Arvada Park to Park 10k (Race Recap)

Saturday, May 9

Arvada, CO

Weather - COLD AND RAINY

So if you aren't from Colorado you might not know that we have had INSANE amounts of rain for the last few weeks. Many races in Colorado had been cancelled as a result. Many trails are closed.

Up until the night before, we imagined the Arvada Park to Park half marathon was just going to be a wet and muddy mess on the bike paths and roads the course was supposed to be on. At 1:45 in the morning the race director sent out an email saying the half marathon was off due to crazy amounts of flooding in the second half of the course. The shorter distances (10k and 5k) were still on.

So... we headed (literally) down the street to the start line. It was cold and drizzling already. Below is a picture of the creek (which is normally MUCH smaller).

My dad had registered for the 10k, but since the forecast was wrong (the night before it said we would get a few hours of sun and relief from ran) he wanted to drop down to the 5k. It was pretty much a disaster trying to get him changed over. Three volunteers but only one seemed to be in charge of changing distances and fixing problems. I bet it took close to 20 minutes to get this changed over. Did I mention it was cold and rainy? We headed over to the bathrooms and then went back to sit in the car. We could not be outside. Too cold.

We stayed in the car until about 5 minutes before the start. I had plans to run the first mile and a half with A before she turned around to finish the 5k and I would keep going for the 10k. We started mid-pack and it was chilly but for the first 10 minutes or so it was NOT raining. We did a loop around a park and then she headed back. THEN, it poured. (See a picture below of A near the finish - I didn't find any pictures of me because I'm betting the photographers left...)

Meanwhile, I was feeling pretty good on the 10k course. It was cold and POURING but I was doing ok. I was on pace for a decent-ish pace and then I got to the hill heading back up to the park before we looped around and I walked a minute. I am so glad I hadn't run with my phone. I was drenched. Picked up the pace the last few miles. There was a ton of standing water about 2/3 of a mile from the finish, which was an unwelcome development.

Ran it in the best I could for the finish, and I managed to pass a few people in the last quarter mile. I saw everyone at the finish since we parked right there and L and I had to get our post race picture. I had chosen to run in the wave tank (appropriate for the amount of water we had, don't you think?)

We stuck around so that we could hear the 5k awards. A managed to get second in her age group (again, just around 11 minute miles for her - and in a cast even!) and my dad got first in his division (he was really happy to have beat an 84 year old, lol). L and I had no chance.



We weren't given medals at the finish but asked around for who was handing them out. People running both distances got one.

Garmin Time - 1:03:58

Mile 1 - 11:30

Mile 2 - 10:46

Mile 3 - 10:46

Mile 4 - 11:15

Mile 5 - 9:45

Mile 6 - 9:32

Mile 6.ish - 7:54

• Having run in rain before, I was thinking, how bad could it be? Well, when it is also windy and the temperature is in the low 40's, it can be pretty bad. I'm happy I didn't have the horrible fire calves and was actually able to finish at a respectable pace. I can't even remember the last time I had 2 sub 10 miles (in a row, even).
• There were 3 aid stations, all unmanned. They had nuun, which was nice. I took some at two of the aid stations because I had not carried anything on me.
• The course was very well marked, and there were volunteers at a few of the turns to ensure you didn't get lost.
• The course did measure just a tad short for me, but that could be a result of the rain?
• The shirts were meh, again, a sheer white tech shirt. I wouldn't even have taken mine but my dad had picked up my packet for me. This will be donated.
• Didn't expect the medal, especially for the 10k, that was nice.
• Not sure about post-race food/drink, we booked out of there the second awards were done. This might be one of the coldest races I have ever done. Brrr.

Westminster Women's Classic Ten Miler (Race Recap)

Mother's Day
Sunday, May 12
Weather - Sunny and HOT (ok, 60ish, but FELT hot)

I was hoping to "run" the entire Women's Classic. I was hoping to repeat the half marathon I did on New Year's Day. Slow but not walking anything but the water stations.

I'll save you reading the recap to find out. I WALKED A HUNDRED BILLION TIMES.

I registered... I don't know why. It wasn't that much money and there was a kid's race before ours. The kids had a great time:

Sorry for the poor quality of the top left picture, I took that as a still from a video I took of the race. A ended up about 6th kid overall. Both kids finished with smiles on their faces!

The 10 mile race didn't start until 8:30 and it was already getting really warm. We had hoped to cycle through the bathroom line again, but there were way too many people in front of us (there was also a 10k and 5k that started after us). Five port-o-potties was probably not enough, especially for an all-women's event!

I started in the back. The course was on the Big Dry Creek Trail, the same trail where we ran the Redline at Westminster last month. I have run this a billion times, so didn't take any pictures, except for the flooded underpass we had to run through. Well, you were SUPPOSED to run through, but about half of the women turned around when they saw the water and ran up the embankment and across the street. CHEATER CHEATER PUMPKIN EATERS.

Anyway, I have NEVER seen the trail flooded like this:

Once you started moving, the water easily sloshed over your knees. What. I didn't mind, it was like an ultra experience in a 10 miler. River crossing? CHECK. Plus, it was already feeling really warm.

I forgot, like is typical of me, that there is ZERO shade on this course. FOR REAL, ZERO SHADE. It is mostly paved bike path, but there are some small areas of dirt and gravel. I know the temperature was in the low to mid 60's by the time I was done, but it felt MUCH MUCH hotter.

Anyway, I walked. A lot. My legs were crampy. Achy. Tired. I was NOT having a good time. I just didn't want to come in last. I ran a little, but probably never more than 3-4 minutes at a time

The course does a 180 at the end, A ran down the hill so she could run me in. Other than the river crossing, this was the only good part of the run.

At least ONE of us looks happy

L, Hope and Me (LOVE this picture!!)

Time - 1:57:58
Place - 119/143
Mile 1 - 10:50
Mile 2 - 11:58
Mile 3 - 11:04
Mile 4 - 12:02
Mile 5 - 11:18
Mile 6 - 12:15
Mile 7 - 12:02
Mile 8 - 11:52
Mile 9 - 11:03
Mile 10 - 10:27
Mile 10.24 - 11:11

I *guess* considering I walked a BILLION times, my splits aren't that terrible. While I obviously DO NOT love being slow, what I like even less is all of a sudden feeling like I CAN'T. I did not run one consecutive mile without walking. I am not even sure I ran an entire HALF mile without walking.

Thoughts about the race:

• There were 6 aid stations for the 10 mile. That barely felt like enough. I was so hot and thirsty and with no shade it was like running through the desert. They had FRS instead of Gatorade, which was actually pretty decent.
• There was "food" at the end. All pastry type stuff. Didn't really feel like junk food, so I didn't have anything. The kids really enjoyed it.
• Could have started at least an hour earlier, although spring in Colorado is so sketchy, you really never know what the weather is going to do. REALLY hot when I was done!
• Cute medal!

Running Thoughts:

• At the risk of being whiny, I am SO SICK AND TIRED OF RUNNING. Nothing about running on the treadmill or road feels good. Just about every step I have taken has been exhausting and painful. I don't think I'm actually injured. If you want to call it over-training or burnout, then do. I don't think it is "over-training" - I run 3-4 days a week, as I have for YEARS.
• Even though the doctor's seems to think there is nothing physically wrong, I disagree. I am always tired. Even after a few days of NOTHING, I don't ever feel energized or "fresh." When I get done with a workout, I have an overwhelming sense of THANK GOD THAT IS DONE. I hate feeling this way. Running is supposed to be fun. I'm not saying it is supposed to be easy, but when it becomes the worst part of my day and every day seems harder than the day before, then it is time to take a break.
• I have no plans on any DNF's right now. This weekend is my birthday and I have back to back half marathons. I do not plan to run between now and then. And after this weekend I just might taken another week off. 
• I do not plan on registering for anything else right now. Which means I feel like a total jerk for bailing on the other B and our Colorado race. Luckily, I've talked to her already and she is really understanding and we will do something else while she is here and I will try to spectate her race up in Steamboat.
• I hate hate hate being so negative. But I also feel that this blog (even if no one but me really reads it) needs to be honest. So, here it is. I'm being honest. I hate running right now.
• Suggestions for cardio appreciated. I'm pretty limited on what I can do since I need the daycare at the gym. Or should I skip cardio and concentrate on something else? Strength?

Anyway, overall, I had a pretty good Mother's Day.