Fighting for Air in Des Moines (for the 2nd time)

Fight for Air Climb.  One of my favorite challenges. EVER.

This past weekend (my birthday weekend, none the less), I participated in my second Fight for Air Climb in Des Moines.  This was just coming off of the Fight for Air Climb in Chicago seven days prior, my 3.14 Pi run (an annual birthday event) on Friday afternoon and the Leprechaun Chase 10K on Saturday morning.

That's right.  I did some serious leg work in 8 days time.

This is one event that was just as exciting the second time as it was the first. Even though I knew what to expect (thigh fatigue, shortness of breath, dry mouth, sweaty forehead, etc.), there was still a little bit of "unknown" territory.  The three buildings we climb in Des Moines are off limits for participants to train in (two are business buildings and one is a hotel), so there is no "general public" access other than on Climb day.  I also live an hour away from these buildings, so even if there was free access, it's not worth my time to drive there just for training. And my legs took a bit of a beating with all the happenings in the week leading up to the Climb.

I did my training on the stairway in my house, both for last year's event and also for this one.  I take the steps two-at-a time, and sometimes I do three-step intervals.  Up and down, either 50 times per session (when I don't have much time) or 100 times (when I'm feeling bad ass).  The three-steps go slower, but work the thighs/buttocks more effectively and the two-steps are much faster, giving me some serious cardio work.


The Fight for Air Climb is affiliated with the American Lung Association.   Participants have the option to climb 1, 2 or 3 buildings, but they have to climb them in sequence.  You can climb as an individual or on a team, but every participant is required to raise $100 in donations (in addition to the registration fee).   This year the Climb in Des Moines raised over $241,000 and had more than 1,100 participants.

Since I had done this event before, I was hoping to beat my finish time from last year.  I had done the Chicago Climb 7 days prior, which involved  180 flights of stairs, though, and I knew my legs were still recovering from that.  The couple of runs I had done during the week were slow and sluggish, and my legs felt very heavy and tight for the Leprechaun Chase on Saturday.

We lined up in waves, and were escorted to the first building, the EMC Insurance Companies building.  I waited my turn (approximate 10-second intervals between climbers), and before I knew it I was back on the steps.  I was able to run the steps two at a time for the first 10 flights or so, then gravity took over.  I continued with two-step intervals, but had to slow my pace a bit.  I made it to the top in 3:17, which put me ahead of my time from last year (3:39).  Already, though, I was feeling very hot and slightly exhausted!

I drank a quick cup of water, rode down on the elevator and was escorted to the second building, the Hub Tower.  The climb didn't seem any more difficult (given the state of my over-taxed legs), but it did feel much hotter this year.  I remembered there being fans blowing in the stairways last year, but there weren't any (that I noticed) this year. Also, last year my climb time was early in the morning and this year I didn't start until 11:00, so there had been a lot of people before me probably breathing just as heavy (if not even more so).  I finished the second building in 4:05, still ahead of last year (4:39).

The final building, the Des Moines Marriot Downtown

More water, and a few minutes of lag time waiting for the elevator, allowed me the brief chance to catch my breath.  One building remained, and it was the tallest of the three (31 floors). My time from the first two towers had me almost a minute ahead of last year's finish time, so I felt great.  I knew if I kept climbing with my two-step intervals I'd be well on track to beat my 2013 time.  The third building starts off with the first few floors having split-stairways (going up 6-8 steps, then turning with 6-8 stairs in the opposite direction) and the remainder to the top are single-stairways (12-14 steps each) with a landing to walk around before reaching the next stairway right above it.  All went well, and I reached the top in 5:21, ahead of last year's 5:40!  Total time for all three buildings was 12:43, an entire 1:15 faster than last year's 13:58!

My cheering section

All finished with climbing, I headed back to the  main reception area to meet back up with my family (husband and two of our kids).   I stopped to check on my official finish time and they gave me a print-out with a breakdown of each times for the three buildings...and I also received a ribbon for beating my time from last year and an Alumni pin (since I was a returning climber).  The medals had a new design this year, it matched the medal I received in Chicago but this one had a "Fight for Air Climb - Des Moines" ribbon. It turns out I finished 5th out of the 44 gals in my age group, and I placed 226th out of the 828 climbers who did all three buildings.

 

As we were getting ready to leave, all the firefighters were lining up for their turn.  There is a separate challenge for law enforcement personnel as well.  This was a real neat thing to see, and very emotional.  Most of the people in the room stood and clapped and cheered for them as they filed out, heading to the first building.  True heroes.  They're not afraid to climb a bunch of stairs, in 70 pounds of gear none the less.

 

So, will I do this again?  Absolutely!  I love physical challenges like this, and now that I've done it (more than once) I have the added challenge of doing it faster each time.  This year I raised $187, almost double of what I collected last year, so I also have the challenge of increasing that next year as well.

Anyone care to join me?  You will not regret it!

 

Leprechaun Chase 10K---inaugurating the tutu

Have you ever dressed in a tutu?  Ever been in a group of gals being chased by a group of guys?  Or have you ever done an event with a St. Patrick's Day theme?  I can officially say I have done all of the above...all in the same race, none the less.

The Leprechaun Chase 10K is a fun-filled race based on the premise that the Lasses (gals) start the race five minutes ahead of the Lads (guys).  The Lads, consequently, chase the Lasses.  The first racer to cross the finish line then wins a free (green) beer for all of their "team."  This year the Lads were the victors, but us Lasses had fun regardless.




This was to be my inaugural running-in-tutu event.  I have done several fun races,  but have never worn a tutu in any of them.   And I was looking forward to just simply running for fun, with no self-imposed pressure to break a PR.  Seriously, I am not a competitive person.  I became a runner to become more fit, not to see how many other runners I could pass on my way to the finish line.  I'm not super fast, and I am quite content with that.  Although my speed has improved a lot in the past (almost) nine years, I will never be in the front of the pack.

 

The race began at 10:00, so we had to leave town around 8:00 to allow an hour or so of drive time and to ensure a close parking spot.  I drove up with my neighbor, Bill, a fellow runner.  We made a quick run to the porta-pots and headed back to wait in the car until it was closer to race time.

Almost everyone with a race bib was also dressed in green.  It was fun seeing all the fun costumes, stockings, tutus and kilts...not to mention various hats and wigs.

 

We had less than ideal weather for this grand event, though.  The temps were in the 40's, but the sunshine was spotty and the wind most severe.  I debated about wearing the puffer vest or going without...and decided moments before the gun went off to just wear it.  I did get hot a few times, but for the most part I was comfortable.

Just prior to the start of the race, we heard bagpipes playing, and discovered it was a family from our hometown of Grinnell!  They have a local band, Turlach Ur, and they make appearances at various events in our area.

As I crossed the start line, almost immediately I felt that weird little sensation that I should have used the bathroom one last time.  Oh well, this was only a 10K.  I probably would be alright.  I hadn't had a lot of water that morning, and it had been a few hours since I'd eaten.  As soon as the thought of food crossed my mind, I realized that I was feeling a little hungry, too.  Great.  Not even half of a mile into this race and I was already creating "what if" scenarios in my mind.

It didn't help that I also had run the day prior.  It had been my birthday and, as was customary for me, I did a 3.14 mile run in honor of Pi Day.  Usually a 3-mile run is not a big deal for me, but it was late in the day and also in some pretty strong wind.  My hamstrings were feeling a little stiff, and I was banking on them loosening up during the first couple miles of the Chase.

As I approached the 2-mile mark, that "hoping to find a bathroom" feeling had not gone away, nor had the hunger. I made it to the water station in about 17 minutes, which is typically a little fast for me (especially in the early miles of a run).  It wasn't too long before the first Lad passed me, followed by several more Lads a short while later.

I was really glad we had sunshine, even if it was intermittent.  The wind was pretty strong, but it was mostly at my back...until around mile 3, when we were headed around the north shore of Grey's Lake. My vest was keeping me warm, but the zipper kept sliding down (probably from the wind).  Then I noticed a strange little "side-effect" of the tutu.....it was creeping down between my legs!  Seriously?  (I could only imagine what that looked like from behind) So, by then I not only needed a plumbing intervention and my stomach was growling (I could hear it over my music), but I also had to keep reaching down periodically and drag the tutu fragments out from where they shouldn't have been.  I did manage to laugh at the humor of my situation, though.  Getting annoyed and uptight would serve no purpose anyways.

As we rounded the lake, I could see the public restroom up just beyond the 4-mile mark.  Knowing it would mess up my finish time, I made the command decision to just veer off course and head towards it.  I glanced at my watch, and noted the time so I'd have an idea of what my actual "running" time would be.  Another lesson learned....it's best to have all this restroom business done BEFORE the tutu goes on your body, because it's pretty crowded in the stall of a restroom.  Just saying.

Pit stop done, I headed back to the course.  I had lost about 7 minutes of race time (actually, technically, those 7 minutes were added), and I was back in the running.  The final two miles were straight into the wind, but also in the sunshine.  My legs had loosened up some, and I was able to run about a 9-minute pace for the remainder of the race.  There were a couple times I considered walking, since I already knew my finish time was whacked, but I knew I'd get out of the wind that much quicker if I just kept running.

I crossed the finish line in 1:01:15.  Subtracting off the 7 "pit stop" minutes put my run time around 54 minutes, which is just under a 9-minute pace.  I seem to average between 8:30-9:00 minute miles, so I'm content with that.  Given the fact I had run the day prior, battled wind both days, and also had done the Fight for Air Climb in Chicago (180 flights of stair racing)  6-days prior......this was a small victory for me.  It turns out, the gal who finished third place in my age group was actually a little behind that with her finish time, so I coulda/woulda/shoulda have placed.  Oh well.  Maybe next time.

Bottom line, this was a fun event.  It's neat going to a race where almost every participant is "actively" participating.  I love running, and I love bettering my finish times, but not every race has to be a competitive race.  Sometimes it's fun to run just for the sake of running itself.  And if you can do it in a tutu, all the better.

Fighting for Air in Chicago!

 
Last April, I did my first Fight for Air Climb for The American Lung Association.  This involved climbing 66 flights of stairs amongst 3 tall buildings in the city of Des Moines.  I am registered for the 2014 event next weekend.  This past weekend I was given the opportunity to venture to Chicago and do the Climb there.  YIKES!

This venue was a much bigger event, given the size of the city.  This Climb had participants climbing the four Presidential Towers in downtown Chicago.  That's right, four towers...not just three tall buildings like in Des Moines.  Oh, and each tower has 45 flights of steps, for a grand total of 180 floors. YIKES (again).

Last year I did the Climb as an individual, this year I was recruited to join Team 27.  Team 27 was formed several years ago in honor of and support for Tom Muselman, a Des Moines-based banker who was the recipient of a double lung transplant a few years ago.

Team 27...ready to go!

 This also was the Spring-Ahead weekend, which made for one less hour of sleep.  Fortunately, our scheduled climb time wasn't until 9:55.  We had plenty of time to rise and shine, pay a visit to Starbucks, hail a cab and get to check-in.

I didn't quite know how to prepare for this event.  I had done plenty of stair-climbing, and my legs are in pretty good shape from being a runner.  I wasn't sure if I should do a taper, since this climb was so much bigger and more demanding than the other one.  Or, should I carb-load?  I didn't expect to spend a long time climbing 180 flights, but I knew it would be strenuous and require a boost of energy.

Check-in was at the PepsiCo building, and we were escorted across Monroe to the first Presidential Tower, where we could check our gear and get out timing chips.  Seeing the four Towers was exciting, but a little intimidating.

Three of the four Presidential Towers...don't they look...TALL?

I must say this event was very well organized with numerous enthusiastic volunteers. As we lined up to take the stairs, countless people were cheering and high-5ing the participants.

We had the option to do 1,2,3, or all 4 of the Towers.  Well, my theory is "go big or go home," so I was registered to climb all four Towers.

Ready to take to the steps...180 flights do not scare me

 
As I began my climb in Tower 1, I could feel the excitement of what was before me.  I started out taking the steps two-at-a-time.  That lasted for the first 10 flights or so....and I knew things would need to change for the remaining 35 flights.  These stairways were narrow, making it difficult to pass other climbers, and only had handrails on the "inside" edge of the steps.  Also, the steps were steep!  Instead of going up one long stairway of 12-14 steps, each flight had double stairs...6 or 7 steps, then you'd turn and do another 6 or 7 steps (in the opposite direction) between each floor.  Catch-22!  Although the stairs appear shorter than normal, you have to do two of them for each floor, and you have to pause briefly as you change direction halfway through.

I finished the first Tower in 7:19.  I grabbed a cup of water and joined the other sweating/panting/breathless racers and waited for the elevator to take us down.  I was given a Team 27 shirt to wear, but was already contemplating stripping it off and just going with the tank top I had underneath.

We all had timing chips attached to our shoes.  There were timing mats in the hall leading to the stairs and also mats in the doorways, exiting the stairways at the top of each building.  This meant that we'd cross the "start mat" briefly after exiting the elevator (from the previous Tower) and we then had to make our way to the next Tower.

My strategy for Tower 2 was to start off taking the steps by two (again), but to do it slower, so I'd (hopefully) be able to maintain the two-step intervals longer.  My theory was thrown out the window after the first 5 or 6 flights.  UGH!  This was really tough!  The steps were a lot steeper than they appeared, and the stairways were stuffy (probably from all the heavy breathing!).  Thankfully, there were water stations on the 19th, 34th and 48th floors, so that gave me the chance to pause for a few seconds and slam some water and catch my breath.  I finished Tower 2 in 9:07.  And I yanked off the team 27 shirt and draped it over my fuel belt (which was holding my phone).  Normally, having a flapping tail-like thing hanging over my belt would not happen if I was running, but for stair-climbing it worked fine.

Halfway there.....this Climb was no joke!

Tower 3.  By this time, I had resolved to just single-step the stairs.  The crowd of climbers had thinned out (because some had bailed after the first two towers), so I didn't have to worry about passing too many people.  We had to cross the street (via the skywalk), so this gave us a little more time in between towers, but it also showed up on our chip time.  Some climbers ran between towers, but most others (myself included) walked.

So, onward I climbed.  I never felt fatigued, but I certainly felt winded and out of breath.  Another little "mind game" to overcome was the numbering system of the floors. We were climbing 45 flights of stairs. But when you start on the  third floor, and you finally reach the 45th floor...you still have three flights remaining. (ugh!)  This was a small detail that I kept forgetting each time I reached the 45th floor (in each tower).  I finished Tower 3 in 10:50.  Woot! Woot!  Almost done!!

The 4th Tower went well, though I was really feeling the effects of so many steps in the stairways.  More and more climbers were pausing on the landings and at the water stations. Very few people were smiling (except for the volunteers who kept encouraging us as they offered us water).  I tried to pay attention to the many posters on the walls of the stairways, which paid tribute to friends and family members who were no longer with us. I said several silent prayers for them, and felt so honored and lucky that I was able to climb 180 flights of stairs.  I bet they would have gladly traded places with me if they were able to do so.  I finished Tower 4 in 9:28.  And I drank several cups of water in celebration as I waited for the elevator.

WHEW!  I had to work hard for this medal!

This Climb was tough, no doubt about it.  The 66 floors in Des Moines got nothing on this challenge!  My finish time was 36:44.  I was hoping to be done within 45 minutes, so I am very pleased.  I finished 26th out of 171 women within my age group (this stat is from Tower 1; everyone climbed the first tower, but not everyone climbed all four of them).  Out of the 548 women who did climb all four towers, I finished 142nd and I placed 517th out of a total 1034 climbers (male and female combined) who finished all four towers.

Team 27...post Fight for Air Climb in Chicago

Let's Just Get It Done (13.1 miles without proper training)

 
I am a huge advocate for all things "smart" when it comes to running.  These include (but are not limited to) a healthy balance between running days and rest days, cross-training, a good attitude, violating the comfort zone occasionally and proper training.  (emphasis on proper training)

I am also on a quest to run 14 distance events in 2014, and am off to a less-than-ideal start.  I ran a virtual 14K about a month ago on an unusually warm January day in Iowa.  I have a virtual half marathon scheduled for March.  And I have had a virtual half marathon on my February calender, awaiting the "perfect" day to run the 13.1 miles to call it complete.  And there have not been any "perfect" days to run those 13.1 miles...until today.

Granted, it was a virtual event.  I certainly could have run it in increments (in which case I would have had it already finished within the first week of this month).  Or, I could have waited until we have some actual spring-like weather next month (and no one, other than myself, would know).  I even could have just not worried about it and done nothing.  I had already received the medal in the mail and didn't have anything to prove to anyone other than myself.....but that's the kicker.  I know I can run 13.1 miles non-stop (have I ever mentioned that, prior to today, I have run 17 half marathons/20K's?).  Knowing I have the "skill set" and the ability, my OCD won't allow me the luxury of not running the full distance in any other manner than all at once.

Our family has been busy with weekend dance competitions for the youngest daughter and swim meets for the son.  And, we have had a lot of snow and extreme cold. Excuses aplenty.  Our daughter's final dance performance isn't until tomorrow afternoon, so the idea came to me to just run the virtual race this morning (when I'd much rather be making waffles and/or spending idle time on the computer).

The temps were "moderately warm" (in the low 30's) at the start of my "race time."  My impromptu plan was to head out around 9:00 and just go for it.  I usually can run a half marathon in two hours, give or take a few minutes in either direction. 

I usually train for my halfs, though(oops). With the inclement weather, I hadn't run farther than the 14K (8.7 miles), and that was only once.  True, I have been running my usual 3-4 times each week, typically going anywhere between 3-6 miles each time. And, when I ran the 14K, it wasn't much of a challenge to run that little bit farther..

Would I be able to double my usual winter distance without any problems?  I have never run that kind of distance in cold weather, let alone with the snow, ice, and below-freezing temps to navigate.  UGH.  Comfort Zone Violation. Again. (this seems to be happening a lot in 2014, just saying)

So, I (tech)suited-up and left the house with an open mind.  The goal of this "race" was simply conquering the distance, not a fast finish time.  Either way, it would be a PR of sorts since it was my first half marathon in a winter month (always looking on the bright side).

The temps were comfortable, not much for sunshine, but also not much for wind....so all was well.  It felt great to have my course mapped out for me (most of my runs are a little on the spontaneous side, so I don't usually have a plan or distance in mind when I'm not in training).  Just having the pressure gone from worrying about when I'd get this virtual run scheduled (and to be actually running it!) was so liberating.

It also felt great to be on one of my routes from when I trained for my 26.2 last summer.  This route would take me out to the middle school (a 5-mile loop from my driveway) and I was planning on an additional 2-mile out-and-back.  That would give me a total of 7 miles, do a quick pit-stop at my house, and then finish with a couple of 3-mile loops near the college campus (a few blocks away).

Even though my finish time was not a priority, I still had my watch with me to monitor my pace.  I had to walk a few times (due to some random ice and puddles), but I was able to keep a strong 10-minute pace.  I had just finished the 2-mile out-and-back, and was feeling great so I decided to do an extra 1-mile out-and-back on my way back to my house.  As I was finishing mile 7, I could feel the start of some stiffness in my upper hamstrings (I have been feeling this "stiffness" a lot recently, I think I'm due for some new shoes).  I could tell my pace was slowing some, but I was so happy to be out in the sunshine (which emerged around mile 5), it didn't bother me.

I finished mile 8 at my driveway and headed in the house for my scheduled pit-stop.  I needed a potty break, some water and a few more energy chews (and a peanut butter and raspberry jam rice cake).  Since I had the opportunity, I also changed my clothing (I had been wearing 2 lined tech shirts under a puffer vest, and I was feeling very sweaty). With 5.1 remaining miles, I chose to leave the puffer vest behind.  The sun was shining brightly, and the temps were now in the mid-high 30's, I'd be fine without it.

Since I'd run that additional 1-mile out-and-back before my pit-stop, I needed to do change my route for the remaining miles.  I decided to run two 2-mile loops near the college, and finish with a 1-mile loop around the central campus. 

I definitely could feel my legs getting fatigued, especially my calves, but my energy level felt great. I kept checking my pace at each mile, and it hadn't slowed much.  I did have to walk a few times in the final mile.  I could feel some strain on the outside of my knees, and I did not need to be a hero.  My actual "race time" was 2:13:03, not bad considering I had walked several times.

So, was this a smart move, running this kind of distance without training properly?  Probably not.  Even though I have run several races of this distance (and many training runs that have been much longer), this took some effort.  It was exhilarating to run this, and it was great that my pace was pretty strong despite not having run 13.1 since late October......but I will have some stiffness and discomfort as a result.  Thankfully, my body has done this distance numerous times.  I'm lucky this run was as easy as it was.

So, onward!  I have until April 1st to complete my next virtual half marathon.....and I will be much better prepared for that one.  Maybe a spring PR?

Ever gone "virtual?"

 
Virtual races.  Kind of a new buzz word (words?) gaining in popularity within the running world.

Virtual races are organized usually around (or in support of) a general theme.  More often than not, they are fundraisers for a charity or benefactor.  Many are scheduled to take part on a specific day, but most allow the participants to run the "event" at their leisure over the course of a few days or weeks, in their own home town.

Since these are used to fund raise and promote awareness of the benefactor(s), there is usually a minimal fee ($25-$30), but this can vary if there are t-shirts available or finisher medals commemorating the event.  You do have the option to simply just run these races for free, but you will not be in the loop for prizes (yes, some of these virtual events have real prizes for the registered participants!).

So, why do a "virtual" race when there are plenty of "real" races to choose from?  Actually, depending on where you reside, the events may not be so plentiful.  For example, I live in a medium-sized town in Iowa.  I have some larger cities within 1-2 hours of drive time that have races, but it's not always convenient for me to drive those 1-2 hours.  (I have a husband, and two kids still at home.....and I enjoy spending time with all of them).  Our son is on the high school swim team, almost every weekend in December and January, he has a swim meet (and we want to watch and support him and his team).  Our youngest daughter is an accomplished dancer, and is a member of her studio's competition team.  She has dance competitions almost every weekend in February.  So, for myself, that's three months with limited availability for weekend racing.

Did I mention that I live in Iowa?  Winter in Iowa is not only cold, but also very unpredictable.  There are no guarantees if I may happen to score a free weekend, that the weather will also have "ideal race temps." (Recently, I had a free weekend, and ran in a nearby race...in the extreme wind and near-zero degree temps)

I haven't been a big fan or participant of virtual races, until recently.  I want to be a better distance runner, and you become a better distance runner by running long distances, year-round (not just during the race season).  So far, my virtual resume' includes a couple of half marathons, and a 10K.  Last week, we were blessed with temps in the mid-40's, so I took advantage and did a virtual 14K ..I almost didn't get that completed before the event's end-of-the-month deadline.  I have another virtual half scheduled for this month, and one in March as well.

How does one participate in a virtual race?  You can find the events online.  Most will have a link to take you to their website, where you can register.  Most events give you options on what distance you want to run (5K, 10K, half or full marathon).  Some events take place on a specific date, others will give you some allowance on when you can run your event (many will also allow you to run the distance in increments).  I prefer to run the distance all in one outing, but there are no satellite cameras watching me....if I need to loop back to my house for a pit stop, I do it (guilt-free).  Some events also encourage you to post your "finish times" after you have completed the race, and you may even win a prize for doing so. 

Why, oh why, am I doing these?  As mentioned, I want to stay on track with my distance training, and by having an event on my calender (real or virtual), helps me stay consistent with my running.  Sure, I could simply run the long distances for free, but when I pay for a virtual event I have the satisfaction of also supporting a cause greater than myself, and if I get a decent run completed (and a medal to show for my efforts)....well, all the better.  I'd call that a win-win.

Have you ever done a virtual event?  What cause or charity did you support in doing so?

It was a cold one...

Photo from Marshalltown Chamber of Commerce

I'm a strong believer in Violating The Comfort Zone. And that happened, big time, this past weekend.

I had heard of a nearby race, the Marshalltown Chamburrr Scurry.  It was a 5K (my least favorite distance), so it didn't really grab my attention. I do, however, have a goal of doing 14 "official " events in 2014, so I reconsidered  and discovered it took place on a cross country course . Hmmm, that might make it interesting.
.

A runner friend, Barb, was interested in doing it, too.  Hmmmm....

The race was this past Saturday, and Barb and I didn't start talking about until last week. Neither of us wanted to commit to it, so it wasn't until Friday evening when we (officially) agreed to do it.

Kim and Barb, all nice and warm....before the race

This was a Comfort Zone Violation on many levels.  First of all, it was the dreaded 5K distance. I am not afraid of the 5K distance, but I detest racing it. Second, I'm not a sprinter. And third, my body typically needs a couple miles to get warmed up and even then I'm not running very fast.

This also was a trail race, which I have never done on frozen terrain. I love trail running because it's different from the usual pavement I run most of my miles upon. Trails, this time of year  (especially in Iowa), are covered with snow and ice. Hmmmmm....I am familiar with the elements. Bring it!

Another comfort zone issue was the spur-of-the-moment aspect. I usually have every event registered, paid for and documented on my calendar  well in advance. I'm also mentally prepared. Registering on site would be a new adventure.

The forcasted temps for Saturday were to be in the mid-20's, which would feel like a small heat wave given the single digit/subzero temps we have been experiencing for most of 2014. Let's just say Momma N had a different agenda. The temps actually were in the high teens, but with the extreme wind felt closer to zero (or colder).

Am I really gonna run a 5K in these Artic temps?

Thankfully, this was held on a community college campus so we had indoor accommodations prior to the start of the race. Check in went very smooth.  We received bags with decent swag (navy long-sleeved shirts, stocking hat, coupons, energy chews, etc.) and timing chips (a big plus for a relatively small race). Due to the extreme weather (plentiful ice patches), they shortened the course to 2.5 miles, so we'd be finished a tiny bit sooner. Not a problem.

The first mile or so was on the cross country trail (frozen ground).  We were headed east, with the wind at our backs, so it didn't feel so cold after all.  I could feel myself going a little faster than "normal," but it felt great.  There were maybe 15 people ahead of me (and several behind me), so I tried to keep up with them.

Then we hit the turn-around.  And we were headed back to the campus. Going west.  Directly into the wind. UGH.  Almost instantly, I had that sinking feeling where I really regret starting out too fast.  Damn 5K's, why do I attempt to run them?  I always end up frustrated and deflated.

This return trip was probably the worst running experience I have ever known.  The wind was an enormous force to run against, it felt like I was running in place because it took so much effort to just keep moving forward.  The frozen ground was very rough, making it difficult to maintain my balance.  I could feel (and hear) my breathing, my eyes were a blurry mess from the cold air, and my scarf kept deflecting my labored breaths up towards my sunglasses...and they were a fogged up mess as well.

I finally allowed myself to walk briefly, I was so winded (no pun intended) and my body felt like it was about to fall over from the wind.  As soon as I hit the pavement, and the course turned and went south, I almost yelled a big scream of victory.  Instantly, my legs sprung back to life.  I could feel the sun on my face.  All was right with the world again.

The final 1/2 mile was a giant loop around some of the campus buildings.  There was another brief  stint with the wind in my face, but knowing the finish line was near made it bearable.  Finally, I crossed the mat and promptly headed inside.  It took several minutes for my breathing to return back to normal.  I didn't realize how much I had been pushing myself.  I usually finish races somewhat out of breath, but I was really out of it this time.  And my headband had pushed itself (or maybe it was from the wind) almost off my head. My hair was sticking up in a most interesting, though amusing, fashion.

My official finish time was 20:02, which translates to an 8-minute pace.  I have not run an 8-minute pace ever in my life, especially for a short race.  Damn.  I finished second in my age group, the gal ahead of me finished in 17:40, so she was never in my sight LOL.  Normally, I'd be disappointed to miss that 1st place finish, but to finish with an 8-minute pace (in the wind, cold temps, with a brief walk thrown in there) felt pretty amazing.  Barb also finished second in her age group, so it was a grand day for both of us!  Maybe 5K's aren't so bad after all.

WHEW!  We finished!

Kim vs. Treadmill....Truce?

 
(( light bulb ))

Yes, I think I had a light bulb moment recently.

I have had a most severe love/hate thing going on with my treadmill.  I LOVED it dearly 8 years ago, when I first discovered the magic of running.  It was my best friend, and I ran on it exclusively and faithfully for an entire year.  Things were great.

Then I ventured outside.  It took some getting used to, but I grew to really LOVE the great outdoors even more than the treadmill inside.  Fresh air, beautiful scenery and the open road.  Perfection.

When the weather grew cold, I went back inside and fired up the 'mill......and things were never the same. I could not get the speed setting to feel right. It was too fast, then too slow, then way too fast.  It was hot inside, too, and oh so boring.  My solution? Run outside, year-round.  Problem solved.

I have tried to re-kindle my friendship with my treadmill, several times, all of them unsuccessful.  After doing so many miles outside with constantly changing scenery, the confines of the treadmill  were just too restrictive for me.  No matter how fast my legs carried me on the treadmill....I never really went anywhere, you know?  It felt like a constant stepping motion, but not really "running."  And, for me, if the scenery isn't really moving, then I'm not either.

I know many people can surrender themselves to the 'mill, and just go through the motions.  I'm not one of them. For it to feel like a "real run,"  I have to be running somewhere, not just running in place. 

Until this week.

It's been very cold in Iowa the past couple weeks, and I've been battling a nasty head cold.  In hopes of recovering (and not rebounding), I've taken my running inside. UGH.  I can make it 4 miles before I start hallucinating on the treadmill (no exaggeration), so it has not been an enjoyable experience...until one night I played with the speed settings.

I've heard of interval training, but have never tried it.  I know the treadmill is great for intervals, though, because it controls the speed of the runner, and keeps the speed consistent.

I put the incline on 3, set the speed to 6 (10-minute pace) and started going.  After one loop (1/4 mile), I bumped the speed up to 7 (about 8:30 pace) and did a loop at that speed.  I  then did the third loop back at the 6 setting.  I continued, alternating between the 6 and 7 settings for the duration of 2 miles, changing the speed after each loop (basically, changing the speed every 1/4 mile).  A 10-minute pace is pretty easy for me, but it always seems more difficult on the treadmill than it does outside.  An 8:30 pace wasn't much of a challenge either, but it was a good speed to experiment with for my first time doing  intervals. I know I can go faster, but my piriformis issue has slowed me down this past year, and I don't want to go too fast too soon and complicate the problem further.

It felt so good to be in control of my run.  Usually, when I'm on the treadmill, I feel a prisoner being forced to do something totally unnatural.  I'm always worried about stubbing my toes or losing my balance.  And I get so frustrated watching the little red dots going around (ever-so-slowly) on the display as I (ever so slowly) work my way around each imaginary loop on this imaginary track.  Changing the speed put me back in control, and the time went much faster than I could have imagined.  Before I knew it, the two miles were complete and I felt great.

For the first time in almost seven years, I stepped off the treadmill with a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment.  Since I just cannot wrap my head around the concept that treadmill running is "real" running, I'm just gonna call it speed work (for now) and treat it as a "workout" and not a "run."  That's the best I can do with my anti-treadmill attitude.  I doubt I'll do any long distances on the treadmill, but I think I can handle a lot of short distances at varying speeds.  And the speed work will enhance my long-distance training.....so this is really a win-win for me.

Finally!  I think I can call the treadmill my friend....again.