Rock Bottom Run Club

I recently discoved that Rock Bottom has a run club. I discovered this a few weeks ago and have been sitting on the idea of checking out this club since it was close to the house. I had checked out the Indigo Joe's run but that club has yet to be developed.

I sat on the patio last night and had the debate with myself on the should I, shouldn't I run. I finally decided I would give in and check it out. I ate a few ice chips to help bring down my core body temp. I little tip I found in my Running Magazine. I know, sounds strange but I figured I would give it a try since I am planning for Saturday's run to be hot again. Why not do a dry run today?

I got to Rock Bottom just a tad after 6pm, and was relived to see that there were some that had yet to start running. I met a nice couple that had a little boy and asked if they were doing the 5K or 3K. She said the 3K and he said the 5K. I was a little nervous because guys tend to run faster than I do. I really hate to make people slow down for me. So I said in the best confident voice I could muster up "GREAT" I figured if he was better than me at least I can work on my speed, not my favorite thing to work on, but I was not going to look like a sissy! Much to my surprise he said he runs about an 11 to 12 minute pace and walks from time to time. I can not say how releaved I was! I really didn't want to push it since Saturday is right around the corner.

So off we go, we made a nice pace and the weather couldn't have been better! It was slightly overcast and just a hint of humidity in the air. This made me glad since I forgot my water it in the car. The route is mostly paved and flat with just a few hills here and there, but that is nice to add to my runs, it will build strength in my legs. As we rounded the last mile the rain came! So did the hail! The hail kept hitting my ear and it hurt! I was starting to get soaked and all I could think about was my Nike+ chip in my shoe! We ended up camped out under Panara Bread and tired to wait out the rain. We stood there for five minutes or so it started to look better so we took off. By the time we got to Rock Bottom, I was soaked and not very happy to be wet, but oh well, another thing to chalk up to experience.

I decided to stick around for a few minutes and meet some of the other runners and I am glad that I did. With a smaller group it was nice that I got to meet people, Jack's is really big and I am to shy to converse with people in large groups.

Next week I really hope that it does not rain. I will finish the runs since after five you can earn your shit! That's really easy and it will give me something else I can work on!

Thanks to the Rock Bottom Run Club for a great run and it was nice to meet other runners in the area!

Distance: 3.83 miles
Pace: 00:13:00
Time: 00:43:34

Sailin' Shoes 5K

This was a great run! The weather was beautiful for Mid June. The weather started in the mid 50's and warmed up to the 60's with a light breeze. The route was flat fast course. The 5K is on a paved route with no hills. Elevation for this route is 6030.

I started out at a pace of 11'00 and at the 1 mile mark I was at 11:45. This was mostly down hill, then I hit mile two at 22 minutes. So I had picked up the pace just a tad. I like having people call out times, it really helped pace me. I rounded the finally turn and headed in. I kicked it up the last 200 yards to get a strong finish, then I got stuck behind a slow person who was trying to get in. You have to file single file at the finish! Which is so stupid, I hate to do races with out the chip timing. But all in all I am seeing progress. My next race will be the Alex Hoag run for Sunshine in July.

Offical Time: 00:32:43
Age Group Place: 21/49
Gender Place: 187/296
Overall Place: 400/555

Offical Time and Recaps

Look I got an "Official Certificate" for running the 100th Bay to Breakers!

My Official time is 01:36:20 

Here are my split times:

I think I could have done way better! Here is the delima. First off Brad and I planed to run this race at the best of our ability. Our phones did not charge last night and our phones were on their last leg, so I decided to be a team player and for go all the training I did. With 55,000 people running trying to meet up with each other at the end would have been a mess, so I walked with Brad when he needed to rest. Brad did not train for this race, so I decided to take pictures and enjoy this race. I am a little down on myself, but it is okay, next year I will run the race at my full potential.

Here are some of the images that I captured from our race:

Since 1997, this building sits on the corner of 6th and Howard. It is an abandoned apartment building. There are pieces of furniture, beds, couches and even a grandfather clock all suspended from the building's widows with cables, known as "defenestration" (meaning to throw out) creating the illusion of failing. The piece was created by a local artiest Brian Goggin.

We ran in to the Bay to Breakers "Spawning Salmon" on Hayes street.

 The 15ft "Spawning Salmon" run the Bay to Brakers every Year. They get to start at the end of the race and "swim upstream" the crowd of participants. When they get to the start line, they lay on the ground and squirm around and "spawn".

WARNING NUDITY WILL FOLLOW THIS!!!

At many points we ran into the "Bare to Breakers". Yep, this mean people run in their birthday suits. The Bare to Breakers, are "demonstrating and promoting self-acceptance and realization that each person's body, no matter size or shap is good and admirable; and that one's own body should be viewd as the most wonderful creation we have."

We also spoted a few note worthy people:
The Royal Family made the trip to SF!

Where's Waldo, saw him a few times along the way!

This group won "Best Musical Group" I really thought that they were great!

So to wrap it up there are so much more to share but you will have to visit my facebook page to see the rest. Over all it was such an amazing experience and I would do it all over again. But make sure my phone was charged! Hope you enjoyed the journey!

I Finished The 100th Bay to Breakers

WOW! Thank is all I can say! What an adventure! There were so many people. I am done I did it! My unofficial time 01:42:15. I will post some post-race thoughts, but man what an adventure! I can't believe what I saw, don't worry I will give you Pict's too! I am going to pack up, get some grub, jump in the car and head back to San Jose.

I will talk to you soon!

Pre Race Thank yous

So, in about 9 hours I will be crossing the starting line and I wanted to regroup and capture some thoughts and thank a few people that have encouraged me. Also, this will be as close as I will ever get to an acceptance speech of importance.

Mom. Thank you. Without you I would have not done this. When you told me that you have Cancer something clicked inside of me that made me want to do something for you. You can not run this race, so I will dedicate this run to you. You deserve it more that I do. I made you a promise and I will keep running as long as you keep fighting and on each anniversary I will run one for you. You are part of me and by me running I feel that you are living through me. Love you!

 

 

Trista. Even though we are miles apart and have lost contact over the years, you have always come back into my life when I needed direction. You may never know how important you have been in my life. You gave me encouragement in high school and I straightened out my life. Your encouragement gave me strength to keep running and a competitive edge. Thank you, you are an angle.

 

 

To some good friends Chris, thank you for joining Jack Quinn's and encouraging me on my runs. Thank you for not always offering me bad foods and encouraging me to stay on the right path. Charlotte, you are my best friend and my sister, you believed in me when I had no faith, you told me that I can do it when I thought of throwing in the towel. Thank you for being my rock. Melissa, I just smile when I think of your peppy chats and encouragement, you are the best! Joe, thanks for running with me and pushing me to do better, I need you to kick my but now and then to keep me going!

 

 

And finally to everyone else, thank you for following me on this blog, facebook. Without your posts and words or encouragement I could have not made this journey. I was talking to Mom and Dad I told them I can not believe it has been a year since I started a journey and the idea of Running the Bay to Breakers was just an idea. However, knowing that people were interested in this journey made it all possible.

 

 

So that being said, I am going to log off and try to get some sleep. Tomorrow I will be blogging about my journey to the finish line.

 

 

Wish me luck folks!

Take 5 in the Graden

May 7th 2011

Over 1,000 runners will chose to run either a 5k or 5 mile though a "picture-perfict" park, running amongst towering red sandstone formation on a paved, hilly course. Garden of the Gods Park, the crowned Jewel of Colorado Springs' Park system plays host to  this race on a beautiful May morning.

Offical Time:00:38:32

Age Place: 46/58

Gender Place: 199/294

Overal Place: Unknown

Saint Patrick's Day 5K

Well, I must say I am impressed with my self. I finished the Saint Patrick's Day 5K run in 34 minutes 33 seconds! That shaves at least 4 minutes off my very first run, which was the Alex Hoag run for Sunshine.

Offical Time: 00:34:33
Age Place: 149/222
Gender Place: 770/1241
Overall Place: UNKNOWN