The free corn from Del Monte at Corn Fest!
So this weekend was DeKalb's annual festival called Corn Fest. I've been on the board for 3 years and volunteered the year before that. I'm in charge of gathering all the volunteers and assigning them to places around the fest and then checking them in and directing them to how to do their job, etc. This mean that I even have volunteers that help me with set-up on Friday morning. So here was the final outcome of my hours at Corn Fest:
Friday: 8am to 11:11pm
Saturday: 9:00am to 11:50pm
Sunday: 9:30am to 9pm
So full days. Walking around (it's held an airport so quite an extensive ground coverage), some running, LOADS of standing! After last years experience out there at the airport, I could hardly walk on Monday. So I kinda knew what to expect with my body. Sunday morning, I felt my first pain in my calves and thighs. I knew that Sunday was also going to be our most hectic day. It did not disappoint.
Now let me get my running talk in here. Last year I had just started training for a marathon, so missing my run was no big deal. In fact, I was still able to get my run in because I had a complimentary registration to the Corn Fest 10k on Saturday morning at 8:30am. I had an assistant last year who said that she could check in the volunteers while I ran the race. So I ran the 6.2 miles and it counted towards my marathon training. I arrived around 10:30a last year. But this year, I really had no assistant to help so I had to forego it plus, my schedule had me running 18 miles. I didn't want to 2 run day, do 6 on Saturday and then 12 on Sunday or Monday. I don't think it would have been helpful to me.
What my boss allowed me to do is take Monday off, because I would be sore and I have loads of errands to run as well. Plus, I figured I could run my 18 miles. And that I did. Well, kinda.
I went to be around 10:30p or so and had the alarm go off at 6am. I ignored it. Went off again at 7am, I ignored it. Again at 8am and started to stir at that time. I heard that the temp was still 55 so I thought that it would be good. I finally got out of bed and my thighs hurt soooo bad. I was worried about whether or not I should even do this run! But it had warmed up to 70 by that time. Hmm, oh well. I live and learn right?
But decided (with the help of @bhop7 on Twitter) I would do 15 and see how I feel for another 3. Finally got to the trailhead at 10:22am. How did I know that so specifically? There was a vagabond with his tent at the mile marker and he had asked me. Odd...
It's funny. During the week on my city path, I can't run a 10 min pace. But out there on my limestone trail, I can keep a 10 minute pace just fine. I didn't even start out fast, I started out with a 9:52 first mile! And that was the plan and that I did, except for towards the end. In fact, my breathing was quite easy even at mile 3 & 4. I was amazed.
I was sick of running to music, so I threw on a few Steve Runner podcasts. He always helped the miles go by. I think it's because it's talking and not so much monotonous music all the time. I decided that at 8.5 to turn around. Not sure why I picked that spot but it was in the shade and I stopped. That first half was very consistent and was done at a 9:57 min/mi pace. Just what I wanted.
I ate my first Clif Shot on this run. Strawberry. And it was nasty. Won't be eating those again. I like my PowerBar gels instead. Now the Clif Shot Bloks I love. Had a few of those too. I had my 4 water bottles with me in my waist pack. I made sure to ration those carefully. As in no dumping over my head. I did run out out of the water in 3 bottles so as I ran past the Sycamore Speedway, I thought about going in there to fill up in a bathroom. Unfortunately it was closed. However, the Winner's Circle bar next to it, looked open! So I ran over and sure enough it was! I asked for the restroom and filled up my bottles. Soooo good! I went outside and nearly guzzled one down and then dumped a little over my head. I only had 3 miles at that point, so I was safe.
I did a lot of walking in that second half. Well, twice I walked for a minute or so, but paused a lot. It was tough. The Sun was hotter and a lot warmer out. I kept at it though and soon said that if I could keep going to the end then I'll stop at 17. And stop I did. The vagabond was gone, he had passed me on his motorised bike (that pedaled??) with this kid bike pull-along that I guess he put his tent in. I was running slower miles but my average pace was still around the 10 min/mi which is fine.
So I ended at 17.1 miles. Not too shabby for being as sore as I am. I turned on my car and the AC in it, waited for it to cool down while I walked around some. Drove the 4 miles home and my muscles locked up. I grrrr'ed in agony getting out of the car. Came inside, took a cold water bath for 10 minutes, then a hot shower. Now I'm writing this up and will be doing some errands just to keep the muscles moving and then going up to Rockford for some grub. I'm even more sore now. Especially my thighs. Getting to the standing position after sitting in the tub was quite an ordeal.
Here are a few pics of corn Fest and I'll include 2 that I took on my run today.
I got to ride on an open-air biplane! One of the best perks from this weekend!
It rained pretty bad on Friday night.
Another option of Corn Fest, a car show.
The free corn!!
A crowd in one of the vendor aisles.
The sponsor tent/hanger area.
The clouds and the crowds!
The crowds all together! Holy moly!
Soundstage crowd inside the beer garden.
Still more crowds!
And now the aftermath!
Pictures from my run:
Gorgeous, isn't it?
Activity
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