In awe

Tag: race

  • Bluemont running

    Day 97 – race

    A quiet weekend and it is just what I like. No big plan. I woke up and went to a local 10K race. It is about a hour from home. I ran a good time here every year. This was my third. While at the course, I didn’t have good vibe that I would do well this time. My shins were still hurt (been like this for two weeks, since that late Wednesday night run). Body doesn’t do well in recovery when I overtaxed it. Still a race is a race. I started at the end of the group. The race was sold out but there were about hundred of us lining up. The temperature was mild for this time 38F (5-6C). I dressed in dual layer short sleeves. shorts. It would warm up to 50 later. The sun was actual warm but we have strong wind 30kph wind. Consistently blowing.

    I like this race because it is far out the city two counties over from DC, on a farm land. You can see the mountain range where I do a lot of hiking. Out in the rural life is slower. It fits my personality.

    The course is only 15 minutes from the Appalachian Trail (Snicker Gap). The original plan was to finish the race and head to the trail to do some trail run, since my marathon is all about hills, and this trail has plenty of them. Ashby Hollow and Buzzard Hill is known as the roller coaster because it goes up and down many times in this 10 miles stretch. I hiked this section like four times past year.

    However after the race, I was cold. I had my downs jacket on but still cold. We had after race party at a brewery across from the farm. I stayed for lunch. They lit a fire pit, and I have been next to it for the past hour. It felt so good. This is what my friend meant when she said about waking up to a warm fire and have breakfast next to it. It is definitely one of the 50 joyful things to be thankful for.

    They haven’t posted the race result yet, but unofficially, based on my watch, I should PR this race, finished at 47:58, shaving a minute from my last record, but my watch also reported the course is short by 0.2 mile. It would explain why I was a minute and half faster.

    Looking down the valley, near blue ridge
    From Brewery Patio

    Update: It’s official: I PR’ed it and finished at 47:56.

  • Forward

    Day 91 / lent

    Midweek is when I look toward the weekend. Not only because I can’t wait to finish my work but because what I will do on the weekend will determine what I should be doing today. Like if I have a big race coming up, then I should rest up now. It is either run or not to run and how many miles. There are still plenty work left, I can assure you that. With weekend only couple days away, I got to decide what to do now.

    This coming weekend, I am overwhelmed with choices. 

    Plan A: stick with the plan. Go out and run the Rock and Roll DC half marathon on Saturday, which I signed up like a year ago and then enjoy the Sunday off with my loving friend and go for a hike in the afternoon and dinner at night. A full day of worship.

    Plan B: Same as A, but add a 10K run/ race on Sunday – Pot of Gold 10k. But the cost is I will miss worship unless I go to the 11 o clock service, but doing that will bump my Sunday class, which I enjoy attending.

    Plan C: upgrade my half marathon to a full one and run on Saturday, basically not much time for anything else. C is for Craziness. I am definitely not ready to  run a marathon. Should I believe myself go run a marathon? And do A/B of Sunday.

    Plan D: D is for Don’t run at all on Saturday but instead go on a hike with my friend on the North Mountain. On Sunday, I could do A/B.

    Likelihood of doing each decreases as goes from A-D. 

    I really can’t decide without some value system or goal. I might as well flip a coin and leave to chance. Truly I guess I am conflicted with between running and see my friend. Three of them was about more running and the last choice is no running.

    If the way to evaluate is based on passion, I would pick either C and D. If I pick based on logic then it will be either A or B.

    I have been doing my runs during the week but I haven’t completely recovered (since last Wednesday). Not sure why it is taking so long. Normally, just a good night sleep would bring me back to 100%. Plan D is a good plan because I’m tired and need the rest. My friend going say I am disobedient again, because I know I shouldn’t run but is going to run.

    Last night, I ran 8 miles. I finished 4 miles with the club and did an additional 4 on my own because I thought I lost my head buff. So I was retracing the steps but couldn’t find it. I only discovered I had it over my neck the whole time when I got home and started undressing. I wouldn’t have run the extra four miles if not for this. It was really cold and I didn’t even realized the buff was on me.

    This morning woke up with a stiff calf. Ya, I didn’t stretch after the run. I will take it easy tonight, no more running. Got to honor the day of rest.

    I noted that lent has started. It is a time for some reflection.  

  • Day 87 Race

    I did a 10 miler race on Sunday morning. I only did this just once a year. 10 miler is almost like 13.1, a half marathon. This was the longest run/race-wise I had since December. It is a good preparation for next week.  (more…)

  • MCM 50K

    I am doing it. Today I was able to register for the MCM 50K Ultra. They accepted 1700 runners.  (more…)

  • Trolling

    Day 78

    Marine Corp Marathon is one of the revered marathons in the area, and probably is internationally renowned as well. The lottery to sign up for it will open next month. I think I was pretty lucky person when I got a spot in 2017. Some people say it is not as hard as one thinks.  (more…)

  • 5k report

    Day 74

    I ran the “Run your heart out 5k”.  I was so close to running my heart out. It was 27 seconds away from my personal best. I finished at 24:27 and my best was 24:01 on the same course set on Feb 2017.  (more…)

  • Here and there

    Here and there

    Run About – Day 71

    I did a run here and there. I know if this keep up I will be in trouble, at least for the first marathon coming April. I am doing about six this year (goal of doing six in six months), doubling the number of last fall. It is not too late to save it. I think if I focus to train the next 8 weeks I can do it.  (more…)

  • I never did [get to it]

    I read a post from a very wise person. It reminded me if I want to do something, I got to do it immediately or else never. This weekend was basically a waste from a running stand point. I was going to run on Friday afternoon, that got push back to Friday night and that got push to Saturday and Sunday and now Monday. I am kind of disappointed in myself of things I didn’t do.  (more…)

  • Reading

    Sometimes I am doing a lot but getting no where. Today I feel I didn’t do anything but hopefully I got something significant resolved down the road.  I spent the day reading stuffs online. (more…)

  • First day of the new year

    I was blessed to run in a race on the first day of the new year. I signed up for a free 5k race hosted by DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. It was a high quality race even though it was free. We got a free technical T-shirt and finisher medal. The race was timed. The course was new to me. A lot of people showed up. The whole city showed up…I think at least couple thousands.  (more…)