On the Run: Run Wild for the Zoo 10K 2015

Run Wild always feels to me like the start of Fall racing season.  Although it's not quite Fall officially, it's mid-September and the weather is usually perfect - 50 degrees and sunny.  The course is tree-lined and leaves are just starting to change colors.  It's hard to believe that just the weekend before it was a muggy 80+ degrees for racing!

As I've said before, this is one of my favorites because it's always my anniversary race.  (8 years!)  I love going back to it year after year with lighter shoes and a faster pace.    Besides the nostalgic aspect of it, it's a beautiful course with some of the friendliest volunteers and course marshals I've seen.  

This year the race was extra special for a couple of reasons.  First of all, my 5th grade nephew Luka ran his first 5K.  He and I ran together over the summer to get ready for it.  It was so exciting to see him cross the finish line with Brian.  Yes with Brian!  For the first time Brian ran this race, too!  This is one of those races that I usually go to by myself but because he ran it with Luka, he was there to see me cross the finish line.  

I actually had a lot of people there to see me finish.  Because Luka ran his 5K, his parents and siblings were there.  The event was also a target race for RUNdetroit Flight Club so there were lots of friends at the end.  Most of them had already finished the 5K so they were there to cheer me on.

Definitely the most special part, however, was that I raced with my friend and RUNdetroit teammate Sarah.  Every step of the way.  

I hadn't planned on doing this race with Sarah.  She texted me the day before, saying she was going to sign up and would pace me for it.  Sarah wanted to help me get a PR.  I'm going to be honest here.  I FREAKED.  All these thoughts went through my head: 

• I don't need help.  I just want to run my own race.  
• She's faster than I am!  Why is she slowing down to run with me?!
• I'm not fast enough.  What if I let her down?
• I can't run that fast right now.  It's not in my wheelhouse.
• I can't.  I can't.  I can't.

Thankfully Sarah knows me and knew I was freaking out.  All my crazy texts just rolled off her (at least I hope they did!).  I woke up in the morning with a calm mind and a fresh, positive perspective.  I realized that even though Sarah is faster than I am, pacing me WAS the race she wanted to run.  And the reason I was freaking out is because I was lacking confidence.  I was about to step outside of my comfort zone and that's scary.  It was time to be bold.  But I needed Sarah to help me.

Brian and I got to the race at 7:00 for parking and packet pickup.  There was Sarah.  We hugged and everything was okay.  We had a long time before our race at 9:00!  Plenty of time for multiple port-a-potty stops (which are always clean and have short wait times at this race).  We did a 2-mile warm-up with our friend Leamon and then finally took off our long sleeves and headed over to the start.  

As I said, Sarah and I ran the whole race together.  We chatted (she did more talking than I did) for the first 4.5 miles.  We waved to and thanked all the spectators and volunteers.  It was nice to catch up on life because we haven't seen each other as much lately as in the past.  I'm pretty sure we annoyed the men that we were passing along the way, seeing how easily we were talking and laughing.  But hey, we were having fun!

Around 3.75 miles in, Sarah commented that she really wanted to catch a guy ahead of us.  She could tell he was fading but I didn't think I had it in me to run any faster.  At the 4-mile marker she asked about pace.  I was happily surprised to see and shouted, "That's PR pace!"  It was a nice boost and I realized we'd nearly closed the gap between us and the dude ahead.  We rounded a corner and got closer.  We could hear him breathing.  He was checking his Garmin constantly.  This was it.  Sarah stopped talking, we pushed the pace just a hair, and we chicked him.  

I felt really strong for the rest of that mile but the last mile was harder.  I felt like I was going to puke.  Sarah must have noticed (or maybe I told her) because she started talking again to help keep me going.  At some point she told me that when we got to the finish line she was going to let me go first.  I said no, we needed to finish together.  I couldn't have done it without her.  Whatever happens happens.  So that's what we did.  Photo finish.

We tied.  40:27 for us both.  They gave me first and her second, though I'm not sure how that was decided.  My award was a gift certificate to Massage Envy.  I gave it to Sarah because she deserves it, earned it, and never treats herself to massages.  

Oh, and I got my PR!  I couldn't have done it without Sarah.  It's good to have a friend who believes in you when you don't believe in yourself.  That's what teamwork is all about.

Time

40:27

Pace

6:31/Mile

Fuel

Banana, CLIF Mojo - Peanut Butter Pretzel

And this guy always believes in me.  Thanks, Brian.  

On the Run: Flirt with Dirt 10k 2013

After tripping over a tree branch (oh who am I kidding, it was probably my own foot!) on the trails at Stonycreek a few weeks ago, I was a little nervous about Flirt with Dirt yesterday.  This race has a lot more trips hazards, switchbacks, and narrow trails and let's be honest, I am NOT the picture of grace.  Unlike when I fell at Stonycreek, this is pretty tight so if I fell here, I'd likely trip up someone else and piss off a whole bunch of people.  (Not to mention myself.)  SO, my anxiety level was a bit higher than in a road race and my eyes were glued to the ground as a I ran.  The thought crossed my mind that maybe I should have been wearing my glasses . . . But what fun would that be?

I'm still new to running trails and am not comfortable passing people, so there were a few times in the first half when I was stuck behind some slower runners.  With all the switchbacks, ups and downs, and roots in the first few miles on the narrow mountain bike trail, passing people was sometimes nearly impossible anyway.  I would have loved to get ahead and pick up the pace earlier on but alas, I did not.

I made up for lost time in the second half and finished strong - 1st in my age group, 4th female, and 34th overall.  And seriously, my goals in this race were to stay on course (unlike last year), stay on my feet, and have fun.  I had a couple of close calls but most definitely accomplished all three.  And leaving with some cool swag certainly didn't hurt!  Race day success!

Time
50:05 

Pace
8:04/mile 

Fuel
Banana 

Tunes*
 Somebody That I Used to Know / Gotye 
Little Talks / Of Monsters and Men 
Vertigo / U2 
Kiss with a Fist / Florence & the Machine 
Dear Rosemary / Foo Fighters 
Machu Picchu / The Strokes 
Sixteen Saltines / Jack White 
One Engine / The Decemberists 
From Now On / The Features 
Take the Heartland / Glen Hansard 
Supermassive Black Hole / Muse 
Mercy / Duffy 
Immigrant Song / Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Feat. Karen O. 
Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground I / The White Stripes 
Chop and Change / The Black Keys 
E.T. / Katy Perry

* Same as last year - that's what happens when you forget to sync your new playlist.  Boo!

Upcoming Events:

Tough Mudder - June 29th

Warrior Dash - July 27th

Merrell Down & Dirty - August 25th

  

On the Run: Novi Memorial Day Run 10K

Ha ha, this picture cracks me up!  It's the cropped and zoomed-in Instagram version but the original is almost funnier because there are two guys in the photo with me.  Both of them look like they are dying and there's me, smack in the middle, looking like I'm having the time of my life!  Brian snapped the photo in the home stretch, right before I turned up the engines and poured on the speed to finish first in my age group, 4th female, and 24th overall in Monday's Memorial Day race.  It wasn't a PR for me but considering I ran a half the weekend before and have another half this weekend, I was doing this as more of a "fun run" anyway.

This was the first time I'd run this particular race so I wasn't sure what to expect.  It turned out to be a fun, well-organized event with a nice course.  Brian went with me and we arrived at the park about 45 minutes before start time.  Parking was easy and there wasn't a long line for the Port-a-Potties.  Before the 10K was a special "Elite Mile" event.  The top male finished in 4:18!!  It was amazing to watch.  Then those runners participated in either the 5K or 10K!  Wow!

The course was a loop through neighborhoods and subdivisions in the area.  It was somewhat hilly, making it just challenging enough but not overly difficult.  There were really nice homes to look at along the way and I was happy to be running something different from the usual route in my own neighborhood.  

I started out a little slow and my muscles felt tight.  It took me a few miles to loosen up and get in the groove but by mile 3 I was starting to pick up speed and pass people.  Once I did there was no slowing down!  I finished strong and after the race I had a few people come up to me to congratulate me on a race well run.  One girl even told me she had chased me the whole time but just couldn't catch me!  She finished just behind me, placing 2nd in our age group.

The race was at 8am but the awards ceremony wasn't until 10:30.  I didn't want to wait around and unfortunately, there isn't a good opportunity for me to claim my award (a mug).  Ah well.  Just knowing I placed 1st is good enough for me!

Time 
43:41
 

Pace 

7:03/mile 
  
Fuel 

Banana 

Tunes 

Born in the U.S.A. / Bruce Springsteen

Honey in the Sun / Camera Obscura
American Idiot / Green Day
Crawling to the USA / Elvis Costello 
Party in the USA / Miley Cyrus

Sunshinin' / The Vines

R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. / John Mellencamp

American Girl / Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

Kids in America / The Muffs

Firework / Katy Perry

Hot Summer Night / Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

Blood for Poppies / Garbage 
From Now On / The Features

Upcoming races:  

Dexter-Ann Arbor 1/2 Marathon - June 2nd

Flirt with Dirt 10k - June 8th 

On the Run: Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo 5K & 10K - 2012

Last Sunday I did Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo - one of my favorite races of the year.  Actually now that I do both the 5k and 10k I should say it's two of my favorites!  I love it in part because it was the first race I ever ran so I like to see each year how much faster I get.  (In my 5th year running it my finishing time has dropped by 10 minutes - woot woot!)  I also love that it's fast and flat and not too crowded, which gives me a fighting chance at placing in my age group.  And although I sometimes get flack from other vegetarians and vegans for supporting the zoo, I firmly believe they do good work for the animals and treat them with care and respect.  The proceeds from this race benefit the veterinary hospital at the zoo, which I think is a good cause.  So really, what's not to love about this race?

The weather last weekend was absolutely perfect racing weather - sunshine, blue skies, cool temps, and a gentle breeze.  By my standards, Brian and I were a little late getting to the race so I jumped out on the service drive before he pulled into the parking lot and ran to the starting line.  I got there just in time for the singing of the National Anthem and then we were off.  Initially my goal was to use the 5k as a warm-up for the 10k that was to follow.  However, I had a lot of adrenaline going, started out strong, and before I knew it I was at mile 2.  With only another 1.1 miles to go there was really no point in slowing down.  Plus, the faster I ran the more time I would have between races to switch bibs and stand in line for the port-a-potties (I didn't have time to go before the 5k, remember?).  So I just went for it.  And when I crossed the finish line and saw the race clock I was so happy I ran the way I did.  I raised my arms and gave out a loud, "Wahoo!"  I'd never run so fast in all my life.  I'd gone balls to the wall.  (I actually shouted that to Brian when I finished.  Sorry parents.)  And I still had another 6.2 miles to run.  Oh sh*t.
 

Distance

5k 
 

Time 

21:39

Pace 

6:58/mile

Fuel 

Vanilla Chia Pudding (this recipe, minus the cocoa), banana

Tunes

Runaway Train / Soul Asylum

Take Me Away / Wild Belle

Michael Praytor, Five Years Later / Ben Folds Five

Mama's Room / Under the Influence of Giants

Your Easy Lovin' Ain't Pleasin' Nothin' / Mayer Hawthorne

Felt / Garbage

After such a glorious 5k I was super pumped about the 10k.  I started out way at the front again and from the get-go I was moving at a pretty good clip.  I wasn't really passing anyone yet but people weren't passing me, either.  After only about a mile, however, my mind started telling my legs they were tired.  I started thinking about how fast I'd just run and how far I had to go.  Even though I badly wanted to place in my age group I started to tell myself it was okay if I didn't.  But both races together are only 9 miles and I easily run 7 and 8 miles a couple days a week.  And this is race day!  Get a hold of yourself, I thought!  haha!  Anyway, I knew it was all in my head so I picked a person who was just a little ahead of me to catch up with, keep pace with for a while, and then eventually move on ahead of him or her to the next person.  I find that's the best way to keep pushing myself to run faster and faster in a race.  Keep running down the next target.  Oh, my strategically planned playlist worked great, too!  I got lots of cheers from volunteers along the course - and even some high fives - so that made it fun and was also highly motivating.  I finished strong again with a one second faster per mile pace than the 5k.  I couldn't believe it!  So just when I thought I couldn't run any faster . . . I did!  Woot woot!

Distance

10k 
 

Time 

43:17

Pace 

6:59/mile

Tunes

Teardrop Windows / Benjamin Gibbard

Don't Stop (Color on the Walls) / Foster the People

Strange Times / The Black Keys

In the Clouds / Under the Influence of Giants

I Feel Better / Gotye

You Called Me / Mayer Hawthorne

Runaway Baby / Bruno Mars

Mountain Sound / Of Monsters and Men

Dynamite / Taio Cruz

I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor / Arctic Monkeys

Blood for Poppies / Garbage

So Good / B.o.B.

Princess of China / Coldplay & Rihanna

Uprising / Muse

I ended up placing 1st in my age group in the 10k and 2nd in my age group in the 5k - with new PR's to boot!  The medals are identical except that the 1st place is gold on the back and the 2nd place is silver. 

And check it out - I made the Leaderboard for both races! 

Next up: The Brooksie Way 1/2 Marathon - Sunday, September 30th