On the Run: Riverview Winterfest 4-Mile Run 2014

First race of the season!  While normally this would leave me bouncing off the walls with excitement, I was less thrilled than usual.  In part I was tired - I've been running a lot, and sleeping little.  But the other part - the bigger part - was the weather that morning. We got a few inches over night so the roads were completely snow-covered.  

I needed a total of 16 miles that day so I went out for a pre-race 12-miler in my neighborhood. It was the perfect opportunity to test out my new Kinvara GTX shoes that had arrived earlier in the week.  I also strapped on my Yaktrax for good measure.  They were the perfect combo for the conditions!  I wasn't sure about using them for the race but the roads were slippery enough with them I figured I better take them along just in case and scout out the course.

Good thing I did because the whole course was snow-covered.  So a new first for me - racing in Yaktrax.  I started up at the front of the pack and immediately there were a few fast ladies that went ahead of me.  My strategy isn't ever to fly out of the gate, however, and this race was certainly no exception.  After my pre-race miles and with the snow, I didn't really have high expectations but felt surprisingly good once I got going.  As I approached a turn-around near mile 2 I passed a girl and saw there were only 3 others ahead of me.  I was able to pass 1 of them just after mile 2 but I couldn't catch the others.  1st and 2nd place finished only 3 seconds apart.  I finished 3rd, 17 seconds behind 2nd place.  

Overall it was a good race.  I did NOT improve upon last year's time (haha - THAT would have been a miracle!) but was happy with my 3rd place finish and had fun with the run. It felt great to get out there and race again!  I also got this cool frosty pint glass for placing 2nd in my age group.  

Time

29:33

Pace

7:23/mile

Fuel

Banana

Tunes

Hazy Shade of Winter / The Bangles
California Dreamin' / The Mamas & the Papas
Snow (Hey Oh) / The Red Hot Chili Peppers
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out / Bruce Springsteen
Love Like Winter / AFI
Snowsuit Sound / Sloan
Snowball / Devo
Immigrant Song / Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
Cold Day in the Sun / Foo Fighters

On the Run: Riverview Winterfest 4-Mile Run 2013

I kicked off the 2013 race season last Sunday with a 4-mile run in Riverview.  Although this is a shorter distance than my usual Sunday run, I was super pumped to do a race - my first since October!  This one has a nice flat course, it's small and organized, and everyone is very friendly.  Conditions were ideal for February in Michigan - 28 degrees at race time, minimal wind, and dry roads.  What more can a girl ask for?

Two years ago when I ran this race I came in 4th in my age group.  The top 3 finishers get awards, so that was my goal this year.  Ideally I wanted to finish 1st or 2nd.  I ended up coming in 2nd in my age group, 7th female overall.  I won a cool mug to show for it.   

When I was given my award, I was told that with my speed and young looks, I could run on the high school track team.  HA!

Time 

28:02

Pace 

7:01/mile

Fuel 

Banana

Tunes

New Day / Alicia Keys  

Change / Churchill

We Come Running / Youngblood Hawke 

Everybody Talks / Neon Trees

One More Night / Maroon 5

I Knew You Were Trouble / Taylor Swift  

I Will Wait / Mumford & Sons

Something Good Can Work / Two Door Cinema Club

Next race: ShamRock 'n' Roll Run 10K - March 17th 

On the Run: Riverview Winterfest 4-Mile Run 2011

Last Sunday I ran my first race of the season.  The race was Riverview Winterfest 4-Mile Run, a flat course through residential neighborhoods.  I hadn't run outside since November so this was just the motivation I needed to get me out the door and moving on a chilly winter morning.  The temps were in the mid to high 30's so once I got running, it wasn't bad.   I started out too fast and had to get adjusted to the cold but by mile 2 I really hit my stride and it felt incredibly great to be running. 

Time 

30:06

Pace 

7:32/mile

Fuel 

Coconut Cream Pie Larabar, banana

Tunes

Lisztomania / Phoenix   

The Great Defector / Bell X1   

Holiday / Vampire Weekend    

Kick Drum Heart / The Avett Brothers 

Tightrope (ft. Big Boi) / Janelle Monáe   

1983 / Neon Trees   

The Sound of Settling / Death Cab for Cutie

Song Away / Hockey    

How You Like Me Now? / The Heavy    

Miami / Will Smith   

Power (rmx) f. Jay-Z / Kanye West   

The Way / Fastball

Next race: Rock CF Rivers Half Marathon, March 20th