Capital City 5 Miler

Okay, Rob. I'm done with my nap now.

The day started with meeting Rob and Jenny at the Y at 5:30 to carpool to Olympia. We got there right about 6:15, picked up our packets, hit the porta-potties and went back to the car so Rob and Eric could get race-ready. We were lucky to get a parking spot one block from the start line and about two blocks from the finish (and Starbucks!). It looked like a perfect day for the race - a little gray, but a nice temp, and best of all - dry.

Before the marathon started, we met up with the other Y runners - there were about 20 of us total in various races. We saw the marathoners off at 7:00. Jenny and I went up to the car so she could get ready for the half - it started next at 7:45. Then we got into the block-long porta-potty line. After we finally made it through the long, long line, we wandered off to find Darcy, Susan, Linda, Jamal and Sonya. We also found a few more Y runners in the crowd and chatted with them. Jenny, Susan, Jamal and Linda lined up for the half and we saw them off. Back to the car again so I could peel off the warm clothes and grab my HR monitor. The five miler didn't start till 8:15, so we had time to visit the porta-potties again - no lines this time!

Sonya was acting as gear-girl for most everybody from the Y group today. I saw her collect two pairs of glasses, a couple sets of car keys and an armful of coats. I added mine to the pile and walked over to the start line with Darcy. I didn't mention earlier that all three courses were a new layout this year. I had glanced at the map, but didn't really study it. When you are at the back of the pack, the map is a no-brainer - you just follow the crowd. So I was surprised when we were directed to the opposite side of the arch - the full and half both started on the south side - heading downhill. We started on the north side - heading up hill. Then the announcer told us that the course was really 4.91 miles - and that they just rounded up! We kinda laughed. The horn sounded and we were off!

The first two miles were a long, gradual up hill. Didn't take too long before we were passing many of the speedy starters. Darcy and I kept a good pace and chatted while we went. We caught the first walk break, and dropped behind a few people. At about 14 minutes, we realized that we had missed the first mile marker - I always do. We continued to take the 1 minute walk break every 9 minutes - and so far my HR was hanging in at 159 (my doctor wants me to stay under 160). Cool. We passed the two mile mark - on target for about an 11:30 pace. Cool. We pass the three mile mark, still on 11:30 pace. My beeper starts going - HR is climbing. Darcy says we should slow down - I tell her I feel good and want to keep going. By this point, we've made the turn and are heading back. I'm looking forward to the two miles of down hill to come.

I finally told Darcy I'm feeling a little nauseous. She asks if I want to walk. I told her no - that in a warped kind of way, it was exciting to feel nauseous. I've never run fast enough to feel that way! It was a distinctly different feeling than the nauseousness of the gall bladder illness. We kept going. We were just passing the state capital when my beeper signaled a walk break. I told her I wanted to keep going - we were way too close to the finish to walk! Finally, we hear the cowbells and the cheering - there they are! Sonya, Monica and Mike, plus Elaine's family, (including Jessica, who stayed with us a few weeks ago). They are cheering like mad as we run in. My watch time: 53:20. Posted chip time: 53:19. This from a girl who was looking for an hour finish! Whoo-hoo! My average HR was 160, my high 172. Not so good, but you know what - I was fast!

The rest of my day was spent cheering our runners in, running back and forth to the car to change, to let Jenny in, to get coats for Eric and Rob, and various other things. Our cheering point made the trip back to the car about three blocks each way. I went in to Starbucks three times - for myself, for Eric and for Rob. After much milling around and chatting, we finally decided to walk to a nearby Mexican restaurant for lunch, then eventually, headed home.

Congratulations to Elaine for finishing her first Marathon ever, to Lori, for becoming a Marathon Maniac today, to Patch for his 7th marathon in eight months, to Jenny and Tammy for their first half-marathon, to Linda for a great come-back-from injury run and to everyone else for a successful run. Oh, and to Susan - who had a 100 mile bike ride yesterday and ran the half today! And a big thanks to Sonya for carrying all our stuff and keeping track of all of us. And to Monica and Mike for taking pictures and cheering us in! Another fun race day in the books.

Weekly total: about 25.5 miles and 5 hours of running. (I did get that cut-back week in).