Running to the year's end 12/16 - 12/31

[indigoiis]

After a week off with a sinus infection (Bah!) I ran a hilly but relaxed 3.2 Thursday, took Friday off and ran 3.1 today at a much-more-like-me pace. Tomorrow I will do a long run of say 8 miles (at least that's what's on my mind - I haven't decided on what route yet.)

I'm still coughing. It sucks! But the runs themselves have been fine.

[Crankin]

Hamstring still hurting today, when I did my Cyclo-Core stuff on the trainer. Grrr. Thankfully, the drills today were not in a big gear.
I was supposed to run tomorrow, outside and I don't want to chance it. It doesn't hurt when walking, though. Monday is a rest day.
What else can I do, besides stretch and rest? I don't like to take Advil, since it really hurts my stomach, and I am not in pain, until I start to run. I wore my compression tights this morning for 3 hours and it seemed to help some.

[HillSlugger]

I had a great race! My goal was under 50 minutes/under a 10mm pace; I finished in 48:10 (5.11 miles)/9:25 pace. All I can say is WOW! It was hard, it was fun, it was satisfying.

Regina (7Rider) looked great and hit her goal, too. Sarah, sorry we didn't meet.

I'll post a few pictures shortly.

[HillSlugger]

Three pictures: me crossing, Regina crossing, our friend (and relay triathlon teammie) Jenny crossing:

[7rider]

Wow! I am such a data nerd. There I am....fiddling with my Garmin as I cross the line. And just like pictures of me on the bike...I always look like I'm in pain when I do these events!!

Yeah, I was pretty stoked. I exceeded my goal for the race and came in under 11 minutes per mile. I felt fast (okay...all things are relative!), and the course was not as hilly as I feared - or trained for - so it seemed a whole lot easier than I expected. But good grief....that last mile and a half around the lake seemed to take FOREVER! I watched that line of runners stretch out in front of me like a big, running, snake. I thought it wouldn't end.

Pretty amazing day, tho', I have to say. Thanks for the pix, Nicole! You rocked!

[HillSlugger]

Here's one more of our group (yeah, it was cold waiting to start!):

[sfa]

I had a great run today too, and hit my goal (under 50 was my goal--I finished in 49:36 so I just made it in). I kept looking for someone in high viz yellow with the 1365 number, but no luck--it was way too crowded out there. I did manage to run across the president of the college where I work four times (!)--passing in the first mile, seeing her going one direction after I had turned around, while waiting for a friend at the finish, and then again in the tent after the race. She was the one person I hoped I didn't run into (I like her, but it's one of those awkward situations where you have to be social with someone you normally only speak to in fairly formal settings). And I felt bad for the friend I came with--she was having serious problems with her calf and ended up walking most of the way, but insisted on finishing.

And yeah, what was it with the lake? It doesn't look that big on the map, but it just went on and on.