Training Log Archive: maprunner

20 minutes before, 5 minutes after.

KC Trail Nerds 5K race at Wyandotte Lake, mostly flat with a big hill (300' vertically) in the middle. Humid but not so hot (mid 70s). Race director said the course was a bit short (2.92 miles, 4.7K). Results will be available here.

Pushed too hard right from the start, but still got stuck behind some slower folks on the single track. Flew by them all when we came out into a wide downhill section (why can't runners go downhill fast? All good orienteers should run fast downhill. Still working on my own technique). Uphill section was tough, lost some ground here, but caught up some on the downhill.

Lungs ached the whole time, legs felt OK until the last bit of uphill, but I recovered quickly. Spent some time at the finish talking with the race director, who I've known for years. Interesting guy, he's totally into trail running and does a lot to keep the sport growing in Kansas City. But I also know more than I want to know about his personality, since he dated a friend of mine a few years ago. Let's just say that his nickname is quite appropriate.

Continued my goal of meeting new people each day. Talked with some interesting women, mostly younger, who don't mind running fast in the dirt. I introduced them to orienteering shoes and they introduced me to these gaiters.

My route.

C • PG 8

C • Gaiters 2

Was going to cross train, but I forgot my shoes, again. I didn't feel like walking down the hall to get them, so I did weights instead. Concentrated on arms, which meant I couldn't catch up on my magazine reading (new issues of Dwell, Money, Bethesda, Real Simple and More arrived this week). So instead I just planned my next shopping trip for new running clothes :)
The TV was on downstairs, but I couldn't hear well enough to tell if it was Fox News or Price is Right.

C • Another guess 13

For some reason I slept badly last night. I felt worn out all day and decided a day off made sense. I used the day off to weed the lawn and pack some boxes.

C • No guesses? 10

In Kansas City MO for work. Started on 79th Street near the marina. A few minutes in, I realized I forgot my heart rate monitor, so I had to go back to the car. A guy passed me early on, but I couldn't keep pace with him. Made it through the A Loop switchbacks without any company. At the D intersection, I saw a woman in blue just ahead. I pushed the pace to keep her in sight. After a while, she got tired of leading, and pulled over to make me pass. I led up the next hill, but she didn't like my pace on the downhill. She passed me for good at that point. I kept up a good pace for the rest of the run. My weight is lower than usual, probably due to my use of the cookie diet this week.

C • I know this one!! 8

C • Two in one day! 1

Penta-weekly haircut with my stylist Deborah. Topics of discussion: installing a front door, lesbian weddings, beef trade with Korea, Tim Russert, "Sex and the City" movie, chances for Middle East peace, small vs. large venues for concerts, Procter&Gamble stock, crazy coworkers.

C • My guess 11

It was interesting to watch Pennsylvania try so very hard to move forward, while Ohio sat there blocking every move, and poor Minnesota was squeezed in the middle. Yet my eye was drawn to the window and I noticed that the day was So Fine! I had to get outside.

Since the rain had stopped and the sun was shining, did that mean that summer had arrived? No, the temperature and humidity were both low, which meant the hot heavy winds had not yet arrived from Texas. No summer yet.

I decided that such a fine day called for a visit to Parkville Nature Sanctuary. I was just jogging along (so fine!) minding my own business, when I spotted an attack turkey. I was scared, so I ran fast to get away. Once I was clear, I slowed down to a walk for a brief while. But then, another attack turkey! Off I ran again. Just when I was safe and walking calmly, I saw a third. Scared into running again. At this point, I said enough is enough and I left. And I'm not returning until the wild Texas winds arrive, and chase those critters back into the weeds.

C • This is going to be 2

When I got home, I realized that I was acting like a Sub Moron. How was I ever going to be a real Texas cowgirl if I didn't HTFU? A yowsa session was the only reasonable answer.