Race Report - Dirty Dog 15k

Dirty Dog 15k Trail Run
Saturday, May 17, 2014

Ah, the Dirty Dog. The toughest race I've ever done. And probably, no not probably, definitely one of my favorites.  I run races not because I think I can win them, but because there's a small part of me that doubts my ability and thinks I can't. So, I run races to prove to myself that I can.

For me, each and every time I stand at the start line, no matter how many times I've been there before, I'm faced with a challenge.  The 5k is a time challenge - how fast can I do this?; the half marathon is a distance challenge - can I really go 13.1 miles?; the Dirty Dog is just a challenge - can I do this at all?

Dirty Dog Elevation Profile

The trails, the hills (the steep ups and the steep downs), and for this year, the mud, all added up to one heck of a challenge. I knew it when I got to the start line- this was going to take all that I had. So I gave it all that I had.  I met the challenge; I beat the challenge; The Dirty Dog did not defeat me again this year. I started and I finished.  I proved to myself, yet again, that I can do it.

Thoughts from various points of the race:

• Climbing Pigeon Roost - this isn't as hard as I remember it being.
• Heading down to Dunlop Hollow - I need new trail shoes - this is killing my toes
• On a rocky part of the descent - fellow runner says "we don't want to break any bones... well at least I don't"; no, breaking bones is definitely not high on my list of priorities for the day
• Heading up White Hollow - remind me again why I think this is fun?
• Still heading up White Hollow - this would be so much easier if I could breathe or if I was a mountain goat
• Almost to the top of White Hollow - I can't do this anymore; I can't go another step.
• And upon turning around and looking back down at what I had just climbed - I don't have a choice; I can't stay here, going back down would be harder than going up was, so forward is the only way to go.
• On Middle Ridge Road - this mud is annoying - my feet are either sticking in it or sliding on it.
• On Middle Ridge - I hear people, are they behind me or in front of me? Am I last?
• At the turn onto Johnson Hollow - the forest sign is spelled wrong; i'm pretty sure it's  "Johnson Hollow" and not "Johnon Hollow".
• Going down Johnson ("Johnon"?) Hollow - oh my feet.... oh my knees....  ouch ouch ouch. this really hurts.
• Still going down Johnson Hollow - Hey you're going the wrong way (to the 2 people who were going back up)
• Almost at the bottom - I hear music!  I did it!
• Coming out of the woods - I see the finish line!  i really did it!
• Heading towards the finish - There's my mom!  I really really did it!!
• Crossing the finish - I did it! I did it! I did it!  my feet really hurt, but i did it!

 

Race Stats:
Dirty Dog 15k Trail Run
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Finish Time: 2:34:04 (garmin); 2:34:09 (official)
Place: 252 of 277 overall; 29 of 32 age group

Race Reports - Komen 5k & Dog Jog 5k

Getting a little behind with my race reports.  Not a whole lot to say about the 5ks I ran this month, but here's a quick recap:

Saturday, May 3, 2014
Komen Race for the Cure 5k

Despite my good intentions to run more this spring than I did last spring, I didn't get out there quite as much as I hoped I would. When the half that I was going to run in April got cancelled, I lost my motivation (I do much better when I have something specific to train for). But I declared May to be the beginning of my summer of "better, faster, stronger," and resolved to get out and run, run, run. I knew I wasn't really in any shape to run the Komen 5k fast (for "fast" read "faster than I ran any 5ks in 2013"), but I was going to give it a try. It didn't happen, but that's ok; I didn't expect it to. I set my watch for 2:1 run:walk intervals, and just went out to see what would happen. The interval was just right, I could run at a decently fast pace for me (low 10s, high 9s) and know I had a rest break coming fairly soon. I kept my focus on myself, and didn't worry about what everybody else was doing, not caring who passed me or who I passed; I just did my thing and crossed the finish line.

Race Stats:
Komen 5k
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Finish Time: 34:07 (garmin); 33:48  (official)
Pace: 10:56mpm (garmin); 10:53 (official)


Saturday, May 10, 2014
Dog Jog 5k

Still not sure what happened with this one. It did not go anywhere near what I planned. It was hot, it was humid, the course was crowded, I wasn't ready; all factors that led to a slightly disappointing finish time.

Positive: the puppies and dogs that were there were cute. Adoptable, but I didn't bring any home (some day we'll get another, but not yet)

Race Stats:
Dog Jog 5k
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Finish Time: 36:30 (garmin); 36:34 (official)
Place: overall 73 of 2ll; 41 of 149 women; 10 of 41 in age group

Missing Bree

Used to be, on those "throw a Disney movie into the DVD player and deep clean the house"days (as opposed to the more frequent "quick run of the vacuum or swiffer days") I would get the carpets dog hair free, and the hardwoods clean and shiny with no water spots. And, I would say to myself, I wish they'd stay clean for more than 5 to 10 minutes.

But then, Bree would come back downstairs. She'd scratch an itch or give a shake, and boom, hair was back. She'd be thirsty and drink half her bowl of water, dripping the other half in a path between the bowl and her bed. Sigh.  

Today was the first deep clean day since we lost her. And I got my wish. It's been a few hours and the floors are still clean - no new dog hair, no water spots. And I'm saying to myself, "I wish Bree were here to mess up the floors..."  Sigh. ( and maybe a tear or two)

Race Report - Disney Princess Half Marathon (runDisney Glass Slipper Challenge Race 2)

As you've probably noticed, unless you've been hiding under a rock for months, this winter has been a bit on the cold and snowy side. Which can sometimes make running a little difficult. I actually like running when it's cold and in the snow, but even I have to draw the line when it's below 20 degrees and icy. And running in cold weather doesn't exactly prepare you for running in heat and humidity.

So, after the 10k and it's icky, sticky humidness on Saturday, I wasn't really looking forward to Sunday and the half marathon. Running in humidity, even in Disney, is not very fun. (You'd think, with the way summers are here in WV, I'd be used to it, but no. At least not in February.)

Sunday, February 23 - The Disney Princess Half Marathon
Sunday morning called for an even earlier wake-up than Saturday (2:00am) to catch the bus to the race at 3. This time all three of our alarms went off and we were up and dressed and off to the races.

Belle being chased by giant toys

Once again, we were all going to run our own races and start in separate corrals; I was in G, Becca in J, and Jen in M. Since we had so long to wait before the actual race start, we decided to hang around a bit together before heading to the corrals. Chit chat and pre-race camaraderie with your besties goes a long way in soothing jitters and nervousness.

But eventually it was time and with wishes of good luck and good running we headed off to our separate corrals to await the start.


After some entertainment from the runDisney folks and a tear-inducing "happy birthday" surprise message to one runner from her husband stationed in Afghanistan, it was time for the race to start. Fairy Godmother was there to start off the first couple corrals, but I guess she had some other more pressing engagement (Cinderella had to get ready for her ball I guess) because she left and wasn't there for the Corral G send off.

I didn't set my garmin for run/walk intervals and, as I did in the 10k, was just going to take walk breaks whenever I thought I  needed them. Last year, the course was really crowded and it was hard to follow the structured breaks, so this year, I was just going to go with the flow, so to speak.
I started out nice and slow, and I think I ran most of the first mile before I decided to walk. After that I would pick out a point down the course that would mark my transition point, a light post here, a sign there, an aid station, a tree, etc. Somewhere around mile 3, I joined in with the 2:45 pace group, who were doing a 5 minute run, 1 minute walk interval. They were doing a nice steady,easy pace that I knew I wouldn't have any problem keeping up with, so I decided to run with them. I stayed with them through the entrance to the Magic Kingdom and down Main Street and the first glimpse of the castle.

I changed my mind about staying with the group all the way to the finish when I saw the Buzz Lightyear photo op. Last year, I did a "fly by" pic of Buzz, but this year, when I saw Buzz, I made the decision that since I had the time, I was going to stop for some of the character pics. I thought, it's Disney; I can run for a good finish time at some other race in some other place. So I got in line for my pic with Buzz. I made it all the way to the third or fourth person from him when his handler announced he would be taking a three to five minute break. I didn't need a good finish time, but I didn't want to be standing around for 5 minutes either, so once again, I missed out on Buzz. :-(

"There's a snake in my boot" - Woody

But I did stop for the next few characters (the White Rabbit; Tiana and the alligator; Woody; Princess Aurora & Prince Philip; Mary Poppins, Bert, and the Penguin; Lilo; the Genie; the heroes; Pirates)

"you ain't never had a friend like me" - Genie

Standing in line for the pictures was a welcome break from running/walking in the heat. It also gave me an opportunity to stop and stretch, which resulted in no tight hips after the race. Score!



Somewhere around mile 7 or 8, I was starting to drag and feel tired, so I downed my aptly named "Gu" (cherry-lime roctane with caffeine, if anybody cares) with some powerade from an aid station. The extra energy it gave helped me through the last few miles.



Flynn Rider, Aladdin, Hercules, Prince Eric
(to the lady in the line for Tiana who told me I was wrong when
I said we'd pass the heroes again - "I told you so")

The oddly angled hills and overpass approaches were just as difficult this year as they were last year, but I powered through. The Green Army Man on one of the hills was particulary funny in his motivation - "when did this become the Princess walk-a-thon? Move ladies! Pick it up and run!" "If you're not in line for a picture with me, you'd better be running."

 

At the top of the overpass, I made way to the edge so I could look down at the crowd of runners on the course below. I tried to see if I could find Becca or Jen in the crowd, but either I missed them or they were still farther back on the course.  I waved anyway, just in case. And then it was in to Epcot for the approach to the finish line.
Another Princess Half was almost over. Mile 13 and the finish line came all too soon. (While I was hot and tired, and ready for the run to be done, I wasn't quite ready for the experience to end.)

But all things must end at some point, and the finish line was calling my name (maybe literally, although I didn't hear it.)

I did it. I finished the Princess Half. I finished the Glass Slipper Challenge. I was sweaty, hot, and tired, but I got my medals. And more importantly than that, I got the sense of achievement that comes from working hard, overcoming obstacles, and finishing something that I started. I'm still amazed, even after doing it 7 times now, that I am capable of running a half marathon. It just blows my mind every time I cross that finish line...


Race Stats:
Disney Princess Half Marathon
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Official Finish Time: 3:33:31 (16:13mpm) (Overall Place: 16,756 of  20,750; Gender Place: 15,495 of 19,294; Age Group Place: 2,477 of 3,051)
Actual Run Time: 2:56 (13:20mpm) (watch was stopped while waiting in photo lines)


Becca and Jen were rock stars out there.  Becca finished in 3:39:25 and beat her time from last year.
Jen overcame some major struggles and finished in 3:43:52, also beating her time from last year and setting a new half marathon PR.  So proud of these girls!!

Princess Half and Glass Slipper medal

All 3 medals from the weekend:
Enchanted 10k, Princess Half, and Glass Slipper Challenge

Race Report - the Enchanted 10k (runDisney Glass Slipper Challenge Race 1)

This time last week I was already in bed, asleep. I'm usually a bit of night-owl on the weekends, so why was I sleeping at only 9:30pm on a Friday night? Because last weekend was a big weekend with a big race; make that 2 big races. I was in Disney World, with two of my best friends, to run the Disney Glass Slipper Challenge (the Enchanted 10k and the Disney Princess Half Marathon). And since Disney races start ridiculously early, I needed to get at least a little bit of sleep. Hence, the early bedtime.

Saturday, February 22 - The Enchanted 10k


Dopey ready to run!

Since we needed to catch the bus to get the corrals and start line at 3:30 on Saturday morning, we decided that we needed to get up at 2:30 so we could get dressed, and ready in plenty of time. All three of us set the alarms on our phones, so it was a little odd that when 2:30 came around, mine was the only one that went off. I woke them up and we all got ready and headed to the bus.

Since we are all at different places in our training and speed, we decided we would each run our own race. I submitted a race time that placed me in Corral B for the 10k (Becca was in D, Jen in E), so when we got to the race area, we headed off to our separate corrals. Granted it wasn't as much fun as all being together, but the corrals are always a party. Dancing, fun costumes, a bunch of other crazy runners up before the crack of dawn... Before I knew it, they released my corral to head to the start line. And then it seemed like forever before we actually got to start. But the fireworks went off, and I was on the course and running.

I usually run with run/walk intervals, but I decided for the race that I didn't want the structure. I just wanted to run and walk when i felt I needed to. I planned to take my time and enjoy the race. I had a plan/goal to finish in under 1:30, but wasn't going to be all concerned about time. If I did it, awesome; if not, that was ok too.

The first 3 miles went by fairly quickly. After the 3 mile point, the course entered Epcot and went through the World Showcase and the different countries. Very cool. I felt very tourist-y looking up and around at all the sites (all while still running). This was also where the Disney character photo-ops started. I hadn't really planned on stopping for pictures, but decided to go for it, especially when i saw Jiminy Cricket. I had the time, it was one of the fun perks of a Disney race, so I was doing it.

 

With Jiminy Cricket

I stopped for Jiminy, Marie (from Aristocats), Goofy, and Donald Duck. So fun. I'm so glad I decided to not worry about my finish time and get the pictures. (I did pause  my garmin while I was waiting in line so I would have some kind of an indicator of what my time would've been if I hadn't stopped.)

I was spending a lot of time standing in line (a nice welcome rest :-) ), so I kept an eye out for Becca and Jen, thinking they might catch up to me. But I guess the corrals were spaced far enough apart that they couldn't, because I never saw them.

Before I knew it, I was at mile 6 and on the way to the finish line. The fun was coming to an end a lot faster than I wanted it to. I finished happy and with a big smile, just like I wanted to.

There were some spots where the running was pretty rough. It was warm and incredibly humid. I was soaked in sweat (literally dripping)  and could've really used a powerade or some kind of electrolyte drink (could only find water at the aid stations). There was one point near the end where I felt my heart rate getting a little too high, but I slowed my pace way down until it felt more normal and was fine. But all ended up well, and I had an awesome time on an awesome course.

10k Finisher's Medal - love the Bling!

Race Stats:
Disney's Enchanted 10k
Saturday, February 22, 2014
Official Finish Time: 1:38:52 (15:47mpm) (Overall Place: 6775 of 8967; Gender Place: 5923 of 7928; Age Group Place: 1012 of 1333)
Actual time running: 1:24 (13:19mpm)

 Jen finished in 1:36:38; Becca in 1:37:28. They joked that they like running races in Disney because it's probably their only opportunity to finish faster than me. (but if they continue running and training and working hard, that could very easily change)

 

Race Report for the Princess Half coming soon!

Race Report - Winter Series 10k

Just realized that I haven't written  my race report for the Winter Series 10k. Probably because I didn't run it as a race. It was just another run.

Well, ok, so maybe it wasn't "just another run." No I wasn't running it as a race, but it was a kind of important piece in the puzzle that is my training right now. At the end of February (just 2 weeks!!!!) I'm once again heading to Disney World to run the Princess Half. But I'm not just doing the Half. This year, runDisney has a new race on Princess Weekend and a Challenge to go with it.

The Glass Slipper Challenge consists of 2 races over 2 days - the Enchanted 10k on Saturday (the new race) and the Princess Half on Sunday. 2 races, 3 medals, (1 for each race + 1 for the challenge) and a chance to run through Disney - I'm in! (and my best running buddies - they're in too :-) )

Since I've run a 10k (more than once) and I've run half marathon (also more than once), I didn't think I'd have any trouble with the individual distances. The potential issue in my brain came from the fact that I hadn't run those distances on back to back days. 19.3 miles in 2 days is kind of a lot for me. That's an above average weekly mileage for me these days.

So I declared the first 3 weekends in February as back-to-back run weekends to get myself ready.  It just so happened that the Winter Series 10k took place during the first of those weekends. That Saturday was a beautiful day, so I took the opportunity to get the longer of the 2 runs done then. (I knew that if I waited until Sunday, I wouldn't want to run the extra miles before or after the race, since it was supposed to be rainy and cold).  So I ran my 10 miles on Saturday (first double digit run since November).

My legs were a little tired and sore on Sunday, so I planned to just take it easy at the race and just get the miles done. I told myself to not worry about what everybody else was doing and to just run what I needed to do to get to the finish line. If I was last, then I would just have to be last. I turned on my music and just focused on it and myself as I ran. I had to walk through parts of my run intervals and got too hot and had to take my jacket off and tie it around my waist. In the last mile I was kind of wishing I hadn't done that because the light sprinkle that had been going on throughout the race changed to an all out rain and it got pretty cold and miserable for a bit. (When the race photographer is sitting in his car taking pics, you know it's kind of nasty out.)

But though it was tough, wet, miserable, and I had to walk more than I anticipated, I finished. I didn't really have a goal, other than to finish, but there was a small part of me that wanted to, at the very least, finish faster than I did last year. And while I didn't really consciously try (I didn't pay much attention to my pace or time at all), I did it; not by much, but I did finish faster.

And I survived  my first back-to-back longish mile runs. Other than some tightness in my hips, I was feeling fine; a little tired, but not any more than I normally am after a run. So I count the weekend runs as a success. I now know/think that I won't have any major problems with the Disney races being so close together. If, for whatever reason, I don't get the other planned long weekend runs in (weather this winter has been horrible for outdoor running), I'm pretty sure I'll still be fine when Princess Weekend comes around.  :-)

Race Stats:
Winter Series 10k
Sunday, Feb. 2, 2014
Finish Time: 1:15:06 (nike+ time (forgot to turn off the garmin); 1:15:04 (official)
Pace: 11:56mpm (nike+)
Place: 297 of 327

Winter Series 2013-14 Overall results:
5k: 298 of 401 (32:56)
8k: 313 0f 386 (55:27)
10k: 297 of 327 (1:25:04)
Overall: 213 of 241 (2:43:27)

Race Report - Winter Series 8k

Seems like I always go into this race (always meaning this and the other 2 times I've run it) after either a stretch of no running because of the holidays or a couple of runs that didn't go all that well because of the holidays.  Throw in some weather issues and we could have had a recipe for disaster.

My running schedule for the week called for, because of this race on Sunday (my usual long run day), an 8-miler on Friday.  But Friday was a day of snow & ice, and some pretty cold temperatures.  I wimped out and didn't run.  I did, however, head out on Saturday, with a grand plan to run 3 miles by myself with no walk breaks, and then do 2 more miles with Marc.  My plan fizzled down to me struggling to finish just 2 miles, and I gave up, saving my energy for the race the next day.

 

Sunday I woke up feeling good (especially since the weather report said the rain wasn't supposed to start until evening and I wasn't going to have to run in the rain.)  I decided that I was going to get my  8 mile run in by running 3 miles either before or after the race.  Knowing myself the way I do, I figured if I waited until after I wouldn't do it. So I drove down early and used the time after I checked in (which I usually spend sitting in the car, glued to the cellphone) to run my 3 miles.  I went slow and easy and felt pretty good and ready for the race.

I lined up near the back of what we were told was the largest ever Winter Series race, set my watch for my regular run/walk interval, and got ready to run.  The gun went off and I was off with the rest of the crowd.  But instead of getting caught up with the flow, I focused on running my own race, keeping my own pace, and getting from the start to the finish in my own time, in my own way.

People passed me; I passed a few; but there was no "I can't let that woman in the pink shoes beat me" or "I have to catch up to the guy in the green hat" or "no way i'm gonna stay behind the girl in the purple".  Slow, but steady, following the beeps of the watch telling me when to run and when to walk, I moved along, from the start to the finish, running and focusing on my race.

I was hoping to finish in about 55 minutes, but wasn't sure if I was going to be able to pull that off.  But, surprisingly, I did.  Slow and steady may not have won the race but it certainly helped me to have a good run; I had a decent race and a strong steady training run all rolled in to one. Very satisfying.

Race Stats:
Winter Series 8k, 1/5/14
Finish time: 55:19 (garmin); 55:27 (official)
Pace: 11:08mpm (garmin);
Place: 313 out of 386 overall; 54 of 69 age group