that you ran it on the treadmill, but I don't blame you :) I probably would have done the same!! :)


Great job, Jill!

funderson said...

Mercy! What a day staring at oh-dark-thirty...

Marlene said...

Awesome job on the 5K! I would have had a hard time getting that done after the busy busy day you had. Love the pic!!

Unknown said...

I love Brooks! I gave you the stylish blogger award on my blog today. I am sure you have gotten it before...but I'm new to all this and I find your blog inspiring. Thanks.
www.blingontherun.blogspot.com

Beth said...

ummmm...WOW you are fast!!!!! sounds like a good day =)

Terri said...

Speedy Gonzales! Woohoo - yes, you need a medal!

Petraruns said...

I am SO pleased you managed to pull out that pace and NO PAIN! THAT"S WONDERFUL! WELL DONE JILL! Oh and love the snow...

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