Atlanta Dogwood Festival Mimosa 5K

The boyfriend and I ran a 5K a couple of weekends ago. We'd been talking about running a race together and chose the Atlanta Dogwood Festival Mimosa 5K because of it's location. We live right near Piedmont Park so it was super easy to walk to the starting line.

That 8 AM start time kind of sucked. It's been pretty warm in Atlanta this month but the high for April 9 was 62 degrees. It was like 40 degrees when we woke up. Even though it was cold, I decided to wear my brown Oiselle Roga shorts. I love these running shorts and I got them for a sick discount because apparently no one but me wants poop brown shorts. Last summer, I went to our local running store to try a pair on and I had to size up from the size 6 because they were too small for my booty. I bought the size 8 but had to tie them tight around the waist. Now that I've lost weight, the waistband is getting too large and I might have to accept that Roga shorts aren't made for runners with small waists and large bums. I completed the outfit with a Fabletics long-sleeved tech top and my Saucony racing flats.

Atlanta Pride Run 2014

Yesterday I ran the 2014 Atlanta Pride Run and Walk 5K. It was my first 5K race in 2014 and the only short distance I've raced since the Oyster Bay Thanksgiving Turkey Trot. I came in first in my age group and in 6th for women. My time was 23:41.20, not my fastest 5K time by any means, but it was hot, there were a lot of hills, and everyone was talking about how slowly they ran (even the sub-20 finishers.) I'm feeling good about my time. Even while I was running the race, I thought about how I needed to reset my expectations because I have never raced in Atlanta before.

The race was held in Piedmont Park and I live right there so I walked over. I was hoping there would be baggage check so I didn't have to run with my iPhone and keys but I was out of luck. I imagine baggage check is unnecessary when most participants drive to the race. Thankfully I had thought to wear my iFitness running belt.

Thanksgiving Turkey Trot

This year I ran the 2nd annual Oyster Bay Turkey Trot because no one is willing to drive my ass to Garden City anymore. I'm okay with this because the Oyster Bay Turkey Trot turned out to be a damn good race.

There's a kid in my neighborhood who my family calls the Runner. For at least a decade I can remember seeing him running along the side of the road, fast efficient strides, no music. It's 100 degrees out? Oh look, it's the Runner. It's snowing ice pellets? Oh look, it's the Runner. You saw drove down 25A and saw him at 11 AM and now you're on your way home at 3 PM? Oh look, it's the Runner. My dad once called the police about him because he was concerned and apparently the local station got calls at the time. He's an athlete in training, he doesn't have a problem, and thank you for his concern.

Oyster Festival 5K

Maryanne was my babysitter. Now she is a runner.

Today I ran the 28th Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor's 5K. This race kicks off Oyster Bay's annual Oyster Festival, which is our weird way of celebrating where we live. It's a good race and this is my second year competing in it.

Experience brings knowledge and knowledge is power. I learned my lesson last year and made sure I was much closer to the front. The Greater Long Island Running Club doesn't put a starting line mat down and the race officially begins when the gun goes off - if you're stuck behind the slow fatties you're time is affected.

I haven't raced a 5K since June and I was a little nervous today. Would I doing as well as last year? Has marathon training made me slow? I didn't have a good understanding of my pace until I got to the 1 mile sign in 7 minutes and 1 second. I knew the most brutal part of the race would be the run uphill between miles 1 and 2, and I think I handled it well. Another female runner told me to chuck my water bottle because we were running so fast but I told her I had to stay hydrated because I need to run twenty miles sometime today or tomorrow. I also like carrying a water bottle because I don't have to slow down at the aid station at the halfway mark. I ended up tossing it there though anyway.

I've realized that I'm pretty good at running downhill and this would be my strength for this course. The course is downhill from the halfway mark to mile 3. I pounded it out and passed a lot of people. This dick of a guy had been in front of me from the starting line. I noticed him because he was wearing a green racing outfit, blue socks, and red sneakers. Not color-coordinated. He started boxing out this woman named Mary during the run down Sandy Hill Road and that pissed me off. With so much space on this course, there is absolutely no reason to box out another runner. We are a fun bunch and jackass moves are not appreciated. I put him in his place by gently cutting him off, running five strides directly in front of him, and then taking off. He came up to me at the finish line to tell me I did a great job and knew how to handle to downhill portion of the course. Yeah, I do. I also know how to handle myself as a civilized human being, thanks.

This year's race felt a hundred times better than last year's. I turned left onto East Main Street and had a lot of energy left in my legs to power on towards the finish line. I decided to race in my Nike Frees without socks. Not my favorite shoes, but they are lighter than my Brooks Adrenaline's, and shoe weight affects time. I'm glad I went sans socks because my feet didn't rub. I think a lot of runners forgo socks when wearing racing flats, so this was kind of similar. As I got closer to the parking lot and the finish line, I decided to ignore the clock and my watch and just go as fast as I could. I finished in 21:41, fourteen seconds faster than last year!

6:59 minute miles!

Technically I came in 3rd place for my age group, but the overall winner of the race is 25 so I got bumped up to 2nd place. I won a plaque and had my picture taken. I will add the picture when I find it online.

I'm going to put it in my cube at work.

After I stopped hocking up flem and spitting it on myself the ground, I went to get some water and an apple. Then I got a leg message from the physical therapy volunteers. I used to never go over to the massage tables because I was a little embarrassed because I'm not an elite runner or anything, but now I'm obsessed. Why pass up the chance for a free massage when your legs are all tight?

I went back to the food station when I heard there were cupcakes!
Fat kid nation!

My mom and I watched the other runners come in and waited for the awards ceremony to start. Last year I came in second for my age group as well, but I left because I didn't know any better. This race gives awards to practically everybody. Had I identified myself as an Athena runner, I would have won my division by nearly two minutes. Maybe next year, but definitely if there is money involved.

There is a runner in Oyster Bay named Vince who everyone calls The Runner. He is always running in all types of weather. He is also rather cute. Vince placed (I think first) in the 20-24 male category. I think I was more excited for his win than he was. Perhaps he would like to celebrate with me later...

At some point this weekend I have to run those 20 additional miles. I want to go to the Oyster Festival this afternoon so I have a strong suspicion I will be running them tomorrow.

The Beast in Action

Crossing the Finish Line at Last Month's Lousy T-Shirt Race

This is what running a 5K at 6.58 minute miles looks like.

NYCRUNS Lousy T-Shirt Race

A big thank you goes out to Steve and the rest of the great people at NYCRUNS for putting on last night's awesome race. NYCRUNS is a website that connects New York City runners, and is my go-to website for upcoming race information. Steve also sends out a pretty nifty weekly email blast.

Yesterday was NYCRUNS' first race ever. I felt like I was a part of history in the making. The Lousy T-Shirt Race was held on a USATF certified 5K course in Riverside Park, and about one hundred runners showed up for this inaugural event. We got off to a late start because Steve was making sure the volunteers were in the right places. I must admit that the extra waiting around did a number on my nerves, and I began to get antsy. Speaking of numbers - My bib number was 21, which is my lucky number. I knew good things were going to happen when I saw it.

I decided to race in my Vibrams for the very first time. I've been thinking about making the transition for a while, but I've always chickened out. I  worried that if something went terribly wrong, it would haunt me on the New York Road Runners website for eternity. I left my Nike Frees at my parents' house, so my decision was heavily influenced by my desire to avoid my clunky Lunar Glides. Those things suck to race in because they are so heavy. This laid-back race was the perfect opportunity to experiment with quasi-barefoot racing.

The race officially began around 7:30pm. We took off and tackled the worst hill in the first half mile. Some legit runners showed up for the Lousy T-Shirt race and I wanted to keep them in my sight. I didn't wear a watch or carry my phone, and the race didn't have any markers, so I was running blind. As long as I could see those short-shorts ahead, I knew I would be good. Let me tell you, racing in the evening, with humidity and pollen is a lot more difficult than racing on a clear fall morning near the water. I was huffing and puffing right away.

I noticed that I felt lighter in my Vibrams. I found it easier to run, until I thought too much about my form. I had to consciously think about not thinking. The downhills felt awkward out of my traditional running shoes, and I definitely need some practice to become more comfortable with that experience. I wasn't sure if I was landing properly. Highs-stepping the hills was a breeze and I felt like I had a greater range of motion. I have blisters on my feet from wearing flip flops constantly, and I could feel them getting tender towards the end of the race. I think they would've popped had I been running in my Nikes.

The course was beautiful, taking us through and around the park, along the highway and the river. We had to double-back at one point, which threw off everyone's judgement of the distance. We veered off the main path right before the finish line, allowing me to mentally prepare for my beastly finish. I was able to pass a runner that had been in front of me for the entire race, and as I pulled ahead I saw the clock. I could see that it still said 21 minutes. Didn't I say 21 was my lucky number, and that my bib was going to bring good luck? The seconds were still in the twenties. My PR was 21.55 - I could set a new PR! I let out a war whoop and took off, leaping across the finish line at 21.36! I came in 3rd place for women, and shaved off 38 seconds from my last 5K.

Steve announced that NYCRUNS would be hosting a biweekly summer series, every other Wednesday. Get excited for more races!

16th Annual Bayville 5K

I determined that my tattoos could withstand a little sneaker action and decided to run the Bayville 5K. The course is very similar to the Michael Trauma course, but instead it began and ended at West Harbor Beach. The weather was beautiful, and we couldn't have asked for better racing conditions.  I decided to do things a little differently this time and started up at the front of the pack. I think this was a good decision as I finished my first mile in 6 minutes and 43 seconds. Miles two and three didn't go by as quickly as I would've liked, and the run from the police booth back to West Harbor beach felt like it took forever. I finished in 22:14.7 - nine seconds longer than the Michael Trama race. I think my extra weight is slowing me down.

I won my age group (it's actually not that hard considering very few 19-24 year old girls run these races) and received a spiffy medal. This guy Chris came up to me after the race to thank me for beating his friend. This guy had pulled ahead of me between miles 2 and 3, but he didn't bring enough to the finish line. I easily passed him with 500 yards to go. This just proves that every little bit counts, especially at these Long Island races where there is room to move around.

Team RuNNuR Completes the Oyster Festival 5K

People with unpronounceable names
make better runners.

This morning Palindrome and I ran the Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor's 5K, which kicks off the Oyster Festival. I completed the course in 21 minutes and 55 seconds - the EXACT amount of time it took me to run the last one! My pace was 7:03 and I placed 98th out of 650. I placed 5th in my division and 20th for my sex. Awesome way to start my Saturday.

It was much more fun to have a friend at a race. The Get Outside on Governors Island 10K sucked for many reasons, but mostly because I was lonely. Everyone else seemed to be with a group and I had no one to talk to. The people I tried to strike up conversations with were not so friendly, which I found shocking because people are usually much more receptive to me. After the race was over and I couldn't find my jacket and I was convinced I had hypothermia, facebook told me that Palindrome was seated right near me on the ferry back to civilization. He also felt lonely and excluded from the merriment. This is how Team RuNNuR was formed. We're getting technical t-shirts made, NBD.

The supercool print-out of my running stats.

I saw my friend and former babysitter Maryanne at the finish line. This was her first race ever and she is training for a half marathon. I am very proud of her!

Practice 5K in Vibrams

This morning my friend Palindrome (by the way, I use nicknames to protect the innocence of my friends who may not want to be associated with my borderline psychotic fitness life over the internet) and I met in downtown Oyster Bay to practice for next week's 5K. We decided that we had to wear our Vibrams for this excursion, although I'm not sure why since I'm not planning on racing in them. This was actually the first time I ran in my Vibrams and I really liked it. Now that I think about it, maybe I will wear them next Saturday. I did find out that stepping on a rock hurts. Really hurts. I'm not sure I'm willing to risk that kind of pain during a race.

The weather was BEAUTIFUL today and the run set the perfect tone for the day. Palindrome and I didn't run very fast (we didn't time ourselves, oops), but we were able to determine which spots would be good for speeding up or slowing down. We aim to win the Supervisor's 5K.

My First Race in 8 Years

I ran my first race today since my Island School Half Marathon.  The Michael Trama Memorial 5K Run/Walk was held at Centre Island Beach to benefit the Trama family, who sadly lost their father to an undiagnosed tumor.  I didn't realize I was going to be around this weekend, but I came back to my parents' house, saw the race online, and showed up this morning.

I finished in 21 minutes 55 seconds, coming in 3rd for women overall and 1st in my age group.  Booyah!