March Recap

Well, to be honest, March didn't really go quite as planned. I had this overly ambitious plan of "rebuilding my base" back to what it was when I was beginning training for Moab 2012. I know that I am not fast, and honestly, I am ok with that. However, it seems that the "bigger my base," the more consistent I run, and I typically am able to maintain a bit faster pace for longer. Well, I did get more "longish" runs in, but I am still nowhere near at the fitness level that I would like to be. While I don't care that I am slow, it takes MUCH longer to get the miles in. I have been going to the gym in the mornings in an attempt to get more miles in without compromising time with A, but I gotta say, it SUCKS to get up 4:00-4:30 and only have time to get in 7 or so miles before I need to get ready for work. Anyway. Doing what I can.

Miles run - 142.44 (About half of this is from racing, which is pretty normal for me)
Races run - Lucky Louisville 5k, Little Rock Marathon (26.2) and 24 Hours of Moab (48.33)
Accomplishments - Training runs of 7+ miles? 5!! That is a LOT better. Also, finally volunteered again!
Current aches - Left calf seems way worse than usual. Right one has (knock on wood) been a lot better of late. Right IT band is a bit achy.

No real goals right now, but L and I are headed into a pretty serious race schedule. Coming up in April I have 2 half marathons and 1 marathon. REALLY excited to see some of my out of state friends in Eugene!!

With that said... I am considering some more idiotic longer distance races. Not sure if I want to announce it yet or if I want to be talked out of it. Curious to see how my base rebuilding goes.

As seen on my 8 mile run Easter morning

Lucky Louisville "5k" (Race Recap)

Saturday, March 16
Louisville, CO
A's 9th 5k
Weather - chilly and overcast

You might be wondering why the Lucky Louisville 5k is in " " - well, it was NOT a 5k... I've run one other race put on by this group, and that one also measured extremely short. No biggie to me, but for people who at least want to run their best, a short course can be extremely frustrating. I mean, how hard is it, really, in this day and age with GPS to measure a 5k? Anyway. That's my ONLY complaint (no, really!)

I thought I knew where the start area was, but then they just gave an intersection and warned an iPhone might tell me to go to Kansas. So.... we left early. We stopped on the way up and got pre-race fuel:

A had the one with the sprinkles - I'm NOT a huge sprinkle fan

We got there about 50 minutes before the race started. Out of all the races this weekend, I picked this one because it was close and it was inexpensive. $25 for me, and all kids under 8 were FREE. FREE!!! I picked up my bib (and really NICE shirt). Even though A's entry was free, she got a shirt (but no bib).

Since it was so chilly, we sat in the car until about 9:30, then we headed to use the bathroom. There was no wait so we were back in the car a few minutes later. We were literally only about 200 feet from the start line, so we didn't head over until 9:57 (with a 10 am start).

There was also a one mile option, and dogs AND strollers were allowed. It was a pretty small race though, and people were overall pretty considerate where they staged themselves. Those doing the 5k were asked to go to the "front" and we placed ourselves toward the back of the front (does that even make sense?)

A started off fast - always a concern for me since she tends to burn out fairly easily and then isn't too happy towards the end. She kept sprinting ahead and then stopping to wait. I told her she could just keep going, as it was a smallish race and I could see her ahead of me. We got to the turnaround point and that's pretty much when she started to get tired. Originally she told me she "wanted to catch the girl with the piggy tails" - but then she didn't really want to run.

Colorado isn't all that pretty in the dead of winter (yeah, I know "spring" is supposedly here this week but you wouldn't know it):

She jogged a large portion of what was left, and when we could start hearing the bagpipes, she knew we were close. She had been chasing a little boy (apparently HIS goal was to beat A - his mom kept saying - she's going to beat you!) and TOOK OFF with about a quarter mile to go. We did end up beating the little boy and his mom, and I barely was able to keep up with her to the finish.

Time - 28:07
Mile 1 - 11:34
Mile 2 - 13:10
Mile 2.35 - 9:14 (seriously, she is so fast!!)
 

A is wearing the race shirt - nice, right??

I (for the first time in my LIFE) had a cup of green beer. Overall, a fun day, but not something you want to run if you are super serious about the little things like accurate distance and such :D

PS - SEPARATE from my regular raffle, I'm doing a"flash giveaway" for anyone that donates to my fundraiser HERE. ANY donation I get today or tomorrow will be entered in to win a FREE INKnBURN tech tee of the winner's choice. ($10 minimum for the regular raffle). So get your entry in before 11:59 pm MST tomorrow!