Thursday, May 30, 2013

Ridge Run 10k Race Recap

This past Memorial Day, I participated in the Ridge Run in Beverly.  This race holds a special place in my racing calendar because it was the second run I ever completed in my running "career" and I try to do it every year if possible.  I did the 5k in 2004 and have done either the 5k or 10k every year since then except two (last year being that I did the Soldier Field 10 mile run instead since I've always wanted to run it and they are on the same weekend).

Why do I love this race besides the fact that it's the second race I ever did?  Because I love the community support you get.  This is a local race (a neighborhood next to where I grew up and my parents live).  The whole neighborhood gets really involved in supporting the runners...they get out their hoses and also many families make their own water stations.  Typically on Memorial Day for this race, it's HOT and HUMID!  Typically, it rains the night before and is about mid-80's for the race!

This year it was raining when I woke up.  And as I was driving to the race, it got increasingly worse!  But the temps were only about 50.  I thought, "Oh well, maybe rainy and cooler is better than hot and humid!"


I got to the race, walked a couple blocks to the start, hit up the port-a-potties, and waited under a tent like everyone else.  I went to this race alone but knew some of the Yankee Runners would be around.  I found one before the race and we chatted for a bit.

Runners waiting under a tent

The rain

By the time we went to line up for the race, the rain had virtually stopped!  Just a light drizzle.  I'll take it!  My previous PR was two years ago (I never run 10k's) and was 59:49.  My goal was to beat that time.   While running the first mile, I passed a few other Yankee Runners and chatted them a bit.  But I had a goal in mind so I politely wished them luck and off I went.  My first mile according to my garmin was a bit too fast, around 8:50...but it came up short according to the mile marker and I think I passed the actual first mile at about 9:10.  That's still good. I just wanted to come in under 9:30 pace.  During the second mile, we ran up a hill.  I walked up part of it (Seriously Amanda??).  When did I become such a hill wimp!  And in mile 2!  I started running and mentally beat myself up for that.  I still did good in the second mile pace wise.  I really started getting winded around mile 4 (really??).  I walked at a gatorade stop briefly but knew I had a goal in mind.  I had to keep running!

Beverly is slightly hilly.  And it seemed that we kept running up the hills.  I was wondering when our downhill would be!  I knew it would come in the last mile or so.  I was really hot, wearing a t-shirt and pushed up the sleeves. It was so humid.  But I knew I just needed to keep running.  Looking at my time, I knew I'd only come in maybe 2 minutes ahead of the PR.  Secretly I wanted more.  BUT...a PR is a PR.  And I finished...with about a 2 minute PR.  My new PR time is 57:53, a 9:18 pace.  I'll take it.

I also planned on doing a double this day for Ragnar training.  About 8 hours later, I headed out for a short 3 mile run in the neighborhood. My legs were tired and my butt muscles were sore!  I wanted to die and knew that a good reason for this was the fact that my first run was a race and I won't be racing Ragnar.  But all 3 miles got faster so I was pleased with the final outcome. 

Lastly, right before my second run of the day, I did a little gardening. I DO NOT have a green thumb so I did the bare minimum!

Planter Boxes

Veggie Garden

This weekend is my nephew's graduation from high school and Derek and I are making the trek to Columbus for the weekend.  My parent's are flying in so they can get back to the restaurant business faster.  Should be a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to a little time away!

10 comments:

  1. Congrats on the PR, even more impressive since it was run on Beverly's hills. :)

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    1. Thanks Pete! Yeah I hate some of those hills but it's pretty flat in between the few hills. And the 10k I've run before was the same course (mostly).

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  2. Congrats on the PR! and I like you garden! I am hoping to plant a few things soon, hopefully before summer is over!

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    1. Ha! Yeah I try to get some things in there by memorial day. But I still want to try to plant spinach or kale. I've never done that before but they didn't have any at the store I was at. They had lettuce but that was all. And thanks!

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  3. Congrats on the PR! 10ks are hard and my least-favorite distance. Who likes going puke-like fast speeds for 6.2 miles? I can do it for 3.1 but then I'm spent. Lol. I totally understand where you're coming from! The garden and planter boxes look nice! :)

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    1. Yeah and I really wasn't going too too fast. I think I'm such a baby sometimes!! Is there a baby 10k??

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  4. Congrats on the PR! And good luck with your garden.

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    1. Thanks! Garden I've done before but last year was so hot...it didn't seem to do too well. I just plant a few basics just for some fun and fresh good!

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  5. Great job on the PR!! I think my sister and BIL have done the Ridge Run before. Have a fun getaway weekend!

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