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Rain, rain, rain. And more heavy rain. That was my week. Finally, I was able to get out Thursday morning for a run in the still overcast gloom. Planning to run a 10 mile race on Saturday, I kept this 5 miler on the easier side. Although there wasn't much running during the work week, I managed to fit in two pre-hab routines.
Saturday dawned a crisp, beautiful fall day. I'll take all that pesky weekday rain to have a glorious fall weekend any time. The Capitol 10 Miler started at 7:30 and my car reported 37 degrees when I got out just 15 minutes prior to the start. With no wind, it was perfect running weather.
This race is becoming more popular each year. I was happy to see a sizeable crowd gathered at the start. What I had forgotten is they use gun time (where everyone receives the same start time) and ignorantly lined up toward the back. When the race started, I just followed the walking runners meandering up to the start line and unknowingly wasted precious "official race time".
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| My obligatory proof the course was hilly... |
Anyway, I knew the course was hilly. Anything run in our downtown area is. Managing the hills became my focus. I felt strong tackling the rollers through mile 8 but began to lose steam after that; most likely because the last few miles are mostly up. I walked through the water stop in mile 9 and once more on a steep incline in mile 10. Overall, I was pleased with my 9:46 pace (not official, per Garmin). As I mentioned last week, this is where I am right now. I have no grandiose, unrealistic expectations as I simply haven't put in the work for faster paces. I hope our house-on-the-market craziness will soon settle down and I can put more focus on training.
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| It was good to catch up with Happy Running Sole! |
I have no complaints. It was a beautiful day to be outside. I feel like I at least put a good training run in the bank for my first half marathon of our racing season occurring in a few weeks. Although they served grilled polish sausage dogs, pumpkin muffins, and tropical smoothies -- and yes I sampled all -- I still treated myself with a Starbuck's Peppermint Mocha on the way home. Some traditions will never change.
I polished off the weekend with Sunday's 6.3 mile easy, low heart rate run which totals up to 21.4 for the week. I know it isn't ideal to stack all the miles within a few days for this aging runner, but sometimes you don't have any other choice.
I polished off the weekend with Sunday's 6.3 mile easy, low heart rate run which totals up to 21.4 for the week. I know it isn't ideal to stack all the miles within a few days for this aging runner, but sometimes you don't have any other choice.
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| And that's a wrap! |
Do you have a post race tradition?
Is your racing gearing up or down?
I really like a 10 miler probably my favorite longer distance run. Sounds like great conditions and yes super hilly. congrats on your finish! Happy Thanksgiving
ReplyDeleteThis is the only 10 miler we have around here. I wish there were more! It's definitely not as taxing as a half marathon.
DeleteCongrats on the race! I'd take that pace for 10 all day long. Glad the weather cooperated for you. Peppermint Mochas are my jam lately!
ReplyDeleteI do request only 3 pumps of syrup for my PM. Otherwise, they taste entirely too sweet. Not that that's a bad thing though...
DeleteI love 10 mile runs and I think you did just fine on this endeavor.
ReplyDeleteWe should endeavor to run a ten miler together. Just sayin'.
DeleteMy racing has definitely been gearing down! Congrats on a great finish. Polish Sausage, pumpkin muffins, and tropical smoothies sounds like an odd combination of post race food! Thanks for the link up!
ReplyDeleteThere were different vendors set up with different foods. Obviously, they did not discuss their menus. LOL. It was all delicious anyway.
DeleteYay for a great 10 mile race but yikes on those hills! I favor a post-race Starbucks, but just my usual coffee, I'm ending the year quietly with a 15K in December.
ReplyDeleteI always have them cut the number of syrup "pumps" in half. Those drinks are too sweet otherwise. They are always very accommodating.
DeleteWay to go on your 10-miler! I'm so glad the temp are finally cooling for you. My favorite post-race treat is a cheeseburger and a nice tall cappuccino :) No races right now, but they start up again in February for a frozen 10k and the start of marathon training. BRR!!
ReplyDeleteI love a good cheeseburger too. That's often a pre-race meal.
DeleteGreat job on that hilly race yesterday!
ReplyDeleteHills always keep my humble! You'd think they'd be easy as hilly as my neighborhood is. Nope.
DeleteCongrats on your 10-miler!! That is (dare I say?) a perfect distance, especially when the optimal training days have been loaded with rain. Wish I could have joined you...but my ornery hamstring tendons (and my lack of mojo) would have been a downer ;-)
ReplyDeleteI wish we had more 10 milers around here. This is the only one that I'm aware of.
DeleteI think my racing is gearing long. Is that even a thing? I need to embrace the long this next 8 months, anyway, and I'm still in awe that I'm already 134 miles longer this year than the whole of 2017! Lovely pics but what a course profile - eeps!
ReplyDeleteWow, you've already really had such an increase in mileage with a lot of year still left!
DeleteWhat a gorgeous medal. Those hills though!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I'm a slow runner, I have a pet peeve for people who start in the middle lane either walking or taking selfies, move over. It's just basic courtesy
Finishing the year with a 10K Thursday and a 15K in December. I guess that's ramping up to a Half in J an/Feb/March
They did a good job with the medal It is actually cut out in the column area. My yellow flowers are showing through.
DeleteSounds like amazing running condition for the race! Congrats on another finish :)
ReplyDeleteI heard about this intense rain in the South...lucky you could fit in any runs at all with that!
I hope I'm lucky enough to have those same conditions at my next half marathon. I can breath so much easier.
DeleteHmmm...I guess my post-race tradition is a big glass of chocolate milk. It's my favorite post-race treat. Congrats on your 10-miler. I love that distance.
ReplyDeleteI usually drink a glass of chocolate milk before bed every night!
DeleteCongrats on your race! Sounds like a nice post-run spread. Along with the peppermint mocha:) Glad the rain finally cleared up for you so you could get some runs in!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how much it rained this week! I'm so glad it cleared up by the weekend.
DeleteGreat job on the run, what perfect weather and fun distance! My post race tradition is typically a giant vegan brunch haha
ReplyDeleteI can usually always eat after racing. Sometimes I think about the food during the race. Ha!
DeleteLooks like a great day for running. I don't have much of a post-race tradition. It depends on the weather and if I traveled or not. If I'm home, I foam roll and then relax if I can.
ReplyDeleteTravel definitely changes the post-race activities. I'm usually sight seeing after a quick post race shower.
DeleteI love the 10 mile distance but the only 10 miler we had around here have been discontinued.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately my racing season is winding down but I do have some local races to keep myself in racing shape and I have a half in Florida in Feb.
I hardly even run more than 20 miles weekly - usually about 15-17 but I think that has keep these old legs injury-free. More important than a PR.
I wonder why there aren't more 10 milers? I guess people assume you can run 13. There's plenty of those around. I won't be running in PCB this December. That is going to feel so strange.
DeleteHope you can get your house sold! It's so stressful.
ReplyDeleteRacing is definitely winding down with a little assist from the early snow. With more on the way. Sigh.
I don't have a post race tradition -- it varies!
I can always drink coffee afterwards. Iced in the summer; hot and steamy in the winter.
DeleteCongrats on a nice race! I really like 10 milers but they are few and far between. I love a good coffee after a race especially when I'm usually freezing.
ReplyDeleteI wish we had more 10 miler options. This is the only one that I'm aware of around here. I'd do more if they were available.
DeleteCongrats on the race! And the weather seems like PERFECT for a race and run. Those hills though - yeesh! We have a 10-miler near us but I have not run it in several years. I used to be in better shape and once used it as part of my marathon training (I ran 10 miles to the race and then did the race for my 20 miler).
ReplyDeleteThe last time I ran this 10 miler, it was part of marathon training. My pace was much better too. Oh well.
DeleteHilly runs can be so mentally challenging! Hope everything goes well with the house details.
ReplyDeleteThey can, especially when the hills just keep coming and coming without much of a break.
DeleteIt looks like you had a beautiful morning for a race! And yeah, that elevation chart definitely looks tough.
ReplyDeleteI hope it will make me stronger for a flat half marathon.
DeleteHills! Congrats on the race! I've never run a 10-mile race before, but may get one on my schedule for my upcoming marathon (yikes!) training cycle.
ReplyDeleteWhat doesn't kill us makes us stronger...so they say. LOL.
DeleteBoo on the rain but yay for your race! I really need to getter a better routine on my "pre-hab". Great post. Happy blogging!
ReplyDeleteIt was a great test for seeing just where I am. I have a lot of work to do but it's what I expected after taking most of the summer off.
DeleteI've been on a race break since Independence Day and have two 5K's coming up in less than two weeks. We have a post-race tradition for our Thanksgiving morning turkey trot. Our Cruiser friends meet at our house to walk over to the race together and then after the race everyone gathers back at our house for brunch. And then I kick them all out so I can start cooking Thanksgiving dinner! ;-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the linkup!
I have a odd relationship with 5ks. They hurt and I suffer. But I'd choose one over interval training any week.
DeleteWe still have a huge puddle in our backyard - gah, this rain can STOP! Our racing season is just getting started, although I'm not racing a lot. Your Capital 10 race looks crazy hilly, but that is a really nice medal so totally worth it. :)
ReplyDeleteThey do a really good job with the medal!
DeleteThat sounds like a fun race - congrats! My racing had been forcibly geared down, but I'm hoping to be sufficiently recovered for a 5 miler in January..
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll be in great form by then!
DeleteCongrats on the race! I wish there were some close 10 mile options, it sounds like a fun distance. I hope everything with selling your house goes well! I'm on the other side of that (buying) right now, and it is such a stressful and complex process.
ReplyDeleteWe've chosen our new home and the sellers have accepted our offer. We just need to get this home sold, which adds another level of stress.
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