I just got home from a fantastic morning of running. A couple of weeks ago, Amy brought a fun local run to my attention--the Miles for Music 20k. It's a fairly small race (but bigger than I expected!) held in a park in Piscataway, NJ.
The course is on a 4.5 mile loop, so we had to run that beast two and a half times to get the full 12.4 miles (yes, that is the mile conversion from 20k). The course was pretty much completely flat with only a one or two extremely short and stumpy hills.
Before the race, Amy told me that she was aiming to match her time from the Trenton Half which we both ran (before knowing each other) last November. I didn't have any goals at all, but that sounded like a good idea to me, so I decided I would aim for an 8:00 pace to put me at about 1:39:30 over all. I made good on that deal for the first mile but then decided to make miles 2-7 a tempo run. I didn't go crazy, though. I just dialed it up to a 7:30 pace to see how I felt. I felt great. I was definitely comfortable, but I slowed down again after the 7th mile. That was the deal I made with myself, so that's what I did.
Just around the time I had settled back into 8:00 miles, I noticed a boy who was running with me. And I really mean boy--the kid was 10 years old. He was powering through the miles, but he was starting to look a little tired. Every once in awhile his dad would pass on the other side of the loop and I could tell that the kid really wanted to impress his dad. I told him what his pace was and asked if he could push to go just five seconds per mile faster. He said he wasn't sure because he was so tired. This made me want to just hug him! He was so cute and fighting so hard! So I started pacing him. He followed my lead, I helped him get Gatorade at the aid stations (he was a master at that art form--didn't even stop running), and I crossed the finish line just 5 seconds before him. You can bet that I turned around to give him a high five before I even stopped my watch. It was the most wonderful experience in my short running life. I totally get why people enjoy coaching. What an amazing feeling!
I met his dad after the race and found out that this race was a practice run before they run the Nashville Country Music Half at the end of April. So cool. Dad was so impressed with his son, and son was beaming with pride. And there I was feeling emotional while the kid explained that I helped him through the whole second half and taught him how to take drinks while running. Geez. I just wish I had gotten a picture with them!
Anyway, as you can tell, I had a marvelous time running this thing. But leaving all this qualitative stuff to one side, here is the quantitative junk that we runners live on.
My results:
Time - 1:35:53
Pace - 7:43
Overall - 182/447
Overall female - 37/177
Age group - 9/27
This was one of the most fun races I have ever done. And I think it was because (a) I wasn't actually racing and (b) the little boy I was running with was just so darn awesome! Plus, the post-race activities were pretty spectacular. Amy and I got stretched out by some physical therapists.
And we got some fun swag.
And then I got to have fun trying on some duds I recently bought.
Now Keith and I are chilling out while this delicious feast simmers on the stove. It can't cook fast enough! Can you say runger?!
Did any of you run a race this morning? It seems like this weekend was really big for races. Maybe because it's now Springtime?
How old were you when you bought your first sporty swimsuit? I got mine at the ripe old age of 27, and I feel no shame.
The course is on a 4.5 mile loop, so we had to run that beast two and a half times to get the full 12.4 miles (yes, that is the mile conversion from 20k). The course was pretty much completely flat with only a one or two extremely short and stumpy hills.
Before the race, Amy told me that she was aiming to match her time from the Trenton Half which we both ran (before knowing each other) last November. I didn't have any goals at all, but that sounded like a good idea to me, so I decided I would aim for an 8:00 pace to put me at about 1:39:30 over all. I made good on that deal for the first mile but then decided to make miles 2-7 a tempo run. I didn't go crazy, though. I just dialed it up to a 7:30 pace to see how I felt. I felt great. I was definitely comfortable, but I slowed down again after the 7th mile. That was the deal I made with myself, so that's what I did.
Just around the time I had settled back into 8:00 miles, I noticed a boy who was running with me. And I really mean boy--the kid was 10 years old. He was powering through the miles, but he was starting to look a little tired. Every once in awhile his dad would pass on the other side of the loop and I could tell that the kid really wanted to impress his dad. I told him what his pace was and asked if he could push to go just five seconds per mile faster. He said he wasn't sure because he was so tired. This made me want to just hug him! He was so cute and fighting so hard! So I started pacing him. He followed my lead, I helped him get Gatorade at the aid stations (he was a master at that art form--didn't even stop running), and I crossed the finish line just 5 seconds before him. You can bet that I turned around to give him a high five before I even stopped my watch. It was the most wonderful experience in my short running life. I totally get why people enjoy coaching. What an amazing feeling!
I met his dad after the race and found out that this race was a practice run before they run the Nashville Country Music Half at the end of April. So cool. Dad was so impressed with his son, and son was beaming with pride. And there I was feeling emotional while the kid explained that I helped him through the whole second half and taught him how to take drinks while running. Geez. I just wish I had gotten a picture with them!
Anyway, as you can tell, I had a marvelous time running this thing. But leaving all this qualitative stuff to one side, here is the quantitative junk that we runners live on.
My results:
Time - 1:35:53
Pace - 7:43
Overall - 182/447
Overall female - 37/177
Age group - 9/27
This was one of the most fun races I have ever done. And I think it was because (a) I wasn't actually racing and (b) the little boy I was running with was just so darn awesome! Plus, the post-race activities were pretty spectacular. Amy and I got stretched out by some physical therapists.
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| If you look closely you can see Amy's version of the "Mckayla's not impressed" face--her massage was lack-luster. |
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| $35 bought us 12.4 miles of fun, gloves, a tech hat, and all the bananas/soft pretzels/chicken broth that our hearts desired. (Seriously, Amy drank chicken broth after the race! Crazy!) |
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| My new rain jacket, thanks to a 40% off deal at Moosejaw. Also, welcome to the zaniness of my apartment. I like that this picture makes it look like something out of Alice in Wonderland. |
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| My first ever sport swimsuit, thanks to Marshalls ($78 marked down to $17?! Uhm, yes please!). It's time for me to finally start swimming. |
Did any of you run a race this morning? It seems like this weekend was really big for races. Maybe because it's now Springtime?
How old were you when you bought your first sporty swimsuit? I got mine at the ripe old age of 27, and I feel no shame.
Man oh man I need a legit bathing suit to swim in. I had a Speedo when I was younger for swimming, but have only owned two pieces since then! AWESOME JOB ON that run!! I LOVED the story about the boy!!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea you took a picture of me getting a massage. It looks like he is really stretching me, but I think I just need REALLY stretched after a race. I wish you got the boy's name and we could see how he does for his half. Where are the results of the race? I looked on the webpage and didn't see them. I guess I'll look more. I am so energized from that race and feeling great!
ReplyDeleteFound the results. I was 9 in my age group, too!
DeleteWhoa! That's awesome!
DeleteWhat an awesome race, way to go! And I absolutely love your story on pacing the boy. I got a little misty eyed, I love when kids are racing, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy for what I want in my family one day.
ReplyDeleteI raced myself today - to an age group finish, my first so much fun!
I was on swim team growing up so have had many snazzy real swim suits and still try to get in the pool these days so have a couple. Nothing makes me laugh more than looking at myself in speedo, cap and goggles. It's quite the sight!
I laugh at myself in the swimming gear, too! I chose a black cap because I thought it would make me look like a badass. I'm not sure it does... lol
DeleteOh my gosh I got a little teary eyed while reading how you paced the boy. It was really sweet of you. I can't help but to smile when I see kids enter races.
ReplyDeleteYour bathing suit's really cute! I got my first sporty swimsuit at the age of 13. I was heavy into swimming...for fun though. We lacked lap pools here at that time.
xx
P.S I'm so drooling over the thought of that soup!
The soup is seriously amazing! At first I thought you meant the chicken broth! hahaha
DeleteGreat job! I love the story of the little boy runner! Also, let's go swimming together now, get me into the campus pool(s)... :)
ReplyDeleteGreat job on that half!
ReplyDeleteSuch an inspiring post! :-)
ReplyDeleteJo x amomentwithjo
I didn't race this weekend but it sounds like you had enough fun for both of us! Kid runners amaze me, I definitely did not have the willpower back then. Heck I hardly do now! I bought a sporty suit back in college and used it to do laps there (about 3x) and I have used it at my apartment pool (once) also. The problem with an outdoor pool is that it is super warm so I feel like I'm doing laps in a bath tub and it's just not cool. Oh and my shoulders dislocated every time I take a stroke so I don't last long in general haha A for effort!
ReplyDeleteHoly cow! Your shoulders seriously dislocate? Do you have trouble with the crossfit workouts? I've never had a dislocated shoulder, but it's one of my biggest fears.
DeleteI ran this race too (that's how I found your blog). I remember another boy, maybe 10, he was a volunteer at one of the water stations. Somewhere near mile 2, where the park path joined up with the road again. He kept yelling about getting water and how important it was as well as a lot of other facts about water. On my last lap I told him he was the greatest race volunteer I've ever seen. It was true. Remember him?
ReplyDeleteWow! Thanks for linking up, Michael! I totally remember that kid! He kept me cheerful even on the first.. second.. third time around! I hope the race was great for you!
Delete^That, is adorable. I love enthusiastic volunteers! Helps me remember to be equally enthusiastic when I'm on the other side (of the water table). :)
DeleteWhat you describe...is one of the main reasons I coach. There's nothing like helping someone achieve a goal, do more than they thought possible, and crash through the limits of their own body/mind.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got to share in some of that awesome.
[And nice race yourself, by the way! :)]
Ah! You're a coach! That is so awesome! And now that I've had this experience, I'm a little (a lot) jealous.
Delete