Bloomsday 2011

With over 50,000 runners and walkers registered for Bloomsday this year, I think it was a good idea to get to Spokane on Saturday to attend the expo, avoid dealing with parking on race day, and enjoy pre-race food in "the big city."

At about 3:00 PM, we arrived at the expo, and it was just as I remembered it from last year (minus the Revive Energy Mints booth, which seemed to be missing this year).  I got my race packet, checked out new running gear, and bought myself a new pair of double-layer socks that promised to keep me from blistering on race day.

Packet pick-up

Daniel and me at the expo

After the expo, we decided to get some dinner at Sushi.com, a downtown Japanese restaurant.  The maguro nigiri was exceptional, and even though I wasn't expecting the volcano roll to look like it did, it was quite tasty.

Volcano Roll (left) and Chef's Choice Sushi Platter (right)

After a beer with a couple of other Palouse Falls Beer Chasers (and a perennial - a runner who has participated in all 35 Bloomsday races), we made our way back to the hotel and got our race clothes and gear ready for the morning.

One person in our party started his race at 9:00, so we headed to the starting line shortly after 8:00.  I enjoyed seeing all the other runners and their outfits, gear, and, in some cases, costumes.  I admired an old man's neon running shorts circa 1985, a couple in formal attire and running shoes, and three guys dressed as superheroes.  (I didn't see the guy who only wore a g-string and a cape, though I hear it quite a thing to see...)

I found my way to the green group, and waited for my race to start around 9:15.

Shortly after 9:15, my group started moving toward the finish line.  I removed my 2010 "Campus on the Run" race shirt, tossed it in a tree lining the street (as per tradition), and engaged in small-talk with others in my race group.

At 9:17 or so, I crossed the starting line and found myself in the middle of a pack of runners going at about a 10:30 pace.  Feeling good, I smiled and thoroughly enjoyed the first couple of miles.

After 3 miles, I found myself thinking about when I would walk for the first time.  I didn't need to walk, but I decided to walk once I reached Doomsday Hill.  I made that my plan and ran to the bridge right before Doomsday.

Then something funny happened that I wasn't expecting.  Instead of welcoming my opportunity to walk (that was my basic plan, after all), I found that I was resiting my plan and thinking something new altogether.  I said to myself, "You are stronger than you've ever been.  You can do this."

I thought of everything that I have been through in the past year, all the events and emotions that I have been endured.  And in a flash I realized that I have not only survived this past year, I was holding my head up high and running a 12K race faster than I had the year before.  This year I wasn't going to be slowed by the thing that made me walk last year.  I dug in and started my ascent.


I wasn't fast, but I passed numerous people as I ran up the hill (which felt pretty darn good, actually).  My legs and lungs burned, but there wasn't a single moment when I thought I would walk.

At the top of the hill, I felt a familiar sensation cross my face: I smiled a big ol' smile, and then I enthusiastically high-fived the Doomsday vulture and a guy dressed up in a chicken suit.  I smiled because I had just run the hardest part of the course; I smiled because I had just run farther without walking than I ever have; and I smiled because I am stronger than I ever have been.

With the hardest part under my belt, I decided to running the rest of the race (2.5 miles), as well.  That distance is not small potatoes to me, but my mental state at that point was so strong that I knew I could do it. 

I don't have a whole lot to say about the rest of the race.  It just felt good.  I kept a consistent pace, and I knew that I was going to not only have a PR but also new knowledge about what I am capable of.  And that fact kept me smiling and running strong.

It was awesome seeing the downhill to the finish line.  I finished at 1:24:25, which is an 11:18 pace.

Proud Annie

Three happy Bloomsday runners.  We all got PRs!

After the race, we met up with other Beer Chasers at Northern Lights and enjoyed food and a few beers.  We then went to Sky High Sports for a second workout (this time with trampolines).  What a spectacular day!

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Seaport River Run 2011

I ran the Seaport River Run on Saturday morning.  Here are the highlights:

• The sun was shining, and the race didn't have a 6 AM start.  Woo hoo!
• My first couple of miles were at about a 10-minute pace, so I knew that I had a good chance of getting a PR (since my pace needed only be faster than an 11:55).  I thought, "Even if I have a couple of slow miles today, I still might beat my previous record."
• My new Brooks T7s were light on my feet, and my legs felt well rested since I didn't run while in Boston or New York.  
• I was feeling under the weather, so my lungs were my biggest enemy; I felt like I couldn't get a full breath of air, and my occasional coughing fits slowed me down. 
• Around mile 5 my feet started feeling like they were developing some blisters, but they didn't hurt me too bad.  I decided to run the last 1.2 miles as fast and as strong as possible.
• I breezed by two or three runners in the final few yards of the race.  I like finishing my races with a sprint.
• I got a frosty beer at the finish line and a jet boat ride back to my car... and all for a $10 registration fee.  Nice.

I came in at 1:08:58, which is an 11:06 pace.  I feel pretty good about that time and look forward to my next race on Sunday.  I just hope this cough subsides a bit; I'd like to be healthy for Bloomsday.

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Two Races, Two Days, One PR

I ran the Twilight 5K in Lewiston, ID on Friday night.  It was great.

A few minutes before 7:00 PM, we put our race numbers on, removed our jackets, and lined up on the paved path next to river.  The sun was going down, but it still shone on the water and illuminated the just-budding trees, reminding me that Spring is on its way.

I watched as other runners warmed their bare arms, fiddled with their iPods, and stretched their muscles.

The gun went off soon after, and the race began.  I didn't actually start running, though; because I had a timing chip on my shoe, I figured that I would cross a timing mat to officially start my time.  So, I walked for about ten seconds and realized only once I got to the starting line that there was no mat.  Bummer. 

I began running and knew from the get-go that my legs were feeling pretty good.  I have been increasing my miles for Bloomsday and for my next half marathon (in June), and while they have been pretty tired, they have also been getting stronger.  I felt that strength, the cool air on my face, the beauty of the river and Idaho, and the excitement of the runners around me.  It felt good, and I waved to my cameraman. :)

What a dork! :)

My first two miles were great.  I was running under a ten-minute pace (which is fast for me), and I heard the "go-ahead-and-walk" devil on my shoulder less than usual.  I wondered at Mile 2 if I would get a PR.  The sun set around me, and I distinctly remember smiling at the fact that I was running a race on my Friday night.

With about 3/4-mile to go, my legs started to feel tired.  I was sweating pretty good, and the distance between me and the older fellow that I was trying to keep up with was increasing.  Without feeling discouraged, I reminded myself that I had less than a mile to go.

(I have to isert a side note here.  When I run, I tend to think of things in terms of distances I know - "I only have a 5K left" or "Only one more mile to go."  I also have shorter distances memorized.  At this particular point in the race, I remembered one of my most-run trails - the railroad tracks by the local Jack in the Box.  And this was super-useful.  I thought to myself, "I only have the distance from the underpass to the parking lot left.  I have run that a million times."  And that was all that it took to remind me that this distance and the feelings in my legs were nothing new.  I was going to finish strong!)

With .35 miles to go, I did something that I can't believe I did - I started sprinting.  In my experience, that is too far to sprint.  But, I looked at my Garmin and saw that I was close to record time for a 5K; I had to try to beat my best time.  I kicked it into gear and ran.

I really did feel like I was going as fast as this picture indicates.

I passed three people on the final stretch, and I crossed the finish line in 30:53 - my best 5K time to date. :)

(Special thanks to John McMurtrey for taking these pictures!)

***

The next morning I awoke to the knowledge that I was going to run another race - this time a 5-miler, and I would be both a participant and a co-organizer of the event.  The race's rules were simple - run five 1-mile laps, and take a card from the deck upon the completion of each loop; the best hand at the end of five loops/miles wins.

Pre-race chatting/keeping warm

The race started at 11:00 AM, and I have to say that it was really cool to see how many participants we got to come out and run.  Despite the chilly wind, we were all smiles as we started the race.

Not long after the start, it was clear that I wasn't going to be running the whole five miles; the race took us up Roundtop and up the hill to the water tower.  I wasn't too concerned about my hiking plan, as there was a fellow hiker/runner out there who was more than happy to join me for our friendly five-mile race.

John McMurtrey and I showing the trail who's boss. :)

Feeling good

This was John's first race, and he was awesome!  We came in at 1:11:25, which isn't bad for the course.  More important, however, is the fact that we had a lot of fun running, walking, hiking, and talking.

After the race, we compared cards, and I was surprised that my two kings didn't even get me into the top 3.  Rose Keller won with three aces.  Congrats, Rose!

All in all, a great couple of days in my running life.
 
(Special thanks to Shirley Cornelius for taking these pictures!)

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