Race Report! A PR for pokey me!

Saturday I picked up my race packet for the Pike's Peek 10k. This is an annual race in Rockville, MD that runs down Rockville Pike. Rockville Pike is a road of many names that actually starts as Wisconsin Ave in Washington, DC and then changes names as it continues on up into Frederick, MD. It is a road that you generally don't want to drive on due to traffic and lights, but is nearly unavoidable. I have never run this race before.

After my packet pick up I decided to get a pedicure. I know you are saying, "So what! Why do you wish to subject us to your toes?" Notice polish color. Look at top photo on race day. Hmmmm I had selected a polish color that matched what I ended up wearing on race day. I did not do this on purpose. It just happened! My shirt and jacket matched even though I did not purchase those items at the same time. I guess I just like this color. Mulberry - Not too red,not too purple.

Okay enough about that randomness. It was pouring down rain when I left my house, but by the time I parked and got to the start it had stopped. I didn't rain again the whole race. We got lucky! The temperature was absolutely perfect for a run. I ran into a few people that I know at the race start. Got into the start area for general pace that I thought I would run. My plan for this race was to run steady and finish strong. My last 10k I was not finishing strong. I didn't even look at what my last 10k time was before this race. I wanted to run based on how my body felt rather than worry about a time. So the waves started and we were off. It didn't take me long to settle into a stride that felt good. I had my heart rate monitor on, so I checked in on my heart rate periodically. I wanted to keep it steady as a I ran. This course is technically all downhill, but it does have rollers in it as it descends. So other than the wee hill climbs I kept my heart rate steady. I felt good. I walked through the water stops mainly to avoid people and cups on already wet pavement. At the 3 mile mark, I had my gel and kept on moving. When I got to 4 miles I picked up the pace a little bit. When I past the 5 mile marker and saw the clock was still under 1 hour, I knew I was doing pretty good for my normal sloth pace. The last bit of the run is truly down hill. I did pick it up a bit more there, but I have some lingering knee issues from ages ago injury and surgery that hinders me letting it all go on a downhill. I respect my knees. I need them! Then I finished! I felt good. I am very happy with my run! No bling for this race. They give you a shirt. This year's is UGLY. This morning I feel pretty good. Not too sore anywhere. My right shin is a tad tender. I think I am due for new shoes, shin pain is my usual indicator.

My finish time 1:04:42 (10:25/mile) a FULL 9 minutes! (i originally wrote seconds) faster than my Turkey Trot 10k time (1:13:42) - what's with the 42 seconds! I would like to break the hour mark for a 10k. Now, what would be totally sweet is to run the 10k of my June 20 triathlon at this pace - after having done the bike and swim. We'll see how that goes.

Next up more cycling! I want the weather to hold out this week. I have the VeloBella monthly ride Tuesday. I want to hit the normal Thursday bike shop ride since I haven't been able to ALL MONTH! And there is a bike race is on Sunday. Of course I will try to throw in a run or two and at least 1 swim this week.

A Bike Fail and A frustrating training week!

So my bike race last Saturday was a FAIL for me. (I do have a photo just need to pull from camera! I will!) Two of us went up to York County, PA to the race. When we left my house it was sunny and just a little windy. We got to PA and it was dark clouds, blustery and cold. It felt more like November than April. I had brought my leg warmers and such, but it was still quite bitter out. The race was a 2.5 mile loop. A nice downhill in the beginning to a 90 degree turn, a small flat to a false flat that you gradually climbed and curve around then another turn to a small but steep hill to the start/finish area. The CAT 4 women (the beginners) had 15 miles ( 6 loops) to complete. Our plan (my team mate and I) was to stick together being my first ever race and her first race of the season on not much training. Well - the first lap was okay we hung on to the end of the pack, the second lap I was having trouble getting air and my legs were feeling like lead and then I fell out of the pack. On a windy day that sooooooooooo sucks! I was having trouble getting air and stopped at the 3rd lap. I hate that I stopped, but breathing is quite necessary! I have had allergies my whole life and developed asthma as an adult. It has not been a problem in the past couple years, but this year my allergies and asthma have kicked in big time. The wind didn't help. And because I am a dope....I didn't have my rescue inhaler with me.... thankfully it wasn't a totally dire situation, just not a good situation for trying to exercise at a high level. I WILL TRY IT AGAIN!

I also think my body must be trying to fight something off because I've been more tired than usual and my residual symptoms from having Guillian-Barre and Miller Fisher Syndromes back in 2006 are all flaring. Both feet numb and tingly, both hands, eye issues. This happens whenever I get sick or am fighting something - even a cold. I HATE IT!!! It has been 4 years, can't my body just be healed and back to normal PLEASE! Along with a busy work week, my schedule is OFF! Ahhhhhhhhh!

I will say I did have one highlight from last weekend, I went to the Washington Capitals playoff game on Saturday. My friend's husband called me in the morning to tell me he was getting tickets to surprise his wife for her Birthday and did I want to go. OF COURSE! Bonus...he was treating too! WOOT! DOUBLE OF COURSE. We had to strategize though since I was going to be in PA in the afternoon and not likely to be back to head out to the game with them, but it all worked out. I made it to the game right at the end of the first period. The CAPS were down 2-1 at that time. I thought, oh this game has sucked so far! Well things picked up from there and the CAPS won in overtime 6-5. It was an awesome game. And they won in Montreal on Monday. We will see what they do tonight. And since I will be downtown in DC all day on Friday for a training course, I figured it would be fun to just stay for the evening and bought myself a ticket to the Friday night game. Fun stuff!

I hope to get a run done tonight. It is supposed to rain all day, but I will run in the rain. I would like to do 4 miles. I have had no bike time this week. I am hoping it is not raining Saturday morning so I can get in something. Sunday I have a 10K running race (if you can call what I do running or racing LOL!) No pool time this week. I need to figure out some pool time cause the following Sunday is another bike race I want to do, but it conflict with my regular swim schedule. A little less than 2 months to my first Oly Tri!

I end this rather long, rambling and, I am certain, full of grammatical errors post to say:
GO CAPS!

FRIDAY!

Okay taxes are done and paid. UGH. That was not pleasant. Lat night I attended a meeting to learn all about my daughter's upcoming class trip to Arizona as a part of their peace studies and science/environmental studies. They will be doing some volunteering with a Native American group while out there. It sounds wonderful! The kids are going to have a great week. There are 18 kids total in the 7th and 8th grade at the VERY small school my daughter attends. It is almost magical how it all works, as these kids are quite wonderful even if they are teens. Perhaps it is the fact that they are respected as individuals and expected to give respect back to their teachers and each other. And a bright bunch of kids too.

I am excited about this weekend because I have decided to do my first cycling road race! Now if all goes through with my other team members, I will be doing a race in Pennsylvania on Saturday. I have no idea what to expect. The other two who are going have race experience under their belt. Go Me! Go Velo Bella! I, of course will bring the camera, take some photos - including me in my Velo Bella Jersey. We are the mid-atlantic arm of a women's team based in California. It is a low-key team, but a team none-the-less.

Today is an interval run day. Haven't yet decided if it will be outside or on the treadmill. My intervals are much more disciplined on the treadmill. hmmm..
Okay. Time to get the dog walked, me into the shower and off to work!
Have a GREAT DAY and a GREAT WEEKEND! If anyone is racing GOOD LUCK!

A THURSDAY THREE FROM ME!

The good, the bad, and the ugly

1. GOOD! Had a great 4 mile training run yesterday. I felt good! Much better than last weeks run. I ran a steady pace, kept my heart rate in the range it should be. I enjoyed my 2XU calf sleeves afterwards too. Even better that they were a freebie I scored last month!

2. BAD! Have to miss my Thursday group ride tonight and the weather is awesome. UGH! Maybe I can hit the pool after the school meeting.

3. UGLY! TAXES ! Part of the reason for missing group ride along with a meeting at my daughter's school. I usually am not such a procratinator on this, but man I was this year! They will be done on time though. Only have myself to blame for being behind on this one!

On the training plan....

After a couple weeks on not doing much of anything due to 1. Allergies absolutely kicking my butt and 2. Going on vacation, I was back at this week.
Strength and Core:
This week I hit the fitness center at work Mon-Wed-Fri for strength training and core class.
Run (if you can call my pace running ):
Wednesday I ran (and walked a good bit) 4.5 miles. The weather was weird last week. The beginning of the week is was in the 90's and then ended in the 60's. 90 degree weather in April here is a bit odd. Of course, it was 90+ on Wednesday evening, the pollen count was super high, my legs were a bit spent from weight training....so what do I do go run. Blehhh. I felt good for about 2.5 miles then it went down hill. I ended up with a lot of run/walk for the last bit. Breathing was a chore.
Bike:
I usually bike on Thursdays, but my quads were screaming at me, I got stuck late at work and a Thunderstorm was threatening, so not bike ride on Thursday. Saturday I road 43 miles in Frederick County with the Frederick folks. It was a great ride, despite the wind. Mostly we had it coming from the side, but a few times it was blasting head first. And yes, after having 90 degree days, Saturday started out in the upper 30's. So with a breeze it was a bit chilly starting out on the ride. I was glad I wore my arm warmers and my jacket as well as my leg warmers. All in all a great ride. I like riding with these people. My local tri-group has started riding again on Saturday's too. I am sure I will ride with them a few times coming up.
Swim:
Sunday is swim practice. I swim with a local master's swim team. Today's work out was tough but good.
I did a 200m warm-up. Then we did 5 - 100's slow, medium, fast, medium slow. Then we did a set that was 400m, 2-300m, 2-200m, 2-100m. Next up 4 - 50m drills, then the IM set dropping stroke as you went down- 200m, 175m, 150m, 125m, 100m, 50m, 25m. Then 3 - 100's kicking and then I did a final 100 cool down. So a total of 3725 meters swam today. Whew! I do like getting into that zen mind while swimming....focusing on my breathing, my stroke.....it is rather meditative.

I am happy that Monday's will now be a rest day for me! Just core class and some stretching.

I need to update my sidebar with upcoming events I have in my plan. Here is what I have so far:

April 25 -Pike's Peek 10k (it is a local run down Rockville Pike) April 25

May 2??Bunny Hop Criterium bike race (I think it is May2 - need to check and sign up - it will be my very first!)

June 20 - Washington DC Triathlon - Olympic distance. My first Oly distance tri!

July 31-Aug 1 - Cactoctin Challenge Charity bike ride - 60 miles on Saturday, ~40 miles on Sunday (with a camp out, dinner and entertainment on Saturday night.) It is a HILLY but great ride in Maryland and southern Pennsylvania

October 9 - Seagull Century. 100 miles on the Eastern Shore of Maryland! This will be my first century!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE - CAUSE I HAVE ABSOLUTELY LOST MY MIND SIGNING UP FOR THIS ONE:
October 31 - Marine Corp Marathon. Penny is coming in town for this as well as some other bloggy and tweety friends. Initially, I said I would just be the Sherpa and cheering squad, then I read a lovely post by a tweeting friend (@hendy2) and I thought oh WHY THE HELL NOT! Next I knew I signed up. NEVER SAY NEVER! I have said in the past I had no desire to run 26.2 miles. A new challenge for me!

I may or may not do another tri this season - they are so EXPENSIVE, I may do some other organized run events as well as bike events. I will have to see what the budget and schedule can bear.

Okay... time to clean up the apartment and bit and do something fun with my daughter.

I hope all had good weekends!