Happy New Year! I had a great time with friends and hubby last night, and started it out with a night race in Chattanooga - the Karen Lawrence Run for St. Jude. It was billed as a 4 mile race and has been for the last 30 years, but this year the course was 4.6 miles instead. They were pretty upfront about it AFTER the fact, but I definitely didn't know that going in.
I have to tell you guys straight up - my time was 42:34. Um....even for the 4.6 mile course, that's still roughly my average run pace. Boo. But it's fine, I have tons of excuses! No, I won't bore you with my excuses. I've been a negative Nancy about it lately and I'm over it. Let's focus instead on the positives of the race, shall we?
1. Hubby joined in on the fun! He kicked my butt and raced so well - especially because he definitely was expecting a shorter course. Go Tim!!!
2. The race has been going on since 1979, and raises money for St. Jude. I love when a race supports a charity, and there was a great feel in the community for the race.
3. Even though it was surprisingly warm for a night race on December 31st (50 degrees-perfect!) they had a big indoor area to wait until the race began. Also plenty of snacks, bottled drinks and beer after the race.
After the race, of course I took a warm shower, stretched and spent plenty of time getting dressed up and ready for my NYE party in town. Wait....no, no I didn't. I got dressed on the 5th floor of a parking garage. I do classy so well. I made sure to use plenty of baby wipes, so that's practically a shower. We headed with another couple to a great local restaurant called Lupi's:
We feasted on some awesome spicy chicken and pineapple pizza, lots of bruschetta and some beers and ciders. Sound like a party? It was. It also ended by 9, and we were home by 10. Par-tay! I did manage to stay up until midnight to avoid general mocking.
Today on the schedule was a 10 mile run, but since my ankle is deciding to be a big time party pooper it's going to be a rest day instead. Nothing like starting the New Year out with a bang...fizzle...nothing.
How was your NYE? Did you manage to stay up past midnight?
I was pretty tired at 10pm! I didn't think I could make it until 12. So proud of myself. This was probably the latest I've been up in the last year.
Have you ever had a longer/shorter course in a race?
I usually have a Garmin difference, but I attribute that to the fact that I never run tangents. I think every race I've run has been on target until this one. I kept thinking about Alyssa's ultra and reminding myself that 4.6 miles is much easier to run than 55 miles. Read here if that boggles your mind.
I have to tell you guys straight up - my time was 42:34. Um....even for the 4.6 mile course, that's still roughly my average run pace. Boo. But it's fine, I have tons of excuses! No, I won't bore you with my excuses. I've been a negative Nancy about it lately and I'm over it. Let's focus instead on the positives of the race, shall we?
1. Hubby joined in on the fun! He kicked my butt and raced so well - especially because he definitely was expecting a shorter course. Go Tim!!!
2. The race has been going on since 1979, and raises money for St. Jude. I love when a race supports a charity, and there was a great feel in the community for the race.
3. Even though it was surprisingly warm for a night race on December 31st (50 degrees-perfect!) they had a big indoor area to wait until the race began. Also plenty of snacks, bottled drinks and beer after the race.
After the race, of course I took a warm shower, stretched and spent plenty of time getting dressed up and ready for my NYE party in town. Wait....no, no I didn't. I got dressed on the 5th floor of a parking garage. I do classy so well. I made sure to use plenty of baby wipes, so that's practically a shower. We headed with another couple to a great local restaurant called Lupi's:
We feasted on some awesome spicy chicken and pineapple pizza, lots of bruschetta and some beers and ciders. Sound like a party? It was. It also ended by 9, and we were home by 10. Par-tay! I did manage to stay up until midnight to avoid general mocking.
Today on the schedule was a 10 mile run, but since my ankle is deciding to be a big time party pooper it's going to be a rest day instead. Nothing like starting the New Year out with a bang...fizzle...nothing.
How was your NYE? Did you manage to stay up past midnight?
I was pretty tired at 10pm! I didn't think I could make it until 12. So proud of myself. This was probably the latest I've been up in the last year.
Have you ever had a longer/shorter course in a race?
I usually have a Garmin difference, but I attribute that to the fact that I never run tangents. I think every race I've run has been on target until this one. I kept thinking about Alyssa's ultra and reminding myself that 4.6 miles is much easier to run than 55 miles. Read here if that boggles your mind.
We didn't go over to our friends' house until 9, and I was exhausted. We made it to 1:00 and crashed!
ReplyDeleteWhoah, I can't believe the discrepancy!!! That definitely would've irritated me a bit. Good job, not every race can be a PR :) And I was the same about staying up last night…I didn't think I would last, but I did….way past my bedtime though!
ReplyDeleteThat just seems weird that they didn't make this clearer to runners up front. But that's a great way to ring in the new year even with the mileage discrepancy. I hope your ankle gets its act together soon. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI see you took notice of my tips on parking garages and baby wipes! did you remember to fill your 44oz?
ReplyDeleteNice job! I managed to stay up til midnight, we left the party at 12:27, and ran in a 5k this morning. It was great! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteGreat job in the race, it's hard to go in expecting one thing and then ending with something VERY different (.6 is a big difference!)
ReplyDeleteLast night my husband had to work, but once he got home we stayed up until midnight and then went to bed promptly because we had a race this morning (7.5 miles).
I think it's almost a requirement that you get lost once or twice on an ultra. Thankfully, I haven't added more than .5 miles to any of mine.
ReplyDeleteI almost made it.. But I hate doing it because I know I'll be tired the next day. Great race!!!
ReplyDeleteI think I went to bed at 830, I am such an old person!
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the race! .6 is quite a difference for a 4 mile race.
Okay Negative Nancy - come close to the computer screen - closer - closer - smack! Really! You're upset about your "average" run pace? UMMMMM let's see, I seem to remember a certain someone being off of running for like what a month give/take because of peroneal tendonitis??? YEAH - whatever girl, you did great and I think you should be proud that you ran the race . . . and with your hubby at that - super cute!!!
ReplyDeleteThis year's NYE plans were boring - not much happening on the home font for this year. Today is my 4th wedding anniversary and we're going to be having a lovely steak dinner :)
I have done a 5K that was really 3.65 miles - OMG I thought I was going to die - I went out WAY too fast!!!! After we crossed the finish line my running partner questioned them about it to which they said, "Yeah we know it's a little long." DUDE, it was an out and back course on a park path - don't put the turn around so far out - sooo upsetting!!!!
Wow, that was a long comment, sorry. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteLOL. I woke up at 12:03 due to fireworks and having to use the washroom. I can't stay up til 12 for nothing ever!
ReplyDeleteI didn't make it until midnight! I PRed my 4 miler and thought about you running yours for most of it as we were running at the same time. By the time I got home, showered, and watched a movie it was 10 pm and I was sleepy. So I decided to go to bed! Just another night in this house.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun night for you! I'm glad you had a good time. Sorry you weren't thrilled about your race but it still sounds like you did well. I did stay up past midnight and slept in late today. It felt good. I made for the new person I'm seeing and we watched some movies. It was a great night!
ReplyDelete"Wait....no, no I didn't. I got dressed on the 5th floor of a parking garage. I do classy so well. I made sure to use plenty of baby wipes, so that's practically a shower."
ReplyDeleteLOL love it!! You are so funny.
For NYE I stayed up till midnight with hubby to watch the neighbors set off fireworks. Then fell asleep by 2am.
Happy New Year.
Happy New Year, Vanessa!! Your evening sounds pretty perfect to me! You were far more exciting than I was. I, too, am proud to have stayed up until midnight. It only happened because I took a pre-dinner nap for two hours or else there would have been no way!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to keep up with your crazy adventures this year :)
The way I sweat, there is no amount of baby wipes that will fix that! It's always hard to find out later that your race is longer than you thought. You should have seen Alyssa and I at our first 50K at mile 30 when they said "2 miles to go!" and we tried to argue that a 50K was only 31 miles. :)
ReplyDeleteman thats a big difference in distance. i had to start 2012 pretty lame too...with a sprained ankle and some elliptical :( heres to better feet next week!
ReplyDeleteI'm so lame... lol I fell asleep on the couch by 10. Actually I've slept the better part of the last few days. My side was REALLY hurting after I laughed really hard last weekend and that strained muscle went into spasm, so I had the doc call me in some muscle relaxers. lol They have put me on my butt! I'm such a lightweight when it comes to drugs!
ReplyDeleteThe only run that I have run that wasn't accurate was the DC Hot chocolate 15k...they actually shorted us :(
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
awesome job! love running for races that go to such a great cause. & the food sounds delicious! Happy 2012!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that Tim raced /w you :D I hope Colin will with me one day!!!! and Happy New Year :)
ReplyDeleteGood times! We did something similar. Raced a charity 5k at the university. Great way to end the year:)
ReplyDeleteBarbara
My Running Shortz
Haha, I was just thinking, ok I am not even going to answer that second question! I swear I have PTSD in races now and panic towards the end thinking they will add an extra 10 miles or something. Your 5th floor baby wipe bath reminds me of when I literally changed my whole outfit, including bra, in the middle of the street after the Marine Corps Marathon. Great job staying up until midnight! I was up until 3 and still carrying on conversation - who am I???
ReplyDeleteKudos on your race! Sounds like it was for a really great cause.
ReplyDeleteI barely stayed up last night. Once it hit midnight I drank my champagne, kissed my hubs, and went to bed! Haha I am an old fogy.
Happy New Year and congrats on your race. I was worn out before 9pm. This was the first time I missed ringing in the new year in a good while.
ReplyDelete"I have plenty of excuses." I love it.
ReplyDeleteAwesome job on the race! I've never had a race that was drastically longer than what they billed it to be. That's frustrating.
We spent out NYE lounging around and then at a party with friends.
I did manage to stay up till after midnight! hurray.
ReplyDeleteNice job on the evening race, even if it was a bit mis-billed it was for a great cause.. and glad you had a fun time with your friends.
Happy New Year!
fun race for a good cause :)
ReplyDeleteWe were yawning by 10, but did last until 12:25! woohoo, Happy New Year 2012!
Welllll I BARELY stayed up past midnight.
ReplyDeleteTappan and I were at a friend's house and I fell asleep at 12:05 and took a 30 minute nap before heading home, oops! And it's not like I was drunk, I had only two glasses of champagne over the course of the night.
Congrats on your first race after your last marathon!!!!!! I am impressed that you were able to get out there and run so well considering all the not so great foot issues that you'd been having.
Whew - you made it a lot later than I did... in bed by 10:30 and proud of it! :)
ReplyDeleteNice job on the race! Sounds like a fun night...that is definitely something I would do if I was in a relationship. I am so not in the "party" stage anymore. I drank 2 beers on NYE and that was it! lol
ReplyDeleteCool that you and your hubster ran it. No I didn't make it until midnight, try 8:45...pathetic considering I threw a party and promised the kids it would be the best. I'm so lame this year!! :/
ReplyDeleteahhhhhhh! was so sad to have missed you! we hit chatanooga right about the time the race started and i sent you a silent cheer! i only made it to midnight because my brother dragged me to a movie after our drive...haha. ;)
ReplyDelete