Yesterday, Barry and I ran in the 7th Annual Celtic Solstice Five Miler in Druid Hill Park. It was a new race for both of us, and we both enjoyed it. Nice weather, fantastic course layout, and - unlike other races of mine this year - I was very pleased with the result; an overall time of 40:27, with all five mile splits faster than 8:30. No, I didn't set any land speed records, but those are decent numbers for me, and that's all that really counts, right?
Any runners or would-be runners out there, I would highly recommend this race. The course is of moderate difficulty but very manageable, the field is large but not too large (about 2K registered runners, 1500+ finishers), the premium is awesome every year, and the post-race food & beverage spread is top-notch. Plus, several people run in kilts, and there are a bagpipes player and drummer out on the course. Also, you run right past the statue of William Wallace that's at one end of Druid Hill Lake. Very Scottish. We certainly got lucky with good weather, but I personally think it still would have been fun if it were below freezing (like last year, when it snowed).
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Showing posts with label running. Show all posts
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Return of the Weekend, Electioneering Villainy
I was studying for the PE for a good two and a half months, and while I certainly wasn't in total seclusion, large portions of my weekends were eaten up. This past weekend was busy too, but in a good way; a birthday party for a former co-worker Friday night, an awesome afternoon in front of the TV Saturday afternoon, watching every minute of the Terps' big win at Clemson, and a challenging yet fun cross-country 8K on Sunday. Plus, we met my parents' new kitties, Csaba and Zigana - and introduced them to Marty - and we also got the final craptacular Star Wars prequel out of the way (no, I don't think it was better than the first two, it was just as insufferable; thankfully I'll never have to watch any of those three ever again!). This is the part where I promise photos on Flickr, but honestly, I doubt I'll get around to it anytime soon. That's just how it is.
Today is, of course, Election Day [Sponsored by Diebold - "Gee, we really hope all this crap works"]. And what better way to extend the Halloween season, than with some election day tricks? Seems that during the last few elections, it's the GOP that has been caught trying to suppress votes, while in the 60's, it was the Dems inflating votes all over the place. So which is worse, stopping a live person from voting, or ensuring that a dead citizen's vote is counted? And what do these styles of electioneering say about the respective parties? It sure would be nice if the Greens/Libertarians/etc. got in on this; then perhaps we'd have an alternative to two-party rule at some point.
Today is, of course, Election Day [Sponsored by Diebold - "Gee, we really hope all this crap works"]. And what better way to extend the Halloween season, than with some election day tricks? Seems that during the last few elections, it's the GOP that has been caught trying to suppress votes, while in the 60's, it was the Dems inflating votes all over the place. So which is worse, stopping a live person from voting, or ensuring that a dead citizen's vote is counted? And what do these styles of electioneering say about the respective parties? It sure would be nice if the Greens/Libertarians/etc. got in on this; then perhaps we'd have an alternative to two-party rule at some point.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Annapolis Ten-Miler, Year Three
I was actually about a minute slower last year than the year before (1:29:41), I think that's because my pace on the first two to three miles, before the course gets tough, was simply too slow. It was also as warm as humid as ever during race time (mid-eighties, temperature and humidity), and for some reason it really got to me mid-way through the race. All in all though, pretty happy with the time, considering I've been running less this summer with how hot it's been. I just need to continue to work on my pacing.
And here's where I have a complaint of this year's race that hasn't been a problem in previous years (this is an extremely well-organized event, for the most part): it would certainly help runners to monitor and adjust their pace if the mile markers were clearly visible throughout the course. I still don't know where mile one was, none of the mile markers were more than a few feet off the ground (several were at ground level), some were in the middle of water stations, not a good spot for them, IMO, and one was in the wrong spot by a healthy margin - I know that I didn't run mile 5 in 10:30 and mile 6 in 7:30.
And here's where I have a complaint of this year's race that hasn't been a problem in previous years (this is an extremely well-organized event, for the most part): it would certainly help runners to monitor and adjust their pace if the mile markers were clearly visible throughout the course. I still don't know where mile one was, none of the mile markers were more than a few feet off the ground (several were at ground level), some were in the middle of water stations, not a good spot for them, IMO, and one was in the wrong spot by a healthy margin - I know that I didn't run mile 5 in 10:30 and mile 6 in 7:30.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Bad Coffee Pacing, 10K Congestion
So I didn't pace myself too well with the coffee this morning, and by the time I got on the Metro after the train ride from Baltimore, I really had to pee. I figured I'd try to take my mind off it by leafing through a Washington Post Express. As fate had it, a very bad idea! What should I find in the Express, but a condensed version of this article. NOT COOL! But I did make it to the office without incident, so I can't bitch too much.
How did the Bridge Run go? Well, considering that I couldn't really get up to my pace until midway through the third mile, I was quite happy with my time of 54:05. Fifty thousand people really clog up a race course, I don't care how wide the course is. So I did the first two miles in about 9:15 each, started to pick up some speed by the third mile (8:53), tried to make up for lost time with a 7:46 fourth mile - fast for me - and then evened out with fifth and sixth miles of 8:34 and 8:31. It's amazing how big of a deal this run is down in Charleston. A local news station down there covers the whole run! Em & Dave Tivo-ed it, and we actually caught Dave and Barry on the coverage. Kinda neat. I think that all four of us were happy with our times, considering the slow going early on. Dave was his usual speedy self - I think I'm going to switch over to a new Diet Coke training regimen, since I suspect that's the secret of his success (it can't be the years of running, can it? Besides, who wants to work that hard?). And check this out: there were grilled Johnsonville Bratwurst available post-race, how sweet is that? From now on, I won't run a race that doesn't guarantee bratwurst at the finish line.
How did the Bridge Run go? Well, considering that I couldn't really get up to my pace until midway through the third mile, I was quite happy with my time of 54:05. Fifty thousand people really clog up a race course, I don't care how wide the course is. So I did the first two miles in about 9:15 each, started to pick up some speed by the third mile (8:53), tried to make up for lost time with a 7:46 fourth mile - fast for me - and then evened out with fifth and sixth miles of 8:34 and 8:31. It's amazing how big of a deal this run is down in Charleston. A local news station down there covers the whole run! Em & Dave Tivo-ed it, and we actually caught Dave and Barry on the coverage. Kinda neat. I think that all four of us were happy with our times, considering the slow going early on. Dave was his usual speedy self - I think I'm going to switch over to a new Diet Coke training regimen, since I suspect that's the secret of his success (it can't be the years of running, can it? Besides, who wants to work that hard?). And check this out: there were grilled Johnsonville Bratwurst available post-race, how sweet is that? From now on, I won't run a race that doesn't guarantee bratwurst at the finish line.
Friday, March 31, 2006
An Early April Fool's?
Call me crazy, but this story about the apparently impending divorce of Orioles new starter Kris Benson from his model/"actress" wife Anna, sure seems suspicious. It's March 31st, it's right before the season begins, and Anna has never been shy about self-promotion. April Fool's, anyone?
I'm down in South Carolina, and am running in the Cooper River Bridge Run tomorrow - there are currently over 45,000 runners registered for this 10K race!!! That's an insanely big 10K race field, but according to Em & Dave this is a big Charleston area tradition. It should be fun, it will just be a crowded bridge, that's all.
I'm using Em's brand new laptop to write this entry. It's shiny.
I'm down in South Carolina, and am running in the Cooper River Bridge Run tomorrow - there are currently over 45,000 runners registered for this 10K race!!! That's an insanely big 10K race field, but according to Em & Dave this is a big Charleston area tradition. It should be fun, it will just be a crowded bridge, that's all.
I'm using Em's brand new laptop to write this entry. It's shiny.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Super Weekend
[I didn't add Bowl to the title for a reason; you never know these days when some trademark lawyer is gonna wake up in a bad mood and get overzealous with the cease-and-desist letters.]
Kind of a blah weekend, in terms of the weather, here in Charm City. But we managed to get out of the house despite the cold and rain, and after 3+ years in the city finally got library cards! Doesn't sound too exciting, I know, but Baltimore has a very good library system, and buying every book that we read starts to add up after a while (in terms of money and space - we are in serious need of a third bookshelf).
I also stopped by the local running store and picked up some shiny new shoes - the Saucony Grid Trigon 3!. The helpful person at the store confirmed what I already suspected, that I'm a neutral runner (I don't significantly roll my foot one way or the other); I did learn, though, that my foot would be happier in a size 11 than in the 10.5 I used to wear.
Now, on to the games. Yes, games, plural. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the Terps' loss to N.C. State yesterday. Good effort, close game, oh well. Although I would like to call the Maryland coaching staff's attention to this element of modern basketball that they are apparently blissfully unaware of - please implement this for Mike Jones, it won't hurt a bit. Honest.
The Super Bowl? Eh, it was OK. Don't get me wrong, it was a good game, but how does any game that doesn't go to at least 3 overtimes live up to the Super Bowl hype? It doesn't. Especially a game with such terrible officiating. But nevermind the game, how about them Stones? I was somewhat taken aback by the reaction of many of the people I was watching the game with; outright disgust at the sight of a 60+ Mick Jagger prancing around the stage in the skintight pants. Isn't that what rock-n-roll is all about though? Sure it's ridiculous, inappropriate, self-destructive, even ugly at times, but that's what's so cool about it, and that's what Mick and the guys personify as well as any act still performing. Any opportunity to not act one's age should be embraced, and the Stones do that as well as anyone. I'd rather see that kind of energy on stage any day, rather than a bunch of guys who just stand around, sing, play, exit stage right. Might as well stay home and listen to the CD in that case, and save yourself some money.
Kind of a blah weekend, in terms of the weather, here in Charm City. But we managed to get out of the house despite the cold and rain, and after 3+ years in the city finally got library cards! Doesn't sound too exciting, I know, but Baltimore has a very good library system, and buying every book that we read starts to add up after a while (in terms of money and space - we are in serious need of a third bookshelf).
I also stopped by the local running store and picked up some shiny new shoes - the Saucony Grid Trigon 3!. The helpful person at the store confirmed what I already suspected, that I'm a neutral runner (I don't significantly roll my foot one way or the other); I did learn, though, that my foot would be happier in a size 11 than in the 10.5 I used to wear.
Now, on to the games. Yes, games, plural. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the Terps' loss to N.C. State yesterday. Good effort, close game, oh well. Although I would like to call the Maryland coaching staff's attention to this element of modern basketball that they are apparently blissfully unaware of - please implement this for Mike Jones, it won't hurt a bit. Honest.
The Super Bowl? Eh, it was OK. Don't get me wrong, it was a good game, but how does any game that doesn't go to at least 3 overtimes live up to the Super Bowl hype? It doesn't. Especially a game with such terrible officiating. But nevermind the game, how about them Stones? I was somewhat taken aback by the reaction of many of the people I was watching the game with; outright disgust at the sight of a 60+ Mick Jagger prancing around the stage in the skintight pants. Isn't that what rock-n-roll is all about though? Sure it's ridiculous, inappropriate, self-destructive, even ugly at times, but that's what's so cool about it, and that's what Mick and the guys personify as well as any act still performing. Any opportunity to not act one's age should be embraced, and the Stones do that as well as anyone. I'd rather see that kind of energy on stage any day, rather than a bunch of guys who just stand around, sing, play, exit stage right. Might as well stay home and listen to the CD in that case, and save yourself some money.
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