Plano Pacers Turkey Run Off 15K 11/29/14
My friends
know that I actually don’t like running very much. Although I had mental disciplines to run
everyday on treadmill for wedding dress weight loss, I rather ride a
bicycle. In running, the scenery doesn't
change fast enough. But because there
are not enough time trial races, I decided to try Duathlon, which required me
to start running again. Please note,
however, the running distance that required for this year’s “A” Du race, was
10K. And this 15K race didn’t surface on
the calendar until fall. You can tell it
here: I am getting carried away with running.
When I
lined up, I noticed a visor saying Kona 2014 Finisher. Wow, I guess, you just don’t borrow somebody
else’s finisher visor, so he was there with Ginny and Chief and all. The race was with 5K and we all started
together. I listened to the course
directions carefully. I have run and
ridden in the park and the trail before, but I didn’t have the course map for
today. My first concern was that I don’t
get lost so I have to keep up with somebody in sight. First mile or so is always hectic even the
race is this small. After about 1.5
miles in, very fast 5K runners started to come back. This is typical for me. Fast runners can do double time of what I
do. But once I reach 5K turn around, I
saw drastically fewer people. Being a
smaller race has challenge with water aid station and it is not like every mile
or two as more expensive events. So I
brought my long run bottle and belt with me and lots of people were holding a
bottle. I tried to talk myself into
walking every mile or so even without the aid station. When I started to walk after 5K people turned,
a thin Asian lady passed me and quickly disappeared from my view. I saw a spotty stretch of people going into
the woods. I should have remembered that
we go to the next park and we go around that lake. That was long. This time fast 15K runners started to come
back. Somewhere along the line, I took
another water and walking break and an elderly woman passed me. For the longest time, all I could do was to
have her in my sight knowing that I have not been off course. The volunteers are in key spots and the signs
are everywhere, but as a cyclist, I have a few pretty bad stories of getting
lost, so I am a little over reacting here.
When I
asked Coach Todd to take care of me between January and March, mainly for
building up my run, he was very conservative about dreaming about popular
distance, Half Marathon. Secret Mentor,
Brad Ellis, politely, but firmly cautioned, too. And I was not going to let cycling become
cross training of running. But patient
early morning summer runs seemed to have paid off and I started having a good
time running. At the end, Coach Todd
said maybe he could have pushed me to train for Half Marathon. Looking at 2015, I would very much like a
10-mile race to see if I can do Half Marathon.
Lots of
people like to run, but can’t run one reason or another. When I started running, my main concern was
left ankle, which I twisted stepping down several years ago and lower
back. Eventually they became no
issues. I live wearing compression socks
and Tony started to accumulate different recovery toys. Finding a virtual running company helped me
push when I feel like I can keep going.
It became a habit of registering AFTER the run and submitting the time
immediately and receiving the medal (and the bib) afterwards. It is fairly rare for cycling events to give
away finisher medals, so I got carried away and collected quite a few this
year.
Longer than
10K run started to give me previews of possible injuries, though. Nothing is really serious enough yet, but
things started to get “tight”: bottom of left foot, left Achilles and front of
right leg. I bought some dimple balls
and did extra rolling these days. The
running videos James Bailey loaned us helped, too. The quad hurt enough last week, so again, I
listened to Brad and took extra rest and day off than type A athlete was
planning before today’s race.
I feel like
I participated in more run events than cycling events this year and I learned a
few things. First, run events are
popular. 5K races are everywhere almost
every week and TONS of people sign up. Unfortunately,
as any popular event, the parking becomes problems. Last thing I want to do on the weekend is to
drive downtown Dallas and worry about parking.
I also learned in big races, there are whole bunch of people who have no
intention of running the distance. I
really started liking Plano Pacers events because it is super close. Preparation takes hardly anything at all
compared to bike rallies we drive a couple of hours to get to. The race is big enough and small enough. I can still go back and forth to the parked
car, which I have no worries of securing a spot at the park. It is a plain well-run organization. The volunteer photographer does superb job
and promptly upload photos to download for free! Record is kept with laptop with a scanner in
barcode on the bib and points calculated, posted promptly. All this for the annual membership fee, often
cheaper than one event. And I get my own
bib, laminated, for me to keep. And I belong.
Literally all I do is show up and I have my spot.
People
don’t talk about it often, maybe some in triathlon, but running involves dirty
business. At least for me. Sometimes my biggest concern is the morning
bathroom visits. Today I decided to stay
at home as long as I could to have easy access to bathroom. Coffee helps, but not too much because I
don’t want to be bloated. Women pad is
an emotionally secure link to avoiding public embarrassment. Even so on-site bathrooms are my best
friends. Today I arrived at the parking
lot, started active warm up and ran one lap around the lake with good cadence,
feeling good. Then I found lines around
the bathroom building, but they were at the wrong spot. Regular facility is closed and only one porta
potty each for men and women. The line
was not moving fast enough. I placed
myself in line once, and then I heard the announcement of declaring Athena
needed to be then. After big
Thanksgiving meal, I was tiny bit above Athena limit. So I figured why not. I looked around and
people were wearing big hoodies, gloves, jackets and long pants. I decided with mid-50’s sunny finish, I need
to be wearing sleeveless. I spotted a couple
of T-shirts and then topless man. At
this point, my stomach was aching a little.
I was afraid, I have still some fried rice left, but the bathroom line
was helplessly long. I just hoped it was
just a little cool, so I walked around in the sun. Luckily this became no issue and the clothing
choice ended up being right after all.
Occasionally
I tried to figure how many people were behind me. Often times runners who are not in the race
were there, too and maybe one of those passed me really fast with fuel belt
bottles. He passed the lady ahead of me
very fast. I think I came to the aid
station for the third time and I was totally confused with orientation. When one of the volunteers yelled, “It is all
down hill from here.” I also saw a sign for 5K race, so now I was headed to the
original park! I was constantly checking cadence and today, heart rate didn’t
act up whacky. I was happy about that
and kept playing Pointers Sisters and some slow marches I found if I double, it
is pretty good for 180 cadence. I felt I
was running strong, but I didn’t keep my lap time, so didn’t know how fast or
slow. At the second turn around, there
was a lady told me, “The turn around is right there.” Now the elderly lady is
passing her and another man. Maybe it
was around 6 miles. I started to think
the race is starting now. I noticed
people I see behind me are mostly walking now.
The original lake started to come into view and I noticed the red jacket
and famous yell, “ GO KEIKO, GO!” Tony
is still feeling aftermath of what he had and didn’t ride with the club and
drove over. I knew I would have to make
one deviation from the lake lap and the elderly lady was suddenly looking
closer. I passed her before the final turn
around and maybe another couple. By now,
kids race is also going and the lake was surrounded by lots of people and felt
lively. I felt enough left, so I ran
strong to the finish line. My Garmin
said 1:48:11. I was a little disappointed
not to be under 1:45, but Tony is there and congratulated me on good job, so
everything was great.
Now I think
I have had my running fix under control for a while and concentrate on December
Challenge. All DVD’s are lined up, more
GU gels ordered, Unofficial Trivia questions are being finalized and prizes are
being delivered. Will there be Half
Marathon for me next year? Will
see. THANK YOU, so much, Plano Pacers
race organizers and volunteers. You have
made my running experience so much more enjoyable. I know I am renewing and maybe dragging Tony
to sign up next year!
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