Friday, Clark got off work early, so I could go out for a quick run without having to leave Pepper alone. It wasn’t quite as cold as the day before, or as windy, but I still needed the full winter running get-up. I did a lap around the 4.5-mile loop. I think my pace was something like 8:45/mile.
Saturday, the Huffin’ for Pumpkin Pie 5K didn’t start until 9 a.m., so I didn’t have to get up early. TK was out of town this weekend, so it was just me. I left the house around 7:30 to head to Grove Park in Rehoboth.
Fortunately, the weather had greatly improved over the previous two days. The wind had picked up again, but it was about 25 degrees warmer and, after a mile to warm up, I was completely comfortable in shorts and one thin long-sleeved top.
In the starting pack, I heard someone say we were running the out-and-back version of this course. Groan. In the off season, there isn’t as big a police force in Rehoboth, and the race director can’t always get enough cops to control traffic at all the little intersections on the usual course through the neighborhood, so we just run down the boardwalk and back. I much prefer the usual course, but oh well. Nothing I could do about that now.
We got the start commands and we were off!
I had no idea what pace to expect out of myself. I just started running and waited to see what happened.
I finished the first mile in 7:12 and didn’t feel too bad. But then we hit the boardwalk, the part I was dreading. It’s very narrow, especially on the parking meter-lined sidewalk at the north entrance, and it’s still open to the public.
There was no room to try to pass anyone, so I just settled in behind the runners in front of me. I knew I was slowing, but I didn’t feel like elbowing anyone out of the way.
Soon, we made the U-turn on the boardwalk, and then we were heading back toward the park.
I finished the second mile in 7:26, which honestly wasn’t as bad as I’d expected. It’d felt like I’d slowed down a lot more than that.
Then we made the turn onto the long straightaway that makes up almost the entire first and last mile of the race. It feels endless! I concentrated on the huge RV I knew was near the 3-mile marker.
I didn’t have the excuse of being boxed in anymore, but I just didn’t have anything left to try to speed back up again. I ran the third mile in 7:24. The finish line was around one more quick turn.
That woman on the left was really giving it her all — I think she was trying to hit a time goal and it was close. Fredman captured the moment I looked over to see who was trying to out sprint me haha.
I came across the line in 22:52, a 7:22/mile average.
It sounded like the other runner made her goal! I heard her tell someone at the finish line she’d just made it. So, congrats!
Personally, I was a little disappointed in my time — I ran this race last year 53 seconds faster — but then again, I’m pretty sure the last time I ran three consecutive miles under 7:30 was the Dogfish Dash two months ago, so it wasn’t like I’d done the work to be any faster.
Right after finishing, I struck up a conversation with a woman who’d finished about 15 seconds before me. She was wearing New Balance 1500s, the stability version of the 1400s I was wearing. We ran a mile to cool down together. She told me about running the Berlin Marathon earlier this fall. It was her fourth of the six world major marathons (she’s also done NYC, Boston and Chicago) and she said it was her favorite so far, except for the beet juice-based sports drink they serve at aid stations instead of Gatorade. Sounds pretty gross to me!
When I checked the results, I’d gotten second in the F 35-39 age group. I missed out on the age group winner’s pumpkin pie by five measly seconds! At least I got a slice of pumpkin pie they were serving to all the runners post-race.
After the awards were handed out, I did a little shopping at the outlets. I got a couple more cold weather running pieces from the Nike and Under Armour outlets, but the purchase I was most excited about was a 22-piece set of Pyrex glass food storage containers — regular price $55, on sale for $19.99! I finally got rid of the plastic deli meat containers we’d been using since 2007 haha.
It started raining right as I got home, and it poured the rest of the day and well into night.
Sunday, however, was clear and sunny, and kinda warm too. Clark ran some errands in the morning and early afternoon. I took advantage of the not-freezing attic to bring down all the Christmas decorations.
I really didn’t feel like doing my long run though. But it was supposed to rain today and then get cold the rest of the week, so it was stupid not to do it yesterday. When Clark got done and could stay with Pepper, I got dressed in shorts and a short-sleeved shirt, filled my water bottle with Roctane and headed out for a lap around the 11.2-mile loop.
The first five miles were very uncomfortable. Probably because of the peanut butter and jam sandwich I’d had for lunch, which was on whole wheat bread. I was really gassy and crampy.
Just after the fifth mile beeped on the Garmin, I had to poop, which I’d been expecting. I ran into the woods and took care of that.
My guts felt better after that, but my legs were not into it. It was a struggle. I didn’t let myself take any shortcuts home though, and finished 11.2 miles in 1:45 on the dot, a 9:23/mile average. Meh. Miles in the bank.
Today is Cyber Monday. I’ve already scored one really good deal — the St. Michaels Running Festival is offering HALF OFF on a limited number of registrations for the half marathon or 5K, today only. Even with the processing fee, I signed up for the half for $46! That is a freaking steal for a half marathon these days.
As far as training goes, I have a short easy run and strength training on the schedule.
A Simple Running Log 