Autumn on Parade 5k official results

F 25-29
1) 22:43 age 28
2) 23:18 age 28
3) 23:21 age 27
4) 23:38 age 27
5) 23:44 age 29
6) 24:40 age 28
7) 24:51 age 27
8) 25:39 age 28 - ME (avg. pace of 8:28)
9) 26:43 age 26
10) 26:46 age 29
11) 27:04 age 29 (Chicago!!!)
... continues to 17 total

Can you effen believe that?! I came in 8th in my age group and this was FAST for me! Holy cow. There was many a people from Chicago too. What are they doing way out there?!

The overall winner of the females? Age 39. In a time of 19:22. Again. Holy cow!!

Categories: Autumn On Parade 5k

Autumn on Parade 5k

I have no idea if it was the 10 mile "warm-up" yesterday, the apple cider donut I ate this morning, the 46* or the rain that was falling but everything in the Heavens lined up today and I ran a 5k PR. 25:34 (Garmin time). By only a few seconds, I now find out, but I ran it perfect today.

Apparently, I just looked at my Race Calendar and I ran the very same race, Autumn on Parade 5k in 2006 (my second race ever) in 25:36. I totally forgot about that time. I can only assume that it was also the correct mileage. Today's race was 3.05. It's funny though because it was cold that day as well. I remember clutching my iPod Shuffle in my hand and my hand being so cold that it was hard to open at the end of the run. But I do remember that run being hard and difficult. This run, not so much.

After my 7 mile run on Wednesday, I didn't exactly do a good job stretching. I sat on my couch, tried syncing my Garmin with my computer. It didn't work. Took a shower. Then sat back down on my couch, crossed legged and tried doing it again. I got up hours later from the couch and then I felt a twinge in my left calf.

I got up Thursday morning a little sore in that area. I didn't run that night because of the program I was going to. Didn't run Friday. Saturday was my 10 mile and it was tight and sore but I ran it anyway. Brent rolled it out for me last night and he said he could feel a knot. This morning, it was a little stiff and sore to walk.

We drove for the 40 minutes over to Oregon and when I got out of the car, it was stiff again. Walked to the packet pickup and it felt loosened up. Good. Back to the car to stay warm. In DeKalb it was supposed to start raining around 9a and since we went West, we were sure that we were going to get it before that. Come to find out that the race started at 8:30a NOT 8a like I thought. Whoops. That's what I get for not reading the signup email!

Got to the start at 8:15a and spent the next 15 minutes trying to hear what the announcers were saying and eventually stopped caring when their speakers gave out. Instead I just curled up next to Brent's chest to stay warm. I wore lined cotton running shorts, a short sleeved shirt and gloves. I was glad for the gloves. Brent wished that he would have brought his with after all.

It had started raining as we were walking up the start. Brent wished, and I agreed, that the race would have started at 8a after all, then we could have missed out on the rain. It ended up raining the entire race. This is the 3rd year for it and the 3rd time I ran it. So pretty cool. But they changed up the entire route this year. We started at the normal place but went further into town so that was cool running through the tents of the crafters and seeing their smiling faces and waving at us. Then we went the opposite direction of the way we've gone other years. Then the finish was the best part of it, around the high school track!

Brent and I stayed together for a little bit of the first mile but then he dropped back and I said to him, remember to walk if you need to. He hasn't run a mile since August 27th when he hurt his back!! 1st mile was in 8:28. I didn't know I was moving that fast. I was like whoops! Then second mile split was 8:36. OK, so now I'm slowing down but that's still really fast for me. That's when I came across "the girl." I saw her walking as we were going up a hill. After I passed her, she started running again and zoomed past me. Then we passed the 2 mile time guy and she was flailing so I told her just a mile left. She ended up staying behind me. I passed a guy and told him just a half mile left. He was flailing as well. He at least thanked me for letting him know. I was still breathing OK at this time. The third mile split was 8:10.

Then we came across a 45 degree turn along a chainlink fence. This girl comes sprinting up behind me and passes me on the left on the inside corner of the turn and then zooms to the outside to the right cause she was going too fast. RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME! I nearly trip over her feet and my own! Then she stops suddenly when the triangle carnival flags end. As I passed her, I said the race isn't done. I probably shouldn't have for then she started running again, cut in front of me so that she was on the left. But it didn't last long. She was slowing down again. The next turn was pretty tight. It was a 90 degree turn and since it had been raining that day, it was slippery. So what did I do? I didn't slow down, said "Passing on your right" and then I grabbed the chainlink fence for help making the turn. I never saw her again. She didn't have any kick left in her, I guess. Then out on the track for a half lap. It was great. I looked at my watch and it said 24:33 and I said wow, could I do this in under 25 minutes?! But I crossed the line at 25:38 (took me about 4 seconds to cross the line) I'm sure that if it would have been a sunnier day then there would be more people in the grandstands.

After I crossed the line, I stayed on the track looking for Brent to come around the corner and there he was! So as he entered in the track, I ran with him. He was doing great!! I was so proud of him. And then he turned on the afterburners! I totally couldn't even keep up with him with that speed! Wow! I yelled to him, I see fire under your feet! :-) Then I showed him my time. He was pretty impressed. So was I!

We walked by a physical therapy people and I asked for a massage. Said that they don't do massages. So then I told him about my calf muscle and he said that he'll take a look at it. He sprayed some BioFreeze on my calf and started rubbing it out. He wasn't going at it all that hard though. He had me flip over, lifted up my leg and bent my ankle and I could feel the stretch in the calf. He said that it's probably going to be sore for a while. So I think I'm going to take off running until Wednesday now.

Brent won a raffle though. They pulled his number for the #1 spot and he won $100 to Runner's Image in Rockford for 1 pair of Nike shoes. How cool is that?! He says he never wins anything but he did today. Two years ago I won a $20 RoadID gift certificate. Problem is that he won't be back up here before the end of the year when it expires so he gave this certificate to me. I may just turn around and buy him a pair of shoes instead! I'm hoping that I can just use it for something else.

The first year, 2006, I came in 3rd place with a time of 25:36. I was pretty stoked about that. This year, 2008, 25:34 and NO MEDAL! Geez... Every race I've been in has just been getting bigger and bigger so it's harder and harder for me to medal now! We stayed for the awards cause Brent was sure that I had medaled. Actually me too! But I guess not. That was pretty disappointing for sure. Maybe it's because I'm now 28 and the 25 year olds are beating me. Guess I'll just have to wait until I hit 30 and then I'll be able to beat the 34 year olds. :-)

So all in all, it was a great race. I can't wait to see the results online to see the final times and where the 3rd place 25-29 female was at in relation to me. I'm going to be highly disappointed if I came in 4th by 10 seconds or so! I swear, the other races I've been in, that top three is usually in the 24 and 25's for a 5k. Guess today was a totally different story.

Brent & I came back home to take a nap for an hour and then he rolled me out again. Only this time it was both calves that was sore. I'm thinking my right calf was trying to make up for my left calf's weakness. So icing it will be tonight! Brent left an hour and a half ago. So Saturday is my 15 mile run and I'll be doing that alone. Shall be interesting! And I swear, no running until Wednesday!

Here's the link to my Garmin stats.

Activity Route: -- Elev. Avg: 709 ft Location: Oregon, IL Elev. Gain: -6 ft Date: 10/05/08 Up/Downhill: [+85/-91] Time: 08:33 AM Difficulty: 1.8 / 5.0 Performance Distance: 3.05 miles Time: 0:25:34 Speed: 7.2 mph Pace: 8' 23 /mi Calories: 311 Map Elevation (ft) Pace (min/mile) Splits Mile Pace (min/mile) Speed (mph) Elevation Gain actual +/- avg actual +/- avg 1 8' 27 +0' 04 7.1 -0.1 -3 ft 2 8' 35 +0' 12 7.0 -0.2 +16 ft 3 8' 08 -0' 15 7.4 +0.2 -17 ft end 7' 05 -1' 18 8.5 +1.3 -3 ft Versus average of 8' 23 min/mile

Posted from bimactive.com

Categories: aches and pains, Autumn On Parade 5k, Brent

disappointment

I don't even know where to begin with today. I'm just disappointed in so many different ways.

First: my race. It's hot. That I won't deny. They took extra precautions at the Chicago Marathon this year. I ran my heart out there though. Still only had one water station. That was stupid on their part and if I get a survey, I'm letting them know that. I ran a 27:04. Which is better by 2 seconds on my time of my On The Waterfront 5k but not better than last year's time of the same race. Last year, I ran a 25:36 so it said on their website. How on Earth did I get a minute and a half slower than last year?! Was it in fact the heat? I medaled is last year's race because I ran in 25 minutes, this race nothing.

I did start out slow on this race. I mentally did that so that I could save it for the end. And I did too. I managed to kick it at the end big time. Passed 4 people! 2 kids, an older woman and a guy younger than me. Though when hearing the awards, the lone woman who was in the 60+ category ran a faster race than me. :-( I also tried to help this other young lady out about my age to keep on going, she was walking and I grabbed her arm and said c'mon c'mon. I told her that the marathoners are running in this heat. She just looked at me like she didn't know what I was talking about. She ran with me a little bit but then she had to stop again. I passed by her several times after the race but she never thanked me for trying to get her going.

Second: Last month, I called Josh's mother and asked her if she wanted to come out and see my race this weekend. She said that Josh was coming out for the weekend with Kate. So I said well then never mind, you'll probably be busy and all that. So I just let it go thinking that he was still coming out. I sent him a happy birthday email yesterday saying that I know he's in town but he doesn't have to come out or anything if he gets this email beforehand. He writes me back this afternoon saying that he didn't come out after all. So his mother could have seen me run. Which would have been nice since I would have had someone else telling me that it's the heat that made me run slow. My own excuses do nothing for me on my conscious. But she didn't call me which leads me to believe that she in actuality does not want to come out and see me run after all so I won't bother her again with my races. Since she was the only one who has in northern Illinois it won't be that big of a deal.

Third: a friend never asked how I did in my race. I asked how he did in his first race yesterday. He even knew that I was in a race today. But never asked. Even after I did a gentle reminder, still never asked. So I don't know. Maybe I am destined to do running and racing alone. Or be alone forever.

I *must* now find a "partner in life" that enjoys running (and races) as much as me. It's the only way that I can do my races with enjoyment. I would really like to find someone that will run a marathon with me and we can cross the finish line together but that's pretty slim. I wish I could join like the Rockford Road Runners but it's so far away and their meeting's are on Wednesday's and their group runs are of course in Rockford. Then there is the CARA but that's in Chicago and not DeKalb. My running email list are all training for marathons and running a lot faster than me so I can't do that group. Blah.

I did buy some new running clothes at Target today though. All on clearance! Go me! :-) I need to find a detergent called Sport-Wash to help make my other running clothes smell better cause even the white vinegar is not taking that stinky smell of me sweat out!

I want this freaking heat to go away! I feel cranky.

Ignore the time on the below Nike+, I forgot to hit stop after the race.

Today's race: Oregon, IL, 80°F to 84°F

Categories: Autumn On Parade 5k, dating, races

Autumn on Parade race

Got up at 6:10. Took my Advil and ate my peanut better and jelly on toast. Up and left around 6:40/45. Then once I got on Bethany, I realised I forgot a hat. But I didn't go back to get it. Figured that if I really needed it, I could wear my Scrubs hat in my backseat. Saw the sun rise behind me. That was sweet.

Got there with plenty of time to spare. But I had to warm up. At first I took off my warmup suit and left it in the car while I got my packet (long sleeved t-shirt!!!) but I had to go back to get it. I needed it while jogging. I put in my tunes and was listening to it even though they had a DJ playing some pumped up music. My hip was still sore as well. I was thinking why wasn't my Advil kicking in! Then figured it was cause of the cold weather. I could see my breath!! I left my warmup suit near what would be the finish line. They said it would be safe there. Again what sucks about going alone.

Anyway, got to the beginning and off we went. Running straight east into the sun. That sucked. Hardc0re. This girl and I started running together. We were keeping up with one another, keeping pace. Then once we hit like this hill, she kept her pace up and I think I fell back. Or she sped up and I kept my pace. No split times. I kept looking for them but nothing. Then I see one coming up. I get to him. 15:58. WTF! Was that for 1.5 or 2 miles? Then I'm like well, I know the water was supposed to be at the 2 mile mark, and then I see the water station. Okay, so 1.5 mile was the time? I took a nice big swig and spit it out all over my legs. I didn't care, it was somewhat warm. By that time, my left bicep was tensing up. That could be I was holding my shuffle instead of in my shorts. Then I found my power song!! I let it play but I kept a knowledge of where it was at so I could go back to it for the final stretch and it helped! I saw the time and bing bang boom. 25:38. They might have clocked me at 25:39. Either way, that was freaking 2 minutes off my time at OTW. Booya!!! I found the girl that I was racing with. She got 24:50. Hmm, damn. but it was funny, she was wearing heavy heavy makeup and her sweat was getting into her eyes and her mascara was running. That's why you don't wear any like me! :-D

I waited around and around and around. People were still trickling in at the 1 hour mark. OMG! Then they were doing random drawings for Gift Certificates to a RoadID so that if you fall and you have this, people will know who you are (and in my case that's a good thing). I won one. I went up there to the DJ to get one. I'm like Shaun? He said Lindsay? I was like hey! It was DJ Shaun Lowe from Corn Fest. Since I worked it this year and was with Lisa, he knew who I was. Thought it was pretty cool how I was out there racing.

Then the awards come. They do the women first. I got 2nd place. Again! :-) And another medal. They didn't announce times though so I don't know where the girl in front of me timed in at. Then I left. No point in staying right?

I went up to Josh's folks place, Tom and Deb. So who thinks it's weird that I hang out with my ex's parents? ha. Anyway, I surprised Deb, Tom knew I was racing but didn't tell Deb. So I got there at 9:30 and well, I didn't leave until 4:30p! I thought NIU was playing at 2:30 so I was going ot leave and get up to Old Chicago before then but alas they weren't playing until 7p. So instead I went with Tom and Deb down to the parade and then the craft fair at Autumn on Parade. That was awesome. Walked around the craft fair and they bought stuff. Things got awkward for me when they were buying a present for Josh's girlfriend but I quickly got over that when I thought of something and all was better. Got food and then watched the parade a bit. Had to get back by 3pm for the Eagles game. :-) I got lots of pictures. Then just chilled back at their house until I felt it was time to get out of their hair and then I went shopping at the Galt Convinence Store, aka their basement. HA! I love them both so much!!

Up to Rockford and Old Chicago. Got my three beers. Watched the Eagles win the rest of their game. Got my shirt for completing my mini-tour. Then I couldn't wait until 7pm. My legs were tired/sore and so was I. So I left at 6:45p. Came home and immediately got into a hot bath with soaking crystals. Sweet.

and now I'm here, on the couch, watching tv. about to go to bed. btw, i got sunburned again today while running. that's awesome!

Categories: Autumn On Parade 5k, races

iDo

I also got an appointment with Midwest Ortho to look at my hip. Hopefully they'll tell me what to do to make it not hurt after running! I ran yesterday at 4.5 miles and it hurt but only after I quit running. Today, I ran 4.5 miles but it started huring WHILE I was running. Even afterwards while stretching, something wasn't right. And it's not the muscle. It's the joint. I know it is.

So last week, Bob won an iPod shuffle. Got it through Lee's Summer Fitness Challenge. He gave it to me. Every week they are giving away iPod shuffles (week 1 - 1 iPod shuffle; week 2 - 2 shuffles; week 3 - 3 shuffles; etc.) and one iPod Nano each week. I was really wanting the Nano just so I can get the iPod + Nike thing and then when I run outside it'll keep track of how fast and far I'm going and how many calories I'm burning. That'll be awesome. But I'm happy with the shuffle. For now. I had iTunes put random songs on it and most of it turned out for good running today. Today, in fact, was easy running, even with the pain in my hip. 4.5 miles in 41:08. Not too shabby. I couldn't tell if that was because of the running I did yesterday, the not being sick anymore, or the music helping me along. In any case, I own an iPod brand mp3 player now. I guess I should delete the above icon now huh? :-)

Speaking of October 8th, I gotta remember to register for the Autumn on Parade race soon. This one is gonna have hills. :-/ And water only provided at the 2 mile mark. Gotta remember to bring my own little bottle then. But all racers are guaranteed a shirt! Awards for the first 3 male and female in each age group. I'm starting to look at clothing to wear for the cooler weather. I'm thinking at least long running tights. My thighs were red in the last race from the cooler weather.

Tomorrow is weights and bike. I like the bike, I just sit, listen to music and work out my legs. It's kinda fun. :-) BTW, I'm 3 pounds away from my goal weight. Then what?

Categories: Autumn On Parade 5k, iPod, orthopedic, weight

First race

I signed up for my OTW race. Running and then NIU vs. Ohio on ABC that afternoon and OTW the rest of the day. I'm actually going this year. I'm not relying on promises that was told to me like last year. I'm not relying on asking friends and them not getting back to me. I'm not relying on asking people and them saying no and then they're going anyway with others. I'm going. One way or another. I'm seeing the bands that I want. And the good news? You can buy drinks in the bars and then take them out on the street now!

As I was signing up last night, I found another 5K race I can do. The Autumn on Parade in Oregon. That's on October 8 and then I should be in prime shape for the Pumpkin Fest 10K at the end of October!

What I'm thinking about doing this weekend is getting up and running on Saturday with the group at 5:30a, shower and then by that time it should be time to work at the VIP tent on Saturday for Corn Fest. Bob doesn't know if he's going to it yet. He not sure on the drive out here again.

I never went shopping this week. I should go tonight but I've been so tired this week. Like I'm going to bed around 11p which is really early for me. I thinking it's the running and the sickness. I got yelled at today at work about not going to the doctor and self-medicating myself with my leftover anti-biotics. Anyway, so when I come home from running, i just shower and chill on the couch. Sometimes getting online and chatting with my brother, sometimes just laying down and not getting on the computer.

Categories: Autumn On Parade 5k, On The Waterfront 5k, races