DOUBLE race report! and NYRRC season recap

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Pictures still in the disposable camera - up later in the week; #5 and #6 in the Seven Races in Seven Weeks series.

Saturday 10/11: 2nd Annual Hero to Heroes 5K, Gloucester City, NJ
After doing the inaugural race last year, I said "I'M IN AGAIN!" The Paramedic did the walk. This is a great race; I will do it until the day I can't run anymore. In 7/4/02 3 firefighters died and this race benefits their families and supports a scholarship fund in their honor. We drove to the finish, the firehouse of 2 of the fallen men, and then were bussed to the start, the firehouse of the other fallen man. I just wanted to enjoy the day, not going out too hard knowing I had a half the next day. That did not happen.

After leaving The Paramedic with the walkers, I move up the front where I'm sandwiched between the Camden County and Gloucester City police academies. GC is singing military style, "Give us some more PT! Give us some more PT! We like it - we love it - we want some more of it! 2-5! 2-5!" and other stuff. Set off a good tone. We heard some words by the race director, a firefighter who'd worked with the fallen guys, who then got into full gear, helmet included.

BANG! We were off. Again, we're running firehouse to firehouse, the last trip the guys took as we will pass by all three of their houses. Sobering thought, particularly when we pass the houses and see the "WE WILL NEVER FORGET" signs and the guys' helmets in the front windows. ON nearly every corner there is fire personnel, often with a truck. I'm feeling good and strong, enjoying myself immensely. I see the 1M clock up ahead but can't yet read it. I look at my watch and think it must be broken - no way am I going this fast. But it was right - I hit mile 1 in 9:36. Way too fast for me, so I decide to hold back a bit. Hit mile 2 in 9:43. Really, I DID hold back. I'm smelling PR, but know how the last mile is always bad for me in 5Ks.

Particularly this one. I seemingly forgot that the last 1.1 is uphill. I plug along. I finally get passed by the 2-5 with an apology. I round the last corner, and kick it to the finish. Stop my watch, look at it, and start grinning from ear to ear. For the last 1.1m I see 10.36, 9:28 pace. Overall 29:54 (new PR and first sub-30 5K); pace of 9:39, run as evenly as can be. Even more pleasing? First race run at a sub-10mm. Not bad for not trying! Celebrated postrace with fabulous free food, goodies, and beer!

The ABSOLUTE best, though: I went and congratulated the 2-5's instructor, saying "Tell your guys the fat chick said thanks for keeping her on pace." He looked at me and said, 100% seriously, "That's cool. Where is she? We'd like to meet her." He laughed when I said it was me, because "that was a great joke" he said. Mr. Green

Sunday 10/12: Staten Island Half Marathon, NYC, BABY!
Drive from in-laws in NJ to SI via the Outerbridge Crossing. Get there ridiculously early, park on the street. Walk to the registration area and find my man pink love

monk

. Pick up my crap, then we sit in his car for 90 minutes staying warm, chatting & catching up, steaming up the windows. We finally emerge to use the facilities. He leaves me at the 10M pace (because they don't have an 11M pace sign) to go up with the fastios at the 7M pace.

Race starts late by 25 minutes. I am so cold I can't feel the lower half of my body. My only goal was to enjoy this race thoroughly, to end my NY racing season on a positive note after August's death march debacle. For the most part, I enjoy myself immensely. We run in three main areas: along the water edge viewing Manhattan and a spectacular view of the Verrazano (one of the most beautiful bridges ever built), on the main thoroughfare, and on an out-and-back also along the water.

A few notes: I ran this pretty evenly save when I lost a minute between 4 & 5 (pee break

). The NYRRC did a good job of eliminating a lot of hills, as SI is one giant hill. Instead we had several killer hills. The bridge on Hannah Street was short but steep: so steep they had traction grids for the cars that drive on it Shocked

. I felt fantastic, like a machine, through the halfway point, and my splits were extremely even (minus the lost minute for the break). At mile 7 we were warned to hydrate before "the monster hill that's coming". I did, but made the decision late so I stood dead still to get in my Gatorade-water-ClifShot combo that cost me some time. The hill, right before the 8M mark, was a b!tch. Then I thought I was homefree.

Back along the water, we head home. Now the weather is kicking up, and the misty rain saturates my glasses. I can barely see, but plod along. I start reminiscing about my year in NYC racing. Bad mistake - by mile 9 I can't refocus. My mind says, "I know you THINK you have 4.1 more to go, but I'm done. Let's go do something else." Those of you who are also "enhanced" know exactly what I'm talking about. Still keep going.

My knee hurts so I decide to back off a bit, as I have a 20 miler planned for Tuesday, and the marathon is the ultimate important goal I don't want to sacrifice. (SEE? I have restraint sometimes!) Hit mile 10 and start climbing. Into the rain. Into the wind. Uphill, smelling fabulous pizza the whole way. Hit mile 11 and continue climbing. Into the rain. Into the wind. Uphill, smelling fabulous pizza the whole way. Hit mile 12, and begin descent. I start picking up speed, anxious to be done with it. I'm wet, cold, and still can't see much. Like the first mile of the race, my teeth are now chattering.

I look for the mile 13 marker. And look. And look. I look at my watch and realize something is wrong. I hit it a full 1-1.5 slower than expected. I sprint the last .1, apparently looking so bad (ironic, as I felt awesome) a volunteer asked me how I was. I told him I was fine, but had he heard from other runners that the last mile was mismeasured? "Yes, hon, EVERYONE is saying that." I did an informal yet scientific poll. 16 runners were asked about the last mile. 2 didn't keep splits dunno

so were disqualified from the poll. So 14 out of 14 runners said, yes, they were 45 seconds to 1.5 minutes off for the last mile. My man pink love

monk

said the same in his report, too.

Final stats were encouraging, despite the longer course. I enjoyed it, and ended my season here on a very positive note. My 2nd best half here, a little slower than I would've liked but I had a good time so it's all good. But I ran the entire thing, making it the 3rd half I've run, the 7th I've completed. 2,326 of 2,467, beat my customary 6%. 2:30:38 @ 11:30 pace. That last mile messup cost me 7 seconds per mile. Evil or Very Mad

Splits: 11:14, , 11:14, 11:13, 11:07, 12:04, 10:44, 11:12, 12:11, 11:02, 11:19, 11:39, 11:27, 12:59, 01:12 (12:04 pace).

Final Thoughts - A Year of Racing in NYC
This was my 9th race this year with the NYRRC, and thus guar-ahn-tees me a spot in next year's NYCM. Mr. Green

Though logistically these races were often a nightmare, there were many positives. I set (Brooklyn), then reset (Queens), a new half PR, and by running all 5 borough halfs earned the Grand Prix patch. Interesting how the promise of a small piece of embroidered cloth probably worth like 50 cents was such a key motivator for me this year. Confused

I set times in new odd distances (4M, 7M, 15K). I raced with elites and saw some set new records (8000, the men's national championship). I was a motivator and pacer for many, and kept several people in races who told me later they would never had finished had I not encouraged them to continue. I met people before a race who screamed for me at the finish. I met my man pink love

monk

, racing with him (or rather, very much behind him) in the Grand Prix halfs. I also met his family, was invited into his home, and shared a meal and more than a few beers with these great people.

I ran in all kinds of weather, from 32 to 101 degrees. In snow, in blistering sun, and more often than not, in rain. I ran up a gazillion hills, some which I conquered (Queens, Staten Island, Central Park), some which I succumbed to (Brooklyn, Central Park), and some which just flat out kicked my ass (CENTRAL PARK). Through the 90.7M run there, I first saw a glimpse of my fierce competitiveness (Snowflake 4M, CP) and then acted upon it (Queens). Twice I had to jump over bandits at the finish who'd stopped ON THE MAT. Thrice I received medical attention postrace , including Lucky 7M trip-and-fall scrape, Bronx heat exhaustion, and the Queens black out where I didn't remember the last 3 miles, and was followed for the last 4 by a kind gentleman who wanted to make sure that my weaving all over the road - all the while refusing attention - didn't result in a big fall Shocked

.

I had the worst race of my career (the completely demoralizing Manhattan March of Death half), and questioned for the first and only time my ability to complete my upcoming marathon because of it. I turned that around and came out on the other side stronger, more determined, and a smarter racer for it. I swore I wouldn't run in NYC until the 'thon. Now I know differently. I love this city, and love its races, hills and all. Catch you next year, baby.

Adjunct

Way to go Lauri
new pr gotta love that.

Glad to see the paramedic out again. This one had to be extra special for him too.

Member

Great race report! Sounds like a wonderful weekend of racing. Recover, hydrate, and kick

on the 20 miler.

The Pinball

Great job elkid.

stay on track for that 26.2 thumbs up

Pyromaniac

Good job on a busy weekend of running.

Member

Great report as ususal and two great races.

Member

ElMachine

The bunny doesn't have a thing on you.

Gone Fishin

90.7 miles of NYC racing..acck. Gotta hand it to you, that's a long road to a NYCM entry. Congrats on seeing it through.

Member

AZhat

Awesome Job! You're a racing machine these days! thumbs up

Member

Nice job elkid! It's the simplist of things that can motivate (the patch) but woman, YOU are both motivated and motivating.

Member

OMG you are so AWESOME!!! Love the 5k pr!!! You are going to do so well at the marathon. I wish I could be there at the finish to see your face as you go thru the chute. I hope the Paramedic gets a pic of you completing your 1st marathon!

Member

Member

Congratulations on your 5K PR! thumbs up

I look forward to reading your Philly report.

crazy cat lady

You're gonna rock in Philly!

Way to go Elkiddio!

DOUBLE race report! and NYRRC season recap

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