Good Not Great: MCM 2011

Run: MCM 10K
Time: 114:02
Mood: Ouch

Well, today was the marathon-turned-10K. I haven't exactly been "training" well lately. I haven't run 6 miles since I stopped marathon training two months ago. Needless to say, it was a rude awakening for my lil legs. My brother, on the other hand, is a running stud. He knocked out the marathon in 3:38. Most of his splits were in the low 7s. He started slowing down toward the end because of a knee thing (and I use the term "slowing down" vaguely - because he was still hitting about an 8 split).

When I finished we were herded into a corral like cattle, and it took me 20 minutes just to get out of the fenced-in area. Not only that, but no spectators were allowed down to see people finish, so noone saw me. Which would have been helpful to know when I was booking it up that last hill. I could have relaxed! I kid, I kid.

After I met up with Scott, we went in search of mom, dad and Cathrine who were watching Bobby around the mall. By the time we walked over there (note: from Iwo Jima to the mall after running 6 miles = sore stems), we had missed him. But Catherine got some good photos.

And now, the photoblog (thanks to Cathrine):

Trying to keep warm in our silly hats.

Game face.

There is no MCM 10K sign. So I act tough
in front of the marathon sign.

Hooray, Bobby finished!

His medal is cooler. That's ok, I'm still excited.

No really, it's an awesome medal.

They smile. I'm legitimately wondering how
he hit those splits. Low 7s. Nbd.

I run ALL the miles?

Run: 5.2
Time: 1:01 - I know. :(
Mood: Well that wasn't so bad.

MCM 10K is in a few days, so alas I had to get in a 5-miler this week so my legs didn't go into shock on Sunday.

It was an early morning run earlier this week (I'm behind in my posting, wanna fight about it?), and it's dark. But I managed to find a well-lit route - an out and back that finishes on an uphill. Because if you remember last year's 10K lesson it's that the last .1 mile is up hill toward the monument.

I actually felt fine. No cramps, nothing hard about it. Then I saw my time and was like "oh, that's why."

What's the pace? It's a 12-split. Which isn't hella slow, but it's slower.

Anywho, I'll get in a few shorter distances this week. Sunday isn't exactly going to be fun, but it will be possible.

And what more can you really ask for?

Night Run

Run: 4 miles
Time: 48 ish
Mood: Ninja-esque!

The MCM 10K is in almost exactly two weeks, and I've been being lazy and only running 1 to 2 miles per time. I was under the weather this weekend, so I didn't get a long run in. It had to be done last night.

Got home from work and immediately threw on running clothes and hit the pavement around 6:30. Not sure if anyone notices, but it gets dark at like 6:45 now. So I did the majority of my run at night. Which is mostly fine, because the bulk of the 4-mile loop I run is lit with streetlights. But then there's the park cut-through that takes me from the main road through the back of my neighborhood.

I was more than a little scared. I took off my headphones so I would be able to hear any madmen running in my direction to kidnap me. I'm not saying I'd ever murder anyone, but if I did, I'd do it on that back trail. I'm just saying. It's pitch black. The only way I knew I was on the trail was the sound of my feet on pavement and the fact that I've run it a million times in the daylight so I know roundabout where it is.

It was good in the sense that this leg was at the end of my run, so I definitely picked up my pace. It was bad in the sense that I almost had a heart attack because I couldn't see anything, let alone the deer standing right next to the trail. You'd be amazed how much the sound of a startled deer galloping through the underbrush sounds like a crazed murderer coming to kill you. Sounds exactly the same. I almost fell over.

And with that, I completed 4 miles, and in a normal pace. Wasn't huffing it, wasn't in too much pain. Felt great. I need to get a couple more 4s in and at least two 5s before next Sunday.

The good news for you? I'll be blogging about it.

Monday, Monday, Monday

Run: 2 miles
Time: I think 20-ish?
Mood: Eh

Couldn't sleep this morning so I decided to get up and get my run on. It's cold and dark and I haven't quite mapped out routes in Alexandria yet, so I walked over to the gym. Got in two miles, the last part of which I managed to punch out at a 9:30 pace...and then when I slowed down to 10:30 to finish out, I was like "whew, this is much better" - but it's still a minute faster than distance pace. :)

Did some kickboxing and cross-training this weekend - plus Scott and I walked all over tarnation. Around DC, around Annapolis, even down the street for sushi. My feet are le tired.

Planning on knocking out three manana, then this weekend's long run will be about 4. Gotta get back in it, race in 4 weeks!