Monte Sano 10k
Time: 57:40
Distance: 6.2 miles
Details: chocolate powerbar prior, 70 degrees, 88% humidity; state park on top of a mountain.
Reflections: Monte Sano, Spanish for “Mountain of Health,” in Huntsville, Alabama was the location of this race. Course was 2 loops in the park; most of it on a paved road which was surprising. only a small portion was on part of a trail which was loose gravel. (i dislike running on loose gravel...i feel like i’m not moving fast enough...anyone else experience this feeling?)
course was rolling and i started out too fast even though i tried to tell myself not too. first 2 miles were 8:30 pace and i was already suffering from the humidity. it baffles me to no end how folks can go out and run 5-6 minute miles in this type of weather. WOW. WOW. WOW.
Being in the park was neat because since we were high up, there were areas where there was an incredible view of some surrounding mountains. it was gorgeous and very peaceful. i don’t think i have ever run a 2 loop course before and i found it kinda boring and very surprising considering how big the park was. oh well, i am sure they had their reasons. mentally, i felt like i had a ping pong game going on inside my head....i knew i wanted to use this as a training run and therefore did not need to go fast, but i also didn’t want anyone to pass me and i wanted to pass people...so i kept going back and forth in my head about how fast/slow to go...i think some of this mental banter took out some of the fun for me. i was not as relaxed as i had wanted to be.
other than that, i am still glad i did the race. got a good 6 miles in and it was cheap...only $15/race day registration. i got a tank top and afterwards they had all sorts of goodies to eat; bananas, pastries, watermelon, pizza. Huntsville is much more beautiful than i would have imagined. it is more like a valley, surrounded by mountains. quiet and beautiful.
Showing posts with label peachtree road race. Show all posts
Showing posts with label peachtree road race. Show all posts
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Peachtree #6
I ran my 6th Peachtree today. The first one in 1998 was definitely the best because everything was new and unfamiliar. Now, as a "veteran" of this famed race, I know what to expect and not to expect. Expect to be crowded for first mile. Expect hot/humid conditions. Expect to not post anything near a PR. Expect to struggle. Expect to hear a myriad of bands and see thousands of spectators.
As mentioned in earlier posts, i have not run this race for last 2 years and I think the absence made me more excited for the day. Maybe it's that whole things..."absence makes the heart grow fonder". I was really excited for the race and as such did not sleep well at all last nice. Excitement sure has a way of turning into anxiety. Sheesh...
Oh well. I calmed down enough by start time and son enough, my group was off and running. I had definitely expected it to be very tight at the start, but somehow it wasn't. I had room to get my stride going early on, which was a pleasant surprise. I felt naked without my water bottle and ipod, but i needed neither today. Funny how i felt so weird without both of them. I either have one or both of them with me on every run, so i definitely noticed it. Had I not had my Garmin Forerunner on, I would have REALLY felt weird. I digress.
Saw my buddy, S., right after i started. Great to see a friendly face. First mile was about 8:15. Too fast, i thought. By 2 miles, I was at 17 min. Still a little fast. I didn't want to crash after the hills. Between 2-3 miles, I saw 3 different folks from work which was also very nice. 2 of them, i expected to see, but the other was a bonus. Great!! Mile 3 was 26 minutes total.
I felt fine. Felt like i had a good pace and nothing was giving me any trouble. I was taking in enough H2O and about 4.5 miles, I sucked down my vanilla GU. At about 3.5 miles, I was sort of targeting an under 57 minute finish. By mile 4 with a 35 minute time, I knew i was gonna have to start pushing soon to be sure I was under 57 minutes. Miles 4-6 are very deceiving...they are a steady and long uphill to the corner of Peachtree and 10th. I figured if i could just stay solid and pick it up a little until then, i could make my that final push down 10th street for approx 1/2 mile.
What I want to say here is that i felt solid. I felt strong. I felt like i was having a good race and I was very happy inside. This race has kicked my ass in the past and really humbled me and today, i just felt like I was better/stronger. So.
I made the left hand turn onto 10th street and pushed past some folks until my feet crossed the finish line and crossed over the rubber mat recording my chip time.
Peachtree #6 = 55:26
This was not my best time for this race. In 2003, I ran 54:09. But, today i felt better and enjoyed it more.
Hope to have soome photos to share soon!!
As mentioned in earlier posts, i have not run this race for last 2 years and I think the absence made me more excited for the day. Maybe it's that whole things..."absence makes the heart grow fonder". I was really excited for the race and as such did not sleep well at all last nice. Excitement sure has a way of turning into anxiety. Sheesh...
Oh well. I calmed down enough by start time and son enough, my group was off and running. I had definitely expected it to be very tight at the start, but somehow it wasn't. I had room to get my stride going early on, which was a pleasant surprise. I felt naked without my water bottle and ipod, but i needed neither today. Funny how i felt so weird without both of them. I either have one or both of them with me on every run, so i definitely noticed it. Had I not had my Garmin Forerunner on, I would have REALLY felt weird. I digress.
Saw my buddy, S., right after i started. Great to see a friendly face. First mile was about 8:15. Too fast, i thought. By 2 miles, I was at 17 min. Still a little fast. I didn't want to crash after the hills. Between 2-3 miles, I saw 3 different folks from work which was also very nice. 2 of them, i expected to see, but the other was a bonus. Great!! Mile 3 was 26 minutes total.
I felt fine. Felt like i had a good pace and nothing was giving me any trouble. I was taking in enough H2O and about 4.5 miles, I sucked down my vanilla GU. At about 3.5 miles, I was sort of targeting an under 57 minute finish. By mile 4 with a 35 minute time, I knew i was gonna have to start pushing soon to be sure I was under 57 minutes. Miles 4-6 are very deceiving...they are a steady and long uphill to the corner of Peachtree and 10th. I figured if i could just stay solid and pick it up a little until then, i could make my that final push down 10th street for approx 1/2 mile.
What I want to say here is that i felt solid. I felt strong. I felt like i was having a good race and I was very happy inside. This race has kicked my ass in the past and really humbled me and today, i just felt like I was better/stronger. So.
I made the left hand turn onto 10th street and pushed past some folks until my feet crossed the finish line and crossed over the rubber mat recording my chip time.
Peachtree #6 = 55:26
This was not my best time for this race. In 2003, I ran 54:09. But, today i felt better and enjoyed it more.
Hope to have soome photos to share soon!!
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Peachtree #4
After running Peachtree Road Race as a resident of GA in 2000 & 2001, I had to fly into town again as a visitor in 2003 for my 4th go at this race.
Below is an excerpt from my jounal entry on June 29, 2003. I was in San Francisco at Peets Coffee.
“driving here, i thought about race day morning on Friday, the 4th. I will rise early, have coffee and a bit of breakfast. It will be an early rising on another race day of my life. I don’t even know how to put into words what that means to me...the early rising, the preparation, the morning reflection, the anticipation of what lies ahead. I’m guessing it will take me between 54-57 minutes, but the experience, of course, goes well beyond those minutes. The preparation began long ago and this will be my 4th Peachtree.”
I flew into town on July 2nd and was able to stay with friends i knew. It was my first trip back to Atlanta since i had moved away. I’ll never forget getting into town in the wee hours of my red-eye flight and picking up my rental car. The darkness surrounded me and as I drove into the city, I saw all the downtown buildings greet me. Soon, the dawn would come...
Here is another excerpt from race day morning, July 4th 2003
“Peachtree Morning! I’m awake and ready. I’m having a perfect morning after a very hot sleep - interrupted by this very hot weather. I sit in the loft, having a fabulous cup of coffee, listening to great music - in the morning darkness that sits outside..that rests outside...that will soon slowly awaken. So, here I am on the morning of another Peachtree, awaiting another challenge of this life and today, it is this course that i cannot stay away from. This course that challenges me, begs me to keep trying, to give my all ... through the travel, the heat, the humidity. “C’MON” it says, “GIVE IT. GIVE IT ALL. Don’t leave anything today. Walk away exhausted, spent, dripping in sweat, blood, effort.”
Today - again - another chance to be my own Hero
Thank you God for another opportunity.
Here I go -----
#4 Peachtree Finish Time = 54:09
more to follow...
Below is an excerpt from my jounal entry on June 29, 2003. I was in San Francisco at Peets Coffee.
“driving here, i thought about race day morning on Friday, the 4th. I will rise early, have coffee and a bit of breakfast. It will be an early rising on another race day of my life. I don’t even know how to put into words what that means to me...the early rising, the preparation, the morning reflection, the anticipation of what lies ahead. I’m guessing it will take me between 54-57 minutes, but the experience, of course, goes well beyond those minutes. The preparation began long ago and this will be my 4th Peachtree.”
I flew into town on July 2nd and was able to stay with friends i knew. It was my first trip back to Atlanta since i had moved away. I’ll never forget getting into town in the wee hours of my red-eye flight and picking up my rental car. The darkness surrounded me and as I drove into the city, I saw all the downtown buildings greet me. Soon, the dawn would come...
Here is another excerpt from race day morning, July 4th 2003
“Peachtree Morning! I’m awake and ready. I’m having a perfect morning after a very hot sleep - interrupted by this very hot weather. I sit in the loft, having a fabulous cup of coffee, listening to great music - in the morning darkness that sits outside..that rests outside...that will soon slowly awaken. So, here I am on the morning of another Peachtree, awaiting another challenge of this life and today, it is this course that i cannot stay away from. This course that challenges me, begs me to keep trying, to give my all ... through the travel, the heat, the humidity. “C’MON” it says, “GIVE IT. GIVE IT ALL. Don’t leave anything today. Walk away exhausted, spent, dripping in sweat, blood, effort.”
Today - again - another chance to be my own Hero
Thank you God for another opportunity.
Here I go -----
#4 Peachtree Finish Time = 54:09
more to follow...
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
The Lure of Peachtree
I first learned about the Peachtree Road Race
in early 1998 as I was looking through a Runners World magazine. The largest 10k in the country. In Atlanta on July 4th, every year.
Well, I gotta do it, I thought.
As I read more about the race on the web site, I found the application process unlike anything i had ever know. The application comes out ONLY in the Atlanta newspaper in mid march. You must submit the application on that Sunday or Monday via mail only and then HOPE to get in. Yep, that is all correct. It fills up THAT fast.
My hopes were a bit dashed when i read all this information because how does a runner living in the Bay Area get a copy of the Atlanta newspaper and get the application mailed back in a time good enough to obtain a race entry?
Well, thanks to the large newspaper selection at Barnes and Noble, I found one copy of the issue I needed 3 days after the issue date in mid march 1998. Excitedly and carefully, I completed the application and sent it off the Atlanta to the PO BOX for “out of state” residents. I was hoping the race folks held a certain amount of spots for us out of towners.
A long wait was the next part. I didn’t expect to hear anything until late may, early june. The wait was exciting yet also frustrating. The longer I waited, the more i wanted to get in.
Then, one day in early June 1998, I went to my mailbox and saw the big 8x11 envelope with seeming lots of stuff inside. “YEAH”, I yelled on my quiet cul-de-sac street. “I GOT IN”!!
I was so excited to open the package and see the contents with my BIB #, hotel and airline info, expo info, etc...
Soon, i booked my flight and then on July 1st, I was off to Atlanta.
(a REAL except from my journal dated 7/1/98)
‘happy july! today’s my departure date. i’m pretty darn excited. i’ve already been for a run this a.m. A quick 2..5 miles, but i also did grace hill! boy, that is a killer, i’ll tell ya. it is pretty great to run on clear, sunny mornings, like today. it’s so quiet and fresh out. birds are chirping. it’s like a clean slate. nothing has been touched yet.
and
7/2/98
"well, i’m here in atlanta and i am pretty out of it. i’m time-exhausted and having major allergy attacks. I can barely function and yet, i’d hate to take medicine-but, i’ll probably have to."
Up until re-reading this today, I had completely forgotten i had allergy issues on that trip. it’s interesting because once i became a resident of Atlanta in 1999, I have never had allergy problems here and lots of folks do...
I stayed in the Grand Hyatt which was host hotel with expo and only .5 miles from starting line. The expo was my first ever and i was happily overwhelmed by all the people, booths/exhibits and free stuff. Coca-Cola had given out free 32 oz bottles of Powerade Green which remains a favorite of mine today. I was completely buzzed by the excitement in the place and thoughout the city. What a thrill.
Race day excerpt from jounral dated 7/4/98
"6:13am - today is the race. starting time is only 75 minutes away. today, i will run in my first ever peachtree road race. maybe i could make this a yearly ritual. it is part of this city-a rintual for many. it’s intoxicating. ....i just peekd outside and there are many people out-walking, running, wheel-chairing it along the streets. it was dark when i awoke at 5:30am, but the light is emerging now. ...given the fact i don’t know much about what pace i’ll go, i;ll set my goal at 55:00 or less. maybe i can figure it out as i go along. i doubt i can set a “normal goal” as these conditions aren’t normal. this is wondeful, ya know? I flew across the country to run with 54, 499 other runners on Independence Day. Go for it. Give everything. I’ll do my best!"
As I would soon learn, under 55 was not gonna happen. The race begins at 7:00am for the first folks, the elite. Everyone else starts afterwards, in increments. Given my rookie and out of towner status, i was at the back of the pack, one of the last groups to go..my start time was closer to 8am. And if you have ever tried to run in Atlanta in July, then you know the conditions. Plus...all the people. It was like a running rock concert. It was an adventure. I took it all in. Peachtree Road was lined with spectators the whole way. Loud crowds, music, bands, and water/mist sprayers. Soon enough, i made my way into Piedmont Park and across the finish line. Then, i made a bee-line for the t-shirt area. My first and highly coverted Peachtree Road Race t-shirt.
#1 Peachtree Finish Time = 57:38
more to follow...
in early 1998 as I was looking through a Runners World magazine. The largest 10k in the country. In Atlanta on July 4th, every year.
Well, I gotta do it, I thought.
As I read more about the race on the web site, I found the application process unlike anything i had ever know. The application comes out ONLY in the Atlanta newspaper in mid march. You must submit the application on that Sunday or Monday via mail only and then HOPE to get in. Yep, that is all correct. It fills up THAT fast.
My hopes were a bit dashed when i read all this information because how does a runner living in the Bay Area get a copy of the Atlanta newspaper and get the application mailed back in a time good enough to obtain a race entry?
Well, thanks to the large newspaper selection at Barnes and Noble, I found one copy of the issue I needed 3 days after the issue date in mid march 1998. Excitedly and carefully, I completed the application and sent it off the Atlanta to the PO BOX for “out of state” residents. I was hoping the race folks held a certain amount of spots for us out of towners.
A long wait was the next part. I didn’t expect to hear anything until late may, early june. The wait was exciting yet also frustrating. The longer I waited, the more i wanted to get in.
Then, one day in early June 1998, I went to my mailbox and saw the big 8x11 envelope with seeming lots of stuff inside. “YEAH”, I yelled on my quiet cul-de-sac street. “I GOT IN”!!
I was so excited to open the package and see the contents with my BIB #, hotel and airline info, expo info, etc...
Soon, i booked my flight and then on July 1st, I was off to Atlanta.
(a REAL except from my journal dated 7/1/98)
‘happy july! today’s my departure date. i’m pretty darn excited. i’ve already been for a run this a.m. A quick 2..5 miles, but i also did grace hill! boy, that is a killer, i’ll tell ya. it is pretty great to run on clear, sunny mornings, like today. it’s so quiet and fresh out. birds are chirping. it’s like a clean slate. nothing has been touched yet.
and
7/2/98
"well, i’m here in atlanta and i am pretty out of it. i’m time-exhausted and having major allergy attacks. I can barely function and yet, i’d hate to take medicine-but, i’ll probably have to."
Up until re-reading this today, I had completely forgotten i had allergy issues on that trip. it’s interesting because once i became a resident of Atlanta in 1999, I have never had allergy problems here and lots of folks do...
I stayed in the Grand Hyatt which was host hotel with expo and only .5 miles from starting line. The expo was my first ever and i was happily overwhelmed by all the people, booths/exhibits and free stuff. Coca-Cola had given out free 32 oz bottles of Powerade Green which remains a favorite of mine today. I was completely buzzed by the excitement in the place and thoughout the city. What a thrill.
Race day excerpt from jounral dated 7/4/98
"6:13am - today is the race. starting time is only 75 minutes away. today, i will run in my first ever peachtree road race. maybe i could make this a yearly ritual. it is part of this city-a rintual for many. it’s intoxicating. ....i just peekd outside and there are many people out-walking, running, wheel-chairing it along the streets. it was dark when i awoke at 5:30am, but the light is emerging now. ...given the fact i don’t know much about what pace i’ll go, i;ll set my goal at 55:00 or less. maybe i can figure it out as i go along. i doubt i can set a “normal goal” as these conditions aren’t normal. this is wondeful, ya know? I flew across the country to run with 54, 499 other runners on Independence Day. Go for it. Give everything. I’ll do my best!"
As I would soon learn, under 55 was not gonna happen. The race begins at 7:00am for the first folks, the elite. Everyone else starts afterwards, in increments. Given my rookie and out of towner status, i was at the back of the pack, one of the last groups to go..my start time was closer to 8am. And if you have ever tried to run in Atlanta in July, then you know the conditions. Plus...all the people. It was like a running rock concert. It was an adventure. I took it all in. Peachtree Road was lined with spectators the whole way. Loud crowds, music, bands, and water/mist sprayers. Soon enough, i made my way into Piedmont Park and across the finish line. Then, i made a bee-line for the t-shirt area. My first and highly coverted Peachtree Road Race t-shirt.
#1 Peachtree Finish Time = 57:38
more to follow...
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