This past Saturday I ran the Castlewood Cup, a 15k trail race (that’s 9.3 miles to you Americans) through various trails in Castlewood State Park.  I have not done any training on trails other than a small race a few weeks ago, so I was not sure what I was in for, but I knew it would be a challenge.

You get a nice hoodie sweatshirt…not really the sort of thing I wear…ever, but hey, maybe I will.  After all, I am proud of finishing this race!

The race started in four waves, one minute each apart.  Since I am so slow, I started in the fourth wave. 

Though it was sunny, it was pretty cool, not freezing though.  I had a hard time deciding what to wear, and I shouldn’t have worn gloves, but I did.  I didn’t have any pictures taken of myself—I wore running tights, a long sleeve shirt, blue fleece jacket, earwarmer, and gloves.  I had the gloves off within a mile, but the rest I was happy for.

Anyway, that’s everybody milling around the start (and finish—both where the flags are in the distance.).  We got started, and ran around this yard, then crossed the street into the woods and ran straight uphill.  By this point I knew I was towards the back of the pack, and I didn’t care.  I walked up most of the hills, because it is hard enough to run on gravel, dirt, and such without tripping over tree roots, much less doing that straight uphill.  The first hill was the worst though!  But the view from the top was great, and then we headed downhill.  I almost gave up then—there were some paths with super steep drop offs and at one point I almost let my fear of heights get the best of me.  (I have been known to sit/lie down if I freak out over heights.)

But I didn’t!  I kept going, albeit slowly, kept my eyes down (missing some fabulous views, but I really didn’t want to fall) and kept forging ahead.  Slow and steady…doesn’t win the race, but it finishes it.  So after the first downhill, then we ran flat for awhile, and then headed uphill again, but with more switchbacks.  Then around for a bit, then downhill…you get the point.  The whole course was in the park, mainly single track (meaning you had to let people pass generally, though we were pretty spread out and I ran most of the course alone), mainly dirt, but some rocks too, and lots of tree roots to notice. 

They had a couple water stations, and I had some gels too.  By Mile 5 I was dying—my feet were killing me, I was tired, and hungry, and having trouble lifting up my feet to not trip.  I almost fell several times, but I figured out I needed to loosen my shoes, and walking wasn’t any less painful than running, though less scary at times.  By Mile 8 I was absolutely dead…my legs were dead and I was just tired.  We ran through a creek, so for the next 1/2 mile my feet felt really wet (they stayed wet, but felt drier after a bit) and finally I was almost done.  The worst part was running back around the field we started with.  It felt much farther at the end!

Finally I crossed the finish line!  And then as I was getting some water (set up WONDERFULLY right by the finish, thank you) the official race photographer asked if I would cross the finish line again, that he had missed that photo.  I must have given him a crazy look, because he suggested that instead he could simply take a picture of me right there.  I don’t know what happened though, the picture isn’t online.  It’s possible my bib number wasn’t showing—I can’t recall. 

Anyway…after I finished I was completely and utterly exhausted, and wanted to get some of the post race goodies, but I realized I didn’t feel like it and just wanted to get home and shower.  So I had some water, took my muddy shoes off, stopped at a gas station for a G2 (I must have been the sight in running tights, flip flops, and a sweaty tech shirt!), and drove home.  No shower has ever felt as good as that shower.

And yes, of course I’d love to run the race again next year.  Pain?  What pain?

My two biggest fears for the race were 1) getting lost and 2) finishing last.  Luckily I did neither of those things, though I was the closest to finishing last as I have been for any race.  And I am fine with that :)  (I did have my phone with me, I figured if I got lost worst case I could call for help or directions.)

Today was a gorgeous day!  I went running in the park, as I like to do. 

I was finishing up my run, and I passed a man walking across the grass and then across my path.  He was holding a passport and a phone, and he looked confused.  I almost stopped, but then I kept going a bit.  I turned around, and he waved me down.  Normally I don’t stop for people, but I was now at a corner with lots of cars going by so I figured I was safe enough. 

He asked if I knew where the nearest library was.  He explained that he had dual citizenship and his visa was expiring (or had expired) and he needed to find an embassy.  Frankly it was all sort of confusing, plus I was finishing up a run, so my brain wasn’t fully working.  I pointed him towards the direction I was pretty sure a library was (embarrassingly I wasn’t sure but I recalled driving by one within 6 to 8 blocks.) He persisted, asking, was that the "carpenter" branch he was finding on his cell phone.  I told him I just didn’t know, but I was sure there was a library that way.  Then he said he had been lost, and was walking through the park, and some man came up to him and asked was he looking for a date, and he thought the man had exposed himself. 

So…I said, huh, I’ve heard of that happening.  And I asked, what did he look like?  (At this point, my brain is saying, what?? why is a stranger telling me this?)  He said he was in a Nissan.  At which point, I thought, why is he telling me this?  He might just be freaked out…or perhaps he’s leading in a direction I don’t want to go, like, maybe he was planning to expose HIMSELF or maybe he was just going to ask for a date, or for who knows.  So I said, I have to be on my way, and I left.

What do you think?  I found the whole situation really strange and odd.  I wouldn’t have stopped at all except he did look lost plus I was bigger and near a busy street corner (busy with both cars and pedestrians, I might add.)  Has anything weird like that happened to you? 

Also…here’s the forecast for tomorrow.  What happened??  Scattered flurries???

Running (for me) seems to be one of those things that sometimes feels really easy and other times feels ridiculously difficult.  The past few days have been those easy days…the race Saturday, 9 miles on Sunday, and today!

I did a little treadmill workout Mike recommended for me—25/35 he calls it.  You run for 25 seconds/rest for 35 seconds (just hop to the sides) for 30 minutes.  I set the incline to 6.0 and the speed to 6.2, after ten minutes I moved it up to 6.3, then a little further along moved the incline to 6.3.  I did the last 5 minutes at 7 and 6.4.  He suggested eventually taking the incline up to 8, and of course moving the speed up as you can.  For your reference, I generally run flat on the treadmill between 5.5 and 6 mph if I am running a few miles.  Anyway, the minutes flew by (I hate when people say that, but they truly did!) and I felt sweaty and exhausted, but great.  Mike thinks my goal for the half in April should be at least 2:20 (I’m thinking of 2:15 as an "A" goal, and making that my "B" goal, actually). 

We also discussed using the "bathroom" while running.  I told him for my fastest 5K I felt like I had to puke the entire time, and he (of course) one-upped me by saying for his fastest half-marathon he had to pee the whole time.  I asked why he didn’t just pee himself…and he said he was trying but was completely unable to pee while running.  I guess maybe that’s something he needs to train for? (I suggested trying to pee while walking and then building from there…) We of course naturally discussed pooping while running, since we are both fascinated by that (who isn’t?).  The next exercise he made me do involved clenching my glute muscles and I suggested this was counter to training to poop while running, in fact would make it more challenging.  Then we realized we had spent over five minutes discussing gross bodily functions while running…and figured we should move on. 

Okay, fine.  I’ll stop talking about bodily functions.

Honestly, not much else to report.  I’ve got over five hours of teaching ahead of me today (gasp! the horrors!) and this week is pretty much just a normal week.  One big of exciting news is that I got a phone call from Bed, Bath, and Beyond about a special "Registry Completion Event" at the store where everything we want to buy will be 20 percent off, so we are going to wait to shop then.  I’m hoping it won’t be too hectic?  Has anyone been to one of these things?  Opera rehearsals start this weekend, and I’ve got a STACK of music to learn for the next six weeks…and I haven’t practiced all week because my violin is in the shop being cleaned and getting the fingerboard planed.  I get it back tomorrow though, and it should be gorgeous!

A few weeks ago I mentioned I would be up for any races my friends asked me for (within reason).  After that various friends asked me to do a couple of races.   Jennedy asked if I wanted to run the Truffle Shuffle, I said sure!  (The other was last week’s Chocolate 5k and also the St Patrick’s Day 5 mile race coming up in March.)

Truffle Shuffle:  a 4 mile race in Cottleville, Missouri.  I liked the idea of a 4 mile race—not as “fast” as a 5k and a good amount for a workout.  The perks were great too—long sleeve technical shirt, finishers mug, and plenty of chocolate.  (Like I need more, but still, fun.)

So early Saturday morning I woke up (I only wake up early for races and traveling…never for work or any other sort of recreation) and met Jennedy to go to Cottleville.  It was cold enough to want to bundle up but not as cold as the week before…basically the temps were such that it was tough to decide what to wear—near 35 degrees, sort of windy, and sunny.  I ended up wearing a long sleeve shirt with a fleece vest, gloves, and my headband.

Me, Jennedy, and her friend Katie.

I couldn’t resist photographing this guy…but I was trying to be sneaky about it so he didn’t feel weird…yet…he chose to wear what seemed to be orange underwear over running tights and a gas mask?  Hmm.

It was a pretty big race!  We were lined up towards what we thought was the middle, but I think it was towards the front.  It seemed that there were about 1300 people who ran it.

Public Service Announcement and major pet peeve:  if you are in a RACE and you are WALKING the whole time, don’t start in the front.  Just don’t.  This was the second race in a row where I started towards the middle of the front and had to dodge around (read, almost fell several times) walkers, two and three abreast sometimes…honestly I don’t care if you are walking or not, but just don’t start in the front.  It’s a race, and you obviously aren’t going to win if you aren’t running really fast.

I had hoped to keep up 10 minute miles, but it just wasn’t possible for me.  The route was a bit narrow and really congested.  Nonetheless, it was a nice race.  Miles 1 and 2 went by quickly, and then Mile 3 was almost completely uphill—really tough, but I tried to push through.  Mile 4 was basically all downhill and I decided to let the momentum carry me through.  And then the last .2 to .3 miles (estimating) was a steep uphill to the finish line.  I wanted to sprint it, of course, and I just reminded myself of how I had been practicing treadmill hill sprinting and this was the same.  I passed a bunch of people right at the end and I felt pretty darned proud of myself for that.  Then I almost collapsed past the finish line, where they gave us our “chocolate finishers medal.”  Which I was hoping would be wrapped in shiny foil like the one from last week, but wasn’t.  Oh well!

Final time:  42:03.  Not quite the ten minute miles I was hoping for (I ran watch-less, by perceived effort rather than looking at my watch) but not bad for the congestion!  I have been trying to figure out my goal time for April’s half marathon.

Sunday morning I ran 9 miles with Jen.  We decided to do the outer loop of Forest Park, run 4.5 miles one way, and then turn around and run back.  Mentally it seemed easier since we never had to pass our starting place.  It went surprisingly well.  Next weekend is the Castlewood Cup, 15k trail race.  Though I haven’t really trained on trails, at least I know I can cover the mileage.

Sunday night Chris and I went to Bailey’s Range with Kyle and Jennedy.  It’s a burger and ice cream restaurant owned by the same folks who own the Chocolate Bar and Rooster (where we had breakfast after our wedding.)  I had heard the “boozy shakes” were fantastic so I ordered one called “Sweet sweet bacon.”

Yes, that is a piece of candied bacon IN the shake.  No, I am not allowed to complain about my weight for at least a few days.  Yes, it was absolutely delicious.

The burgers were okay—honestly I am not a huge fan of burgers, and the initial fries they brought out were cold.  Kyle asked them to bring hot fries and they agreed so quickly it seemed they knew our fries were cold, which put a bad taste in my mouth—why serve cold fries to begin with?  But the shakes were fantastic.  I think I would return for dessert only, maybe after a concert.  Or I would go for dessert and simply order two shakes rather than one and a burger.

Anyway, that was my weekend.  13 miles of running, lots of great eats, and now it’s Monday.  I baked a coconut pie to take to Jon and Laura’s tonight—they just got two new kittens and I can’t wait to see them.  KITTIE!!!

How was your weekend?  Did you do any races or eat any ice cream?

Saturday’s race: Whitecliff Valentine Trail Run.  My first trail race—I wanted to experience a short trail race before the Castlewood Cup (yes, I suppose I could go run on a trail to train but there’s all kinds of warnings about trail running alone, plus I don’t want to get lose or attacked by bears.)  The race was a double loop for a total of 3.5 miles.  I knew it would be small, and I was (naturally) most concerned about not being last.

I knew it was going to be very cold, but when I woke up I was surprised to see a dusting of snow!  I left early in case the roads would be bad so naturally I got there pretty early.  I sat in my car, enjoying Weekend Edition (and being thankful this was a 10 am race) until about ten till, when I got out of the car to walk a bit and get my legs moving.  I chatted with a few people and then it was time to race!

The race was completely off road, either on the grass or on dirt trails.  I was mainly concerned about not getting lost, but for the most part I was within sight of people, and then one time I sort of did get lost but only for a few steps and then a volunteer was calling out to me.  I quickly realized there was no need for me to be a hero and I walked up the steepest hills, and then it was easy enough to start running again on the flats or down hills, or the less steep up hills.  I was having a blast!  By the second loop I was pretty tired, but I forged ahead.  A couple was behind me most of the way and they passed me halfway through the second lap.  I was fine with that because then I could just follow then rather than worrying about the course. 

At the same place of the course where I’d gotten a little lost the first lap, the second lap a dog came running towards me, barking.  I stopped, and I saw it had a leash and had simply gotten away from its owner, who was heading towards it.  I started running again, thinking the situation was under control, but then the dog growled so I stopped again.  Finally the owner grabbed the leash and I was on my way. 

At that point a guy who had been close behind for at least two miles decided to sprint past me down this large hill, and then barely stayed ahead of me until the finish line chute…when he started walking before the end.  To where I didn’t see how I could pass him without seeming really rude, and since I was hardly in the running for prizes I didn’t feel the need.  So I simply jogged to the finish line.  I don’t recall the exact time, but I think it was something like 46 minutes?  The first lap was around 22 minutes something, so that sounds about right, since the second lap had the dog incident plus a little more walking…I hadn’t paced myself well.

Nonetheless I felt fantastic after my run!  I had a wonderful time and felt like it was a successful run.  As you all know I’ve been pretty negative towards running and fitness lately so I’ll take it as a success.

The finish line "chute"!  You can see it was pretty narrow.

So, that was Saturday’s race.   Swag included a t-shirt and a box of conversation hearts.

Sunday’s race:  Run for Chocolate 5k

I wasn’t going to run this one, but Melissa’s boyfriend Steve asked me to and I thought it seemed like it would be fun.  I’d thought I might be able to wrangle a couple of my other friends to run it but no such luck. 

We met up in Lafayette Square in the morning to carpool downtown to where the race was.  Steve and a friend of his from work named Shannon were running.  We parked and then sat in the car for awhile because it was freezing outside.  (This seems like a common thread, huh?) 

This was a decent sized race—they said 1200 people or so were running it! 

Me, Shannon, and Steve.  I am so used to seeing myself in gigantic sunglasses that I look ridiculous here.

Anyway, the start was super congested—I was weaving in and out of people for the first 1/2 mile—I already knew a pr was impossible at that point, but I just wanted to run a good race.  I had opted not to wear my garmin and just run by my perceived effort (just on the edge of not being able to go any faster for any longer, just run as fast as I could without wanting to die).  My feet were practically numb with cold which definitely gave me a few problems.  It was an out and back race, and the turn around was a huge mental boost. 

The course started near Lumiere Place and ran through the "Old North" neighborhood (I think).  I was somewhat surprised by how awful the roads were—it was an urban trail race in a way, you had to watch your step for most of the course because the pavement was so uneven and torn up.  That’s one of the nice things about racing—you end up running in areas you would absolutely never get to run in otherwise! 

I finished in just under 31 minutes clock time, which ended up being 30:22 chip time—not quite under 30, but pretty close!  I know if the beginning of the race had been smoother I would have reached that goal.  Oh well, it was a good race and I pushed myself throughout. 

Afterwards we hit up Benton Park Cafe for brunch and chatted about the state of the world.  Steve had run the Rock and Roll Half in October, and he told me how he was proudly wearing his medal downtown after the race, and passed a homeless man, and felt pretty stupid being proud of that.  The state of the roads and the houses/neighborhoods we had run by in this race made us feel sort of similar…lucky to be able to be wasting our time and money running around in a group of similar people on a weekend morning and complaining about the excess pounds we had managed to put on by eating too much of the plentiful food we have!  Life is pretty good I think!  OH and I managed to get myself up in arms over a tirade against the Komen Foundation and the support that breast cancer receives over other kinds of cancer!

We got a nice t-shirt from the race.  The categories were for single women, attached women, single woman, attached men, and evidently the single women got pink shirts, the single men got blue, and all of us attached people got red.  It is women’s fit and I am actually wearing it right now.  The other stuff is a chocolate bar they gave us at packet pickup, and a chocolate "finisher’s medal."

Did you race this weekend, or do anything else awesome?  My sister Leslie ran a 5k and 10k all in one morning in Phoenix.