Running in the Footsteps of Legends

The sign at the entrance of Hayward Field was definitely a welcome beacon. After running for 13 miles the warmth and softness of the track felt like I had entered Shangri-La. But the honor - to run in the footsteps of champions was more overwhelming. I waved at myself up on the huge Jumbotron and for a split second understood what it meant to be an Olympic runner... even if I was a handful of seconds over of my 2 hour goal : (

Race Report

Goodie Bag:

• Included a copy of Competitor Magazine, couple of Lara Bars (my favorite) and a card for a FREE Jamba Juice!

Port-O-Potty Chatter:

• “Pee faster – Go Go GO”

Favorite Shirt Quotes:

• B-fine
• Get off the Road
• AAARRRGH!
• The MOTHER of All Relays
• And the most poignant “Blind Runner”

Posters Along the Way:

• Lace Repair
• You can Do It (sexually)
• Republicans to the Right
• 10 lines of - I Love running

What a kewl Medal!

I would like to thank everyone who sent me a tweet or commented here. Your support really means a lot to me!
PS.
Congratulations to the winners of the Eugene Half Marathon.
Female: Sopagna Eap 1:17:38 29yrs
Male: Kirby Davis 1:06:50 25yrs
Average Time for Half Marathon Runners 2:25:31
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Truffle Shuffle - Race Report

The best part of this race - excluding the gigantic chocolate truffle - is the course. It runs along hallowed ground… following parts of Pre’s Trail!
The bottom loop encircles a wide open field with scenic views of the Willamette River. I would run there everyday – if I didn't have to drive.



“The six-mile stretch of wood-chip and bark-dust paths was initially constructed by the city of Eugene in 1976 to commemorate Oregon’s distance-running legend Steve Prefontaine."

The Bad:

• I was 3 minutes slower than last year. Holy crap! That’s what I get for racing with a cold.
• It’s bad enough the park bathroom stalls don’t have doors – but no toilet paper?

The Good:

• The big “high five” I received from the girl in front of me at the finish line. A reminder that the time on the clock is fleeting...

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” - Ursula K. LeGuin

Favorite Shirt Quote:

• “Your workout is our warm-up.”

Race Chatter:

• “I think she’s waving at you.”

Post Race Grub:

• 1 Truffle, Peanuts in the Shell, Beer - Red Chair NWPA (Hey, there was a football game on!)

Ode To the Truffle
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Race Report - Borg Scale 17/20

Surprisingly fell apart at the 4.5 mile mark. But did regain enough strength to finish. I should be happy because I did meet one of my goals…

No one, including me, could complain about the weather.
Instead of rain we had sunshine!


2nd Bridge over the river

Congrats to the winner of the 10k Jeff Carman for running an amazing 5:22 pace!

Time to read this book -
Run Faster from the 5K to the Marathon: How to Be Your Own Best Coach
and see if I can catch up to him next year!


Far Out Runner:
The guy in front of me wearing a pair of mauve swirl Lycra tights!
Race Chatter:
“I think the 10K runners start behind us." (5K Runner)
Post Race Snacks:
Banana, double shot Americano and a swing of Chocolate Soy.

Borg Scale

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Monster Mash - Race Report

I primed myself for this race - a full-fledged Fun Run. (Even leaving the Garmin and MP3 player at home.) But apparently, other runners prepared for a very serious run! (Typical for most races in Eugene, Oregon...) If you can’t run at least a 6 minute mile you will be part of the finishing stragglers.
There was even a speedy Masters runner (female) from Russia - Tatyana Pozdnyakova with a 6:20 pace.
Oh well..I dressed up as “The highway” with a serious message on my butt.


There were a lot of devils and some pirates –
but my favorites were the ZOMBIES :0


5k dog race started after us.
They called her Princess.



A butterfly???


Favorite Shirt Quote:
"I drink blood."

Race Chatter:
Do you see anyone you know?

Post Race Snacks:
Tootsie rolls, bagel chunks, apples and bananas. They were also handing out chocolate milk – but I don’t drink milk anymore.

Goody Bag:
And yet – another water bottle, Hersey kisses, Nike socks, and an Apple!

My time was a tad slower than usually. And I was extremely tired afterwards, but it was a good tired.

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Fall Race Report

If the air is cool but most of the leaves are still green – Is it still Fall?

Yes, it was a spectacular day for the Fall Festival Run.
It’s a 50 mile drive to Corvallis – So we headed out early - early enough to take in the sunrise…



I felt strong and awake – might have been the illicit half cup of joe I drank.
I know one thing for sure, running a flat 5k is a whole lot easier that a hilly Trail race.



The course crossed through the Oregon State University campus. Scenic, but involved plenty of sidewalk running :0


Where's my chip?


The 5 K Winner was Benjamin True A23y M1/21m Eugene OR 14:14
That’s a 4:35 pace!
I, surprisingly, placed. (Well - there were only 400 runners in the 5k.)

Favorite Shirt Quote:
Ride High (?/?)

Race Chatter:
Runner #1 –“My IT Band burns every time I race.
Runner #2 “Why?”
Runner #1 “I don’t know…”

Post Race Snacks:
Starbucks and a shared Noah’s Blueberry Bagel.

Goody Bag:
From Strands – My dog checking it out.
(I always cut her ears off...)

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Trail Race – Check!

Beneath a blue sky the woods spread, entry - a single path leading upwards…
Who said running up hills was easy?

The first mile and half was a vigorous uphill climb with switch backs and scrambles. I have to be honest and admit I did convert to hiking in several areas just so I could catch my breath. [What an awesome workout!]



The next stage of the trail was gently rolling - easy going. It was on this part of the trail that I felt the woods take over… It may have been the mountain air or the isolation – but I ran like a wild turkey!

This gift of running, I so often take for granted, transformed into an epic passion. I’m alive, free and I can run!

Fears:

• Getting Lost – They said just stay on the trail unless you see a white chalk arrow – then follow that. (Great system - BTW)
• Eaten by a Cougar – I did hear things in the woods…but was so busy concentrating on the next foot placement – I had no fear.
• Getting Injured – No trips, tumbles or falls. Later that day, my neck was sore as hell, strange? Plus my Ankles and arches were a tad stiff. (I need some trail shoes!)

Post race snacks:

Shot Bloks, bananas, and chocolate chip cookies! In the cooler, water and a few brews, but I don’t drink beer before breakfast ;) We headed to a nearby bakery and discovered a farmers market set up in the parking lot. NICE!
I drove home nibbling on a vegan berry streusel, and sipping on an Americano. Had a large cantaloupe on my lap!
I will definitely check out other trail runs in the future.

Wore the tread off my Pegs!

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Race Report Scandia 10k

Another “I feel great at the finish race!” (That’s two 10ks in a row.) My time was about the same time as last year but I did stop at every water station. (I’m testing out this routine – as I usually don’t drink anything till after the race.)
Happy with some of my splits too!

This year, the mint fields were already harvested, but there was still a lingering distant whiff in the cool morning breeze.



One guy ran with his Thor horns on to honor the Scandinavian Days. Next year I’m going to braid my hair.



I Love the homemade direction signs.



After I found my pace, I slipped into an observational trance - noticing the way other runners held their arms. I tend to run with my arms at waist level. For several years I ran with a dog and had better leash control with my arms at that level.
But what I witnessed was crazy:

• Arms bent at a 45º angle with hands almost touching their chest.
• Arms slapping about like they were dislocate at the shoulder.
• Elbows sticking out.
• Hands like propellers.

It appeared, as runners began to fatigue, there was greater arm movement...
What do your arms do? Improve your running or just go along for the ride?
Arm Movement in Running

More Highlights!

Port-o-potty chat: “More people here than last year – yeah, in this line!”
T-shirt Talk: “Don’t Vote Me Off”
Farthest away t-shirt - Tempe AZ

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Beach Running – Divine!

Absolutely no regrets. Racing on the beach was divine. The expansive running surface was solid with just the right amount of give. There were no logs or jetties to transverse, just miles and miles of beach.
But there was coastal fog...


The fog stood still as the runners found their way to the start line.



I purposely ran without my player. The only sounds; my tread in the sand and the distant crashing surf.
{I have never finished a race where I wanted to turn around at the finish line and repeat.}



At the finish line the sun was already breaking through – patches of fog broke off and rolled away.



Interestingly enough I saw no one running barefoot... My shoes and socks came off right after the race so I could step into the Pacific Ocean.



The snacks included sandwiches (some were marked V for vegetarian) muffins, apples, outdated Power Bars and pretzels. I was ravenous.

The post race crowd was small and loosely knit. However, there was a collective awe of appreciation and gratefulness shared between us.
What a fine day it was!

Favorite Shirt Quote “The Older I Get The Faster I Was”
Race Chatter - “Are you a photojournalist?” (I was taking pictures with my cell phone: )

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Finishing Strong

Datalogic 5K Fun Run

The best part of the race – finishing strong! How about crossing the finish line with a smoking 6:20 pace. I purposely started off slow to accomplished this. NOT EASY!
I only had one scare (no red anywhere) – My MP3 player hung! I had a reset emergency 5 minutes before the gun went off. “Hold the menu button down for 15 seconds…” and pray.
I was lucky.



Me, sporting my “goody bag.”
No chocolate, just flyers
and a pencil.
But I love this bag!















Another medal...











Juneathon Day 20
Running 3.1 miles
T-shirt Words - "Molecular Probes

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Half Marathon Rundown

In the jargon of the sport, I hit the wall. I was cruising along – keeping an eye on my pace. The 10 mile marker was the last I remember…



After that I ran the best I could. Coming in 2 minutes slower than last year. (Hey, the course had changed - more hills. (excuse #12)
I did however accomplish my backup goal which was coming in under 2 hours.


The Wild, the Weird and the Wonderful

• men running topless.
• empty ketchup packages. Cheap carb fix?
• so many spectators along the way – high fives and cheers!
• some guy running with his massage stick.
• a cap with little holders specifically for Clif Shot Bloks.
• the scent of well used port-o-potties at the 9 mile stretch.
• a runner, post race, dry heaving on the curbside. O, that was me – how embarrassing.
• a belt buckle medal! (Not really - just took the neck strap off.)
  

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Favorite start line shout: "You’re almost finished."
Favorite shirt logo: “I never trained for this race.”
~
AV time for the Eugene half-marathon was Average Time: 2:23:51
Make your own Wristband at live2run

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Pear Blossom Run

All the arrangements are made - dog in kennel, Hotel reserved, new Nikes, for the 10 mile Pear Blossom run!
It takes place in April; just 3 short weeks before the Eugene Half-marathon event. Crazy? Noway – it has actually revved up my current training. They posted last years results and there were only about 30 in my old age category. That is incentive to finish in the top 10. (There were a total of 989 runners last year.)
The 10 mile is a new race distance for me. But I can easily incorporate it into one of my training runs. Perfect!
I’m looking forward to the travel also – Medford is about 25 miles north of the California border. So I expect sunny skies!!!

Race Logo:

EVERYONE'S A WINNER!

Anyone else entered in a new race this year?

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Ode to The Truffle

On Sunday I participated in the Annual Truffle Shuffle race where everyone entered gets a BIG Chocolate truffle. Thus inspired this Ode:



Ode to The Truffle

The decadant Truffle – creamy & rich.
Milk chocolate or dark with a strawberry twist
Replenish our stride as we savor this wish.
Last year’s race I scored two - I couldn’t resist!
Alas, my heart races for more…
Those mammoth truffle smiles
Well worth running four miles!

- > Actual runners dressed up as Truffles


Truffles courtesy Euphoria Chocolate Company

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First Race of the Year

Notes:

• Found a quarter in the parking lot.
• Spotted a runner eating a donut before the race.
• Two guys sporting Portland Marathon shirts.
• Runners from Chicago, Pasadena, and St Cloud? Florida.
• Ran 2 minutes slower than last year Hey it was windy out.

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Post Race Review

Another Turkey trot under my belt. I’ve run this race for 8 years in a row! It has become a very popular race / tradition with over 1400 runners and walkers attending.
Unfortunately the start tends to be very slow as too many people are squeezed into a single street.
As I point of courtesy, I never stand in the very front – not even close. I know I can’t run a 5 min mile. So it took about 5 minutes to work our way through the slower crowd. (And you know just how precious those minutes are when you cross the finish line:)
Other than that - the race fell into the splendid category - no rain, small hills and an energetic crowd. It was great to see the number of kids running too - Good job!
(I just heard on the news 1 in 3 American children are overweight…)

Focal Points

• No post race snacks - I guess they thought everyone would be eating +++ later. (And they were right!)
• Best running shirt quote: "It's what you do after the pain sets in.”
• Speechless - watching the fastest runner pass – the speed, the expression.
• Placed in my category – but didn’t hang around for the awards.
• Post race Okra hash browns. (Thanks FS – outstanding as usual : )

Race Winner 5K
Eric Lynch - 1/60 - M19-24 - Eugene - OR - 15:20 - 4:56

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Fall Celebration 8K Race

The Course


Following part of Pre’s Trail and then crossing two foot bridges.

The Weather

It never rains in Eugene.

The Post Race Grub

Bananas and oranges and bagels and muffins.

The Draw Prize

A windbreaker from the inaugural 2007 Eugene Marathon. A little big on me, but OK for over a sweater.

Actual Footage

I stopped very briefly to take a picture. [see my shadow] – What a gorgeous day! And I beat last year’s PR by 10 seconds. W00t
Thanks for all the pre-race support words. It matters!

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Scandia 10K Report

As usual, my fears were unfounded. I completed the 10k race with exuberance! No headache or nausea.
And trimmed 13 minutes off the last 10K time!

Running this course was like going back in time - to a slower era. It followed quiet country roads framed with homesteads, cherry orchards and flaxen crops. Plus the most wonderful field of mint. It must have just been cut as the scent was overpowering – energizing – sensational!

PS. Thanks again to everyone who motivated me to keep up with racing. Today... there is no other joy.
Image Google Earth

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