Years of racing in review

My racing career started way back in April 2000 at the 10K Vancouver Sun Run. I was between third and fourth year at The University of British Columbia. I signed up for the race, didn't train because I hated running, and ran my heart out on the day all the time wondering what I was doing. And I'm pretty sure I committed the newbie mistake of wearing my cotton race shirt too. But as the race shirt had my team name on it I thought this was what I was supposed to do. I'll admit, I got into running, particularly races, not because of my own conviction, but because my friend Nikki was interested in racing. Together we signed up for a 5K just a couple of weeks later with our boyfriends (who both kicked our rear ends on the course). That 5K is still my PR - 30:28. Maybe if I ran more 5Ks I could beat it now, but I find it amusing that my first 5K race is still my best ever. By the end of the year the boyfriends were gone and I had four races under my belt - two 10Ks and two 5Ks.

---

In 2001 I ran the Sun Run again, along with one more 10K and another 5K. After that I moved down to Laredo, TX which resulted in a major hiatus from running. Initially I wanted to find races to sign up for, but there were barely any nearby, and any ones I could travel for didn't seem to mesh with my days off schedule as I was working 11 days on, 3 days off at the time. I stopped running for several years, and it wasn't until I moved to San Antonio in 2005 that I slowly got into it again. Tally up a 5K and a 10K in 2005 for a total race count of eight.

---

In 2006 my cousin's wedding in Vancouver happened to be on the same weekend as the Sun Run. Despite not running seriously at all I really wanted to get out there and do this race again. I had fun in the beginning, but ran pretty poorly in the last half and clocked my worst 10K run time ever - 1:18:12. Despite the horribleness of that race I somehow or other came up with the brilliant idea to train for a marathon. I think maybe it was because my quads didn't hurt the day after the race, and when I got home I found a post card from TNT in my mail advertising the Nike Women's race. I was keen on that Tiffany's necklace. I found my training program, stuck to it, and came out with an injury that sidelined me for a couple of months and nixed my marathon dreams. I wrapped up 2006 with another 10K and two more 5Ks. Total race tally is at twelve by the end of the year.

---

2007 was the crazy racing year...thirteen races total.

1. March 17 - St. Patrick's Day 10K in Calgary - 1:07:03 :: This is a great race put on by the Calgary Roadrunners where you run two laps through the University of Calgary. The post race spread is one of the best I have seen - beef stew and Big Rock beer (beer for a fee) at the end.
2. May 5 - Go Red for Women 5K in Orlando - 35:23 :: This past year the race wound through Downtown Disney, Saratoga Springs Resort, and one of the nearby golf courses. Pretty good bling for a 5K.
3. May 6 - Minnie Marathon 15K in Orlando - 1:45:06 :: This race follows the last 15K of the Walt Disney World Marathon course. You start in the parking lot of Animal Kingdom, run along the highway past the Wide World of Sports, through MGM Studios, along the Boardwalk and through EPCOT. Training for a race longer than 10K, and completing it, felt like a great accomplishment.
4. May 27 - Calgary Women's Run 5.5K - 32:12
5. June 9 - Footstock 10K in Cochrane - 1:05:38 :: Another race with a terrific post race spread - pancakes!
6. June 17 - Banff Citizen's Race - 1:00:05 (5.8 miles) :: I remember the weather the most about this one - wow it was wet and cold! My trail sneaks still look terrible. It was a fun race, but transportation between the parking and the race start/finish was a bit unorganized.
7. July 8 - HSBC Calgary Half Marathon - 2:21:32
8. September 9 - Ryka Iron Girl 10K in Seattle - 57:56 (PR)
9. September 22 - Melissa's Road Race in Banff - 1:02:40 :: This is definitely one of the prettiest race courses around here. A good spur of the moment decision to race!
10. October 21 - Nike Women's Half Marathon in San Francisco - 2:14:56 :: I absolutely loved this race - the scenery, the hills, the Tiffany's bling, you name it. I definitely want to run this one again.
11. October 27 - Tower of Terror 13K - 1:29:07
12. November 5 - Banff Winterstart 5 Miler - 51:30
13. December 9 - Catch the Elves 10K - 1:00:44

In case you missed any of them I have provided links to all my fascinating and riveting race reports where applicable. I've really seen improvements in my race times - especially my 10K. Over the years I've gone from someone who absolutely, without a doubt, hated running to someone who can't imagine not having that next race to train for. Besides going Goofy in 2008 we'll see what the rest of the year brings for me racing-wise. I'm always keen to travel for a good event, so if there are any races I should put on my radar, let me know!

A Fast Race = Terrible Race Pictures

The pictures from the Ryka Iron Girl 10K have been posted... I feel terrible for DGB who evidently ran so fast that photographers were not able to capture a picture of her. I did get some photos, but wow....fast running makes for terrible pictures. Coach Ken, I found some pics where I was not smiling, so I'm not sure if that means I wasn't having fun or what. And I apparently do funny thing with my fingers when I run. I'm either giving the Fonzie thumbs up or doing things that don't look comfortable. Anyhow...here they are for your enjoyment!

Seattle Pictures

Indulging my Chipotle craving...the first order of business.Some seriously good yam fries at the Kingfish Cafe.One of the motivational signs at the race expo that would also be displayed throughout the course.D and I in front of Pike Place Market.Pre-race dinner at Mama Melina's.Getting ready to start...All done...with our medals!Celebrating at Pike Brewing Co. Double fisting it with an almost empty Pike Pale Ale and a brand new Kilt Lifter Ruby Ale.Checking out the crabs at the Pike Place Fish Market. D told me to make sure I stood on the "non-rag side" of the fish throwing guy. This guy was a total hit with the ladies.Inside the first ever Starbucks store.Enjoying my Starbucks outside.With the Marathon Pig in Post Alley. He comes complete with a race bib on his back, an iPod, and some sneakers.

Ryka Iron Girl 10K Race Report - PR!

The Ryka Iron Girl race was held yesterday in Seattle at Green Lake. The race was only open to women, and they had 434 finishers in the 10K, 775 finishers in the 5K. I was originally going to run the race on my own, but my friend D decided to try her hand at her first ever race, so it was great having company. We left the hotel in good time and found a parking spot with no issues along the lake. We walked over to the start area and opted to go for a short, slow jog just to warm up. As soon as we finished the jog I knew I needed to hit the porta potty line. I tried to catch a signal on my Garmin while standing in line, but it was taking forever.... As the time to start was getting closer and closer I started to worry that I would be Garminless on this race as it seemed so stubborn on catching that signal. I was maybe even starting to panic a little. Really...I swear...I'm not too attached to my Garmin..! Finally when we were waiting in the starting area...success! D didn't want to go out too fast, so we talked about running the first two miles together so I could keep her in check. We chatted with the runners around us, took a couple of pictures, then it was time to start. For the 10K we would be doing two loops around Green Lake. D and I hung out together as planned and pretty early on we were able to get into a good rhythm. We didn't talk too much as D was into her iPod, but it was nice having the company. After a mile in we hit the first water stop and I mentioned to D that I was going to walk through (because running seems to really complicate the whole drinking thing for me). D kept going, so I was on my own from there on out. I kept her in my sight for awhile, but I didn't want to blow all my energy trying to catch up with her, especially since I knew she was planning on ramping up the pace 2 miles in. I was wearing my "Run Calgary" - Calgary Half Marathon shirt. At one point a girl ran up to me and asked me if I was from Calgary. Yup, I sure am! She was originally from Edmonton, but now lives in Seattle. We chit chatted then went on our merry ways. I was astounded when I hit the halfway mark before 30 mins....I have never run a sub 30 min 5K before. I was keeping a really even average pace throughout the entire race (despite slowing down somewhat in mile 4...not sure what happened there....) When I hit the last 1.2 miles I knew I had a pretty good shot of going sub 60:00 for this race unless I spontaneously combusted in the final mile. I kept going, and the only walking I did was through the two water stops to down my beverage of choice. At the final turn to the finish D was waiting and cheering for me (she finished a few minutes ahead of me at 54:22) and my rubber legs found something within to go for a sprint into the finish. Not only did I go sub 60:00...I even beat that by a couple of minutes. I have never run that fast...ever. A 9:21/mi pace. 57:56 was my final official time and I honestly almost cried after I crossed the finish line. I got my medal and D and I high fived and congratulated each other. We hit the post race breakfast cafe for some bread, muffins, fruit, and yogurt and sat in the sun and watched the awards ceremony.

---

I have to say a big thanks to everyone for the encouragement - those who know me personally, and those who wrote it on the blog. Apparently a bunch of people knew that I could do this, except for me until mile 5. And I don't mean to get all sappy on everyone...I know it is just a 10K, but a sub 60:00 10K was my first ever running goal...and to finally have it happen after a big hiatus - and then an injury related hiatus - some 7 years down the road feels pretty good. So thanks everyone. Pictures and more trip details to come later.

Ryka Iron Girl 10K Results

PR....PR....PR....!!!!

My results:
time: 0:57:56
overall place: 201 out of 434
division: F2529
division place: 29
division total: 79

I would have been ecstatic with 59:59.... I'll give details later....

A final BBC, 3 speedy and buggy miles

Monday I made it out for a 4 mile jaunt through Edgemont. There isn't too much to say about it, other than it happened. It wasn't a fabulous run, it wasn't a bad run. Last night we had a final, bonus BBC session at Edworthy park. We did some work with resistance tubing, a stability ball, some step ups and tricep dips, and lots of abs. There was a lot of laughter and joking around in between all of the serious exercises and it was a fun final session. Some girls are continuing on for the fall session of BBC, but most of us are going it on our own. I'll still get some great work outs in with Instructor S at her Fit Ball class, so at least I know I'll still get challenged by her. I'll miss the other girls in the class though. After boot camp DGB and I hung around chatting with S for awhile, but we both wanted to get a few miles under our feet in preparation for our 10K in Seattle this week. We started out around dusk and the weather was perfect. DGB is pretty speedy so I wasn't sure we'd be running together the whole way - either because I couldn't keep up or because she wouldn't want to hold back. Despite the perfect weather the run was pretty gross. All kinds of aphids are out right now, and they were out in full force along the pathway. I honestly felt like a windshield as we ran through them and if I wasn't with DGB I might have considered calling it a night a quarter of a mile in. I probably don't give myself enough credit for how fast I am capable of running as DGB and I stayed together until the final sprint to the end and it made for one of my fastest practice runs in a long time. It was terrific to have company out there and it was great to talk about our thoughts on the upcoming Iron Girl race. Honestly, I'm really hoping to PR this 10K this weekend - but I'm hoping that I'm not so set on it that if I don't I won't be completely disappointed. At the end of the day though I'm looking forward to getting away, seeing the sights in Seattle, and being there for DGB's first race.

Going through race withdrawal

My next race is not until September 9 (the Ryka Iron Girl - Seattle - 10K) and I'm getting some itchy feet to run a race again. I haven't been able to find anything that really works well with my training schedule though. The Robert Hamilton Memorial 5 mi and 10 mi road race is on Sunday August 26th is the closest thing coming up, but it still would have required a bit of schedule jiggling. Dawn (aka Pink Chick) suggested volunteering which sounded like a fabulous idea to me. So there we go - I'll be at the race - not sure doing what exactly, but I expressed an interest to help out at the finish line since I've court marshaled and water stopped before. Might as well try something new.

---

I did wind up signing up for another race though. The end of October, beginning of November is now going to be race crazy... I have the Nike Women's Half Marathon October 21st. Then the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 13K at Disney World on October 27th. Finally the Banff Winterstart 5 mi night time run caught my eye some time ago, I just wavered on signing up. I actually booked a hotel in Banff in case I wanted to run the race all the way back in early July. Today I decided to take the plunge and sign up since it was starting to fill up and I'm not sure if they cap the race. I am registrant number 731. I will really have to take it easy on this race because I'll have a 15 miler to run the day after. I hear this event in Banff is a lot of fun though so I couldn't pass it up (plus I hear you get beer tickets after the run - which will make that 15 miler feel even better). Wow....two night time races in back to back weekends. Should be interesting!

Seattle Ryka Iron Girl 10K

I love to travel, and I have a flex day coming up that I'm just not sure what to do with. I dislike the idea of sitting at home when I could be going someplace... I looked to see where airfares were cheap to - Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Seattle. Coincidentally I found a neat 5K and 10K event in Seattle in September so that sealed the deal - The Ryka Iron Girl. So look at me go, I have another 10K coming up. This is perfect since I feel like I have some unfinished business on a 10K course, and it fits in well with my training schedule. Plus it is a weekend away in Seattle...

It sounds like a great event though: a women's only event, a double loop around Green Lake, a post race Breakfast Cafe, tech shirts, a personalized racing bib, and a finisher medal. I'm looking forward to it!