Monday, May 30, 2005
Vermont Brewery and Pub and our Finish!
View from the relay exchange
Umpa Loompa Band
Keybank Vermont City Marathon Race Report
Saturday morning I set out for a marathon of a different sort. I traveled 4 hrs up through the Green Mountains with Darling Daughter jibberjabbering the whole way! I listened to the Disney Princess CD a 1/2 a dozen times and stopped for just as many potty breaks. When I finally arrived in Burlington it was all worth it. I took in the scenes of the town- The Church St Marketplace and the Vermont Brewery and Pub for a little carb loading :)! After lunch, I drove around the town finding the starting line for the race and the spectacular view of Lake Champlain. After a dinner on the lake it was back to the hotel for a restful night sleep after a long day of driving and sight seeing.
My running partner, John, and I decided that he would run the first leg of the marathon and I would tackle the second 1/2- the one with the big hill. So I got to sleep late and have a leisurely breakfast before heading over to the relay exchange location. Once I got to the exchange sight I was entertained by Maggie's dancing to the Umpa Loompa Band. I finished my bagel, drank some water, took some pictures and checked my watch. John said he would be about 2 hrs 20 min so I still had 15 min to spare so I thought so off I went for one more potty break. To my surprise I came out to find John holding the yellow bracelet (baton)!!! 2hr and 3 min!!! Go John!! Go Michelle!!! We took a picture and off I went.
The first mile was along the bike path along the lake. The second mile was the "HILL". At the bottom of the hill they had these drummers playing a steady beat to make you power up the hill. The next couple of miles were in and out of the neighborhoods and then down hill to the bike path to come back to the finish. While in the residential area I actually saw someone I knew from a previous lifetime sitting in her front lawn cheering on the runners. I threw her for a loop when I went running over and gave her a big hug. I knew she lived in Burlington but never thought I would "run" into her and definitely didn't realize she lived on the course. That gave me a burst of energy for the next couple miles and I was able to maintain a 9 min mile pace for the entire race.
I crossed the finish line at 2 hrs even and our overall relay time was 4 hr 7 min.
I love this race. The course is relatively flat, it has beautiful scenery and it is spectator friendly. I will be running again in the future.
http://www.vcm.org
My running partner, John, and I decided that he would run the first leg of the marathon and I would tackle the second 1/2- the one with the big hill. So I got to sleep late and have a leisurely breakfast before heading over to the relay exchange location. Once I got to the exchange sight I was entertained by Maggie's dancing to the Umpa Loompa Band. I finished my bagel, drank some water, took some pictures and checked my watch. John said he would be about 2 hrs 20 min so I still had 15 min to spare so I thought so off I went for one more potty break. To my surprise I came out to find John holding the yellow bracelet (baton)!!! 2hr and 3 min!!! Go John!! Go Michelle!!! We took a picture and off I went.
The first mile was along the bike path along the lake. The second mile was the "HILL". At the bottom of the hill they had these drummers playing a steady beat to make you power up the hill. The next couple of miles were in and out of the neighborhoods and then down hill to the bike path to come back to the finish. While in the residential area I actually saw someone I knew from a previous lifetime sitting in her front lawn cheering on the runners. I threw her for a loop when I went running over and gave her a big hug. I knew she lived in Burlington but never thought I would "run" into her and definitely didn't realize she lived on the course. That gave me a burst of energy for the next couple miles and I was able to maintain a 9 min mile pace for the entire race.
I crossed the finish line at 2 hrs even and our overall relay time was 4 hr 7 min.
I love this race. The course is relatively flat, it has beautiful scenery and it is spectator friendly. I will be running again in the future.
http://www.vcm.org
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
CT Race in the Park Race Report
So... DD went to Grandpa's for the weekend to give Mommy a break. Well, actually so that I could run a race for breast cancer on Sat morning and work on Sunday morning. Saturday morning comes and I open my eyes to rain and lots of gray clouds. So I think to myself, I'm not driving an hour to race in the rain!! Then I got up to use the bathroom and get a drink and the guilt set in and this little voice in my head began to speak:
"Dad took Maggie so I could run"
"Did Mom ever complain about the weather when she had to get up and go to radiation?"
"You are running a 1/2 marathon in 3 wks you know!"
So needless to say I got in my cold weather running gear and set out for New Britain for the CT Race in the Park. I arrived at the parking garage, grabbed my money, my cell phone, my water and my chapstick and headed to the shuttle bus. I got over to the park with 50 min to spare. They had the men and women run separately so I got there in time to see the men off. Over to the registration tent I head, in the rain mind you. I fill out the registration and the women says "$30 please." $30! I don't have enough money!!! I thought it was $18 so I had brought $25 in case I wanted to buy something! Panic stricken and embarrassed I explained to the women I didn't have enough money. She told me that it was no problem and gave me a self addressed envelope to send the extra $5 (which I did as soon as I got to the car).
So I hid in the sponsors tent to avoid the rain and watched the men go and come back then headed over to the start. I found a good position in the middle of the pack. Ronald McDonald started us off and I was off and running. The course was nice and flat and the crowd dispersed pretty quick so I had a good pace going through the first mile. Second mile I picked it up a bit and then when I hit mile 3 the hills came out. This is where I started to thank the trail gods. I cruised up all of the hills passing other women on the left and right! I felt great coming back into the park and sprinted to the finish- beating the 8 yr old that had been just ahead of me the entire time!!! PHEW!! I finished 93rd in a time of 25:36. I immediately grabbed my baggage and headed back to the car for refuge from the rain. Boy did that hot shower feel good when I got home.
I am sad to report that I didn't get my long run in this weekend due to this terrible chest cold that erupted on Mother's Day morning. I am still waiting for the elephant to get off of my chest!
"Dad took Maggie so I could run"
"Did Mom ever complain about the weather when she had to get up and go to radiation?"
"You are running a 1/2 marathon in 3 wks you know!"
So needless to say I got in my cold weather running gear and set out for New Britain for the CT Race in the Park. I arrived at the parking garage, grabbed my money, my cell phone, my water and my chapstick and headed to the shuttle bus. I got over to the park with 50 min to spare. They had the men and women run separately so I got there in time to see the men off. Over to the registration tent I head, in the rain mind you. I fill out the registration and the women says "$30 please." $30! I don't have enough money!!! I thought it was $18 so I had brought $25 in case I wanted to buy something! Panic stricken and embarrassed I explained to the women I didn't have enough money. She told me that it was no problem and gave me a self addressed envelope to send the extra $5 (which I did as soon as I got to the car).
So I hid in the sponsors tent to avoid the rain and watched the men go and come back then headed over to the start. I found a good position in the middle of the pack. Ronald McDonald started us off and I was off and running. The course was nice and flat and the crowd dispersed pretty quick so I had a good pace going through the first mile. Second mile I picked it up a bit and then when I hit mile 3 the hills came out. This is where I started to thank the trail gods. I cruised up all of the hills passing other women on the left and right! I felt great coming back into the park and sprinted to the finish- beating the 8 yr old that had been just ahead of me the entire time!!! PHEW!! I finished 93rd in a time of 25:36. I immediately grabbed my baggage and headed back to the car for refuge from the rain. Boy did that hot shower feel good when I got home.
I am sad to report that I didn't get my long run in this weekend due to this terrible chest cold that erupted on Mother's Day morning. I am still waiting for the elephant to get off of my chest!
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Runnin with the Big Dogs
I am finally sitting down to blog about the last 3 weeks!! I haven't been all that busy just not blogging. Anyway...
Last couple of weeks I've hit the trails with the Running Chicks in the Woods. It has been difficult keeping up with them so I decided I needed to do some extra trail running on my own.
Sun I hit the trails and did about 2.5 mile on trail and 2 miles on the road. It was a great day to be running. A little brisk but warm enough for shorts and long sleeves. I ran for 48 min but that included running into someone I knew and chatting a few.
Tonight, friends of mine were gracious enough to watch Maggie. I had the deck stacked against me seeing as both my running partners bailed on me. I hope, Dianna , you are feeling better soon and that April Anne gets her wheels back soon. I left the girl at Kim and Chris' and apprehensively left. They have a dog and I am anything but comfortable around dogs especially around my 3 yr old. But I did it and we both survived and she had a blast. Of course, while I was running I came across 2 dogs on separate parts of the trails both unleashed. The first was as big as a bear and black. His owner had to "bear hug" him as I ran by- "PHEW" as I was nearly wetting my pants. I continued on enjoying the quietness of the woods and enjoyed actually listening to myself think- hard to come by those moments with a 3 yr old that talks incessantly-, when I came up to the last lap around the field and saw a big dobermin unleashed looking at me. So, I turned around chicken sh*t and went back to the car feeling badly because I don't know who to be upset at- myself for being such a sally or the people who don't obey the park rules that clearly states dogs must be leashed! Anywho, I finished up my 4/15 mile run in 40 min 03 sec and felt fantastic.
Last couple of weeks I've hit the trails with the Running Chicks in the Woods. It has been difficult keeping up with them so I decided I needed to do some extra trail running on my own.
Sun I hit the trails and did about 2.5 mile on trail and 2 miles on the road. It was a great day to be running. A little brisk but warm enough for shorts and long sleeves. I ran for 48 min but that included running into someone I knew and chatting a few.
Tonight, friends of mine were gracious enough to watch Maggie. I had the deck stacked against me seeing as both my running partners bailed on me. I hope, Dianna , you are feeling better soon and that April Anne gets her wheels back soon. I left the girl at Kim and Chris' and apprehensively left. They have a dog and I am anything but comfortable around dogs especially around my 3 yr old. But I did it and we both survived and she had a blast. Of course, while I was running I came across 2 dogs on separate parts of the trails both unleashed. The first was as big as a bear and black. His owner had to "bear hug" him as I ran by- "PHEW" as I was nearly wetting my pants. I continued on enjoying the quietness of the woods and enjoyed actually listening to myself think- hard to come by those moments with a 3 yr old that talks incessantly-, when I came up to the last lap around the field and saw a big dobermin unleashed looking at me. So, I turned around chicken sh*t and went back to the car feeling badly because I don't know who to be upset at- myself for being such a sally or the people who don't obey the park rules that clearly states dogs must be leashed! Anywho, I finished up my 4/15 mile run in 40 min 03 sec and felt fantastic.
