Things that didn't happen:
1) I didn't fall off the face of the earth, despite the fact that my blog might have led you to believe that.
2) I didn't suffer from some catastrophic injury or other impediment that kept me from running (okay, there was a bout of tonsillitis in there).
3) I didn't quit running. Okay, I did for a bit.
After the Philadelphia Marathon, I felt kind of lost, runner-wise, and wasn't sure what I wanted to do next. I discovered that Concept 2 has rowing challenges that you can do on the rowing machine and decided that this would be a fun change of pace. So I completed the 100k challenge for the holidays, meaning that I rowed 100k between Thanksgiving and Christmas break (actually a bit earlier, since I left the rowing machine on December 20). My most proud achievement was setting a 5k personal record that also put me in the top 50th percentile of my age group. So awesome to not suck at a sport! So different than running! Also, I got a certificate for finishing the challenge.
Speaking of running, I am back at it. It took me a while but then I figured out what I wanted to do: trail racing. And some random races that I had always wanted to do, but hadn't had the opportunity. For instance, I am running the Ringling Bridge Run in Sarasota next weekend, then the Run with the Nuns in St. Pete the weekend after. Mostly for the latter, I just want the t-shirt. Other races on the calendar include Gasparilla (5k), then I am getting into the real trail runs.
I chose two: the Long Play (I am running the half-marathon) and the Croom Fools Run (16 miles). I am not crazy enough to try the ultras for these events. The trails, though, should be fun and something a little different to keep me motivated. Depending on how I am feeling about life, I may also add the River'n'Rapids again. It's the week after the Croom Fools Run, and I don't want to be.......er........foolish.
Also, I have a new dream in life, which is to do the Keys 100 Relay. You start in Key Largo, FL and you end in Key West, FL. It's in May and the weather will be torture, but you can do it as a team and you have a support van. I love everything about this idea (okay, I don't love the weather part). Unfortunately, I am already booked for that weekend this year, but I am so totally doing it next year. That is on. If you want to be in my relay team, let me know. I've already talked my stepmother into this craziness.
Apart from that, looking to get back to Crossfit soon (I had a forced hiatus because I was out of town, then the tonsillitis) and I will be taking scuba lessons starting Monday. So keeping busy, even if not keeping at the blog. Hopefully that we go better!
By the way, I was reminded tonight with my first treadmill run that gosh darn it, it is hot when you are not acclimatized. You would think that I would know this by now.
Showing posts with label River N Rapids 10k. Show all posts
Showing posts with label River N Rapids 10k. Show all posts
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Monday, April 16, 2012
Owning last, only to learn that I am not actually last
I did the River'n'Rapids 10k last weekend. That's the race where it was at 9am, in April, in Florida. So in other words, the race that I really wasn't all that excited about. Considering the numerous reasons that this race could have caused me to hate life, surprisingly I did not hate life at the end of it. In fact, it was relatively pleasant...bearing in mind that it was April and 9am.
The race took place in Hillsborough State Park, which was insanely scenic and lovely. I felt silly that I had never been, despite the fact that it is just up the road from me. It is definitely worth a visit if you get the chance. Trail running was interesting because I had to spend a lot of time thinking about tree roots. This was my first official trail race and it was very easy to see how things could go wrong if you weren't careful with footing. Fortunately, for me, nothing went wrong.
Going into the race, I knew that it was possible I would be last. How? Because:
1) It was the inaugural race for this event. This means that mostly hardcore runners would be signed up for it. Us slower people would maybe not be signed up as much.
2) There were around 100 people. The likelihood of my being last in this situation seemed pretty good.
And for much of the race, as I was on my own in the woods, I assumed I was last. And I said, 'Yes. That's right. I'm last. Because dammit, someone has to be last. And today, that person is me. I've survived it before and I will survive it again...provided, of course, that I survive the heat.' Honestly, I was pretty okay with the whole thing. You can imagine my dismay to learn that I wasn't actually last, after all of these great pep talks I gave myself en route. There may even have been a few chants of, 'If you're not first, you're last.' Thanks, Ricky Bobby.
I did have to walk/run after a while, but that doesn't surprise me (incidentally, the group I started with had camelbaks. Camelbaks. These are serious people). The weather is starting to get tricky and I also suspect that in the forest itself, the humidity is higher (the weather report said in the 70% range, but I don't believe that).
I just looked at the race results, confirming that, indeed, I was not last. And you know what else? There were 13 people who didn't show up. So hey, at least I got out of bed and to the race. Victory!
The race took place in Hillsborough State Park, which was insanely scenic and lovely. I felt silly that I had never been, despite the fact that it is just up the road from me. It is definitely worth a visit if you get the chance. Trail running was interesting because I had to spend a lot of time thinking about tree roots. This was my first official trail race and it was very easy to see how things could go wrong if you weren't careful with footing. Fortunately, for me, nothing went wrong.
Going into the race, I knew that it was possible I would be last. How? Because:
1) It was the inaugural race for this event. This means that mostly hardcore runners would be signed up for it. Us slower people would maybe not be signed up as much.
2) There were around 100 people. The likelihood of my being last in this situation seemed pretty good.
And for much of the race, as I was on my own in the woods, I assumed I was last. And I said, 'Yes. That's right. I'm last. Because dammit, someone has to be last. And today, that person is me. I've survived it before and I will survive it again...provided, of course, that I survive the heat.' Honestly, I was pretty okay with the whole thing. You can imagine my dismay to learn that I wasn't actually last, after all of these great pep talks I gave myself en route. There may even have been a few chants of, 'If you're not first, you're last.' Thanks, Ricky Bobby.
I did have to walk/run after a while, but that doesn't surprise me (incidentally, the group I started with had camelbaks. Camelbaks. These are serious people). The weather is starting to get tricky and I also suspect that in the forest itself, the humidity is higher (the weather report said in the 70% range, but I don't believe that).
I just looked at the race results, confirming that, indeed, I was not last. And you know what else? There were 13 people who didn't show up. So hey, at least I got out of bed and to the race. Victory!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
It has begun
Wow, I didn't even realize how negligent I've been with this blog recently. It isn't because I haven't been running. I've been running. Kind of. Not as much as I might like, but still keeping a semi-regular schedule.
So what has begun? Summer. *shudder* Yes, in April. How can I tell? The temperature today was 90F. Here in Tampa, in the summer, the temperature gets to 90F pretty much every day in the summer. If it gets over 90, we consider it to be super hot (this is just the actual temperature. The Real Feel temperatures are more in the 100-120 range). Now the humidity today was not summer-level. The heating was not as evil as in the summer. But it was still pretty warm.
I really wish that my brain had conveniently forgotten that temperatures are taken in the shade and therefore it was closer to 100F in the sun. Boo brain. I remembered this a few steps into my run.
More and more, I am regretting my decision to sign up for a run in April (much less another run in April, then one in May). But the upcoming one is the one that I am currently regretting the most. It's the River N Rapids 10k, a trail run, which makes it my first trail run. I have no idea what trail runs are like. It's in a state park in an area that should really be swamp. Whoo! Lastly, it starts at 9am. Why I thought that I would want to run something starting at 9am in April is beyond me. Possibly this occurred back when I was sick and running a fever.
As I was feeling very hot today on my run, I had a brief moment where I realized that I did not need to do this run simply because I signed up for it. Bold. Crazy thoughts here. But I don't want to quit on it. So I will do it but will plan for walk/running. If it isn't so bad, I can just run. If it is, then I have a strategy. This makes me feel better about the event. Now I can worry about being eaten by an alligator.
So what has begun? Summer. *shudder* Yes, in April. How can I tell? The temperature today was 90F. Here in Tampa, in the summer, the temperature gets to 90F pretty much every day in the summer. If it gets over 90, we consider it to be super hot (this is just the actual temperature. The Real Feel temperatures are more in the 100-120 range). Now the humidity today was not summer-level. The heating was not as evil as in the summer. But it was still pretty warm.
I really wish that my brain had conveniently forgotten that temperatures are taken in the shade and therefore it was closer to 100F in the sun. Boo brain. I remembered this a few steps into my run.
More and more, I am regretting my decision to sign up for a run in April (much less another run in April, then one in May). But the upcoming one is the one that I am currently regretting the most. It's the River N Rapids 10k, a trail run, which makes it my first trail run. I have no idea what trail runs are like. It's in a state park in an area that should really be swamp. Whoo! Lastly, it starts at 9am. Why I thought that I would want to run something starting at 9am in April is beyond me. Possibly this occurred back when I was sick and running a fever.
As I was feeling very hot today on my run, I had a brief moment where I realized that I did not need to do this run simply because I signed up for it. Bold. Crazy thoughts here. But I don't want to quit on it. So I will do it but will plan for walk/running. If it isn't so bad, I can just run. If it is, then I have a strategy. This makes me feel better about the event. Now I can worry about being eaten by an alligator.
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