Happy Rainy Fourth of July

Week 22- June 29-July 5

Sunday- 12 miles at 8:57 pace

Monday- 0

Tuesday- 2 miles with Lucy at 9:38 pace

          Then 6 miles at 9:08 pace

Wednesday- 3 miles at about 9:30 pace

Thursday- 2 miles with Lucy at 9:07 pace

          Then 6 miles at 8:44 pace

Friday- Keene 4 on the 4^th

          10 minute warm up, 22 minute cool down

          4 miles (actually 4 miles minus 42 feet) in 26:48 net, 26:46 gun

Saturday- 5 miles at about 9:30 pace

Total miles- 43.5

Comments: It was mostly a hot and humid week, which my paces reflect, with the last two days gratefully cooler. Ian brought me water on my long run at miles 4.75 and 9. I couldn’t think to stomach a GU so I had a mini Hershey bar at miles nine. I also paused three times on the run for about 20 seconds when going up steep hills, just to make sure I wasn’t huffing and puffing.

Wednesday ended up being a washout. I ran with Lucy in the morning, but in the evening it kept pouring, thundering and lightning. Every time I thought there was going to be a break in a storm, we’d get more thunder and lightning, thus I couldn’t get a workout in.

Luckily, Friday was much cooler for the Keene 4 on the 4^th. As Ian and I started driving to the race, it started down pouring, but I didn’t mind so much as it was much cooler. I knew I would croak in the heat. And, I was secretly hoping no quick women would show up so I would have a chance at winning first! Once we arrived, we got our numbers, warmed up, and stretched. I used the bathroom three times. Then we saw a woman who just ran a 2:37 Boston Marathon, so my hopes to place were dashed.
The rain eased up at the start of the race. I went out feeling incredibly slow. I thought for sure I must be running 8 minute pace. I wasn’t out of breath. I remember looking down at my watch thinking a mile must have gone by already, and it had only be 4:39. I just couldn’t move my body. I got to the first mile mark at 6:51, with several women ahead of me and needing to pee so badly. My main goal was just to finish the race and get to a bathroom. I thought for sure I wouldn't place in my age group, and that didn't matter a bit to me at that point. I missed the two mile mark, if there was one, and at the 3 mile mark I saw my time was 20:15, so I was pleased I hadn’t completely slowed down as it felt I had. Ian was by me in the race and finished about a second or two behind me. Of course he could have sprinted by me, but he knew I am ridiculous enough to want to beat him and so he didn’t want me sprinting to the finish. I finished the race in 26:48. The race is short 4 miles by 42 feet, so good luck finding out what pace I ran. I’ve come to the conclusion (with coolrunning’s resource calculators and an actuarial analyst as a husband) it is about 6:45 pace, or maybe a second faster. So I’m satisfied with the race, and that I got to the porta potty in time to pee after it, and I ended up winning my age group. I was eighth woman overall. All those women ahead of me were in their teens and twenties. I’m getting old.
Oh, and a side note, I am so grateful for Alysia Montano talking about her experiences running while pregnant. Just wonderful.