Watford 5-mile Race Report

I survived race day!  The day was a great one.

My brother came to my parent's house at 8am.  We still had to register for the race, so we wanted to get there before 9am when registration closed.  My husband and the baby came to the race as well.  I knew I would have to feed the baby before the race even started.  I guess that is all part of racing when you have an 8-week-old baby!

Registration was easy, and the line wasn't long.  The rain clouds had blown away, and I started to worry that I had overdressed for the race, with my 3/4 length tights!

Scott heading to the finish

Do my legs look tired?

We headed back to the car, where I fed Oliver and changed him.  My brother and I decided to take the bus to the race start instead of getting my husband to drive us.  The course is straight down one country road, with one right turn on to another country road.  The wind was getting crazy fast, so we were thankful it would be behind us in the final mile and a half!  When the bus dropped us off, the temperature dropped off as well, and it even started to rain a little.  My wardrobe choice wasn't too bad after all :)

Olly, Scott and I after a good race

The race was chip-timed, but only at the end.  We found a spot close to the starting line for that reason!  As we waited for the gun to go off, my brother and I decided to each run our own race, as we had different pace goals in mind.

The gun went, and off we went.  My goal was 8 minute miles, with a possible faster pace in the last mile.  It was so hard not to take off at a 6 minute/mile pace in the first few hundred meters, like everyone else around me.  I held back, as I have pacing goals to keep :)

The first mile came in at 7:57.  The second mile was 7:58.  Mile three: 7:58.  Mile four: (at the end of mile four I finally turned my back to the wind!) 7:57.  The last mile (including a steep incline over rail tracks) was 7:44.  Yay!  I did it!  I would like to thank my Garmin for keeping me in line.

My brother did well.  He came in ahead of me, of course, but then, he didn't just have a baby! ha ha.  Sorry, Scott, but I need excuses.

Here are the stats...

Chip time: 39:57

Avg. Pace: 8min/mile

Women: 8/163 

Age: 2/45 (30-44)

Overall: 33/290 finishers

It was so great to see my husband and Oliver at the finish line.  Thanks for cheering us on!

Happy Running

It Can't all be Negative...

Of course I am talking about the advantages of the negative split .  I have decided that my goal for the next 6 months of training/running is to really work on my pacing, specifically early on in races and even just regular runs.  It is silly for me to make goals like fancy PBs in all of my races, because I just had a baby, and therefore my fitness is not what it was 6 months ago, let alone a year ago.  I am trying, but I know that I need to be realistic, and productive about my running goals these days.  Focusing on pacing will help me in the long run too, so yay!

I have always been one to go out way to fast in races.  I thought for a long time that it was just part of my personality or something, and that somehow I could just "bank" that time.  Well, I do know now after all of these years that going out too fast hurts.  And not just my chip time, but it also hurts my ego a little when I am passed near the end of the route by people I whizzed past in the first few km's.  When I think back on my best races ever, I think of races that I was either: a) stuck in a large crowd and was forced to take it slow in the beginning, or b) running with someone else that was planning a slower pace, and I stuck with them chatting until about the half-way mark before splitting off.  Hmm.  Running slower in the beginning might just be the ticket?!

So, with the help of my Garmin, I am going to attempt to stick to my goal pace in some upcoming races. I just hope I get (or keep) that energy all the way to the end of the race!

Speaking of races, I am running a 5-miler on the holiday Monday.  I am a little sad that it won't be a PB at that distance (or that course) and I really wish I could add a little asterisk to my chip time on Road Race Results that states my lack of training (with good reason?!).  Ah, well.

And what to wear to the race?!  Well...

We all know that diamonds are a girl's best friend.  But what most fail to realize is that Coolmax is a running girl's best friend!  My husband is a wonderful, insightful person that knows how to make his wife of eight years happy on their anniversary.  He bought me a bunch of new running clothes, bless his heart!!  I will be dazzling the streets of my neighbourhood with a few new tops and shorts this summer, in lovely, bright colours!
*Don't get me wrong, I do love the the bling, (and not just race medals) and my husband does seem to surprise me with lovely shiny baubles on special occasions.  But this year, he hit the mark!*


Happy Running!

Ah, the rain continues...

Last night I opted to head out for a run solo (no buggies!).  I was all set to go when my husband arrived home from work, shoes on and everything.  I handed him a freshly changed, fully fed baby, and headed out the door, into the rainy, dreary evening.

I have been wearing my Garmin for the last few weeks, but really just to keep an eye on the time of day, as opposed to my *running* info.  Last night, as I got to the end of the driveway, I thought I would actually 'keep track' of my speed/distance, etc.  Well.  Operating the Garmin is not like 'riding a bike,' it turns out.  I had no idea how to operate that thing.  I was too frazzled in the rain to deal with it at that point, so I will have to figure it out in the comfort of my house before I attempt to use it again.

As I ran along in the rain, on the quiet streets, (it was dinner time...the only people that were out in the rain were brave people bbq'ing--which smelled sooo good) I remembered what made me fall in love with regular running to begin with.  I have mentioned that I always have been a runner, but I became hooked on running when I was in university.  I would run every morning, rain/snow/sun.  I would get up before my room mates (and much of the rest of the world) to run the streets of Halifax.  It made me feel so accomplished to do so much before getting my day going.  Being out in the rain to run lately reminds me of that.  Just getting out there, no matter what.

It is a good thing that I have decided to be so fine with the whole rain thing.  There is so much rain in the forecast this week, (again, ugh) so I have no choice to get out and splash along in it!

On a separate note...

Tomorrow is our wedding anniversary.  Eight years have passed since the beautiful day that I married my husband.  Eight years have flown by--and I am so lucky to have the best person in the world to share every moment with.  In eight years I have become a teacher, a wife, and mom (of three--yowza!).  I can't wait to see what the next eight years (and beyond) bring.  I love you, sweetheart.  Thanks for being you. I mean it when I say all the time that I feel like a lottery winner!

Happy Anniversary, Papa!

Half Marathon Mix-up

Imagine my shock and surprise to find out I am signed up for a half marathon on Sunday?!

Well, last night I received a 'confirmation' email from the Toronto Goodlife Marathon, with my bib number for the half marathon this coming Sunday.  "Only a few days left...are you as excited as we are?!" it said.  Huh?  I am quite sure that this is some sort of error on their part, sending me the email, as I am in no shape to run 13 miles this Sunday, and I certainly did not sign up to do so!!

It is nice to know somewhere out in the universe the Race Gods are sending me not-so-subtle messages to remind me I am a runner.  Part of me wonders if it would be wrong to go to the expo and pick up *my* race kit...
ha ha

This week has been a lovely week for runs.  Oliver and I have been out on our own a few times, and on Mother's day, Elliott, Oliver and I took to the 'hood for a few loops to make a nice 7k.  Big brother Elliott was happy to ride along with the baby, that's for sure.

This morning I did my usual 7k, but I decided to add another 1km loop that includes the big hill.  When I run up this big hill, people out walking or even in their cars make comments like, "you go girl" or, "wow, that's quite a climb with a running buggy!" etc.  It makes me feel good to know that I survived the big hill, even if it was with the lightest of my children in-tow!

I hope this weather stays bright and cheery...I have some miles to log before my next race, the Watford 8km road race in less than 2 weeks!

Happy Running :)

Soggy Buggy

This morning started with optimism.  I decided to take my two older boys on a run to "beat the rain" early.  Elliott's bus stop is on my usual running route, so I decided to do the run first, and sort of end up at the stop, with just half a km to run home with just one kid in the double.

By the time we reached the end of the street, the rain began.  Ugh.  "Mama, it feels misty," Elliott said.  Yeah, well, at least your under the canopy.  I did do some advanced planning, and put my iphone in a baggie, and brought along the "bubble".  The Bubble is what we call the plastic rain cover for the BOB.  Half way through the run, it was time to stop and install the Bubble.  At which point, my two year old decided to scream and cry.  He hates the bubble.  I had to compromise, and let him push it back from his side.  Nothing makes me feel like a mom more than having an argument with a two year old at the side of the road at 7:45am...

We survived the run, and I have to admit that the double is a bit heavier with two bigger kids than the single and a newborn!  Add in some rain and wind, and you have yourself a workout!

Here's hoping there are more sunny days to come :)

Happy Running

Snug as a Bug

Oliver and I have been hitting the roads together this week.  I know he is still a teeny little guy, but I have him bundled in to the BOB with a snuggler around his head/neck, as well as his body for support.  I am sticking to the roads that I know are smooth surfaces (and let's not forget my speed isn't much to worry about these days!).

Oliver all snuggled in to the BOB

Being able to take Oliver out for runs really makes it easier for me to squeeze them in when my husband is working, and when the bigger boys aren't home.  Today, the wind made the stroller into a mini-parachute, so I had some extra training along my 7k route.  Olly fell asleep almost immediately as we started out (yay!) so I would take a peek through the canopy window every couple of minutes to make sure he was ok.  Of course, he barely moved a muscle.  At one point, though, when I looked down, to my shock and horror, I saw a spider sitting on his bib.  Yikes!  I am not usually the one around my house to deal with such creepy critters, but there, out on the road with no one to save us, I had to man-up and pick the little spider out of my poor baby's space.  Ew.  But I did it.  Then, as I ran along, a hornet decided to perch on the outside of the stroller, where he rode with us for a few blocks before I found a stick to brush him away.
I guess it is spring.  And with spring weather, bugs come out to enjoy the sunshine too.  I just could do without them preying on my baby (ok, slight exaggeration) and getting in my way.  I have swallowed more than one bug out on the run, and I can't think of a worse way to ruin a good few miles.  Ick.

I plan to run with Milo and Oliver within the next couple of days, so that will be when the real fitness test comes.  Happy Running!

Beautiful day for a Race!

After a week (ok, month) of dreary, windy, rainy weather it was so refreshing to wake up this morning to sunshine and temperatures above 10C.  As an added bonus, it was race day!  My first race since having the baby a month ago, this local 5k race (Avery's Bravery--Second Annual) was a perfect choice.

I had to register this morning, so I got in the car and dashed to the race site on my own (it is less than 5 minutes from home--another bonus) while my husband hung out with the three boys.  I was back in no time flat, to get the boys ready, feed the baby, etc. before we packed up the car and headed out.

Elliott showing off good form in the children's race

The race was held at the local conservation area.  A wonderful location for a race!  This race was totally geared toward children, with face painters, a bouncy castle, cupcake decorating, and a 100m kid's race.  

Not long after all of the kids received their medals, the 5k run/walk started.  My good friend M and I were running together.  She just had a baby about a month ago as well, but she was running with her little one in the BOB, and I wimped out and left Oliver with his papa and siblings!  It made it easier for me to offer to push M's baby for part of the route, which worked well.

The run felt more like a daily run than a *race* but it felt great regardless.  We did manage to pass our fair share of other runners (a good way to pump up our spirits) and it really felt great to just attach that race bib to my shirt!

The best feeling was the approach to the finish, (when is it not the best feeling?!) where my little Milo ran out from the spectators to see me.  Aw.  Mama's boy.  I scooped him up as we crossed the finish.  So great.  Our finish time was 29ish minutes.  I'll take that any day.

It feels great to sit here this evening with a bit of sun burn on my face, and the optimism that I will build on this 5k up to the races that I want to accomplish this year :)

Look at that optimism!

Happy Running!