M.O.R.E.: That Sucked!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

That Sucked!

Tonight was the first race of the COC Summer Series and I had high hopes that I would do well because of the cooler temps. Everything was perfect, smaller crowd, nice cool temps, you couldn't have asked for better conditions because for those who have run the Summer Series, it can really suck.

The first mile wasn't too bad for me. I didn't feel like I was fighting through a bunch of squirly kids, just a couple of big guys blocking the path. I came through the first mile in my usual 8.3 pace and I think Patty wasnt' too far behind. It was the second mile that really took it out of me. I must have ran it too fast because I developed a side stitch and had to stop and walk the entire uphill and came through the second mile rather slow at 19 minutes. I was walking for quite a while when Patty came along and convinced me to keep going. If she hadn't, I think I would still be up there. Once I finally started running again, I was able to run through the cramp and finish in 26.41 and I think Patty had a huge PR of 27:20? I think intervals are paying off for her.

The weird thing is that I was so focused on finishing the darn race that I never saw the lady wearing the Moms in Motion shirt pop out of the bushes after going pee. I guess Patty caught the whole thing! I'm actually glad I didn't see that otherwise it really would have distracted me. Now we're never joining that club! Seriously, if it's that bad, wouldn't you just stop and go into the bathroom? There's 6 more races left for goodness sake. That has to be one of the weirdest things to happen during a race, but then again perhaps we are being unfair to our own gender since we see guys peeing along race routes all the time.

So now that my first race really sucked, I guess it could only get better from here right? I know I said I probably won't do another one after this first one, but since it was so terrible, I feel I have to redeem myself.

4 comments:

Patty said...: My first mile, I just tried to stay close behind you, and kept telling myself that it was just another weeknight run. As is always the case, the second mile was awful, and I had a side stitch the whole time, I never quite caught my breath, and the hills just killed me. The breeze helped, and when all the fast high school runners blew by me, I felt like I kept a good pace as I started the downhill. This was the first time that I didn't feel like I was going to die when I hit the track. I was happy with my time and think I had a 10 sec. pr. I would love to get out of the 27's though, I am not sure that I have it in me. I truly couldn't believe that lady ducked into the bushes to pee, especially since they weren't tall bushes, and since the bathrooms were just a short distance away. She still beat me, and maybe Marathon Mom, so I guess she could afford a break!; July 8, 2010 at 10:17 PM
marathon mom said...: I was really hoping for a good race since it seemed all the conditions seemed perfect. Oh well. Now my heel is killing me and it's time to ice it. At least WE showed up and raced. Like the saying goes...half the battle is just showing up. Too bad the other half is so miserable. I should be grateful that I can still run after listening to the other moms who can no longer run due to their various conditions.; July 8, 2010 at 10:59 PM
Patty said...: I feel so funny when I first get there, like I have no business racing with all the "real" runners. Then as we run through the course and different people cheered for me, it was really nice, and the race got better as I went on. It was a little annoying at the end to be trying to finish my last 100 meters without slowing, and having a pack of High School girls come thundering past me, I think they had done the course twice or something. I was very grateful that we were still able to get out there and run, when friends that are our age or even younger than myself can't do it anymore. My feet really hurt last night, but feel pretty good today, I am off to "therapy" today, which is basically a foot rub covered by insurance (hah).; July 9, 2010 at 9:04 AM
marathon mom said...: I woke up to a very sore heel and thought a nice swim would do me good-my form of "therapy". I ended up swimming a fast 22 laps, most with the snorkel, but 6 without.

As I tried to sleep last night thinking about the race, I realized I just need to get over it and run the races as much as possible. How else are we ever going to get better? Who knows maybe one day we'll have to sit on the sidelines too, so why not enjoy it while we can.; July 9, 2010 at 9:17 AM

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Favorite Trails

South Fork 3.1: Start from dirt parking lot on Magic Mtn Pkway and run to the loop at Wiley Bridge and return the same way.

Tesoro 3.25: Start in Albertson parking lot and take sidewalk/trail until it ends and then enter the water tower road to the top two towers where the ends. Return the same way.

Chesebrough 3.25/4.60: From Chesebrough Park, N. to Copperhill, So. on Bike Trail, turn around at Decoro, back up trail to power lines to bridge at park. Turn around at Heritage will give you 4.6 miles.

Chesebrough 3.5: Chesebrough Park down to McBean, south to Northpark Dr., the paseo trailhead. Take the paseo to Helmers and back. Very hilly.

Bridgeport 4.0: Fairly flat, run toward Lowes and under Bouquet bridge to RiverPark community until you reach the closed gates and return. For a hilly run, go north into Helmers and run up the paseo switchbacks into Northpark where the paseo ends and return the same way.

Chesebrough 4.0: N. to Copperhill to west side of river trail, run S. on Bike Trail past Decoro bridge, across Decoro to the east side of river trail, up back to power lines trail, back to park.

Chesebrough 4.0: From park down power line trail to Heritage Park and back same way.

Bridgeport 4.0: From School, cross McBean via bridge or street and head into industrial center on Ave. Scott Bridge and enter bike trail going south toward the train bridge. Turn around at train bridge and return same way or cross the bridge and head toward Peet's after crossing train bridge and back onto the Lowes Trail.

Heritage 4.0: From park, run up bike trail to Decoro, over McBean Bridge into Helmers, and into Bridgeport through lake trail back to park. Can be done in reverse. Moderately hilly.

Chesebrough 4.25: Chesebrough north to Copperhill, left to Albertson side of bike trail. Run south on trail to Decoro and cross over bridge and head north all the way to Copperhill on east side of river trail and back to the park the same way as started.

Cheese/Decoro/Helmers 4.25: From the park, down dirt trail to bike path, south to Decoro. Leave bike path at Decoro and cross paseo bridge at McBean. Stay on paseo up hill towards Helmers. Run up water tower trail once then continue on to switchbacks and paseos back to park.

Heritage/Bridgeport 3.3: Heritage Park south to McBean Bridge @ Panera. Cross and head toward Lowes bike trail and head east toward Bridgeport Park. Halfway mark is at park bathroom, head back by entering trail along the lake and back onto the bridge.

Lowes 4.25: Lowe's parking lot to McBean, cross the bridge and to South Fork. At Valencia Bridge, enter trail behind Hart Baseball diamonds. Continue on trail to Bouquet and across the bridge on the east side and back under the bridge again towards Lowes.

Peet's & Decoro 5.2: Peet's Coffee to train bridge path; to Decoro and across bridge; back down McBean side of bike trail back to Peete's.

Peet's & Wiley 6.0: Start at Peet's Coffee and head east toward South Fork trail and past the Wiley Bridge. Keep running another 200 yards to where the trail forks left and right. Turn back same way.

Peet's & Copperhill 6.0: From Peet's to bike trail heading north to Copperhill and back.

Albertson 7.0: From the Albertson parking lot on Copperhill, enter the westside bike trail and head south until the train bridge. Return the same way.

Peet's 8.5: Run to Copperhill on east side of river trail and return via train bridge on other side.

Lowes 10: Start in the Lowes parking lot. Enter the bike trail heading west. At McBean, cross the bridge and head east toward SouthFork trail. Continue on trail until you come to the Wiley bridge and head back the same way.

McBean 14: This route can be done from anywhere along the trail route. Starting from McDonald's across the post office, run to the end of the South Fork trail and return the same way, cross the McBean bridge and run on the Lowes trail until you hit Bridgeport Elementary and then cross Newhall Ranch via the bridge or street and run back towards McBean. Continue north on McBean until you hit Copperhill. At Copperhill, cross McBean and enter San Francisquito bike trail and run south on the trail until you are back at McDonalds.