I went to both Nashville (family) and Chicago (work) this past week, and amazingly, I ran more than I ever do at home. Maybe it's not amazing, that's just how I roll, but it felt good. I was excited about the violets and other springtime flowers along the sidewalks in Cookeville, flowers that I associate with my childhood, with "real" spring that never quite comes in San Francisco. So that made for a couple of nice, shorter runs while visiting my sister.
In Chicago, I reconnected with my ex, the lakefront path. I trained for two marathons and ran many other just-running runs along the lake, and know every inch of it. Since we stayed in Old Town, I started off in Lincoln Park, saw North Avenue beach, faced down the wind heading to Ohio Street beach, and worked up quite a sweat by the time I got back (because it actually gets warm in Chicago, even in April.) My last run of vacation was through the neighborhoods, then up the path a bit, and back to North Avenue.
It almost makes me think I could live there again, if I needed to.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
5K PR--I think
Last weekend Jeff and I, along with a bunch of other Pamakids, ran the Couples Relay--one time each around Lake Merritt over in Oakland. This is a great race put on by the Lake Merritt Joggers & Striders running club. Lots of high school--and even younger--runners come out, there are plenty of older runners, and a real community feel. The field was the largest they've ever had, with 174 teams racing this year. Well done, LMJS--when I encounter your club through this race, it's one more reason for me to toy with the idea of moving to Oakland.
I raced this before with David, two years ago in an intense rainstorm. I think it rained more during the mens' leg that year, so I mostly remember the misery of standing around and cheering during the downpour. However, the lakefront path was almost empty except for the race. This year, the nice weather brought out a ton of people strolling with their dogs, children, canes and walkers, in neatly choreographed packs blocking the path every 200 yards or so. Dodging unaware pedestrians is part of the fun, though, right?
At the gun I started off way too fast, behind only Monica on our team. The quick start was despite discussing with Anne and Christina the importance of taking that first mile slow, sticking with 6:55 pace or so at the fastest. Instead, I ran 6:45, which definitely felt too fast once I got to 1.5 and the halfway mark. Mile splits went something like: 6:45, 7:15, then 8:04 for the final 1.1--~7:17 or so for the last mile.
Finishing my leg in 22:04, I was really discouraged to not break 22. Somehow I thought those two track workouts, and the tiny ramp up I've done on other runs, should make a difference. I haven't run a 5k other than cross country for a couple years, so I was excited to see what I'd be capable of. I still want a lot more speed and need to focus on building it at the track.
Today I finally calculated my overall pace, however, and bothered to look at my historical 5K times (after high school.) 22:04 is actually the fastest time I have on record. Nice--for a start!
Jeff was speedy, and we placed 13th overall, 4th in our division. Justin and Christina were 3rd, so a beer is in their future.
I raced this before with David, two years ago in an intense rainstorm. I think it rained more during the mens' leg that year, so I mostly remember the misery of standing around and cheering during the downpour. However, the lakefront path was almost empty except for the race. This year, the nice weather brought out a ton of people strolling with their dogs, children, canes and walkers, in neatly choreographed packs blocking the path every 200 yards or so. Dodging unaware pedestrians is part of the fun, though, right?
At the gun I started off way too fast, behind only Monica on our team. The quick start was despite discussing with Anne and Christina the importance of taking that first mile slow, sticking with 6:55 pace or so at the fastest. Instead, I ran 6:45, which definitely felt too fast once I got to 1.5 and the halfway mark. Mile splits went something like: 6:45, 7:15, then 8:04 for the final 1.1--~7:17 or so for the last mile.
Finishing my leg in 22:04, I was really discouraged to not break 22. Somehow I thought those two track workouts, and the tiny ramp up I've done on other runs, should make a difference. I haven't run a 5k other than cross country for a couple years, so I was excited to see what I'd be capable of. I still want a lot more speed and need to focus on building it at the track.
Today I finally calculated my overall pace, however, and bothered to look at my historical 5K times (after high school.) 22:04 is actually the fastest time I have on record. Nice--for a start!
Jeff was speedy, and we placed 13th overall, 4th in our division. Justin and Christina were 3rd, so a beer is in their future.
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