Running Renaissance: Road to Paris 2024

[RuntheMouse]

Grand Blue Mile on Tuesday.

How did it go????

 

[GollyGadget]

Bulldog Double Challenge Recap


Background
The Bulldog Double challenge is an annual racing event that kicks off the Drake Relays. The first part of the challenge is the Drake Road Race on Sunday which offers 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon options. If you run any of those races and the Grand Blue Mile on the following Tuesday, you earn a cute little bulldog medal. The events are really well organized and attended. Definitely my favorite local running events of the year.

Like last year, I wanted to mix things up after training for the WDW marathon and follow a training block focused on speed. Unlike last year, I thought I’d be able to create a plan myself following Daniels’ book. This did not go as planned and I ended up scrapping the entire plan about 3 weeks before the race. I wasn’t able to execute the workouts and realized it a bit too late to do anything about it. Regardless, I was already registered for these races so I decided to go ahead with them even though my expectations were low.

Drake Road Race 5K
One of the reasons I like this race is that the weather hasn’t let me down yet. It was 34 degrees, sunny, and no wind at race start. The 5K course is also fairly flat and finishes with a downhill into Drake Stadium.

I did my typical 20 minute warm up jog followed by a few activation and stretching moves. The 5K starts 15 min after the other two races so I was actually still out on my warm up when the races started. Some kind lady walking her dogs made sure to let me know that I was late . I do appreciate the gesture.

Once the start was clear, I made my way into the chute. I wasn’t super aggressive with moving forward since I wasn’t going for a PR. This also helps me avoid going out too fast.

The first mile is up a tiny hill and then a right turn onto a road lined with college student organizations. This is a great little cheer zone and I really enjoy it even though I’m typically going too fast to soak it all in. There isn’t much time to spare in a 5K after all!

My main concern with this race was going out too fast and blowing up so I set myself a goal to not go faster than 7:30/mile. When the first mile ticked by at 7:38, I was elated. Right on pace as far as I was concerned.

Unfortunately, I got a bit distracted and sort of forgot I was supposed to be racing at that point and slowed down a bit as I settled in. There was a turn around halfway and that’s what reminded me that I needed to keep pushing. My second mile was 7:41, pretty good considering my half mile daydream at the beginning.

The last mile is always rough in the 5K but since I hadn’t been pushing myself too hard, I still felt pretty good. The only issue was my left hamstring was making itself known. Ughh, it’s always something. It wasn’t enough discomfort to stop so I kept going and made my way toward the track finish. Mile 3 was 7:26.

As we entered the track, I did my best to keep to the tangents and not cut straight over to the rail. A young kid passed me on the inside so I let him take the lead around the turn. But then he stopped accelerating!! Umm, hello, there’s less than 100 meters left, it’s time to go! He kept veering wide into my lane, I assume to try to block me. I really didn’t care who crossed the finish line first but I wanted a finish line photo and he was in my way so I stepped on the gas and side stepped my way around him.


Mission accomplished . My official time was 23:41 which is less than a minute slower than last year. Considering how I had been feeling, this was an amazing result for me. Also, much to my surprise, it was good enough for first in my age group . Woo hoo!


Grand Blue Mile
This race is at 6:45PM and I’m never quite sure how to prepare for the evening race. Fortunately with it only being a mile, fueling isn’t really a concern. Unlike Sunday, it was not ideal running conditions but it also wasn’t horrible. The worst part was the wind with its 40mph gusts.

My warm up was pretty much the same but I could feel my left hamstring was TIGHT. I seriously considered dropping out because I do not want to be injured. (I’ve got big plans this summer!) But I thought this could just be nerves so I did a few strides and realized the pain disappeared. With that, I decided that I would race but had permission to step off if things went sideways.

I always feel like a bit of an imposter at this race. I am most certainly not a miler and there are lots of women who look much more like runners at the start line. They do have a recreational division but it’s made up of a lot of families and very crowded. The competitive division is advertised for anyone planning to finish in under 8 minutes so I technically fit the requirements with my sub 7 goal.

All that said, like Sunday, I stayed back a bit off be line. Partly not to block the fast kids but also so I wouldn’t start too hot which I most definitely did last year. This resulted in a bit more jostling than I expected at the start but it still wasn’t too bad.

I crossed the quarter mile mark in 1:34 and yikes, that’s way too fast! I slowed down a touch and crossed halfway in 3:18. Still a bit fast but much better. From here there was a left turn into a nasty headwind and I regretted not having someone to tuck behind. It was definitely my slowest stretch of the race but it was over quickly as we made one more turn.

There was nothing to do from here but keep moving forward. Thankfully, I had not completely blown up and felt much better than last year. That doesn’t mean I was feeling great though. Just not like complete death. I gave it my all and hoped it would be good enough.

Official time 6:59! Just sneaked in there with that sub 7!! A few seconds slower than last year but considering my 7:25 mile time trial on March 29, I was over the moon with this result. Also, this happened.



WHAT?!?!? Obviously I need to work on my tangents and weaving, but for now, I’ll continue relishing in this 6:49. I really thought I had lost some fitness since last year but this confirms that it’s still hiding in me somewhere.

Conclusion
I’ll most definitely be back next year. If you had asked me a week ago, I would have told you that I wasn’t sure. But these past few days were such a good reminder of how much I love these events and switching up my running focus.

 

[GollyGadget]

So excited to follow along on your journey It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for sure.

What events did you end up getting tickets for?

We have tickets for two athletics sessions (aka track & field), water polo, diving, and beach volleyball! I was able to find the beach volleyball later, I assume after someone’s cart expired. I also plan to go spectate both of the marathons.

How did it go????

Great minds

 

[RuntheMouse]

Mission accomplished . My official time was 23:41 which is less than a minute slower than last year. Considering how I had been feeling, this was an amazing result for me. Also, much to my surprise, it was good enough for first in my age group . Woo hoo!

Official time 6:59! Just sneaked in there with that sub 7!! A few seconds slower than last year but considering my 7:25 mile time trial on March 29, I was over the moon with this result.

Amazing job! I know you weren’t feeling confident but you crushed it!

 

[GollyGadget]

Amazing job! I know you weren’t feeling confident but you crushed it!

Thank you! I think it really confirms that I had over cooked myself in the weeks prior. I’m glad I was able to recognize it and make it to race day in a better state.

 

[WillRunForPizza]

Great job!! And an excellent character stop too

 

[GollyGadget]

Great job!! And an excellent character stop too

Griff II is my favorite college mascot. He was also out after the races on Sunday but for the second year in a row, I didn’t see him there . Oh well, at least I got him on Tuesday. He even “ran” the mile!

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

Mostly he was pulled in a wagon

 

[nancipants]

Congrats on two great races!

Griff II

 

[NYC_MW]

Awesome! Yay for first in AG

 

[GollyGadget]

Road to Paris - Week 3/18

Planned:
M - Off
Tu - Race Road Mile
W - Easy 4
Th - Easy 4
F - Off
Sa - Easy 6
Su - Easy 12

Completed:
M - Off
Tu - Race Road Mile
W - Easy 4 + GOTR Practice 5K
Th - Off
F - Off
Sa - Easy 6
Su - Easy 12

Total miles: 28.32
Strength sessions: 0

I already recapped the road mile so let me start by explaining the lack of strength. My hamstrings were CRANKY after the mile. I tried to jog 200m to the water between the women’s and men’s elite races and could not they were so cranky. Because of that, I wanted to give them time to rest up. I will get back to it this week.

On Wednesday was our Girls on the Run practice 5K. I had plans immediately after and I sometimes have to do too much cat herding that I didn’t want to wait for my run so I woke up early and did my 4 miles before work. No big deal. But then I ended up running 3.5 miles at practice with the girls. I figured that was good enough to cover my 4 miles scheduled on Thursday. I was planning to do some walking but we went to watch some of the distance events at the Drake Relays after work and I didn’t have much free time.

My easy miles on Saturday weren’t particularly notable (a good thing). I did them early so I could make it to the relays in time to watch the Steeplechase at 9:30am. It’s my favorite event.

From the moment I received my training plan, I was nervous about the 12 miler this week. I’ve done exactly one double digit run since the marathon in January and that was 8 weeks ago. Fortunately, there wasn’t any strict pacing so I knew I could take it as slow as needed. This relieved some of the pressure but it still seemed like a lot. Plus, I needed to do this on my “hill route.”

I successfully found the hills. 886 feet of ascent! That’s 700 more feet than my typical long run route . i actually would have achieved a bit more but I skipped one of the last hills because it was raining and the bricks looked slick. All the downhills did a number on my toes. They’re fine now but did not appreciate the constant slamming into the front of my shoe. I’m going to try thicker socks next time but I do wonder if new shoes are on the horizon.

Speaking of new, I’m nervous I need a new fuel strategy. Last time I used salted dates and they were lovely. That’s what I used for this run as well with no issues. But I’m worried about my ability to either bring dates with me into the EU or find them once we arrive. I have a strong aversion to gels and I’ve found that sports beans and honey stinger chews do not get along with my gut. Something to ponder over the next few weeks…

Happy running y’all!

 

[GollyGadget]

Des Moines Women's Race - DSM Girl 5K


Background
The Des Moines Women's Race Weekend is a local event held every May at a winery less than 2 miles from my house. They also partner with Girls on the Run so I have a hard time passing this one up.

The weekend consists of a 5K on Saturday evening and a 10K & HM on Sunday morning. If you run both days, you get some extra swag. This year it was a travel wine glass which wasn't quite enough to convince me to race two days in a row .

They also have some other unique events to go with the races. There's typically yoga on the lawn, spin classes, and a braid bar. This year they also added a vendors market.

DSM Girl 5K

Packet pickup was from 10a-4:30p on Saturday. Because we had quite a busy schedule, I decided to just pickup my packet right before the 5p race. There was a bit of a line but it moved quickly. All registrants received a bib, wine glass, and shirt (short sleeve for the 5K & quarter zip for the 10K & HM).

After pinning on my bib, I went for a 20 minute warm up along the route to get familiar with it. The familiarizing really wasn't necessary because most of the course is run around the lake where I do a lot of my running. I still made note of a couple of baby hills in the last mile.

I returned to the start with about 10 min to spare. It was evident to me at this time that no one else was warming up and this was going to be a pretty casual crowd. I was pretty thirsty but foolishly didn't bring any water so decided to just wait until after the race. If it were anything more than a 5K, I probably would have asked at the bar for a cup of water.

I made my way toward the start and ended up about 3 rows back. My spidey senses told me that I was probably faster than most of the women in front of me but I didn't want to push my way up there. It was 60 and cloudy and these ladies were in full winter gear .

As expected, the start was a bit of a shuffle and a shove. This was made worse by the sharp right turn less than 50 ft from the start. By the time we got to the first quarter mile, I was solidly in 7th place. Two of the 6 in front of me were under 10 and from my experience with GOTR, I knew it was highly unlikely they knew how to pace a 5K and for a moment I thought I might actually finish top 5. I was quickly passed by two other women and that dream disappeared but I figured I could still be top 10. Soon enough I passed the young athletes and I was back in 7th.

At this point, we made our way through a tunnel and into Gray's Lake Park. There were quite a few folks out for walks and I wondered if they knew that I was being followed by hundreds of women and they would quickly be swarmed by runners. Mile 1 clocked in at 7:32. I was very happy with this since my goal was 7:30 miles.

I tried my best to hold onto the pace but quickly entered daydream mode which is exactly what happened two weeks ago. Luckily I caught it pretty quickly, and returned my focus. I realized that I was gaining ground on one of the women who passed me and made it my goal to catch her.

There was a water stop about halfway that I fully intended to skip but I was hot and thirsty so I grabbed a cup. I drank what I could and dumped the rest down the back of my neck. The woman I wanted to pass took a full stop which made the moment that I passed her less fulfilling. Oh well.

At this point, we were pretty spread out but the lake allowed for a good vantage point and I could see the leaders were about a quarter mile ahead. Mile 2 came and went in 7:34 which is pretty good considering the daydream incident.

I could hear a couple of women behind me and used their noise as motivation to keep pushing. The "baby" hills I noted during warm up hit a lot different at 5K pace but I told myself I've been running MUCH bigger hills than this and powered my way up them.

With just under a half mile to go, we had a sharp left turn back toward the winery. I took the opportunity to glance over my shoulder and see there were two runners within 10 feet. I told myself to keep pushing. Unfortunately, this was also where a small section of loose gravel was located and I felt my feet slip a bit. Once I got off the gravel it was time to go. I've never been known for my kick. I'm more of a slow and steady gal, but I gave it all I had. I was definitely hurting at this point and my husband's words rang in my ears "why do you do it if it hurts?" I really have no good answer but I cracked a smile and kept going. I could still hear the footsteps behind me and I hoped that I had more to give. A sharp left turn and then a quick finish. I did get passed at the line, but just barely.

I grabbed a water bottle and my medal then turned around to congratulate the other runners. That's when I realized the two that I finished with were mother and daughter . (The daughter is the one that out kicked me).

I quickly made my way to the snack tent. This race has one of the best post race spreads I've ever seen. I wish I took a photo. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, grapes, cheeses, chocolate and crackers . I grabbed a few but didn't want to be greedy and also didn't want to ruin my dinner . Then on my way to collect my free glass of wine, I stopped at the race results to find my official time...23:01!!!! I can't believe I almost went sub 23. That made this my 4th fastest 5K (and less than 15 seconds behind my 5K time last spring).

We hung around for a bit while I refueled and danced to the DJ. The vibe of this race is top notch! I don't have the words to describe it. Very motivational and celebratory.

Conclusion
I won my age group but there were no age group awards. The overall winners finished 3 minutes before me so I'm definitely not in contention for a free bottle of wine. Regardless, this is quickly becoming one of my favorite local races. It's nearby, supports a cause that I care about, has amazing snacks, and a great atmosphere. I'm certain I'll be back next year. In fact, I had such a good time, that I registered to volunteer last night and must be heading off now for my shift.

Thanks for reading and happy running!

 

[WillRunForPizza]

Awesome! Sounds like a fun race!

 

[RuntheMouse]

Amazing time! Sounds like a great event!