Last week one of my coworkers went ahead and Simpsonized our team via the Simpsons Movie avatar maker. I think it’s pretty funny.
I’ve showed it to a few people, and they were able to pick me out kind of easily.
Monthly Archive: July 2007
The chip time
Well, the results have already been posted. So soon!
Apparently, I really lost track of the time near the end. I finished the race in a blazing 39:02. That’s a pace of 7:49 per kilometre.
Yeah, that’s quite slow–but in the expected range for my running history. So what can I do better?
- I shouldn’t eat heavily the day before the race. I made that mistake.
- It’s only 5K–I can probably go without the water belt.
- I should pace myself better! Maybe it was a case of too much, too fast.
- Losing weight will probably help move faster.
- Breathing should have been more controlled.
I’m ready to do better.
My first 5K race
I had a lot of trouble sleeping last night. My nerves really got to me. I made it a point to really get as much sleep as I could, so I turned of the lights at 9 p.m. However, due to my overactive mind, I lay there for two hours making no progress. I eventually full under past 11 or so. All things considered, I probably got more sleep than the rest of the Learn to Run class members I was running with.
The alarm went off at 4, and I was out the door by about 5:25. I got to the Running Room at about 5:45 and was the second one there. We did agree to meet at 5:45, so it wasn’t like I was eager or anything. Really, being that it was so early in the morning, I couldn’t blame anyone for being just a few minutes late.
One of the group leaders had all of our runners kits which was really nice. I got mine and fished my bib out. Number 736. Wow! I had a number. How strange. Mentally, I associate them with real runners. Honestly, even with the number, I wasn’t eagerly including myself in that subset of the human population, you know? While we were all gathering, my instructor was asking if anyone wanted espresso. She asked enough times that I eventually caved. What’s the worst that coffee can do, right?
We split ourselves among four cars and left for the yacht club at about 6. We made good time and arrived well before start time. After spilling out of the cars, we milled around a little bit and started pinning our numbers to our shirts. Things were seeming more and more official my the minute. As we walked to the club, I spotted the start/finish line, and all I could think of was: “whoa…there it is.” That’s where I wanted to be withing the next hour or so. So weird. We walked around among the other competitors. The eagerness of everyone was certainly palpable. Off to the side, I told one of the people I came with that I felt like I stepped into some bizzaro world. I still didn’t feel part of it all. People were so happy. There were some competitors dancing off to the side. I felt more like a spectator than a participator. Still, there I was. We all wanted to be there at that moment. That’s what unified us.
5000 metres later…
Done. Tired. BAH!
More later!
Pre-race jitters
Oh dear.
So I measured that “usual” route out in Google. It turns out the distance is really more like a really hilly 5.35K. So now I’m suddenly expecting to have a slower time tomorrow.
But…
I have to put all of these predictions of doom aside. I have no intention of winning the race tomorrow. Absolutely none. So, I have to get rid of these ego issues. I’m not going to do spectacularly. I have to accept that.
Let’s say though that I have a goal time of 42 minutes-kind of like our route runs. It would be fantastic if I can break 40. If I can’t break either…well…that just means there’s room for improvement. Sunday mornings have generally been good to me in terms of runs. This should be alright. I have to think of this as just another one of my Sunday runs–except with a load more people, and in a foreign place.
ETA: I have to place even more perspective on this situation. I just came out of a LTR class. Those usually only go up to 3K or so, I think. I know hope I’ll have a stronger 5K time by the end of the 5K clinic. That’s what it’s for! So hey, no loss if I flub this one.
I wonder how the race dynamic will play into things. With the knowledge that I’m going actually “racing”, will I pick up the pace? Will I be able to handle a faster pace? I dunno. That all remains to be seen. I won’t be stopped by stoplights: there are no excuses for leisurely stopping now.
Why am I psyching myself out? 
mmmmmmm……
Running log: 2007/07/27
Went for a run tonight. I knew it would probably be my final run before the 5K event, so I wanted to make it a strong run. I tried to do some rhythmic breathing. Every two steps I would inhale or exhale. I think it helped out, but it really dried out my throat by the end of the run. We did our 5.7K – 6K (I don’t know what it really is) and I felt alright. Sure, I was tired, but it was a good sort of tired. I completed it in 43 minutes, but I stopped to an easy walk for a minute or two while talking with the instructor so…that kind of skewed things a little bit. On race day, no one is going to turn around for you, so that will be different. I don’t think I can run the whole 30-40 minutes straight, so 10 minute intervals seem like a decent compromise. Maybe I can stretch it out to 15 minutes? We’ll see how I feel on the day of.
Wow. Naturally I’m nervous about this whole race thing. It’s my first–of course I’m going to feel a little bit scared or apprehensive. However, I know that I’m going to complete it (barring injuries and such). Even if I’m slow as a turtle, if I get to the end, I’m a winner. Well…not a winner at the top of my age/gender group, but whatever, you know? I know that I worked damn hard to get to this point.
Damn skippy!
My music notes – July 2007
Some interesting purchased singles:
- Nostalgia 77 – 7 Nation Army
It’s a White Stripes cover. Sounds great–though maybe a little overwrought at times. It’s nice to hear the different interpretation. - Sophie Milman – Something In the Air Between Us
iTunes had this as their free single a week or two ago. Smooth like velvet. Makes me want to find out more about this artist. - Nowhere With You – Joel Plaskett Emergency
I suppose I should have mentioned this one when I was talking about the Zellers tunes, but hey, better late…
Recent CD Purchases:
- White Stripes – Icky Thump
- Rihanna – Good Girl Gone Bad
- Daughtry – Daughtry
- Chris Cornell – Carry On
- K-OS – Live Session – EP
Icky Thump is getting a lot of spins in my car.
Since the last time I bought CDs at the end of June, I’ve dropped by HMV and Best Buy a few times, but as I stared at the CD racks, nothing much else was really calling me to make a purchase. Maybe next month…
Tight-knit group
Tonight was our Learn to Run grad get together over at a bar-grill in Unionville. It was a lot of fun hanging out with everyone. It’s really nice to see how everyone really gelled together to form a very close group. We’re all so very supportive of each other that it’s hard not to feel so encouraged. Hell, if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have signed up to do the Whitby 5000.
(Yeah…I signed up. 
)
During conversation, I brought up how I’ll probably be right at the back of all the racers (which is true), but they were all saying that it doesn’t matter: as long as I run at my own pace. Just complete the damn thing! Heheh. I fully understand. Just, deep down inside, by my inherently competitive nature, I want to do well. I know that I won’t come out on top, but at the very least I’ll have the pride of finishing, right?
Anyway, I’m happy to have such encouraging people with me while I run. Who knows whether I will have had the motivation to continue running up to the level that I’m running now without them. The fact is, I’m still here, bringing up the rear–because really, someone has to!
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