Saturday, September 21, 2013

Cow Harbor Recap.

58°,  Calm,  92% H,   UV 0,   55° Dp

Well.
I just want to start by saying I DID PR.. but only by 56 seconds.

This is my second Cow Harbor 10k. And I can't remember the field being so crowded last year. According to the website however, there were only 5 more people running this year than last (that were timed). So I don't know how or why this year I felt lost in a sea of humanity.  

I promised myself I would not weave in and out like I did last year - especially since the humidity was so high. I was very uncomfortable. I remember feeling cold last year to start. But because I held off on the weaving, I was trapped too many times behind groups of people - and then I found myself following someone's cadence far too long, just sort of zoning out. I fell into that trap at least 3 times. 
I walked at least 5 times - always just before the crest of the hills. I definitely overdressed. I should not have worn the capris. I was sweating so much, that the earbud to my bluetooth headset kept falling out of my ear! That's a first!

I didn't turn on the Magellan properly. I discovered that on the St. James hill. I didn't have the correct coaching activity on Runmeter, it ended up being my calf recovery program.  "Walk 2 minutes, Run 7 minutes". - Ha! Wonderful. I did however, have my sister in Minnesota coaching me throughout the run. I missed a few comments because of my sweaty ear canal, but I'm sure that's too much information.. :)



I didn't think my heart rate looked good at all, (it certainly didn't feel very good) but I think she was just trying to make me feel better! lol!





And of COURSE.. I failed to STOP Runmeter and Magellan at the end. I think I remembered about 1 minute after crossing the finish. And I was NOT smiling as I crossed the finish. So much for any pictures that might have been taken.  I thought I did hear someone - about 50 yards or so from the finish call my name and offer words of encouragement. Even if I was imagining it or not, it did get me kicking just a wee bit more. I thought this happened at another race too, but I can't remember now which one.  Maybe my subconscious has a male voice! (Totally off topic- with iOS7 I did change Siri's voice to male by the way .. it sounds much more natural than the female voice)

I did not drink beer. I did not see any of my blogger friends. I did not take any goodies, except for a small bag of popcorn. I was overwhelmed with the amount of people today for some reason. 

There were plenty of goodies after the race, plenty of water stops. I did not see any clocks - but I believe there were folks with horns calling out the time every other mile or so. As usual, a really well done race.  The favorite to win, Mo Trafeh came in 8th overall. Winning time was 29:32, Fernando Cabada from Colorado. A 4:46 pace! I can't even imagine that.

I will train on that course more often for the race next year. 

I made it to the baby shower and I did miss the brunch, but the service staff fixed a plate for me when I walked in. I ate most of the fruit and all the bacon and a half a piece of french toast. No butter, no syrup. The mother-to be looked beautiful!

2 weeks until my first Half Marathon.
*snort*
I'm just not ready to break 2 hrs. I think I'll run it 70% max. At an 11:30 pace, that will put me in at 2:30:00. Any faster will be a bonus. Hopefully the weather will be in my favor. 

57:22
9:14
45/213 Age
Age graded: 62% - puts me in Local class. This makes me happy.
2153/4577

Video finish

20 comments:

  1. Congrats on the PR. I think I saw you warming up on laurel -- black pants, yellow shirt, headphones? I had a blast. Beer truck , gunthers tavern, backyard BBQ. That's why we run!

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    1. I WAS running back and forth on Laurel. I did not have headphones on, though. I have a black blue tooth head set that sits around my neck, and I usually only use one earbud. I'm short,(duh)with a pony tail and always sunglasses. I had yellow compressions on too. Oh, see the pic upper right.
      I'm glad you had a blast. It must be fun to run with friends!

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  2. Way to go!! I think it is cool that you had your sister coaching you through the race--that must have been very comforting. What was the temp out there? Did you wear long sleeves or short?

    I sometimes walk in a really intense race, I think it helps me to keep going. That time is really wonderful-Are you going to take a little break, especially as you have a half marathon coming up?

    Regards,
    glynis

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    Replies
    1. It was just under 60 when I got there, then low 60's when I left. It was the humidity that was the killer, though. I wore my sleeveless. I should have worn my tank and shorts, no capris.
      No break, I have to try to run at least 10 miles between now and the half. If not to condition my legs, to just let myself know I can do it.
      Thanks for commenting!
      -Celia

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  3. Hey a PR is a PR..and what a drip feast of humidity. Yeech. 56s is darn good. (I only eeked out 30s 8)

    AG pretty good! I was 5/23 which is a pretty similar ratio.

    To get your best 10k PR you'll need a less hilly course a drier day and less crowding so you can run
    tangents easily and not get bottled up.

    Which half you running?

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    1. Oh thanks, Paul. Tangents? I think I managed just one accurately. Now that my sympathetic nervous system is calming down a bit - I can see where I did well today. Last year my age grade was 60.42. I barely made Local Class. This year, even though I didn't come in at 55:00 which is what I was secretly hoping for, I managed to come up to 62%, solidly above 60. Also, last year I was in the top 1/3 of my age group, today, the top 1/4. I guess it's all how you look at things. I'm going to map out the diva. I think I heard someone say it's pretty flat.

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  4. Someone won the race? : ) I tend to forget that. Thanks for the report, I like to hear about other experiences. You did a fantastic job today and should be very proud. You are so ready for the half!

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    1. Well, thanks! I'm ready to hoof it at a much slower pace, anyway! Maybe I'll even let them drape a boa around me this year. I'm NOT wearing a tiara, though.
      Those silly divas..

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  5. Ok, I'm a dope, I just saw your banner for the Diva HM.
    Could not find an elevation profile for that race.....bargle...hopefully that means is really flat 8/

    The new wrinkle with HMs is eating and drinking more than for a 10k. I don't take race drinks except water and I bring my own GU-ish stuff

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    1. I've been using sugar free electrolytes for the shorter runs, especially during the warmer weather. I'll probably pack some coconut water and small pieces of a p90x bar for the HM.

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    2. Fantastic run! A PR is a PR! That's great, especially in this weather. I think the DIva course is almost identical to the LI Half Marathon course which means it's pretty much pancake flat, but also a little boring. I don't know what I'd be more afraid of, the tiara-boa requirement or the half naked fireman handing out medals.

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    3. OMG..I forgot about those guys. They're all too young for me anyway. After the 5k last year, I took the medal and told them to keep the champagne. He looked insulted.

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    4. I'm really ambivalent about the Diva and other gender specific races. My friends who run the NYRR Mini-10K argue it's a safe race for women who can run without feeling the competitive masculine vibe. But I don't think it's really fair to exclude people and would protest a male-only race. But if the Diva attracts women who normally wouldn't compete in a race, it's a good thing.

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    5. I would object if they handicapped a race in someway, regardless who was included/excluded - We're all just running against a clock after all. It's the stereotyping of women that rubs me the wrong way. I'm not the frilly, blingy type, so it makes me cringe just a little bit, even though I'm surrounding by own gender. Talk about trying to stick to tangents.. some women run 5, 6 abreast talking throughout the race. And that's fine for them, but give me some room so I can do my thing..

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  6. Congrats! I just love that there's an actual place called Cow Harbor. It puts an amusing picture in my mind.

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    1. http://www.villageofnorthport.com/home/index.php/cow-harbor-day
      ..and it's quite lovely there too..
      thanks for stopping by, Jennifer!

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  7. Well done!! You can *definitely* break 2:30 in the half, if not better -- I say rest up & then go for it! :)

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    1. Thanks, Angela.. it's been a while since I've even run 10 miles, so I'll be pleasantly surprised!

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  8. A PR is a PR, congrats on a job well done and you'll be fine in the half marathon. I bet you will surprise yourself....

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    1. Flower, that's what everyone is telling me - that it's still a PR - so I'm allowing myself to feel better about the fact that I did not run the 55:00 that I wanted.
      I have all you folks to thank for your support!

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I appreciate you taking the time to read my musings! Thanks for commenting!