Another 20K

I'm getting to the end of my first four 5Ks of the year, so I decided to sign up on another round for April 14th, 21st, 28th, and May 5th. I ran the MS Run for Hope yesterday, coming in at 24:51. My times have been slowly getting better, and I'm 17 secs away from a PR!

In other news, there's a local kid in Dallas who's winning not just her age group, but the overall women's 5K. She's done it 3 times this year already, and what's remarkable is that she's only 10 years old! What an achievement.

Deal Or No Deal

Would you run this race? Why or why not?

Time

I first met this fellow back in ‘89/’90, when I was a young consultant, called up to Washington DC to do whatever the partner needed. My business suit hardly masked my inexperience, which contrasted sharply with two distinguished gentlemen on the team, former Air Force Colonels, 40 years my senior and several worlds of experience wiser than I. They were kind enough to take us kids to dinner, followed by a trip to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, with a final stop to see him. I still remember Colonel Bill Neill remarking that this was his favorite monument in the city, which has no shortage of them.

I never knew where he was, until this morning when lo and behold, I ran right into him. From Dupont Circle, I had planned to run to the Lincoln Memorial and back, and as I was waiting to cross Constitution Ave, I saw him tucked away behind the bushes. I went back around, and for a few minutes, it was just me and Al alone again, looking just like he did that night some 17 years ago.

At times like these, I invariably start reflecting back: Where has all the time gone? What did I do all these years? Did I make the right decisions? Did I use every opportunity? Hell, who knows? No, I never regret any decisions, but no, I also surely didn’t make full use of everything that life threw at me. Nothing to do now but move forward anyway.

So move forward I did. Literally that is. I was motoring up 23rd street on my way back, when across from the State Department, I finally bit it. In my short running career, I’ve come close several times but I’ve never gone down. Today, I hit an unmarked, poorly repaired pothole that was now bulging with asphalt. I went down on all fours at full speed (well, my full speed), and luckily only 100-150 people were there to witness it. I had gloves and long pants on, so injuries of the physical kind were nothing to write about.

Onward.

2nd 5K - Going Down

2nd stop on my 4 x 5K Spring Tour was this morning's St Paddy's Day Dash Down Greenville. I haven't exactly been running wild in preparation the past couple of weeks, but I did squeeze in one feeble attempt at speedwork.

This race always brings out a slightly wacko crowd, and the tradition continued this year. Guys in blue speedos, guys as leprechauns, guys with green hair, guys with green body paint, guys who clearly had too much beer for breakfast ...

We had 1700+ lined up at 8:30 this morning, including my 15-yr old nephew from Florida, who I roped into running his first 5K! The start was crowded, and as to be expected with any popular "fun" race, you have to deal with the wrong people in the wrong place at the start. Oh well, at least they're out and about, and I can support that. So with a little bit of weaving, dodging, colliding, and sidewalk jumping, I finally made it into the clear.

I forgot to set my stop watch at the start, so I just ran by "feel". I passed on the free beer at the first stop, took a little water on the second stop, did the best I could on a little hill about half mile from the finish, and came home in 25:03 (34 secs faster than my previous 5K, and yes, I'm counting). I've got another race in two weeks, and I'm getting within spittin' distance of my PR.

As for the 15-yr old stud, he finished in 32:16. He may be taller, bigger, and probably stronger than I am, but for the time being, the old dude's faster. Even so, for a first timer, I salute him for going out and getting it done.

1st 5K

Just over 8 months to the day since my last 5K. With marathon training last year, I passed on the fall racing season, reserving my weekends for long runs instead.

I stepped to the starting line at 8:30 am for the RHS 5K. It was in the low 40's, brilliant sunshine, but nail-biting wind. I was in shorts, long sleeved tech shirt, long sleeved light running top, shivering and regretting that I decided not to bring a pair of gloves. When the race finally started though, it felt just fine.

It was a small race of about 500 runners. Started at a high school, ran through the neighborhood, and ended up back at school for a 3/4 loop on the stadium track. Given my near total lack of preparation, I was happy with my time. 25:37.

After the race, I high tailed it back for Sydney's soccer match. I don't remember the last time we lost this season, including mowing down a bunch of all-boy teams, but they had a tough fight today. Sydney scored our only goal, and the other team, well, had a few more.

Nevertheless, a nice start to a weekend. Beats sitting around at home watching cartoons and chowing down on donuts!

Working For The Weekend

I was all psyched to start racing again this weekend, but first ... Monday, I barely made it through work. Tuesday, I lay in bed all day under the inFLUence (he he, get it?). Wednesday, I spent the day trying to shake off the drugs and clear my head. Tomorrow, I'll start working from home. Then the hard part, a flight to Toronto tomorrow night, returning Friday. Ugh.

Ordinarily, I'd find a masochistic silver lining in this trip (cold? what cold?) to go for a run. Especially since I've never run in Toronto. But not this time. Which means I'll be stepping up to the line on Saturday morning for my first run of the week. Oh man, can we begin next week already?

3/1/07 Update: After all that, American Airlines called me today to say the flight was cancelled due to freezing rain in Toronto. Yes! Then my trip to Phoenix next Monday got rescheduled, and my meeting in San Francisco next Wednesday got cancelled. I'm not complaining.

20K / 4

I've had enough of this slump. It's starting to warm up. It's time to get on the running bandwagon again. I need motivation to run. I need some goals. I'll do a marathon later this year, but for now, I'm going to have some fun with 5Ks for a change. I signed up for four last night, on March 3rd, 17th, 31st and April 7th. There's still two more in April that I want to run, but I'm pretty sure I won't be ending on the SkinnyDipper Sun Run 5K (thankfully, no race pics on their website; it's painful to even think about it).

"Ours Is The Best Sport In The World"

I just happened to wander over the the Runners World site when I found this really interesting article from Amby Burfoot. With apologies to NCAA College Football, I think the title is pretty accurate. Judge for yourself.

California Adventure

I arrived yesterday afternoon, dropped my stuff in my hotel room, raised the blinds, and was met by an unobstructed view of Coit Tower perched atop Telegraph Hill. To the left and in the distance, Alcatraz. To the right, the mighty Queen Mary 2 lay in port. I had to leave immediately for a conference I'm working, and when I came back after dinner, she was already gone ... bound for Honolulu.

I wish I had taken a picture. Tomorrow, I'm going to get my act together and upgrade my ancient phone to at least a camera phone!

In other news, I managed to get a run in today, and man it was something else. I'm in the Hilton Financial District (yay! more Hilton points!), which they might as well rename to the Hilton Chinatown, because you can step off the curb in front of the hotel and you're there.

OK, this is a little pathetic, but I just saw the picture that comes with the hotel website. If I don't get my camera phone tomorrow, you can at least see a reasonable copy of what I see outside my room window!

Anyway, I left the "Financial District" with a goal of going in the general direction of the Golden Gate Bridge. I googled it and knew it was about 5.5 miles away, and I sure wasn't planning on doing 10 today.

I ran up Columbus Avenue, through North Beach, past Ghirardelli Square, around the Aquatic Park, up and down a small but monstrous hill at Fort Mason, through the Marina, into Crissy Field and the Golden Gate National Park. I should've stopped long ago, but I kept on going and thought I could at least make it near the bridge. Well, I went all the way to the base on the bridge at Fort Point. 45 minutes, maybe 5 miles? Oops.

Another runner told me about some stairs I had passed, which would take me up the side of the hill to the bridge. Many, many stair steps later, I was at the tourist shop at the entrance to the bridge. Well, what to do? WTH, worst case, I can always catch a cab back. The sun had just about set by then, and I set off and ran across the bridge and back; them's some dark, cold, windy miles. I ran back into town roughly the way I came, and was so glad to make it back in one piece. Total time 2:16. Way over-schedule.

Tonight, I loaded up with some Garlic Gorganzola Fettucini with Grilled Chicken and Asparagus from the Stinking Rose. What a way to end the day.

Oh, and Happy Anniversary to my S. :-) Wish you were here :-( She was supposed to join me today, but something came up at the last minute. Alright, got to end on a more upbeat note. Let's plan for same time next year, ok S.?

Government Waste

When is a Presidential Suite not a Presidential Suite? When it’s a free upgrade (good), in a Hilton Garden Inn (not so good). Nevertheless, I have more space than I need, a monster 50-inch TV, two AC/heater systems, an ice maker with enough ice for the entire floor, and the pièce de résistance … complimentary Runner’s World magazine sitting on the coffee table. Huh?

Um, sorry folks, I’m a little light on running news.

Without a race goal in mind, and freezing temps in Dallas, I managed only one 6-mile run last weekend. Tomorrow, I have to run, or I’ll go out of my mind. Just have to do it. I’m in Arlington, VA. I’m going to see the sun rise over the Potomac tomorrow.