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June 5, 2006
A Beautiful Day for a Run
I just wrote what I'm confident would be an outstanding, inspiring blog entry about the joy of last weekend's race, but then it disappeared into cyberspace, so here's the abbreviated version.
This is a picture of me putzing happily along to a 1:41:xx finish at the Casper Half Marathon. The most interesting part of this picture (Other than the fact I'm identifying myself to Blogging Land, a first for me. Please don't stalk me.) is that my watch is on my left hand here at mile 11 or so. I also recall it being there at mile 12 when I punched a split. But it was gone at the finish line! While this seems insignificant to most normal people, I suspect that other runner-types might empathize with me losing my watch. You get rather attached to those little electronic arm devices because of all the running trials and tribulations they've recorded for you! That, and I'm already working on a sunburn on my watch tan line. Sigh, I guess I have a break down and buy a new one, boo.
This was a great weekend for racing. The weather was perfect, the course awesome, and I felt spectacular. Too bad I wasn't racing. No matter, I avoided falling into racing mentality (Though it was tough, especially when the gun went off.), I explored a new town, I hung out with a long lost friend, and I enjoyed the race.
The first 5 miles or so of the course rolled along on top of a bluff overlooking town. Those hills were long but not steep, and it felt good on the legs to change the grade underfoot every now and again. Somewhere around mile 5, the course went down a steep hill off the bluff to a paved bike path along the Platte River, which runs through Casper. I was surprised by the little rollers along that bike path, as I figured a riverside trail might be as flat as the river! I recall that mile 8 had a steep hill up and then back down. After mile 10 or so, the course really flattened out, and it was an easy glide into the finish in a hotel parking lot along the river.
I ended last week with 50 miles, straight up. This week, more miles (ideally 55), 2 workouts, and 1 longer run. Then a cutback week. I'm hoping that, after the next 2 weeks, I'm going to finally feel fit again, perhaps back to where I was before the end of April.
Posted by Meghan at June 5, 2006 9:00 PM
Comments
If I ever lose my watch, I'll probably walk the earth looking for it. It's a Timex Ironman that I bought for $25 when I started getting back into running. It's recorded all my marathons and has been a faithful companion throughout all my travails. I can understand the bond you must have had with yours. Nice race by the way, a 1:41 with hills and not racing it? Not too shabby..not too shabby at all.
Posted by: duncan at June 6, 2006 7:29 AM
Wahoo!! You're revealed!
I second Duncan's comment about your EXCELLENT race time.
Posted by: Audrey at June 6, 2006 6:12 PM
Woe to you for losing your watch! That's seriously my worst nightmare. That or looking down at my watch in the middle of a run and realizing at that point that it's dead. Ugh... :) Anyway, great "race"! Glad you had fun!
Posted by: Beth at June 6, 2006 6:28 PM