Weekend Bling Report
Replies
-
6 km Yesterday at the Miserable Miles Obstacle Course event on Misery Mountain Ski Hill.
Wave Start 30 minutes separation. General consensus was that 10-15 minutes would be better as there was a lot of time between athletes coming into the finish. As a contestant once past the 3rd obstacle ( Big Wall ) not a lot of waiting for a clear run. Less than a Spartan, more than a plain old run.
A friend asked to go as a Team since she was not comfortable doing some of the obstacles, so that's how we did the event. 15 obstacles, 1 nasty climb and what goes up must come down = 1 Mega Steep downhill section.
Up hill start to get separation and then into the obstacles: Tire High stepping, Pony Hurdle x 3 -Short-Tall-Short, Army crawl, High Wall ( 8ft )
, Soul Crusher Hill 
km 1.1 to 1.4 100m vertical
, Pail Carry ( 50 yds. downhill, 50 yds. uphill with a 40 lb. pail , 6 American Ninja Angled Steps , 10 ft. Log carry - 50 yds. up-downhill, 2nd Army Crawl, 60 ft. Balance beam on old springy logs, Mega Steep Downhill on the Double Black Diamond Ski run, Pony Hurdle x 3 -Tall-Short-Tall, More Downhill, 4 Table Top Hurdles, Short Leaning Wall 5ft high and leaning into your body so you cant get your feet on the wall to help, Water Slide 
, Tire Flip - the biggest tire was the lightest. 59:57. Strava gave me 54:51 and the difference can be attributed to time stopped at obstacles waiting for other athletes to clear the obstacle. Didn't really care about the time as it was just a fun event to test general Physical Fitness.
I hung around and cheered the other athletes in and Accidentally fell into the water slide 3 times , if your already wet it just doesn't matter.
Heat 3 was stacked and they pushed themselves to a new course record 35:12. The old Record was 37:35 and had less obstacles. Although the water slide is more of a fun ending than an obstacle.
The hardest part of the day was doing Tear Down, drove a side by side ATV's around the course removing flagging, taking obstacles apart and hauling them back to the Storage Container, the SoulCrusher and Downhill were interesting in the ATV - 4 Big Event Tents 20 x 40 ft - those buggers are heavy, finished at 8:15pm so a 12 hour day on the hill.
I was actually writing this last night but fell asleep on the sofa with my laptop on my knee and typed multiple pages of ccccccccccccc before the laptop battery alarm went off, I couldn't copy paste in time to save it.1 -
Some More Miserable Miles Pictures.
A great Smile showing how much fun the Water slide is. Also she has the event shirt on
The Wobbly log Balance Beam
More water slide technique
The Young Guy in the Nomads Shirt set the Course Record and it was the first time he has ever done an Obstacle Race event.
A pet friendly event. They just asked that you let all the athletes leave and then go out with your pet to reduce/eliminate conflicts.
2 -
10 km Roots and Ruts event in Grande Prairie. The event lived up to it's name and tradition.
They had a huge storm this week, up to 60mm ( 2.3 inchs ) of snow & rain that passed through the area. The temperature is dropping below freezing over night so no more Bugs
.
The first 7 km are all on in-formal trails through the trees made by Mountain Bikers, Runners and walkers. So a lot of it is single track and quite often the wide spots have Bike obstacles- jumps, balance beams etc. So it is a challenge to pass once you get past the 1.5km mark. So much fun racing through the trees, Jumping the recently Fallen Trees, High Stepping through the Mud/Swampy parts and picking a spot to jump over the little creek ( which wasn't so little with all the rain/snow).
A few of the hills had been polished up by the 64 people in front of me so were a challenge to climb, even more challenging to descend. I had the most success when I stepped off the Trail and ran in the Grass & Shrubs. The hill at Km 3.7 and 6.1 were nasty as they had a short steep climb followed by a quick descent that you couldn't see until you stepped over the edge. On both of these I had my first plant foot start to toboggan downhill through the greasy clay and the only thing that save me from a Butt Plant was my speed as my next step was solid and away I went. At about 7 km we hit a real twisty part through the trees and some started to doubt we were on the right trail as we hadn't seen any flags in a while. I remembered this part from the last 2 years so yelled out that we were okay. Once we came out of the trees the last 2 km are on a wide developed trail covered with small crushed gravel. Solid footing but limited challenge's when compared to the rest of the course.
421 registered athletes, 199 in the 10k. Only 137 of the 199 made it to the start line.
1st place crossed in 41:31:46. There was a huge group of athletes in the 59:00 to 1:16:00. I was in this group. 65/137 Chip Time 1:12:05. In the last 2 km I caught up to a young man who was loudly complaining to himself about all these "old #at Men & Women " passing him. Challenged and Accepted. Finished 43 seconds ahead of him. I actually struggled in this event as my quads were hurting after the 3 km mark and just couldn't hold my pace the way I wanted to.
The Strava, Garmin and MapmyRun Elevation profile just does not do this course justice.
I must have been close to max effort as my Quads are screaming at me right now, climbing the stairs to turn off the lights was no fun.5 -
First 10k of the season. Met my time goal and it was really hard! They gave us socks instead of t-shirts. The socks are awesome and the last 2 shirts I got from these races were really cheap, so I'm happy about that.
8 -
Detroit Marathon on Sunday. I figured mid-October in Detroit would be a safe bet for cooler temperatures. Instead, it was nearly 70 degrees for the 7 AM start. Then the 25 mph winds kicked up for the last couple of hours. Finished in 4:13, which I'm not unhappy with, given the conditions.
4 -
Forgot to add this.
I ran the Historic Hillsborough Half Marathon on October 1, 2017. I'm in a slightly different place in my marathon training compared to last year. The weather was good with the temperature of 47°F at race start with the dew point being relatively low. I ran at an easy pace trying to maintain a good pace. Apparently I "fell asleep" on Mile 12 when I was running on the Occoneechee Racetrack (the last remaining NASCAR Race Track from NASCAR's inaugural year) because my time slowed dramatically. I picked the pace back up in the last 1.1 miles. My time was 2:07:30 (one of my slower recent running times).
When I ran this same race last year, I was at my training peak, so I'm not too surprised by the results.
4 -
I ran the Gettysburg Blue-Gray Half Marathon today. Beautiful sunny day (low 50s at the start, mid-60s at the finish). It's a gently rolling course through farm country and part of the Battlefield. I managed a 6 minute PR. 1:54:27. That got me first in my AG, which won me a homemade apple pie.5
-
PNC Atlanta 10 Miler was Sunday morning. Nice, crisp 60-degree morning. This was the first year that they ran *down* Cardiac Hill for the race. Unfortunately, that put three long climbs on the back half of the course. I've been fighting a hamstring for what seems like forever, so I was thinking a 7:15 pace would be aggressive, but good, so I'm pleased with my results. Now a 4 week race-break until Thanksgiving.
Cardiac Hill is a highlighted segment because they run a challenge each year - the top 100 paces through that mile get a beer stein. I missed the mark. Top speed down the Hill was a 5:12 pace, #100 topped out at 6:19. Mine was 6:47, so not even close *lol*5 -
Finally got my pocture so I could upload it. bling for the Wild Duluth 100k was a neoprene hat and a mug. I totally prefer practical bling to a medal. Not shown is the hoodie I got.
6 -
From a trail half marathon two weeks ago. A rural church holds this race every year to help fund their mission work.
In addition to the race they have a bake sale.
The actual race bling was the shirt, but I also won a door prize which turned out to be a jar of apple jelly. I also found $5 on the course so I used that to buy stuff from the bake sale (and egg sale apparently). I'll take eggs, cookies, muffins and jelly over a medal any day!
7 -
No bling today. Ran 25:32.8 for 6K at the Pete Glavin XC Race #4 (men's masters race). The fact that this was also the USATF Niagara Region Cross Country Championship meant a strong field showed up. I finished 4th of 26 in the M 60-69 age group; my team finished 2nd (2-4-11) behind Syracuse (1-3-5) for the M 60-69 team competition.
It rained. The women noticed the course got worse as they ran. I noticed the course got worse with each loop. The open men ran 8K after we did, and got muddier than I did.
4 -
@7lenny7 -Love the "race bling" and bake/egg sale finds. So cool that you found $$ on the course and spent it at the sale! I get it about the medals. I ran quite a number of races that never gave out medals and, quite honestly, I didn't even realize it most of the time until somebody brought it up they were disappointed there were no medals.
Recently a running friend of mine was at my house and asked to see my medal collection. Ummmm. I have most of them upstairs in a box? My husband bought me a medal rack a while back and I have been meaning to hang it up.
But, recently I visited the same friend's house and she has quite an impressive collection. She told me that she only runs races that give out cool medals. Her collection includes a hand woven basket medal with the name of the teen who made it on the back from a HM in Amish country and a hand blown glass medal form a local arts college. This morning I told my husband that we need to hang up my medal rack. I also realized that my 5K and 10K PR races did not give out medals. I told him that I have to run new 5k and 10K PRs so that I have a medal for my rack. I guess I get it too.2 -
I ran the Auckland Half on Sunday. I was happy with my performance but the fates weren't helping - the ferry to the start was late, meaning, instead of arriving with 15-20 minutes to have a coffee and get my head in the right space, I ran from the ferry, tossing my bag to an attendant on the way past, and straight over the start line, five-and-a-half minutes after the gun went off. That meant I spent nearly five kilometres weaving through the hundreds of walkers and slow runners until I found myself with enough clear air to relax into a consistent rhythm. I'll have to do that PB next year... (This ghastly photo is about 20 metres from the finish line.)5 -
2:00 pacer at the Moose Pond Half Marathon, Bridgton, ME on Saturday. Ran 1:59:20. Pleased I was able to pull a small group to new PRs.
8 -
Two new PRs last weekend at the Disney Wine and Dine Two Course Challenge. On Saturday, I beat my old 10k PR of 1:00:35 with a 56:50! On Sunday, I beat my old half marathon PR of 2:26 with a 2:12 half! I'm still pushing towards a half under 2 hours, but I'm proud of what I've accomplished.
9 -
Independence Day 5k. I think I met my time goal and am satisfied with my effort level. Best part - I got 3 of my friends to run this race, too! One was running her first race ever! Ironic that they cut down a tree to make the medals for a trail race, but I think wooden medals are in style right now.
4 -
Ran 8K of cross country today, the Pete Glavin XC Series Race #5. My expectation was to be 2nd scorer on the M 60-69 team for GVH, and to be 4th or lower in my 10 year age group. I figured there was a chance I could be on the 2nd place M 60-69 team for this race, but we were out of the running for the series title. Accordingly, I expected no bling.
I ran 34:42.6, for 2nd in the 10 year age group behind my team captain. We finished 1-2-6 to beat Syracuse Track Club's 3-4-5 for this race, though Syracuse took the team title for the series. GVH M 60-69 finished 2nd for the series, and I contributed to that.
So . . . for being on one of the top 3 teams by 10 year age group, I got a beer glass. And I was totally surprised to get a bottle of wine for being in the top 10 individuals of my age group for the series, as I only ran 2 of the 5 races. I think they said I was 7th? It was based on a point system that I had never looked at, and there was no minimum number of races to make the points count for the individual top 10. No single race bling for 2nd in the age group, and that's okay.
4 -
I finished the Harrisburg Marathon today in 3:59:54. While it was not the result I wanted, it wasn't unexpected and it was the very best effort I could give today. Those last 10 miles were Hell. Now I really have to be disciplined and hit the weight room. Way too many issues caused by weak glutes and core.
https://www.relive.cc/view/g15515213681
4 -
I ran my 4th half marathon, the Monterey Bay Half. The course was gorgeous and mostly flat. I went out WAY too fast at the beginning, couldn't sustain the pace after the first 10k, and so it was HARD. Still, I finished in 2:19:20, beating my previous PR by 7 minutes. I was a little disappointed that I couldn't keep up with the 2:15 pacer, but I'll take the PR (and the beautiful handmade medal) any day.
9 -
I ran the Honor Run half marathon for veterans in Florence, Kentucky on Sunday. It was a very patriotic event and I was running in honor of my father who passed away 5 years ago. I finished in 1:41:30, which was good for 2nd in my age group (F 45-49) and 8th female overall. Not a PR, but I was happy with the result because I didn't do any specific training and the course was pretty tough. My age group result got me a gift card to a local running store and the race medal was spectacular. (I wish I could share a photo, but the camera in my phone is broken).6
-
20-Mile Country Run in Clarksburg near Sacramento. 11:16 pace. Not bad for a guy who weighed over 400lbs three years ago.9 -
Half-marathon bling! Finish time of 2:10:46 - a new PB.
12 -
Ran the Race with Grace 10K at 9 AM Thanksgiving morning, for my 7th consecutive year. I was a bit banged up, so I held my pace to a nice tempo run. Finished in 41:53 official. A recently aged up 60 year old took the First Senior award with a time of 39:54, so I got 1st in the M 60-64 age group over 40 other guys. I was 42nd of 763 finishers overall.
7 -
Both races complete (and I can still sorta walk ).
As usual I got hung up in traffic at the start of the Turkey Trot (I really tried to get to the front but there's just to many people). I managed to run 22:27.
For the Cocoa Bean 5k I paced a friend who wanted to PR. She wanted under 23 minutes and she came in at 22:54 (I got 22:56).
6 -
Did the Brazos Bend 100. I did the full marathon and my son did the 100 mile. He finished in 29 hours. The winner of the 100 did it in 14 hrs! Mymarathon Time was unremarkable but a finish! I like trail runs.2
-
Ran the USATF National Club XC Championships (Masters Men 60+ 8K) on Saturday. Finished in 34:19, which was 18th of 110 in a field of men older than 60 years; but I was only 27th on an age graded basis. 17th of 43 in my age group, which is the youngest age group allowed in this race. No honors for placement, but there was a nice pint glass for showing up and running.
3 -
Saturday was the Bovington Marathon, followed by the Half Marathon on the Sunday. It's on the training area at The Armour Centre, Bovington, home of the Royal Armoured Corps, where we train tank crews and various promotion courses for Royal Tank Regiment and Cavalry units. I only ran the full, a few friends did both full and half.
The races start from the Tank Museum and start out in Training Area South, which is largely wooded terrain and suitable for light tracked vehicles and wheeled recce vehicles. We move North around the main camp through mixed forestry before breaking out into the heavy training area, suitable for the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank, so more open and mud/ gravel.
It was pretty cold throughout, ranging from -2 up to 3C through the day.
I've been struggling with training recently, after a very serious illness. Having been hospitalised earlier in the year I relapsed a couple of moths ago and still haven't really got back to normal. With that in mind I knew it was going to be challenging. Having done the Half the previous year I knew what I was getting into.
A friend fell and gashed his face, so a bit of a stop to make sure he was ok, with the medical staff, and then getting off route so adding an extra couple of miles, led to quite a long day.
The route:
https://www.relive.cc/view/1316104375#
And the bling, this year styled on the Tiger for the Marathon and the Sherman for the Half. My HM from last year is a Chally2:
7 -
Ran the Chevron Houston Marathon Sunday, plus the ABB 5K on Saturday (as warm-up). Second marathon. Under-trained for this, so my time was same as last year. I did feel better during most of it and after. Perfect weather helped, started at 35 degrees, and wasn't more than 50 or so when I finished. Sunny, and not much wind.
3 -
Quite late in posting this. Back in December I ran my first full marathon. I've always stuck with half marathons up to this point. I did the Brazos Bend 100 Marathon. My son, who is in the picture with me finished the 100 mile run. The picture is of us when we crossed paths. I was around mile 11 and he was at about mile 30 for his race. An awesome race. Love trail racing, even with the alligators on the trail! So for anyone who thinks running is for the young folks... I didn't even run my first race until I was 53. It isn't about speed to me. I finished right in the middle of the pack and had zero soreness, zero lack of energy, zero problems. Run your race folks, it's about finishing, and finishing stronger than last time.
5 -
This is what happens when only 2 people in your age group are brave enough to do the whole marathon, instead of the half or "mini" marathon. Great race, great laid-back culture on Madeira island. I have no idea what everyone was yelling as I ran by, since I don't speak Portuguese, but it sounded encouraging! This was my second marathon, a 17-minute PR, and it was really hard towards the end. It was also totally worth it!
Not pictured: white technical t-shirt with red "Run Funchal" design (same as on the trophy).10
