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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Uncanny Valley
    Posts
    14,498

    April Showers ...

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    bring new PRs!

    My first ever wet marathon. Actually my first wet race longer than 5K! Thankfully the rain was intermittent and mostly light so that I was able to avoid most of the puddles, my shoes and socks didn't get super heavy, and lube protected the usual spots from chafing. It didn't rain at all while I was in the staging area, which was one of my biggest worries, I brought a ton of warm clothes and disposable plastic for pre-race. It started raining just as my wave was being loaded into our corrals. I think some people struggled with the weather a WHOLE lot more than I did, but I also think it depended quite a bit on exactly when someone started and what pace they were running, just because there was so much variation in the rain.

    I had 15,000 people breaking the wind for me, so I only even noticed it in a few places, and it really wasn't bad. Must have been pretty brutal for the pros though, as the winning times showed.

    Best sign of the day, in the Wellesley scream tunnel, where most of the signs were still legible but badly smeared by the rain: "This Sign Is Laminated."

    3:47:04, and I'm just absolutely delighted.
    Speed comes from what you put behind you. - Judi Ketteler

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Traveling Nomad
    Posts
    6,763
    WOW! That is an amazing time, Oak. You rock beyond belief.

    Congratulations and humble bows coming your way!
    Emily

    2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
    2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
    2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Houston
    Posts
    1,301
    Quote Originally Posted by emily_in_nc View Post
    WOW! That is an amazing time, Oak. You rock beyond belief.

    Congratulations and humble bows coming your way!
    Ditto!
    2012 Jamis Quest Brooks B17 Blue
    2012 Jamis Dakar XC Comp SI Ldy Gel
    2013 Electra Verse

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Concord, MA
    Posts
    13,394
    Heck, the weather bothered me, just going to CVS, yesterday....
    Big congrats and looking forward to hearing all about it tomorrow.
    2015 Trek Silque SSL
    Specialized Oura

    2011 Guru Praemio
    Specialized Oura
    2017 Specialized Ariel Sport

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Pacific Northwest
    Posts
    3,436
    Oak, that is a FABULOUS time. I always liked running in the rain, myself.
    "My predominant feeling is one of gratitude. I have loved and been loved;I have been given much and I have given something in return...Above all, I have been a sentient being, a thinking animal, on this beautiful planet, and that in itself has been an enormous privilege and an adventure." O. Sacks

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    1,940
    When I saw the forecast for Monday I did a big...UT OH.....

    I am glad it did not impact your race too badly. Congrats on great finish.

    I have a friend in my neighborhood that ran too. I have not seen her yet to get the details.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    10,889
    So glad that it was fun and the weather didn't really cause problems!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    northern Virginia
    Posts
    5,897
    Congrats!! I'm glad things went well for you.

    - Gray 2010 carbon WSD road bike, Rivet Independence saddle
    - Red hardtail 26" aluminum mountain bike, Bontrager Evoke WSD saddle
    - Royal blue 2018 aluminum gravel bike, Rivet Pearl saddle

    Gone but not forgotten:
    - Silver 2003 aluminum road bike
    - Two awesome worn out Juliana saddles

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Uncanny Valley
    Posts
    14,498
    Thanks all!

    I think I lucked out with the weather, a lot. I kind of enjoy running in a warm rain, don't much mind it when it's above 50°, but I realized last night I'd never, ever before, run in rain and low 40°s. So I gambled with my clothes and I think I would've been into hypothermia if the wind had been much stronger and/or the rain much heavier - I've heard that some runners did have to deal with pretty heavy rain. I don't have a lot of choice in shoes because my feet are so wide, so I'm lucky that the pair I'm in now don't take up a lot of water - I've had shoes before that got super heavy when they were wet. Picked my socks carefully for a pair that I thought wouldn't take on too much water, would give me enough cushion for 26.2, wouldn't stretch and bunch, but since I'd never done that distance in the wet, it was an educated guess. It was an ancient pair of SmartWool socks that they haven't made that style for years - hope they keep lasting!

    My biggest lesson was in fueling, though. I learned the hard way last year, when I bonked hard, and so I pushed a LOT of Gatorade on the course this year (couldn't get any gel after about halfway because my fingers were so numb, it took me probably 1/4 mile each getting the last two I did take, so I gave up on the rest. I'd completely forgotten the wad of toilet paper I'd stuffed into my belt, which I'm sure made it tighter and harder to get anything out!). It was a revelation to me how much better my BRAIN was working in the last few miles, way better than any goal marathon before, even though it was only last year's Boston that I knew (afterward) I was under-fueled.

    If you haven't seen it already, watch the video of Meb crossing the line. Sorry I can't pull up a link easily on mobile. Sad he didn't win, but the guy's a class act.
    Speed comes from what you put behind you. - Judi Ketteler

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    St. Pete, FL
    Posts
    1,101
    Oak, FANTASTIC! Amazing time considering the conditions. Amazing time even with perfect conditions!

    K
    katluvr

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Traveling Nomad
    Posts
    6,763
    Did my 5K this morning...well, they actually short-changed us a bit as the course was only 2.7 miles long per my GPS. Kinda disappointed in that, but everything else about it was excellent. It was extremely well-run, well-supported, and well organized! Tons of sponsors, volunteers, police guarding every street intersection. We got running jerseys, t-shirts, beverages, fruit, medals, and a pin. And it was all for a great cause -- kids on the autism spectrum. Except for the fact that all announcements were in Spanish, I could definitely have been in the US. I honestly had no idea Mexico would put on an event of this caliber, but I was VERY pleasantly surprised! First class all around.

    I had my fastest pace since I started running here right at the first of the year. If I'd been able to do a full 5K, my time would have been around 29 minutes, extrapolating since I only ran 2.71 miles. I was VERY happy with this as I never thought I could break 30 minutes on the road, only on the track. Race-day adrenaline for sure.

    What fun -- I can see how folks get hooked on events!

    Attachment 17602 Attachment 17603 Attachment 17604
    Emily

    2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
    2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
    2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    10,889
    Looking great Emily! Somehow I missed that you are back in Mexico but glad you found it such a well run event, even if it was a little short. I've been starting to hear complaints on local events that haven't been near as well run as yours.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Concord, MA
    Posts
    13,394
    You look like a pro, Emily. Congrats.
    2015 Trek Silque SSL
    Specialized Oura

    2011 Guru Praemio
    Specialized Oura
    2017 Specialized Ariel Sport

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Uncanny Valley
    Posts
    14,498
    Very nice Emily! Looking good! Congratulations.
    Speed comes from what you put behind you. - Judi Ketteler

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Traveling Nomad
    Posts
    6,763
    Thanks!

    Catrin, actually we never left Mexico! We have been here since Nov. 1. We head back to the US on Thursday. We are loving it here, but it's time to visit with family for awhile. They are having some pretty chilly weather in NC (for late April anyway), so it's going to be a rude awakening after dewpoints in the upper 70s. But I suspect it will feel great. It's going to be an adjustment getting back to the road bike after months riding a beach cruiser. Gonna try to keep up the running as well.
    Emily

    2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
    2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
    2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow

 

 

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